Review Super Street Fighter II (Wii Virtual Console / Mega Drive)
Online, but off-base?
News - April, 2012
Monday30th Apr 2012
News Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Hits 3DS
He's back
After endless rumours, SEGA's lifted the lid on Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for Nintendo 3DS. The racer sees Sonic and friends racing in cars that also transform for aquatic and aerial travel. That might sound a little familiar to Mario Kart 7 veterans, but developer Sumo Digital has assured fans it's very different: you race...
News Midnight Purple 3DS Hits North America on 20th May
Told you so
North American shoppers get a new colour to choose from in a few weeks when the rumoured Midnight Purple 3DS console hits stores. Coming on 20th May for a suggested retail price of $169.99, it joins Cosmo Black, Aqua Blue, Flame Red and Pearl Pink in the rainbow of handheld console colours. Will you be picking one up? Nintendo 3DS Gets...
Nintendo Download 3rd May 2012 (Europe)
Virtual Console Arcade returns
In an unexpected (to say the least) twist, SEGA is bringing back Virtual Console Arcade this week with a truly classic racer. Elsewhere there's brand new DSiWare and a Game Boy Color game on 3DS too. Here's what's up this week. Wii Virtual Console: Super Hang-On (Virtual Console Arcade, SEGA, 900pts) — The legendary...
News Fan Video Gives a Tease of Star Fox HD
A bit better than Mode 7
The Star Fox franchise hasn't had a great deal of love recently, the only recent glimmer of hope being Star Fox 64 3D, a remake of the highly regarded Nintendo 64 title. Will Wii U revive the franchise, or was the N64 remake a warmup for a new title on 3DS? Who knows, but we'll always have the power of nostalgia. YouTube...
Rumour Midnight Purple 3DS Spotted on Retail Site
Prince nowhere to be seen
Update: Midnight Purple 3DS hits North America on 20th May. Retailer Sam's Club has listed a Midnight Purple 3DS — a colour Nintendo hasn't announced. Joystiq spotted the listing this past weekend. Purple was among the colours first shown off when 3DS w
News PEGI Rates Rayman for 3DS Virtual Console
Back in the swing
PEGI just rated the original Rayman for 3DS Virtual Console. Ubisoft released Rayman for Game Boy Color back in 2000, mixing the story of the original game with content from Rayman 2. There's already Rayman DSiWare on the eShop, but that's more faithful to the 32-bit original. It'll be the second Ubisoft game for 3DS Virtual...
News Tumblepop Set to Suck on 3DS Virtual Console Soon
Sucking up enemies is the main activity, honest
Despite describing it as Tumble Pop, the Australian Classification Database has now listed Tumblepop, originally a Game Boy title and now on the way to 3DS Virtual Console in PAL regions. Tumblepop was originally an arcade game and has been described as a cult classic, though it's unclear whether that...
News Brain Training 3DS Confirmed for Worldwide Release
Available in both physical and digital formats
In its February Nintendo Direct broadcast Nintendo unveiled Onitore — basically Brain Training 3DS — which will focus on testing your concentration and working memory. Already confirmed for Japan this summer, the success of the DS titles in the series made a worldwide release inevitable; Satoru...
News Grasp the Sword of Hope on 3DS Virtual Console
Once more to arms
Everyone's favourite ratings board has outed Game Boy game The Sword of Hope 2 for 3DS Virtual Console. Japan's already got the first game under its Japanese title Selection, but the follow-up is coming to PAL territories. Developed by Kemco — best known for a thousand cartoon and movie Game Boy tie-ins — it's a very old-school...
News UK Charts Bring More of the Same for Nintendo
Not better, not worse
In the coming weeks and months, it's safe to say that Satoru Iwata and the managerial team at Nintendo HQ will be monitoring the progress of UK sales, after telling investors that, for one, Mario's presence in the country is the 'smallest in the world'. It's too early for that to have changed, and the latest top 40 software...
Sunday29th Apr 2012
Review Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade Room (DSiWare)
Cheese Louise
We're not sure why UFO Interactive bothered to get the Chuck E. Cheese license for this mirthless assortment of half-baked minigames, but we can conclusively say that it wasn't worth its time or the effort to do so. Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade Room is, in a word, awful. The first major issue is the stingy number of games available. We're...
Saturday28th Apr 2012
Talking Point Why Skyward Sword Sales Failed to Soar
Sword blunted
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was one of the most anticipated Wii games ever. After years of teasing it finally launched in November 2011, and has so far racked up 3.52 million sales around the world, a decent performance over a five-month period. It's on par with Wii launch title Twilight Princess, which sold 3.27m units between...
News Really, That's Just a Sticker on the Wii U Controller
We promise
Yesterday's leaked Rayman Legends trailer raced around the internet, wowing us with its demonstration of Wii U's near field communication technology and much more. Naturally the trailer was picked apart, with readers and some sites (like GameXplain, for instance) noticing a strange black square on the Wii U controller's underside:
News 'Majority' of Nintendo Games to be Released Digitally
Maybe not all, in that case
Most of us have now had plenty of opportunity to digest the news that Nintendo will be delving into the brave new world of retail downloads, starting with New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS in August. An assumption for some has been that Nintendo would release all of its titles as both downloads and boxed game cards or discs,...
News Slightly Mad Reveals Project CARS Wii U Features
Start your engines
Slightly Mad Studios is bringing ambitious crowdfunded racer Project CARS to Wii U, and GoNintendo has unearthed a document detailing the team's plans for that touch screen controller. Slightly Mad — previously responsible for Need for Speed: Shift and sequel Shift 2 Unleashed — listed its pl
News VVVVVV Set to Flip Into Europe on 10th May
About flippin' time
While gamers in North America have been fortunate enough to enjoy VVVVVV on their 3DS since late last year, those of us in Europe have been patiently — or impatiently — waiting for our own release. After announcing that it expects a European release in early May, publisher Nicalis has now nailed a date down on its Twitter...
Friday27th Apr 2012
News Nintendo Still Has Secret 3DS Games to Reveal
Who knew?
Nintendo's got more 3DS games coming your way this financial year, but it's not saying what they are. Satoru Iwata — Nintendo president, of course — told investors the company has several unannounced 3DS games on the way before we flip our calendars over to April 2013. Referring to a list of announced first-party games due in the...
News Rayman Legends is Coming to Wii U, Supports NFC
Update: Ubisoft responds
Update: Ubisoft has issued a statement about Rayman Legends, acknowledging its development but stressing it's for internal use only: An internal video showing images of Rayman Origins’ sequel has leaked over the Internet. This video was intended as a purely internal demonstrative video, and in NO way represents the final...
News Wii U Release Date and Price Announcements to Come After E3
Surprised?
Nintendo will reveal the release date and price for Wii U after its E3 show, president Satoru Iwata has revealed. Speaking at a financial results briefing, Iwata didn't reveal much about Wii U, other than emphasising that Nintendo would reveal the system's final format and software lineup during E3. Iwata then said: Please also be...
News New Super Mario Bros. 2 to Kick Off Retail Downloads
A while to wait
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed that New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be the first 3DS retail game to be available for download. Iwata spoke to investors at a financial results briefing and said that with user eShop connectivity at a good level — as much as 70% of 3DS owners in Japan and the U.S. have connected to the...
News Iwata: "Animal Crossing 3DS Won't Rely on Add-On Content"
Get what you pay for
To some, Animal Crossing on 3DS sounds like the ideal opportunity to sell as much digital add-on content as possible, but Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has again stated the company's strong opposition to this model. Iwata told investors Nintendo will stick to its ethos of not selling products that consumers would deem...
News Wii U Will Launch With Digital Store
And full retail downloads
One of the biggest criticisms levelled against 3DS was the lack of a digital store at launch, but Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has assured investors Wii U will land with a full download store. Iwata didn't discuss the available types of software — Virtual Console, WiiWare etc. — but did confirm that Wii U owners can...
News We'll Probably See Some New Nintendo Characters Soon
Who will they be?
Shigeru Miyamoto — creator of Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and more, of course — has dropped a seriously big hint we'll see new characters from Nintendo very soon. The Guardian asked Miyamoto if there was a particular game or style he wanted to work on, to which he replied: I don't have a big list of ideas I want to realise, I...
Talking Point Does Nintendo Finally 'Get' Digital?
Mario out of thin air
Now that Nintendo’s got the announcement of financial losses out of the way, it can look ahead to plans for the coming year. As expected, follow-up statements to investors revealed some interesting insights into the company’s plans, with the biggest news that Nintendo's 3DS retail games will be available to download later...
News Pre-Order Kingdom Hearts 3D, Get Free AR Cards
Eat your heart out
Pre-order Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance ahead of its summer release and you'll get some augmented reality cards to use in-game. The AR cards unlock exclusive Dream Eaters, though retailers haven't specified whether the cards unlock evil Nightmare Dream Eaters to battle or helpful Spirit Dream Eaters to recruit and...
News How Running to the Right is Heroic
An epic montage
For gamers of a certain age that grew up in the era of 2D pixel-based platformers and action titles, there are a lot of happy memories of one simple activity: running to the right. Yes, a lot of games did involve some backtracking in the other direction, but the main task was to keep moving right until you'd reached the goal or...
First Impressions ATV Wild Ride 3D
ATV racer goes 3D
When the original ATV Wild Ride was released on Nintendo DS last year, it was praised for its impressive play controls and solid track designs. Unfortunately the game's limited release made it difficult to find at retail outlets, thus keeping it from reaching a wider audience. Now developer Renegade Kid has decided to give the DS...
News Mario's Presence in UK is 'Smallest in the World'
"We need to promptly improve this situation"
It's become apparent from the weekly UK software charts that Nintendo titles are struggling to make a significant impact in the country. Today's financial report statements from Nintendo revealed an interesting statistic about the sales of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 throughout Europe, and the...
Thursday26th Apr 2012
News Nintendo Reveals Console and Software Sales Statistics
DS top of the pile
Nintendo's released updated sales figures for all its consoles, and it's certainly a lot of numbers. The company's three current platforms — 3DS, Wii and the DS family — sit at a combined global sales figure of 264.5 million consoles sold. That figure's dwarfed by the software statistic: over 1.76 billion games have been sold...
Nintendo Download 26th April 2012 (North America)
Blocks, fighting and Chuck E. Cheese
Virtual Console returns to Wii this week with a fighting classic, plus there's some original 3DS Download Software and DSiWare too. Here's what you can look forward to downloading later today. Wii Virtual Console: Super Street Fighter II (Genesis, SEGA, 800pts) — The 16-bit scrapper reaches North America,...
News Mega Man Legends 3 Campaign Hits 100,000 Strong
Now what?
