Top Stories - May, 2013

News - May, 2013

Friday31st May 2013

  • Monster Hunter 4 Release Date and 3DS Systems Confirmed for Japan

    40

    News Monster Hunter 4 Release Date and 3DS Systems Confirmed for Japan

    The extended trailer looks awesome, too

    Although initially set for a Spring release in Japan, Monster Hunter 4 has taken longer than expected to arrive on the 3DS. After a bit of a wait it's been confirmed, in the latest Japan-only Nintendo Direct, that the title will arrive in the region on 14th September, with a price tag of 5,990 yen — that's...

  • Evidence of a Functional 3DS Flashcard Emerges

    160

    News Evidence of a Functional 3DS Flashcard Emerges

    Company releases unedited video as proof

    At over two years old, the 3DS has to date avoided the issue of flashcards that was prominent for the DS family of consoles. R4 cards enabled DS owners to download ROMS of games and boot them up from an external device, and now a company has released a video showing a flashcard loading three 3DS titles via a...

    • 3DS
  • LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii U)

    34

    Review LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii U)

    Holy year-old port, Batman!

    LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes on Wii U finds itself in an unenviable position. Released last year to critical acclaim and heralded as a new beginning to an increasingly stale series of games, it is only now releasing on Wii U, a system that has recently played host to what some consider the new pinnacle of LEGO games,...

  • Nintendo Virtual Boy

    100

    Hardware Classics Nintendo Virtual Boy

    Nintendo's nadir, or misunderstood masterpiece?

    According to the history books, the Virtual Boy is Nintendo's biggest failure — both commercially and critically — in the hardware arena. Launched in 1995 to almost complete consumer apathy, it bypassed Europe entirely and was discontinued the following year. It is also thought to be the reason...

  • Warren Spector: Underestimate Nintendo "At Your Peril"

    42

    News Warren Spector: Underestimate Nintendo "At Your Peril"

    Industry veteran is weighing up his options

    The Wii U has been navigating stormy seas since its launch late last year but with new games on the horizon Nintendo will hope its new system begins to pick up some solid momentum. One industry veteran who has always been enthusiastic about Nintendo is Warren Spector - the man behind such titles as Deus...

  • Flipnote Studio 3D Sketched In for 3rd July in Japan

    29

    News Flipnote Studio 3D Sketched In for 3rd July in Japan

    We doubt the Western release will be far behind

    Flipnote Studio 3D is, after a fair old wait, finally coming to the 3DS eShop this summer. Like its DSi predecessor it'll be a free app that'll also include some improved features, with short animations now having up to six colours, three layers for a 3D effect and will be easy to export as AVI or GIF...

  • Luigi 3DS XL Model Dated and Priced for Japan

    24

    News Luigi 3DS XL Model Dated and Priced for Japan

    We'd like it too, Nintendo

    Back during the April Nintendo Direct, the Japanese broadcast showed off the new Luigi 3DS XL model, and it wasn't revealed for other territories. Considering it's a special edition to tie-in with the release of Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, we're running out of time for confirmation that it's coming to the West — E3, if...

  • Happy 15th Birthday, Banjo-Kazooie!

    45

    News Happy 15th Birthday, Banjo-Kazooie!

    Guh-huh!

    It’s hard to believe now, but before 31st May, 1998, no one believed that a bear in yellow shorts and a bird in a backpack could ever make an effective team. A spunky little Twycross-based company called Rare, however, set out to prove the world wrong, and did so with quite admirable results. Today marks the 15th anniversary of the North...

  • SEGA's 3D Classics Range Gets Closer to Western Release

    39

    News SEGA's 3D Classics Range Gets Closer to Western Release

    Sonic and Altered Beast join Space Harrier with ratings

    The SEGA series of 3D classics has been gracing the Japanese 3DS eShop this year, and if you follow our Nintendo Life YouTube page you'll have seen how keen we are for these releases, as we've been filming the Japanese versions for your pleasure. While the eventual Western arrival of 3D Space...

  • Latest Japan-Only Nintendo Direct Features Plenty of Capcom 3DS Goodness

    19

    Video Latest Japan-Only Nintendo Direct Features Plenty of Capcom 3DS Goodness

    Monster Hunter 4 and new Ace Attorney 5 on show

    As you may have been aware, Satoru Iwata has today hosted a special Nintendo Direct broadcast for the Japanese market, with a specific focus on two upcoming Capcom 3DS titles — Monster Hunter 4 and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies. Naturally a lot of the detail will pass you by if you...

  • Chasing Aurora Receives Permanent Price Reduction In North America And Europe

    34

    News Chasing Aurora Receives Permanent Price Reduction In North America And Europe

    More than 40% knocked off the price

    Chasing Aurora flew into the Wii U eShop on the same day the console launched and many gamers have since been enjoying the fast paced flight-fest. It was recently announced the title would be getting a permanent price reduction in Europe - it's now £5.89/ €6.49 when it used to be £10.79/ €11.99 - and North...

Thursday30th May 2013

Wednesday29th May 2013

  • Retro's Wii U Title Is An Entirely New IP

    106

    Rumour Retro's Wii U Title Is An Entirely New IP

    IGN starts the hype

    Retro Studios is one of Nintendo's most valuable assets right now, having delivered smash hits in the form of the Metroid Prime Trilogy and Donkey Kong Country Returns. We all know that the company is working on something for the Wii U, and we'll no doubt see what that is at this year's E3. However, no one seems to know exactly...

  • Nintendo Confirms E3 Best Buy Demo Locations

    168

    News Nintendo Confirms E3 Best Buy Demo Locations

    89 in the U.S. and 21 in Canada

    Not too long ago we reported that Best Buy will be showcasing demos of Nintendo's E3 games, essentially bringing the booth to the masses. With big Wii U titles such as Mario Kart and the new Super Mario 3D expected to be playable, it could be an enticing opportunity for gamers in North America. Nintendo has now...

