Nintendo dropped a special Nintendo Direct featuring news games and surprises. From revisiting the already announced Super Mario RPG or unveiling fan favorite Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door with enhanced graphics, Nintendo gave its fans an idea of what’s to come for the rest of the year and beyond. Here are the biggest announcements from the September 14 Nintendo Direct:
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: A Classic Gameboy Advanced Remake
The first surprise for the Nintendo Direct is their return to the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series! No better way to reignite interest for the series than remaking the first title with new graphics and features for the Nintendo Switch.
After Donkey Kong stole all of the mini Mario toys, it’s up to our favorite plumber to get them back. Originally released in 2004 for the Gameboy Advanced, you play as Mario as you jump across platforms, solve puzzles, and save the mini Mario toys.
The franchise is almost 20 years old at this point with sequels on the Nintendo DS consoles and one adventure on the Wii U. Mario vs. Donkey Kong remake will be the first game in the franchise for the Nintendo Switch.
The biggest change to the remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the addition of local multiplayer. Another player can control Toad to solve puzzles and save the Mini Mario toys. Mario vs. Donkey will launch on February 16, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is Coming to Nintendo Switch
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is arriving next year with enhanced graphics and visuals. The biggest surprise from this Nintendo Direct, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is regarded as the best Paper Mario game in the series. It is no more tied to the Nintendo Gamecube anymore, it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo hasn’t had a hot streak with the Paper Mario series as of late. While Paper Mario: Color Splash and Paper Mario: The Origami King are steps in the right direction, no Paper Mario game has been able to touch the same heights as Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Nintendo knows what the fan favorite Paper Mario game is, hence why its starting point for remaking Paper Mario games is 2004’s Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The beloved remake is scheduled to release on the Nintendo Switch in 2024.
Related: GameCube’s Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is Getting a Stunning Switch Remaster After 2 Decades
Super Mario RPG: New Gameplay Mechanics
Taking stage at a Nintendo Direct once again is Super Mario RPG. Shocking nearly everyone during the previous Nintendo Direct, fans get an idea of what’s new in Super Mario RPG. Like the original, players have to time action commands correctly to do more damage or receive less damage.
Timing the attack perfectly will now deal damage to all enemies at once. Each successful action command will fill the Triple Move meter, unleashing a powerful attack. Don’t be scared to experiment with different party members because it will produce a different Triple Move.
In the post-game of Super Mario RPG, the player can replay certain bosses on a much harder difficulty. On top of the beautiful HD graphics, Super Mario RPG looks to be a faithful remake of the classic SNES game. Look out for it later this year as Super Mario RPG releases on November 17 for the Nintendo Switch.
Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass – Side Order DLC Announced
Splatoon 3 fans can look forward to more paid content coming soon for the Nintendo Switch title. Part of the Expansion Pass, Side Order is a single player DLC where the player will fight through hordes of enemies to go further up the Spire of Order.
The player will use color squares to strengthen their abilities to get further along Splatoon 3’s Side Order. The DLC is designed to be played multiple times, so expect roguelike elements to be present.
The story in Splatoon is known for its crazy and weirdly good worldbuilding, so expect more of that in Splatoon 3’s Side Order as well. Players can purchase the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass on the Nintendo eShop now for $24.99. The Side Order DLC is expected to launch in Spring 2024.
Princess Peach’s New Game
Officially titled, Princess Peach: Showtime!, look out for her first solo adventure in over 15 years on March 22, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch. The single player action adventure game will follow Princess Peach as she attends the Sparkle Theater.
Suddenly, the theater is attacked by the wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch. The princess must work with the theater’s guardian, Stella, to save the day.
Princess Peach will use Stella’s ribbon to defeat the Sour Bunch. If the ribbon isn’t enough, Princess Peach can transform into one of her many outfits to advance her journey. She can be a swordfighter, a detective, a pastry chef, or a martial arts fighter to get past the Sour Bunch army.
Related: New Princess Peach Game Announced – Multiple Powers, Multiple Outfits, One Heroine
Different from Nintendo’s previous solo Princess Peach game, Super Princess Peach, she will take on different identities to save the Sparkle Theater.
