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5 Most Anticipated Games of E3 2012

E3 2012 is only 11 days away now. For those of you who do not know, E3 means Electronic Entertainment Expo. It is an annual fair that has been continuing since 1995, and video game companies use this to show-off their new games and hardware. E3 is the biggest gaming convention and developers spend a lot more at E3 than at any other event.

This years list of games that will be shown at E3 has been released. Here are the 5 games that have caused a lot of excitement.

5. Tomb Raider (Reboot)

We’ve all played Tomb Raider in the past, and most of us loved it. Now, Lara Croft can be seen in complete HD with a re-designed look. However, this might not be the game everyone was thinking it to be…

Apparently, this game features a relatively inexperienced Lara Croft who is stranded on an island and has to survive. So far, no Tombs have been seen in the game’s videos. This is more of a survival game than an adventure game. Lara no longer knows any gymnastics of manoeuvres. She’s just another regular person trying to fight for her subsistence. This game also has an M rating due to the excessive about of blood and gore. Lara has to heal her wounds by herself and can die in a number of brutal ways.

This will be a real treat for some Tomb Raider fans as they get to see another side of Lara and learn about her before she became an explorer. For others, this might not be a source of excitement as they might be looking forward to a proper adventure game. I personally believe that change is always for the better, and here’s to hoping that the changes made to the Tomb Raider franchise are good enough.

Hopefully, another trailer may be released at E3, maybe showing some more gameplay. Tomb Raider has been delayed to 2013, and there’s a chance that a proper release date might be given at E3. Lets hope it’s worth the wait.

4. Resident Evil 6

This is another franchise with a large fan base. And in the past few years, Capcom hasn’t exactly satisfied it’s fans with proper console RE games. Although some fans were happy with RE5, but the majority believed that it could’ve been greatly improved. It lacked the horror element. Capcom has promised to bring back the ‘pee-your-pants’ horror back with RE6. Lets hope they deliver this promise.

This new Resident Evil game will feature Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy and Jake Muller (The son of Albert Wesker) as playable protagonists. Each of them has a partner with them, but it is not yet revealed whether players will be allowed to control them as well. The entire world has fallen victim to a bio-terrorist attack and new creatures called the J’avo have been formed. They are able to plan their attacks, use weapons and heal themselves.

The game looks great and some footage shows dark areas which can truly make you feel scared, given the right type of music and atmosphere of course. Capcom may show a playable demo, which has been scheduled to release on PSN and XBL in September.

Lets hope Capcom can pull this off to cover their recent failure due to “Operation Raccoon City”.

3. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

I’m not a fan of spin-offs, but due to my love for the Metal Gear series, I’m looking forward to this new installment, even though it won’t be the same.

This game will have Raiden as the protagonist. And as most of you know, it’s not the ‘Tactical Espionage Action’ game anymore. It is now a hack-n-slash, focusing on Raiden has he cuts his way through everything. Literally, everything. The game looks good, but I personally feel that the voice-acting is not properly done. It felt a little awkward when I listened to the voices in the trailer.

I’m looking forward to that demo that Kojima teased a while back. It’s title screen has also been shown to the people. Like many other MGS fans, I can’t wait to see Raiden in action. And hopefully, E3 will quench my thirst.

However, the lack of snake-ness (if you know what I mean) is somehow disappointing. I’m also secretly hoping for Snake to make a cameo appearance at least.

Here is the title screen for the game’s demo:

2. Assassins Creed 3

What was originally planned as a Prince of Persia game, is now one of Ubisoft’s strongest franchises. Over the last few years, people have come to love the Assassins Creed games and can’t wait to know what other adventures await the Assassins. I was surprised to find out that Brotherhood and Revelations weren’t exactly the AC 3 and 4 respectively. Then again, I think it’s a good idea to have another game with the number 3 in it, along with a completely new character.

The game has been in development ever since the release of AC2. Notable characters that might appear in the game are George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and General Charles Lee. This will be something interesting to see.

Gameplay for this game has already been revealed along with an October 30th release date. Ubisoft should show something new for this game at E3, like a completely new trailer with new gameplay elements that have not been revealed. No dubstep music please.

