The Year of the Muppets –
E3 2015 was not only a unique year for Nintendo because of surprise news announcements but rather it was presented in a strange Muppet format. While fans seem split on this form of presentation, the games are what really matter at the end of the day. Here is basically everything you need to know regarding Nintendo for the remainder of 2015 and into 2016.
- Star Fox on Wii U was finally revealed as Star Fox Zero. It will be released this holiday season and is being co-developed with Platinum Games. New features include Arwing transformations, one being the mech-like vehicle seen in the canceled Star Fox 2 from SNES, and the player gets a cockpit view when looking at the Gamepad’s screen. Pricing is assumed to be $60 and no amiibo details were given although the use of them is slightly suggested as the Falco amiibo should be released right around the time SFZ is released.
- Hyrule Warriors is being ported to 3DS and redubbed Hyrule Warriors Legends. It has an early 2016 release window and will include characters not seen in the Wii U version. All the DLC found in the Wii U version is also supposed to appear in this 3DS port.
- The next chapter in the Fire Emblem series has been named Fire Emblem Fates with gameplay having a huge emphasis on player choice that will directly affect the narrative and will probably be available in 2016 on 3DS.
- Nintendo reminded us that Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem is still a thing by revealing a confusing Japanese-only trailer.
- Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U has nailed down a release date – December 5, 2015.
- Mario Tennis is making an unexpected return on Wii U as Mario Tennis Ultra Smash. The short teaser trailing indicated usual power-ups and the large roster of playing Nintendo characters. Knowing Nintendo, they probably will exclude online play or make it really laggy if they do. No word on amiibo support.
- Yoshi Wooly World actually looks pretty entertaining from the most recent trailer. The trailer also showed off amiibo support and co-op gameplay.
- Nintendo is banking a lot on Super Mario Maker on Wii U. It will release on September 11, 2015. An 8-bit Mario amiibo was also announced that will give the player additional powers in-game. Players can also scan in a select few amiibos to change Mario’s sprite accordingly. For example, scan in Wii Fit Trainer and Mario’s sprite then changes into a Wii Fit Trainer sprite once a special mushroom power is collected.
- Animal Crossing Happy Home designer reuses assets from previous AC titles and purely focuses on home design, both interior and exterior. There will also be a handful of Animal Crossing amiibo and AC amiibo cards as well that will work with Animal Crossing amiibo Festival – a multiplayer board game that no one saw coming or asked for.
- Out of nowhere, Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes for 3DS. Like Four Swords Adventure, this title is built around co-op multiplayer with up to three players, assuming each players controls one chuck of the Triforce as opposed to four player support in previous titles and retains the look and feel of A Link Between Worlds. Gameplay mechanics include working together to solve puzzles, like standing on the shoulders of fellow Links, and taking down batches of enemies in co-op combat.
- Nintendo is bringing back the Metroid series but not in the way that you hoped. Metroid Prime Federation Force is a 3DS four player co-op shooter somewhat similar to Metroid Prime Hunters. Its release is still a ways out but should be available sometime in 2016. A new 2D Samus quest was nowhere to be found, unfortunately.
- Mario RPG and the Paper Mario series are getting a cross-over of sorts with Mario & Luigi Paper Jam. Here, the 3D sprites of the Mario RPG series join forces with the paper characters of the Paper Mario series. This will be a 3DS title.
- The upcoming Wii U version of Skylanders Superchargers will not only add new vehicles to gameplay but also special amiibo compatibility. Turbo Charged Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser will allow users to swap its base for additional amiibo or Skylander NFC compatibility. Nintendo characters in Skylanders? Can’t say we really didn’t see this coming.
Yeah, nothing creepy about this. Nope. Not. At. All.
Outside of Star Fox Zero, Yoshi Wooly World, the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Super Mario Maker, there was not much going on for Wii U support. Nintendo didn’t mention anything about their next potential console or how they will enter the mobile game market. The Legend of Zelda Wii U was also not at E3 this year but Nintendo promises they are hard at work developing this game and should be available in 2016. The continued lack of third party support is also disappointing but yet expected.