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Nintendo Direct week is both the joy and the bane of a games journalist’s work week. So much to talk about! So little time! So much hype! And then you spend the next two weeks dissecting it all, discussing it all and figuring out the details that Direct didn’t tell you.
This Direct was a pretty good one by many metrics – no Mario (unless you count the movie and the Rabbids spin-off), but some Zelda, lots of indie, Splatoon, Bayonetta, Resident Evil and GoldenEye, as a tour of Nintendo’s Greatest Hits.
What did Team NL think of Direct? Read on to find out!
What were your expectations?
KATE: …I was certainly ready for the promised/leaked “Zelda blowout” that never came, but I didn’t really have any other expectations. I like to be surprised by the content of Direct and I was!
JIM: I’ll admit my expectations were sky high after being promised a Zelda port to every franchise game known, but that meant I wasn’t ready for everything else – which, as it turns out, was very !
OLLIE: See, now I mentally prepared myself for a distinct lack of Zelda beforehand because I really struggle to believe anything the leakers are saying, despite the obvious fact that this Direct’s existence was correctly predicted. I expected a lot of surprises, regardless, and thankfully they came in abundance.
ALANA: Even with rumors of a “Zelda blowout”, I actually didn’t expect Breath of the Wi… oh wait, Tears of the Kingdom to show up. But otherwise I went in as I usually do – tempered expectations. And Direct, for me, blew me out of the water.
Fire Emblem Engage
OLLIE: I’ve never been into Fire Emblem so I don’t have any strong thoughts on this one I’m afraid…!
KATE: I feel like we’ve had a lot of Fire Emblem. But I know it bothers me when people say we’ve had too many of a game or genre that I love, because I certainly don’t agree… so let’s just say I think I have probably had Fire Emblem.
JIM: Wow, starting with that image of the intricately designed ceiling in a Direct where everyone expected talk of Zelda stuff… Jeez Nintendo, talk of making my heart skip a beat.
ALANA: Okay, I definitely thought this was something else, seeing Zelda before it was Fire Emblem. It looks really clean! The animations were ridiculously good. I’m not a huge Fire Emblem fan, but I know people who are, so I’m happy for you all!
It takes two
JIM: I’m so ready for a good bit of co-op co-op. The visuals are kind of stinky, but hey, I’m only here for the story and good vibes.
KATE: It seems like a perfect fit for the Switch, so I’m happy to see it. It looks a lot worse than it does on the Xbox Series X though, so that’s a bit sad. It’s a beautiful game.
ALANA: Right?? This looks pretty gross. I know Hazelight said the game was unlikely to get a Switch port, but I guess ‘Game of the Year Winner’ changes that. I’ve heard good things about this one, but to be honest, I have little interest in getting it. I also don’t have anyone to play it with personally right now.
KATE: I wonder if Nintendo threw money at them to do that? I doubt it. Microsoft and Sony would, Nintendo probably wouldn’t.
Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star
JIM: Kind of like when you see one of those dog breeds, like is a Chihuahua mixed with a Husky. You look at it and think how… how did that happen?
ALANA: I really thought this was Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio PS4 game) at first. But fitness boxing? Of course! Change it up. It made me laugh.
Tunic
JIM: Ok, I’ll admit it, my signal dropped out during the unveiling of this one, so I had to catch up after. But oh WOW it looks like a warm hug. I’m ready, my little fox boy, I won’t let that nasty WiFi fail you again.
ALANA: This is one of the ones I have on Game Pass but haven’t gotten around to playing yet! Look at the little fox! He is so sweet! Maybe the portability on Switch will be the thing that pushes me to play it…
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life
KATE: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! A Wonderful Life was my first Harvest Moon game, so I’m excited for it to get a fresh coat of paint. But… they’ve renamed all the characters! It’s so strange to me! I don’t care though, give me give me. And then also recreate all the DS games.
JIM: *whispers quietly* I never really gave Harvest Moon that much of my love. Maybe this will change things, but uhhhh.
OLLIE: Like Kate, this was my first Harvest Moon game, and it’s probably still my favorite of the bunch, so I’m absolutely thrilled that it’s getting a remake! I can’t wait to relax in my yard and listen to that wonderful theme tune… Ahh.
ALANA: God, this was my jam growing up. It took until Stardew Valley to find another farming game that really itched, so I’m really looking forward to picking this up next year. The GameCube is making a comeback!
Splatoon 3
JIM: You really want to give us a Splatfest where one of the options is ‘FUN’ and expect people to consider whether they would take ‘GEAR’ or ‘GRUB’? Come on man!
ALANA: I like the twist on the Splatfest question. I also like Deep Cut. But, Jim, if you don’t know who to pick, always vote for the Big Man.
Octopath Traveler II
ALANA: Okay, yeah. Yes. Yes. I really loved Octopath Traveler and the HD-2D is like the best visual style Square Enix has going on right now. This looks like a huge visual upgrade from the original game. The music sounds fantastic. The promise of intertwined stories is exciting. I am. Ready.
KATE: Square Enix needs to find a new font.
OLLIE: I’m going to play more of the first game… I think my brother borrowed it from me a while ago… Give it back, man!
JIM: I just personally feel that Square Enix could have done more with this Direct…
Fae Farm
JIM: It’s a farming sim meets *spins wheels* magic! Well done team!
KATE: They had me from the first five seconds of this trailer. Fantasy Life meets farming? I only wish I had been the one to do it. I am so ready.
Teatrhythm: Final Bar Line
ALANA: I’m not kidding here – this was the highlight of the Direct for me. I’m about 150 hours into the two 3DS Theatrhythm games and I’m scared for my wallet right now. 385 songs in the base game alone is completely ridiculous though. I’m kind of hoping for touchscreen controls for the Switch in handheld mode, but I don’t have much hope. I still pick up day one though. I am so excited to play more Theatrhythm.
JIM: ‘It’s a musical blast from the past!’ I’m desperate to know what came first, this trailer opener or the idea of returning to the Theatrhythm series.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
JIM: Wait, what’s this game?
ALANA: I haven’t seen much hype for this, and yes, I liked what I played in the first game, but I don’t want more. Nintendo had to show this because it’s out soon. I’m excited for that soundtrack though.
KATE: I’m sure it will sell a lot and it seems like a fun thing to do with the Mario franchise, but… it’s not to appeals to me. Mostly because I really hate the rabbis. Sorry!
Head to page two to see our thoughts on Pikmin, Harvestella, Bayonetta 3, Resident Evil, GoldenEye and Kirby…
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