At this year’s E3 – the annual video game trade show in Los Angeles – we were able to see previews of several upcoming video games. Here’s a quick look at some of the standouts from the event.
Death Stair (coming for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
You might think “couch co-op” has been lacking in games as of late, but “Death Stair” hopes to change that with the ability to sit down with three other friends and cause a bit of trouble over something as simple as climbing stairs. Up to three players attempt to climb through three different stair layouts, while one player sits at the top, using different weapons to stop the opponents’ ascension to the top. As the developer says, it’s a great title to sit down with a few friends and some beers and let the chaos unfold. More info here.
Masquerada: Songs and Shadows (coming in 2016 for PS4, PC)
On the surface, “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” looked to be a simple hack and slash title, but if you take a closer look at it with the developer, there is a deeper story than you would expect. Citte della Ombre is the main location in “Masquerada” and it is a world lacking religion. Instead of an afterlife, people are remembered in song, but only those with masks can have songs written about them. In order to gain access to a mask, you must have wealth, and if you do not have one? Then no one will remember you. The concept sounds like an allegory of the 1% vs. the 99% argument that came up during the financial crisis of 2007. Narrative depth and a colorful palette mashed together with solid hack and slash mechanics makes “Masquerada: Songs and Shadows” a surprising entry for 2016. More info here.
Mafia III (coming October 7 for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
2K Games has decided to return to its long-running crime boss franchise, and with it comes a new location and protagonist. Taking place during the tumultuous year of 1968 in New Bordeaux, LA (think New Orleans and you got it), you play as Lincoln Clay. Lincoln is a Vietnam War veteran that has found his way into the African-American Mafia after doing business with the Italian Mafia. Partnerships like this never seem to end well, leaving Lincoln as the sole survivor of an Italian Mafia hit. Driven by revenge, Lincoln works with several outcasts to take over the city of New Bordeaux. New Bordeaux is a large, open world that you can explore, investigate and, well, lay waste to those that oppose you. It is a different look for the “Mafia” series, but the location and time in history should make for an interesting twist. More info here.
We Happy Few (coming in 2016 for Xbox One, PC)
The initial look at “We Happy Few” at last year’s E3 made the swinging 60’s game look like it was some sort of exploration title, similar to games like “Gone Home” or “Firewatch.” Now with a chance to actually go hands-on with the game, it is an entirely different kind of beast. Yes, exploration is still part of the core hook in “We Happy Few,” but it also blends in combat and survival. Your main character will need to eat, sleep and stay hydrated or risk passing out in a bad part of town. Combat will feature degradable weapons, and you will need to bandage wounds or fear bleeding out. Eating moldy bread in desperation can end up giving you food poisoning… which will leave you vomiting and dehydrated until you cure it. “We Happy Few” looks interesting, but the unexpected direction of the game might surprise some after its debut last year. More info here.
Civilization VI (coming October 21 for PC)
The sixth entry in the “Civilization” series introduces a few new twists to this world-building empire simulator. Cities are more hands-on in regards to layouts as you can now create districts. Districts can be religious to offer peaceful meditation and increase morals, or maybe you want a military district that bolsters the defense of a city and the armies it produces. The graphics are a little sharper for the entire game, with the map now looking more like something you would see on a 1400’s galley, as it is yellowed and non-descript until you visit an area. Multiplayer options have also been spruced up, with the idea that games need to complete faster than in the past. More info here.
Forza Horizon 3 (coming September 27 for Xbox One, PC)
“Forza Horizon 3” moves away from the previous games’ exotic locations of Colorado, France and Italy (well, two of those locales are exotic, anyway), setting drivers against the harsh outback of Australia. As with prior “Forza Horizon” titles, you will have a large geographical area in which to freely drive around, looking for events or just enjoying the view. Sporting an upgraded visual engine, “Forza Horizon 3” will now come to the PC as well as the Xbox One, where the latter will support 4K graphics if you have the hardware to run it. With a cavalcade of cars to earn or purchase, varied environments to explore and a new co-op mode to enjoy with friends, “Forza Horizon 3” should be blast to jump into later this year. More info here.
Agents of Mayhem (release date TBA for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
The developers behind the popular “Saints Row” franchise have an all-new super-hero game in the works, dubbed “Agents of Mayhem.” But is it truly all-new? This game is still somehow linked to the “Saints Row” world and is being presented as kind of an alternative reality. We went hands-on with “Agents” at E3 during an extended demo and completed a wonderfully bizarre mission involving virtual reality, secret villain headquarters and a boss fight at a wedding. “Agents” will feature multiple playable characters – four were available to play during E3 – each with different abilities. For each mission you pick three characters and you can swap between the two at any time. Missions in “Agents” include animated sequences that really drive home the theme of a Saturday morning super-hero cartoon turned twisted. More info here.
Wild Guns: Reloaded (coming this fall for PS4)
Old timers may recall this Wild West themed game from the Super Nintendo days, and publisher Natsume has brought it back… well, not as a grand re-launch but as a pixel-perfect homage of the twenty year old classic. The game looks sharper than you remember, as you lead heroes Clint and Annie through a unique combination of punching and shooting. This lovingly re-created edition will add new playable characters and new levels, of course, so fans will have something new to discover. More info here.
Watch Dogs 2 (coming November 15 for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
A common criticism of the first “Watch Dogs” game was that the hacker hero did not spend enough time hacking, so Ubisoft is set to answer that in the sequel. In a behind-the-scenes playable demo, we were able to run freely around San Francisco, using our phone, laptop and a drone as hacking tools. This time around, a “quick hack” option lets you instantly cause trouble, but expanded options are available for more specific needs. For example, if you quick hack a car, it briefly lurches on its own and stops, but if you choose, you can actually drive the vehicle remotely. “Watch Dogs 2” has a new hero – the young and hip-looking Marcus – so we’re hopeful his story is more interesting than the dishwater-dull guy who fronted the first game. More info here.
Joe Fourhman also contributed to this report.
