After watching its rivals absorb the lion’s share of recent press attention, Sony has finally shown its hand year’s E3 event in Los Angeles.
PlayStation 3
Twisted Metal, Infamous 2, SingStar Guitar and more!
Despite recently denying the existence of the project, Eat Sleep Play’s David Jaffe appeared on stage at Sony’s main press conference to announce Twisted Metal. The revival of the ultra-violent car combat series will feature airborne vehicles for the first time.
The super heroic adventures of Cole MacGrath are set to continue in 2011 with inFAMOUS 2 from Sucker Punch. While the loss of life associated with the destruction of Empire City is unfortunate, it will mean that Cole has entirely new city to explore. Always look on the bright side.
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell mended a few fences with Sony by revealing that Portal 2 will be coming to the PlayStation 3 with full Steam integration. The darkly comic first person puzzle adventure is due for release in 2011.
SingStar Guitar is designed to allow the vocally challenged to participate in your karaoke parties. It must be said that Sony is more than a little late to the party on this one. Fortunately the game doesn’t demand the use of a proprietary peripheral, so that’s a least one point in its favour. Your Guitar Hero or Rock Band axe will apparently do the job without any fuss.
Stereoscopic 3D
Motorstorm: Apolcaypse, Sly Collection, Mortal Kombat 9 and more!
Sony continues to push stereoscopic 3D as the PlayStation 3’s major point of distinction. While only a handful of titles currently support the feature, Sony revealed that several compatible titles are in the works, including Motorstorm: Apocalypse. The fourth instalment of the off road driving series takes place in a city decimated by earthquake. Apparently nobody could think of a better way to honour the victims of the disaster than staging a racing event in the immediate vicinity of their grisly remains.
The Sly Collection catapults the PlayStation 2 era platforming adventures of master thief Sly Cooper into both high definition and stereoscopic 3D. Could this rehash be the first of many? The game also supports the PlayStation Move peripheral. Sony also confirmed that the previously announced Killzone 3 and Grand Turismo 5 will be 3D compatible.
A handful of third parties are backing Sony’s 3D plunge. It seems that Ubisoft among the early believers, with both Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Shaun White Skateboarding in the pipeline. Other titles slated for release include bloody fighting game Mortal Kombat 9 from Warner Bros. Interactive and the mesmerising Tron 2: Evolution from Disney Interactive Studios. Crytek’s sci-fi shooter Crysis 2 may well be the most anticipated of the 3D offerings.
PlayStation Plus
Access to Games, Demos, Betas and more!
Sony also unveiled the long rumoured PlayStation Plus, a subscription based online service. You’ll have exclusive access to a range of beta programs and game demos, as well as discounts on other downloadable content.
Membership will also entitle you to download certain games at no additional cost. The initial offering will include PSN favourite WipEout HD and Minis Field Runner and Age of Zombies. PlayStation Network Plus will cost American gamers $US49.95 per year, with Australian pricing yet to be determined.
The existing PlayStation Network service will continue to allow users to purchase items individually and participate in online games. At this point, it’s difficult to imagine the premium service attracting a large audience.
PlayStation Move
Sorcery, Tumble, Heroes on the Move and more!
We now know that Sony’s answer to the Wii Remote will arrive in stores on Thursday 16 September 2010. A range of new titles have been announced for the motion sensing Move peripheral, including Sorcery, a fantasy themed adventure in which the motion controller is transformed into a magic wand.
Physics based block stacker Tumble will be among the first titles to support both Move and stereoscopic 3D. Echochrome II will provide puzzle enthusiasts with another option.
The wide eyed stars of Sony exclusive franchises Jak & Daxter, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper will join forces in Heroes on the Move, a combat heavy cartoon platformer.
SingStar Dance is set to further expand the karaoke sensation, this time enabling players to bust a move to their favourite tracks. Yes, I am aware that I used the phrase ‘bust a move’.
Light gun veterans (you know who you are) will be thrilled by the announcement of Time Crisis: Razing Storm. It will be the first game in the long running arcade series to feature online multiplayer and fully destructible environments.
Sony has revealed that Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet 2 is due for release in November. With its strong focus on manipulating on screen objects, it should provide a good test of the controller’s accuracy.
Proving the truism that every motion based control system must boast at least one bowling game, Brunswick Pro Bowling is in the works at Crave Games.
Previously announced Move compatible titles SOCOM 4: US Navy Seals, Sports Champions, TV Superstars and The Shoot have been confirmed, as have renamed trio The Fight: Lights Out (formerly known as Dukes), Kung Fu Rider (Slider) and Start the Party (Move Party).
Existing games EyePet, Heavy Rain, Resident Evil 5 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 will shortly be repacked with Move support.
PlayStation Portable
Beats, Jungle Party, Patapon 3 and more!
The humble PSP has endured a quiet show, one might say deathly quiet. The few highlights thus far include 2D strategy sequel Patapon 3, fantasy remake Ys: The Oath in Felghana and technicolour rhythm game Beats. Other announcements include a portable version of EyePet and Jungle Party, a children’s title populated by deranged monkeys.
Notwithstanding the scarcity of PSP games, E3 2010 has witnessed a truly voluminous offering from Sony. By this time next year, we’ll know whether the motion control and stereoscopic 3D captured the imaginations of the PlayStation faithful.
