81. SILENT HILL: DOWNPOUR
Late 2011 || X360, PS3 || D: Vatra, P: Konami
When you’re a convict and the bus transporting you to prison gets wrecked, you’d think that’s a stroke of good luck. Except when you wind up Silent Hill, which is exactly what happens in the survival-horror series’ eighth entry. You’ll have limited weapons in this installment, which will eventually break and force you to make do with anything you can find. And, as the title implies, water will be a major element, as Downpour seems slanted a bit more towards atmosphere than action.
82. SOUL CALIBUR V
TBA 2012 || X360, PS3 || D: Project Soul, P: Namco Bandai
The latest entry in the Soul Calibur series shifts to a new generation, set 17 years after the last game. Only recently announced, there wasn’t much available at E3 beyond a teaser trailer, but it was revealed that two of the characters will be children of Sophitia’s children, Pyrrha and Patroklos, the latter of which will be the center of the game’s new story mode, and that a significant portion of the game’s roster will be new characters.
83. SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME
Fall 2011 || X360, PS3, Wii || D: Beenox, P: Activision
This action-heavy title from Beenox features two Spider-Men living in two different eras – Peter Parker, our modern Spider-Man, and Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099 – who help each other via a cause-and-effect relationship. The two have the ability to communicate with each other, and actions that one Spider-Man takes can affect the others’ timeline. Most of the gameplay shown at E3 was heavy on indoor acrobatics and fighting and less on web-slinging; like 2010’s Shattered Dimensions, this game’s Spider-Men are voiced by two actors from previous animated series: Josh Keaton and Christopher Daniel Barnes.
84. STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM
2012 || PC || D/P: Blizzard
As with Diablo III, Blizzard skipped E3 this year, instead inviting editors to Blizzard HQ back in May for a look at the second installment in the StarCraft II series, featuring Sarah Kerrigan and the Zerg campaign. So for more details, we might have to wait until Blizzcon and keep our fingers cross for an early 2012 release.
85. STARHAWK
2012 || PS3 || D: Lightbox, P: SCEA
Unveiled at Sony’s E3 2011 press conference, this spiritual successor to 2007’s Warhawk will include a full single-player campaign (Warhawk was multiplayer-only) that blends third-person action with a RTS vibe, as you can call down structures from low orbit to help defend yourself from enemies. But multiplayer will of course be a huge part of the package, with giant maps allowing you to fight on foot, in ground vehicles, or in the air.
86. STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC
Date TBA || PC || D: BioWare/LucasArts, P: EA
Maybe one of the biggest disappointments of E3 2011 was that we didn’t get a firm release date for BioWare’s Star Wars MMO, and that all that was shown at EA’s press conference was a new CGI trailer. However, on the show floor, they did open up a great deal at E3 on the game’s features, including mounts, “operations†(ToR’s version of raids), and a first look at Tatooine. The game is shaping up to be absolutely gigantic, but it’s hard not to worry that it still appears to be a ways off and might not release until 2012.
87: SLY COOPER: THIEVES IN TIME
2012 | PS3 | D: Sanzaru, P: SCEA
Debuting at E3 2011 during Sony’s press conference via a stylish teaser trailer, the Sly Cooper series returns to action with a new developer, Sanzaru, at the helm. Featuring slick cartoon-style graphics, Sanzaru later demoed a boss fight showing Sly’s ability to change costumes, which can offer Sly different abilities.
88. STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN
Early 2012 || PS3, PS Vita || D/P: Capcom
One of two Street Fighter / Tekken crossover games in the works, Namco’s version wasn’t present at E3, but Capcom’s was, both for the PS3 and shown for the new Playstation Vita at Sony’s press conference. In addition, inFamous lead character Cole was announced as a bonus character in both versions of the game, and was demoed as part of the press conference.
89. SSX
Jan 2012 || X360, PS3 || D: EA Canada, P: EA Sports
Announced during EA’s press briefing, the SSX snowboarding franchise will get a reboot in early 2012 boasting the ability to let you race down the world’s most famous mountains, based on NASA topography data, including Mount Kilimanjarno, the Himalayas and a PS3-exclusive route down Mount Fuji. The game will have three main modes: straightforward racing, trick racing, and a survival mode where it’s a challenge just to reach the bottom of the mountain in one piece.
90. SWORD OF THE STARS II: LORDS OF WINTER
Aug 16 2011 || PC || D: Kerberos, P: Paradox
As you’d expect for a 4X strategy game, Sword of the Stars II didn’t exactly get top billing anywhere at E3. Nonetheless, the sequel to well-regarded 2006 title was on hand at the show, with a new trailer showing improved graphics and a demo showing how the game divides its time between a turn-based tactical map and battles that play out in real time. A seventh race has been added for the sequel, as well as battles that play out on three axes.
