Well, That Was a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase All Right 

I was a translator on Pentiment, so it has a lot of sentimental value to me that it finally comes to Switch. It’s a great game.

I'm in the minority here in thinking this was a pretty great showcase by Partner Direct standards. Penny's Big Breakaway, Another Crab's Treasure, World of Goo 2, Pepper Grinder, and the Snufkin game all look great. And I know this is a very niche thing to say, but I am a huge fan of Snake Rattle n Roll, so seeing that I can now play it on the Switch made my day. It's an A-tier Rare game in my book!

I thought that Nintendo Direct was great for a Partner Showcase tbh. Very happy with pretty much everything we got. Also, I don't think the announcement of Mother 3 in Japan means we will never get it here. Harvest Moon was out on NSO Japan way before the West so.

Alex's false memory of The Girl Who Steals Time, may be from Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind.

Wild how nintendo made a partner showcase (Gundam breaker 4, Penny, SMTV, and endless ocean) that caters specifically only to me. Incredible.

Epic Mickey is an amazing game, hope the performance issues are ironed out.

I never expected Battlefront 1 and 2 to be on Switch! 😮

Oh, where do we even begin with the latest Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase? It's like opening a treasure chest, only to find it filled with... well, mostly packing peanuts. But hey, amidst those peanuts, there might just be a couple of gleaming gems, or at the very least, a quirky keychain that sort of makes you smile. First off, let's talk about the absolute roller coaster that was the announcement of "Grounded." A game that shrinks you down to the size of an ant and lets you embark on an "enormous" adventure in your backyard. It's kind of like that movie with the kids and the shrink ray, except now, there's crafting. Because, of course, what's an adventure these days without a bit of crafting? You can build your base, forge alliances with spiders, and probably spend hours trying to fashion a hat out of a leaf. It's set to launch on April 16th, and I'm already bracing myself for the inevitable memes about fighting off gargantuan squirrels. Then there was the sequel to "Ender Lilies," dubbed "Ender Magnolia Bloom in the Mist." It promises a tale of destruction and renewal, which, let's face it, could also describe my attempts at baking. The game features homunculi, which are not, contrary to my initial belief, a type of pasta, but rather artificial life forms meant to bring about a brighter future. Instead, they bring about a hefty dose of angst and adventure, which is just as good, I guess. And who could forget "A Ranger"? A game that, at its core, seems to be about sliding puzzles around. It's like someone took one of those annoying sliding puzzles from your childhood, made it infinitely larger, and then said, "Yes, this will be a delightful game mechanic." But, in a surprising twist, it actually looks... fun? Maybe it's the charming graphics or the promise of a "curious journey of self-discovery," but I'm intrigued. Or perhaps I've just developed Stockholm syndrome for sliding puzzles. "Unicorn Overlord" caught my attention simply because of its name. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow the journey of Elaine, a young prince, with a name that promises mythical creatures and potentially over-the-top battles? But, alas, it appears to be a strategy game, which means my unicorns will have to be strategically deployed. A bit less magical, but I'll take it. The return of "Monster Hunter Stories" in full HD is like greeting an old friend who's just had a really fancy makeover. You're not sure where they got the money for it, but they're glowing. Riding and fighting alongside monsters in turn-based combat is back, and this time, you can even peruse artwork and jam out to tunes in a newly added museum. It's like they know the way to my heart is through art and music, not just endless monster battles. Epic Mickey is making a comeback, which is both unexpected and mildly concerning. The game where you wield a magic paintbrush to either create or destroy the world around you is being remastered. I'm just hoping they've managed to keep the charm of the original while improving... well, pretty much everything else. The announcement of a new "Endless Ocean" game was the closest I came to feeling genuine excitement. The idea of exploring uncharted waters with up to 29 other players is genuinely appealing. It's like going on a scuba diving trip, but without the risk of getting water in your ears or encountering an actual shark. In between these announcements were a flurry of titles that made me ponder existential questions like, "What am I doing with my life?" and "Do I really need another game where I build things out of blocks?" The answer to both is probably "no," but that won't stop me. In summary, this Nintendo Direct was a lot like attending a distant relative's birthday party. You go in with moderate expectations, find yourself mildly entertained by the quirky family stories, and leave with a goody bag filled with things you didn't really want but will probably consume anyway. It was, in a word, okay. But okay in the way that you find an extra fry at the bottom of your takeout bag. Not thrilling, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless. So, as we close the book on another Nintendo Direct, let's all take a moment to reflect on the fact that, despite everything, we'll probably end up buying at least one of these games. Because, at the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about? Finding that one quirky keychain in a sea of packing peanuts that makes the whole ordeal kinda, sorta worth it?

