Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst moves too fast to be contained by E3
Back in 2008, Electronic Arts was in a creative gold period. A refreshing commitment to new IP had given them one of the strongest third party lineups in history. Dead Space, Spore, Rock Band 2 and Boom Blox were all new and innovative ideas that thrilled audiences, and challenged the publisher’s convention as a by-the-books studio cranking out yearly sports titles. But one game stood out from their lineup—a sharp parkour platformer by the name of Mirror’s Edge. It was a game that still feels decidedly against the grain. Rather than a title putting you in the role of an action hero capable of taking on the world, Mirror’s Edge was about evasion. Skillfully leaping through empty warehouses, seemingly flying from building to building, DICE’s unique vision responded with plenty of gamers. But not enough. Mirror’s Edge was a sales flop, and the IP was buried as EA shifted towards safer projects.
Then in 2011, a spark of hope. At E3, a teaser for a new Mirror’s Edge. Not a sequel, not a remake, but something. It was enough to give people hope. Hope which was then smothered for nearly two years as not a word of the game leaked out of EA’s lips. DICE built Battlefield game after Battlefield game, and the silence on ME became deafening. But finally, the silence has been broken. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst has finally been announced, taking one step closer to being an actual video game. As expected, we’ll see more at EA’s E3 conference next week. But for now, let’s enjoy the fact that Faith is back.
The Guardian is convinced that The Last Guardian is approaching
If the long wait for Mirror’s Edge fans seems hard, try placing yourself in the footsteps of those that are looking forward to The Last Guardian. Originally announced back in 2007 for the PlayStation 3, The Last Guardian was the third game from Team Ico, most known for their work on Shadow of the Colossus. TLG followed through on the same gorgeous art style, and eye for breathtaking ruins as SotC—but now with the inevitably touching story of a boy and his cat/dog/bird/thing. Last seen at E3 2009, the story of The Last Guardian has been one of hope beyond reason. Literally. Before just about every major press event that Sony attends, word spreads over if this will be the day the game finally comes out of hiding. The six year waiting period has elevated the game into mythos, sitting alongside Half-Life 3.
So what makes 2015 different? A pair of rumors have emerged in the past week that have set fan communities aflame with anticipation. First is that UK newspaper The Guardian, possibly showing bias for their namesake, noted that they have heard on “very good authority” that the game is ready to be shown. Second, an industry insider recently claimed on a podcast that the game is being worked on by none other than Mark Cerny, developer of Crash Bandicoot, as well as system architect for the PS4 itself. Will any of these rumors manifest as reality? Probably not. But if this is the moment that The Last Guardian does become reality, allow the record to state the context.
Dark Souls III leaks out, makes preparation for death an annual event.
Typically, the pre-E3 season is identifiable for its’ near constant string of leaks. Info gets into the wrong hands, and the secrets that companies work months on to reveal under perfect conditions falls online weeks before the big show. But up to a point, 2015 has been a fairly squeaky clean affair. If news about a game has broken early, it’s typically because the publisher decided to jump the gun themselves. But Dark Souls III just had to break the streak, with a two-stage leak that occurred this past week. First, gaming news series The Know (which had previously reported the absurd rumor that Microsoft was buying Silent Hills for “billions of dollars”) got ahold of some screenshots that appeared to be from none other than a new Dark Souls title. Considering the show’s newfound reputation, the screens were met with a fair bit of criticism. However, they were quickly legitimized as IGN obtained leaked promotional art – verifying the numbered title and an early 2016 release. So when Dark Souls III is announced on Monday, try to act surprised, okay?
Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25