Latest Features
Book Review Super Mario Adventures
A wonderfully bizarre tour of the Mushroom Kingdom
He's undoubtedly one of the most recognisable faces ever to grace the box art of a video game, but aside from his blue-collar occupation and a dislike for turtles, fans in the early '90s didn't know a whole lot about Super Mario himself. Beyond the pixels onscreen and information found buried within...
Hardware Classics SNK Neo Geo AES
The future is now (even more expensive)
The SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis may have dominated the console landscape in the early '90s, but they were by no means the most powerful machines of their era. That distinction goes to SNK's Neo Geo AES, often described as the "Rolls-Royce" of game consoles. It's a good analogy to make, as the machine was...
Guide The Top Nintendo Black Friday 2016 Deals in the US
Grab yourself a bargain!
It's that time, once again, when shoppers around the world prepare to brave the crowds in search of bargains. The Black Friday festivities are mostly based in crowded stores, though plenty of deals can also be hunted down online. For gamers, it's often a time of year for stocking up on goodies ahead of the festive season;...
Guide The Top Nintendo Black Friday 2016 Deals in the UK
Grab yourself a bargain
It's that time, once again, for Black Friday, when shoppers around the world prepare to brave the crowds in search of bargains. Though originally an American tradition, like Big Macs and over-sized soft drinks it's been exported around the world, for better and worse. A lot of UK bricks-and-mortar stores try and avoid the...
Soapbox In The Wii U's Final Days, Let's Be Thankful For Lego Dimensions
Keeping the dream alive
With production coming to an end, big-name releases drying up and previously-confirmed titles getting cancelled left, right and center, Wii U owners have every right to feel a bit glum at the moment. Switch is coming early nex
Talking Point What We'd Like To See In Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo Switch
Assuming it's a port…
With all the hype that the Nintendo Switch is generating, it's only natural to speculate on what titles the system will offer upon its launch. If Nintendo's upcoming console could learn anything from the launch of the Wii U, it's that launch titles do indeed matter. This can also mean ensuring popular titles that consumers...
Feature 25 Essential Wii U Retail Games
Play them all
With the Wii U turning four years old in North America just recently, and with the system soon to be supplanted by the Nintendo Switch, we've been reflecting on the console's qualities and failings. One thing we've consistently argued, however, is that there's a core of excellent games on the system, many of them exclusives, that are...
Feature Reflecting on Four Years of the Wii U
Four NL writers pitch in on the outgoing system
The Wii U has now passed its 4th Birthday, in North America at least, though its generation is already nearing its end. A bad run, imminent discontinuation and the March 2017 arrival of the Nintendo Switch all mean that the system is on its way out, a sad fate for a system that has had some terrific...
Poll The Wii U is Four Years Old, But What Is Its Legacy?
The GamePad! HD Nintendo games! Rubbish file management!
On 18th November 2012, the Wii U was launched in North America. There was a high profile midnight launch attended by Reggie Fils-Aime to give it positive press, and it was Nintendo's jump into HD gaming, with a GamePad-led concept at the core of the messaging. The system had a relatively...
Hardware Retro-Bit Generations Review
A warped version of history
The NES Classic Mini is proving to be one of the must-have gaming items of 2016 with demand far outstripping supply and consoles selling online for way above the initial asking price. While Nintendo is clearly onto something of a winner here – despite the company's almost habitual desire to annoy buyers by not producing...
Preview Getting Creative in Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
Making it to the small time
When Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS was revealed recently in a Nintendo Direct, it wasn't necessarily surprising. Nintendo has seen some top notch titles achieve only modest sales on Wii U, and where possible is clearly looking to get stronger results through the larger userbase of the 3DS. This, along with Poochy...
Feature Hands-On UK Fanzine HyperPlay's Third Issue
Fan-scene
If you're a regular reader of Nintendo Life then you'll already be aware of HyperPlay RPG, a UK-based fanzine devoted to covering retro RPGs and Nintendo titles. The fanzine has seen three issues so far, and we've just taken stock of the latest instalment (issue 2, but it's actually issue 3 if you include the "zero" release), complete...
