Yesterday was Nintendo's highly anticipated E3 presentation. Nintendo fans and gamers look forward to this show with nervous anticipation every year. Let's get into the highlights of this year's presentation.
Daemon X Machina
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
The presentation started with a cinematic demonstration of a new, previously unannounced game named Daemon X Machina. No details beyond this video were revealed, but it appears to be a high-energy mech combat action game and a release date of 2019 was announced. Hopefully more details are forthcoming.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna The Golden Country
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
Last year we were treated to the massive Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the next game they showed off was either a sequel or DLC. Since it was still named "Xenoblade Chronicles 2:, I think its safe to assume this most likely a new DLC campaign for the original game.
Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
Announced last week, two new sibling Pokemon games will be hitting the Switch later this year. Most interesting is the optional Pokeball controller you can use with the game, that lets you simulate throwing the ball to capture new Pokemon. I'm not a Pokemon fan myself, but hopefully this is a well-received game that pleases the fans.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
While we knew a new Fire Emblem gam was in development, I had no interest in it until yesterday. The game looks like classic FE gameplay, but greatly enhanced. Combat is very cinematic, as the camera swoops down from the map level to ground level when you take action on the field. The game releases in Spring of 2019.
Super Mario Party
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
A new Mario Party is coming to the Switch on October 5 this year. The game seems to keep the classic gameplay we know and love, while introducing some additional features that take advantage of the capabilities of the Switch when using 2 of them in tabletop mode. I can't wait to pick this one up.
Fortnite
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
This was heavily rumored prior to the presentation, but its good to know it wasn't just all smoke. The massively popular battle royale game is not only coming to the Switch, but was made available immediately after the direct as a free download. I naturally spent too much time last night trying out this game for the first time, and I'll have a review of the game up in the near future.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
Another heavily rumored title was the popular new 2D Dragon Ball fighting game, which was previously available on the other current-gen consoles. As a big DBZ fan, I was drooling at the aspect of playing this game but without those other systems I was out of luck. With the game coming to the Switch, I can finally get my fix.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
While this game was previewed last year at E3, the big announcement was that on the Switch exclusive Starfox content would be added. Its not clear if this is just a new ship or a major inclusion in the overall game.
Smash Bros. Ultimate
Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel
Now we get to the big one. Half of the entire presentation was devoted to Smash Bros. Ultimate, which is the ultimate Smash Bros. game, bringing together every fighter from every version of the game (including DLC characters) into a single, ultimate compilation. Previous characters like Solid Snake, Pichu, Ryu, Cloud, Bayonetta and Ice Climbers will make a return, in addition to their stages and content from the 3DS game as well.
The only new characters being added to the roster are Inkling boy and girl, Breath of the Wild Link, Daisy as an alternate version of Peach and the big reveal of Ridley from Metroid.
The game is being heavily tweaked and they spent a lot of time discussing changes and improvements to existing characters. 8 player matches will return, as will support for Gamecube controllers. While more characters would have been nice, this is shaping up to be the only Smash Bros. game you'll ever need.
In Conclusion
The presentation started out really well, but the Smash Bros. coverage ended up taking half of the spotlight by itself. There was some stuff announced that I'm really looking forward to, but what's most disappointing wasn't what they showed us; it's what they didn't. Fans are screaming for Metroid Prime 4, Yoshi and Animal Crossing. We need stuff like a new Luigi's Mansion, Chibi-Robo, Eternal Darkness, F-Zero, Paper Mario or Fatal Frame. We don't need details, just an acknowledgement that these exciting games are in development.
In all, the presentation was an amazing Nintendo Direct, but an underwhelming E3 presentation. I expected Smash to be the biggest focus of the show, but it ended up taking up half of the whole thing by itself. It left us with a some great stuff to look forward to in 2018, but with little information about what we have to look forward to outside of what we already knew about.
Thanks for reading. As always, upvotes, resteems and comments are appreciated!
Cover Image: Nintendo YouTube Channel