E3 09: The 12 most overlooked games of E3

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Enough Halo and Mario talk! Here are the hidden gems you haven't heard about

A Boy and His Blob (Wii)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (360, PC, PS3)

We understand why very few people were eagerly anticipating this one – publisher Activision’s last movie-based Transformers game was a disaster. However, the upcoming sequel has two things the first one didn’t: a new developer anda fantastic multiplayer mode.

Imagine four-on-four, Team Fortress 2-style gameplay merged with giant robots. Not just any giant robots, mind you, but Transformers, each with different weapons and abilities (basically making it its own class) and each constantly switching from vehicle mode to “massive metal warrior” mode on the fly. Now, you’re getting a glimpse of what makes this a completely unique and interesting battlefield . It’ll be out by the end of the month too, so you don’t have to wait long for this one.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS)

If you didn’t play the first Professor Layton, stop reading this and go play it. Now. Because that’s the only real way you’ll understand why we’re frothing at the gills for what looks like a “more of the same” puzzle game. In an oddly quirky version of England, the Professor is sort of like an ultra-polite Sherlock Holmes, who spends his days solving logic riddles such as “how can I turn this matchstick house into a boat in only three moves?” on his way to solving some greater mystery. This time, it’s the murder of Layton’s mentor. It’s charming, addictive, and with some 150 puzzles on the cart and more downloadable puzzles on the way, big enough to keep your brain fried for quite some time.

Trine (PC, PS3, [360 pending approval])

Remember The Lost Vikings? No? Well then, young whipper-snapper, just be glad someone else does. Downloadable offering Trine is essentially that game brought into the modern era - a side-scrolling action puzzler in which the environment itself is the puzzle and you must use the powers of your three party members to navigate it. The wizard can conjure ramps and crates to help cross chasms, the thief can shoot switches and descend vertical shafts with a rope and hook, the warrior can sledgehammer enemies and fragile obstacles – you get the idea. It looks lovely, too.

Jun 12, 2009


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Eric Bratcher
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.