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Nintendo Download: 24th May 2012 (Europe)

24th May 2012 (Europe)

Balancing, metal slugging and free mighty switching

This week brings us a 3DS sequel to an excellent WiiWare title, a free update with new content from WayForward, and some Neo Geo goodness on Wii. Let's get to it. 3DS Download Software: Art of Balance TOUCH! (Shin’en Multimedia, £6.30/€7) — A sequel to a high-quality physics puzzler on...

Rumour: Castlevania Title in Development for 3DS

Castlevania Title in Development for 3DS

Could be called Mirror of Faith/Fate

The Castlevania franchise has been prolific on Nintendo's handhelds, with six titles evenly split between Game Boy Advance and DS. It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if Konami was planning a new entry for the series on 3DS, and in typical pre-E3 fashion a rumour has emerged online. The story has appeared on...

News: Nigoro Receives Offers to Publish La-Mulana in the West

Nigoro Receives Offers to Publish La-Mulana in the West

Keen to show strengths of Japanese indie scene

The recent news that Nicalis had cancelled its release of La-Mulana, from Japanese developer Nigoro, was disappointing for fans of retro-styled platformers and WiiWare. We had the opportunity to interview Takumi Naramura, director of the project, who confirmed that despite the setback the company was...

News: Watch E3 Live Online, On TV and On the Go

Watch E3 Live Online, On TV and On the Go

Watch everywhere, really

Nintendo will once again stream its E3 press conference online at http://e3.nintendo.com, as well as via Facebook and on TV on Spike or MTV2. There'll also be game footage and developer interviews on Nintendo's YouTube channels. Of course we'll be bringing you live coverage, news, media and more as it happens so make sure...

News: Pinball Arcade Coming To 3DS and Wii U

Pinball Arcade Coming To 3DS and Wii U

Kickstarter campaign for The Twilight Zone table underway

While 3DS owners may have had a taste of stereoscopic pinball with Zen Pinball 3D on the eShop, there's always room for more flippin' action on the system. It seems that those prayers will be answered by Pinball Arcade from FarSight Studios, which is said to be 'coming soon' on 3DS and,...

Review: Kirby's Dream Land 2 (3DS eShop / Game Boy)

Kirby's Dream Land 2 (3DS eShop / Game Boy)

Dreamy

Dream Land's peaceful moniker is surely false advertising. There are constant problems with invasions and takeovers, the bad guys are apparently impossible to evict, based on how often they show up and the fact that some buffoon keeps dumping huge piles of those star blocks in everybody's way. It's an absolute nightmare. You wouldn't get that...

News: Redesigned Wii U Tablet Controller Is Revealed

Redesigned Wii U Tablet Controller Is Revealed

QA tester at TT Games to blame?

It's just a couple of weeks before E3, which means that we should be prepared for impatient industry insiders to leak some of Nintendo's big reveals ahead of time. It seems that a QA tester at TT Games — the developer behind all of those LEGO games — has posted an image of a redesigned Wii U tablet controller...

Feature: Launching a Console Without Mario

Launching a Console Without Mario

No mascot on day one

In recent weeks we've been looking at console launches, as preparation for the pre-launch hype for Wii U that's set to begin at E3 2012. So far we've explored console launches in general but also the launch of Wii, a system that notably arrived without a Mario title but has nevertheless achieved major sales success. In some...

News: Retailers Call for Summer Blockbusters

Retailers Call for Summer Blockbusters

Too many games in Q4

Last December we complained about the overcrowded Holiday release schedule, making the simple point that being bombarded with too many games in the approach to Christmas was bad for gamers and publishers alike. The final three months of the year may be wonderfully exciting if you have deep pockets and a lot of spare time, but...

Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Last one before E3

It's that time again, the weekend is upon us. It's been a busy week here at Nintendo Life, so naturally we're planning to unwind for a couple of days with some quality gaming. This will be the last of these features for a few weeks, however, as we'll be busy bringing you all of the content you could ever want for that gaming...

News: Scour the UK for Mario Tennis Open Yoshi QR Codes

Scour the UK for Mario Tennis Open Yoshi QR Codes

Smash and grab

Mario Tennis Open launches in the UK next week, and Nintendo is launching a nationwide treasure hunt for you to grab multicoloured Yoshis. On 25th and 26th May select Asda stores will give away the Black Yoshi via a special in-store QR code: scan it with your 3DS and Black Yoshi is yours to keep. Nintendo will release white, blue and...

Review: Sudoku by Nikoli (3DS eShop)

Sudoku by Nikoli (3DS eShop)

SuDDDoku

Given the volume of the genre found in the eShop, we expect a lot from new digital sudoku games. If someone is going to go ahead and plunk down some cash, a game really needs to bring the thunder compared to the free versions found online and on other devices, or even one of those end-all puzzle books down at the five and dime. Sudoku by...

News: This Rhythm Thief Concert is Seriously Groovy

This Rhythm Thief Concert is Seriously Groovy

Feel the beat

Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure is a title perfectly suited to 3DS, with its numerous bite-size rhythm levels and quirky humour, and is definitive proof that SEGA can still give us fun games. One of its best features is the funky and toe-tapping soundtrack, so we were pretty pleased when we discovered this footage of a music...

Review: Mario Tennis Open (3DS)

Mario Tennis Open (3DS)

Open season

Camelot's revered Mario Tennis series has a split legacy: on home consoles as a primarily multiplayer-focused insane-o-thon, and on portables as a more solo-oriented sports RPG. Mario Tennis Open falls somewhere in between, trying to capture the best of both worlds in the most accessible way possible. In many ways Camelot succeeds in its...

News: Peter Molyneux Wants More From 'Lacklustre Wii U'

Peter Molyneux Wants More From 'Lacklustre Wii U'

Better specifications and big games needed

As Nintendo's press conference at E3 gets closer, many will be focusing on what the company has to say about Wii U. News about the console has been slow to come through, and we've had plenty of contradictory comments from developers regarding what the system can do in terms of graphics and performance. It...

News: Rayman Origins 3DS Hits North America on 5th June

Rayman Origins 3DS Hits North America on 5th June

Reduced price and launch trailer may tempt you

After delays and some mystery, we finally have the North American release date for Rayman Origins: 5th June. That's three days before it arrives in Europe, and less than three weeks away for those who've been impatiently awaiting its arrival. Ubisoft has also confirmed the price for the U.S., which is a...

News: Colour-Based AR Patent is Hot Stuff

Colour-Based AR Patent is Hot Stuff

You'll see what we mean

The augmented reality games bundled with the 3DS are all well and good, but many of you want more. Nintendo's applied for a patent on a new colour-based AR concept that would make a very welcome addition to the system's AR suite. The document refers to using colour to influence the game world, giving several intriguing...

Review: Curling Super Championship (DSiWare)

Curling Super Championship (DSiWare)

Bowls on ice

DSiWare has been home to some interesting concepts and ideas, developing a diverse library of different experiences of varying standards. Despite this, Curling Super Championship is one of the more unique entries, taking a relatively minor winter sport and turning it into a video game. While some may feel the need to dismiss it off...

Nintendo Download: 17th May 2012 (North America)

17th May 2012 (North America)

VC and vampires

After a pretty long nap 3DS Virtual Console wakes up today, and DSiWare swells with a hidden object adventure too. This is much more like it. 3DS Virtual Console: Kirby's Block Ball (Game Boy, Nintendo, $2.99, 40 blocks) — At long last, 3DS gets another Virtual Console game in the rotund form of Kirby. Check out our Kirby's Block...