News
Nintendo Direct 4-17-2013
REDMOND, Wash.--(April 17,
in the year of our Lord 2013)-- In a new Nintendo
Direct video announcement today, Nintendo revealed another
massive list of news for its Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems.
Topping the list for many gamers is an entirely new Nintendo 3DS
game in The Legend of Zelda series set in the world of The
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The game is scheduled to
launch this Christmas season. Fans will also be excited to hear
that a new game in the Yoshi’s Island series is also being
developed for Nintendo 3DS. And, after 20 years, EarthBound is
finally returning to North America. The game is scheduled to be
released this year on the Virtual Console service for the Wii U
home console.
“Nintendo 3DS and Wii U continue to evolve into some of the best
bets in gaming,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie
Fils-Aime. “We’ve had an incredible 2013 so far with titles such
as Fire Emblem Awakening and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, and the
rest of 2013 and beyond is even better.”
Nintendo 3DS News
A New Game in The Legend of Zelda Series: Nintendo developers
are working on a new game set in the world of The Legend of
Zelda: A Link to the Past, which launched for Super NES in 1992.
The game makes use of the 3D abilities of Nintendo 3DS, and
allows Link to become a drawing and move along walls. A 3D video
of the new game is now available to download in the Nintendo
eShop for Nintendo 3DS. The game is scheduled to launch this
Christmas season.
Yoshi’s Island: The third installment in the beloved franchise
is making its way to Nintendo 3DS. Yoshi and Baby Mario are back
with flutter jumps, ground pounds and egg throws, plus a host of
new actions that use the unique features of Nintendo 3DS. More
details about the game, as well as launch timing, will be
announced in the future.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: The game takes place on a mysterious
island, and challenges Mario to go between the real world and
Luigi’s dreams to rescue Princess Peach. The game will be
available in stores and in the Nintendo eShop on Aug. 11.
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: This hand-held update of the
smash-hit for Wii adds eight new stages that players can enjoy
after they have completed the main game, as well as a New Mode
optimized for hand-held play with new items and mechanics. The
game launches in stores and in the Nintendo eShop on May 24.
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move: This Nintendo eShop
exclusive challenges players to place tiles on the bottom screen
to guide the Mini Marios to their goal on the top screen. The
game offers more than 180 stages in four different modes.
Players can also create and share their own stages, and play
those created by other players around the world. The game will
launch on May 9.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf Hardware Bundle: A special Nintendo
3DS XL system featuring designs from Animal Crossing: New Leaf
that comes pre-installed with the new game will be available on
launch day, June 9, at a suggested retail price of $219.99.
Mario Golf: World Tour: Players who connect their Nintendo 3DS
systems to the Internet can play competitive real-time
multiplayer matches against others across the globe. They can
also use the community feature to find others to golf with. The
game is scheduled to launch this summer.
The Legend of Zelda – Two Classic Games: The Legend of Zelda:
Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons will
soon be available for the first time since their original
release on Game Boy Color in 2001. Originally developed by
Capcom, the games are headed to the Virtual Console service for
Nintendo 3DS. The games are interconnected: Playing one unlocks
secrets in the other. The games are scheduled to launch in the
Nintendo eShop on May 30.
Party Like it’s the Year of Luigi: A new game in the Mario Party
series is scheduled to launch for Nintendo 3DS this winter. The
game features seven different game boards, each with its own set
of rules. The game offers 81 new mini-games that test speed,
concentration and luck. In addition to the board game elements,
players will be able to play mini-games exclusively or try their
hands at a 30-floor tower climb, AR Card games and StreetPass
battles.
Bravely Default: This role-playing game from Square Enix adds a
new risk-reward twist to the genre: Players can skip a turn in
battle to do more damage in later turns. The game includes AR
functions, multiple endings and unique wireless features.
Nintendo has partnered with Square Enix to publish the game in
North America in 2014.
Professor Layton is Back: The third game in the second Professor
Layton trilogy, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, includes
more than 500 puzzles and is scheduled for a 2014 launch.
A Nintendo eShop Trio from LEVEL-5: LEVEL-5 has assembled a
collection of Japan’s top developers to create original games
that will be headed to the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS soon.
THE STARSHIP DAMREY, from Kazuya Asano and Takemaru Abiko, puts
players in a suspenseful adventure where they will have to
search for any information available to discover the truth about
their circumstances. In BUGS vs. TANKS! from Mega Man creator
Keiji Inafune, players control a tiny customizable tank in
battle against swarms of giant bugs. In Kaz Ayabe’s ATTACK OF
THE FRIDAY MONSTERS! A TOKYO TALE, players will take the role of
a young boy who lives where the giant monsters from Japan’s
1970s TV shows come to life every Friday.
Wii U News
You Are Not Dreaming – This is Real: Nintendo fans rejoice:
EarthBound is coming to the Wii U Virtual Console this year. The
original game was created by Shigesato Itoi and released on
Super NES in 1995.
New Super Luigi U: Wii U owners who purchase this downloadable
content for New Super Mario Bros. U (a copy of the game is
required) will get 82 updated stages and a new adventure
featuring Luigi, who can jump higher than Mario, yet has trouble
stopping after a dash. Many stages start with only 100 seconds
on the timer, and quicker stages are populated with many
obstacles. New Super Luigi U is scheduled to be released this
summer during the Year of Luigi.
System Update: Next week’s update will add new functions and
enhance existing ones. It shortens loading times when switching
between applications or returning to the Wii U Menu.
New Features: Shortly after the system update, Nintendo will
launch the Virtual Console service and Wii U Panorama View.
Game & Wario: Each game in Game & Wario uses the Wii U GamePad
in a unique way. Game & Wario will be available in stores and
the Nintendo eShop on June 23.
Pikmin 3: In addition to new Rock Pikmin, the new game also
introduces flying Winged Pikmin that follow the player and can
carry items in the air. The game launches in stores and in the
Nintendo eShop on Aug. 4.
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Update: A game update for the Wii U
version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate from Capcom is now
available for download. The update enables off-TV play using the
Wii U GamePad, and allows players from North America and Europe
to join each other’s online games.
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