3DS News

June2012

  • News 3DS Leads Japanese Market to Year-on-Year Gains

    Nintendo dominates home country

    Strong performances from 3DS software and hardware saw the Japanese games market grow for the first time in two years. Between 26th December and 24th June, the Japanese market was worth 193.4 billion Yen, a 0.07% increase from 191.98bn over the same period last year. 63% of that figure came from software sales, up...

  • News Try New Super Mario Bros. 2 at Games Britannia Next Week

    Go for gold

    UK video game celebration Games Britannia will be the first opportunity for fans to try out New Super Mario Bros. 2 on Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo is bringing the platformer to Sheffield next week as part of its Nintendo Unleashed tour, alongside Kid Icarus: Uprising and 'quirky' (to say the least) Wii title Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise...

  • News Heroes of Ruin Demo Hits North America Next Week

    Out 5th July

    North American 3DS owners can try out upcoming action adventure Heroes of Ruin with a free demo on 5th July. The trial will be playable in single-player or multiplayer, both on and offline, and serves as a neat introduction to n-Space's ambitious 3DS game. If you're keen to know more, check out our Heroes of Ruin review for details.

  • News 3DS XL Will Get Its Own Circle Pad Pro

    All in good time

    Annoyed the 3DS XL won't support the standard Circle Pad Pro? Don't worry, the machine will get its own peripheral later this year. Satoru Iwata told shareholders that Nintendo will release an attachment for the larger machine later on in the year, but didn't share any more details like price, size or how hard it'd be hit with the...

  • News 3DS XL Footage and Hands-On Impressions Hit the Web

    Positives to tempt us all

    It's been less than a week since we first clapped eyes on 3DS XL, and there have been doubts for some about the potential positives of the system. From a technical perspective one concern has been the graphical fidelity of the original resolution on a bigger screen, alongside general curiosity about how the system feels to...

  • Talking Point 3DS XL - Why Now?

    The timing is both predictable and strange

    The upcoming release of 3DS XL, the sizeable update to the original model, is hardly a surprise. Nintendo has constantly iterated its handhelds in an effort to attract more consumers and, to put it bluntly, make a lot of money: we can’t even argue that the XL is arriving earlier than expected, as the gap...

  • News Project X Zone Hits Japan on 11th October

    Now, about that worldwide release...

    Project X Zone, the RPG mash-up featuring well-known characters from Capcom, SEGA and Namco Bandai franchises, has been generating a lot of hype in Japan. Teasing details about battle mechanics, featured characters and even the in-game music have been coming thick and fast, with the most important reveal so far...

  • Interview Farsight Studios - Pinball on Wii U, 3DS and Kickstarter

    Bringing tables onto your screens

    Farsight Studios has been in the gaming industry for over 20 years, but is probably best known for its extensive range of pinball titles including Pinball Hall of Fame — The Williams Collection on Wii and 3DS. The studio recently announced that its latest title, The Pinball Arcade will come to Wii U and 3DS, as...

  • News Rhythm Thief Producer Aims to Revive Music Games

    Hopes to immerse gamers in the story

    We rather liked Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure here at Nintendo Life, which has made the apparently underwhelming sales in Europe a particular disappointment. The title is set for release in North America on 10th July, however, and producer Shun Nakamura — who worked on Samba De Amigo on Dreamcast...

  • News Wreck-It Ralph Confirmed for Wii, 3DS and DS

    Not a surprise

    A little while ago we reported that Bowser would appear in Wreck-It Ralph, an upcoming Disney animated film. It's now been confirmed that Disney Interactive and Activision will collaborate on the game to accompany the movie: it'll be released on Wii, with separate versions for 3DS and DS. The game will be a side-scroller where you...

  • Talking Point The Pros and Cons of 3DS XL

    Weighing it all up

    The latest Nintendo Direct had its usual mix of game trailers and release details, but they were a distant priority behind the big opening act on each regional broadcast: announcement of 3DS XL. A remodelled 3DS had been rumoured and debated almost from the moment that the original hit stores, simply because Nintendo has a long...

  • Rumour Medal of Honor: Warfighter Coming to 3DS

    Pass the salt, please

    You may remember that, during E3, scans emerged that showed Game Informer magazine listing the latest Tomb Raider title for Wii U, with the publication releasing a correction shortly after to confirm that it was incorrect. Still, that hasn't stopped suspicious looking listings, not by a long way. Gameinformer.com has posted

  • News 3DS XL Trade Price is Just £146

    Updated: VAT makes trade rate roughly £167.50

    Article update MCV has now spoken to an alternative retail source, which states that the quoted trade rate of £146 is liable for VAT at around £21.50, making the actual rate about £167.50. With GameStop already going close to that figure at £169.97, perhaps that will be the lower end of the price...

