3DS News
January2014
News Mario Party: Island Tour Is Still Having a Good Time in the UK Top 20
Something to play in the January drought, it seems
We weren't convinced that the UK charts would be kind to Mario Party: Island Tour in its second week, after it made a decent — if unspectacular — début in 18th place. It seems that the good-old January games drought and some eager 3DS owners have kept the sales going, however; hey, Mario's in...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Confirmed for the West
Arrives in "early 2015"
Earlier today we shared the news that Monster Hunter 4 G arrives in Japan this year, an expanded and improved version of the phenomenally successful 3DS original. As we observed in that article, the arrival of Monster Hunter 3 G eventually paved the way for the "Ultimate" games — on Wii U and 3DS — in the West. In...
News Monster Hunter 4 G Due In Autumn / Fall This Year
Just for Japan at the moment, though
Capcom has just announced, at Monster Hunter Festa 13, that the 3DS will be receiving an updated version of Monster Hunter 4. It will release in Japan this coming autumn and, most importantly, saves will carry over from the original 3DS game, so professional wyvern-botherers can enjoy all the new content without...
News Namco Bandai Will Now Be Known As Bandai Namco Around The World
Don't forget
While we may know it as Namco Bandai, in its Japanese homeland the famous developer is known as Bandai Namco. In a bid to boost the brand around the world, the company has now decided to unify the name, so from 1st April we will have to revert to the Japanese convention. Bandai Namco it is, then, with its subsidiaries and regional...
News Extended Maintenance On The Way For Pokémon X & Y Servers
Start your Pokémon Bank rumours now
Server maintenance is nothing new for the Nintendo Network, as it's a weekly occurrence, but there are occasions when it's extended for some extra work. Sometimes that extra downtime leads to no notable changes, while on other occasions it clears the way for new features and updates. Let the speculation begin,...
Video Persona Q Website Unveils Two More Characters
We really can't wait to get started on this one
We've had a look at the official Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth website a few times before, and now we drop back in just as Atlus releases videos focussing on Persona 3's Shinjiro Aragaki and Persona 4's Yukiko Amagi. They may struggle to even hit the one minute mark, but as they're almost entirely...
Video The First Thirty Minutes Of The Best 3DS Action Game You've Never Played
That's E.X. Troopers, by the way
"Like Lost Planet, but anime" could easily have been the most cynical boardroom pitch ever, but thankfully Capcom couldn't have any poured any more love into E.X. Troopers if it had tried. We've got a full Matters of Import feature coming up soon on this amazing title, so in the meantime grab yourself a hot beverage...
Video Ace Attorney Collection Promotional Trailer Is Now Available As Hard Evidence
No objections here (sorry)
In addition to yesterday's news, we've got a few further details and a lovely little trailer for the Ace Attorney Collection, courtesy of the official website. The e-Capcom exclusive limited edition set, priced at ¥5,240 (about £30 / $50 USD / €37), will include a drama CD (cover to be determined) and a set of three...
News Project X Zone Price Slashed To $20 On The North American 3DS eShop
Role-playing on a budget
Project X Zone is one of those games that isn't for everyone; the unique mixture of JRPG action and fan-service means that it's only going to appeal to a very focused audience. Chances are some of you may have passed on this title when it first released — but the game has just received a permanent price reduction which...
News Senran Kagura Burst Pre-Order Bonuses Announced For Europe
Throwing stars, unfortunately, are not included
School can be boring sometimes. Let’s face it, it’s not the greatest thing in the world, but if Japanese Anime and Manga is anything to go off, school is the best place to be. You get to learn how to become a samurai that hunts down evil spirits, or a magician who tracks down spells to undo an...
News Yoshi's New Island Hatches in Europe on 14th March
Nintendo UK offers Yoshi Egg Game Case as pre-order bonus
Update: Nintendo UK has now clarified that the Yoshi Egg Game Case pre-order bonus will be available from GAME. Original Article: Not too long ago Nintendo of America announced, as a rather casual aside in a broader press release, that Yoshi's New Island will arrive in the region on 14th...
News Harvest Moon: Connect To A New World Shows Us How To Get Started
English tutorials are never this good
A new issue of Famitsu has arrived, giving fans of the turnip-pulling series a very brief glimpse at the seasonal changes and two events in the upcoming Harvest Moon title. Short of trees looking a nice brownish-gold in autumn and snow covering the ground in winter there's not a fat lot else to tell there, so we...
News 3DS System Update 7.1.0-15 is Available Now
We're digging all this extra stability
Just when the 3DS was settling down into a January stupor, Nintendo's gone and released a fresh system update. What does it do? Well, not much, and it's probably designed to stop naughty people doing things they shouldn't, such as hacking it. Update 7.1.0-15 is one of those quick downloads that makes your...
News Level-5 Trademarks Yo-kai Watch in the US
Watch for monsters
You know youkai? Those strange creatures of Japanese folklore that sometimes masquerade as "raccoons" or "turtles" in certain localized games? Level-5 might be giving these monsters more of their due outside of Japan, if recent trademarks are any indication. According to Siliconera, Level-5 has trademarked "Yo-Kai Watch" in the...
Video Levi and Sasha Slay Some Giants In This Attack On Titan DLC Mission Footage
Scratch that Titan-hating itch
We've taken an in-depth look at Attack on Titan before, but we couldn't resist sharing some more footage — this time showing DLC-exclusive characters Levi and Sasha doing their thing. Levi's mission is a straightforward Titan-killing exercise, while Sasha has the much tougher task of hunting for hidden items whilst...
News Pokémon Trading Card Game: XY Expansion Pack Arrives 5th February
Introduces Mega Evolution mechanic and over 140 new cards
The Pokémon Company has announced the upcoming arrival of the Pokémon Trading Card Game: XY expansion, which will be available in stores from 5th February; this is applicable in multiple territories, while a price of $3.99 for 10-card booster packs is confirmed for North America. Unlike the...
Feature Nintendo Games Our Readers Would Love to See in 2014
Some eclectic choices
With 2014 swinging into gear, we can anticipate a number of fresh game announcements and arrivals from Nintendo, as was the case in 2013. A little while ago we shared some Nintendo games we'd love to see in 2014, attempting to produce some concrete concepts and names that we feel would be welcome announcements. Whether any of...
News Activision Confirms Cut the Rope: Triple Treat for 3DS
The 3DS eShop version says hi
If Activision has learnt anything from its Angry Birds retail releases, it's that it really is possible to get more money for old rope, which is appropriate with confirmation of Cut the Rope: Triple Treat. Following on from the Angry Birds Trilogy, this will be a compilation of Cut the Rope and its two expansions,...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe Remains Number One in Japan as Hardware Sales Dip
Well, it is January
It's Wednesday, which means Media Create Japanese chart results, and this week brings further cheer for everyone's favourite pink ball, as Kirby: Triple Deluxe retains top spot in the software chart. The hardware positions remain the same, but with every system seeing a drop in sales. To start with the software top 20, Kirby...
News Cody, Haggar And Guy Are Scrapping Their Way To The Japanese 3DS eShop In Mighty Final Fight
While we get Mighty Bomb Jack
Next week, Japanese 3DS owners will be able to step into the super-deformed shoes of Metro City's famous wrestling mayor Mike Haggar thanks to the release of Mighty Final Fight on the 3DS Virtual Console. Capcom's side-scrolling fighter originally launched on the Famicom and NES back in 1993, and offers the same kind...
News Masahiro Sakurai Confirms Super Smash Bros. Changes to Edge Grabbing Mechanics
If you have the skills, this stuff matters
While Masahiro Sakurai's daily Miiverse posts are entertaining in their own right, in recent weeks he's been revealing more tid-bits of info on features and fighting mechanics in the new Super Smash Bros. titles. While not wholly revealing in themselves, they're gradually painting a picture of a development...
Video Puzzle Mashup Puyo Puyo Tetris Works Better Than You Might Think
Two puzzle giants collide, with interesting results
We've dished out info on Sega's curious Puyo Puyo and Tetris fusion before, but now the playable demo has finally hit the Japanese eShop we've been able to get our grubby mitts on it and give you a real look at how it all works. It sounds quite jarring to play Puyo Puyo against someone else who's...
Play Mario Kart 7 With Nintendo Life - Choose Your Rules
It's baaaaaaaack!!!
There was a time, in early 2013, when team NL had a conversation that went like this... "Right, time for another Mario Kart 7 community night, right?" "Maybe we should see if any Wii U games have online community features." "Erm, Call of Duty?" "Nah, let's look into it." Well, we've been 'looking into it' — which means...
News Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians Campaign Drastically Reduces 3DS Target
It's now feasible
Just over a week ago we told you about the Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians Kickstarter campaign, which has Yasumi Matsuno on board. If you're unaware, Matsuno-san has worked on and been responsible for a diverse range of games, such as Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on GBA, Tactics Ogre on Super NES, MadWorld on Wii and the...
News Ace Attorney Collection Coming To Japanese 3DS Consoles This April
The first three adventures in one handy package
Capcom is releasing a special Ace Attorney collection for the 3DS which contains the first three games in the best-selling series. While the 3DS console's unique screen will be used to give each game a sense of depth, they will remain effectively unchanged from a graphical perspective. English...
Video This Bravely Default Story Trailer Goes For An Epic Approach
Dat music
Ahead of its release in the region on 7th February, Nintendo of America continues to publish videos to build hype for Bravely Default on 3DS. We've already had a jobs trailer that outlines the different character classes and roles, but it's now getting down to the nitty gritty. The latest video, below, introduces the main cast and...
Matters of Import Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict Joins The 3DS Library
Like a light Shining in the Darkness
Thanks to Sega’s continuing support of the 3DS Virtual Console service we now have all three Game Gear Shining Force games available to buy on Nintendo’s much loved handheld — in Japan, at least. The emulation is so consistently brilliant on the 3DS it’s hardly worth mentioning these days: we’ll simply...
Matters of Import Taking Initial D: Perfect Shift Online For A Spin
A Not-So-Hot Rod
Free-to-play is all the rage these days, with in-app purchases proving profitable for developers while allowing users to decide exactly how much they want to spend and everyone — from Square-Enix to Capcom to probably your Gran — has an iOS game or MMO available to install for free with optional micro-transactions attached. So...
News Rune Factory 4 European Release Has Been Cancelled
"MAQL and MAQL Europe would like to thank everyone for their support"
Rune Factory 4 is another excellent title in the ever-growing list of 3DS RPG experiences, though as per its series it has its own rather quirky blend of play styles — dating and farming join heroic questing. We described it as a "gem of a game" and awarded it 9/10 when it was...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Arrives in the UK Top 20
Super Mario 3D World sneaks back into the top 40
Mario Party: Island Tour arrived on the 3DS in Europe on 17th January, and its opening weekend of sales have helped it up to 18th in this week's all-format UK charts. It's a reasonable mini-game collection, in our view, describing it as "a sound purchase for kids, families or anyone looking to play...
Nintendo could make "billions" with its "treasure trove" of characters
Last week's dismal news regarding Nintendo's financials has triggered a wave of comment and debate, with many industry experts earning their keep by offering several different scenarios for getting the Japanese giant out of the hole it currently finds itself in. However, the...
News $1.2 Billion Wiped Off Nintendo's Market Value As Share Prices Plummet
Biggest decline since September
The recent news that Nintendo expects to sell less Wii U and 3DS consoles — as well as make a loss — has caused the company's share prices to drop dramatically. Friday's announcement that Nintendo expects to make an operating loss of 35 billion Yen ($335 million / £205 million) this financial year — after...
Feature Monster Hunting With Kerry: Taking Baby Steps With Great Jaggi
Warning: Article contains gross incompetence
Hello! Kerry here, your inept but endlessly enthusiastic guide through the dangerous and thrilling world of Monster Hunter 4. At the behest of the kind and gracious Nintendo Life overlords, I've been locked away in a small room for days on end and tasked with playing as much of the Japanese version as...
Talking Point Nintendo's Wii U Struggles Bring a Challenge, Not Doom
The wider picture shows more than "Nintendoomed"
So, it was a funny old day at Nintendo HQ. Within a short space of time we went from 3DS topping hardware sales in the U.S., alongside the Wii U enjoying its "highest month", to Nintendo confirming major reductions in its sales and financial projections. The timing of this — after the December NPD...
Review Disney Frozen: Olaf's Quest (3DS)
A short and chilling quest
Those of you that are keen movie buffs will know that Frozen is Disney's latest animated motion picture, and — judging from the enthusiastic critical and commercial reaction — it's fair to say that it has gone down a treat with adults and children alike. Full of lovable characters and boasting a good soundtrack (like...
Video Feast Your Tired And Weary Eyes On This Fresh Puyo Puyo Tetris Footage
Four-way puzzle madness
Today's not been fantastic as far as the world of Nintendo is concerned, but thankfully we've got some new footage of puzzle crossover title Puyo Puyo Tetris to show you, and that goes at least some way to making up for the less enjoyable news we've had recently. The video — which shows off the four-player mode — is...
News Ninja Gaiden III Is Slashing Its Way To The European 3DS eShop Next Week
Jumping the ship of doom
Nintendo UK has confirmed that Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom is coming to the European 3DS eShop next week — the 23rd of January, to be precise. The third game in the NES-based trilogy from Tecmo, Ninja Gaiden III is seen by many fans as the best of the three. "Ninja Gaiden III does a great job of being true...