Editorial Cutting Edge Visual Splendour vs. 60 Frames-Per-Second - Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Outside of PC, 'both' isn't often viable
Back when the Nintendo Switch was still the 'NX', we asked the community about their priorities in the great 60fps / visual fidelity debate. Perhaps as a result of our poll wording, or because most people want everything all at once, in general the majority of respondents wanted games both good looking and...
Poll Retro Delights and Stock Shortages - What Are Your Thoughts on the NES Mini Launch?
Old games, old fun, old problems
The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe) arrived on 11th November, and it's certainly one of Nintendo's hottest releases of the year. It may seem strange that a micro-console loaded up with 30 NES games can be described that way, but it's...
Hardware NES Classic Mini Review
The master, remastered
It's fair to say that the announcement of NES Classic Mini earlier this year came as something of a shock, despite the fact that the concept of reproduction consoles isn't a particularly new one. Nintendo's old rival Sega has been pumping out licenced Mega Drive and
Features NES Mini Classics - Galaga
Pew pew
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), we're going to (eventually) provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Galaga, and you can catch up with past entries in this series on our NES...
Editorial The Wii U Has Been Nintendo's Lowest Selling Home Console; It Deserved Better
Its sales will fall well short of the GameCube
It's been coming for some time, and Nintendo made the odd call to initially deny it was happening, but the Wii U is in its final stretch; manufacturing of the system is due to end soon. Nintendo's decision to make a denial, only to quietly contradict it a little over a week later is - to quote our...
Video Unboxing the Famicom Mini
Japan still gets everything first, even if by one day
On 11th November people around the world finally get the joy of opening and enjoying their brand new NES Mini, or NES Classic Edition (or Nintendo Classic Mini as it's known in Europe). It's been a long wait, but for those of us in Japan you could say Christmas comes one day early as today, on...
Feature NES Mini Classics - Final Fantasy
A final fling that launched a dynasty
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), we're going to (eventually) provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Final Fantasy. The Mini NES is packed...
Feature The Most Intriguing Features in Pokémon Sun and Moon
A new generation is coming
Pokémon Sun and Moon are almost here, bringing us the year's biggest release(s) on the 3DS and kicking off a new generation in the iconic franchise. There's plenty of excitement, with pre-order numbers high and plenty of buzz online, so we thought we'd break down some of the most intriguing new features to be found in...
Talking Point A New Nintendo 3DS Price Drop Can Prolong the Portable's Lifespan
New Black Friday options in North America are a smart idea
We've been wondering when it would happen, and it's finally come. Nintendo has bitten the bullet and confirmed New Nintendo 3DS models for North America that will cost under $100. Now, you don't need to be a genius to proclaim that selling goods at a budget price is a way to attract...
Feature NES Mini Classics - Excitebike
Rev it up
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), we're going to provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Excitebike. The upcoming Mini NES has a decent selection of games, but in some...
Poll Are You Excited About the Mini NES?
Perhaps hype is bigger than the diminutive system
It's been easy to get distracted in recent times, but one of Nintendo's most important Holiday releases is around the corner. We're not talking about Pokémon Sun and Moon, that's still to come, but rather the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo...
Talking Point Ports vs. Sequels On The Nintendo Switch
A unique switchuation...
In this Talking Point, Arjun gives his perspective on the ports vs. sequels considerations for the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo NX - erm, Switch - has finally been unveiled, and it's arguably the lion's roar that the big N needed after troubles with its last home system. The Wii U has suffered a similar fate to that of the...
Feature Top Nindies On the Nintendo Switch Concept, Its Positives and Key Unanswered Questions
"It's definitely a new style for Nintendo"
The dust has now well and truly settled on the Nintendo Switch 'Preview Trailer', a three and a half minute reveal that aimed to succinctly and stylishly promote the merits of Nintendo's next-gen gaming concept. Since it aired Nintendo and a handful of gaming executives have added a few relatively vague...
Feature Catch Up With the Animal Crossing Direct and New Leaf's Fresh Features
The only download in the village
The Animal Crossing Direct has taken place, and revealed a surprisingly extensive update for Animal Crossing: New Leaf. We knew that the 'Welcome amiibo' update and new edition would introduce the figures and cards into the much-loved 3DS game, but Nintendo went further with new minigames and additional features to...
Feature Getting To Know Pokémon Sun And Moon's Monsters
Monster mash
We are just a mere two weeks away from the launch of Pokémon Sun & Moon and so it's time for another run down of every single thing that we know and today, we are dealing with the Pokémon. We won't be detailing the datamined leaks here, but there will be things from what has been officially revealed so there may still be spoilers...
Interview Learning More About the Adventure in Wii U Exclusive Twisted Fusion
"I think the Nintendo audience is perfect for this game"
The list of Wii U exclusives is getting rather short as the system heads into its twilight, perhaps ahead of its time, but there are still intriguing games to keep us busy. One of them is Twisted Fusion, a title that emerged from a successful Kickstarter campaign back in Spring 2014 and is...
Feature Our Spooky Halloween Gaming Plans
Not all Nintendo games, either - the horror...
Well, it's Halloween at last. With a night of trick or treating and dangerously high sugar consumption ahead, some of you may be throwing some gaming into your evening. We've already listed 20 Wii U and 3DS games that could fit the bill, but now our writing team wants to share its recent gaming...
Feature 20 Wii U and 3DS Games Perfect for Halloween
Ideal for a spooky time
It's Halloween again, a holiday that's big business and plenty of fun if you like sweets / candy, dressing up or a mixture of both. For some, of course, this is more than a single night of trick or treating, but a full-blown Holiday (with a capital H) to celebrate and enjoy. With that in mind, we thought we'd jump in with our...
Feature NES Mini Classics - Dr. Mario
Just what we ordered
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), we're going to provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Dr. Mario. In the titles we've covered so far in this series, the...
Feature Nintendo Switch and eSports - Targeting A Lucrative but Tricky Market
Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise - "This could be a big step forward"
You don't have to look far to get a sense of the incredible growth in eSports; with bigger crowds and online stream audiences have come more money and mainstream attention. There are some that argue that eSports should be recognised more fully, with appeals for a potential Olympics role...
Deals Nintendo Halloween Gift Guide
Impress your family and friends this Halloween
It's almost that time of year again, All Hallows' Evening, which you might know as good old Halloween. A time for eating too many sweets and amusing your neighbours with questionable fancy dress. Of course, aside from updating your wardrobe, it's also a great time to play a spooky game from yesteryear...
Editorial Don't Let Patents Be The New Source of Unrealistic Nintendo Switch Expectations
Let the hype be real, not fantastical
Now that the Nintendo Switch has been unveiled, we're thankfully past the stage of particularly unlikely rumours and 'leaks' getting the web all hot under the collar. After all, the scope for exaggeration is greatly reduced now that the system is visible, and reports can focus on sensible considerations such as...
Interview Learning More About Ectoplaza, A Spooky Wii U Multiplayer Game for Halloween
"Nintendo of America have been tremendously supportive "
With Halloween approaching there are some appropriately themed discounts currently on offer for eShop fans. Ectoplaza, though, is an award winning upcoming arrival on Wii U that's perfect for the season - it's exclusive to Nintendo's system and features chaotic multiplayer action, with...
Feature Musical Memories and Cosplay at The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses
The full Zelda experience at the recent Glasgow concert
The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses tour once again set sail for UK shores this week, and for the first time in its history it landed in Glasgow. The tour has been going since 2012, after the Symphony of the Goddesses CD was released with Skyward Sword, but the Symphony had...
Talking Point Imagining a Future Nintendo Switch Budget Spin-Off - A Non-Switching Microconsole
A 2DS equivalent for the price conscious consumer
Now that the dust has settled on the reveal of the upcoming Nintendo Switch, everyone seems to have shared their opinions on Nintendo's chances of turning the concept into a success. While many are very positive about the Nintendo Switch reveal, there are also some analysts who have raised concerns...
