Retro News

May2013

  • Review Star Wars Episode I: Racer (Nintendo 64)

    Watto way to go

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

  • Review California Super Sports (DSiWare)

    A bad sport

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

  • Review Xevious (Wii U eShop / NES)

    An early vertical scrolling classic

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

  • Review Super Mario Bros. 2 (Wii U eShop / NES)

    The stuff dreams are made of

    By now we all know the story of Super Mario Bros. 2: concerns about the Japanese sequel to the original Super Mario Bros. kept it from release in North America and Europe. Different reasons have been given over time, from the game being too difficult to it simply not demonstrating enough creativity to keep gamers...

  • News Capcom Open To More Retro Remakes, Reveals Fan Demand For Aliens vs. Predator

    Company looking to the past for potential projects

    This year, Capcom will be bringing DuckTales Remastered and Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara to the Wii U, as well as other systems. Remakes of two beloved past classics, these titles are apparently just the tip of the iceberg. Speaking to

  • News Banjo-Kazooie Symphony On the Way From The Synthetic Orchestra

    Licensed and released on 31st May

    Not so long ago, you may remember us drawing your attention to the Super Metroid Symphony, which is the work of talented composer and sound engineer Blake Robinson, the man behind the Synthetic Orchestra. If you like the music from the iconic Super NES title but want to hear it with a fully orchestrated sound, it's...

  • Review Solomon's Key (Wii U eShop / NES)

    One door closes, another one opens

    In Solomon’s Key – an action / puzzler from Tecmo – you take command of a wizard named Dana as he searches for a magical formula that’s said to banish all evil from the world. The game began life in arcades back in 1986, finding its way to NES a year later, and now it’s resurfaced on Wii U Virtual...

  • News Time to Rock Out With Some Chiptunes, Thanks to Diad

    Could have been called "Super Mosh Bros."

    Occasionally we like to direct your attention to some awesome music or videos that we come across, and today we bring you a rock chip-tune album called Diad. As that description suggests, this seven track album aims to produce 8-bit chiptunes that, given the right instrumentation, could very easily be...

  • News Capcom, Take Note: This Is How You Mark Mega Man's 25th Birthday

    Shame this custom Game Boy is just a fan mod

    Mega Man is 25 this year, and while Capcom has at least acknowledged this fact, there seems little chance of fans getting an all-new Blue Bomber outing before 2014 rolls around. Still, if Capcom isn't prepared to go the extra mile to mark the event, then the fans can show their respect in their own way...

  • Review Pac-Man (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Pac is back!

    When Pac-Man hit arcades in 1981, it was a phenomenal success. Spawning clothing, cereals and even a hit song, the game took the world by storm. It saw a rash of home console and personal computer releases during the 80s — some better than others — but it wasn't until the NES release in 1985 that the game finally saw a replica close...

  • Weirdness Own The Manual To ClayFighter Sculptor's Cut? You Could Be Sitting On A Grand

    Super-rare game has an even rarer instruction booklet

    We'll forgive you for not being aware of this — because we certainly weren't — but ClayFighter Sculptor's Cut was a Blockbuster-only rental in North America. The 2D fighting title is therefore pretty rare already, but it's near-impossible to find with a mint instruction manual, mainly because...

  • News This Famicom GamePad Skin is a Thing of Beauty

    A retro reminder every day

    So, who is it says that the Japanese market gets all of the coolest limited edition Nintendo hardware and accessories? Well, lots of people, including us at Nintendo Life — because it's often true. The latest example is the pictured Famicom skin on the way to lovingly cover Wii U GamePad controllers in Nintendo's...

  • Review Publisher Dream (DSiWare)

    This game development biz is confusing...

    CIRCLE Entertainment has published a good variety of games on DSiWare, covering almost any genre that can feasibly work on the ageing service. Its own take on the sim style began with Bookstore Dream, which while owing much to similar smartphone games was a solid effort. Unlike that book publishing title,...

  • Review Balloon Fight (3DS eShop / NES)

    Balloons don't float forever

    In Balloon Fight you manipulate a little fellow who can flutter through the skies thanks to a pair of balloons strapped to his back and vigorous arm flapping. The world is a dangerous place for the intrepid defier of gravity, particularly when it comes to jealous birds — also illogically equipped with balloons — who...

  • Video Super Mario Slug X - It's As Crazy As It Sounds

    Explosions, fireballs and madness

    YouTube can be a funny, strange and at times silly place, and video game culture delivers some of its quirkiest videos as talented animators and directors mess around with gaming conventions. With such a prominent history in the industry, Nintendo naturally features in plenty of cameos and mash-ups, occasionally to...

