Wii News

January2012

  • News Operation Rainfall Takes Aim at The Last Story

    Time for round two

    Last year a fan-based group, Operation Rainfall, launched an online campaign to petition Nintendo of America to localise three major Japanese Wii releases: Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower. The news that Xenoblade Chronicles will be released in North America is perhaps due to sales success in Europe, though...

  • News Wahoo, It's a Mario Party 9 Trailer

    You can cry if you want to

    The latest Mario Party 9 trailer is in and shows off some of the 80+ minigames you can expect when it launches in March. Long-time Mario fans will pick up on countless references: Super Mario Sunshine's Piantas make an appearance, but there's plenty more to see if you keep your eyes peeled. How many can you spot?

  • News Rising Star Explains Rune Factory: Oceans Wii No-Show

    "Wasn't on the table"

    Rising Star Games just announced its 2012 line-up, but while it's bringing Rune Factory: Oceans on PlayStation 3 to Europe, Rune Factory: Oceans for Wii is missing from the publisher's slate. We asked product marketing manager Yen Hau why Wii owners in Europe won't be able to continue their Rune Factory adventures. Rising...

  • News The Last Story Limited Edition Officially Confirmed

    Out February

    After the retailer leak of The Last Story's special edition, Nintendo has confirmed the limited edition of the game will be available from 24th February. The limited edition comes with a steelbook case — Nintendo's first in Europe — a seven-track Premium Soundtrack CD and an art booklet titled The Illustrations. It's available to...

  • News Europe Joins the Mario Party on 2nd March

    Send your invitations now

    Partygoers across Europe get an extra reason to be cheerful on 2nd March when Nintendo releases Mario Party 9 across the continent. The second Wii instalment in the series, MP9 includes new boss battles, 80 minigames and vehicles too. North America gets it on 11th March. WHO WILL YOU INVITE TO YOUR MARIO PARTY? Rivals...

  • News More Just Dance 3 DLC Available Now

    No Luigi DLC, shockingly

    It's clear that a title is selling in huge numbers when the publisher offers downloadable content (DLC) on the Wii, as Ubisoft did with its Just Dance 3 Mario DLC last year. The trend is set to continue, with owners of the Wii game now having access to two additional DLC packs. The details from the press release are below...

  • Review Duracell Wii Charging Stand

    It stands, but does it deliver?

    The Wii has come with a plastic stand for years, but Duracell's effort does more than just support your Wii upright. As the name suggests, the Duracell Wii Charging Stand lets you recharge your Wii Remotes while keeping your Wii in place. It comes bundled with two rechargeable battery packs for your Wii Remote, but...

  • Feature Nintendo in 2011 - Part Two

    Disaster and redemption

    Following on from Nintendo in 2011 — Part One, it's time to look at the latter half of the year. The gaming world quickly moves on, as the 3DS enjoys positive sales and the Wii U hype begins to build. It’s easy to forget that the tail-end of 2011 was particularly dramatic and eventful for Nintendo, leaving us with plenty...

  • Review LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Wii)

    Let's finish this the way we started it... together

    Legend has it that every time Billy Joel drives to a holiday party that has a piano, he knows that he's going to end up playing Piano Man by request. He's played it countless times before, but when he plays it again, people will like it. It won't be surprising or innovative, but it will be...

  • News Retailers Leak The Last Story Limited Edition

    Swiss retailer breaks cover

    It appears that Nintendo of Europe is preparing a limited edition release for upcoming Japanese RPG The Last Story, due for release on 24th February. Initial rumours started to spread earlier this week, but images of the box art and packaging have since begun to surface. According to a Swiss retailer this release will...

  • News Nintendo Reconfirms Wii U Will Not Make Wii Games Sharper

    Hopes dashed

    With the Wii U boasting HDMI output and full backwards compatibility with Wii games and accessories, some had hoped the new console would be able to make existing Wii games sharper, but Nintendo has reconfirmed to Wired that it won't. During a hands-on session at CES, Ben Kuchera was told that the Wii U "will not be able to improve...

  • Review The Kore Gang (Wii)

    The bore gang

    The Kore Gang has been a long time in the making, a fact reflected in the final result. At its best, it’s colourfully innocuous and fun, while at its worst it can be frustrating and infuriating. It’s likely to be divisive as a result, so we’ll do our best to break it down. You know what everyone likes, though? Good intentions,...