The campaign to resurrect Mega Man Legends 3 — snappily titled 100,000 Strong for Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3 — just hit its milestone on Facebook. The campaign isn't over, though. Now the group needs to turn its button-clicks into action, inviting members to send postcards to Capcom by the month's end. Thes
News Sakurai: Smash Bros. to 'Change Direction a Little' on Wii U and 3DS
Still a long wait ahead
Masahiro Sakurai has been busy with Kid Icarus: Uprising for a while now, but it seems that he's finally turning his attention to the next entry in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The confirmation of a new title for both Wii U and 3DS was actually made at E3 2011, though we later learned that the announcement was premature...
News Analyst Calls for Mario on Non-Nintendo Platforms
Is that a flying pig?
After today's financial reports confirmed major losses for Nintendo, there are once again calls for the company to take its greatest IP treasures onto other platforms, such as smartphones and tablets. We've heard this all before, with investors saying similar things when Nintendo dropped the 3DS retail price. It's as likely now...
News Nintendo Posts First Annual Loss in 30 Years
But lower than expected
Nintendo made a 43 billion Yen net loss in the past financial year. A straight currency conversion puts the loss at $529m USD or £327m GBP. The company had originally predicted a 65 billion Yen net loss, but clawed back some of the deficit with strong software, particularly in Japan. The Yen also devalued compared to the...
Talking Point A Big Year for Nintendo
Time for a transition
Today Nintendo announced its annual financial results, and the big headline is that it made a loss of 43 billion Yen, roughly $529m USD or £327m GBP. While we don't need to fear for the future of the company at this stage due to its significant stockpiles of cash and assets, it’s nevertheless a blow for the big N. The loss...
News Dragon Quest X Wii Lands in Japan on 2nd August
Wii U version still a secret
Square Enix will release its online RPG Dragon Quest X in Japan this August. The Wii game lands on 2nd August in two editions: the standard game costs ¥6,980, or you can buy it with a USB memory card for ¥8,980. If you buy the solus game, you'll need to provide your own USB memory stick with at least 16GB capacity,...
News Nintendo Still Envisions Selling Retail Games Digitally
On the way
Nintendo is sticking to its plan of putting full retail games on its digital storefronts, but hasn't given any further information of when the switch might occur. The company just posted its first ever annual loss and is keen to convince investors it can move with the times, stressing the importance of its digital functions for 3DS and...
News Worldwide 3DS Sales Reach 17 Million
Nintendo wants that number doubled
Since its Japanese release on 26th February 2011, Nintendo has sold 17.13 million 3DS consoles around the world, a number it wants to beat in the next financial year. Between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012, Nintendo sold 13.52m consoles worldwide, missing its target of 14m. Originally the company set a target...
News Nintendo Sets 10.5 Million Wii U Sales Target
The power of two
Nintendo expects to sell as many as 10.5 million Wii U consoles in the machine's first financial year. The company provided combined sales targets for Wii and Wii U for the upcoming financial year, targeting combined sales of 10.5m consoles and 70m software units across both machines. It hasn't revealed precisely how many Wii U...
News Big Buck Bunny Joins Nintendo Video in Europe
Lands next week
Nintendo Video already plays host to 3D cartoons from Aardman Animation and more, but next week sees Big Buck Bunny join the ranks in Europe. The 10 minute short film will be split into three instalments, to be released one a week from 2nd May. The original film has racked up millions of views online over the past four years, so...
News Remixed Pilotwings Soundtrack Takes Flight
Music to your ears?
SNES classic Pilotwings had a pretty good soundtrack, and it sounds better now it's been remixed. Pilotwings: Take Flight is a seven track project from OCRemix-ers halc and group Insert Rupee, available for free download now. We'd recommend it on the strength of its track names alone — You Don't Talk About Flight Club and The...
Wednesday25th Apr 2012
Guide Nintendo 3DS System Update v. 4.0.0-7
What's new?
As you probably already know, the latest 3DS system update is available, bringing your machine up to version 4.0.0-7. We've put together a list of what's new in this update. If you find anything we haven't covered, post it in the comments below and we'll update this guide. Ability to add folders Probably the biggest new feature, this...
Review Rush Rush Rally Racing (WiiWare)
Blast from the 'Cast
Undeserving of such a short lifespan, Dreamcast has continued to play home to the occasional independent development. One such game is Senile Team's Rush Rush Rally Racing (R4). Originally created as an entry for a Dreamcast programming contest back in 2009, the team adapted its work so that it was fit for release on WiiWare...
News Club Nintendo Offers Mystery Boxes
May contain mushrooms
Desperate to spend your Club Nintendo coins but just don't know what to spend them on? Let Nintendo help you out, with a series of Mario "Surprise Me" boxes for 300 coins. The box contents are secret, but Nintendo claim you'll get at least two surprises with a combined worth of over 500 coins. While the website shows...
Feature Nintendo Banks on Its Old Money Makers
If in doubt…
Nintendo is set to announce its latest financial results that will cover the past year, and it’s anticipated that, for the first time in its history, the company will record a yearly loss. It’s an obvious blow for Nintendo, particularly as the past five to six years have brought staggering success. Even the results for 2010-2011...
News Nintendo Zone Launched in Europe
Free content on the go
The release of Nintendo Zone in Europe has been a slow process, compared to North America, but with today's system update the service is officially available in Wi-Fi Hotspots around the region. Once your 3DS update is complete your handheld will be primed to pick up the service, so if you haven't updated yet, what are you...
News Got Room for One More Version of Cave Story?
Nicalis hopes so
How many different variations on Cave Story do you own? It's been released on WiiWare, DSiWare and had a retail release on 3DS, but Nicalis isn't done yet, as it prepares another version for the 3DS eShop. Nintendo Power (via Nintendo World Report) states the publisher is preparing an eShop version, but it's not a digital release of...
Out Now 3DS System Update (Worldwide)
Get your folders here
The 3DS system update that adds folder support is available now. To get the update, simply follow these instructions: Make sure your 3DS is charged up or near a charger; it may take a while. Open System Settings — the spanner on your main menu. Select "Other Settings". Scroll to the page furthest to the...
News Nintendo America Registers Fire Emblem 3DS Domain
And relax
So far only Nintendo Japan and Nintendo Europe have confirmed their plans for Fire Emblem Kakusei (aka Fire Emblem: Awakening), but it looks like Nintendo of America will be right behind them. The North American arm registered the domain FireEmblemAwakening.com, which currently redirects to Nintendo.com. The wing also registered domains...
News Nintendo Dominates UK's All-Time Top 10
Mario Kart on the podium
Trade and industry magazine MCV has posted a top ten of the biggest-selling single SKUs of all time, and Nintendo's on top. An SKU is a "stock-keeping unit" — a product with a unique barcode — and is used to separate the same game on multiple formats. MCV's list looks at the biggest-selling SKUs in UK history,...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Battles to Number One in Japanese Chart
An early victory
The latest Media Create Japanese chart results are in, and Fire Emblem: Awakening has stormed to the software number one position with an impressive 242,600 sales: more than the other nine top ten titles combined. The intriguing Code of Princess, an action-brawler on 3DS, made its debut at number two with a more modest 19,554 units...
Interview Renegade Kid - ATV Wild Ride 3D
ATV racer gets a 3D facelift
After having trouble getting the original ATV Wild Ride for Nintendo DS onto retail shelves, developer Renegade Kid have decided to give the game a 3D makeover and this time offer the game on Nintendo's 3DS eShop. We recently got the chance to take the game for a spin and we thought now might be a good time to sit down...
News Frank West and Hsien-Ko Join Project X Zone
Say 'cheese'
Namco Bandai-SEGA-Capcom crossover Project X Zone already has a pretty sturdy line-up of characters, but it just got bigger with new faces coming in from Dead Rising, Darkstalkers, Resonance of Fate and more. Here's who's who out of the new faces: Gods Eater Burst: Alisa, SomaResonance of Fate: Leanne, ZephyrDarkstalkers: Hsien-KoDead...
News Europe, What Do You Make Of Your Beat the Beat Box Art?
It's certainly... yellow
The North American release of Rhythm Heaven Fever has one of the most deliriously colourful box arts we've ever seen, but Nintendo of Europe has taken a very different approach with its cover, as you can see. Art for the European version — known as Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise — tones down the golden theme of the...
Interview Shinesparkers - Celebrating Metroid with Music
Recreating the adventure
Recently we became aware of Harmony of a Hunter, a two-disc album of fan-produced Metroid music that covers the history of the franchise: it's available for free from this download page. It's a project from Metroid fan-site shinesparkers.net, and a follow-up album called Harmony of a Hunter: 101% Run is on the way. We spoke...
News Nintendo to Distribute Heroes of Ruin Across Europe
Once more, to arms
Nintendo's sales, marketing and distribution teams are getting a good run-out with third-party support on 3DS, having already lent their support to Resident Evil Revelations, Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and more. The platform-holder's just signed a similar deal with Square Enix to promote...
News Peek Between Your Fingers at a Project Zero 2 Trailer
Horror story
Tecmo Koei's enhanced Project Zero 2: Wii Edition is coming to Europe this June, but Nintendo is starting the scares early with a new trailer. What starts out all sweet and lovely eventually gives way to the kind of twisted sights we've come to associate with the Project Zero (aka Fatal Frame) series over the years. It's also got plenty...
News Shaun the Sheep Reveals All in 'Raising the Baaaaa!'
He's not too sheepish
European 3DS owners have been lucky enough to enjoy weekly animated shorts of Shaun the Sheep in Nintendo Video for a number of weeks. From Aardman, the creators of Wallace & Gromit and Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists, these episodes each give about 60 seconds of charming animation and humour. Each episode involves...
News Theatrhythm Shimmies to Europe on 6th July
Going to be a busy day
Nintendo fans with a penchant for rhythm-based gameplay, prepare for 6th July. Not only does Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise land on that day, Square Enix has just announced Theatrhythm Final Fantasy will hit Europe on 6th July too. Europeans also get the snazzy Theatrhythm pre-order bonus too, and all just three days behind...
Tuesday24th Apr 2012
News Pikmin 2 Finally Reaches North American Wiis Soon
About time
Hey, New Play Control! Pikmin 2 — what took you so long? The latest issue of Nintendo Power claims the motion-controlled strategy game is finally going to reach North America later this year, presumably to tide you over until Pikmin 3 and remind gamers who Olimar and Louie actually are. The enhanced Pikmin 2 originally hit Europe...
News Konami Announces PES 2013 for Wii and 3DS
No PES for U
Konami's confirmed its next football feast, PES 2013, will, reach Wii and 3DS later this year. Wii's had some pretty good versions of the beautiful game over the years and PES has already had two run-outs on 3DS, so fingers crossed for a quality soccer sim later this year. The press release doesn't mention a Wii U version, which is a...
News Real Life Skyward Sword Controls Don't Work
Though kids have better luck
We rather liked The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, stating that it's 'as good a Zelda game as we've ever played' in our perfect 10 review. We simply felt that everything blended beautifully, including the immersive MotionPlus controls. Not everyone felt the same about the control scheme, however, with some complaining...
Talking Point Could AR Games Drive eShop Sales?
Augmenting profit
Nintendo made a big deal of augmented reality at 3DS' launch, but it's all gone a bit quiet on the gaming-on-your-table front aside from scant appearances as extra modes in titles like Kid Icarus: Uprising, or in its various uses in horror games that don't cut it. The 3D overlay technology, through which games and avatars can...
Ninterview IAmThatOneGuy Talks About Creating Paper Samus
Aran sweater
Last week we told you about a giant paper Samus created by Flickr user IAmThatOneGuy, and we decided that we wanted to learn more about how it was created. We reached out to the paper artist and learned more about him and his unique project. Nintendo Life: First, please introduce yourself and your creation. Matthew R Green: My name is...
First Impressions Art of Balance TOUCH! (3DS eShop)
Small scale
Art of Balance on WiiWare is one of the service's best puzzlers — the second highest-rated puzzler on Wii, according to Metacritic — so an enhanced, portable version for 3DS sounds like a winner. Surprise! It is. Art of Balance TOUCH! follows the same format as previous Shin'en WiiWare-to-eShop transition
News Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Battles Hit the Stage
No more fighting on table tops
For those who've been able to get hold of some AR cards for Kid Icarus: Uprising, there may have been some fun had in pitching iconic characters against each other with a number of backdrops. Ultimately, though, a dull piece of furniture isn't necessarily the most epic environment for a battle of the ages. Readers of...
News Heroes of Ruin is GAME-Exclusive in UK
Table-turner
It looks like the days of "GAME isn't stocking title X" are long behind us, as the retailer's announced Heroes of Ruin will be exclusively available through GAME and Gamestation in the UK. You can pre-order the game for £34.99 through
News Take On Kid Icarus Multiplayer Masters at HMV Stores
Consoles up for grabs
Can't get enough of that wonderful Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer? Get thee to a select HMV store and take on Nintendo's team of crack players, and you could win a set of AR cards. The participating stores are: hmv Oxford Circus – Saturday 28th Aprilhmv Reading Oracle – Saturday 5th Mayhmv Birmingham Bullring – Saturday...
Monday23rd Apr 2012
Review Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir (3DS)
The ghost of a much better game
There's something magical within Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir. Really, there is. You wouldn't know it by playing it, because the execution is downright terrible, but at heart, somewhere, deep inside this absolute mess is the germ of a great idea; that's the nicest thing we can say about it. Spirit Camera is an...
News Does Ocarina of Time Look Better with Link to the Past's Graphics?
You decide
Many of us know The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Hyrule like the back of our hands, but did you ever stop to consider what the Great Deku Tree might look like Link to the Past-style? Zelda Fan Game Central member MaJoRa has spent the past two years recreating Hyrule with sprites and tiles from Link's SNES adventure, wrapping up the...
Feature Why AR Horror Just Isn't Cutting It
We're not scared
Horror, when it works, sticks with us. Bumps in the night, shadows in the dark, branches scraping against the windows...these are the things that keep us up at night when horror has correctly done its job. Whether it's a scary movie, a chilling ghost story or even a horror-themed video game, the best experiences are the ones we...
Nintendo Download 26th April 2012 (Europe)
Blocks, worms and Gnomz
There's a definite creative slant to this week's Nintendo Download, with 3DS and DSi owners able to make something for themselves. Here's what's available to download from 2pm this Thursday. 3DS Download Software: Block Factory (Enjoy Gaming, £3.60/€4) — A puzzle game in which you get to make your own variations on the...
News UK Chart Results Are Less Than Golden for Nintendo
Not flying off the shelves
Each week we have two sets of charts to bring you. On the one hand Nintendo's Japanese hardware and software sales are always through the roof and dominating its competitors, while the UK software charts often give a very different impression. Regular hardware sales for the UK aren't provided, but this week's software top...
News Nintendo UK Launches Repair Website
One stop shop
Nintendo console owners in the UK have a new resource at their disposal: Nintendo Service Centre. The website offers troubleshooting tips and also allows users to book in consoles for repair. Video tutorials also talk you through things like setting up parental controls, spending Nintendo Points and browsing digital stores. So there...
News Zack & Wiki Producer Interested in Sequel
Join the club
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure was an early attempt at an original franchise for Wii, and looked to have everything going for it: originality, charm and quality in spades. Shame, then, that it bombed at retail, an early warning sign of the troubles ahead for third-party publishers. The game's producer Hironobu Takeshita...
News Kore Gang Publisher Needs Your Money for a Re-Release
It's complicated
Last year, Atari published The Kore Gang in North America, over a year after Pixonauts published it in Europe. So far, so simple, but Pixonauts has just launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publish the game again. According to Pixonauts, a "dubious business partner" has "ruin years of development...
News It's a Heroes of Ruin Multiplayer Video
Say no more
Excited about Heroes of Ruin and its online multiplayer? This video is right up your alley, then. Square Enix has released a video showing the co-operative play in action, with a Gunslinger and Savage wading through the Frost Reaches to take down Ironfist, a giant Ghoul. It emphasises the drop-in nature of multiplayer, with support for...
Sunday22nd Apr 2012
Talking Point What New Super Mario Bros. 2 Means for 3DS and Nintendo
Aside $$$
The biggest news that came out of Nintendo Direct yesterday was the announcement of New Super Mario Bros. 2 for Nintendo 3DS. To say that the revival of 2D Mario has been a gigantic success for Nintendo is somewhat of an understatement; both New Super Mario Bros. on DS and New Super Mario Bros. Wii sold over 25 million copies each worldw
Saturday21st Apr 2012
News Nintendo Direct April 2012 - Nintendo Reveals New Super Mario Bros. 2 for 3DS
Wa-ha!
We knew Nintendo is working on a new 2D Mario for 3DS, and now we know it's New Super Mario Bros. 2. Satoru Iwata revealed the game during the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, pledging it'll see release in Japan this August. Nintendo of America has also confirmed an August release via Twitter. Iwata
News 3DS Gets Pokémon Black & White 2 AR Apps
Gotta snap 'em all
Pokémon Black & White 2 is coming to DS, but 3DS owners who want to beef up their experience can do so with the release of two new eShop applications. One is a follow-up to Pokédex 3D, updated with the new moves and information from Black and White 2. In Japan at least, the original Pokédex 3D will be removed from sale,...
News Animal Crossing Tobidase Reaches Japan This Fall
Come inside
Animal Crossing 3DS has an official title and release window for Japan, those lucky blighters. Its full Japanese title is Doubutsu no Mori: Tobidase. Tobidase means 'jumping out' of something, a phrase often used to describe the 3DS's 3D capabilities but which Nintendo president Satoru Iwata says also refers to the game's wireless...
News Kirby Gets 20th Anniversary Compilation for Wii
Dream land
The pinkest hero around, Kirby, celebrates 20 years of sucking this year. To celebrate with him, Nintendo's putting together a 20th anniversary compilation of his most popular adventures for Wii. Granted, Nintendo hasn't specified which of Kirby's games will feature on the disc — is it too much to hope for Kirby Air Ride? — but...
News Organise Your Home Menu With New 3DS Update
All the fun of folders
If your Home Menu's looking a little cluttered these days, you might want to anticipate the new 3DS system update in a few days that adds folders to the mix. You'll be able to create folders to hold as many as 60 tiles each, which should certainly de-clutter that menu. You can name your folders too, which should make finding...
News Europe, Your 3DS System Update Arrives 25th April
Update: North American update on the same day
You know that fancy 3DS system update that was announced earlier in Japan? Europeans can now look forward to grabbing it on the same day, 25th April. The update will come as a relief to those who have cluttered up their Home screens with the Ambassador games, demos and 3D trailers. You'll be able to give...
News Mario Kart 7 To Get Shortcut-Fixing Patch
Part of new update
Nintendo will add the ability to patch software later this month, with Mario Kart 7 due to get an update in July. Satoru Iwata revealed that Nintendo will release a patch to fix issues with shortcuts that cause problems with online play, though didn't specify which shortcuts would be affected. Previously Nintendo has said it has...
News Panini to Sell Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards in European Stores
Start saving those pennies
While fans of Kid Icarus: Uprising in North America have enjoyed a few different ways to acquire some of the title's AR cards, gamers in Europe have had limited opportunity to build a collection. It seems that Nintendo of Europe were on the case however, as Satoru Shibata today announced a partnership with Panini to sell...
News New Puzzle Panel Lands Via SpotPass
Open for business
3DS owners, make sure your wireless switch is on: Nintendo just sent out a new puzzle panel for StreetPass Puzzle Swap. The new picture of Mario Tennis Open is a 40-piece puzzle, which should last you a fair old while. We haven't heard of any other pictures coming through yet, but if you get a different image then be sure to let us...
News Download Play Confirmed for Mario Tennis Open
Share a set with friends
The upcoming Mario Tennis Open was discussed in today's European Nintendo Direct, with some specifics announced on multiplayer and Mii customisation. The most significant detail for tennis players hoping to take on friends and family was the confirmed inclusion of Download Play for local multiplayer, allowing up to four...
News Return to the Castle in Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
Castle crashers
Warren Spector joined in the fun of Europe's Nintendo Direct to hype up Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion. Developed by DreamRift in collaboration with Junction Point, the 2D platformer is due out on Nintendo 3DS in autumn. Though it's set in the same Wasteland as the console versions and lets you mess with the environment with...
News Heroes of Ruin To Include Free Daily Challenges for a Year
Hits Europe on June 15th
Heroes of Ruin is one of the most intriguing 3DS titles on the horizon, especially as it's an RPG that will feature online multiplayer and voice chat. It seems that online play really is vital to this game, with details of downloadable content announced in today's Nintendo Direct. Nintendo Europe boss Satoru Shibata...
News Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drops into Europe on 20th July
Confirmation at last
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance hit Japanese stores on 29th March, even causing a jump in 3DS sales when it was released. After a long wait we finally have news on a release date outside of Japan, with the title set to land in European stores on 20th July. In his Nintendo Direct presentation Satoru Shibata reiterated some...
News Sing Along to Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise in July
Better late than never
Great news, music fans — the latest edition of the musical equivalent of WarioWare, Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise is bringing the party to Europe on 6th July. It's been out in North America since February under the slightly snappier name Rhythm Heaven Fever. Perhaps to make up for the late release, Nintendo has prepared an...
