After traipsing and tramping my way through long lines on the crowded show floor today, I was able to get my hands on a few of the games being shown off at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. Keep in mind, the games described below are still in development, so anything could change between now and their release date.
However, in the meantime, here’s a general overview of how each game is coming along and how enjoyable they are. So procrastinate on finals and packing for home just a little bit longer, and get informed about E3.
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“Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2”
Konami
MercurySteam
Winter 2013
Dracula plays just as menacing as he seems. Picking up a short time after the conclusion of the first “Lords of Shadow” iteration, this new game puts players in control of Gabriel Belmont after his transformation into the bloodsucking dark lord. At the Konami booth, I played a lengthy 20-minute hands-on demo where I was able to wet the Dark Prince’s fangs and try out some gameplay.
The demo featured a brooding Gabriel on his throne just before legions of holy knights crashed though the throne room doors of Gabriel’s gloomy castle. After a short tutorial, I was free to dispatch the enemies using Gabriel’s demonic powers.
Gabriel’s combat cross, light magic (which restores health while activated) and dark magic (which increases damage while activated) from the first game have been respectively replaced by the blood whip, void sword and chaos claws. The controls are really smooth, and Gabriel’s dodge mechanic makes avoiding damage a synch. MercurySteam is also playing off of Dracula’s traditional traits, such as bloodsucking. Closing the distance between an enemy and biting his neck restores small amounts of health.
The demo continued for a short while longer, displaying platforming sections and large boss battles reminiscent of the original “Castlevania.” Jumping from ledge to ledge is just as easy as before, and the scale of the demo’s wooden titan boss skillfully showed off the games impressive graphics. Konami informants at the booth also hinted at the game being somewhat of an open-world title, but didn’t explain further. If this turns out to be true, players can look forward to freely exploring Dracula’s world, both in medieval fantasy times and modern day (the game will switch back and forth between the two time periods).
“Saints Row IV”
Square Enix
Deep Silver
August 20, 2013
“Saints Row IV” is what “Crackdown 2” should have been, only about a million times more nonsensical. You control the president of the United States, who must fight off an alien invasion using super powers, dubstep guns and a general disregard for the law and human life. In a 10-minute hands-on demo at the Square Enix booth, I got to test out a few of the new wacky weapons and superpowers the video game series is known for.
Starting in a traditional cityscape, the demo provided various optional missions around the world, “Grand Theft Auto” style. And like that game, I was free to cause whatever mayhem I saw fit. Drop-kicking a woman on the sidewalk is practically expected, but there are better, more humanitarian ways to have fun.
Among weapons like the dubstep gun (which, yes, does make people dance to their death), I was able to use a laser katana and black hole gun. I also used a weapon physically similar to a water gun, but burst-fired plasma rounds. There really isn’t anything you can’t do in the game, including fly.
The playable character had superpowers at his disposal like super speed, telekinesis and a freeze blast. He could even jump hundreds of feet into the air and glide around the city’s skyscrapers like a small biplane. If you’re looking to cause mass amounts chaos, all the while feeling like a blend between Superman and the Hulk, then check out “Saint’s Row IV” when it gets released later this year.
“DuckTales Remastered”
Capcom
Wayforward Technologies
Summer 2013
Scrooge McDuck has put his pool of money where his duck bill is. The classic title, originally released in 1989 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, has been redone for the high definition era, and is a blast from the past to play. This 2-D sidescrolling platformer with cartoon-like graphics puts players in control of the monumentally rich waterfowl Scrooge McDuck as he traverses areas like the Amazon and Transylvania, collecting treasure with his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.
In a relatively short demo at the Capcom booth (I wasn’t too skilled at the game and play time was based on one’s ability to stay alive), I worked my way through the Transylvania level, cane-stomping mummies and skeletons alike. Gameplay was smooth, high definition graphics were beautiful and Capcom informants said the game’s music has been completely remastered.
Wayforward Technologies has also included a short training sequence to further modernize the game. Faithful fans from the game’s past may feel these additions are unnecessary, but they did end up making the game more enjoyable for me (someone who has never played the original).
And even with the short amount of time I had with Scrooge’s adventure, I definitely left intrigued and feeling a bit richer.