Marquis: “E3 Predictions 2014: Can Nintendo come back on top this year?”

With E3 2014, one of the biggest events in gaming, getting closer and closer, it seems it’s finally about that time to start making predictions or at least theories as to what’s in store for us this year. And what better what to begin than with the biggest veteran to gaming, Nintendo. Now then it’s no secret that Nintendo isn’t exactly finding great ground with the Wii U. With the confusion for consumers that this is in fact a next gen console and not just an accessory to the Wii, plus the long wait for true big console selling titles, and lack of third party support; it feels like Wii U is going to have to pull out all the stops this year to let us know why we need to have a Wii U in our homes by the end of this year.

But it’s not all bad news for Nintendo. On the 3DS front things are doing great. Big titles such as Pokémon X/Y, Fire Emblem, Kingdom Hearts, and other familiar titles have been flourishing on the 3DS making it the go to hand-held unlike the PS Vita. And with the announcement of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, it seems Nintendo wants to get some more crazy sales out of the 3DS this year too. But can Nintendo really come out on top this year? Do they have games that will really wow us? And for the first time can they really show us games that make use of their console in a unique way only capable on Wii U? This year for E3 it seems Nintendo intends yet again to go with their own Nintendo Direct-styled event, only this year with a different twist. This year they’ll be streaming their newest games online throughout all of E3, they’ll be hosting a special Smash tournament on the show floor, and they’ll be showing off demos of all the new exclusives at select Best Buys all across the U.S.

Things got a little out of Nintendo’s control last year with the stream acting up for many people or simply not working at all, but it’s possible Nintendo will learn from this mistake and thus be more prepared this year. Mario Kart 8 will be the next big title to grace the Wii U before E3 which is sure to sell some Wii U’s. But definitely big titles such as Super Smash Bros, Pokémon, and the mysterious Dynasty Warriors/Zelda crossover titled Hyrule Warriors will be showcased at this year’s Nintendo event. As for me personally, I’m also excited for some more Pokémon news as well as more on Bayonetta 2, X, and hopefully brand-new IP that will really make use of the Wii U gamepad. Nintendo has always been known for setting new trends not following them. This can be proven from the Wii and how it got many new people into the gaming scene through Wii Sports and a variety of other games. And I still believe Nintendo has the potential to turn things around. The real question is, “Will they?” Only time can tell, but nonetheless everything is riding on what Nintendo does this year at E3 and I can’t wait to see what our favorite underdog pulls out of their sleeve this year.