DS News
October2010
News Namco and Rising Star Team Up to Bring More Harvest Moons to Europe
Animal Parade and Sunshine Islands, to be precise
You wait six months for a Harvest Moon game to reach Europe, and then three come along at once. Rune Factory 2 sprouted across Europe today, and now publisher Rising Star Games has teamed up with Namco Bandai Partners to distribute two more titles before the end of November. Harvest Moon: Animal...
News Find Chibiterasu in New York, Win a Chibiterasu Plush
Missing: legendary god in wolf form. Reward: toys.
Anyone in the New York area who fancies a bit of a treasure hunt may want to keep their eyes peeled for this poster of a missing Chibiterasu, star of Capcom's Okamiden, for the chance to win a plush keyring of the lupine goddess. The first three people to find the poster, take a photo of themselves...
News Rune Factory 3 Sprouting Across North America in November
November 9th, to be precise
Whilst budding European horticulturists wait to get their green fingers on Rune Factory 2, due out tomorrow, North American farmers can look forward to the third instalment, the cleverly entitled Rune Factory 3, arriving on November 9th. As well as the usual mixture of farming and fighting, Rune Factory 3 is the first...
News Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Hits North America in January Too
Only a few days apart
Yesterday we told you that Kingdom Hearts Re:coded will reach Europe on January 14th 2011, with a North American release date yet to be confirmed. Now we've had it confirmed – if only it were always that quick – as launching on January 11th, 2011. Here's the press release in all its Disney/Square Enix crossover glory. LOS...
News Sega Strikes Poor Sonic Games from Catalogue to "Increase Brand Value"
Below-average games no longer sold
Sonic's career has more ups-and-downs than a Dr Robotnik theme park, and nobody's more aware and more hurt by this than Sega itself. In fact, the company's so upset by the hedgehog's past transgressions that it's removing his less enjoyable adventures from its back catalogue. Sega's senior vice president of EMEA...
News Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Reaches Europe in January
Disney-tastic start to the New Year
The latest collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, has just been confirmed for a release across Europe on January 14th. A beefed-up port of a Japan-only mobile game, Re:coded features fan favourite characters from both companies, including Cloud Strife, Mickey Mouse and Hercules, as...
News Europe Awakes to a Golden Sun on December 10th
Dark Dawn dated
We had our fears that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn would land in 2011, but Nintendo's latest release schedule pins the game down for launch on Friday December 10th. If you want to catch up on our coverage in anticipation of what's sure to be one of DS's finest RPGs of the year, you can read our First Impressions and check out some Golden...
News Captain America Bringing Justice to Wii and DS Next Year
The latest in Sega's comic book titles
Sega's rather busy on the old Marvel Comics licence these days, having brought Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk to Wii and DS, with another title based on the upcoming Thor movie currently in development. The company has also just announced it's bringing Captain America: Super Soldier to Wii and DS...
Podcast NLFM Episode 9: Halloween Hootenanny
You don't need to be the master of unlocking to access these horror treasures
Boo! It's a regular fright fest in this episode of NLFM as we queue up some of our favorite horror game tracks. BEHOLD! the wonders of mad science gone wrong! GASP! at the children of the night! WONDER! how Chuck D. Head doesn't need more painkillers! RUN! from the...
News Prepare for Celebrity Overload in Nintendo's Christmas Campaign
It doesn't stop at Jedward
Nintendo of Europe is very fond of having familiar faces present its campaigns: Ant and Dec represented the brand for years, and Irish nightmare twins Jedward were recently brought on board for the coming Christmas period. That's only the tip of the superstar iceberg however, with the full range of personalities now...
News Capcom's Okamiden Limps to Retail in Japan
DS sequel lags behind PS2 and Wii versions in day one sales
We're absolute suckers for cute animals here at Nintendo Life so the high expectations we hold for Capcom's DS title Okamiden are entirely understandable - it's just a shame that Japan doesn't seem to feel the same way. First-day sales figures for the Okami sequel suggest that only 10,000...
News Mario and Sonic Olympics was Yuji Naka's Idea, says Yuji Naka
Idea pitched before he left Sega
The man behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka, had left Sega by the time Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was underway, but Mr Naka has said that he came up with the concept before his departure. Speaking to the audience at this year's Eurogamer Expo in London, Mr Naka said: It was actually my idea, and I was...
