E3 2010: Top 10 PC games for big boys

June 21st, 2010

Just when you thought E3 might not be the best showcase for PC games, this year's show proved quite the opposite. As my witness, here are 20 plus upcoming games that not only caught my attention, but my imagination.

Call of Duty: Black Ops



Best. Of. Show. Hands down. This thing has nails the following: pacing, intense action, diverse gameplay, and unlike many drab-looking action games, COLOR. Unfortunately, Black Ops wasn't playable at the show floor. But if the controls are as good as the level design, expect this to be on par with the freshness of the original Modern Warfare, and much better than the underwhelming and nonsensical Modern Warfare 2.

Homefront



As a kid, Red Dawn was one of my favorite movies. What's not to like about heading into the mountains with friends, a bunch of beef jerky, and lots of firepower after Commies invade your backyard? Well, Homefront is just like Red Dawn, only this time North Korea is the enemy and you'll be holding a controller instead of popcorn.

Starwars: The Old Republic



Yes, please.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood



You already know how awesome Assassin's Creed is; the fastest selling new game of the last decade. The second game was even better. This time, Ubisoft is adding teamwork into the mix, forcing you to work with other players when assassinating corrupt officials. Not only is it the logical step to expand the series, it looks like a lot of fun.

Civilization 5



Not only is Civ 5 only available on computers, it only makes sense with a mouse and keyboard. (I mean, look at all that commanding menu action!) And simply put, this looks to be a bigger and better version of the strategy series you already know and love. Can't go wrong with this one come September.

Trine 2



You probably didn't play the first Trine, but you should have. It was easily one of the best downloadable games released last year, despite flying under the radar. So promise me you'll play the first game. Then stay tuned for the well-produced sequel, which not only looks better than the original, but it'll be cheaper too, the developer says.

Arcania: Gothic 4



Although it's not being developed by the original series creator, Arcania has set its sights on becoming the most epic Gothic game ever, not to mention best RPG coming this year. That's a tall order. But so are all those bosses in the above trailer.

Rage



id Software, the makers of Doom and Quake, have been working on this new game for several years now, and it shows. I mean, look at that freakin' gameplay. It looks phenomenal. From lighting to "mega textures," it just begs to be played. Doesn't hurt that it's the first original series the company has made in over a decade.

Mafia 2



Let's see: It has the word "mafia" in it. I like that. It's a sequel to the first Mafia game, which was awesome. And it's full of sandbox action fun. I'll take it!

Metal Gear Solid: Rising



Confession: Recent Metal Gear games are a snooze, unless of course you like watching twice as many cut screens as playable ones. And even then, the gameplay is so tedious, I lose interest fast. Perhaps that'll change with Rising, however. Described as "lightening bolt action," you wield a super sharp sword that's capable of slicing anything from trucks, architecture, and of course, you're enemies' melon-soft bodies.

Portal 2



The first Portal was a watershed moment for first-person games, proving that the popular graphics perspective could do so much more than shooters. More than that, Portal was an exhilarating experience. At 3-5 hours to completion, however, it was too short. Which is where next year's sequel comes in: it's a full-length game this time around. And fans couldn't be happier.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution



Unfortunately, I didn't get to see gameplay footage of this at the show. Not that it really matters though. The trailer is one of the most effective I've ever seen. Compelling "I miss my real arms" story. Powerful music. Strong voice acting. Yes, it's undeniably cyberpunk, the cliche equivalent of the chic flick. Nonetheless, it's a game I want to play.

Xcom



Although the original wasn't known as such, I hold no reservations when calling this reboot of the Xcom series a potential horror game. It sure looks the part. But instead of using dark as the primary fear factor, the new Xcom looks like Team Fortress 2 drunken on sepia, yet manages to stay frighting in a M. Night Shyamalan sort of way. Awesome.

Other games I'm not qualified to hype just yet, but still showed promise at the show:

• Crysis 2
• Vindictus
• Deadspace 2
• Bulletstorm
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
• Driver San Francisco
• Red Faction: Armageddon
• Innergy (Hey, big boys need R&R too!)
• Toy Story 3 (For when big boys want to play Grand Theft Auto with their kids)
  
  

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