Kinda Funny Gamescast: Nintendo Direct September 2025 Review

Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Greg Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr, Andy Cortez, Snowbike Mike

Episode Overview

The Kinda Funny crew gathers—very early in the morning—to deliver a comprehensive review and breakdown of Nintendo's September 2025 Direct. With the usual mix of hype, jokes, and industry insight, the panel recaps the biggest announcements, shares their impressions on new games, and rates the event on their 1-10 scale while engaging with live community feedback.

Initial Impressions & Review Scores

• Panel is Sleepy But Hyped:
  Despite the 7AM start (00:29), everyone's energy rides the post-Direct buzz.

• Immediate Scores (Main Segment 08:04 – 12:45):

  • Andy Cortez: 8/10
    "I really enjoyed this. Even the games that aren't directly speaking to me, I know they’re massive for the community... There was just a lot packed in here." – Andy (08:04)
  • Snowbike Mike: 6.5/10
    "Didn't have many super excited moments for me, but as a whole...there was some stuff in there." – Mike (09:15)
  • Blessing Adeoye Jr: 7.5/10
    "Good Direct—great content, but the packaging was a little bit dull. The pacing was off, especially with all the Mario stuff being frontloaded." – Blessing (09:43)
  • Greg Miller: 8/10
    "For me personally, I echo what you're saying Bless, but I would go eight and with Andy, I think it was a great presentation... but pacing gets a little weird." – Greg (11:20)

Dialog and chat included complaints about using letter grades, reinforcing the show’s 1–10 review system.

Key Announcements & Discussions

Super Mario Galaxy Movie (23:00)

• First teaser for ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ film:
  Set for April 3, 2026.
• Well-crafted reveal, but spoiled by a domain leak:
  "If that wasn’t already a known thing, I would have popped the off...But I just wanted to shout out how well done of a reveal that is." – Blessing (23:51)
• Returning Voice Cast:
  Speculation over Yoshi’s silence in the cast reveal.
  "I was feeling Ariana Grande...A little Jason Momoa in my mind." – Mike (24:44)

Super Mario Galaxy & Galaxy 2 Remasters (24:51)

• Releasing October 2, 2025, as dual pack or separately
• Enhancements: Improved resolution, button/motion control options, new storybook content, 4K support for Switch 2 (26:26)
• Pricing: $70 for both, $40 individually (28:00)
• Discussion on whether more should have been done for the remasters; cynicism about re-release pricing but excitement for accessibility.

Amiibo Announcements

• Mario, Luma, Rosalina Amiibos: April 2, 2026, larger-than-standard size (27:33)
• Fun banter about collecting them for nostalgia and utility.

Mario Tennis Fever (30:06)

• New tennis title, February 12:
  30 fever rackets with unique powers, 38 characters.
• Panel takes:
  • Mike: Excited for solid Mario sport entry but wants more variety beyond Tennis/Golf (30:06)
  • Andy & Blessing: Big tennis fans, but wary from prior flat story modes; excited for new features.
    "Tennis looks great—but we've had plenty of tennis games, let's get baseball back in the mix." – Mike (17:20)

Super Mario Wonder + Bellabell Park Update (33:47)

• Switch 2 update, new multiplayer and party mini-modes, launching Spring 2026
• Excitement for new content but desire for more single-player focus (34:26)

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book (37:44)

• Brand new Yoshi platform/adventure title, unique art, Spring 2026
• Speculation on kid-friendly gameplay, "demo" vibes, and spiritual successorship to Yoshi's Story.

Virtual Boy Revival (59:45)

• Virtual Boy games coming to Switch Online + Expansion Pack
• Physical Virtual Boy headset for Switch: $99. Cardboard version: $24.99 (62:31)
• Panel reactions: Intrigued by preservation, dubious about demand.
  "It's weird as hell, but I think it's good that these games are otherwise just not playable anywhere." – Andy (61:03)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (69:20)

• Release Date: December 4, 2025, for Switch and Switch 2
• Samus features a bike (Viola), new psychic abilities
• Mixed feelings on environmental visuals, but hype for core gameplay and Amiibo (71:17)

Donkey Kong Bonanza DLC (72:00)

• Paid Expansion: $20, featuring DK Isle, Emerald Rush roguelite mode, playable Donkey Kong and Pauline. Available at announcement.
• Unexpectedness and excitement:
  "Super cool. This is kind of a match made in heaven for me." – Blessing (72:57)

Pokémon Pocopoeia (74:53)

• Build-and-craft game starring Ditto in semi-human form, targeted for 2026 Switch 2
• Panel divides over Ditto’s appearance, but recognizes potential broad appeal.

