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This is it. Tomorrow morning, Nick, Chris and Brad will board a flight to Los Angeles to begin the festival of games that is E3 2014. By the end of it, we'll have seen a ton of games, done hours of video and podcast recording and, possibly, have been forced to amutate Chris' feet. With a mixture of dread and excitement, we look forward to stepping onto the grounds of the LA Convention Center to bring you the best coverage we can muster.
In anticipation, we give you the last, the penultimate, the most anticipated games of E3 2014. Check out our choices below.
Brad's #1: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
There's not much to say. It's the Witcher 3. You have seen trailers, and in time, you will see a demonstration of this game. You will see, and you will understand.
I've come to love the universe of this series because I read a few decent books. And now I have no idea if these games tell a good story on their own. And I don't really care. The Witcher 3 seems to be focusing around story and characters that I've grown attached to in these books, and I can barely contain myself.
And then there's the game. I didn't have fun playing the first Witcher. The combat wasn't fun, and more importantly, I never felt like I was getting better or my character was getting any stronger. It was just something I had to do. It's the core of any RPG, and if it's lame, I care little about all of the decisions and systems that feed into it. The Witcher 2 fixed this problem. The combat was challenging, the signs were fun to use, and most importantly, the skills I acquired through leveling felt useful and powerful.
The Witcher 3 appears to have the same great gameplay of The Witcher 2, but in a big open world with ocean traversal and UNDERWATER EXPLORATION! OH FUCKING GOD MAN! THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE FUCKING DEMO THEY SHOWED TO US AT E3 LAST YEAR WAS SO FUCKING INCREDIBLE. HOLY SHIT IT WAS ALSO THE PRETTIEST GAME I'VE EVER SEEN AND GERALT IS SO BADASS AND MANLY. CIRI AND YENNEFER ARE IN THE GAME AND I LOVE THEM AND GERALT CAN RIDE HIS HORSE ROACH AROUND THE LAND ALL DAY. JUST GIVE ME THIS FUCKING GAME NOW. HIS HORSE'S NAME IS ROACH AND THEN THERE'S THAT DUDE ROCHE FROM WITCHER 2 AND THEY ARE BOTH FUCKING COO-*
*Editor's note: It was at this point that Brad stopped yelling, began frothing at the mouth and collapsed to the ground, occasionally sputtering the name 'Geralt'. Emergency services were called and Brad is reported to be in stable condition and capable of flying to LA tomorrow.
Nick's #1: Middle Earth: Shadows of Mordor
Of all the big movie franchises that made history in the late 90's and early 2000's (The Matrix, Harry Potter, etc), Lord of the Rings took the longest to get its hooks in me. I'm not entirely sure why because I love the universe and the characters (though I never read the books). Eventually, I realized that I just wasn't a huge fan of the story being told. Years later, and right at the cusp of my new found Game of Thrones obsession, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is upon us.
I'm sure many of you are quick to point out the franchise's less than stellar history in gaming but I have faith in Monolith (Condemned, FEAR, Gotham City Imposters). The studio has a real talent for making games that are fun, ground breaking, and dripping with atmosphere. To put it bluntly: I love that shit.
At E3, I am hoping to get a clearer understanding of the game's world structure which the developers are claiming to be open-world (or some variation of open-world). Perhaps more importantly, I am excited to see the "Nemesis System" in action. This system claims to generate enemies that will remember your encounters if they live to tell about it and interact with the player at later stages in the game based on your shared history. We have our doubts about how accurate this actually is but it sounds exciting none-the-less. Whatever happens, I am just excited to see Monolith back in the saddle, working on a new and innovative AAA title.
Chris' #1: Tom Clancy's The Division
Surely you all saw this one coming, am I correct? Yes, I like shooters. Yes, I like Clancy games. However, I certainly don't consider them the end-all, be-all best franchise out there. And yet, I find myself chomping at the bit to learn more about this new series bearing the name of the late, great author.
The Division doesn't want to be another shooter though. Rather, it wants to be something more. It wants to lay its foundation on a genre of games that I absolutely hate, the MMO, while at the same time blending in what appear to be some of the best aspects of DayZ. It wants to provide a solid environment for PVE and PVP combat not set in a fantasy realm filled with whimsical creatures but a real life city filled with the sick and the dying, the morally depraved and the desperate, all fighting for survival. It wants to combine the refined tactical combat that the Tom Clancy series is known for with some of the best looking visuals ever put into a game.
People doubt me and will surely call me out on my choice but I don't care. Massive Entertainment created my favorite RTS of all time, World in Conflict, and while they have shifted into a new genre and a new focus, I have faith that they will be able to pull together a fantastic blend of real-world authenticity, great combat and a team-based experience that few tactical shooters have ever created. It's my pick for my most anticipated game of 2014 and I can't wait to see it.
So, that's it guys. What are YOUR most anticipated games of E3? What would you like us to go see and talk about? Let us know in the comments!
Comments
9 years, 10 months ago
While far from confirmed, I have a very good feeling about a Phantom Dust revival being announced in some capacity. It's easily what I'm most excited to hear about if it does come true.
9 years, 10 months ago
MGS is easily what I'm excited for, surprised to not see it in Brad's top 5 considering his love of open worlds.
