As incredible as it may sound, E3 2005 wasn't completely dominated by big sequels, tie-ins and brand extensions. There were a few new titles lurking about if you knew where to look (i.e. not on the EA stand). I've collected twenty of the most interesting examples – here are the first ten. I couldn't face anything that looked like a cartoon-style third person platform adventure, or an edgy street gang shooter so don't expect anything along those lines.
Ten more tomorrow... I promise.
Eyedentify – PS3 The 30 second trailer shown at E3 didn't reveal too much about this next gen EyeToy title, but it appears to involve two female spies and some intriguing voice communication elements. Perhaps you're the Charlie to their Angels? Gamespot makes a few more guesses and adds some screens.
SpyToy – PS2 More of a surveillance toy than a game, SpyToy allows you to set up an EyeToy camera to guard your room. The motion sensitive system records video footage or snapshots of any intruders, and this 'evidence' can be saved to memory card. There's also a selection of spy-themed mini-games. Certainly can't see this one being abused in student houses throughout the world… Games Radar has some images.
Buzz – PS2 The latest 'lifestyle' game from Relentless Software, previously responsible for DJ Decks & FX as well as elements of the EyeToy titles. It's a music quiz that users a buzzer-style peripheral rather than joypads and is aimed very much at casual users. Here's an interview with the company's Creative Director (and Guardian E3 diarist!), Dave Amor.
Shadow of Colossus – PS2 The latest mystical adventure from the makers of Ico was in a slightly more developed form than footage revealed earlier in the year. Magnificent locations, emotive character design and those giant enemy beasts all had fans drooling. Already appears to be in a different class to most adventure titles out there. More info on IGN.
Lost in Blue – Nintendo DS Already being referred to as an unofficial videogame conversion of soppy '80's shipwreck movie Blue Lagoon (i.e. the one with Brooke Shields, indecently young and clothed only in bikinis made out of leaves and moss). Why do we need such a thing? Who cares – it's different and it doesn't involve gangsters. You're stranded on a desert island with a teenage girl and must learn various hunting, cooking and survival skills to progress. This screenshot gallery should give you an idea of what to expect from Konami's combination of Ico and Metal Gear Solid 3.
Black – PS2, Xbox In which Criterion brings the philosophy behind Burnout – accurate physics, breathless action, lots of explosions – to the first-person shooter. Guns replace cars as cool fetish objects, enemy death animations replace crash sequences for jaw-dropping replay fun. There's a vague anti-terrorist plot set in and around Eastern Europe, but really it's all about the adrenaline rush. Here's a pre-show report and some screens.
Gears of War – Xbox 360 Visually breathtaking third-person action strategy romp based on a distant planet where human colonists are battling terrifying aliens. Makes quite spectacular use of Unreal Engine 3 and promises an intense shoot 'n' shock experience. IGN have written one of their very detailed 'hands-on' articles here.
Genji: Dawn of the Samurai– PS2 This historical sword fighting adventure from Game Republic, the studio set up by ex-Capcom producer, Yoshiki Okamoto, has been seen in various forms since it was announced last year, but the E3 demo seemed to tidy up a few graphical areas. Inspired by the 11th century proto-novel, Tale of Genji, the game boasts a densely detailed environment and a compelling mythological storyline. The official Japanese website has screens. And nice music.
Okami – PS2 The latest release from Capcom's Clover Studio is not only an astonishingly beautiful game – taking its graphical style from Japanese wood block art – but also the originator of a new genre, the 'nature adventure'. You play as Amaterasu, the mythical sun god who has come to Earth as a wolf to destroy monsters and restore colour to the land. There's more info here, or you can check out Clover's own site.
Alan Wake - PC Remedy's follow-up to the Max Payne series is a psychological action thriller centered around a horror writer who spirals into madness when his fiancé goes missing. Set in the small town of Pride Falls, Washington, those who saw the E3 demo are talking 'Max Payne meets Twin Peaks', but there are elements of Silent Hill and Stephen King's Dark Half in there too.
