Features News - Page 15 of 55

Tens of millions of Nintendo fans can now interact

This week Nintendo finally delivered Miiverse, along with the Nintendo Network ID and shared eShop fund support, to the 3DS. While it has its flaws — which we'll cover to some degree this weekend — that's to be expected with any launch, especially one such as this that fundamentally shakes up...

Import gaming addict Kerry Brunskill explains the appeal of overseas gaming

I’ve been fascinated by Japanese games for as long as I can remember, going right the way back to faux-Japanese Amiga games like Leander and Apidya II. There's something appealing about Japanese game design and art which can't quite be matched by western titles, and...

StreetPass is social networking without the junk, says Andy Robertson

We all have peculiar reasons to like particular videogame hardware. Whether it’s the diminutive form factor of the Game Boy Micro, the wonderful ergonomics of the GameCube controller or the ingenious speaker on the Wii Remote, these designs trigger something inside us that...

Tom Whitehead cringed for three painful hours

I'll start this with a confession — I'd never bothered watching the VGA awards until this year's rebranded VGX event. I'd pre-judged it based on its own marketing message and what others had said, which isn't actually the best way to approach it; nevertheless life is short and, frankly, I was always...

From getting started to making the most of your ID

Today has brought us the latest major 3DS update, and it's one that's been anticipated for a good amount of time. It introduces Nintendo Network IDs to the portable, which now allows unified eShop funds with the Wii U equivalent and, perhaps most importantly, Miiverse access. Until now...

Skull Kid, Turnips, a Lloid rocket and more

It's Monday, so that means it's Super Smash Bros. screens time; once again we have Masahiro Sakurai to thank, as he diligently gives us our regular fix over on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room Miiverse community board. To half-quote Depeche Mode (google them, younger readers), we just can't get...

Family Gamer's Andy Robertson on the topic of game length

The perfect game length is a personal thing. Those with oodles of time will want maximum value from their purchases and demand at least 30 hours of gameplay, but those with less time — such as myself and the many other games-playing parents out there — may prefer games to be shorter. I...

Damien McFerran experiences buyer's remorse thanks to a recent purchase

Before we stumble headlong into what will surely be a touchy subject to some, allow me to clarify something. As many of you will be aware, Nintendo Life is but one third of a network of gaming-focused sites. Nestled in the bosom of a growing media empire, this site is flanked...

The numbers don't add up

It seems that a month can't pass by — in the past couple of years — when investment analysts, games industry figures and Nintendo's own investors aren't saying that Nintendo needs to expand and release games on alternative platforms. It's creeping into discourse around the Wii U due to the hardware's struggles to date,...

A touch of class

When Nintendo announced, in Spring 2012, that it was taking on the role of providing the interactive museum guides at the Louvre in Paris, it seemed slightly odd. The prospect of visitors wandering around the famous site with a 3DS around their necks seemed peculiar, but there it was in undeniable reality. We learned that it had...

The new Ray Gun, a Zelda train, Bowser schooling Sonic and more

Monday is here again, so it's time to enjoy our regular dose of new screens for Super Smash Bros.; they arrive, as always, courtesy of Masahiro Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room Miiverse community board. We know how hard he's working on these games, so we're always...

Will Nintendo's platform and games succeed this December?

We're now approaching — or in some places have reached — the end of the madness of the Black Friday shopping weekend, an annual fixture in North America and to a lesser extent elsewhere. Of course, the Holiday shopping gig isn't up, and as we enter December we kick off a vital few weeks...

"Child of Light has many unique and distinctive features"

Upcoming Wii U eShop releases that catch the eye are often from small, independent developers, with a sense that it's these small teams that have freedom to express new ideas or conventionally niche approaches. For multi-national, multi-million dollar publishers the focus can be different,...

So long teens, hello more awesome games

It's finally happened, the WGAYPTW series has left its teens, and the emotional crisis it prompted led to it missing its normal schedule — that's right, it was nothing to do with the features editor forgetting to organise it, no way. But it's fine, this little series of game-related tittle-tattle is ready...

Consoles, games, and random stuff that must be owned

Farewell, stable bank balances. Prepare yourselves, credit cards. The Holiday season is upon us, with Black Friday — which is really Black Friday Week now — already kicking into gear in the U.S. and plenty of other places besides. It's the season to be jolly and generous to others, while...

An unboxing of epic proportions

How time flies. It only seems like yesterday that we reported that Prima Games — famed for its detailed strategy guides — would be releasing a collectable box set containing strategy guides for several recent Zelda titles, including Twilight Princess,

Mario, Link, Pikmin and lots of lovely art

Back in August Nintendo released Art Academy: SketchPad on the Wii U eShop, a budget-priced drawing tool that utilises the GamePad touch screen and allows full colour image posts to Miiverse. For artistically minded Wii U owners it's certainly a terrific option that can deliver impressive results; not long...

"It’s a hobby that just kind of escalated"

Just last week we published the first part of our chat with Nifflas, in which the game designer — full name Nicklas Nygren — outlined many of the ideas that form upcoming Wii U eShop title Knytt Underground. We learnt a great deal about the complexity and depth that the title is striving for, in the...

Mario in space, a sleepy Marth, celebrating 3D World and more

It's another Monday, the nights are drawing in and the festive season — with its associated shopping madness — approaches. Yet some things remain constant and reliable, such as new screens for Super Smash Bros. being posted by Masahiro Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room...

Strong concept or pricey issue?

We're stepping into a vital period on the market for the Wii U. It's certainly far too early to say it's the definitive moment for the system, as releases such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. will also be maximised by Nintendo to achieve notable sales and momentum. With that in mind, it should still be...

Damien McFerran on how Nintendo's new 3DS Zelda has created a vital bond

More than two decades ago, an excitable 12 year-old boy huddled down in front of his Super Nintendo console armed with a copy of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Having witnessed the critical acclaim directed towards this new action RPG the youth expectantly flicked...

"I would say it’s a beautiful, slow-paced experience, very ambient."

We've emphasized in recent times that there are a good number of intriguing download-only titles coming to the Wii U eShop, bringing a variety of experiences to the fore. One that could be particularly involving and complex for players to tackle may be Knytt Underground, a...

Will an overwhelmingly positive critical response and buzz deliver success?

Something slightly surprising, to me at least, happened yesterday. Super Mario 3D World had a wonderful series of reviews that went live, on any major outlet you'd care to name, bang on the embargo. I'm not talking about the scores — which were excellent — but the...

Marth's sword, The Villager's net, a MARIO GALAXY STAGE and more

We hope you agree that Mondays are made a little better with more Super Smash Bros. screens, with this 13th entry in our series being unlucky for absolutely no-one; Masahiro Sakurai has been busy, as always, on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room Miiverse community board. Last week's...