E3, the colossal gaming event where one hundred publishers and developers parachute onto an island and scrounge for weapons in the elusive hunt for that chicken dinner. Battle royale was in and loot boxes were out, third-person action games featuring an over-the-shoulder camera continue to represent the current gaming zeitgeist and banjo and flute solos sucked. What a year. So what tickled the fancies of the WellPlayed team in the year of our Lord Gaben 2018, and what do we wish we could unsee? It’s highlights and lowlights time…
Highlights
This year’s E3 might not have held as many surprises as other years with all of the leaks and early announcements that happened prior, but there was enough world premiere content that I feel like it was still a success. This year’s show was a matter of payoff, rather than surprise, and it worked for me. Long-talked about games were finally shown off for the first time, and most of them looked bloody schmick. The standout moment of the whole show for me was that first look at CD Projekt Red’s next masterwork, Cyberpunk 2077. Boy does that look tasty. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wowed me as well and might be the first FromSoftware title that I sink serious hours into since Demon Souls. Honestly, so much of what appeared at the Xbox press conference was great. That was a damn good conference. A true unsung hero of this year’s E3 for me though, is Dreams. Sure it’s a game that’s been shown and spoken about numerous times in the last couple of years, but its presence at the show has me optimistic that it’ll finally be in my hands soon, and it looks better and more complete than I’ve seen it so far. If E3 is the event of gamer’s dreams, then Dreams is the game of the dreams of gamers.
Bummer
Okay can we please talk about that thing with the Gears of War Funko figurine mobile game? I hate absolutely everything about what I just described. The bait and switch preceding the actual real new Gears announcement was kinda funny, but it sucks that this is still a real game that is really coming out. Nobody asked for a game based on crappy vinyl toys based on a game and especially not one based on Gears of War. It’s a no from me.
Highlights
There were no real surprise announcements that grabbed me by the balls this year (mostly because everything had leaked prior to E3), but that’s not to say that my plums weren’t plucked from the tree of E3 excitement at all, because they were. Several times. The standout announcement was hands-down the Resident Evil 2 Remake. The original is what really fostered my love for survival horror games, and despite my man-crush Leon Kennedy’s new appearance, the remake looks incredible and I can’t wait to play it all over again. Although it wasn’t shown at a major presser, finally seeing a proper gameplay walkthrough for Metro: Exodus was good. It looks like it’ll take the Metro series to the next level, I just hope it doesn’t get buried under the Feb 22, 2019 AAA avalanche. Perhaps the most surprising reveal was the Ghosts of Tsushima gameplay presentation, which gave me serious pangs for Onimusha: Warlords. I’ve long-wanted for a new or reboot for Capcom’s samurai adventure and it looks like Sony and Sucker Punch’s may be the closest thing to scratch that itch for the time being. Plus it looks insanely gorgeous.
Bummer
Ubisoft you bastards. Teasing me that Sam Fisher and Splinter Cell would make an appearance, which I thought was a sure thing after Michael Ironside returned to voice the Big Fish in Ghost Recon: Wildlands DLC and the Walmart leaks became more legit with every announcement. Alas, much like Sam Fisher himself, Yves and Ubisoft decided to silently leave E3 without as much as a whisper of a new Splinter Cell. Les salauds.
Highlights
Another one buys the ducks – E3 is done and dusted for 2018. Not much caught my eye this year, but that doesn’t mean it was without glee. I wasn’t expecting new Cuphead stuff for a while, considering how long the game took to make. As such, I was pleasantly surprised to see The Delicious Last Course barge into my life and take my wallet hostage. The game ended up being my favourite of 2017 so having more to do in the wild and wacky world of Cuphead is a dream come true! Another announcement that took my finicky fancy was Doom: Eternal at Bethesda’s conference. To put it politely, I ****ing loved 2016’s reboot of the iconic franchise. If Eternal holds even a flickering candle to the last title, I’m gonna be ripping and tearing for another 100+ hours! Finally, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had me hooting and hollering at midnight. Snake is back! Ridley in Smash is no longer just an ancient meme! The amount of stuff from the reveal alone was staggering, and I can’t wait to see just what else the game can cook up over the next few months!