  • The Wii U Controller Options Open Up PC Game Opportunities

    62

    Talking Point The Wii U Controller Options Open Up PC Game Opportunities

    Point and click, swipe and tap

    While the Wii U was the first to kick off what will soon be considered the current generation of game consoles, we were left wondering what innovations Sony and Microsoft would be bringing to the table. With the Wii U we've had a major processor power upgrade over the Wii, which was expected, but the control innovation...

  • A Young Person Plays Super Metroid

    95

    Video A Young Person Plays Super Metroid

    Y CAN'T METROID CRAWL

    I've been playing a videogame called Super Metroid Primes this week. It is not very good. When I saw that Dave had given the game a perfect score in his review last week, I was very excited to try it out for myself, especially considering that it was only 30p (or 30 cents, if you're on that side of the pond) on the Wii U...

  • Crash City Mayhem (3DS eShop / 3DS)

    20

    Review Crash City Mayhem (3DS eShop / 3DS)

    Crash n’ burn

    When you read the words “crash” and “mayhem” in a game's title, it’s only natural to think that it will feature action-packed, frantic gameplay and a wholesome amount of wanton destruction. However, despite being suggestively destructive, Crash City Mayhem is a game that doesn't live up to its own name. While it certainly...

  • Ubisoft Reveals E3 Lineup

    52

    News Ubisoft Reveals E3 Lineup

    Will feature some "new brands and titles"

    E3 is tantalisingly close now and Ubisoft has decided to announce which games it will be bringing along to the expo. There are no shocks and as expected Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, Rayman Legends, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Watch_Dogs and South Park: The Stick of Truth wil

  • Amazon Listing For Wii U Version Of Off-Road Racer DiRT Slides Into View

    24

    News Amazon Listing For Wii U Version Of Off-Road Racer DiRT Slides Into View

    UPDATED: Codemasters responds, DiRT Wii U "not part of its product slate"

    UPDATE: Codemasters has given us this response regarding this news story: We’re unsure of the source for the Amazon US listing as Codemasters does not have a DiRT title for Wii U listed as part of its product slate. ORIGINAL STORY: The DiRT series of racing games has...

  • 3D Altered Beast

    44

    First Impressions 3D Altered Beast

    Wise fwom your gwave

    Altered Beast occupies a strange place in Sega's library; when it was first released it garnered a lukewarm response, and its choice as a pack-in title for the freshly-launched Mega Drive / Genesis was a curious one — although its large, bold sprites were impressive for the time, it certainly wasn't strong enough in terms of...

  • Web-Based Miiverse Posting Now Live

    40

    News Web-Based Miiverse Posting Now Live

    Along with some other nice updates

    Miiverse has had some new updates today, and one of them is a big one for those that want to contribute to Nintendo's social network on the go. The web-based version — miiverse.nintendo.net — has had a number of upgrades, most notably that you can now post text-only comments and replies directly from the...

  • Natsume's Hometown Story Will Be Playable at E3

    19

    News Natsume's Hometown Story Will Be Playable at E3

    Spiritual successor to Harvest Moon will see worldwide release

    Natsume has announced that Hometown Story, the new 3DS title from Harvest Moon creator Yasuhiro Wada, will be playable at this year's E3. The title, first announced last year as Project: Happiness, tasks the player with fixing up and developing a shop left to them by their grandmother...

  • Level-5 Has No Plans To Bring Any Titles To New Systems Just Yet

    23

    News Level-5 Has No Plans To Bring Any Titles To New Systems Just Yet

    Currently observing "how technology advances"

    Level-5, the Japanese developer behind titles such as Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Inazuma Eleven, the Guild01 and 02 collections and a whole heap more, is celebrating its 15th anniversary later this year. The time has certainly flown by and in an interview with Famitsu - helpfully translated...

  • Shin Megami Tensei IV Storms to Number One in Japanese Charts

    19

    News Shin Megami Tensei IV Storms to Number One in Japanese Charts

    Wii U version of Resident Evil Revelations sneaks into top ten

    For fans of the franchise, Shin Megami Tensei IV can't come to the West soon enough. The Atlus title will arrive in North America on 16th July with some collectible goodies, while a European release is confirmed but, as yet, doesn't have a solid date. It landed in Japan last week,...

Tuesday28th May 2013

Monday27th May 2013

  • A Wii U Gamer's Miiverse Journey Through Super Metroid

    92

    Weirdness A Wii U Gamer's Miiverse Journey Through Super Metroid

    A long and confusing road

    A little while ago we posed a question — is Super Metroid too taxing for today's gamers? This was based on the explosion of confused Miiverse posts once the title arrived for $0.30/€0.30/£0.30 on the Wii U eShop, as some gamers grappled with a retro title that resolutely refused to guide them through each step. One...

  • A Brief History of Pokémon - Part One

    66

    Feature A Brief History of Pokémon - Part One

    Contracting Pokémania

    In the mid-nineties, an epidemic spread across the world. First discovered in Japan, it soon spread across the pacific, consuming vast areas of America. We were powerless to stop it. No cure was to be found. Before long, it broke America's shores and hit Europe with similarly devastating effect. The worst affected were...

  • 30th May (Europe)

    91

    Nintendo Download 30th May (Europe)

    Classic Zelda, the Denpa Men return, hyper speed and more

    Due to a public Holiday in various countries, we didn't receive the Nintendo Download as early as normal. Thankfully we now have the translated line-up from Germany for your reading pleasure below. It's mostly about the Wii U and 3DS this week, with retro and new delights to enjoy, while the...

  • Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    23

    Review Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Third time's the charming

    Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is the epitome of a lovable gaming experience. Carefree and popping with irresistible charm, this SNES platformer builds off the two previous Game Boy entries in the series and fulfills the potential they introduced. That doesn’t mean the core mechanics have suddenly become nuanced or up to par with...

  • Kirby Super Star (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    36

    Review Kirby Super Star (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Dedede-lightful

    Kirby Super Star is a smorgasbord of creativity, as if the developers at HAL Laboratory had a game jam for two weeks straight and came out on the other side with a beautifully disheveled collection of Kirby’s best. Nine sub-games, ranging from one-button tests of reflex to multi-hour adventures, are stuffed onto the SNES with no...

  • Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel On the Way, as a Webcomic

    25

    News Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel On the Way, as a Webcomic

    You know you want it

    Earlier today we shared John Leguizamo's thoughts on the Super Mario Bros. live-action movie, as a special screening celebrated the movie's 20th Anniversary. It divides critics, but does enjoy a cult-status and loyal following. Scripted by Steven Applebaum and Ryan Hoss, with the story by Parker Bennett, a new webcomic will...

  • Bowling Bonanza 3D (3DS eShop)

    18

    Review Bowling Bonanza 3D (3DS eShop)

    This is bowling. There are rules.

    Bowling as a sport has enjoyed a long and rich history, going as far back — in one form or another — to Ancient Egypt. The activity has become much more refined in recent years, and has been given similar treatment and media attention to that received by more popular sports, including several films on the...

  • Pokémon Fusion Fan-Site Remixes Your Favourite 'Mon

    70

    Weirdness Pokémon Fusion Fan-Site Remixes Your Favourite 'Mon

    We like the Hypbat

    With Pokémon X & Y coming later this year, many fans of the franchise are no doubt enjoying every second of the buzz and hype. Part of that fun is learning about new evolutions or, when we're lucky, all new creatures, which makes fan-site Pokémon Fusion worth a look. It's the work of Alex Onsager, and he's currently working...

  • Namco Bandai Salutes the Tales Series and its 15th Anniversary

    53

    Video Namco Bandai Salutes the Tales Series and its 15th Anniversary

    Includes the major titles since its debut

    Namco Bandai has released an anniversary trailer in honour of fifteen years of the Tales series, as well as celebrating its upcoming release for the franchise, Tales of Xillia. The new addition to its family may not be arriving on the Wii U or 3DS - exclusive to the PS3, if you must know - but previous...

  • Crazy Taxi Wannabe Coming to the Japanese eShop

    16

    News Crazy Taxi Wannabe Coming to the Japanese eShop

    Oh, if only it would come West

    While in many respects the West is better off than Japan on the eShop platforms — due to publishing rules in Nintendo's homeland — there are some releases exclusive to the region. One of these is the @Simple DL Series from D3 Publisher, which is a sequence of budget 3DS games that have followed on from an...

  • Orion's Odyssey: A Pattern Blocks Adventure Hits Crowdfunding Target

    8

    News Orion's Odyssey: A Pattern Blocks Adventure Hits Crowdfunding Target

    Coming to DSiWare and the 3DS eShop later this year

    While much of the attention on Kickstarter game projects is often reserved for titles being released on PC and consoles, earlier this month we told you about Orion's Odyssey: A Pattern Blocks Adventure. This is a DSiWare release that's described as a "comedy puzzle" experience, and utilises the...

Sunday26th May 2013

  • Former Conker's Bad Fur Day Project Leader Plans Wii U Development

    27

    News Former Conker's Bad Fur Day Project Leader Plans Wii U Development

    Through his aptly named studio, Gory Detail

    Christopher Seavor may not be an immediately recognisable name, but he was the project leader and widely-acknowledged creator of iconic Nintendo 64 title Conker's Bad Fur Day; it was a game famous for its poor taste and crude humour. Seavor's also voiced a fair number of characters and has credits on...

  • Let's Talk About the 3DS

    98

    Round Table Let's Talk About the 3DS

    You've come a long way, little one

    So, the 3DS approaches its third E3 in good shape, having passed its second Birthday while enjoying a run of strong sales worldwide. It also has a games library, both current and coming in the next six months, in exceptionally rude health; the upcoming lineup in 2013 is packed with potential blockbuster hits, so...

  • Samus and Link Figma Figurines Finally Battle to the West

    39

    News Samus and Link Figma Figurines Finally Battle to the West

    No more importing required

    Last year we told you about a rather awesome Link figuring being released in Japan, and a member of our team even imported it and showed it off. Max Factory also released a Samus figurine styled from Metroid: Other M, but in both cases they were only released in Japan. It looks like Western distribution is at hand,...

  • Mega Man X Blasting Its Way Onto Wii U Virtual Console This Week

    52

    News Mega Man X Blasting Its Way Onto Wii U Virtual Console This Week

    X marks the spot

    Mega Man X, Capcom's first entry in the 'X' series of games for the Blue Bomber, is set to release on the Wii U Virtual Console in North America this week, on the 30th May; considering how synchronised many of the Wii U VC releases have been to date, there are decent odds that it'll also arrive in Europe's next download update...

  • John Leguizamo: We Were Pioneers With The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    43

    News John Leguizamo: We Were Pioneers With The Super Mario Bros. Movie

    The actor who played Luigi gives his 20th anniversary speech

    As you may or may not be aware, the Super Mario Bros. live-action movie is now two decades old. Attacked by critics and gamers alike when it originally hit cinemas, the film has nonetheless gained a cult following in the past twenty years. LA's Nuart Theatre played host to a special...

Saturday25th May 2013

  • The King of Fighters '99 (Wii / Neo Geo)

    16

    Review The King of Fighters '99 (Wii / Neo Geo)

    Different, but still impressive

    The King of Fighters is a series that's long been a staple of the Neo Geo platform. But with a few new twists and added bells and whistles, the developers have kicked things up a notch. While not as revered as its predecessor, considered by many to be the pinnacle of the series, King of Fighters '99 still adds enough...

  • Shin'en Multimedia Defends The Wii U Hardware

    91

    News Shin'en Multimedia Defends The Wii U Hardware

    Upcoming Wii U game is likely a sequel to FAST

    Shin'en Multimedia has amassed a wealth of experience in developing games for Nintendo systems. For the 3DS it has Nano Assault Ex, Art of Balance TOUCH! and the upcoming Jett Rocket II - The Wrath of Taikai, while it has also developed Nano Assault Neo for Wii U. While many people s

  • Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Comes With Free Mario Lost Levels at Best Buy

    34

    News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Comes With Free Mario Lost Levels at Best Buy

    A $4.99 bonus

    Nintendo of America has confirmed a promotion being run by Best Buy (in the U.S. only), where a purchase of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D comes with a free download code for Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels on the 3DS eShop.

