Here at PlayStation LifeStyle we do things a bit different, as should be obvious, and instead of picking an overall winner of E3 or simply giving an award to a game for being the only racing sim to feature motion controls that cats can use, we gave out 10 to the best of the best – and here they are:
Cameron: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was one of the most graphically pleasing games that I saw at E3. Every bit of the title seems to have been polished, whether it was its engaging combat, daunting enemies or its stunning environments – everywhere you look you can just see the attention to detail. After having seen the game in action for 45 minutes, it was almost impossible for me to find a flaw with it and that was why it deserved a Best of E3 award.
Paul-Michael: Dark Souls II is going to claim some controllers’ souls much like the games before it. You know a game is hard when the demoer, someone who works for the company making the game, dies within 30 seconds on his first playthrough. I applaud the level of challenge in this game. It is a welcome change of pace from other games which hold your hand in comparison. From Software absolutely deserves accolades for giving fans what they want. But those of you who are apt to throw your controllers in a fit of rage when a game gets challenging may want to steer clear!
Chandler: The Elder Scrolls Online personifies the perfect marriage of Skyrim and MMO’s like World of Warcraft, as it ran without a hitch and could easily be seen as the next big MMO. Being able to explore the entire continent of Tamriel with a myriad of other players is a dream come true, with perhaps the best news being that Bethesda and Zenimax plan on bringing out a seamless port to the PS4. While first-person was still being fine tuned for our build, when it launches completely it should give players the feeling like they are back in Skyrim, Oblivion or Morrowind – making The Elder Scrolls Online one of the most anticipated games of next year.
Chandler: Outlast could very well be the definition of true survival horror. Removing any offensive moves from the player, your only options in the face of danger are to run or hide. The sheer feeling of dread that you get when you are cowering in a dark room, defenseless, knowing that you are being stalked by something that wants to kill you is far more immersive than what is found in standard action-oriented horror games. Your only respite from the darkness is a night vision mode on a video camera that you must keep charged by finding and swapping out batteries. The E3 demo managed to strike a level of fear into me, even in the middle of a crowded convention center. Pairing amazing sound, lighting and a deeply passionate new indie studio called Red Barrels, you have a mix that could be one of the top titles next year, and it’s going to be free with PlayStation Plus.
Chandler: Aside from being one of the best looking next gen games that I saw at E3, the concept behind The Division is breaking new ground and combining a lot of really interesting factors. With full tablet cross-play, players are able to use an app to engage with console gamers for a unique experience. Being an online open world game means people will cross paths seamlessly with others, both on friendly and hostile terms. RPG elements allow a full range of customization, as you build your player to your own liking, but still need to survive – as you start out the game with only three days worth of food and supplies. The fact that Ubisoft managed to keep the whole project under wraps until their conference really makes me wonder what else they have up their sleeve.
Paul-Michael: This may be the definitive version of Battlefield. You’ve got breathtaking graphics, destructible environments, intense audio and Commander mode is back. What more could a Battlefield fan ask for? I feel any comparisons to Call of Duty are out of place – this game is in a league all of its own. In no other game can you go from a ground-based assault, hop in a helicopter, parachute out and get in a boat, leave the boat in a jet ski, and call in an airstrike when you hit land to help you in a beach assault. It’s modern combat, perfected.
Anthony: Despite never quite achieving the success as Microsoft’s Halo, Killzone is by no means a lesser game. It’s the grittier, sci-fi shooter that PlayStation fans go to when they want to eliminate other-worldly scum. With Guerrilla Games setting a visual standard on the PlayStation 3 early on in its lifecycle, Sony is looking to them to do the same on the PS4. Stepping it up in nearly every way imaginable, Killzone: Shadow Fall will be the banner title leading the PlayStation 4’s launch, showing just what the future generation of console is capable of. But it’s the welcome changes in Killzone: Shadow Fall that truly earned our Best of E3 award— an open world with multiple approaches, the integration of the touch panel, the use of a full color pallet in an otherwise dark franchise, all while remaining true to the formula fans have come to know and love.
Dan: Before Sony unveiled the PS4, fans around the globe were wondering if they would follow Microsoft’s lead and design their hardware around DRM and blocking used-games sales (at the time). Then, when Sony’s press conference hit during E3, not only did Jack Tretton captivate every fan in attendance by saying they weren’t, he blew the competition out of the water without ever saying anything about them. Sony finally showed that they have teeth without ever having to stoop to direct shots at their competition and let every fan in attendance or at home know that they were listening. As far as E3 conferences go, this has to not only be the most unexpected, but one of the best, and that is why Mr. Tretton earned a best of E3 award.
Dan: Destiny, the highly anticipated game by Bungie, was finally shown off on the PS4 at E3, and it looks like it is already gearing up to be the game of next year. Looking like a mix between a more open world Borderlands without all of the tongue-in-cheek humor and a more streamlined drop-in/drop-out functionality, next-gen might already have their next great FPS already lined-up.
Chandler: Perhaps the best thing about Diablo 3 is that the console versions have been tweaked and reworked from the ground up to feel natural in a console environment. This isn’t a quick port to make an extra buck from console players. Diablo 3 for the consoles will be a unique experience designed for consoles that will hearken back to the days of Gauntlet Legends.
Of all the games shown at E3, which one did you think was the best? Which of the games we chose are you planning on picking up? And which game shown was the biggest disappointment? Let us know in the comments below what you were thinking, or feel free to email Dan.O@PlayStationLifeStyle.com or hit me up on Twitter @Foolsjoker.
