Nintendo didn’t have much of a showing at this year’s E3 or Gamescom, choosing to focus on the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – the Wii U’s swan song – rather than on the mysterious NX console or the existing Nintendo 3DS.
That changed with today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, which was entirely focused on the plucky handheld. Nintendo unveiled six major new games coming to the platform in coming months, along with an upgrade for an old favourite and new details on the November launch of Pokémon Sun and Moon.
Super Mario Maker
First up was a port of the Wii U’s Super Mario Maker. Launching on December 2, this will allow players to create their own Mario courses “with nearly all of the tools available in the original Wii U version”. You won’t be able to share your creations online, as is possible with the home console version, but you will be able to download a curated selection of courses.
In a feature unique to the 3DS version, you’ll be able to collaborate with friends locally to create (probably maddeningly difficult) courses, along with interactive lessons on level creation and 100 new Nintendo-designed worlds and challenges.
Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS
Pikmin for Nintendo 3DS – which Nintendo stresses isn’t the final name – is set for release in 2017, and will be a side-scrolling action take on the usually strategy-focused Pikmin games. Described as offering a “new gameplay style”, the plant-based Pikmin will follow Captain Olimar around as standard, with players using the touchscreen to throw them around and achieve objectives. It aims to “make players think fast and use every Pikmin to overcome anything that stands in their way.”
Mario Sports Superstars
Set to launch next spring is Mario Sports Superstars, bundling together Mario’s many sporting pursuits into one package. The game includes “full-fledged” baseball, tennis, golf, horse-racing and football, with single-player tournaments for each sport, and both local and online multiplayer.
Mario Party: Star Rush
Mario’s other favourite pastime – elaborate board game parties – also gets a look in, with Mario Party: Star Rush. The major new addition is Toad Scramble, a mode where all players move at once across an open map, racing to reach the boss and trigger a mini-game. Star Rush will feature seven play modes, and feature compatibility with Super Mario series amiibo figures. It also allows multiplayer with only one copy of the game, with a ‘Party Guest’ version available for download for free. Look for it on October 7.
Picross 3D Round 2
Picross 3D Round 2 updates the puzzle game classic, with more than 300 picture-sleuthing challenges. Available from December 2, it too boasts amiibo functionality, with figures uncovering secret Nintendo characters. The original Picross 3D, originally a Nintendo DS title, will be getting a digital re-release on Wii U through the Nintendo eShop “shortly”.
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World
Another Wii U title getting a portable makeover is Yoshi’s Woolly World. Now known as Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World, this will pack in every stage of the console version, plus new stages making Yoshi’s cotton companion Poochy the star.
Nintendo will also be collaborating with Japanese stop-motion animation studio Dwarf to create 30 animated shorts featuring Yoshi and Poochy, to be included in the game. A yarn amiibo figure of Poochy will launch alongside the game on February 3, matching the plush Yoshi that accompanied the Wii U version.
Nintendo couldn’t quite resist another Zelda push ahead of Breath of the Wild though, announcing a fresh wave of tie-ins that also coincide with the series’ 30th anniversary. The beautiful, watercolour-inspired Skyward Sword, originally released on the Wii, is now available digitally as a Wii U Virtual Console title, and on December 2 four new Zelda amiibo will be released
These include series’ hero Link in 8-bit form, Link styled after his appearance in Ocarina of Time, and both Link and Zelda in animated Wind Waker fashion. The latter three will work as the existing Link, Toon Link and Zelda amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Collection, but will have special functionality in Breath of the Wild. Nintendo also reminded fans that the original The Legend of Zelda will be included on the NES Mini.
Ever Oasis
Elsewhere, Nintendo revealed the lush RPG Ever Oasis, from the development team behind The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, out later in 2017; Rhythm Paradise Megamix, a selection of – as the title implies – rhythm action games, with the option to choose between Japanese and European soundtracks, out October 21; and Tank Troopers, a multiplayer title with extensive customisation feature, launching digitally next year.
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Finally, Nintendo revealed new Pokémon Sun and Moon features, including new regional variants of first generation Pokémon Rattata, and a significant upgrade to Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The tranquil town building sim will see an update on November 11, adding amiibo support to unlock new features.
