I can’t lie, this year’s Summer Game Fest might actually be the first time it felt as if E3 was back in spirit and in hope. From PlayStation kicking off the week with a massive State of Play lineup to the main Summer Game Fest showcase to XBOX spotlighting their own reveals, to indie games knocking it out of the park as usual, and to Nintendo wrapping it all up with a cherry on top through its hour-long direct. No stones were left unturned as there was something for every gamer this week, and at AIPT, we are a bunch who celebrate the victory of art in any form.
So, to celebrate, I asked my colleagues and friends to pick their favorite gaming reveals from this week and write about them, and the response was immensely gratifying. There is nothing I like more than sharing my love for this medium with other gamers and seeing the variety of responses; it made me realize that video games are for everyone.
– Vish, Gaming Editor
Final Fantasy VII: Revelation — Square Enix
While I wouldn’t call myself a gamer, there are a few games that have a special place in my heart, and Final Fantasy VII is one of them. The remake series has reignited that love, while also taking some genuinely daring turns. I do not doubt that Revelation will close out the remake trilogy with both style and heart, and the fact that it’ll be available on all platforms is a true master stroke. Add in the fact that Tifa Lockhart’s going to be a playable character in Street Fighter 6 and everything’s coming up Final Fantasy!
God of War Laufey — Santa Monica Studio
As someone who was there when God of War first started, it’s been pretty awesome seeing the series change over time. What started as an excuse for hyperviolent masculine power fantasy has now become one of the most interesting and touching looks at how violence can affect you, how the scars you carry can be passed on to those you raise, and how you can change to be a better person for those who need you. 2018’s God of War reboot is one of my favorite games of all time because of this, and while I wasn’t as in love with Ragnarok as others, I’m beyond excited for God of War Laufey for the sheer surprise of it all.
After years of rumors of another installment having Kratos take on gods of other mythologies, having a realm where it’s the afterlife of the gods makes for a really interesting and diverse playground for enemy types, and the fact that we’ll get to see what made Laufey such a badass warrior is even cooler.
It’s a big swing from Santa Monica Studio that I’m happy they’re taking, and by all accounts, if it works, we could see even more expansions on Kratos’ world. Plus, the sheer joy Deborah Ann Woll exudes in the cast video is extremely infectious, and Jack Quaid’s cube character Phranque is already hysterical to me just from watching him bash opponents. Really, the only negative I have about Laufey is that I can’t play it right now.
Gundam Rogue Orbit — Bandai Namco Studios
There are few IPs I show up for harder than Gundam, and the fact that we’re getting a bold new Gundam game is beyond exciting. This isn’t a model kit bash-fest like Gundam Breaker 4, an apologetic timeline hodgepodge like SD Gundam Battle Alliance, a fighting game like Gundam VS, or… whatever Gundam Battle Operation: Code Fairy was; it’s completely new and original with new mech designs, new enemies, and a new story that seems to be taking elements from various series and spinning out something fresh. Am I bummed this doesn’t take place in the UC timeline? Yeah, a bit, but I’m not going to turn down an original Gundam game that emphasizes speed and movement, either!
– George “Char was right” Loftus
Spyro: A Realm Beyond — Toys for Bob
Some of my earliest gaming memories are playing through Spyro video games on the PS2 and running around trying to find all the Dragon eggs. Little did I know then that this purple dragon would invoke such happiness and nostalgia in me 25 years later. This game IS for all the 90s kids who, like me, grew up playing and fantasizing about befriending a dragon or about being a dragon as cool as Spyro (I did both). A Realm Beyond looks fantastic from the short trailer that was shown at the XBOX showcase, and I just know I am going to sink in some ungodly hours into this brand new world, especially with the added fluidity to Spyro’s flight mechanics.
Hands down, this was one of the best announcements of the year, and I cannot wait for 2027 to reunite with my long-lost friend, Spyro the Dragon.
– Vish
gen ATLAS — genDESIGN
Shadow of the Colossus would be among my top five favorite video games of all time, so I’m on board with any upcoming release from director Fumito Ueda, even if you have to wait for a decade for a new game from him to arrive. First revealed at The Game Awards 2024 under the working title Project Robot, you can see Ueda’s fingerprints all over gen ATLAS, despite its sci-fi surroundings of giant mecha and alien environments. Considering that Ueda’s games are defined by a simple premise that expands into something epic, from the newest trailer you get some idea of the gameplay, from piloting a flying mecha head over an open world to third-person shooter mechanics.
