E3 2018: Sony Press Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Sony had a weird conference and I still don't know how I feel about it, I guess I'm dissapointed, I'm not quite sure.

+ The Last Of Us II

Probably the best demo of the whole conference this year, The Last Of Us II showed us a meaty amount of gameplay looking at how different and dynamic the AI and combat is within the game. In the demo it showed a lot more stealthy combat than I was expecting and I was very surprised. The biggest downside for me was no release date in sight, and as it feels like we are moving ever closer to another generation of consoles, it feels like we might see this at the launch of the PS5.

+ Ghost Of Tsushima

I don't remember this game, but apparently it has been known before, obviously my finger hasn't been on the trigger enough with some things. Regardless this game looks difficult in the rewarding sense, combat almost looks like it is a mash up between For Honour combat and something out of Assassin's Creed 2. Not entirely sure without and even deeper dive but it does look interesting.

+ Resident Evil 2 Remaster

I'm not a Resident Evil player, I haven't really touched Resident Evil at all. But I've got to say the graphical overhaul on this game alone is impressive. I'm sure this is a big deal for Resident Evil fans but the trailer for me made a lasting impact.

+ Kingdom Hearts III

MORE KINGDOM HEARTS. Man this game has shown up everywhere this week. This time we got to see some cool clips from the Pirates of the Caribbean world. Very excited about the different worlds in this game.

+ Spider-Man

This game is coming out soon, so it felt weird that it got such a huge slot, but at the same time the game hasn't had any huge gameplay reveals, so this was really nice to see. It looks like a Batman Arkham game still, with maybe some slight differences, and I'm perfect ok with that. The hook here is Spider-Man, the characters and the swinging. The gameplay around all of that just needs to be dynamic and polished and they will have a very good Spider-Man game at the very least.

- Death Stranding

Personally, I felt this reveal gave us no indication what kind of game this is. I think this is purely just down to the fact that it is probably a very early build, and regardless I'm sure it will still be great this is just a minor bump in the road. I just wish I knew what I would be doing, you don't even need to give me story context, just tell me if I'm shooting, if I'm exploring, if I'm doing anything really. Right now it is just a lot of walking.

SO yeah, considering how strong last year was for Sony, and God Of War coming out earlier this year, I felt like it was time for some more surprises, not necessarily in games but in release dates, at the very least years of release. At the end of the day at least the Last Of Us II demo was there.

E3 2018: Ubisoft Press Conference - The Plus and The Minus

A solid showing by Ubisoft, although no surprises, I'm still excited about their line-up

+ Beyond Good & Evil 2

Sure it wasn't much, and the implementation of Joseph Gordon Levitt and his company maybe arose more questions than answers, but regardless it was a great decision to follow up on the big surprise from last year immediately and having a consistent dialogue. I see this as a next gen game, but I'm still glad they are carrying on with it.


+ Trials Rising

I have never really followed the Trials games, but I did play the originals on XBLA back in the day. Since then it seems the games have gotten more and more goofy and less about the difficult aspect of the initial releases. Here they chose to make it very clear they would be taking the best from both worlds. With the addition of Switch I think this could be a resurgance to the series.


+ Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Donkey Kong Adventure DLC

I finished Mario + Rabbids at the beginning of this year, or should I say, suffered through. Don't get me wrong, I loved the game, but the post game really became a painful slog through. So it is weird for me to say that I actually liked the look of the DLC, the exclusion of DK was very obvious when I initially went through the game, so seeing him in this DLC is enough of a hook of wanting to at the very least give it a go. The best hook of that came from the characters and all their differing abilities.


+ Skull & Bones

A year from the announcement, Skull & Bones looks much better, although conceptually it looked like a fun game, this year the gameplay really puts into perspective what we can start looking forward to. I'm interested in if the game plays a bit like a management sim with your crew, or if it will play mainly as a pirate ship shooting game. Only time will tell.


+ Star Fox in Starlink: Battle For Atlas

Not really a game I was really keeping an eye on, but the new addition of Star Fox and the crew to the Switch version of the game suddenly reinvests me into this game and what it could be. This also confirms the close relationship between Ubi and Nintendo, makes me wonder if this is a precursor to a possible Starfox completely made by this Ubi developer.


+ Assassin's Creed Odyssey

It's pretty mind boggling to me that I was drawn to this game as much as I was. Especially after last years look at Origins didn't bring me in, even after the many 'you gotta play this' from friends. Odyssey gave me some sort of weird Assassin's Creed factor that I haven't seen since Brotherhood, along with that add the combat system from Origins and the Bioware-esque dialogue system within the game and suddenly this is a new Assassin's Creed I'm really interested in playing.

