At Nintendo's presser, the most anticipated title kicked things off: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. 1:1 motion controls with MotionPlus are the name of the game, with several gameplay mechanics including swordplay, archery, and bomb throwing/rolling all taking advantage of the tech. Unfortunately, series creator Shigeru Miyamoto struggled mightily whilst on stage, but we've gotten preliminary reports from our writers that control issues are not a problem. Too bad we're going to have wait until 2011 to get our hands on this one.
Fortunately, the newest Zelda is not the only title worth playing for the Wii. In fact, Nintendo showed off a quality line-up that included titles such as Disney's Epic Mickey, Mario Sports Mix, Wii Party, GoldenEye 007, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Metroid: Other M, and Donkey Kong Country Returns. First- and third-party support looks great for the little console that could.
As if all that wasn't enough, the reveal of the Nintendo 3DS was quite impressive. Not only does this latest DS offering feature a brighter, high-def 3.5 inch screen and 3D visuals, the analog stick should open up the platform to many more hardcore titles. What's more, it is rumored that game installation could also be forthcoming. Expect to get your hands on this device by March 2011.
Not only does the Nintendo 3DS hardware impress, but the software support from big name developers is perhaps the most compelling reason to hop onboard the bandwagon. Games such as DJ Hero 3D, three Shin Megami Tensei titles, Resident Evil and Street Fighter titles, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Animal Crossing 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, a new Mario Kart, a new Paper Mario, Star Fox 64 3D, Final Fantasy games, a new Kingdom Hearts, DOA, Ninja Gaiden, Saints Row: Drive-By, Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy, Tom Clancy titles, the Batman franchise, (the list goes on, and on, and on) are whetting our appetites big time.
Of course, Sony also impressed mightily. For starters, we got a host of software demos showing off the prowess of 3D gaming. Killzone 3, in particular, looks like a real winner. Without question, those that can afford a 3D HD set will be rewarded with rich gameplay experiences from Sony that run the gamut from sports and action to shooters and casual titles.
