Latest Features
Preview Going Back to SR-388 in Metroid: Samus Returns
Exploring strange, old worlds
It’s hard to believe, but we haven’t received a proper Samus-starring Metroid adventure since Other M launched seven years ago - the role of Metroid Prime: Federation Force will always be disputed. Our chozo-suited heroine has finally come back to us in the aptly-titled Metroid: Samus Returns. It’s a...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - August 2017
Even more great devs make the Switch
Like a speeding bullet caught in the backside of a bat out of hell, the Nintendo Switch eShop continues to speed ahead of expectations. So, once again we're left with the increasingly difficult task of picking the very best that the last month had to offer on the console and then chat about it into a microphone...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games and Accessories for September and October
Pokkén Tournament, Super Mario Odyssey and lots more!
Can you believe it's September already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of Splatoon 2 and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and there's still lots more to look forward to in the coming months. So, what's on the horizon for Nintendo Switch fans, then? We've...
Feature The Big Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase Summary - Summer 2017
There's a lot to get through
This week Nintendo brought us the second 'Nindies Showcase' of the year, focused almost exclusively on Switch eShop games (with a couple also coming to the 3DS). It followed a similar format to the late February original, with Damon Baker spending around 20 minutes rattling through quickfire announcements and trailers...
Guide Getting Started in Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Battle for beginners
The crossover between the house Mario built and Ubisoft’s demented Rabbids is finally upon us, and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a game unlike any other on the Switch to date. Before it was even so much as officially announced gamers were panning the title, saying it just didn’t make sense. Much to our delight,...
Feature How Wulverblade Is Bringing Britain's Blood-Soaked History To Life On Nintendo Switch
"We really feel like part of the Nintendo family already"
Wulverblade is a game that is three years in the making, and was originally supposed to come out on the Xbox One to spearhead (no pun intended) Microsoft's indie drive. However, fast forward to 2017 and the situation is slightly different; this gorgeous-looking hack and slash title is going...
Feature Christophe Galati On The Long Road To Switch For Save Me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San
"All the pieces fit together organically and I’m happy with the result"
Yesterday saw the surprise announcement of many upcoming Switch eShop games, one of which was of special interest to fans of the vintage Game Boy. However, despite looking every inch like a classic monochrome title from 1989, Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San is the...
Feature Five Things We Expect From the Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase - Summer 2017
Along with increased web searches for micro-SD cards
Over the years Nintendo has spread its wings from slapping 'Direct' on all of its broadcasts, and is returning with another Nindies Showcase. We had one of these just before the Nintendo Switch launched, and it went big on outlining notable games heading to the eShop, also making a point of...
Feature A Breakdown of the New Nindie Gems Heading to the Switch eShop
Including trailers and footage for 6 fresh games
Earlier today Nintendo of Europe published a rather tasty Nintendo x Indies sizzle reel, in slightly odd timing considering that tomorrow Nintendo of America is broadcasting a Nindies Showcase Presentation. Inter-subsidiary one-upmanship aside, the European video is a nice reminder of some of the...
Editorial Farewell to the Flawed Miiverse, But Thanks for the Memories
A bright start made way for a slightly weird online space
Sometimes Nintendo takes an established idea and makes it very, well, 'Nintendo'. It made a deathmatch-style shooter but decided it shouldn't be all about killing, so we got Splatoon, for example. It's a broader trend through the company's history, too, especially in the hardware space...
Hardware Review The Retro-Bit RES Plus Gives You A HDMI NES For Under 40 Dollars
But is it better than the competition?
Despite the fact that the SNES Classic is on the horizon and we're already seeing SNES clones being announced - like the Hyperkin Supa Retron HD - there's obviously still a healthy market for systems which replicate the performance of Nintendo's previous system, the NES. This year has already given us...
Guide Pokémon GO Raids, Bosses, Rewards And Winning Tactics
Playing with the big boys
Niantic’s Pocket Monster-catching phenomenon is an ever-changing and adapting beast; regular updates and additions to the game have made Pokémon GO a much-loved but potentially confusing experience. The recently added ‘Raid Battles’ are one element that may well cause some confusion to new players and veterans alike...
Feature A Long Journey Through Metroid Prime: Federation Force
"Charge!"
Right now Nintendo is building the hype for Metroid: Samus Returns, but it's not been that long since our last game from the IP graced the 3DS. Metroid Prime: Federation Force was divisive (to put it mildly), and is now one year old. Amusingly, our editor Tom Whitehead and reviewer extraordinaire Conor McMahon only recently finished a...
