E3 was roughly a gazillion times smaller this year, but it was surprisingly well put together.  This concentrated version didn’t have people pumping through it like an L.A. freeway of stacked sardines during rush hour. We could actually hear each other, and that was a huge plus. 

During my break I rocked out on Guitar Hero III, busted blocks on Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, and played football in the new Rayman Raving Rabbids 2.  From what I saw, Guitar Hero III is the same beautiful game with a bunch of cool new tunes and a new battle mode. You can attack your opponent by doing things like switching their play style to lefty flip, or making it so they have to play twice the amount of notes. I’ve been a Puzzle Fighter addict since I was just a wee little tot, and now it’s coming out in HD for Xbox Live Arcade. I’m crazy happy! And the Rayman bunnies are funnier and more adorable with mini games where you can wash your underwear or play in a band.

For most of E3 I played Naruto: Rise of a Ninja for the Xbox360.  This game ninja-kicked its way into my heart. I love it! It’s an action adventure/fighter/RPG game with very unique, beautiful graphics. I played every inch of the demo and I’m dying to finish the rest of the game. The game follows episodes 1 through 80 of the cartoon. I enjoyed Naruto so much, I’m going to start watching the TV series; it’s that cool. 

On the downside, E3 was spread out over a few hotels as well as the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, so you had to drive or take a shuttle to get to the different locations. Since Valkyrie, Brookelyn, Psyche and I were stationed at the Barker Hangar demoing Naruto, we only got to see and demo the games at that location (except for Psyche… lucky!) and missed out on Assassin’s Creed and Halo 3, the two I was most looking forward to.

Overall, it was good times.  E3 wasn’t the incredible place I experienced last year when I first joined the Frag Dolls, but it has changed into a different kind of gaming paradise… one where people can comfortably communicate.