Accessory Review Mugen 3DS XL Extended Battery
We go hands-on with the new power option
Miiverse Super Metroid - Too Taxing For Today's Gamers?
Where's the Super Guide?
News Fresh Pokémon X And Y Details Emerge: New Pokémon, Cover Art, Gameplay Trailer Revealed
Forthcoming 3DS adventure takes place in the Kalos Region
News - 2013, Week 20
Sunday19th May 2013
Review Super Metroid (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Superior Metroid
It’s undeniable that 1994 was an extremely memorable year of videogame releases. Sonic 3, Earthworm Jim, Doom II, and the original Donkey Kong Country were just a few of the critically acclaimed games that had us chatting profusely on the playground. However, there was one game in particular that terrified and mesmerized us so...
News Silicon Studio Near "Maximum Performance" With Wii U, 3DS Hardware
Also planning a new 3DS game
Silicon Studio, the developer behind the recently confirmed-for-the-West title Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, also works in creating software tools and game engines for a variety of companies, including Nintendo and Sony. Two higher-ups at Silicon recently sat down with Siliconera t
News SEGA Promises New Gameplay, Enemies and Potentially "Friends" in Sonic Lost World
"It's going to be all new"
Since its announcement in the last Nintendo Direct, little has been said since about Sonic Lost World, which is one third of an exclusive worldwide deal for the mascot between SEGA and Nintendo. It's a new main series Sonic title coming to Wii U and 3DS, which may be enough for some long term fans for the time being...
Reaction Our Thoughts on Nintendo Direct - 17th May
A starter ahead of the main course
This week's Nintendo Direct has now digested, and if you still need to catch up you can check out our big summary of the news for the full lowdown. After the last broadcast went big with some significant reveals, it was a more measured approach this time around, with the running time fleshed out with plenty of...
News Game & Wario Was Originally Intended As A Pre-Installed Wii U Title
Iwata Asks reveals more on the upcoming mini-game fest
The latest Nintendo Direct showed off a trailer for the upcoming Game & Wario, which sees the WarioWare franchise continue onto Wii U. Satoru Iwata sat down with the team behind the game during a recent Iwata Asks interview to explore more about how it was developed. It turns out, the game...
Rumour Deadpool Could Be Heading To Wii U
Amazon.ca lists the game for a Wii U release
Activision could be set to release Deadpool in June for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The publisher has never mentioned a Wii U version but it appears there may well be one on the cards in the future as online retailer Amazon.ca has listed the game for Nintendo's system. Wii U has seen some support...
News Shantae 3DS Virtual Console Release Date Creeps Ever Closer
Check back on Monday, WayForward fans
It says much for how highly some gamers regard Shantae on the Game Boy Color that its arrival on the 3DS Virtual Console can attract serious attention. One of WayForward's original IPs, it combines exploration with action platforming to keep a lot of gamers happy, with the subsequent DSiWare sequel and upcoming...
News Mega Man 5 Soundtrack Rocks Onto Capcom Store
Tsk, it only has 57 tracks
If you're a Mega Man fan that simply has to buy every re-release that graces Nintendo Virtual Console platforms, chances are you may have just recently downloaded Mega Man 5 onto your 3DS. Coincidentally — or not, we suspect — Capcom has updated its gradual release of the Blue Bomber's soundtracks with the fifth entry...
Saturday18th May 2013
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,
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...
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
Review Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)
No more monkeying around
It's easy to forget, as Nintendo has seemingly decided that it's no longer a definitive unique selling point, but the 3DS has a fantastic stereoscopic 3D screen. It's tempting to be blase about it, but it's still the only mainstream piece of hardware — certainly in gaming terms — that uses it so effectively. The...
Miiverse Super Metroid - Too Taxing For Today's Gamers?
Where's the Super Guide?
It’s no secret that gamers are used to being mollycoddled these days; modern games very often start with a tutorial level to teach you the ropes. In its quest for accessibility New Super Mario Bros U — and various predecessors — even offer a ‘Super Guide’ to show you how the level should be played if you get really...
News Nintendo Confirms Smash Bros., 3D Mario and Mario Kart for E3 Nintendo Direct
Oh snap
Today's Nintendo Direct has come and gone, bringing with it an exclusive Sonic release, more mascot Olympians and some long-awaited release dates. Whether it pushed enough buttons is down to personal opinion, but it was relatively snappy and low-key compared to some other recent broadcasts. Whether a reaction to that or simply an effort to...
