Summer Game Fest is upon us - a look at the main event: Weekly Roundup
Geoff Keighley’s replacement for E3, Summer Game Fest, is upon us. While the publisher specific showcases from Ubisoft, Capcom, and others are yet to happen, the main two-hour-long show has come and gone. With it, some major games were announced and dated, gameplay footage for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 and Alan Wake 2 was shared, and Nic Cage was put in Dead by Daylight. No, really.
Let’s round up the biggest reveals from summer’s biggest gaming event!
NO REALLY: NIC CAGE IS IN DEAD BY DAYLIGHT
The show itself, being two hours, was bound to have some negative space. There were a few trailers that didn’t spark wild reactions, and in those moments we as the audience were able to do a bio break, get a snack, etc. Nic Cage walking out on stage in an olive-green suit jacket to tell the world he was the next playable character in 2016’s multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight was not one of those moments.
To clarify: it’s not one of Nic Cage’s characters that will join the game as a Survivor on July 25th. It’s him. You’ll be able to outrun and survive the Killer with your friends as celebrated cult actor Nicolas Cage. It’s safe to say that absolutely no one had this on their Summer Game Fest bingo card, yet it’s absolutely something everyone loved to see. It felt like when Keanu Reeves walked out on stage at E3 all those years ago (2019) to talk about his role in Cyberpunk: 2077. We laughed, we cheered, we wept with joy. Nic Cage talked about how he wanted it to feel like we were “fused” with him when playing the game.
It was a good time.
MORTAL KOMBAT 1 GETS A GAMEPLAY TRAILER AND a LIVE MATCH BETWEEN GEOFF KEIGHLEY AND ED BOON
One thing everyone DID see coming-as Geoff and Summer Game Fest heavily marketed its appearance at the showcase-was more information on Mortal Kombat 1. What we didn’t expect, perhaps, was the amount of new content we got. Not only did we see an extended story trailer looking at a remixed, fresh take on the world of Mortal Kombat, we also got a look at the actual in-engine gameplay and fatalities that make the celebrated franchise so special. And it looks fantastic. Grounded visuals and tight combos serve as a fitting juxtaposition to the over-the-top fatalities and special moves each fighter has. In addition, it appears Netherrealm is taking notes from other fighting giants, as assist characters a la Marvel VS Capcom and Injustice’s Clashes are new touches to the gameplay.
We were even treated to a lengthy discussion on the game from series head and beloved Video Game Guy Ed Boon, who then went head-to-head with Keighley in a match live on stage. Besides being a fun change in pace for the showcase, it assuaged any fears from fans regarding what the game might look or feel like.
ALAN WAKE 2 SHOWS OFF ITS NEW AND IMPROVED GAMEPLAY WITH SAM LAKE
Following in Mortal Kombat 1’s footsteps, Sam Lake of Remedy fame arrived to talk about the long-awaited sequel to Alan Wake, and the dual protagonists of the titular author and FBI agent Saga Anderson. We got an extended gameplay sequence following Saga and it was only good news. The game has evolved in every way possible since the original in 2011, looking closer in style and spirit to March’s Resident Evil 4 remake – in a very good way. Geoff Keighley seemed genuinely excited about the game itself (though that could have just been good hosting from the man behind the Game Awards). After playing the original Alan Wake for the first time recently, a close friend of mine jokingly said that Alan Wake 2 would be the best game of all time. With this newest gameplay, I’m starting to hope he’s right.
SONIC: SUPERSTARS HINTS AT A NEW ERA OF 2D SONIC GAMES
One of the most surprising reveals in the showcase was Sonic: Superstars, a new 2D Sonic game from Sonic Team slated for a Fall release. While we only got a brief gameplay trailer, a lot was announced. Superstars takes after series favorite and fan-developed Sonic: Mania, returning to classic level design and mechanics. However, it updates the visuals to align closer with the likes of Sonic Generations, mixing the modern aesthetic with the classic gameplay.
It feels like this could be the puzzle piece Sonic Team and SEGA have been missing for years. Combining modern, polished visuals with tried-and-true gameplay seems like a match made in heaven. Throw in the four-player co-op and it’s hard not to get excited. It’s comparable to Capcom’s Mega Man 11: a classic formula with a fresh coat of paint.
LIES OF P IS THE NEWEST IP THAT STEALS THE SHOW
Announced back in 2021, Lies of P was an instant eye-catching title. Wearing it’s Bloodborne inspirations on its sleeve, the Soulsborne from Round8 Studios following a dark, gothic Pinnochio looking for his father Geppetto got everyone talking. Now, a new trailer has dropped further exploring the game’s creepy world of Krat, it’s horrifying biomechanical monsters, and it’s multiple endings influenced by whether or not the wooden boy himself tells a lie.
Everyone I know was talking about Lies of P post-show. While other games may have name recognition, Lies of P had the style and intrigue to get strong word-of-mouth. It also has an official release date, set to drop September 19 of this year (with a demo already out). Studios have struggled in the past to replicate FromSoftware’s magic formula of game development, but Lies of P may just crack the code.
SPIDER-MAN 2 FINALLY GETS A RELEASE DATE
It’s unreasonable to expect more Spider-Man 2 content after the ten-minute trailer that we were gifted during May’s PlayStation Showcase. What we did get, though, is what everyone really cared about: an official release date.
Spider-Man 2 is coming to PS5 October 20th of this year. This sets up the month of October to be massive, with Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, Alan Wake 2, and the aforementioned Spider-Man 2 all coming out within a week of each other (ignoring the possibility of a delay). We were also treated to some gorgeous concept art of Venom-who is not Eddie Brock, according to Insomniac Games-and the tantalizing fact that the world is apparently twice as large as the first game – though what did they do, double the size of New York City?
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH CLOSES OUT THE SHOW WITH A BANG
Geoff Keighley is a showman, and like all good showman, he likes to go out on a bang. Summer Game Fest was no exception, choosing to close out the showcase with an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the “new story in the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy VII remake project” (words ripped straight from the press release).
We were granted a rather striking look at Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and the gang breaking into the open-world of the original and taking on famous gaming baddie Sephiroth. Of course, this isn’t the final game in this “remake project”, but the second in a series of three. According to producer Yoshinori Kitase, “The entire team has worked fervently with love and adoration for the world of Final Fantasy VII to deliver an unforgettable experience for new adventurers and longtime fans alike, reaching new heights of cinematic storytelling, immersive and fast-paced combat, and rich exploration across a vast world.”
Let’s see if that holds true come early 2024, which is when Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will hit PlayStation 5.
