Nintendo 3DS Announcements
Hey! Pikmin – That weird 2D Pikmin game announced back in September now has a release date and official name. Hey! Pikmin will release July 28th 2017 along with a new Pikmin amiibo that same day, featuring the Red, Blue, Yellow, Rock, and Winged Pikmin.
Ever Oasis – Ever Oasis was first revealed last E3. The new IP published by Nintendo and developed by Grezzo launches June 23rd 2017.
Monster Hunter Stories – Monster Hunter Stories is looking to be a different kind of Monster Hunter. This more stylized and colorful Monster Hunter focuses on turn-based RPG battles utilizing different monsters and launches this fall.
Yo-Kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters – The definitive version of Yo-Kai Watch 2 is coming this fall, with exclusive quests and an expanded multiplayer action mode where you can team up and battle new bosses.
Culdcept Revolt – The Culdcept series celebrates its 20th anniversary by releasing Culdcept Revolt in the west on August 29th 2017.
RPG Maker Fes – Ah! I remember RPG Maker. 14 year old me used to work on an RPG every day after school about a fairy going on an adventure, trying to find out what happened to her dead mother. Good times! Never finished it… Anyway, Fes comes out for 3DS June 27th 2017 and looks to have DLC with Disgaea character skins. Along with it, a free to download software called Maker Player will be available on the eShop so people can play others’ RPGs whether they have RPG Maker or not.
Miitopia – This weird Mii-based RPG was announced for Japan quite some time ago with no word on a western release, until today. Miitopia, a quirky turn-based RPG that incorporates relationship building into combat launches later this year.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia – This full remake of the 1992 Japan-only Famicom title, Fire Emblem Gaiden, is coming to 3DS May 19th 2017. It will also have DLC, both free and paid, which can be purchased individually or through a season pass.
Kirby’s 25th Anniversary – That cute little pink puffball is now 25 years old and is celebrating with 3 new titles. The first being Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, an expansion of the side-game, Team Kirby Clash, seen in Kirby Planet Robobot. It is a free-to-start game available RIGHT NOW. The second game is another expansion of a side-game seen in Planet Robobot, which is Kirby’s Blowout Blast available this summer. And finally, a new Kirby multiplayer action game is in development for 3DS and will be available this holiday season.
Bye-Bye Boxboy – Boxboy is a simple, but challenging puzzle game developed by HAL Laboratory, the same guys behind the Kirby series. The third and final entry in the Boxboy trilogy is available RIGHT NOW on the eShop, along with demos for all three games.
New amiibo – Not specifically related to 3DS, but new amiibo are on the way. On June 23rd 2017, they’ll be releasing three new Link amiibo, from Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword. And on July 21, we’ll finally (FINALLY!!) be getting the Smash Bros amiibo for Cloud, Corrin, and Bayonetta, each with alternate versions too.
ARMS
Despite a good portion of the Direct focusing on ARMS, the amount of new info was a little light. They further elaborated on the many different ARMS you’ll use in game and how to unlock them using in-game currency. They also further explained each of the characters’ special abilities and attributes that set them apart from each other. Like for example, Spring Man’s unique ability to deflect attacks and to increase his attack power when he’s low on HP.
Probably the most exciting reveal is ARMS’ new character MinMin, who appears to have the ability to kick as well as punch. She also uses a brand new dragon arm that shoots a concentrated beam at your opponent. They also introduced ARMS’ commentator, Biff, whose voice does not match his face whatsoever. Along with the usual one-on-one matches, they’ve also revealed that ARMS will have a two-on-two battle mode as well. We’ve also got ourselves an official release date of June 16th 2017.
That’s about it though. No other new characters were announced and still no word on any kind of single-player campaign or arcade mode. However, they did say there’s still more new stuff to reveal later on.
Oh! And alongside the release of ARMS, there’ll be a new Joy-Con color option, being Neon Yellow. They’re also releasing an extra battery pack that’ll extend the life of your Joy-Cons. Although, considering each Joy-Con alone lasts about 20 hours, an extra battery pack seems a little overkill.
Nintendo Switch Announcements
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nothing really new here. Just a reminder that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is coming April 28th 2017. The same game you know and love on Wii U, but with a new battle mode, more characters, some new items, double item slots, and more.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers – Another reminder that the remastered Street Fighter II with HD and original pixel graphics, along with two new characters, Evil Ryu and Violent Ken, are coming to the Switch May 26th 2017. We also got a look at the new mode, Way of the Hadou, which lets you use the Joy-Con to perform Hadoukens in first-person (which is probably what bumped this game’s price up to $40…).
Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition – Not much to say here. It’s Minecraft. We all know Minecraft, right? Well the Switch version will also have the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack at launch, when it’s available May 11th 2017 in the eShop and later in stores.
More NeoGeo Games – Yep! More great NeoGeo games are coming to Switch including Fatal Fury, Over Top, Blazing Star, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, King of Fighters ’99, Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, Shock Troopers 2nd Squad, and Samurai Showdown IV which actually releases this Thursday.
Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania – After a rocky past and some less than stellar recent experimental releases, Sonic is sticking to what he does best with Sonic Forces and Sonic Mania. Sonic Forces being a return to the Modern and Classic Sonic gameplay from the mostly well-received Sonic Generations, along with a brand new 3rd playable character that looks suspiciously like Bubsy the Cat. But we’ve also got Sonic Mania, which is looking like a promising game that truly captures that classic SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive 2D Sonic action that old-school fans love so much. Sonic Forces is scheduled to release this holiday, while Mania is coming in the summer.
Project Mekuru – A new eShop game by Nintendo has you ground-pounding to flip panels to your own color. It looks to be a pretty simple game that will have you facing off against friends locally and online. It’ll be available sometime this summer.
Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star – This action game developed by Marvelous and previously released on Playstation 4 and Playstation Vita is now headed to the Switch on July 25th 2017.
Disgaea 5 Complete – Disgaea 5 is coming to the Switch under the title Disgaea 5 Complete, as it includes all the previously released DLC content from the original on Playstation 4. It’s release date is May 23rd 2017.
Puyo Puyo Tetris – Yet another game that’s been out on other consoles (practically all of them) in the past, but only in Japan. Now, Puyo Puyo Tetris is coming to the west on the Switch (as well as Playstation 4) on April 25th 2017. Also, a demo is available for the game RIGHT NOW on Switch.
Monopoly for Nintendo Switch – I’m sure we all know the board game Monopoly, right? Well it’s coming to the Switch, and with the Joy-Con’s unique HD Rumble feature, it will create a new sense of realism as you shake and roll virtual dice across the board. It’s coming to Switch this fall.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition – If you missed out on this excellent platformer, then why not get it on Switch? While the Definitive Edition doesn’t seem to add a whole lot, it does add a new solo and tournament mode to Kung Foot, so that’s something I guess. It’ll be available sometime later this year.
Sine Mora EX and Battle Chasers: Nightwar – THQ Nordic is bringing us two very different games for Switch. Sine Mora EX being an extended version of the original shoot’em up and Battle Chasers: Nightwar, a turn-based RPG based on the Battle Chasers comic books. Both games are scheduled to release this summer.
Payday 2 – One surprise announcement was Payday 2 coming to Switch. Although it looks to be the same version as the one on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, it’s good to see the Switch getting some 3rd-party FPS support. It’s expected to release later this year.
Namco Museum – This compilation of Namco classics like Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, Splatterhouse, and others is coming to the Switch this Summer for $30 on the eShop.
Standalone Nintendo Switch Docks – So the Nintendo Switch Docks are finally available to purchase separately…in limited quantity. It’s more than likely the same dock that comes with the Switch, so probably no improvements on the whole scratching issue. But if you needed an extra dock to set-up on another TV in the house, they’ll be available May 19th 2017.
Splatoon 2
And finally, the last bit of news. It’s all about Splatoon 2. Similarly to ARMS though, the new info was also on the light side.
The major new announcement is that Splatoon 2 will be getting its own version of a zombie/horde mode called Salmon Run. The objective? In a team of 4, splat the waves of salmon called Chum that appear and try to kill you. As you splat the Chum, you collect Power Eggs that I’m sure veteran Splatoon players are familiar with. Sometimes giant salmon called Steelheads will appear, which looks to be much more challenging to defeat. The Power Eggs and new Golden Eggs acquired from defeating Steelheads are used to obtain currently unknown rewards.
They also announced new Splatoon 2 amiibo of the Inkling Girl, Boy, and Squid that will save your current outfit and gear to memory and also offer new gear. The old Splatoon amiibo will also be compatible.
That’s about it though. Still no word on what the story campaign is like, although they did promise they’ll go over it at a later date. I suppose we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out just what happened to Callie. However, we won’t have to wait as long as many thought to finally play the full game, as it launches July 21st 2017.
That covers most of the announcements from April 12th’s Nintendo Direct. You can watch the full Direct below.
