Iron Man 3 Review - Glorious

The following review contains spoilers. Seriously, watch the movie first. You have be warned.

I wanted to share my love of the latest Marvel Studios adventure, largely because there's a few things that I've since picked up on since The Avengers last year that I feel I should talk about. You know, being a fanboy and all.

But let's start at the top. I had high hopes for Iron Man 3, largely because of the change in the directors chair. Shane Black, who's previous work includes scripting Lethal Weapon and directing one of my favourites, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (in which Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr. stars in). It seemed like a match made in heaven when the announcement was made, a director who not only knew the primary star but had a knack for writing witty dialogue.

The good news is, Black has delivered. Not only does he continue a few of his little trademarks (such as setting the movie during Christmas and the always important kidnapping), but Black has also hit home the key points of what makes Iron Man great and cranked them up a notch or two compared to the previous two in the series. So much so, in fact, that it eclipses them in both tone and character development, something that was sadly missing during The Avengers.

The fact remains that after three movies, you have to find another angle to make Tony Stark stand out, which is exactly what's been done. Having survived the alien attack on New York, Stark has since become entrenched in his work even more than before, building more complex and different armour sets in response to the new threat on the human race, and the imminent threats that may follow. He's worked himself so hard that panic attacks threaten not only his sanity, but his relationship with his girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and his best bud James Rhodes (Don Cheadle, aka War Machine, though here he's been rebranded Iron Patriot).

Stark's sudden realisation of what's out there has turned his life upside down, though while the universe keeps turning the Earth continues to bring up threats of its own. Enter The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who I guess you could call Marvel's Osama Bin Laden, though that's an unfair assumption to make considering the character was a primary villain of Iron Man's universe years ago in comic lore. The reflection of modern terrorism, however, is as clear as day. Mandarin, however, isn't the real threat here, which is a little disappointing given the rivalry both have had over the years on the page. Just like Batman Begins, the character has been altered to fit within a different ideal. Thankfully, that change works wonders.

The other threat is A.I.M, led by Aldrich Killian (another great performance by Guy Pearce), who's initial interest is selling a new concept called Extremis, the ability to alter the mind for the better. Of course, as villains do, his plans are much broader than that as the movie settles into its rhythm to explain this new threat.

There's a few things that differ IM3 from its predecessors. For one, Tony Stark has an opening and closing voiceover to help explain the setting. There's also an opening flashback scene which not only introduces us to an earlier Tony and Happy Hogan (great to see him there), but also some very welcome touches that not only fill us in on the story to come, but also some nods to Iron Man's eventual creation (I actually won't spoil this, but hopefully you'll see what I mean, I smiled very broadly).

It's a slow pace at first, though once the action kicks in about a third of the way through (i.e. the end of act one) it barely lets up from there. Tony's life is turned completely upside down as the Mandarin attacks his home and threatens the life of the US President, among other things, whilst almost all of Tony's close friends are left in disarray for one reason or another.

It's here we also get to see another side of Tony, one lovingly crafted and acted by both Downey and a young counterpart who finds Stark in his parents garage, broken Iron Man armour and dented pride barely intact. The dialogue sparks between the two with little jabs and jokes, which helps to allow the audience to breath and laugh just a little considering the action sequences prior to it. It's a welcome addition to the characters development, as I said it's something that was sorely needed given the very little amount seen in Iron Man 2 and Avengers itself. To watch Tony out his comfort zone completely, stressing out about what to do only for a kid to give him advice ... it's refreshing, if nothing else.

The rest of the movie is typical action fare, though it's meaning is stronger than most. We see what Extremis is really capable off, and thanks to some well crafted visual effects it's stunning to watch. It's a shame, really, that more couldn't have been done to link the technology to Stark as in the graphic novel it's based on, but what's here is exciting. I'm just glad Tony not only gets to battle someone equal to him that's NOT in another power suit, but he also gets to use his smarts outside of a suit itself in order to get passed his adversaries. Kinda felt like a cross between Iron Man and James Bond with all his gadgets there for a while.


