3DS News
July2014
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Forty Five
Rosalina! Mega Man! New 3DS stage! More stuff!
Super Smash Bros. is still coming, yes it is. We may be approaching a half century of these features, which is bordering on insanity, but Nintendo keeps assuring us that the games are coming, and that it's not all a mass-hallucination as part an experiment for the mysterious Quality of Life platform...
News 3DS System Update 8.0.0-18 is Now Live
Hold onto your hats, things just got seriously stable
On 7th July the eShop stores were down — worldwide — for around five hours for maintenance, and though plenty of work was undoubtedly done the only notable change from a gamer's perspective was that the music seemed to change. We're not going to lie, it was underwhelming. Fear not though,...
News Dragon Quest X Is Now Adventuring Onto 3DS
Still no word of an overseas release though
We've lamented before on Square Enix's baffling decision to keep Dragon Quest X a strictly Japan-only affair, and now it appears that fans outside Japan have another format to direct their frustrations at with the announcement that the game will hit Japanese 3DS' on the 4th of September this year. The...
News Controversy Arises at U.S. Pokémon Nationals With Regards to Cheating
Former champion's illegal Pokémon creates a stir of internet talk
Illegal pocket monsters are not an uncommon sight at any form of competitive Pokémon. Whether it be Pokémon no longer available or those that possess impossible to obtain statistics, thousands of these illegal Pokémon are caught at competition and their trainers are disqualified...
News Fancy Pattern Vivillon Now Available as Pokémon Global Trade Station Hits 100 Million Landmark
It's the realest Vivillon
Not too long ago — at the end of May — we told you that a fancy pattern Vivillon was to be distributed following 100 million trades on the Pokémon Global Trade Station, with around ten million more required at that point. That seemed like a long way still to go, but evidently was not: that Vivillon is available now in...
Video Don't Miss The Thrilling Final Episode Of Days Of Our Tomodachi Lives
Dancing! Fighting! Music! Risky stunts!
All good things have to come to an end, and today we bring you the final episode of Days of Our Tomodachi Lives, our epic soap opera made entirely in Tomodachi Life. This week's parting show features the talents of Sarah "Punkie / thehoppypoppy" Walsh, and boasts the usual eclectic mix of fights, music and...
News Retail Promotions Prompt Tomodachi Life to Continue Climb in UK Charts
Life in the old Mii yet
Tomodachi Life made a modest UK chart début when it launched in early June, not exactly shaming itself but struggling to make a significant impact. Since then, however, Nintendo of America has been making positive noises about its performance in its region and, in the UK charts at least, the Mii-sim has not only seen a...
Talking Point With E3 Long Gone, Nintendo Still Has Plenty to Reveal 'Directly' to Fans
Keep the hype train running
While Nintendo's appearance at E3 — widely regarded as a success — was only a little under a month ago at the time of writing, in modern consumer and internet terms that is an age. Since that time we've had some updates on key releases on the way this Fall, and a lot of focus on the wider picture of eShop games and...
Feature Watch The Pokémon US National Championships Finals Day - Live!
Time for winners to be crowned
Yesterday we had the first day of live coverage for The Pokémon US National Championships, in which players battled it out in Pokémon X & Y and the Trading Card Game for places in the latter rounds. It all gets serious today, as Trainers compete in three classes not just for glory, but also prizes such as travel...
Feature The Biggest 3DS Games of 2014 - Summer Edition
Portable delights
We just recently published our updated biggest games coming to the Wii U list, so it's now time to move onto the 3DS. Our Spring edition for the 3DS included plenty of games that have since arrived in stores, and there's also been a significant new reveal following that feature that's hyped fans of pocket monsters. This time...
Feature Watch The Pokémon US National Championships - Live!
Gotta watch it all
In early June we brought you the news that the Pokémon US National and World Championships were confirmed to be broadcast live on Twitch, giving fans a chance to see the events unfold even if they couldn't attend. The US National championships have now rolled around in Indianapolis, so if you want to watch the action unfold this...
News Developer Hints At How Minecraft Could Shape Up On 3DS
One for the optimists
Minecraft and Nintendo — a suitable match that's never actually got together. With Nintendo's systems popular with young gamers and the Mojang game being a phenomenon loved by children — and adults too, of course — it seems like a perfect fit. That's particularly the case with the 3DS and its large userbase, while the Wii...
Nintendo Direct Yokai Watch 2 Gets Its Own Broadcast in Japan
Play the 'figure out what's happening' game
Although it's said to be on the way to the West, we're yet to receive firm release details on Yokai Watch, the 3DS title from Level-5 that's enjoying continued success in Japan. That success has certainly been assisted by the accompanying anime series, with the brand as a whole capturing the imagination in...