News Satoru Iwata Explains Reduced Projections and "Large Margin" 3DS and Wii U Sales Misses
Wii U hardware and software sales suffered "a huge gap" from their targets
Nintendo has issued a financial update with major reductions in sales and financial projections, stepping in ahead of its Q3 report at the end of January. In all likelihood this was to head off speculation following yesterday's NPD results, which would have combined with...
News Nintendo Confirms Major Reductions In Sales and Financial Projections
Lowered expectations across the board
Yesterday brought us NPD sales results for the US, which delivered top of the class results for 3DS and Wii U's strongest month to date, but it is now clear that — combined with results worldwide — those numbers simply weren't high enough. Nintendo has today issued adjustments to its financial and sales...
News 3DS Tops US Hardware Sales as Wii U Achieves "Its Highest Month" in December
A positive step for Wii U, but progress still needed
Industry tracking firm NPD has released some details for December sales in the US, and they provide some solid news for Nintendo, even if the absence of an official press release from the company — at the time of writing — suggests a cautious reaction to the results. The major positive for...
News Nintendo Picks Up Multiple Nominations in D.I.C.E. Awards
Zelda and Mario lead the way
In early February Las Vegas will host the D.I.CE. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, which is run by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS); it's a major annual meet-up of game designers and developers from around the world. The culmination of the summit is always the D.I.C.E. Awards, with...
Video A New Bravely Default Trailer Shows You How To Get A Job
Not your average 9 to 5, though
Any RPG – or JRPG – gamer knows that strategy is the most important thing when playing through the game. Knowing enemy weak spots, which armour to equip and which weapon is the most effective are all key factors to make victory a certainty. Yet sometimes things go into deeper levels of planning. Bravely Default...
News Senran Kagura Is Bursting Onto European Store Shelves In February
Digital release coming a day earlier
If you're a fan of fighting games which feature buxom girls who lose their clothes during combat, then you'll want to sit up and take note of this news. MarvelousAQL has confirmed that Senran Kagura Burst will be coming to Europe this February in both physical and digital formats. A compilation of the first two...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV Soundtrack Released Next Month
Four discs crammed full of incredible music
Atlus has just announced that Shin Megami Tensei IV, which scored a fantastic 9/10 in our review, will finally see its wonderful soundtrack released in Japan on 26th February. Even better is that this isn't some half-hearted "best of" or "selection" CD, but all 112 tracks spread across four CDs and...
News Bravely Default Producer - No Need for More Improvements
The improvements will not be improved upon
Not many games are given the chance to receive an improved update. Bravely Default was granted that opportunity after its initial Japanese release, and our review implies this reworking was of great benefit to the European and North American players who are receiving the updated version. After taking the...
News Updated Zelda and Animal Crossing 3DS Card Cases Arrive on Club Nintendo
Hey, listen!
Some Club Nintendo items, regardless of region, do sell out rather quickly. Examples can be stylish game card cases, invaluable as they can hold plenty of games in one handy set while making you look rather snazzy at that next StreetPass meet-up. There was one released in North America in December 2012, for example, and it sold out...
First Impressions Kirby: Triple Deluxe Is Three Times More Fun Than Most Other 3DS Games
Definitely doesn’t suck
It’s obvious from the moment you start that Kirby Triple Deluxe is Nintendo and HAL Laboratory at the height of their collective powers — software and hardware coming together to create a game as games should be: good fun, embracing all of the the 3DS’s unique features without ever reducing them to mere gimmicks. We...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe Makes Japanese Chart Début at Number One
3DS remains on top as Wii U dips below Sony rivals
The Japanese charts seem to follow the patterns of many individuals from the Holiday season into a New Year. Festive excess and gorging makes way for a rapid retreat to the norm, with appetites slowed down to more reasonable levels. The latest Media Create charts show sales figures settling back to...
News 3DS Region-Free Hack is Hacked by Hackers
Irony goes into overdrive
Not so long ago we reported on a hack that utilises a flashcard and edits to a launcher to enable a 3DS to play legitimate cartridges region-free. Intriguingly, the tweak made the launcher itself unable to play ROMS and illegal game copies, but did mean a 3DS could run games from anywhere in the world, though admittedly...
