Can’t talk video games without saying Bethesda. They had a monster year in 2015 with Fallout 4 earning high acclaim and big sales. This year’s Doom reboot was also a huge success and so all eyes are on the company to show us what’s coming next. Hint: Awesomeness.
Bethesda’s E3 showcase was outright packed with gamer goodies, with DLC announcements for Doom and The Elder Scrolls Online topping the list, plus tons of various add-ons for Fallout 4 plus an update on Fallout Shelter. There was even mention on the launch in Japan for The Elder Scrolls Online. On top of that, fans of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will get a surprise as that title is getting remastered as well. A little bit of old and new makes us happy.
Want some Virtual Reality gaming news? Bethesda has it. Not only did they have Doom for VR on the show floor, they’ve also announced that in 2017, Fallout 4 VR will be coming available for HTC Vive platforms in 2017. That’s huge. And while we’re talking Doom, it is worth noting that to show off their recent release, Bethesda has made the first level of Doom free for this week on Playstation 4, Xbox One and Steam. If you haven’t played the game , stop everything and go play this. We loved it. Here are the three big games Bethesda has coming.
Quake Champions
Bethesda’s debut was the reveal of the new addition to a currently twenty year franchise, Quake. Quake Champions continues the multiplayer legacy in a fast skill-based first person shooter arena-style competition. They insure “fast with amazing graphics running at 120hz with unlocked framerates.” There will also promise diverse characters with their own set of qualities and attributes. So, a lot different from the core and more inline with current gaming trends, but could work. Here’s a teaser trailer:
Impression: The reveal trailer is pretty much a cinematic offering and that’s disappointing, especially when al players really want is gameplay. Shows us what we’ll be seeing. We can only trust and hope that Quake will live up to their franchise and that’s going to be a tall order. It definitely looks intriguing and we’ll keep it on our radar, but color us skeptical.
Prey
By the most exciting trailer of Bethesda’s offering this year goes to Prey, an action sci-fi psychological thriller that has has a life of its own for many years, coming and going at will it seemed. Now again, set for release in 2017, it’s back in the mix. Bethesda says: “In Prey, you waken aboard Telus 1, a very special space station. It is the year 2032, you are the key subject of an experiment meant to alter humanity forever. But things have gone wrong, of course, the space station has been overrun by an alien threat and you are now being hunted. As you dig into the dark secrets of Telus 1 and your own past, you must survive using all the tools at your disposal aboard the station.” Check out this freaky trailer:
Impression: Well there’s no getting around the Groundhog Day feel, but it sure looks pretty and we’re diggin’ the Dead Space vibe. If the atmosphere lives up to that, it will be a thrilling experience. With the promise of immersive gaming from the team, this looks like a promising adventure. The trailer shows off the main character Morgan Yu which is looks great and also a quick glimpse of the alien threat. For us, this is the game to look out for.
Dishonored 2
Bethesda’s finale was extremely lengthy with their showcase of Dishonored 2 which takes place fifteen years after the events of the first game. Dishonored 2 features the choice of completing the game using either the Empress or the Royal Protector, with having different play styles and abilities. The gameplay shown looks nicely complex with various mechanics to play around with, including old and lots of new. Dishonored 2 lets the player decide how they choose to complete the game whether in stealth or utilizing their combat system or a balance of both, making the gaming experience unique to each player.
https://youtu.be/lNFtACeifcU
Impressions: Dishonored 2 is set in a beautifully artistic world inspired by steampunk themes and looks very familiar to those who played the first. We adored that game and are stoked by this. That said, while it looks like an incredible story and even an immersive experience, our worry is that the multiple mechanics from magic to a mechanism that allows the player to investigate through the same place but at different moments in time can be tricky to pull off, but we trust these people and hope they get it right. And hey, is that The Darkness making a cameo?
Other Games discussed at the Bethesda E3 Showcase:
- The Elder Scrolls Legends: A Strategy Card Game
- Fallout Shelter Update: Quests and PC version (July 2016)
- Doom: Unto the Evil DLC
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Dark Brotherhood DLC (June 13, 2016)
- Fallout 4 Add-ons: Contraptions Workshop (Next Week)
- Fallout 4 Add-ons: Vault-tec Workshop (July 2016)
- Fallout 4: Book your Wasteland Vacation (August 2016)
Stay tuned for more coverage. Check out our first sneak peek at E3 2016.