9 years, 10 months ago
Great choices for your number 1 guys. I'm more interested in what surprises e3 might have. That and I'm looking forward to all your coverage. You guys are great.
9 years, 10 months ago
The Division
9 years, 10 months ago
Man, I didn't expect Nick's #1 to be Shadows of Mordor. Also, you got me Chris. I'll finally have a look at this "The Division" I keep hearing so much about.
The ending of the post has tempted me beyond my powers of emotional control and I may end up in the same position Brad did. My #5-1 is Mad Max and you guys need to get EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION OUT OF AVALANCHE THAT YOU CAN. HUG EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND TELL THEM SOME GUY ON THE INTERNET TOLD YOU TO. IT MUST BE DONE.
9 years, 10 months ago
The Witcher 3 is by far the most anticipated game for me aswell, I just can't wait to get my hands on it! On the other hand I'd also say that Dragon age: Inquisition is almost tied with TW3 for most anticipated game. Either way this is going to be a very interesting autumn!
9 years, 10 months ago
I agree with Brad on The Witcher 3 being number one. I'm also very interested in Shadow of Mordor and what Monolith can bring to the table since I have enjoyed their other games.
9 years, 10 months ago
Already preordered The Witcher 3. I'd love to see more gameplay of it. Also Dragon Age looks really nice and a good timesink while we wait for TW3.
The show itself is always fun to watch and I'm excited about most of the games announced already and I hope we see even more. What makes me curious, though, is how will the Sony conference be without Jack Tretton. That guy was awesome on stage and will be missed.
9 years, 10 months ago
i would like to play kind civilisation where u go through all majer sience learning any contenct of it. the world as a ball is the map. and u have resources on the planet and its feeded with the real gov. bigdata. so u know there will be that and that much metal been mined and u can produce only that many goods. this game should made out of a AI like in ghost in the shell. and this AI of the system should make that game for the reason to employ humans. and the ai should does the reallife decisions in which way humans make evolutions. but i m guessing this wont be on this E3. i dont want to play another zelda. god bless sasha grey
9 years, 10 months ago
sorry postet to times freakin page where erroring
9 years, 10 months ago
Great list y'all, though i disagree with brad when he said that in witcher 1 you dont feel character progression he should try to finish it, theres some progression even if not much.
My Top 5 anticipated:
1.MGS 5
2.Gravity Rush 2
3.Witcher 3
4.No man's Sky
5.AC unity
9 years, 10 months ago
I can't wait for info on Dragon Age and Mass Effect. I also hope something gets said about Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity. I'm excited for Microsoft's press conference, and many hear some surprises. Some new 3DS RPG's would be cool, and I'm also hoping to hear anything about what Undead Labs is working on after they are done with the State of Decay dlc.
9 years, 10 months ago
There's so many great games to look forward to. I think when it comes to realistic expectations my most anticipated list would fall in line with Brad's more than anyone else.
However, this is rare, I'm really looking forward to hearing more about The Division. I feel like out of most of the games on this list it has the most potential to do something really amazing when it comes to shooting games. Although I couldn't care less about the story what really has me interested from that short demo they showed a long time ago is that you can search buildings and kind of explore a space with people without you being in constant shootouts. It's giving me Last of Us multiplayer vibes, cept if last of us had an open world in it's multiplayer with cool technology.
Also, a weird thing about me, but I love when you can actually ENTER buildings in open world-y games. The guy in the demo says something similar to "I just searched the building, didn't find anything." That gets me excited!
9 years, 10 months ago
I really hope that The Division is at E3, dem animations.
9 years, 10 months ago
To be perfectly honest as cool as some of these games look I just want to find what new IPs will be appearing. Also
What is CamDrome?
9 years, 10 months ago
Yep, that latest Witcher 3 trailer hit me pretty hard as well. Fortunately it looks like the fourth book is coming out here pretty soon, so that should help control some of the hype for me, but for how long?!
9 years, 10 months ago
I'm just hoping that leaked The Lightning Collection screen cap was real, and that at the last second Square decides to do the right thing and release a PC version. I really need those games on PC. I want to be able to replay them for decades to come, not worry that 2, 5, or 10 years from now they'll be unplayable due to PS3s being unreliable and--later--more scarce.
Really, I'm just hoping for a lot of PC related announcements.
9 years, 10 months ago
Witcher 3 would have been my #1, if it didn't get delayed, even though it is only to February.
I am also looking forward to The Division and figured it was coming out next year, probably late next year. So new info would be cool, but being so far out, I know things can change.
9 years, 10 months ago
I want to see The Witcher and unannounced Nintendo games :D
9 years, 10 months ago
My Top 5 anticipated:
1.The Witcher 3
2.MGS 5
3.Bayonetta 2
4. Smash Bros
5.Dragon Age:Inquisition
9 years, 10 months ago
Never played the first one because I never heard of the series until the 2nd one released. Love the Witcher 2 and can't wait for the third but I need a good PC!
9 years, 10 months ago
Can't wait to see more gameplay from The Division. Also I really hope bungie does something about Destiny because I really think people are getting the wrong idea or don't understand what kind of game/experience it is.