E3 is full of game announcements every year. E3 2018 was no different. We saw some awesome family games like Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Jump Force, and Kingdom Hearts 3, but the grown-ups got some great looking games too. Below is a list of some of the biggest grown-up games we saw during the show.
Editor’s Note: The trailers below are not appropriate for children. This is for the grown-ups after all!
Fallout 76
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
It is always an event when Todd Howard, the head of Bethesda Game Studios and bonafide gaming legend, takes the stage to announce a new Fallout game. Fallout 76 is no exception.
Fallout 76 is a prequel that takes place a mere 20 years after the bombs fall in the Fallout timeline. Players will play survivors who leave Vault 76 to attempt to rebuild civilization in the devastated West Virginian countryside. The biggest difference, though, between 76 and previous games in the series is that it is an entirely multiplayer experience. Players will be competing for resources and control of nuclear silos over the course of the game.
There are some longtime fans who have concerns, but I think everyone needs to wait for more details.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
The newest game in the rebooted Tomb Raider series is going to be available this fall. Square Enix showed off a lengthy gameplay trailer during their press conference that showed some of the story details and greatly improved stealth mechanics.
It looks like Shadows will be exploring the way Lara’s mind has evolved since she was thrust into the tomb raiding lifestyle. I, for one, and interested in seeing that because She has to travel a long way mentally to get from the innocent college student she started out as to the tomb raider that we all remember.
The Division 2
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Fans of the massively popular original, rejoice! The Division 2 is set to launch in 2019 and this sequel comes with an avalanche of game-expanding improvements and changes including spectacular upgraded visuals, a compelling new story set 6 months after the original. Other improvements and changes include new character specializations (essentially interchangeable classes) and the absolutely astounding prospect of eight [8] person raids (Yes, EIGHT).
Destiny 2: Forsaken
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
The hotly anticipated massive Destiny 2 expansion “Forsaken” is being released this fall. The beleaguered title has struggled since its release last fall, failing to live up to the depth and scope of the first game. Bungie has acknowledged this shortcoming several times and is leveraging this release to win players back.
“Forsaken” comes with a slew of radical changes to the current game; random weapon rolls, exotic armor reworks, hidden quests, weapon slot changes, an entirely new PVE/PVP mode called Gambit, and a brand new raid with more bosses than any previous raid in Destiny history. This is to say nothing of the new story which the game trailer unambiguously includes the death of Cayde-6 – arguably the most popular NPC in the game. It remains to be seen how these gambles will pay off, but reception thus far has been exceedingly positive.
Necromunda: Underhive Wars
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Last year, I heard murmurs and whispers about Rogue Factor developing a game called Necromunda: Underhive Wars game. Having played Mordheim: City of the Damned, and absolutely loving it, this excited me. But there was little to no information available until very recently.
When I saw it on display at the show, (albeit, an early alpha build) I was immediately excited when I saw the attention to detail they were giving to the lore, and how obvious it was that they were working hand in hand with Games Workshop to give turn-based strategy fans, and fans of the tabletop game, the faithful representation we have been waiting for.
There will be far more customization options than were included in Mordheim: City of the Damned, as well as a focus on verticality in the maps, which will afford a very true representation of the apocalyptic/industrial setting of the Underhive. They’re looking to release in 2019, and I already can’t stop imagining the long nights of strategizing in this dark and mysterious world.
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey was the 10th Assassin’s Creed game to be leaked prior to the Ubisoft Press briefing in a row. It takes place in Ancient Greece and is the first game in the series that gives players the choice to play either a male or female character. It also includes dialogue choices for the first time as well.
Ubisoft reinvigorated the Assassin’s Creed franchise last year with Origins. It feels like Odyssey will continue that trend.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Release date: 10/12/18
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Black Ops 4 is the latest edition in the wildly successful Call of Duty franchise by Activision and is actually the fifth installment of the Black Ops series. The combat system remains largely unchanged from other Call of Duty but allows greater customization to gear and characters alike. Unlike previous Black Ops games, this installment will not contain a single-player campaign and contains only a Multiplayer, Zombies and battle royal mode called Blackout. If you like franchise you absolutely will like picking up this game and playing it.
Anthem
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Anthem is Bioware’s upcoming open-world online shooter and it looks absolutely exquisite. Players familiar with “looter-shooters” like Destiny and The Division will find themselves on familiar ground here.
While Anthem shares similarities with its genre cousins, it stands apart in several significant ways, not the least of which are the “iron man” mech suits called “Javelins” that function as interchangeable player classes. Add to that the explicit and intentional exclusion of PVP, and Anthem seems to be gunning for the top spot for games of its kind.
Anthem releases on February 22, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
The Last of Us: Part II
Platform: PS4
This is a follow up to the wildly successful horror story “The Last of Us”. We finally now have a look at where Ellie is and what she is going through as an adult in a world where most of the population has been wiped out. While the preview was short the gameplay was smooth and visuals amazing, and it is very clear that Ellie is very angry. We as a team anxiously await this games release.
The Walking Dead
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC
The Walking Dead is an officially licensed, first-person shooter by Overkill, set in a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. The game revolves around four characters that run co-op missions to progress through the game. Each character has different skills and weapons that you can develop over the course of the game. Scavenging and crafting are at play in the game as well, though we did not get any real feel for that in the demo.
Overall my impression of this game is that it is Left 4 Dead, with some additional features added in. The missions really require that you work together with your team and utilize your various abilities. While the game mechanics, graphics, and gunplay all need work, it was still fun to play. I feel like they missed a huge opportunity to really make you feel like more a part of The Walking Dead as a whole. If Overkill can bring the lacking areas up to snuff, this will be a fun zombie shooter, that has a little more depth than just mowing down hordes with machine guns and machetes.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
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