Nintendo Direct: New Kirby Game Announed

In yesterday’s Nintendo Direct – Nintendo’s monthly-ish online presentation – the company announced that a new Kirby game is coming to the 3DS. As of now, the game is untitled and set for a 2014 release date. Though there wasn’t much info given about the game, from the trailer it seems clear that it’s a sidescroller that plays with foreground and background in similar ways to other 3DS sidescrollers, such as Mighty Switch Force, Mutant Mudds, and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D.

Though the new Kirby game was the only new title announced during the Nintendo Direct, there were still several new developments and release dates announced:

-Super Mario 3D World was given a release date of November 22. Considering that Mario Party: Island Tour and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds are also coming out on that same day, it’s clear that Nintendo is hoping we don’t forget about them this holiday season.

-That being said, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, which was SUPPOSED to come in November, has been delayed to February 2014.

-A week before Super Mario 3D World comes out, Nintendo will release Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, the official video game of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. In celebration of the event, there have included online events, such as Freestyle Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, and Hate Crimes (not actually).

-Speaking of Sonic, the character has officially been confirmed as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for WiiU and 3DS.

– The demo for Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies has been made available on the E-Shop

–The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, will buck the series’ formula somewhat. Instead of visiting dungeons in set order, players will be able to choose which dungeons they want to explore by renting the required equipment at a store called “Ravio’s Shop”. It’s still unclear just to what degree of latitude the players will be given, but I certainly applaud that they’re trying to mix things up, however slightly.

There were other reveals and tidbits, including a few trailers and a QR code for a Wind Waker inspired pattern for Animal Crossing. The Nintendo Direct in its entirety can be viewed below.