FEATURE: E3 2013 Highlights - The Games

Tons of games were shown at E3, so read on as Gaming Till Dawn recaps on the highlights.

A lot has been happening at this year's Electronic Arts Expo at the  Los Angeles Convention Center - new titles announced, new features, and so on - I'm going to be giving you a breakdown of the games that have been shown and what we can expect in the future for gaming.

Gameplay Reveal - Destiny

Destiny will be the first game Bungie are making after their departure from Microsoft, and it promises to be something special and unique in every sense of the meaning.

Developer: Bungie

Publisher: Activision

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Genre: Role-Playing, Action Role-Playing, First Person Shooter

Release Date: Late 2013 or Early 2014

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Stunning Visuals
• Vast Landscapes
• Leveling Up System
• Co-Operative Play 
• Revive System
• Player Skills & Abilities
• "Fallen" Enemies Introduced
• Boss Battle Shown
• Character Customization
• Loot Drops
• Weapon Modifications
• Airborne and Ground Vehicles
• Online Play - "Public Event"
• Enemies Health Is Displayed

Gameplay Reveal - Wolfenstein: The New Order

Ah, Wolfenstein - what started off as a small project within the walls of ID has now evolved into an FPS franchise that keeps on giving and giving. And I'm fine with that.

Developer: Machine Games

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360

Genre: First Person Shooter

Release Date: December 2013

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Mechanical Enemies - Most Likely Robots
• New York Bombed - Possibly A Playable Location
• Nazi Warfare
• New Weapons
• Melee Attack

Gameplay: Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs looks to be one of the most interesting games of E3, in the past we've seen snippets of the game and its narrative, but after watching the gameplay, I'm positive you'll be wanting more.

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal

Publisher: Ubisoft

Platforms: Windows, PS3, PS4, WiiU, 

Genre: Action-Adventure, Sandbox/Open World, Stealth, 3rd Person Shooter

Release Date: November 2013 / Late 2013 for PS4/Xbox One

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember: 

• Mini-Map with Waypoints
• Beautiful Weather Visuals
• Incredible Audio 
• Numerous Hacking Devices and Other Gadgets
• Practically All Electrical Items Can Be Hacked 
• Aiden Works With Someone - Neither Friend or Foe
• Able To See People's Information (Age, Occupation, Income, Blood Type, etc.)
• Able To Determine How Violent Someone Is
• Can Control Trains, Traffic Lights, and Bridges
• Melee Weapons and Guns
• Wears Mask, Hat, and Trench Coat For Stealth
• Manipulate The World Around You
• Slow-Motion Shooting
• Can Rescue Civilians
• Joseph Demarco - One of Many Villains
• Police Chases

New Game Reveal: Ray's The Dead

One of the new games announced at E3 this year was Ray's The Dead, which looks to be very interesting - instead of fighting against the zombies, you are the zombie....

Developer: Rag Tag Studio

Publisher: N/A

Platforms: PS4

Genre: Action, Puzzle, Strategy

Release Date: TBA

Watch the trailer here:

Things To Remember:

• "Ray" Wears A Device On His Head - Converts Humans Into Zombies
• Can Convert Animals Into Zombies
• Able To Command Zombies 
• Zombies Able To Destroy Obstructions (Cars, Blockades, etc)
• PlayStation 4 Exclusive

New Game Reveal: The Order: 1886

One of the most promising games this year was The Order: 1886, expect to play with history in this alternate  timeline of the industrial revolution - this time around you're fighting against inhumane enemies with what the revolution has to offer.

Publisher: Ready At Dawn
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment 

Platforms: PS4

Genre: Third-Person, Action-Adventure, 3rd-Person Shooter

Release Date: TBA

Watch the trailer:

Things To Remember:

• Quote At The Beginning Is From Real Literature
• Set in London
• Alternative History
• Advanced Weaponry
• Two Men in the Carriage - Twins?
• Man and Woman in Carriage Look More "Modern" Than The Two Men
• Enemies Move Fast and Able To Climb

Gameplay Reveal: The Evil Within

A lot of people are saying The Evil Within is the next step in survival horror, with it's gritty visuals and eerie gameplay, watch the video and decide for yourself.

