Here are my thoughts on the highlights of E3, including the new Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, 3DS, and more…
First, the game everyone’s been waiting for:
Zelda: Skyward Sword
The line for the Zelda demo was a monster. Other than 3DS (which I will get to, trust me), no line was especially long. Imagine my delight I stumbled into the Zelda demo with a line of 5 people. Naturally, my spirits were high after that.
Although I was at first a bit disappointed by the look of the game, I think it’ll be alright. Apparently, Nintendo is going for, and I quote, “the look of a painting come to life.” The game is a bit more cartoony than Twilight Princess but nowhere near the toon-level of Windwaker. It is a color-extravaganza and has the look of…. a painting come to life. So go figure. They did it.
But most importantly… did it work? I can say that mostly yes, it did. With the sword mimicking your exact movements, Link can look a bit weird running around with the sword straight in front of him. I rectified this by holding the Wii-remote backwards. I mean, it’s important to look good when you do this, right? Ok, so I walked through colorful Hyrule and promptly got my brains beat in by a ferocious toothed… flower. Laugh at me if you will, but this is no ordinary flower. This flower must be slayed only with a certain direction of the sword. I spent a few attempts convinced that I was supposed to slice at him vertically until the Nintendo employee told me that it was supposed to be horizontally. My bad. I later faced some green monsters who strategically blocked my swings and forced me to outwit them. Good stuff.
Moving on, I experimented with some of the weapons. The bombs can be thrown, rolled, or simply placed, depending what you do with the Wii-remote. A new weapon, the beetle, is launched and controlled by tilting the Wii-remote. The beetle will fetch items for you and do your bidding at long distances. Ok, cool. The shield is unleashed and also used as a weapon with the nunchuk. After so many games of using a button, this was hard to get used to. The only problem I had with the game came in the form of the bow and arrow. Coincidentally, Shigeru Miyamoto had the same problem with the bow during the press conference. The bow started to contort and spin Link uncontrollably. I realize the Wii-remote has its limitations, even with Motion Plus, but this is a problem I hope will be fixed. I’m letting it slide because with the release a long way off, I have faith in Nintendo to get that fixed. The good news is that by the end of my 10 minutes, I already started to get a feel for the controls.
The new, family-friendly, everyone wins, no-pin bowling game
I expressed some of Zelda fans’ concerns with the Nintendo employee running my demo. Most significantly, that Zelda continues to follow the ‘get item from dungeon, use item on boss, use item to advance’ formula. I was assured that this avoiding this formula was the primary focus the development team had in making the game. So I am encouraged and do believe this will be a Zelda unlike any other. I was also assured that the graphics are still not complete. The game will look different, although not much, by launch.
Overall, Zelda Skyward Sword is definitely a game you can feel comfortable getting pumped about.
Kingdom Hearts
Another franchise that made a splash, albeit a quiet one, was Kingdom Hearts.
Anyone who knows me knows of my love of Kingdom Hearts. To me, it is the pinnacle, quintessential video game. Its ability to mesh an engrossing story with a gripping game is unparalleled. Kingdom Hearts allows you to care for its characters, empathize with them, and flat-out give you goose bumps at incredible moments of emotional potency. But enough about that, here’s what Kingdom Hearts pulled off:
Birth By Sleep. We’ve known about this game for a while. In fact, it’s been delayed for quite some time. For three straight Christmases, I’ve asked my brother to borrow his PSP to play this game, and only now will I need it (and only now did he lose it). This game already has a release date (Sept 7). That being said, the game is polished, clean, and ready to go. I spent some time with Ven, Aqua, and Terra, and it’s the typical Heartless bashing that you would expect. Some of the functions were totally different and beyond my recognition, so clearly, we’re in for some new combat skills.
This game looks great and plays great but let’s hope to God they fix the load times or you will be spending a lot of time waiting. Yep, that’s right, the loading times are ridiculously long.
Kingdom Hearts also hit the scene with Re: Coded, a remake of the Japanese phone game for the Nintendo DS. The graphics look subpar and seem to fall short of 358/2’s standard. Nonetheless, it looks like an exciting game with some interesting new elements like side-scrolling and turn-based battle. I happen to know that story-wise, this game will connect 358/2 Days, Birth By Sleep, Kingdom Hearts 2, and the future Kingdom Hearts 3. I consider this an important chapter in the Kingdom Hearts story and it’s nice to see the U.S. get a chance to play it.
Lastly, the most mysterious Kingdom Hearts announcement: Kingdom Hearts 3D!!! This is only a tentative title. And other than ‘there will be a Kingdom Hearts 3D’, little is known about this game. I managed to get a peek at a Kingdom Hearts 3D video demo on the 3DS and it seems to offer few clues. For Kingdom Hearts fans, I will describe the video and speculate. For others, feel free to jump ahead.
You’re going to tell me what it says… right? Of course not.
When I approached the Kingdom Hearts 3DS system, I anxiously put on the headphones. I was suddenly interrupted by the Nintendo lady and told that what I was about to see was only a video. Okay. Alright. Thanks. I started hitting buttons (something you really can’t help when you’re holding a 3DS) and she once again told me, “It’s only a video.” I freakin get it lady! Let me watch the Kingdom Hearts video, alright?! I readjusted my headphones, and believe it or not, she told me again. So without further adieu, here is the description of the video. The video. The video. It’s a video. Got it?
Sora is with Kairi and Riku. Riku suddenly disappears and Sora begins running around aimlessly on Destiny Islands. From there, attention is given to Riku, who is seen running through Traverse Town. A lot of the video is spent simply changing angles and rotating around a running Riku. I’m guessing that this was done to show off the 3D capability of Kingdom Hearts, which I can happily report, is quite good in comparison to the other games on display. As Riku runs near the clock tower, he stops, looks up, and mutters one of those “Uuuh!” sounds that Kingdom Hearts characters seem to let out every time they are surprised. Just when I was starting to think that they were hinting at a Riku-based game, Sora comes floating from the sky on his back and softly lands on the ground in Traverse Town. Riku seems quite surprised by this and I almost got the sense that he had been in Traverse Town for a while and couldn’t believe Sora was actually showing up there. Of course, this wasn’t Sora’s actual landing spot as we may remember. Upon Sora’s landing, he took out some Heartless and suddenly found himself face to face with the giant Heartless he faced in the black, stained-glass window world way back before KH1 even began. Woosh! We zoom out of Sora’s eyes and he’s back with Kairi and Riku looking out at the ocean. Riku takes a step forward and looks at Sora with somewhat of a “Are you okay? I mean, it doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong… You’re good right?” kind of look. The end. The video fades to black and says Thank You. Literally, it thanks you for watching. Very nice of it. You’re welcome.
So here are the possibilities, in order of least likelihood to most:
1. Kingdom Hearts 3DS will be the third installment of Kingdom Hearts. I simply don’t see this happening. This will be saved for a major platform. Although, the 3DS is now, in my opinion, the most impressive platform available…
2. Kingdom Hearts 3DS will be a Riku-based game, covering the time he spent away from Sora and Co. I know we don’t know a whole lot about his story, but quite frankly, I don’t care. The attention paid to Riku may be a hint to this.
3. Kingdom Hearts 3DS will be Kingdom Hearts: Reconnect. If you don’t know what that means, you will.
I can tell you fairly confidently that what was actually shown in the demo video were not actual clips from the new game. Rest assured, we won’t be having a DALLAS, Mario 2 dream sequence game on our hands. I believe the demo video was simply compiled to create a visually stimulating experience to show off the 3D capabilities of a Kingdom Hearts game. In that respect, they did exactly what they needed to do. Oddly, the sound was faint and almost unrecognizable despite the fact that the volume was turned up all the way. When the video ended, there was no slam to a Kingdom Hearts logo. If this was an actual preview, I guarantee the slam would have been there. As it is, I believe this demo video has no bearing on the future Kingdom Hearts 3DS game. Take it or leave it.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Over at SEGA, who else but Sonic?
I can happily say that Sonic the Hedgehog is back, my friends.
After gandering through two levels of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 episode 1, it is safe to breathe easy. Sega is not screwing this up. I was told that episode 1 is a cliffhanger… whatever that means. I didn’t care much to ask for a clarification. Instead, I found out that the music is being done by the composer of the original Sonic games. That means no wanna-be rappers and more hum-inducing classics. Music remixers, get ready. Sonic 4 feels close enough to the originals that I can happily recommend this downloadable game already.
A pleasant surprise was Sonic Colors. I know what you’re thinking. “Sonic 3D games suck!” Well, hold on, will you? I think Sega finally figured it out. Sonic 4 is evidence of that, isn’t it? Sonic Colors feels like a classic Sonic game. Sonic literally runs through the levels at blazing speeds, without the distraction of any nonsense. Run baby run. That’s the name of this game. The 2D and 3D elements are seamless. Granted, I only got the first Act, so this could all change, but for now, I am surprised and excited to say that Sonic Colors surpassed my expectations.
Good job, Sonic. You had a fine E3.
Back at Nintendo, I tried Donkey Kong Country Returns…
And I thought it was just okay.
If you love Donkey Kong Country, you will love this game. Don’t get me wrong, I always enjoyed it. It’s just after playing New Super Mario Bros Wii, I’ve been a bit jaded. It takes more to impress me. Maybe that’s unfair. But running through the level, going from point A to point B and simply collecting bananas doesn’t sound fun for an entire game.
So let me put it this way: they are doing a fine job with it, I’m just not all that interested.
On the flip side is Kirby Epic Yarn.
Kirby is made of yarn. The whole world is made of yarn.
I’m down with this.
The entire game looks like you’re playing against the backdrop of jeans. Kirby and his partner (whose name I don’t know) travel through this jean-world together, using their yarn as a weapon to rip apart the yarn of the baddies (who, of course, are made of yarn). The game is completely original and Kirby is able to rip the level apart in certain places. Playing with a partner makes the game even more fun. Although the Kirby’s inhaling ability is gone, you can trust in Kirby.
Other quick notes before I get to the 3DS:
Kinect. I didn’t bother with it. Crazy? Maybe. The rumblings of everyone at E3 (including a Microsoft employee I spoke with) were not only did Microsoft completely blow it with their conference, their Kinect doesn’t work well. Watching a demonstrator jump and seeing the character jump on screen a half second later does not bode well for Microsoft. Uh-oh.
Castlevania Lords Of Shadow. Ridiculous. In a good way. The visuals are just stunning and play even better than a Hollywood movie.
Goldeneye. Was never a big fan of the first. But for those who loved it, it appears that you will love this one. A close emulation with easy, fluid controls. But why Daniel Craig? Why?!
Pac-Man Battle Royale. This sleeper table-arcade game is a blast. Go head-to-head with four people in Pac-Man as you try to eat your opponents while avoiding ghosts. This game was a big hit with many at E3.
Mario Sports. You’ve got some polishing up to do, Nintendo. The basketball is eerily similar to the fun Mario Hoops 3-on-3 for DS but nowhere near as good. Plays fun but needs tweaks.
Epic Mickey. One of the most original and innovative games to appear in years. The forgotten Disney locales/characters is pure genius.
NBA Jam. What took so long? NFL Blitz, I’m waiting.
And now for the most incredible piece of technology I have ever seen.
The 3DS
Before I get to the hardware, allow me to tell you of its unveiling at the press conference. The entire Nokia Theatre, packed to the brim, had anxiously been waiting for Nintendo to address the elephant in the room. When they finally did, the whole place went silent in awe. It was like being in a church and having Jesus appear. You could feel the “Oh my God” reaction rumbling through the air. After the technical details had been described, the theatre went dark and introduced us to the character who was going to have the monumental task of ushering in the 3DS. After a few tease shots, an angel walked onto a black screen with his back to the audience. Suddenly, he flew through the clouds and revealed his identity: Pit, from the long-awaited Kid Icarus game. The crowd erupted. The youtube videos (which I recommend you take a look at) don’t do justice to the noise that broke out in the theatre. All the intrigue, all the surprises came to a sudden head when Pit flew by. “Sorry to keep you waiting!” he yelled to laughter and more applause. No problem, Pit, no problem at all.
Pit’s flyby was the signature moment for Nintendo and a point when everyone in attendance knew, even before Sony held their conference, that E3 2010 was all about one thing: 3DS.
Not even half of the line
On the show floor at E3, the line for the 3DS was at least an hour. From open to close. After getting past the line to the 3DS holding area, it was finally time. Time to find out if Nintendo was pulling another Virtual Boy.
Not the 3DS
This is no Virtual Boy.
What words can I use to effectively describe the 3DS? Stunning. Revolutionary. Unbelievable. A technological miracle.
The 3DS contains a 3D slider, much like a volume slider, that adjusts the level of 3D on the machine. When the slider is down and the 3D is off, your eyes are looking at the screen. When the slider is up and the 3D is on, your eyes are looking through the screen. I mean this literally. Your eyes actually look at the screen completely differently whether or not the 3D slider is on.
Here is a partial list of what I witnessed on the 3DS and my ranking of the 3D effect:
10/10:
Kid Icarus (same trailer from press conference. Much more amazing in 3D)
Resident Evil (video with Leon and some others)
Kingdom Hearts
Metal Gear (Snake trekking through jungle)
Ridge Racer (really cool at high speeds)
Unnamed overhead flying/shooting game
Unnamed picture game (3DS takes your picture… and then you have to shoot it. Hard to explain, but its pretty incredible)
How To Train Your Dragon Movie
7/10
Pilotwings (the level they have you fly through is the Wii Sports Resort island. Got ya Nintendo!)
6/10
Professor Layton
Paper Mario (recycled Thousand Year Door footage)
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to Mario Kart. Everyone is running around and scrambling, so through all the chaos, I simply didn’t make it.
What makes the 3DS so great? It’s the fact that it works. Let’s face it, everyone who hasn’t tried this will be reluctant to believe it. 3D without glasses? No way! But really, it doesn’t just work, it works perfectly. Even watching How To Train Your Dragon brings back memories of being in the theater and watching it in 3D.
They haven’t cut the umbilical cord for this one yet
For a layman’s perspective on the technology, I offer this: there is a camera that tracks your eyeballs and submits separate images to them. Your brain, then, combines the image, doing what the 3D glasses usually do. This raises the question, which I don’t have the answer to, of what happens when it’s dark? If anyone can make it work, it’s Nintendo.
For years, I thought Nintendo was overly gimmicky. Mario Paint, the Game Boy Camera, Virtual Boy, the Wii pulse-reader (what happened to that?), and a slew of other ridiculous gadgets. But this… this is different.
This changes everything.
