E3 is a great place to catch a glimpse at the year ahead in gaming. Yet its strengths are not as ubiquitous as one might imagine; E3 is a poor location for showing off certain aspects of a game. Music is one of the first things lost at such a huge trade show as it is far too loud to catch much of anything from the game directly in front of you.
Another, less thought of, portion of a game that is overlooked at E3 is multiplayer. Sure, there is basically a swarm of other players to join in, but these matches are quick and lifeless. True multiplayer is a development, a growth, between two or more players. With such a bevy of multiplayer themed games announced at this year’s E3, it is only fair to dig a little deeper into what they can offer the gaming public.
Nintendo Wii
It is a strange thing that Nintendo’s lack of a single player core experience brings out nearly nothing but multiplayer games in their stable. Nearly every first party title is a game for multiple players (except for the stellar looking Wario Land: Shake It). The list stretches from casual to classic; the shores reach from social MMO to 3d fighting. Below are some of the choice titles gamers can look forward to this year on the little white hope.
Animal Crossing: City Folk
An evolutionary leap above its DS counterpart, Animal Crossing for the Wii is looking to be a better jump than Mario Kart Wii was. The addition of Wii Speak to facilitate a living room to living room connection is a far better peripheral choice than a plastic wheel. Not enough details have emerged concerning the city additions, but it seems this iteration of the classic social game will begin to veer in the MMO direction most people foresaw. Animal Crossing is one of Nintendo’s most widely loved casual games and is sure to be a hit this holiday season. City Folk is a definite buy.
Wii Music
A general concession to this title is that it is more of a toy and less of a game. Even compared to Wii Sports and Wii Fit, Wii Music seems to eschew the traits of a video game unfettered by public opinion. The crutch to this game will be price; it will be hard to justify a $50 tag. Having the proper tech, such as the balance board, should make this pill a little easier to swallow. With a slew of multiplayer events emerging for the Wii, Wii Music cannot be considered a buy despite the first party backing.
Wii Sports: Resort
There is a tingling feeling this writer gets from Wii Sports: Resort, as it is reminiscent of several other Nintendo choices. The Wii MotionPlus brings visions of the DS Lite. Early opinions of the Wii MotionPlus are positive and most players have said “This is what the Wii remote should have been to begin with”. This is the same mentality most players had when grasping the DS Lite for the first time.
There can be no better game to bring forth this new tech than Nintendo’s poster child, Wii Sports. A sequel to the casual title of choice among core players is an excellent choice by Nintendo. This could be a Super Mario Bros. 3 sequel; better and more loved than even the original.
The Conduit
This title has quickly become a shining star in Nintendo’s third party stable. It wipes away the bad taste that Geist caused years back. Developed by High Voltage Software, The Conduit runs on a custom engine built from the ground up for the Wii. The Conduit’s crisp graphics, smooth frame rate, and stunning animation has risen the bar leagues ahead of nearly all other third party Wii developers.
Online modes confirmed are deathmatch and capture the flag, with up to 16 player matches. The inclusion of voice support with Wii Speak is slightly hampered by the fact that there will be no split screen capabilities. Talking shit is better as a public venue and the idea of 16 living rooms connected is sure to be a chaotic event. The Conduit seems to be on the path of becoming the Wii’s Halo; the FPS that will redefine Wii’s shooter prowess.
Castlevania Judgment
The announcement of a 3d fighting Castlevania was met with public outcry which has continued on into E3. Those that have played the game are split into two distinct camps; those that would prefer a standard 3d fighter and are disappointed versus those that are pleased with Judgment’s Power Stone-esque appeal.
What is a certainty is that any Castlevania that steps out of the second dimension quickly becomes a highly criticized venture. Judgment is no different. Castlevania: Curse of Darkness was a pleasing title leagues above its predecessor, Lament of Innocence. If series creator Iga can continue to hone his control over 3d gaming and spice up the action at the same time, Konami will have a winner on their hands.
It is also important to remember that Judgment was shown as a very early build. With such a drastic departure for the series it is for the best that opinions be gathered early in the game making process.
Nintendo DS
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff
The classic returns with wireless multiplayer, terrific stylus control, and an assortment of larger than life plays. The loss of the NFL license to EA has done nothing to injure Tecmo’s football offering and perhaps helped it. Freed from the stuffiness of the NFL, Tecmo Bowl is embracing its arcade roots. More dynamic plays will trigger short cut scenes during game play to liven up the action.
Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades
Given Rock Band’s lackluster debut on the Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero is the music game of choice for the Nintendo player. More so for the handheld player as the stellar Guitar Hero: On Tour continues to garner acclaim (as well as some hand cramping).
The next iteration of the series was announced during E3 with a clever multiplayer gimmick; song streaming. The concept is to build the series as more of a continuing effort as opposed to an additional title each release. Players will be able to build set lists from both On Tour and its sequel Decades when competing head to head. Activision could not have imagined a more perfect selling tool. It is a great idea that attacks the barrier of selling a music game on a static medium. Let friends demo the sequel to each other and drive what is essentially DLC sales for you.
Some mysteries still remain for Nintendo multiplayer gaming especially in regards to the DS. Will the quickly mentioned GTA: Chinatown feature any sort of wifi killing sprees amongst friends? How many times does Bangai-O Spirits have to be shown at trade shows before it is acknowledged as the most community friendly 2d shooter ever? Whether it is blasting nameless foes across the internet in The Conduit or watching your DS make noisy love to a loved one’s DS in Bangai-O Spirits, Nintendo continues to prove it’s fortitude in the multiplayer gaming arena.
