E3 2014: Nintendo Conference recap

Nintendo was probably the biggest surprise for me at this year's E3, at least so far. I expected them to trot out one, maybe two games and stretch for time the rest of the way but instead they were confident and prepared--and I guess they really had to be this year. While Sony and Microsoft had a more leisurely stumble to get their shiny new consoles supported by a healthy lineup of games, Nintendo's Wii U is currently on life support so they really needed to come out swinging. I'm feeling a lot more confident about their prospects than I have in over a year, although that statement comes with a few caveats. There's a lot to cover so let's get right into it.

Of course the big draw was Super Smash Bros. It's coming this year to Wii U and 3DS, with the handheld version on October 3rd (which is a bit later than the summer release they promised) and a still disappointingly vague holiday 2014 window on Wii U. This is Nintendo's big game for this year and at least they're hyping it like a proper industry giant should. The inclusion of customizable Mii fighters is brilliant and I'm glad they put so much thought into it. Features like this have been half baked in games like Mario Kart Wii so I'm glad Nintendo is moving out of their comfort zone on this one.

They also gave more details on the GameCube controller adapter. It's coming out right alongside the Wii U version of the game and will run you $20, which is a bit much for what amounts to a retro-enabled multi tap but that's what you get these days. I was very happy to hear that they are indeed re-releasing the GameCube controller with Smash branding, which will cost $30. They even have a bundle planned which includes the game for Wii U, the adapter and a controller all for for $99.

Hand-in-hand with Smash Bros. was the expected elaboration on the Nintendo Figurine Program, now renamed amiibo. It works about as you'd expect (and how Skylanders and Disney Infinity fans are no doubt familiar). You collect the figures, sync them up to your game and level up the stats on the figure's imbedded RFID chip. The big difference is that it scans right on the Wii U GamePad--no ugly blinking USB "portal" required. The figures will also work across an expanding range of games, including Mario Kart 8 and a few of the new titles Nintendo has planned. Unfortunately there's no concrete info on pricing or release date, but expect at least the first line of amiibo figures to be ready for Smash Bros' holiday release. The first line is also a big sparse--Mario, DK, Peach, Samus, Link and Yoshi are in there, but also "who the hell cares" figures of Wii Fit Trainer and Animal Crossing Villager. Personally I would prefer Luigi, Kirby or Star Fox but I guess we'll see.

Speaking of Star Fox, we got a pretty vague announcement, some blurry off-screen footage and that's about it. We know it's coming next year and it uses a really unorthodox control scheme where the GamePad works like the instruments of your Arwing aircraft and the TV displays the action. I wish Miyamoto would give us a better view of this game we've all been clamoring for since the Wii days, because for now it just seems like a potentially great title being kneecapped by a forced and awkward control scheme. Nintendo has done this before--forced the GamePad on games that didn't need it, just to justify the weird tablet's existence--so I hope that's not the case here.

Miyamoto also had a couple other games to show off, Project Giant Robot and Project Guard, both slated for 2015. As far as fresh IP goes they're okay I guess, not really enough info yet to think one way or the other about them. Giant Robot combines buttons and GamePad gestures in a fighting game of sorts, while Guard has you defending against a robot invasion by placing security cameras and then directing the defensive effort through the surveillance network. Both games definitely qualify for the smaller, more indie approach Miyamoto said he wanted to go for in his future projects.

His other big reveal isn't so much a new IP but it's still an idea I've wanted for years. Mario Maker lets you build your own 2D levels in the style of classic NES Mario or the New Super series, with an elegant but robust touch interface on the Wii U GamePad. Fans have been making their own crazy mods with homebrew tools for years, so I'm glad Nintendo is finally bringing the homemade Mario hobby to the mainstream. I hope this means that they'll STOP making bland New Super Mario sequels for the foreseeable future, as the fans are perfectly capable (and now enabled) to make awesome 2D Mario sequels.

Nintendo's other big new IP was Splatoon, a 4 vs. 4 third person multiplayer shooter of all things. I knew that if Nintendo ever made a competitive shooter it would be something weird and adorable and wow, was I right. The game is a territory control battle with little girls in squid costumes shooting ink all over an arena to expand their turf. The catch is that you can transform into a squid at will and invisibly "swim" through the ink you've laid down, but enemy ink colors slow you down and make you pop back out into a human. It's a really unique concept but I can already see matches getting incredibly tense and competitive. It also uses the GamePad in innovative ways and doesn't look forced or awkward like the new Star Fox. Simply put, this game looks fun and intuitive and most importantly it just isn't possible on anything but Wii U, a concept Nintendo needs to push in their new IP. One thing's for sure, I never expected Nintendo to make me remember the bizarrely charming "Squid Girl" anime my brother, his friends and I watched during one of our semi-regular drunk anime nights.

Of course the big reveal this year was the new Legend of Zelda title. As I suspected it's taking a lot of inspiration from Skyrim (Eiji Aonuma hinted as much earlier) with a completely free-roaming and seamless Hyrule that you can tackle from any direction you want. The art style and setting are vibrant and almost steampunk, and it looks like Link has traded his familiar green getup for a new blue tunic. Again we don't have anything but a vague 2015 release date but consider my excitement for the Zelda series tentatively restored.

There were a few other surprises, including more detail on Yoshi's Wooly World, a new spinoff IP with Captain Toad Treasure Tracker and the claymation-style Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. We also got an October 2014 window for Bayonetta 2 and a great look at the expanded roster for Hyrule Warriors and a September 26th release date. They also gave us a good long look at the story for Xenoblade Chronicles X (we've already seen a decent chunk of gameplay) but sadly Monolith Soft's massive mechs and monsters RPG has been pushed back to 2015.

That basically wraps up the big news from this E3's Nintendo presentation. I was expecting to be underwhelmed but they really brought out the big guns this year. About the only other thing I would've wanted is a new Metroid, but considering all the other good stuff they have planned I'll let that one slide.

Just one thing bothers me, though. Most of these great games, and a few that were already announced, are coming in 2015. As I surmised, Nintendo expects Smash Bros. to carry them for the rest of this year, a mistake they previously made with both Mario 3D World and DK Country Tropical Freeze. Sure we're getting Bayonetta 2, Sonic Boom and Hyrule Warriors before the year is out, but it's still looking kind of sparse from where I stand. Maybe the out-of-nowhere return of Devil's Third as a Wii U exclusive will pad out the 2014 lineup.

No doubt 2015 is going to be the best year yet to own a Wii U, and a banner year for Nintendo fans and gamers in general. I just hope that Smash Bros, Mario Kart and the somewhat slim pickings of 2014 can hold us until the corucopia arrives next year. That said it's certainly looking brighter for Nintendo and Wii U than it has since the console launched. After two years of lethargy and confusion, Nintendo has remembered their strategy for the 3DS. When your console is in trouble, don't rely on cynical nostalgia baiting or fleeting gimmicks, just hammer it with great games. Everything else will follow.

Nintendo Invents and Reinvents Gaming for Everyone with Imaginative New Experiences

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nintendo’s video games have always had an element that can put great big smiles on people’s faces: It’s that special Nintendo magic. It’s that certain undefinable something that makes people’s eyes light up, whether they’ve been playing for decades or they’re picking up a game for the first time. At this week’s E3 video game trade show in Los Angeles, Nintendo is showcasing the invention and reinvention of video game experiences – from unique new ways to play to new takes on fan-favorite games and franchises.

Splatoon is a four-on-four multiplayer action game that drops players into a battle arena that two teams strive to claim as their own. (Photo: Business Wire)

Interactive figures called “amiibo,” scheduled to arrive this year, can be used with multiple Nintendo games, bringing a touch of Nintendo’s magic to the toys-to-life category. With the addition of amiibo to a solid lineup of games on the way, there has never been a better time to own a Wii U or Nintendo 3DS system.

“Nintendo has always represented a unique source of video game entertainment for the widest range of gamers,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer. “We create timeless games with twists and turns that provide hours of enjoyment for fans of all ages, and this year with the introduction of amiibo, we’re pushing the creative envelope forward in compelling new ways.”

New Ways to Play: The toys-to-life category as a whole is extremely strong on Nintendo platforms, and Nintendo’s approach with amiibo adds another dimension to the category. Not only can amiibo interact with a particular game, but a single amiibo will continue to entertain in surprising ways, as they can be designed to be compatible across multiple games. Additionally, the Wii U GamePad controller shines in a slate of unique interactive games from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

• amiibo: Figures of Nintendo characters can interact with multiple future Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games in unique new ways, providing fresh game-play experiences and a great value for consumers with compatibility across multiple games. Fans can buy and collect amiibo, to bring them closer to the games and characters they love. By the end of the year, Nintendo’s foray into the toys-to-life category will inject energy into the genre. Nintendo will launch amiibo with around 10 figures. More will be launched during the holiday season and throughout 2015. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be the first game to support amiibo. Other games that will support amiibo include Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10 and Yoshi’s Woolly World, with more to come. A new NFC reader/writer being designed for Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to launch in 2015.
• Games from Shigeru Miyamoto: Shigeru Miyamoto provides an early look at a slate of games he has in development that use the Wii U GamePad controller in different and interesting ways designed to unlock the full potential of the Wii U console.
  • Mario Maker (working title) offers up a Super Mario Bros. dream: the ability for players to use the Wii U GamePad to design levels from scratch. Place blocks and enemies anywhere and play through the level. With the tap of an icon, users can even switch the visual style between a classic 8-bit Super Mario Bros. look and the world of New Super Mario Bros. U in the E3 version. The game is scheduled for the first half of 2015.
  • Star Fox (working title) turns the Wii U GamePad into the view from the cockpit of Fox McCloud’s Arwing fighter. While the TV shows the perspective from behind the Arwing, players can also use the gyro sensors of the GamePad to intuitively and independently target enemies. Players can instantly switch between the Arwing and Landmaster tank with the press of a button, and the game also introduces a new helicopter-type vehicle. The game is scheduled for 2015.
  • Project Giant Robot lets players use the touch screen to build a giant robot. Once complete, the GamePad becomes a cockpit from which players control the robot as they try to knock opponents over. A unique combination of button and motion control adds leverage and momentum to their robotic punches. The game is scheduled for the first half of 2015.
  • In Project Guard the goal is to stop a robot invasion using a security system of 12 cameras as a last line of defense. Players mount a dozen security cameras around a perimeter before the invasion, and then monitor all 12 as the robot army invades. Cameras also can blast lasers, so players must look, search and shoot quickly if they want to survive the onslaught. The innovative use of the two-screen game play makes for a thrilling spectator experience, allowing anyone in the living room to join in on the fun as an additional set of eyes. The game is scheduled for 2015.
• Nintendo GameCube controller for Super Smash Bros.: Many Super Smash Bros. fans grew up playing Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube system, and some will always prefer that system’s controller. The Nintendo GameCube controller also could be used in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wii. To honor that devoted loyalty to a classic way to play, Nintendo is introducing an adapter that lets up to four original Nintendo GameCube or WaveBird controllers work with Wii U. The adapter will be available at a suggested retail price of $19.99. Nintendo is also launching a retro Nintendo GameCube controller with Super Smash Bros. markings at a suggested retail price of $29.99. Additionally, Nintendo is offering a special bundle that includes Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, one special Nintendo GameCube controller and one adapter at a suggested retail price of $99.99. All of these items are scheduled to launch the same day as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U this holiday season.

New Game Play: When creating new ways to play, Nintendo has been known to come up with new IP that invents a new genre. Sometimes Nintendo brings its magic to an existing category and reinvents it the Nintendo way.

• Splatoon: Splatoon is a four-on-four multiplayer action game that drops players into a battle arena that two teams strive to claim as their own. Players of each team spray ink on the ground around them while blotting out the opposing team members in turf war competitions. Each character can turn into a squid-like character and swim through his or her own team’s ink – gliding up and down walls and under floors – with ease. Using intuitive controls made possible with the Wii U GamePad’s gyro sensor makes it easy to look around and aim, and the on-screen map displays the entire arena at a glance, both of which feel great and redefine multiplayer action. Splatoon is targeted to launch in the first half of 2015.

Fan-Favorite Characters and Franchises Come to Life in New Ways: Nintendo continues to reinvent the franchises that fans love and keep them fresh. Nintendo has exclusive characters and franchises that suit every taste.

• The next installment in The Legend of Zelda franchise: The newest game in the franchise, scheduled for 2015, introduces the first truly open world in a game from the series. Players can roam Hyrule Field or set off on a trek to distant mountains if they prefer. Players can get to any area they can see from virtually any direction. That’s one of the ways the game breaks with franchise norms and introduces new ways to play.
• Super Smash Bros.: The famed fighting franchise appears for the first time in HD on Wii U this holiday season, and on a portable system for the first time on Nintendo 3DS on Oct. 3. New characters, items and arenas add a freshly reinvigorated look and feel. As classic Nintendo characters interact wirelessly in the game, amiibo will add a different dimension to game play.Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be available at a suggested retail price of $59.99, while the Nintendo 3DS version will be available at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
• Yoshi’s Woolly World: Yoshi looks like he has been knit from a ball of yarn and placed on the TV screen. This gorgeous HD Wii U game, planned for the first half of 2015, is filled with rich textiles like felt, yarn and cotton that look good enough to touch.
• Kirby and the Rainbow Curse: This Wii U Kirby adventure, planned for 2015, is set in an HD, stop-motion clay-like world. Everything is made from clay and placed perfectly in a gorgeously sculpted landscape. Touch-screen drawing mechanics with more variations in functions build on thecontrols of the fan-favorite Nintendo DS game Kirby’s Canvas Curse in this new game.
• Hyrule Warriors: The game artfully merges the world of The Legend of Zelda and the style of Dynasty Warriors into one legendary hack-and-slash Wii U adventure. Players control hero Link or Princess Zelda, or might opt to play as Impa or Midna in their debut as playable characters. Familiar locations from The Legend of Zelda world subtly change to reflect the art styles of their original games. The game is scheduled to launch on Sept. 26.
• Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire: Get ready to embark on a new adventure through the Hoenn region. Players will catch, battle and trade Pokémon as they seek answers to the mystery behind Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre and their possible connection to Mega Evolutions. With new challenges to overcome and incredibly powerful Pokémon to encounter, these games are a true evolution in the Pokémon series.
• Sonic Boom (SEGA): The Sonic Boom franchise comes exclusively to Nintendo platforms this November with Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for Wii U and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for Nintendo 3DS. Both titles will feature the “blue blur” as you’ve never seen him before, as Sonic and his friends embark on two new adventures focused on action, exploration and teamwork.
• Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Capcom): Launching exclusively on Nintendo 3DS in early 2015, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will be the newest installment in the popular Monster Hunter series. Along with an expanded set of moves and two new weapon types, players will be able to join the hunt with friends over the Internet via Wi-Fi.

In addition to the games listed above, some of the other games for Nintendo platforms featured at E3 this week include:

Wii U

• Bayonetta 2 (October 2014): Brimming with intricate battles that take place in, on and all over epic set pieces, Bayonetta 2 finds the sassy heroine battling angels and demons in unearthly beautiful HD. Maniacal magic, warped weapons and some serious attitude make up Bayonetta’s deadly arsenal. Best of all, the original Bayonetta game comes bundled with the retail packaged version of Bayonetta 2, complete with some Nintendo surprises and Nintendo cosplay options for Bayonetta.
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (working title) (2015): The charming Mario vs. Donkey Kong puzzle series makes its way to Wii U. This HD entry takes full advantage of the touch screen on the GamePad controller as players guide the Minis (including Mini Luigi) to safety. The game also features a near-limitless puzzle-creation mode that allows fans to share puzzles and leave comments on Miiverse.
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Holiday 2014): The fan-favorite Captain Toad levels from Super Mario 3D World have inspired a game of their own. The intrepid Captain Toad sets off on an adventure through a wide variety of clever, colorful and fun levels that require players to use the GamePad to change their perspective to guide him to coins, gems, stars and safety.
• Mario Party 10 (2015): A Mario Party becomes a Bowser Party as the player with the GamePad becomes everyone’s fire-breathing nemesis. During “Bowser Party” mode, one player gets to be the fire-breathing Koopa King and wreak havoc during the mini-games, while other players try to dodge his attacks. Players can also enjoy classic Mario Party style game play as well.
• Art Academy (working title) (2014): Art Academy on Wii U is a robust download-exclusive application that makes it easy for anyone to learn the basics of drawing or get in-depth with more advanced lessons. The Wii U GamePad makes a great canvas to learn, create and share with the most in-depth, robust lessons the series has ever offered.
• Xenoblade Chronicles X (2015): The next massive sci-fi role-playing game from Monolith Soft, the creators of Baten Kaitos and Xenoblade Chronicles, comes exclusively to Wii U. A terrible intergalactic war leaves just a handful of Earth survivors trying to live in a beautiful yet hostile environment.
• Skylanders Trap Team (Activision): With Skylanders Trap Team, Portal Masters seek out and defeat the most wanted villains in all of Skylands, pulling them out of the game and into living rooms by capturing them in magical Traps, truly bringing Toys-To-Life^™ and life-to-toys. Players can then send villains back into the game where they play as the villains to fight for good. The Wii U version will be playable at the Nintendo booth. Skylanders Trap Team will be available for the Wii U, Wii and Nintendo 3DS systems on Oct. 5 in North America.
• Just Dance 2015 (Ubisoft): Just Dance 2015 is the latest in the world’s No. 1 dance game franchise and will be available worldwide in October 2014. Fans can dance along to “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and “Summer” by Calvin Harris while using the fun interactive features like World Dance Floor, the online multiplayer feature and the new Community Remix feature that brings Just Dance fans into the actual game play.

Nintendo 3DS

• Pokémon Art Academy (October 2014): In Pokémon Art Academy, players take on the role of a young aspiring artist who enrolls in the Pokémon Art Academy to learn how to draw Pokémon under the tutelage of Professor Andy. Through novice lessons, the players are taught the basics of art, from simple shapes to coloring, and are introduced to various tools and techniques they will use to create art.
• Fantasy Life (October 2014): Players embark on the adventure of their dreams as they craft, cast, battle and role-play. The innovative Life system lets players change to one of 12 Life classes at virtually any time to access different abilities. The huge fantasy landscape is filled with surly dark paladins, slick pirate captains and others who share a taste for the unknown.
• THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY CURTAIN CALL (Square Enix, Inc.): Combining hallmark FINAL FANTASY music with role-playing game (RPG) elements, the new THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY CURTAIN CALL will come to North America on Sept. 16, 2014, exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system.

Third-Party

Nintendo’s third-party partners are bringing fantastic and original creations to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Additionally, independent developers are also bringing strong digital-only content to the Nintendo eShop. A number of these indie titles will be showcased within the Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3 program throughout the course of the show. These titles include:

• Affordable Space Adventures (KnapNok Games): The GamePad is your control panel in this exclusive 2D side-scrolling spaceship simulator that requires players to configure all the systems in order to fly around undetected on an alien planet.
• Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (DrinkBox Studios): The game is an action-platformer set in a magical Mexican-inspired world. The game features melee combat, a dimension-switching mechanic and cooperative same-screen multiplayer.
• Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games): For Shovelry! Run, jump and dig in this lighthearted, classic adventure platformer. Launching June 26, Shovel Knight will include exclusive Miiverse functionality for Wii U, and the Nintendo 3DS version will feature an exclusive Battle Arena mode utilizing StreetPass.
• Swords & Soldiers II (Ronimo Games BV): This Wii U exclusive side-scrolling strategy game, the sequel to the award-winning 2009 WiiWare game Swords & Soldiers, is set to launch this holiday season.

A selection of the games scheduled to release in 2014 for Nintendo systems include the following: