EA Play at E3 2017: Heading into space
By Robin-Leigh Chetty 12 June 2017 | Categories: newsE3 2017 kicked off this weekend and one of the first companies to showcase their lineup of titles was EA, with its EA Play event. Their list of games included some that were revealed in part earlier this year, as well as a few new additions.
Star Wars: Battlefront II
The former came in the form of a deeper look at Star Wars: Battlefront II's gameplay, as a trailer was also debuted. In it we get to see things from The Empire's perspective, with battles unfolding while gamers play as Stormtroopers and Trade Federation Droids. Added to this, gameplay POVs can be changed, either in first and third-person, along with the ability to control ground assault vehicles.
Interestingly the gameplay footage, which is said to be from the actual game engine, saw the Troopers and Droids go head to head, so it seems gamers will not be restricted to good guy vs. bad guy match-ups. We also got to see one of the hero characters in action, as Darth Maul laid waste to enemies.
With more extensive features added to gameplay, along with a more immersive story mode told from the perspective of a female TIE fighter, things are shaping up nicely for Battlefront II's November-slated release.
Anthem
Sticking with the theme of games set in space, a new title was revealed via a teaser trailer with Anthem. It comes from the same developer that created Mass Effect, but given the mixed reaction to Andromeda, the jury is still out on this one.
When it comes to the storyline, next to nothing has been detailed, but it appears as if Anthem will try to be EA's rival to Destiny 2. As such, we can probably think of this title as a MMORPG-version of Mass Effect. With a teaser all we have to go on for now, hopefully Gamescom 2017 will shed more light on the situation.
A Way Out
Moving onto games that are a bit more grounded in reality, remember Prison Break? Well A Way Out is like that, with cooperative gameplay the name of the game. To that end, A Way Out can only be played by two gamers via split-screen. It's a supremely niche sounding title, but it does have the advantage of being the only game with such a premise.
As far as the gameplay goes, it seems like there'll be plenty of sneaking and puzzle solving. The story also doesn't end once you've broken out of prison, with a large chunk of the trailer occurring in the open while trying to evade capture.
Need for Speed Payback
Now for some of EA's more regular titles, with the latest addition in the Need For Speed franchise, Payback, getting a gameplay trailer. As far as what gamers will be diving into, Payback seems to take a page out of the Fast and Furious playbook when it comes to the story mode.
To that end, stealing cars and trying to escape police pursuit will form a big part of things. Along with running down fleet trucks with precious cargo, Payback will also feature a number of cinematic cuts to improve the storytelling. If you're a fan of the Fast franchise then, this may be the best game to compliment it.
Madden 18
Another perennial title from EA is Madden, with this year's edition taking some inspiration from FIFA 17, with the addition of Longshot. It follows a very similar storyline to The Journey, as gamers take on the role of an aspiring NFL quarterback.
In terms of further features that Madden's version will sport compared to FIFA variant, little is known, but the former does enlist the acting chops of recent Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) as the protagonist's father.
Most Read Articles
Have Your Say
What new tech or developments are you most anticipating this year?