While the much loved E3 being postponed for the first time in over 20 years came as no surprise given the pandemic, Gamers the world over were saddened by the news. Thankfully Geoff Keighley, Phil Spencer and Co stepped up to deliver some great showcases of their own with plenty of new reveals to sink our teeth into. Here is my top 10:
10. Ereban: Shadow Legacy (Xbox, Windows)
Release date: TBC 2023
Starting out with probably the most low key reveal of the bunch, Ereban by Raw Fury really caught my attention. Looks to be based in some kind of dystopian future where robots reign supreme, an open world-ish looking stealth platformer with some cool looking new mechanics like becoming a shadow. You play as a young woman carving and sneaking your way through robots in a bid to prove their "light is a lie." Right up my street and its day one on Game Pass so, why not?
9. Street Fighter VI (PS, Xbox and Windows)
Release date: TBC 2023
I have never been a massive Street Fighter guy, a little before my time, but JEEZ do I remember the outcry post SFV. So, it is good to see fans of the series eating good again and delighted at how the sixth instalment is shaping up. A new hip hop feel that suits the genre, exploring Metro city and some brand new character reveals had fans buzzing. However, the positive verdict of creators at Summer Games Fest Play Days is sure to get fans even more hyped for what could be a return to form for the series.
8. Stray (PS and Windows)
Release date: 19th July 2022
I will preface this by saying that I am very much a DOG guy. That didn't stop me liking what I seen from BlueTwelve's Stray. Cool cat platforming through a Cyberpunk city with amazing visuals and seedy looking robots around every corner? SOLD. A playable dog add on and it's GOTY.
7. Diablo IV (PS, XBOX, Windows)
Release date: TBC 2023
Very much a later bloomer when it comes to Diablo, three was my first outing and we all KNOW the post immortal outcry. Thankfully the gameplay reveal at the Xbox showcase went some way to redeeming the series. Cross play out of the gate, amazing graphics, a new necromancer class, a more open world and over 150 dungeons to explore! IV is looking like a quick return to form so soon after the Immortal debacle.
6. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (PS, XBOX, Windows)
Release date: Early 2023
Now, we didn't see much but we did see gave me some serious Fable vibes ( The magic fox Enki will never top the Fable dog) which, being a long time fan, caught my attention. Melee combat and setting looked very similar and while we got more gameplay than story, the cool magic teleporting and all too familiar musket shooting really lent itself to the fantasy genre that Fable captured soo well. Really excited for what A44 is cooking with this.
5. The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Xbox and Windows)
Release date: TBC 2023
Limbo meets Sherlock Holmes ? That was the feeling I was getting from this side scrolling platformer that follows a Victorian detective through his "last case". Great artwork everywhere, cool looking combat and an intriguing story of a demon on your shoulder guiding you through your fathers memories. It is an Xbox (well Microsoft) exclusive but it is day one on Game Pass, so a must try.
4. Dragon’s Dogma 2 (PS, Xbox, Windows)
Release date: TBC
IT’S FINALLY HERE! While the surprise Dragons Dogma 2 announcement didn’t come at the Capcom show or any other “not E3 showcase" for that matter, it still needs a mention. When a Dragon’s Dogma “YouTube special" was announced for the 10-year anniversary, fans, and me, were understandably devastated. Little did we know, Capcom had an ace up its sleeve when they announced the long coveted sequel to one of the most beloved, cult classic RPGs ever during said special. Details were as scarce as can be but, IT’S HAPPENING and that’s all that matters.
3.Callisto Protocol (PS, Xbox, Windows)
Release date: 22nd December 2022
A Dead Space rebirth, need I say more? Helmed by Glen Schofield himself. What we have seen soo far looks like a clone from all aspects barring the name, which is no insult. A prisoner on the remote moon of Callisto, a creepy voice explains that you are now his property as space zombies emerge from the walls they are plastered to. Even the gunplay we seen looks eerily similar to the slicer made famous by the 3rd person horror classic with an added focus on Melee combat as you make your way through the cursed station.
2. Starfield (Xbox & Windows)
Release date: TBC 2023
While I understand fans have 76 reasons to be cautious, I am a Bethesda lifer and a hopeless optimist.
It wasn’t perfect, gun-play looked meh, no great elaboration on story and Bethesda faces still look like my nephew made them out of play dough. Once you got past that, which let‘s be honest, is par for the course with Bethesda, there was plenty to be excited about: custom ships, space battles, 1000 land-able planets, factions and stunning varied visuals across planets. We have definitely seen this movie before from Todd, but I can dream can’t I ?
1.Resident Evil 4: Remake (PS, Xbox, Windows)
Release date: 24th March 2023
If you know me at all, you should have known this would be UNDISPUTED. When State of play opened up with that letter “R” over some Spanish strings, I knew what was coming.
Now gameplay was scarce (we seen a little more at Capcom‘s show) but just seeing some of those perfectly reimagined scenes, Leon’s crisp leather jacket and a surprise appearance from fan favourite Luis was enough to whet Resi fans appetite before it’s release in March next year.
Some Honourable mentions:
Redfall - Left for Dead looking open world, vampire shooter from Arcane
Pentiment - Interesting looking 2D RPG that seems to be more dialogue based than anything else, art work looks nice
Persona to Xbox and PS - Huge win for Persona fans and a chance for new comers to sink their teeth into a classic
Witchfire - Wild, Doom-esque religious shooter where you blast hoards of demons with guns and powers!
Wo-Long: Fallen Dynasty - We got very little but it is good to see the ninja team working on a new title in a genre I love
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