Reimagined classics announced at E3

Clockwise from top left: Fallout 4, Star Fox Zero, Final Fantasy VII, Mass Effect: Andromeda

This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles unveiled several titles that will come out this year and next. 

Receiving the most hype in the past two weeks has been the announcement of the fourth installations of the Fallout and Mass Effect series, as well as the new Star Fox Zero and the long-awaited remake of Final Fantasy VII.

 

Fallout 4 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

 

In Bethesda’s fourth installment of the acclaimed Fallout series, fans can expect a much larger world with options for customization and expression that are new to the series. The player will be able to build his own residence using materials found in-game. Although cagey about the details, Bethesda revealed a family the player will have in-game. The family consists of a wife, child and dog. The choices and consequences during the course of the game could have a larger impact on the overall development of the character and of the story overall. 

The pre-order bundle that comes with a functional replica of the Pip-Boy device, the primary inventory tool in the game, is selling out fast and costs between $120-$175 depending on the retailer or website. The release date is slated for Nov. 10 later this year.

 

Star Fox Zero (Wii U)

 

Nintendo revealed the return of one of its classic and most beloved franchises at this year’s E3. Star Fox Zero will come in the holiday season of this year, incorporating both the Wii U GamePad and television for an experience the fans may not expect. The GamePad is used to aim the fighter’s weapons while the player controls a ship onscreen. The ship transforms at the player’s will into different machines based on what the player deems best for the mission. 

 

Mass Effect: Andromeda (Xbox One, PS4, PC)

 

EA and Bioware have brought back the wildly successful Mass Effect series for a new generation of consoles. As the title suggests, this new adventure will be in the Andromeda Galaxy and features a new cast of heroes and villains. According to a blog post on bioware.com, the story will “take place far away from and long after the events of the original trilogy” and so it appears that Commander Shepard will not make an appearance, although anything is possible. 

The game’s lead role will still be human with the choice between a man and a woman like the other games in the series and will feature squad-based combat. With a release date slated for the 2016 holiday season, more information will be revealed as time passes.

 

Final Fantasy VII (PS4)

 

At last the Final Fantasy VII remake that fans have been hoping for has been announced. The remake isn’t going to simply be an HD remastered version of the original PlayStation game, which was first released in 1997, but instead a full-fledged remake that will stand on its own. Bloomberg reported that Square Enix stock went up almost three percent after the announcement. 

Most details are still under wraps, as well as the release date, but the game’s profits are expected to be one of the largest the videogame industry has ever seen.