As planned, the broadcast of the first Nintendo Direct of 2022 took place last night, focused on offering us a new look at the news that will await us throughout this 2022 , with new advances, the confirmation of some pending dates, and even totally unexpected announcements and games.
Without a doubt, the main protagonists of the night were the new installments of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and Xenoblade Chronicles 3; or the unexpected returns of two original franchises such as Nintendo Switch Sports, a new title in the Wii Sports series adapted to the new console and adding online gaming qualities; and Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, the return of one of the plumber’s most forgotten IPs.
Although it has also highlighted the large number of adaptations and remasterings, with the already announced collections of Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp and Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection; the classics Chrono Cross, Klonoa and EarthBound; or the essential Portal and Portal 2 from Valve.
Compressed in a “short” 40 minutes, the Japanese company has managed to collect a total of more than 30 games in this Nintendo Direct. So, below we leave you a small compilation with the previews of the most outstanding games, presented individually and more accessible:
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Splatoon 3
Mario Strikers: Battle League Football
Nintendo Switch Sports
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Triangle Strategy
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
LIVE A LIVE
Portal: Companion Collection
EarthBound and EarthBound Beginnings (Switch Online)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Metroid Dread
However, while many fans have already called this one of the best Nintendo Directs compared to all of last year’s, even calling 2022 “the best year in Nintendo history,” we can’t help but have left with a certain bittersweet taste after yesterday’s announcements.
And although the novelties have lived up to expectations, we cannot help noticing some great absences such as the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Bayonetta 3 or Metroid 4, three of the most anticipated deliveries of the company.
Even so, this is the first news direct presented by the company so far this year, so one could still expect a new Nintendo Direct in spring, and another for Summer, where we should finish leaving doubts about the dates of the releases still pending, and perhaps the odd pleasant surprise.