Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Developer: Kojima Productions
Platform: PS3
Release Date: TBA 2007
While we'd like to be giving this award to the 15-minute version, the best trailer to be found on GameSpot from E3 2006 is the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer seen at Sony's preshow press conference. Packed with a purity of fan service normally reserved for a Nintendo event, Old Snake's lamentation over future warfare is intercut with intense fighting and such familiar faces as Ocelot, Meryl, the Colonel, Otacon, and Raiden. Some look older, some haven't aged a day, and some have changed from effeminate and annoying main characters to wicked-sick cyborg ninjas that you hope are playable on the side.
We get no gameplay amid the mournful music, ominous voice-over, and lifelike visuals... Or do we? Until this game is available for playing, we can't be sure. And although we don't know when we'll see this in stores, Metal Gear fans will be able to fill the months with the questions raised herein. Whose grave is Snake saluting? Wasn't FOXDIE supposed to make him check out a few years ago? And what's with the "Liquid" before Ocelot? Then there's the ending of the trailer, where Snake appears on the verge of suicide. Were we really just offered a glimpse of the last moments of both Snake and his popular franchise so early in the game's development? From the Metal Gear diehards to those just looking for an excuse to drop $600 on a PlayStation 3, this trailer left you rewinding, freeze-framing, and most importantly, wanting more.
Finalists
Assassin's Creed (PS3)
At first glance, Assassin's Creed looks like an amazing game where you take down poor, overmatched crusaders among lifelike crowds. But then you notice the subtle digital-video effects and wonder...is there more to this game than the 12th century?
Coded Arms: Assault (PS3)
Mimicking our favorite trailer of E3, we first got a glimpse of Coded Arms: Assault at the Sony press conference, then later at Konami's official event we were treated to a full three minutes of stylish cyber-gunplay. The Matrix wishes it could look this cool.
God Hand (PS2)
We appreciate trailers that show off plenty of gameplay. This number for God Hand takes some solid, in-game combos and mixes them with surf rock, a laugh track, and of course, dancing. In the words of the trailer, its style is impetuous.
God of War II (PS2)
Kratos is still angry! Grrr! Again, great gameplay with epic music makes for a winner here. Honestly, this trailer could've been a two-minute loop of that griffin getting its wing chopped off and we'd be just as anxious to play the game.
Halo 3 (X360)
So when Cortana-gone-crazy says, "This is the way the world ends," that means this game will have an ending, right? Just kidding. Bungie truly delivered on one of the most anticipated trailers of E3 in stunning HD. And hey, no pop-in scenery!
Spore (PC)
Spore was first unveiled by Will Wright at GDC 2005, and our year-plus wait for the first trailer of the game was rewarded by this lighthearted tale of evolution reminiscent of the intro to Futurama.
Super Paper Mario (GC)
With the game nowhere to be found, this short movie listed with little fanfare on Nintendo's press site single-handedly won Super Paper Mario an E3 2006 People's Choice Award as one of the most heavily trafficked games on our site. Power to the Paper!
Super Smash Brothers Brawl (Wii)
Snake's in the game! Snake's in the game! And Zero Mission Samus, and the dude from Kid Icarus, and Meta Knight, and hey! Snake's in the game!
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