It's day one of E3 2009, and we're already exhausted, delirious, and ready for some serious therapy. But we're pretty gung-ho, too, because most of the glitz and glamor of old E3 is back and kicking our asses (in a good way).

We'll be continually updating this post with our quick-hit thoughts on what we've seen, heard, and played on day one. Lots of stuff to discuss, so keep on coming back to this page to get the latest (and if you have a specific question or request, don't forget to ask our moderator, Paul Gale, who's your on-demand live reporter from E3).

Now...read on for BioShock 2, Square-Enix, Brütal Legend, Ghostbusters, The King of Kong, and more.

This post was last updated at 11:52 pm, PST.

Michael, 11:52 pm: Time doesn't just fly when you're having fun -- it also flies when you're mad busy (someone needs to update that cliché pronto!). That's why I'm just now getting to my Square Enix appointments from earlier this afternoon.

Anyway, the best game I checked was a little title you might have heard about: Final Fantasy 13. I'll admit, even though I've been pretty darn stoked for this game for quite a while now, the insanely long wait has dulled my excitement. But after seeing the demo and talking with both the producer and director of the game, I can honestly say I'm onboard to mash the "O" button for 30-40 hours.

The best part of the demo was the new Gestalt Mode. This mode (available when you cast a summon) allows you to control your magical friends in borderline ridiculous ways. For instance, in the demo, bandana-wearing bad boy Snow rides Shiva...uh, as a motorcycle (this is after she does her best Transformers impression). While you control Snow on Shiva, the action switches from the turn-based battles into a more fast-paced combo attacks for a short time. Watching it reminded me a little bit of the Kingdom Hearts battle system. And that's a good thing.

When I asked about whether or not FF13 would add a bunch of ridiculous DLC costumes and the like, I was told they haven't announced anything yet, but are considering downloadable content. I told them I wanted to see main character Lightning in a bikini. They laughed and asked how much I'd pay to see that. I said $100. I lied.

I also asked them if they were at all insulted by the announcement of Final Fantasy 14 even though their game isn't even out yet. Not surprisingly, they told me they didn't mind and the two projects can co-exist. But looking in their eyes I could see flames. Tall, dark flames.

Speaking of FF14, I learned that it uses the same engine as FF13. In case you tech-heads care. But the biggest piece of info I learned was really, really big: At its largest, the team making FF13 is 200-300 people. Told you it was big!

I also checked out Front Mission Evolved for the 360/PS3. Well, sorta -- I only saw a trailer of this third-person shooter reenvisioning of the classic mech-based strategy role-playing game. And, well, it's kinda hard to judge a trailer. But I am a little weary considering developer Double Helix (the guys who made Silent Hill Homecoming) are making the game. Seems odd Square Enix is handing over their niche franchise to a western developer, but I'll withhold judgment until I see some actual in-game footage.

The last title I got to see was a new action game entitled Nier. Wow -- this was bad. Really bad. Not only was the build being demoed mad early (it didn't even have any music), but it just looked clunky and devoid of personality. Things could change, but I doubt my opinion will sway far from my initial "meh."

Shoe, 11:23 pm: Earlier today, I went in to see BioShock 2. Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski was there trying to get in to see the game as well. It's not uncommon for industry folks to see other companies' products during E3, even if they're shown behind closed doors (it's a professional courtesy sort of thing). But it looked like 2K wanted to keep BioShock 2 press-only for now.

The room was all Rapture themed, with a clear pipe running bubbling water from floor to ceiling, blue lights casting shimmery shadows on the walls, and madmen scribblings everywhere. It's just like the multiplayer mode that developer Digital Extremes demoed for us: all BioShock through and through.

I always thought the combat system in BioShock would make for a good multiplayer game, even though the story and main themes themselves would not. Plasmid powers, upgradable guns, hackable turrets...all can be found in multiplayer BioShock 2 (just no alternative ammo like incendiary bullets). And if you can find it, a power-up will turn you from lowly Splicer to Big Daddy for some heavy duty firepower and defense.

You even get an optional Rapture apartment as your starting hub. Here, you can customize your character and set different load-outs (and when you're done setting up, you can take a bathysphere to your match).

Multiplayer is all very Call of Duty, too, with a leveling-up system that earns you special upgrades and additional powers, which are balanced via standard matchmaking.

After the demo, I asked Executive Producer Alyssa Finley a single-player question that's been on my mind: How can you be the first, prototype Big Daddy when the game takes place 10 years after the events of the first game? She looked right at me and said, "That's a very good question!" and just laughed and stared at me, not saying another word.

PR Director April Jones jumps in: "Yes, that is a very good question. But we need to save some surprises!" And both ladies just left it at that. I fake thanked them for the "compliments."

