Nintendo Bringing The Heat With 11 Wii Exclusives
Although Nintendo's conference didn't necessarily get received so well, they still showcased a lot of exclusive content that will be appearing on their platform, the Wii, in the near future.
While pointing towards their first party titles, they also showed the support they've been getting from third party studios, for example, Square Enix, Capcom and High Voltage.
So, here's the low down on what Nintendo brought to their conference this year:
Metroid: Other M
Responding to criticism from the media about a lack of hardcore games, Reggie Fils-Aime announced that Nintendo would be working alongside Team Ninja to develop a new iteration of an old franchise.
Metroid: Other M sees Samus Aran take on a new adventure with a much more mature feel and it actually looks rather enticing. Adding their Ninja Gaiden knowledge to the Metroid brand will definitely add a new dimension.
Mario Galaxy 2
Mario Galaxy was a huge success, receiving critical acclaim, and having sales to more than back it up. Due to its success, it was only natural that Mario would be back again.
Although the game looks relatively similar to the original Mario Galaxy, there are a few additions. Yoshi has been added to give an extra dimension to the gameplay and there will of course be lots of new puzzles. It's slightly disappointing that they haven't tried to take Mario in a different direction, but Mario Galaxy was rather good, so it might not be a bad thing.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is apparently a game that Miyamoto has been wanting to make for a considerable amount of time, as it allows 4 players to compete in a 2D Mario environment.
The playable characters demonstrated were Mario, Luigi, Red Toad and Blue Toad. It is very competition based, with points being awarded for the amount of coins collected, as well as the amount of enemies jumped on. Bonus points can also be awarded for performing special actions.
Alongside the multiplayer game, there will also be a single player campaign. No information was disclosed about this, but it should be in a similar vein to New Mario Bros. on the Nintendo DS.
Wii Fit Plus
Many people expected some kind of Wii Fit related announcement and they weren't disappointed. However, with respect to the actual game, they might well be.
It offers six new activities, and some features which to be honest, should have been included in the original game. Think of this more like Wii Fit 1.5, than Wii Fit 2; it just makes up for a few shortcomings with the original version, without really adding anything.
Wii Sports Resort
Wii Sports Resort is the sequel to the original pack-in Wii game, Wii Sports. It offers a host of new sports, including table tennis, sword fighting and archery.
The game takes full advantage of Nintendo's new Wii MotionPlus technology, which offers 1:1 precision.
Grand Slam Tennis
Developed by EA Sports, Grand Slam Tennis is EA's first venture into the world of tennis; fitting that it should also be the first tennis game to fully utilise Wii MotionPlus.
The game has some pretty big licences, bringing in current generation players, as well as some older ones, such as Chris Evert and John McEnroe. There are also some famous venues available, like Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
Red Steel 2
Red Steel promised a lot, but when it was released, the reception wasn't so positive. Ubisoft Paris have taken this on board and with Red Steel 2 forcing players to use Wii MotionPlus, it looks like the sword combat will be a lot closer to the real thing.
The Conduit
The Conduit is a Wii exclusive title that's being published by Nintendo's old rivals, Sega. The game itself is being developed by High Voltage, a well versed developer. Many have praised the game for its impressive graphics and presentation.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Square Enix kept this game close to their chest for a very long period of time, and many fans even believed the game had been cancelled, especially with the release of Echoes of Time. However, a few months ago, Square Enix started releasing new information about the game - definitely good news for fans of this spin-off franchise.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
In some ways, this is the successor to Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, as they are both rail shooters. They aren't true sequels though, as the story isn't connected, as such. If you feel like enjoying Resident Evil using the Wii Zapper, this is the game for you.
Dead Space: Extraction
A prequel to EA's critically acclaimed, Dead Space, this rendition of the game hopes to disclose what happened to the crew before Isaac sets foot on the ship. It will contain the same dismemberment system, but now with added precision thanks to the Wii Remote.
