This post has not been edited by the GamesBeat staff. Opinions by GamesBeat community writers do not necessarily reflect those of the staff.
Rather then post a series of lengthy comments on many other peoples articles, I thought I would place my thoughts on the trailers of E3 Day One right here.
Thanks to Michael Donahoe for compiling many of the trailers on one page.
Reviews after the jump.
Natal: As I said in Ben Harris’ Why Natal Will Fail, Natal promises a great deal but delivers next to nothing on the details, much like any good politician in a election year. The Verdict: Glorified tech demo, and I’ll believe it when I see it.
Modern Warfare 2: Modern Warfare was an excellent game and had some of the best atmosphere, story, and multiplayer I’ve ever experienced. To find it all in one game was even more amazing. Part of me cringes at the Aliens-esque gun radar, but I’m guessing its an attempt to clean up the screen… I like the new locations, and It’ll be interesting to see how they integrate vehicles into multiplayer. Verdict: The legacy of the first game make this a sure-thing for me on Day 1. However, this game has a lot to live up to.
Splinter Cell Conviction: Is it just me, or does Sam Fisher look like Nathan Drake (not sure the same old voice fits the new look)? The very first moments evoke Casino Royale, but the rest of it screams Jason Bourne (and to an extent the stealth elements seen in Assassin’s Creed). I like the incredibly cinematic text over objects, and I’m curious how the B&W might be contextual in game – is it a visibility thing, or simply seamless night vision? The Verdict: I like the feel of the game I’m getting from this trailer, and this has got to be the most promising turn-around on a game with such a lengthy and troubled development.
Left 4 Dead 2: I’m not extremely familiar with L4D, although my girlfriend and her guildies play it frequently. Given the track record Valve has had with supporting console versions of games like TF2 and a stagnant online community, I’ve hesitated on picking the game up (I use a Mac, and keyboards aren’t for me anyways). The trailer makes me think of Dead Rising more then anything. I’m curious to know if this really will be a full fledged sequel or more an episodic expansion, as someone pointed out that this is really going to hurt the mod community’s support of L4D in the mean time. The Verdict: I’m sure my girlfriend will love it, and I’ll hear all about it later this year. But I think I’ll pass.
The Beatles: Rockband: Seeing the evolution of the band and their music was simply stunning, but I’m not sure I’ve got it in me for another rhythm game title. The Verdict: It’d be fantastic if these Band-centric games started using the platform to craft documentaries around the subjects via cutscenes. The art direction looks very good, but I’ve never paid for a guitar game and won’t start now. Maybe a Christmas Present for Mom, though.
Crackdown 2: The first game was a sleeper hit and the art looks even better now, with more detailed comic-shading evoking some great atmosphere. I enjoyed orb hunting/leaping across the map, but outside of that the game didn’t hold my interest for very long once I completed the shallow storyline. With games like InFamous and Prototype coming out, it’ll be interesting to see just what Microsoft and Ruffian will do to compete. The Verdict: If they can meld the success of the first Crackdown with a deeper story and more mission variety, I’m sold – although I’m probably sold for a little while anyway.
Batman: Arkham Asylum: I have hard time getting excited about licensed games like this anymore… until you tell us we can play the Joker. Now THAT is something worth looking at, and is probably the most fantastic alternative character choice I’ve seen in a game in a long time. If they pull off the narrative like I think they might… balancing Batman’s search with the Joker’s insane rampage through the mental hospital… this not only could make for fantastic narrative and gameplay variety, but it could be be quite a victory for a beleaguered genre. Or, it could totally blow. The only licensed game I’ve seen in a while that truly intrigues me is Ghostbusters. The Verdict: Nice score on the exclusivity, Sony. However, I’ve got but the sneaking suspicion that the Joker might not be used to quite his full potential. Guess we’ll wait and see this fall.
APB: Not a whole lot to say here, since this is the first I’ve seen of the game. The Verdict: Looks interesting, but not sure it will have enough going to carve a long term niche of sustainability.