Soapbox How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Tomodachi Life
Still on the fence about Nintendo's life sim? Read on
To me, the allure of Tomodachi Life had always been somewhat mysterious. After the bizarre promo reel shown on Nintendo Direct the title had piqued my interest, but I was hesitant to get on board due to how downright unique the game appeared to be. How could I be sure I’d enjoy a game that is...
News Shovel Knight Has an Unlockable "Butt Mode"
Sorry, everyone else who wanted to be Game of the Year
In classic retro gaming fashion, Shovel Knight comes with a slew of cheat codes to unlock various perks and quirks. By far the most prominent of these codes has been Butt Mode, which replaces many of the common words in the game (e.g. "Shovel," "Knight," "Magic") with "Butt." Yacht Club Games...
Interview Yoshifumi Hashimoto Tells Us a Story of Seasons and Harvest Moons
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
As we touched on in our first impressions of Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, 2014 is looking to be a bumper crop year for farming fans, with Natsume’s upcoming agricultural adventure and XSEED’s Story of Seasons both set to sow the seeds of farming simulation in North American
"We have ideas for Nintendo 3DS which we have not announced yet"
There's little doubt that, among Nintendo's various big-name franchises, The Legend of Zelda is currently one of the most discussed and prominent at the moment. The Legend of Zelda for Wii U was shown for the first time at E3 this year, while Hyrule Warriors is getting closer to its...
News Nintendo Highlights Hundreds of Developers Working on Games for Wii U and 3DS
The Wii U eShop is strongest in the US
As you may be aware, Nintendo recently hosted The 74th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, in which company management provides presentations to its shareholders and answers a number of questions — Satoru Iwata was unable to attend. The official transcript of that meeting has been published, which...
Feature Populate Your Copy Of Tomodachi Life With These Famous Faces
Celebs, video game characters and cartoon heroes - they're all here
Because Tomodachi Life uses Nintendo's Mii creation system as basic avatar making tool, it's possible to import a wide range of different characters into the game. With that in mind, we present to you some famous faces to get your party started, including well-known individuals from...
News The Denpa Men Are Going Free-To-Play In Japan
A reaction to low sales in the west?
The next entry in the popular RPG series The Denpa Men will be a free-to-play title. Denpa Ningen no RPG Free! will launch in Japan on July 23rd, and will feature items which can only be obtained by spending real-world cash. Aside from the teaser trailer below and the rather spare website, we don't have any more...
News Sega Is Bringing Hatsune Miku: Project MIRAI Remix To Western 3DS Consoles In 2015
Music to our ears
Sega has sold 2.5 million Hatsune Miku games in Japan, and the company has today announced that it is bringing the world-famous Vocaloid franchise to the west in the form of Hatsune Miku: Project MIRAI Remix. This 3DS title will actually be an enhanced version of the Japanese release Hatsune Miku: Project MIRAI 2, and will launch...
First Impressions Getting Our Hands Dirty in Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley
Farm fresh
Since its initial début on the Super Nintendo in 1997, Harvest Moon has blossomed into something of an institution; a non-traditional RPG that swapped swords for shovels, replaced fighting with farming, and let players find true love among the turnips, it captivated with a unique charm, and has been hooking would-be farmers on platforms...
News Nintendo To Distribute Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate In Europe And Australia
Just like it did with Monster Hunter 3, in fact
Nintendo has confirmed today that it will be handling the publishing duties for Capcom's forthcoming 3DS title Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Capcom will remain the publisher of the game, but Nintendo will take control of sales, marketing, PR and distribution throughout European territories and Australia...
News Persona Q Premium Edition Confirmed For November Release In Europe
Comes with music CD, art book and Tarot cards
It has been confirmed that Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will launch in Europe on 28th November, and it will be bringing a special "Wild Cards" premium edition package with it. The box includes: Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth game Persona Q-themed protective Nintendo 3DS case "Sounds of the...
News Power Rangers Super Megaforce Is Morphin' Its Way To 3DS This Fall
After the last game, the only way is up
If you can't get enough of the Power Rangers then you'll be pleased to hear that Bandai Namco is producing another Mighty Morphin' adventure for the Nintendo 3DS, due for release later this year. Following on from Powers Rangers Megaforce, the imaginatively-titled Power Rangers Super Megaforce will see...
