5. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
Gameplay Demo
Saying the original Lords of Shadow was flawed is kinda like saying Nintendo's game-making policies are a little out-of-date: gee, you don't say let me count the ways. It's platforming was inconsistent with jumping so rigid it makes Simon Belmont look flexible, it's framerate was awful, it's campaign padded out with filler sections, it's Titan battles tedious trial-and-error if you don't do EXACTLY what the game wants you to do, it's storytelling all tell no show...it had it's problems. But despite that, I always believed there was a solid enough base here that with some adjustments(and a PC version that runs at 60fps, natch), they could make a rock solid sequel. I think this is it.
First, all the strengths from the first game appear to be in-tact. The artwork is still gorgeous, foggy castle interiors and shimmering gold goat heads that look like they're made of gold and not just painted as such. The Light/Dark system that made every battle that much more interesting is still here, although changed into the form of weaponry with their own unique move properties and such. Do you go in for offensive power, or do you prolong both yourself and the battle with more defensive, health-granting attacks? The weapons all have added visual flair, from the blood red of the Blood Whip, to the fiery blows of the Demon Claws or the healing blue hue of the Void Sword. Gabe looks more agile than his older form, with an actual ninja flip for a jump and Alucard-lookin' backstep dodges.
The titan battles seem to have gone from ripping off SotC to ripping off God of War 3, more giant moving stage than mini-game boss fight thingie; a welcome change in my book. The platforming...well, kinda early to tell, but that "click here to show you exactly where to go" is kinda humorous. The camera is no longer fixed, but can now be turned in 360 degrees, wheeeee freedom. You're gonna need that if the game is more open-world in it's structure like Dave Cox said, which I'm eager to see how that works.
So, so far so good. Lords of Shadow 2 seems to be doing exactly what a sequel should: build on what works about the last one, fix what needs improving, and introduce some new interesting elements to create an engaging gothic action-adventure for newcomers and fans alike.
4. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Trailer
Man, that game title sounds like a nice, cold blue-colored ice crush or some shit. Sure could go for that right now, it's like...90 degrees out in this mothafucka.
Silly title aside, I'm pretty hyped for this, but I can't help but laugh; for YEARS people been speculating about what Retro was doing for the Wii-U. They hired these Naughty Dog employees, ooh, they moved buildings, what if it's Star Tropics, new Metroid, new IP entirely, something that can really show off the power of the Wii-U, etc.
Nope, more DKC!
The salt overflowed, but I couldn't be happier. The sequel to one of the finest 2d platformers in 15 years is a bad thing now? They even gave us non-motion controls AND AN ALL NEW DAVID WISE SOUNDTRACK. That doesn't get you hype, IDK, you might not have been loved as a kid or something. I can't help ya, buddy. I'll be over here, swimming through silhoutte levels.
3. The Wonderful 101
Godlike trailer
That first gif has Mecha-Hydra teaming up with a giant Gorilla commando with a plasma sword wearing a beret. The second gif has you avoiding Mecha-Dragons and giant robot hands. The trailer has Not-Viewtiful Joe, Not-Dante, and Not-Bayonetta/Sexy Silvia transforming into superheroes.
There's a scene where you create a giant fist made of superheroes to bitch smack a cyber-dragon. You sword duel a giant gorilla super villain with your blade made of superheroes.
All in 60fps. Controls like a fuckin' dream. Directed by the creator of some of the finest action games ever made.
IF THIS DOES NOT EXCITE YOU WE CAN NEVER BE FRIENDS
2. Destiny
Behind Closed Doors Demo
Halo was a great, important game in 2001, innovative, if not "inventive". Vehicles, sandbox arena combat mixed with corridor battles, intelligent varied enemy AI, two-weapon system, rechargable health, cinematic storytelling; these weren't entirely new ideas in 2001 that no developer ever did before, but no one had ever put them together in one game like this,
especially not on the console marketplace. It's influence on shooter game design over the next decade is hard to overstate.
Now, a decade later, Halo series creators Bungie is at it again, with a brand new IP, taking ideas from other PC games, and putting together what seems to be a hell of an ambitious title, tailor-made for the console space.
