Plus XP

With the disappointment of Microsoft’s conference weighing heavy on many, Nintendo’s conference wouldn’t really have to exert much effort to give a better showing. What Nintendo did give was a conference with a massive amount for the hardcore, and a lot of promise for their new 3DS.

The conference kicked off by looking at the new Zelda for the Wii, now subtitled ‘Skyward Sword’. Looking like a mix between the graphical style of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, it gives an artistic style that looks incredible. Hoping that the Wiimotion Plus addon will help to make all of the controls and complicated layouts an element of the past, Shigeru Miyamoto came onstage to demonstrate after a video that helped inject some humour into the proceedings. However, his demonstration would prove to be worrying as ‘Wireless Interference’ would prove to make controlling and showing off the game difficult, and left those onstage to apologise profusely and assure the crowd that “This didn’t happen in the rehearsal” and “When you play the game for yourself, you’ll see it works”. The WiiMotion Plus does seem as if it’ll give a better sense of control, despite the worryingly demo, with weapons being more refined to accomodate motion controls, such as the ability to aim where you throw, drop and roll bombs, new weapons such as the Beetle launcher which allows you to guide a Beetle around which can pick up additional items for you and the Whip, as well as old items like the catapult. It was then announced that Skyward Sword would be delayed until 2011 as the development was taking longer than expected.

Despite some demo issues, I fell in love with this game like it was love at first sight.

Then next up, Mario’s involvement with sports was given another boost with Mario Sports Mix, also to be released in 2011. Thankfully, Nintendo saw fit to combine several sports games into one, rather than release them separately, and will contain Volleyball, Hockey and Dodgeball with the traditional Mario Sports twist.

Following up on this, Nintendo took the time to point out the staying power of the Wii, and how it had managed to sell the most in December 2009 than any other console had ever sold in a month, that more games had been sold for the Wii than anything else, and that Wii players use their console more than other Console players will use their consoles. To keep this in mind, Nintendo showed off another ‘bridge’ title for Wii Party. Basically looking like a reskin of Mario Party, but with the more neutral and casual Miis, Nintendo hopes that Wii Party can hope to appeal to all audiences and attract more people to the console. Keeping with a tilt to the casual side, Nintendo then confirmed that Just Dance 2 would arrive on the Wii in the Christmas season.

Acknowledging that nothing had been mentioned or shown of Golden Sun DS since last E3, Fils-Aime then showed off the first footage of the game, now subtitled “Dark Dawn”. Taking place a generation after the first two Golden Sun games, Dark Dawn will combine 3D characters with new summons and touch screen controls, and will hit the Nintendo DS in the Christmas season.

Moving on from one kind of golden to another, Reggie Fils-Aime then showed footage taken from a focus meeting about Goldeneye 007 for the N64, asking just what made it so revolutionary. It was then revealed that Activision are to remake the original game for the Wii, which’ll hit in the Christmas season like everything else. The new Goldeneye will include reworked sections from the original with added content and Daniel Craig as James Bond. While admittedly, it looks like an odd reworking of the game, only time will tell if it’s a remake worthy of the game, or another Rogue Agent.

I think you'll find the support for a Goldeneye remake was quite, DAMning... No dice? Dam.

Moving on, the conference turned to Epic Mickey, taking Mickey to a while new level while exploring the old and new Disney with unique twists. One of the gameplay innovations will be Mickey’s paintbrush, with which he can either create or destroy the environment around him. By using paint, he can create new environmental scenery, people and platforms, and with the paint thinner, he can destroy those things, as well as that which he creates. The story is also focused in a way that multiple playthroughs will be in order, with plotlines and sidequests done so that they can be completed with multiple outcomes which will all build to different, unique endings. It will also combine elements of side scrollers, as was demonstrated with the level containing a retro throwback to Steamboat Willy. Before leaving, it was discussed how difficult it was to balance both innovation and heritage, and its hoped that the game gets that balance right. Epic Mickey will be hitting the Wii exclusively in the Christmas season.