If I do have a gripe with IM3, it's the Mandarin. Such a strong character and a scene stealing performance by the seasoned Kingsley, but the results are far beyond what we've come to expect of Stark's greatest rival (and what I kinda hoped). The fact that he's a ruse, an actor thrown into the fray to cover for Killian, is a little disappointing. Understandable, but disappointing. It's like Ra's Al Ghul in Batman Begins, a character portrayed very differently than what we as fans are used to, but it's understandable as to why they went that direction. It does make sense, in fact it's a little more humorous than I was expecting, but the dialogue and the eventual reveal of Killian's true persona make up for any gripes I did have with Mandarin's portrayal.

The final act is brimming with action that is deserving of the Iron Man name. Again, there's no bad guys in battle suits, the threat is much greater for our hero than just a man out for revenge (granted Killian does have that in mind, but it's not just directed at Tony this time, unlike both Iron Monger and Whiplash) and the supporting roles have a much more important and welcome role to play. It's great to see Rhodes and Potts get involved, and even Jarvis has some wonderful moments as hundreds of suits fly in around the battleground.

A few minor things I noted that a few others may have overlooked. I'm actually very grateful that S.H.E.I.L.D play absolutely no part in the story, not even a cameo. It wasn't necessary, though there are various references to the New York incident across the story, so I was relieved that there was no Fury or Maria Hill in sight.

Also, of all three Iron Man movies, this has to be the strongest musical score of the lot. I have a soft spot for the first movie's original score, but the Iron Man theme here booms and resonates as a theme that sticks in your head in the same way the Avengers theme did, though perhaps even more than that.

Lastly, how cool was it to see Happy Hogan get some welcome character development! I was worried that he would be left behind considering the change in the director's chair, but there was a ton of Jon Favreau and it was awesome to see.

So what next? IM3 ends with a 'Tony Stark will return', but in what capacity? Certainly in Avengers 2, but will it be his last appearance? Will Downey hang up the armour for good? Personally I believe Iron Man as a standalone series can happily come to an end here, hence the final scenes and the end credits sequence. But it's the AFTER credits sequence that makes me grin in anticipation, that Tony will still play an important role during Phase 2 and 3 of Marvel's movie plans but possibly in a smaller capacity, cameos here and there before major roles in the Avengers sequels proper.

I've kept you long enough, this is actually a little too big an article and I've still got more to say, but I'll do that in a separate article later. For now, see Iron Man 3 and enjoy it. It's fantastic fun and highly enjoyable, and it bodes me with confidence for Thor: The Dark World this November. Phase 2 has begun with an almighty bang.

While 16Bit is Away, Mark Will Play

Yes, if you haven't noticed, 16bitaudit has been going through some visual changes and updates, which means I haven't posted any news or articles this week as I wait for the fresh coat of paint to dry. So I thought I'd quickly post up here to give you a brief preview of what I'm working on:

* A full review of the Nintendo 3DS XL. It's big, it's bright, and it's (almost) perfect.

* A preview/rant of the upcoming, newly announced TV series S.H.I.E.L.D., and what it means to the Marvel Universe and video games.

* A movie review of big bad ultimate blast fest, Expendables 2.

* And a rant about double dipping Blu-Ray releases, as Avengers makes its home video debut.

I'll also be taking a look at the upcoming Nintendo 3DS releases, including the next (and possibly last) adventure for Professor Layton, and what might be on the horizon.

Meanwhile on IGM Mobile, keep an eye out for some exciting new articles by yours truly, where I show my iOS side to the fullest extent.

All in all, exciting times ahead.

Why Mario means so much ... maybe ...

You know Mario, right? Fat italian guy who wears a lot of red? Has a perfectly moulded moustache? Loves jumping on turtles? Saves the same girl over and over and over again?

Seriously, if you don't know what I'm talking about by now, there's something desperately wrong with you.

I've been playing Mario games for a long time now, and every time I think I've had enough of the plucky plumber and his Bowser killing antics, there's just something about him that drags me right back into that world, jumping and fireballing my way through level after level of the same old classic thing.

And that's part of the problem I know I'm going to have with New Super Mario Bros.

Maybe I've just been spoiled by the indie scene, or by Ubisoft's revitalisation of Rayman, but I'm a little concerned about Mario's future. Loveable guy he may be, but the New Super franchise doesn't seem to have the same level of creativity and enjoyment as some of the other titles in the long standing series, especially having played the first two on DS and Wii.

Yes, no doubt I'll still buy the 3DS New Super Mario 2 that's due out Saturday locally, and more than likely the Wii U launch edition will be on my shopping list. I'll probably even enjoy them, to a point. But I've noticed a rather disturbing trend, an almost 'cash in on the name' kind of trend that's become a constant thorn in every gamers side within this console generation. I'm not the only one who's noticed this, of course, but considering how important Nintendo considers its Mario franchise, it's a little sad to think the plumber is just going by the book now instead of pushing the boundaries that so often infused every iteration of his adventures.

Cast your mind back a few months ago, and everyone was going on about how enjoyable Super Mario 3D Land was, a perfect example of 3D design combined with classic Mario platforming of both the 2D era and the 3D, Mario Galaxy era. As great as that was, however, it's hard to overlook that despite the addition of true 3D without glasses, the title itself was mishmash of old ideas. Ye old racoon tail, flag poles, even the Bowser kid boss battles. Sure, all Mario titles have done the same in the past, but since Mario Galaxy, it's almost as if Nintendo has truly run out of ideas.

And that's a big shame if it's true.

There's a silver lining, though. The Wii U has plenty of potential, and knowing Nintendo they'll find a way to profit from it. But maybe, just maybe, the console could also provide an outlet for a true next gen Mario experience, and I'm not just talking visually. Mario Galaxy got it right, balancing the old with the really brand spanking new (hehe, spanking) thanks to the use of gravity and planets that defined each unique level. Nintendo would have to introduce a mechanic as unique as that to bring in the masses if the series, let alone the console, is going to reach the lofty heights Galaxy set.

And that's not going to happen with New Super. Nostalgia is one thing, but Nintendo aren't the only ones pulling the 8bit heartstrings anymore, especially when you've got the now exclusive Rayman Legends by Team Awesome French Dudes *ahem* Ubisoft leading the Wii U launch lineup, and a host of indie and IOS platform titles at near free prices stealing the limelight.

I'll always buy Mario games. It's just one of those franchises I could never say no to. Just count me down as one of the worried few who are holding out for the next big Mario adventure that really mixes things up. Besides, there's only so many times I can rescue the Princess before I say 'screw it, keep her Bowser. I'll go find cake with my Portal gun instead.'

10 Things Oz Comic Con Needs to Learn

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a 'Oz Comic Con was rubbish and everyone involved should hang their heads in shame' post ... I'll leave that to everyone else who's seemingly bitching endlessly about it. Personally, I had a blast, but perhaps that's an opinion partially tainted by the fact that I spent a lot of (undisclosed) cash on a ticket in order to ensure I had said blast. Not everyone gets that opportunity, I'm afraid, so the event that was Oz Comic Con Melbourne was vastly different for many people and for many reasons.

With all that in mind, here's a few pointers of my own that I hope may both educate and entertain ... not in any particular order:

1) Plan Ahead

This is obvious. When you're inviting two of the biggest names in pop culture history (that's Patrick Stewart and Stan Lee, for those unaware types), among many other's who have a strong following of loyal fans in Australia, you really need to plan for every sort of situation. This includes training your volunteer staff to ensure everyone's on the same page and pre-determining where everyone must go and how. Some of this was done, but only to a point, and as the massive crowd grew over the course of the weekend, it was clear that Hub Productions weren't entirely clear what to do about it. Which was a shame.

Having back up plans, and enough staff to contain crowds, should be atop any list of things to do, but this problems leads to a much bigger issue that, upon reflection, would have aided this first point:

2) A Bigger Hall

Simply put, the hall wasn't big enough to accommodate for the fans, the booths and the ideas in place. Yes, three photo booths is a good idea (which I'll come back to), but when there isn't enough space as it is to fit all the other booths together, any positives are thrown out the window.

Above all else, you CANNOT HAVE BOOTHS THAT CLOSE TO AN ENTRY/EXIT! When it takes just as much time to leave an area than to enter it, you know there's a problem. A wider hall, or using the upstairs auditoriums that have been previously used by the Armageddon team, would have eliminated space issues. Now, the argument can be made that Hub may not have been able to afford it, but I doubt that. Very much.