  • Hardware Review Retro Duo Portable V2.0

    NES, SNES and Mega Drive on the move

    Clone systems are growing in popularity with each passing year, with several different companies all producing consoles which ape the performance of vintage hardware and aim to satisfy the needs of retro-lovers everywhere. We've already seen Hyperkin's SupaBoy bring portable SNES gaming to the masses, and now...

  • Review Mario's Super Picross (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    The in-game tutorial, the greatest puzzle

    The early batch of Wii U Virtual Console games have followed a bit of a trend, in that they serve up familiar retro goodies with a few Wii U specific extras. For Europeans there's been the extra treat of getting these classics in their 60Hz variety, but in the case of Mario's Super Picross the treat is...

  • News Abandoned Pixel Perfect Punch-Out!! Book Has a Knockout Ending With Mike Tyson

    Public release failed due to licensing issues

    While we cover a fair share of Kickstarter development fundraisers, one that's worth a mention is the Pixel Perfect: Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! book project, which was to raise money to enable public distribution for a limited run of 200 copies. The book itself was finished, an unofficial encyclopedia for...

  • Review Armageddon Operation Dragon (DSiWare)

    Armageddon outta here

    The year is 2037 and there's an asteroid as large as the moon headed directly for Earth. Since there is no weapon known to man that is powerful enough to eradicate such a massive rock, salvation can only be achieved by harvesting an all powerful energy that resides outside of the solar system. No need to call Bruce Willis,...

  • Review Mega Man (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Fight, Mega Man, for everlasting re-release!

    By now, if you want to play Mega Man you probably already have it. It's been previously released for the Wii and 3DS Virtual Consoles, after all. But if you've somehow managed to let the game pass you by — or just aren't sure if it's worth upgrading your old Virtual Console version — we're happy to...

  • Review Super Mario World (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    Everybody wants to rule the World

    Right from the six-note melody that opens the first stage, you can tell there's something special about Super Mario World. This is the Super Nintendo launch title that set the bar impossibly high for day-one releases, created the magic that games such as Super Mario 64, Sonic Adventure, and Luigi's Mansion have...

  • Feature Celebrating Ten Years of The Wind Waker

    A decade under the ocean

    This week marked the 10th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker’s European release, a title that’s equally one of the most beloved and controversial titles in the entire Zelda franchise. Launched on the GameCube between 2002 and 2003 worldwide, The Wind Waker had a troubled launch, due largely to a backlash...

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

    Son of a Kong

    We recently reported that a Mr. Mike Kasper set the new world record with his high score on an original Donkey Kong Jr. arcade cabinet. Now, all thanks to the recent official Wii U Virtual Console going live, Wii U owners can save their quarters and work on their Donkey Kong Jr. high scores right from the comfort of their own homes in...

  • News Check Out These Spectacular NES Cartridge Rings

    There are plenty to choose from

    There's a feeling you get with a cartridge that you just can't find with a boring compact disc. They may be a thing of the past but there are many people out there who still appreciate their charm. One person who clearly has a love for NES cartridges in particular is Etsy artist Jess Firsoff, who is making and...

  • News F-Zero Go Fast! Celebrates The Music Of Nintendo's Futuristic Racing Series

    Shiryu's latest 4 EP series is racing to your ears this month

    We're massive fans of Shiryu's music here at Nintendo Life, and his latest project has us very excited indeed, as it focuses on one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises. F-Zero Go Fast is a 4 EP series which covers the entire history of the F-Zero lineage, from the SNES days right up to...

  • News The Super Mario Bros. Movie Is Getting a 20th Anniversary Screening In LA

    Possibly more than it deserves?

    Twenty years ago, Mario and Luigi starred in a pretty dismal Hollywood movie which almost ruined the career of Harold Ramis and still annoys star Bob Hoskins even today. However, there are still plenty of people who grew up loving the film — in the same way you come to love a tatty old teddy from your childhood, we...

  • News Fan-Made Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker Remix Album Coming Soon

    "On the Breath of the Wind" releasing later this year

    It's amazing to think that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is ten years old — here at Nintendo Life Towers we still vividly recall seeing those lush cel-shaded visuals for the first time and being totally enraptured by the gameplay. To mark the occasion, a fan album is being produced which...

