Directional Pad

Nintendo @ E3 – Playing = Believing

Thismorning's Nintendo Press Conference had a rather simple focus: Software. It wasn't big on release dates or prices or new Wii features. In fact, the only new thing we learned about the Wii was that the controller has a speaker in it now, and that the formerly poorly named "a" and "b" buttons have been renamed "1" and "2", so they don't conflict with the already existant "A" and "B" buttons.

Now, Nintendo announced a lot of games. First party, third party, all different consoles, I'm sure I'll miss something, but here's what made an impression on me:

WII GAMES

• Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - A proper Wii version has been forked. Simultaneous release is planned, the Wii console, the Wii version and Gamecube versions of Twilight Princess will all launch on the same undisclosed day later this year.
• Wii version includes all kinds of impressive new features, most impressive to me was the bow system. You use the nunchuck controller extension to mimick pulling back a bow string, and the Wii remote's speaker makes the matching sound. Release, and you hear the remote make the sound of the arrow being released, and the sound of it flying then transitions seamlessly from the remote to your tv. Bitchin.
• Mario Galaxy - Pretty safe to assume this is what "Mario 128" evolved into. Mario flys around through exaggerated 3d planets that remind me of the crow boss level from Yoshi's Island. But 3d. And controlled with the Wii remote.
• Wii Sports - An In-house collection of sports games that make use of Wii features. Shown during the press converence were Wii Golf, Wii Tennis and Wii Baseball. Hope you like flailing your arms around at the television.
• Exite Truck - The term "Spiritual Successor" is starting to get old, but this is one. Excite Bike-ish courses with a big-ass truck. Features suitable quantities of DUUUURRRRIFTOUUUUU.
• Wario Ware: Smooth Moves - Nothing needs to be said. WarioWare. With the Wii controller.
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Not much said, but it exists.
• Red Steel - I wasn't sold on this game initially, but after the Ubisoft guys demoed it, sign me up. Two things stood out for me, first everything is destructable. EVERYTHING. I haven't seen a game with this much destructable stuff since Revolution X. Second is the "natural" off-hand control. The nunchuck has gyros in it now, so if you run up to a door and nudge it forward, you open the door while retaining full control over your gun hand.
• 27 games will be playable at E3. That doesn't count any Virtual Console games. That's a lot of games.

DS Games

• Yoshi's Island 2 - !!!!!!!!!1!1!1!!1!!!!!!!1!
• Elite Beat Agents - Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! 2: Same concept, entirely new game, new songs, etc. No clue what songs will be included yet, but we'll see at least some of them from the demo stations tomorrow.
• Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis - Nothing needs to be said, it's a sequel! It's sequel time!
• Starfox DS - Looks like a "normal" Starfox game, as opposed to an "adventures" game. This is Good.
• Overall, Nintendo is planning on having 100 new titles for the DS over the rest of the year.

STUFF NINTENDO FORGOT

• (Nintendo forgot to mention some games that were pretty awesome, but they showed up on their site.)
• Kirby DS - Kirby platformer, features four player MP, and a mix-n-match power system.
• Super Paper Mario - GCN - Nintendo still makes Gamecube Games! And SPM looks really amazing. Paper Mario was good to start with, but now it's super.
• Classic Controller - Check it out. Totally real, totally awesome.
• I swear there was other stuff for this, but I guess I forgot it too.

Overall, I was disappointed that Nintendo held back the price and date, but hey, modern Nintendo has been all about innovative hardware and incredibly compelling software. Nintendo has already wooed us with Wii's hardware, so obviously it was time to impress us with some great software, which they have done again. Tomorrow, though, we'll get to play, and, obviously Believe.

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