Something I did note, however, was that the areas for presentations and talks were quite large themselves, yet most of them were half full at the best of times. Perhaps one large area for the bigger talks (such as Stan Lee's, which was overflowing), than the upstairs areas for smaller ones would have allowed for much better use of the hall itself.

3) Signs. Dear God, use SIGNS!

Getting lost within the venue seemed like an easy thing to do, especially when so many lucky patrons who DID get in probably never ventured into such an event before. The more signs around, even having fun with them like street signs pointing the way between vendors, would have cleared that up quickly. Especially when it came to the three photo booths and three presentation halls. Timetables were too small to really get a handle of what they said from a distance, and I noticed there were signs made up to display who was inside at the time, but none of them were ever used. The halls themselves, unless I missed something, didn't have any lists or numbers, or 'entry' and 'exit' signs.

4) Crowd Control

This ties into the debate that there weren't enough staff who were either a) trained up for the event or b) kept in the loop. When it came to the biggest areas, such as a Stan Lee signing area that was very much in the wrong place right opposite the indy artists who got crowded out by the long lines, this was a shambles. They did their best to contain it on Sunday, but by then the damage was done.

The fact that some lines twisted and turned around almost every direction gives you an idea of how bad this and point 2 were, working hand in hand to destroy any attempts at control over the human mass. Again, I was lucky that I had the kind of pass that allowed me to get through these lines easily enough, but I know what it's like to stand there, wasting an entire day for one autograph while the con goes on without you. It's frustrating, which leads me to:

5) Better Time Periods

This one's up for debate, but I noticed that the schedules just didn't seem to make much sense at the most of times. Whether the guests had anything to say about them is anyone's guess (I'd say probably, but who knows), but clearly this was an issue. Everyone knows who they wanted to see the most, so perhaps getting the talks out of the way first, allowing the rest of the day for photos and autographs in separate areas, away from the rest of the guests who's lines never had the same kinds of issues or time table clashes, would have been the better solution. In fact, using an entirely different hall for them would have gone a long way to fixing many of the above points I just made.

As it was, the situation wasn't aided on Sunday when both Stan and Patrick arrived much later than most people anticipated. I can forgive that, though, given many aspects of life and normality that comes with being a hero to the people. They need their space just as much as we do.

6) Better Photos

This was a hit and miss area. Three booths made sense, it's the most I've seen at a con such as this (they've used two at Supanova in the past, though curiously only one at the Perth Supanova the other weekend). However, there's a major concern with Hub's control over photo development, that reared its ugly head on the Saturday that I'm sure put the nail in the coffin of most people's enjoyment of the day.

Simply put, you CANNOT have photos developed elsewhere, then expect people to AGAIN line up in some mad cap fashion to find them. Not only does this waste even more time that most of these fans cannot afford to waste, it means that most fans don't get a chance to have their photo signed, if they're after such a thing. Having learnt that Patrick Stewart doesn't personally sign that often, getting my photo signed made sense to me. The problem was, my photo's weren't developed on time, meaning I had to return the next morning to retrieve them. Luckily for me, not a huge issue, but for those who'd only paid for a day's entry? Not cool.

The answer is clear. Having on-site photo development easily fixes this problem. Even if it means a separate room for it, away from the photo booths, that alone is far better than waiting half a day only to find they haven't arrived yet. Take a note from Supanova's book and fix this one ASAP, otherwise it'll continue to be a bane of Oz Comic Con events for years to come. Or just get a better group to take the photos, that would work too.

7) Better Presenters

It makes a ton of difference when the voice you hear at the start of a talk, or a voice over on the PA giving you can update, actually sounds interested in being there. In this case, every voice I heard sounded like someone from a back water retail store, and the presenters mainly lacked the motivation to entertain between guests.

If it's a show you're going to put on, you need the right people on the microphones. There were some positives though, like cartoons on display on the big screens, but that's little conciliation when there's no witty banter while the guests wait in silence for another question to be asked, or fans sit bored by another 'here's our rules and regulations' intro. We're not kids, we get it!

In fact, let this one go out to all event organisers. Find people who motivate and entertain, that can give as much as they get from the fans and can break up any sudden moments of silence. If I hear another 'any more questions' from the guests themselves ...

