Criminy, this was a good one.

Pretty much since the beginning of the COVID outbreak, there’s been little in the way of a proper Nintendo Direct. Most of what we’ve had has been targeted for specific franchises, like the Super Mario 35th Anniversary. But we’re reunited, and t feels so good.

So some of the highlights (as I saw them) of the Direct.

Pyra/Mythra in Smash Bros.

They got the bit everyone was frothing at the mouth for out right away. I still haven’t played Xenoblade Chronicles 2 yet, but I imagine those that have are pretty happy now. Pyra is able to switch with Mythra on the field freely (I’m guessing something like Zelda/Shiek used to). At least it’s not another Fire Emblem Sword Lord. Although…

Fall Guys on Switch

Really, little else to say.

Famicom Detective Club finally hits the West

This is a pretty significant announcement, and it’s something I didn’t see coming. Nintendo remastering two games that never left Japan ~30 years after the fact is a pretty big deal, and it’s not something that happens every day. Hell, at least a third of the direct was ports and remasters of things that fucking deserve it.

Monster Hunter Rise Info

They showed off some of the new monsters for the game. Frankly, as much as I’m jazzed for the game, I kinda burnt myself out on MH World. But it releases soon, so here’s to the novices that are going to wonder why a big velociraptor is kicking their ass.

Capcom Arcade Stadium

Fun fact: Capcom used to be as well known for their arcade games as their home releases. This collection comes with 23 games as well as an add-on for Ghosts ‘n Goblins. But you can get 1943: The Battle for Midway free and buy everything else as packs. It’s available right now.

Samurai Warriors 5

I hope you’re ready to Musou your way through another battlefield. This time… I don’t think Oda Nobunaga is being portrayed as a king of evil or something. I haven’t played previous Samurai Warriors games, is that normal?

Legend of Mana Remaster

One of my favorite PS1 games is getting a remaster? Complete with a rearrangement of its excellent Yoko Shimomura soundtrack? They upped the resolution of the backgrounds, but left the sprites unscaled (as they should be)? With the PocketStation game added so that you don’t need to New Game+ to get more materials that should’ve been stupid common? And tempering will still be a confusing, impenetrable mess?

It releases on June 24th this year. Another Summer of Adventure. Good luck dodging Shadoles, nublets.

Project Triangle Strategy

The Octopath Traveler team is doing a Final Fantasy Tactics?

‘Nuff said.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

I’m gonna save you the time and show you the best thing in this trailer.

Miitopia

Remember the 3DS Miitopia? Well, this one’s for you, then.

Neon White

Annapurna Interactive brings you a game of angels, demons, and cards. And they hired Steve Blum for it, too. So if you close your eye, you can hear Spike Spiegel, as he should be.

Knockout City

I’m going to be a real jerk here, but here it goes: the fake interview characters were a more interesting ensemble than the actual in-game characters.

World’s End Club

Same people that made Danganronpa and Zero Escape are making a game that starts similar to those game and then turns into something else. That might be one of the most clever things in this entire Direct.

NINJA GAIDEN Master Collection

Literally everything you’d want in a collection of these games is here. All the DLC. Everything.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Port

You know, I’m probably one of the, like, 3 people that genuinely enjoyed this game. So seeing that it’s getting a port with alternative controls for the idiots that couldn’t wrap their heads around the original ones is nice. It doesn’t look like its been given much of a facelift, if at all, but I appreciate it since I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my Motion+ attachment.

Also, a whole new group of people are going to find out about the joy of Groose. He looked like Chad Thundercock before he was even a thing.

Splatoon 3

We got to watch a Squid Kid walk through the dry-ass ruins of France, or potentially Las Vegas. Get hype for 2022.

Other bits

• No More Heroes 3 – August 27
• Bravely Default II – February 26th
• Animal Crossing is getting free Mario content added to the game
• Hades physical release – March 19th
• Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection – February 25th
• SaGa Frontier Remastered – April 15th
• Apex Legends – March 9th
• Hyrule Warriors Expansion Pass
• Star Wars: Hunters
• Outer Wilds port – Summer
• Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition – March 19
• DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power – June 4th

All in all, I’ve seen people dunk on this Direct. But hey, it does seem to have been catering to idiots like me. So sorry.

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