E3

SONY E3 2017 – Flawless Victory

Pre-Show

Sony duped many into checking in an hour before showtime by not calling it a ‘pre-show’ until it had already begun. As if sensing the disappointment, they told viewers to stick around for exclusive trailers and release dates. That turned out to mostly be about Knack 2 which is releasing September 5th for $29.99 USD. It’ll feature drop in/out accessible gameplay.

A ‘gritty crime thriller designed to be played on your own or with a group’. Hidden Agenda is similar to the Developer’s previous game Until Dawn, focused on making choices in a narrative-driven game. They take it one step further by giving multiple players in the room a mobile app to particiapte. This is a very mature take on Jackbox Party Pack, and I’m actually quite glad I tuned into the pre-show to see it. Using the hidden information a mobile app allows could make for intriguing gameplay mechanics.

The PlayLink family will include a few other titles, similar to Jackbox.

That’s You

A charming collection of personality-driven mini-games, designed to play with non-gamers. Here’s Sony bigwig Shuhei Yoshida getting goofy

Matterfall – Aug 15th 2017

From the maker’s of Resogun comes a side-scrolling sci-fi platformer with particle effects and explosions up the yazoo. 

Everybody’s Golf – Aug 29th $39.99

You might know this game as Hot Shots Golf, but the Japanese name has taken over moving forward.

I’m a big fan of the franchise, and am glad to see it moving forward on the Sony console. Like most games this year, Everybody’s Golf is incorporating online play, introducing a 9-hole course that lets you interact with large groups of online players, hanging out with other mini-games like fishing and golf-cart racing.

Gran Turismo Sport – Fall 2017

They showed a tour of Polyphony Digital’s state of the art studio with 200 staff and a room set up for 20-player online racing. Polyphony may take a long time to release games, but the passion is obvious.

Sony VR R&D

A bit of talk about VR and the future of gaming, Looking to mobile phones for VR tech, and even a bit of pie-in-the-sky about brainwave integration

Superhot PSVR – Summer 2017

A port of the crticially acclaimed game’s VR version already available on PC.

Sparc – 2017

A new VR sport mixing raquetball, ping-pong, air-hockey, and tennis, to name a few.

Tropico 6 – 2018

A new developer is continuing the series, but no gameplay was shown.

UNDERTALE 

One of the best RPGs of 2015 and a wonderfully unique alternate vision of 16-bit gaming. Coming to PS4 and Vita. A collector’s edition with musical locket is also available.

Ni No Kuni 2 – Nov 10, 2017

The sequel to the beautifully animated JRPG is looking like a solid follow-up.

Media Showcase (The real show)

Sony knows spectacle. They started the show with live musicians playing a beautiful, mysterious, and epic piece as a digital waterfall appeared behind them. Sony’s use of the stage is tasteful and compelling.

Uncharted 4 : The Lost Legacy

The Uncharted 4 DLC development swelled into a standalone piece as Naughty Dog couldn’t stop themselves from creating a brand new adventure worthy of its own release. Uncharted 4 was a fantastic, more mature step for the franchise and I’m excited to step back into the world.

Horizon Zero Dawn and the Frozen Wilds DLC – 2017

A darker looking followup to Guerilla Games smash hit Horizon: Zero Dawn.

Days Gone gameplay

Sony trucked right along with another trailer, this time with lengthy gameplay. After a narrative cutscene we see a biker chase and melee combat sequence. When the protagonist discovers hanging bodies, Sony chose this moment to dangle real bodies in the Conference venue, wriggling to life with the on-screen action.

We see a stealth sequence through an enemy encampment, a distraction made and brutal trap used to distract the baddies. The main character sneaks past a horde of zombies and approaches another enemy encampment in an attempt to rescue his friend. He blows up a gate to bring the zombies to the party.

And what game in the wild would be complete without a bear?

Monster Hunter – 2018

This is a biggie. The MH franchise has a large following and critical acclaim. Nice to see it get a big fat release on PS4

Shadow of the Colossus Remake – 2018

I was wondering what nostalgia Sony would dig up for this conference and this is a great one. An outstanding game that deserves a spot in the video game hall of fame. It should be pushed forward through the generations for more fans to experience it.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite – Sep 19th 2017

Story demo is available to download now. Although it’s releasing in a few months, no gameplay footage was shown. I know they’re trying to hype the story demo, but this game needs rock solid fighting mechanics to succeed in the competitive gaming scene, not a story mode.

Call of Duty WWII – Nov 3rd, 2017

Activision heard the fans and are going back to the well. It’s been long enough that it feels fresh at least. The usual explosive set pieces and gritty atmosphere is here, although there was little actual gameplay between all the pre-rendered footage and in-game events.

Skyrim VR

Expanding from the Bethesda conference, this will be a great test to see what kind of experiences people enjoy in VR.

Star Child – PSVR

A colorful sci-fi side-scroller based around the relationship between a purple haired woman and a giant robot that protects her from a red-eyed robot (evil!).

The Inpatient – PSVR

Yet another creepy VR psychological horror. Kept it pretty mysterious, with no release date either.

Bravo Team – PSVR

Lots of machine gun shooting and hiding behind cover. Looks like your character works closely with another, could be online, but not much to go on.

MOSS – PSVR

Play as a cute mouse that explores ancient tombs and hacks with a sword. Uncharted meets Zelda?

Sony’s stage dynamically changed for many if not all the presentations, and it worked well here. This could be a great little title as well.

God of War – Early 2018

Big Daddy God of War showed us a ton more gameplay and combat. Also a jokey side character in one scene that could be useful to break up the constant serious tone if he joins the party for the rest of the game.

A giant snake called the world serpent appears near the end and Kratos Jr can understand what it says. So he must be Slytherin if he can understand parsel tongue.

Detroit: Become Human

A lengthy trailer mixing cinematic and gameplay sequences looked impressive. The developer is known for combining the two approaches very well in Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain. Stealth was featured heavily during an infiltration sequence as the main characters avoided security bots and hacked security systems. The story is centered around an AI revolution against human oppression. Although the hint of menace in main character Markus’ voice makes me think it’s not so cut and dry.

Destiny 2 – Sept 6th, 2017

The Destiny 2 trailer focused on the gravelly-voiced, bald-headed bad guy who looked straight out of Warhammer 40K. The PS4 will be getting exclusive content such as: Strike – Land of Shadows, Ship – City Apex, Exotic Weapon – Borealis, PVP Map – Retribution

Spiderman – 2018

We got an extended look at a long gameplay sequence. It seems to be a mix of Infamous, Arkham, and Uncharted gameplay. Lots of stealth, timing-based combat, and quick-time events propelling you through massive set-pieces. Insomniac seems to be the perfect developer for this type of game that’s so well-suited to Spidey.

 

Overall

Sony didn’t have the crazy bombshells like Final Fantasy VII Remake, Hideo Kojima’s return, or Shenmue III, but those are just announcements, while this conference fleshed out those announcements with a good amount of actual gameplay.

Also of note, the majority of the show was simply game trailers. After a brief introduction, they played 60 minutes straight of game footage before a quick spiel introduced another long set of game goodies.

When it comes to E3, Sony is unmatched regarding spectacle and a cringe-free experience chock full of what gamers actually want to see: GAMES

okay

Mathew Falvai

Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it comes to games and films, he’d much rather experience a 10/10 classic from yesteryear than a 6/10 modern blandfest. He does feel we’re living in a gaming golden age with the power of indie developers at an all-time high, but wishes AAA publishers would take more risks. Mat believes it’s only a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and new ideas take their rightful place above reboots.

Recent Posts

Insights from Expert PC Builders

Exploring the realm of custom PC construction is a thrilling yet daunting journey. Seasoned PC…

1 month ago

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review – Kasuga’s Vacation

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is another hugely expansive RPG from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio…

1 month ago

Navigating New Horizons: Crafting Effective Onboarding Programs

In today's dynamic business landscape, where talent acquisition and retention are critical for organizational success,…

1 month ago

Effortless Video Conference Planning: Tips for Seamless Virtual Meetings

In the fast-paced digital age we live in, virtual meetings have become an integral part…

1 month ago

Navigating Soaring Energy Prices: Tips for Consumers

As energy prices continue to rise, consumers are increasingly seeking ways to mitigate the impact…

1 month ago

Mastering the Art of Nonprofit Fundraising: Strategies for Success

In the realm of nonprofit organizations, fundraising isn't just about securing funds; it's about fueling…

1 month ago

This website uses cookies.