  • News Chiptune Album World 1-2 Now Available To Download

    Music to our ears

    Koopa Soundworks has released its digital album World 1-2 today featuring some of the best retro-style chiptune music you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. The album is a collaboration that includes some of the biggest names from major gaming franchises and is being distributed via GameChops. One of the most recognisable names...

  • News Super Retro Trio Plays SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA Games

    The RetroN5 has a challenger

    It would seem that 2013 is going to be a big year for new gaming hardware — not only will we see the PlayStation 4 and Next Xbox, but we've got two new retro systems to look forward to as well. Hyperkin's RetroN 5 will be joined by the Retro-Bit Super Retro Trio, which plays SNES, Genesis / Mega Drive, NES and (with an...

  • Review Sengoku (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    An interesting twist on the beat 'em up genre

    Given the popularity of arcade titles like Final Fight and Double Dragon, the beat 'em up genre was a big draw in arcades during the late eighties and early nineties. Hoping to cash in on some of this success, SNK created its own unique take on the genre with Sengoku for its Neo Geo system. While the...

  • Review Excitebike (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Excitement revisited

    With all of the Excitebike-related titles to grace a Nintendo console over the past ten years, we’d be hard pressed to find any gamer that isn’t at least familiar with the brand. Numerous re-releases, a couple of spin-offs, a sequel, and a remake have garnered a mostly positive reception from critics and fans alike. So now...

  • News Grant Kirkhope's Perfect Dark Soundtrack Blasts Onto Bandcamp

    The sweet beats

    When we think back to iconic Rare shooters that helped to redefine the genre on the Nintendo 64, minds often drift to GoldenEye 007. That has a strong case as a trailblazer, but if you're looking for the best Rare title in that genre from the 64-bit beast, plenty of loyal fans will very enthusiastically and loudly point you towards...

  • News Famicom Hardware Designer Masayuki Uemura Explains Origins of its Name and Red Colouring

    Colour choice "due to an order from the company's president"

    The original Famicom — which would be branded as the NES in the West — remains an iconic example of Japanese hardware design. That's not to say it was perfect, with one notable feature being that the controllers were hardwired into the system — it's easy to see why that idea was...

  • Review Color Commando (DSiWare)

    Mini-masterpiece

    Quirky, innovative puzzle-platformers are becoming something of a calling card for Goodbye Galaxy Games, and this latest release fits nicely into that oeuvre. The final panel in a DSiWare triptych that includes the Flipper series and Ace Mathician, Color Commando similarly revolves around manipulating the environment — here via...

  • News Game Audio Professional Contemplates the Importance of Iconic Gaming Sounds

    Nintendo is naturally mentioned

    When it comes to iconic game sounds, the passage of time hasn't stopped some of Nintendo's earliest efforts — particularly those made famous in games such Super Mario Bros. — being immediately familiar to the general public. In fact we use the coin collecting sound in the two second intro to videos on our YouTube...

April2013

  • Review Ice Climber (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Slippery controls are on thin ice

    Ice Climber, despite the self-explanatory title, is more complex than a cursory glance would suggest. Popo the parka-toting lad (and identical twin Nana in the multiplayer mode) must scale thirty-two vertically scrolling mountains to rescue a large number of delicious eggplants, using only wits and indestructible...

  • News Super Mario Bros Crossover Hitting Version 3.0 This Year

    Resurrects Hudsonsoft's obscure Sharp X1 title

    Remember Super Mario Bros. Crossover? It was a fan-made title which allowed Nintendo lovers to play the classic Super Mario Bros. with characters from other games, including Metroid, Castlevania and Mega Man. Th

  • News UK Retro Gaming Event Gathers Steam Ahead Of May Launch

    A festival of vintage gaming

    If you're based in the UK and have a soft spot for the games of yesteryear then you might want to look into buying a ticket for Revival. The event — which is the successor to the popular Retro Fusion show — takes place on the weekend of May 18th / 19th at Wolverhampton Racecourse in the Midlands, and over a thousand...

  • News 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience Hits DVD

    Blu-Ray and digital launch expected this year, too

    Those of you with exceptionally good powers of recollection will no doubt remember that we reported on the production of 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience last year. A love letter to the coin-op scene in Japan, the film has been completed thanks to two IndieGoGo campaigns which raised a...

  • Feature Nintendo Battle - Game Watch: Super Mario Bros. 3 vs. Star Fox

    The power's on the wrist

    These days we take gaming portability for granted. We may kill time playing a bit of Angry Birds on our smartphones while waiting for the next bus to arrive or waiting for our dental appointment. Back in the early ’90s you could carry around a Game Boy or Atari Lynx, but neither was particularly pocket friendly. The clever...

