nintendo-e3-2014
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Seen@E3: Making Marios
Mario Maker is as super simple to use as it looks. Paint objects into the level, drag pipes to stretch them, tweak things like changing the direction of moving platforms, and then press play to, well, play. The only hard bit is trying to get through the absurd level you just made. Even in the E3 demo, which Nintendo plans to add to, there was an appreciable level of customization. There are little things like giving wings to the goombas and koopa troopas or putting piranha plants into pipes, but also the major mechanic of being able to switch your level from old-school Mario to the New Super look in just one click. The issue I had was the amount of available space, which seemed a bit short; negotiable without obstacles in seconds rather than minutes. Again, maybe that's just the limitations of the E3 demo. We'll all get to meet our Mario Maker when it comes to Wii U next year.
Nintendo Direct E3 2014 recap: Amiibo, squid-girls, Smash Bros.
Nintendo skipped the traditional stage-based press conference this year at E3, but considering that allowed for a Robot Chicken-animated introduction and a Super Smash Bros.-inspired fistfight between Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime and Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, we're okay with that. Hopefully you were with us when our jaws dropped in a mixture of surprise and confusion, but if you weren't, we have a consolation prize for you: Recaaaaaaaaaap! Shall we?
Itagaki's action-packed Devil's Third coming exclusively to Wii U
Last we heard of Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third, the game was nearly finished and ready for launch later this year, though we have now learned that the game will appear exclusively on Nintendo's Wii U console. Itagaki broke the news during an IGN E3 stream, though the developer most famous for the gravity-defying Dead or Alive franchise offered no further information on what we can expect from the Wii U game. Nintendo "really understood my vision," Itagaki stated, "so I felt I really had to work with them." Lacking from Itagaki's revelation was any sort of release date. [Image: Valhalla Games]
Mario Party 10 bows in next year with Bowser and Amiibo
Mario Party 10 is coming to Wii U in 2015, marking the series' first appearance on Nintendo's new console. The game stars the big baddie Bowser, and you can play as him using the Wii U gamepad against four friends. Bowser smash! Mario Party 10 uses Amiibo, Nintendo's new Skylanders-esque figurine and NFC system. In addition to the Bowser Party mode, the game also has a classic Mario Party mode. [Image: Nintendo]
Art Academy will turn your Wii U GamePad into a canvas
Art Academy is coming to the Wii U, with a multitude of new features designed to take advantage of the system's unique controller. Virtual virtuosos will be able to record and playback their artistic process, and subsequently hang their completed works in a digital gallery. The game will also enable artists to share images on Miiverse. Note that this game is different from the previously-released Art Academy: SketchPad. It will be coming to the Nintendo eShop sometime in 2014. [Image: Nintendo]
Palutena from Kid Icarus joins the fight in Super Smash Bros.
Goddess Palutena joins the playable roster in Nintendo's upcoming Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Wii U and 3DS, launching later this year.
Xenoblade Chronicles X slashes at Wii U in 2015 [Update: Trailer added]
Xenoblade Chronicles X, formerly known as "Project X," will arrive in 2015 for Wii U, Nintendo revealed during its E3 2014 livestream today. The Monolith Soft-developed game is a successor to Xenoblade Chronicles, the developer's 2011 Wii game. Update: Nintendo offered up a trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Hyrule Warriors coming Sept. 26 in North America
Nintendo has announced Hyrule Warriors, featuring playable co-op characters Zelda and Midna, will launch for the Wii U on September 26, 2014, in North America. Europe will receive the game on September 19. Hyrule Warriors pits The Legend of Zelda series protagonist Link against spawning hordes of familiar foes. The game is a collaborative effort between Nintendo and Tecmo Koei. Nintendo has said Hyrule Warriors is a placeholder name for the title. The "celebration of both the Zelda and Dynasty Warriors franchises" will reportedly arrive in Japan this August.
Pokemon Sapphire and Ruby remakes choose you on November 21
Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will launch on November 21 in North America and November 28 in Europe for 3DS, Nintendo announced during its E3 2014 livestream. The "full remakes" were first announced in May. [Image: Nintendo]
Nintendo reveals Wii U Zelda sequel, coming 2015
During Nintendo's E3 press conference, Eiji Aonuma revealed a new entry in the fan-favorite Legend of Zelda series. Scant information was offered, but we were shown an attractive vignette, featuring Link riding his trusty steed Epona away from what appears to be a particularly angry, laser-equipped Octorok. Aonuma claims the game will be far less linear than past Zelda entries, a change he says "will create new opportunites for gameplay not seen in earlier Zelda games." No solid release date was offered for this as-yet-unnamed Wii U Zelda sequel, but it should arrive at some point during 2015 in both North America and Europe.
Wii U's wild ride in Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad's ready for a whole lot more puzzling in a new Wii U game based on the small environment-spinning puzzle levels from Super Mario 3D World. The spin-off features many of the characters and environments from that game. Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker is due to launch in the holiday season of 2014.
Yoshi's Wooly World adds co-op, coming to Wii U in 2015
Nintendo has announced that its next Yoshi adventure – Yoshi's Wooly World – will include a two-player co-op mode. Yoshi's Wooly World is coming to the Wii U in 2015. Though the the game is helmed by the team behind the adorable Kirby's Epic Yarn, Yoshi's upcoming Wii U adventure is not a simple follow-up to that game's ideas. Yoshi's Wooly World will emphasize exploration, utilizing the yarn world and Yoshi's abilities to give players an opportunity to investigate every fluffy element of the environment.
Super Smash Bros. gets NFC figures, Mii support
Super Smash Bros. on Wii U will include support for NFC (near-field communication) figurines called "Amiibo," as Nintendo demonstrated during its E3 2014 livestream today. Additionally, players will be able to bring their Mii characters into battle, lending their likeness to their fights. Mii fighters are divided into three classes: Mii gunner, Mii brawler and Mii sword-fighter. They will also get to pick four special moves among 12 different options. As for the NFC figures, the Skylanders-esque physical toys will summon characters to the battlefield and enhance your fighter. Nintendo noted that Amiibo will interact with multiple games, including the previously-released Mario Kart 8. [Image: Nintendo]
Watch Nintendo's E3 2014 livestream here [Update: It's over!]
Nintendo will reveal the future of the Wii U and 3DS today in a special E3 livestream at 9:00AM PT (12:00PM ET), and we'll be on hand to dish out commentary and context in our liveblog. Best of all, there's no saying what will be announced today! Will Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime announced a new Mario game? Perhaps Nintendo will unveil a new game in the Mario series, or we'll learn that Mario is returning to the living room. (Really Nintendo, can Samus come out to play? We miss her.) Follow along here and on our liveblog to find out! Those following along internationally can check out Nintendo UK's stream as well. Update: Nintendo's main E3 show is over, though you can re-live all of the publisher's announcements in text form. [Image: Nintendo]
