Amazon UK delaying order to 19th December suggests more stock is coming
News - November, 2014
Sunday30th Nov 2014
News Walmart Offering Hot Deals on Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario 3D World Hardware Bundles
$300 with a free $50 gift card
Though Black Friday madness has now passed, we can still expect retailers to fight for our loyalty up until the festive break. From Nintendo's perspective it'll be targeting Wii U sales, and is no doubt hoping that retailers push exciting promotions — step forward Walmart with its latest deals in the US. The...
News Dear Nintendo, Please Let The Next Wario Land Title Look As Gorgeous As This
D-Pad Studio's Simon S. Anderson mocks up some amazing concept art
D-Pad Studio is currently hard at work on Owlboy, but that doesn't mean that the team behind it can't occasionally let their minds wander. In the case of the studio's painfully talented artist Simon S. Anderson, he's been filling his downtime with mocking up a screen from his dream...
Review Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue (Wii U)
Take Off Aborted
Movie inspired video games have often taken the liberty of deviating from the plot, throwing in events and scenarios that may be considered out of "canon" with the film's storyline and universe; a lack of faithfulness to the source material has been a frequent criticism throughout gaming history. Little Orbit's Disney Planes: Fire...
Review Snake Den (Wii U eShop)
Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAAAAAKE!
When revisiting a well-worn concept, it's important to bring something new to the table. After all, we've reached a point in the gaming industry where certain genres — first-person shooter, platformer and adventure, just to name a few — have been pioneered and perfected over the years by generations of developers...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Twelve: Cook
Bread to rights
In the final part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. Today is the day I complete my Life journey in Reveria. All of the Lives I have spent time as, all of the monster parts and mushrooms I have gathered, my fears of a secret organisation creating a new world order...
Saturday29th Nov 2014
Amazon UK delaying order to 19th December suggests more stock is coming
Following the launch of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, it quickly emerged that many were finding it hard to buy the Wii U's GameCube Controller Adapter, with stock selling out rapidly. The later suggestion from EB Games that
News This Lovely White Super Smash Bros. GameCube Controller Is Up For Pre-Order From Japan
Importing is the answer
Earlier today we bemoaned the price hikes and lacking stock of the GameCube Adapter for Wii U, which doesn't appear to be improving after over a week in North America and at launch in Europe. That's a pity, especially if it means some of those with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U can't enjoy the game with their controller of...
Friday28th Nov 2014
Review Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness (3DS eShop / NES)
Little monsters
It might not be too off kilter to think that, in some alternate universe, things could have shaken out differently in Capcom’s stable and Firebrand the Red Arremer/Gargoyle would have become a bigger star. The company could have been associated more with crimson than true blue, and fans today could be crying out over the absence of...
Saturday29th Nov 2014
Video Nintendo Minute Shows Off 'Super' New Levels in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
You want to see this...
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is just days away in North America, representing Nintendo's final major retail release of the year; it arrives in the New Year in Europe and Australia. Regular video series Nintendo Minute has therefore taken the chance to show off some new levels, and we think you'll want to see them. This...
Feature The Long Evolution of the Pokémon Trading Card Game
Capers in card
Alex attended an event that celebrated the new XY Phantom Forces sets in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He got a chance to play the game for the first time in over ten years, and this is what he had to say about it. Despite being an enormous fan of the Pokémon series, the Trading Card Game has been a bit of a blind spot for me...
News Toys vs. Monsters Brings Childhood Battles to 3DS on 18th December
Our money's on the rubber duck...
Whether publishing or developing, EnjoyUp Games continues to bring plenty of budget download games — some rather good — to the eShop platforms. The company has now announced a festive release date for its next title on 3DS, Toys vs. Monsters — it'll arrive in North America and Europe on 18th December. This is...
Friday28th Nov 2014
Hack job
The Wii U has had a chequered history with third-party support, particularly from Ubisoft, and the belated arrival of Watch Dogs feels a little like a final hurrah — whether we'll see many more big-budget multiplatform mature titles on Nintendo's system is certainly a cause of doubt. This title is here, however, and a viable option for...
Video Here's How amiibo Works With Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors And Smash Bros. Wii U
Where does he get all those wonderful toys
Nintendo's take on the "toys to life" concept — known as amiibo — is finally here, and like so many Nintendo fans over the world we've been having some fun with these amazing little figures. For those who haven't had a chance to see what these awesome mounds of plastic can do, let us educate you with...
Thursday27th Nov 2014
Weirdness The Dual Wielding Samus amiibo is Commanding Bids of Nearly $1000 on eBay
Double whammy
Some of you may recall that just recently we reported on a dual wielding Samus amiibo that showed off a rather humorous factory error. Though having arm cannons on both hands would make basic activities a chore for Samus, she sure would be more deadly. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the owner who nabbed this unique amiibo has taken to eBay...
Friday28th Nov 2014
Weirdness Samus amiibo Literally Opens Doors in Russian Metro Station
NFC it in action
Update: Eurogamer — naturally being a site frequented by many gamers from Europe — has been contacted by a reader in Moscow to explain that while amiibo does interact with the gates to the Metro, it doesn't actually open them up. You see the green light, though: The confusion here is that the gates in Moscow metro seem to be...
News Two Tetris Downloads to be Removed from the 3DS eShop in Europe
Blocks dropped
Occasionally we see some enjoyable titles disappear from Nintendo's download stores, often retro titles and likely the result of a licensing issue. We're a little surprised by the latest victims, however, which are set to disappear from the European 3DS eShop after 31st December. Following that date the store will lose the Game Boy...
News Nintendo's Official Japanese Site Suggests Discontinuation of Certain 3DS Units
Disappointment XL
Nintendo's official Japanese website has begun displaying a notice above some of its 3DS models that speaks doom for some of the variants. The message translates to: Production is slated to end shortly It seems Nintendo is really trying to push the New 3DS into the hands of the Japanese public, and by reducing the number of...
News Nintendo eShop Maintenance Planned for 1st December
Get your shopping done
While perusing the 3DS eShop notifications and wondering why on Earth Tetris is being removed from the store, we saw a far more helpful message outlining that the download platform has a hefty chunk of maintenance on the way. There'll be a little over seven hours of downtime, though maintenance taking down the eShop stores is...
News Nintendo Renews Patent On Multi-Platform Game Boy Emulation, But Don't Get Too Excited
Unlikely that official games will be on your iPhone any time soon
Patents are funny things. Every new product needs them, but there are countless patents filed every year which never get used for anything productive. Take Nintendo's patent for
Review Talking Phrasebook (3DS eShop)
It's translation time
Call us pessimistic, but we think it's fair to say that travelling abroad can be a pretty stressful experience. Sure, the exotic locales and sunny weather is always worth it in the end, but making the trip often takes no shortage of patience and more than a few embarrassing attempts to drag up half-remembered phrases in the...
Out Today Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (Europe)
Catch a Special Demo Version download code inside
We hope you're ready to catch 'em all, because today marks the launch of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire in Europe. It's a fantastic game — as you'll know if you've already checked out our review — and will ensure that the 3DS ends 2014 on a high. To mark this momentous occasion we're...
Video Join Us For A Look At Hyrule Warriors' Twilight Princess DLC
It's all about Link's new outfit, really
The second piece of Hyrule Warriors DLC is here, and it's a doozy. Introducing the Twilight Princess Pack, you'll be able to control the mighty Twili Midna, try on some new costumes for Link and Zelda, and wield Zelda's devastating Dominion Rod. If you haven't had a chance to see what's new, then this video...
Wednesday26th Nov 2014
News Nintendo Might Not Be Making More GameCube Controller Adapters at the Moment
According to EB Games Canada, at least
If you've been able to pick up a GameCube Controller Adapter for your Wii U Smash enjoyment, you might just be a lucky quick adopter. The accessory is sold out in a number of places in North America, and a quick check online of stores such as Best Buy and GameStop are turning up nothing but Iinternet...
Thursday27th Nov 2014
Feature Five Nintendo Games Perfect For Multiplayer Fun and Thanksgiving
Gather around, dear friends
It's Thanksgiving in the US, a major celebration in which families and friends gather to spend quality time together; naturally entertainment will be high on the agenda. For those that enjoy gaming, meanwhile, it's a chance to break out all those excess controllers and get into the spirit of the occasion with party and...
News Early December Update Will Fix Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Freezing Glitch
The wrong kind of Frozen
Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire may be just arriving in Europe this week, but 3DS Trainers in North America and Australia have been catching them all — or trying to — for nearly a week already. All is not perfect with the excellent remakes, however, as some have come across a bug that causes the game to freeze...
News Let's Summarise the Remaining eShop Deals on Wii U and 3DS
As Nintendo decided not to share...
Earlier this week a host of titles went on discount in North America, some of which were outlined in last week's download update without firm prices, and a whole load of others that came as surprises. We held off believing they'd all be covered in today's download update only to be foiled; there are plenty of...
Nintendo Download 27th November (North America)
Persona Q, Thomas Was Alone, Hyrule Warriors DLC, discounts galore and more
For those of you in the US celebrating it today, here we have the Thanksgiving edition of the Nintendo Download Update, while for everyone else in North America it's simply the 'wow look at all the discounts' edition. Alongside more price reductions than you could shake a...
News Hyrule Warriors Update and Twilight Princess DLC Now Live
Scanning an amiibo might reward you with one rupee, if you've been good...
Hyrule Warriors has evolved a fair amount since launch day, with Koei Tecmo's DLC and updates adding new content while tweaking the basic rules of the game; for one thing you can now level up to a God-like degree, it seems. Today's the day, of course, for the second major...
Review PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures 2 (3DS)
Pac-ing on the problems
In June of 2013, a television series premiered in the United States titled Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures. The show took the classic Pac-Man and ghost arcade characters and restyled them as CGI mascots with an appeal towards young viewers. Less than six months later, a video game based on the show was released on most...
News Digital Foundry Gives Its Take on Watch Dogs for Wii U
"The Wii U offers by no means the best way to play Watch Dogs"
Just recently we uploaded a video comparing footage of Watch Dogs on Wii U with Xbox 360 and PS4, to provide an indication of how the Nintendo system's version stacks up. The results highlight a closer parity with the 360 iteration, as expected in light of the performance of previous...
Won't somebody please think of the children?
When the 3DS was launched its 3D auto-stereoscopic screen was both a source of excitement and controversy. Glasses-free 3D blew minds, but the nature of the technology meant that — for many — there was an initial discomfort as their eyes adjusted to the effect, which typically eased after a short...
Ninterview Tom Bramwell On Nintendo and 15 Years at Eurogamer
Eurogamer.net's departing Editor-in-Chief
It came as a surprise to many, not least the Nintendo Life team, when earlier this year Tom Bramwell announced that he would be leaving Eurogamer.net at the end of November, after 15 years with the company. If you are a reader of Eurogamer (we know 1 in 5 of you are) then Bramwell needs no introduction, for...
News Grab a Cool Free Keychain With Selected Products on the Nintendo UK Store
Put a ring on it
Those kind folks over at the UK Nintendo are offering up yet another freebie for those using the Official UK Store, this time offering a free Keychain with selected orders. Choosing from any of the allotted Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong or Yoshi products will unlock the option to add the corresponding character's k
News Turkey Fest from Nintendo Brings a Host of Game Contests to Miiverse
Kind of like Camp Miiverse...
Do you remember Camp Miiverse, Nintendo's online equivalent to Kamp Krusty (or so we liked to pretend)? We now have a sort-of follow up for the Thanksgiving period, with a Turkey Fest Miiverse community offering up more challenges to tackle. Launched on 21st November and running until 1st December, it's now getting into...
Video Curve Studios Demonstrates Stealth Inc 2's Level Editor
Do your worst (by which we mean best)
In recent weeks we've been sharing a series of videos from Curve Studios which show off the various features of Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones. It's a title that we rate very highly, not least because it includes a lot of excellent features that flesh out the experience. One of these features is the Level...
Wednesday26th Nov 2014
Weirdness A Fox amiibo Placed Rather Well in a Tournament, Crushing Mere Mortals
Smashing like a fox...
We've little doubt that a number of gamers in North America are already mastering the intricacies of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, while plenty are surely training up their favourite amiibo to accompany them. Of course, those that consider themselves to be serious players will question just how good the amiibo can get. Based...
Feature Five Reasons To Choose Wii U This Holiday Season
To borrow Nintendo's slogan, The Time Is Now
We're approaching a time of year defined by many things. Great times with friends and family, lots of food and plenty of fun. Of course, before the big Holiday itself we have lots of shopping and — with that — plenty of choices to make. For gamers there are a number of treats on offer, with Nintendo,...
Textual healing or vocal underperformity?
Want to turn your 3DS into a social device that allows you and your friends to exchange text messages and partake in voice chat while collaborating on doodles? That’s the experience that Chat-A-Lot advertises, and while it delivers in some regards, overall this simple application falls very flat. Part of...
Soapbox Sonic, It's Time to Talk
Tom Whitehead bemoans the blue blur's struggles
A grim reality struck me this week. A new Sonic game was out and I couldn't, personally, care less. If brief demo time and video footage wasn't evidence enough, the word of those in the team that own Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was enough to convince me that it wasn't worth my time or money. When both of...
Video How Does Watch Dogs Wii U Compare To The Xbox 360 And PS4 Versions?
The Wii U edition squares off against the best of past and last gen
After a six month delay the Wii U version of Watch Dogs finally launched last week. We've already shown you what the game looks like and how it uses the Wii U GamePad, but now we're going to illustrate how it stacks up against the other versions out there. We recorded footage of...
Don't watch the Zelda video if you're squeamish
We all know that video games are pure fantasy, and that they should rarely be considered accurate representations of reality. Even so, it's fascinating to consider how popular franchises would fare if they were governed by the proper laws of the universe. If you've ever wondered what games would be...
News This Mario Kart 8 Badge Set Brings Some Extra Style to Club Nintendo
Available right now in Europe and Australia
Club Nintendo sometimes gets criticism for not providing regular updates of neat collectibles, but the latest arrival in Europe and Australia may satisfy those with some Stars to spend — there's now a Mario Kart 8 badge set. A rather nice presentation box, pictured above, contains three metal badges...
Another pack of Picross
While the first few Picross e games mixed things up a little with slightly different modes each time, the previous game in the series — Picross e4 — didn't do anything unique; it simply brought back all of those previous special modes. Picross e5 also plays it safe and is essentially an expansion of the previous game,...
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Storm Japanese Charts, New 3DS Sales Climb in Unison
There's 1,500,000 or more to see
Not content with securing first place in the Japanese sales charts, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire also managed to secure second place as well with the Double Pack variation. This amounts to over 1,500,000 physical sales for the monster-catching experience in its first week of sales, an astounding feat which...