8) Don't Be Like Everyone Else

Just because you're a con, doesn't mean you have to act like all the others that came before you. Trying to stand out based on the guests you invite won't always work, as we had here. If you're going to attract fans who will not only attend the event today, but the event next year and the year after that, you're going to have to try something new and exciting to get them in the door. Barring all the above problems this con had, things like the indoor light gun battles and video game challenges by professional players was a welcome sign. But this con still felt too much like every other, and clearly there wasn't much thought put into improving or adding features that placed Oz Comic Con ahead of the pack.

It's time to mix things up. The fan's are there, the country is willing to give these cons everything they've got. Every year, we hear about bigger attendance's, records broken, bigger names as guests. But every year the con itself is much like the last. We need someone, anyone, to break up the typical agenda and say 'you know what, to hell with the rules.'

What's that? You want me to suggest something? Okay then. Start with a host, the voice of the con, someone that as soon as you hear their voice, you know to listen. He or she needs to be in as many places as possible, presenting guests and keeping people up to date, while being entertaining at the same time (as I said above).

Secondly, bring in activities. There's only so many stores you can buy things at that aren't online cheaper. Light guns are a good start, but how about stalls that feature the best Cosplay artists teaching you how to make your own costumes or jewellery, or treasure hunting events for the kids in the audience, or perhaps something that *gasp* uses the outdoors for its purpose!

Music artists would be welcome too. Generally they are either actors who sing or bands that are some kind of geek or pop culture relation, but some real music by a local band or two wouldn't go astray to sit back and be entertained by. Lord knows the halls are rather quiet towards the end of the day on Sunday, what better way to keep people within the venue and paying a little more towards something extravagant?

Finally, and I say this with the highest level of regard for every con that's happened before, but we need more local talent. Having international guests is great, for sure, but there's so many local community members who can bring along their own talents. An artists ally that features roughly the same kind of people every con isn't enough.

9) Have Humility

Hub Productions needs to quickly learn how to apologise correctly. Too many times now have they created problems for their fans without a proper 'sorry, shouldn't have done that'. It's okay to be wrong, it's no biggie if you make a mistake and own up to it without coming up with excuses or blaming outside interference. What annoys me about this past weekend is the common line 'we didn't expect so many' which, and I apologise for my language, is BULLSHIT! I said it above, I'll say it again here, PLAN AHEAD, and apologise profusely to those who either didn't have a good time or couldn't get in at all.

Above all else, have some heart. Yes, it's hard putting a show like this together, but can you imagine the kind of experiences some of these fans are having to go through? Getting crushed in lines, not getting a ticket in, missing out on meeting a childhood idol? That's a much bigger impact on anyone's life than you can imagine. I've already experienced that myself, I missed out on meeting Richard Dean Anderson a while back because they 'didn't expect so many' to turn up. *ahem* BULLSHIT!

And finally:

10) Stop Fighting

What's worse than a con not working out? Having other con organisers berate your mistakes and call you out on it. We should be a community that thrives, not three groups that are trying to out do themselves!!! If nothing else, Oz Comic Con shouldn't have existed in the first place. Hub tried to bite off more than they could chew, and it backfired. Now, having previously stated they knew what they were doing, they're getting lambasted by the other con organisers for it. But it shouldn't be like this at all, not even in the slightest.

Everyone has their differences, that's a given. But for a group to go out and try to better someone else for spite? That's just wrong, in many ways. We should be working together, to ensure both the fans and the guests are having the best times of their lives, and building up the community that we have into one of the best in the world. Instead, we have three separate groups trying to work within a country that just doesn't have the right kind of infrastructure to maintain to many different types. Supanova travels the length of Australia every year now, no doubt they are in a good place. Could you imagine, then, if Hub worked together with them to get Stan Lee and Patrick Stewart right across Australia?

We should be trying to break free of the problems of the past and looking to do something right for the fans that are, in their droves, doing all that they can to make it to these cons and to show their true colours in front of the world. I'll still be going to these cons, when I can, and I always will. But until such time as we all get along and make the best of the opportunities afforded to us, we may never be able to break free from the smaller, side story in the news headlines to the San Diego Comic Con heights of our neighbour.

