So, another Nintendo Direct has come and gone. Without any further ado, let’s get right down to the announcements. Oh, and this is stuff from the European Nintendo Direct.
First up, we had a new trailer that revealed Little Mac as a new fighter for Super Smash Bros.. He has graduated from being an Assist Trophy, and possesses a power-up bar that allows him to unleash a powerful punch when filled. His Final Smash is Giga Mac, which appeared in the multiplayer mode of Wii’s Punch-Out!!.
Also, the release date for Super Smash Bros. was confirmed to be this year.
3DS titles followed on from that.
Mario Golf: World Tour features a new single player mode entitled Castle Club. Players use their Mii and can customise 8 different types of items to increase different abilities. A training facility is also available to practice the shots one might struggle with.
Mario Golf: World Tour is due for release in Europe on May 2nd.
Kirby Triple Deluxe came next. With each Copy Ability comes a whole host of differing moves for Kirby to use.
There are also plenty of collectibles to be had as well. They come in the form of 8-bit keychains which can be found hidden in levels and exchanged through StreetPass. In addition to that, there are Sun Stones which provide a bonus when all of them have been collected.
Kirby Triple Deluxe will hit Europe on May 16th.
Yoshi’s New Island introduces Mega Egg Dozers and Metal Egg Dozers; giant eggs, basically. There are also transformations such as jackhammer and submarine that can be controlled using the gyro. Picking up a certain type of star turns Yoshi into Super Yoshi, and Flutter Wings are available for players who are a bit crap at the game.
Yoshi’s New Island is due out in Europe on March 14th.
Focus shifted over to the 3DS eShop afterwards.
First was the announcement of Steel Diver: Sub Wars. Iwata referred to is as a ‘contemplative FPS’. Taking control of a submarine, you have to shoot other subs or boats down. The game has 4 vs. 4 battles available through both local and online play, as well as a 7 mission single player mode.
There is a free version of Steel Diver: Sub Wars that features 2 subs, the beginning of singleplayer and the entire multiplayer mode. If you upgrade to the paid version, there are more subs to select from as well as everything covered above.
Steel Diver: Sub Wars is available right now on the 3DS eShop.
Pokémon Link Battle! followed that. It is a sequel to the DS’s Pokémon Link! and features all known Pokémon from generation 1 to generation 6. Players can capture Pokémon which aid them when battling others, naturally all done through the match-four gameplay. There is co-op for up to 4 players when faced with a tough Pokémon.
Pokémon Link Battle! is due out in Europe on March 13th through the Nintendo eShop.
The presentation switched over to Satoru Shibata at this point, who gave us some information on Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. A puzzle demo is available on Nintendo’s European website, as is an Iwata Asks interview. The game itself is due out in Europe on March 28th.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was shown off in the presentation. In addition to new monsters and weapons, hunters can now leap about and attack from higher ground. Online play will be available as well. The only downside is that this game won’t be available until early 2015, which is a long way away.
Nintendo Pocket Football Club was previously introduced in the Nintendo Direct before this one. It is a football management sim. Naturally you are able to sign new players and train your current roster. You can also use training cards to increase a player’s stats, with combinations of them creating new techniques. In addition, players can be shared with friends.
There will be a complete website for this game featuring leaderboards and such, and there is an Iwata Asks interview on it available now.
Nintendo Pocket Football Club us due out in Europe on April 17th through the 3DS eShop.
The missing game from the guild01 compilation will finally be released here in Europe. It is called Weapon Shop de Omasse, and has you playing as a blacksmith’s apprentice in a fantasy RPG world. You have to create weapons through a rhythm action minigame and provide appropriate equipment for the adventurers who visit your shop.
Weapon Shop de Omasse will be available on February 20th on the 3DS eShop.
In addition, all the guild games on the eShop have been reduced in price to £2.69.
With the release of Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks! being February 14th, the first game in the series, simply called Inazuma Eleven is available through the 3DS’ eShop right now.
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl will be released in Europe. It features animated sequences created by Madhouse, as well as a Story Mode and Enhanced Classic Mode.
The game will be available on May 2nd, with a demo being released through the 3DS eShop on April 18th.
The last thing Satoru Shibata announced before handing back to Iwata was a new ‘Yoshi’s New Island 3DS XL. It will launch on the same day as the game, March 14th.
Ubisoft’s Child of Light was shown next. Players can leave messages for others and there is a local co-op mode available. Child of Light will be released on the Wii U eShop on May 1st.
Since we’re close to the launch of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, some footage was shown. The release date is February 21st.
NES Remix 2 was announced afterwards. Just like the first NES Remix, it takes games from the NES’ back catalogue and provides different challenges. The games include Super Mario Bros. 3, Metroid and Kirby’s Adventure. In addition, they have expanded upon the first game’s Super Luigi Bros. remix and included it as an entire game.
NES Remix 2 will be available on April 25th.
Starting in April, the Wii U’s Virtual Console will see the arrival of GBA games. These include Metroid Fusion, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 amongst others.
Mario Kart 8 sees the addition of the Koopalings to the cast of characters. The trailer showed off a few tracks as well. The game is due to be released on May 30th.
We were then shown a battle scene from Monolith Soft’s X. The battle system is based on that of Xenoblade Chronicles, with refinements. We weren’t given a release date, sadly.
Finally, a trailer for Bayonetta 2. It showcased a couple of Bayonetta’s abilities; Witch Time & Umbran Climax. The action in the trailer looks insane. In addition, there appears to be another playable character in the form a boy.
Bayonetta 2 will see a release later this year.
Naturally I’m looking forward to Super Smash Bros.. Kirby Triple Deluxe is one I shall definitely acquire, and I will try out the free version of Steel Diver: Sub Wars.
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is also on my ‘must-buy’ list, as is Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate when it finally comes out. I like the concept of Weapon Shop de Omasse and will probably buy it when it’s available. Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is on my watchlist; it’s a shame that everything seems to be coming out in May, which happens to be the same month as the London MCM Comic Con.
I am interested in Child of Light, and have Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze preordered.
I think the Koopalings are a great addition to the Mario Kart cast, and I look forward to racing against them.
The sooner X is released, the better. Xenoblade Chronicles is arguably the best RPG of the previous generation, and X looks set to build upon that.
Bayonetta 2 looks intense, which is something that appeals to me.
Rory Muses 