With the dust finally settling on yet another E3 we thought we scour Youtube and the like for every conceivable game the was shown at E3 and give you round up of what were the killer games from this year’s show – a few of them won’t be available this year, but are more of a window into the future next-generation gaming.
Watch Dogs
The most talked about game from E3 had to be Watch Dogs. Created by Ubisoft’s Montreal studio the game is pencilled in for a release on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC sometime next year. Set in near-future Chicago it follows the main protagonist Aidan Pierce in a GTA-style open-world adventure. Rather than playing a two-bit thug you play a computer hacker that is embroiled in conspiracy, he has somehow hacked into the national grid and, via his magical PDA, can manipulate almost every digital device in the city, from cell phones, to security cameras, door locks, traffic lights and public transport routes.
Shown running on a high-end PC, in realtime, the demo shown off at E3 had many speculating that the new IP was being prepared for the next Xbox and Ps4 – well, Ubisoft confirmed the it would be out on this generation of console, abeit loosing a bit of its graphical prowess.
During the demo you see the main protagonist infiltrate a party where he then hacks guests phones to listen in to their conversations to try and identify the location of Joseph DeMarco. The action swiftly moves outside as you login to the transport network and change traffic lights from green to red in order to create a distraction to rescue a hostage.
Watchdogs shows off what is going to be capable in games over the next couple of years – from the fidelity of the animations to the pouring rain cascading of the mean streets of Chicago, Watch Dogs was easily the most impressive games on show at E3.
Check out the stunning video below, and make you watch it in HD for the full next-gen effect.
Star Wars 1313
Staying on next-generation theme Lucasarts have been working on a new Star Wars games – we know, the last Star Wars was hardly a revelation, but 1313 promises something entirely new for the franchise: an adult setting.
It takes place between the trilogies, and is set on level 1313 of the Imperial capital, Coruscant. Level 1313 is where the ruthless criminal underground reside deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant. It puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy. Star Wars 1313 emphasises epic set pieces and fast-paced combat with a hero who uses human skills and gadgets, rather than supernatural Force powers, to make his way through this dangerous world.
“We’re excited to share one of the projects LucasArts has been hard at work developing,” said Paul Meegan, President, LucasArts.
“Star Wars 1313 dives into a part of the Star Wars mythos that we’ve always known existed, but never had a chance to visit. We are committed to bringing the best gameplay experience and visual fidelity to life and I truly believe the work we are showcasing at E3 will speak for itself.”
The core of the game revolves around a combination of cover-based shooting and platforming – clearly inspired by Unchartered. The game looks to give fans the Star Wars game they’ve always wanted. Lucasarts, like Naughty Dog, keeps the story moving by splicing cut-scenes with live action set-pieces to give the game Hollywood big budget feel. Lucasarts, LucasFilm and ILM have used their movie making talents to create characters that feel strikingly human. It’s still in early in development – but from what we’ve seem it’s the most exciting Star Wars game since Rogue Squadron.
Check out the full trailer below, which, again, is running on high-end PC.
Tomb Raider
Now for a game that you’ll be able to play this Christmas – Tomb Raider was one of the first games that showed the true potential of the 3D graphics in the Playstation 1 – well 10 years later Lara is back in a true next generation outing.
Set before the original games and subsequent films the Tomb Raider reboot sees a 21-year-old Lara stranded on a island fighting for her life. The game begins with a Lara just out of college and untouched by adventure as she set out on the Endurance, a ship captained by family fried Roth. A storm hits the ship tossing and turning it in a violent storm swell. A frail, battered and bruised Lara is left drifting in out of consciousness upon the shores of rain-soaked island.
The game employs a raft of slick cut-scenes (for the first time) to give the Tomb Raider story a grittier survival feel. The tombs and treasure of the series are replaced by a story of struggle as Lara tries to find her family and escape a group of marauding pirates who have taken her hostage.
Crystal Dynamics have completely reversed the series’ ethos with Lara being a vulnerable survivor and not a adventurer. There are indeed fleeting glimpses of the old Lara we know and love, but the series is being deconstructed with a real eye on creating a something truly special, and if it turns out the way it should it’s likely to be the best Tomb Raider game ever.
