Gaming Trend’s Best of E3 2013- Games by Platform

One thing can be said for E3 this year- it was about the games more than anything else; With the next generation of gaming kicking into full gear with two new platforms from Sony and Microsoft, we saw more new games from franchises old and new on such a wide array of hardware than ever before. This year it was particularly hard deciding which of these were the best of the best, so without further ado, we present Gaming Trend’s Best of E3 2013- Games by Platform:

 

Best 3DS Game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds
• Mario and Luigi Dream Team
• Super Smash Bros 3DS

The winner:

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

The 3DS finally gets its own Zelda game that isn’t a remake, and its a successor to one of the greatest games in the series. Running at a silky smooth 60 frames per second on the 3DS, A Link Between Worlds captures what makes a Zelda game great while adding a few new wrinkles to the design to make it feel fresh all over again.

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Best Wii U game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Super Mario 3d World
• The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker HD
• The Wonderful 101
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

The winner:

Super Mario 3d World

The Super Mario series seems to be jumping and warp-piping back and forth between Nintendo’s handheld and console platforms, and to excellent effect; This time, it’s the Wii U, and 3D World is incorporating the “everyone controls a little differently” mechanics of Super Mario Bros. 2 on the 3DS. Its just pure, unadulterated fun and already looks to be a stellar addition to the Wii U library.

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Best PlayStation Vita game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Rayman Legends
• Killzone: Mercenary
• Tearaway
• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

The winner:

Tearaway

The Vita is a platform that has the potential to be great but has a game library that just isn’t sure of itself yet. Out of all the titles we saw at E3, Tearaway once again proves itself one of the best uses of the hardware and a fun game that just can’t be replicated on any other handheld system. The way the paper world of Tearaway can be ripped open revealing the real world ‘underneath’ which can actually be interacted with within the game is a fresh and exciting approach and one which could give the capable system the shot in the arm it needs.

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Best PlayStation 3 game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Beyond: Two Souls
• Diablo III
• Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns
• Rain

The winner:

Diablo III

While many consider the third full installment of Blizzard’s Demon infested action RPG to be a watered-down implementation of the formula executed so well by its predecessors, Diablo III actually translated quite well to the couch and controller. With four player action on one console, the game is one of few PS3 titles that actually takes advantage of the full complement of player slots. Yes, it’s ridiculously fun, and we can’t wait for Blizzard to shut up and take our money. AGAIN.

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Best PlayStation 4 game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Infamous: Second Son
• Killzone: Shadow Fall
• Thief
• Knack

The winner:

Infamous: Second Son

Sucker Punch delivered a couple of decent action/adventure morality plays with Infamous and Infamous 2, and Second Son is poised to bring a top notch next generation experience to the PS4. A new protagonist, a wider range of powers, and a world that has been shocked into paranoia and fear by the events of the first two games all combine to make Infamous Second Son the most exciting PS4 title to look forward to.

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Best Xbox 360 game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• World of Tanks 360 Edition
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Saint’s Row IV
• Titanfall

The winner:

World of Tanks 360 Edition & Splinter Cell: Blacklist

This decision was so difficult, we decided we couldn’t bring it down to one title, so we didn’t; World of Tanks 360 Edition might seem like an obvious choice- Tank vs. tank action in the 360’s first free-to-play Xbox Live game coming out this summer? How could we not?

It was the latest installment of the Splinter Cell franchise that snuck up on us and wouldn’t let go; After the run-and-gun experience of Conviction, Splinter Cell Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering where the series’ hallmark stealth features went. Blacklist looks like a return to form- even with a younger Sam Fisher wearing the goggles you can’t mistake the old familiar Black Ops moves that made the originals so successful.

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Best Xbox One game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• Ryse: Son of Rome
• Titanfall
• Destiny
• Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

The winner:

Ryse: Son of Rome

Crytek’s Xbox One launch title may be catching some heat right now regarding their approach to quicktime game mechanics, but Ryse had at least one of our team members declaring it the game he absolutely has to play this fall and why he’s purchasing an Xbox One over the PS4. The cinematic presentation alone is enough to warrant a second look, and we’re confident that the developers will iron out the game mechanics enough to match the awe inspiring visuals of Marius Titus and his army of legionnaires in time for launch.

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Best PC game of E3 2013

The nominees:

• The Crew
• Elder Scrolls Online
• Watch_Dogs
• Battlefield 4

The winner:

Elder Scrolls Online

With five incredibly expansive games and one of the richest, most developed worlds of interactive fiction to ever grace a PC or a console, the combined content of the Elder Scrolls series in many ways already plays like a massively multiplayer online game (just without the second ‘M’ and the ‘O’). Last year’s announcement of the Elder Scrolls Online seemed like the next logical step, and finally going hands-on with it this year was a satisfying experience of both familiar and new.

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Check back with us tomorrow for our next installment of awards- Gaming Trend’s Best of E3 2013- Games by Genre.