A recent presentation from Nintendo Direct that aired on February 8 contained a ton of news and game announcements for both upcoming AAA titles and returning classics. This article rounds up the biggest reveals from the live stream.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
We’re starting with the final game shown off because it was the main event. To close out this month’s Nintendo Direct, the company revealed a new gameplay trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo originally planned more DLC content for Breath of the Wild but had too many ambitious ideas that couldn’t fit into the game. Hence this sequel.
The new trailer shows off Hyrule in a state of peril once more, with a slew of flaming meteors crashing down as enormous monsters attempt to conquer the world.
Link comes equipped with his usual gear and weapons, but now he can use vehicles to drive, fly, and skate. In addition to a confirmed release date of May 12, 2023, The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is going to come with a Collector’s Edition containing lots of exciting bonuses.
Nintendo Switch Online Adds Game Boy & Game Boy Advance Games
After years of fans pleading for the classic handhelds to receive official emulation, Nintendo has announced Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games will be coming to Switch Online.
Games that were released for the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color are available in a standard membership for Nintendo Switch Online and include several landmark hits at launch, such as Tetris, Super Mario Land 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX.
In order to access Game Boy Advance titles, you’ll need the Expansion Pass membership, and some examples include WarioWare, Inc. Mega Microgames and Super Mario Advance 4 (Super Mario Bros. 3).
Metroid Prime Remastered
The first entry in the legendary Metroid Prime series that was originally an exclusive for the Nintendo Gamecube is now available in remastered form on Nintendo Switch.
Metroid Prime Remastered looks as though Retro Studios made efforts that far exceed a fresh coat of paint, giving you additional control options for returning fans in addition to newcomers that are more accustomed to the dual-stick setup.
Otherwise, everything else appears intact. The best part is that Metroid Prime Remastered is available immediately as a digital release on the Nintendo eShop, with a physical copy releasing on February 22, 2023.
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp
After the war in Ukraine delayed the game by a year, Nintendo is finally releasing Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp on April 21, 2023.
Pikmin 4
Even though Pikmin 4 was only announced recently, it’s far more in development than previously expected. Nintendo has given the game a release date of July 21, 2023, and it appears to be building on the traditional Pikmin formula by introducing brand-new creatures.
One outstanding companion appears to be a dog that can be used as a boat when traveling across the water and also as muscle. The story is taking a dark turn as well, with the final moments of the trailer showing a creature being possessed by a strange force.
Octopath Traveler 2
In just a few weeks, the sequel to the original Octopath Traveler is coming to Switch, with a playable demo available now. This includes the first several hours of the game, and you’ll be able to transfer your save file to the full release on February 24, 2023. That means that if you’re not interested in replaying any of the demo’s content, you can start right where you were.
Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass
Splatoon is one of the most out-there franchises in Nintendo’s lineup of first-party exclusives, and Splatoon 3 is making things even weirder with new DLC coming in Spring 2023.
The Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass is releasing in two waves, with the first half bringing us back to Inkopolis from the original game, where you can meet some old faces and return to previous shops. Yet, the second wave, entitled “Side Order” is rather mysterious but features the mind of a squid kid being torn in two.
Samba de Amigo: Party Central
Fans of the original rhythm game classic that was released on Dreamcast in 1999, Samba de Amigo, can now rejoice with the latest entry, Party Central. A Nintendo Switch exclusive, Party Central is going to feature 40 songs from the most popular music genres around the world.
In Samba de Amigo, Party Central, players will be able to utilize the Joy-Con controllers in unison with the beat, and the game will offer local and online competitive party modes as well as multiplayer.