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Luigi 3DS XL coming to Japan, has so many Luigis
Japan is getting a 3DS XL we aren't (yet): a 3DS XL covered in other-Mario-brother. The Luigi-themed portable, revealed during yesterday's Nintendo Direct, comes with a 4GB SD card and a pre-installed copy of Mario and Luigi: Dream Team. It leaps onto Japan's retail shelves (the highest ones, since it's Luigi) on the game's release date of July 18.We may not have a portable in 50 Shades of Green, but we can at least look forward to the RPG reaching our shores on August 11 for North America and July 12 for Europe.
Nintendo Direct roundup: Earthbound, Zelda, and more
That was a particularly meaty Nintendo Direct, even by previous standards, so we've got out the carving knife and cut it up into more manageable bits. Here's a bite-sized version of everything Nintendo announced in this morning's broadcast. The 3DS is getting a new Zelda, and it'll be a top-down affair set in the world of SNES classic A Link to the Past. Meanwhile, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons make their journeys west to the eShop on May 30. If you like new 3DS games, and you also like a bit of Yoshi's Island and Mario Party, then you're most likely a very happy bunny today. Japanese games heading west: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy wings over to North America next year, as does Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy - the prof visits Europe this year first. Meanwhile, Level-5's 'Guild02' is coming to the eShop. North America has one over Europe when it comes to Shin Megami Tensei 4, though, thanks to a concrete July 16 release date. Game & Wario hops over on June 23. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team follow on August 11 (Europe gets the jump again on Dream Team: July 12). Pikmin 3 finally has a release date, albeit a later than expected one of August 4. The Virtual Console proper is coming to the Wii U in a spring system update next week. In terms of upcoming new arrivals, it's hard to beat Earthbound. The 'New Super Luigi U' DLC for New Super Mario Bros. U is due in the summertime. Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move heads for the 3DS eShop on May 9. Oh, and the Animal Crossing 3DS XL bundle is coming west. [Image Source: Sigil79]
Wii U Spring System Update coming next week
Nintendo's Wii U will receive its Spring System Update sometime next week, president Satoru Iwata announced during this morning's Nintendo Direct event. The firmware update adds several quality of life improvements to the system, including improved load times when changing between software, or returning to the main Wii U menu. Also included is the Wii U Virtual Console.Additionally, users will now be able to transfer data between USB drives and install background-downloaded software while playing other games. Installed software also has the ability to automatically download and install updates, without requiring the user to run the software first. Furthermore, the Wii U will now continue to download and install software while the system is powered down. You'll also be able to hold "B" at start-up to boot directly into Wii mode, if you're into that sort of thing.
Three more Level-5 collaborations coming to eShop
A second collection of Level-5 games (released in Japan as Guild02) is coming to 3DS eShop as separate downloads. Like the previous collection, each is a collaboration with a known game designer.The Starship Damrey is an adventure game by Kazuya Asano and Takemaru Abiko in which your character wakes up in total darkness and must figure out where, and who, they are. The less cerebral Bugs vs. Tanks by Keiji Inafune lets you control a tiny tank and shoot giant bugs. My Summer Vacation creator Kaz Ayabe's Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale stars a 10-year-old boy who lives in a town where monsters from Japanese TV shows appear every Friday. We'd say "why doesn't he move" but we're also kind of thinking "where can we find that town?"%Gallery-185939%%Gallery-185938%%Gallery-185935%
Pikmin 3 dated August 4 by Nintendo press release
Although Nintendo President Satoru Iwata had no launch date to share on Pikmin 3 during this morning's Nintendo Direct, the company's official press release just sent out notes an August 4 release date. The game will launch in stores and on the Nintendo eShop.We're following up with Nintendo for confirmation.Update: Confirmed.
Game & Wario available June 23
Game & Wario, which launched last month in Japan, will arrive on the Wii U Nintendo eShop and at retail on June 23 in North America. Still awaiting Europe details.
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy visits EU this year, NA 2014
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is coming to Europe this year, but North America won't see it arrive until 2014. The news comes via this morning's Nintendo Direct which revealed the schedule for the sixth Layton entry's 3DS world tour, the Level-5 puzzler having already come to Japan on February 28. Nintendo of America says the new Layton crams a whopping 500-plus puzzles underneath its top hat.
Shin Megami Tensei 4 hits North America July 16, EU arrival confirmed
Shin Megami Tensei 4 is coming to North America on July 16, and the game is confirmed to be coming to Europe too, although there's no release date for the region yet.Following on from the announcement in this morning's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo of America revealed each copy in the first shipment of the Atlus JRPG will be a Limited Edition Box Set. Included in the box set are the 176-page Strategy & Design Book, which features the starter guide and a range of artwork, a soundtrack that covers the breadth of the SMT series, and a slipcase with key art by Atlus graphic artist Masayuki Doi.
New 3DS Zelda returns to the world of A Link to the Past
A new top-down Zelda set in the "world" of A Link to the Past will be released in North America in Holiday 2013. While the perspective is the same, it uses the 3D effect of the 3DS to show depth in environments.Link has a new ability that allows him to turn into paper and move against walls. This game will be out holiday 2013, and it's kind of nuts that it was announced just now, on some totally random Wednesday, instead of E3 or something.
Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons on US 3DS eShop May 30
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons will be available on the North American 3DS eShop on May 30. Just like the Game Boy Color originals, players will be able to link the two games together, effectively creating one massive adventure.
Bravely Default coming out in North America
Square Enix's 3DS RPG Bravely Default: Flying Fairy will be released in North America, in partnership with Nintendo. It's expected in 2014, which is ... a long time from now!
Animal Crossing 3DS XL coming to North America and Europe
The Animal Crossing: New Leaf 3DS XL will be released in Europe and North America, Nintendo revealed during separate regional Nintendo Direct presentations. The system retails for $219.99 and comes with a copy of the game pre-loaded on its 4GB SD card.The system, which bears a tiled pattern of Tom Nook leaves, houses, and fruit, will be released alongside the game on June 9 in North America and June 14 in Europe.
Wii U Virtual Console out in North America next week
The Virtual Console will arrive for real on Wii U next week, a Nintendo Direct presentation revealed. The launch lineup includes Excitebike, Super Mario World, Mario Bros. Punch-Out, Super Metroid, Balloon Fight, and F-Zero, with GBA games and N64 games planned for the future.You might notice that some of these Wii U Virtual Console launch games ... are already on the Wii U Virtual Console. F-Zero, Balloon Fight, and Punch-Out were released for 30 cents as an early preview.
Earthbound this year on VC in NA and EU
Earthbound (also known as Mother 2) will be available on the Wii U Virtual Console by year's end in North America and Europe."We will announce the actual release date at a later time," said Nintnedo President Satoru Iwata during today's Nintendo Direct.
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move exclusive to 3DS eShop May 9
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move will arrive on 3DS starting May 9. The news comes courtesy of the latest Nintendo Direct presentation, during which Nintendo head Satoru Iwata also reiterated that the game will be exclusive to the 3DS eShop.The game tasks players with guiding miniature, mechanical Marios through treacherous traps, and also features a collection of mini-games.
New Yoshi's Island game coming to 3DS
A new Yoshi's Island sequel, with the familiar baby-Mario-on-Yoshi, egg-throwing gameplay, is due on 3DS. Footage of the 2.5D game was shown just now on Nintendo Direct. That's pretty much all we know now!
New Super Luigi U DLC comes to New Super Mario Bros. U this summer
New Super Mario Bros. U gets the previously announced New Super Luigi U DLC this summer, specifically June in Japan. The news was announced in this morning's Nintendo Direct, which revealed as usual Luigi will be able to outjump his shorter brother, and that the DLC features some shorter stages with 100-second timers.
New Mario Party coming to 3DS this winter
You could find a new Mario Party 3DS game in your Christmas stocking this year, since one is being released in Japan, North America, and Europe this winter. The news comes via this morning's Nintendo Direct broadcast, and if you've ever played, seen, or even imagined Mario Party, you know the deal. It's multiplayer competitive minigames.There are some new twists, like AR minigames and some that use drawing. 7 different boards each use their own rule sets. It's coming out this winter.
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team in Europe July 12, North America August 11
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, the first entry in the long-running RPG series for the 3DS, will arrive in Europe on July 12. The game will hit North American shores on August 11. Dream Team takes place in Luigi's dreams, giving Mario's second banana something of a starring role, which plays into Nintendo's Year of Luigi.
Watch today's 3DS-focused Nintendo Direct right here [update: it's over!]
Update: And it's over. And there was a lo-ho-ot of news. If you missed the live version, you can check out a replay of the North American Direct above. After a wee flurry of Nintendo Direct broadcasts at the top of the year, it's been kind of a while since we last saw Satoru Iwata do that weird hands thing, or make Reggie Fils-Aime's grasp of other languages look terrible. So that's why we're eager and keen about this morning's batch of Nintendo Direct. Oh, and all the news and announcements and stuff.North America and Europe's Directs are 3DS-focused, while Japan's is based around 'The Year of Luigi.' Japan's Direct should also provide some details on April's Wii U system update, which is expected next week.As ever, we've got the North American stream up high for you to watch here on Joystiq, while Europe and Japan are below the equator - wait no, that's geography (and not good geography). They're below the break. Each stream is scheduled to begin at 10AM ET (7AM PT, 3PM UK), and we'll have all the news on the site as it happens.
