The new trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Cheers!

Two days, too much to cover...but I'll try

Update: Here are the links to a handful of new trailers Nintendo has released at E3:
Paper Mario
Mario Kart
Animal Crossing
Super Mario
Ocarina of Time 3D

I'll get straight to it today: starting with the brand-new eShop for Nintendo 3DS. With this important system update, Nintendo offered 3DS users everywhere two free downloads. The first is 3D Classics: Excite Bike. The original NES title remains untouched except for the addition of 3D depth. And it just so happens that a cool 3D trick comes into play: as the player moves the 3D depth slider, the whole background image shifts along with the depth itself.

The second piece of free Nintendo goodness is the Pokedex 3D. Users will start out with a limited amount of Pokemon data, but more can be obtained through SpotPass and by other means. Pokemon can be viewed in full 3D and can also be placed in the real world through augmented reality. Also included is comprehensive info on each acquired Pokemon: types, stats, and moves are just a few examples of what players can expect.

As if that didn't take up enough space, those little tidbits are nothing compared to the flood of new details revealed from Nintendo's E3 media conference, which took place Tuesday morning. Here goes:

2011 is The Legend of Zelda 25th anniversary. Fans can expect a host of celebratory events to take place throughout the year, starting with the ability to download The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service. That'll be seven bucks, please! Next, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be released on the 19th of this month. Club Nintendo members will be treated to a complimentary copy of the game's official soundtrack for registering their game...offer valid while supplies last, people! The long-awaited Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will finally be released for Wii this holiday season. A special promotion will see fans with super-awesome gold Wii-motes with the Zelda crest on the front.

New trailers are available for the following Nintendo 3DS games: Mario Kart, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Paper Mario, and more. In fact, 3D versions of said trailers can be downloaded for free on the Nintendo 3DS system. They all look amazing, by the way! The current Nintendo 3DS drought will be remedied by year's end, no doubt about it.

Readers, if you've made it this far, you're in for a treat, because Nintendo has pulled back the veil on their next home console. Rumors that the controller would have a built-in, 6-inch touch screen were, indeed, true (see the image on this post). The official name of the console is (drumroll, please)...Wii U! If Wii was able to capture the non-gamer market, then Wii U will capture the hardcore market. All thanks to a highly versatile controller and HD graphics capabilities. Non-gamer market, worry not: Wii U is backwards compatible with Wii games and accessories. In fact, Wii-motes will continue to be at the forefront of control with Wii U. The intention is that four Wii-motes and one touch screen controller can be used at one time. It's a new system, but incorporates the ol' Wii overtly, yet...subtly. Expect more details to emerge before the system's 2012 release. 

What in video games can provide the greatest satisfaction?

Reaching unbelievable heights in Excite Truck, sending an opponent flying in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, achieving perfection in Guitar Hero, finding a hidden secret in New Super Mario Bros. Wii...all of these are great ways to experience that soaring feeling in video games.

But there is one more example I feel transcends the rest. It's the feeling one gets from overcoming a difficult challenge or obstacle. From finding that hidden opening in Metroid Fusion to solving a particularly tough puzzle in Zelda, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction that accomplishment can bring. And if reaching unbelievable heights in Excite Truck or achieving perfection in Guitar Hero are challenges, great! That only adds to a store of potential satisfaction.

Of course, the more difficult the challenge, the more time spent on it, the sweeter the reward. My temper is quite fragile, so it's triply thrilling for me to maintain a cool head in the face of adversity, and then to come out on top.

Why Nintendogs+cats has a very small niche: A Review

I'll tell you right now the type of people this game is best suited to: First, those who desperately want pets, but aren't allowed them. And second, those who did not get to experience the original Nintendogs on the Nintendo DS system.

Of course, this game adds quite a bit to the original formula to spice things up. The graphics, for one, are about ten times more realistic. And I dare not forget to mention that it's all in stereoscopic 3D. The little pets are noticeably more responsive to voice commands. AR compatibility adds a special touch. Lets see...I guess that's about it.

Oh, wait, there is one more thing. Kittens, of course! How could I forget! I'll tell you how: they don't do anything! They just sit and...look cute. I suppose I'm being a bit harsh, though: kittens do add a welcome touch of variety. And it's not like I had to pay the $800 for one...

If there's one other thing I want to mention before this review comes to a conclusion, it's this: Nintendogs+cats is not for hardcore gamers who want that deep, satisfying plot with killer gameplay. It seems pretty obvious, but I did happen across an unhappy customer on my internet travels who sent the game back, calling it "booooooooring". Well, what did you expect?

Why Ridge Racer 3D deserves more attention: A Review

"Welcome to the next generation! Prepare to shift into...the next dimension!" These are the words gamers can expect to see when they start up Ridge Racer 3D, an Everyone-rated, Nintendo 3DS launch game from developer Namco Bandai.

I've never played a Ridge Racer game before, but I'm no stranger to arcade-style racing games. I've even been to an actual arcade before! And if you like arcade racing, Ridge Racer 3D is definitely worth checking out.

Two important gameplay mechanics come into play in Ridge Racer 3D. First, the ability to drift. Without this important skill, Ridge Racer cannot be fully enjoyed. Fortunately, the mechanic is very simple and easy to learn and practice: let off the gas as you approach a turn, then put it back on quickly. If the player chooses, he/she can opt for one-button drifting, which makes drifting as simple as a button press. Regardless of the way the player chooses to drift, it's when this skill is mastered that the satisfaction of it can be enjoyed. There's nothing quite like that motion of sliding through a tight corner, then steering smoothly out of it.

The second tactic is slipstreaming. Every competitor has a slipstream that extends behind them, and getting into it can increase your speed, giving you a crucial opportunity to pass opponents. Of course, opponents can enter and take advantage of your slipstream as well, so care must be taken.

The 3D effect in Ridge Racer 3D is very nice. Unfortunately, it cannot be appreciated as much as it should because that would mean being distracted from the actual racing. Still, it's a nice addition to graphics that are already quite beautiful without it.