[E3 08] - Impressions: E3 Games Part 1 [Multi]

[AgtFox]

Since I've hit a slow time with E3 coverage and the guys there are busy at appointments, I thought I'd share some impressions I've had of games that have been shown on G4's TV coverage as well as at the various Press Conferences that had actual developer gameplay in it (meaning they were there playing through the game live). Let's get to them:


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Title: Fable 2
Platform: 360
Developer: Lionhead
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: RPG
Release Date: October 2008

I was impressed by what was shown and am giving Peter Molyneaux enough slack to show me whether this is going to be a better experience than Fable was. The original game wasn't bad, but it almost seemed half done. I like the whole co-op idea in this game where players on your friendslist are represented in-game by orbs where they are in their single-player experience. You can just walk up to the orb and offer an invite and you're in co-op...pretty cool honestly. I still believe this could be a sleeper game this fall, it is just sandwiched between many games on all systems.


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Title: Fallout 3
Platform: 360/PS3/PC (Exclusive DLC to 360 and PC)
Developer: Bethesda
Publisher: Bethesda
Genre: Action RPG (first and third-person)
Release Date: Fall 2008, possibly October

This was basically the same playable section that was shown off at Microsoft's Press Conference. Back then in the thread I said I didn't think the game was looking all that good, but now that I've had time to sit down and watch them without having to type at the same time I have to say I'm impressed. The section of Washington, D.C. shown was very grey and brown, although granted this is the post-apocalyptic world. What I thought was dool is that it sounds like you can craft your own weapons. Todd Howard of Bethesda made a gun that shoots teddy bears at enemies and it sounds like you can make pretty much anything you want. The whole VaulTEC aiming is awesome and it is obvious the game is highly violent and bloody with whole bodies being dismembered after an aimed shot.


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Title: FarCry 2
Platform: 360/PS3/PC
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: FPS
Release Date: October 2008

I saw this at the Ubisoft Press Conference and I have to say I was extremely impressed by it. I named it one of my Top 5 interests when I was on Evil Avatar Radio prior to E3. It looks like the video stuttering was gone as they were playing through the game. I also have to say the whole map idea and ability to fast-forward time look quite cool. The whole area of the game is supposedly loaded right off the bat and it is HUGE. This game has easily jumped up to the top of my interest list, let's just hope the ending doesn't drop the experience as much as Crytek's original game.


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Title: Gears of War 2
Platform: 360
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Third-person shooter
Release Date: November 7, 2008

I was highly impressed by this game at the Microsoft Press Conference, especially when Marcus was shooting the minigun at a ton of Locust soldiers coming at him from below. Cliff was on hand again to do a playthrough of the game and I think it looks fantastic. The mantra of "bigger, better, badder" may just turn out to be true. Being able to shoot grappling hooks and drop the Locust is awesome and the 2-player co-op campaign is pretty cool as well. Cliff explained they didn't want to do 4-player co-op because they wanted to keep the story pretty self-contained, which is why they added the 5-player co-op Horde multiplayer option. No doubt that this will be a top game coming this November on the 360.


Title: Killzone 2
Platform: PS3
Developer: Guerilla
Publisher: Sony
Genre: FPS
Release Date: February 2009

Wow is all I can say as Sony showed video as someone was playing the game right there on the stage. The graphics are really awesome, especially the lighting shown in the section of the game they were playing. Although it may not reach a perfect 1:1 with the video target from E3 years back, it is much better than I thought it was going to be. I especially like the graphics even flowing through the green scope on the gun. I have to say I was quite impressed by what they showed off and started to wonder if they shouldn't switch places with Resistance 2 this fall.


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Title: Prince of Persia
Platform: 360/PS3/PC
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action/Adventure
Release Date: Holiday 2008

I am impressed by the look of the game and the acrobatic motions, but not the assists by the NPC nor the voice of the Prince himself. It is obvious this game has taken a lot of inspiration from its cousin Assassin's Creed, although it doesn't look like the Prince can necessarily climb anywhere like Altair could, we shall see. Evidentally the game is non-linear and you can decide to take any path you choose and the game will dynamically change in regards to difficulty. Combat looks improved, although I'd love to have some hands-on experience with it to see if it is for sure better than the last trilogy. This one will be interesting to watch, not sure I'd toss around GOTY on it at this point like some places evidently did before E3.


