E3 2012

E3 2012 is finally upon us, and with so many rumors flying around, it’s difficult to create a list like this. There’s always that one game that gets announced out of nowhere that simply blows my mind, but based on what I know will be there, I’ve created my list of most anticipated titles for this year’s event.

1: Assassin’s Creed III (360, PS3, PC / Ubisoft)
Everything in the Assassin’s Creed timeline has been leading up to this. Desmond Miles’ epic story will finally reach its conclusion, and doomsday is upon us. The question on everybody’s lips: How will it end? The American Revolution and a new lead character—half-Mohawk Connor Kenway—certainly offer a much-needed change of pace. Throw in the new hunting mechanic along with several new weapons, and you’ve got a recipe for the best Assassin’s Creed to date.

2: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (360, PS3 / Konami)
Rising concentrates on the fair-haired soldier Jack—codename Raiden. A move away from series favorite Snake isn’t a bad thing, but the lack of stealth gameplay—a franchise staple—is a little unnerving from my perspective. The game certainly has a lot of fans to win over, but I think the fast-action swordplay and traditional Metal Gear storytelling will be more than enough to see it through.

3: FIFA 13 (360, PS3, Wii, etc. / EA Sports)
With the core mechanics settled in FIFA 12, this year’s entry can focus on fine-tuning. Some much-needed improvements to the Impact Engine should help increase the overall realism of the game and prevent the weird “broken leg” syndrome that hit some players last year. A few server issues and exploits still need addressing to ensure that this year’s entry is the best yet.

4: Tomb Raider (360, PS3, PC / Square Enix)
I was never really interested in the original Tomb Raider games, but the reboot’s actually caught my eye. I like the increased realism that the redesigned Lara offers, and she appears to be a more down-to-earth, believable character as a result. The survival aspect and story-driven gameplay should open the franchise up to a whole new audience, too.

5: Far Cry 3 (360, PS3, PC / Ubisoft)
Ever since that infamous “insanity” trailer debuted at last year’s E3, I’ve been hooked on this game. Sure, the gameplay offers what any average first-person shooter does, but it’s the story and vibrant cast of characters that really make it come alive. I can’t wait to learn more about the definition of insanity.