Bummer
It’s 1 am, and I’m ecstatic. New Smash looks excellent! A half-hour later, though, the reality hits me: No F-Zero. Again. The darkness of the unlit room masks my frown as I pick up my copy of F-Zero GX. I gaze at the cover’s action-packed melancholy, bringing the case into my embrace. Slowly, I lower to the floor and curl up in the foetal position. My torso rocks back and forth as two words are repeated in whispers: Next year…next year…next year…
Highlights
It was always going to be tough to beat the bloke with the banjo at Sony’s presser, or the Japanese flutist at the same bloody conference for that matter, but alas they ended up playing second fiddle to some big-ticket items. Principal among these was Doom Eternal (or Do Maternal as it’s becoming affectionately known). The 2016 reboot was an absolute ball tearer (literally), and Doom Eternal will be no different. I sleep a little sounder at night knowing that it exists. I’m also back on the Rage 2 bandwagon, after its initial lacklustre announcement prior to E3 left me cold, alone and afraid. Although the gameplay shown at E3 featured more vertical slices than Fruit Ninja on easy mode, it’s got a style and flair that got pretty damn close to convincing me that Avalanche can make an id Software game.
Bummer
EA’s presser was an utter train wreck to behold. A blinding combination of painfully boring filler and eye-watering cringe, their announcements had all the punch of a grandad that gets drunk at Christmas and falls asleep on the couch with his glasses on. I still hold a candle for Anthem, despite EA’s attempts to kill my buzz, and I also am mega keen for anything Vince Zampella puts his hand to, even if I wake up in a cold sweat clawing my eyes out after one of the most awkward interviews in the history of time replays in my nightmares.
Highlights
At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I have to say that all my highlights of E3 were at the Bethesda presentation. As much as I loved getting more of a look at The Last of Us: Part Two and Ghost of Tsushima at the Sony presser, I went into Betty’s with almost no expectations. Before it started I turned to Kieron and said: “How great would it be if they announced another Doom or a new Wolfenstein expansion like Old Blood?”. Not only did they roll out Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein: Youngblood, they also showed heaps of Fallout 76 (Which I’m super keen for) and finished up with a confirmation of Elder Scrolls VI. Colour me impressed Bethesda.
Bummer
Since I’m a massive softie and spent most of the live presentations asleep in my bed, I pretty much only watched the trailers and announcements that I was interested in. I heard that the Nintendo presentation was pretty disappointing though, which blows because I was hoping for some surprise announcements like a Super Mario Odyssey expansion, or a remake of Diddy Kong Racing (I’m gonna keep talking about it until it happens).
Highlights
E3 is one of the most exciting times to be a gamer and this year’s E3 certainly didn’t disappoint. Here are my three stars of the show. As a self-confessed Lara Croft fangirl and someone who has played every Tomb Raider game since its epic beginning in 1996, Shadow of the Tomb Raider was easily one of my biggest highlights. SotTR looks darker and grittier than the previous entries, and I am excited to vicariously live through Lara in her next adventure. Speaking of dark and gritty, and badass female leads, how good does The Last of Us Part 2 look?! It’s looking like it’ll be everything we want it to be with Ellie taking the reins from Joel. It’s a shame no release information was given, but Naughty Dog can take all the time they need. We know it’s going to be another masterpiece. Lastly, it was another old favourite that gave the hype train an extra shovel of coal. This time it was Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, whose release date is a slight surprise given that Origins launched last October after a two-year hiatus. I’m not complaining though, as Odyssey not only looks gorgeous, but it also looks like they’ve improved the combat even further and the addition of dialogue choices will add another layer to the series already impressive storytelling. Plus, another badass female lead.
Bummer
EA’s press conference was a massive letdown, especially considering I got up at 2 am to view it. Everything from the host’s antics to the Command & Conquer: Rivals reveal to the subpar Anthem gameplay just screamed boring. But you know what was the biggest bummer? The ungodly awkward reveal of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. I understand building hype, but to reveal a major Star Wars title in that manner was piss poor. Hopefully EA turn up to play next year.
