Best Cinematic Trailers E3 2012

At E3 2012, as with any year, there were plenty of trailers on tap. Dating back to the week before the event, trailers began to flood the web that promoted properties we already knew were in the pipeline and also revealed some new IPs we didn't even know were in development. Some trailers were comprised primarily of gameplay footage while others were completely pre-rendered.

It's easy to see the advantage of a gameplay trailer, but delivering a high quality CG trailer is just as challenging. The bar for impressive visuals and storytelling has been set pretty high over the past years, but somehow E3 2012 was able to deliver some real standouts so, without further ado, here are our Top 5 cinematic trailers of E3 2012:

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

httpv://youtu.be/eyW5KMMDjZw

Trailers for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron thus far, while not comprised of any gameplay footage, have set the scene for one of the most epic throw downs between the Autobots and Decepticons ever created. Earlier trailers established the game's fitting subtitle, but the trailer released during E3 revealed that the Autobots might be down, but they certainly aren't out.

It would have been hard for any developer to top the reveal of robotic dinosaurs as playable characters, but not High Moon Studios — for them this is just one segment of an extremely rich Transformers universe. Rather than remain content in the reveal of the Dinobots, High Moon took player's expectations and completely shattered them by showcasing Metroplex, the city-sized Autobot seen in the trailer's climax.

Guardians of Middle-Earth

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Previously released games set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe have either failed to place players in control of the characters they know and love or they have been horrible movie tie-ins. Guardians of Middle-Earth, on the other hand, uses the faults of all previous games and turns them into strengths — it puts the likes of Gollum and Legolas at the disposal of the player.

The gameplay itself might be a bit different than this cinematic trailer led us to believe, but there's no denying that seeing Gandalf take on Sauron is a dream scenario. Hopefully this game will serve as inspiration for the inevitable tie-in to The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Gears of War: Judgment

httpv://youtu.be/6tFdEGxoLMg

It's hard to go into the footage ignoring the fact first details for this game leaked ahead of Microsoft's Press Conference, but pretending like they didn't makes the impression left by the Gears of War: Judgment trailer all the more poignant. Details post-reveal have made the game feel more like an expanded piece of Gears 3 DLC, but looking at the trailer as a singular piece of marketing demonstrates what exactly it was trying to do.

A slow reveal, a chance to return to the world gamers thought they might not see until some time next generation, and getting to play as characters we know but aren't altogether familiar with - all perfect fodder for any fan of Epic Games' series. Just imagine if we didn't already know that Baird was the man in the chains.

Injustice: Gods Among Us

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We've all had the discussion: which superhero is better? Comics have sought to provide fans with answers, but never has there been a chance for them to actually decide the outcome. Thankfully Injustice: Gods Among Us has come out to give any DC Comics' fan a fighting game for the ages. And this isn't any fighting game, it's one developed by NetherRealm Studios, who made a huge resurgence with their ninth entry in the Mortal Kombat series.

While Injustice is purported to be nearly as brutal as MK, the trailer for the game fails to pull any punches. In fact, it delivers the strongest of punches imaginable. Featured is Superman punching enemies into outer space and the Flash running all the way around the planet in a matter of seconds — a far cry from the combat in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. It might not put the Batman vs. Superman argument to rest, but it will at least give gamers a battle for the ages.

Assassin's Creed 3

httpv://youtu.be/-pUhraVG7Ow

Though it didn't have quite the impact of last year's trailer for Assassin's Creed Revelations, the trailer for Assassin's Creed 3 once again delivered the perfect blend of high quality action choreography and breathtaking visuals. New hero Connor, with a ton of new weapons at his disposal, is just as skilled as all of the assassins that preceded him - and loves a mismatch.

These cinematic trailers have become a staple of the series, but they've also begun to lose their impact from each iteration to the next. Still, who doesn't like to revel in Assassin's Creed's particular brand of carnage?

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Honorable mention should be given to the Forza Horizon trailer for its perfect use of dubstep (more on that later this week) and the Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 trailer for its exhilarating vampire action. Make sure to also check out our list of the top gameplay trailers from E3 2012.

Which of the cinematic trailers released during E3 2012 was your favorite? Do you think that cinematic trailers oftentimes over-sell a product, and generate some unreasonable hype?

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