G4 Staff's Top 5 E3 Highlights, Part 1

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Posted June 10, 2009 - By Andrew Pfister

Now that we've had proper time to recover and dwell upon the week that was, it comes time for the impossible task: narrowing down E3 2009 to just five favorite things. We asked the X-Play and G4tv.com staffers to disconnect from the hive mind and come up with their individual lists, with only one rule: there are no rules.*

*(Excluding the rule that limits it to five.)

In alphabetical order and split into two parts, beacuse that's how the Nerd Army marches. Check back with TheFeed tomorrow for Part 2...

Billy Berghammer

Director, Gaming Editorial, G4tv.com

5. Diet Mountain Dew -- Still the one thing that powers my soul and keeps me sane during E3. It's the nectar of gods.

4. Alan Wake -- Granted, the game was announced eons ago, but I think Remedy is going to tear up the formula for survival horror gameplay. Capcom should keep an eye on this one for ways to freshen up Resident Evil.

3. Left 4 Dead 2 -- Screw the haters. While I personally want Half-Life 2: Episode 3 more, I'll take more Zombie blasting co-op action any day.

2. Heavy Rain -- This was my game of the show last year for both E3 and Games Convention, and the latest demo doesn't dissapoint. Sony may have one heck of a time marketing this puppy, but it's my second most anticipated PS3 game of the year behind...

1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieve s -- Holy crap! I loved the first game and the Naughty Dogs look like they're going to crush it with the sequel. I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves screenshot

Jake Gaskill

Feed Writer, G4tv.com

5. Split/Second -- When it comes to big-things-go-boom racing games, Split/Second looks to be second to none. The level of devastation that I witnessed just in the brief time I had with the game was simply staggering, and left me thoroughly impressed.

4. The Last Guardian -- Again, this is another one that we saw prior to E3, but any game that can bring to the verge of tears just in the trailer (in addition to looking unbelievable in every way) easily deserves a spot in my top 5.

3. Assassin's Creed 2 -- Renaissance Venice, Da Vinci as your personal Q, and swimming? If that isn't enough to sell you on this game, then you have an icy, icy heart, sir.

2. Splinter Cell: Conviction -- I've been a fan of the franchise since the beginning, and seeing Mr. Fisher back in action after so many false starts and delays was fantastic. Plus, I just can't get enough of seeing info and objectives projected on the environments. I'm a simple man, I guess.

1. Brütal Legend -- Sure we'd seen it plenty of times before E3, but to finally get to play my most anticipated game of the year was easily one of most satisfying and enjoyable parts of the show.

Brutal Legend screenshot

Abbie Heppe

Editorial Manager, X-Play

5. Lines for the women's room -- None. Not one line. It's pristine in there, too. Plus we have couches, massaging foot spas and a Ben & Jerry's. This is true of all nerdcon women's rooms, unless you go to Comic Con...then it smells terrible and a scantily clad Tauren steals the last of the toilet paper.

4. Trailers for games I can only speculate on -- I'm still a bit staggered by seeing Team Ninja and Metroid in the same game trailer, but I have faith in Metroid: Other M. I'm also batshit excited for "Jump on Buildings and Collect Orbs 2" shown at the MS press conference, I guess other people call it Crackdown. Whatever, I'm going to play it till my hands bleed.

3. Brütal Legend -- It's not often that I want to play a game for the writing alone, but it happens. Also, I ****ing hate porcupines. Did you know they pee on each other before they mate? Look it up.

2. Games that need no introduction -- Do you really care what anyone has to say about Modern Warfare 2, God of War 3 or The Beatles: Rock Band? I guess, but there's nothing short of announcing they'll all feature Miles "Tails" Prower that would stop me from playing them, a lot, and even then...

1. Left 4 Dead 2 -- With a new take on special infected, level design, a new mode coming and the long list of improvements Valve has made to an already spectacular game, I'm sold. Attn: boycotters, I'm going to be playing one of the most fun games this fall and you aren't. Who's smart now, diaper babies?

Left 4 Dead 2 screenshot

Stephen Johnson

Lead Editor, G4tv.com

5. Star Wars: The Old Republic -- After dropping out of World of Warcraft becase it sucked away my life, I vowed never to play another MMO. Star Wars: The Old Republic has me re-thinking my position. Who needs a life anyway?

