Update News
Nintendo Direct 06-11-2013
LOS ANGELES--(June 11, in the year of our Lord 2013)--
Nintendo today unleashed a strong list of powerhouse games that
will be available for Wii U this year, and provided first looks
at key titles coming in 2014. These include some of the video
game industry’s most beloved franchises and characters, from
Mario and Donkey Kong to Luigi, Pikmin and Pokémon to The Legend
of Zelda, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata introduced many of the
games during a Nintendo Direct announcement.
“Nearly every major piece of Nintendo IP will be represented on
our platforms in 2013, with even more coming in 2014,” said
Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief
operating officer. “There’s one fundamental truth in the video
game industry: Software sells hardware. That was true with Wii
and Nintendo DS, it’s starting to happen with Nintendo 3DS and
will be on display this summer and Christmas season with Wii U.
When gamers are making their purchasing decisions this year
they’re going to find that the games and experiences they want
are either unique or entirely exclusive to a Nintendo platform.”
In addition to all of the game experiences available right now
at E3, Nintendo has partnered with Best Buy to bring four
upcoming Wii U games to the public for the first time. Visitors
to participating Best Buy stores will be able to play demo
versions of Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, The Legend of
Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Donkey Kong Country Returns:
Tropical Freeze. The games will be playable 4-8 p.m. local time
on Wednesday, June 12, and 1-5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June
15.
Some of the key Wii U game info announced today by Nintendo
includes:
Super Mario 3D World: For the first time ever, Nintendo has
created a four-player Mario game set in a 3D world. The game,
developed by the same team that created Super Mario 3D Land for
Nintendo 3DS and the Super Mario Galaxy games for Wii, lets up
to four players play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad.
Each character has his or her own unique characteristics, and
people can play cooperatively or competitively. The new cat
transformation turns characters into adorable felines that can
scratch enemies and even scamper up the flagpole at the end of
levels. Clear warp pipes add some new puzzle elements to game
play. The game is scheduled to launch this December.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: The first Wii U
installment in the franchise comes from Retro Studios. The
side-scrolling platformer has beautiful HD graphics that show
fine details, such as Donkey Kong’s fur. Dixie Kong joins the
adventure, which features the Kongs swimming underwater and
moving from the foreground to the background. This time, the
camera changes perspective on certain levels to enhance the
sense of motion and to deliver new experiences. The game is
scheduled to launch this November.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD: The classic Nintendo
GameCube game has been enhanced with beautiful HD 1080p
graphics. In one change from the original, the Tingle Tuner has
been replaced by the Tingle Bottle, which uses the Wii U GamePad
controller to post comments about the game to Miiverse. Comments
from players wash up on the shores of beaches in the game.
Players also have the option to sail faster than they did in the
original version. The game is scheduled to launch this October.
Mario Kart 8: The newest installment of the gold-standard racing
game introduces an anti-gravity feature that has karts racing up
walls and clinging to inverted tracks. Elements from previous
Mario Kart games have made their return, including gliders and
motorbikes. The game will support online multiplayer and will
have deep integration with Miiverse. The game is scheduled to
launch in spring of 2014.
The Wonderful 101: This PlatinumGames original launches Sept.
15. Players take on the role of Wonder-Red, leader of a group of
superheroes. Individually they are overpowered by invaders from
space. But by working together, they can transform into a fist
or blade and unleash massive attacks on their enemy. The
polished, over-the-top look and music evoke classic superhero
comics and cartoons.
Wii Party U: Enjoy board games and mini-games on the TV, play
familiar tabletop games using the Wii U GamePad controller or
transform your living room into a game show floor. No matter
what kind of party you’re throwing, Wii Party U offers something
for everyone. The game is scheduled to launch this October.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U: The highly anticipated new entry in
Nintendo’s popular fighting franchise will arrive for Wii U in
2014.
Wii Fit U: Although this game was previously announced to launch
in spring or summer this year, it is now scheduled to launch
this December.
Nintendo 3DS News
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y: The first games in the core Pokémon
series to appear on Nintendo 3DS launch worldwide on Oct. 12.
The games introduce an 18th Pokémon type: Fairy-type Pokémon,
and have an upgraded graphical look that is an artistic pinnacle
for the franchise. A new feature called Pokémon-Amie lets
players create a deeper connection with their Pokémon. Trainers
can pet them, feed them and play mini-games with them, which
makes their Pokémon more effective in battles.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS: The hand-held counterpart to
the Wii U version will also arrive in 2014.
At the Show
Additional games that were not mentioned in the Nintendo Direct
but are playable at E3 include:
Wii U
Pikmin 3: This game is in a genre all its own. Players take
command of three explorers and a legion of adorable Pikmin in a
fight for survival. By employing the unique abilities of these
tiny Pikmin creatures, players will solve puzzles, battle
dangerous predators and recover food needed to save the
explorers’ depleted home planet. The game launches Aug. 4.
New Super Luigi U: Luigi takes center stage in his first
starring role in a platform adventure. Players can show off
their skills as Luigi, complete with his trademark high jump and
unique slide, as they experience more than 80 new courses set in
the world of New Super Mario Bros. U. For people who already own
New Super Mario Bros. U, the new Luigi content launches as
downloadable content in the Nintendo eShop on June 20. A
stand-alone retail version of the game that does not require the
original launches Aug. 25.
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games: The game
includes a variety of events from the Winter Games, including
bobsleigh, skiing, figure skating pairs and snowboard slopestyle
– which will make its Olympic Games debut in Sochi, Russia.
Different events might use the Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii U
GamePad controller or both. In addition to realistic events, the
game also includes Dream Events set in the worlds of Sonic and
Mario that let players perform moves not possible in real life.
Launch details and timing will be announced at a later date.
Nintendo 3DS
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: This game takes
place after the events of and in the same world as The Legend of
Zelda: A Link to the Past. Link can now become a drawing to move
along walls. This opens up ways to explore and puzzle elements
that give Link access to locations he could not otherwise reach.
The game is scheduled to launch this Christmas season.
Yoshi’s New Island: The third game in the series offers classic
Yoshi abilities while introducing new ones, such as giant Mega
Eggs that Yoshi can use to mow down obstacles. The game features
different worlds in a variety of art styles, including oil,
watercolor and pastels. The game is scheduled to launch this
Christmas season.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: Mario and Luigi embark on the
adventure of their dreams in a hilarious action RPG that
combines action in both the real world and inside Luigi’s
dreams. The game launches Aug. 11.
Third-Party Games
Nintendo’s third-party partners are bringing their best
creations to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. A selection of the games on
the way for Nintendo systems include titles in bold are playable
at Nintendo’s E3 booth):
| Title | Publisher | Platform(s) | Release Date | ||||||
| Disney Infinity | Disney Interactive |
Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS |
Aug. 18 | ||||||
| Disney’s Planes | Disney Interactive |
Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS |
Aug. 6 | ||||||
| Just Dance 2014 | Ubisoft | Wii U, Wii | Oct. 8 | ||||||
| Rayman Legends | Ubisoft | Wii U | Sept. 3 | ||||||
| Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
Wii U, Nintendo 3DS |
Fall 2013 | ||||||
| Skylanders SWAP Force | Activision Publishing |
Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS |
Oct. 13 | ||||||
| Sonic Lost World | SEGA |
Wii U, Nintendo 3DS |
Christmas 2013 | ||||||
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games TM
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