Friday20th Apr 2012
News The World Ends With You Follow-up Teased by Square Enix
Not quite the end
The World Ends With You is one of those DS RPG titles that may not be well-known, but is critically acclaimed and loved by its fans. It's a gem of the DS library, which makes the recent tease of a sequel from Square Enix music to our ears. As reported by Andriasang, Tetsuya Nomura — a key figure in The World Ends With You and the...
News Play NES With a Coffee Table Controller
Like a boss
There are a number of tests that determine the degree of your NES mastery, such as beating Contra without using the Konami code, or speed running Super Mario Bros. without using any power-ups. Alternatively, you can beat Super Mario Bros. by using your coffee table as a controller: that'll take some real skill. Thanks to furniture maker...
News Europe, Your Next Nintendo Direct Show is Tomorrow
Meet Mr Shibata
Nintendo Europe's regular series of Nintendo Direct online broadcasts gets another run out tomorrow afternoon at 1pm Central European Time/12pm midday UK Time. Whereas February's show was a translated version of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's Japanese presentation, this time around it'll be a unique broadcast hosted by Nintendo...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend?
What else are weekends for?
Another busy week has passed, whether you've spent it at work, school, college or somewhere else, and now it's time to sit back and chill out over the weekend. For many of us that means taking some time for gaming, either delving into something new or playing an old favourite. We've taken a quick poll of four members of...
News Nintendo Europe Boss Goes Direct With Swapnote
Europeans, you have mail
Nintendo Letter Box, or Swapnote to use its snappier title, has already been used by Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime to remind 3DS owners about upcoming Nintendo Direct events, while Eiji Aonuma dropped a note to tease more Zelda games. Now it's the turn of Nintendo Europe boss Satoru Shibata, spreading the news with a...
News Pre-Order Theatrhythm, Get a Stylus and Stickers
Hard to beat
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is out in North America in July, but if you're the kind of person who likes to get an order in early rather than wait and see, the game's pre-order bonus might be right up your alley. At the moment only available via Amazon but likely to reach our retailers soon, pre-order customers get a gripped stylus and a...
News Inchworm Animation Reaches Europe Next Week
Slow motion animation
One year and a day after it launched in North America, Inchworm Animation is hitting DSiWare in Europe. The application launches on Thursday 26th April for 800 Nintendo Points, an increase over its 500 Point price tag in North America. It allows users to create stop motion films and time lapse videos as well as traditional...
News Charity Game-A-Thon Starts Today
Prepare for sore thumbs
Earlier in the week we posted about an upcoming 24-hour game-a-thon being taken on by gaming research company FanCensus to raise money for Game Aid. Well, it kicks off today, so consider this a reminder. A number of Nintendo titles, both old and new, are included in the schedule along with games from other consoles, each...
Thursday19th Apr 2012
Get by with a little help…
Here at Nintendo Life we're used to reviewing a lot of franchise sequels, as developers and publishers quite rightly give gamers more of what they want. We're not talking Super Mario, however, but rather the We Sing series, a franchise of karaoke games exclusive to Wii. Unfortunately we aren't well-known for angelic...
The best things in life are cheap
With 3DS firmly established in the market for more than 12 months and the Nintendo DS entering what can be confidently called its twilight year, there is no better time to head to the (virtual or physical) bargain bin to nab yourself some overlooked DS gems to keep you entertained until 3DS releases pick up momentum...
Nintendo Download 19th April 2012 (North America)
Running wild with Pit
A very quiet week this week, with just two titles, one of which has been available through GameStop for a while. Here's what awaits. 3DS Download Software: 3D Classics: Kid Icarus (Nintendo, $5.99) — Pit's reimagined debut has been available exclusively through GameStop for a month now, but is finally opened up to everyone...
News Mega Man Robot Master Field Guide Blasts into Stores
So many Robot Masters
The Mega Man series is loved by many not just because of its tight controls and blasting action, but possibly because it has such a diverse range of quirky characters and enemies. For those who follow every intricacy of the Mega Man universe, it's a big ask to keep up. Thankfully for those fans, and others who just love playing...
News Uh Oh, Castlevania: The Adventure Rated for 3DS VC
Ratings board whips it out
3DS Virtual Console fans have a spooky treat to look forward to, as the Australian Classification Board has rated Castlevania: The Adventure. Well, we say 'treat', but The Adventure is generally regarded as one of the weaker entries in the series, particularly compared to follow-up Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge. Still,...
News Shin Megami Goodness Coming to 3DS and DS in PAL Regions
RPG fans rejoice
Until now, some gamers in PAL regions have looked on enviously as their North American counterparts have enjoyed Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked on 3DS, an expanded and improved version of the DS original from 2009. There's good news as publisher Ghostlight, a specialist in bringing Japanese games to the PAL markets,...
News Master of Darkness Swooping to Virtual Console
Castlemania
No sooner has the Australian Classification Board tipped us off to a future appearance from Castlevania: The Adventure on 3DS Virtual Console than it's told us about Vampire: Master of Darkness (simply Master of Darkness in PAL territories) coming to VC too. Developed by SIMS Co. — who later went on to specialise in fishing games,...
News This Giant Paper Samus Must Scare Off Burglars
Postmen, milkmen unaffected
If you want an effective — though unbelievably time-consuming — way to ward off would-be burglars, a 6'10" paper model of Samus Aran would probably do the trick. Flickr user IAmThatOneGuy (via Nintendo-Gamer) decided to recreate Samus in her Varia Suit from Metroid Prime 2: Echoes out of just paper. As the...
News Two 99seconds Trailers Last Longer Than 99 Seconds
But who's counting?
99seconds is a follow up to 99bullets, but instead of a shooter it's a game of extreme keep away. EnjoyUp has just sent over two new trailers showing the game in action, and it looks like a decent test of skill for those after some intense gaming. There's no release date or price for 99seconds yet, but we'll keep you posted.
Wednesday18th Apr 2012
News "Too Many Hurdles" to Ni No Kuni DS Translation
Magic book blamed
Level-5 and Studio Ghibli collaboration Ni No Kuni is getting an English release on PS3 in 2013, but its DS counterpart won't be leaving Japan. Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino explained to Famitsu (via Andriasang) some of the difficulties preventing the portable adventure reaching the West. The DS game comes with a large Magic Master...
Can I bolt?
Held in prison for daring to protect his beloved from an attack, I Must Run!'s nameless protagonist is challenged to break out and run across the city in less than 24 hours for the ultimate prize: his wife's life. Apparently the escape itself poses no problem, as we cut straight to the chase. I Must Run! is a game of the same ilk as the...
News Skylanders Giants 3DS To Be 'Completely Different' Than Wii
Wii U under consideration, of course
When Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure became a sales hit, surprising some with the scale of its success, a follow-up was inevitable. The announcement of Skylanders Giants duly followed, and although Wii was confirmed as a platform the vague description of 'handheld and mobile devices' left a 3DS sequel as very...
Talking Point Lessons to be Learned from WiiWare and Beamdog
Cool heads should prevail
One news story has been dominant on Nintendo Life since it was posted, attracting a significant number of comments from the community. The news that MDK2 developers Beamdog will never develop for Nintendo again seemed to strike nerves, as strongly worded statements generally do. Writing on Twitter, studio president Trent...
Interview Senile Team - Rush Rush Rally Racing
Racing to answer
Tomorrow sees the European release of Rush Rush Rally Racing (R4) for WiiWare, nearly 18 months after it was first announced. We sat down with developer Senile Team's Jeroen and Roel van Mastbergen to talk racers, future releases and WiiWare. Nintendo Life: Firstly, please introduce yourself to our readers. Senile Team: Hi readers!...
News Namco Bandai Shouts "Thundercats, Ho!"
Purring onto DS
Cartoon reboot Thundercats is getting a DS game courtesy of Namco Bandai. The side-scrolling action platformer comes courtesy of Naruto Ninja Council developer Aspect Digital and is due out in August. As you defeat enemies as Lion-O you gather energy for the Sword of Omens: once you've hoarded enough, you can shoot a damaging beam...
News Monster Hunter and Jazz Finally Brought Together
Swing that giant sword
When battling huge monsters in Monster Hunter Tri, and no doubt desperately hoping to hunt down some extra meat to gorge on, have you ever wished that there was a jazz soundtrack to keep you going? Well, the day has finally arrived, if you live in Japan. As reported by Andriasang, Capcom has released a new soundtrack with a...
News 3DS Stays on Top in Japanese Charts
As you were
Some things remain the same from one week to the next: there aren't enough hours in the day reserved for gaming, speculative Wii U rumours spread like wild-fire, and 3DS reigns supreme at the top of the Japanese hardware chart. As shown by the latest Media Create figures, provided by Andriasang, Nintendo's latest handheld is continuing...
News 24-hour Game-A-Thon to Raise Money for Games Aid
That's a lot of gaming
Playing games for charity is a fun way to do some good, with SingStar dad Julian Hill being an example. Also planning a 24-hour gaming session for charity is FanCensus, a small gaming research company that will play 24 different games for one hour at a time. The event kicks of at 6pm (UK time) on Friday 20th April, with plenty...
Tuesday17th Apr 2012
News MDK2 Dev Will Never Develop for Nintendo Again
Beamdog out
BioWare's MDK2 was ported to WiiWare by independent studio Beamdog, but you won't be seeing that name on any other Nintendo formats in the future, according to studio president Trent Oster. Asked on Twitter if Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition could come to Wii U, Oster's response was... less than positive: We don't do Nintendo...
News Camelot Justifies No RPG Mode in Mario Tennis Open
It's not you, it's Mii
Unlike most portable Mario sports titles, there's no roleplaying mode in Mario Tennis Open. Nintendo Power asked Hiroyuki Takahashi, one half of Camelot's boss brothers, about the omission. Takahashi explained that this time around, Camelot was trying to create a console-quality experience with features like online play and...
News Angry Birds NES Cart Catapults Into View
Perhaps Shigeru Miyamoto would like one
Last week Shigeru Miyamoto shared his admiration for Angry Birds, even mischievously suggesting that it would be better on DS. Even better though, what if it had been on the NES? The idea is crazy and technically impossible, but perhaps that adds to the charm of the pictured NES cart produced by 72pins.com, a...
News Mario Wii U "Based On" New Super Mario Bros. Mii
Crowd pleaser
The Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U that Shigeru Miyamoto teased yesterday will be based on last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii experience, Nintendo has confirmed. A representative told Kotaku: In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii
News Bowser and Friends Confirmed for Wreck-It Ralph
Roar power
Upcoming Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph will feature a cameo from the Koopa King himself. Bowser will appear in the movie, due out in November, alongside an unnamed ghost from Pac-Man (we're hoping for Clyde). We don't know how the two fit in, but previous reports suggested a panel of villains — including Dr. Eggman — would...
News Kid Icarus: Uprising Development Landed on Wii, Briefly
Took in PC too
Masahiro Sakurai started work on Kid Icarus: Uprising so long ago there weren't even 3DS development kits, according to a new Iwata Asks. Sakurai told Nintendo president Satoru Iwata that his Project Sora team made do with the other hardware available, including Wii: At first we didn’t have the Nintendo 3DS development kit, so we...
News Project X Zone Website Opens With a Bang
Check out that music
Last week we brought you the first screens of upcoming 3DS title Project X Zone, a project being produced by Capcom, Namco Bandai and SEGA. After an intriguing teaser involving a science lab, it was unveiled as a strategy RPG featuring iconic characters from all three developers, enough to get the blood pumping in many gamers...
News We'll Finally See Pikmin 3 at This Year's E3
Plucky for you
It seems ages since we first heard about Pikmin 3, doesn't it? Shigeru Miyamoto apologised for its no show way back at E3 2010, and it was the same at last year's show. There'll be no such apology this year, as Nintendo confirms we will see Pikmin 3 in June. The Wii U threequel will be the first HD entry in the series, but other than...
News Konami Code Unlocks Extra Votes in the French Presidential Campaign
Politics and gaming team up at last
It may seem unlikely, but French Presidential candidate François Bayrou, who is undoubtedly an underdog in the upcoming election, has embedded the famous Konami code into his campaign website. As reported by The Telegraph, all you need to do is visit www.bayrou.fr and enter the famous code with your keyboard —...
News Fan Collective Planning Metroid Music Release
Free two-disc album already available
Last year was packed full of Nintendo anniversaries, including 25 years since the original Metroid arrived on the NES. While Mario and The Legend of Zelda enjoyed celebrations and special anniversary game releases, Metroid was restricted to the appearance of Metroid Fusion on 3DS, and that was only for...
News Nicalis Expects VVVVVV to Reach Europe in Early May
NightSky in summer
The anguished cries ring out all over Europe. "When will we get VVVVVV?". Nicalis' Tyrone Rodriguez says "soon". Speaking at the IDEAM event in Spain — the same event where he announced 1001 Spikes for 3DS and Wii U — Rodriguez said European 3DS owners should get VVVVVV in "early May". North...
Monday16th Apr 2012
Review Super Street Fighter II (Wii Virtual Console / Mega Drive)
Online, but off-base?
It's taken five and a half years for an online Street Fighter game to reach Wii. In that time, Xbox 360 and PS3 owners have had five different SF online titles — six, if you count Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. Heck, even 3DS has Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition. Wii owners, for their sins, get an online-enabled...
News Check Out This Fan-Made Portable GameCube
It actually works, you know
One thing that technically-minded gamers occasionally indulge in is creating unique versions of their favourite consoles. Thankfully for us these creations are often shared with the world on YouTube, and courtesy of CKmods we can take a look at a portable GameCube. The original GameCube console, famously, had its own...
News Miyamoto to Show Wii U Mario at E3
But in what form?
Update: A Nintendo spokesperson has confirmed to Eurogamer.net that Nintendo will show off a Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U at E3. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, we'll see the first Super Mario game for Wii U at E3 this year. A translation of the original story sees Shigeru Miyamoto telling the news
Feature Super Mario on Wii U - Crowd Pleaser or Game Changer?
The plumber's conundrum
The news that Shigeru Miyamoto will show off Super Mario Bros. on Wii U at E3 is more or less confirmation of what we all expected. When 3DS faltered many said Nintendo needed to show the way with a Mario game, and Super Mario 3D Land's Christmas appearance gave the console a big shot in the arm, becoming its first...
Nintendo Download 19th April 2012 (Europe)
Colors!, Rush Rush, paid video and more
Europe gets its first taste of paid-for 3D video this week, alongside an art application and a WiiWare racer. Here's what's under starter's orders for this week. 3DS Download Software: Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles, 231 blocks, £5.40/€6) — An excellent addition to the 3DS suite of creative tools, find out...
News First Pokémon Black & White 2 Footage Revealed
Unova drill
Japanese show Pokémon Smash led with the first gameplay footage of Pokémon Black & White 2 this past weekend, showing the newly frosty Unova in motion. In the trailer below you can see new areas, trainers, gym leaders and much more. It's pretty exciting. Pokémon Black & White 2 is due out in Japan in June, and we'll get it a...
Review Anne's Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection (DSiWare)
Goodbye, Dolly
If you were clamouring for a sequel to Anne's Doll Studio: Gothic Collection, it can only mean that you've never played it. Nevertheless, here we are, being punished for whatever hideous, unforgivable sins we must have committed in our past lives. Anne's Doll Studio: Tokyo Collection is that sequel, and while the previous instalment...
News Nicalis Announces 1001 Spikes for Wii U and 3DS eShop
Due this year
Nicalis is still putting the finishing touches to its WiiWare translation of La-Mulana, but it's already announced its next project, 1,001 Spikes for digital release on Wii U and 3DS. Like La-Mulana and Cave Story, 1,001 Spikes is a retro-styled platformer that started life elsewhere, in this case as Xbox Live Indie game Aban Hawkins...
News Super Mario World Music Video Crams In a Marimba
Everyone likes a marimba
You're probably thinking you've heard every imaginable variation on every single Super Mario theme, jingle and ditty, but this Super Mario World overworld theme contains a marimba and a melodica. It's also pretty good. The list of instruments in Adam Mormolstein's video might even eclipse the number of levels in Mario's...
News eShop Goes Cheap with Bird Mania 3D
Project $2
eShop game pricing is a hot topic — is $6 too much for a downloadable game? Should the store offer much shorter games for much less? Whatever your thoughts, empirical evidence shows Bird Mania 3D is the cheapest game to hit the 3DS yet. At $1.99 it costs less than any Virtual Console game and is on par with the cheapest DSiWare, which...
News Titanic Mystery Sails Onto Wii and DS
What else?
Just recently, as some of you may be aware, the 100 year anniversary has passed for the maiden voyage and sinking of the RMS Titanic, a tragedy that has been re-told in television documentaries, a number of books and most notably in one of the most successful Hollywood movies of all time. The centenary hasn't completely passed gaming by,...
News Miyamoto Working on "Small, Important" Wii U Projects
Fingers in many pies
Shigeru Miyamoto must be a busy man. When he's not saying Angry Birds would have been better on DS or having weird game ideas, he's actually working. At the moment, Miyamoto is juggling several projects, including a few for Wii U. Speaking to El Mundo in the same interview he used to confirm
Interview Ludosity - Alien Chaos 3D
Signs of intelligent life
Developer Ludosity and publisher Reef Entertainment just revealed a new 3DS download game for Europe called Alien Chaos 3D, so we tracked down the developer and convinced it to spill the beans on its upcoming eShop shooter. Nintendo Life: First of all, can you tell us a little bit more about the Ludosity studio? Ludosity:...
News Pandora's Tower Sneaks into UK Software Chart
A lot of climbing to do
There was one high profile retail release on Nintendo systems last week, with Pandora’s Tower arriving on Wii. Unlike Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, which failed to break into the software top 40 in its debut week and missed out again this week, the final title in the so-called 'Operation Rainfall Trilogy' has...
News BiP's Vikings to Invade 3DS eShop
To the towers!
DSiWare tower defence game Viking Invasion got in there before the genre hit market saturation on DSi. Publisher BiP Media is lining up a second attack wave, this time heading toward the 3DS eShop, with Viking Invasion 2: Olaf's Return. Pockett.net has the exclusive on the title, with new weapons, tower types and divine powers to put...
News Alien Chaos 3D to Clean Up eShop This Summer
Place your hands, Europe
Reef Entertainment has revealed its first 3DS eShop title, Alien Chaos 3D, due to hit Europe this summer. A semi-sequel to Xbox Live Indie game Mama and Son Clean House, the digital download combines shooting with cleaning over the course of five worlds and 30 stages. We've got the first screenshots below, and come back...
Sunday15th Apr 2012
Review The Legend of Zelda (3DS eShop / NES)
Rough around the edges, but an unforgettable adventure
When The Legend of Zelda was released in 1986, it was at least as much an eye-opening experience for gamers as Super Mario Bros. had been. Whereas that game expanded and solidified the left-to-right nature of platformers for generations to come, The Legend of Zelda opened sprawling worlds before...
Color! us impressed
There’s something that needs to be said about applications on the 3DS, and that’s simply that there should be many more of them. Not only should there be more apps, but there should also be some really great apps that take a simple concept and turn it into something incredible using the 3DS’s technological capabilities...
Saturday14th Apr 2012
Feature The Odd One Out in Operation Rainfall
Time to open Pandora’s Limited Edition box?
Friday 13th April saw the final part of the Operation Rainfall JRPG trilogy hit European shelves, with Pandora’s Tower following in the footsteps of Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story. Pandora’s Tower does feel like a rather odd member of what has become, in the eyes of most, a linked trio of...
News Learn About Donn Nauert, Pro Gaming Pioneer
A leader of gamers
The video game industry has a very short history, significantly more so than other mediums such as film, yet many gaming figures that were popular in past times are now unknown. Take Donn Nauert, for example. In the first video of a planned series, video game historian Patrick Scott Patterson is compiling footage of prominent...
News The Wii U RUNNER 2 Hotline is Now Open
Gaijin Games soliciting rad ideas for sprint-'em-up sequel
When we spoke to Alex Neuse of Gaijin Games at PAX East about the prospect of BIT.TRIP Presents RUNNER 2 making its way to Nintendo's shiny new HD console, the answer was optimistic but cagey: yes, they have a Wii U development kit, no, they have no set plans. It appears that Gaijin is...
Friday13th Apr 2012
A difficult feast
Wii owners who enjoy Japanese RPGs have been spoiled recently, especially those that live in Europe: Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story provide two very different flavours of Japanese gaming, and the trio of originally Japan-exclusive titles is complete with Pandora’s Tower. If you like challenging concepts, demons and...
News The U.S. Sales Results are in for Nintendo
Not bad, not brilliant
While Nintendo, or to be precise 3DS, continues to dominate in Japan, it's always interesting to see how the company is performing outside its homeland. In the UK our only regular insight is the weekly software chart, and courtesy of the NPD Group we now have our monthly insight into how the big N is performing in the U.S. In...
News Club Nintendo Europe Gives Coins for JRPG Trilogy
Commemorative coins, we mean
With Pandora's Tower out in Europe today, the so-called Operation Rainfall trilogy is complete. Register all three games — Pandora's Tower, Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story — in Club Nintendo and you could get a nice surprise. Nintendo Lee (no relation) states Nintendo Europe is offering a commemo
News 8-Bit + 6 String = NES Guitar
Making beautiful music
You can play a lot on an NES, but you know what you can't play on it? Stairway to Heaven. You could end all that injustice with an NES guitar. Get Lo-Fi (via This Is Why I'm Broke) makes and sells various configurations of the guitars — single coil pick-ups and rosewood or maple neck will set you back $155, while humbuckers...
News Super Mario 3D Land Director Shares Level Design Inspirations
Similar to four-panel 'Kishōtenketsu' comics
Super Mario 3D Land has been the recipient of critical acclaim and big sales figures. It was also the first 3D Super Mario title developed exclusively for a handheld, posing interesting challenges for Director Koichi Hayashida and his team, such as finding a way to provide short levels that are also...
News Sing Along to The History of Nintendo
Start Friday right
The talented folks at long-running webcomic Brawl in the Family have used their 400th strip to celebrate Nintendo's life and times in a catchy tune. From hanafuda cards to Wii U, it crams some good detail into its 3:42 running time and will no doubt get stuck in your head for a good few hours. It also scores bonus points for...
News Double Spooky Photo Action Hits Europe on 29th June
Wii and 3DS owners beware
Nintendo's planning a double dose of ghostly goings-on on 29th June, as augmented reality fright fest Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir and Wii spooker Project Zero 2: Wii Edition will both reach Europe. Nintendo UK slipped the Wii release date at the bottom of a press release about Spirit Camera — out today in North...
News Nintendo Back in the GAME with Pandora's Tower
Back to business
Pandora's Tower is the first Nintendo-published game to come back to the newly reformed GAME. The Wii action RPG is available online for £49.99, with GAME claiming it's "very limited and the last print run." GAME hasn't stocked a Nintendo-published or distributed title since Resident Evil Revelations way back in January,...
News Sport Clips Set For a Home Run on Nintendo Zone in U.S.
Yes, that means baseball, amongst others
Nintendo Zone is one service specifically set up to encourage you to take your 3DS on the road, with connection spots in a variety of locations around the U.S. It already offers content such as demos and even discount coupons, and the latest offering from Nintendo of America is streamed sports videos...
Thursday12th Apr 2012
News Miyamoto: "Angry Birds Would Have Been Better on DS"
Still a fan, though
Despite reports to the contrary, Shigeru Miyamoto is only human. Even the man at the top of Nintendo's creative pyramid isn't immune to the charms of iOS hit Angry Birds, admitting on a recent press tour his fondness for the game — with a catch. Speaking to press, Miyamoto said: What I like about Angry Birds is that it has a...
News Miyamoto: "F-Zero Could Work on Wii U"
Commence mouth-foaming
Oh, F-Zero — where did you go? Everyone's favourite anti-gravity racing franchise that isn't WipEout has been missing from Nintendo consoles for years, save the appearance of F-Zero: Maximum Velocity as a 3DS Ambassador game. What's Shigeru Miyamoto got to say about this? Not very much. Speaking to Edge, Miyamoto addressed...
Nintendo Download 12th April 2012 (North America)
Ketzal and dolls
3DS owners get a new puzzle game and there's a doll dressing-up game on DSiWare. No, it's not Bizarro World, it's the Nintendo Download of course! Here's what's on offer today in North America. 3DS Download Software: Ketzal's Corridors (Nintendo, $6.99, 275 blocks) — The follow-up to the WiiWare's ThruSpace, this is another...
News New Trainers and Town in Pokémon Black & White 2
All change
Worried that Pokémon Black & White 2 is just a rehash of the original? New details from Coro Coro comics should put your mind to rest. The Japanese magazine has revealed B&W2 will feature new playable trainers, a new town and new gym leaders. Set two years after Pokémon Black and White, it's still set in Unova (Isshu in Japan)...
News U.S. Patent Cites Wii U as "Universal Remote Controller"
What else could it do?
THQ's Danny Bilson wasn't kidding when he called the Wii U controller the "Swiss army knife of video game controllers." Touch screen, game streaming, motion control and near-field communication technology is all well and good, but the latest rumour points to the pad controlling more than just the Wii U console. A...
News Miyamoto Keen On New Zelda Based on Link to the Past
So are we
Last year, Shigeru Miyamoto talked about Link to the Past on 3DS, and he's been at it again on a recent press trip to Paris. Speaking to Edge, Miyamoto said he's still interested in bringing Link's 16-bit adventure to the 3D Classics range, but he has something else in mind: I think the answer would be the same if we're talking about just...
News Project X Zone Screens Burst Out
More next week
The first scans of Namco Bandai, Capcom and SEGA collaboration Project X Zone (pronounced "Project Cross Zone") emerged yesterday, but now we have crisp, clear stills of the game in action. The shots show the strategy RPG's combat team-ups: Mega Man and Zero, Ryu and Ken, Demitri and Dante, Akira and Pai and more are all in...
News Gaijin Drops Biggest Hint Yet at Wii U Runner2
Place your bets now, please
Gaijin Games' BIT.TRIP series started on WiiWare, but the studio's next game, BIT.TRIP Presents Runner2, is for HD consoles only. But wait — Wii U is a HD console, right? Yes it is, so we tracked down Gaijin's Alex Neuse and Mike Roush at PAX East to question them. Our editor-at-large and t-shirt-hander-outer Jon...
Wednesday11th Apr 2012
Talking Point Is Nintendo Over-Reliant on Super Mario?
Lots of plumbing to do
Back in 1985, no-one could have imagined that a plumber saving a princess from the clutches of an evil turtle king could become one of gaming’s defining moments. Since the release of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Mario has become not only the face of Nintendo, but arguably the face of gaming as a whole. Shigeru...
News Namco, SEGA and Capcom Reveal Project X Zone
3DS strategy RPG unveiled
The teasing is over: the mystery Namco Bandai, Capcom and SEGA 3DS project is Project X Zone, a strategy RPG for 3DS. The countdown clock hasn't ended yet but Famitsu has led with the first details on the game. Characters from all three companies will fight in pairs: Ryu and Ken, Pai and Akira, Jin and Ling Xiaoyu to give a...
News How Many of These 375 NES Illustrations Can You Recognise?
Quite a collection
Like many of us, Campbell Whyte remembers the time when 8-bit graphics were magical, when pixels and tiny sprites evoked wonder and excitement. Unlike us, though, Whyte's also a skilled illustrator, and used his fond NES memories as the basis of the 8 Bit Dreams project. Whyte created an illustration a day for over a year, aiming...
News Monsters Abound in Terry's Wonderland 3D Trailer
When in Rome
The very first Dragon Warrior Monsters is getting a full 3D makeover in the scaly form of Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D to give its full title. Square Enix just released a four minute trailer of the 3DS game, and boy is it full of monsters. Of course, being a Monsters title you're not just battling against the slimy...
News Aliens: Colonial Marines Wii U Definitely "Not a Port"
Cleared up
Gearbox is doing a lot of talking about Aliens: Colonial Marines on Wii U lately, but wants to make one thing clear: it's not a port. Warp Zoned spoke to SEGA senior producer Matt Powers, who referred to the game as "the Wii U port" before Gearbox community manager Chris Faylor stepped in to clarify: I hate that word. The Wii U...
News The Louvre's 3DS Tour App Detailed in Video Form
Yes, but is it art?
The team-up between Nintendo and The Louvre sounds good, but what does it look like? A lot like this, in fact. Nintendo released a video of the museum touring application in action and it looks pretty good, with 3D models of sculptures, digital representations of paintings allowing you to zoom in on the fine detail and audio...
News Donkey Kong Jr. and Sonic Blast Head to Japan 3DS VC
G, Sonic
Two more for the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan: NES title Donkey Kong Jr. and Sonic Blast (aka G Sonic) for Game Gear. Neither title is the most fondly remembered in its respective canon, though Sonic Blast has the dubious distinction of being the last game commercially released for the Game Gear in Japan. Knuckles is playable too, which is...
News Pandora's Tower Inspired By Lunch on a Train
Don't eat the sandwiches
The final part of Nintendo's RPG trio, Pandora's Tower, reaches Europe this Friday. Developer Ganbarion recently spoke to Official Nintendo Magazine about the game's creation and revealed the inspiration for its disgusting monster meat system. Director Toru Haga revealed the idea came to him while eating his lunch on the...
News Vampire's Crystals Co-Op Footage Emerges
It was a dark and stormy night
Shanblue Interactive — the studio behind Magic Destiny: Astrological Games, of course — has lifted the lid on its upcoming WiiWare outing Vampire's Crystals with a new video. The co-op trailer below shows two players racing around, grabbing crystals and avoiding attacks from the hordes of undead. There doesn't seem...
Tuesday10th Apr 2012
News Marth's Fire Emblem: Awakening DLC Debut Confirmed
Ready to join your party
Fire Emblem: Awakening arrives in Japan on 19th April, and as expected it will be the first Nintendo published retail title on 3DS to feature DLC (downloadable content). It's a game with plenty of potential for additional add-on content, such as maps and additional characters, and the debut DLC appears to feature both. As...
Nintendo Download 12th April 2012 (Europe)
Zelda and Super Street Fighter II
Two venerable classics come to Nintendo's various Virtual Consoles this week, but both bear a few interesting tweaks. Here's what Europe can download later on in the week. 3DS Virtual Console: The Legend of Zelda (NES, Nintendo, £4.50/€5, 54 blocks) — The original title comes to non-Ambassadors, complete with...
News Fan Documentary Explores Ocarina of Time Development
The story of a masterpiece
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64 is a definitive game in Nintendo history, though opinions naturally vary on whether it should be regarded as one of the finest games ever produced. Regardless of where you stand on the subject, it undoubtedly revolutionised The Legend of Zelda as a series, bringing it...
News Suda51 Still Waiting for His Wii U Dev Kit
Must be a problem with the post office...
The Wii U controller may have given Suda 51 ideas for No More Heroes 3, but the eccentric head of Grasshopper Manufacture is still waiting for a development kit to call his own. Speaking to Nintendo Life's Jon Wahlgren this past weekend, Suda revealed he's not even sure he'll be working on Nintendo's new...
News Capcom: "No Plans for Resident Evil 6 Wii U At This Time"
Shot down
Capcom's annual Captivate event came and went without even a smidgen of Nintendo-related news. The biggest Nintendo story? That Resident Evil 6 isn't coming to Wii U — not now, anyway. IGN asked producers Yoshiaki Hirabayashi and Hiroyuki Kobayashi if their upcoming horror shooter would find a way to Nintendo's new console later this...
