Well folks, I am feeling really good about this Nintendo
Direct. For a 30 minute video focusing
on the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo detailed several important pieces of news:
1. Bravely Default (3DS) launch date and
collector’s box information
This
trailer is eye wateringly beautiful, showing off visuals on the 3DS the way
they should be made. I fully expect
Square-Enix to flub the business side of the equation somehow, but this looks
like an amazing game with plenty of heart.
My only real concern is that I may not need or know that I will enjoy
bonus content like a music CD or art book; the ones that I have on my shelf go
unseen/heard virtually all of the time.
Considering recent challenges that I`ve had with playing JRPGs, I feel
like a hint book or guide to get me started might be a better investment.
Honestly
this game isn`t really on my radar, but the focus on online play and the
ability to play with friends without the game (as long as I have it) … doesn`t
really change things for me. Sorry. Internet age … I have no friends! Poo!
3. Another
trailer for Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
(3DS), which surprised me
I’m a little surprised about the Zelda trailer: the game
goes live later this month and has had a ton of coverage so far. True it debuts the same time as Mario Party
3DS, but that game is comparatively unknown.
While some spoilers now fill the Internet, I can’t help but feel all the
better about my decision to purchase Zelda.
I love the range of characters in every Zelda, and I truly adore Link to the Past, ensuring that I will
find plenty to love in A Link Between
Worlds, despite its visuals (which seem a little off-putting even for me.
4. Unified
balances for the eShops, allowing us to formally start talking about the
Nintendo eShop
Keep
calm people! Nintendo has only announced
that the balances on the respective eShops
will be shareable. This was already true
for the eShop cards, which I favor as a safer alternative to pay online for
content than providing a credit card.
Now, the balances deposited on one Nintendo machine will count towards
the balance on the other machine, allowing consumers to move money between
freely. Or at least, that`s my reading
of it; Ninty`s psyched me out before. While it sweetened the deal for me to buy a
WiiU and play some fine eShop and Virtual Console games, I confess that I am
still waiting for the day Nintendo announces that we can transfer games freely from one console to the
next. I know, right, pie in the sky
dream! Honestly, that is the only
feature of the Playstation Network that I envy – I`m okay with hosting my
content locally. It`s PSN-hack proof!
5. Balances
are tied to the Nintendo Network ID, and finally, that ID can be obtained with a
purchase of a 3DS, including full access to a Miiverse app.
Miiverse
is a social software that debuted exclusively to the WiiU last year. I`ve been very interested in trying it, as I
have always felt isolated in my love of Nintendo. It was ported to iOS, mobile, and the 3DS a
long time ago, but all you could do was watch posts; to post yourself, you need
a Nintendo Network ID. I can`t wait to
set mine up and see the network in action.
So … does Nintendo send us an email when it is ready, or is it done
through Club Nintendo? Common Nintendo,
don`t leave me hanging!
6. We
got a great new sizzle reel for indie content.
Nintendo
of Europe got such a trailer during the E3 direct last summer, and I certainly
agreed with criticisms that Nintendo of America should have done likewise for
us. Honestly, I can sort of see why Nintendo
is not pushing indies harder – they are at least indirectly competing for
dollars. Still, Nintendo needs to change
the story about its lack of third party support on the WiiU, and this was a
great minimum to do for the effort.
7. New
content for Pikmin 3 and Animal Crossing Plaza (WiiU)
I
love Animal Crossing, but I`m still unsure what ACPlaza is. I may need to do a blog series on it, just to
describe what it is for fellow fence sitters once I have my WiiU. The new content for Pikmin 3 is icing on the
cake I can`t eat yet, but I`ll be glad to see Louis again. Someday.
8. A
significant new trailer for Super Mario
3D World (WiiU)
This
trailer was long and impressive for a 3DS focused Nintendo direct. I am so excited. Clearly, Nintendo`s WiiU fortunes are ridding
on SM3DW first and foremost. Those
outside the hype engine, understand that we inside are very excited. Full puzzle
paced stages using the Toad Captain? More challenge stages like Super Mario 3D
Land? Play as Rosalina? And … wait … that’s a straight foot
race! I`ve been waiting for two decades
for Sonic to try foot racing again; it figures it would be Nintendo`s Super
Mario to get it right first! It`s so
simple, and I love simple racing concepts, like Sonic 2`s or the Gourmet Race (Kirby Superstar, SNES). It's the simplest concepts that make the most amazing and replayable gameplay! This looks so great, I cannot wait!
This
Nintendo direct had no features hosted by the staff in Japan, but I recognized
Animka, formerly of IGN who left earlier this year to join Nintendo`s staffers ranks. You go Audrey Drake! Keep living the dream, and you`ll banish that
fool Bill Trinen to the non-speaking parts before you know it.
I
kid, Bill Trinen can stay … I guess.
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