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Title: Resistance 2
Platform: PS3
Developer: Insomniac
Publisher: Sony
Genre: FPS
Release Date: November 2008

Unfortunately I think they just played the loop from the Sony Press Conference because it looked like the same thing repeated. I'm interested in this game, especially the 8-player co-op campaign. However, its cousin Killzone 2 after being shown off on G4 has kind of outdone it.

[PsychoticVile]

I liked all of these games except Resistance 2 and will probably buy them all except Prince of Persia as it really is my type of game but I did think it looks like fun. Resistance just looked like retread of every other sci-fi fps and was laughing during the G4 segment they did when the guy demoing the game used every adjective he could think of to keep from calling the ex-citizens of Chicago, zombies even though that's basically what they are.

I'm also glad Killzone 2 is not coming out until February it actually looks like a decent title from Sony for once and there is no way I could afford buying it along with all the other games coming this summer.

[Telefrog]

I don't own a PS3, but Resistance 2 looked very good in the Sony presentation.

I'm excited for Gears 2, Fable 2, and Fallout 3.

[violentp]

Fallout 3, Gears of War 2, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 are all going to be purchased. Sequel city.

[Dukefrukem]

Resistance 2 look incredible.. those epic ships flying over buildings and the new zombie monsters... how can you not be impressed with that?

[AgtFox]

Fallout 3, Gears of War 2, Resistance 2 and Killzone 2 are all going to be purchased. Sequel city.
Most of gaming today seems to be sequel city...heh

[AgtFox]

Resistance 2 look incredible.. those epic ships flying over buildings and the new zombie monsters... how can you not be impressed with that?
I'm impressed, but the graphics look very washed out. Killzone 2 looks more "fresh" for lack of a better word.

[Wyrm]

There's a certain theme going on with the games here. Can't quite place it. It has something to do with numbers, I think.

I'm excited about Gears, Fallout, and Fable, though I'm cautiously optimistic about the last two. I wasn't a big fan of Oblivion (in fact, I found it incredibly average), and Fable 1 was decent, but it didn't have much depth. Here's to hoping they both turn out to be as good as we hope.

[violentp]

I'm impressed, but the graphics look very washed out. Killzone 2 looks more "fresh" for lack of a better word.

I've noticed how much flak Resistance 2 has been getting. I'm starting to question if I'm simply wearing those hype goggles I usually try to deter others from wearing when making a choice because damned if I'm not excited for it.

[Venkman]

Those are pretty sparse impressions. Can you elaborate any?

[AgtFox]

Oh, there is no doubt I'll be buying Resistance 2. I'm not trying to hate on it, I'm just trying to say its cousin really outdid it from what was shown in playable form.

In many ways both Resistance 2 and Gears of War 2 have the "bigger, badder, better" mentality. I just honestly see more color depth in GoW2 at the moment than I saw in the Resistance 2 gameplay shown off. We all know FPS games tend to move toward the brown spectrum, but Resistance 2 seems to be stuck in that color almost 100% of the time so far...heh.

[Exodus]

If PoP had some sort of co-op mode it would definitely be Goty, it is a beautiful looking game not in that technological way if you were to look at a game such as rage but in that okami kind of admire it for the style. The open concept game play kind of surprised me and how it affects the games progression has me curious.

[AgtFox]

Those are pretty sparse impressions. Can you elaborate any?
I'm just posting impressions of stuff I've seen played on TV and videos. I did not play these hands-on at all, but I think some people were feeling we were a little lax in any gaming information since the guys haven't had a whole lot of hands-on during their appointments so far.

These are not previews or anything. I'd have to play hands-on to give a more in-depth picture of the games...I can only go on what I visualized.

What do you want me to try to elaborate on? Maybe a question I might be able to answer or research and answer?

[violentp]

Oh, there is no doubt I'll be buying Resistance 2. I'm not trying to hate on it, I'm just trying to say its cousin really outdid it from what was shown in playable form.

In many ways both Resistance 2 and Gears of War 2 have the "bigger, badder, better" mentality. I just honestly see more color depth in GoW2 at the moment than I saw in the Resistance 2 gameplay shown off. We all know FPS games tend to move toward the brown spectrum, but Resistance 2 seems to be stuck in that color almost 100% of the time so far...heh.

