Latest Nintendo Direct Highlights a Strong Future for Wii U and 3DS

The new Nintendo direct highlighted a strong future for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. With the announcement of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII as a playable DLC fighter on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Nintendo finished with a very strong Nintendo direct. Nintendo also revealed a new The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Bundle for the Wii U console. Included in the bundle will be a Wolf Link Amiibo (link to picture down below).

Along with those, Nintendo announced the re-release of the original Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version that will include an all new wireless communication function that will enable players to trade Pokemon via WiFi. They are scheduled to release through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS system on Feb. 27. To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct.

Some of the highlights revealed in the video include (copy and pasted from Nintendo.com):

Wii U and Nintendo 3DS

• A New Challenger Approaches!: Cloud Strife, the legendary protagonist from the classic RPG game FINAL FANTASY VII, will enter the battlefield as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS in the future. A special video presentation will be released in December, which will share more updates about the hit fighting games. More information is available at http://www.smashbros.com/us/dlc/ .

Wii U

• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD: Originally released for Wii and Nintendo GameCube systems in 2006, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is a visually remastered remake of one of the most critically acclaimed games in The Legend of Zeldaseries. The new game launches on March 4 in a bundle with a detailed new amiibo figure modeled after the Wolf Link and Midna characters in the game. The game will also be compatible with five other The Legend of Zelda amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. series. The game’s iconic soundtrack will be offered as a bonus for fans who pre-order the game from select retailers.

• The Legend of Zelda for Wii U (name not final): Next year marks the 30th anniversary ofThe Legend of Zelda series. And with that comes The Legend of Zelda for Wii U, the next entry in the storied franchise. During the Nintendo Direct presentation, it was revealed that certain saved data from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD on the Wolf Link amiibo can be carried over to this new game.

• New Wii U Bundle: A new Wii U Deluxe Set that includes the Wii U console and pre-installed versions of hit games Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U launches this holiday season.

• Pokkén Tournament: A collaboration between The Pokémon Company and BANDAI Namco Entertainment Inc., Pokkén Tournament is a new fighting game for Wii U that lets players use their favorite Pokémon characters to battle it out in fighting arenas. Fans who purchase a first-run version of the game at retail stores will receive a limited-edition Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card that immediately unlocks the character in the game after tapping it to the GamePad. Pokkén Tournament launches exclusively for Wii U in spring 2016 at a suggested retail price of $59.99.

• Star Fox Zero: Star Fox Zero delivers a new beginning for the classic shooter series. With a unique control scheme that uses both the TV screen and the screen on the GamePad, players pilot multiple vehicles through intergalactic levels with Fox and his classic crew. The game launches exclusively for Wii U on April 22.

• An Ink-redible Splatoon Update: Today at 5 p.m. PT, a free new update for Splatoon adds more than 40 pieces of new gear, including more winter items and some slick bandanas. And on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. PT, another free new update adds a new stage called Museum d’Alfonsino. Further stages and features will be added in future updates through January. A Nintendo Treehouse Splatoon Tournament will happen in December, featuring competitive game play as well as tips for players about setting up their own tournaments. The tournament will be live streamed at http://www.youtube.com/nintendo ,http://www.twitch.tv/nintendo and http://live.nintendo.com.

• Super Mario Maker Powers Up Once Again: In December, a new Web portal will offer a more robust search function to find and filter levels in Super Mario Maker across a variety of Web-enabled devices!

• Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival: By tapping any of the Animal Crossing amiibo figures, players can play as that character in the game’s main mode, a dynamic board game. Players can also tap in their Animal Crossing amiibo cards to play other modes like an Animal Crossing quiz. The Wii U game that includes the Isabelle and Digby amiibo figures and three amiibo cards launches on Nov. 13 at a suggested retail price of $59.99, the same day as the standalone Animal Crossing amiibo figures.

• Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash: On Nov. 20, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash launches exclusively for Wii U at a suggested price of $49.99. The game includes a fun New Super Mario Bros. power-up, the Mega Mushroom, which is featured in the over-the-top “Mega Battle Mode.” Players can also select “Classic Mode” to enjoy a more traditional game of tennis. Players can compete online or together via local play, and the game is compatible with amiibo in select modes, including online matches.

• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Massive RPG Xenoblade Chronicles X launches exclusively for Wii U on Dec. 4 at a suggested retail price of $59.99. For people who purchase the physical version of the game, four free high-speed data loading packs are available to download from the Nintendo eShop starting today. The data packs greatly increase the speed of loading times in the game, but are not required to play.