News Mario & Donkey Kong Double Set and Nintendo Pocket Football Heading to Retail in Europe
Boxes with download codes, no cart
In the past year or so we've seen Nintendo make a variety of moves, across different regions, to promote key eShop titles in stores. The UK market has a number of download games available as code cards in GAME stores, for example, while the NES Remix Pack is coming to North America on Wii U. It's a growing list of...
News Assets For Cancelled Nintendo DS Version Of Crash Tag Team Racing Emerge
Was apparently only months from completion
Back in 2005 Sierra released Crash Tag Team Racing on a variety of formats, including the Nintendo GameCube. The game was a sequel of sorts to the well-received PlayStation classic Crash Team Racing and its follow-up Crash Nitro Kart, and was also due to hit the Nintendo DS at the same time. That port was...
News 1.5 Million Copies Of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Sold In Japan Within Three Days
Gotta sell 'em all!
With Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire being two of the most anticipated 3DS releases of 2014 – as well as one of the most requested remakes from the Pokémon line – it comes as no surprise that over 1.5 million copies of the latest entries in the series have been sold in Japan within the first three days of its...
Tuesday25th Nov 2014
News This Rather Attractive Nintendo Complete Guide Book is Coming to Japan
Nearly 200 pages of images charting the big N's history
It should be said that, overall, the gulf of attractive collectibles available in Japan compared to the West has probably shortened. Localisation and an increasingly globalised world — not to mention various import retailers — make it easier for fans of Japanese culture to keep up with...
Wednesday26th Nov 2014
Weirdness This Back To The Future-Style VR Hoverboard Game Uses The Wii Fit Balance Board
"The Wii Fit board is actually a really awesome device"
The Back to the Future series is packed with memorable moments, but one of the most iconic has to be the hoverboard sequence in the second movie. Inspired by the classic film, Australian developer Kieran Lord has created Hoverboards Inc, a title built in Unity that uses Oculus Rift and the Wii...
Tuesday25th Nov 2014
News Pokémon Omega Ruby And Alpha Sapphire Version 1.1 Now Available To Download
Gotta patch 'em all!
Following the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire in North America, Australia, and New Zealand last week, The Pokémon Company has released an update for the new entries in the series that irons out various bugs and provides a smoother game experience. All 3DS owners who have a copy of either of these games will...
News Nintendo of America Announces Upcoming eShop 'Cyber Deals'
Like Black Friday without the crowds
We're heading into one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year, but Nintendo's keen to accommodate those that don't feel like venturing out into crowded shops. While there are hot releases arriving on the eShop in multiple regions, Nintendo of America has now confirmed that it'll also be running eShop 'Cyber...
News Amazon UK Offers Bargain Prices to Shift Its White 8GB Wii U Bundles
There's even a Smash Bros. deal
Back in November 2012 we had a few debates in Nintendo Life HQ around the merits of the Basic (8GB) and Premium / Deluxe (32GB) Wii U models. With just 3GB of that white system's memory surviving a launch day update it seemed downright pointless to buy a system with such a small amount of space, as it made a hard...
Review Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Donkey wish your girlfriend was Kong like me?
Having stunned audiences with Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, Rare had an awful lot to live up to on the final entry of the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy. Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! sees the titular hero take centre stage after being second to the delightful...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Sells Nearly 500,000 Copies on Launch Weekend, Sets US Record
Nintendo promises "a few more surprises" for its fans
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has now been out for a good few days in North America — European gamers don't have long to wait — and has, unsurprisingly, gone down rather well. Critically acclaimed and praised by most that have jumped right in, the brawler has had quite an impact. Nintendo of...
Video Super Mario Bros. Invades TV's Dancing With The Stars
Sadie Robertson & Mark Ballas get caught in the Mushroom Kingdom
Update: If you particularly like the music medley in the video below, you can download it for free from Nintendo's website. Original Article: Irrespective of your stance on TV dance talent shows, you'll have to begrudgingly admit that what we're about to show you is pretty damn...
Weirdness April Fools Comes Early As Amazon France Lists ZombiU 2 For Wii U
Being published by Bandai Namco, for some unknown reason
ZombiU 2 isn't happening for several reasons, the first being that the original game — while providing a superb demonstration of the Wii U's potential as well as many excellent jump-scares — didn't sell particularly well. With Watch Dogs looking like Ubisoft's last truly seriou
News Atlus Serves Up Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth DLC and Video Details
Free sub-Persona available now
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth — the first series entry on Nintendo hardware — is available now in North America, with an arrival in Europe this week on 28th November. Not willing to waste any time, Atlus has confirmed details of upcoming DLC along with some freshly released videos. To start with the DLC,...
News Sami Cetin Breaks The NTSC Super Mario Kart World Record On Mario Circuit 1
He's a Time Trial master
Super Mario Kart SNES has just had another barrier broken on the Time Trial Mode. You may recall us reporting that UK-based Mario Kart expert Sami Cetin was the first person to break the sub-58 second barrier on the PAL Version of Mario Circuit 1 on Christmas Day, 2013. After this amazing Christmas present it was almost...
Video New Rodea the Sky Soldier Footage Shows Off Progress
Looks like a modest upscale from the Wii version
For quite a while Rodea the Sky Soldier seemed destined to remain in publishing purgatory, with original developer Prope and project lead Yuji Naka declaring the Wii version finished and simply awaiting release, while the 3DS iteration was mostly ready. Whatever happened behind the scenes, publisher...
Video Man at Arms Crew Forges Link's Fierce Deity Sword
We can't mask our enthusiasm
Certain people make a hobby of taking fictional pointy things and bringing them into reality. The Legend of Zelda series' iconic swords are a natural part of these dream projects, with a replica of Dark Link's Sword recently brought to light. This time, however, the swordsmiths of Baltimore Knife and Sword have taken on...
News Teslagrad to Arrive at Retail on Wii U in Early 2015
Magnetic appeal
In this era of flourishing download-only stores that open the doors to a host of small development studios, it's not often that an indie game will make the move into physical retail. Teslagrad bucks that trend, however, having arrived on a diverse range of digital platforms — including the Wii U eShop — and is now on the way to...
News The Lost Worlds of Power eBook Arrives This Week to Fulfil Your Retro Life
"12 unique literary adaptations of classic and not-so-classic NES games"
Earlier this year we told you about The Lost Worlds of Power: Volume 0, a free eBook — led and collated by Nintendo Life alumni Philip J Reed — which included five new tales inspired by the notoriously awful Worlds of Power video game novels from the NES era. That was...
News Image & Form Reveals That Steam Powered Giraffe is Producing the SteamWorld Heist Soundtrack
Will appear in-game, too
SteamWorld Dig, the 3DS eShop title — since ported to other platforms including Wii U — propelled Image & Form to prominence among Nintendo gamers and the wider gaming community, so there'll be plenty of attention on the upcoming SteamWorld Heist. Less a sequel and more of a spin-off, it sees the steam-driven robots...
News Spidey’s Arch-Nemesis Venom Is Receiving His Very Own Table In Zen Pinball 2
Releases on the Wii U eShop next month
The ongoing support for the Wii U version of Zen Pinball 2 continues with Zen Studios announcing Spider-Man’s symbiotic nemesis, Venom, will receive his very own themed table. The Marvel Comics-inspired table – also featuring the heroic web slinger Spider-Man, Eddie Brock as the empowered villain, and...
Monday24th Nov 2014
Guide Everything You Need To Know About Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire's New DexNav
We dish out the details on this amazing new feature
Since Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire came out in North America, one of the most talked about features is the DexNav, and it's easy to see why. It is one of the most addictive features that has ever been in a Pokémon game. What Is It?: Essentially, the DexNav is part of the PokéNav...
Guide The Best Black Friday Nintendo Deals in the US
Wii U and 3DS are covered
Update: With the Black Friday deals now kicking in across online retailers, and with midnight store openings on the way, we'll update this guide (initially posted on 24th November) with additional attractive deals throughout the day. Original Article: It's that time of year, once again, when all etiquette and old-school...
Review Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U)
Sonic Doomed
Sega's once-venerable Sonic the Hedgehog series has become a bit of a punchline in the gaming industry in recent years. With entries ranging from decent to mediocre to horrible, each new release is met with trepidation and well-earned cynicism. Sonic just hasn't been fully on top since his 16-bit heyday, and while his original 3D...
The ultimate Tetris?
Tetris has been around since 1984, where it was developed in Russia for the DVK, a Soviet computer, but most people remember either the Game Boy or the NES version as being the breakthrough for the title. To say that Tetris is successful is an understatement; the gameplay is just as enjoyable as it was thirty years ago and...
Weirdness Super Smash Bros. amiibo Modifications and Game Glitches Emerge
The anomalies have already begun...
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U being out in North America for a number of days already, it's inevitable that fans will encounter their own unique experiences with the game and its accompaniments. For example, one lucky fan managed to grab hold of a factory-error amiibo, with Samus Aran having two arm canons...
Nintendo Download 27th November (Europe)
Smash Bros., Pokémon, Thomas Was Alone, Hyrule Warriors DLC and much more
Another week begins, but the European Nintendo Download Update should have some exciting titles to cheer anyone up, with two of the year's biggest retail titles arriving on both Wii U and 3DS. Beyond those big contenders we have some enticing download options, so let's get to...
Review Thomas Was Alone (Wii U eShop)
Simple brilliance
We're in the middle of one of the most diverse, intriguing periods in video game history. The rise of download games, small 'indie' developers and stores like the Wii U eShop have shifted how we think about content; we're a long way from the retail-only culture of the '90s or even early 2000s. One modern trend is for low-fi...
News Sonic Boom Wii U And 3DS Both Stall Outside Of The UK Multiformat Top 40
Beleaguered reboot fails to find commercial success
We don't need to explain the bad stink which has surrounded the launches of Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal. The much-hyped cross-platform reboot of Sega's famous franchise doesn't seem to have gone as planned, and it would appear that this negative feeling has impacted...
News Learn With Pokémon: Typing Adventure Now Costs as Much as a Posh Sandwich on Amazon UK
Good value just for the keyboard
Update: We told you to be fast. Having checked the listing around an hour after it went live the stock is now all gone. Based on the comments this can be found at various retailers for just a few pounds more than the Amazon deal, however, so all is not necessarily lost if you still want to pick this up. Original...
Video Jimmy Fallon Reveals He's A Keen Mario Kart 8 Bowser Player
It's good to be bad
We've all got our own personal preferences when it comes to Mario Kart. Some of these have been built up over the past two decades since the SNES original was released, while others are founded on more recent instalments. Which character a person picks says a lot about their play style and temperament — and thanks to an...
News Atlus Confirms Etrian Odyssey X Mystery Dungeon and Reveals Etrian Odyssey V Teaser
Buckle up, RPG fans
The 3DS has already established itself as a terrific console for fans of RPGs, particularly those developed in Japan. Atlus are the main contributors to that, of course, not only producing excellent titles but also localising them to North America and — gradually — Europe. Those that enjoy this output have some good news to...
Weirdness This Wearable Power Glove Accessory Can Be Yours for $150
Tremendous hair not included
It seems the legacy of the infamous Power Glove controller for the NES lives on, so much so that one adventurous young individual has cracked a couple of them open and replaced their guts to create an interesting range of winter hand accessories. The connections are cut from the device and then the innards with wiring...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Discusses Production of the Pikmin Short Movies in a Miiverse Interview
A new HOME theme for the 3DS also revealed
The creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, has dabbled in many new and exciting experiences this year, including the production of animated shorts – he even had the opportunity to show his recently released Pikmin movies at the Toyko International Film Festival. Now, in an interview with Nintendo’s...
News Mario Kart 8 Scoops Best Game Prize at British Academy Children’s Awards
Another cup won
It's been a big year for Mario Kart 8, with the racer boosting Wii U sales and delivering a franchise first with the recently released DLC. It's been given plenty of praise, and now has a relatively lucrative award to celebrate. Every year the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) hosts its Children's Awards, to...
Sunday23rd Nov 2014
Guide Getting the Most out of Your amiibo with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Oh, amiibo!
Nintendo’s near-field communication figurines, amiibo, have finally landed in North America; what better way for them to punch and kick their way into our homes (and hearts) than to do so in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Nintendo’s latest home console version of the crossover fighting series offers in-depth support for the figurines,...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U GameCube Controller Adapter Sold Out Already in Most US Stores
eBay prices skyrocket
Nintendo were right to release the GameCube Controller Adapter for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, as it appears the popularity of the peripheral was far greater than many stockists of the device were anticipating, leaving it out of stock already in most US stores. Many Smash Bros. veterans swear by the GameCube controller as...
Review Natsume Championship Wrestling (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Tapped out
Let's be honest here: wrestling is essentially one big television drama, and that's no way an attempt to belittle the incredible athleticism of the men and women involved. It's Eastenders with a mullet and tight pants, complete with plot twists and a cast of larger than life characters to root for. These heels and faces are the reason we...
Video Two Smash Bros. Instructional Videos to Get You Brawling with the Best of Them
One's perhaps more advanced than the other
Did You Know Gaming and Nintendo have both released some instructional videos for the Super Smash Bros. series. Did You Know Gaming focuses on the advanced techniques from the earlier games such as wave dashing and directional influence, but Nintendo has taken a much more basic approach. It's the first part...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Eleven: Angler
The never-ending quest for fewer fish in the sea
In the eleventh part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. After last week’s work as a mercenary defending Castele and other associated kingdoms from the scourge of overgrown lizards and smaller nuisances, I wanted a change of pace...
Saturday22nd Nov 2014
Weirdness Factory Error Results in Dual-Wielding Samus amiibo
Can't grapple it
Factory defects usually have hilarious consequences, but one plucky Nintendo fan managed to get their hands on an amiibo unlike any other: [tweet 536084014193713152] No doubt this figurine will become exceedingly sought after if kept in its original packaging. Of course you could quite easily make your own by buying two of the...
Review Lufia: The Legend Returns (3DS eShop / GBC)
The legend isn't feeling so good
Young Wain is the protector of his small village; it’s not a tough gig, with just the occasional blob-creature to slash on the outskirts, but things are about to change. As a spiritual force awakens inside him, the powerful Sinistrels re-emerge to release a threat of “unseen terror on the land”. His bloodline...
Review Sportsball (Wii U eShop)
No harm, no fowl
Nintendo has been highlighting TOO DX's Sportsball at various shows and conferences as one of several particularly strong "indie games" available on the Wii U eShop, promoting it as a quality party game. Though at first it looks like a primitive, simplistic Joust clone, its charms quickly become apparent with fast-paced gameplay and...
Friday21st Nov 2014
Gotta buy 'em all?
Though Nintendo of America doesn't like to advertise new 3DS HOME themes in its download update — unlike its European contemporary — there's good news for owners of the portable in the region. The four Super Smash Bros. and two new Pokémon themes are all available to pick up at $1.99 each, bringing the Western regions largely...
