Today I fulfill that promise. So that I might save you some time here are the games I got hands on time with.:
\/Link Legend\/
OS = Official Site
SFR = Super Forge Review
\/Review List\/
1)Medal of Honor(PS3) [OS] [SFR]
2)Marvel Vs. Capcom 3(PS3) [OFansite] [SFR]
3)Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword(Wii)[OS] [SFR]
4)Castlevania(PS3) [OS] [SFR]
5)Metroid: Other M(Wii) [OS] [SFR]
6)Sonic 4(Xbox) [OS] [SFR]
\/Recap\/
Take this to the bank
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Although I only got my hands on these six titles, I was able to get a few peeks at various other demos. Between standing in line, taking pics, and trying to grab as much SWAG as I could get my hands on, this is what I found.
SFR:Medal Of Honor
So if you've looked around the nets recently or followed any other sort of E3 coverage you would know the shift that the Medal of Honor franchise is taking. If you don't know, then it's a good thing I am here, here for you.
The Medal of Honor franchise is rebooting and retooling, transitioning from the trenches and atomic bombs of World Wars past to the trenches and atomic bombs of modern global conflict. Now that you're in the loop let's get down to the nuts and bolts of this beast, the elements wherein it succeeds and where they fall short. The game makers and game breakers for me are the controls and aforementioned retooling. (Side note: For those of you who already knew about the retooling, it is likely you know why it threatens the viability of EA's product... For those of you who didn't, you're in for an enlightening little treat.)
I have to stress that overall the Medal of Honor Multiplayer experience was fun and engaging. If you've ever played a shooter on console, it is likely that you can pick up and play this game without too steep of a learning curve. The gameplay itself is not overly complex and does not generally feel sluggish. That being said, playing this game on the PS3 with the dualshock3 controller just doesn't feel right. If you have large hands like myself, you will find that the analog sticks are far too close together and they don't lend themselves to the action on screen. It is hard to describe, but the analog sticks are too loose somehow and the movements don't feel as tight or crisp as I would prefer. That in combination with right trigger feeling like a button and not a trigger drew me out of the game experience slightly. Overall the control scheme is just fine, but I think it could use a few minor tweaks. The one thing that will bring this game down... it already exists.
That's right a little franchise known as modern warfare already beat these guys to the punch. This game might as well be called Medal of Modern Warfare v1.0. This game very nearly resembles a one-to-one rehashing of Modern Warfare. MOH has kill streaks and everything, although one must make a choice between using the offensive or defensive version. As much as this title may not be original, I don't think they are in the wrong for making this game and I think people should buy and play it for this reason alone: The company that makes modern warfare (Infinity Ward) broke off from the studio that makes MOH (Treyarch). IW took some of the best designers and coders from their ex-studio and made a killing with the MW franchise and they are unwilling to share the tech and tools with Treyarch. I have a certain affinity for the MOH series specifically MOH:AA and the studio deserves our support so that they can make more and better games.
SFR:Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
Marvel Versus Capcom 3 or MVC3 as it is commonly known was the second game I played. MVC3 was my second favorite game, quite nearly made the top spot, but got beaten out by nostalgia. In the past year I learned a new appreciation for the versus series, getting in plenty of time on the legendary MVC2 after gaining something that some might call decency at that game, I was hooked. Now for that review.
Capcom knows what they did right with the MVC franchise and in this case more of the same is not a bad thing. The core gameplay remains the same. This new iteration of the versus franchise is very fun and engaging. It's fast-paced and competitive as always. I hated one thing about this game that I wasn't ready for... Apparently capcom is moving the vers
us franchise to the Tatsunoko control scheme (Light, medium, heavy, assit, switch, and dash).I played the pants off this game. Keep in mind I only played it on the arcade sticks, so I felt the controls other than the switch away from MVC2 were just fine. No comment on the ps3 controller and how it relates to the experience. The first time I ran this game I figured I could bring my mvc2 skills out, didn't even check the control scheme. Needless to say I got somewhat wrecked. From then on I checked the controls and threw down for some wins...
The game looks solid I like it and can't wait to find a friend with a ps3 and arcade sticks to get my jam on. There was also a competition to win a kickass shirt from Capcom... the line for that was too long and 5 wins in a row was required to get one... I didn't have time to wait and school five punks just to win a shirt lol.
SFR:Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
This review is gonna short sharp and to the point. How often does nintendo make a mistake with Legend of Zelda? Never that's how often. THE END...
Serioiusly though, even counting the "Oh so horrible" Windwaker title was definitely not a bad Zelda tittle and it definitely was not the apocalyptic franchise ending title doomsayers purported it would be. Anyway, this isn't a Windwaker review. THIS IS SKYWARD SWORD.
