Video Game Culture HQ — 2016 GOTY

2016 was a great year in gaming following a rather lackluster couple of years. This year we really saw this console cycle come into its own with original content after a few years of non-stop remasters. It made people excited about gaming again. The announcement of the Nintendo Switch only exacerbated this excitement. With so many great titles coming out it is always difficult to narrow a list down, but these are the best games from 2016, our 2016 GOTY.

2016 GOTY — Most Underrated Game: Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Time Dilemma was the final installment in the Zero Escape series, and it included the best puzzles and the best narrative in the series to date. While it may not have been on everybody’s radar, it was one of the best games to come out in 2016 and is more than deserving to be recognized as one of 2016’s GOTY candidates.

2016 GOTY — Most Disappointing: Uncharted 4

Yes, Uncharted 4 has been heralded by some as the second coming. In reality, it’s just an OK game. The narrative is slightly intriguing, but at the end of the day it isn’t a great video game, and that is what matters most in the end. The combat is very robust and it is incredibly repetitive. It is a shame because it had the chance to allow the PlayStation 4 to shine, but instead it fell flat on its face.

2016 GOTY — Best RPG: Pokemon Sun/Moon

Nintendo pulled out all the stops for Pokemon’s 20th anniversary, first with Pokemon GO and then with Pokemon Sun/Moon. Pokemon Sun and Moon saw both a revival and reinvention of the series. The formula was mixed up and created an enjoyable experience for both old players and new. The addictive nature of the gameplay is still there and the abundance of old and new Pokemon present, with a twist, is a nice touch. Pokemon has gone back to its roots in many respects which is why Pokemon Sun/Moon is the best RPG to come out in 2016.

 2016 GOTY: Best Action/Adventure Game: Quantum Break

Many considered Quantum Break to be a disappointment, but it was one of the best games of the year, even if it was overshadowed. The gameplay was a lot of fun and it had a really fascinating story. While there were many other Action/Adventure games out there, Quantum Break was unique and a breath of fresh air. This is why it was the best of its genre in 2016.

2016 GOTY — Best Shooter: Gears of War 4

Gears of War 4 was one of the most anticipated games of the year. The Coalition had some huge shoes to fill in Epic Games’ wake, but they didn’t falter. Gears of War 4 brought something old yet something new in terms of both story and gameplay. The game played great, the story was fantastic but not too heavy, and it was one of the most satisfying experiences of 2016.

2016 GOTY — Best Handheld: Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Time Dilemma was released on the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita. Given the limited amount of resources available for development, it’s astounding the game turned out the way it did. So much has been and will be said about the game, but there is a reason why it was the best handheld title of 2016.

2016 GOTY — Best Multiplayer Experience: Gears of War 4

Gears has become the face of Xbox and while the campaign was fantastic, the multiplayer was just as good. With co-operative multiplayer returning such as the renowned Horde mode being revamped (for the better) as well as competitive multiplayer returning with a few new modes, it’s by far the most satisfying multiplayer experience of the year. Gears multiplayer went back to its roots, which is a good thing. That, coupled with new and old maps alike, make it the best multiplayer experience of 2016.

2016 GOTY — Best Narrative: Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Time Dilemma’s story had a lot to live up to. It had to wrap up a trilogy and multiple plot points in a very story-driven series. It passed with flying colors. The story is the best of the year and arguably one of the best stories in gaming, period. It has a perfect balance of philosophy, science fiction, and most importantly, character development. The characters dominate ZTD and make the game what it is, even with the philosophy and science fictional elements thrown in. No story can succeed without a complex, interesting cast of characters. Zero Time Dilemma has just that and ends the series on a superb note.

2016 GOTY — 2016 Game of the Year: Zero Time Dilemma

There were so many quality games to come out this year. This was not an easy choice, but when it came down to it Zero Time Dilemma was the best game to come out in 2016. It had the perfect balance of gameplay and story. The puzzles in the game are second to none and really make you think. The story tugs at your heart. It is an excellent commentary on the human condition while still maintaining the indentity of a video game, which shows just how far the medium has come, making it 2016’s Game of the Year.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments!

