But one-player only

We finally saw Pikmin 3 today, and now you can relive that moment below.

Shigeru Miyamoto's garden simulator comes to HD for the first time with four new leaders, but sadly it's only a single-player experience, a missed opportunity considering the potential for co-operative play.

Still, after years of waiting, at least we have a new Pikmin to look forward to before the year's out.

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The Return of an Army
Pikmin 3 is a fully reimagined, mass-action strategy title from the critically acclaimed Pikmin series. Players will discover a beautiful world filled with strange creatures and take command of a swarm of ant-like Pikmin trying to survive. The world is densely packed with treasures and enemies, which makes the game much more action focused and fills it with layers of potential strategies and paths, adding greater replayability to challenge modes.

Features:

Players can play using Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk-based controls or the Wii U GamePad controller. With new intuitive controls that make it possible to aim at objects directly, players can command their tiny, yet powerful, squads in different ways.

The GamePad acts as an overhead map and radar to track Pikmin movements in real time. Players can slide a finger across the touch screen to quickly switch between areas, giving greater flexibility in commanding multiple groups of Pikmin.

The greater processing and HD capabilities of the Wii U console are put to extensive use, resulting in a more intricately designed world, enhanced ant-like movement of the Pikmin and precisely detailed overhead views for enabling easier strategic use of the Pikmin.

After completing a stage, the replay feature allows players the option to review their results using the GamePad and TV. Fast-forward, rewind or pause while assessing the previous mission to decide on other paths.

In addition to the five original types of Pikmin encountered in previous games, the new Rock Pikmin bring powerful new abilities and are able to crack hard outer shells of enemies and break through solid barriers.

Mission Mode challenges players to earn the most treasure in a given time.

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Believe in your soul

New Super Mario Bros. 2 was one of just three 3DS games shown off during Nintendo's E3 conference, but the publisher clearly hopes it'll set a new gold standard as the precious metal is all over the place.

The new Golden Flower power-up gives Mario the ability to fire golden balls that turn blocks and enemies into coins, and the currency rattles around all over the place. From what we've seen so far, you'll be racking up extra lives like there's no tomorrow. There's also a nice homage to Super Mario World you'll pick up on.

What do you think of Mario's next 3DS outing? It's out in North America on 19th August and kickstarts the ability to download retail games on the eShop.

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Mario Hits the Mushroom Kingdom Jackpot
Bowser has once again kidnapped Princess Peach, but this time, Mario has another objective. The Mushroom Kingdom is bursting with more gold coins than before. Each level is littered with gold as coins rain down from overhead pipes, trails of coins are left behind special gold enemies and gold pipes transport Mario into coin-filled caverns. It's up to players to collect as many coins as possible throughout their adventure.

Features:

The game records all the coins players collect throughout the game, so completing a level is only part of the fun. Every level is filled with golden opportunities, such as gold rings that turn enemies into valuable gold versions and a Gold Flower that gives Mario the ability to turn almost anything in his path into coins.

The return of Raccoon Mario gives Mario the ability to fly and access hidden areas.

Players will have the option to either purchase the game at retail stores or download the entire game through the Nintendo eShop.

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Nintendo promised a "massive lineup" of Wii U first and third-party games, and sent over a list of titles in the works for the system.

Reggie Fils-Aime said there are seven more first-party titles in development — hopefully we'll hear more about them soon.

Retail

eShop

Also coming to Wii U:

Injustice: Gods Among Us (Warner Bros.)
Project Cars (Slightly Mad Studios)
Skylanders Giants (Activision)

eShop

CastleStorm (Zen Studios)

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Nintendo Land combines several key Nintendo franchises — Zelda, Animal Crossing and more — into a theme park-style minigame compilation. Each title has its own new graphical style, and the super-cutesy hand-stitched Zelda game certainly tickles our fancy.

The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest game features archery and swordplay in a cloth style. The player with the GamePad fires arrows while the other players use Wii Remote Plus controllers — we're imagining Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword-style controls — and must co-operate to take down enemies. It's not quite Four Swords Adventures 2, but it'll do.

Wii U Features All-New Attractions in Nintendo Land

Nintendo Land is a fun and lively theme park filled with 12 different attractions, each with its own take on a Nintendo franchise. Each attraction features unique and innovative game-play experiences made possible by the Wii U GamePad controller. Depending on the attraction, players can compete solo or against other players, or even team up to play cooperatively. Up to five players can participate in dynamic multiplayer modes in select attractions.* The experiences change every time, depending on whether players are using the GamePad, holding a Wii Remote or just watching others play on the TV screen.

Features:

Donkey Kong's Crash Course: Using the GamePad's motion control, players tilt the controller to guide a fragile rolling cart through an obstacle course that resembles the original Donkey Kong arcade game. This single-player game lets other spectators watch the action on the TV and offer advice about how to pass the next obstacle.

