Well it's over. The greatest show on Earth is finished for this year and what a show it was!!!
Preview Weekly is moving over to an E3 SPECIAL this week for two reasons.
1. You must see everything about this year's show
and
2. This week's releases were Tamagotchi and X Men. Neither game looks particularly great.
This post will be a review of the best games from Nintendo's show this year. It will include the views of a lot of companies, and a lot more!
So just click READ MORE to enter the world of Nintendo's E3 2006 and remember to look out for the NinTyV E3 SPECIAL-COMING SOON!
FROM NoE: (Not all these games will be reviewed, only LOZ: TP, Mario Galaxy, Prime 3, LOZ: PH and SSBB. The other games will get a rating and a short comment. IF there is a game you want reviewed, just ask!)
You're going to be spoiled for choice in the months ahead, following the announcement of more than 60 games heading to Nintendo systems.
From exclusive Nintendo-published Wii games like Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Wii Sports to unique titles from a wide range of third-party publishers - for all Nintendo systems from Wii to GBA - there will be something for everyone.
Plus - the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be available on both Wii and Nintendo GameCube. Wii players can look forward to a widescreen experience and Wii Remote functionality such as sword slashing, arrow firing and even fishing! Twilight Princess will be a Wii launch title in the fourth quarter of 2006.
The list below shows the games on display at the E3 show floor but there were many other titles also announced including Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel from Ubisoft, a new Resident Evil game from Capcom, and a Trauma Center sequel from Atlus - all for Wii.
Check out the Wii and DS sections of this site for more detailed info on the Nintendo-published games shown below.
(Please note: While the following games have been announced, European releases are not yet necessarily confirmed.)
Well, this year was ruled by Nintendo. And that's a fact. I went on GAME's E3 page, and they had their favourite parts of the show and what console they thought was best. Here is what they said:
The Intarwebneterest-a-mathingy is a high tech and completely original approach to "at a glace" visual aids, allowing you to see how we in the office feel about the way E3 is shaping up for the "Big Three" in the world of consoles - PS3, Wii and Xbox 360, by utilising a complex system of sticking our names on post-it notes onto a triangle we printed out.
Now that E3 has finished we have carried out Full "Scientific" Analysis on our Intarwebneterest-a-mathingy.
Day 3: We prayed for something, anything to come along and give Sony a better show, but nothing happened. We're liking the sound of the Xbox 360 with such fantastic exclusive titles as Gears of War and Dead Rising - but the more we've seen, the more we decided we love the way of Wii.
Day 2: The opinions of the group have for the most part concentrated themselves even further towards Wii - for some a result of the character announcements made for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. One anomalous observer still thinks the X360 is the most interesting machine - but we think he might be watching a different show to us.
Day 1: So far, the greatest concentration of opinion is bunched towards the Wii side of the triangle, with perhaps equal (although obviously less) interest in Xbox 360 and PS3.
That sort of shows the opinion of EVERYONE who was at E3 who had any sense. Nintendo had and amazing show as usual, the Xbox306 had new life put into it and Sony had the worst show and console ever seen.
So what made Nintendo's show so great? Well most of it was in the pre show speech which I reviewed earlier, but the playable demos can only have helped it further. Also during the show, more games appeared including the new Smash Bros game. I will be giving my view on the game, and the giving you the opinion of NoE from the playable demo if there was one. Some games may be missed out as they are third party, or for some other reason as I am using NoEs list of games. So here we go. We'll start with the best console ever: The Wii.
Here's NoEs terminology for the Wii
"For more than 20 years, video game players have used body language to "help" them play. With Nintendo's upcoming Wii console, those movements become a real part of the play.
After grabbing the Wii Remote for the first time, hesitation gives way to concentration. Confidence builds. Excitement morphs into pure delight. And everyone watching says the same thing: "Hey - let me try!"
The wireless Wii Remote - as well as being motion sensitive - also features a rumble effect and even a built-in speaker to immerse the player even more in the game - producing sound effects such as the thwack of a tennis racket or the clash of a sword."