News Heroes of Ruin Alchitect Trailer is 3DS Gold
Fresh from PAX
3DS online action RPG hybrid Heroes of Ruin got another trailer today detailing the magic-based class that is the Alchitect. The walkthrough video below talks you through the class's abilities and battle strategies, which could come in handy if you're planning to deal out some lightning-based damage come June. There's also a bad dude...
News Nintendo and The Louvre Team Up
The Rhythm Thief's invitation got lost in the post
Gamers who fancy a musical adventure around the streets of Paris, including some shenanigans in the world famous museum the Louvre, can do so in Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure. For those who want to combine the handheld with the museum in real life, however, we have good news. We...
News Rhythm Thief Misses UK Charts
Oh, Raphael...
Funky Parisian 3DS game Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure has failed to land a foothold in the UK Top 40 charts in its first week. Price cuts and Easter promotions led to increased sales of older titles, which may have contributed to keeping Raphael's groove on the down low. Top of the charts was the much-hyped Kinect Star...
News Australia Rates Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition
That's right
No, not Pokémon Conquest — the Australian Board of Classification (who we love) has rated Nintendo's feudal Pokémon crossover under its original Japanese title Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition. The rating appeared earlier today and seems to guarantee a PAL territories release for the next Pok
Monday9th Apr 2012
News Nintendo Buys Supermario4.com Web Domain
An intriguing choice, yes?
The news that Nintendo recently purchased a Mario related web domain is not always interesting, especially as big companies often buy web addresses just to prevent others using them. When we saw that supermario4.com was a recent acquisition for Nintendo, however, we were definitely intrigued. It may be rampant speculation,...
Rumour Wii U Components Cost $180, Will Retail at $300
The money merry-go-around
While nobody can seem to agree on exactly what's inside the Wii U, one anonymous tipster has told Forget the Box that the console's components will cost around $180 USD. That figure supposedly comes from sources "closely involved with manufacturing and distributing Nintendo products." The $180 number includes the...
Sunday8th Apr 2012
First Impressions Mario Tennis Open
Nintendo serves up another winner
The mustachioed plumber’s handheld tennis and golf outings have an RPG history able to trigger warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia in all who earned hand cramps from them at one point or another. Those feelings won’t be triggered by Mario Tennis Open on 3DS as it eschews levelling up solo in favour of...
Review Penguin Patrol (DSiWare)
Snow major complaints; it's an ice game! Catch our drift?
The charmingly simple story of Penguin Patrol revolves around a young Eskimo who witnesses a greedy walrus slugging along with a sack full of distressed penguins. The walrus is obviously looking forward to a nice big dinner, but it's up to you to prevent him from getting that far. You...
Saturday7th Apr 2012
Feature The Super Mario Renaissance
We've never had it so good
When we think about Mario's glory years, it's easy to get lost in nostalgia. We might think back to the first time we played Super Mario Bros. and learned what a platform game was really capable of. We might think back to Super Mario World, which expanded upon the ideas of its predecessors in so many ways that felt natural...
Friday6th Apr 2012
Rumour ViviTouch to Demo Wii U Haptics Tech at E3
Feels good
Here's a Wii U rumour that's more towards the 'believable' end of the scale: Wii U's new controller could include haptic technology. According to an E3 floor plan (via NeoGAF), haptics specialist ViviTouch will show a Wii U peripheral at the upcoming trade show. ViviTouch's haptic tech is a more advanced form of physical feedback than...
Out Today Xenoblade Chronicles (North America)
About time
After a lot of campaigning and complaining, Monolith Soft's epic Xenoblade Chronicles makes it across to North America today. The mammoth RPG is available to buy from GameStop or Nintendo's online store. The regular version is $49.99, while the 'enhanced package' with black Classic Controller Pro will set you back $64.99 (plus tax, of...
News Add Tennis Balls to the List of Things Goombas Hate
Everything's a weapon
It's not just feet that pose a serious threat to eternal whipping boys the Goombas; tennis balls cause them serious harm too. Nintendo's new trailer for Mario Tennis Open showcases some of the new special games, from a Super Mario Bros.-inspired romp through World 1-1 and 1-2 to a Super Mario Galaxy face-off against a Luma. You...
News Pit and Pokémon Share Strong March Sales in Japan
Not in the top spot though
Pokémon Conquest — aka Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan — was the best-selling Nintendo title in the Land of the Rising Sun last month. The strategy crossover was released on 17th March, meaning it shifted 242,192 units in two weeks. In third place was Kid Icarus: Uprising, with 144,468 sales in the ten days...
Thursday5th Apr 2012
Review Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (3DS)
It’s got the rhythm
The early part of 2012 has brought us some blockbuster titles on 3DS that, in their own way, involve plenty of tension and shooting enemies. Perhaps it’s time to sit back and indulge in something a little more off the wall and unexpected, and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure certainly fits the bill. Despite the...
Review SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle (3DS eShop)
Spinning out of control
Back in 2010, Nintendo published an amusing little WiiWare title called ThruSpace, a game which at its very core simply involved flipping, turning and moving a block around in order to fit through gaps in walls. KeysFactory, the developer responsible for that title, has now created SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle — known as...
Nintendo Download 5th April 2012 (North America)
TNT, Colors and more
A long-awaited 3DS art package, a DSiWare puzzler and a WiiWare racer make up this week's digital downloads in North America. Here's the Nintendo Download: 5th April 2012 for Europe. 3DS Download Software: Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles, $6.99, 226 blocks) — A much-anticipated release for 3DS, this 3D art software was supposed...
News Nintendo: "Experience of Playing", Not Tech Specs, Key to Wii U
It worked for Wii
As the release of Wii U approaches, much focus seems to be on its technical capabilities, particularly its graphical prowess. Comments from anonymous developers that Wii U is less powerful than PS3 and Xbox 360 have raised the issue about how capable the machine 'needs' to be in terms of the graphics it's producing: we've already...
News Customisable Miis and Online Standings Served Up in Mario Tennis Open
Who wouldn't want a Bullet Bill outfit?
Mario Tennis Open isn't far away, and details about the title's single and multiplayer options are continuing to emerge. The latest update from Nintendo teases us with some single player features that may keep us busy when not on the worldwide multiplayer courts. The Special Games mode will apparently include...
News 3DS Sales Jump in Japan Thanks to Kingdom Hearts
Another big week
Last week 3DS sales jumped 50% thanks to Kid Icarus: Uprising; this week it's Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance bringing about the rise. Square Enix's Disney crossover RPG sold 213,579 units in its first week. By comparison, Kid Icarus shifted 132,526 copies in its first seven days on sale, but this week dropped to fourth place...
News Let the Pokémon Conquest Trailers Begin
Strategise open
Yesterday's announcement of Pokémon Conquest — that's the English name for Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition — for North America now brings with it a brace of trailers. The first is the opening movie you can expect to watch on your DS come 18th June, while the other is an introduction to the gameplay mash-up of grid-based strategy,...
News Sonic Designer Hirokazu Yasuhara Joins Nintendo
It's just not natural
Hirokazu Yasuhara, an instrumental member of Sonic Team during the 1990s, has taken a new role at Nintendo of America. Yasuhara — sometimes known as Carol Yas — was game planner on the original Sonic the Hedgehog before directing and designing the best of the hedgehog's 16-bit adventures. His final game at SEGA was...
News Rush Rush Rally Racing Parks in Europe on 19th April
Really
Update: The correct release date is 19th April, not 12th as previously stated. Senile Team's Rush Rush Rally Racing is on the way to Europe in two weeks. The indie racer — first developed for Dreamcast, fact fans — was first announced for WiiWare in August 2010, but the wait is due to be over on 19th April for 900 Nintendo Points. Up to...
News Amoebattle's Quarantine Period is Nearly Over
Release due soon
After a long wait, Intrinsic Games' Amoebattle is nearly ready to infect DSiWare. The real-time strategy game with a distinctly germy theme has been approved for release by Nintendo of America, with a definitive release date expected in the near future. If you want to know more about Intrinsic's RTS, you can read our Amoebattle...
News GAME Getting Back On Its Feet After Takeover
Reward cards and trade-in deals return
In recent weeks we've reported on the troubles at UK retailer GAME Group, with a number of high profile titles on Nintendo systems not being stocked and the company eventually going into administration, with over 2000 jobs lost. While our thoughts and best wishes are with those staff, there was positive news...
News Nintendo UK Unleashes 2012 Tour Dates
Try before you buy
It's that time of year when Nintendo takes its wares on the road across the UK, with the first three events dated. Visitors to the tour can try out Mario Tennis Open, battle and trade AR cards for Kid Icarus: Uprising and play Pandora's Tower. The first three people into the show — steady on, Nintendo — will each take home a...
News Going to PAX East? Come Say Hello!
Corner a panda
If you're heading to PAX East this Friday or Saturday, make sure you keep your eyes open for our man on the ground, Jon Wahlgren. The panda himself will be on the show floor on Friday and Saturday, proudly decked out in a Nintendo Life t-shirt. Not only will Jon be happy to pose for photographs, sign autographs and bless your child,...
Wednesday4th Apr 2012
Review Inazuma Eleven 2 Firestorm (DS)
Back of the net
It’s time to save the world from aliens, but how? We could solve a lot of puzzles, blast enemies away with big guns, fly through space in an intergalactic warship or, alternatively, play football. In the universe of Inazuma Eleven 2 there isn’t a single problem that can’t be solved with a football – or soccer – match...
Review Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds (WiiWare)
Less Diamond, more rough
Here it is, the thrilling conclusion to yet another series of episodic games that failed to impress from the get-go. That’s not to say that the Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math series was a complete let-down, but a few crucial flaws detracted from the package as a whole and really held the entire series back. What...
News Pokémon Conquest Heading to DS in June
Japanese feudal warlords, anyone?
Nintendo of America has revealed Pokémon Conquest is coming to the continent on 18th June. The translated version of Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition will arrive on Nintendo DS this summer, bringing a different form of strategy to the table. Update: Nintendo of Europe has responded to our email, saying: We have...
News More Gorgeous Epic Mickey 3DS Screenshots Revealed
What a Beauty
Like us, you were probably pretty excited when you heard about Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for 3DS, a new 2D platformer from Monster Tale studio DreamRift. Now Disney has released a few more details on this intriguing upcoming title. The previously revealed painting mechanic involves sketching on the touch screen before the...
Talking Point Is Wii U's Power Really That Important?
It's how you use it
One topic's dominated the Wii U news since Nintendo revealed its new console at E3 2011 — just how powerful is it? Nintendo's Wii U technical specifications give the vaguest of nods to its under-the-hood power, just mentioning a multi-core IBM processor — which we know is based on game show-conquering chip Watson — but it...
