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E3

E3 2018: Games Patrick looks forward to

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For the second time – consecutively – we’re allowed to attend the most important video game event of the year, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) which takes place from June 12 to 14 in the historic halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

I divide the titles in the segments of games I’ll most definitely see or even play and games I would want to enjoy at the show.

Games I’m looking forward to playing/seeing at E3 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2

As huge fan of the series (check out our Let’s Plays of Yakuza 0, 1, 5 and 6) I’m looking forward to the remake of the second game in the franchise which was originally released on PS2 and which I’ve never experienced. It’s a little weird to play as Kazuma Kiryu considering we said goodbye to him in Yakuza 6: The Song of Life just five months ago. Learning about what happened to Goro Majima between both Kiwami games is more than just a bonus to me. Like in the previous year I expect the game to be playable at E3 and it would be fantastic if they’d give out those giant Yakuza goodie bags again since the one I grabbed last year never survived the trip back home. To top it off SEGA could also announce a Western release of the PS4 remasters of Yakuza 3 (, 4 and 5) for Spring next year.

Anthem

Bioware are taking their time to develop their cooperative third-person-action game and I appreciate that. If you hoped to dive in one of those fancy rocket-powered suits into the jungle yourself at EA Play which preceeds E3 from June 9 to 11, you’ll be dissappointed since there’s announced to only see the game in a cinema environment. Nevertheless I’ll try to gather as many impressions of the sci-fi spectacle as possible.

Battlefield V

The shooter franchise returns to its roots: Like in the very first game Battlefield 1942, Battlefield V is set in World War II. I’m curious about the new Airborne mode. On paper it sounds a lot like a new spin on the gameplay of Medal of Honor: Airborne. Combine that with the iconic intensity and vehicle action of the series and you might get the most suspenseful battles of the series’ history.

Fallout 76

Considering I still haven’t finished Fallout 4 (and it doesn’t seem likely that I can accomplish it anytime soon), I’m not unhappy about the fact that Fallout 76 is supposed to be a survival RPG like Rust or DayZ. Fans have urged Bethesda for years to combine their Fallout gameplay formula with a consistent online world. I hope to be able to play it at the show!

Rage 2

With Rage I’m in the same position as with Fallout. The advanced version of the model game of the id Tech 5 engine looks promising: varied terrain, day and night cycle and an agile buggy with which we can explore the seemingly vast game world. In the trailer I got the impression Rage 2 is a mix of Borderlands and Destiny, but if the game actually supports multiplayer is still not certain. I wouldn’t actually complain to be able to get my hands on the game at E3 to tell you more about it.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Last year I finished the Tomb Raider reboot and started its direct sequel Rise of the Tomb Raider, but haven’t gotten further than what you’ve seen in our Screenshot Saturday in glorious 4K. I’ll be able to see the game at the show and I just hope they won’t spoil “Rise” for me. Let’s see what new spin Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix offer on the long standing series.

The Last of Us: Part II

We were fascinated by the emotional haunting story of 2013’s The Last of Us (Merlin’s review). In Part II other characters than Joel and Ellie will be important to the narrative as was pointed out in the game’s trailers. Since TLoU’s gameplay was particularly interesting to me as well, I’m eager to find out how Naughty Dog tweaked the survival gameplay. I’m pretty certain that at Sony’s press conference we’ll finally get a release date of one of the most anticipated games on PS4.

Ghost of Tsushima

A new game by Sly Coopter and inFamous developer Sucker Punch Productions is always a reason to get excited. Considering the events of the current season of the popular HBO show Westworld Sony could show off the game which is set in 1274 Japan at E3. I expect the game to offer stunning visuals and swift combat in Assassin’s Creed style.

Death Stranding

Even though I haven’t actually finished one of Hideo Kojima’s monumental pieces of work, I’m very curious about the actual game. Rest assured, there’ll be a new jawing trailer presented by Reedus and Kojima on Sony’s press conference to be gazed at. Fans rumor about the fact Death Stranding actually being an inofficial prequel to Metal Gear Solid (see The Sorrow) and I intend to find out at the show if that is applicable to the game.

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt RED will be at E3 and I don’t expect them to show the trading card game Gwent again as only game in their line-up, especially since the game will be out of beta in just four months. I wonder what the developers of The Witcher will present us in their very own cyberpunk world and in preperation to that I’ll finally watch Blade Runner 2049.

Games I’d like to play or see at E3 2018

Red Dead Redemption 2

Since Rockstar Games stays off E3 according to experience it’s very unlikely that a tumblweed will lead us to a booth where we can actually play the western epos. But I’ll never give up that hope.

Below

Superborthers: Sword & Sorcery EP convinced me of the high quality standards at Canadian developer Capybara Games. Below’s music is again composed by Jim Guthrie which is another joyus reason that I want to see more of the game. Mid 2016 development of the game was put on hold indefinitely. Since Capybara finished another contract word for Cartoon Network in January this year, there should be some money in the bank to continue working on the game and reintroducing the game to the public.

Deus Ex “3”

Deus Ex: Human Revolution ist one of my all-time favorite games. Mankind Divided didn’t end up appealing to me in the same way even though in support of Eidos Montreal I grabbed nearly every copy of the game I could find. Since the release of that game was two years ago, it would be time to announce a new project. Thief seems to be unlikely, so it could be Deus Ex. Let us know about the subtitle you’d like to see the Deus Ex have in the comments below.

Onimusha

14 years ago Keiji Inafune’s Onimusha 3: Demon Siege was released (Dawn of Dreams doesn’t exist). For years I’m hoping that Capcom revives the franchise and then we are able to slice hoards of demons again. The Japanese traditional company recently filed trademarks regarding Onimusha so the assumption is logical that they’ll be rebooting Onimusha.

The Talos Principle 2

The Talos Principle and its expansion Road to Gehenna were fun but also gave me quite the headache. Uniquely the game offered an open level structure and soon found its copycats but after a while this design decision destroyed the game for me. Hopefully the sequel will change things up a bit while retaining the strong parts of the first game.

Alan Wake 2

“It’s not a lake, it’s an ocean”: Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 was more than just hinted at in Quantum Break angekündigt. In our Let’s Play I completely missed that and only noticed it due to the 4K update on Xbox One X. Even though the Finnish developer will most likely delay the game (several times), I expect the game to be properly announced and receive a tentative release season at Xbox Media Briefing on June 10 at 1 PM local time (22:00 CEST).

Sky

flOw, Flower and especially Journey are a few of my favorite games since they’re easy to pick up and offer a lot of depth. Journey is the game which I completed the most in all of my gaming experience. Five years ago at Filmfest Munich I had the honor to meet thatgamecompany’s Sunni Pavlovic. If she, respective they, announce a multiplatform release of the currently Apple device exclusive game Sky at E3 and let me play the game, I’ll be over the moon sky.

These are some of my personal favorites for E3 2018. Let us know the games you look forward to in the comments below.