Nintendo 2013 Press Conference

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata gave the Nintendo Direct update and focused almost solely on games soon to be available for the WiiU or 3DS. Nintendo gets bonus points for that in my book as I don’t care about all the Netflix streaming and integrating with my cable provider crap the featured by the other consoles. I use my precious free time to play games instead of watching TV, that’s why I want a separate machine! For those interested you can catch the full video here. It’s much shorter than Sony and Microsoft (since they didn’t have to field any speculation about their already available console).

 

 

The first item up was Pokemon X and PokemanY for the 3DS. I’ve never been into Pokemon so I can’t speak well to it but it looked like it had some new and interesting features. They added an 18th class of Pokeman: Fairies (who are “very effective against dragons). They also added some sort of mini game where you can take care of your Pokeman almost like an "old skool" gigapet. It even utilizes the DS camera so you and your Pokeman can take matching duck face selfies! This game is slated to launch Oct 12.

 

 

Super Mario 3D World was up next for the WiiU. The gameplay shots from this look interesting and it brings back elements from Super Mario 2 on the original Nintendo such as choosing between four characters with slightly different abilities. I was also psyched to see the Goomba Shoe back in the fold. While I got a bit bored with the 2D Mario on the WiiU well before finishing it, this one does look like it could be fun. The new ability in this one is a cat suit so clearly they are playing to the internet audience. I wonder if at some point Mario can "haz cheezeburger."

 

 

Next was more Mario with the 8th installment of Mario Kart. It looks like a Mario Kart game... Although I’ll give them bonus points for a clever logo with the “8” looking like a race track!

 

 

Following that was WiiU Party; which to me actually seems strange that it wasn’t a Mario Game. I guess its more of a party or mini game than a board game like the Mario Party games. I thought they already had that with Nintendoland. They also announced this game was delayed from its original summer release target to the fall. WiiFitU (its technically WiiU WiiFit but that’s what I am calling it from now on!) was also delayed from a summer to winter release. Nintendo apologized that they “couldn’t release games as smoothly as planned” since the launch of the console.

 

One non-gaming point mentioned was improved support for art in the Miiverse. Nintendo learned that users were creating elaborate drawings (that miraculously actually are T for teen!) so they are working on better art support tools. They plan to eventually sell an app called Art Academy with full support but will release other tools and features separately this summer.

 

Onward from 1st Party games to partners! The first run down was of multi-platform AAA  titles we already knew about like Assassin's Creed, Batman and Deus EX. Disney Infinity also made the list as well as Rayman Legends and Just Dance 2014. They mentioned an exclusive new game from Monolith Soft, creator of Xenoblade Chronicles, simply referred to as “X.”

 

 

Another exclusive AAA title announced was Bayonetta 2. Woohoo terrible music and dinosaurs!

 

 

The one I am most excited for out of this list was Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure coming for both 3DS and WiiU.

 

 

Nintendo also detailed the indies coming to the E-Shop. None of my adventure game favs or Dive Kick made their short list but I was already excited for Ducktales: Remastered and the WiiU feels like the right console for that one to me! Other titles listed were:

 

 

Saturo circled back to Nintendo favorites and showed updated video from the Legend of Zelda Windwaker 3D remake. I’m not sure if was a crappy internet video stream but the graphics didn’t look all that great to me (I also hated them on the Gamecube though, not my art style). So unless you are a graphics weenie, or you traded in your Gamecube and really want to play it again, I’m not sure what the point is. Maybe there’s more unannounced new features but, if not, I hope they aren’t planning it as a full priced title! One new feature they mentioned is the seldom used Tingle connection to your Gameboy Advance. It will now be integrated into the MiiVerse where you can leave other players tips and tricks via things likes messages in bottles.

 

 

More brand new news at Nintendo’s briefing was Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze coming to the WiiU.  The game boasts better graphics and 3D angles and Dixie Kong is back as a playable character.

 

 

And last but not least (well meh I’m sick of fighting games so maybe least) came Super Smash Brothers for the WiiU. It features updated graphics and new characters: Villager from Animal Crossing and Megaman.

 

 

Saturo wrapped up with video from the yet to be opened floor at E3 addressing the internet’s concern that since they didn’t have a direct press conference they didn’t have a presence at E3.  He walked through over 70 WiiU stations showcasing playable demos of games like Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8. Bonus points for a Luigi walking around with a vacuum in the background (when are they going to make that sequel on WiiU?!). Also, in addition to E3, they had demos available across the US at select Best Buy stores of upcoming games which I thought was pretty neat. Woohoo vicarious E3 attendance!

 

All in all nothing shocking out of the Nintendo camp. A few 1st party titles to look forward to and its nice to see the third parties including the WiiU so gamers have more choices.