January2022
News The Studio Behind Excite Truck And Excitebots Has Been Acquired By iRacing
Monster Games will "bring another level of expertise" to the company
Monster Games, a studio Nintendo fans will likely know from the Wii days thanks to Excite Truck and Excitebots, has been acquired by iRacing Motorsport Simulations, it's been announced. The developer, which released games exclusively on Nintendo platforms for almost a decade...
January2018
Soapbox Why You Should Consider Catching Big Air With Wii's Excite Truck
If you still have access to a Wii or Wii U, that is
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, Dave Letcavage discusses his somewhat recent introduction to the divisive Wii launch game Excite Truck, and makes a case...
April2016
Rumour Linkedin Profile Hints At Unannounced Racing Title From Excitebots Studio Monster Games
With "championship" and "career" modes
Ah, Linkedin. A site which allows professionals to connect, proclaim their achievements and even seek new adventures in employment - but also a place where job descriptions can unwittingly reveal hidden gaming projects. Take the profile of Monster Games software engineer Joshua Ruis, for example; he's been...
April2015
Reminder Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Out Now for the New Nintendo 3DS XL in North America
Are you really feeling it?
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has now arrived in North America, completing its roll-out across all territories. The first exclusive on the New Nintendo 3DS XL, it sees Monster Games succeed in porting one of the most sizeable Wii U experiences onto a portable. In our Xenoblade Chronicles 3D review (where we awarded 9/10) we...
March2015
Video Bask in the Glow of These Live Performances from the Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Soundtrack
Gorgeous
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has many qualities, such as the scale of the adventure and the well-crafted real-time combat mechanics, yet any list of praise should also reference its music. Sweeping orchestral numbers, low-key yet beautiful piano melodies, its range is vast and contributes a great deal to the experience; this is a game to play...
Video Nintendo Builds Hype for Xenoblade Chronicles 3D With Action Packed Launch Trailer
A little bit spoilerific
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D arrives soon on the New Nintendo 3DS, so fans of the Wii game - or those yet to experience the Monolith Soft RPG - don't have long to wait. It's a substantial undertaking, but is nevertheless hugely rewarding - we're full of praise for it in our Xenoblade Chronicles 3D review. To celebrate the...
"We hope the players will be satisfied with the outcome"
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is just around the corner, and has caused a significant stir in the community being the first exclusive title to come to the New Nintendo 3DS. Elusive in its original Wii format, this release will give many the chance to play what was arguably the biggest game on the...
Video Nintendo Shows Off More Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Footage
You'll have to really feel it in Japanese, though
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D isn't far away, and it'll be the first game exclusive to the New Nintendo 3DS and XL. Ahead of its April arrival we can expect plenty of marketing and focus on the impressive Monolith Soft RPG, too, which is coming to the portable courtesy of the porting skills of Monster...
Video Nintendo Shows Off Monado Teamwork in Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Gazing into the future
There's potential for Xenoblade Chronicles 3D to introduce Monolith Soft's impressive RPG to a new audience, though admittedly its exclusivity to the New Nintendo 3DS may limit its sales impact in the same way as its relatively late (Western) arrival on Wii. For fans of the genre or those seeking a sizeable adventure, it's...
February2015
It's so pretty
For those excited about Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, particularly fans in Europe, it's been a rather fun day. Nintendo of Europe already confirmed that the handsome Xenoblade Chronicles cover plates are coming to the region, but has now also lifted the lid on a 3DS HOME Theme that'll arrive with the title. As you can see in the concept...
Reaction Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is an Impressive Feat and Shows Off the New Nintendo 3DS
Shut up, Reyn
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will, in all likelihood, be the biggest game to grace the New Nintendo 3DS. We're not just talking about its demands on a micro-SDHC card's space, but a very literal assessment of its world. It's daunting in its scope, meaning we assess the promise of Wii U title Xenoblade Chronicles X having a world five times...
Japanese website launches, too
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D isn't far away, due on 2nd April in Europe; we now also have a release date for North America - it'll arrive a little later on 10th April in the region. That emerged in a rather flashy trailer that sets the scene for the title's story, and also acts as a starting gun in promotional efforts for...
January2015
First Impressions We're Really Feeling It With Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
It's Reyn time!
Xenoblade Chronicles was something of a white whale that appeared late in the Wii's lifespan. A Western release was not assured despite critical success in its native Japan, sending fervent American fans into an Operation Rainfall-shaped tizzy to show Nintendo that hey, maybe they should release some games from time to time. Then,...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Launches Exclusively On New Nintendo 3DS This April
Porting duties being handled by US-based Monster Games
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D -- a portable adaptation of the Wii RPG classic -- was announced alongside the New 3DS in Japan last year. The New 3DS launch came and went in that region with no solid news of a release date for the game, but today's Nintendo Direct has confirmed that we'll be getting it...
December2014
News Actor Is Suing Nintendo After Suffering Heart Problems In A Sweltering Donkey Kong Suit
Legal teams are going bananas
When actor Parker Mills stepped into a Donkey Kong costume to promote the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at the Los Angeles Zoo last year, he most likely assumed the job would be a piece of cake — after all, what's better than being the mighty Kong for a day, right? However, Mills ended up earning more than...
April2013
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Has Local Co-op Play And An Easy Mode
There's also a "brand new surprise" in store
Back in February, Nintendo announced the popular Wii game Donkey Kong Country Returns is being remade for the 3DS. The upcoming title - appropriately named Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D - is being developed by Monster Games and will largely be the same game but with the inclusion of 3D visuals. However,...
March2013
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Swings Into a Release on 24th May
We're not monkeying around
Announced recently during a Nintendo 3DS Direct broadcast, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a handheld re-release of the critically acclaimed Wii platformer, originally developed by Retro Studios. It's a title that involves plenty of perspective changes from foreground to background, and as a result it's not hard to see...
News Nintendo Outsourcing Development Of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Monster Games responsible for porting the Wii title to 3DS
A while back, there was a rumour that Monster Games was working on a new game for Nintendo. Speculation suggested it might be another Donkey Kong title, but a lack of solid evidence made many — Nintendo Life included — dismiss the chatter as unfounded gossip. Turns out the rumour had a...