Nintendo Direct Watch The North American Presentation Live
Shot directly into your eyeballs
Today at 10am Eastern and 7am Pacific time, Nintendo of America will be holding a Nintendo Direct broadcast which will contain information relating to its big summer titles for Wii U and 3DS. As always, you can watch the presentation live on this very site, and we'll be posting comments as events unfold. You can...
Review Super Mario Bros. 2 (Wii U eShop / NES)
The stuff dreams are made of
By now we all know the story of Super Mario Bros. 2: concerns about the Japanese sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. kept it from release in North America and Europe. Different reasons have been given over time, from the game being too difficult to it simply not demonstrating enough creativity to keep gamers...
News New Sonic Title, Lost World, Will be Exclusive to Wii U and 3DS
Nintendo announces worldwide partnership with SEGA
Today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts didn't include a significant number of major reveals, but one surprising announcement was that the next Sonic the Hedgehog title, Lost World, will be exclusive to Wii U and 3DS. Satoru Iwata announced a new worldwide partnership with SEGA for the famous mascot,...
News Tech Site T3 Predicts What The Nintendo Smartphone Would Look Like
If you can't beat them, join them?
Love them or loathe them, smartphones are revolutionising the way people play games on the go. While touchscreen devices are still a long way from providing the same level of immersion and precision offered by dedicated games consoles like the Nintendo 3DS, the fact that they are always in your pocket and always...
Nintendo Direct Watch The European Presentation Live
The summer's big releases to be revealed
At 3pm UK time / 4pm European time, Nintendo Europe will host a live Nintendo Direct presentation which will showcase forthcoming software for the Wii U and 3DS consoles. What's in store, you ask? Your guess is as good as ours at this point. Will the broadcast contain any shocks? Will we see solid release...
News New Super Luigi U Will Be Available As A Standalone Packaged Game
Mario's brother gets physical
Nintendo has revealed that New Super Luigi U will be released as a limited edition standalone boxed game as well as DLC for those who already own New Super Mario Bros. U. The physical copy will come in a fetching green case and will retail for $29.99 in North America - $10 more than the DLC. It's expected to hit store...
News Capcom Open To More Retro Remakes, Reveals Fan Demand For Aliens vs. Predator
Company looking to the past for potential projects
This year, Capcom will be bringing DuckTales Remastered and Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara to the Wii U, as well as other systems. Remakes of two beloved past classics, these titles are apparently just the tip of the iceberg. Speaking to
News These Monster Hunter 4 Screenshots Look Lovely, Especially if You're in Japan
One day, Western gamers, one day...
While many of us in the West are still obsessing over rare items to forge that sword we always wanted in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, 3DS owners in Japan are already looking forward to the arrival of Monster Hunter 4 this Summer. Alas, those of us in the West probably have quite a wait ahead of us for that one. But...
News Zelda Oracle Titles To Have an Initial Discount on the 3DS Virtual Console in North America
The quest begins on 30th May
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons were recently confirmed for the 3DS Virtual Console, certainly welcome news for fans of the Game Boy Color double-act. Nintendo had also confirmed that the link capability of the originals — which back in the day would have set gamers back...
News EA Currently Has No Games In Development For The Wii U
We're just as confused as you are
Despite having an "unprecedented partnership" with Nintendo just a couple of years ago, Electronic Arts seems to be making no effort with games for the Wii U at the moment. Speaking to Kotaku, a representative for the company said the following: We have no games in development for the Wii U currently. However,...
News Don't Worry, There Are More Sega Game Gear Titles Coming To 3DS Virtual Console
Columns, Sonic and Shining Force all inbound
We've not seen many Game Gear releases for the 3DS Virtual Console lately, but thankfully it has been confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast that the situation will be changing soon. It's taken quite some time, but the following Game Gear games will be hitting the western 3DS eShops in the...
News Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Confirmed for Wii U in Japan
A remake of the PS2 Titles
While we were enjoying largely similar Nintendo Direct broadcasts in Europe and North America, Japan had its own stream to enjoy that had an even greater emphasis on Nintendo's collaboration with SEGA; a segment was even called "SEGA Direct". There was a section dedicated to Yakuza 1 & 2 HD, a new Wii U version of the...
News Nintendo Reveals New Pikmin 3 Characters and Details
European release pinned down, too
Of all of the titles shown during today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts, Pikmin 3 perhaps had the most coverage of all. Plenty of new details were revealed but, to put Europeans out of their misery first, this title is now confirmed for 26th July in the region. In terms of new details, the three new characters in the...
News Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Slipping Onto Wii U
And now we know where Sochi is on a map
Today's new game reveals in the Nintendo Direct broadcasts certainly had a SEGA theme, with Nintendo surprising no-one by confirming Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, continuing the run of mascot Olympians on Nintendo systems. This one was confirmed for Wii U, and while no firm release...
News Best Buy Will Showcase Playable Demos of Nintendo's E3 Games
The next best thing
In a rather surprising and unprecedented move, Nintendo of America has announced that it has partnered with Best Buy for the retailer to showcase playable demos of Nintendo's E3 offerings during the week of the conference. While no details were announced about which titles will be playable, it has been confirmed that over 100...
News In Q1 2013 More Money Was Spent On iOS Games Than On 3DS And Vita Software Combined
Times they are a changin'
A recent study has revealed that in the first quarter of 2013, more cash was spent on iOS games than on 3DS and PS Vita software combined. This marks a slight change from the previous quarter, where it took iOS and Google Play's combined spend to overshadow dedicated handheld gaming systems. This quarter, iOS alone has...
News The Wonderful 101 Launch Dates Revealed
This has been one long launch window!
Platinum Games' upcoming superhero title, The Wonderful 101, was given its launch dates during today's European and North American Nintendo Direct videos. The title will launch in Europe on 23rd August and in North America on 15th September. It was originally announced at E3 2012 as a launch window release, but...
News First Party 3DS Software Sales Up 52 Percent In 2013
"It prints money", etc
Nintendo of America has reported that first party 3DS software sales have risen by 52 percent in the past year. In the first four months of the 2013, more than 2.1 million first party 3DS games were sold in the U.S. alone. Back in 2012, it took 30 weeks for first party 3DS game sales to reach 2 million units. This year, that...
News Disney Registers Racing-related Domains
A new game taking the starting grid?
A lineup of domain registrations by Disney Enterprises is pointing to the possibility of an upcoming racing game. The domain names include DisneySpeedster.com, DisneySpeedsters.com, DisneyRacers.com, DisneyKart.com, DisneyKartRacing.com, DisneyKarting.net and DisneyRacing.com. All of the domains were discovered...
Thursday16th May 2013
News Thomas Was Alone Creator Responds To Nintendo Claiming "Let's Play" Video Revenue
"Nintendo. You're doing it wrong"
Earlier today we reported on Nintendo's move to gain revenue from user-created "Let's Play" videos on YouTube. The company has apparently been filing content ID claims against certain users, a move which stops short of blocking accounts but means that Nintendo is able to make cash off advertisements which play...
News Europe Gets An Unobstructed Flash Of Tharja's Bottom In Fire Emblem: Awakening DLC
View of fictional character's butt is uncensored, millions rejoice
We recently reported that the latest North American DLC release for Fire Emblem: Awakening contained some strange censorship, with Tharja's dainty behind being covered by a cloth sheet which actually made the situation look ruder than it was in the Japanese original. Thankfully, it...
News Nintendo Claiming Ad Revenue On YouTube User-Generated Gameplay Videos
"We continually want our fans to enjoy sharing Nintendo content on YouTube"
According to various reports from YouTube users, Nintendo is filing content ID claims against user-created "Let's Play" videos, which thereby prevents the user from monetizing their videos with adverts — allowing Nintendo to pocket all of the revenue. Most videos won't...
News Nintendo Direct Confirmed For 17th May, Covering Summer Titles on Wii U and 3DS
Set hype mode to stunned
Nintendo likes to keep us on our toes, as it's just announced that there'll be a Nintendo Direct broadcast on 17th May, giving us the usual 24 hours of notice. In both North America and Europe it'll cover Spring and Summer releases, with Nintendo UK emphasizing a "focus" on Wii U games, and Nintendo of America promising...
News European Gamers Bemoan PAL Version of Super Metroid
Les Européens ne sont pas contents
As we're sure many of you are already aware, Super Metroid is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console in North America and Europe for the low low price of 30c/30p, although both versions are not the same. While the North American edition is playable in full 60Hz as it was intended, European gamers have been...
Nintendo Download 16th May (North America)
Super inexpensive Metroid, scares, soldiers, retro classics and more
It's that time, North America, and you've undoubtedly got a particularly meaty lineup this week. All three Virtual Console services have new content, and the region gets a special retro Mario offer on the Wii U. There's also a stone-cold classic for 30 cents, along with quite a few...