Publisher: Tango Gameworks

Developer: Bethesda Softworks

Platforms: Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Genre: 3rd-Person, Survival Horror, Action-Adventure

Release Date: 2014 (No specific date)

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Minimal or No HUD 
• Main Character - Sebastian/Police Detective
• Gameplay Takes Place In An Asylum
• Mix of Survival And Action
• Must Be Resourceful - Weapons/Ammo Not Too Common
• Emphasizes On The Survival Horror Aspect
• Headshots Don't Kill Enemies Instantly
• Enemies "Play Dead"
• "Chainsaw Guy" - Instant Kill (Much like the Chainsaw Ganados From RE4)
• "Safe Man" - Most Likely A Boss or Mini-Boss
• Player Can Be Victim To Various Traps
• Barbed Wire Is A Common Theme
• Numerous Types of Enemies
• Possibly Real-Life Cutscenes

Gameplay Reveal: Batman: Arkham Origins

There's been a lot of comic franchise video-games, and when I first heard another Batman game was being made, I was skeptic to the idea of it actually being good, considering past Batman games were pretty bad. But when the Arkham series showed up, all those negatives were ruled out, as it turned out to be one of the best video-games ever made, at least in my opinion. And at this year's E3, we were treated with gameplay from the latest in the series; Arkham Origins.

Developer: Warner Bros. Games Montreal

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Platforms: Windows, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U

Genre: Action-Adventure, 3rd-Person, Comic Book

Release Date: October 25, 2013

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Prequel To Asylum/City
• Bruce Wayne Has Only Been Batman For 2 Years
• The Notion of Batman Is Still A Myth
• The Joker Is Back
• Batman Is Considered An Outlaw and/or Vigilante
• Game Is Set on Christmas Eve
• "The Black Mask" - Major Villain 
• Total of 8 Assassins Hired To Kill Batman
• Playable World Is Bigger Than Arkham City
• Batman Drops From An Airborne Vehicle - New Method of Transport?
• New Movement Styles
• Experience Gained Is Broken Down Into Categories - "5 Enemy Kills", "Throwable Object", etc.
• You Get Graded On How Well You Do
• "Most Wanted" Campaigns - One of Many Side-Missions
• "Martial Artist" - New Type of Enemy
• Able To Double-Counter Attack
• Each Encounter Has a "Threat Level" - Higher It Is, Harder The Battle Will Be
• Able To Reconstruct A Crime-Scene - New Addition To Detective Mode
• New Gadget - The Remote Claw

Gameplay Reveal: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

Another MGS? Apparently so, I genuinely thought the series would have finished with Guns of the Patriots, but I'm not complaining - the game is both a sequel and a prequel in the sense it takes place after the events of Peace Walker (1975 to be precise), but also acts as a prequel considering other MGS titles. Big Boss is back, and what we've seen at E3 promises to be something very special.

Developer: Kojima Productions

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox, Xbox One

Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth, 3rd-Person

Release Date: TBA

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Big Boss Is The Main Character - Now Known As "Punished Snake"
• Big Boss Has A Mechanical Left Hand/Wrist
• Kiefer Sutherland Will Voice Big Boss, Not David Hayter
• Kazuhira Miller, Ocelot, And Huey Emmerich Make Apperances
• Huey Emmerich Is The Father of Hal Emmerich
• Introduces New Character "Quiet" - A Silent Sniper
• Introduces New Character "Eli" - Young Kid
• Introduces New Character "Skull Face" - Carries A Ghostly Presence
• Introduces New Character "Code Talker" - An Extremely Old Wise Man
• Sequel to Peace Walker
• Incredible Graphics
• Amazing Lighting-Effects
• Distinct MGS-Sounding Music
• Kids Are Being Taught How To Shoot Weapons
• Major Terrorism Themes
• Horses Are A Form of Transport
• Able To Drive Vehicles
• Afghanistan Is A Playable Location
• The First Time MGS Has Gone Open-World
• New Methods of Stealth
• The Weather Is Real-Time
• Real-Time Day Progression - Morning To Night
• Close Quarters Combat Is Back - More Diverse
• Weapons Being Made To Surpass Metal Gear

Gameplay Reveal: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

I say this is a "gameplay reveal" but I'm almost certain most gamers played Final Fantasy X/X-2 when they were first released, at E3 we got to look how the remastering of Final Fantasy X has turned out, and it's really quite impressive. I first played Final Fantasy X when it first came out and was hooked instantly, so being able to re-play it again will trophy support will be a very satisfying experience. Re-watching the learning to laugh scene in Luca in glorious HD will certainly be something.

Developer: Square-Enix

Publisher: Square-Enix

Platforms: PS3, PSVita

Genre: Role-Playing, J-RPG

Release Date: 2013 (No specific date)

Watch the gameplay here (2 parts):

Things To Remember:

• Fully Remastered Audio
• Fully Remastered Graphics and Visuals
• Redefined Character Models
• Bundle Comes With Both FFX and FFX-2
• International Version of FFX (Was Never Released In The Us, But Was In EUR/UK)
• International Version of FFX-2 (Only Available In Japan Before)
• FFX-2 Comes With "Last Mission" (Only Available In Japan Before)

Gameplay Reveal: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

The original launch of Final Fantasy XIV wasn't anything to brag about, it's clear the game had a lot of bugs, glitches, whatever you want to call it - Square Enix showed the latest gameplay of "version 2" of Final Fantasy XIV if you will. I actually never played the original so I can't give a comparison that gives the game justice. However, after seeing the new gameplay, I am definitely buying this at launch.

