E3 2017: Top Picks from E3, Xbox Bethesda

It’s been almost a year since I last wrote something here. I miss writing. I’ll probably do more of it this year.

I won’t be posting all the trailers this time because, frankly, I am too old and tired to try and care about FIFA, Forza and all that jazz. Instead, here are my highlights from the first two conferences: EA Play and Microsoft’s Xbox

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm.

I love Life is Strange. The atmosphere, the art style, the characters. It’s all good. Even though it didn’t turn out to be as sci-fi as I was hoping from the start, it was a fantastic story with plenty more world to explore.

Before The Storm is a three-episode prequel covering the story of Rachel and Chloe’s relationship in the three years before the original is set. The story won’t cover Rachel’s part in the original series. “We want to take the player on a new journey and not tell a story that players already know the ending of,” said Community Manager Toby Palm in a Reddit FAQ. Instead, expect to see Chloe and Rachel develop their friendship at Blackwell Academy, as well as learning more about Frank Bowers and maybe even Chloe’s father.

Metro Exodus

The Metro games are… interesting. Flawed – their stealth detection has so far been abysmal – but enjoyable shooters nonetheless, with complex characters and an engaging world. The Metro Exodus gameplay video showed staple items of the series like the gas mask and watch, yet our protagonist could survive in the outside world without a mask. What is going on here?

Deep Rock Galactic

Look, I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I like exploring and I like having friends alongside to kill stuff with me. It’s one to four-player co-op in which you tunnel through procedurally-generated cave systems for… reasons. Being made by new developers Ghost Ship Games and coming to Xbox One and PC.

Shadow of War

Look, it’s a sequel to Shadow of Mordor. That game was fun and didn’t outstay its welcome. More, please.

Wolfenstein: The New Colossus

Basically the same as the above. The story for Wolfenstein: The New Order was much better than Mordor’s though. I really need to go finish The Old Blood.

Honourable mentions

• Assassin’s Creed Origins – AssCreed with bigger, badder gods?
• State of Decay 2 – actual colony building and survival in a zombie land? Yeah, I can get on board with that.
• Anthem – looks like Destiny with cooler weapons? The only reason I am cautiously optimistic is because it’s coming from BioWare. I sincerely hope it wont be just another wrapper around a bunch of loot grind.<

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