NINTENDO FANS REJOICE
Several times a year, we’re allowed a promising glimpse into the churnings and machinations of Nintendo’s studios’ ongoing developments, and if there was any time to try and put my fandom aside for honest feedback, I would have to wait a good few months for my hype to die down, so here goes. Here are my takeaways from the June 18th Nintendo Direct.
A tremendously strong start as a new Mario game is teased, the camera panning across the Mushroom Kingdom, and falling through the trees into… Luigi? In a very cartoonish opening, the Brothers’ hands shine, and they look in amazement at the title…Mario & Luigi! The classic turn-based series is back, with a very flashy coat of paint and what looks to be even more dynamic gameplay. Fond memories of playing Superstar Saga, curled up on my nan’s sofa with a cup of tea and leaning awkwardly so my SP could charge whilst I played and tried for the millionth time to defeat Cackletta were immediately conjured, and I had a smile plastered on my face.
Subtitled “Brothership” and penned for a 7th November release, RPG fans are being spoiled here. It is a bit overwhelming having yet another Mario RPG game being added to the two re-releases of Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, but fans of the Mario & Luigi games are definitely bound to be excited about this one.
“I love the powerglove, it’s so bad” fans of The Wizard (I’m sure there’s some out there) can finally realise their dreams of taking part in the Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. A veritable bounty of games and challenges to test your skill, knowledge and perseverance with a handy online leaderboard and ghost system involving knock-out elimination online play Tetris/ Bomberman/ Super Mario/ F-Zero 99 style. Sadly though, a Nintendo LABO™ Powerglove™ is not included… nor does one exist!
Fairy Tail 2 is here and JRPG fans, specifically Fairy Tail fans, will have their place at the table. This game tackles the story’s final chapters in the epic Alvarez Empire story arc and uses real-time strategy battle mechanics. We must use team composition and all the magic you can think of to tackle the clan’s enemies and stand victorious. It seems to be one of the more interesting combat styles, with face buttons correlating to different spells rather than a menu, I’m interested to see how it comes across with hands-on play. It looks how you’d expect, perfectly emulating the anime with gorgeous environments and flashy animations. It is something I would consider picking up if I had played the first game, and a Winter release date is great for anime fans if the season’s pickings are on the poorer side.
And again, JRPG fans really are eating so well here. Made by the series creator of Final Fantasy, with one of the best composers they’ve worked alongside, and with visuals that resemble Akihiko Yoshida’s style, comes a new, yet ridiculously named JRPG, as is tradition. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension looks to be a classically styled JRPG with familiar themes of earthly decay and fighting to kill/become a god. In a game that emulates the technological corruption of the NieR series, against a stunning, almost pastel world, the art direction is visually stunning. The trailer showed a mechanic based around curving spells, and I never knew how much I wanted that in a game until now. I know it’s a mechanic I’d abuse so it’s definitely put this game on my radar, and stockpiling random encounters to sweep huge groups of enemies in one go… I will buy this. I’m also a huge geek for JRPGs, so that’s vying in FANTASIAN’s favour.
I just had to thank LeBron James for allowing Nintendo to add Basketball to Switch Sports. It looks great, and I can’t wait to force my friends to play it… I mean, play it with my friends. The Two-aside gameplay looks great, and I’m always thankful for more reasons to play. I also really love that Nintendo is supporting their game like this; it’s great to see.
I’ll be honest, for a minute there, I was praying that MIO: Memories in Orbit would turn out to be the first new Chibi Robo game for the first time in about a decade. Instead, we’re being treated to a watercolour comic style, sci-fi Metroidvania, in the spirit of Ori and the Blind Forest and in the colour style and palette of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. I know I’m going to be watching this, I’ll pick up the demo if it has one. I’ll probably play it to death and won’t shut up about it to my friends, being generally intolerable about it for a few months until I find another game to make my entire personality. Just like I did with Hollow Knight. So… You can make of that what you will.
An update to a great Disney platforming game that I have sat in my switch to play with my partner? Can we get an amen for the developers who not only made a cool neo-noir style mystery for their hit platformer, but made it FREE? Disney’s Illusion Island just got that much better!