  • Need For Speed Rivals Not Screeching Onto Wii U

    87

    News Need For Speed Rivals Not Screeching Onto Wii U

    It'll only be available on rival consoles

    A couple of days ago, EA announced the next game in the Need for Speed series. This one will be known as Need for Speed Rivals and is being developed by Swedish studio Ghost Games. This iteration is set to come into view later this year and features an open-world environment where players can either take on...

  • Sidekick Mode Returns For Scribblenauts Unmasked

    15

    News Sidekick Mode Returns For Scribblenauts Unmasked

    Wii U players can have their family and friends help out

    Scribblenauts Unmasked is the latest iteration in Warner Bros' imagination-focused Scribblenauts series and it's set to be made available later this year on Wii U and 3DS. Of course, frustrated Europeans are still waiting for Scribblenauts Unlimited to

  • Banjo-Kazooie Symphony by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra

    13

    Review Banjo-Kazooie Symphony by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra

    A Rare treat

    Rare is a company that is fondly remembered by many Nintendo fans. While it had success on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System with the Donkey Kong Country series, it was during the years of the Nintendo 64 that the development studio truly came into its own. It produced hit after hit, arguably saving the 64-bit system from the...

  • EnjoyUp Games Has Some Unannounced Wii U And 3DS Titles In The Pipeline

    15

    News EnjoyUp Games Has Some Unannounced Wii U And 3DS Titles In The Pipeline

    The developer also wants to make a game on a much grander scale

    EnjoyUp Games has been a big supporter of the download platform on Nintendo's systems and has many WiiWare and DSiWare titles in its catalogue including La-Mulana, Abyss and Armageddon Operation Dragon. In an interview with Spanish site Nintenderos, EnjoyUp revealed it has some unan

  • Capcom USA Senior VP Responds to Ace Attorney Concerns

    49

    News Capcom USA Senior VP Responds to Ace Attorney Concerns

    Future unclear, but sales could prove a factor

    Ace Attorney fans outside of Japan have waited some time for the return of the series to their shores. The announcement of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies arriving in Europe and North America this fall brought out the confetti for the faithful, but concerns arose when it was also revealed...

  • Aksys Games To Reveal Two New Titles At E3

    27

    News Aksys Games To Reveal Two New Titles At E3

    Both games will be available in North America at least

    Aksys Games will be revealing two unannounced titles at this year's E3 alongside PlayStation Vita title Muramasa Rebirth and Xbox Live Arcade game A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX. Both new titles will be playable, but fear-not, there will also be trailers shown off during the event as well for...

  • Square Enix Will Be Livestreaming From The E3 Showfloor

    60

    News Square Enix Will Be Livestreaming From The E3 Showfloor

    Full schedule of titles to be announced soon

    Square Enix has announced it will be livestreaming from the show floor throughout the entire three-days of E3. The livestream, which will be aired on YouTube, is called Square Enix Presents and has been set up to bring its designated E3 booth to the poor souls who unfortunately cannot attend. Square...

Friday24th May 2013

  • Consumers Go Crazy For Wii U Following Xbox One Reveal

    316

    News Consumers Go Crazy For Wii U Following Xbox One Reveal

    One of Amazon UK's biggest movers and shakers

    It’s no secret that the Xbox One reveal did not go as smoothly as Microsoft might have hoped. For some, the idea of buying a giant Betamax-styled brick that blocks used games and requires the Kinect camera to function was a big turn-off — even if it does make changing the TV channel a fraction of a...

  • The Denpa Men 2: Beyond The Waves (3DS eShop)

    52

    Review The Denpa Men 2: Beyond The Waves (3DS eShop)

    Love is in the air

    The Denpa Men: They Came by Wave was a wonderful 3DS eShop surprise last year, combining elements of Dragon Quest and Pokémon with AR functionality and a delightfully bonkers style all its own, so we were definitely excited to spot The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves washing up onto our shores as well. This sequel pulls out all the...

  • Sniper Elite V2 on Wii U Lacks Online Co-Op and DLC

    77

    News Sniper Elite V2 on Wii U Lacks Online Co-Op and DLC

    Hardly the "definitive version"

    Sniper Elite V2 has arrived in stores in Europe and North America with next to no fanfare. When little is said about a port landing on Wii U, and its publisher hasn't even arranged a downloadable eShop version, alarm bells should ring. Yet there's no escaping Miiverse, and it's quickly emerged — thanks to early...

  • Going for the Combos in Project X Zone

    30

    Hands On Going for the Combos in Project X Zone

    Pure pixelated madness

    When Project X Zone was announced for Japan, we could barely contain our glee. Here was a game with retro-styled visuals, rocking music and popular characters from Capcom, SEGA and Namco Bandai all rolled into one — oh, and Monolith Soft was one of the developers. And then, it underwhelmed in the Japanese charts. It didn't...

  • This Custom Twin Famicom Is The Stuff Hardware Dreams Are Made Of

    17

    News This Custom Twin Famicom Is The Stuff Hardware Dreams Are Made Of

    Remember when console designs actually mattered?

    We hate to keep going on about it, but Microsoft revealed the Xbox One to the world this week. We're obviously biased, but we happen to think it looks a little underwhelming in purely physical terms — Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert said it best when he described the console as...

  • Dying Light Set To Skip Wii U

    60

    News Dying Light Set To Skip Wii U

    Newly announced survival horror title won't be coming to Wii U

    Warner Bros. Interactive announced a new first-person survival horror game yesterday in the form of Dying Light. It's being developed by Polish developer Techland - the studio behind Dead Island - and was announced for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, as well as current-gen systems...

  • Tomodachi Collection Famitsu Article Falls Foul Of Unfortunate Timing

    51

    News Tomodachi Collection Famitsu Article Falls Foul Of Unfortunate Timing

    "Whaddaya think of this happy face my husband is making?"

    Japanese star Mari Yaguchi used to be in the band Morning Musume, and is no stranger to the world of video games — she starred (virtually) in Sega's Yakuza 4. She's also a regular columnist in the popular Japanese video games magazine Famitsu. Her most recent column was based around the...

  • What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Thirteen

    125

    Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Thirteen

    Here comes the Sun (doo-doo-doo-doo)

    As we glance out of Nintendo Life Towers we see something a little unfamiliar — there's an enormous ball of fire in the sky, and it's bathing us in warmth. We would go and bask in its magnificence, but we've got some video games to play. Of course, as our team is scattered around the world — like...

  • Second Project X Zone Demo Hitting 3DS eShop On June 27th

    21

    News Second Project X Zone Demo Hitting 3DS eShop On June 27th

    Lucky, lucky Europe

    European 3DS owners are currently getting their hands on the recently-released Lethal Surprise demo for Project X Zone, which showcases characters from Sakura Wars, Cyberbots, Space Channel 5 and Valkyria Chronicles and offers a glimpse of what the final game will look like when it launches in the region on July 5th (the North...

  • Fresh Details On Treasurenauts Have Been Excavated

    18

    News Fresh Details On Treasurenauts Have Been Excavated

    Interview with the developer unearths new information

    Back in March, we reported that developer Renegade Kid was working on a new title called Treasurenauts, as the trademark had been spotted on the USPTO website. Very little information was given about the game at the time, so all we could do was sit and twiddle our thumbs. Two months later, the...

  • Nintendo UK Wants To Know Why You Love Your 3DS

    37

    News Nintendo UK Wants To Know Why You Love Your 3DS

    "3DSreasons" campaign hits YouTube and other social networks

    The 3DS is having a bumper 2013, with titles like Fire Emblem: Awakening, Luigi's Mansion 2, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate thrilling fans all over the globe. However, killer software isn't the only reason to love Nintendo's popular portable —

  • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers European Release Date Emerges

    5

    News Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers European Release Date Emerges

    Courtesy of a fresh trailer

    Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers may not have the snappiest of titles, but in our view it's a top notch game, earning 9/10 in our review. Originally a SEGA Saturn first-person dungeon crawler, it has some notable additions and improvements in this 3DS entry, and is also a good starting point for those new...

Thursday23rd May 2013

  • E3 Nintendo Direct Date and Time Confirmed

    161

    News E3 Nintendo Direct Date and Time Confirmed

    Wii U hype mode... ENGAGE!

    After promises and statements about a Wii U-centric Nintendo Direct around the time of E3, the big N has now confirmed that a global broadcast will take place just before the expo opens. Both Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe have stated that the subject matter will be future Wii U releases; this backs up a...

  • Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    41

    Review Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Bring fresh underwear

    There’s a school of thought which argues that modern gamers have it too easy, and that this generation of players has grown soft thanks to the fact that developers are all too happy to provide helpful tutorials and short-cuts intended to reduce frustration. You only need to spend a few painful minutes in the company of Super...

  • 23rd May (North America)

    98

    Nintendo Download 23rd May (North America)

    It's Kirby week, with some portable fun and reduced Denpa Men joining in

    So it's Nintendo Download time once again, North America, and what this week lacks in volume it makes up for with some quality and a lot of Kirby. Wii and DSi miss out, so you'll have to be rocking Nintendo's current hardware to enjoy some downloadable goodies. All of the...

  • Microsoft: If You're Backwards Compatible, You're Really Backwards

    283

    News Microsoft: If You're Backwards Compatible, You're Really Backwards

    Xbox creator claims only 5% of players make use of the feature

    Always online. Games tied to a single console. Indie developers can't self-publish. Just when you thought Microsoft couldn't have made a bigger hash of its Xbox One announcement, along comes the company's head of interactive entertainment Don Mattrick to attack backwards compatibility...

  • Children Of The Sun, Take Note: The Mysterious Cities of Gold Is Coming To Wii U And 3DS

    55

    News Children Of The Sun, Take Note: The Mysterious Cities of Gold Is Coming To Wii U And 3DS

    Classic anime series is getting the video game treatment

    We reported back in February that Neko Entertainment revealed during an interview that the studio was developing a new game for the Wii U, but no specific details were given on the subject. The developer has announced that it's bringing The Mysterious Cities of Gold to the Wii U and 3DS this...

  • Fire Emblem: Awakening Could Have Been The Swansong For The Series

    68

    News Fire Emblem: Awakening Could Have Been The Swansong For The Series

    Ultimatum spurred the developers on

    Fire Emblem: Awakening has been a commercial and critical triumph, gaining positive review scores and bringing a whole new generation of fans to the series. However, had sales been lower, it could have been the final entry in the franchise. Producer Hitoshi Yamagami was told that if the game sold less than a...

  • Nintendo Hosting a Pokémon X & Y Developer Roundtable At E3

    37

    News Nintendo Hosting a Pokémon X & Y Developer Roundtable At E3

    Expect lots of new information

    Earlier today, Nintendo announced that a new Nintendo Direct broadcast will take place on 11th June, before the E3 Expo opens; the broadcast will focus on future Wii U releases. That isn't all that Nintendo has to offer, as it will also be holding a one-and-a-half-hour developer roundtable / Q&A on upcoming 3DS...

  • SEGA Teases Sonic Lost World Characters

    69

    News SEGA Teases Sonic Lost World Characters

    Those little scamps

    The announcement of Sonic Lost World's Wii U and 3DS exclusivity, as part of an agreement between Nintendo and SEGA, was possibly the biggest news to come out of the most recent Nintendo Direct. Sonic may have struggled to live up to his glorious 16-bit days, but he has had his good moments recently, one of which we'd argue was...

  • Microsoft To Announce Sequel To "Historic" Rare Franchise At E3

    123

    News Microsoft To Announce Sequel To "Historic" Rare Franchise At E3

    Time to get jealous?

    In case you hadn't noticed, Microsoft lifted the lid on the Xbox One this week. The new system is the successor to the popular 360 console and will be getting plenty of support from the company's stable of internal developers — one of which is former Nintendo partner, Rare. The UK-based studio was purchased by Microsoft over...

