by Ian Miles Cheong
Microsoft's E3 presser was loaded with Kinect, Kinect and even more Kinect. Microsoft was without a doubt intent on pushing the motion control device to the forefront, with both casual titles and hardcore games.
We'll be skipping past some of the more uninteresting and casual titles in this write-up.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The publisher fired off the event with a short preview of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The Xbox controller disconnected for a split second, putting a slight damper on the announcement.
The demo started with a pre-scripted sequence involving the breach of a Russian submarine, putting the player in the role of a Delta Force operative tasked to defend New York City against the Russian invasion. The player then makes his way through the submarine, gunning down Russian sailors and firing off rockets into ships bombarding the American city. The demo ended with a boat chase sequence and an announcement of the game's release date.
Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 version of the game would receive "exclusive DLCs," presumably giving Xbox players early access to content before users on the PC and PlayStation 3.
Tomb Raider
The Microsoft conference continued with the first ever gameplay reveal of the new Tomb Raider game, which starts off with Lara Croft bound and hanging from a ceiling in a subterranean cavern. She has to free herself with the aid of fire by burning through her ropes. She suffers burns and injures herself in the process—the whole experience made visceral by her screams and grunts, which echoed throughout the stage.
Her screams of pain sounded much like orgasms, making the demo somewhat awkward to watch. Gamers who play the game in their living room months from now may wish to turn down the volume, should the experience remain unchanged.
The demo showcased Lara's interactions with the environment, using a flaming torch at her disposal to solve puzzles and set fire to interactive objects. Much of the early portion of the game consisted of quicktime events, which may be dismaying to many. The demo ended with her escape to the surface.
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 3 was the next game to be showcased at the Microsoft press event, and begins with Commander Shepard's interactions with the scientist Mordin Solus, who appears to be making a return to the series from the second game. Solus, hard at work on the Genophage cure, requests that Shepard rescue the sole surviving female Krogan to save the entire Krogan race.
Shepard interacts with the Krogan, and must shoot his way out with the assistance of Garrus. They face resistance from Cerberus forces, who even come armed with a gigantic mech.
The demo shows off some of Shepard's new combat abilities, including a melee attack from his plasma Omnitool.
Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
The Mass Effect 3 presentation was foliowed up with an appearance by Ubisoft, which showcased Ghost Recon: Future Soldier's Kinect-specific features. A new feature called the Gunsmith allows players to combine dozens of modular items into a unique gun. The player can use the Kinect's gesture and voice systems to swap items and even randomize weapons.
Players can also use the Kinect's gesture controls to aim in the game. Given the Kinect's propensity for silliness, firing the gun looks very much like making jazz hands.
Gears of War 3
Gears of War 3 made its way onto the stage, presented by Epic Games' Cliffy B and rapper Ice-T, who both presented the game's cooperative mode. While there were only two of them on stage, the demo looked like it had support for four players. Ice-T stepped into a frame-like mech that served to provide heavy artillery fire against the enemies on screen.
Halo Anniversary Edition
Confirming the earlier rumor, Microsoft plans to remake Halo: Combat Evolved as Halo Anniversary Edition, bringing the original game to the Xbox 360 with new graphics and an all new co-op mode for two. The game also offers multiplayer support with seven remastered maps.
Fable: The Journey
The presentation for Fable: The Journey begins with a horse carriage chase scene reminiscent of the carriage rides in Assassin's Creed 2. Not regarded as "Fable 4," this spin-off title is a rail-based shooter designed specifically for the Kinect and uses its gesture system for the casting of spells and attacks.
Minecraft for Kinect
Microsoft made a surprise announcement of Minecraft for the Kinect, slated for a Holiday 2011 release. Little else is known about the game, except for the fact that it remains in closed development.
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster
Double Fine's Tim Schafer announced Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster for the Kinect, which reads like an interactive storybook, allowing two players (like a parent and their child) to enjoy the game together. Players take on the roles of the Cookie Monster and Elmo as they journey through this interactive story.
Halo 4
The Microsoft press conference concluded with the surprise—well, it would've been a surprise if it wasn't for the accidental leak earlier today—announcement of Halo 4, which puts the players back into the role of the Master Chief as he is awaken by the voice of Cortana in a derelict space ship. Little else is known about the game, except that it is planned for a "Holiday 2012" release.