It was a good showcase! Monster Hunter Stories getting a remaster made me so happy!

Discovering that there's going to be a sequel to Ender Lilies really made my day.

Dude, I loved this Direct. Monster Hunter Stories? Yes, please! God damn OG Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2? Hell yeah! Also finally a release date for Fantasy Life!

Felix: The dude behind Tales of Kenzera: ZAU's studio is Abubakar Salim. He's an actor. He was the voice of Bayek in Assassins' Creed: Origins and Eros in Stray Gods. Earlier this month he was on the Critical Role channel hosting a 4-Sided Dive (because Sam Riegel couldn't be arsed).

Mother 3 playing hard-to-get for decades

Endless Ocean was relaxing fun on the Wii.

Dude... whats with the shade thrown at the Suika Game DLC? honestly one of the best announcements in the whole direct.

10:19 i think alex might be thinking about the film "the girl who leapt through time"

The battlefront collection and Penny’s Big Breakaway make the overall direct great in my eyes

"Rare games are coming to Nintendo Switch-😃 -Online."😭

When I saw the Rare logo I thought for sure we were getting Rare Replay on Switch. Weird to send em over slowly

"Apparently it's a remake"? Has Alex not heard of Epic Mickey before?

Highlight was definitely Penny's Big Breakaway being shadow dropped and Star Wars Battlefront Classic. I can finally force my younger friend who's into Fortnite play through the horrors of Felucia splitscreen with me!

Although Pentiment has a slow start it's like a good book - once you get into it you won't be able to put it down until you finish it.

A lot of great games tbh

In the words of Matt McMuscles, “You Switch players don’t deserve Yakuza, we give you more Monkey Ball!”

All of these performance issues tell me that developers were told these games will be playable on the switch two, but that could very well just be wishful thinking!

I'm really excited for kingdom come deliverance to be on the switch. Alot of people don't talk about it but if you love open world games it's an amazing game that is honestly underrated.

The original Epic Mickey was initially planned for 360/PS3 but was made a Wii exclusive in the end. The sequel did end up coming to other platforms though.

I can totally understand not being excited about endless ocean but the first game was amazing. One of the few games from my childhood that I truly enjoyed that was relaxing. Never played the second one but I'm very excited to see the series getting some more love

I'm unreasonably excited for the Battlefront collection. 2 of my most favorite games of all time

og star wars battlefront collection on switch is genius. So hyped for this

I have great memories of Snake Rattle 'n Roll. With the rewind feature to help with the weird physics, it's really fun.

What's the track that plays in the background during the first 6 or so min?

This whole direct basically just felt like an extended sizzle reel from a regular direct. A lot of things that felt like ‘did that need a spot in a direct’ and a few things that felt like ‘this is a pleasant surprise’ but nothing that was ‘Wow, I can’t believe they are doing that and I can’t wait for this to come out/play right now!’

Penny's Big Breakaway Shadow dropped, so I'm happy.

Need to be honest, i know every direct isnt for everyone but there is some verbage in here that judt seems like Switch bashing and its making me question how many games Nintendo Life play on Switch that arent exclusives. Its obviously fine to play elsewhere, but yeah. I thought there was some really great games in here.

Pentiment should absolutely be on your radar. it is one of the best games i finally played last year and it is perfectly suited for the Switch. such a great game

I think we were all expecting very little, but we got a completely different collection of very little. Still excited for Unicorn Overlord.

They run good, you were expecting a reveal of the switches successor!

As a big Moomin fan as well I'm looking forward to the Snufkin game. Only wish it was in 3D.

Japan got Mother 3 and we just got Epic Mickey with shaders...

MOTHER 3 IN JAPAN ONLY?!?? 😢

Battlefront 2 on switch with online support and 32 v 32 is a dream come true. Anyone complaining about this direct can respectfully shove it.

When you've already made the thumbnail and you need to get your video up before everyone else does...

The biggest rush I got was thinking that DK64 would be part of the Rare collection. Well this was a day.

Overall I’m happy with some of the announcements, I’m really excited for new Monkey Ball and looking forward to playing OG Battlefront online again!

