E3 2008

E3 2008 Blogs

E3 2008: The Top 10 Showstoppers

The video game industry's big show is over, but the buzz is just beginning.

by YVG Staff

We came, we saw, we played. A lot. But before we drape icepacks over our aching thumbs, we compiled a handy list of the top games and gaming trends to come out of E3 2008. Press 'Start' now:

1. The games are better than ever.

If 2007 gave us the best holiday season ever, 2008 is destined to come in a close second. Despite a few blockbusters (we're looking at you, GTA IV) already taking up most of our valuable gaming time, hordes of long-awaited games are slated to tax your wallet in the coming months, and they were out in full glory at E3. Start pinching those pennies and check out ten of the best:

Gears of War 2 The sequel to the 2006 Xbox 360 action extravaganza seems destined to roadie-run past the competition on November 7 of this year.
Fallout 3 How good is Bethesda's enormous single-player role-playing romp? We'd brave nuclear radiation for another hour with it. Apocalypse now...or at least this holiday.
Rock Band 2 Talk about fixing what wasn't broken: the follow-up to MTV's rock n' roll epic takes the party online, tweaks the instruments and offers enough playable music to please even the most jaded rock snob.
Guitar Hero: World Tour Not so fast, shredder. There's another game ready to take the stage, and it comes loaded with features, including the ability to record and share your very own songs.
Prince of Persia Ubisoft's royal acrobat is getting a gorgeous facelift with a beautiful new art style and a massive, open-world to explore.
Spore Considering that the recently released Creature Creator actually knocked World of Warcraft from the top of the PC sales charts, imagine what the full game might do when it evolves this September.
Mirror's Edge Who said first-person games had to be shooters? This colorful gem from EA turns you into an athletic rooftop runner.
Dead Space In space, no one can hear you scream, especially no one on the creepy spaceship on which this violent, terrifying survival horror game takes place.
LittleBigPlanet Playing is good, but sharing is better. You'll be able to do both in Sony's charming platform game / art project this October.
Animal Crossing Wii Nintendo's adorable life simulator heads to the Wii in what could be the system's first legitimate online game.

2. Nintendo comes up short

We're concerned that the money-making machine at Nintendo is currently set to "quit while you're ahead," as the company offered so little in the way of news or game announcements at E3 2008, some observers forgot they were there.

To be fair, they did unveil the first follow-up to the outrageous successful Wii Sports. Dubbed Wii Sports: Resort, the beachy party game comes packed with a Wii remote attachment called the Wii Motion Plus. Simply snapping it onto the remote makes it far more responsive, though we wish they just had it working this way from the get go. Between this and the Wii Balance Board, Nintendo's affordable, easy-to-use box o' fun just got a lot more expensive and, perhaps worse, more confusing.

WII SPORTS RESORT

Speaking of which, we're baffled that they officially announced only two new major 2008 Wii releases in Animal Crossing Wii and the non-game Wii Music. No new Mario? No new Zelda? Donkey Kong? Luigi? Though we were thrilled to hear that Grand Theft Auto would be making its way to the DS, just unveiling a logo isn't enough. With a paper thin holiday lineup competing against blockbusters from Sony and Microsoft, we fear Nintendo is putting too many eggs in one basket, and unless you happen to like the taste of playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" over and over again, the rest of 2008 might spell trouble for the seemingly invincible publisher.

3. Microsoft opens up

Think the Xbox 360 is just for hardcore gamers? Microsoft would like you to reconsider. The console best known for its considerable lineup of excellent core video games is targeting Nintendo's crowd -- and your mom's wallet -- with a suite of family-friendly games and services.

A notable $50 price drop for the basic 20 GB model (while supplies last, by the way) started their week off right, but the biggest bombshell came in the form of a partnership between the computer giant and movie rental leader Netflix. The ability to download and watch Netflix movies on your 360 adds tremendous value to the system's already massive downloadable content catalog. More importantly, it keeps you (and, again, your mom) glued to the 360 even when you're not playing games.

