GameOn: 2014 E3 Report

This year’s computer and video game expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center provided plenty for gamers to look forward to over the next year. The Big Three (Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo) allowed fans a sneak peek of some highly anticipated game releases at the annual gala, as well as some interesting hardware and bundles.

Included in the new games revealed at the show were the likes of the mysterious Bloodborne, from the makers of Dark Soul, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and a PlayStation 4 exclusive, Let It Die, from Grasshopper Studios. Also getting the next-gen treatment and soon to appear this fall on XBOX One and PS4 is this past year’s fan-favorite, Grand Theft Auto V. Thanks to Sony, extended looks at the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and Mortal Kombat X were unveiled during the PlayStation presentation, with the former’s trademark bone-crushing and gruesome fighting looking all the more brutal and lifelike on PS4.

Sony continued to impress by showing off its new Glacier White PS4 system, coupled in a bundle with the science-fiction shooter Destiny that is due to hit shelves Sept. 9, with a price tag of $450. The announcement of PS4-exclusive content for the highly anticipated Batman: Arkham Knight was the cherry on top for owners of Sony’s new system.

Nintendo, which has unfortunately become the ugly stepchild in the gaming family in recent years, is looking to reclaim its crown as gaming’s king with some reliable canon characters (not just Mario!). The biggest of these new titles is the next Legend of Zelda game that is scheduled for release in 2015 for the Wii U and which will be set as an open-world journey format. Of surprise to many was the demo of the upcoming Star Fox game for Wii U. Although it is still currently in the early stages of development, according to Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, it is still expected to be finished within a year. The new technology of the Wii U gamepad likely will play a major part in the game’s overall approach, making it a multi-faceted experience that will hopefully reinvigorate the title for a new generation. Things look up for Nintendo’s Wii U. With all-stars like Zelda and Star Fox entering the fray, hopefully the company will be able to shoot some much-needed life into the fledgling Wii U system.

You may be wondering why there isn’t more here about XBox One. Microsoft just didn’t make that big of an impact at this year’s convention. After last year’s disappointing response to the XBox One system reveal, Microsoft played it safe this year, focusing mainly on game releases such as the exclusive new Halo. And with Sony announcing no mandatory online check-ins and the ability to play used games on PS4 ~ the opposite of XBOX One ~ Sony seems to have earned gamers’ attention and taken the lead in the gaming race, with Nintendo quietly behind.