3DS News
October2013
A Rune of one's own
The Harvest Moon series has become something of a standby over the last decade or so, so it's easy to forget just how revolutionary it was when it first hit the Super Nintendo back in 1996. An RPG where players progressed not by fighting battles or banishing evil, but by tending gently to the land, caring for animals, and finding...
Feature Our Favourite, Quirky and Baffling Pokémon X & Y Moments So Far
If in moral doubt, stuff 'em with Poké Puffs
Pokémon X & Y has been in stores for a little over a week, and we imagine some 3DS gamers have devoted more hours to the game in that time than they'd care to admit. Gotta catch 'em all really means "gotta play the game until my eyes pack in". While both X & Y are all about the serious business...
News Eiji Aonuma Confirms Minor Changes to A Link Between Worlds to Accommodate 2DS
3D is still recommended, however
Although it has a top-down perspective, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds has certainly been a title with a focus on utilising the auto-stereoscopic screen of the 3DS. Nintendo has proudly shown off the fact that the title runs at 60fps (frames-per-second) with 3D enabled, and various puzzles and dungeons...
News Get a 2DS + Animal Crossing: New Leaf for £129.99 at Nintendo UK Store
Not a bad price to indebt your life to a raccoon
Should you happen to be in the market for a brand new 2DS and a copy of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, then just sidle on into the inconspicuous tent the Nintendo UK store has set up in the town plaza. The online store is currently offering a 2DS of either colour paired up with New Leaf for £129.99, a...
News Hey Australia! You're Getting The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Chest Too!
Will be a free gift with pre-orders at EB Games
Earlier this week Nintendo confirmed a special musical chest would be a special bonus for those who pre-order The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on 3DS at GAME in the UK. As it turns out, the lovely little gift is actually part of a limited edition set exclusive to the retailer that also...
News Batman: Arkham Origins and Blackgate Delayed in Europe
Only on Nintendo systems and PC, though
When it comes to the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins, its relationship with the Wii U has been rather frosty, which is appropriate as the Dark Knight will be beating on thugs in a Winter setting. Nintendo's system is missing out on the multiplayer mode — which itself is a first for the series — and it's...
Video These Fans at the Pokémon X & Y New York Launch Had a Jolly Time
Happy faces everywhere
The launch of Pokémon X & Y may have been an event to savour for many fans, but the official event at the Nintendo World Store in New York seemed to go all out. With a lot of gamers in attendance of all ages, it seems that the desire to experience the release with many others was a big attraction. Nintendo's now released...
News GameStop Advert Offers A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL and Luigi Bundle
It was inevitable
Earlier in the week we shared the happy news — and some pretty images — of a limited edition The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL model coming to Europe, alongside the rather attractive Luigi 3DS XL that's been available in Japan for a number of months. A GameStop Black Friday ad in the US seems to reveal that the...
News Nintendo Working on Fix for Pokémon X & Y Game Breaking Bug
Provides advice on avoiding and resolving the issue in future
Update: There has now been an official English translation of Nintendo's notification, which advises that the fix in question will be an application to download from the eShop; this will then restore corrupted save data. There's also an English version of the map, showing the blue areas...
News GAME Offers Musical Chest With Collector's Edition of A Link Between Worlds
There's the rub...
Earlier this week Nintendo announced that GAME would offer a musical chest with pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between World, and then — bizarrely — GAME backtracked and said it had nothing to announce. For those that wanted the rather fun-looking collectible, it was both confusing and disappointing. The situat
Smaller screens, bigger problems
Due to the disparity between technical capabilities, it's tough for a dual Wii U / 3DS release to hold up on the portable device that's captivated tens of millions of gamers. So let's just toss that comparison aside and acknowledge that much of the 3DS iteration of Sonic Lost World is following the same principles...
News 3DS Tops NPD Hardware Charts Once Again, As Wii U Sales Increase More Than 200%
Nintendo talks up momentum for both systems
It's NPD results time for US video game sales, and though the numbers are often debated due to their focus on physical retail, they nevertheless provide some useful data to gauge Nintendo's performance in such an important market. Nintendo has taken the opportunity to rush out of the gate to reveal its...
News UK Retailer GAME Less Than Happy With Rivals Ignoring Pokémon X & Y Street Date
"We are seeing street date breaches occur on a frequent basis"
Last week saw the release of Pokémon X & Y on the Nintendo 3DS, unquestionably one of the year's biggest releases. Nintendo took the brave step of releasing the game globally on the same day — October 12th — which meant that everyone could experience the adventure together,...