1. The Last of Us

The PS3 exclusive being developed by Naughty Dog has caught a lot of attention. After all, who would not expect great things about Naughty Dog after their amazing Uncharted series?

Not much has been revealed about the Last of Us. Sure there are two trailers, but they leave a lot to be desired. Basically, the game is about survival in a post-apocalyptic America against hostile elements such as the Infected, (humans infected by the virus) and the Survivors (humans that are not infected, but are still hostile). The main characters are Joel and Ellie. The latter is being escorted by the former out of the city, though it is unclear where.

The Last of Us looks great. The visuals, the dramatic scenes revealed in the trailers and the girl who looks a lot like Ellen Page are too good to ignore. However, proper gameplay has not been revealed by Naughty Dog, so that’s what everyone should be expecting to be shown at E3. Also, a little clarification regarding the story wouldn’t hurt either.

The latest trailer of The Last of Us can be found here:

Which games are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.

January 31, 2013
Assassin’s Creed III PC Delayed

This news might not surprise most people but Assassin’s Creed III PC version has been delayed. This has now become common for Ubisoft to delay Assassin’s Creed games on the PC. Eurogamer caught the news from a source, which also included the following image:

The PC version of Assassin’s Creed III which was supposed to launch along side the Console version on 31st October, will now release on 23rd November.

January 31, 2013
Assassin’s Creed 3: Limited Edition Detailed
With the fourth of July just a couple of days away, gamers and fans are no doubt getting ready for the upcoming festivities. Ubisoft thought this to be a great opportunity for the release of a brand new trailer and some major announcements for Assassin’s Creed 3.

The trailer is titled Fourth of July and starts off with a child singing Amazing Grace in the background as colonists get blown away by British soldiers. The naval warfare mission shown at Sony’s E3 conference this year is included here as well. Over all the Independence trailer is mostly the assembly of trailer clips that have been on the web before.

The release of the trailer was bundled with details of the limited edition version of the game for North America. For the PS3 and Xbox 360 the Limited Edition will set you back $119.99 and will include the following:
- Assassin’s Creed III video game.
- Stunning 9.44″ Assassin statue featuring Connor poised to strike with tomahawk and hidden blade.
- Embroidered 28″x48″ Assassin’s Creed-inspired colonial flag.
- 3″x3.25″ sturdy metal belt buckle to proudly proclaim your allegiance to the Assassins.
Bad news for PC gamers would be that the consoles get exclusivity for the Limited Editions. The PC version of the game however, will get a Digital Deluxe Edition which will be retailing at $64.99. This edition will include the following:
- Assassin’s Creed III video game.
- George Washington’s notebook revealing the true story of the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution.
- Three single-player missions taking players from the high seas to Cozumel Island in search of Captain Kidd’s fabled lost treasure.
- The Captain of the Aquila’s uniform and traditional Colonial Assassin outfit, boarding axe and Scottish flintlock – rumored to have fired “the shot heard round the world” – for use in the single-player campaign.
- Sharpshooter and Redcoat characters for use in multiplayer.
- A collection of the best audio tracks from previous Assassin’s Creed games
PC gamers shouldn’t be that down since the official press release maintains that Assassin’s Creed 3 will definitely arrive on Windows at the same time as of the consoles. It was previously rumored that the PC version of the game might suffer a delay.

Assassin’s Creed 3 releases later this year for the PS3, Xbox 360 and hopefully the PC on October 30th.
January 31, 2013
Assassin’s Creed 3 Gives Players Total Control Over Naval Warfare

It wasn’t long when Ubisoft demonstrated the power of their new ‘AnvilNext’ engine by showcasing Assassin’s Creed 3 which contained a glimpse of ‘watery’ sequences, which in turn led us to think about whether we will be able to control the ships on the high seas or whether it will just be another scripted sequence.

This doubt of ours turned into reality when Ubisoft showcased their latest trailer confirming the details that we will, in fact, play a fair share of our part in naval warfare.

