I'm Looking Forward to Potential Yoshi's Woolly World Toys!

Do want.

While Yoshi's Woolly World doesn't look to be the most original concept, its basic aesthetic is crazy cute. In the onslaught of further E3 2014 news, the game may have been quickly pushed aside, but I've actually found myself thinking about it again as of late. More specifically, I've been greatly looking forward to the possibility of owning some yarn Yoshi toys!

I'm clueless as to how easy it would be to mass produce a stuffed yarn Yoshi like the one seen in the Nintendo E3 Digital Event, but I certainly hope it's possible somehow. Even if it takes creating faux versions that merely match the look without the worry of an expensive and time consuming handmade manufacturing process, I just know that I want one. Stuffed yarn Yoshis are where smiles are born.

My Vicarious E3 2014 Experience In Retrospect

Oh, the laughs we had.

Oddly enough, E3 2014 was the first time I tried to actively follow the entire event as it went on. In the past, I'd watch occasional press conference streams here and there, but I never got overly invested. Now that I'm featuring more gaming content on Castle Geek-Skull, it would have been pretty silly to let this year's event pass me by.

The site is usually a one-post-a-day affair, so taking on any form of E3 coverage might have been biting off a bit more than I was ready for. Several points during the event definitely left me wishing I hadn't turned down that clone army I was offered years back. Who needs a soul anyway? Regardless, I gave it a go.

I didn't cover as much as I would have liked to, and I'm still finding interesting news tidbits or trailers that snuck past me several days after the fact, but at least I can say I went for it. Whether the outcome was good or bad, I'm glad to have thrown a bit of "just do it" attitude out there. Hey Nike, let's talk endorsements.

For anyone that might care, here's the full list of what I managed to post during my vicarious E3 shenanigans:

I Want To Believe DICE's Passion for Star Wars Battlefront is Real

Early in-engine footage of the Rebel Commando in action on Endor

Maybe its use of famous nostalgic imagery and music is helping pull the wool over my eyes, but I really want to believe the passion displayed by DICE in E3 2014's Star Wars: Battlefront trailer is real:

My Worries about the Batmobile in Arkham Knight are Gone (E3 2014)

My, what a friendly looking vehicle.

As far back as Arkham Asylum, one of the biggest fan requests has been a drivable Batmobile. I can certainly understand the desire; the Batmobile is one of the most iconic fictional vehicles out there. However, I never really missed it. Batman is plenty mobile on his own, and if I'm being honest, I actually felt a bit hesitant when I heard it would finally be included in the upcoming Arkham Knight.

While I trust that Rocksteady knows what they're doing with Batman after Asylum and City, I suppose I worried about this being a case of something being shoehorned in just because they felt they had to. After seeing the new Batmobile gameplay trailer from E3 2014 however, it looks like the famous vehicle has been incorporated quite nicely:

I Say Pac-Man Absolutely Belongs In Smash Bros. (E3 2014)

How can you hate this smile?

I don't think there's any denying that Pac-Man is one of gaming's biggest icons. In the pantheon of video game mascots, he's right up there. And yet, after E3 2014's Nintendo developer roundtable brought us the news that Pac-Man is joining the cast of the upcoming Wii U and 3DS Super Smash Bros., there was plenty of hate amongst the vast sea of responses. Examples include "This is so dumb. I'm officially upset" and "Ugh, Nintendo is taking the easy way out with these characters." Shrug.

Three incredibly iconic bros just kickin' it. No big deal.

Hyrule Warriors' Trailer Shows This Game Means Business! (E3 2014)

It's about to get real.

Since its announcement last December, there's been plenty of buzz surrounding Hyrule Warriors. While many have felt that a Dynasty Warriors style Zelda game has potential, much of the hype has been somewhat tentative. After the game's E3 2014 trailer came out guns blazing, the response has taken a much more positive tone overall. If you missed it, check out the trailer below:

Mario Maker's Ties to Mario Paint Got My Attention (E3 2014)

Mario Maker in action

Nintendo's E3 2014 Digital Event also brought us the announcement of Mario Maker, a game which allows players to create and play their own custom Mario courses with either 8-bit or New Super Mario Bros. graphics. While the first comment I noticed about it on Twitter was negative (something like "yeah, that'd be fun...for five minutes), I think the game is a solid idea. When I was first saw the trailer unfold, my first thought was how much fun Youtube gamers might be able to have with it. On a more personal level, I was more drawn to the game given it's ties to Mario Paint.

Bayonetta 2 Looks Just as Crazy as Expected (E3 2014)

#Bayonetta. #PrintScreen.

