Nintendo Brings it on Day 1 of E3 2017
Nintendo did not hold back when it came to E3 2017, dropping huge announcements and shocking fans. The big N only used up 25 minutes for their main presentation, but managed to secure a large amount of hype around their lineup for the rest of 2017 and into 2018. Starting things off with a sizzling trailer, showcasing the competitive potential of the Switch, Nintendo snuck in a trailer for Rocket League, the beloved soccer (or football) game, where the players are cars. The new release for this title will feature local wireless play as well as online, cross-platform play, allowing players to take on competitors from non-Nintendo systems.
Nintendo began their presentation by showing some new footage of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the forthcoming entry in the beloved JRPG series from Monolith Software. The graphics and environments were stunning and stylized, featuring a different art style than the previous entries. Most importantly, the game, which is built on the same engine as Xenoblade Chronicles X, seeks to balance the exploration and adventure of its predecessor with the story-driven narrative of the first Xenoblade Chronicles. Fans won’t have to wait too long to get back out on the open plains because Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will release in Holiday 2017 for the Switch.
Next up we got a glimpse at a new entry in the Kirby series which is slated for release on the Switch in 2018. The gameplay was reminiscent of Kirby’s Return to Dreamland, featuring up to four players on screen. This game also allows for lone-wolf players to pad out their party with computer controlled allies and will also let players go alone and unleash the inhaling powers of the adorable pink puff.
Tsunekazu Ishihara from the Pokémon Company also made an announcement, despite that Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were only revealed days ago. Mr. Ishihara revealed that a “new, core RPG” in the Pokémon series has begun development on the Switch. While most fans aren’t entirely sure about what this means, it is widely believed that the title will be the next main series installment of the franchise beyond. This is really exciting and shows that aside from Pokken Tournament DX, Game Freak and the Pokémon Company are dedicated to the platform.
A new announcement came along and shocked the entire gaming universe collectively. Samus Aran will be returning to 3D action games in the not-too-distant future in Metroid Prime 4 for Nintendo Switch. We weren’t shown much more than a teaser screen that said the game was now in development, but it’s a start which is better than nothing at all. Despite that Retro Studios is not involved, Nintendo assures fans that the series is in good hands with the developers working on the title.
Another surprise announcement came in the form of a new Yoshi title which is in development for Nintendo Switch. This trailer showcased the traditional Yoshi gameplay but with the new ability to move between foreground and background, as well as targeting enemies on the opposite plane with eggs. This game boasts two player co-op play and is being built using Unreal Engine 4. Yoshi (working title) is slated for release in 2018.
Eiji Aonuma brought new details regarding updates to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and Wii U. Releasing on June 30th, 2017, DLC Pack One (The Master Trials) will bring a lot of quality contents to DLC Pass purchasers. Including a new trial, similar to the trial on Eventide Island, new armor and the Hero’s Path mechanic which shows player’s paths for up to 200 previous hours on the in-game map, and an increased difficulty mode which now has enemies floating in the sky on flimsy, begging-to-be-destroyed platforms; DLC pack one is the perfect reason to return to Hyrule.
Mr. Aonuma also announced that DLC Pack Two, now titled The Champions’ Ballad, will be releasing new story content later this year and will feature the four Champions and Princess Zelda. Additionally, there will be amiibo for the four Champions, Daruk, Mipha, Revali, and Urbosa, released later this year.
Koei-Tecmo brought new footage of their upcoming Fire Emblem Warriors game and showcased battles which featured newly beloved characters such as Ryōma, Xander, and Corrin, as well as fan favorites such as Marth and two original characters which will be integral to the game’s story. Who are we kidding though, the game is all about batting around a horde of enemies like a cat with a ball of yarn, and this game delivers on that front in a big way. While the game’s roster has been growing steadily, it’s easy to imagine the humongous roster that will be included in the full game when it releases later this year on Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS / 2Ds systems.
Yves Guillemot, chairman, and CEO of Ubisoft, stopped by to discuss a bit more about Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, which was already announced during Ubisoft’s press conference. Showing some new footages of the tactical shooter style gameplay, Mario + Rabbids promises to bring the whacky humor of the Rabbids series to the Mushroom Kingdom when the game launches on the Nintendo Switch on August 29th, 2017.
Closing out the showcase, Nintendo brought out their heavy-hitting title for the holidays, Super Mario Odyssey. Mixing up classic elements of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine, along with new abilities, locations, and environments, Super Mario Odyssey is the first sandbox style Mario title since the GameCube. This game is really out there and boasts the ability for Mario to throw his new hat companion, Cappy, to inhabit different objects, people, creatures and more in order to solve puzzles and traverse the sprawling kingdoms which will have players exploring for hours. The game releases on October 27th, 2017 and is sure to be a hit, carrying on the legacy started by Super Mario 64 over 20 years ago. Three new amiibo will also release with the game, featuring Mario, Princess Peach, and Bowser in wedding attire. These amiibo will reportedly be sold separately or in a three-pack when they release.
Though the showcase ended, Nintendo wasn’t ready to stop with the news and announcements. Within the first hour of Treehouse Live, as Reggie promised, Nintendo was back at it again with the announcement of Metroid: Samus Returns. This game is a 3DS remake of the Game Boy hit Metroid II: Return of Samus and will feature new abilities and boasts music from composers who had worked on Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo in 1994. The game won’t launch alone, however, and will feature a two-pack of beautiful amiibo figures later this year. The two-pack comes with Samus posed as she was on the cover of the original release, and a Metroid, who has managed to escape captivity. A special edition of the game is also being made available and will feature the game, a 25 song soundtrack CD and a reversible cover art featuring Samus’ iconic pose.
Finally, Nintendo revealed during its Treehouse Live broadcast that Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions, a 3DS remake of the Game Boy Advance title, will be hitting store shelves on October 6th, 2017. The game features upgraded graphics and an entirely new campaign focusing on the would-be nameless hordes that make up Bowser’s forces. Nintendo also plans to release two amiibo which will be compatible with the title, a Koopa Troopa and a Goomba, though many of the Mario series of figures are sure to work with the game as well.
Nintendo really went all out, showing off some big names and franchises coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS in the coming months. While some may be disappointed that their favorite title didn’t receive a shoutout, the important thing to keep in mind is that this is only the beginning. The games showcased were outrageous, incredible and above everything else, fun. Nintendo fans have quite a lot to look forward to in the near future and beyond with regular software releases coming through the end of 2017 and well into 2018 for both of Nintendo’s beloved systems. Look forward to more announcements in the coming days, as Nintendo is known to drop reveals during their Treehouse Live streams beyond the first day.
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