Check out the announcement trailer below

So this gives us a chance to become swashbuckling pirates on the high seas with our main character Connor Kenway at the helm of the ship. Sounds great so far. Ubisoft confirmed that the players will be able to own ships and navigate the waters complete with cannons and other naval weaponry. Players can enter these battles however they please. The whole theme of Assassin’s Creed 3 revolves around the concept of freedom and by introducing Naval Warfare, Ubisoft is staying true to the word.

The trailer showcases the impact of the surrounding environment that will play a role in these battles, as Connor is seen fighting in the midst of a storm at sea.

Assassin’s Creed 3 is slated for an October 30th 2012 release in North America for the XBOX 360 and PS3 platforms and later on November 23rd 2012 for PC.

January 31, 2013
Assassin’s Creed 3 – An Inside Look At Combat, Weapons And Tactics

If Ubisoft hasn’t already hyped the game enough by showcasing its AnvilNext engine, naval warfare in AC3, American Revolution setting with a new protagonist etc, Ubisoft decided to keep us in the loop by releasing a series of videos titled “Inside Assassin’s Creed 3″, which as the title clearly states, takes us on an in-depth trip behind the scenes showcasing how the developers are creating Assassin’s Creed 3 and give us more detail on certain aspects of the game like combat mechanics and tactics. The video series is going to be 4 videos long. If you never loved watching The History Channel, this is something you might not want to miss.

This week’s video touches upon combat, weapons and tactics in-depth to be found in Assassin’s Creed 3. As the historians stated that the combat during the American Revolution was brutal, the development team had to recreate that brutality for Assassin’s Creed 3. It doesn’t end there, part of the brutality included the type of weapons used ranging from hatchets and muskets to bayonets. There’s also a rope dart present which Connor can use to grab the enemies afar and bring them close for a personal inspection. GET OVER HERE! (Sorry couldn’t help resist but to put the Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion reference there)

The combat system is fast, fluid and phenomenal. You won’t miss a beat when transferring from enemy to enemy. Also you can use human shields or ‘meatshields’ as the team likes to call, to defend yourself if you find yourself in a tough spot.

Why not check out all of it in action below

If you missed the previous episode, it touched upon the key pillars of Assassin’s Creed 3 like the American Revolution and Colonial America setting, about the new protagonist Connor and the showing of the AnvilNext Engine.

January 31, 2013
Assassin’s Creed 3 Review
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been around for quite a long time. The first Assassin’s Creed game displayed the magnificence of the next generation consoles and was positively received at the time. Fans have followed Altair Ibn La-Ahad in the first game, and then Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the second, third and fourth game. Practically, Assassin’s Creed 3 is the fifth main game in the series, with Brotherhood and Revelations being the third and the fourth. But, since Brotherhood and Revelations continued with Ezio, they are somewhat considered as side parts of the second game. Assassin’s Creed 3 features a completely new assassin: Conner.

Conner is a nice addition to the series, but one cannot admire him as much as Ezio with his sweet Italian accent and wonderful way of saying “Futrovelli”. Nevertheless, Conner isn’t half-bad. His outfit could use a few tweaks, but that’s fine. So, is Conner enough to make this game shine like it’s predecessors? Read on to find out.

First of all, Assassin’s Creed 3 enjoys it’s fair share of bugs and glitches, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed. A patch is expected to cure these ailments ASAP. These bugs made my experience horrendously problematic and I was highly disappointed with Ubisoft for not having fixed these beforehand. But with the plethora of content and a rich story, this game is hard to hate and ‘ragequit’. Just like the previous games, Assassin’s Creed 3 packs an amazing story, once again continuing with Desmond Miles and taking place during the American Revolution. Obviously, you’ll also be taking the role of Desmond and, since this is the final game and the fate of the world rests in Desmond’s hands, you will be exploring Desmond’s character even further and ultimately using his skills, hence finally getting to assess what he has learnt from his ancestors via the Animus.

