Nintendo Direct - February 2023 Edition

Nintendo Very Rarely Changes it’s Stripes

And yet we always think they will “this time.” How often do they do things out of the ordinary, in the last decade? We can easily predict the next Pokemon game. We always know which game will have a delayed release. They are, as much as we like to speculate all year round, as predictable as they come. Even down to when the life-cycle of a console has run its course and the next one is “on the horizon.” And personally, I appreciate just how predictable they are. I know Pokemon is coming in November. Therefore, whatever game I need to finish or ‘mon I need to catch, I better do it in the next 9 months because come Friday, November 17th this year, the next Pokemon game will be out and I know I’ll be playing it.

We Know This Much Is True

The link to view the Direct is here. It will begin at 2pm PST / 5pm EST. Later than usual but I’m sure the reasoning isn’t Earth shattering or worth further analyzing. We know it will be 40min in length. I feel like most Direct’s these days are that length. We also know it will cover the first half of 2023. We know so much already and yet it still feels like we know nothing. Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is scheduled for a May release so, of course, they will show us something, right? Or will that get its own Direct at a later date? Possible, but not likely. I think we will see a few minutes of the game, Pokemon style. They will show us some of the “new” mechanics and visuals. Something to whet our appetite. I also predict that whatever they show us, no one will be satisfied.

A Tale of DLC’s and Nintendo Online

I gladly pay for the Family edition of Nintendo Online. Mostly because I have an online persona account I use when streaming on Twitch and a personal account that I use and I want both to have access to whatever Expansions are available. Also, my wife has her own account. Three accounts means Family is ideal. But how much of it do I actually use and benefit from? If I’m honest, the nostalgia of playing games from NES, Super Nintendo, Sega and 64 just isn’t as exciting as I’m sure I thought it would be. Yeah, I will boot up an old Mario game but after about 5 minutes of playtime I’m over it. The only DLC that applies to me so far has been the Mario Kart stuff and the Animal Crossing. Otherwise, I sure do hope the Pokemon SV DLC is a part of Expansion. At this point, I feel like any DLC that comes out for a Nintendo game needs to be standard with Nintendo Online. I do not expect to shell out extra money like with SwSh. Seriously…

Now, as a Pokemon fan who hardly expects the entire National Dex to be available in future games, I would appreciate it if DS and 3DS handhelds were available on Nintendo Online and the Pokemon games one of the first to be there. I understand how they started with the consoles, the Wii and Wii U being the only ones left. But I think it’s time to add some handhelds and I wouldn’t mind if you skipped GameBoy and GBA in favor of DS and 3DS.

What If I Don’t Care?

I enjoy watching the Directs now that I’m back to playing casually. But I still like what I like and I’m less inclined to try something new. I play Pokemon, Zelda, Mario, and Donkey Kong. Anything else and I might say, “wow that looks cool,” but I’m not likely to play it. I tried No Man’s Sky and enjoyed it, but after a while I was over it. Games don’t hold my attention for dozens or hundreds of hours like Pokemon and I’m okay with that. I watch the Directs just to see the cool games and marvel at everyone else’s excitement for them. But as I know Pokemon DLC will be announced on Pokemon day and we might get more Zelda reveals, I’m not gonna pitch a fit however it turns out.

What are you hoping to see? Afterwards, was it awesome or a dud?

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