Retro News

October2014

  • Review Donkey Kong Land (3DS eShop / GB)

    Mobile monkey magic

    Donkey Kong Country was a fun and popular platformer for the SNES, but not everyone thought it was great. Some people (possibly Mega Drive / Genesis owners) said the game was in fact quite poor and any fans were deluded fools drawn to it for reasons other than gameplay – or, as Cranky Kong says, “put a few fancy graphics and...

  • News Transport Yourself To The Eighties With This Totally Dope Ultimate NES Remix Cap

    Ships with the game when you buy from the UK online store

    Ultimate NES Remix is a collection of mini-games inspired by some of Nintendo's finest 8-bit escapades and — we we're sure you're aware — hits the 3DS next month. Just in case the game's considerable retro vibe isn't strong enough for you, you can now pre-order the title from the...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Pok?mon Stadium

    THE PRE-BATTLE HAS BEGUN!

    Transferring data between games is a common feature nowadays, but in 1999 it was a huge deal for Pokémon fans who could finally see their favourite creatures battle it out in 3D. The pure focus on battling -- with various rule sets to choose from -- makes for a change of pace from the Game Boy original. The mini-games,...

  • News Junichi Masuda Talks Pokémon Snap and Listening to Fans

    Get your Game Freak on

    In a recent interview about Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, director of the Pokémon games Junichi Masuda talked about the fans' desire to see a new Pokémon Snap game. Masuda-san was clear to point out that the N64 cult classic "wasn't originally developed by Game Freak", although it does seem that he has a certain...

  • Video Your Heart Will Melt At This Sega Genesis Promo Created By A Son and His Gaming Mad Father

    1991 home movie intended to convince family members to dump the NES

    As you'll know if you've read the recent Console Wars, back in the early '90s Nintendo was still very much the king of the hill when it came to video games. Sega's time in the sun was yet to come, but the 16-bit Genesis (Mega Drive if you're outside of the US) was already making...

  • Review Nobunaga's Ambition (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Feud of dreams

    Nobunaga’s Ambition, long one of publisher Koei’s flagship series, deserves its rightful place in the history of strategy titles. This SNES iteration, like many of its brethren, has an engaging setup that rewards careful planning and execution once the learning curve is cleared. Actually, “curve” might be too gentle a term...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Quake II

    Operation Alien Overlord

    A valiant console port of a PC classic, Quake II on the N64 comes with an original campaign and four-player multiplayer. The latter is where the game truly shines, providing a quicker and much deadlier arena shooter experience than competing titles on the system. It excels in terms of technical performance -- notably the...

  • Video Here's a Simultaneous Speedrun of Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye

    All in under an hour

    We're certainly fans of speedruns here on Nintendo Life, as few gaming pursuits push the boundaries of games and those playing them as far. Whether world records in classic Zelda games that exploit errors in coding, or flat-out runs that tackle every stage in order, there's plenty to enjoy in seeing the best of the field show...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Paper Mario

    Hey, Mario! We got a letter from Princess Peach!

    It may possess a paper-thin aesthetic, but Paper Mario's biggest success is that it adds considerable depth to what is historically a story-weak franchise. The puzzles may be a little on the simple side, but otherwise this is a rich and fulfilling RPG experience -- something which is quite hard to...

  • Weirdness Super Mario 64 Has a New Level of Immersion in Oculus Rift

    Motion controls for punching, anyone?

    We've seen plenty of Oculus Rift mods over the past year that attempt to breath new life into retro Nintendo games. Some have been a tad peculiar, while examples such as Metroid Prime suited the virtual reality technology particularly well. Running a Super Mario 64 mod through the VR headset isn't new, but...

  • Video Another Neat 1-UP Trick Has Been Found in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels

    Awesome skills

    The NES-era Mario platformers are still much-loved to this day, and are still tested and experimented upon by eager gamers looking for glitches and tricks. Given the limitations of the 8-bit hardware these are bountiful and are still being found; they can be rather entertaining for those of us without the skills to find them...

  • Review Legend of the River King 2 (3DS eShop / GBC)

    Return of the King

    As an extra, easter egg or background element, fishing seems to pop up everywhere in video games; from side-angle angling in Link’s Awakening and Rumble Pak-reeling in Ocarina of Time to museum-filling in Animal Crossing and fly-rod flinging in Yum

  • Nintendo 64x64 Conker's Bad Fur Day

    One mean %&*@% Squirrel…

    Only Rare could have taken the cutesy adventure platformer genre and so masterfully warped it into such an hilariously offensive and beautifully vulgar gameplay experience. Enter Conker, a binge-drinking squirrel, whose walk home from the pub quickly turns into an adventure of inappropriate and scatological proportions...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mario Golf

    Par 4

    One of Mario Golf’s biggest successes is its intuitive and simple interface; it’s easy for anyone to play, making it a title that appeals even to those who don’t show any enthusiasm for the real-life sport. Featuring a good number of playable characters; varied and challenging courses; and connectivity with the Game Boy Color version,...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mystical Ninja 2 Starring Goemon

    Goemon returns!

    The follow-up to Goemon's first 3D outing trades the free-roaming environments of its predecessor for a tighter and far more challenging 2.5 experience. The game comes with a two-player cooperative mode, which also extends to the series' renowned giant robot battles. Of particular note is the fantastic music, which merges traditional...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Perfect Dark

    Near Perfect?

    The Messi of FPSs: sublime graphics, gameplay, longevity, multiplayer. Goldeneye was tough to follow but the freedom of originality allowed Rare to let their creativity loose: Co-op mode; superb array of weapons; using Miyamoto's face (!) are some of my favourites. So why do I prefer Goldeneye? To me, it reinvented FPSs; Perfect Dark...

  • Review Castlevania: Dracula X (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Tainted blood

    When you think of the definitive side-scrolling Castlevania experience, we imagine for most people it’s imagery of Symphony of the Night or Super Castlevania IV that first creeps into the ol’ noggin. But while those might be the most popular of responses, there’s a slightly more obscure game in the franchise that many die-hards...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mission: Impossible

    "should you choose to accept it"

    Best enjoyed without the obvious comparison with other movie tie-ins. Don't judge on the poor opening two levels; they're far more engaging and complex as it progresses, plus unlocking levels like Terminal Room is immensely rewarding. Its strength is the stealth elements of the game, although unfortunately hindered...

  • News Mega Video Game Fan Aaron "NintendoTwizer" Norton Auctions Gaming Goldmine

    Coins and rupees incoming?

    If you thought your gaming collection was something extraordinary, think again. eBay enthusiast reel.big.fish — perhaps better known as Aaron “NintendoTwizer” Norton — has decided to auction his entire collection of consoles, games, and gaming memorabilia. This includes more than 5,700 games, with systems (and...

  • Nintendo 64x64 WCW/nWo Revenge

    "Fighting Game of the Year"

    The best WCW game ever and only bettered by THQ's very own No Mercy. The game engine was the best a wrestling game ever had; simple controls to use, with scope to hone and perfect for expert status. It had a fantastic roster, all WCW arenas and competition for every belt. Revenge should have had a proper create-a-player...

  • Review Game & Watch Gallery 3 (3DS eShop / GBC)

    A gallery worth visiting

    As over 50 different Game & Watch titles were released during the eighties, Nintendo had the clever idea to give a select few a fresh coat of paint, giving them a visual makeover, adding music, turning them into Mario-themed titles and then putting them together in a collection which allowed you to play both the new and...

  • Video You are Hereby Ordered To Surrender Nearly Three Hours Of Your Life To Game Boy Title Screens

    Strangely mesmerising

    Ever wondered what it would be like to sit through every single Game Boy title screen? Ponder no longer, as YouTube user NicksplosionFX has given us the chance to do just that. The video below is almost three hours (2:42:02, to be precise) of Game Boy title screens — that's every known original game for the console — and...

  • Video Check Out this Adorable Tribute to the Mother Series

    That's 'Earthbound' to us

    Regardless of who wrote them, fans are the ones who can really tell the story of a game better than anyone, and that statement is no truer than in this video which pays homage to the Mother series, which sadly still only exists as a single game outside of Japan. All of the peculiarity, all of the charm, and all of the...

  • News This Castlevania Super NES May Be The Spookiest Console Yet

    We want one

    The eagle-eyed among you have no doubt noticed that we like some modded retro consoles here at Nintendo Life; giving a new design and style to a lovely old system can be a fine thing indeed. This latest effort is also perfect for the upcoming Halloween festivities. It's the work of Vadu Amka, who we've featured before with some stylish...

  • Video Here Are Some Fun Facts About The Mighty GameCube

    GCN or NGC?

