Nintendo Direct roundup - everything we learned.

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Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct broadcast saw the platform holder releasing a whole load of announcements and new details about new and previously-announced games.

We’ll be looking at a few of the announcements in greater detail in separate articles later on, but here’s a round-up of everything that we learned from Iwata’s latest livestream.

Wii U:

  • Mario Maker: The Super Mario Bros. level editor is being released in September, allowing Wii U console owners create their own levels and share them online. There will also be events throughout the year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros.
  • Splatoon: New game modes for Splatoon will include “Ranked Battle” and “Battle Dojo” modes. These modes will allow players to, respectively, play 4 vs 4 battles based on performance rankings, or 1-on-1 matches with friends. Splatoon will launch for the Wii U on May 29th.
  • Mario Kart 8 is getting a high-speed update, featuring a 200cc racing class. The new class will work on all maps and place a higher emphasis on braking. It releases April 23rd, the same day that DLC Pack 2 is releasing with four new vehicles and eight new tracks.
  • Nintendo 64 and DS Games on the Virtual Console: As of today, Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS titles will be available on the Virtual Console. Today’s releases for the Virtual Console are Yoshi’s Island DS and Super Mario 64. WarioWare: Touched! for Nintendo DS will release April 9th, and Donkey Kong 64 will be coming on April 16th.
  • Yoshi’s Woolly World: The new Yoshi game is releasing this autumn on the Wii U, featuring a Classic Mode for a challenging experience, as well as a “Mellow Mode” for gamers of all ages to enjoy the game as “Winged Yoshi.”
  • Shin Megami Tensei & Fire Emblem Crossover: The previously-announced game has been rather quiet for a while now, but it’s now been confirmed for a release sometime next year.
  • New Fatal Frame: The next installment in the Fatal Frame series will release for the Wii U later this year.

Nintendo 3DS

  • Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer: The latest installment of the Animal Crossing universe, Happy Home Designers will give players the role of an interior decorator, designing houses for the denizens of their town. Players can also use the Animal Crossing NFC cards to decorate homes for specific characters. The game is set to release this fall.
  • BOXBOY!: HAL Laboratory, Inc., the developers of the Kirby series, are bringing BOXBOY! to the Nintendo eShop later today. It’s a black-and-white puzzler lets players create, cast and hook blocks to traverse more than 150 stages.
  • Fire Emblem: Releasing for the 3DS in 2016, the new Fire Emblem title will feature the main character as the hero of the game as well as being a customizable avatar. The game will also have a path system, allowing players to either choose the Hoshido path for a more traditional experience or the Nohr path, which will make the story more complex and the gameplay more challenging.
  • Puzzle & Dragons Z + Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition: Will be released May 22nd. A free demo is available on the Nintendo eShop, while pre-orders for the two-in-one game can be placed at http://puzzleanddragons.nintendo.com.
  • Pokémon Rumble World: A new Pokémon Rumble game will release April 8th and will feature more than 700 Pokémon, ranging from the original generation to the ones found in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire games.
  • Code Name S.T.E.A.M.: An update is coming that will add a fast-forward feature to expedite enemy turns. In addition, a new online Public Tournament called “Hijinks,” in honor of playable character Tom Sawyer, launched today and will run until April 5th.
  • New StreetPass Games: Two new StreetPass games will be added for purchase at $4.99 each or $7.99 for both: Ultimate Angler, where Miis can visit the StreetPass Islands to fish for more than 150 different varieties of fish and monsters using bait received from street-passes; and Battleground Z, where players use items (awarded based on the hobbies of their Miis) to defeat hordes of zombies. Alongisde these new games, a new paid service (also $4.99) called “StreetPass Mii Plaza Premium” will add features like StreetPass birthdays and a Mii character VIP Room.
  • Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains: Featuring four-player co-op as well as online co-op play, ATLUS will be releasing a new game based on the anime and manga series in May, allowing you to play as your favorite characters and fight against the Titans. The first two episodes of the anime will also be available to stream for free on the Nintendo eShop.

Amiibos:

  • Amiibo Cards: A new type of amiibo is being released in the form of NFC cards. The first batch will be a series of Animal Crossing characters to coincide with the release of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. The cards will be scanned with an NFC peripheral for the 3DS.
  • Super Smash Bros. Amiibos: Nintendo is releasing a new wave of its Smash Bros-themed amiibos. Starting May 29th, we’ll get Charizard, Pac-Man, Wario, Jigglypuff, Greninja, Robin, Lucina and Ness. July brings Dark Pit and Palutena. In September, Zero Suit Samus, Ganondorf, Olimar, Dr. Mario and Bowser Jr will be added to the range.
  • Play Virtual Console games with Amiibo Tap: Users can download a free application, and then use amiibos to unlock “gameplay highlights” from classic games from the NES and SNES.
  • Yarn Amiibos: A new set of amiibos will be released later this fall at the same time as Yoshi’s Woolly World. The amiibos are actually made of wool, and will come in green, pink and light blue colors. Tapping the yarn amiibos on the Wii U GamePad while playing Yoshi’s Woolly World will summon another Yoshi to assist the player in-game.
  • Splatoon Amiibos: Launching alongside Splatoon, Inkling Boy and Inkling Squid will be released on May 29th, and will unlock special missions, weapons and gear in the game.
  • Mii Racing Suits: A new software update is coming to Mario Kart 8 on April 23rd, bringing support for nine additional amiibo figures, including Mega Man, Sonic and Pac-Man. Tapping these amiibos will unlock racing suits themed after the respective amiibos.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS:

  • New DLC Characters: Nintendo hasn’t forgotten about Mewtwo: He’ll be added to the roster in April 28th. Players can purchase Mewtwo for both versions of the game for $4.99. If you’re a member of Club Nintendo and registered both versions of the game, you’ll receive a free download code for the character on April 15th. Also coming on April 15th is the ability to purchase new costumes for your Mii fighters, inlcluding a few inspired by Mega Man X and Proto Man. In June, we’re getting another addition to the roster: Lucas from Earthbound 3.
  • Smash Bros. Fighter Voting: Starting today, players can go to http://www.smashbros.com and cast their vote in a “Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot.” Cast your vote for who you’d like to see added to the roster next!

Indies

  • Adventures of Pip: Tic Toc Games is bringing their pixel puzzle platformer to the Wii U this May.
  • Mutant Mudds Super Challenge: Renegage Kid is working on a sequel to the original Mutant Mudds platformer, and it will be available on the Nintendo eShop this June. Owners of the first Mutant Mudds will receive a loyalty discount on the sequel, and buying the Wii U version will unlock the 3DS version for for free (and vice versa).
  • Don’t Starve: Giant Edition: Not only is the excellent survival indie title launching on the Wii U this May, but Klei Entertainment is also offering a special promotion: Purchasing the game will also net you a free download code to give to a friend.
  • Octodad: Dadliest Catch is finally being released on the Wii U this summer. It will feature a co-op mode for up to four players to let everyone get in on the tentacle-controlling action.

Wayne Meeks

Wayne Meeks

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Wayne writes articles about video games that he plays. Sometimes they're good. Sometimes they're great. Sometimes they're neither of those things. But that doesn't stop him playing, or writing.
Wayne Meeks

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