Not one to benefit from a trip to the much talked about
E3 video game conference, I managed to get a little taste of what is to come from Nintendo. In an exclusive preview of their holdings
Nintendo Canada created a small but comfortable gathering they called
E3 North.
Showcasing the new Wii Sports Resort, a new DSi Zelda game, and their new sports package for Wii Fit, there was a lot of excitement in the packed room. I honestly was not expecting much from the game and the new ultra sensitive expansion for the Wii-mote, but found all their mini games instantly playable and a lot of fun. Improving on the sword play we first saw in Red Steel, the new add-on follows your movements more organically, responding to a player's movements and intentions better than before.
With an air plane exploring option, that lets you unlock new areas of the resort, you get a retro throw back to super Nintendo's Pilot Wings. The games are involving, though they are not nearly as strenuous as the ones offered on the Wii Fit titles. The games themselves feel like they are the ones you were missing from the Wii Fit's original game.
Wii Sports Resort VIDEO
I have to say I loved the archery game. Being some what proficient at it in high school, I found that I was better at the video game version. Decidedly family orientated, even the possible death and violence that air combat might bring is countered by playful sound effects, parachutes, and what one representative described as "harmless Nintendo lasers."
The Wii Fit plus demo that was shown has a few more arcade style balance games, one that is like an advanced pin ball game, and my favorite, the point, duck and shoot snowball game.
All the offerings seem to follow "party game" format, and allow instant playability. Nintendo certainly knows how to leverage their system, and encourage gamers to purchase their add-ons.
With their new Super Mario Wii game, the side scrolling play is very retro, but makes full use of the Wii-mote during game play. It is bound to attract gamers who remember the original title for the NES, as well as those new to the system.