With E3 2016 just a matter of days away, kicking off with the Sony press conference on June 12, PSU takes to the roundtable to discuss what we hope to see, expect, and would rather do without at this year’s biggest gaming event.
Will The Last Guardian be at E3 2016?
Kal Simpson: Sony, where do we stand on Sony? What are you guys hoping to see, expect and want from them?
Kevin Rombouts: The Last Guardian will be shown.
Neil Bolt: There simply has to be something concrete on The Last Guardian. New gameplay and a release date are a must.
Kal: Agreed. That game has been talked about now for so long, teased for so long with no real evidence if it’s actually going be releasing for the PS4, let alone being released at all. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it launches with PS4 Neo at this point. It’s not something to look forward too because it’s so uncertain.
Neil: Yeah, if it does show up again, I expect a release date that’s within the next few months, otherwise they’ve finally buried the last of the hype for it.
Kal: Honestly, I think there is no hype for it. People just want it out of the feeling of deserving it. It was promised for them. The two demos that have been shown haven’t actually show anything. I think that it’s wanted because people are curious.
Neil: It’s a tough one to show, given the last two games are difficult to explain in isolation.
I played ICO again recently, and it just reminded me of how bloody good this game could be. It’s hope more than anything at this stage.
Kal: That’s the thing. ICO and Shadow of the Colossus were special because they were so different. The Last Guardian has been teased and it made people happy—at that time. Now it’s just "It’ll come when it comes” and it will fair okay. Speaking of giant creatures, strange animals and all things Sony’s been unsure of -God of War 4. Do you think it’ll be shown? or teased, at least?
God Of War 4 gameplay trailer?
Neil: It’ll either be the opener or the closer. I expect a short “gameplay” trailer, meaning a trailer that shows a jazzed-up version of the way it should play. Really hoping for the rumoured Norse setup to be true. I sort of expect Kratos to be the antagonist this time.
Kal: That’s what I’m thinking. Honestly, I don’t think that game will get here ‘till at least 2018. I don’t expect a showing in the same way as they first showed God of War 3—If it turns up. Regarding Kratos…If they can find a way to bring him back that’s not stupid and ham-fisted, go for it. But if not, then bring on a new character within Norse mythology. It goes without saying I’m the biggest unofficial God of War fan on the planet. So I’ll be glad if he makes a return. But If it’s true about Norse mythology then the idea of Kratos picking up Thor’s hammer and cracking it around face would be the ultimate pisstake. I’d sacrifice a goat and two virgins to see that.
Neil: At least make it seem like he’s not involved, give a fresh start to a more nuanced protagonist.
Will Crash Bandicoot spin into Sony’s press conference?
Kal: You mean like Crash? As in Crash Bandicoot. We know Sony are acknowledging the idea of fan requests but do you think he’ll come back? and is it even worth it?
Neil: I’ve made my feelings clear on Crash before. Too much nostalgia clouds an average series. Reboot makes financial sense, but it’ll have to be a very different kind of game to work.
Kal: That’s the thing. I’m not sure it can work. Crash has been driven into the ground. After Wrath of Cortex, the series fell off. Fans want it, yes, but how many fans are there really? I’m a fan, love that series. But Ratchet and Clank unlike Crash, was old enough but not too old, nor too recent in order to be rebooted. Crash holds no relevance with players under the age of 20. Will they care or even know him?
John-Paul Jones: Agreed, Neil. Crash’s conveyor belt platforming shtick won’t cut it with anyone these days simply because it feels overly forced and restrictive in a time when, well, we’re used to better.
Neil: Ratchet existed in a time closer to modern gaming, same with Jak and Daxter. They could be modernized without compromising the core game. Crash is a dinosaur by comparison.
John: As far as the nostalgia thing goes, it’s important to remember that a lot of folk gravitated toward the furry little runt back in the late 90’s simply because they needed a mascot.
Neil: This being said, I’d like Naughty Dog to return to something fantastical. Just not that orange git.
John: If folks are being honest with themselves though, they’ll soon admit up to the fact that Crash games were about as entertaining having a nail driven through the side of your scrotum and roughly half as memorable.
Kal: I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, there’s no better platformer in the 2D space that does it better than Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. That’s just my take on it, and I know there’s quite a handful out there at this current time. Taking Crash to a full-on explorable 3D space like Ratchet and Clank I don’t feel would work effectively.
John: Naughty Dog can plough the new and sparkly without resorting to the ill-advised nostalgia of that little gumboid.
Neil: Definitely.
John: As far as 2D platformers go, Kal, I reckon you’re on point—PS folk could certainly do with some fresh blood in that category. It *almost* makes me feel a little jealous towards the Xbox One/PC crew for Ori and the Blind Forest, were it not for the fact that most of them are horrible people.
