Nintendo fans had been batting around the rumour of a surprise Direct event for the past couple of days, but today Nintendo delivered. Though the video is less than 15 minutes long, the announcements come thick and fast. Let’s go through them one by one.
The world Ends with you -Final Remix- arriving this year
An update of the Nintendo DS classic, The World Ends With You -Final Remix- is the original game from a decade ago with updated controls (you can use the Joy-Con in battle as well as the original touch controls) along with a whole new scenario. Now you can avoid being erased from existence on the bus to and from work. No release date was confirmed during the Nintendo Direct video, aside from the vague “Available This Year”.
New DLC fighters for Pokkén Tournament DX
The Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack was announced, which includes new fighters along with new support Pokémon. The paid DLC is arriving in two waves, with wave one including the shape-shifting Aegislash as a playable fighter, along with Mega Rayquaza and Mimikyu as support. Wave 2 leans harder on the nostalgia dollar, as it includes Blastoise as a battle Pokémon with Mew and Celebi as support. The Battle Pack also includes new avatars, which are available now. Wave 1 will be available on January 31st whilst Wave 2 will be available on March 23rd.
Release Date announced for Kirby: Star Allies
The little pink mascot for Nintendo is making his Nintendo Switch debut with Kirby: Star Allies, which got a release date of March 16th. The Direct video also showed off some new gameplay for Star Allies, including a first look at his Artist and Spider abilities, as well Friend Abilities. As Kirby: Star Allies is a four player co-op game, you and your friends can combine copy abilities to defeat your enemies. Grab some friends, suck some enemies (stop laughing at the back), and save Dreamland.
Dragon Quest Builders Demo Available now
Enough said.
Hyrule warriors: Definitive Edition Coming soon
A surprise success when it launched, considering the Warriors games are notoriously hit and miss, Hyrule Warriors is now getting a Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch launching during the spring. This version of the game will include all the content from both the Wii U and 3DS versions of the game, along with all of the premium content that launched afterwards, all in glorious 1080p. Plus, Link and Zelda will be getting new Breath of the Wild inspired costumes, which is nice.
Mario tennis aces serves up a spring release date
You know, for a plumber, Mario sure does a lot of other things than his actual job. He’s been in more tennis games than the amount of times he’s actually fixed someone’s sink. Anyway, here he is, shirking his responsibilities once again to play a bit of tennis. Mario Tennis Aces will include your typical tennis gameplay with the standard Mario power-up shenanigans, but the key addition here is the Story Mode, which will include additional challenges and boss battles against the likes of Petey Piranha. Look for Mario Tennis Aces to step onto the court this spring.
YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana Arriving In the summer
The action RPG YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana has already made appearances on the PSVita and PS4, but now it’s been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch. Shipwrecked on a deserted island, you play as Adol, who must work together with other survivors to fend off the monstrous denizens, build a base of operations and try to find a way off the island. Meanwhile, he sees a girl named Dana in his dreams, who may be linked to the island and to Adol’s fate. YS VIII will be out this summer.
Free update coming to Super Mario Odyssey
One of the biggest hits of 2017, it’s unsurprising that Super Mario Odyssey would be getting some post launch support. The update, which will be available next month, includes new outfits and filters for the Snapshot mode, along with Luigi’s Balloon World. Balloon World is a new spin on online competitive modes, as players must hide a balloon in the world, or find balloons that other players have hidden. The Nintendo Direct video describes it as “a new form of objective based speed running”, as players compete to find the balloons in the quickest time. No doubt the platforming pros will be able to create some devious challenges with this mode.
SNK HEroines: Tag team Frenzy mixes fighting and fashion
Shut the front door! Did somebody say “brand new fighting game”? SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy takes all the leading ladies from SNK, such as Mai, Kula and Leona, and brings them together in a 2v2 fighting game. Unlike traditional SNK games though, attacks can be executed with only one button, whilst the use of items can turn the tide of battle. Clearly, this is an attempt to appeal more to the casual fighting game fan, but it should be a laugh regardless. Players can also customise their characters with all manners of weird nonsense, so there’s also that. Look out for SNK Heroines this summer, or download ACA NEOGEO Art of Fighting 2, which is available on the eShop today.
Donkey kong joins Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom battle
If you couldn’t get enough of the Mushroom Kingdom meets X-Com that was Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, check this out. The leader of the DK Crew himself, Donkey Kong, will be joining the game as DLC. Available as part of the Season Pass, DK will be part of a new world with a new campaign, and will have new abilities which will affect combat. Hopefully, he’ll retain his ground pound move from Smash Bros which you could use to cheese your way through Multi-Man Melees.
Payday 2 gets a timed exclusive character
“I steal from the rich and give to the Switch.” That’s how the Payday theme goes, right? Anyway, the 4 player co-op heist ’em up is coming to the Nintendo Switch, bringing with it all the bank robbing brilliance that the series is known for. Switch players will get access to a new character, Joy, a computer hacker with a mask lifted straight from the game Ruiner. Joy comes with new weapons and hacker perks, which should change up the dynamic of a crew somewhat. Payday 2 will be released on the Switch on February 27th, and Joy is a timed exclusive for Switch players.
EA Original FE available February 16th
Attention all charming indie platformer lovers: please be excited for Fe, the first game in the EA Originals series. Developed by Zoink Games, Fe is also the name of the little creature you control, who must explore their forest and try to stop the threat of the Silent Ones, who are attacking the local wildlife. The key feature of Fe is the ability to sing, as the use of song can have different effects on plants, animals and the overall environment. It looks like a lovely little game, and certainly one to watch when it launches next month.
Conquer the mountain in celeste
What’s that? Another charming indie platformer? Go on then. Celeste puts you in the shoes, or more appropriately, the hiking boots of Madeline, as she tries to ascend Celeste Mountain. Along the way she’ll face danger, encounter strange characters and probably fall to her death about 100 times. It looks like that kind of game. The difficulty appears to be customisable though, allowing you to make the game as slow as you want. Or you can just make yourself invincible. Though the game was previously announced before Nintendo Direct, you can believe it’s now on the radar of many a gamer. Celeste will be launching on January 25th.
Donkey kong Country: tropical freeze is totally righteous
Groovy. Bodacious. Whatever the hell else 90s surfer dudes said. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze made its debut on the Wii U, but now it’s finding a new home on the Switch. The new version includes the original experience, jazzed up a little for Switch, along with the new playable character Funky Kong. He has a double jump, can hover in the air, can perform the roll and the underwater corkscrew infinitely AND is invulnerable to spikes. He’s a God. How is Funky Kong not the poster boy for Nintendo? Tropical Freeze will be available on the Nintendo Switch on May 4th.
Prepare to die, on the toilet: Dark Souls Remastered Confirmed
We’ve already gone into detail about this piece of news in a prior article, so we’ll spare you the repetition. Suffice to say, your regular work commute is making a stop at Lordran. Deal with it. Dark Souls Remastered will be available on May 25th.
And that’s everything from today’s Nintendo Direct. What piece of news excited you the most, and why was it Dark Souls Remastered? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out the full Nintendo Direct video.
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