It’s been a week full of surprises for Nintendo fans. Not even one day into 2018, and gamers were already foaming at the mouth with expectations for the upcoming January Nintendo Direct. We knew it was coming, and though there was no official announcement yet, we could all hardly wait.
And then the big Smash leak happened yesterday, setting the internet ablaze with hype. Cyber sleuths have already started digging into whatever they can to unearth some more details before the official Direct. A more concrete release window, more features, more characters, anything.
But what was discovered was greater than even they expected. Amazon and GameStop have already updated their websites with several dozen pre-order SKUs for the upcoming Direct, and more than half already have titles and pre-order details.
Possibly the biggest announcement out of the whole thing is something we’ve been waiting on for years. Ever since that fateful day, back in Fall of 2010.
That’s right. Megaman Legends 3.
A project that Capcom killed for no apparent reason way back that fans have been clamoring for. Capcom always kept quiet on the fate of the project, but now that Megaman 11 is happening, they’re finally ready to talk.
And it’s now official. It’s been officially confirmed by Capcom that Megaman Legends 3 is still canceled, and not in development in any form. We’re lucky to be getting Megaman 11.
But that game that was leaked on the Amazon website, the one we’ve been waiting for since 2010? That one has been leaked and it almost certainly confirmed. It was confirmed that the Green and Pink Joy-con bundle would be coming to the Americas recently, but the news makes much more sense in context.
That is exactly what you think it is. A Pokemon Capture Styler, from the DS cult classic Pokemon Ranger trilogy.
The hotly anticipated Pokemon game coming to the Switch this year is none other than a new Pokemon Ranger game, now with full motion controls and 4K graphics. You and up to three other rangers will be able to use your Joy-Cons as lassos to capture Pokemon on the same console, in a photo-realistic Pokemon world.
No, this isn’t Pokemon GO’s augmented reality you’re looking at. This is the true power of next-gen gaming.
The Xbox One X pales in comparison to these graphics. But that’s not even the best part. You’ll be able to lasso every single Pokemon currently in existence, and 100+ new ones in a brand new region inspired by India. The Hawaiian theme last time was nice, but this one will have a full open-world to explore and break past conventions of Pokemon games, much like Breath of the Wild and Odyssey reinvented their respective franchises.
Pokemon Ranger Switch (Working Title) doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be late Fall.
Many of the other leaked titles were ports of Wii U games. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze: Expanded was listed for early Spring and will include extra worlds, Lanky and Funky as additional second bananas, and a new 4-player co-op mode. Captain Toad And Poochy, Super Mario Maker Plus, Game & Wario & Waluigi, and Devil’s Third: Razor’s Edge also have pages up on either website, as well as the previously confirmed Bayonetta remakes.
20 of the SKUs actually only belong to one game, though. And it’s one I know we’ve all been waiting for ever since the Wii. F-Zero is finally making a comeback after all these years.
And it’s getting a full set of Amiibos to go with it.
Amiibo Cards. F-Zero: AmiibX Card Grand Prix will take the fan-favorite sci-fi racer into the new generation of games, exclusively on the Nintendo eShop. Gamers will be able to download the base game for free, but purchasing packs of Amiibo cards exclusively from GameStop will be the only way to play as your favorite racer.
Over 500+ racers and machines will come in packs of 5 cards for the suggested retail price of $7.99, and players will be able to collect all of their favorite F-Zero characters to compete online in over 75+ wacky, zany mini-games!
The high-octane racer/board-game hybrid will be speeding onto the eShop in the summer. A collector’s edition is currently available on the GameStop website exclusively, but only contains ten booster packs and a 8-inch replica of Captain Falcon’s shin guards. The game itself will be eShop exclusive.
The official Direct itself, it seems, will be airing on January 13th. The only title that will launch this month is Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Deluxe, a paid version of Pocket Camp on Switch. It will not include any new features. It’s currently dated for the day after the Direct.