Wii News

May2011

  • News Xenoblade Chronicles Rated by OFLC

    The highly anticipated RPG is headed down under

    The OFLC, Australia's ratings classification board, has just rated Xenoblade Chronicles, awarding the title an M for fantasy violence. With this news, it's likely that an announcement of a North American release will be next, and you can rest assured that we'll keep our eyes peeled on the ESRB's new...

  • News Iwata: "Kinect Has Made Little Impact on Wii Sales"

    Buttons still in fashion

    Last year saw the release of Microsoft's button-free Kinect, and many analysts predicted the sensor would bring an end to Wii's sales dominance in the West. That's not how Nintendo president Satoru Iwata feels however, as revealed at the recent goldmine of information that is the company's end of financial year results...

  • News Vitality Sensor Will Be Released When Everyone Can Enjoy It

    Or 99% of people anyway

    Nintendo recently assured everyone that the Vitality Sensor is still in development, but if you've been wondering what's taking so long, let Nintendo president Satoru Iwata explain. Speaking at a recent financial results briefing, Iwata clarified that the sensor is still on the way but won't reach the market until it's...

  • Rumour Xenoblade Voice Actors Out September EU Date, North American Release

    The truth, or a goof?

    It wouldn't be the first time that a voice actor has revealed a game's localisation plans. Apparently Xenoblade Chronicles is headed to the U.S. after all, according to the official website of voice actor Peter Dickson, who is cast in the English translation of the upcoming highly anticipated title. Additionally, his Twitter,...

April2011

  • News Redbox Game Rentals Go Nationwide in June

    $2 a night across the U.S.

    Last October, when we announced that Redbox was beginning to expand their video game rental service, including Wii titles, to a much greater market, many of you asked, "When will it come to me?" Now we have the answer, if your Redbox is one of more than 21,000 locations – June 17th. Redbox offers dvd, Blu-Ray...

  • News Need for Speed: The Run Races to 3DS and Wii in November

    Start your engines

    Last year's Wii version of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit didn't go down brilliantly with gamers, but hopefully EA can atone for its errors with this year's entry Need for Speed: The Run on Wii. It's not just Wii getting a look in though, as Need for Speed: The Run is coming to 3DS as well. Promising "immersive...

  • Review Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters (Wii)

    A master stroke?

    The seasoned PGA Tour Golf series shoves Tiger out of the way this year, instead choosing to put “The Masters” tournament front and center. The case, promotion and advertising for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters are all Masters-centric, perhaps in a first step toward abandoning the long-running Tiger Woods branding...

  • News You Won't Get a Nintendo Console with a Buttonless Controller

    That satisfyingly soft click is here to stay

    With the introduction of touchscreens and motion controls, the cynical gamer might think it's a matter of time before Nintendo abandons the use of buttons all together. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata assures us that that's not what the company has planned. During an Analyst Meeting earlier this week, Iwata was...

  • News Europe Has a Date with Wii Play: Motion on 24th June

    Minigames detailed too

    The announcement of new MotionPlus-toting minigame collection Wii Play: Motion came out of the blue for many, but it's very real and heading to Europe on 24th June, Nintendo has announced. The game will be packaged with a red Wii Remote Plus across Europe, marking the first opportunity for gamers to get their hands on the...

  • News No Waggle Needed to Master Rhythm Heaven on Wii

    It's all about buttons

    Nintendo's reluctance to reveal much of anything about the tentatively-titled Rhythm Heaven on Wii is a cause of much consternation, but one nugget we can share should enough happiness to unfurrow your brow. Due in the summer, the game will be playable entirely with buttons, meaning no need to use your Wii Remote as a fork,...

  • News Iwata: Wii has More to Offer, Unannounced Games on the Way

    Life in the old dog yet

    Just because Nintendo is nearly ready to show off a new console doesn't mean incumbent home console the Wii is dead and buried. President Satoru Iwata is keen to keep the console alive, telling investors there are new games on the way every month of this year, with some unannounced titles too. In Japan, Nintendo has only...

  • News Nintendo's Profits Show a Significant Drop, This Year Should Improve

    Decreases in sales explained, and Nintendo's forecast for this fiscal year

    Although Nintendo has claim to notable achievements with its hardware ― the DS has proved to be the best-selling handheld ever and global Wii sales have surpassed the 86 million mark, the company's profit numbers for the fiscal year ending 31st March 2011 show a...

