Andre SegersGame Guides Editor
Maybe it's ironic that the year E3 makes its triumphant return is also the year with the smallest number of announced games I'm actually looking forward to. However, this is likely due to the major players holding their cards close to their chests for a major blowout at E3, which actually leaves me more excited for what potentially hasn't been announced yet. For instance, I'm eager to find out if either Microsoft or Sony unveil anything related to the motion-control rumors that have flooded the Web these past few weeks. And more importantly, what games may be announced to support those devices.
That said, there are a few announced games I'm excited for, with the first being Wii Sports Resort. Sure, we saw it last year--with a mere three minigames on display--but Nintendo's been completely silent on the subject since. So I'm curious as to how the game has been expanded since, and in what capacity Wii MotionPlus is being used. Plus, the original Wii Sports is one of the few games my entire family can enjoy, so this should offer another reason to whip out the Wii at family gatherings…and waste them in sword dueling.
Halo: TLDR...err, make that Halo 3: ODST, is another game I'm really intrigued by, given that we know virtually nothing about it, except that Master Chief will not have a prominent role. I'm hoping this enables the developer to offer something a bit different than what we usually get from Halo games, while still taking place in the same compelling universe.
Finally, I'm praying that Ubisoft shows us more of Beyond Good & Evil 2, a sequel to one of my favorite games of all time. I'm a bit concerned about the direction it's taking, if the leaked trailer is indicative at all of the final game. But with Michel Ancel at the helm, I'm stoked to see what he comes up with.
Kevin VanOrdAssociate Editor
Apparently, I'm into conspiracy theories, which brings me to the game that I will be rushing to check out the minute I hit the show floor.
Assassin's Creed 2. The original Assassin's Creed is one of my favorite games in the last few years, an atmospheric and joyous experience that made the simple act of moving from one location to another an absolute delight. Just the mere idea of Assassin's Creed 2 makes me feel a little giddy, and I am anxious to explore the sights and sounds of Florence and Venice from the new protagonist's view. This Ezio guy looks like a complete badass; I mean, he's got two hidden blades at the ready, making him look like, in the words of my esteemed colleague Shaun McInnis, a "medieval Italian pimp."
Brian EkbergSenior Editor
It's a familiar refrain for me, but my first thought when E3 comes around is usually about racing games. The genre is undergoing a shake-up of late, with traditional hardcore-racing developers going in a more arcade-focused direction--as with Black Rock Studios' Split/Second and Bizarre Creations' Blur. Although both games have some appeal, I'm more curious about the mainstay racing sims.
We've seen lots of rumors about both Forza Motorsport 3 and the long-delayed Gran Turismo 5 making appearances at E3 2009, and I'm champing at the bit to see what Turn 10 Studios and Polyphony Digital have in store for racing fans. High-quality, challenging simulation racing isn't dead, after all; it's just been wounded for the past few years.
Here's hoping the revival begins with E3 2009...
Shaun McInnisAssociate Editor
In the three months following E3 last year, I went on to cover San Diego Comic-Con, the Games Convention in Leipzig, and Tokyo Game Show--three fun events that absolutely dwarfed last year's show floor at E3. So what I'm really looking forward to most is the sheer size and spectacle of previous years making a return. Will it be a triumphant return? Who knows? Who cares! It'll be entertaining just the same.
But the show is still all about games, and number one on my list is Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The first game is still my favorite PS3 game, and everything I've seen about the sequel has me giddy with anticipation for more free-spirited adventures and slick platforming. I'm most excited to see what those snowy areas are going to be like. Another sequel that's much more of a mystery is Assassin's Creed 2. What's that new protagonist going to be like? How will they use Renaissance-era technology? It's an answer I'm excited to see.
Rounding out my list are Forza Motorsport 3, Modern Warfare 2, The Beatles: Rock Band, and Dragon Age: Origins (which we've seen plenty of, but I'm eager to find out what the console versions look like). There'll be a lot of games to cover, and I'm already looking forward to my complete lack of sleep during that first week of June.
Table of Contents
Featured Games
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Blur
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COD: Modern Warfare 2
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Beyond Good & Evil 2
(X360)
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