  • EarthBound Listing Materializes on Amazon UK

    49

    News EarthBound Listing Materializes on Amazon UK

    You cannot grasp the true form of Amazon’s listing

    We already know that the kooky SNES RPG EarthBound is making its long overdue appearance on the Wii U Virtual Console in Europe and North America sometime this year. Then what’s up with this odd listing for the game on Amazon UK? It may just be a placeholder for a download code, but the £44.99...

  • Capcom Gets Silly With Monster Hunter X Street Fighter

    27

    Video Capcom Gets Silly With Monster Hunter X Street Fighter

    Because... why not?

    Capcom Unity is a fun resource for fans of the company's franchises, and useful for those that get utterly confused by the many intricacies of something like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. It's also a site where the company's community mods aren't shy of self-parody, which is worthy of some credit. Often happy, it seems, to amuse us...

  • Capcom UK Cancels Resident Evil "Blood Swimming Pool" PR Stunt After Fatal Attack

    69

    News Capcom UK Cancels Resident Evil "Blood Swimming Pool" PR Stunt After Fatal Attack

    Bizarre promotional event pulled following suspected terrorist killing

    At the start of the month we reported that Capcom UK was planning a grisly and macabre PR stunt to mark the HD release of Resident Evil: Revelations. The plan was to fill a swimming pool with blood-coloured water and dismembered body parts, as well as employ "zombie" lifeguards...

  • Japanese 3DS Owners Can Download Double Dragon II Next Week

    22

    News Japanese 3DS Owners Can Download Double Dragon II Next Week

    8-bit classic is punching its way to the 3DS eShop in Japan

    Nintendo has confirmed that the popular side-scrolling fighter Double Dragon II: The Revenge will be coming to the Japanese 3DS eShop on 29th May, priced at 500 Yen. Once again, the heroes of the hour are Billy & Jimmy Lee, who must avenge the brutal murder of Marian at the hands of...

Wednesday22nd May 2013

  • The Wii U's Next-Gen Challenge Starts to Take Shape

    235

    Talking Point The Wii U's Next-Gen Challenge Starts to Take Shape

    Microsoft, Sony and others start to show their cards

    Yesterday, as we're sure most — possibly all — of you are aware, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, the company's offering for the "next generation" of gaming. And so we finally have a situation where, piece by piece, the rumours, leaked design documents and outright fibs are making way for hard...

  • Wii U Lens Cleaning Kit Appears on Nintendo Store

    33

    News Wii U Lens Cleaning Kit Appears on Nintendo Store

    In North America, anyway

    When it comes to console accessories, they're not always exciting or particularly necessary, but can still be useful. If you're worried about disc reading issues on your Wii U, maintenance and salvation is at hand with the official Wii U Lens Cleaning Kit. If you did regularly use a cleaning kit on the Wii, it's worth...

  • Tecmo Koei Hints At A Pokémon Conquest Sequel

    26

    News Tecmo Koei Hints At A Pokémon Conquest Sequel

    "There was a lot of unfinished material for Pokémon Conquest"

    The Pokémon Company and Tecmo Koei recently collaborated to make a strategy RPG crossover called Pokémon Conquest that took the Nobunaga's Ambition style of gameplay and threw in a flurry of Pokémon to do the battling. Even though the 3DS had been out a while at the time of the...

  • Theories on the Inside of a Poké Ball

    77

    Weirdness Theories on the Inside of a Poké Ball

    PETA would choose the "ideal environment theory"

    Video games are often silly, fantastical things, which is one of the reasons that we love them. Still, that silliness can sometimes be fun for theoretical nonsense, such as the real estate value of Hyrule Castle. The same group that came up with that theory has now asked that all-important question...

  • Rewind, EA Is In Fact Developing Games For The Wii U

    140

    News Rewind, EA Is In Fact Developing Games For The Wii U

    Um, what?

    It's been less than a week since we brought you the news that Electronic Arts confessed it had zero games in development for the Wii U. This didn't sit particularly well with you lovely readers, especially when Senior Software Engineer and Architect at EA, Bob Summerwill, blasted Nintendo's latest console on Twitter. Time to backtrack...

  • Mega Man 5 (3DS eShop / NES)

    26

    Review Mega Man 5 (3DS eShop / NES)

    Super fighting robot

    Capcom has been very fast with releasing the original Mega Man series on 3DS Virtual Console, and now we're already up to the fifth entry. As you might expect, Mega Man 5 is quite similar to the four games before it; eight new Robot Masters have appeared, and it's up to Mega Man to stop them and their leader, who appears to be...

  • Target Weighs In With Wii U Basic Model Price Cut

    32

    News Target Weighs In With Wii U Basic Model Price Cut

    Similar to moves by retailers in the UK

    As the Wii U awaits high profile games to join its library in the second half of the year, the short term pressures on retailers to sell the systems are clearly taking a toll. Earlier in May, UK supermarket chain Asda sparked a mini retail war by slashing the console's price, with some — not all — rivals...

  • Media Outlets List Call of Duty: Ghosts for Wii U

    43

    News Media Outlets List Call of Duty: Ghosts for Wii U

    Based on past form, official confirmation may take a while

    Activision has been rather coy about whether its latest FPS extravaganza, Call of Duty: Ghosts will be coming to Wii U, being suitably cryptic on the subject. Vagueness has left the door open to optimism for fans of the series that happen to primarily use Nintendo systems, especially as the...

  • Flipnote Hatena Data to be Automatically Switched to Flipnote Studio 3D World Gallery

    17

    News Flipnote Hatena Data to be Automatically Switched to Flipnote Studio 3D World Gallery

    Unless you opt out

    As announced earlier in this year, Flipnote Studio 3D is coming to the 3DS eShop as a free app this Summer, finally taking the place of the DSiWare title that's been non-transferable to the new hardware. As explained with that announcement, the new and free app will split the online sharing component of your creations into two...

  • Fantasy Life Expansion Heading to 3DS in Japan

    34

    News Fantasy Life Expansion Heading to 3DS in Japan

    We're still hoping for localisation

    Level-5's Fantasy Life, which was developed along with Nintendo subsidiary 1-Up Studios — formerly Brownie Brown — has performed well in Japan, so much so that the publisher has announced a new upgraded version of the title, called Fantasy Life Link!. As an RPG that allows you to choose a career, set off on a...

  • 3D Altered Beast is Ready to Kick Some Shins on the Japanese 3DS eShop

    41

    News 3D Altered Beast is Ready to Kick Some Shins on the Japanese 3DS eShop

    Wise-ing Fwom Its Gwave

    While, admittedly, Japanese gamers currently suffer from comparatively empty eShop platforms — particularly on Wii U — due to tough publishing rules, as always there are some extras in the region that make us jealous. Notably, there's been a SEGA range of 3D Classics, including Sonic the Hedgehog and Space Harrier. Now...

  • Japanese Hardware Sales Slow Down For the Second Consecutive Week

    16

    News Japanese Hardware Sales Slow Down For the Second Consecutive Week

    Tomodachi Collection: New Life knocked off top spot

    This week's Japanese chart results are in, and show that the slow software release schedule in the past couple of weeks is causing a hit on hardware sales across the board. Only the PSP enjoyed a small boost, which can be attributed to the fact that this week's number one is for Sony's ageing...

Tuesday21st May 2013

  • Resident Evil Revelations (Wii U)

    77

    Review Resident Evil Revelations (Wii U)

    Not quite as revelatory

    Resident Evil Revelations on 3DS was, and still is, one of the most impressive and well-crafted demonstrations of the handheld's capabilities. With accomplished visuals — combined with outstanding stereoscopic 3D — it delivered a return to form for the franchise, with large sections reverting back to older, and better,...

  • New Wii U System Update Goes Live

    57

    News New Wii U System Update Goes Live

    Don't get excited, though

    If you have good timing you'll have already seen it, but if not then be prepared - a Wii U system update awaits. On our system it kicked in automatically when the console was booted up, and it's clear from the download and install time that it's a spit and polish effort, not a major change. Having checked the Nintendo of...

  • Do You Follow and Watch Rival Console Reveals?

    395

    Poll Do You Follow and Watch Rival Console Reveals?

    Microsoft's new Xbox is next up

    We're just going to come out and do it, and gauge just how much you, the Nintendo Life community, have been following the rival console reveals of the PS4 and today's Xbox Next/Infinity/they-might-just-call-it-Xbox event. As a network that includes www.pushsquare.com and www.purexbox.com, the latter of which is also...

  • Capcom Outlines June DLC for Resident Evil Revelations

    30

    News Capcom Outlines June DLC for Resident Evil Revelations

    And no, it doesn't include new levels

    A good while ago we picked up on the news that the Resident Evil Revelations re-release would have paid-DLC for its Raid mode, the arcade-style single and multiplayer shooting-fest that's actually a bit of a highlight. Details have now emerged via Capcom Unity, for those that just can't resist spending money on...

  • A.N.N.E Developer Confirms Wii U Version, Regardless of Kickstarter Stretch Goal

    25

    News A.N.N.E Developer Confirms Wii U Version, Regardless of Kickstarter Stretch Goal

    Failure to hit target will merely delay eventual release

    In recent times we've seen plenty of Kickstarter projects offer up stretch goals for Wii U or 3DS releases, and a number of them have hit those targets. A.N.N.E, on the other hand, doesn't look likely to hit its amended Wii U target of $140,000, as it's resting on just under $90,000 — at the...

  • Day One Resident Evil Revelations Update Adds ResidentEvil.net Support

    18

    News Day One Resident Evil Revelations Update Adds ResidentEvil.net Support

    Link your game to the custom rewards site

    We're currently in the final stretch of bringing you our Resident Evil Revelations review, and have noticed that Capcom has enabled a day one update — the title releases in North America today — to activate functionality for www.residentevil.net. This website tracks your progress through the title, both...

  • Kevin Conroy Inadvertently Confirms Role in Future Batman Arkham Game

    15

    News Kevin Conroy Inadvertently Confirms Role in Future Batman Arkham Game

    Lets the cat out of the bag, can't get it back in

    So, yesterday there was some confusion. Kevin Conroy, the well-known voice of Batman, spoke about appearing in Batman: Arkham Origins, or so we thought, before it then emerged that a new actor was voicing the younger Caped Crusader. We rationalised that Conroy would probably appear as the grisly old...

  • Former Rockstar Producer Considers the Challenges Facing Home Consoles

    38

    News Former Rockstar Producer Considers the Challenges Facing Home Consoles

    Believes that gaming needs to push itself artistically

    The games industry is undoubtedly in flux, with Nintendo putting in motion plans to boost the sales performance of the Wii U, while Sony and Microsoft prepare for the challenge of releasing their own systems. When you consider the rise of alternative gaming platforms, such as the phenomenally...

  • Recent Taiko Drum Master Games Ship Over 500,000 in Japan

    25

    News Recent Taiko Drum Master Games Ship Over 500,000 in Japan

    Rhythm games aren't fully dead just yet

    While the manic clacking of plastic guitars has largely fallen quiet across the world, Japan still has a place in its rhythm gaming heart for a different instrument: the humble-yet-iconic taiko drum. According to Siliconera, Namco Bandai has announced more than 500,000 combined units shipped for two titles in...

  • New Mega Man Graphic Novel Lands in North America on 22nd May

    5

    News New Mega Man Graphic Novel Lands in North America on 22nd May

    Order now for a pre-order discount

    If you like Mega Man and if you also like comics/graphic novels, then chances are you know about the Archie publications on the franchise. The graphic novel releases combine multiple comics into one juicy bundle, with the story-lines covering enough lore and background to the many games to satisfy the most ardent...

  • Splinter Cell Blacklist Co-op Goes for the Kill

    11

    Video Splinter Cell Blacklist Co-op Goes for the Kill

    More shoot-shoot-bang-bang than sneaky

    Splinter Cell: Blacklist is one of a few major Ubisoft titles heading to Wii U, set to perform a sneak kill on the system in mid-August. It's shaping up reasonably well, based on recent footage, with reassurances that stealth can be prominent and information showing that the GamePad's capabilities will be put...

