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E3 2014 Recap: Nintendo

While Microsoft and Sony held massive conferences, Nintendo switched things up and had a “Digital Event” this morning.  The video included robot chicken cut scenes, developer interviews (with full dubbed translations) and of course videos for new games.  Here’s the full video.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisRY6h100U&w=560&h=315]

 

Of course the video is more than 45 minutes long, so I’ll be breaking up the highlights for your convenience below.  Additionally, there are trailers for games that were released separately from the event, that will be added here as well.

To start, there were some big Smash Bros. announcements.  Players will now be able to use Mii characters in the game after choosing which class they will be.  The options are Brawlers, which are fast and strong, Swordfighters, who are weapon masters, and Gunners who are armed with cannons.  This means that mii fighters will have a total of 36 special moves to choose from.  Not all of the news was good, as Smash Bros. for the 3DS was pushed back from it’s summer release and now scheduled for October 3rd.  Since there’s so many fans itching to play Smash Bros., Nintendo has teamed up with Best Buy Stores to help demo the event on June 11th and 14th.  To end the event, Nintendo closed with yet another addition to the Smash roster: Palutena.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqTW13AYniY&w=560&h=315]

 

Next, Reggie Fils-Aime briefly touched upon Amiibos, which look like Nintendo action figures, but actually contain a special chip, allowing them to connect to the Wii U gamepad.  Due to time constraints, he couldn’t go into too much detail, however, Bill Trinen addressed the full features and compatible games in a separate video, launching shortly after the event.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odUjMhc6YgU&w=560&h=315]

 

After developers spoke about Yoshi’s Wooley World, slanted for a 2015 release, a trailer was shown for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.  Previously unannounced, this game will be arriving this holiday season.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m91qkP5ZaN8&w=560&h=315]

 

Previously announced, remakes of Pokemon: Ruby and Sapphire will be released on the 3DS.  However the new trailer did reveal that all starters will have mega evolutions, hinting that more pokemon will be getting mega evs as well.  Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will be hitting shelves November 21, 2014.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ma2CBnBlXs&w=560&h=315]

 

As expected, the Wii U exclusive, Bayonetta 2 made an appearance in the event.  Unexpectedly, it’s video not only hinted at Nintendo skins for the main character, but also stated that the first game would be included with Bayonetta 2.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvP4EFjagfU&w=560&h=315]

 

There won’t be a new Zelda game coming until 2015, but Ninteno let the fans know that they’re working hard on it.  In addition to a small cinematic teaser, the developer touched upon the idea of it being open world and that places could be approached from multiple angles.  Link will still be making an appearance this fall in the form of Hyrule Warriors.  Through a collaboration through the Dynasty Warriors team, Hyrule Warriors will use Zedla franchise characters and will support a 2 player mode.  Hyrule Warriors is expected to be released on September 26, 2014.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z107NbGUIOk&w=560&h=315]

 

We’ve all played a Mario game at some point in our lives, but now Nintendo is giving us a chance to make our own Mario levels.  Mario Maker is set to come out in 2015.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLS458ekSEI&w=560&h=315]

 

2015 may be a little far off, but gameplay footage of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse lets one assume that the game will be ready early next year.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqEOsvTmcoE&w=560&h=315]

 

Not all games shown in the event were warm and fuzzy. Xenoblade Chronicles X was a needed change in pace, showing that Nintendo could giant robot battles as well.  Xeonblade Chronicles X will be released in 2015.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg2PTVi7fl8&w=560&h=315]

 

Sony and Xbox blew gamers away will intense graphics on their shooters, but Nintendo has it’s own style and approach.  In an extremely creative fashion, Nintendo announced Splatoon.  Players use paint to control territories of the map and color their opponents.  Additionally, players can also turn into squids, allowing them to move much faster and reach other sections of the map.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L54s2m1dPs&w=560&h=315]

 

Showing love for the eShop, Nintendo announced 26 new titles through a quick compilation video.  Each game’s respective trailer can be found on Nintendo’s eShop youtube page.

 

Unmentioned in the event, Mario Party 10 was mentioned in a post show.  The new Party will feature Bowser as a playable character, so that players can reak havoc on their friends.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I69x8Bvm9zM&w=560&h=315]

 

Another game that couldn’t be squeezed into the event was Mario Vs. Donkey Kong.  Similar to the Mario Maker, the game allows players to create their own levels and share them online.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruh0FSfRq3Y&w=560&h=315]

 

2 new 3Ds games were mentioned in a post show.  While Professor Layton Vs. Phonenix Wright did not get a launch date, Level Five’s Fantasy Life will be released on October 24th.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiJ7JwwlG6o&w=560&h=315]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj9V5-7Vqno&w=560&h=315]

 

Art Academy will be coming to Wii U and Pokemon Art Academy will be coming to 3DS.  Both games were not talked about in the event.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSuQH6XNMr8&w=560&h=315]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1s7YrF68m4&w=560&h=315]

 

After the event,  Miyamoto is working on three additional Wii U projects, one of which being a new Star Fox game, revolving around the Wii U gamepad

Finally, more than an hour after the show ended, Devil’s Third was announced as a Wii U exclusive.  From Tomonobu Itagaki, this game combines 1st person shooting and 3rd person hack and slash into one game.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yTldFe2m-A&w=560&h=315]

 

So much content, Nintendo couldn’t even talk about it all.  The show will be continuing on Nintendo’s Twitch Channel live from the Nintendo Treehouse.  If that’s not enough, the Super Smash Bros. Invitational will be taking place today (June 10th) at 4pm PST.