  • Interviews High Voltage Software - Conduit 2

    We go deep inside the Wii's newest FPS

    A little under a week ago saw the release of the first person shooter Conduit 2, the highly anticipated sequel from High Voltage Software. To take a closer look at the development of the game (as well as a possible hint at future 3DS outings), we went behind the scenes with Kevin Sheller, a senior producer at...

  • News Iwata Expresses Regrets About the Way the Wii was Marketed

    In future, things will be done differently

    The Nintendo Wii is approaching its fifth year on the market now, enough time has passed in that Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata can now reflect on how the console has performed and how he wishes its future performance will play out. Speaking to investors and analysts, Iwata expressed his regrets towards the way...

  • News Over 2 Million Players Bought Mario's 25th Anniversary Game

    Joins a long list of million sellers

    It may have just been a glorified Super NES game, but that didn't stop Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition from doing the business at retail, selling 2.24 million copies around the world since its release. Other Nintendo-published Wii titles hitting the million sales mark in the past twelve months were...

  • News Relax, the Vitality Sensor is Still in Development

    Nothing to get worked up about

    The Wii Vitality Sensor made waves at E3 2009 as one of the most bizarre Nintendo add-ons of recent times, then all-but disappeared from gaming radars as Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and the 3DS drew all the focus in last year's show. The sensor's invisibility caused many to suggest Nintendo had quietly ditched the...

  • Review Conduit 2 (Wii)

    It'll take more than a new lick of paint to save this franchise

    When High Voltage Software first decided to enter the Wii first-person shooter space, competition wasn’t exactly something they really had to worry about. Sure, there had been a few half-hearted ports of popular franchises, but The Conduit was the first proper FPS developed...

  • News Wii and 3DS Harbouring a Centipede: Infestation this Autumn

    The trailer has already burrowed deep inside

    Atari has just announced its partnership with developer WayForward Technologies in bringing gamers the return of an old arcade classic from the '80s, beginning with Centipede: Infestation. The gameplay in Centipede: Infestation has been updated from the original but one thing remains: players will have to...

  • News Mario & Sonic to Face Off Again at London 2012 Olympics

    Wii and 3DS on the podium

    Sonic Generations may not be heading to Nintendo platforms but fans of the spiky one won't be without a new game to buy this year, as SEGA has announced Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games for Wii and Nintendo 3DS. The game will contain 50 Olympic-themed events, some of which will be familiar from past entries...

  • Rumour Retro Studios Working on Game for Wii Successor

    And relax

    Ready for another batch of Wii 2/"Project Café" rumours? Of course you are. The latest round comes from Gameolosophy — no, us neither — who have gone all-out with claims of fan-favourite developers, third-party loving, storage solutions and more. The most interesting nugget of a rumour hidden at the bottom of the story is...

  • News 3DS UK Tour Keeps Rolling On with New Dates Confirmed

    StreetPass opportunities galore

    Nintendo's UK arm keeps on bringing the 3DS to punters up and down the country, with more dates confirmed over the coming months. The press release mentions the thrill of playing new releases before anyone else, including games that aren't even available in this country, though there's no specific titles mentioned. We...

  • News Wii Sports Resort and Wii Party Drop to $39.99 Next Week

    The price cleaver comes down again

    The rumour that Wii may drop to $150 in May caused an avalanche of Wii 2 rumours, so the announcement that Wii Sports Resort and Wii Party are dropping to $39.99 could add to the landslide. From 25th April Wii owners in North America will be able to grab the Wii Sports Resort with a MotionPlus accessory

  • Rumour Wii 2 has Blu-ray Drive, Controller Contains a Screen

    Whatever next?

    The rumour that Nintendo may unveil a new console at E3 has sprouted legs and run away with the Internet rumour mill today, with reports of various levels of believability hitting the web. French site 01.net has allegedly leaked the system's specifications. According to the site (which scooped the specs on Sony's NGP before its...

  • News Pokemon and 3DS Helped Nintendo to a Record-Breaking March

    2.4m critters sold

    Pokémon Black & White were monster sales successes in March, shifting nearly 2.5m units across North America and raking in the dough for Nintendo. The new games, combined with the 3DS launch, resulted in Nintendo's best March ever for portable gaming. In four days on sale the 3DS sold just under 400,000 units, not far behind...

  • News Pandora's Tower Will Require Players to Collect Monster Meat

    It's for a noble cause

    With the recent Pandora's Tower trailer hitting our computer screens, gamers are finally catching a glimpse of what the game is all about. Thanks to tidbits gleaned from Japanese retailers, we now know a little bit more. The central character is Ende, equipped with a chain as seen in the trailer. As he progresses through the...

