E3 round-up

Don't let some of the great games pass you by in mass of videogame goodness that was annual conference, E3. Dive into a quick look at some of the things you may have missed...

There were an astonishing number of games and other related titbits within the crowded halls of E3's giant convention centre. From the larger than life exploits of God of War III and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, to the more cerebral and consequential action driven narrative of Heavy Rain, there was something for everyone - so much that you may have missed some of the other major goodies on show.

Here's a whistle-stop tour of a few big names which are sure to dazzle in the near future...

From the creator of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, TRICO: The Last Guardian wowed crowds with its stunning blend of beautiful visuals and intriguing gameplay possibilities. Telling an evocative fairy tale of a child who encounters a legendary mythical creature, the pair must learn to trust and work with each other to find their freedom from a foreboding fortress.

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series made a triumphant return as both Assassin's Creed 2 and Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines were hailed by showgoers. Bloodlines, coming on PSP, follows Altair's story after the events of the first game as he discovers new land and hunts down the ascending Templars, while Assassin's Creed 2 on PS3 introduces a new assassin, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who embarks on an epic quest for vengeance during the Italian Renaissance.

A popular racing circuit came alive again with the unveiling of Gran Turismo on PSP, which makes it handheld debut with a staggering 800 and more cars to drive around 35 tracks. Now you can enjoy the ultimate driving simulator anywhere you go, on your own or head-to head against friends - with Gran Turismo on PSP, the race is everywhere.

That wasn't the only title driving players around the E3 floor - ModNation Racers on PS3 tickled many with its highly customisable racing antics which appeals to everyone. Mod yourself a kart, personalise a driver and get racing at home or against online opponents. Jump, boost and drift your way around a world of tricky tracks - and then design a track yourself and share it online.

PSP beat 'em up fans had something to battle over with Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, which brings weapons-based one-on-one fighting to the palm of your hand. Robust and challenging single player modes, around 30 characters (including God of War's Kratos) head-to-head multiplayer and impressive visuals all create a videogame combo you can't ignore.

A new way of playing PlayStation 3 titles was unleashed on the world as the PlayStation motion sensing controller was shown off. Working with PlayStation Eye, the controller allows a 1:1 movement response, meaning wherever you move your arm with the controller is replicated on-screen with precision. The demos on show impressed crowds with examples that included playing sports, aiming guns, wielding a giant sword and shield, and even writing.

One of the most popular role playing game series ever created, Final Fantasy, made a brief and significant PS3 appearance with a new trailer for Final Fantasy XIII, and the announcement of the next title to bear the popular name, Final Fantasy XIV Online. As the second fully online adventure of the series, FFXIV will have you roaming around the land of Eorzea with other players, battling a variety of outlandish monsters.

Other enticing titles were given a small shine of the limelight even if they're too early to show fully yet - the Rockstar developed Agent featured high impact espionage action, exclusive to PS3, the mysterious action adventure Nier was pencilled in for a 2010 release on PS3 from Square Enix, Electronic Arts' first person shooter Crysis 2 was lined up in the sights of many PS3 owners, while Capcom promised a handheld dose of survival horror in Resident Evil Portable for PSP.

Metal Gear fans were given a treat in the shape of two new titles sneaking out from Konami's development studios. The first is Metal Gear Solid: Rising, on PS3, starring popular character Raiden, while the second will hit PSP with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, a sequel to PlayStation 2 title, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Vampire bashing series Castlevania got a fresh injection of blood with PS3 bound Castlevania: Lords of Shadow revealed from Konami's cape. A collaboration between developer Mercury Steam and Kojima Productions (the team behind Metal Gear Solid), Lords of Shadow throws you into a world where darkness reigns and the only hope of salvation is Gabriel, member of an elite group of holy knights who protect and defend the innocent against the supernatural.

Expect an open game world with snowy mountain ranges, Gothic castles and undead-strewn wastelands, layered with an epic story of love and loss, and voice acting by high profile actors such as Robert Carlyle (28 Weeks Later, Trainspotting, The Full Monty), and Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: Next Generation).

There will be more games springing from the embers of E3 in the coming weeks, so keep reading au.playstation.com and stay up to date, but for now, check out a bunch of other announcements made at E3 this year in our related stories below.