Nintendo heads into E3 with its hands tied

[Administrator]

Nintendo won E3 hands-down last year, even if its victory counted for squat: for all the success of its Direct approach, and for all the strange new pleasures to be found in its line-up, there wasn't much by way knock-on effect on for the fortunes of the Wii U. It didn't really matter back then, and it doesn't matter much now, either: last year wasn't about saving the Wii U, but about introducing a new, revitalised Nintendo, one that had decided to take its critics head-on, to tackle the circus of E3 on its own terms, and one that came out on top even though its home console can't hold a candle to its competitors sales-wise. That one of Nintendo's finest games in a generation came in its wake - an all-new IP by a new generation of talent within the company, no less - was just gravy.
It's that punchy. fighty Nintendo that pulls into E3 next week, though it finds its hand slightly tied. The shadow of the NX - ominous yet still totally undefined - looms over the company, even if we know it's not due an E3 appearance until next year's show. A strange state of affairs, albeit one Nintendo's found itself in before. Unlike when the Revolution was waiting in the wings, it's doubtful we'll find out exactly how many DVD cases the NX's final form is akin to. If, as many believe, the NX pertains to Nintendo's home and handheld hardware futures, then both the 3DS and Wii U are in something of a bind.
Even Eiji Aonuma's Zelda is confirmed to be off the menu, so what exactly can Nintendo talk about? Miyamoto's StarFox, which began as a small experiment shown to a select few last year and now appears to have been spun out to a full game, will likely lead the way, and it's indicative of where Nintendo finds itself with the Wii U right now. Bringing back a seasoned favourite in what's potentially a low overhead outing (even if Nintendo never skimps when it comes to production values) suggests the company's formed a defensive huddle around the fans, weathering the storm before whatever's coming next. It's in that spirit that we may well see a new Metroid - always a fan favourite, but never a series that's had a broader appeal - even if it's not quite the Retro-helmed Prime sequel many are hoping for.
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