Review Pang: Magical Michael (DS)
It's showtime!
Everyone loves Magical Michael, 'cause the tricks that he does are ever so cool. However, at the moment, no one is particularly loving him, as a failed experiment on his part has caused hundreds of dangerous bubbles to be released across the world. Now it's his task to venture across the planet and eliminate the threat. If you've...
News Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Crown Job System Trailer
Unique character customisation system explained
The folks at Square-Enix have just sent over the newest video for Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light which shows how to use the game's unique Crown Job System. As you can see in the video, there is a huge degree of customisation made available to the player by wearing and upgrading the various...
News Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem Launches Next Month
The fourth in the series aims to be more user-friendly
When Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! was announced at this year's E3, we knew we'd be seeing its release sometime in the holiday season, but now Nintendo has confirmed that a North American release will go ahead next month. When the fourth title in the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series...
News Ivy the Kiwi? Emerges from its European Egg on October 29th
Yuji Naka's latest opus nearly hatched
Ivy the Kiwi? for Wii and DS is the latest game from Yuji Naka, best known for his involvement in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's been out in North America for some time, but a European release is just around the corner, with publisher Rising Star Games announcing the game will launch on Friday,...
September2010
News October is Spook Month on Nintendo Life
Frightful Fridays and Scary Saturdays ahead
As we all know, October 31st is All Hallows Eve, popularly known as Halloween. It's a night when some of you will dress up in your favourite fear-inducing garb and haunt the town, others will dress up as well but instead go to screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and others still will stay home and...
News Nintendo Predicts 4 Million 3DS Units to Sell in Debut Month
That's Nintendo with its conservative hat on
It's all very well showering us with release dates and pricing (well, for Japan anyway) and the trailers and screenshots certainly don't do any harm, but how well does Nintendo think the 3DS will perform sales-wise? Nintendo is predicting the 3DS to shift more than 4 million units by the end of the...
News Nintendo of Japan Shows Off Upcoming DS Games
New Kirby title and more (now with video!)
As part of its recent conference, Nintendo's released screen shots of six upcoming DS titles including a new Kirby adventure, a Pokémon typing-based game and the next entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, Mini-Land Mayhem. There are some friendly dogs and fearsome dinos to see as well, not to mention...
News Japan Receives Red DSi XL in Honour of Mario's 25th Anniversary
Limited edition console on the way
Yes, it's the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and even the most ardent plumbing fan might be getting just a little fed-up of the fanfare. Just show that person this upcoming Mario edition DSi XL and watch their face light up again, though. Released in Japan on October 28th, the machine is of course in...
News Buy Advance Copies of the Game at the Super Scribblenauts Event
Get them signed too while you're at it
It's not long now before 5th Cell releases Super Scibblenauts, the sequel to 2009's Scibblenauts, and in conjunction with the game's launch GameStop will be holding a special event where gamers can take part in a costume contest and even buy copies of the game ahead of its scheduled retail release. The GameStop...
News Classic Mario DS Games Get Reprints at Toys 'R' Us
Mario Hoops, Super Princess Peach and Partners in Time
So it's Mario's 25th anniversary and everyone's after a piece of the plumber, particularly fans of portable gaming, but some titles can be hard to find. That's why it's good news that Toys 'R' Us has secured a wad of brand new versions of Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Super Princess Peach and Mario and...
News Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Action Battle Points Trailer
Combat gets covered
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is shaping up to be another quality entry in the famed RPG series, with its unique graphical style and developer heritage. Its battle system could take a bit of getting used to though, which is why publisher Square Enix has put together a brief video showing you how to get the most out of the...
News Japanese DS Sales Spike Last Week in Mysterious Circumstances
Whatever could be the driving force?
Of course, Pokémon Black & White saw their Japanese release last week, with hardware sales more than doubling across the country. Previous week's DS sales stood at a respectable 39,749 across all models, with last week's figures passing 85,000 units sold across the entire week. In fact, the DS range outsold...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Named Game of the Year in CESA Awards
Top Japanese designers give Mario the nod
New Super Mario Bros. Wii was Nintendo's big Christmas hit of 2009, sweeping all before it in a multi-coloured wave of shells, fire flowers and multiplayer rage. It wasn't just a big hit with consumers though, netting a range of awards, the latest being the Grand Award from Japan's Computer Entertainment...
