During Microsofts pre-E3 press conference, the companys chairman Bill Gates came on stage to declare that the company will have a 10 million-unit head start by the time their competitors will enter the market. He then went on to outline the companys plans to connect Xbox Live gamers with Windows-based PC and mobile users the Live Anywhere vision. It is talked in more detail here.

Gates, who was at E3 for the first time ever, and Peter Moore jointly announced that the Xbox 360 is getting a second wave of games that will raise the count of total games for the console to more than 160 by the end of the year.

They then went on to announce Halo 3, showing a sizzling hot trailer for it. The duo also went on to announce Fable 2 and Forza Motorsport 2, which will join upcoming titles Gears of War, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Alan Wake and Shadowrun. In the works at FASA Studio, Shadowrun is slated to be released for both the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista and will be first title to support Microsofts Live Anywhere vision.

DirectX 10 will also see itself launched with the release of Windows Vista, with support from various games including Crysis, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Flight Simulator X and Alan Wake which will also be released for Windows Vista.

They then went on to talk about Xbox Live Arcade: the service will see more classic favorites being added to it, with Pac-Man, Galaga, Frogger, Contra, Super Contra, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Sonic the Hedgehog and Lumines Live being standouts.

As a finale, they announced that Microsoft is working on launching the Xbox 360 in eight new countries: Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Poland, Slovakia and South Africa.

Microsoft also announced its games lineup for Windows and Windows Vista operating systems; it also disclosed plans to bring the Xbox Live network to the Windows platform. The showcase lineup for Windows Vista will include the following games:

• Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Funcom) is an online action-RPG with a mix of a deep, story-driven single-player experience and massive and brutal multiplayer end game, bringing to life the ultimate representation of the “Age of Conan.
  
• Alan Wake (Microsoft Game Studios) is a psychological action thriller from Remedy Entertainment Ltd. Cited as one of the best titles of E3 2005, “Alan Wake introduces a deeply engaging and suspenseful story line in a free-roaming open world that invites players to unravel the riveting plot and experience intense combat that combines the use of light with more conventional weapons.
  
• Company of Heroes® (THQ) is a World War II RTS from Relic Entertainment, the creators of game-of-the-year winners “Homeworld and “Dawn of War, that brings the cinematic intensity and dynamic battlefields of World War II to life through a truly visceral gaming experience.
  
• Crysis™ (EA) is an original FPS based on new intellectual property developed by Crytek, the makers of the award-winning “Far Cry. In Crysis, players battle an invading alien force in a number of environments against a backdrop of rising international tension and rivalries.
  
• Flight Simulator X (Microsoft Game Studios) is the 10th edition of the popular simulator that immerses players in a beautifully rich and realistic world, offering gamers a completely new and innovative experience with dozens of new aircraft, scenario-based missions and spectacular graphics.
  
• Halo® 2 for Windows Vista (Microsoft Game Studios), the game that redefined first-person combat and multiplayer action for millions of gamers worldwide, is set to explode onto Windows Vista.
  
• Hellgate™: London (NAMCO BANDAI Games America) is an action-RPG that combines the depth of third-person role-playing games with the action of first-person shooters. Developed by Flagship Studios Inc., which includes the creators of the revolutionary “Diablo series, the game offers infinite playability through dynamically generated levels, items, enemies and events.
  
• Shadowrun™ (Microsoft Game Studios) brings the Microsoft vision of “Live Anywhere to life. “Shadowrun from FASA Studio is the first cross-platform game for Xbox 360™ and Windows Vista. It is a multiplayer, FPS that propels team-based combat into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic. “Shadowrun will be available when Windows Vista is launched.

The company also disclosed its Live Anywhere vision, which was announced by the man himself Bill Gates. The new online network will provide support for Windows Vista and Xbox 360 gamers with a consistent experience, one gamertag, one set of achievements, one Friends List and voice communication between all Xbox Live members. It will also be extended to mobile phones.

That’s not all: the company also extended its wireless line of Xbox 360 peripherals to the Windows platform through the introduction of the Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows. The device will let gamers use the USB wireless receiver with Windows XP or Vista-based computers to enjoy games that work best with the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Wireless Headset and Wireless Racing Wheel.

Having released the console late last year, Microsoft has proudly announced the second wave of games coming to the Xbox 360, stating that gamers can expect more than 160 games by the end of the year.

The company is showcasing the following titles at E3 this year:

• Alan Wake
  
• Blue Dragon
  
• Crackdown
  
• Fable 2
  
• Forza Motorsport 2
  
• Gears of War
  
• Halo 3
  
• Mass Effect
  
• Shadowrun
  
• Too Human
  
• Viva Piñata
  
• Ninety-Nine Nights
  
• Lost Planet
  
• Saints Row
  
• Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2
  
• Prey
  
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent
  
• Madden NFL 07
  
• Sonic The Hedgehog

Nintendo’s pre-E3 conference unveiled many details on Wii, the company’s next-gen console -games, specification, direction and other aspects of the console were discussed and revealed.

It’s not a secret anymore that Wii’s controller is a motion sensor, letting users interact directly with the games instead of going through a lifeless gamepad.

Continuing Nintendo’s long tradition of developing highly innovative products that redefine the standards for the industry, Wii (pronounced “we”) will allow players to “feel” games in a way never known before: the adrenaline of a tennis match, the thrill of making an airplane bank or the rush of gripping the wheel of a speeding truck. The control scheme is simple enough that everyone, no matter what their prior gaming experience, can use it with ease and will want to try it.

The company has stated it again and again: they want to hit the mass market, and to do that they introduced the new controller system, so that new players can pick up a game easily and play through it without feeling uncomfortable.

Players manipulate their games through the motion of the remote control-like Wii Remote, which also includes a built-in speaker. In a four-player tennis game shown during Nintendo’s media briefing, the Wii Remote became a virtual tennis racket, from the vibration of the hit to the sound of the ball. The Wii Remote’s sensors are delicate enough to enable players to hit straight, add slice or put top spin on the ball.

Depending on the game, the Wii Remote could be a weapon, a baseball bat or an airplane. The applications are limited only by imagination. The Nunchuk controller attachment also includes a motion sensor, a development that suggests additional creative possibilities for this dual control system: Games could involve the use of a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. Or a clamp and a scalpel. Or a pair of boxing gloves.

No exact release date or price was specified, but Nintendo did assert that the Wii will be available during Q4 2006 and will be priced affordably for the mass market. To make it even more enticing, the Wii will have a very quick startup, silent operation and low power consumption. Users will never need to turn the Wii off, making the “sleepless” WiiConnect24 possible - the console may download bonus content for games while you sleep. And there’s no need to even mention the Virtual Console service which will allow users to download games from past consoles; the Wii will feature a huge catalogue of Sega MegaDrive games.

The company also unveiled a fact sheet for the console, offering some technical details of the box.

Controls: Intuitive control for anyone using the physical motion of the main Wii Remote, which resembles a television remote control. Up to four Wii Remotes can be connected at once using wireless Bluetooth technology. The wireless signal can be detected within 10 meters of the console. Both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers include a three-axis motion sensor. The Wii Remote also includes a speaker, rumble feature and expansion port, and can be used as a pointer within 5 meters of the screen. The Wii Remote has a power switch, plus pad, A, B, Minus, Home, 1 and 2 buttons. The Nunchuk controller includes an analog control stick and C and Z buttons.

The Look: Wii features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any television setup. It can be displayed either vertically or horizontally.

Color: TBA

Media: A single self-loading media bay will play single- or doublelayered 12-centimeter optical discs for Wii, as well as 8-
centimeter Nintendo GameCube™ discs.

Communication: Wii can communicate with the Internet even when the power is turned off. This “WiiConnect24″ service delivers a new surprise or game update, even if users do not play with Wii. Users can connect wirelessly using IEEE802.11b/g, or with a USB 2.0 LAN adaptor. Wii also can communicate wirelessly with Nintendo DS™.

Virtual Console: Wii will have downloadable access to 20 years of fanfavorite titles originally released for Nintendo® 64, the
Super Nintendo Entertainment System® (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System® (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a “best of” selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.

The Specs: Wii has 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports and built-in Wi-Fi capability. A bay for an SD
memory card will let players expand the internal flash memory. Design was optimized with state-of-the-art processing technologies that minimize power consumption, keep the console compact and enable the “sleepless” WiiConnect24 mode.

CPU: PowerPC CPU (code-named “Broadway”) Made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, jointly developed with and manufactured by IBM.

Graphics Processing Unit: Being developed with ATI

Other Features: Four ports for classic Nintendo GameCube controllers. Two slots for Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards. An AV Multi-output port for component, composite or S-video.

As well as some photos of the Wii.

A controller for retro games was shown also.

As well as a series of photos showing the way the Wiimote will work; it also highlights the built-in speaker.

And yes, Nintendo did offer its Wii E3 lineup:

• Wii Sports
  
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
  
• Super Mario Galaxy
  
• Excite Truck
  
• WarioWare: Smooth Moves
  
• Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Call of Duty 3 from Activision
  
• Sonic and Super Monkey Ball games from SEGA
  
• DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors and CODENAME: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Crystal Bearers from SQUARE ENIX
  
• Madden NFL from Electronic Arts
  
• Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel from Ubisoft
  
• SpongeBob SquarePants title from THQ

Nintendo’s E3 DS lineup is as follows:

• New Super Mario Bros.®, a new 2-D Super Mario game that anyone can enjoy.
  
• The Legend of Zelda®: Phantom Hourglass builds on the cel-shaded fun of The Legend of Zelda®: The Wind Waker™ with touch-screen controls and wireless competition.
  
• Chibi-Robo™: Park Patrol sends everyone’s favorite robotic helper on a new mission in the great outdoors.
  
• Elite Beat Agents™ brings the cult import hit Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! to the Americas.
  
• DK™: King of Swing DS sends Donkey Kong® on a swinging new adventure.
  
• Hotel Dusk: Room 215™ turns Nintendo DS into a film noir mystery.
  
• Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team for the first time lets users play as a Pokémon, speaking and interacting with other characters in a world populated only by Pokémon.
  
• Gamers also can anticipate creative new Nintendo DS games featuring Star Fox®, Wario™ and Kirby™, as well as a wild adventure set on Yoshi’s Island®.

Some concrete information and screenshots from Blue Dragon, the upcoming RPG from Mistwalker.

Famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker game studio and developer Artoon present the highly anticipated Xbox 360-exclusive “Blue Dragon.” Featuring the character design of Akira Toriyama, who designed “Dragon Ball Z,” and music by Nobuo Uematsu, the composer for “Final Fantasy,” “Blue Dragon” is an epic role-playing game (RPG) centered on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends. These unlikely heroes possess miraculous strength and magical power to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters.

Shu and company must use their shadows as weapons as they battle the evil Nene and an antiquated human race of people who command a magical power thought to have perished long ago. Shu and friends must wield their skills to save their world from impending doom.

Encountering various people on a planet with numerous ancient ruins, the characters and their shadows travel through a world full of mysteries and illusions, where the slightest touch can cause reactions of unparalleled magnitude.

Features:

• Innovative RPG gameplay features. As their quest progresses, warriors can create original attack methods by using several types of Shadow Change, including Sword, Assassin and Power Magic. Players can also choose to focus their hero on certain areas of expertise; as they fight, shadows will level up and gain new abilities associated with the job being done. Once gained, abilities remain available to use when needed.
  
• Massive scope and engrossing environments. Shu and his companions battle their way through an immense world filled with vividly illustrated remnants of ancient civilizations long forgotten. Their journey takes them through alluring ancient ruins scattered with machines of war that have long since fallen into disrepair.
  
• Stunning graphics. Taking full advantage of the power of Xbox 360, “Blue Dragon” will engage gamers in a world and characters that are brought to life with vibrant colors and detail - from Shu’s wild hair to his martial arts-style garb - conveying the beautiful simplicity and sense of adventure found in this truly next-generation RPG.
  
• Dazzling character design and effects. Toriyama’s unique influence is evident in the design of the game’s anime-style characters, whose actions are enhanced with next-generation blur effects. In addition, the game’s algorithmic animation system adds heightened realism to character and creature movements.

Developer Information: Mistwalker is a creative company founded by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the original developer of “Final Fantasy.” Operated by a handful of experts, the direction of new Mistwalker is influenced by Sakaguchi’s extensive industry experience.

Artoon is a digital entertainment design, development and production company with rich talent and experience. Centering on the design and development of original content, Artoon is mainly involved in the development of software through external cooperation, as well as the design and production of entertainment content in the mobile communication category.

And some very-white screenshots:

MORE MARIO! YES!

Super Mario Galaxy (temporary name)

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: TBA
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Action Platformer
Accessories: Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controller
Players: 1-2
Developer: Nintendo

The ultimate Nintendo hero is taking the ultimate step … out into space. Join Mario™ as he ushers in a new era of video games, defying gravity across all the planets in the galaxy.

• Shake, tilt and point! Mario takes advantage of all the unique aspects of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller, unleashing new moves as players shake the controller and even point at and drag items with the pointer.
  
• Mario essentially defined the 3-D platforming genre with Super Mario® 64, and this game proves once again that he is king. Players perform mind-bending, lowgravity jumps across wild alien terrain as they experience platforming for a new generation.

Game storyline: When some creature escapes into space with Princess Peach, Mario gives chase, exploring bizarre planets all across the galaxy.

Characters: Mario, Peach and enemies new and old.

How to progress through the game: Players run, jump and battle enemies as they explore all the planets in the galaxy. Since this game makes full use of all the features of the Wii Remote, players have to do all kinds of things to succeed: pressing buttons, swinging the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk, and even pointing at and dragging things with the pointer.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Since he’s in space, Mario can perform mindbending jumps unlike anything he’s done before. He’ll also have a wealth of new moves that are all based around tilting, pointing and shaking the Wii Remote.

And score another for the Wii - stop killer robots using a hammer!

Project H.A.M.M.E.R.

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: TBA
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Action Adventure
Accessories: Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controllers
Players: TBA
Developer: Nintendo Software Technology Corp.

Killer robots are attacking major cities across the United States, and the military is powerless to stop them. Players control one of Project H.A.M.M.E.R.’s cyborg prototypes: half-man, half-machine, with an extraordinary weapon - and the power to save the world.

• Grab the Wii Remote and start swinging. Equipped with a hammer of amazing strength, players represent the only hope against an unstoppable army of marauding automatons.
  
• Players use the Nunchuk controller in one hand to maneuver through a variety of vast and detailed environments. They use the Wii Remote in the other just like a real hammer to control the hero’s weapon. Swing the controller side to side to make the in-game hammer send enemies flying. Lift it into the air and bring it down to smash robots to smithereens. Use the A button for quick hammer flurries.
  
• Enter a world of nonstop action, excitement and relentless destruction. Players will reduce rampaging robots to scrap metal as they battle their way across the United States. If they see an enemy, they smash it. And they continue to smash until every city across America is saved.

And a new WarioWare title!

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: TBA
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Mass Microgames
Players: 1+ (TBD)
Developer: Nintendo

The WarioWare team took an idea so wacky, it could only be made with the latest technology … the Wii Remote.

WarioWare is back with a whole new set of moves. When Wario™ stumbles upon a strange device called a Form Baton, he and his friends use it to learn new moves that are as fun as they are wacky. With hundreds of microgames, this game is just as wild as you’d expect from the name WarioWare, but the game play has been revolutionized. Under Wario’s tutelage, and with the help of the Wii Remote, players will swing, spin and squat their way to victory.

With about 200 lightning-quick microgames and controls that range from scribbling to flailing, WarioWare: Smooth Moves takes interactive gaming to a whole new level. All players need is a Wii Remote and their best moves to be the champ.

With games that are as much fun to play as they are to WATCH people play, WarioWare: Smooth Moves brings the party to its feet. It’s hilarious for players and audiences alike.

Game storyline: Wario and his pals learn fun, wacky moves after discovering a strange book and a mystical device called the Form Baton.

Characters: Familiar characters from the WarioWare universe will return to this installment and some new ones will appear.

How to progress through the game: Players must clear fast-paced sets of microgames, changing the way they hold the Wii Remote each time. As they do, they’ll unlock more microgames and souvenirs.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: The game’s full-body controls add a whole new level of insanity to an already frenetic experience.

There’s something for everyone: Nintendo has announced Wii Sports, a game made up of several sports, including tennis, baseball, golf and many others.

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: TBA
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Sports
Players: 1-4, depending on the game
Developer: Nintendo

• Tennis (1-4 players): Players grab the controller like a racket and swing – the game will register forehands, backhands, volleys, lobs, slices, spin and power depending on how fast the user swings and at what angle. Don’t worry about moving around the court to get to the ball – the game automatically moves players into position.
  
• Baseball (1-2 players): Grip the controller like a bat and swat fastballs out of the park in a home run derby. Timing and bat speed will make all the difference between going yard and whiffing, so keep an eye on the ball and swing for the fences. In the two-player game, one player pitches and the other bats.
  
• Golf (1 player): Step up to the tee, hold the controller like a golf club and swing naturally to smack the ball onto the green. The harder players swing the club, the farther the ball will fly, so be sure to take some practice swings before going for the pin. After reaching the green, line up putts carefully, practice the stroke and try to hole out.
  
• Additional games may be added to the Wii Sports group.

And now the screenshot-cum-demonstrations:

A prequel to the 2004 Gamecube RPG Baten Kaitos Origins was announced at Nintendo’s conference. Details:

Format: Nintendo GameCube™
Launch Date: Sept. 25, 2006
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Role-Playing Game
Accessories: Memory Card
Players: 1
Developer: NAMCO BANDAI Games/Monolith Software/tri-Crescendo

Baten Kaitos Origins is a prequel to Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, a Nintendo GameCube exclusive released in late 2004. The plot revolves around a group of characters who are struggling to discover the source of frightening changes (both natural and political) that are occurring in their world. During their journey, they will learn many details that help flesh out the first game, including how the despotic Empire government came to be.

• Players explore a massive world filled with memorable characters and bizarre creatures. From the high-tech high-rises of the empire to a rustic farming hamlets, the level and character design in Baten Kaitos Origins is wildly innovative.
  
• Players immerse themselves in the Baten Kaitos universe. With a twisting, turning storyline, dozens of side quests and thousands of lines of voice-acted dialogue, they will easily spend 80+ hours in this world.
  
• Players leap into the fray with the real-time combat system. With hundreds of weapons, armor pieces and items at their disposal, even fights against the smallest monsters will be a fun and frantic experience.

Game storyline: Baten Kaitos Origins takes place 20 years before the first Baten Kaitos game. It explains how the diabolical Emperor Geldoblame rose to power, and it also fills in many details about the heroes from the first title. In addition, players will learn about the origins of the world itself and why the Lost Ocean is returning.

Characters: The hero, a blue-haired young man named Sagi, was sent to assassinate the Emperor but found the job had been done for him. Blamed for the death, he’s now on the run with two friends – a robot named Guillo and a young woman named Milly. (Character names are not final.)

