What a wonderful time of year. Summer Games Fest has officially begun and E3 is unfolding as we speak. And if you were working or living under a rock, you might have missed the Summer Game Fest Kickoff event. We had some pretty amazing world premieres, updates, and announcements along with some pure entertainment. While there was a lot to go through, there were definitely games that got me more excited than most. So let’s take a look at my top 5 games of Summer Game Fest Kickoff and I’ll tell you now…number 1 is not what you might expect.
5.) Salt and Sacrifice: It’s amazing how we live in a world filled with hyper-realistic, 3D shooters and action-adventures, but it’s a 2D action platformer that is getting a lot of attention. The sequel to 2016’s Salt and Sanctuary is due to release in 2022 on the PS4 and PS5. I haven’t actually tried out Salt and Sanctuary myself, but it’s available on Switch and Xbox One, so I think I will be making that purchase to prepare for what looks like a fun trial ahead. Dark Souls as a 2D concept is interesting, but I like a challenge.
4.) Vampire The Masquerade: Blood Hunt: I’ll be the first to say that I am sick and tired of Battle Royale games. Unfortunately, there’s no arguing their popularity or money-making ability. The oversaturation of the genre means that it takes something special to stand out and to me, Vampire The Masquerade: Blood Hunt has that something special. While technically already announced, we got a nice look at some alpha footage and a date for a PC alpha starting in July. The idea of playing a vampire trying to survive being exposed to society while competing against other vampire clans just looks exciting. Guns, swords, and supernatural powers mean you have a lot of styles you can play and maybe it won’t feel too repetitive too quickly. Yes, I signed up for the alpha already and you should too.
3.) The Anacrusis: My first thought when I saw the trailer for this game was classic Star Trek. The aesthetic just screams it from the starship interior to the crews’ uniforms. The next iteration of the now classic Left 4 Dead formula from the same people who created that formula in the first place. Four survivors on a starship have to survive a hostile alien invasion of their starship. While I don’t know if you’re trying to escape the ship, call for help, or simply clear all the aliens out in some way; it’s clear that the game will follow a progression like Left 4 Dead. You’ll learn the story as you go through dialog and what’s happening around you across multiple playthroughs. And then there’s “The Driver.” The Driver is the AI that is running the game for you, similar to The Director in Left 4 Dead. The Driver will determine enemy placement, enemy numbers, weapons, other drops, and much more as you play. That makes the game very replayable because you’ll never trigger the exact same conditions every time. Seeing as the team has a lot of experience in this type of game, my guess is this AI system will have some new and exciting way to have an impact as well. AI has also come a long way in the years since Left 4 Dead and its sequel. Count on me playing this as soon as I am allowed to. Who’s with me?
2.) Elden Ring: Here’s where I shake things up for some folks, and no it’s not just to be different or controversial. We’ll talk about that more when we get to number 1. For right now, let’s dive into our first real look at Elden Ring. FromSoftware teamed up with George R.R. Martin to create an amazing fantasy world that immediately feels like a Dark Souls game but looks like something brand new. We all know what to expect from a Souls-type game. What we don’t know to expect is the story that is being woven in this world. The game, from a technical standpoint, looks fantastic. FromSoftware has a style that is instantly recognizable, but you can see those next gen capabilities in the shading and the smoothness and all the details in this dark, new world. Giant creatures, looming castles, monsters, and our hero are in amazing detail and it’s clear that this is a world to get lost in. Combat looks like it will be as unforgiving as ever (kind of hoping for an easy mode, don’t judge me), but that’s part of the challenge that comes in a game like this. You know what you are getting into from the start but the story and the visual wonder of the things around you motivate you to keep trying and keep learning until you finally find success. We know George R.R. Martin can weave a fantastical, twisting tale and it’s exciting to see him make the jump into video game storytelling, even if some Game Of Thrones fans wished he’d finish the Winds of Winter instead of writing this game.
Honorable Mentions:
There were way too many games shown off in the Summer Game Fest Kickoff to only mention 5 here. Kudos to Geoff Keighley for building such an impressive and expansion showcase for this event.
First we have Back For Blood. While this is not a new game reveal, nor was the footage shown anything mindblowing from what we already know; it’s still a game I am excited about and it was nice to see it get a spot of honor in the showcase. The other game in the Left 4 Dead-style coming out, this one looks very much like a spiritual successor to the game. Zombies, ragtag survivors, and lots of running tells me that Left 4 Dead fans will find this game feels like home while giving them some new things to be excited about.
Planet of Lana was stunning from our first look at it. The vibrant colors immediately grab your attention and the gameplay and story hold you there. My immediate comparison when I saw it was Ori, but it also makes me think of Inside. A simple, quiet 2D game with beautifully simple mechanics that are used in a fun, challenging way. And before you know it, you’re invested in a world and a story that has barely said a word. As the game’s description says: “This is a story about a vibrant, beautiful planet –and the journey to keep it that way.”
Sable was another game that, while not new, was exciting to see again and finally get a release date for. It was accompanied by a beautiful live performance from Japanese Breakfast that really showed the vibe that this game will have. You play as Sable on her pilgrimage across this desert world on a hoverbike. It’s exploration, 3D platforming, and choice-driven dialog all wrapped up in beautiful scenes and graphics. Best of all, it’s a Day 1 Xbox Game Pass game so I can play it as soon as it comes out on September 23 of this year.
And now the moment you’ve been waiting for…
1.) Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: If you watched the showcase, you could probably guess this was my number 1 by its absence anywhere else on the list. This was a world premiere and a real treat for me. The name “Wonderlands” had been leaked already but there was no context around it and I certainly didn’t have Borderlands in the world of D&D on my video game bingo card. There’s a lot to break down here. First and easiest, the voice cast of this game is stacked. Andy Samberg, Will Arnett, Wanda Sykes, and Ashly Burch are all involved so you know that Borderlands-type dialog will be front and center for your entertainment. You also get to create and customize your own character, which has never been available in a Borderlands game before. It will be interesting to see how detailed and free-form character creation is. Of course, it’s got a full campaign AND four player co-op. Honestly I think people would riot if there wasn’t four player co-op. The game is supposed to be a new, separate world from the Borderlands series and yet Tiny Tina is your Bunker Master (a hilarious Borderlands play on Dungeon Master). Might we be controlling a character in the Borderlands universe sitting down to do a little roleplay with their buddies? I guess we will see. I am just excited at the idea of a high fantasy looter shooter; it’s different from all the other things I am seeing, but familiar enough that I know exactly what I will be getting myself into.
Image Credit: https://www.summergamefest.com/
