After the Direct: Nintendo Life staff’s weekend picks

Nintendo Life staff plan to spend the weekend revisiting older games and trying early Switch 2 demos after this week’s Nintendo Direct. The Direct prompted several team members to return to earlier titles and to test hands-on content ahead of upcoming launches.

The Direct presented first looks and announcements for an Ocarina of Time remake, Xenoblade Genesis content and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. It also confirmed release dates for Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Orbitals and listed ports headed to Switch platforms such as Lies of P, Stellar Blade and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. The outlet published hands-on impressions for Rhythm Heaven Groove and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, shared Treehouse: Live gameplay, and covered the final update for Sea of Stars.

Features editor Jim Norman plans a full playthrough of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time before the new version arrives, saying he usually revisits the opening dungeons every year. Reviews editor Ollie Reynolds returned to the original Zelda via Nintendo Switch Online and noted his setup: “I’m playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time on NSO — with an N64 controller, of course.” Reynolds also intends to replay Xenoblade Chronicles now that it has received renewed attention for the Switch 2.

Video producer Mai Ladyman balanced coverage work with gaming this week. She is completing Pokopia, testing a Switch 2 demo of Kingdom Hearts III and will spend time with Death Stranding Director’s Cut. Editor Gavin Lane plans to switch between Pragmata and Indiana Jones, and to check smaller wishlist titles such as Akka Arrh and El Shaddai; he also expects to play some Wii Sports with his children.

Contributor Gonçalo Lopes is playing XGRA: Extreme-G Racing Association and Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, and aims to reach the Gold Saucer in Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. He highlighted the announcement that Space Marine 2 will come to Switch 2. Contributor Kate Gray intends to play the new James Bond title and Slay the Spire 2 over the weekend.

The site’s recent reviews, including Kabuto Park (7/10) and to a T (6/10), offer alternative choices beyond the Direct-driven plans. Nintendo Life invited readers to share their weekend plans in a poll, asking what they will play on Switch and Switch 2.