Gears 4 is This Year’s GOTY

While our Gears of War 4 review is still in progress (I’m moving out to California!), there is one thing that is painfully obvious to us: Gears 4 is this year’s GOTY. Actually, it may be fair to say that Gears of War 4 is the game of this generation thus far. While the Gears 4 beta didn’t necessarily impress us, we recognized that it was a work in progress. When we received a behind-closed-doors demo of the Gears 4 campaign at E3 2016, we realized this was the game to own this year. Still, we weren’t prepared for how good this game would actually be.

In terms of Gears of War games, Gears 4 has one of the best campaigns of the bunch. There are so many subtle improvements to the gameplay that has been made and it makes for a much fuller experience, such as the ability to pull an enemy over cover and knife them. There are also a ton of new weapons to use, which is always fun. Gears 4 also makes more use of the environment than previous games, which really shows off the power of the Xbox One hardware and provides a lot of different strategic opportunities in combat, as environmental factors play a large role in gameplay. While Gears of War Judgment was a nice change of pace and an enjoyable experience, Gears 4 is a return to form for the series.

It’s painfully obvious from playing Gears 4 that Gears of War IS Xbox; they are synonymous with one another. The series has clearly taken Halo’s place as the face of Microsoft’s console. While Halo has grown stale over the years, Gears is better than ever. We haven’t even had a chance to delve into the multiplayer component of the game either. Horde mode makes a triumphant return and is an amazing evolution of Gears‘ staple co-operative multiplayer experience. Versus returns with both new and familiar game modes with some killer maps.

The Coalition nailed it with Gears of War 4. Gears 4 is this year’s GOTY, hands down, and the year isn’t even over yet. I feel confident in saying this though. It’s not only this year’s GOTY, it’s the game of this current generation. While there are other games that are finally showing off current generation hardware, no game has done this to date as well as Gears 4 with such a fulfilling experience from both a single player and multiplayer perspective. Gears 4 is this year’s GOTY and look for our full review, coming very soon!

5 Must-Have Games This Fall

Admittedly, this console generation has been somewhat lackluster. It’s taken a while to get off the ground and for special exclusives to be released. This fall and winter season sees a slew of fantastic games that are being released right in time for the holidays. Finally, this console generation is coming into its own and games are no longer being marketed for both last-gen and current-gen: it’s all about now and it’s all about exclusives (mostly.) These are 5 must have-games this fall encompassing almost every gaming system with mostly exclusives sprinkled with some multi-platform games.

5 Must-Have Games This Fall — 5. Mafia III

We had the chance to go hands-off with Mafia III this June at E3 and the experience did not disappoint. The game is not only an open-world sandbox game full of revenge, but a game where choice matters. This is not something that is common at all in the Gangster/GTA-style genre. Giving territories to lieutenants, who you trust, changes the game experience. The game also has a killer soundtrack and what better place for the game to take place in than an inspired New Orleans? Mafia III was one of the top games we saw at E3 and we are thrilled for its release in October.

5 Must-Have Games This Fall — 4. The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian is the highly anticipated follow-up to the classic Shadow of the Colossus, an action-adventure and puzzle game. You take on the main character who befriends a feathered animal named Trico and evade capture, explore, and solve puzzles together. The game was originally supposed to come out for the PlayStation 3, but it was plagued by development hell. When it was announced at E3 2015 the industry was shocked, but in a good way. Sony desperately needs an exclusive for their console, with Horizon Zero Dawn being delayed until February and No Man’s Sky having such a severe backlash from fans, as well as not delivering on promises. At this point, the nod as far as exclusives go has to go to Microsoft.