Highlights
As someone who only recently got into the Resident Evil franchise, I find it odd to admit that Resident Evil 2 Remake was my greatest highlight of E3 2018. Having never played RE2, I’ve waited for this game in anticipation, and the trailer and gameplay has me awaiting the game’s release in January 2019. Nintendo turned up with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as to be expected, and despite the game looking beautiful, the best thing to come from the announcement was the fact that every single prior smash character will be on the roster. That’s awesome news, as it means old favourites like Solid Snake and Ice Climbers are back, as well as my boy Young Link. Finally, I just want to give a shout out to Bethesda for making up for their sub-par E3 2017 conference with a brilliant E3 2018 showing. Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein: Youngblood and the surprisingly intriguing Fallout 76 were just some of the games shown off, as well as the confirmation announcements of the long rumoured Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI. Bethesda even made Rage 2 a game worth being excited for, so for that they deserve some credit for having a great E3 2018.
Bummer
Despite Nintendo showing off Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and exciting plenty, the rest of their showing was rather barebones and lacking. Yes, they showed Super Mario Party and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but other than those, no other new first party titles were shown off in the presentation. I understand Nintendo like to sporadically announce new games via Nintendo Directs throughout the year, but I couldn’t help but be bummed out by the lack of exciting announcements.
Highlights
I’m just gonna say this right now, the big-ticket item on my E3 wishlist was shown at E3 during the Microsoft presser. I am so happy to actually see what Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is. Being a massive fan of FromSoftware, seeing an entirely new project that appears to be distanced from the Soulsborne formula that FS is known for fills me with joy and a strange, yet familiar feeling around my jorts. But wait, there’s more! A new Halo game? A new Halo game that respects the original art style called Halo Infinite? Surely you must be kidding, 343i haven’t respected the original Halo art style since…well…ever. Next you’re going to tell me Ghost of Tsushima was shown and it loo – wait what? Well I’m pretty happy with all of this then. Also Devolver Digital’s presser was class, as always. Mocking the industry is always an easy way into my heart (and jorts).
Bummer
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is being published by Activision, which leaves us in a bit of an impasse as the Activision I know and love will surely fill the game with microtransactions and shove a season pass which requires a down-payment of $2000. Also, Nintendo did a Nintendo and wasted everybody’s time (I’m glad I stayed asleep and caught up on the press conference later). Maybe one day Nintendo will understand how to function without seeming like a bunch of headless chickens.
Highlights
As someone who mourned the loss of Ice Climbers in Super Smash Bros on Wii U and 3DS due to ‘hardware constraints’, you better believe I am keen to see them back in action. Those adorable little bastards brought ruin to many an unskilled opponent who was not aware of my own Smash Bros ineptitude. In fact, having the entire roster in one place is going to be no end of amusement – even if poor Waluigi has ended up eating the poo poo. I am calling it here though, if there is ANY form of post-release strategy for this title, surely he will be DLC of some kind, if only for the memes.
Doom Eternal? A Wolfenstein sequel set in the 80s? holy shit, Bethesda may just be plugging themselves into my brain and downloading my wishes. Fallout 76 was close to my dream, but what I WANTED, BETHESDA, was a CO-OP Fallout game, not a COMPETITIVE one. I’ll keep an eye on it however, because it may work to surprise me. I’ll also attest to being one of the few people on earth who saw the potential of the long-suffering Rage title as a concept and look forward to its sequel being realised.
Bummer
What the fuck is Death Stranding? Come on, just tell me already – the anticipation is driving me mental. No, those trailers don’t count. As for the biggest bummer of E3 2018, aka Christmasistmas? The reanimated corpse of Command and Conquer, wheeled out in front of the masses, Weekend at Bernie’s style, to wave and say “HEY REMEMBER ME?”
Gross.
What were some of your highlights and bummers of E3 2018? Let us know in the comments below.
