A Nintendo Direct is always an opportunity for excitement. What will the storied company have up their sleeves for the next few months? In today’s Nintendo Direct, viewers got a glimpse of new Super Smash Bros. fighters, a sneak peek inside Luigi’s Mansion 3, an Overwatch release announcement (which was not a surprise), a look at everyone’s next new favorite Pokémon, and much, much more. Here’s what you might have missed.
More Fighters Join the Battle
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate continues to add new fighters to the mix, this time in the form of classic video game characters Banjo and Kazooie. The duo enter the fray today along with a new stage called Spiral Mountain complete with background characters and 10 new tracks of music re-arranged from the original games.
Along with the new character pack, which retails for $5.99, the game itself also updated today with a brand new game mode. Take a swing at the sand bag and hit it as far as you can in the new Home Run Contest mode.
Even more fighters are on the way as downloadable content, including Sans from Undertale (as a Mii Fighter costume) and a Fatal Fury crossover as Terry Bogard is added to the roster in November.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Trainer customization will play an even bigger role in the newest entry in the Pokémon video game franchise. A wide variety of outfits, hairstyles, and even makeup will make you feel like you’re in the story more than ever.
In addition to the custom appearances and a Pokémon Camp where you can cook different kinds of curry rice (we drooled at the sight of Toast Curry), new Pokémon from the Galar region were announced–and one in particular immediately made a big splash.
Polteageist, a Ghost type, hides insides dishes nestled inside the cabinets at hotels and restaurants. “[Its] body is made of tea,” says Nintendo. “You may even be able to have a taste.”
Admit it, you’re going to try it.
SNES Added to Switch Online
A catalog of 20 classic SNES games, from Super Mario World to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, will be available to Nintendo Switch Online users on September 5. The games also include the earth-shattering feature of a time rewind, which rewinds a few seconds back so you can retry that jump or fix that mistake before you made it.
Nintendo also announced A new wireless SNES controller for the Nintendo Switch, priced at $29.99. This will make playing the classics feel just like old times.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one: Kyle Katarn and the legendary Star Wars game he stars in are coming to the Switch.
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast puts you in Kyle’s boots in the (Legends-era) New Republic as he hunts down a Jedi who has betrayed the new order. Replay this classic or swing Kyle’s lightsaber for the first time on September 24.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo offered a closer look at island life in the newest entry in the Animal Crossing series, scheduled to take over everyone’s lives on March 20, 2020.
You’re new to the island, so Tom Nook is more than happy to give you a tour of island life. Old standbys like pulling weeds and shaking trees are there, but we’ve got some new features too. For instance, crafting tools and furniture yourself at a work bench, and the ability to decorate outside your home. You can also dig up and replant trees with fruit still on them, leap over a river with a vaulting pole, and use a brand new NookPhone that’s loaded with apps.
An update to Tetris 99 and new games for the Nintendo Switch like Super Kirby Clash, Return of the Obra Dinn, Little Town Hero, Doom 64, and Trials of Mana were also announced during today’s presentation. These are just a few of the surprises announced during the Direct, and we can’t wait to hear more.
What was your favorite announcement during the Nintendo Direct? Tell us in the comments.
All Images: Nintendo