E3 Day 2 - Did You Know That E3 Has Games? Bayonetta 2, DubWars, Rainbow Six, Payday 2 And More!

Written By: Tyler

Here we are ladies and gentlemen, the second day of E3 2014. Today I will just be doing impressions of some of the games I watched today.



Evolve -- Evolve is really shaping up to be a great thing. I know I've been pretty positive throughout E3, but a lot of these games just look so good. Of course, I'm really digging the premise of Hunters vs Monster in this game, but the fact it has an ecosystem where the monster you're hunting isn't the only threat is wonderful. I enjoy that the other creatures within the ecosystem can eat the food that the monster needs. If this game ends up sucking, which it doesn't look like it will, there will be a lot of disappointed people.


Broforce -- It looks like a chaotic, retro romp through the shooters of days gone by, with a sense of humour to boot. It should be entertaining. I don't think it's going to do what Mercenary Kings did with the genre, but this will be a blast to play with friends.


Dead Island 2 -- Am I the only one who isn't excited for a Dead Island MOBA? I actually enjoy the Dead Island games, flaws and all, but this? No thank you. Dying Light is where it's at for me.


Dragon Age: Inquisition -- I was pre-ordering some games during the demo of it, so my attention was divided, but Dragon Age looks pretty and it may be my first journey into the world of Dragon Age.


Star Citizen -- This is a game that a lot of PC gamers are hyped for. They showed a demo that was mostly flying through space, and the mechanics of the ship when you are flying. The game is shaping up very nicely.


Lara Croft & The Temple of Osirus -- This is a sequel to Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light and I have never played that. I've seen some videos, and it looked fun, but I just never took the jump and bought it. However, I have a bias towards co-op games and Temple of Osirus looks like it is going to be bigger and better, with completely solid puzzle/action co-op where you can troll people and have them fall to their death in spikes (seriously, we saw that for a while during the video).


H1Z1 - We're in a time where we have a bunch of MMO survival games, but none of them are done. H1Z1 is no different, and it's very much like DayZ and Rust. They didn't show us a lot of actual gameplay because it's still early, but I'm excited for this, more than I am DayZ.


Guns Up! -- From the video I saw, this game succeeds despite its title. Seriously, what a god awful name for a game. However, don't judge it based on that because it actually looks like a need little tactical/strategy shooter.


Rainbow Six: Siege -- The biggest fear of a new Rainbow Six is that it'll just be another dumb shooter. Despite the fact that it's very early in its development, Rainbow Six looks like it's a real Rainbow Six -- tactical with a need for teamwork. That's all R6 fans want.


The Evil Within -- I think The Evil Within will be scary because it's very easy to scare me. I'm sure there will be some memorable gore and jump scares, but I am not psyched for the game. I just don't see it as being a horror game that ranks among the best. It kind of looks like just another scary game. I hope I'm wrong, and perhaps other people see things I don't, but I haven't gained any new appreciation for it over the course of E3.


Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age -- This looks a bit like a Left 4 Dead but with a more Southern Gothic feel -- not in the way it feels or plays because it's 3rd person as opposed to 1st, but because it's set-up like L4D. I am glad it isn't just zombies we're shooting, and in the video shown we got to see them fighting a witch. I think that in itself, changing the scenery up, is reason enough to at least keep an eye on this one. So many shooters look alike that it's hard to tell at this point if it'll be just that, but I have some hopes for this one.


Hohokum -- Here we have a colourful indie game that appears to be you just flying around. But that's the point. The world reacts to you, and since there isn't anything telling you what to do, everything you do is right (I can get behind that logic). It's got a simplistic visual style, but the blend of colours makes it a bright and gorgeous game. It strikes me as a very relaxing game, and the type of experience that you want when you just want to unwind after a tough day... like when you want to watch a movie but you really don't want to have to think about it so you watch something dumb. I'm not saying this game is dumb, I'm just saying it looks like it'll have the same affect. It will be released on August 12th of this year on PS3, PS4 and PS Vita. I will more than likely get this.


Payday 2: Big Bank Heist -- Payday 2 is a good game, and much better than the first. I'm not as obsessed with it as I should be, since I love the concept, because there are little things that would make the heists better that they just haven't included. It's a big improvement over the first but there's room to grow. This DLC looks like more of the same, but more missions is a good thing.


Bayonetta 2 -- I didn't even need to see videos because I have it pre-ordered. It's still as zany and nuts as the original... but what happened to her hair! I'm excited for this.


