TheTodStar

And so, it's that time of the year again, where I leave my highlights from this year's E3. As usual, Nintendo is the main focus, but there may be one or two other games that might creep in there... but let's start in the same way Nintendo started BEFORE E3!

Super Smash Bros DLC Wave 2
Along with the update that gave us the Miiverse stage, they released three more characters, two more stages, and plenty more costumes for Mii Fighters! But to go into more detail:
*Characters
Lucas returns from Brawl, and I honestly feel that he isn't any different in this game (other than his Final Smash being EXACTLY the same as Ness'). Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. Not much beats the satisfaction of landing a hit with Lucas' Up Smash.
Along with Dr Mario & Mewtwo, Roy from Fire Emblem returns from his debut game, Super Smash Bros Melee. And I never said this back then, but Roy is AWESOME! Stronger than Marth & Lucina, but faster than Ike, Roy is a real force to be reckoned with! His Final Smash is essentially the same as Marth's & Lucina's, except he doesn't move while using it. And yes, like Marth, Roy still only speaks in Japanese.
Finally, a character new to Smash Bros... from Capcom's Street Fighter, Ryu! Mega Man isn't the only character bringing the Shoryuken to Smash Bros! However, there's a few things unique about Ryu. First of all, most (if not all) of his attacks have similar button combinations to Street Fighter. I'm not all that good with "traditional" fighting games, so I haven't been able to get the hang of this (which is a problem when those specific combinations are stronger than using those same attacks Smash Bros style)... the only one I've been able to pull off a decent amount is Ryu's Standard Special (Hadoken). Another unique thing about Ryu is that he has TWO -yes, two- Final Smashes! When close to his opponent, Ryu will use the Shin Shoryuken. But if he's too far away from his opponent, Ryu will use the Shinku Hadoken.
*Stages
Another stage from the original Smash Bros makes its return... Dream Land! With it being exactly the same as it was back in 64 & Melee (though naturally, Dedede won't be in the background if he's on the stage), complete with Whispy Woods blowing fighters away from him!
The other stage released was Suzaku Castle from Street Fighter II (you can't actually get this stage without Ryu). It's a fairly basic stage (big enough for 8 players), though there are signs in the background that can be broken if a fighter is thrown into them (even in the Omega form of the stage).
Two other stages were teased in the Direct before this was all released, both from the original Smash Bros: Peach's Castle (complete with the classic Bumper) and Hyrule Castle (bringing back that tornado)!
*New looks for Mii Fighters
A whole lot more customization has come for your Miis! Isabelle Hat & Outfit (from Animal Crossing - for Gunners), Heihachi Wig & Outfit (from Bandai-Namco's Tekken - for Brawlers), Akira Wig & Outfit (from Sega's Virtua Fighter - for Brawlers), Jacky Wig & Outfit (from Sega's Virtua Fighter - for Brawlers), Zero's Helmet & Armor (from Capcom's Mega Man X - for Swordfighters), MegaMan.EXE's Helmet & Armor (from Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network - for Gunners), Inkling Wig & Outfit (from Splatoon - for Gunners) and an Inkling Squid Hat (from Splatoon).
That's about it for Smash Bros (apart from the news that they're still working out the kinks of Tourney Mode, and they're giving us the option to post Replays on YouTube ala Mario Kart 8). But let's move on to the games that are soon to be released, shall we?

The Legend Of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
As far as I can gather, it's essentially Four Swords for three players, in the style of A Link Between Worlds. There's also a fashion trend going on in this game, giving the Links different abilities. Heck, you can even dress Link up like Zelda!

Hyrule Warriors Legends
Another port for the 3DS, with some differences. You can actually switch between characters during battle, which sounds like it could really come in handy if a vital character is in a jam! Two more characters are in this game too (though both can be transferred to the Wii U version from the 3DS version): Tetra & The King of Red Lions from Wind Waker.

Skylanders SuperChargers
Not exactly a Nintendo game, I know. But this game has some Nintendo-exclusive features. For example, Donkey Kong & Bowser have joined the ranks! Though in this game, they're known as Turbo Charge Donkey Kong & Hammer Slam Bowser. The best part about these two Nintendo Skylanders? They also count as amiibo!

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam
It's finally happened... Paper Mario has crossed into the Mario & Luigi games! From what I've seen, it plays just like a Mario & Luigi game (relax, Sticker Star haters), though Paper Mario brings his folding skills into the mix that Mario & Luigi have to master to take out enemies.

Freedom Planet
I don't know much about this game (apart from the fact that it started out as a Sonic fan-game), but it really does look interesting from the trailer that Nintendo released during E3... plus, I've got friends who keep singing its praises! A demo has been released for the Wii U, but me being an Aussie, I can't download it just yet (I swear, if I miss out on this because the Australian Classifcation Board can't get their heads out of their arses...).

Super Mario Maker
Looks like Nintendo has made a Mario ROM-hacker's dream come true with this game, as there really doesn't seem to be ANY limits to what you can do (though you DO need to be able to finish the level you made yourself before posting it online)! So many things can be done in the style of Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World & New Super Mario Bros U... like throwing Goombas underwater, facing THREE Bowsers at once... you can even look like a different character if you have a compatible amiibo!

And finally, my personal favourite game of E3... STAR FOX ZERO!!
Like many fans of the series, I have been waiting for a brand-new Star Fox game for AGES!! Almost 10 years, even! However, this game is not a sequel, nor is it a remake. According to Miyamoto, Star Fox Zero is a reimagining of a past game. To me, that says that they're doing to Star Fox 64 what SF64 did to the original Star Fox. Oh, well. WE'RE GETTING A NEW STAR FOX GAME!!
It looks like it plays very similarly to Star Fox 64 3D, though you use the Gamepad to aim your lasers at enemies while flying around in your Arwing (which is an interesting feature when flying around in all-range mode). Before you freak out about gyro controls, relax, because like in Splatoon, they CAN be turned off. Back to the Arwing... they've revived an idea from the cancelled Star Fox 2, and given the Arwings the option to turn into bird-like wakers! Even the Landmaster has a transformation of its own (though it has a limit, unlike the Arwing)!
There's even a brand-new vehicle called the Gyrowing (essentially a gyrocopter), which looks like it's used for steath missions. It can even deploy a robot called Direct-I to interface with terminals!
While there's no online multiplayer (for now, at least), there is planned local co-op, as well as amiibo support (with Miyamoto going as far as teasing a transforming Arwing amiibo). I'd better pre-order that Falco amiibo when I get the chance...

And that's about it, really. There was also Mighty No 9 & Yooka-Laylee, but I don't really know what to say about those two that hasn't really been said already. See anything you like here, or do you have your own picks from this year's E3?