E3 2017: Nintendo Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Going into this conference I had my expectations low, I didn't expect any announcements considering they had a recent solo conference announcing Pokken to Switch and Ultra Sun and Moon to 3DS consoles. But I have got to say, they have truly made me get a new console this generation which I didn't expect at all.

The Plus

+ Kirby

There is a new Kirby game coming out for Switch and I cannot be more excited. Kirby games are always a constantly great avenue to go for your great platformer fix and a new one for Switch is the right way to go, I can't wait.

+ Pokemon Switch

WE HAVE FINALLY GOT VERBAL CONFIRMATION OF A POKEMON SWITCH GAME!! This has been what everyone has been waiting for since the Switch got released and even though it was just a verbal confirmation it is enough for everyone to stay excited and to know that Nintendo are being up front with everyone.

+ Metroid Prime 4

Similarly to Pokemon Switch this is just a confirmation of the game being in development, but to be honest that is enough.

+ Yoshi

Again, similarily to Kirby, Yoshi games recently have been a very good source to get your platforming fix and this recent game looks to be working with a two side mechanic.

+ Breath Of The Wild DLC

It seems like some cool additions added to Zelda and anyone who is a fan of the game will enjoy this stuff added to their game.

+ Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

YES it still looks good, yes it still sounds good, yes they showed gameplay afterwards and it makes me wanna play the game more. This is a complete blind side of a game that is now very high on my list. AND ITS OUT IN OCTOBER!!

+ Rocket League

Not only have we got one of the most fun casual pick up and play games of recent memory coming to a console it feels like it was made for, but it also announced how online on the Switch would also be cross-platform with online on other consoles, which means the sad part of some Nintendo games that have no online players won't have that issue here.

+ Super Mario Odyssey

I don't think I can accurately explain in writing how impressed, hyped, and just out right blown away I am with the trailer and game play demo that they showed us of this game. I think this may be a very strong contender for being Game Of The Year against Zelda and other Triple A titles that have come out this year. The mechanics are phenomenal and the fact that Nintendo a couple years ago felt out dated and in a slump we have absolutely flipped this year and this game is the epitome of that.

+ Metroid: Samus Returns

A remake of the second Metroid game is beautiful stylised graphics and looking like some solid game play. The best part is the fact that this is being made for 3DS which is more confirmation that this Nintendo are definitely not finished with 3DS consoles. Personally, even with the portability of the Switch I wouldn't want to be playing it out in the open because of how expensive it is and how large it is. The Switch is much more of a 'take while travelling' 'play while watching tv' 'take round friends house' than a 'play on the train, bus or outside' maybe that's just me, that's why support to the 3DS is still so important to me.

There was not one minus to me at this conference, granted it was short but it was sweet and we had quite a few surprises when we didn't think there would be any, there was more of a focus on full exposure with fans on games that they are anticipating as well as full frontal game play, nothing staged and all natural. I think the Switch is gonna be something we'll be talking about for years to come so everyone pick one up.

E3 2017: Sony Conference - The Plus and The Minus

It's time for the big boys, Sony has been killing it every year for at least the past three years, it's time for them to step up their game cause this year there has been a lot of good conferences.

The Plus

+ Crash Bandicoot: N Sane Trilogy

I'm glad we've got a good in-depth trailer for this, I've been excited for this ever since it was announced last year so I can't wait to pick it up and play. Hopefully because it is being made for the PS4 and the updated graphics will mean the gameplay will be better than the original. Playing the original more recently it feels heavy and very hard to play, hopefully the game will be a little faster lighter and overall more fun.

+ Hidden Agenda

A new game from the same studio that created Until Dawn we get another cinematic choice based game with phenomenal graphics. This time however we have the implementation of group phone play. I think this is the coolest avenue this studio could have gone down. Considering me and my friends have wanted to replay Until Dawn together by controlling a character each this is definitely a step in the right direction. I'm very pumped up for this game.

+ Everybody's Golf

Why do I want a very Japanese styled golf game? I DON'T KNOW BUT I DO!

+ Undertale on PS4

This is a big deal, I recently bought Undertale for my PC but now that it is coming out on PS4, I don't know if I'll ever play it on my PC.

+ Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds

I'm currently playing Horizon and I'm really enjoying it, so I'm glad there some DLC coming soon so my adventure with the game won't end with the end of the game.

+ Monster Hunter World

OH MY GOD! I love Monster Hunter, I've been playing it loads on my 2DS and now I get to play a full HD version on my PS4 with my big TV, I can't wait to get my friends together and play this game.

+ Shadow Of The Colossus

URM WHAT. Ok so there is a new Shadow Of The Colossus, that's pretty crazy!

+ Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

Yeah to be honest it came across very silly, but thats not a bad thing, I'm looking forward to giving this series a go because I haven't delved into it yet.

+ Skyrim VR

Urm, I guess Bethesda also had Skyrim ready for VR too? Why they didn't talk about it during their conference I don't know but still very cool that they are bringing it to VR.

+ The Inpatient

Another Until Dawn styled game from the same studio, but this one is VR, I also think it is a spin-off. So if I can get my hands on it I definitely will.

+ God Of War

It is still looking good and it still looks like something I want to play.

+ Detroit: Becoming Human

We had a longer and more in-depth look at this game this year and I'm even more convinced on having it, the amount of options it wants to brag is incredible and it looks like you may be able to play as three different characters.

+ Spider-Man

WOW! This extended game play trailer looked absolutely incredible. We saw combat, we saw ability usage and we saw the web slinging around the city. It reminded me a lot of the Arkham series, it had the same elements that they had but because it is a different hero and a different world the game feel fresh and new.


The Minus

- Gran Turismo Sport

I like Gran Turismo but every conference has had a driving game thus far and it's just getting stale to me at this point.

