E3 2018: Sony Showcase - Keen and Graev's Video Game Blog

Sony did something new with their conference.

I turned to Graev and called it within the first 30 seconds. They moved the audience to a new venue after their first lengthy game showcase, during which they subjected the audience to pretty much a commercial segment. They finally settled everyone down into the showcase venue.

Here are our thoughts on the games Sony showcased.

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The Last of Us Part 2 - For those who like to watch their games. More post apoc. Ugh. Naughty Dog storytelling is excellent. I loved the Drake's Fortune games with a passion. Graev and I both think they've gone too artsy fartsy with their games. Graev says, "Ugh, I can already see all the 10/10 reviews."
Ghost of Sushima - Graev thinks this looks fun, but I thought it looked really boring at the end. I'm not a fan of the methodical fighting games.
Control - New IP for Sony I guess. Interesting.
Resident Evil 2 Remake - Yaaaaay more zombies.
Trover Saves the Universe - And this went too far the other direction.
Kingdom Hearts 3 - Yeeesssss now we're talking. WOAH! Ship battles! This game looks so gorgeous. I'd let every other game shown at E3 burn for this.
Death Stranding - Kojima is just being weird for the sake of being weird. I have absolutely NO IDEA what this is I'm watching. I have no idea what this game is, if this can even be called a game. Sony is simply indulging in Kojimas psychosis at this point. Another bunch of 10/10 reviews incoming.
Nioh 2 - I don't know what Nioh is about so the teaser that a 2 was coming did nothing for me.
Spider-Man - This looks really good. The combat looks really good. My one criticism of the Batman style combat is that the enemies sometimes just stand around stupidly waiting for you to combo them -- clearly visible in this gameplay trailer too. The web slinging looks phenomenal.
Deracine - Too artistic, VR "experience"

Overall Thoughts on Sony

Other than KH3 and Spider-Man, I got nothing out of this. Graev is the same but adds Ghost of Sushima to his list. Technically they don't deserve credit for Kingdom Hearts, but that was the best of the trailers we've seen at E3 so far.

The list was super short for Sony. Not a great showing.

Overall: "Meh"

Death Stranding was the only thing that looked interesting to me. The Samurai game was extremely beautiful but nothing that I feel compelled to play. But yeah, Death Stranding is the first game I’ve seen (ever, not just this year) that makes me actually regret not having a PS4. I’ve never watched a “let’s play” but I think I will have to for this one.

Keen says:

June 12, 2018 at 4:19 pm

What is it about Death Stranding that seems interesting? I’m still struggling to figure out WTF it even is… and everyone I’ve asked has no idea either.

Nioh is samurai dark souls. Very hard and difficult game. It got very good reviews, itâ€™s super hyped!

I have very mixed feelings about The Last of Us 2. I think the first game is one the best games I have ever played. It is so, so good. It is so perfect, in fact, that I don’t even want them to make a sequel. I’m afraid that adding anything to it will somehow taint the experience. I’d prefer they just let the original stand on its own, or at least have the sequel be completely new characters in the same “universe”.

I also meant to say: Spiderman looks awesome, will pick it up.

I have lost interest in Kingdom Hearts 3. I loved the first two, but I don’t think it’s a series that has aged well. I don’t know… every time I see footage of this game it feels “off”. Something about the graphics, Sora’s voice actor, or the dialogue… it just isn’t right. As of right now it’s a pass for me. I’d rather just go back and play KH2.

Nothing else shown has any interest for me. Completely agree about Death Stranding. It’s not so much a game as it is a journey through whatever reality Kojima lives in. I loved the MGS series but this is too far for me.