For plenty of gamers, myself included, E3 is an event to look forward to all year; a fact that is especially true any year when new consoles are expected to make a debut. This year, I was indisputably excited to find out about these new powerhouses and the cool new games they would launch. As is often the case, though, I was more wowed by what I never saw coming. After just one day of E3 2013, I’ve already pre-ordered and fully paid for a next-gen system (a PS4), something I have never done at such an early stage. What prompted this leap of faith? Was it the impressive hardware with its slew of exciting new features? A little, yes, but what ultimately sold me were the games.
Stills just cannot do Mirror’s Edge 2 justice.
I’m comfortable going on record to say this year’s lineup is the single most impressive E3 lineup I have ever seen. Not just the incredible new IPs, like Watch Dogs and The Division, but an unexpected treasure trove of beloved IPs back from the dead. I don’t think anyone expected Final Fantasy XV (formerly Final Fantasy Versus XIII), Kingdom Hearts III, or Mirror’s Edge 2. Right there, on day one, we were shown three titles worth buying a new system for. Add to that mix the expected but not fully understood Metal Gear Solid V, and I won’t be surprised if pre-orders are pouring in by the thousands.
Will we finally see Big Boss’ descent into villainy?
If you’ve ever been a fan of Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Mirror’s Edge, or Metal Gear Solid, then June 10, 2013 was all for you. We’ve waited for years, to the point of almost losing hope, and suddenly, all at once, our patience was rewarded. The newly assigned FFXV is looking better than we’ve ever seen it by adding in action elements I never expected to see in a Final Fantasy title, Mirror’s Edge 2 made my jaw drop with the new Frostbite 3 engine, and Kojima Productions’ FOX engine just looks better every time I see it, with particle effects and lightning that is guaranteed to make me stop and enjoy the scenery every 10 minutes. We didn’t see a whole lot of Kingdom Hearts 3, but it’s enough just to know it’s officially in production.
Taking cover in a Final Fantasy?!
As I’ve grown into adulthood, games have felt like they’re growing more homogeneous. It’s been hard, of late, to find those diamonds of uniqueness hidden in the mountains of copycat action and shooting games. Japanese RPGs, once my favorite genre, have stagnated into copy and paste affairs devoid of any meaningful innovation (for the most part; don’t let me ever tell you there aren’t exceptions). Finding games I want to play has become hard work, instead of a journey of discovery. Today, however, I don’t know where to start. Everything I saw yesterday filled me with excitement and wonder. For the first time in years, E3 made me feel like a kid again.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of E3 2013 has in store.
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