We’ve already seen what’s going on with Microsoft and Nintendo, so it’s only fitting that we finish off the big three with a look at the Sony camp. What’s new with the PlayStation 3 at E3 2010? Let’s find out!
Gran Turismo 5: Finally Real
This was certainly a very long time coming for just about every PS3 owner on the planet, not to mention the PlayStation loyalists over the years who have been waiting for this must-have title. Yes, Gran Turismo 5 is real and it has a real release date of November 2.
As you can probably imagine, the full build of Gran Turismo 5 goes well beyond what Prologue had to offer. In speaking with one of the guys at the Sony booth, they expect to have about 1000 cars in this game. Some need to be unlocked and others might be DLC, but it’s still got 1000 cars.
Other highlights include the Top Gear test track, go-kart racing, and a create your own track feature. You can also expect night racing, 3D support, and real-time damage (both mechanical and cosmetic).
Little Big Planet 2: Littler and Bigger
Sackboy is back! While I wouldn’t quite put the original Little Big Planet up there with games that shaped mainstream society, it was certainly a very innovative platformer that offered plenty of customized experiences.
Everything that you liked about the original will be back for the sequel, including that great platformer action, the stage-building capabilities, and the various costumes for your sack-filled protagonist. Most of the DLC from the first game will also carry over into the second, though other elements will not.
As with the first game, Little Big Planet 2 will grant you access to a full story mode, but it also has that Create mode for making your own custom stages. Stephen Fry makes his triumphant return as the narrator for the game, but there’s also mention of a custom “Voice Acting” feature too. Expect this highly anticipated 2.5D sequel to hit store shelves in November.
Medal of Honor
Whereas every other Medal of Honor game has come with a subtitle of some kind to differentiate it from previous titles, this game does not. It’s simply known as Medal of Honor, aiding in the confusion of other “new” games like Mortal Kombat.
With this latest first-person shooter, players are placed in the middle of modern-day Afghanistan during the war that took place in 2001. The single player mode uses Unreal Engine 3 and multiplayer uses Frostbite. Look for Medal of Honor on the PS3 (as well as Xbox 360 and PC) on October 12.
Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Uses Tatsunoko-ish Controls
In case you haven’t figured it out, I love fighting games. That’s why I was seriously stoked about seeing Marvel vs. Capcom 3 at E3 2010 and getting my hands on the controls. I quickly confirmed that the control scheme is not at all like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Instead, it’s much closer to the “simplified” controls of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom on the Nintendo Wii.
This means that you only have three main attack buttons, plus an “exchange” button and a couple of assist buttons. I would have much preferred the traditional separation of punches and kicks, like in the Street Fighter franchise, but maybe the Tatsunoko-esque controls will grow on me.
The graphics are stunning and the roster will surely get more and more exciting as more characters are announced. For now, we can get stoked over Deadpool, Dante, Chris Redfield, Felicia, and others. Expect MvC3 to launch early next year.
The Fight with Dual Move Controllers
I wasn’t able to get much information about this game, other than watching the brief demo. In short, the player takes a hold of two Move wands (one in each hand) and engages in some crazy fisticuffs with an opponent.
Each Move wand corresponds to different punches, as you’d expect, and you pummel until you win. And yes, the aptly named “The Fight” apparently comes with full 3D support as well.
You can see a video montage of this and other games in this article right here on our YouTube Channel.
SingStar Dance Feels the Rhythm
In addition to jamming away with Rock Band 3 and Dance Central, you can shake your groove thang with the latest installment in the SingStar franchise.
Previous titles in the series only got you to sing, but with SingStar Dance, a couple of your friends can shake their moneymakers too. In the demo, I watched two “teams” of players face off against one another in the same song. Each team consisted of one vocalist and one “dancer.”
And I do use the term “dancing” quite loosely, as that player uses the PS3 Move wand to mimic certain movements on the screen. This is similar, you could say, to Just Dance on the Nintendo Wii. Except you get to sing too.
Time Crisis: Razing Storm Satisfies
To many people, the era of the on-rails shooter is a thing of the past and we’re much more ensconced in the era of first-person and third-person shooters. Not so. I dig the retro appeal of Lethal Enforcers and Virtua Cop as much as the next guy, but we need something new.
And the something new is called Time Crisis: Razing Storm for the PlayStation 3. Fully supporting the Move controller, you hold the wand like a handgun and fire at will. The top button is akin to the old Time Crisis pedal, pressing it to come out to play and letting go to hide under cover. The bottom trigger is to fire your gun.
The demo didn’t allow for manual switching of guns, but this feature will be added before the game’s release in September. Don’t expect anything groundbreaking, but it should still be fun… especially with up to eight players online.
Tron: Evolution Prequels the Sequel
One of the biggest movies to hit theatres later this year is Tron: Legacy. It’s going to be a huge franchise and I’m sure all the fanboys will be lining up in droves to watch it. Disney Interactive is capitalizing on this excitement with a Tron game of its own.
Interestingly, it’s not your typical movie tie-in game. Instead, Tron: Evolution actually takes place between the original film and the upcoming sequel. In this way, you could say that it’s a prequel to the sequel, filling in some of the gaps that may still be left unanswered.
Tron: Evolution is developed by Propaganda Games (the same studio that brought you TUROK) and it will be released on the PS3 (as well as PC and Xbox 360). It is also comprised of two main gameplay elements. On the one hand, you get a third-party action game with parkour elements and plenty of combat.
On the other hand, you can hop onto the Tron bike and race your way around the Tron universe, complete with disc-throwing battle elements. The coolest part is that Tron: Evolution is going to be offered with 3D support on the PS3 to boot.
An official release date wasn’t revealed, but they did say that it’ll be available before the movie hits the silver screen.
Nyko Raven Offers 360 Experience to PS3 Owners
I’m partial to the Xbox 360 controller, so I’m always a little frustrated when I go to my friends’ houses to play with the PS3. That’s why it’s so awesome that Nyko is releasing the Raven controller.
It’s available with a standard layout, but you can opt for the “alternate” version with an Xbox 360 layout, including the moving of left analog stick and the switching of the two trigger buttons (L2/R2) to Xbox-style. It’s also got a soft finish for added comfort and a sense of quality. The Nyko Raven for PS3 is only $34.99 too, offering some savings over the first-party controller.
A Solid Selection from Sony
It’s a good time to be a gamer. The Nintendo 3DS looks captivating and the Xbox Kinect looks innovative, but don’t sell Sony short either. There are plenty of marquee titles coming down the chute, like Gran Turismo and Killzone, as well as cool innovations like the PlayStation Move. Start saving those pennies now, because you’ll need them for this holiday video game shopping season across all major platforms.
What else did we see at E3? Be sure to check back often for more articles here, as well as on the Futurelooks Twitter stream and YouTube channel. There’s a lot to see!
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E3 2010 – SONY Goes Racing, Fighting, and Shooting – Photo Gallery