5 Must-Have Games This Fall — 3. Pokemon Sun and Moon

Nintendo’s only game(s) on this list (hey, Zelda was delayed!) Pokemon Sun and Moon very well may be the most revolutionary entries in the entire series. The Aloha region is rife with some incredibly exotic Pokemon, new gameplay mechanics, and some really cool alternate versions of the Pokemon we all know and love. Pikachu even has his very own Z-moves, brand new to the series. The real question is whether or not to get Pokemon Sun and Moon, but which one to get. I’m more of a Moon person, and as this may be Pokemon’s last hurrah on the Nintendo 3DS, it may be better than we could possibly imagine when it releases this November.

5 Must-Have Games This Fall — 2. Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy XV started out as Final Fantasy XIII Versus, but smartly, Square made it its own game entirely. Although the Final Fantasy XIII series is underrated, it is a far cry from the glory days of the franchise. Final Fantasy XV has the chance to change the franchise’s status as a disappointing RPG franchise and could revitalize the JRPG genre once again. The gameplay looks stellar, the story incredibly intriguing, and the characters seem endearing. It’s a shame that the game was delayed a few months, but it’s still coming out in November and is a must-have for console owners. Western RPGs may have taken over the market, but if Xenoblade Chronicles X showed us one thing, that doesn’t mean they are necessarily better.

5 Must-Have Games This Fall — 1. Gears of War 4

Gears of War is the face of Xbox. Halo has lost that title for a while. From all accounts, Gears of War 4 is the Gears game we have all been waiting for since Gears of War 3. Viewing a demo of the campaign at E3, I was enamored by the dynamics of the environments and how beautiful the game looked, not to mention how well it played. The framerate was steady. There were no issues. The story drew the audience in and while it seemed somewhat familiar comparative to the previous games, a great game developer once told me this: to make a successful game, you have to incorporate something familiar yet something new. The Gears team has done this perfectly and with Horde 3.0 mode, Gears 4 is poised to be the best game to come out this year not only because of its quality of content but shear amount of it.

Gears 4’s Campaign Will Have Split-Screen on PC

Gears of War 4 can’t come soon enough with an October 11 release date. It is the most anticipated Microsoft title in years and the face of the company. Gears 4’s campaign will have split-screen on PC for co-operative play, on top of the fact that it will enable cross-play with the Xbox One for all different game modes. That means that while one person is playing on the Xbox One, someone can join them on the PC, which is a fantastic feature and shows The Coalition is taking the PC version of the game seriously and not just as a cash-in to make money, although making money is a part of the business.

Split screen is a fading reality in today’s day and age, so the fact that The Coalition is adding this feature for co-op on Gears 4’s campaign demonstrates the demand for it and their dedication to making the most complete and user-friendly product possible. Gears of War 4 is one of our most anticipated games of the year and while we won’t be playing it on PC because of a lack of one, we will recommend it to all our readers. Gears is back and this iteration may be the best, if the latest launch trailer is any indication.

Gears 4 Launch Trailer Shows off Marcus Phoenix and Mechs

The Gears 4 launch trailer has been unveiled and surprisingly it features a great deal of Marcus Phoenix. Full of mechs, motorcycles, and I think Cole Train (?), this gameplay trailer shows that we are in one heck of a ride. Mechs. Cole Train. Marcus. Plus all of the other wonderful characters that are shaping the narrative. The main point though is the Gears 4 launch trailer shows off Marcus Phoenix at an inordinacy amount.

It begs the question, will Marcus be playable after the fact that the launch trailer shows off Marcus Phoenix so much? The answer is probably no, but one can hope, as he is one of the most iconic characters in video game history.

Gears is one of Microsoft’s defining franchises and the fact that the Gears 4 launch trailer shows off Marcus Phoenix, among other things, as well as shows off something new, tells us that Microsoft and The Coalition know exactly what they are doing. Every successful game is a mix of something old and something new, and Gears 4 seems to have both. If this trailer is any indication, it has the potential to be hands-down the best Xbox One game, perhaps the best Microsoft game to date.

