EA @ E3 2011
With the unveiling of Halo 4 at the end of Microsoft’s E3 keynote, it was then time for EA to showcase a stack of new games.
The gaming giant started off with the big guns, unveiling off Bioware’s Mass Effect 3. Casey Hudson took to the stage to show off some gameplay of the game. Mass Effect 3 looks to pick up where it’s predessecor left off. It’s gorgeous to look at, epic in sound and scale, bringing the intergalactic war set in ME3 to life with stunning results. Battles are upped in scale, the action is ramped up even further, simply put Mass Effect 3 looks set to be AMAZING, we can’t wait to til March 2012.
EA then turned it’s attention to the racing genre, previewing Need for Speed: The Run. Featuring even deeper Autolog integration and on foot gameplay, NFS: The Run is like no other NFS game. A demo of its gameplay boasts high octane racing and on foot QTE sections, which change seemlessly. The Run really does look to pick up where Needs For Speed: Hot Pursuit ended. A big surprise.
Bioware then retook the stage to show off a brand new trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which still looks as breathtaking as ever, before SSX made an appearance with a brand new trailer showcasing the snowboarding classic series. Out in January 2012, SSX features open world gameplay, unlike anything you’ve ever seen in an SSX game. EA are truly reinventing the series.
FIFA 12 then makes its presence felt with it’s world premiere. Vast improvements seem to have been made, including a brand new defending and dribbling system, AND improved physics. A brand new service will also be coming to FIFA 12, EA Sports Football Club, a system which enables players to pick and play as their favorite team, taking on challenges and storylines that are taken from real world events. With, more innovations promised, FIFA 12 has made a bold statement indeed, we’ll just have to wait and see if EA Sports can deliver again.
With FIFA 12 out of the way, it was only a matter of time before Madden 12 made an appearance too. Peter Moore shows a brand new epic and action-packed trailer, before boasting that Madden 12 will include brand new gameplay systems to continue the evolution of the Madden franchise. NFL you will not want to miss that one.
Next up are 2 new games from EA’s partnership program. First up is the incredible, Reckoning. Reckoning not only looks gorgeous, but its combat really sets it apart from other RPGs. We are treated to a trailer that shows a stunning world of fantasy and adventure. With the involvement of Todd McFarlane and past members of the Oblivion and Morrowind teams, Reckoning is most definitely one of the hottest games to keep an eye on, this game will be HUGE. PERIOD.
Creators of Ratchet & Clank, Insomniac Games then announce their brand new game, Overstrike. We are shown a trailer which makes the game look very impressive, especially in the graphical department. Overstrike is a spy/espionage style game, with a hint of humour that made the Ratchet & Clank games so memorable. Full of action and personality, Overstrike is a surprise addition to E3.
Another of EA’s big “guns” makes its appearance, we are of course talking about Battlefield 3. We are treated to a video, displaying the sheer power of the Frostbite 2 engine, as well as an extensive live demonstration of the game’s tank gameplay. It simply looks incredible. The lighting, the sound, the texturing, it’s enough to make your jaw drop. With the announcement of Battle Log, a free service which allows you to track your stats in detail, as well as improve interaction with your friends and squad mates (I wonder where we’ve hear this before hey? *cough COD Elite cough*), as well as a public open beta in September, Battlefield 3 is certainly the best looking FPS, but will it be the best FPS overall? I guess we’ll have to wait and see..