Kal: I resent that, being a founding member of the “PCMasterRace” an all. But…Crash Bandicoot… Crash is the reason why we have mobile runners like Temple Run and Jetpack Joyride. They all root from the runner levels in Crash. Therefore it can’t return with any of those gameplay mechanics. I feel it would be degrading. It has to do something new. And as I said with 3D, Ratchet and Clank exists for that. 2D, Mario exists along with all the others. Where does Crash fit in today’s world?
John: The Root of All Evil you might say.
Kal: That being said about Ori, everything else within that space is essentially bloatware off Steam.
John: Crash fits in the bin. Perfectly so in fact.
Kevin: I disagree. Crash CAN succeed IF done by a PROPER developer and if there’s proper work put into it. Not just a quick thing to try and just give people something asap. I’m not expecting anything from Naughty Dog besides Uncharted 4 promotion. Naughty Dog probably won’t bring anything to E3, besides Uncharted 4 being promoted, a lot. I think, maybe…they’ll give a generic announcement that they’re working on a new project.
Kal: Naughty Dog gave us Crash and throughout every game that came after, they showed us the progress and natural steps in to what we have today—The Last Of Us and Uncharted.
John: Good lord. Lest we forget that Crash wasn’t as bad as it got for Naughty Dog. Way of the Warrior on the 3D0 is arguably the low point for them. But hey! Look at them now though eh? The Last of Us, Uncharted etc. The folks done good.
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Will there be some Uncharted 4 & The Last Of Us surprises?
Kal: Speaking of Naughty Dog and things that don’t “last” that long. The Last Of Us. Do you think there will be a sequel or Uncharted 4 expansion? As Kevin just said, do we see Naughty Dog bringing something to E3?
John: It’s a tough one.
Neil: I’d be surprised if they have anything to show at all at E3. They’ll take a backseat ‘till December methinks.
John: See, they’re still riding the commercial and critical wave of Uncharted 4’s release and what with the close proximity to E3, I’d be inclined to say that they might just dish the beans on the single-player DLC (even if that does seem a little quick). I can see them just getting a note from their mum and not attending E3…Instead, saving all the good stuff for PSX.
Kal: I don’t think they’ll show anything Uncharted related. Maybe a teaser or some kind of development short, for The Last Of Us 2, as to where it the direction of that universe may go. But I don’t think anything "proper" will be shown.
Neil: They don’t need it yet. So if Crash is a thing again, I think they’ll only have supervisory role on it.
Kal: And yeah, Uncharted 4, they’re riding that right now, no need to show what’s next. The Last Of Us 2 though, if it is a thing, then I want to see it continue with Joel and Ellie. New characters within that world will be difficult. If that’s the case then it kind of makes that world and setting irrelevant since the focus will be about stories within that world with the overall plot of the first game being left mute.
Neil: Without for me. That story is told. Different location too.
Kal: Did Ellie grow up? Are their any Fireflies left? Did anybody witness Joel’s decision? I honestly have to know. Too much connection with those characters, man.
Neil: Sometimes the questions are better than the answers could ever be.
More Hellblade action?
Kal: Can’t argue with you there. Speaking of questions—Hellblade…Where the hell is that game? We know it’s coming strictly to PS4 and PC but that game is in Limbo right now.
John: It’s still on the boil. The twitter account is farting out mo-cap and BTS videos pretty regularly.
Neil: I’d honestly forgotten its existence.
John: It’ll defo happen, but yeah, Neil, it’s not a particularly memorable blip on the radar.
Kal: I’ve noticed the videos too but frankly, I’m getting sick of them. I love that development studio but we need solid gameplay in order to take that game seriously now.
John: Of course it didn’t help having all those ‘Heavenly Sword 2’ nutjobs muddying the waters at the start, but hey ho…Gameplay-wise, we’ve seen precious little.
Kal: It’s forgettable. It’s only when a video comes out, people are like "Oh yh, Hellblade"
John: You defo’ get the impression that development on it has been rocky as all hell.
Kal: What Team Ninja Theory did with Enslaved and DMC: Devil May Cry is right up my ally.
But that makes me concerned for this game since we’ve seen nothing on it.
Neil: I like the idea of it, but suspect it’s not going to be as good as those games.
Kal: There’s the saying "When it’s ready, it’s ready, and we’ll show it" but there’s no proof of the game even progressing. I’ve seen more about what the studio plan to do with the character’s psyche and illness and all that "Innovative & life-like character” stuff than I have about the actual game. And to be perfectly honest that entire character design thing they’re going for may not even be noticed all too much when playing the game. Games like Hellblade need solid gameplay mechanics, like Devil May Cry. So I’m hoping there’s some attention being placed on that.
Neil: Agreed. This is ‘show, don’t tell’ time for Hellblade.
Kal: So, Sony. Let’s hope they have something new to show us, as well as answering some of our long-wanted questions.
Join us for part two of our E3 2016 roundtable discussion soon, where the focus will be PlayStation VR games.