Nintendo Direct - 3/3/2016 - News Round-up

Hot on the heels of the Pokémon Direct last Friday, this latest Nintendo Direct has given us updates on a variety of products across numerous franchises. I’m going to go through step-by-step to give you all the news. You’re so lucky!

Star Fox

• The long awaited Star Fox: Zero for Nintendo Wii U finally has a release date, 22nd April.
• The demo shown at E3 in 2014 known as Project Guard has evolved into Star Fox: Guard, a tower defence game featuring Slippy and his uncle, Grippy. Star Fox: Guard will be released on 22nd April for Nintendo Wii U.
• A special steelbook edition bundle of Star Fox: Zero and Star Fox: Guard will be released on 22nd April for Nintendo Wii U.

Splatoon

• New software updates are coming to Splatoon, starting on 9th March with balancing the gear abilities, adjusting Ranked Battle matchmaking, and adding new elements to Splatfests.
• Adjustments to weapons will also be made, to both fan favourites and the more underappreciated. This update will be split into two parts, with the first scheduled for April.

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

• Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is coming to Nintendo 3DS on 8th April, and 24th June for Nintendo Wii U.

Super Mario Maker

• A new update to Super Mario Maker will add new elements like keys, key doors, and pink coins, a Super Expert difficulty will be added to 100 Mario Challenge, new Mystery Mushroom costumes, and will arrive on 9th March.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE

• An Atlus-developed RPG taking inspiration from Atlus’ own games and Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE makes its way to the west and will launch in Europe and North America on 24th June, for Nintendo Wii U.
• This game will keep its Japanese voice over, and add English subtitles.

Paper Mario: Color Splash

• Paper Mario returns in a title based around colours and paint. Travel on a journey to return colour to the land. Paper Mario: Color Splash is currently in development, but will arrive later in 2016.

My Nintendo

• Nintendo’s reward system replaces the recently closed Club Nintendo and through playing app games and making digital purchases on the Nintendo eShop, you earn coins. The first product linked to My Nintendo will be the phone app, Miitomo, that is taking sign ups now.
• Signing up to My Nintendo in the launch period in March will let you download Flipnote Studio 3D for free on Nintendo 3DS.

amiibo

• It was announced that Series 4 of the Animal Crossing amiibo Cards will be available from 17th June, with Series 3 still pegged for a 18th March release.
• Also releasing on 18th March are seven new amiibo: R.O.B, Roy, Ryu, Isabelle (Summer Outfit), Rover, Timmy & Tommy, and Kapp’n.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

• The Nintendo 3DS version of Hyrule Warriors, the Legend of Zelda game in the mould of Dynasty Warriors, will release on the 24th March after a long wait.
• The five new characters in Hyrule Warriors Legends will be available on the Wii U version via a code in the box of all copies of Hyrule Warriors Legends, along with an additional weapon for Ganondorf.
• Hyrule Warriors Legends will also have a season pass for four DLC packs to be released throughout 2016. The season pass also includes an exclusive Ganondorf skin, available on purchase from launch day.
• A free character will also be available for both Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors Legends: Medli, a young Lito girl armed with a harp from Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. She will be available to download at the same time as the first of the four DLC packs.
• Hyrule Warriors Legends also has a demo to download on the Nintendo 3DS eShop from today. The demo lets you battle as Link, Zelda, and Impa on Hyrule Field.
• Purchases of the full game during the launch window come with a home screen theme.

Yokai Watch

• The Pokémon-rivalling Yokai Watch will see release in the west on 29th April for Nintendo 3DS after a long wait. In Japan, the game has spawned into a successful anime series, and also its own dance.
• This section of the Direct was accompanied by a bizarre dancing section.
• A demo for Yokai Watch is available on Nintendo 3DS from today.

Disney Art Academy

• Ever tried to draw your favourite Disney or Pixar character and cursed your hand for its inability to create anything more than an inky mess? Disney Art Academy will teach you how to draw the basic outlines, colour, shade, and highlight a large number of famous faces. Characters range from Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, through to Buzz Lightyear and Elsa. Disney Art Academy will launch on 15th July on Nintendo 3DS.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force

• This Nintendo 3DS first person shooter is a cooperative game set in the Metroid Prime universe. First announced at E3 last year, reception has not been positive towards this game, so this section was dedicated to explaining its development from a Nintendo DSi game to one for the Nintendo 3DS.
• Metroid Prime: Federation Force will release in the summer.

