E3 2016 is almost here and you can already feel the magic in the air. Between rumored console reveals and recent game leaks, the hype for this year's show is through the roof. While we recently wrote about our more realistic expectations for this year's E3, there are still plenty of games we are hoping will make an appearance. Although some are more likely than others, that won't stop us from dreaming of all the possibilities and surprises...
The New Legend of Zelda
Ever since it was first revealed at E3 2014, Zelda fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting to learn more about the upcoming game in the series. Between the gorgeous art style and an open world with non-linear gameplay described as a mix between Wind Waker and Skyrim, the new Legend of Zelda is a must have for Nintendo at this year's E3, should they have a conference this year.
More AAA PlayStation VR Games
It's one thing to talk about and show off footage of a game made for VR -- but having a chance to experience these games for yourself is truly remarkable. We recently got a release window, a price, and a long list of games for PlayStation VR, so it only makes sense for Sony to focus most of their E3 presentation on their upcoming VR headset. A strong VR presence by Sony at this year's conference could tip the scales in their favor over Oculus and Vive -- and more AAA VR game reveals certainly wouldn't hurt either.
The Last of Us 2
With jaw-dropping graphics, tight third-person shooter/survival horror gameplay, and a phenominal story with fantastic characters, The Last of Us is widely considered one of the best games of last generation. We've heard rumors over the past year from multiple sources that The Last of Us 2 is being worked on in some capacity -- although an Uncharted 4 story DLC announcement seems more likely due to the game's release one month prior to E3. However, if Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley walked on stage and dropped a trailer for The Last of Us 2, you can bet the excited cheers of gamers everywhere would be deafening.
Kingdom Hearts III
We've seen a few trailers and some concept art of Sora's next adventure, but still have no word on when we can expect to play the game ourselves. Kingdom Hearts III might be one of the most anticipated games of this generation, with fans eager to fight the Heartless once more alongside their favorite Disney heroes. The possibility of visiting Star Wars and/or Marvel themed worlds in addition to the more traditional Disney stages certainly doesn't make the wait for KHII any easier. Square Enix's showcase this E3 will most likely be centered heavily around Final Fantasy XV, although that hasn't stopped them in the past from pulling one last surprise out of their sleeves and surprising gamers everywhere (*Cough* FFVII Remake *Cough*.) Maybe we'll get a release window and a demo in the same vein as FFXV: Episode Duscae? Think about it Square...
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Speaking of Final Fantasy VII Remake, we'd love to see more of that beauty at E3 this year. FFVII Remake was first announced at E3 2015 and, much to our delight, we were surprised with the first gameplay footage during PlayStation Experience 2015. The game's director, Tetsuya Nomura, has stated on multiple occasions the game will be broken up into multiple parts, so either a release date or window for the first part would be a homerun for Square Enix and Sony. With a revamped battle system similar to FFXV and graphics so beautiful it would make a character from a Pixar movie jealous, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for any news on FFVII Remake.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn, the upcoming open-world RPG from Guerrilla Games, was first revealed during the Sony E3 2015 conference, and the hype for this game is sky high. One thousand years in the future, machines have taken over and humanity has reverted back to a society composed of hunters and gatherers. The game sports a gorgeous open world with a color palette that makes it a sight for sore eyes. It also boasts a dynamic weather and day-night system as well asrandom encounters with giant robotic creatures that bring up memories of Colossi fights from Shadow of the Colossus. Horizon Zero Dawn has the potential to be the best new IP of 2016. So, a release date being announced at E3 2016 seems like a natural next step for Guerrilla Games.
Yooka-Laylee
Finally, we have Yooka-Laylee. Over 15 years -- and one sequel we won't talk about -- later, the spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series is finally in development.
After an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Playtonic games started development on Yooka-Laylee, with a targeted release window of late 2016. Yooka-Laylee is being developed by the same people that brought us both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, so you can expect a diverse cast of anthropomorphic animals, a whole array of collectables in each levels, and extremely tight 3D platforming. Having Grant Kirkhope return to compose the game's music is the icing on this next-gen collectathon cake. If Playtonic intends to make their predicted release window -- and if they want to make me pass out from pure joy -- a new gameplay demo has to be shown at E3. If we're lucky and ask nicely, maybe we'll get an official release date too! Hey, one can dream.
Those are just a few of the games we're hoping to see at E3 this year. Expectations are higher than ever and if any of these games make an appearance, E3 2016 will be one for the books.
Published: Apr 10, 2016 06:35 pm