My thoughts on the recent Nintendo Direct
So, the Direct came and went, and I got some predictions right: There was a third-party showcase, some big third-party title announcements, more details about Kirby Air Riders (which they are making big bets on, to my surprise), and more information on Pokémon Legends: Z-A that I don't care about. They even announced an entirely new Fire Emblem, just like that (so that kind of aligns with my prediction about a new title in an established franchise being in development).
They also did announce the release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, finally! We'll get to that though.
However, there were also a lot of surprises, the weirdest of them being the Virtual Boy, but I'm only really interested in talking about three of the others and Metroid, so here goes:
Super Mario Galaxy
I knew that they would release a new movie at some point, but although I watched the first one (which did feature a Luma), I somehow just did not expect that time to come around so fast. (In fact, I didn't think they'd talk movies in this Direct at all.) I mean, it will have been almost precisely three years when the next movie releases. I don't know about you, but this time just flew by for me. What I expected even less, is that the new movie would be centered around my two favorite 3D Super Mario games. I love it when Nintendo surprises me what I didn't know I wanted.
It goes without saying that I, as the hopeless Nintendo fanboy that I am, will also be purchasing the re-releases of the games, separately, on the eShop, to vote with my wallet, as they say. I did have a Wii, and I 100%-ed both games, but I did that only once, and I've been craving them so bad for so many years. In fact, I've been thinking about these exact two games since I bought my Switch 2. It's like I manifested them or something.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
I have always been super curious about this series, but never had a chance to play the games. I don't know what it is about them, but they just look quirky, Japanese-y, and funny in a very Nintendo way. Honestly, it somehow reminds me of what the original Animal Crossing (N64/GCN) set out to be: a social simulation game (over the years, the series drifted away into what I call a "decoration sim", which profoundly saddened me).
Side note: Just like Animal Crossing is known as Animal Forest in Japan, Tomodachi Life also has a different name there: Tomodachi Collection. I'm sure that once I play the game, I'll see more similarities.
I'm astonished that the series has come this far at all though. The original title on the NDS was popular in Japan but didn't exactly ship a lot of units. The second installment on the 3DS sold more, and eventually got an international release, but I think that it still flew completely under the radar. Yet Nintendo is not giving up on it. This is when Nintendo is at its best for me, when they believe so much in an idea that they keep pushing it until a wider audience starts seeing the value. If they market the game appropriately, then I think that it could become a success, and establish itself as a proper IP.
I will definitely get my grimy hands on a copy.
Pokémon Pokopia
Am I the only one who felt that this game is Nintendo's answer to Palworld and the Pixelmon Minecraft mod?
Either way, it looks adorable. Finally something new in the series. I'm definitely getting this one.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
A friend pointed out to me that the trailer felt underwhelming and almost like an afterthought. The game didn't get the attention that it deserves, and I agree.
However, I also replied to him that it makes some sense to me, given that the star of this Direct was the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. (for which we get a new Yoshi game, for some reason).
Keep in mind that the game will release in April 12 next year. I would be surprised if they don't do another Direct until then (maybe in February), to properly start the hype train for its arrival. It wouldn't be wise to reveal their hand too soon.
However, they had to give us the release date. This game has been in development since 2019 (and two years before that, until they started from scratch). People got to demo the game, and it looks basically finished, so they were starting to get impatient (me included). This was meant to be just a reveal of the release date and nothing else. They tried to appease us. It worked on me.
Still, they could have been a bit more enthusiastic about it.
I predicted that they would reveal the release date, and then joked that maybe the reason why it's been taking them so long to finish developing it is because it's going open world. Well, my joke turned out to be prophetic, and I'm not happy about it. I sure hope that they implemented the open world side of the game properly, and that it won't detract from the action that I have come to know and love this series for (I played through the entire trilogy on their original releases). I also hope that it won't require me 500+ hours to 100% because of it.
I read in the YouTube comments something like: "Samus on a motorcycle was not on my 2025 BINGO card." Same. She completely nails it though.
Disappointments
No new games for the GCN on NSO. Will I ever get my beloved Animal Crossing back?
Also, still no Pokémon gens I and II, even though Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2 are collecting dust on their servers.
No Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which is the only "proper" Pokémon game that I have wanted to play since Black and White. I will get it eventually, and I will love it, but those graphics... I was under the impression that the game was actually popular, so why not give it some extra content, polish up the visuals, and make some easy cash? Isn't the Pokémon Company all about making easy cash? Come on! I'm offering you free money!
Also, I still hate the concept of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Sorry. Not interested in being confined in a pseudo-European, colorless city, much less one where every building looks like it got copy-pasted. I feel uncomfortable every time I am reminded that this game is exists and is going to be sold to humans. I'll read some reviews after its release just to give it a chance to prove me wrong, but from what I have seen so far, it looks even more boring than Scarlet and Violet. If you are really looking for a reason to hate on it though, look no further than the fact that they announced paid DLC for the game before it has even released.
There was also paid DLC announced for Donkey Kong Bananza, and I feel more positive about that one, however, the game just released, which tells me that they started working on this DLC basically as soon as they finished developing the game. That's not the way, Nintendo. That's just a nasty cash grab.
Edit
Wait, what? Did I really get confused by the way that they ordered the numbers on the date?
METROID PRIME 4 IS COMING OUT ON DECEMBER 4!?!?!?
screams
That changes everything. I mean, the release is right around the corner. How do we still know so little about it?
This also messes up my purchase plans. oof