Wii News
November2020
Soapbox 10 Years On, We Need More Brave, Worthwhile Experiments Like Epic Mickey
The Brave Little 'Failure'
In some ways, the Wii era feels further away than it actually is. The modern gaming landscape, though certainly influenced by Nintendo's approachable little console, seems so laser focused on pixel counts, framerates and raytracing that Wii feels incredibly old-school in 2020. The idea that just ten years ago we were still...
News Pokémon Designer James Turner Shares Original Pokémon Battle Revolution Art
Ah, the nostalgia
It's not often that we get to see behind-the-scenes looks at original concepts or early designs, but Pokémon designer James Turner has given fans of the series a small treat on social media. Turner, who recently served as art director on Pokémon Sword and Shield, has shared a couple of his designs from 2006 Wii title Pokémon...
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of September 2020)
Mario Kart still reigns supreme
Earlier today, we shared an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time, but how are the likes of the Wii U and 3DS doing, and even the Wii and DS before those? Well, it just so happens that Nintendo has also provided up-to-date figures for its best-selling games on those platforms. As...
Reminder Rate Your Favourite Wii Games
Help us assemble the top 50 Wii games ever
Reminder: This is a final call to rate your favourite Wii games before we publish the top 50 very soon. You'll still be able to rate the games and affect the ranking after the list goes live, of course, but there's nothing quite like the moment of anticipation, is there? We've added several games that were...
October2020
Random This Prototype Sega Mega Drive Controller Is Giving Us Serious Wii Nunchuk Vibes
Genesis?
The development name for Nintendo's Wii — the 'Revolution' — was arguably the most apt codename for any console ever. Nintendo turned the traditional spec-chasing console model on its head with its accessible little system, and a huge part of its success came from its unconventional controller design with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. As...
Anniversary Dig Out The Plastic And Reform The Band - Rock Band 3 Turns 10 Today
Let there be Rock (Band)
Time continues to tick on mercilessly and brings with it wave after wave of video game anniversaries designed (we're certain) to make us feel older than our years. Majora's Mask launched in North America two decades ago this very day — how can that be? Another game celebrating a significant birthday today is Rock Band 3...
News The Man Behind Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Is Working On A Follow-Up, But There's A Catch
"The market has hit a point where these kinds of games actually make sense"
Sam Barlow's stock has risen sharply in recent years thanks to the award-winning FMV titles Her Story and Telling Lies, but back in 2009, he was employed at Climax UK as the lead writer and designer on Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a horror title which has since gone down...
September2020
Video There Are Changes In Super Mario 3D All-Stars, And We've Found 35 Of Them
"Hoo-hoo" in A minor
Different versions of games always have subtle differences between them; if a developer has an opportunity to improve something or make something more relevant to a new audience, they'll take it. That's just what Nintendo did in Super Mario 3D All-Stars, tweaking the controls, adjusting textures, changing words, it's all game...
News Dataminer Shares New Details About The Emulation In Super Mario 3D All-Stars
"Perhaps a sign of more to come?"
In the short time-frame since the leak and release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, dataminers have been discovering more and more about this 35th-anniversary collection each day. The latest finding once again comes from OatmealDome. This time, they believe they've uncovered additional "GPU features" in the GameCube...
August2020
Random Fan Transforms A Real Nintendo Wii Into A Game Boy Color-Sized Handheld
And the games look better than ever before
The Switch has shown us what it's like to feel the power of a home console in the palm of your hands, but what if you could take some old Nintendo classics from the GameCube and Wii era and play them on a handheld reminiscent of the iconic Game Boy? Well, you can! GingerOfMods has transformed a real,...
Random Astronomical Discovery In Super Mario Galaxy's Logo
Get your telescope out
This probably isn't the sort of Super Mario Galaxy article you were hoping or expecting to see around the time of the Nintendo mascot's 35th-anniversary celebrations but here we are...Twitter user and "starboy" CometMedal has been closely inspecting the 2007 Wii entry's logo. So what have they found? An edited image of the...
News Taiwanese Rating Suggests That The Original No More Heroes Is Heading To Switch
Could an official announcement be imminent?
