Nintendo went on the attack just weeks ago, detailing multiple new games that are coming to the Wii U console. Today was the turn of the 3DS handheld, as a new Nintendo Direct broadcast revealed over half a dozen new titles coming over the next year.
The Japanese publisher bolstered its upcoming 3DS release schedule with new Mario games, including Mario Golf: World Tour and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, the latter of which is the next in the popular Mario RPG series. Both titles are due for release on the 3DS this summer.
The Nintendo 3DS eShop will also receive numerous new titles over the coming months, including Dillon's Rolling Western sequel The Last Ranger, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, and an enchanced version of Wii classic Donkey Kong Country Returns.
Elsewhere, Nintendo is looking to beef up its Virtual Console offerings, with Game Boy Color titles Harvest Moon and Legend of the River King on the way.
As for other upcoming 3DS retail titles, the long-awaited Animal Crossing: New Leaf was given a U.S. release date of June 9.
Wii U too
The Nintendo Wii U wasn't completely ignored during the broadcast, with a few of its own announcements thrown in for good measure.
New Super Mario Bros. U will soon receive a new downloadable content pack called New Super Luigi U, which Nintendo is touting as a whole new adventure. The DLC takes the original game and provides alternative versions of each level for players to explore as Luigi.
The Wii Street U functionality, which allows users to utilize Google Street View on the Wii U GamePad, was also released today for free.
And Nintendo revealed that the upcoming Wii U version of EA's Need for Speed Most Wanted will be the first third-party game to incorporate Miiverse functionality directly into the game, allowing users to send Miiverse messages to each other without visiting the Wii U menus.
Finally, added functionality for Miiverse means that special channels are now being added to the social network for franchises, rather than games. For example, a Legend of Zelda channel has been added, as Nintendo said that there was currently no place for Zelda fans to converse.
Bundle of joy
Besides game announcements, Nintendo was keen to show off a variety of hardware bundles which it hopes will pull more consumers in.
The Wii U Limited Edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Premium Pack will launch on March 22 in Europe, featuring a 32GB Wii U, a Pro Controller, and a copy of the Monster Hunter game. The Nintendo 3DS will also receive a Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate bundle, with the game preinstalled on a black 3DS.
Meanwhile, Fire Emblem will also receive a Nintendo 3DS bundle pack, again with the game preinstalled on the handheld. That will be released on April 19.
"The Wii U Limited Edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Premium Pack will launch on March 22, featuring a 32GB Wii U, a Pro Controller, and a copy of the Monster Hunter game. The Nintendo 3DS will also receive a Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate bundle, with the game preinstalled on a black 3DS."
it's actually Europe, which I totally forgot to mention (that's what happens when you attempt to watch both Nintendo Directs at the same time!). Added that in now to clarify.
Thanks for the clarification...but its kind of sad...would have really liked it here in the US! But the ZombiU one isn't terrible...just have to buy another game
"The Wii U Limited Edition Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Premium Pack will launch on March 22, featuring a 32GB Wii U, a Pro Controller, and a copy of the Monster Hunter game. "
Tax money will be in before that... What will I do? What will I do?
@ujn...Left hand players always complain about playing the 3DS....how were you playing games before? have any controllers for any system ever been made for lefties?
@Eric – normal controllers aren't an issue. But control schemes on the DS that mix the stylus and buttons will often assume you'll be holding the console with your left hand, and can be almost impossible to use if you're left-handed. Because of this, some games (for example) allow movement w/the buttons rather than the D-pad to support lefties.
The wii is another good example of where it can be an issue – wielding your weapon with your left hand can be: supported, which is awesome. Or distracting and disjointed if the on-screen character doesn't match your movements (it's subtle, but it's there). Or flat-out broken – in No More Heroes, for example, I eventually had to switch to swinging my sword with my right hand (which felt wrong) because otherwise the wrestling moves were all mismatched.
Well I have a friend that I play online with who got his Wii late into its cycle because he heard this game was on it. He swears by the classic controller, doesn't like the Wii mote at all, but he's mainly a PS3 guy. I guess I just got so use to using the Wii Mote for other Wii games, that learning to use it on this game became easy for me to do. But if it does have Wiimote support It won't stop me from purchasing it. I just relearn the controls using the pad or the classic.
I've had a Wii since 2008--I was a little late to the Wii but not the life cycle. I tried playing monster hunter when it first came out with the Wii motes and I just thought it was a crazy way to play, when I can simply use buttons. I would swear by the classic controller as well. but cheers---i'm sure there will be wii mote functionality.
"Fire Emblem will also receive a Nintendo 3DS bundle pack," - Pretty sure this means Europe too right? We already had one in the states, but it didn't have the XL in it... such a shame.
More: Console/PC, Business/Marketing