While Nintendo didn't hold a live theatrical presentation at E3 like many of the other big-hitters - not including Sony, who skipped the show altogether, presumably due to social anxiety - it did broadcast its traditional Nintendo Direct, which revealed its plans for the coming year in typically whimsical fashion.
Suffice to say, Nintendo's forthcoming offerings are a stark contrast to everything seen at E3 thus far; more diverse, more colourful, more fun... and generally more surprising. While the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are soon to enter the gurgling death throes of their life cycles, the Switch has no plans to nail itself into a coffin anytime soon.
Here are the main takeaways from Nintendo at E3.
Suffice to say, Nintendo's forthcoming offerings are a stark contrast to everything seen at E3 thus far; more diverse, more colourful, more fun... and generally more surprising. While the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are soon to enter the gurgling death throes of their life cycles, the Switch has no plans to nail itself into a coffin anytime soon.
Here are the main takeaways from Nintendo at E3.
BREATH OF THE WILD 2
Saved for the end of the presentation was a brief teaser - looking rather dark and scary for a Zelda game (relatively speaking; its not like Link gouged out his own throat with a spork or anything) - which revealed that the sequel to Breath of the Wild is in development.
Given that Nintendo has rarely hurried to release direct sequels to its biggest franchises, given that it looks like it'll be the first time you can play as Zelda herself, given that the company always plays its cards close to its chest... this is huge for Nintendo fans. And Nintendo.
Like a kid who just did up their own shoelaces for the first time, it's hard not to feel a little proud of them.
Given that Nintendo has rarely hurried to release direct sequels to its biggest franchises, given that it looks like it'll be the first time you can play as Zelda herself, given that the company always plays its cards close to its chest... this is huge for Nintendo fans. And Nintendo.
Like a kid who just did up their own shoelaces for the first time, it's hard not to feel a little proud of them.
THE WITCHER III/ALIEN ISOLATION
Two of the most graphically intensive games released on the PS4 and Xbox One - The Witcher III and Alien Isolation - are getting Switch ports. Speculation is rife as to the compromises that'll need to be made, especially when it comes to The Witcher, but... in short... this is the kind of thing that the word "blimey" was invented for.
LUIGI'S MANSION 3
One of Nintendo's lesser-loved franchises - but one that is defiantly Nintendo - is back, and this time Luigi's is off on holiday, ridding his hotel of ghosts. In the nude!!!!! It'll feature a two-player mode, in which a second player controls a Flubber-like doppelgänger called Slime-vard (Gooigi).
RARE WORKING WITH NINTENDO... SORT OF
On paper, not the most exciting of announcements, perhaps - all a bit "Now with new hat!" - but Banjo-Kazooie coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is huge... because the characters belong to Rare. And Rare used to belong to Nintendo. And now belongs to Microsoft.
It's further evidence of a steadily warming relationship between Nintendo and Microsoft, which began when the latter greased the wheels for Cuphead to slither onto Switch.
It's further evidence of a steadily warming relationship between Nintendo and Microsoft, which began when the latter greased the wheels for Cuphead to slither onto Switch.
PANZER DRAGOON ON SWITCH
A real sucker punch this one; one of the many franchises Sega has seemingly been content to let gather dust is making a comeback. Though stripped of some of the distinct prog-rock album cover aesthetic - which, let's face it, was one of the main things it had going for it - Panzer Dragoon Switch appears to retain all of the gameplay which made the series one of the few Saturn classics.
Should've hired Roger Dean as a consultant.
Should've hired Roger Dean as a consultant.
ANIMAL CROSSING DELAYED
Probably the most anticipated game on Switch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been delayed until next March. Suffice to say, there was a lot of wailing and weeping on social media at the news. As with Luigi's Mansion 3, the game adopts something of a holiday atmosphere, being set on a tropical island.
Beyond that... well... I've never played an Animal Crossing game, so for all I know you have to stuff quoits up a nozzle.
Beyond that... well... I've never played an Animal Crossing game, so for all I know you have to stuff quoits up a nozzle.
EVERYTHING ELSE
The gorgeous-looking remake of Link's Awakening is arriving in September. There'll be a Zelda-themed follow-up to rhythm-action game. Crypt of the Necrodancer, entitled Cadence of Hyrule. There are going to be more Resident Evil games on Switch - namely, 5 and 6. Pokemon Sword and Shield will support the Pokeball Plus accessory. There's going to be a Final Fantasy Tactics which ties into the new Dark Crystal series on Netflix. And No More Heroes 3 is coming next year.
What's really lovely about Nintendo is that, while Microsoft shoved most of its cuter, less graphically bells-and-whistles games, into a brief montage, Nintendo affords them equal worth. For Nintendo, a game is a game, whether its a 2D, top-down, thing, or a huge, 3D, open world, action game.
And this is why Nintendo won E3.
What's really lovely about Nintendo is that, while Microsoft shoved most of its cuter, less graphically bells-and-whistles games, into a brief montage, Nintendo affords them equal worth. For Nintendo, a game is a game, whether its a 2D, top-down, thing, or a huge, 3D, open world, action game.
And this is why Nintendo won E3.
RSS Feed
