Okay, so E3 is now concluded.
As a result of this, I now have absolute mobility in prowling around the web and finding out information on the various exciting titles announced.
First, we’ll start with the forerunner of the portables: the Nintendo DS.
Star Fox DS Release date: Unknown A whole new installment in Nintendo’s popular Star Fox franchise, and the first Star Fox game ever released on a portable. The overall appearance of the game is comparable to Star Fox 64 with a few noticeable changes. In one of the trailers available on IGN, you can see various ships (other than Arwings) being used. This begs the question if we are being offered custom ship building (to an extent) or if there will just be an armada of ships available for a potential Wi-Fi multiplayer mode. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Wi-Fi - possibly with voice chat. That way, whenever I blow up Brian I can yell “Do a barrel roll!” Wicked.
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin Release Date: TBA 2006 Although announced prior to E3 2006, the industry trade show granted us a much more intimate look with the next foray into vampire slaying. I’ve already delved into much of the information here, however, you still might want to check out IGN for some trailers of this game in action. It looks like another must have for the Nintendo DS. I know I’m psyched.
Diddy Kong Racing Release Date: Unknown When this title was announced - albeit in the briefest of manners - I was impressed and ecstatic. Discovering that it may be a direct port of the N64 racing game was slightly disappointing, but with an unannounced release period, Rare has plenty of time to add in tons of new features, races, and vehicles. For those who don’t remember the game from the N64, Diddy Kong racing was like a partial heir to Mario Kart, offering the same quirky gameplay with an interesting twist: three different types of playable vehicles. Regular karts, hovercrafts, and planes were available in this fun racer from Rare, and I can only hope they deliver the same gaming on the Nintendo DS.
Children of Mana Release Date: Still Unknown!! Part of the much-anticipated World of Mana project, Children of Mana follows along the storyline vein of Sword of Mana and Secret of Mana, once again throwing us into the world of thriving thanks to the Mana Tree. Although this game has been in the gaming eye for a while now, and has already released in Japan, North American gamers are still left without any word on a Stateside release. The game looks fantastic, and has me craving its presence already (even if they did dispose of the rumoured WiFi multiplayer quests before the Japanese release). When this game finally does get here, you should all be buying it. Check out some screens, and see why Square Enix does RPGs best.
Final Fantasy III Release Date: Unknown (Japanese Release: December 31, 2006) A re-release of the original NES classic from Squaresoft (now Square Enix) but updated with beautiful 3D graphics to pump the experience up a notch. Definitely a testament to the previous statement that “Square Enix does RPGs best”
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates Release Date: Unknown A continuation of the Gamecube Final Fantasy franchise, the dual releases of Crystal Chronicles (Crystal Bearers and Ring of Fates) titles on the Wii and DS offers up some interesting prospects for connectivity. Moreover, online multiplayer will make this title a must have for any RPG fan. WiFi is much more convenient than the days of old, where four guys would sit in a room with a Gamecube and antique Game Boy Advances playing the game.
Big Brain Academy Release Date: June 5, 2006 Nintendo continues to release their popular Brain games Stateside, hoping to make an ongoing trend of “non-game” releases for the little portable that could. The newest game does not rate the “age” of your brain, but rather, the “weight”. Through 5 different challenges and 8 players supported from a single card, you can compete to see who has the bigger brain? It’s much safer than cutting open eachother’s skulls and actually weighing your brains, so, that’s a plus.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team Release Date: Unknown (Already out in Japan) An interesting experiment in the world of Pokemon, where you play as a human who has been transformed into one of these cuddly creatures through methods unknown. As a result, the game is played with a party of Pokemon (who you can now talk to) and you go around the world in traditional RPG fashion. Nothing TOO extraordinary, except for the interesting twist on redundant Pokemon game mechanics. It is peculiar, but this title may draw me back into that sick, sick world. Good Lord, how can you ever win? Your enemy can just use a Pokeball on you.
Kirby DS Release Date: Unknown Finally, after an incredibly long period of sub-par Kirby games - coughAir Ridecough - Kirby is being brought back in full force on the Nintendo DS. The upper screen houses the action while the lower screen appears to be…Kirby’s stomach. The rumour mill says the Touch Screen can be used to take Kirby’s captured abilities and combine them for interesting combinations to further gameplay. All in all, any Kirby game is a good Kirby game. I mean, how can it not be? It’s Kirby.
Yoshi’s Island 2 Release Date: Unknown A sequel to what some call the “greatest platformer of all time”, Yoshi’s Island 2 is going to encompass both screens of the Nintendo DS (without all the touch screen gimmicks other titles use). It looks pretty interesting, and is said to feature not only Baby Mario, but Baby Peach and Baby Donkey Kong as well. Should be an interesting foray into the life of a babysitting dinosaur with red shoes.
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Release Date: TBA 2006 The sequel to Wind Waker. Looks absolutely stunning. I hope they release it tomorrow. I mean, what more can I say? Classic Zelda gaming, with Wind Waker’s quirky graphics and the first competent uses of the touch screen since Meteos! You can write on your map (a feature I would have liked in Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrows), you can trace the path of your boomerang, and all sorts of interesting touch screen treats. BUY IT!