You’ve had my snarky quasi-reviews of the conferences, and heard what I thought of the shows overall, but what about my favourite bits without my ingrained sense of pessimism pissing over everything good and right with the world? Well, I’ve got you covered with this little list of my Top 10 Moments from E3 2019 (in no particular order, of course)!

Keanu. Fucking. Reeves (and, to a lesser extent, Cyberpunk 2077).

What else was I going to kick off this list with? Like everyone and their fucking grandmother, this whole thing utterly blindsided me during the Xbox conference. Not only did they reveal that this incredible actor would feature in the game, but they brought him out to reveal the release date.

I’ve been lowkey excited about this game for some time, and I hate to admit it but Keanu fucking Reeves has pretty much sold me on it now. Also, the bits of gameplay we actually got to see during that trailer look pretty damn awesome too. Bring on 2020 already.

New Super Lucky’s Tale

I still cannot believe this announcement. They’re bringing an updated version of possibly my favourite Xbox One exclusive to the damn Switch and I could not be more excited about this. All we know currently is that it will be the same game with additional content.

This is confirmed to be levels and so will mean additional story, but I’m intrigued if it will mean the DLC bundled in too. I’m totally on this, and will love another run through the Book of Ages with the adorable Lucky. I can’t believe this was just dropped in a reel too. Insane.

ASTRAL CHAIN

I’m not even subtle about how much I want this game, and have been excited about it since its initial announcement because of one little thing – Platinum Games. Although you can’t exactly say that everything they touch turns to gold, but they definitely have a consistent output.

ASTRAL CHAIN, however, is looking incredible after that gameplay demonstration during the Nintendo Treehouse Live. The combat looks to be in depth but with simple execution, the visuals look great in motion, and I simply cannot wait for August now to get my hands on it.

The next instalment of the Devolver Digital saga

This was obviously going to be on this list now, wasn’t it? I don’t know what it is about these conferences but I find them so utterly hilarious and a brilliant contrast to the other showings every year. This year’s was especially striking owing to borrowing heavily from Nintendo Directs.

The format, and the continuation of the narrative we’ve been treated to the last couple of years come together to create one of the most unique experiences of E3 2019. It also helps that they showed some pretty awesome-looking games too – but who cares about games?

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered release date (kinda)

Now, I say kinda because this doesn’t have a completely set release date, but it’s better than the previously nebulous “2019”. I now know that I’ll be able to jump in with friends online pretty damn soon and this announcement alone makes this inclusion worthwhile.

The only decision I need to make on this is what platform to get it on. I can either grab the Switch version for portability and, you know, friends, or whether to get the PS4 version for the online stability. I’ve got time to decide, and I think I’ll go back and watch the trailer again.

Helen (and Watch_Dogs Legion too, I guess)!

I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of Watch_Dogs, and am normally not a fan of Ubisoft’s output really either, with some exceptions of course. However, Watch_Dogs Legion is just doing so many interesting things with its set up and mechanics that it has my curiosity, if not my attention quite yet.

This being said, Helen is a complete treasure and should be protected. A retired assassin who is a senior citizen now and part of the rebellious DEDSEC, Helen absolutely stole the show for me and many others the first time she slowly vaulted over that rail. Timeless.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening reveal

Yeah, I know, this was technically announced before, but this is the first time we’ve actually seen what the game will look like and my god LOOK AT HIS LITTLE FACE. Everything about the art style of this remake is looking adorable, and I’m already in love with the faux-diorama of it all.

Even better is the gameplay that we got to see during the Nintendo Treehouse Live broadcasts, with the game playing very similarly to before, but with an additional mode allowing the player to make their own dungeons. It’s like the Zelda Maker we always wanted … kinda.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps release date

If you haven’t played Ori and the Blind Forest, I demand that you leave this article right now and go play it. It’s easily one of the best exploratory adventure title with some of the tightest platforming I have ever experienced. So, a sequel? Yeah, you could say I’m in.

Seeing the new gameplay during the trailer, along with the release date definitely means that Will of the Wisps is one of my highlights of the whole of E3 2019. The only disappoint for me personally is that the wait for the game is still so far away. But I guess I can play the first one again.

The Hero for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Is it weird that I’m much more excited for the inclusion of this character, or set of characters rather, than for Banjo-Kazooie? I mean, I don’t care per se, but it would be good to know if this is one of those occasions in which I’m being accidentally inflammatory for once.

Anyway, I love Dragon Quest, so love the fact that I’ll be able to play as several of the iconic heroes from the series this Spring. Also, as an additional plus point, their inclusion really upsets a lot of the Smash community, which I take great joy in seeing.

No More Heroes III

Travis just had to be here really. I seem to be one of the few that actually enjoyed Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, and so I’m glad that SUDA51 is bringing us the next adventure of everyone’s favourite dumbass otaku. Especially if this continues the narrative so far.

That aside though, the trailer looked undoubtedly awesome, with what seemed to be classic gameplay returning, mech fights (for some reason), and the return of Sylvia Christel at the end. I know we didn’t get a release date for this one, but I’m already so excited for it.

JUST MISSED OUT – Elden Ring

Now, I don’t really have the boner for George R. R. Martin that a lot of people have, but even I can recognise a match made in heaven when I see one. The dark, brooding and atmospheric worlds of Hidetaka Miyazaki are almost made for Martin’s dark fantasy narratives.

The only reason that this just missed the top ten is that we didn’t really see anything of it. Aside from an admittedly intriguing cinematic trailer, we have no idea about this game. So, I’m excited for this title, sure, and I’m certain that it will be great – I just need more.

That’s my Top 10 Moments from E3 2019, but what are yours? Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter.