September 2021 Nintendo Direct Rundown

It has been a hot minute since we’ve had a proper Nintendo Direct. We’ve had Indie World showcases and a few other things, but a proper long-form Nintendo Direct hasn’t popped up since E3. In the tradition of the past few years, September marks another Nintendo Direct, and we’ve got a lot to get into. Here is what was shown off at the September 2021 Nintendo Direct showcase.

The show began with a reminder that all release dates and release windows are subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, we jumped right into the first announcement, showing off a brand new trailer for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, a new DLC for Monster Hunter Rise.

So far, we know that the Sunbreak DLC will launch in Summer 2022, though I am sure leading up to the release we’ll get a bit more information. The Direct also mentioned that it will contain new story elements, locales, and other interesting bits in this massive expansion of Monster Hunter Rise.

Next up we got more time with Mario Party Superstars which is releasing in October. Five boards from the original N64 Mario Party games will be returning, They also showcased Mt. Minigame, which contains seven minigame-focused courses. Online play will be supported at launch, and we won’t have to wait long either, as Mario Party Superstars will launch on October 29^th.

The next announcement came in the form of something I saw a teaser for a week or so ago. Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a new RPG by Square Enix. In this card-based experience, you take on a quest from the Queen to slay a fearsome dragon. Everything is represented by cards, but it also has a very board-game-esque feel to it. It is a little odd, but I can’t say that I’m surprised, considering Yoko Taro is leading the project. Surprisingly, Voice of Cards will release on October 28^th for Nintendo Switch.

Disco Elysium was next up on the docket, showing off an announcement for Disco Elysium: The Final Cut releasing on Nintendo Switch. As a detective who awakens with amnesia, you’ll find yourself embroiled in a murder case while trying to remember who you are. The Direct showed off a bit of the gameplay mechanics at work, along with a surprising announcement. You’ll be able to pick up Disco Elysium: The Final Cut digitally for Nintendo Switch on October 12^th. However, if you want to pick it up physically, you’ll have to wait until Early 2022.

More Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity DLC was announced, with Wave 2 of the Expansion Pass (titled Guardian of Remembrance) coming on October 29^th. It contains new story content, new characters, new stages, and more.

A surprising announcement came next. Chocobo Racing is back! Chocobo GP is a new Chocobo Racing game coming to Nintendo Switch! A few familiar characters from the Final Fantasy series were showcased in the trailer such as Vivi, Steiner, Gilgamesh, and of course, Chocobo himself. So far, we only know that it will release in 2022, but I am very excited.

Next up, we got a bit of news on the last DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. There will be a final Mr. Sakurai Presents presentation on October 5^th, and the last character will be announced then. The game has a devoted fanbase, so I hope this upcoming announcement satisfies them.

After that bit of info, Kirby got a moment in the spotlight for once. That’s right y’all! A new Kirby game is on the horizon! Kirby and the Forgotten Land was announced, showcasing a brand new 3D adventure for Kirby. It seems as though this time Kirby will be exploring a ruined and abandoned civilization, filled with cute monsters and characters.

They also showcased Kirby being able to mimic enemy powers, along with a few enemies that Kirby will encounter. It seems as though this game has a real Super Mario Odyssey vibe, but with the Kirby style rather than Mario. Kirby and the Forgotten Land will release in Spring 2022.

Next, a long theorized bit of speculation was confirmed. Brewster is coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Even more than that, we are getting a full-on Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct in October, which will likely be full of information on what is coming to the game. After having to wait so long for new content, I suspect they’ll have a lot in store for us. They also mentioned that we’ll have to wait until November for new content, but at least we know it is coming up soon.

A second free update is coming to Mario Golf: Super Rush. Koopa Troopa is now a playable character, along with Ninji. There are also two new courses available. This update is available as of yesterday, so if you haven’t updated yet, you should!

Then, Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition was announced. Explore Disney-themed worlds, interact with familiar characters, customize your character, and more in this new Disney-themed game. All the DLC from the original Nintendo 3DS release will be included at launch, offering the full experience to new and returning players. Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition will be available this holiday.

Surprisingly, a Nintendo Switch port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was also announced. No, this isn’t the upcoming remake, it is the original experience. The Nintendo Switch port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will be available on November 11^th.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human is getting a cloud version on Nintendo Switch. Master parkour and brutal combat to survive in this open-world experience. I’m not super hyped for this because cloud streaming doesn’t really work for me, but I know some folks will love it.

Dying Light: Platinum Edition is also coming to Nintendo Switch, allowing you to experience the first game in full, either on the go or on your TV. Dying Light 2: Stay Human – Cloud Version will release on February 4^th, 2022. Dying Light: Platinum Edition, on the other hand, will release on October 19^th, 2021, so we don’t have much longer to wait.

We’re finally getting more info on Triangle Strategy, the new Tactical RPG by the makers behind Octopath Traveler. After the demo was released, a survey was conducted. Based on the results of that survey, the developers have fine-tuned the experience and will be adding in features that users requested such as camera controls and difficulty rebalancing. Triangle Strategy will release on March 4^th, 2022.