News Nintendo Announces Metallic Red 3DS, Cobalt Blue And Misty Pink To Be Phased Out
Nintendo giveth and Nintendo taketh away
Nintendo has announced yet another new 3DS colour for gamers in Japan: Metallic Red. Announced yesterday — though the Eevee 3DS XL stole a majority of the limelight — the new system is a more vibrant shade of red than the previous Flame Red 3DS. It'll launch on the 13th June for 15,000 yen, along with a...
News Animal Crossing Co-Director Thinks Tom Nook Is "Very Misunderstood"
"He’s not as bad as other people might think he is"
When you start a new game of Animal Crossing, the figure who seems to loom largest in those early hours is Tom Nook, a tanuki who always seems to have dollar (or should that be bells?) signs in this eyeballs. Nook has a reputation of being a rather greedy capitalist, profiting on naive newcomers...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Localizers Talk Shop
Input began on the ground floor
Localization is often seen as a post-production task, but a new diary video for Animal Crossing: New Leaf shows that its cultural nuances were being considered well in the early stages of development. According to Reiko Ninomiya of Nintendo of America’s Treehouse division, she and other localizers began...
News Sega Files Trademark For Sonic Lost World
Is this the title of the next Sonic game?
We've already heard a few rumours regarding the next Sonic title, and while it's hard to ascertain if there's any truth behind them, one question appears to have been answered thanks to a trademark registration by Sega itself. Sega has just registered the title Sonic Lost World, which could well be the...
News Notion Games Reveals New Name For Wii U eShop Title Super Ubi Land
"Same game, now with extra vitamin E"
Last week, we reported that developer Notion Games was in the process of changing the name of its upcoming Wii U eShop title, Super Ubi Land. Notion Games had been exchanging emails with Ubisoft, in which the company objected to its current name — issues seems to have been the possibility of brand...
News Nintendo Unleashed Tour Coming To 2013 MCM London Comic Con
Wii U and 3DS titles playable on the show floor
Nintendo UK has confirmed that it is bringing its popular Nintendo Unleashed tour to the forthcoming MCM London Comic Con, which is due to take place from 24th to the 26th May at the ExCel London. The largest comic and pop culture show in the UK, the MCM Comic Con will play host to a dedicated...
News Ubisoft Forecasts "Conservative" Sales Targets For Assassin's Creed IV And Watch_Dogs
"We wanted to be prudent on our expectations"
Ubisoft has forecasted that Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag will sell less than its direct predecessor, despite the universal appeal of the new game's nautical setting. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has high hopes for the new entry in the best-selling series, but has decided to be cautious regarding sales...
Developer Interview Two Tribes on Toki Tori 2's Adventure So Far, and What's Still to Come
Original Toki Tori may get Wii U re-release
Toki Tori 2 was one of the first titles confirmed for the Wii U eShop, even before it was officially confirmed to be called the eShop. Though it arrived outside of the launch window, that was due to the development team opting to improve key elements that weren't up to the studio's standards ahead of a...
Wednesday15th May 2013
News Wii U GamePad Teardown Reveals Upgradeable Firmware, Dual GamePad Support As Standard
Hackers successfully emulate the controller on a PC
The developers responsible for the Dolphin emulator have successfully reverse-engineered the Wii U GamePad, shedding light on exactly how the piece of tech works. The hackers found that Nintendo is using custom protocols to beam information from the pad to the console (and back), which discounts...
Video See How Mugen's "20 Hour" 3DS XL Battery Fares Against Other Nintendo Handhelds
Also, there's a chance to win a free battery
At $100, the Mugen 3DS XL battery is a bit steep for many Nintendo gamers. Keen to remove any skeptisim regarding its worth, we put the Mugen battery to the test and see how well it stood up to claims of long life and whether or not it justified its high price. We ran a large set of Nintendo handhelds
News LEGO Friends Coming to 3DS and DS
Explore Heartlake City this fall
OK, now. Deep breaths. Not all LEGO games are about undercover cops or action-packed film and comic licenses. Some of them can be about dancing and taking care of pets and scrapbooking and... and that’s perfectly fine. Warner Bros. Interactive has announced LEGO Friends, a game based on the popular toy line...
Feature 3DS - A Report Card Ahead of Its Biggest Year
You're doing well, young one
Earlier this week British tabloid The Sun somewhat defied its own 3DS-bashing tradition, when one of its writers rather boldly proclaimed that Nintendo's portable is "the best console ever". While we're not sure about that just yet, we do think the handheld has come a long way since its early days of non-existent sales...
News Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure Set for Wii U and 3DS This Fall
A console and handheld exclusive
The Scribblenauts series has been popular on DS, 3DS and latterly Wii U — though Europe's still waiting for Scribblenauts Unlimited — and is ideal for testing out the limits of your imagination. The nifty dynamic of creating almost any conceivable object will be incorporated into the DC Universe when...
News Eevee 3DS XL Evolves For Pokémon Center 15th Anniversary
One of the many Eeveelutions
Last month we reported that posters hinted that Eevee would be featured in some way on a new 3DS XL design, but details were scarce on its appearance. And now we know it's official - an Eevee-themed 3DS XL is indeed making its way to Japan judging by a leaflet found in Pokémon Center stores, posted by Twitter user...
News EA Developing Frostbite Engine For Mobile, But Not Wii U
Sign of the times?
As we're all painfully aware, DICE's Frostbite engine isn't coming to the Wii U — which means that owners of the console will be missing out on titles in the Battlefield and Star Wars series. The reason given is lack of power, which makes the move to develop Frostbite for "all major mobile platforms" all the more surprising...
News Capcom Unveils Quirky Unlockable Costumes for Resident Evil Revelations
Well hello, sailor!
The ever-approaching arrival of Resident Evil Revelations on Wii U and other platforms will likely bring the title to the attention of more gamers, as the 3DS original was — in our view — a return to form for the franchise. We'll see how the re-release stacks up soon, but what it does have over its handheld predecessor is a...
Developer Interview System 3 On Bringing Putty Squad To Wii U And 3DS
Veteran UK developer talks about Putty's return and future projects
Today saw the confirmation that System 3's Putty Squad is coming to the Wii U and 3DS. We got in touch with the UK-based studio to talk about the game, how it differs from the Amiga version and what the company's plans are for the future. We spoke to studio founder Mark Cale, who...
News Amiga Classic Putty Squad Morphing Its Way To The Wii U And 3DS
System 3 celebrates its 30th with a reboot of the classic platformer
System 3 has confirmed that it is bringing Putty Squad to the Wii U and 3DS. The game is a remake of the 1992 Amiga classic, and boasts improved visuals, enhanced gameplay and the promise of free downloadable levels. The game is expected to arrive this Summer. Here's the official...
News Silicon Knights Working On Various Legal Issues
Precursor Games controversy continues
Developers Silicon Knights and Precursor Games have been wrapped up in questions and controversy since the announcement of Shadow of the Eternals, Precursor Games' "spiritual successor" to the seminal GameCube horror adventure Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. Speaking to Game Informer, Silicon Knights chief...
News Edgeworth Likely to Appear in Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies
Still rocking the cravat
Fans of the Ace Attorney series’ cool, classy and collected prosecutor Miles Edgeworth (you know who you are) should be happy to see he’s an apparent lock for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, according to reportedly leaked images from Famitsu. Edgeworth returns to the courtroom sporting a pair of glasses,...
News Harvest Moon GBC Sows Its Seeds in North America This Week
The harvest is ready
Since it was announced earlier this year, and subsequently arrived in Europe at the end of March, a few North American download updates have had at least one polite enquiry along the lines of "where's Harvest Moon?" We haven't had an answer, but thankfully Natsume has confirmed that the Game Boy Color title will hit the 3DS...
News Banjo-Kazooie Symphony On the Way From The Synthetic Orchestra
Licensed and released on 31st May
Not so long ago, you may remember us drawing your attention to the Super Metroid Symphony, which is the work of talented composer and sound engineer Blake Robinson, the man behind the Synthetic Orchestra. If you like the music from the iconic Super NES title but want to hear it with a fully orchestrated sound, it's...
Developer Interview Yacht Club Games - Kickstarter Can Show The Demand for Indie Titles
Sean Velasco shares his thoughts on the crowdfunding platform
Over the weekend you may have seen a feature that we posted considering the increasing relevance of Kickstarter. The crowdfunding website has exploded in popularity in the past year, with many projects subsequently emerging that'll make their way to Wii U and/or 3DS. We spoke to two...
Video New Assassin's Creed IV Trailer Shows Oceanic Warfare
Under the sea
Ubisoft has released a new trailer for the upcoming Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, which will be released for the Wii U this Holiday. The trailer shows some interesting gameplay and story footage, including a sunken ship, pirate warfare and the combat the series is known for. Check out the trailer below: Assassin's Creed IV begins...