Monday20th May 2013

Sunday19th May 2013

Saturday18th May 2013

  • Senior EA Employee Caught Out Criticising Wii U On Twitter

    251

    News Senior EA Employee Caught Out Criticising Wii U On Twitter

    Oops, comments have since been removed

    Not too long after Electronic Arts admitted that it currently had nothing in development for the Wii U, Senior Software Engineer and Architect at EA, Bob Summerwill, took to Twitter to voice his opinions on the system. Summerwill, who has been with EA since 1999 and worked on titles such as FIFA 11, according...

  • Star Wars Episode I: Racer (Nintendo 64)

    66

    Review Star Wars Episode I: Racer (Nintendo 64)

    Watto way to go

    Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace may have been panned by film critics and audiences alike when it released back in 1999, but not everything borne out of it was as big a disaster as Jar Jar Binks. One of these truly rare exceptions was Star Wars Episode I: Racer, a sci-fi racing game developed by by LucasArts. The game was a...

  • Did Sumo Digital Just Tease A Sonic Racing And Mario Kart Crossover?

    79

    News Did Sumo Digital Just Tease A Sonic Racing And Mario Kart Crossover?

    "I'm thinking we could finally settle some arguments"

    Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is one of our favourite Wii U titles here at Nintendo Life, and still gets rolled out for regular multiplayer sessions. Ant always cries when he can't be Amy. UK-based Sumo Digital did an amazing job of creating a real rival for Nintendo's Mario Kart...

  • Nintendo's Mixed Week With Wii U Third-Party Support

    126

    Talking Point Nintendo's Mixed Week With Wii U Third-Party Support

    If someone gives you lemons, make lemonade

    The video game industry is a strange beast, especially for Nintendo and its Wii U system. Since launch it's had some early ups with launch week sales and some thoroughly decent releases, but also lows with a loss of momentum and a fair amount of negative press. Some excellent exclusive software has arrived...

  • Nintendo And SEGA Have Yet To Reveal Another Exclusive Sonic Title

    62

    News Nintendo And SEGA Have Yet To Reveal Another Exclusive Sonic Title

    Could it be a Mario Kart and Sonic & All-Stars Racing crossover?

    Satoru Iwata announced during yesterday's Nintendo Direct broadcast a new worldwide partnership with SEGA that will see three new Sonic the Hedgehog titles come to Wii U. The first of these titles is Lost World, which is on its way to Wii U and 3DS. Very little information has...

  • Dress To Play: Magic Bubbles! (3DS eShop)

    18

    Review Dress To Play: Magic Bubbles! (3DS eShop)

    Mix and match-three

    Late last year, Coder Child's Dress to Play: Cute Witches! flew onto the 3DS eShop with a unique blend of dress-up and side-scrolling soaring, a promising premise that we felt it didn't quite live up to. Dress to Play: Magic Bubbles! follows the same format of combining character customisation with simple gameplay, this time...

  • Nintendo Direct on 17th May 2013 - The Big Summary

    31

    Feature Nintendo Direct on 17th May 2013 - The Big Summary

    Not as big as other Direct summaries, perhaps

    Nintendo hit us with a fresh Nintendo Direct on 17th May, with the usual 24-hour notice period to leave Nintendo gamers scrambling to check their diaries. With a focus on Wii U releases in Spring and Summer, we should have known that, ultimately, this would be a little lower key than recent bombastic...

  • Xevious (Wii U eShop / NES)

    16

    Review Xevious (Wii U eShop / NES)

    An early vertical scrolling classic

    When Xevious hit arcades in 1982 it represented one of the first vertical shoot 'em ups of its kind. Not only that, but the game introduced a second bombing mechanic to give it a little more flare. After seeing a handful of home releases, it sprang upon the NES system with a vengeance and once again showed that...

  • Ubisoft Confident Its Titles Will Attract Gamers To Wii U

    63

    News Ubisoft Confident Its Titles Will Attract Gamers To Wii U

    "Nintendo will take steps to ensure that the Wii U is successful"

    Publishing behemoth EA made the announcement this week that it currently has no games in the works for Wii U. This was almost expected by many, what with the news that many of the company's upcoming sports games - including FIFA 14,

  • Wii U Version Of Ghost Recon Online Still On Hold

    24

    News Wii U Version Of Ghost Recon Online Still On Hold

    Still not showing up on the radar

    Way back in 2011, Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online and stated it would be coming to PC and Wii U, however, the developer has since put the Nintendo adaptation on hold while it focuses on the PC version. It seems the situation hasn't changed as the game's official Twitter account confirmed earlier...

  • California Super Sports (DSiWare)

    20

    Review California Super Sports (DSiWare)

    A bad sport

    To understand what California Super Sports is, start with Wii Sports. Do you have the handful of mini-games fixed in your mind, complete with simple rules and bobble-headed athletes? Good; now trade in your Wii Remote for a DS stylus. Next, systemically break every intuitive gameplay system and control scheme in sight. Then sabotage the...

Friday17th May 2013

Thursday16th May 2013

Wednesday15th May 2013

Tuesday14th May 2013

Monday13th May 2013

Sunday12th May 2013

Saturday11th May 2013

Friday10th May 2013

Thursday9th May 2013

Wednesday8th May 2013

Tuesday7th May 2013

Monday6th May 2013

Sunday5th May 2013

Saturday4th May 2013

Friday3rd May 2013

Thursday2nd May 2013

Wednesday1st May 2013

Most Read

1

News Donkey Kong 64 Required Expansion Pak to Prevent Game-Breaking Bug

2

News The Image Of Tharja In A Swimsuit Nintendo Of America Didn't Want You To...

3

Review Harvest Moon: A New Beginning (3DS)

4

News Consumers Go Crazy For Wii U Following Xbox One Reveal

5

News Monster Hunter 4 Release Date and 3DS Systems Confirmed for Japan

6

Hardware Review Retro Duo Portable V2.0

7

Accessory Review Mugen 3DS XL Extended Battery

8

Rumour The Recent Wii U System Update Has Boosted Clock Speeds

9

Review Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)

10

News Evidence of a Functional 3DS Flashcard Emerges

Latest News