Tag: Nintendo Direct

The Pokemon Spotted In ‘Sword and Shield’ So Far

by Josh Jackson

Alongside as many features and reveals as one could fit in 15 minutes, the Pokemon Sword and Shield Nintendo Direct showed off a surprisingly large amount of Pokemon spanning the entire series. In addition to 10 new Pokemon, about 46 returning favorites could be seen throughout the presentation. Some of them were easy to miss while others were only revealed in screenshots released after the presentation ended, but we’ve got you covered! Below are the Pokemon confirmed to come back so far.

Returning Pokemon:

  • Throh
  • Bewear
  • Wobbufett
  • Hippopotus
  • Snover
  • Rhydon
  • Golurk
  • Duskull
  • Gyarados
  • Frillish
  • Butterfree
  • Bounsweet
  • Mudsdale
  • Seismitoad
  • Tyranitar
  • Avalugg
  • Hawlucha
  • Milotic
  • Mantyke
  • Stufful
  • Raichu
  • Flygon
  • Meowstic
  • Charizard
  • Diglett (statue)
  • Budew
  • Steenee
  • Wynaut
  • Pancham
  • Grubbin
  • Growlithe
  • Inkay
  • Axew
  • Snorlax
  • Wingull
  • Steelix
  • Braviary
  • Weaville
  • Clefable
  • Dugtrio
  • Quagsire
  • Fletchling (sign)
  • Rotom (in-game phone)
  • Pikachu (screenshot)
  • Bronzor (screenshot)
  • Lanturn (screenshot)
  • Pangoro (screenshot)

Naturally, the most exciting part of exploring a new region is the new Pokemon waiting to be discovered. Check out the 10 new species highlighted throughout the Direct, everything we know about them so far and screenshots that give us a closer look at our debuting partners.

New Pokemon:

  • Grookey (grass starter)

Category: Chimp Pokémon
Type: Grass
Height: 1′
Weight: 11 lbs.
Ability: Overgrow

The stick that Grookey holds, originally from the forest where groups of Grookey live, is imbued with special powers after being exposed to the energy within Grookey’s body. Its green fur creates energy from sunlight. When Grookey drums with its stick near wilted flowers and leaves, they regain their color.

  • Scorbunny (fire starter)

Category: Rabbit Pokémon
Type: Fire
Height: 1′
Weight: 9.9 lbs.
Ability: Blaze

Scorbunny uses its powerful legs to confuse and disorient its opponents by running and jumping around them. Because the soles of its feet can become very hot, Scorbunny’s kick can burn and damage opponents, too. With a sac in its chest containing viscous fire energy, Scorbunny can increase its heart rate and body temperature by running around. This awakens the true power of its fire energy and greatly increases its physical abilities.

  • Sobble (water starter)

Category: Water Lizard Pokémon
Type: Water
Height: 1′
Weight: 8.8 lbs.
Ability: Torrent

When Sobble touches water, its body changes its pattern and color, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. A rather timid Pokémon, Sobble will secrete the water within its body like sweat and disappear into its surroundings when nervous or embarrassed. With tears that are as potent as a hundred onions, Sobble will start to bawl if it feels threatened, spreading its tears around the area and causing everyone around it to start crying uncontrollably. Sobble will then use this distraction as a chance to escape.

  • Wooloo

Category: Sheep Pokémon
Type: Normal
Height: 2′
Weight: 13.2 lbs.
Ability: Fluffy / Run Away

The white fur that covers Wooloo’s body grows throughout its life and will fully grow back in three months even if it has been completely shorn. The fur is used for clothing, carpets, and other goods and is very popular as a specialty product of the Galar region. Wooloo live as a herd and mimic the actions of their Trainer or herd leader. They dislike conflict, and if they need to escape from enemies, they will simply roll away.

  • Gossifleur

Category: Flowering Pokémon
Type: Grass
Height: 1′4″
Weight: 4.9 lbs.
Ability: Cotton Down / Regenerator

Gossifleur prefers land with clear water and air. Its pollen has a healing effect and is commonly used as a folk medicine remedy and made into a tea given to children in the Galar region when they are ill. Gossifleur travels over long distances by getting blown along by the wind. It controls the direction of its travels by twisting its body and petals.

  • Eldegoss (Gossifleur’s evolution)

Category: Cotton Bloom Pokémon
Type: Grass
Height: 1′8″
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Ability: Cotton Down / Regenerator

When Gossifleur evolves into Eldegoss, its head becomes covered in thick cotton fluff. This cotton fluff serves as a cushion that helps to protect Eldegoss’s head from damage. The tiny seeds attached to the cotton fluff are said to be highly nutritious and beneficial to both people and Pokémon. Eldegoss spreads these seeds throughout the region, making the soil of the Galar region rich in nutrients.