  • News Kingdom Hearts 3D Trailer Goes With The Flow

    Flashy production values included

    Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is happily aboard the hype train ahead of its EU release on 20th July and North American arrival on 31st July. Alongside mentions on Nintendo Direct and the news that Nintendo will manage distribution in PAL regions, Square Enix has released a demo in Europe and started to...

  • News Major Retailers List 3DS XL at £179.99

    Updated prices - GameStop undercuts rivals

    Updated article This morning GameStop.co.uk has entered into the price-war by undercutting its rivals, below. GameStop.co.uk — £169.97 Original article After Friday's announcement of 3DS XL, European gamers faced the standard wait to see how the device would be priced by major retailers. The...

  • News Bigger Nintendo 3DS Console Revealed

    Updated with battery life, dimensions

    Nintendo will release a bigger Nintendo 3DS console later this year. The new console offers a 4.88" top screen, and the total viewing area on the top and bottom screens has increased by a massive 90%. According to Nintendo, it's the biggest screen ever available on a handheld Nintendo console, but the...

  • Talking Point Another Look at the News - 22nd June

    Topic hint: it's big

    It's Friday, but we're not going to share our weekend gaming plans with you today, remember that's every two weeks. Today we're starting a new feature series where members of staff pick a piece of Nintendo news from the week and give their own opinions, sometimes irreverent, on the story. Normally that would mean that each...

  • News Official 3DS XL Japanese Website Launches

    No blue in Nintendo's homeland

    Now that the new 3DS XL has been announced, Nintendo has wasted little time in launching an official website in Japan. Interestingly, Japan has red + black and silver + black models, like Europe and North America, but doesn't have the blue + black version, opting instead for an all-white console. The all-white version...

  • News 3DS XL UK Prices Will be Decided by Retailers

    Expect prices 'ASAP'

    One of the interesting announcements in the 3DS XL reveal today was a price-point of $199 in the U.S., a fairly good price considering that the original model cost $250 in March 2011. Nintendo did have to learn a cruel lesson that the original launch price wouldn't sell enough units, prompting a major reduction just months after...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Trailer is Informative

    Gold standard

    After years of competing, it looks like Mario's finally realised that Sonic's better. As New Super Mario Bros. 2 is all about the coins, one of Mario's new ways to earn gold is turning enemies into coins. How does he do this? By grabbing a gold ring, of course. A sneaky hat-tip to Mario's great rival or an out-and-out admission that...

  • News Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Teaser Trailer

    Hats off

    Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask is coming to Europe and North America later this year, and we have a teaser trailer to show more of Herschel and Luke's adventures. It's worth watching not just for the always impeccable animation quality and atmosphere, but because you get to see a young Herschel Layton without his trademark top hat...

  • News North American Nintendo Direct Round-Up (22nd June)

    Quick shots

    Didn't catch the most recent Nintendo Direct show? Let us summarise everything for you. Nintendo 3DS XL: After plenty of speculation, Nintendo revealed a bigger 3DS. The 3DS XL hits North America on 19th August for $199.99 in red or blue, and comes with a 4GB card.

  • News Ten Games Discounted in European eShop Sale

    Demos and free apps, too

    During this morning's Nintendo Direct broadcast in Europe it was announced that there would be a sale promotion on the platform, to celebrate its one year anniversary. Ten titles will be available at 20% off, with half being reduced this week and the others next week: details are below. 22/06/2012 — 14:59 CET 28/06/2012...

  • News Freakyforms Deluxe Announced for Europe

    Arrives 28th July

    Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! was one of Nintendo's earliest releases on the 3DS eShop, and during today's European Nintendo Direct broadcast Satoru Shibata confirmed that a full retail title in the series, Freakyforms Deluxe, will arrive on 28th July: the same day that the 3DS XL/LL hits. The retail title will offer a lot...

  • News New Animal Crossing 3DS Trailer Straight from Japan

    Serene mode engaged

    Angry that Animal Crossing won't reach Europe until 2013 and North America until... well, who knows when? Watch this new Japanese trailer for the game and all your stress might just melt away or, perhaps, become more strongly amplified. The video shows tonnes of new touches like solar panels to install outside, new shops and...

  • News Super Smash Bros. 3DS and Wii U Powers Up with Namco

    Dream team in place

    We weren't expecting news on Super Smash Bros. today, but Nintendo surprised us with the revelation that Namco Bandai staff are working on the Wii U and 3DS game. While series supremo Masahiro Sakurai will still direct the new instalments, top staff from Namco Bandai will pitch in too: Masaya Kobayashi has pledged his "best...

  • News Animal Crossing 3DS and Fire Emblem Hit Europe in 2013

    Lazy days

    Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata just confirmed two much-anticipated Nintendo 3DS titles, Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem: Awakening, will not reach 3DS until next year. Nintendo had previously announced Fire Emblem for 2012, but Shibata said Nintendo wants to work hard on developing the best games possible. Animal Crossing and...

  • News Watch the European Nintendo Direct Here

    Pull up a chair and stay a while!

    Nintendo of Europe will host a new Nintendo Direct presentation today at 5am UK time/6am Central European time. The video will focus on 3DS, DS and Wii and will feature announcements and content specifically tailored for Europe. It's hosted by Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata. Yes, we know it's early...

  • News 3DS Patent Can Tell When You've Returned Home

    Not as creepy as it sounds

    Back to the Future Part II's vision of 2015 was an intelligent house that greeted people as they walked in. "Welcome home, Marty!" it would say. "Lord of the manor, King of the castle!" Well, this new patent application from Nintendo might lead to that mythical home of the increasingly-near future. The patent shows a...

  • News North American Nintendo Direct Set for Tonight

    Nobody's left out

    North America gets a Nintendo Direct presentation tonight, focusing on games for 3DS, DS and Wii. The show kicks off tonight at 9pm Pacific time/12am Eastern time. That's the same time as Europe's Nintendo Direct. You can watch it at the Nintendo Direct site.

  • Review Heroes of Ruin (3DS)

    An heroic effort

    If Heroes of Ruin was judged purely on the level of ambition and functionality on display, it would be hailed as the finest title on 3DS. It takes the capabilities of the handheld and attempts to deliver a fully flavoured action RPG, with all of the online play and functionality that gamers could conceivably demand of a home console...

  • News Nintendo and Square Enix Sign Kingdom Hearts Deal

    Sales ahoy

    Nintendo's signed an arrangement with Square Enix that means the Big N will handle sales, marketing and distribution for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance across Europe, Australia and New Zealand. KH3D:DDD is released in PAL territories on 20th July, 11 days before North American players can sample its Disney delights. Nintendo has...

  • News There'll Be a New Nintendo Direct Tomorrow

    Times inside

    Nintendo of Japan's announced a new Nintendo Direct presentation for tomorrow, focusing on 3DS and Wii. The show starts on 22nd June at 12 midday Japan time. Europe will get its own show from Satoru Shibata at 5am UK time/6am Central European Time (12 midnight Eastern/9pm Pacific.) This show for Europe will focus mostly on Nintendo...

  • News Yuzo Koshiro Really Likes Kid Icarus: Uprising's Multiplayer

    Killer beats

    Legendary musician Yuzo Koshiro is best known for his soundtracks to The Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage and Sonic the Hedgehog on Master System, but he's also a killer at Kid Icarus: Uprising. Uprising supremo Masahiro Sakurai spoke to Cubed3 and revealed

  • Review Rayman Origins (3DS)

    Limbless, but not limp

    Rayman Origins has had a long trip to reach 3DS; it was supposed to be released in March, and while it's out now in Europe it won't make it to North America until November. Europeans can enjoy it in 3D for the first time, but if you've already played it on one of the myriad other platforms you might want to think twice before...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Art Brings Back Old Favourites

    Power-ups and Koopalings in tow

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 is a real homage to Super Mario World, what with Reznor and everything, but there are more SMW nods in store. This artwork from Nintendo shows off the Koopalings in Bowser's clown car/copter combo, plus other released images reveal the return of the Mega Mushroom, Mini Mushroom and old staples...

  • News Photos from Nintendo UK's Another Dimension Events

    Do not adjust your sets

    Your eyes do not deceive you: the gallery below does indeed feature photographs of renowned birdwatcher Bill Oddie and pop group The Saturdays. No, we haven't finally lost it and decided to turn Nintendo Life into a celebrity gossip blog — the famous faces came out to support Nintendo UK's Another Dimension photography...

