Gaming

Nintendo Direct June 2023: All the trailers you missed

A new 2D Mario, Detective Pikachu, and Pikmin 4

Published

June 21, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

A Nintendo Direct often includes only a handful of big announcements and a more overwhelming smattering of smaller titles. This time, however, Nintendo went with the big guns. If you’re a Mario fan, this month’s Direct is a treasure trove of new and upcoming titles.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Let’s get the biggest gun out of the way first. To cap off the direct, Nintendo announced a new 2D Mario game coming to the Switch. The platformer will focus on a new powerup called the Wonder Flower. After getting the Flower, “expect the unexpected,” as the Direct explains. The power-up causes a lot of different effects including making pipes come to life and stretching Mario vertically like a spring.

Besides the Wonder Flower, the game will also have an elephant-themed power-up to turn the player into the animal. Plus, Daisy is a playable character — going along with Mario, Luigi, Daisy, and Toad.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder will launch October 20, 2023.

Super Mario RPG

Older fans rejoice! The original Super Mario RPG from the SNES is getting a remaster for the Switch. Featuring updated graphics but the same gameplay, the upcoming title will drop on November 17, 2023.

To go along with the new game, Nintendo also teased two new titles: an upcoming Peach game and a remake of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS.

Pikmin 4

Though the Mario franchise got a well-deserved boost during this Direct, the spotlight is firmly on Pikmin 4. Releasing on July 21, the fourth entry in the series got a gameplay trailer to show off what players can do in the title. This time, players must repair their spaceship and find lost Pikmin with a rescue dog name Oatchi.

Plus, for the first time, players can explore at night. Night expeditions will feature a new type of Pikmin called Glow Pikmin. Creatures will also be more aggressive at night, adding an element of risk for nighttime explorers.

To go along with the new major release, Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 are now available for the Switch.

Detective Pikachu Returns

Let’s not forget the Pokémon franchise. The Direct saw the debut of a new game in the Detective Pikachu series. In Detective Pikachu Returns, players are once again solving mysteries around town. Unfortunately, the trailer does not spoil what exactly those mysteries are. However, Mewtwo does pop up, so expect larger plotlines in the title.

Detective Pikachu Returns will drop on October 6, 2023.

WarioWare: Move It!

Finally, WarioWare: Move It! has finally received a launch date. The title will feature over 200 microgames involving the Joy-Cons. It encourages players to… well, move it. The movements involve a variety of activities including washing a dog and balancing through a Mario 64 sliding course.

WarioWare: Move It! will launch on November 3, 2023.

Old titles coming to the Nintendo Switch

If the Switch is your main console, you’re getting a variety of classic titles to play. First of all, the Batman Arkham trilogy in its entirety — including all three games and DLCs — is coming to the Switch. Also, Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 — which includes the first game, Sons of Liberty, Snake Eater, Snake’s Revenge — will bring the Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Switch. Just Dance 2024 is also confirmed for the console on October 24.

To round off the slate of announcements, Nintendo has also announced that Vampire Survivors is coming to the console on August 17. It will feature four-player couch co-op.

Gaming

There’s a new Batman Arkham game coming

Exclusive to VR

Published

May 3, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

The world of Batman Arkham is not done. Despite concluding the trilogy with the successful Arkham Knight, the series occasionally makes a comeback. Now, it’s time to make another trip to the immersive grimdark world. Batman: Arkham Shadow is the next entry to the series, exclusive to the Meta Quest 3.

The franchise’s trips outside of the main trilogy are a mixed bag. No disrespect to those who actually liked the game, but Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League just was not it. Though the game promised a return to Rocksteady’s iconic Arkham formula, the resulting game was a live-service mess. Arkham Origins was, at least, a decent play. Finally, the franchise’s first foray into VR, Arkham VR, was lauded for its gameplay but criticized for its length.