A newly-spotted Taiwanese rating suggests that the original No More Heroes could soon be arriving on Nintendo Switch. The game, which first launched on Wii back in 2008 in the west, has been a contender for Switch for some time now. Back in 2018, series director Goichi 'Suda51' Suda said that he'd been...
July2020
Random Have Super Smash Bros. Boxes Been Teasing Future Games All Along?
What are the chances?
Ever since Melee arrived in 2001, the Super Smash Bros. games have all been treated to a subtitle in their name, rather than following any sort of numerical sequel-style system. After the original Super Smash Bros. on N64, we had Melee on GameCube, Brawl on Wii, the less-imaginative for Wii U and
June2020
News No, Seriously, The Wii And Wii U Are Getting Physical Versions Of Shakedown: Hawaii This Year
We kid you not
Vblank Entertainment is bringing physical versions of Shakedown: Hawaii to the Wii and Wii U this summer. Yes, you read that correctly. Originally released on the 3DS and Switch, the game will include all of the latest updates, including The Mogul Update, the Full Tank Update and "many other little tweaks, improvements and...
News Nintendo's Wii Is Still A Hit In Care Homes 13 Years Later
Residents are "hooked"
If you can believe it, it's now been around 13-and-a-half years since the Wii first burst into our living rooms, taking the world by storm thanks to its virtual takes on tennis, bowling and the like. If you were old enough at the time, you'll likely remember the stories that would circulate around the time of the console's...
Feature Game Of The Decade Staff Picks - Xenoblade Chronicles
The game the fans asked for
Xenoblade Chronicles is 10 years old today, so we thought it a perfect time to republish this personal account from our Games of the Decade series back in January. We recently revisited the game with the excellent Definitive Edition on Switch, of course, but here Mitch discusses his experience with the original version,...
News Monolith Soft Celebrates 10 Years Of Xenoblade Chronicles With Some Special Artwork
Here's to another decade!
The original Xenoblade Chronicles for the Nintendo Wii today celebrates its 10th anniversary in Japan. Yep, believe it or not, but the first entry in this open-world RPG series by Tetsuya Takahashi was released on 10th June 2010. It arrived roughly a year later in the west. To mark this anniversary, Monolith Soft's...
Soapbox Wii Party Is 10 Years Old, And I Really Want A Switch Version
This is a (Wii) Party political broadcast
The party game is a seriously underrated genre. Unfairly written off as overly simplistic or even shovelware by some gamers, party games can, in fact, be immensely enjoyable for casual players and hardcore gamers alike. After all, I’ve 100% completed numerous Zelda and Resident Evil
May2020
Random In Japan, You Can Buy A Nintendo Wii For 50 Cents
And DS consoles are under a dollar
The Wii and DS were phenomenally successful consoles, selling over 250 million units between them worldwide. That's great news when a system is 'alive' and still getting new games, but when it's a decade down the line, the software has dried up (well, almost dried up) and
Gallery See How Much Better Xenoblade Chronicles Looks On Switch
A vision!
We're all guilty of seeing some of the past through rose-tinted spectacles, and that's definitely the case with Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii. After seeing Shulk in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2
News Wii Hacker Dismisses Reported Significance Of Recent Nintendo Leak As "Complete Nonsense"
Any discoveries made expected to be "very minor"
Last weekend, there was news doing the rounds about a "massive" Nintendo leak revealing all about the Wii generation. It was believed to be a game-changer – with a user on ResetEra explaining how the information contained within the leak could be potentially used to "learn how every single piece of...
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of March 2020)
Did someone say Mario Kart?
We've already received an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games today, but how about the 3DS, the Wii U, and even the Wii and DS? Well, as it happens, Nintendo has also provided updated lists for each of these consoles, and while the standings below have seen very little change over the past few...
News Why Does Nintendo Use Friend Codes Instead Of Screen Names? Leaked Documents Reveal All
Nintendo's reasoning explained
One of the more noticeable differences when playing online on a Nintendo console as opposed to a rival system is the former's lack of screen names. Whereas any Xbox lobby will be full to the brim with people called XoX_DarkDestroyer1782 and the like, Nintendo's players are forced to remain rather plain with a Friend...