News One Piece Unlimited World Red Is Getting Some Free DLC In Europe
"Red Stands Alone" quest will be entirely free to download
To mark the arrival of One Piece Unlimited World Red on Wii U and 3DS, Bandai Namco Games has announced that a free DLC quest will be made available. "Red Stands Alone" is the name of the quest itself, and will boast an increased challenge which will test skilled players. We're in the...
News Nintendo Scoops Three "Best Of E3" Game Critics Awards
The awards are the reward
Nintendo had a pretty solid E3 this year, and this is reflected in the fact that the company has scored three Game Critics Awards in the annual "Best of E3" round-up. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS was branded the Best Handheld / Mobile game, while its Wii U sibling took home the Best Fighting Game award. Rounding off the trio...
News Tomodachi Life Demo Hitting The North American 3DS eShop Today
Limit of 20 plays, no Panda suit
Have you picked up Tomodachi Life yet? Just in case you're still on the fence, Nintendo of America is releasing a free demo on the 3DS eShop today which will allow you to get a small taste of what the game is all about. It's pretty much the same deal as the Move-In / Welcome version of the game, but the demo will be...
Video Nintendo UK Sets Its Sights Firmly On The Youth Market With New 3DS Advert
Are you made for play?
We'd like to think that Nintendo UK's new advert for its 3DS and 2DS systems is a knee-jerk reaction to the news that UK children are now more likely to game on a tablet than they are on a traditional games console, but we're not sure even the great Ninty can work that quickly. The fresh commercial focuses on the...
First Impressions The Thieves And The 1000 Pokémon Steals Its Way Onto 3DS In Japan
But is it Robin Hood or Dick Turpin?
We've taken a look at The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon before, but now the free eShop title has been released in Japan we can share some more info and screenshots of this delightfully bonkers little game. You start out by picking one of the three initial Pokémon from Pokémon X and Y, and then you basically...
News EA Explains Why It's Abandoning Dedicated Handhelds For Smartphones And Tablets
"You have to make some hard calls when you've got only so many people"
EA's support for Nintendo platforms is pretty lacking in general right now, but the 3DS and Wii U aren't the only systems the publisher is turning its back on — it has all but retreated from the dedicated portable console market, instead choosing to put its efforts into the...
June2014
News Movie-based Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Game Coming to 3DS
Heroes in a clamshell, 3D power!
In case you were worried, there is going to be a licensed game coming out from the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. The inevitability of this was as plain as the mildly bulbous, nostril-ized areas on the heroes' faces. Announced by Activision, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the 3DS will take the form...
Review Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (3DS)
A decent game in disguise
After reviewing the absolutely horrid Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark on Wii U, it would be hard to get our hopes up for the 3DS iteration if it weren't for the name on the back of the box. Unlike every other version of the game, Rise of the Dark Spark on 3DS was produced by the handheld experts at WayForward...
Feature Our Weirdest And Most Wonderful Tomodachi Life Moments So Far
This isn't your typical life sim
Tomodachi Life has been entertaining 3DS owners for a while now, and if you're anything like us here at Nintendo Life then you'll already have accrued plenty of laugh-out-loud moments during your time with this unique life sim. While Nintendo's game shares some similarities with other examples of the genre, one of...
News Tomodachi Life on the Rise in UK Charts
The quirky Mii-sim still has legs
The weekly UK game sales charts are in again and we continue to see a flurry of PS4/Xbox One blockbusters hogging the top slots. Sniper Elite 3, Watch Dogs and EA Sports UFC are enjoying their time at the top this week. Tomodachi Life
News Stats Suggest That UK Kids Are More Likely To Game On A Tablet Than A Nintendo 3DS
Handheld consoles losing ground to other mobile devices
There once was a time when "portable gaming" basically meant "Game Boy". Nintendo's line of handheld systems ruled the mobile world for well over a decade, and its reign was only ended by the arrival of its successor: the Nintendo DS. While Nintendo continues to dominate the portable console...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Nominated for 2014 GameCityPrize
UK festival's award judged by figures outside the industry
Animal Crossing: New Leaf continues to spread its appeal to critics and judges, this time making the shortlist for the 2014 GameCityPrize. GameCity is an annual festival held in Nottingham, UK to celebrate public engagement in video games and reaching out to the widest and most diverse...
News Senran Kagura 2 Website Updates With New Gameplay Trailer And Boss Reveal
Even more titillating info
The official Japanese website for upcoming 3DS anime brawler Senran Kagura 2 has had a recent update adding new artwork, screenshots and an all new gameplay video. A brand new boss is revealed who looks like a nasty piece of work, if you ask us: It has also been revealed that a tree-like mission select screen has been...