Saturday22nd Nov 2014
Feature A Day in the Life of a Self-Confessed Super Smash Bros. Fanatic
It's always a smashing day
Martin Watts regularly thrashes his Nintendo Life colleagues in online Smash Bros. matches, and now we know why. In this article he outlines a typical day now that two versions of the brawler are available. Nintendo’s decision to release not one, but two Super Smash Bros. games in a single year has always been...
Video Nintendo Minute Shows Off Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and amiibo Gameplay
They have a Mario graphic on their phones...
With the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in North America, it's no surprise that weekly video series Nintendo Minute is taking the opportunity to show off the game and the accompanying amiibo range. After some four-player matches regular hosts Kit & Krysta — with guests Mike and Adam —...
Review Safari Quest (3DS eShop)
Safari Meh-st
As consumers of entertainment, we all generally gravitate towards the extreme sides of the spectrum. When a product is amazing, it's really amazing — and we can't say enough about it. When a product is awful, it's really awful — and we're going to let everyone know. That's why it's such a disappointment when a product falls...
Friday21st Nov 2014
News Peculiar Outfits and Details Revealed for Twilight Princess Hyrule Warriors DLC
Link to the Pants
The "Twilight Princess" DLC pack is just around the corner for Hyrule Warriors, and Famitsu has revealed the downright quirky content that'll be included. The headline — for us, anyway — is the emergence of a Link costume in which he's dressed like the Postman; it's quite a bizarre sight, and fans of Twilight Princess may also...
News Details Uncovered of Upcoming Update for Zelda Spin-Off Hyrule Warriors
Caps off to you
The official Japanese website for Hyrule Warriors has revealed that an upcoming update for the game will feature more than just stability. The update is said to make the following changes: Increase level cap Increase maximum materials count New potions New medals amiibo functionality It's interesting to see Koei Tecmo's choices...
News Lucina from Fire Emblem: Awakening Gets Immortalised in Figurine Form
Showing off her figure
Good Smile Company have plenty to smile about after unveiling a fully painted version of Lucina from their figma range. This figurine is superbly detailed, and if you can see past some obvious fragility this model shows off everything that's great about the Fire Emblem: Awakening character's design. Looking appropriately...
Talking Point Super Smash Bros. Can Finally Reach Its Money-Spinning Potential
All the pieces have come together
We often talk up Nintendo's alternative and unique approach in the current games market, primarily that of generally focusing on colourful, fun games that often run at a silky smooth 60 frames per second; when it comes to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, we're even looking at a native 1080p resolution to round off the...
Video GameStop Shows How It Faked 'Karissa the Destroyer' at Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Event
Cue silly music and excessive high-fiving
Earlier this month shaky-cam footage emerged of a 10-year-old gamer thrashing the competition at Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, duly being given the nickname 'Karissa the Destroyer'. It all took place at a supposedly random GameStop preview event for the game. It did seem fishy, however, prompting us to...
Don't forget your free Shiny Beldum in ORAS
If you're in North America this is a rather exciting day — delay the hype by seven days in Europe — as two monstrous first-party titles arrive alongside the amiibo range. If you're a fan of retail downloads chances are you're already playing these games, while a trip to stores or eagerly awaiting the...
Thursday20th Nov 2014
Review Castle Conqueror EX (3DS eShop)
Back to basics
Four years ago, at the time of the original Castle Conqueror title's DSiWare release, we made a somewhat snarky remark in our review about the absence of Real-Time Strategy games on the Nintendo DS. With its touch controls and capability to display information on one screen and action on the other, the dual-screened console seemed...
Friday21st Nov 2014
News The 3DS Proves to Be a Popular Music Player in Japan
Exposed shoulder buttons not an issue
Contrary to the West, Japan has an app that allows 3DS owners to download and listen to music, and despite the prominence of smaller and more dedicated media devices, many Japanese gamers are taking full advantage of the system. Recently hitting 3 million downloads, RecoChoku is the app in question. The site...
News NINJHAX Exploit Is All About Nintendo 3DS Homebrew And Not Piracy, Says Creator
Hack intended to attract bedroom coders to the 3DS, not stinkin' pirates
Today marks the launch of the much-hyped NINJHAX exploit, which allows 3DS owners a backdoor to run unofficial software on their consoles. The hack is the work of 22-year-old student Jordan Rabet, and is so called because it requires a copy of the obscure puzzle platformer...
Expresses confidence for the Holiday season
Reggie Fils-Aime, the President and COO of Nintendo of America, has been rather busy in the past week doing the rounds with the US media, primarily mainstream consumer and business outlets. With the absolutely vital Black Friday and Holiday seasons around the corner, it's an important time as the company...
A momentous occasion for Nintendo fans down under and across the ditch
Last night, Australia and New Zealand were treated to the release of a brand new Nintendo system before both North America and Europe. In a similar scenario to Nintendo’s homeland, Japan, existing models of the 3DS had reportedly reached the point of complete market saturation...
Anniversary The Nintendo DS is Now 10 Years Old
Went from baby phat to slim
It's a big day for the original DS, as it's 10 years to the day since the first model in the iconic family of systems — commonly referred to as the 'phat' — arrived in North America. Few will forget the E3 reveal of the DS by Reggie Fils-Aime, and its clamshell / dual screen design was a surprise after the sustained...
X-cruciating
In the world of platformers, the name of the game is control. That is to say, nothing speaks to a platform game's quality quite like the level of control the player feels they have over their character. Of course, control alone does not guarantee a successful product — creative level design that makes intuitive use of the mechanics is...
Anniversary 20 Years Ago Today, Rare Resurrected The Donkey Kong Brand
Donkey Kong Country is now two decades old
Donkey Kong is Nintendo's first major star, having made his début in the arcade game that effectively turned the company into the global monster it is today. However, when Mario decided to become Super on the NES and take his place as Nintendo's number one mascot, DK was bumped down the pecking order and...
Review Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger 2 (3DS eShop)
The mediocre outdoors
The thing about vacations is that once you go back somewhere, no matter how much you loved it the first time, it's never really going to be quite the same. The people are new, the places might have changed, and your overall experience is likely to be largely different. This isn't the case with Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger...
News Child of Light's Creative Director Paints a Picture of its Artistic Process
The game also made green, ended up in the black
Released back in spring Ubisoft Montreal's Child of Light possessed a uniquely gorgeous visual style that few, if any, have matched. In a talk at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) earlier this year, Creative Director Patrick Plourde discussed the journey from concept art to bringing the 2D RPG to...
Thursday20th Nov 2014
Review Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS)
Mapping your psyche
Atlus’ Megami Tensei series has been an RPG institution for over two decades, but to Western audiences it’s perhaps best known in connection with a numbered pair of revolutionary PlayStation 2 titles: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4. Starring modern Japanese high school students and integrating...
News Masahiro Sakurai Explains Why Mewtwo Isn't Paid DLC in Smash Bros.
Mewtwo intended as an "experiment", no paid DLC in development
With only a few days left until the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, series creator Masahiro Sakurai has sought to clarify, in an interview with IGN, his reasoning for not including Mewtwo as payable downloadable content for the upcoming title. Mewtwo, whose last series...
News Toys "R" Us Buy One Get One 40% Off Deal Includes All Wii U and 3DS Games
Handy as Smash Bros. for Wii U and Pokémon ORAS are eligible...
21st November is a bumper day for Nintendo fans in North America, with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U joining amiibo on the home console and Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arriving on 3DS / 2DS. As far as double releases go, that's an exciting day of gaming. US gamers that...
News Mewtwo Club Nintendo Super Smash Bros. Distribution Details Confirm Paid DLC Plan
Free if you buy both games, otherwise prepare to pay
It's been common knowledge for some time that those who purchase Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS and register them on Club Nintendo will be eligible to receive a two-disc soundtrack as a special treat. It was also announced that free Mewtwo DLC will come in Spring 2015, a
Review Mario Kart Super Circuit (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Good for another lap
When the Nintendo 64 hit the market and suggested that 2D games had gone the way of the dodo, many of us that were fond of fancy sprite-work were forced to dust off elderly hardware to scratch our itch for the classic genres we held dear — until the Game Boy Advance came along, that is. Often reflected upon as the second...
Nintendo Download 20th November (North America)
Smash Bros., Pokémon ORAS, Watch Dogs, GBA DK, Battleminer and much more
It's time for the Nintendo Download update, North American gamers, and this week's update brings massive releases on Wii U and 3DS. Beyond the big-name retail titles we have some new download-only titles, a host of other retail downloads both old and new, retro GBA DK and a...
Wednesday19th Nov 2014
Review Super Mario Advance - A Welcome Reworking Of Two Atypical Mario Platformers
Old Super Mario Bros.
While some video games don't age well, playing through Nintendo's back catalogue is generally like drinking a fine vintage wine. Super Mario Advance is rather unique in that it's a re-release of a collection of remade NES games. Super Mario Advance's brightly coloured remakes of Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Bros. and their...
Thursday20th Nov 2014
Weirdness Mario Kart Becomes A Temporary Reality In Tokyo
Every gamer's dream...
Go-kart rental company Akiba Cart is known for its usual monthly events, allowing people to race around the streets of Tokyo's busiest and geekiest district, Akihabara. However, last Sunday the neighbourhood was in for a treat, for a group of cosplayers dressed as Mario and company decided to take the stage and 'play' Mario...
Video How Does Watch Dogs Use The Wii U GamePad?
Every dog has its day
When Ubisoft said that the Wii U version of open-world action title Watch Dogs was being delayed, it insisted that the additional time would be used to make sure the potential of the Wii U GamePad was fully realised. Fast forward a few months and the game is finally here — but
News Sakurai Explains Why Ridley Is Not A Playable Fighter In Super Smash Bros.
Wanted to provide an accurate portrayal of the space pirate
The recent reveal of Ridley in the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U 50-fact extravaganza had Smash fans fooled for a brief moment thinking the well-known archenemy of Samus Aran was a playable character. As we now know though, this is not the case. In a re
News Suda51 Explains The Origins Of No More Heroes And Its Waggle-Based Swordplay
"That kind of motion is very Travis"
The Wii's incredible commercial success and unique control system ensured that the console received more than its fair share of third-party exclusives, with No More Heroes being one of the most notable early releases. Developed by Goichi "Suda51" Suda and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture, this insane 3D action...
News Bill Trinen Confirms There'll Be More Series-Specific amiibo Sets in Future
Also outlines amiibo name meaning and Captain Falcon's awesomeness
It's not just Super Smash Bros. for Wii U that's arriving as a big-name release on Nintendo's home console on 21st November in North America, but also the first amiibo range. Designed and branded for Smash Bros. — though with confirmed functionality in some other games — they'll...
News Nintendo Secures Plenty of Nominations in The Game Awards 2014
Bayonetta 2 up for Game of the Year gong
Not long ago we reported that the Spike VGAs will be replaced this year by The Game Awards 2014 — though not boasting a particularly original name, these have a nomination group of 28 publications and an advisory board including Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime. Quite what that all means in reality is...
News Meta Knight amiibo to be Best Buy Exclusive in US
Due in February and joins Shulk's GameStop exclusivity
By the end of February 2015 Nintendo will have released 29 amiibo figures. While distribution is expected to be across all retailers in PAL regions, in particular, some exclusivity deals on the early 2015 toys have begun to emerge for the US. Shulk will be a GameStop exclusive in the country,...
News Lucario amiibo Confirmed as a Toys "R" Us Exclusive in US
Who'll give Rosalina & Luma a home?
After the Amazon amiibo listings in the US pointed to some figures in 'wave 3' — due in February 2015 — being retailer exclusives in the country, details have slowly emerged of where they'll end up. Shulk will pitch up at GameStop and Meta Knight will swoop into Best Buy; now another figure has found a home...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Hits 10 Million Sales Mark In The US
"That’s a lot of penguin suits!"
The legacy of the Wii continues, with Nintendo of America today announcing New Super Bros. Wii has sold ten million copies across the US since it was released in 2009. The announcement was delivered via the official Nintendo of America Twitter account, and celebrated the historic milestone with the following tweet...
Flippin' fighting
Nintendo of America's download update had some big-hitters today for Wii U and 3DS, though the press release also outlined some games that we can look forward to in the weeks ahead. While three of these were retail titles and dates we already knew, a couple of Virtual Console games have been outlined — details are below. Mario...
Wednesday19th Nov 2014
Review Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Wii U)
The gloves are off
There is a laundry list of things to love about Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, one of two prongs that make up the fourth generation of Smash Bros. games, and top of the list is the game’s confidence that allows it to cater to anyone who might be interested in its brand of mascot mayhem. This new Smash Bros. is perfect for those...
News Eiji Aonuma Discusses Changes On the Way to Majora's Mask 3D
A change in a boss fight and fishing included
Following our previous article of Aonuma-san's interview with Famitsu regarding The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, more details from the interview have been interpreted. Commencing the interview — and summarised by Siliconera
News Wii U eShop Title Meme Run Seals Approval To Release This December
Totes LOLs guize, right? RIGHT?!?
Today is a red letter day. During moments like this, one cannot help but sit down and take stock of their own small part to play in this vast eternity we call existence. Crack open the history books, prepare for the very earth to shake, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria...Meme Run is coming. Yes in a...
News The New Nintendo 3DS Doesn't Come With An Internet Filter In Australia
Other western markets may follow suit
When the New Nintendo 3DS launched in Japan recently one of the more interesting new elements was the web browser, which came with a filter to block adult content from the eyes of innocent and impressionable youngsters. To remove the filter, you have to register a credit card — which incurs a small charge —...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Thrown off its Perch by Call of Duty, Wii U Sales Spike Upwards
Captain Toad makes a stand in Japan
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has finally been knocked from first place in the Japanese charts in the wake of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Sony must be fairly pleased with their success this week, but we wouldn't be at all surprised to see Monster Hunter right back up at the top next week once the hype has died...
Video Someone Has Built Mario Kart 8's Mute City Track In F-Zero X, Just Because They Can
You've got boast power!
Mario Kart 8's new DLC is a beautiful thing, offering additional characters, karts and tracks which breathe new life into what was already one of the best Wii U games. However, one of the highlights for the Nintendo Life team — all card-carrying F-Zero fans — is the Mute City track, which makes us want a sequel more than...
Video Nintendo of Japan Provides an Exhaustive and Gorgeous Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Overview
Hype mode engaged
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is now right around the corner in North America — with Europe and Japan not too far behind — and the anticipation is at its peak. Thanks to Nintendo's efforts we already know most details around the game, so it's now simply a case of getting into some delicious 1080p / 60 FPS brawling. Nintendo's...
News Pokémon Bank Version 1.2 Is Now Available To Download
Gotta patch ‘em all!
In preparation for the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire later this week, The Pokémon Company has released an update for its digital storage box, Pokémon Bank. All 3DS owners who own a copy of Pokémon Bank can download the update from the eShop or through the software itself. A total of 210 blocks of free...
