Let’s be honest, E3 is about software. New hardware is always fun and seeing the future of gaming peripherals is exciting, but as a gamer, I want awesome software. This year’s E3 didn’t disappoint. Not only did we get lots of games, we got to see them in action. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the following list consists of games with long gameplay demos at E3.
So with one last look back at E3, and excitement for the next year of gaming, here are my personal top five games from the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo.
5. Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Of all the Tom Clancy franchises, I’ve always enjoyed Ghost Recon the most. Yeah, that’s probably a weird thing to admit, but I’m not much into shooters in the first place, so why not connect with Ghost Recon.
Ghost Recon: Wildlands reminds me a lot of my favorite incomplete game of recent memory, Metal Gear Solid V. Sure, it won’t have the mind-bending storyline or the superhuman villains, but I’m pretty sure it will be finished.
I think a lot of the fun of Wildlands will be multiplayer coop, so I need to find some friends. I’m hopeful that the single player campaign will stand up on its own and that multiplayer will put the whole experience over the top.
4. Gears of War 4
Gears of War 4 was the one highlight of the Microsoft press conference for me. I’ve often talked of Gears as the gaming equivalent of pure testosterone, and Gears 4 looks like it will continue the ride.
The gameplay demo at E3 was awesome. The weather effects and how they can be utilized in combat immediately had me fascinated. I was looking around the environment trying to find things that you could do in-game to get the upper hand on your enemies.
While compelling, it’s not quite enough to convince me to get an Xbox One. However, it is a pretty significant part of the argument, and with a few more exclusives of that caliber, they’ll leave me little choice.
3. God of War
This was a significant surprise, and the fact that Sony opened their press conference with God of War (with live orchestration, no less) set the bar really high. This new take on God of War is really intriguing to me.
God of War has always been an over the top beat ‘em up, with testosterone on par with Gears of War (look, their names are even similar!). But this new take on God of War brings in the feels. We don’t know yet if the character we saw featured in the new game was Kratos, Kratos’ dad, or someone else entirely. Regardless, the family dynamic brings an immediate depth to God of War that has always been lacking.
This new direction could keep God of War relevant in a gaming era dominated by games like The Last of Us which bring more emotional depth to an art form that has historically bent toward the juvenile. I imagine there will still be some nakedness as part of God of War, but it may also turn on the waterworks.
2. Dishonored 2
You may have noticed at this point that all of the games are well-established franchises. Dishonored 2 only has one previous game, making it the closest thing to a new IP on this list. Luckily, the first Dishonored was great, which gives me great hope for the second game of the franchise.
Dishonored is like a steampunk version of Thief mixed with a hint of Bioshock. The new game brings in a new player character with new powers and expanded gameplay mechanics. The replayability seems really high since the experience seems much different depending on if you play as Elizabeth or Corvo.
Honestly, this is the game on the list I’m least sure about being good. But it’s also the one I see with the most potential to blow my mind. The time travel mechanic alone looks like a blast.
1. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
My first legitimate gaming memory is playing the original Legend of Zelda on the NES. I spent hours with a buddy playing Zelda 2 when I was 7. I called the gaming hotline for like $4 a minute to ask for help while playing A Link to the Past. I got an N64 with Ocarina of Time for Christmas when I was 13. I found it hidden in a closet and bugged my mom until I go to open it early.
Needless to say, Zelda played a big role in my formative years. To be honest, though, the recent offerings, aside from A Link Between Worlds, have been underwhelming. We knew going into E3 that Zelda would be Nintendo’s primary offering. That was a lot of pressure.
They delivered.
They showed us a Zelda like we’ve never seen before. And it looks awesome. While I still have lots of questions about the story and characters, I already know that I’ll get lost in that world. My excitement for this new title reminds me of looking at images in Nintendo Power of Ocarina of Time. Both my 13- and 33-year-old self are pumped about this game. Now if I only knew what console I’ll be playing it on…
