Cliff Notes – What new games will be in today’s Nintendo Direct
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Expectations for Surprises: Anticipation is mixed, with hopes for exciting announcements tempered by concerns about repetitive content, particularly regarding the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
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Focus on Key Titles: There is speculation that the showcase will feature significant updates on Hyrule Warriors and possibly teasers for major franchises like 3D Mario and Animal Crossing, but not much on Kirby or Metroid Prime 4.
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Desire for Remakes and Ports: Fans are expressing a strong interest in remakes of classic titles such as EarthBound and Zelda games, alongside hopes for new features in existing franchises, indicating a demand for innovation alongside nostalgia.
What new games will be in today’s Nintendo Direct?
What secrets will Nintendo reveal today? (Nintendo)
The Friday letters page has some neat ideas for the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., as one reader is pleased Switch 2 modders are being sued.
Positive surprises
So here we go, the latest chance to be bitterly disappointed by a games showcase. Nintendo used to be really good at these, but I don’t feel any of the Switch 2 ones have been good, so I really hope they take the gloves off for today’s Direct and just have tons of new and interesting games.
What I actually expect is 50 minutes on Hyrule Warriors and other timewasters, followed by a 10 second teaser of a 3D Mario and/or Animal Crossing. Oh, and the 40th anniversary will just be the original three games packaged up again, for the hundredth time, but this time with a £75 price tag.
OK, I’m exaggerating and going for the absolute worst case scenario situation, but I think if we all expect the above then the chances of being positively surprised is much higher. Basically, I’m only expecting scraps but once we get this year out of the way I think we can hope to see things start to ramp up.
Here’s hoping it’s all better than expected.
Johnson
PS: Please use the Mario peaking out from the curtain for today’s Inbox!
The extra mile
So today’s the day and I really don’t know what to expect from the Nintendo Direct, which I consider the first positive, before we’ve even started. What’s exciting to me is that we’ve already had a Direct for Kirby Air Riders and I would guess that we’re going to get one for Metroid Prime 4, so we probably won’t get too much of them today.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
We’ll probably get quite a bit on Hyrule Warriors, since I don’t see that as being worth its own event, but I hope Nintendo has learnt from the reception to Welcome Tour and Drag x Drive and understand that people are not interested in these lame launch games and want to get to the good stuff.
Nintendo aren’t usually the listening types, but I am still fairly optimistic that they will have a few surprise reviews and will do a good job for the 40th anniversary reveal. They don’t need to, because the Switch 2 is selling well but at the same time that means they can afford to go the extra mile and do something exciting.
Focus
Don’t think it, don’t say it
Thinking about what could be done for the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., I really like the idea of a Super Mario All-Stars 2. Something with all the same games as the original version but with modern graphics. I think people forget that the original was a remake compilation, that had quite a bit of work put into it, and I’d love to see the same for a modern version.
These games have proven themselves as basically timeless, so I’d love to see a modern interpretation that only changed the graphics (and added save states). I’m thinking something along the lines of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which is basically what the originals did, by using the graphics engine for Super Mario World.
They could even go wild and add in co-op and other new features. But I dunno, I feel if you imagine anything for Nintendo that basically guarantees it won’t happen. It’ll probably just be a Super Mario Galaxy 2 remaster. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great game, but re-releasing it won’t really be much of an effort for them.
Rocky
Strange decisions
Amused Nintendo still decided to roll out that car crash Partner Direct last month when they were warming up an hour long showcase of goodies for just a few weeks later, bit strange. In any case, wonder what we’ll get? Please Nintendo, just let me buy Mario Galaxy for my Switch for heaven’s sake. Nintendo rarely throw their fans a bone or go above and beyond the bare minimum needed to resell old content… but hope they at least make some effort here.
I’m keen to keep my powder dry on the Switch 2 in the hope of a hardware revision by 2027, which will allow the dust to settle on a game backlog for it too. I don’t expect an OLED model to drop in that time or anything so ambitious, but we did get the longer battery life OG model two years after launch in 2019 and there are a few nips and tucks the Switch 2 could do with to make it feel like a better investment of £400+. Things like higher base storage, better battery life, funkier coloured Joy-Cons, a screen recalibration, etc.
On the games I’m pleased Star Wars Outlaws has turned out pretty well, Elden Ring is looking better, and Final Fantasy 7 should be without compromise. However, my bigger worry with these ports isn’t whether they’ll work fine on Switch 2, but does anyone actually want to buy them? Publishers need confirmation it’s financially viable to port more titles over and Final Fantasy 7 Remake for £50 in 2025 probably isn’t gonna shift the units.
That and the irritation of Game-Key Cards, which I agree with a lot of gamers on, that they just leave a sour taste. Something about the whole idea just seems off and I hope there is a rethink. Maybe publishers should treat physical releases on the Switch 2 like vinyl special editions and go all out to justify the cartridge costs. I’d double dip on Elden Ring full price if it came with concept art booklets, a folding map, nice alternative box art, etc. and was actually on the cartridge.
Marc
GC: Nintendo is actually Latin for bit strange. (It’s not, it means ‘Leave luck to heaven’ in Japanese.)
Party pooper
I’m so glad Nintendo has taken action over the most recent Switch modder.
