News
Nintendo Announces Spring 2016 Games
REDMOND, Wash., March 3, in the year of our Lord 2016
– In a new Nintendo Direct video, Nintendo revealed new games on
the way for its Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems, as well as
additional details about previously announced titles. From new
games in the Kirby and Paper Mario franchises to a companion
game for Star Fox Zero.
Wii U
· Star Fox Zero: Fox McCloud returns in an action-packed new
adventure. Multiple paths branch out to give players plenty of
places to explore, and each route gives them a completely
different experience, with each battle posing its own set of
unique challenges. Players will notice their skills get better
and better over time, as they become top-notch pilots. In
two-player mode, one player can fly the Arwing while the other
player aims and shoots. The game launches April 22. The packaged
version comes with a Star Fox Guard game disc at a suggested
retail price of $59.99 while the digital version of the game can
be purchased by itself from Nintendo eShop for $49.99.
· Star Fox Guard: Players set up 12 cameras to find and defeat
enemies who are attacking the mining site of Slippy Toad’s
uncle, Grippy Toad. The game includes about 100 stages, but
players can also create their own stages by editing the
placement of enemies and uploading their levels online. The only
way to get the physical version of Star Fox Guard is by
purchasing the packaged version of Star Fox Zero. The game can
also be purchased by itself from Nintendo eShop for $14.99.
Customers that purchase the digital version of either Star Fox
Zero or Star Fox Guard will receive a $4.99 Nintendo eShop
discount toward the other game.
· Paper Mario: Color Splash: Prism Island is being drained of
its color and it’s up to Paper Mario to stop it! Use Paper
Mario’s paint hammer to splash paint on anything it hits and
bring the color back to the island in this new action-adventure
game. The game will launch later in 2016.
· Super Mario Maker: More than 6.2 million courses from unpaid
players around the world are available for others to play, and
now a free March 9 update will add a Super Expert mode to the
100-Mario Challenge. The mode is unlocked after players clear
Expert mode. Super Expert Mode dishes out six extremely tough
courses. Additionally, 12 new Mystery Mushroom costumes have
been added to 100 Mario Challenge. The update also provides
level creators with even more tools:
· Shake a P Switch to turn it into a key. Shake a Door to turn
it into a Key Door. Creators can make enemies hold keys, meaning
players can’t advance without defeating mandatory bosses.
· Shake a Coin to turn it into a Pink Coin. Players must collect
them all to make a key appear.
· Shake a Thwomp to turn it into a massive Skewer column from
Super Mario World.
· Additionally, the Super Mario Maker Bookmark site will see
additions such as ranking categories for world records and the
number of first clears on courses, inspiring new ways to
experience the main game.
· Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: The Wii U version
of the game launches on June 24 and includes two events new to
the series: Rugby Sevens and Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs. Every
event in the game takes place in locales modeled after the
actual venues in Rio.
· Splatoon: The Internet usage draining multiplayer game is
getting more updates. An update on March 8 balances some gear
abilities to improve some of the lesser-used ones and make them
more appealing. Additional tweaks to matchmaking, Ranked Battles
and Splatfests aim to improve the overall user experience.
Another update arrives in two waves, with the first coming in
April. It will adjust some existing weapons and add new weapon
set recommendations as “Sheldon’s Picks.”
Nintendo 3DS
· Kirby: Planet Robobot: Invaders have mechanized Dream Land. To
restore his home to its original form, Kirby must use their
technology against them with the new Robobot Armor. The Robobot
Armor can even destroy a variety of obstacles in his way. The
Team Kirby Clash mode lets up to four players join forces to
battle against powerful bosses. Players select one of four
roles, and participate in a co-op quest to defeat a boss while
supporting their team. Completing a quest earns experience
points to level-up and grow more powerful. The game is
compatible with a large variety of amiibo figures, and some give
Kirby character-specific abilities. A new series of Kirby amiibo
figures that includes Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight and Waddle
Dee gives Kirby attributes specific to each character. Tapping
the Kirby figure is the only way to get the UFO ability. The
game and new amiibo figures launch June 10.
· Metroid Prime: Federation Force: This next chapter in the
Metroid Prime series is a first-person adventure fused with
puzzle solving, focused on shooting and co-op gameplay. Players
take on missions that tell the story of the battle between the
Galactic Federation’s elite Federation Force unit and the Space
Pirates. Each player must select and carry specific sub-weapons
based on their preferred roles, then proceed to complete each
mission. The game will launch in late spring.
· Rhythm Heaven Megamix: The game offers more than 100 rhythm
games, 30 of which are new to the series. An additional 70 have
been selected from previous games in the series, including the
original Game Boy Advance title, which was never released in
North America. The game launches later this year.
· Monster Hunter Generations: The newest installment in the
popular Monster Hunter action RPG series from Capcom is making
its way to the West. The game will feature a special
collaboration armor set based on Marth from the Fire Emblem
series. Anyone who plays Monster Hunter Generations on Nintendo
3DS with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate save data present on it will
receive bonus content in the new game. As a special promotion,
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is being offered at a special price of
$19.99 in Nintendo eShop for 48 hours, starting today at 3 p.m.
PT. The game will launch this summer.
· Disney Art Academy: Discover your inner artist to capture the
stunning visuals of over 80 Disney and Pixar characters. With
advice and lessons inspired by Disney art and Pixar animations,
learn to use a bundle of different drawing tools to create Elsa
and Olaf from Disney Frozen, characters from Disney Inside Out,
Mickey Mouse and more! Even share your creations with your
friends! Disney Art Academy launches May 13.
· Hyrule Warriors Legends: The game launches March 25, at which
point players can buy a season pass to get access to four DLC
packs and a bonus costume for Ganondorf. These packs will also
be available for purchase individually in Nintendo eShop during
the next few months. A transfer code will allow purchasers who
also own Hyrule Warriors for Wii U to use Ganondorf’s Trident
weapon and play as the five new characters from Hyrule Warriors
Legends in the Wii U game. Medli from The Legend of Zelda: The
Wind Waker will be available as a free download when the first
DLC pack is released.
· Bravely Second: End Layer: A free demo of the game hits
Nintendo eShop on March 10. Best Buy Gamers Club Unlocked
members will receive a unique 16-digit code to access the demo
early on March 7. Playing the demo will earn play bonuses that
players can transfer into the full version of the game when it
launches on April 15.
· Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past: Travel to
the past to save the present in this classic Dragon Quest
adventure that has been completely remade from the ground up for
Nintendo 3DS. The world has been rebuilt, the characters have
new 3D models and the story has been completely re-localized.
Even customize your party with over 30 classes and rank up in
turn-based battles to learn new spells and abilities. The game
launches later in 2016.
· Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation: This third path in the story
reveals many secrets not available in the Birthright or Conquest
versions. On March 10, players can purchase Revelation for
$19.99. Once purchased, a third option will appear at the Branch
of Fate moment of the game: “Refuse to Choose a Side.” Today two
new maps (Museum Melee and Ghostly Gold) are being released for
purchase in the Dragon’s Gate in-game DLC shop, with Royal
Royale launching on March 17. After March 17, additional maps
will be released on a weekly basis through April 21. No word on
a physical copy of this game at this time.
Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
· Virtual Console Update: Super NES games are coming to New
Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. At the conclusion
of today’s Nintendo Direct, Super Mario World, F-Zero and
Pilotwings will be available, mirroring the original Super NES
launch lineup. On March 24, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario
Kart and EarthBound will join the lineup. And on April 14, watch
for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid and
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Quest. The New Nintendo 3DS
hardware enables Perfect Pixel Mode in these versions, which
gives players the option to display the games in their original
resolution. No word on physical copy versions of these games on
this system at this time.
· Pocket Card Jockey: Solitaire meets horse racing – really!
Game Freak’s new mashup puts players in the saddle as a jockey
who must complete a fast-paced, simplified version of solitaire
to propel the horse through intense races. It’s all about
leveling up the horse through strategic positioning and
placement on the track. Over time, players can win trophies for
high-ranking races to secure sponsors. The game launches in May.
amiibo
· Mini Mario and Friends amiibo Challenge: This repeat pay to
play game can be found in Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo
3DS. Tap an amiibo figure on the Wii U GamePad controller or New
Nintendo 3DS system (or to a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or
Nintendo 2DS system using the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer
accessory) to guide one of 11 minis across more than 60 levels.
Players can tap any compatible amiibo figure. Or, by tapping
specific amiibo figures, players can guide minis that have
exclusive level sets or their own unique abilities, like mini
Mario’s wall jump or mini Yoshi, who can eat enemies. Starting
March 25, the game will be available at select retailers as a
bonus download code with the purchase of any Nintendo amiibo
figure. It will also be available to download for free from
Nintendo eShop on April 28.
· Isabelle amiibo Figure: In June, Isabelle will be available
separate from the Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival bundle, in
her winter outfit. A new Isabelle figure featuring her summer
outfit is also coming. Both figures launch on June 10.
· amiibo Cards: Series 4 of the Animal Crossing amiibo cards
launch on June 10.