Five Reasons Why Nintendo's E3 Press Conference was Superb

On June 15th, 2010, Nintendo took to the stage at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 for short) to update players on upcoming projects and make some huge announcements. Having seen the conference live, I can tell you that this was probably their strongest one yet. Lots of amazing games were announced, some of which had been known for a while, but others were formally revealed for the first time. Clearly, players will have a lot to look forward to from Nintendo in the coming year or so, from hot new titles for existing systems to a whole new system that promises to be the next evolution in hand held gaming. I have picked five reasons why I felt that Nintendo's conference was solid, and they are as follows...

5. Disney Epic Mickey: This game has been known for a while, but it is shaping up to be a game that could spark some renewed interest for the world famous mouse. Mickey will meet a variety of Disney characters, some well-known, some more obscure, but all of whom he can choose to help. Players can go about missions that will affect how characters will aid him later in the game, and there are side-scrolling levels inspired by such classic cartoons as Steamboat Willie. The game itself looks fantastic for a Wii title, and this could end up being the best Disney game in a long time. It looks as if it will live up to being, well, epic.

4. Kirby's Epic Yarn: While Kirby's 3D Gamecube/Wii adventure now seems to have been canceled, the little pink creature will finally make his starring debut on the Wii in a platform game that looks quite cute. The graphics look as if they have been stitched with yarn, and once again, Kirby will use plenty of abilities to get through every stage. As usual, there will be items to collect, and if the trailer is any indication, the classic Kirby charm will be left intact. I feel certain that this game, which was a rather pleasant surprise, will be a must-have for Kirby fans ages 2 to 92 when it debuts this fall. Also, if Kirby can get his own Wii game, hopefully other Nintendo franchises such as Star Fox and Pikmin will not be that find behind.

3. Donkey Kong Country Returns: An even bigger surprise was the announcement of this latest collaboration between Nintendo and Retro Studios (the developers behind the Metroid Prime trilogy). Donkey and Diddy Kong are back in a whole new adventure, and the game promises to bring back many features found in the classic Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Bonus stages, mine cart levels, barrels, Kong Letters, bananas...they will all be present, and the graphics will obviously be a huge improvement over the SNES games. Hopefully, other Kongs such as Cranky, Funky, and Dixie will show up, even if they only make cameos. At any rate, this could be the first truly great Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong 64, and it will definitely be on my holiday wish list this year.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: At long last, a new Zelda game is headed for the Wii, and this time, the player will feel even more like he or she is part of the action. This is because, with Wii Motion Plus, the player will be able to swing the remote to replicate Link's sword and shield actions as well as use the various weapons at his disposal, including some new ones such as a whip and a beetle that can retrieve items. All this in addition to the usual acts of fighting enemies, exploring dungeons, and discovering secrets are sure to make this a must-have game, as if the Zelda name was not enough to entice players already. The game is slated for a 2011 release, in time for the series' 25th anniversary (its first installment was released in Japan in 1986). For me, next year cannot come quickly enough.

1. Nintendo 3DS: Zelda would have easily topped the list if not for the unveiling of Nintendo's successor to the popular DS system. The new features such as analog control and the ability to view 3D action without the need for special glasses is appealing, and the games themselves are looking amazing. I took one glimpse at the graphics, and I was simply stunned. They look about as good as if not better than the best looking Gamecube and Wii titles. Even more shocking is that the first game revealed the system was Kid Icarus Uprising, which will be Nintendo's latest attempt to bring back a franchise that has not seen any action in years (only two Kid Icarus games were made prior to this one, the last of which was released way back in 1991). All this, plus a ton of third party support and the promise of even more great games from Nintendo (including new versions of Mario Kart and Nintendogs, plus remakes of Star Fox 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time) are sure to make this one of Nintendo's best systems yet, and will proof once again that when it comes to hand held systems, Nintendo is still king.

With many games that are sure to become hits with critics and players alike, plus a system that is virtually guaranteed to be a hot seller, Nintendo clearly had a very strong showing at this year's E3 convention. Games like Disney Epic Mickey, Kirby's Epic Yarn, and Donkey Kong Country Returns will make this a holiday season to remember for Nintendo Wii fans, while The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will surely make the wait for 2011 seem like it will last forever, but if the success of previous Zelda games is any indication, it will be worth it. Lastly, the Nintendo 3DS promises to revolutionize hand held gaming as never before. Nintendo was the winner at this year's E3 convention, and they did so well that I am already looking forward to next year's show to see if they can top themselves. Maybe in 2011 we will hear even more about Zelda, revivals of other franchises, or something that we never, ever saw coming? If that is the case, then E3 2011 will surely be worth the wait.