We've made it through yet another E3! This marks my fifth year attending the event and, while not the greatest E3 ever, it was also far from the worst. Folks who have never gone to E3 may think it's some perfectly magical event, but in actuality there's a lot of business to take care of.
As a writer (rather than game developer or publisher), I spent the majority of my time hustling between the LA Convention Center as well as nearby hotels for off site meetings. After shaking tons of hands, exchanging fifty business cards, and taking copious notes, I managed to play (or, in a few instances, watched) 27 different titles over three days. I also walked 16 miles which is a lot for me given normally I'm sitting at a desk.
I wanted to provide a way to share my thoughts on all the games I saw during my time at the show. Of course, my opinions are going up in long form on Hardcore Gamer, but here's a way to get a quick glimpse at them, in alphabetical order. I could opt for "most popular" first but then that would lead many to ignore some of the awesome indie releases.
Feel free to check out my blurbs or even read the full articles if you like on key games. Just note that my opinions may not always fall in line with the "majority" and, well, that's the point of opinions. Once these games are out everyone will be able to decide whether or not they were worth the hype.
Note: Article will be updated with more previews as they are posted on Hardcore Gamer.
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2Dark
Adventure/Horror/Stealth
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/21/e3-2016-2dark-is-almost-too-creepy/213086/
2Dark was designed by one of the key names behind Alone in the Dark. It is an odd horror game where players must rescue children from scary locations (and even scarier psychopaths). The challenge lies in both finding them and getting them out safely, as the kids may wander off, make loud noises, or activate traps. Could be cool or too challenging for me to personally enjoy.
Corpse Party
Adventure/Horror/Visual Novel
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/19/e3-2016-corpse-party-is-back-from-the-dead/213194/
Okay, so Corpse Party was one of the biggest surprises I encountered back on the PSP. Despite its pixelated anime artwork, it was absolutely terrifying. If you've never played this game before then pick it up on PSP or PC (where it's already out) or wait for this 3DS version.
Detroit: Become Human
The game was demoed for the press (aka we didn't get to play) and basically showed off the same sequence from the trailer. Not a bad thing, as we got to see a 'full' playthrough in two ways. There are great concepts, but I'm still afraid that Quantic Dream is promising far more than they'll be able to pull off.
Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star
Hack 'n Slash/Musou
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/22/e3-2016-fateextella-the-umbral-star-is-mindless-fun/213554/
I don't know anything about the "Fate" series. This is a traditional musou game (kill everything in an area and attempt to control all areas) but with a Fate twist. It seemed tough.
Harvest Moon: Skytree Village
For those who don't know yet, Harvest Moon is no longer Harvest Moon. The original series has gone on and been re-titled Story of Seasons while Natsume controls the name "Harvest Moon" but is instead trying their best to recreate the classic formula. They're doing a bit better than before, but Natsume still has a long way to go.
Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, The
Never ever played The Legend of Heroes game before but this demo absolutely made me want to try. Aside form some neat strategic twists to the traditional JRPG formula, it seemed like a really humorous title. For a PS3 release it also somehow managed to look practically PS4 quality.
Linelight
Puzzle
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/27/linelight-is-an-ingenious-indie-puzzler/214230/
Puzzle games are super common but I like Linelight because it's doing something different. Basically all puzzles revolve around moving around lines on the screen in a certain way. There are a lot of nuances to the puzzles, but they all seem fair. Wish I could play more of it at the moment!
Octobo
Casual/Mobile
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/29/octobo-is-an-outrageously-adorable-mobile-game/214779/
Cute idea for a mobile game where you actually purchase a plush toy, storybook, and app all together. The plush itself has senors on it and uses a tablet to make it interactive. It seems like an idea we may see more in the future if families take to Octobo.
Overcooked
In this one you play as one of (up to four) chefs in a busy kitchen. Think Diner Dash if there were more steps to go through to create a meal, and that the steps needed to be divided up between players. It's hectic and hilarious. I just really want to see online play.
Resident Evil VII
Adventure/Horror
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/19/e3-2016-resident-evil-7-makes-sense-in-vr/213014/
I'm pretty sure the demo for Resident Evil VII is the same one that PS Plus members have access to. The only difference is I was able to play with PS VR - and promptly got terribly motion sick. It was so bad I had to close my eyes in the headset, move around, and hope that the Sony guy didn't realize. In any case, it feels like P.T. filtered through an indie game lens. Indie horror games CAN be great, but they can also be utterly derivative.
River City: Tokyo Rumble
Beat 'em Up/RPG
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/23/e3-2016-return-to-river-city-in-tokyo-rumble/213567/
In many ways this new River City game seems so close to the original River City Rampage. Sure, the graphics have been spruced up, but there's not much else here. Then again, I only got to play around for fun and wasn't able to dig into the campaign mode.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Platformer (2D)
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/22/e3-2016-shantae-half-genie-hero-is-just-plain-gorgeous/213207/
First demoed this about a year ago and now did so at E3. I still do not understand the allure of Shantae, apparently. Yes, it looks gorgeous with its cartoon graphics but that is all there is to it for me. None of the platforming is fun and the action is utterly simplistic and repetitive.
Stifled
Horror
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/29/in-stifled-the-monster-can-hear-you-scream/214619/
Interesting concept for a horror game. The surroundings are nearly pitch black and only light up briefly when nearby sounds echo off them. So you basically have to balance making noises (via in-game objects or via a headset mic) with not getting discovered by a lurking monster.
Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity
Hack 'n Slash
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/21/e3-2016-touhou-scarlet-curiosity-is-a-most-unusual-touhou-game/213092/
This is an odd release because it is (as far as I know) the first official Touhou release in North America and is not even a core franchise title. It's actually a fan-made game that is getting published here. Anyway, it's a hack 'n slash game with some bullet hell elements. Simple enough.
We Are Chicago
Take the storytelling and gameplay of a Telltale adventure game and mix it with a documentary-style lens on people living in Chicago's south side. It's a more serious game than most, but one that I personally am interested to see come to fruition.
Wild Guns: Reloaded
Arcade Shooter/Multiplayer
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/22/e3-2016-wild-guns-reloaded-brings-back-classic-arcade-shooting/213561/
Sadly, I never played Wild Guns before but after this demo I wish I had. It's a tremendously fun gallery shooter with western/sci-fi (there are robot cowboys) theme. The pixel art is colorful and bosses are humorous. All in all, I'm excited to give this version a go again.
Worms W.M.D.
Strategy/Multiplayer
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/21/e3-2016-worms-w-m-d-brings-crafting-into-the-fray/213154/
More Worms! The big changes this time around are that you can craft items and drive vehicles. I can't say as of yet whether these changes will be all that meaningful in the grand scope of things. The 2D drawn artwork, however, looks fabulous after the recent games took on drab 3D models.
Yooka-Laylee
Platformer (3D)
http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/06/19/e3-2016-yooka-laylee-too-referential-for-its-own-good/213009/
Basically, Yooka-Laylee is like a N64 platformer just made with some better technical aspects (improved graphics). I would have preferred to see a smarter evolution of what made those platformers good than purely recreating them, but whatever. In the end the people who backed the Kickstarter probably want exactly what Playtonic has created.