    The GameCube may be Nintendo's lowest-selling home console to date, but for some it's a special part of the company's history. It was the last occasion when a Nintendo system competed toe-to-toe with contemporaries in terms of raw graphical power, it brought us some absolute classics in its library, and it had a handle. Its controller...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Turok 2

    Acclaim Entertainment took the successes and failures of its original first-person shooter for N64 and used them to influence the creation of a sequel that was superior in virtually every single way. The campaign mode is much more tightly designed, although getting lost is still quite easy at times. When played using an Expansion Pak, the game...

  • News You Can Now Download The Entire Banjo-Kazooie Soundtrack For Your Listening Pleasure

    And we mean the ENTIRE soundtrack

    Rare's N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best 3D platformers you're likely to find on any console, and its soundtrack was also pretty swell to boot. You can now download every piece of music contained in the game — that's 164 different tracks — over at composer Grant Kirkhope's Bandcamp page. It's not...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Sin & Punishment

    A real gem from the legendary shmup factory that is Treasure, Sin & Punishment delivers a consistently action-packed experience from start to finish. A Japanese exclusive that finally saw an international release through the Wii Virtual Console in 2007, the combination of ranged and melee combat results in a varied gameplay experience. The story is...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Space Station Silicon Valley

    It’s hard to believe that SSSV was created by the team that would go on to develop Grand Theft Auto III; quirky, playful and downright bizarre in tone, yet remarkably fun as a result. Playing as a crawling microchip, you must commandeer various robotic animals to defeat enemies and solve exceptionally creative puzzles in a futuristic amusement...

  • Nintendo 64x64 GoldenEye 007

    Ah Mr. Bond, we've been expecting you...

    A masterpiece of the first-person shooter and entire console gaming. Beautifully rendered visuals immerse you in the well-expanded film world with controls easy to use, challenging to perfect. Three difficulty levels pitched faultlessly – wonderfully rewarding on completion, especially Secret Agent. Levels...

  • Review Donkey Kong: Original Edition (3DS eShop / NES)

    Whole once again

    The legendary arcade title Donkey Kong is slightly infamous for receiving a rather botched NES conversion. Lacking several screens, animations and even an entire stage, it wasn't exactly one of Nintendo's finer porting jobs, especially when other home versions by different companies did manage to include all of the original content...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mickey Speedway USA

    Rare's spiritual follow-up to Diddy Kong Racing didn't contain quite the same level of magic and charm -- surprising given its Disney setting. Nevertheless, Mickey's Speedway USA achieves on a technical level, sporting a mostly consistent frame rate and tight track design to boot. The multiplayer mode is a worthwhile alternative to more popular...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mischief Makers

    2D on 3D platforms is risky. Mischief Makers shows how to get it right: by being utterly unique. Immediately surreal, you’re Marina; a robot on a quest to save her creator..! You jump, shake and throw your way through levels and worlds, and this simple premise is variedly combined to offer many types of level. 2D but nothing like you played on the...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Forsaken

    Imagine the fast-paced gameplay of Quake, throw in some futuristic hover vehicles and you've pretty much got Forsaken. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this game is the incredible sense of speed you move at, although this quickly disappears with three other players also firing off various high-tech weapons. The campaign doesn't provide quite...

September2014

  • News Ocarina of Time gets a 2D Makeover

    Downgradin' and relaxin'

    A group of Zelda fans have decided to take the classic gameplay and graphics from A Link to the Past and apply it to what is arguably the most famous outing the the Zelda series, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game is in the very early stages, and it’s not clear what engine the game is running on, but it’s...

  • Weirdness Rainbow Road Muscles its Way onto Realistic Racer Assetto Corsa

    Hilariously out-of-place

    Rainbow Road from Super Mario 64 is a track steeped in many people's nostalgia banks, and Mario Kart 8 recreated that experience in HD for the first time earlier this year. Now, a clever modder who goes by the name of 'N64AC' has managed to get the original track working on an upcoming realistic racing simulator coming out...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Killer Instinct Gold

    Wisely held back from the Snes; giving gamers a further reason for a N64. Subsequently, better fighters did arrive but this became one to saviour as Rare never produced its own sequel. Instantly, the killer soundtrack stands out as well as great backgrounds, fresh new characters and team battles. Pitched perfectly to novices and experts; a rare...

