Best of E3 - Uncharted: Lost Legacy
Why do we love it?
Because it's even more of the Uncharted we know and love, now with the brilliantly unexpected combo of Chloe and Nadine. Relentlessly entertaining, this pair quip, argue and, most importantly, murder their way through the ancient wonders of the world that just won't be as Instagram friendly once they’re done with them. Priceless artefacts just don’t come without a few explosions.
Best of E3 - PES 2018
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Release date: September 12
What we saw at E3 2017?
We played four 10-minute matches vs a human opponent with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool.
Why do we love it?
On the pitch, PES 2017 played a smarter game than FIFA 17 (despite both games scoring 85 on Metacritic), and PES 2018 builds on that platform. Stadiums and crowds are noticeably more vibrant, animations more varied and – for the handful of people who complain very loudly each year – they've 'fixed' the nets, so they ripple convincingly. In terms of control, it's sublime, emphasising slow build up and close control. Licensing and mode updates will, as ever, dictate its ability to tempt FIFA die hards. Above all: it was one of the most fun playable games of E3.
Best of E3 - Far Cry 5
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: February 27, 2018
What we saw at E3 2017?
A small American town overrun by cultists being saved with guns and dogs.
Why do we love it?
All those great Far Cry 5 mechanics take on a whole new meaning in the more contemporary setting of Hope, Montana. You’re still dealing with patrols and liberating towns, just in a far more familiar location. It’s a glorious mess of reactive gunplay, with the added layer of Guns for Hire that bring extra abilities like bombing runs or sniping. Plus you can have a dog as a friend making this instantly a good game. Yes it is. Who’s a good game?
Best of E3 - Star Wars Battlefront 2
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Release date: November 17
What we saw at E3 2017?
Hands-on with an early level of the single-player story campaign, and three matches of multiplayer.
Why do we love it?
Otherwise known as “Fan Feedback Done Right: The Video Game”, EA and DICE have listened to all of our criticisms leveraged towards their original Battlefront, and are making a glorious comeback with its sequel. A full campaign, no season pass, Battlefield-esque mechanical depth… the force feels very strong with one indeed.
Best of E3 - God of War
Platform: PS4
Release date: 2018
What we saw at E3 2017?
15 minutes of footage, with live developer commentary - and then a nice chat - with director Cory Barlog.
Why do we love it?
Boats, beards, and barrels of beastie blood, God of War has it all. The story remains wrapped up in secrecy, but everything about this game looks delicious. A grounded interpretation of a historic PlayStation franchise, God of War uses the power of the PS4 to bring the series’ trademark sense of epic scale to new, previously unimaginable heights.
Best of E3 - Hidden Agenda
Platform: PS4
Release date: TBC 2017
What we saw at E3 2017?
The reveal trailer at Sony’s pre-E3 show, giving all the details on this exciting murder mystery.
Why do we love it?
Capitalising on PlayStation’s new PlayLink app, Hidden Agenda turns the harmless party game into a real-time crime thriller horror. Supermassive Games proved itself capable of dealing with dark subject matter with 2015’s Until Dawn, and this spiritual successor appears to be another creepy descent into a sinister world of terror.
Best of E3 - Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: October 10
What we saw at E3 2017?
A low-key, horror themed side-quest that showed Shadow of War can deal in the minutia of intimate storytelling just as effectively as those big, cinematic sieges.
Why do we love it?
The Fallout series has been adamant in reminding us that war never changes, but we haven’t seen a war quite on the scale or nature of Mordor’s ongoing conflict. Everything is bigger and better in Shadow of War - so much bigger, in fact, that we can’t even comprehend everything going on. Even so, we can’t wait to jump back into Middle Earth as soon as humanly possible.
Best of E3 - Strange Brigade
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: TBC
What we saw at E3 2017?
20 minutes of hands-on mummy destroying action and plenty of Britishness. Brittishosity?
Why do we love it?
From Sniper Elite devs Rebellion comes the ultimate pulp style adventure, and Strange Brigade is a truly delightful shooter, wot wot. You can play a single player narrative, but the real fun comes in destroying bandage-dragging mummies and other dusty ghouls with three friends. Solid gunplay and fun supernatural abilities combine for a brilliant and hilarious old school adventure.
Best of E3 - Metro Exodus
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox One X, PC
Release date: TBC
What we saw at E3 2017?
A beautifully crafted gameplay trailer showing of an impossibly pretty post-apocalyptic Russia.
Why do we love it?
The Metro series is one of the most interesting shooters around, mixing fantastic guns, rabid monsters and a spooky undercurrent from the ghosts of those killed in the global nuclear holocaust. Showcased on Xbox One X, this looked incredible, bringing the series to life in incredible prettiness. Who knew an angry mutant bear could look so good in 4K?
Best of E3 - Vampyr
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: November
What we saw at E3 2017?
An in-depth 45 minute hands off gameplay session full of bloodletting and moral anguish.
Why do we love it?
If you thought vampires were all about sparkling and brooding, think again. DontNod’s gorgeously grim action vampiRPG is all about guilt. While you can wander the streets of London, murdering at will and making the most of your smoky super powers, you’ve also got the choice to be good, the chance to help people, discover more about their lives and try and resist what pounds through their veins. With a brilliant script and a murky soup of morals, we can't wait to embrace the darkness. With teeth.