Reggie then talked about the creation of Kirby, and his lack of a home console outing for a long while, and that this would be recitified with a new Kirby game, also hitting the Wii during the christmas season. Kirby: Epic Yarn has an incredible unique art style which is reminiscent of Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story, and Kirby can use yarns to move about the environment, take new forms, and has an art style which combines seemlessly with the gameplay and the incredibly cutesy and upbeat music. There also looks to be a return of the companions from Kirby Super Star, and the side scrolling nature of the game looks like an amazing return for Kirby which should hopefully find its way into Wiis everywhere.

First he was real, then trapped in a painting, Kirby, how long are you going to string us along like this? I'll leave now...

Dragon Quest 9 was then discussed, as well as its massive impact in Japan, selling 4.2 million copies, and one such reason being the tag mode as well as the ability to go into multiplayer with friends. Reggie hoped that the game will have a similar impact in the US when it hits July 11th.
Dragon Quest 9 was followed by a quick look at Metroid Other M, which will be hitting the US at the end of August.

Continuing to prove that Reggie Fils-Aime knows how to segue, he then talks about Retro Studios wanting to handle a different series after their work on the Metroid Prime games. He then revealed that Retro Studios have been working on Donkey Kong Country Returns, showing off a reel of footage, including mine cart action, Diddy Kong, and the same level of gameplay that made the originals so great. A bombshell game revival with another christmas bombshell release, meaning that Nintendo are packing the Christmas season with one of its most intense lineups for the Wii in years.

Retro Studios hits E3 with the bombshell Donkey Kong Country revival.

And then came the talk that everyone was waiting for. No, not the Wii HD becoming a reality, the 3DS. After talking 3D for a while, smack talking the need for 3D glasses, and showing off a reel detailing the history of 3D, the 3DS raised up from a tiny platform and was finally revealed.
So what are the details of the 3DS that was kept so under wraps? This is what we were able to gather:
-The top screen is a 3.5 Inch Widescreen.
-It has an analogue slider, allowing for a greater level of control, as well as the D-Pad.
-The ability to turn 3D off is available with a slider.
-The touch screen at the bottom will not have 3D, as Nintendo discovered during development that touch screens and 3D don’t go amazingly well.
-The Graphics are much improved (witnesses to the gameplay claim it’s the same level as the Wii)
-It’ll contain a gyroscope and motion sensor.
-It’ll be back compatible with the Nintendo DS.
-There are two cameras on the case, meaning that it’s possible to take 3D photos as well.
-Can show 3D Hollywood Movies and Trailers
-The Tag Mode from the DS also makes a return, but the games can be updated without the games being on or in the 3DS. If you pass someone else, you can get ghost data and new data.
-The 3DS will automatically seek out Wifi and Internet.

All I know is, I want 3.

Then, Project Sora was finally announced to be Kid Icarus Uprising, with the protagonist himself swooping in and apologising: “Sorry to Keep You Waiting!”
Nintendo then dazzled everyone with a gameplay reel showing graphics nearing the level of the Wii. Other games announced at this point included:
-Saints Row
-Professor Layton: Mask of Miracles
-DJ Hero 3D
-Resident Evil Revelations
-Assassin’s Creed
-Kingdom Hearts
-Metal Gear Solid (Later confirmed to be Snake Eater)

Just before the end of the show, Nintendo finally showed off another reel with a humorous side, as Iwata, Miyamoto and even Fils-Aime himself were sucked into the world of the Nintendo 3DS. A bunch of items from Nintendo series flew out of the 3DS at the end, confirming future Zelda, Mario, Mario Kart, Starfox and Donkey Kong games, and even a possible Smash Bros game.
With that, Nintendo finished up their conference with a massive selection for the hardcore this Christmas and the show stealing 3DS.

As Plus XP resident Nintendo fan, I was left without a doubt that Nintendo stole the show, and revealed a lineup and future console that need to be in my life in future. What did you think?

-Jokesound