It was only a few months ago where Nintendo announced this Princess Peach game during their June 2023 Nintendo Direct. Now we’re less than six months away from experiencing Princess Peach: Showtime! for the Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2024.
Classic Nintendo DS and Wii Games – Another Code Remastered for Nintendo Switch
A massive surprise to point-and-click adventure players, Another Code: Two Memories and Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories are being remastered for Nintendo Switch.
Packed in a single collection, Another Code: Recollection is coming out on January 19, 2024 for Nintendo Switch.
Another Code: Two Memories originally released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS. You follow Ashley Mizuki Robbins, a 13-year-old who’s looking for her father on Blood Edward Island.
Ashley’s parents were presumed dead when she was young but she received a package a few days from her 14th birthday. Ashley’s father is waiting for her on Blood Edward Island, so she takes it upon herself to take this journey not only find her father, but understand her recurring nightmares.
Related: Nintendo DS Classic Another Code: Two Memories is Getting a Switch Remaster
The sequel, Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories, takes place two years later where Ashley is now looking for her mother. The 2009 Nintendo Wii title never made its way outside of Japan/Europe.
Nintendo of America never released Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories but with this collection, this will be the first time the game is officially released in the states. Another Code: Recollection is priced at $59.99 on the Nintendo eShop. It is scheduled to release on January 19, 2024 for Nintendo Switch.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 with Enhanced Graphics and Visuals
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is coming to Nintendo Switch called Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Bringing the 2013 Nintendo 3DS title to modern hardware, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD let’s players re-explore Evershade Valley through its haunted mansions.
From a former plant research lab to a snowy mineshaft, there’s a lot to explore in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
Watch out for ghosts as they are littered throughout all five mansions. The ScareScraper mode returns in Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD where up to four players can explore mansions together to defeat ghosts in online play. The HD version of Luigi’s Mansion 2 is coming out Summer 2024.
F-Zero + Battle Royale?
F-Zero is finally getting a brand new game on the Nintendo Switch. But it’s not what you expect. In the battle royale style, F-Zero 99 will have you face 98 other players as you race to the finish in the classic SNES game.
Similar to Super Mario Bros. 35 or Tetris 99, be the last one standing as you race others in F-Zero 99 to claim a victory royale.
Not the F-Zero game fans wanted, but at least Nintendo officially acknowledged the existence of the franchise. It’s been nearly 20 years since the last F-Zero game was released (F-Zero Climax for the Gameboy Advance).
F-Zero 99 is available now on the Nintendo eShop for free. However, a Nintendo Online subscription is required to access the game. Let’s hope F-Zero 99 isn’t the last time Nintendo fans hear about the futuristic racing game.
Final Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Wave is Here!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass Wave 6 has been revealed. Race through Mario Kart Wii’s Daisy Circuit once again and play new characters including Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette.
Finishing out the 48 additional courses, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is now complete. Purchase the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass for $24.99 on the Nintendo eShop to receive the final wave this holiday. If you have Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is free.
What is Trombone Champ?
Another surprise during the Nintendo Direct was the showcase of Trombone Champ. Multiple motion control schemes, Trombone Champ has over 45 songs to play using the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. Nintendo calls its controls “pretty unique.”
Play with three other people locally in Trombone Champ today as it’s available on the Nintendo eShop for $14.99. Trombone Champ seems like a wonderful game to purchase for a party or if you’re itching for a new rhythm game on the Nintendo Switch.
More amiibo Figures Coming Soon!
Collectors get ready as Nintendo announced some new amiibo figures are on the way. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is getting two new amiibo figures featuring Zelda and Ganondorf on November 3, 2023.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is getting two new amiibo figures as well, featuring Noah and Mio in a duo pack on January 19, 2024.
Lastly, the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter, Sora, will receive his amiibo figure in 2024. No date yet, but this will complete the entire 82 character roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
What games are looking forward to from this Nintendo Direct? What surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
Source: Nintendo of America on YouTube
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