  • Rumour Nintendo May Cut Wii Price to $150 Next Month

    Swinging the cost cleaver

    Should you have held off from buying a Nintendo Wii for cost reasons, you may get your time next month if this latest rumour is to be believed. Engadget has claimed a "trusted source" has informed them the Wii will drop to $150 on 15th May as an attempt to improve the console's fortunes in North America. The...

  • News Europe, Your Q2 Release Line-Up is Waiting

    Lots to look forward to

    Here's hoping you have plenty of coins in that wallet if you're intending to see most of the games this year has to offer, as Nintendo Europe has released an overview of the games coming to Wii, 3DS and DS in the next three months. Further down the line will see European releases of Wii Play: Motion with a Red Wii Remote...

  • News These Games Are Coming to You Before June is Over

    What lies in store?

    Nintendo's list of games to be released on Wii, DS and 3DS in the next three months contains a few surprises — we already reported on Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D's launch date — but let's not forget the third-parties who continue to support Nintendo consoles. The list below is an overview of the games on the way to North...

  • News Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust Rounds Out a Busy June

    27th June date unearthed

    Wii Play: Motion launches on 13th June and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D isn't far behind, but there's a third Nintendo title on the way in June: Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust on 27th June. The first Wii entry in the super-successful series, this makes use of the console's multiplayer features to allow gamers to...

  • News Dust Off Your MotionPlus for Wii Play: Motion in June

    A sequel after all this time

    2006's Wii Play was once the best-selling game in the US ever, so the only surprise is that it's taken Nintendo so long to announce a sequel. Wii Play: Motion is Nintendo's new pack-in title for the Wii Remote Plus, heading to North America on 13th June. Containing 12 minigames that all require the MotionPlus — or...

  • News Nintendo Wants More Developers Like Retro Studios, Please

    Who doesn't?

    We reported recently that Retro Studios thinks like Nintendo, so it shouldn't be any surprise that Nintendo is keen to find more developers on the same wavelength. Speaking to Edge magazine, Nintendo's US liaison Kensuke Tanabe stressed the importance of fostering stronger relationships with Western developers, in addition to Nintendo's...

  • Review Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (Wii)

    “It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek.”

    As a hack-'n-slash game based on the famous movie franchise, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest enters a field that is already well-plowed by earlier releases. But with it's unusual twist on storytelling, is there something here worthwhile to nudge burned-out fans...

  • News Work Out With Your Own UFC Personal Trainer This June

    In a video game, that is

    Ultimate Fighting Championship-licensed video games have traditionally been combat-based, but THQ's latest UFC title will be a multi-platform health and fitness game, focusing on providing high-intensity workouts. UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System features some of the world's most renowned mixed martial arts...

  • News Nintendo Said Unto the Patent Office: Let There Be Wii Light

    Another wacky peripheral gets uncovered

    Nintendo's always been one for experimenting with peripheral accessories designed to boost the functionality of its hardware. From football controllers, to inflatable horseback saddles, Nintendo's patented them all. A recent uncovering by Siliconera

  • News Your First Look at Pandora's Tower is Below These Words

    Open the box

    Nintendo's financial report in January this year unearthed all sorts of interesting bits of news, including Pandora's Tower on Wii. The game stayed hidden atop a lofty tower until now, as Nintendo has released the first trailer for its Wii adventure. The game appears to be a story-driven action game, with cutscenes spliced between...

  • News Nintendo Buys Up TheLastStory.com, Points to Nintendo.com

    Announcement on the way?

    Japanese RPG The Last Story has attracted more than a few envious glances from transatlantic gamers eager to delve into Mistwalker's Wii roleplayer, but so far Nintendo has made no concrete announcements about the game heading to the West. Now there's a little glimmer of hope for fans in North America. The domain name...

  • News After Nine Years, Retro Studios Thinks Like Nintendo

    Two companies "share a vision"

    While many of us would love to work 10,000km away from your boss, when you're creating new instalments in some of Nintendo's best-loved series, it's not ideal. That's the situation at Texas-based Retro Studios, but after years of working with Nintendo's Japanese headquarters the developer has learnt a valuable skill:...

  • News Captain America and Thor Trailers Power-Up Wii Together

    Sega's Marvel-lous double team

    Cards on the table here: Sega's comic book movie tie-ins have not been fantastic. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk; none of these games have set the world of Wii alight. But hey, we have new trailers for Thor: God of Thunder and Captain America: Super Soldier to make things better. Both tie-ins for upcoming Ma

  • Review WWE All Stars (Wii)

    Oooh yeaahh!

