With something of a mixed reaction from viewers, the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partners Showcase was admittedly quite short, at just under 10 minutes. Criticism has been made against the lack of titles covered and lack of first party Nintendo games, though it was made explicit from the beginning that this was meant to highlight “Partner” games. That being said, while some viewers had unrealistically high expectations for something that wasn’t meant to be a full-sized Direct, with demands for new Smash DLC characters or Breath of the Wild 2 updates, the Direct was a hit at least for Shin Megami Tensei fans with an HD remake of SMT III as well as a long awaited new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V!
1 – Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring the Legend of Zelda DLC
Having released way back in Spring of 2019, Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring the Legend of Zelda notably brought together one of Nintendo’s most prolific IPs, The Legend of Zelda, with the hit indie rogue-like rhythm action of Crypt of the NecroDancer, which naturally made for one of the longest titles on the eShop. Having shown the nefarious Octavo off the dance floor, Cadence of Hyrule returns with three DLC packs – one of which was made readily available after the Direct Mini, though they are all set to release before the end of October.
The first includes new characters- Impa, who makes use of ranged attacks; Aria, who adds additional challenge by making it a Game Over after one hit; Shadow Link and Shadow Zelda, and of course the Crypt of the NecroDancer merchant, Frederick, who you might have seen belting tunes on your travels. DLC Pack 2: Melody Pack adds additional remixes and new tracks to accompany your musical adventures through Hyrule, with 39 new songs. Additionally, background music can be changed on the go.
DLC Pack 3, meanwhile, perhaps offers the most exciting addition in the form of a new story mode titled “Symphony of the Mask.” If the title doesn’t ring familiar for Zelda fans, it puts players in control of Majora’s Mask’s pesky Skull Kid with the ability to use masks to make use of different abilities. No doubt there are Zelda fan theorists out there questioning whether this is a tease for a Majora’s Mask HD remake for Switch, but either way if you have never played Cadence of Hyrule, it’s immensely addictive with stunning pixel art reminiscent of Minish Cap, to say nothing of the stellar remixes of memorable Zelda themes!
Oh and if that’s not enough, there will be a physical release due October 23rd for all those physical game collectors!
2 – Rogue Company
Another third person online multiplayer shooter, Rogue Company follows suit of popular titles like Fortnite where you join a team to take out other players across a battlefield. Admittedly it does have an interesting style to it, though with so many similar games of this style already it’s hard to be too excited about it. Rogue Company will, however, feature cross-platform functionality.
3 – WWE 2K Battlegrounds
Introduced by the most excitable looking WWE gamers a Direct could ask for, WWE 2K Battlegrounds is, shockingly enough, a brawler featuring WWE characters that allows you to pummel opponents with motorcycles, steel chairs, or rock hard abs. While the game does look relatively fun, evident by the excitement drummed up by the players demoing the game, unfortunately it certainly doesn’t look like it has the graphical polish you would hope a Switch game would have. The models look janky, textures are very basic, and it just looks… unfinished. Which is a shame, as the gameplay looks like it might be fun in a party environment. Given the poor quality of some of the more recent WWE games, however, this is hardly surprising.
4 – Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster
Just as the Direct was coming to a close, the Atlus logo hovers with the first beats of a soundtrack that might be familiar to JRPG gamers of the PS2 era. We have been waiting for Shin Megami Tensei V news for some years by this point, and speculation had been circulating about HD remasters of past games as well – popular choices being the Digital Devil Saga duo or SMT III.
For those who have yet to play an SMT game or only familiar with the franchise through Persona, Shin Megami Tensei III – known as Nocturne in the US and Lucifer’s Call in Europe – puts players in control of the Demi-Fiend. A half-human half-demon, Demi-Fiend journeys through an apocalyptic Tokyo in the wake of the Conception, where he must choose which Reason – competing philosophical and world ideological views that form the natural laws of the new world – to follow to determine whose vision the world will be recreated in. Will you help Hikawa create a world of harmony, without passion and conflict and where individuality is replaced by collective inner peace, where everyone is equal to God? Isamu’s world of isolation and solitude, where the self is absolute, or rise to Lucifer’s challenge and complete the True Demon ending, sacrificing the world in favour of a new world where Lucifer can battle the Great Will?
With multiple endings, demon fusion and negotiation, complex (sometimes infuriating) dungeons, a highly addictive press-turn, turn-based combat system, and our favourite 2003 meme featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series, Shin Megami Tensei III remains one of my personal favourite games of all-time. Though this version will notably be based on the Japan exclusive Maniax addition which replaced Dante with Raidou Kuzunoha from the Demon Summoner games, with the addition of voice acting accompanying its new HD visuals.
Considering the game released on the PS2 in 2003, it’s simpler aesthetic style holds up relatively well and was always a game that would look amazing with an HD facelift. Certainly the footage shown off here proves that to be true and is a tribute the games overall quality design, with art from the legendary Shin Megami demon designer himself, Kazuma Kaneko. Maybe one day we’ll see that Digital Devil Saga and Demon Summoner remake too…
But that wasn’t the only Shin Megami Tensei news we got.
5 – Shin Megami Tensei V
Back in 2017, a short teaser was released that has taunted SMT fans ever since. Much like the elusive Metroid Prime 4 and Bayonetta 3, this short teaser has been the only thing we’ve had to go by as far as what the new game might be. Given the lack of news and updates since, some have wondered if Atlus simply… forgot the game existed.
Thankfully, along with SMT III HD coming out next year, while we weren’t shown any gameplay footage, the short trailer that we did get at the end of this Direct Mini shows off some beautiful visuals that make use of the UnrealEngine 4. With legions of demons, the return of Kaneko-looking character designs, and a hulking Lucifer proclaiming “The God you worship is dead,” excitement for this release amoungst SMT fans must be through the roof! Personally, this has been one of my most anticipated games for the past seven years, since Shin Megami Tensei IV released on the 3DS in 2013.
There are familiar elements at play, with an apocalyptic Tokyo setting and potential Reason paths akin to Lucifer’s Call/ Nocturne, and the creators behind the story have stated that it will draw heavily from topical world issues, including climate change, extreme political movements, Nuclear war, unemployment, and economic crises. While we’re going to have to wait that little bit longer to see any gameplay in action, all we have to do now is wait for the apocalyptic 2020 to roll over to 2021, so we can dive into the demon infested wastelands of Tokyo…