Video Watch Us Merrily Cause Some Havoc In Watch Dogs On Wii U
Diamond Dogs
Yesterday, we posted footage from the Wii U version of Watch Dogs, essentially to prove that it actually, you know, exists. Today, we're back with another — rather more chaotic — helping of in-game footage which shows us driving (badly), hacking (badly), trying to run down pedestrians (badly) and trying to shoot someone (we didn't...
News Nexis Games Defends UCraft's Multiplatform Move and PC Beta Release
PS4 and Xbox One on the agenda, no name change mentioned
In recent weeks and months we've seen the emergence of a few titles clearly inspired by Minecraft, the phenomenon now owned by Microsoft that's been released on all platforms bar Nintendo's. Block building open-world adventures with primitive visuals are popping up as confirmed or prospective...
Review Football Up Online (3DS eShop)
The life of lag
Amidst the clamouring hands of football fans over the next entry in the FIFA series, EnjoyUp Games saw a gap in the market, namely the 3DS eShop, and so decided to release its original Football Up 3D. Not content with simply remaining a sub-par local multiplayer experience, Football Up Online has since been released to little...
Review Shuttle Rush (Wii U eShop)
Breath and taxes
Sometimes a game comes at you and everything seems fully as you expect… almost. It looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck. It’s definitely a duck. But then it moos a little and you’re forced to take a step back. That’s Shuttle Rush. General gameplay here is very straightforward: this is a...
News DK: King of Swing Looks Set for a Western Wii U Virtual Console Release
A bananas spin-off
There's certainly more to Donkey Kong than terrific 2D platformers — the ape began life as a villain in the iconic self-titled arcade, went 3D on the Nintendo 64, has gone up against Mario in some tricky puzzle games and even had his own set of bongos. All of that said, Game Boy Advance title DK: King of Swing is still one of...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 19th November
Second chances and missed targets
Last week brought us a fairly busy Kickstarter update with a few success stories to celebrate, albeit with the flipside of other notable projects not hitting their targets. This week brings us more titles that have fallen short, while some new entries arrive with their second attempts on the crowdfunding platform...
News Mario Kart 8 Update Planned to Resolve MKTV YouTube Upload Error
The dreaded error code 104-1852
Mario Kart 8 has proven to be a major success for the Wii U in 2014, being critically acclaimed and — more importantly — performing well at retail. A feature it introduced as new to the franchise, of course, was Mario Kart TV, in which you can save, edit and view stylish replays of races. Another option is to...
News Upcoming DLC for Mighty Gunvolt Unleashes New Stages and Bosses
A mighty update to version 2.0 is also on the way
DLC in the form of new bosses and stages has been on the cards for Mighty Gunvolt since it was revealed back in August that the title would be a free download for Azure Striker Gunvolt owners in Japan. Now, the first details about the downloadable content for the Inti Cr
Tuesday18th Nov 2014
News Dark Link's Sword to Be Given Away During Desert Bus Marathon
An evil sword for a good cause
A little more than a year ago, we posted an eBay find of a well-designed Master Sword replica. Since that auction (which ended at $935, by the way), the creator has forged on with new blades and projects--one of which can be yours for a lucky donation. The
Wednesday19th Nov 2014
News You'll Never Get Lost In Translation With Talking Phrasebook On Your 3DS
The essential travel companion with 7 different languages
The 3DS isn’t just a portable gaming system – it’s a device of many uses. Sanuk Games and Connected Cavern appear to be well aware of this having just announced the release of Talking Phrasebook – 7 Languages for the 3DS next week on November 27th. Coming in at an affordable price of...
Tuesday18th Nov 2014
Review Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (3DS)
A Mega Evolution
When Nintendo announced that the third generation of Pokémon games would finally be getting re-made for the Nintendo 3DS, many fans could barely contain their excitement; yet after the truly excellent Pokémon X & Y, what could Game Freak do — besides feed nostalgia — to possibly improve upon it? It seems the Poké-dev...
Feature The Wii U is Two Years Old, But How's it Doing?
We feel it's a C minus, overall, on its anniversary
Two years ago today — on 18th November 2012 — the Wii U was launched in North America. It was the first of this current generation of hardware to arrive in stores and generated a decent amount of hype, followed up by subsequent releases in Europe (30th November) and Japan (8th December). After...
News Sony: PS Vita Is Better Than 3DS And The Wii Brand Is A "Shadow Of Its Former Self"
Fergal Gara and Shawn Layden are entitled to their opinions, of course
Christmas is looming on the snow-covered horizon like a massive overstuffed turkey, but instead of exchanging gifts the big players in the video game hardware arena are talking trash about one another. At one end of the "Burn" scale there's Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime,...
Video This Is What Watch Dogs Looks Like On Wii U
And you thought it would never happen
As much as we'd like to go over the sorry history of the Wii U version of Watch Dogs, we'll resist the urge. All that needs to be said is that the game finally launches on Nintendo's console this week — an event many believed would never happen — and we've captured some footage to prove that it actually...
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Update 1.0.4 Now Live
Balanced Bros.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is well established now, with the Wii U version just days away in North America; the portable iteration, meanwhile, has already had a few minor updates to adjust its balancing, in particular. The latest such update, version 1.0.4, is now available to download. As confirmed previously this aims to...
News Cubic Ninja Sales Spike Following Announcement of 3DS Homebrew Requirement
Has rapidly moved up the charts on Amazon
In recent times we've provided some coverage of progress on a 3DS Homebrew Channel project, which is apparently all set to be released on 22nd November. It can be a grey area of fierce debate, as the excitement for some to produce apps and games — as was the case on DS and Wii — is countered by those...
News The Nintendo Wii U Is Better Value For Money Than Xbox One Or PS4, Says Reggie
"$299, includes two games; it's a compelling proposition for consumers"
Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime has told The Wall Street Journal that the Wii U represents better value for money than both the PS4 and Xbox One. Reggie's bullish comments come as the Wii U enters what is perhaps its most crucial Holiday season yet. Sony and...
News Twili Midna Joins The Battle In Upcoming Hyrule Warriors DLC Pack
Twilight Princess fans, rejoice
Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma has today revealed new information via The Legend of Zelda Miiverse community about the upcoming Twilight Princess DLC, coming soon to Hyrule Warriors. The second pack from Koei Tecmo will include Midna's true form, Twili Midna, as a playable character according Aonuma's latest post: This...
News Captain Toad Producer Says Nintendo Never Fully Considered Gender with Toads
This sort of thing is best left to the Internet, obviously
The physiology of Toads is not well established, nor was it likely ever meant to be. But when you take the faithful Mushroom Retainers and start throwing in ones with names like "Toadette" that look decidedly more feminine than the original model, we as human beings begin to ask questions...
News Take A Look At The Super Mario And Pokémon HOME Menu Themes Arriving This Week On 3DS
A free Sonic Boom theme is also up for grabs
Nintendo has certainly bolstered its 3DS Theme Shop offerings since the store’s initial launch early last month. Each week, owners of Nintendo’s beloved handheld see an array of new offerings released on the shop, and this week is no different. Coming off the attractive designs celebrating the...
Video Nintendo Releases Two Snappy amiibo TV Commercials
Just tap 'em on the GamePad
It's hard to believe, but the first amiibo range — along with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U arrive this week in North America, on 21st November. The figure range is clearly a priority for Nintendo, with 29 confirmed toys already and details slowly emerging of how they'll work in a variety of games. With release so close...
Monday17th Nov 2014
News Nintendo Joins "Creative Endorsement Program" For Niconico Video Service in Japan
YouTube affiliate programme still not officially detailed
Over the past 12-18 months Nintendo has had a rocky relationship with YouTube and its creators — in mid-2013 the company aggressively claimed revenues on videos including its content (such as Let's Plays etc) and was heavily criticised by some YouTubers, commentators and consumers; it then...
Tuesday18th Nov 2014
Interview Curve Studios on the Unique Charm of Thomas Was Alone
"The more eShop titles there are, the better it is for everyone"
In recent weeks Curve Studios has been responsible for adding three high-quality titles to the Wii U eShop library — it ported and published both Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut and The Swapper, while bringing its own Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones to th
Video Squishing Spiders in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Quests, Helpfully Explained
Give up on the facial tissue idea now
When we last left the caravan players can expect to to travel with in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, they were about to enter Hearth, a town known for its metalworking, but it seems the village has fallen on hard times ever since the lava flow that powers the forges has stopped. Solving the village's problem...
Monday17th Nov 2014
Nintendo Download 20th November (Europe)
Watch Dogs + DLC, Sonic Boom x2, Natsume retro goodies and more
Another week begins, but at least those of us in Europe have the Nintendo Download news to cheer up our day. This week's line-up includes some major retail releases, new download-only options across the board (even DSiWare makes an appearance) and a range of DLC, HOME themes and more...
News The November Club Nintendo Rewards Are Now Up For Grabs
Pilotwings! Tokyo Crash Mobs! Metroid II! More!
Update: Shortly after publication four more games were added to the list, so the original article now reflects this. Original Article: It's time for the penultimate North American Club Nintendo rewards update of 2014, with details for November now available to tempt you into parting with hard-earned...
News 3DS Homebrew Exploit Set to be Launched on 22nd November
Does not run 3DS ROMS, but open to emulators and apps
Over the past few months we've been reporting on the efforts of 3DS hacker smealum, who's been actively working towards releasing a homebrew exploit and channel for the 3DS. System updates and then the New Nintendo 3DS model delayed progress, but it seems that the exploit is now just days away...
Talking Point Nintendo Offers the Best of Both Worlds with Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Satoru Iwata's "Same-Generation Hypothesis" actually makes sense
It's almost taken for granted that Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire will perform well on 3DS (and 2DS) over the Holiday season. It's the safest bet for Nintendo since Pokémon X & Y jumped into a bold new 3D engine and became the biggest-selling of all 3DS games;...
News Keep All Your Treasured amiibo Figures Safe With Hori's Special Carry Case
This is my bag, baby
Choosing which amiibo you're going to buy when they hit store shelves is just one part of the problem — you've then got to figure out where you're going to store them when you're out and about. Thankfully, Hori has this all sorted out. Available from December 6th, this handy carry bag from Play-Asia costs $17 / £11 and will...
Video Nintendo Releases 60 FPS Trailers for Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 DLC
Have a EMP Indie event video as a bonus
Earlier this year YouTube announced that it'd update its service to finally support 60 frames per second (FPS) videos, which means that footage can be silky smooth and delicious for our eyeballs; that update went live at the end of October. The standard performance is 30 FPS, and if you're unsure of how...
News Andy Murray Drops Mario Kart For Sudden Djokovic Tennis Match
Green shell firing should've come in handy…
After being defeated by Roger Federer in this week's ATP World Tour Finals in the group stage, UK tennis player and Grand Slam winner Andy Murray had decided to hang up the racket and pick up the pad for a day — Sunday to be exact. However, his R&R came to a screeching halt, as he received a call...
News Resolution Doesn't Matter With 2D Games, Says Hyper Light Drifter Developer
"I don’t think anybody actually cares about this with 2D games"
Wii U owners might not be quite so concerned with the subject of what resolution their games are running in, but for Xbox One and PS4 fans it's an ongoing concern. With certain cross-platform titles running at a higher resolution on one machine than the other, the topic is constantly...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Sixty Two
Master Beast! Mario Circuit! Smash Tour! More!
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U arrives this week in North America, which makes this the last entry in this feature series before that HD iteration lands — those in PAL regions and Japan have a little longer to wait. As a result Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts are typically...
News Nintendo Is Bringing Holiday Magic To Shopping Malls Up And Down The United States
A chance to play the latest Wii U and 3DS games
Nintendo has announced that it is bringing its range of Wii U and 3DS titles to shopping centres all over the United States. From November 24th to December 21st, 16 different venues will benefit from hands-on play time with some of the company's most popular titles, including the forthcoming Super...
Gallery Nintendo of America Releases Photo Evidence That Mario & Luigi Suck at American Football
Watch out Luigi!
Nintendo tries to convince us that a slightly overweight plumber is actually an athlete, releasing a variety of games in which Mario and friends play Tennis, Golf, Baseball, Soccer or even compete in the Olympics. That's all harmless fictional fun, of course, but if you unleash the Bros. into the real world to play sports, the truth...
News Teyon Games Adds Text and Voice Chat to 3DS eShop Mix With Chat-A-Lot
Baby got chat
Teyon and WaiS Co. Ltd. have teamed up to bring their text and voice chatting app for the Nintendo 3DS, Chat-A-Lot, to the North American eShop starting this Thursday, 20th November for $7.99. Originally developed in Japan by WaiS Co. Ltd. and localised for the western regions by Teyon Games, Chat-A-Lot is a bright and colourful app...
Video Feast Your Eyes On Etrian Odyssey Untold II's Lush Opening Cinematic
And then cross your fingers for a western release
Etrian Odyssey Untold II hits Japanese stores on the 27th of this very month, and in order to build some hype in its homeland publisher Atlus has made the opening cinematic public. It's the next instalment in a series which has been active since the days of the Nintendo DS and follows on from the...
Sunday16th Nov 2014
Weirdness Now You Can Play Super Smash Bros. on a TI-83/84 Calculator
Mad yet brilliant
Gamers do the strangest things, yet the most bizarre projects can also be the most amazing. Some like to recreate their favourite games — improbably — on scientific calculators, for example, and now someone's gone and done it with Super Smash Bros. It may be about to come out on Wii U having enjoyed success on Nintendo 3DS,...
Review Bionic Commando: Elite Forces (3DS eShop / GBC)
Well, it ain't too young or pretty but it sure as hell can swing
The evil Avar Empire and their evil leader are planning evil things such as an evil invasion of the peaceful and generally lovely Karinia. Commander Joe was sent in to sabotage their evil plans but unfortunately he was a bit rubbish and got himself captured (again!? – no wonder they...
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu Themes Live in Europe
Four Nintendogs + Cats themes, too
Just recently four Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS HOME Themes were released in Japan, each adopting a different style reflecting the game, limited edition hardware and general artwork. We hoped they'd come to the West and, for Europeans at least, that day has come. Although they weren't listed in the official...
News Shigeru Miyamoto is Now 62 Years Old
Still leading the way
Little needs to be said about Shigeru Miyamoto and his contribution to Nintendo — or to be accurate his contribution to the video game industry. He's created some of the world's most iconic franchises and games while, in recent years, stepping back to oversee and assist Nintendo's talented development teams and partners...
News Good Smile's Mario Nendoroid Figurine Now Available for Pre-Order
Joining his brother
The good folks over at the Good Smile Company have opened pre-orders for their latest Nintendo themed Nendoroid Figure – Super Mario. The figure company has previously released the likes of Luigi, Toon Link, Pokémon Trainer Red and Isabel in Nendoroid form, and Mario is the latest to join the pack of Nintendo characters. The...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Ten: Mercenary
Paladins go to the palace balls, mercenaries go everywhere else
In the tenth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. Last week’s adventure in couch-building and furniture storage left me living large in my well-appointed new digs, the manor house in Castele’s market district. I...
