Merci Beacoup Monsieur Nintendo

[Be_yourself]

This year's E3 has been fantastic from nintendo's end we have several hardcore games that were unexpected and are quite substantial offerings.

Last year this was not the case, and duly we lampooned nintendo and were quite disillusioned for the next year with the supposed gaming prowess of Wii music...

But in the end Nintendo did listen to us, we now have Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid other M, Spirit tracks and real rumours circulating for a new Zelda game on the Wii amongst several others. 

from my point of view it is only fair that we treat Nintendo with praise relative to the lampooning we game them last year, so:
 Thank you very much Nintendo i(we) appreciate your efforts to quell the hardcore fans by giving us some games to play. thank you, thank you thank you.

i just thought it was only fair to give credit where credit is due... 

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

Nintendo definitely picked up their game this year, but at the same time I feel it is important to raise the big issue which stood out for me in the conference.

As absolutely brilliant as new Mario and Metroid games are (and seriously, they freaking well are), Nintendo can please their core followers without leaning on these crutches. Two brand new Mario platformers, one new spin-off and release details for another in one conference is surely unprecedented?

Yes, we love Mario, but the critical reception to Punch Out!! must have given them a clue as to how viable other franchises from the past can be to them, yet the likes of Star Fox, Kid Icarus and Kirby are still missing in action from the Wii's lineup of upcoming titles. I haven't seen any sales figures for PO yet, but I hope that they will drill home this idea back at Ninty HQ.

So, yes, Nintendo did a pretty good job in pleasing their fans this year but they need to look up the phrase "Variety is the spice of life" in time for next year's E3, because they won't be able to pull that metaphorical crowd-pleasing rabbit out of that hat without even me being a smidge cynical. Though I'm guessing their big finish in 2010 will be that new Zelda game and not a new Star Fox title.

Oh, one more thing: Iwata, have a word with yourself about that bloody Vitality Sensor, will you?