The Direct has now come and gone. Did any of my predictions comport with reality? Let’s find out.

Pipe Dreams

ARMS 2

Yeah, nope.

Super Mario 3D All Stars Update and Re-Issue

Didn’t get the whole package, but surprisingly got a partial fulfillment with the announcement of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 coming to the original Switch as both a physical bundle and standalone eShop releases. Definitely better than nothing, and I’m just glad that Galaxy 2 is finally getting some respect around here. When Super Mario Sunshine is finally added to the GameCube NSO app, we’ll finally have all of the 3D Mario games readily available on Switch. Aside from 3D Land, that is. That poor, forgotten 3D Land.

New 2D Metroid

Knew it wouldn’t happen, and it didn’t. I am a prophet.

A New F-Zero or Star Fox

Nopers.

Feasible, But Not Exactly Likely

A New Mario Game

  • A New 3D Title: Like I said, no news on this front.
  • A New 2D Title: Since they positioned it within the Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary segment, I’m gonna go ahead and count Yoshi and the Mysterious Book here.
  • A Spinoff or Sports Title: Mario Tennis Fever, baby.

Some Weird-Ass Accessory or Gaming-Adjacent Product Completely Out of Left Field

The fucking Virtual Boy is coming back? What the hell, man? Also, a physical Talking Flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Neat!

Shadow Drops for Metroid Prime 2 and 3

Nope. And every day without an announcement makes me worry for these games’ futures. Please don’t forget about them, Nintendo.

Pretty Likely

Super Mario Bros Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Expansion

Fucking called it. The focus on multiplayer game types was something I didn’t expect. I’m keeping an open mind, but I feel like I would have liked more regular levels at this time.

Mario Kart World Additions

This one didn’t pan out, unfortunately. I’m very surprised that there is no news on whether there will be significant updates for Mario Kart World. In a twist that I didn’t even consider, Donkey Kong Bananza is already getting paid DLC before MKW.

More NSO Games

Nothing about additions to the existing apps, but—again—they’re adding fucking Virtual Boy.

Almost Guaranteed

Info On Announced Games

Nothing about Mouse Work, Splatoon Raiders, or Rhythm Heaven Groove, but there was stuff about Kirby Air Riders, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. I was about 50/50 on this one.

A Release Date for Metroid Prime 4

Fuck yeah. It looks like they’re positioning Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as the big holiday title with a December 4 release date. Plus, Samus gets a motorbike?? To me, every new thing they show about this game is unexpected, but very promising.

At Least One Farming Game

I’m counting Dinkum and Pokemon Pokopia. I was double right.

Way Too Much Time Devoted to Some JRPG I Can’t Be Bothered to Give Two Shits About

Not as much as I expected, but there was definitely some of it. I really just can’t be bothered to care about any flavor of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Monster Hunter Stories. Also, I didn’t make any predictions about it, but I will also take this opportunity to express how little I care about games in the ilk of Dynasty Warriors. They are just so incredibly mindless and boring to me.

Final Score: Eh. A Little Right, I Guess

To be fair, I did frontload my predictions with stuff in the “Pipe Dream” category that I knew were more than likely not going to bear fruit. But yeah, solid Direct overall. Nothing earth shattering, but there were some nice surprises.