Nerdly » Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct

09th Mar2018

Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct – The Highlights!

by Phil Wheat

During its latest Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo announced that the Super Smash Bros. franchise is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch this year. The video also showcased more than a dozen upcoming games for both the Nintendo Switch console and the Nintendo 3DS, with many of the featured games coming from third-party developers, including SQUARE ENIX, Capcom, Grasshopper Manufacture, From Software and Ubisoft. Check out some of the highlights below:

Nintendo Switch

Super Smash Bros. franchise news: The Super Smash Bros. series is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2018. The teaser trailer featured recognisable faces like Mario, Link and Inklings from the Splatoon series.

Mario Tennis Aces: Unleash an arsenal of shots and strategies in all-out tennis battles with friends, family and fan-favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters. With up to four-player local (additional accessories required; sold separately) and online* multiplayer, and a story mode that even includes creative boss battles, Mario Tennis Aces is one of the most robust Mario sports games yet. The intuitive and deep gameplay allows for exciting competitions in the living room or, really, anywhere using the power of Nintendo Switch. In Swing Mode, players can use their Joy-Con controllers like a tennis racket, swinging them to replicate the tennis swings in the game. Mario Tennis Aces launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 22nd June.

Kirby Star Allies: Kirby is coming to Nintendo Switch for the first time next week! As players make their way through the robust adventure, they will reach dream palaces where fan-favourite legacy characters can become Kirby’s Dream Friends. Eventually, more Dream Friends will be added to the game through free updates. The first such update hits 28th March, and adds classic characters Marx and Gooey and character set “Rick & Kine & Coo” to the game. Kirby Star Allies launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 16th March. A free demo for the game is currently available in Nintendo eShop.

Octopath Traveler: Producer Masashi Takahashi from SQUARE ENIX revealed new details about the upcoming RPG, including the final game name, Octopath Traveler, two more main characters (Tressa the Merchant and Alfyn the Apothecary) and the ability to equip multiple jobs per character for use in battle. Octopath Traveler launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 13th July. Octopath Traveler: Traveler’s Compendium Edition, a special edition of the game that includes a stylised pop-up book, a helpful map for your adventure and a replica coin based on the in-game currency, launches on the same day.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which originally launched for Wii U, is coming to Nintendo Switch. The new version includes new miniature courses based on various Kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey. Also, players can play with a friend or family member by sharing a pair of Joy-Con controllers: while one player controls Captain Toad, the other can assist with supporting actions such as turnip cover fire. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker launches for Nintendo Switch on 13th July. A Nintendo 3DS version of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, which includes stereoscopic 3D visuals and touch-screen controls, also launches on 13th July.

Crash Bandicoot Crashes Nintendo Switch: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, which includes remastered versions of the first three Crash Bandicoot games, launches for Nintendo Switch on 10th July.

Okami HD: The gorgeous and ethereal remake of classic action-adventure game Okami is coming to Nintendo Switch. In the Nintendo Switch version of the game, players can use the touch screen in Handheld Mode or the Joy-Con motion controls in TV or Tabletop Mode to control the Celestial Brush to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. Okami HD launches for Nintendo Switch in Nintendo eShop this summer.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole: The South Park gang is back in an outrageously-offensive superhero RPG adventure, and with Nintendo Switch you can now drop into South Park anytime, anywhere. In addition to the main game, all of the game’s add-on content will be available for purchase. South Park: The Fractured But Whole launches for Nintendo Switch on 24th April.

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido: Originally announced for Nintendo 3DS at last year’s E3, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is also coming to Nintendo Switch! The action puzzle game finds players devouring conveyor-belt sushi, matching plates and then throwing them to defeat enemies. The basics are simple, but the gameplay is deep … and tasty! In the game’s multiplayer mode, players can even compete locally or online* against other players in intense matches. Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido launches for both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS on 8th June.

DARK SOULS: REMASTERED: The remake of the genre-defining and beloved original DARK SOULS game launches for Nintendo Switch on 25th May. On the same day, an amiibo figure based on Solaire of Astora will also be released. By tapping this amiibo, the popular “Praise the Sun” gesture can be used with reckless abandon from the start of the game. (The gesture can also be obtained through regular gameplay.) Players who want to take the game for a spin can participate in a “network test.” The free network test launches in Nintendo eShop, and will allow players to download and play a part of DARK SOULS: REMASTERED before it launches to try out the gameplay and unique online features. More details about the network test will be revealed soon.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes: When Travis Touchdown wanders into the game world, he goes on a rampage of epic proportions. The latest title in the cult classic No More Heroes series contains a total of seven game titles, including an action game, racing game, and puzzle game. By using a Joy-Con controller each, two players can team up for co-op multiplayer action. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch this year.

Little Nightmares: Complete Edition: From award-winning developer Tarsier Studios comes Little Nightmares, a charmingly horrific puzzle-platforming adventure. The Complete Edition contains the two haunting tales of Six and The Runaway Kid in one package. You can even tap the PAC-MAN amiibo figure (sold separately) to unlock the Pakku Mask when playing. Little Nightmares: Complete Edition launches on 18th May.

UNDERTALE: The million-selling role-playing game where nobody has to die is headed to Nintendo Switch! Launch details will arrive at a later date.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition: The definitive edition of Hyrule Warriors brings together dozens of characters from The Legend of Zelda series in an over-the-top action game. The game launches for Nintendo Switch on 18th May.

Nintendo 3DS

WarioWare Gold: The frenetic WarioWare series is back, and for the first time it’s on Nintendo 3DS! With 300 fast-paced microgames – both classics and new additions – that can be controlled by pressing buttons, tilting the system, tapping the touch screen or using the microphone, WarioWare Gold is the biggest entry in the series and includes fully voiced characters for the first time. WarioWare Gold launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS on 27th July.

Luigi’s Mansion: The original Luigi’s Mansion, which was a launch game for the Nintendo GameCube console in 2002, is coming to Nintendo 3DS. This remake has an updated look and new features, like a map that displays on the bottom screen and a boss rush mode. Luigi’s Mansion launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS this year.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey: Similar to last year’s Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions, this new Nintendo 3DS game is a remake of a classic Mario & Luigi action RPG adventure. This time, fans can replay (or play for the first time) Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, one of the most critically acclaimed games in the Mario & Luigi series, with new graphics and a new mode that tells the behind-the-scenes story of Bowser Jr. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey launches exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS in 2019.

Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers: Action meets tower defence in Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers. In this brand new game, players take the role of armadillo ranger Dillon, who teams up with an animalised version of the player’s and their friends’ Mii characters to help stop enemy invasions and save the post-apocalyptic frontier. Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers launches at retail and in Nintendo eShop in Europe on Nintendo 3DS on 25th May.

Detective Pikachu: Starting today, this new detective adventure game starring self-proclaimed “great detective” Pikachu is available for pre-purchase on Nintendo eShop. The game, as well as an extra-large Detective Pikachu amiibo figure, launches on 23rd March. (Game playable in 2D only.)