I just rewatched this direct and I feel like I am now capable of writing why it's the best one I've ever seen. Keep in mind I haven't seen all of them, but I have seen most of the ones from 2014 onward.
First I just want to clarify something that this direct has punctuated for me now more than ever - how great a direct is is largely dependent on when it releases and what circumstances surround it. Obviously if this was the direct announcing what titles we can look forward to for ALL of 2019, this would be disappointing.
But ... that's exactly what made this direct so fantastic! We already know we're getting some massive games with Luigi's Mansion 3, Animal Crossing, and Pokemon Generation 8. Usually, directs feel like a trap, almost like a last meal on death row. The announcements you get are either super exciting or super disappointing, and they tend to decide your fate and whether you'll be using your Switch constantly or whether it will just collect dust for the rest of the year.
This direct isn't like that. Everything we got here was the cherry on top of a perfect cake. We didn't really need a Mario Maker 2, or a Link's Awakening Remake, or a new Platinum Games exclusive. We didn't need any of this, but it all came anyways! It's SO MUCH BETTER then watching a direct and feeling like your entire Switch year will or will not be disappointing based on what announcements are made for the system. The future of the system is already so bright - this is just extra fanservice at this point.
So ... to highlight some of the things that were just unbelievably awesome:
HOLY SHIT! Mario Maker 2 looks amazing! I'm one of those odd people who both never played Mario Maker, AND is a huge fan of the 3D Land/World games. So I was so happy to see fanservice for those of us that love those titles! I know that Nintendo fans have thrown around the idea of 3D Land/World content, but I didn't think Nintendo would actually DO IT! I wouldn't have been happy with a port ... for reasons that I feel have been stated numerous times. But a brand new game, hopefully with a lot of additions, is something I can get behind 100% .
Boxboy! So I'll admit that this is a more minor addition for this spectacular direct, but it's still something that I look forward too! I don't know if it was just me, but I thought it was just a port of the 3DS games (which for various reasons, I would have been completely fine with). BUT IT'S NOT! It's a completely original and new game in the series! HAL, you are AWESOME. I'm buying this day one.
Yoshi and Daemon X Machina Demo! While I haven't downloaded them yet ... I really like that Nintendo and their partners have been pretty consistent with releasing demos for consumers to try. Plus I think both games, while not definite buys, are going to be very fun games! Also Yoshi's collectible costumes look like they have so much detail put into them, the art style really makes them pop and come to life! I want to collect them!
Captain Toad Paid DLC! I haven't liked the way Nintendo have handled "free updates" ... it often feels like a marketing scheme, but, I have to admit, this paid DLC alone makes me want to buy the game. Probably a pretty odd thing to say, I know, but if it's priced reasonably it seems like a great deal. 5 levels with 18 challenges, if I understand how the original game is structured correctly, that's basically an entire episode (could be wrong though). That PLUS the Mario Odyssey content already in the game PLUS the fact that I never played the original (but wanted to) makes the port finally a great value. I'll buy the title at a discount and then purchase the DLC too! Woohoo for great value!
DRAGON QUEST ACTUALLY SEEMS LIKE EFFORT WAS PUT INTO IT! Look, I know there was rumors about how the game would feature both the 16 bit mode and the PS4 mode, and I knew that an orchestrated soundtrack, as well as dual audio channels, and new missions and content were all rumored. But I didn't actually think that it would all happen! That Square Enix, even with the millions of potential sales, would go through with it! Makes me infinitely more interested in the game. I mean I'll admit I'm not the biggest JRPG fan but with it's pretty visuals I've already bought it before on Steam. Now I feel like I'll most likely just buy the Switch version ... even if it's a little less pretty, it looks so feature neat! ALSO IM FUCKING SHOCKED IT'S A WORLDWIDE RELEASE VERSUS JUST BEING IN JAPAN FOR LIKE HALF A YEAR. I know it's already come to the West but still!
Rune Factory 4 Remastered + 5! One of the smaller points ... but I've heard that Rune Factory 4 is the best game of it's genre and honestly the Rune Factory series is always how I've wanted to experience that whole niche. Of course it hasn't aged very well and it looks like more effort maybe should have been put into maybe making it prettier ... but confirming a 5 is very cool! I'll probably get 4 Remastered too if it indeed holds up from a game standpoint.
ASTRAL CHAIN!!! I would just like to make it well known that at this point my nipples were erect and lactating . Platinum ... oh how I love thee! This game looks so crazy polished, it looks so beautiful, it looks so fun! Nintendo ... just buy them already! You might as well.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remake! I have never played this game but always wanted to play it. Whenever I jumped on the 3DS Eshop, it was always that title I was considering buying. I am SO happy it's being remade, and while I am a little worried that Nintendo will start a trend of remaking or reimagining 2D games instead of making new ones ... I think it's ok in this case. Also, THAT ART STYLE IS AMAZING AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT'S GETTING HATE. I mean, sure, it looks a little odd in places. But it looks almost like a claymation production with a Rankin/Bass movie artstyle! So 50's in Link's cute little design. THIS ART STYLE WILL CATCH ON AND YOU WILL ALL BE SORRY YOU DOUBTED IT. Also, if someone says this looks like a 3DS game ..... kill them. Or don't, I don't want to be moderated! The detail in this is amazing, reminds me of the new Yoshi games.
On the downside, Fire Emblem does look a bit disappointing, some of the third party ports look poor, and some of the games were eh. But even the games I wasn't that interested in, were still usually interesting ... which is always a positive!
All in all, the fact that this wasn't the "Luigi's Mansion 3/Animal Crossing/Pokemon Gen 8 showcase" direct was ACTUALLY A GOOD THING. It showed off so many surprises and so many smaller things that made me realize that starting July I'll probably never put down my Switch. They were all things I wasn't expecting. And this has the added benefit of allowing us to get the showcases of the big games *later*, so the announcements for the year will be plentiful going forward. And THAT'S what makes it the best direct ever, because even if it doesn't have Smash Ultimate or Breath of the Wild ... it indicates to me the bountiful near-future of the Switch. I should have predicted in the prediction thread that Luigi's Mansion 3 and Animal Crossing wouldn't be shown off, too! Because in the back of my mind something was telling me they wouldn't. But I kept thinking "Nah, that can't be the case. What else would they have to show?"...
This is basically like Nintendo whipped their dick out and flaunted it to everybody
Oh ... and Deltarune was ok ... I guess
Last edited by AngryLittleAlchemist - on 14 February 2019
