Nintendos E3 2010 in Review – How did they do?

E3 week is at an end, as weve had some sleep now, well give our final thoughts on Nintendos showing

Of course before you read on you might want to check out everything that we covered from the show, we’ve rounded them up into a Wii Roundup, and a 3DS and DS roundup.

No? Well then read on…

Josh Moulds – This year’s E3 in Los Angeles belonged to Nintendo. The unveiling of 3DS and a surprisingly strong line-up of titles won the crowd over comprehensively and the offerings on Wii were the strongest in years. As other console companies play catch-up with motion controls, Nintendo returned to their roots and delivered on what matters most – games.

The newly announced Zelda came as a surprise to very few. As I was seated in the Nokia Theatre and saw the trailer roll out on the screen within the first few minutes, I came to the conclusion that not only were they looking to deliver a king hit to win over the crowd, but that getting it out of the way early meant we were in for one hell of a show.

I like the new Zelda design, but can’t help but feel it’s a little conservative. The cel-shaded look probably has more to do with keeping to a visual style that works and looks good on the Wii hardware rather than for stylistic purposes a la Wind Waker. Don’t get me wrong, the lighter, brighter colour palette and softer edges on the environments works very well and the game will be the best looking Zelda game ever rendered. In terms of gameplay, there isn’t quite so much new stuff as there is a refinement of established tropes typical of the series. I urge you to snuff out all memories of Miyamoto’s stage performance with the game – the MotionPlus aiming with the bow and slingshot works perfectly and the swordplay is peerless. It’s great to see that the dabbling into motion controls in Twilight Princess is now completely redundant, with a dedicated and sophistacted motion control scheme that not only works, but employs some of the most creative arsenal of of weaponry in Link’s disposal to date. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a day one purchase from me, but I was hoping to see a bit more of an evolution of the series as seen in other top-tier Nintendo franchises.

Mario Sports Mix is a winner. I played way too much Mario Power Tennis back in the day, and having played the game on the show floor, I’m happy to report that the sports games included in the package certainly channel the spirit of those classic, manic Mario sports titles. Mario Strikers Charged was the last competitive foray for Mario and friends, and it’s great to see further commitment from Nintendo for more Mario sports action. Reggie is right in his description of the game as a "crossover title" – casual gamers will lap it up, and the Nintendo-faithful are reassured there’s plenty of game here worthy of investing hours of time into. Volleyball and Basketball were a great example to have running on the show floor – attendees were invited to play the game in groups and it wasn’t long before complete strangers were cheering each other on and verbally abusing the competition.

There were a few other titles presented at the event we were already aware of, namely Warren Spector’s divine Disney Epic Mickey, but the twin attack of Kirby’s Epic Yarn and Donkey Kong Country Returns was an absolute shocker. Both games play great and are faithful to their respective lineages, and each show that the 2D platformer genre is alive, well, and kicking arse. My preference leans towards Epic Yarn, as the game is simply too gorgeous to ignore, and the gameplay has taken the Kirby formula and hurled it into the modern era with devilishly-designed platforming sequences and hidden sections as well as boss fights that are equally as challenging as they are visually stunning. As for the new Donkey Kong Country, it plays remarkably close to the classic SNES games put out in Rare’s glory days, yet the opportunities opened up by co-op play are some of the best I’ve seen in a recent platformer – it’s not just tacked in. It’s well worth mentioning that DKCR is hard, like, really hard. The challenge will be inviting for many and the game promises to harness some of the magic that propelled Nintendo to the stellar heights they enjoyed during the SNES’s heyday.

Let’s pick one from the board now…

The Wii delivered in spades, yet Nintendo hadn’t yet delivered the on their biggest promise for the show – the 3DS. First off, the tension in the Nokia Theatre was palpable as the first 3DS unit to be unveiled to the world appeared on stage on a rising platform amidst a cloud of smoke. When it was finally visible, I was surprised by just how similar it was to the DS and that it would retain the DS name and brand style. We would have to wait to get it in our hands before learning just how well the 3D worked. Nintendo’s genius came to the fore when the very first footage of a game running on the device was that of Kid Icarus, a franchise that is dear to many yet hasn’t had a proper outing in 14 years.

There’s simply too much to delve into to discuss each 3DS title that was on display just yet, but the message was clear: the 3DS can do a hell of a lot, is capable of delivering a broad range of different gameplay styles and will receive some of the best support from third parties out of the gate once it is released next year. Nintendo made a smart move by allowing attendees of the press event to have a sneak preview of the device. They really needed to show that the handheld could deliver on its promise and the 3DS really needs to be held in your hands in order for you to truly believe in its potential. The topic of choice for everyone I met at E3 was just how great the 3D works and how the line-up of games is unprecedented. I would have liked to have had a bit more of a fleshed-out experience of gameplay, but for now the tech demos that were available will have to suffice.