The PS3 beta is currently open for applications right HERE

Developer: Square Enix Product / Development Division 3

Publisher: Square Enix

Platforms: Windows, PS3, PS4

Genre: MMORPG, RPG

Release Date: August 27th (PS3 and Windows) / 2014 (PS4)

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Game Practically Completely Re-Done
• Stunning Visuals From A New Graphics Engine
• Air Transport
• Final Fantasy VI's Magitek Technology Implemented
• Final Fantasy VII's Limit Break System Implemented 
• Final Fantasy VII's Materia System Implemented
• Feels Like A Final Fantasy Game, Not Just Another MMORPG
• PS3 Gamers Can Carry On Through Their PS4
• Player Can Summon "Primals" i.e. Ifrit
• Unique Weapons And Familiar Weapons From The Series
• The Story Continues From The Original FFXIV
• Companion System - Chocobos Can Fight By Your Side
• Bahamut Plays Very Important Role Within The Main Storyline
• New Classes: Scholar and Summoner

Gameplay Reveal: Final Fantasy XV

Initially, when this was called Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I thought it was another spin-off from Final Fantasy XIII, but I sit here corrected - it's actually a completely new Final Fantasy in the works. I have to admit, I didn't like Final Fantasy XIII all too much, it was fun and I like the experimentation of the battle system, but to me it didn't feel like a true Final Fantasy, so I am hoping Final Fantasy XV will bring me back into the series and leave me as excited to play it as I was with the older Final Fantasy games back in the day. Decide for yourself what to think of it below with the newest trailer and gameplay from E3.

Developer: Square Enix 1st Production Department

Publisher: Square Enix

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

Genre: RPG, Action-RPG

Release Date: TBA

Watch the gameplay here (2 parts):

Things To Remember:

• Two Known Kingdoms - Lucis and Niflheim
• Lucis Translates To "Light" In Latin
• Lucis Is The Only Kingdom That Has "The Crystal"
• All Other Kingdoms Used To Have Crystals In The Past
• Incredible Visuals and Audio - Making The Most of the Technology
• Characters:
• Noctis Lucis Caelum - The Main Character/Protagonist
• Stella Nox Fleuret - Often Battles Against Noctis
• King Regis Lucis Caelum - Father of Noctis/King Status
• Gladiolus Amicitia - Best Friend of Noctis/Acts Like His Brother
• Prompto Argentum - Friend of Noctis and Bad Influence
• Ignis Stupeo Scientia - Childhood Friend of Noctis and Personal Advisor
• Mechanical Vehicles Can Be Used In Battle
• Chocobos and Airships Return As Forms of Transport
• Highly Interactive Field-System
• Real-Time Battle System - No Loading Between Battles
• Max Battle Party of 3
• Battle Actions Include: "Warp", "Attack", "Linkform", "Item", and "Magic"
• Sometimes Able To Use Enemies Own Weapons Against Them
• No MP
• Noctis Can Dodge Attacks And Teleport From Side To Side
• Noctis Can Have 8 Weapons Equipped And Can Switch Seamlessly
• Gladiolis Specialises In Heavy Weapons and Bare Hand Combat
• Prompto Specialise In Guns and Able To Aim In 3rd-Person
• All Playable Characters Can Use Magic
• "Warp" Command Allows Noctis To Lock Onto Objects Or Enemies And Teleport There
• "Linkform" Command Allows Noctis To Use All 8 Weapons At Once
• Event Sequences - Scripted Battle Sequences

New Game Reveal: Halo 5

No official logo yet.

With the Xbox One announced, it's only fitting a new Halo is made - I am a big fan of the Halo franchise, and have been since Halo: CE and it's been pretty interesting to see the series evolve, I've enjoyed each and every Halo, and although it probably won't be as good as the first three games in the series, I still look forward to each new release. Check out the latest and only trailer-teaser for Halo 5 below.

Developer: 343 Industries

Publisher: Microsoft Studios

Platforms: Xbox One 

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Release Date: TBA 2014

Watch the trailer here:

Things To Remember:

• Chief Is Wandering A Vast Desert - Almost Looks Post-Apocalyptic
• No Cortana - Master Chief Is Alone
• Chief Is Wearing A Coat/Poncho Even Though He Has Full Body Armour
• Gigantic Forerunner Structure or Enemy Rises From The Ground

Gameplay Reveal: Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2

After finishing the first Lords of Shadow, all I've been wanting is more in terms of both gameplay and storyline, the ending to the first game was annoying - annoying in the sense I knew I'd have to wait for the next part of the story in this incredible series. Now the wait is almost over, at E3 we got to see some nice new gameplay and I can safely say I'm very excited for its release.

Developer: Mercury Steam

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: Windows, PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: Action-Adventure, 3rd-Person

Release Date: Winter 2013

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Quote At The Beginning Is From A Real Philosopher 
• The Quote Represents Gabriel - "He Who Fights Monsters Should Be Aware, Lest He Become A Monster Himself."
• The Belmont Clan Returns
• Gabriel Is Now A Fully-Fledged Dracula
• Gabriel Is Relatively Older
• The Past Haunts Gabriel Constantly
• Vengeance Drives Gabriel
• Alucard and Simon Belmont Are Possibly Playable Characters
• Symbolism of Satan Can Be Seen
• Gigantic Fortress-Like Enemies Return
• Will Be The Last In The Shadow Series

Debut Trailer: Kingdom Hearts III

It's been a very long time since the last proper Kingdom Hearts game, yes there's been spin-offs and what have you but finally we got to see an actual glimpse into Kingdom Hearts III - this game will have a lot to answer for in terms of the narrative of the series as a whole, and I personally can't wait to get stuck in. It was announced that the franchise will be making it's way onto the Xbox One as well as the PlayStation 4. 

Developer: Square Enix First Production Department

Publisher: Square Enix

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

Genre: RPG, Action-RPG

Release Date: TBA

Watch the trailer here:

Things To Remember:

• Sora Returns As Main Character/Protagonist
• Highly Possible Other Characters Return
• Story Continues From Dream Drop Distance
• Final Game In The Main Series
• NPCs Can Join In To Help You In Battle
• Improved Enemy AI
• Still Very Early In Development (Don't expect a release date any time soon...)

New Game Reveal: Super Mario 3D World

I'll be honest, I still haven't got a 3DS or a Wii U but I have played Super Mario 3D Land and New Super Mario Bros. U and they've been extremely fun. The latest in the Mario series doesn't seem to disappoint, and I find myself wondering if now is the time to buy a Wii U.

Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo

Publisher: Nintendo

Platforms: Wii U

Genre: Platformer, 3D

Release Date: December 2013

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• 4 Player Co-Op 
• Playable Characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad
• Each Character Has Unique Traits:
• Mario - Average Speed/High-Jump
• Luigi - High-Jump/Falls Slow
• Peach - Jump and Float
• Toad - Fastest Speed
• Sequel To Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
• Free-Roaming Gameplay
• Cat Suit Introduced - Allows Player To Climb Walls, Run Faster, And Perform Unique Attacks
• Wii U GamePad Allows Player To Reveal Hidden Objects
• Off-TV Play Also Available

Gameplay Reveal: Sonic: Lost World

The Sonic franchise has had its fair share of ups and downs, with the fantastic earlier games on the MegaDrive and Master System to the not so great games (Shadow The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2006) - then we were given the likes of Sonic 4: Episode 1 and 2 and Sonic Generations. which in my opinion brought the series back to its roots and allowed fans of the original games fall in love with Sonic all over again. It looks like the series is only getting better and better now, with the announcement of Sonic: Lost World, the future for the franchise is looking very bright. I'll be looking at the Wii U gameplay, not the 3DS.

Developer: Sonic Team (Wii U) / Dimps (3DS)
Publisher: Sega / Nintendo (Europe)
Platforms: Wii U, 3DS
Genre: Platformer
Release Date: Late 2013

Watch the gameplay here:

Things To Remember:

• Sonic and Eggman Work Together As A Team
• The Main Enemy Are The "Deadly Six"
• Wisp Ability Returns From Sonic Colours
• Side-Scrolling Levels
• Linear Levels
• Able To Control Sonic With The Wii Remote and Nunchuck
• Fully 3D Gameplay
• Supports Off-TV Play
• Local and Online Multiplayer
• 3DS Version Isn't A Port - Original Game
• Collecting Red Coins Unlocks Additional/Bonus Content
• Finding Gold Cannons Unlock Alternative Paths
• Sonic's Speed Depends On How Much The Directional Button Is Pressed
• Able To Run Up Walls / Run On Side of Walls

Well, that's it from me - it's been an incredible E3 this year, with some really incredible games finally being shown off, new games announced, and so fourth. There were many other games at E3, but like I mentioned at the start of this post, the games you see above are the games I'm most excited about, and I think a lot of gamers will be too. Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts and opinions. Feature1`