  • Drednaw

Category: Bite Pokémon
Type: Water/Rock
Height: 3′3″
Weight: 254.6 lbs.
Ability: Strong Jaw / Shell Armor

The jagged fangs of the Bite Pokémon Drednaw are strong and sharp enough to bite through rock and iron. Though it has a heavy shell, its well-developed muscles allow it to move quickly. Drednaw is known to be extremely aggressive, so it takes a skilled Trainer to tame and handle this Pokémon. It seems that some Trainers will release Drednaw back into the wild once they discover they can’t handle it.

  • Corviknight

Category: Raven Pokémon
Type: Flying/Steel
Height: 7′3″
Weight: 165.3 lbs.
Ability: Pressure / Unnerve

It is said that Corviknight is the strongest Pokémon living in the skies of the Galar region. It can often be seen fearlessly soaring through the air. Many say that any Pokémon foolish enough to challenge Corviknight are sent running with just a sharp glare and cry from this fearsome Pokémon. Because Corviknight possess superb flying skills and high intelligence, many of them work for the company called Galar Taxi and help transport people from town to town.

  • Zacian (Pokemon Sword legendary)

???

Zacian’s attacks are so graceful that its movements captivate opponents. Holding what appears to be a sword in its mouth, Zacian’s shining blade can cut through anything.

  • Zamazenta (Pokemon Shield legendary)

???

With majestic movements and what appears to be a shield covering its body, Zamazenta can turn back any attack and overwhelm any opponents that dare face it.

If we consider that the new starters will have three forms and that the missing forms of the returning Pokemon will make appearances, we’re already slightly over 100 different species of Pokemon confirmed in less than 20 minutes! Considering Sun and Moon ended up at about 800 Pokemon in total, it’s looking like trainers are going to have more than enough to discover when Sword and Shield release for the Nintendo Switch on November 15. What are the standouts so far, which returning Pokemon were you happy to see and which ones do you hope make it into the base regions? Let us know in the comments!

Nintendo Direct Mini: ‘The World Ends With You Final Remix’ Makes Its Way To Switch!!

by The_acz

11 Years ago Square Enix released a small RPG title for the Nintendo DS.

This game had an odd story and even odder gameplay. Unlike normal RPG’S, this one took advantage of the dual screens on the console to create 2 separate styles of gameplay. One where you would normally attack your way through enemies, and the other where you’d use magical pins to attack. Although very positively reviewed and loved by fans, the game failed to sell enough copies to warrant a sequel and any continuation of the series. This game was The World Ends With You, and the game is finally receiving a 2nd chance at success.

Nintendo’s January mini direct kicked off with this announcement, and fans were absolutely ecstatic about the announcement. Remember that weird anime guy with the headphones from Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance? His name is Neku, and he’s the main protagonist of the game.  The game starts with a mysterious countdown timer appearing on his hand informing him to get downtown or face termination, and from there, mysteries and mysteries abound pop up.

For fans planning a return trip to the game, you’ll be happy to know that Square will be adding a whole new section of the game that definitively wraps up the story for good. No release date has been announced, but the game is slated as a Nintendo Switch exclusive for sometime this year.  Check out the announcement trailer below!

‘Animal Crossing Mobile’ Direct Coming Tomorrow!

by The_acz

The last time we saw a Nintendo mobile game grace our presence was this February with the release of Fire Emblem Heroes on android and IOS.  Announced about a year ago alongside Fire Emblem, Nintendo has been dead silent about Animal Crossing Mobile. Well, the increasingly painful wait is about to be over! This morning, Nintendo announced a brand new Animal Crossing direct for Tuesday, October 24th at 8 PM PST.  The direct will run about 15 minutes and showcase gameplay for the upcoming mobile title. Odds are we might even get the game tomorrow as well! What are you hoping to see in  Animal Crossing Mobile? Tell us in the comments below!

 

‘Splatoon 2’ Focused Nintendo Direct Airing Later This Week!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’ve been so busy getting my assed kicked at ARMS that I almost forgot just how close we are to Splatoon 2‘s anticipated release.

Nintendo has revealed that this Thursday, July 6th at 10AM Eastern / 7AM Pacific, they will be broadcasting a Splatoon 2 focussed Nintendo Direct presentation, marking a “re-FRESH-er on some of the new features, weapons, and styles” that the game will contain.

Nintendo already has my money for this one (naturally) but I’ll definitely be tuning in. I’d love to see more on the game’s new co-operative mode, and hopefully we’ll see a few additional previously-unannounced features.

Here’s the link to the Direct, which will naturally just be a placeholder page until Thursday.

