The Nintendo Direct Announced Two New Games, DLC, and a Remastered Game
Yesterday Nintendo announced that it would release a Nintendo Direct video, which got a lot of fans, including myself, very excited. However, even before the video dropped, our collective enthusiasm was tempered by several details. First, it was a mini Direct, which lowered expectations somewhat. Second, it was a partner showcase, meaning we shouldn’t have expected any of Nintendo’s IP to be discussed.
On 7/20 we’ll debut the first #NintendoDirect Mini: Partner Showcase, a series focused on titles from our development & publishing partners. We’ll share a few updates on a small group of previously-announced #NintendoSwitch games. Check out the full video release at 7am PT. pic.twitter.com/GbEbxVL6fD
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 20, 2020
Despite these caveats, it did not stop people from speculating that perhaps there would be some major announcements of projects already confirmed. For example, I have been dying to hear more about the release of the Mario 64 remaster. And, given that this is Mario’s 35th anniversary year, I have been expecting more Mario content released. But alas, I was disappointed.
The showcase featured four games.
- Three DLC packs were released for the Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda. The first pack adds five new characters to the game: Impa, Aria, Shadow Link, Shadow Zelda, and Fredrick. The second pack adds 39 songs that can be changed at any time while playing the game. The third pack is probably the most exciting because it adds an additional story. You play as Skull Kid, who gains different abilities as he changes his masks. The first pack will be available today, while the others will be released sometime before October. You can also gain access to them all via a season pass, which also unlocks additional costumes.
- We got a sneak peek at the online multi-player game Rogue Company. It is a competitive third-person shooter with both player and NPC opponents. Interestingly, the game will be cross-platform from day one. More information about the game will be released today.
- The pre-order for WWE 2K Battlegrounds was announced along with a trailer featuring the gameplay. Honestly, the game looks like it could be a lot of fun, but the characters look odd. Their proportions look off, which make the characters look more like toys than representations of the actual people. Given the realism of WWE 2K I did not expect that.
- The final announcement featured an extended trailer for the remastered game Shin Megame Tensei: Nocturne, which won’t be released until Spring 2021. The fifth game in the series is also expected to be released soon. Although there was no mention of the fifth game in the Nintendo Direct mini, we should expect more announcements about the franchise soon.
I think Nintendo would have been better off for saving this announcement until after a major announcement. Because fans had such high expectations, I feel that we were set up to be disappointed. Watch the announcement below and share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Are you excited about the upcoming releases? Tell us in the comments below.