  • News Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns European Release Date

    Start farming on 29th June

    A while back we reported that Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns 3D was on its way to PAL regions, which seemed more than likely considering the support that Rising Star Games had shown for localising the franchise in previous years. This well-known secret has now been confirmed through a press release, for Europe anyway,...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Goes on the Road with Big Time Rush

    Mario on tour

    Nintendo of America has certainly shown a willingness to team up with others to spread awareness of the major 3DS game releases, taking Mario Tennis Open on a tour with the USTA for example. More 3DS systems are preparing to hit the road in the latest partnership, with Mario Kart 7 joining Nickelodeon’s Big Time Summer Tour. This...

  • News LEGO Batman 2 Launch Trailer is Super

    A true blockbuster

    LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes arrives today on Wii and 3DS in North America, with Europe only having to wait until the end of this week. The LEGO titles are prolific and consistently similar, but clearly have something going for them with the sheer range of franchises and sequels released. As the name suggests, this is the...

  • News Castlevania: Mirror of Fate "Definitely Not Metroidvania"

    Back and forth

    The first part of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow — Mirror of Fate's subtitle should be enough to tip you off that this is very much part of the series' modern lineage, linking as it does to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow on PS3. Series supremo Dave Cox has told Siliconera while there's plenty of ex

  • News Smash Bros. Wii U Wait Could Be Even Longer Than We Thought

    Stock up on calendars

    Masahiro Sakurai has told fans eagerly awaiting Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS there could be an even longer wait ahead than expected. The project was announced at E3 2011 but as Sakurai only finished Kid Icarus: Uprising earlier this year he's not had a lot of time to ponder the next brawler. Sakurai told Nintendo Power...

  • News Bomb Monkey Gets Explosive New Site

    North American release may be this month

    Renegade Kid has already brought us the highly-rated Mutant Mudds on the 3DS eShop recently, with European gamers finally getting the chance to download it this week. A little while ago the developer announced a new title hot-on-the-heels of its retro platformer, with puzzler Bomb Monkey bringing an entirely...

  • News Nintendo Continues Software Dominance in Japan

    But struggles in UK

    Today brings mixed news on software sales for Nintendo, though perhaps it's a positive in the market that brings the big N the most success. In Japan, Andriasang has translated results published by Enterbrain and Famitsu that show Nintendo as the biggest selling software publisher for May. Covering the period for 30th April to...

  • Round Table Let's Talk About a Year of the 3DS eShop

    Filling up those SD cards

    This week we've celebrated one year of the 3DS eShop, with our own top ten eShop games and a retrospective on a year of the platform. To round off the week a few members of the team discuss the eShop's first year and consider the positives so far, and where it can improve. Joining features editor Thomas Whitehead are...

  • News Mercury Steam Talks Up 3DS for Castlevania: Mirror of Fate

    Would like to work on Contra

    One of the third-party titles that caught the eye ahead of and during E3 was Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate on 3DS, with a trailer boasting impressive graphics and the prospect of 2.5D monster-whipping action. The developer, Mercury Steam, has already suggested that it'll combine a focus of action with...

  • News 3DS Enjoys Sales Increase in U.S. Chart

    Better than May 2011

    Today saw the monthly NPD data release, which provides sales details for gaming software and hardware in the U.S. The results for May didn't feature any Nintendo titles in the software top ten, possibly due to a fairly heavy-hitting month of releases on other platforms. There was some positive news for Nintendo, as 3DS was the...

  • News Project X Zone Rocking Over 45 Music Tracks

    Suggestion of 90 characters, too

    Project X Zone, the intriguing RPG-strategy title that features a crossover of characters from Capcom, SEGA and Namco Bandai, appears to be getting plenty of hype ahead of its release in Japan this year. Information is slowly being revealed through the title's blog page, and the lovely people over at Andriasang have...

  • Feature One Year of the 3DS eShop

    Happy birthday!

    You might not have noticed with a little thing called E3 going on, but last week the Nintendo 3DS eShop turned one year old. Though the service started slowly, not even making it to the system's launch, it has morphed over the course of the last 12 months to become the decent digital portal that DSiWare and WiiWare should always have...

  • News Pinball Arcade: The Twilight Zone Hits Kickstarter Target

    Flipping for an extra Star Trek table

    A few weeks ago we learned that Pinball Arcade is on the way to 3DS and Wii U, and also that developer FarSight Studios had launched a Kickstarter funding page to gain the license, at a cost of $55,000, to digitize the highly-regarded table for The Twilight Zone. The positive news is that the target has been...

  • News Zelda Remakes Still Part of Nintendo's Quest

    Miyamoto weighing up two distinct options

    Ever since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D arrived on 3DS, fans of the series have been eager to see what's next. Our team had hopes, before they were cruelly dashed, that an all-new Zelda entry would be teased for 3DS at E3. Judging on comments made by Shigeru Miyamoto to IGN, however, it seems that...