Nintendo's E3 2014 Digital Event also included a trailer for Bayonetta 2. The first installment was well regarded for its stylized and over the top action. It appears that the sequel will be every bit as crazy as you might expect. Check it out:

Yoshi's Woolly World: At Least It's Cute (E3 2014)

Oh so kawaii.

After covering Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's E3 2014 Digital Event moved on to showcase several new games. First up was Yoshi's Woolly World, a platformer for the Wii U. The world is yarn based, immediately bringing Kirby's Epic Yarn to mind. The rest of the gameplay elements also bring back memories of Yoshi's Story for N64. The trailer below gives a good taste of what the game has to offer:

Super Smash Bros' Mii Fighters Look Like a Blast (E3 2014)

Several Super Smash Bros Mii Fighters at the ready

Naturally, Nintendo's E3 2014 Digital Event opened up with the highly anticipated 3DS and Wii U Super Smash Bros. The first reveal was a doozy: the Mii Fighter. Yes, you can use any of your Miis as a playable character in the game! If for some reason you absolutely hate characters like King Dedede or Fox, you can personally punch them right in the face.

It's Great to See the Powers TV Series Moving Forward (E3 2014)

Sony's E3 2014 Powers TV Series Presentation

With movies starring Batman, The X-Men, Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man routinely lighting up the box office, it's no secret that comic books have a major stronghold in the motion picture industry. While many of our favorite superheroes have also graced the small screen, current shows like Arrow, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the upcoming Daredevil, Agent Carter, and Gotham have the presence of comic characters on TV rapidly catching up to their ubiquitous nature in movies. The source material might not be as widely recognizable, but I'm incredibly pleased that the Powers television series will be joining in on this new wave of comic-based TV shows.

Batman: Arkham Knight Looks Dense in the Best Way (E3 2014)

Batman in all his glory.

It's already been stated that Batman: Arkham Knight will have a map around five times the size of Arkham City's. While my initial response was in worrying they'd use that to amp up the collection of Riddler trophies to even more ridiculous levels, seeing Batman glide from great heights down to street level only to immediately hop into the Batmobile in E3 2014's Batmobile Battle Mode gameplay trailer has completely won me over.

Sean Murray Sold Me on No Man's Sky (E3 2014)

A look at No Man's Sky gameplay from E3 2014.

Hello Games' ambitious No Man's Sky is looking better than ever after its E3 2014 gameplay trailer. The game's procedurally generated worlds feature colorful scenery, attention-grabbing alien life, and engaging interstellar battles. If you have any interest in the likes of sci-fi and space exploration, this game should be right up your alley. If you missed it at Sony's presentation, you can take a look at the new trailer below:

Will Dead Island 2 Really Have a Sense of Humor? (E3 2014)

Looks like a typical morning in my neighborhood.

If the announce trailer for Dead Island 2 at E3 2014 is any indication of how the game might turn out, it looks as if it might actually be fun. Zombies have become so common in games that it's increasingly easy to throw the "just another zombie game" dismissal around. My sole experience with the first Dead Island was in watching my cousin play a bit, and I admit that's basically what I thought upon first glance. I'm not in the best place to judge, but the tone of this early teaser for the sequel looks quite a bit different.

Despite the first game failing to hook me, I'll probably be interested in giving Dead Island 2 a spin if the game itself does carry the sense of levity and chaos found in the E3 trailer. Of course, games like Dead Rising have proven that the combination of zombies and humor can be a great success. Everything from being oblivious as zombie shenanigans go on in the background to the upbeat soundtrack (Pigeon John's "The Bomb) might even indicate that the amazing Shaun of the Dead may have been an influence here. I would definitely be OK with that.

Dead Rising 3 DLC is a Capcom Love Fest (E3 2014)

Here comes a new challenger indeed!

I've only barely begun my vicarious E3 2014 experience. After watching some actual coverage, the new Dead Rising 3 DLC (hilariously titled Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha) is the first reveal to truly jump out at me. If you're a fan of pretty much any Capcom franchise, there's probably something in there for you. It's freaking beautiful. Behold:

My Vicarious E3 2014 Experience Began With...Amazon?

Of course Amazon would be the first place I go for E3 news. Why are you looking at me like that?

Despite how wonderful it would be for Castle Geek-Skull, I'm not attending E3 2014. Fortunately, the internet usually allows a fairly solid vicarious experience for those of us who are stuck at home during such events. When I first checked my e-mail on this fine day, a message from Amazon.com titled "Video Games E3 Coverage" was right on top of the list. I don't know what I expected, but I figured I'd click through and see if they actually had any interesting coverage on hand.