  • News Zelda: Skyward Sword Misses Wii's 2011 Top Five

    Missing Link

    Much-anticipated MotionPlus adventure The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is nowhere to be seen among the UK's five top-selling Wii games of 2011. Topping the chart is fitness phenomenon Zumba Fitness, just ahead of Just Dance 3 and prequel Just Dance 2. Nintendo first-party software occupies the fourth and fifth slots: Mario

  • News Tiger Woods, Your Time on Wii is Over

    Wii can't play PGA Tour 13

    After several excellent outings on Wii, EA Sports has confirmed upcoming Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 won't release on Nintendo's current home console. While Xbox 360 owners can play Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 on Kinect, and PlayStation Move fans have been enjoying motion controls since 2010, Wii is being passed over for this...

  • News Get Into this Rhythm Heaven Fever Teaser Trailer

    Contains a lot of monkeys

    Rhythm Heaven Fever is just one month away in North America, and Nintendo is upping the tempo with a new teaser trailer. Showing off a selection of bizarre games — our favourite is the high-fiving monkeys on a clock face — the game's certainly lost none of its imagination in the transition to Wii. Here's the trailer to...

  • News Wii Balance Board Enters Record Books

    Wii European sales also announced

    Nintendo have confirmed that the Wii Balance Board has officially achieved a Guinness World Record for the 'best-selling personal weighing device'. The record was initially broken back in November 2010 when just over 32 million units had been sold worldwide as part of Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus bundles, though this...

  • News Netflix Reaches Wii Shop Channel in UK and Ireland

    Merrily down the stream

    Netflix has launched in the UK and Ireland — and it's available on Wii. The Wii Shop Channel offers a free Netflix Channel for download, enabling subscribers to stream TV and movies through the console. You can sign up for a free trial and account through the Channel, with a flat rate of £5.99/€6.99 per month. In North...

  • Round Table Looking Ahead to Nintendo in 2012

    Should be a good 'un

    It's a new year, with a recovering 3DS and a fresh home console on the way from Nintendo: these are certainly interesting times. We decided to have a chat about the prospects for Nintendo in 2012, including our thoughts on the company's prospects, as well as our hopes, dreams and fears. Joining features editor Thomas Whitehead...

  • News LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Coming to Wii, 3DS and DS

    Look who's in tow

    After the LEGO Batman 2 leak last month, it was always a matter of time before Warner Bros. confirmed LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, and indeed the publisher just revealed the sequel is due this summer. Coming to Wii, 3DS and DS, as the title suggests LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes' cast includes more than just the Dark Knight,...

  • News Millions of Wii Games Pirated in 2011

    Mario left all at sea

    The Wii may be in its twilight years, but a large number of its retail titles are still being being downloaded and played illegally. Website TorrentFreak compiled figures of downloads in 2011 from a number of sources and trackers, providing results for three major formats, though these are estimates rather than official...

  • News Skyward Sword is Wii's 45th Million Seller in U.S.

    Latest in a long line

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has sold over 1 million copies in the United States since its release on 20th November, Nintendo of America has announced. Link's airborne adventure sold 535,000 copies in its first eight days on sale to become the fastest-selling Zelda game ever, and has since reached the major milestone of...

  • Feature Nintendo in 2011 - Part One

    An important year begins

    It’s now 2012, which promises to be an eventful year for Nintendo. We’ll be giving our thoughts soon on what to expect in the coming year, but it's now time to look back at a dramatic 2011. There were plenty of major headlines and game releases, and we’ll pinpoint some of the key moments that defined the year. We'll...

December2011

  • Game of the Year Nintendo Life Staff Awards 2011

    What won our votes this year?

    With the launch of 3DS in March, the Wii U's unveiling at E3 and a Christmas period that included new Zelda, Mario and Mario Kart games, we rather think 2011 was a pretty good year all in all. But what were the very best stand-out games of the year? What moments will we think of when we reminisce about 2011? The...

  • News Disney Newsletter Accidentally Outs Epic Mickey 2

    It's bound to happen

    Rumours of a sequel to Disney Epic Mickey continue to swirl around the Internet like paint in a pot, with a Disney newsletter seemingly outing the game before its official announcement. The email mentions a brand new Epic Mickey 2 in development for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with a release set for fall 2012: Disney Epic...

