Most Anticipated of E3: Neon
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The games Neon is most eager to see at this year's show.
E3 is all but upon us, and the hype trains are running totally out of control. Remember that bit at the end of Back to the Future Part III? That's what they're like this year. Where we're going, we don't need roads... although we sort of do, actually, because Los Angeles is like one giant freeway with a few shops next to it.
In this series of articles, VideoGamer.com staff members single out some of the games they're most eager to see at this year's show. Today it's Neon's turn.
XCOM
Last year, 2K's XCOM was one of the unexpected highlights of my E3. It was creepy, atmospheric and thoroughly unnerving. Some 12 months on, and how much have we seen of the game since? Nothing, zilch, nada.
Normally, I'd take this as a sign that we should be concerned. There might be a very good reason for keeping the game behind closed doors, but when all falls silent it's hard not to think something is amiss. After all, the X-Com series' history is in turn-based strategy outings; long-terms fans have previously expressed concern about the switch to narrative-driven first-person shooting, and it's not unthinkable that 2K Marin might have been swayed by these comments.
On the other hand, it's hard to see the developers lurching back towards the strategy genre, and its relative lack of popularity. The bottom line is that I want to find out what the hell is going on, and since I really liked what I saw at the first showing, I hope it has retained the same tone. The 50s Roswell style worked for me, and more importantly the aliens were decidedly unnerving. We're all used to fighting extra-terrestrials that are either giant bugs or simply humans, but the black blobs in last year's demo were genuinely alien - especially given that you had to shoot them in their strange white lungs to kill them.
User Comments
mydeaddog
"Oh, our old products were great but they did X and Y. Our new product will do Z!"
It's typical talk-up spiel, and that's fine. I just don't want them to fix something that ain't broke, you know?
SexyJams@ mydeaddog
mydeaddog
@scazz... I'm never sure that I have a "type" as far as games go. The first Batman did great things with a character I love, and it was a big British success story too. As much as anything else, I just want to see how they follow-up Asylum.
I suspect my favourite thing from E3 will be something I didn't expect, or something I wasn't paying attention to in the run-up. That's often been the case in previous years, anyway.
scaz2244
hitman has been sorely missed was tempted to buy the last entry recently. but with some face mo cap like l.a noire would be great more opera house type missions one of my all time favorite level
SexyJams
Glad to see you, like me, have not forgotten about XCOM Neon. I was starting to feel like it had never existed. Haven;t heard from it in so long. I'd love to see more at E3 :)
dazzadavie
Hitman I really only got into with Blood money so any thing along those lines would be very good.
Wido
@Woffls - For some reason I have now gone into this phase, where I won't read anything regarding the games that appeal to me, ala, Hitman. I will of course read the previews and so forth, but reading everything you see about it, will give you doubts prior to anyone who has any content on the game. Going from what you said; "latest rumour" I would take that like a pinch of salt. Don't forget its been a while since we have had a Hitman game, and with the new generation of gamers coming through, they would most probably want the game 'accessible' for everyone to play, and also keeping their core fans happy.
Taking into consideration with the current climate, and if a game doesn't sell over £1mil. The majority of the gaming community will class it as a failure. Enslaved with a great marketing campaign behind it, was classed as a mix bag, and also failure in terms of sales, even though the game has nearly hit the £1mil mark.
I will agree with you slightly, with Hitman's narrative. Every time I look at Hitman, or hear Hitman, I don't recognize the game for its narrative. I recognize the game by how you kill people, and the missions, Bloody Money carnival level was a classic!
Woffls
I get less excited about Hitman every time I hear something new about it. The latest rumour is that they're making it more 'accessible', though while not inherently bad, it sounds like they're willing to compromise on complex missions and tactics in favour of cinematic rubbish. I mean, who really cares about the narrative in Hitman?