Arkham Shadow brings the franchise back to virtual reality. While the previous VR-exclusive was already a marvel of its technology, the upcoming title represents an evolution for hardware. Based on the official teaser, it will have updated graphics, giving Arkham City just that extra bite of darkness.

Currently, the trailer does not reveal anything about the game’s mechanics. More details are scheduled for release during the Summer Game Fest in June.

Though Arkham Shadow is certainly set in the eponymous universe, Rocksteady is not helming the development. Instead, Oculus Studios and Camouflaj are behind the title.

As for confirmed lore, the title looks like it will feature Ratcatcher, the villain who — surprise, surprise — controls rats. You might recognize the villain from 2021’s The Suicide Squad, directed by James Gunn.

Gaming

Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO: New trailer, more characters revealed

It’s master vs. apprentice this time

Published

May 3, 2024

GadgetMatch

Today, Bandai Namco has released another trailer for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. The clip focuses on master-apprentice duels this time, expanding on what we know so far about the upcoming latest installment of the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi fighting game series.

In the trailer, we see an epic series of battles between master and apprentice pairings. These include Piccolo against Gohan, Master Roshi against Krillin and Yamcha, Trunks versus Gohan, and a lot more. We also see Android 17 and Android 18 and one-armed Gohan towards the end of the trailer.

Even better news: it has been confirmed that 10 more playable characters have been included to the roster:

Gohan (Kid)
Gohan (Adult)
Gohan (Future)
Gohan (Future), Super Saiyan
Trunks (Sword)
Trunks (Sword), Super Saiyan
Videl
Beerus
Whis
Master Roshi

After the announcement of 24 Gokus and Vegetas, as well as 11 more characters about two months ago, the build-up definitely continues for the fighting game. With more and more playable characters, that means endless combinations for players to enjoy, all while indulging in stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5 and tailor-made for new-gen consoles.

Bandai Namco previously released exclusive gameplay footage from the title two months ago. This gave fans a preview upcoming fighting game’s 3D action-battle mechanics, with no less than rivals Goku and Vegeta leading the way.

The latest trailer, meanwhile, just let fans dive further into the graphical capabilities of the title. From the lightning-paced combat highlighted in the master-apprentice showdowns, to the characters’ in-action effects itself, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is building itself as a visual masterpiece.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam).

Gaming

TEKKEN 8: Brand new story, 2nd DLC character announced

Season 1 roadmap unveiled

Published

May 2, 2024

GadgetMatch

Enjoying TEKKEN 8 so far? The title’s upcoming roadmap for the rest of 2024 has been revealed at EVO Japan, giving fans more reasons to keep playing Arika and Bandai Namco’s beloved fighting game.

There will be an all-new story coming to TEKKEN 8‘s Story Mode, which will be released in the future. Additionally, Lidia Sobieski has been confirmed as the second DLC character. She will be joining the roster this summer. It can be recalled that Eddy Gordo was the first character DLC for TEKKEN 8, joining the roster last April 4.

No specific date has been mentioned yet regarding Lidia Sobieski. Lidia made her franchise debut back in TEKKEN 7 as a DLC for the Season 4 Pass.

Meanwhile, adjustments to the battle system will be rolled out starting this spring. The game’s development team continues to work on improving balance and player experience. New modes such as Ghost vs. Ghost and Online Practice, on the other hand, will also be added at a later date.

Moreover, a new summer-themed stage, “Seaside Resort” will be available for free. Lastly, a brand new story will also be part of another free update in autumn. This new story will involve no less than Eddy Gordo.

ALSO READ: TEKKEN 8 closes a violent chapter to begin anew

TEKKEN World Tour

Also keeping TEKKEN fans busy for the next few months is the TEKKEN World Tour. The sixth season of this global tournament kicked off recently. Players across the globe compete to earn points and earn their place at the finals to be named The King of Iron Fist.

There will be a total of two Master+ events, 10 Master Events, and 14 Challenger Events worldwide for competitors to join. For more information on tour partners, event dates, locations, and signups, visit tekkenworldtour.com.