GBAtemp E3 2018 Live Show Floor Coverage - Day 1
This marks my third year attending E3, and no matter how many times you go to this event, it never stops being amazing. Walking up to the Convention Center and seeing all the banners hanging across the top of the walls, and posters plastered to skyscrapers is an impressive sight. Spider-Man PS4 and Call of Duty Black Ops IIII were the headline games covering the front of the two major buildings the event takes place in. Other games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Lego DC Villains, Hitman 2 and more were represented via gigantic banners that stretched across the length of the Convention Center, towering above all the attendees.
Hells Malice said:
When I walked into the West Hall, I was surprised to find that the initial entrance was very calm. Everyone simply speed-walked to their destination, and it was fairly easy to maneuver through the crowds. Nintendo's booth immediately was full, with a line wrapping around the whole room, until they had to disperse, as it was an invite-only event. Disappointed fans congregated everywhere they could, trying to get a look at the latest Smash Bros. game. Bar none Nintendo were the most popular out of everyone else there.
Though regular fans are allowed to attend E3's show floor, this year, security was in full force, making sure the event was more secure than a Nintendo software update patch. Media was let in three hours in advance, so we got a nice head start, right as the doors opened. Our plan was to hit up SEGA first and foremost, partly because they've got some great games coming up, and also due to the fact that they tend to have the best free swag! Double-sided Persona 3 and 5 Dancing totes were given to those that arrived early, and if you played certain select games, you'd get other cute prizes, like an eye-patch for trying Yakuza Kiwami 2, or a hat for playing the first chapter of Valkyria Chronicles 4.
Hells Malice said:
As we settled into a line to try out Shining Resonance, Fist of the North Star, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Team Sonic Racing, and Valkyria Chronicles 4, people began to stream in, and the queue grew significantly. A staff member from Atlus kept worriedly checking on the line, and eventually, he closed it off, as the booth was too popular for them to handle. Luckily, our spot was secure. About an hour into waiting, another SEGA representative walked out, telling us we'd have to pick a single game to play. It was a tough choice; many of the games there looked quite fun. From the bloody action of Fist of the North Star, to the high-octane excitement of the new Sonic racing game, there were quite a number of fun options. It was eventually decided that we settle on picking Valkyria Chronicles 4. I was interested in the series anyway, and they had the most adorable hat to give away if you finished the demo.
Once the excruciating wait was over, I finally got to try the game. I wasn't quite sure how long the demo would run--SEGA staff looked flustered and distracted with all the people milling about. So I just decided to start the game, and go from there. It looks and feels a lot like the first title, and combat was great. It was easy to just pick up and play with limited knowledge of the series. Each class was fun to play as, especially the new Grenadier soldier, who can launch explosives at enemies hiding above you. I had an absolute blast, and I'm entirely sold on Valkyria Chronicles 4.
Hells Malice said:
Afterwards, we ventured towards XSEED! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely and utterly smitten with the company. Each time I've visited their booth, I was overjoyed. This year, they had a bit of a larger booth, but what felt like less games overall. I checked in with their PR manager, and happily passed her my business card for the third year in a row. We were then lead by another staff member to try out all of XSEED's offerings. The first of which, was Senran Kagura. I cringed as he lead me towards the game, feeling ever-so-slightly awkward. Desperately, I tried to shift behind Hells Malice so that I'd not have to play. Of course, the female staffer there noticed and laughed, handing me a controller and telling us both to play. I had my reservations, but I swallowed my pride and played the tutorial. Nothing too bad happened on screen, and I found myself quickly wrapped up in the game, and shockingly, I enjoyed it quite a lot. Of course, it was hard to watch the more...ridiculous scenes, but outside of that, Senran Kagura: Burst Re:Newal was far better than I expected. The game will be available on the PlayStation 4, with a PC version coming later.
Hells Malice said:
Next, was Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin. On first glance, the artwork made it look almost like a farming game. However, when I tried it out, it was more akin to Muramasa: The Demon Blade, if anything. There were detailed, lush backgrounds, with beautiful waterfalls and rocky cliffs. As for the gameplay, you control a small girl who uses a magical scarf to shoot yourself towards foes. It was awkward to control at first, but I got the hang of it by the time it was over. I liked what I played, but I also wanted a bit more, as I feel like attacking and movement was a bit clunky at times.
Hells Malice said:
For the rest of the day, it consisted of a mad dash around both the South and West Halls, trying to duck through the massive crowds while taking pictures of everything I saw. I've included a ton in this post so you guys can see some of the coolest booths and attractions! And with that, our first day at E3 came to a close. It was hectic, tiring, and so incredibly exciting! I hope everyone enjoyed reading this, and I'll see you all tomorrow for day 2!
Hells Malice said:
