Nintendo E3 2015: Super Mario Marker, Tri Force Heroes, amiibo - all the news here
Nintendo aired its E3 2015 digital presentation today, and we squeezed every bit of information out of it, and slapped it all into one lovely post for you to consume.
Muppet Madness
Nintendo kicked things off with a skit featuring Nintendo COO Reggie Fils-Aime, president and CEO Satoru Iwata, and designer Shigeru Miyamoto in as puppets before delving into the game announcements. You can watch the madness for yourself at the bottom of the post.
Also, have a look at Rob Fahey's impressions of Nintendo's E3 2015 show. He makes some good points, and probably some you may not agree with.
Star Fox Zero
After the muppet show ended, Nintendo jumped into the announcements head first with a world premiere gameplay video for Star Fox Zero. During the show, Shigeru Miyamoto said the game was rebuilt with ideas from the past and he named it Star Fox Zero due to how the Kanji character looks.
Players will pilot an Arwing in the traditional style of TV game play and can use the cockpit view on the GamePad to aim and shoot enemies using the gyro controls.
Having two unique viewpoints offers “distinct gaming advantages” and frees up the TV for more cinematic moments for the game’s new all-range mode.
Scheduled to launch during the 2015 holiday season, Star Fox Zero includes a new Walker transformation for the Arwing, a new Gyrowing vehicle and the return of the Landmaster Tank.
Super Mario Maker
Nintendo announced during the show the game would allow users to create and share levels they created with others using the Wii U GamePad controller.
Creations that are shared will provide players with continuous content and Nintendo promises creating the Mario levels would be as easy as sketching things out on paper.
Two special Mario amiibo figures compatible with the game will be released, and one is in 8-bit style to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game. We expect these amiibo to sell out faster than you can say goomba. In a parallel universe, we imagine they sold out before hitting the manufacturing plant.
Anyway, tapping the amiibo in Super Mario Maker will add a Big Mushroom power-up to the level, which will allow Mario to grow large and bust blocks from any direction. The amiibo will also add retro visual filter to the game level.
In addition, many other amiibo will also be compatible with Super Mario Maker through the use of a new item called the Mystery Mushroom. This item allows Mario to take the appearance of many other characters, such as Link, Kirby or Wii Fit Trainer, complete with character-specific animations and sound effects.
The character costumes can be unlocked by completing the 100 Mario Challenge mode and many can also be unlocked if the player taps the amiibo of the character to the Wii U GamePad.
To coincide with the Super Mario Bros. anniversary, the Super Mario Maker game and the 30th Anniversary amiibo launch on September 11 for Wii U.
Skylanders Superchargers amiibo
Nintendo and Activision announced a partnership today which will feature Turbo Charged Donkey Kong and Hammer Slam Bowser in the latest Skylanders game.
Each figurine can be used as a Skylander or an amiibo, but only when playing on Nintendo systems. Both come with unique move-sets and upgrade tiers, and their own unique vehicle: the Barrel Blaster for Donkey Kong, and the Clown Cruiser for Bowser.
The base of each character can be twisted to work on either the Skylanders board, or the NFC reader on Nintendo systems. These new amiibo will have a presence in Nintendo games, but the firm didn't provide any further details.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Set in the Zelda universe, the new 3DS game allows players to work together with two friends with each taking the role of an individual Link character. There will a single-player mode included as well.
The 3D feature from A Link Between Worlds returns with a multiplayer twist in the form of the Totem Mechanic, which lets players stack on top of one another to reach new locations, solve puzzles, or fight enemies. Players can purchase new clothes in game with each set providing the player with different abilities.
Designer Eiji Aonuma said the 3D visuals from A Link Between Worlds were a huge influence when designing Tri-Force Heroes.
The Legend of Zelda Tri Force Heroes will be released this fall.
Hyrule Warriors Legends
After being accidentally leaked ahead of time, the 3DS version of Hyrule Warriors was confirmed as Hyrule Warriors Legends. As previously revealed, the game will contain new Wind Waker content and all of the previous heroes included in the Wii U version.
In the portable version, new story elements and features will allow players to enhance their tactics and switch between different characters on the fly.
The game is scheduled for Q1 of 2016.
Metroid Prime: Blast Ball and Metroid Prime: Federation Force
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is slated for 3DS, and it sees teams of four participate in co-op missions set in the Metroid Prime universe. Players use mech suits to tackle missions with an objective-based structure.
In addition, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball was also announced as a take on Blast Ball. This mode allows up to six players, 3v3, to compete in the new futuristic sports game. It’s due out in 2016 for the 3DS and is in the works at Next Level Games.
Fire Emblem Fates
Known as Fire Emblem If in Japan, the latest in the Fire Emblem series will be released in North America and Europe.
Similar to the release in Japan, it contains two versions providing players with the ability to fight an opposing force or join the other side and try to make changes from within.
For the first time in the series, players take on the role of the main character and command an army, while struggling to decide which path to follow: their blood relatives or the family that raised them.
The game is scheduled to launch on 3DS in 2016.
Genei Ibun Rok #FE
Set for a western release in 2016, the upcoming RPG from Atlus takes place in modern Tokyo where the inhabitants must come together to “weave an epic tale” alongside heroes from an alternate world.
There will be struggles between the “worlds of glamour and darkness,” and it is infused with elements of the popular Fire Emblem series, t
Genei Ibun Roku #FE isn't the game’s final name and it will be released on Wii U.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Along with a lovely new gameplay trailer, Nintendo FINALLY announced a release date for the highly anticipated game from Monolith Soft.
Players will participate in an intergalactic war between aliens and human survivors using weaponized mechs called Skells. '
These mechs will be important not only in battle, but when travelling, as the game world is quite expansive.
Players also can customize a skill set of combat and defensive skills, called Arts, to strengthen their strategies and defeat enemies.
Xenoblade Chronicles X releases on Wii U December 4.
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for 3DS
One of the most popular activities in the Animal Crossing series is getting its very own game in the fall on 3DS. In it, players will be provided with various options to design interiors and exteriors of homes for hundreds of animal characters, and they can also design a garden.
Players can choose where to place the home and then pick out a house style and colors for the roof, door and fence before getting to work on the interior.
Tapping compatible amiibo character cards brings Animal Crossing characters with their separate personalities and design requests into the game. It will launch with a complimentary amiibo card.
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer will also offer a bundle that includes the game, one amiibo card and the NFC Reader/Writer accessory.
The game will be released in North America on September 25 and in Europe on October 2.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival
Coming to Wii U this holiday season, this party game challenges players will collecting the most Happy Points before their current session on a dynamic board game ends.
The board layout can remain the same, but the spaces and environment change, depending on which month players choose to start the game.
As in other Animal Crossing games, players can buy turnips and use strategy to decide when to sell them for big money.
The game will launch as a bundle that includes the game, two amiibo figures and three amiibo cards.
Yoshi’s Woolly World
A release date for North America and more information the lovely yarn-styled game were announced by Nintendo today.
In the game, players will collect, cooperate and “get crafty” using yarn, felt and other fabrics and textiles and by pulling on strings in the game, players will make new discoveries.
Tapping select amiibo characters to the GamePad will also create new patterns for Yoshi, while new Yarn Yoshi amiibo let players control two Yoshis at the same time.
This first-ever two-player co-op Yoshi game includes Mellow Mode, which gives Yoshi wings.
Yoshi’s Woolly World will launch for Wii U in North America on October 16 and as previously announced, in Europe on June 26.
Yo-Kai Watch
After selling a gazillion copied in Japan and promising a western release for ages, Level-5 finally provided a release window for 3DS title Yo-Kai Watch. I have to say, I did a little happy dance in my chair at the news.
For those unfamiliar with the game, players have a special watch which allows the player to find and befriend various Yo-kai (ghosts) within the game world.
These Yo-kai can then be used to form a team to battle other Yo-kai. The game is scheduled to launch during the 2015 holiday season on 3DS.
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash
The latest in the Mario Tennis game franchise is coming to Wii U in holiday 2015. It supports up to four players in 2v2 matches.
New to the series with this entry is the Jump Shots feature which provides the opportunity to hit overhead balls. Another new feature is the ability tro pick up giant mushrooms which make your character bigger and from the the looks of the trailer, more formidable on the court.
Mario & Luigi Paper Jam
This new 3DS game remixes the Paper Mario formula by giving the player control of Mario, Luigi, Paper Mario, and others.
It contains tons of puzzles which much be solved in various quests, and in order to solve said puzzles, the player will need to make use of each character’s special abilities.
Think Paper Mario with a dash of Mario & Luigi and you get the gist. It’s due for release in spring 2016.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water
While not announced during Nintendo's E3 2015 digital show today, a western release revealed for the latest Fatal Frame game via a new trailer.
Known in Japan as Fatal Frame: Oracle of the Sodden Raven, the game (also called Fatal Frame: The Black-Haired Shrine Maiden) will feature haunted locations and the Wii U GamePad will be used to take pictures of the ghosts encountered. It's the only way to defeat them, as there are no weapons present.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water arrives in North America this fall.
Watch the Nintendo E3 2015 presentation again below.
