Momentum for Wii U, Nintendo 3DS Keeps Going Through Winter, Spring and Beyond

New Nintendo Direct Video Reveals Massive Amount of New Information

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In a new Nintendo
Direct video, Nintendo revealed new games on the way for its Wii
U and Nintendo
3DS systems, as well as additional details about previously
announced titles. From new games in the Kirby and Paper Mario
franchises to a companion game for Star Fox Zero, this is one
video that can’t be missed.

To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct.
Some of the highlights revealed in the video include:

Wii U

• Star
  Fox Zero: Fox McCloud returns in an action-packed new
  adventure. Multiple paths branch out to give players plenty of places
  to explore, and each route gives them a completely different
  experience, with each battle posing its own set of unique challenges.
  Players will notice their skills get better and better over time, as
  they become top-notch pilots. In two-player mode, one player can fly
  the Arwing while the other player aims and shoots. The game launches
  April 22. The packaged version comes with a Star Fox Guard game
  disc at a suggested retail price of $59.99 while the digital version
  of the game can be purchased by itself from Nintendo eShop for $49.99.
• Star
  Fox Guard: Players set up 12 cameras to find and defeat
  enemies who are attacking the mining site of Slippy Toad’s uncle,
  Grippy Toad. The game includes about 100 stages, but players can also
  create their own stages by editing the placement of enemies and
  uploading their levels online. The only way to get the physical
  version of Star Fox Guard is by purchasing the packaged version
  of Star Fox Zero. The game can also be purchased by itself from
  Nintendo eShop for $14.99. Customers that purchase the digital version
  of either Star Fox Zero or Star Fox Guard will receive a
  $4.99 Nintendo eShop discount toward the other game.
• Paper Mario: Color Splash: Prism Island is being drained
  of its color and it’s up to Paper Mario to stop it! Use Paper Mario’s
  paint hammer to splash paint on anything it hits and bring the color
  back to the island in this new action-adventure game. The game will
  launch later in 2016.
• Super
  Mario Maker: More than 6.2 million courses from players
  around the world are available for others to play, and now a free
  March 9 update will add a Super Expert mode to the 100-Mario
  Challenge. The mode is unlocked after players clear Expert mode. Super
  Expert Mode dishes out six extremely tough courses. Additionally, 12
  new Mystery Mushroom costumes have been added to 100 Mario Challenge.
  The update also provides level creators with even more tools:
  • Shake a P Switch to turn it into a key. Shake a Door to turn it
    into a Key Door. Creators can make enemies hold keys, meaning
    players can’t advance without defeating mandatory bosses.
  • Shake a Coin to turn it into a Pink Coin. Players must collect
    them all to make a key appear.
  • Shake a Thwomp to turn it into a massive Skewer column from Super
    Mario World.
  • Additionally, the Super
    Mario Maker Bookmark site will see additions such as
    ranking categories for world records and the number of first
    clears on courses, inspiring new ways to experience the main game.
  • Mario
    & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games: The Wii U
    version of the game launches on June 24 and includes two events new to
    the series: Rugby Sevens and Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs. Every event in
    the game takes place in locales modeled after the actual venues in Rio.
  • Splatoon:
    The hit multiplayer game is getting more updates. An update on March 8
    balances some gear abilities to improve some of the lesser-used ones
    and make them more appealing. Additional tweaks to matchmaking, Ranked
    Battles and Splatfests aim to improve the overall user experience.
    Another update arrives in two waves, with the first coming in April.
    It will adjust some existing weapons and add new weapon set
    recommendations as “Sheldon’s Picks.”
  • Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Slay monsters—and slay like a
    pop star—all at the same time, in this brand-new RPG from acclaimed
    developer Atlus. A sinister force from another dimension has invaded
    modern-day Tokyo, resulting in a fantastical barrage of style,
    fashion, music and, of course, danger. So play to your strengths in
    high-energy turn-based battles, then fuse items to craft powerful
    weapons and crush your foes. Around every corner you’ll find
    fan-service—including Fire Emblem references—original songs by
    Japanese entertainment giant Avex, dungeons themed after the
    entertainment industry and eye-catching music performances. The
    one-of-a-kind game launches June 24.
  • LOST REAVERS: BANDAI NAMCO’s latest free-to-play online
    co-op action game asks players to team up with other adventurers
    online to fight zombies and solve puzzles as they search for valuable
    treasure. As players complete missions, characters will level up,
    unlock additional skills and increase their in-game funds to acquire
    new weapons. An open beta version is launching April 14 with the full
    version coming to Wii U on April 28.

  Nintendo 3DS

  • Kirby:
    Planet Robobot: Invaders have mechanized Dream Land. To
    restore his home to its original form, Kirby must use their technology
    against them with the new Robobot Armor. The Robobot Armor can even
    destroy a variety of obstacles in his way. The Team Kirby Clash mode
    lets up to four players join forces to battle against powerful bosses.
    Players select one of four roles, and participate in a co-op quest
    to defeat a boss while supporting their team. Completing a quest earns
    experience points to level-up and grow more powerful. The game is
    compatible with a large variety of amiibo figures, and some give Kirby
    character-specific abilities. A new series of Kirby amiibo figures
    that includes Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight and Waddle Dee gives
    Kirby attributes specific to each character. Tapping the Kirby figure
    is the only way to get the UFO ability. The game and new amiibo
    figures launch June 10.
  • Metroid
    Prime: Federation Force: This next chapter in the Metroid
    Prime series is a first-person adventure fused with puzzle
    solving, focused on shooting and co-op gameplay. Players take on
    missions that tell the story of the battle between the Galactic
    Federation’s elite Federation Force unit and the Space Pirates. Each
    player must select and carry specific sub-weapons based on their
    preferred roles, then proceed to complete each mission. The game will
    launch in late spring.
  • Rhythm Heaven Megamix: The game offers more than 100
    rhythm games, 30 of which are new to the series. An additional 70 have
    been selected from previous games in the series, including the
    original Game Boy Advance title, which was never released in North
    America. The game launches later this year.
  • Monster Hunter Generations: The newest installment in
    the popular Monster Hunter action RPG series from Capcom is
    making its way to the West. The game will feature a special
    collaboration armor set based on Marth from the Fire Emblem
    series. Anyone who plays Monster Hunter Generations on
    Nintendo 3DS with Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate save data present
    on it will receive bonus content in the new game. As a special
    promotion, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is being offered at a
    special price of $19.99 in Nintendo eShop for 48 hours, starting today
    at 3 p.m. PT. The game will launch this summer.
  • Disney
    Art Academy: Discover your inner artist to capture the
    stunning visuals of over 80 Disney and Pixar characters. With advice
    and lessons inspired by Disney art and Pixar animations, learn to use
    a bundle of different drawing tools to create Elsa and Olaf from
    Disney Frozen, characters from Disney Inside Out, Mickey
    Mouse and more! Even share your creations with your friends! Disney
    Art Academy launches May 13.
  • Hyrule
    Warriors Legends: The game launches March 25, at which
    point players can buy a season pass to get access to four DLC packs
    and a bonus costume for Ganondorf. These packs will also be available
    for purchase individually in Nintendo eShop during the next few
    months. A transfer code will allow purchasers who also own Hyrule
    Warriors for Wii U to use Ganondorf’s Trident weapon and play
    as the five new characters from Hyrule Warriors Legends in the
    Wii U game. Medli from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will
    be available as a free download when the first DLC pack is released.
  • Bravely
    Second: End Layer: A free demo of the game hits Nintendo
    eShop on March 10. Best Buy Gamers Club Unlocked members will receive
    a unique 16-digit code to access the demo early on March 7. Playing
    the demo will earn play bonuses that players can transfer into the
    full version of the game when it launches on April 15.
  • Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past:
    Travel to the past to save the present in this classic Dragon Quest
    adventure that has been completely remade from the ground up for
    Nintendo 3DS. The world has been rebuilt, the characters have new 3D
    models and the story has been completely re-localized. Even customize
    your party with over 30 classes and rank up in turn-based battles to
    learn new spells and abilities. The game launches later in 2016.
  • Fire
    Emblem Fates: Revelation: This third path in the story
    reveals many secrets not available in the Birthright or Conquest
    versions. On March 10, players can purchase Revelation for
    $19.99. Once purchased, a third option will appear at the Branch of
    Fate moment of the game: “Refuse to Choose a Side.” Today two new maps
    (Museum Melee and Ghostly Gold) are being released for purchase in the
    Dragon’s Gate in-game DLC shop, with Royal Royale launching on March
    17. After March 17, additional maps will be released on a weekly basis
    through April 21.

  Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS

  • Virtual Console Update: Super NES games are coming to New
    Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. At the conclusion of
    today’s Nintendo Direct, Super Mario World, F-Zero and Pilotwings
    will be available, mirroring the original Super NES launch lineup. On
    March 24, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Kart and EarthBound
    will join the lineup. And on April 14, watch for The Legend of
    Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid and Donkey Kong
    Country 2: Diddy’s Quest. The New Nintendo 3DS hardware enables
    Perfect Pixel Mode in these versions, which gives players the option
    to display the games in their original resolution. Find a full listing
    of Virtual Console titles at Nintendo.com.
  • Azure Striker Gunvolt 2: Gunvolt’s rival Copen joins the
    fray as a playable character. Players can dash into enemies to lock on
    to them, then unleash a devastating homing shot. Copen can also copy
    the abilities of all seven new boss characters and use them as his
    own. The game launches this summer. In the meantime, the original Azure
    Striker Gunvolt game is available for $9.99, now through June 1.
  • Pocket Card Jockey: Solitaire meets horse racing –
    really! Game Freak’s new mashup puts players in the saddle as a jockey
    who must complete a fast-paced, simplified version of solitaire to
    propel the horse through intense races. It’s all about leveling up the
    horse through strategic positioning and placement on the track. Over
    time, players can win trophies for high-ranking races to secure
    sponsors. The game launches in May.

  amiibo

  • Mini
    Mario and Friends amiibo Challenge: This free game can be
    found in Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Tap an amiibo
    figure on the Wii U GamePad controller or New Nintendo 3DS system (or
    to a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS system using the
    Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory) to guide one of 11 minis
    across more than 60 levels. Players can tap any compatible amiibo
    figure. Or, by tapping specific amiibo figures, players can guide
    minis that have exclusive level sets or their own unique abilities,
    like mini Mario’s wall jump or mini Yoshi, who can eat enemies.
    Starting March 25, the game will be available at select retailers as a
    bonus download code with the purchase of any Nintendo amiibo
    figure. It will also be available to download for free from Nintendo
    eShop on April 28.
  • Isabelle amiibo Figure: In June, Isabelle will be available
    separate from the Animal
    Crossing: amiibo Festival bundle, in her winter outfit. A new
    Isabelle figure featuring her summer outfit is also coming. Both
    figures launch on June 10.
  • amiibo Cards: Series 4 of the Animal
    Crossing amiibo cards launch on June 10.

  Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let
  adults manage the content their children can access. For more
  information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu
  or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

  About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of
  interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan,
  manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U^™
  and Wii^™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS^™ and
  Nintendo DS^™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when
  it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System^™, Nintendo has
  sold more than 4.3 billion video games and more than 692 million
  hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U,
  Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy^™,
  Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi^™ and Nintendo DSi
  XL^™, Super NES^™, Nintendo 64^™, Nintendo
  GameCube^™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons
  that have become well-known, household names such as Mario^™,
  Donkey Kong^™, Metroid^™, Zelda^™ and
  Pokémon^™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America
  Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s
  operations in the Western Hemisphere.

  For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website
  at http://www.nintendo.com.Note
  to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at http://press.nintendo.com,
  a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the
  site.

  Contacts

  GOLIN
  Rich George
  415-318-4342
  rgeorge@golin.com
  or
  Eddie
  Garcia
  213-335-5536
  egarcia@golin.com