Before I get to talking about the Nintendo Direct, I want to talk a bit about the Nintendo Badge Arcade! It has been something I wanted since it was announced in Japan and I was thrilled to see us finally receive it yesterday. They already updated today with some new Splatoon-themed machines and I even uploaded a video of me playing all the machines yesterday:
And look how nice my theme menu looks now:
I’m even a level 4 collector now!:
I would say my only big issue with the game is that if you get any plays (whether due to buying them or from earning free plays), you can not save them for later. You HAVE to use them all before you can exit out. I have just one Inkling left for one of the Splatoon ones, but have every other machine completed already. I’m not going to spend a dollar for 5 slots when it’s in a position that would only take me one and then leave me to use 4 slots on things I do not want/need. However, considering many of these are limited time (And if you look at the set counts, there are A LOT coming), I don’t really like holding it off until more machines are out tomorrow for me to use it.
A small minor issue though is it uses the style of Japanese UFO catchers of the 1-2 buttons where you really have only one shot to position it unlike the arcade stick crane games that are more common around here (which allow you to fully move the crane up, down, left, and/or right before having it go down as long you don’t run out of time). I’ve definitely seen the UFO catcher styled ones around here too, of course, but it’s just not as common overall and I generally don’t prefer them (even if I do well with them).
But yes, moving onto the Nintendo Direct… as usual, I will be only be mentioning things where I have something to say, so I won’t be going over everything. If you missed the Nintendo Direct, be sure to check it out!
So, the first thing announced was Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. I’ll be honest, I don’t really understand all the wanting or need for HD versions of games. If it wasn’t for the Amiibo and the fact that apparently the data on it will be able to be used in the next Zelda game, I don’t think we’d have even gotten it, but for now, we did go ahead and preorder it.
The only game I can honestly say I would want to see as an HD remake is Pokemon Snap and even then, I’d prefer a sequel with all the Pokemon and way more courses if I had a choice. Going back to Twilight Princess HD, I do think the Wolf Link (and Midna) Amiibo looks pretty cool:
Though… the stone base on top of the little Amiibo base does look a bit silly. I really do like the stone base though–just find it looks kind of funny on top of the tiny Amiibo base.
Splatoon has been such a disappointment for me lately. While I was able to try and continue despite some of my issues with the game, after more and more Kraken nerfs (to the point where I can barely use it to defend anymore) paired with the frustrating level up system for 20+, motivation has been hard to keep playing. Despite playing in the Splatfest before last, I never even picked up my Seasnails and I didn’t even bother participating in the most recent one. I don’t want to say I’ve given up on Splatoon, but I think unless there is an overhaul in mechanics and/or a mode where you can do online co-op on one Wii U or play as friends versus the computer, I just don’t see myself having enough fun with it.
Regardless, the two upcoming stages look great. I think the Art gallery looks really nice and the pool stage looks like a lot of fun. I’m super disappointed Squids can’t be in water as I kind of just want to jump into the pool and hang out with the Jellyfish on that stage. The art stage even has a fountain:
Moving onto outfits, while the North America Nintendo Direct said 40+ new things, Japan’s said 60+. I don’t know if Japan actually did get more things (I really hope that isn’t the case) or if North America just said a smaller number due to it being the same number during the last big gear update. While it’s unsure if there are new dresses just yet (I sure hope so), I did want to at least pick out a few of my favorite pieces of clothing from the trailer we saw:
(I do wish the cardigan was a different color though or even changed with your ink color. And I think the sailor shirt could have been nice as a full dress too.)
Also, there is a giant Sea Snail in the art museum stage and I want it:
And bonus art feature:
Moving onto the next thing, I just want to say I think the web portal for Super Mario Maker is pretty cool. I still have no plans to get the game right now, but it reminds me a lot of what LittleBitPlanet did with LBP.me.
I do not have any plans to get the latest Mario Tennis installment, but I actually really like the Amiibo functionality and find it really cool that you can train them and make them your partner.
They also seem a lot more intuitive than they were in Smash Brothers.
And just to skip a head a bit for a similar “I do not plan to get the game but I like its Amiibo functionality” view is Mario & Luigi Paper Jam which has a cool card thing through Amiibo:
Unfortunately, since both do save data to the Amiibo, even if I did get the games, I would need more of the same character as to not erase my Smash Brothers and Mario Party 10 data…
Heading back to going in order, I’m going to bring up Pokemon Picross… another “free” to play Pokemon game. I don’t even know how a pay feature is going to work in Picross, but I’m just… sick of these free to start Pokemon games. I’d much rather pick up a $30-$40 game than deal with microtransactions. Regardless, it is coming out in December and I might as well try it. Plus they said it will have all the Megas which means Mega Audino and well:
Can’t resist Mega Audino dropping in. (Lovely gif done by Baras)
I’m also going to touch briefly on the “Very Important Meeting” (which I am looking forward to the next part of) and say that I really love just how much effort it looks like has gone into bringing YO-KAI Watch over. Between the Anime (and very similar openings–great job, guys. I have so much appreciation for English dubbed versions of the exact Japanese opening versus changing it completely) and commercials and social media accounts, it’s just really great and makes me really wish I could get the game already even more. Once things get a bit less crazy, it’s one of the first games I plan to pick up and I’m really looking forward to it.
Next up is the upcoming Animal Crossing Amiibo (and Lucas)…
While the date is fine for the Amiibo figures, for the cards… I really want to know why? They’re out in Japan. PAL regions are getting them next week. Why are we getting them so much later? Are we going to be months behind for future cards as well? This is just… super depressing. I’m not going to pay the overpricedness of the PAL region cards for English ones. It’s just… I don’t understand. In a money point of view, this really is for the best–between my wedding and other games, not having to buy two boxes of series 2 Amiibo cards super soon is probably a good thing, but from a game playing sense and how they are the only way to unlock the special villager characters (who sometimes have special items), I just feel very… frustrated and disappointed by the decision.
We then move onto Pokken which I still don’t find myself too interested in. Fighting has always been my least favorite part of Pokemon so a fighting game for Pokemon is just… the last thing I’d want I guess. I am curious about any trainer options for it though (as we do see trainers) along with future Pokemon they may add. We already learned Mega Audino is an awesome fighter thanks to the Anime episode that aired today so if Mega Audino gets added, that’d give me a reason to buy it:
(vote Mega Audino for Pokken, gifs by ceresmon)
Also, the very first Pokemon Amiibo card has been announced:
I think it’d be neat to see one for all the fighters. I don’t want it to get super crazy (one for every Pokemon), but I think I could at least focus on just getting my favorites with these.
Next, I want to bring up Fire Emblem: Fates. Between the split paths and things I’ve learned about it, I’ve pretty much decided I’ll most likely not be playing it. That said, my fiance does still want it and the collector’s edition is honestly pretty good:
It’s a great price considering it comes with both games, the bonus route, and physical goods as well, so we made sure to preorder it already.
We also had an announcement of Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow coming to Virtual Console (and trading being done through Wireless). While I am excited for it, I actually still have my original copies of Blue and Yellow so I probably won’t get it. Plus, I’m sure a lot of the glitches (from the Cinnabar Island glitch to getting Mew) have been fixed which really did add to some of the experience. And how else would you get Mew legitly in the game itself? :P Mew’s sprite in Red/Blue is still my favorite Mew sprite overall.
Finally, we’ll bring up one of the most surprising things from the Direct… Cloud being in Smash.
I think most people felt that way, Cloud. I know we’ll definitely have to get his Amiibo. Final Fantasy VII is one of my all-time favorite Final Fantasy games and is the game my overall favorite Final Fantasy character is in–Aerith. I was hoping she may be part of his final smash, but nope… Maybe some of the other characters can be Assist trophies? At the very least, I would like an Aerith costume please, Nintendo. For now though, at least we have Chocobo hats:
I really hope we get an awesome remix of the Chocobo song too. The Midgar Stage also looks really fun.
I’ve noticed a lot of people think Cloud is the ballot winner though and to be honest, I really don’t think so. Besides the fact that I think we’re getting more than one from the Ballot, I feel with the message of a big Smash thing in December, that will be where the ballot results and a bunch of new things will be announced so I’ll look forward to that.
And to end it… still no Style Savvy 3 announcement :( I really do hope we get it someday and I mean, North America doesn’t usually announce those games in Directs, but with PAL regions getting it next week… it’s really hard continuing to stay hopeful.
As for the lack of Pokemon Z (or Y2/X2), I’m not too surprised and probably more relieved than disappointed. I feel like Pokemon games have been coming out too quickly and have found myself more disappointed than excited so I’d rather more time go into something. I hope whatever they do for a sequel X/Y game though that it will be a continuation of the story rather than the usual 3rd version things as I feel there was a lot to expand upon. Also I can have a Mega Audino and a customized trainer so that’d be pretty cool.