As is typical the case during E3, Nintendo closed out
proceedings with a Nintendo Direct entirely dedicated to software that is
mostly coming out in 2021. It was a great show overall, one that gave us plenty
of exciting looks at the Nintendo games we’ll be able to get hands-on extremely
soon. We have a hard time believing that anyone could prevent themselves from
picking up a Nintendo Switch after this year’s E3 showing.
If you somehow managed to missed today’s Nintendo Direct or
simply want a refresher about all the different games that were shown, below we’ve
rounded up all the biggest announcements. Without further ado, here’s an
in-depth overview of the final major E3 2021 digital showcase…
Tekken’s Kazuya is the latest guest fighter to join Super
Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo opened the show with the reveal that Tekken’s
Yakuza would be the latest fighter to join Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They
once again couldn’t help themselves from teasing the Nintendo audience, though,
showing the fighting game mainstay throwing Ganondorf off the top of a mountain
clearly in the hopes of making you think this was something Zelda-related.
Kazuya looks to be blending in with the likes of Mario,
Samus and the rest of Super Smash’ roster of heroes well, for what it’s worth. He’ll
even be able to access his devil form as his final smash move. The game’s
director Sakurai confirmed that Kazuya will make his Super Smash Bros. debut this
month on June 28th.
Life is Strange: True Colours and Life is Strange:
Remastered coming to Switch
It wasn’t especially surprising to learn that Life is
Strange: True Colours will be coming to Switch on September 10th,
but it does mark the first time Square Enix’s episodic series has launched day
and date with other platforms.
Somehow, Guardians of the Galaxy is getting a Nintendo
Switch version
After previously learning that the Guardians of the Galaxy were
getting their own game courtesy of Square Enix and Eidos Montreal just a few
days ago, it was a genuine treat to learn that such a great-looking
third-person action game was coming to Nintendo Switch. It looks like the same
game for all intents and purposes, rather than a dumbed-down version. But it’ll
still be interesting to see how the Marvel game runs when it launches this October
26th.
Super Monkey Ball’s 20th anniversary is marked
with a HD collection
2021 definitely feels like the year of anniversaries. That’s
why we should have known that both SEGA and Nintendo would have plans to usher
in the 20th birthday of Super Monkey Ball with a new entry,
subtitled Banana Mania, would be coming this October. It very much looks like
classic Super Monkey Ball, completed with vibrant visuals and ball-rolling
gameplay.
Mario Party Superstars collects all the best Mario Party
boards together.
100 minigames and 5 popular boards from the Super Mario
Party series will be packaged as its own standalone game in the form of Mario
Party Superstars. Coming October 29th, 2021, Nintendo confirmed that
all modes and games will be fully compatible with online play (unlike the most
recent Switch entry), indicating that it is finally listening about how players
tend to play these games.
Metroid Dread resurfaces as an all-new 2D game for Nintendo Switch
Metroid Prime 4 may have still been a no-show, but Nintendo
Switch players will soon be able to play an all-new Samus adventure in the form
of Metroid Dread. Presented in the classic style of a 2D action platformer
where you must explore and gather collectibles, people may remember that “Dread”
had been in development a long time ago before being unceremoniously cancelled.
This was one of the Direct’s biggest surprises coming fairly early on, so it’s
nice to see it return as a modern Nintendo Switch game. It will arrive on
Switch this August 10th. Metroid Dread will also receive to
specially designed Amiibo figures.
WarioWare is getting its first new entry since the
Nintendo Wii U
It’s been a hot-minute since we last saw Mario’s nemesis
star in his own game, but that finally looks to be changing with the reveal of
a new WarioWare game. WarioWare: Get it Together looks just as chaotic as
previous entries, with WarioWare: Get it Together full of crazy mini-games that
will no doubt have you using your Nintendo Switch in unique ways. Playing with
another person is highly encouraged, hence the name. It launches this September
exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Danganronpa
with this three-game collection
Dangonronpa: Decadence compiles the three mainline games
from Atlus’ cutey serial killer series into one neat collection for Nintendo
Switch. Those games are Dangonronpa (obviously), Dangonronpa: Goodbye Despair
and Dangonronpa V3: Killing Harmony, but Nintendo took also took the time to mention
that all three games will be available to purchase individually on the Nintendo
eShop – perfect for if you want to check out one Dangonronpa title specifically.
A closer look at Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope was already leaked and then
officially revealed as part of the Ubisoft Forward a few days ago, Today,
however, the Direct gave us a better look at what the turn-based tactical sequel
will feel like to play. We now know, for instance, that characters will be able
to freely roam around the battlefield – a first for the series! Sure, it was a
little disappointing to lean that Sparks of Hope won’t arrive on Nintendo
Switch until 2022, but we’re sure it will be worth the wait.
Zelda, Zelda and more Zelda news closes out Nintendo’s E3
Direct
Nintendo closed the show with an in-depth look at everytjing
Zelda-related it has coming in the pipeline. The first was a reminder that DLC
for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity exists, and that the first wave of paid-for
content will be coming soon. Secondly, we were shown a bit more gameplay for
Skyward Sword HD (launching July 16th), but the first surprise was
that the The Legend of Zelda series will be the subject of an all-new Game and
Watch, packaging the first game, Zelda II and Link’s: Awakening into a neat
device. It’s very similar to the Super Mario 35th anniversary Game
& Watch from last year.
Finally, the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: breath of the Wild
was finally addressed by the franchise’s creative director. New gameplay was
finally shown, even if he said that development on the game is progressing “steadily”.
This seemingly indicates it won’t be coming soon. What we did see of this
highly-anticipated sequel, though, looked stunning if a little similar. We did
at least get a 2022 release date, and some slight hints that Link will be able
to use a suite of new skills and abilities. Oh, and this time he’ll be
exploring the world above Hyrule in the clouds, as well as what’s on the ground.
