A heaping spoonful of stuff.
The 9/13/2018 Nintendo Direct was chock full of good stuff. And was well worth the wait imposed on it by the recent Hokkaido earthquake. Because it wound up all the sweeter for that wait. So let’s dig in:
3DS
- Kirby’s Epic Yarn
• Heads to 3DS
• Comes with new modes and minigames
• Releases in 2019 - Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
• Will Feature Bowser Jr.’s Journey
• Bowser Jr. mode revolves around building squads to fight enemies
• Releases January 11, 2019
- Luigi’s Mansion
• Features a 2 player mode
• Can play through the full game in 2 player, provided each player has a 3DS and game card
• If you only have one card between you, you can still play through Boss Rush mode together
• Releases just in time for Halloween; 10/12/2018 - Yo-Kai Watch Blasters
• Available now
• Moon Rabbit Crew content update comes September 27
Switch
The bulk of the Direct came in the form of Switch announcements. And glorious they were. Thogh some of them are just getting a single bullet point
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
• Is coming
• Nothing else is known
- Splatoon 2 Version 4 update
• Does not contain Splat Tim
• More information - Mega Man 11 releases October 2
- Mario Tennis Aces
• Update adds Birdo, Shy Guy, Koopa Paratroopa, and Petey Piranha
• More to be added next year
• Update also brings Co-Op Challenge mode; playing earns you cosmetics - Capcom Beat’em Up Bundle
• Contains Final Fight, The King of Dragons, Knights of the Round, Captain Commando, and Warriors of Fate
• First home release for Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit
• 4 player support
• Online play
• Pre-purchase live now; game drops September 18
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Ports game to the Switch
• Adds Nabbit (takes no damage from enemies) and Toadette (can turn into Peachette with a power up)
• Also includes New Super Luigi U
• Releases January 11, 2019 - Katamari Damacy REROLL
• Features gyro controls
• Launches Winter 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2MbclhRzmg
- Nintendo Switch Online
• Gives you online play for Nintendo games (‘natch), as well as for others as adverised
• grants access to a growing library of NES titles for free with subscription; all games come with online play where applicable
• CLOUD SAVE BACKUP
• Smartphone app with voice chat
• Special offers for subscribers
• Discount for Family Accounts
• Literally costs $20/year per system - NES Controllers for Switch
• Perfect for NES games (duh)
• Charge exactly like the JoyCons, wireless
• $60, two controllers to a pack
• Launch September 18 - Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee!
• Special techniques unique to your starter
• Will have a Switch bundle for both games with thematically colored JoyCons; will also come with Pokéball Plus
• Launches November 16 - Diablo III: Eternal Collection
• Launches November 2 - Super Mario Party
• Includes new modes
• Sound Stage mode is about moving around and using the JoyCon gyro controls
• River Survival is a 4 player co-op mode
• Toad’s Rec Room connects 2 systems for double the playable screen space
• New features like character-specific dice, single player challenges,and copete online in mimigame marathon
• Launches October 5 - Town (Working Title)
• New RPG from Game Freak Inc.
• You can get battle aid from townspeople
• Penciled in for a 2019 release - Cities: Skylines
• Out now - Daemon Machina
• You can collect weapons and parts from fallen enemies to incorporate into your mech
• You can leave your mech to scout an area on foot
• Cybernetic enhancements allow your character to augment mech abilities
• Comes out in 2019 - Yoshi’s Crafted World
• Perspective is everything
• Comes out Spring 2019 - Asmodee Digital bringing Carcassone, The Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game, and Pandemic to Switch
• Carcassone: Available December 2018, expansions are paid DLC
• The Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game: available April 2019
• Pandemic: Available March 2019
• Catan and Muchkin are also n the way.
- Civilization VI
• 4 player local multiplayer
• Gandhi will nuke your Switch November 16 - Starlink: Battle for Atlas
• “Can’t let you do that, Star Fox!”
• Game comes with Star Fox missions exclusive to the Switch version
• Comes out October 16
- The World Ends With You: Final Remix
• Features new story segmentOne More DayA New Day
• Available October 1 - Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country
• Set 500 years before the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2
• Available September 21
- Other Games coming to Switch in 2018
• Warframe
• Just Dance 2019
• FIFA 19
•Team Sonic Racing
• NBA 2K19
• NBA 2k Playgrounds 2
• LEGO DC Super-Villiains - New Animal Crossing announced for 2019
Final Fantasy
Square Enix is porting a number of Final Fantasy games to the Nintendo Switch. And most of them are enhanced from their original in some way.
- FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition
• Comes with online multiplayer
• New areas added to the returning dungeons
• Launches 2019
- Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD
• Available now - World of Final Fantasy Maxima
• Lets you turn into Final Fantasy characters with Avatar Change
• Releases November 6 - Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BODY
• Port of the 2007 Wii game
• Lets you recruit monsters
• You can play in co-op by splitting up JoyCons
• Launches this Winter - Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age
• Launches 2019 - Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X | Final Fantasy X2 HD Remaster
• 8’s a piece of shit anyway, stop whining
• All three will be available sometime in 2019
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
It wouldn’t be much of a Direct without some Smash news.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch Bundle
• Dock has artwork of the original 8 fighters on it
• Comes with Smash Bros. logo Joy Con
• Bundle comes with download code for the game
• Bundle launches November 2, pre-orders open now
• Smash Ultimate Gamecube controller and adapter also available November 2 - Isabelle Turns Over A New Leaf
• Not a joke, this is happening