This Is The Post About E3
E3; a notable event on any gamer’s calender. Last night saw me tune into the much anticipated Microsoft conference, eagerly awaiting for light to be shed on whatever assumptions I had conjured up in my head. Some of what was mentioned really excited me, and other things will pass by me with relative disinterest. So, here’s a roundup of my personal view on the Microsoft leg of the Electronic Entertainment Expo - the good, the bad, and the “meh”.
The Good
Alan Wake. It exists *jaw drops*. For a while there it was a little touch and go. Y’know, is this still in development? Has it been canned? Little information had been released for a game that was initially revealed 3 years ago, but actual gameplay footage was demonstrated, and, well, that just proves it exists… and it’s a-comin’. I’ve said many times before that I feel the 360 has a distinct lack of survival horror games. Even the recent addition to the Resident Evil franchise had less scares than a Darling Buds of May episode. Alan Wake can’t come quick enough (but that quick enough is actually 2010).
Left 4 Dead 2. Left 4 Dead has really taken Xbox Live by storm, and so I’m not surprised a sequel is in the pipebombline. I’ve had some of my best gaming nights playing a campaign on Expert with 3 other friends, and yes, I find it ridiculously scary. I swear, when the wind picks up at the Marina where I live, and it roars through the many berthed yacht’s masts, it sounds like the friggin’ witch from Left 4 Dead. I dare not walk my dog alone on a windy night. Anyway, it’s a shame Playstation gamers will still be missing out on this fantastic game. It’s worth picking up a 360 for.
Metal Gear Solid: Rising. Okay, so I’ve never played a MGS game. Shall I get my coat? But it’s about time I had an introduction to what is typically touted as revolutionising the stealth genre. And just like survival horror, I feel we don’t have many options for stealth on the 360. Hopefully Rising will successfully welcome in newbies, like myself, to the franchise. And hopefully there are no 90 minute cut scenes.
The Secret of Monkey Island. Yes! Just yes.
The Bad
Social networking. Okay, so maybe not so much ‘bad’ as you can take it or leave it, but I don’t understand the inclusion of Facebook and Twitter to Xbox 360. Perhaps I’m in the minority in regards to how I use my Xbox? But 99% of the time I boot it up, it’s to play my video games. The other 1% is made up of downloading the occasional movie or trailer from Video Marketplace. I guess you can say I haven’t really bought into the whole ‘consoles as all round entertainment systems’. So, Facebook and Twitter - both sites I frequent on a daily basis - will continue to be accessed solely from my iMac and MacBook.
Motion sensing shite. This has been a worry of mine since the Wii exploded (not literally), the PlayStation 3 jumped on the bandwagon, and rumours began filtering out about Microsoft’s motion sensing controller. So now Microsoft is wanting to “make you the controller”. I’m going to keep this brief before I end up tearing my hair out, but the 360 controller - or any console for that matter - has never been a ‘barrier’ to me, and I do rather enjoy slouching back on my sofa after a hard days work, both hands idly occupied by my control pad. I don’t want to be the controller. I don’t want to throw my body about the room. I’m really quite happy to exert no energy into playing video games at all. Not because I’m lazy, but just because that’s what I’m happy doing. So yeah, I probably won’t be buying into this motion sensing stuff, but I understand a lot of people will.
The Meh
Guitar Hero 5/The Beatles Rock Band. Both Guitar Hero and Rock Band are fantastic games, but I’m a little bored of the rhythm action genre. Same old, same old. The Beatles, however, are my most listened to artist (according to Last.fm), but I’m strangely not excited about their collaboration with Rock Band.
Halo Reach. I’m not a Halo fan, so news of another Halo game doesn’t excite me at all. Bet I’m in the minority for that, though, eh?
I’m really intrigued to hear what other’s highlights and, er, lowlights were. Especially in regards to Facebook/Twitter, and the motion sensing camera. I will say that I had grown a little complacent about the Xbox 360’s future, simply because there wasn’t much on the horizon that excited me. But with the Left 4 Dead sequel, both Alan Wake and Final Fantasy XIII being given a rough release date, and finally getting to try out the Metal Gears Solid franchise, I’m all excited again!
It took me ages to get around to playing the original Mass Effect, but as soon as I did it was a case of “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”. I’ve been looking forward to the sequel ever since, and it’s not disappointing. What can I say? It’s good to have Shepard back in my life.
vrikis