Top 10 Best Moments from E3 2019
E3 is simply Christmas for gamers. It’s a week of game reveals from fan-favorite developers showcasing upcoming game and system reveals for the remainder of the current calendar year going into the following year and beyond.
Despite the strange fact that Sony and PlayStation refused to participate in this year’s show in Los Angeles, this left the floor open for Microsoft and Nintendo, as well as other studios such as Square Enix, to have more media attention. While there were plenty of great moments in this year’s show, only ten stood above the rest.
Here are the Top 10 Moments from this year’s E3 Showcase.
10) The Right Bowser
Let’s be honest, there’s no gaming company more charming than Nintendo. Small nods at its characters and the love around them from their fans was further evident in this short part of Tuesday’s latest Nintendo Direct.
It was revealed earlier in the year that the former head of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, was going to retire. His body was ready for retirement and the gaming community as a whole, not just Nintendo, but gamers worldwide wished him a happy, well-deserved retirement.
But where would Nintendo go from there? Enter the new head of America, Doug Bowser. The name definitely fits for someone to take over the reins of Nintendo of America and the company played off of this with their 2019 E3 Nintendo Direct.
As Yoshiaki Koizumi was ready to introduce Doug Bowser to the stage publicly for the first time, the actual Bowser (yes, the arch-nemesis of Mario one) in full animated glory donned a tie and was ready to lead Nintendo into the future… until Doug and Koizumi told him there had been a misunderstanding. I actually feel for Bowser in this one — the guy’s already proved to be a good father for Bowser Jr. and was only looking for a solid career to afford taking better care of his son and the rest of the Koopalings.
There’s not much money in kidnapping Princess Peach, but it looks like that’s where the big guy is going to still be for the time being.
9) Destroy All Humans! Remake Trailer ft. Rammstein
THQ Nordic surprisingly was one of the best parts of E3 2019 — something many never thought they would be saying. Not in a bad way at all by any means… it’s just no one’s really thought of THQ since the mid-2000’s. It had already been revealed that cult classic Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom was going to be getting a full-blown 1080 HD “faithful” remake but there was one other gem from the small, and basically forgotten, game developer that spread like wildfire over YouTube.
Destroy All Humans! was originally released in 2005 and even received a sequel the year after, but the franchise had remained untouched since then. However, Crypto was back and better than ever after THQ Nordic dropped a trailer that quickly began to trend on YouTube. The alien was quick to start messing shit up like blowing up a billboard or leaving a guy stuck up a cow’s asshole (no, really) before disappearing in his spaceship.
The best part though was that Crypto was jamming out to Rammstein’s Ich Will the entire time and even got 1950’s America jamming with it. World War II was only a decade ago, right?…
Welcome back, Krypto. If you’re going to destroy all humans, please start with the Left.
Thanks, buddy.
8) Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Gameplay Footage
Gotta be honest, I hate EA.
My faith in them after how they butchered Star Wars Battlefront II (not to mention how Madden literally is the same shitfest with a new coat of paint every year) is at an all-time low and for the first time ever, I refused to buy anything from a specific gaming company based off past performances… with the exception of the excellent team at Respawn, the same company that created Titanfall and Apex Legends.
The gameplay footage featured for the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order looked incredible and definitely had my inner 10-year-old (the one wielding a lightsaber and running through the woods pretending to be a Jedi) freaking out inside. The Archie Andrews-looking protagonist and his droid dominated the dreaded Empire in a tactical use of the Force never before seen in a Star Wars game prior until now.
I’m still not ready to forgive EA for how they bastardized the Battlefront series, but I am willing to give them one final chance seeing how Respawn is the team behind their latest title. There seem to be many others besides me ready to give the struggling EA one final shot at getting this right.
However, should EA fuck up one final time, especially once again on Star Wars… I’m praying Disney eliminates them into the far, dark corners of the galaxy — never to be seen again.