Saturday15th Nov 2014
Feature Our Predictions For The Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2
Vehicles and tracks up for grabs
Earlier this week, ahead of the launch of the first Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack, we let our imaginations — and hopes — run free in creating more DLC packs that we want to see. It was certainly fun for us, though a common complaint was that they weren't realistic. Forgetting the fact that predicting Zelda DLC a year ago...
News Loot Crate amiibo Details and Pricing are Confirmed
Costs as much as a 3DS
Earlier this week it was announced that there would be a Loot Crate amiibo subscription package — it's a service where you pay monthly in return for regular deliveries of goodies. This is a Nintendo of America partnership, and details have now been confirmed for the amiibo subscription deal; it's limited to the US only,...
News Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Evolved From a Zelda Concept
"We like to think that Mr. Miyamoto finally realized the vision"
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may be a Wii U title that'll sit in a few North American stockings this Holiday — it arrives on 2nd January in Europe — with a combination of a reduced retail price and a charming aesthetic. It takes cute to a new level, while its brand of challenging...
Video Nintendo Minute Unboxes Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and amiibo
Look away collectors, boxes get ripped
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is now less than a week away from release in North America, which is a sentence sure to delight many and slightly irritate those in PAL regions and Japan that need to wait a little longer. With release so close there are no doubt plenty of Wii U owners getting ready to receive their...
Video Watch The Mario Kart 8 × Zelda DLC Running In Silky-Smooth 1080p 60fps
A Link To The Fast
The excellent first piece of paid-for DLC was released for Mario Kart 8 on Thursday, and it truly is a wonderful download, worthy of your hard earned money. We've waved lyrical about how great it is, but if for some reason you aren't yet convinced, allow us to push you off the fence with this video of Link, Tanooki Mario &...
Friday14th Nov 2014
Hands On Wii U GameCube Controller Adapter
Party like it’s 2001
The GameCube controller has become the community gold-standard for playing Super Smash Bros. So much so that Nintendo has wheeled out an adapter to make the controller released in 2001 compatible with its home console released in 2012. All for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The adapter is about as thick as two retail game cases...
News Exclusive New Nintendo 3DS Features Teased For The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
Game will be available on all models, however
Due to North America and Europe likely receiving the New Nintendo 3DS in early 2015, and with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D due in Spring, some were concerned — albeit unnecessarily — that the much-anticipated remake would be an exclusive for the new system. Thankfully, Eiji Aonuma has...
News Little Mac Is Officially The Least Successful Fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Out for the count
There's an upcoming patch for Super Smash Bros. on 3DS that will tweak balancing in the game, yet while some will call for that change to weaken Little Mac, statistics suggest that such changes may not be necessary. This writer's been on the end of some sound thrashings by Little Mac players in the online For Glory mode — with a...
News Amazon amiibo Pre-Orders Hint at More Retailer-Exclusive Figures
Meta Knight, Lucario and Rosalina & Luma missing
Just recently Nintendo announced its third wave of amiibo figures — and fourth if you account for the split release dates — which will add 11 toys to the range. It also emerged that some will be exclusive to specific retailers in North America, with the first example emerging as Shulk being...
Poll Who'll Be Your Main amiibo Buddy?
For Smash Bros. training, more games and picnics
Nothing says it's Friday like some nice, relaxing polls, so we thought we'd take one of the big topics of the week — amiibo — and gauge how you'll be enjoying — or not as the case may be — the upcoming range of toys. It's all very well looking at the attention Nintendo's directing towards the...
Review Adventures of Lolo (3DS eShop / NES)
Bubbles and puzzles and DEATH
The fine folks over at HAL Laboratory have an affinity for protagonists who could double as pretty decent basketballs, and the often-forgotten NES puzzler Adventures of Lolo features our first example of a blob hero. Unlike the platforming cuteness of the Kirby series, arguably HAL's most famous creation, Lolo has a...
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Claims Second in NPD Charts
Bayonetta 2 fails to chart, Wii U sales still tracking above 2013
October sales perhaps reflect the calm before the Holiday storm, as shoppers save money ahead of the madness to come in late November. That seems to have been reflected in the most recent NPD results, which cover physical retail sales in the US. It was a poor month for software...
Review I've Got to Run: Complete Edition! (3DS eShop)
Keep on running
When I've Got to Run! made its début this summer on Wii U eShop, we were not particularly impressed with the endless runner. An overly simplistic graphical presentation, a lack of replay value and the limited appeal of the genre on a home console were three of our biggest issues with the title — thankfully, all three have been...
Review Secret Journeys: Cities of the World (3DS eShop)
The road less littered
If you enjoy global sightseeing, but feel it needs the excitement of a flea market exploding all over it, then Selectsoft’s series of hidden objects games are made for you. Secret Journeys: Cities of the World plays almost exactly like its predecessor, City Mysteries, only shifting the backdrops to different parts of the...
Review PING 1.5+ (Wii U eShop)
All over the place
Ping 1.5+ is a puzzle game that’s all about aiming and shooting a tiny white cube at a circular orange target. Of course that’s easier said than done, as you’ll need to judge the right angle, bank the cube off walls, and avoid colliding with obstacles to reach the target within the indicated number of bounces and/or moves...
Video Relax With This Collection of Mario Kart 8 DLC Videos
Music! Comparisons! More Music!
It's Friday, which means the youthful among you may be planning a weekend full of fun and frolics, while those of us that are a tad older may be planning to sleep and catch up on our reading time — with pipe and slippers to hand, of course. Whatever the case for you, it can be nice to just relax and bask in the glow...
Video Let's Play Mario Kart 8 With Lydia Part Two: Shell Cup 150cc Challenge
150cc or bust
Not so long ago I tested my skills at Mario Kart 8's 150cc Mushroom Cup, and as promised, I'm back to take on the Shell Cup. Have my skills improved in the time that has passed since I gunned for Mushroom Cup glory? Have I mastered my racing lines and become more adept at blasting back-markers with red shells? You'll have to watch to...
Thursday13th Nov 2014
News Mario Kart 8 Software Update and DLC Available Now
Rev up the Master Cycle
While there are some blockbuster titles arriving in stores this week, we suspect we're not alone in looking forward to one thing above all else — Mario Kart 8 DLC. The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 includes eight tracks, three characters and four vehicles, and we think it's an absolute treat. The good news is that it's...
News Sonic Boom Exploit Allows Players to Skip Large Sections of the Game
Current record for completion already under an hour
As we reported a couple of days ago, a number of game-breaking bugs have been discovered in Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric for Wii U. The plot thickens today with the discovery of an exploit which allows Knuckles to jump infinitely when the game is paused between hops, as shown below in this video by...
Above the fold
Development studio Nyamyam prides itself on being founded with the primary purpose of making games that are fun and meaningful. This is a company that openly states that through great love and attention, it strives to create beautifully crafted games that bring a little magic into people’s lives. This is a small band of Rare alumni...
Nintendo Download 13th November (North America)
Mario Kart 8 DLC, LEGO Batman, Tengami, Sonic Boom x2 and much more
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, and this week is a bumper offering — we have major retail releases and exclusives on Wii U and 3DS, some intriguing new download-only titles, demos, discounts and, last but not least, Mario Kart 8 DLC. Lots to choose from, so let's get...
Adventuring beyond the Pokémon League
The more we hear about Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, the more this latest entry to the series seems to be bursting with all kinds of content. Developer Game Freak has committed to going more "in depth" with the game world this time around, and the surprise announcement of additional story elements...
Famous faces rolled out to hype Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
If modern consumerism has taught us anything it's that there's no better way of selling something that getting someone famous to have their photo taken whilst holding said product, or at least standing next to it. Nintendo is clearly aware of this golden rule and has turned to celebrities...
Mellow yellow
Japanese peripheral manufacturer Hori is releasing some pretty cool GameCube controllers to coincide with the launch of Super Smash Bros. Wii U, and it has added another one to the mix which is sure to appeal to seasoned Pokémon fans. The bright yellow Pikachu pad plugs into the Wii Remote and comes with a three-speed turbo function...
News GameStop to Host Preview Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Events on 14th November
3 hours of Smash
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a little over a week away in North America — spare a thought for those of us that are waiting longer in PAL regions and Japan — and a number of Wii U owners are no doubt awaiting their pre-orders or even pre-downloads. Nintendo's stepping up marketing, particularly in North America, through...
Wednesday12th Nov 2014
News Splatoon's Japanese Twitter Account Inks Out a Few Details
Grab your Hero Suit and Charge Gun
While the world waits for what is guaranteed to be the greatest shooter featuring squidomorphic creatures to date, the official Japanese Twitter account for Splatoon has been happily dispensing screenshots and information from the upcoming title. Someone has been gracious enough to translate many of these tweets,...
Thursday13th Nov 2014
Video Mercedes Releases Two New Real-Life Mario Kart 8 Commercials
We’ll also file this one under the ‘weirdness’ tag
Whether you like it or not, the free Mercedes DLC for Mario Kart 8 is here to stay. Whilst the initial announcement raised much discussion – and concern – about licensed content within Nintendo’s video game franchises, Mercedes-Benz has since cunningly naturalised the concept with the...
News Mario Kart: Super Circuit is Racing Onto The Wii U Virtual Console
Rated and ready for a US release
Update: It seems this title is coming out today in North America, as a trailer has been posted on YouTube: [ Original Article: While ambassadors of the 3DS have had their hands on Mario Kart: Super Circuit since 2011, the rest of the Nintendo community has been wondering when the Game Boy Advance title would...
Video Five Vital Tips for Conquering Shovel Knight
Courtesy of Yacht Club Games' Sean Velasco
Shovel Knight has been available for a good while now, yet those still digging in will have noticed that it's more than a simple A to B platformer. With in game currency, items and upgrades to manage it has its own levels of complexity, making it possible for players to inadvertently bypass important...
News Kirby And The Rainbow Curse For Wii U Releases In North America On 13th February
European release still scheduled for the second half of 2015
Last week’s Nintendo Direct revealed Kirby and the Rainbow Curse would launch in North America in February, whilst fans of the pink puff in Europe and surrounding PAL territories would have to wait until the second half of 2015. Now, according to the official
Weirdness Fans of Patent Pending Song 'Hey Mario' Campaign for Radio One Airtime
Over a million views of the song's videos since last year
There are plenty of fans out there that show their love for Nintendo and its games through various means — we see art, dance, song and more. Songs aren't in short supply of course, especially those dedicated to Mario, but one band and its fans are pushing the boat out to get mainstream...
Play Get Racing In Our Mario Kart 8 Nintendo Life DLC GP
All new tracks, all the time
Today has brought us the first Mario Kart 8 DLC pack, which is no doubt being eagerly played around the world already. With tracks, characters and vehicles incorporating F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda and Excitebike alongside other fun new tracks, it delivers a terrific expansion to the racer. Naturally plenty will be...
News Japanese Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call DLC To Include Bravely Default Tunes
Bravely soldiering on
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's track list and DLC offerings are an already impressive offering, encompassing titles like the iconic SNES classic Final Fantasy VI to experimental GameCube spinoff Crystal Chronicles, but next week in Japan the game branches out into new territory, as four tracks from
Wednesday12th Nov 2014
Feature These Are The Mario Kart 8 DLC Packs We Want To See
This is just the beginning
At the time of writing the first DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 — The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 — is just hours away. It won't stop there, either, as next May will bring a second pack to the successful Wii U racer. Yet as we eagerly anticipate blasting around Mute City while playing as Link on the Master Cycle —...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Pre-Purchase and Pre-Load Now Available on the eShop
17.2GB in space required, will allow immediate launch day play
Not long ago Nintendo announced that it was introducing a pre-download service to the Wii U eShop that'll kick off with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U; it'll eventually be utilised more and on 3DS in 2015. The exciting news is that details have been confirmed, meaning that fans of...
News Free Sonic Boom 3DS Theme Now Available For Download In North America
Speed demon
There's still no sign of our review copies of Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, but we can at least take some solace in the fact that there's a free 3DS theme available for download right now. We've confirmed that the theme is on offer in North America and Canada, but it's not currently available on either the...
News Konami Demands That Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania Book Be Removed From Sale
"Their qualm is that it's unlicensed, but it doesn't need to be"
At the request of Konami, the review-packed book Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania by Kurt Kalata has been removed from sale. The full colour book was only released two months ago on September 13th, and not only includes overviews of nearly every Castlevania title, but also...
News Reggie Fils-Aime Says Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Pre-Orders Are At Record Levels
Talks up Holiday prospects and tackles smartphone questions
We're now very close to the peak shopping season for 2014, and Nintendo will be throwing out major releases in a bid to secure major sales success for both Wii U and 3DS. For the Wii U much rides on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and the amiibo range, while on 3DS the main focus will be...
Wii U awaits new releases, still
It's Media Create charts time for Japan, once again, and this week brings more steady reassurance for Nintendo in the portable space, if not necessarily for Wii U. This is also a relatively quiet spell ahead of the Holiday season in Japan, so familiar names continue to make their presence felt. At the top, still, is...
Review Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade (Wii U eShop)
Colossal Clone Catastrophe
More and more cheap titles on the Wii U eShop are being released with amateurish production and design, and Cypronia's Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade is only a half-step up. A port of a 3DS Angry Birds clone, Colossal Carrot Crusade contains the exact content of its 3DS counterpart, but with added online...
Tuesday11th Nov 2014
News Rodea the Sky Soldier Now Flying Into a Spring 2015 Release in Japan, for Wii U and 3DS
Wii version dropped, unsurprisingly
Rodea the Sky Soldier has had a troubled history. When originally announced for Wii and 3DS this flying action title certainly caught the eye, with the development team at Prope being led by the highly regarded Yuji Naka, one of the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog. It then seemed to enter the publishing void,...
Wednesday12th Nov 2014
Review Magical Diary: Secrets Sharing (3DS eShop)
The secret's out: this diary is meh-gical
A few decades back, when kids wanted to document their daily accounts or their innermost thoughts, they had to put a pen to paper or tap away on their Talkback Dear Diary. Yet in these modern times, where it’s common for most people to carry numerous electronic devices, there’s less and less of a reason...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 12th November
Updates on successes, failures, and more campaigns
It's been a while since our last Kickstarter update, so this one will incorporate plenty of successes and failures covering campaigns that have closed, in addition to some new projects currently battling towards the finishing line. There's at least one more game on the way to Wii U, at least. As...
Micro Machines-style racer is hitting consoles first this time around
Former Psygnosis staffer and Wipeout developer Nick Burcombe plies his trade at Playrise Digital these days, and has overseen the release of the successful Table Top Racing on smartphones and tablets. He and his studio are now hard at work on the sequel — Table Top Racing: World...