91. THI4F
Date TBA || Platforms TBA || D: Eidos, P: Square Enix
For whatever reason, a number of smaller websites thought Thief 4 might make an appearance at E3 this year, which was confirmed in development at Eidos Montreal a few years back. But it’s a safe bet all that studio’s energy – and marketing push – is on this summer’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution, so there was no T4 news at this year’s show. Next year seems like a more likely bet for a T4 teaser.
92. TOMB RAIDER
2012 || X360, PS3, PC || D: Crystal Dynamics, P: Square Enix
Look who’s back! Lara Croft turned up early into the Microsoft press conference, in yet another reboot of the series. The footage shown at E3 was from the very beginning of the new game, with a young, inexperienced Lara, and had a decidedly creepier vibe from previous entries in the series. The developers are also experimenting with more open, non-linear spaces for Lara to explore as well as some character progression as she learns to use various weapons.
93. TORCHLIGHT II
TBA 2011 || PC || D: Runic Games, P: Perfect World
A sequel to one of the better-received dungeon crawls in recent memory, Torchlight II will add multiplayer to the series, via both online and LAN play (the actual number of players supported hasn’t been finalized yet). E3 was a chance for Runic to show off the Berserker, a fast-paced melee class.
94. TRACKMANIA 2: CANYON
Sep 2011 || PC || D: Nadeo, P: Ubisoft
One of the few PC exclusives shown at any of the E3 press conferences, Trackmania 2 improves on the graphics of its predecessors while retaining its focus on over-the-top racing and customizable tracks. E3 demos showed off eight-player time trials, as well as the ability to customize your car models and even create intro movies for custom tracks.
95. TWISTED METAL
Oct 4 2011 || PS3 || D: Eat Sleep Play, P: SCEA
The PS3-exclusive return of the outrageous vehicle-combat series generated quite a bit of buzz at E3, despite being completely absent from the Sony press conference. Along with the obvious multiplayer component, David Jaffe was making the rounds unveiling parts of the game’s single-player action, including some ridiculous multi-stage boss fights.
96. UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION
Nov 1 2011 || PS3 || D: Naughty Dog, P: Sony
The cruise ship demo that opened Sony’s press conference, complete with amazing water effects, was one of the highlights of the show. Naughty Dog also used E3 to show off Uncharted 3‘s multiplayer, where the series will move beyond deathmatch and into more objective-based territory where every level will feature some sort of scripted event. Will clearly be on a lot of “Best of E3†lists, and Sony’s biggest platform exclusive.
97. WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE
Sep 6 2011 || X360, PS3, PC || D: Relic, P: THQ
It’s easy to see similarities between Space Marine and the Gears of War games, as both are third-person action games featuring pumped-up soldiers carving their way through hordes of enemies. But unlike Gears, there’s no cover system, and melee combat isn’t meant to be an occasional novelty, but a big part of the action. Relic and THQ were on hand at E3 to show off a number of demos showing the extremely bloody action.
98. XCOM
Mar 6 2012 || X360, PC || D: 2K Marin, P: 2K Games
It’s important to note that this is not a remake of the classic X-Com game – it’s a first-person action game based on the classic series. And while the gameplay may be completely different, 2K is aiming to retain the spirit of the franchise, telling an origin story of a new government agency handling an extraterrestrial threat. Demos at E3 showed several types of gameplay being blended together, including the ability to build a squad with different abilities and weapons, and some insight into how you’ll be able to take alien technology and turn it to your advantage.
99. X-MEN DESTINY
Sept 2011 || X360, PS3, Wii || D: Silicon Knights, P: Activision
This action-heavy X-Men game lets you play not as one of the series’ familiar characters, but as one of three new mutants trying to find their way in the world. Set in San Francisco, each character has a few core powers that can be combined to create various finishing moves. As you progress through the game and fight other mutants, you can collect X-genes which allow you to continue growing your powers.
100. ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD
Late 2011 || Wii || Nintendo
The newest Zelda game coming to the Wii later this year will be big on exploration, as you take to the skies via a new bird riding feature via which you can soar through the clouds and drop down to islands to explore. Nintendo showed three different demos at their booth: one focusing on the flying aspect, one showing basic dungeon play, and the final showing a boss battle.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Sluggo’s 100 Games of E3 2011
81. SILENT HILL: DOWNPOUR
Late 2011 || X360, PS3 || D: Vatra, P: Konami
When you’re a convict and the bus transporting you to prison gets wrecked, you’d think that’s a stroke of good luck. Except when you wind up Silent Hill, which is exactly what happens in the survival-horror series’ eighth entry. You’ll have limited weapons in this installment, which will eventually break and force you to make do with anything you can find. And, as the title implies, water will be a major element, as Downpour seems slanted a bit more towards atmosphere than action.
82. SOUL CALIBUR V
TBA 2012 || X360, PS3 || D: Project Soul, P: Namco Bandai
The latest entry in the Soul Calibur series shifts to a new generation, set 17 years after the last game. Only recently announced, there wasn’t much available at E3 beyond a teaser trailer, but it was revealed that two of the characters will be children of Sophitia’s children, Pyrrha and Patroklos, the latter of which will be the center of the game’s new story mode, and that a significant portion of the game’s roster will be new characters.
83. SPIDER-MAN: EDGE OF TIME
Fall 2011 || X360, PS3, Wii || D: Beenox, P: Activision
This action-heavy title from Beenox features two Spider-Men living in two different eras – Peter Parker, our modern Spider-Man, and Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099 – who help each other via a cause-and-effect relationship. The two have the ability to communicate with each other, and actions that one Spider-Man takes can affect the others’ timeline. Most of the gameplay shown at E3 was heavy on indoor acrobatics and fighting and less on web-slinging; like 2010’s Shattered Dimensions, this game’s Spider-Men are voiced by two actors from previous animated series: Josh Keaton and Christopher Daniel Barnes.
84. STARCRAFT II: HEART OF THE SWARM
2012 || PC || D/P: Blizzard
As with Diablo III, Blizzard skipped E3 this year, instead inviting editors to Blizzard HQ back in May for a look at the second installment in the StarCraft II series, featuring Sarah Kerrigan and the Zerg campaign. So for more details, we might have to wait until Blizzcon and keep our fingers cross for an early 2012 release.
85. STARHAWK
2012 || PS3 || D: Lightbox, P: SCEA
Unveiled at Sony’s E3 2011 press conference, this spiritual successor to 2007’s Warhawk will include a full single-player campaign (Warhawk was multiplayer-only) that blends third-person action with a RTS vibe, as you can call down structures from low orbit to help defend yourself from enemies. But multiplayer will of course be a huge part of the package, with giant maps allowing you to fight on foot, in ground vehicles, or in the air.
86. STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC
Date TBA || PC || D: BioWare/LucasArts, P: EA
Maybe one of the biggest disappointments of E3 2011 was that we didn’t get a firm release date for BioWare’s Star Wars MMO, and that all that was shown at EA’s press conference was a new CGI trailer. However, on the show floor, they did open up a great deal at E3 on the game’s features, including mounts, “operations†(ToR’s version of raids), and a first look at Tatooine. The game is shaping up to be absolutely gigantic, but it’s hard not to worry that it still appears to be a ways off and might not release until 2012.
87: SLY COOPER: THIEVES IN TIME
2012 | PS3 | D: Sanzaru, P: SCEA
Debuting at E3 2011 during Sony’s press conference via a stylish teaser trailer, the Sly Cooper series returns to action with a new developer, Sanzaru, at the helm. Featuring slick cartoon-style graphics, Sanzaru later demoed a boss fight showing Sly’s ability to change costumes, which can offer Sly different abilities.
88. STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN
Early 2012 || PS3, PS Vita || D/P: Capcom
One of two Street Fighter / Tekken crossover games in the works, Namco’s version wasn’t present at E3, but Capcom’s was, both for the PS3 and shown for the new Playstation Vita at Sony’s press conference. In addition, inFamous lead character Cole was announced as a bonus character in both versions of the game, and was demoed as part of the press conference.
89. SSX
Jan 2012 || X360, PS3 || D: EA Canada, P: EA Sports
Announced during EA’s press briefing, the SSX snowboarding franchise will get a reboot in early 2012 boasting the ability to let you race down the world’s most famous mountains, based on NASA topography data, including Mount Kilimanjarno, the Himalayas and a PS3-exclusive route down Mount Fuji. The game will have three main modes: straightforward racing, trick racing, and a survival mode where it’s a challenge just to reach the bottom of the mountain in one piece.
