September 14, 2018|
Even more so than Nintendo’s E3 showing, September’s week-delayed Nintendo Direct was a massive blowout of news, details, announcements, and sudden releases. It was huge, and we at Source Gaming had to work just to prepare and set up this collection of information. So, to start with, here’s the Direct itself:
And, as always, here are the lists of information show. Regarding new Switch and 3DS games, all titles that have been bolded are ones which were newly announced.
Switch Games Announced and Shown:
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 (working title), planned for a 2019 release
- Splatoon 2 will be getting Ver. 4, seemingly allowing users to make their own pro teams for Splatfests.
- Mega Man 11 has amiibo functionality with the new Mega Man 11 and Smash Bros. Mega Man amiibo. Releases October 2.
- Mario Tennis Aces will be getting Birdo, Shy Guy, Koopa Paratroopa, and Petey Piranha (who uses his arms as a racket) and time-sensitive co-op missions that provide unique costumes and colors. This update will be out September 19.
- Capom Beat ’Em Up Bundle, a compilation of Final Fight, King of Dragons, Captain Commando, Knights of the Realm, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors, and Battle Circuit, with online play added.
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe gets Nabbit, Toadette (who can turn into “Peachette” as one of her power-ups), and all the material from New Super Luigi U. Releases January 19.
- Katamari Damacy REROLL, an HD port of the PlayStation 2 classic. Releases winter 2018.
- Pokémon Let’s Go: Pikachu & Eevee feature moves exclusive to and certain obstacles (akin to those that need HMs to cross in the original games) that can only be crossed with the two starter Pokémon. Launch November 16 with special bundles.
- Diablo II: Eternal Collection will have local, wireless, and online play, as well as amiibo support. Available November 2.
- Super Mario Party will have the series’ first four-player co-op game and eighty games altogether. Releases October 5.
- Town, the first new IP from Game Freak in years, is a JRPG set in a single town. As you fight monsters and gain aid from villagers, the town slowly evolves and changes over time. Releases 2019.
- Cities Skylines: Nintendo Switch Edition, a port of the simulation game from 2015. Both its DLC parts, After Dark and Snowfall, have also been included. Releases today.
- Daemon X Machina features a large upgrading system and online co-op play. Set for release 2019.
- Yoshi’s Crafted World, the official title for the untitled Switch Yoshi game, is based around exploring large, interactive levels which can be physically shifted upside down, sideways, or backwards. Set for release spring 2019.
- Adaptations of digital tabletop games from Asmodee Digital are coming to Switch, including Carcassonne (with expansions “included” as paid DLC), The Lord of the Rings: the Living Card Game, and Pandemic. Catan Universe and Munchkin are coming some point later, as well.
- Civilization VI, announced the same of the Direct’s original airing, releases November 16.
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas will feature Wolf O’Donnell as an enemy in the Switch exclusive missions. Releases October 16.
- The World Ends with You: Final Remix includes a new story sequence called “The Final Day.” Releases October 12.
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2: the Torna Country releases September 21. However, those who’ve purchased the Expansion Pass will receive the game on September 14th.
- Warframe, the free to play competitive game, releases November 20th.
- Just Dance 2019 releases October 23.
- FIFA 19 releases September 28th.
- Team Sonic Racing releases this winter.
- NBA2K19 is available now, and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 releases this Fall.
- LEGO DC Super Villains available October 16th.
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition, now with an online multiplayer mode and additions to the game’s dungeons. Releases 2019.
- Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition, which was announced the day the Direct was meant to air. Releases today at a main introductory price.
- World of Final Fantasy Maxima, a “leveled up version” of World of Final Fantasy is heading to Switch with a new feature called Avatar Change – which allows you to change between legendary characters across the Final Fantasy storied series. Available November 6th.
- Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon is coming to Nintendo Switch with local co-op this Winter.
- Final Fantasy XII: the Zodiac Age releases 2019.
- Square will also be releasing Final Fantasy VII, IX, X, and X-2 HD Remaster in 2019 as well.
- A hardware bundle for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate comes with an image of the original eight fighters, a set of JoyCons, and a download code for the game (but you will still only be able to play the game until its official release date). Pre-order comes up today.
