As somebody who isn’t actually attending E3, I feel it’d be extremely disingenuous to award any sort of “Best of Show” awards. But after three days of paying, arguably too much, attention to a parade of new game demos, announcements, and demonstrations, I feel pretty confident in highlighting some of this year’s standout titles from E3.

When it comes to big E3 presentations, Metal Gear Solid has long been up there. The cinematic stealth-action franchise is infamous for its big ideas, big storylines and big trailers. This six-minute look at The Phantom Pain is full of spectacular cinematography, breathtaking visuals and some crazy moments that probably don’t even make sense in context. Let Hideo Kojima take you on the most confusing action ride of the summer, releasing on September 1st.

From one type of visual marvel to another, Cuphead is a sight to behold. A classically styled 2D combat platformer (think Contra, or Metal Slug), but done in the style of a 1930s cartoon. Cuphead‘s animation is almost unbelievable — the rare case of a game that tricks your brain into thinking its’ something else altogether. Get your hands on it next year.

From the writers of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, with art design by Olly Moss, Firewatch is a narrative first-person adventure game. The fluid movement, cel-shaded art style and charming dialogue all mix to give Firewatch an irresistible vibe. Set in the wilderness of Wyoming, you play as Henry — a man who has left everything behind. Henry is tasked with watching over the forest for wildfires. The mystery unfolds from there, and it’ll be hard to resist learning more. Firewatch releases sometime in 2016.

Just Cause 2 is one of my favorite games, ever. A limitless sandbox of explosions, fast cars and grappling hooks that laugh in the face of gravity. Fortunately, Just Cause 3 looks like it will live up to that legacy. This 10 minute clip is an excellent demonstration of the bombastic mayhem that makes this franchise a must-play. Of particular interest is the new wingsuit which looks like a delightfully terrifying way of getting around this action movie playground. Unleash the chaos on December 1st.

Of all the new franchises that debuted at this year’s E3, few had quite the presence of Horizon: Zero Dawn. Coming from Guerrilla Games (Creators of the Killzone franchise), this unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre is making the most of the PlayStation 4 hardware. A full millennium after the fall of mankind, tribes of human beings stand against massive robotic beasts. The hunting gameplay shows all the complexity of games like Monster Hunter, but backed up by a large RPG storyline written by the team behind Fallout: New Vegas. Expect the full game sometime next year.

Back in my early years of Nintendo fandom, I was infatuated by fan-made levels for Super Mario World. Made using hacked ROMs, they created insane and brutally difficult challenges that strained the patience of players to the limit. It’s that history that makes me so excited for Super Mario Maker. As this compilation of custom levels (built as the conclusion to the 2015 Nintendo World Championship) shows, Nintendo has made an art of design that seeks to abuse its players. I can’t wait to see what masochistic brilliance the whole world can dream up when the game hits shelves on September 11th, 2015.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

Nintendo

2015 marks a year of transition for Nintendo. They begin to shutter the WiiU and 3DS as they move towards mobile gaming and NX, their next dedicated hardware platform. As a result, Nintendo’s Direct was fairly short on big announcements, but a lot of content focused on the 2015 Holiday season. You can expect to play Starfox Zero this year, which gives Platinum Games (Bayonetta 2, The Wonderful 101) the reigns to an iconic spacefaring franchise. Transformations between different forms in open levels contrast with the more classic linear ‘rail shooter’ style gameplay. WiiU owners can also get a party going with their favorite Animal Crossing characters in Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival. Of course, Mario was there as well. Celebrating 30 years of the iconic character, they showed more of Super Mario Maker and a new Mario Tennis.

The Nintendo 3DS also saw plenty of love, like The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, which delivers a three-player co-op experience with classic Zelda gameplay. 2016 will also bring 3DS owners a new co-op experience in the Metroid Prime universe, Metroid Prime: Federation Force. A port of Hyrule Warriors is also in the cards — now with characters from Wind Waker. Mario RPG fans can look forward to Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, which crosses over the Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario franchises. Fire Emblem fans will be getting a double dose in 2016, with new core entry Fire Emblem Fates and Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei, another crossover of fan favorites.

Square Enix

Fans of Japanese and Western games alike could find something to cherish in Square Enix’s conference. The show opened with a bang, showing off a new trailer for Just Cause 3, which promises explosive chaos to rival the next Fast & Furious film. After an announcement at Sony’s event, Hitman was laid out in clearer detail. The assassination game is promising a return to open-world strategic takedowns, with new missions being added on a 48 hour rotation. The team said they hope to hear from players during the development of new content. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also got a shiny new gameplay trailer, detailing the ‘Mechanical Apartheid’ tearing apart this cyberpunk dystopia. Even mobile devices got something of note, with a new spinoff — Lara Croft GO. Like last year’s Hitman GO, this title is a turn-based reimagining of the classic franchise that plays out like a board game.

Japanese RPGs were out in full force, building off the massive positive buzz surrounding last night’s jaw-dropping Final Fantasy VII remake announcement. Square also announced a sequel to cult hit Nier, being co-developed by Platinum Games (who now officially have four games in active development, three of which were announced at this E3). The star of the show was Kingdom Hearts III, which displayed a new Tangled-inspired area and a better look at combat. Finally, the show closed with the announcement of a new studio titled Tokyo RPG Factory, which will, shockingly, focus on the production of JRPGs.

AMD Presents The PC Gaming Show Powered By PC Gamer

Typically, the PC gets the short end of the stick at E3. The biggest games at the console manufacturer shows are usually exclusive to that platform, the features that really excite the PC audience aren’t often touched upon. For 2015, AMD partnered with PC Gamer to fix that situation, presenting the PC Gaming Show. Obsidian Entertainment came on stage to present the first expansion to their isometric RPG Pillars of Eternity, titled The White March. Frontier took on nostalgia for a different genre with Planet Coaster — a title that looks to recapture the magic of Roller Coaster Tycoon.

Microsoft’s head of Xbox was even present to talk about the future of gaming on Windows 10 and the company’s past failures in the PC gaming space. To cement the commitment, Spencer announced that Killer Instinct and Gears of War: Ultimate Edition would see PC releases. Finally, Cliff Bleszinski (creator of Gears of War) took to the stage to introduce the world to Project BlueStreak — his first production with his new team, Boss Key Productions.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is happening all week in Los Angeles, with the biggest developers in video games showcasing their latest titles and making huge announcements. Follow the action with the Emerald’s daily recaps.

Microsoft

With boastful claims that this year’s press conference would bring “the greatest lineup in Xbox history,” expectations were naturally set high. As expected, detailed demos for Rise of the Tomb Raider, Halo 5: Guardians, and Forza Motorsport 6 outlined the core fall lineup. This year will also bring Rare Replay – a collection of 30 games celebrating the legendary developer’s 30th anniversary, available for just $30. Rare also showcased a new pirate MMO, Sea of Thieves, which they promised would be its “most ambitious game ever.”

The biggest surprise came from Phil Spencer, who announced that backwards compatibility with 360 titles will be coming to the Xbox One this Holiday. A new ‘Elite‘ controller will also hit shelves, offering interchangeable parts and deeper levels of customization. Another surprise came in the form of Recore, a new IP from Keiji Inafune and several creators of Metroid Prime. We got a look at Minecraft in Hololens, Microsoft’s new augmented reality experience. Finally, a sneak peek of Gears 4 showcased a more horror-oriented take on the franchise.

Electronic Arts

Buried among over half an hour of updates on sports, mobile game announcements, and an extended interview with Pele, Electronic Arts did show off some new retail titles. Need For Speed promises to be a gritty counterpart to this next generation of shiny race car games, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will transition the parkour fun into an open world. New IP Unravel also promises to tug at heart strings, while Mass Effect: Andromeda teased a Western vibe. Finally, the show ended on gameplay of Star Wars: Battlefront, showing off the full scale of classes, vehicles, and heroes available to players.