Feature Everything You Need To Know About The 2017 Pokémon World Championships
Serebii's Joe Merrick fills us in on the action
This past weekend was the 13th Pokémon World Championships. After last year, where spectators were not permitted to enter barring those who queued early in the morning in the slim hope of getting a spectator pass, this year The Pokémon Company International shifted the locale to Anaheim, California,...
Soapbox The SNES Classic Edition Pre-Order Farce Proves Nintendo Hasn't Learned A Thing
It's all just a little bit of history repeating
Nintendo dropped the ball with the launch of the NES Mini last year, with retailers making the pre-order process more testing that it needed to be and the volume of stock needed to meet demand being woefully underestimated. We had every hope the Big N would have learned from the bad feeling caused by...
Hardware Review Hori's Switch Horipad Is The Controller You Never Knew You Needed
Rolling start
When we first reported on the Hori Switch Horipad a while back there were a few puzzled faces in the Nintendo Life office. The big selling point of the wired controller was the fact that the D-pad could be removed to reveal a cluster of four buttons underneath; at the time, we genuinely pondered why you'd ever need to do this, and -...
Soapbox Seriously Nintendo, It's Time For A Switch Joy-Con With A Proper D-Pad
Buttons just aren't as good
After months of speculation prior to the Nintendo Switch being officially revealed in October 2016, it's fair to say that the initial reaction was largely very positive. This early enthusiasm from the gaming community has been backed up by decent software support from Nintendo and a ever-growing install base; the Switch...
Feature Pixel Perfex On Why Earth Atlantis Is Ideal For Nintendo Switch
We chat about the BitSummit 2017 award winner
Set after a global catastrophic event that resulted in 96 percent of the Earth's surface being underwater and forced machines to adapt into various marine forms, Earth Atlantis is shaping up to be an interesting shooter on Switch. Your mission is to slay more than 20 'boss monsters' by choosing...
First Impressions Piczle Lines DX is Another Reminder of the Switch Hybrid's Appeal
Bringing a slower pace to eShop gaming
The early Switch eShop line-up had some gems, but it arguably did little to accommodate a demographic keen on sedate gaming experiences, or indeed those with a particular love for puzzle games. The DS and 3DS, in particular, built up a broad range of titles focused around puzzles, wordplay and so on, whether...
Editorial Is This a Golden Era of Gaming? Absolutely
Tom Whitehead immediately regrets the headline
Because I'm a literary geek I've been attending some events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival - I know, it's pretty rock and roll. In any case, one talk I went to kicked off with some wise words, and I paraphrase slightly, that every generation lives under a delusion that theirs is the...
Feature Trying Biohazard Beverages, a Rockman Stew and More at the Capcom Café
One of the gaming treats in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Located opposite the famous 'Golden Gai' izakaya (bar) square in Shinjuku's Kabukucho district (Tokyo) is a small cafe dedicated to all things Capcom. Whether your franchise of choice is Street Fighter, Biohazard (Resident Evil), Rockman (Mega Man), or something a little more niche, there's plenty of...
Feature Basking in Nostalgia and '16-Bit' Goodness in Sonic Mania
The 12-year-old me would get all the Chaos Emeralds
With Sonic Mania just a day away at the time of publication, the lid is being lifted on review embargoes. Our chums at Push Square have published a review, but there's one simple reason we're posting this feature instead - we've been playing it on PS4. SEGA America offered us PS4 / Xbox...
Poll 99 Games and Counting - Are You Pleased With the Switch eShop Library?
Download decisions
We're just a couple of days away from the launch of Sonic Mania on the Switch eShop, the latest intriguing release to head to the store. While the line-up of exclusive games on the Switch download store is modest (but arguably offering quality over quantity), we're seeing a diverse range of multi-platform titles. A number of...
Talking Point Capcom, the Nintendo Switch and Gaming Business Realities
Sometimes Capcom and Nintendo are close partners, but not always
At the moment some Switch aficionados are a little baffled and frustrated with Capcom. There are multiple reason for this, but Monster Hunter: World (coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC) is arguably top of the list. Capcom has only shown limited support for the Switch so far, with a...
Feature Is It Really Cheaper To Order Retro Games Direct From Japan?
Forget eBay - there could be a cheaper option
Back in the '90s, it seemed that the Japanese got all the best stuff. Not only did games typically launch sooner in Japan, they came in gorgeously-illustrated boxes complete with full-colour manuals, putting the rather drab western equivalents to shame. Not only that, the Japanese were blessed with many...
