E3 Video Game Roundup: The Good, The Bad and The Xbox One

Every June a mass of game developers, journalists and retailers converge on the L.A. Convention center for 2 days. E3 is widely considered one of the biggest – if not the biggest – video game convention in the world, with a weekly attendance easily surpassing 40,000 people. Because of its size, it can be a massively daunting experience to some people; information is constantly coming out and it’s easy to miss something. Well fear not readers! I have rummaged through the colossus that is E3 to bring you the best of what the show offered.

New Consoles, Yeah!

This E3 was particularly special because Microsoft and Sony released all the juicy details of their new consoles. Below is a fact sheet courtesy of DeviantArt user yamamoto114:

Credit: yamamoto114.deviantart.com

As we can see, the PS4 has a massive price difference than the Xbox One. Also worth noting that the PS4 has no used, or sharing, game restrictions and is region free – allowing service members and travelers to take their PS4s anywhere they desire. The PS4 also will allow people who also own Vitas to wirelessly stream any game to their handheld device. Gone are the days of pausing a game to use the bathroom. The future is now, ladies and gentleman.

Microsoft has received a lot of bad press surrounding the Xbox One – particularly on its online requirements and game sharing and ownership rules. Sadly, Microsoft chose not to address any of these issues during its press conference. However, despite all the bad news, one feature coming to the Xbox One may redeem it for most of its faults. The Xbox One is reported to have some sort of ‘Family List’ that you can add up to 10 people to. The people in your list will have access to any games you have bought for yourself. So for instance, if I get Watch Dogs and I add my friend to my list, he can log onto his console at his house and play my copy of Watch Dogs without any restrictions. That’s kind of cool.

Sweet, what about Nintendo?

Nintendo didn’t have any new console announcements, but they definitely played to their strengths and announced quite a few new titles for the Wii U and 3DS.

New Wii U titles: Yoshi’s New Island, Wii Party U, Wii Fit U, Super Mario 3D World, Super Smash Bros., Sonic Lost World, Pikmin 3, New Super Luigi U, Mario Kart 8, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, X, and Bayonetta 2. Some big names are in there, most notably Super Smash Bros, Donkey Kong Country, Mario World, Mario Kart and Zelda. 

The return to their core franchises is a smart move by Nintendo. As of late, Wii U sales haven’t reached Nintendo’s expectations. In part due to product confusion – people simply don’t know the Wii U is a next-gen Wii – and a lack of titles to draw people in. With the return of the big names, I think the Wii U will be a big seller this holiday season. I know I’ve been convinced to buy one now. I can’t resist Donkey Kong and Mario Kart. Nintendo knows my weaknesses.

Also for you 3DS fans out there, Pokemon X/Y, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Duel Destinies, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, and a handheld version of the new Super Smash Brothers.

The Games of E3

Every E3 has its share of games that ‘wow’ us and those that disappoint. And sometimes there are a few surprises thrown in to keep things fresh. Below is a list of games to look forward to with videos to each. I recommend at least checking out Tom Clancy’s: The Division, Battlefield 4, Destiny, and Watch Dogs.

Forza Motorsport 5 (Xbox One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYTx9DFWMSI

Ryse: Son of Rome (Xbox One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MfYuP6L44k

Titanfall (Xbox One and PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnOxE4i1-XA

Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDfu1mYQXEg

The Order: 1866 (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FK8dgzW0o8

Dark Souls II (PC, Xbox 360, PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asgxfHZlQGk

Gran Turismo 6 (PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbsZaa0ZZzA

Infamous: Second Son (PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uibnf_Q_51s

Battlefield 4 (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqQiZUvLTAk

Destiny (Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMGE3B2wsS8

Final Fantasy 15 (Xbox One, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xKbPooKAo

Daylight (PS4, PC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sau52m8Zr0

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PC, PS4, Xbox One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ_G6XiHoUA

Tom Clancy’s: The Division (Xbox One, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJgMl3BahWY

Watch Dogs (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPYgXvgS6Ww

Wolfenstein: The New Order (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlvfqfGTar4

Mirror’s Edge 2 (PC, Xbox One, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s97B97dIpDQ

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6WgLOjKxmI

Mad Max (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn0aVkdBwt4

Dying Light (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlEO8Swxz-k

Batman: Arkham Origins (PC, Xbox 360, PS3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ajUQ5hQ9I

Call of Duty: Ghosts (PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6L3CzL4wUE

Dead Rising 3 (Xbox One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FjPhjh8oJU

Below (Xbox One): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKABNLQez2E

Killer Instinct (Xbox One): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHE0CQK1sZo

Quantum Break (Xbox One): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KzBVewfEg

Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqJdZQPBDF0

Beyond: Two Souls (PS3): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI2Y5gsE0d0

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwwjcfgTksU

Donkey Kong Kountry: Tropical Freeze (Wii U): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DueE8vJXpo8

Mario Kart 8 (Wii U): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N374okq8SWY

Super Smash Bros. (Wii U): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlz-WOglHgo X (Wii U): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQrYwYbwlS4  

So there you have it. It was an exciting E3 with technical glitches, boos, cheers and surprises. Stay tuned to ReviewSTL for my ‘Best of E3’ picks where I’ll go into more detail on the games I’m most looking forward to!