  • News Miyamoto Talks Down Idea of 3DS Redesign

    Thinking about 'future generation of handheld'

    On the cusp of E3 we reported a rumour, from Japanese newspaper Nikkei, that Nintendo was planning to announce a bigger 3DS, which was subsequently denied by Nintendo. It wasn't the first time that talk of a 3DS redesign had surfaced, with previous rumours of an amended system that would include a...

  • News Mario and Kim Cattrall Star in New 3DS Advert

    Run Mario run!

    Advertising in video games is a funny business, and we've seen Nintendo hook up with a lot of different celebrities to promote Wii, DS and 3DS in recent years. The latest team up is with Kim Cattrall, of Sex and the City fame, who appears to promote Super Mario 3D Land and, sorry North Americans, the Ice White 3DS system. It's a...

  • News Balloon Pop Remix Rated for 3DS

    Extra 3D popping included?

    Nintendo's download platforms haven't been lacking for match-3 puzzle titles, and Balloon Pop Festival from UFO Interactive was one of quite a few on WiiWare. That said, it was a thoroughly decent, colourful title that earned a respectable 7/10 in our Balloon Pop Festival review, though it seems that it was only released...

  • News Nintendo's Tips for Top 3D Photos

    UK competition ends on Sunday

    As some of you — specifically those of you based in the UK — may be aware, Nintendo has been running a 3D photo competition alongside the Royal Photographic Society, with the winners in line for a trip to Paris. It closes on 17th June and you can still read about the photography competition details, or the Another...

  • First Impressions Bomb Monkey

    Monkey + bombs = puzzler fun

    When you mention developer Renegade Kid's name, some gamers' minds immediately gravitate towards the spine-chilling first-person shooters the developer has created like Dementium and Moon. So when the group released its retro platformer Mutant Mudds, most were fairly caught by surprise. There's another surprise as...

  • Feature Our Top Ten eShop Games

    A year of old and new

    The Nintendo 3DS eShop recently turned one year old, a year that's seen updates, a new look and a broad range of games. In its early weeks it struggled with a lack of exclusive releases, but after a year we've seen a number of developers pitching in on the service with high quality titles. The 3DS Virtual Console has also...

  • News Nintendo Seeks Britain's Fastest Mario Kart 7 Family

    Start your engines

    Mario Kart 7 has been racing around on 3DS screens since late last year, so many of us are probably getting pretty fast by now. That said, there's always someone with an online rank of 15,000 that blows the competition away. Nintendo is keen to encourage families of 3DS gamers to put that practice to good use, with a competition...

  • News Project Happiness to Put a Smile on 3DS Owners' Faces

    Open the TOYBOX

    That Project Happiness trailer we showed you last week certainly looked cute, but we didn't know if it would definitely come to Nintendo platforms. And now we know it will, we have an excuse to show it again. Publisher Rising Star Games confirmed the game will reach Nintendo 3DS and mobile platforms. Project Happiness is the new...

  • E3 2012 Our View of Nintendo's E3

    Did Nintendo win?

    The E3 displays and demo booths have all been packed up and tired exhibitors have gone home, so now we can reflect on what happened in Los Angeles and contemplate how Nintendo performed. A few members of the team provided a short review of Nintendo's E3 press conference hours after it finished, with a general consensus that while...

  • Poll Which 3DS Game at E3 Got You Most Excited?

    Only one can triumph

    After we asked which Wii U game got you excited? we want to know how you felt about the line-up for 3DS. Unsurprisingly Nintendo first-party games dominated the poll, but there were good showings from Konami and Square Enix. Paper Mario: Sticker Star — 75 Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon — 62

  • E3 2012 3DS Software Showcase Trailer Round-Up

    Luigi, Mario and more

    If you missed last night's 3DS software showcase you didn't miss a whole lot, to be honest, but we've collated the trailers and bundled them all up into this very post all the same. Each game page has also been updated with new screenshots, artwork and official details, so click through to see what's new. Luigi's Mansion:...

  • E3 2012 Get to the NA eShop for Some New 3DS Demos

    Try 'em out

    If you're hankering for some new 3DS demos, you're in luck. Last night Nintendo announced that there'll be several new third party demos coming to the North American eShop in the near future. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes should be available right now, but you'll soon also be able to get your paws on trials of The Amazing Spider-Man,...

