Last week the doors closed at the biggest video game expos? there is, E3, for another year. I must admit almost with a bit of disappointment that at the moment there seems to be no true battle going on right now between Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. Why do I say this? The reason is simple:

Nintendo absolutely dominated.

First lets look at the two other main contenders starting with Xbox 360. Obviously it?s the most powerful system available right now as it chose to get a head start with an early release. Playing the system right now can only be described as beautiful thing, as at the very least, it provides a graphics euphoria. But if you ask me, there hasn?t been a launch-title or anything since the X360?s release to make me slam the pricey system on my visa. And so, I anticipated seeing that one game that was going to make me consider going into debt.

I actually saw a couple: Halo 3, Superman Returns and Grand Theft Auto IV. That last one there, is a crucial one. Gone are the days when the GTA series was exclusive to Sony. It would seem the developer Rockstar understands they can get the most bang for their buck by buddying up with Microsoft. So then, how exactly is Sony stepping up to the plate?

Oh now I remember, they didn?t step up to the plate. Sure, there was Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Devil May Cry and ? this is a big one ? Final Fantasy XIII, but I was expecting to see a bit more of the innovative ideas promised to the current PSP owners; namely how PSP and PS3 will interact with one another. Alas, only the good people at Nintendo had something innovative to show.

Last week I finally decided to rent a copy of Metroid Prime: Echoes and I was extremely happy with the experience. It was the kind of feeling you get from finally watching one of those movies that everybody tells you, ?oh my god, I can?t believe you?ve never seen it.? The details, design, incredible bosses and gameplay had me really thinking I might have been too hard on the old Gamecube lately. I cannot stress this enough, the game is simply brilliant and a rare union between art and video gaming. Indeed, after watching some of the videos of people playing Metroid 3 with the wii-mote it has become clear to me that Nintendo is coming, guns blazing.

While the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy are more than worthy of mention, also, the genuine innovation that is the wii-mote, there is no doubt in my mind that there is one title guaranteed to take the Wii to the top: Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This game alone is worthy of a column for itself and that is what it is going to get: tune in next week.

I will close in saying that yes, Nintendo dominated E3, but as I have said time and time again, they are very good at hyping things up, so keep that in mind. Game trailers make a strong case but when push comes to shove I can think of plenty of times Nintendo has failed me. Nevertheless, even true cynics like me cannot deny the veracity of the Wii?s potential and even at this early point I do not expect to be disappointed.






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