I always enjoy the E3 show because it usually serves as the video game teaser/trailer provider for the rest of the year. This year, three games caught my eye.

Don't change up Metroid

The first was "Metroid: Other M." I became a big fan of the Metroid series much later than most, not discovering it until the "Metroid Prime" series on the GameCube. So to see a new Metroid game getting away from that formula is sad.

The teaser I saw showed that the game will have a mixed 2-D/3-D interface with high-end cinematic scenes and a focus on story and cinematography — two things Nintendo has successfully put on the back burner recently in favor of gameplay.

The 2-D/3-D interface CAN work, as seen by "Super Paper Mario." Unfortunately, the trailer I saw was far less inspiring. Part of the fun in the Mario game was the very simplistic art style and nostalgia factor, which made the 2-D an acceptable step backward. "Metroid: Other M" doesn't appear to be playing up the nostalgia factor, and the art style is high tech. I'll give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt, but they're on a short leash with the Metroid series.

Galaxy 2 could use some change

On the other hand, the decision by Nintendo to continue the "Super Mario Galaxy" series with a direct sequel, "Super Mario Galaxy 2," was initially disappointing. Nintendo did such a poor job explaining why in the off-world Mario and Bowser were in space. Mario stories aren't deep by any means, but this was shallow and confusing even by those low standards.

So continuing the series in outer space probably caps any improvement in that area. The gravity effects and mechanics should still be stellar though, and adding Yoshi might be a significant enough change to make the game seem fresh. But really, I would have loved a return to the original Mushroom Kingdom.

The Beatles Rock Band should work

That might be an understatement. That game will be as good as description allows. But the point is, very few bands could hold up an entire "Rock Band" or "Guitar Hero," yet two other bands have had the shot: Aerosmith and Metallica. Neither is among my favorites or least favorites, so the problem becomes trying to get into the groove of a plethora of lesser-known songs. With The Beatles, that really won't be a problem.

So I'd love to see the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" makers stop the band-centric titles with The Beatles, then focus instead on eras and genres. I'd buy an '80s or '70s pop music game the moment it hit the shelves (by the way, there was one for the '80s, but it only came out on PS2). I have friends who'd opt for '70s rock or '90s heavy metal. With games such as these, odds are the player will know almost all of the tracks, making them easier to get into and jam to.

I understand the need to explore new music, but I don't think video games are the medium to do that in. If I'm going to drop $50, I want as close to a guarantee as possible, and that means not wondering how some B-side track of Metallica is going to play, no offense to Metallica fans everywhere (great commercial, by the way).