E3 Watchlist: Xbox 360

For an explanation on the "E3 Watchlist" series of posts, go here.

Xbox 360: The first of the new generation of consoles, it could be argued that the Xbox 360 is getting dry. And in addition to having nearly all hardcore games and a weak Japanese fan base, this console needs some help - will this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo reveal something to help change this?

Halo 3: ODST: It just wouldn't be E3 without a little bit of Halo. Although not an entirely new game in the series, this standalone expansion will have all the fun and excitement of the original game. Instead of playing as Halo mascot Master Chief, you will assume the identity of an "Orbital Drop Shock Trooper" (thus the title) who is searching for his missing teammates. As you progress through the game, you will find remnants of your lost teammates, thus triggering a flashback and allowing you to play as the missing soldier.


Although the game uses the features from Halo 3, including the multiplayer levels, it is set during the events of Halo 2, in the city of New Mombasa.

Alan Wake: This game was announced many months ago, in the October of 2008, but we haven't heard much of it since then. Fortunately, E3 may be changing that. Called a "psychological action thriller", this game follows title character Alan Wake, a novelist who has not been able to write a book in over two years. To help him with his predicament, his wife Alice brings him to the small town of Bright Falls.


The fact that the game is set in a beautiful rustic town makes the graphics that much more impressive, so the game definitely has visuals on it's side. The light effects will be incredibly important, as the game's enemies are weak against light, thus making Wake's flashlight his most valuable weapon in the game. Illuminating traps can also be used to deter enemies.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Although this game is set for release on the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, that doesn't mean it won't be a highlight for the Xbox 360 in this year's E3. The game follows the Caped Crusader, who must attempt to stop The Joker's uprising in Arkham Asylum. Seeing as this is a truly mature game, it will definitely fit in with the dark theme that we saw in The Dark Knight.


Because Batman has access to all the latest gadgets, the player will have the ability to solve forensic-like puzzles in addition to the combat, which will switch between regular melee fighting to more technology-oriented battles. This is definitely going to be one of the top games at this year's Expo.