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IT’S BEEN A BUSY E3 this year with the PS4, Xbox One and Wii U showing off what is one of the more exciting lineups in recent years.
There were far too many to list here but here are the most eye-catching titles covered at one of the biggest gaming events of the year.
Note: where possible, we’ve included all the platforms each title is being released on. Since some of them are timed releases (Eg: Rise of the Tomb Raider is appearing on Xbox One first), we’ll make reference to other platforms they will likely appear on in brackets.
The sequels
Fallout 4 For: PS4, Xbox One, PC Release date: 10th November
The post-apocalyptic series gets a splash of colour and some new features when a preview of the game was shown off. On top of exploration, you will be able to build settlements, modify your weapons and do the usual exploration where you visit towns and complete quests.
A collectors edition will come with a real-life Pipboy, a wrist-mount which includes a slot for your smartphone to create a second screen experience, and mods for the PC version will also work on Xbox One.
Halo 5: Guardians For: Xbox One Release date: 27 November
While it appeared at last year’s Xbox event, the focus this year was on the single player experience, a squad-based shooter that also includes some cinematic moments. There was also time to show off multiplayer which places particular emphasis on level size as well as the weaponry and vehicles available to you.
Rise of the Tomb Raider For: Xbox One/360 (PS4 and PC) Release date: 10th November
Rise of the Tomb Raider got an extended gameplay trailer featuring Lara Croft trying to survive an avalanche while climbing a mountain. The sequel looks like it will improve upon the cinematic set pieces from the previous game as Croft survives the harsh wilderness and explores ancient ruins.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End For: PS4 Release date: 2016
Likely to be the final game in the series, personal circumstances force fortune hunter Nathan Drake to come out of retirement and search of a fabled pirate treasure. He may be older but the action pieces are still as dynamic as before, making you feel like you’re part of a live action movie.
Looking similar to Four Swords, Triforce Heroes will see three Links explore the world and join forces to save the world.
The focus is very much on multiplayer as you aid each other – one action is totem mode where you stack on top of each other to complete specific aims – when navigating dungeons. Although if you don’t have friends, you can still enjoy it.
Doom For: PS4, Xbox One, PC Release date: Spring 2016
The classic shoot-em-up foray into horror didn’t quite go to plan with the release of the third game, but the sequel looks like it’s going back to basics. Weapons like the chainsaw and the super shotgun will make a reappearance. Either way, it’s going to be bloody and violent.
Yoshi’s Wooly World For: Wii U Release date: 16th October
Yoshi’s Island was one of the best games of the SNES-era – if not one of the best games in general – so it’s not a bad thing that the next Yoshi game continues this tradition.
It takes some inspiration from Kirby’s Epic Yarn – both in style and gameplay – and it’s on course to be titled ‘most adorable game of 2015′ (if such an award exists, which it should).
Mirror Edge Catalyst For: Xbox One, PS4, PC Release date: 23rd February 2016
The stylish first-person free-runner is back and is a prequel building upon the solid foundations the original had. From the trailer alone, it looks like it will add an extra layer of complexity to both the parkour and combat.
Xenoblade Chronicles X For: Wii U Release date: 4th December
Following the strong critical reception the original received, the sequel looks like more of the same but with more expansive worlds as you battle massive lifeforms and try to survive on a new planet.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Worlds For: 3DS Release date: 2015
An RPG that combines both the worlds of 3D Mario and Paper Mario is an odd proposition in itself, but this is Nintendo we’re talking about. You use the abilities of Mario, Luigi and Paper Mario to navigate the world, find hidden secrets and battle enemies in turn-based combat that rewards timed attacks.
From the same team which brought Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian was originally announced in 2009 but has been stuck in development hell. Not anymore as it now has a 2016 release date and features a child and a giant griffin/rat-like hybrid creature as you navigate desolate and crumbling ruins.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force For: 3DS Release date: 2016
A co-op game based in the Metroid world, you don’t control Samus but four members of a force exploring different worlds and hunting down monsters. The other multiplayer game is BlastBall, which is a 3 vs 3 sci-fi sports battle.
No Man’s Sky looks both amazing yet slow-paced if this demo is anything to go by. We know it’s going to be massive, but there could be a lot of downtime between exploring worlds and even the dogfights in space look a bit slow. Still, it’s too early to judge and since there’s no release date yet, there’s time to polish it further.