  • News Skyward Sword Save File Fix Wii Channel Out Now

    But there's a small catch

    Wii owners in Europe and Australia can now download a free Channel to allow them to continue with their The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword save file if they've encountered Skyward Sword's game-ending glitch. Note the Channel is only any use if you've encountered the bug: if you're planning to work around it or have passed...

  • News Nintendo UK Brings Boom Street Forward to 28th December

    Shifting stocks

    Boom Street (aka Fortune Street) has been brought forward from its 6th January 2012 UK release date to make it out in time for the New Year party season. The board game will now release on 28th December. It's actually quite good, as our Boom Street review states. Nintendo UK announces an early release date for Boom StreetOut in...

  • News North America, Expect Xenoblade Chronicles Before May

    Pre-order from Nintendo now

    Nintendo gave a vague spring 2012 release date for Xenoblade Chronicles in North America, but now you can pre-order the game directly from Nintendo we have a slightly more precise date. The Nintendo store has the game up for pre-order at $49.99 with the following statement: We expect to begin by the end of April 2012. A...

  • News North America to Get Zelda: Skyward Sword Save File Fix

    Everything's not lost

    Nintendo Japan's save file fix programme for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is coming to North America. Affected users can either send in their save file on an SD card or wait for Nintendo to make available a piece of Wii software that'll repair the issue. Prevention is better than cure, so read up on how to avoid Z

  • Review Duracell Wireless Wii Sensor Bar

    Worth a closer look?

    You'd have to say the wire on the standard Wii sensor bar is of a reasonably generous length, but the fact it's wired at all irritates some, leaving wires trailing around if you don't have your TV and Wii set up how Nintendo originally envisioned. We took the Duracell wireless Wii sensor bar for a spin to see if it's worth going...

  • News Wicked Monsters Blast is WarioWare Meets Point Blank

    Madness ensues

    Budget Wii shooters are almost literally ten-a-penny these days, but PQube's Wicked Monsters Blast might have a little something about it. The four-player family-friendly shooter is already out in North America but is due to reach the UK in February 2012, and judging from the trailer below takes heavy inspiration from Point Blank and...

  • News Zelda: Skyward Sword Available for £24.99 in UK

    Missing Link?

    If you haven't got around to picking up The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword yet, or you want to pick it up as a Christmas gift, GAME and Gamestation have just dropped the game's price to a superb £24.99. As you'll know if you've read our Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword review, Link's latest outing is worth every penny. Buy The Legend...

  • News Nintendo Japan Preparing Skyward Sword Save File Fixer

    Will it reach the West?

    You may remember we posted how to avoid Skyward Sword's game-ending glitch, but if that advice came too late then Nintendo of Japan is preparing a solution in the form of a program to fix glitched save files. Full details aren't available yet but Nintendo will offer two options. Users with internet access will be able to...

  • News 3DS and Wii Get Frosty with Winter Sports 2012

    Out in January

    3DS doesn't have a huge number of sports games in its catalogue but you can add one to that number in January, when PQube's Winter Sports 2012 lands across the UK. The 3DS version of the chilly compilation features seven disciplines and 50 challenges to complete, with a character designer and slow motion replay mode too. There's also...

  • Feature Celebrating 10 Years of Animal Crossing

    Population: glowing

    Here's a fun game next time you're at a boring social occasion: try explaining the point of Animal Crossing to an elderly family member. Nintendo's genre-defying life series first appeared in Japan in April 2001 as Dobutsu no Mori ("Animal Forest") on Nintendo 64, but it was the enhanced Animal Forest+ for GameCube —...

  • News Rhythm Heaven Fever Box Art is Bright and Beautiful

    It really is

    Now we know that Rhythm Heaven Fever is out in North America on 13th February 2012 it's time to take a look at the shiny art that'll greet you upon arrival at your chosen purveyor of video gaming goods. Nintendo of America's gone for a very different approach to the slightly staid cover on Rhythm Heaven, throwing as much colour and as...

  • News Club Nintendo Japan Gets Gold Nunchuks

    Jealous?

