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A Boy and His Blob (Wii)
• Publisher: Majesco
• Developer: WayForward
• Release Date: Fall 2009
• Screenshots
• What We Saw:
WayForward’s Sean Valasco led me through a demo of two stages of this retro remake puzzle/platformer. It’s a 2D sidescroller starring a boy and (naturally) his blob, which has access to 15 different transformation powers. You control boy and select powers for blob (using the cute jellybean system) to solve environmental puzzles, which start off easy and get deliciously complicated over time. Early on, I saw blob turning into a hole (allowing boy to sink enemies into pits) and a ladder (letting boy get to new terrain). Later, in a level filled with cogs and gears called “the works”, you have to transform blob into a jackhammer to solve a five-part puzzle.
• What We Think:
  Danielle: This game looks stellar. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, with a hand-painted aesthetic that looks a bit like Braid but not as ugly/cutesy. The animation is beautiful, the puzzles look delightfully devious, and the boy/blob love is all there (they hug – get your mind out of the gutter!). I was told there will be 40 stages and 40 challenge levels, and Wayforward has an excellent track record with retro revivals (they’re the folks behind Contra 4 on DS), so I’m really looking forward to this one.

Afrika (PS3)
• Publisher: Natsume
• Developer: Rhino
• Release Date: August 2009
• What We Saw:
I was able to get my little paws on this long-awaited photo safari for a few minutes. The first thing I noticed was the insanely lifelike detail – everything from the picture-perfect savanna to the ultra-hardcore camera settings screamed “five years of research!” Basically, you take your jeep out into the wild and take pictures of animals. It’s Pokemon Snap in the “real” world. Everything is bright and lush – and the animals look pretty majestic up close.
• What We Think:
Mitch: Afrika sounds kinda boring doesn’t it? Well, it kind of is, and unless you were into Pokemon Snap or Sea Life Safari, it really isn’t going to do anything for you. The setup I saw was overwhelming: a full inventory loaded with items and attachments that I had no idea how to use. But I fully expect that starting the game is going to be a laid back and stress free adventure game with camera porn. The amount of differing lenses and film options will be incomprehensible to the novice, but exploring big, pretty areas to get great snapshots is going to make Afrika a polarizing game. You’re either in or out, and you probably already know where you stand.
Danielle: This game is absolutely gorgeous – standing still. The animation is still a little janky and the human characters are about as generic as they get. Still, I’m kind of geeked out about the ability to really customize your camera and apply genuine photography techniques – and there are going to be a ton of missions, which is great. I can’t see this appealing to everyone (which is a shame, because folks have been excited about this from before the PS3 was even released), but it may get photography nerds excited.

Agatha Christie ABC Murders (DS)
• Publisher: Dreamcatcher
• Developer:
• Release Date: October 2009
• Screenshots
• What We Saw:
Another Agatha Christie point and click adventure on the DS, ABC murders follows the classic mystery novel closely. More “interactive fiction” than a traditional game, the interface has players use the stylus in order to find evidence/items and interact with the environments.
• What We Think:
Danielle: I may be too young to play these games. The Agatha Christie titles require serious patience and persistence – kind of like actual detective work. I saw a few older folks at the booth checking out the adventure games – I believe that this is more for them than for moi. (Thank you for making me feel like a relic...-ed)

Alan Wake (Xbox 360)
• Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
• Developer: Remedy
• Release Date: Q2 2010
• Screenshots
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
Alan Wake has been a long time coming, but the story-heavy survival/horror game is finally, officially, actually coming out in 2010. We got to see a theater demo hosted by one of Remedy's writers, Sam Lake, that covered the storytelling, characters and combat in Alan Wake. Its television series presentation and book-like narration are unique ways of conveying a genuinely intense story during an action game.
• What We Think:
  Mitch: Alan is a writer, not a fighter, so he's better off running from the ethereal enemies that followed him around the dark forest and battered cabins. His flashlight is a means of discovery as well as a weapon, so you can investigate the hints that litter the environment as well as repel baddies with the shining light. Lighting a flare also keeps them away from Wake as he hunts for his missing wife. One of the things I really liked was watching Wake drop a flare outside of a door so that his predators (who seem to be ghostly lumberjacks, or something) couldn't follow. It's a smart and cool way of staying alive since ammo seems to be limited. The game does a great job of keeping you in the loop by narrating segments of what's going on, what Wake is feeling, and what he needs to do. It's like listening to someone read a chunk of, well, an Alan Wake novel. The vertical slice we saw really captured the tension of a horror movie, and as a third person adventure game that keeps you involved in the narrative, Alan Wake feels like a non-busted, better version of Alone in the Dark.

Alpha Protocol (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Sega
• Developer: Obsidian
• Release Date: Fall 2009
• Screenshots
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
We got a behind closed doors look at some of the finer points of Sega’s new modern day spy RPG as well as a brief Q&A with the devs. The bulk of the alpha code demo took place in a train yard where our hero was battling the Russian mob…and doing quite well I might add. Developer Obsidian is trying to “push narrative in a new direction” with AP’s design and we got a taste of what they mean by that during our 30 minute tour.
The other guys caught a look at the show floor demo but Brandon and I are super important – more so than Todd, anyway, so we got the behind closed doors treatment. It’s good to be loved.
• What We Think:
Bill: It’s deep—and big. The Alpha Protocol team like to use the phrase ‘moral ambiguity’ when describing the theme for the game. Who is good/bad isn’t the point – everyone has their uses and unlike other RPGs where you have dialogue trees that are clearly broken into the “good”, “evil”, “neutral” response, here it’s not that defined. It’s more about personality – you can try to be nice, a dick, sarcastic, and so on. And how you treat a contact will have a real effect on how they respond – and the ramifications down the road.
To me that was the real selling point to the demo. Yeah you can tweak your weapons, there’s a handy PDA for contacts and every other tidbit of info, character development looks extremely detailed, etc. The combat looked OK. We saw a ‘boss fight’ (not really sure how else to describe it) with a female mercenary that looked sort of silly; it just didn’t seem to fit with how the rest of the game looked. How many shots can one angry Russian woman take, ya know? I think that’s the trick with these modern day RPGs – if I pepper someone with automatic gun fire…it’s hard to swallow seeing them shrug it off like a mosquito bite just because it’s an important fight.
But as I was sitting there watching the demo, particularly when the game was played and reloaded and we could see the changes in the story based solely on how we handled a conversation – I was reminded of those old Choose Your Own Adventure books from my childhood. “If you choose to slap the guy, go to page 36. If you choose to bribe the guy, turn to page 153.”
There are apparently huge, sweeping story threads that change based on every single action you take from who you decide to kill to who you decide to charm and even to who you decide to ignore all together. If the folks at Obsidian are to be believed, there are dozens of endings that come together based on how you play the game – and not just a few sentences to the final cut scenes but significant changes to the story. If that’s true – that’s pretty damn cool. An E3 demo is supposed to make you want to play/see more of the game – I want to play Alpha Protocol.
Brandon: Crikey there are a lot of paths to take in this game which means that things will either be completely different every time you play it, or there's going to be a tremendous amount of build up for very little pay off. I'm still not sold on the character customization stuff, as I'm not sure it fits here. I like lumberjack beards as much as the next guy, but not on my spies. Still though, the premise is intriguing, the branching mission structures and adaptive dialog look promising and the combat seems solid, so consider me wary, but hopeful.
Todd: I had a hard time reconciling what I saw in my hands-off demo of the game, which seemed focused on shooting as much as humanly possible, with the tagline of “a modern day spy RPG.” Of course, to me, “spy” conjures up images of guys in sharp suits drinking martinis, not guys in full combat gear doing their best to put a hole in every possible target. Take the tagline out, however, and I have to admit this one looks like a hell of a game.