    There's something undeniably special about a wrestling match. Combining colourful characters, high-flying acrobatics and riveting rivalries, it's an exciting spectacle that too often gets the shaft for being a fake sport than a real piece of theatre. At least, that's the sentiment you might share at a live event, your enthusiasm and...

March2011

  • News Xenoblade Chronicles Heading to Europe This Year

    At long last!

    Fans of Japanese RPGs have been gazing longingly at Xenoblade for a long time now, but those soppy eyes are about to cheer up as Nintendo of Europe announces the game will find release there under the name Xenoblade Chronicles. Featuring new English voiceovers as well as the original Japanese actors, the game will also include English,...

  • News Fils-Aime: Next Home Console Unlikely to be 3D

    Are you bothered?

    Nintendo's taken handheld gaming by the ankles and slung it into the 3D pool, so it's long been a question whether the successor to the Wii will also be capable of pumping out 3D visuals too. According to the president of Nintendo of America Reggie Fils-Aime, it doesn't look likely. Speaking to CNN, 3DS producer Hideki Konno spoke...

  • News New Patents Reveal Balance Board Motorcycle Game

    New patents unearthed

    It's been a while since we saw a Nintendo-published game that uses the Balance Board, surprising considering the number of boards sat in living rooms around the world, but a new patent filing has revealed a motorcycle game could be in the works at Nintendo Software Technology. The application shows a first-person motorcycle...

  • News Warner Bros. Announces Green Lantern as Its Debut 3DS Title

    The Silver Age is returning

    Last summer, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that it would be bringing video game adaptations of the new Green Lantern film to the Wii and DS. Now it seems there's a slight change of plan as Warner Bros. has revealed that the 3DS will also be getting its own instalment, making it the company's debut title...

  • Review LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Wii)

    Not just a clone

    A long time ago in a development studio not terribly far away, the idea was hatched to combine a beloved children's toy with a paradigm-shifting film franchise to make one of the most innovative licensed games to date. Since then the LEGO train has kept chugging along, claiming series after series as it goes to which to add its...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 18: Rageful Streets and Happy Dinosaurs

    Missed weeks? What?

    Remember when we said NLFM was going to be weekly? Well, we kind of fudged that for the past couple of weeks. Sorry! But we're back with a fiery fever in this episode, where gangsters are punched, pianos diddled and dinosaurs remembered. 1. MONSTER! MONSTER! — Penny Arcade2. Yuzo Koshiro — Go Straight (Streets of Rage 2,...

  • News Enjoy the Sights in this Conduit 2 Environments Trailer

    Where will Agent Ford's mission take him?

    We've been treated to a brief weapons preview in High Voltage Software's first-person shooter Conduit 2, now it's time to take a peak at the in-game environments that we'll be utilising said weapons in via SEGA's new trailer. At just over a minute in duration, the trailer is indeed a short one but long...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wins BAFTA for Best Gameplay

    The only award that counts

    Nintendo's jewel in its Wii crown, Super Mario Galaxy 2, was honoured at the BAFTA Video Games Awards last night, taking home the award for Best Gameplay. The plumber beat competition from Heavy Rain, God of War III, Mass Effect 2 and more, though Mario's space sequel lost to BioWare's space sequel in the Best Game...

  • News Get Fired Up Over This Conduit 2 Weapons Preview

    What will gamers pack next month?

    It's a shame that Conduit 2 from High Voltage Software has been plagued by several delays, but if in-game improvements come as a result, then it's probably worth it. While we wait for the first-person shooter sequel to hit both sides of the Atlantic next month, producer Keith Hladik and six-year veteran at HVS...

  • News Wii is the Fastest Console in U.S. History to Shift 35 Million Units

    Several Nintendo titles reach new milestones

    If you need proof that the Wii is still going strong, you only need to look at the month of February as Nintendo shifts another 5 million consoles in the United States in less than a year, with several games breaking new milestones to boot. Having sold 30 million Wii consoles back in August, Nintendo has...

  • News Mario Kart Without Items Isn't Mario Kart, That Includes the Blue Shell

    Hideki Konno explains the importance of its inclusion

    We can't expect franchises to stay the same forever, but when the crowd-dividing Blue Shell was introduced to the Mario Kart series back in Mario Kart 64, maybe not all of us expected it to stay through to the modern day instalments. Hideki Konno is one of the main players behind the series,...

  • News Who Dares to Release We Dare in the UK? Not Ubisoft!

    That's two regions now not getting the game

    Remember that announcement trailer of We Dare from Ubisoft? No? You know... the one with all the suggestive flirting and bottom-spanking? Yeah, now you remember. Well, despite all the attention that the kinky party game received, it seems the French publisher is very selective in which regions the game...

  • Review Rango (Wii)

    Tied to the rail tracks

    Rango is a new CGI movie coming to a cinema near you. You gamers all know what that means, a video game tie-in! Rango is a chameleon that becomes stranded as the sheriff of a mini Wild West town populated by animals of the desert; snakes, lizards, rabbits and a mariachi band of owls. So far, so typical of a CGI movie. The...

  • News Nintendo Hasn't Forgotten About the Wii, Don't Worry

    More titles to be elaborated on in the coming weeks

    Gamers might be forgiven to assume the DS is reaching the end of its lifespan since the 3DS is almost available worldwide, but perhaps we should be a bit more optimistic about the Wii? In terms of titles that are developed or published by Nintendo, things are looking rather quiet for this coming...

  • News Walk the Plank with this LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Trailer

    Plastic Captain Jack in action

    If you're a fan of a popular film franchise, you can bet that sooner or later, TT Games will make a slapstick-infused LEGO video game adaptation of it. The next scheduled to receive the treatment is Disney's blockbusting, swashbuckling series in LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for 3DS, Wii and DS. The game will feature...

  • News Nintendo has 3D Demos of Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy

    Part of experiments

    Nintendo's experiments with 3D go right back in time: there was 3D Hot Rally on the Famicom Disk System, a 3D GameBoy Advance SP and every GameCube has 3D-capable circuitry inside it. Despite the company's dabbling, not everyone was convinced that the new 3DS would be a success, so Nintendo set about changing their minds. 3DS...

  • News Zelda Music Project Raises $19,000 for Twilight Princess Album

    More than a few rupees

    Last year saw the release of Zelda Reorchestrated's Ocarina of Time album, and now the pioneering group has moved onto the most recent home console Link adventure: Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The project has so far raised over $19,000, which will be used to record the game's soundtrack with a live Hollywood-calibre...

  • News Iwata Talks 3DS Expectations and Wii Successor

    Both systems sure to have plenty riding on them

    With the 3DS having just launched in Japan, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has expressed the company's hopes for the handheld system and the stance Nintendo is taking towards the eventual successor to the Wii. During an interview conducted by Yomiuri Online (as translated by AndriaSang), Iwata hopes that...

  • News Skyward Sword Combat Trailer Shows Plenty of MotionPlus

    It's not just for combat, you know

    This year's Game Developers Conference might yield some tasty pieces of information about the 3DS, but let's not forget about the titles that are bound for our home consoles. One prime example is the upcoming and anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. A combat trailer was showcased at GDC 2011 and it shows...

  • News Nintendo Names Cynthia Gordon New Corporate Affairs VP

    Denise Kaigler's replacement commences next month

    As Nintendo's range of hardware expands, so too does its family of employees. The company has announced the hiring of Cynthia Gordon, a strategic communications professional with over two decades of consumer-brand experience, as Nintendo of America's Vice President of Corporate Affairs. Gordon will...

February2011

  • News Kirby Casts On a Disappointing UK Chart Debut

    Did delay hurt sales?

    Kirby's Epic Yarn finally made its way to Europe last week, having been available in North America since the end of October, but its first weekend of sales in the UK don't make a strong case for the delay helping sales. The game completely failed to dent the all-formats top 40, landing in the Wii-specific charts at number 9,...

  • News Kirby, Your New Game Deserves Better Than This

    UK launch is... underwhelming

    It's been out in North America for what seems like forever, but today is Europe's chance to take home Kirby's Epic Yarn, and to celebrate Nintendo went all-out to recreate the game's sugary-sweet atmosphere in London's beautiful Elephant and Castle area. The official press invite promised: For one day only Elephant and...

  • News Ubisoft's Brand Spanking New Party Game is a Sexy Shocker

    A new wave of adult Wii games?

    When thinking of multiplayer games on the Wii, one might go for the easy examples of Wii Sport Resort, and Wii Party as they're enjoyable and played by many. Or, you might go for the obscure ones that are best left forgotten. Either way, you probably weren't thinking of Ubisoft's upcoming party game: We Dare. Developed...

  • Feature Retrofitting Your Console for the HD Age

    How to give your Wii and classic hardware a new lease of life

    While the relentless march of progress ensures that modern gaming consoles — and the televisions upon which they are played — are able to offer pin-sharp HD picture quality, it's worth sparing a moment to consider where this leaves older machines, as well as the humble Wii — which...

