In only three
weeks it's once again time for hype, exaggerated expectations and
lots and lots of CGI-Trailer, which don't show anything about the
actual game. That's right, it's this time of the year again. As a
gaming fan e3 is your Christmas. Except for Christmas, which is also
Christmas. But I digress.
After a e3 2016
showing that was good, but rather limited, Nintendo seems to intend
to come back with a vengeance this year. It all starts on Tuesday
with the Nintendo Spotlight, which most likely is just a new name for
the Digital Events of the last couple of years. And after that for
the entire duration of e3 we will be treated to hours upon hours of
livestreams from the Treehouse Team as well as an ARMS and Splatoon
tournament.
So far Nintendo
has done everything right with the Switch and it doesn't like they
plan to slow down.
But what can we as
Fans truly expect from their e3 showing? Super Mario Odyssey will be
the star of the show, that is for sure. And certainly Xenoblade 2 and
Fire Emblem Warriors will be at the show too. But what unannounced
games can and should we expect? Well I can't give you a definitive
answer to that question, but I can give you my Top 5 announcement
wishes for e3 2017. If even one of these games will be announced I
probably considered this e3 a success regardless of the rest.
5: F-Zero:
We start with a
pretty easy pick. It has been fourteen years since the release of
F-Zero GX for the Nintendo Gamecube. This is a damn shame because the
game was one of the best futuristic racers of all time. It was also
hard as fuck, but that only added to its charme. The abstinence of
Captain Falcon has left a pretty huge hole for futuristic racing,
which nowadays is filled by the capable hands of Shin'en with Fast
RMX, but there is still room for more. Especially if it's the
original that returns.
Something that has
always been special about the F-Zero Franchise was the fact that it
told an intriguing story. Nowadays you're lucky if your racing game
contains a mission mode or any other form of single player content.
That's why I think a proper F-Zero return is long overdue.
And of course
there is the unprecedented feeling of speed and intensity that I
associate with that franchise. No other future racer manages to catch
it quite like F-Zero. When you race through an active volcano with
800kmh and know that one wrong bump can destroy your vehicle and all
your hopes and dreams... it's just incredibly intense. And that's why
F-Zero should return. Even only as a smaller Download Title would be
ok.
4: Mario Maker
Now to make
something clear from the get got. I'm not talking about a simple port
like the 3DS Version. I'm talking about a new game or at the very
least a greatly enhanced port. Mario Maker has been one of the most
genius ideas Nintendo has ever had. They gave us the tools to create
our ideal Mario experience and also helped us find out that Level
Design is fucking hard. They truly created a game which can provide
endless fun (and frustration.)
But even though
Mario Maker was great it was also lacking in just as many
departments. While I was pretty happy with the selection of graphical
styles I missed things like Winter, Desert, Beach or Forest Themes.
As well as level elements like slopes lava or water pits and other
similar obstacles. Of course Mario Maker already contains loads of
ways to create your ultimate level, and the community has proven that
the only limit is your imagination, but I can't help but feel curious
about what could be possible with even more.
3: Bayonetta 3
Make it happen
Nintendo. Pay Platinum Games whatever they need and make the next
installment in one of the best action series to ever grace the face
of this planet.
Sorry got a little
bit of track here. But honestly Nintendo truly should work together
with Platinum to create a new Bayonetta game. While the second one
hasn't been a huge financial success it was still a high profile
title for the Wii-U and got a lot of attention. And of course it was
a very good game winning multiple game of the year awards.
Nintendo has
always struggled to unite Casual and Hardcore Fans behind their
product. The Wii burned a lot of bridges with the Hardcore Crowd and
the Wii-U tried to please both fanbases and utterly failed. But with
the Switch I think it's possible. The appeal of the console speaks to
both kind of gamers and with a diverse and unique game line-up it
could become THE console to have. No matter what playstyle you
prefer. Bayonetta 3 would be a strong incense to buy the system for
any hardcore gamer.
2: Donkey Kong
Now I will admit
this a completely selfish wish by me, but hey it's my list. It is no
secret that my favorite Wii-U Game apart from Breath of the Wild is
without a doubt Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. While many
moaned that Retro didn't develop a Metroid game, but instead opted to
do this, I was completely overjoyed. The original Trilogy on the SNES
is amongst my favorite games of all time, especially the second one.
And the return to from on the Wii was an amazing game too. So when
the familiar drums where sounded during e3 2013 I had a smile from
ear to ear.
And the end
product was simply amazing. Tropical Freeze is the best 2D
Plattformer I have ever played. The worlds and levels overflow with
character and love for details. Retro managed to make these levels
truly feel alive. They are not just segmented plattforming
challenges, but feel like they're part of a much larger world. To me
Tropical Freeze reached heights in level and world design that not
even Mario could. It took me for a ride from Mangrove forests,
through the Swiss Alps and the Savannah, across a fruity jungle and
finally into a beautiful, but deadly frozen world. I can't help but
feel excited thinking about what Retro would create on the Switch.
What amazing adventure would be possible.
With a great
looking HD Engine already in place and the Switch being easy to
develop for, I'm sure Retro could manage to create a new Donkey Kong
game with a small team, while the main studio works on another
project. Speaking of...
1: Metroid
Was there ever any
doubt that this would take number 1. It has been far too long since
the last time we saw Samus. And I mean saw her properly. While I
never hated Federation Force like the rest of the internet, I also
felt let down by it.
All the way
through the Wii-Us lifespan I waited for a Metroid announcement, but
looking back now I can see that the circumstances were never
promising enough for Samus return. As much as some of you may think
otherwise Metroid Games aren't System Sellers. Yes they are beloved
and critically praised, but they never sold too much. Even Metroid
Prime 3: Corruption, which was released on the Wii, only sold 1.79
Million Units worldwide.
But as far as
publicity goes a return of Samus would probably garner as much
interest as a new Zelda or Mario title. Because even though she may
have never sold as much as the aforementioned two, whenever someone
talks about the Big 3 of Nintendo Metroid is most certainly
mentioned. Also from the three franchises Metroid is most certainly
the most ''hardcore''.
Nintendos current
goal with the Switch should be to get the Hardcore gaming crowd on
board. Because after the 3rd Party and general fail of the
Wii-U many are still cautious. And if they want the Switch to have a
long life they need Hardcore fans. Announcing a new Metroid Title
would a sure way of showing these players that they too will have
something to play on your system.
And I really want
to see a new Metroid title. I mean it has been 7 years already...
again.
What is on your
wishlist for this years e3? Maybe a new Kid Icarus game or a
successor to Mario RPG? Whatever it is let me know in the comments
below.
And as always
thanks for reading
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