NINTENDO E3 2015 Roundup: The quiet before the storm?

This E3 has been an absolute belter, brimming with announcements, new games and surprises. But it seems Nintendo didn’t want in on that party.

While both Sony and Microsoft put on what could be argued were their best ever shows in the last 24 hours, Nintendo’s video presentation was a limp affair with little in the way of new content.

The saga was especially depressing for Wii U owners, who must now fear their console is being left to starve as Nintendo internally turns its attentions to the still mysterious NX console.

Remember those rumours of a new Metroid title? Well, they were sort of right, although it’s unlikely that Metroid Prime Federation was the game most fans were dreaming of.

Other new titles included The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes, Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, Animal Crossing: Happy Home and Mario Tennis Ultra Smash – none of which will appeal to anyone outside of Nintendo’s most devoted faithful.

Mario and Luigi Paper Jam, at least, will have come as a nice surprise. Mario Tennis Ultra Smash probably less so. And for those who have invested in both Amiibo and Skylanders, the expected crossover between the brands will be a pleasant aside.

Aside from that a handful of games were dated and we got a good look at the new Starfox, now called Starfox Zero. But that was it. Honestly, the highlight was the superb Iwata, Miyamoto and Fils-Aime puppets that opened the video and cropped up occasionally for giggles. I mean, look at this stuff!

Yes, of course I GIF'd that pic.twitter.com/gCM15WVR1K

— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 16, 2015

Nintendo even saved its promise that the new Zelda game will definitely be coming to Wii U reserved for an interview with IGN. Why not drop it in the show?

Have we seen the last of Nintendo’s big E3 surprises? That all depends now on what the NX will bring. Will the company return with a roar next year to unveil its brand new home console that will finally put it back in the race? A machine that will unify its home and handheld ambitions? Or will it be a smartphone? The truth is, we just don’t know.

Here’s a roundup of all the Nintendo news:

• Wii U StarFox is called Starfox Zero, set for Christmas 2015 release
• New Zelda coming to 3DS, called Triforce Heroes
• Skylanders Superchargers will feature Skylanders-Amiibo hybrid figures
• Hyrule Warriors is coming to 3DS
• Metroid Prime Federation Force is a new multiplayer sci-fi shooter for 3DS
• Xenoblade Chronicles X set for December launch
• Two new Animal Crossing games headed to 3DS and Wii U
• Mario and Luigi Paper Jam and Mario Tennis Ultra Smash announced
• Super Mario Maker will allow you to make your own platforming levels in September
• Zelda is still coming to the Wii U