Holy Nintendo Direct! Zelda, Metroid And More! Rapid Recap

Nintendo started this year with a bang. The year’s first Nintendo Direct was full of several major announcements the fans have been waiting for years. In case you missed the original live stream, we’ve got your back and listed all the major announcements in this recap.

The Nintendo Direct was broadcasted live on February 9, and like every year, the first Nintendo Direct revealed the company’s plans for the ongoing year. However, the broadcast was much more enjoyable for older fans compared to the new ones.

The announcements of remasters of old games, as well as bonus new content for some of the older titles, was what stood out the most in the broadcast. That doesn’t mean there weren’t any new titles announced for this year; we’ll get into that later.

Amidst all the hype and expectations, there were no announcements about Nintendo Switch Pro or Nintendo Switch 2, the upgrades to Nintendo Switch, the company’s own hand-held console.

Nintendo Switch has been around for almost six years since its release in March 2017. Due to its limited specs, the hand-held console has begun to show its age with time.

Despite all that, this Nintendo Direct was a massive success for the company and the fans. Join us as we take a look at the recap and check out all the exciting announcements for the ongoing year.

The Pikmin 4 Gameplay Reveal

The newest installment to Nintendo’s RTS puzzle series is finally back. The Pikmin 4 gameplay revealed several different types of elemental Pikmins, along with a good look at the game’s environmental design. The gameplay trailer also showed us a boss fight as well as the game’s combat system.

Judging from what we know so far, it will be another worthy addition to the series. The game is set to release on July 21, 2023. The last main Pikmin game, Pikmin 3, came out a decade ago in 2013. We’ve had spin-offs along the way, but nothing compares to the original Pikmin 4 that we’ll be able to play very soon.

Deca Police

One of the new titles that stood out during the broadcast was the Deca Police. The game appears to be a mix of detective mystery and turn-based combat. The player will have to play as a special investigator to collect clues and make deductions to solve cases. It sounds a lot like the Ace Attorney games, right?

The game takes inspiration from that series and combines it with the turn-based elements from some classic JRPGs, such as the Dragon Quest and Persona franchises. From the looks of it, the 3D mystery game will combine the best features of both genres and bring it all to life.

Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Nintendo Direct revealed a new cinematic look at the remake of Advanced Wars 1 and 2. Judging from what we’ve seen, it is safe to assume that the game will include returning features from the GBA versions of the game. Furthermore, the game will now also feature online play.

Advanced Wars 1+2 is set to release in April this year after the initial delay for the Nintendo Switch. The turn-based strategy game requires you to defeat the opposing army, and you can do that by either capturing the opponent’s headquarters or destroying every one of their units.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

Bayonetta Origins was first announced at The Game Awards 2022, and we also got to see a brief trailer of the game back then, which was much different than the other Bayonetta games. However, at the Direct, we finally got to take another look at the gameplay that showcased the game’s traversal options, combat, puzzles, and much more.

The Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon takes place years before the first Bayonetta game. The game puts you in the shoes of young Cereza and her demonic companion as she tries to rescue her mother. The game will launch on March 17 for the Nintendo Switch.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass

The Direct announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 would be receiving the volume 3 Expansion Pass. The volume 4 Expansion Pass was also teased and will likely contain lots of story content. The volume 3 Expansion Pass will include a new hero named Masha, as well as an optional challenge battle mode, along with an optional gauntlet.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was released in July 2022 and is the third and final game in the trilogy. The volume 2 DLC expansion pack was released in October 2022. The game features a similar story to its sequels but an entirely unique battle system and mechanics.

Ghost Trick Remastered

Ghost Trick, an old classic murder mystery game, will be receiving a remaster. The player plays as a dead man who is now turned into a ghost with no memory of his past self. The protagonist tries his best to figure out who he was when he was alive and who murdered him.

No specific release date was announced for Ghost Trick’s remaster. However, we do know that it is coming this summer. The remaster will feature several improvements, such as reworked art, HD graphics, and slight changes to the UI.

Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass

Splatoon 3 will also be receiving an expansion pass. However, this expansion pass will be rolled out in two waves. The first wave will feature many items and areas from previous Splatoon games. On the other hand, the second wave is set to include a new story expansion called “Side Order.”

Splatoon 3 was released on September 2022 for the Nintendo Switch and was a massive hit in Japan. The third-person shooter multiplayer game remained the best-selling game in Japan for several weeks until Pokemon Scarlet and Violet dethroned it.

Disney Illusion Island

Disney Illusion Island is a brand-new title that will feature several of Disney’s iconic mascots in action. The game will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive and will be a fun party game from the looks of it. The pre-orders are now open for anyone looking to buy the game.

