The Latest Nintendo Direct is Full of Games and Outrage
Nintendo's "fundraising" again.
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I typically love Nintendo Directs for the reason any Nintendo fan loves them. The mystery, the suspense, the allure of what could be.
What surprises do Nintendo and other companies have up their sleeve? New Mario or Zelda titles? Brand-new IP that’s hopefully more than a tech demo? Remakes or remasters that press a million nostalgia buttons in our tired brains? Yes… yes… yessssss!!!! All of it, all of the above! Pile it on, Nintendo, just give us all the games, we’ll sort them out later.
Last Friday’s Nintendo Direct, however, was a little strange. For starters, it kicked off with the confusing, depressing Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary “Celebration.” I wrote all about that here in case you’re interested.
Once the anemic Mario festivities were complete, Yoshiaki Koizumi whisked us away to the main presentation. Switch and Switch 2 games aplenty, many of which we’d heard of before, with only a few that we hadn’t.
And yet, when the Direct was over, the Internet quickly got out their detective gear and began researching some of the surprises announced. Before long, outrage and frustration quickly overshadowed any of the Direct’s highlights.
You know what I’m talking about: Nintendo’s curious pricing. The Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 Collection, the peripherals, the amiibo and all the extra junk that’s not necessary to our lives, but would still be neat to own.
All pricing was revealed after the Direct, not during, which lines up with how Nintendo’s been handling things ever since the Switch 2 was announced back in April (was that really only five months ago? Madness). I’ll discuss all of Nintendo’s pricing decisions as I go through the Direct, line by line, precept by precept.
Oh, and games. I’ll be discussing the games too. Let’s(a) go!
STORM LANCERS
Perhaps this trailer doesn’t do a good job of selling Storm Lancers, but I am unimpressed by its aesthetic or gameplay. Generic looking characters and worlds, another roguelike in a sea of roguelikes, with slight hints of Metroidvania as well. I hate being harsh on any game, but I feel like I’ve seen this a hundred times over, and I’m not sure what distinguishes Storm Lancers above any others like it.
DINKUM
Minecraft + Stardew Valley starring Mii knock-offs.
Again, harsh, I know. Maybe I’m shortchanging it, but I’m only going by what the trailer is trying to sell me. Like with Storm Lancers, we’ve seen this style so many times already. I know people still love their farming/survival sim games, I’m just not sure what this one has to offer that Story of Seasons doesn’t.
The name is great, though. Sounds like Grandpa’s old cough syrup.
POPUCOM
What if Splatoon was a puzzle-based platformer? Seems like a clever idea. The multiplayer-heavy gameplay shown in the trailer makes the game look like it’s for kids. Hopefully in our current all-enveloping age of Roblox, Popucom can find its younger audience.
TOMODACHI LIFE: LIVING THE DREAM
I never got a chance to play the original 3DS Tomodachi Life, but this sequel looks hysterical. The erratic Mii behaviors and robotic voices really crack me up. I do wonder how much content the game will have, but I imagine we’ll see more as it gets closer to launch next year.
MORTAL KOMBAT: LEGACY COLLECTION
I’m surprised it’s taken this long to receive a Mortal Kombat collection in the modern age. Digital Eclipse is putting this set together, which means the collection is incredibly thorough. Most of the ancient Mortal Kombats are here including 1, 2, 3, and 4 for various consoles (including handhelds like the Game Boy and Game Gear!). Even acknowledged trash like Mythologies: Subzero and Special Forces make an appearance, along with three MK GBA games that I didn’t know existed. “Get over here,” am I right?
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
I’ve heard nothing but good things about the FFVII Remake and Rebirth, so putting these on the Switch 2 seems like a no-brainer. As long as the game looks good and performs reasonably, I imagine it will sell like crazy.
LYNKED: BANNER OF THE SPARK
This game looks like it’s trying to do too much. It’s a top-down rogue-lite with a million customizable weapons and items. No wait, it’s a farming and fishing game! No wait, it’s a town-building sim! Mouse controls, GameShare, the world is indeed not enough.
HADES II
Now that Hollow Knight: Silksong has emerged and pwned us like the n00bs that we are, all eyes are on Hades II to be the next indie success story. Hades blew up on the original Switch, so I expect this long-awaited sequel to do the same.
KIRBY AIR RIDERS AMIIBOS
Hoo boy, here we go.
