The recent Nintendo Direct Mini showcase might not be the full-sized half-hour episode many were expecting, but it did present a couple of noteworthy titles that would make JRPG fans swoon with delight.
The highlight of this Nintendo Direct was the announcement of Shin Megami Tensei V, coming in 2021 exclusively on the Nintendo Switch. With the last main game in the series releasing all the way back in 2016 for the Nintendo 3DS, and with developer Atlus having focused mainly on Persona games in recent years, this new entry in the SMT franchise will be the bone many longtime fans have been looking forward to.
Additionally, a HD remastered port of 2003’s Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is also coming to the Switch in Spring 2021.
The other heavy hitter for this showcase are DLCs for Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer. Three DLC packs were announced, all of which will release over the next few months. The first, a character pack including five new playable characters, is available now; the second is a song pack, which adds 39 new tracks to the game; and the third is a story-centric DLC, which features Skull Kid as a new playable character.
A definitive edition for Cadence of Hyrule, including all three DLC packs, will be released on 23 October, with a season pass also announced which includes Link- and Zelda-themed costumes.
Rogue Company, a new IP by Hi-Rez Studios, was also announced. An online third-person tactical shooter, Rogue Company lets players duke it out on the streets with various heroes in PVP and PVE game modes, with support for cross-play and cross-progression available at launch.
Finally, WWE 2K Battlegrounds was announced for Nintendo Switch, releasing on 18 September. The new gameplay trailer showcased the likes of Asuka, Cesaro, Big E and Kofi Kingston brawling out on the virtual ring. Pre-orders for the game are available now.
Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.
Kevin Low
Natalie
