The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?
I tuned into the July 31 Nintendo Partner Direct with cautious optimism. The Switch 2 is out, the gaming landscape is shifting, and I was ready to be wowed. Instead, I walked away feeling deflated. What should have been a showcase of bold new directions and creative risks felt more like a safe, predictable parade of sequels, remakes, and ports. If this is Nintendo's vision for the future of its hybrid console dynasty, then I'm worried they're coasting on goodwill rather than pushing boundaries.
Let's start with the obvious: Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Sure, it's a new entry in a beloved series, and the cinematic teaser hinted at a darker tone. But no gameplay? No innovation teased beyond a vague 'new story arc'? It felt like Capcom was banking on nostalgia and brand recognition rather than showing us why this game deserves to exist on a next gen platform.
Then there was Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix's latest HD-2D offering. I love the aesthetic, I really do. But we've seen this style multiple times now. The town-building mechanic and character customisation are welcome additions, but they don't scream 'next gen'. They whisper 'safe sequel'. It's a prequel, too – another sign that publishers are more interested in mining existing IP than forging new ones.
Just Dance 2026, EA Sports FC 26, Madden NFL 26 – these are annualised franchises that feel more like contractual obligations than creative endeavours. Their inclusion in the Direct made the whole thing feel like a corporate checklist rather than a celebration of gaming artistry. Even Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted, while charming, is a remake. And Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2? Another remake. Where's the originality?
I kept waiting for that one surprise. That, 'one more thing'. But it never came. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment was probably the closest we got to something intriguing – a canonical prequel to Tears Of The Kingdom sounds promising. But again, it's a spin-off of a spin-off. And while I appreciate the lore expansion, it's still rooted in existing material.
Even the indie offerings felt muted. The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales had potential, with its HD-2D action role-playing flair, but it didn't feel like a game that could define the Switch 2 era. It felt like filler. And Chillin' By The Fire? Cozy, yes. But ambitious? Not remotely.
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What frustrates me most is that this was a Partner Showcase, not a mainline Nintendo Direct. So, I get it – no Mario, no Zelda, no Metroid Prime 4. But even within the third party space, there's room for boldness. Where's the weird, the experimental, the genre defying? Where's the spirit of the Switch's early years, when every Direct felt like a treasure hunt?
Instead, this Direct felt like Nintendo and its partners are playing it safe. Maybe too safe. The Switch 2 is supposed to usher in a new era, but this showcase felt like a continuation of the old one. And that's the problem. Nintendo seems content to ride the wave of the Switch's success without truly challenging itself – or us. More Trending
I want to believe that the Switch 2 has more to offer than prettier ports and sequels. I want to see games that couldn't exist on the original Switch. I want to be surprised, delighted, and maybe even confused. That's what Nintendo used to do best. But right now? It feels like they're coasting. And if they don't shake things up soon, the Switch 2 might end up being remembered, not for its innovation, but for its complacency.
By reader BaldB3lper
The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email.
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Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Also, I don't think there's any question that the launch line-up isn't as good as the first Switch. Not so much because of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza but what's coming up next, which is… a big bag of nothing. I know Zelda: Breath Of The Wild was a special case but that wasn't all they had that year. They also had Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, ARMS, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, Super Mario Odyssey, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. That is a hell of a line-up, and I really don't think Metroid Prime 4 and a handful of lame spin-offs are going to match up. As the feature said, Nintendo had forever to get ready for this and it feels like they were caught napping. Taylor Moon Easy target To be honest, I'd be surprised if GTA 6 didn't have age verification of some sort, even if this stupid new UK law ends. 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New Mario game kept me up until 1am – it's a perfect multiplayer title for kids this summer or late nights with pals
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GREAT measure for a game is when it's so fun, you completely lose track of time. Ticking that box is Nintendo's revamped Super Mario Party Jamboree, which kept not only me but six pals awake until 1am. If you've got kids, this is an absolute dream family title. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Super Mario Party Jamboree is a favourite at home Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 11 It's a brilliant Mario-themed party game Credit: Nintendo 11 The game has been upgraded for the new Nintendo Switch 2 Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun The game actually came out in October 2024, but it's just been upgraded for the new Nintendo Switch 2. WHAT IS SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE? This new version has some extra modes and mini-games, but it's largely the same game. Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch 2), £66.99 And it really is a good game. If you're new to the Mario Party franchise, it's basically a giant collection of mini-games with very low barriers to entry. You can just pick it up and play. It's fine to play solo, although it's way better if you've got someone else with you. We had friends visit recently, and it kept us up late into the night. It's moreish, like spicy crisps. Or most other Mario games. If you've ever played Jackbox Games, Mario Party serves a similar purpose. It's packed with loads of Mario-themed mini-games. Some of them demand speedy reactions, while others will challenge your memory. And some even involve physical movement – like flapping your arms in the air while holding the Joy-Con controllers to fly. If you're alone then you'll play against the computer. The Sun tries new Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart before it's out But with friends, you can take on each other – or even team up – in a bid to win. SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE GAMEPLAY The good thing is that all of the games are very simple. There are dozens on offer, and you'll easily pick any of them up in seconds. And they're all bright, colourful challenges where you'll play as (and alongside) iconic Mario characters. 11 You'll explore Mario's world and enjoy loads of mini-games Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 11 Playing with friends makes it even more fun – especially if you have the camera accessory Credit: Nintendo One fun game saw me collecting coins on shifting sands. Spiky bars rolled right at me, so I had to quickly sidestep or leap in the air to dodge them. Another had me yanking bread out of an oven – but only once it had baked to perfection. Too soon? No coins! You can enjoy a sort of 'Grand Prix' of mini-game series, so you'll earn points after a few rounds – and then see who came out on top. If you've got four people playing at once, it's very high energy. This is great for a child's party, or an adult's party for that matter. 11 It's bright and colourful, and extremely easy to pick up Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game has some clever upgrades. They're mostly tucked into a new section of the game called Jamboree TV. One of the main differences here is a set of games built for mouse-style controls. That's made possible by the Switch 2's upgraded Joy-Cons, which can be placed on a surface to work just like a computer mouse. Picture Credit: 11 It's fun for players of all ages – even if you've never really played video games before Credit: Nintendo But it's worth noting that mouse control games require a single Joy-Con per person and a surface. Oh, and you can't use the Pro Controller for those games either, as it doesn't have mouse functionality. If you have the Nintendo camera accessory (keep in mind, this is £50!), you can play three games that make use of it. It's a bit like the old Xbox Kinect camera system. One involves following physical commands, which is fun if you like moving around. Probably the best is Goombalancing Act, where you try not to drop Goombas balancing on top of your head. 11 There are dozens of mini-games to play Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun So what's bad? Well, there are a few downsides. It took me quite a while to actually get playing. I'd say there's a good five minutes of unskippable content before you can start. It's not the end of the world, but I'd rather have just been able to get going right away. As well as that, the game has a £66.99 price tag attached. So you'll want to make sure you're going to get enough use out of it. IS SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE WORTH BUYING? It's always tempting to just stick on Mario Kart. And the new Mario Kart World is very good. 11 Some of the games make use of the Joy-Con mouse feature Credit: Nintendo In fact, it's probably enough reason to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 alone. But Super Mario Party Jamboree is a great alternative with loads of variety, and sparks a bit more chat than a regular Mario Kart game. You're also far less likely to see major skill differences on this versus Mario Kart. Rather than one person always winning, you might be good at one mini-game and rubbish at the next. 11 You'll recognise loads of classic Mario characters Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun There's loads of variety so you won't get bored. And it's simple enough for basically anyone to play – even people who aren't used to holding game controllers. This really is as close as it gets to "fun for the whole family". It's not exactly cheap at £67, but if you snap it up now, you'll probably get loads of play-time in over summer. And then again at Christmas. The Sun says: One of the best "family" games out there – but it's perfect for a night with friends too. A mini-game treasure trove that will hook Mario fans, and convert everyone else. 4.5/5 Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch 2), £66.99 11 Nintendo fans will get hours of fun from Super Mario Party Jamboree Credit: Nintendo All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
New Mario game kept me up until 1am – it's a perfect multiplayer title for kids this summer or late nights with pals
Sean Keach, Head of Technology and Science Published: Invalid Date, A GREAT measure for a game is when it's so fun, you completely lose track of time. Ticking that box is Nintendo's revamped Super Mario Party Jamboree, which kept not only me but six pals awake until 1am. If you've got kids, this is an absolute dream family title. 11 11 The game actually came out in October 2024, but it's just been upgraded for the new Nintendo Switch 2. WHAT IS SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE? This new version has some extra modes and mini-games, but it's largely the same game. Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch 2), £66.99 Buy at John Lewis And it really is a good game. If you're new to the Mario Party franchise, it's basically a giant collection of mini-games with very low barriers to entry. You can just pick it up and play. It's fine to play solo, although it's way better if you've got someone else with you. We had friends visit recently, and it kept us up late into the night. It's moreish, like spicy crisps. Or most other Mario games. If you've ever played Jackbox Games, Mario Party serves a similar purpose. It's packed with loads of Mario-themed mini-games. Some of them demand speedy reactions, while others will challenge your memory. And some even involve physical movement – like flapping your arms in the air while holding the Joy-Con controllers to fly. If you're alone then you'll play against the computer. The Sun tries new Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart before it's out But with friends, you can take on each other – or even team up – in a bid to win. SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE GAMEPLAY The good thing is that all of the games are very simple. There are dozens on offer, and you'll easily pick any of them up in seconds. And they're all bright, colourful challenges where you'll play as (and alongside) iconic Mario characters. 11 11 One fun game saw me collecting coins on shifting sands. Spiky bars rolled right at me, so I had to quickly sidestep or leap in the air to dodge them. Another had me yanking bread out of an oven – but only once it had baked to perfection. Too soon? No coins! You can enjoy a sort of 'Grand Prix' of mini-game series, so you'll earn points after a few rounds – and then see who came out on top. If you've got four people playing at once, it's very high energy. This is great for a child's party, or an adult's party for that matter. 11 The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game has some clever upgrades. They're mostly tucked into a new section of the game called Jamboree TV. One of the main differences here is a set of games built for mouse-style controls. That's made possible by the Switch 2's upgraded Joy-Cons, which can be placed on a surface to work just like a computer mouse. 11 But it's worth noting that mouse control games require a single Joy-Con per person and a surface. Oh, and you can't use the Pro Controller for those games either, as it doesn't have mouse functionality. If you have the Nintendo camera accessory (keep in mind, this is £50!), you can play three games that make use of it. It's a bit like the old Xbox Kinect camera system. One involves following physical commands, which is fun if you like moving around. Probably the best is Goombalancing Act, where you try not to drop Goombas balancing on top of your head. So what's bad? Well, there are a few downsides. It took me quite a while to actually get playing. I'd say there's a good five minutes of unskippable content before you can start. It's not the end of the world, but I'd rather have just been able to get going right away. As well as that, the game has a £66.99 price tag attached. So you'll want to make sure you're going to get enough use out of it. IS SUPER MARIO PARTY JAMBOREE WORTH BUYING? It's always tempting to just stick on Mario Kart. And the new Mario Kart World is very good. 11 In fact, it's probably enough reason to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 alone. But Super Mario Party Jamboree is a great alternative with loads of variety, and sparks a bit more chat than a regular Mario Kart game. You're also far less likely to see major skill differences on this versus Mario Kart. Rather than one person always winning, you might be good at one mini-game and rubbish at the next. There's loads of variety so you won't get bored. And it's simple enough for basically anyone to play – even people who aren't used to holding game controllers. This really is as close as it gets to "fun for the whole family". It's not exactly cheap at £67, but if you snap it up now, you'll probably get loads of play-time in over summer. And then again at Christmas. The Sun says: One of the best "family" games out there – but it's perfect for a night with friends too. A mini-game treasure trove that will hook Mario fans, and convert everyone else. 4.5/5 Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo Switch 2), £66.99 Buy at John Lewis 11 All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
