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Hardware Review: Hyperkin SupaBoy Portable SNES

Hyperkin SupaBoy Portable SNES

The biggest retro hardware release in more ways than one

The lapse of hardware patents on retro platforms has resulted in an explosion of clone machines, most of which are produced cheaply in the Far East. These systems emulate the performance of consoles such as the NES, Super Nintendo and Genesis/Mega Drive, all of which are no longer covered by...

Feature: The Evolving Role of Swapnote

The Evolving Role of Swapnote

More than just a letter box

Nintendo Letter Box, also known by the catchier title of Swapnote in North America, filled a notable gap in the 3DS’ functionality when it was launched in late December last year. When the handheld launched various features were bare-bone or missing, and one frustrating omission was the lack of any meaningful way to...

Feature: Nintendo's Motion Revolution

Nintendo's Motion Revolution

Gaming for everyone

The release of the Famicom is often regarded as one of the biggest moments in gaming history, as it not only brought Nintendo into the home console arena, but it also introduced the world to a plumber named Mario. The console, as we know, proved to be an incredible success and has helped create the industry we have today, but...

Talking Point: The Inevitability of Digital Retail Games

The Inevitability of Digital Retail Games

How will it affect our gaming?

For Nintendo gamers, the video game market is currently a simple, relatively traditional place. If you want to buy a retail title, you hit the high street or visit your online retailer of choice and pick up a box with a disc or game cart inside. Pop that media into your Wii, 3DS or DS and you’re immediately playing...

Interview: Camille and Kennerly - The Harp Twins

Camille and Kennerly - The Harp Twins

Making sweet music

The internet is full of unusual covers of Nintendo songs, but none caught our eye quite like this Ballad of the Goddess harp duet by identical twins Camille and Kennerly, aka The Harp Twins. We talked to the musical duo about gaming, music and sticking together. Nintendo Life: Hi guys, thanks for agreeing to this interview! First...

Feature: Nintendo's Biggest Blunders

Nintendo's Biggest Blunders

Even Mario gets it wrong sometimes

They say true love triumphs over any hardships. If that is the case, then we must really love Nintendo, for it's provided us with plenty of chances to test our devotion throughout the years. Here is a selection of moments where it all went topsy-turvy, even if our commitment never wavered: You Can't Play That:...

Feature: The Desire for Physical Media

The Desire for Physical Media

Digital isn’t always enough

Yesterday we reported that there’s a new SNES title on the way in 2013. That title is Nightmare Busters from developer Super Fighter Team, a run and gun action game with a planned pre-order run of 600 copies. The concept of developing for a console that's now four generations out of date is unconventional but not...

Feature: 3DS Games You'll Probably Never Play

3DS Games You'll Probably Never Play

Cancelled!

The 3DS has endured some trying times in its short lifespan, among these being a number of cancellations of high-profile games by third-party publishers and developers. We've decided to highlight five of the biggest titles to get the chop in the past year, why they were cancelled and the likelihood of these games being resurrected...

Talking Point: Achievements, Trophies and Wii U

Achievements, Trophies and Wii U

Achievement unlocked?

Back in 2005, Microsoft kick-started the HD console era with Xbox 360, at the time a technical marvel with online capabilities that were one of the jewels in its creamy white, far-too-easily overheating crown. However, while online play, reams of downloadable content (DLC) and a single, unified community were indeed admirable...

Talking Point: 3DS Depends on Nintendo Titles for Success

3DS Depends on Nintendo Titles for Success

Developers left out of the party

Recent weeks have seen some positive news for Nintendo and 3DS: a truly abysmal launch period has been forgotten by many, as a major price drop and some heavy-hitting titles have resuscitated the device. It’s now exuding respectability after a difficult summer in 2011 when it looked like a flawed idea and,...

First Impressions: Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (3DS eShop)

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (3DS eShop)

Shin'en star?

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! might lay it on a bit thick with its overly exclamatory title, but it does a decent job of summing up the first 3DS eShop game from long-time Nintendo supporter Shin'en Multimedia. It's worth saying right off the bat this isn't a portable version of WiiWare original Fun! Fun! Minigolf: while that was intended...

Feature: Nintendo Characters Looking for Love

Nintendo Characters Looking for Love

Will you be their player two?

Like so many others, we at Nintendo Life get swept up in the romance that is in the air during St. Valentine's Day. We love the smell of the flowers, the taste of the chocolate and the irresistible allure of digging through the online dating profiles of strangers, hoping to find something amusing. Surprisingly, we got...

News: Welcome to the New Look Nintendo Life!

Welcome to the New Look Nintendo Life!

Power up!

It's been nearly three years since we launched the previous version of Nintendo Life. Since then a lot has changed, as a result our tab bar has grown exponentially as new platforms and consoles have been announced and launched. We, as a site, have also gone through lots of changes since 2009. Our pool of talented writing staff has grown,...

Feature: Zelda and Link's Romance in Skyward Sword

Zelda and Link's Romance in Skyward Sword

Zelda likes the silent type

It’s that time of year again, when couples around the world buy each other chocolates and tacky heart shaped gifts. Soon it will be Valentine’s Day, the most loved-up day of the year, and it’s got us thinking about The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: a worrying indication that our priorities aren’t matching the...

Talking Point: Wii U and the Future of the Online Pass

Wii U and the Future of the Online Pass

'Project $10' and what it could mean

With the number of gamers indulging in online play on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at an all-time high, it’s disheartening sometimes to observe how far Nintendo has been lagging behind, as far as online functionality goes. For those lucky enough to own more than one console, the Wii isn’t exactly the go-to...

Talking Point: The Future of Pokémon

The Future of Pokémon

Time to evolve onto 3DS

Given that the 3DS console has been on sale worldwide for nearly a year now, the desolate wastes of its almost non-existent software library have finally blossomed into a variety of must-have titles. But there’s one Nintendo property that’s still criminally under-represented on the handheld: Pokémon. The franchise has...

Feature: The Joy of Gaming Together

The Joy of Gaming Together

Not a headset in sight

It's been a busy few months here at Nintendo Life, and we don't expect it to calm down any time soon. Every once in a while we decide that it's time to relax and take time off as a team with gaming nights, where we descend on a glamorous location, hook up retro consoles to a projector and spend an evening doing one thing:...

Feature: The Wonder of Ugly Add-Ons

The Wonder of Ugly Add-Ons

Only their creators love them

For those who hadn’t noticed, we recently posted our 3DS Circle Pad Pro review, which unsurprisingly prompted a broad range of opinions and comments. While the reaction to the add-on has undoubtedly been diverse, most agree on one thing: it’s ugly. Or, to quote our review, it "makes the console look like it's...

Talking Point: NFC and the Latest Wii U Wizardry

NFC and the Latest Wii U Wizardry

Near Field Communication: cooler than it sounds

As you may have noticed, we've seen a flurry of news stories coming out of Nintendo HQ in the past few days. We started with bad news, that Nintendo expects to make a loss in the current financial year, though the news that Wii U will launch in time for Christmas 2012 helped ease the pain. Of course,...

Feature: 3DS and the Trend of Colourful Handhelds

3DS and the Trend of Colourful Handhelds

Who needs rainbows?

It’s been on the market for less than a year, yet the 3DS is already available in five distinct colours, with multiple limited edition console designs also in stores or on the way. The reaction to new colour announcements is always interesting: while some bemoan yet another ‘new’ 3DS hitting the market, many seem to accept...