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Nintendo surprised everyone with a last-minute direct, and it had some pretty big announcements, including the cast for the Super Mario Bros. film and the Castlevania Advance Collection getting announced and released on the same day. The event had its share of smaller and more lackluster announcements but like any great direct, it had a few good things for everyone.
Several Noteworthy games were shown, including Bayonetta 3, Kirby, Metroid Dread, and Splatoon 3
Nintendo showed off a bevy of games at this direct. With updates coming to many titles such as Mario Golf, Super Smash Bros., Monster Hunter Rise, and Animal Crossing, and others that ensure those games will continue to see new life while we’re all waiting for new titles. It wasn’t all just updates for existing games though, as this direct had a lot to show, some of which has a lot of people talking. And before you ask, yes, we mean the big Mario cast announcement; we’re also excited to hear Seth Rogen laugh as Donkey Kong. The entire event ran just over forty minutes but for folks interested in retro (or retro-styled) and indie titles, here’s what to look out for.
If you want to watch the full event, here’s the whole thing. But, if you want a breakdown of some of the stuff we found interesting, keep on reading and we’ll show ’em off!
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars combines turn-based card battles with the stylings and mechanics of tabletop role-playing games. Interact with different shops, towns, and more through the power and magic of tabletop role-playing. Helmed by Yoko Taro, with many other people involved in the NieR series, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is scheduled to release on October 28, 2021.
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is finally coming to Nintendo Switch on October 12, 2021. It’s getting a physical release in 2022 but anyone that doesn’t mind tackling the dystopian future digitally can do so sooner than later.
Chocobo GP
Chocobo GP is a Final Fantasy kart racing title that’s arriving exclusively on Nintendo Switch in 2022. The game will let players race as iconic and adorable Final Fantasy characters, like Chocobos. Oh, and it will feature a rad online system that will allow up to 64 players to race at once. This marks the first sequel to the game in decades, following the canceled 3DS title.
I’m starting to see why Nintendo may benefit from keeping this title off of competing platforms. The wait for Mario Kart 9 also just got a whole lot easier, and it just received some healthy competition right at home on a Nintendo console.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (original)
One of the best Star Wars titles and greatest role-playing games is finally coming to Nintendo Switch on November 11th, 2021. This is a great way for newcomers to see the original game before the upcoming remake.
Knights of the Old Republic is an old title with a lot of age but the stories contained within the game are as timeless and precious as Nintendo Switch ports.
Triangle Strategy
Another offering from SquareEnix, the legendary Japanese developer and Nintendo showed off more of the upcoming “HD 2D” Triangle Strategy. The title itself may not be everyone’s jam but the gameplay, graphics, and presentation are captivating, and echo elements of Final Fantasy Tactics among other titles in the tactical RPG genre.
Triangle Strategy is getting better too and based on player feedback no less. While footage of the game was shown, it was also revealed player feedback from the demo is being considered and used to improve the game before its Spring 2022 release.
Adjustments and changes have been made to several things, including difficulty, UI, camera angles and controls, the ability to review previous dialogue, and more! It’s good to see SquareEnix taking care of every angle for Triangle Strategy. It looks like it will be “acute” experience when it releases March 4th, 2022.
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
Nintendo announced some big changes coming to Nintendo Switch Online, but you’re going to pay for it. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack includes everything already available with Nintendo Switch Online (lol) along with games from both the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis.
It’s a new tier but it sure does include a lot of games, and these are just the titles that will be available at launch. Nintendo doesn’t always deliver when it comes to announcements surrounding new games coming to Nintendo Switch Online but the company certainly more than delivered this time.
Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and Banjo-Kazooie are just a few of the N64 titles that will be available when Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack launches in October 2021. More titles from the N64 and Sega Genesis libraries will be coming later, including The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis controllers are also coming soon and will be available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members to purchase for $49.99. The controllers are wireless and will add an authentic feel when players revisit some classics from N64 and Genesis this fall.
Shadowrun Trilogy
The Shadowrun Trilogy is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022. There is not a more specific release date at this time but it’s good to see some iconic indie titles making a reappearance on modern hardware.
Castlevania Advance Collection
Perhaps one of the best kept retro re-release secrets ever, Castlevania Advance Collection is available now on Nintendo Switch. The collection includes different regional versions of the games along with some other nice extras including a rewind feature and a gallery featuring never-before-seen artwork.
ActRaiser Renaissance
Actraiser is a very rad title and this remaster is bringing some great new extras, including new stages, music, and boss battles. Actraiser Renaissance looks like the perfect way to experience an incredibly unique title that deserved a lot more love. It received a fair amount of praise at the time, particularly for the way its different gameplay segments function together, but it was sadly lost to time over the years.
Don’t miss Actraiser. A remaster can’t edge out all of its flaws but there really aren’t too many issues with the game, especially considering it was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in late 1990.
Deltarune: Chapter 2
Deltarune Chapter 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch. It’s a free update that’s part of Deltarune Chapter 1, which is also available for free. Don’t miss the latest from Toby Fox. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 are coming later as paid content, which is more than fair considering how much Fox has given away for free with the first two Deltarune chapters.
An update on the Mario Film from Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto provided some updates on the upcoming Super Mario Bros. film, which is being made in a partnership between Illumination and Nintendo. Miyamoto provided the North American release date, which is December 21st, 2022, and said the release dates for the rest of the world will be shared soon as well.
Miyamoto said it’s too soon to share a look at the film but he did share some of the film’s cast, including those voicing the biggest names in the film. Chris Pratt will be voicing Mario, Charlie Day is playing Luigi, Jack Black is Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy is portraying Princess Peach, and Seth Rogen will be voicing Donkey Kong. A few other names were provided as well, including some news that disappointed most fans.
Charlies Martinet, who has voiced several characters from the Super Mario series over the years, is only making an appearance in a few cameos. Still, it’s nice he’s being included. Some fans just feel that the guy who voiced Mario in Super Mario Odyssey could probably you know… voice him in a movie as well. I just misspelled Odyssey a few words ago though so I could be wrong.
Bayonetta 3
While not expressly indie, Platinum Games has a punk spirit to them that one can’t help but love. Closing out the show, Bayonetta 3 is real and definitely still in development, or at least that’s what it felt like Nintendo sought to declare during the direct. And the company succeeded. Ending the Nintendo Direct with Bayonetta 3 was a bold way to show that development is very much going well for the upcoming title from Platinum. It’s still set to release in 2022 but then the logo was slashed by a surprise guest so hopefully, it comes out sooner? Regardless of when it releases, Bayonetta 3 looks like it will be more than worth the wait.
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