By Luke Kirby
This year Nintendo needed to show consumers why, as a company, they are still strong competitors against the likes of Microsoft and Sony. After their performance at E3 this year and the vast amount games announced I feel that Nintendo have shown their importance and why their system(s) are worth having.
This year Nintendo needed to show consumers why, as a company, they are still strong competitors against the likes of Microsoft and Sony. After their performance at E3 this year and the vast amount games announced I feel that Nintendo have shown their importance and why their system(s) are worth having.
Reggie and Iwata battle it out in Smash Bros There is so much from their conference that I’m excited by. While there were enjoyable moments such the 'Reggienator' getting his ass handed to him by Iwata at Super Smash Bros, clearly his body wasn’t ready, I was invested in seeing what games there are on offer and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. Of course, there are already games that many were aware of such as Super Smash Bros for both the Wii U and 3DS.
However some new information about the game has been disclosed to fans now, such as being able to play as Mii’s, who have three classes; Brawler, Swordfighter, and Gunner. Lady Palutena is also a playable character in the series now too. But the best news is that the 3DS version now has a release date of October 3rd, though delayed it’s good to have a set date for the most popular brawling franchise Nintendo have. While on the 3DS, I’d also like to voice my excitement for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire as long term fan of the Pokémon franchise. Honestly I was never fortunate enough to play on the Game Boy Advance. Being able to go into a world that I've only ever scratched the surface of will be oodles (yes - 'oodles') of fun. Adding the awesome mega evolution for Primal Groudon and Kyogre into the mix is getting me well and truly excited wishing November 21st would come sooner.
Looking towards the home console, there have been a fair few games which look very promising for me. Already owning a Wii U I haven’t been too spoilt for choice up until now, but that isn’t to say there aren’t already existing gems such as Super Mario 3D World, The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker HD, Rayman Legends (which I argue is the best version across all platforms), Pikmin 3 and newly-released Mario Kart 8.
However some new information about the game has been disclosed to fans now, such as being able to play as Mii’s, who have three classes; Brawler, Swordfighter, and Gunner. Lady Palutena is also a playable character in the series now too. But the best news is that the 3DS version now has a release date of October 3rd, though delayed it’s good to have a set date for the most popular brawling franchise Nintendo have. While on the 3DS, I’d also like to voice my excitement for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire as long term fan of the Pokémon franchise. Honestly I was never fortunate enough to play on the Game Boy Advance. Being able to go into a world that I've only ever scratched the surface of will be oodles (yes - 'oodles') of fun. Adding the awesome mega evolution for Primal Groudon and Kyogre into the mix is getting me well and truly excited wishing November 21st would come sooner.
Looking towards the home console, there have been a fair few games which look very promising for me. Already owning a Wii U I haven’t been too spoilt for choice up until now, but that isn’t to say there aren’t already existing gems such as Super Mario 3D World, The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker HD, Rayman Legends (which I argue is the best version across all platforms), Pikmin 3 and newly-released Mario Kart 8.
Making a splash of ink with friends in Splatoon One of the announced titles that grabbed my attention this year was Splatoon, which looks like a delightful 4 v 4 shooter. Players are able to switch between a person and a squid (yes - 'a squid') which allows greater flexibility to the overall gameplay, with both classes having their own unique strengths and weaknesses. The aim of the game is to cover as much as the arena in the teams ink in the allotted time and of course destroying the enemy team while doing so. While this may not be a hardcore shooter to lure in the Call of Duty demographic, it looks like a fun one which I have high hopes for. There is also the adorable-looking Yoshi’s Woolly World, which looks like it will offer a fun experience alongside the upcoming sequel for Kirby: Canvas Curse, entitled Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, which has a distinctive claymation art style. This year we were also present with Mario Party 10, a game series that has tested friendships (as well as family ties) since debuting on the N64 so many years ago. I’m looking forward to further alienating myself and angering other people through such a joyful medium. The gamepad seems to offer a new way to torment other players which looks oh so much fun. Using Nintendo Land as a jumping-off point, the implementation of the unique Wii U game-pad in Mario Party 10 could offer an experience unlike any other.
One of the more interesting announcements, for me at least, are the three projects being headed up by Shigeru Miyamoto; Project Guard, Project Giant Robot and a new Star Fox game where the game-pad's motion sensors are used to pilot the ship and offers a first-person view, while a third-person view behind the Arwing is displayed on the TV. The last original Star Fox title to be released on Star Fox Command, which came out on the Nintendo DS in 2006, and so this new installment is highly anticipated. So far not much is known about the project other than what was briefly teased at an E3 demonstration.
One of the more interesting announcements, for me at least, are the three projects being headed up by Shigeru Miyamoto; Project Guard, Project Giant Robot and a new Star Fox game where the game-pad's motion sensors are used to pilot the ship and offers a first-person view, while a third-person view behind the Arwing is displayed on the TV. The last original Star Fox title to be released on Star Fox Command, which came out on the Nintendo DS in 2006, and so this new installment is highly anticipated. So far not much is known about the project other than what was briefly teased at an E3 demonstration.
Sexy witches battling angelic demons in Bayonetta 2 Nintendo did not hold back on revealing their exclusives either with another such game, only this one has a multi-platform history (much to the dismay of Sony and Microsoft fanboys), which is of course Bayonetta 2. I enjoyed the first one on the PS3 up until my save data corrupted so I’m glad I’ll be able to revisit the game (which comes free with the sequel) and this time dress up in Samus’s armour or as the Hero of Time defeating evil monsters in this fast-paced action game. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a new JRPG for the Wii U system and - my God - it looks great. Unfortunately I was never able to get my hands on the Wii version, but I’m very excited for this newest addition to the series. A huge open fantastic environment is up for exploration with a range of robots and giant monsters to do battle with, a world which I will be pouring many hours into when it releases next year.
Another of the announcements made Nintendo was a completely new IP for the 3DS. Code Name: STEAM is a new strategy game being developed by the amazing studio Intelligent Systems, which has been responsible for previous gems such as the popular Advance Wars and Fire Emblem series', respectively. So if you’re a fan of strategy games like me, this will be right up your alley.
Another of the announcements made Nintendo was a completely new IP for the 3DS. Code Name: STEAM is a new strategy game being developed by the amazing studio Intelligent Systems, which has been responsible for previous gems such as the popular Advance Wars and Fire Emblem series', respectively. So if you’re a fan of strategy games like me, this will be right up your alley.
Hyrule returns in The Legend of Zelda : Subtitle pending Okay, now to deal with the most exciting news of all. When Eiji Aonuma was explaining how they want to go to an open-world Zelda I began to get excited, but what I got far surpassed my imagination. When the screen came on and presented this gorgeous environment in an open world, I was simply stunned. Honestly I didn’t think this was capable on the Wii U but I’m so glad it is. As Aonuma explained how even the mountains in this distance are accessible and players are free to go to any area when they want at any point of the game my mind, like many others, was drawn to one of the most successful RPG's ever, Skyrim. What I got from his explanation, the new Zelda is a stunning cel-shaded Skyrim, which to me is pretty much the perfect game. The fact that it was all running in-engine too almost made me weep manly tears of pure ecstasy. To me personally, Nintendo won E3, while I’ve highlighted some of my personal favourites from their conference there was also other games I haven’t mentioned simply because there are so many. What Nintendo have done is that they showed me games I want to play and lots of them and that is what E3 is all about, games.
2015 can't come soon enough...
Did Nintendo change your mind about them this year? Have you been convinced to purchase a Wii U now? Or, if you already own a Wii U, which games are you most excited about for the platform?
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