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Nintendo platforms sizzle with upcoming indie games
A ton of indie games are coming to Wii U and 3DS, so many that Nintendo's own Reggie Fils-Aime couldn't name them all in today's 3DS-focused Nintendo Direct. Good thing there's a video featuring much of what's to come.
Nintendo Direct round-up: Dates, balances, YouTube, Rosalina, and Reggie
I think we all needed a lift after that opening, so let's run down all the fun and games of this morning's 3DS-focused Nintendo Direct. Here's a point-by-point recap of all the major goings-on. 3DS Release dates ahoy! North America gets Bravely Default: Flying Fairy on February 7, and Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy on February 28. An ocean's jump sees Mario Party: Island Tour confirmed for European arrival on January 17. A rogue bit of Wii U news: Super Mario Galaxy's Rosalina is an unlockable fifth player-character in Super Mario 3D World. Also, check below the break for a video revealing some of the game's other hidden qualities, such as mic integration, Mario Kart-style levels, and an unlockable retro "Luigi Bros." game - in this, the year of... Staying with the Wii U, a December-dated system update will allow users to combine their Wii U and 3DS eShop balances, as well as purchase content cross-platform. The update will also bring the long-awaited Miiverse support to 3DS. Oh, and new Pikmin 3 DLC is coming next month, too. Back firmly with the 3DS: A YouTube app is due on the handheld "later this month." Returning to Europe, there's a pocket-sized soccer management sim on the way to 3DS owners there. No, it's not Football Manager Handheld.
Dimensions collide in Zelda: A Link Between Worlds launch trailer
Whether he's in two or three dimensions, the sight of Link revisiting the setting of his most famous Super Nintendo adventure should offer ample reason to anticipate the November 22 launch of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy hits North America Feb. 28
Nintendo has pegged Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, the sixth entry in Level-5's puzzle series, for a February 28, 2014 launch in the US. The news came from this morning's Nintendo Direct presentation. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy revolves around an extinct people known as the Azran. Layton, along with his trusty apprentice Luke, discover a girl frozen in ice who is the last living member of the once-great Azran civilization. This sets the two on a globe-trotting mission in search of artifacts and the truth behind the Azran peoples' downfall.
Rosalina joins the party in Super Mario 3D World
Rosalina, protector of the stars in Super Mario Galaxy, is the unlockable, fifth playable character in Super Mario 3D World. Nintendo revealed Rosalina during its Nintendo Direct livestream today. Rosalina joins Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad – and their cat suits – in Super Mario 3D World. Meow.
Bravely Default launching on February 7 in US, gets collector's edition
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy will glide to US shores on February 7 and bring a collector's edition with it, today's Nintendo Direct revealed. Bravely Default: Collector's Edition will include the game, an art book, a soundtrack CD and 34 AR cards. Unfortunately, the statue of Agnes included in the collector's edition for the UK was not mentioned. The US version of Bravely Default will include the extra content that was added to the game's Japanese re-release.
Nintendo Pocket Football Club unveiled for 3DS in Europe
Nintendo Pocket Football Club sees the The Big N get into the (non-American) football management game, albeit in Europe where the football management game is a pretty darn popular kind of game. As announced by Nintendo of Europe during today's Direct broadcast, Pocket Football Club is due in 2014, with more info due in the coming months. Players customize their teams by choosing their country, emblem, and kit, and then get their managing on by setting formations, tactics, organizing transfers, and training players up to boost their stats. Would-be managers will be able to showcase their coaching skills in single-player and local wireless and online multiplayer.
Guide Captain Olimar through new Pikmin 3 DLC in December
Pikmin 3 will receive a new set of stages on December 2, Nintendo announced today during a Nintendo Direct livestream. Unlike previous pieces of downloadable content for the game, the third round of content will be entirely new stages as opposed to new spins on previously-released levels. The DLC will include four treasure stages and four battle stages with locales like a construction site and mystery factory. Some of the stages will allow players to control Captain Olimar, the main protagonist of Pikmin and Pikmin 2. The DLC will arrive along with a required update for the game, and will grant players free access to one collect treasure stage and one battle enemies stage for free in the Fortress of Festivity part of the game.
Upcoming Nintendo 3DS, Wii U system update will combine eShop account balances [Update]
As part of a system update set for release next month in North America and Europe, Nintendo announced that users will be able to share account balances between the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U using a unified Nintendo Network ID. Nintendo revealed that players will have the option of combining funds from the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops, and will be able to purchase content from either device using shared funding. The new functionality requires a Nintendo Network ID, which is not currently required for eShop purchases on the the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo additionally notes that players will need to create or link a Nintendo Network ID with the Nintendo 3DS in order to download free software and demos from the portable's eShop following the release of the next system update. Paid software will not require a Nintendo Network ID. [Update: Nintendo of America announced that next month's system update will also add Miiverse support for the Nintendo 3DS.] [Update 2: Nintendo has detailed the Nintendo Network ID account migration process, warning that only one NNID may be associated with a Nintendo 3DS system. In addition, a single account cannot be duplicated across multiple 3DS systems. If a new NNID is associated with a Nintendo 3DS system, players will be unable to combine balances with an existing Wii U eShop account.]
YouTube comes to 3DS soon
3DS is getting a YouTube app in Europe and North America soon, Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct streams today. Nintendo America noted the app should hit 3DS "later this month." The Wii U YouTube app will be updated as well.
Mario Party: Island Tour stops off in Europe in January
3DS Mario Party entry Island Tour reaches Europe on January 17, Nintendo revealed during today's Direct broadcast. The handheld plumber-palooza is due in North America on November 22.
Watch today's Nintendo Direct on upcoming 3DS games right here [update: all over!]
Update: It's over! Fret not, gentle reader, because you can watch replays of the North American and European livestreams here on this post. Also, we have all those lovely news morsels for you to digest right here. Blah blah PlayStation 4 blah Xbox One blah. Yes, there may be some new consoles nearing the wild, but for half an hour starting at 11AM ET (8AM PT) the focus will shift to arguably the hottest gaming system already around (well, I'd argue it): the 3DS. It's been a stellar year for the multi-liveried handheld, with the likes of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Pokemon X/Y, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team all coming to the popular portable. The upcoming line-up looks strong too: Mario Golf: World Tour, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy and Bravely Default: Flying Fairy to name but a few of those waiting in the 3D-enhanced wings. Nintendo says today's Direct will focus on already announced 3DS games that are due between now and early 2014 - possibly including the games I listed, possibly others. You'd think there'd be a few release dates frittering about, but I've predicted what seemed like sure-fire release date hauls before, only to end up with nothing but a few trailers and an image of Iwata dressed up as Luigi, or Phoenix Wright, or Donkey Kong (image not found). In other words, let's wait and see. Either way, you can find out right here on Joystiq, either via the North American stream up top or the European stream below the break (no Japanese stream today). If you just want the newsbites, we'll chew into all the major announcements as they come.