News Gearbox: Wii U Out-RAMs Xbox 360 and PS3
Has "really great processor"
There's a lot of Wii U love going on at Gearbox these days. Last week Randy Pitchford implored Nintendo for more Wii U power, and now the studio's Brian Martell has told Official Nintendo Magazine the console will have one of the best-looking versions of upcoming shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines. Martell is chief...
News Namco, Capcom and SEGA Secret Countdown Starts
It's on
That mysterious SEGA, Capcom and Namco Bandai 3DS game just advanced to the next stage of teasing: the dreaded countdown site. After weeks of colour coded hints that seem to nudge towards characters ranging from Ken Masters to Bahn from long-dormant SEGA scrapper Fighting Vipers, the site's updated to include a new countdown will end at...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Pops The Question
Will you marry me, Wyvern Rider?
The release of Fire Emblem: Awakening is getting ever closer in Japan, with European gamers awaiting further clarification on the 'summer 2012' window and North American compatriots eagerly hoping for any news. Now that it's almost arrived in Nintendo's homeland the title has been the subject of an Iwata Asks column,...
News Men in Black: Alien Crisis Confirmed for Wii
The good guys dress in black, remember that
Another summer blockbuster, another video game spin-off. Many of these movie-based games are of questionable quality, and it's slightly concerning that we're only now finding out about Men in Black: Alien Crisis for Wii, to be published by Activision. This title will be released on 25th May, the same day...
News Nintendo Gives Mario a New Website to Call Home
It's-a-me, Mario.com
Mario isn't exactly a little-known figure, with the mustachioed mascot being arguably the biggest icon in the video game industry. That doesn't mean he doesn't need more visibility in the public eye, though, as Nintendo has now given its hero a new website to show off his games. For gamers interested in what titles feature Mario...
News Boulder Dash-XL 3D Wants to Rock 3DS in July
Budget retail release revealed
Reef Entertainment has revealed it's bringing Boulder Dash-XL 3D to 3DS this summer. A 3DS retail release of last year's PSN and Xbox Live Arcade game, it features 150 brand new maps and the ability to share high scores and unlocked items via StreetPass. it's set to hit Europe on 20th July for a budget price of...
News Square Enix Pegs Heroes of Ruin for 26th June
Casts level 2 Intrigue
3DS's online action RPG Heroes of Ruin is due to land on 26th June, Square Enix has revealed. The title was originally promised for 'early' 2012 but has now seemingly slipped to the middle of the year. Hopefully that means its ambitious online multiplayer, including voice chat and regular new content via SpotPass, will make...
Tuesday3rd Apr 2012
News Developers: Wii U "Less Powerful than PS3 and 360"
Is it, isn't it?
Welcome once again to the best game show on the internet, How Powerful is Wii U? While recently Darksiders II developer Vigil Games said Wii U is "on par" with current generation consoles, now a band of anonymous developers have spoken out to Games Industry.biz about the machine's power, claiming it's not got quite as much...
News Tetris Party Live Disappears from eShop
Publisher explains why
Check the 3DS eShop or DSi Shop and you'll notice that Tetris Party Live is no longer available to buy, either in North America or European regions. We reached out to the publisher, Tetris Online Inc., for an explanation. Casey Pelkey, vice president of marketing, had this to say: I can confirm that Tetris Party Live is no...
News Shining Force and Defenders of Oasis Rated for 3DS VC
Prayers answered
The Australian Classification Board is a treasure trove of hints at which games are waiting in the Virtual Console wings, and it's come up trumps again today with two more Game Gear games rated for 3DS. Shining Force: Sword of Hajya and Defenders of Oasis are both approved for sale on 3DS, and should hopefully hit the service later...
Rumour Wii U Release Date Unveiled in Mystery Email
So secret we can't see it
It's Wii U speculation day, it seems. Just as we get over the latest anonymous sources telling us that Wii U is less powerful than PS3 and Xbox 360, we hear about the Wii U release dates being leaked. According to a Wii U themed website, and now being circulated around the web, Nintendo's next console will hit North America...
News Square Enix Involved in NES Google Maps April Fool
Officially confirmed
When it comes to Nintendo-themed April Fools jokes, Google showed plenty of creativity with Google Maps 8-bit. Some of our readers with a solid grasp of NES classics observed that the music and overall theme of the fictional cartridge strongly resembled the original Dragon Quest: accessing the trial version online also involved...
News Japan Gets Customisable Club Nintendo Polo Shirts
Get Rover here
Want to be the best dressed gamer out there? These customisable polo shirts are just the thing. Club Nintendo in Japan is offering the shirts to all members for the cost of 550 points. You can choose from one of eight colours and one of six embroidered icons: Donkey Kong, a Fire Flower, Rover from Animal Crossing, Mr Game & Watch...
News Funcom: Wii U Could Do MMOs Without Compromise
Who needs F keys?
Massively multiplayer online games and consoles don't exactly have the strongest working relationship, despite the efforts of sizeable publishers: SEGA had Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe, Square Enix brought Final Fantasy XI to Xbox 360 and Sony Online Entertainment's EverQuest Online Adventures for PS2 only just...
News Ubisoft Wants to Be Top Dog on Wii U
Sound familiar?
Ubisoft will stick to its tactic of big launch support for new consoles when Wii U launches later this year. Last year Ubi launched six games alongside 3DS and, back in 2006, released half a dozen games on the same day as Wii. That plan helped it become the biggest third-party publisher on both formats — though Ubi's Wii success...
News Super Street Fighter II Strikes Europe Next Week
Hadouken!
The much anticipated Mega Drive version of Super Street Fighter II is due to reach Europe next week. The official Nintendo site lists the game for 12th April at 800 Points. We've already got Super Street Fighter II on SNES available on Virtual Console, but this Mega Drive version is due to launch with online multiplayer, a Virtual Console...
Monday2nd Apr 2012
News Get a Free Farming Simulator 3DS Demo, Europe
Our excitement is too much
On the fence about picking up Farming Simulator 2012 for 3DS? Would a free demo win you over? European 3DS owners, you can play a free sample of the must-have farming title this week when the eShop updates with a downloadable demo. The official description is almost too exciting to publish: Put on your boots, grab your...
Nintendo Download 5th April 2012 (Europe)
Speeding thru
It's an auspicious day when Europe gets a new piece of 3DS download software, and that's exactly what's on the (SD) cards this week as Nintendo itself publishes another digital delight. Elsewhere there's an ages-old WiiWare game, a pretty poor DSiWare game and the world's most exciting demo. 3DS Download Software: SpeedThru: Potzol's...
News 3D Photography Competition Snaps Into Action in UK
Time to get creative
The 3DS camera may not produce the highest quality images, to put it mildly, but it does allow 3D and augmented reality opportunities for creative photographers. In order to encourage more UK gamers to make use of their handheld's cameras, Nintendo is teaming up with National Geographic Kids and The Royal Photographic Society to...
News Kid Icarus: Uprising Fails to Fly in UK Charts
Pit's wings burn up
While Kid Icarus: Uprising has flown high in the Japanese charts and won the prestigious Nintendo Life Game of the Month award for March, it's dropped out of the top ten in the latest UK charts. Pit's latest adventure comes in at number 14 in the chart in its second week, a drop from seventh in its debut week but the...
News Club Nintendo Coin Spreadsheet Updated and Expanded
It has the answers
Each Club Nintendo region has its own loyalty bonus scheme, which in the case of North America is the coins system. Figuring out how many game codes or downloads you need to get that free prize can be a troublesome business, but there is an easy way to get the information you need. As we reported last year, an intrepid Nintendo...
News N-Space Would "Love to Work" on a New Geist Title
Talk about Heroes of Ruin, too
N-Space is a developer that is becoming a regular on Nintendo systems, perhaps best known for producing the DS port of Call of Duty: Black Ops. It's currently in the process of developing Heroes of Ruin on 3DS, a new RPG that will be published by Square Enix. Before we get to that, though, it seems that it's interested...
News April's Club Nintendo Rewards Are Now Available
Two WiiWare and DSiWare on offer
With April now in full swing, Club Nintendo's updated the games on offer for a smattering of coins. Here's what you can pick up for coins if you're a member of the North American Club Nintendo: WiiWare You, Me, and the Cubes — 200 coinsExcitebike: World Rally — 200 coins DSiWare Metal Torrent — 150 coins R
News Japanese Virtual Console List: April 2012
Slowing down
It's a bit of a slow month this time for Japan, as only two new games will be released. Neither are big surprises: Europe already got one a while ago and the other has already been announced for European release. Both of them are pretty nice games though, so although the offerings are slim compared to normal, at least they're of good...
News Nintendo Reveals Playable PAX East Line-Up
Anyone for tennis?
PAX East is just a few short days away, and Nintendo of America has revealed the games attendees can get to grips with in Boston this weekend. Kid Icarus: Uprising players eager to expand their AR card collection might want to head to the show as there'll be a scavenger hunt and the ability to trade, share and collect new cards...
News Musical Epic Mickey 2 "Won't Make You Sing"
Good to know
As Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two was unveiled by legendary game designer Warren Spector, comments that it would be a 'musical' game raised some eyebrows. While some assumed that this simply meant the inclusion of songs in the storytelling, others interpreted that description as meaning that the game would include singing and,...
News Hi-Ya! It's Johnny Kung Fu Trailer Number Two
This time it's personal
eShop scrapper Johnny Kung Fu caught our attention with its Game & Watch-inspired stages, and there's a further glimpse of the old-timey presentation in this second trailer below. UFO Interactive hasn't given a date for Johnny Kung Fu yet but when it does, we'll pass it on.
News Baker and OpCapita Deal Saves GAME
Better late than never
GAME has left administration after less than a week. Investment firm OpCapita negotiated a sale of the company's UK assets to Baker Acquisitions Limited, bringing GAME Group out of administration and providing it with the necessary capital to continue trading over the near future. Baker has confirmed there are no more plans...
Sunday1st Apr 2012
News Google Maps 8-bit for NES
Amazing.
It's that time of year again folks, Google have put something together which should please every single Nintendo Life reader - Google Maps for NES. Google Maps is now available for 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment Systems (NES). Availability in Google Store is TBD but you can try it on your browser by going to and clicking "Quest"...
Game of the Month March 2012 - Kid Icarus: Uprising
Worth the wait
There was really no other contender for the best game released in March, right? Pit's triumphant return in Kid Icarus: Uprising swept the board in our staff vote, getting the nod from the whole team. It seems like an eternity has passed since we got our first look at the game way back at E3 2010, but the wait was well worth it as...
