Nintendo does things a little differently at E3. Instead of one single panel, Nintendo has devoted the whole day to covering their games. This year, Nintendo Of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé stated that they are mostly going to be covering their new Legend Of Zelda game, showing off the new open world design and various new-to-the series mechanics with playthroughs, but there was some new Pokémon reveals as well. So let’s get into it.
Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
“Open your eyes.”
A mysterious voice stirs Link to attention as he comes to in this trailer. We are treated to beautifully expansive landscapes in a style that reminds me of a mix of Wind Waker and Skyward Sword. Diving straight into the action, we see Link climb trees, knock over boulders, steal weapons and items from enemies, collect resources, build fires to cook food, and more. The way Link interacts seamlessly with his environment has already got me frothing at the mouth.
Watching the first couple playthroughs, it’s clear that you can explore the world the way YOU want. You can do things like set the grass on fire to distract enemies, chop down a tree to cross a chasm, use a potlid as a shield, and even kill a skeleton with its own arm. You have a new piece of equipment the Sheikah Slate (a steampunk looking PDA) that’ll help you plan your routes by marking locations and or study enemies to plan your attack. Legend Of Zelda game designer Eiji Aonuma noted that with the new open world, you will still get a sense of the story, but you can explore it at your own pace. The music also reflects the less liner storytelling, encouraging whimsy, exploration, and adventure.
Aonuma said that he wanted to make a Zelda game that breaks all the conventions, and by the looks of the trailer and these initial playthroughs, the possibilities already look limitless. Legend Of Zelda: Breath of The Wild be out on the Wii U and Nintendo’s next generation system, the NX next year (although on Amazon the pre-order lists it as available on Wii U December 30th, 2016). There will also be new Legend Of Zelda-themed Miitomo items released today at 3pm Pacific Time, so be sure to grab them for yourself!
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Nintendo fans also got an extended look at Pokémon Sun and Moon, arriving on the Nintendo 3DS this November 18th. Besides checking out the brand new tropical Alola region, we saw our player exploring the island, battling wild Pokémon, and even catching two brand new Pokémon–the weasel-esque Yungoos and the woodpecker-like Pikipek. Refinements to the battle system include the ability to check out changing stats in real time (like attack, defense, speed) so that you can plan your moves more efficiently, which gives better insight to old and new players alike. It was revealed that trainers and Pokémon now share the battlefield together so you really get a sense of scale. It looks like Pokémon Sun and Moon will be the most immersive Pokémon experience yet!
So tell us, are you excited for Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild? What were your favorite moments from the trailer? What are you looking forward to do the most in this new open world version of Hyrule? Also let us know your favorite of the three new starter pokémon in the comments below!