    GoldenEye 007 has a gold Classic Controller Pro, Club Nintendo members can get a gold Wii Wheel for Mario Kart Wii and of course there's a gold Wii Remote Plus for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, but there's not been a gold Nunchuk — until now. Japanese Club Nintendo members can now get a gold Nunchuk to go with their other golden acc

  • News LEGO Batman 2 Gets Man of Steel, Wonder Woman and More

    DC stays current

    The LEGO games bandwagon shows no signs of slowing down, with LEGO Batman 2 — Super Heroes the latest blocky action game to be uncovered. According to flyers included in the new LEGO range — as posted by MCV — LEGO Batman 2 gives the Dark Knight two new comrades, with Superman and Wonder Woman both set to appear. The leaflets...

  • News Mario Party 9 and Rhythm Heaven Fever Release Dates Revealed

    Not long to wait

    Nintendo of America's release schedule just confirmed release dates for three Wii games due out in early 2012. Rhythm Heaven Fever is the earliest first-party release, arriving on 13th February — just in time for Valentine's Day. It'll retail at $29.99 too, making it an even better present for that special someone. That's followed...

  • News Nintendo Has These Wii Games Planned for Early 2012

    Mario Party and more

    Proving that there's life in the old dog yet, Nintendo Europe has sent over a list of Wii games you can expect to play in early 2012 and beyond. While there's only one WiiWare game on the list — and most disappointingly no Virtual Console titles — the retail releases are still of a pretty high calibre, with big hitters...

  • News Aonuma: "Future Zelda Games Will Use Motion Controls"

    Buttons undone

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's motion controls are here to stay, according to series supremo Eiji Aonuma. Speaking to Official Nintendo Magazine, Aonuma believes using buttons would be a step back: I honestly think we cannot go back to button controls now, so I think that these controls will be used in future Zelda titles, too...

  • News Nintendo Crows About November Sales for Wii and 3DS

    The figures are in

    Now November is long gone it's time to review how Nintendo did in the sales front across the United States. We know the 3DS beat the DS first-year sales in just 8 months, that Mario and Skyward Sword set series sales records, but here's Nintendo's official overview. November was a the biggest month yet for 3DS, with 795,000...

  • News Just Dance 3 Gets Mario DLC on 14th December

    Wa-ha!

    Just Dance 3 is about to get a whole lot more plumber-y, as Nintendo UK has announced a Mario song is on the way next week. From 14th December you'll be able to download The Mario Song for 250 Nintendo Points, a medley of classics beats and tracks from Mario games past. An on-screen Mario jives to the beat, and the dance marks all wear Mario...

  • News Wii Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary in Europe

    Hasn't it grown?

    Five years ago today, the motion control phenomenon started in Europe. The humble Nintendo Wii reached European stores on 8th December 2006, and set sales records in many territories: in the UK, over 105,000 Wii consoles were sold in the opening weekend, beating the previous record of 70,000 sales set by the Xbox 360. That success...

  • News Europe Gets The Last Story on 24th February

    Are you ready?

    Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that Wii RPG The Last Story will reach the continent on 24th February 2012. The long-awaited RPG from Final Fantasy legend Hironobu Sakaguchi's Mistwalker studio includes online multiplayer for up to six players simultaneously, with Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Co-operative modes all included...

  • News Xenoblade Chronicles is Coming to Canada Too

    More information due "soon"

    Last week's announcement that Xenoblade Chronicles is coming to North America actually only specified a United States release, leading those north of the border to wonder if it would see release in Canada. It will. Nintendo of Canada confirmed to Examiner.com that the much-anticipated RPG is on the way to Canada: Xenobl

  • Review Fortune Street (Wii)

    A sound investment

    Mario and friends are no strangers to the board game scene: the Mario Party series is a perennial favorite, and rightly so. Those games are colourful, exciting and, most of all, fun. But it may come as something of a surprise to find our favorite denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom sharing a board with characters from the Dragon...

  • Talking Point The Overcrowded Holiday Release Schedule

    Time for a congestion charge?

    There’s a popular analogy that likens the act of waiting for buses to other everyday occurrences in life: around this time every year we’re all inevitably subjected to the same situation as we were last year, and the year before that, and so on. Picture the scene: you’ve endured summer months of crippling boredom,...

  • Review Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)

    Olympic shames

    It was four years ago that the old 16-bit rivals teamed up for the first time: Sonic appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the two took their tussle to the track in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. It wasn't exactly a high watermark for either mascot, but it felt right at home on the Wii at the time: motion gaming was taking...

  • News There Are How Many Mii Characters Worldwide?