- Just Dance 2019

It's slowly becoming less and less a minus, but still has to sit here, I don't really care and no matter how goofy it is, it is still something I have to sit through with dead eyes.


- The Division 2

I have been thinking about wanting to try The Division for a while, the concept seems like a really cool idea, but now seeing Fallout 76, and this trailer and gameplay, I've realised taht this game isn't really for me.


Really solid showing from Ubisoft this year, although the big surprise of Odyssey got leaked before hand and apart from that the publisher didn't show much new stuff.

Some Thoughts - E3 2018: Square Enix Press Conference

Well. I don't think Square needed a 'press conference'. If anything they should have just released these trailers on their Twitter account. With their big games of the very short 30 mins being games we have already seen it almost felt like this whole video was not worth it. The biggest disappointment for me was not seeing anything from this rumoured Avengers game, The World Ends With You Switch port and the Final Fantasy VII remake.

I did however did enjoy some things, seeing some more Kingdom Hearts was cool, although most of it was similar, Tomb Raider gameplay looked really stealthy and fun, right up my alley. More confirmation that Life Is Strange 2 is not Captain Spirit is very exciting, it just means Captain Spirit is a fun extra we get out of Life Is Strange. Octopath Traveller was nice to see, I'm still excited about this game, I hope we hear more about it at Nintendo's direct.

But apart from that, that was it for Square Enix and that's kinda lack luster. Personally I'd say they shouldn't have had a conference.

E3 2018: Bethesda Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Bethesda has completely confirmed my suspicions and is definitely the best and at the very least my favourite publisher on the planet today.

+ Rage 2

My only knowledge of Rage before Rage 2 was: 'that £1 game in CEX'. Despite the leak by Canadian Walmart Bethesda manage to make this game look exciting and brought out some new info. I think it's a super interesting game and I can't wait to try it out.

+ Doom Eternal

I know it isn't much but confirmation of a Doom sequel and a promise of a debut in the next couple of months is good enough for me.

+ Prey DLC

All this DLC and updates look super cool. Mooncrash especially looks more fun that the actual game to me.

+ Wolfenstein Youngblood

80s Nazi apocalypse? HELL YES. It looks like a cross between Blade Runner and Blood Dragon. I'm in and I can't wait.

+ Fallout 76

This game could be one of these games that defines a console generation. Online Fallout is a big deal as it is, the fact there is some base building elements is cool too. My only worry is that maybe the game is hollow? doesn't seem to be any indication of quests, or interactions with NPCs at all?

+ Fallout Shelter for Switch

I was way more excited for this than I should've been. I love the idea of free mobile gameson the switch I think it just works. Pokemon uest is a lot of fun and although I didn't really get into Fallout Shelter on the mobile I definitely will on the Switch.

+ Starfield & Elder Scrolls VI

Although it seems like they tacked these two games on at the end the confirmation that Starfield is a thing and that they will make an Elder Scrolls VI is satisfying to hear. I can't wait for Starfield, all I think of is Mass Effect but it's a Bethesda Game Studios game, and it makes me very very happy.

- Elder Scrolls Legends, Elder Scrolls Online & Quake Champions

Haven't played these but this part of the conference feels obligatory at this point. Feels like all of these games have been talked about or mentioned in one capacity or another for the full 4 years Bethesda have been doing their press conferences.

- Elder Scrolls: Blades

Super weird looking game, and not in a good way. I guess I would have to see it in person but I personally can't imagine this playing well or even wanting to play this game on a phone. Maybe that's just me?

Overall I think Bethesda might be my tied favourite of E3 so far, with Microsoft. Really great conference I'm excited about Fallout 76 this year and all the future games coming from the publisher.

E3 2018: Microsoft Press Conference - The Plus and The Minus

Microsoft's best press conference in a long long time. But buckle up, this might be a long one. Anything not mentioned here means I have nothing to say on it or I'm just luke warm.

+ Ori and The Will of The Wisps

I have no connection to this franchise at all but this game look stunning and exciting to play, the game looks a lot like the previous two Rayman games, Origins and Legends. I really enjoyed those games so I don't mind playing another one.