Review Farming Simulator 14 (3DS)
More farm than good
Last summer Farming Simulator 3D trucked its way onto the 3DS, allowing gamers to establish and manage a flourishing agricultural empire on-the-go, without having to get their hands dirty or don a straw hat and suspenders. It was a game that we found to be enjoyable at times, but the omission of any tutorials or guides lent to a...
News The Legend of Korra Turn-Based SRPG Bending its Way to 3DS
Cue the Foaming Mouth Guy
Nickelodeon's wildly popular follow-up to Avatar: The Last Airbender will be getting the video game treatment when The Legend of Korra bends its way over to the Nintendo 3DS courtesy of Webfoot Technologies (perhaps best known for their lengthy run of Dragon Ball Z adaptations on the Game Boy Advance). The retail-only title...
Video Nintendo Game Developers 'Sing' About Their Upcoming Wii U Releases
Splatoon! Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker! Star Fox! More!
So, we admit, that's a cheeky headline, though we trust the 'Sing' and image have tipped you off to what's really going on here. Nintendo has released a rather funny video of its big-name developers singing songs about their current Wii U projects... in Tomodachi Life. One of this game's...
News Pokémon Art Academy Sneaks Top Spot in Japanese Charts as Console Sales Dip
3DS still top, Wii U remains as number one console
It's time once again for the Media Create Japanese chart results, and this week tells a tale of modest sales across the board. Though the numbers are low Nintendo still has plenty to cheer. Pokémon Art Academy makes its début this week and sneaks into top spot, narrowly out-selling more...
Guide Forming Your Own StreetPass Meet-Up Group
Make the most of your 3DS
Just recently we brought you an interview with StreetPass Liverpool's Anthony Boyd, to learn a little more about how these events and groups come together to share a passion for 3DS. Now we have a guide from James Parker, who created and runs the StreetPass Metro Detroit group along with other keen gamers. Shortly after...
News Miiverse Update Adds Post Embed Option, Activity Feed Customisation and More
Say "meh" to Yeahs
Nintendo's ever-evolving Miiverse social network has had another update today, tweaking the experience in customising your Activity Feed, improving the browser-based User Page and adding an option to embed posts on websites. The latter option is a simple button at the end of a post that gives you some embed code, though it should...
News Nintendo UK Store's Kirby Hypernova Pack Aims to Suck You In
2DS deals everywhere
If you've not yet picked up a 3DS — what are you doing? — then the 2DS is perhaps a tempting option. Released by Nintendo to target a young demographic, it also provides a slightly lower entry point than the standard and XL 3DS models; all you lose is the 3D effect and clamshell design. When it last provided figures...
Talking Point New Ideas, Not New IPs, Are The Key for Nintendo
Splatoon and Code Name S.T.E.A.M are joined by Captain Toad, after all
Earlier today we reported on an interview given by two of the developers behind upcoming Wii U third-person shooter Splatoon, in which they outlined the creative process that brought us human / squid hybrids rather than macho men with guns, with existing brands such as Mario also...
News Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit Cooking Up a Treat for 3DS in September
Step into the Cooking Dojo
In exciting news for those that are fans of cooking with a stylus — which doesn't work very well in real life — Majesco Entertainment has confirmed that Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit will be arriving in the West this September. This is a title we've covered in the past as it was on its way to the Japanese market, though...
News Nintendo Confirms Appearance, With Wii U and 3DS Titles, at HYPER JAPAN 2014 in London
Will take part in "a number of showcases on the main stage"
HYPER JAPAN is a yearly event in London that, if you hadn't already guessed from the title, celebrates Japanese culture. It incorporates interests such as music, fashion, food & drink, sports demonstrations, technology and, of course, video games. Nintendo's been a consistent supporter...
News GAME Offers Buy One Get One Half Price Tomodachi Life Deal
For physical or download copies via online store
We're fans of the slightly bizarre Mii-sim Tomodachi Life here at Nintendo Life, and it's been enjoying a solid — if unspectacular — run in the UK charts, as one example. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has also been making positive noises about sales in the region, though we'll see...
News Atlus Teases a New Etrian Odyssey Title, Makes You Work To See It
The cheeky scamps
How would you like a new Etrian Odyssey game? You would? Well, it looks like Atlus has made your day. The publisher has launched a new teaser site with the tagline "this is not broccoli". It's rather quirky as it makes you click up to 10,000 meters of a tree, introducing three logos at intervals as you make your way up; at the end...
