With the conclusion of Nintendo's E3 2012 Press Conference earlier today, the last of the Los Angeles convention's big name presentations have come to pass. Between yesterday and today, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sony, and Nintendo invited media and gamer alike for a detailed look at the 'must-have' titles of 2012 and beyond. Among the industry leaders of Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, the most impactful presentation went to Sony as a stellar lineup of titles featuring The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls left attendees abuzz. But as Sony was able to come out on top of its two key competitors, it was Ubisoft that showed the most promise and delivered far more than anyone would have expected. Yes, gamers, Ubisoft indeed 'won' E3 2012. And here's why.
Ubisoft Prevails Where Nintendo Fails: Nintendo fans anticipated the best from the Big N's Press Event this year. With the Wii U taking center stage and rumors of a Starfox/Metroid crossover in the works along with speculation of a brand-new Smash Bros. title to be announced, a focus on the Wii U's 1st Party lineup should have easily stolen the show for Nintendo. But when the dust settled and Reggie Fils-Aime walked off stage, it left many a confused attendee asking the same question: Why invest in a next-generation console that is banking entirely too much on ports of current-generation titles? The answer it seems doesn't necessarily lie in the handful of software that Nintendo managed to showcase during its conference – Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U, and Nintendoland – but rather in Ubisoft's Wii U exclusives, Rayman Legends and ZombiU. Nintendo's lineup failed to give gamers a reason to become excited over the Wii U. As Nintendo ventures into uncertain next-generation waters, is to be upstaged by a pair of 3rd Party titles that are doing a much better job of capturing the function of the Wii U. Between Rayman Legends and ZombiU, Ubisoft has given gamers a lot to look forward to when the new console launches.
Ubisoft Pushes the Boundaries of its Established IPs: For months, gamers have been going absolutely gaga over Assassin's Creed III and how the sequel is redefining the franchise while remaining in the familiar mold that catapulted it to critical acclaim. Well, Ubisoft looks to be doing the same for yet another of its iconic series with Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Having been appointed as the commander of Fourth Echelon, Sam Fisher returns in what plays like a marvelous amalgam of Splinter Cell titles new and old, and with a dash of Assassin's Creed-esque maneuverability for goodness sake. Returning features include a moving "mark and execute" that made Conviction so gosh-darn fun, Sam's signature goggles and combat knife, and the ability to perform "kill and drag" stealth melee takedowns. With its big name sequels, it is clear that Ubisoft isn't set on releasing a sequel that merely feels like an expansion (I'm looking at you, God of War: Ascension), and is going to genuinely offer players a reason to return to these franchises.
Watch Dogs is the Most Interesting Game at E3: Amidst a year of blockbuster sequels taking center stage during the majority of the industry giant's conferences, a curious new IP by the name of Watch Dogs crept out of Ubisoft's conference and shocked the world. When you have have the likes of Halo 4, Black Ops 2, and Pikmin 3 being tossed around like the next big thing, Ubisoft comes out of nowhere with a title that has captured everyone's attention. The cyber-punk-influenced open world game centers on a player's ability to hack into various security systems and networks such as cell phones, security cameras and traffic lights. Here's the gameplay trailer for those who missed it.
Aisha Tyler Has Girl Wood: With last year's Mr. Caffeine forever painfully etched in our hearts, it just wouldn't be E3 without those awkward announcer moments, and this year Aisha Tyler delivered in spades. While normally quite the funny gal – especially when she has been drinking – Ms. Tyler's little game of 'let's count how many times Aisha get's Girl Wood' hit a new level of embarrassment for an E3 Press Conference. Seriously, just take a look. But despite Aisha's onstage antics and over-the-top attempt at being funny, Ubisoft was still able to shine. Now if that doesn't speak volumes for its software lineup I don't know what does.
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