Also like the previous games, what makes the story of this game so amazing is it’s ability to interweave it with real historical events such as the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill. You’ll also see famous American personalities that you thought would only exist in your school text books. All these elements contribute and work together to deliver a thrilling story and a wonderful experience that you won’t be forgetting any time soon. Obviously, I cannot tell you much about the story without spoiling too much, so I’d recommend that you try it out yourself, or read a short summary on the internet if you’re still curious. But let me tell you this, the ending of the game will have you pondering over it and possibly even obsess over the nature of humanity. The game seems slightly slow and boring at the start, but that’s only because some character development was needed before the story could be set on it’s way. The ending isn’t that surprising, but it’s a good conclusion to one of the best video game franchises of this generation.

Something completely new for the Assassins Creed franchise are the naval battles featured in this game. When I originally saw these sea battles at E3, I wasn’t sure what to say. They looked great, but I didn’t assume that they’d be a lot of fun. I mean, we all like to battle with different vehicles… but ships?! I was wrong, of course. Sea battles are one of the best things about Assassins Creed 3. They feel absolutely tense and one can have a lot of fun with them. They’re quite realistic and the mechanics are, well not entirely smooth, but quite good. I personally felt like a real adventurer as I sailed through those raging waters and wreaked havoc on the other ships. Simply put, it’s ecstatic.

Another change in the game is the loss of the health bar. You now have regenerative health, but that’s neither good nor bad. Since there was never a problem with the health bar in the previous games as it would regenerate the last block automatically, and you could find medicine on any dead guard, survivability was not that hard, and it’s quite the same with Assassin’s Creed 3. You now also have trees in the game. Trees that you can climb on and jump to. This may seem easy, but it can get buggy at times and you may not land where you intended to. On the other hand, the streets and buildings of the cities such as New York are yours to roam about, jumping from roof to roof, killing the redcoats and what-not. Coming over to the battle system, it’s quite the same. You still have to block and counter as you always have. Conner’s tomahawk is quite good though. I’m guessing Ubisoft will have a replica made and sold with some future super-expensive collectors edition.

Of course, battles can be completely avoided if you play the game stealthily like a real Assassin, which isn’t really hard. Conner automatically crouches when moving through long blades of grass, and you still have the other regular ways of hiding from your enemies as in the previous games. Either way, you have your advantages and disadvantages.

The game looks gorgeous, from the fierce water effects to the calm snow on the trees, everything looks beautiful. Maybe not highly detailed in terms of textures, but still admirable nonetheless.

When taking a break from the main story or the game’s many side missions that reward you in numerous ways, you could always try to develop your homestead which is similar to the Villa that Ezio had in Assassins Creed II. Simply seeing the homestead grow gives you pleasure and satisfaction.

Lastly, the multiplayer. I’ve never quite enjoyed the Assassin’s Creed Multiplayer because the players hardly ever act as Assassins. Instead, they run around rooftops, exposing themselves to their enemies. And this is the same with Assassin’s Creed III. The gameplay is the same: you have to hide among crowds and then identify and assassinate your target. Hiding and waiting for another Assassin to approach you is quite tense as you begin to worry about whether or not he has identified you as his target. However, the multiplayer is only fun if the players are playing properly. Otherwise, it’s a random ‘kill-on-sight’ affair. As you continue playing, you level up and get to use new skills. Also, you can use your real money to enhance your character’s basic look and gain other perks.

Assassin’s Creed III might not have the best Assassin in the series, and it might be incredibly buggy and it might not be perfect, but it still offers you a lot of content, provides you with a rich story and a great conclusion and gives you a lot of satisfaction as you progress through it.

TechDeville gives Assassins Creed III 4/5 stars.
January 14, 2013
Assassin’s Creed 3 Demo Shown

Francois Pelland, producer on Assassin’s Creed 3 took the stage at Ubi’s press event to present the game. At first a trailer was shown, and then the demo was played.

In the demo, Conner killed an elk for it’s meat and fought off wolves. The elk meat was delivered to a butcher in the village where Conner was asked by a medicine man at camp to bring him some mercury for medicinal purposes.

Connor left the camp to go after a Templar and fought against some redcoats. He also used an enemy as a shield while some redcoats fired at him.

Conner climbed trees, sled down snow embankments. Cliffs can also be climbed.

November 20, 2012