    Quite a lot, it turns out

    Wii launched five years ago, unleashing an army of cheery little caricatures called Mii characters. How many of the little folks have made it across the world though? Nearly 214 million, according to Nintendo, and that's not including Miis on 3DS. The staggering facts don't end there: Nintendo Europe claims that the number...

  • News How to Avoid Skyward Sword's Game-Ending Glitch

    Pay attention

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a fantastic game, but if you're not lucky you could encounter a serious bug that completely halts your progress. Now Nintendo has released instructions for how to avoid it — but no word of a fix. The following email comes from Sharon Matheny (via Zelda Informer: We have been made aware of the...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Director Said No to Kuribo's Shoe

    Not a wind-up

    After Super Mario Bros. 3 it took the Tanooki tail years to make a resurgence, appearing in both Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, but it's not the only retro power-up from the game overdue a revival. IGN recently spoke to Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida about the game and asked about the legendary Kuribo's shoe, one

  • Review We Sing Rock (Wii)

    Wii salutes you

    Some things in life never change. When you're in a rush in your lunch hour, there will always be a massive queue outside the bakery. If you trip on a loose bit of pavement, you will always attempt to turn it into a jog to appear completely in control to the strangers around you. Failed sneezes are forever disappointing, there's never...

  • News Aonuma: "We'll See" About Zelda Voice Acting

    Never say never

    There's been much discussion about whether or not The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword should have used voice acting; some appreciate the mute characters, others feel a whole chunk of the game's potential atmosphere is missing. Game Informer recently asked Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma and music maestro Koji Kondo about the possibility of...

  • Feature Memorable Zelda Moments

    The wonderful world of Hyrule, and beyond

    The Legend of Zelda is one of the best loved Nintendo franchises, over 25 years old and still finding new ways to thrill gamers. The significant number of Zelda releases means it boasts an incredible history and reputation, with each new entry’s adventure contributing its part to the lore of the series...

  • Feature Nintendo Holiday Gift Guide

    Have a Mario holiday

    The festive season is almost upon us, which means that it’s time to lighten our wallets and top up the gift stockings. For those who fancy some Nintendo gaming in the coming holiday, we thought we’d pass on some hints and tips on the games and consoles to buy. We’ll cover some of the console bundles available, as well as...

  • News It's Official: Xenoblade Chronicles is Coming to North America

    Out next Spring

    After all the excitement with rumours today, finally confirmation: Xenoblade Chronicles is coming to North America. Nintendo of America just announced the game is on the way in Spring, though didn't give much else away. North America, your patience has been rewarded. XENOBLADE CHRONICLES COMING TO NINTENDO'S WII CONSOLE IN SPRING...

  • News Nintendo America Posts Xenoblade Art on Facebook

    And Gamestop confirms listing

    After the earlier Gamestop rumour we now have more evidence that Xenoblade Chronicles is heading to North America after all. The Nintendo Facebook page just posted up an album of Xenoblade artwork, adding further fuel to speculation the the much-req

  • Rumour Xenoblade Chronicles North America-Bound

    Only at Gamestop

    Update: A Gamestop representative has confirmed to us that the listing is true. Here's a rumour we can all hope is true: Xenoblade Chronicles could be coming to North America as a Gamestop exclusive. A forum poster on NeoGAF has posted a photo of what's claimed to be a Gamestop release schedule, with Monolith's RPG right down at the...

November2011

  • News Wii Owners, Catch Rhythm Heaven Fever in February

    On tap

    The latest issue of Nintendo Power has revealed a February release for Rhythm Heaven Fever on Wii. There's no exact date but at least we know the game is North America-bound within the next few months. Here's a trailer to get you into the tap-tap-tap spirit of samurai sword slashes and pea-stabbing.

  • News Explore Above the Clouds in New Skyward Sword Videos

    Soaring high

    The odds are that you've already bought a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and will be well into the adventure. For any remaining doubters or those yet to jump into Nintendo's latest epic, two new videos have been released with details and gorgeous footage of Link and Zelda's home, Skyloft, as well as Thunderhead, also above...

  • Review Rayman Origins (Wii)

    This platformer's got legs (even if Rayman doesn't)

    As the gaming industry moves onwards and upwards and each genre evolves, it's interesting to observe how the platformer has come around full circle since its debut. Whereas the rest of the industry strives for more expansive and photorealistic environments or interactive storytelling, the...

