Wii U News Explosion: New Zelda, Mario, More
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All the info from today's massive Nintendo Direct in one place.
Well! That was a surprise. It started slow, but today's Nintendo Direct broadcast brought absolutely massive news from the Japanese giant, with no fewer than seven new games announced (and one remake). We now know what Nintendo is going to be showing at E3, and what to expect from Wii U this year. Here's everything that happened in one handy place.
A New, HD Zelda
It's clearly at a very early stage, but Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma gave us the first information about the next game in this beloved series. Promising that the team is "rethinking the conventions of Zelda," like completing dungeons in order and the series almost exclusively single-player heritage, he promised a newborn Zelda that will delve into the series' early history for its inspiration.
An Old Zelda, Remade
The GameCube's The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is being remade for Wii U, including new Wii U Gamepad features and Gamepad-only play. It'll be out in August of this year. Iwata presented it as something to keep us going until the big new Zelda, which is likely to be some years away. It's got upgraded graphics, it works with Miiverse, and it's got gorgeous new lighting. The sample artwork that we saw was stunning: a mixture of Skyward Sword's vibrancy and Twilight Princess' detail. We saw recognisable snapshots of Wind Waker's Windfall Island.
Smash Bros, New 3D Mario and Mario Kart Confirmed for E3
Iwata laid the foundations for a strong Nintendo showing at E3, stating that a new Mario Kart and the much-anticipated new Wii U and 3DS Smash Bros game will be making appearances. The big one, though, was the announcement of a new 3D Mario, which will debut at the show - it's being made by the same team behind the Galaxy games and Super Mario 3D Land. Both will be playable at E3 in June.
Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei
Following Nintendo's announcement that Project X Zone for Western territories earlier this year, Iwata brought us news that another crossover game is on the way: Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei is the lovechild of Intelligent Systems and Atlus, and all we got was a thematic trailer - but I think we can safely bet on a strategy RPG.
A New RPG From The Xenoblade Chronicles Studio
Monolith Soft, the developer responsible for the Wii's sublime Xenoblade Chronicles (and the rest of the Xeno series), is creating a new RPG for Wii U. It might even be a sequel to Chronicles - it looks extremely similar in terms of art style and combat system, going by the footage shown. But it's in HD, of course, so it looks even better. The trailer's final 'X' definitely suggests we're looking at another Xeno game, even if it's not a direct sequel.
The Virtual Console is Coming to Wii U
Surprise! Well, not really - we knew this was going to happen, but now we know when it's going to happen. Nintendo's Virtual Console will roll out on Wii U this April, beginning with NES and SNES games. Pricing is the same as it was on Wii (around $5/£5), and if you bought the game already you can unlock it on Wii U for $1/99p or so (no prices for other territories yet), which will let you play it on the Gamepad and add Miiverse support. That's a lot of money if you have several Virtual Console games; presumably, if you don't want to pay the extra, you can still play them in Wii mode without Wii U features. There's a nice introductory trial campaign, too, offering various NES games for $0.30 for 30 days.
Wii U Party is Happening
Given that Wii Party is one of the best-selling games of all time, it's hardly surprising to learn that there's a Wii U mini-game compilation in the same vein on its way. It's coming this Summer; we saw dice-rolling and two-player baseball. It looks a bit like some of the concept demos in the original Wii U announce video.
Yoshi's Land For Wii U
This has been rumoured for a while, but it's turned out to be real! A new Yoshi game in the style of Kirby's Epic Yarn (and made by the same team) is in development for Wii U under the supervision of Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Island director Takashi Tezuka. We saw a lovely-looking woollen Yoshi gobbling and stomping on enemies. It'll be a 2D platformer, then, but that's all we know for now.
Some Nice Miiverse Upgrades
Alongside the Virtual Console announcement came news of a few updates to the Wii U operating system, one in Spring and one in Summer. Miiverse will expand, allowing people to create their own communities and making space for more than one community per game. Miiverse is also coming to smartphones and PC at some point this year. In Pikmin 3, you'll be able to take pictures of tiny Pikmin wildlife and post it to Miiverse, and Wii Fit U will let you compare fitness notes.
What a day. 2013 suddenly looks like a much better year for the Wii U than it did when we only had Pikmin, Wario and Wonderful 101 on the horizon. We'll bring you more info on all of these announcements as we get it.
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New HD Zelda Revealed for Wii U
This isn't what you saw at E3 2011...
Nearly two years after it unveiled an HD concept at E3 2011, Nintendo has revealed its early thoughts and visual intentions for The Legend of Zelda on Wii U.
Franchise producer Eiji Aonuma, citing the scope and ambition of this new project, declined to do a full unveiling of the Wii U Zelda entry, but provided some insight into his team's mission. In essence, Nintendo is "rethinking the conventions of Zelda." Ideas like dungeons needing to be completed in order, and Zelda adventures being single-player only, are being set aside as the team focuses on "returning to basics." The goal of all this, Aonuma said, was to create a reborn Zelda - and more details on this will be shared as the game comes together.
