Gamertell

By now, we all know the big games of E3 2009 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii, BioShock 2, Mass Effect 2, Assassin’s Creed 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction, God of War III, and oh yeah, that game with the Beatles. But there were plenty of under-the-radar surprises at this year’s show - quality games that looked great without the benefit of the hype machine. The following are my top three picks that came right out of left field and made a major impression.

Robacalypse: Beaver Defense
Despite having a truly bizarre title (I thought it was a joke at first!) this “tower defense” strategy title for WiiWare was looking good. Like Ninjatown (DS) on steroids, the game features advanced AI, more freedom in placing your units, and a “hero robot” mechanic that allows you to choose a robotic super soldier at each level’s outset. I was able to try this one hands-on, and I was genuinely impressed with the beefed up mechanics and manic pace. It’s slated for a WiiWare release on September 30, 2009.

A Boy and His Blob
The shining star of Majesco’s booth, this Wii retro revival of the classic NES game was looking gorgeous. With a hand-painted graphical style and compelling puzzle-platforming gameplay, the game was a definite sleeper hit of the show. The guys behind the game (WayForward) also developed Contra 4 for the DS, so they definitely know what they’re doing when it comes to now-gen reboots. This one’s coming in the fall of 2009.

Prank Your Neighbor
I had zero expectations from this JoWood/Dreamcatcher point and click adventure - the company does not have the best track record with the genre. However, I was totally charmed by the “90s LucasArts” aesthetic and cheeky premise: basically, you play as a little guy who has stowed away on a cruise ship with his obnoxious neighbors. Your objective is to find new ways to combine items and environmental hazards in order to make the neighbor’s life miserable. It looked like boatloads of fun - no pun intended. You can pick up the DS version in July 2009.

Read [WayForward]