7) Square Enix finally reveals Marvel’s Avengers
Last year at E3 2018, a brief teaser trailer was revealed from Square Enix revealing that they had teamed up with Marvel to create an Avengers game (that hopefully is tied into Marvel’s Spider-Man for PS4)… hey, let me dream, ok?
Anyways, this year, Square Enix held nothing back and unveiled its first look into the new title revealing a gorgeous cinematic, visually impressive gameplay and a completely original story that sent Marvel fans into a frenzy. While some were speculating that Cap looks a little strange and wondering where in the hell Hawkeye was (sorry, Jeremy Renner), everything that was revealed here on Day Two of E3 left a majority of fans very satisfied.
Gamers in attendance at the Square Enix press conference also burst into applause with the promise that all future heroes and other DLC for the game are going to be free of charge. No loot boxes, no “pay-to-play” mechanics here — truly gaming as it’s supposed to be.
Take notes EA and Activision.
It really should not take you this long to wake up and cut your bullshit and stop trying to intentionally fuck us all over financially.
6) Dragon Quest Heroes revealed as 2nd wave of Smash Bros. DLC
There was a reported leak a few months ago that a Dragon Quest character was going to be revealed as the second DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch. It was mainly speculated that the character to be included was more than likely Erdrick from Dragon Quest III. During Tuesday’s Nintendo Direct, it was revealed this was true — four times over.
Simply called “The Hero,” SSBU will include four of the main Dragon Quest heroes spanning up to the most recently released Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Smash does make sense in gaining a DLC character from Dragon Quest due to the title having a Definitive Edition release on the Nintendo Switch on September 27th.
While the name The Hero does seem generic for a character in a game like Smash, Dragon Quest games have been favorites to many Nintendo fans for years and many were thrilled about the DLC addition via social media. There is the sort of *sigh* moment when you see yet another anime-style sword character…
…but at least he’s not from Fire Emblem…
5) Final Fantasy VII Gameplay Footage and Release Date
Final Fantasy VII is one of the most beloved video games of all time and is considered by many to be the greatest video game, or at least RPG, to have even been created. The reveal that the cherished title was getting a remaster via a teaser trailer all the way back in E3 2015 caused a firestorm on the Internet four years ago and the hype appropriately hasn’t died down since, with gamers dying to hear more about the progress of the title’s gorgeous re-release.
E3 2019 delivered on players’ hopes and then some showing visually stunning graphics, intense gameplay and revealing the release date for the game on March 3rd, 2020. Fans in LA physically attending E3 also were overjoyed to learn that they would actually be able to play the game for themselves at Square Enix’s E3 booth.
For those truly obsessed with the original game that are dying to have more than just the remake in March, Square Enix has you covered. Exclusively through the Square Enix online store, gamers can now pre-order the Final Fantasy VII Remake 1st Class Edition which will include a steelbook cover for the game, an art book, a physical copy of the games gorgeous soundtrack, bonus DLC and, most importantly, a statue of Cloud riding a motorcycle.
It will only set you back $330…
A Nintendo Switch is cheaper… but some have seriously waited over two decades for this.
Enjoy this.
4) Project Scarlett Revealed; Confirms Backwards Compatability & Halo Infinite
I was raised on the original XBOX and played my XBOX 360 religiously when I was in high school. So to say that I’ve been disappointed by this current generation of XBOX and Microsoft is a massive understatement. I can also honestly say that switching over to the PlayStation 4 was one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made as a gamer, leading me to playing key exclusive titles like Spider-Man, God of War, Days Gone and Horizon: Zero Dawn.
Even though I’ve joined the Dark Side during this current generation of gaming, I still root for Microsoft to pick themselves up and finally deliver with both their hardware and software. Fortunately, Microsoft finally appeared to deliver at their press conference this year with promising software like a proper first look into Halo Infinite and the promise that this next generation’s XBOX will be backward compatible… with every past generation of XBOX titles.
Additionally, the hardware is promised to be four times as powerful as the XBOX One X. All Microsoft has had to claim with the XBOX One X (or tried to claim) over this current generation is the power that the console possesses, but hasn’t had a game that can live up to what the hardware delivers.