Ubisoft

The french publisher opened with a sequel to last year’s South Park: The Stick of Truth with superhero spin-off The Fractured But Whole. The title was the brainchild of Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who are again writing the script for the game. Following South Park was For Honor — a new multiplayer sword combat title that appears to blend Dynasty Warriors character action with tactical dueling. Teams of four will duel it out as vikings, knights, or samurai.

Rainbow Six Siege was the biggest star of the show, displaying its returning Terrohunt mode and story content, starring Angela Basset (American Horror Story). The show closed on another Tom Clancy property — Ghost Recon: Wildlands, which puts co-op teams in a massive open world to hunt down drug runners.

PlayStation

Sometimes in the lead up to E3, fans will write out dream lists of what they hope to see. A list of unbelievable demands that no company could ever hope to fulfill — or so we thought. Sony’s press conference played out like a machine gun of fan-favorites. The eternally-delayed The Last Guardian. A full HD remake of Final Fantasy 7. A (crowdfunded) sequel to Shenmue, which has been in purgatory for 14 years. New IP after new IP (like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Dreams), mixed with exciting indie hits (like Firewatch and No Man’s Sky). A dose of incredible new technology that takes you to a new world. This was closed with massive triple-A hits, Call of Duty:Black Ops 3, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and Uncharted 4. But of course, no company could actually string that sort of show together, right? Right?

Asking “Who Won E3?” is a pointless question, but damn — Sony seems determined to answer it.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

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

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 as it is most commonly referred, is where gaming’s giants come to show off their future wares. Most of the games you’ve come to love first saw the public light at an E3 Press Conference. It’s these conferences that are the real stars of the show — live streamed keynotes from major game publishers that are riddled with debuts, news and more than a few awkward moments.

This year, the lineup is more packed than ever before. Starting on Sunday, June 14, eight different companies will be putting on E3 Press Conferences. That’s more than ever before, totaling to over 11 hours of content over three days. If you’re the sort of person who wants to see the next big thing right as it rears its head, that means catching these shows as they’re broadcast live online. It’s an intimidating proposition. So here’s a handy guide on what to expect, so you can best manage your time. (All times listed are PST)

Twitch.tv will be streaming all of the conferences, but you should be able to find live coverage from any gaming site of your choice.

Bethesda (Sunday May 14, 7pm): Bethesda will be the first major event of the show, and it’s likely that their presentation can be broken down into two words: Doom and Fallout. Both are due out in the next calendar year and both have had next-to-nothing shown of them beyond short trailers. Doom was shown off to a private crowd at last year’s QuakeCon, to a thunderous response. But its reveal might be covered up by the nuclear cloud of Fallout 4 — Bethesda’s long-awaited open world post-apocalyptic RPG. Some smaller announcements will likely be in the cards as well; Elder Scrolls Online is overdue for a significant expansion and a sequel to Dishonored seems inevitable.

Microsoft (Monday May 15, 9:30am): The house of XBox will present themselves on Monday morning, packing a load of updates to various games that debuted last year. Rise of the Tomb Raider, Halo 5: Guardians and Forza Motorsport 6 will all likely take center stage, posing for their scheduled fall release. We’ll also hear more from open world superhero title Crackdown, an HD remake of the original Gears of War (which has been thoroughly leaked online) and Scalebound (the latest from Platnium Games, the team behind Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising). Fans of plant-based mayhem can also anticipate a sequel to Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare. Rumors have been swirling over a new title from Rare, likely a revival of one of their older properties. Will we see a new Banjo-Kazooie in the wake of Youka-Laylee‘s Kickstarter success? Could Battletoads rise from the grave to punish a new generation of gamers? Is it too much to ask for both?

Two titles that won’t be making the stage though, are the reboot of cult card-battler Phantom Dust (which went through a change in studios late last year) and TV/gaming hybrid Quantum Break (which is being held for Gamescom, later in the summer).

