E3 2017 - Event Impressions

E3 2017 has come and passed, but jet lag will always remain with us.  Sorry for the delay folks.  That jet lag really did take more of a toll than expected.  For those who noticed the absence of Sunday comics, expect such to return this coming weekend.  In the meantime, here are some impressions of the E3 event from attending as the average gamer, consumer, aspiring designer, and gaming enthusiast.

Nintendo's E3 2017 Booth - New Donk City, where the fun and funk never stops.

Walking onto the show floor the first day was an overwhelming spectacle to behold.  The colorful displays.  The mass of crowds.  Everything was calling for your attention, but it became quickly apparent that only so many would be able to partake in what there was to offer.  It was like a mix of a convention and a miniature theme park.  Even without the extra 15,000 first-time attendees, I can imagine this being a packed event.  With this addition though, it's clear that this event is experiencing some growing pains.  That's not to say it wasn't still a fun and exhilarating experience.  It was just an experience that needed some adjusted expectations and a fair share of patience.

Day One - Mario Odyssey & Taking in the Sights

We started the event with Nintendo because they were known to fill up last E3.  Fortunately, Nintendo had 60 demo stations for a 10-minute demo of Super Mario Odyssey, so though the lines looked intimidating, they moved at a reasonable rate (take notes E3 for next year, more demo stations for big games).  And first impressions of this game are amazing.  Playing the New Donk City world, the game structure feels much more open-ended, allowing for more diversions and exploration than past 3D Mario games.  And the world looks to be crammed with secrets in every nook and cranny.  At the end of the demo, we were given a snazzy pin and perhaps the best swag of the whole show, a visor of Mario's very own Cappy.

The star of E3 2017 (and Disney Land) - Cappy!

After Nintendo, there was not as much of a plan and the crowds and size of the event were becoming a bit intimidating.  Not knowing where to next devote our efforts and not wanting to miss what the show had to offer, it was time to take a tour and just enjoy the sights that was E3.  We got an idea of what certain game's wait times were and saw plenty of stellar displays, from big publishers to small developers alike.  And plenty of giveaways were handed out along the way, all calling to be witnessed.

(top-left) Lines at Nintendo; (top-right) Monster Hunter; (bottom-left) Spider-Man; (bottom-right) Farming Simulator

As the day approached its end, we managed to play a few more games due to the shorter length of their demos / wait time: Dragon Ball FighterZ, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.  I may not have had the Dragon Ball childhood or be the biggest fan of fighting games, but I cannot deny the breathtaking style and action this game has achieved, as if bringing the cartoon to life.  The others were enjoyable, though didn't leave nearly the lasting impression.  It was then time to hobble back to our dwellings and plot what courses of action to take tomorrow.

Day Two - Unique Experiences & Friendly Faces

I decided my goal for this second day of E3 was to make the most of experiences that could only be found here.  As such, the day started with a long wait to enter Nintendo's ARMS tournament.  Sure the game was due to come out in just a few days and I'd likely get by butt handed to me, but the chance to duke it out on stage was enticing enough.  As predicted, I never got that opportunity as my butt was handed to me, but at least I made it past the preliminary bout and got some cool pins to show my adequate prowess.  And watching others compete in this tournament showed this game should have a fun and captivating audience.

After this, it was off to view a gameplay demonstration of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which I thankfully was able to schedule an appointment for using Sony's Playstation Experience app.  Should they improve the stability of this app, I can see this being a fantastic means of adapting E3 in the future, though it was unfortunately more of a coin-flip scenario this year should you get the opportunity to experience Sony games or they filled up within minutes as your app crashes.  The booth of Uncharted had looked so enticing from the outside, I was intrigued by what this experience could be inside the closed doors, but it ended up being more of just a little closed theater inside, not nearly as intricately decorated.  Still a fun demo to watch, though no surprises to be had.  It's an Uncharted game through and through.

Rabbid Kong!!!

Out of sheer curiosity, I next played the Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle.  Though I've grown tired of the Rabbids in recent years, I was surprisingly tickled by their silliness and humor again.  However, for what is supposed to be a tactics/strategy game, it seems all very simple and overly loose.  I remain unsure if this game will provide a tight and deep strategy experience, but if you're looking for a light-hearted simple bout, this could end up being a good time.

Of course, while at Nintendo's booth, I had to play Odyssey again, this time trying the Sand Kingdom world.  In this world, I was able to try more of Mario's hat body-swapping abilities, which are as smooth and impressive as the trailer makes it out to be.  The possibilities for unique gameplay scenarios and puzzles seem nearly endless with this nifty mechanic.  And spending a good portion of the day in Nintendo's booth, the music in Odyssey is certainly catchy and infectious.

Meeting the crew of Easy Allies (formerly Game Trailers) and being photo-bombed by God of War Director, Cory Barlog.

We then got to meet the creator of Street Fighter, Yoshinori Ono, the crew of Easy Allies, and God of War Director, Cory Barlog.  All extremely kind and welcoming individuals, a real pleasure to meet.  And there were many more fun sights to witness, such as this impressive Horizon: Zero Dawn cosplay (see below video).

Day Three - More Mario & Wrapping Up

The final day started with some much needed extra sleep and then more Odyssey, because why not?  It had reasonable lines and was just so much fun, and such great swag.  Even playing it a 3rd and 4th time, there were new secrets to uncover and so much more to explore.  This game cannot come out soon enough.  Speaking of secrets, even Nintendo's booth had small secrets and so many details to discover, it would have been easy to miss had I not spent three days in this booth.

Lastly, I was able to sign up for two last Sony experiences: Moss and Monster Hunter World.  Moss is a title for Playstation VR, in which it was a truly magical experience to behold.  Like a storybook come to life, it felt like jumping into one of the Redwall anthropomorphic stories of my childhood.  Though it was a short demo, the pacing and progression was fantastic, and the framing of each section / diorama was a carefully crafted cinematographic sight to behold.  This game left quite a lasting impression and is almost an enticing reason in of itself to look into Playstation VR.  Monster Hunter is more Monster Hunter, which is great if you're already a fan, but it won't do much to change other opinions otherwise.

At the end of the day, we roamed the halls with our tired feet taking in the sights and sounds one last time, wondering how we'll be able to fit our abundance of bags into our suitcases for the flight home.

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So the most asked question for us E3 first-timers: Was it worth it?  I can say though it was a bit overwhelming and an abundance of waiting, it was a worthwhile and a truly memorable experience.  Hopefully this first test of the public joining isn't met with too much negativity, but is instead met as a welcome opportunity to grow and bring together the love and passion that is for this creative gaming medium.  As a consumer and I hope soon-to-be game developer, these opportunities for the public and industry to meet together like this are important to be had, to inspire new ideas and bring fresh perspectives.  So again, yes, absolutely worth it.

If you have any questions or E3 experiences to share, be sure to share them in the comments below.  And there's still more post-E3 coverage to be had, so stay tuned later this week to see my picks for Top 5 E3 2017 Highlights (and other honorable mentions).  Until then, happy gaming!