  • Book Review Boss Fight Books - Super Mario Bros. 2

    Subcon-text

    For how unique it is compared to other games in the Mario line, it’s amazing how easily Super Mario Bros. 2 is taken at face value or glossed over entirely. Many fans are happy to share the fact that the game is actually a reskin of Japanese title Doki Doki Panic after the original Super Mario Bros. sequel was deemed too difficult and...

  • Nintendo 64x64 F-Zero X

    The best F-Zero

    F-Zero had abundant stand-out features, leaving even the strong competition tailing. Although graphically divisive, fans hailed Nintendo for capturing the Snes essence - choosing speed and frame rate over unnecessary graphical overhaul. Persevere with completion - the ground breaking random track generator ensures longevity almost...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Gauntlet Legends

    While a multiplatform release, the N64 version of Gauntlet Legends benefited greatly from the system's four built-in controller ports. Ported over from the arcade, Gauntlet Legends' simplistic hack n' slash gameplay makes it accessible to players of all skill levels. It's a solid, button-bashing adventure which is best enjoyed with three friends...

  • Nintendo 64x64 F1 World Grand Prix

    Solid racer but one only suitable for the niche F1 gamer, not a casual lover of the racing genre. The F1 'feel' is realistic and racing from the bumpy cockpit view is awesome. Accurate track layouts yet backgrounds are dull and racing them doesn't engage like a F-Zero or MK64 track. Advice: conquer the challenges but turn down that incessant...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Wave Race 64

    18 years on and the wave physics still mightily impress; capturing the essence of jet skiing is WR64's finest achievement, yet not its sole one. Firstly, eight tracks that are so well-constructed the replay value moves into decade three. Secondly, it's immensely challenging - myself yet to win at expert! If the PAL version hadn't suffered and...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Extreme-G

    At a popular period for futuristic racers, Extreme-G was certainly not ground breaking... nor terrible either. Pace is extreme indeed; developers allowing this by misting the upcoming track, luckily not spoiling your ability to race. Admirable scenery (dystopian industries, Aztec past / future fusions) and fitting soundtrack rescue it because track...

  • Developer Interview How Two Graduates From Nottingham Are Bringing Robin Hood To Life On The SNES

    "We'd absolutely love to be able to do a cartridge release"

    Indie development has never been more popular than it is now, with each of the major console makers bending over backwards to accommodate bedroom coders in the hope of finding the next Minecraft. However, while most small-scale devs favour the likes of iOS, Android, Steam and the digital...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Excitebike 64

    Excitebike 64 serves as yet another prime example of Nintendo's sheer mastery when it comes to developing technical racing games. A fully 3D sequel to the NES classic, this title requires players to pay particular attention to the topography of tracks. Features some of the best quality visuals and audio on the N64, although Hi-Res mode comes at the...

  • News Hyperkin Responds To Accusations Of Infringing On The Rights Of Emulator Creators

    "We have not been as quick as we could have been"

    Last week, we reported on accusations that Hyperkin had infringed on the right of emulator authors with its RetroN 5 console, and at the time we gave Hyperkin the chance to put across its side of the story. We've now had an official response from Hyperkin developer Lawrence Lee: It has always been...

  • News Super Mario World Speedrun Record Is Broken

    Beating the game in under 10 minutes is an artform

    Super Mario World is a big game — so big it put other 2D platformers to shame when it launched alongside the shiny new SNES back in the early '90s. However, while many of us will have happy memories of wasting countless hours finding all those levels and secret routes, speedrunner linkdeadx2 has...

  • Video These Mario Games Have More Secrets Than You May Think

    And it's not even Easter

    Continuing the series of discovering hidden Easter eggs in games, Did You Know Gaming has released the final part of its dissection of main series Mario games. It's always a joy to see hidden little details and secrets in video games, it shows just how much developers care about the creations that they make. Unsurprisingly,...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Banjo-Kazooie

    Rescue you he will not dare, there's many dangers in my lair!

    Its Mario 64 comparison was always inevitable and which is better is divisive. BK's biggest strengths lie in its 'Rareness': game engine crafted excellently; splendidly contrasting worlds of increasing challenge; Grunty's surprise quiz; and Rare's unique humour injection. Does it have...

  • News Mother 4 Is On The Way, But It's Not Being Made By Nintendo

    Fan project is aiming for a release this year

    The Mother series — perhaps better known in the west as EarthBound (AKA Mother 2) — is one of Nintendo's most enduring franchises. However, it has been dormant since 2006, when Mother 3 hit the Game Boy Advance in Japan. Rather than wait for Nintendo to start work on a fourth game in the series —...