Gears 4 Pre-Order Bonuses Revealed

The Gears 4 pre-order bonuses have been revealed, courtesy of Microsoft, entitled the “Brothers to the End Elite Gear Pack.”  The pre-order pack will be available to all versions of the game and will pay homage to the series’ legacy. Those who pre-order the game will receive three characters: Tomorrow Anya, Old Man Marcus, and Zombie Dom.

Anya is thusly named for her words at the end of the Locust War, “Tomorrow Marcus. We finally have a tomorrow.” Old Man Marcus is a reflection of a man who has lived 25 years after the Locust incursion, civilian clothes to boot. And finally, Zombie Dom is no doubt a reaction not only to the popularity of his character but the current obsession by the masses with the Zombie apocalypse. The pack will also contain the Gold Wave Lancer and Gold Wave Gnasher.

Gears of War 4 will be released on October 11, 2016 with some excellent pre-order bonuses!

Top 5 Games of E3 2016

E3 2016 has wrapped up, and along with it, our coverage is finally nearing its end. Before we finish things up though, we want to package everything that we saw together in order to give you our top 5 games of E3. It wasn’t easy choosing; there was so much shown at the show that literally blew our minds. While there were a lot of amazing reveals and a lot of games shown, we are going to limit our list of games to those that we were able to experience at E3 2016. As a full disclosure, there are no VR games or experiences on our list for one simple reason: they make me incredibly sick due to an eye condition, so unfortunately, I was unable to truly experience those games with any enjoyment, although I know I’m probably in the minority. That being said, here are our top 5 games of E3 2016.

Top 5 Games of E3 — 5. Mafia III

It’s really hard to place Mafia III at the bottom of the list (although even making this list is an accomplishment), but we simply experienced so many games that we’re excited for. Mafia III is one of our top 5 E3 games because of the compelling narrative, fun gameplay, the open-world experience, and most of all, the fact that your choices ultimately shape your experience. You could play the game multiple times but based on certain choices you make, you could wind up with a completely different experience each time, which not only gives it a lot of replayability value but intrigues us as to what our experience will be with Mafia III.

Top 5 Games of E3 — 4. Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn was one of our favorite games at E3 2016, but the only reason why it is rather low on this list is simply because the demo that we were given was so compact and didn’t take advantage of the open world that Aloy explores during the game. Sony and Guerrilla Games probably didn’t want to show too much, and this is fine, but we were very constricted. We wish that we were able to explore a bit of this world, even for the brief 10 minutes or so that we had with the game, as this is one of the main allures of the title. That being said though, Horizon Zero Dawn is magnificent which is why it is on our top 5 games of E3 list. The controls are very tight, the combat is incredibly fun and takes some strategy, which we like, and from what we saw of the world it is incredibly enticing. Although we wish there was more to the demo, we were beyond thrilled to be able to go hands-on with the game and it is our most anticipated PlayStation title in years.

Top 5 Games of E3 — 3. Gears of War 4

Gears of War 4 promises to be a very special game. While we were treated to a beta of the multiplayer aspect of the title earlier this year, which disappointed us just a little bit, we were thrilled to be able to view a hands-off demo of the Gears of War 4 campaign. As we said in our preview article, it brings something old yet something new, and this is something that we think will prove to be a successful formula. With some brand new gameplay mechanics, new characters, unique weapons, and a somewhat different atmosphere, Gears 4 has all the makings of a classic and is the game that the Xbox One has been waiting for, which is why it is one of our top 5 games of E3.

