I’m Underwhelmed by the Latest Nintendo Direct (And You Should Be, Too)

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In today’s highly anticipated Nintendo Direct presentation, there was more content than usual (about an hour’s worth), but still, many expected revelations were absent. While there were some intriguing games, DLC, and other announcements during the livestream, this particular event did not meet the high expectations that had been built up around it. Consequently, I found myself feeling somewhat disappointed, and I suspect you might feel similarly.

Nintendo’s Latest Direct Missed the Mark

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I must admit that the anticipation for this Nintendo Direct was exceptionally high compared to usual. It’s been quite some time since Nintendo unveiled anything major, specifically since the Switch 2 reveal back in April. With minimal disclosures regarding the new console since then, this presentation offered a long-awaited opportunity for Nintendo to share what they’ve been diligently working on behind the scenes.

The rumors fueled excitement as well, but it’s not entirely justifiable to expect Nintendo to meet standards set by speculation that doesn’t involve them directly. Furthermore, this presentation was scheduled close to the holiday season, a time when Nintendo typically releases major games to take advantage of increased sales. With all indications suggesting a significant event, unfortunately, it fell short of expectations.

Among the major unveilings during the Direct presentation, we saw announcements like “Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave,” the “Super Mario Galaxy” collection, a teaser for the sequel to the Mario movie, the “Donkey Kong Bananza DLC,” “Mario Tennis Fever,” an unusual spin-off titled “Pokémon Pokopia” featuring Ditto disguised as a human, and the release date for “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.” However, I must admit that it wasn’t quite the blockbuster lineup I had hoped for.

In simpler terms, the standout development, in my opinion, is the remastered versions of “Super Mario Galaxy”. Notably, “Super Mario Galaxy 2” is no longer exclusive to Nintendo Wii and has some conditions attached. Firstly, Nintendo bundles it with the original game at a $70 price point, or sells it separately for $40. This move is particularly disappointing for those who already bought the “3D All-Stars Collection” for Mario’s 35th anniversary, as it effectively makes “Super Mario Galaxy” redundant and diminishes the value of the limited edition 3D collection.

The grand conclusion was “Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, a title that has fans of the franchise buzzing. However, it might not be the ideal choice for Nintendo to end with. Despite its significance, it isn’t likely to generate much excitement. Instead, beginning with the Mario announcements and then concluding with Fire Emblem seemed oddly anticlimactic. Moreover, a major part of the Mario announcements being movie-related can diminish the focus on the gaming aspect.

It seems as though Nintendo may have overlooked a significant chance for growth, given that the Switch 2 has been successful but still leaves many potential buyers on the sidelines. Today’s revelations are unlikely to sway undecided individuals into purchasing the latest console, and with the holiday season approaching, this could potentially lead to missed sales opportunities for Nintendo.

Where Are All the Biggest Projects?

Rather unexpectedly, despite Nintendo revealing many things in their 60-minute presentation, what stands out is what they chose not to reveal. The expectation was high for hints about a sequel to the Super Mario Bros. Movie and a definitive release date for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, as suggested by trademark activity and rumors. However, these anticipated announcements were rather uneventful.

It’s been five long years since “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” became an enormous success, and there hasn’t been any significant follow-up in that series. Fans have been eagerly awaiting updates like remasters, remakes or even a new Zelda game, especially with the arrival of a new console. Many hoped to see a return of “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess”. Although we did get “Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity”, it hasn’t fully satisfied the Zelda-loving community’s expectations. Similarly, while we have “Super Smash Bros.” spinoff games and a new version of “Splatoon”, there seems to be little fresh content for Mario beyond an upgrade for “Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe” on the Switch 2. Overall, it appears that Nintendo hasn’t delivered much in terms of new titles for its major franchises.

Certainly, not all the speculated events were likely to occur, but some seemed quite possible. It’s clear that Nintendo hasn’t prepared or decided to hold back those games, which suggests that today’s presentation may not be especially remarkable.

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2025-09-12 21:11