It was a cold frosty morning in Camden, but that didn’t dampen any spirits, mainly because we knew there was a day of non-stop gaming ahead of us at the EA Winter Showcase. After being escorted though Camden market and through one of the plushest restaurants in all of London, we finally made it to Mecca, otherwise know as the big room with all the consoles in it.
There was a vast selection of great games and DLC to choose from, but time was limited so that meant we’d have to either breeze through some games, or leave them altogether. The Showcase included titles such as Need for Speed Most Wanted, Dead Space 3, Fuse, Fifa 13 on the Wii U, Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel, Mass Effect 3: Omega, Battlefield 3: Aftermath and a whole host of mobile games. Here’s a look at what we got around to seeing…
Real Racing 3
We kicked things off with Real Racing for the iPhone and iPad. For a mobile racing game it’s absolutely top-notch. The graphics are stunning, the controls are realistic – even for a mobile game where steering can often feel too heavy or too sensitive – and best of all there are loads of your favourite car manufacturers to choose from… Check out the video below for a better look at what’s in store.
Need for Speed Most Wanted
If you’re looking for the realistic driving abilities from a game like Forza or Gran Turismo, but with the added fun of being chased by police cars as you smash through billboards for extra bonus points, then look no further than Need for Speed Most Wanted. This was one seriously fun and addictive game, but there were a few features that stood out. Firstly, it’s one of the most social games on the market at the moment, and hooking up with your mates online will easily see you playing for hours. There are loads of different events to choose from and you might find that your mate who’s great at racing might not be so good at racking up stunt points. This is definitely a Christmas stocking filler for the online gamer of the house. Another really good feature with the game is the fact that you don’t have to play for weeks before you start getting into the nicer cars. While driving around the massive city you come across hidden cars that you can drive up and ‘jack’. Safe to say it didn’t take long before we were cruising around in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Army of Two: The Devils Cartel
I have to say, I was seriously impressed with Army of Two: The Devils Cartel. I wouldn’t necessarily be the biggest fan of third person shooters, but The Devils Cartel brought a completely new experience to the over the shoulder co-op game. You play as Alpha and Bravo – you can make up your own names if you like – as they battle through the streets of Mexico fighting off dangerous drug cartels. The key-defining feature of Army of Two: The Devils Cartel is the new ‘overkill’ feature. Once you rack up enough points by making tough or multiple kills, your overkill meter will start flashing and you’ll be able to unleash a whole world of hurt on your enemies. Time seems to slow down slightly and your ammunition becomes almost explosive so taking out a cluster of cartel bad-guys is made a little bit easier and a whole lot more fun. Have a gander at the video below for yourself.
Battlefield 3: Aftermath
The latest DLC for Battlefield is called ‘Aftermath’ and it sees you fighting through four different urban maps, which have been devastated by a massive earthquake. It’s actually pretty cool because the vehicles that you use in the game have been adapted with some of the rubble caused by the earthquake – oh, and crossbows. So there’s a bit of a Mad Max feel to it. If you’re a fan of the series then you’re sure get a kick out of this.
Fuse
Fuse was definitely the stand out game at this year’s EA Showcase. I hadn’t heard anything about it up until that point, but it definitely made a lasting impression on me. It’s a bit like Army of Two in the sense that it’s designed to be a co-op game that lets you play through missions with up to four of our friends, either online or split screen. But it’s the story itself that’s so damn captivating. We won’t go into too much detail and ruin the fun, but the gist is that bad guys get their hands on an alien substance known as Fuse and in the wrong hands it could be used for weapons of mass destruction. What I loved about the game was the fact that although it’s technically a sci-fi game, it did go too over the top with freaky aliens or anything stupid like that – all to their own. It was a really enjoyable game and I hope to see a heck of a lot more about it in the future.
Medal of Honour: Warfighter
The final game I got my hands on before it was time to leave for home was Medal of Honour: Warfighter. Sadly, we only got to check out two levels of the online multiplayer, but it was still enjoyable. The controls were somewhat sensitive, but that could easily be sorted out in the game’s options menu. The standout feature was the sheer level of customisation – it was astounding. From the class of your character to his nationality there was just so much to pick and choose from that it would be hard not get a little attached to the game – especially when your character dies and respawns are turned off. The multiplayer was fun, but we’ll have to wait and see what the game itself is like.
So, there you have it. Until next time…
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
