Known for releasing bombshells during its internet streaming broadcasts, Nintendo did not fail to deliver, with new information on Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, and more in this morning’s Nintendo Direct.
The broadcast aired simultaneously in Europe, Japan, and America, leaving a lot of news tidbits to be explored! View the 37-minute broadcast here on the official page, or on Nintendo’s YouTube below.
- Nintendo spoke often of this being the “Year of Luigi,” citing that many new Luigi titles were coming out this year. The first discussed was Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon.
-Players can now suck in more than just ghosts.
-Dark/light device shows objects that used to be there, and has a rainbow-like stream.
-Enemies now must be stunned with the strobe bulb before being sucked in
-Players will sometimes have to chase after ghost dog with dark/light device when he steals your golden items, such as coins.
-Multiplayer: can play local, download, and online play. Supports up to four players.
-Hunter mode: get rid of all of the ghosts
-Pulterpup mode: chase for stolen items.
-Survival mode: survive for a given amount of time.
-Release date: March 28 for retail and download on the 3DS.
- Mario and Luigi: Dream Team was the second game covered, which is another iteration in the Mario and Luigi series. The games feature RPG elements, like strategic attack mode, akin to Pokémon or Fire Emblem.
-Luigi’s dream is the setting for the game.
-A new gameplay element requires players to wake Luigi up with touch screen controls during battles and to solve puzzles.
-Release date: Summer 2013 for the 3DS
- The last batch out of the big news revealed was a Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D remake. Not much was said on that specific game as of the broadcast, other than the release of a 3D video in the 3DS eShop for players to experience the beautiful 3D graphics themselves.
- Other Nintendo franchises represented during the broadcast were ones such as Animal Crossing and Mario Golf.
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf available June 9 for the 3DS.
-You are the mayor of the town as soon as you arrive.
-You choose where your house is.
-You no longer are a slave to Tom Nook; initial loan is much smaller this time.
-Can now add hedges, change the door, or roof on the outside of your house.
-Happy Homes showcase: the homes of the players you’ve connected with from Streetpass.
–Style Savvy Trend Setters will see fashions from Animal Crossing.
‘Mario Golf 3DS: World Tour’ for the 3DS will see a lot of old characters return, such as Wario, Bowser, Mario, Waluigi, and Luigi.
- Pokémon news Nintendo released outside of the broadcast:
-The Pokémon Eeveelution from yesterday’s story’s name is Sylveon. The etymology of the name has its roots in air, although some are thinking it may relate to a fighting type origin, in that it’s also similar to the name Sylvester Stallone.
More Nintendo news
Check out the next page to see some of other big announcements, such as a New Super Mario Bros. Wii U downloadable game, some exciting 3DS virtual console releases, and Google’s unique app for the Wii U.
First party downloadable content
New Super Mario Bros. U downloadable content coming to Wii U eShop this year.
-Content to be called Super Luigi U. The ‘Bros.’ in the title is purposefully missing, in that only Luigi will be featured.
-The downloadable content “turns 90+ levels into Luigi levels.” This is nearly the equivalent of a whole new game.
A Miiverse community for the upcoming Zelda Wii U title on the is now available.
-This starts a trend for upcoming games receiving their own Wii U social networking hub.
The free downloadable content in Fire Emblem Awakening for the 3DS will no longer be free after March 6th.
-2 new maps are available today.
-In this iteration of the Mario and Donkey Kong series, players will create paths to get mini wind-up Marios to the goal, all while avoiding the antics of Donkey Kong.
Virtual Console news
–Harvest Moon and Legend of the River King, both originally for the GameBoy Color, are coming soon.
-Deal: Get Super Mario 3D Land or one of four other games free March 21-April 30 if you register Pokémon Gates to Infinity OR Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, along with registering your 3DS XL.
Third Party news
-On Feb. 17, a new Wii U bundle with Zombie U will be released.
-It will contain everything of the original Wii U delux package, along with a black Wii U pro controller, Zombie U, a Zombie U art booklet, and Nintendo Land for download.
-It will retail for $389.99
–Zen Pinball 2 will be free to download this month.
–Toki Tori 2 will be in the eShop this March.
–Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Mirrors of Fate will release on March 5 for the 3DS. The demo will go live on Feb. 28 on the 3DS eShop.
–Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will release an eShop demo on Feb. 21 for Wii U and 3DS. The full game releases on March 19.
–Need for Speed: Most Wanted U coming out March 19 for the Wii U.
–The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct will release on March 26 for Wii U.
–Justice: Gods Among Us, a fighting game featuring superheroes from the Justice League like Superman, will release on April 16 for the Wii U.
Featured image source: Fanpop.com
Image sources: Nintendo Direct Broadcast, IGN.com (Eeveelutions)