There's a comfortable Halo "feel" to the combat: the slow gravity-defying jumps, the arc of a grenade toss, the weight and sway of a revolver, fluid controlled movement, the enemy AI that knows when it's outnumbered and retreats instead of rushing at you headlong like most badguys. Shooting aliens in the face seems just as satisfying as always, backed once again by the wonderful Marty'O Donnell's sweeping, melodic music.
But it's not just the comfortable rhythm of Halo is back, it's evolved into a much bigger thing entirely. Bungie's game design was always more open than the scripted, corridor runs and tin-duck shooting galleries of CoD and it's ilk, and that philosophy has been expanded tenfold in Destiny.
Players can choose how they look, how they sound, what weapons they carry, what flavor of space magic they want. Playspaces aren't just open, they're HUGE(you see that playable area in the demo), a giant world you can explore with your friends intuitively dropping-in or out.
It sounds like a MMO, but Bungie lead designers insist on not calling it that. They specifically think of it as a first-person shooter, a great action game that just so happens to have a giant, varied, living persistent world with lots of socialization and customization added to it. And from the demos/previews, they seem to have that down. If you wanna fly to the moon, or fly to Mars and travel the world, meet up with new people, hang out around towns, sit around in a vehicle bullshiting with a friend...you can do it.
It's Bungie's biggest, most ambitious title they've ever done. They've been given a blank check by Activision to create a new ip, a new world, a new kind of game for a new generation of hardware. Destiny is planning to do things that console shooters simply haven't done before,
ever. And if anyone can do it, I believe Bungie can it. They've done it before, after all.
1. Bayonetta 2
Hype as fuck trailer
Much like that other Platinum Games title on my list, I actually don't have much to say about this. You played Bayonetta right? It was one of the finest action games ever, and one of the best games of this generation, yes? Did you see that trailer I just posted? Did you see the whips on that girl's feet? Or turning into a giant purple Bayonetta and straight up headbutting demonic Godzilla into a skyscraper?
2014 game releases, thank you for playing, but your services for GotY 2014 will no longer be required.
Honorable Mentions:
Mario and Luigi: Dream Team(no bros, lol Coldman)
This could have been on the list(because seriously, how fun does
this trailer make the game look? spoilers: really fun), but Schala already wrote about it and I can't add too much to her tomes. In my mind, Bowser's Inside Story is the DS' greatest game(excluding ports like CT, aka the GOAT), and this looks to be a continuation of that. Can't wait.
Titanfall
Not too big on CoD after MW1, but that was before the start giving you jetpacks and wallrunning and fast-paced mech combat. Now I can't wait to play it. Love the whole small-scale vs large scale, mech/pilot combat balance they're shooting for.
Rayman Legends
The
other best 2d platformer of the last 15 years is
also getting a sequel and it also looks even
better than the last one. Sometimes life just works out that way.
Batman: Arkham Origins/
Blackgate
Arkham Origins looks pretty damn similar to Arkham City, but that's cool. Arkham City was pretty great. It's not Rocksteady, but the new guys seem to know the formula works, and they're adding just another new stuff to keep it fresh. Blackgate might be the more interesting of the two, however; a portable 2.5d Metroidvania by some of the creators behind the Metroid Prime trilogy, including the creative director himself, Mark Pacini. All you salty ass Retro dudes that wanted Metroid, well now you're getting it. With BATMAN, even!
Crimson Dragon
The only reason I'm not more hyped for a new Panzer Dragoon is because it's on a platform I don't plan on buying anytime soon. You almost had me, Microsoft.
Super Smash Bros for Wii-U
Good lord, is that really the title? Anyway, this could be awesome, and if Little Mac is in I'll be forced to buy it, but after Brawl disappointed me in so many ways, I would be a fool to give into the hype again. Cautiously optimistic.
And plenty of other games, this post is too long as it is. I'm excited about the next-generation of consoles, about the games coming later through the year and into 2014. Hell, they even got me interested in Final Fantasy, I never thought that shit would happen. If the metric of a good E3 is seeing games you think could be fun to play, this was the best one in years.