Footage of N64 demos have also surfaced online
There's apparently been another "massive" Nintendo leak, but there's no need to worry about it spoiling the surprise for anyone as the findings have nothing to do with the Japanese company's current generation of gaming. A ResetEra user by the name of Atheerios explains what exactly all the fuss is...
April2020
News Smash Bros. Ultimate Announces A Special Brawl Tournament, Starts This Friday
Celebrating the 2008 Wii entry
Years before Masahiro Sakurai and his talented team released Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch, they created Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This game saw the introduction of characters like Sonic the Hedgehog, and was the first entry in the series to include online play. Now, to celebrate this title, which...
News Coronavirus Isolation Seems To Be Causing A Spike In Wii Sports' Resale Value
Prices have been rising since Feb
This November, Wii Sports will turn 14 years old, but the game is seeing a sudden spike in interest and resale value. The game, which had people all around the world swinging their arms about to play tennis, golf and more in their front rooms back in 2006, has been rising in price on resale websites since February...
March2020
News Switch Has Now Surpassed Wii's Lifetime Sales In Japan
But Wii's worldwide total remains on top
The Nintendo Switch had a hugely successful week in Japan last week, shifting a massive 392,576 units according to Famitsu data. This places the console at an estimated 12.8 million sales over its relatively short lifetime, which means Nintendo's latest machine has just hit a new, significant milestone. As...
January2020
News Strike! Ten Pin Bowling Might Just Scratch That Wii Sports Itch On Switch
Well, Wii Sports Bowling at least
As a freebie that came with the Wii, Wii Sports probably isn't the type of game that immediately jumps to mind as a Nintendo highlight, but thinking back it was immensely fun. Oddly, the Switch is rather lacking in the Wii Sports-style department (Go Vacation is perhaps the closest thing we can think of), but...
News Nintendo Will Stop Repairing Wii Consoles In Japan This March
Farewell, old friend
The Nintendo Wii is quite a machine – not only did it usher in a new era of motion-based gaming and turn millions of non-gamers into dedicated players (only for them to arguably drift away towards smart devices not long afterwards), it also sold a staggering 101.63 million units globally, making it Nintendo's most successful...
"and set the stage for all of the great products"
Nintendo might be one of the largest and most successful video game companies, but in certain parts of the world, it has often struggled with its brand image. During an appearance on the Present Value podcast recently, the former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé touched on a time when...
News IP Attorney Says Nintendo's Wii Remote Court Ruling Serves As "A Warning To Patentees"
"This case might have ended much differently"
If you've visited the site over the past couple of days, you probably noticed the story that a federal court in Dallas ruled a patent asserted against Nintendo’s Wii Remote as invalid. The court said that iLife Technologies Inc. was "impermissibly trying to cover the broad concept of using motion...
News Federal Court Rules $10.1 Million Case Against Nintendo's Wii Remote As Invalid
Nintendo says it will "vigorously defend" its products
In a press release sent out today, Nintendo has announced that a patent asserted against technology found within the Wii Remote has been deemed invalid. The ruling comes from a federal court in Dallas and nullifies a $10.1 million jury award against Nintendo from way back in 2017. According to...
Feature Game Of The Decade Staff Picks - Super Mario Galaxy 2
Another dimension, new galaxy
Following on from our reader-voted Top 50 Games of the Decade, Nintendo Life staff members will be picking their personal favourite Nintendo games between the years 2010-2019. Today, PJ takes us right back to the start of the decade... Being asked to choose your favourite game of the decade should, in theory, be a...
December2019
Feature 2010-2019 - Nintendo's Decade In Review
The highs and lows of the past 10 years
So, that's it then – another decade is over. The past ten years are perhaps a little unusual in that they've been a reverse of the ten that preceded them; in the year 2000, Nintendo was struggling to keep pace with Sony in the home console arena and was facing competition for the handheld market thanks to...
News PlatinumGames Co-Founder Says MadWorld And The Wonderful 101 Were The Most Fun To Make
Working with Kamiya can be 'a very painful experience'
PlatinumGames is a studio which is growing ever more popular with Nintendo fans, largely thanks to the release of some wonderful exclusives over recent years. We all know about series like Bayonetta - and we're desperately waiting for Bayonetta 3 to show up - but it appears that other, arguably...