News Sonic Colours Gets Special Edition Figures in PAL Regions
Grab a batch of toys with the game
North American hedgehog fans will be able to keep their heads warm with this pre-order Sonic hat, but gamers Down Under are heading towards a warmer time of year. What will they get to honour the release of Sonic Colours? Some figurines, that's what. EB Games Australia lists special editions for both the Wii and DS...
News Watch Out for this Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors Bonus
It's a watch!
Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors is a graphic adventure developed by Chunsoft, described by publisher Aksys as: A game that simulates life, or at least it would if your life was about being trapped on a sinking ship and forced to complete a series of incomprehensible puzzles before your practically inevitable death. As if that...
News Ni No Kuni Trailer Shows Stunning Animation Chops
Dream collaboration looking fantastic
Since we reported that Ni No Kuni is coming to North America we've kept an eagle eye on the team-up between legendary animators Studio Ghibli and Professor Layton powerhouse Level-5. Now Tokyo Game Show has given us a new animated trailer to gawp at, and gawp we must. There's no in-game footage shown, but there...
News Rising Star Games Talks About PANG and Localisation Grapples
Gamers will have to continue to wait for certain games to get localised
Gamers old enough to remember destroying bouncing balloons in the 1989 two-player arcade game Pang might also be aware that due to its popularity, instalments on the SNES and Game Boy were eventually released, and Rising Star Games is continuing to entertain gamers by launching...
News TGS Okamiden Trailer Shows Plenty More Gameplay
Familiar characters brush with new skills
Capcom is making a big noise about Okamiden, its DS-bound sequel to well-regarded escapade Okami, and with good reason. These new screenshots and fresh trailer from the Tokyo Game Show show the game looks set to maintain the quality level set by the original. Familiar characters Susano, Kushi and more return...
News Ghost Trick Trailer Shows the Park is Susceptible to Strange Events
More gameplay footage from Capcom's puzzle game
The Tokyo Game Show has landed and everyone has a lot to show off. Capcom is continuing its steady release of episodic gameplay trailers for the upcoming mystery adventure game, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, and we can tell you that something strange is happening at the park. The game fuses logic...
Review Last Window: The Secret of Cape West (DS)
A fitting send-off from Cing
Throughout its lifespan, the DS has been a popular medium for graphic adventure games, many of which have become very successful. 2007 saw one such example in the form of Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Developed by Cing, also well known for the Trace Memory/Another Code series and published by Nintendo, it was a hit among gamers...
News Raise Your Objections with this Ace Attorney Investigations 2 Trailer
Edgeworth returns, of course
It was only a few days ago that Famitsu revealed the first details of Ace Attorney Investigations 2, then the first screenshots followed a short while later, and now we have the first trailer for the game. With this video being produced for Tokyo Game Show it won't surprise you it's all in Japanese, but it still shows...
News Sakamoto Wishes to Start Metroid Dread From Scratch
Metroid co-creator might not even be involved with it
With the revelation that a Metroid game was close to materialising on the Nintendo 64, it's almost a mirror image of the elusive Metroid Dread that's supposed to be on the DS. Series co-creator, Yoshiro Sakamoto, has recently shed some light on it and we could be back to square one before we've...
News Familiar Abilities Return in New Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Trailer
Puzzles and battles in action
The anticipation for Golden Sun: Dark Dawn ramps up with each new video and droplet of information, but this latest trailer will be calmly reassuring to gamers who've experienced and loved Camelot's portable series over the past few years. Showcasing the game's Psynergy spells in both battle and dungeon sections, fans...
News European DSi XL Palette Gets Three More Splashes of Colour
Yellow, green and blue, to be more specific
With Japan already enjoying its array of bright additions, Australia set to launch its own similar colours and North America receiving its Midnight Blue model, Europeans might be justified in feeling a little left out with the current available DSi XL colours. Not for long, as Nint
News Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock to Expand Wii and DS Connectivity
Now with double the cross-platform players
It seems Vicarious Visions and Activision are trying to add a much-needed key-change to the Guitar Hero melody, and as if a new story mode isn't enough, the creators are expanding the connectivity between Wii and DS players with a selection of play modes and multiplayer functions. The Roadie Battle mode...
News Suda51 Talks About No More Heroes 3, 3DS Game Ideas and More
Find out what qualities are important to him as a game designer
When you have an unorthodox game designer like Goichi Suda and a wonder machine like the 3DS that's sure to ignite a few sparks in developers' creative minds, we as consumers could very well be in for a treat. The CEO at Grasshopper Manufacture, more commonly known as Suda51, recently...
Review Professor Layton and the Unwound Future (DS)
Yet another engaging adventure
After the success of the first two Professor Layton releases on the DS, it should come as no surprise to see Nintendo localising the third. Its unique blend of mystery storytelling and brain-teasing puzzles somehow forms one of the most unique and engrossing gaming experiences available for the system and a style...
Sticking to the basics
Whilst many will think of 8-bit classics like Blaster Master when they hear the Sunsoft name, one of their biggest brands has been Shanghai, with new editions for every handheld and console over the past decade or so. Preceding Shanghai Wii by two years, the handheld and console titles have little in common beyond the same...
News Sega Emits a Spectrum of Sonic Colours Information
Little flecks of detail
From manoeuvres that the little blue hedgehog can perform, as showcased in an early gameplay trailer, to hints of new characters, information on Sonic Colours for the Wii and DS has slowly been released from Sega's grasp, although all will not be ment
News Pokémon Black & White to Explore New Territory
Iwata Asks about the game setting and Pokémon design
With Pokémon Black & White's upcoming Japanese release of September 18th fast approaching, the Nintendo president has taken part in another Iwata Asks with Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO at The Pokémon Company, as well as Pokémon Black & White director Junichi Masuda and 2D art director Ken...
News Nintendo Shows Who's Boss of the August Sales Chart
It's them, taking ten of the top U.S. spots
The month of July saw Nintendo dominating the U.S. sales charts, shifting more machines than its competition and moving over 192,000 happy homes for copies of Super Mario Galaxy 2. Additionally, nearly 142,000 copies of Lego Harry Potter: Years 1 to 4 were sold, making it the top-selling handheld title. So...
News Capcom Releases Ace Attorney Investigations 2 Screenshots
These images are worth investigating
We recently reported a leak by Famitsu Magazine of the existence of Ace Attorney Investigtions 2, the sequel to the DS crime adventure Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth which itself is a spinoff of the Phoenix Wright series. Now Capcom has announced the game's existence and released these lovely
News Lufia DS Ready to Conquer Your Free Time in October
October 19th, to be precise
Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals is just one of many impressive-looking RPGs on the way to DS this year, with a richer heritage than many might suspect, having been highly regarded in its Super Nintendo days. DS owners will get their chance to see what the fuss is about when the game hits North America on October 19th,...
Review Batman: The Brave and the Bold (DS)
A bold bat platformer
Batman is certainly no stranger to the world of video games, seeing releases on just about every console imaginable over the years, so it's no real surprise to see yet another developer trying their hand at the caped crusader. Developer WayForward has created two brand new Batman titles, this as well as its Wii counterpart,...
News Rune Factory 2 Ripe and Ready for Europe in October
Farming RPG hits at last
Some of our readers on the Western side of the Atlantic may be anxiously anticipating Rune Factory 3 and its multiplayer charms, but over in Europe there's just one month to go until Rune Factory 2 does the rounds. With more of the same mix of fighting and farming, not to mention a heavy amount of romance, Rune Factory 2...
News New Ace Attorney Investigations Title Outed by Famitsu
Miles Edgeworth returns!
The Ace Attorney series has a proud and well-regarded heritage on DS – less so on WiiWare – with this year's Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth another excellent entry in the series. Now Japanese über-mag Famitsu has outed a second instalment in the Investigations series and Edgeworth looks set to feature...
News Even a Wii Remote or a DS Stylus Can Be a Sonic Device
Pretend you're The Doctor even when you're not playing his games
Every fan of Doctor Who (or, simply, The Doctor) knows that he'd have a lot more trouble fighting Cybermen and Daleks without his trusty Sonic Screwdriver. It seems that no matter what the problem is, it can be solved by him pointing the device at it and acting like he's concentrating...
News Rock Out in this Rock Band 3 DS Trailer
Hear "Walking on the Sun" for the 400th time
How do you shrink a multiplayer music experience to a portable handheld console? Guitar Hero: On Tour offered a guitar grip and successor Band Hero even came with a silicone sleeve to make drums easier to use, but the DS's upcoming Rock Band 3 is taking a less accessory-based approach, being only...
Fun in little need of fine tuning
Custom Robo won't ring a bell to a lot of Nintendo fans on this side of the world. Though the first title hit Japan in 1999 on the Nintendo 64, it wasn't until 2004's GameCube update, the fourth in the action-RPG series, that the franchise saw a western release. The games revolve around players creating their own...
News Kapow! It's the Batman: The Brave and the Bold Release Dates
Holy crimefighting in September, Batman!
The masked defenders of hand-drawn 2D animation, WayForward Technologies, are set for a Wii and DS return this month as Batman: The Brave and the Bold crusades its way to stores around the world. Launching in North America on September 7th and with a European release following on September 24th, the new game...
News Mama to Pick Up Two More Hobbies
She can craft and babysit too, and with this baby doll so can you
We've just added some newly released screenshots for Majesco's upcoming showcases of Mama's versatility, Babysitting Mama for Wii and Crafting Mama for DS. Interestingly, the former will hit stores in a special box the likes of which we've never seen before; the game comes in a crib...
News Super Scribblenauts' D-Pad Controls are Thanks to You, Hardcore Gamers
Complaining does pay off sometimes
For a game based on imagination, you wouldn't have expected Scribblenauts to have frustrated gamers in such a basic regard, but its touchscreen controls rubbed plenty of gamers up the wrong way, complaining they lacked the precision required to manoeuvre Maxwell around his sketchy world. Developer 5th Cell is...
August2010
First Impressions G.G Series Collection+
The arcade collection you never knew about
Genterprise certainly appears to be a big fan of the Nintendo DSi, having released nearly a score of titles under the G.G Series banner, all of which have been previewed on this very site. Having them collected into a DS retail release to reach a broader audience makes sense, but even if you've already...
News Atari's Greatest Hits Hitting the DS in November
Reborn company finally delivers classic 2600 titles to handhelds
We've long wondered if any of the companies that have held the rights to the Atari back catalogue over the past 20 years would ever see fit to put out a compilation of Atari-branded games from that most golden of console oldies, the Atari 2600. Well now the wondering can finally cease...
News Prepare for a DSi and XL Price Crash Stateside
May hint at 3DS pricing
With the official unveiling of the 3DS's price and release date just under one month away, Nintendo of America has started doing some of the preparatory work by dropping the suggested retail price of the DSi and DSi XL to $149.99 and $169.99 respectively. Shaving around $20 off both consoles' prices on September 12th, the...
News Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Set to Brighten Up November
Launching Stateside on November 29th
There was some concern when Golden Sun: Dark Dawn was absent from Nintendo's 2010 release schedule. Did that mean the Camelot RPG would be delayed until 2011? It turns out, no, it did not, as Nintendo has just confirmed a North American release on November 29th. You can read our Golden Sun: Dark Dawn First...
News These Super Scribblenauts DSi Consoles Defy Adjectives
Only as PAX prizes, sadly
The game that's more a test of wordsmanship than gaming skills, Super Scribblenauts is going all-out to provide the most stylish gamers out there with enough customised stuff to sink a pink, spotted battleship. First came the rooster hat, then the fluffy headphones, but the real cream of the Super Scribblenauts crop is the...
News Pikachu Wants to Charge Your DSi Console with Love
But where is it plugged in?
Pikachu's been in the licensing business for a long time, so he knows what he's doing: stand here, smile please, hold this. You'd think he'd get tired, but no: witness the love he's showing this DSi as he charges its battery using only smiles and electricity. Launching in Japan on September 18th – the same day as...
News Nintendo Lays Out PAX Showing
Some big guns to be on display
As many of you already know, the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is coming up September 3rd - 5th in Seattle, WA and Nintendo is gearing up for the show by releasing a list of titles that will be playable during the expo. The majority of the games to be shown by Nintendo were recently on display at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles,...
News Down Under's DSi XL Range Gets Colourful Next Month
Grab yellow, blue and red on September 23rd
Colour-conscious Japanese gamers gained three more colour choices in June when yellow, blue and green DSi LL consoles launched, and North America received the midnight blue console last month. PAL regions have been disappointingly short-changed in the XL colour stakes – until now. On September 23rd...
News Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Gets 3 Bonuses
Posters and gift cards up for grabs
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light looks like being another strong addition to the DS's stable of RPGs, but Square Enix isn't taking any chances when it comes to getting fans to stick down their money in advance, with two separate pre-order incentives up for grabs, as well as a bonus poster available to all who...