Fire Emblem: Fortunes Weave (82:23)

• New mainline entry for Switch 2 coming in 2026
• Excited discussion of franchise strength and anticipation by non-fans.

Hades 2 (47:38)

• Switch 2 digital release September 25, 2025, physical November 20
• Glowing praise for updates, cross-save support, and confidence it will surpass Hades 1. "This game rules, boss fights are amazing. It is, I mean that’s the template for what you want to do if you’re an indie studio." – Andy (49:22)

Other Major Announcements & Notables:

• Tomodachi Life, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Stardew Valley Switch 2, more amiibos, and an array of third-party and indie games announced or updated for Switch/Switch 2.
• Resident Evil Requiem visually impresses, panel eager to see Switch 2’s processing power in third-party games (81:32).
• Montage included LEGO Voyagers, Persona 3 Reload, Monster Hunter Stories 3, and more.

Community & Panel Reactions (14:07+)

• Super Chats & Listener Scores:
  Mix of A-, 6.5s, and 8.5s among live viewers; some criticism for missing expectations (no Mario Kart update, e.g.).
• Game of the Year Talk (16:03):
  Early speculation on Hades 2, Expedition 33, Silksong, DK Bonanza, Blueprints, etc.
• Running Jokes:
  • Mocking "school grade" reviews.
  • Greg’s chaotic morning story of carpool misunderstandings (05:32)
  • Chugging McDonald's OJ as a metaphor for Snowbike Mike's morning hype (00:43)
  • Andy’s historic struggles against game bosses, Lionel in Zelda (56:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I'm feeling good. I'm excited. I'm feeling good." – Greg Miller (00:32)
• "This is a packed ass direct. I thought. I really enjoyed it..." – Andy Cortez (08:15)
• "Didn't have many...super excited moments for me, but as a whole, that was an hour. There was some stuff in there." – Snowbike Mike (09:22)
• "The transition from [Super Mario] World to Galaxy, so good." – Blessing Adeoye Jr (24:18)
• "I would have loved a bit more love to these remakes...but I'm still excited that this game seems to have, you know, the updated textures." – Andy Cortez on Galaxy (25:47)
• "I get excited for all Mario sports games...also, at the same time, a little let down by that. I would like us to explore a little more Mario Sports." – Snowbike Mike (30:06)
• "Ditto inhabits a human body that's dead. Because that’s what it looks like to me." – Greg Miller (75:41)
• "Hades 2 I think is as good as it gets, man. This game rocks." – Andy Cortez (49:23)
• "Paid DLC, 20 bucks. You'll barrel around with Donkey Kong and Pauline on DK Island." – Greg Miller (73:00)

Timestamps for Other Key Segments

• [08:04] – Panel rates Nintendo Direct on 1–10 scale
• [23:00] – Super Mario Galaxy movie, domain leak
• [24:51] – Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 Switch remasters
• [30:06] – Mario Tennis Fever reveal
• [33:47] – Super Mario Wonder Switch 2 + Bellabell Park
• [37:44] – Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
• [59:45] – Virtual Boy classics for Switch, hardware details
• [69:20] – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, release date/discussion
• [72:00] – Donkey Kong Bonanza DLC
• [74:53] – Pokémon Pocopoeia reveal
• [82:23] – Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave
• [47:38] – Hades 2 (trailers, cross-save, excitement)
• [81:32] – Resident Evil Requiem discussion

Panel’s Final Verdict (83:47)

• Andy: 8
• Greg: 8
• Mike: 6.5
• Blessing: 7.5 (lowercase, per the joke)

The panel concludes that this Nintendo Direct was stronger than recent ones, though legacy franchises and surprise announcements sometimes overshadowed pacing and third-party excitement. Consensus is that the Direct delivered great value to core Nintendo fans—even if it veered weird in places (Virtual Boy!), and expectations for Switch 2’s future are high.

For the Full Breakdown

Watch the full episode for in-depth game-by-game recaps, more hot takes, and jokes, or check the Kinda Funny YouTube/Twitch channels for each segment. For specific game discussions, use the timestamps above.

Closing Thoughts

• Best-in-show Games: Hades 2, Super Mario Galaxy remasters, Metroid Prime 4, Donkey Kong Bonanza DLC, Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave.
• Biggest Surprises: Virtual Boy hardware, DK Bonanza paid DLC, Pokémon Pocopoeia’s Ditto-in-human-form concept.
• Panel in a Nutshell: Hype, skepticism, gratitude for Nintendo’s weirdness, and a hunger for more variety ("still waiting on Mario Baseball…").