New amiibos, everyone! Doesn’t Kirby look adorable waving to everyone on his warp star? And doesn’t Bandanna Waddle Dee look threatening with his spear and pointy winged star? Just like in Smash Bros., you can use the Kirby and Waddle Dee amiibo to summon trainable figures within Kirby Air Riders itself. The more they ride and win in-game, the more the figures (and their racers) will level up. If you have both amiibo, you can swap them and their levels will be swapped as well.
Neat, if you’re into that sort of thing. “Neat” is not the same as necessary, though, and these small little toys are the epitome of luxury. Both Kirby and Bandanna Dee are $50 each. If you want the full Kirby Air Riders experience with two amiibos and the game itself, you’ll be paying $170 total. And that’s presuming no future Kirby amiibo are coming later.
I’d say they’re this pricey because they have special chips in them, but I remember using a Mario amiibo to train a Mario figure in Smash Bros. Wii U and that cost about $14. Inflation’s gone up “just a tad” in the last ten years, but $50 seems remarkably unreasonable, even for our current expensive timeframe.
Do you need a Kirby Air Riders amiibo to enjoy the game? Absolutely not. Is it still insane that these cost nearly double a typical amiibo? A thousand percent, yes.
HYRULE WARRIORS: AGE OF IMPRISONMENT
I have several hundred hours in the first Hyrule Warriors, and a good 70-80 hours in Age of Calamity. I prefer the first one, simply because it focuses on the entire Zelda series, rather than just one game. That said, Age of Calamity still ruled, and I’ll absolutely be there, day one, for Age of Imprisonment.
DRAGON QUEST VII REIMAGINED
Square Enix is pumping out these remastered, HD-2D remade, reimagined Dragon Quest games faster than I can play them. I’m surprised they skipped ahead to the seventh game directly after 1, 2, and 3. I know you technically don’t have to play the games in any order to enjoy them, but I’ve heard DQIV and V in particular are among the best in the series. Any DQ heads have any thought as to why Square Enix would do this? I’m stoked for this one, but I’d like to play the others first.
MORE INFO ABOUT THE NINTENDO TODAY APP
A new Kirby theme is being added and more information about Kirby Air Riders will be released in daily drops on the app. If I didn’t know better, I’d say that Kirby is trying to usurp Mario’s popularity throne at Nintendo.
VIRTUAL BOY
Nobody had this on their Direct bingo card. Nobody.
And you know what? Good on Nintendo, for finally acknowledging their most disastrous system thirty years after its release.
14 games are planned to be released, which is about 2/3 of the total Virtual Boy library, including some super rare titles like Virtual Bowling. A complete-in-box copy of the latter currently goes for close to $10,000. I guess we’ll find out soon if it’s worth it!
Here’s the bad news: you’ll need a Virtual Boy “recreation” to play any of the games. Either through a headset that looks exactly like the original (will it also come with thirty-year-old eye strain and neck pain?) or a cardboard model that looks like something out of Nintendo Labo. The system inserts into either recreation, and from there, you’re able to play Teleroboxer.
The price for the Virtual Boy headset is $100. If that sounds outrageous, it’s because it is. Thankfully, the cardboard model is only $25, so if you really want to remember why we don’t talk about Virtual Boy anymore without breaking the bank, this is the option for you.
As someone who came of age during the Virtual Boy’s brief reign of terror, let me just say that it is Nintendo’s least essential system, both then and now. A few of these games are worth a quick novelty download at best, but I can’t imagine wanting to play them repeatedly in the future.
FATAL FRAME II: CRIMSON BUTTERFLY REMAKE
Fatal Frame II is one of the scariest games I’ve ever played. I couldn’t finish it when it came out in 2003. I doubt I could finish it now, twenty years on. Visually, this remake looks incredible, but if it keeps the same level of insane spook gob from the original, that’ll be a no from me.
NINTENDO SWITCH 2 EDITIONS MONTAGE
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 –musou action with One Piece characters, only this time with more on-screen enemies
Overcooked! 2 – cook up a storm while looking like a fool with the Switch 2 camera
Stardew Valley – farm up all the crops with mouse controls and enjoy four-player local split-screen and Gameshare
Human Fall Flat – bouncy, wobbly physics with five new levels and mouse controls
POWERWASH SIMULATOR 2
Clean up the dirtiest cities in the world with this tranquil sim game. I’d say these types of slow-paced games are made for aging gamers like me, people whose reflexes aren’t what they used to be. Then again, I’ve seen 14-year-olds unashamedly enjoying things like Farming Simulator, so perhaps the pace of life is just a little too fast for all of us. At any rate, PowerWash Simulator 2 looks both relaxing and boring, and I think that’s the point.