News Disney Magic World Sells Half A Million Units In Japan
Namco Bandai's Walt simulator is a hit
News has reached our ears that Namco Bandai's 3DS adventure Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life has managed to sell an impressive 500,000 copies across both physical and digital formats in Japan. The game allows you to take your Mii into the magical kingdom and buddy-up with a cast of famous Disney faces. You...
Weirdness It's Finally Here, a Labrador Retriever-Themed 2DS Case
Paws for thought
When the 2DS launched Nintendo also weighed in with official colour-matching cases, a necessity due to the tablet form stripping away the screen protection of the original clamshell design. It's only natural that third-party companies join in with their own versions, and one that's been confirmed for the UK market is the pictured...
News Yasumi Matsuno On Board For "Unsung Story" Kickstarter Campaign
A high price to see it on 3DS anytime soon
Kickstarter projects are quick to mention any star members of the production team, and when you've got one as big as the acclaimed Yasumi Matsuno on-board, it's pretty understandable. Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians will be the most ambitious title to date from developer Playdek, which is previously...
News You'll Want To Check Out These New Senran Kagura 2 Screenshots
Bursting out all over
As we all know, Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is coming to the 3DS in Japan later this year, and promises to bring more of the same schoolgirl-on-schoolgirl combat action which made Senran Kagura Burst so appealing. The screens show off the game's new locations and characters, as well as the full-3D boss battles. Oh, and there...
News Monster Savings To Be Had On Nintendo UK's Online Store, But You'll Want To Be Quick
Update: Prices are now back to normal
UPDATE: And that's that. In a matter of minutes, Nintendo UK appear to have fixed many of the prices. If you got in before that happened, let us know if your download code has been honoured. Original story: Nintendo's online store has gone discount-crazy, with many leading 3DS and Wii U games being sold for...
First Impressions Shouting Shounen in Capcom’s Gaist Crusher
We go hands-on with this hyperactive Treasure-developed 3DS title
Gaist Crusher is one of those multimedia extravaganzas where right from the start there’s a TV series, manga and other merchandise all lined up and ready to drain the wallets of anyone unable to withstand the assault. This 3DS offering — developed by none other than the legendary...
Weirdness Puzzle & Dragons Z Yogurt Will Unlock A Scrumptious Special Dungeon
Part of a balanced breakfast
You may have seen our recent coverage on the 3DS sensation Puzzle & Dragons Z here at Nintendo Life, a game which hopefully see the light of day in the West at some point this year. What you haven't seen is a delicious new way to unlock some bonus content for the game — and we do mean delicious. After crossovers...
First Impressions Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
We will never spell “Theatrhythm” right first time
A demo for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call recently went live on the Japanese 3DS eShop, and will hold few surprises with hardcore fans of the series. There’s really very little here that will not be immediately familiar to anyone with even the most casual experience of the original...
News No Game Content "Hostile to China" Will Make It Through As Ban Lifts
The size of the market means most will likely play along
Last year the Chinese government confirmed that it'd lift its video game console ban, with news that last week's implementation of that promise contributed to a boost in Nintendo share value; this prompted speculation of the Kyoto company diving into the region. We shouldn't expect Wii U and...
Video This Is What The First Half Hour Of Kirby: Triple Deluxe Looks Like
Not just full of hot air
Can't wait for Kirby:Triple Deluxe to come out? Then pull up a comfy chair as Nintendo Life plays the Japanese version and takes you through the first world of Kirby's latest adventure; we've got a new foe, old friends, lots of hats and pixel-style collectable key-chains! There'll be plenty more information and a full...
News Nintendo Software Continues to Lose Momentum in UK Charts
Titles such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze can't come soon enough
In recent weeks there hasn't been much to tell about the UK game charts from a Nintendo perspective, with the usual suspects maintaining familiar positions, from 3DS games such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf hanging around near the top 20 to Super Mario 3D World residing in the...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe Sound CD Now Available at Club Nintendo in Japan
We'll have this in the West too, please
Kirby: Triple Deluxe is out now in Japan, which is sure to make fans of the pink one jealous in the West; our import expert's currently preparing some early footage and impressions for you. We know that it'll make it to PAL and North American regions this year, but Nintendo is yet to pin down a more precise...
News Capcom Claims Its New Panta Rhei Game Engine Can Be Adapted To Any System
And that means Wii U and 3DS
Capcom's MT Framework game engine was pretty adaptable — it powered Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D on the 3DS as well as providing the horsepower for the company's home console titles — and the Japanese studio has gone on record to confirm that its successor will be just as versatile. Panta Rhei is Capcom's...
News A Link Between Worlds Early Japanese Sales Surpass Ocarina of Time 3D
Yet don't reach glory days of Phantom Hourglass
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds arrived in Europe and North America on 22nd November last year, but it was 26th December before it arrived in Japan. It's had a decent performance in the charts, too, claiming top spot in its début week before falling back to third place in its second week...
Feature Nintendo Games We'd Love to See in 2014
Newcomers and some triumphant returns
If you cast your minds back to this time in 2013, it would have been tempting to wonder what games were coming for the rest of that year and into 2014. Long-term line-ups were a mystery, though educated guesses could be made, and then Nintendo blew away some of the obscuring smoke in a January Nintendo Direct...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Postmortem Discussion Coming to GDC
Coinciding with the release of Isabelle's brutal tell-all book (not really)
Animal Crossing: New Leaf players in PAL territories and North America have had more than half a year to fall into the mayorship and day-to-day happiness of its world. Now, back in this real, arguably less ideal world, New Leaf's director and producer will be opening up...
Matters of Import Grappling With Attack On Titan: The Last Wings Of Mankind
Or Shingeki no Kyojin: Jinrui Saigo no Tsubasa, to Japanese players
Considering the intense critical and commercial acclaim Hajime Isayama's Attack on Titan has been receiving, the emergence of a game based on the events portrayed in the anime and manga series was more of a question of “when”, rather than “if”. The more surprising news is...
Video Allow Us To Serve Up The First Thirty Minutes Of Puzzle & Dragons Z
Epic adventures await
Join us as we take you through the opening thirty minutes of GungHo’s smash hit Puzzle & Dragons Z, taking in cute white dragons with attitude, an evil group breaking the world into jigsaw-shaped pieces and of course plenty of puzzling too. Still not enough? Then be sure to check out our hands-on preview here. [
Disney Magical World also confirmed
With 2014 slowly cranking into gear, Nintendo of America has taken an opportunity to remind us of some notable successes for the 3DS in 2013, while emphasizing "games planned for early 2014 to keep the momentum going". Just earlier today we reported that the 3DS was the UK's top selling games system in 2013, and...
News The 3DS Was The UK's Top-Selling Games System in 2013
That includes the 2DS
It's well known that the 3DS family of systems had a strong year in 2013 in various territories, and in terms of the UK there'd been various positive headlines throughout the 12 months. A steady stream of high-profile games — such as Pokémon X & Y, Animal Crossing: New Leaf and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds...
News King Dedede to Wield the Mallet as the Latest Challenger in New Super Smash Bros.
Plenty of screens to enjoy
King Dedede has been confirmed as a challenger in the new Super Smash Bros. titles on the Wii U and 3DS, the latest in a number of recent additions as the roster fills out. His appearance was always on the cards after his role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, with his weight and ready-to-use weapon making him a useful...
News Missing Guild 01 Game Weapon Shop De Omasse Is Finally Getting Localised
Better late than never
It's nothing new when a popular Japanese game doesn't get a western release, but every so often some manage to make it overseas. Guild 01 for the 3DS was one such release; technically a compilation of four titles back in Japan, it has been slowly released in the west as individual games over the past few years. We've already...
News Nintendo Titles Secure Multiple GDC Awards Nominations
The results have to wait until 19th March
The Game Developers Conference will take place in San Francisco from 17th-21st March, with the "expo" part of the week running from 19th-21st March. It's always an interesting event to learn more about projects underway and wider issues within the development community, while also being notable for the Game...
Feature Looking Back at Nintendo in 2013 - Part Four
Games, system updates, more games...
We've looked back at the first nine months of Nintendo's 2013 to date, an eventful period full of reveals, positives, negatives and outright weirdness. The final leg is typically one of the busiest for game companies, as the scramble for momentum into the busiest shopping season of the year becomes a messy blur...
News 3DS XL Coloured Charging Cradles Arrive on Club Nintendo in Europe
Club Nintendo's servers prepare to enter meltdown
Last year Nintendo of America released a series of snazzy coloured 3DS XL charging cradles, and they sold out rapidly. We hope that Nintendo of Europe has reinforced its Club Nintendo servers, as it's just announced the same cradles for its region. Below is the tweet and snazzy image to announce...
Video You'll Get A Kick Out Of These Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks Trailers
They think it's all over
Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks is due to hit Europe next month, and to drum up interest Nintendo has released two new trailers for the game. An expansion of Inazuma Eleven 3 — which launched last year on the 3DS — Team Ogre Attacks uses the same game engine but boasts an entirely new storyline. The actual release...