That sums up what it's about, and that was shown at E3.
MY VIEW: This looks like the best home console Nintendo has EVER produced. The control system is immaculate, innovative and makes everything else look so out of date. The Wii is THE console to buy, and looks set to take the world by storm.
After showing the console at E3, Nintendo decided to show one of the many attachments for the Wiimote. Instead of just a Nunchuck attachment, they showed a standard, NES esye controller. This looks very good, but I would still rather use the Wiimote and Nun-Chuck attachment.
RATING: 100%
Now onto the games, which were, well AMAZING!
The Legend of Zelda: Twighlight Princess
Unsuprisingly, Nintendo announced the Twighlight Princess would work on the Wii, but suprisingly, that it would be released for both consoles on the same day. The game's plot is the same as it was and the game looks amazing. Here is a brief synopsis as to what this game is all about.
When an evil darkness enshrouds the land of Hyrule, a young farm boy named Link must awaken the hero - and the animal - within.
* When Link travels to the Twilight Realm, he transforms into a wolf and must scour the land with the help of a mysterious girl named Midna. Using the power and unique control of the Wii console, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess features 16:9 widescreen presentation and incredibly precise aiming control using the Wii Remote.
* The Wii Remote and the Nunchuk controller are used for a variety of game activities, including fishing and special sword attacks.
* Players ride into battle against troops of foul creatures using an amazing horseback combat system, then take on massive bosses that must be seen to be believed.
* Many puzzles stand between Link and the fulfillment of his quest, so players must sharpen their wits as they hunt for weapons and items.
Game storyline:
Link, a young man raised as a wrangler in a small, rural village, is ordered by the mayor to attend the Hyrule Summit. He sets off, oblivious to the dark fate that has descended upon the kingdom. When he enters the Twilight Realm that has covered Hyrule, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. A mysterious figure named Midna helps him break free. With the aid of her magic, they set off to free the land from the shadows.
Characters:
Link, Zelda, Midna and many other characters, both new and old.
How to progress through the game:
Link must explore the vast land of Hyrule and uncover the mystery behind its plunge into darkness. As he does, he'll have to enlist the aid of friendly folk, solve puzzles and battle his way through dangerous dungeons. In the Twilight Realm, he'll have to use his wolf abilities and Midna's magic to bring light to the land.
Special powers/weapons/moves/features:
Besides his trusty sword and shield, Link will use his bow and arrows, fight while on horseback and use a wealth of other items, both new and old. Players can use the Wii Remote as a fishing pole, while a spin of the Nunchuk controller executes a spin attack.
Well that's what the game is all about, and here's my view.
MY VIEW: This game HAS been worth the wait. It look simply stunning and the control system looks amazing! This game is going to rule the world. The GC version isn't going to be as godd though due to no Wiimote.
NoE Hands-On:
For months, fans from all over the world have been dying to get their hands on what is easily the most coveted title of the 21st century so far. But trust us, it's going to be well worth the wait.
Initially in development for the Nintendo GameCube, Eiji Aounuma and his talented team of developers have been spending many extra months to turn Link's latest adventure into the true classic it deserves to be.
For while the game will be released in a version that gives you all the suspense and superb gameplay that Zelda fans have been gagging for, Twilight Princess will also launch alongside Nintendo's new console Wii in the fourth quarter of 2006 with some spectacular new features that will put you more firmly in the shoes of the green-clad hero than you could have possibly imagined.
At this year's E3, anyone lucky enough to attend can sample two different Twilight Princess experiences: the joys of fishing with the Wii Remote and the wild new ways of using familiar weaponry in a brand-new dungeon.
Anyone who enjoyed a spot of angling in Ocarina of Time's special pond - and let's face it, who didn't? - is going to be thrilled to find out all the intricacies that have gone into simulating a proper fishing experience. In Twilight Princess's fishing game, Link is joined in a rickety wooden boat by a never-before-seen female companion. Using the Nunchuck add-on, you steer the boat to a good spot and then whip out your Wii Remote much like you would a real fishing rod to start snapping up some fish.
