E3DS

Nintendo this year made the unprecedented move of having a hardware Nintendo Direct on Sunday, a major WiiU focus on Tuesday and today we get the 3DS software announcements, I guess you could call this E3DS. As is tradition with E3 announcements you will get a live discussion type run through with proper analysis over the next day or two.

• We open with Reggie. He introduces Scott Moffitt.
• He introduces Non-Specific Action figure. Reggie doesn’t like him.
• The focus of this presentation is 3DS with some stuff we’ve not seen before. I’ll believe it when I see it.
• Some sales are plugged. SM3DLand 2m, MK7 1.6m OOT 1m.
• Moffitt plugs how well some third parties are doing.
• The first game is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate
• Visually it looks impressive, a nice mid of 3D and 2D. It’s the same trailer we’ve already seen.
• Dave Cox a producer at Konami comes to stage.
• This is a 3DS exclusive.
• Some gameplay is shown, it looks good with big combos and a more action adventure feel.
• Do well you get better abilities.
• You can charge up weapons for bigger attacks but you’re vulnerable whilst it’s doing this.
• Of course the platforming element is still here with double jumps.
• As a few people have pointed out the lighting on this is amazing.
• There are four playable characters.
• It will tell us more about the Belmont family.
• Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon is shown.
• It’s the same trailer as yesterday with a couple of extra bits thrown in.
• Shown is a beam with multi colour.
• Visually it’s good but in a different way to Castlevania. Very colourful in style and substance.
• The aim is to give him a bit more respect.
• The trailer’s now on Eshop.
• It’ll be released this holiday season physical and digital download.
• Warren Spector and Peter Ong take Stage to talk about Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.
• Ong pays tribute to Castle of Illusion and how important it has been in his career. He says he played it once a day (and finished it).
• Trailer showed including some Thwomp style things.
• It has a damn fine artwork with levels based on Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast and many more.
• Out 18^th November.
• Paper Mario Sticker Star marks Paper Mario’s debut on handheld.
• The stickers are shown off.
• Colours look very sharp.
• There is a cool battle shown where you actually see the corner of the world.
• This returns back to 64 and Thousand Year Doors turn based battles.
• There are 3D (like non paper characters) items that can be used.
• The way the stickers are used seem cool as they’re used in battle and not. The example shown is planting flowers for Toad.
• Look around, stickers are everywhere.
• You can get Exp for exploring ala Xenoblade.
• You can turn the above mentioned 3D items into stickers.
• I love the Paper Mario games, I’m quite excited for this.
• When you use the 3D sticker you can use it for powerful moves. They show using a fan which appears up the background where a 2001 space odyssey esque music and the fan moves the windmills sails.
• Out this holiday season.
• Trailer on Eshop.
• Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
• Nothing really new we’ve not seen already really.
• Seems all the games tonight look visually pleasing yet all very different.
• A demo is coming soon.
• Scribblenauts Unlimited 3DS is shown, it’s a different trailer from yesterday.
• Promises to unearth Maxwells story.
• Lego Batman 2 is coming to 3DS.
• As is Transformers Prime.
• As well as Rabbids Rumble (deathly silence).
• Heroes of Ruin (of course).
• Pokémon Black and White 2 is mentioned.
• Today is the one year Nintendo eShop.
• The average user has 4.7 paid for games.
• There have been 58million Swapnote messages exchanged worldwide.
• They mention five eShop titles that have passed 1million downloads. All are free.
• Some TV show is shown, it looks terrible it’s called Threediots. Good grief.
• Pokémon eShop apps and demos are mentioned again.
• You can get Batman Lego 2 demo in NA right now.
• New Super Mario Bros 2 will be a download game as well.
• As mentioned yesterday the focus is gold.
• Always believe in your soul.
• You’re indestructible.
• There’s more to the game than gold of course.
• You need to collect 1 million coins in the game.
• Coin Rush is a new street pass mode. It’s a speed mode with one life.
• Multiplayer is available in full game.
• That’s co-op which is available via local play.
• That’s one game, two 3DS.
• Also Raccoon Mario is in full use here.
• August 19^th release date.
• Nothing too exciting announced but seeing the games in play make me want to play it some more.
• Animal Crossing still missing in action.