Video Game Nostalgia

Donkey Kong Country Returns is Coming to the 3DS

Aside from all of the ‘Year of Luigi’ titles Nintendo announced early today, Reggie Fils-Aime decided to give us one more Valentine’s Day gift in the Nintendo Direct video released early this morning to get us excited for the big year Nintendo has planned for 2013. Reggie announced that Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D “is being rebuilt for the Nintendo 3DS” and will be released sometime this year. Those were the only details released of the title, so it’s not totally clear if the game will be just a port of the original 2010 Wii game with updated visuals, or if we can expect a new set of features to coincide with the release. But the original game is so fantastic, that a direct port of the game alone to take with you on the go would be just fine. Check back to VGN for more information on Donkey Kong Country Returns as its released.

2013 is the Year of Luigi

Satoru Iwata came out today wearing a Luigi Cap in Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct video to announce that 2013 is going to be the “Year of Luigi.” Nintendo started their video press conference with Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon, the long-anticipated sequel to 2001’s Luigi’s Mansion for the GameCube. Shigeru Miyamoto made first appearance on a Nintendo Direct appearance talking about the title, giving us a solid release date of March 24^th, and talking about some of the game’s features including multiple mansions (each with their own theme, unique enemies, and boss), new flashlight features (including a stunning strobe light, and a dark light used to uncover secrets), an emphasis on puzzles that was lacking from the original, and announced multiplayer for the game, with different cooperative modes playable both locally, through download play, and online.

Next, Nintendo announced a new entry to the frequently terrific Mario & Luigi series, titled: Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. The notable feature of this upcoming title is the main setting of the game, which is Luigi’s subconscious. Not many details were given, but it was shown that Mario will be running in Luigi’s dreams, combatting enemies, and you will be able interact with Luigi’s face on the touch screen, to affect his dreams, both in combat and the open world. Mr. Iwata said to expect more details soon, as we can expect this game to be released this Summer on the 3DS

Iwata stated that while not the primary character in their next announcement, we will be seeing Luigi again, with all the familiar faces we can come to expect to appear in Mario Golf World Tour for the 3DS. Iwata showed off the title and its impressive visuals while telling us to expect both traditional and Mario-inspired levels, the same great and accessible gameplay the series has had for decades, the power shots we’ve come to expect, as well as some other features to be announced soon before it’s Summer 2013 release.

And finally, to round out their plans for the year of Luigi, Nintendo is going to make due on one of their biggest promises of the Wii U, significant DLC for their first-party titles. Sometime within the year, we can expect large-scale DLC for New Super Mario Bros. U that focuses on the man in green himself, titled: New Super Luigi U.