With a new Halo launching with the future console and promising new hardware in the form of Project Scarlett… hopefully, Microsoft can make its way back to the top and rival Sony once again.
Because right now, Microsoft is lucky enough to even be close to eating Sony’s dirt in terms of those willing to stick to XBOX after this generation’s hardware and software.
3) Keanu Reeves Takes the Stage for Cyberpunk 2077
Keanu Reeves is quickly turning into this generation’s Chuck Norris.
Reeves, the John Wick and Matrix star, took to the stage after having been revealed that he will be a character in the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 which is being developed by CD Projekt Red and will be released on April 16th, 2020. Reeves walked on stage to a massive round of applause from the crowd and was even called “breathtaking” by one of the many patrons in attendance. To this, Reeves appropriately replied that that guy was breathtaking, as well as everyone in the theater.
The love from the audience to Reeves and the love and joy sent back from the action star was apparent in his actions, words and face as Reeves will no doubt become a meme (again) in a short matter of time following the conclusion of E3 on June 13th in LA. While the game is not an XBOX exclusive, Microsoft may sell a few more thousand copies with Reeves’ endorsement.
2) Banjo-Kazooie FINALLY comes to Smash Bros. as 3rd wave DLC
FINALLY!!! HOLY SHIT, FINALLY!!!
Ok, sorry, now that that’s over, I can explain why this is huge.
Banjo-Kazooie was a gem back on the Nintendo 64 back in the day when Rare made games for Nintendo before partnering up with Microsoft. Due to the recent partnership between the two great gaming companies, Nintendo and Masahiro Sakurai were able to get the beloved 90’s character into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and out of the sort of assumed retirement that the cherished character had settled into.
Additionally, upon the reveal of The Hero from the Dragon Quest, Smash fans who were expecting the reveal (which had also been leaked/teased) somewhat disappointedly threw away the idea that the iconic duo would be joining the game… but Sakurai has proven that he loves to be a troll to his fanbase, and he did it again.
The reveal of Banjo-Kazooie further adds another historic chapter of Nintendo history into Smash as Banjo-Kazooie provided a trademark platformer and a great sequel for the still-beloved Nintendo 64 back in the ’90s. Additionally, it’s great to see the two finally duking it out alongside Mario, Donkey Kong and Link who were staple characters in particular to the 64 era of gaming for Nintendo.
The other characters in the game are also seen giving Banjo and Kazooie a standing ovation towards the end of their trailer. It’s only appropriate seeing classic characters like Sonic and Pac-Man and newer characters like Isabelle and Villager cheering for the two. They wanted them in the game as much as we did.
Thank you Microsoft and Nintendo,
Sincerely all 90’s kids.
1) Sequel to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild revealed
I shouldn’t have to remind anyone just how good The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild truly was. It was arguably the most beautiful game in the entire Zelda franchise in terms of its visuals, its music and its gameplay.
The huge reveal of Banjo-Kazooie (again, finally) making it into Smash would have been an appropriately satisfying conclusion to this year’s E3 Direct from Nintendo, but they weren’t quite done. Promising one final reveal, Nintendo dropped a grim and somewhat eerie trailer which eventually revealed Link and Princess Zelda in their BOTW attire.
The initial assumption could’ve been that it was going to be DLC for the 2017 release, but no. Nintendo — only two years later — revealed that it’s already got its sequel in development, much to the surprise of gamers viewing the Direct live in the Nintendo Store watch party in New York City.
Similar to how Reggie Fils-Aime revealed Twilight Princess to close Nintendo’s E3 2004 presentation, this reveal came off as a surprise and will surely be discussed in the days, months and years to come until the game’s release. Assumedly, Nintendo fans will be able to patiently wait for the upcoming title’s release knowing how successful Breath of the Wild was following its development.
The reveal capped off a great 2019 Direct from Nintendo, who revealed numerous titles that will be released later on this year. Once again, it can be argued that Nintendo won E3 following another great showing.