LOZ: SS felt like your typical zelda action platformer fare. Skyward Sword looks like Zelda walks like Zelda... I'm confident this will be a solid Zelda title, only this one was designed specifically for the Wii. This time they are making the wiimote and wii functionality essential to the core gameplay, rather than the teritiary implementation used in twilight princess. Not only do they have enemies that require a specific slashing plane to defeat, but they added the ability to charge your attacks, lift your shield, and defeat octorocks in clever little ways... the list of wiimote focus go on and on. I am sure this game has a solid framework as far as gameplay and design goes. I also know the narrative they will create around this functionality will enhance the experience.
Point of the Story: This game will move units it's zelda and it's done perfectly for the wii. If this is any indicator and if past success is any metric the final product will be of the highest Caliber.
SFR:Castlevania
This entrance in the Castlevania franchise is a nice departure, but may be another example of a game where it's strengths and inspirations may be the reason why this game doesn't perform as well as the producers may have expected. What makes this game great?
Castlevania resembles a cross-section of action platforming akin God of War meets Ninja Gaiden.
The problem here is not that using the basis of a great game or two is bad, but that the mindshare of the consumer has already been occupied by the aforementioned titles. Also this game has taken the model provided by two outstanding games and has applied a proper Castlevania aesthetic and feel.
The verdict: This game is a straightforward action platformer with the right amount of complexity. Simple, yet not moronic or lazy. This game looks feels and plays like a proper Castlevania addition. The main character has a cross-whip... it's Castlevania done right. If I had a PS3 and the money to throw around for this title, it's as sure a purchase as Bayonetta for 360. It doesn't look like a megaton announcement to me and if your choice is this or New Vegas... You should head toward the city of sin.
SFR:Metroid: Other M
As I mentioned in my last post E3 is composed of plenty of lines and the new Metroid title was responsible for one of them. After spending close to 20 min. (at least) waiting, I was given a most splendiferous treat in the form of Metroid: Other M
If you played the original metroid or any of the early titles (also the GBA titles), the gameplay here will be immediately familiar. The control scheme is nice and no wii peripherals were neccessary to play, just the wiimote, a wii and Metroid.
Metroid was a nice intersection between a 3 dimensional platform experience, that's right this game has literal depth (figurative depth thanks to team Ninja), and a 2 dimensional feel. Samus is controlled holding the wiimote sideways and moving here around with the d-pad, 1 and 2 buttons to shoot and jump respectively. You could goto morph ball with A and the transition was smooth as silk. The level design was well done, though you're hit by a curveball... story everywhere. It catches you quite off guard, but clearly Team Ninja's involvement in this game brings the story to the fore... The 15 or so minute demo had a cutscene of about the same length at the end... Seriously though the injection of real story elements is well deserved here and I believe it was deliberately emphasized in the demo.
Personally I never thought metroid actually needed a real story. This one has story to spare. It was a good game and my only gripe... a big gripe. You can't move while in visor mode. If I owned a wii, I would hate having to constantly transition between pointing the wiimote at the screen and using it as a controller.
I like that they have the first person mode that joins the progress made in the Prime titles with the classic 2d sidescrolling experience that established the franchise, but I dislike the lack of mobility as it may cause some awkward and clunky game experiences. I do understand the necessity for that lack of mobility as it would render the 3rd person mode completely irrelevant with regard to navigating the game space. Alas they did what they had to do although, I think the difficulty of bosses won't come from gameplay, but from this specific element of the control scheme.
If you own a wii look for this game comin down the pipes and buy it... If you love metroid and own a wii you've already purchased it and don't know it yet. For everyone else these aren't the metroids you're looking for.
SFR:Sonic 4
Surprisingly the game I loved the most is getting the shortest review, but I did indeed love it and I'm not sure my words can do this series enhancement justice... it was a beautiful day.
Sonic 4 was what I have always been waiting for since I played the Sonic games on my genesis. This game is definitely what sega and the franchise have needed to go back to. They kept what was right about the adventure titles and went back to the sidescrolling approach to gameplay. It seems as though they slowed sonic down a bit, but it doesn't hamper gameplay in the slightest.
They kept the double jumps and dash attack from the adventure titles. It doesn't screw up the gameplay, it seemed to actually open up a lot of design space. As far as awesome reboots go I give the award to sonic... Also I love sega so I can't bare seeing whats been happening to them since the dreamcast. So Sonic 4 is my game for the show... This in combination with bayonetta and Vangaurd, a game I never heard of until E3, shows me Sega is makin their move back to the gaming limelight. I still weep for them late in the night for those years when the industry abused them.
Recap
I found every one of these games enjoyable and they all show promise. Personally I am endeared to Sonic 4 because of what it says about SEGA's return to it's roots and MVC3 akes me shiver with excitement at a 2d fighter I can't wait to play. If you can afford these games it is likely that you should buy them when they come out. That is unless you already own Modern Warfare 2, then you may not have to buy MOH, but you still should.
Post comment \/ down there in the comment section.
P.S. Comin down the pipes I begin an analysis of the future of gaming check it out here later this week or early next week. It looks like it need only be one installment, but as the analysis grows it may require multiple installments... stay tuned for the future.