4. Heavy Rain -- This "mature" game might prove an artistic leap forward for the entire medium of video games.

3. Mass Effect 2 -- BioWare's sequel to the hit sci-fi RPG promises more dynamic combat and a complicated storyline, plus the E3 presentation featured a massive spoiler… I won't reveal it, but it's pretty huge.

2. The Beatles: Rock Band -- The Beatles: Rock Band is exactly what I expected it to be, and I expected the best music game ever made.

1. Scribblenauts -- This DS game came out of nowhere, but it's super, double-extra awesome – probably the sleeper hit of the entire show.

Matt Keil

Sr. Producer, X-Play

5. Metroid: Other M -- Admittedly we don't know much about this one yet, but the trailer shown was exactly what a modern Metroid game should be. Samus is one of the quintessential videogame badasses, and with Team Ninja at the helm, she may finally get to show off a bit. The shot where she blasts the alien monster in the face while pinning him with a headlock is pure gold.

4. Scribblenauts -- The sheer creativity of this game would be surprising from just about anyone other than 5th Cell. The sheer number of words it knows and can implement is amazing. Anything from time machines to pitchforks to Cthulhu himself can be summoned to aid in the puzzle-solving. Utterly charming, and unlike anything else on the floor.

3. Star Wars: The Old Republic -- Aside from having the best trailer at E3 2009, this is the MMO with the most promise, at least for my money. The emphasis on story and dialogue is refreshing, as long as they can keep it interesting, and the cover system for the Smuggler class indicates that there will be more classes worth playing than just Jedi and Sith.

2. Mass Effect 2 -- As a Mass Effect fan, I went into the Mass Effect 2 presentation interested to see what the next installment was all about, but I walked out utterly blown away by what BioWare has accomplished. The graphics are a leap beyond what the first game boasted, and the movement and physical acting in the conversations may finally put an end to the infamous BioWare Conversation Stand. Plus, someone is finally making good on the character import feature that Shenmue 2 promised but never delivered.

1. The Last Guardian -- Team Ico has made two of my favorite games of all time, and there's no reason to think their third game will be any less excellent. The gryphon looks absolutely real, and I'm already worried they're going to kill it off at the end, but this is probably my most anticipated game in existence right now. Hopefully we get to play it before 2011.

The Last Guardian Trailer

Patrick Klepek

News Editor, G4tv.com

5. Mass Effect 2 -- Mass Effect 2 doesn't just look like a sequel; it looks like the game Mass Effect should have been. Combat, visuals, dialogue -- it's all been given the layer of polish you expect in a sequel. The dark story is what takes Mass Effect 2 to the next level.

4. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves -- As someone who loved everything but the last third of Uncharted, my sequel anticipation was based on cautious optimism. It's hard to tell what the balance between combat and platforming is in Uncharted 2, but the E3 demo was spot-on.

3. Borderlands -- Before Gearbox overhauled the art in Borderlands, it was definitely on people's radar -- but it was low. With the new visual upgrade, Borderlands has an opportunity to be the surprise original game of 2009. I want to see more. Now.

2. Brütal Legend -- This could be a terrible game and I'd still play it because of Tim Schafer's writing. Thankfully, Double Fine appears to be stepping up their game mechanics in Brutal Legend; it's not only hilarious, but the combat's entertaining, too.

1. Splinter Cell: Conviction -- I tried to enjoy Splinter Cell on Xbox, but Ubisoft's stealth series was always too hardcore for me. Splinter Cell: Conviction proposes a new balance between action and stealth -- and has a potentially revolutionary way of conveying story, too.

What's on your Top 5 list?

Tags: E3 2009, Nintendo DS, PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Videogames, Wii, Xbox 360

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sk8code14

i only have 2 Borderlands and modnation racers

Posted: July 24, 2009 8:48 AM
wildman212

correction god of war 3

Posted: June 17, 2009 9:18 AM
wildman212

5.dragon age: origins
4.modernwarfare 2
3.assasians creed 2
2.mass effect 2
1.god of war 2

Posted: June 17, 2009 9:17 AM
wildman212

last gaurdian = fail

Posted: June 17, 2009 9:13 AM
Wilson54

@C4ptainAw3some

that does make sense wat ur saying, im excited for splinter cell conviction,and thats not a ps3 game,hopefully my friends will get it. i dont understand how 360 got the exclusivity for that, they dont own Ubisoft, or do they...

Posted: June 13, 2009 12:23 PM
Wilson54

@ddc2494

im not trying to sound immature ive just been putting up with xbots crap for too long now and now that ps3 finnaly has killer games coming out,xbots dont give ps3 any credit and they only care about halo, its a good game. but they always say the ps3 has no games, when it does. i wish L4D2 and splinter cell conviction were ps3 games, they look good. see i give credit to 360, but ps3 nevr gets anything back in return...

Posted: June 13, 2009 12:19 PM
DarthCueball

5.Demon Soul
4.Final Fantasy 13
3.Quantum
2.Last Guardian
1.Heavy Rain
Honorable mentions:Uncharted 2, MAG, Final Fantasy 14, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, God of War 3

Posted: June 12, 2009 12:11 PM
cwhas2godhands

Thundercracker,
hypocrite

Posted: June 11, 2009 7:38 PM
nitsuj1295

People still think the Wii has no potential. That makes me sad.
5. Ratchet & Clank ACiT
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2
3. Scribble Nauts
2. The Last Guardian
1. Metroid: The Other M

Posted: June 11, 2009 6:40 PM
zeke_a_leak

its so funny how u can tell all of the ps3 fanboys by all the games in there list being ps3 exclusives, i mean modnation, come on. thats not n my top trillion list. mag looks good but not top 5 good. same with ratchet. ps3 did bring it this e3. whoever says they dont have games is retarded

Posted: June 11, 2009 2:33 PM
Blackdawn87

Wow it looks like nobody is looking forward to the new mario even in the G4tv Staff it looks like the Wii has Failed to impress at another E3. The only game on the Wii I may have an intrest in playing is Metroid.

Posted: June 11, 2009 2:05 PM
Blackdawn87

Almost everything not Nintendo is on my shopping list this year.
1. Mass Effect 2
2. Uncharted 2
3. Assassin's Creed 2
4. God of War 3
5. Brutal Legend
6. Modern Warfare 2
7. The Old Republic
8. Halo:ODST
9. Lost Planet 2
10. Left 4 Dead 2
11. Natal could possibly destroy Wii Fit and the Wii in General

It Looks like I will have plenty of things to keep me busy after I get layed off from work for not showingup or I will just use my 2 months of paid vacation before they expire.

Posted: June 11, 2009 1:54 PM
sukTHEfacc

Stephen Johnson...Beetles Rock Band? Are you out of your mind. Please get fired from the G4. PLEASE. Go die.

5. God of War 3
4. Mario Galaxy 2
3. Heavy Rain
2. Uncharted 2
1. Metroid: Other M

Notice how i posted no 360 games (and i have a 360). The only thing they had going for them was Natal but both Wii and PS3 have similar and new tech coming out...

360 failed this year

Posted: June 11, 2009 1:50 PM
TylerOdd

5.FF13
4.Mass Effect 2
3.Shadow Complex
2.Assassins Creed 2
1.Heavy Rain(Reason why I'm buying a PS3)

Posted: June 11, 2009 1:44 PM
PSfanboy

lol C4ptain Aw3some that was too funny.
But good point it should be called Pedafile Practice

Posted: June 11, 2009 11:57 AM
PSfanboy

5.Uncharted 2
4.Last Guardian
3.White Knight Chronicles
2.Heavy Rain
1.Gran Tourismo 5 (come out already lol)

on a side note, I am largely anticipating every exclusive Sony
exclusive that was show cased this year, except for AFRIKA
that one probably wasn't money well spent.

Posted: June 11, 2009 11:54 AM
solid79

5. Assasin's Creed 2
4.Brutal Legend
3.Heavy Rain
2. Uncharted 2
1. GOW III

Posted: June 11, 2009 11:07 AM
C4ptainAw3some

@wilson54
maybe you can't count or are blind (or both if you are lucky), but the choices seem evenly split between ps3 and xbox. And most people commenting probably only have one console or the other so why would they be excited for an exclusive they wont be able to play? Oh and about Natal, though many are saying Milo was fake I am still excited for the motion control aspect of it. I don't really feel like talking to some little kid, that would just be too creepy for me.

Posted: June 11, 2009 10:55 AM
cakefreak

5)Project Natal
4)Heavy Rain
3)Star Wars: The Old Republic
2)Modern Warfare 2
1)Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Posted: June 11, 2009 10:42 AM
BertSaxby

5. Uncharted 2
4. GranTurismo 5
3 Dirt2
2. Max Payne
1. Heavy Rain

Posted: June 11, 2009 10:26 AM