News Two Tribes: Toki Tori 2 Level Editor "Still Heavily In Development"
No word on when an update will be hatched
Back in September, developer Two Tribes confirmed that Toki Tori 2 would include a level editor, allowing gamers to create new levels using the stylus and touch screen of the Wii U GamePad. Sadly, this feature never quite made it to the finished product, but speaking to Cubed3, Two Tribes has reassured tho
Tuesday14th May 2013
News Fresh Pokémon X And Y Details Emerge: New Pokémon, Cover Art, Gameplay Trailer Revealed
Forthcoming 3DS adventure takes place in the Kalos Region
Not excited enough about Pokémon X And Y yet? Well perhaps these fresh details regarding the upcoming 3DS title will get your juices flowing. The Pokémon Company International has delivered a large helping of fresh content, including information on the game's setting, new Pokémon and even...
News WWE 2K14 Set To Skip Wii U
A low blow
Back in February Take-Two snapped up the WWE license after the demise of THQ and duly filed it under its 2K brand of sports titles. During its financial briefing, 2K Sports announced a 29th October release date for WWE 2K14 in North America, though unfortunately it won't be showing up on Wii U as Eurogamer has been informed it's only...
News New Adventure Time Game Coming to Wii U and 3DS This Fall
Wacky subtitle included, of course
Adventure Time is going to get mathematical in the gaming world again this Fall, and this time it'll be called Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!; once again it'll be one of the coolest game names to be found. Just last November North American gamers could enjoy Adventure Time: Hey Ice King!...
Feature The Neutered Malevolence of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Jon tries to drop the hammer but settles for waving a foam finger
This is the second part of our man Jon's personal Animal Crossing: New Leaf diary, which is part of a Nintendo-organised "Mayor Program". You can read all about how we came to be involved in this article, where we also explain our reasoning for participating. With that out of the way,...
Review Solomon's Key (Wii U eShop / NES)
One door closes, another one opens
In Solomon’s Key – an action / puzzler from Tecmo – you take command of a wizard named Dana as he searches for a magical formula that’s said to banish all evil from the world. The game began life in arcades back in 1986, finding its way to NES a year later, and now it’s resurfaced on Wii U Virtual...
News Peter Molyneux: If I were Nintendo, I'd Put Mario On The iPad
Thank goodness he's not, then?
Peter Molyneux and Ian Livingstone are two of British gaming's most influential figures. The former — who has been quite outspoken about the Wii U lately — founded Bullfrog and Lionhead, and is responsbile for titles such as Populous, Fable, Dungeon Keeper and the recent "gaming experiment" Curiosity. The latter...
News Konami: We Had To Take Risks With Castlevania To Prevent It Becoming Like Mega Man
Producer Dave Cox explains why throwing caution to the wind worked
MercurySteam's reboot of Castlevania in 2010 may have upset some hardcore fans of the series, but in terms of sales it was a triumph. Lords of Shadow became Konami's best selling game in North America for that year, and its second most successful European release. That's quite a...
News Pac-Man And The Ghostly Adventures Chomping Its Way To Wii U And 3DS This Year
Waka Waka
Pac Man is one of the stalwarts of the video game industry and has been chomping his way through pellets and fruit since the 1980s. In modern gaming terms, he's featured in several games such as Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions on the 3DS, Pac-Man World on the GBA, Pac-Man World Rally on the GameCube and he was even playable on Mario Kart...
Developer Interview Goodbye Galaxy Games on Developing for Nintendo's Portable Systems
Hugo Smits gives insight into a developer's life
While we'd suggest that he doesn't necessarily get the attention he deserves, Hugo Smit — through his studio Goodbye Galaxy Games — delivered four notable DSiWare experiences. These have all been published by third-parties, but have each had merits and plenty of areas worthy of praise. Of...
News Insomniac's CEO Is Open To Working On Wii U, Wants To See More Zelda, Mario And Metroid
That was quite a U-Turn
Last week, we reported that Insomniac CEO Ted Price had branded the Wii U "current gen" and stated that his studio wasn't working on any projects for the system. He should probably have added a "at the moment" to the end of that comment, because only a few days later, Price has changed his tune slightly. Speaking to...
News Resident Evil: Revelations Wii U Demo Scares Its Way Across Europe
Capcom planning a live-stream to show off new content
The Wii U demo for Resident Evil: Revelations has finally docked in Europe, taking up 619 MB of your valuable space. Nintendo announced last week that the demo would arrive on the 14th May, and true to its word the demo went up at the stroke of midnight — if not slightly after the clock struck...
Hands On Running Scared in Resident Evil Revelations
Not quite as three-dimensional
Capcom is a publisher that isn't afraid to use assets originally conceived on last-gen home consoles or recent handhelds, applying a spit and polish and selling them to a whole new audience. We've seen it with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and the trick's being repeated with Resident Evil Revelations. This time around a...
News Industry Analyst: Nintendo Is "Positioned Perfectly" To Capitalise On Second-Screen Trend
Holiday line-up is vital, says EEDAR's Jesse Divnich
The Wii U isn't selling anywhere near as well as Nintendo hoped, and key titles are either slipping, going multiplatform or being cancelled entirely. Is it time to start pressing the panic button? Not quite, according to EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich. Speaking to
Video Rayman Legends Footage Gets Sneaky in its Ocean World
With a cool name, "20 000 Lums under the Sea"
Ubisoft has stepped up its gradual unveiling of Rayman Legends, with the latest trailer and screenshots showing off the "20 000 Lums under the Sea" world. Rather than simply being underwater levels in the style of those seen in Rayman Origins, this world will introduce new enemies and a light and dark...
News Nintendo Wins Appeals Court Ruling In Wii Patent Case
Previous ITC ruling upheld
The US Court of Appeals has upheld a previous ruling by the International Trade Commission finding that Nintendo did not infringe on patents held by Motiva by importing its Wii console. Motiva held two patents relating to a setup for measuring user movement for the purposes of health and fitness. Back in 2008, the...
News ZombiU Developer Hints at a Sequel, Sort Of
ZombiU2?
Over the weekend we saw a fairly innocuous Tweet from Jean-Philippe Caro, a Creative Director at Ubisoft. He was asked by a fan about the potential for a sequel to ZombiU, the Wii U launch title that certainly had some staunch supporters, including some members of the Nintendo Life staff. Here was his rather vague reply. [tweet It seemed...
News Research Finds Gamers Can Transfer Skills Learnt Online To The Real World
Who says gaming is a waste of time?
People with online gaming skills are set to triumph over the coming years when it comes to making money and living successfully, according to new research. The lives of young people are increasingly becoming shaped by their online presence and gaming skills along with the ability to ‘play' with online personal...
News Hugo Smits: Nintendo of Europe Needs "Somebody Like Dan Adelman"
"It will allow Nintendo to tap this huge pool of developers"
Hugo Smits is the man behind Goodbye Galaxy Games, which has produced two Flipper titles, Nintendo Life's "DSiWare Download of 2012" winner Ace Mathician and, most recently, the rather enjoyable Color Commando — all for DSiWare. We've spoken at some length to Hugo about his history...
Monday13th May 2013
Accessory Review Mugen 3DS XL Extended Battery
We go hands-on with the new power option
The original 3DS model has always had one weak point over previous generations of Nintendo handhelds: battery life. This shortcoming opened the door for all sorts of battery expansions for the original 3DS, from the excellent Nyko clip-on unit to our personal favourite, the Mugen replacement battery. This...
Nintendo Download 16th May (Europe)
Spooky starships, retro classics, free scares, juicy discounts and more
It's a dreary Monday morning but fear not, Europe, Nintendo Download salvation is at hand. We now know what treats are coming this week and, we hope you'll agree, it's a pretty strong lineup. Only Wii misses out, and there are new, old and discounted offerings to chew over;...
Rumour Tomodachi Collection: New Life Update to Remove Same-Sex Marriage
Potential disappointment for some gamers
Last week we reported on the discovery that Nintendo's Japan-only 3DS life-sim, Tomodachi Collection: New Life, included the option for same-sex marriage between men but not women — there were indications that it was an unintentional bug in the game. Web chatter suggested that some were even attracted to...
News PS4 And Next Xbox Could Share Wii U's Teething Troubles, Says Activision's Kotick
"There are still many unknown factors"
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick ruffled a few feathers when he partially blamed the Wii U for his dismal outlook on the second half of 2013, but he's not been exclusively hating on Nintendo's system — in fact, he believes that the problems faced by the fledgling platform could easily impact Sony and Microsoft's...
News UK Mainstream Newspaper Declares 3DS The "Best Console Ever"
Rare display of common sense from The Sun
We're so used to seeing negative press for video games that it's a genuine shock when mainstream media outlets lavish praise on our beloved hobby. UK tabloid The Sun is a prime culprit when it comes to whipping the general public into a frenzy when it comes to gaming — it was one of the publications which...
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies Confirmed For This Fall in the West
Will be download-only on the 3DS eShop
Update: With this release being download only, Capcom has issued a statement to Kotaku to acknowledge the disappointment around the web, and to explain its reasoning: Historically it’s been tough to attract long term retail support for Ace Attorney titles. With the release of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney...
Developer Interview SnowCastle Games On Holding A Festival Of Magic On Wii U
"We miss the more thoughtful approach to turn based combat"
Nordic developer SnowCastle Games is bringing its epic RPG Festival of Magic to the Wii U eShop, adding yet another promising title to the console's expanding roster of independent releases. We spoke to studio founder Bendik Stang about the development of the game, its influences and the...
News Skullgirls Wii U eShop Release "Unlikely" Until The Console's Sales Pick Up
Developer feels Nintendo needs to "establish" its digital presence, too
2D downloadable fighter Skullgirls would appear to be the ideal candidate for a Wii U eShop release. The brawler has already graced both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, and one would assume that making the leap to Nintendo's digital store front wouldn't take much...
News Shadow of the Eternals Developer Double-Dips With Kickstarter Campaign
Now there are two significant targets to hit
We've given some coverage recently to Shadow of the Eternals, mainly due to its role as a "spiritual successor" to highly-regarded GameCube title Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. The presence of Denis Dyack on the team, and claims of "constant communication with Nintendo", have earned the crowdfunded...
Video Eight Reasons to Avoid The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct
Activision's shameful cash-in is a bit pants
There's an old saying that goes "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Those words of wisdom have never been more poignant, more relevant or more applicable than when discussing the act of purchasing, or even considering purchasing, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Sure, new Wii U games are...
News GungHo Online Entertainment's Market Cap Surpasses Nintendo's
Puzzle & Dragons owner sees a huge rise in its share price
The mobile gaming market is certainly on the rise as more and more people start to adopt devices such as tablets and smartphones. No longer do you need to have a dedicated gaming console to enjoy games as you can now find them within various app stores. Naturally, the quality may not...
News Ubisoft Outlines Historical Context for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag
Guys with swords say, "I want to be rich"
As with all previous Assassin's Creed titles, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag will be based in and around real historical events and people, though it'll naturally be fairly liberal with its storytelling. While Ubisoft's choice of pirates in the Caribbean may be surprising on paper, the developer's released a...
News Capcom, Take Note: This Is How You Mark Mega Man's 25th Birthday
Shame this custom Game Boy is just a fan mod
Mega Man is 25 this year, and while Capcom has at least acknowledged this fact, there seems little chance of fans getting an all-new Blue Bomber outing before 2014 rolls around. Still, if Capcom isn't prepared to go the extra mile to mark the event, then the fans can show their respect in their own way...
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and LEGO City 3DS Stand Their Ground in UK Top 10
Fire Emblem: Awakening still present but on its way out
The latest UK Video Games Charts by UKIE for last week show that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins are still holding their own in the top 10 of the all-format results. Chase McCain's prequel adventure for 3DS finds itself at number eight for the third week...
News Squids Wrapping Its Tentacles Around The 3DS and Wii U eShops
Expected to arrive this summer
If you like your tactical RPGs wet and whimsical, then Squids may be able to serve something up for you on the 3DS and Wii U eShops this summer. Squids, made by The Game Bakers, originally came out for iOS and was later released on other mobile devices and the PC. According to French website Pockett.net, Nintendo’s...
Video Meet Some Indie Developers and Publishers That Will Shape the eShop Platforms
Interviews from iDÉAME13 in Madrid
On the 13th/14th April Nintendo took over the iDÉAME Developer's Conference, showcasing the broad range of titles coming to the Wii U and 3DS eShops, while developers of all sizes took part in presentations and talks about the games industry. As we highlighted in an article on Nintendo's Indie Crusade, there were...
News Time to Rock Out With Some Chiptunes, Thanks to Diad
Could have been called "Super Mosh Bros."
Occasionally we like to direct your attention to some awesome music or videos that we come across, and today we bring you a rock chip-tune album called Diad. As that description suggests, this seven track album aims to produce 8-bit chiptunes that, given the right instrumentation, could very easily be...
News Darts Up 3D Steps Up to the Oche on 3DS eShop
One hundred and Eiiiiiiiiiiiighteeeeeeeeee (and all that)
EnjoyUp Games is a prolific developer and publisher on Nintendo's download platforms, with its Soccer Up releases also representing its own brand of sports games. Whether this one counts as a sport or not is, we think, subjective, but its latest title will be Darts Up 3D for the 3DS eShop...
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