Whilst the Last of Us 2 failed to make an appearance at E3 this year, Days Gone was definitely the game to fill the void. From the team that most notably brought us Syphon Filter, Bend Studio brings us another take on the post-apocalyptic, action-adventure, survival horror genre with Days Gone.

The game is set two years after a major global pandemic, which has wiped out most of humanity and turned millions of others (animals included) into mindless, zombie-like monsters. In the game, players play as Deacon St. John, an ex-military man turned biker, who is trying to survive in this harsh new world.

While at E3 this year, Sony kindly provided us with sneak peek at some gameplay. Though we only saw about fifteen minutes worth of gameplay, there was just so much going on. Our guide for the presentation, Emanuel Heart from Bend Studio, walked us through the same mission as the one displayed at the PlayStation Media Showcase.

However, instead of Decon being Solid Snake and sneaking through the Level, this time he was John Rambo. One of the main points that was made, which was seen through our guided gameplay, is that Days Gone isn’t a linear game with a ‘correct’ way to do things; each mission within the game can be taken on in whatever way the player chooses. Looking to sneak your way past the Freakers and the Horde? No problem. Care to announce to everyone, dead or alive, that you’re coming by going in guns blazing? Sure, that’s fine too.

Although, as we learnt early on, players may want to consider the timing when deciding to perform certain actions. This is because, as we learnt from our gameplay walkthrough, the world within the game is considered to be a living and breathing thing. There will be day and night cycles and dynamic weather throughout the world and this is going to affect the people (and monstrosities) inside it. The people inside the game will go about their day to day business regardless of whether the player is present, and this can lead to plenty of unscripted events taking place throughout a player’s time within the game.

Games like this are fantastic as it gives players the ability to experience moments within the game that only they can experience. Others who play Days Gone may experience the game in a much different way. In this manner and in many other ways, Days Gone is reminiscent of games such as Fallout and Skyrim, both huge hits in their own right.

After our Days Gone session, we’re convinced that this will be a fantastic game to pick up on PlayStation 4 upon release.

The post Days Gone – Hands On Play (PlayStation 4) Preview appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

After a full day experiencing all the latest and greatest in video games, the adventure continues as we dove right into Day 2 of E3. With such an extensive range of titles on show across a plethora of publications, it seemed almost unlikely for there to be any hands-on (or rather, in some cases, eyes-on) experiences that could top Day One. Boy, were we wrong.

Our time on the show floor on Day Two was much more eventful as we were offered decent hands-on time with highly anticipated games such as Bravo Team and The Inpatient on the PlayStation VR, Day’s Gone, Spider-Man, Assassin’s Creed: Origins, Far Cry 5 and Middle Earth: Shadow of War.

We began our day with twenty minutes of PlayStation VR, having a go on Bravo Team with another journalist, with whom we were on a co-op mission. Bravo Team, is an action-based, first person shooter, in which teamwork is key. Verbal communication between players is imperative in order to survive and avoid enemy detection. The game puts you in complete control of the action as you utilise the PlayStation VR Aim Controller (or VR Gun Controller) and movement of your body to look around corners to take down enemies. The experience is entirely immersive and seemingly realistic of what real life shooters are like.

Bravo Team – PSVR

Next on our list was the creepy game The Inpatient, which according to the PlayStation representative who walked us through the beginning of the game, is a prequel to the popular horror game, Until Dawn. The Inpatient certainly took the term ‘creepy’ to a whole other level as you play as an amnesiac patient at what appeared to be a mental institution. The game requires players to make active choices, which affect the nature of the story and gameplay. It was slightly unnerving to have doctors and orderlies stare at you up close and the jump scares were terrifying.

The Inpatient certainly isn’t for the faint of heart and requires nerves of steel to get through. Fans of horror will love this game!

With the VR experiences out the door and once our nerves were a little more settled, we managed to sit through a rather thrilling eyes-on experience with Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man, which was just so good that we had to give it it’s own write-up.

The Inpatient – PSVR

While the PlayStation titles were intriguing, it was the brilliant and colourful graphics of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins and Far Cry 5 that blew us away. Despite being similar to previous iterations of the games, both Origins and Far Cry 5 were extremely stunning. Origins certainly took our interest with its new setting in ancient Egypt. Being set right at the very beginning, essentially follows one of the first Assassins and leads us through the origins of the Brotherhood through amazing gameplay.

Despite having fantastic graphics, Far Cry 5 felt more or less the same as every other Far Cry title. Perhaps our hands on time was too short, but what we experienced wasn’t compelling. Our hands-on essentially consisted of shooting enemies through a small town without any real story or plot, though it was rather amusing having a dog as our primary companion and assistant. Perhaps a proper playthrough will reveal more significant narrative to the game and allow us to feel a little more connected to the lore of Far Cry 5.

Middle Earth: Shadow of War

After a long day of running between halls to make our hands-on sessions, our day finally came to a brilliant end with our final preview, Shadow of War. The theatrical introduction to the game by Warner Brothers Entertainment was spectacular as we were introduced to the various characters and style of gameplay. This sequel to the popular game, Shadow of Mordor, is set directly after the events of the first game and sees us continue our siege to take control of castles ruled by high powered Orcs.

After the introduction, we were given a brief hands-on, which was rather challenging but also a lot of fun. Shadow of War allows players to choose the style of game they wish to play, be it through a full campaign, short side missions or endless amounts of fun in a more sandbox environment. Given that we didn’t want any spoilers, we chose to test our skills in the sandbox. Gameplay was fantastic and the movements of the characters were incredibly fluid.

Middle Earth: Shadow of War

Slicing and dicing Orc minions and their mounts was an enticing challenge as were controlling the enemies and being able to turn them over to our side. The amount of power given to use and the variety of ways to defeat enemies certainly made for a unique gaming experience. The best part? Players need not have played the previous game, Shadow of Mordor, to enjoy the upcoming Shadow of War game.

With such a fun filled day full of hands and eyes-on experiences with some of the best of E3, we’re extremely excited to pick up these games when they release within the next two years.

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The first official day of E3 saw us spend the majority of our time at the main Expo Hall, situated at the Los Angeles Convention Centre, where most of the hands-on sessions, meetings and interviews with video game developers and publishers were being held.

We had the opportunity to get a one on one look as well as some hands-on time with upcoming games such as Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Strange Brigade, Rogue Trooper: Redux, Project Cars 2, Dragonball Z Fighter and Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom.

Our Uncharted: The Lost Legacy session was more of a guided hands-on or more of a private showing of the initial chapter of the game. We met the game’s writer, Josh Scherr, who walked us through the game and provided us with some little insights into the history of the title.

Uncharted – The Lost Legacy

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy follows Chloe Frazer, the secondary character in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Nadine Ross, as they travel through the south-west of India.

With such a setting, the game’s story stems from Hinduism and the old Indian culture, many aspects of which are still prevalent today. In order to ensure content was as accurate as possible and respectable to the culture and religion, Naughty Dog consulted with a religious expert at a University.

The graphics are certainly the standout aspect of the game, with crisp visuals and an entirely realistic character design. From what we were shown, the game appears to handle really well and is smooth, much like many of the other Uncharted games.

One of the best aspects of the game is currently the way in which Chloe is portrayed.  Her character does handle action superbly, is able to hold her own as well as Nathan Drake could, and it’s nice to see a strong, female character take the lead. Uncharted: The Lost  Legacy  is scheduled to release August the 22nd this year.

Strange Brigade – Rebellion Games

Our next hands on experience was with UK studio, Rebellion Games, who are known for the Sniper Elite games. The studio’s presence at E3 was to show off two very fun and addictive, yet very different titles, Strange Brigade, a third person, co-op multiplayer, adventure-shooter, and Rogue Trooper: Redux, a remastered version of the old school Rogue Trooper game, which is based off the 2000 AD comics of the same name.

Strange Brigade was very much like an Indiana Jones game with hordes of zombie enemies, which are made up mostly of Egyptian mummies. The 1940’s style narration is refreshing and adds character as well as unique personality to the game. The gameplay feels similar to the Zombie Mode in the Call of Duty Black Ops series, with waves of enemies attacking at every turn. With four characters to select from, there is variety in gameplay as each character possesses their own unique abilities and base load outs. The game plays well and appears to be one that could provide hours of endless fun, however the controls do take some getting used to if playing for the first time. Regardless, fans of shooters and adventure games will definitely enjoy Strange Brigade, which currently does not have a release date set.

Rogue Trooper: Redux

The second game, Rogue Trooper: Redux, was a rather interesting one. A remaster of the original 2006 single-player, third person shooter, the game follows the genetically engineered super soldier, Rogue, and his sentinel helmet, backpack and rifle. As one of the last of his squadron to remain alive, Rogue battles enemies with the help of his talking equipment. The concept is certainly intriguing and one which fans of the original game will enjoy. Rogue Trooper: Redux will be available across multiple platforms, including the Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and PC, to allow for a broad range of gamers to enjoy the game.

After three very solid games, we were thrilled to have gotten a chance to take a look at the upcoming Bandai Namco titles, Project Cars 2, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and Dragonball Z Fighter.

Project Cars 2

Project Cars 2, the second iteration of the popular racing title, is set to release on 22 September. Project Cars boasts the largest track roster of any console racing game and was one of the first to include dynamic weather. Project Cars 2 includes cars from every iconic brand, which can be played right from the get go, without the need to grind for cash or to unlock cars. It also now includes seasonal changes as well as improved localised weather.

The overall highlight of Project Cars 2 is its focus on providing absolute realism, with extremely realistic tracks, multi-class racing, which allows both fast and slower cars to race at the same time, having a real driver’s career and providing an experience across the full spectrum of car racing.

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an interesting title. Based on the similar art style of Studio Ghibli animation, the game tells the tale of a young King who doesn’t quite know how to be a leader. With a coup on the horizon, the King must work together with those around him to gain experience to crush the coup and lead his people. The major difference in this game compared to the previous iteration is that it now includes a new kingdom mode and includes real time combat as opposed to the traditional turn based style.

Dragonball Z Fighter was the big surprise of the year from Bandai Namco, and one that’s been extremely well received. The game illustrates the perfect fusion between the Dragoball universe and Arc System Works and proof of this is in the graphical quality of the game, with the extreme animation used. The game looks great and runs like a charm at 1080p and at a constant 60fps. One of the great aspects of this new fighting game, which includes 3 v 3 gameplay, is that each character is unique and has their own move and skills set.

With most of the titles we experienced releasing in 2017 and 2018 we are not only intrigued to see their development up until their respective release dates but also looking forward to playing them on our PlayStation 4’s, Xbox Ones and PC!

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Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man was a big hit at the PlayStation Conference at this year’s E3. After our first glimpse of gameplay at the conference, we were super excited to get up close and personal with everybody’s friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

Led by Ryan Schneider from Insomniac Games, we were given a bit of insight into the upcoming game as well as gameplay, carried out by Spider-Man’s lead combat designer.

In this iteration of the Spider-Man video games, we will be experiencing the web slinger in his prime as the game is set eight years after Peter Parker was bit by the radioactive spider. Players will enjoy a more fluid experience as Spider-Man is more experienced and his movements are more fine tuned, and like that of an acrobat. There isn’t any need for Spider-Man to learn how to use his powers in this game.

The graphics are incredibly crisp and clear, with a brilliant view of the New York City skyline. One of the best aspects of the game includes the awesome cinematic ‘slow mo’ action sequences which adds a layer of pure awe in Spider-Man’s combat ability as he defeats his enemies. Not only that but the game does incorporate some gameplay aspects from Sunset Overdrive with ranges high jumps and fantastic cityscape hopping.

Despite being Insomniac Games’ first non original IP, the game is part of Insomniac’s own take of the Marvel character and the lore behind it. Much like Sunset Overdrive, this is an open world and free roaming game, which allows fans to experience the game like Sunset Overdrive only on a much bigger scale.

According to Insomniac Games, much more will be revealed in due course and the game is set to be released some time in 2018. We can’t wait.

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In times of political turmoil and social unrest, the people are calling out for a visionary leader, one who will steer the fate of their country with foresight and ingenuity.

Kalypso Media is thrilled to announce El Presidente’s glorious return in Tropico 6, launching on Windows PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2018. Prove yourself once again as a feared dictator or a peace-loving statesman on the island state of Tropico and shape the fate of your nation through four distinctive eras. Face new challenges on the international stage and always keep the needs of your people in mind, in spite of any negative press covfefe.

Tropico 6 represents a bold new lease of life for the much-loved series, with new developer Limbic Entertainment bringing exciting new ideas to El Presidente’s highly-polished table, as well as a stunning new engine developed in Unreal Engine 4.

For the first time in the series, manage extensive archipelagos, build bridges to connect your islands and establish new means of transportation and infrastructure. Send your agents on raids to steal the wonders of the world, including the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.

Customize your palace at will and give election speeches from your balcony, to win the favour of your subjects. Tropico 6 is the biggest, most beautiful and most ambitious entry in the series’ history, with many more exciting features to be announced in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned to us here at StG.

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At this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Square Enix has ramped up an exciting show where we and fans experienced yet another impressive lineup of unforgettable games at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

First look and playable titles include FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood, the second premium expansion for the critically-acclaimed MMO with over six million registered accounts worldwide, the newly unveiled team-based brawler DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT, FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE, the HD remaster of a series classic, and the next game in the award-winning episodic franchise, LIFE IS STRANGE: Before the Storm.

Final Fantasy XIV-Stormblood

StG also was able to have some hands on time with the highly impressive brand-new FINAL FANTASY XV PlayStation VR game, MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV.

Off the show floor, Kingdom Hearts fans can also look forward to the first official symphonic concert, the “KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra – World Tour –” to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Kingdom Hearts. The tour will be making its last stop in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre on June the 14th, 2017.

Final Fantasy – Monsters of the Deep PSVR

“E3 2017 marks the return of some of Square Enix’s most beloved games to experience in new and exciting ways from DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT and Life Is Strange to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online to FINAL FANTASY XII as well as bringing brand new titles,” said Yosuke Matsuda, president and representative director of Square Enix. “We are very excited to deliver a powerful line up of games at this year’s E3 as Square Enix continues to introduce innovative and engaging entertainment for gamers around the world.”

Square Enix will also host its perennial live online broadcast, “Square Enix Presents,” directly from its booth. Fans from all over the world can get in-depth look at titles showcased at the show and have a chance to interact with creators throughout the show.

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Skybound Entertainment, the creator-focused multiplatform entertainment company founded by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and David Alpert, has partnered with Skydance Interactive, a division of Skydance Media, to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies.

In a multi-year strategy, the two companies are collaborating to produce an unparalleled gaming experience that will offer millions of fans and gamers the opportunity to engage, interact, and immerse into the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead and its characters in virtual reality. The first game will feature an entirely new setting and cast of characters, which players will experience through an innovative contextual interaction system – a first-of-its-kind for The Walking Dead in VR.

“Skydance’s ability to build worlds and tell compelling stories matches with our goal to bring The Walking Dead fans new narratives and ways to engage with the world Robert Kirkman created, while staying true to his original vision,” said Skybound Entertainment CEO David Alpert and Skybound Entertainment Managing Partner Jon Goldman in a joint statement. “Skydance Interactive is the ideal partner for the team Dan Murray has created for Skybound Interactive.”

“The Walking Dead is an iconic phenomenon and it is absolutely thrilling to work with Skybound to bring its incredibly diverse cast of characters, settings, and storylines together into a complete VR game package,” said Skydance Media Chief Executive Officer David Ellison and President and Chief Operating Officer Jesse Sisgold in a joint statement. “Our goal at Skydance Interactive is to honor the visceral world that Kirkman has created while giving The Walking Dead‘s fans something to really sink their teeth into with robust games that take the franchise to a completely new level.”

The Walking Dead has expanded from an Eisner award winning comic book series to captivate audiences around the world as the #1 show on television, a blockbuster game franchise, licensing business, and ongoing publishing success.

Skydance Interactive, a division of Skydance Media that launched in April of 2016, recently announced that its first original VR title, Archangel, will be available across all VR console platforms starting in July of 2017. Skybound Entertainment recently released its first original VR game, Giant Cop: Justice Above All with partner Other Ocean.

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Independent video game developer and publisher, Psyonix, announced today that the sports-action hit, Rocket League, will arrive on the Nintendo Switch™ console this Holiday season.

Revealed during the Nintendo Spotlight: E3 2017, Rocket League on Nintendo Switch will include the same features, upgrades and content that millions of players worldwide have come to know and love on other platforms, plus several exclusives available only to Nintendo Switch owners. Exclusive Battle-Cars and Customization items will also be available, including Mario and Luigi hat toppers to decorate your car, with additional details to be announced later this year.

Rocket League will support all of the various play modes on Nintendo Switch, including TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, both Online and Local Multiplayer, and be available for 1-8 players. It will also launch with Cross-Network support for players to compete against opponents on other available platforms. Additional details on the Nintendo Switch version will be announced in the coming months.

Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of arcade soccer and driving with rewarding physics-based gameplay, and will be celebrating its 2nd Anniversary this July 2017.

Boasting a community of more than 32 million players, Rocket League is currently available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC, Mac, and SteamOS via Steam, with the Nintendo Switch version to launch during the holiday period (US) 2017.

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StG were in the thick of Nintendo’s activities at yesterday’s E3 2017 in Los Angeles which included the announcement of a remake of a classic Mario & Luigi game and the crowning of winning team in the 2017 Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational.

 Following a morning packed with new announcements, the Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3 show included in-depth play-throughs of a variety of games for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS. During the show, Nintendo announced that an updated version of the first game in the Mario & Luigi series was in development for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions contains all the fun gameplay and dialogue of the Game Boy Advance original, as well as an optional Easy mode for younger or more inexperienced players.

The game also includes a side story called Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, which tells the story of the game from the perspective of Bowser’s minions, led by Captain Goomba.Nintendo revealed that two new amiibo figures would be introduced: Goomba and Koopa Troopa. The new amiibo and the existing Boo amiibo figure will be compatible with the game. The amiibo, and the game, are scheduled to launch separately on the 7th of October 2017. 

Nintendo ended the day by making a splat-tastic mess with an international flair. Competitors from four different global regions competed for world dominance in the 2017 Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational. Despite a great effort by the Blue Ringed Octolings (Australia and New Zealand), “Deadbeat” (USA) emerged as the new global champions, after beating “Dynameu” (Japan) 4-1 in the final.

The four-person teams competed in a best-of-seven final round featuring Ranked Battle modes from the game. Deadbeat’s name was engraved on a special Splatoon 2 trophy and can claim global bragging rights. 

Super Mario Odyssey

A sampling of other exclusive content revealed yesterday during Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3 included Fire Emblem Warriors: Colosseum mode offers different scenarios with Fire Emblem heroes facing off and highlighting their over-the-top moves and action. In this scenario, Xander, the crown prince of Nohr, storms Hoshido Castle on a mounted stead through a gauntlet of different Fire Emblem heroes, like Corrin, Marth, and Chrom to an ultimate final showdown with Ryoma. Additionally two new amiibo figures, Chrom and Tiki will be compatible with the game.

Super Mario Odyssey: Members of the Nintendo Treehouse showcased live game play of an exclusive area not available in the show-floor demo, revealing new gameplay mechanics, new capture targets, and new ways of interacting with the environment. This lush, wooded kingdom showcased some of the surprises in store for players when Super Mario Odyssey launches on 27^th October 2017.

Earlier today, Nintendo announced a new Metroid game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Metroid: Samus Returns a modern reimagining of the 1991 Game Boy adventure Metroid II: Return of Samus. Nintendo Treehouse members also announced two new amiibo figures—Samus Aran and Metroid—will be sold seperatly. This game is also compatible with the Zero Suit Samus and Samus amiibo from the Super Smash Bros series, and amiibo functionality details will be revealed at a later date. The amiibo, and the game, are scheduled to launch separately on the 16th of September 2017.

Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3 returns at 3:00am AEST on Thursday. The day will include live gameplay, game details and developer commentary, as well as two competitions. ThePokkén Tournament DX Invitational is scheduled to run at 3:30am AEST, while the 2017 ARMS Open Invitational is scheduled for 8:30am AEST .

Nintendo at E3 2017 Gallery

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Ubisoft has unveiled at E3 2017 the psychological thriller, Transference. The game is developed by FunHouse, a division of Ubisoft Montreal, in collaboration with SpectreVision, the production company founded by Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and John C. Waller.

Players will navigate a digital recreation of the mind, working to unfold the secrets of a home concealing a corrupted truth. While exploring and solving the mysteries of the house, players will cross paths with a family, each member with a story and a unique perspective on events buried in their memories. Every choice made by the player will have consequences and influence the family’s fate.

“The game is a thrilling mixture of both our experience in story-telling and Ubisoft’s unparalleled skill at crafting deeply immersive worlds,” said Elijah Wood, Creative Director, SpectreVision. “We jumped at the chance of working in VR with Ubisoft and we believe we have a beautiful and haunting game that will really resonate with players, even after they’ve taken off their headset.”

“The opportunity to work with SpectreVision to create a game with rich characters and an intimate yet multi-branching narrative was impossible to pass up,” said Caroline Martin, Executive Director, FunHouse, Ubisoft Montreal. “Transference gave us the unique opportunity to create an incredibly immersive game with full interactivity, touch controls and an engrossing narrative that players will unravel. We strive to push the boundaries of VR games and can’t wait for players to get hands on with Transference.”

Transference will be released in spring 2018 on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive as well as on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC.

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