Directly to you. Through me.
So shall we try that again? No Pokemon to steal the show this time.
Nintendo Direct for the 3rd of March 2016, covering all the games of spring and summer. Presumably this will be taking us right up to E3 and the NX announcement.
Speaking of which, no news here. They’re holding off on that, even more so than expected. This does mean that if we don’t hear too much about Zelda WiiU here, I’ll be putting more faith in those rumours about the NX and the double platform launch.
Anyway, predictions.
Okay, this time, we should hear something about Pokken Tournament, even if it’s just reconfirming that the game is out in two weeks. I wouldn’t expect anything new though.
Barring rumblings that something may have gone wrong in the development cycle, we should be getting Star Fox Zero confirmed today. Probably whatever the final game trailer will be, along with info on buying the thing including limited editions.
Come on, hypothetical Arwing Amiibo. Also Peppy, Slippy and Krystal Amiibo. We have Fox, Falco and R.O.B already. Give us the rest of the team.
As I’ll be pointing my eyes at the European Direct, I’m expecting Yo-Kai Watch and Fire Emblem Fates to finally get some more love, if not absolutely confirmed release dates, seeing as how I could import both if I really wanted to.
In terms of what else could be turning up, Maybe info on Project Guard or Project Giant Robot? Unless, as theorised by many, they were turned into gameplay modes in Starfox.
We haven’t heard about Metroid Prime: Federation Force or anything about Namco’s Lost Reavers (Formerly Project Treasure.) Both of these are mid tier enough that summer releases wouldn’t get in the way of anything else.
The usual mix of indie releases on the Eshop can be expected, along with maybe more simple mechanic games like Pokemon Shuffle.
Will Nintendo take this opportunity to show off Miitomo? Or even better, show off the second stage of the planned App sequence where there may be actual gameplay?
Maybe some DLC for Splatoon or Mario Maker, but this does seem unlikely given the planning on those.
Who knows? Stay tuned to find out! Maybe we’ll have another Direct in five days and this will just be a new trend.
And now for the real show. I’ll add trailers for stuff I think is worth it.
Starfox Zero to start. Miyamoto as our lead introduction. Similar style and story to 64 plus teleporters to differing stages. Showing off a new stage with bioweapons, plus the alternate path system in Corneria. Star wolf is back, and will be recurring enemies.
Pathing is the key here. Which is fairly standard for the series.
Coop mode, one who shoots, one who flies in the same Arwing. This kinda feels like a token thing, like Galaxies pointer companion.
Star Fox amiibo unlocks original Arwing model plus a surprise that they won’t reveal yet.
Overall, this game looks like a new, much more interesting Star Fox 64.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htMRhXPzYhY&w=560&h=315]
Project Guard is now Star Fox Guard.Well done if you’re playing along at home and guessed correctly. Separate game to Zero. 100 missions and a stage builder as you play a camera based tower defense game. Multi-player options for.
April 22nd, for both, with a special combo first print pack of both games.
Balance update for Splatoon, with ranked battles changing, March 9th, plus how splat fests changes.
New weapon combinations suggested by Sheldon (Shop Owner) to encourage different styles of play. First part arrives April.
Mario and Sonic Rio 3DS arrives April 8th.
Footage from the Wii U version too. Cinematic with lots of characters playing sports.
Wii U will include Rugby Sevens, plus all the stages are modelled on the real ones. June 24th release.
Super Mario Maker news,spiked pillars to be added from super Mario world as the switch mode for Thwomps. Switches can become keys, doors can need keys now. Boss fights for keys suggested. Coin will change to pink coins that eventually give keys, to add red coin challenges.
Super Expert mode, 100 Mario’s to beat six levels. More of those Amiibo costumes as well.
More stats for the side website.
March 9th for extra content update. And I’m pleased to see this game as platform for development.
Damn, I forgot Persona X Fire Emblem exists. Real focus on the styles of the game, and the music. Very Japanese, which justifies, English subtitles with Japanese dub. June 24th release. I want to play this game, if only to understand what it is.
Paper Mario Color splash for WiiU. Theme is Colours and Paint.
Prism island setting. Paper Mario must bring color to the land. Mario’s hammer now paints things by splashing. Game pad uses card based gameplay for combat. 2016
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2175ZyWwCzw&w=560&h=315]
MyNintendo being talked about, earn points by playing games, buying products, plus unspecified other services.
Flipnote Studio 3d free for all who preregister.
Series 3 and four of the animal crossing cards coming, plus March 18th sees the next wave of Amiibo characters including Ryu, Roy and most of the Animal Crossing Amiibo.
All copies of Hyrule Warriors 3DS will have a WiiU code for legend characters. Season pass for 4 brand new DLC packs for legends, plus a Wind Waker Ganon costumes.
New character for players of both games. Medli joins the fight with her harp. Will be released with the first DLC pack, plus demo of Legends released right now! Release March 28th
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evfghG5pH80&w=560&h=315]
YoKai watch coming now. Showing us the Yokai dance. Delightful.
Solve mysteries around the city, team up with yokai to defeat misbehaving Yokai Arrives 29th April, plus demo right now.
Disney art academy, how to draw Disney and pixar characters step by step on your 3DS. 80 characters from all of Disney canon. July 15th
Federation Force. Left fans with questions at E3. Apparently. Might be an understatement.
The devs started on this in 2009 for a multi-player focused metroid prime game. Next level games were the initial Dec team, with the game pitched for DSI. It didn’t work due to performance, but new 3DS was powerful enough.
Game is about Pirates vs Galactic Federation. So Samus couldn’t be the lead.
Wanted players to choose their class roles, so sub weapons allow for medic roles etc. Weight system encourages players to distribute the load between the team. This seems neat, and a good way to encourage playing your role.
Story trailer available now, plus release in summer.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbKY_DYLZf8&w=560&h=315]
EShop highlight reel for Europe.
Lost Reavers. F2P WiiU game. Diverse locations, solve puzzles, kill undead and bosses.
Beta soon on wiiU, plus the game will release straight after.
Virtual console, exclusive to new 3DS range will have the release of SNES games. Super Mario world and Earthbound out today, with discounts for buying both. Super Metroid to follow, both Donkey Kong Country games, plus more.
Azure striker gunvolt 2 releasing this summer, original is 33% off from now.
Trailer reel for 3DS and WiiU games, just running a list here, far too many to go into detail.
3DS has a lot of RPGs, WiiU has a lot of platformers.
Force awakens Lego
Etrian Odyssey
Legend of legacy.
Stella glow
Odd-world new and tasty
Mega man legacy collection.
Pixel junk monsters
Life speed
Dreii,
Noitu love,
Pinball arcade
Giana sisters dream runners
Dex
Super meat boy
Lovely planet
6180 the moon
Hollow Knight
Jotun
Back to 3DS to finish then,
Fire Emblem Fates, Birthright, Conquest or Revelation. May 20th
Revelation will first exist in the limited edition. Then released as a DLC Campaign afterwards.
All 3 will get a Limited Release on one game card, with steel book, art book and poster. Plus new 3DS bundle, pretty black and white with faint pattern.
Dragon quest 7, re translated, remade. Classic turn based combat. Launches this year.
Monster Hunter Cross, is now on 3DS as Generations.
Play as a healer, followed by lovely cinematic. Summer 2016. MH4 ultimate will give special benefits to players who play generations with save data. Fire emblem content in the form of costumes. English version will be shown on a stream on Friday 4th March.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOvzepglCbA&w=560&h=315]
Rhythm paradise megamix, 100 rhythm games, compendium of all the games releases. Plus 30 new ones. Seems fun. Release Date of this year.
One more new announcement.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_05K0uPfBg&w=560&h=315]
Kirby game. Dreamworld has been mechanised, background and foreground mechanics, plus Kirby gets a mecha,the can also copy enemy abilities.
Team Kirby clash is individual mode where teams cooperate to beat bosses using special abilities. Download play compatible, or play with CPU. Compatible with amiibo to give special abilities. Mario gives fire, link gives sword, etc.
Kirby amiibo coming with meta knight, dedede and waddle see.
Kirby Planet Robobot. June 10th. Best title of the whole thing. Also, Kirby in a pink Mecha with Goggles is both ridiculous and amazing.
Right,Not too bad. That had some things I wasn’t expecting. SNES New 3DS exclusives is cool, and gives people a reason to upgrade, plus more Earthbound makes lots of people happy. I like the Fire Emblem combination edition, that’s gonna be a good seller.
I can still see Federation Force being unfairly pilloried for no Samus, so hopefully the game can soon win people over.
Otherwise,the best thing about this all is the fact that lots of these games are coming along with demos to test things.
Well then. Time to wait for E3 and many hopeful announcements then.