Nintendo dropped some big announcements throughout its latest Nintendo Direct, offering exciting prospects from third-party releases, new reveals for exciting games, and release dates for critical releases. Here is what Nintendo showed off.
First-Party Titles
Nintendo began its Switch showings with a further look at the soon to be released Kirby Star Allies. Legacy characters will be available as dream allies, and Kirby can team up with iconic characters such as Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Bandana Waddle Dee through dream palaces. Further legacy characters are set to be made available over time. On March 28, Nintendo will add Dream Land 2’s Rick & Kine & Coo, Super Star’s Marx, and Dream Land 3’s Gooey. More characters will be made available as months pass by to build your partner roster.
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido was announced for the Nintendo 3DS during E3 in 2017. The Direct brought the game back into the spotlight in a big way with the reveal that Nintendo is bringing it to the Switch. Compete in a complex challenge of eating sushi off a conveyor belt to defeat your opponents in a world where sushi has been outlawed. Sushi Strikers will arrive on June 8.
Wii U game Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker will be headed to both the Switch and 3DS. Based on what was said, it seems you will need to play this game in handheld mode due to the touchscreen requirements for some levels. The Switch version will offer players a two-player mode, through single Joy-Cons, where one will move Captain Toad through the levels while the other can shoot turnips to defeat enemies and help Toad progress. Captain Toad will arrive on July 13.
Looking forward to Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Nintendo has revealed that the game will arrive on the Switch on May 18.
If you haven’t picked up Arms yet, or are on the fence about the game, keep an eye out for the impending Global Testpunch. From March 31 until April 2, prospective players will be able to try the game for free.
Splatoon 2 is set to get its next massive update in late April when it hits version 3.0. On top of providing more than 100 new clothing options, new stages will be added to the game, including Camp Triggerfish, Piranha Pit, and Wahoo World. Splatoon 2 will receive its first paid content this Summer with the Octo Expansion. This expansive single-player content puts you in the shoes of Agent 8, an Octoling who must use a subway system to traverse the sub-terrain world. A variety of level types will be available, and a new story will expand the world of Splatoon and some of its beloved characters. Completing this campaign will allow you to use an Octoling in the multiplayer. It is available for pre-purchase via the Nintendo eShop.
Right at the end of the Direct, Nintendo dropped one big bomb. The company will be bringing Super Smash Bros. to the Switch. The reveal started with what looked like an old Splatoon trailer but soon transitioned to the reveal of the game with a bunch of fighters silhouetted by fire in the shape of the logo.
Mario Tennis Aces
The biggest focus of the Direct this time around was Mario Tennis Aces. Nintendo chose to focus on the act of playing tennis, showing off the traditional game style of standard hit types but transitioned to focusing on new inclusions. The Zone Shot is one of the big inclusions; this shot allows you to take aim with the ball, via motion controls, and pick a spot to send your shot. You can aim for a potential chance for a point, or aim for your opponent and break their racket.
Each player’s racket now has a health bar which can be destroyed with a Zone Shot. once the health runs out the player is forced to forfeit. This can be prohibited by performing a perfectly timed block which can prove hard to perform, but luckily there is also Zone Speed. This technique allows you to slow down time to catch a quick shot or block a Zone Shot, but you can’t just spam either of these techniques. Performing a Zone Shot or Zone Speed uses some of your action gauge, which is built up during rallies or by performing another big technique, the Trick Shot. This particular shot allows you to leap or slide to the ball, but it’s a tricky maneuver to pull off, creating a challenge of risk and reward.
If you don’t time a Trick Shot correctly or account for the distance, the ball can go straight past you, however landing a Trick Shot will provide a massive boost for the Action Gauge. Filling this gauge will allow you to perform a Special Shot, enabling you to potentially break your opponent’s racket in one shot or go for a point. Unfortunately, opponents can block the move. A Swing Mode will also be available in the game to allow players to use motion controls to perform shots. If all this sounds a little too complex, you can play a standard tennis match in Simple Rules with standard shots.
Online Tournaments will regularly occur, offering players special in-game outfits or new characters for participation. At this time, 15 characters are known to be playable: Mario, Luigi, Wario, Peach, Daisy, Waluigi, Yoshi, Rosalina, Donkey Kong, Toad, Bowser, Toadette, Bowser. Jr, Boo, and Chain Chomp.
Mario Tennis Aces will arrive on June 22, with a pre-launch tournament being held to let players try the game. Details on the tournament will arrive in the future.
Third-Party Titles
Okami HD arrived on competing platforms in 2017, and now it is coming to the Switch. You can use the touchscreen in handheld mode, or the Joy-Con motion controls in docked or tabletop mode to draw to find intuitive ways to solve problems and defeat enemies. This gem of years’ past will arrive on the Nintendo eShop this Summer.
New details arrived on Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, showing gameplay and the key concept. Travis Strikes Again has the titular protagonist and the legendary game console, the Death Drive Mark II. In this world, he will enter a variety of game types, including action and racing, all while fighting to destroy the bugs in the system. There are seven game titles to enter, each with a boss waiting at the end. Co-operative play will be available via single Joy-Cons, where a second player can jump in and play as Badman. Travis Strikes Again will arrive sometime in 2018.
Dark Souls: Remastered was revealed in the Nintendo Direct Mini back in January, and while no new details have been properly shared on the release, an option to try before you buy will be available. A Network Test will allow players to jump into the world of Dark Souls and try their hand at this challenging adventure. In addition, a cool new amiibo was revealed featuring Solaire of Astora. Tapping this amiibo will allow you to perform the popular praise the sun gesture anytime. The amiibo will launch alongside the game on May 25.
Indie darling Undertale has seen a surprising reveal on the Switch. The trailer shows two of the game’s primary characters, Sans and Papyrus, discussing the concept of finding a light switch. But Sans, being the joker he is, points out they are standing on a Switch, revealing Undertale for the system. But when can we expect to play Undertale? Well, that’s a little complicated because the game will arrive… eventually.
For the first time ever, the classic Naughty Dog platforming icon will be arriving on the Switch with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Nothing is different from the PlayStation 4 version, but you can play wherever you like and enjoy this immaculate trilogy of games. The N. Sane Trilogy arrives on the Switch (and Xbox One and PC) on July 10.
A horrifying puzzle adventure is also ready to make its way to the Switch. From award-winning indie developer Tarsier Studios comes Little Nightmares: Complete Edition. This game will feature two stories in one package, starring Six and the Kid as they journey through a world of their nightmares. The complete edition offers all content released on other platforms and an exclusive Paku mask, which can be obtained by using the Pac-Man amiiibo. Little Nightmares comes to the Switch on May 18.
Believe it or not, it is almost time to head into the raunchy world of South Park on the Switch. South Park: The Fractured But Whole brings its gross, adult-oriented superhero romp to the Switch for some good times. All content added to the game will be available for purchase on Nintendo’s platform, with additional content packs being available to buy at launch individually or through the Season Pass. Content Pack 3 will bring an additional campaign to the game and more when it arrives later this year. South Park comes to the Switch on April 24.
Square Enix brought Octopath Traveler back into the limelight in this Direct, finally revealing more crucial details for its anticipated release. The company revealed two new characters. First is Tressa the Merchant, who has the path action to purchase special items from townsfolk that are otherwise difficult to come by. There is also Alfyn the Apothecary, who has the path action to acquire information others can’t through standard conversation. Using this skill, Alfyn can receive bonuses such as cheaper inn stays.
While each character has their main class type, such as Merchant, Dancer, or Warrior, characters are capable of dual classing, which you can pick to change up strategies in combat. Octopath Traveler arrives on July 13.
A Special Edition will also be made available. This will include a pop-up book detailing the eight main characters and their respective places of origin. You will also receive a map of the world, a sound selection CD, and a replica coin in the style of the game’s currency. This will be available on the same day as the standard release.
There you have it. The latest Nintendo Direct was filled with exciting announcements that show a bright future for the Switch. If you want an update on the 3DS offerings shown during the Direct, you can go here. You can watch the full presentation below.
