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Nintendo just announced tons of new games at the latest Nintendo Direct

Nintendo Direct 3.3.2016
Nintendo announced a litany of new games across the Wii U, 3DS, and New 3DS during its latest Nintendo Direct livestream on Thursday. The publisher made 25 separate announcements during the broadcast, most of which related to new and upcoming games across its current slate of platforms. We’ve summarized some of the biggest news here, and you can watch the entire address in the recording above.

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Kirby headlined the show with Kirby: Planet Robobot, a new 3DS game where the pink puffball defends Dreamland from mechanical invaders using a set of mechanized robot armor that, like him, can change and adopt the powers of his enemies. The game will also include Team Kirby Clash, a multiplayer co-op mode with an RPG-style progression, including character levels and stats.

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Nintendo also announced four new Amiibo tied to the game; Kirby, King DeeDeeDee, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee. Using the four “Kirby line” Amiibo with the game will unlock a special new power. Other, non-Kirby-related Amiibo, such as Mario and Link, will also give Kirby new powers. According to Nintendo, any Amiibo will do “something” in the game.  Kirby: Planet Robobot is coming out June 10.

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For the Wii U, Nintendo announced that a new entry in the Paper Mario series Paper Mario: Color Splash, would come to Wii U in 2016. Color Splash revolves around restoring the faded color to Prism Island using, you guessed it, his trusty hammer, which is actually a “paint hammer” this time around.

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Nintendo also announced Star Fox Guard, a Wii U tie-in game related to the upcoming Wii U sequel, Star Fox Zero. Originally announced at E3 2014 as “Project: Guard,” the game follows Grippy Toad, uncle of Star Fox wingman Slippy, as he defends an outpost from waves of invading enemies using cameras and automated defenses. Players will be able to create their own levels for the game and upload them online. Players who purchase the retail version of Star Fox Zero will get Star Fox Guard for free, but players will also be able to purchase the games separately through the eShop when the games launch April 22.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force - Project Golem Trailer

Nintendo also announced that controversial online multiplayer Metroid spin-off, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, would launch on the 3DS in the spring of 2016. Announced last year, the squad-based shooter drew ire from Metroid fans, who would have preferred a direct sequel. (Some of them even started a petition to get the game cancelled.) During the stream, producer Kensuke Tanabe said the game “absolutely belongs in the Metroid universe,” and assured fans that, while she wouldn’t be a central character, series heroine Samus Aran would make an appearance in the game.

Monster Hunter Generations - 'The Hunt' Game Teaser

Nintendo also announced a pair of high-profile releases for Japanese gaming fans. Monster Hunter: Generations, released in 2015 as Monster Hunter X in Japan, will come to the Nintendo 3DS this summer. The long-awaited Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei game has a new, distinctive look and feel. Now called Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, the Atlus-developed game will feature the “deep RPG gameplay” of the Shin Megami Tensei series, and a storyline revolving around Japanese pop stars in modern-day Tokyo, and will be available June 24.

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In addition to all the new and upcoming games, Nintendo announced new content updates for both Super Mario Maker and Splatoon. The Super Mario Maker update, which goes live March 9, adds a set of new items, including keys and locked doors, allowing players to set up new scenarios such as boss battles. The update also adds a longer “super expert” mode to the 100-Mario challenge mode, which can only be accessed after completing the “expert” challenge, and new mystery mushroom costumes. Splatoon will receive new updates in March and April, including balance changes, improved matchmaking, and new weapon loadout recommendations.

Lastly, in retro game news, the publisher announced it would begin selling select SNES games via the virtual console for the new Nintendo 3DS. The first wave of games, Pilotwings, Super Mario World, and F-Zero, are available right now. Super Mario Kart, Earthbound, and Donkey Kong Country will be available March 24, followed by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest on April 14. Unfortunately, Nintendo will reportedly not offer any sort of “cross-purchase” promotion for players who have purchased these games on the Wii U or other platforms, according to US Gamer editor Jeremy Parrish.

Many of the announced games received only brief overviews during this jam-packed showcase. Expect to hear more about these, and all the other games discussed during this Nintendo Direct, throughout the year.

You won’t have to wait long to play Resident Evil 4: The Mercenaries
Leon parries a chainsaw villager in Resident Evil 4.

Capcom has revealed when it will add The Mercenaries to its remake of Resident Evil 4. Fortunately, the wait isn't that long, as the free DLC will drop on April 7.

We learned that The Mercenaries was coming in two weeks thanks to a tease at the end of the Resident Evil 4 remake's launch trailer. It doesn't show any new gameplay or give more details about the mode, simply showing a piece of key art with the free DLC's release date. The mode was first teased at the end of Resident Evil 4's trailer during the February State of Play.

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A plaza in Escape Academy.

Last year, I fell in love with Escape Academy the moment I first played it. I was instantly smitten by its well-constructed digital escape rooms, which were accessible and intuitive without being too easy. Though I adored the core gameplay loop, the package around it was a little lacking. It was over in a few hours and there wasn’t much reason to go back – there’s no fun in replaying a puzzle box you’ve already solved. Developer Coin Crew Games have worked to remedy those issues in the past year with additional DLC, but its upcoming Tournament of Puzzles DLC feels like the last missing piece.

Escape Academy: Tournament of Puzzles is a free update coming to the game sometime this year, after its second paid DLC launches. It adds a new multiplayer mode to the game, which has two players competing to solve escape rooms. That makes for a tense puzzle race that its developers hope will inspire Mario Kart-style trash-talking. Though the most exciting feature is that rooms will have a procedural element to them, potentially solving the base game’s biggest weakness.

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Leon Kennedy walking in the Resident Evil 4 remake.

Resident Evil 4 has a handful of really great guns to pick from as you slay hundreds of baddies throughout its spooky Spanish village, and in most cases, you'll need to push through a lot of chapters to get to some of the best ones the game has to offer. But in the case of the TMP – Resident Evil 4's small and deadly SMG – you'll actually be able to get it relatively early in the adventure. While it may not be the best weapon in the game, it's a nice option to have on you for filling larger enemies with bullets. We'll tell you where you can get your hands on it below.
Where to buy the TMP and why you should
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