+ Sekiro

From Software, Dark Souls-esque games are just really cool concepts. I've only played Bloodbourne, and then it was only because it was free recently with PS Plus, but I immediately understood when I started playing that game. The combat feels amazing and for someone like me who really enjoys timing based combat instead combos, I really enjoyed it. This game looks just as cool, the setting is a nice change of pace to Demon Souls, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne.

+ Fallout 76

This was a trailer that showed us more of Fallout 76 but nothing huge just yet, I'm sure we're going to see stuff later on at Bethesda's conference but for now, it looks good.

+ The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

I'm a huge fan of Life Is Strange and I loved Before The Storm, so this is right up my alley. It's great because they've gone for a whole new take and tone here and it looks heart melting. Also it's free, which is crazy!

+ Crackdown 3

Terry Crews could sell me anything. As a fan of Brooklyn Nine Nine I just have a huge soft spot for the actor. This game makes me hugely jealous that I'm not an Xbox One owner, something that the PS3 never made me feel last generation.

+ Metro Exodus

I haven't played any Metro, something I still need to try out, but this looks really cool and more footage compared to last year has got me excited.

+ Kingdom Hearts 3

Frozen, Monsters Inc, Tangled. I mean come on. This shit is great, I get it, it isn't everyones cup of tea but I really enjoy Kingdom Hearts wacky cheesy story.

+ Forza Horizon 4

This is the first time I've been jealous of a car game. Forza Horizon 4 looks beautiful, captivating and enjoyable in every sense. Seasons although not initially a selling point become more desirable when they showcased the driving over a frozen lake. But the always online racing is the real selling point for me. Then again, I just bought Burnout Paradise remaster for the PS4, so maybe I'll just go play that.

+ Microsoft aquisitions

I think Sony have had some of the best first party studios and video games of the past couple of years but these studio acquisitions is looking good for Microsoft's future in first party.

+ We Happy Few

I honestly thought this game had already came out because of being a Playstation player and it being a Xbox exclusive. But apparently it hasn't. I really love this concept, I really love this art style, and overall I really enjoy the look of the game. If I get a chance to play it I will.

+ Sable

I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT WAS BUT IT LOOKED AMAZING

+ Harold Halibut

WAIT WTF IS THAT, IS THAT FUCKING CLAYMATION, OH MY GOD

+ Shadow of the Tomb Raider

I haven't played the other two Tomb Raider games yet, but I think this new reboot looks good all round so I'm happy that they are continuing on with it.

+ Session

I thought this was Skate 4 for 90% of this trailer and then I remembered as soon as the name came up that Session was a thing. I'm excited to get my hand on this even though lack of any sort of date kinda means this was an empty trailer that maybe was trying to play on the expectation that EA announced Skate 4.

+ Devil May Cry 5

I haven't really touched DMC, I played the first level or so of the first one and that is about it. But this looks fun and cool even though my experience with the switch version of Bayonetta this year has convinced me more that combo orientated combat in games really isn't my thing.

+ Tunic

I vaguely remember this from somewhere else, but regardless the game look stunning, cute and a lot like Zelda. ticks all round.

+ Dying Light 2

I haven't really seen much of Dying Light but this sequel is looking very very special and awesome. I love what they showed and talked about here with the mechanics and dialogue choices and the effects it has. Really cool.

+ Gears Tactics

This looks like Xcom. I like Xcom. If they  bring something new and different to the genre I'm in. If not. Then I'll stick to Xcom.

+ Cyberpunk 2077

AW YEAH, this is the game I have wanted my entire life. Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, all those cyberpunk visual styles and concepts in an actual game I could sink my teeth into. an RPG of all things too. I'm very very excited about some more info on this game soon.

- Halo Infinite

Not really a Halo fan so it makes it easier for me to put this here. No info on this at all and a nothing trailer. Kinda feels like it would've been better being left off. This game will be a talking point over some smaller games that actually look good and come out soon and that's a shame.

- Game Pass

Just to reiterate on what I said about streaming services in the EA blog. Streaming games to any device is not the way I want to go. I want to OWN my games, especially when you sink so much time into a game.

- Black Desert

Just looked super bland to me and didn't feel like it needed a press conference spot. Definitely there to fill in the '50 games' promise.

- Gears Pop

I love Pop Vinyls and everything but NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO  I don't need Pop Vinyl games.

50 games, huge exclusives, huge reveals, gotta be up there for me as one of the best conference in a long time. It makes you wonder if all thses games went to Microsoft because Sony are only going to show the 4 or 5 games they said they will be taking a look at.