Another year and another E3 has past. For the past several
years I was pretty lackadaisical on the event. Most of the games there barely
had me in excitement or I had already known about them before it even started.
This year, however, there were quite a few games that have me excited as well
as quite a few surprises from older game franchises and some promising looking
new titles. This is the first part of three of that games that I’m looking
forward to the most coming out later this year and the next.
Abzu
Coming from the former lead artist, Matt Nava, of
thatgamecompany (Flower, Journey) is a new aquatic exploration game called
Abzu. It’s all about exploring the sea below and interacting with the
environment and animals in a very relaxing and chill manner. It has a very
clean art style that will make it timeless. This looks like it’ll be a modern
update of Ecco the Dolphin (only playing as a human instead of a physic
dolphin) with some Endless Ocean thrown in.
Adrift
Space is a very common environment for video games. Since
the very first game, Spacewar, there have been many games that take place
outside of Earth in the vast emptiness of space, albeit with a very science
fiction bent most of the time. Taking on the role of a stranded astronaut on a
destroyed space station, you have to search for clues via recordings on what
happened to the ship and try to make your way back to Earth. Along the way you
have to be mindful of your oxygen levels so as not to asphyxiate yourself. This
is another “exploration” game that will have minimal violence and won’t
overstay its welcome, which is something I’m really digging in games nowadays.
Alone With You
While this was announced a while ago this is the first time
I’ve heard of this game. A psychological romance adventure and a love letter to
the Sega CD, this game is about a lone survivor of a failed colony experiment
that has to try to escape along with the aid of an AI and resurrecting the dead
crew mates. This looks like a very unique game with the promise of interesting
social interactions between the other characters in order to survive.
Ashen
Coming to the Xbox One is a harsh open world, action RPG
with elements of survival and developing relationships called Ashen. The art
style is very cool and while early, it shows a lot of promise. Especially the
giant flying, feathered whales.
Below
Another single word title is Below from Capybara Games,
developer of Super Time Force. This procedural adventure game with a mix of Zelda
and Dark Souls looks really interesting especially with its art style.
Chasm
I’ve been following Chasm for a while now since its
successful Kickstarter back in 2013 and it’s finally due to hit this summer.
It’s a gorgeous sprite-based Metroidvania style of game. You know it’ll be full
of exploration, item and weapon collecting, and there are some procedurally
rooms too to keep it fresh.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Another successful Kickstarter story here with Cosmic Star
Heroine. And like most Kickstarter games this game goes deep with the nostalgia
with its sprite-based graphics and RPG nods to Chrono Trigger and Final
Fantasy. This isn’t a bunch of amateurs making this game either, Zeboyd Games
has previously made Cthulhu Saves the World and Breath of Death 7. Planned for
a 2015 release, I can’t wait to play this game.
Crossing Souls
And we continue the trend of successful Kickstarter games
that feed off of gamers’ nostalgia with Crossing Souls! A group of friends come
across a mysterious discovery in the woods outside of their quiet California
town in 1986. It allows them to interact between death and life and that
obviously brings about the attention of the US military and government
conspiracy. This looks like a neat action-adventure with RPG elements and able
to switch between five different characters.
Cuphead
This is a beautifully drawn and animated action title that
looks like it would have belonged to Max Fleischer back in the 20s and 30s.
It’s bouncy, stretchy characters fit well with the intense action of this
side-scroller shooter with hints of Gunstar Heroes for good measure. I can’t
wait for 2016 to roll around so I can play this.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
I have to admit I never finished a Deus Ex title. I did
however, play quite a bit of the first one and Human Revolution. And the fact
that I enjoyed those games enough makes me want to play the sequel.
Dishonored 2
Of course a game as successful as Dishonored was going to
have a sequel, was there any doubt? This time it looks like there will be two
protagonists to switch between and one of them is a woman! Go Social Justice
Warriors and ruin games for everyone! It looks like that the game will keep a
lot of the same elements from the first one but I’m sure more will be revealed
as it gets closer to launching.
Division
I don’t normally go for military shooters or online titles
but this one has caught my attention. It’s been shown before in past E3s but
has kept a low profile until now. It looks like it’ll be an online action RPG
(loot collecting) with squad based elements. The integration of tablets and
other touch devices looks really neat. I don’t know if I’ll end up playing this
game but it’s something that definitely has my attention.
Stay tuned for part two!
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