E3 2012 is just around the corner. Are you excited? Will Nintendo shock the world with the Wii U? Will Sony actually unveil the PS4? Will Microsoft have a kinect-free press conference? Unfortunately we don’t have the answers, we aren’t that good. What we are good at is remembering the awful, cringeworthy, embarrassing and most soul destroying moments of E3. The moments that enter your brain-bank and haunt you forever.
Today we’re going to look at what we think are the Top 5 Worst Nintendo E3 Moments (or “Moments from Hell” as I prefer to think of them). One year in particular makes up most of this Top 5 list.
5. Skyward Sword Demonstration
Nintendo opened their E3 2010 conference with the official unveiling, of the highly anticipated, next installment in the Zelda series. Many fans had been salivating at the prospect of using 1-to-1 motion control sword combat; and they were about to see it happen, in front of their very eyes… well, sort of.
The problems started when Nintendo’s comedy genius, Shigeru Miyamoto, took to the stage to show how the new motion controls would work in the world of Zelda. Turns out it wasn’t so great, as ‘technical issues’ hampered the experience by interfering with the Wii remote and sensor bar. What followed was a toe-curling, awkward demonstration of Shigsy flailing his arms about on stage and Link not responding in any way that he was supposed to. Blame was quickly put on the audience members and their wireless devices causing the interference, but that won’t take away the cringe-worthiness of what should’ve been an awesome demonstration.
Relive this hellish moment here.
4. Pacman Vs. ‘Megaton’ Announcement
E3 2003 was a very underwhelming one for Nintendo fans. Sure, there were a few nice, little, announcements here and there, such as Pikmin 2, but when Nintendo hinted that they would be announcing a ‘Megaton’ title, no-one expected it to be Pacman Vs.; yet it was exactly that.
Now we’re not saying it isn’t a fun game, we’re sure it is, but when that’s the “big” title of your E3 conference, you know you’ve just booked a one-way ticket to ‘Lamesville’. Things got even more awkward, during the demonstration, when photos and video of audiences members started appearing on the internet showing their apparent disappointment and lack of interest.
You’d think, after this, that Nintendo would’ve learned their lesson with promising big things. Well, lets move on shall we?
3. Wii Music Performance
Ahh, E3 2008. Just when you thought nothing could be worse than Nintendo’s 2003 showing, they go ahead and top themselves, multiple times in this now infamous conference. It should come as no surprise that the rest of this Top 5 consists of moments from 2008; but what could possibly top the Wii Music Performance? We’ll get to those in a moment.
As with Pacman Vs, Nintendo had hinted that they were announcing a “big” title for 2008’s conference. Really, we should’ve known better, but our inner Nintendo fanboy-ness couldn’t help but be excited. However, any excitement we had soon disappeared when Shigeru Miyamoto and three fellow Nintendo officials took to the stage to give us a rendition of the Super Mario Bros. theme tune. It didn’t go down well. It was an excruciating embarrassment for Nintendo and their fans.
Ripping your skin off and sitting in a bathtub of vinegar would be more appealing then having to sit through the Wii Music debacle again.
But the hellish moments of 2008, and Wii Music, don’t end there…
Go to Page 2 to find out what monstrosities have made the Top 2.