Gently move your lure around in the water by performing little tugs with the controller, then press A and pull back to start reeling in your catch. Thanks to the speaker that's built into the Wii Remote, you'll actually hear the sound of the rod's inner mechanism, adding an extra layer of reality that immerses you even further.
But of course, Zelda is about so much more than just fishing - and it takes only a few steps into the dungeon level to satisfy that sense of adventure that has granted the series its legendary status. Built into a massive canyon, a daunting fortress awaits Link as he ventures onto solid ground, with a blue Navi-like fairy by his side.
Armoured monsters await inside, and thanks to the Wii Remote's unique capabilities you have more ways then ever to send them back to their dark realm. Press B to stab them with your sword, or perform a circular motion with the Nunchuk controller for a classic spin attack, or go all-out at wielding your sword like a true hero and slash away with life-like movements to send these goons to an early grave. Hearing the swooshing sound effects coming out of the speaker built into the Wii Remote as you swipe your trusty blade at the nearest enemy is immensely satisfying, and there's nothing like the sense of pride washing over you as you finish him off with a lethal blow to his ghastly carcass.
The intricately levelled structure of this fortress allows sneaky adversaries to shoot arrows at Link from above, but with a quick press down on the D-pad you can take out your bow and play those cowardly creatures at their own game. As you hold down on the D-pad, a cursor appears on screen, allowing you to swiftly aim at each enemy in turn, while letting go of the D-pad releases an arrow to take care of these sneaky snipers.
Another cool feature exhibited in this level involves the use of the familiar iron boots. Hidden inside the fortress is a switch that allows Link to set an enormous magnetic contraption in motion; don the heavy footwear in the appropriate place and Hyrule's number one hero will be swept up into the sky until his feet lock onto the magnet and his upside down position grants him a brand-new perspective for taking out enemies.
It's clear that what's on show at this year's E3 is only scratching the surface of the vast adventure that awaits, but these brief examples already show that Link certainly has some fantastic new tricks up his sleeve. Let's face it, the wait for Twilight Princess just became a little harder...
RATING: 99%
Mario Galaxy:
When this was shown, I can guarantee that the first thought from everyone was:
Is this Mario 128?
And I hope the answer is YES. Here is a brief synopsis of it:
The ultimate Nintendo hero is taking the ultimate step... out into space. Join Mario as he ushers in a new era of video games, defying gravity across all the planets in the galaxy.
* Shake, tilt and point! Mario takes advantage of all the unique aspects of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller, unleashing new moves as players shake the controller and even point at and drag items with the pointer.
* Mario essentially defined the 3-D platforming genre with Super Mario 64, and this game proves once again that he is king. Players perform mind-bending, low-gravity jumps across wild alien terrain as they experience platforming for a new generation.
Game storyline: When some creature escapes into space with Princess Peach, Mario gives chase, exploring bizarre planets all across the galaxy.
Characters: Mario, Peach and enemies new and old.
How to progress through the game: Players run, jump and battle enemies as they explore all the planets in the galaxy. Since this game makes full use of all the features of the Wii Remote, players have to do all kinds of things to succeed: pressing buttons, swinging the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk, and even pointing at and dragging things with the pointer.
Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Since he's in space, Mario can perform mind-bending jumps unlike anything he's done before. He'll also have a wealth of new moves that are all based around tilting, pointing and shaking the Wii Remote.
MY VIEW: Although this is a bit of a change from the Mario formula, he's in space, this looks pretty good. Hopefully this will be Mario 128, and hopefully it won't disappoint like Sunshine did. The graphics look brilliant and the Wiimote looks et to give you the best control of Mario ever.
NoE Hands-On:
One of the highlights of the Nintendo E3 media briefing was a glimpse at a brand new Mario game for Wii - Super Mario Galaxy. But a glimpse was all you got...