It may be a while till we see the final result, but for me, this is a must-buy from day one.
Halo: Campaign Evolved — Halo Studios
Few things activate me like the Winter Soldier quite like the drums and chimes of Marty O’Donnell’s score for the original Halo. I was there for Anniversary’s release in 2011, and I’m happy I’ll be there (I mean, hopefully) for this new remaster that releases in July with my friends. There’s just something so special about that adventure; I feel like I talk about it the same way my dad talks about Star Wars – like, yeah, there’s a lot to love about the sequels, but I still haven’t picked my jaw up from the floor after playing that first release, y’know?
I’m bummed the multiplayer won’t be part of the deal, but getting to play through the campaign with three of my friends and experience three new levels created exclusively for this release is more than I need to have already locked in a pre-order.
– George “Master Chief was right” Loftus
Lords of the Fallen 2 — CI Games
I have only the vaguest of memories of the eighty-plus hours I spent in Axiom and the Umbral, the two realms you walk in 2023’s Lords of the Fallen, but I can tell you that I spent those hours feverishly and obsessively. I was in that very specific and desperate place many newly minted, post-Elden Ring players found themselves after leaving the Lands Between: hungry for a good Soulsborne, dipping into both classic and new video games hoping for something that scratched a very particular itch. While the plot of that first game didn’t leave much of an impression on me, the feeling of the game did.
Among a dozen competing game worlds, each with its own take on protagonist progression and aesthetics, Lords of the Fallen seemed the most vividly realized, a game that took its visual style and unique systems just as seriously as its From Software forebears. I’ll gladly slip into the new game, knowing that it will likely stand head and shoulders above the other pretenders to From’s throne.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin — PlatinumGames
Re-announced this year, The Last Ronin is a no-brainer for gamers, especially now that PlatinumGames has taken over. Previously announced in 2023 by Paramount Games Studio, the game is based on a recent comic that brought a fresh batch of readers to the Ninja Turtles comics and brought back old readers, too. It’s an edgy take on the Ninja Turtles, with quips limited and blood splashing every manhole the eye can see.
Likely a third-person actioner à la Bayonetta, the game has a few concepts that could make it a smash hit. One, it’s set in a futuristic New York City. Two: only one Ninja Turtle remains, making it a natural solo-character adventure, but with the Ninja Turtles brand. Three, darker in tone, this game will feel entirely new to even the biggest Ninja Turtles fan.
The Wolf Among Us 2 — Telltale
Ever since it was announced eight years ago, The Wolf Among Us 2 has been through development hell, but for true believers like me who never gave up on this game, we finally have a release window, and it’s so, so close! The one time I did not expect to see this game, and voilà, there it was at this year’s Summer Game Fest. Looking back, waiting for this game has not just changed me as a person, but it has changed the way I appreciate video games on a deeper level. I cannot wait to be reunited with the cast of Fabletown and experience another chapter from Bigby’s life.
And I am sure that some tears will be shed as I play this next year.
– Vish
Virtua Fighter Crossroads — Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
The SEGA corporate lineage to get to Virtua Fighter Crossroads is perfect. The original Virtua Fighter heavily influenced Shenmue, which then a producer moved from Shenmue to direct and produce Yakuza. Yakuza became the stable franchise that brought SEGA into the PS4/PS5 generations, and now RGG Studio, the creators of Yakuza, gets to reinvent Virtua Fighter for a new generation.
Virtua Fighter is going to do what Virtua Fighter does best by creating a 3D fighter that rewards fighting game fans who dive into their complex systems, but the new single player mode was the primary focus of the Summer Game Fest trailer. The story mode promises to be cinematic with branching storylines, with David Hayter (X-Men, Man of Steel) leading world development. With how bombastic and fun Yakuza has been over the years, I can’t wait to see what they do with this more grounded world.
SEGA and RGG Studio seem to have figured out what Capcom did with Street Fighter 6 – Be confident, be unique, and most importantly, be cool as hell.
Persona 4 Revival — ATLUS
Persona 3 Reload, Atlus’ 2024 remake of the death-focused 2006 RPG that marked the birth of the series’ modern incarnation, was a remake done well. The development team preserved the original’s lovable ensemble and strong thematic work while reworking the gameplay and giving the antagonists space to blossom.
