the unseen guest: E3 2004
![[Link shows 'em how it's done]](http://www.toase.net/gfx/zelda-gc2-01.jpg)
E3 2004 turned out pretty good, but I'm not completely depressed for not being able to attend for reasons stated earlier. There is a certain sweetness to Guild Wars' gameplay, something that made me forget about not being able to witness the spectacle of the Nintendo Press conference, or playtest many of my anticipated games of this year. There was something for everyone it seemed: the hardware everyone wanted to see, the hardware everyone wanted to hate, games making yet another appearance and a pretty big surprise (but not really if you think about it). And then there was the big announcement from Sega that left everyone scratching their heads. (isn't everyone tired of The Matrix yet?)
I hate always having to make this disclaimer, but remember that this shit you're reading is just yours truly making a record of their gaming travels. I don't ever make the mistake that what I say is important, insightful, comprehensive, fair, balanced - you get the picture. The following, then, is a list of games and technology that stuck out in my mind as being particularly interesting - don't confuse this list for being some sort of "best of show", because not all of it was that great. Even though I wasn't there, a small part of my soul was thanks to the magic of the Internet.
I may as well come out and say it: the PSP is ugly. I don't like the look of it, much like I cringe whenever I see someone fawning over their iPod, but I'll be damned if it isn't exactly what Sony told us all those months ago. The screen is nice and big, and the unit's graphical prowess will be unmatched. One especially fine tactic is the way Sony is marketing this product. Where Nintendo's DS is squarely aimed at the game enthusiast, the PSP is geared towards the gadget enthusiast. This is exactly how the Playstation got its market share - focusing less on the actual gaming and more on the entertainment nature of the product.
Everyone's jumping on this one. The stylus idea is stupid, the design is too bulky, the games don't look interesting. But what about the graphics? With games like Metroid: Hunter and Mario 64x4, I imagine this device will be pushing out the same quality you'd expect form an N64, which is a definite step-up from the GBA. It's certainly innovative, and even some game media outlets are starting to retract their original knee-jerk reactions. I was skeptical, and as the details emerge the DS seems more and more like Nintendo's answer to the PSP, and that's not good. It's been said that Sony will be losing money on each unit sold to keep the price point low. I don't think that the DS will fail utterly, but the competition will be very tight. Where the PSP is relying on remaking old PSone/PS2 titles for launch, Nintendo already got that out of their system with the GBA and will be ready to initiate some fresh and original game concepts, which just might make all the difference.
It was there, and apparently "playable". They've changed their sales approach to getting people to sign up for the Phantom.Net content delivery service for two years and providing the hardware for free. Will it fly? For those too lazy to stop by their local EB, perhaps. But what I want to know is, what the fuck is in that black box? This is shaping up to be the worst kind of trickery; until they have something more to show than a menu screen and a playable demo of UT2004, the world isn't listening.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (GBA)
Based on a casual review by Tony, the original sounded pretty cool. Originally the thought of playing it made me cringe given that Square is infamous for their childishly-themed games, so coupling with Disney would have been saccharine overload. In any event, I'll be watching out for this brand new Gameboy adventure. Combat sounds weird though - I never played the original, but apparently in this version it's some sort of card-based system where your actions depend on cards drawn from virtual deck. The combat is supposed to be real-time, but it seems kind of awkward. I'm sure the story will be great, though.
An initial playtest report was less than inspiring. But what they forgot to mention was that the game was only 30 % complete. This kind of scares me though if SNK still plans on an August release in North America.
The sequel to one of last year's greatest games certainly looks darker than the original, and from what I saw in UbiSoft's gameplay preview not much has changed in the way of combat (dual wielding comes to mind, though). In this installment you've been "doomed" as a result of something you did in the past, and the whole game is your character trying to remedy the situation while being pursued by some unknown force. It doesn't sound like much of a departure from The Sands of Time, and even the engine used is the same. Can UbiSoft repeat last year's success? I hope so, because The Sands of Time gave me a new appreciation for console gaming.
I said some things recently about this game, despite knowing that it would be shown at E3 with more detail. It grabbed me like the first previews for Call of Duty, but given my reading material lately I also wanted to believe that this game finally nailed the emotional involvement between frontline soliders in high risk combat situations. I saw the trailer and wept. Was it a movie trailer? Or was I watching the war-based FPS/squad tactics genre transform before my very eyes? I may be blinded by zeal for the material, but I honestly believe that if it delivers it will easily knock down Call of Duty from my lovingly fashioned pedestal. My only concern is that it's a multi-platform title. Simplistic controls or crippled graphics could completely ruin the experience of this game.
Dungeon Siege II doesn't look like the massive upgrade I was hoping it would be. The low poly count makes me think that Gas Powered Games is trying to breeze by on the success of the original by making an interface and combat engine retrofit. After Guild Wars it will take a lot more than that to keep me interested.
Many people found this to be a darkening of the Zelda universe; I disagree. I wouldn't call it "darkening" as much as I would call it a maturing of the series, something a lot of people were calling into question with the release of The Wind Waker. Regardless, this will probably end up as one of 2005's best games. Miyamoto promises an enourmous gameworld to explore, which was one of Wind Waker's most enjoyable aspects. This game will not be Wind Waker 2, though, which is a relief. Coupled with The Minish Cap on the GBA and The Four Swords Adventures to be released soon, this is a great time for Zelda fans.
At first I thought this game would be another license cash-in, but the turn-based tactics and character customization aspects are making me take a second look. Oh, and it's being developed by Raven - you might have heard of them. Lucky for me this is a multi-console title; there aren't nearly enough games like this on the Gamecube.
The Gamecube is also in short supply of RPGs. Tales of Symphonia is the latest game in Namco's "Tales" series that started on the Playstation, following the adventures of several child-like characters in a Final Fantasy like setting. Sounds par for the course for Japanese RPGs, but what has me interested is the not-quite-turn-based zoom-in combat system. The soft, cartoonish graphics are also appealing and remind me of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Although originally a Gamecube exclusive, it will also be ported to the PS2 and a brand new adventure, Tales of Eternia, will be heading to the PSP.
I count myself among the Bioware faithful given their nigh spotless track record. While most were too busy fondling the XBoxes with Jade Empire, they also had another game on the floor that was only hinted at before the show. A new, non-D&D related RPG coming out sometime next year called Dragon Age. It sounds really promising, but looks more like an update to the work done on Neverwinter Nights. Bioware has a huge reputation to uphold, and as a result I don't doubt that this will be yet another revolutionary title in the genre.
The unveiling of Sam Fisher's latest adventure was in my opinion the highlight of the entire show. UbiSoft showed a jaw-dropping Splinter Cell 3 demo and the multiplayer has mutated into something very different and groundbreaking again. In this installment a knife is available, but I'm not sure why this wasn't in the original in hindsight. It's kind of a given for those trying to make a silent kill. I also figured that we'd be in for more stealth multiplayer due to the very warm reception of Pandora Tomorrow - but this time it's more cooperative. I mean just take a look at the video for fuck's sake. This is no longer just another sequel; I swear I am watching the future of stealth action gaming unfold.
save the heart attacks for later