  • News Mario and Skyward Sword Set Series Sales Records

    Quick off the mark

    Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has told USA Today that the latest outings for Mario and Zelda have smashed series sales records. Super Mario 3D Land became the fastest-selling handheld Mario game in history, shifting over 500,000 units since it launched on 13th November. The plumber's long-awaited début gave 3DS...

  • News Nintendo Delayed Skyward Sword To Get It Just Right

    The Nintendo way

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword spent five years in the works at Nintendo, but a recent Iwata Asks reveals the game could have seen the light of day last year. Shigeru Miyamoto said it's feasible the game could have been released last Christmas, but that plan wouldn't have been the best move for its quality: If we'd only been...

  • News Roll Up For An Exciting Fortune Street Trailer

    Mario and friends take stock

    Property board game Fortune Street (Boom Street to Europeans) might not sound like the most exciting upcoming game for Wii, but if this video below doesn't have you jumping for joy when Mario increases his net worth and is able to purchase the bank... well, there's a good chance you're not even human. Genuinely...

  • Feature The Revolution of the Wii

    Five years on

    We’ve just passed the fifth anniversary of the Wii, Nintendo’s current generation console. With the Wii U likely to arrive in late 2012 these are the final months for the Wii at the forefront of Nintendo gaming in the home, with the recent release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword providing a much needed boost to the ageing...

  • News Japan Gets His 'n' Hers Wii Remote Plus Bundle This Month

    The perfect match

    While the rest of the world rejoices in the gold Wii Remote Plus included in the limited edition of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Japan is also getting a double pack of MotionPlus-packing controllers this month. The set of two controllers — one pink, one blue — launches across the country for a pretty reasonable ¥5,800,...

  • News Zelda and Mario Break Into UK Top Ten

    Strong showing

    In one of the most crowded release weeks in the gaming calendar, Nintendo's key players have performed well to enter the UK top ten chart. Super Mario 3D Land leapt into ninth place, while The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword grabbed seventh position. Further down the chart, the latest crossover between plumber and hedgehog, Mario and...

  • Round Table Let's Talk About the GameCube and Wii

    From a cube to the revolution

    With the GameCube recently reaching its tenth anniversary and the Wii five years old, we decided to get together to discuss both consoles, assessing their impact and legacy. These two consoles are in an interesting position of being relatively close in terms of graphical technology, yet wildly different in gaming...

  • News Classic and Modern Mario Stages Step Onto Fortune Street

    World 1 awaits

    Nintendo and Square Enix team-up Fortune Street is bringing the best of both franchises to its world of board games, with new screenshots showing some of the familiar sights you'll be trying to conquer with the upcoming Wii game. The game takes in spots of Mario history, starting from the classic World 1 from Super Mario Bros. and...

  • Out Today The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Wallpapers

    The wait is over

    After five long years, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is finally available across Europe. To celebrate Link's triumphant return we've put together some exclusive Skyward Sword wallpapers that you'll only find here at Nintendo Life. Available in all different sizes to suit your screen size, now you can make your desktop look...

  • Review Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Wii)

    Tried and true

    By the time you read this, Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has already sold millions upon millions of copies to a worldwide fanbase and been touted as the biggest entertainment launch of all time. To keep its unprecedented growth up, the franchise has continued to top itself year after year with increasingly elaborate...

  • Review The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

    A legend redefined

    In a way The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has very little riding on it: the Wii has already enjoyed huge success, with a library of critically acclaimed Nintendo games selling millions around the world. Its motion controls — dubbed a 'revolution' back in 2005 — have arguably inspired competitor formats to adopt their own...

  • News 100 Link Lookalikes to Get Free Copies of Skyward Sword

    UK launch event revealed

    We're just two days away from the European release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Nintendo UK has a plan to give away 100 copies of the game to the most committed fans at the official launch event. From 9am this Friday at GAME Oxford Street, the first 100 customers dressed as Link will each receive a free copy of...

  • News Penny Arcade and Nintendo Team Up for Zelda Comic

    Out this week

    After the announcement of Nintendo's collaboration with West Coast Customs, here's another, only slightly less unexpected team-up. Nintendo and Penny Arcade are joining forces to create a series of webcomics for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, starting this week. According to Nintendo: The comics include characters and themes from...

