Geek insider, geekinsider, geekinsider. Com,, nintendo direct 3. 8. 2018: what the heck nintendo?! , gaming

Nintendo Direct 3.8.2018: What the Heck Nintendo?!

For any Switch fanatics out there, and gamers in general, March 8, 2018 heralded our attention because we were all waiting for the news and information on our long anticipated games and franchises. The new Pokemon RPG announcement, Metroid Prime 4 release date, and any other big name titles that Youtubers and forums have been hyping up for months since the last Nintendo Direct MINI. These were just a few of the expectations rippling throughout the internet. Among what we got was some brief news on upcoming 3DS titles, most notably a port of Luigi’s Mansion, originally on the Gamecube, and a new Warioware game. Nintendo briefly touched on their other portable handheld for about five minutes or so, including a bizarre game called Detective Pikachu (yeah, you’re gonna want to google that one!), before diving deep into the announcements for the Nintendo Switch.

Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion

The remaining twenty-five minutes covered lots of new titles, ports, and DLC. We saw Splatoon 2 get a lengthy chunk of the video, introducing new DLC and characters to enjoy with the Octo Expansion. With a strong multiplayer and solid single player campaign, fans of the franchise should find plenty to enjoy in this new content for Splatoon 2.  

Okami Ports to the Switch

This classic was originally released on the Playstation 2 in 2006, over 10 years ago, and still manages to stay relevant enough that Nintendo wants to bring it to the Switch. The gorgeous art style, borrowing heavily from the cell-shaded obsession at the time, is enough to pull old fans and new players back to the beautiful world of Okami. With the Switch’s touch screen compatibility, as well a handful of other options for optimized gameplay, Okami joining the Switch’s roster seems like a no brainer. Be sure to keep an eye out for this one in Summer 2018.  

Undertale Coming…Eventually

Undertale fans rejoice, this quirky title makes its way onto the Switch…eventually. This was a nice game to see pop up during the Nintendo Direct, and something that I personally am excited to download and check out. Fans of Mother and the humor of the Mario and Luigi RPG series should find something to enjoy in every corner of this game. The sound, art style, and just about all its elements lend itself to being a fresh adventure for Switch owners, and right at home on this awesome portable system.  

Crash Bandicoot Returns

I may be wrong here, but it has been quite some time since Nintendo fans saw a Crash Bandicoot title, let alone the original trilogy. It looks like the Switch will even be getting the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy before the Xbox One, so let us all bask in our collective joy at this classic series being portable and accessible to us Nintendo Switch owners. If you are not familiar with the Crash Bandicoot trilogy, it is definitely recommended that you check this one out. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped goes down as one of my favorite games I played growing up. This one is set to be released July 10, 2018 for Nintendo Switch.   

At Least We Got Something: A New Smash Bros!

Definitely not saying Nintendo didn’t give us some good releases, they did, and we have plenty to be thankful for.  That said, I felt like the entire Direct was building up to something, because none of my prayers for a Pokemon RPG announcement, or even a release date/teaser trailer, were getting fulfilled. Nintendo ended their Direct with the announcement of a Super Smash Bros. game for Nintendo Switch! Whether this is a direct port of the Wii U version, with expanded character roster, is still unclear. Smash Bros. fans will surely be excited about this though, and hopefully Nintendo treats us to a couple more character trailers and reveals before the game is released sometime in 2018.  The Splatoon Inklings make an appearance in the trailer, so we can expect to see them as playable characters in the upcoming Smash Bros. game.  

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Nintendo definitely brought a lot to the table with the latest Direct, and I’ve linked the video at the bottom so you can get a complete rundown of all the games that are coming to 3DS and Switch this year. Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker is one I’ve been wanting to play for a while, and that’s also a Wii U port. There’s a handful of other titles announced so keep an eye out for those as well.

I can’t help but feel underwhelmed after watching this Direct. All I wanted was news of the rumored Pokemon RPG, and even a Metroid Prime 4 release date would have been nice. Hell, a teaser trailer for the new Fire Emblem would have been AWESOME. However, last year proved that Nintendo saves a lot of their overhyped games for announcement closer to the holidays. I speculate we will get a Mini Direct sometime this summer, maybe even late spring, and a Full Direct in August or September, right before everybody is starting up their Christmas lists. Fans of the franchises mentioned above have plenty to be excited for, and the Switch’s roster so far is incredibly strong for only being a little over a year old.

Likely we will get word of a new Pokemon release for the Switch in the next six months or so. With the way that the Switch has reinvented and expanded the worlds of Zelda (Breath of the Wild) and Mario (Mario Odyssey), there’s a lot to be expected for their main IP’s in the ways of innovation. I have high hopes that this Pokemon will turn us all on our heads and introduce the world in a brand new way. All I want is to see my Pokemon follow me around, rather than just be sprites that pop up in battle. That, and an open world capture system where foes and monsters roam like creatures in Chrono Trigger would be a refreshing way to play.  How cool would it be to actually aim Pokeballs before battle, or instigating other creatures with a Pokemon’s projectile attack? I grew up playing these games. The formula is tried and true, and generations of gamers will be playing these games for years to come. That formula is also getting boring to us older gamers. Give us something fresh Nintendo. Don’t worry, I still love you.

Check back with Geek Insider for more Nintendo Switch news and updates. Check the latest Nintendo Direct in-full BELOW! Happy gaming!

Mario party, nintendo switch direct

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *