By John Ancillotti, Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Nintendo put out a live 50-minute online showcase of upcoming Nintendo Switch games, including more information on revealed games, ports of older games and announcements for new games.
The Nintendo Direct, the name of the online showcase, began with the announcement of the next fighter coming to “Super Smash Bros., Ultimate.” The new fighter will be a combination of Pyra and Mythra from “Xenoblade Chronicles 2.”
One of the first-party Nintendo games announced during the Direct was “Mario Golf Super Rush,” coming June 25. This installment in the franchise will bring the new speed golf mode. After teeing off together, players will run freely along the course and race to get their ball in the hole first. The game will also have a story mode.
Downloadable content for “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity” was also announced during the Direct. The DLC will cost $19.99 and release in two waves of content including new playable characters, weapons, challenges, enemies, stages and more.
The producer of “The Legend of Zelda” franchise, Eiji Aonuma, appeared. Fans have been waiting for new information on the sequel to “Breath of the Wild” since it was first revealed over a year ago; however, Aonuma said they had nothing new to share about “Breath of the Wild 2.” Instead, he announced “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD.” a port of an older game from the franchise, would be coming to the Switch on July 16.
Other new game announcements include “Star Wars Hunters,” “Project Triangle Strategy” (working title), “Samurai Warriors 5,” “World’s End Club,” “Knockout City,” “Neon White” and “DC Super Hero Girls Teen Power.”
Announcements for older games being ported to the Nintendo Switch includes: “Fall Guys,” “Outer Wilds,” “Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir” and “Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind,” “Legend of Mana,” “Tales from the Borderlands,” “Capcom Arcade Stadium” (a compilation featuring 32 classic Capcom games), “Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse,” “Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville,” “Miitopia,” “Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection,” “SaGa Frontier Remastered” and “Apex Legends.”
New trailers for previously revealed games included “Monster Hunter Rise,” “No More Heroes 3,” “Bravely Default II” and “Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection.”
Other information was revealed such as new content being added to “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” in collaboration with the Mario franchise. This update, coming in March, will feature decorative items inspired from the Mario franchise.
The Direct ended with the announcement of “Splatoon 3,” coming in 2022. The third installment of the cult classic series had social media buzzing. Soon after the reveal, the official Nintendo Twitter changed their profile picture and header to Splatoon themed images as well as making the announcement their pinned tweet.
The previous Nintendo Direct was on Sept. 4, 2019. Nintendo Directs usually comes out every few months.
Throughout 2020 Nintendo revealed information individually rather than compiling announcements in one eventful Nintendo Direct. Some fans thought Directs would never return, forever replaced by the new method of reveals.
It is unclear if Directs are back for good or if another drought will follow.
ancilljm19@bonaventure.edu
