E3 2013 – Day 2

Games Galore:  Some amazing-looking titles are coming to the PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360

The first day of E3 always seems to be about big reveals with regards to hardware, new consoles, motion control devices, redesigns…you know the drill.  Day 2 however, is definitely more focused on software; specifically, the games that developers have either been teasing or keeping largely hidden from the public altogether.  As to be expected, there were some really amazing-looking titles presented today, spanning everything from upcoming multiplatform releases to console exclusives.  If you were worried that 2013 and 2014 might be somewhat lax in the “games” department, you can strike that fear away right now.

Forza Motorsport 5

On the Microsoft side of the fence, Forza Motorsport 5 will be released alongside the Xbox One this November.  The game itself is a technical marvel and is definitely one of the better-looking, smoother-playing titles on display this year.  The game itself runs at a smooth 60 fps and has all of the ultra polished textures and lighting which you’d expect to see in a next-gen title.  Forza 5 brings a startling level of realism to the racing genre and it will undoubtedly be one of the stronger Xbox One initial releases.

Batman: Arkham Origins

The upcoming release from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, “Batman: Arkham Origins”, will be a bona-fide PS3 / Xbox 360 / Wii U / Windows release it seems.  The game itself builds upon the wonderful formula developed and explored within the first two games of the series but manages to push everything toward fresh new territory.  The supervillain “Black Mask” will be the antagonist of the game and players will be introduced to some of the backstory concerning how Batman became who he is.  In terms of visuals and gameplay, “Arkham Origins” looks fantastic and will lean heavily on its open world design as well as the player’s “detective” skills.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

PS3 and Xbox 360 owners can rejoice at knowing that another dynamite Castlevania title is on its way.  “Lords of Shadow 2” is a platforming hack-and-slash title that seems to borrow heavily from the “God of War” franchise (and that’s not a bad thing).  The game itself is beautifully designed and rendered, players will undoubtedly love role-playing as the immortal Dracula who’s seeking to regain his long-lost powers.  Look for a release this winter.

Project Spark

In a nutshell, “Project Spark” is an Xbox One / Windows 8 game (or toolbox) that will allow you make your own games!  Needless to say, this is one of the more exciting entries for E3 2013 and it’s one that might very well end up revolutionizing the way games are constructed in the very near future.  It’s a potent mixture of environments, enemies, items and objectives which you can play around will and use to fashion your own unique masterpiece.  Currently, there’s only one setting or archetype, the medieval fantasy realm, but there is talk of more being added, so one shouldn’t feel as though the project will lack diversity.  Keep in mind, nearly everything can be changed or edited, and that all the finished creations can be shared via the upcoming project spark marketplace.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist

The sequel to “Splinter Cell: Convictions” is also shaping up to be one of the more interesting up-and-coming PS3 / Xbox 360 / Wii U / Windows titles.  “Splinter Cell: Blacklist” will not only propel the dynamic narrative of the series forward, it will also introduce some new mechanics like killing in motion.  In short, this game looks to be very strong in terms of graphics, similarly, some areas open up to become more open-world like, which will really make subsequent playthroughs more interesting, of course.  Naturally, the main focus of the game is on stealth-based activities and mechanics, but players can adapt their own more forceful styles if they so desire in this game.  Likewise, the much-loved competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes will be returning as well.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Last, but certainly not least, we have the highly anticipated “Elder Scrolls Online” experience which is poised to thrill and excite PS4, Xbox One, Windows as well as OS X gamers.  This will apparently be one of the first true MMORPG titles to hit consoles and it’s packing so many goodies and features that it’s hard to believe.  Naturally, this game will place players into an open world environment that more-or-less encapsulates the entire continent of Tamriel, “expansive” is an understatement here.  What’s more, players will be able to switch between the 3rd and 1st person perspectives (as is standard with most open-world Bethesda games), which will undoubtedly make many gamers quite happy to say the least.  The game itself will give players the option to join 1 of 3 different factions, all of which are vying for the throne and seeking to dominate Tamriel.  Molag Bal, the Daedric prince is returning as the main antagonist who’s hell-bent on conquering everything and everyone (very LOTR-ish, don’t you think?).

That’s it for day 2, tune in tomorrow for coverage of the 3rd and final day of E3 2013…