Nintendo’s E3 presentation was a big one to say the least, with back to back trailers and new information galore. Now I’ve managed to catch my breath and calm myself down a little, it’s time for a summary on everything that Nintendo has treated us with this year.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC Fighters – Summer & Autumn 2019
Starting off strong, we first saw our next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighter, which, as many people had speculated, is “The Hero” from the Dragon Quest games. They’re adding not only the new protagonist from Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, but also alternate costumes for the protagonists of Dragon Quest III, Dragon Quest IV, and Dragon Quest VIII. We don’t have a confirmed release date just yet, but we do know we’ll be getting this DLC sometime this summer.
This wasn’t the only Smash Bros. related news we saw, as in a surprise trailer at the end of the presentation, we saw the reveal of the much loved Banjo-Kazooie as a playable character. They’ve been clamoured over by fans since the beginning, and it’s incredible to see them finally earn their place later this autumn alongside the fighters from so many other beloved series.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel
While we don’t know much about it yet, this reveal was certainly the star of the show for many people. Nintendo always loves to end their Directs on a high, and you always know that it’s going to be something mind-blowing when they say there’s “just one last thing” they’d like to show.
Well, the surprise reveal this time was the confirmation that a sequel to the beloved Breath of the Wild is in development. Not much was shown so we don’t know much about the game yet, but the cinematic trailer they showed looks incredibly exciting, and you just know it’s going to be fantastic.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 20th of March 2020
After what feels like forever, we finally got to see the highly anticipated instalment of Animal Crossing for the Switch, which we now know is called Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Originally set to release sometime this year, it was confirmed that, as many suspected, the game is going to be slightly delayed, and is now set to release on March 20th next year.
You start this game on a deserted island, a departure from the previous games in the series where you move to an already populated and thriving town. Crafting tools and decorations is set to be a big part of this game, and it looks like we’re going to be getting a lot more decorating and customisation options, with it now being confirmed that we can place furniture outside!
This was definitely my highlight of the presentation, and it’s worth noting that more gameplay was shown in Nintendo Treehouse after the main presentation, so make sure to catch up on that if you missed it!
Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 2019
We also got to see more of Luigi’s Mansion 3, which still doesn’t have a confirmed release date, but is still set to come out sometime this year. We now know that the game is set in a haunted hotel, and Luigi has a variety of new moves he can perform with his improved Poltergust. The “Scarescraper” multiplayer mode is making a return, and you can also play cooperatively with a friend in local play, where they can control “Gooigi”, your slimy replica.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening – 20th of September 2019
This absolutely gorgeous looking remake of the classic Gameboy title finally has a release date, and really shone as one of my personal highlights of the presentation. We got to see more of the beautiful, colourful environments in the game (as well as some more gameplay in the Nintendo Treehouse event afterwards, so don’t miss it if you’re interested!), as well as a look at a new feature where you can create your very own dungeons, called Chamber Dungeons, from pieces of dungeons you’ve earned on your adventure. You can earn rewards through doing this, and it’s bound to add some extra replay value to the game.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – 27th of September 2019
Getting back to Dragon Quest, we got to have another look at Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, which has been confirmed to be released on the 27th of September this year on Switch. It was released last year on PS4 and Steam, and soon Switch owners will also be able to explore everything the game has to offer in the world of Erdrea. This definitive edition promises an expanded storyline, more monsters to ride around the world, and the ability to travel to past Dragon Quest worlds in the game. Fans of the series and newcomers alike won’t want to miss this gorgeous looking game.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt- Complete Edition – 2019
There’d been some rumours about this one but now it’s official; The Witcher 3 will be making its way onto the Switch this year! Being a “complete edition”, the game will come with all the expansions that were DLC for the original 2015 release. It’s refreshing to see Nintendo getting more and more comfortable branching out into more “mature” games, as The Witcher 3 adds to the ever growing collection of such games on the Switch.
Trials of Mana- Early 2020, and Collection of Mana – Out Now
A full 3D remake of the classic JRPG adventure that never made it out of Japan, Trials of Mana (known as Seiken Densetsu 3 in Japan), is set to hit the Switch early next year. Square Enix is teaming up with Nintendo to bring the third game in the Secret of Mana series to the west, changing it from its original top-down form into a more modern take on the game.
Alongside this, the Secret of Mana trilogy released on the eShop shortly after the presentation, titled Collection of Mana. You can play through Mystic Quest (also known as Final Fantasy Adventure), Secret of Mana, and the original Trials of Mana (released in English for the first time!) This is the perfect way to get caught up on the series before the release of the Trials of Mana remake next year.
Pokemon Sword and Shield – 15th of November 2019
We didn’t see very much in the way of Sword and Shield news in this presentation, though to be honest I was quite surprised we got any, following the Pokemon Direct just a week before E3.
It was revealed that the Pokeball Plus controller, which released with Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee last year, will be compatible with the new games, though not as a controller.
We also got our first look at the water-type gym leader, Nessa, and although it wasn’t in the presentation itself, two new Pokemon have been revealed in the demo of the game playable at E3.
Impidimp is a Dark/Fairy type imp (as the name may suggest), and Yamper is an Electric type corgi Pokemon, which many people (including myself) are very excited about.
No More Heroes 3 – 2020
The first trailer for the third instalment in the action series No More Heroes was shown, showing protagonist Travis Touchdown fighting what appeared to be a bunch of extraterrestrial enemies.
The spinoff game Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes was released earlier this year, and the fate of this third instalment was dependent on the success of that game. Clearly, the reception was positive enough for Grasshopper Manufacture to keep the series alive and kicking on the Switch.
Astral Chain – 30th of August 2019
PlatinumGames’ Astral Chain got a new trailer, giving a bit more of an idea of what’s going on with the plot. We see the protagonists, who are part of a police task force called Neuron, fighting against alien-like creatures called Chimeras. The gameplay looks fast, exciting, and really fun, and it won’t be too long before it’s out. Astral Chain was also featured in the Nintendo Treehouse event after the main presentation, so be sure to catch up on that if you’re itching to see more of what the game has to offer.
Mario and Sonic at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – November 2019
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is a series that’s just undeniably fun. You wouldn’t think that it’d be a title that just always works, but it really is. So, it’s great to see the next instalment on its way this November, exclusively on the Switch. We got a peek at some of the sports in the game, including rock climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. It’s bound to be a lot of fun, and it looks great.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses – 26th of July 2019
We’ve already seen quite a bit of this game, as you’d expect with it releasing so soon, but the cinematic trailer they showed in the presentation teased a bit more of the plot and it certainly does seem interesting. It’s now been confirmed that there’s a time-skip in the game, which raises more questions about how the plot is going to unfold. Our answers will all be answered soon anyway when the game releases next month.
Daemon X Machina – 13th of September 2019
First announced at E3 last year, we finally have a release date for this action packed game! In the trailer shown, we got another look at the incredibly fast paced mech fights, as well as a peek at some cutscenes. It certainly looks exciting, and we don’t have too long left to wait to dive into our customisable mechs in this Switch exclusive.
Resident Evil 5 and 6 – Autumn 2019
Two more games from the Resident Evil series are making their way onto the Switch this year! They’ll be joining ports of the original Resident Evil, Resident Evil 0, and Resident Evil 4, along with Resident Evil Revelations 1 and 2 which are already available on the eShop. Quite the collection! Take a shot for every time I said Resident Evil in this section. Don’t really, I don’t endorse that.
Empire of Sin – Spring 2020
Empire of Sin is a turn based strategy game set in 1920s Chicago. You’ll be able to shape a crime empire as one of 14 bosses, taking over rival gang territories. The game looks really stylish; the dark, rainy streets and buildings we see in the trailer really show off the vibe they were going for. The song in the trailer is also INCREDIBLY groovy and makes me really excited to see more of this title in the future.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order – 19th of July 2019
This Switch exclusive, first announced at the Game Awards, got a trailer which showed off some the playable characters, including the Fantastic Four. DLC has also been confirmed for the game, which people can buy the expansion pass for now. It promises to feature content from Marvel Knights, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, though this won’t be available until Autumn.
Contra Rogue Corps – 26th of September 2019, and Contra Anniversary Collection – Out Now
Konami is back with another addition to their classic Contra franchise; Contra Rogue Corps. A number of playable characters were showcased; Headcase, Killer, Cultured, and Cuddly the panda. The game will feature both local co-op and online multiplayer.
Alongside this, a ten game collection of classic Contra games released on the eShop after the presentation (much like the Secret of Mana series earlier!) which also comes with a 74 page eBook.
Panzer Dragoon – Winter 2019
A HD remake of the 1995 Sega Saturn game is flying onto Switch. The remake of the classic on-rail shooter game claims to remain true to the original, but will of course feature improved graphics and controls. The environments definitely did look pretty, but I couldn’t help but think the gameplay itself looked a little clunky. Of course, this was only our first look at the game, so there’s time for things to be smoothed out yet.
Cadence of Hyrule – 13th of June 2019
This groovy looking crossover of the indie rhythm game Crypt of the Necrodancer and The Legend of Zelda is finally here. You can play as Link and Zelda, as well as the main character Cadence, battling to the beat through dungeons. It includes 25 remixed songs from the Legend of Zelda series, and promises to be a whole lot of fun.
The Dark Crystal: Age of the Resistance Tactics – 2019
We got our first look at a tie-in game to Netflix’s new Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series, which is coming soon. Arriving in the form of a turn based strategy game, you’ll control units from the Dark Crystal universe on a grid-based battlefield. Definitely not a game anyone really saw coming; it’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.
Conclusion
Overall, Nintendo had a very strong E3 presentation this year, with plenty of what we already knew and loved, and new incredible surprises too. My personal highlights were definitely Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the Smash Bros. fighter announcements, but there was plenty for everyone in this Direct. September in particular looks like it’s going to be a very busy month for people with a Switch!
Now it’s time to count down and wait for all these exciting titles to release, and hopefully figure out how to budget it in the meantime.