Aliens vs Predator (360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Sega
• Developer: Rebellion
• Release Date: Early 2010
• Screenshots
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
AvP had a double showing at E3 with a closed door session showing off the Marines campaign and a public booth showing of the Predator campaign. Fans of the Aliens vs Predator PC game from years ago will be happy to see that the frantic energy and manic pace of that game's marine campaign looks to have been faithfully reproduced. People who like stealthily laying waste to xenomorphs and humans alike, or those that really prefer their human heads to be detached will no doubt enjoy the brutal, visceral combat shown in the Predator demo. Multiplayer details, as well as details on the Alien campaign weren't being discussed but both will be present.
• What We Think:
Brandon: Members of the development teams that worked on the original Aliens vs Predator game for the PC are also working on this game and it shows. We had assurances that the overpowered Predators from that game will not be making an appearance, and while the Predators will have the usual assortment of tech and gadgets from the movies, players will have to use all of this technology wisely to be effective. The Marines are their usual, underpowered selves; however the AI we saw seemed effective in dealing with the xenomorphic scourge. AvP on the PC was great, so if this game is as good when it comes out early next year, consider me sold.
Bill: This looked sharp. I only saw the behind closed doors Marine demo but it reminded me of the old PC game…but with really good graphics. Aliens hiding in the shadows, blood everywhere, and sound ripped right out of the Aliens films – the marine rifle sounds just like the one Hudson fired. Speaking of which you can catch little tokens to the film with the dialogue – stuff like, "They're coming out of the walls! and "They cut the power?" The setting is spot on, tense, and has the potential to be downright frightening.
I also like how the game is partially scripted but your AI squad mates may live or die – or may do different actions all together. I doubt that adds any real replay value but at least it will mean your campaign won't be exactly the same as mine. Of course we didn't see any see of the Alien campaign… It's still a ways off (early 2010 at the earliest) but I really the direction this is going and the developer clearly understands what this license is all about. But it has a long way to go, make no mistake – but that's what E3 is about—making a good first impression.
Todd: This one’s very reminiscent of the original PC game and that’s a very good thing. The hands-off demo I watched showed off the Predator in all his destructive, stealthy, glory. Some might find some of the gore to be a bit much, but it’s true to the franchise and purposeful in the game. I loved watching the Alien adversaries at work, with a lone beastie quickly retreating when outmatched, but a group of them working in packs to rip their foes to pieces.

Alliance of Valiant Arms (PC)
• Publisher: Ijji
• Developer: RedDuck
• Release Date: TBD
• What We Saw:
AVA is a free, online FPS with persistent characters and solid graphics that won’t knock Gears of War out of the picture, but they are ambitious. Set in a fictional, modern Europe, peaceful cities have become warzones, mercilessly destroyed by the invading Neo Russian Federation. Since we’re only at ‘A”, you might consider beginning a drinking game with how many appearances the Russians make from here on. AVA features three character types (i.e. light, heavy, and ranged), 16-player support, four maps at present and reported opportunities to customize your character through micro-transactions. For my session, Ijji let me play the newly designed Escort mission, which tasks one team with protecting a tank and one team with bringing it down.
• What We Think:
Brian:AVA was the $50 bill sitting in an empty lot on a dismal day. Four maps and three classes are hardly enough for today’s scene, but RedDuck deserves credit for polishing what they have with a triple-coat, streak-free shine. The guns feel great, with realistic recoil, damage, and little touches like popping someone’s helmet off make the experience even better. RedDuck also seems to have a knack for level design. I was told that the architecture was drawn from visits to the actual locations, and the effort paid off, at least for the level I played, with an extremely well-crafted mix of indoor and outdoor environments. The fact that I overstayed my allotted time by 15 minutes to finish the match is a promising sign. Let’s hope that RedDuck can keep up with more content.

Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii)
• Publisher: Natsume
• Developer: Natsume
• Release Date: July 2009
• What We Saw:
Just like PS3 big brother Afrika, Animal Kingdom is a photo safari title – it’s all about taking your jeep (and, um, robot friend) out in the wild and taking dramatic pictures of the wildlife. Here, you have an “assignment editor” who grades your photography skills, and you’re able to earn medals for awesome shots.
• What We Think:
Danielle: This is Afrika for babies - babies who enjoy ugly graphics and weirdo characters. I’m glad that it’s at least not part of the Harvest Moon Franchise – if I had to take pictures of fruits and vegetables, I would have thrown the Wii-mote at the TV.