  • E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Gets Co-operative

    Double your money

    Here's a feature everybody's been wanting for New Super Mario Bros. 2 — it has a two player co-operative mode. You can run through the entire 3DS platformer alongside a friend, taking control of a Mario Bro. each. There are a couple of stumbling blocks though: both players need to own a copy of the game, and it's also only...

  • E3 2012 Reggie Confirms Fire Emblem Awakening for America

    Everybody gets a turn

    Although there was no mention of it during last night's 3DS software showcase, Fire Emblem: Awakening is coming to North America. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed to IGN the turns-based strategy RPG will make it across the Atlantic, but at the moment we don't know any more. Nintendo Europe recently...

  • E3 2012 Epic Mickey 3DS Daubs Shelves 18th November

    Pretty in paint

    Last night's 3DS Software Showcase wasn't the frenzy of new games that was anticipated, but some good came of it: a US release date for Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion. DreamRift's portable take on the series will arrive on North American shores on 18th November 2012. Co-founder / creative director at DreamRift Peter Ong...

  • E3 2012 Nintendo's 3DS Software Showcase Live

    What will we see?

    Nintendo's hosting a 3DS software showcase to spend more time talking about its range of upcoming 3DS games. And you know what? We're going to be covering it live right on this very page. It all kicks off at 6pm Pacific — that's 9pm Eastern and 2am UK time. Don't forget the comments will automatically refresh so kick back,...

  • News Dragon Quest 3D Smashes 500k Sales in Its First Week

    Terry's wonderful

    3DS remake Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D has shot to the top of the Japanese charts with an incredible 513,183 units sold in its first week. The much-anticipated release sent 3DS hardware sales over 100,000 units, shifting 101,075 in a week, a near-90% increase on the previous week's 55,212 sales. Thanks to Dragon...

  • Reaction Your Opinions on Nintendo's E3 Conference

    A mixed bag

    Nintendo E3 conferences are a funny business, with just 70 minutes to try and please as many people as possible: not an easy task. This year Nintendo went big with Wii U and showed off a variety of first and third party titles, covering a lot of bases. Of course, it's easy to focus on what wasn't revealed, but ultimately we do have big...

  • News Heroes of Ruin Demo Available This Week

    In Europe, at least

    While the summer may traditionally be a quiet period for new releases, 3DS has some promising titles on the way. One of these, Heroes of Ruin, arrives in Europe on 15th June, while it's hitting North America a bit later on 17th July. According to Eurogamer.net, this week's download update in Europe will include a Heroes of Ruin...

  • E3 2012 Every 3DS Game Announced So Far

    Plus three Pokémon DS games

    We're yet to have a genuine 3DS fix at this year's E3, with the handheld only having the briefest of mentions in the main press conference. It does have its own showcase lined up, but until that arrives we have full list of confirmed titles for you. Check them out below. 3DS:

  • E3 2012 Paper Mario: Sticker Star Shots and Details

    Sticker round

    After a long wait, Nintendo finally brought Paper Mario: Sticker Star out of the cupboard and slapped a holiday release date on the box. Mario's thin adventure has a sticky addition with — predictably — stickers, which can be used both in and out of battle. Intelligent Systems — surely having a busy time with Game & Wario in...

  • E3 2012 3DS Downloads on the Way

    Plenty for all tastes

    Nintendo has unveiled a list of upcoming download titles on the 3DS eShop with some release periods for us to take in. There aren't any specific dates, but we at least have an idea of when we can expect the titles to arrive. These are all North American details, but we'll optimistically hope that PAL region releases won't be...

  • E3 2012 Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Shots and Details

    Boo

    Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is finally coming to 3DS this holiday season, and while there's no new trailer to share with you we do have some new screenshots and details to share with you. There'll be multiple mansions to explore, each with unique ghosts and puzzles to solve. It's out for 3DS before Christmas. Ghostly Adventures Await in...

  • E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Trailer Goes for Gold

    Believe in your soul

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 was one of just three 3DS games shown off during Nintendo's E3 conference, but the publisher clearly hopes it'll set a new gold standard as the precious metal is all over the place. The new Golden Flower power-up gives Mario the ability to fire golden balls that turn blocks and enemies into coins, and...

  • E3 2012 LEGO City Undercover Infiltrates Wii U, 3DS

    Building blocks

    LEGO City Undercover is essentially Grand Theft Auto LEGO. Consider it bought. Rather than causing trouble, you'll be stopping crime as a blocky cop. It looks to play up the parody factor quite high: we spied The Matrix, some very OTT takes on kung fu action films and the ability to build up a very familiar green pipe. Once known...

  • E3 2012 Paper Mario Sticker Star Out This Holiday Season

    Flat and 3D at once

    Paper Mario Sticker Star, after a long period of silence, has been confirmed for a Holiday release on 3DS. As the title suggests, there'll be plenty of sticker collecting involved, which will then be used as items and attacks. It's also confirmed that it'll be available as both physical and digital downloads, which is as we...

  • E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. 2 Jumps onto 3DS 19th August

    Get your fire flowers ready

    Hold onto your hats: New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be coming to Nintendo 3DS in the US on 19th August. The latest pillar of the 2D Mario revival was scheduled at Nintendo's E3 press conference. We'll learn more about the game tomorrow at a show just for 3DS tomorrow night. It'll be broadcast live on e3.nintendo.com at 6pm...

  • E3 2012 Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon to Launch This Christmas

    Multiple mansions await Mario's bro

    Nintendo has confirmed that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon - which has a new subtitle in the form of Dark Moon - will be putting the willies up 3DS owners this Christmas. A sequel to the GameCube launch title Luigi's Mansion, Dark Moon features more ghost-busting action, but this time Luigi has more than one building...

  • E3 2012 Scribblenauts Unlimited Drawn Into Wii U and 3DS

    Fantabulistic

    The Scribblenauts series had two entries on DS, earning praise for its creativity and charm. It's been confirmed that the series is coming not only to 3DS, but also in glorious HD on Wii U with Scribblenauts Unlimited. It'll include a multiplayer mode, with one player customising the characters and objects on the GamePad while the...

  • News Nyko Tries to Make Circle Pad Pro Pretty

    Extends battery life, tries to stay out of ugly tree

    The 3DS Circle Pad Pro isn't widely loved, it's safe to say, with comments around the peripheral ranging from 'it's OK and works' to 'OMG WTF!!!'. Much of the attention when it released was around arguments that 3DS should have included two Circle Pads in its design, and also that it was...

  • Rumour Tomodachi Collection 3DS Coming to the West

    With a brand new name

    We've just heard an interesting pre-E3 rumour: Nintendo could announce a localisation of Tomodachi Collection for 3DS. We've heard whispers a Nintendo game known as Communicator Gamers Collection is on the way to the West, which would certainly fit as Tomodachi Collection's new title. Nintendo has said we'll hear about new...

  • E3 2012 Yes, We Will See New 3DS Games Today

    Which is nice

    All this talk of Wii U and the most recent Nintendo Direct has put poor 3DS in the shade. Well don't worry, the little handheld that can will get its chance to shine again during Nintendo's E3 press conference today. Despite saying it'll focus on Wii U software, Nintendo confirmed it will reveal new games for 3DS today, promising a...

  • E3 2012 Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Gameplay Whips Into Action

    The Belmont clan are back

    The Belmont clan is synonymous with the Castlevania franchise, with descendants often picking up the mantle of defeating Dracula and saving the world. In Nintendo handheld entries you haven't always necessarily been in charge of an iconic Belmont vampire-slayer, something that the upcoming 3DS title Castlevania: Lords of...

  • News Nintendo Denies 3DS Redesign, Wii U Price Revelation

    So there you are

    Nintendo Japan has issued a statement denying the earlier rumours of a redesigned 3DS and Wii U price information. The strongly-worded statement says Nikkei's story isn't based on information released by Nintendo and is full of mistakes, which both sort of mean the same thing. Guess we'll find out the real truth tomorrow (or...

  • News Gunlord Creator NG:DEV.TEAM Keen to Work on 3DS

    More glorious 2D action coming to Nintendo's handheld?

    If you're suffering from E3 overload right now, allow us to divert your attention to a tasty bit of news relating to German indie studio NG:DEV.TEAM. We've already covered the developer's excellent run-and-gun platformer Gunlord - better described as 'Turrican and them some' - but at the time of

  • Rumour Nintendo to Announce Bigger 3DS Tomorrow

    Nikkei at it again

    Update: Nintendo has denied the rumour. Japanese newspaper Nikkei — which has proven right about Nintendo rumours on many occasions — is reporting we'll see a new 3DS model announced tomorrow. The paper claims we'll see a 3DS redesign boasting a 4.3 inch screen, approximately 1.5 times larger than the current machine. Nikkei...

  • News Kingdom Hearts 3D Gets New E3 Trailer

    DDDlightful

    Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is out next month, but the publisher doesn't want you to forget about it in the upcoming E3 rush, so it's put out a new trailer to keep it fresh in your mind. Mickey, Donald and friends reach Nintendo 3DS in late July, and you can get a taste for their upcoming adventure in the video...

  • News Atlus Will Bring Code of Princess to North America

    Guardian heroes

    Atlus has just announced it'll release Code of Princess on 3DS in North America this Fall. The new action RPG from the creators of SEGA Saturn classic Guardian Heroes, Code of Princess is a 3DS exclusive and comes with online cooperative and competitive play. Eager players can pre-order the game now and receive a free art book and...

  • News Mutant Mudds Closer to European Release

    21st June is a possibility

    The eShop release schedule can be unpredictable. Sometimes North America and Europe get titles on the same day, sometimes there's a brief delay in one region, while on other occasions one side is left waiting for far too long. For European 3DS gamers, Mutant Mudds definitely falls into that last category. It arrived in...

  • News NightSky Rated for North America

    On its way at long last

    NightSky has had a long, drawn out history in the eyes of many eager Nintendo gamers. The attractive action-physics puzzler was in the works for WiiWare way back in 2009, but then the updates went silent and we heard very little about it, the Wii release drifting away. The good news is that the 3DS eShop appears to be going...

  • News You Shall Not Pass This LEGO Lord of the Rings Trailer

    The voice

    LEGO Lord of the Rings on Wii and 3DS is happening this year, and Warner Bros. has released the first trailer of the blocky epic. Like the earlier LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes trailer, the characters in LEGO LotR speak, with dialogue taken straight from the films. Make up your own minds about that one. The game spans all three films...

  • News Shinobi Joins Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed

    New tracks too

    Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed for 3DS — and, in all likelihood, Wii U — isn't just about boats, cars and planes. It's about ninjas and air pirates and axe-wielding dwarves, too. SEGA's just confirmed that Shinobi legend Joe Musashi will be a playable character, following-up his appearance as a bonus character in last...

  • News Nintendo UK and British Film Institute Team Up on 3DS

    Competition and 3D content on the way

    In recent weeks Nintendo UK has been making an effort to encourage 3DS gamers to make use of the camera on the system, expanding its photo competition with celebrity events in the 'Another Dimension' initiative. It's now going even further to promote use of the 3D video recorder, with a competition for budding...

  • News Some Club Nintendo Coin Values Will Change on 1st July

    Full details inside

    The number of Club Nintendo Coins you'll get for registering certain games will change on 1st July. For some games, the number will decrease; for some, it'll increase. If you want to see whether you should register those games now or wait until 1st July, check out our handy charts, straight from Club Nintendo. Page 1: 3DS...

  • News Castlevania: Mirror of Fate Teaser Video Drops In

    Don't expect much

    Castlevania: Lords of Shadow — Mirror of Fate is coming to 3DS, but Konami's not ready to show it off just yet. Instead, as part of its pre-E3 conference, it's released a teaser video promising more next week. When we say 'teaser' video we really mean it: there's not even a snifter of gameplay here, just lots of arty blood...

May2012

  • News The Inflatable Kart Now Works With Your Nintendo 3DS

    Let your joy ring out!

    Those inflatable Wii karts are great, but what are you supposed to do when you migrate from Mario Kart Wii to Mario Kart 7? CTA Digital has you covered, revamping the kart to support 3DS as well as Wii. Slot your 3DS console into the steering wheel and turn away in games that support gyro controls. Interestingly the press...

  • News 3DS Patent Covers Vibrating Stylus, New Kinds of Control

    The plot thickens

    Nintendo's filed a patent for a new kind of input on 3DS — one that requires no physical contact with the console at all. The application uses the 3DS console's inner-facing camera along with a stylus to manipulate 3D images on the top screen without the need for buttons, touch screen or moving the console. The inward-facing...

  • News Rabbids Rumble Confirmed for 3DS

    We knew it

    A few weeks back we unearthed an age rating for Rabbids Rumble and Ubisoft gave us no comment. Now we know the game's real, as we have a press release and assets. Rabbids Rumble has minigames — of course — but also has a turns-based combat system that promises "intense battles mixing tactics with the Rabbid’s classic wackiness"...

  • Feature How Nintendo Can Win E3

    Drop the bomb

    The time is nearly here. In just a few days, Nintendo has to make the presentation of its lifetime at E3 2012. After being hit by the first losses in the company's history in recent months, and with the weight of proving a brand new home console's worth on its shoulders, there's no doubt that nailing this conference is crucial. It'll...