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| Nintendo Direct 1.14.2015 Review | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 20 2015, 12:24 AM (1,617 Views) | |
| Brendan | Jan 20 2015, 12:24 AM Post #1 |
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Pokémon Trainer
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The latest Nintendo Direct has certainly brought up a lot of wonderful announcements, such as the release date for New Nintendo 3DS XL in North America, a new Fire Emblem, and more. Read on for a full summary of what was announced in this month's Nintendo Direct. The Latest in the Fire Emblem Series - Nintendo 3DS, Release: TBA ![]() During the Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that the 3DS family of systems is getting a new entry in the beloved Fire Emblem series, created by the same core team at Intelligent Systems which brought us the sublime Fire Emblem: Awakening. An entirely new story is on offer, but this time around the player will be expected to make "bigger choices" that will impact the flow of the story, hinting at plenty of replayability. No release window was mentioned, and the game doesn't have a final title as yet, but you can feast your eyes on the trailer by clicking on the link below: Nintendo 3DS - Fire Emblem Teaser Trailer Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition - Nintendo 3DS, Release: May 2015 ![]() When Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Edition was announced last week in Japan, many questioned when western players would get the chance to play Puzzle & Dragons Z, the 3DS forerunner which hit Japan a while ago and promptly sold over a million copies. This month's Nintendo Direct provided the answer. Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Edition is hitting the west this May and Puzzle & Dragons Z will be bundled with it. Based on GungHo Online's incredibly popular smartphone title Puzzle & Dragons, available on iOS and Android, both 3DS titles will offer orb-matching puzzle gameplay with an RPG twist. Super Mario Edition will naturally boast characters from that series, along with an appropriately-themed adventure mode. Click on the link below to see the trailer for Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition: Nintendo 3DS - Puzzle and Dragons Z Teaser Trailer Pokémon Shuffle - Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 2015 ![]() Another match-three puzzle, Pokémon Shuffle, was also announced. There are obvious similarities to Pokemon Link: Battle. In this case you must clear tiles to defeat Pokémon within a certain number of turns, while you can collect, level up and even Mega Evolve the pocket monsters. That's all acceptable enough, if not necessarily thrilling. The structure of the game is a concern, though. It's free-to-play, and unlike previous examples like Steel Diver: Sub Wars, looks set to play on a gamer's patience. When you battle you use hearts, and when you run out you need to wait a fixed time in order to get more. You can earn in-game items to redeem hearts or speed the whole thing up with micro-transactions through the eShop. This is the classic trick that's been used to death in similar smartphone games, and typically tries to get players to spend improbable amounts of money to feed an addictive puzzle game habit. I doubt this will be as bad as the worst examples to be found on iOS and Android, but the structure itself means that balancing will be key. It's obvious that Nintendo will explore these sorts of models, so we can only hope that the balancing in this entry is fair and not exploitative. We shall see. Pokémon Shuffle will be available in February as a free download. Wii Games on Wii U ![]() Since the launch of Wii U the only way to play original Wii games was to enter 'Wii mode', which effectively emulated the Wii system menu. Whilst it was great that the Wii U contained this backwards compatibility it's implementation always felt cumbersome and unfinished. However, it was announced that Nintendo would be making certain Wii titles available for download via the eShop. These games would be installed as standard Wii U games and able to launch directly from the Wii U menu, or even the quick start menu. It was also confirmed that the Wii U GamePad would act as a Wii Classic Controller, however it was not confirmed if the Wii U Pro Controller will do the same. European Releases - Jan 14th: Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Jan 22nd: Donkey Kong Country Returns - Jan 29th: Metroid Prime Trilogy Titles will be available for a standard price of €19,99 / Ł17.99 ($23.26 / $27.32) , however they will be discounted to €9,99 / Ł8.99 ($11.63 / $10.46) during their first week of availability. Other upcoming titles are Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Pandora's Tower, Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies and Punch-Out!!. North America Releases - Jan 14th: Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Jan 22nd: Punch-Out!! - Jan 29th: Metroid Prime Trilogy Titles will be available for a standard price of $19.99, however will be discounted to $9.99 during their first week of availability. As you may have guessed from the timings above, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is available right now. Other upcoming titles were not announced, however, you can expect this schedule to reflect the European releases above. Kirby & the Rainbow Curse - Wii U, Release: February 20, 2015 ![]() In this clever Kirby game, guiding the mighty puffball through treacherous stages isn't your only goal. There are tons of collectibles to find in every stage, including hidden treasure chests. Touch one to see what prize you get, like songs to listen to or in-game figurines. Some treasure chests are really hard to find, especially considering that you have a limited amount of ink to draw rainbow ropes with. If you run out, Kirby may find himself in a tough spot. Levels like Blue Sky Palace have no ground, so run out of ink and you'll meet an ill fate, but it's all worth it for those figurines. You can take in their glory from different angles in the figurine showcase. There's plenty to do with Amiibo in Kirby & the Rainbow Curse. Once per day, you can touch select Amiibo to the Wii U Gamepad controller to power up Kirby. Tapping the Kirby Amiibo to the Gamepad will let you use his Star Dash whenever you want, without having to collect 100 stars, like usual. Likewise, you can get a matching hat from the King Dedede Amiibo, plus 6 health bars instead of the normal 4, and if you get the Meta Knight hat by using his Amiibo, your Kirby's Tap Dash speed will increase, allowing him to plow through weaker enemies. Kirby & the Rainbow Curse will roll onto store shelves and into the Nintendo eShop for Wii U on February 20, 2015. Click on the link below to see the latest trailer: Wii U - Kirby and the Rainbow Curse - Gameplay Trailer New Amiibo, SSB4 Wave 3 Release: February 2015 ![]() With all their current momentum, amiibo figurines were bound to make an appearance during the latest Nintendo Direct - and so they did. The first inclusion of amiibo figures in the Direct was the announcement of Wave 3 figures of the Super Smash Bros. series becoming available in February, which we're all already aware of. However, we then learned information about the next wave in this range. Wave 4 will contain Robin, Lucina, Pac-Man, Wario, Ness, and Charizard - all being available in from April 24th. If that didn't tickle your taste buds enough, then maybe the next piece of news that the Direct revealed will. A whole new range of amiibo figures will become available on 20th March - the Super Mario amiibo series (of course) - alongside the release of Mario Party 10. This new lineup of figures includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, and Toad. These figures will unlock a new mode when playing Mario Party 10 - amiibo Party. It's worth noting that although Donkey Kong, Rosalina, and Wario have not received amiibo figures from the Super Mario series, their Super Smash Bros. amiibo will work within the game - the same being said for Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and Bowser (great for those concerned with the current Super Smash Bros. amiibo series' versatility). This is also the case vice-versa, meaning amiibo from the Super Mario series can be used when playing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. However, data from amiibo within the Super Smash Bros. range must be erased before using the figures with Mario Party 10, and this applies both ways. This is due to each toy only supporting one set of read-write data. Logically, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will be another game to receive amiibo functionality, with the new Toad amiibo activating a sort of hide-and-seek game where the player must find 'Pixel Toad' in each level. An update to the game will become available for download on 20th March to activate this feature - the same date as the release of Mario Party 10 and the new Super Mario amiibo series. Finally, the aforementioned amiibo support for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS will be arriving in a February update, making that the first 3DS game in the West to support the toys, while upcoming release Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy + will also use some figures. The New Nintendo 3DS has an NFC scanner built into the touch screen, while an accessory for older models will come later in the year. With Nintendo's latest step in the world of amiibo, it's clear that more and more franchise ranges will become available. It wouldn't be a surprise if a Zelda or Pokemon amiibo series is released later this year. Mario Party 10 - Wii U, Release: March 20th, 2015 ![]() It was revealed that Mario Party 10 will be released on the Wii U on 20th March in both Europe and North America. In addition to the standard Mario Party mode, the game will feature an new "amiibo Party mode", which brings amiibo compatibility to the classic party-game series. Certain amiibo from both the Super Smash Bros. Collection and a new upcoming Super Mario Collection will work with the game: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Rosalina, Donkey Kong and Wario. Tapping an amiibo to the GamePad lets players use that character as a game piece, as well as play on a game board themed for that character. There'll also be a limited quantity of bundles including a Mario amiibo from the Super Mario Collection, plus a copy of the game. Click on the link below to see the trailer: Wii U - Mario Party 10 Trailer Splatoon - Wii U, Release: May 2015 ![]() We learned a little more about one of the year's biggest Wii U titles - Splatoon. For starters, it's due to arrive in May in both North America and Europe. Beyond that we saw some footage of the main hub area, known as