I’ll admit that I’ve always been somewhat of a Nintendo fanboy. I grew up playing Contra and Gun Smoke on the original NES, graduating to Street Fighter II on the SNES, Mario 64 on the N64, all the way up to Wii Sports Resort on the Wii. That’s why I just had to visit the Nintendo booth at E3 2010.
In this article, we’ll take a look at both first-party and third-party games on display at Nintendo, both for the Nintendo Wii and for the DS… as well as a new platform altogether.
Say Hello to the Nintendo 3DS
Easily the biggest news to come out of Iwata-san and the Regginator this year was the official unveiling of the Nintendo 3DS. Many people saw this coming, but it was really good to see that it was indeed real. On the surface, the 3DS looks a lot like the existing Nintendo DSi, but it has several new tricks up its sleeve.
For starters, the top screen is not only larger, it offers a three-dimensional experience without the need for specialized glasses. This 3D effect isn’t like what you’d get in theaters with objects popping out toward you; instead, it’s more like the screen having extra “depth,” as if you are looking into a 3D box.
You’ll also notice that an analog stick has been added to the control scheme, working alongside the d-pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons, and lower touchscreen display. The power, start, and select buttons have also been moved around, and a 3D “slider” has been added to the right of the upper screen.
This slider adjusts the level of 3D-ness, so to speak, from full depth to regular 2D. You’ll find that maxing out the 3D capabilities will tire your eyes quite quickly, so you may want to dial it down a notch or two. You’ll also notice the dual cameras on the back, doubling up what the DSi has, to allow for the taking of 3D pictures.
Upcoming 3DS titles include a reworked Star Fox 64, Animal Crossing, and DJ Hero. Expect the Nintendo 3DS to hit retailers later this year, potentially rendering your newly acquired DSi XL obsolete.
Sonic Colors for DS and Wii
From the Sega camp, everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog is making a couple of new appearances on both the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii. There were several Sonic titles announced, but Sonic Colors is the one that caught my eye.
On the Nintendo DS, you go back to classic Sonic gameplay, racing around a 2D platformer stage at breakneck pace. There are a few new moves thrown into the mix, like launching Sonic from mid-air directly into an enemy, but it’s mostly familiar territory. The action stretches across the two screens of the DS.
On the Nintendo Wii, most of the action is from an “over the shoulder” point of view, but you still get the same sense of speed as Sonic blast processes his way through the stages.
Epic Mickey Paints a Picture
From Disney Interactive, we find a new game called Epic Mickey. The Wii exclusive puts the iconic cartoon character in the middle of a complex RPG, filled with battles, puzzles, and plenty of character interaction.
Mickey Mouse is armed with two main weapons in this newfound environment: paint and thinner. The thinner is used to “paint out” some of the cartoon elements in the stages, revealing new objects and granting you access to previously inaccessible areas. The paint can then be used to fill those areas in, allowing for more interaction.
Here is an extended demo video of Epic Mickey, taken from the Disney booth at E3 2010.
There are also some stages that throw you into classic Disney scenes, like putting Mickey in the middle of Steamboat Willie. These stages are two-dimensional in nature and offer a retro platformer experience. Expect a total of between ten and twelve hours of gameplay, more if you try the different endings and take on the different side quests.
GoldenEye 007 for the Wii
After eons of rumors and hearsay, the legendary N64 first-person shooter is making a current generation comeback on the Nintendo Wii. GoldenEye 007 has been remade and re-imagined by development studio Eurocom, blending familiar aspects with new ones.
For instance, this Wii shooter will feature Daniel Craig in the title role, replacing Pierce Brosnan as 007. They say that the game will feel grittier overall, placing more emphasis on Bond’s physical strength.
And yes, the deathmatches are still there. And yes, Oddjob can throw his hat for one-shot kills. Expect GoldenEye 007, as a full retail release, to hit store shelves in Q4.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
You’ve probably already played Twilight Princess on the Nintendo Wii. Well, your green tunic-wearing hero is back for another adventure. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is said to offer a more intense experience, thanks to its support of the Wii MotionPlus.
One of the new gameplay mechanics is to hold your sword outward at your side to charge up for a large attack. Take a swipe with the Wii Remote and unleash your fury on your enemies. The Wii MotionPlus also allows for “impressive fencing and shield-blocking activities.”
No firm date was announced, but Shigeru Miyamoto and the rest of the Nintendo team did indicate that Skyward Sword would launch some time in 2011.
Move Your Moneymaker with Just Dance 2
Dance Central from Harmonix isn’t the only game that is going to get you off the couch and shaking your tail feather. Not if Ubisoft has anything to do with it.
The original Just Dance didn’t exactly meet a lot of critical acclaim, but it was popular enough to warrant the development of this sequel. In it, players follow the dance moves on the screen as the console tracks the movement of the Wii Remote.
You can probably expect the usual assortment of top 40 hits for this mainstream dancing title on the Wii. Catch a glimpse of the gameplay in this Nintendo video montage that we put together.
Wii Party Wants to Play
Nintendo has found a great deal of success with its first-party titles on the Wii. They’ve done everything from Wii Play to Wii Fit, so it only makes sense to extend this branding to Wii Party.
Some parts of the game will be similar to something like Mario Party, offering mini-games to accompany a board game-like multiplayer experience, but there are other game modes as well.
For instance, there is a two-player cooperative that requires you to balance different-sized Mii characters on a boat’s mast. The relative sizes of the Miis are based on the players’ performance in mini-games.
The selection of mini-games is quite vast, going a little beyond the “twitch” gaming of a WarioWare without getting too deep. Controls are easy to understand, so everyone from little Susie to grandma can play.
Considering the success of other mini-game compilations, like Wii Sports Resort and even Wii Fit Plus, I would not at all be surprised if Wii Party is a hit with families too. Look for it this fall.
Hit the Court with Mario Sports Mix
That Mario knows how to wear a lot of different hats. We’ve seen him drive go-karts, play golf, play tennis, and more. This sporty inclination continues with Mario Sports Mix.
Looking decidedly more polished that Deca Sports, this game will combine several different athletic activities, featuring many of Nintendo’s most iconic characters. We can see Luigi, Peach, and Daisy, among others.
Only basketball and volleyball were available for demo at the show, but more sports are expected to be added before the retail release later this year.
Even More from Nintendo
Nintendo has proven time and time again that it has the formula for success. In addition to the games described in this article, we also noticed Donkey Kong Country Returns, Metroid: The Other M, SlingSmash, and Kirby’s Epic Yarn, to name just a few. The future looks bright for fans of Mario and his crew.
What else did we see at E3? Be sure to check back often for more articles here, as well as on the Futurelooks Twitter stream and YouTube channel. There’s a lot to see!
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E3 2010 – New to Nintendo Wii, DS and 3DS – Photo Gallery