EA (Monday May 15, 1pm): Last year, Electronic Arts put on one of the most non-substantial E3 shows in recent memory. The majority of “revealed games” were conceptual prototypes, spending more time showing off people in boardrooms littered with concept art than substantial game play footage. Hopefully, those ideas have matured into something a bit more presentable for this year’s show. Star Wars: Battlefront will be the natural star of the occasion, but hopefully we’ll also see a glimpse of the new Star Wars title from Visceral Games & Amy Henning (creator of Uncharted). Need for Speed has confirmed it’ll be debuting gameplay at this show as well. Finally, if EA’s own financial reports are to be believed, Mass Effect 4 and Mirror’s Edge 2 will be hitting shelves early next year, making an E3 appearance likely.

Ubisoft (Monday May 15, 3pm): Archer star Aisha Tyler will be returning to Ubisoft’s stage this year, showing off the latest from Assassin’s Creed, Tom Clancy’s: The Division and Rainbow Six: Siege. Those three alone should be big enough to fill a conference, but never doubt Ubisoft’s odd obsession with bringing the strangest games possible to the show floor. In years past they’ve used the platform to talk about fitness software, games about controlled breathing, and a reinvention of lazer tag. As for more typical titles, a new Watch_Dogs could easily emerge after the first game’s dynamite sales. A reboot of Prince of Persia has been drifting around for years and it’s been a few years since Beyond Good and Evil 2 was last teased. Count nothing out.

Sony (Monday May 15th, 6pm): PlayStation will be hitting the floor with a two hour conference this year, as well as a stable of exclusive partnerships with third party software. If you’re interested in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. PlayStation’s stage is likely the spot to see it in action. For those obsessed with Destiny, a peek at the next expansion (rumored to be titled The Taken King) could be in the cards. Metal Gear Solid V, Mad Max and No Man’s Sky have also all made PlayStation stage appearances in the past. Expect them here.

As for first party efforts, expect a big presence for Uncharted 4: A Thieve’s End. More fun with Nathan Drake will come in the form of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, a bundle of the first three game’s campaign modes dressed up for PS4. News on Bloodbourne DLC has been confirmed, and it’s sounding like its blood brother Dark Souls 3 will also be in attendance. As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine. Guerilla Games’ (the studio behind Killzone) has been rumored to be developing a major new RPG. Plus, it wouldn’t be a Sony press conference without the looming promise of The Last Guardian, the third game from Shadow of the Colossus developer Team Ico. The game has been in development hell, with no new footage shown in six years. But it wouldn’t be E3 without some unattainable hopes and dreams.

Nintendo (Tuesday May 16, 9am, plus smaller events on Sunday May 14 at 7:20am and 3pm): Nintendo won’t be holding a typical press conference this year (opting for a pre-taped ‘Nintendo Direct’), but they will be having a significant presence. On Sunday they’ll be streaming the finale of their Nintendo World Championships, a revival of their 1990 gaming competition series. That particular event ended with the debut of Super Mario Bros 3 — could a similar surprise be in store for this event?

Super Smash Bros fanatics will need to get up early, as an Smash-focused ‘Direct’ will air on Sunday morning. A recent leak all but confirms that this announcement will pertain to new DLC characters: Roy from Fire Emblem and Ryu from Street Fighter.

As for the main event on Tuesday, there’s not much we can predict. Nintendo is a tight ship, and leaked information is rare. Updates on announced titles like Starfox, Persona X Fire Emblem and Yoshi’s Wooly World are a given, but that’s about it. (Unfortunately, we do know the next Legend of Zelda will not be making an appearance.) New DLC for existing titles like Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 would be interesting, and it’s likely that another round of Amiibos will be announced for scalpers to hungrily gather up. Or perhaps a new Metroid title is waiting in the wings to grace us all with its presence.

Square-Enix (Tuesday May 16, 10am): Like Bethesda, this will be Square-Enix’s first E3. It’s unclear what to expect, but they certainly have enough titles scheduled for a 2015 release to fill out a show. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will show its pretty cyberpunk face for the first time, and Just Cause 3 also has yet to show off game play. JRPG fans can anticipate the latest from Star Ocean and Dragon Quest, but don’t count on Final Fantasy XV (Square plans to begin the games’ full marketing push in a few months). As for new announcements, a new Hitman is looking very likely. But the biggest question of all hinges on Kingdom Hearts 3. Will the fan-favorite mashup be present? Time can only tell.