How to progress through the game: In the initial stages, the player’s party will progress in a linear fashion, moving from one area to the next along a set path. After playing the game for a few hours, players will acquire a ship that lets them visit areas in the order of their choosing, allowing them to either pursue optional side quests or blast through the main mission as they see fit.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Unlike traditional RPGs, where characters gain levels in categories such as strength and agility, the majority of leveling-up occurs by procuring better Magnus cards. There are more than 600 different Magnus cards in Baten Kaitos Origins, some of which have truly fantastical properties. Players can acquire cards in many different ways, including trading, buying, winning as spoils of war or by creating them themselves.

As announced in Nintendo’s conference, Twilight Princess will be released in Gamecube and Wii versions; it will be available at launch. There’s a screenshot to the right demonstrating how one will play thr Wii version.

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: Q4 2006
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: Adventure
Players: 1
Developer: Nintendo

When an evil darkness enshrouds the land of Hyrule, a young farm boy named Link must awaken the hero - and the animal - within.

• When Link travels to the Twilight Realm, he transforms into a wolf and must scour the land with the help of a mysterious girl named Midna. Using the power and unique control of the Wii console, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess features incredibly precise aiming control using the Wii Remote.
  
• The Wii Remote and the Nunchuk controller are used for a variety of game activities, including fishing and special sword attacks.
  
• Players ride into battle against troops of foul creatures using an amazing horseback combat system, then take on massive bosses that must be seen to be believed.
  
• Many puzzles stand between Link and the fulfillment of his quest, so players must sharpen their wits as they hunt for weapons and items.

Game storyline: Link, a young man raised as a wrangler in a small, rural village, is ordered by the mayor to attend the Hyrule Summit. He sets off, oblivious to the dark fate that has descended upon the kingdom. When he enters the Twilight Realm that has covered Hyrule, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. A mysterious figure named Midna helps him break free. With the aid of her magic, they set off to free the land from the shadows.

Characters: Link, Zelda, Midna and many other characters, both new and old. How to progress through the game: Link must explore the vast land of Hyrule and uncover the mystery behind its plunge into darkness. As he does, he’ll have to enlist the aid of friendly folk, solve puzzles and battle his way through dangerous dungeons. In the Twilight Realm, he’ll have to use his wolf abilities and Midna’s magic to bring light to the land.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Besides his trusty sword and shield, Link will use his bow and arrows, fight while on horseback and use a wealth of other items, both new and old. Players can use the Wii Remote as a fishing pole, while a spin of the Nunchuk controller executes a spin attack.

AND A METROID PRIME SEQUEL FOR THE WII! Suddenly the Wii is looking like a console worth purchasing.

Format: Wii™
Launch Date: TBA
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: First-Person Adventure
Accessories: Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controller
Players: 1
Developer: Retro

If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo’s revolutionary controller.

• Players control Samus by moving with the Nunchuk controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a level of immersion unlike anything they have ever experienced. Through the eyes of Samus, players experience a quantum leap in first-person control as they wield the Wii Remote, the ultimate device for the firstperson shooter genre.
  
• Samus will employ well-known power-ups like the Grapple Beam and Morph Ball, as well as a bunch of new surprises, to help her survive her coming trials.

Game storyline: The Galactic Federation’s Base Sector Zero is under attack by Space Pirates. Samus must boot up the generator to restore the defense systems. But at the end of her path, someone awful is waiting for her.

Characters: Samus, Dark Samus, the Galactic Federation and many new bounty hunters.

How to progress through the game: The war initiated by Dark Samus and the Space Pirates rages across many planets as they attempt to corrupt each with Phazon seeds. Players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to explore alien landscapes, hunt for weapons and information, and destroy the seeds. Saving the planets from Corruption isn’t enough, though. Eventually, players must take down Samus’ mortal enemy, Dark Samus.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Besides using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to pull off amazing feats like aiming and blasting in midair or at a full run, players also will have an array of different weapons at their disposal. In true Metroid fashion, these will become powered up as the game progresses. Not only that, but the controller will be used for a number of other game elements beyond the traditional firstperson shooter standards.

Some new BioShock screenshots for you to enjoy: