The Final Nintendo Switch Direct Was Disappointing, and That's OK
Or: a middle-aged Nintendo fan feels past his (Metroid) prime
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Anytime I watch a modern Nintendo Direct, this meme immediately comes to mind.
And yet, despite my feeling like an ancient hobbit whenever the 4,328th anime farm/witch sim is announced, I keep watching the Directs.
I love Nintendo. I love being surprised by a game announcement that comes out of nowhere. And I love keeping my pulse on whatever modern gaming claims to be these days.
Today’s Nintendo Direct is, more than likely, the final Direct devoted exclusively to the original Nintendo Switch. And it kinda sucked.
No big surprises (unless you count the digital game cards and the Nintendo Today app – we’ll get there). Lots of previously announced titles. A ton of remasters. And, most importantly, an overall sense that the end is nigh. These are Switch dregs, and we’re already looking forward to the next crisp, fresh beer aka Switch 2.
And crazily enough, in six days, we’ll know more about the Switch’s successor. I think I see now why Nintendo planned both the Switch and Switch 2 Directs back-to-back. An underwhelming Switch presentation will, in theory, make the Switch 2 unveiling that much more glorious – and enticing.
What will we see on Wednesday, April 2nd? Mario Kart 9? Mario Odyssey 2? Joy-Con mouse functionality? Enhanced performance for older Switch games? Other stuff? Definitely the latter. Definitely.
For now, let’s go over today’s Direct. I’ll try not to be too much of a curmudgeon, as I am aware the majority of these games are not “meant for me,” a 39-year-old man. But dang man, when you’ve been playing games for several decades, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve seen it all and/or that the gaming “scene” in general has passed you by. My apologies in advance.
DRAGON QUEST 1+2 HD REMAKE
Any old RPG series that Square Enix wants to remake with their patented “2D-HD” technology is fine by me. Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, etc., just hook it all up to my veins. I’m excited about this one, but let’s be honest this is a 40-year-old game that’s already had at least two remakes already. A strange way to start the Direct.
NO SLEEP FOR KANAME DATE – FROM AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES
Despite the narrator’s best attempts, I have no idea what’s supposed to be happening here. It’s the future and you’re a detective with an AI in your left eye trying to track down an… Internet idol? Is that the Japanese equivalent of an influencer? Anyway, the Internet idol is a girl with bunny ears trapped in space, soooo good luck with all that, future detective! Points for the bonkers premise, but this one’s not for me.
RAIDOU REMASTERED: THE MYSTERY OF THE SOULLESS ARMY
I’ll admit, this one took me off guard. A remaster of the obscure PS2 Atlus RPG Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha and the Soulless Army, the game is actually part of the larger Shin Megami Tensei series, which also includes the hugely popular Persona franchise.
You play as a high-school detective (of course) in Japan in the 1930s and your goal is to “solve a series of supernatural cases,” according to the trailer. You do this by investigating, but also by summoning demons to fight… other demons?
I played this game in 2010 on the PS2 when it was still relatively affordable and I remember enjoying it. The setting is really fresh and interesting, but I can’t play games where you partner with demons today. It’s too real, friends, it’s just too real.
SHADOW LABYRINTH
I appreciate Namco’s desire to take the 45-year-old Pac-Man franchise in new and unexpected directions, but making Pac-Man a consumer of dead monster flesh is definitely… a choice. This gives off indie Hollow Knight Metroidvania vibes, but with a version of Pac-Man that might also have nefarious intentions? Maybe?
I don’t know. Shadow Labyrinth might be fine, but I don’t think Pac-Man of all mascots needs an edgelord phase.
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY
The Patapon games are excellent little timewasters, and I’m glad these remasters exist, particularly for younger generations who never got to experience the PSP originals.
STORY OF SEASONS: GRAND BAZAAR
Story of Seasons is a farming sim originally released on the DS and it looks proper wholesome. Plant some turnips, pet a cow, marry a milkmaid, save the town. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just don’t call it Harvest Moon, for the love of everything!
METROID PRIME 4: BEYOND
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond looks good. I plan on enjoying it, as I enjoyed the previous three entries. But it doesn’t look like “we’ve been waiting for this for eight years” good.
Is that a problem? I don’t know. A whole generation of kids are playing Switch now that weren’t even alive for that initial Metroid Prime 4 reveal all the way back in 2017. They don’t care that the game took eight years to develop. But do they even care about Metroid at all?
For Retro’s sake, I really hope Metroid Prime 4 is the best entry since the first MP, a Switch must-play, and a hyper-successful, multi-million selling game. But what they’ve shown so far looks like Metroid business as usual, and I’m not sure that’s enough.
DISNEY VILLAINS CURSED CAFÉ
Cheap mobile phone garbage where you make drinks for Disney villains. Should be a minigame in the context of a larger Disney-themed title, not its own thing.
WITCHBROOK
Like Harry Potter, but instead of a bespectacled British boy, you play a girl of unknown origin going to a witch college, learning spells and the like. The 2D isometric style looks fantastic, but this game is absolutely Not For Me for a myriad of reasons.
THE ETERNAL LIFE OF GOLDMAN
You play an old guy who has to save the world! His weapon is a cane and he bounces like Scrooge McDuck in the NES DuckTales game! They use the word “archipelago” twice in the trailer! The hand-drawn style is gorgeous. Honestly, this one could be solid. I hope it is.
GRADIUS ORIGINS
All the classic Gradius games in one package?! And a brand new Salamander entry? Yes, please. Now we just need a Parodius Origins and we’ll be in business. Make it happen, Konami.
RIFT OF THE NECRODANCER
A rhythm game that looks suspiciously like the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games of old, except instead of mimicking tasty licks, you’re killing monsters. The heroes (and villains?) bounce to the beat, which is nice. It looks fine.
TAMAGOTCHI PLAZA
They’re still making Tamagotchi games! If I had a five-year-old, I would pick this game up for them and secretly play it when they’re asleep. You can clean Tamagotchi teeth at the dentist and arrange plates at the afternoon tea shop, what more do you want. Tamagotchi are adorable and also sometimes I just want a cute game where you do inane things for zero reason.
POKEMON LEGENDS: Z-A
In this Pokemon game, you gather Pokemon and – wait for it - battle against other trainers and their Pokemon to become the Greatest Pokelord of Them All.
You already know if this game is for you. Do you like Pokemon? Automatic purchase, do not pass go, put directly in the cart.
RHYTHM HEAVEN GROOVE
This trailer made me laugh out loud. Every time the robotic narrator girl finishes a statement, she makes this little “boop” noise and it’s hysterical to me.
Anyway, this is another Rhythm Heaven game and it looks funny and lighthearted and full of weird rhythm whimsy, like you’d expect from this series. It’s being released in 2026, and I hope it isn’t DOA because of its super late release date.
VIRTUAL GAME CARDS
Oh boy, is Nintendo ever preparing for Our Glorious Digital Future with this one. If ever there was a sign that the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be the last Nintendo console to feature physical games, this is it.
You know how with a physical Switch cartridge, you can take the cartridge with you anywhere, place it into a friend or family member (or stranger, if that’s your thing)’s Switch, and you can play the game right there? What if that but with digital games?
Oh, except you can only connect your digital game card to one other Switch.
Oh, and if you want to let a friend/family member borrow your digital game, they have to be on the Nintendo Switch Family Plan with you and they can only borrow it for two weeks.
But it’s just like owning your own physical cartridge. Nintendo swears on the Precious, they would never lie!
In all seriousness, this virtual game card thing is pretty great and will probably work well for the majority of families and people who live in our current reality, unlike myself.
As for me and my household, I will continue to purchase physical Switch (and Switch 2) games until Nintendo removes that functionality.
GAME MONTAGE WITH A HANDFUL OF RANDOM GAMES INCLUDING…
HIGH ON LIFE
First-person cartoony shooter. Your weapons have eyes and are possibly sentient. Looks interesting!