I think considering some of the release dates we may not see a Switch 2 this year. It's still absolutely possible but will see when Nintendo has their own direct

It was really good actually, better than some main Directs

4:30 Confirmed for other consoles, it's probably just the Switch having problems running it, also happened with the studio's other games like Spongebob Cosmic Shake. Epic Mickey 1 was Wii only , the sequel got ports in HD handled by Blitz Games while Junction Point did the Wii version

I'm excited for the new Endless Ocean

This was amazing for me. Gundam Breaker 4!!! Battlefront 1 and 2 with multiplayer! Probably the most interested I've been in any of these before.

I was excited about three things, and three things only: 1. The new Monkey Ball (I’m so so hyped) 2. Fantasy Life i’s release date trailer 3. The ATLUS logo appearing (I would be disappointed 1 second later when I found out that it was them milking SMTV instead of Persona 3 Reload)

This showcase had some happy surprises for me. Pocket Card Jockey was a super underrated gem on 3DS, and one of my most played games. The sequel is more of the same, and is one of those games I've been saying for years I wanted to see on Switch. Endless Ocean is another game I've wanted on Switch for the longest time. Needless to say, I could hardly contain my excitement when they announced a sequel dropping the first week of May. Updates on a few others were good to hear too (esp Fantasy Life), but these were the new ones for me. Good stuff.

Y'all kept saying that these certain games don't run well on switch from the videos you were showing they looked like they ran playable to me but then again I'm not a frame rate snob. Occasional Skip center and they're not a big deal at all. I don't have Android eyes or robot eyes or whatever lol.

The thing about the Penny game is that they built a custom engine for that game instead of relying on Unity or Unreal Engine 5. I believe the guys at Digital Foundry tested it and claimed it runs quite well on Switch

I never expected Snufkin to become the protagonist. But if there's a game featuring Geno (from Mario RPG) as the protagonist, then he could surpass the former.

It may not have been a good direct to you, but as a Gundam fan, the announcement of Gundam Breaker 4 is MASSIVE! Also, as a big fan of the original Star Wars Battlefront games, having them back in a remastered, complete package WITH the missing maps and characters is also huge! Will definitely get both on PS5 though. Oh and don't forget about Monster Hunter Stories remaster with English VO! Phenomenal!

This was the best partner showcase they’ve ever had. I know many of us would prefer a full one obviously but really the only glaring omission was Hi-Fi Rush. I’ve already got a docket of stuff to play through the summer! Penny’s Big Breakaway, Peach Showtime, Another Crabs Treasure, Monkey Ball… not to mention stuff we don’t know dates for like Paper Mario and The Plucky Squire. Man, I’m eating well this year. I know it’s all smaller stuff, but for me personally this stuff looks GOOD

Alex shows his pepper grinder for free

For a partner direct, that was actually 🔥 Monster Hunter Stories with voice acting! Dope! New Super Monkey Ball, SMTV Vengeance, Grounded, Contra Remake, World of Goo sequel (unbelievable!), even Endless Ocean got me in the end. The creatures are so gorgeous, and there's a dinofishosaur you can swim with? Co-op in the ocean? I like it.

Kingdom Come Deliverance being on the Switch is awesome for me, I have wanted it for a long time and almost got it for the PS5 but was waiting for a Switch version because it is such a more comfortable way to game.

I've been saying for years that BF2 classic would be a perfect fit for switch, and always sad when they would announce other classics but not BF2. I'm so stoked now! Already pre-ordered!

They should release the two arcade games of Killer instinct with online play. They would look amazing on switch handhelds.

One of the best things to come out of this direct was the thumbnail title.

Was it just me, or did Felix sound ripped in this video? - Craig

Is that your pepper grinder or are you just happy to see me?

Kingdom Come Deliverance is probably my favourite RPG. The only issue I have is a little bit of a lack luster ending

Maybe Alex is thinking of the anime movie "The girl who leaps through time."

I'm happy about Battlefront. I probably won't buy it unless I can get a couple of friends to take the nostalgia plunge with me, but those were great games and I'm glad they're returning.

That was definitely the best partner showcase

Alex’s sound feed sounded fine, to me.

This is one nintendo life video of all times.

That was the best direct in a long time because SMT V vengeance

I also really wanted Donkey Kong 64. One day, I will complete it. ...yes, I will.

Japanese direct has a lot of new games that are not in US version, e.g. a guitar learning accessory and game for switch

What a direct!