DubWars -- A shooter where you're character shoots based on the sounds of the song, so if it's silent, you can only avoid enemies. This music-based gameplay makes this a game worth playing and while the graphics are really not that appealing, I love the concept. I could be wrong here, but apparently the launch is Friday... only I thought I heard that the "launch" was actually not the full game, but early access. If I'm right, I have to ask... is that what is considered a launch these days? I won't rant about this, because maybe that's a post for another time, but I'll leave it at that.


Well readers, this is all I got for the day. I know I've missed games over the past few days, but video game journalism is hard and I quit! No, not really, I don't quit, but it is quite difficult to catch everything, especially when you factor in that there are some games I just don't care about.

Anything I missed that you're into? Message me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime or leave a comment below, and I will see you tomorrow, where I'll do another post like this, and do an E3 Awards post.

E3 Day 1 (Part 1): The Nintendo Digital Event

Written By: Tyler

Image from http://e3expo.com

I'm not going to lie to you people, but the Nintendo Digital Event is what I was most forward to seeing. Partially because in my heart, I'm a Nintendo guy (despite the Playstation being my primary system) and partially because I need to see them do something great. I'm writing this thing live, so it may not be the best writing I've ever done because I'm going for pure reactions.


Nintendo claymation is a thing, and the Digital Event starts with it. It brings the trademark Nintendo creativity. Fight scene.

Then Super Smash Bros. shows up and we watch Smash Bros. versions of Iwata and Reggie duke it out. Then Mario gets brought into the fight via figurine and beats up Reggie Fils-Aime. Mario wins again!

Super Smash Bros. will allow you to use your Mii as a fighter. You can choose any of the three varieties of Miifighters... the brawler, swordfighter and gunner. You can also choose your moves. It's an interesting idea in a game that is already going to be awesome. 

There are also going to be a bunch of different modes in Smash Bros.

Amiibo is coming this year. You will be able to put your figurine on the Gamepad and the statistics of the character will be put into the game you're playing and you can use it, if I'm understanding correctly. Super Smash Bros. will be the first game to use this feature, but it will show up for games like Mario Kart 8 as well.

Then they talk about yarn and Yoshi's Woolly World. It looks like it could be fun with interesting ways of manipulating the world with your yarn, and two-player mode is always welcome but this isn't really what I want from the Digital Event.

Don't call it a comeback. It also looks like the little Toad mini-game in Super Mario World 3D is coming back. Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. 

Then we have another claymation skit where Bowser apologizes to Princess Peach for kidnapping her so much. This is a... strange lead-up to none other than the new Legend of Zelda game for Wii U!

It turns out they're really going for making the world of the new Zelda vast and open. After a little bit of it in action, it says 2015 and then we cut to a real-world boy wandering in a forest. This leads to some footage of the new Pokemon remakes.

The next game we see is Bayonetta 2, a game that I am personally looking forward to. It looks as crazy as the first one, and that's definitely a good thing. If there's one thing Platinum Games is good at, it's making intense action games that are absolutely nuts. It's awesome that they're packaging the first game with the second.

Hyrule Warriors gets the spotlight next. Yup, still looks like Dynasty Warriors meets Zelda. I'm completely okay with that, and I'm not even a big Zelda fan. Every so often I'll play a new Dynasty Warriors because it's nice sometimes to just button mash and kill hordes of enemies. Hyrule Warriors gets released at the end of September, 2014.

Next there is some footage of Kirby. Kirby and the Rainbow curse hits in 2015, and it looks just like a Kirby game. Like the Yoshi game, it should be fun but it's hardly a system seller.

However, right after that, we get some more footage of Monolith Soft's X (apparently called Xenoblade Chronicles X now)... my most anticipated Wii U game and a game I'm already calling one of the best RPGs of all-time. It looks awesome, even if it isn't more actual gameplay.

Next is the game that got leaked, where you design your own Mario levels. It's called Mario Maker and I definitely think it's a cool concept, and one that we should have had before, but again, it's not a system seller. I still dig the idea a lot though and will probably pick it up. It will be out in 2015 and it also reminds me that we really need a new Mario Paint.

Splatoon shows up next. It's an eight player 4 on 4 online multiplayer action game where people fight for territory. Yeah, gang warfare! It's colourful and family friendly, but definitely has a charming creativity to it, such as being able to shoot ink up walls and travel up those walls really fast. You use your ink to claim your territory.

