With E3 2018, the biggest gaming show of the year, just kicking off officially yesterday — there’s a lot to process. The big conferences from the larger studios have all done their announcements and the show floor at the LACC is packed. What is everyone swooning over? Here’s some of the bigger trending games from the conferences so far.
As a note, there are FAR more games than just these that are steadily building hype – but these are the ones that are the most talked about currently. Just because I’m an absolute gaming obsessive, I thought it would be a good idea to include a few other titles that are garnering some much deserved excitement for their future release date announcements.
1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
I have absolutely no qualms with sharing that I was white-knuckled and weeping during this trailer. While we also saw some refreshing gameplay during Ubisoft’s press conference, this game trailer shows the story we are walking into as either one of the two opening protagonists. If you didn’t get a chance to watch the presentation, I’ll also include that here. What sets this apart in the Assassin’s Creed universe is that we’re offered not just a male but also the choice to play as a woman. It has been stated that if you play as one and decide to play again as the other, you will encounter a different story and drive. This isn’t just a skin and name change – but more story to encounter as well.
And can I just say that I applaud Ubisoft for giving a female playable character that is not even remotely over-sexualized and exploited as a sexy selling point? Kassandra is built realistically and has a natural beauty that isn’t enhanced or played up by armor and unreasonable costuming. She shows that you can have a woman as your protagonist that is appealing to the eye without being a set piece and I love that.
2. Death Stranding
Listen, none of us know what any of this means. We’re making theories left and right, including that Norman Reedus plays a simple courier who is tasked with protecting one of the last genetically pure children en route to a safer destination. That, my friends, is just a theory. We have literally no clue what any of this truly means nor what the invisible large-palmed monsters are. We know Reedus’ character covers his mouth and breathing to hide from them, but there’s just nothing else to say. Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro know what they’re up to and we may never even know even when we play through this gorgeous looking title. We still can’t wait.
3. The Last of Us: Part II
It is non-stop Bummertown when it comes to the games we’re seeing coming from Sony over the next year. We were saddened by some of the scenes with Death Stranding, sure, but we opened on The Last of Us: Part II. What looks like Ellie years later, living a rather quiet and simple life with people and engaging in all of the social escapades of someone in close quarters with a tight knit group. A woman breezes in, dancing with Ellie and you can see Naughty Dog definitely did their very best to wipe away any last traces of Uncanny Valley in their characters eyes. A soft and tender moment goes bad and we get to see just what world is beyond those strung up lights and gentle dances. This game is ready to push every survival skill to their breaking point and this time, seemingly, all on the back of our beloved Ellie. This game, much like its predecessor, will not be for the faint of heart.
4. Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red is best known for The Witcher series of titles, the last being one of the most well-loved of the entire series. With an attention to detail that is almost unrivaled, they announced they were working on and near completing Cyberpunk 2077 which has niche tabletop gamers exploding with excitement. Cyberpunk 2020 is a tabletop RPG game (think D&D type tabletop game) that people have been in love with since it first hit the scene back in 1988 but never really touched the video game market in a big splashy sense. How do you really pull a game that is an RPG tabletop title that everyone has their own characters and love story with and give them a linear path? CD Projekt Red has more than proven they know how to give you a world and a character and let you make your own story along the way via The Witcher. The music, the visuals and the setting look so on point for what we wanted in a Cyberpunk title that I get the shivers just thinking about this game.
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
We all knew this was coming, right? While there’s dozens of other unique titles I could’ve brought to you here, I felt that if I didn’t give this one the hype notice – I would’ve failed everyone and everything. The full cast of characters are here with, well, at least one person uninvited to the party. Who is that? Well, let’s just say that Luigi isn’t too heartbroken over it. Did I mention that David Hayter, the original voice actor for Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, is returning to voice his character in Smash Bros. Ultimate? This is going to become the new standard for everyone’s chill hangout parties.