Switch 1 games are easily available to buy, whether it’s from CeX or eBay, so there’s no need to steal them.
If a person can’t afford to play games (which is a luxury and not a necessity, may I remind) then people should look at more affordable hobbies.
Every video I see on YouTube or TikTok that promotes illegal Nintendo ROMs, or modding a Nintendo console, is shared to my email address and that email is then swiftly sent to Nintendo so that Nintendo lawyers can add to the video creator’s viewing number.
We, as true gamers, should come together and help stamp this out.
LeighDappa
PS: And, yes, I am fun at parties.
Dream games
I don’t exactly know the reason, but I actually assumed the Nintendo Direct was yesterday. Yep, I made a mistake and got my hopes up. Mistakes aside, I’m going into the Direct today with expectations. I usually expect nothing and I’m pretty much always satisfied. I didn’t even watch the Indie Direct a few weeks ago. Why would anyone, truthfully? But seeing this be the longest Direct ever the overall chances of surprises… there’s a plausible reason to hope at least.
I’d like to make some wishes though, at least one of them has to come to pass. EarthBound released for the Game Boy Advance in 1994 and we’ve never seen a remake released. It’s time we saw one. I expect no less from anyone who is asking for Zelda, Mario or even Animal Crossing. But who’s asking for EarthBound nowadays? Exactly. I’d love to also see a remaster/remake of Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. That’s long overdue and it could be a showpiece for the Nintendo Switch 2.
I’d also be a buyer for a remake of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and Majora’s Mask. Or even a port. Anything where I can physically own a copy of both games, for the Switch 2. Speaking of Animal Crossing, we are overdue a new title. New Horizons was perfect for the pandemic but not so much right now. It’s essentially dead in the water five years on.
I’d also love to see a remaster of Metroid Prime 2 and 3. With the fourth game releasing soon, it’s the perfect time. I’m sure I could list many more dream games, but I’ll leave this letter with my three dream projects. The first is a port of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for the Switch 2. If Elden Ring can run sufficiently well, so can its predecessor.
The second is the announcement of the next mainline Zelda title. It’s absolutely years away for sure, but even a show closer of a five second teaser would be a fiery note to end on. The third and final wish is Atlus announcing Persona 6. This would be a blockbuster moment and with the anniversary looming, it’s a perfect occasion.
I’ve said much in this letter and I’ll say that today absolutely may disappoint, but I guess we’ll see what happens. A final note. Since Mario’s 40th anniversary is soon, I hope Nintendo touches on that and we see a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey.
Shahzaib Sadiq
PS: A random and impossible wish for the Direct. Project Zero 1, 2, and 3 for the Switch 2. Three ports as a collection. Never happening, but one can dream.
GC: EarthBound was a SNES game. Are you thinking of 2006 sequel Mother 3, on the Game Boy Advance, which has never been released outside of Japan?
No sympathy
I really struggle to have any sympathy for Ubisoft, given how dumb their decisions are. Far Cry didn’t get where it is because of multiplayer. Except for maybe co-op, nobody cares about that in the game and turning it into a live service game is not going to work unless it’s free, and even then there’s no guarantee.
The reason Far Cry 6 flopped is because it came too soon after the last one and didn’t do anything new. Come up with some new ideas and people will be interested again, but only if it’s the Far Cry experience they actually want.
Sagar
Hardcore Knight
Definitely getting hyped for Hollow Knight: Silksong for when I do finally play it, as it sounds like quite a bit of an investment for sure. Hollow Knight, for me, was difficult but doable, without too much stress and frustration, as it was a very well-designed game. Though the main differences are the faster rate of gameplay in this new entry in the franchise.
To me Hollow Knight is like playing (respectfully) an older Soulsborne game like Demon’s Souls and Silksong is like playing a fast speedy blinkbolt Death Knight build from Elden Ring! But, of course, the world of Silksong is definitely going to match the player’s efficiency and then some.
What I am also looking forward to is the crafting and more intuitive equipment application of tools and crests, etc. But the world it’s being played in is drop dead gorgeous and I am loving the backdrops and animations of the protagonist and enemies. But with all the well-designed and tough bosses, on top of the well realised world, the applause is definitely deserved for the game.
What I am hearing from the gaming community is that the game is being generally enjoyed but the bosses are definitely pounding a lot of gamers to the point that this could be looked upon as a negative factor. A bit like Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree was fantastic, with some great bosses and overall exploration of the new world, but a shame about the final boss being not so fun.
But for me Silksong is going to be an excellent challenge for me and anything Soulsborne in difficulty is always a plus in my book. So good luck to all the gamers who are or about to play this new hardcore game.
Alucard
Inbox also-rans
I know it’s a busy period of games, but will you be reviewing Lost Soul Aside and Everybody’s Golf at all?
Adam_Lion_23 (PSN ID)
GC: Maybe Everybody’s Golf but not Lost Soul Aside; apart from anything it just doesn’t seem notable enough.
If anyone was wondering about Firestorm in Battlefield 5, and didn’t realise it had a battle royale mode, I’d say it was actually quite good. It had really boring graphics though, which I think put a lot of people off. Even serious games need at least some colour.
Stimp
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