Well, E3 happened this week. For the uninitiated amongst you, E3 the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a yearly video game expo and conference, where the biggest players in the video game industry come together to show off their latest games, games consoles and other mod-cons. There's been some pretty interesting stuff this year (none of it from Microsoft by the looks of things), but the one thing that caught my attention the most was the unveiling of Nintendo's new console- the Wii U.
Previously known by its codename Project Café, the Wii U is set to be the Big N's next generation console. It will finally be HD-capable and I'm sure will include many other noteworthy features, but the thing getting the most buzz is it's controller, which is a 6.2" touch screen tablet, which features two analog sticks and a D-Pad, four face buttons, four trigger buttons on its shoulders. a camera and a microphone, and I'm sure that's not it. Nintendo look to be leading innovation in gaming yet again.
The little video promo I've seen on IGN from E3 showed a gamer being able to switch from playing the same game on the TV screen to playing it on the controller/tablet's screen, using it for video calls, using it as an extension for certain games (e.g. being able to set it down on the floor and putt the golf ball in a game of Wii Golf off of it, and using it as a menu screen for Zelda) and more. The video also featured a HD Zelda teaser. There is apparently going to a a Zelda game specifically for the Wii U.
There's still a lot we don't know about the Wii U yet- like what exactly will be inside the actual console and it's full range of capabilities. I own a Wii (got it because it was cheap), and I've owned every GameBoy and a DS Lite, but I've never really been interested in a Nintendo home console. This, however, is the first time that this trend will change, as I am interested to see what more is to come from the Wii U.
Also, this has been shoe-horned in last minute, but I just saw videos from E3 of Sonic Generations, the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog game which honours his 20th anniversary. The game features a combination of old and new, and this includes both the short, fat retro Sonic of the 1990s and the modern, more lanky Sonic of today, in a new HD outing.
The videos had my mouth agape, as I observed not only the beautiful graphics and level design displayed in a demo of a re-imagined Green Hill Zone, and not only how the retro Sonic zipped around just like it was 1990 in good ol' side-scrolling fashion, but I also noticed the little things, like how Sonic flies into the air through a triangle formation of rings, how the retro sound affects for the rings and the Star Posts are still there, and- best of all- how I could hear snippets of retro music from Sonic 1's original Green Hill Zone!
I need that game. I need it now.
4 comments:
Green Hill Zone in 3D graphics just looks ....wrong. I'll just stick to the Mega Drive versions!!
Also, not feeling the Wii U. Then again, the only Nintendo home console I truly loved was the NES!!
I think it's what they always should have done to modernise Sonic- rather than trying to reinvent the wheel they should've just stuck to a tried and tested formula, even if it means tarting up or re-imagining old levels in HD, 3D graphics.
Meh. I can't be excited about the Wii U and Nintendo announcements because they find something that works, then FLOG IT TO DEATH. I mean, Luigi's Mansion 2? Nice idea, but some cool NEW game announcements would may have actually convinced me to buy a Wii U.
looks intresting. id have to see more befor i decide if id want to get it.
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