Oftentimes, video game announcements aren’t too surprising. Either because one is announced every year like clockwork, or because the surprise was leaked weeks before announcement, reveals can feel routine.
Every once in a while, however, the impossible happens, catching both hardcore fans and journalists off their guards in the best way possible. Here are seven examples of video game reveals that knocked our socks clean off.
Twilight Princess – E3 2004
Although the world would eventually come to appreciate The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’s cartoony style, it would be an understatement to say Zelda fans were displeased with the franchise’s direction at the time.
Twilight Princess was an answer to fans’ demands for a more mature Zelda, and once those in the audience realized what Nintendo was presenting, they lost their minds. This wasn’t any new Zelda; this was a “mature” Zelda.
Following the game’s reveal trailer, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto stepped onstage, posing as Link with his iconic sword and shield.
The visionary’s beaming face combined with the crowd’s rabid response kicked off the hype for Twilight Princess, which carried until its launch on both GameCube and Wii in 2006.
The game received widespread critical acclaim and impressive sales. Although some have come to be more critical of its shortcomings in recent years, the hype surrounding Twilight Princess at the time was unmatched.