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Nintendo Direct news roundup: Yoshi 3DS XL in UK, new Ace Attorney
During its UK Nintendo Direct presentation yesterday, Nintendo revealed a Yoshi 3DS XL system – just the hardware, no Yoshi game included – heading to Europe on March 14, Tiny Cartridge points out. Earlier this month, we caught wind of a Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL bundle rumored to launch on March 14, but a hardware-software collection hasn't been announced just yet. There's no word on a North American launch for the Yoshi system. Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi confirmed that he is working on a new entry in the series that will shift those games in a new direction. Japan gets a Monster Hunter 4 3DS XL on March 27, this one based on the dual-horned, hairy beast Rajang. That system was announced during Nintendo's Japanese stream of Nintendo Direct. This whole "three streams for three different regions all at the same time" process is making it tough to keep track of everything, at least if you're a disembodied, global internet person-simulation like us. [Image: Nintendo]
New trailers for Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2
We got quite a bit of 3DS news from today's Nintendo Direct, but it wasn't without a few tender morsels for Wii U owners. In addition to Little Mac appearing in Super Smash Bros, Game Boy Advance games hitting Virtual Console and the announcement of NES Remix 2, Nintendo rolled out new trailers for some of the Wii U's biggest upcoming games. Settle in and get comfy for a few minutes as you take in fresh footage of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, and Bayonetta 2.
Wii U Virtual Console gets first Game Boy Advance games in April
GBA games are coming to the WII U Virtual Console this spring, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata revealed during today's Nintendo Direct livestream event. Metroid: Fusion, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 will be the first GBA games to grace the Virtual Console. All three will be available in April. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario Kart 8 shooting turtle shells on May 30
Mario Kart 8 will launch on May 30, Nintendo announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. The next entry in the long-running driving series will also be the first on the Wii U. The kart racer was announced during the publisher's E3 2013 presentation and was initially given a "spring 2014" launch window. [Image: Nintendo]
Soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven launching on 3DS eShop today
Inazuma Eleven will launch today on the 3DS eShop for $19.99, Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct livestream. The eShop-exclusive has players directing players on a soccer field with tactical RPG elements. The game appeared and then disappeared from Nintendo's North American release calendar in January. [Image: Level-5]
Mario Golf World Tour tees off on May 2
Mario Golf World Tour launches on May 2 in North America for 3DS and 2DS, Nintendo announced today. The game features a Castle Club mode that allows players to hit the green with their own, customized characters. There are eight customizable items sold in the in-game shop, including clubs, golf balls and clothing, and character stats can be upgraded as each player sees fit. Mario Gold World Tour also has a training mode. The May 2 date is a delay from Mario Golf World Tour's original launch window in summer 2013. [Image: Nintendo]
Nintendo's free-to-play game lets you haggle for bargains
Nintendo announced a 3DS mini-game collection by the name of Rusty's Real Deal Baseball during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. The game is free to download, and offers one demo game by default. The rest are cartridges that players purchase for their "Nontendo 4DS," a small console inside the game that houses all the baseball mini-games. The catch to Rusty's Real Deal Baseball is the haggling system within the game, in which players attempt to talk the mini-game store's owner (Rusty, who happens to be a dog) into lowering the real-life prices of the mini-games. This is accomplished not only by chatting Rusty up at the right times, but by bribing him with items earned within the games players already own until the shopkeeper (or one of his kids) announces the minimum price has been met. Completing rounds in mini-games also earns players collectible stamps, which unlock items for use in bargaining. Nintendo first released the game as Darumeshi Sports Store in Japan in August 2013. [Image: Nintendo]
Free-to-play Steel Diver launches today on 3DS eShop
Steel Diver will surface on the 3DS eShop today, Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct presentation. It should be available right after today's Nintendo Direct. The new Steel Diver is a first-person, free-to-play take on Nintendo's original 3DS launch game. The eShop download will be free, but it can be upgraded to a premium version that includes many additional, superior ships, customization options and all of the single-player missions. The free version allows access to seven single-player missions and two subs. There will be five ships sold as individual DLC, though only premium accounts are able to purchase DLC. All players will have access to local and online multiplayer. Steel Diver joins Rusty's Real Deal Baseball as Nintendo's first free-to-play games. [Image: Nintendo]
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Kirby: Triple Deluxe rolls to North America on May 2
Kirby: Triple Deluxe will launch on May 2 in North America, Nintendo announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. The game was first announced in October 2013, and arrived in Japan in January. [Image: Nintendo]
Little Mac enters the Super Smash Bros. ring
During this afternoon's Nintendo Direct livestream, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata introduced a new character for Super Smash Bros., Little Mac. The Punch-Out!! series protagonist joins the cast on both 3DS and Wii U. You can see a variety of his attacks and special moves in the trailer above. We just hope the trainer doesn't talk that much in the actual game, because that would be super distracting. [Image: Nintendo]
Watch the first Nintendo Direct of 2014 right here [Update: It's over!]
2014 has been great and all, but it's felt like something's been missing. Something like a livestream of a 54-year-old Japanese executive staring at some bananas. Let's remedy that. The first Nintendo Direct of 2014 kicks off at 2PM PT/5PM ET/10PM UK time, and you can watch it right here on Joystiq. Up for discussion? "Wii U and 3DS games launching by the end of spring" is the official word, but don't discount the Big N chucking a few curveballs. After all, Nintendo of America promises 41 minutes of video in today's broadcast. As always, we've got the North American news-stream up top, while Euro and Japanese streams are below the break. If you miss it, we'll have the replay up as soon as possible, and we'll also cover all of the news as and when it hits. Update: The show's over, but we've embedded the full video of the stream above for your viewing pleasure.
