Reactions to Nintendo's E3 2012 Showing

Nintendo's E3 2012 was held last week, and it was neat to see all of the games that are coming up for the Wii U, not to mention that the console itself looks pretty awesome. I loved the way that Miyamoto came up on the stage and introduced the new Pikmin 3 game, and look forward to playing it; with its rich graphics, it's sure to be a joyful gameplaying experience.

Also introduced was NintendoLand, a game with a theme-park feel that featured various attractions based on famous Nintendo franchises such as Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Luigi's Mansion, etc. In addition to the mini-game attractions that were demoed at E3, there are said to be another 10 Nintendo franchise themed attractions that you will be able to experience within NintendoLand. NintendoLand showcases the many ways that the new Wii U Gamepad controller can be utilized in gameplay, and as such, it would make a great game to include as a pack-in title with the new Wii U console at the system's launch.

In an effort not to leave Mario fans out in the cold at the Wii U system release and this holiday season, Nintendo also showcased three new Mario games and one Luigi game that will be available by year's end: the Midas-touched Super Mario Bros. 2 for the 3DS, Super Mario Bros U for the new Wii U console, Paper Mario: Sticker Star for the 3DS, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for the 3DS. I'm personally excited about all of these games, and have all but the Super Mario Bros U already pre-ordered (that one wasn't available when I pre-ordered the other games, but is definitely going on my pre-order list soon).

One title I (and many others apparently!) was looking forward to hearing about at E3 was the Animal Crossing: Jump Out game for the Nintendo 3DS. This game was first announced at E3 2010 and since then, Nintendo has teased us with videos showcasing the many new features, opportunities and gameplay that are available with this newly minted version of a Nintendo beloved franchise. Although we did say Animal Crossing gameplay demoed in the form of a mini-game in the Animal Crossing Sweet Day portion of NintendoLand for the Wii U, there was not one demo, screenshot, updated trailer, or release date for the Animal Crossing 3DS game. This was highly disappointing, as we have heard that our Japanese friends will be getting the game released to them in the Fall of this year. Us Animal Crossing fans assumed that we were going to at least get a few more gameplay videos and a release date window for the game at E3, but to not get an ounce of information is quite unfathomable. Hopefully Nintendo has heard our collective cries for more info on this game, and will be forthcoming with additional gameplay footage and release date info soon. We're counting on you, Nintendo!

In addition to the games mentioned above, there were actually quite a few games mentioned at E3 2012 that will be released at the time of the launch of the Wii U; here's a listing of the launch title lineup:

Pikmin 3
New Super Mario Bros. U
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Darksiders 2
Mass Effect 3
TANK! TANK! TANK!
Tekken Tag Tournment 2
Trine 2: Director’s Cut
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
Aliens Colonial Marines
Wii Fit U
Sing!
LEGO City: Undercover
Just Dance 4
ZombiU
The Avengers: Battle for Earth
Assassin’s Creed III
Rayman Legends
Rabbids Land
YourShape: Fitness Evolved 2013

Looks like there's something for everyone!

All in all, the E3 conference was a success, and Nintendo definitely had the best showing of any of the gaming giants that showcased their wares at E3. We're sure to hear more about the Wii U, 3DS and their associated games in the next few months leading up to their holiday release -- looking forward to hearing every bit of it!