Cyberpunk 2077
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
CD Projekt Red captivated us when they first released the CGI debut trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. However, they didn’t say more about it for the next four years or so, constantly leaving us in suspense with each passing E3. This year, the team was finally ready to show off a little bit of it, and we’re pleased to report that it looks very impressive.
We got treated to a closed doors presentation of the game, where we saw a slice of the gritty (yet colorful and flamboyant) open world and some of the FPS gameplay. Cyberpunk 2077 features full character creation, and players can fight with guns, or use metal spikes from their arms to take down their foes and traverse the environment. From what little we saw, the open world looked extremely dense and full of life. We can’t wait to see what the final product is going to look like.
Ghost of Tsushima
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
While the game was first unveiled towards the tail-end of last year, it wasn’t till E3 2018 that we got to see some actual gameplay footage and get a sense of what this title feels like. The game was shown off properly during Sony’s press conference, and it was jaw-dropping in terms of visuals and graphics, as expected. The art direction was beautiful, and the combat was very reminiscent of older samurai films like Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.
While we didn’t really get a very in-depth look at how the combat worked, it seems that players will have to watch their foes carefully and move their own swords accordingly to block and parry as necessary. It’s almost like chess, the way you have to strike when their guard is down and try to predict how your opponent will move next. From the looks of the trailer, Ghost of Tsushima might be an open world game like Horizon Zero Dawn, but we can’t be sure just yet.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
Arguably one of the biggest surprises of E3 2018, the Resident Evil 2 Remake quickly became one of our most anticipated games from the event. Not only was this a faithful recreation of the PS1 classic that was built from the ground up, it was also going to adopt the third-person camera view with a slightly larger focus on fast-paced action and shooting. The Raccoon Police Department map layout is nearly identical to the original game’s, though Capcom has decided to throw in a few surprises here and there. The Licker, for instance, no longer makes its first appearance in the west corridor, and we’re very interested to see how Capcom plans on reintroducing this classic enemy type.
It also looks like a few new clues and collectible items have been added into the mix, and there’s a new mechanic that has you look for wooden boards to cover up broken windows to prevent zombies from crawling in. The game treads a fine line between playing on nostalgia and weaving in new twists and elements to keep longtime fans on edge.
Control
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
Control is probably the most mysterious new game we’ve seen so far at E3 2018. The game’s stylish debut trailer shows off the female protagonist Jesse Faden as she levitates around a twisted concrete structure, while also manipulating the debris around her in combat. Most notably, she also wields a cool revolver with a barrel that’s able to alter its shape and form to serve different purposes.
We were treated to a rather lengthy look at the game during a closed doors presentation, and were able to discern that Jesse’s just become the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Control. Trapped in the Bureau itself, she has to face a mysterious threat called The Hiss, while also trying to stop it from corrupting even more of her fellow agents. The game’s concrete and geometric aesthetic defies logic and all expectations with the way physics seem to work in the Bureau. Control gave us serious Inception/Annihilation vibes, and we like it.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
From Software is on the up and up. After closing out the Dark Souls series with its third iteration, fans were excited to see what they were going to do next, and we finally got a good look at their new project during E3 2018. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice isn’t a Bloodborne sequel, nor is it exactly a reboot of the Tenchu series, though it does seem to combine elements from the two IPs. If you’re hoping for more Souls-like combat and exploration, this could very well be a great one to watch out for. However, it’s also worth noting that Sekiro is probably going to defy your expectations quite a bit, as well.
When we got a closer look at Sekiro, we were told that the game would be much more story and character focused. This means that there isn’t going to be any character customization, and you can probably expect the narrative to be told in a more straightforward manner than in Souls.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
While we didn’t get the Life Is Strange season 2 announcement that we really wanted from Dontnod, we did get a look at their new project: The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. It’s a free game that’s set to be released later this year, and from what we heard from the Square Enix devs, this game will feature hints and clues about what to expect from the second season of Life Is Strange.
LiS connections aside, though, Captain Spirit actually looks like a pretty decent narrative adventure on its own. The game follows a young boy who imagines himself as a superhero (named Captain Spirit, of course), and we get a deep dive into his imagination and the creations that spring from his mind. It looks like a lovely romp, with heavier and more emotional moments that we’ll get to experience through a child’s eyes.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
Sadly, the new mainline Fire Emblem game for the Switch won’t be out this year. Instead, it’ll be released in 2019, hopefully in the first half. However, we did get to see the game’s debut trailer and some actual gameplay footage, and it looks pretty damn good. The battle screens look extremely polished and clean, complete with a fresh UI that just looks neat and not as cluttered as they were in the 3DS games. The upgrade in graphical fidelity is also really obvious in the CGI cutscenes and in-game scenes.
While we didn’t get a lot of new story info about the new Fire Emblem game, the title Three Houses suggests that there might be three warring factions that the player avatar will eventually have to choose between. The new-school Fire Emblem games have been excellent, and we’re excited to see how this one shakes out.
Dying Light 2
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
Dying Light 2’s announcement was another little surprise we got at E3 2018, and it was certainly a good one. Unlike the first game, Techland seems to be moving the sequel towards a larger narrative focus, with more emphasis on story and characters. During a presentation at the event, we were told that player decisions will affect the game world and its inhabitants, but Techland also assured us that there would be opportunities to reverse some of those effects and try to make amends with NPCs when needed.
Aside from that, the fun melee combat is back, and so is the exciting parkour style of traversal. Movement in the game looks extremely fluid, and it’s simply exhilarating to watch your character perform insane wall runs and jumps while beating up zombies. According to Techland, Dying Light 2 is also four times bigger than the original game. That’s a lot of content to look forward to.
The Division 2
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
The Division 2 was announced a few months ago, but we didn’t get a good look at it until E3 2018. We got a chance to go hands-on with the game’s new Control mode, and it’s clear that Massive is very dedicated to creating teamwork-focused content that requires heavy communication between players. This is the kind of content that makes The Division so compelling, and when your whole team comes together to take down a dangerous threat, there’s no feeling like it.
Outside of that, we also had a chat with Creative Director Julian Gerighty, who promised that The Division 2 will feature a very accessible clans system that will allow all players to experience the multiplayer portion of the game. The matchmaking system will still be in place (even for the new raid) for those who need it, but a proper clans system should eliminate the problems you can get with pick-up groups.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Most Promising Games of E3 2018
It was definitely a bit surprising to see a new Assassin’s Creed game get announced barely a year after Origins was released. It looks like Ubisoft might be going back to their yearly release cycle for this series, but with the changes they’re implementing, this might not be a bad thing at all.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be set in ancient Greece, and it will feature even more RPG mechanics than what we saw in Origins. Players will be able to select a male or female character, choose dialogue options when speaking with NPCs, and even woo potential romantic partners. Look, we’re not hard to please. Give us an open world RPG with a beautiful setting, throw in some romance options in there, and we’re all in. We can’t wait to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
