It’s that time again, ladies and gentlemen! Nintendo has dropped a new Direct full of game announcements for both the rest of this year and the beginning of next year. But what were the things that stood out from the pack? We’ll break it all down in our Nintendo Direct Recap!
First up, we got a deeper look at Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC! In the game, a new character called Agent 8 will ascend the “Spire of Order” to help Pearl save Marina! A new character named Aucht will also be there to assist. The tower will feature an RPG-like growth system, new enemies, and apparently, lots of replayability! The DLC will arrive in Spring of 2024.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Jjeko4wMs
One of the early surprises for the Nintendo Direct was that of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong. The previously handheld title has been rebuilt for the Nintendo Switch, and features the same beloved gameplay as before as you’ll work your way through levels to get the Mario toys and stop the primate’s dirty deeds. The title arrives on February 16th, 2024.
Super Mario RPG got a new trailer for its remake. The game will feature new abilities in combat, including the “Triple Move” where you’ll team up with partners to deliver a devastating attack that can change depending on your team’s roster! Plus, there will be a post-game mode where you can battle powered-up versions of the game’s bosses! The game releases on November 17th.
A teased game from June’s Direct has gotten a new spotlight in an almost literal way. Princess Peach: Showtime will feature the princess in a solo adventure for the first time in a long time. She’ll get an invitation to the Sparkle Theater, which will soon come under attack by a villain known as Grape. To free the theater, Princess Peach will team up with a new friend in Stella and unlock new powers. The game will be themed around Peach getting new outfits that can give her special abilities and augment the gameplay that takes place. Cooking, crime-solving, martial arts mastery and more await her when her game releases on March 22nd, 2024.
Next in our Nintendo Direct Recap, we go from Peach to Luigi. He, too, is getting some love in 2024, as Luigi’s Man 2 HD will arrive next Summer and promises to bring the 3DS to life like never before. That includes updating the graphics and offering multiplayer support:
A very divisive reveal in the Direct came after when F-Zero 99 was announced. The Nintendo Switch Online title will feature 99 racers trying to survive one another until only one is left standing. While this IS a new game in the franchise, it’s not even close to what fans (including Outerhaven head Keith Mitchell) want. Maybe Nintnedo is using this to gauge interest in the franchise? Only time will tell.
Finally, our Nintendo Direct Recap heads to the final title announced…a remaster of Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door. Yes, this is real. While the game was only touted as coming in “2024,” the title appears to be a pure and true remaster that will allow gamers to play the TRUE pinnacle of the franchise…before everything started going south. Much like F-Zero, many fans hope Nintendo will continue this franchise IN THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED!!! But only time will tell.
You can watch the full Nintendo Direct below:
