nintendo-direct-january-2015
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Splatoon makes a mess of the Wii U in May
Fulfilling a claim made in November's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo has revealed that its third-person ink shooter Splatoon will reach the Wii U at some point in May. Alongside the release window confirmation, Nintendo also mentioned that the game features a central "plaza" that links Splatoon's various game modes and allows players to customize their weapons and gear. Below you'll also find a gallery of new screenshots pulled from the vibrant action game. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario Party 10 throws an amiibo get-together on March 20
Mario Party 10 will launch on March 20, Nintendo revealed today. The publisher showed off the new "amiibo Party Mode" for the game during its Nintendo Direct presentation this morning, adding compatibility for Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario series figures. Nintendo noted that the mode requires at least one amiibo, though other players can link their own figures to the game to use their respective characters as game pieces and access game boards inspired by the characters. Nintendo also announced that a limited edition version of Mario Party 10 will arrive on Wii U that same day, packing in a Mario amiibo figure with the party game. The game's latest trailer shows off both the amiibo Party Mode and the game's Bowser Party mode. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the first Nintendo cross-buy game
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is Nintendo's first cross-buy game, meaning anyone who buys it on 3DS gets the Wii U version as well, and those who buy it for Wii U get the 3DS version. Tipping Stars is due out on March 5. The 3DS is consistently Nintendo's best-selling console, while the Wii U is historically slower to sell, though a rush of acclaimed games near the end of 2014 did boost sales. Nintendo announced Tipping Stars and its cross-buy nature during today's Nintendo Direct, which included the announcement of a new 3DS, a new Fire Emblem game, Wii games on Wii U and much more. [Image: Nintendo]
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse slides to February 20
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse will launch on February 20, Nintendo confirmed today. The latest in the platforming series was previously expected to launch on February 13. Additionally, the publisher offered a new gameplay trailer for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, seen above. Nintendo first unveiled the game during its E3 2014 Nintendo Direct presentation. In it, players trace colorful lines on the Game Pad to guide Kirby and transform the fluffy pink character into a tank, submarine and rocket. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse will receive amiibo support, as Nintendo revealed in December. Players that link up a Kirby, King Dedede or Meta Knight amiibo with the Wii U game will unlock special powers for Kirby. [Image: Nintendo]
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, limited edition 3DS launches next month [Update]
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will launch on February 13 worldwide, Capcom announced during this morning's Nintendo Direct livestream. The game will be accompanied by its own themed (new) 3DS XL, featuring a brushed silver cover and blue logo. The latest Monster Hunter game launches on the same day as the standard, red and black versions of the new 3DS. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) is the updated version of Monster Hunter 4, which first launched in September 2013 in Japan. 4G reached Japan in October 2014. Update: Nintendo offered a new trailer for the game, found after the break. Additionally, GameStop announced that the Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate 3DS XL will be exclusive to the retailer, and is available for pre-order today. The system will come with the game pre-loaded on it for $230, and customers will have to pay for the bundle in full upon pre-ordering it. [Image: Nintendo]
Majora's Mask New 3DS coming February 13
With the launch of the New 3DS XL stateside, there will also be a Majora's Mask 3D limited edition released on February 13. The bundle will feature a gold-tinted New 3DS XL featuring five of the game's masks, which transform Link into various characters from the Majora's Mask universe. The remastered Nintendo 64 game will launch on February 13 as well. Hopefully we'll have more than three days to snag it before an angry moon crashes into us. Update: The unit appears to be sold out at GameStop, currently listed as "not available." [Image: Nintendo]
Xenoblade Chronicles confirmed for US release in April
What a bunch of jokers! Nintendo confirmed during its January Nintendo Direct presentation that the New Nintendo 3DS port of Xenoblade is coming to the the US in April 2015. Nintendo also confirmed that it will be available on April 2 in Japan. Announced in August, the renamed Xenoblade Chronicles will only run on the new version of Nintendo's handheld thanks to its superior specs. [Image: Nintendo]
New 3DS arrives February 13, priced at $199
Coinciding with recently revealed marketing materials, Nintendo announced this morning its New 3DS will launch in North America on February 13. The new handheld is an upgraded version of the current Nintendo 3DS XL, with the addition of an analog pad and faster processor. The system will launch in red and black versions. The new handheld will be priced at $199. "If we're honest, there really wasn't much difference from my now-obsolete 3DS XL at home on initial handling," Engadget Senior Editor Mat Smith wrote about the device during Tokyo Game Show. "There are no games that appropriately make the most of the analog stick (at least, not yet). Here at TGS 2014, with Monster Hunter 4G, the right stick was assigned to camera duties, a role it shared with the d-pad and, er, about a third of the touchscreen too." [Image: Nintendo]
Hyrule Warriors getting Majora's Mask pack next month [Update]
Hyrule Warriors will receive a new piece of downloadable content themed after The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on February 5, Nintendo revealed during its Nintendo Direct livestream this morning. The DLC will include Tingle and the game's youthful Link as playable characters, the former giving his enemies a kiss of death and whipping them with bags of rupees. The pack will also include three as-yet-unknown character skins. Update: Nintendo says the DLC will cost $7.99 and will also feature a new Adventure Mode map. [Image: Nintendo]
Wii games coming to Wii U eShop
Wii games will begin surfacing on the Wii U eShop, Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct livestream this morning. Starting today, players will be able to download Super Mario Galaxy 2, followed by Punch Out on January 22, then the Metroid Prime Trilogy on January 29. The games will be half price ($10) for their respective first weeks on the digital service. Nintendo also revealed that Wii games that traditionally used the Wii's Classic Controller will be able to use the Wii U's Game Pad to control the game, and the games will be playable right from the Wii U's home menu. The Wii U previously required players to enter "Wii mode" in order to play the previous generation system's games. [Image: Nintendo]
Nintendo announces 'The Latest in the Fire Emblem Series' for Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo announced a new, untitled Fire Emblem for Nintendo 3DS during its Nintendo Direct January 2015 event. Developed by series stewards Intelligent Systems, it's a follow up to 2013's Fire Emblem: Awakening. Update: We've added the game's teaser trailer (above) and a handful of screens (below). [Image: Nintendo]
Watch New 3DS, Spring Wii U-focused Nintendo Direct right here (Update: It's over! Replay now)
Today's Nintendo Direct will focus on spring 2015 Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. We're also planning (hoping) that a New 3DS release date and price announcement for North America is in there somewhere. Expect Nintendo executives dressed up like game characters at the top of the hour. To watch today's stream right here on Joystiq, get your fine self below the break at 9AM ET (6AM PT/2PM UK). We'll have the replay up ASAP after, as well as the relevant news on the site. Update: Replay available now after the break. All the news right here.
2015's first Nintendo Direct airs tomorrow
Nintendo is kicking off the new year with a new Nintendo Direct, but is it on the New 3DS? We're always wary of predicting how these live broadcasts will go, but it would make sense for the enhanced handheld to show up in tomorrow's stream. It was just last week, after all, that Nintendo of Europe revealed plans to ship early "Ambassador Editions" of the New system. For the record, the Big N's official word is tomorrow's Direct will focus on "spring 2015 Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles." Also, while president Satoru Iwata will be on the stream, it remains unknown what variety of fruit he'll be holding. We'll keep you posted on developments there. Anyway, keep your eyes peeled ("peeled," geddit?) on Joystiq tomorrow, where we'll have the livestream for you to watch and all the news as it comes in. So, set your alarms for streamage at 9AM ET (6AM PT/2PM GMT) tomorrow, Wednesday January 14. Also, check below the break to see how Nintendo Direct revealed the New 3DS for Japan back in August 2014. Skip to 14:25 for the New hotness and fill in the blanks here. [Image: Nintendo]