Great showcase!!! When you compare these games vs ps5 & Xbox future games, Switch is just the clear winner

I'm really excited to finally have a date for fantasy life i, the first one is one of my favorite games. sad it was delayed once again, but its something at least also monster hunter stories 1 on switch is great, love that game

The Nintendo direct partners showcase was actually pretty good. It was better than I expected. It was going to be the only games I’m interested in from the showcase is fantasy life, the girl who steals time, endless ocean and epic Mickey re-brushed, although when I saw THQ Nordic on the splash screens, I was a little bit concerned because all of their games never seemed to run that well on switch from SpongeBob SquarePants battle for bikini bottom and cosmic shake all have frame rate issues on the switch. I just hope they clean up the performance because really epic Mickey should be running better than it is and that’s a darn shame because I never played the original on Wii.

Most people aren’t measuring this by standards of other Partner Directs. They want Nintendo news

I was very happy with this direct. There's about 8 games I like the look of and I'll defo be buying 3 of them.

Even tho it was a partner showcase I expected more at least from the Nintendo switch online side of things but it's whatever we got another 4 months before another direct happens. I expect bigger things in the summer. Nintendo Direct partner showcase 5/10

I'm glad that Monster Hunter Stories will be on the Switch. Too bad I got it for the 3DS but I may want to get it anyway.

Rare Nintendo Life L, its almost like we didnt watch the same direct

An LVII from Alex, eh? Wow.

I'd like to know what Endless Ocean's gameplay is like.

I thought it was a reasonably good direct. Partner showcases kind of have lower expectations from me by default- when you shotgun a bunch of different games from all over the place at me, there's a decent chance I'm not gonna care about a few of them. But I got a few cool things out of this. SMTV Vengeance is cool, a new monkey ball, the battlefront games people actually liked, another crabs treasure, Pennys big breakaway, a chance to try blast corp...there's enough here to keep me interested at least. And an endless ocean sequel is just neat to see imo, not so much for me, but I know for plenty of people the first two just did it for them so I hope this one captures that same magic for them.

alex, regarding the endless ocean/partner situation.. the first two games were developed by Arika, who had done two comparable playstation games (forever blue) first.. .but published by nintendo... so it that way you can compare it a bit to rare i guess.... btw.. i did love the direct.. quite a few games i was interested in... bit of 'completing'the switch line up with some 3ds classics.. and some rare as a bonus... blast corps is their best most original game .. (although online diddy kong would/will be great)

Battlefront 1/2 on switch are great additions :)

I usually find these directs to lean on the side of disappointing or uninteresting. This was actually quite a good one.

Millenials who grew up with the gamecube/Wii are eating well with this Partner Showcase: Epic Mickey, World of Goo 2, Monkey Ball, Endless Ocean Also surprised how right on the money some of the rumours were... Makes one wonder what that means for the Switch 2 rumours 👀

Star wars and the unicorn one for me!

For a Partner Showcase Direct at the tail end of the Switch’s life. I think it was as good as I was expecting. Had a few games Im looking forward to like Epic Mickey and Battlefront. And getting more on Fantasy Life has me excited.

There were some solid games in here that i was pumped for. Was it perfect? No, but it still showed us we have a good lineup this year even if there isnt much nintendo itself.

I liked the showcase. I plan on getting Pentiment, but I tried the demo of Unicorn Overlord and it was great. I may pick it up on a sale but it's in the same month as South Park Snow Day so I wanna save my time and money for that. Same issue with Battlefront Collection. Wife is intrigued by new Endless Ocean, but not much else at this direct has me planning on picking it up on day one. I will get SMTV: Vengeance as I forgot to get the original SMTV. Lol.

the battlefront collection is 25gbs... o.0

Starwars Battlefront Classic Collection carried it for me. I've been begging for remasters of the original Starwars Battlefront games with online play for a while now. Probably gonna be going with the Xbox version for 4K and party chat though so nothing I'm really gonna be buying for the Switch though.

I mean this in a constructive way but even if you guys have “known” about a game it would be nice to at least have a brief description of what it actually is rather than just “it looks like shit on switch”. If YOU guys haven’t heard of a game maybe just do some quick google searches before recording. The tone of this video just seemed very dismissive and didn’t really inform me of anything. 🤷🏼

Best direct in a long time

My theory on some of these games not looking so great: in a couple of months time the successor to the Switch may be announced, and publishers are now rushing to announce their final games for the Switch before all attention shifts to its successor.

I cannot notice anything running bad?