Most anticipated games of E3
As usual, excitement levels are going into overdrive on the eve of this year's E3 Expo. Every year the gaming press descends upon Los Angeles like a pack of rabid wolves, hungry for any new details or hands-on with games they can fit into their already overloaded schedules. This E3 should be an extra special one, as Sony and Microsoft prepare to take us into the promised land of next-generation consoles, and both will be battling for your attention over the next week.
There's not much more to say that hasn't already been said. Sony revealed a lot of new games at its PlayStation 4 reveal back in February, and we're hoping to see a lot more of those as the week unfolds. Microsoft spent the majority of the Xbox One reveal talking about console features instead of actual games, but its promising that we won't be disappointed when we tune in to its conference on 10 June.
Obviously there will be plenty of new games announced as well, but below we've drawn up a list of our most anticipated titles for E3 2013.
Battlefield 4
We were blown away by the 17-minute debut trailer that officially confirmed Battlefield 4. It was superbly done and it played out like a short film, going through twists and turns and showing off incredible facial animations that got us excited about what next-gen hardware can offer. We want to see even more Battlefield 4 footage at E3, this time with a focus on multiplayer and how DICE plans on overtaking Call of Duty as the leading shooter on the market.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Who knows what Hideo Kojima has up his sleeve? The much-lauded mastermind behind the Metal Gear series always manages to surprise players with innovative gameplay and storytelling, and Metal Gear Solid V looks to be no different. A brand new Fox Engine will help the series stand out visually, and with Kojima's input it will no doubt be one crazy, insane, thought-provoking amalgamation of cut scenes and hiding in boxes. We can't wait.
Thief
Dishonored managed to appeal to the masses last year by offering players a first-person stealth experience that is uncommon these days. Sure, you could chop heads off and create a bloodbath if you wanted, but the game rewarded you for hiding in the shadows and sparing lives. Thief was the original stealth title, with main character Garrett picking locks instead of committing murders and it felt all the better for it. Now Garrett is back and we're eager to see how the legendary series makes the transition to next-gen.
Watch Dogs
There's no escaping it, Watch Dogs was pretty much the game of E3 2012 and since then anticipation for the Ubisoft Montreal-developed title has just been building. We've caught a few more glimpses of it over the past 12 months, where we got to see how protagonist Aiden Pearce can hack into security cameras and cell phones and cause as much havoc as possible. A further look at Watch Dogs and how the multiplayer works would have us salivating for more.
Batman: Arkham Origins
One of the most critically acclaimed gaming franchises to date, the Arkham series is taking a bit of a U-turn for the next installment. This time there's going to be a prequel, set well before the events of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, focusing on a younger Batman and his first encounters with the deadly villains of Gotham. Origins is also in development at new studio Warner Games Montreal instead of the usual Rocksteady, so there are more than a few people wondering if this will actually be any good.
Destiny
How does Bungie top what it managed to achieve with the Halo series? It sounds like an impossible task, but its something that the studio is confident it can achieve. Little is known about it, but it's another sci-fi, first-person shooter that will likely involve the shooting of thousands of aliens. We're interested in the multiplayer components and how it all works into the single player game.
Forza Motorsport 5
The Forza 5 reveal was one of my favourite moments of the Xbox One event. Forza has grown from strength to strength in recent years, with the incredibly enjoyable Forza Horizon spin-off last year shaking things up a bit. Forza 5 looks set to go back to basics, with track and circuit racing again at the forefront, and we're being promised 60 frames-per-second gameplay from developer Turn 10 Studios. Hopefully we'll find out confirmation that this is indeed an Xbox One launch title.
Super Smash Bros. U
Maybe wishful thinking, but hopefully Nintendo reveals a few details and maybe even gameplay footage of Super Smash Bros. U in action. The popular cross-franchise beat 'em up has had players button mashing for well over a decade now, but a new installment in the series is well overdue. A new Super Smash Bros. game could well be the catalyst for much-needed Wii U sales so Nintendo needs to show it off sooner rather than later.
