The Games of E3 08: What to Look For

The best part of E3 are the unknowns: the unannounced games, the press conference surprises, the quiet disappointments. A lot of news will happen in the span of next week, and we'll be there to cover it all.

But this year, we're already excited about many of the known quantities. There are dozens of announced titles showing up at E3 that we still haven't had serious time with, from heavy hitters like Fallout 3 and Far Cry 2, to newcomers like Mirror's Edge and Borderlands.

Here are some of the games we expect to check out on the show floor, along with a few specific things we're looking for during the demos and showings.

Fallout 3

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Q4 2008

Bethesda Game Studios

It's the sequel to one of the best franchises in gaming, and it's being designed by a dependable studio. And while Bethsoft originally planned this post-apocalyptic sequel to be on the smaller side of Oblivion, it has now reportedly ballooned to a comparable scope. We'll only have a short time with the game, but we're making ready with Fallout 2 speed-runs.

What we're looking for: Interesting dialogue was the backbone of the Black Isle's titles, so we're keeping our eyes out for well-written scenarios.

Mirror's Edge

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Q4 2008

EA DICE

This first-person parkour title from EA has a lot of buzz already. The game's popular trailer was a work of minimalist art. The music was a breath of fresh air. The development team's inspiration, said to be drawn from Joss Whedon's Firefly, is intriguing.

What we're looking for: How well a first-person parkour game controls, how refreshing the story really is, and how often we'll have a gun in our hands.

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Aliens: Colonial Marines

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Q1 2009

Gearbox Software

Any number of ingrained quotations will tell you that a love of Aliens is a common element amongst many gamers. And rather than working in that Aliens flavor via a franchise hybrid--as in Rebellion's excellent Aliens vs. Predator--Gearbox's game will be the first serious title to focus on recreating the feel of that specific movie. Make ready your four-player co-op squads of colonial bad asses.

What we're looking for: Pacing. Is this a fast shoot-em-up or a plodding tactical shooter? Has the tense action of Aliens been reproduced?

Empire: Total War

PC

Q1 2009

Creative Assembly

It's Total War in the Napoleonic age, a Master and Commander take on Creative Assembly's strategy series. Naval combat seems to be wonderfully realized, and the realism has been upped for land-based battles.

What we're looking for: A glimpse of the new campaign AI and management systems, which are said to be largely overhauled and improved since the Roman and Medieval times.

Rock Band 2

Xbox 360/PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii

September/Q4

Harmonix

The focus of this one is all on refinement of the Rock Band formula. A large setlist will offer some enticing incentives to upgrade, and full backwards compatibility with Rock Band DLC should make it a painless process. Tough luck for Microsoft shunners, though, as the game is getting an exclusive Xbox 360 release in September. The other versions will follow later in the year.

What we're looking for: A comprehensive setlist detailing the 80+ included songs--hopefully with some major bands that haven't been seen in rhythm games before.

LittleBigPlanet

PlayStation 3

October

Media Molecule

Every trailer released for Media Molecule's innovative title just screams fun. But more than the online platforming, LBP's Youtube-style community features could elevate the game to a classic.

What we're looking for: Hands-on time with those community features, and specifically how they're integrated with the game itself. How extensive are they, and will there be any kind of web presence?

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Prince of Persia

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Q4 2008

Ubisoft Montreal

This relative reboot of the Prince of Persia franchise is mixing things up with a new cel-shaded art style and non-linear gameplay. Players will be able to steer the prince around an expansive world, choosing to pick off bosses in whatever order they like.

What we're looking for: A visual makeover is fine and all, but has the combat been changed to an enjoyable degree?

Nintendo Games

Nintendo's Wii post-E3 release schedule is a blank slate. Any announcement will naturally be exciting.

What we're looking for: A hardcore holiday game to stoke the fires of traditional gamers. (Read: Anything but Animal Crossing.)

Killzone 2

PlayStation 3

February 2009

Guerilla Games

After a long, storied period of development, this should be the final E3 before the release of Guerilla's PS3 shooter sequel. We're excited if only to finally see a version of the game that is nearing completion.

What we're looking for: A taste of the online portion. Multiplayer is nice--an announcement of online co-op would be nicer.

Dragon Age

PC

Q1 2009

BioWare

The makers of Baldur's Gate are returning to the realm of dark, hardcore fantasy with this RPG. Dragon Age is said to resemble the style of a Dungeons and Dragons title, with tactical real-time combat and multiple party members. A modified version of the Mass Effect conversation system will power the story.

What we're looking for: More details. Luckily we won't have to wait until E3--the game's official website is set to go live on July 9.

Gears of War 2

Xbox 360

November

Epic Games

Gears was a great game no matter how you slice it. Plenty of titles have adopted elements of the game since its release, so Epic will need to spice things up for the sequel.

What we're looking for: Some new variations on the duck-and-cover level design of the first, outside of the on-rails sequence of the first trailer.

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Crysis Warhead

PC

Fall 2008

Crytek

The first half of Crysis was one of last year's better shooters, a fun romp through a technically beautiful setting. But as in Far Cry, the second half of the game left a little to be desired. If Crytek can learn from their past mistakes, the third time around could be the charm. The stand-alone Warhead will focus on team member Psycho, but few specific details have been revealed so far.