  • Review Wild Guns (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    True Bit

    The Wild West is a fantastic setting for a video game. Rugged gunslingers, drunken shootouts, limited presence of the law and a surplus of criminals lend to a volatile and rowdy backdrop for a tense, controller-gripping time. In the case of Wild Guns it takes the Steampunk route, injecting hostile machinery and advanced weaponry into the...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Beetle Adventure Racing

    Arcade-style racing from the creative minds behind N64 launch title, Pilotwings 64. What makes Beetle Adventure Racing so enjoyable is that it feels fast and doesn’t punish you too much when you make mistakes. It looks pretty good too, with its decent lighting effects and accurate VW Beetle models. The multiplayer battle mode makes for a nice...

  • News Mitchell Corp Is Keen To Bring Strider's Spiritual Sequel To Home Formats

    Along with many of its other arcade titles

    Mitchell Corp might not be a household name with most gamers, but the more astute among you will recognise the name from such hits as Pang, Puzz Loop and Polarium. Founded by former Data East staffer Roy Ozaki, the firm has enjoyed a very close relationship with Nintendo in recent years, with its last title...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

    Your friendly neighbourhood ninja

    A platforming adventure that takes place across Feudal Japan, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon focuses on a kiseru-wielding hero and his friends trying to prevent the country from being turned into a westernised fine arts theatre. Rich in Japanese folklore, yet stuffed with anachronisms such as giant robots, the...

  • Review Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness (Wii U eShop / NES)

    It's good to be bad

    Although many people are familiar with the Red Arremers, the notoriously persistent enemies from the Ghosts 'n Goblins games, not many seem to be aware that one particular Arremer also starred in several games of his own. The first Gargoyle's Quest was released on the 3DS Virtual Console a while back, and now we've finally...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Pilotwings 64

    On target

    Released alongside the N64, Pilotwings 64 delivered a sense of scale and open-world exploration that easily rivalled that of Super Mario 64. While it may not have been as revolutionary, it arguably did a better job of showcasing one of the N64's major unique selling points: the analog joystick, which provides a level of precision that...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Chameleon Twist

    Chameleon Twist is the game that Yoshi's Story should have been. Playing as an anthropomorphised chameleon, you're tasked with traversing a range of 3D environments, using your character's remarkably long tongue to reach otherwise inaccessible places and defeat enemies. An innovative idea that uses the control stick to its strengths, and one which...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mario Tennis

    Quite the smash

    It wasn't the portly plumber's first outing on the virtual court, but Mario Tennis was nevertheless the first smash-hit in the franchise. The simple control input is easy to understand, yet allows for advanced techniques too; the control sticks enhances accuracy greatly. The single-player tournament mode is a bit drawn and...

  • News Hyperkin's RetroN 5 Console Allegedly Infringes On The Rights Of Multiple Emulator Authors

    Team behind RetroArch says Hyperkin is using emulators without permission

    Hyperkin's RetroN 5 console is a fantastic way to enjoy old classics, and offers plenty of benefits over existing clone retro systems, largely because it uses advanced software emulation to offer HD visuals and other benefits. However, it would appear that Hyperkin can't...

  • Review Mega Man 7 (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Bigger sprites, bigger fun?

    Mega Man 7 is in an awkward place; while most big NES franchises made huge leaps to the Super Nintendo, the mainline Mega Man series' 16-bit thunder was stolen by its Serious Business spin-off, Mega Man X. Released after X and its sequel Mega Man X2, Mega Man 7 is Capcom's attempt to bring its classic platforming roots to...

  • News First 4 Figures Unveils Running Mega Man Collectibles

    Oh my...

    While they're a purchase typically too extravagant for many, including this humble writer, we at Nintendo Life nevertheless enjoy gawking at the latest efforts from First 4 Figures, the prominent purveyor of lovely but unaffordable game-related collectibles. Enter two new iterations of a Running Mega Man for us to gaze upon. Portraying the...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mario Kart 64

    3... 2... 1... GO!

    Despite some memorable moments from this game, it disappoints compared to its predecessor. Level of challenge almost non-existent; 150cc is comparatively a walk in the park. Rainbow Road is laborious and let's not get started on Battle Mode... Agreed, tracks are beautiful, with varied locations and their own challenges and quirks:...