Editorial The Switch eShop Library is Starting to Look Like the Real Deal
Keep it on the download
The Switch has only been out a little over five months, but in this helter-skelter world it already seems to be settled into the market. General buzz and demand remain high, there are major retail games due regularly for the rest of the year, and Nintendo is still in a continuous battle to ensure that supply meets demand. For...
Preview Jumping Into the Crazy World of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Including a stint in the co-op mode
While its reveal at E3 was anything but a surprise, the positive response to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was arguably unexpected. The idea of a crossover between the two IPs wasn't well received by everyone before it was shown, with this writer among the initial doubters. Yet the impact in LA was significant,...
Feature Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's Producer on the "WTF" Blend of Iconic Franchises
"From the very start it was a true cross-over project"
With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle now just weeks away, attention will start to shift to how this cross-over will perform on Nintendo Switch. Early instincts from leaks weren't positive for all, but it made a notable impact at E3 to win over a number of fans. We recently enjoyed some extended...
Feature Just How Bad Is Hori's Wired 'Solution' For Switch Voice Chat?
Wired for sound, for better or worse
You've all seen (and no doubt poked fun at) the official diagram for Hori's Switch voice chat headset, and you may well have tried out the rather irksome, smartphone-based voice chat system Nintendo has created for its leading console. For the full experience you really need one of Hori's headsets, which come...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For August And September
Mario + Rabbids, Pokkén Tournament and lots more!
Can you believe it's August already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of ARMS and Splatoon 2 and there's still lots more to look forward to in upcoming months. So what's on the horizon for Nintendo Switch fans, then? We've complied a list of...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - July 2017
More downloadable gems
The Switch eShop continues to pick up steam, with July seeing a noticeable ramping up in the number of download releases. There have been some busy weeks and plenty of interesting titles, so we're back with our series to sort the wheat from the chaff with our Nintendo Life eShop Selects awards for July. This month we've got...
Editorial amiibo Has Stalled, Because Nintendo is Forgetting What Makes It Special
A decline into minor unlocks and collectible DLC
Nintendo is still fully committed to amiibo, that much is obvious. New figures and cards continue to gradually emerge, some as expected with the biggest games (such as Splatoon 2 and Metroid: Samus Returns), and others a little unexpected like the cards that came out alongside Mario Sports...
Poll The New Nintendo 2DS XL is Out This Week - Are You Tempted?
Heading for a quiet launch
Nintendo launches new hardware this week, but unlike some of its previous iterations it's arriving rather quietly. In fact, the company hasn't mentioned it all that much on social media in the past week or two, so you may have forgotten it's happening. The New Nintendo 2DS XL arrives on 28th July, alongside Hey! Pikmin and...
Feature Nintendo Switch + LED Mini Projector: A Match Made In Gaming Heaven?
Big-screen gaming on the move
The hybrid nature of the Switch means that it straddles the divide between portable and domestic gameplay; it's a unit that is small and light enough to be carried in your bag for gaming on the go, but it also connects to your TV like a traditional system, offering big-screen delights as well. The super-portable nature...
Feature Re-acquainting Ourselves With an Old Ally in Metroid: Samus Returns
"It's time"
When it came to time for questions during our hands-on demo with Metroid: Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS, the very first thing we asked was, “Why now?” That's because, one deviation aside, Samus Aran has been out of the public spotlight for seven years - it's been a whole decade if you trace her absence back to the beloved...
Gallery King Of Games Celebrates 15 Years Of Awesome Video Game Clothing
15 years of looking the part
Premium Japanese gaming clothing brand King of Games is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary with a gallery of products and Nintendo-related kitsch at Nakano's Meteor Gallery. In case you didn't know, Nakano is a part of downtown Tokyo which is gaining a reputation as the "new Akihabara", making it the ideal...
Talking Point Splatoon 2's Salmon Run Shows Off the Switch's Local Multiplayer Strengths
Flawless fun
When Nintendo confirmed that the co-op Salmon Run mode in Splatoon 2 would take place in specific limited time windows, there were some understandable groans. Nevertheless since the game's launch it's not been much of an issue, as the mode has been available pretty much whenever we want to play it. The function of the time windows is...
Editorial Nintendo, Somehow, Has Gone Backwards With Voice Chat on the Switch
It's actually worse than on Wii U and 3DS
When Nintendo confirmed that it'd be running lobbies and voice chat through a dedicated smartphone app there were plenty of critical remarks online. As a site we followed the line of a wait and see approach, but as crazy Hori workarounds and limited details emerged there was the whiff of a messy launch, and...
