My Top 5 most anticipated Wii U games

5. Nintendo Land
I think the Wii U game pad presents a lot of challenges and opportunities for developers. The thing is just so versatile, I'm afraid gameplay might get stretched pretty thin if creators feel like they have to use every function. On the other hand, I can see some great uses coming out of the game pad. On that note, I have high hopes for the first party Wii U launch title Nintendo Land. I think by now we can trust Nintendo to deliver a console-defining experience on their own, well, console.

4. Scribblenauts Unlimited
I've never played a Scribblenauts game in my life. Are they any good? Must be. There's a fair amount of hype surrounding this upcoming Wii U/3DS title. I'm always willing to try something new, even though when I actually get that chance, it's questionable at best whether I'll like it. I'll definitely keep Scribblenauts Unlimited on my radar.

3. Trine 2: Director's Cut
Here we have another series I didn't know existed until an expanded version of the second installment was announced for Wii U. From what I've read in the most recent issue of Nintendo Power magazine, Trine 2: Director's Cut features a lot of elements that I find appealing. Namely, the fantasy setting, the open-ended puzzle solving, and the promise of an engaging local multiplayer. Give this game a look if you haven't already!

2. New Super Mario Bros. U
And why shouldn't the newest Super Mario game make this list? Though both of Mario's intergalactic adventures are undoubtedly phenomenal, nothing can replace the classic feel of a side-scrolling Mario platformer. I am forever grateful for the New Super Mario Bros. series!

1. Rayman Legends
It was a tough choice to put one of these superb-looking platformers above the other, but I ultimately decided to give Rayman Legends the top honor. It's predecessor, Rayman Origins, was one beautiful-looking Wii game with top notch gameplay and a stellar soundtrack to match. If that's any indication of what's to come, Rayman Legends will surely be one to keep an eye on! Plus there's this trailer for it that you just gotta watch!

Nintendo's E3 presentation: Nintendo Lifeline weighs in

Welcome, Nintendo fans, to one of the many excited places on the internet at this joyous time of year! Nintendo kicked off E3 2012 with a presentation that began at 9:00 a.m. PT this morning (that was 10:00 for me). As always, it was full of surprises, important people, and bad jokes.

Here we will focus on the stuff that matters, however, the bad jokes not being in that category. Pikmin 3 dominated the first part of the presentation. I have never played Pikmin before, but I look towards Pikmin 3 with all of the optimism in the world, especially after what I saw today.

Is anyone out there getting tired of all the New Super Mario games? Well, I'm not. And New Super Mario Bros. U is the second game that has me all excited. So the Mario franchise is more than 25 years old. Is that the reason people complain about new ones? I have come to trust Nintendo to make each new Super Mario game bigger and better than the last, providing new reasons to own every last one. New Super Mario Bros. U can't come soon enough!

I really enjoyed seeing all of the third party support for Wii U, as well. Most of those games I probably won't ever play, but a few got my pulse pounding. Rayman Legends looks great, Just Dance 4 seems worthy, and Scribblenauts Unlimited might be worth checking out. I think it's great that the Wii U will have a great variety that includes, as Reggie Fils-Aime put it, "the hardest of the core", but that's not my realm.

A Wii U game called Nintendo Land also made its debut at today's event. I have to say, I was less than impressed. The limited look we got at the game made it seem far too Mario Party-esque, which was an instant turn-off for me. It looks like a game that will deliver only cheap thrills, but only time will tell on that one. I'm expecting to be disappointed, but Nintendo may prove me wrong.

All that said, I think potential is the word that comes from all of this. I'm in love with the Wii U hardware. If developers think creatively, I believe the Wii U system can ultimately provide more than a few mind-blowing experiences. Just think of how it might change and evolve some of our favorite Nintendo franchises: Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros. and more come to mind. Who knows what the future holds!

What were your favorite or least favorite parts of Nintendo's E3 presentation?