Books News, Books Features

Consulting the legendary tome

It’s amazing to think that a game which started out as a very basic action RPG on the NES has morphed into one of gaming’s most enduring and famous properties, sparking everything from emotional debate to hushed reverence whenever its name is uttered. The Legend of Zelda series - apparently inspired by creator...

Beating all the fad diet books

Throughout the day we have noticed that many of you have been receiving your precious copies of Hyrule Historia, the fantastic art book dedicated to The Legend of Zelda franchise. We've been swooning over it here at NLife towers the moment it arrived, and we're sure you have been too. It comes as no surprise that the...

More than just a stocking filler

The lucky citizens of Japan have been playing the epic 3DS title Fire Emblem: Awakening since April now, while in North America and Europe release details are still sketchy at best – sometime in 2013. As if gamers in Nintendo's homeland weren't fortunate enough, it’s now been revealed that Japan will be getting...

Will be turning pages in the near future

We reported last month that Librica was to launch a 3DS application - Bookstore Anywhere - for the 3DS this month in Japan. Sadly, it has since been confirmed that the service has been delayed. Librica has said the hold up is due to the team's desire to make further improvements to the app, and that a new...

In English, hurrah!

It's been a good month so far for Zelda fans. Not only has the monumental book, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, been translated and confirmed for the West next January, but this week we also had the smug satisfaction of knocking off E. L. James' infamous Fifty Shades of Grey from the top spot on amazon.com's best-sellers...

Start saving your rings

UDON Entertainment has revealed a huge History of Sonic hardback book for launch in North America this September. It's the same book as Pix'n Love Publishing announced for Europe, though it doesn't look like North America will get the cool embossed gold foil cover. The book itself spans nearly 300 pages and has been produced...

Or Rockman, to be precise

About a month ago we told you about the Mega Man Robot Master Field Guide from UDON Entertainment, which is packed with facts about the series and its characters. The blue bomber is famous in a lot of places, with a new book just released in Thailand to give fans in the region their own comprehensive tome on all things Mega...

It's good, too

Anyone who loves retro gaming might want to get their chops around Pixel Nation, a new quarterly magazine dedicated to the world of old-school digital entertainment. The first issue of the 100-page, full colour periodical includes articles on topics dear to many Nintendo hearts: famed composer Koji Kondo takes the spotlight, and the...

Book 'em

The second instalment in Pix'n Love Publishing's History of Nintendo book series is out today. The 200-page tome looks at the history of the Game & Watch, with reviews of every unit, over 1,500 pictures and exclusive documents too. If you've ever wanted to know more about Nintendo's 1980s portable games, this book should scratch that...

For real this time

We know we've reported several release dates for The History of Nintendo: Volume 2 — Game & Watch — the most recent being 15th December — but this time we're told it's definitely, definitely coming on 9th March. The follow-up to the rather good History of Nintendo: Volume 1 — 1889 - 1980: From playing-cards to Game...

Ocarina of Tune

Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda are arguably Nintendo's most prominent and famous franchises. With a shared history spanning 25 years and a lot of games, fans have been treated to some glorious music, whether it's been chip-tune or orchestral. Now, thanks to Alfred Music Publishing, musical gamers have the opportunity to play through some of these famous compositions themselves..

Cross your fingers

Our recent competitions gave you the chance to win a red Nintendo 3DS or one of five copies of Pix'n Love Publishing's excellent History of Nintendo — Volume 1. We've now drawn and contacted the lucky winners — if your name appears below we've emailed you with details of how to claim your prize. Here are the fortunate six. Red...

For Japan, so far

The hype is starting to build for Resident Evil: Revelations, not surprising as it's the first major release of the year on 3DS. With that in mind, it seems that Capcom is ready to go the extra mile to give fans of the series all of the content they need to get them excited. According to Andriasang, Capcom has announced a rather attractive 'Navigation and Art' book — or strategy..

Hyrule history translated

The Legend of Zelda art book we told you about last week has now made it to Japan, and according to one fan translation it reveals the official series timeline for the first time. Previously Nintendo has kept the Zelda timeline secret so we're not sure if this is a definitive timeline or simply one interpretation of it, but...

Cover to covet

We might be two weeks from 2012 but the Legend of Zelda 25th anniversary festivities aren't over just yet. Nintendo Japan is to release a Legend of Zelda art book on 22nd December for ¥3255 (£27/$41/€32). At 274 pages long it's a seriously weighty tome, with character and location concept art taken from Zelda's quarter-century. According to Zelda Universe the book also deals..

Now we're talking

After the excellent History of Nintendo: Volume 1 book, publisher Pix'n Love is expanding its catalogue to Nintendo's great rival and its legendary mascot. Early 2012 sees the release of The History of Sonic, a 300 page guide to the genesis and development of SEGA's greatest hero, including concept sketches and developer interviews...

Pre-orders open

The History of Nintendo: Volume 1 spanned the company's beginnings up until the creation of the Game & Watch, setting things up nicely for the second volume, which deals exclusively with Gunpei Yokoi's LCD wonder. The History of Nintendo: Volume 2 — 1980-1991: The Game & Watch games, an amazing invention to give its rather lengthy title, has just been given a 15th December..

Turning over a new leaf

Pix'n Love Publishing, the company behind the rather good History of Nintendo: Volume 1, has just overhauled its website and put up a stack of new books to pre-order. Top of the list is the next issue in the series, titled The History of Nintendo: Volume 2 — Game & Watch, which goes through the development of Nintendo's classic LCD gaming devices. If it's half as good..

Let's-a go

You might consider yourself a Nintendo expert, with innumerable facts and figures at your disposal, but even the most knowledgeable follower of the Kyoto company will find hitherto unknown realms of information in The History of Nintendo: Volume 1 — 1889 - 1980: From playing-cards to Game & Watch. The book made waves last year in...