Feature Braving the Queue At Nintendo's Best Buy Smash-Fest
An account of Nintendo’s second foray into digital demonstrations
Not one to keep its ideas safely inside of the metaphorical box, Nintendo decided once again to forgo the standard E3 press conference this year and instead broadcast its own "Digital Event" directly to the consumers. While this caught many off guard last year during the first...
First Impressions Taking Sonic Boom for a Spin on Wii U and 3DS
Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
Back in May 2013 Nintendo announced that it had entered into a partnership with Sega to bring a series of three Sonic games exclusively to its systems. Sonic Lost World and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games were the first products of that arrangement, and the upcoming Sonic Boom games —...
News Animal Crossing 'Clone', Castaway Paradise, Could Even Come to Wii U
"Everything is fine" with Nintendo, apparently
Last week we pointed your attention to iPad title Castaway Paradise, which has striking similarities to Animal Crossing and some aspects that would be familiar to Harvest Moon fans; all with a dash of micro-transactions, of course. Footage of the title, already out in countries such as Canada and New...
News Guild Quests Could Change the Way We Enjoy Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Randomised maps and drops aim to add replay value
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is still tormenting us with an early 2015 here in the West, though we can expect plenty of enticing details to emerge ahead of its arrival. This version will have a lot of additional content over the original that was Japan-only, though there are aspects of that first...
News This Rather Neat "Mario White Edition" 3DS XL Will Run North American Games
A sort-of Western release
In the past we've shared some lovely 3DS hardware designs that are often rare and limited to release in Japan or other out-of-reach territories — some of the best examples are the iQue 3DS XL models released in China, too. It seems that the red and white Mario model from that iQue range will be an option for North...
Feature Add The Nintendo Life Team To Your Tomodachi Life Community
We're house-trained, honest
Tomodachi Life has been out for a few weeks now and we're sure that many of you will already have an impressively-stocked island of Mii inhabitants. However, if you're still on the lookout for fresh faces, then feel free to scan the QR codes below and add the Nintendo Life team to your burgeoning population. These QR...
News Mario Kart 8 and Tomodachi Life Show Decent Momentum in UK Charts
Staying power
A worrying trend in the weekly charts we've seen in the UK throughout 2014 has been for Nintendo releases or system exclusives to make an initial appearance before rapidly tumbling out of the top 40, with the exception of Pokémon X & Y clinging on in the lower reaches. As we head towards July the latest major releases on Wii U and...
Video Watch Our Handy Highlight Video To See How Nintendo Silenced Its Critics At E3 2014
Zelda! Amiibo! Splatoon!
It's fair to say that many people in the industry who are deemed to be "experts" didn't give Nintendo much of a chance at this year's E3. The company's decision to not hold a traditional press conference for the second year running — coupled with the well-publicised struggles of the Wii U — resulted in many dire...
Talking Point Nintendo Should Beware the Slippery Slope of Sponsored DLC
A harmless way to make money, or guaranteed alienation of fans?
This week Nintendo confirmed the inevitable, and that was Mercedes DLC coming to Mario Kart 8 in the West, after it had previously been announced for the Japanese market. It'll be free in Nintendo's homeland and, we expect, everywhere else in the world, though Nintendo's refusal to use...
News Nintendo Serves Up Another Big Batch of Treehouse Videos
Have a Nintendo Minute E3 video as a bonus, too
Over the past 10 days or so we've brought you some summaries of Nintendo Treehouse @E3 videos as Nintendo's uploaded them, and the company has now produced what may be the last big batch of footage from the three day broadcast. This range covers major retail, download and conceptual games across Wii U...
News Nintendo Open To Minecraft on Wii U and 3DS, and Expanding Its Popularity in Japan
Shigeru Miyamoto teases, "maybe we're meeting with them!"
Minecraft is everywhere, and it's a phenomenon. It's on a significant number of platforms, with releases confirmed to be on the way for PS4 and Xbox One, while its PS3 and Xbox 360 versions continually rest in the top 10 of sales charts in major territories such as the US. A social, creative...
News iPad Title Castaway Paradise Does A Pretty Convincing Impression Of Animal Crossing
Tom Nook won't be pleased
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so Nintendo must be feeling pretty flattered right now because we've just spotted an iPad game which looks an awful lot like Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Castaway Paradise is currently available on the Canadian, New Zealand and Vietnamese iPad App Stores, and it's fairly...
News You Can Now Have The Legendary Shaq On Your 3DS, But He's Not Doing Kung Fu
Celebrity Tomodachi Life QR codes released
Famous basketball player Shaquille O’Neal has had his brush with video games in the past — Shaq Fu being a notable failure which has is currently being rebooted into something a little more appealing. However, the new and updated version of this fighting game isn't the only way you'll be able to get...