Then we get an animated video of Link fighting Kid Icarus. But then Palutena shows up and gets rid of him. Guess we got a new character for Smash Bros. Then of course we see some footage of her in action.

Next Miyamoto talks about the gamepad and new experiences and it's over. I'm really disappointed that they chose to end the digital event this way.

Closing Statement: What I like about Nintendo is that they spend more time showing actual gameplay than just pretty cinematics. Say what you want about their games, but their way of announcing things in that regard is better than everyone else. I can't help but feel disappointed as a whole though. I'm one of those guys who eagerly anticipates each Nintendo Direct, only to be disappointed. I feel the same way. It was a good, entertaining, humorous presentation, and Zelda is big news (even if people already knew it was going to be announced), but they did not come out and kill it like they should. No Metroid, Star Fox, F-Zero, no new IPs that we don't know about outside of something like Splatoon (which does look fun, don't get me wrong). They really had to go for broke here and they didn't.


Edit: Wow I'm an idiot. I completely missed the Star Fox tease. I also feel like I was a little hard on the presentation, even though I enjoyed it. Nintendo did a good job.

My Most Anticipated Games of 2014: 15 - 1

Written By: Tyler Selig

15: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (PS4, PC, Vita)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beUrlDwf56w

                I’m not unfamiliar with cactus, so when I played Hotline Miami 2 I wasn’t surprised that it was dark and weird. What I was surprised with the gameplay. You couldn’t just shoot, you had to plan your next move. It was video game chess, and it got frustrating sometimes (also because of bugs) but damn, the story was sufficiently nuts, it was really fun, and the game was just memorable as a whole.

                Give me more of that, you have a winner.

14: Destiny (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufeImJJEqqU

                No monthly subscription fee, Bungie, not an MMO but actually is an MMO? Yup, that’s Destiny in a nutshell. It’s hard not to be hyped for Destiny because of all of these things. Try watching that video and not get excited for it.

13: EA Sports UFC (PS4, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkDED86sskU

                Whenever a new Fight Night or MMA game comes out, I always play it for hours upon hours, always telling myself “just one more fight” but then being unable to resist to urge to build my fighter more and beat more people up. They’re really the only sports games I play.

                Though MMA hasn’t had a great track record in video game format (good games, not quite there yet), I still look forward to seeing what Next-Gen can do for the sport, especially considering it’s EA doing it this time so I want to see what they bring to UFC.

12: Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls (PC, PS4)

http://ca.ign.com/videos/2013/11/26/diablo-3-reaper-of-souls-video-preview

                I’ve gone to bat for Diablo 3 because I put over 100 hours into it and I did genuinely enjoy it. However, I can acknowledge the flaws that it has, namely the levelling up system which is one I understand but don’t prefer.

                Reaper of Souls is trying to right a lot of the wrongs, and adds another class in… so I’m really excited for it.

11: Bayonetta 2 (Wii U)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dFfVBdRWmw

                Partially because it’s a Wii U exclusive so I have to support it, partially because Bayonetta was a silly, action-packed, fun, crazy romp, I really want to play this. I think Nintendo  has a winner on their hands here.

10: Lily Bergamo (PS4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb6BVCfAxdU

                I don’t know much about this game other than Suda51 is making it. That’s enough for me because I’m almost always a fan of his stylish, batshit-insane games. I am one of the few people who loved Lollipop Chainsaw.

                Here’s hoping this game is his best.

9: Final Fantasy XV (PS4, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3xKbPooKAo

                I have to admit something: I haven’t loved a Final Fantasy since 10, but my love for 10 is not that of 7, so really it’s been like 15 years since I’ve felt incredibly passionate towards a Final Fantasy (though like I said, I loved 10, and I thought 9 was great too). I skipped 11, hated 12, skipped 13 because it didn’t look appealing and haven’t played 14.

                With all of that said, Final Fantasy is in my veins, and I’m hoping that this is the next Final Fantasy that I love. It looks a lot different than others, and it better end up being awesome because in my eyes, Final Fantasy needs to return to glory – though to be fair, A Realm Reborn looks great… I just hate subscription fees.

8: Titanfall (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caiIamHIzBY

                Incredibly hyped first-person shooter, but as far as I can see, it’s warranted. It really does look incredible, and different than the others. I’m sure it doesn’t dethrone Killzone as my primary online shooter, but if any shooter can, it’s this one. It will most likely sit comfortably in second, because being able to jump around as much as you can in this opens up the gameplay and gives us something different.

