Microsoft - 7/10
- Blue Dragon
- BioShock
- Eternal Sonata
- Halo 3
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Mass Effect
- Lost Odyssey
- Burnout Paradise
Microsoft decided to focus on games that will be released before the end of 2007 instead of focusing on games that would come out in 2008 and onwards. I believe that what Microsoft did was a noble effort. It showcased games that not everyone would of noticed if it wasnt for E3. Im sure Mass Effect and Lost Odyssey have more fans because of the great trailers that were shown.
What I also really enjoyed about Microsoft's Conference was the statistics they gave. Usually I'm not really a stats person but Peter Moore deliveredvery interesting stats. Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare both have gained a lot more attention in my eyes. Before watching the conference I looked at them and said they were 'meh' games. Games that I might rent or buy cheap or whatever - who cares. But they have great potential.
The only thing that I didn't like about the conference was that Rare and Silicon Knights were nonexistant. Again I respect Microsoft's decision to focus on 2007 but it tears me up inside. Rare was a developer that was releasing two Triple A titles every year back in the good old N64 days. Now they can't even deliver one game per year. The thing I don't understand though is why this is happening. Rare has 5 development teams or so I hear and they have 3 games being developed as we speak. So what is going on over there? Silicon Knights is also a company that I love. Both their games, Eternal Darkness and Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes were both amazing but that was over 3 years ago. How does a company like Silicon Knights make the same game for 3 years?
But 2008 seems to be a great year. Not only are Too Human and Banjo Kazooie 3 coming out but there is also Fable 2 andHalo Wars which looks amazing. Think Warcraft meets Halo and you get Halo Wars. Its a RTS and the 34 second preview gives me more excitement then Halo 3 itself. Finally, Burnout Paradise will be the greatest racing game ever. Sadly, there wasn't any Burnout shown at the Microsoft Conference but we'll see more at EA's and online so yeah.
Sony - 7/10
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Lair
- Killzone 2
- Heavenly Sword
- Little Big Planet
- Metal Gear Solid IV
Sony interests me. It's not that they have amazing games but its that they look so pretty. I have no idea how games like Lair or heavenly Sword or Killzone 2 will turn out. Killzone 2 looks really good but you look at Killzone 1 reviews on the PS2 and it didn't do good at all. Heavenly Sword looks like God of War and basically has the same feel as God of War so that game should be good but again who knows. Lair again looks pretty sexy but I've heard that it's not an amazing game. Little Big Planet interests me but who knows....I'd like to havesome time with it.
Finally the only exclusive game on the PS3 that I have to play is Metal Gear Solid IV. Kojima is God...we all know it and Metal Gear Solid is the best story telling franchise ever made. But the thing is that I can always borrow a PS3 off my boss and beat Metal Gear Solid IV in a week. Let's face it - there is no necessity to buy a PS3...yet.
The thing that most interests me is PS3 Home. Home looks like something I'd like to play. Some people like World of Warcraft, I like Home. Home is something that motivates me to buy a PS3 in the future but its too hard to tell now if it will be a huge success.
Graphics wise and maybe even online wise Sony looks like it has the upper hand on Microsoft. I'm pretty impressed with Sony and I hate Sony. God damnit.
Oh also..who gives a crap about PSP...I know I dont.
Nintendo - 4/10
- Smash Bros. Brawl
- Super Mario Galaxy
Nintendo did not impress me at all. I'm sorry but wow......what a total letdown. And it's not that the big surprise was Wii Fit because I like the idea of Wii Fit. It's that...its now a reality that the Wii can not be a PS3 or an Xbox 360. The sad thing is that Nintendo didn't even showcase their games. They didn't even really show trailers or gameplay or anything. They announce a huge blockbuster Triple AAA title like Mario Kart and thats it. No gameplay, no trailer, no nothing. It's just look people Mario Kart is coming with this wheel..yay.
There is only one way I'll buy a Wii and that is because of Smash Bros Brawl. Everything in this game has to be perfect. Gameplay, level design, and especially online. Thankfully, the Smash creators have said that we can use the Gamecube controller - I just don't see myself using a Wii Remote sorry. The updates on Smashbros.com have greatly worried me. All the levels that have been announced are so small and so uninnovated. And finally, the online has to be perfect. It has to be as easy and accessible to play online like Gears of War. There has to be a microphone so you can talk and play. There has to be online lobbies. Please Nintendo don't screw it up.
Top Games
First of all these are the games I am most excited for and not the best at E3;
1, Grand Theft Auto IV - Man I am buying this game no matter what. I didn't have to see a trailer or screenshots to know that I was going to buy this game. Rockstar has never disappointed. I remember growing up and wanting to play a Grand Theft Auto game. It's just in my blood that I have to play all the GTA's and GTA IV is no different. Rockstar won't disappoint and that's final. The story also looks very exciting. I didn't really prefer the 'gangster' storyline in San Andreas but it was fine.
2, Banjo Kazooie 3 - Rare is the best developer of all time in my eyes. Rare has made all of these classics; Donkey Kong Country, Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Tooie, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Star Fox Adventures, Kameo, and Viva Pinata.I can't wait for Banjo Kazooie 3 but I'm just a bit upset that Rare decided to skip the year 2007. At their prime, they released 2 titles every year and they just aren't doing that anymore. I hope next year is the year for Rare.
3, Too Human - Too Human will be an amazing game as well. It's been in development since the original Playstation where it was suppose to be a 6 Disc game. Silicon Knights has never disappointed me so far. Hopefully this game will get the advertising it needs from Microsoft. Not alot of people know about this title and its a shame. But mark my words, this will be the greatest and most epic trilogy in video game history.