For the first time in a while Nintendo managed to dominate over the other two big boys at this year’s E3. Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s Move (and Twisted Metal surprise) were fun, but its pretty clear they’re aiming for a wider audience and the casual gamer. In the words of one of my co-workers, Nintendo was all “been there, done that” with move controls and decided to please their fan base.
As anticipated, a new Zelda was announced: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Taking advantage of the Wii MotionPlus controls, this time around YOU are the one hacking and slashing with the Wii Remote and Nunchuck acting as your sword and shield. We got to see a demonstration of the controls (which sadly didn’t run very smoothly), and were informed that the game would be released “next year”. We didn’t really get any word of the storyline, but the artwork in the game is Windwaker‘s cell-shading meets Twilight Princess’ realistic looking Link. Amazing. There are even some throwbacks to previous Zelda games, like the pirate-ish enemies reminiscent of Windwaker and the whole Deku-enemy-shoots-nut-at-you, you-shield-nut-back-at-Deku-enemy-and-kill-it maneuver.
Equally just as mouth-watering was Nintendo’s surprise Goldeneye 007 announcement. I was at training for my pharmacy tech job checking Tweets under the table when all of a sudden like four different people were like “@theirname GOLDENEYE?!!”. Everyone has played or at least knows about the magic that was 1997′s Goldeneye game for the 64. The Wii is exclusively revamping this classic so all of us can return to our childhood and shoot the poor dude sitting on the toilet from the air vent above. It will feature split-screen multi-player mode like before, a paintball mode, characters like Oddjob and Jaws, and as you can tell from the video, in single player mode you still get to run through the same precious levels like the dam and the streets. What’s changed? You’re Daniel Craig instead of Pierce Brosnan, the graphics obviously been renewed and there are a few new levels to the storyline. We can expect this one to be released this “holiday season”.
Some other rad Nintendo characters making their next gen debut include Donkey Kong and Kirby. The preview of the new Donkey Kong game titled Donkey Kong Country Returns was absolutely epic: as soon as the music started playing, everyone knew what they were in for. Just listen to the sound the bananas (still) make! DK is supposed to be released “sometime in November”, aka, just in time for my birthday. 
My personal favorite Nintendo character is the adorable pink balloon, Kirby. Sure, we’ve had a few Kirby games for the DS but nothing since his days in Kirby’s Dream Land or The Crystal Shards on the 64. The new game, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, features a new art style where your surroundings are made up of, as you can imagine, yarn, fabrics, zippers, buttons, etc. Its unknown if Kirby will still possess his Copy abilities, but now our lovable sphere can turn into a UFO, a parachute, a car, and even a surfing penguin. Kirby is supposed to be released in the fall of 2010.
For the reader’s sake, I won’t recap every single game they announced, but these ones are definitely my faves. Nintendo also announced the following for the Wii:
- Pokepark Wii Pikachu’s Adventure, which awesomely seems to feature a bunch of the original 151 Pokemon.
- Wii Party, which looks like Mario Party with your Mii’s
- Disney Epic Mickey, which will be Wii exclusive. Must have for Kingdom Hearts fans
- Mario Sports Mix
Nintendo then went on to talk about their new hardware, the 3DS. This unit will obviously feature games in 3D, but without the use of 3D glasses. Apparently, this is one of those times where you just have to see it to really be breath-taken by it. New to this DS will be a sliding button the side allowing you to adjust the level of 3D, two cameras (one on the inside, one on the outside), one of which will let you take 3D pictures of yourself, a glossy interior, and an analog stick. Many are also speculating that this device will frequently rely on digital distribution. Pricing and the release date for the 3DS are still up in the air. 
Nintendo plans to release these games for the original DS Lite/XL/i series…
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem
- Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
- Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
…And then these beauties for the 3DS…
- Dead or Alive 3D (the 3D on this should be interesting)
- Kid Icarus: Uprising
- Star Fox 64 3D (look at these graphics!)
- PilotWings Resort
- Paper Mario
- Animal Crossing
- Steel Diver, a new game about submarines. More info to be released later
- Nintendogs & Cats
- Mario Kart, which I am the world champion at
- Resident Evil Revelations
- Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
- Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – I know this game like the back of my hand
- Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. Delicious!
- …and then this HUGE list of games, which I refuse to bullet
I’m probably missing something, but Nintendo seriously dropped like, the most enormous list of huge titles ever on Tuesday. More updates when the roll in! 
P.S. This Penny Arcade comic pretty much sums it up.
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