Louis Hughes’ Direct Opinion:
Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase July 2020
Due to the global pandemic, large gathering events have been postponed, cancelled, or transitioned to a digital event. With the announcement of E3 being cancelled, many publishers were scrambling to make changes. Many were wondering the status of Nintendo’s E3 Direct, since it was assumed the video was recorded in advanced. This was not the case when rumors stated that the Direct would be postponed till August. Most recently it was reported that a Direct will be held in July to announced the rumored Mario 35th anniversary collection. Once Nintendo confirmed a July event, everyone was hyped until it was announced that it would be a Partners Direct Mini. How did it fair?
The eight minute Direct discussed five games: New content for Cadence of Hyrule, Rogue Company, WWE Battlegrounds (which feels like I’m in the minority that’s looking forward to this game), and ended with the announcement of Shin Megami Tensei III Remaster, along with the big surprise of the long-awaited Shin Megami Tensei V.
Personally, I thought the Direct Mini was OKAY. I always go into Directs with low expectations, however, since it was stated this will be the first of many Partner Directs, it seems we should expect more third party directs in the future. I feel the backlash would’ve been less if they discussed Crysis Remastered, which will be released July 23, and the status on Doom Eternal.
In the end, this is just another example of people relying too much on the rumor mills only to complain when what they read didn’t come true. Maybe now people should take rumors as they are rumors, but who am I kidding?
It should be noted that the Japanese Direct showed off some great games that I’ve learned is coming to America. If you have the chance, check out Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin and Liza’s Atelier 2 – Lost Legends and Secret Fairies.