  • News Donkey Kong Junior Arcade Has A New World Record Holder

    1,349,000 points is the new high score

    The classic arcade title Donkey Kong Junior has a new world champion after the previous record was beaten by 20,900 points Mike Kasper of Beaverton, Oregon is the man who achieved such a feat. During a live TV broadcast Kasper managed to score 1,349,000 points on an original arcade cabinet, topping the...

  • Review Mega Man 4 (3DS eShop / NES)

    The Blue Bomber vs The Red Menace

    In 1991 the world got a fourth entry in what had quickly shaped up to be one of the NES's most popular series. This game was Mega Man 4, and expectations were high. After all, the first game laid down a solid — if static — template that resonated very well with gamers, the second game refined the formula...

  • Video Luigi Defeats All Characters On Super Smash Bros. Melee By Doing Absolutely Nothing

    A devious tactic

    When playing Super Smash Bros. Melee there are various tactics you can use to come out on top. You could pick the speedy Fox McCloud and run rings around the other players, blast people from afar as Samus, maybe pick a powerhouse character and take it to your opponent from close range. Or you could just pick Luigi and win by doing...

  • Review Working Dawgs: Rivet Retriever (DSiWare)

    A dog's breakfast

    Working Dawgs: Rivet Retriever is a platformer doomed to be forgotten. An uninspired follow-up to puzzle game Working Dawgs: A-maze-ing Pipes, every facet of this downloadable title succumbs to the dark side of video games, thoroughly beating down what simple enjoyment might be found in a side-scroller this basic. If the underlying...

  • News These Screens Show What NES Games Would Be Like Today

    Minus the secrets and controller-hurling difficulty

    This video games lark is quite young as an entertainment medium; it's decades behind film and television, while books have hundreds of years behind them. Yet in a short time we've seen extraordinary transformations in technology and also game design. It's easy to forget when playing modern games,...

  • News The Konami Code Is 27 Years Old This Week

    Raise a glass to more than a quarter-century of cheating

    The Konami Code has gone from being a developer's secret workaround to one of video gaming's most famous cheats — and it's 27-years-old this week. According to lore, the code was created by Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who was developing the home port of Gradius for the Famicom / NES. Hashimoto...

  • News Hyperkin: Nintendo Hasn't Contacted Us About the RetroN 5

    Flying under the legal radar

    In case you hadn't noticed, we're quite excited about Hyperkin's forthcoming RetroN 5 console. It plays practically every retro format under the sun, comes with a wireless pad and connects to HD televisions via HDMI — in short, it's shaping up to be the ultimate retro gamer's system. Interestingly, Hyperkin's...

  • News Mother 3 Fan Offers Nintendo Free Translation of the GBA Title

    Nintendo's offered an olive branch, fans will help to get the whole tree

    So, last week Nintendo announced that it was finally planning to release one of the most requested Virtual Console titles we've known of here at Nintendo Life; Earthbound is coming to the Wii U Virtual Console. The fact that gamer reaction after its confirmation for the...

  • Feature Nintendo Life's Staff Favourites - Super NES

    Doubling the bits for Super power

    We think it's safe to say that the past two generations of Nintendo home consoles — Wii and Wii U — haven't overly concerned themselves with raw graphical power; now its all about concepts and experiences. It wasn't always so, with Nintendo responding the the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis — which enjoyed a spell...

  • Review Kirby's Adventure (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Adventure time

    Though Kirby made his debut a year prior on the Game Boy, it was 1993's Kirby's Adventure on the NES that cemented his appearance, his power-stealing ability, and his vast environments full of hidden secrets. Kirby's Adventure did a lot more than expand on the simple charm of Kirby's Dream Land; it earned him a place as one of...

  • News World 1-2 is an Upcoming Chiptune Album With Serious Pedigree

    Chiptune arrangers team up with famous composers

    As we all know here on Nintendo Life, video game culture isn't just about playing a game and pushing buttons, but about a wider community and other ways of sharing our passion. Whether that's dressing up for expos, writing, making videos or working on music soundtracks, there's more to this hobby than...

  • News Pocket Pikachu Evolves to Smartwatch Form On Pebble

    Tetris, of course, is also available

    Were you ever playing with your Pocket Pikachu (aka Pokémon Pikachu) in the late ‘90s and thought, “Gee, I wish I was able to wear this on my wrist?” Well honestly, you probably could’ve found some way to attach a band to the thing. But now, thanks to 21st Century technology, you can wear a digitized...

  • News Woman Finds Extremely Rare NES Game At Goodwill Store

    A diamond in the rough

    File this one under "Wowzer". A woman paid $7.99 for an old NES cartridge at a Goodwill store that — as luck would have it — is one of the rarest video games of all time. Bandai's Stadium Events — which has sold for more than $40,000 USD in the past — was one of the first titles to use the Family Fun Fitness Mat...

  • News Check Out This Ultimate Multi-System Games Console

    Project Unity plays games from 18 formats, and not a ROM in sight

    We sometimes direct your attention to hardware, often portable, that gives gamers a new way to play their old cartridges, discs or even smaller carts. While ROMs are always a sticking area, there's plenty of hardware out there designed to give fresh life to all of the physical copies...

  • Vote Pick Your Favourite NES Games

    We hadn't forgotten

    A little while ago the Nintendo Life team voted for its favourite NES games, which included plenty of classics and closely-fought tied positions. Our ultimate winner was Super Mario Bros. 3, and at the end of the feature we promised that you, the community, would have the chance to vote for your own top 10 NES games. We...

  • News Mega Man Soundtracks Released on U.S. Capcom Store

    If you're in Europe, tough

    The Mega Man franchise is currently indulging in its 25th Anniversary celebrations with various goodies though yes, we know, no full game to date. For fans of the series, however, recent months have given a good opportunity to buy assorted trinkets to celebrate, with Capcom also gradually bringing the first six NES titles...

  • Review Clash of Elementalists (DSiWare)

    An Elemental Mistake

    If you’ve stumbled onto any footage of Clash of Elementalists, we wouldn’t be surprised if your first impression was a good one. At first glance, the game-play appears reminiscent of SEGA’s Virtual-On series or even the multiplayer aspect of Kid Icarus: Uprising. This is a third-person arena brawler where you’re bestowed...

  • News Twenty Years On, It's Time To Check Out Benimaru Itoh's Awesome Star Fox Artwork

    Freshly translated into English, too

    Star Fox is twenty years old this year, and to celebrate that fact, translating powerhouse GlitterBerri has taken the comic intro to the Japan-only Star Fox: Mission File Printout guide and adapted it for English audiences. Featuring the artwork of Benimaru Itoh, the guide reveals the back story of the game and...

  • News Tales Of Symphonia Is The Most "Successful" Series Entry In The West, Says Producer

    Franchise could be headed to the Wii U, too

    Tales series producer Hideo Baba believes that Tales of Symphonia, the fifth game in the series, was the most popular game in the franchise overseas. In an interview with Destructoid, Baba explained why he felt it made the most impact in the West: I believe the success of Tales of Symphonia has multiple...

  • Review Viewtiful Joe (GameCube)

    A Viewtiful debut

    Joe is nothing more than an average… well, Joe, as it were. The guy loves old movies and their cheesy melodrama, so when a malevolent hand drags him into a superhero flick, he’s absolutely pumped. This is a chance to do the impossible; to pull off his favorite actions scenes with high-flying kicks, slow-motion thrills, and...

  • Weirdness Pick Up a Power Mitt for Awesome Motion Controlled Kitchen Work

    It's so... bad, by which we mean cool

    Ah, the Power Glove, it's so bad. When it made its high-profile appearance in The Wizard with the infamous line, it was during a confusing Michael Jackson-inspired fad where 'bad' actually meant 'cool', which is about as logical as the idea of wearing a glove to play games. Still, it's an iconic example of the...

  • News Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Talks Tetris And Giving Game Boys To World Leaders

    He's rocking an awesome Limited Edition Astro Boy Game Boy Light, too

    It's no secret that Apple co-founder Steve "Woz" Wozniak is something of a legend at Game Boy Tetris, but seeing the man in action is something else. Game Informer managed to infiltrate Woz's hotel room recently, and recorded some footage of him dominating at

  • Review NAM-1975 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    War is heaven

    Although NAM-1975 was an early Neo Geo release, it's certainly not short on fun. Released in 1990, it took a simple shooting approach and built an interesting war theme around it. Simple mechanics and a level of playability that wasn't too common in the genre made for an amazing gameplay experience. Now SNK Playmore is bringing back...

  • Feature Ten SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis Games We Want on the Wii U Virtual Console

    They skipped Wii VC, so now their time has come

    Earlier this week we were rather pleased the share the news, based on a couple of sources, that Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse looks set to come to Wii U. It's unclear whether it'll be a straight-up re-release (on the Virtual Console) or a remastered port, but whatever the case it's a SEGA...

