Nintendo Direct October 2013 Recap: Kirby 3DS Announced!

Another Nintendo Direct has come and passed, providing a bevy of new information about Nintendo’s numerous hardware and software titles. The 29 minute video is above for your viewing pleasure, but let me also break down the teleconference in easy-to-read bullet points if you’re rushed for time.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is the presenter of this Nintendo Direct

Super Mario 3D World
-Starts off the conference with a new gameplay video. It featured Mario in his cat suit, cloning himself with cherries, throwing boomerangs in a Hammer Bros suit, floating about in the Tanooki suit and more.
-Mario can now also use special blocks on his head with each having their own function, including a ball-shooting block, a propeller block and a coin block.
-Mario is also seen sliding around in a bobsled (ice level), throwing round objects (like bombs and baseballs) and manipulating potted piranha plants for his own bidding.
-The rest of the cast (Luigi, Peach and Toad) all make a small appearance in the trailer, each with their own Super Mario Bros 2 special skill returning. That includes Luigi’s extended jump, Peach’s float ability and Toad’s ultra high jump.
-Super Mario 3D World is coming to the Wii U on November 22, with Mario and Luigi-inspired Wii Remote Plus’ available starting November 1.

Wii Party U
-The Wii U Game Pad and Wii Remote Plus can be used as tools for house party minigames, including dancing and water-carrying games.
-The game launches on October 25th, which comes with a packaged Wii U horizontal Game Pad stand in retail copies.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
-Delayed until February 2014. Please understand!

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014
-For the first time, you can play a Nintendo Winter Olympic Event game online. 4 game modes available: Freestyle Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross, Short Track Speed Skating and their own Olympic amalgamation, “Winter Sports Champion Race.”
-The medals you earn in each event online will help benefit your home country, replicating the Olympic competition in the video game format.
-The game releases on November 15, with special bundles packaged with a Blue Wii Remote Plus also available at launch.

Super Smash Bros Wii U/3DS
-Sonic has been confirmed to return to the Smash Bros roster.
-A modernized Green Hill Zone stage also is seen in the short gameplay footage shown from the event.
-No release date yet…a little sad to hear, I know.

Pikmin 3
-New Mission Modes will be sold via DLC on eShop. First round is the “Collect Treasure” Pack (Stages 7-10) for only $1.99.
-With the new Wii U software update, you can now see the global record for each Mission Mode stage in the top right corner. You also get one free new stage.

Satoro Iwata throws to Nintendo of America’s Damon Baker for quick NA licensing updates

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl
-New story mode provides 5 pre-made characters to explore an unseen side of the world of Etria.
-Classic Mode returns, allowing you to play the original dungeon crawling gameplay with the updates provided by Etrian Odyssey 4.
-The first run box set contains the OST and a design book, containing character art, comics and notes. The box set is available starting today.

Just Dance 2014
-Contains 40 tracks from Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Robin Thicke and One Direction.
-World Dance Floor is the game’s first online mode, On Stage Mode focuses on one player as the star complete with backup dancers, Party Master mode allows you to DJ and control the dancing options and Custom Sweat Mode allows you to set up your own calorie-reducing playlist at your own leisure.
-Just Dance 2014 also comes with its own Wii Remote Plus bundle, with the game releasing on October 8.

Skylanders: Swap Force
-You can swap out your characters’ top and bottom halves to create a multitude of customizable creations.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes
-100 Marvel characters are available in the game.
-Launches on October 22.

Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate
-2.5D side-scrolling action world on Nintendo 3DS.
-Use your utility belt to strategically traverse the maps and defeat your enemies.
-Releases on October 23.

Sonic: Lost World
-Pre-ordering the game will get you the “Deadly Six Bonus Edition,” which includes an exclusive level against some of the game’s biggest enemies.
-The Nintendo 3DS version is the first handheld 3D Sonic game, with exclusive content not available on the Wii U version.
-Coming to NA on October 29.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
-The trailer footage looks remarkable, although no gameplay. Not sure if it is the Wii U footage being shown.
-Also coming out on October 29.

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies
-Coming exclusively to Nintendo 3DS eShop. No physical North American version yet.
-Free demo releases today, game releases in full on October 24.

Nintendo is taking part in the Indiecade, working with digital development partners to tease and announce new upcoming Indie games to their hardware platforms.

Damon now throws it to the Treehouse development’s Erik Peterson for some new 3DS information.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf
-A Wind Waker HD shirt can now be added via QR code using the game’s sewing machine.

The Nintendo 3DS is shown, covering the same information we provided back at its announcement.

Streetpasses are being revamped.
-Starting in a few days, when you leave your 3DS in sleep mode and visit a Nintendo Zone location, you will now get data from the last 6 people to visit your location.
-More data distributions coming in October and November, including a Fedora Chair and Sushi Platter for Animal Crossing.
-Other games include Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus Uprising and Super Mario 3D Land.

Bravely Default
-A brand new trailer is released for the game. It feels like a classic Final Fantasy RPG game brought to life in the 3DS world, brought to you by Square Enix and Silicon Studio. Check out the full character trailer here.
-Coming to North America in 2014.

Erik brings it back to Iwata to close out the conference.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
-A lot has changed in this title. For one, the typical Zelda conventions of finding items in dungeons to solve that dungeon’s puzzles has been broken. You can now rent out items from the shop to explore the game you want to play it in.
-Characters from previous Zelda games make their return, including Dampe.
-The game launches on November 22.

Finally, Satoru Iwata closes out the conference with a Kirby 3DS tease. The game will be released some time in 2014.