News Doctor Who to Land the TARDIS on Wii & DS
Allons-y!
Like bowties and time travel? Then you should be excited to hear that the hit BBC programme Doctor Who is zooming to the DS and Wii with Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth for the former and Doctor Who: Return to Earth for the latter, both set for release in the coming months from Asylum Entertainment. The program stars The Doctor, a 907 year...
News Natsume Brings New Voice Actors to Lufia and Rune Factory Series
Possible plush pre-order too
Natsume announced Rune Factory 3 a few months back, with the promise of new features including a multiplayer mode, and Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals is set to arrive from Natsume before 2010 is history. Both games will arrive with a sparkling audio overhaul, courtesy of a new voiceover company bringing the scripts to...
News Latest Pokemon Titles Top One Million Preorders in Japan
Pokémon goes platinum before launch
Out in Japan next month, Pokémon Black and White are destined to destroy all opponents in a storm of sales, with pre-orders for the titles having already smashed the million mark. The most impressive part? Stores only started taking pre-orders on July 31st, making the feat a new record for the DS, with the...
Podcast NLFM Episode 8: Have You Heard Captain Falcon's Theme Song?
If you haven't then you're in for a real treat
Some video game themes are so iconic that it's impossible to not recognize where they're from, even if you haven't touched the game in years. Tetris. Super Mario Bros. Captain Falcon? While we're not saying his theme song is up there in the annals of game music legend, after this episode of NLFM, we're...
Absolutely di-vine
After spending years helping Sega create some of its most popular console releases during the Mega Drive and Saturn eras, Yuji Naka decided it was time to form his own development studio. His main goal was to create gaming experiences that appealed to a much broader audience. No better title could sum up this goal more perfectly...
News Plants vs. Zombies Eyes Up DS, Licks Rotting Lips
2011 date for Popcap's classic
The DS keeps providing shelter for all kind of miscreants: Angry Birds was recently announced for a DS release, and now Popcap's similarly world-dominating strategy title Plants vs. Zombies is getting ready to infect the console next year. Plants vs. Zombies is tower defence done differently: there are no towers, for a...
News Charity to Provide Nintendo DS Systems for Young Cancer Patients
Local charity holding its inaugural Footsteps in Faith 5K and Fun Walk
When Genre Baker, then eight years old, from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania was in hospital receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), there was one little machine in the form of a Nintendo DS that made the stays more bearable and now a year older, he is the...
News New Sonic Wisp Power-Ups Help Sonic Hover and More
Green and pink Wisps unveiled
With generally positive impressions of Sonic Colours for DS following E3, Sega isn't about to let you forget about Sonic Colours for Wii, announcing two new power-ups for the game this week. The first is the Pink Wisp, which galvanises Sonic's spikes to allow him to stick to walls and ceilings, allowing him to explore...
News Watch Dr. Wily's Between-Game Preparations, D.I.Y.-Style
WarioWare creations guide him through the evil lair setup process
Oh, that Dr. Wily, always up to no good with his evil Robot Masters and his bushy eyebrows. With the amount of smackdowns he's had from Mega Man, you'd think he'd give up the ghost on his crazy plans for world domination sooner or later. Instead, Wily is like clockwork cartoon evil,...
News Let the Warm Glow of this Golden Sun Trailer Brighten Your Day
The future's bright
It's been three long weeks since we got chance to play Camelot's upcoming RPG Golden Sun Dark Dawn, and our First Impressions only left us wanting more. This new Japanese trailer for the game has exactly the same effect. With more Psynergies, Summons and simply stunning graphics than before, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn looks like it...
Your only limit is your creativity
To DSi owners, Art Academy will be a familiar sight. Last year we saw Art Academy: First Semester and Second Semester, a set of artistic tools by Nintendo. While First Semester received positive reviews, Second Semester was criticized for being “less of the same”, resembling an overpriced expansion pack rather...
News Get a Feel for Okamiden with New Screenshots and Gameplay Video
Puzzles, combat and dialogue all in one place
Capcom's Okamiden is shaping up to be one of the DS's biggest titles of 2011, as these new screenshots and gameplay video from Gamescom in Cologne show. Taking in more of the paint-and-brush gameplay from its predecessor Okami, the extra precision offered by the DS stylus opens up new opportunities for...