  • Ninterview Per Fhager On Combining Embroidery With Video Games

    "Video gaming is an important medium that reflects our time"

    Video games and art regularly collide with spectacular results, but the work of Swedish artist Per Fhager is one of the most surprising examples of this fusion of interactive entertainment and the world of visual crafts. Fhager's work has been displayed all over Europe, and manages to...

  • Review Harvest Moon (3DS eShop / GBC)

    Under thresher

    The Harvest Moon series has always promoted the ideals of hard work and patience over the instant gratification found by more recent prods at gaming agriculture like Farmville. This attitude is even more apparent in Harvest Moon on the Game Boy Color than other iterations, as the handheld game crops the series down to its very roots...

  • News Translated 1997 Interview with Miyamoto and Itoi Reveals Nintendo 64 Insights

    Details on their professional relationship, the 64DD and N64 advertising

    Japanese translation blog Yomuka! has produced a full English transcript of an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi (MOTHER series) that originally appeared in Japanese gaming magazine, The 64 Dream. The extensive interview from December 1997 provides a great...

  • Weirdness Looks Like Link Is Versed In The Japanese Art Of Kyudo Archery

    They sure know their Far Eastern archery skills in Hyrule

    We sure get sent some unusual news tips here at Nintendo Life, but when Ben "Mikeyman64" Barger decided to tell us about a cool feature he'd found in Super Smash Bros. Melee, we knew we were onto something a little more out of the ordinary. According to our tipster, Link's bow-work in the...

  • News Wiggy Design Mod Finally Makes The Sega Nomad Truly Portable

    Better screen, internal battery and improved sound - it's the Nomad X

    As you'll already know, we're massive fans of Wiggy Design's Rose Colored Gaming here at Nintendo Life. Wiggy's motto is "New ideas for old games", and his most recent upgrade certainly lives up to that. The Nomad X mod takes Sega's portable Genesis / Mega Drive console and makes...

March2013

  • News Grant Kirkhope Wishes He Could Make Banjo-Kazooie 3 For Nintendo

    Explains why Rare chose to make Nuts & Bolts

    Banjo-Kazooie is revered by many as one of the best games to ever grace the N64. The platformer, which starred a docile bear and a wise-cracking bird, could have ended up being something completely different as it was originally set to be a highly ambitious venture known as Project Dream. Speaking as a...

  • News GoldenEye 007 Multiplayer Took Just Six Weeks To Make

    Rare staffers put it together right at the end

    In 1997, Rare released GoldenEye 007 on the N64 and it became an absolute classic that arguably redefined the first person shooter genre and revolutionised the way multiplayer was done on home consoles. It all nearly never happened though as according to Grant Kirkhope, the composer behind the game's...

  • News Best Buy R.O.B. Saga Reaches a Happy Ending

    S.A.V.E.D.

    Best Buy has decided not to destroy the R.O.B. unit that nearly cost an employee his job. The robot, which an employee unsuccessfully attempted to take home instead of being recycled as part of Best Buy's Renew Blue program, will instead be sent to the company's corporate headquarters to be put on display. Best Buy had some enthusiastic...

  • Review Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    Third time's a charm?

    Art of Fighting sprang onto the Neo Geo arcade scene in 1993 and brought with it several innovations that would become a staple of future Neo fighting titles. For one thing the game featured huge character sprites, some spanning nearly the height of the screen. It also introduced the now famous SNK zoom system that would keep...

  • News Best Buy Employee On A Mission To Save R.O.B.

    Battling corporate policy for the sake of gaming history

    An employee at Best Buy is currently at risk of losing his job in a desperate bid to prevent a Nintendo Entertainment System Deluxe Set from being recycled. Sharing his story on Reddit, a customer recently brought the set into the store to have it recycled as part of Best Buy's "Renew Blue"...

  • News Howard Phillips' "Ultimate" Nintendo World Championships 1990 Package Sells For A Whopping $17,367

    "Not just another NWC cart auction"

    A copy of Nintendo World Championships 1990 owned by none other than "Gamemaster" Howard Phillips has recently sold on eBay for an incredible US $17,367. The game was listed as part of a unique package being offered by Howard, including an all-access badge he wore during the original competition in 1990 and a...

  • News Print Your Own Goldeneye Remote Mine

    Golden gun not included

    Anyone who played Goldeneye 007 back on the N64 will no doubt remember the countless weapons and traps included in its multiplayer mode. ComradeQuiche of Thingiverse has combined his fond memories and technical know-how to create a replica of the remote mine using a 3D printer and has posted the model for all to use. The...