‘Pokemon Ultra Sun’ And ‘Ultra Moon’ Take Us Back To Alola On November 17

by Josh Jackson

It looks like we’re getting our Pokemon Sun and Moon sequels, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

During the Pokemon focused Nintendo Direct, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon were revealed for the 3DS. Arriving on November 21st, they didn’t give us a whole lot of information to sink our teeth into. What we do know is that the game will once again take place in Alola, serving as an alternate story to the original. New Pokemon will be featured, but we don’t know if that means we’ll get brand new Pokemon, new Alola versions of old Pokemon, or straight up old characters are being added to the region. The only new Pokemon we did see were versions of the cover legendaries, Solgleo and Lunala, fused with #300 itself, Necrozma. What this means for the story, we have no idea, but it’s looking like the first game’s tale might not play into this one at all. Is it an alternate telling or set years apart? Hopefully we’ll find out more at E3.

I can’t say that I’m all that excited since we just came off of Alola and the original games a little over six months ago, but I’m going to keep an open mind and hope The Pokemon Company can wow me in the days leading up to its relatively close release date. It may not be on the Switch, but more Pokemon can’t be a bad thing, right?

This news follows the reveal of Pokken Tournament DX for the Switch and Pokemon Gold and Sliver for the 3DS virtual console. So we will be getting Pokemon on the Switch, just not in the way many of us were hoping.

Adam and I had plenty to say about the originals in our audio review, But I want your thoughts on these sequels. Are you ready for more Pokemon action, or is it too soon for sequels? Does this mean that the idea of a “third” version is dead and gone? Would you have rather had more time in between releases to possibly put these on the Switch instead? And does anyone else think the names sound incredibly bland? Fast forward to the end of the trailer below to catch all the footage we have, and let’s get the discussion started in the comments!

‘Pokemon Gold’ And ‘Pokemon Silver’ Will Shine Again On 3DS This September

by Josh Jackson

Outside of the Pokken Tournament DX and Pokemon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon reveals during the latest Nintendo Direct, there was one last surprise that sneaked into the tail end of the presentation. Following the success of the original Red Blue and Yellow on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2016, Pokemon Gold and Silver, their Game Boy Color sequels, will get their own retro revival on September 22, day and date with Pokken‘s Switch release.

Hailed by many as one of the greatest Pokemon generations of all time, Gold and Silver introduced many of the mechanics that have become mainstays in the years since, including breeding, berries, the ability for Pokemon to hold items, shiny Pokemon, special Poke Balls, the Special Attack and Special Defense split, and the debut of the steel and dark types. Some features like the Pokegear, which let you arrange rematches with trainers you’ve defeated, play a radio to manipulate encounter rates, and the day and night cycles where different Pokemon might appear depending on when you play have either been lost in time, or have sporadically popped in and out of the games, but with how much these sequels toyed with the mechanics, it’s no wonder why it’s so fondly remembered. Oh, and did I mention that you can revisit most of the map from the first game too? Why hasn’t that happened since!?

Like the previous Virtual Console release, these titles will also be Pokemon Bank compatible, meaning you’ll be able to transfer what you catch into Pokemon Sun and Moon, and presumably Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. But remember, you can’t transfer them back, so don’t let go of anything that Johto is too attached to!

Who else will be sitting in front of the eShop refreshing their screen this September? As my second favorite generation, I’m very excited to have a reason to play these again. Let us know what your favorite Gold and Silver moments are below!

Pokemon Arrives On The Nintendo Switch This September With ‘Pokken Tournament DX’

by Josh Jackson

During the sudden Pokemon focused Nintendo Direct, it was announced that Pokken Tourament DX, an enhanced version of last year’s Wii U fighter, Pokken Tournament, will mark the series’ Switch debut on September 22nd.

On top of the 16 characters featured in the original release, DX is adding five more characters to the brawl. Highlighting Empoleon, Scizor, Darkrai, Croagunk and the Sun/Moon starter, Decidueye, it looks like us console players will finally get the chance to master some new characters. In addition, the game is receiving a new 3-on-3 mode, bringing fast paced tag team action to an already wild fighter. Speaking of wild, if you’re going to be in LA next week for E3 and want to put your pro gaming skills to the test, Nintendo will hold a main stage tournament on June 14. Just try to do better than Reggie did at Smash, and you’ll be A-OK!

I’m happy to see a portable version of the game arrive, but I’m going to need to be convinced that this will be worth investing in the game a second time. The original was light on content, and when you consider that four of the five new characters have been available in arcades for months, only one brand new fighter is part of this package. This is great for Switch owners who never had a Wii U, but for the rest of us, it’s essentially a $60 DLC pack. If it’s released at a discounted price, that might make the investment a little easier, but I’m somehow doubting that will be the case. Let’s hope E3 has some more news to push us towards double dipping.
What did you think of the announcement, and will you be picking up Pokken Tournament DX for the second time? Or will this be your first chance to tackle this Pokemon arena? Let us know below!

Pokemon Direct Tomorrow!!

by The_acz

After many months of rumor, and speculation, Pokemon is finally having what seems to have become their yearly pre E3 Pokemon Direct. The direct will take place tomorrow morning, June 6th 2017 at 7AM PST (10AM EST) and be an 8 minute long presentation. Odds are that the reveal will be the highly anticipated and rumored Pokemon Stars. Will it be a simple port of Pokemon Sun/Moon, or will it be its own thing? The only thing we can do right now is speculate until tomorrow morning. Got a guess to what it is? Tell us in the comments below!

PSA: ‘ARMS’ Nintendo Direct Coming Tomorrow!

by The_acz

Just last week Nintendo announced their E3 plans for 2017, and so we assumed there wouldn’t be a Nintendo Direct until a month or two afterwards.

That’s not the case as Nintendo dropped a surprise announcement this morning saying that there will be a full presentation dedicated to the game ARMS tomorrow May 17th at 3PM PST. Odds are they’ll probably show off the main modes of the game, as well as the rest of the characters. There’ll also be a special Splatoon 2 treat at the end of the direct. Are you excited for ARMS? Tell us in the comments below!

Here Are The Highlights From Today’s Nintendo Direct!

by Natalie Kipper

This afternoon, a good portion of the gaming community tuned in to the latest Nintendo Direct presentation. For just a second shy of 11 and a half minutes, Nintendo bombarded fans with news of upcoming games for both the Switch and the 3DS. On the off chance you missed it, perhaps you had adult things to do or were napping, you can find the entire Nintendo Direct just below this sentence.

https://youtu.be/b0eA0AKk6wY

 

The video covered a ton of content so rather than go through it piece by piece, let’s take a look at the heavy hitters!

The headliners were ARMS and Splatoon 2. In the ARMS segment of the video (that I think kind of dragged on a bit), viewers were introduced to a new combatant, the Eastern culture-flavored Minmin. Along with Minmin, fans got a glimpse at different fighting strategies, such as equipping two different weapon types, as well as additional modes of play, like the 2-versus-2 matches. More information was also released about what makes each fighter different. Minmin, for example, can deflect projectiles with a timed kick as well as make use of a powered-up dragon arm to unleash extra damage. ARMS has a release date of June 16.

Out of all the games shown, I think Splatoon 2 is the one likely to produce the most buzz. The game’s segment showcased new gameplay mechanics, like reviving a teammate. The new mode shown was called Salmon Rush and focused on acquiring orbs dropped by enemies upon defeat. It looks like the big boss baddies yield the orbs needed to complete the main objective for the level. Splatoon 2 will ship on July 21 on the Nintendo Switch with an additional Direct leading up to the game’s release.

The Pikmin series makes its inaugural voyage to the Nintendo 3DS in Hey! PIKMIN. Players can expect the same alien-tossing and puzzle-solving they love but in a side-scrolling format. And for those amiibo maniacs out there (we are looking at you, Jonathan!), a special Pikmin amiibo will be sold the same day as the game’s release, July 28.

Speaking of amiibo, twelve additional figures are scheduled to be released this summer. First, The Legend of Zelda gets three more versions of Link on June 23. Those versions are Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword. And on July 21, there are amiibo for the three Super Smash Bros. fighters, Cloud, Corrin, and Bayonetta. There will be two versions of each of those three characters. Also coming in July are three Splatoon 2 amiibo, featuring an Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, and you guessed it, an Inkling Squid.

One game I am particularly excited about is Ever Oasis, heading to the Nintendo 3DS on June 23. It is an Action-RPG by Koichi Ichii, the brain behind the Mana series. Nintendo will reveal more about this title as we get closer to June.

What announcements got your blood pumping? Let us know in the comments!

‘Arms’ And ‘Splatoon 2’ Headline Upcoming April Nintendo Direct This Week!

by The_acz

With just 2 months until E3, Nintendo has announced that they’ll be holding a Nintendo Direct this week on Wednesday, April 12th. The direct will air at 3PM PST and focus mainly on Splatoon 2 and ARMS with a couple of surprises thrown throughout the presentation. Hopefully we get some details on their E3 plans as well during this direct as they’ve remained pretty quiet on that front. Which game are you more excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

‘Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows Of Valentia’ Arrives On The Battlefield This May!

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Fire Emblem dedicated Direct, a remake of the cult hit, Fire Emblem Gaiden was announced for the 3DS in the form of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Notable as a game that marked a short lived shift in the way the game played, Gaiden introduced the ability to explore dungeons and interact with towns. These features were largely ignored going forward, but Echoes is looking to modernize them for 2017 based off of the footage we’ve seen.

Similar to the most recent release, Fire Emblem Fates, Echoes puts players at the center of a conflict between two warring kingdoms. As Alm and Celica, adopted siblings who find themselves caught within the war, they’ll have to battle both sides if they want to bring peace back to the land. Naturally, what better way to deliver on that promise than with constant war.

As a big departure from the rest of the series, Echoes will mirror Gaiden with a modern twist, with full 3D dungeon exploration and the ability to break out in battle at a moment’s notice. Being able to navigate towns and communicate with your party will feel more familiar to more recent fans, but we’re excited to see how all of these changes will carry over when its release rolls around.

Between more news on the mobile game, two new Amiibo that will accompany Echoes, a brand new Switch game and game play footage of Fire Emblem Warriors, it’s a great time to be a Fire Emblem fan. What are you hoping to see in Echoes?

PSA: ‘Fire Emblem’ Nintendo Direct Today At 2 PM Pacific

by Natalie Kipper

Come 2 PM Pacific/ 5 PM Eastern, all Fire Emblem fans should tune in to today’s Nintendo Direct, focusing on the classic game series. The presentation will be available at Nintendo’s site as well as Twitch.

I suspect some portion of the video will be dedicated to the newly announced Nintendo Switch game, Fire Emblem Warriors, but who can say for sure?

What do you hope will be revealed on today’s Nintendo Direct?

‘Animal Crossing: New Leaf’ Nintendo Direct Airs Tomorrow Morning

by Natalie Kipper

In the previous Nintendo Direct, nestled among the numerous new titles announced was news of an update to the much-beloved Nintendo 3DS game, Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The update, entitled “Welcome amiibo,” was briefly touched upon but viewers were promised a more-indepth video later in the year. Well, that time has almost arrived. Tomorrow, November 2, at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, an Animal Crossing: New Leaf-centric Nintendo Direct will air.

Beyond the video, the official Animal Crossing twitter account has released a few screenshots as well as a note that the update will clear out all those weeds in your town that have no doubt accumulated.

And let’s not forget about those 50 new Animal Crossing amiibo cards that release December 2! What an exciting time to be a mayor, right?

‘Pikmin’ Comes To The 3DS! But It’s Not What You Think…

by Josh Jackson

Since the original Nintendo DS launched over 10 years ago, Pikmin always seemed like it would be a natural fit for the touch screen, (which was proven on the Wii U with Pikmin 3.) It may have taken a decade to land on handheld platforms, but Olimar and his army of adorable carrots are finally coming to the 3DS. Except… It’s nothing like what any of us would expect.

Trading in its real time strategy game play for what can only be described as an action focused 2D platformer, Pikmin for the Nintendo 3DS looks to turn what we know about the series on its head. Alternating between the fire resistant red Pikman, the high flying yellow Pikmin that laugh off the dangers of electricity, or the blue Pikmin, which are the only type that can survive in water, Olimar will use them to attack, solve puzzles, and fight bosses as he works his way towards the end of each stage.

Not much is known about the game outside of its reveal trailer, such as whether or not the other Pikmin variants like the white, purple, pink or rock Pikmin will make an appearance, but I’m approaching this one cautiously at the moment. What we’ve seen looks good so far, but we only have to look to last year’s Chibi Robo: Zip Lash to find a sequel where an established game was converted to a 2D platformer for the sake of wider appeal, only for it to lose much of what made it special in the process. Let’s hope Olimar and his crew avoid this pitfall.

Thoughts on the new Pikmin? Are you excited about the new direction, or would you prefer the classic style to return? Sound off below and let us know!

New StreetPass Games And A 100 Mii Update Are Now Live!

by Josh Jackson

Just when you thought StreetPass Mii Plaza was quietly retired, we get pulled back in.

During today’s 3DS focused Nintendo Direct, it was announced that a much needed update to the popular StreetPass Mii Plaza, where 3DS owners could retrieve information and characters from other handhelds that they cross paths with to use in a variety of mini games. Players who find themselves passing by droves of people will finally find relief in the character cap increasing from 10 to 100, making it so you’ll have to empty it out far less frequently than in the past. Personally speaking, the biggest reason why I don’t use the feature nearly as much as I used to is because it defeated the purpose of bringing games with me when I would have to be glued to this app in order to constantly empty it. Being able to speed through the Mii introductions and accumulate ten times the amount of characters at a time is a very welcomed improvement, even if this change should have come years ago.

Considering most hardcore StreetPassers would have gotten everything they wanted out of all the games by now, Nintendo also revealed five new Plaza games that can be purchased immediately following the presentation. Promising to be even less time consuming than games past, each one aims to give you quick, yet satisfying rewards from building your community of players. The released games are:

Slot Car Rivals

A racing game where you compete against the best times of the people you StreetPass with.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Slot Car Rivals

Market Crashers

Make stock market predictions based on the advice of the Mii’s you StreetPass and become a digital Bernie Madoff.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Market Crashers

Ninja Launcher

Stuff ninja clad Mii’s in a cannon and shoot them at things!

StreetPass Mii Plaza Ninja Launcher

Mii Trek

Giving the step counter a purpose outside of Play Coins, the accumulated steps from the Mii’s you collect allow your team of characters to travel farther and discover unknown treasures.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Mii Trek

Feed Mii

Use ingredients gathered from Mii’s to make the perfect meal.

StreetPass Mii Plaza Feed Mii

Of the five, your choice of either Slot Car Rivals or Market Crashers can be downloaded for free. From there, you can purchase any of the four from within the app for $2.99, or all five in a bundle for $8.99. For those taking the plunge, you’ll want to be near a wireless hotspot this weekend as well, since another National StreetPass Weekend will allow you to gather Mii’s from across the country at select locations.

Let us know what games you’re planning on picking up, and if this update is enough to get you to go back to your StreetPassing ways!

‘Super Mario Maker’ Jumps Its Way Onto 3DS!

by The_acz

Looks like the trend of Wii U games making their way to the 3DS isn’t ending any time soon.

Announced this morning during the newest Nintendo Direct, we learned that the super popular Super Mario Maker will be getting its own 3DS port. The handheld version is set to include all tools from the console version and even a brand new tutorial mode to help inspire you to create levels! Sadly, some of the online features from the Wii U version had to be neutered, but in its place, one of the new ways to play peoples levels will be through street pass and local wireless connection. Not only that, but you’ll still be able to play recommended courses and the super popular 100 Mario challenge!

SMM 3DS

That’s still not even everything! Also included will be around 100 or so pre made courses by Nintendo that will have you trying to accomplish many different challenges such as defeating all enemies or collecting all coins within the time limit.  The best part is that you don’t have to wait much longer because the game launches on December 2nd! Are you excited for this port, or are you just going to stick with the Wii U version? Tell us in the comments below!

Die Of Cuteness With ‘Poochy And Yoshi’s Woolly World’

by Natalie Kipper

The adorable Wii U platformer, Yoshi’s Woolly World is heading to the Nintendo 3DS next year under the title, Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World. As one would expect from the name change, this is no mere port. Beyond containing every level from the original, your canine pal, Poochy, is getting levels of his own. The goal of his stages is to acquire as many beads as possible within the area through timed jumps.
poochygameplaypoochypups

But, that is not all. Poochy is joined by Poochy Pups, who sniff out hidden treasure for Yoshi when summoned. Can this game get any cuter?

poochy amiibo

Why, yes it can! Releasing alongside the game is a Poochy amiibo. Like the Yarn Yoshi and Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo, this little guy is made of yarn, stuffing, and other plush toy materials. No word yet on what this amiibo will do in the game.

Also included in the game are 30 stop-motion animation shorts, made in collaboration with the Japanese studio, Dwarf.

Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World releases in North America on February 3. Beyond the standard edition, there will also be a bundle containing the game and Poochy amiibo.

These New Classic ‘Legend Of Zelda’ Amiibo Revive Our Thrill For The Hunt!

by Josh Jackson

Before this morning’s Nintendo Direct, we thought the only Amiibo news we would have to look forward to in the coming months was the release of the fantastic looking Breath of the Wild figurines we told you about at E3. Now, we’re feeling that old Amiibo Hunter call as Nintendo announced four classic Legend of Zelda Amiibo, taking us from the series’ beginnings, to the toon shaded variants from The Wind Waker.

Featuring an 8-bit version of Link modeled after his NES debut, a new Ocraina of Time version with the Hero of Time playing his titular instrument in a pose that looks like it’s ripped straight from the game’s timeless artwork, and the debut of Toon Zelda alongside the baton wielding Toon Link in a new double pack, each figure will function like their standard counterparts across their compatible games. In addition, each one was teased to have compatibility with Breath of the Wild, but in what ways was not yet specified.

I have to say that I absolutely love that Toon Zelda is getting the Amiibo treatment, and with Wind Waker being my favorite game in the series, I’ll always welcome more toys to throw my money at. Admittedly though, the Ocarina of Time variant is my favorite of the bunch, which looks gorgeous in the released images. The Ocarina doesn’t get enough love, so seeing it represented here just feels special, especially when I imagine how nice it would look on that Master Sword stand! My only complaint? If we’re getting three new Link’s and a new Zelda, this would have been a perfect time for a Toon Ganondorf release! Oh well, we’ll take what we can get.

What are your thoughts on the new Amiibo reveals, or on the Direct as a whole? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

Choose Your Side For ‘Yo-kai Watch 2’

by Natalie Kipper

Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls was one of the myriad titles covered in today’s Nintendo Direct. The segment brought to light a new aspect of the twin games: a rivalry between two Yo-kai factions. If you play Bony Spirits, you are teamed up with Arachnus, a spider yo-kai (the one on the left in the header). Select Fleshy Souls and you’ll be siding with the frog-like yo-kai, Toadal Dude (on the right in the header image).

What does rivalry mean for you, the player? Much like in Pokémon, certain Yo-kai are exclusive to each version. Fortunately, trading between versions is an option.

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Additional battle strategies were also introduced. Anyone who has played the first Yo-kai Watch know that recruiting yo-kai to your team requires you to befriend them. In the original game, the best way to bolster your chances was to feed the yo-kai their favorite food. This time around, you can also poke the yo-kai with your stylus which, when done fast enough, will increase the likelihood that they will join your cause.

Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls will release in North America on September 30. Look for a free demo of the game on the Nintendo eShop mid-September.

Whose side are you on?

Alola Form Rattata, New Z Moves, And An Early Purchase Bonus Revealed For ‘Pokemon Sun’ and ‘Pokemon Moon’

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo’s 3DS focused Nintendo Direct presentation couldn’t have gone on without some new Pokemon news. As expected, the highly anticipated Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon got their share of the spotlight, with a new version of everyone’s favorite candy and stardust fodder, Rattata. Alongside some new moves and a bonus for early buyers, the reasons to get excited keep on piling up!

First, following the trend of giving the original 150 new forms, Rattata now comes as a dual type, adding Dark to its typical Normal typing. Standing in a bipedal stance and seemingly wearing armor, the things look as terrifying as you would expect a giant rat would. Coming equipped with either the Gluttony or Hustle, the Route 1 mainstay will either eat its equipped berry faster, or have increased attack at the expense of physical move accuracy. We can only assume that a new form will follow for its evolved form, Raticate, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer for official confirmation.

Pokemon Sun Moon Rattata Banner

Next, you know those fancy Z-Moves that we’ve been talking about? The super attacks that are supposed to be type exclusive? Well, now we’ve learned that some Pokemon will now have Z-Moves exclusive to them. Showing off Alola Form Raichu’s Stoked Sparksurfer attack in the trailer below, (as if the surfing themes surrounding it weren’t strong enough), Pikachu’s evolved form will ride its tail through the sky, only to crash down for a devastating electric attack. While without its own Alola Form, Snorlax will squash opponents flat with its Pulverizing Pancake, bringing new meaning to the phrase, “throwing your weight around.”

Speaking of Snorlax, early purchasers will receive a special Munchlax. The pre-evolved version of Snorlax holds Snorlian-Z, a special item that allows it to tap into its most powerful move once evolved. You’ll have until January 11 to redeem it, so make sure you don’t sleep on it.

We must ask though, are Z-Moves completely replacing Mega Evolution? They work similarly by needing a hold item to activate, and the Alola forms seem to cover new versions of old Pokemon. Considering we haven’t heard a peep about Mega Evolving throughout the entire build towards the Sun and Moon release, will it make a return at all? We’ll surely know once we get closer to the game’s November 18 launch, but until then, let’s keep speculating!

Nintendo 3DS Direct Coming This Week!

by The_acz

A Nintendo Direct is on its way later this week!

While we don’t know yet if Nintendo might still be secretly planning an NX reveal for later this month, this direct won’t be that. The live stream will be on Thursday September 1st at 7am PST and will solely be focused on upcoming 3DS games and nothing else, however, there is a small chance we could get a reveal date for an NX focused direct for later in the month. This is probably a stretch, but hey!, Nintendo has done stuff like that before. Are you excited for the direct? What 3DS are you hoping to see? Comment below and tell us!

Nintendo Direct: ‘Monster Hunter Generations’ Has Been Announced, And Is Right Around The Corner!

by Josh Jackson

The latest Nintendo Direct had plenty of great first party news for Wii U and 3DS owners, but that didn’t mean third party announcements would get left in the dust. Perhaps the biggest announcement of the entire presentation, Capcom and Nintendo unveiled the latest Monster Hunter title, which will arrive on our 3DS handhelds a lot sooner that we thought.

Coming Summer 2016 and no longer titled Monster Hunter X, Monster Hunter Generations looks to bring even more mobility and attack options for our custom hunters to take advantage of when battling these towering beasts. Guns are seemingly getting a big overhaul, allowing gunners to leap above monsters and shoot them from the air, alongside some new air based sword attacks. My only concern is that MH4 was significantly easier thanks to its added attack options combined with many of the early monsters failing to adapt with the game play. If Generations’ early screens are anything to go by however, both new and returning monsters should be even more vicious, hopefully keeping up better with our new tricks.

Not to be outdone in the DLC department, Generations is already following up on MH4U’s massive amount of free costumes by revealing Marth’s gear from Fire Emblem being available for the title. You know why that’s awesome? Because the prince’s androgynous appearance would work for both men AND women!

Monster Hunter Generations Marth

Want more details on Monster Hunter Generations? Take a gander at our screenshot gallery below, and re-watch the trailer to your heart’s content.

What are you looking the most forward to as you embark on your next hunting quest? Sound off in the comments, and be sure to share your friend codes so we can give MH4U a proper send off!

 

 

Nintendo Direct: SNES Games Hit 3DS Virtual Console TODAY!

by Shane O'Hare

Nintendo is bringing a huge update to the Virtual Console platform for 3DS. Gamers will be able to play classic SNES titles as soon as today!

You can get your hands on Pilotwings, Super Mario World and F-Zero today! More titles will be released later this month, and even more early April.

The SNES on 3DS will feature a “pixel perfect” mode, which guarantees that games will play/display in their original formats. Staying true to the retro titles we know and love.

Nintendo Direct: ‘Splatoon’ Updates Incoming!

by Natalie Kipper

During today’s Nintendo Direct, Bill Trinen announced that two free updates are heading to Wii U’s popular paint-shooter, Splatoon. The first update, available March 8, focuses on re-balancing gear as well as updating the matchmaking system. A later update, called “Sheldon’s Picks” (named after the weapon’s seller), will come packed with new weapon combos for you to enjoy.

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Nintendo Direct: ‘Paper Mario: Color Smash’ Announced For Wii U

by Shane O'Hare

WE’RE GETTING A NEW PAPER MARIO!

Just announced in the Nintendo Direct is Paper Mario: Color Splash.

This time around Paper Mario and the gang head to a brand new far away island, but when they get there they find out it is losing its color!

Use color to bring life back to the island, and edit the world around you.

Paper Mario: Color Splash is set to release in 2016

Nintendo Direct: ‘Star Fox: Zero’ & ‘Star Fox: Guard’ Show Up April 22nd!

by Shane O'Hare

We have a nice little Nintendo Direct going on right now over on Nintendo’s Twitch channel, and they started out the bat with some great Star Fox: Zero news.

The game will feature the classic branching path structure from the N64 and SNES releases. Miyamoto put off great emphasis that paths will really alter how the levels will play out.

They also announced that the Fox Amiibo will unlock the classic, SNES Arwing skin. It looks really cool, and I got chills seeing that old bird flying.

If you were ever worried that this game was going to be thin, then you’re in for a surprise. Miyamoto announced an additional game that will ship with the retail versions of Star Fox: Zero, Star Fox: Guard. 

You take up the role of Slippy, protecting his Uncle’s (Grippy) mining operations on alien planets.

It is a unique twist on the Tower Defense genre, and it felt a lot like Sanctum. You will command 12 video cameras, and have to switch between them in order to defeat enemies.

Both Star Fox: Zero & Guard hit stores April 22nd, and can be purchased separately digitally.

Surprise! A New Nintendo Direct Is Happening Tomorrow!

by The_acz

SURPRISE! 

Nintendo has just announced that they’ll be planning the first full length Nintendo Direct of 2016 for tomorrow at 2PM PST. The Direct will focus on 3DS and Wii U games launching through the summer (You gotta save something for E3.) Are you excited about this out of nowhere announcement? What are you hoping they announce?

‘Pokemon Sun’ & ‘Pokemon Moon’ Trademarks; Logos Appear Online

by Shane O'Hare

We’re less than 24 hours away from a special, Pokemon Themed Nintendo Direct, and we just got our first glimpse of what we can expect tomorrow!

Nintendo, as of this morning, have filed for trademarks for two new Pokemon related items. Take a look at the OHIM entries below!

poke trade

OHIM (Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market) is the European trademark association, so these are for EU specifically. Both entries have the same “Nice Classifications” of 9, 16, 28, and 41. These are Scientific, Paper, Games, and Entertainment respectively. For Nintendo to trademark these two items, with logos in these categories we can safely assume that these are the newest Pokemon games to be announced!

Be sure to check out the Nintendo Twitch Channel tomorrow morning at 7 AM PST to see the full release!

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Get Ready For A Pokemon-Themed Nintendo Direct This Friday!

by The_acz

Are you ready for a new generation of Pokemon?

Nintendo announced this morning that a Pokemon-dedicated Nintendo Direct will be live on February 26th at 7 a.m PT and will last a quick 5 minutes.

Many people think we’ll finally get the official announcement for what’s rumored to be Pokemon Rainbow.

What do you think will be announced? Comment below, and let the speculating begin!