Luckily for you, we managed to get a proper playtest of the game on the E3 show floor - and we were literally over the moon!
First off, it plays fantastically. You control Mario's movement with the Nunchuk and jump with the A button on the Wii Remote. By moving the Wii Remote in a circular motion, Mario spins around with his arms outstretched; and if you do this in bushes, coins pop out. If you do it in special star markers, you are launched into space.
But as well as jumping with the Wii remote, you can use it to interact with the game world - rustling bushes to uncover goodies and pulling on a giant stretchy plant and using it to catapult you to another planet. Very cool.
There are all kinds of different planets that you can launch to; each with gravity that allows you to walk around the surface - even upside-down - without falling off. In one level we played, there was a star marker trapped inside a cage. We had to use ourselves as bait to lure Bullet Bills towards the cage and smash it open - blasting ourselves into space once more.
As well as the flaming monster seen at the media briefing, we found a planet where we had to defeat a huge robot. While avoiding the robot's giant legs, and more Bullet Bills, we wondered how to defeat it. But once he put a foot down, we walked up it and found that his legs are almost like an obstacle course. Like the old-school challenges in Super Mario Sunshine, where Mario has to manage without his backpack, the robot's legs were full of cog wheels and tricky jumps.
We managed to climb to the top where we needed to guide Bullet Bills to a shiny part of the robot's head, and after a few hits he was a goner - earning us a Star.
With our demo time over, we were left very impressed, by both the innovative control method with the Wii Remote and the graphics which were incredibly smooth with great lighting effects all-round.
We'll be keeping an eye on our telescopes to watch Super Mario Galaxy's progress with bated breath.
RATING: 98%
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
This is the last game of the Prime series, and looks set to be the best. Shown at the pre E3 speech, Nintendo made sure this looked as amazing as it is going to play. Here is a brief synopsis of it:
If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo's revolutionary controller.
* Players control Samus by moving with the Nunchuk controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a level of immersion unlike anything they have ever experienced. Through the eyes of Samus, players experience a quantum leap in first-person control as they wield the Wii Remote, the ultimate device for the first-person shooter genre.
* Samus will employ well-known power-ups like the Grapple Beam and Morph Ball, as well as a bunch of new surprises, to help her survive her coming trials.
Game storyline: The Galactic Federation's Base Sector Zero is under attack by Space Pirates. Samus must boot up the generator to restore the defence systems. But at the end of her path, someone awful is waiting for her.
Characters: Samus, Dark Samus, the Galactic Federation and many new bounty hunters.
How to progress through the game: The war initiated by Dark Samus and the Space Pirates rages across many planets as they attempt to corrupt each with Phazon seeds. Players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to explore alien landscapes, hunt for weapons and information, and destroy the seeds. Saving the planets from Corruption isn't enough, though. Eventually, players must take down Samus' mortal enemy, Dark Samus.
Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Besides using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to pull off amazing feats like aiming and blasting in midair or at a full run, players also will have an array of different weapons at their disposal. In true Metroid fashion, these will become powered up as the game progresses. Not only that, but the controller will be used for a number of other game elements beyond the traditional first-person shooter standards.
MY VIEW: This looks amazing. The graphics look real and I can guarantee you be drawn into the game. The Wiimote is perfect for Metroid or an FPS. This is going to be amazing. There is nothing else to say.
NoE Hands-On:
Anyone wondering just how pretty Wii games can look, cast your eyes to the visual splendour that is this thrilling conclusion to the Metroid Prime trilogy. Not a team to settle for style over substance, the developers at Retro Studios have gone all-out to tailor the first-person shooter adventure to show off magnificently how Wii is expanding the definition of gaming.
With story details kept firmly under wraps for the time being, the playable demo at this year's E3 is strictly focused on giving you a taste of what it will be like to explore new spaces, as if it weren't Samus Aran but you wearing that trusted power suit.
Movement in the jaw-droppingly gorgeous space station is controlled by the Nunchuk attachment, while the Wii Remote allows you to look around in all directions and fire your arm cannon. Two sensitivity settings have been included to cater for the speed needs of experts as well as beginners who prefer to take things more slowly.
Similarly, you can use the Z-button to lock onto a target to make blasting at Space Pirates just a little bit easier, but thanks to the precision of the Wii Remote veterans will soon notice that accuracy is all in the wrist, making for a far more satisfying experience as you delve deeper into hostile territory.
This previously unheard-of pinpoint precision is clearly one of Corruption's key selling points, and is sure to persuade PC shooter fans to join a new era of console first-person shooters. Yet on top of the sublime controls comes a plethora of innovative features that could only come from the clever inner workings of the Wii Remote.
Press A to grab a door handle and see Samus' hand performing the action on screen, then pull back the controller to pull out the handle, and twist it sideways to open the lock. The Nunchuk attachment lets you use the Grapple Beam to cast powerful rays of solid energy onto barriers and then break them open by yanking back the Nunchuk.
Smooth, reflective metal surfaces, incredible lighting and explosions, combined with highly realistic fog effects on your visor are a treat for the eyes. Other highlights on show include a vertical Morph Ball maze where flying red droids take carefully aimed pot-shots at you and flipping wall panels try to push you out of the maze.
Perhaps most impressive of all in the version we played was a stand-off between Samus and a band of Space Pirates on the roof of an enemy structure located in a mountain valley teeming with trees. With the advanced enemy AI allowing the intergalactic s***** to avoid your attacks by hiding behind indestructible barriers, this turns into a ferocious shootout calling upon all your tactics to become the sole survivor.
We get the feeling there is plenty more to discover, so keep an eye on our E3 site as we go below the surface and find out what other surprises Samus' first outing on the Wii has in store.
RATING: 98%
Super Smash Bros: BRAWL
We all wondered when Nintendo's Speech finished: Where was Super Samsh Bros Wii? The answer game on the last day of E3. Smash Bros was going onto Wii, but there was no playable demo, only a trailer. Which was brilliant. There are also a load of new characters, including some guy from Kirby, Zero Suit Samus and Solid Snake. Yes, you read right, Solid Snake is in BRAWL.
MY VIEW: Smash Bros is on Wii, and in style! The graphics look amazing and we can only imagine how the Wiimote will add to the experience. An amazing game!
NoE NEWS:
Hundreds of journalists from across the world gathered in the theatre of the Los Angeles Convention Center for a roundtable interview with Shigeru Miyamoto. The subject: Wii game development.
But little did they know there was a big surprise in store. In fact, there were two...
Miyamoto started off by asking the audience to join him in saying the word "Wii" which everyone managed with plenty of enthusiasm (so no more worries about that name, then).
Miyamoto explained that Nintendo is not in competition with other companies, only with other forms of entertainment. He said gamers might need to re-adjust when playing Wii (he called it 'resetting the game') as they've been used to playing with old style controls for so long. Wii will effectively put gamers and non-gamers on the same level, he said.
Then came surprise number one: the unveiling of Super Smash Bros. Brawl! A jaw-dropping trailer sent the crowd wild as familiar Smash Bros. characters like Mario and Link were joined by Wario, Metaknight from Kirby, Pit from Kid Icarus and 'Zero Suit Samus' (the blue suit-less Samus from Metroid: Zero Mission). There was even a glimpse of a Nintendog!
But just when everyone thought the trailer was over, came surprise number two: a Codec conversation from Metal Gear Solid. At first, the crowd seemed to think it was a joke but when they realised that in fact Solid Snake is also in the game, the crowd erupted with joy.
Miyamoto was then joined on stage by Smash Bros.' director Masahiro Sakurai, who revealed that even more new characters are under consideration. He asked the crowd who they think should be a new character. Responses ranged from Sonic the Hedgehog, to Pikmin's Captain Olimar to even Nintendo President Mr Iwata!