News Metacritic Reveals The 50 Best-Reviewed Games Of The Decade, Nintendo Takes Top Two Places
And three of the top five
We've been treated to some incredible gaming experiences over the last ten years. In our eyes, Nintendo has produced some of its finest titles throughout this last decade, and those of us who dabble in gaming on the likes of PlayStation and Xbox have had plenty to share about, too. The list below shows the top 50 games of...
News An Unreleased Wii Spider-Man Game Based On A Canned Movie Just Surfaced Online
Prototype hints at what could have been
A prototype of Eurocom's Spider-Man 4 has been discovered on a debug on an RVT-H Wii development kit, giving us a glimpse of a movie tie-in (and movie, for that matter) that never was. While Sam Raimi's Spider-Man series was commercially successful, the third outing took a bit of a beating from the critics;...
News Switch Could Enjoy An Extended Lifespan And Even Outsell The Nintendo Wii, Claim Analysts
"The Switch can sell 20 million units annually for the next three years"
Analysts are claiming that the Switch could defy expectations and enjoy a prolonged lifespan, with some even going as far as to say that the console could surpass the Wii in terms of lifetime sales. The predictions come off the back of estimates compiled by Bloomberg which...
November2019
News The Co-Op Mechanics Of Gears 5's Robot Assistant Were Inspired By Super Mario Galaxy
"We thought about how we would deal with this from a beginner's perspective"
Super Mario Galaxy was a groundbreaking video game for a number of reasons, but one of the key innovations was the fact that a second player could join the fun even if they lacked the skill to control Mario's planet-hopping abilities. By connecting a second Wii Remote, the...
News Just Dance 2020 Sold Better On Wii Than PS4 Or Xbox One In Its Opening Week (UK)
Despite Wii being a 13-year-old machine
Nintendo's Wii is now 13 years old, has had two console successors in the form of the Wii U and Switch, and has even had its online store entirely closed down. Despite all of this, Ubisoft decided to release its latest party hit Just Dance 2020 on the machine, and it's very clear to see why. The game launched...
News Just Dance 2020 Might Be The Last Entry Released On Wii
And the last Wii game ever!
Nintendo abandoned first-party game support for the Wii many years ago, but to this day third-party publisher Ubisoft has continued to release its Just Dance series on the system. The latest one – Just Dance 2020 – arrived yesterday. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and it now sounds as if Ubisoft will...
News Just Dance 2020 Launches Today On Switch And Wii, Here's The Full Song List
Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande and more
Today sees the release of Ubisoft's latest release in its hugely successful dancing game franchise, with Just Dance 2020 now available for both Nintendo Switch and Wii (but not Wii U). Players can expect to find around 40 new tracks to help them get their bodies moving and we have all of these...
October2019
Random Fan Makes Amazing Mario Kart Mod Where Waluigi Races By Running On Foot
And he's incredibly fast, too
There's something special about Waluigi. Something that makes fans have particularly strong feelings either for or against him, something that saw him win an official Valentine's Day poll, and something that makes people want to see him run around a Mario Kart circuit without being in a car apparently. Mod developer...
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of September 2019)
People really love Mario Kart
Earlier today, a new earnings report from Nintendo revealed an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games, but what about the 3DS, the Wii U, and even consoles earlier than those? As part of the report, Nintendo has also provided updated figures for these older systems, and while software sales for...
News PlayStation 4 Just Overtook Wii's Lifetime Sales
An impressive feat
Sony's PlayStation 4 has now sold more units than Nintendo's super-popular Wii, becoming the second best-selling home console of all time. As you'll no doubt be aware, the Wii was a hugely successful release for Nintendo, going on to shift 101.63 million units in its lifetime alongside 920.96 million software sales. Gaming...
Random This North Korean Games Console Is Straight Outta 2006
Say hello to the Moranbong!
North Korea may have a reputation as a pretty grim place to live, but the arrival of a brand new games console should hopefully raise a few smiles (assuming you're rich enough to afford it, of course). The 'Moranbong' combines tech seen in the Wii and Microsoft Kinect to create an entertainment environment which calls to...
September2019
Rumour The Sailor Moon Manga In Punch-Out!! That Allegedly Cost Nintendo Millions
Breaking boundaries
Boundary Break – best known for going beyond boundaries in video games – recently uploaded a video to its YouTube channel about a Sailor Moon reference in Punch-Out!! on the Wii, that allegedly caused Nintendo and Next Level Games serious financial grief. The story itself stems from a Boundary Break Punch-Out!! video dating...
News Prototype Wii Nunchuk Controller Included A Rumble Motor, According To New Photos
Before the Revolution
Last year a prototype controller for the GameCube came up for auction on Yahoo Japan and shed a little more light on the evolution of the Wii Remote. A grey prototype version of the controller plugged into the console directly, as did a large IR bar similar to the one which would eventually ship with the Wii. A familiar looking...
August2019
Random You Can Always Rely On Your Parents To Find A Clever Use For The Wii Fit Balance Board
Don't throw yours out
Where's your Wii Fit Balance Board? That's a question we asked many years ago when the popularity of Nintendo's fitness-focused peripheral was on the wane, but now, several years later, it fills us with joy to know that this unique interface still has a purpose in the world. That purpose? Weighing gas canisters. Given the...
July2019
Random Three New Ultra Shortcut Glitches Discovered In Mario Kart Wii
More than a decade after its release
Whether you like it or not, Mario Kart Wii is still the best-selling entry in the series to date. As a result, it's got a huge following – even after the more recent success of Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. With this in mind, three new "ultra shortcuts" were recently discovered in the Wii title within...
Random Grandma Finally Beats Zelda: Twilight Princess After 755 Hours, Internet Falls In Love
"I'm so incredibly proud of her"
The Legend of Zelda is a special series for many of us, mostly thanks to the grand sense of adventure it provides and the memories made playing through its wonderful games. For this gaming grandma, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will no doubt stay in the mind forever - partly thanks to just how much time...
Random Turns Out DK Gives Diddy Kong A Little Cuddle Every Time They Sit In A Barrel
In Donkey Kong Country Returns, at least
Let us improve your day dramatically by sharing the most wholesome piece of Nintendo trivia we've stumbled across in recent times. Anyone familiar with the Donkey Kong Country Returns series will likely remember the barrels used to transport DK around each stage; hop into one of these explosive beasts and...
News Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns Is Now Playable At 1080p And 60fps On Nvidia Shield
See it in action
As you may well be aware, a number of Nintendo's first-party Wii titles have been ported to the Nvidia Shield in China. The latest to make the jump is Donkey Kong Country Returns, and it's looking just as tasty as you might expect. The Wii game has been treated to the usual upgrades for the Nvidia Shield release, meaning it plays...
June2019
News Ubisoft Is Still Releasing Just Dance On Wii Because The "Audience Wants It"
That makes sense
Ubisoft might have dropped support for the Wii U, but it continues to release Just Dance games on Nintendo's original Wii device. Why is that? According to a Ubisoft representative who was contacted by Polygon recently, it's simply because there's still demand for the series on this platform: “Just Dance 2020 is coming to the...
News Ubisoft Happy To Be "The Last Game On Wii" With Just Dance 2020
"There still a lot of fans wanting to play on it"
At E3 this year, Ubisoft revealed Just Dance 2020 for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, the upcoming Google Stadia, and Wii. Yes, an almost 13-year-old console is still being treated to the newest releases of one of gaming's biggest franchises. The Wii first arrived on the scene back in 2006; the original...
Random The Nintendo Wii Simply Refuses To Die
13 years on, and Nintendo’s waggle-loving system still lives
What were you doing 13 years ago when the Nintendo Wii was first released to an unsuspecting world? It's a long time ago, right? We have fond memories of the time, getting to grips with the motion controls of the Wii Remote with the excellent Wii Sports and waving our arm around with...
News Just Dance 2020 Arrives On Switch And Nintendo Wii This November
Yes, Nintendo Wii!
Ubisoft's latest Just Dance release has been officially confirmed for the Switch, Nintendo Wii and multiple other platforms at the company's 2019 E3 Press Conference. Just Dance 2020 celebrates the series' 10th anniversary and will be filled with 40 new songs from a variety of artists. Here's a taste of what you can expect: God...
News Sega Trademarks Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Is the 2006 Wii game making a return?