Now I'm wondering if BioShock 2 has some Lost-style time travelling shenanigans going on....

Demian, 6:33 pm: On the way to the press room I ran into my friend Anna Kipnis, who works at Double Fine, heading over to man the Brütal Legend section in Sony's booth. I joined her for a demo and played for about half an hour; finished the starting area (the final set-piece reminded me of the end of Halo 1, but less annoying), roamed around the open world in The Deuce, your hotrod, and did most of the second mission too, I think.

Both the writing and voice work are great so far -- aside from Jack Black as main character Eddie Riggs, I also ran into Ozzy Osbourne. Anna says Rob Halford and Lemmy are in the game too, and the head bad guy, Doviculus, is also voiced by someone well-known, though she wouldn't budge on who. My theory is Yanni, although she wouldn't comment on whether it's a metal or anti-metal personality. Some friend.

Fitch, 5:50 pm: Went by the Atlus booth to catch up with ex-1UP writer Nich Maragos and chat about his latest project, the PSP Persona remake. Nich says that he kept in a few of the classic old lines, but in general, it's a totally new translation -- and Mark's no longer an African-American (but his name's still Mark because, well, that was his nickname in the original Japanese, bizarrely!).

Thankfully, the overworld no longer looks like a 3D grid and actually looks like modern-day Japan. Well, late-'90s Japan, given that "kogal" fashion's still in full swing. I'll be back to visit Atlus in greater depth later, but I definitely wanted to see what they've done with Persona on PSP, probably the most dated PS1 game at this point.

Shoe, 5:40 pm: Snuck in to see Borderlands early, even though our appointment isn't officially until later this week. This is a "role-playing shooter" whose RPG elements are "more akin to Diablo," says Creative Director Mikey Neumann, than Fallout.

I love the Diablo/Phantasy Star Online/Champions of Norrath style of grind, so combining that with lots of shooting...that's perfect for me. I just need my co-op gaming buddy (aka my girlfriend) to like it as well.

I do got to say, though. I really don't like Borderlands' new, cartoony look. I suppose it's better to look more distinct and less Fallout 3 with its gray apocalyptic-ness. But cel-shaded graphics went out of style with the second game that tried using it.

Greg, 5:18 pm: Whoa...what happened?! Sorry for the delay in updating this, but the conferences and meetings kind of kicked our collective asses. Anyway, here are some of my thoughts/images/musings from the show's first day:

Got to the conference hall after the Sony press conference and came across this:

Good to know we're in safe hands.

Saw a few games. Batman: Arkham Asylum might be the best Batman game ever. Each time I see it, I'm very impressed. Here's hoping it's just as impressive all the way through as it is in small chunks.

Scribblenauts is a cute DS game. You type in an objects name on the onscreen keyboard, and it appears above your user-created protagonist for you to grab or use. So, for example, I typed in "gun" to give a cop a weapon. Thing is, the levels all seem like bite-sized objectives. I would have liked a more meaty adventure that made use of this creativity throughout (and to be fair, it very well may do that). The biggest cause for concern, though, was when Demian typed in "flamethrower" and then used it on zombies...to no effect! For shame.

Just now I watched a little bit of Steve Wiebe's (of King of Kong fame) attempt at a world-record run on Donkey Kong. Hearing someone yell, "Yeah, Stevie!" in a thick New York accent as he clears each stage has to be exhilarating for the guy. Good luck, man!

Demian, 4:13 pm: Finally made it onto the show floor itself, and just finished checking out some Codemasters and Warner Bros. games with Greg. I played some Dirt 2, which seems quite similar to Dirt 1, although I only had enough stick time for a rallycross race in London and a rally stage in, crap, I forget...Kosovo? Something Eastern European. I always play that game with the in-cockpit view, even though it's harder to drive that way.

Shortly thereafter I spotted Posh Spice roaming West Hall with her kid, who couldn't have been more than ten. Guess the 18 and over rule doesn't apply to celebrity babies.

Demian, 2:30 pm: My first appointment after the morning's press conferences: Valve. The instant I sat down at a Left 4 Dead 2 machine, the power went out.

No power gave me a few minutes to chat with Chet Faliszek, a writer and utility man for L4D (Valve doesn't believe in the usual hierarchical structure and fancy titles). Seeing as how I hadn't had a chance to play L4D at that point, we mostly talked about Plants vs. Zombies; Chet says he likes to play it to relax and zone out, and since he's been writing more for L4D he's been playing more Plants, too. At least he was, until the game ate his save file.

With the power back on I got some play time in. I have to say, those 20ish minutes felt a whole lot like L4D1 but in New Orleans. Not that that's necessarily bad.

Shoe, 8:12 am: I woke up early to get to the Nintendo press conference earlier...and now I'm running late. How did that happen?