Latest Features
Feature The Full Story Behind Star Fox 2, Nintendo's Most Famous Cancellation
"The series was never intended to be limited to linear 3D scrolling stages"
To celebrate the announcement of the SNES Classic Mini, we're republishing the full story behind the cancellation of Star Fox 2, which first appeared on the site back in May 2015. This year will see the launch of another entry in Nintendo's long-running space battle...
Hardware New Nintendo 2DS XL Review
2D or not 2D? That is the question
The 3DS is the handheld console that simply refuses to step into the shadows. With the Switch arriving on the scene blessed with the ability to host both portable and domestic gameplay, many assumed that Nintendo would put its existing handheld system out to pasture, but the Kyoto giant has done the exact opposite;...
Feature Puzzling Over Dragons with GungHo CEO Kazuki Morishita
On puzzles, dragons, Switch support, and (not) beating Breath of the Wild
As one of the most successful — and addictive — mobile match-threes of all time, GungHo Online Entertainment’s Puzzle & Dragons needs no introduction. Lighting up smartphones from Japan to Europe, North America and beyond, it’s also made quite a splash on...
Feature The (Sadly Fictional) Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch Fighter Ballot - Results!
Y’all pulled through
Back in May we launched our very own “fighter ballot” to hopefully gain some excitement for the possible E3 announcement of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch. Unless you completely missed all-things E3 2017, you'll know that this sadly never happened. Nevertheless, you all voted by the thousands – 13,824 to be exact...
Passing the torch to a new generation
After a hiatus of a few years, the Professor Layton series is finally being resurrected - albeit with a twist - this year with Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy. Starring Katrielle Layton — daughter of the famed professor — this one promises to bring more brain bending...
Random Ease The Pain Of Sega Forever's Botched Launch With This Official Cereal
FREE GIFT INSIDE
Sega Forever has finally launched after weeks of speculation, and sadly, it's not had the best of starts. Dogged by poor emulation, the games released so far may be free to download and play, but they're a long way from being the best way to experience such classic titles. While Sega clearly has some work to do in order to bring...
Editorial Nintendo Switch is About Colour, Fun and Sharing Games, For Those Unsure of Its Purpose
More than the sum of its parts
Nintendo's home console hardware, for the third successive generation, is betting the farm on a concept rather than raw graphical power. After the blend of power and concept (if a cube with a handle counts as a concept) saw the GameCube struggle (compared to its predecessors), Nintendo shifted focus with its home...
Hardware Analogue NT Mini Review - Not Just The Best NES Clone, It's Much More Besides
FPGA or GTHO
It's fair to say that the gaming public's interest in clones of vintage consoles hasn't diminished over the past few years; in fact, interest in such hardware is arguably on the rise. We've seen a raft of systems which aim to replicate the performance of retro hardware, including the Hyperkin Retron 5, the Cyber Gadget Retro Freak and...
First Impressions Showing our Hand in Culdcept Revolt on Nintendo 3DS
Of dice and decks
Of all the games we got to try out at E3 this year, one stood out as having perhaps the least likely origin story: Culdcept Revolt. This 3DS title, published by Nintendo in Japan but brought Westward by NIS America, is the latest game in a series that started with a Japan-exclusive game for the Sega Saturn. Combining board game...
Talking Point What Social Media Told Us About Nintendo at E3 2017
Mario and a logo led the way for the big N
E3 is already drifting into the distant past, by internet standards, as hype deflates and is replaced by real life. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony all gave the event a solid effort, arguably, with some notable reveals and plenty of online streams to keep gamers' attention. Some of the biggest third-party...
First Impressions Going Medieval in River City: Knights of Justice
Sir Crash ’n’ the Boys
Natsume’s E3 showings have always included some sort of farming goodness through their evergreen Harvest Moon games, but for the last two years running we’ve also been treated to fresh installments in Arc System Works’ hard-hitting Kunio-kun series. Previously localised under such varying titles as River City Ransom,...
Feature Odyssey of the Damned - A Case Study Into Demonic Possession in Super Mario Odyssey
Call the exorcist
The 2017 Electronics Entertainment Expo – colloquially known as E3 – played host to a “Spotlight” event delivered by Nintendo to showcase new software in development by the aforementioned entity. Herein, please find my recollection of the events that transpired immediately following the digital event and my ensuing...
Feature Ever Oasis Producer Koichi Ishii On Evolving from Classics Like Secret of Mana
A game where "players can grow and think about what they can do" for others
The 3DS has been a home for a high number of excellent RPG and adventure games, with those small screens absorbing our attention and taking us into fantastical worlds. The DS had a similar heritage, as the combination of Nintendo portable hardware and sizeable, intriguing...
First Impressions Getting Into a Spin With Sonic Mania
With more than a dash of retro in the formula
When you remake something creative from the past, who is your audience, exactly? We ask because if you were to stray too far from the source material, you run the risk of alienating the impassioned people who most identify with the original. But on the other hand, if you stick too close to the old...
Talking Point How ARMS Can Punch Its Way Into Competitive Gaming
As long as Nintendo doesn't keep it at arm's length
In this feature Funké Joseph considers where ARMS can be a breakthrough title for Nintendo in competitive gaming. After hours of sweating buckets during the Global Testpunch, days of watching gameplay previews, and long nights thinking about an ugly green slime man, one thing has become...
First Impressions Hacking and Slashing with Style in Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star
Switching Fate
The Fate/ series spans an impressive range of genres; beginning with an erotic visual novel (!) in 2004, it’s carried its unique narrative brand — focusing on events called Holy Grail Wars — through dungeon crawlers, JRPGs, fighting games, and more. The latest, ambitiously named game in the series — Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral...
Editorial Nintendo Went Its Own Way at E3 2017, and It Mostly Worked
Confounds with surprises and quality, but also missing details
Well, E3 has gone for another year, and it was very much a continuation of the norm. The various press conferences and presentations were the usual mix of exciting games, impressive showcases and some PR bluster. I thought there were some solid efforts from third-parties, with Ubisoft...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo at E3 2017?
Three days to mull over
E3 is now finished, as thousands of weary attendees head home and we get back to normal life. Nintendo had a presence to varying degrees across most of the week, from limited roles in the early EA and Bethesda blow-outs, to two major Switch reveals during Ubisoft's show and then, of course, three full days in which we had the...
First Impressions Leaving Crumbs And Felling FOEs In Etrian Odyssey V On 3DS
E3's other Odyssey
ATLUS’ booth at E3 this year was packed full of 3DS RPG goodies, with marquees advertising Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux, and Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth. Of those heavy hitters, only Etrian Odyssey was playable, but having immensely enjoyed previous entries in the series,...
First Impressions Running Wild in Runner3
Sprinting to Switch
An early hit on WiiWare, BIT.TRIP Runner was a favourite at Nintendo Life, combining auto-running rhythm gameplay with retro-styled visuals and hypnotic chiptune music. Its sequel Runner2 was equally well-received, and now developer Choice Provisions is bringing a third installment — Runner3 — to the Switch. We were able to...
First Impressions Finding Our Roots in Harvest Moon: Light of Hope
Bucolic beacon
Natsume’s booth at this year’s E3 was a farmland oasis from the wider chaos of the showfloor, decked out in pastoral charm and filled with flowers and plenty of plush cows, chickens, and sheep. It’s a familiar scene, but it seemed particularly pleasant this year, and the cause of the celebration was clear: it’s Harvest...
First Impressions Teaming Up in Splatoon 2's Salmon Run Co-Op Mode
It's a fishy business
If you’ve played the Splatoon 2 Testfire, a timed, online trial mode where Nintendo Switch owners got their first hands-on with this anticipated shooter sequel, then you already know that Splatoon 2 looks and feels rather like the original game. In fact, the ways in which Splatoon 2 differs are less in the aesthetics and...
First Impressions A New Style of Tactical Gaming in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft's Switch exclusive is something to bwag about
Very few were surprised by the reveal of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle when it was showcased during Ubisoft's conference last Sunday. Even if you were only loosely invested in keeping up with gaming news, it was almost a given that you knew about the title many months before its acknowledgement...
First Impressions Slicing Our Way Through Fire Emblem Warriors
Class change
First unveiled in a jam-packed January Nintendo Direct earlier this year, Fire Emblem Warriors is one of two Fire Emblems currently scheduled to hit Nintendo’s Switch. And while the still-untitled mainline adventure announced alongside it will likely continue with the grid-based strategy-RPG gameplay the series is known for, Warriors...
First Impressions Prepping for Round Two with Pokkén Tournament DX
Once more into the fray
Pokkén Tournament was a game that perhaps never had a proper chance to shine. After its debut in Japanese arcades, the fighter saw a console release on a platform that was in the autumn of its life, and which hadn’t been all that impressive (in terms of sales) to begin with. It was no wonder, then, that Pokkén Tournament...