  • News Take a Trip Down Boom Street on 6th January

    The streets are paved with gold

    Traditionally January isn't the best month for new game releases, but Nintendo of Europe is bucking that trend by releasing Boom Street — known as Fortune Street in North America — on 6th January. The party game will miss the lucrative Christmas and New Year party season but Nintendo is still hoping its cast of...

  • News Pandora's Tower Makes European Trailer Debut

    Action RPG on the way

    One of Wii's brightest lights for 2012, Pandora's Tower just got its first European trailer showing just what to expect when the game's released next year. Although the trailer isn't localised into English (or any other European language, for that matter) at least Nintendo of Europe is giving you a little peek into the game's...

  • Feature The Best Games on GameCube and Wii

    Celebrating the cube and the waggle

    This week presents a rather unique opportunity, as we’ll be celebrating major anniversaries for two consoles. The GameCube celebrates the tenth anniversary of its North American release on November 18th, while November 19th is the fifth anniversary for the Wii in the same territory. Not only does this dual...

  • News Pick the Alternate Artwork for Next Year's Big Wii RPGs

    Flip-reverse it

    Forget The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: this year's Wii coverage has been dominated by three other big Japanese games. Xenoblade Chronicles, Pandora's Tower and The Last Story have had gamers' eyes all year, and Nintendo of Europe wants to get you even more involved by asking you to help choose alternate cover art for the latter...

  • Review Go Vacation (Wii)

    Be prepared for economy class... if you're lucky

    Since the launch of the Wii and the success of its pack-in title Wii Sports, it seems that there isn't a major publisher or developer that hasn't had their finger in the mini-game collection pie. Most of these copycats have either been inoffensively average or outright terrible. In fact, when it comes...

  • News Blue Wii Heads Stateside for Black Friday

    It starts

    That crazy day of manic buying, also known as Black Friday, is very nearly upon us, and Walmart has sounded the first battle cry. Siliconera reports the retailer has the exclusive on the blue reconfigured Wii, and will be selling it on 25th November for just $99.96. However, the advert just lists the box's contents as a Wii console, Remote...

  • Feature The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in Motion

    Were the motion controls worth the wait?

    Very few games over the past decade have had the sheer level of hype and anticipation that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has found heaped upon it. Not only has the game been in development for an extremely long time, but it's also been hampered by developmental challenges that, at one point, almost led...

  • News Abandoned Skyward Sword Ideas May Head to Wii U

    Not done yet

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword might be one of Nintendo's biggest-ever undertakings — just read the Iwata Asks about its mammoth audio visual design teams — but that doesn't mean it includes everything Nintendo wanted to put in. Series producer Eiji Aonuma spoke to The Guardian about what may happen to ideas th

  • News Skyward Sword Had Nintendo's Biggest Audio Visual Teams

    A huge undertaking

    Nintendo has said before that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is one of its biggest-ever developments, and the latest Iwata Asks reveals just how vast the creative team was. The sound team alone took in ten members, the biggest sound team a Nintendo game has ever had: with five composers and five staff handling effects and the...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Orbits London 2012 Olympic Games

    It'll make sense

    Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games takes inspiration from all corners of both companies' history: screenshots have reminded us of Yoshi Story, Sonic Adventure and more. But we've just received more screenshots showing the most universe-shaking crossover yet. Despite earlier rumours that Sonic would appear in

  • Review Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (Wii)

    Gotta buy 'em all

    There's something magical about a good toy. Be it an action figure, doll, transforming truck, projectile-spitting dragon or a wooden block, it doesn't matter how many removable parts or points of articulation they have once burrowed into your imagination and destined for Great Adventure along with the rest of the toy chest. Your...

  • News Ubisoft Reveals Its Drawsome Wii Graphics Tablet

    A work of art?

    After the success of THQ's uDraw, Ubisoft's the next company to muscle in on some of the Wii touch screen tablet action with its own peripheral Drawsome. The tablet — set for release exclusively in the United States on 6th December — boasts a 6.5" x 5" screen, slightly larger than the Wii U's 6.2" surface. Drawsome...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 22: Mascots and Mixes

    New digs for old friends

    Our chip and game music podcast rears its lovely head this month with a collection of Nintendo mascot sounds new and old, from that new Kirby game to Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Metroid remixes. Jun Ishikawa, Hirokazu Ando — Cookie Country (Kirby’s Return to Dreamland)The Greatest Bits — Fear Factory (Donkey K

  • News Nintendo Patents Touch Pad for Wii Remote

    But to what end?

