E3 2011: Nintendo Press Conference Roundup

Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft and Sony had Monday to share between them, but Nintendo have decided to have Tuesday all to themselves. With a new console all but officially confirmed, and potential names floating about, they have a lot to unveil!

If you couldn’t be with us for the live report, we’ve got you covered with this full detailed roundup of the Nintendo E3 2011 press conference!

Opening with a live orchestra (including singers) playing Legend of Zelda themed music (specifically taken from Skyward Sword), accompanied by video footage of Zelda games past and present, extensive in its breadth covering NES titles and right up to the present day, ending with a title screen of “The Legend of Zelda, 25th Anniversary” and Shigeru Miyamoto appearing on stage, dressed in a sharp suit and a translator, awkwardly talking over one another. Utilising the orchestra, Miyamoto asked to hear some of the music from the Zelda titles, solving a puzzle, opening a treasure chest and even the melody from a fairy fountain, which is just as beautiful as you’d remember it. Even at the very early stages of the conference, Nintendo serve to remind everyone that as always, FUN is the core of the the entire gaming industry.

The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening was announced as being available to buy from the 3DS Store right now, which is as nice a surprise as you could get. A cursory nod to Ocarina of Time 3D was made, as it launches rather soon! Four Swords is also going to be a free download, and Skyward Sword will be released this holiday season; “It’s finally done”. Yet more Zelda news though, there will be some 25th anniversary concerts held around the world in “the fall”, dates to come later. Two music CD’s will also be released, the Ocarina of Time 3D soundtrack which will be free to the first people to register the product with Nintendo. The second disc will be Skyward Sword based concert recordings! Miyamoto also says that there will be even more events announced in the future!

Next up is Global President, Satoru Iwata, who came on (bizarrely) to a Ben Folds track, Zak and Sara! “Deeper and wider” is the order of the day with Nintendo’s new home console, which they say will appeal to an even wider audience than the Wii did! But they are teasing, and will reveal the new console later on in the conference.

A video then played, showing glimpses of Mario Kart, a new Mario game, Starfox and…LUIGI’S MANSION. Reggie Fils-Aime next up, and he doesn’t even bother with a “Hello” today, it’s just business, let’s get it on. Mario Kart, Starfox all shown on the big screen for Nintendo 3DS. Starfox 3D records footage from the camera, showing your opponent your reaction as and when it happens, and it will be out this September!

The Super Mario logo that was teased was then revealed, showing Mario in a Tanooki suit. This is the first Mario game built from the ground up for the 3DS, looks bloody amazing and will be out this year too!

Onto Kid Icarus Uprising, which looks very different. Darker, with monsters…then a child’s voice. Kid Icarus is coming this year too, but will contain 3 vs 3 multiplayer action, and use the augmented reality cards to conduct battles. Luigi’s Mansion 2 looks incredible, colourful, fun and just…it’s Luigi’s Mansion 2 people! Not a revision, a completely new game featuring several new mansions.

Time for third parties now with Resident Evil: The Mercaneries 3D, Mario & Sonic at the Londond 2012 Olympic Games, Ace Combat 3D, Tetris, Cave Story 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Driver Renegade, Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions, Tekken 3D and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D all getting screen time. The 3DS has a serious amount of third party support!

The new Nintendo console is called Wii U. The new controller is mind boggling, and on the big screen it looks like a tablet, two analogue sticks, a new trailer! When you are playing a game on the big screen, you can switch instantly to the controller’s screen instead, seamless. The controller screen is 6.2″, and the console is fully backwards compatible to the Wii, and designed to appeal to all people…quite frankly, no words can do it justice, just watch this video.

Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Reggie is called back to the stage. New Super Mario Bros. Mii is at conceptual stage, Shield Pose and Chase Mii are concept idea for Wii U. The only title that Reggie could announce for Wii U was LEGO City Stories, which will also be coming to Nintendo 3DS. Next up, we’re treated to a video showing games industry big names talking about their thoughts on the controller. Darksiders 2, Ghost Recon and Batman Arkham City are launch titles for Wii U, but there is huge third party support, including other titles like Dirt, Metro: Last Light, Tekken, Ninja Gaiden 3 and plenty more.

John Riccitiello came on the stage next, talking about how much he loves the console, and that EA will be bringing their products to the Wii U. Then back to Reggie, talking about their four platforms, Nintendo 3DS, DS, Wii and Wii U, explaining that they all share “innovation”, and that they are here to change gaming, and by God, after seeing the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS line up, we just might agree.

For more information about the Wii U see this article, it contains some hardware specs, including the nugget that the console will support full HD.