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Christmas in Nintendoland: The Tokyo Conference

Posted by Bob Mackey



If you were a bit disappointed by Nintendo's poor showing at E3, the company's recent Tokyo press conference should make you very, very happy.  While their announcements were nothing mindblowing--though that's to be debated--it was nice to see that, despite the rumors, Nintendo hasn't forgotten about their fans.  Here's a brief trailer of some future Wii software that should leave you drooling for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. It also has footage of the Klonoa remake I wrote about yesterday:



So what exactly do we have here? In total, it looks like we're going to see new versions of Sin and Punishment, Tales of, Trace Memory, and most importantly, Punch-Out. I'm personally excited by the last announcement because, with the instant recognition and appeal of Punch-Out, it's strange that Nintendo really hasn't done anything with the franchise since the SNES sequel, Super Punch-Out.  And I may get beaten mercilessly for this, but Super Punch-Out was a much better game than the original; the same basic gameplay was intact, but in a bigger, prettier, and slightly more complex form.  Obviously, there're some interesting things you can do with the Wii-mote in a boxing game--and I assume they'll try a little harder than the slightly-lousy boxing offered in Wii Sports.

I would have really loved to see a new Zelda or Mario announced--or hell, just a Super Mario Galaxy expansion pack--but any big news like this Nintendo would undoubtedly save for TGS. That's my secret wish, anyway. I'm not going to hold my breath for another cel-shaded Zelda game, but that seems more plausible than it would have been a few years ago. Wind Waker 2, anyone?

Related Links:

E3 Day Two: Spin, Malaise, Sony’s New Clothes, and Nintendo’s True Disruption
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Nintendo Fred's Sweet Revenge


Comments

Alex said:

Is Nintendo showing stuff at TGS? I thought they avoided the show in recent years.

Punch-Out is a big deal for old-school Nintendo fanboys, and I'm excited. I had hoped that the oft-rumored Kid Icarus game would finally make an appearance, but oh well.

I would bet that there will be a new Zelda announcement by the next E3, but probably not at TGS. I hope I'm wrong.

October 2, 2008 11:15 AM

Amber Ahlborn said:

Lots of interesting looking stuff there.  Of the titles you specifically listed I'm most excited about a sequel to Sin and Punishment.  I own the original game (my one and only import, modded the cart by switching its back with the back of my Castlevania 64 cart).  Sin and Punishment is an awesome rail shooter and would suit the Wii pointer perfectly.

October 2, 2008 11:25 AM

Demaar said:

Yes please to Cel shaded Zelda. Or at least make up your mind whether you want it cartoony or realistic (not half and half like TP).

October 4, 2008 11:45 AM

About Bob Mackey

For a brief period of time I was Bull from TV's Night Court, but some of you may know me from the humor column I wrote for Youngstown State University's The Jambar, Kent State University's The Stater, and Youngstown's alternative newspaper, The Walruss. I'm perhaps most well-known for my bi-weekly pieces on Something Awful. I've also blogged for Valley24.com and have written articles for EGM, 1UP, GameSpite and Cracked. For all of my writing over the years, I have made a total of twenty American dollars. It's also said that I draw cartoons, which people have described with words such as "legible." I kidnapped the Lindbergh Baby and am looking to do so again in the future.

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