Book Review Nintendo 64 Anthology
A fitting tribute to a beloved console
So much for the internet destroying printed media. In the past few years we've seen a wealth of amazing video game-related books, including Sega Mega Drive: The Collected Works, Britsoft and – still to come – the
Feature NES Mini Classics - Double Dragon II: The Revenge
A mini fight
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (EU), we're going to provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Double Dragon II: The Revenge. So far this series of articles on the NES Mini...
Poll Nintendo Switch Delivers Single Screen Gaming - Will You Miss the Dual Screen Concept?
DS, 3DS and Wii U kept our eyes busy
Ever since Reggie Fils-Aime plucked a DS out of his jacket pocket at E3 2004, Nintendo has focused on dual screen gaming. The DS was the best selling portable system of all time, so inevitably the same broad design was carried across to the 3DS. The WIi U was the grand experiment in bringing dual screen gaming to...
Talking Point The Nintendo Switch May Divide Opinion, But It's Made a Splash
It's trending, which helps
When Nintendo unveiled the Wii U at E3 2011, some were confused about whether it was a Wii add-on or a new system. By the time it was unveiled at E3 2012, it felt like even getting a broader audience to look at and consider the system was an issue. We suspect many have encountered the following scenario since the console...
Poll What Do You Think of the Nintendo Switch?
Are you feeling joy, conned, or just loving the Joy-Con controllers?
It's been a full-on day of excitement in the world of Nintendo. The 'NX' and lots of speculation made way for the Nintendo Switch, lots of clarity and a little leftover speculation. Nintendo only released a three minute video and a relatively limited press release, but despite that...
Reaction Our Early Thoughts on the Nintendo Switch
Thoughts on next-gen Nintendo
It's been quite a day. The Nintendo Switch was revealed, and most of the internet has had its say on social media. There's been a lot of positivity, and naturally some people aren't fans; in any case we now know the core concept that will drive the next generation of Nintendo gaming. We've covered a lot of angles and...
Guide Everything We Now Know About the Nintendo Switch
Breaking it all down
Well, it's finally been revealed - the Nintendo Switch has been shown off in a flashy three minute trailer. In many ways it reinforced plenty of the more reputable rumours from earlier in the year, though naturally a lot of doubt has been replaced by clarity. It's also possible, just from those three minutes, to learn a lot...
Parent Trap Nintendo Switch Takes on Tablets
A family perspective on Nintendo's next-gen system
While it will take a while for the news to sink in fully, the Nintendo Switch has got quite a few things right for families. Most importantly it has one single feature to communicate and doubles down on that with its name. Switch underlines the double value families can get here by covering the...
Talking Point What We Hope to See in the Nintendo NX Preview Trailer
A clear, concise demonstration of the concept
Nothing has been conventional about Nintendo's approach to unveiling the NX system. Initially announced in early 2015 by former President Satoru Iwata - in a bid to calm nervous fans after announcing Nintendo's plans for smart devices - it's always been expected as a 2016 reveal. Yet Nintendo has been...
Feature With NX Looming, a Look Back at Past Nintendo Reveals
A young Bill Trinen, the 'utopian' Wii U and more
Well, it's happening, a 'Preview Trailer' of the Nintendo NX is just hours away at the time of writing. It's the latest step in Nintendo's unconventional approach with the system, in which it's remained silent and elusive for longer than expected. All that's truly known so far is that Nintendo's...
Feature NES Mini Classics - Donkey Kong Jr.
Don't call me Junior!
With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition (NA) / Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (EU), we're going to provide short profiles of all 30 games included on the system. This time around we look at Donkey Kong Jr., having covered the iconic original in our most recent...
Hands On Pokémon Sun and Moon - Special Demo Version
Demonstrative indeed
Demos have come an awfully long way over the years, even to the point where these bite-sized chunks can be considered full games in their own right; you only have to look at the Bravely series to know what we're talking about. So it was no surprise when Nintendo announced the arrival of a demo for the upcoming Pokémon Sun &...
Editorial Some Context on the Nintendo NX 'This Week' Claims
As we keep getting asked
Update: We've had multiple trusted colleagues and acquaintances advise (since initial publication) that the 'this week' angle is getting increasingly strong for some sort of NX-related details. As we outline below this is logical and feasible, though the nature of any announcement will also be interesting. Original...