Latest Nintendo Direct Wows With ‘Metroid’, ‘Mario Kart’, & More
Nintendo Direct was full of announcements – including updates for Metroid Prime Remastered, Mario Kart 8, and a huge Game Boy reveal.
Back in 2011, Nintendo began its annual mini-conference to show off its newest announcements. Nintendo Directs are a staple of the company’s advertising and a huge hit with gamers. This year’s conference just wrapped and we got tons of awesome announcements. Let’s-a-go!
Pikmin 4
Pikmin 4 is shaping up to be another great addition to the series. In the game, players are small explorers who use plant creatures called Pikmin to help them traverse the area, collect items, and defeat enemies. The newest trailer shows off two new things to the franchise.
One is the Ice Pikmin. These li’l guys can be used to freeze water to walk on or to freeze and shatter enemies. But the second feature is much more interesting. A dog-like creature with only 2 legs will help the player traverse areas and destroy obstacles. There’s not much known about them (for now,) but they’re adorable and I want to pet them.
Nintendo also announced the release date, July 21st for Nintendo Switch.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Remastered
Ghost Trick is one of Nintendo’s biggest cult classics. Made by the same team who created Ace Attorney, Ghost Trick was released back in 2011. It’s the story of a ghost named Sissel who has amnesia, so they teamed up with a detective to find out who they are. They find out they can go back in time to just 4 minutes before a person’s death. Sissel can use their new ghost abilities to prevent someone’s death by possessing various objects in the area.
The game was very, very well received when it came out. In 2012 it was rereleased on iOS phones. Since then, fans have absolutely begged for a rerelease of the game, and it looks like Capcom is going to deliver one this summer.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
Professor Layton is back! The Professor Layton series is one of the best puzzle series out there. Players take control of Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke. Together they solve mysteries and more by solving puzzles. The series hasn’t had a new entry since 2017, so the announcement was an incredible surprise! Look forward to more info coming from Level-5.
DECAPOLICE
Speaking of Level-5, the company announced a brand new game called DECAPOLICE. Part Ace Attorney and part Final Fantasy, players take control of a detective in a virtual world. Players will be able to solve crimes and battle enemies in a turn-based RPG. The game is very cool looking and Level-5 is a solid studio known for making quality games.
Look forward to more info for this game as it is set to release later this year.
Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a remake of the original two games in the franchise. It was set to release last year, but the game was delayed. Gamers who were looking forward to the game’s release were left waiting, but the wait is over! Nintendo has announced the game will release on April 21st, 2023, and can be pre-ordered now.
Metroid Prime Remastered
Gamers have been waiting for new info on Metroid Prime 4 since the 2019 announcement that Retro Studios would be taking over the development. A recent price update on Amazon and Best Buy had fans hoping for news on the sequel. Depending on how you look at it, fans got a major win. Nintendo announced that Metroid Prime 1 was getting remastered and that the remaster was out the same day as the Direct!
Metroid Prime Remastered is updated with modern controls that let players change to something closer to the original GameCube controls. You know, if you’re feeling nostalgic about it. The game will also get a physical release on February 22nd.
Unfortunately, there is no new news on Metroid Prime 4. Will the others will get a remaster as well? We can only wait to find out.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Wave 4 DLC
Mario Kart 8 has been the Mario Kart game since the Wii U. It was released with all its original DLC for the Switch in 2017. Since then, the game continues to get more content. The Booster Course Pass was announced with new versions of past Mario Kart courses and new ones released over time. The latest wave adds a brand new Yoshi’s Island track and Birdo as a racer. The pack will release in Spring 2023 and looks like it’ll be a great time!
The Booster Course Pass is free for all Nintendo Switch Online+Expansion pack users. It can also be purchased separately for $25.
Bayonetta Origins
This game was originally shown off at the Game Awards, and Nintendo showed off even more during the Direct. Bayonetta Origins is unlike any other Bayonetta game before it. It’s not a character action game. The game is an adventure game origin story of how Cereza became the fierce witch she is in the main series. She befriends a demon named Cheshire on a journey to save her mother.
Players will control both Cereza and Cheshire to navigate the world and survive battles. Cereza will have to rely on Cheshire to attack while she provides support using her magic. The game has a very charming art style and more Bayonetta is never a bad thing.
Bayonetta Origins is set to release on Nintendo Switch on March 3rd.
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie
The Katamari Damacy series is a beloved quirky puzzle action game. The Prince of the Cosmos has to roll up things using a sticky ball called a katamari to get enough material to make stars. We Love Katamari was the first sequel in the series and now it’s getting remastered as well. Players will once again follow the King of the Cosmos and also get to play as the King when he was a Prince in Royal Reverie.
The remaster is set to release on June 2nd for Switch.
The Big Game Boy Reveal
In one of the most exciting reveals of the Direct, Nintendo announced that Game Boy and Game Boy Advanced are now available to play for Nintendo Switch Online users!
Titles coming to Game Boy include titles from popular Nintendo series like Tetris, Super Mario Land 2, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, and more. They also teased more releases, like Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble. There will also be optional filters to mimic the view of an original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and a Game Boy Color.
The Game Boy Advanced titles at launch include new titles from Super Mario Advance (with the special levels from the E Reader Cards), Wario Ware, Inc., The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap, and Mario & Luigi Super Star Saga. Nintendo also teased future titles for Advanced like Metroid Fusion, Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, Fire Emblem, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, and Golden Sun.
All the games that had multiplayer will be playable with friends locally and online. The Game Boy games are available for all Nintendo Online users, but the GBA games will only be for those with the Expansion Pack. This is incredibly exciting – there are so many games for both systems that people would love to be able to play again. It’s great that eventually, people can play all the main Metroid titles in order. Metroid Fusion is the last one you can’t play on the Switch since the original Metroid II is now available.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The last announcement of the Direct is the most anticipated Nintendo game of the year! The game looks absolutely incredible and pushes the Switch to its limits to create one of the most beautiful games on the console. The story continues with Link’s adventures to save Hyrule once more from evil. And it looks like he has his work cut out for him this time.
The game will get a brand new Amiibo of Link. There will also be a wonderful-looking collector’s edition with a steelbook case, artbook, poster, and pins. The normal release will be $69.99(!), making it one of the most expensive base games Nintendo released on the Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released on May 12th for Nintendo Switch. It’s up for preorder now.
Nintendo really hit it out of the park with this Direct. To watch the full event that some of the other major titles ended up in a montage. This year is going to be an amazing year for Nintendo fans. And it has never been a better time to be a Nintendo Switch owner.
Let us know in the comments what announcements in the Direct you are the most excited about, including anything not featured here.
That’s-a so nice! – Mario