News Bask in the Supernatural Aura of this Ghost Trick Trailer
Detecting new phantoms inbound
We had a short but enjoyably bizarre hands-on session with Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective a month ago, and the curious DS puzzler continues to take shape under the direction of Phoenix Wright mastermind Shu Takumi. With Gamescom currently tearing up Cologne, Capcom has released a new trailer for Ghost Trick to show off...
News Nintendo's Q4 Schedule Outs BIT.TRIP FATE
Plus dates for Kirby, DK and more
Gaijin Games let the first detail of its upcoming BIT.TRIP title slip last week with the revelation it'll be playable with the Wii Zapper, but a new Nintendo press release has confirmed the name as BIT.TRIP FATE with a release date pencilled in for this Fall. The press release also gives vague "holiday...
News Insanity Grips the DS in Upcoming Shutter Island Game
DiCaprio in your pocket
Movie fans who enjoyed Martin Scorsese's nailbiting thriller, Shutter Island will soon be able to stroll off the boat into insanity themselves on the DS as revealed by a recent ESRB rating: This is a seek-and-find puzzle game, based on the movie Shutter Island, in which players assume the role of U.S. marshals who...
News Art Academy Paints a Pretty Picture Inside UK Top Five
It's obviously drawing people in
DSi owners will be familiar with Art Academy: First Semester and Second Semester, the artistic tools designed to help users discover their innate artistic talents. Recently released in cartridge form, the latest UK charts show it sitting inside the All-Formats Top 5, having jumped from 28th place in the previous...
Return to glory for team Star Fox
The Star Fox series is one which holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. Featuring a colourful cast of anthropomorphic animals led by Fox McCloud across the Lylat system, it all began back in 1993 on the Super Nintendo with the original Star Fox. The game was a huge hit and has since seen four sequels...
News What's the World DS-Playing Record This Month?
Congratulations if you said 659
Two months ago, 586 people at the London MCM Expo all played DS games simultaneously, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process. Last month, 659 people did exactly the same thing, only in Bradford instead of London. Guinness World Records' Gaming Editor Gaz Deaves was on-hand to verify the attempt: It was a...
News Contain Your Surprise as Nintendo Outsells Competition in July
650,000 units makes Big N the top dog
The monstrous machines at the NPD Group have crunched the numbers for July and spat out an unsurprising statistic: Nintendo sold more hardware than its competition. Shifting 400,000 DS machines and 254,000 Wii consoles, the company outsold Microsoft and Sony comfortably, though with 440,000 units sold of the...
News Etrian Odyssey III Bonus Poster Revealed
Nearly drowned out by sound of Atlus back-slapping
You may have forgotten about Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City in the crowd of top-drawer RPGs on the way to DS this year, but publisher Atlus wants you to remember this press release about another upcoming bonus for purchasers. As well as the existing pre-order incentive of a 60-page artbook,...
News Brighten Up Your Dull Desktop with Super Scribblenauts Wallpaper
Get daring, bright, bold and so on
So you're wearing your Scribblenauts rooster hat, thinking about wearing your Super Scribblenauts pre-order headphones, and you want to know exactly how you can express your excitement for Warner Bros.'s upcoming wordy epic. How about with some wallpaper? Good answer. Being Super Scribblenauts however, this isn't...
News Get a Double Dose of CSI Later this Year
More murder mystery from Ubisoft
Just as the Crime Scene Investigation television series show no signs of running out of steam, so Ubisoft's video game adaptations continue to find fresh corpses and accompanying mysteries to solve. This year is no exception, with both Wii and DS receiving new titles before Christmas rolls around. Along with PS3 and...
News Archie Writer Reveals Sonic Colours Comic, Hints at New Characters
Hints as subtle as a Dr Robotnik creation
Sonic the Hedgehog stars in the world's longest-running video game comic (it's true), so it shouldn't be a surprise that the Archie Comics team is already beavering away on a set of new stories to complement the upcoming Sonic Colours for Wii and DS. Comic writer Ian Flynn spoke to First Comics News about...
News Help Professor Layton Find the Lost Future on October 22nd
European release date and name change confirmed
It's a double-whammy of release date announcement news for Europeans today, as Nintendo also rubber-stamps the next Professor Layton game for a release on October 22nd. Changing its North American name from Professor Layton and the Unwound Future to Professor Layton and the Lost Future, the game still...