After that, we got more information on Metroid Dread, which will be releasing in October. A new trailer was shown that gave glimpses at a few of Samus’ upcoming abilities such as triple shot, a dash move, and more. They also showed a few enemies that Samus will face, including someone that looks an awful lot like Kraid from previous games. Metroid Dread will release on October 8^th.

Next, we have some information on Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo will be offering a new membership plan with content not available in the standard plan. As part of this new plan, you’ll be able to play a host of Nintendo 64 games such as Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and more. Surprisingly, in addition to Nintendo 64 games, the new membership plan will also offer Sega Genesis titles as well.

The new membership plan (called Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack) will be added in late October. No pricing information has been given yet, but you will be able to keep your existing plan or change over to the new plan if you wish. More information will be announced soon. Here is a list of the games available at launch with the new plan.

Super Mario 64
Mario Kart 64
Ocarina of Time
Star Fox 64
Yoshi’s Story
Mario Tennis
Mario 64

WinBack
Sin and Punishment
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Streets of Rage 2
Ecco the Dolphin
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Contra: Hard Corps

Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
Golden Axe
Gunstar Heroes
U.S.H.A.
Phantasy Star IV

Ristar
Shining Force
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Strider

Relive the glory days with authentic Nintendo 64 and SEGA Genesis wireless controllers. Both will be available for purchase for $49.99 each to any #NintendoSwitchOnline members. Stay tuned for more information to come. pic.twitter.com/MENafDLLRs

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) September 23, 2021

Nintendo is also offering controllers based on the original Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 controllers. They will be priced at $49.99 and will, presumably, be available around the same time as the new membership. More info will be provided later.

After that blast from the past, we started back with a set of collections, beginning with Shadowrun Trilogy. You’ll be able to play in a Cyberpunk Fantasy world in the three cult classic RPGs that make up Shadowrun Trilogy. You’ll explore a dystopian future where magic has reawakened and fantasy creatures have returned. The Shadowrun Trilogy will launch on Nintendo Switch next year.

Then we have the Castlevania Advance Collection, containing Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, Harmony of Dissonance, and Dracula X, all in one bundle. I’ve only played one of those, and it was very good, so I’m excited to give this compilation a try. The Castlevania Advance Collection is now available on Nintendo Switch.

After the compilation set came, there was an announcement for Actraiser Renaissance, a remastered version of Actraiser, which was originally released in 1990. It seems to be a hybrid Action-Platformer and City-Builder, where you fight against the forces of evil and then cultivate the lands you have liberated. Actraiser Renaissance is available now on Nintendo Switch.

Deltarune Chapter 2 is now available on Nintendo Switch! Launched as a free update to Deltarune Chapter 1, you can now play both chapters together on your Switch console. After that surprise announcement, we got a bit more information on some other games coming soon to the Switch console. Here is a list of the games that were mentioned in a rapid-fire series.

Hot Wheels Unleashed – September 30^th
Surviving the Aftermath – Holiday 2021
Shin Megami Tensei V – November 11^th
Wreckfest – Fall 2021
Arcade Archives Pac-Man/Xevious – Available Now
Rune Factory 5 – March 22^nd, 2022

The new Super Mario Bros. Movie is on its way as well! Shigeru Miyamoto stopped in to give a bit of information on the project. It will be done by Illumination Studios, who worked on Despicable Me and other well-received animated projects. Miyamoto also announced that the film will be releasing during the holiday season of 2022, specifically December 21^st in North America, with other regions to be announced.

While they didn’t have any footage to show, they also announced information on key cast members such as Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach and Chris Pratt as Mario. Luigi will be played by Charlie Day, and Jack Black will play Bowser. I’ll admit I’m not entirely sold on the casting, but we’ll see what happens. There was other casting info provided, but it seems more info will also be given at a later date.

Splatoon got its time in the spotlight after that, with information on Splatoon 3. Finally fans of the first two games get an official announcement on the latest installment in the competitive franchise. Also, I might be mistaken, but bits of the trailer seemed like they were teasing a single-player component. Splatoon 3 takes place in Splatsville, the city of chaos.

Splatsville is located in the Splatlands, where turf wars are common and generations of architecture are showcased. This gives the city a unique culture and flavor. New weapons will be available in the game, and as I suspected they also teased a Story mode, which offers a single-player campaign called Return of the Mammalians. What does the return of mammals mean for the world of Splatoon? Well, you’ll find out more when more information is available before the 2022 release.

Last but most certainly not least, the news I’ve been waiting for. Bayonetta 3 finally got a trailer, showcasing a new look for Bayonetta and some stylish gameplay. It seems that monsters of some description are assaulting the human world, and now it is time for Bayonetta to fight them off. I could probably dissect this trailer for hours, but it seems that one of the main themes this time around is purple. Bayonetta’s new guns are purple, rather than the pink ones from Bayonetta, and blue ones from Bayonetta 2.

It also seems like this time around we may have more control over Bayonetta’s summoned demons, which is an interesting idea. The same stylish, cinematic gameplay that Bayonetta is known for seems to be amped up even more. I’m very excited to see what 2022 brings when Bayonetta 3 releases. The end of the trailer also teased a potentially menacing new foe for Bayonetta. As far as Nintendo Direct showcases go, this one was pretty packed with information. I’m excited to see what 2022 brings, and hopefully, we won’t have to wait long for some of the more exciting announcements.