The March 8 Nintendo Direct had plenty of awesome Nintendo stuff to show off: New titles, release date announcements, and one big tease of a surprise. See the highlights below:
First, the big news — SUPER SMASH BROS. ON SWITCH
Release Date: TBA 2018
Sure, Nintendo didn’t reveal a whole lot in terms of details surrounding the game, but we do know that it’s coming sometime this year and will feature characters from the Splatoon series, as well as Smash staples such as Mario, Link, and more.
Check out the trailer below:
New Mario Tennis Aces Details Released
Release Date: June 22
Mario Tennis Aces features more than 15 playable characters, each with their own pros and cons, and up to 4-player multiplayer. New details were revealed about the split-second-decision-making you’ll be doing as you wage a battle with the controller or the joycon.
Four main types of hits will be available in your arsenal: basic, topspin, slice, and lob. Here are some of the other modes and skills you’ll get to use in Mario’s upcoming new tennis title:
- Zone Shot: Aim and shoot to pinpoint any spot using motion controls, then send the ball crashing into your enemy. This powerful shot will hurt the racket unless it is blocked, but blocking it takes skill and timing. This move uses up energy from your gauge.
- Zone Speed: This skill slows the action down to help you nail that perfect block, or catch up to an errant ball. Using this move also costs energy.
- Trick Shot: Boosts the energy gauge—if you can time it right.
- Special Shot: This powerful move uses up a large chunk of energy, but for a huge payoff!
Your energy gauge fills up over time or as you use Trick Shots, allowing you to choose how you play. Will you go for points or a KO? Will you be on the offensive or the defensive? You choose the strategy.
Want to just play plain old tennis? The Simple Rules Mode allows only basic shots. Activate the Swing Mode to use the joycon like a tennis racket. Finally, Story Mode gives tennis a new twist with different objectives, target practice, and even boss battles.
The game will allow online play, and host tournaments where you can earn special outfits and even more playable characters.
Experience the game before it’s out with a special online tournament, where players can play 1 vs 1 for free before launch. More details on this will be announced at a later date.
Octopath Traveler Reveals New Characters and Release Date
Release Date: July 13
With the release date confirmed, upcoming unique RPG Octopath Travelers has revealed two more characters from their roster:
- Tressa the Merchant: Tressa’s Path Action is “Purchase,” which allows her to get special items from people she encounters on her travels.
- Alfyn the Apothecary: Alfyn is on a mission to heal others. His Path Action is “Inquire,” which worms out info that others won’t have access to.
More info about the job system was also revealed: Characters begin with one base job but can equip additional jobs to expand strategic options.
A Special Edition of the game will be available for purchase on the day of release, which will include:
- A Popup book with art and background for the 8 characters
- A map
- An OST
- A replica coin based on the in-game currency
A free demo is now available.
Splatoon 2 Version 3.0 Update, Octo Expansion
The Ver 3.0 update for Splatoon 2 has been scheduled for release in late April. It will include:
- 100+ new pieces of gear
- More stages: Pirhana Pit, Camp Triggerfish, Wahoo World
- Rank X: an extreme rank, higher than S+ (more details to be announced)
- Callie will appear in Octocanyon after you fulfill certain conditions
A new video also showed off a brand new mode of play, in the upcoming new Octo Expansion!
The first paid DLC will sell for $19.99 and will feature a huge new single-player story mode featuring an octoling named Agent 8. Lost in an underground subway, Agent 8 must travel to the 8 underground lab facilities to regain her memories and return to the world above.
Expect new missions, stories, and lore that will shed new light on beloved characters. You only think you know everything…
Pre-purchase the DLC now to receive Octo headgear and clothes.
New Titles and Other News:
WarioWare Gold
Release Date: August 3
Everyone’s favorite baddie returns with the biggest collection to date: over 300 microgames.
The trailer promises more new goodies as well as new looks on familiar characters.
Dillion’s Dead-heat breakers
Release Date: May 24
Action meets tower defense as Dillon protects his home from… what, exactly?
Team up with Dillon using an animalized Mii character—and let your friends join the battle as gunners.
Check out the demo, available May 10.
Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Story
Release Date: 2019
Team up with Bowser from the inside, as you race to find a cure for a terrible new disease. The updated version includes a new chapter, which tells us Bowser Jr.’s side of things.
Detective Pikachu
Release Date: March 23
You’ve never seen Pikachu like this before. Pre-purchase the game starting today to see the gruff side of the loveable mascot.
A new amiibo is also in the works featuring the detective, with the option to snag an extra-large, 5.3 cm amiibo.
Luigi’s Mansion
Release Date: TBA 2018
Experience Luigi’s haunting tale of ghosts and vacuum cleaners, remade especially for the Nintendo 3DS. See the mansion map on the bottom screen, or take on a challenge with the new Boss Rush mode.
Nintendo Switch News
Kirby Star Allies
Release Date: March 16
Join the fight and create your own dream-team of kirby fighters, even teaming up with former enemies like MetaKnight and King Deedeedee.
More playable characters will become available over time, through free DLCs. The first free update is scheduled to hit the store on March 28, and will bring the following characters from past Kirby games: Rick, Kine, Coo, Marx, and Gooey.
Free demo is available now.
Okami HD
Release Date: Summer 2018
Use the touchscreen or the joycon to draw brush strokes in this HD remake of the beautiful game Okami.
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido
Release Date: June 8
Eat sushi to line them up and attack the opposition in this fun-looking game. Join others online in multiplayer mode or fight the great sushi monopoly yourself.
The game will be available on June 8th for both the Switch and the 3DS.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Release Date: 2018
Action, racing, and puzzling come together as Travis enters his games and plays through seven different game titles, from the inside. Strike down bugs using combination moves in adventure mode, which tells a new story, or coop multiplayer mode with friends.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Release Date: May 25
Praise the sun! The new Solaire of Astoria amiibo will be available on the remastered game’s launch, which will give players access to the praise the sun gesture in-game.
Try out the game before launch during a pre-release network test. More details coming soon!
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Release Date: July 13
Guide Captain Toad through this boxy puzzler as he searches for treasures to uncover. Rotate the world or recruit a friend to provide cover fire. The game will feature some Super Mario Oddyssey levels in this new style!
A Nintendo 3DS version is planned.
Undertale
Release Date… Eventually.
The teaser didn’t give away much except confirm that the indie darling is coming to the Switch. Look out for it!
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Release Date: July 10
The new bundle will include all three Crash games with fully upgraded animations, cinematics, and environments. Includes the remaster of Crash Bandicoot 1, 2, and 3.
Little Nightmares: Complete Edition
Release Date: May 18
Adventure through the creepy world of this indie puzzle platformer, revealing two tales in one game. The Complete Edition includes all past downloadable content, as well as an unlockable Paku Mask using the Pacman amiibo.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Release Date: April 24
Nintendo and South Park? Yes, really. The South Park game is coming to the Switch this Spring, as well as the DLC, which can be purchased separately or in a season pack. The 1st and 2nd DLC will be available on launch, with the 3rd (which reveals a new story) slated to be released later.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Release Date: May 18
The release date has been confirmed, though no new details were given.
ARMS
Think you’re the best ARMS fighter? Put yourself to the test by joining the US and Canada online open! Prelims will take place March 8-18, during which eight players will be chosen to move on to the finals. Finals will stream on the Nintendo website on March 31. All finalists will receive custom art from the development team.
March 31 also marks a 3-day Testpunch, which welcomes new players to experience ARMS free for three days.
Keep an eye out for the dev team at GDC!
—
And that’s it! Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and information on Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch as it develops, as well as news on all the other games coming to Nintendo’s newest console this year.