Weirdness So, Someone Made A Valve E3 Press Conference Using Tomodachi Life
Nintendo's life sim used to poke fun at long-suffering Half Life fans
Valve released Half Life 2 a decade ago, and since then fans have been waiting for news relating to the third instalment in the critically-acclaimed series. Every year, these very same fans search through the internet trying to find hints or references to the release of the game,...
News This Is Where Unwanted 3DS And DS Games Go To Die
Spare a thought for these abandoned titles
Ever wondered what happens to all the 3DS and DS games that never find a loving home, either brand new or on the preowned market? They get recycled, as the materials they are made from still have some value — even if the code contained on the card doesn't. Reddit user HxCut works at a recycling plant and...
News Food-Focused RPG Adventure Bar Story Is Munching Its Way To The 3DS
Smartphone hit crosses over to Nintendo's handheld
Adventure Bar Story is one of the most unique smartphone RPGs we've seen in quite some time, and developer RideOn Games has confirmed that it is bringing the game to the 3DS — in Japan, at least. The game places you in the shoes of a tavern owner who is resisting a hostile takeover from a rival...
Review How to Train Your Dragon 2 (3DS)
How to train your dragon 2 do what?!
Handheld versions of 3D console games are always a tricky task; most of the successful ones avoid straight-up ports that are inevitably inferior to their home console brethren, and instead build the portable iterations from the ground up with 2D handheld gaming in mind. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate did this...
News Capcom and Treasure Team Up Again for Gaist Crusher Sequel
Don't hold your breath for a Western release
Back in January, we took a look at Capcom's Gaist Crusher. Developed by renowned Japanese game studio Treasure, the title — perhaps most accurately described as Diet Monster Hunter — is part of a multimedia franchise spanning manga, anime, and a line of collectible toys. Gaist Crusher met with a...
News Mario Kart 8 Claims Top Spot in Japanese Charts, Wii U Remains as Number One Home Console
3DS top overall, Yo-kai Watch keeps on going
Nintendo's enjoying a run of pleasing sales-related headlines right now, with the recent NPD results for May showing strong performance for Mario Kart 8 and a related bump in Wii U sales, in particular. The latest weekly Media Create charts for Japan are out, and they continue the positive trend, albeit...
Interview StreetPass Liverpool's Anthony Boyd On Bringing Gamers Together
Green light means go
There are few things more deceptively simple than Nintendo’s StreetPass function, which rewards players for travelling with their systems with virtual currency to spend on unlockable content and encourages them to take their portable out into the wild at every available opportunity. From Nintendo’s position, the advantages...
News Tetris Ultimate Is Slotting Neatly Into Place For Fall Release On 3DS
30th anniversary instalment isn't skipping Nintendo after all
When Ubisoft confirmed the forthcoming release of Tetris Ultimate to celebrate 30 years of block-busting brilliance, a few observers pointed out that — according to the initial announcement at least — no Nintendo platforms were getting the new instalment, which was something of a kick...
News Masahiro Sakurai Teases Trophy Rush Mini-Game For Super Smash Bros.
"Quite a bit different from Coin Launcher in Super Smash Bros. Brawl."
With its arrival now confirmed to be around three and a half months away, we can expect more firm details on Super Smash Bros. for 3DS to filter through in the coming weeks. We'll get a sense of how fully featured it is in comparison to its eventual Wii U partner, though to date...
News Ryozo Tsujimoto Outlines Capcom's Approach to Keeping Monster Hunter Fresh
Anyone for insect-shooting spear gun pogo sticks?
Capcom's illustrious Monster Hunter series has grown into a phenomenon in recent years, with Monster Hunter 4 surpassing three million units sold just a couple months after its launch in Japan. With such wild popularity, it seems it would be easy for series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and the rest of...
News Creator Shu Takumi Testifies on Ace Attorney Writing Process
And how the popularity of a certain prosecutor shook things up
In honor of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy being announced for the 3DS eShop later this year, Official Nintendo Magazine has published its full interview with series creator Shu Takumi on its website. The interview is a meaty read for Ace Attorney fans, offering plenty of...
Guide The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Retail Games Coming In 2014
With apologies to your wallet
We're rapidly approaching the second half of 2014, and before this year's E3 shenanigans Nintendo system owners would have been forgiven for some nerves about the volume of games on the way this year. The show did reveal a host of release dates and new titles, however, though keeping track of those coming in the near...