Feature The Big Nintendo Summary From E3 2017 - Day One
There's a lot to get through
Nintendo, as is the norm, waited until just before the E3 doors opened before kicking off its announcements and events. There was a 25 minute showcase followed by extensive Nintendo Treehouse demonstrations and reveals, and then the Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational to wrap things up. There were surprises, not just...
First Impressions Beginning Our Journey With Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch
Let's-a-go!
At E3 this week we had our first opportunity to try out Super Mario Odyssey, the mustachioed plumber’s first outing on the Nintendo Switch. We got our first glimpse at the then-unnamed Mario game for a few seconds in the initial reveal of the Switch way back in October 2016, and since then Nintendo has been keeping its cards close,...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo's Big Switch and 3DS Reveals at E3 on Day One?
Mario! Metroid! Yoshi! Kirby! More!
The first day of E3 is done, and Nintendo went all in with a full schedule that consisted of the Spotlight broadcast, Treehouse demonstrations and the Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational. We've already put together an article with all of the relevant videos, and you can also check out our E3 2017 hub page...
Hardware Review BittBoy Portable Video Game Handheld
Unofficial NES gaming on the go
Of all the obscure clone consoles to come out of the Far East, the BittBoy is one of the most interesting we've seen in a long time - for obvious reasons. We're massive fans of the original Game Boy here at Nintendo Life and the fact that the BittBoy shamelessly steals the same basic design was enough to get our...
Feature What We Expect from the Nintendo Spotlight and Treehouse at E3 2017
Time to Switch it up
E3 2017 is well and truly underway, with Microsoft, Sony and a range of third-parties having made their pitches to the gaming public. As is now standard Nintendo is saving its show for the opening of the expo, this year in the form of a 25 minute 'Spotlight' followed by more reveals, demonstrations and Invitational events from...
Poll What Did You Think of Ubisoft's Nintendo Switch Reveals at E3 2017?
Mario + Rabbids! Starlink: Battle for Atlas! Maybe Beyond Good & Evil 2?
After a couple of brief snippets of Nintendo Switch games from third-parties in early events, the Ubisoft press conference got the system well and truly up and running at E3 2017. The French company unveiled a much-expected exclusive, a surprise new IP and also made a huge...
Talking Point Five Key Areas Nintendo Must Get Right at E3 2017
A chance to set the tone
E3 is starting to pick up momentum with Microsoft, EA and Bethesda among the big names to have made their pitch so far. Like every other year the reactions have been mixed - there have been some positive reveals and there have also been cringe-worthy moments. So far we've only seen a couple of glimpses of Nintendo content,...
Talking Point EA and Bethesda Highlight Nintendo Switch as a Portable Powerhouse at E3
A tough tablet to swallow?
EA did something interesting with its official pitch for FIFA 18 on the Nintendo Switch. It said it is the "most technologically-advanced portable FIFA experience ever", and only showed one glamour shot of a docked Switch running the game (which didn't focus on the visuals and blurred out the TV). Its entire focus was on...
Feature Our Nintendo Hopes and Dreams for E3 2017
Hey, wishlists don't have to be realistic
E3 is upon us, in fact the EA Play event is kicking off the festivities shortly after this article is published. Ahead is a week of madness - reveals, excitement, hype, and potentially confusing and disillusionment. If it's a typical E3 all of those emotions will feature. Ahead of the event some of our news...
Editorial The Nintendo Switch, E3 and Its Opportunities for Quick Wins
Keeping the games flowing
E3 is coming, looming over the horizon and promising to bring with it mayhem, cringe-worthy moments and online hysteria. Every year plenty talk about how the event is becoming less powerful (which is true) yet a lot of gamers then get very excited regardless. There's good reason for the buzz, too - few expos produce as much...
Poll Are You Excited About Nintendo at E3 2017?
Switching it up
As E3 looms there's a sense that it's no longer the indispensable behemoth it once was, the central point of the gaming year. Even so, it's still a big deal, as media and fan interest ramps up and gaming companies flood into Los Angeles to flaunt their wares. Nintendo, and some third-parties making games for its systems, are among...
Guide Nintendo E3 2017 Press Conference Schedule
Mario, Switch, 3DS, Invitationals and more
Well, E3 has crept up rather quickly, hasn't it? The expo is due to run from 13th to 15th June but, as veterans of the LA show will know, that's only the beginning. A lot of companies will be broadcasting showcases and live press conferences before the doors are even open, and then there'll be live streams...
Feature Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - What We Know So Far...