Arcania: A Gothic Tale (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
• Publisher: Dreamcatcher
• Developer: Spellbound
• Release Date: Winter 2009
• What We Saw:
A sweeping, Epic, medieval-themed action RPG set in the Gothic universe, Arcania is Dreamcatcher’s flagship title for this year. My demo lasted a full 30 minutes, wherein my guide rattled off an impressive list of features – there’s a customizable leveling system, a metric ton of weapons and gear, three huge islands with several territories each to explore, plenty of magic spells and fan service for Gothic-lovers. The graphics were impressive, even in this early stage. The weather effects were particularly impressive – and the sheer amount of territory we covered reminded me of Oblivion.
• What We Think:
Danielle: It’s a big, massive action-RPG – and it looks pretty and appropriately gargantuan. It’s far too early to tell if this puppy can compete with Bethesda’s offerings, but we shall see this winter.

Assassin's Creed 2 (360, PS3, PC)
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Screenshots
• Trailer
• What We Saw:
If our Assassin’s Creed II demo was any indicator, the repetition of the first Assassin’s Creed is going to be flipped on its head – an issue that Ubisoft is deliberately addressing. The brief mission we saw showed Ezio, the game’s new protagonist, sneaking through the streets of Venice as he sought out an assassination target. Because it would be foolish to burst through the front door, Ezio made use of a flying machine left for him by his friend, one Leonardo da Vinci, to attack and gain access to a palace from above. The gentleman from Ubisoft who showed us the game insists that this kind of toy and mission structure isn’t an anomaly. It’s a new focus.
• What We Think:
Mitch: One thing that stuck out to me was the new notoriety system. Guards are constantly looking for Ezio, and the more public you make his persona as you play, the more noticeable he’ll be to those around him. They’ll even start looking in known hiding spots for thieves and assassins. Ezio’s ability to kill two enemies at once with his retractable wrist-blades is a cool new touch to what is mostly a familiar game. The timing-based combat was either a system you loved for its fluidity or hated for its simplicity, something else that the developer is considering for this release. From what I gathered, though, it looked like enemies were more aggressive. The basic parkour and platforming hasn’t changed, and since it was essential to what made Assassin’s Creed work so well, it remains intact. Assassin’s Creed 2 is very much a sequel to Assassin’s Creed, which, if Ubi can nail the variety they’re shooting for, isn’t a bad thing at all.
Bill:After seeing the demo and watching the developers play it during our meeting I am convinced that this will be better, from a design standpoint, than the original. I was impressed by the fact that it was admitted by the game’s Project Manager that the first game was basically an impressive tech demo more than it was a great game. Knowing is half the battle. The goal here is to take the repetitiveness and the backtracking completely out of the equation and just focus on what was enjoyable about Assassin’s Creed – basically tracking down your target and gutting him.
Brandon: It was refreshing to see the Ubisoft developer admitting that the criticisms of the first game were valid, because I played the first game and I'll be damned if I'm going to do the same dumb missions a second time. The game looks great, as did the first one, however I'm going to take a wait and see approach until I know more about the mission structure. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...

Astro Boy (Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
• Publisher:
• Developer:
• Release Date: October 23, 2009
• Screenshots
• What We Saw:
AstroBoy looks like a sidescroller/action game cut from the same cloth as its 16-bit brethren – though a lot less challenging. I saw Astro Boy running around 2D stages, beating up fools with his powerful special moves, and blasting through Gradius-ish flying shoot-em-up levels. The combat is much deeper than in Secret Saturdays next door – there’s a color system to indicate which powers enemies are most sensitive to, and a rather cool ability to actually power up (or rank up) Astro Boy himself.
• What We Think:
Danielle: This was definitely the pick of the litter at the D3 booth. My favorite part: there’s a special move wherein Astro Boy grows machine guns from his butt and twirls around, spraying bullets everywhere. He yells out something to the effect of “what’s happening?” every time, like he’s actually surprised or something. If I had machine guns in my nether regions, I think I’d know about it. Just saying.