News Mario Kart 8 Speeds Into Second Place In NPD May Sales, Kirby Powers Up In Ninth
Impressive results in software, Wii U hardware sales improved over May 2013
We already know that Mario Kart 8 enjoyed a terrific launch, confirmed to have sold 1.2 million copies in its opening weekend and to have boosted hardware sales in UK. It's a vital first step in driving Wii U
News The New Taiko Drum Master RPG Has Some Interesting Crossovers
Monster Hunter, Yo-kai Watch, The Idolmaster, and a peary strange mascot
Banking on the huge popularity of crossovers in Japan, Bandai Namco's Taiko Drum Master: Don and Katsu's Great Space-Time Adventure features a number of interesting tie-ins. The gameplay itself features a crossover as well, blending the tried and true rhythm genre with classic...
News Mario Kart 8 and Tomodachi Life Hold Firm in UK Charts
There's this thing called the World Cup, it apparently affects sales
The latest UK chart results are in, and they bring reasonable news for Nintendo's two main entries in the top 40, reflecting a quiet spell for game sales but also early signs of hope for the company's current plucky, yet bizarre, 3DS title. To start at the top end, Mario Kart 8,...
Video Love Is In The Air In This Week's Days Of Our Tomodachi Lives
There's also an E3-related song to round off the episode
We're now up to episode four of Days of Our Tomodachi Lives, and love has finally blossomed on Nlife Island. That's right, Tim and Katy have decided that — in purely virtual terms, of course — they are made for one another. It remains to be seen if this working relationship can stand the...
News FIFA 15 Is Lacing Its Boots For A Wii And 3DS Appearance, But Is Skipping The Wii U
Foul play
EA has revealed that it is releasing a stripped-down version of FIFA 15 for the Wii and 3DS, but won't be bringing its best-selling soccer series to the Wii U. FIFA 15 will hit next-generation machines with a host of new features, but the publisher has stated that versions for older systems won't come with the same amount of content: A...
Video Robot Battle Action Is On The Cards In This Gundam Try Age SP Trailer
Almost five minutes of footage for this forthcoming 3DS title
We reported a while back on the 3DS port of Gundam Try Age, an arcade title which mixes massive robots with strategic card battling. An impressively-proportioned trailer has now been issued for the game which not only includes a rather overenthusiastic voice-over, but also details the...
News Mii Swordfighter Characters Show Off Their Moves in Super Smash Bros.
Shurikens of Light! Chakrams! Gale Strikes!
The first reveal from Nintendo in its E3 Digital Event was Mii characters for Super Smash Bros., an inclusion that means — in theory — almost anyone can be a challenger. You want to fight as Reggie Fils-Aime or Satoru Iwata? Import or create their Mii characters onto your system, and they're good to...
News Final Fantasy Explorers Official Website Opens
Another beautiful 3DS RPG to preorder
It may be plastered with "coming soon" placeholder boxes and "to be confirmed" text where we were hoping for release dates, but what little there is on the freshly-opened Final Fantasy Explorers Japanese website offers a tantalising glimpse into what could be another great 3DS RPG, and hopefully a fun...
Review Pokémon Art Academy (3DS)
Make Smeargle proud by sketching Fletchling
Since we first put stylus to touchscreen on the original DS, Nintendo's handhelds have made full use of the unique interface by allowing us to interact with games in a whole new way. Some ideas have worked better than others, but the natural act of scribbling or doodling shapes, in particular, has never...
Feature Catch Up With Ten of the Nintendo Treehouse E3 Demonstrations
Essential viewing
Nintendo's multi-faceted approach to E3 this year did much to earn praise, as it ignored convention and produced a series of videos and events that played up to its strengths. The Digital Event was stylish, the Super Smash Bros. Invitational was raucous fun, and there were two roundtable events that generated plenty of buzz. That...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo's E3?
It's actually finished, you know
E3 is over, finished, done for another year. It was three days (four if you consider the 'day zero' press conferences) of gaming madness, with information overload and the main console manufacturers, publishers and developers doing the equivalent of jumping around screaming "look at me, please!" for a sustained...
E3 2014 Nintendo Hopes to Share Metroid News in the "Near Future"
Keen to accommodate both 3D and 2D styles of franchise
One notable feature of Nintendo's showing at E3 2014 has been its willingness to unveil new IPs or, if not entirely new brands, spin-off small ideas or franchises into new releases. Intelligent Systems is bringing us Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., for example, while one of the largest — and popular...
Video Nintendo Unleashes Its Official E3 2014 Highlights
Three minutes of E3 goodness
The lights are going off at E3, and Nintendo is packing up all of those lovely debug systems that are home to titles that, we hope, will be future classics. It certainly seemed like Nintendo kept us busy over the three days, especially with its rolling Treehouse coverage. Now that the doors are closing the company has...
