E3 2006: Showfloor Report #2 @ Gaming Target

Written by Glenn Wigmore on May 12, 2006

Specials: Day 2 of the show brought a sampling of everything, from all three hardware manufacturers plus a quick visit to Kentia Hall.

I might have been hard on the PS3 yesterday, and while I still hold almost all of my reservations, I was very encouraged with my playtime on Motor Storm. Not only does the game play differently than many other racers, but it looks and sounds (from what I could hear) fantastic. The game features dirt bikes, buggies, big rigs and cars, and each of them have all of their own strengths and weaknesses. For instance, big rigs can plow through muddy parts of the track with ease and they can plow through the competition as well, but their speed, overall, takes a hit. On the other hand, bikes are speedy and nimble, but they can be bashed around easily and the drivers can get sent flying. The explosion and spark effects in the game are tremendous, as are the real-time tire trails and increasingly muddied car models Ц great stuff.

Three games on the Xbox 360 that share the open-ended style got my attention today; these are Dead Rising, Crackdown, and Saint's Row. Each game had a distinct pace and style, but each of them was very entertaining, regardless. Dead Rising allowed for ridiculous hijinks through the mall, and many of the items proved most humorous when put into useЕ getting flung around on a skateboard, putting toy masks on the zombies' face, hitting them with cash registers or just smoking them with a cream pieЕ all good times. Crackdown definitely seemed like a work in progress, but the idea seems to marry GTA with Psi-Ops, and to good effect. As a genetically enhanced soldier, you'll be able to free roam through a giant city and blow people away with various weapons, but you can also drive cars and use some insane УpowersФ to boot cars, throw objects, and leap entire buildings Ц certainly different (can't go wrong with featured two-player co-op, as well). Saint's Row felt like a next-gen GTA game, and the feel was pretty good. The driving was responsive and the shooting was satisfying, plus the voice cast looks to be pretty damn stellar with the likes of Keith David, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Carridane, and many more.

Saw Peter Moore at the Xbox booth, and he didn't look totally worn downЕ yet.

Other notable games were Final Fantasy XII (and its revamped battle system), Okami, and God of War II. Each game seemed to deliver in most ways that fans of them seem to want, but people will have to wait until later for their actual release to put down the final verdict.

Kentia Hall had some amusing stuff, including a gaming body suit, a sweet gamer chair with full surround in the back and bottom, and a great retro section with many great cabinets. Also got to try out a pretty cool wireless arcade stick that was independently produced Ц I'll wait for the next-gen model and then maybe I'll grab it.

I'll check in one more time tomorrow to let you know happenings from Friday.

Out.