Lost Reavers

• A free-to-play, online cooperative rogue-like and gritty hack-and-slash for the Nintendo Wii U from Bandai Namco, Lost Reavers has you teaming up to fight through hordes of the undead to gather treasure and loot, solve puzzles, and fight bosses.
• An open beta will be accessible on 14th April and the full game will release on 28th April for Nintendo Wii U.

Virtual Console

• Exclusive to New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL, a selection of games from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System will be appearing on the eShop. In Europe, these Virtual Console titles will be the US versions.
• Super Mario World and Earthbound are available from today.
• Two new games will be added to the eShop each week of March: The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past and Super Metroid, F-Zero and Super Mario Kart, and Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country 2.
• Purchasing any one of these games will give you 50% off the other release of that week.

Azure Striker: Gunvolt and Azure Striker: Gunvolt 2

• This side-scrolling shooter sequel, Azure Striker: Gunvolt 2 will be released on the Nintendo eShop in the summer for the Nintendo 3DS.
• Until 1st April, the original Azure Striker: Gunvolt has a 33% discount on the Nintendo eShop.

eShop Titles Montage Video

Here follows a list of games announced for release now and in the coming months:

• Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens for Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
• The Legend of Legacy for Nintendo 3DS, available now.
• Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight for Nintendo 3DS, available now.
• Stella Glow for Nintendo 3DS.
• Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty for Nintendo Wii U, available now.
• Mega Man Legacy Collection for Nintendo 3DS, available now.
• MouseCraft: Director’s CAT for Nintendo Wii U.
• Pixeljunk Monsters for Nintendo Wii U.
• Lifespeed for New Nintendo 3DS.
• Dreii for Nintendo Wii U.
• Noitu Love: Devolution for Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
• Pinball Arcade for Nintendo Wii U.
• Hive Jump for Nintendo 3DS.
• Futuridium EP Deluxe for Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
• Dex for Nintendo Wii U.
• Giana Sisters: Dream Runners for Nintendo Wii U.
• Kick and Fennick for Nintendo Wii U.
• Super Meat Boy for Nintendo Wii U.
• Lovely Planet for Nintendo Wii U.
• 6180 the moon for Nintendo Wii U.
• Hollow Knight for Nintendo Wii U.
• Jotun: Valhalla Edition for Nintendo Wii U.

Fire Emblem Fates

• A game split into three parts: Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, and Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation.
• Birthright and Conquest let you side with either of the opposing forces in the story, and Revelation ties everything up.
• A limited edition steelbook version including all three games on a single card will available. This version also comes with an artbook.
• A limited edition Fire Emblem Fates-inspired New Nintendo 3DS is also on the way.
• Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, and the Fire Emblem Fates Limited Edition will be available on the 20th May.
• Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation will be released separately on Nintendo eShop on the 9th June, outside of the Limited Edition.

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

• This full remake of Dragon Quest VII, including a whole new translation, will be available on Nintendo 3DS later in 2016.

Monster Hunter Generations

• Known as Monster Hunter X in Japan, this game will be released under the new name Monster Hunter Generations in Europe.
• This is the first Monster Hunter to let you play as a Felyne, a cat species long established in Monster Hunter.
• In a collaboration with Capcom, a special armour set inspired by Fire Emblem’s Marth will be available, similar to the Link armour in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.

Rhythm Paradise Megamix

• A collection of minigames from Rhythm Paradise for the Nintendo DS, Beat The Beat: Rhythm Paradise for the Nintendo Wii, and the Japan-exclusive Nintendo Game Boy Advance original that never saw a western release, with additional all-new rhythm puzzles for this version.
• Rhythm Paradise Megamix will be released for Nintendo 3DS in 2016.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

• This new Kirby game expands on the series formula by giving Kirby a mechanized suit that can use different Copy abilities like Kirby himself.
• A separate multiplayer game, Team Kirby Clash, has you team up with three friends to take on bosses. Players select one of four variants of Kirby to form the team, each having a specific function in battle. This mode can also be played in Shareplay, allowing friends who don’t own Kirby: Planet Robobot to play Team Kirby Clash with you.
• Kirby: Planet Robobot is also compatible with all amiibo, and a new range of Kirby Series amiibos are on the way: Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Waddle Dee
• Kirby: Planet Robobot and the Kirby Series amiibo will launch on the 10th June for Nintendo 3DS.