Top 5 Games of E3 — 2. Batman The Telltale Series

Telltale Games are master storytellers. We were left incredibly impressed with the first half-hour of the first episode of their Batman series, which is one of the most unique takes on the Dark Knight that we have seen to date. It’s not the Batman aspect of the character that intrigues us the most though — it’s the Bruce Wayne persona. He’s portrayed so differently than we have ever seen and we are very excited for Telltale to delve into the psyche of who this man is and who his true self is. Is Batman the mask, or is Bruce Wayne? This is a pivotal question and we have no doubt Telltale will explore this further. The game aims to split the Bruce Wayne scenes and Batman scenes 50/50, and while we have a little bit more to share with our interview with Richard Iggo of Telltale Games, which will be coming shortly, Batman The Telltale Series promises to be both character and action driven, sparking a perfect balance of the two. This is why it is number two on our top 5 games of E3 list.

Top 5 Games of E3 — 1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Like there ever was any doubt. Breath of the Wild quite literally took our breath away. The world, the landscape, the story (from what we know), the gameplay — everything was as close to perfection as could be. For the first time since Ocarina of Time, the controls for Zelda are completely different and we actually haven’t anticipated a Zelda game this much since Ocarina of Time. While we loved the previous console iteration of Zelda, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild is almost its antithesis, and this a good thing. There’s a freedom to be found in Breath of the Wild that hasn’t been found in a Zelda game in maybe 30 years. By giving us two immersive demos showing off two different aspects of the game, Nintendo was able to give us an experience that simply has us craving for more. March (presumably?) cannot come soon enough and this is easily our most anticipated title from any home console in the last 10 years or so, at least. Nintendo put on a masterful performance at E3 and Zelda was by far the game that everyone wanted to play (the line proved it), which is why it is our top game of E3 2016.

E3 2016: Gears 4 Preview — Something Familiar and Something New

During the course of our time at E3, we had the pleasure of witnessing a portion of the campaign mode of Gears of War 4 for our Gears 4 preview. Now, this is a title that we’ve been incredibly excited for since it was first announced at last year’s E3. Although we felt the multiplayer beta was a little lackluster, we did emphasize that it was just a beta and not a finished product. The Coalition has been hard at work to make this game the Xbox One title to own. Given The Coalition’s track record with the Gears Ultimate Edition, we were never really worried. If the demo we witnessed in our Gears 4 preview is any indication, this will be an incredible game that will satisfy Gears fans and new players to the franchise alike.

Gears 4 Preview — Backdrop

First and foremost, we have to say that this is the most beautiful game that we have seen on the Xbox One. It runs at a steady frame rate and is head and shoulders above any other Microsoft title; we were left in awe.

With that out of the way, the demo we witnessed for our Gears 4 preview was a portion of the campaign mode of the game. You will be able to play co-operatively via split screen, a trend which the industry has been moving away from. This feature makes us very pleased. If you purchase the Xbox One version of Gears of War 4 you will be able to take advantage of Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere feature, which allows you to play the game on the PC for free. The three primary protagonists of the game are JD Fenix, the son of Marcus Fenix, Del Walker, and Kait Diaz. The premise of the demo was that Kait’s mother, Reyna, has been kidnapped by the Swarm, the new antagonists in Gears 4, and they are on a quest to get her back. The Swarm, for whatever reason, are abducting and incubating humans. As we stated in the title of our Gears 4 preview, the game brings both something old and something new, as this eerily reminds us of the occurrences of Gears of War 2.

Gears 4 Preview — Combat

The combat that we witnessed in our Gears 4 preview was similar to what you would see in traditional Gears games, but there were some impressive changes that we really enjoyed. One such instance is that you can now melee enemies with a knife, stabbing them in the neck for a quick and instant kill. You can also pull foes over cover, which adds a new element of strategy to combat. One interesting thing that we noticed was that JD was not using the traditional Lancer, rather a Lancer called the Lancer MK3. What this may mean and what the differences are compared to the original Lancer we don’t know yet at this stage. Regardless, we are interested to see how it handles for ourselves. There were also additional new weapons that were present throughout the demo which were unique and original. Gears of War has always been like the summer blockbuster of video games, and Gears 4 is no exception from what we saw.

Gears 4 Preview — The Swarm

The brand new enemy in Gears of War 4 is the Swarm. There are several iterations of the Swarm and while they are different, they are also somewhat similar to the Locust and add a new element to the Gears of War universe. There are versions of the Swarm that actually reminded us of Wretches in their movements, but there were also versions of the Swarm that were completely original. There is an enemy who is literally called the Snatcher and is the one snatching up humans, presumably for incubation. The Swarm can also upgrade themselves and become more formidable, allowing them to then pick up weapons. This makes fighting them much more of a challenge. The Swarm can also burrow underground and even emerge from nests, similar to how the Locust used Emergence Holes. To close the nests that the Swarm open up, like with an Emergence Hole, you use a frag grenade. The design of the Swarm is magnificent and the artists at The Coalition were very creative in their designs, which must be praised.

Gears 4 Preview — Environment

The environment that we witnessed during our Gears 4 preview left us very impressed. It had a very gothic-like vibe, as JD and crew were surrounded by either churches or castles. There was a storm brewing and it set the tone for a very dark atmosphere, which we hope persists throughout the Gears of War 4 campaign. The environments are completely destructible and once the characters entered a church-like structure, there were small pods on the ceiling which could be fired at and would contain weapons or additional ammo. We didn’t get a glimpse of the diversity of environments that are sure to be present during our Gears 4 preview, but rest assured we are positive the game won’t disappoint in this respect.

Gears 4 Preview — Microsoft’s Time to Shine

If there’s anything that we took away from our time with our hands-off demo of Gears of War 4 is that it will be the game that the Xbox One has been waiting for. The key to any successful game is to bring something old yet at the same time bring something new to the table. The Coalition has done this masterfully. With some new gameplay mechanics, characters, enemies, and a very different version of Sera, the game promises to satisfy long-time fans who are craving something new and at the same time make the game accessible to players new to the franchise. During our Gears 4 preview, it became apparent that this was one of the most impressive games shown at E3, and that is no small feat. The game releases on Xbox One and PC on October 11 and if what we witnessed is any indication, Gears of War 4 will be the definitive Xbox One experience.

E3 2016’s Most Anticipated Games

E3 is nearly upon us, with only eight days left, we at Video Game Culture HQ have come up with our own E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. As we are attending the show, we are incredibly excited to see what each company has in store and while there are more than just five games that we are looking forward to, these are the five that have piqued our interest the most.

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Zero Time Dilemma

While Zero Time Dilemma, published by Aksys games, will be released on June 28, it will make an appearance at E3 and tops our E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. We will be reviewing the game in short time, but Zero Time Dilemma is a game that should not have even been made. A sequel to both the Nintendo DS’s 999 and the Nintendo 3DS’s Virtue’s Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma is the final installment in Kotaru Uchikoshi’s masterful trilogy. The game did not do well in Japan, but sold very well in the United States. Uchikoshi always envisioned the series as a trilogy, but the series was dead in the water after the second installment. All hope was lost, but last year, it was announced that a third installment in the series was finally coming out for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. With a gripping story, a vast mythology, and mind-numbing puzzles, this promises to be one of the best 3DS games of 2016.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Last year we were fortunate enough to attend the PlayStation Experience at E3 2015 and view a live demo of Horizon Zero Dawn, which is why it is one of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games. The world is absolutely gripping, the story seems incredibly unique and engaging, the combat looks excellent, and visually the game is second-to-none. While there hasn’t been much released about the game since its reveal at E3 2015 and it has supposedly been pushed back for a 2017 release, it is sure to make an appearance at this year’s E3 as it is the PlayStation 4’s most interesting exclusive. Hopefully we’ll be able to get some hands-on time with the game as it looks like it will be a blast. It seems very Zelda-like as well with regards to its world. We were told last year that everywhere you can see, you can actually visit, and the world is absolutely massive.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

With so many people leaving Bioware in the middle of the development for this game, I’ve been a bit skeptical, and to be honest, a bit afraid for this title. Still slated for a Q1 2017 release, I am cautiously optimistic for the next installment in Bioware’s Mass Effect series, although it’s not even for the aforementioned reasons. I loved the original Mass Effect trilogy. In fact, it is the very reason why I bought an Xbox 360 to begin with. It was such an emotional journey filled with wonderfully complex and dynamic characters, and while some may have thought the ending fell flat, I saw perfection. Shepard was the perfect protagonist and the Reapers were absolutely epic; I just don’t know how Bioware can top that. That being said, Bioware has proven themselves time and time again as a top-notch development team and Mass Effect: Andromeda will no doubt be an incredible game which is why it is a part of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games list. I really hope it is hands-on and more information is released, as this is one of the most beloved franchises from the last console generation.

Gears of War 4

While the beta of the Gears of War 4 beta did disappoint us, we are hopeful that these problems are fixed at E3 2016 as Gears 4 is one of our E3 2016’s most anticipated games. Gears was revolutionary in terms of both third-person shooters and cover shooters. The mechanics were nothing short of brilliant and I am very excited to see how far the game has come since the beta. It’s not even known if the beta we were playing was the build the development team had; they could have been much further ahead in the process. The Gears Ultimate Edition was brilliant and I have no doubt in The Coalition’s ability to get the job done. What is just a little concerning though is that the game is coming out this year but the beta was still mired with a number of issues. Hopefully these are fixed though and Gears 4 will be as enjoyable as the previous installments, as it is one of Microsoft’s staple franchises.

The Legend of Zelda for Wii U

The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is our most anticipated title appearing at E3 2016. Make no mistake about it: this is the game that people have been waiting for ever since the Wii U came out. In fact, if the game had come out closer to the Wii U’s launch, the system might have sold much better. Regardless of that though, and regardless of the fact that the game is also coming out for the Nintendo NX in March, The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is our E3 2016’s most anticipated game. It is not only going back to the roots of Zelda, but it is also promising to completely change the conventions of the series as well. Many are disappointed that the release of the game has been pushed back, but it is only by a few months, which is actually not that bad. Nintendo is betting it all on Zelda this year, which is fitting considering it is the series’ 30th anniversary. The game looks amazing from a visual perspective, appears to have an enticing world, and, well, it’s Zelda. It looks to be the most gripping Zelda since Ocarina of Time and hopefully it is the most revolutionary entry since the aforementioned title as well.

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While this is our list of E3 2016’s most anticipated games, there are plenty more to look forward to, some not even announced yet and will be showcased during each company’s press conferences. E3, once again, will be a magical experience where the gaming community comes together and showcases what they have been working on so hard for this year and beyond. There are no losers here; everybody wins.

Head of ‘The Coalition’ Speaks Out About Gears of War 4 Beta

Yesterday, we at Video Game Culture HQ gave you our impressions of the Gears of War 4 beta. We felt that it was very unrefined and we were worried for the final product, but we also said that we were hopeful that it will be fine. Today, studio head of The Coalition Rod Fergusson spoke out about the industry’s misuse of the word “beta”, claiming that people expect a beta to be a finely-tuned demo. He said they even joked about calling it an alpha to discourage this kind of thinking, which is actually worrisome in one respect.

“The industry has taken the word beta and twisted it to mean ‘pre-release demo.’ The community thinks they should be a highly polished demo. We are really focused on saying we’re pre-alpha right now. I even joked that we should call our beta an alpha just so people understand where we are and that we are actually looking for feedback and we’re actually testing systems.”

On the one hand, it is absolutely fine that the Gears of War 4 beta isn’t polished. What is a problem is that it’s six months from release and is mired by a number of issues that we talked about in our preview for the game. If this build is close to the build that The Coalition is currently playing and this is their beta stage, I may start to get very weary about Gears of War 4.