But that wasn't all Aonuma detailed about his new Zelda endeavor. He discussed Nintendo's new visual approach for the game, which apparently is completely unlike the HD demo shown at E3 2011, but wasn't ready to be shown at this time.
Aonuma noted this still-mysterious "new style" developed as his team experimented bringing Zelda's many graphical styles into HD. The producer said over time something entirely new and unique evolved. There are many questions - and it seems as though we have a while to wait. No release window of any kind was provided for this new game. But for now, we have a brief glimpse into the direction of the HD future of Zelda. -
Zelda: Wind Waker Remake Headed to Wii U
GameCube’s prettiest game is getting an HD makeover - and it's coming sooner than you'd think.
Wii U owners will be playing an HD Zelda game in just a handful of months
No, really.
As officially confirmed during today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, an HD remake of GameCube classic The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is coming to Wii U this Fall. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata noted that the game was meant to help ease the wait for the next big Zelda game (which was also revealed today and has no release estimate in sight).
See you soon, Jabun!
The game will give players the option to play entirely on the GamePad, and will feature both upgraded graphics and Miiverse integration. Nintendo also plans to tune up the original experience, though precisely what changes that might entail is a mystery at this point. On the visual side of things, the game definitely retains its core visual style, but with the addition of some noticeable visual flourishes (such as enhanced lighting to lend the cel-shading a more vibrant, dynamic look).
For more on Link and Zelda’s first steps into the world of HD, keep it here on IGN in the months to follow. -
Smash Bros, Mario, Mario Kart Confirmed for E3 2013
Expect the plumber to have a big show.
Nintendo has confirmed that the next Super Smash Bros. game, a new 3D Mario game and a Mario Kart for Wii U will all make their debut at E3 2013.
During a Nintendo Direct conference this morning, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said he’s aware that Nintendo fans have been waiting for more news on the next Smash Bros. game and confirmed that the “first screens” will be shown at E3. Iwata said development is “on track” for both Wii U and 3DS and asked fans to “wait just a little bit longer” for their first look at the ambitious sequel.
Iwata also announced a new 3D Mario game for Wii U in development from EAD Tokyo, the team that previously developed Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario 3D Land. Iwata said the game is an “action game” and will be playable at E3. On top of that, Iwata revealed that a new Mario Kart game is in development for Wii U as well, and will also be playable at the show.
This is the first official confirmation of a new Mario or Mario Kart game for Wii U. Smash Bros., meanwhile, was first announced way back at E3 2011 and last year Nintendo confirmed that Namco Bandai will be handling development.
No specific names were announced for any of the games, but expect to find out more when E3 takes place in Los Angeles between June 11th and 13th (just over 138 days from now if you’re counting). -
Fire Emblem Crosses Over With Shin Megami Tensei
No, you haven’t died and gone to RPG heaven - this is actually happening.
It looks like the characters of SEGA, Capcom and Namco won’t be the only ones crossing over for a Nintendo system in the near future. In today’s Nintendo Direct, it was officially announced that Atlus and Intelligent Systems are working on a crossover project for Wii U featuring the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei franchises.
The thematic trailer shown doesn’t give away much, but it does feature Fire Emblem characters such as Marth from the original game, as well as very SMT visuals. As for Nintendo’s partnership with Atlus on this one, company president Satoru Iwata commented that as development of games grows larger and larger, “Nintendo cannot use the same approaches we have in the past.” Iwata also hinted that the company has “many more partners,” ones that will apparently be revealed sometime soon (perhaps in future Nintendo Direct broadcasts). -
Monolith Soft Debuts New Wii U RPG
'X' marks the spot.
In a Nintendo Direct presentation packed with exclusives, company president Satoru Iwata saved one of the biggest for last - Xenoblade Chronicles developer Monolith Soft's new, untitled RPG.
Few details were provided outside of a sizzle reel of footage, but the gameplay system seems to heavily call upon Xenoblade Chronicles, from its active battles to the command bar located at the bottom of the screen. Some clips featured up to three players listed on the left side of the screen, perhaps indicating a multiplayer component of some sort.
Thematically the realistic, gritty visuals not only embraced fantasy-based swords and creatures, but advanced technology, including mechs that can transform on the fly. Again, very much like Xenoblade Chronicles.
In fact, the game's teaser ends with a giant red "X." If we were betting men and women, we'd bet we're looking at a new entry in Xenoblade lore.
But Nintendo isn't talking - yet. -
Wii U Virtual Console, OS Upgrades Announced
Faster loading times and new Miiverse features are coming soon.
Nintendo has announced that Virtual Console is coming to Wii U this Spring. Due approximately in April, Wii U’s Virtual Console won’t offer all of the Wii’s Virtual Console library to start, but will begin with NES and SNES games.
Like on Wii, NES games will range from $4.99-$5.99, while SNES games will run $7.99-$8.99. If you already own the game on Wii, you’ll be able to purchase the Wii U version at a discounted price ($1 for NES games and $1.50 for SNES), provided you're willing to transfer your Wii VC titles to your Wii U. Wii U eShop games will offer features including save states (similar to 3DS), the option to play entirely on the GamePad and the ability to post to Miiverse.
To kick off the Virtual Console launch and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Famicom, Nintendo also announced the Wii U Virtual Console Trial Campaign, which begins today and runs through July. The campaign will offer one game each month at the heavily discounted price of $0.30 and will include the following:
January: Balloon Fight
February: F-Zero
March: Punch-Out Featuring Mr. Dream
April: Kirby’s Adventure
May: Super Metroid
June: Yoshi
July: Donkey Kong
Separately, Nintendo announced that new updates will be coming to Wii U’s operating system as well as to Miiverse. Two Wii U OS updates are coming in Spring and Summer and will, among other changes, improve loading times such as those when backing out from an application to the Wii U menu.
Miiverse, meanwhile, will soon allow users to create their own communities, will expand to more than one community per game and will add the ability to filter content. Miiverse will soon be available via smartphones and PCs as well (as Nintendo previously detailed), allowing players to log in with their Nintendo Network ID to access some Miiverse features via their browser. Nintendo said it plans to eventually release some kind of Miiverse app, though no other details were given.
All of these features are coming to Miiverse “in the near future,” though specific timing wasn’t announced. Nintendo also discussed new game-specific features for Miiverse -- Pikmin 3 will take advantage of the GamePad’s camera to let players take pictures of wildlife and post them to Miiverse, and Wii Fit U will get special communities that let players gather and compare fitness notes. Both games are due in the first half of 2013. -
Wii U Party Announced
Party like it’s Summer 2013.
During its Nintendo Direct conference this morning, Nintendo announced that a new game from the creators of Wii Party is headed to Wii U in Summer 2013.
The game (which doesn’t have an official title just yet) will offer a variety of different activities, including some that only use the GamePad. Examples shown during the presentation included a dice-rolling game and a baseball mini game that let two players use opposite sides of the GamePad (one using the face buttons and one using the D-Pad).
Nintendo revealed that the game will interact with Wiimotes as well, showing off a mini game that displays button prompts on the GamePad’s screen and makes players hit the corresponding buttons on their Wiimotes to follow along. According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, the goal is to showcase some of the new experiences that Wii U can offer, particularly those that can bring everyone together.
The game will allow players to use their Miis and essentially operates like a virtual board game. Expect more details to be revealed in the coming months.
For more, read our review of Wii Party from 2010, or see an example of that game’s mini games in the video below. -
Yoshi’s Land Wii U is Real
And it’s made of yarn!
Following months of rumor and speculation, the Big N finally announced the existence of a new Yoshi-centric game for Wii U during today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast. No specific name has been revealed as of yet, but we do know the title will be supervised by legendary Nintendo developer Takashi Tezuka (who, shockingly enough, directed both Yoshi’s Island and Yoshi’s Story).
It's been too long since we last heard Yoshi's side of the story.
Yoshi’s Wii U adventure is being developed by the team behind Kirby’s Epic Yarn (presumably meaning some folks from HAL Laboratory and/or Good-Feel). Stylistically that’s exactly what the game’s visuals reflect, with a yarn-made Yoshi acting as the main hero. It’s hard to tell exactly what the game will play like, but what little was shown seems to indicate it will be a 2D platformer, though even this has yet to be officially confirmed.
Keep it here on IGN for all things dinosaur. -
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Also...
Bayonetta 2 development diary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fv6rtK3mCo
New Wonderful 101 Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM0ANR0gwC8 -
Meh... Same ? as last gen and the gen before that.
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I wasn't gonna cop a Wii U until somebody figured out how to hack that ? so I could use my USBLoader on it,But I'm digging The Wonderful 101. ? looks like a cross between Pikmin and Viewtiful Joe.
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A new Zelda, Kart, SSB, Mario and Fire Emblem...Soon as one of those drops, I'm koppin' a Wii U and aforementioned game
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average development cycle for the last couple zelda games has been 5 years. zelda hd is years away.
new xeno game looks sick though. everything else :shrugs: -
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That looks like a sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles. same battle system and everything.
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Better be all new games, not no rehashed ? .
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Virtual console will be goat, but I will be getting a OUYA. For my emulators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psCoR4zmIpE -
Yea I'll cop when that Wind Waker HD drop
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So predictable as I called it and knew exactly what they would announce
The few new games are not heavy weights
I am intrrested in the NEW Zelda game and Yoshis Epic Yarn caught my attention with the LBP design style
Still not worth the current price but by the time the new Zelda comes out I expect the console to be cheaper
Overrall great announcements for diehard Nintendo fans -
Xenoblades, Smash Bros, new Zelda.
Copping Wii U closer to these release dates. -
Oh I meant to ask, focus, why is Nintendo ruining E3 for their fans?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAFZnvTfFAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K40orKpbJBU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMRGNwMMFro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CyH8Na_Hck
