E3 2012 ended a week ago today, but it’s still fresh in our minds as we continue to dissect what we learned, what we saw and what we played while touring the massive expo floors of the Los Angeles Convention Center. A lot of what was shown at E3 2012 leaked or released early and even more of it became available online as publishers release gameplay footage and trailers for their upcoming products that were on display at the big event.

Like the last two years, we sent a rather large team to LA to hang out at the press conferences, to interview devs, to witness never-before-seen gameplay behind-closed-doors and most importantly, to get hands-on with the games we’re all excited for and below are our thoughts and memories of what our away team saw.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Assassin’s Creed 3

‘Injustice’ character pick: Green Arrow

This year’s E3 was a tad underwhelming. On one end we had few new game announcements and on the next-gen front, the Nintendo conference was an epic failure. Never before have I seen mainstream, major press outlets tweeting pics of people sleeping during a conference and this is the year where the big N is releasing a new console… One that apparently will have very few games, and certainly no “next-gen” games if E3 was anything to go by.

Sony and Microsoft brought out the games we knew were coming, but Microsoft’s SmartGlass and Sony’s new IPs both have a ton of potential, the former potentially making the Wii U GamePad obsolete. Like the rest of our away team will tell you, this year was a transition year focused on software aimed to perfect the major franchises as we approach the end of the current-gen life cycle. Everything from EA and Capcom, plus Assassin’s Creed 3, Halo 4, Gears of War: Judgment, God of War: Ascension, Far Cry 3, Spinter Cell: Blacklist, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Black Ops 2, etc. aim to deliver a few significant changes while perfecting their respective successful formulas as a last hoorah for the current gen systems, at least I hope.

The good part of E3 was that these games listed above may all be the best of their franchises, giving fans what they want, and that’s what made this E3 worthwhile. That and Star Wars 1313 giving me hope that the franchise can be cool once again.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Watch Dogs

‘Injustice’ character pick: Krypto the Superdog

While E3 2012 marked the debut of some intriguing titles, it’s hard not to sense that this show was merely filler until larger next-generation reveals, or at the very least teases, in 2013. Instead of fresh IPs, most developers were relying heavily on sequels (Assassin’s Creed 3, Dance Central 3, Far Cry 3) which mostly refine their respective franchises instead of drive new ideas or experiences. Of course there were exceptions, most notably Star Wars 1313, Watch Dogs and Quantic Dream’s newest title, Beyond, among a few others - but few of these newly announced projects were accompanied with even a vague release window (meaning, despite comments to the contrary, they could even appear on unannounced next-gen consoles).

The big three console manufacturers each made a strong case for their respective systems (like it or not, Nintendo’s Wii U is likely poised to make a lot of money) and high profile developers (EA, Ubisoft, etc) have plenty of quality titles en route; however, E3 2012 was still lacking a big buzzworthy reveal. Of course, it doesn’t help that a number of the announcements were spoiled well-ahead of the actual show (Gears of War: Judgment especially).

 

Favorite game of E3 2012: Halo 4

‘Injustice’ character pick: Flash

For me, E3 2012 might end up being the year I officially lost interest in military shooters. Black Ops 2, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Spec Ops, and even the Battlefield 3 DLC had trailers filled with a non-stop cacophony of gunfire and ‘splosions that failed to derive any cheers from even the enthusiastic press present.

Could it be that gamers are actually starting to grow up? The catcalls brought on by nudity in Far Cry 3’s demo were disappointing, but the enthusiasm for game worlds and unique stories extended beyond just the Game Rant team. Halo 4’s dense jungle and commitment to its fiction, Assassin’s Creed’s interest in exploring history and race, Watch Dogs’ critique of technology and privacy, and of course, Beyond: Two Souls showing Quantic Dream hasn’t stopped pushing boundaries. Several games have caught my attention after this year’s show, and not a single one of them had ‘cool explosions.’

