Stars and Stripes reporters Grant Okubo and Hana Kusumoto checked out some of the games at the this year’s show. Here’s their take:

Killzone 3

Publisher: Sony

Platform: PlayStation 3

Genre: Shooter

Release: Spring 2011

If you’re a fan of the first two “Killzone” games, you’ll definitely want to pick up “Killzone 3” when it comes out next spring. Although there are plenty of shooters out there for the PlayStation 3, not many match the intensity of this game, which has your player involved in a number of highly intense gun battles. When you’re playing it, you really feel like you’re in an all out war. War never looked so good as the graphics were very impressive. The controls weren’t difficult to master and were very responsive in the heat of battle. It was quite fun firing destructive weapons and it wasn’t as difficult to aim a weapon as it was in “Killzone 2.”

— Grant Okubo

Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Publisher: Capcom

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre: Fighting

Release: Spring 2011

It’s been a long time waiting for many fans of the hit “Marvel vs. Capcom” series, which matches up the heroes of the Capcom universe and the superheroes of the Marvel universe. After a decade of waiting for this latest edition, gamers will enjoy playing as the Hulk, Wolverine, Ryu, Chun Li and Morrigan of the Darkstalkers series. The game looks great, and the comic book art-style the game has adopted really suits it well. The game controls are pretty simple and are a button-mashers dream. I tried the game’s easy mode and actually found it a little too easy. I didn’t really try any kind of combos during my match, but simply mashed various buttons to beat a fellow attendee to a pulp. Next time I’ll challenge myself with a tougher setting. With the final lineup of this game not yet released, many people will certainly be looking forward to finding out which characters they can play as. This game will certainly net a lot interest.

— Grant Okubo

Sonic Free Riders

Publisher: SEGA

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Racing action

Release: To be announced

Sonic is back and this time you can control him and his friends using the Kinect, Xbox 360’s new motion controller.

Just watching other people play this game revved me up. Although essentially a racing game, it takes full advantage of X-box 360’s newest accessory.

The game is certainly meant to be played in groups. Count on working up a sweat. I actually found myself a little out of breath. The game takes advantage of new technology and bases a lot of your success on the kinds of movements your character can make. The graphics in the game won’t exactly blow you away, but Sonic fans will certainly enjoy this new way to play as their favorite Hedgehog.

— Grant Okubo

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Publisher: SquareEnix

Platforms: PlayStation Portable

Genre: Action role-playing game

Release: To be announced

As a fan of anything “Final Fantasy”-related, I was looking forward to trying this game coming out for the PlayStation Portable.

The game — essentially a fighting and role-playing game rolled into one — offers two new playable characters, Lightning and Kain. The opportunity to revisit players from previous “Final Fantasy” games is one of the best parts. However, deciphering the storyline was difficult at times because it was in Japanese. During one of my matches, I found my opponent was able to summon another player to assist him. The game does look great and controlling the character is relatively easy. I definitely would like to pick up this title when it comes out.

— Grant Okubo

Vanquish

Publisher: SEGA

Platform: Xbox 360

Genre: Shooter

Release: October

One of the few games I played that wasn’t a sequel was quite refreshing. This third-person shooter has you battling Russian forces that have destroyed San Francisco and also seized control of a U.S. space station. It’s up to your character to save the day. The look of the game is terrific. Everything from the characters to explosions look great. Vanquish is fairly easy to pick up and get right into it. In no time, you’ll find yourself sliding across the screen during battle in this entertaining game.

— Grant Okubo

Ridge Racer 7 3-D Version

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Platform: PlayStation 3

Genre: Racing

Release: To be announced

A classic racing game for the PlayStation 3 is reborn as Namco Bandai releases “Ridge Racer 7,” but this time they release it in 3-D. For the most part, you won’t find anything drastically different, although playing it in 3-D takes some getting used to. Just in case you were wondering, watching a race without the special glasses makes it seem like you’re watching a game being played on a broken TV. However, after donning these special glasses, the cars and track really pop out and does enhance the overall game experience.

— Grant Okubo

Little Big Planet 2

Publisher: Sony

Platform: PlayStation 3

Genre: Platformer

Release: November

Cute and usually costumed Sackboy is back for a whole new adventure. Like his first adventure, Sackboy can once again be dressed in a variety of costumes as he goes through various stages and challenges.

I got a chance to play “Little Big Planet” with a few Japanese. Although I’m not exactly fluent, there seemed to be no problem playing this games, even though it requires a lot of teamwork to get through. During my time playing, I underwent an array of interesting and fun challenges, including an obstacle course. The graphics aren’t overly complicated, but the game still looks good. From my take, it looks like “Little Big Planet 2” will be at least as good, if not better, than the first.

— Grant Okubo

Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Genre: Shooter

Release: Spring 2011

Although it’s only been months since the release of “Bad Company 2,” this digital expansion of the game will certainly have many of you excited. It drops you into a new setting and time period, but includes all the elements that made the game popular in first place. “Battlefield” has long been known to bring realism to various conflicts on the television screens. This latest edition is no exception. The game looks great. There is little doubt that most will have no problems getting right into the game.

— Grant Okubo

Ace Prosecutor Investigations 2

Publisher: Capcom

Platform: Nintendo DS

Genre: Mystery adventure

Release Date: To be announced

This sequel of “Ace Prosecutor Investigation” and the latest of a popular “Ace Attorney” series delivers the same, simple mystery-solving game, albeit with better graphics. The goal is to find evidence of how crimes were committed through investigating the crime scene and questioning the people involved. The new feature is “logic chess,” where the main character, Mile Edgeworth, corners the perpetrators and peppers them with questions. Some familiar characters return to the sequel, including some from the “Ace Attorney” series.

— Hana Kusumoto

Hustler King

Publisher: Sony

Platform: PlayStation 3

Genre: Action

Release Date: To Be Announced

This simple billiard game is very easy to understand, even for beginners. You just point to the direction you want to strike the ball with an analogue stick and time your hit. No complicated moves or plots. Graphics are wonderful and realistic. Definitely for those looking for simple fun. And it is now available in 3D and PS Move. Although the 3D version gives depth to the realistic graphics, it’s not an essential feature.

— Hana Kusumoto

Patapon 3

Publisher: Sony

Platform: PlayStation Portable

Genre: Strategy, action, rhythm

Release: Fall

This combination rhythm-and-action game involves cute characters and fun music. The third edition of the “Patapon” series is a role-playing game. Players hit buttons rhythmically to command the characters to move forward or attack enemies. Even though the combinations of buttons to push are listed on the bottom of the screen, for a beginning gamer like myself, it was very confusing. I am sure that for advanced and coordinated players, it is a different type of RPG that is simple but engaging.

— Hana Kusumoto

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