That's just the beginning of Microsoft's assault on the casual player, and while they have no shame in ripping off other companies, they're at least doing it well. The new customizable Avatar system is a pretty blatant take on Nintendo's popular Miis, but it's a smart move, and coupled with a redesigned 360 dashboard should make the system itself more appealing to less tech-nerdy types (for the third time, we're talking about your mom). Lighter fare like the karaoke title Lips (aka Sony's Singstar), the surprisingly fun party game You're in the Movies (aka Sony's Eyetoy) and the upcoming Primetime game show channel offer more pleasant variety for 360 owners.

MYXBOX SHOTS

But in the end, you buy a gaming console for the games, and while we didn't see much new from Microsoft on that front -- no new Halo title, really? -- the thought of playing sequels to Gears of War, Viva Pinata, Fable, Banjo-Kazooie, Resident Evil and Fallout this year should keep you (and, by proxy, your mom) satisfied.

4. Sony stays patient

Did you know that two years into the life cycle of the original Playstation, system-defining games like Final Fantasy VII, Gran Turismo and Metal Gear Solid were barely on the radar? Or that major leaguers like God of War didn't hit the PS2 until, believe it or not, year seven? Sony would like you to keep these facts in mind as they continue fighting to regain some of the ground they lost over the past two years, and if their impressive software showing at E3 2008 is any indication, they're in better shape than everyone thinks.

This looks to be a banner year for the PS3, which will finally deliver hyped games like the wildly imaginative LittleBigPlanet, the ballyhooed follow-up to the launch hit Resistance, and a battery of other exclusive sequels by the end of the year. They're also taking on Microsoft in the downloadable movie war by going a step further and allowing users to rent or purchase films, then swap 'em over to the PSP. Couple that with a new line of full-featured games like Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty selling for the alluring price of $14.99, and we're starting to forgive them for failing to finish their Home service already.

WATCH GOD OF WAR 3 TRAILER

But we're not entirely sold just yet. No gameplay footage for the surefire smash God of War III was an unfortunate misfire, and they're still a ways off from even remotely competing with the Xbox 360's brilliantly integrated user experience. At least things are looking up, right?

5. Lose the joystick.

From motion sensitive remotes and dance pads to an arsenal of fake instruments and microphones, different ways of experiencing video games are all the rage these days.

Leading the Wii revolution, Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party is poised to redefine the Wii Balance Board with a slew of mini-games that include wildebeest races that require you to sit on the board, using your butt to shift your weight and steer like a bobsled run. Other games like Shaun White Snowboarding and Skate It let you control the rider, performing kick flips and tricks from the comfort of their living room and without the risk of broken limbs. Even the Wii remote itself is about to enjoy an upgrade in the form of that Wii Motion Plus attachment, tightening up the gesture-based controller's motion-detection. Can we have that lightsaber simulator now, please?

SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING

Microsoft has a few interactive tricks up its sleeve as well. Their forthcoming karaoke game Lips uses weighted mics with LEDs embedded within them and draws from an iPod or Zune music library for songs. Even better, its Xbox Live Vision camera tie-in, You're in the Movies, digitally inserts players into their own B-movie through a series of mini-games and improvisation exercises. We realize it's an uphill battle convincing gamers that this one is worth checking out, but take it from us firsthand -- it's a great party game.

LIPS MICROPHONE

The most exciting use of existing tech has to be in Tom Clancy's Endwar, though. While not required, the entire game can be played simply using voice commands via your Xbox 360 or PS3 headsets. Bark out "Deploy Gunships!" or "Calling All Tanks! Attack Target!" and you'll be well on your way to world dominance. The voice recognition is unbelievably accurate, helping make this quite possibly the most technically impressive game at E3. Give it a few years and these games will be playing themselves.

>>CONTINUED: E3 Showstoppers 6-10