'Xenoblade' Characters In 'Smash' And 'Splatoon 3' Announcement Headline Nintendo's First Proper Direct Since 2019

February 18th, 2021 - 11:11 AM EST by Adam Downer

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pyra and mythra in smash

Another Nintendo Direct, another shocked audience of Super Smash Brothers Ultimate fans who did not accurately guess the next DLC fighter.

Heading into yesterday's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo's first proper Direct since 2019 after a year of Mini's and game showcases, anticipation was high for the announcement of the next fighter to be added to Nintendo's ultra-popular fighting game, as speculation focused on long-wanted characters and wildcards (Heather Mason from Silent Hill 3 trended on Twitter as a big of an ironic long-shot joke). Still, few could have guessed that Nintendo would announce that the next fighter(s) were Mythra and Pyra from Xenoblade Chronicles.


The supporting characters from Nintendo's RPG series are the second and third Xenoblade Chronicles characters added to the series after Shulk. While technically taking up one spot on the roster, players will be able to switch between Pyra and Mythra during battle and employ each character's unique moveset, similar to how Melee handled Sheik and Zelda.

The announcement was celebrated by Xenoblade fans on social media.


After Nintendo kicked off its Direct with the Smash announcement, it delved into announcing some less-anticipated but still-exciting titles coming to the Switch, like Monster Hunter Rise, No More Heroes 3, Mario Golf Super Rush and an interesting-looking RPG with the working title Project Triangle Strategy. The Direct also included trailers for remasters of games like Ninja Gaiden and Famicom Detective games.

The marquee announcements which Nintendo typically saves for the end of their presentations were a little disappointing for fans expecting news on the long-anticipated Breath of the Wild sequel or the next Metroid game. Instead, they announced that Skyward Sword, the Wii's major Zelda game, was being remastered for the Switch and that Splatoon 3 was coming in 2022.


Reactions were mixed on the Skyward Sword announcement, particularly its $60 price tag. The game has been something of a black sheep in the Zelda community, as some design issues and its mandatory motion controls on the Wii made it a less-beloved title than other entries in the Zelda franchise. The motion controls, however, will be optional on the Switch, as players can elect to swing Link's sword with the right joystick.


The announcement of Splatoon 3, which seems like it will take place in a desert setting, generated a considerable amount of hype and memes.


You can watch the full Nintendo Direct below:



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