Artwork Increase Your Desktop Awesomeness With These Pokémon X & Y Wallpapers
It's Super Effective, catch 'em both and so on...
Not so long ago we provided you with a rather attractive wallpaper for The Wonderful 101, which was downloaded over 1000 times. As so many of you clearly like having a high-res and snazzy wallpaper of an awesome game, it makes sense to do the same for Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. The two releases have...
News Hulu Plus Now Available on the 3DS in the US
For realsies
In October 2011 we heard that Hulu Plus was coming to the 3DS, and then we heard that it was still in the works in January 2012; then we probably wrote it off as the months drifted by. It may have been two years in the making, but Nintendo has now announced that a new Hulu Plus app will be available to download from the 3DS eShop today...
News XSEED Aiming For November Release For Busty Anime Brawler Senran Kagura Burst
Download version will take up less than 2GB of space on your 3DS SD card
Publisher XSEED has revealed that Senran Kagura Burst should be out in North America some time next month, and that the 3DS eShop version of the game will have a download file size of less than 2GB. The news was posted on the company's Facebook page: November-ish on the...
Hardware Here's What The Nintendo 2DS Looks Like With Its Clothes Off
Nintendo's new console gets pulled apart in these exclusive shots
Last week saw the release of the 2DS, the latest member of Nintendo's popular line of 3DS handhelds. Most of those who were lucky enough to pick up one of these systems will have been enjoying the new form factor and highly portable nature of the device, while others will have been...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Heading Down Under in November
Will arrive a day later than Europe
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is scheduled to arrive on next month in Europe, while North America will be able to embark on the adventure at some point in 2014. Being a PAL region, it was never really in doubt gamers in Australia and New Zealand would receive the highly anticipated puzzler at around the...
News Eiji Aonuma Explains Why The Legend of Zelda Isn't a Yearly Franchise
Quality is the key
Time has played a key role in many of the games in The Legend of Zelda series, and it would seem that it's also quite important when it comes to its development. In a recent interview with Shack News Eiji Aonuma explained why we don't see our favourite green-garbed hero on a yearly basis, as per Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed...
News Refurbished 3DS Systems on Sale at Nintendo Online Store
Includes discontinued Aqua Blue
Looking to save a bit of coin on a 3DS or a 3DS XL? You might want to consider a newly discounted refurbished unit from the Nintendo Online Store. Nintendo has taken an extra $10 of several varieties of its handheld. The Aqua Blue and Midnight Purple 3DSes are now $109.99 while the Blue/Black and Red/Black 3DS XL...
News GAME Issues Update to Backtrack on Musical Chest Offer With A Link Between Worlds Pre-Orders
That link is now in the past
Earlier this week we shared the rather pleasing news that GAME would be offering a musical chest with pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, a rather nifty little collectible that plays the famous "Ta-da-da-daaa" sound when opened. That was announced by Nintendo UK, yet GAME has now rather strangely...
News Pokémon X & Y Pass 1.8 Million Retail Sales to Top Japanese Charts
Monster Hunter 4 in third, Wii U hardware sales drop further
When it comes to confirming the software number one in this week's Japanese Media Create software charts, it's a predictable task. Pokémon X & Y has stormed to the top spot with over 1.8 million sales at retail, just beating the week one sales of Monster Hunter 4. Capcom's title has...
News Game Breaking Pokémon X & Y Bug Affecting Some Gamers in Europe and Japan
Darn...
We're sure millions of 3DS owners are currently merrily playing Pokémon X or Y — or both if they're really keen — but some seem to be running into issues. It's being widely reported that some European and Japanese owners are running into a bug that corrupts their save and, unfortunately, prompts them to restart the game from scratch...
News A Third Limited Edition Monster Hunter 4 3DS Model Emerges in Japan
The West says hi, Capcom!
Monster Hunter 4 has been a bit of a triumph since its release in Japan, surpassing three million sales already and in the process easily hitting Capcom's targets. It's been a positive for Nintendo, too, as it can cite the substantial success of a third-party exclusive on the 3DS. It's certainly been a strong partnership...
Rumour Cryptic Messages In Pokémon X & Y Hint At Forthcoming Ruby & Sapphire Remake
Or is Game Freak just teasing us?
Pokémon X & Y may have only just hit the 3DS, but there are people out there who want more — namely remakes of Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire. There have been calls from fans for Game Freak and Nintendo to update these classic entries, and if mysterious hints left in X & Y are anything to go by, the wait...
News Sonic Lost World Producer Admits "There Was a Struggle in 3D Sonic Games"
Takashi Iizuka tells us about moving forward on Wii U and 3DS
With its arrival in Europe this week, SEGA fans are no doubt gearing up to put Sonic Lost World through its paces, either on Wii U or 3DS. The blue blur still has a number of highly dedicated fans, and one guaranteed way to pick a fight online is to make a generic comment along the lines...
Poll Did You Pick Up Pokémon X, Pokémon Y or Both?
The ultimate choice...
Based on confirmed sales, social networks, the most active threads on our forums and general chit-chat, it seems that lots of 3DS owners are playing Pokémon X & Y. Of course, we write Pokémon X & Y in a way that perhaps doesn't make clear that they're separate releases, and with any new 'mon generation there's always...
News Pokémon X & Y Sell Over Four Million Copies Worldwide in Just Two Days
The fastest-selling 3DS games of all time
The excitement and buzz around Pokémon X & Y ahead of their worldwide launch was extraordinary, and it seems that the perceived hype has converted into big sales for the titles. Nintendo has announced that the two releases, combined, sold over four million copies in just two days, on Saturday 12th and...
First Impressions Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
A "Risky" new title
While Wayforward Technologies' Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is one of Nintendo Life's more anticipated upcoming eShop titles, the critically acclaimed series has yet to resonate with the "mass market," likely because the original had the misfortune of being released on Game Boy Color at the end of its life cycle and its sequel...
News Monster Hunter 4 Surpasses Three Million Sales in Japan
Including download numbers
As we've reported in recent weeks, Monster Hunter 4 has been achieving particularly impressive sales since its launch in Japan, moving quickly towards Capcom's targets. The company had anticipated 2.8 million sales by the end of March 2014, yet has now confirmed that the title has already surpassed three million sales at...
Weirdness Uh-Oh, That Guy Who Likes To Microwave Things Got His Hands On A 2DS
Confirms the "single screen" theory in the most brutal way possible
YouTube user dOvetastic likes to microwave consumer products for his own twisted entertainment, and films the results so the wider world can share in his rather disturbing pastime. You might recall his previous videos featuring a 3DS XL and Wii U. He's managed to secure a brand new...
News Nintendo Announces Luigi and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL Models
New Zelda title to have reversible cover, too
While we often bemoan the absence of some particularly snazzy 3DS hardware designs in the West, we today have some happy news to share. The previously Japan-only Luigi 3DS XL model is coming to Europe on 1st November, and a special The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL is also being released...
News GAME Offers Music-Playing Chest With A Link Between Worlds Pre-Orders
It plays exactly what you think it does
Follow along, children: The Link goes “YAHHHH!” The Navi goes “HEY!” And the item chest goes “Ta-da-da-DAAAA!” For UK fans of that last iconic fanfare, pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds from GAME will come with a musical collectable chest to triumphantly hold over your head...
News The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Confirmed for Wii U and 3DS
Swinging on to Nintendo systems next spring
Activision and Marvel Entertainment have announced a new video game based on the upcoming feature film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is coming to Wii U and 3DS next spring. Developed by Beenox — the studio also responsible for the Wii U and Wii versions of last year's The Amazing Spider-Man — to coincide...
News First Screenshot Of 3DS Title IronFall Emerges, And It Looks Very Pretty
Title will "push the 3DS to its limits", according to the developer
C.O.P. The Recruit developer VD-Dev has revealed the first image of its forthcoming 3DS third-person shooter, IronFall. The game has been described by the studio as "pushing the 3DS to its limits". It has been in production for two years and will be the company's first...
Video Here's How The 2DS Stacks Up Against Other Handhelds When It Comes To Stamina
How does that 1300mAh battery compare?
Family Gamer TV's Andy Robertson — the man behind our Parent Trap blog — has followed up his initial 2DS battery life test by putting the new console up against a wider range of Nintendo systems — all in the name of science, of course. As we reveal
News Pokémon X & Y Occupy Third and Fourth Spots in UK All-Format Chart
The Wind Waker HD hangs on in top 10
The hype around Pokémon X & Y has finally ended, as many 3DS gamers around the world are now immersed in establishing their teams and training 'mon. Naturally we're left to wonder how the excitable build-up has translated to sales, and we'll have a good idea on Wednesday for Japan, though we'll need to wait...