PC Gaming Showcase (Tuesday May 16, 5pm): Capping off the show is the AMD PC Gaming Showcase Powered By PC Gamer (say that three times fast), another new entrant. It’s still not clear exactly what this show intends to be; it’s three hours long and has scheduled appearances from a mix of indie developers and major players (Blizzard, Square-Enix). Even Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s XBox division will be there, likely hocking the benefits of Windows 10. As for games, expect to see SOMA, the latest from Amenesia: The Dark Descent developer Frictional Games. Gone Home developer (and Portland natives) Fullbright will be showing off their ominous Tacoma. Gears of War creator Cliff Blizinski will also be stopping by, hopefully with a peak at his new title co-developed with Nexxon.

If you can’t catch any of the shows live, The Emerald will be writing up full recaps on each day of E3 2015, letting you catch up with all of the show’s latest developments as they happen.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

Summer is finally upon us, which means a handful of things. It’s time for day drinking on the porch, long nights spent binging Netflix while a box fan cools the air and for the nerdy among us — conventions. Over the next few months, hotel ballrooms and convention centers around this great nation will fill with all manner of dorks, geeks, gamers and otakus. Cosplay will be looked at with wonder, heroes met with worshiping fans and hundreds of dollars spent on one-of-a-kind memorabilia to immediately be resold on eBay for ten times the price.

Packing the right items is a delicate science, one perfected only by years in the sweaty trenches. Plan ahead, and you’ll find yourself prepared for anything.

Must Bring Items

Poster Tube – The utility belt of the convention fan. Not only is it the only satisfactory way to keep that signed Agents of SHIELD poster in mint condition, it doubles as a great swag carrying case – AND a sash for all your dope pins. Recommended – Alvin Ice Tube – $15 on Amazon

External Battery – You never quite realize how short-lived your battery is, until its’ flashing red after just a short afternoon of selfies and excited Tweeting. Recommended – Anker Astro 2nd Gen – $22 on Amazon

Snacks – Convention centers are some of the most price-gouged locations on Earth, second only to theme parks and movie theaters. Beat the system, and load that poster tube up with as many granola bars as you can stuff.

Nintendo 3DS – Nintendo’s handheld gaming console is more than just a great distraction for long lines and plane rides. The built-in StreetPass feature allows you to trade Miis with fellow 3DS systems, unlocking cool hats and accessories. Conventions become a hive of StreetPass activity, allowing you to amass Miis from across the globe. It’s simple, but incredibly addictive.

Cons happen in all shapes and sizes. From smaller cons that focus exclusively on one subject (such as anime, comics, or videogames) to larger bonanzas of all things nerd; there’s bound to be something for any interest set. Take a look at the schedule below and get to planning your summer vacation.

Go Play NW (Seattle, WA – June 26-28) – If you’re dedicated to the world of board games, tabletop RPGs, and other games that involve actually talking to people, this might be the place to be. Meet some new friends, try some new games and even learn how to create them. Cost – $90 for a three-day pass.

Comic-Con International (San Diego, CA – July 9-12) – The biggest of them all. Comic-Con is less of a convention at this point, but rather an all-encompassing party of pop culture that eats the town of San Diego for the week. Just about every major genre movie, TV show or comic book has a presence, with major announcements to match. Cost – Sold Out. StubHub and other scalping sites have single-day tickets going for ~$300. However, consider visiting the area during the show regardless. Plenty of shows, events, and specials happen outside the conventional walls.

California Extreme (Santa Clara, CA – July 18-19) – The country’s biggest celebration of retro arcade gaming, this is a must-see event for any gamer with an appreciation of history. Enthusiasts from across the world bring in reconstructed classic tables, cabinets, and more — all set to free play. It’s the world’s most beautiful arcade, all at your disposal. Cost – $60 for a weekend pass.