- Days Gone

Personally, this game looks unappealing to me, I'm done with the zombie genre, with the exception of incredible sequels, like State Of Decay and The Last Of Us, creating new IPs in this genre seems like a waste of time, not only that but this game looks dull.

- Call Of Duty WWII

Isn't that just World At War? Urm, I would be more ok with just a HD remaster of that game than a new WWII game but I never buy these anymore so whatever.


So that is all my thoughts on this conference and I think it is probably the best thus far, Ubisoft was very good but now Sony has topped them and I think they've topped Microsoft too but not by much. We've only got one last conference and that's Nintendo!

E3 2017: Ubisoft Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Ubisoft gave a surprising conference that came out with some games I never knew I wanted and some games we've all been wanting for a while. They have definitely caught my attention.

The Plus

+ Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

The pure premise of this game bogged me down and all the leaks didn't get me hyped, Rabbids were the Minions of the gaming world, I never hated Rabbids but they aren't exactly the bet measure of anything outstanding, but as soon as the trailer hit I was in. Not only does the game exude buckets of character and charisma but it is also a strategy game, think XCOM except it's Mario and Rabbids and it looks delightful and fun. I honestly can't wait to play this and it is definitely a system seller for the Switch in my eyes.

+ South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Yes, this was shown last year and the trailer didn't really show us anything new but I was disappointed in the continuous pushing back of the release date but the game still looks funny and fun to play, I hope they stick to this release date this time.

+ Transference

As I thought Fallout 4 in VR might be the pinnacle for VR this year we get to see this extremely intriguing and possible ground breaking game that breaks the fourth wall of playing a game in VR, with the inclusion of Elijah Wood I'm very excited to see where this project goes.

+ Skull & Bones

It's nice to see that the rumblings of the possible pirate game based on the Assassins Creed Black Flag mechanics has finally happened, where Assassins Creed has burnt me out Skull & Bones comes from its ashes and has me intrigued, it'll be fun to see what the reception is to this and if it'll be worth the money.

+ South Park: Phone Destroyer

A free(ish) South Park Stick Of Truth/Fractured But Whole mobile game? Doesn't sound bad at all. No wonder Fractured But Whole has been delayed so much!

+ Beyond Good & Evil 2

IT HAPPENED GUYS, ITS HAPPENING! REJOICE PRAISE UBISOFT PRAAAIISEEE!

The Minus

- Assassin's Creed Origins

Yep, still the same, the second conference we've seen this at and it still has failed to impress me in anyway, that's not a good record.

- The Crew 2

Another driving game, granted it is the most interesting looking one thus far but another one nonetheless.

- Steep: Road to the Olympics

I forgot Steep was a thing, I didn't even know it came out so with that sort of reception you would think Ubi would know that it wouldn't be worth showing on the main conference.

- Just Dance 2018

ERRGHH Every year they show us a new Just Dance game, if I am criticising driving games for the fact that most gamers aren't driving fans then I most definitely going to say to Ubisoft READ THE ROOM people who go to these conventions do not want to watch a dance number on stage, if they want to show the game show it after or before the main conference, not during.

Overall Ubisoft really shocked me with their conference and unexpectedly excited for the games they will be bringing out very soon.

E3 2017: Bethesda Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Personally the main question on my mind going into the Bethesda press conference was if they even deserved one this year, sure there were rumours about The Evil Within 2 and Wolfenstein, but was it really worth it? Well I think it was lack luster but not as bad as EA.

The Plus

+ Fallout 4 VR

Someone had to make the leap into making a fully fledged open world game in VR and it just so happened that Bethesda had the perfect game ready for it. The reason this is a plus is purely because of the risk, if this flops then other companies will take notice and be hesitant to create anything more than a stand and shoot game for VR headsets, but on the flip side if Bethesda nail Fallout 4 VR then we could start to see the blossom of some truly great games in Virtual Reality.

+ Creation Club

This is a hesitant plus, the idea that this is more organised and looks better for console gamers and can start to give indie devs a chance to play with big triple A games then that is super cool. But I did see some sort of 'credits' currency, if this means these mods/items are a way to slip micro-transactions into 2 of the best open world games today then people will not be happy, myself included.

+ Skyrim on Nintendo Switch

Skyrim on the Nintendo Switch is probably one of the best selling points for the Switch in my opinion and although this didn't really show anything too amazing we did see the Link amiibo being used to give the in-game character a Breath Of The Wild Link outfit and Master Sword and Shield, so that alone is pretty sweet.

+ Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider

I am a big fan of Dishonored and recently just completed Dishonored 2, so I'm glad to see some DLC being able to play as Rosario Dawson's character Billie. By the looks of it it looks like a prequel. I don't want to spoil why I think that but people who've finished the game know why also. I can't wait to see what abilities she has and what the story is like.

+ Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

I haven't got a chance to play either Wolfenstein's (The New Order and The Old Blood) but this game still looks great, full of story and interesting level design. I love alternate timelines!

The Minus

- Doom VFR

I don't know, I love 2016's Doom, probably the best single player shooter for a long time, but the fact that they made this game into a teleporting VR shooter, turns me off to the idea completely. Maybe I'm just a bit pessimistic but I feel like playing Doom the way it was shown in the trailer doesn't make me want to play the game at all.

- The Elder Scrolls: Legends - Heroes Of Skyrim

Just looks like a new Hearthstone rip-off. Sorry.

Again anything I didn't mention here I probably don't have a firm opinion on, I never played The Evil Within nor do I intend to so the Evil Within 2 announcement didn't do anything to me but I know for some it was really cool. Anyway I'll see you in the next post when we'll be looking at the next big conference of the week, Sony!