Microsoft Event
In San Francisco, Microsoft hosted its annual Spring Showcase event to give critics their first look at key holiday releases for the Xbox 360. Of course the centerpiece of the showcase was Gears of War 2, which lead designer Cliff Bleszinski demoed for the first time live on stage. Besides confirming that Gears 2 is definitely coming out in November, Cliff's demo consisted of a sequence from Assault, a campaign mission that has already been shown online (the video where Marcus Phoenix takes a Locust hostage and then throws him off a moving vehicle). What immediately strikes you about Gears 2 is the sheer scale of the combat. Remember those huge Brumaks that you saw in trailers for Gears 1 but never got to fight in the Xbox 360 version? Well, in Gears 2 you'll see multiple Brumaks on the battlefield as you use chain guns and other weapons to take them down. With improved chainsaw dueling and the promise of extensive online multiplayer (details of which are being kept under wraps), Gears 2 should be a spectacular and worthwhile sequel.
Another game on display at the event was Too Human. Due in August, Too Human is the first game in an epic trilogy from Silicon Knights, the creators of Eternal Darkness. Peter Molyneux was on hand to demonstrate a new build of his RPG Fable 2, which once again promises to re-define the genre. The showcase also featured Rare's latest game, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, due out in November. Nintendo fans will remember Banjo from the N64 as a platformer, but the new game is more like a racing game meets a platformer meets Sony's LittleBigPlanet. Throughout the game you create your own racing vehicles - ranging from cars to jet-powered airplanes - and use them to traverse the landscape. Noticeably absent from Microsoft's event were games like Halo Wars and Alan Wake which look more and more likely to slip into 2009.
Ubisoft Event
Even though Assassin's Creed received some flak for its repetitive gameplay, Ubisoft's Paris-based studio is known for consistently delivering solid games. The company's pre-E3 event was held at the swank Mezzanine club in San Francisco and featured a slew of new titles including Shaun White Snowboarding, based on the Assassin's Creed engine. Tom Clancy is one again well represented in the Ubi lineup with two key titles, the voice-activated RTS EndWar (you'll be impressed at how easy it is to command troops with your voice), and the flight simulator H.A.W.X. But my two favorite games on display were sequels to familiar Ubisoft brands. First was Far Cry 2, which instead of being developed at Crytek is being handled in-house by Ubisoft Montreal. Set in Africa, the graphics are jaw-dropping and the developers appear to be creating something akin to an open-world first-person shooter (you now receive mission objectives and messages on your cell phone just like in GTA4). Finally, Ubisoft showed the first trailer for the next Prince of Persia game (the leaked "Prince of Persia: Prodigy" name is said to be incorrect). I still believe that Price of Persia: Sands of Time is one of the best games for the PlayStation 2, with its seamless blend of action and acrobatic exploration. For the next Prince game, Ubisoft has completely changed the art style, going for a more comic-book look that feels inspired by the Wii game Okami. The prince now has a purple headpiece and a flowing scarf. While we didn't see the game in a playable form, I am cautiously optimistic about the Prince's jump to next-gen consoles.
Sony Event
The PlayStation 3 could use a big boost, and it appears it's going to get just that in 2008. Sony held its pre-E3 event at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and displayed what was arguably the best software lineup of the week. Front and center was LittleBigPlanet, the incredibly ambitious game from Media Molecule, the creators of Ragdoll Kung Fu. You've probably heard about this game and how users can "create" custom game levels, but you really have to experience it to see just why the game is so special. Every time I see LittleBigPlanet I get more immersed in its 2D, side-scrolling world. Now players can add in environmental hazards such as fire and gas as you create (and play) levels with up to three others players at the same time.
Another game that had a surprisingly strong showing was Killzone 2. This was my first chance to get hands-on time, and it comes nearly 3 years after Sony showed its famous computer-generated E3 trailer for the game. The verdict: Killzone 2 has some of the most stunning first-person shooter graphics I've seen and a very unique and deliberate pace to its combat. While it's disappointing that Sony has announced that we won't see the game until February 2009, you have to hand it to Guerilla Games for finally delivering gameplay that rivals what we saw in that original video.
But don't worry, first person shooter fans - you won't be left without a big release on the PS3 this holiday season. The multiplayer mode for Resistance 2 was also on display, and the game is tracking well for its fall release. The team at Insomniac has amped up the visuals and created a host of new multiplayer modes, including a full co-operative campaign which is completely separate from the single-player mode. Multiplayer will support up to 60 players online and there are new weapons such as the Marksman, a long-range semi-automatic rifle. I had the chance to play a multiplayer level set in California's Redwoods and it was notable for a couple of reasons. Constantly changing in-game objectives keep the combat fresh. Plus, there's a new system whereby your stats improve as you kill more players, giving you instant boosts until someone pops you off.
That's it for my Pre-E3 report. It's hard to believe, but next month will bring us the actual E3 2008 video game convention in Los Angeles. In July, I'll be back with my E3 preview column that will give you an inside perspective on the big games and announcements set for this year's show.