7: Starbound (PC)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMJE9ZHIqQ

                I love Terraria, and Starbound looks to be a worthy successor. It really seems like it’s being improved in all ways – it’s a little more epic, a little more RPG, a little more buildy-buildy, and that soundtrack is incredible. Peep the trailer and try not to get pumped for it.

6: Mario Kart 8 (Wii U)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU7tXqYplA8

                It’s Mario Kart. I will always love the series, because it’s chaotic racing with characters we love. I was sold on it before I saw footage, but it looks to change up the gameplay a little bit by adding different types of vehicles, more-so than in previous entries. Pre-ordered.

5: Tom Clancy’s The Division (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njfj6KwEAfg

                This was the game that blew me away the most at E3 this year. It just looked like a solid co-op third-person shooter, which would be reason enough for me to buy, but then at the end of the trailer when other players come in. I sat there thinking, “Holy shit, this will be cool.”

                I think to this day, there isn’t a lot of information but we’ve seen how interactive the environment is and some other details. As far as I know, it’s not totally clear how the online aspects work, but I’m ridiculously excited for this.

4: Super Smash Bros. (Wii U, 3DS)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvudMu-5kIU

                Super Smash Bros. has been my favourite fighting series since the first one, though Street Fighter will always have a soft spot in my heart. I love the chaotic nature of the series and disagree with anybody who says it doesn’t take skill. The idea behind it is to be able to control the chaos and make it work in your favour. By chaos I mean that the levels always shift and change, and you can play with four people on screen. I also like how it sort-of has a health bar but it doesn’t work like other games.

                Like a lot of Nintendo things, there’s crossover appeal too. Want to beat up Link with Kirby? Sure, you can do that. With this installment, you can finally play as Mega Man, which should be awesome. I also look forward to trying out the Villager.

3: Earth Defense Force 2025 (PS3, Xbox 360)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu7HqyHTJ38

                I mention this every time I discuss Earth Defense Force, but if you just want a game that is a game in the purest sense of the word, this series is where you go. It’s hilariously low-budget, with buildings collapsing easily, and all you do is shoot hordes and hordes of giant ants, spiders, and robots. There isn’t anything complicated here.

                I love it.

                The reason it’s not number two on my list is mostly because it’s last-gen. Since it’s already out in Japan, this is only coming to PS3 and Xbox 360. It’s a shame because even though I know it won’t ever be a AAA title, I want to see what they’d do with it if given more power.

                Still… it’s Earth Defense Force. It’ll be fun to shoot aliens again while listening to funny one-liners.

2: X (Wii U)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APWTJMyM4qg

                Do you own a Wii and haven’t played Xenoblade: Chronicles? Stop reading this and go play it right now. It’s one of the best RPGs ever and is one of the top three or four of the last ten years.

                Why does this matter? The same developers are unleashing X onto us, and even though there hasn’t been a lot announced concerning the game, we know there are giant robots and that the developers at Monolith Soft are awesome people who make legendary games.

                I didn’t even have to see the game, I just needed to know who’s making it. It helps that they’ve promised a bigger, more expansive world and it’s probably going to be RPG of the year.

1: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw5t45tEPWQ

                There could only be one, even from the beginning of the list. There were no other games that could touch this. Any year that there’s a core Metal Gear is a year that it gets number one in something. I have never been let down, and it doesn’t look like this will change with the newest in the series.

                Kojima is giving us a more open Metal Gear this time around, and even though I’m the first to admit that open-world games are becoming a tad oversaturated, I’m still curious to see what they do with a less-linear Metal Gear.

                The trailers already look fantastic, and I’m sure that the story will be as emotional and deep as they have been in previous entries. I’m sure the classic stealth gameplay will be as thrilling as it has been. I can guarantee that the bosses will be as weird and sometimes whacky as they have been in the past.

                What I’ve always loved about the series, at least since Solid, was that the game is serious but they do throw in humour. The game is a great example of games being art, but it never forgets that it’s a game at its core. I know some will say it has too many video scenes, but it’s never bothered me because I’m so invested in what’s going on.

I actually need to play Peace Walker because I never had a PSP before (I know they released an HD remake as well), but I intend to play that in anticipation, right before The Phantom Pain comes out.

                What this all means, of course, is that I need a better job so I can buy all these games. 

                What did you think? Did I miss a game that you are excited for? Let me know in the comments below or follow me on Twitter @ArtBathednCrime and tell me you hate me there. Make sure to check the blog daily from now on because the Awardicons – Best of the Year Awards – have officially started.