  • News You Need To See This Amazing Hand-Sculpted Donkey Kong GBA SP Case Mod

    Good luck trying to play a game on it, though

    If you follow the hardware modding community then the name Vadu Amka will be instantly familiar to you. A seasoned pro when it comes to taking existing systems and making them even more attractive, Amka has recently released another new creation: a Game Boy Advance SP which is based on the model used in...

  • Review Super Mario Ball (Wii U eShop / GBA)

    Balls to the wall

    It's no secret that Nintendo's iconic red-wearing plumber has had a number of vocations. From referee to painter to kart racer to hotelier, Mario's been through a lot and shows no sign of actually doing some plumbing. Keeping that in mind, let's take a look at a game where he becomes a pinball. Super Mario Ball's plot revolves...

  • Nintendo 64x64 BattleTanx: Global Assault

    Madison's Militia

    BattleTanx: Global Assault is one of those games that deserved far more attention than it actually got. Incorporating fast-paced gameplay based around tank warfare, the game's sense of scale and all-out action is surprising for an N64 title. The campaign mode is a tad repetitive, although more enjoyable when played cooperatively;...

  • News Missing Super Mario Philips CD-i Game Comes To Light

    How Mario almost took America

    When Nintendo ditched Sony at the altar and decided not to proceed with the SNES-based PlayStation console, it quickly inked a new deal with Dutch firm Philips. That agreement also fell through, but Nintendo sweetened the divorce by allowing Philips to create games based on its characters for its CD-i entertainment...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Cruis'n USA

    They see me cruis'n...

    An arcade port that never used the N64's true capabilities and looked easily at home on a PSOne with its pop-up cardboard scenery. Although there are finer racers on the system, it's an enjoyable arcade-style racer: plenty of tracks with recognisable locations, and unlockable cars. It's slightly average but as a Brit who's...

  • News New Hardcore Gaming 101 Book Takes On Konami's Classic Castlevania Series

    Physical and digital versions available now

    Remember Sega Arcade Classics Volume 1? Well Hardcore Gaming 101 founder Kurt Kalata is taking a break before starting Volume 2 and has put together another fine tome in the form of Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania. Kalata will be famous among seasoned Castlevania fans as the man behind The...

  • News The GameCube is 13 Years Old

    Happy Birthday to the handled innovator

    The GameCube, the system with a look like no other, is now 13 years old. Released in Japan on 14th September 2001, it holds a special place in the hearts of many Nintendo gamers, and was memorable not just for the fact it had a handle, but due to its line-up of exceptional games. While it holds the...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Hybrid Heaven

    "Mr. Diaz, a synthetic human hybrid created by aliens"

    Hybrid Heaven was certainly an ambitious game from Konami and felt widely ignored at a time of MGSs, Final Fantasies, and Zeldas. It deserves praise for trying to revolutionise the norm: a unique battle system; an outlandish plot; claustrophobic playing areas rife. Faults? Much like M:I and SOTE...

  • Weirdness Here Is A Super Famicom On Top Of Mount Fuji

    Reaching new heights since the '90s

    The Super Nintendo goes down in history as one of the greatest video game systems of all-time, for a variety reasons – be it the at the time revolutionary controller design, the cutting edge graphics and audio, or the stunning library of games. So how do you make one of the most legendary Nintendo consoles to...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Doom 64

    An exclusive to the console in what is a relatively small-scale franchise, Doom 64 has been unfavourably compared to Rare's masterpieces when it's a great FPS in its own right. An abundance of well-designed levels, monsters, secrets, and weaponry is wonderfully coupled by the haunting soundtrack and dark, atmospheric scenery. This is still a joy to...

  • Weirdness Modder Recreates Donkey Kong Country In Doom Engine

    Scary in a different way!

    Rare’s Donkey Kong Country was a huge feat in itself when it was released on the Super Nintendo in 1994. Now imagine recreating the iconic jungle-based platformer within an entirely different game engine from around the same era. Enter Doom, and insert the reminder here of just how crazy modders of the classic...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Diddy Kong Racing

    Despite obvious comparisons to Mario Kart 64, DKR was a unique experience: platformer elements (explorable world, bosses and collectable items) were unique for its time, ensuring one-player longevity. Three vehicle types presented new areas already explored / raced. Vibrant storybook colours may have put off mature gamers but many challenges and...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Buck Bumble

    Stop the evil Herd Army!