SUIKA GAME PLANET
I’d never heard of Suika Game before seeing this trailer, but according to the narrator, “it’s back and rounder than ever!” LOL. The game has a strong Bust-a-Move vibe, only instead of dinosaurs steering colored bubbles around, you launch strawberries and grapes into a gelatinous orb next to other fruit. Eventually, they morph into larger, more voluptuous fruit, like watermelon. Delicious! This looks like a solid $20 or less experience, unless there are some more involved game modes that they’re not showing yet.
METROID PRIME 4: BEYOND
Samus has a sweet-ass bike now. Its name is Vi-O-La. Apparently because of this trailer, Internet folk are worried that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is going to be an open-world game? C’mon, y’all. I’d be shocked if these sections were very large.
My wife and I, both long-time Metroid fans, freaked out upon seeing the bike. Looks like a nice change of pace from the typical claustrophobic exploration, which I’m sure will also be here in abundance.
MP4 is legitimately releasing this December, a mere 8+ years after it was first announced. It will likely not live up to the hype (see also: Silksong), but I imagine it will be a fantastic game, nonetheless.
Oh, and don’t forget the amiibos and a visual retrospective book! The latter costs $50. Single figurines will run you $30 each, but Samus and Vi-O-La together retail for $50. But really, you can’t put a price on happiness. Spend your heart out, brave consumers!
DONKEY KONG BANANZA: DK ISLAND + EMERALD RUSH
Paid DK Bananza DLC already?! Oh yeah, baby! Those bills can wait!
This $20 pack will net you DK Island, an inessential area with little extra content, save for brief interactions with your other Kong friends (and Squawks!) and a place to store NPC statues acquired from Emerald Rush.
Yes, Emerald Rush is the main attraction, a roguelike that has DK and Pauline working for Void Kong to amass as many emeralds as possible across DK Island and some of the game’s other layers. You acquire upgrades and more skills as you go, but they reset every time you complete a run. Since the bulk of DK Bananza is just smashing a ton of stuff anyway, this mode looks to offer more of that, sans much in the way of rewards outside of some extra costumes and the aforementioned statues. Initially I was stoked for this, but after reading a few reviews, I don’t think Emerald Rush would hold my interest for very long. Guess those bills will get paid, after all.
POKEMON POKOPIA
If ever there was a game that’s bound to print all the money, it’s Pokemon Pokopia. A life-sim crossed with Pokemon characters, this game has you controlling a Ditto, learning various skills from other Pokemon and helping transform their blocky world into something a bit more livable. No fights here, just a Ditto making a lovely home for all the creatures to enjoy. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a million amiibo planned for this one. Gird your loins!
POKEMON LEGENDS Z-A: NINTENDO SWITCH 2 EDITION
I have been debating playing Pokemon Legends Z-A, not because I’m a huge Pokemon fan, but because I’ve never played a single Pokemon game before in my life. I haven’t even tried one before.
The core gameplay looks the same as it always has. Collect Pokemon. Fight Pokemon. Level them up. More fighting. You’re the best Trainer, Pikachu I choose you, etc.
Would this be a good game to start with? Are any of the more recent Pokemon games solid first entries? I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments.
POKEMON LEGENDS Z-A: MEGA DIMENSION
I have no idea what’s happening in this incredibly short trailer. I do understand that Nintendo is announcing paid DLC for Pokemon Legends Z-A, a game that hasn’t even released yet. That’s more than a little sketchy. Let me guess: $20 for content that should have been in the game to begin with?
We’re sighing all the sighs, Nintendo.
DANGANRONPA 2x2
The cult classic visual novel returns with both a remastered version of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair and a brand new story. You and your classmates are trapped on an island, forced to participate in the Killing Game. As expected, people begin to die. But who done it? That’s up to you and a murderous plush bear to decide.
Parts of this game sound interesting, but the concept of high school students forced to kill each other for a creepy bear’s kicks is a little… bleak. Right? Not just me?
DYNASTY WARRIORS: ORIGINS
I know very little about the Three Kingdoms story, but my word, this game looks absolutely bonkers. The screen has so many NPCs on it, either all fighting amongst themselves or running alongside the character you control. Typical musou, perhaps, but I’ve never seen a musou game look this grand and overwhelming.
MONSTER HUNTER STORIES 3: TWISTED REFLECTION
You can bond with monsters! They’re called Monstees! I must be a simple man, because that’s enough for me.