News Pokémon Winter Regional Championships Mark First Use of X & Y in Series Competition
Blowing across the U.S. this month
Think you've put enough [hundreds of] hours into Pokémon X & Y to take other trainers on in a sanctioned tournament? Many players in the United States will soon have the chance to find out as the Pokémon Winter Regional Championships become the first to introduce the new generation into their events. The...
Feature Looking Back at Nintendo in 2013 - Part Three
Pokémon goes Mega, 2DS, Wii U price cut and other shenanigans
We've so far covered the first six months of Nintendo in 2013, taking in various 3DS successes, ups and downs for the Wii U and some E3 madness. As is also the norm, there were weird moments, as well as the near-monthly delight of Nintendo Direct broadcasts. We now cover the latter...
News Pokémon X & Y Return to Top of Japanese Charts as 3DS Leads in Hardware
Wii U sales drop to 60,548
Update: Our original Japanese Charts post cited Media Create results from 4Gamer, but these appear to be incorrect. Our apologies for the error, and as an alternative below are the latest results from Famitsu. Earlier this week we found out how Nintendo had performed over the festive period in Japan, with 3DS and Wii U...
News Nintendo Open To Applying Zelda: Link Between Worlds Approach To Other Franchises
Could we see new Star Fox and Metroid games taking the same route?
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a unique title in the history of the franchise in that it uses an existing entry — A Link to the Past — as its foundation and builds new content on top of that. This strategy worked fantastically — as you'll be aware from our 10/10...
Matters of Import Drop Matching And Dragon Evolving In Puzzle & Dragons Z
This 3DS smash proves there is life after microtransactions
Puzzle & Dragons is popular wherever it’s available, but perhaps in its native Japan most of all. GungHo’s cash cow not only has regular tie-ins with big franchises like Monster Hunter, Taiko no Tatsujin and Hunter X Hunter, but has also generated an extensive range of merchandise...
News Pokémon Composer Leaves Game Freak for Independent Quest
Possibilities for the Poké-future still open
Shota Kageyama, a composer for recent Pokémon titles including X &Y and Black & White, has announced via Twitter that he has left developer Game Freak to pursue independent music. Kageyama's tweet has been translated and reported by
News Pokémon Bank Remains Offline in Japan as Nintendo Apologises for Issues
An economic crash
During the festive break the Nintendo Network encountered issues for over two days, with a number of new system owners combining with Christmas Day Pokémon Bank gamers in Japan to cause major problems. The downtime of the eShop platforms in particular was damaging in such a busy period; yet while the online stores have been back...
Feature Looking Back at Nintendo in 2013 - Part Two
Some highs, lows, and E3 madness
Yesterday we brought you the first part of our 2013 summary, which contained the thrills and spills of three Nintendo Direct broadcasts and a handful of major game releases. We did miss out on the story of Ubisoft delaying Rayman Legends in order to facilitate a multi-platform release, as was correctly pointed out to...
News 3DS Hack Removes Region Locking For Retail Cartridges
Plays legit cartridges only
It's no secret that some gamers would like Nintendo to drop its region locking policy, especially in light of major rivals doing just that with their latest systems. It's not a simple argument, as Nintendo has legitimate reasons and the demand for playing games from other regions is probably, when all is said and done,...
News Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson Is Bouncing Towards Japanese 3DS Consoles This August
Best of the breast
It has been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is currently in development for the 3DS and will be hitting Japanese store shelves in August. Like Senran Kagura Burst, the game will be a side-scrolling fighter packed with scantly-clad, large-chested female combatants. Burst developer Tamsoft...
News Level 5 Is Hard At Work On A New Game That Will "Surprise" Us
CEO hoping to move the gaming industry along
Level 5 is a thoughtful company, and not only because it is the developer behind the brain-bending goodness of Professor Layton. The studio is careful and considered in its evaluation of the current gaming industry, and is interested in how ''technology advances'' and is always striving to defy...
News Pokemon X and Y Come Out on Top in Japanese Software Rankings for 2013
Hardware figures for 3DS and Wii U also revealed
Famitsu is reporting that Nintendo didn't just dominate the Japanese Christmas charts, but it almost cleaned up the entire year too, taking nine out of the top ten total sales spots for the year. The only game to break that hold over Japanese gamers was Grand Theft Auto V on Playstation 3, and even...
Matters of Import Welcome To The Terrifying Yet Accessible World Of Monster Hunter 4
Something to get your teeth stuck into
Monster Hunter 4 is the latest and greatest in Capcom’s endlessly popular series of wildlife-bothering games, bringing even more areas to explore and new monsters to turn into breastplates and boots. Thankfully hunters come prepared for these new challenges with two new weapon types and the all-new ability to...
Rumour Mega Man Legends 3's Aero To Live On In Capcom iOS Title
Could the character live on despite the game being canned?
Sound Rangers: Rhythm & Battle! is an iOS title from Capcom which combines RPG elements with music-based combat — and it showcases a selection of famous characters from Capcom's history. Interestingly, Capcom has just revealed via Twitter that a new character is coming to the game —...
News Natsume Hints Toward Nintendo Announcements Before E3
Let's see what sprouts up
The puzzley adventure-platformer Yumi's Odd Odyssey (also affectionately known as Farewell Umihara Kawase) is slated for release by Natsume on the North American eShop sometime this month. Not much else is currently known about Natsume's future plans for the 3DS, but its Twitter account implies that we may know more by...
News Nintendo Ordered to Pay Royalties on 3DS Sales For Patent Infringement
1.82% of the wholesale price
Last year we told you about the ongoing patent dispute between Nintendo and Seijiro Tomita of Tomita Technologies USA. The case dated back to 2011, with Tomita arguing that the use of glasses-free 3D — in particular the 3D camera option — utilised his patented technology. Tomita had presented this technology to...
Feature Looking Back at Nintendo in 2013 - Part One
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times
We're already looking forward to the coming year here at Nintendo Life, picking some of our most anticipated Wii U and 3DS of 2014, while hoping for good times and another year of excellent gaming. Yet still, part of looking forward is understanding what's happened before, and as is our yearly...
News Masahiro Sakurai Confirms Separate Super Smash Bros. Trophies for Wii U and 3DS
Even more of them to collect
Masahiro Sakurai took a short break from posting daily Super Smash Bros. screens over the festive period, but has today made his triumphant return to the Miiverse Director's Room community. We'll be resuming our weekly summary from next week, but it may interest you to know that Sakurai-san has used his first post of...
First Impressions 3D After Burner II
GET READY!
Japanese code-shop M2’s range of Sega 3D Classics consistently puts everyone else’s retro remaster efforts in the shade, and the time we've spent with the Japanese version of 3D After Burner II yet again shows that the studio simply cannot be beaten when it comes to getting an arcade-accurate port running smoothly on the relatively...
News Nintendo Dominates Japanese Charts At Christmas
Not bad
Famitsu has released its multi-format sales figures for Japan, covering 23rd to 29th December. The title of this news post has given away who "won", but can you guess by how much? Wii U and 3DS games took eight out of the top ten positions, with the only non-Nintendo game to break it up being the Vita and Playstation 3 releases of Final...
News Inazuma Eleven Is Finding The Back Of The Net On North American 3DS Consoles This Year
Popular soccer RPG coming in Q1
Level-5's Inazuma Eleven series has become something of a hit in its native Japan, spawning an anime series, comic adaptation and countless other items of merchandise. The games have also been released in Europe, but thus far they have ignored North America — possibly down to soccer's relatively lowly status when...
Review Girls' Fashion Shoot (3DS)
Fashionably fun
It's apparently every young girl's dream to become a model - wearing the latest clothing trend, looking fabulous walking down the catwalk with photographers on the sidewalk capturing the moment. Girls' Fashion Shoot provides just that, but substituting the catwalk for magazine photo shoots while sitting comfortably at home. As the...
News Renegade Kid Teases Announcement for "FPS Lovers and 3DS Owners"
Engage speculation mode
We do like a good tease here on Nintendo Life, as developers dangle an announcement in front of our noses before snatching it away, with a wink and cheeky smile all we have to go on. Jools Watsham — co-founder of Renegade Kid — knows that some like a little bit of mystery, and has given us a taster with confirmation that...
News Western Version Of Bravely Default Features Costume Changes For Female Characters
Ages also bumped upwards
When Japanese games are localised for western release it's often the case that publishers such as Nintendo decide that certain elements need to be changed in order to make things suitable for a western audience. We saw this recently with Tharja's bottom in Fire Emblem: Awakening's DLC, and it would appear that Bravely...
News Genius Sonority Has Something "Challenging" In Store For Fans In 2014
Denpa Men studio working on new software this year
Genius Sonority has revealed in an interview with 4Gamer that it is hard at work on new content for 2014, and that it could prove to be quite a stern test for players. The Japanese company — famous for its Denpa Men series — isn't able to give a name to this new project yet, but president...
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