  • News Star Fox Developer: I Wanted To Say "Screw That" To Shigeru Miyamoto

    Dylan Cuthbert reveals the magic of working with Nintendo

    Star Fox is one of the Super Nintendo's most enduring classics, thanks largely to its ground-breaking use of 3D and tight, immserise gameplay. However, had Dylan Cuthbert — one of the game's key developers — had his way, it might have turned out very differently; something he now admits...

  • Review Forgotten Legions (DSiWare)

    Tower offence

    Forgotten Legions tells the story of a character named Merkhovious, who is apparently a wizard or some other type of magic user. He started using dark magic and was quickly banished from the town of Riverkeep, because the higher-ups there frown upon that sort of thing. Now Merkhovious is back, and he’s brought an army of undead...

  • News Gaze Upon The Mega Man Figures You Will Never Own

    Custom made and packed with awesomeness

    There's no shortage of Mega Man figures out there — the popularity of the character both in the west and Japan has ensured a steady flow of cool merchandise — but unsurprisingly most are based on the anime-style iteration of the character, and not the one found on the western boxes. Although they're not...

  • News Hyperkin Details RetroN 5 Super Console In Video Announcement

    Coming in July, plays 9 different game formats and upscales via HDMI

    We knew that Hyperkin would be officially revealing the RetroN 4 console at this year's Midwest Gaming Classic, but the company surprised everyone by lifting the lid on the RetroN 5 instead. It pretty much showcases all of the functions that were hinted at with the RetroN 4, and...

  • Feature Nintendo Life's Staff Favourites - NES

    Let's begin at the beginning

    One thing you may have noticed, if you're a regular visitor to Nintendo Life, is that we're more than happy to wear our retro-enthusiast, rose-tinted spectacles as often as possible. A merger with VC-Reviews in April 2009 is an important part of our history, and we often share entertaining blasts from the past and wax...

  • Review Super Pang (Super Nintendo)

    Forever blowing bubbles

    Capcom is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013. Since the company formed in 1983, it has published a host of classic titles from the Resident Evil series, countless Street Fighter games and many timeless iterations of Mega Man. One of its lesser known titles is Super Pang (known as Super Buster Bros. in North America), an...

  • Hardware Classics NEC PC Engine

    Emotion Engine

    It's a common misconception that the Nintendo Super Famicom and Sega Mega Drive were close rivals in their native Japan. In reality, Sega was in fact third in the pecking order, and it was NEC's PC Engine which fought so bitterly with Nintendo for domination of the sales charts. A collaboration between hardware manufacturer NEC an

  • Review Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Heavy Hitter

    Boxing is a fascinating sport. Two human beings enter the ring, then skilfully and tactfully beat the tar out of one another using nothing but their own gloved fists. It’s the perfect fodder for a video game, and that’s exactly why the Punch-Out!! series is such a classic. Originally released in North America as Mike Tyson's...

  • Remake Request Captain Blood

    Clone alone

    The medium of video gaming has arguably witnessed some of the most ridiculous story lines in the history of humankind. Let’s face it, if you went to a literary agent with the concept of a portly Italian plumber giving up hunting giant apes and travelling to a land filled with talking mushrooms to save a princess from the clutches of a...

  • Video Zelda: A Link To The Past Gets Condensed Into Just Four Minutes

    One of the best games ever in less time than it takes to eat a burger

    The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is unquestionably one of the best Zelda instalments, and quite possibly one of the greatest video games ever made. The games offers hours of top-notch entertainment, but YouTube user vgcuts has managed to cram all of that awesomeness into...

  • Review The King of Fighters '98 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    The best there ever was

    For many 2D fighting game fans, The King of Fighters '98 represents the zenith of the series; the crowning glory of the only rival lineage to truly bloody the nose of Capcom's genre-defining Street Fighter. It's not hard to see why this is the case; the game looks stunning, has a massive roster of characters and boasts one...

  • Video Pokémon Snap Gritty Reboot Spoofs Jurassic Park

    "Welcome to Pokémon Island!"

    The Gritty Reboot team — which did such a fantastic job on Harvest Moon earlier this month — are back with another Nintendo-related trailer, this time based on the N64 title Pokémon Snap. The clip boasts the same astonishingly high production values as it predecessor, and this time spoofs the Hollywood smash-hit...

  • News Earthbound Creator, Shigesato Itoi, Gearing Up to Play SNES Classic in Live Stream

    Watch and be jealous of Japanese gamers

    Earthbound — or Mother 2: Revenge of Gyiygas in Japan — is one of those titles that's permanently on the agenda for some retro gamers; its absence in the West is a continual source of disappointment. With apparent licensing issues keeping the critically acclaimed classic off the Wii Virtual Console, the...

  • News Super Metroid is 19 Years Old Today

    A defining game of the 16-bit era

    We couldn't forget this anniversary now, could we? 19 years ago Super Metroid was released in Japan, though it was in later Western releases that it truly found an adoring audience. While not the first game in the series, it's arguably the most commonly cited and recognisable adventure starring Samus Aran. Whether...

  • News This Is How You Recondition A Game Boy Advance

    From second hand to factory fresh

    Last week, we interviewed Rose Colored Gaming's Matthew "Wiggy" Wiggins about his unique range of console modifications. In the feature, Wiggins revealed that he gets quite a kick out of buying grimy-looking games and systems and then freshing them up for a new lease of life, and in a recent blog post on his site,...

  • Review Goony (DSiWare)

    You jelly?

    Aside offerings such as I Must Run!, there haven't been a huge number of endless runner-style games on DSiWare. CIRCLE Entertainment's latest title, Goony, aims to fill that gap a little, while also proving that you don't necessarily need legs or a baffling amount of stamina to star in the genre – if you're a creature made of jelly, you...

  • Video It's a Fighting Robot Controlled By a Famicom Controller

    Step aside, R.O.B.

    Video game enthusiasts are often wonderful people, in that they'll do something unspeakably cool and awesome simply because they feel like it; that's why we rather adore quite a lot of video game culture. We also like anything that fuses modern technology with retro gadgets, which is exactly what this Japanese genius has done...

  • Video Someone Has Hacked Nic Cage's Face Into Zelda, Just Because They Can

    "We had no goal, only Cage"

    Oh boy. Some things in life simply defy explanation, so we won't even bother, but merely offer this befuddling video and allow you to draw your own conclusions. YouTube user Criken has created a texture mod for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask which liberally coats various surfaces in the game with the face of...

  • Round Table Let's Talk About the F-Zero Franchise

    Ready

    With SNES classic F-Zero coming to the end of its spell as the 30 cent/30 pence Famicom Anniversary promotion on the Wii U eShop, some of us in the Nintendo Life team thought that it was the perfect time to talk about the franchise. With just four main releases — include the GBA title but discounting the arcade unit — it's not been...

  • Review Mega Man 3 (3DS eShop / NES)

    Sibling rivalry

    It's fitting that Mega Man 3 introduces our hero's antagonistic, cocksure older brother Proto Man, as the game itself seems to eternally duke it out with its own brother Mega Man 2 for the coveted title of Best in Series. But wherever you may fall on the question, there's no doubt that this third installment in the classic franchise...

  • News Legend Of Zelda Hacked To Make Zelda The Hero

    Well her name is in the title, after all

    Recently, we saw Pauline switch roles with one-time romantic attachment Mario, and now it's the turn of Hyrule's most celebrated couple to change places. Animator Kenna W. decided to mod The Legend of Zelda to realise one of her childhood dreams — to get to play as the titular princess: For me, I played...

  • News The Game Boy Color’s Only First-Person Shooter Comes Back From The Dead

    Unreleased Tyrannosaurus Tex emerges from exitinction

    2001 was supposed to see the release of UK-based Slitherine Software's Tyrannosaurus Tex, a first person shooter for the Game Boy Color which boasted smooth 3D action and a compelling deathmatch mode. However, prospective publisher Eidos — now part of Square Enix — decided not to release the...

  • News This NES Arcade Unit is a Perfect Introduction to Gaming

    All for one lucky little girl

    Earlier today we posted an article on The Electus 64 II Mini, a handheld Nintendo 64 that resembles a glossy, chunky Game Boy. And rather like London buses (wait for an eternity and two come at the same time), we've been directed to an arcade cabinet that plays NES games — just like the handheld N64, that's actual...

  • News The Electus 64 II Mini Brings the Sexy Back to Nintendo 64

    Packed with features that actually work

    When it comes to modded consoles — which in this case means one that plays actual cartridges, not ROMS — we've seen plenty of innovative efforts over the years. Enthusiasts with a flair for hardware tech have produced handheld GameCube systems housed in tupperware boxes — we kid you not — a Super NES...

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