STACK NZ Jul #64

GAMES

FEATURE

visit www.stack.net.nz

2015 – and it’s looking pretty damn good. The Taken King , when it launches in September, will be the third lot of DLC for the game, and will boast brand new exotic weapons and armour, as well as new third subclasses for Hunters, Titans and Warlocks alike. Even more welcome news was that – unlike House of Wolves – The Taken King will add a new Raid, as well as new Strikes and Crucible maps, and even a new location. Newcomers to Destiny will be able to purchase the Legendary Edition, featuring the game itself, the first two expansions, and The Taken King , along with a whole bunch of physical extras like a replica of a Strange Coin and a Steelbook Case. However, loyal fans of the grind will not be left wanting; a Sparrow, Armour Shader and exclusive emblem are available to those who either own the previous expansions or have reached light level 30 prior to the end of August, and who also want to get their hands on the latest DLC for Destiny . This one’s gonna be bigger than Crota. Let’s go, little light. Square Enix’s formidable triple bill of triple-A titles ensured that bums constantly filled the sessions of gameplay trailers displayed on a giant screen on the show floor. Each demo was introduced and guided by members of the relevant studios. Hitman , set to be delivered in episodes, boasts true freedom of approach when carrying out assassinations. The 25-minute Deus Ex: Mankind Divided gameplay trailer was introduced to rapturous applause from the crowd. Set two years after

events in Human Revolution , Adam Jensen returns in a game that already looks beautifully polished. New additions to the gameplay include EMP bullets, remote hacking, nano blades that fire from the wrist and can even detonate, and the ability to target four NPCs at the same time. Who isn’t looking forward to playing Just Cause 3 ? The series has always been fun to engage with and this is set to continue in the third instalment. The grappling hook is back along with the parachute, and these have been augmented with a flying suit. Action takes place on the fictional Mediterranean island of Medici. The presenter emphasised the phrase, “Choose your chaos” – an apt introduction to the gameplay that followed, with players given options on how to execute mission objectives. It looks good, and judging by the audience reaction, is set to be a big release. The drawcard upstairs was a Dark Souls III demo that we unfortunately didn’t get time to sit through. Dark Souls has always been a game that is better to play than watch, but we’re literally counting down the months until its release on new-gen in early 2016. Star Wars: Battlefront was on every attendee’s list of games to play at this show. We were fortunate to play both the 40-player multiplayer and the co-op survival modes. With the multiplayer, we joined the Rebellion tasked with neutralising not only the incoming AT-AT walkers, but also waves of attacking Snowtroopers. Played in either first or third-

dimension to gaming – and we felt no motion sickness at all.

More Destiny DLC, Guitar Hero Live , and yet another Call of Duty instalment were amongst the titles on offer at Activision’s best E3 line-up to date. Keeping the ball rolling, we were introduced to a new offering in the infamous Guitar Hero franchise – Guitar Hero Live . Everyone’s picked up a Guitar Hero title at one point in their life, but this one’s point of difference is its live and responsive audience. If you play badly, you’ll know it, but conversely, if you nail that 30-second riff, you’ll feel like a real rock star. Not surprisingly, we were hit with another title in the Call of Duty franchise – this time ‘round, a long-awaited return to Black Ops. The third game in the series gave us a hands-on with what we’ve come to expect from the CoD games: lots of running, mantling over things, and dying… a lot. It's how these elements have changed that proved to be the difference. The mantling mechanic has been improved, allowing players to hop over walls we didn’t see behind us, instead of getting trapped in a corner, and being held at the mercy of our 14-year-old adversaries. It’s now a lot easier to catch up to the squad. Black Ops III is looking to be a tightened sequel to its predecessors when it launches November 6. As for Destiny , well, we’ve saved the best for last. Bungie’s latest expansion for their blockbuster shooter, titled The Taken King , was officially announced and playable at E3

JULY 2015 JB Hi-Fi www.jbhifi.co.nz

24