Shooting star
Shoot 'em ups are a rare thing on the DS. Even with the rise of DSiWare last year, we have still seen little in the way of more traditional shooters for the console. Early release Nanostray was one of the first games to step up to the challenge and fortunately, it doesn't disappoint. Published back in 2005 by Majesco, the game is a...
News These Fuzzy Super Scribblenauts Headphones Can Be Yours
If you preorder at Gamestop, of course
The original Scribblenauts came with an infamous rooster hat for those who preordered, so can Warner Bros. top that with an even better incentive second time around? How about with a pair of plush headphones that actually work? Bad luck if you said no, as that's exactly what's happening. Coming in three...
News Europeans Can Farm Frantically this Autumn
Potatoes and puzzles courtesy of Rising Star
It may have been available on North American shores for nearly twelve months – in fact, our first and only news story about this game was almost exactly one year ago – but European gamers are yet to sample the sweet taste of Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming, but Rising Star Games is set to rectify that...
News Batman: The Brave and the Bold Vignette Unmasks the DS Version
Introducing gamers to the characters and the game's visual style
Next month sees the return of the Batman franchise as Batman: The Brave and the Bold launches on the Wii and the DS; which in itself, is an adaptation of the 2008 animated series. In the lead-up to the game's launch, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has sent over a vignette from...
News Intellivision Lives! Thanks to a DS Revival This September
Get ready for the iconic spaceships, sharks and robots to take over your DS
If compilations of classic games are your thing, then you'll be glad to know that Intellivision Lives! for the DS will be getting its retail release this September, and what a wait it's been! Since its announcement back at E3 2005, all the potential publishers have taken a...
News Tetsuya Nomura Wants to Make The World Ends With You 2
Nothing to do with Bono
Square Enix's The World Ends With You is, let's face it, pretty sensational: innovative, individual and impossibly stylish, it's received critical acclaim since launch. Like many great games, however, the question of a sequel looms over it like an irritating Noise: Tetsuya Nomura, the game's designer, wants to see a sequel,...
News Brush Up with Art Academy on October 25th
Creative compilation coming to North America
DSiWare Donatellos will already be aware of the Art Academy series, with Semester One and Semester Two already available for download, but Nintendo wants to get everybody involved in the class, even that annoying kid at the back. That's why it's combining both downloads into a single retail release,...
News Get Ready for a Story Mode Full of New Pokemon in Black & White
And there'll be no old monsters until you've finished
Video chat, three-on-three battles and a brand new graphical style are just some of the surprises awaiting folks who plan to pick up the new Pokémon Black & White, out in Ja
News Sonic Colours Breaks Sonic Cycle, says Producer
Sonic Boom heard everywhere
Takashi Iizuka is a man of great experience in the games industry, having worked on Sonic titles since 1994's 16-bit send-off Sonic & Knuckles. Now head of Sonic Team, he's the man charged with glugging the poisoned chalice of reviving the blue hedgehog to his former glory, with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and...
Low on originality, high on fun
Giana Sisters DS began life as a limited personal computer release called The Great Giana Sisters back in 1987. Due to the game's extremely close resemblances to Nintendo's NES release Super Mario Bros., the game was yanked from store shelves soon after its release, making it quite a rare find today. Now DTP...
News iPhone Success Angry Birds to Peck DS
Even Hitchcock would be scared
If you've got an Apple device you might have engaged in a bit of Angry Birds, the fastest-selling game on the Apple Store having sold over 5 million copies in six months. If you haven't got an Apple device, there's no need to grab one just to play this game as it's on the way to DS. In an interview with completely...
Review Retro Atari Classics (DS)
When classic compilations go wrong
Since retro compilations started to become a decent way for companies to earn money off their old IP, it's become the norm to see classics from some of the bigger names in the industry repackaged in each succeeding generation of consoles since the late 20th century. Unfortunately Atari has mis-stepped with its...
July2010
News Nintendo Posts 43 Percent Revenue Drop
For the first time in two years, the Big N posts a quarterly loss
There has been many-a-meme relating to the DS “printing money,” but now a quarterly earnings report from Nintendo suggests the handheld's printer may be running out of ink. According to the earnings report, which covers the second quarter of fiscal year 2010/2011 running from...