    We've seen plenty of Wii controller patents in the past, not all of which saw the light of day — remember the inflatable horse and American football? Now the company's put out a patent for a Wii Remote touch-sensitive pad, as spotted by

  • Review Disney Universe (Wii)

    A dull new world

    Disney Universe holds a great deal of promise. A game in which you can play as a large number of characters spanning Disney's rich and impressive history? Levels designed in honour of some of its most classic films? Multiplayer for up to four people simultaneously? Yes, yes, and yes. Which is why it's so disappointing that the...

  • Talking Point Nintendo's Plans to Fight Back

    Mario’s gloves come off

    If we were to summarise Nintendo’s year so far, we’d say that it’s been having a tough time. There have been moments of brilliance that have reaffirmed the faith of loyal gamers, but there have also been a lot of mis-steps, mistakes and bad publicity, some of which has been unjustified. In fact, despite the release of...

  • First Impressions Fishing Resort

    Is there a catch?

    Yuji Naka's Prope studio has been responsible for some interesting Wii titles over the past few years, including Ivy the Kiwi and the upcoming Rodea the Sky Soldier. So when the developer announced Fishing Resort, many gamers were left wondering just exactly how a game like this would turn out. And while its cute look and feel is...

  • News Journey to the Desert in New Skyward Sword Videos

    Hot foot it

    Another week and another set of videos showing more of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword than you might want to see. As always bear in mind these videos will probably contain spoilers of items, areas and enemies you'll be able to encounter for yourself in just two weeks' time. If you're not bothered about spoilers, indulge yourself in...

  • Competition Share Holiday Photos, Win a Holiday in Go Vacation Contest

    Seems a fair swap

    Go Vacation is out in Europe today, and to promote the game Nintendo is offering a weekend break to the south of France for the winner of a new competition. Submit a holiday photo of you and up to three friends and, if it's the funniest, you could win a weekend for two at the Club Med Opio en Provence, which offers golf, a spa and,...

  • News More Stunning Zelda: Skyward Sword Artwork

    How much more can you take?

    We know The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is beautiful. Chances are, you know it too. Let's just leave it at that and get on with the latest batch of beautiful artwork from Nintendo then, shall we? From expansive vistas to more intimate portraits, there's everything here to get you geared up for the biggest Wii game of...

  • News Rising Star Games Bringing BIT.TRIP to Europe

    Rejoice!

    Triumphant compilations BIT.TRIP SAGA and BIT.TRIP COMPLETE are on the way to Europe in 2012, courtesy of Rising Star Games. The publisher — ignoring its "Home of Japanese Games" slogan for just a little while — has confirmed it'll be releasing both compilations across Europe in the first three months of next year. Excellent...

  • News Zelda: Skyward Sword Origin Trailer Sets the Scene

    May contain spoilers

    Whether or not you agree with Nintendo's dripping tap approach to marketing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, you can't argue that the game looks anything less than beautiful, particularly in this new trailer. Although Nintendo's termed this the "origin" trailer, it might still contain the odd spoiler for what lies...

  • News This Skyward Sword Art is Too Good Not to Share

    And no spoilers!

    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is one of the most beautiful looking Wii games we've seen, and Nintendo's teams have created countless pieces of art for the game over the year: remember the E3 2009 reveal artwork? Here's another stunning piece showing Link, villain Lord Ghirahim and Zelda, but i

October2011

  • News Rayman Origins Trailer Shows Ten Ways to Travel

    Q & A 2

    In all the excitement over Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, we almost forgot another iconic gaming character is due to return this Christmas. Rayman Origins on Wii and 3DS are both on the way before Christmas, and so it's time to learn a little more about them with a new trailer and a little Q&A with director

  • News Japanese Virtual Console List: November 2011

    A whopping seven new titles

    Europe is now getting frightfully close to going five entire months without a Wii Virtual Console game, and North America also hasn't had anything in a while, but that isn't stopping Japan from trucking on. Although most of their previous months only had three or four games, this month has a whopping seven, one of the...

  • News Another Two Zelda: Skyward Sword Trailers Appear

    But our lips are sealed

    We're in the final few weeks before The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is finally available to buy. We know you're excited about the game, but that some of you don't want to see everything about the game before you have a chance to play it yourself. We understand. That's why we're not telling you anything about the videos...