Nintendo Directs are fun, exciting presentations hosted by Nintendo themselves showcasing upcoming games/products coming in the next few months of premiere. Aside from just announcing events are fun little skits or details that make the Direct fun to watch. Sometimes Nintendo trolls us during an event, making us think they’re about to announce one thing when it turns into something else. Here are the top five times Nintendo trolled us during a Direct presentation.
#5: Is It More Splatoon? Nope, It’s Smash. – Nintendo Direct 3.8.2018
Personally, my favorite Direct of all time is the March 8, 2018 Direct for its great announcements, third-party reveals, and general pacing. It’s such a fun video to rewatch, even though you know what games are coming. The last of the Nintendo Switch headlines was an update for Splatoon 2 including the Octo-Expansion announcement. Since this announcement was huge, we thought the Direct was over, but it wasn’t when host Yoshiaki Koizumi said there was one more trailer. At first, it looked like more Splatoon news, as two inklings were fighting in a big white room. No battlefield, no gameplay at all. Just pure CGI. But what was this for? Splatoon 3? Splatoon 1 remake? More Splatoon 2 DLC? Then, the scene becomes dark and the inkling girl turns around, looking up at something glowing. We aren’t sure what it is until we see the iconic Super Smash Bros. logo in her pupil, not just revealing Smash for Switch, but also that Splatoon inklings will be in the game. This trailer had so much hype and a big deal, and all began with an all-time great Direct troll.
#4: Pyra & Mythra Join the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Lineup – Nintendo Direct 2.17.2021
Starting and/or ending with Smash Bros. reveals is a great way to go about a Direct, especially when the character reveal trailer is a troll. During the February 2021 Direct (at the very beginning), Nintendo showed what looked like footage of more Xenoblade Chronicles 3 content or even Xenoblade 3. At the end, Rex and Pyra on what turns out to be a Smash battlefield, and Pyra reveals that she got a letter to join Smash. And just like that, Pyra from the Xenoblade Chronicles series was in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (and Mythra, too). What was so dirty or “trolly” about this reveal was that unlike a normal Direct troll, no new Xenoblade news was announced at this time. Was it Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Nope, Smash. Was NIntendo now going to reveal the third game? Nope. However, the reveal was still a great edition to Smash Ultimate fighter line, and a great way to start the 2.17.21 Direct.
#3: Banjo-Kazooie and King K. Rool Were Replaced, But Got Revenge – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct 8.18.18 / Nintendo Direct @ E3 2019
At this point, it should be obvious that Nintendo likes to troll us with their Smash Bros. reveals. While there are only a few on this list since it is only a top five, Smash reveal trolls also include Ken’s reveal and Waluigi as an assist trophy. However, the funniest Smash Bros. trolls were the reveal trailers for King K. Rool from the Donkey Kong games and Banjo-Kazooie from their game with the same name. I decided to include both of these trailers together since they are basically the same. During the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct on August 8, 2018, Nintendo announced King K. Rool in a silly trailer showing Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong in their treehouse when it starts to shake and a silhouette of K. Rool is seen outside the window. But before Nintendo showed him, King Dedede from the Kirby games threw him away and started to laugh until K. Rool returned by punching his back making his eyes pop out. At the E3 2019 Direct, Nintendo showed what seemed like the same trailer that revealed K. Rool but then the Jiggy puzzle piece from Banjo-Kazooie comes bouncing through the treehouse, waking the three Kongs up and when they look out the window to see Banjo’s silhouette, the same thing happens with being thrown away, but now instead of Dedede it is (who seems more appropriate) a duck and the dog from the NES game Duck Hunt.
#2: The Mario Kart 9 Announcement – For Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Nintendo Direct 2.9.2022
Finally, a troll not having to do with a Smash reveal. During the latest Nintendo Direct (as of writing), the one held of February 9, 2022, Nintendo’s second-to-last announcement before Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was a paid DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Host Shinya Takahashi says that there is new for Mario Kart fans, making everybody watching think that Mario Kart 9 is actually happening. But nope. Just DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While the DLC pack for Deluxe is pretty cool with 6 waves of 8 courses coming from older games and even the mobile title Mario Kart Tour, we want Mario Kart 9. I didn’t even buy Deluxe since I have it on the Wii U and don’t want to help the sales of Deluxe which is why we don’t have 9. It has literally sold over 30 million copies (as of writing), making it the best-selling Switch game. Seriously?
#1: Animal Crossing Switch Turns Into Smash Bros. – Nintendo Direct 9.13.2018
The last announcement at the September 2018 Direct and #1 pick for this list was of course another Smash reveal. This time we see Isabelle from the beloved Animal Crossing series in what looks like footage from a new game for Switch. But no. As Isabelle talks about Smash and gets a letter from Pete, all of the viewers know that Isabelle is coming to Ultimate. This was still exciting though, even though she fights similar to Villager, it was still exciting during the reveal. But the big troll comes next, when we see Tom Nook watching her reveal trailer and start to talk. Now everyone’s confused. Is this Tom Nook for Smash, or is this really a new Animal Crossing game on Switch? Instead of talking about wanting to be in Smash, Nook talks about how he needs a home for the fighters when they return home – so yes, Animal Crossing Switch (it wasn’t called “New Horizons” yet) was revealed for the first time, including a new Smash Bros. character reveal at the exact same time. What a way to end an incredible Direct presentation.