Favorite game of E3 2012: Dishonored

‘Injustice’ character pick: Wonder Twins

E3 2012 marked one of the first times that gamers were walking into the event, either physically or virtually, knowing almost everything that was going to be available. Spike TV’s pre-E3 coverage and Game Informer’s next-issue covers spoiled many of the more enticing reveals, leaving only a few for the actual event. Still, immersing yourself in video games for almost a week is a lot of fun and makes any lack of surprises seem irrelevant.

Highlights for me included closer looks at Resident Evil 6, Borderlands 2, and Black Ops 2 in action. Each didn’t provide much in the way of evolution, but just seeing someone else play them, or in the case of Borderlands, getting to play it myself, assured me that I want to play and see more. One of the real standouts on the software front though was Dishonored, the supernatural assassin title from Arkane Studios and Bethesda. It might seem on the surface like a poor man’s BioShock, but the demo on display — that was played twice with two different approaches — was extremely impressive.

The other big surprise for my E3 experience was how much fun I was having with the Wii U. Yes, the two of us are arguably in the pre-dating stage of this long-winded romance, the part before I’m forced to deal with it on a daily basis, but the controller is just too innovative to not find some form of entertainment. By this time next year, when E3 takes place in San Francisco, or Las Vegas, or even the moon, my Wii U might be covered in dust, but for now I’m ready to take the leap.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Halo 4

‘Injustice’ character pick: Martian Manhunter

E3 2012 came with a few surprises, but for the most part it was a tamed affair. We’ve reached that awkward transition point into the next generation of consoles, and while people were genuinely excited for many of the games on display, the general feeling amongst the journalists on the show floor was that gamers are ready for the next generation. That being said, games like Watch Dogs, The Last of Us, and Splinter Cell: Blacklist all managed to impress members of the esteemed press, and got us excited for what’s still to come on the consoles we’ve been playing since 2005. Nintendo’s new console, the Wii U, made for the highlight of this year’s convention, and that’s because it was the first time the console and its games were playable. Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U, and even NintendoLand were all surprisingly fun, and made for a nice change of pace compared to the bulk of other titles on display. I was also heartbroken when I finally got my hands on PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, only to learn that it wasn’t up to par. I thought maybe I was just a stickler for an experience similar to that of Super Smash Bros., but other Game Ranters who played the game tragically informed me I was correct; the crossover fighter just wasn’t all that great. E3 2012 was not disappointing, but it was missing an overlooked element of surprise.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Rayman Legends

‘Injustice’ character pick: Dr. Manhattan

Going into E3 this year, it was hard not to be skeptical. Each of the big three seemed to be playing it safe, whether it was Microsoft with Halo and Gears of War, Nintendo with party games and exercise software, or Sony with a Smash Bros. clone. Some of these thoughts may seem to mirror the rest of the Game Rant crew, but we were all cautiously optimistic for a breath of fresh air as the current consoles have begun to stagnate. Unfortunately, other than a select few titles that will likely come up in every wrap-up online (Beyond, Game & Wario, The Last of Us), sequels were king. Leaving Nintendo’s press conference after two full days of underwhelming trailers and reveals, I had lowered my expectations significantly, preparing for inevitable disappointment. Needless to say, once I actually sat down with a few dozen of the games, I had to eat my words.

Tomb Raider, despite two showings at E3 without making much of an impression, looked fascinating in context. This really is a mature adventure for Lara Croft, full of suspense, survival, and cutthroat encounters. Free-to-play MMOs such as PlanetSide 2, Hawken, and End of Nations blew me away with visuals comparable to $60 titles and gameplay to match it. Last but not least, I think I owe Reggie and Miyamoto an apology: the Wii U is a fun console. Rayman Legends, Game & Wario, and even the NintendoLand titles had me smiling as I tapped and spun the GamePad. In the end, there is no way to make a real judgment call for video games until you have the chance to play them yourself. E3 2012 was rife with fun games, and I cannot wait until they start releasing later this year.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Devil May Cry

‘Injustice’ character pick: Black Canary

With a lot of big reveals happening prior to the expo, people were not on the edge of their seats this year – rather, they were nestled comfortably and with nary an expectation. The Big 3 conferences were polluted by sequels, including the usual suspects Assassin’s Creed 3, Gears of War and Splinter Cell, all of which are probably fine games, however formulaic. Next-gen anything was nowhere to be found and audiences were absolutely assaulted with hardware. From smarter glass to books that discourage reading, Sony and Microsoft’s peripherals were just unnecessarily adding to an already crowded market.