Persona 4 Revival aims to do something similar for 2008’s Persona 4, and by extension, its 2012 expanded version Persona 4 Golden. Atlus’ P-Studio has got the gameplay (a wonderfully tricky turn-based RPG where stat manipulation and elemental strengths and weaknesses are key) handled. What’s most intriguing about Revival is the question of how it will approach its setting. Reload preserved 3’s mid-aughts setting, but it was set in an urban corner of the Persona world with bleeding-edge technology (one of the party members is a full-blown android).
4, by comparison, is set in a small town and uses a television channel as a key plot device and circa-2008 televisions as a visual motif. It’ll be interesting to see how the creative team approaches the setting and look from 18 years on, and to hear the new English voice cast bring their takes to a very well-loved ensemble.
Wolverine — Insomniac Games
I’ve played a lot of violent video games in my nearly four decades on this Earth, but even I was shocked by the level of brutality in the latest Wolverine trailer that kicked off Sony’s State of Play. Sure, X-Men Origins: Wolverine surprised us all in 2009 with the “M” rating, but that game looks like Yoshi’s Crafted World compared to this one. The unique spin on Logan’s world, where the X-Men don’t exist and mutants are largely unknown to the regular world, is a bit of an odd decision, but I’m legitimately excited to see where this story goes, and more importantly, how many costumes I can make Logan wear.
Insomniac Games already has my sword (or in this case, claws) after their stellar Spider-Man games, so I am very excited to see what kinds of bloody carnage they can unleash with my second favorite Marvel character.
Hello Kitty Party Land — Sanrio Games
I grew up playing Hello Kitty video games on the DS, but I’m shocked to see a true multiplayer game from Sanrio Games since the past 2 Hello Kitty games for the Switch have only allowed 2 players. Hello Kitty Party Land seems like it’ll be similar to Mario Party, but you get to create your avatar instead and pick a partner character. Since there are over 140 Sanrio characters featured in the game, we can expect to see lesser-known characters such as the Sugar Bunnies and Pekkle. I hope characters like Mocha and Macaroon, who are companions for popular characters like Cinnamaroll and Pompompurin, are featured in the game as well, since they have been growing in popularity.
This game seems like a must for every Sanrio fan, and given the large cast, you might see your favorite character, even if they are very niche. I hope there will be another trailer before the game’s release so I can get a sneak peek at some of the other characters coming. I’ll be placing my pre-order soon and counting down the days until I can play Hello Kitty Party Land.
Xenoblade Genesis — Monolith Soft
Monolith Soft and Nintendo’s Xenoblade series has come a long way from the days of Operation Rainfall, when it took a global campaign to convince Nintendo that there was, in fact, an international audience for elaborate, story-heavy RPGs on the Wii. Since then, the series has completed a consistently ambitious trilogy (Chronicles 1-3), the back two of which both received extended DLC storylines that arguably qualified as video games in their own right (Torna: The Golden Country and Future Redeemed), and a spinoff (Chronicles X) so beloved that it served as something of a champion for the beleaguered Wii U.
Genesis is the first completely new Xenoblade project since 3, and based on this first trailer, director Tetsuya Takahashi and his fellow creatives are shifting from X’s science fiction and Chronicles’ science fantasy to a more overtly fantasy style. The protagonist seems to be a student at a military academy of some sort, which has interesting implications for how the supporting cast might come together (perhaps closer to X, where the ensemble are members of a paramilitary organization, than 3’s by-design ragtag rebels).
Likewise, the promise of a “fallen god” and their “unfulfilled vengeance” suggests that the creative team is continuing to work with some of the greater Xeno project’s (not only Xenoblade, but its older cousins Xenosaga and Xenogears) longstanding themes. It’s as intriguing as it is exciting.
Resident Evil: Veronica — Capcom
This year’s Summer Game Fest opened with the next big Resident Evil remake from Capcom, and it wasn’t a shocker that it was Code Veronica, given the numerous rumors. My RE journey started with RE8, and it has been one of the more recent franchises that I not only enjoy a lot, given the lore and world-building, but also helped develop my love for survival horror video games. Given my mild disappointment with the story of Resident Evil Requiem, Veronica feels like a welcome change with the return of Claire and Chris Redfield, my favorite sibling duo.
And since it’s the only mainline game I haven’t had the opportunity to experience yet, I can’t wait for the reimagined version and the brand-new horrors that await me.
– Vish
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