Northwest Comicfest (Salem, OR – August 15-16) – A smaller, upcoming convention coming out of Salem, this is a purely comic-centric event that should permit plenty of time to mingle with professional artists and writers of the industry. Cost – $25 for a weekend pass.

PAX Prime (Seatlle, WA – August 28-31) – Hosted by popular web comic Penny Arcade, this gaming convention has grown into one of the biggest in the US. For four days, the Seattle Convention Center is loaded to the rafters with the latest games, panels from industry icons & fan favorites, and concerts. Cost – Currently Sold Out. However, keep your eyes on Reddit’s /r/paxpassexchange for your best chance at decently priced passes.

Kumoricon (Vancouver, WA – September 4-7) – The Northwest’s biggest con for any and all things anime. Cosplay is a huge part of the event, so start planning your costume now! Cost – $55 for a 4-day pass, if you register before July 10th.

Rose City Comic Con (Portland, OR – September 19-20) – Cap off the season with Portland’s biggest tribute to comic books, superheroes, sci-fi, and more. Comic artists from across the spectrum will be in attendance, so come meet your favorites. Cost – $40 for a two day pass, if you register before September 1st.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

Netflix has been on a stampede in the past year, going over the top with original content for just about every variety of viewer. Enjoy modern absurdist comedy? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt is a fun time. Fan of superhero drama? Marvel’s Daredevil can’t be beat. But what if you’re particular to dropping heavy doses of LSD and passing out in front of your laptop? Well fortunately for you, Netflix has brought us Sense8 — a pretentious mix of small-scale storytelling and big-scale theology.

Sense8 comes from the Wachowskis, who have made a legacy out of divisive projects. Everybody loves The Matrix, but the following sequels haven’t got quite the same acclaim. Depending on who you ask, Speed Racer is either an exercise in the ability to cause migraines through spectacle — or an innovative masterpiece of adaptation. Personally, I’m partial to Cloud Atlas, the teams’ 2012 flop that ambitiously links together six narratives into one tale. Which is why it’s particularly damning that I can find almost nothing enjoyable about Sense8.

Akin to Cloud Atlas, Sense8 is a story of linked stories. We follow eight different characters, who begin to experience hallucinations of a woman in white dress. Slowly, elements of one another’s lives start to leak across the boundaries. The overarching message of togetherness isn’t just obvious, it’s impossible to miss. These eight characters touch nearly every continent, every race and every sexuality. The opening sequence plays out like a travel documentary, drooling over every exotic landscape.

However, this narrative task immediately proves to be daunting. We’re given next-to-no introduction to these characters, stepping into their stories already in progress. A woman in India dreads her coming wedding day. A pair of thieves in Britain mourn their father. A young man in Africa owns a bus adorned with Jean Clause Van Damme. A DJ in Ireland stands around as her business partners have a very blunt conversation about transhumanism. Just as one starts, it abruptly cuts out — unseen for another 10-15 minutes as new characters are introduced.

Dialogue often comes across as still and forced, leading to characters bluntly declaring their innermost thoughts. There’s no time for character development or depth, beyond the teases of larger mysteries. The plot promises deeper moral revelations — but if they’re held to the same standard as the show’s smaller storylines, I have little confidence they are worth investigating.

Sense8 attempts to tell eight stories at once, yet it suffers from the fact that none of them are particularly interesting in the first place. None of them are given the proper time to develop, resulting in a messy assemblage of heartfelt moments, comedic relief, and other “necessary” plot beats. We touch on the crucial moments of these stories, never taking the time to revel in the breaks that makes them mean something. For an accurate recreation of the Sense8 experience, open up eight different SparkNotes pages for various memoirs, and just switch between them every three minutes.