Feature RIVE Adds Copilot Mode as Two Tribes Tell Us About Upcoming Nintendo Switch Version
"We've always held the Nintendo aesthetic in high regard"
RIVE has proven to be an interesting project - it's a truly challenging and smart twin-stick shooter that is a swansong for Two Tribes. The studio brought us some excellent titles over a number of years, but decided that it would make one final game before moving on to new things...
Feature Just How Hard Is It To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
We hit the streets of Tokyo on Splatoon 2 launch day to find out
Today is Friday, July 21st. It's horrendously hot and humid in Japan. It's the height of summer and the start of the school holidays in many parts of Tokyo. It's also the day that Splatoon 2 is out. As if the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles wasn't bad enough, Nintendo's newest...
Feature Just How Hard Is It To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
We hit the streets of Tokyo on Splatoon 2 launch day to find out
Today is Friday, July 21st. It's horrendously hot and humid in Japan. It's the height of summer and the start of the school holidays in many parts of Tokyo. It's also the day that Splatoon 2 is out. As if the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles wasn't bad enough, Nintendo's newest...
"I feel like Zelda: BOTW might become my favourite game of all time"
It might be a struggle to explain to your grandparents exactly how big a deal YouTube is these days, but a few facts and figures usually help. Joseph "Stampy Cat" Garrett - one of the world's most popular Minecraft YouTubers - has over 8 million subscribers (not to mention...
Feature Splatoon 2 and the Spirit of Miiverse - In Pictures
Ponies, memes and slightly odd complaints
Splatoon 2 is about to hit stores, but it's arrived on the eShop in Japan and some have received their pre-orders early all around the globe. While trying to figure out the Nintendo Switch Online app and generally messing about, your humble scribe clocked the first in-game Miiverse-style posts, following on...
Feature Ex-Rare Composer Grant Kirkhope On "Breaking Mario" And Following In Koji Kondo's Footsteps
"We've poured ourselves into this game to try and make it special"
It's fair to say that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle didn't have the most auspicious of starts. When the game leaked it was met with a fair degree of scepticism, but that all changed when the title was unveiled onstage at E3, complete with an appearance by Shigeru Miyamoto himself...
Gallery A Look Back At Some Of Miiverse's Craziest And Most Beautiful Moments
"y cant metroid crawl?"
Nintendo's quirky social network Miiverse was launched way back in 2012 alongside the Wii U, and was later rolled out to the 3DS. While many gamers used it to request or share tips on their favourite games, there have been many amusing moments over the years, and some heartbreaking ones too - such as this doomed Miiverse...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo 3DS Games of 2017 - Summer Edition
Life in the little portable yet
Back at the start of Spring we started our usual 'Biggest Games' series, but didn't get around to doing a 3DS equivalent. To be honest, there wasn't much confirmed for the portable, regardless. We had a small collection of solid games, certainly, but they were slim pickings. From Spring onwards, however, a handful of...
Editorial In Praise of the Smaller New Nintendo 3DS - The Best 3DS*
*Well, in Tom Whitehead's opinion
Nintendo sure likes to iterate its portable hardware, and the 3DS 'family' has been no exception. There's been the 3DS, the 3DS XL, the 2DS, the New 3DS, the New 3DS XL and soon the New 2DS XL. Throw in various colours, limited editions and cool designs and it's been a typically dizzying generation. For me, though,...
Feature Solving the Puzzle of Death Squared on Nintendo Switch
"It's the perfect gateway game to play in co-op"
The Nintendo Switch eShop has had a couple of busy weeks, with a pleasing range of quality titles arriving on the hardware. One to land in North America and Europe on 13th July is Death Squared by SMG Studio. A puzzle game previously well received on PC, it works nicely as either a co-op...
Feature Talking Trade With Bonnie Gordon, Voice of Fire Emblem: Echoes' Silque
On being Silque and singing Mother Mila's praises
Modern Fire Emblem games have been a real cornerstone of the 3DS’ library, with Awakening, Fates, and Echoes each excellent examples of the series’ endless tactical RPG appeal. They’ve become fan favourites not only because of their satisfyingly strategic gameplay, but also because of the...
Preview Whistling for Attention in Hey! Pikmin
A small world
It's been pleasing for 3DS owners to see that, while a shiny alternative is on the market, the successful family of portables continues to have an important role in Nintendo's plans. With titles like Metroid: Samus Returns and of course Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on the way, the era of dual screens and some stereoscopic 3D isn't...