Super Jump E3 2018 Retrospective
By: James Burns
Tags: Features, Events, Videogames, Gaming, E3 2018

Super Jump E3 2018 Retrospective

A few of our favorite things

This year’s E3 was a big one. There were a ton of announcements, including many incredible games that flew largely under the radar, perhaps because there was just so much to cover. The week of E3 itself is always busy; gamers lap up all the news, and games journalists mostly try to keep up with everything that’s happening.

It was a big year for us at Super Jump, too. This time around, we provided far more hands-on impressions directly from the show floor. If you’re interested in checking out those articles all in the one place, I recommend visiting our E3 2018 Story Stream.

E3 itself might be over, but I find that sometimes it takes a little time to actually digest everything. With that in mind, I gathered together the Super Jump team and asked them to discuss the major stand-outs from their perspective.

As we’re all pretty big Smash fans around here, we thought it’d be fun to represent ourselves with our favourite characters from the series.

I hope you enjoy the Super Jump E3 2018 Retrospective.

James Burns

Editor in Chief

“Hideo Kojima proves each year that he has millions of us wrapped tightly around his little finger as we pour over every single detail while he gleefully peels the curtain back ever so slightly more each time.”

Best E3 Press Conference

This is a tough one, because it really depends what criteria you want to use. Judging purely from a business perspective, it’s tempting to say that Sony’s was the most impressive showing, if only because so much of what they showcased was exclusive (and, frankly, remarkable).

As a gamer, I loved Sony’s showcase. I also loved Bethesda’s, and I’m pretty excited about what Ubisoft are doing, especially with The Division 2 and Beyond Good & Evil 2.

But I think, on balance, I’ve got to give this one to Microsoft. Sure, there aren’t many brilliant exclusives coming from what we saw: Halo Infinite could be great, but we know almost nothing about it right now, and it would really need to be a big change from Halo 5 (which certainly looks to be the case). Crackdown 3 continues to vanish into the distance, and I’m really starting to question whether the wait will be worth it. Forza Horizon 4 looks lovely, and I think it’ll be a great game, but how can it compare to juggernauts like The Last of Us Part II and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

On the other hand, Microsoft’s conference felt like a huge wrecking ball; it just kept smashing the audience with announcement after announcement. The way it ended (with a “hacking” incident that revealed the jaw-dropping Cyberpunk 2077, and which itself was something of an alternate-reality game) was a true masterstroke. Microsoft nailed it.

Best Trailer

There were a ton of awesome trailers this year. I’m going to cheat here and name a favourite and a runner-up.

My favourite was, without doubt, Cyberpunk 2077. Watching the trailer (while knowing the massive, almost unparalleled depth that CD Projekt Red put into their games) made me giddy. Best of all, there’s very strong evidence (courtesy of our friends at Digital Foundry) that the trailer was, indeed, rendered in real-time (at least with real-time assets). As a huge fan of cyberpunk as a genre — and as a fan of CD Projekt Red — I couldn’t be more excited about Cyberpunk 2077.

My runner up, though? It’s easily got to be Control by Remedy Entertainment. I never played Quantic Break, but I adored the Max Payne series and Alan Wake. Even back in the original Max Payne, I think Remedy were masters of atmosphere. Control not only looks fascinating from a gameplay perspective (talk about a power fantasy), but it surfaces what these maestros of light and shadow can really do, as their years of experience and talent intersect with modern game technology. Wow. I can’t wait for Control.

Most-Anticipated Game Launching in 2018

This is a tricky one. A big part of me is very excited about Fallout 76, because it just might deliver something I’ve always wanted: to play a cooperative survival experience in the nuclear wasteland. I still have a lot of questions about how Bethesda will avoid griefing, but they did specifically acknowledge it during their press conference, which is a good sign — they’ve clearly been thinking about it and looking at ways to provide the best possible online experience for players.

I’m also very, very excited about Spider-Man. It looks gorgeous, I’m hearing that it plays as good as it looks, and it’s by Insomniac Games; for me, it’s pretty much a guaranteed purchase at this point.

But, honestly, I have to say that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate slightly edges out everything else at the moment. That’s a big statement coming from me, because I haven’t really enjoyed a Smash game since Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Somewhere along the line, I simply got bored and lost interest.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has revitalised my interest in the series. I’m not entirely sure why; maybe it’s because it features every Smash character in history, which is simply insane. And maybe it’s because the gameplay changes announced so far seem thoughtful and measured; this looks like it’ll be a great Smash game for newcomers and veterans alike. Also, frankly, playing this with friends on the Switch is going to be a blast.

Most-Anticipated Game Launching in 2019 or Beyond

Beyond 2019, there are two games I’m most looking forward to: Cyberpunk 2077 and Death Stranding.

When it comes to Death Stranding, well, we still don’t really know what it’s about. Although I’ve already come across numerous fascinating theories on the internet, including one very detailed video on YouTube which suggests this game is actually Metal Gear Solid 0. Hm. At any rate, the more I see of it, the more fascinated I am. When I watch all of the trailers for this title, I feel like I’m gazing upon something genuinely novel and different — at least in terms of themes and aesthetic design. Hideo Kojima proves each year that he has millions of us wrapped tightly around his little finger as we pour over every single detail while he gleefully peels the curtain back ever so slightly more each time. Of course, Kojima-san has well and truly earned that kind of fan reaction thanks to his prodigious career in game design.