The latest Nintendo Direct aired on February 8, and it was jam-packed with game announcements and news–both for brand-new games and for returning classics. At more than 40 minutes, it was a lot to process, but we’ve rounded up the biggest news and announcements. Even if you weren’t interested in Zelda (which made a big appearance) there was almost certainly something for you to get excited about. Metroid Prime Remastered? The return of a long-delayed turn-based strategy game? What about Game Boy games on Switch? We knew we’d get your attention.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The final game of the show was also the biggest. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom got a gameplay showcase to close out the presentation. It shows Hyrule in peril–even by the series’ usual standards–with flaming meteors crashing to the ground as enormous monsters gain a foothold on the territory. Link has access to many of his usual weapons and gear, but he can also drive a vehicle on the ground, pilot a different one in the air, and skate like he’s Tony Hawk on special rails. Alongside the standard game’s release on May 12, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will also get a collector’s edition packed full of extra goodies.
Metroid Prime Remastered
The original Metroid Prime game is back on Nintendo Switch, and it looks like a whole lot of work was put into making it look like it belongs on the newer hardware. The upgraded GameCube title has received a big visual overhaul while maintaining its distinctive art style, and there are multiple control options to cater to returning fans as well as newcomers more used to a dual-stick setup. Otherwise, the gameplay looks like it was left faithfully intact. The best part? You can play the game today via its digital release, with a physical version coming on February 22.