  • News WayForward Drawing Up Spongebob Game for uDraw and 3DS

    No more Mr Squarepants

    THQ's uDraw GameTablet is causing quite a stir in North America where it's proved hard to find for many, and it's sure to sell bucketloads more once THQ's next title for the tablet, SpongeBob Squigglepants hits the shelves. Developed by WayForward – A Boy and His Blob, Shantae: Risky's Revenge and so on – the game will...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy 2 Collects 4 BAFTA Nominations

    Whereas DS games dominate the Handheld category

    We recently brought you word that Super Mario Galaxy 2 was nominated for the GAME Award of 2010 at this year's British Academy Video Game Awards. As the only category voted by the public, our readers showed a lot of support for the rotund plumber which should hopefully help him snag the recognition. If...

  • News Man Arrested for Blackmailing Nintendo with Stolen User Data

    Crime doesn't pay

    Come on, people. It's one thing to steal the data of Nintendo users, but it's another thing to attempt to blackmail Nintendo with it. Police in Spain have arrested a man in the southern province of Malaga suspected of stealing the user data of Nintendo gamers, who allegedly then tried to blackmail Nintendo with the...

  • News Wii Unlikely to Catch a Traditional Pokemon RPG Title

    Home consoles are better for other things

    As part of Nintendo's Q3 Financial Results Briefing last month, it was revealed that the company has several Pokémon projects planned for handheld systems DS and the 3DS, as well as the home console Wii. Exactly what sort of game the latter will be is unclear at the moment, but according to Junichi Masuda,...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 17: Love Fest 2011

    Love is in the air for this Valentine's Day special

    Ho ho ho! Happy Valentine's Day, citizens of Earth! Let Nintendo Life be your love muffin this year with a very special NLFM dedicated to all things lovey-dovey-goo-goo. If the music of this episode doesn't melt your ice-cold heart even a little then we'll only be hurt just a tad. 1. Shōgo Sakai...

  • News Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition Gets an Extra Life

    Retailers restock the limited edition

    What was supposed to be a celebration of Super Mario Bros.'s 25th anniversary was unfortunately met with iffy reviews and sales figures that were both encouraging and disappointing. With Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition topping the

  • News Super Mario Galaxy 2 up for BAFTA Game of the Year

    As the only Nintendo platform game up for nomination, do your bit and vote now!

    It's that time of the year again, when gamers have the opportunity to vote which title should win the GAME Award 2010 recognition at the annual British Academy Video Game Awards. The GAME Award is the only category that's open to public voting, so you better make the...

  • News Nintendo Europe Announces Q1 Release Dates for Wii and DS

    Any surprises?

    We know 3DS is just over a month away, but don't forget the Wii and DS are both set to receive more great games this year, with plenty of gems tucked away in Nintendo's Q1 release schedule. Wii owners across Europe can finally get to grips with Kirby's Epic Yarn on February 25th, followed by THQ's innovative uDraw Studio on March 4th...

  • News Heavy Fire Heads to Retail with Heavy Fire: Afghanistan

    WiiWare series gets boxed-in

    So far on WiiWare we've had Heavy Fire: Special Operations and the upcoming Heavy Fire: Black Arms from Teyon, but the series is heading to retail in the form of Heavy Fire: Afghanistan. Publisher Mastiff Games will be bringing the game Stateside, with the official description reading thus: Enemy Contact. Open fire!...

  • Competition Winners Mario Sports Mix (Global)

    Were you one of the lucky ones?

    We recently ran a contest for Mario Sports Mix in conjunction with Gamesbasement, and now's the time to find out if you were one of our lucky winners. We had well over 600 entries, and the three winners drawn from our special MySQL database-in-a-hat were... MasterGraveheartEnry84Smashbro99 Congratulations from...

  • News Rising Star Releases Little King's Story Concept Art Online

    For your eyes ONI

    Wii adventure Little King's Story was a critical, if not commercial success, with countless gamers falling in love with it since it went on sale two years ago. European publisher Rising Star Games realises the game still carries a loyal following, and has released some concept art exclusively for members of its Hoshi club. The art...

  • News Activision Disbands Guitar Hero Business, No Entry in 2011

    DJ Hero suspended this year as well

    There used to be three certainties in life: death, taxes and at least one annual entry in Activision's Guitar Hero franchise, but now that list is back down to two, as the company announces its Guitar Hero business unit is officially disbanded. The announcement came in an earnings report in which Activision...

  • News Nintendogs Nearly Went for a Wii in Your Living Room

    But went outside instead

    DS mega-hit Nintendogs has sold millions of copies worldwide, shifting more DS units than you can shake a stick at, so the revelation that series creator Shigeru Miyamoto considered bringing the series to Wii shouldn't really be a surprise. The latest Iwata Asks finds Miyamoto and colleague Hideki Konno discussing the...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 16: Adventurous Adventures

    Zelda, Dragon Quest, Terranigma and more

    Didn’t we have some fun though? Remember when the podcast was sliding into the fire pit and I said "Goodbye" and you were like "NO WAY!" and then I was all "We pretended we were going to murder you"? That was great. 1. Sick YG — Ain't That Funny (MadWorld, Wii)2. Miyoko...

  • News Mario Sports Mix Launches with Trailer and Press Conference

    Doping allegations yet to be answered

    The latest sporting outing for Mario and friends, Wii's Mario Sports Mix recently launched in Europe and is now available across North America too. To help gamers get in the sporting mood, Nintendo has released a new trailer showing the game's four sports in action. Later on today, at 5pm Pacific Standard Time,...

  • News Sonic Colours Sells 1.85 Million Copies Worldwide

    Turning rings into coins

    Last year's hedgehog outing Sonic Colours on Wii and Sonic Colours were two of the year's better platformers, and certainly the highlight of the blue spiky one's recent career. Sega recently released some provisional sales figures for the game, and although it didn't necessarily set the charts alight it still posted decent...

  • News Brand New Conduit 2 Weapons Trailer Touches Down

    And new screenshots to boot

    It's Conduit 2 overload this week – first came the news that High Voltage is bringing The Conduit to 3DS, now Sega has detonated a new trailer and multiplayer screenshots too. The trailer shows off some of the old and new weapons you'll be causing chaos with in Conduit 2, ranging from the offbeat to the frankly mental...

  • News High Voltage Working on Bringing The Conduit to 3DS

    Already up and running

    First-person shooter Conduit 2 isn't even out on Wii yet, but already developer High Voltage Software is looking at transporting the series across to Nintendo's next console: 3DS. Speaking to Eurogamer, High Voltage's Eric Nofsinger said: Now that we're winding things down a lot of our resources are on pulling this technology...

  • News Last Story Tops the Japanese Sales Charts

    Is there hope for a localisation?

    While Nintendo may not have any concrete localisation plans to announce with regards to Japanese RPG Last Story, but the news it's shot to the top of the all-format charts in its home country can't do its chances of heading Westward any harm. In its first week on sale the game shifted 114,722 copies, according to...

  • News First LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Trailer Walks the Plank

    Shiver me plastic timbers

    Last year Disney and TT Games joined forces to announce LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for Wii and DS, and now the twosome have brought us the first trailer for the game and some concept art to boot. There's no gameplay footage in the trailer but anyone who's played a previous LEGO game will likely know what to expect:...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 15: They Might Be RPGs

    FInal Fantasy makes its NLFM debut, along with a sweeping Bionic Commando remix

    Gather round, children! Zip it, listen! NLFM is back and bringing the big guns, with a killer Bionic Commando remix, lurvely NES medley by way of PiCTOBiTS, and an almighty power with a huge sword chopping woodland critters. What more could you want? What more??? 1. Star...

January2011

  • News Donkey Kong Country Returns Sells Over 4 Million in a Month

    Worldwide sales as strong as DK's ground pounding

    It hasn't been out for long when compared to the other big sellers of last year, but that hasn't stopped Donkey Kong Country Returns from flying off the shelves. The return of the Donkey Kong franchise by way of Retro Studios has been selling like hot cakes ripe bananas since its North American...

  • News Will We See a Zelda 25th Anniversary Collection this Year?

    Link reaches a quarter-century old

    Last year, Nintendo's tubby mascot celebrated his 25th anniversary in the form of Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition, a collection that disappointed some in its paucity of interesting content. This year Nintendo will get a chance to wipe the slate clean and try harder, as its other ageless hero – Link...

  • News Iwata's "Most Important" Wii Title of Last Christmas is Surprising

    He likes to move it, move it

    Nintendo's financial results are always a treasure trove of information – it's how we found out about Pandora's Tower and Kirby on Wii, for example – but while you may come for the announcements, you'll stay for President Iwata's opinions on the period gone by. Looking back at last Christmas, Iwata highlighted one...

  • News Zelda: Skyward Sword Getting "Finishing Touches"

    Link's latest looks locked for later this...year

    It's been a while since we heard anything concrete about the highly awaited The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Revealed at E3 2010 with nary a peep afterward, until one day last December, out of nowhere, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto poked his head out to say "it's half-finished, y'all."...

  • News If You're Down Under, Nab an Agent Ford Statue with Conduit 2

    Limited edition goodies inside

    We brought you new Conduit 2 screenshots yesterday, as well as details of the multiplayer modes, and if they put you in a pre-ordering frame of mind – and you live in Australia or New Zealand – you might want to check out the game's Limited Edition. Pre-order the Limited Edition from GAME, JB HiFi or EB Games and...

  • News Launching This Spring is Nintendo's Secretive Title, Pandora's Tower

    It's about death, or something...

    During Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata's presentation at the company's Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing, a new Nintendo title for the Wii was announced and should be hitting Japan in the first half of 2011. Not much is known about the game at the moment, with the most solid of facts being the game will carry the...

  • News Sega Lets Loose with New Conduit 2 Screens and Details

    Multiplayer blown wide open

    To get you into the alien-blasting mood ahead of the release of Conduit 2, Sega has furnished us with a stimulus pack of new screenshots and a list of the 14 multiplayer modes that feature in the sequel. There's the usual array of deathmatch and capture the flag gametypes, with other modes inspired by other successful...

  • News Nintendo Reveals New Kirby Platformer for Wii in 2011

    Kirby sucks again

    Europe hasn't even had a chance to tangle with Kirby's Epic Yarn yet, and already Nintendo of Japan has revealed the second proper Wii outing for the pink puffball in a new video on its Japanese website. Developed by HAL Laboratories, the game looks like a more traditional Kirby adventure than its string-based predecessor, with...

  • Review Mario Sports Mix (Wii)

    Square Enix mixes it up with Mario, but is it any good?

    Mario is one of those annoying people who seems to be good at whatever he turns his hand to: not satisfied with merely being a tennis champion, golf champion, kart racing champion and constant saviour of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario is trying out four new sports in Mario Sports Mix for Wii and...

  • Competition Mario Sports Mix Giveaway!

    Bag yourself a copy of Mario Sports Mix

    To celebrate the release of upcoming Wii title Mario Sports Mix, a Mario themed sports compilation, Nintendo Life and Games Basement, a leading UK video game online retailer, are proud to offer 3 copies of the game to Nintendo Life readers who live in Europe or North America. All you have to do is answer the...

  • News Sonic Colours Soundtrack Racing to iTunes

    Grab some sonic satisfaction

    Wii platformer Sonic Colours (or Sonic Colors, if you prefer) was praised for its soundtrack, and iTunes users will be able to download the game's audio stylings across North America, Europe and Japan from January 26th. At $1.29 / £0.99 a track it's likely to mount up, with 82 tracks spread across three discs, but you...

  • News Sakaguchi: To Succeed Internationally, JRPGs Need to Change

    Will Last Story lead the way by example?

    There have been many Japanese games that never made it out of their own country but far from publishers being lazy or concerned that localisations won't be profitable enough for the hassle, perhaps the reason genres like Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) sometimes struggle to find success in the Western...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 14: The Past and Future, Remixed

    Check out some of our favourite remixes of classic franchises coming to 3DS

    We're absolutely killing 2011 with our new weekly schedule, even if we're a little late in the day from time to time. As in every episode so far. This episode we're inspired by the 3DS line-up and looking towards both the future and past by checking out some excellent...

  • News Rodea the Sky Soldier Flying to Wii and 3DS

    Check out Yuji Naka's newest project in action

    We recently heard word that Yuji Naka, former head honcho of Sega's Sonic Team, was working on a brand new and highly secret project for both the Nintendo Wii and 3DS systems, but so far we've seen very little in the way of screenshots and absolutely no video of the game in action at all. Well the wait...

  • News Sega Announces PAL Region Release Dates for Conduit 2

    New weapons trailer to check out too

    Eurocom made sure 2010 went out with a bang by chipping in with its Wii version of GoldenEye 007, securing itself as one of the top first-person shooters on the console. High Voltage Software has yet to release its upcoming shooter though, but at least the dates have been set as to when gamers can get their hands...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 13: Yep, Still Weekly

    Storms can't hold this podcast back

    Your eyes doth not deceive you: NLFM is back with another episode a mere week after the last one. And man, did we almost not make it thanks to an impending snowstorm and travel arrangements. But lo and behold, here is a delicious ear scoop for you. We couldn't bail on our weekly promise one week after making it,...