- The Switch GameCube Controller Adapter releases November 2.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: NEWCOMER: Isabelle, from Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Notably, she is not an Echo Fighter of Villager, sharing some of their moves but having a number of unique ones.
- A new Animal Crossing is set for release in 2019.
- In the Japanese version of the Direct, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Cloud Edition, Billion Road, Downwell, and Nidhogg 2 were announced.
3DS Games:
- Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn is coming as a 3DS port, along with extra mechanics and mini-games. Planned for a 2019 release.
- In Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, the Bowser Jr.’s Journey mode features Junior building up standard Mario enemies into an army.
- Luigi’s Mansion for 3DS has a multiplayer feature and amiibo support. Available October 12.
- Yo-Kai Watch Blasters releases now, with its “Moon Rabbit Crew” update coming October 27.
Nintendo Switch Online (includes everything discussed from the Direct, including anything that had been mentioned before):
- Service begins September 18.
- Tied to and required for online play.
- Classic NES games will have local and online multiplayer enabled. Games will have a “growing library” of NES titles. Games that will release on the service (some at launch, others weeks later):
- Adventure of Lolo
- Baseball
- Donkey Kong
- Double Dragon
- Dr. Mario
- Excitebike
- Ghosts’n Goblins
- Gradius
- Ice Climber
- Ice Hockey
- The Legend of Zelda [Note, the Japanese Switch version will be the Nintendo Disk System]
- Metroid
- Mighty Bomb Jack
- Ninja Gaiden
- Pro Wrestling
- River City Ransom
- Soccer
- Solomon’s Key
- Super Dodgeball
- Super Mario Bros.
- Super Mario Bros. 3
- Tennis
- TwinBee
- Wario’s Woods
- Yoshi
- In conjunction with Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo will be releasing wireless NES controllers that function as JoyCons that can be purchased on Nintendo’s online store.
- Save Data Cloud.
- Smartphone app available for communicating with other players (and games), though in terms of direct communication it’s hard to see many differences from platforms like Discord.
- Special offers, which on the site include exclusive gear for Splatoon 2.
Links and Trailers:
- Animal Crossing Switch announcement
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Cloud Edition trailer
- Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition Launch Trailer
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 reveal trailer
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe announcement trailer
- Nintendo Switch Online main page
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VI announcement trailer
- Splatoon 2 Ver. 4 trailer
- Splatoon 2 Squid Research Lab – details on Ver. 4
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – All in a Day’s Work
- Warframe release date trailer
- The World Ends with You: Final Remix – What’s New Info Trailer
However, that isn’t all from today’s Direct. We’ll be planning to give you our various reactions to the Direct soon.
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The overall presentation was alright for me. Glad to see a new Luigi’s Mansion game coming in the future. For some reason I thought it was a port or remake of that 3DS sequel the first time I laid eyes on the footage.
Its good to see Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit getting their home console debut, but Capom Beat ’Em Up Bundle would have gotten a lot more points from me if it included Final Fight 2, Final Fight 3, Alien vs. Predator, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, and Dynasty Wars. I know the last three are licensed games but Capcom should have made some effort to work something out. They even have Warriors of Fate in there (which is likely because of the removal of the game’s licensed origins in the international versions but still).
I already have the original so I won’t buy it but I’m so glad to see Final Fantasy IX getting a Nintendo release, one of my favorite FF games for sure.
I really like luigi and yoshi’s new games, Capcom’s beat up bundle looks cool and I never played katamari so I might get it. The thing that was shocked the most was the fact that the switch is getting 8 final fantasy games, 5 of the them mainline! I never thought that square Enix would go with my game wish list! I hope Namco bandai follows up with more Tales of ports or bring God Eater and code vein to switch.
No sign of Fire emblem three houses, Bayonetta 3 or Metroid Prime 4 though.
Now that David Horan mentions it, It definitely would have been great to see Bayo 3 and/or MP4 in this Direct. I guess Nintendo are possibly saving those for Tokyo Game Show this week.
I forgot to mention this earlier but, while its nice seeing Assassin’s Creed on Switch, I really don’t like the “Cloud Edition” approach that has been taken once again (SG member KawlunDram made an article about it a few months ago and explains the reasons better than me).