Miyamoto then talked more about Super Mario Galaxy, revealing how it allows more players to play together. For example, one player could control Mario with the Nunchuk, while another influences the game world with the Wii Remote (either by co-operating with or obstructing Mario). Miyamoto said it could even be possible for more players to join in with additional Wii Remotes to influence the game world around Mario.
When asked if Super Mario Galaxy will be ready for Wii's launch, Miyamoto was hesitant; saying that he hopes so, but possibly not. 'Within six months after launch, for sure,' he added.
The conversation turned back to Super Smash Bros. Brawl which, we're told, will launch in 2007 and will probably play like a GameCube game, not making use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk setup, to keep things simple and playable. 'So don't throw away your GameCube controllers yet!' said Sakurai.
We were also told that Smash Bros will include Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection gameplay, but it's not yet clear how this will work. Four-player Vs play is possible, but other options are being considered too.
Sakurai also said that he wants the game's single-player mode to be even better than in the GameCube version. When he created the original version for Nintendo 64, he explained, he wanted to make it a good single-player game too, but there was not enough time. The single-player gameplay improved with the GameCube version, but for the Wii he intends to include a lot more for solo players to do.
When asked about how Solid Snake came to be on board, Sakurai explained that when he was making Super Smash Bros. Melee, he was called by Hideo Kojima (creator of Metal Gear Solid) who asked him to include Snake as a playable character; but by then it was too late. So when Super Smash Bros. Brawl came up, Snake got his chance.
Miyamoto added that the decision to include Snake was made in a personal chat, not a business agreement. But, he said, other non-Nintendo characters could be included and possibly there are some discussions already going on about that subject.
When asked which moves Snake will have, Sakurai said that he doesn't want him to have a gun, but explosive weapons like a rocket launcher would be cool. And, he added with a grin, 'He'll have his cardboard box!'
Finally we're told that a special website has been set up for fans to keep an eye on the game's progress. 'Smash Bros. Dojo' is available in English and Japanese at
www.smashbros.com, where you can see the trailer and the first screenshots from this hard-hitting new Wii title.
RATING: 99%
Well, the Wii is great. That's all there is to it. I can't wait. And with a snippet of Wi-Fi news from the BRAWL game, the Wii could be the best console - not only fro gaming in your home, but also online!
NINTENDO DS
You may think that Nintendo concentrated on the Wii this year, but the DS is still Nintendo's console to get people working on. There were loads of good games, but I will be reviewing LOZ: PH!
Here's what Nintendo of Europe said about the DS:
For 18 months, hundreds of thousands of new players have joined together to disrupt the portable video game market. They proudly identify themselves as owners of Nintendo DS, Nintendo's remarkable hand-held system that continues to overturn traditional thinking.
As the movement grows and becomes stronger, developers worldwide have taken notice. Both new and traditional players will be well-served in 2006, as more than 100 new games of all kinds hit the market for Nintendo DS.
Plus, with the upcoming release of Nintendo DS Lite - the smaller, sleeker version of the best-selling system - Nintendo DS is set to go from strength to strength; taking handheld gaming into a new era of style and substance.
And now, LOZ PH!
The Legend of Zelda: Pahntom Hourglass
It's easy to forget about this game with all the hype about the Wii game. But Pahntom Hourglass is still here, and it looks better than ever. Here is a brief synopsis:
The epic story of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker continues as Link finds himself lost and alone in unknown seas in a new adventure. Featuring intuitive touch-screen controls and innovative puzzles, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass offers new challenges for fans of the series and an easy-to-grasp introduction for gamers new to The Legend of Zelda. But time grows short, and only the Phantom Hourglass can buy Link the minutes he'll need to survive.
- The stylus makes controlling Link easier than ever. Tap on the screen to make Link move, or sweep the stylus around him to swing the sword. Players can even draw a path for his boomerang and send it flying into hard-to-reach targets.
