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3DS 'Weapon Shop de Omasse' opens on Feb. 20
Weapon Shop de Omasse, the final title in Level-5's Guild 01 series, will reach the 3DS North American eShop on February 20, Nintendo announced today. Omasse's comical, light-hearted plot is the result of a collaboration between Level-5 and comedian Yoshiyuki Hirai. In Omasse, Oyaji and his apprentice Yuuhan manage an item shop that equips heroes with the weapons they need to take on valiant quests. Players forge weapons by hammering weapons on the 3DS' lower screen. Players tap out rhythms immediately after hearing them, achieving a higher level of craftsmanship according to their accuracy. A content rating for Omasse from the Australian Classification Board popped up earlier this year. [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]
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]
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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]
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.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze trailer is cranky, probably needs a nap
Nintendo showed off a new trailer for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze during its Nintendo Direct presentation today. The video briefly spotlights the Wii U game's fourth playable character, Cranky Kong, who was first announced for the game during the VGX awards earlier this month. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was previously scheduled to launch this month, but was delayed to February 21 back in October. Our time with the game at E3 this year playing cooperative multiplayer was largely positive, and at some points "seemed really difficult, even by Donkey Kong standards."
Watch two whole minutes of Mario Kart 8 right here
Actually, make that two minutes and four seconds of high-octane Nintendon't-know-how-to-slow-down kart racing. Mario Kart 8 will launch in spring 2014 on Wii U and will feature new buggy-type vehicles, as announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream.
Yoshi's Island Zone is one of two Sonic: Lost World DLC stages, out now
Sonic: Lost World will receive two pieces of downloadable content on Wii U, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. The DLC stages will be based on Nintendo properties, the first being a level pulling inspiration and elements from Yoshi's New Island, Nintendo's 3DS entry in the series due out in spring 2014. Called Yoshi's Island Zone, the first piece of DLC is available now for free, and has Sonic "speeding through areas filled with pipes, coins, Shy Guys and Piranha Plants." A brief look at the level can be found in the archived Nintendo Direct presentation.
Rosalina, Luma to pummel little ones in Super Smash Bros.
Rosalina will bring along a Luma to help her knock around other Nintendo characters in Super Smash Bros., this morning's Nintendo Direct revealed. Footage showed her controlling Luma from afar with her wand as well as fighting along beside it.
Dr. Luigi announced for Wii U, hits eShop this month
Dr. Luigi, an other-sibling-themed spin on Dr. Mario, closes out the Year of Luigi with a bang when it hits the Wii U eShop on December 31 in North America - as for Europe, the doctor isn't in until January 15. Dr Luigi features an online mode for 2-player biological warfare, and traditional Dr. Mario-like modes that support online play. As revealed in this morning's Nintendo Direct, Dr. Luigi plays like the classic 90s puzzler, with players trying to align capsules with color-matching viruses. The most obvious twist is that Dr. Luigi's main mode, Operation L, features L-shaped blocks of two capsules fused together, with at least three matching-color blocks within the block. So, while players have to match four colors together, it's still easier than the original Dr. Mario; as Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata explained during the Direct broadcast, play will be swifter, but less punishing in terms of hitting a Game Over screen. If players prefer the traditional single-capsule, two-colors-matching mechanics of Dr. Mario, they can take up the Retro Remedy mode, which features button controls, or Germ Buster, which let you position capsules using the touchscreen and stylus.
Yoshi's New Island arriving in spring 2014 [Update: Trailer added]
Nintendo announced that Yoshi's New Island will launch in spring 2014 for 3DS during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. What's more, the series' original creator Takashi Tezuka is working on the project. Yoshi's New Island was first announced in June and was originally expected to launch this holiday season. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata also announced a new Wii U action game known as Hyrule Warriors during the stream.
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'Hyrule Warriors' 3D action game announced for Wii U [Update: Trailer added]
Nintendo announced Hyrule Warriors during today's Nintendo Direct livestream. Gameplay video for the Wii U action game showed The Legend of Zelda's Link hacking and slashing enemies with an over-the-shoulder camera angle similar to the Dynasty Warriors series. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata stressed that the game is not a new installment in The Legend of Zelda series, but is a collaborative effort with Tecmo Koei. Hyrule Warriors, which is not the game's final name, will launch in 2014.
Watch the last Nintendo Direct of 2013 (probably) right here [Update: It's over!]
Just when we thought we were out... Nintendo pulls us back in. 2013 isn't done just yet, because the House of Mario wants to end the Year of Luigi with one more Nintendo Direct. The official line is that today's broadcast is on Wii U and 3DS software due before the end of spring 2014, but if 2013 has taught us anything, it's not to trust the official line. Who knows where we'll be by the end of proceedings - perhaps we'll be sinking beneath a deluge of release dates and juicy details, or maybe recovering from the sight and sounds of Nintendo execs singing carols for 30 minutes straight (shudder). Instead, let's deal in certainties: You'll be able to watch your pick of the North American, European, and Japanese Direct streams right here on Joystiq. They're all scheduled to start rolling at 9AM ET (6AM PT, 2PM UK time), and as ever we'll have the North American stream up top, and the European and Japanese streams below the break. We'll also be serving up the stories as they come in - even if they're limited to a reluctant breakdown of Reggie's crooning abilities, or lack thereof. Update: While the stream is no longer live, feel free to pretend it's all happening right now as you watch the Nintendo Direct replay we've embedded above. Here's all the news from the event.
PSA: eShop sale on Zelda games for 3DS, Wii U Virtual Console now live
The first round of Nintendo's character-themed eShop sales campaign is now live on the 3DS and Wii U eShop. Customers will be able to save a few rupees when purchasing Zelda games from Nintendo's digital storefront until November 21. For the 3DS, users can save $1.50 when purchasing The Legend of Zelda or Zelda 2 - The Adventure of Link for $3.49 each. If you're not cut out for the NES era's "Nintendo Hard" mindset, the Game Boy Color's The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX is also available for $3.99, which is $2 cheaper than usual. For the Wii U, both The Legend of Zelda and Zelda 2 are available for $3.49. Notably absent from this deal is The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and its counterpart, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, both of which are currently available on the 3DS eShop. It would also be nice to buy up The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in preparation for the incoming sequel, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, but it has yet to reach the eShop on either console. Still, if you've yet to check out the series' origins, this seems like the time!
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.
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.
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.
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.