Nintendo 3DS

• Where it all Began: The original Pokémon games – Pokémon Red Version, Pokémon Blue Version and Pokémon Yellow Version – are coming to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 27, the same day that the original games first released in Japan in 1996. And there’s no need to pull out those old Game Boy Game Link cables while playing. Using the wireless communication on Nintendo 3DS, players can trade Pokémon with other players.

• Hyrule Warriors: Legends: Take the epic Hyrule Warriors experience on the go! Hyrule Warriors: Legends offers players the entire Hyrule Warriors game on Nintendo 3DS … but with even more content! This time, Tetra, Toon Link and the King of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker join the Skull Kid from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Maskon the battlefield. In addition, new character Linkle, a girl who lives in a small village filled with Cuccos and wields two crossbows, joins the large cast of playable characters. Players will be able to command multiple characters, taking direct control of them at any time, leading to new strategic options on the battlefield. Hyrule Warriors: Legends launches for Nintendo 3DS on March 25 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.

• Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam: The hilarious Mario & Luigi series meets the charming Paper Marioseries in the Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam game, launching exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 22 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. Using compatible amiibo, players can create a corresponding character card in the game, which has powerful effects during battle.

• Fire Emblem Fates: There are multiple adventures waiting to be experienced in Fire Emblem Fates for Nintendo 3DS. By purchasing one of the two main games at a suggested retail price of $39.99 – Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest – either at retail locations or in the Nintendo eShop starting Feb. 19, players choose to embark on a unique quest with a different story and different experiences. The decision that the player makes early in the game will dictate the game’s story and difficulty. After purchasing one game, the downloadable version of the other is only $19.99 via an in-game purchase. There will even be a third downloadable version in the near future, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation, for players who own either Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright or Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest and want to take on a new challenge and experience an alternative version of the game. For fans of the series, a special edition will be available that includes all three games, an artbook and a Nintendo 3DS XL pouch at a suggested retail price of $79.99.

• The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes DLC: New free DLC is coming on Dec. 2, adding Linebeck’s Uniform and Fierce Deity Armor outfits, each with unique powers, as well as the new Den of Trials with more than 30 stages to conquer. The upcoming software update also makes it more convenient to get Friendly Tokens by purchasing them from the Street Merchant once the princess’ curse has been lifted. Additionally, two adjustments will ensure a more comfortable online experience: By answering a question before matchmaking, you will be matched with other players who gave similar answers, plus players who leave a game in progress through the Pause menu can be added to the blacklist.

• Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Players can become one of 20 Pokémon in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, launching for Nintendo 3DS on Nov. 20 at a suggested retail price of $39.99. With turn-based battles and ever-changing dungeons, players can encounter every single known Pokémon in the game – all 720 of them!

• Nintendo Badge Arcade: Now available in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Badge Arcade is a free-to-start game that lets players control a classic arcade-style crane machine to earn badges from popular titles to customize their Nintendo 3DS HOME menus. The game is constantly being updated with new badges, so it’s always great to keep checking back!

• Two DRAGON QUEST Games are Better Than One: The lineup of RPGs on Nintendo 3DS continues to grow with classic games DRAGON QUEST VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Pastand DRAGON QUEST VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, both remastered for Nintendo 3DS and coming in 2016.

• Pokémon Picross: The popular Picross series meets the lovable world of Pokémon when free-to-start game Pokémon Picross launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS in early December.

amiibo

• Jan. 22 sees the release of Lucas in the Super Smash Bros. series, amiibo figures for Resetti, Blathers, Celeste and Kicks in the Animal Crossing series, and Series 2 of the Animal Crossingamiibo cards.

Third-Party

• FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS from Square Enix, Inc. (Nintendo 3DS): In the first FINAL FANTASY action-RPG on Nintendo 3DS, players journey to an island filled with mystical crystals protected by powerful eidolons. More than 20 jobs can be learned, each with its own set of special skills. When FINAL FANTASY EXPLORERS launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26, it will include all the DLC that was previously released in Japan. Multiplayer functionality for up to four players is enabled through Nintendo 3DS local wireless communication.

• Mega Man Legacy Collection from Capcom (Nintendo 3DS): Capcom’s iconic Blue Bomber has been a classic part of Nintendo history since the NES days. Mega Man Legacy Collectionlaunches for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 23 and features faithful reproductions of the first six NES Mega Man games (Mega Man 1-6), plus new ways to experience these classics with Challenge Mode’s remix stages and Museum Mode’s repository of original production art. In addition, the game comes with exclusive new challenges that can be unlocked using the Mega Man amiibo. But that’s not the only amiibo that can unlock these bonus challenges! A new gold-colored Mega Man amiibo figure also launches as part of the Mega Man Legacy Collection Collector’s Edition.

• Hive Jump from Graphite Lab (Wii U): Players shoot their way through dangerous alien infestations in Hive Jump, a frenetic run ’n’ gun platformer for one to four players. Hive Jumplaunches in the Nintendo eShop with exclusive Wii U features in early 2016.
• Kerbal Space Program from Squad (Wii U): By using the Wii U GamePad, players can take part in the complete space agency experience, from building a spaceship part by part, to mission control by flying their creation and conquering the planets and moons of the solar system. Kerbal Space Program launches in Nintendo eShop for Wii U in early 2016.

• SteamWorld Heist from Image & Form (Nintendo 3DS): For a limited time, players who purchase side-scrolling, turn-based strategy shooter SteamWorld Heist in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS when it launches this holiday season will receive an exclusive Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme.

• FAST Racing Neo from Shin’en (Wii U): It’s almost here! FAST Racing Neo, the high-octane racing game with up to eight-player online multiplayer, launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U in early December.

• Typoman from Headup Games and Brainseed Factory (Wii U): Typoman is a puzzling platformer that tells a dark tale of heroes and monsters, where words can either be a blessing ... or a curse! Using the GamePad in a unique way, players set out on an adventure to explore the incredible power of words and how they can be used to survive the environmental hazards and overcome vicious enemies. The game launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U on Nov. 19.

• Mighty No. 9 from Deep Silver (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): From Keiji Inafune, the creator of the Mega Man series, comes Mighty No. 9. This action side-scroller can be played solo or with two players in online co-op and competitive modes. The Wii U version of the game launches on Feb. 9, with a Nintendo 3DS version following shortly thereafter.

• LEGO Marvel’s Avengers from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): With an extensive roster of new characters to play, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers features storylines and locations from six different films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as classic Avengers content seen in Marvel Comics, all retold with a unique splash of LEGO humor. The game launches for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on Jan. 26.

• Project X Zone 2 from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America, Inc. (Nintendo 3DS): Everyone’s favorite Capcom, SEGA and BANDAI NAMCO characters are crossing over once again in Project X Zone 2. But this time Nintendo is also joining the fun by adding Chrom and Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening and Fiora from Xenoblade Chronicles to the game. Project X Zone 2 launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 16.

• Terraria from 505 Games (Wii U / Nintendo 3DS): In Terraria, players explore vast fantasy worlds and wage war on hundreds of enemies and giant bosses using weapons and armor they craft themselves. They can even use the touch-screen interface on the Nintendo 3DS system or the Wii U GamePad to reach directly into the world of Terraria, fashioning elaborate and amazing structures with their fingertips. It’s also possible to share the adventure with friends, with online and split-screen multiplayer for Wii U and local play for Nintendo 3DS. Hundreds of hours of entertainment await in Terraria, launching in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS in early 2016.

For 3DS, yeah it's pretty good. Not so much for Wii U.

So much goodness from Nintendo! 2016 will be one hell of a year for 3DS if you're an RPG fan. I just bought a collector's edition of Final Fantasy Explorers and a regular copy for a friend so we can co op it in January. In February we're getting Fire Emblem Fates. What a start to the new year!

@superflyzero: Thats a very nice collectors set. Ill be playing Fates too after Xenoblade Chronicles X, some awesome games coming for sure. Will get Star Fox Zero also to play, been wanting some Star Fox for awhile, i think im going to get and play Star Fox 64 on 3DS before hand.

Yeah it is a nice set. Also getting Star Fox Zero and Xenoblade Chronicles X as well. I recently lucked out by finding a new copy of Star Fox 64 3D at a local retailer a few months ago.

@superflyzero: O dang, i forgot it might be hard to get a new copy, will have to keep an eye out.

The only good announcements were cloud and FF:E tbh

@tiny_rick: Yeah, i got zero interest in that game, hopefully its god though, they need a good one.

Strong? The Wii U's future is just as bleak as it ever has been. Its carcass is being dragged to the finish line so that Nintendo can start on something (hopefully)better. We've known about most of those games for some time.

@YearoftheSnake5: Its still a strong lineup, and more to come. Mario Tennis Ultra Smash, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Star Fox Zero, Pokken Tournment, Shin Megami x Fire Emblem, and Zelda Wii U. Pretty strong to me.

@mesome713: Its not a very strong lineup to be honest, passable at best in my opinion.

@tiny_rick: Yeah, thanks for your opinion mate, we welcome it. Meanwhile, its time to for some Mario Tennis Smash online vs the world.

"Strong" is really stretching it. It could certainly be worse, but the Nintendo Direct honestly didn't really bring anything exciting to the table. I only pre-ordered Twilight Princess HD because I want the OST. If the OST wasn't there, I wouldn't have ever even bought the game, as it costs far too much for a remastered port.

@MarioFan264: Its a nice price, i bought the Bundle with the Amiibo for $59.99 and you get a soundtrack, awesome price. Its no wonder that bad boy sold like hotcakes. Who could pass on a deal like that?

We both agree

No one would say this is strong, it's a weak lineup made up of rehashes and bad ports.

Both pieces of hardware are on their way out. If you have them you can get some last mediocre games but nothing that will attract new users.

@mesome713: I did easily...

Must be why Yoshi Woolly World, Splatoon and Super Mario Maker are selling so good? As always mate, makes perfect sense. Dont you Sony fans get tired of being so wrong so much? I guess not, wouldnt be fun if yall did.

Fallout

Splatoon

@tiny_rick: Thats shipped not sold for Fallout 4, a game that released on 3 platforms. Meanwhile Splatoon sold almost 2.5 million as a new exclusive. It also had a much, much, much smaller budget. Nintendo be ballin baby.

"By the end of June 2015, 1.62 million copies of the game had been sold worldwide,^[70] and by the end of September 2015, worldwide sales reached 2.42 million."

Like a Boss. Wait till you see its numbers after the holidays, gonna enjoy them tears then.

The OST only comes if you pre-order the game, by the way.

Amiibos are just cheap, poorly made plastic models that are the very definition of gimmickry in terms of what they add to games.

For me, the value only comes from the OST, and maybe playing a version on the Wii U that doesn't look terrible (Wii games look bad on the Wii U), but it wouldn't justify the price without the OST.

Would hate to see what you think of just plain toy figures.

@mesome713: They're fine. They don't cost me, what, $12 a piece and claim to be the very epitome of innovation like the Amiibos do.

Do you understand how awful those numbers are for Splatoon?

Wii U owners don't have anything to play and it still does poorly.

Its pretty bad when you consider not even 25% of wii u owners got the game... when the system barely has any games, so im assuming wii u owners buy it to use their wii u

@tiny_rick: Thats actually an awesome attachment rate. Nintendo be ballin on a budget. But what can you do, when your Wii U prints money, just lets it do what it do.

@mesome713: How does wii u print money? It had an extra year and has sold 1/3 the amount of ps4. It is doing better than Xbone it seems. Wii printed money, I think you are mistaken

@tiny_rick: Cause every time one is sold it generates profit. Plus all its software is selling nicely. And Amiibos, cant forget them awesome Amiibos, thank you Wii U, that NFC reader was a blessing in disguise.

@mesome713: people have bought poop you know... I dont think the term "printing money" refers to a small number of sales. Also Amiibo =/= wii u sales

@tiny_rick:What printing money means is when your machine makes you money. Its really a simple concept mate. Its just shoots that mulla out like a mad man. Youd have to install a plug to stop it. It can be stressful though, its not fun counting all that money. But then again, we can build some hardware to do that for us also. We can call it a money counting machine, and yes, its as it sounds, it counts money.

@mesome713: The term is reserved for large amounts usually, lucky for us the wii u came bundled with a "plug" pre-installed it seems

@tiny_rick: Not sure bout you, but that Super Mario Maker cant be plugged. She bout to destroy the holidays.

@mesome713: no doubt it will get a small boost, but far from a crazy amount of success. Its about peaked

@tiny_rick:Success is success. As long as its making dollars, its making sense.

@mesome713: wii u sold about 1/10th so far of what the wii sold. I think its safe to say the wii u doesnt qualify for the upper echelon of game consoles that can be considered to "print money". If we go with your definition, cdi printed money too

@tiny_rick: If it sold at profit and its games did, then sure, why not.

Twilight Princess HD:

I'm thrilled about this! Even if it's only due to the graphics being smoothed out, it'll be very nice to play again. Maybe I'll actually finish it this time lol

@tiny_rick: You might as well argue with a reaper husk.