90. SWORD OF THE STARS II: LORDS OF WINTER
Aug 16 2011 || PC || D: Kerberos, P: Paradox
As you’d expect for a 4X strategy game, Sword of the Stars II didn’t exactly get top billing anywhere at E3. Nonetheless, the sequel to well-regarded 2006 title was on hand at the show, with a new trailer showing improved graphics and a demo showing how the game divides its time between a turn-based tactical map and battles that play out in real time. A seventh race has been added for the sequel, as well as battles that play out on three axes.
91. THI4F
Date TBA || Platforms TBA || D: Eidos, P: Square Enix
For whatever reason, a number of smaller websites thought Thief 4 might make an appearance at E3 this year, which was confirmed in development at Eidos Montreal a few years back. But it’s a safe bet all that studio’s energy – and marketing push – is on this summer’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution, so there was no T4 news at this year’s show. Next year seems like a more likely bet for a T4 teaser.
92. TOMB RAIDER
2012 || X360, PS3, PC || D: Crystal Dynamics, P: Square Enix
Look who’s back! Lara Croft turned up early into the Microsoft press conference, in yet another reboot of the series. The footage shown at E3 was from the very beginning of the new game, with a young, inexperienced Lara, and had a decidedly creepier vibe from previous entries in the series. The developers are also experimenting with more open, non-linear spaces for Lara to explore as well as some character progression as she learns to use various weapons.
93. TORCHLIGHT II
TBA 2011 || PC || D: Runic Games, P: Perfect World
A sequel to one of the better-received dungeon crawls in recent memory, Torchlight II will add multiplayer to the series, via both online and LAN play (the actual number of players supported hasn’t been finalized yet). E3 was a chance for Runic to show off the Berserker, a fast-paced melee class.
94. TRACKMANIA 2: CANYON
Sep 2011 || PC || D: Nadeo, P: Ubisoft
One of the few PC exclusives shown at any of the E3 press conferences, Trackmania 2 improves on the graphics of its predecessors while retaining its focus on over-the-top racing and customizable tracks. E3 demos showed off eight-player time trials, as well as the ability to customize your car models and even create intro movies for custom tracks.
95. TWISTED METAL
Oct 4 2011 || PS3 || D: Eat Sleep Play, P: SCEA
The PS3-exclusive return of the outrageous vehicle-combat series generated quite a bit of buzz at E3, despite being completely absent from the Sony press conference. Along with the obvious multiplayer component, David Jaffe was making the rounds unveiling parts of the game’s single-player action, including some ridiculous multi-stage boss fights.
96. UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION
Nov 1 2011 || PS3 || D: Naughty Dog, P: Sony
The cruise ship demo that opened Sony’s press conference, complete with amazing water effects, was one of the highlights of the show. Naughty Dog also used E3 to show off Uncharted 3‘s multiplayer, where the series will move beyond deathmatch and into more objective-based territory where every level will feature some sort of scripted event. Will clearly be on a lot of “Best of E3†lists, and Sony’s biggest platform exclusive.
97. WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE
Sep 6 2011 || X360, PS3, PC || D: Relic, P: THQ
It’s easy to see similarities between Space Marine and the Gears of War games, as both are third-person action games featuring pumped-up soldiers carving their way through hordes of enemies. But unlike Gears, there’s no cover system, and melee combat isn’t meant to be an occasional novelty, but a big part of the action. Relic and THQ were on hand at E3 to show off a number of demos showing the extremely bloody action.
98. XCOM
Mar 6 2012 || X360, PC || D: 2K Marin, P: 2K Games
It’s important to note that this is not a remake of the classic X-Com game – it’s a first-person action game based on the classic series. And while the gameplay may be completely different, 2K is aiming to retain the spirit of the franchise, telling an origin story of a new government agency handling an extraterrestrial threat. Demos at E3 showed several types of gameplay being blended together, including the ability to build a squad with different abilities and weapons, and some insight into how you’ll be able to take alien technology and turn it to your advantage.
99. X-MEN DESTINY
Sept 2011 || X360, PS3, Wii || D: Silicon Knights, P: Activision
This action-heavy X-Men game lets you play not as one of the series’ familiar characters, but as one of three new mutants trying to find their way in the world. Set in San Francisco, each character has a few core powers that can be combined to create various finishing moves. As you progress through the game and fight other mutants, you can collect X-genes which allow you to continue growing your powers.
100. ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD
Late 2011 || Wii || Nintendo
The newest Zelda game coming to the Wii later this year will be big on exploration, as you take to the skies via a new bird riding feature via which you can soar through the clouds and drop down to islands to explore. Nintendo showed three different demos at their booth: one focusing on the flying aspect, one showing basic dungeon play, and the final showing a boss battle.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5