the 'Plaza'. In a move reminiscent of Nintendo Land it'll be populated with characters from Miiverse, allowing interaction. This'll also be the area from which you access all available modes. It's clear that, although there is a single-player campaign, the online multiplayer is the primary focus in the title. You get into this mode by stepping into a tower in the plaza, and by playing online you'll level up and earn in-game currency. This money can then be used in a variety of stores. You can buy different types of guns and equip up to three at one time - one is your main weapon, another is a sub-weapon to use for diversionary tactics, and finally there's a limited-use Special weapon for dealing out a lot of damage. Other stores will sell clothes, hats and boots separately. Though you can simply try and look fashionable, different items will boost your character's abilities, so there may be strategy involved in completing sets or targeting specific areas such as speed. It looks accessible but also, potentially, deep enough to keep the most serious players quite busy. Splatoon is shaping up nicely with a little more depth, and with its release just four months away it won't be long until we can paint a full picture. Hyrule Warriors - Wii U, DLC Release: February 5, 2015 ![]() Thanks to Hyrule Warriors, Wii U owners are already fighting hoards of enemies as Link, Impa, Darunia, and tons of other beloved Zelda characters, but there's another Zelda game on the way to Nintendo 3DS: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. So in honor of that game, Nintendo has some new downloadable content on the way for Hyrule Warriors. Tingle is ready for action. Just be glad he's on your side. His main weapons is his balloons, but he'll also attack enemies with a giant wallet full of rupees, his Kooloo-Limpah dance, and even a fatal Kiss of Death. As for Young Link, his main weapon is the Kokiri Sword, but he also comes equipped with the Fierce Deity's Mask, allowing him to briefly transform and unleash powerful special attacks. Both of these characters are included in the Majora's Mask Pack, which also comes with a new Adventure Mode map, and 3 additional costumes when it becomes available on February 5. Xenoblade Chronicles X - Wii U, Release: TBA 2015 ![]() JRPG-starved Wii U fans were given a further glimpse into the enormous open world of the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X, the title currently in development for Wii U by Monolith Soft. Also, Xenoblade Chronicles is currently being ported to the New Nintendo 3DS as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. That's scheduled for release in April. Click on the link below to see the new trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Wii U - Xenoblade Chronicles X Exploration Trailer Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars - Wii U & 3DS, Release: March 5, 2015 ![]() It was revealed that the title of the upcoming Mario vs DK game will be Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, and it will be an eShop only download for both Wii U and 3DS. Most interestingly the game will be Nintendo's first cross-buy title - if you buy the Wii U version you'll get the 3DS version for free - and vice versa. The free game will come in the form of a download code which you can share with a friend if you like, instead. In this puzzle/platformer hybrid, players guide Mini Mario toys to the exit door using touch control. As with previous games in the series players can create their own levels and share them with other players online. In this game, however, players can "tip" the creators of the user-generated puzzles with stars, which can be used to buy new parts in the robust level creator. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars will be available for download on 5th March in North America for $19.99 and 20th March in Europe (price TBC). Project Treasure - Wii U, Release: TBA ![]() Bandai Namco is working on a free-to-play, 4-player co-operative action title for the Wii U eShop. Bandai Namco's Katsuhiro Harada explained the core mechanics of the new game, which has the current working title of Project Treasure. Described as an action game where four players work together to navigate a variety of stages, the objective is to clear traps, fight enemies and obtain treasure. Perhaps most surprising element is that the game will be entirely free to download from the Wii U eShop, which hints at micro-transactions being involved. Bandai Namco has already experimented a lot in this area, having produced free-to-play editions of Ridge Racer, Ace Combat and Soul Calibur on other systems. No solid release date is available at present, but news that the Wii U is getting an exclusive, third-party release is always good. Click on the link below to see the announcement video for Project Treasure: Project Treasure (Nintendo Direct) Elliot Quest & Blek - Wii U, Release: February 2015 ![]() We had a brief look at some upcoming releases for the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores. Some details reiterated what we already knew, but there were some fresh games to take in. First up was Elliot Quest published by PlayEveryWare, an RPG adventure with five dungeons and 16 bosses, while also sporting rather attractive 2D pixel-based visuals. It's due in February in North America. Click on the link below to see the trailer: Nintendo eShop - Elliot Quest Also confirmed for a February arrival in North America is Blek, a combined project by Broken Rules - which released Chasing Aurora as a Wii U eShop launch title - and kunabi brother, this is a simplistic and relaxing experience originally released on iOS. It looks like it'll utilize the GamePad touchscreen and potentially the Wii Remote pointer. Click on the link below to see the trailer for Blek: Nintendo eShop - Blek Citizens of Earth - Wii U & 3DS, Release: January 20, 2015 ![]() With its cartoon graphics and touch controls, Citizens of Earth has a modern look and feel, but at heart it's a retro-style Japanese RPG from Eden Industries and Atlus USA. Players take on the role of Vice President of Earth, who awakens the morning after his election to find that his whole planet has gone berserk. To get to the bottom of things, you'll have to team up with an odd assortment of more than 40 characters scattered around the game world. With a humorous story and plenty of quests and sidequests, this game can be played as a casual adventure or a full-on RPG. Gunman Clive 2 - Nintendo 3DS, Release: January 2015 ![]() The original Gunman Clive was a breakout hit on the Nintendo 3DS eShop. Gunman Clive 2 was shown once again, this time with a January release in North America. If that's the case then that will be a surprise treat this month. Moon Chronicles eps. 2, 3, 4 - Nintendo 3DS, Release: TBA 2015 ![]() Another exclusive is headed to the eShop on Nintendo 3DS too. New episodes of Moon Chronicles will continue Renegade Kid's sci-fi first-person adventure. The 3 remaining episodes in Major Kane's lunar journey will be released on the same day for download, giving fans the opportunity to experience the entire season without delay. Players can purchase the new content individually as separate episodes or choose to go for the Season Pass, which contains all 3 remaining episodes for a lower price. SEGA 3D Classics - Nintendo 3DS, Release: January 2015 ![]() Starting this month, Sega will be releasing a new batch of 3D Classics for Nintendo 3DS. The first new 3D remake will be 3D After Burner II, followed by 3D Fantasy Zone, 3D Out Run, 3D Fantasy Zone II, and 3D Thunder Blade. Each game will deliver a full-fledged vintage arcade experience, recreating the arcade environment down to the mechanical sound of an arcade machine. Click on the link below to see the trailer for 3D After Burner II, one of the upcoming Sega 3D Classics: Nintendo eShop - 3D After Burner II Etrian Mystery Dungeon - Nintendo 3DS, Release: April 7, 2015 ![]() From Atlus and Spike Chunsoft comes a Nintendo 3DS exclusive that blends the gameplay of 2 dungeon crawlers to create an RPG experience like no other. Etrian Mystery Dungeon gives players the freedom to create their own eclectic party of heroes like in the Etrian Odyssey series, and then take that party on a near-infinite dungeon-exploring loot-hunting quest, just like in the Mystery Dungeon series. Click on the link below to see a trailer for Etrian Mystery Dungeon: Nintendo 3DS - Etrian Mystery Dungeon Story of Seasons - Nintendo 3DS, Release: March 10, 2015 ![]() Story of Seasons is the rebirth of the Bokujo Monogatari series that has sold close to 10,000,000 units worldwide by charming gamers around the world with its fun combination of farming and life simulation. The latest entry is all about connecting, with other lands across the game world or with other players online, a first for the series, and with the introduction of a new Safari Area players will now have access to many new exotic animals such as: penguins, elephants, and camels, but of course the beloved farming and relationship building gameplay you love will make a return when the game comes exclusively to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS. Click on the link below to see a trailer for Story of Seasons: Nintendo 3DS - Story of Seasons Fossil Fighters Frontier - Nintendo 3DS, Release: March 20, 2015 A new entry in the Fossil Fighters series is stomping your way so get ready to hop in your own custom vehicle and explore the full 3D world of Fossil Fighters Frontier, filled with buried fossils just waiting to be dug up. Any fossil you find can be revived as a Vivisaur and then pitted against other Vivisaurs in massive Reptile Rumbles of prehistoric proportions. 2 players can team up to battle each others Vivisaurs online in tournaments to determine a reigning champion, or up to 6 players locally. 3 friends can also team up online to explore the world together, dig up fossils, and battle as allies against Rogue Vivisaurs, and for those who feel their Vivisaur Team is ready for the fires of battle head over to the new Fossil Stadium, an arena where you can enter tournaments, refine your skills, and see how your team stacks up against the rest. The game Fossil Fighters Frontier is coming to life March 20 of 2015 in stores and on the Nintendo eShop. New Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 13, 2015 ![]() Nintendo confirmed what was already suspected - the New Nintendo 3DS will launch in Europe and North America on 13th February. There are some key differences in hardware, however. Europe will, as expected, have the same range as Japan and Australia - white and black smaller models, along with the metallic blue and metallic black XL models. 12 Kisekae cover plates will be available for the smaller model in Europe at launch. The story is different in North America, however, where only the New Nintendo 3DS XL was confirmed. It'll come in Red and Black variations, with no smaller models coming to the region as yet. These XL systems will be $199.99. In addition there are two special editions coming to North America and Europe. The most eye-catching is for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, and the other for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Both will have their respective games bundled and have a recommended price of $229.99 in the US. ![]() The revision provides a notable upgrade on the original models, such as improved 3D viewing, a faster CPU, a C-Stick, additional shoulder buttons and NFC support. It's been well received already in Japan, particularly, and Nintendo will be hoping it makes a big impact in the West. Click on the link below to the New Nintendo 3DS XL Trailer: Nintendo 3DS - Introducing the New Nintendo 3DS XL Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. - Nintendo 3DS, Release: March 13, 2015 ![]() One reveal that was among the quirkiest was around upcoming 3DS strategy game Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. The Intelligent Systems game was confirmed for amiibo support, which will utilize the New Nintendo 3DS and, in future, an accessory for standard models. The game won't be getting its own range, but will make use of current and upcoming Super Smash Bros. series toys for Marth, Ike, Robin and Lucina. As you can see in the trailer below, these are scanned into battles as playable characters, which will give an interesting spin on the steampunk setting: Nintendo 3DS - Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. amiibo Trailer Intelligent Systems had another new game confirmed, with a new Fire Emblem on the way to 3DS. Code Name S.T.E.A.M was also given a formal European release date of 15th May, which is over two months after the 13th March arrival in North America. ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY+ - Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 13, 2015 ![]() Bandai Namco has confirmed that Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy + (try saying that three times as fast) will be leaving the hanger just in time for the New 3DS launch in both North America and Europe. On February 13th the game, which is an updated of the existing Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy, will be released alongside Nintendo's new console, offering amiibo support which allows players to unlock aircraft skins by tapping their figures on the console's lower screen. The game is also playable on older 3DS models, but you'll naturally have to wait until Nintendo releases the amiibo portal to get your hands on those themed planes. Click on the link below to see the trailer for ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY+: Nintendo 3DS - ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY+ Xenoblade Chronicles 3D - New Nintendo 3DS, Release: April 2015 ![]() Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, a portable adaptation of the Wii RPG classic, was announced alongside the New 3DS in Japan last year. The New 3DS launch came and went in that region with no solid news of a release date for the game, but the latest Nintendo Direct has confirmed that we'll be getting it a lot sooner than expected in the west. The title hits store shelves on April 2nd in Europe and a rather less specific "April" in North America, a pleasant surprise when you consider that many assumed the west would have to wait a little longer for the title. The port is being handled by US studio Monster Games, who previously transferred Donkey Kong Country Returns to Nintendo's portable. The game will be exclusive to the New 3DS, so it won't run on the original 3DS, 3DS XL or 2DS, and will use the bottom screen as a map. There will also be a special mode where players can view the game's 3D models from any angle, as well as listen to the game's brilliant musical score. IronFall Invasion - Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 2015 ![]() Keen to get their foot in the door of the shooter genre, Nintendo has announced an indie-developer third person shooter for the North American (and European) 3DS eShop. Not much is currently known about IronFall Invasion, but the developer VD-dev has been posting screenshots of the game since September last year. The game takes heavy inspiration from titles such as the Gears of War franchise with its third-person perspective and quick time-esque reloading mechanism. The game makes use of the New 3DS and New 3DS XL's C-Stick to achieve a control scheme you would expect, but it can still be played on any 3DS or 2DS system. The game promises 6-player online and local multiplayer as well as an extensive single-player campaign. Shooters have been relatively absent from the 3DS, most likely due to the limitations of only have the single circle pad, but now that the C-Stick is a reality will this game pave the way for more shooters on the handheld? Only time will tell. Click on the link below to see the latest trailer for IronFall Invasion: Nintendo eShop - IronFall Invasion Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 13, 2015 ![]() Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is set to be one of the biggest releases this year without a doubt, and in order to whet appetites as much as possible Nintendo has released codes for a special demo version in Europe and North America. If you're in Europe keep you eyes on your inbox as Nintendo will be sending out codes today in sets of four, one for you and one each for three of your best hunters. The demo allows not only single player but also local and online multiplayer. Seeing as online multiplayer is such a focus for this entry in the Monster Hunter series, it's not surprising that it's a feature of the free demo. You'll have access to all the weapon types that will be available in the full game, so you can find out which weapon works best for you before the game's even released. Before that you'll have to choose which of three monsters you'd like to fight, the Great Jaggi, the Tetsucabra, or the ferocious Gore Magala. The demo fully supports the Circle Pad Pro, so those of you who are used to using two Circle Pads can feel right at home. Nintendo was also keen to make a point that the release date of the full game as being 13th February in Europe and North America, but sadly although the US will be getting download codes for the demo there are no confirmed details as to when they will be distributed. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will arrive in Europe and North America on 13th February 2015. Click on the link below to see a trailer for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate: Nintendo 3DS - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D - Nintendo 3DS, Release: February 13, 2015 ![]() It's been announced that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D will launch on the same day as the New Nintendo 3DS. There's a special New Nintendo 3DS XL hardware bundle that will be available with a copy of the game. Beyond that, however, it's a title that, among a group of major upcoming 3DS games, utilizes the New model the least. The Nintendo Direct in North America highlighted a more solid 3D effect courtesy of the system's stable 3D, while you will be able to use the c-stick for full 360 degree camera control. (In addition, the European broadcast showed off a Majora's Mask cover plate set for the small New 3DS in the region) Aside from that it will basically be the same experience on all models, which is unsurprising considering the fact that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D already laid the groundwork in 2011. As a bonus for US gamers, meanwhile, pre-orders of Code Name S.T.E.A.M from participating retailers in the country will come with a silver Majora's Mask pin. Click on the links below to see the North American The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D trailer as well as 16 minutes of gameplay footage from the Japanese Nintendo Direct: Nintendo 3DS - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D - Is that...your true face? The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D 16 Minutes Gameplay Nintendo Anime Channel Will Bring Free Streamed Shows to 3DS in Europe ![]() In the early days of the 3DS, Nintendo was keen to push the device as a video multimedia device, with the Nintendo Video channel providing a few short videos every week. That approach fizzled out for a while until Nintendo released the Pikmin Short Movies late last year, and now Nintendo of Europe is following that up and bringing a rather attractive service to its region. The Nintendo Anime Channel will be a free eShop download and will allow access to a whole load of streamed content. Anime series included will be Pokémon, Kirby and Inazuma Eleven, with content to be added regularly. To emphasize the point again, it'll all be free. Unfortunately Nintendo of America didn't announce an equivalent: this could potentially be due to the presence of existing subscription-based services on the portable in the region. The Nintendo Anime Channel will launch in Europe on 13th February, and though it'll work on existing units Nintendo will probably particularly promote it on the New Nintendo 3DS, which is out on the same day. Xenoblade Chronicles X Hits Japan on 29th April ![]() Nintendo's various Direct broadcasts had plenty of good news, and some reassurance for Western fans of Xenoblade Chronicles X came in the form of a new trailer that not only showed off extensive footage, but also reiterated a 2015 release date. It's clear why Nintendo is confident, as the title, simply known as Xenoblade X (pronounced Xenoblade Cross) in Japan, is dated for 29th April. That's pretty darn soon, and not long after Xenoblade Chronicles 3D for New Nintendo 3DS in the West. With a game of this scale it's clear that it'll be in the very last stages of development, possibly final testing. The question is around how long it'll take to localize, though I'd hope that the process would have been undertaken during development to be finished off once final code is complete. In any case, that 2015 window for the West doesn't seem so fanciful any more, especially if Nintendo makes it a priority to localize for release. I guess we'll see, but in the meantime you can see the Japanese version of the latest trailer, with that release date, below: Xenoblade Chronicles X Japanese Trailer Nintendo of America Issues Non-Statement on the Region Skipping the Smaller New Nintendo 3DS ![]() Based on the general consensus seen online, the latest Nintendo Direct broadcasts went down rather well. Coming in it at over 40 minutes each, they were packed with details. However, the North American presentation was somewhat overshadowed by the surprising revelation that only the New Nintendo 3DS XL will be released in the region. Unlike in Japan, Australia/New Zealand and Europe, the smaller model, which incorporates interchangeable cover plates, won't be available at launch in North America. The region will have a unique XL model, with a Red iteration taking the place of the Metallic Blue that'll be available elsewhere. Nevertheless, it's a decision that's baffling many. There's undoubtedly business logic, based on sales, focus groups etc., that's driven this decision, even if we all feel stripping away the consumer's choice isn't the best move. Nintendo was asked about this by Kotaku, but unfortunately a non-statement was served up: "Different territories make their own business decisions regarding individual products and timing. We think New Nintendo 3DS XL makes the most sense for our market. Nintendo makes different systems at different price points for a whole range of consumers, and New Nintendo 3DS XL simply expands those choices even further." Nintendo has this kind of corporate language when asked about the amiibo stock problems within the past weeks, though that doesn't make it any less frustrating. There's always the hope that the smaller models will come to North America in the future, of course, but when pressed on that the only reply was that there's "nothing to announce at this time". New Nintendo 3DS Pre-Orders Emerge at GameStop, Best Buy, EB Games and GAME ![]() In the US only one of the biggest retailers is currently offering pre-orders, and that's GameStop: New 3DS XL - GameStop That link will take you to a page with the Red, Black and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate XL bundles. It's $199.99 for the standard models and $229.99 for the MH4U bundle. It's exciting news for Canadian gamers, however, as EB Games has those models and the Majora's Mask 3D option. It's $229.99 for the standard models and, amazingly, the Majora's Mask bundle and $259.99 for the MH4U set: New 3DS XL - EB Games In the UK, GAME has the country's four standard models, white or black smaller models, along with metallic blue and metallic black XL systems. These are Ł149.99 for small models and Ł179.99 for the XL systems: New 3DS - GAME The Majora's Mask 3D New Nintendo 3DS bundle is also available for pre-order at Best Buy for $199.99. |
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| Robo | Jan 20 2015, 07:02 AM Post #2 |
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Refreshing Mango Drink
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I really like what Nintendo is doing with the amiibos; having them unlock additional skins or characters instead of gameplay content (well, they're doing that in Mario Party 10 but still). It'll mean that future players of these games won't have to miss out on much. I think all the games on display look pretty good (except those indie games, holy shit Nintendo get off that bandwagon while you still can). They've definitely put a lot of effort into Splatoon, and even though it's not really my thing I hope it does well. I wonder why they're localizing Puzzle & Dragons Z... the phone game is very fun, but I can't imagine paying for it... Apparently the Club Nintendo service will be ending soon in Europe, but they get Flipnote Studio 3D, so I guess that is a good deal. Edited by Robo, Jan 20 2015, 07:04 AM.
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| ('‿') | PSN: Gorsed | |
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| IceCatraz | Jan 20 2015, 12:46 PM Post #3 |
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Roar of Mufasa
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I actually really liked Gunman Clive, so I'm glad we're getting the second title. Some of those other indie titles look....interesting, to say the very least, but that whole "Nindie" ideal gave us Shovel Knight, so I'm kind of torn. Either way, great write up. I'm excited to see what else I can use my DK amiibo for. Also, IronFall looks great. I can imagine Nintendo actually picking up the series and promoting it as their "large action title" should it do well. |
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| Togeshroob | Jan 20 2015, 01:15 PM Post #4 |
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(Temporarily closed. ...Gwaargh!) *doo wee doo wee doo*
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I went ahead and made a separate topic about Club Nintendo shutting down so we can talk about it there - go check it out if you haven't heard all the details of how this is going down! This Direct was Amiibo, Amiibo, Amiibo! So... much... amiibo. But it's great to see Nintendo STARTING a new idea, and then running with it in full stride - they don't always do that with every new venture. They seem to be pretty successful, anyway! BUT GUYS The Ness Amiibo is literally the first piece of official EarthBound/Mother merchandise to ever be released in the states, barring promotional stuff. Edited by Togeshroob, Jan 20 2015, 01:17 PM.
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| LK | Jan 22 2015, 11:53 AM Post #5 |
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iminspace
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The most exciting thing about this Direct was how soon Majora's Mask 3D is coming out! Holy moly! Now... I'm just contemplating whether to buy a new 3DS or not... That Ironfall game actually look alright. |
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