E3 2014 Watch Nintendo's Treehouse Broadcast - Live!
Enjoy the E3 experience
The famed Nintendo Treehouse team will be providing rolling coverage from its booth through the three day event, including appearances from Shigeru Miyamoto, as one example. It's a great way to see E3 in action, and you can watch it here. [liveblog=e3_2014_nintendo_treehouse]#E3 #Nintendo
E3 2014 Fossil Fighters: Frontier Is Stomping Towards Western 3DS Consoles
Dem bones
Nintendo has confirmed that its latest Fossil Fighters outing will see a western release on the 3DS. Fossil Fighters: Frontier — known in Japan as Fossil Fighters: Infinite Gear in Japan — involves excavating the bones of dinosaur-like creatures known as Vivosaurs and reconstructing them to create an entirely new beast. One of the big...
E3 2014 Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., A Brand New IP, Unveiled for 3DS
Details and images released
Nintendo's eagerly anticipated developer session for a previously unannounced 3DS title has taken place, and it revealed a brand new IP. It's Code Name: S.T.E.A.M, a title that originally emerged through a U.S. trademark in early April. In that filing it had the full title Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. Strike Team Eliminating the...
E3 2014 Mega Sableye Footage Unveiled For Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Crystal clear
With release dates set and excitement reaching a fever pitch for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, new Mega Evolutions have been teased in the form of some brutish looking final forms for the Hoenn starters and legendaries. More are surely set to come, and the first hint of this was released today. Mega Sableye has been...
Talking Point Nintendo's Innovative E3 Approach is a Breath of a Fresh Air
Going its own way
As this article goes live Nintendo's Treehouse team will be well into its second day of live demonstrations, showing off projects and titles revealed in the Nintendo Digital Event. It's an approach from Nintendo to offer rolling coverage and continually seize attention, while the company has fulfilled an obligation for a major live...
News Final Fantasy Explorers Announced for 3DS
The final frontier
Japanese publication Jump has revealed in its latest issue that Square Enix is currently developing a multiplayer action-RPG game for the 3DS called Final Fantasy Explorers. According to magazine, players will be able to select from a variety of different classes for their character, essentially enabling them to narrow down to a...
News Persona Q Gives 3DS a Boost in Japan, Wii U Takes Second Spot
Mario Kart 8 approaches 400,000 physical retail sales
After a chart topping performance from Mario Kart 8 and Wii U in Japan last week, the latest Media Create results bring the 3DS back to the fore with a major new release. Kicking off with software, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth has arrived at number one in Nintendo's homeland, which...
E3 2014 Did Zelda Williams Just Tease Majora's Mask 3D?
We're speculating, salt at the ready
We know that Nintendo likes to be in control. We imagine that those participating in its live streams and the Super Smash Bros. Invitational have had to jump through so many hoops that they'll feel like circus performers, as the company relentlessly keeps major events 'on message'; when that message is full of...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV Confirmed For Q3 eShop Release In Europe
Atlus is self-publishing, no physical release planned
Atlus has confirmed that popular 3DS RPG Shin Megami Tensei IV is coming to Europe later this year. Unlike the Japanese and North American editions of the game, Shin Megami Tensei IV will not be getting a physical release in Europe — it will be exclusive to the 3DS eShop. "Shin Megami Tensei...
Feature All Of The Vital Super Smash Bros. Roundtable Details, As Pac-Man Joins The Fight
Our man at E3 on Mii customisation, Amiibo and more
Below is a detailed summary from the recently held Super Smash Bros. roundtable, presented by Masahiro Sakurai, as we highlight the most important details and question answers. Once Masahiro Sakurai took to the stage to begin the roundtable, it didn't take long for him to drop the biggest news...
Poll Your Favourite Showing from Nintendo During E3 Day One
So many choices
Day one of E3 has drawn to a close, with the exhibitors and press heading off to an evening of writing — yes, including us — and 'after show events'. It's been an exciting day, as Nintendo kicked it off with its Digital Event, followed it with hours of live demonstrations from the Treehouse team and then, finally, the rather...
E3 2014 Time for Another Blowout of Nintendo Videos
Because we don't want to miss anything
It's been a manic day so far, yet Nintendo has unveiled some footage and trailers that's not appeared in its Digital Event or follow-up articles. Clearly it's time to resolve that. There are a host of additional trailers to enjoy, covering retail and download titles on both Wii U and 3DS. Without further ado,...
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