At any rate, FIFA 14 is exactly what gamers have been waiting for, apparently.  As always, each new annual FIFA release tends to come with updated visuals, and “14” is no exception.  The “Ignite” engine provides the sort of graphics that will only be truly appreciated on a nex-gen console (PS4, Xbox One) or a high-end PC.

However, what really makes FIFA 14 such an interesting and worthwhile game are its updated control systems and ball physics.  In short, this game is attempting to more the realism notch just a bit more forward so as to allow players to engage in the type of play they see their football idols use.  While it’s not quite at the point yet where you we have dead-on realism, we’re getting pretty close it would seem.  The typical drama and action associated with a casual drive down the field toward the goal is where you’ll begin to immediately notice some changes.  Now, there seems to be a much deeper level of achievement associated with scoring, perhaps more than in previous FIFA incarnations.  Instead of defenders simply waffling around in the midfield they’re more active and make more calculated moves, which only serves to make the game more competitive and interesting at the end of the day.

Physics have played a critical role in the last few FIFA titles and this latest installment is certainly no exception either.  Momentum is something to consider in “14”, where your players will be subject to more realistic gravity-based physics which you will need to account for while punching toward the goal or making a pass.  The first-touch control system will also be returning, this time updated with new features.  Once again, the overall skill level of your individual players will factor into their ball handling, which adds an entirely new dimension of play to the game if you really think about it.

In any case, FIFA 14 seems to be about defending more than anything else.  Players driven by A.I. are much more active and unpredictable, but not in any sort of chaotic way.  Instead, you’ll notice that defenders might tend to watch or study your actions more carefully, meaning that they’re playing smarter, not necessarily harder, if that makes any sense.  This addition makes the game quite a bit more enjoyable as you will experience more diversity of gameplay and less repetition, which is always welcome (not just in sports games).

FIFA fans will definitely want to pick this one up.  FIFA 14 is set for a multi-platform release this September on Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PSP, Vita, Wii, Windows, Xbox 360, and of course, the Xbox One.

Perhaps the most stunning thing about “Watch Dogs”, aside from its stellar visuals, is the incredible amount of interactivity its game environment allows for.  Seriously, you can do some things in this game which have never been possible before, including hacking nearly everything you can imagine.  Put all of this together into a package that is basically an amalgamation of every winning feature from all of the most well-known and loved open world titles (think GTA, RDR, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry 3, Skyrim, etc…) and you have a game that grants you with seemingly limitless potentials.  In all honesty, this upcoming title from Ubisoft might very well be one of the most freeing experiences that we have ever had as gamers.

Moreover, “Watch Dogs” will certainly excite those who are fans of games involving a lot of stealth-based activities and actions (somewhat akin to that of the Splinter Cell series, for example).  In fact, part of the appeal of this game is that you’re constantly moving between positions of relative stealth and action / violence.  At this point in its development, it would seem that what makes it work well is its A.I., which doesn’t appear to randomly switch over to “omnipresence mode” when any type of event takes place.  In other words, if someone doesn’t see you doing something, they probably aren’t going to assume that you’re a threat.

There are a dizzying number of stores and shops you can enter and trade in, as well as various structures and landmarks to visit.  The truth is, you’ve never played a game that’s this large, contained as much detail, and offered you with such an amazingly wide range of activities to engage in.  In short, this is the type of title that you can easily get lost inside of, perhaps for months on end.  Let’s just hope that the main plot delivers an interesting experience; if they accomplish this, then “Watch Dogs” might even become something of a household name.

“Watch Dogs” looks absolutely amazing and is due to hit store shelves this November.

As gamers we expect to see developers constantly pushing the envelope; after all, progress usually implies forward motion and it’s what many of us are used to when it comes to numbered series.  Well, developer EA Digital Illusions CE has really outdone itself with this fourth major iteration of the franchise, nearly everything you can think of or point at has been updated or upgraded in some way, shape or fashion.

Most noticeable are the incredible visuals which “Battlefield 4” possesses.  This isn’t just a flashy shooter though; there is an almost unbelievable level of detail in this game.  There simply aren’t really any weak points to discuss when it comes to graphics or visuals.  Simply put, BF4 is a great example of what a next-gen game should look like.  Perhaps the most interesting thing about this game however is its destructive environments and high level of interactivity.  Sure, we’ve seen this type of mechanic employed before, but not on this level or scale.  The possibilities really open up when you factor in the possibility of destructive maps, especially when you have tanks and choppers at your disposal.

