Warning: Long post ahead.... Will update with my own pics later.So I went to the San Diego Comic-Con yesterday on its last day and yet it is still crowded for a Sunday. The panels that day weren't really that interesting, so I hung out at the show floor instead and surprisingly the booth setups are pretty organized with the games on one side, the major TV and movie booths on the middle, and the comics/shopping on the other side.
Action Figures I bought:
- Marcus Fenix (from Gears of War)
- Kratos with Armor (God of War II)
- More Street Fighter ones: Blue Cammy, Red/White Guile, and Gouken
Random Sightings:
- Greg Oden promoting some basketball cartoon for Shonen Jump.
- Saw Cesar and Mike Nelson from 1up/Gamevideos.
- Chris Gore from G4 doing some trivia competition at the G4 booth.
- Supernatural autograph signing (don't care for that show).
The Capcom booth was my favorite booth last year and once again my favorite booth this year because of Street Fighter IV. I was just glued to that area watching the tournaments because the game looks amazing in person running smoothly at 60 FPS and playing it for myself twice at their boxing ring. The two times I played, I picked Guile and Sagat because I'm tired of playing shotos (Ryu and Ken) in the SSFIIT HD Remix Beta (also playable there with Dee Jay, Akuma, T. Hawk, and Vega playable as well as more stages). Plus, the majority of the crowd were playing shotos doing Shoryuken combos, Ultra Hadoukens, and some focus attacks. I straight out played Guile like I used to in the SF2 era adding along some EX Sonic Booms. Sagat is again pretty fun to use and a good mixup and ranged game (I love those Tiger Knnes) even though I had to ask a Capcom rep how to do his Ultra (Ultras involve all three punch or kick buttons to do I think). I didn't enter any tournaments (I rather watch), but it was good times with Street Fighter IV (This game is TOO good!!). The icing of the cake regarding SF IV is the merchandise with a exlcusive SF IV SDCC 08 Shirt I bought, Ryu headbands, and Mr. Ono (the director of SF4) autographing my exclusive poster), which is cool. Here's an example of the SFIV action... (Shout out to Seth Killian and the Capcom staff for a great job handling the craziness - The line is about 30 minutes just to play one match, but that's good enough for me).
I almost spent a hour over at the Bionic Commando area playing both the new 3D game and Rearmed (now coming out in August 13 = Yes!!!). I first played Rearmed at the beginning of the game. Since I never played the NES original, it is still that hard as Simon from GRIN gave me some tips. I think I got the basics nailed down with the grappling and shooting at least. For the new 3D game, the 360s had some problems, but it wasn't that bad. I played the Jungle level and also got the basics nailed down of the swinging and shooting. Ben Judd from Capcom has been helpful too when players are having a hard time (Both Ben and Simon are cool guys to hang with being crazy people). At least the guys autographed a BC poster too, which is cool too. I did have a hard time at the boss and good thing God mode is on, but if you're in the water, you're screwed. The guys also told me that a demo for the 3D Bionic Commando will come out closer to its release.
Those are pretty much my favorite moments of the whole day as I break down what I else I played and I seen gaming-wise.
- Capcom also had other games like Dark Void, which it plays like Gears with stop and pop shooting. The vertical cover and the jetpack/flying mechanics keep it original from Gears, which is cool. The framerate needs some work, but this is probably an early build of the game. I won't mind buying this one (played the 360 version).
- Yes, Mega Man 9 is hard. I played it for a minute and kept dying. Watching others get through the level feels better. Only the WiiWare version was playable.
- I played Soul Calibur IV and Afro Samurai at Namco's booth as I didn't play SC IV that much since I'm going to get it tomorrow (played three games - picked Nightmare, Misturugi, and the Secret Apprentice on PS3). Afro Samurai, on the other hand, is fun hack and slashing with anime dismemberment. I just sliced and diced some dudes (A slowmo mechanic is there for accurate slices) throughout the demo. The camera does need some work however.
- The Sony booth is a little disappointing with not much of their first-party stuff playable, but the quality of games there is good. I only played MotorStorm: Pacific Rift there and it is still MotorStorm, but now in the jungle. The race is a long two lapper with alternate paths and choosing between a racing truck and a bike. The new PAIN DLC, SingStar, Buzz PS3, some PSP stuff, and the amazing LittleBig Planet were also playable. Unforuntately, I didn't play LBP, but I did watch some of the custom stuff while walking around. I don't think LBP demos well in the public, it is better in a private demo.
- The Activision booth is also a little disappointing with Ghostbusters pretty much the only good playable game (didn't try it myself) with other games I don't care about there too like The new Mummy movie and a new Crash game. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion weren't playable in the public as they showed trailers instead.
- Konami's booth wasn't much either with stuff I'm not interested in (MGS4 is there, but it's already out). Playable there were Castlevania Judgment for the Wii, the new Castlevania for DS, Silent Hill Homecoming, and DDR Hottest Party 2 (Forgot the others).
- Microsoft made a last-minute showing having a small booth (The first time they have a booth at Comic-Con I think). The retail game showing is disappointing with only Too Human playable (Banjo and VP2 would have been better). The XBLA games are indeed playable with Braid (out on August 6), Geo Wars 2 (out Wednesday), Castle Crashers (out on August 27), Lode Runner, and Galaga Legions (out on August 20). I only played Geo Wars 2 and Galaga Legions as GW2 is more Geometry Wars, which is good (Played Deadline and Waves), and Galaga Legions, which is pretty cool as a different take on the Galaga formula of backup ships firing at all angles and wave after wave of enemies to blast as the game shows the path they're going. I also set the high score there. There were lots of neat 360 Elites there on display with the Gears 2 Elite (Red), The Dark Knight Elite, and the Lego Batman Elite. The Gears 2 poster they gave away is pretty cool also.
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - The kids were crowding over it so I didn't want to wait. A LucasArts rep did say a demo will come out on XBL Marketplace and PSN next month (maybe the same level I seen there).
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Wii) - Also the kids were going crazy with this waggling out of control.
- Fracture
- Lego Batman - Its a Lego game and that's what matters (The Lego booth is crowded with new Clone Wars Legos for the new movie and more).
- Mirror's Edge - I was bummed this wasn't playable at the EA booth as they were just demoing it. It looks good in person and a free comic was given away.
- Dead Space - There was a line to play this (10 minute demo) in a blocked area because it is rated Mature. I rather wait in a line for SF IV than this anyway. Free posters and comics were given away too.
- Lord of the Rings: Conquest
- Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
- Mercanaries 2: World in Flames - Hopefully a demo comes out before release.
- Battle Forge
- Saint's Row 2 - You can play the intro scene of escaping the prison. Still looks like Saint's Row with the graphics not really improved.
- De Blob
- Darksiders
- Red Faction: Guerilla
- WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009 - Inferno matches!!!
- DC Universe Online
- Tales of Vesperia
- Prince of Persia - Like Mirror's Edge, I was bummed it wasn't playable when I stopped by the booth as some Frag Doll and a Ubisoft guy were demoing it for the crowd.
- Neopets
- Naruto: Broken Bond
- A Namco Naruto game
- Games with NICK Cartoons
- Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - I looked everywhere for this, but it wasn't there for the public.
- Square-Enix lineup - Nothing playable for Squenix games as they showed trailers for upcoming games like Chrono Trigger DS and Infinite Undiscovery. They still have lots of toys from the various games they're known for (Mostly Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts stuff).
- The Music Games - Activision and EA had booths and no shows for Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2. Comic-Con is probably not the place to show these games.
- PSN lineup - No Fat Princess, Ratchet for Clank: Quest for Booty, and Pikeljunk Eden there.
- Nintendo - Another no show for Nintendo for first-party games on Wii (Wario Land Shake and Mario Super Sluggers). The only Nintendo presence is pretty much the Pokemon booth of DS games, trading card games, and others (The giant Pikachu too).
- Resident Evil 5 - It would be cool if it was there playable (The E3 08 trailer is shown). Degeneration trailer was also shown.
- Star Trek booth (Hyping the new movie)
- Star Wars booth with Stormtroopers, Clone Troppers, etc.
- Lego Booth with Lego Batman / Robin, and others.
- WB Booth (I wanted those big bags they give out every year)
- Watchmen
- Marvel
- Joker seems to be the trend for this year's Comic-Con thanks to The Dark Knight movie (A mix of old and new Joker cosplayers there).
- Some dude was holding a giant stuffed Kirby in the air.
- A Myspace cardboard (Dumb!!!)
- The Red SPD Ranger
- Pikachu
- Ryu and Ken at the SFIV area
- Various anime characters
