E3 2014: Nintendo’s Digital Event
Nintendo is the last of the big three, and it’s trailing behind in the next-gen console wars, even though it launched first. This year, the company didn’t do a press conference; instead it opted for a pre-recorded video called “Nintendo’s Digital Event”.
In their defense, the video (which you can watch above, it’s a lengthy 47 minutes) is packed with new releases, announcements and trailers, so if you are a Nintendo fan be sure to check it out. Here’s what they announced in it:
Super Smash Bros (Wii U / 3DS)
Nintendo gave us an in depth look; with Mii fighters having a prominent placement on the new game. They will come in three varieties – brawlers for heavy attacks, swordfighters for technical combat and gunners for long-range blasts. With three different Mii classes and 12 special moves for each, the upcoming game will boast a total of 36 combinations for players to test during the holidays this year.
Amiibo (Wii U)
Amiibo is the NFC platform by Nintendo. There will be figurines that have stats which evolve as you play with them. It can be customised, upgraded and taken with your for other games, including those already available on the Nintendo Wii U – such as the family-friendly Mario Kart 8.
Yoshi’s Wooly World (Wii U)
The game is a spiritual successor to Kirby’s Epic Yarn, as it retains much of the same aesthetics, charm and sound design.
Captain Toad : Treasure Tracker (Wii U)
Toad finally has a game of his own! The teaser is very small, but we can easily see great level design, great visuals and puzzles which makes it a very anticipated title.
The Legend of Zelda (Wii U)
Ah, Zelda. It’s one of those games that sell consoles and Nintendo knows this all too well. We saw some never before seen footage from the next installment, including beautiful graphics and an encounter with a cool monster. The Internet is already on fire with this small preview so I think Nintendo hit the jackpot.
Pokémon Omega Ruby / Pokémon Alpha Sapphire (3DS)
These remakes for the Nintendo 3DS use the same engine found in Pokemon X and Y – a fully-realized 3D world, which represents a massive step forward for the hugely popular franchise.
The two games will launch simultaneously on November 21.
Bayonetta 2 (Wii U)
By now you must be wondering if there are any third-party titles announced for the Wii U, and Bayonetta is here to please. With beautiful graphics and a more mature theme, this Devil May Cry type of game is certain to make a good impression. It will also include the original Bayonetta, so more bonus points there.
Hyrule Warriors (Wii U)
Hyrule Warriors is a rare attempt to place the Legend of Zelda series in a completely different gameplay genre – early footage showed Princess Zelda and Midna dealing serious damage to an overwhelming number of enemies – a hallmark of the Dynasty Warriors franchise that it’s based on.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
Even more Kirby from Nintendo; this time the pink blob we all know and love is having fun through various colourful levels, with the game expected sometime in 2015.
Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)
A sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles has been a request of the Nintendo fans for quite some time, and Nintendo delivers along with Monolith.
Mario Maker (Wii U)
If you ever looked at a Mario game and thought “Hey, I can do better than that, my levels would rule”, then this game is for you. The teaser shows the player drawing bridges and platforms with the stylus, and then actually playing the game with Mario. Looks pretty cool.
Splatoon (Wii U)
A new original IP by Nintendo. Splatoon is a competitive, arena-based game that tasks players with covering a small area with brightly-colored ink. Players need to make sure their own color is more prevalent than their opponents – ink can be used to tackle other players, and also accelerate the character’s movement around the stage.
Star Fox
Yes, the cat is out of the bag and Star Fox is in the works. It will be the first original game in the series since 2006’s Star Fox Command for the Nintendo DS, and will utilize the Wii U Gamepad’s motion control capabilities, letting you fire weapons and pull off tricks like barrel rolls using gestures. Development is being led by iconic Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. The new Star Fox is still very early in development, however, with no release timeframe revealed as of yet.
