If you’ve followed the story of independent media outlet Second Wind even a little, then the prospect of this organization reaching a point of security and confidence enough to even host a games showcase likely comes as an impressive feat, if not necessarily a surprise. After all, we’re talking about a talented assortment of folks known for their thoughtful, even-handed coverage and love of games as an artistic and entertainment medium, called upon to help restore the reputation of once-esteemed games media site The Escapist. Had the corporate owners holding The Escapist’s purse strings not overstepped by firing editor-in-chief Nick Calandra, driving much of the staff to resign in protest, who knows what the future of The Escapist might have been? That the ex-Escapist crew are now in a place, a few years down the line, where they can comfortably offer the stage to other creatives within the industry is a magnificent sight to behold. It doesn't hurt that the resulting showcase, publ...
Ah, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the game industry's yearly tradition of indulgence in lengthy conferences, flashy trailers that might not be representative of the final games, and awkward pauses... lots of awkward pauses. If nothing else, it gives Internet writers like yours truly the opportunity to snark and gape in equal measure, while cherishing those rare moments where something genuinely good happens.
I'm going to take a slightly different approach than my peers, though - rather than handing out "Best X" awards to specific games or talking about each conference in turn, we're instead going to celebrate the highs and lows of E3 as a whole... byyyyyyyyy handing out "Best" and "Worst" awards. Same difference.
BEST PRESENTER
Winner: Janina Gavankar
Electronic Arts' conference was defined in large part by discomfort and lack of effort. If the fixation on EA's new Game Changers program didn't strike you as weird, then the dearth of interesting and noteworthy games would pick up slack in the "Reasons to Tune Out" department.
But then, right at the hind end of EA's presentation, out walked Janina Gavankar. Striding onto stage with an accompaniment of Stormtroopers, conveying a demeanor that was equal parts intimidating and impressive, Gavankar quickly drew the press back into the fold. Confident in tone and distinctly enthusiastic about her upcoming role in Battlefront II - she's appearing as the lead in the game's story mode - there's little doubt that Janina Gavankar brought life and energy to a conference so very much lacking in both.
GREATEST PISS-TAKE
Winner: Devolver Digital
Holy fucking shit, did the publisher of Hotline Miami, Broforce and a bunch of other beloved indie titles catch us off-guard. A major surprise leading up to this year's E3 was the news that Devolver would be holding their own conference, with many wondering what the company's take on industry-standard excess and self-aggrandizement would look like.
What it looked like, we soon learned, was a short but sweet pre-taped masterwork of absurdist parody. The performance begins with familiar elements (a main presenter, a big stage, elaborate lighting, an apparent rapturous crowd of reporters and journalists, etc.) before dropping the pretense and going off the damn rails. Body horror, blood splatter, juxtaposing on-stage carnage with stock footage of unaffected audience members - the whole ordeal played like one of the finest Infomercial bits Adult Swim never made.
WORST CONFERENCE
Not to continue harping on it, but EA really did drop the ball this year. Their line-up of games showcased was distinctly slim, with only a handful of them being personally enticing (my apologies, I just don't find their sports titles all that compelling). And a lot of the conference itself consisted of dead air, bizarre YouTube celebrity cameos and... well, that's it, really.
GREATEST SURPRISE
Winner: Beyond Good & Evil 2
No one had expected Ubisoft, of all companies, to pull the trigger on the long-teased but never seen sequel to 2003's Beyond Good & Evil. The original game famously faltered in sales despite universal praise, Ubi had been coy about the next game's development cycle, and save for some concept art there was barely any proof that the sequel even existed.
And yet here we are, having sat through the honest-to-goodness announcement trailer for BG&E 2. While never having played the first game myself, I recognize how momentous an occasion this was. Finally! Fans would be returning to the universe of anthropomorphic animal characters and noble photographic journalists that had caught their eyes so many years ago.
Plus, I like the grimy underworld feel, I can get on-board with the "deeper and potentially darker prequel" angle, the South-east Asian-influenced architecture and overall aesthetic is stunning, and swearing pigs 'n monkeys are always fun. Now if they can just stick the landing...
LEAST ENTICING GAME
Look, wherever your personal politics land, you can't deny how quickly the conversation around this (alleged) cyberpunk indie game turned sour.
When first teased at the Microsoft conference, The Last Night caught attention for the uniqueness of its visual design, which appeared to blend detailed future-city environments with more classical 2D sprites. It certainly made me excited about the possibilities... which soon cooled into contempt and disinterest once the Internet uncovered troubling details about the game's director, Tim Soret.
To make a long story short, it turns out Soret is a (possibly former) proponent of the GamerGate "movement" and has espoused less-than-impressive opinions on various topics. Later, an interview with VICE illustrated that Soret's current views are, shall we say, counter-productive to crafting an authentic-feeling, socially-conscious cyberpunk setting (which is, IMHO, a major fucking point of the genre).
It's still possible that The Last Night might turn out well, but I'm not holding my breath.
MOST INTRIGUING USE OF A LICENSE
Winner: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
I got tired of the Rabbids about two games ago. Mario games do not need - and arguably should not have - guns. Both of those things, I believe quite strongly and will stand by.
But damnit if I'm not interested to see how this crossover between Nintendo's most enduring mascot and Ubisoft's most overexposed one is going to play out. The "X-COM but cute" vibe of the game is almost certainly intentional, and I've got to admire Ubisoft's seeming courting of a younger audience less experienced in tactical strategy games. And everyone involved seems to really believe in the project, making it quite difficult to be too cynical about the chances of Kingdom Battle being at least competent.
MOST PROMISING GAME
Winner: Super Mario Odyssey
Intricately crafted, sandbox-esque level design. Mario's hat being sentient and granting him the ability to possess objects, animals and even other humans. Pauline is back, as the Mayor of a city and a talented jazz musician. The familiar pastel-coloured fantasy elements of Mario games past contrasted with the detail and polish of HD jungles, cityscapes and deserts.
I'm not completely sure what to make of the game's sights, sounds and stylistic flourishes, but what I know for certain is this: Odyssey looks fun and it makes me very happy to see it unfold.
SPECIAL HONORS
Those games that show great potential but just didn't quite make the cut for MPG
A Way Out
Cuphead
Kirby
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
Spider-Man
The Evil Within 2
Tunic
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Yoshi
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Thanks again to my Patreon supporter (and friend) Mark Aguirre for his contributions. If you'd like to see more work by me, please consider donating to the Kurt of Cambridge Patreon!
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