GONNA HAVE A MONTAGE
Two Point Museum – build a museum for patrons to ruin
Disgaea 7 Complete – turn-based strategy in hell
EA Sports FC 26 – a ball-kicking good time
Dragon Quest I+II HD Remake – just hook this into my veins
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage – feels like the millionth iteration of Virtua Fighter 5. Is Sega really that scared of making a sixth entry?
LEGO Voyagers – little Lego blocks explore secret world
Little Nightmares III – the creepy exploration saga continues
Persona 3: Reload – Go to class, date some girls, summon demons, rule the night
RESIDENT EVIL: REQUIEM
This is the first Resident Evil trailer I’ve ever seen that has a strong old-school Silent Hill vibe to me, and I’m here for it. Also, whoever edited this trailer deserves an award. I have very little idea of what the game is about (a huge plus), yet there’s more than enough shown to hook you. Gotta hand it to Capcom, they’ve done a first-rate job of reinvigorating this franchise over the last decade.
Also, Resident Evil 7 and Village are coming to Switch 2, so you can have all the spooks in one location, should you so desire.
FIRE EMBLEM: FORTUNE’S WEAVE
The first proper Fire Emblem game in seven years, Fortune’s Weave seems to revolve around multiple characters, each with different backgrounds and motivations, fighting for victory in the Heroic Games. What are the Heroic Games? Don’t know, but I’m sure there’s lots of swordplay and anime over-emoting.
Fire Emblem is a series that looks like, if it gets its hooks in you, you’re invested for hundreds of hours. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I won’t deny that Fortune’s Weave looks intriguing.
CONCLUSION
I’m closing in on 3,000 words, which is at least 1500 words too many, so I’ll be brief.
Game-wise, this was a solid Direct. It gives us an idea of where Nintendo’s heading over the next 6-9 months, and frankly, that’s enough. We’ll probably get another Direct in February sometime and see more of what Nintendo’s 2026 lineup has to offer.
I’m not sure the games shown here are enough for the casual masses to pick up a Switch 2 for themselves, though. Yes, the Pokemon games will do gangbusters, but the rest of the games listed here will at most sell a few million copies lifetime. Metroid, Hyrule Warriors, and Fire Emblem are all modest sellers by Nintendo standards. Kirby Air Riders is the sequel to a 20+ year old Gamecube game, and it could break out, or it could underperform, hard to say.
Frankly, I think Nintendo has already released their 2025 killer Switch 2 apps, Mario Kart World and DK Bananza. Are they enough? For this year, probably. For 2026, doubtful.
Price-wise, I’m actually surprised that both Pokemon Z-A Legends and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are only $70 on Switch 2. I thought for sure Nintendo would price them at $80 a la Mario Kart World, but for once, they restrained themselves.
As for everything else, though, yeah, the high pricing for the Virtual Boy, DLC, amiibo, etc is not a good look. I won’t defend Nintendo here by any means, but let’s face it, all of these things are optional, secondary to the games themselves. Nintendo knows this, and that’s why (I think) they seem to be charging whatever they want. The people who want it will pay it, the rest of us will just keep buying their games. Or not!
This Direct really seems to have sullied Nintendo’s image online, but will that have a long-lasting effect in the real world? Future Switch 2 sales figures will tell the tale. In the meantime, I advise Nintendo to ease off the hubris. Your fans will likely always support you to varying degrees, but the casual audience that you so desperately need and crave will be turned off by higher prices, if not now, then later. As a wise sage once said, check yourself before you wreck yourself.
Thank you for reading this exhaustive look at the latest Nintendo Direct! If you enjoyed, please click that ‘Heart’ button, subscribe, tell your friends, etc. The more this newsletter grows, the more Nintendo-based goodness I can bring to all of you!
Thanks for the summary. Really not much here to get me excited about a Switch 2.
The biggest surprise is that you've never played Pokemon! Maybe you mentioned that before and I forgot it. But I'll be honest that I don't really get the appeal Pokemon. It's OK. I attribute its mega-success to the children liking the characters, plus I think it somehow became a lot of people's first JRPG, and it was just a good game for the Game Boy format. Maybe it appealed to some people's desire for "pets", like Tamagotchi, but I never got that.
The main problem I have with it as a game is that the story/exploration parts -- the reason we actually sat through JRPGs -- is basically at a Dragon Warrior 1 level. It does involve a little more strategy than DW1. But this was 1998! It was actually 2001 or so before I got around to playing these games.
I'm inclined to say that, purely as a matter of gaming history, you owe it to yourself to try the originals, Fire or Blue, either on Game Boy or the remakes on GBA, just to get a feel for what the games are. Though I don't think you need to finish them.