CAFÉ GETS BEST VERSIONS OF BATTLEFIELD 3 AND GRAND THEFT AUTO V
Certainty: Maybe
64 players online in a game that runs at a smooth 60 FPS. At a native resolution of 1080p. On a console. Sign me up, please.
What is a console without the software, right? Whereas I did touch upon Café being announced with great third party support in the last section, nothing would seal victory for Nintendo like an announcement that the Café is getting a version of Battlefield 3 that is almost identical to the PC version would. Think about it – incredible graphics, multilayered sound design, intense 64 player online matches… it would be the ultimate sign of Nintendo getting serious about the hardcore market, and it would also be a flagship title for Nintendo’s new online service.
Then there’s Grand Theft Auto. Rockstar and Nintendo are actually pretty pally, with Rockstar having released four Grand Theft Auto games and a Manhunt on Nintendo systems, but somehow, Nintendo always misses out on Rockstar’s biggest releases for one reason or the other.
It would be a statement of intent on Nintendo’s part to secure these two much sought after hardcore franchises on their new system, and it would make the Café seem that much more credible to gamers who might long have been disillusioned with Nintendo, and it would also help them ‘win’ E3 by a long shot.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD GETS A SHOWING THAT DOESN’T SUCK
Certainty: Impossible
This was such a nightmare of a debut.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has had quite a few public demonstrations so far. It debuted at last year’s E3, then had subsequent showings at Nintendo Media Fall Summit, GDC 2011, and Nintendo Spring Media Summit. Unfortunately, so far, every single showing of the game has been uninspired, underwhelming, or it has just plain flat out sucked. The reboot that we were promised is nowhere to be seen, the story, or whatever we’ve seen of it, seems to be even lesser than the usual fare, the graphics seem to be artistically striking, but suck on a technical level, and all we’ve got is Wii Motion Plus support for the game.
If Nintendo can have a proper showing of the game for once, one that elaborates on the changes to the game’s structure, one that shows off some of the new story, one that actually does for Skyward Sword what E3 2004 did for Twilight Princess, then they’ll have another untouchable victory under their belt.