Typically, I love the Wachowskis for their wild ambition. But its’ only worth something when the execution has merit. Sense8‘s clunky script, unoriginal direction, and pretentious tone make for a consistently unpleasant time.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter @Mushroomer25

Fallout 4 Revealed

After multiple hoaxes, rumors and painfully vague teases from Bethesda, the long-awaited fourth entry in the Fallout series was announced on Wednesday morning. At the end of a 24-hour countdown, Bethesda pulled back the curtain on Fallout 4 with a meaty trailer of in-engine footage. This entry looks to take us into Boston, with the trailer teasing locations based on Fenway Park, Scollay Square and MIT. It also appears we’ll be getting some playable segments that take place before the bombs drop, letting us see the series’ 50’s idealism in its’ non-radioactive form for the first time.

No release date was given for Fallout 4, but like nuclear war itself – it may be here before you know it. The in-engine trailer suggests a nearly finished product, and retailers like Steam are already taking digital pre-orders. Could a 2015 release be in the cards? We’ll find out for sure at Bethesda’s E3 Press Conference, taking place June 14 at 7 p.m. PST.

Steam now offering refunds

Valve’s digital distribution service leads the PC gaming market by a country mile, but it’s often been criticized for its substandard customer support. Unlike most of its competitors, getting in touch with Valve over a service issue is a headache of email chains with long waits between replies. But now, thanks to Valve’s generosity (and new looming consumer rights’ laws in the EU), refunds are now possible over the Steam platform. As long as it’s been less than two weeks since the purchase was made, and you’ve played the game for less than two hours, a refund can be requested for any reason.

The change in policy could have large ripple effects on the PC gaming landscape. For the longest time, game pirates have justified their actions under the blanket of just wanting to “test a game out,”  ensuring a new title works on their specific setup. This update in policy will force said pirates to put their money where their mouth is and may reveal just how much of the piracy industry is being done for “justifiable reasons.” Game design also stands the risk of being effected, as the 2-hour benchmark may frown on shorter experiences. Narrative driven titles like Gone Home can infamously be completed in less than two hours — leaving the door open for abuse of this new policy.

XCOM 2 Brings The Fight To You This November

Following up on last week’s ominous ‘Advent’ teaser campaign, 2K has officially announced XCOM 2 for PC, Mac and Linux for a fall release. The sequel to 2012’s Enemy Unknown, this new edition of the turn-based strategy series actually assumes you lost the war on invading forces. Now a band of militants on the run,  you will command soldiers across the globe to liberate cities that have been taken under alien control. From a flying base, you’ll take on more sectoid soldiers, as well as what appear to be human-sized snakes in military armor. We’ll see what other nightmarish creations this alien saga brings to life when it releases this fall.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer25

Nintendo has a long, storied history of re-inventing genres. They’ve made the complex JRPG into a handheld sensation with kids around the globe. Nearly every sport under the sun has seen a Mario-branded recreation. Super Smash Bros exists in a class of it’ own in the world of fighting games. The latest to join their ranks is Splatoon, Nintendo’s first major attempt at the online shooter genre. The result is a unique creation that may be a little short of content, but delivers personality and fun in bursts.

Splatoon is best described as a Team Fortress 2-style third person shooter, done through the eyes of a mid-90s Nickelodeon game show. You play as an Inkling, preteen squid-human hybrids who can change forms at will. In teams of four, you are thrown into a battle arena with a simple goal — ‘ink’ as much surface area as possible. On the opposite end is a team of another four players, with the same goal and another color.

Painting the ground allows you to quickly traverse across it in your ‘squid’ form and proves hazardous to the other team. Splat them enough with your ink-filled blaster, and they’ll respawn back at the base. Once the match ends, the colors on the ground is tallied up, and whoever has covered more takes the crown.

Matches last only three minutes, but you find plenty of time to form rivalries, experience dramatic comebacks, or feel the rush of all-out domination. It’s a simple formula, but it proves consistently fun. There’s a deep catharsis in coating an opponent’s territory with your color, backing them into a corner and seeing the entire battlefield glow with your neon identity.

While most multiplayer games have started to feel like intense sporting events — where playing perfectly is demanded of all parties — Splatoon feels like a water balloon war on a childhood summer day. Win or lose, Splatoon‘s infectious energy will put a smile on your face.