    Featuring the most annoying theme song to have ever graced the medium, Buck Bumble is an aerial combat game in which radioactive waste has transformed the insect world into a high-tech war zone. Playing as a gun-wielding bumblebee, the task of completing garden-based objectives is unusually appealing, yet a lack of polish --...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

    I'm Hit! Rear shields down!

    Taking everything that is loved about the grand battles of the original Star Wars trilogy -- the dogfights, the scale and the classic theme of good versus evil -- Star Wars: Rogue Squadron delivers an authentic aerial action experience with its own bespoke storyline. Produced with astonishingly high production values --...

  • Review Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight (3DS eShop / NES)

    Back to the future

    Capcom's Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight is not a typical Street Fighter game. If you go into this relatively obscure NES action title knowing you won't hear "Hadouken!" shouted once, you may be able to enjoy the experience. However, Street Fighter 2010's depth and surprisingly intricate gameplay will likely be lost on all...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Lylat Wars

    Do a barrel roll!

    Nintendo: excellent decision. Ditch Starwing 2 and go for a next-gen sequel. Lylat Wars delivers on many fronts. Corneria is a perfect opener - capturing Starwing’s feel yet graphically upgraded. From then on levels are superbly varied: corridor levels, dogfights, numerous routes to Venom based on mission success. Not just a...

  • News Motorola's New Smart Watch Features a Goldeneye-Style Interface Option

    Dr. No way to resist

    Who in their life hasn't pretended to be a secret agent on a daring mission to uncover and foil the plot of a notorious villain whose greed surpasses their humanity? Well now you can take one step closer thanks to a clever little Android developer. The Moto 360 smart watch from Motorola is one of the more traditional-looking...

  • Video Which 8-bit Version Of Ghostbusters Are You Gonna Call?

    Sega or Nintendo? There's only one way to find out...

    Back in the mid to late '80s, North American gamers were hooked on Nintendo, and prior to the launch of the Genesis / Mega Drive, Sega was very much locked out when it came to getting all of the juicy third-party titles. However, there were a handful of games which made it over to Sega's 8-bit...

  • Review Mario Golf: Advance Tour (Wii U eShop / GBA)

    Like Golden Sun, if all the weapons were golf clubs

    Mario is a surprisingly active fellow. We've said it before and we'll say it again — the doughy little guy is a total sports nut, and he owes much of this to the kind developers at Camelot, who have a gift for creating really solid titles that allow him to strut his stuff. Like previous titles in...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Body Harvest

    A hugely underappreciated gem, Body Harvest was DMA Design’s (later Rockstar North) first attempt at a 3D open-world game. Playing as a genetically enhanced super-soldier, you must travel across time and thwart a race of sinister aliens before they can harvest mankind. Ambitious, yet buggy and lacking in polish, Body Harvest is greater than the...

  • Video Watch These Teenagers As They're Exposed To The NES

    "I have an iPhone case like this"

    Gaming is becoming more and more mainstream with every turn, and sometimes we have to take a step back to realise just how far we've come, and depending on your age that could go back anywhere between the GameCube and the ZX Spectrum. To give you some perspective of the progress we've seen, take some typical modern...

  • Review Mega Man X3 (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    A less than fitting farewell

    In 1996, the Mega Man X series parted ways with Nintendo hardware. Mega Man X3 is how it ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper. The first Mega Man X game got things off to such a solid start that it was almost inevitable that a letdown would come sooner rather than later. After all, with so little room for improvement,...

  • Video If You Love Mario Easter Eggs, This Series is for You

    Covering Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario World, so far

    One of the delights of retro Nintendo games is in discovering their secrets, little snippets of interesting features that can only be spotted with close attention. Hunting 'easter eggs' is a major part of retro gaming. A current series on the Did You Know Gaming channel is looking to reveal...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Bomberman 64

    It didn't sit well with purists at the time, but Bomberman's first outing in 3D was nevertheless a valiant effort on Hudson Soft's part to ensure its explosive star remained relevant in gaming. To its credit, the single-player mode delivers an engaging experience based around puzzles and exploration; the multiplayer, however, fails to retain the...