From the makers of Killzone comes this post-apocalyptic (we’re assuming it is) where your opponents are mechanical dinosaurs and you control a cavewoman with nothing but a spear and a bow to defend yourself with.
Star Wars: Battlefront For: PS4, Xbox One, PC Release date: 17th November
So this is a continuation of the Battlefront series, but it’s an original Star Wars game which takes place during the Battle of Hoth.
The footage shown was only pre-alpha gameplay, but everything you can expect is there, AT-STs, TIE Fighters, lightsabers and large battles so if you’re a fan, you’ve every reason to be excited.
Do we have any idea what’s happening in this trailer? Not in the slightest but Dreams certainly looks intriguing. You can create your own game worlds/dreams as well as explore and remix other people’s creations.
Not much was revealed about this game from one of the people behind Mega Man (Keiji Inafune). The trailer featured a young woman making her way through a desert and fighting mechanical enemies. She’s accompanied by her own robot pets to help her. Certainly one to keep an eye on.
Another RPG from Level 5 (of Dark Cloud and Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch fame), Yo-Kai Watch is all about summoning monsters and battling them against evil spirits in the town of Springdale. A bit like Pokémon but with the charm and style associated with Level 5′s titles.
EA’s title was one of the more adorable announcements and takes place in the real world. Taking control of a red yarn called Yarny, you must navigate the woods, snow and nature using your thread. A similar idea to Yoshi’s Epic Yarn but it looks just as good.
Final Fantasy VII
For: PS4 (PC & Xbox One versions likely)
Release date: N/A
Chances are if you’re familiar with games, you know the deal with Final Fantasy VII. All you need to know is a remake is happening and that’s all that matters.
Since it was released back in 1999 on Dreamcast, Shenmue was seen as one of the best games ever created, showcasing the kind of open world detail we take for granted in titles like GTA.
Not much is known about the third edition (it’s likely it will wrap up the loose ends of the second game) but it already smashed its $2 million Kickstarter target in the space of 12 hours so it’s going to be popular at least.
Rare Classics
For: Xbox One Release date: 4th August
A collection that features 30 games from Rare catalogue including Battletoads, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini and Banjo-Kazooie to name a few. What’s not to like?
(Update: an earlier version of this article said that Goldeneye was included in the anthology. This was incorrect and has been updated to reflect this).
Super Mario Maker For: Wii U Release date: 11th September
The level design of the original Super Mario Bros still puts most games to shame, but if you played it and thought ‘yeah, I could do better’, that’s what Super Mario Maker is for.
Soon you’ll be able to prove you’re better than most game designers with ingenious level structure and enemy placement. Or you could just create the kind of levels that will emotionally break anyone foolish enough to attempt it. Your choice, really.
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I think we should talk about ……. Jam!, when I was eating jam sangages last week for lunch the jam dripped onto my hand, It was sticky and very annoying . Why not start a debate about that!??
Gimme a jasus break!!!!
@Stephen, It’s really depends on the brand of jam that you use and of course the flavour of jam, chivers strawberry jam is notorious for its dripping qualities, some people will think that I’m a jam racist after that!
When a woman like Bláthnaid says, “we need to talk about it.” it usually means ‘shut up and listen…or else.’
I don’t see the need to talk about it, – maybe she means ‘women need to be educated about it…??
As a taxi driver I can fully vouch for what she’s saying.. It’s actually unbelievable the amount of Women that will leave a stain in the seat when they get out..
Really enjoyed the interview Blathnáid gave to Moncrieff yesterday. This wasn’t the only topic she talked about, she also talked about going to college for the first time at forty five, the pressures placed on a woman’s appearance in the media and life in general.
She had keyhole surgery recently to sort out her incontinence problem and is enjoying a better quality of life. Seems like she had a difficult fifteen years with it, and if she chooses to talk about something that affected her personally good for her.
Or how about not talking about it. Just put up with it, or treat it, or whatever the doctor recommends. But definitely, definitely, don’t talk about it. That would work better for all concerned.
Does she file her taxes in her English name, married name, maiden name , Irish maiden name, Irish married name —- what is her name in English ?? If Irish people want English translated into Irish it should work both ways and her name should appear in English also.
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