Ultra surprising
The Pokémon Direct has passed, and it brought us three announcements: Pokkén Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch, Pokemon Gold and Silver for the Virtual Console and - the most notable one of the trio - the new main series Pokémon arrivals, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon on 3DS. So, what do we know about these up
Feature Is Tokyo's Arcade Scene Really Dying?
Roland Ingram gives us a tour of Japan's coin-op underworld
“I know Tokyo arcades are dying out, but are they easy to find?” I was asked this question recently by an author researching a Street Fighter book. Dying out?! Maybe – but there’s a long way to go. Stand with me outside the Shinjuku Minami-guchi branch of the Taito Station...
Poll What Did You Think of the Pokémon Direct and Its Big Reveals?
Was it the ultra surprise?
Earlier today The Pokémon Company and Nintendo shared an eight minute video outlining releases in the series that we can expect this year. There were significant announcements, though they didn't match up with some expectations and predictions, particularly when it comes to 2017 releases on the Nintendo Switch. First of...
Feature The Switch Report - Three Months of Nintendo's New System
A good start, albeit with plenty of improvements to be made
The Nintendo Switch has been on the market now for three months, representing a quarter year on the market. So far, without much doubt, it's been a successful launch for Nintendo, with the company having to work hard to simply meet demand at present. The Switch is still consistently sold...
Poll Did the ARMS Global Testpunch Land a Knockout Blow?
The big pitch for Nintendo's latest new IP
It's the Nintendo way to take a modern-day trend and apply its own spin, so the idea of early-access was turned into carefully timed and managed Global Testfire events with Splatoon on Wii U. We've already had one such session with Splatoon 2 on Switch, but the ARMS Global Testpunch arguably evolved the...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch Online Service Promises a New Approach to Retro Gaming
Delayed, yes, but more relevant in its new guise
It may not be a trend that suits creators, but the public don't like paying for things as much as they used to. It's the great revolution that the internet has delivered - news is free, lots of video streaming is free or has a lower monthly cost, so as a result gamers want their content for less...
Feature Leafing Through Switch Player's Second And Third Issues
Who said print is dead?
It's been a while since we took at look at the debut issue of Switch Player, a unique online and paper-based fanzine devoted to covering all the latest news about Nintendo's hybrid console. Since then we've had two more issues arrive through our letterbox, which makes this the ideal time to have another look at this...
Exclusive Runbow Pocket Gets New 3DS Release Date as 13AM Games Teases Switch Project
Vinyl soundtrack and fan campaigns also on the way
Runbow emerged as a thoroughly enjoyable game on the Wii U, introducing a smart colour swapping mechanic and a whole range of single- and multiplayer modes. When Runbow Pocket was announced for the New Nintendo 3DS that was great news, though the project has encountered issues that have delayed...
Guide How To Evolve Your Magikarp Into Gyarados In Magikarp Jump
Although, it's almost useless...
Magikarp has always had it rough over the Pokémon franchise's 20-year existence. In the main-series Pokémon games, the flopping fish is (in most cases) practically useless - but as many know, those with enough persistence to raise their Magikarp to level 20 can evolve it into a ferocious serpent-like dragon,...
Feature Hyper Sentinel, the Nintendo Switch and Why 'Neo Retro' Matters
A modern spin on classic game concepts
It's tempting for gamers of all ages to look upon their earlier days in the hobby as the 'golden age' of gaming; that's how nostalgia works. Yet we're in a genuinely exciting period in the medium, as we not only get staggering modern day masterpieces of incredible scope and technical delivery, but our gaming...
Editorial Monster Hunter and Nintendo Switch Are a Match Made in Heaven
Rarely do platform and game match so perfectly
While we don't yet know whether Capcom and Nintendo are continuing the relationship of 'main' series entries being exclusive to the big N's hardware with the inevitable Monster Hunter 5 (other systems do have alternatives and spin-offs), fans of the series have something to be thrilled about with...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - May 2017
Games you might want to download...
The eShop is now onto a new generation of hardware with the Nintendo Switch, and as a little extra bit of goodness to accompany our reviews of the most intriguing releases our video man Alex is kicking off a new series. It's Nintendo Life eShop Selects, and assuming Nintendo doesn't complain that we've used the...
Deals Come Out Fighting With This Street Fighter Merchandise
Hadoken!
With Capcom's legendary Street Fighter series enjoying its 30th anniversary this year, there is a lot of history and nostalgia behind this line of games, and it should come as no surprise to learn that there's plenty of merch to invest in as a result. To celebrate the long-awaited release of Ultra Street Fighter II: The...