The base game is fairly simple, and at the time of review — not terribly deep. Currently there are only six maps available for play (cycled between groups of two active maps every few hours), and only four different weapons (though there are nearly countless combinations of sub-weapons, special attacks, and perks). Nintendo has promised new content (including new game modes) will be added to the game through free DLC delivered all summer long. But right now, compared to most other multiplayer shooters on the market, Splatoon‘s content offering is on the light side.

Additionally, the game is at the mercy of Nintendo’s less-than-modern standard for online play. Features that many gamers have taken for granted, such as voice chat, group party systems or dedicated servers, are nowhere to be seen. Server connection issues have been a wide-reported issue, and the game isn’t great at compensating for lag. Combine with the WiiU’s relatively small player base, and it raises the concern — will anybody be playing Splatoon in a year? What value does it hold then?

If you tire of the battle arena, Splatoon does offer some single player content. A series of missions task you with taking down evil octopi, using the game’s traversal methods for some clever puzzle-platforming. It’s nothing memorable, but helps to flesh out the package.

Overall, Splatoon is a delightful game with some great moments, but an uncertain future. If you’re a WiiU owner looking for a fun summer fling, I give it a hearty recommendation. But the long-term value is ultimately going to rest on Nintendo to keep up the stream of content — keeping multiplayer servers flowing with new potential targets.

Follow Chris Berg on Twitter, @Mushroomer2

The “Song of Summer” is a title that isn’t ever formally given out by a single regulatory body, or even based on hard science. Yet every summer season, everybody knows what it is. Last year, Iggy Azelea’s “Fancy” and Magic’s “Rude” traded off the title. In 2013, Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” traded the title. They’re the songs that dominate the radio waves, show up in every movie trailer and dig their catchy hooks right into your brain. Trying to pick which track will take that place in advance takes a combination of intuition, sense of cultural pulse and blind goddamn luck. With that in mind, a crack team of Emerald editors (Daniel Bromfield, Craig Wright, and myself) and Nathan Stevens (DJ for KWVA, contributor to Spectrum Culture) have assembled our picks. Load up our 12-song playlist, and wow your friends with your keen sense for pop predictivity.

Chris Berg

Favorite Record – Fall Out Boy

A risky pick, since it hasn’t even been planned as a single. But this brilliantly simple summer love song seems predestined for success.

Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes

The world of music criticism has been raving about this group’s latest album non-stop, and the lead single might prove to have serious crossover appeal.

My Type – Saint Motel

A shamelessly jazzy beat underlines crooning vocals and a hook that’ll keep you dancing all night. An instant favorite.

Daniel Bromfield

Fight Song – Rachel Platten

With Sara Bareilles AWOL for the moment, Platten will be here to shout encouragements at you while you drink your coffee.

Worth It – Fifth Harmony

Every summer needs a sax loop, and these X Factor alums honk theirs hard.

Trap Queen – Fetty Wap

This song is at the height of being blasted right now, but I hope this joyous pop-rap confection stays sticky in the summer.

Craig Wright

King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar

By the time you heat the next pop, the funk shall be within you.

English Tongue – Palm Violets

This top-of-your-lungs sing along is the perfect song to end a party on a hot summer night.

Bad Blood – Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar

The star-studded, explosion filled video has been out for two weeks, and it is quickly closing in on 100 million views on YouTube. The weakest track on “1989” received a major boost with aid from Lamar and skyrocketed to no. 1 on Billboard, marking the albums fourth No. 1 single.

Nathan Stevens 

Make a Scene – Shamir

A bleary eyed ode to blacked-out nights and excessive amounts of debauchery, all laced up in a sleek pop package.

Spark – Until the Ribbon Breaks

These U.K. lads make a throbbing dance floor hit with just enough menace in its DNA to imbue the swooning chorus with a hint of darkness.

Can’t Keep Checking My Phone – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Breezy psych-rock at it’s most delightful and danceable, equipped with a hazy groove that’s great for a day at the beach or exploring the universe from the comfort your room.