It was my very first E3, two years ago, specifically the Nintendo media briefing. Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, had just revealed to us the Nintendo DS - a handheld device that has since changed the way we look at handheld consoles. However, he was ready to shock us once again. In so many words, he stated that he believed graphics had reached a point where they were no longer an important factor - instead, the true future of gaming was innovation, finding new ways to play, new genres to create, and, most importantly, new gamers. It was at that point that Nintendo announced their next-gen console, codenamed the "Revolution," a console that would change the way we played games forever.
The following year, 2005, saw Nintendo unveil the console in part at E3. Simply a small box, smaller than any Nintendo console before it, the system existed…and that's all. Nintendo revealed practically no other details about the system: what games would be played, what the games would look like, and most importantly, how would we play the games? The "Revolutionary" control device Nintendo promised was a no-show at E3, but it wouldn't be much longer until we knew what it was all about.
Four months later, at the usually Nintendo-less Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo unveiled what was truly the revolutionary aspect: a simple single-handed controller resembling a remote control. Upon first viewing the device, most gamers, seemingly, were shocked or horrified as to what they were witnessing. How was this "remote control" supposed to revolutionize gaming? It was in the controller's functionality. The controller could detect motion, tilt, and distance (X, Y, and Z axis), so one can freely manipulate or control anything with precision. Worry turned to excitement as gamers worldwide thought up genres and possibilities for the new system. Naturally, there was one big problem - no games.
All that is set to change as we head into Nintendo's E3 2006 showing, as the Revolution finally comes full circle from where it was announced two years ago. We'll finally see the games, finally see the graphics, and we'll finally be able to play the console Nintendo claims will change the world. Whether it actually will is another matter entirely, but E3 should definitely give us a good impression.
Of course, what the games are is another matter entirely, but in recent weeks companies have revealed games, yes, actual third-party games, and exclusive ones at that. Arguably the biggest is one of the first to be revealed. Red Steel, a first-person shooter which makes heavy use of the controller for precise aiming never thought possible before on a game console. Sega has revealed that, like with the GameCube, Super Monkey Ball will be a launch title for the system, with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. We will also see Spongebob Squarepants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Cars from THQ, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 from Atari, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam from Activision, and Elebits from Konami. In addition to those, several other companies, including EA, Midway, Square-Enix, Namco, and Capcom have announced plans to develop for the system. Naturally, what would Nintendo's booth be like without perennial favorites like Mario and Donkey Kong, as well as Metroid Prime 3 and the new Super Smash Bros.
Of course, while the lineup of games from both Nintendo and third-parties is certainly promising, there are a few things about the console itself we do not know. Nintendo still has not fully revealed the extent of the system's capability with Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connection service, except for the obvious confirmation of free online play, and the heavily hyped Virtual Console, where gamers will be able to download classic games from not only the NES, SNES, and N64, but games from the Sega Genesis and Turbografx-16 consoles as well. There is also the matter of the system's "final secret," which Nintendo demigod Shigeru Miyamoto hinted would be fully revealed at E3 this year.
And, lo and behold, the system has an actual name now. Just two weeks before E3, Nintendo revealed the new name for the Revolution-the Wii. Representing togetherness, unity, and a lot of funny parody images and bathroom humor, the name has excited some fans…and infuriated pretty much everyone else. Regardless of one's feelings on the name, one has to admit that there is unprecedented potential for the system, and with the surprisingly strong support we are seeing from third-parties, the Wii may very well steal the show this year.
Of course, while the Wii is without a doubt Nintendo's biggest showcase at the event, another item that shouldn't be slept on is Nintendo's dual-screened handheld that could, the Nintendo DS. Perhaps the biggest surprise of last year's show was the amazing support and sheer game quality the system was obtaining after the lacking system launch. Even in the face of Sony's PSP behemoth, the system was popular and thriving. There's no reason why this won't continue at E3 2006, with games spanning many different genres, and most certainly a few surprises thrown in. In the run-up to the big show, Nintendo revealed a handful of games at a press conference in Japan last year. Mario Basketball and Final Fantasy III from Square-Enix, Tales of the Tempest from Namco, and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin from Konami is just a taste of what we can expect from third-parties. Nintendo's DS emphasis will likely be placed on their new Touch Generation series, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Pokémon, and the DS Lite. The Touch Generations series has become extremely popular with Brain Age, and is sure to take off even further when Big Brain Academy and Sodoku Gridmaster are released. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, combining 2D Zelda gameplay with 3D cel-shaded graphics and touch-screen features, should have a very big showing. Pokémon Ranger will probably receive a US release date, and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl may even be shown. Pokémon has always been a big franchise, so it should grow immensely on the DS. Nintendo's brand-new remodeled DS, the DS Lite, is now set for a June 11, 2006 release in the Polar White color. The sleeker system will definitely be heavily show-cased on the show-floor so that gamers can get a good feel for it.
There's also the matter of Nintendo's other consoles: Namely, the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance. While the DS has been spectacular since launch, the other two pillars seem to have been all but forgotten, as Nintendo moves on to their new console and handheld combo. The GameCube, in particular, has been left in a complete rut-since Resident Evil 4 last year, there have been next-to-no notable titles for the system, with the exception of some Mario spin-offs and some other assorted odds and ends. The upcoming lineup looks just as bland, with the obvious exception being The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which is finally being released this year after a multitude of delays. Nintendo has gone dead quiet about the game since its delay. The only new information revealed about the game recently is that when the game is played on the Wii, gamers will be able to take advantage of the unique controller to go into battle. That alone is at least pretty exciting. Simply playing the game will be enough to make gamers happy, however. As for other games, there isn't much, but you can expect Nintendo will reveal an official US release for the upcoming Namco-created Baten Kaitos II, as well as a variety of third-party games like The Legend of Spyro from Vivendi, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy from LucasArts, and Splinter Cell: Double Agent from Ubisoft.
As for the GBA, expect it to also have a rather bland showing as, like with the GameCube, the system is beginning to fade away. Nintendo only has a small handful of games planned for the system, including Polarium Advance, a new version of the DS puzzler that will more than likely get a US release at the event, and the mysterious Bit Generations series, a series of games using unique graphic art that was first revealed at E3 2005. If we're lucky, there could be news about a US release for Mother 3. There isn't much for the system barring some console hand-me-downs, with the exclusion of Square-Enix bringing Final Fantasy V and VI to the system, like Final Fantasy IV last year. Unlike the DS remake of Final Fantasy III, expect FFV and VI to be more or less straight ports of the originals, perhaps with some added features.
All in all, it's looking like this will be an exciting E3 for any Nintendo fan. With the DS's lineup, the impending launch of the DS Lite, and, finally, the curtain completely pulled back on Wii, Nintendo fans can expect their favorite company to provide plenty of good stuff at this year's show. Of course, WiiCafé, as always, will be live from the event in LA as it happens, giving our viewers up-to-the-minute coverage, news, screenshots, videos, hands-on impressions, and other tidbits and goodies the instant they are received. Oh yeah, due to the fact that our E3 2005 DVD was so well received, we're making another one, which we'll have details on shortly. For now, enjoy the road to E3, and prepare for the Revolution to come. Wii are ready.
Eric Jones