Shadow Complex: Orson Scott Card doesn’t have the best track record with games, but Shadow Complex is definitely in the running for best sleeper hit of the show (and release for LIVE?). The game has been described by 1Up as being in the "Metroidvania" vein, mixed with the same HD feel as Bionic Commando:Rearmed and an author whose novels aren’t all bad… and you’ve got yourself a pretty potent cocktail. The Verdict: Metroid, Castlevania, Bionic Commando and Orson Scott Card share one thing in common: they’ve all pissed me off at one time or another. But they all inevitably have some pretty bad ass moments too… time to go buy some Microsoft Space Bucks!
Alan Wake: Hasn’t this game been called vaporware on the level of Duke Nukem Forever? I don’t know much about it, but what I saw seemed like some pretty scary stuff thanks to games like Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space, I like me some scary stuff. Certainly the story and the atmosphere are unique enough. The Verdict: I’m not sure I’d buy this on day one, but if it delivers it could prove to be a nice alternative to the more blatantly fantastical horror offerings I’ve been playing.
Halo ODST: By the time Halo 3 rolled around a few years ago, I was starting to feel some pretty heavy property fatigue. It wasn’t that the Bungie didn’t know how to make a great game, but even the superhuman master chief couldn’t save me from a repetitive story and a failure on my part to really harness the power of things like Forge. These days, I’ve shifted from Halo to Gears of War and now generally my preferred game is Call of Duty 4, but ODST brings something new to the table (I had no interest in Halo Wars) – I like that you’re more vulnerable, that the pacing and style of gameplay is being varied from the Halo formula. I’m not sure it’s going to come into its own being shoehorned into the shadow of Master Chief’s story, though. The Verdict: I’ve got my reservations about the game’s pricing and the viability of "interquals" and "prequels" like the next-next-game Fall of Reach, but hopefully ODST will breathe new life into the stagnating franchise.
And now for a few trailers I’m (not completely) surprised didn’t make it onto Michael’s article…
Metal Gear Solid: Rising: I managed to catch this on the live broadcast, and I really thought Kojima was going to announce MGS 4 for 360. Instead, we get a teaser of robo-chin Raiden and a retooled title. Wasn’t Kojima supposed to stop making Metal Gear Games after MGS 2? The Verdict: It’s impossible to really make a yay or nay based upon so little information, but I’m glad to see they’re at least trying to do something new. I admit, though, I haven’t cared about Metal Gear since I played Splinter Cell in high school.
Assassin’s Creed 2: We see Altair in a new time and place, this time in Venice. Aside from even prettier graphics and some "new" technology, it looks like Assassin’s Creed Plus… of course, I’ve not played the original but having picked it up with Burnout Paradise the other day I’ll be rectifying that in the next week or so. The Verdict: Knowing full well the "twist" at the end of AC 1, I think this might nonetheless set up the franchise for a great vehicle of visiting a variety of eras and countries that will keep the game new and exciting for long term fans. I heard combat was divisive along with the shallowness of the missions (just like Crackdown), so here’s hoping that’s all addressed.
Star Wars: The Old Republic: I’m a respectable Star Wars nerd, even if Uncle George has been sipping a little too much blue milk these last few years for anyone’s taste. But the trailer I saw… Wow. It looks great. I think BioWare is the kind of company that might just make it against the likes of Blizzard in a very competitive MMO market. I haven’t been this excited for a Star Wars game since KOTOR 1. The Verdict: I can only foolishly hope this game comes out for console or Macintosh. Otherwise my girlfriend might break up with me when I bogart her PC at raid time for some sweet sweet scruffy lookin’ nerf herder action.
And that concludes my E3 Day One Trailers in Review. Please feel free to leave comments below especially if I missed some good trailers or you’ve got a bone to pick with me – I certainly welcome an intelligent conversation over all these great new games coming out soon!