News Nintendo UK Launches Online 'Extra' Magazine Along With Kids Club
Issue One is live now
Nintendo of Europe (and subsidiary Nintendo UK) have stated that they'll continually look to expand and improve how they communicate with gamers and fans, a point reinforced to disappointed Official Nintendo Magazine UK subscribers after its closure; a step towards that appears to have been launched today. Nintendo UK's...
News 3DS Version Of Petit Computer Hits Japan November 19th, Global Programming Contest Announced
No date for the western release as yet
Programming tool Petit Computer — known in Japan as SmileBASIC — is getting a new 3DS version in Japan this month. Developer SmileBoom Co.Ltd confirmed the release today, and also announced that the third programming contest will be held in conjunction with the Japanese launch. Although this contest will...
Video Nintendo's Wii U Holiday Commercial Keeps It In The Family
Racing off with Mario Kart 8
In 2013 Nintendo of America's main Wii U Holiday commercials revolved around 'The Pitch', as kids tried to convince their parents that a Wii U was the way forward for family entertainment. The first 2014 Wii U Holiday commercial in the region also, unsurprisingly, opts for families as its pitch, albeit with a different...
News Travel Companion App ''Talking Phrasebook'' Making The Trip To 3DS
7 languages at your fingertips
Travelling can be a stressful business, and even more so when you've no idea how to speak the native language. Bumbling through a few variations of "omelette du fromage" just won't cut it any more, so the upcoming arrival of travel app Talking Phrasebook - 7 Languages gives hope to Nintendo fans from all over Europe...
Tuesday11th Nov 2014
A Wii U + 4 first-party games for $359.97, 15% off eShop cards
With each passing year the build up and buzz around Black Friday — the crazy shopping day to trump all others — increases; as a result stores are more keen than ever to outline and preview what they'll have on offer. Even though the official day is 28th November, we're already...
News Nintendo Outlines Confusing amiibo Save Data Limitations
Not as simple as with Skylanders
It seems to be amiibo day, with a Wii U system update adding a settings menu for the figures and a range of 11 more toys confirmed for 2015; those are positives, though details on how to use the figures on the official website in Japan indicate some limitations to the figures. Though it's been comm
Weirdness Fan Turns Pokémon Blue into a SNES Game
Making a classic…more of a classic?
It can be said that most Pokémaniacs share the dream of one day being able to play a full Pokémon adventure on a big screen, and one dedicated fan has achieved this by managing to fit a Pokémon Blue Game Boy cartridge into an empty SNES cartridge through some soldering work. The Nintendo 64’s Pokémon...
News Nintendo Reveals 11 amiibo Super Smash Bros. Figures Hitting in Early 2015
Bowser! Shulk! Mega Man! More!
Update 2: Nintendo of Europe has now tweeted release dates for the figures in the region. [tweet Update 1: Nintendo of America has now confirmed the range of 11 new figures for February 2015 in the region, along with an overview video that you can watch below. [ Original Article: In the not-too-distant future...
Review The Swapper (Wii U eShop)
A clone in the dark?
With the Wii U eShop’s recent flurry of sci-fi titles such as Master Reboot and The Fall finding a home on the digital service, what does it take for yet another game set in space to stand out from the crowd? Puzzles. Yep, but not just any old puzzles — spatial physics-based conundrums that’ll give your brain a thorough...
Talking Point The amiibo Range Grows, Yet Key Questions Remain
Its ambition is both a strength and a curse
Back in August we outlined amiibo pros and cons, mainly within the context that Nintendo had revealed little about the figures over the course of the summer months. Many questions have since been answered in terms of how the figures will be used in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, in addition to their minor...
News Shulk amiibo Listed as GameStop Exclusive in the US
Hopefully won't sell for $90 used
Nintendo today revealed 11 new amiibo figures heading to stores in early 2015; in Europe six are listed for 23rd January and another five for 20th February, while in North America they've simply been given a 'February' window so far. In the latter region it's been suggested that some of these newer figures would be...
News Upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Patch To Address Balance Issues
You can smell the stability from a mile away
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U just around the corner, we reckon now's your chance to get in some practice with the terrific Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS before taking your brawling skills to the big screen. Today, Nintendo has announced the latest patch for the 3DS version, aiming to solve...
News Teaser Tweet Suggests Binding of Isaac on the 3DS
Could it finally be leaving Purgatory?
The Binding of Isaac may be one of the most-discussed games in Nintendo circles that hasn't yet appeared on a Nintendo system. The original title was denied publication by The Big N in 2012, seemingly over the nature of its content. Since then, the idea that The Binding of Isaac may still appear on the Wii U or...
News Wii U System Update 5.3.0 Adds amiibo Settings
Register figures and manage their data
The Wii U has had its fair share of updates recently, and another has been rolled out to add support for the upcoming range of amiibo figures. System version 5.3.0 (add a U or E depending on your region) has added new menus for managing amiibo data while also, no doubt, done plenty of firmware work behind the...
Review SDK Paint (Wii U eShop)
Just OK Paint
SDK Paint has an interesting history. Its developer, Hullbreach Studios, began making JavaScript applications for Wii, Nintendo DSi, and Nintendo 3DS using their respective Internet browsers. These include both the initial versions of SDK Paint — DSi Paint and 3DS Paint — as well as a full-fledged browser-based MMORPG called...
News Transparent Blue and Red 2DS Models Hit North America on 21st November
Just in time for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Back in late September Nintendo of Europe revealed red and blue transparent 2DS systems that'll be bundled with Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire; though one of the models has since appeared in an early listing in North America, full release details for the region have proven elusive...
Review Chests O' Booty (Wii U eShop)
Pieces of 2048
You can hardly swing a stylus without hitting a match-three game on the 3DS eShop these days, but so far the relentless tide of phoned-in puzzlers has mostly sidestepped the Wii U’s digital storefront. And while Chests O’ Booty might at first look like a pirate-themed take on more of the same, it’s actually a surprisingly unique...
Video StreetPass East Midlands Goes Hands-On With The New Nintendo 3DS
We caught up with the UK group at this year's GameCity event
GameCity is one of the UK's biggest gaming events, bringing players, developers and publishers together for a week of activities, talks and demonstrations all across the city of Nottingham. This year, StreetPass East Midlands had its own little shindig in one of Nottingham's many...
News Spike VGAs To Be Replaced By The Game Awards 2014
Awards show gets year one patch to enhance the 'next-gen' experience
SpikeTV played host to the VGAs for a decade, and some of you might remember the awards ceremony fondly as a way to reward industry icons for their accomplishments. Others are more likely to focus on the often cringe-worthy creative decisions made over the years, and the commercial...
News Battleminer is Bringing Its Crafty Presence to 3DS in North America on 20th November
Bring a machine gun to an ant fight
Back in late September we directed your attention to Battleminer, a 3DS eShop release from Wobbly Tooth Games with "that Minecraft aesthetic". The developer made some bold promises, such as 60fps performance in a procedurally generated world, a survivor mode in which you mine, craft and fight enormous ants, in...
Monday10th Nov 2014
News Target and Best Buy Nintendo Deals Live Now, Kohl's Black Friday 3DS XL Bundle at $149.99
Buy two with a third game free, or 3DS titles at half price
Last week we shared some Black Friday deals on 2DS and 3DS hardware, the first of what'll be many discounts and deals on offer when the year's biggest shopping day arrives on 28th November in North America — and elsewhere in the world, we suspect. That's still to come, though some...
News Game Freak Emphasizes Its Ability to Go "In Depth" With Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Masuda-san and Ohmori-san reveal their favourite Pokémon
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire are the dominant arrival on the Holiday horizon for 3DS, making this the second year running — after X & Y in the same period during 2013 — that the franchise has led the way for Nintendo's portable. Pre-order numbers have been impressive,...
Video Early Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric Footage Hints At Game-Breaking Bugs
Wii U title is out this week, looks a bit rough around the edges
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric hits North American stores this week after the release date was brought forward slightly, yet here at Nintendo Life we're still waiting patiently for our review copy to arrive. This could have something to do with the reaction Sega is expecting the Wii U...
Nintendo Download 13th November (Europe)
Mario Kart 8 DLC, Golden Sun, Tengami, LEGO, Castlevania and more
It's another Monday morning, which means we have Nintendo Download news for European gamers. It's a packed week with a major retail release, eagerly anticipated DLC, some high-profile Virtual Console games and enticing download-only titles to consider. There's a lot to get through, so...
Review Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (Wii U eShop / GBA)
The best for last?
Konami's Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow is the third and final Castlevania title for the GBA, and arguably the strongest. A departure from the typical period drama involving the extended and ever-complicated Belmont clan, Aria of Sorrow introduces new characters and mythology into the series while also building on what has made...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Outlines Core Nintendo Philosophies, Not "Boring" Alternatives
"Think of ideas for games that could have never happened before"
There are few plaudits that haven't been directed at Shigeru Miyamoto, the key development figurehead at Nintendo throughout its history in the video game industry. From providing a breakthrough hit with the original Donkey Kong arcade to overseeing and directing multiple projects as...
News Nintendo Teams Up With Loot Crate To Deliver amiibo Subscription Service
Donkey Kong will be knocking at your door soon
Popular online service Loot Crate has been delivering monthly boxes of geeky goodies for quite some time now, mailing a differently themed package straight to front doors on a subscription basis. While these collectibles are often gaming-related as is, Nintendo's recent partnership with the site aims to...
Video The Top 10 Mario Platformers, As Selected By You
You voted, and the winner is...
Way back in August, we asked you wonderful readers what your favourite Super Mario platform game was. You voted, and from those votes we came up with a Top 10 list, which we have immortalised in this video. If you ever played a Super Mario game, then you must be curious about what game is number one, right? Could it...
Review Costume Quest 2 (Wii U eShop)
Fine, but not double fine
As RPGs go, the original Costume Quest was never a particularly complex affair. The same thing can be said about its sequel, Costume Quest 2, which takes the two trouble-seeking children into another Halloween adventure, but this time in different periods of recent history. You control Wren and Reynold, two marginally...
Video Nintendo Unleashes a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U TV Commercial
Eight player action in the world's biggest living room
We like the idea of eight player Super Smash Bros. for Wii U action, we really do. Yet one thing is certain for those of us that are living within modest means; it's going to get a bit crowded around the TV when we have seven buddies — add joke about the writer not having that many friends...
News Art Academy for Wii U Pushed Back to 2015 in North America
Joins previously confirmed delay in Europe
Art Academy for Wii U, which will be an eShop-only release, has had a low profile existence, enduring delays and only occasional mentions by Nintendo. The full release follows the 2013 arrival of the pared-back Art Academy: SketchPad; the updated release will have the lessons and full tool-set typically...
Video Check Out All 51 Final Smashes Featured In Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Is anything still sacred?
The release of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS in October has been a good indication of what to expect from the home console counterpart when it is finally released this November. Adding to this previously acquired knowledge was the recent Super Smash Bros. for Wii U 50-fact extravaganza. Now, it appears there really is nothing...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issues Sixty & Sixty One
Two for the price of none, as they're free anyway...
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is around the corner, and so we're bringing you a double issue of our regular summary of Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts. Naturally some of you may wonder what the heck happened last week — previews of the actual game and your humble scribe...
Weirdness Dan Adelman's Made a Game, Albeit a "Turd That Looks Like Woah Dave"
10/10 for effort
We're fans of Woah Dave! here at Nintendo Life; it's not easy to release a chaotic retro-style arcade cabinet experience for $5 while delivering fun and value, but developer MiniVisions seems to have pulled it off. Available now on the 3DS eShop in North America, it's published by Choice Provisions — formerly Gaijin Games — and...
Sunday9th Nov 2014
Preview Power Sliding Around The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC
The great just got even greater!
Recently we were invited to Nintendo's UK headquarters to have a go at The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC that's arriving on 13th November, and naturally we just had to tell you what we thought of it. This is the first time a Mario Kart game has had DLC, so Nintendo has to make an impact to convince buyers to...
News Bandai Namco Announces Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus For 3DS
Will include amiibo support
Rookie pilots – at least in Japan – will soon be able to take to the skies once again, with Bandai Namco earlier this week announcing Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Plus for 3DS in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine. This new entry in the series is essentially an enhanced version of the 2012 3DS title, Ace...
News 10-Year-Old Gamer Thrashes the Competition at Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Event
It could be clever marketing, mind you
Update: As the tagline and latter half of this post suggested, there's always a possibility that footage and events like these are 'staged' for publicity. Now we've been directed by a few to a Reddit thread that highlights an apparent GameStop casting call looking for actors with "some skill" in Smash Bros. to...
Gallery Duck Hunt's Super Smash Bros. Screens Are Barking Mad
Not too ruff
It's the end of a busy week in the world of Nintendo, with the main event being a Direct broadcast on 5th November, which contained some tasty reveals. The least surprising of these reveals related to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, as the big N finally brought us the announcement video for Duck Hunt (known as D
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Nine: Carpenter
We do it awl
In the ninth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. Last week’s outdoors adventure in nature walks and axe-handling left me with a dilapidated house full of logs, broken furniture, and a missing cat. Rather than move into the inn permanently and replace said cat I...
Saturday8th Nov 2014
News Eiji Aonuma Confirms Majora's Mask 3D Has Been In Development Since 2011
A Link To The Mask
Earlier today Zelda series-director Eiji Aonuma took to Miiverse and posted some more details about the development of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D. Here is what Aonuma-san had to say: "Since The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D was announced during the most recent Nintendo Direct, I’ve noticed that many of you...
News "The Sky Is The Limit" For amiibo, As Nintendo Considers Future Third-Party And Indie Support
"Working towards opportunities" for 2015
While the attention of many following Nintendo's fortunes over the Holiday season may be on sales of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire on 3DS, Nintendo itself could be forgiven for watching the performance of amiibo more closely. Sales success for the two biggest hitting...
Review Flapp & Zegeta (Wii U eShop)
What the Flapp?
On Denysoft's official website, Flapp & Zegeta comes with a disclaimer reproduced here verbatim: "Warning: this may be one of the most challenging games of all times it may require a high level of intelligence and reflexes to get through." Rest assured, Flapp & Zegeta is challenging. In fact, it probably does meet its lofty...
Friday7th Nov 2014
News Eon Ticket StreetPass Relay Announced for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire in the UK
Passing on the goodness
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire arrives very soon, with the popular Game Boy Advance entries all set for a substantial remaster on the 3DS. Hype will no doubt build throughout November, of course, and The Pokémon Company is keen to push the excitement along with a special launch event focused on the Eon Ticket. The...
Feature A Look at the Many Bat Suits in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Holy hole in a doughnut Batman!
We love a good LEGO game here at Nintendo Life, and when that game also features the Dark Knight we're pretty optimistic that it will be a winner. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham will be taking a trip down memory lane and will celebrate Batman's 75th Anniversary — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is bringing back...
