Blimey, where does the time go? Just when we managed to comprehend that it’s actually been a full 12 months since Sony announced its swanky PS3 Slim/price-cut combo at GamesCom last year, 2010’s German-based juggernaut has already wrapped, leaving a vertiginous, jaw-dropped heap of shell-shocked gaming aficionados in its colossal, earth-shattering wake. And that includes us.
Frankly, we came away rather impressed. Insomniac provided the lion’s share of the megatons in the Sony camp this year, lifting the lid on fresh installments in the Ratchet & Clank and Resistance franchise, while the likes of Gran Turismo 5 and PlayStation Move also pulled in the punters on the show floor. And let’s not forget about the trailers. Copious amounts of trailers, we might add. Indeed, GamesCom 2010 provided some particularly juicy media highlights, throwing up new footage of this year’s (and beyond, for that matter) most significant releases, and it’s this area we’ve decided to focus on in our effort to look back and scrutinize 2010’s European gaming extravaganza.
As such, the chaps at PSU Towers have compiled a list of our Top 12 Game Trailers of GamesCom 2010, which you can see below. We have tons of other trailers from GamesCom and beyond on our YouTube channel. Make sure you subscribe. Be sure to let us know your personal highlights in the comments section below this article.
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12. Mass Effect 2 – GamesCom PS3 Debut Trailer
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: EA
Release date: January 2011
You probably thought this video would be higher on our list, but technically the video doesn’t offer all that much. Still, the news that Mass Effect 2 is heading to the PlayStation 3 is huge, and we couldn’t leave this off our list. Sure, the video is only about 40 seconds long, but we can’t help and get excited about seeing Mass Effect 2 on Sony’s console.
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11. From Dust [Project Dust] – Developer Tech Demo
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release date: 2011
If you ever wanted to know what being God feels like, then From Dust is for you. In this developer tech demo, we learned about how the world we create will react to natural changes like volcanoes and tsunamis. We loved the warm, inviting voice narrating the creation of this man-made world, and we can’t wait to see more of how players will interact in this God simulator.
10. Dead Space 2 – The Jump Trailer
Developer: Visceral Games
Publisher: EA
Release date: January, 25 2011
We already knew that Dead Space 2 will offer eye-popping visuals, but we had no idea it was going to look this good. The trailer shows our spaceman falling, or flying, narrowly avoiding debris. Dead Space 2 is looking even better than the original.
9. Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One – GamesCom Debut Trailer
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: Fall 2011
Insomniac presented arguably the best lineup, and while a new Ratchet & Clank was not a huge bombshell, the inclusion of four-player co-op, online at anytime was impressive. The actual debut trailer for Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One was certainly one of the most entertaining videos we saw, and we can’t wait to see more of that whimsical and funny platforming action.
8. Gran Turismo 5 – Go Kart Gameplay
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: Nov. 2 (NA), Nov. 3 (EU)
While technically we liked the official GamesCom trailer, it was originally shown quite a while ago, so we decided the next best option was the go-kart gameplay video. This trailer reminds us that at the heart of every great racecar driver is a kid dying to drive some karts.
7. BioShock Infinite – Official Debut Trailer
Developer: Irrational Games
Publisher: 2K Games
Release date: 2012
Technically released prior to the actual GamesCom event, BioShock Infinite still makes our list because it is one of the best trailers we’ve seen in a long time. While the game seems to have little in common with the first two BioShock games, the third entry, made by the team that created the original game, takes players to the cloud city of Columbia.
6. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West – GamesCom ’10 Trailer
Developer: Ninja Theory
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Release date: Oct. 5
Enslaved seems to take the gaming community by storm, slowly introducing the two main characters Trip and Monkey, along with their journey. Instead of a typical video showing off the game, we thought for sure we were watching a preview for an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster movie. You’ll see another one of those trailers later in our list.
5. Crysis 2 – Heros Journey Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer
Developer: Crytek
Publisher: EA
Release date: March 22, 2011
Getting a good look at Crysis 2’s multiplayer gives us goose bumps. Just look at the slick and smooth graphics, and the seamless action. The little melee attack mid-way through the video is a nice addition, plus we get a pretty good glimpse at some of the different weapons we’ll be using to smite our enemies.
4. Killzone 3 – GamesCom Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: February 2011
Multiplayer is huge, and getting a good glimpse at Killzone 3’s action is making 2011 seem so far away. Seriously, who doesn’t want to fly around on a jetpack blasting away friends? This is one of the best videos we’ve seen for Killzone 3, and certainly a terrific glimpse into what that game will offer for multiplayer punters.
3. LittleBigPlanet 2 – GamesCom Gameplay Trailer
Developer: Media Molecule
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: November
Every time we see a trailer for Sackboy’s next adventure, we can’t help and feel all warm and happy. Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet 2 is looking to take the PlayStation 3 by storm with an all new single-player campaign, and tons of new tools, like linked-levels and music creation, to tell your very own story, Sackboy-style.
2. inFamous 2 – “House of the Rising Sun” GamesCom Trailer
Developer: Sucker Punch
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date: 2011
This trailer for inFamous 2 shows that setting still, dramatic and explosive images to a gritty rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” works on so many levels. This was easily one of our favorite videos from GamesCom, not just because of the striking visuals and wonderful music, but because it leaves us wanting to see so much more.
1. Resistance 3 – GamesCom Debut Trailer
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: 2011
Insomniac sure has a way of making fans wait, but that all seems justified after watching the reveal trailer for Resistance 3. The trailer is all about anticipation, and tricking the viewer into thinking they were actually watching a trailer for a Hollywood movie. Yup, the debut trailer for Resistance 3 takes the top spot on our list, and with good reason. Don’t believe us, watch and see what all the fuss is about.