As great as the 3DS will be, I am personally reassured that Nintendo have not lost focus on the Wii, and that they appear to have recognised a vacuum in their own commitment to the platform. Most of the Wii games announced will be available before Christmas, and I can’t wait to jump into the big bucket of fun that awaits me on my return to Australia.

Pable Garcia – One subject that dominated video game blogs and podcasts during the weeks before E3 was "what would it take Nintendo or any other major video games company to win E3?" My inner mature adult voice says it is impossible to "win E3" but I must say that Nintendo had a very compelling story to tell.

From the get-go, a new Zelda for Wii was unveiled. After a gameplay demo (which was hampered by some issues with the Wii Remote connectivity), the roster of games showcased included a new Kirby platformer with a very unique art style, a Donkey Kong Country remake and a new Mario sports title. The 3DS was the main focus of the rest of the presentation. The list of titles from both Nintendo and third parties was more impressive than anybody could have expected. It included everything from Metal Gear Solid, Kingdom Hearts and Resident Evil to the long-rumoured Kid Icarus game and a new Nintendogs (which now also includes cats).

 1x Human Female included with every 3DS.

My personal highlights were Donkey Kong Country Returns, a remake of a game that shares a special place in my heart with Star Fox 64, which is another game being redesigned for the 3DS.

The specialised press feedback on the new handheld has been extremely positive and I personally think that for 3D to be truly successful, it must work without glasses. I believe that this kind of "wow" factor is similar to the experience that people had with Wii’s motion controls: once anybody tried it, it was enough to convince you to buy one.

The biggest let-down was not hearing about Pikmin 3, a game that was mentioned last year but no screens were released. The other minor disappointment is that everything that has been seen of the new Zelda adventure looks quite "traditional". I’m still hoping that my concerns are addressed once more information about this game is revealed. The other thing missing from the presentation was the "Vitality Sensor". The accessory that was introduced with big fanfare last year was missing in action in 2010.

Nintendo announced so many new titles and so many fan favourites are being brought back to modern consoles that it is hard for them to upset anybody with their line-up. They have proven us one more time that they’ve been in this industry long enough to know how to play the E3 game. And between you and me, according to my other inner voice, the "Nintendo fan boy", they are by far the winners of E3 2010.

Excite – To start with, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. First and foremost, the art style looks bloody brilliant. It seems to combine the mature designs of Twilight Princess with the unique cel-shaded charm of Wind Waker, and the resulting graphics make the game exceptionally inviting to play. As first I thought it looked a bit childish, but that’s after playing Twilight Princess. They’ve got it spot on. The heavy focus on motion controls (with the MotionPlus) also looks promising, in particular the need to use different angled slices to defeat certain enemies, which adds more depth to combat. Another big plus is the soundtrack, which will finally be orchestrated, so I hope the game sounds as good as it looks. Despite a few hitches in the demo and a good, but not great, trailer, I’m very happy what I’ve seen so far and I’m really looking forward to this.

Not pictured: Smile on guys face.

Donkey Kong Country Returns now. Who’d have thought that Retro’s next game would be Donkey Kong, let alone this? For some reason I was expecting a platformer a la Donkey Kong 64 which could also have been great. Stuff that. I loved the original Donkey Kong Countrys and it looks like this modern rendition will do justice to its predecessors. Hell, I’ll buy the game just to listen to that addictive Donkey Kong jungle music again. Nothing much more to say but INSTA-BUY.

On to Kirby’s Epic Yarn now and, although I was half-expecting a Kirby game, the announcement still blew me away – what a spectacular-looking game. The idea behind it – transforming the main character into string and having him jump around environments made of cloth patchwork – is amazingly creative. The effects of the environment on Kirby and Kirby’s own transformations as yarn look fabulous. It’s easily one of the most original-looking 2D platformers I’ve ever seen and yet another title to be excited about.

I’ll just touch on the other new Wii game announcements now, with Mario Sports Mix seeming alright I suppose. I mean, it’s got the word "Mario" in it so Nintendo has already tricked me into buying it. Although I’m not that into sports games in general, I get a kick out of the Mario sports titles, so I know this’ll be game to take out when friends come over. Wii Party… hmm. I wanted a Mario Party 9 to be honest, but maybe it’s better that Nintendo’s party genre had a refresh… no, nup, Mario characters > Miis. Epic Mickey has been a big surprise for me. I never thought I’d be interested in this sort of game, but the gameplay and the whole story behind it seems quite intriguing – I’ll consider buying this one when it comes out. And GoldenEye 007, oh dear. I’m all for a remake, that’s true, but that damn internet ruined the surprise a few days earlier. Anyway, I hope the nostalgia factor of this is really, really high because I don’t want this game to end up having a Call of Duty feel to it. Please.

The 3DS. My oh my, I’m getting a bit flustered here. This was the star of the conference. It looks good from a hardware perspective and it looks good from a software perspective. The 3D capability is going to blow away the competition. The first- and third-party support is great even if some of these games seem like just the type of early ideas you see when a new system is first announced. I’m very glad about the improvements in online connectivity, but deep inside I want it to provide me with a richer online presence in terms of social networking. I’m pretty sure that’s not gonna happen though. Not having a DSi (just a Lite), I’m very excited about the 3DS and I trust the first impressions people had on the show floor. I’m busting for more details on games, and the price of the console, and will certainly grab this at launch.

Overall, Nintendo’s presentation was fantastic and their best presence at E3 for some time. Who cares if Pikmin 3 or the Vitality Sensor were nowhere in sight – Nintendo delivered on all of their other major franchises and reminded us they really do care about us core gamers. Oh, how could I forget, my favourite part was the short Iwata/Miyamoto/Reggie segment "demonstrating" the 3DS. Oh you guise XD. So yes, Nintendo "won" E3. It’s too bad the Zelda demo had a few hiccups, and they could have shown more 3DS games. Still, it was a fanboy’s wet dream.

Everything old is new again – but this time in the best way possible

Daniel Vuckovic – Wowee, what an E3 for Nintendo. When we did our predictions for the show, all the Vooks staff basically thought, yup, we’ll see the 3DS in some fashion and of course Zelda. But no, Nintendo decided to do that and more. There was the casual side of things that we’re not really interested in but Nintendo kept on with the punches. They didn’t dwell on any one thing and kept on rolling. The one downside to the presentation? The iffy Zelda demonstration. We now know that the game works flawlessly and it really was interference causing problems, but a lot of people aren’t going to look past a stage demo and think the worst.

So enough about how they showed it, what about what they have shown? I’ll start with the 3DS because really that thing has just blown everyone away. It works, it just works, and the games line-up on the first- and third-party side of things looks to be amazing. Like any new system, it’s a little port- and existing franchise-heavy, but I hope we’ll see more and more new IPs from the thing – not just existing stuff shunted into 3D. While the 3D effect is great too, it’ll be good to see that if you switch it off entirely, the graphics still look amazing – Kid Icarus looks like a Wii game in some places.

I’m kind of ignoring Zelda: Skyward Sword for the time being, knowing it’s coming out next year just means that, yeah, I think it looks good and will be great, but I’m just kinda putting it to the back of my mind for now so I can concentrate on all the other stuff coming out this year that will be great. Games like Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Epic Mickey all have my attention. The DS isn’t left for dead yet either, with Golden Sun and another Professor Layton on the way still going to draw in big numbers.

The idea of the Goldeneye remake is sounding less and less appealing by the day. That’s not to say I won’t get it and probably enjoy it, but to introduce modern gameplay mechanics like melee, iron sights and regenerative health kinda turns me off the game. Plus removing the whole "Cold War" thing too makes little sense to me. I guess the leak of the trailer meant that it wasn’t such a big of a surprise too. We hear it plays good though so, really, that’s all that matters.

The only real downside of Nintendo’s showing was the overall lack of information on the Nintendo 3DS, its date, price, specs, region-locking, menus and stuff like that is information I crave as a Nintendo fan. I can see why they did it, they just want to show off the technology, but that can also backfire. We’ve seen the technology now, we know it works – Nintendo should get on with making some games and not leave us waiting 4 months to see the thing again.

Nintendo’s going to have a real problem showing this thing to people. You can’t advertise it the usual way – you’ll need to get it into the hands of people. Perhaps Nintendo should go back to their 2006 E3 mantra, "Playing is Believing", because really I don’t think people are going to "get" the 3DS unless they see it in action.

The next year is going to be great for Nintendo. We’ve got a ton of Wii games coming with classic franchises returning and some great new Epic (Mickey) ones. 3DS will deliver sometime next year for Australians we think, but it doesn’t stop us getting excited.