Just how likely is it that Nintendo would release a fully fledged installment of each of their big three franchises in the same year? Also what do we actually know about these three titles?
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Developers: EAD Tokyo
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the sequel to 2007's GOTY, Super Mario Galaxy. Story will take a back seat as the core gameplay mechanics from the original are fleshed out even further and all the content that didn't make it into Galaxy will be seen here in the sequel. The gameplay itself will remain largely the same but with a few twists such as the ability to ride Yoshi and use his tongue along with other power-ups specific to Yoshi. There will also be a new drill bit item that will allow Mario to drill through to the other side of a planet of inside the planet itself. Time will also play a part with Mario now having the ability to slow down time.
All that is well and good but many found Super Mario Galaxy to be a bit too easy and that's where Nintendo are changing things with the sequel. The sequel will be harder with the thought that the people who have already played through Super Mario Galaxy will have become better at Galaxies platforming style. It should also be noted that the game is quite far along and could very well have been ready for release these holidays had New Super Mario Bros. Wii not been schedueled for that timeslot.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 is schedueled for release in 2010.
Metroid: Other M
Developers: Project M
With Retro Studios finished with the Prime series many thought Metroid Prime 3: Corruption would be the last we saw of Samas Aran on Wii, Nintendo however had Other plans. A collaboration between Nintendo's Software Planning and Development Project Group 1 and Team Ninja, Metroid: Other M takes Samus Aran back to her franchise roots with the added twist of not only 2D gameplay but also first person and third person 3D gameplay in some sequences. Metroid: Other M will take place between Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion and have a story progression similar to that of Metroid Fusion.
The story itself will be driven by CG cutscenes that along with more focus on action sequences will give the title a 'harder edge.' However as stated above, the franchise will return to its roots with exploration and isolation featuring prominently.
Metroid: Other M is schedueled for release in 2010
The Legend of Zelda: Wii
Developers: EAD 3
In development since late 2006, the latest installment in the famed series will have had one of the longest development cycles of any console Zelda game in the history of the franchise. Development hasn't been without fruit for EAD 3 however with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Link's Crossbow Training and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks all releasing along side the development of the Wii title. Apart from the likelihood of the title requiring Wii MotionPlus, not much is known about The Legend of Zelda for Wii. A piece of artwork shown at E3 this year shows a slightly older Link than in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess standing in front of a female figure that many have speculated may be the embodiment of the Master Sword. In an interview with IGN.com, Shigeru Miyamoto hinted that Link was not holding the Master Sword in the artwork and that this was significant.
No other conclusions can really be drawn from the artwork as like with The Wind Waker, the graphical style may change in the lead up to the titles unveiling. Finally it has to be pointed out that Shigeru Miyamoto has also stated that it is his intention that the game be released in 2010 but he confessed that it may be delayed a little while longer than that depending on how development goes.
The Legend of Zelda: Wii is targeted for a late 2010 release.
It seems that The Legend of Zelda: Wii is the weakest link in the coming together of the biggest year for a Nintendo console since.. Well probably ever! Now with all things considered, it is possible that EAD 3 could finish the project on time and here's how; EAD 3 (portable) are free at the end of the year thanks to the finish of development on The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. A shift of this team over to the Wii Zelda team could speed up the development process.
Other free teams will include EAD 5 with Wii Fit Plus releasing October 1st in Japan and EAD 4 with New Super Mario Bros Wii releasing later this year. EAD 2 have most likely moved onto Wii Vitality among other projects and EAD 1 have been dead quiet since Mario Kart Wii was released and are most likely deep into development on a number of projects one of which includes Pikmin 3.
Now if Nintendo wanted they could shift resources from a number of these teams to EAD 3 and fast track the development of The Legend of Zelda for Wii while bringing in new talent and therefore new unthought of ideas. So Nintendo COULD do that, however do they have the incentive to?
1. Sales
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - 6.86 Million (across both GameCube and Wii)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 4.52 Million
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - 4.55 Million
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - 7.60 Million
For Nintendo to fast track a games development in the way I've stated above, sales maximisation both for the game and the console must be a priority.
Nintendo diverting resources to a title that will garner sales of around the 7 - 10 Million mark if the game is a success would seem to be worth it. However if The Legend of Zelda for Wii along with something like Wii Vitality was the big holiday title for 2010 then it would be up against both Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M of which Metroid would most likely lose out and while the trifecta would be great for sales for the holidays, could these titles sustain Wii for the better part of 2011 while consumers await the next wave of titles from Nintendo?
2. Current Development (skip past the list if you don't want to do your own checking)
Lets take a look at which teams are developing what and the time frame in which these project will be finished.
EAD 1 - Last title released: Mario Kart Wii (2008)
Probable Development:
- Pikmin 3 (20??)
- Unknown Project
EAD 2 - Last title released: Wii Sports Resort (2009)
Probable Development:
- Wii Vitality (2010)
- Unknown Project
EAD 3 - Last title released: Link's Crossbow Training (2007)
Development:
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
- The Legend of Zelda: Wii (20??)
EAD 4 - Last title released: Band Brothers DX (2008)
Development:
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009)
EAD 5 - Last title released: Wii Fit (2007)
Development:
- Wii Fit Plus (2009)
EAD Tokyo - Last title released: Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
Development:
- Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010)
Retro Studios - Last title released: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (2007)
Probable Development:
- Unknown Project (20??)
Monolith Soft - Last title released: Disaster: Day of Crisis (2008)
Development:
- Monado: Beginning of the World (2010)
HAL Laboratory - Last title released: Kirby Superstar Ultra (2008)
Probable Development:
- Unknown Project (20??)
Project Sora
Probable Development:
- Unknown Project (2011)
With all that in mind (don't worry if you skipped through it, it'll all come together) lets take a look at what Nintendo has officially lined up for 2010 so far..
Q1
- Sin and Punishment 2
- Endless Ocean 2: Beautiful Ocean
TBA 2010
- Span Smasher
- Line Attack Heroes
- Monado: Beginning of the World
- Metroid: Other M
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
- Wii Vitality
If Nintendo wanted to keep with the status quo then the line up they have shown us will fill out the whole of 2010 as 2009 is going to end with 8 Wii releases. However, Nintendo only shows off most of the next 12 months at each E3 and not most of the next 18 months. This suggests that neither Super Mario Galaxy 2 nor Metroid: Other M are Nintendo's holiday 2010 titles. You would also not expect them to just blindly hope that Zelda for Wii is ready in time for release as one of their big holiday titles. Therefore there must be more to the story and these teams may hold the answers;
EAD 1 - With Pikmin 3 in development but Miyamoto admitting that it only has a small team at the moment, it seems that either EAD 1 are working on another title along side Pikmin or resources have been diverted to other efforts. Either of these could be the case with New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Wii Fit Plus both likely to have demanded extra man power.
Retro Studios - Retro's last true release was Metroid Prime 3: Corruption but since that time in 2007 they have also worked on the NPC! Metroid Prime titles, given Ubisoft some pointers for Red Steel 2 and also have been rumoured to have been working on their own Zelda project for Wii that has since been cancelled. By the end of 2010, they will have had more than 3 years to work on their next title, heavily rumoured to be a new IP and could very well be ready to release it. If Zelda Wii doesn't make it out by holiday 2010, this could be the back up plan. Otherwise expect to see this along with Project Sora's new title in 2011.
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