I do think it’s high time that Sanrio made a pseudo-Animal Crossing game, and this one does look cute! It’s not my particular timesink, but several friends and my partner were very interested in having a new island life with Hello Kitty and friends! I will say depending on the price upon release, it could be well worth buying, especially if the teaser belies how much content the game will have!
Move over EA Sports because Space Jam is coming to switch! Albeit without Michael Jordan or LeBron James… and… more sports… BUT the Looney Tunes are there at least, in what looks like a chaotic little party game, full to the teeth of trusty Acme products, anvils and gags! More chaotic than the Switch Sports variants, it does look like a decent laugh, but again, it’s very price-dependent for me. From the trailer, the VA work sounds solid and it’s so cool to see Bugs and Co back on the video game scene. I suppose it’s not too far-fetched to see a Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time remaster sometime soon?
I am thrilled that they’ve added fun new roles to Among Us. Innersloth are constantly upgrading and updating Amongies and I’m really excited to get my pals together for many games of this before we all go dormant once more and await more ways to incriminate and sabotage each other.
If Pikmin, Pokémon and Harvest Moon had a baby, and that baby was designed by Hiro Mashima (of Fairy Tail and Rave Master fame), we would have Farmagia, a unique spin on a battling farming sim. When I first saw this showcased at the Marvelous expose, I was worried this would be another Pokémon clone with weapons a lá Palworld, but I’m pleasantly surprised to see real-time horde battle tactics that seem to take elements from the incredible Sukuna: Of Rice and Ruin in the sense of growing crops to empower your magic pets. All this complexity drenched in a JRPG story that would make Atlus blush solidifies this as a solid contender for the wish list.
Straight up childhood me would be having a ball with this, especially after seeing Donkey Kong Country Returns being announced! It’s a shame that we’re not getting a fully fleshed-out new title, but as a fan of the quick and nimble, coconut gun-slinging Kong, I’ll take whatever Nintendo deems to trickle-feed me at this point, and having the option for a new generation of fans to discover a solid and challenging platformer is never something I’ll turn my nose up at. Plus, it could lead to more of Nintendo’s banana-loving boss coming to a console near us someday!
Huge reveal seeing Dragon Quest 1-3 HD-2D remake coming here. It looks like it’s taken from the Octopath Traveller art style, and I am here for it. These games are timeless classics, and I honestly lack the words to say anything more about them. They speak for themselves and I’m glad that DQ has finally joined the HD Remake games.
I’m a strong believer in making the classics accessible for modern audiences, so seeing more timeless games brought to Switch always makes me happy.
Funko Fusion seems like a fever dream, and I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall during the game’s pitch. Who would’ve thought a AAA-quality game would be made about collectable statuettes? It’s completely out of left field but also fits SO well? What better way to take advantage of a celebration of Pop Culture media than by making it an interactive sandbox featuring cult classic characters and fan faves in some of the biggest cinematic and videogame universes of the times. The concept of running around as Freddy Fazbear in an almost LEGO-like sandbox version of Isla Nubar, fighting velociraptors is the kind of crazy I’m here for.
The wait for Luigi’s Mansion 2’s release date has finally ended, and we can look forward to a late-month release. This is great, and we nearly have the whole franchise on Switch, which is pretty sweet!
The New Denpamen is Tomadachi Life if Nintendo decided to add Pokemon and Animal Crossing elements to it. It looks ridiculous like the Muscle March game on Wii. I’m glad Nintendo isn’t shying away from publishing their stranger pitches.
The Metal Slug Attack Reloaded clip kinda made it look like a mobile game. A good one, but a mobile game. I wouldn’t be surprised though, especially seeing as Star Wars Hunters recently came to the Nintendo eShop, but yeah, pleasant surprise here. Not sure if it’d be for everyone though.
Darkest Dungeon 2 on Switch is a great idea. I spent so many hours on the first one that having the sequel just made sense. It looks like it runs really well too, and anyone who likes tough games with Lovecraftian elements should definitely pick this up.
I did NOT expect TUROK and Perfect Dark to come to the N64 pack, especially under a Nintendo 64 Mature emulator, but then it also makes so much sense! Maybe we’ll see Conker’s Bad Fur Day on a portable device soon! Also going to take a minute and say I am thrilled that Metroid: Zero Mission has made its way to switch. We nearly have the entire franchise on it and I am ecstatic about that. A Link to the Past Four Swords announcement was bonkers. Zelda fans are eating well, and I’m happy that co-op fans have Four Swords to make up for the slightly less well-received Triforce Heroes.
Bursting onto the hybrid platform for the first time as a solo act, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is coming soon! From NIS, developers of the renowned Disgaea franchise, comes a sequel oozing with charm, wonder and the iconic NIS style! It’s so cool to see such an underrated gem get a sequel, especially 20 years after the inception of the Phantom Brave series. That said, maybe it could’ve been expected since the original came to switch as part of the Prinny Presents NIS Classics. The visuals have come a long way since the PS2 original, and far detached from the pixel sprites. Fans of the Disgaea series or any tactical RPGs will love this.
It looks like fighting game tourney runners will have their work done for them as yet more classics come to switch. Featuring some incredible classic battlers and even some beat-em-ups, Marvel vs Capcom FIghting Collection: Arcade Classics is bringing the best deal on a 2D battler to switch since the Street Fighter™ 30th Anniversary Collection dropped. There’s no Way of the Hado mode, buuuuut, we do get MvC 1+2, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter and X-Men vs Street Fighter, and two cool arcade Beat ‘em Ups under X-Men Children of the Atom and The Punisher, both of which are notoriously tricky and fun, and would feel right at home on the Switch.. Now, where’s that HORI gamepad I had…
Get ready… Get set… PARTY! Super Mario Party Jamboree has been announced, and it looks to be the biggest party yet! Putting Mario Party Superstars to shame, the gameboards here look a lot more interactive, and with even more minigames and new input methods, fans of the series are getting more of what they like, and there’s really no downside here. 20 player parties sound horrendous though, and I am fully here for it. With a tease of even more modes coming soon, it’s definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye on.
2024 is the year of Nintendo Princesses. Following Princess Peach’s second solo outing,. Princess Zelda is stepping up to be the hero in her first (1st party, mainline) starring role! – Sorry Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon and Zelda’s Adventure, I’m not counting you. In this instalment, Link has been sucked into a sort of shadow prison realm after beating Ganon, and it’s up to Zelda to save Hyrule. But leave your scabbards and pegasus boots behind, because Zelda’s a different kind of hero. With a magic wand that lets her copy and paste items, objects and enemies wherever she deems fit, it seems like she’s more than up to the task! The combat looks amazing with not only a fundamental shift in the classic formula but also adding increased escape solutions, manoeuvrability, and even harnessing the hordes of darkness against itself!
In the delightful visual style of the previously released Link’s Awakening remake, this adventure looks as adorable as it does epic. It also releases alongside an ever-so-stylish new Nintendo Switch Lite™ design that I have already registered my interest in! The fact it drops this year too, on the 26th September, has my mouth watering for more Hylian shenanigans and my wallet crying because, clearly, I’m not meant to have any savings this year. I still think that the Zelda variants of Nintendo’s consoles are the best and flashiest, and I still haven’t been proven wrong!
The Just Dance franchise will never die. Here’s its latest iteration, with more songs for us to enjoy and even more wild dance moves! Part of me is morbidly curious that Jojo Siwa’s “Karma” may weasel its way onto the soundtrack, albeit with slightly cleaner language.
Next, LEGO surprised me by releasing a brand new game based on a… PlayStation IP!? YEP, I GUESS WE’RE DOING THAT NOW! Returning to the iconic LEGO action/adventure formula, LEGO Horizon Adventures sees us join Aloy and co on a playful romp in the distant future. It looks a bit more slapstick than its inspiration, with hurling plastic carrots at the various robots littered about the grasslands and various biomes whilst utilising actual items from the Horizon series, and keeping a sense of wonder at the creatures we’ll be battling, using models based on actual published LEGO sets. It’s so nice to see more studios letting other teams have fun with their characters. I can imagine myself getting this as a Christmas present when I inevitably ask for “LEGO”.
Finally, the most widely received cat game in recent history, STRAY has leapt from the desk and onto our laps, much like my cat, Zelda, who is meowing at me constantly while I write. I played Stray on Steam a good few months after it was initially released, and the way they captured the movement of a cat was honestly superb, I do think there should’ve been some reluctance at some point, as no one can make a cat do anything, really. But exploring the rusted, robot-filled city, I am curious to see how well the Nintendo Switch™ handles the busier moments, especially when the grotty little creatures in the game chase after you, mainly because it doesn’t look like the visuals have been downplayed compared to the PC version. If it has been downscaled, though, I think I can look past that for the luxury of playing this under a blanket, on the sofa with my cat purring next to me.
In a game that is far removed from the timeless epic it spawned from, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game we seem to play as a hobbit in an almost slice-of-life looking game. Cosy gamers with a penchant for high fantasy will be more than at home here, and from the looks of things, it will be more of an Animal Crossing: Middle Earth than a trek to Mordor. Penned for a release later this year, I wonder if it’ll tie in with a new season of Rings of Power! A guy can dream..
TAKE THAT! I shouted when I saw Miles Edgeworth’s smug pretty face, then immediately sent my sister a voice-note that Ace Attorney is back. I loved the original court drama games and played the original Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth way back when on the DS. I was devastated when I found out that the sequel had only launched in Japan, and now I am laughing at territorial borders because I CAN FINALLY PLAY THE SECOND GAME! Dreaming for a resurgence in the franchise has never felt so easy, and I am so excited for its release, especially with the bigger, crisp visuals of the Nintendo Switch™ system. Also, pre-orders are already available? Take my money faster, why don’t you!?
The Hundred Line – Last Defence Academy seems like the only natural progression of the Danganronpa franchise, despite the fact that they’re not related in any way. Featuring a cast of 15 students, and with the iconic style of Rui Komatsuzaki, the independent studio has launched their fourth major game and this one looks like something beyond their previous entries. Part tactical JRPG, and what looks like some visual novel elements, this is a game that will make you feel despair, stress and maybe you’ll fall in love with the characters. Whatever happens, if this game is anything like Tookyo’s beginnings, it’s definitely something for any anime/JRPG fans to pick up.
In yet another unforeseen move, another classic JRPG has had a sleek, sexy new coat of paint in Romancing SaGa 2: The Revenge of the Seven. 21 years after it originally released, it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch™ but better than before. Staying true to the original storyline, we’ll take part in a generations-long battle against seven corrupted heroes, in a non-linear, turn-based story spanning across continents and bloodlines, bringing back the Inheritance mechanic of the original. It looks true to form and prepped for modern consoles, releasing later this year, it’s looking like a great winter for gaming!
OH. MY. GOD. They did it. They *FINALLY* did it! After 7 gruelling, long years, Nintendo have announced what could only be the biggest game of the Sci-fi genre. Metroid Prime 4. METROID PRIME 4: BEYOND is coming. I only have to wait a year, so hopefully, Nintendo will go ahead and shadow-drop Metroid Prime 2 and 3: Corruption Remastered to keep us all occupied until then. The greatest FPS Nintendo has made is back, and it looks gorgeous. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Despite the footage stating it’s still in development, the game looks only to have improved its style and visuals. The sound design is crisp, sweeping and epic, and SYLUX IS BACK!? A worthy rival for Samus since the Phazon scourge was reportedly ousted back in Corruption, and apparently, he’s the new leader of the Space Pirates. This is a showdown I’m itching to take part in, especially after he deserted us to fight Gorea on our own back in Metroid Prime: Hunters roughly two decades ago on the original Nintendo DS™ system.
What a fantastic Direct. Plenty of new, old and wacky ideas. It’s really promising seeing this much support and innovation so late into the Switch’s lifespan, especially considering the looming news of its upcoming successor. There seems to be plenty for everyone, though there were some noticeable quiet areas, there are still some franchises Ninteno still has on the backburner. I have my fingers crossed for those fans, but for everyone else, I am completely elated for you, us and Nintendo. I genuinely don’t think that there were any disappointing games announced, and more than enough to be excited for, clearly noticeable in the above paragraphs.
It’s still a great time to be a Nintendo fan.
Written by Luke Young
Edited by Leon Fletcher