March 26 Nintendo Direct Mini Discussion

[Lightchao42]

Just when all hope was lost, Nintendo surprised us with a stealth direct! You can talk about it here.

 

[Yexin]

i'm super hyped for Bravely Default 2 and Trails of Cold Steel 3, and i'm also looking forward to Xenoblade Remake

also, Alvis's pendant

[Armagon]

Imma be honest: I saw the Xenoblade trailer and then left. That's all i came here for. 

Ok but other cool stuff

• Cold Steel 3 in June is nice. But PC version is already out so.
• Episode 1 Racer, really? Hear that game's good.
• ARMS in Smash so we can finally throw the "Spirits deconfirm" thing in the trash

[Anacybele]

ARMS CHARACTER IN SMASH! I wish they'd told us who it was though. I still want it to be Ribbon Girl since she's cute, she's the game's poster girl, and Spring Man is already an Assist Trophy anyway. This also further opens the door for Dixie Kong since DK already has spirits and all too!

Xenoblade 1 Definitive is looking pretty great. I'll have to think about picking it up somewhere down the line since I like Xenoblade 2 and this version of Xenoblade 1 doesn't have those ugly washed out color graphics from before.

Pokemon Sword/Shield's Expansion Pass is looking mighty fine as always. 😄

Nothing else here really interested me much, though that Marvel Ultimate Alliance trailer was neat. I've had some light interest in that game too since I do like several Marvel characters (Iron Man, Spiderman, Captain America, Hawkeye, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, etc.).

Edited March 26, 2020 by Anacybele

[Etrurian emperor]

Can't say I understand the logic about sneaking a direct past everyone without a word. But a direct was well overdue so I'm at least glad its there. 

Mmmh....kind of an underwhelming direct, certainly if you consider the massive wait time that preceded it. 

The epilogue of Xenoblade seems to be a solo job for Shulk and Melia. Their shippers will probably enjoy that one a lot. 

Bravely Third seems interesting. Cool top hat? Adorable scottish accent? Its going to be an incredibly strange turn of event of Elvis doesn't turn out to be my favorite character. The demo is certainly welcome news. 

I've never been into Arms so them being the new Smash character doesn't really do anything for me. 

Edited March 26, 2020 by Etrurian emperor

[MisterIceTeaPeach]

Huh, Catherine also will get a port for Switch?

Damn, I just have bought the PS4 version a few months ago.

I should have waited with that.

 

Anyways Xenoblade 1 and Cold Steel III will be the highlights of 2020...... even if they're technically not from this year.

[Reality]

Mr. Driller should be played by everyone, and will probably be like a 5 dollar release - NO EXCUSES.

Panzer Dragoon, is one of the great last hurrahs of the rail shooter genre - so it'll be good, but I gotta be honest and if you didn't like (Starfox 64) you won't like this much either.

Of the PC ports I think Burnout/XCOM/Warhammer Mechanicus (although it can be viewed as a lesser game in XCOM's genre) are by far the most interesting for people who only play console. Borderlands is a big release, but I personally hate the franchise's gameplay, glad a new audience will get to try it and (many) love it, I guess.

[Fabulously Olivier]

Generally disappointed, and I hope they have more tangible announcements that we didn't already know about for a major direct in the next few months.

 

That said, XC Definitive Edition and Bravely Default II look as good as ever.

[vanguard333]

My thoughts on the Mini-Direct:

 

I bought the original Wii version of Xenoblade Chronicles last year. Now I'm regretting that decision. Though I will say, the new epilogue seeming to be just Shulk and Melia reminds me of that stupid love-triangle that was in the game. Why couldn't it have just been a sweet romantic subplot between Shulk and Fiora? Why did they have to make it that every girl in the main cast except Sharla is into Shulk? That's a trope I see way too often in JRPGs, and really any media aimed at young adults, and it's just not fun to watch; it just ruins a lot of romantic subplots. I'm sick and tired of seeing it done to death and repeatedly done badly. 

 

In all honestly, I'm most looking forward to Bravely Default 2. The game's visuals look fantastic. When I saw the first trailer for this game, I was concerned that the whole game would be CG and the locations would no longer be hand-drawn. I'm good to see that that's not the case; the hand-drawn art style is back, and it looks better than ever. Also, I love how two of the main cast have Scottish accents. 

 

The Isle of Armour Expansion for Pokémon Sword and Shield still doesn't make sense to me; shouldn't the Isle of Armour Legendary look more, I don't know, armoured? The Crown Tundra Legendary actually has a crown-like thing on its head; why doesn't the Isle of Armour Legendary have any armour? It would've been far more fitting for it look more like an armoured knight than a martial artist. 

Not only that, but the Region is supposed to be based on the UK, right? Celtic Folklore is full of stories of warriors going to isles to seek out specialist training from former champions, so the Pokémon Trainer doing just that, but for Pokémon Battling, in the Isle of Armour expansion is actually very fitting. So, why does the island have a distinctly non-British aesthetic to it?

 

Overall, this was a pretty good Direct, current circumstances taken into account.

[BergelomeuSantos]

Pretty good direct if you ask me. Sure, it didn't have an overwhelming number of new things, but it is what it is: a mini direct.

Maybe we have a Big One coming soon and this was just something to keep non AC fans us entertained?

[Zapp Branniglenn]

I think I heard somebody mention Episode 1 Racer got a remaster and I just...didn't think to ask about that. Just assuming that they mispoke or something. So for me that's the biggest surprise out of this Direct. Most of these were updates on things we already knew about. The "Mini" in the title is probably just communicating to us that there's no new game announcement, rather than indicating length. For the last two years, my switch has really just been a platform for ports of games I never got around to, so the Indie Directs have been all that I've cared about lately.

[Johann]

Xenoblade and Bravely Default II both looking amazing here and both had some excellent surprises for us. Can't wait for both.

ARMS for Smash is fine. Hope they do the Hero/Bowser Jr thing of multiple characters in one slot to keep people happy.

2 hours ago, Yexin said:

also, Alvis's pendant

Even without the full context of what it means, it just looks way better than a generic ass house key. Always thought Alvis looked like he belonged in Kingdom Hearts and this change, while subtle, helps fix that.

[Gregster101]

So if an Arms character gets to be DLC in Smash Bros, that means first party characters are on the table for this Pass, which means...BANDANA DEE STILL LIVES

[Yexin]

15 minutes ago, Johann said:

Even without the full context of what it means, it just looks way better than a generic ass house key. Always thought Alvis looked like he belonged in Kingdom Hearts and this change, while subtle, helps fix that.

Xenoblade is the new Kingdom Hearts confirmed

 

 

i'd love it though

[Punished Dayni]

Direct Mini's a thing. Oh look, it's an overview for Xenoblade's remake. It's out the end of may. Should I get it? Might as well try it first. Next up is the reveal for 2K titles (All the Bioshock titles in one (Oh, that might interest me), Multiple Borderllands titles? I'm unsure, is it the case? and XCom 2.), all of which are interspersed with odd red + white pictures. Borderlands is 1, 2 and the presequel (Is it possible 3 could run then? Not that I would, I'll stick to PC for Borderlands at least). The Fantasic 4 have finally been allowed into something Marvel related again for that marvel game. Also, X-Men, really telling us it's Disney's fault it didn't happen before. Then there's something called Shinesaki, which looks like a rougelike which allows you to mess with the music that's also out today. AC:NH (aka Coronavirus boredom cure) gets an easter related update. Also, WHY JOKE WITH ME ABOUT PEOPLE HIRING? Oh wait, it's a game, where you mess around an officeblock. If it has a demo I'll look. Catherine gets a Switch port (REALLY?), Ring Fit gets a rhythm (and other things) update, King's Bounty is a thing (I'm curious about it). Arms gets a smash rep in June (It should have been a launch unit) and a free trial (Alright, Now I'm intrigued), but no sequel.

Bravely Default 2 gets more detail (Oh no, it's the same art style. I was kind of hoping otherwise with the initial announcement.) going through the party and showing it's pretty similar to the others. It's demo's out now (okay.). There's a boardgame collection next and actually showed all of them. Ninjala gets some detail (It's not ninjago?), including that gum's a thing that impacts the gameplay and it's confirmed FTP (Okay). Jedi Academy gets ported (It's not longer canon), as is pod racing. Panzer Dragoon is out (I'm curious about this too) and it was a timed exclusive (Huh. Interesting). To the rapid-fire, there's a DJ game, Warhammerhad something that should have been explained, Vigor got no description so it's doomed, Burnout finally gets a game again (even as a remake), Trails of Cold Steel gets a demo (so I can finally see what the fuss is about), Driller is a thing and also a Minecraft game. The Pokemon expansion pass gets discussed and I'm done.

I mean, there's a couple of maybes and some nice demo confirmations, so I'm okay with that.Yet again, RIP 3DS.

[EricaofRenais]

New content for Xenoblade made me go from not buying it to will be buying it.  That was the only thing that really interested me, so everything else cool for fans of that just not for me. 

[Zapp Branniglenn]

Panzer Dragoon's remake was announced...Gosh, over a year ago. So I'm here to finally play it. Never got to with the original since I never owned a Saturn.

Xenoblade Definitive is a maybe for me. I've always had the option of downloading the original to my Wii U for cheap, but I've never pulled the trigger. As for Bravely Default 2, I'm also taking the wait and see approach like with Octopath. Default 1 burned me hard and I can't really look past that game.

[FireFenrir]

I was only waiting for a release date for Xenoblade, since the time they have leaked it I'm waiting for it! It's great to finnally have an official date. And plus I was so happy we have an image of * POSSIBLE SPOIL OF A XENOBLADE CHARACTER*

Spoiler

Alvis, he is one of my favorite character, don't even know why. And he looks waaaaaaaaay better here! (of course)!

The collector version of Xenoblade looks great I NEED THAT POSTER! That's great to have another collector version for those, like me, who don't have the chance to know this game when it was released first time in june 2011 if I remember in France.

[starburst]

16 hours ago, Dayni said:

Bravely Default 2 gets more detail (Oh no, it's the same art style. I was kind of hoping otherwise with the initial announcement.)

I share your disappointment, mate. The art style is the one reason why I never tried these games on the 3DS. I just cannot stand these chibis.
My loss, obviously. I did enjoy Octopath Traveler’s gameplay, style and music, though.

[Punished Dayni]

34 minutes ago, starburst said:

I share your disappointment, mate. The art style is the one reason why I never tried these games on the 3DS. I just cannot stand these chibis.
My loss, obviously. I did enjoy Octopath Traveler’s gameplay, style and music, though.

I'll say this, I was expecting it to be different based on what we knew. I don't think it's bad mind, just I was hoping they'd go a bit further with this title on new hardware.

Octopath.... I've tried the demo a bit and I can totally see it being better and it's certainly harder than BD's was (I have tried both), but there's something to appreciate from both series imo.

I downloaded a lot last night. I might whip out Arms later.

[starburst]

2 hours ago, Dayni said:

I don't think it's bad mind, just I was hoping they'd go a bit further with this title on new hardware.

Oh!, I see. Well, I never liked it, but I sort of understood that chibis were used as a necessity on the rather low 3DS's processing power. But as you say, they did not have those restrictions this time.

 

3 hours ago, Dayni said:

Octopath.... I've tried the demo a bit and I can totally see it being better and it's certainly harder than BD's was (I have tried both), but there's something to appreciate from both series imo.

Once you get used to the battle system, Octopath is super easy; it almost plays like a rhythm game. In my opinion, it is so exploitable that it is only entertaining as long as you restrict yourself from breaking it. And contrary to the infinite comments online about its being super grindy, every zone or boss is beatable at 10-15 levels below the enemy's, without a single grind battle or treasure hunting. 😂

I had a lot of fun with its gameplay, and loved its music and art style, but I certainly did not like its pacing and (lack of) story. It did make me revisit the Bravely series (from more or less the same team), but the chibi style kept putting me off.

[Shanty Pete's 1st Mate]

ARMS character in Smash sounds pretty good. Hoping for one of the girls, but I'm none too invested either way.

Catherine for the Switch... maybe I'll get it? I have a friend who was really into it, seems kinda neat.

Xenoblade remake... doesn't seem like a good investment for me. I have the original on Wii that I never finished, haha.

Bioshock are all good games, but I'm not sure I could get with shooting myself in the arm. Just a personal hangup there.

Not too much else I see that's really for me. But that's okay.