What it means to be my kind of human...

This past weekend has been an amazing ride, full of unexpected surprises and events long dreamed of but never thought possible. But instead of me going off like a fan boy, expressing my love for heroes and so forth, I want to share something a little different.

You see, I got into a conversation earlier today that revolved around stereotypes, specifically the nerd kind. I'm quick to point out that despite my current form, I wasn't a nerd when I was young. In fact, it wasn't until I moved to Australia when I was 8 that my love pop culture began to take shape, revolving around Nintendo consoles and Star Wars.

These days, my life is all about science fiction and fantasy. Being a writer I'm surrounded by ideas, characters and stories every moment I get. I wear of tv show, movie and comic book character logos and artwork. I play video games more often than not, quoting lines from shows to friends while joking about life.

The truth is, without pop culture, my life would be very different. Though I still wouldn't like vegemite.

I do get asked some times why I spend so much money on events such as this weekend's Oz Comic Con. My answer is in two parts. A) Because you only live once and B) so why not? When the likes of Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart and Julie Benz are all within the same room at the same time, it's extremely hard to pass up the opportunity to be there with them.

But for me, it isn't just about taking photos or paying for autographs. Those are keepsakes, something I can pass down to my kids, if I'm lucky enough to meet someone willing to create such life with me. Anyway, it's the little moments I love, like sharing a joke or shaking hands, chatting about life, smiling, being a part of something special. The fact that I can take what I love and share it with the very people who helped to create it, no matter how large or small a role they played, matters to me. I don't consider the need to express my love of someone's work, however.

Everyone is the same, no matter who or what they are. We are all human beings who, in some way or another, communicate between each other. When it comes to meeting a celebrity, I don't see them the same way as most people do. If nothing else, I see them as fellow fans, of art and life, that are achieving the very same thing I hope to achieve.

I guess my point is, I treat them equally, just as I do customers at work or strangers on a train. I talk to them, not down to them or sit them high on a pedestal. Because for all the hype and stardom, they are just like me, and I'd want to be treated as a friend that people know they can talk to and trust. That's why I find it so easy to chat to anyone. No matter who you are, there's always a story to tell.

So this weekend, I got to do just that, with friends, legends and total strangers. And for all the moments spent waiting in lines, pushing through crowds and paying God knows what, there was a moment of excitement that I will never forget. I love it all, because it's made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing. Excelsior!

10 Things E3 Did Get Wrong

1) Microsoft's Conference: Besides Halo 4 and the surprise Splinter Cell, plus a little thing called Tomb Raider, there wasn't much for Microsoft to crow about. Yes, Gears of War and Forza were there, but as teaser trailers that barely said anything (or did anything for that matter), and a bunch of tech related to Kinect that I really don't care about. Something they didn't mention that has since been confirmed is an AFL channel, since E3 was all about US sports. There's no doubt that Microsoft are holding back until next year, when the next console is finally revealed.

Also, when two non-game developers take the piss out of your own presentation in the middle of said presentation, you know it's not going as well as planned. Though credit to Matt and Trey, who easily stole the show with the best moment of the week.

2) Nintendo: Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to look forward to, but this year seems like a failure to me. What could have been a massive list of announcements, one big title after another, was nothing but a bunch of titles we already knew about and three separate conferences that went over the same stuff. Mario's there, Pikmin's back, but without Zelda, Metroid and Starfox, it felt fairly empty in terms of long term releases. There's always the chance that another Nintendo only event will occur before the Wii U launch (similar to the 3DS events last year), but for now, we'll have to continue waiting. And waiting.

3) PS Vita: The lack of announcements doesn't bode well for a handheld that's not even a year old. There's a few things there, but nothing near the support the 3DS is quickly starting to build up. Just like the good old DS vs PSP days then, I guess some things never change.

4) Call of Duty: Looks like COD is just about set to jump the shark. Perhaps a year off might do the trick, yeah?

5) Rare: So I was wrong about the return of an old favourite. Allow myself a moment to weep.

6) Kinect & Move: The two biggest things of last years E3 are almost dead in the water. Kinect only exists to serve as a tool for things that aren't gaming related, and Move is ... well ... I don't really know why it was there in the first place. Since Nintendo are taking the a few jumps away from motion control (though the Wii U still uses the Wiimotes as a secondary control option), it seems like the motion fad is just that, a fad.

7) Killer Instinct: *whimper*

8) The Big Finale: Remember the days when E3 used to end with 'oh, and one more thing', followed by a huge game no-one saw coming? Microsoft thought showing off Call of Duty Black Ops II was just that. Nintendo finished with ... well, not much of anything. At least in Sony's case, despite the fact it wasn't a surprise, The Last of Us was fun to watch. I just with E3 was more like the old days.

9) Killer Instinct: Hear that? That's my heart breaking. Again.

10) What ever happened to: The Last Guardian, Fire Emblem 3DS, Monster Hunter 3G, Uncharted 4, no new 3DS redesign (though that was always a long shot), all of the big Nintendo franchises outside of Mario. Just a short list of the stuff that wasn't there, though some were briefly mentioned in passing.

11) Killer Instinct. No really, why do this to me?

10 Things E3 Didn't Get Wrong

1) The 3DS: Yes, largely overshadowed by the Wii U (lack of) announcements, the 3DS still has a ton of content incoming over the coming months, none more important that New Super Mario Bros 2, Luigi's Mansion 2 and Paper Mario. Coupled with some good quality 3rd party content, the 2nd year of the 3DS looks warm and cozy.

2) Watch Dogs: Is it me, or are Ubisoft the only company in existence willing to take a risk? They dumped Rayman for Rabbids for Wii's launch, brought Rayman back in arguably the best 2D platform game ever made in Rayman Origins, redefined Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell more than once (more on that in a moment), and are now set to do the same to Assassin's Creed, a title that itself was a risk way back when. Watch Dogs is another new IP set to the same beat, trying something new. It looks polished for an early development, though we may be waiting a while, but this looks promising.

3) Beyond: I already chatted this one up in my last post, but Ellen Page could be up for an award or two if the early trailers are anything to go by. If all goes to plan, this could be huge.

4) Assassin's Creed III On the High Seas: Do I need to explain?

5) Halo 4: The last hurrah, perhaps, for the Xbox 360. Gorgeous to look at, and seemingly with plenty of new content to make it stand out from the past three (not including Reach and ODST, though both were awesome in their own right). The visual upgrade is clear as day, but it seems there will be more cut scenes and intercut storytelling than Bungie's efforts were known for. Intriguing.

6) ZombieU: The Wii U still has a ton of stuff Nintendo are yet to reveal, but again Ubisoft are in the middle of it all. Between this great looking shooter that uses the new gamepad almost perfectly, to the wonderful looking Rayman Legends, at least we can be guaranteed of some high quality produce for launch.

7) Splinter Cell: There's no Ironside involved, but the reveal trailer seems positive enough. The last two Splinter Cell titles have been largely miss more than hit, but Black List might get Sam back on track. If nothing else, seeing him in the middle of a war zone should add some spice, though why there hasn't been a Splinter Cell/Ghost Recon combined title yet I'll never know. Actually, why not have one massive Tom Clancy game with every franchise involved?

8) Star Wars 1313: I'm kinda mixed on this one though. On the one hand, it looks great, and takes the best of Uncharted and throws it into a Universe I love. On the other hand, the same 'let's get down and dirty in the Expanded Universe' concept was used in the Force Unleashed, and that didn't exactly turn out the way I hoped. Can't we just get Battlefront 3 already?

9) The Last of Us: I'm quickly becoming a Naughty Dog fan, Uncharted is a franchise I'd play for a lifetime. But having watched the most recent game play footage of their next big hit, I've got nothing but good vibes. Except for one small problem, which I've already detailed. Will it get past our ratings board?

10) The Wii U: Okay, I was bummed by the lack of really big, blow my socks off announcements. But in the end, I was always going to buy the console, and seeing anything about it in action was good enough for me. Besides, Mario in HD was a system seller without them even announcing said game. There's a few minor things to take note too, such as Bioware working on the console, Ubisoft's continued support of Nintendo, and a ton of Nintendo franchises that will no doubt find their way to the console. And Nintendoland looks kinda cool too, I must admit. The end of the year can't come soon enough.