Nintendo Posts a Special “Short” Nintendo Direct

Nintendo posted a special, yet short, Nintendo Direct today. In it, they outlined a number of current and new games coming to Wii U and 3DS this year. There was even a special amiibo announcement. Here are the details on today’s announcements. We will cover each of these titles when they become available. For now, enjoy these few details we have received from a Nintendo Press release today!

Nintendo 3DS

Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash – Everyone’s favourite little robot is back, this time in a side-scrolling action game! In Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash, Chibi-Robo must swing his plug to whip enemies, reach far-off platforms and solve environmental puzzles, as well as collect upgrades to extend his plug for getting hard-to-reach collectibles and uncovering hidden areas. Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash will launch exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems this October.

Our Take: I was not a fan of the last Chibi-Robo game on 3DS, but that was more of a fault of the 3DS cameras picture abilities than the game itself. It appears as if this latest title is not at all in the vein of the last release.
         
Chibi-Robo amiibo – Launching exclusively in a Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash bundle is a new Chibi-Robo amiibo figure. This new amiibo transforms Chibi-Robo into the all-powerful Super Chibi-Robo in certain stages in the game. In addition, players can level up this Chibi-Robo amiibo to acquire a variety of in-game collectible figures and items by saving their scores at the end of each stage. More details about this special amiibo will be revealed in the future.

Our Take: Ladies and gentleman, get your preorders ready. Once again, Nintendo is releasing an amiibo that very few people should actually care about, but which everyone under the sun is going to preorder because of its perceived – and probably true – rarity.

Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure – The classic Dr. Mario puzzle gameplay that players have grown to love over the years returns in this new game, but with the addition of a game-changing new Miracle Cure item. This cure-all item activates a variety of capsule- and virus-eradicating powers. Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure is available for pre-purchase beginning today and writes a prescription exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS on June 11.

Our Take: Dr. Mario games have their following. I enjoyed the past games, so this is something I will look forward too. If you have some Dr. Mario fatigue – is that possible! – then you won`t have a lot to be excited for here.

BRAVELY SECOND END LAYER – The sequel to Square Enix’s much-loved role-playing game Bravely Default is coming to the West. Experience a rousing fantasy adventure with new and returning characters when the game launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in 2016.

         
Our Take: Bravely Default was definetly a niche title, but those that took a ‘risk’ and made the plunge were generally very happy with it. Count me in as one of those people. I’m really happy that this title is coming to the West. Hopefully more people appreciate this series so we can get a third, fourth….fifth? title here!

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon – This recently revealed new installment in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series finds players becoming Pokémon to explore randomly generated dungeons in a land inhabited only by Pokémon. In addition to the 20 Pokémon players can choose to become and also pick as their partners, all 720 known Pokémon are in the game. Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems this winter.
        
Our Take: Pokemon titles, no matter what they are about, sell well. The Mystery Dungeon series definetly does not have the legs of traditional Pokemon games, but they are still well liked and generally sell well. I cannot say I’ve spent a lot of time with Mystery Dungeon titles, but I look forward to giving this a try this winter!

LBX: Little Battlers eXperience – Just like the popular anime and toy line, LBX: Little Battlers eXperience lets players build, customize and battle robots using more than 130 models and more than 4,000 in-game parts. Up to six players can connect via local wireless to battle it out and see whose robot emerges victorious when the game launches on August 21.

Our Take: If the launch of Splatoon is any indication, Nintnedo is looking at establishing simpler titles with lots of online connectivity This title holds lots of promise, but it will be interesting to see how Nintendo markets this to their average fan. It doesn’t look like a Day One buy for me. I hope I’m wrong though!

Wii U

Art Academy: Home Studio – In this new application for Wii U, artists of all skill levels can take lessons, draw inspiration from 360-degree landscape photos and share their creations with friends. Art Academy: Home Studio will even allow fellow art enthusiasts to upload time-lapse replays of their creations to their YouTube accounts. Art Academy: Home Studio is now available for pre-purchase and launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U on June 25.

Our Take: If nothing else, people better stay tuned to Miiverse to see what insane and crazy artwork people post. If any of the other Art Academy games are any indication, there will be some amazing thigns to see come late June and early July. This is definitely a niche genre as well, but Art Academy is known for offering great help for budding and interested artists. The time-lapse feature is an excellent idea.
       
Project Treasure – A new trailer highlighting gameplay in this four-player co-op action game from Bandai Namco Entertainment was revealed alongside the Nintendo Direct video and can be viewed separately on YouTube. Take down enemies, evade traps and escape with spoils from the deepest of dungeons.

Our Take: Another co-op game is coming to Nintendo platforms. This shouldn’t be a surprise, as it is the way Nintendo is beginning to move with more and more titles.

Wii U and Nintendo 3DS

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games – All of your favourite Mario and Sonic characters are ready to join the fun in Rio, host of the Olympic Games in August 2016. Take the rivalry on the road with super-charged Olympic events like Soccer and Table Tennis in the Nintendo 3DS version, or see if you’ve got what it takes to hang with the best in the Wii U version, with events like Soccer, Rugby and Beach Volleyball. More details about the games will be announced in the future.

Our Take: You either love these games or hate them. Which best represents you?