News The Man Behind Sega's Wonder Boy Series Hates The Controls In Super Mario Bros.
"The movements just didn't feel right"
Super Mario Bros. is one of the most influential video games of all time, and has gone on to inspire countless titles over the years. While the vast majority of these subsequent games have tried to capture the magic which made Shigeru Miyamoto's NES classic so popular, Westone Bit founder Ryuichi Nishizawa has...
Talking Point The Majora's Mask 3D Reveal Showed Nintendo Can Still Surprise and Delight
It was a S.T.E.A.M.Y Direct
This week Nintendo produced a rather traditional Direct broadcast — there was no animation, relatively little flashy presentation beyond trailers, and a diverse range of announcements. It was back to type and rather like those that we'd seen throughout 2013; that's not a criticism, as Nintendo has diversified its...
Review Rock Zombie (Wii U eShop)
B movie beat 'em up
It's always a pleasant surprise when a game surpasses your expectations. Suffice it to say, this reviewer's expectations were modest going into Rock Zombie — the goofy synthesized guitars, expressionless character models and mangled English dialogue all seemed to lead in one direction: pain. But you can't go into every game...
Video Enjoy a Turbo Boost With This Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 1 Overview
Race on a giant dragon, just because
It's now just a week before the first batch of DLC for Mario Kart 8 arrives; while it may seem slightly peculiar to be hyped for paid DLC, we suspect a good number of Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting this pack's arrival. For a thoroughly reasonable price there'll be a decent amount of content, and the fact that...
Review Falling Skies: The Game (Wii U eShop)
Falling to pieces
Video games have relied on the standard 'alien invasion' plot since the very beginning. It takes a unique twist to make it work in this day and age, whether it's a new gameplay style or a refreshingly original storyline, and that isn't an easy task. Falling Skies: The Game takes fun, tactical gameplay and blends it with the...
News Masahiro Sakurai Shows Some Wuhu Island Madness Coming to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Gawk at yesterday's Yoshi's Woolly World stage, too
With its release now just a short while away, we've seen almost all there is to see of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, aside from the inevitable surprises. Masahiro Sakurai is, nevertheless, taking the opportunity to reveal some new stages in his Miiverse posts, and this one looks particularly fun...
Gallery Project CARS Screens Focus on Realistic Karting
Not a blue shell in sight
Project CARS has had a rather protracted development to date, with the realistic driving sim picking up Bandai Namco as publisher but also getting pushed back to allow for further development. Most versions are now due in March 2015, while the Wii U iteration will arrive later next year. While it's pleasing that the Wii U...
News Citizens of Earth Release Pushed Back to 20th January
Electing for more dev time
Citizens of Earth is a quirky RPG with origins on Kickstarter, though a failed campaign was saved when Atlus stepped in to publish Eden Industries' project. With a promise of a lengthy campaign and classics such as EarthBound cited as influences, there are high hopes for this one. It'll be a little longer before we take...
Video Take a Closer Look at the Awesome GamePad and Co-Op Features of Stealth Inc 2
Be stealthy together
We're big fans of Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones here at Nintendo Life, a Wii U eShop exclusive that combines solid platforming, a Metroidvania world and terrific level design; we awarded it a handsome 9 out of 10 in our review. A key feature that we appreciated in that review is the local co-op, which utilises the GamePad...
News Pikmin Art Academy Contest Announced on Miiverse
Styluses at the ready
Following the release of the PIKMIN Short Movies on the Wii U and 3DS eShop, legendary series creator Shigeru Miyamoto has announced via Miiverse that a special PIKMIN themed Art Academy contest will be taking place throughout the month of November. The title of the contest is "Pikmin Spotted!", and owners of Art Academy:...
Video Atlus Releases New Persona Q Character Videos Along With Party Composition Basics
Helpful direction in Jungster selection
As the weeks count down to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth's release in Europe and North America, Atlus has posted four new character videos featuring the two out-of-dungeon but no less important support characters, the young tough, and the dog. Your dungeon-crawling tour guide, the ever-helpful and...
Thursday6th Nov 2014
News Nintendo Black Friday Deals Reveal New 3DS and 2DS Hardware Options
Get ready for some savings
With Black Friday now less than a month away, some of the deals set to hit store shelves on 28th November — or in the surrounding days — have begun to leak through to the public. For those unfamiliar with the day, Black Friday is an annual shopping extravaganza started in North America. It's renowned as a day of big...
Review Pier Solar and the Great Architects (Wii U eShop)
Build me up and tear me down
While playing Pier Solar and the Great Architects, it’s important to consider what a labour of love the title really is. With origins as a Sega CD homebrew project from the now-defunct Sega fansite Eidolon’s Inn, it was originally meant to star members of that website’s "Tavern" message board before evolving into a...
Review Skylanders Trap Team (Wii U)
Knaves in Toyland
As the original ’toys-to-life’ video game concept — inspiring both Disney’s Infinity and Nintendo’s upcoming amiibo line — Skylanders has an impressive legacy to live up to. The series’ first release, Spyro’s Adventure, took the world and characters from the classic Spyro the Dragon games and crafted an enjoyable...
News The Original NES Duck Hunt Is Coming Soon To The Virtual Console On Wii U
No dogs laughing at this
Since Duck Hunt Duo — simply known as Duck Hunt in North America — emerged as a part of the character line-up in the latest Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS, fans have been holding out for the return of the classic pairing in some other way or form; now that very day has arrived. Nintendo has revealed the 1984...
Gallery Gorge Yourself on These Assets For The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
No petitions needed
Nintendo finally did it — The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D was revealed. After a solid two years of teases, Grezzo job listings and more teases, its long-winded route to the system was almost beyond parody; if you scroll down in our live blog of this week's North American broadcast this foolish writer even jokily listed it...
Nintendo Download 6th November (North America)
Sportsball, The Swapper, Pikmin movies, GBA Mario, Sonic discounts and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, as we have more downloadable treats to consider. Some arrivals dropped onto the eShop stores following this week's Nintendo Direct broadcast, while there are a host of additional attractive options for Wii U and 3DS landing today...
"I’d much rather be where Nintendo is, with a differentiated platform"
Third-party support has been one of Nintendo's biggest issues since the launch of the Wii U. The console has struggled to attract external developers and publishers in the same way that Sony and Microsoft's systems have, and there are many games which could have made their way...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 5th November 2014
There were fireworks
There haven't been many full-on "old-fashioned" Nintendo Direct broadcasts in 2014, as the company has focused on game-specific presentations and an alternative Digital Event approach at E3. While variety is welcome, there was something reassuring about a live video featuring Satoru Iwata in front of a white backdrop; the...
Wednesday5th Nov 2014
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 1 Hits on 13th November, Content and amiibo Details Confirmed
Rev it up
Among the many announcements during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast were some exciting details about a long-established Wii U game. Nintendo finally provided full release details on the first DLC pack for Mario Kart 8, while also confirming the compatible amiibo figuries for the racer. To kick off with the DLC, it arrives on 13th...
Thursday6th Nov 2014
Review Pixel Paint (Wii U eShop)
Almost pixel-perfect
Let’s face it: at some point, every gamer has been caught off guard by the alluring retro beauty of pixel art. Say what you will about its overuse in today’s onslaught of independent games — chances are you still love it. There’s something majestic about the way tens, hundreds, or thousands of tiny dots come together to...
News Genyo Takeda Discusses Nintendo's Hardware Future
"We have been making progress"
In Nintendo's recent investor Q&A, Genyo Takeda described the possible directions Nintendo is considering for its future hardware: The integration of architecture is our fundamental policy, and we have been making progress. Now that our new hardware systems are on the market, I would need to comment in terms of...
Wednesday5th Nov 2014
News Every Smash Bros. amiibo Will Be Compatible With Hyrule Warriors
Your dollar will feel more worthwhile…
The folks at Nintendo have revealed some very interesting information in the latest Nintendo Direct, in that every Super Smash Bros. amiibo figure is able to be used with Zelda spin-off title, Hyrule Warriors. Starting off with the game's protagonist, activating the Link amiibo will unlock the Spinner item...
Thursday6th Nov 2014
News Nintendo Aiming To Create A Stronger Bond With Consumers Via Mii Smartphone Application
"It is rather embarrassing that we are so behind on this compatibility"
Nintendo has made no secret of the fact that it is looking into producing smartphone and tablet applications to support its core business, and during the recently-translated Corporate Management Policy Briefing Q&A, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata spoke about the company's...
Review Tetrobot & Co (Wii U eShop)
Acute brain-bending pleasure
Many puzzle games – particularly on mobile devices – can be argued as being insultingly easy or too mind-numbingly obtuse to even be comprehended by human minds. Luckily *Tetrobot & Co. doesn’t fit into either of these categories. The story of this game revolves around an intelligent young lady who spends her...
News Pikmin Short Movies Available to Buy Now on Wii U and 3DS
Pikmin 3 demo also released
Pikmin 3 has clearly been a title of great personal importance to Shigeru Miyamoto, a point highlighted by the recent Tokyo International Film Festival première of three short films that the legendary game designer has overseen. These animated shorts allowed Miyamoto-san to step away from games and work on a fresh...
Preview The Irresistible Charm of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Cuteness overload
When summarising Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, we feel that our editorial director Damien McFerran may have nailed it: "look at it, pure gaming joy on a screen". Few game companies portray 'cute' as successfully as Nintendo — relatively few even bother to try — and this is the epitome of that approach. It takes the...
News Nintendo Highlights Huge Indie Line-up for Winter and Beyond
Lots and lots of games
It's little secret to Nintendo gamers that the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS — particularly the former — have picked up a lot of steam in 2014. Both Nintendo of America and Europe (in their respective Direct broadcasts) took the opportunity to highlight just that, showing off games out now and on the way. In Europe...
News Nintendo Discusses Plans for amiibo Cards, Franchises Like Animal Crossing Under Consideration
"amiibo has the potential to propose new ways to play card games"
We've argued before that amiibo could be crucial for Nintendo's fortunes in the coming months and years; if the company can make them enticing to consumers and as integral to Wii U and 3DS as the games themselves, it could be hugely lucrative. From our perspective as gamers, they also...
Parent Trap Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Is Shaping Up To Be Another Family-Friendly Classic
Family Gamer TV checks out Toad's latest adventure
If you’ve played through Super Mario 3D World you’ll already know the intricate puzzle treat of the Captain Toad levels. Looking initially simple, these fixed isometric worlds presented a substantial and layered challenge to those wanting to find every last coin. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker...
Wednesday5th Nov 2014
News Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has Multi-Waddle-Deedi-Player
Amiibo support also confirmed
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has a moldorable clay style that will attract a lot of players, but not all of them may be into the line-drawing strategies of its single-player mode. Luckily for those who desire more of a straight up platformer feel, a multiplayer mode has been announced in today's Nintendo Direct. Up to...
Thursday6th Nov 2014
News Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Now Launching In Europe On 2nd January 2015
70 stages also showcased
The latest Nintendo Direct has revealed that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will now launch across Europe on 2nd January 2015. The release date previously listed for this region was the 9th, so this will no doubt come as welcome news for Wii U owners located in PAL regions who were eager to get stuck into what appears to be...
Video Check Out Mario And Luigi's Costume Cameos In Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Customise your Felyne with two iconic overalls
We already knew Animal Crossing, Zelda, Mario,
Wednesday5th Nov 2014
News The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask Confirmed For Spring 2015 Nintendo 3DS Release
The rumours are (finally) true
It has long been rumoured that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask would be coming to the Nintendo 3DS to join its N64 sibling Ocarina of Time, and it has finally been confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast. The adventure was originally released in 1999, and is considered to be one of the most unique...
Nintendo Direct Watch The North American November Nintendo Direct - Live!
The hype train's making another stop
It's time for Nintendo's latest Direct, which is set to cover a range of upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. There's a lot that could be covered, ranging from Holiday releases, DLC, early 2015 games or even all-new surprises. Join us to follow all the action from the North American broadcast. [...
Feature What We Want to See in the November Nintendo Direct
Smash Wii U demo! MK8 DLC! Surprises! Other things!
It wasn't so long ago we had a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Direct that unveiled over 50 "Must-See Things", so it was a pleasant surprise when Nintendo confirmed a wider-reaching, "good old fashioned Nintendo Direct" for today, 5th November; it kicks off at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 10pm UK / 11pm...
News Online Retailers Offer Huge Discounts on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Hardware Bundles in the UK
Crazy prices on 8GB systems
We're heading into the most competitive and important sales season of the year, and as a result Nintendo and its rivals will be going all out to convince consumers to splash the cash on their systems and games. Retailers, for their part, will be trying to rapidly clear out old stock and coax gamers to their stores to buy...
Hardware Classics The Sega Genesis Nomad
The less-travelled roadie
During the early '90s Sega's hardware department effectively went crazy. Flushed with the success of the Genesis / Mega Drive in North America and Europe, the company produced a series of commercial duds in an attempt to buttress its 16-bit business in the face of stiff competition from rival Nintendo. The first endeavour...
News This Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Overview Trailer Sets the Scene
It's super effective, naturally
We're now into November, which means that the silly-season of game releases is well and truly here; Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire will be a major part of that in the upcoming weeks when it arrives on 3DS. Hitting North America on 21st November and Europe on 28th November, Nintendo has recently talked up...
Review Harvest Moon 2 (3DS eShop / GBC)
Crop ‘til you drop
Clearly a testament to the popularity of the genre, the 3DS as a platform has been flooded with life simulation games. Ranging from the cutesy and calm world of Animal Crossing: New Leaf to the adventurous Fantasy Life, the surplus of games has spanned a plethora of sub genres, but they all come down to one thing: allowing their...
News Nintendo Releases Footage of Its Upcoming Super Smash Bros. 3DS HOME Themes
Western release dates will be welcome
3DS HOME themes were a popular arrival in a recent system update, and they continue to arrive in the Theme Shop on a regular basis. As is often the case, however, Japanese 3DS owners get a bit more content at a quicker pace; the Super Smash Bros. themes are an example, and Nintendo has now released videos of...
Nintendo Direct Watch The European November Nintendo Direct - Live!
Details on upcoming releases promised
This has been described as a "good old fashioned Nintendo Direct" by the company's European subsidiary, so that should mean a broad variety of Wii U and 3DS games and details. Join us for the Nintendo of Europe broadcast right here. [...
News Expect To See More Spin-Off Titles Like Hyrule Warriors In 2015, Says Miyamoto
"I feel that next year's Wii U titles are plentiful"
The Wii U is home to some amazing games, but we've had to wait quite a while to get them. Nintendo has taken longer than expected to become accustomed to the demands of HD development, and this has resulted in some titles taking longer than expected to reach store shelves. However, according to...
