In the wake of last nights Nintendo Direct we have some great stuff to share with you today. In an effort to boost Nintendo success in 2014 they are pulling out all the stops and taking advantage of their massive history and character roster, so heres whats new...
Super Smash Bros 3DS / Wii U - We saw a new challenger enter the Super Smash Bros lineup in the form of Little Mac; the fighter from Nintendo's Punch-Out series. Given that he's been boxing since long before the Super Smash Bros series existed I'm expecting good things from this guy, especially as his signature move in the new SSB is going to be the powered-up-uppercut, just like in the Punch Out Games.
Mac demonstrated his prowess in last nights stream by giving Samus Aran a good beating for laughing at him. Did we see that coming? I didn't and didn't look like Samus Aran did either. The release month is still unspecified for this one unfortunately, they ended the SSB segment by stating only that it will launch in 2014.
Little Mac's introduction trailer "Little Mac punches in!"
More info
- Artwork's featuring Little Mac have been added to our Super Smash Bros U / 3DS artwork gallery
- We have also added ten screenshots featuring Little Mac to our already extension Super Smash Bros U / 3DS screenshot gallery
- Pre-Order Super Smash Bros 3DS (Nintendo 3DS)
- Pre-Order Super Smash Bros Wii U (Nintendo Wii U)
Mario Kart 8 - Satoru Iwata boldly stated that we'd never guess who the newest competitors were in the Mario Kart 8 lineup, and he was quite right. My first thought when he said this was potentially Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2, or the Cartoon version of Bowser "King Koopa" (Who wouldn't want to play as him - imagine the amount of insults he could throw at other racers when he)?
I was of course wrong - The Koopa Kids join the party, yep, all of them. Iggy, Lemmy, Morton, Roy, Wendy, Ludwig and Larry are all taking to the tracks as playable characters for the first time in the Mario Kart series. I'm very interested to see what their individual special powerups are going to be; will Lemmys Kart turn into his legendary ball? No probably not, I'm sure Nintendos ideas are much cooler than mine. We also finally have a release date, Mario Kart 8 will be with us at the end of May 2014!
The latest Mario Kart 8 trailer, released 13th Feb 2014
More info
-
Added Character artwork, illustrations and item artwork to Mario Kart 8 official artwork gallery
Mario Golf: World Tour - The fifth installment of the Mario Golf series was also announced which is due for a release in May 2014 on Nintendo 3DS. So far we know that the playable characters will be Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong and Bowser.
There is also a new single player mode called The Castle Club in which you can also play as your own Mii which can be customised with lots of different items from the shop, the type of items you are wearing/using have an effect on the physics of your shots like how far they go, what curve they have on them and where the sweet spot is.
The first look trailer for Mario Golf: World tour
More info
-
We've added ten screenshots from Mario Golf: World Tour today!
-
We've added high res official artwork of backgrounds & scenery, playable characters and items, logos and misc
Yoshi's New Island
Iwata also had some more to reveal for the next adventure starring Yoshi. The biggest new feature of the game (Iwatas words not mine) are the giant eggs which can destroy walls, pipes etc. There is also a metal version of the eggs which roll along the ground destroying everything in its path. There are also new Yoshi transformations such as the Rock Hammer, the Yoshi Submarine, which are controlled by using the Nintendo 3DS's gyro controls. Not only this but there is a new type of star which allows Yoshi to "fly like a shooting star through the sky" - and more importantly to run up walls, along ceilings to collect coins and items.
There is also a new feature to help new or just generally TERRIBLE players, if they fail a level a certain amount of times they are given the ability to float through the levels. But seasoned Yoshi victims are not neglected, it can apparently be very challenging to collect all the items on each level. Another point of note is that the game does not have any time limit, so you can really take your time to explore this new Island. Yoshi's New Island is released for Nintendo 3DS on the 13th of March 2014.
The February 2014 trailer commentated by Satoru Iwata for Yoshi's New Island (Nintendo 3DS)
More info
-
We've added ten more screenshots to our Yoshi's New Island screenshots page
-
Three new artworks added to our Yoshi's New Island artwork gallery
NES Remix 2
The sequel to NES Remix will arrive on our Wii U's on the 25th of April once again mashing up lots of 8-Bit Classics with new twists. Games included in the mix this time round are Super Mario Bros 2 and 3, Ice Hockey, Punch Out, Metroid, NES Open Tournament Golf, Wario's Woods, Kirby's Adventure and even the Lost Levels of Super Mario Bros.
As an added bonus there is also the addition of Super Luigi Bros, a remake of the original platformer starring Luigi.
More info
-
Added a huge gallery of retro pixel based artwork from NES Remix 2
-
Added ten screenshots of NES Remix 2
Prior to concluding the direct broadcast Nintendo also announced that they are finally bringing Gameboy Advance titles to the Wii U eShop from April 2014 onwards beginning with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island.
