The only new console at the show and the tag of being the most powerful one ever made ensured the Xbox One X the title of star attraction at this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) in Los Angeles.
We took a comprehensive look at Microsoft’s new 4K-to-the-masses beast last week, but E3 of course had a lot of other exciting announcements and previews. Whichever genre you enjoy, and no matter what platform you prefer, it’s clear that there’s something for everyone to look forward to. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting prospects.
Super Mario Odyssey (Switch)
We got a new trailer, more gameplay revelations and a release date for the hotly anticipated Super Mario Odyssey. Somehow Nintendo have managed to keep Mario games fresh and innovative for 35 years, and what we saw at E3 proves that’s not about to change any time soon. Also, who knew that Mario’s hat had a name (Cappy), and that it (he?) is sentient?
Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4)
Many games have tried to make you feel as if you’re inside a superhero movie, but none of them have ever looked so close to achieving it as this effort by Insomniac Games. The game looks absolutely gorgeous, and if the gameplay is a match, this will be a must-buy.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (Switch)
Everyone was expecting to see the evergreen Italian plumber make an appearance in the form of Super Mario Odyssey, but nobody expected this: a joint effort between Nintendo and Ubisoft that brings turn-based tactical role-playing (think XCOM) and the mischievous Rabbids to the Mushroom Kingdom. What a pleasant surprise; it’s quickly gone to the top of my most-anticipated list.
Skull & Bones and Sea of Thieves (PS4, Windows, Xbox One/Xbox One, Windows)
We’ve known about Sea of Thieves for a while, and the gameplay shown at Microsoft’s press conference looks very inviting. I especially liked how it’s possible to shoot yourself onto a nearby island using the ship’s cannon…
But it turns out Ubisoft have also been inspired by the world of eye patches and peg legs in the form of Skull & Bones.
The former seems to focus more on you playing as an individual pirate, while the latter is more based on controlling an entire ship. Which one will come out on top? With such a different style and focus, they’re not really in direct competition, so why not get both? That’s of course assuming they’re any good. We’ll be sure to let you know when these two games are released.
Anthem (Xbox One, PS4, Windows)
This is EA’s unexpected answer to Destiny, and although it’s still early days, it looks to be a serious contender to take the online RPG shooter crown. Helped along by the Xbox One X’s power, Anthem was without a doubt the best looking game at the show. Once again that doesn’t mean much if the gameplay can’t hold up, but despite some recent misfires by developer Bioware, you’d be silly to bet against them.
Skyrim (Switch)
It’s finally official: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is coming to Switch. It may be almost six years old, but bringing this classic to a mobile platform is sure to breathe new life into one of the biggest hits of the last decade. Oh, and did we mention that you can dress up as Link from Legend of Zelda? That should be worth the price of admission alone.