Luigi's Ghost Mansion: The player with the GamePad is a ghost (invisible to others) who is trying to capture up to four humans armed with flashlights. The ghost must sneak around the environment by staying in the shadows and try to catch them one by one. The humans can work together to revive fallen comrades before the ghost catches everyone. If all four humans are caught before they are revived, the ghost wins. But if they are successful at shining their flashlights on the ghost long enough to reduce its hit points to zero, the humans win.

Animal Crossing™: Sweet Day: The player holding the Wii U GamePad controls two guards who are in charge of safeguarding a candy orchard from a group of candy-loving animals. Up to four other players, using the Wii Remote controllers to control these animals, must work together to outwit – and outrun – the guards. The game ends when a combined total of 50 pieces of candy are collected, or when the guards catch any one of the animals three times.

The Legend of Zelda™: Battle Quest: The player with the GamePad is an archer who can aim and shoot arrows using the screen as a view finder. That player is joined by up to three others who wield Wii Remote Plus controllers like swords. Players work together to take on a variety of enemies in a world that looks like a cloth version of a game from The Legend of Zelda series.

Takamaru's Ninja Castle: Based on an early Famicom game available only in Japan, this single-player game turns the GamePad into a launcher for ninja stars. Players swipe the controller's touch screen to take out an ever-growing army of ninja attackers, earning more points for consecutive hits. Moving the GamePad around at different angles enables the player to take aim in an intuitive fashion.

Seven other attractions will be announced at a later date.

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What did we make of it?

Nintendo's E3 2012 press conference is over, and our editorial team James Newton, Tom Whitehead and Mike Mason sat down to dissect and discuss the biggest announcements and speak freely about what we made of it.

What's your take on the conference — did it exceed your expectations or leave you cold?

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Nintendo just pulled the cover off Game & Wario (temporary title), a Wii U compilation that's like WarioWare blended with Game & Watch.

The title's minigames use only the Wii U GamePad, so we'll hopefully see some very smart uses of that new touch screen controller. One screenshot shows Jimmy, on skis, in HD. What more do you want?

It's developed by Intelligent Systems — the team behind Fire Emblem and Pushmo — and will land on Wii U launch day.

Wario's Wii U Masterpiece

Wario and his Diamond City friends are back in action. Game & Wario (working title) features a collection of games that use only the Wii U GamePad controller. The games retain the original flair and character of the micro-games from the WarioWare series.

Features:

To earn medals and various bonus items, players are encouraged to play a variety of games.

Arrow – This single-player game transforms the GamePad into a hi-tech bow (shaped like Wario's mustache, of course) and arrow designed to defeat swarming enemies. Players hold the GamePad vertically with one hand to aim at enemies on the TV screen, while using their other hand to pull the arrow on the GamePad's touch screen.

Ski – In this single-player game, competitors must lead the skier to the finish line by holding the GamePad vertically and tilting it left or right. The TV monitor will show the skier's flashy moves to entertain the audience.

Shutter – In this single-player game, the player must use the GamePad like a telephoto camera lens to take photos of criminals hidden in the town before the time runs out.

Fruit – In this game for two to five players, the main player uses the GamePad to anonymously control one of many characters on the TV screen to quietly steal some fruit scattered all over the town. Once the thief completes the mission, the player passes the GamePad to the other players, who then must try to finger the suspect.

Additional games will be announced at a later time.

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Anyone got the login details for the E3 2012 Nintendo press kit?

The most exciting day of the gaming year is nearly upon us.

Nintendo's E3 2012 press conference kicks off on Tuesday 5th June. Thanks to the magic of the internet, you'll be able to watch the whole show right here, so bookmark this page and come back on Tuesday. Can't say fairer than that, can you?

If you can't watch ustream for whatever reason — at work, at school, slow connection, in prison — we'll also have a live text to keep you informed with every new announcement for Wii U, 3DS, DS and Wii.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the full E3 schedule and remember: we'll have all the news and updates right here at Nintendo Life.

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With a brand new name

We've just heard an interesting pre-E3 rumour: Nintendo could announce a localisation of Tomodachi Collection for 3DS.

We've heard whispers a Nintendo game known as Communicator Gamers Collection is on the way to the West, which would certainly fit as Tomodachi Collection's new title.

Nintendo has said we'll hear about new 3DS and Wii U games in today's conference, which kicks off at 9am Pacific / 12 midday Eastern / 5pm UK / 6pm Central European. Don't miss it!

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Which is nice

All this talk of Wii U and the most recent Nintendo Direct has put poor 3DS in the shade. Well don't worry, the little handheld that can will get its chance to shine again during Nintendo's E3 press conference today.

Despite saying it'll focus on Wii U software, Nintendo confirmed it will reveal new games for 3DS today, promising a "massive line-up":

At the E3 Expo, Nintendo will reveal a massive lineup of first- and third-party video games for the Wii U home console and the Nintendo 3DS handheld system.

The consensus in the Nintendo Life office seems to be we'll see the new Zelda for 3DS today. What are you hoping for?

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