The side-scrolling platformer game is set to launch on July 28. The trailer featured several well-known Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, along with their abilities. The game will also include a 4-player co-op mode.

Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass

Fire Emblem Engage was recently released on January 20. The game was highly anticipated and received love from fans from all over the globe. Nintendo Direct announced that the game would be receiving lots of content in the coming days.

Wave 2 of the expansion pass includes Hector, Soren, and Camilla as playable characters. Wave 3 will include Chrom, Robin, and Veronica. Wave 2 of the expansion pass became instantly available after the announcement. Meanwhile, Wave 3 and Wave 4 will be released at a later date.

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is the much-awaited sequel to Katamari Damacy. The remastered version will include several new features, characters, challenge missions, and a brand new photo mode when it releases on June 2.

We Love Katamari features very simple yet enjoyable gameplay. All you have to do is roll the Katamari. As you keep rolling up everything in your way, the Katamari continues to get bigger and bigger. The original We Love Katamari was released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2, and fans had been waiting for years for a remaster.

Etrian Odyssey Collection

Etrian Odyssey fans will be delighted to hear that their favorite RPG series is finally getting some much-wanted attention. The classic series will be remastered in HD and released as a bundle of the first three games of the series.

Etrian Odyssey Collection will also feature newly drawn character illustrations as well as new difficulty options when the game comes out on June 1, 2023. You can also purchase each game separately if you don’t want the entire collection.

Baten Kaitos Remastered

As reported last month, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and The Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins are finally receiving HD Remasters after being limited to the GameCube console for decades. The JRPGs will be released this summer and will feature much better graphics, UI, and performance. 

Baten Kaitos series takes a unique approach to the JRPG genre where you’re not playing as the protagonist but as a guardian spirit that interacts with the main characters. Their fate is now in your hands as you command them and guide them through their trials.

Kirby’s Return To Dreamland Deluxe

Kirby, the fan-favorite pink ball, returns to the Nintendo Switch with Kirby’s Return To Dreamland Deluxe. Furthermore, you will also be able to unlock an extra episode that will let you play as a new character named Magolor.

You can check out the demo right now, while the full game will be released later this month, on February 24. The game will also feature a 4-player co-op mode. The original game was released in October 2011, but it was later ported to Nintendo Switch.

Gameboy And Gameboy Advance Emulation

You will finally be able to play Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games on your Nintendo Switch via Nintendo Switch Online. Gameboy games are available to play for all Switch owners, while you’ll have to purchase the expansion pack to play Gameboy Advance games.

The Gameboy and Gameboy Advance libraries already include several games, but that will continue to increase as more titles are added to them with time, and some of them are already confirmed. Both services are now live on Nintendo’s hand-held console.

Metroid Prime Remastered

One of Direct’s most shocking yet lovable announcements was about the Metroid Prime Remastered. The remastered version of the classic Metroid Prime was surprisingly revealed and released on the same day. The remaster features a significant visual overhaul and many more changes over the original game.

Metroid Prime was the first Metroid game that featured a first-person perspective. The game takes place between the events of the original Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus and is the first game out of the Metroid Prime Trilogy.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code comes from the developers of the famed Danganronpa series, Spike Chunnsoft. The detective mystery game is set to release on June 30 and will feature a wide cast of characters with unique special powers.

The art style is very similar to the Danganronpa series, and even the setting looks a bit similar, but this time with a cast that has supernatural prowess. Not much was shown about the game, but it is going to release in a couple of months, so we’ll just have to wait.

Professor Layton And The New World of Steam

The only thing we saw at the Direct about Professor Layton and the New World of Steam was its animated trailer. No release date was announced for the latest addition to the Professor Layton games. There have been many installments in the Professor Layton franchise, but none of them were available to play on the Switch.

The original Trilogy was released for Nintendo DS, while most of the rest of Professor Layton games were made for Nintendo 3DS. The last Professor Layton game, Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, was released in July 2017 for Nintendo 3DS.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom

Fans finally got to take an extended look at the upcoming installment of The Legend of Zelda franchise. The trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom showcased several new abilities, vehicles, and many new and old foes.

The game is set to release on May 12 this year. Players will also be able to purchase the collector’s edition, which will feature an Artbook, Steelbook, and various other times. The game will be a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Takeaway

The recent Nintendo Direct mainly focused on older games, but there were a bunch of new titles as well. The most exciting announcements by far were about the release date of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom and the Metroid Prime Remastered.

The fact that we will now be able to play Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games on Nintendo Switch is another thing fans have been looking forward to for years.

However, there was no news about the Nintendo Switch 2 during the broadcast. Judging from this Direct, it appears that Nintendo still has some plans left for its hand-held console, and it will likely continue its rule till next year.