- Players can stash the map on the top screen for quick reference or drop it to the touch screen to make notes, study enemies, or chart a path for their boat to follow while they man the cannons.
- Compete with a friend over a local wireless connection: Guide Link through special dungeons to capture the Triforce, or command the forces that oppose him.
Game storyline: Many months have passed since the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and Link, Tetra and Tetra's band of pirates have set sail in search of new lands. They come across a patch of ocean covered in a dense fog, in which they discover an abandoned ship. Tetra falls into danger when she explores the ship alone, and Link falls into the ocean when he attempts to rescue her. When he washes up unconscious on the shores of a mysterious island, he is awakened by the sound of a fairy's voice. With the aid of this fairy, he sets off to find Tetra - and his way back to the seas he once knew.
Characters: Link, Tetra and a host of new characters native to the mysterious lands where Link finds himself trapped.
How to progress through the game: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is controlled almost entirely by the stylus. Using the touch screen, players direct Link's movements and attacks: A sweeping motion triggers Link's spin attack and tapping characters makes Link speak with them. The stylus controls offer a more intuitive means of playing the game and open up new possibilities for puzzle solving.
The game action takes place primarily on the touch screen, with a map on the top screen. However, the player can inspect the map on the touch screen and make notes using the stylus. The notes on these maps are saved for review on the top screen during game play. Players use the map to chart courses for their ships, too. Using the stylus to draw a path through the islands, players set their ships' courses. Then, as the ships automatically follow the paths drawn, players can control their ships' cannons to target oncoming enemies.
In dungeons, players can use the touch screen to draw paths for boomerangs, sending them flying around corners or into otherwise unreachable areas.
Special powers/weapons/moves/features: The stylus-driven game play is the most compelling new feature of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Players use the stylus to control Link, chart courses for their ships, mark notes on maps and solve puzzles in both the overworld and dungeons.
A two-player wireless battle mode pits one player, as Link, against another player who controls the enemies pursuing him. Link must collect enough Force Gems before the enemies close in.
MY VIEW: GREAT! The Wind Waker plot continues! I always wanted to know what happened when they all sailed off at the end, and now we know! This game looks set to use everything the DS was made for, and then even more! This could be the second best Zelda game ever; behing Twighlight Princess of course!
NoE Hands-On:
We've been wanting to get our hands on the first Legend of Zelda for DS ever since it was announced. And the result was well worth the wait.
With graphics very reminiscent of The Wind Waker, and a similar sea-faring theme, the Phantom Hourglass demo showed snippets from sailing, boss and dungeon levels, among others.
To sail Link's boat, you simply draw your course on the map shown on the touch screen (avoiding obstacles like rocks). While in motion you can slide the stylus around to view your surroundings, shown in gorgeous 3D. But there is a serious side to this action, as you must use it to spot enemies that pop up out of the ocean - firing cannonballs at them by tapping the targets with the stylus.
We couldn't resist a look at the boss level, which took place across both DS screens. The boss itself - a giant flying squid - hovered on the top screen, out of reach, but we soon figured out what to do. By throwing bombs into small tornados we could hit the boss and bring him down to the lower screen - where we got in a few sword slashes by tapping him furiously with the stylus.
We got a quick look at a dungeon level too. Moving Link, attacking and picking up or throwing items is all handled with a few drags and taps of the stylus. Making a circular motion causes Link to do a spin attack and throwing the boomerang simply means drawing its path on the touch screen.
Navigating through dungeons is a doddle, too. A map is shown permanently on the top screen, which you can pull down to the touch screen and scribble notes on, just like if you had a pen and paper. You can mark anything you want, like the location of items you don't know how to reach yet.
With so many cool DS features and a new storyline to delve into, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is shaping up very nicely indeed.
RATING: 98%
The DS is by no means gone, and this year will prove that once and for all!
Well that's it!
E3 is gone, and so is my review. I hope you enjoyed it, and remember to leave some feedback on it. Now all we can do is wait for the Wii.
Is it time yet?