Nintendo Direct: September 13

Today was a busy day for Nintendo fans. While we didn’t get any real big surprises from today’s Nintendo Direct, we were certainly met with many headlines to excite both 3DS and Switch owners. Let’s take a quick look at some of my favorite highlights.

I'm totally digging the Necrozma/Lunala fusion.

They spent the first half talking about 3DS stuff. Things kicked off with some information on the new Pokémon Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun games. Necrozma, who was vastly underplayed in the main games, will be explored more along with 2 new forms that seem to be fusions with Lunala and Solgaleo. They also mentioned that if the game is purchased before January 10, then you’ll be able to get Dusk form Lycanroc in the game. We can expect other new areas and features in the games, I’m sure. Added to that, we were told people who purchase Pokémon Gold or Silver will receive Celebi. Pokémon Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun are releasing November 17, while Gold and Silver release on the eShop September 22.

Will it only be minigames though?!

Interestingly, a new Mario Party game was announced. They didn’t clarify too much, but it looked like this one would simply be a collection of minigames called Mario Party: The Top 100. It’s a collection of ‘the best’ minigames from throughout the series’ console history. There were many game announcements, but those were the two that seemed most interesting to me. They also announced a new orange and white 2DS XL that’ll be releasing October 6.

An underappreciated game that deserves more content.

Next up was all the Switch stuff. Snipperclips, which I figured would be a one-off, is actually getting added content in the form of Snipperclips Plus. Owners of the original game can purchase the additional content as DLC, or people can purchase the entire experience in one go. This one is releasing November 10.

We're going back to Hell on a Nintendo console for the first time since the N64!

In a surprise announcement, Bethesda will be releasing not only DOOM, but Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus on Nintendo Switch. This was the most exciting news to me, and I did not expect to be getting either on the Switch. No news as to what might be added or removed or how the games will run, but it’s certainly a promising tell on the kind of trust developers have with the Switch compared to other recent Nintendo consoles. Doom is slated for this holiday and Wolfenstein was simply listed as ‘2018’.

It's so pretty!

We finally got a little more information on Project Octopath Traveler, which is looking pretty nice. Made by the Bravely Default developers, it looks to be evolving the concept they started with in Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light into a whole new experience. For those curious, a demo is up on the eShop right now. Project Octopath Traveler is slated for a vague 2018 date.

This is only a small sample of what was presented during the Nintendo Direct. I’ll list as much of what they announced in bullet points below, or if you’d like to just watch the Direct I’ll have it linked as well. The future looks bright for Nintendo fans!

3DS

- Pokémon Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun: NOV 17
- Pokémon Gold and Silver: SEP 22
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions (Goomba and Koopa amiibo will release at this time too): OCT 6
- Kirby Battle Royale: JAN 19
- Yo-Kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters: SEP 29
- Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’’ Conspiracy: OCT 6
- Minecraft (Only on New 3DS): OUT NOW ON eShop
- Mario Party: The Top 100: NOV 10
- Metroid: Samus Returns: SEP 15
- The Alliance Alive: EARLY 2018
- Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology: EARLY 2018
- Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux: EARLY 2018
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney: NOV
- Fire Emblem Warriors (Only on New 3DS): OCT 20

SWITCH

- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Special Edition and Themed Pro Controller as well): DEC 1
- Splatoon 2 Updates: STARTS SEP 15
- Fire Emblem Warriors (Special Edition and amiibo as well): OCT 20
- Snipperclips Plus: Cut it out, together!: NOV 10
- Morphies Law: WINTER
- Rocket League: HOLIDAY
- Arena of Valor: (Beta, free) WINTER
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: NOV 17
- DOOM: Holiday
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus: 2018
- Arcade Archives: Mario Bros.: SEP 27
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibo: NOV 10
- NBA 2K18: SEP 15
- WWE 2K18: ‘SOON’
- FIFA 18: SEP 29
- Pokken Tournament DX: SEP 22
- Project Octopath Traveler: 2018
- ARMS New Fighter, Stage and Update: OUT NOW
- Dragon Quest Builders: SPRING 2018
- Kirby Star Allies: SPRING 2018
- Lost Sphear: JAN 23
- Sonic Forces: NOV 7
- Resident Evil Revelations 1 & 2: NOV 28
- LA Noire: NOV 14
- Super Mario Odyssey (Hardware bundle with red Joy-Con and carrying case as well): OCT 27

I hope you’re as excited as me!

- Teepu

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