After the previous lackluster E3 conferences Nintendo had, it was thought everything would change as soon as they revealed the next Zelda game. This year, Nintendo had brought everything to the table… well almost everything.

Zelda: Skyward Sword

Nintendo had finally revealed the latest installment in the Legend of Zelda franchise titled Skyward Sword. Not much of the story has been detailed but the game mechanics that people were hyping were revealed. A new control scheme was revealed. The player can finally control Link’s sword with the Wii Motion Controller. Horizontal and vertical sword slashes can now be perform by easily swinging the Motion controller. The nunchuck is used for blocking with shields and/or using miscellaneous items that are held in Link’s left hand. Link can also jump to ledges making for more complex item positioning.  Bow & Arrow game play is similar to the Zelda spin-off, Link’s Crossbow Training where the player would use the nunchuck and motion controller to align and fire at desired targets. The presentation was also gimped as Miyamoto desperately tried to play the game at the conference but with no avail, failed. Personally, I had longed for a darker, more sinister style in the franchise but the new art style goes for a more colorful, Wind Waker style with adult Link in the player’s control. Nothing has really changed and it seems that Nintendo is still aiming for the same audience almost 15 years straight. Overall what was shown at the press conference, Zelda: Skyward Sword is shaping up to be another clone of Ocarina of Time which sadly had to be remade a few more times.

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Back in early 90s there was this thing known as 3D pre-rendered graphics that were visually amazing at the time. In 1994, Donkey Kong Country was the head honcho of the pre-rendering fad and would spawn a bunch of graphically impressive sequels with a great soundtrack to boot. It was a surprise when Nintendo revealed a new sequel to the infamous Donkey Kong Country series. After years of non-platform games, including Donkey Kong Jungle Beat and Donkey Kong: King of Swing, it was refreshing to see a new DK platformer in the works. Unfortunately though the game was not being made by Rare (Sadly no David Wise compositions) but instead Retro Studios, the creators of the Metroid Prime series. But to my surprise, Retro Studios has done a fantastic job to bring the nostalgia back to DKC with new elements added to keep the experience fresh. The story involves Tiki’s stealing Donkey Kong’s hoard of bananas so Donkey Kong and his companion Diddy must go and reclaim them just like in the first Donkey Kong Country game. Unlike it’s predecessors, DKC Returns appears to be missing the Kremlings but in return updates gameplay from previous installments giving us different styles of gameplay. Donkey Kong retains his mechanics from previous DKC titles where as he rolls to defeat enemies, slaps his hands on the ground to defeat enemies, collecting K-O-N-G letters to gain extra lives. Diddy Kong is given a jet-pack last seen in Donkey Kong 64 to help progress through tougher platforming sections. Even from a newer producer, DKC Returns adds new platforming elements such as accessing different planes on a level in the 2.5d environment. One major disappointment besides the absence of kremlings are the sudden absence of DK’s animal buddies. From falling ruins to volcanic mine cart rides, Donkey Kong Country Returns definitely delivers with its epic presentation. Though it’s not the only game that shocked us with epic proportions…

Kirby: Epic Yarn

Never have the words “epic” and “yarn” so close together but the new Kirby game brilliantly brings those two concepts together even if it does sound a little strange… Kirby: Epic Yarn has a unique art-style in which everything in the game from the  characters to the environment is in some way outlined in yarn or relates in arts n’ crafts. Unlike other Kirby titles, Kirby attacks with a piece of yarn from his own body that can attach to various bolt-like objects to swing and progress through the various levels in the game. The pink marshmallow can also grab pieces of the environment and flip them or push them toward them with an effect that is similar to flipping a page through a book. Like with Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby retains his ability of gaining enemy abilities that will help him progress through each level. If yarn doesn’t impress you there are still a few surprises left.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

While Nintendo bombarded the audience with announcement after announcement, it was believed that Nintendo would only cater to the main franchises. No one expected them to bring a long lost sequel to a cult-favorite RPG. That’s when Golden Sun: Dark Dawn was revealed coming on the Nintendo DS. The third game in the series, Dark Dawn has a similar appearance to Golden Sun 1 & 2 on the Game Boy Advance with updated 3d graphics from an aerial point of view. The game utilizes the touch screen to perform psychic abilities such as moving statues. The combat mechanics remain similar to the previous installments but now with updated 3D graphics. RPG fanatics should look-forward for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn which will be released 2010-2011.

Metroid Other-M

Last year it was announced that Team Ninja, creators of Ninja Gaiden and the Dead Or Alive series would team up with Nintendo to produce Metroid Other-M. This year gameplay was finally shown off to the public. The game mixes 2D Metroid gameplay along with the first person mechanics that were introduced in Metroid Prime. Gameplay looks solid with epic bosses and graphics that really push the Wii Hardware to its limits. A mature game showing gave off a refreshing aura from all of the kids titles shown before it. Hopefully Team-Ninja will add some extra jiggling features to the experience. Finally when all was said and done, no one thought that Nintendo would have anymore surprises in store if not for a new Starfox game…

Kid Icarus: Uprising

It has been over 15 years since Nintendo had released a sequel to Kid Icarus. After witnessing his appearance in Super Smash Bros Brawl, it seemed that the angel, Pit would star in his own game. Finally on the new 3DS, Pit is going to have an adventure in his new game, Kid Icarus: Uprising. The story as shown reveals that the goddess of darkness, Medusa who has returned from the first Kid Icarus seeks revenge the goddess of light, Palutena and the young angel Pit. Gameplay seems newer then ever, tossing the extremely difficult gameplay mechanics and the infamous Eggplant Wizard out of the window to introduce the new and angst Pit who shouts obnoxious and ridiculous puns. From what was shown, gameplay will include 3rd Person hack n’ slash elements along with 3D shoot em’ up style action.

The 3DS:

The last attraction shown at Nintendo’s conference was the 3DS, a portable gaming device that is visually similar to the DS. It’s top screen gives off a 3D effect while the bottom retains it’s touch screen. The amount of 3D effect on the top screen can be controlled via analog switch. Two added cameras were shown on the top of the 3DS. The 3DS uses new hardware that allows the portable system to display graphics of the Gamecube era with decent resolution. Various games and amazing tech demos were shown on display such as a Metal Gear Solid title, a new Mario Kart, and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. A release date has been confirmed for March 2011.

From there it seemed that Nintendo would have the best showing at E3 and Sony was up next… (part 3 coming soon)