Added: 19.06.2015 2:50 | 8 views | 0 comments

E3 is over; how did Nintendo do?

Click through the images here for all the highlights, biggest games, and areas of improvement for Nintendo.

Highlights: Star Fox Zero is being Co-developed with Platinum Games

Nintendo and Platinum Games are some of the best Japanese developers around, so it's very exciting to hear that the two teams are collaborating on Star Fox Zero. Fans of Nintendo have been waiting for a new Star Fox game for years, and with Platinum Games onboard, there's a great chance Star Fox Zero will be the most action-packed game in the series to date.

Highlights: Nintendo Crosses Streams, Creates Hybrid Amiibo/Skylander Toys

Nintendo surprised everybody last year when it announced it was entering the "toys to life" market with amiibos, but what's even more surprising now is that it's partnering with Activision to bring hybrid amiibo/Skylander toys to market. By simply twisting the base of the figures, players can activate either amiibo or Skylander mode, allowing one toy to work for both company's games. The first game to support this feature is Skylanders Superchargers, which will feature supercharged versions of Bowser and Donkey Kong. "Transformation" was the theme for Nintendo's E3 Digital Event, and in many ways, this is the best evidence of its commitment to change.

Highlights: The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes Supports Online Multiplayer

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures are great multiplayer experiences, but they were released at a time when online multiplayer was traditionally reserved for PC games, rather than for handhelds or consoles. With the announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes, Nintendo's revisiting the Four Swords formula, but players will be able to team up remotely, playing together to solve puzzles and scavenge dungeons. This is a first for the Zelda series, and with the costume system, where clothing gives players unique abilities, cooperative Zelda has never looked this promising.

Highlights: Great 3DS Support

Nintendo continues to push more games to 3DS, and the platform dominated this year's Digital Event. Nearly every major Nintendo franchise got some love, including Metroid, Mario and Luigi/Paper Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing. If you're a Nintendo fan with a 3DS, there's a good chance you'll get a new game from your favorite series sometime in the next year.

Needs Improvement: The GamePad

Star Fox Zero is absolutely exciting, but it's disappointing to see that Nintendo and Platinum Games are forcing players to use the GamePad to control the game. It would mean a lot to have options for the Pro Controller or a Wiimote. It seems like Nintendo is determined to shoehorn the GamePad into as many games as possible, but it's not everyone's favorite controller, nor an essential piece of hardware. It can add to the experience, but not everyone wants minor feature additions at the cost of comfort.

Needs Improvement: Talking about NX

Nintendo could do well to embrace the future by talking about the NX, its future gaming platform. People are ready to know more about it, and discussing the NX doesn't mean that Nintendo has to avoid talking about Wii U. In fact, highlighting the great games that are still to come will come across as respectful to their audience, because in everyone's eyes, the Wii U is on its way out, and everyone but Nintendo is talking about it.

Biggest Games: Star Fox Zero

Regardless of where you stand on Star Fox Zero's controls, it's a big game for Nintendo and Wii U owners. It's the sort of franchise that hardcore Nintendo fans love, because it's not given the same attention as Zelda or Mario, two series which seem to get a new game, or more, every year. With Platinum Games on board, you know there are going to be some unexpected surprises in store for prospective Team Star Fox recruits when the game ships later this year.

Biggest Games: Super Mario Maker

If you've ever wanted to make your own Mario Bros. game, Super Mario Maker allows you to do just that, with simple drag-and-drop controls and a huge selection of objects from past Mario Bros. games to play around with. There's bound to be a massive community of creators putting their all into making unusual and complex levels, and now that we know for certain you can share your creations with players around the world, Super Mario Maker may end up being the Wii U's killer app.

Biggest Games: Xenoblade Chronicles X

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a massive RPG, one which its creators claim might take completionists 300 hours to conquer. More importantly, it's a spiritual follow-up to Xenoblade Chronicles, which was one of the best Japanese-made RPGs in years. Nintendo was smart to partner with developer Monolith Soft, because without them, there would hardly be a traditional RPG on the Wii U worth caring about. For fans of the genre, Xenoblade Chronicles X could be a system seller.

Added: 19.06.2015 2:48 | 11 views | 0 comments

E3 is over; let's review Sony's showing.

With E3 coming to a close it's time to sit back and cast judgement on the big three. Overall, Sony had a great show. Despite the fact that it had very little to get excited about in 2015, the company dropped some serious megatons. Our assessment of its press conference is split up into three sections. The first highlights the most important and exciting moments. For Sony, these happen to be the announcements of a highly-sought after remake, a sequel for one of the most beloved series of all time, and the return of a project thought abandoned. This is followed by some areas we would have liked to see improved which, surprisingly, includes more time on the PlayStation Vita. Finally, we end with games they actually showed.

Highlights: Final Fantasy 7 Remake

It finally happened! At Sony's press conference, Square Enix announced it is remaking one of the most beloved Japanese role-playing games of all time. This is exciting for multiple reasons. Firstly, because everyone can now get on with their lives and stop constantly bringing this up. Secondly, because it seems this is more of a reimagining than a remake. Project director Tetsuya Nomura has indicated that the story is likely to deviate from the original's. Of course, there is one downside to all this: That Aerith scene is back in valid spoiler territory again.

Highlights: The Last Guardian

Good news! That adorable bird, chicken, dog thing from The Last Guardian is alive and well. As is the game, for that matter. After years of no-shows, Team ICO's latest has finally resurfaced, and boy did it win us over. Just one look at the main character skipping down the stone stairs, raising his knees to his chest, and doing his best not to take a tumble, erased all the frustration created by the ambiguity of its release. Better yet, Fumito Ueda, the mastermind behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus also showed up to give the game his approval. It looks like The Last Guardian will be as magical as the studio's previous games.

Highlights: Shenmue 3

Sony's third and final meltdown inducing announcement was the reveal of Shenmue 3. Like Final Fantasy 7, this is one of those projects that fanboys lose sleep over. Well, it's time to rest easy, it's happening. The project is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter and shot past its goal in a matter of hours. Although initially cagey on the business side of it, Sony has confirmed it will be forking up some cash for the project too. Forklifts will return, and look better than ever.

Highlights: Horizon Zero Dawn

After years of creating nothing but Killzone, Guerrilla Games is finally developing something new, and it. Looks. Awesome. Horizon: Zero dawn is a third-person action game in which a lone hunter battles against giant robot dinosaurs. As dude-bro as that sounds, it feels like there's also a lot of heart to it too. We're not quite sure what's happening in terms narrative; we have a lot of questions, and that's definitely a good thing.

Needs Improvement: PlayStation Vita

Hey Sony, not sure if you noticed but people did actually buy the PlayStation Vita. Sure, it's not as many people as you'd like, but we're still out here, and we'd really like it if you show us some cool, unique games you're making for the portable gaming device we spent our hard-earned cash on. Sure hope you have some at GamesCom.

Needs Improvement: Games We Can Play Soon

Sure, Sony basically made dreams come true this year, but we're not so easily fooled. Behind all the grand announcements was a severe lack of games being released in 2015. Sure, there was Call of Duty and Batman, but those are third-party games. Where's the big new 2015 titles from Sony? Oh, there are none. No, HD re-releases don't count. Sorry Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

Biggest Games: Uncharted 4

Holy moly! Did you see Uncharted 4? It looks fantastic. Along with the obvious visual improvements (that market got torn to shreds), it looks like Naughty Dog is making big changes to gameplay. At various points it almost looked like areas were going a bit open-world, instead of the usual guided down a set path series fans are used to. Of course, there was also plenty of the crazy over-the-top set pieces we all know and love.

Biggest Games: No Man's Sky

Yes, we're right there with you, we still don't completely understand what No Man's Sky even is. However, Hello Games has got demoing that game down to an art. Every time nervous Sean Murray shows up on stage and shows us just how insanely large the galaxy of No Man's Sky is, our minds begin to run wild with possibilities. More than anything, the idea of finding something cool that no one else is likely to ever see keeps us hanging on to the hype. We still can't wait to get our hands on it.

Biggest Games: Dreams

In typical Media Molecule fashion, the studio's latest game, Dreams, was really weird and also really charming. We're not completely sold on the whole creation element, especially since it relies on the DualShock 4's motion capabilities. Also, were not exactly confident that we'll be able to create anything that won't induce horrible nightmares. However, the idea of exploring a web of interconnected worlds created by other players definitely interests.

Biggest Games: Destiny: The Taken King

Destiny. Yes, Destiny. We will not be ashamed of how much some of us here at GameSpot enjoy Bungie's Destiny. And the upcoming expansion, The Taken King, looks like it will introduce interesting new content. Destiny is finally starting to realise the vision Bungie originally set out with, and The Taken King is a big step towards doing that. We are excited and there's nothing you can do about it.

Added: 19.06.2015 2:48 | 3 views | 0 comments

E3 is over; let's review Sony's showing.

With E3 coming to a close it's time to sit back and cast judgement on the big three. Overall, Sony had a great show. Despite the fact that it had very little to get excited about in 2015, the company dropped some serious megatons. Our assessment of its press conference is split up into three sections. The first highlights the most important and exciting moments. For Sony, these happen to be the announcements of a highly-sought after remake, a sequel for one of the most beloved series of all time, and the return of a project thought abandoned. This is followed by some areas we would have liked to see improved which, surprisingly, includes more time on the PlayStation Vita. Finally, we end with games they actually showed.

Highlights: Final Fantasy 7 Remake

It finally happened! At Sony's press conference, Square Enix announced it is remaking one of the most beloved Japanese role-playing games of all time. This is exciting for multiple reasons. Firstly, because everyone can now get on with their lives and stop constantly bringing this up. Secondly, because it seems this is more of a reimagining than a remake. Project director Tetsuya Nomura has indicated that the story is likely to deviate from the original's. Of course, there is one downside to all this: That Aerith scene is back in valid spoiler territory again.

Highlights: The Last Guardian

Good news! That adorable bird, chicken, dog thing from The Last Guardian is alive and well. As is the game, for that matter. After years of no-shows, Team ICO's latest has finally resurfaced, and boy did it win us over. Just one look at the main character skipping down the stone stairs, raising his knees to his chest, and doing his best not to take a tumble, erased all the frustration created by the ambiguity of its release. Better yet, Fumito Ueda, the mastermind behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus also showed up to give the game his approval. It looks like The Last Guardian will be as magical as the studio's previous games.

Highlights: Shenmue 3

Sony's third and final meltdown inducing announcement was the reveal of Shenmue 3. Like Final Fantasy 7, this is one of those projects that fanboys lose sleep over. Well, it's time to rest easy, it's happening. The project is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter and shot past its goal in a matter of hours. Although initially cagey on the business side of it, Sony has confirmed it will be forking up some cash for the project too. Forklifts will return, and look better than ever.

Highlights: Horizon Zero Dawn

After years of creating nothing but Killzone, Guerrilla Games is finally developing something new, and it. Looks. Awesome. Horizon: Zero dawn is a third-person action game in which a lone hunter battles against giant robot dinosaurs. As dude-bro as that sounds, it feels like there's also a lot of heart to it too. We're not quite sure what's happening in terms narrative; we have a lot of questions, and that's definitely a good thing.

Needs Improvement: PlayStation Vita

Hey Sony, not sure if you noticed but people did actually buy the PlayStation Vita. Sure, it's not as many people as you'd like, but we're still out here, and we'd really like it if you show us some cool, unique games you're making for the portable gaming device we spent our hard-earned cash on. Sure hope you have some at GamesCom.

Needs Improvement: Games We Can Play Soon

Sure, Sony basically made dreams come true this year, but we're not so easily fooled. Behind all the grand announcements was a severe lack of games being released in 2015. Sure, there was Call of Duty and Batman, but those are third-party games. Where's the big new 2015 titles from Sony? Oh, there are none. No, HD re-releases don't count. Sorry Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

Biggest Games: Uncharted 4

Holy moly! Did you see Uncharted 4? It looks fantastic. Along with the obvious visual improvements (that market got torn to shreds), it looks like Naughty Dog is making big changes to gameplay. At various points it almost looked like areas were going a bit open-world, instead of the usual guided down a set path series fans are used to. Of course, there was also plenty of the crazy over-the-top set pieces we all know and love.

Biggest Games: No Man's Sky

Yes, we're right there with you, we still don't completely understand what No Man's Sky even is. However, Hello Games has got demoing that game down to an art. Every time nervous Sean Murray shows up on stage and shows us just how insanely large the galaxy of No Man's Sky is, our minds begin to run wild with possibilities. More than anything, the idea of finding something cool that no one else is likely to ever see keeps us hanging on to the hype. We still can't wait to get our hands on it.

Biggest Games: Dreams

In typical Media Molecule fashion, the studio's latest game, Dreams, was really weird and also really charming. We're not completely sold on the whole creation element, especially since it relies on the DualShock 4's motion capabilities. Also, were not exactly confident that we'll be able to create anything that won't induce horrible nightmares. However, the idea of exploring a web of interconnected worlds created by other players definitely interests.

Biggest Games: Destiny: The Taken King

Destiny. Yes, Destiny. We will not be ashamed of how much some of us here at GameSpot enjoy Bungie's Destiny. And the upcoming expansion, The Taken King, looks like it will introduce interesting new content. Destiny is finally starting to realise the vision Bungie originally set out with, and The Taken King is a big step towards doing that. We are excited and there's nothing you can do about it.