Direct to Your Page | Joann Kelliher

Joann Kelliher reveals all about Ninty’s recent ‘Nintendo Direct’ events.

      With the heavy losses faced by Nintendo in recent times, one has to wonder at the future of the company. It was a year before the 3DS' popularity soared and the titles that could make Wii U a home-changing console are being delayed and ported to existing consoles (Rayman Legends being a good example of this). Satoru Iwata, head of Nintendo, has even hinted at his resignation. Can we really expect Nintendo to be the same fun company that they have always been?Thanks to the two recent Nintendo Directs, we can be assured that giving up is far from their thoughts. The detail of games such as The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Yarn Yoshi, Pokémon X and Y, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, New Luigi U, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, a fourth Super Smash Bros game and a new Super Mario title for the Wii U, to name but a few, was staggering. Yarn Yoshi in particular assures us that Nintendo have not forgotten their fun image.The new Wind Waker title is certainly interesting. While a masterpiece in its own right, Link’s original Gamecube release was doomed to poor sales, thanks to both the Gamecube's low popularity and gamers being dissuaded by the cel-shaded art style. We have even been told that the game is simply being released to tide us over until the release of Zelda HD (full title currently unknown). If this magnificent-looking title is merely a distraction, what will await us in Link’s next adventure?Many releases are obscured by bigger titles, however. Though Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, may experience this, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will always be a niche game. Sadly, the DS version never made it to western shores (the packaged spellbook only hurting its chances), but it can still be experienced on PS3 in English, as of late January. Perhaps a 3DS port could work?Some titles are directly upon us. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is to be released in late March (with no exact date for Europe). Considering that Pokémon X and Y were announced in early January, Nintendo’s worldwide October release date is impressive. Animal Crossing: New Leaf is already available in Japan and lands here on the 14th of June. Infact, summer 2013 will play host to a wide range of Nintendo releases with Mario & Luigi: dream Team, Mario Golf: World Tour and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate all set to grace our consoles during the sunny months.Although Nintendo is still facing negative times, they always contrive to please gamers. Should they fall, we will lose a company that has never forgotten its image. It certainly seems like they are doing their part to turn it around but can we not ensure its survival in these difficult times?