Rumour Shipments of Pokémon X & Y Delayed to U.S. Military Exchanges
Government shutdown to blame
The above photo is purportedly taken from a store on a U.S. military base. Although exact details are not known, it is not difficult to believe such a thing could happen, as the partial shutdown of the U.S. government had previously shut down military grocery stores entirely up to 5 days ago and it may take some time to...
News Eiji Aonuma Wants it to be "Fun To Get Stuck" in A Link Between Worlds
"We kind of have a bad habit of hand-holding"
Following his recent presentation at New York Comic Con, during which he revealed a new trailer and more information on A Link Between Worlds, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma had a chat with Polygon about the upcoming 3DS title. He confirmed that development had finished last week, mea
Guide Pokémon X & Y - All You Need to Know to Get Started
A spoiler free zone
So, it's now officially here, the global release date for Pokémon X & Y; in fact, it's likely that many of you that read this are either in possession of or preparing to acquire a copy for yourself. For some it's the continuation of a long-running gaming passion, and in a few cases may be a first dabble with the franchise...
News Aonuma: Information About Majora's Mask Can Be Found By Playing A Link Between Worlds
Oh Aonuma, you tease
Another day, another "Majora's Mask remake" slice of speculation. As many will know by now, the successor to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 has been teased time and again, but we don't seem to be growing tired of it; we're feeding from the information. There have been rumours, a listing
News Don't Expect To See A Mainline Pokémon Game On Wii U Or Your Smartphone
Microtransactions also ruled out, for the time being
As you may well be aware, Pokémon X & Y launches worldwide today. VG247 has been speaking to Game Freak's Junichi Masuda about the potential future of the best-selling series. One of the topics up for discussion was the possibility of more Pokémon games on the Wii U. We've already seen...
News Nintendo Unveils New Trailer and Details For The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Introducing Lorule and Hilda
As previously announced, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma has just completed his developer presentation at this year's New York Comic Con, and the Nintendo of America Twitter account has shared some details online. While a video of the presentation will apparently be available soon, a new trailer and some intriguing new...
News Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed Now Available On 3DS And DS In The UK
Coming to the US in November
When you think of pint-sized monsters on a Nintendo handheld you're bound to think of Pokémon, but there is in fact another adorable creature-based title available right now in the UK in the form of Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed. A whole day before Pokémon X & Y is officially launched - though many retailers in...
News UK Retailers Break Release Date for Pokémon X & Y
It's not just early deliveries any more
Earlier this week we bemoaned the fact that Nintendo's global release plans for Pokémon X & Y had been undermined; what was a concerted effort to release the new generation of the franchise to everyone at once had been let down by some of the gaming press, public and retailers. It had been an...
News Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic Gets Cooking On the 3DS eShop in North America
Nearly two years after its retail release
Occasionally Nintendo doesn't include all details in its weekly download updates for each region, and this week there's an extra treat awaiting North America gamers. Nearly two years after its retail release, Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic is available on the 3DS eShop in North America; it's priced at $19.99...
Video Nintendo Prepares Pokémon X & Y Trainers With Launch Trailer
Of course, you might already be playing it...
Pokémon X & Y launches on 12th October, so unless you're fortunate enough to have it drop into your mailbox today you have just one sleep before jumping into an all-new generation of the venerated series. Perhaps as a final pre-launch hurrah for its hype machine, Nintendo has released a new...
Video Nintendo Life At Eurogamer Expo 2013 - The Highlights
You've seen the photos, now watch the video
At the end of September we were lucky enough to be part of Eurogamer Expo 2013, the UK's biggest gaming event with over 70,000 people in attendance. As you'll already know if you've seen the photos we posted not long ago, we ran the (very busy) Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone, offering 3DS fans the chance...
News PETA Clamours for Attention with Spoof Pokémon Flash Game
Let's hope it PETAs out soon
With Pokémon X & Y only a day away from its global release, animal rights organisation PETA has seized the opportunity to piggyback the games' current media attention and highlight its own cause by creating a spoof Pokémon game. Entitled Pokémon Red, White and Blue, the parody Flash game is essentially designed...
News Nintendo UK: Awareness Is The Real Issue With The Wii U, Not Price
"Many mums don’t know what this is"
Nintendo UK's marketing head Shelly Pearce has been speaking to MCV about the challenges facing the Wii U this Christmas, and admits that the company still has work to do when it comes to educating buyers about the difference between the original Wii and its successor: There was a big misconception at launch...
News Pokemon X & Y Designer: Creature-Making Isn’t Easy
Many more monsters are rejected than make it in the games
For anyone who ever doodled up their own Pokémon on their school papers, getting a chance to create real monsters for new games in the series might seem like a dream job. Pokémon X & Y graphic designer lead Hironobu Yoshida doesn’t dispute this, but he doesn’t say it’s an easy...
Interview Image & Form CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson Talks SteamWorld Dig And Working On The eShop
Critical reaction, the Wii U eShop and picking 3DS over smartphones
At this year's Eurogamer Expo we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to speak to Image & Form's Brjann Sigurgeirsson about the company's 3DS eShop title, SteamWorld Dig. In the interview, Sigurgeirsson speaks about the development of the game and its lore, its critical...
News Etrian Odyssey Untold: Millennium Girl Receives European Rating
A story set to be told on European shores
Etrian Odyssey Untold: Millennium Girl was released in North America earlier in the month and it appears the popular 3DS RPG may be making it to Europe too as it has been rated by the USK classifications board. The Etrian Odyssey series has seen a few titles released in Europe, including Etrian Odyssey IV:...
News Pokémon X & Y Iwata Asks Explains Sky and Horde Battles
Also has a few (laughs)
With Pokémon X & Y now just days away, or hours if you ordered from a cheeky online retailer, Nintendo's lining up its final marketing push for the title's global release alongside the 2DS handheld. One part of this is a new Iwata Asks, which is a follow up to the dedicated Nintendo Direct video that was broadcast...
Talking Point Nintendo's Catch-22 With Retail Game Pricing
Go high, get criticised. Go low, get criticised...
This week Nintendo UK launched its own online retail store, stepping into the market typically occupied by the likes of Amazon, Gamestop, GAME and various others; even the bricks-and-mortar retailers mentioned have an increasing reliance on web sales. It's a more up-to-date, relevant proposition...
News Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures To Come to Life in March 2014
Not the spookiest time of the year
Earlier this year we learned that Pac-Man And The Ghostly Adventures would come to both Wii U and 3DS, another return — one of many — for Namco Bandai's most recognisable mascot. Originally pegged for Winter 2013, the publisher has now revealed that the title will arrive a little later than expected in Europe...
News Chocobo Racing 3D Fails To Reach The Finishing Line
Development seems to have just stopped
It's just over 3 years since the 3DS was announced back at E3 in 2010, and with it was a list of third party titles set to grace the handheld during its lifespan. Square Enix had its fair share of games listed for the 3DS, with Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance landing in 2012; in the same year Theatrhythm:...
News Eiji Aonuma Wants the Wii U Zelda's Hyrule to be "A Setting No One Has Ever Imagined Before"
The quest for uniqueness remains at the core of the franchise
The Legend of Zelda can be a contradictory series, at times. It's tempting for gamers to reel off a list of what binds the various entries together, perhaps even bemoaning similarity in dungeon and collect-a-thon structures. And yet it's a series that's experimented with stylus-only...
News Doodle Jump Is Making The Journey To Nintendo DS
The forthcoming 3DS version gets a companion
A short time ago we reported on the impending release of Doodle Jump Adventures for the 3DS — a console port of the popular smartphone title, Doodle Jump. It has now been confirmed that the DS will also be getting a version of Lima Sky's title, named Doodle Jump Journey. It's a scaled-down offering...
News Pokémon X & Y Sells Out in Japan Before It Even Launches
Monster Hunter 4 stock also running incredibly low
It seems that the launch of Pokémon X & Y can't come soon enough for Japanese 3DS owners, with both versions of the upcoming instalment in the popular franchise reportedly having already sold out ahead of release. Pokémon X & Y are the first games in the long-running series to feature...
Talking Point Pokémon X & Y's Grand Global Release Plan Has, Sadly, Been Undermined
Leaks, ruthless retailers and impatient gamers suck away intended magic
The excitement was undeniable when Satoru Iwata, in a Nintendo Direct broadcast, announced Pokémon X & Y and confirmed that it would have a global release date. That's almost upon us, 12th October, meaning that aside from time zone differences 3DS gamers around the world...
News Nintendo UK Launches Online Retail Store
Offering consoles, the latest titles and some extras
Nintendo UK has today launched an online store that offers a large range of games, consoles and some gift ideas. It's an intriguing move by the regional team, offering its own online store of physical products alongside conventional retailers. The stock is primarily focused on products developed,...
News Monster Hunter 4 Continues to Devour Competition in Japan
Passes 2.5 million physical retail sales
It's time for the weekly Japanese sales progress report via Media Create, and Monster Hunter 4 continues its strong momentum, hopefully boding well for the future of the series' growing partnership between Capcom and Nintendo. While that blows all competition away in the software chart, the 3DS is doing a...
Video We Adventure Through the Opening 30 Minutes of Monster Hunter 4
DIE, HERBIVORES!
Monster Hunter 4, the game that's whipping up a frenzy in Japan, is an elusive beast. Despite going to the effort of releasing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in the West on Wii U and 3DS, and despite the franchise being a Capcom IP that's surely one big release away from 'breaking' the West, it remains tantalisingly out of reach. We're...
News New 3DS Harvest Moon Game Coming To Japan Early Next Year
Harvest Moon: Linking the New World is 80 percent complete
It has been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that a new Harvest Moon title is in development for the 3DS. Harvest Moon: Linking the New World is due out in Japan in February and is being produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto. Character design is being handled by Igusa Matsuyama. The...
Review Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends (3DS)
Bonjour, Kitty
Hello Kitty first burst onto the scene in 1974 courtesy of Japanese company Sanrio, which designs and produces products solely aimed at the kawaii – meaning cute in Japanese – section of popular culture in the country. Since then, Hello Kitty has become one of the most recognised and successful brands in the world, appearing on...
Events Nintendo Life At Eurogamer Expo 2013
A pictorial record from the show floor
If you're based in the United Kingdom then you'll no doubt have heard about the recent Eurogamer Expo 2013, which is the UK's largest video game show by quite some margin. EGX — as it is also known — took place at Earl's Court in London from September 26th to September 29th, and saw more than 70,000 gamers...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Minigame Details Are Revealed
GAME to offer a leather card wallet with pre-orders
While North America unfortunately has to wait until 2014, Europe has around a month to wait for Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which is set to be the final main adventure starring the puzzle solving gentleman. It's the sixth entry, and long term fans are sure to be left with a little...
News Hometown Story Collector's Edition Planned for November Release
Game also scheduled for Q1 in Europe
If you’ve pre-ordered Hometown Story, Natsume’s new life sim coming to North America on 22nd October, you may be due for a cute Ember plushie depending on where you go: green at Gamestop, red at
News Toys "R" Us Confirms Exclusive Range of Skylanders SWAP Force Characters
Legendary Grim Creeper has a cool name
When you combine a video game with toys that bring characters to life, you get monster profits. You also get plenty of promotions from one of the world's most recognisable toy store brands, and Toys "R" Us is continuing its record of promoting and gaining exclusives for the Skylanders series with some special...
Guide How To Capture Video And Screenshots From Your 3DS
Turn your handheld into a multimedia star
As the next generation of home consoles looms over us, the topic of video sharing is becoming ever more important. Both the PS4 and Xbox One will offer the ability to record and upload your gaming performances so others can appraise them online, which will surely lead to an explosion of self-made clips on...
News Tesco To Offer a Special Pokémon X & Y Serial Code Gift in UK
Another way to receive Mystery Gifts
With the arrival this week of Pokémon X & Y, those that have yet to pick up a pre-order or decide on a store are likely to be weighing up a series of incentives before choosing a retailer or the eShop. In what's perhaps an extension of the increase in co-operation between Nintendo UK and Tesco, it's been...
News The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Lands in 4th Place in UK Charts
Making waves for Wii U
With a number of major titles coming to the Wii U in the remainder of 2013, it's natural to wonder which will do the most for the system's hardware sales and overall prospects. There are new titles coming that cover different bases, with exclusive Sonic joining the potential bankers such as Wii Fit U and Super Mario 3D World...
News Pokémon X & Y Torchic Distribution Announced
Grab Your Flaming Fowl
With the release of Pokémon X & Y only days away, Nintendo has announced that Torchic, the fire starter from Generation III, will be released via Wi-Fi as a special distribution event to mark the release of the two titles. From October 12th, Pokéfans will be able to download their special Torchic simply by connecting...
Mystifyingly bad
Porting games has always been common practice for most third-party companies. It goes without saying, but it makes good business sense for a game publisher to enable its software to reach as wide an audience as possible. And it's something that most of us don't have a problem with; if a company makes it easier for us to play its...
News Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land Coming To 3DS This Month in North America
The pair are heading on an eggscellent adventure
North American fans of Regular Show are in for a treat this month, as the first game based on the Cartoon Network series is being released in the region on 29th October. It's known as Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land and features an original storyline and concept written by the series...
News Pokémon Bank And Poké Transporter Will Hit The North American eShop in December
Comes with a free 30 day trial if you activate before 31st January 2014
During September's Pokémon Direct, we learned all about the Pokémon Bank system, which is a cloud-based service that enables players to upload their 'mon with the purpose of retrieve them for use the titles that will appear after Pokémon X
News UK Band Union J Is Changing Its Name To "Union XY" To Mark The Launch Of Pokémon X & Y
X Factor stars dressed up as Pikachu to make the announcement
Remember when we reported yesterday that UK boy band Union J would be promoting Pokémon X & Y? It turns out that the act — which rose to fame on TV talent show The X Factor — is changing its name to "Union XY" to celebrate the launch of the highly-anticipated title. The news was...
Evolution or revolution?
Do you remember that first time you rushed home with the latest copy of Pokémon, gleefully slotting it into your handheld and dreaming of becoming the next Pokémon Master? Everything was new, fresh and exciting. Every time that pixelated grass flickered and you encountered another never-seen-before monster you held your...
Parent Trap Nintendo 2DS Family Stress Test
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson takes a look at the 2DS
With the 2DS fast approaching I've had some hands on time with the device. Rather than waxing lyrical over the perfectly crafted design (or indeed bemoaning the cheese-like profile) I wanted to put the console to the test in a real family setting. So I set-up another of my time-lapse battery...
News Wild Pokémon Appear! Aromatisse and Slurpuff Announced for Pokémon X & Y
What the smell!?
Two new Pokémon have been revealed ahead of Pokémon X & Y's global release next week, and it seems that the sense of smell is a running theme with these two creatures. Slurpuff, the evolved form of cotton candy Pokémon Swirlix, looks equally as pink and fluffy as its earlier form. However, its most impressive feature is that...
News Hometown Story Will Be Released This Month In North America
A new 3DS title from the creator of Harvest Moon
Natsume has officially announced a release date for the upcoming 3DS life sim Hometown Story. It will become available this month in North America, on 22nd October to be exact. Those unfamiliar with the title may be more acquainted with its creator's other popular game, Harvest Moon. Indeed, Yasuhiro...
"Why does it have to be traditional?"
While this week's Nintendo Direct was light on major revelations, Satoru Iwata did take the opportunity to explain that The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds would shake up item and dungeons conventions — some key items will be available to rent and buy, rather than be unlocked in the story, giving the...
News We Opened Up The Nintendo 2DS And Found A 1300mAh Battery Inside
Same as the original 3DS model
We've been spending a lot of quality time with Nintendo's new 2DS console, and one of the first questions people have about the machine is how the battery life shapes up when compared to the 3DS and 3DS XL. Family Gamer's Andy Robertson will be answering that question in more detail as part of his Parent Trap blog on...
News UK Boy Band Union J Sign Up To Promote Pokémon X & Y
Following in the footsteps of fellow X Factor stars One Direction
It has been revealed that UK act Union J will be working with The Pokémon Company International to promote the forthcoming Pokémon X & Y. In you're from outside of the United Kingdom, you may well be wondering who Union J are. Billed by many in the music industry as the next...
News Pokémon X & Y Pre-Orders Set 3DS Record in Japan
MEGA pre-orders still have over a week to evolve
Pokémon X & Y are now just a little over a week away, meaning that soon the hype will end and millions of dedicated fans around the world will be able to dive into a new generation on 3DS. The titles look set to bring some fresh ideas to the franchise, a new land to explore and plenty of 'mon to...
News Nintendo Confirms Lineup and Big Plans for New York Comic Con
Eiji Aonuma to host a special developer presentation
The New York Comic Con event hits the Javit Centre in the city from 10th-13th October, and Nintendo of America has confirmed that, like at previous events such as PAX Prime, it'll be going all out to impress attendees. A standout event will be a special developer presentation by The Legend of...
News Sonic Dashes Into Action in These Super Smash Bros. Screens
Too fast to be last
With all of the Nintendo Direct madness yesterday, we were certainly pleased to report on the confirmation of Sonic as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS, a welcome return for the SEGA mascot that made his debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As is standard for the reveal of a new Cha
News Monster Hunter 4 Dominates in Japan as The Wind Waker HD Has a Modest Debut
No notable hardware boost for Wii U
Monster Hunter 4 has successfully maintained its momentum in the Japanese charts this week, remaining at the top of the software list despite a range of new releases arriving in stores. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD also arrived on 26th September, but despite some figures within Nintendo's departments in...
Feature Five Reasons Why The 2DS Will Be The Biggest Selling Handheld This Christmas
Forget the jokes, we think Nintendo has a hit on its hands
When Nintendo announced the 2DS a short time ago, the internet was almost united in its level of befuddlement. Why remove the one thing the original system was sold on: its ability to display 3D images without the need for special glasses? It seemed like a backwards step for Nintendo and an...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 1st October 2013 Broadcasts
Few shocks, some release dates and awesome footage, with a couple of delays
Gauging opinion on the 1st October Nintendo Direct broadcasts in North America and Europe is relatively tricky, as the Wii U system update preceding it lacked that much desired improvement of an account system that escapes the shackles of hardware, while the broadcasts...
News Gazooks! Pokémon Favourite Charizard Can Mega Evolve Into X And Y Variants
Super effective, to say the least
It was recently revealed that Pokémon favourite Charizard can "Mega Evolve" into Mega Charizard in Pokémon X & Y — a more powerful variant of the existing monster which is incredibly adept in battle. However, today it has been announced that Charizard actually has two Mega Evolved forms: Mega Charizard X...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Delayed to Early 2014 in Europe
Sad face...
During yesterday's Nintendo Direct shenanigans, with a slew of confirmations and mini-reveals to divert attention, Nintendo pushed back a winter 3DS release, and with a little more subtlety than the formal announcement of the Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze delay on Wii U. Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that Mario Party: Island...
News Improved StreetPass and Nintendo Zones Coming to North America Later This Month
Make sure you take your 3DS with you wherever you go
Earlier today, Nintendo of America announced a handful of new improvements and features for its ever-growing StreetPass and Nintendo Zone services. You may recall that Nintendo previously enhanced all of its StreetPass and Nintendo Zone locations with StreetPass relay functionality, which allows...
News The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Shakes Up Item and Dungeon Conventions
Dated for 22nd November
While the Wii U gets the remake treatment with The Wind Waker HD, the 3DS is getting the all-new The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which itself is set in the same world as Super NES classic A Link to the Past. Relatively little has been revealed to date, with Nintendo teasing small details and revealing returning...
News Bravely Default Dated for 6th December in Europe
Q1 2014 in North America
We suspect that Bravely Default — the Flying Fairy part of the name seems to have been dropped in the West — is on quite a few 3DS wishlists. The handheld is gradually, like its DS predecessors, building up a range of quality RPG experiences, and based on the positive critical and commercial response in Japan this looks...
News Scribblenauts Unlimited Finally Hitting Europe On December 6th
Better late than never
Scribblenauts Unlimited was a Wii U launch title, but has been MIA in Europe for the majority of 2013. Thankfully, during today's Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that the game is finally seeing the light of day — more than a year after it appeared in North America. Euro players will be able to get their hands on 5th Cell's...
News Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies Demo Is Available Now On The 3DS eShop
No objections from us
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is one of our most anticipated 3DS eShop titles, and it was confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast that a demo is going live in both North America and Europe. The demo went live at the conclusion of the broadcast — which means it's available as we speak. Let us know...
News New Kirby Game Will Be Blowing Up The 3DS in 2014
Full of hot air, but in a good way
Today's Nintendo Direct may have had a few surprises — the delay of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the confirmation of Sonic in Smash Bros. being two examples — but there was only one new game announced: a fresh Kirby instalment on the 3DS. Some gameplay footage was shown and it all looks very...
News Sonic The Hedgehog Confirmed For Super Smash Bros. On Wii U And 3DS
Sega's mascot makes his much-hyped return
One of the biggest questions surrounding the forthcoming Super Smash Bros. title for Wii U and 3DS was whether or not Sonic the Hedgehog would be included in the rapidly-expanded roster of combatants. He appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but it wasn't known if he would be returning — until now, that is...
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