Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong & Kirby

Updates on four major Nintendo franchises as screens arrive for Zelda GCN, Mario Baseball, Donkey Konga 3 and Kirby Adventure.

With all eyes currently on the newly released Nintendo DS handheld, Nintendo has sent out a reminder that it's still in the home console business too. The company has revealed a smattering of new screenshots for the upcoming Legend Of Zelda game and announced three new GameCube titles.

The Legend of Zelda for GameCube

The Legend Of Zelda screenshots appear to be taken from the trailer for the game, which circulated around the time of its announcement at E3 in May.

As you can see, Link is in fine form.

The screenshots show off the more realistic style of the game's artwork, a feature fans have longed for since before the cartoonish Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker was announced.

Mario continues the sports career in Mario Baseball.

The three new GameCube titles star Nintendo's most popular characters in situations both new and familiar.

After mastering both golf and tennis, Mario will now transfer his characteristic skills to the baseball diamond in Mario Baseball. Joining Mario are his usual co-stars Wario, Luigi, Yoshi and all the other fan-favourite characters.

Missing from the Mario Baseball line-up is Kirby, but fret not - the pink puffball has been announced as the star of a new game of his own. Tentatively titled Kirby Adventure, the game sees the skill-stealing character doing many of the same things that have enthralled handheld gamers in the two Game Boy Advance instalments.

Kirby Adventure - the ball is back

The third of the newly announced titles is the second follow-up to Donkey Konga. Not content to just add new songs again, Nintendo has announced a new character for Donkey Konga 3 named Funky Kong.

Donkey Konga 3 has also been announced.

Nintendo has yet to announce precise launch details for any of the new GameCube titles, though all three are expected some time during 2005.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games