May 2 to May 8 Nintendo News Roundup

Nintendo E3 2016 Plans

Nintendo has revealed new details about its plans for E3 2016 last week. The upcoming Zelda game for Wii U (and NX) will be the main focus.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime will introduce Nintendo Treehouse: Live on June 14 at 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT. This will be followed by “a day of live-streamed gameplay of The Legend of Zelda”. Nintendo says it’ll “be the world’s first in-depth look at the game, which will also include commentaries by Nintendo developers”.

The stream will be watchable on Nintendo’s YouTube and Twitch channels as well as the official Nintendo E3 2016 Website. You can expect “game coverage, behind-the-scenes info and plenty of fun”.

Nintendo is also hosting a competition so that one fan and a companion can play the new Zelda game on the show floor. It lasts until May 10, via a Twitter sweepstakes that will grant a chance to win a trip to the expo. You can enter by tweeting @NintendoAmerica a note about what The Legend of Zelda series means to you while using the hashtags #MyZeldaLegend and #NintendoSweepstake. You can also visit this page for more information on that.

Here’s Nintendo’s full announcement:

REDMOND, Wash., May 5, 2016 – Nintendo will transform its booth at the E3 video game trade show next month in Los Angeles to immerse fans in the world of the newest game in The Legend of Zelda franchise – playable for the first time ever at the show. To ensure attendees are able to truly experience the freedom of exploration the game offers, The Legend of Zelda for Wii U will be Nintendo’s focus of the show this year, and will be the only playable game in Nintendo’s booth via extended demos.

At E3 this year, we’re treating people to an immersive Zelda experience,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “By giving attendees extended hands-on time with this remarkable game, they’ll be able to get a much deeper understanding of something new for the franchise.”

Nintendo’s kickoff to the E3 show happens at 9 a.m. PT Tuesday, June 14, when Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime introduces Nintendo Treehouse: Live, which will be dedicated to a day of live-streamed gameplay of The Legend of Zelda. This will be the world’s first in-depth look at the game, which will also include commentaries by Nintendo developers. The Legend of Zelda gameplay will be streamed from the E3 show floor via Nintendo’s channels on YouTube and Twitch, as well as on http://e3.nintendo.com. The stream will include game coverage, behind-the-scenes info and plenty of fun.

Series Producer Eiji Aonuma has said that this new installment in The Legend of Zelda franchise will be a clean break from the conventions of previous games, removing boundaries that forced players to follow a set path and introducing new gameplay that has not been experienced in previous games in the series.

While people everywhere will be able to watch The Legend of Zelda gameplay online, one lucky fan and a companion will be flown to Los Angeles to enjoy the action in person and be among the first to play the game on the show floor. Between now and May 10, Nintendo is offering a sweepstakes on Twitter for a chance to win a trip for two to E3 to play the game. Anyone who tweets @NintendoAmerica a note about what The Legend of Zelda series means to them while using the hashtags #MyZeldaLegend and #NintendoSweepstakes will be entered for a chance to win. Fans can share messages about their favorite games, characters or memories of the franchise. Nintendo will select a winner at random. The prize package includes airfare for two, a hotel stay, tickets to E3, a $500 prepaid VISA debit card. For all the details about the sweepstakes, visit http://e3.nintendo.com/#section-sweepstakes.

Aside of the public events above, Nintendo will be hosting a presentation for “business partners that will showcase key launches and programs through Holiday 2016”. The presentation will be held on June 14 between 9 AM and 10 AM PT (12 PM ET and 1 PM ET). We likely won’t be seeing anything of this live, but will probably get some new information and maybe some announcements out of it.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

Due to the approaching western release of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Nintendo of Europe has issued a press release about the game, alongside some new screenshots. Even though there isn’t any new information, it’s a nice summary of what the game is about. The screenshots do reveal a bit more of the English localization too.

You can find the press release and screenshot below, followed by several pieces of gameplay footage, courtesy of NintenDaan:

3^rd May 2016 – Anyone ready to take on a totally new kind of RPG experience should get ready to give a virtuoso performance in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, arriving on Wii U across Europe on 24^th June. In this new title from the RPG masters at Atlus, tactical turn-based combat and a story rooted in modern-day Japanese culture combine with stellar production values for a real one-off experience. This energetic game features a deep battle system inspired by both the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei series imbued with a J-Pop twist, and includes real-life locations in Tokyo.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE follows a squad of Japanese teens, including high-school student Itsuki Aoi, his friend Touma Akagi, and aspiring pop idol Tsubasa Oribe. When a wave of evil Mirages attacks Tokyo and kidnaps Tsubasa, she and Itsuki fearlessly fight them off with the help of Fire Emblem characters Chrom and Caeda, eventually freeing themselves from the Idolasphere. When they return to the real world, they’re recruited by Talent Agency Fortuna Entertainment – secret defenders against the invading Mirages – and commit to destroying the evil once and for all.

As the story unfolds, players will explore dungeon-style Idolaspheres, each with a unique theme such as photography or television, where they’ll battle Mirages in richly strategic turn-based combat. Exploiting enemy weaknesses, inspired by Fire Emblem’s “rock-paper-scissors” weapon triangle system, deals extra damage and can lead to Sessions: combination attacks where teammates continue the onslaught to pile on the damage. Battle possibilities expand even further as combatants learn new skills and abilities, giving tacticians the ability to unleash spectacular special moves and devastate their opponents with strike after strike.

Players’ journey through this stylish adventure will be accompanied by the original Japanese voice acting (with English subtitles), as well as the original soundtrack created by Japanese company Avex, to fully immerse fans in a modern-day Tokyo beset by evil mirages.

Launching alongside the solus game on 24^th June, the limited Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Fortissimo Edition should be music to RPG fans’ ears. Arriving with an artbook, six-track Special Vocal Selection CD, song lyric cards and stickers, it also includes a download code for all planned downloadable content. These three packs, which will also be available to purchase separately in Nintendo eShop, include additional dungeon quests and costumes for several characters for the complete Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE experience.

Get ready to slay evil mirages – and slay like a pop star – in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, an exclusive Japanese RPG from the genre masters at Atlus, coming exclusively to Wii U on 24^th June.

Fire Emblem Fates

Fire Emblem Fates is just got new downloadable content in North America,  on May 5, which includes the Map Pack 2, that tells a new ongoing story.

You can find a new trailer and some gameplay footage of Map Pack 2 below:

Meanwhile, in Europe, the Fire Emblem Fates website has been updated with DLC pricing information for the region. Players will be able to purchase Map Pack 1 for £16.19 / €17.99 to access 11 new maps along with 10,000 in-game gold. If purchased separately, the maps would cost £22.70 / €24.90.

You can find the pricing information for individual maps below:

• Before Awakening – Beyond the gate to another world lies the Halidom of Ylisse. (20th May, free)
• Boo Camp – It is said that there is another world where one can get plenty of experience… (26th May, £2.29/€2.49)
• Beach Brawl – And the winner of the royal families’ battle over a ticket to paradise is… (26th May, £2.29/€2.49)
• Ghostly Gold – It is said that there is another world where one can get plenty of gold… (2nd June, £2.29/€2.49)
• Museum Melee – It is said that there is a world where one can get many new weapons… (2nd June, £2.29/€2.49)
• Royal Royale – A battle to determine the strongest royal. And the last one standing is— (9th June, £2.29/€2.49)
• Hidden Truths (1 & 2) – The secret prologue to the world of Fates. 2 map set. (16th June, £4.09/€4.49)
• Vanguard Dawn – A trial ground using the stage Elincia’s Gambit from Radiant Dawn. (23rd June, £1.79/€1.99)
• Anna on the Run – Anna is cornered by thieves! What will her fate be…? (30th June, £1.79/€1.99)
• Ballistician Blitz – A trial ground using the stage The Wooden Cavalry from Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. (7th July, £1.79/€1.99)
• A Gift From Anna – If you select “A Gift from Anna” from the “Play DLC” section of the Dragon’s Gate after downloading, you may select and receive either the Sighting Lens OR the Witch’s Mark. Only playable once. (7th July, free)
• Witches’ Trial – A trial ground using the stage Fear Mountain from Fire Emblem Gaiden.(14th July, £1.79/€1.99)

Moreover, a new accolades trailer has also been uploaded by Nintendo, which you can find next:

Star Fox Zero

During the week, Nintendo released another trailer and two commercials for Star Fox Zero. You can find them below:

Moreover, Nintendo posted a new page on the official Star Fox Zero website, which provides a behind the scenes look at the recent animation “Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins”. The article delves into the style used, and touches on how the video shows the everyday lives of Fox and his team as they relax on the Great Fox. Some concept images are also included. You can find it over here.

Besides this, the latest issue of Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream contains a lengthy interview with Shigeru Miyamoto and co-director Yugo Hayashi, which is mostly about Star Fox Zero. In it, the two talked about the approach to the story, GamePad, vehicles, and even a bit about Star Fox Guard, among other topics. You can find a translation and summary of this interview over here, at Nintendo Everything.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

Media Create recently reported that Kirby: Planet Robobot has sold 145,000 copies in its first week in Japan, based on sales gathered between April 28 and May 1.

Dengeki also offers further insight into Kirby: Planet Robobot’s performance, since according to the site, it sold through 60% of its initial shipment. The previous game, Kirby: Triple Deluxe, sold 219,000 in its first week before going on to sell 734,000 units, which might make it seem that Planet Robobot is starting slowly. However, since Kirby has an expectation more in line of an evergreen title, more sales can probably be expected for a long time to come.

On another note, if you’ve played a Kirby game before, you might be aware that the developers usually sneak in a special room for HAL Laboratory. GameXplain has now recorded a video showcasing where said room can be found in Kirby: Planet Robobot, so give it a look below if you are curious.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Since the release of the Wii U version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is approaching, Nintendo has shared some new details about the game and sent out a bunch of new screenshots too. Furthermore, a wonderful video of Bowser practicing Rhytmic Clubs was shown on Twitter.

You can find all of this below:

4th May 2016 – The worlds of Mario and Sonic come together once more for 17 exciting events in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games™, arriving on Wii U across Europe on 24th June. Taking place in Rio de Janeiro, host city of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, the latest instalment of the series features over 30 playable characters, the ability to play as your Mii, and plenty of frantic four-player multiplayer action to enjoy with friends and family, including the new Duel Events, which give familiar sports a classic Mario & Sonic twist.

Rugby Sevens is one of three sports, along with Football and Beach Volleyball, that comes with its own Duel Event. The action’s powered-up, familiar items like Bullet Bills and Chaos Emeralds are allowed, and chaotic multiplayer matches are guaranteed. In Duel Events, players build up Duel Points by pulling off actions like tackling, spiking or shooting, then have to score a try, point or goal to add these Duel Points to their total score. Last-gasp turnarounds and severe drubbings on an unprecedented scale await!

Players can also vie for gold medals in classic Olympic Games events like Boxing, Archery, and the 100m sprint, using either the Wii U GamePad in single-player, or with Wii Remote button controls in multiplayer. All events take place in venues modelled after the real-life venues of the Olympic Games, bringing an authentic touch of Rio to the proceedings. Rhythm Gymnastics (with clubs) and Rugby Sevens – the latter making its debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – are also playable for the first time.

Alongside the new events comes the new Heroes Showdown mode: an addition for only the most dedicated Mario and Sonic fans out there, as it’s unlocked after achieving first place or being in the winning team in all 17 player events in single-player, or by winning the Bronze Medal more than seven times in tournaments. Competitors join up with Team Mario or Team Sonic and battle it out against the other side in knockout rounds. Events are picked at random for a real test of all-around skill, and each round a character from the losing team is knocked out until either all members are knocked out, or Team Captains Mario and Sonic are eliminated, so it’s all on the line to be the last team standing.

Over 30 playable characters from the Mario and Sonic series appear, including some that are exclusive to certain events. Sporting hopefuls can put themselves in the game as their Mii, and take part in tournaments for each event. Coins and rings earned through gameplay can be used to buy additional costumes from the Mario series or Sonic series respectively.

Additional special tournaments can be accessed through the use of amiibo figures, which can be used after completing 25 tournaments. By tapping a Sonic amiibo to the Wii U GamePad, the Sonic League will begin, pitting a player’s Mii against characters from the Sonic series. Meanwhile, the Mario League can be played if any Mario amiibo is tapped, and will see players squaring off against characters from the Mushroom Kingdom. A special Mario or Sonic Mii costume will be earned for winning their respective leagues, while scanning in any other amiibo will reward the player with either coins or rings to use at the Item Stand for a chance to win additional costumes.

With 14 official Olympic Games disciplines and three Duel Events, over 30 playable characters and the ability to play as your Mii, and local multiplayer for up to four players, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games™ will offer everyone a chance to go for the gold when it comes to Wii U on 24th June!

If you believe it, you can achieve it. #MarioSonicRio2016https://t.co/DKMQbKibL5

— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) 4 May 2016

Super Mario Maker

Polygon has released the latest episode in its “Devs Make Mario” video series. In this feature, Threes creator Asher Vollmer makes a level in the game. You can watch it below:

GameXplain has also found another Easter egg in Super Mario Maker reltated to Mario Paint. You can watch the video below, for a look at that.

Mini Mario & Friends amiibo Challenge

Nintendo has recently put up a launch trailer for Mini Mario & Friends amiibo Challenge. You can find it below:

Splatoon

Splatoon’s 14th Splatfest has been announced and will be taking place next weekend in all regions. As a collaboration with Miitomo, the theme asks players if they’d rather attend a fancy party or a costume party. This also happens to be the first Slatfest to be held simultaneously worldwide.

The Splatfest will begin at the following times:

– 8 PM PT (May 13)
– 11 PM ET (May 13)
– 4 AM in the UK (May 14)
– 5 AM in Europe (May 14)

And conclude at the following times:

– 3 AM PT (May 15)
– 6 AM ET (May 15)
– 11 AM in the UK (May 15)
– 12 AM in Europe (May 15)

Furthermore, after announcing the new Splatoon amiibo, Nintendo has now sent out official images of the upcoming figures. The photos include Callie and Marie plus the alternative colors for the Squid Boy, Squid Girl, and Inkling Squid. Take a look at them in the gallery below:

Pokémon Sun & Moon

The official Pokémon website has announed that the first news for Pokémon Sun & Moon will be delivered on May 10th 2016. The news will be given at 21:00 JST, which is 13:00 BST, 12:00 UTC, 08:00 EDT & 05:00 PDT. Although we aren’t sure what kind of information will be shared, there’s a good chance there will be a trailer since Junichi Masuda has said to keep an eye on Pokémon Youtube Channel.

Pokémon X & Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

The Pokémon Trainer Club codes for Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres with their Hidden Abilities are now going out to the e-mail boxes of newsletter subscribers. Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres come with their Hidden Abilities of Snow Cloak, Static, and Flame Body respectively. The distribution is for both North America and Europe, but it’s unclear when codes will expire.

The Pokémon Youtube Channel has also been updated with promotional trailers for the Darkrai, Zygarde, Shiny Xerneas and Shiny Yveltal distributions we mentioned last week. You can watch them below:

Pocket Card Jockey

Pocket Card Jockey is now out on the 3DS eShop, and Nintendo has released a launch trailer for the game, which you can find below.

GameXplain also put a video together, showcasing various references in the game to Pokémon, Nintendo, pop culture, and gaming in general (which is to be expected when the game is made by Game Freak). Take a look at it below:

Finally, you can find 85 minutes of footage from the game below, courtesy of TiLMENDOMiNATiON:

Virtual Console

Super Punch Out!! is now available on the New 3DS Virtual Console, so Nintendo has released a trailer for the game. You can watch it below:

This week’s episode of Nintendo Minute also features a new series called “Backlog Buster”, with Kit and Krysta playing EarthBound for the first time on the Wii U Virtual Console. You can watch the episode below:

Miitomo

Nintendo has recently sent out a notice to Miitomo users, informing them about an update that will be made available in the near future.

This update will add new ways of adding friends, and allow you to connect with those you know by email, among other methods. It will also let users answer the same question as others when looking at “All Answers” while also making it possible to edit a Miifoto before posting it as a comment. Finally, there will be speed optimizations as well.

The Legend of Zelda joins the World Video Game Hall of Fame

At the end of March, twelve games were announced as finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame. From all the candidates, the next six games will be joining the World Video Game Hall of Fame:

• Grand Theft Auto III
• The Legend of Zelda
• The Oregon Trail
• The Sims
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Space Invaders

Since The Legend of Zelda has now joined the Hall of Fame, Nintendo shared the following statement, honoring the occasion:

Last year, Super Mario Bros. was part of an elite inaugural group of six games inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. This year, recognition for Nintendo games continues, as the original The Legend of Zelda game for NES was just added to the class of 2016.

In a ceremony held at The Strong on May 5, six games were announced as this year’s honored inductees. Selected by a committee of journalists, scholars and video game industry members, inductees into the World Video Game Hall of Fame are recognized for their iconic status, longevity, geographical reach and influence.

Launching in 1986 at the start of the NES’s legendary lifespan, The Legend of Zelda broke new ground by popularizing non-linear gameplay found in many action-adventure games today. The intricately designed series has spawned numerous games in the franchise and introduced the world to classic characters like Link, Zelda and the evil Ganon. A new entry in The Legend of Zelda series is being developed for Wii U and Nintendo’s next system, code-named NX, and scheduled to launch simultaneously for both in 2017. The Wii U version of the game will also be the focus of Nintendo’s presence at the E3 video game trade show next month in Los Angeles. For information about Nintendo at E3, visit http://e3.nintendo.com/.

Nintendo partnering with Vans on new sneaker line

Nintendo has partnered up with Shoe manufacturer Vans for a new line of footwear slated for the summer. In June, sneakers with designs based on various products from the Big N will be available, ranging from Mario to the NES. The Nintendo and Vans sneakers are expected to have a price in the range between $50 and $100.

You can take a look at some of the designs in the gallery below. According to Solecollector, there are still more designs to come in the future.