E3 is nearly upon us, with only eight days left, we at Video Game Culture HQ have come up with our own E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. As we are attending the show, we are incredibly excited to see what each company has in store and while there are more than just five games that we are looking forward to, these are the five that have piqued our interest the most.
Zero Time Dilemma
While Zero Time Dilemma, published by Aksys games, will be released on June 28, it will make an appearance at E3 and tops our E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. We will be reviewing the game in short time, but Zero Time Dilemma is a game that should not have even been made. A sequel to both the Nintendo DS’s 999 and the Nintendo 3DS’s Virtue’s Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma is the final installment in Kotaru Uchikoshi’s masterful trilogy. The game did not do well in Japan, but sold very well in the United States. Uchikoshi always envisioned the series as a trilogy, but the series was dead in the water after the second installment. All hope was lost, but last year, it was announced that a third installment in the series was finally coming out for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. With a gripping story, a vast mythology, and mind-numbing puzzles, this promises to be one of the best 3DS games of 2016.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Last year we were fortunate enough to attend the PlayStation Experience at E3 2015 and view a live demo of Horizon Zero Dawn, which is why it is one of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games. The world is absolutely gripping, the story seems incredibly unique and engaging, the combat looks excellent, and visually the game is second-to-none. While there hasn’t been much released about the game since its reveal at E3 2015 and it has supposedly been pushed back for a 2017 release, it is sure to make an appearance at this year’s E3 as it is the PlayStation 4’s most interesting exclusive. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some hands-on time with the game as it looks like it will be a blast. It seems very Zelda-like as well with regards to its world. We were told last year that everywhere you can see, you can actually visit, and the world is absolutely massive.
Mass Effect: Andromeda
With so many people leaving Bioware in the middle of the development for this game, I’ve been a bit skeptical, and to be honest, a bit afraid for this title. Still slated for a Q1 2017 release, I am cautiously optimistic for the next installment in Bioware’s Mass Effect series, although it’s not even for the aforementioned reasons. I loved the original Mass Effect trilogy. In fact, it is the very reason why I bought an Xbox 360 to begin with. It was such an emotional journey filled with wonderfully complex and dynamic characters, and while some may have thought the ending fell flat, I saw perfection. Shepard was the perfect protagonist and the Reapers were absolutely epic; I just don’t know how Bioware can top that. That being said, Bioware has proven themselves time and time again as a top-notch development team and Mass Effect: Andromeda will no doubt be an incredible game which is why it is a part of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. I really hope it is hands-on and more information is released, as this is one of the most beloved franchises from the last console generation.
Gears of War 4
While the beta of the Gears of War 4 beta did disappoint us, we are hopeful that these problems are fixed at E3 2016 as Gears 4 is one of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games. Gears was revolutionary in terms of both third-person shooters and cover shooters. The mechanics were nothing short of brilliant and I am very excited to see how far the game has come since the beta. It’s not even known if the beta we were playing was the build the development team had; they could have been much further ahead in the process. The Gears Ultimate Edition was brilliant and I have no doubt in The Coalition’s ability to get the job done. What is just a little concerning though is that the game is coming out this year but the beta was still mired with a number of issues. Hopefully these are fixed though and Gears 4 will be as enjoyable as the previous installments, as it is one of Microsoft’s staple franchises.
The Legend of Zelda for Wii U
The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is our most anticipated title appearing at E3 2016. Make no mistake about it: this is the game that people have been waiting for ever since the Wii U came out. In fact, if the game had come out closer to the Wii U’s launch, the system might have sold much better. Regardless of that though, and regardless of the fact that the game is also coming out for the Nintendo NX in March, The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is our E3 2016’s most anticipated game. It is not only going back to the roots of Zelda, but it is also promising to completely change the conventions of the series as well. Many are disappointed that the release of the game has been pushed back, but it is only by a few months, which is actually not that bad. Nintendo is betting it all on Zelda this year, which is fitting considering it is the series’ 30th anniversary. The game looks amazing from a visual perspective, appears to have an enticing world, and, well, it’s Zelda. It looks to be the most gripping Zelda since Ocarina of Time and hopefully it is the most revolutionary entry since the aforementioned title as well.
While this is our list of E3 2016’s most anticipated games, there are plenty more to look forward to, some not even announced yet and will be showcased during each company’s press conferences. E3, once again, will be a magical experience where the gaming community comes together and showcases what they have been working on so hard for this year and beyond. There are no losers here; everybody wins.