E3 2011: The Nick Pre-E3 Edition [PREY 2 TRAILER]

Here we are again. Just days before the biggest event in the gaming industry and we are once again caught up in the whirlwind of travel arrangements, appointment scheduling, and hair pulling. Our preparations have been rather significant when you take into account the new camera we purchased and the constant wrestling we have done with PR to secure appointments to see games like Elder Scrolls and Hitman. In the end, what's done is done and our pre-E3 prep is complete, all that is left is to cover the show to the best of our ability. With that said, here are my initial thoughts and some pre-E3 thoughts about some of my most anticipated games of the show.

Nintendo

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of E3 2010 was my impression of Nintendo after seeing their press conference. Games like Goldeneye and Donkey Kong Country Returns reminded me of the love and respect I had for Nintendo back in the day and the visual spectacle of their new 3D handheld was enough to reinvigorate those feelings. With the motion control craze fading into the background and a new HD console already confirmed to come out of the Nintendo conference, what should I expect from Nintendo? First and foremost, I expect nothing less than a blatant attempt to reconnect with the "hardcore" gaming audience.

With the reveal of their shiny new console and the rumors that the controller will double as a portable game device making headlines, I still feel like new software should be the star of the show. If they can remember to announce some new games on all 3 of their major platforms, I'll consider this a success. Throw in some new 3DS games that don't necessarily capitalize on the success of games from other consoles and other console generations, and instead focus on the creativity that helped build Nintendo's credibility in the first place. I just hope Nintendo remembers that E3 is about the games and less about tech.

Sony

Hot off the heels of the PSN debacle, Sony has a lot to prove to it's following. The question I have is: how will they go about doing that? Hopefully, Sony will not resort to several hours of trying to regain trust and apologizing. I didn't fly to Los Angeles to see a bunch of executives apologize; I came here to see the games. If Sony is smart, I think they will spend a few minutes max addressing their recent security issues before moving on to some great software and hardware announcements. I am crossing my fingers for a concrete release date for The Last Guardian and Ico/Shadow collection for starters. I hope to see them revisit some major third party titles like Agent and Final Fantasy Versus XIII as well. With security and infrastructure integrity has been the talk of the town in recent months, Sony would really benefit from some serious game announcements. With rumors of God of War 4 running rampant and Uncharted 3 on the horizon, I have a feeling that Sony has some big guns to fall back on this year.

There is also the topic of their impressive new handheld that is supposedly hitting shelves this Christmas. While the NGP certainly sounds amazing, I am looking forward to seeing a strong presence for the portable. I am eager to see how the handheld compares to the PSP in regards to comfort and functionality since that was one of the worst aspects of their previous handheld system. How does that touch pad work? Do the visuals really compare to the PS3? Will the touch screen really be used or will it fall to the wayside like the Sixaxis controls on the PS3? All of these are questions that I want answered in the coming week.

Microsoft

While I already have a fairly good idea of what to expect from Sony and Nintendo, I am at a bit of a loss when it comes Microsoft. How much will they focus on the Kinect technology that they introduced last year? How much time will they spend talking about some crazy new TV service or Facebook implementation? In the past 2 years, Microsoft went from stellar to downright boring so who knows where they will fall on that spectrum this year. All I know is that if they don't convince me that the Kinect is a viable, hardcore gaming peripheral, then I will be skipping out on the Kinect for good. I have rumors of that Kinect Horror game making an appearance and I would love to hear more about the Steel Battalion and Project Draco titles as well.

In the end though, I want to see Microsoft return to the thing that made their press briefing 2 years ago so great: the games. I would love to see a return to series like Splinter Cell and Alan Wake. It is also about time that we got a glimpse of Insomniac's new multiplatform title and I think the Microsoft conference would be the ideal place to show that off. Outside of a strong support for Xbox 360 software and Kinect, I don't expect to see much on the hardware front unless they surprise us with a new handheld system but I doubt that will happen. In less than 24 hours, all will be answered.

Games

Prey 2

Prey doesn't necessarily resonate with me as the most memorable shooters that I have ever played but it did have a lot of promise. While the exciting gravity manipulation gameplay and the portal-esque mechanics are apparently absent from the sequel, the changes to the world structure and story is enough to warrant my interest. While some may choose to call the game's name and relation to the original into question, I am excited to see a developer who is unafraid to make major changes to an established IP. If you haven't already watched the E3 2011 trailer, feast your eyes on this:
 

The Darkness 2

Another sequel to a relatively low profile game that came out three to four years ago. The Darkness was a beautifully crafted world with some genuinly interesting characters and a premise that still stands out as one of the more memorable shooters i've played. With a new developer at the helm and a slick new visual style, The Darkness 2 is gearing up to be one of my most anticipated story based shooters to come out this year.

Tomb Raider

My foray into the Tomb Raider series started late with Tomb Raider Anniversary, Legend, and Underworld. While I adore Underworld, by the time I finished, I was already growing a bit tired of the formula. With Crystal Dynamics still at the head of the series, I am amazed to see such sweeping changes being implemented. By making Lara a more mature, vulnerable hero and dropping her in an open world, I think this reboot has the potential to be something truly special.

Aliens: Colonial Marines

To my surprise, despite Duke Nukem Forever just barely coming to market, Gearbox has apparently decided that it is finally time to pull back the curtain on one of their more mysterious titles, Aliens: Colonial Marines. While I did enjoy Aliens vs. Predator last year, it was the marine campaign that I enjoyed the most. The thought of playing an entire game built around that concept is incredible. I fully intend on getting some hands-on with this elusive title. This one's for you Carlos!

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Do I even need to tell you why this game excites me? I didn't think so. Bethesda Game Studios can do no wrong. I'm pretty sure that no matter what I see or play at E3, our appointment with Bethesda to witness the demo of Skyrim will be the highlight of my trip.  Check it out: