Big events like E3 draw eyeballs for almost every big developer and publisher in the video game industry, but Nintendo has still seen success with its pioneering Nintendo Direct formula. After a hiatus for major showcases in 2020, Nintendo came back in full-force last year. The first Nintendo Direct for 2022 was announced yesterday, and it includes a lot of surprise reveals for fans.
A number of the reveals at this latest Nintendo Direct have been rumored for some time, but others - including a new Warriors game set in the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses and a DLC pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - kept things fresh. There was seemingly something for everyone in the 40-minute Direct, with plenty for fans to anticipate over the coming year.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Koei Tecmo's hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors franchise has been around for decades, but recently it's picked up a lot of steam with crossovers like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Persona 5 Strikers. Much like the original Hyrule Warriors was standalone followed by Age of Calamity as a Breath of the Wild tie-in, Fire Emblem Warriors is now being followed up by Three Hopes as a Three Houses tie-in.
The trailer leading today's Nintendo Direct doesn't reveal too many details, but it is confirmed the game will be a "different story set in the same universe." It appears to be an alternate take on the events of the 2019 strategy RPG, possibly with the three lords Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude having more overlap. Various new characters also appear throughout the trailer, which ends on the game's June 24, release date.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, a collection of the original Game Boy Advance titles in development at WayForward, was meant to come out in December 2021 before a delay was announced in October. The February 2022 Nintendo Direct reveals it will now come out on April 8, and details quality-of-life changes like fast-forwarding combat and resetting turns. New modes will also be available, including the ability to make custom maps.
No Man's Sky
No Man's Sky has had a long history, going from pre-release hype to an underwhelming release that wound up rectified via updates over the following years. Given its highly technical performance, many will be surprised to hear that No Man's Sky is releasing on Nintendo Switch this summer - and not via cloud support as with prior titles such as Control. Fans will just have to wait and see how it performs.
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Super Mario spin-offs have seen a lot of life on Switch, from titles like Paper Mario: The Origami King to a variety of sports games including Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf: Super Rush. Even so, it's a surprise to see the aggressive "battle-soccer" Mario Strikers series return for the first time since Mario Strikers Charged in 2007.
Mario Strikers: Battle League seems to capture all the hyper-violent charm of the original series with electric fences and attack items. It includes new mechanics like stat-boosting custom gear and powerful "Hyper Strike" moves, and the game will have eight-player local matches as well as an online mode where clubs can form with up to 20 players and compete. Mario Strikers: Battle League will launch on June 10, and pre-orders are available now.
Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3 is releasing in summer 2022, and its February 2022 Nintendo Direct trailer reveals a follow-up to the second game's popular Salmon Run mode. Salmon Run: Next Wave is largely the same four-player co-op experience fans know and love, but will have new mechanics like tossing eggs to teammates and the goal basket. This trailer also reveals an overarching threat in the form of a Giant Salmonid beast that may point to a heavier story focus, as well as new bosses like the Fish Stick tower and a dolphin-like Flipper-Flopper. It's currently unclear if the mode will retain its limited-availability nature from Splatoon 2.
Front Mission 1st
Front Mission is a series of tactical RPGs produced by Square starting in the Super Nintendo-era, created by Toshiro Tsuchida. A remake of the 1995 SNES original called Front Mission 1st is coming to Switch via developer Forever Entertainment this summer, with stand-out features like customizable mechs and a Fallout VATS-style targeting system that can prioritize damage on specific areas of an enemy. Front Mission 2 remake is also coming to Switch "in the future."
Disney Speedstorm
Rumors have been circulating online about a potential Mario Kart 9 that features more Nintendo crossovers. While this project was not announced at the Nintendo Direct, a somewhat similar free-to-play Disney/Pixar racing game called Disney Speedstorm was announced for summer 2022. Created by Asphalt developer Gameloft, Speedstorm crosses over characters ranging from Mickey Mouse to Princesses like Mulan, as well as fan favorites including Jack Sparrow. Each character has unique abilities, and seasonal passes will add more as time goes on.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
Another game that has been rumored for months is a Chrono Cross remake, and today it was revealed to be Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition. It's available to pre-order now before releasing on April 7, adding improvements like turning off enemy encounters and a "newly enhanced soundtrack." The text-based game Radical Dreamers, originally released on the Satellaview, will be available for the first time outside of Japan via this remaster.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby and the Forgotten Land has received a number of trailers leading up to its March 25 release, and many are excited about the series' first true 3D platformer. The February 2022 Nintendo Direct likely amped up this excitement for many, offering more looks at its post-apocolyptic environments and revealing brand-new mechanics.
"Mouthful Mode" in Forgotten Land sees Kirby stuck on objects he can't swallow - including cars, vending machines, light bulbs, and more. Instead, he has to use their inherent abilities to his advantage, adding a new level of gameplay. Today's trailer also confirms Kirby can upgrade his copy abilities in Waddle Dee town, unlocking entirely new forms in the process.
Live A Live
The 1994 Japan-exclusve RPG Live A Live, developed by Square for the SNES, is being brought back in an HD-2D style reminiscent of Octopath Traveller and the upcoming Triangle Strategy. Players take on various stories in any order across different time periods, from prehistory to the Wild West and beyond. Live A Live releases for Nintendo Switch on July 22.