Not Going Quietly
Nintendo is ending 2024 strong
I just got back from a much needed vacation over the last couple of weeks, so bear with me as I work to get back to the usual schedule. While I did spend time playing a couple things (continuing Final Fantasy VII, starting Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and of course more Balatro) my main focus was to read and disconnect from the outside world. I’m currently still trying to organize my thoughts around those, but I’m also playing catch-up from all the news while I was out. The biggest thing that happened while I was out was the Nintendo Direct last month that declared from the rooftops with a smattering of old and new titles in tow that the Switch won’t be dragging its feet as it walks out the door.
What’s Old is New
During the Switch’s lifetime, Nintendo has not been shy about porting titles to its latest console. Heck, the most popular title of this generation is essentially an enhanced version of a Wii U game. Some may write these off as a bit of a retread, but as someone who missed quite a few titles over the past couple generations I’ve loved the opportunity to play these games on the console I have on me most frequently (it was the only one I took on vacation with me). From a business standpoint, this strategy also helps to fill in the gaps between major new releases, and Nintendo is coming with enough remakes to release one a month through the end of the year.
The more straightforward ports like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Fantasian Neo Dimension are great ways to introduce these titles to people (like me) who missed them during their first run on portable systems. Fantasian is especially encouraging since from reporting it sounds like Apple Arcade (where it was previously exclusively available) has shifted focus from its original pitch of console quality indie games, and the game was likely to be lost to time otherwise.
Nintendo also showed off classic titles remixed with new styles like Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition and Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake. The former continues some of the ideas from the NES Remix titles on the Wii U and 3DS this time with a focus on speedrunning-type challenges. The latter reimagines the beginning of the Dragon Quest Erdick story with Octopath Traveler visuals. If you’ve read previous newsletters of mine you can probably guess that I’ve never seen a Dragon Questgame through to completion, but with the additional announcement of remakes of the first and second entries in the series also coming in 2025 I couldn’t help but think to myself this might be the one I give a serious shot. I’m a sucker for signing up for more than I can chew after all.
I’d also be remiss to not shoutout Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics here. Of course, the highlight is the generational title Marvel vs. Capcom 2 which marks the first time it will be available on a modern console in a decade, but it also comes with the other Marvel and Capcom collaborations that preceded it including the side-scrolling beat ‘em up The Punisher. I didn’t realize how pumped I would be when I saw this announcement, but hearing the character select music of MvC2 got my adrenaline going. I can’t wait to get absolutely wrecked in online play.
What’s New is New
As I mentioned, the remakes and ports are great stop gaps in between new releases, and Nintendo revealed a few exciting ones. But first up, there’s Super Mario Party Jamboree - I’m not a Mario Party guy, so this isn’t for me but I know somebody is excited for it so I wanted to mention it.
Nintendo opened the direct with the reveal of Mario & Luigi: Brothership the first new entry in the RPG series in almost nine years. The company has been showing a lot of love to its RPG franchises lately, and this will be the third major release of the type in a year. It’s great to see Nintendo continue to keep Mario diversified with further investment in the side franchises. I’m glad stuff like Mario Party and Mario Kart exist, but it’s series like Mario & Luigi where the potential of the characters and world get to actually shine through.
After a rocky development over the past couple of years we got our first look at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This is another franchise I have very little experience with, I just never considered the Gamecube the place I was going to play my first-person shooters. But from what I’ve heard this is a huge miss on my part, and fans of the series have been dying to get any news so I’m happy for them! I also wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a cross-platform release with the Switch 2.
My personal star of the show was The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. The game takes the style of the recent Link’s Awakening remake - an excellent game in its own right - and blends it with the creativity of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Players will get to use a wand to replicate objects in the game to solve puzzles and fight enemies in any way they choose. Nintendo is embracing all the wacky ways players tackled challenges in the open-world Switch games. This will also be the first time Zelda gets the main spotlight outside of the oft-maligned Philips CD-i titles. I don’t expect the same kind of characterization we got in those latter two titles, but it’s still great to see Nintendo finally give her the lead. We won’t have to wait long, the game is due on September 26th.
As if it weren't obvious already, we are eating good in the back half of 2024.