The Nintendo Direct for E3 2021 is finally upon us, and after weeks of anticipation, we finally have something to talk about.
The 40 minute direct kicks off with Shinya Takahashi and Yoshiaki Koizumi hosting the direct, discussing the Nintendo Switch system and thanking consumers for playing their system, with the wide variety of titles that have been released on the machine.
Tekken's Kazuya Joins Smash Ultimate
We then get into a pre-rendered video of Ganondorf thrown into a volcano, as Kazuya from Tekken is revealed to be the next character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The trailer shows off some of Kazuya’s moves as he keeps throwing characters into the volcano, slowly gaining power to become the Devil Kazuya.
Masahiro Sakurai then takes the screen by shouting surprise for Kazuya’s inclusion, then we get a showcase of his movesets, based heavily on his own Tekken moves and fighting style, including a nice 10 hit combo. Sakurai then reveals that on June 28th at 10am eastern, they will go into more detail about Kazuya.
Life is Strange Remastered and True Colors Coming to Switch
We then get the first batch of Nintendo Switch headlines with a quick plug of Life is Strange: Remastered and Life is Strange: True Colors coming to the Nintendo Switch. True Colors gets an announce date for September 10th.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Coming to Switch
After this, comes a cliff notes preview of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, with an announcement date of October 26th.
Worms Rumble, Astria Ascending, Two Point Campus Coming to Switch
Other indie games shown include Astria Ascending, an RPG launches on September 30th, and a quick plug for Two Point Campus.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania Collection Announced
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Super Monkey Ball gets a nice little plug and an announcement for a new game, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania. A remastered version of three Monkey Ball games. Banana Mania will be released on October 25th.
Mario Party Superstars Announced
Not to be outdone, Mario gets into the action with some more Mario Party fun with Mario Party Superstars bringing classic boards and mini-games from the Nintendo 64 era of games making a return. We see Peach's Birthday Cake Over 100 games are promised, and all game modes work with online play as well!
Mario Party Superstars will be out on October 29th and can be preorded now. Check out the trailer here.
Metroid Dread Announced
Takahashi confirms that Nintendo is working on Metroid Prime 4 still, but also announces out of nowhere, Metroid 5, Metroid Dread. Based on the classic Metroid series, Metroid Dread gives us a small trailer showing Samus being chased by a robotic enemy in a 2.5, maze-like facility. Invoking the metroiavania-styled of game it created with a brand new coat of paint, Metroid Dread is getting a release this year, for October 8th, 2021.
Just Dance 2022, Cruisin' Blast Coming, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Coming to Switch
We get another short highlights reel, showing off venerable franchises like Just Dance 2022, which is coming out on November 4th, Cruisn’ Blast, the arcade racing game, is coming as a console exclusive to the Switch. Dragon Ball Z: is getting an action RPG on the Switch, following the Sayian, Freiza Cell and Majin Buu sagas from the anime.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot and a new Power Awakens Set will be out this September.
Mario Golf: Super Rush Details
We then get a quick look at Mario Golf: Super Rush, showing off the game's different modes, including standard play, speed golf, battle golf, golf adventure (for your mii characters!), and the fact that they will have free updates coming to the future, including new characters and courses.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin focuses on riding your monster companions, gathering materials for your journey, and fighting and taking down monsters in turn-based battles that can lead to further upgrades for your character. These battles also blend a bit of animal breeding with your monsties, and even team up with friends online for co-op play.
WarioWare: Get It Together Announced
Wario shows up out of nowhere with a new game. His game company has been hard at work making low-effort micro-games with WarioWare: Get it Together, coming September 10th.
The biggest addition is now 2-player co-op, where players can compete against each other in tons of new microgames as Wario and his colorful cast of friends and rivals.
Shin Megami Tensei V Release Date
The trailer focuses on a Japanese high school student who is sucked into a different dimension to a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where she then fuses with a mysterious figure and begins fighting against the hostile demons by using a command-based system to find their weaknesses. As always, you can convince demons to join your side by talking to them and can then fuse them together later
Shin Megami Tensei V is coming to the Nintendo Switch exclusively on November 12th.
Danganronpa Decadence Announced
The headlines come back and we get some Danganronpa Decadence love, or hate, with three games from the series coming to the Nintendo Switch. You need to survive the deadly game of survival and intrigue. Added to it is a new, expanded boardgame from Danganronpa 3 that is now added as a brand new game.
Interestingly enough, the entire package is a physical switch exclusive, while all four games will be released individually on the Nintendo eShop.
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water Coming to Switch
Of all games, Fatal Frame makes a return, the cult horror video game where you must investigate mount Hikami armed only with a photogram. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is coming later this year.
Doom Eternal DLC, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2, Strange Brigade Coming to Switch
Doom Eternal gets a campaign expansion that launches today, while Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 is coming to the Nintendo Switch, with local and online gameplay, coming June 25th. We also get a version of Strange Brigade, an online multiplayer third-person shooter that offers online co-op and online play, which is also launching today.
New Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope Trailer
The new Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope gets a lovely little trailer, bringing attention to the mysterious sword-wielding rabbid who we still have no idea who it is.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp Announced
After this, an updated, remastered version of Advance Wars is shown, with brand new CG animation, enhanced character models shown. Advance Wars 1+2: Boot Camp is the combination of the first two Advance Wars games, and will be out later this year.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity DLC This Month
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity gets a trailer showing off new weapons and characters. Among them, we see a playable guardian and the motorcycle from Breath of the Wild. Titled Pulse of the Ancients, the trailer is the first wave of DLC for Age of Calamity.
The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch System Announced
He then pulls out a Game & Watch system, offering it as a special item that will contain The Legend of Zelda, Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link, and the Game Boy version of Link's Awakening, with the Game and Watch version of Vermin with Link as a playable character.
They also added a few functions like interactive timers to the Game & Watch system, which will be sold and available on November 12th.
New Breath of the Wild 2 Footage
Aonuma finally shares new footage of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. It opens with darkness, and the calamity all over the screen as Zelda herself falls in a giant chasm, and Link literally flies through the air. We see the same open world through new angles, and even new mechanics such as a gauntlet on Link’s hand, Moblins on a stone talus, Link sliding through walls, and Hyrule castle slowly rising to the sky.
Aonuma notes that the setting has been expanded to include the skies above Hyrule, and that Breath of the Wild 2 may be out in 2022 at the earliest.
Be sure to check out the rest of our E3 2021 Coverage here.