What we're looking for: With direct competitor Far Cry 2 around the corner, we'll want to see more than a few new levels and nanosuit abilities.

Left 4 Dead

PC, Xbox 360

November 4

Valve/Turtle Rock

The co-op focused zombie shooter is looking better every time we see it, and it was great from the start. Valve has a surefire hit on their hands if they can balance and refine the game before its release later this year.

What we're looking for: Some more playtime from the zombie side of things would give us a clearer picture of the overall game.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

PC

August 29

GSC Game World

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. had its issues, but underneath the initial bugs was one of the more refreshingly deep gaming experiences of last year. This stand-alone prequel will clear the air with stunning art and extensive gameplay enhancements.

What we're looking for: A more random, dynamic feeling to the game's life simulations. And what's going on with the multiplayer component?

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Resident Evil 5

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

TBA 2009

Capcom

Resident Evil 4 was a modern masterpiece. Taking that structure and throwing in online co-op play could make for an unbelievable game.

What we're looking for: A release date, hands-on time, and a cigarette.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP

September 16

LucasArts

The heyday of Star Wars games is behind us, but The Force Unleashed is attempting to rekindle that spirit with some new tricks. Boasting impressive physics-based force effects, one gets the feeling that it would be hard to screw up this Stormtrooper-bashing simulator.

What we're looking for: An indication that the gameplay in this newest iteration of the Jedi Knight archetype offers anything notable beyond its humorous effects. And how well do the Wii controls work?

Far Cry 2

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

October

Ubisoft Montreal

The appeal of Far Cry has always been wide open spaces. Now Ubisoft is taking it one step further, promising emergent gameplay over a 50x50km section of Africa.

What we're looking for: Previous demos featured a cobbled-together mission. Getting a look at the dynamic, GTA-esque mission structure is a priority.

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Halo Wars

Xbox 360

TBA

Ensemble Studios

The first Halo offshoot, Halo Wars will attempt to bring RTS gameplay to the console. The focus is squarely on combat here, and with an innovative control scheme, we can see the potential for an enjoyable console-based strategy game.

What we're looking for: A release date for the low-key title, and some hands-on time to assure us it's not simply a Warcraft clone.

Borderlands

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

TBA 2009

Gearbox Software

Gearbox is going post-apocalyptic with this shooter. Inspired by the randomized play of Diablo, it will reportedly feature four-player co-op and a quest-based mission structure.

What we're looking for: Anything else--Gearbox has shown very little of the game thus far.

Spore

PC, Mac

September 7

Maxis

After this much time in development, Spore is either going to be a hit or a flop. Judging by the astronomical sales of the creature creator, we're going with the former. Maxis' cell-to-saucer evolution game still amazes with its scope and detail.

What we're looking for: Gameplay cohesion. How well does each portion of the game mesh--and how much game is there buried underneath the sandbox hype?

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Turn the page for more.

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Fable 2

Xbox 360

October

Lionhead Studios

The first Fable was a worthwhile RPG regardless of its downsized feature list. However, the second should finally deliver on some of those bullet-points, including full family simulations, offline cooperative play, and a dynamic world. It also looks gorgeous.

What we're looking for: The announcement that co-op will be supported over Xbox Live.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

PC

Q1 2009

Relic Entertainment

The sequel to Relic's Warhammer RTS will reportedly feature less base building, with more of an emphasis on squad-based combat. Traditional multiplayer modes will be bolstered by the inclusion of an online co-op mode for the single player campaign.

What we're looking for: More confirmations on races. More details on the squad gameplay. More videos of that breathtaking engine.

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Bungie Game(s)

Bungie famously split off from Microsoft late last year, leaving behind its multi-million selling franchise. Now the company is teasing an E3 announcement.

What we're looking for: Something entirely different from Halo that conveniently justifies the company's historic departure. Bungie's Table Tennis.

Project Origin

PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Fall 2008

Monolith

F.E.A.R. may have been a one-trick pony, but it was a good trick. Monolith's sequel promises giant Shogo-style mechs and open environments, along with the standard scary girl or two.

What we're looking for: The focus of F.E.A.R. was its brilliant enemy pseudo-AI. We want more of that--and some heftier weapons.

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Resistance 2

PlayStation 3

Fall 2008

Insomniac Games

Eight player online co-op marks this sci-fi shooter sequel by Insomniac. Multiplayer will be getting a player count boost as well, with up to 60 players supported on various modes.

What we're looking for: Giant goddamn monsters.

Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

Xbox 360

November

Rare

Rare genuinely surprised us when they revealed this vehicle-centric take on Banjo earlier this year. Players will be swapping parts in and out of a grid-based vehicle bay, crafting unique machines to help them complete various platforming tasks.

What we're looking for: More evidence that the game's many elements are seamlessly realized.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

PC, Xbox 360

October 2008

EA Los Angeles

Anything with the words Red Alert are enough to get us excited. Red Alert composer Frank Klepacki is back on board, time travel plots are back on the drawing board, and tesla coils are warming up.

What we're looking for: The debate over goofy units and colorful style aside, we're just hoping for some addictive, balanced gameplay.

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