By Sean Molloy
What an incredible week to be a gamer. Microsoft delivered exactly what they promised; games, games and more games. Sony unveiled their new monster of a console, the Playstation 4. And Nintendo, well, wait was Nintendo even there? Ok yeah, they were and announced an upcoming slate of software. But who really “won” the show this year? In an online poll, 81 percent of fans think Sony won by announcing that unlike the Xbox One, their machine would play used games, not require an internet connection and most importantly…make gamers everywhere their number one priority. I have to agree, the Playstation 4 is the superior machine in my opinion having hands on time with both new consoles. I’m excited for more players to wrap their hands around the new controller and have an experience.
As for the games, I was on the show floor and got to play a ton. Therefore I’ve compiled a list of the best I saw with what I’m simply calling my E3 awards. Broken down by category, here is my best of the best of E3 2013. Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Best Action Game
Infamous: Second Son
The third entry in Sucker Punch’s franchise is a sight to behold. I can’t remember any kind of game looking this good. With a new protagonist and setting, Second Son is taking fresh new approaches to its super hero storytelling. Delsin Rowe now uses fantastic fire and smoke based attacks to rampage through future Seattle.
Best Adventure Game
The Walking Dead: 400 Days
Telltale’s new title bridges the gap between last years The Walking Dead and the next iteration of the zombie apocalypse. Everything we loved from the first game is here in full force, the moral choices that make our stomach turn, the simple puzzle mechanics and the point/click format. 5 different characters will each have their own chapter with the final being the culmination of all before.
Best Multiplayer Game
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Ubisoft is starting up what is sure to be another phenomenal franchise with The Division. Occurring after a near future financial collapse in New York, players are thrust into a world where they must work together online to survive. In the demo, three players worked together to overtake a police station. All happening online with no players on the same system. At one point, a drone entered the battle being controlled by a tablet. Ubisoft is going all out with this one; I can’t wait to get my hands on it some more.
Best Platformer
Knack
Playstation 4’s exclusive title, Knack, is as cute as it is full of solid gameplay. I was able to have over a half hour of playtime with Knack and I refer to it as a Ratchet and Clank meets Toy Story kind of game. The story revolves around a creature that can shrink or grow at the push of a button. Mechanics are solid all the way around and with a few months more polishing time, Knack could really be something special.
Best Racing Game
Driveclub
Evolution studios is making the racing game they’ve always wanted to make. Take their word for it. The idea is simple; make a game where drivers from all around the world can join teams and race against everyone else. If there’s no team to race, no problem, Driveclub gives the ability to create your own challenges for you to dare your friends to beat. The seamless integration is a marvel; please take my $60 now.
Best Role-Playing Game
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Written by Matt Stone and Trey Parker themselves, the game feels as authentic as you can imagine. It really does make you feel as if you’ve been a part of the small Colorado town forever. Players take control of the new kid in the neighborhood and in true RPG fashion, embark on an epic quest. Every character you’d want in a South Park game is here, from Randy Marsh to Mr. Hankey. Count me in.
Best Shooter
Battlefield 4
DICE’s go to franchise for anything with a gun returns in the next generation of consoles. And boy, does it look sexy. At one point in the campaign, I was charging across the deck of an aircraft carrier when suddenly a hail of bullet fire pinned me down. No worries, I simply took aim at a nearby tethered down F-18 and sent it careening down towards my enemies. I don’t care if the shooter isn’t realistic; its heart pumping and adrenaline filled, that’s what I want.
Best Sports Game
N/A-I just didn’t get my hands on any during the show, but by trailers and gameplay footage I watched. FIFA 14 and Madden 25 are looking great running their new Ignite engine on next-gen consoles.
Best Downloadable Game
I couldn’t narrow this category to one game, during my playtime in the Sony booth; I got hands on time with Transistor and Octodad. Both coming to the Playstation 4 via the PSN (Playstation Network). Equally charming and innovative, both titles impressed me greatly.
Best Multiplatform Game
Destiny
Bungie’s first game as a post Halo studio. I’ll keep this short and sweet because I could blab for a while. Destiny is completely bonkers good. From the visuals, to the player integration to the online components. The team has struck gold with. It’s the one game of the show that had me thinking about it days after. I already have a clan ready to go, Tim, I’m looking at you. Early 2014 needs to get here ASAP.
Best 3DS Exclusive
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Being set in the same world as 1992’s A Link to the Past is what fans have been wanting for years. They finally get their game. Brand new dungeons to scavenge and tricks with the 3D camera have this title looking promising.
Best Vita Exclusive
Killzone: Mercenary
This is a full-fledged Killzone game….on a handheld. It works, it feels great and with graphical quality to current gen consoles there’s no way Vita owners should pass this one up. The game even has its own multiplayer system that is going to tie in with the Playstation 4’s “Killzone: Shadow Fall”
Best Wii U Exclusive
Super Mario 3D World
Nintendo has pumped up the cast for Mario’s next big adventure. In the spirit of Mario 64, the game will have players exploring different worlds in order to find Princess Peach; ok don’t quote me on that because I don’t really understand what Nintendo is doing as a company anymore. Rehashing old mediums and calling them new games is not innovation.
Best Playstation 4 Exclusive
Infamous: Second Son
In case my first snippet talking about Second Son wasn’t enough, this game just effing rocks. Buy a PS4 and buy this game when both come out towards the end of this year. You WILL NOT be disappointed. I guarantee it.
Best Xbox One Exclusive
Titanfall
From the minds of Call of Duty 4 comes Titanfall. The game blurs the lines between multiplayer deathmatch and single player story. What did show goers see? Well gigantic mechs that players can call down from the heavens at any time to deal massive damage to other players lucky enough to come across you. Shooter fans will rejoice at this title, it seems like a guaranteed seller.
Best in Show
Destiny
If you know me, you know how much I didn’t like the Halo franchise; it felt like the same exact game 6 times over. Yet Bungie has pushed their employees to make something new and innovative. My excitement is through the roof for this game. Anything I could say here just wouldn’t do it justice.
Best Surprises
During every E3 there are certain things fans don’t see coming, here are some of my favorites.
Mirror’s Edge 2!!
Star Wars Battlefront by DICE
Oculus Rift Virtual Reality
$399 Price tag for Playstation 4
Xbox One’s strong game lineup (they’ll need it)
Who’s Buying What?
Over the course of the last few days I’ve been conducting a private poll over facebook, twitter and instagram to ask which system is that consumer going to buy. The majority of gamers are on board with the Playstation 4 at an almost 3:1 ratio over Microsoft’s console, citing the price tag and the focus on game development being core reasons on spending money. The Xbox One was given some love too; most people said that their loyalty to Xbox was because of their Live service and a pre-existing friends list. However I have to mention that I have never seen so many gamers jumping ship off of one console to another than right now. The systems have yet to launch and Microsoft really should be scared.
Special thanks to everyone who answered my poll questions during the last few days.
Sean Molloy can be reached at irishadonai@yahoo.com and on twitter @Sean_P_Molloy