After letting the internet speculate for a while on if and when they would be posting their next Direct (and even egging on their fans with some interesting trolling), Nintendo uploaded a new Direct Mini today on their YouTube channel. It covered a lot in just under fifteen minutes, and included some surprising announcements.
Here’s a rundown of the games covered in today’s Nintendo Direct Mini:
The World Ends with You Final Remix
The critically-acclaimed 2007 DS game comes to the Nintendo Switch with its classic touch controls, as well as joy-con support.
Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack
Two waves of paid DLC will add Aegislash, Mega Rayquaza, and Mimikyu (available January 31st), and battle Pokemon Blastoise, with Mew and Celebi as support set characters (available March 23rd).
Kirby Star Allies
New copy abilities ‘artist’ and ‘spider’ are being added to the game. Also, ability combos that let you combine powers with other characters into ‘friend abilities’ are now possible. These let you create attacks like ‘icicle lance’ by combining water and ice, and using these combos will allow you to open up new paths through stages. Coming March 16th, 2018.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
The ultimate version of the game, which will include all character, map, and mission DLC from the Wii U and 3DS versions. There will also be new Breath of the Wild outfits for Link and Zelda. The game will run in ‘up to full 1080p HD’ in docked mode on the Nintendo Switch, and a single system two-player mode by way of split screen.
Mario Tennis Aces
A new take on the Mario Tennis series, featuring a story mode for the first time since Mario Tennis: Power Tour on the Gameboy Advance.
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA
The 2017 RPG in which players take on the role of the shipwrecked Adol, who must survive on Seiren Island by finding other survivors and building a base.
Super Mario Odyssey: Break Out the Balloons
A free update for Super Mario Odyssey will open up an asynchronous multiplayer mode once the main game’s story has been completed. There’s a ‘Hide It Mode’, in which players have thirty seconds to hide a balloon in a kingdom, and a ‘Find It Mode’ where they must find other players’ hidden balloons. New filters for the game’s Photo Mode are also being added.
SNK HEROINES Tag Team Frenzy
A tag team fighting game that will feature popular female SNK characters. Players will be able to customize the appearance of their fighters, and execute ‘Dream Finish’ moves once their opponent’s health is low enough. Clinton Bowman-Christie has a more in-depth preview of the game here.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Donkey Kong (the actual character, not the game’s existing Rabbid Kong boss) will join the lineup of playable characters in the next DLC for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.
PAYDAY 2
Japanese computer whiz ‘Joy’, who has a pretty sweet color-changing LED mask, will debut as a timed exclusive character on the Nintendo Switch. Also, local and online multiplayer will be accessible through the new CRIME.NET system. Payday 2 is coming to the Switch on February 27th.
Fe
A stylized third person platforming/exploration game where players use the power of song to interact with the environment and progress.
Celeste
A classic-style pixel art platformer where the main character Madeline can climb any surface as long as she has enough stamina. Celeste will release for the Switch on January 25th.
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze
The original game returns with a new mode that adds Funky Kong as playable character. He can double jump, and perform endless rolls on land and corkscrews underwater, plus his surfboard protects him from landing on spikes and allows him to float after jumping on enemies. The original game mode is also included. Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is set to release on May 4th.
Dark Souls: Remastered
The game that needs no introduction is heading to the Nintendo Switch, and our own Keith Mitchell is super excited about it. Due out for the Switch on May 25th.
There was also a reminder that demos for Kirby Battle Royale and Dragon Quest Builders are available on the eShop right now. That was a lot for such a short video! We’re looking forward to learning more about each of these titles; which ones are you most excited for?
[Edited to correct game titles.]