News New Study Finds No Connection Between Video Game Violence And Its Real-World Equivalent
Report suggests violent games actually curb real-world crime
Whenever violence raises its ugly head there is the understandable desire to find a scapegoat, and over the entire course of human history this has often been the entertainment media. In the '50s it was music, in the '70s it was horror movies and from the '80s onwards, the blame has been...
Video What Is Contained Within The Lush Euro-Only Bayonetta 2 First Print Edition?
Find out with your trusty guide, Lydia
Bayonetta 2's gorgeous First Print Edition is pretty special, but don't just take our word for it — cast your eyes over the unboxing video below to see the proof for yourself! This chunky pack — exclusive to Europe — contains not only the Wii U exclusive sequel, but its critically acclaimed forerunner as...
News Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal Demo Available Now On The 3DS eShop
Special Sonic Boom 3DS theme coming too
Nintendo has announced that a special demo of Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal is available now on the 3DS eShop. The news came during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, and it was also revealed that a special Sonic Boom 3DS theme will also be made available. Launching alongside the Wii U version — entitled...
News Shovel Knight Now Available In Europe On The Wii U And 3DS eShops
Release day has arrived!
While North American Nintendo fans have been enjoying Shovel Knight since June, Wii U and 3DS owners in Europe have been waiting for the release of the title in their own region for some time now. With what's likely to be the final Nintendo Direct presentation for the year now out of the way, European Wii U and 3DS owners...
News Masahiro Sakurai Shows Off Varied Events in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Past Your Bedtime can be the last you try at night
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U creeping ever closer, Masahiro Sakurai is still using his Miiverse Pic of the Day posts to show off the game and reveals some new details. Not every entry is particularly thrilling or full of information, but today's post does show us two challenges that'll be found...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Sells 2 Million Physical Copies, New 3DS Sales Begin to Slow
A fairly uneventful week otherwise
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has managed to reach over 2 million physical sales in Japan, and continues to dominate the competition. Keeping things healthy for the 3DS, Yokai Watch 2 comes in at second just ahead of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS by less than a hundred copies. The popularity of Yokai Watch 2 is...
News Single Player Campaign for Splatoon Detailed, Q2 2015 Release Planned
Fight an Octopus army
During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast more details were given about Nintendo's upcoming squid shooter Splatoon. While the core of the game is the 4x4 online multiplayer shooter — revealed at E3 — in which two teams compete to cover the most ground with ink, it has been confirmed that the game also features an offline...
News Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. Arriving On Nintendo 3DS In Spring 2015
European launch confirmed for May
It has been confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct that Intelligent Systems' tactical RPG Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS next Spring. The title was first announced during E3, which makes this launch surprisingly swift. Nintendo has confirmed that the European release will happen in May...
Video Watch 10 Minutes Of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker For Wii U In This Japanese Commercial
More commericals inside
Following news of a delayed European release, and the inclusion of Toadette, there have been few developments leading into the release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker for Wii U. So, to make the wait slightly less painful, Nintendo has updated its Japanese
News Paper Monsters Recut Now Pencilled In For 13th November in Europe
Another download fighting for your eShop credit
The Wii U eShop has had its share of enjoyable releases recently, and another to make its presence felt is Paper Monsters Recut, a platformer originally released on smart devices that has been re-purposed and improved for the home console. It arrived in North America in mid-October, though publisher...
Video Developer Diaries Take Us Behind The Bricks Of LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
''We want to make this game a Lego revolution''
As the release of Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham swoops ever closer, the sheer scale of the game continues to impress. In a pair of developer diaries released today, Traveler's Tales has provided a few new morsels of information, and even more footage to build up the hype. The first focuses primarily on...
Tuesday4th Nov 2014
News New Nintendo Direct Airing 5th November
Remember, remember
Nintendo has announced a new Nintendo Direct video that will stream tomorrow – 5th November – coinciding with Guy Fawke's Night here in the UK. The gaming giant did not divulge any particular information about what we can expect to see in this latest live stream, except that it will focus on the games that are coming out...
News Mario Kart 8 Software Update Will Unlock amiibo Functionality With Themed Mii Racing Suits
Speed meets style
In a recent update to the official Mario Kart 8 site — that seems to have been spotted early be eager fans — Nintendo has revealed some of the first details in relation to the game's long-awaited amiibo functionality, and announced that the relevant software update will be available from November 13th. According to the amiibo...
Review Power Rangers Super Megaforce (3DS)
Dull as dishwater
Games that are tied in to TV shows are often little more than a quick cash-grab used to dupe unsuspecting parents into buying a sub-par game because their child will recognise the characters. No truer is this statement than when referring to Power Rangers Super Megaforce. Once you load up the game, you'd be forgiven for letting...
Feature Does Super Smash Bros. Wii U's Smash Tour Live Up To Expectations?
Mario & chums party hard
Whilst at Nintendo UK’s headquarters, we were lucky enough to get a go on the brand new mode exclusive to the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros.: Smash Tour. Going in we didn't really know too much about the mode beyond that it was a Mario Party-esque affair with a Smash Bros. flavour. After a short debriefing we managed...
Video Teenagers Try Their Hand at the Original Super Smash Bros.
Arguable levels of success throughout
If you've ever wanted to feel old or skilled at a game from the Super Smash Bros. series, this video should be able to accommodate you. The REACT YouTube channel has taken six teenagers of varying names and sexes and pitted them against one another to see who has the most skill on the N64's classic Super Smash...
News SEGA Outlines Impressive Plans For Sonic Boom Merchandise
Don't be blue, there's plenty coming
Sonic the Hedgehog is set to race exclusively onto Nintendo consoles this month with a pair of simultaneous new entries in the series. In an effort to re-invigorate Sega's beloved mascot once again, the company is launching an all-out marketing campaign that's hoping to reach a broad demographic of fans old and...
News Shovel Knight is Getting a Cross-Buy Discount in Europe
And Australian regions too!
Gamers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand have been champing at the bit to get their grubby mitts on Shovel Knight for some time now. We know Yacht Club Games is doing its best to get the PEGI and OFLC ratings sorted out and we're expecting some good news on that front very soon. In the meantime as a sweetener to thank...
News Moon Chronicles Developer Seeking Interest for Wii U Version Through Kickstarter Campaign
Fly Wii to the moon
Developer Renegade Kid is asking the Twitter community if they'd be interested in supporting a possible Kickstarter campaign they have in mind. The campaign is suggested for a Wii U version of Moon Chronicles, which was released earlier this year on the 3DS eShop. No details about whether or not this potential title would be...
News Pikachu Takes Centre Stage at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
With added Snowpoke
Many of our American readers will be looking forward to Thanksgiving later this month where they can consume their own body weight in turkey and pumpkin. One annual highlight of Thanksgiving is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which takes place on Thursday 27th November this year. Nintendo fans will be pleased to hear that...
News Retro Adventure Title Elliot Quest Coming to Wii U in 2015
Fighting to avoid a fate worse than death
If you like your adventure/RPGs with 8-bit style and a dark-sounding plot, then Ansimuz Games's Elliot Quest may be one to keep an eye on. Developer Ansimuz Games has announced that the title will be expanding out from its original PC platform and should appear on the Wii U early next year. The story of...
Feature The UK's Best Super Smash Bros. Player Is Crowned In A Thrilling Grand Final
Watch our video highlights from the big event
Last Friday saw the culmination of Nintendo's effort to find the best Super Smash Bros. player in the whole of the UK, with the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Grand Finals taking place at the historic York Hall in London. 32 finalists — picked during national heats which took place all over the...
Review My Style Studio: Hair Salon (Wii U eShop)
Bad hair day
In the grand scheme of things, hairdressers can seem pretty insignificant, but deep down they hold the secret, terrible capacity to utterly ruin your entire week. You put your faith into them and trust that they know what they're doing, or else just one bad haircut will stick with you for a month. If a new generation of these stylistic...
Monday3rd Nov 2014
Review Ultimate NES Remix (3DS)
Not as ultimate as you'd think
Almost a year ago, the Wii U received some excellent download titles in the form of NES Remix and NES Remix 2, each taking a set of classic (and not so classic) NES games and making short challenges based on sections from each game, or in some cases creating entirely original scenarios. Curiously, the producer of the...
Interview Rocky Morton On The Chaos Of Directing The Super Mario Bros. Movie
"It’s not the movie we wanted to make"
Get ready to laugh in celebration or groan in pain: the Super Mario Bros. movie is on Blu-ray today in the UK. The 1993 film left a sour taste in many viewers' mouths due to a bizarrely altered story and some truly goofy action scenes, but has since become a cult favorite among Nintendo fans and bad movie...
Preview Using amiibo with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
We’ve got amiibo all figured out
This holiday period is arguably Nintendo’s most crucial since the Wii U launched back in late 2012. The company's banking on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U not only attracting a lot of sales but, more specifically, system sales from those yet to pick up the console. Moreover, Nintendo’s new range of NFC (near...
News Bayonetta 2 Falls From UK Charts After One Week
Lack of stock or interest?
Sales for Bayonetta 2 have dropped disappointingly quickly in the UK, so much so that the game is no longer within the top 40. Despite Nintendo's best advertising efforts, Platinum Games' exceptional game has failed to sustain any presence in the UK market. It remains number two in Wii U games alone, but has not had not...
Video Son Of A Glitch Takes Apart The Wind Waker HD
Not so perfect after all…
YouTube channel A+Start has posted the latest in its Son Of A Glitch series, and this time it's covering the Wii U's HD version of GameCube Zelda game The Wind Waker, in the first of a two-part episode. The amount of glitches witnessed is quite overwhelming for a modern remake, and so the sequel to this episode (covering...
News SEGA Confirms Second Batch of 3D Classics for the West
Five on the way in 2015
In 2013 SEGA began to release its 3D Classics range in the West, and we enjoyed a mix of Mega Drive / Genesis and Arcade re-releases such as 3D Super Hang-On and 3D Streets of Rage. A second wave of these games, primarily arcade classics, hit Japan; unfortunately the prospect of Western releases seemed distant with each...
Nintendo Download 6th November (Europe)
Ultimate NES Remix, Mega Man, The Swapper and loads more
It's time to brighten our Mondays with the European Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week serves up a lot of options across the Wii U and 3DS. There are some new releases on both eShop platforms along with Virtual Console entries and plenty of discounts. There's a lot to get...
News Region-Locking May Be a Thing of the Past Soon According to Nintendo
Unlocking business benefits
During the Q&A session which followed the Nintendo of Japan's investor briefing last week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata indicated that Nintendo are reconsidering the unpopular policy of region locking on its consoles. An unofficial translation made by the ever-reliable Cheesemeister on NeoGAF turned up the...
News Retro City Rampage Gets Beefed Up on WiiWare With 'DX' Update
Vblank have unfinished business with WiiWare
Fans of Retro City Rampage on WiiWare will have further cause for celebration as Vblank Entertainment have revealed to us that it will be treated to a free 'DX' update next week on Thursday 13th November. For ‘DX’, every single mission's been re-tuned; vehicles, weapons, challenges, visual effects,...
News Watch the Sonic Boom Gang Try to Rescue a Cat
"We're better at this in our world"
We haven't got long to wait for Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric on Wii U and it's 3DS counterpart Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal. They are both out on the 11th November in North America followed by Europe on 21st November. To keep us entertained while we wait the crazy cats at SEGA have put together a TV commercial...
News Luigi's Mansion Arcade May Potentially Be a Thing in Japan
Can you survive the night?
Arcade machines are a medium that has waned in the West over the past few decades, but it's still an important part of Japanese gaming. An eagle-eyed Japanese blogger spied an interesting poster advertising an arcade machine that seems to be heavily based on the second entry in the Luigi's Mansion series, with the...
Nintendo 64x64 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
One game to Hyrule them all...
The most hyped game the N64 ever received was a heavenly gaming spectacle. The franchise leapt across to 3D glitch-free, providing everything that was already loved: a franchise-traditional story, dungeons, longevity and challenge. The game's engine, controls and camera were perfect and allowed us to be immersed in...
News uWordSmith Is In Development Exclusively For The Wii U
Coming to the US this December for $1.99
If you’ve ever wanted to be a writer, perhaps this upcoming Wii U eShop release will let you start to make those dreams a reality (on a very basic level). uWordSmith is a new puzzle game for Wii U by Temple of Yog developer CHUDCHUD Industries. The creator, Cody Diefenthaler, has been promoting the project...
Sunday2nd Nov 2014
Review Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX (3DS eShop)
More adult than necessary
Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX is a rare breed on the 3DS, as shooters are rapidly becoming less and less common on the handheld machine. It's not the first time that this has arrived on Nintendo hardware, either, as it initially appeared as a WiiWare title; as the DX in the name suggests, this aims to tempt us in for more...
Preview Having a Brawl With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Extended time with Nintendo's biggest game this holiday season
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is the most anticipated Nintendo title this holiday season, and with good reason. Whether it's the intricate and deep gameplay mechanics, the sheer amount of content reported to be on offer or the crossover Nintendo theme and the fan service that comes with...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Eight: Woodcutter
If a tree falls in the forest, that was probably me
In the eighth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. At the behest of one of the forest spirits I got to know while summoning blasts of elemental energy and healing the scrapes I got from wearing flimsy but fashionable cloth...
Nintendo 64x64 Rocket: Robot on Wheels
Unfairly overshadowed by its high-profile counterparts, Rocket: Robot on Wheels is one of the best 3D platformers available for the N64. Physics-based gameplay and a futuristic theme park setting provide the basis for seven different game worlds, each filled to the brim with challenging platforming segments and hugely inventive puzzles -- the...
Saturday1st Nov 2014
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Online Brawlers Reporting 136 Year Ban Glitch
Don't rage quit or be a bully
Plenty of 3DS owners have been enjoying Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS over recent weeks, though it's not been without its hiccups. We're already up to version 1.03 as the development team updates the title to eradicate glitches and improve balancing. It seems a small number of gamers, meanwhile, have been...
Interview Still Games Discusses Kickstarting a Legendary Tale With Animal Gods
"You are called upon to save the Gods"
Over recent weeks our Kickstarter summaries (which will resume this weekend) have featured Animal Gods, an intriguing project from US developer Still Games. Though listed for PC, Mac and Linux, as is the norm on the crowdfunding platform, the developer has also included the Wii U in its core goal, placing...
Psygnosis could've released a port / rehash but us Nintendo 64 gamers were treated to an exclusive: delivering the best of the franchise at that time. Seven tracks were people's negative but quality was important here mastering them on Phantom tested the pros; varied challenges kept the one-player interested. The signature soundtrack didn't...
Showcase Exploring Runbow - The Depths of 13AM Games’ 9-Player Platformer
“Why settle for eight when you can have nine?”
Runbow is a nine-player, fast-paced mutliplayer platforming game developed by 13AM Games that's coming to the Wii U eShop next year, and looks to be a very promising example of indie development for Nintendo. The guys working on the game are nothing if not ambitious, and we managed to get some fresh...
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