E3 2012 wasn't just a banner year for bows and helicopters, it was also quite the year for throat-trauma. From Splinter Cell to Resident Evil to Far Cry 3, game after game featured resplendent, flinch-inducing throat violence.
Chris pulled together some gifs for you, in case you're you're into this sort of thing, or in case you want to get a sense of just how violent E3 2012 got.
Brace for impact:
Assassin's Creed III
Connor wings out a redcoat's throat with a single swipe of his tomahawk.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 6
Far Cry 3 Part 1
Nothing says "tropical island resort" like a machete to the neck.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 4
Far Cry 3 Part 2
Hey, this looks like the same guy as before! What does Jason Brody have against dudes in red turbans and sunglasses? Sheesh.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 3
The Last of Us
This is the only one that doesn't involve stabbing. But my word, that looks trachea-crushingly intense!
Throat-Trauma Rating: 5
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Whoo boy, the high-frequency blade is a nasty piece of work. Also a nasty piece of work? This sequence from the game. Yeesh. Bonus points for psychological damage.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 10
Resident Evil 6
Yeah, it's a zombie, so it's "not quite as troubling" as the others. Still though… dagger into the skull. Dang.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 5
Splinter Cell: Blacklist
My goodness. Sam Fisher takes down an enemy in most brutal fashion. Ag.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 9
Tomb Raider
Lara Croft isn't content to let the guys have all the fun, so she also stabs a dude hard in the neck. I heard that this game was where she had to kill someone for the first time. Considering that, she's pretty awesome at it!
Throat-Trauma Rating: 7
ZombiU
Let's end on another zombie one, and a nifty one at that; this comes from ZombiU's debut trailer, which doesn't show gameplay but does show some wicked zombie-action.
Throat-Trauma Rating: 6