Additionally, with more applications converting their consoles into whole media centers, gaming continually took a backseat to cross-marketing. At Nintendo, the Wii U, which fell flat on its face last year, was given a chance at redemption, but feelings for the console remained lukewarm. Outside of Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U and Nintendoland, the big N had little to show that they didn’t show the year previous and they continue to prove they are behind current generation standards. The show floor settled fears about some titles and cemented them with others – PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was buried particularly deep in said cement. Capcom had a fairly good showing, although the now action-oriented Resident Evil 6 was a hard pill to swallow for the survival horror purists. The often scoffed at Devil May Cry reboot far surpassed people’s expectations.

The real stars of the show, however, were original IPs The Last of Us, and surprise newcomers Watch Dogs and Beyond: Two Souls, all of which were revealed or premiered at Sony’s press conference, making it the clear winner of the Big 3. Yes, E3 2012 had issues, but it also showed promise, be it however small, with original titles. The lesson learned is that to keep any relationship happy, there has to be an effort to spice things up. In the same way no one would want to keep going to the same restaurant, even if the menu changes slightly, people don’t always want sequels. Original games keep things fresh and exciting. Next year, when next-gen consoles will take center-stage, E3 2013 may try to suck you in with good looks, but without substance the relationship is doomed.

Favorite game of E3 2012: Tomb Raider

‘Injustice’ character pick: Clayface

Being the E3 virgin of the group, my experience varied greatly among my peers at Game Rant. Not everyone can say that they have been to E3 and that experience I will cherish forever thanks to the fine people at GR. Going in I had an idea of what I could expect, but at the same time I was definitely overwhelmed by it all. You can’t charge like a bull through China shop, preparation of the mind and body is key. Diving right into the Nintendo press conference, I was consumed by the convention head first. Although Nintendo’s press conference wasn’t exactly the best thing they could have showcased, it was still the opportunity to be there in that moment that I found incredible. Playing with the Wii U tablet was different, and I can see how it could get irritating looking up and down from the GamePad’s screen, but it does have its appeal. My biggest disappointment was perhaps the lack of what we might see in the future from Sony and Microsoft in terms of next-gen, but that was to be expected. There were a lot of interesting things to see and do, but the fact that I was just there taking it all in was what excited me the most.

Favorite game of E3 2012: The Last of Us

‘Injustice’ character pick: Atrocitus

As several other Ranters have stated, this year’s E3 2012 certainly pulled few less punches than previous years, mostly due to the fact that publishers and developers are clearly transitioning into the next-generation of gaming and had less products than were ready to be revealed as a result. That’s not to say there was a shortage of enjoyable games, though - just surprises. A lack of new IPs was evident, and was even juxtaposed against the number of super-sequels that were there, like Far Cry 3, Dance Central 3, Pikmin 3, and other series that just seem to be climbing in numbers. Now that E3 2012 is over, we can rest in anticipation that next year will likely play host to a ton of next-generation content, and hopefully some surprise curve-balls that were so, so absent from this year.

While some could say E3 2012 was an underwhelming year for the video game industry with no new major announcements from Microsoft or Sony on the console front and with the Wii U failing to impress, but it was a year for software, games that perfect what the current generation games have offered since 2005 when the Xbox 360 launched.

For more on what we loved as a group, check out our Best of E3 2012 Award Nominations and a few fun recaps:

E3 2012: Booth Babe Blowout The 5 Best Gameplay Trailers of E3 2012 The 5 Best Cinematic Trailers of E3 2012 The 5 Worst Moments of E3 2012