10 Biggest Surprises In E3 History

Ever since the first Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) show way back in 1995, the event has become a phenomenon in the world of gaming - every major developer keen to use it to shine a spotlight on their latest products and innovations.

Because of this, the event often plays hosts to huge announcements and stunning surprises that are more than capable of sending shockwaves throughout the entire industry, giving fans plenty to talk about in the months following the event.

Even today, when the gaming media is so completely saturated with news that it is almost impossible to avoid information about the latest blockbuster title, the event still has the capacity to shock attendees and create a stir.

Of course not all surprises are good, and E3 has played host to more than its share of moments that gamers would sooner forget, some of which have been so disastrous that they have forced a speedy backpedal on the part of whoever made them.

Here we look at some of the biggest surprises that the expo has played host to. From the return of beloved game franchises right through to announcements that signalled a change in the gaming landscape - for better or for worse - all of these surprises have generated a buzz that continued long after the surprise itself.

There is no disputing that Ocarina of Time is not only one of the most finely-crafted games of all time, but it is also one of the most fondly remembered. The game represented Link's transition into the more 'adult' world of 3D gaming and many a player holds fond memories of the many standout moments in the title.

This is part of the reason why The Wind Waker divided opinion so massively when it was announced, with many wishing the series had stayed with the more realistic graphical style of its predecessor.

People holding that viewpoint likely didn't have too much enthusiasm for the next game in the series, especially when it was revealed that the title was being developed under the working name of 'The Wind Waker 2' by Eiji Aonuma.

With a return to the cartoonish style of The Wind Waker all but confirmed in the eyes of many fans, it came as an enormous shock when Nintendo presented a game that thrust the series right back into the realism that so many fans were clamoring for. Shigeru Miyamoto walking on-stage with sword and shield in hand was just the icing on the cake.

In one fell swoop Nintendo managed to generate an enormous buzz around The Twilight Princess while also shocking everybody who had made assumptions about the direction of the series.