It’s-a-me!
Let’s start with the obvious: nobody knows what the heck Nintendo is up to. Nobody. Not you. Not me. Not you. Nobody.
That makes this whole predictions thing all the more enjoyable because you almost have to stray from what you think you know and venture off into nonsense. Somehow, when talking about Nintendo, we simply accept there may not be a comprehensible rhyme or reason when discussing the world’s most familiar and recognizable franchises.
Just like Chewbacca, an eight-foot tall wookie, living on Endor with the ewoks – it doesn’t make sense. What does this South Park reference have to do with the Nintendo E3 Digital Event? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with the Nintendo E3 Digital Event. And with that, let’s start predicting the unpredictable.
Yahoo!
In 2014, Robot Chicken-Reggie took the clay stage and set the record straight: there would not be a new Mario game at E3. Would this be a precursor to the 2015 event – the year of Mario’s 30th birthday? Let’s look at what will have us feeling like we’re running along a row of eight-bit clouds.
New Game at World Championships
Imagine a world with this game as the bundled launch title.
Something seems off. The Nintendo World Championships don’t seem right, do they? Qualifiers in only eight cities? Have you heard anything about it since it was announced? Hardly the international tournament we’re used to. There must be something else to this.
Nintendo is exploring innovative ways to deliver exciting news about its games. This leads me to believe the Nintendo World Championships is a ruse. It is a clever attempt to trick us into thinking we’re watching a competition. Instead, the tournament finalists will have the opportunity to play a new Mario game called Super Mario U – the official sequel to Super Mario 64 – and will feature the now-classic format of jumping into paintings throughout Peach’s castle. Amiibo support will be leveraged, focusing on the current run of Super Mario Bros Amiibo, to unlock special paintings.
It’s Always Sunny in the Mushroom Kingdom
You know what The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD did really well? It made everyone forget that they didn’t really love the original game too much. The idea, art style, or the game itself. Yet the power of nostalgia coupled with unexpectedly vivid visuals made for a tremendous experience on the Wii U. Microsoft calls something this special “The Anniversary Treatment”; Nintendo calls it a standard HD remake.
With so many Nintendo titles making their way to 3DS with improved visuals, it is hard to believe Wind Waker HD is, so far, the only high definition remaster (no, Duck Tales doesn’t count). Sure, we have Majora’s Mask 3D, Star Fox 3D, and many others but the Wii U – Nintendo’s first high definition console – has missed the opportunity to be the place to play classic games with a modern sheen (though Martin Sheen was there from the beginning with Mass Effect 3: Special Edition).
But it’s not too late! Super Mario Sunshine HD will be announced for a Holiday 2015 release. It will have Amiibo support and be available with a bundled console.
Oww-wowowow
With great power (gloves) comes great responsibility – and expectations. Let’s have a look at the letdowns.
Use the brakes!…on those expectations.
Hey Einstein! 2015 ain’t happening.
To say “it seems like just yesterday” may be trite or cliche but it doesn’t feel like enough time has passed for Nintendo to have translated that Star Fox tech demo from E3 2014 into a deep, fully-realized, and balanced game. Come to think of it, we’ve seen more of the new Zelda. Nintendo will go into plenty of detail about the new Star Fox game but will ultimately announce, with apologies, it is a 2016 title.
Those details will include a full line up of Amiibo with built-in speakers like Tickle-Me-Elmo so you can hear “Do a barrel roll!” or “Thanks Fox! I thought they had me.” at the push of a button. The new yarn Yoshi Amiibo leads me to think Nintendo continues to differentiate from the Toys to Life angle we see with Skylanders or Disney Infinity.
If you’re like me, you spent most of the Nintendo 64 era playing Star Fox 64, Mario Kart 64, and/or Goldeneye 64. With friends. Star Fox U (yes I’m just assuming that’s what it will be called) will push elbows-to-elbows four-player multiplayer with co-op and battle modes. And in the way Mario Kart has successfully introduced retro tracks into recent games, Star Fox U will feature re-imagined and seamlessly integrated classic multiplayer maps.
Assuming Mario makes an enormous and surprise impact at E3 this year, the delayed Star Fox title won’t hurt Nintendo too much. If nothing else, it leaves for a heavy-hitting final year for the Wii U (more on that next year).
We think that’s fair
Even if a price drop for the Wii U is in the future, Nintendo will not use the Digital Event to announce it. If anything – and this hardly counts as a prediction – they may announce a new bundle, with more games, but the price point will remain.
Excuse me! Princess.
Nintendo will not go back on their word about no Zelda at E3 this year. It is Mario’s 30th birthday. Plus he was ostensibly absent from E3 in 2014 (noting Mario Maker…) – we’ll see enough Mario to keep us happy.
All work and no play make Mario something something.
Go crazy! There’s no way these will happen. Is there?
Mushroom Kingdom Warriors
Hyrule Warriors was just the beginnig!
Mother. Mother. Mother.
The sequel to the sequel.
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In case you missed it, check out predictions for the Microsoft and Sony E3 2015 predictions. Better yet, tweet me @seancapri and let me know what you think will happen at this year’s conference. I might even add it to the site. You can also catch me on We The Gamercast.
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