E3 2009: Nintendo Press Conference
Ryan Bloom | June 2, 2009
Does Nintendo finally make good on their “Core” promises?
Ever since the Wii launched in 2006, Nintendo has been fighting an uphill battle to capture the attention of a brand new market of consumers while simultaneously holding the attention of current gamers. Year after year, people from around the globe have watched as Nintendo rattles off impressive sales figures and goes on about the new generation of gamers, and E3 2009 did not deviate much from the formula.
The conference kicked off with the unveiling of “ New Super Mario Bros. for Wii“. Looking like a high-resolution version of the Nintendo DS original, the major new feature that sets it apart is four player simultaneous co-op. Much like “The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords” games on the Gamecube and Gameboy Advance, NSMB For Wii has players working both together and against one another cooperatively in real-time, all on the same screen.
From there, the press conference jumped in to Nintendo’s usual song-and-dance of sales figures and games for expanding markets, such as “ Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion” for the Nintendo DS, from famous romance/mystery novelist James Patterson. The Wii Motion Plus was on display, with a live demo of Wii Sports Resort, featuring sky diving, archery, and basketball.
DSiWare was showcased, with a focus on user-created content. Mario vs. DK: Minis March Again features a level editor and allows users to trade levels, and WarioWare DIY allows you to create your own “microgames”, with full-featured graphics and behavior editing tools. Though Zelda: Spirit Tracks was given a passing mention, there was no new trailer to speak of – though the game is playable on the show floor.
Perhaps the strangest thing Nintendo’s ever shown came next: The Wii Vitality Sensor. Essentially a little plastic sleeve for your index finger, the Wii Vitality Sensor is said to read many different elements of your mental condition – your mood, your heart rate, all kinds of stuff. Perhaps the strangest of all is that despite unveiling the Wii Vitality Sensor, no games were shown supporting the device.
But Nintendo saved the best for last: It began with the unveiling of Super Mario Galaxy 2, which, as the name implies, is more Super Mario Galaxy – only this time, Yoshi joins Mario in his quest across the stars as his trusty steed. Doesn’t look like a whole lot is changing between the two games – though Yoshi seems to be receiving a lot of attention in the form of unique things Mario can do while riding him, the rest of the game mechanics look pulled straight out of the first Super Mario Galaxy; the trailer even flashed a glimpse of the return of Mario’s Bee Costume. Still, it’s more Super Mario Galaxy – that’s probably not a bad thing.
But definitely, the biggest surprise of the conference, was a collaboration between Nintendo and Team Ninja, the developers partly responsible for Tecmo’s Ninja Gaiden series, in the form of Metroid Other-M. Though the trailer didn’t say much, it looks as though it’s a re-envisioning of the origins of Samus Aran; we see her in what appears to be some sort of Military Academy, reporting to a Commanding Officer and everything.
Gameplay seems to be primarily from a third person perspective with some occasional switches to first person for certain elements. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gameplay is extremely action oriented – very reminiscent of Ninja Gaiden, except instead of Ryu Hayabusa jumping around, throwing shurikens and cutting demons with his katana, it’s Samus Aran shooting aliens in the face.
In all, it turned out to be one of Nintendo’s more impressive press conferences in recent years, though for some, it still may not be enough.
I hope we get something intresting in this Mario game, I don’t think I’ll buy it, maybe try it if I can get my hands on it.
But Metroid seem to have somthing unike and new.
Now I’m wating for SEGA, want to see some gameplay from the racing game.
Mario sucks a bit, Sonic Rules!!! I want SSASR (SONIC & SEGA ALL-STARS RACING) I can’t wait for it, I hope SEGA give us a SONIC UNLEASHED 2 ou something like that, SONIC 4EVER!!!
*Have seen the Nintendo conference livestream at Gonintendo*
Honestly, for me the new Metroid game,New Super Mario Bros Wii, Sin and Punishment 2 and M&L3 release date(this fall)were the only worthwhile news out of this.
Everything else was as I expected boring shit.
Still waiting for Pikmin 3 and any kind of news on Kirby Wii(what fuck is HAL doing?).
As for Mario Galaxy 2, * flips the bird to Nintendo*, at least come up with a new concept for a BIG Mario game, this just looks to be more of the same.
Well now I will go and see the Sony conference.
Don’t care about Microsoft.
Super… Mario… Galaxy… 2!? MY MIND JUST EXPLODED!!! *mind uses explode*
Come on, people… The first Super Mario Galaxy was an absolute MASTERPIECE, and the sequel looks as if it will be even more of a blast… I’m also liking the four-player New Super Mario Bros., and the Metroid announcement was beyond belief. But how come this article didn’t mention another groundbreaking title–GOLDEN SUN DS?? And a new trailer for Spirit Tracks has been released (just not shown at the keynote)! Let’s be real–Nintendo wins!
Caelum: Agreed, every game you mention in the your post I will get day one or try to get later on.
I’m happy with Nintendos E3 2009. I saw it live and i liked what I saw!
Thank you. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is giving me something to look forward to! The video is awesome.
No special deal for me…
Never liked Metroid, didn’t found SMG so good as everybody says (for me it was too much Super Mario 64, but worse, as I couldn’t punch)… And TWO Mario Games?
And where is Zelda?
Blargh
…Where did nintendo go wrong… I dont like them anymore…
Well, the Nintendo E3 conference is over now, I’am glad my expections were low becuase this, while it is better compared to last year, was another “snoozeville” moment from Nintendo so I just say thank god that the only highlights of this show, Metroid Other M and Golden Sun DS, were the only things that keep me up.
Yep, even Galaxy 2 was a huge letdown for me, this game will have to,no it must do something pretty impressive cause I expected a new different and better conpect for a 3D main Mario game instead of something that looks like a direct expansion of the original.
Let’s see if that rumor about Nintendo holding some event after E3 is true and hope for more stuff there.
Eh. Nintendo’s whole thing was a disappointment for me. All we seemed to get was moar, moar and moar Mario. Galaxy 2 seems to be just like the original with Yoshi. If it was for me, they could screw Galaxy 2 and rather work on the new Zelda for Wii – I’m still mad that they didn’t announce it.
Any links for this? Nothing I wasn’t expecting, though. Alas, like last year, this sounds disappointing…. *Sigh*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nniowz5OYPI
Hardcore gamer= Whiny gamers
That’s why I’m a traditional gamer.
What Spider said.
Fuck I’m just happy with Super Mario Galaxy 2!
I’m not big on the Metroid series, but the third person platforming elements look very cool so I’ll probably be picking this one up.
*Is ,stil waiting for link…..
Im only interested in Metroid other m, the RPG’s and, oddly enough, Wii Sport Resort. Galaxy 2 looks cool but to soon and more of the same, wich isnt bad but eh. Metroid looks to be a prequel to fusion ( the Comanding Oficer is Adam, Samus’s A.I. from fusion. She even said that the A.I. reminder her of him.).
Sorry for doble post.
@Calamitas: There working on it.
@SLJCOAAATR / Soul: When I wrote this, nobody had anything official about this yet. I waited for over an hour (give or take) for various gaming sites to get something up, but nobody did – not even Nintendo’s own E3 site. Usually these places have stuff up immediately after the conferences end, but I guess with Sony’s press conference being so soon after, they held off.
What’s wrong with the occasional mission pack sequal? Sonic 2 was Sonic with bigger levels, a new character and other improvements. I realize Nintendo usually innovates with sequals, but the biggest complaint about them is “they don’t release enough big titles anymore, they only release one Mario and Zelda per system”. And now people are mad that they’re getting a sequal to one of the best games of 2007 because it’s like Galaxy…with Yoshi. I swear, there’s a reason gamers aren’t mainstream.
I’m feeling three new Mario titles in one year.
As far as Metroid…
“…very reminiscent of Ninja Gaiden, except instead of Ryu Hayabusa jumping around, throwing shurikens and cutting demons with his katana, it’s Samus Aran shooting aliens in the face.” They had me at Ninja Gaiden.
I’m not saying that SMG’s a bad game, I just thought it was kinda shallow. I dunno, maybe I was expecting a bit more from it.
Who knows, maybe Yoshi (being one of my favourite Mario characters) will spice things up a bit.
While watching thier conference, I admit I was bored to tears. Below is a rough transcript of the last about half hour for me.
I saw New Super Mario Bros. Wii. I was like “Oh, that’s kinda neat.” Then they showed Wario Ware DIY and Mario VS DK for the DSI, and I was all like “Hey that sounds kinda cool I should look it up later.” The it dragged on, Dunaway’s voice slowly grading on my sanity, and they announced Golden Sun DS! I was like “What? WHAT!? REALLY?! Oh my god! Buying it!” Then Cammie spoke again……and then Reggie came back! And with him, an announcement of Super Mario Galaxy 2. “Oooh! Yes! Oh hey it’s Yoshi! *begins humming along with the Galaxy Orchestra* I hope Rosalina is bak again. ^_^ Ok, I was getting kinda bored, but this looks like a good….huh? What’s this?” Waves crash under a strorm on screen. “Hey this is Team Ninja…Team Ninja & Nintendo? What could it be?” On screen, “Any objections Lady?” “Oh my god is this….?! It is! FUCK YEAH! OH SHIT, Team Ninja Metroid?! Buying this shit. Preorder this shit NOW! She has speaking parts now?! I was kinda undwhelmed until now but that,… you got me again Nintendo.”
Obviously I’m exited for Nintendo as of right now.
Woah! Multiplayer co-op side-scrolling Mario Bros? I love sidescrolling Mario, so Nintendo had better not mess this one up! I am getting excited about this one! And Mario Galaxy 2.. it loks too much like a rehash of the first. I know I’m only juding a trailer, but as long as they keep the core gameplay more Mario-like and relatively simple with the main challenge being cumbersome platforming, I’m sure this could be a good sequel. I’m just iffy about most everything looking the same as the original. I’ll at least rent this. Probably buy it since I’m a Mario fan.
Don’t get me wrong now, Super Mario Galaxy was and still is a very great Mario game(though IMO its not THAT fantastic as Mario fans claims) and it’s almost guaranteed that I’m going to enjoy this sequel(and NSMB Wii for that matter) as well but I really expected new ideas and features from a main Mario 3D game instead of a expansion pack like-sequel with Yoshi.
And just one comment that came to me:
If Nintendo can make 2D Mario (and Wario) Games and sell well, why does SEGA insists so much in making a 3D Sonic that doesn’t works (as it is or too slow or too non-responsive)? Can’t it just make a 2D one? What do you think?
I drool everytime I see Metroid Other M.
Since I love the Ninja Gaiden series(its the only game series I like from Team Ninja) I’m more then willing to believe Team Ninja won’t screw up this first Metroid game they work on.
Thank god that Itagaki is not part of the team anymore, there is no way I could have look forward to him getting his hands on one of my favourite series ever.
[...] contrast to Nintendo’s conference only an hour earlier, Sony’s conference featured copious amounts of live, on-stage [...]
Ryan: No big. I’ve no found videos for everything that I’m interested in.
“Does Nintendo finally make good on their “Core” promises?”
They havent done that since the Wii was released.