STAR OVERDRIVE
Mad scientist-lookin’ fella fights creatures on alien worlds. Could be good!
THE WANDERING VILLAGE
Town sim, except the town is set on top of a dinosaur’s back. Awesome twist!
KING OF MEAT
Some type of third-person team shooter with weird looking characters.
LOU’S LAGOON
Explore alien worlds with… Lou? Is the red-haired girl, Lou?
FANTASY LIFE i: THE GIRL WHO STEALS TIME
The sequel to the sorta-successful life sim, Fantasy Life on 3DS. The fact that this is relegated to montage status doesn’t give me hope in its success. That, and the clearly choppy frame rate.
MONTAGE END
SaGa FRONTIER 2: REMASTERED
Where’s the 2D-HD love for the SaGa franchise, Square Enix?
The SaGa series provides the type of deep, obtuse RPG experiences I would have loved in high school, but now, I don’t have the strength/time/mental bandwidth to care. I’m glad Square Enix still cares about this series, though, and I hope today’s high-schoolers care to play it.
MONUMENT VALLEY I, II, AND III
A very pretty isometric puzzle series that gives off huge Captain Toad vibes, while looking considerably more difficult than Nintendo’s game. The first two games have been on mobile for a number of years, but the third game just came out on mobile last year. I’m not typically a fan of mobile titles, but these look like challenging compact experiences. I will check them out if they’re a decent price!
Anybody have any history with these? Let me know in the comments below.
EVERYBODY’S GOLF: HOT SHOTS
The long running Everybody’s Golf series gets a new entry, and surprise! It’s a golf game that’s probably more than competent if all you’re looking for is a solid 18 holes with some miniskirted, suspiciously young-looking anime girls.
MARVEL COSMIC INVASION
This is the best looking Marvel product I’ve seen in what feels like a literal age. A 2D beat-em-up where you control two Marvel combatants (at once? With a friend?) to take down hordes of evil bugs, mutants, and aliens. I hope it plays as good as it looks.
TOMODACHI LIFE: LIVING THE DREAM
Just when you thought the Miis were tucked away in some janitorial closet somewhere in Nintendo HQ, they’re back for another… adventure? According to the trailer, all the Miis live in a town, talk to one another, and trip massive balls- er, have weird dreams. Yes, that’s what Nintendo meant.
What an odd game to end the Direct on….
What, you mean the Direct’s not finished?
NINTENDO TODAY
Nintendo busting out the big guns with Miyamoto-san introducing a new app called Nintendo Today. The app will apparently be updated daily with Nintendo news and events, and according to the trailer, “all sorts of content about Nintendo games and characters every day.” The trailer shows a glimpse of a Pikmin comic and a “word of wisdom” from the Animal Crossing character, Pascal. So there’s that.
Also, more Switch 2 info will be given through the Nintendo Today app after the Switch 2 direct.
Sounds promising! Time will tell whether Nintendo really does update the app daily or if it becomes an update whenever they want sorta thing.
THE END…?
And so, the Switch’s final glut of games is over.
No Kid Icarus Uprising HD Remaster. Still no Twilight Princess/Wind Waker HD Remasters. And of course, no Mother 3.
I really doubt Nintendo has any more unannounced titles for the Switch up their sleeves, so this is it, folks. The end of an era and one of the most successful consoles of all time. What a ride it’s been.
If you made it this far, you are a brave soldier and I appreciate you reading my work!
Please look forward to the Switch Direct 2 roundup next Wednesday as well. And of course, if you’re not subscribed, please smash that subscribe button below. Cheers and thank you!
I had very similar reactions to each of the games here and your thoughts on each were enjoyable to read. Thanks for posting!
I have to say I'm shocked Twilight Princess and Wind Waker never ended up on Switch; I'm fine playing them on original hardware but this is bad news for non-retro gamers, both HD remasters are quite expensive and more importantly: trapped on the Wii-U.
My wife got way too excited for PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY, Nintendo doing a daily app thing is the most Nintendo way to end things also. And they know we'll all download it cause they will just drop huge things there out of the blue for reasons only Nintendo knows.