Well, that Nintendo Direct sure did feature some unexpected announcements. Despite the fact that many of the surprises leaked on an internet forum ahead of the actual broadcast, such as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD and Mario Golf: Super Rush reveals, the beloved publisher still managed to keep a few things under wraps, such as the big Super Smash Bros. Ultimate moment that opened the show.
That’s right, we finally know who’s joining Nintendo’s brawler next and it’s none other than Pyra and Mythra! If you’re a Xenoblade fan, you’re probably very excited to see the legendary Aegis blade from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 show up in Smash, although the fact that she isn’t accompanied by Rex may disappoint. Instead, Nintendo is pairing Pyra with Mythra, which does make sense in terms of the lore of the game, since the former is actually an alternate personality of the latter. In Smash, Pyra and Mythra will actually act as a single character, and you’ll be able to swap between them, which is a nice nod to the lore.
For others, the Smash announcement seemed to be the start of a largely underwhelming Nintendo Direct that didn’t get much better. While the aforementioned Mario and Zelda announcements were definite highlights of the broadcast, as well as Splatoon 3, to some, Nintendo didn’t really bring it to this Direct, the first since September 2019.
Part of the problem was certainly the huge expectations on Nintendo’s shoulders after a year without delivering any major updates on most of its highly anticipated project. There was almost no way Nintendo could really put on an E3-level while still facing the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, so fans were instead treated to a more subdued showcase, although the publisher didn’t disappoint in terms of quantity, including a Ninja Gaiden collection and an HD remaster of Legend of Mana.
Whether you think Nintendo nailed its first Direct of 2021 or not, there’s a good chance the Pyra and Mythra reveals set the tone for you.
There were obviously quite a few Xenoblade fans who were elated to see Pyra and Mythra join the roster of Nintendo brawlers:
But other fans were a bit underwhelmed, disappointed not to see their favorite characters added to the game, or downright confused…
We’ll keep you updated on the latest additions to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as we learn more.