Last week, the gaming community gathered in the Japanese capital of Tokyo to admire the latest advances from developers, publishers, and console makers at the Tokyo Game Show 2016. The exhibitors present at the event included major powerhouses in the industry, including the locals Sony, Capcom, Square Enix, and Nintendo.
The four-day event began on Thursday, September 15 and lasted until yesterday, September 18. Fans and media outlets alike had long speculated about Nintendo’s presence in Tokyo before the Game Show started, but some rumors of its absence were quickly confirmed as days passed and Nintendo failed to show up strongly.
The Japanese video game giant had a perfect opportunity at the Tokyo Game Show 2016 to unveil its next console: the Nintendo NX. Instead, it preferred to keep it tightly under wraps for the time being and rely on various game releases for the 3DS during the local exhibition.
Capcom brings new titles to the Nintendo 3DS
The iconic developer Capcom almost never disappoints, and in 2016 it has been no different. The 33-year-old company made its way to the floor of the Tokyo Game Show with some new games for the most popular portable console in the world: the Nintendo 3DS.
Capcom celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Ace Attorney saga at the stage of the Japanese event. The developers took advantage of the occasion to reveal that they were working on ‘The Great Ace Attorney 2: Ryunosuke Naruhodo’s Resolution,’ but gave no further details. It is expected to come out next year, most likely for the Nintendo 3DS.
Further reveals by Capcom included the demo launch of ‘Monster Hunter Stories’ also for 3DS. The demo will be available from the Nintendo eShop on September 20, while the full game will come out on October 8. The developers also showcased amiibo figurines for the match, which is an exclusive title for the Japanese market.
Other developers also showed some love for Nintendo
Highlights of the Tokyo Game Show 2016 also included some new footage of the upcoming 3DS title ‘Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice.’ The new platform game brings back the beloved hedgehog in an adventure marketed in Japan as ‘Sonic Toon.’ The game is scheduled for release on September 27 in North America and September 30 in Europe.
Square Enix was also at Tokyo to bring some new games for Nintendo consoles. ‘Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Professional’ will be the latest spinoff of the ‘Dragon Quest’ series, the original ‘Joker 3’ title, is exclusive for Japanese audiences only. The game expands the number of beasts up to 687, and it will launch in the Asian country in February next year.
Lastly, the first-person shooter for Wii U ‘Splatoon’ made it big at the Japanese capital taking the ‘Game of the Year’ award from the critics present at the annual video game event. The Nintendo multiplayer was developed with help from the team behind the hit ‘Animal Crossing’, sharing similar aesthetics with the title.
What about the Nintendo NX?
All those in attendance who expected to catch at least a glimpse of the Nintendo NX at the Tokyo Game Show 2016 were left sorely disappointed. Currently, there are only rumors about the unveiling and launch date, but sources differ on when Nintendo plans to bring the next-gen console to the light.
Some say it may be as soon as October, while others say the NX has been delayed, and the timeframe pushed for a 2017 reveal. Information about Nintendo NX titles like ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ suggest that the console may launch in the first trimester of 2017, but all in all it will most likely be a Nintendo Direct announcement.
The Nintendo NX will reportedly cost around $399, a price tag that has not sit too well with the public online. The Tokyo Game Show 2017 will take place in Makuhari Messe, Chiba, from September 21 to September 24.
Source: Japan Today