All in all, there weren’t really an incredible number of changes that were made to the core gameplay from the (wildly popular) Battlefield 3 to 4, but the alterations which are present will be wholly appreciated by gamers.  “Commander Mode” will be returning as well, which is sort of a nod to the older Battlefield titles.  Also, the multiplayer classes (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) look as though they will remain untouched as well.

In short, “Battlefield 4” is something of a thrill-ride.  The story hinges around a US special operations squad called “Tombstone” of which you control a character named “Recker”.  You’ll perform stealthy recon operations, rescue hostages and retrieve sensitive data from unique locations as well as engage the enemy head on in wild firefights and large-scale confrontations.  It might not be anything particularly new or ground breaking, but the campaign is definitely driven forward nicely by the action and character-related drama which is interwoven into the fabric of the game itself.

Needless to say, this is going to be an amazing game which fans of the series and FPS addicts aren’t going to want to miss.  In fact, many are saying that it might very well be a pivotal title for the next-generation consoles…without saying too much, that’s definitely a possibility.   “Battlefield 4” will arrive on Windows, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360 in October or November 2013.  Highly recommended for fans of intense shooters or strategy games!

Right off the bat there are a few things which the PS4 has going for it above and beyond the Xbox One.  For example, there’s the proposed price difference, where the PS4 is apparently going to be at least $100 cheaper than its next closest competitor.  This alone is going to pull quite a few people toward Sony, but it doesn’t end there.  According to a number of technical analysts, the PS4 is also clearly more powerful than the Xbox One.  Don’t get the wrong idea though, it might only be considered slightly more powerful, and let us not forget that both the PS4 and Xbox One are at least 6X-8X more powerful than their predecessors.  In fact, the graphics processor in the PS4 is 50% more powerful than that of the Xbox One.

Next, there’s the issue of used game compatibility.  When the PS4 was still in the developmental phase there were rumors abounding that it wouldn’t be lending support for games which hadn’t been purchased at full retail price (like the system used by the Xbox One, where each game is linked to a specific account by a code).   As was revealed on the first day of E3 however, the PS4 will provide full support for used games; meaning, if you are a thrifty gamer who is very budget conscious, the PS4 is clearly the superior choice here.

Additionally, the PS4 will not require daily connections to the internet to retain functionality as is to be required by the Xbox One.  For gamers who either have no internet or unstable connections at best, the PS4 is going to be a much wiser buy. Moreover, it’s nice to know that you have the freedom to more your console around without worrying about it being rendered inactive due to a lack of internet connectivity.

As far as speculative concerns go, you might want to consider the PS4 for its upcoming barrage of exclusive titles as well.  Many of Sony’s time-honored and ultra-popular franchises will undoubtedly be returning to the PS4, and they already have quite a few interesting new ones on the table.   Sure, Microsoft and the Xbox One sure seem to have quite a few more titles to their credit with even more on the way, but the PS4 lineup is anything but shabby.  In fact, during E3 there were quite a few titles presented which might even be called “groundbreaking”, which is definitely something one should take into consideration when deciding upon which console to purchase.

If you’re already a PS3 owner, moving to the PS4 seems like an obvious choice if for no other reason than having familiar controls at your fingertips.  Those who might be contemplating a move from Xbox to PS should know that Sony has placed increased focus on multimedia services too, which are able to mirror and challenge those developed by Microsoft.   In other words, if you’re looking for one unit that can fulfill multiple roles, the PS4 is definitely capable of doing so.

Last but not least we have the physical appearance of both consoles.  The Xbox One is at least 10% larger than its forerunner, the Xbox 360, which might turn some people off immediately.  On the other hand, the PS4 is a little bit sleeker and smaller, featuring a slanted design, just what many gamers have been hoping for.  We leave the choice in your hands…

As to be expected, the last day of E3 was marked by glimpses of some truly intriguing titles.  Everything from action / adventure and sports to fantasy and horror was represented and it even seemed at times as if some developers were waiting until the last few hours of the 3rd day to spring their creations on us.  Needless to say, there were some truly amazing games put up for display today, here are some of the more noteworthy entries…

The Evil Within

First off, “The Evil Within” is being directed by the legendary Shinji Mikami (the man behind Resident Evil 4 and many other games from the same series), so you know that it’s going to tread new territory.  What’s more, the game is set up to be more of a detective / survival title as opposed to a pure action / horror / zombie shoot-‘em-up; moreover, it might end up being a true open world title as well.  Needless to say, the game looks absolutely terrifying and if all goes well, this might very well end up being one of 2014’s more interesting and hard-hitting titles.  You assume the role of Sebastian Castellanos, who is a detective called to duty on the heels of some incident at a mental hospital.  All in all, it appears to be a game devoted toward bringing the survival horror genre back to its roots and away from unnecessary arcade-style action and cheesy plot devices.  Luminary developer and publisher Bethesda softworks is bringing us the title in 2014 and it is set to hit PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and the Xbox 360.

