E3 2015 Highlights

Warning: Nerdgasms Ahead.

That is exactly what a sign outside the E3 should say. A sadistic annual celebration of new games, features, and unexpected announcements, the hallowed hall of the Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 is every gamer’s Mecca. This year, from the 16thto the 18th of June, teaser trailers and new game announcements will once again compel us to lie awake at night, wondering why the official release date of a much-awaited game has not yet arrived.

Because the big giants of the gaming world just love to torture us helpless little fans with bite-sized teasers that are just enough to give us a seizure, here are the top eight highlights so far:

8. Metal Gear Solid V

Fans of the quirky and immensely talented Hideo Kojima will be delighted to know that Konami has released a whopping five-minute trailer for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Packed with blood, gore, lofty megalomaniac ideals, and even more blood, the footage showcases a more serious and intense look at the story behind MGS V. The well-loved stealth action espionage that fans have adored over the years is all there, topped with bloody massacres and surgical procedures that are not for the queasy and faint-hearted. The star-studded lineup in the trailer features Big Boss, Skull Face, and Quiet, and it even includes a last-minute sneak peek at what looks to be Solid Snake and Liquid Snake. Unfortunately, if you’re curious to see just what the whole theme on language and communication is all about, you’re going to have to wait for the September 1 release just like the rest of the fans who can no longer hold it in.

7. Mass Effect: Andromeda

At the EA press conference, the company released a full CG trailer for Mass Effect: Andromeda that’s scheduled for release sometime during the holidays in 2016. Mako returns as players choose between a male or female role, and the story is set in a new galaxy called Andromeda after the original trilogy events. The clip is filled with heart-stopping action, and if that funky background music doesn’t get you pumped, I don’t know what will.

6. Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness

Tri-Ace has proven time and time again that it knows the classic JRPG, and the fifth installment in the intergalactic Star Oceanadventure is no exception. Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is set between The Second Story and Till The End of Time. The new gameplay trailer gives us a look at the playable characters and the seamless battle system, where you can take your pick among the classic melee and long-ranged cast to kick the most butts and deal the most damage.

5. Super Mario Maker

How else can you make a side-scrolling plumber even more interesting? Super Mario Maker lets gamers add their own flavor into every stage with level creation tools that’s exclusive to Wii U. Giant Koopa? No biggie. Fire all over the place? Throw ‘em in there. A cameo of Link from Legend of Zelda? Why not? Creativity is at its highest because there’s no limit to what you can do. You can even make the game insanely difficult, because really, Mario’s probably getting tired of the same old levels all the time, right? The game will be released this September, but for now, check out the trailer below.

4. Kingdom Hearts 3

They say that Square Enix has finally learned how to count to three with Kingdom Hearts 3. The gameplay trailer shown in this year’s E3 features Sora, Donald, and Goofy battling their way through beautifully familiar Disney worlds. The game was first announced in 2013, and we’ve been on the edge of our seats ever since. Will we finally be able to learn more about the infamous keyblade war?

3. Batman: Arkham Knight

Just like the rest of the trilogy, this new trailer from Batman: Arkham Knight dives right into the action when the first-person POV of a police officer deals with a smoker in a diner. What happens next is…well, it’s nothing short of terrifying. And awesome. So incredibly awesome. June 23 cannot possibly come any sooner. Oh, and did we mention that the trailer starts with The Joker being cremated, with that eerie smile still plastered permanently on his haunting face? Yep, I’ve got you under my skin…

2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Nathan Drake swings back into action in this brand new gameplay trailer, complete with guns blazing in public marketplaces and his uncanny ability to pick up random firepower scattered all over the street. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End has everything that fans have come to expect from this wildly successful Naughty Dog franchise coming out in March 2016. Backdrops and settings are entirely interactive, and for the first time ever, you can now drive a car. Yes, players can finally mount various vehicles and crash through everything in the path because nothing is more exciting than running over everything in a life-threatening video game car chase.

1. Final Fantasy VII Remake

“For they are coming back. At last, the promise has been made.” That line made worldwide gaming history because after more than a decade of waiting, ecstatic fans now have what they’ve always wished for—a Final Fantasy VII Remake. Square Enix teased viewers with a peek at Barret and Cloud’s iconic sword. But even with an overview of Midgar, there’s really not much to go on about the game itself yet. Will it be an exact same replica but with better graphics, or will there be new systems and storylines that were not there when the original game debuted eighteen years ago? Nobody really knows for sure yet, but the important thing is that the remake is finally, finally here—no wannabe fakes this time.

BONUS: StarCraft II Legacy of the Void Prologue – Whispers of Oblivion

Just in case you’re not yet swooning with all the hype of the third installment of StarCraft II, Blizzard just released a three-episode prologue to Legacy of the Void (the Protoss Campaign). This will no doubt give players a clearer insight into what Zeratul has been up to besides lurking in the shadows all the time. Check out the awesomeness in the teaser below.

More nergasmic features are in store for gamer geeks the world over, like footage from Rise of the Tomb Raider, Star Wars: Battlefront, Lego Dimensions (because Batman always rocks), Disney Infinity 3.0 (featuring Star Wars playsets and characters), The Last Guardian (it’s still alive after all these years), Hitman, Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes, Life Is Strange, Street Fighter V, Fallout 4, and so much more. I know I’m torturing myself with all these mind-blowing announcements because I will never be able to afford all of these games just crying out to me, but if you want to torture yourself too, head on over to E3 for the official live update.

What are your favorite moments from the E3 2015? Let us know in the comments below!

This article was first seen on The Philippine Online Chronicles HERE.