I most certainly see that. I've never really fallen into those "brown" arguments in the past because the only real arguments towards defending and attacking said color schemes would require comparisons to other games, and I try to avoid that like the plague. To me, Gears is what is is, just as Killzone and Resistance are as well. It's allowed me to enjoy each one respectively without the need for those constant piss-contests.

That doesn't mean I blind myself to the facts though. You ask me what's more colorful, Kameo or Resistance, I show no loyalties.

In the end, sequels or not, brown, gray or gray, we have some solid titles headed our way.

[Exodus]

The look and feel of mirror's edge needs to be applied to all first person shooter games as well as the abilities. Combine that shit with crysis and throw a hot psylocke ninja chic in a tight cybernetic nano suit and you've got a game that will sell millions.

p.s. - starcraft ghost anyone?

[Gott]

What is unique about killzone 2 that is going to motivate people to purchase it?

[AntB]

Am I the only one who noticed that in Resistance 2, when the player was running into the building and the big monster was smashing the building apart, the parts that the monster destroyed simply disappeared and the only effect was a little screen shaking and a few dust sprites? Nothing falling on the floor or anything. I mean the monster just ripped half of the building off and there is absolutely no debris at all. I am wholly unimpressed by that game play footage.

Killzone looks interesting, but also looks like futuristic COD4 like others have said, which might not be such a bad thing.

PoP looked pretty good, but I don't think there was enough shown. Fable2 looks interesting also, but I never finished the first one because I just got bored with the game.

[Wyrm]

What is unique about killzone 2 that is going to motivate people to purchase it?

The fact that it's been so long since the first Killzone came out that no one remembers how incredibly average that game was. :D

[violentp]

What is unique about killzone 2 that is going to motivate people to purchase it?

Because it looks fun. Need something more?

[Venkman]

What do you want me to try to elaborate on? Maybe a question I might be able to answer or research and answer?

If you get to play any of the games at the show, any and all impressions based on controls.

How does the Fable 2 combat really play out? Is it repetitive when you see it in motion (do environment sensitive animation repeat too much?) How does the dog factor into combat? How well does the music react to combat?

For Fallout 3: how are the controls? Many non-FPS making companies have controls that feel a little stilted or sluggish compared to the big guns like Bungie and Infinity Ward.

if you get to play Mirror's Edge or see it more up close- does the "1st person everything" become nausea inducing? Does the camera move too much to allow you to focus? How does load time work with large
environments moving by so quickly?

Hopefully that will get you started, I'm jealous you're there. ;)

[Primus]

They didn't add 4 player co-op to GoW2 because of how it would effect the story?

WHO THE FUCK PLAYED GEARS OF WAR FOR THE FUCKING STORY??

Biggest disappointment of E3 for me. Fuck that bullshit.

[inmostlight]

The section of Washington, D.C. shown was very grey and brown, although granted this is the post-apocalyptic world.

For what it's worth, modern-day Washington DC is also extremely grey. I look forward to seeing how they deconstructed the city...

[AgtFox]

Hopefully that will get you started, I'm jealous you're there. ;)
Except I'm not there or you'd have hands-on stuff...heh.

[Mr. Lake]

My brain right now:
"Fable2Fable2Fable2Fable2Fable2Viva2Fable2Fable2Fab le2Fable2Gears2Fable2Fable2Fable2Fable2..."

[mister_slim]

In many ways both Resistance 2 and Gears of War 2 have the "bigger, badder, better" mentality. I just honestly see more color depth in GoW2 at the moment than I saw in the Resistance 2 gameplay shown off. We all know FPS games tend to move toward the brown spectrum, but Resistance 2 seems to be stuck in that color almost 100% of the time so far...heh.

The desaturated look is intentional, but there are some nice green outdoor levels that haven't really been shown off yet.

[bryan]

Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2 is on my list. The latter more than the former - haven't seen any compelling gameplay yet from Fallout.

[Rommel]

Odd list. Many sequels of games that have not had a release to their IP in years and years. Fable sticks out in my mind most of all. The original was for the XBox v.1 - the sequel's ship date will be more than four years after the first. Fallout is guilty as well, but Fable has a lamented past and I wonder how much nostalgia the IP has left with the long lead time.

[MelbaToast]

I'm going to end up purchasing all of those titles I'm sure, unless they take some drastic turn before release. The Fallout series is one of my all time favourites, I really hope they do a good job of it.