Tiny Brains

In a nutshell, “Tiny Brains” is a puzzle game that seeks to bring a new type of coop play to the forefront on the PS4 (and possibly the PS3 and Xbox 360 as well).  Designed for four players, each individual assumes control of a wacky lab animal and uses their unique ability in tandem with those of their allies in order to surmount a series of challenges.  Sounds simply enough, right?  Well, the difficulty will undoubtedly increase as you progress and you’ll also have to contend with the individual abilities of teammates who may or may not be using their brain to the best of its ability.

FIFA 14

Sports and football fans will certainly be excited by the prospect of another FIFA release.  “FIFA 14” promises to up the ante once again with improved visuals and brand new A.I.   Gameplay is also being updated with new finesse moves, etc.  More specific details are on the way of course, but at this time it’s well worth saying that this impending FIFA title will pretty much blow the others right out of the water.  Look for it on PS3, PS4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

The Final Fantasy series has long been a mainstay among playstation gamers, and “Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’ seeks to return the franchise to its “roots”, if you will.   Set to light up the PS4 as well as the PS3 and Windows, FFXIV is an intensely gratifying experience for RPG fans as it gives them more of what they have been vying for in the way of graphics and gameplay.  Similarly, this will be an MMORPG, meaning that it will likely bring an entirely new multiplayer experience to the fore.

Tom Clancy’s “The Division”

Veering away from the focus and scope of other Clancy titles (while at the same time, remaining somewhat true to form), “The Division” is a very visually stunning 3rd person cover-shooting-based game that bills itself as on open-world RPG.  Just to demonstrate just how interesting this title is poised to be, you can have a player join in via a tablet computer to control an unmanned aerial vehicle to either take out targets or provide surveillance…very cool.  Perhaps the most interesting thing to remember about “The Division” however is its use of the Snowdrop engine, which renders everything gorgeously.  Expect to see this title on PS4 and Xbox One in 2014.

There you have it, the notable entries for the final day of E3 2013; we truly hope you enjoyed our coverage of the event and discovered at least a few games to pique your interest.  Cheers.

Hohokum

First off, in the Sony exclusive camp, we have “Hohokum” which is a game that is at once colorful and creative as well as somewhat mysterious and playfully enchanting.  While we don’t really know the full extent and reach of the title just yet, it appears to be about exploration and relies on an “avoidance mechanic”.  What’s more, the game will be released for not only the PS4, but also the PS3 and the Vita.

inFAMOUS: Second Son

Heading back over to the Sony camp, the PS4 is getting another largely expected exclusive title, “inFAMOUS: Second Son”.  The inFAMOUS franchise has been a mainstay since it burst onto the PS3 scene in 2009, “Second Son” will be the 5th game in the series (not counting the 2 additional spin-offs, “Precinct Assault” and “Anarchy”, of course).  At any rate, “inFAMOUS: Second Son” really delivers the goods, it’s an absolutely gorgeous game that’s at once new as well as familiar.  The main focus here is on gameplay, which happens to be open world based.  In short, “inFAMOUS: Second Son” really has a lot going for it – amazing graphics, an interesting story, as well as incredible gameplay.  As many others have already noted, this game will likely be one of the PS4’s more noteworthy initial releases, keep your eye out for this one.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Last, but certainly not least, we have the highly anticipated “Elder Scrolls Online” experience which is poised to thrill and excite PS4, Xbox One, Windows as well as OS X gamers.  This will apparently be one of the first true MMORPG titles to hit consoles and it’s packing so many goodies and features that it’s hard to believe.  Naturally, this game will place players into an open world environment that more-or-less encapsulates the entire continent of Tamriel, “expansive” is an understatement here.  What’s more, players will be able to switch between the 3rd and 1st person perspectives (as is standard with most open-world Bethesda games), which will undoubtedly make many gamers quite happy to say the least.  The game itself will give players the option to join 1 of 3 different factions, all of which are vying for the throne and seeking to dominate Tamriel.  Molag Bal, the Daedric prince is returning as the main antagonist who’s hell-bent on conquering everything and everyone (very LOTR-ish, don’t you think?).

That’s it for day 2, tune in tomorrow for coverage of the 3rd and final day of E3 2013…