Genji 2
Genji 2’s storyline will be set within Japanese history–though this game will occur three years after the first–and will feature historical figures Yoshitsune and Benkei, who were featured in the first game. Two new playable characters, a female fighter named Shizuka and a warrior named Buson who wields a Darth Maul-style double-bladed weapon, will also become playable, and eventually you’ll be able to switch between all four characters on the fly to solve puzzles and tackle complicated action scenarios.
PS3Portal footage of Genji 2 gameplay footage at E3 2006.
Gran Turismo HD
Running for the first time in 1920×1080 progressive scan mode, the game is a sight to behold in its full HD beauty. Standing back and watching the action is almost like watching the sport on TV. In the demo that we played, there were four tracks and seven vehicles to choose from (see below for the full list). We took a Nissan Skyline out for a spin on the popular Nurburgring circuit, and it seems like the background environments are more lifelike than ever as a result of the HD resolution.
Circuit list for E3 demo:
Tokyo R246
Nurburgring Nordschleife
Circuit de la Sarthe
Grand Canyon rally circuit
Car list for E3 demo:
Nissan race car
Bentley Speed race car
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Rally Car
Nissan Skyline GTR V-Spec NUR 02
Shelby Cobra 427 ’67
Ginetta G4 ’64
Formula Gran Turismo 04
PS3Portal footage of Gran Turismo HD gameplay footage at E3 2006.
Virtua Tennis 3
One of the playable PlayStation 3 games on the Electronic Entertainment Expo show floor is Virtua Tennis 3, the latest in Sega’s definitive tennis series. Virtua Tennis is known for offering just the right amount of realism while still delivering fun and exciting gameplay that’s easy to get into. We were glad to see these signature traits alive and well in this latest installment, even though the build we played is only 20 percent complete. It’s also easy to notice the game’s impressively realistic looks.
PS3Portal footage of Virtua Tennis 3 gameplay footage at E3 2006.
Sonic the HedgeHog
The demo of the game began with an overview of the project by the team. With Sonic’s 15th anniversary taking place this year, the team opted to revisit the hedgehog’s roots for his next-gen incarnation. In reflecting on the hog’s history, the team viewed Sonic’s speed and visuals as the key components to a new game. The power available, thanks to the new consoles, posed a new challenge, which the team has embraced, with physics and artificial intelligence opening all manner of possibilities. The biggest challenge the team has wrestled with, though, is how to craft a game that matches the widespread appeal of Sonic’s early Genesis games.
PS3Portal footage of Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay footage at E3 2006.
Madden NFL 2007
The 2007 edition of EA’s unstoppable football franchise. In its 17th installment, you control the running game like never before. For the first time ever, step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, and then take control of the tailback and smash through, overpower, or slash away from would-be tacklers as you fight for every yard. Innovative rushing controls give you a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of your favorite backs.
PS3Portal footage of Madden NFL 2007 gameplay footage at E3 2006.
Forumla 1 2006 Championship
Formula One ’06 is a fully licensed re-creation of the popular open-wheeled sport that boasts all of the official teams, drivers, cars, circuits, and rules that you’d expect. The few laps of Monza that we got to drive during our time with the game were enough to convince us that the game will be both accessible and realistic, but the really exciting stuff came from our subsequent conversations with members of the Studio Liverpool development team.
PS3Portal footage of Forumula 1 gameplay footage at E3 2006.
WarDevil
The game was called WarDevil [Enigma], and you may recognize the title from previous coverage of Wardevil back when it was a next-gen concept game by developer Digi-Guys. This year, it’s a realtime (but not playable) demo running in full 1080p. The final will run at 1080p, 1080i, and meager 720p, but if you’ve got the money, it may be worth the burn for full resolution. First things first, a description of the WarDevil trailer. The video showed off a grimy lead character in a torn-down arena. Rubble is everywhere, and the fellow is pensively awaiting some kind of chaos. It begins when spindly lizard aliens in suits of armor come crawling out of the walls, about five or six total. The man’s hair flows back. Flags blow in the breeze. He reaches into his arm sling and takes out a pistol, a long blade protruding from the same multipurpose sleeve. He turns and blows several of them away, calmly, with little fanfare as he brings the bodies down.
PS3Portal footage of Wardevil gameplay footage at E3 2006.