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Sony booth tour - E310
E3 2010: We get some hands-on time with the latest titles from the publisher
Headlined by Killzone 3, GT5 and LittleBigPlanet 2, Sony’s E3 press conference was a showcase of the company’s best lineup in recent years. If you missed the conference, you can check out our summary here. The best part about all of the upcoming titles, even those not scheduled to release until 2011, is that the vast majority was actually playable on the show floor – and that’s where we found ourselves for a few hours during the show.
To start off with arguably the biggest flagship title, we got some hands-on time with Killzone 3. The level we got to play was the same as that from the conference. The controls were instantly familiar, and we began taking down Helgast very quickly. After a few cleared areas, the jetpack enemies made an appearance, which turned out to be quite agile in the air. After dispatching the group, we got a chance to get our own jetpack and test it out. The feel of thrust controls was smooth and using short bursts to gain altitude felt intuitive and responsive. While in the air, the player is limited to the jetpack automatic mounted gun. However, dropping back to the ground and throwing a few grenades right into the back of enemies was as easy as it was fun. The jetpack undoubtedly adds a whole new level of strategy to the gunfights where it can be used by both the player and the enemies.
To start off with arguably the biggest flagship title, we got some hands-on time with Killzone 3. The level we got to play was the same as that from the conference. The controls were instantly familiar, and we began taking down Helgast very quickly. After a few cleared areas, the jetpack enemies made an appearance, which turned out to be quite agile in the air. After dispatching the group, we got a chance to get our own jetpack and test it out. The feel of thrust controls was smooth and using short bursts to gain altitude felt intuitive and responsive. While in the air, the player is limited to the jetpack automatic mounted gun. However, dropping back to the ground and throwing a few grenades right into the back of enemies was as easy as it was fun. The jetpack undoubtedly adds a whole new level of strategy to the gunfights where it can be used by both the player and the enemies.
The second part of the KZ3 demo was much shorter, and consisted of an on-rails mission. The player is placed behind an automatic weapon on an aerial vehicle, and as you fly around the frozen enemy base, the player has a chance to mow down tons of enemies and cause numerous explosions. Having no need to dodge enemy fire since we’re not in control of the vehicle, it was quite fun to simply destroy everything that moved. The demo ended as we flew off, leaving a burning and collapsing enemy base behind.
Going from one type of adrenalin rush to another, we jumped right over to a sweet racing seat and wheel set, to get some play time with Gran Turismo 5. Finally set to release this November, the long-delayed title has become one of the most anticipated racing games ever. From the starting line, it took a few seconds to adjust to the realistic wheel and pedal controls, and a few sharp corners later, the game felt challenging but the controls were sharp and responsive. After driving a few laps around the demo circuit, we managed to snag a podium finish a couple of times.
If you’ve played the previously released GT5 time trial demo on PSN, you already know what to expect from the title in regards to the simulated car handling and physics. However, we must stress one important aspect of the game that all previous public demos were unable to demonstrate – the graphics. The game looks quite phenomenal by console standards, even reaching the graphical heights of racing games on PC at times. It’s an absolute joy to drive and look at, and fans surely won’t be disappointed with the core gameplay.
Going from one type of adrenalin rush to another, we jumped right over to a sweet racing seat and wheel set, to get some play time with Gran Turismo 5. Finally set to release this November, the long-delayed title has become one of the most anticipated racing games ever. From the starting line, it took a few seconds to adjust to the realistic wheel and pedal controls, and a few sharp corners later, the game felt challenging but the controls were sharp and responsive. After driving a few laps around the demo circuit, we managed to snag a podium finish a couple of times.
If you’ve played the previously released GT5 time trial demo on PSN, you already know what to expect from the title in regards to the simulated car handling and physics. However, we must stress one important aspect of the game that all previous public demos were unable to demonstrate – the graphics. The game looks quite phenomenal by console standards, even reaching the graphical heights of racing games on PC at times. It’s an absolute joy to drive and look at, and fans surely won’t be disappointed with the core gameplay.
Alongside the big titles were a few also well worth mentioning. SOCOM 4 was on the floor, showcasing a level in the campaign that takes place in a destroyed city. As the player and their squad take on enemies, while trying to make it to the next objective, the general buzz around the floor was positive. The game looks good, and controls will satisfy the series fans. Also on the floor was a demo of LittleBigPlanet 2, whose game creation tools promise to be revolutionary. The demo level unfortunately did not feature these tools, instead offering some platforming action. This time your cute puppets are armed with a grappling hook that adds a whole new aspect to the core gameplay. The user interface is largely unchanged, as are the controls and visuals. But if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, and that’s the correct decision here.
One of the most prominent new announcements for Sony hasn’t actually been about a game – rather, it’s about a new technology. With a huge push in home 3D, Sony looks to take the lead much like they did with adopting HD home entertainment with BluRay. We had a chance to play both Killzone 3 and GT5 with a 3D glasses and TV set. And while yes, it adds little in terms of gameplay, there’s no denying that it just looks plain awesome. There’s some doubt that the 3D movement will be adopted anytime soon, as HD TVs are still making their way to the top of the ownership lists. Cost could be the biggest barrier for the tech, with users required to purchase yet another TV (that’s 3D capable), alongside an additional expense of 3D glasses. Regardless of the adoption rate however, Sony seems to be going full speed ahead with developing major titles in native 3D, and that’s very positive news for gamers. As long as costs can be contained, the technology should catch on, and Sony will be in a prime position with many titles 3D-ready on the day gamers purchase their 3D TV set.
After browsing the Sony booth at E3, it becomes apparent that the publisher looks to continue in innovation. We didn’t cover the PS Move in this article, since we’re already got our hands on the system a few weeks ago. Move - combined with 3D - shows that Sony looks to innovate not only their in their games, but also the tech surrounding the system. Though there is some concern that some major PS3 titles this year (God of War 3, Heavy Rain) have already released, the rest of 2010 still looks very solid for the system, with LittleBigPlanet 2, GT5 and SOCOM4 all set to release. Next year, Killzone 3 will kick things off to lead the console into what could be a new era of 3D. Exciting times ahead, that’s for sure.
One of the most prominent new announcements for Sony hasn’t actually been about a game – rather, it’s about a new technology. With a huge push in home 3D, Sony looks to take the lead much like they did with adopting HD home entertainment with BluRay. We had a chance to play both Killzone 3 and GT5 with a 3D glasses and TV set. And while yes, it adds little in terms of gameplay, there’s no denying that it just looks plain awesome. There’s some doubt that the 3D movement will be adopted anytime soon, as HD TVs are still making their way to the top of the ownership lists. Cost could be the biggest barrier for the tech, with users required to purchase yet another TV (that’s 3D capable), alongside an additional expense of 3D glasses. Regardless of the adoption rate however, Sony seems to be going full speed ahead with developing major titles in native 3D, and that’s very positive news for gamers. As long as costs can be contained, the technology should catch on, and Sony will be in a prime position with many titles 3D-ready on the day gamers purchase their 3D TV set.
After browsing the Sony booth at E3, it becomes apparent that the publisher looks to continue in innovation. We didn’t cover the PS Move in this article, since we’re already got our hands on the system a few weeks ago. Move - combined with 3D - shows that Sony looks to innovate not only their in their games, but also the tech surrounding the system. Though there is some concern that some major PS3 titles this year (God of War 3, Heavy Rain) have already released, the rest of 2010 still looks very solid for the system, with LittleBigPlanet 2, GT5 and SOCOM4 all set to release. Next year, Killzone 3 will kick things off to lead the console into what could be a new era of 3D. Exciting times ahead, that’s for sure.
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