E3 2018: Nintendo Focuses on ‘Fire Emblem,’ ‘Mario Party,’ and Smash Bros.

Jada Griffin
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Nintendo’s decision to stop doing traditional press conferences during E3 seems to have paid off, leading other companies to follow suit. Their pre-recorded Nintendo Directs are slick, vibrant, and really showcase the titles they are working on. This year’s Nintendo Direct was no different; we expected news on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokemon: Let’s Go, and updates to Splatoon 2, but, thankfully, they gave us so much more.

Daemon X Machina

This flashy, over-the-top mech game has us intrigued. It looks like a combination of mech assault, Gundam, and any other futuristic mech game you can think of. Its gorgeous color palette and particle effects have us ready to suit up. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2019 to see what else Daemon X Machina has to offer.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna — The Golden Country

Torna — The Golden Country is the next Xenoblade Chronicles 2 expansion for pass holders. There will also be a physical version for sale that contains the expansion pass but will still require the base game to play. Based on what was shown, Torna — The Golden Country appears to be a prequel story that will allow fans to play as blades and their masters. This was an unexpected but welcome change, and regardless of who we actually get to control, we are all for it.

Expansion pass owners can download Torna — The Golden Country on September 14th. The physical version will release a week later on the 21st.

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Pikachu!

Reggie Fils-Aimé came out and reiterated everything we already knew about Pokemon: Let’s Go, but he also announced that the Poké Ball Plus will exclusively launch with legendary Pokémon Mew. Nintendo also announced that the entire game could be played with only the Poké Ball Plus.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Masahiro Sakurai introduced us to the newest entry in Nintendo’s popular crossover fighting game series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Not only did we get to see some gameplay, but Sakurai also showed off its roster, and WOW, its everything that we’ve been asking of this franchise for nearly a decade.

Everyone is back. In addition to newcomers Ridley, Daisy, and Inkling Girl (or Boy), every fighter in the history of Smash Bros. is joining the battle — with revamped kits, new costumes, and other changes. This is by far the biggest crossover ever. Eight-player battles will make a return, and there are new stages, assist trophies, and echo characters. And, best of all, it’s Game Cube controller compatible.

Bravo, Nintendo, bravo!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate releases December 7, 2018.

Everything Else

Next, in typical Nintendo fashion, the company hit us with a stream of clips featuring all the games coming to the Switch. Standouts included Overcooked 2, Killer Queen Black, Hollow Knight, and Octopath Traveler. Check out the Nintendo Direct video to see the entire list, but we’ve included below the few announcements that we were excited to see.

Overcooked 2

Overcooked 2 will feature more kitchens, characters, features, and support local online and co-op play. We can’t wait to hop back into the kitchen to cook (or burn) more food.

Overcooked 2 is scheduled to release August 7, 2018.

Killer Queen Black

The Switch version of Killer Queen Black redesigned the arcade version from the ground up and will allow players to create 4-player teams. That means that up to eight players can play at once. This arcade hit is on our must-play list. We’ve poured many quarters into the arcade version are ecstatic that we can finally take it with us wherever we go.

Killer Queen Black will launch in winter 2018.

Hollow Knight

The action-adventure game, Hollow Knight, looks gorgeous, with its hand-drawn visuals. It also comes with all previously released content. We’ve put quite a bit of time into the game’s other versions and can’t wait to take this one on the road with us.

Hollow Knight is available today on the Nintendo Switch eShop.

Octopath Traveler

Nintendo showed off an extended trailer for Octopath Traveler that offered more insight into the game’s story by introducing players to each of its eight characters and their motivations. With a cast of characters as interesting as they are diverse, Octopath Traveler is on track to become a sleeper hit.

Octopath Traveler’s new first chapter demo will be available on June 14th, and the full version will launch on July 13th of this year.

Super Mario Party

Super Mario Party is going to be playable across multiple Switches for up to four players. The ability to combine Switch consoles is guaranteed to take the multiplayer experience to the next level. It isn’t clear if Super Mario Party will support local play like the Nintendo DS versions of the game or if each person will need a copy. However, the traditional board game is back so that everyone can move on their own again. Thank goodness.

Super Mario Party releases on October 5, 2018.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Another layer of depth has been added to the Fire Emblem series — along with a few larger-than-life monsters. Taking inspiration from Fire Emblem WarriorsThree Houses has each character command individual units who, depending on the formation, can execute special moves. Thanks to these additions, Fire Emblem: Three Houses stole the show at Nintendo Direct.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is scheduled to launch this spring 2019.

Fortnite

That’s right! Fortnite is coming to the Switch. The battle royale game has everything that fans of the series have come to know and love — along with some much-needed portability.

Fortnite is available for free on the Nintendo eShop.

Other Titles We Caught a Glimpse of Included:

  • Arena of Valor
  • Minecraft
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Splatoon 2 DLC
  • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
  • Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
  • Ninjala
  • Carcassonne
  • ARK: Survival Evolved
  • Paladins
  • Fallout Shelter
  • Dark Souls Remastered
  • SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
  • Monster Hunter Generations
  • Wolfenstein II
  • The World Ends with You: Final Remix
  • Mega Man 11
  • Mario Tennis Aces
Jada Griffin
As the Director of Client Partnerships, Gaming at FANDOM. Jada is an Avid Gamer who roots for villains in Games & Movies. Her main fandoms are Zelda, FF, DMC, D&D and most things Marvel/DC. She always Maxes STR & LCK and lives life on hard mode while searching for Pizza & the next difficulty level.