  • Feature The Nintendo 64 Controller and the Rise of 3D Gaming

    The three-handled situation

    The Nintendo 64 controller is one that has fallen out of favour with some gamers – its outdated control stick and limited number of buttons leaves it and its parent system in a state of being old but without necessarily being seen by the general public as 'retro'. You could easily say the same for Sony's original...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mario Party

    Aside from being the first release in Nintendo's long-running party game series, Mario Party's biggest claim to fame is its stick-spinning mini-games, which left many eager players with blisters on their palms. The series may have come a long way since 1999, but this title nevertheless features a diverse range of timeless mini-games and every...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Castlevania

    A divisive first foray into 3D for the franchise as it suffers from mixed fortunes. The feel of 2D versions was captured well through music, locations, enemies and plot. Its controls are quite tight and graphically impressive. It’s a challenge; albeit, for the wrong reasons. Certain areas, bosses and gameplay choices leave one extremely...

  • News Pokkén Tournament's Concept Even Shocked The Game’s Creators

    “The entire office was dumbfounded”

    In an announcement that could be described as hard to fathom, it was less than a week ago when it was revealed on NicoNico that a fighting-title by the name of Pokkén Tournament for arcade would be co-developed by Bandai Namco, with involvement from Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and Soul Calibur producer...

  • Nintendo 64x64 ISS 64

    Revered as the N64's favourite football game despite (in technical terms) not being the best. Yes, it had bugs, no FIFA licence and comedic commentary but ISS64 shone because it was the ground breaking next-gen football game. Gameplay bettered FIFA 64, multiplayer so addictive it caused sleep deprivation and, solo, it still had scenarios that kept...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Blast Corps

    Few games outside of the horror genre get the heart pounding quite like Rare's Blast Corps does. It’s a race against the clock: playing as a demolitions expert, you must clear a path for a nuclear missile carrier that's out of control -- not too much pressure then! The range of real-life and absurd fictional vehicles on offer ensures that...

  • Review Donkey Kong Jr. Math (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Summin' it

    In among the Excitebikes, Super Mario Bros., and Ice Climbers of the NES’s North American launch sat Donkey Kong Jr. Math, an edutainment title seemingly designed so that hopeful tots could point to it on the shelf and Trojan-horse Nintendo’s new Duck Hunt-playing powerhouse into the family home, parents unsuspecting, under the guise...

  • News Mega Man Legends 3 8-Bit Fan Demake is Available Now

    It's more than Capcom's giving us

    Last year we told you about an 8-bit demake of Mega Man Legends 3 being produced by a group of fans; it promised quite a departure from the original 3D adventure, naturally, as it was taking the characters and setting for a more typical 2D action Mega Man experience. It's taken quite some time, but it's finally...

  • Nintendo 64x64 1080° Snowboarding

    Almost Wave Race on snow; 1080° recreates the feel of snowboarding via the realistic sound effects and beautiful backdrops. The developers have worked hard to create engaging, differentiated tracks despite the constriction of snow. To master the game, time needs to be invested in learning the tracks but the true fun of the game is pulling off...

  • Project Nintendo 64x64

    Celebrating 64 Nintendo 64 games over 64 days in 64 words

    Today we bring you something a little different, Nintendo 64x64 - a collaboration project between @N64Memories and Nintendo Life. Now, if you've been a reader of Nintendo Life for a while you'll no doubt be aware that some of our team are huge Nintendo 64 fans, so you can imagine their...

  • Weirdness Hear Nintendo's Classic Themes Played on Kazoos

    Marginally too cool for school

    Nintendo has arguably some of the best music in the gaming world, causing different groups of people to take the music from the games they love and perform it themselves. It's no surprise that certain individuals take it upon themselves to somewhat reinvent tracks in order to give them a fresh and interesting feel...

  • News Trust Us, You Need This Super Famicom Box Art Collection Book In Your Life

    Update: Kickstarter now cancelled

    Update: The Kickstarter has now been cancelled for the reasons explained by Stuart here: Hey folks. Firstly, I’d like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported this Kickstarter project. I’ve had a whirlwind of a weekend with my inbox literally breaking with messages of support from fans...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Super Mario 64

    The most sublime platformer and yet considered Nintendo / Mario's peak; Mario games never really replicating that unparalleled innovation again. Free-roaming worlds to explore truly gave the gamer control over the game's destiny. A perfect control system and camera demonstrated the console's capabilities from its release, setting the bar...

August2014

  • Review Life Force (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Forcefully fun

    Konami's 1985 hit Gradius is one of the most influential scrolling shooters of all time, so it was pretty tough to follow up. Rather than make Gradius II right away, the company decided to create a spin-off; Life Force — originally known in Japan as Salamander — hit arcades in 1986 and the NES two years later. Space shooters were...

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