It looks like something really is going on with the Super Monkey Ball series. Following on from Sega filing a trademark for Tabegoro! Super Monkey Ball at the start of May, Gematsu has discovered the company also trademarked Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz in the same month, on 21st May. Whil
May2019
News Mario Kart Wii Sold Five Times As Many Copies As Mario Kart 8 Over The Last Financial Year
Despite being 11 years old
If you need any further proof that Nintendo's evergreen classics are of incredible importance to the company, this little statistic should do very nicely indeed. Towards the end of last month, Nintendo shared its latest financial report. Thanks to this, we were able to share lists of the all-time best-selling games across...
April2019
News The Top 10 Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And Nintendo DS (As Of March 2019)
Spoiler: there's a lot of Mario Kart
So, we've seen Nintendo's latest sales totals for the best-selling Switch games, but what about the company's other most recent consoles? Naturally, sales for games on these systems are rapidly slowing down as new copies start to fade away from retail stores. In fact, the totals for Nintendo DS haven't changed...
News Nintendo Removes Seventh Generation Games From Its Official Website
Wii U information page also taken down
Nintendo's American website has today removed all traces of certain video game generations. To be precise, there are no longer game listings for Wii, WiiWare, DS and DSiWare. The Wii U information page has also been removed. It means you'll have to look elsewhere if you're wanting more information about these...
March2019
Random The Wii's Mii Channel Theme Music Lives On In The Form Of Freestyle
A musical homage
The Wii was home to some incredible little tunes; not only did we have the fantastic Wii Shop Channel theme (which truly received the praise it deserved earlier this year when the channel closed down for good), but we also had the equally lovely Mii Channel theme. We vividly remember our first day with the Wii, excitedly creating...
News Nintendo On Introducing New Hardware, Giving Players "That 'Wow' Moment"
"Even among our developers there are often doubts!"
Amongst the many things that make Nintendo truly stand out in the gaming world, perhaps the most obvious is its approach to hardware design. Where others aim to offer the most powerful systems on the planet, serving as a one-stop platform for all of one's entertainment needs, Nintendo has taken a...
Video Mario Kart Wii Mod Doubles The Number Of Characters In Every Race
More racers, more fun
If 12 racers in Mario Kart wasn't already infuriating enough, how would you feel about 24? A video game modder named MrBean35000vr has been able to get 24 karts up and running in Mario Kart Wii. As he explains in the above video, his mod can handle between 24-29 racers, but the game crashes when 30 or more karts are added...
February2019
Random This Grandma Has Played Wii Fit Every Day For More Than 10 Years
Hardcore
You won't be surprised to hear that we're rather fond of video games here at Nintendo Life, with many of us boasting frankly ridiculous playtime hour totals on some of our favourite games, but not one of us has ever managed to achieve the levels of dedication shown by this grandma. Shared by Super Rare Games boss George Perkins, the tweet...
January2019
News So Long Wii Shop Channel, And Thanks For All The Games
Closing down after more than 12 years
Today sees the discontinuation of the Wii Shop Channel, an online service for the Wii which has hosted a wonderful and quirky collection of digital games since December 2006. Back in September 2017, Nintendo announced that the Wii Shop Channel would be closing in 2019. The closure would mean that players would...
Random What Ever Happened To The Queen's Golden Wii?
The truth revealed
Just under a decade ago, publisher THQ released Big Family Games, a Wii title which hoped to follow in the famous footsteps of Wii Sports with its own family-friendly, motion control minigames. If you haven't heard of it before, that's likely because it never reached those high levels of success, but there's a rather comical PR...
Reminder The Wii Shop Channel Closes This Month, Here's What That Means For You
Redownload your games ASAP
On 30th January, all online services for the Wii including all functions associated with the Wii Shop Channel will be closed down. That means you have exactly two weeks to get all of your Wii-based affairs in order. Of course, Nintendo has now released two new home consoles since the hugely popular Wii first launched back...
News This Custom Game Boy Cartridge Turns Your Old Handhelds Into GameCube And Wii Controllers
Play Virtual Console with a real Game Boy
Ever played an old Game Boy classic on the Wii's Virtual Console and thought, "hey, this is great, but it still doesn't feel quite like it used to in the good old days"? Well, this custom cartridge could well solve that dilemma as it allows players to use any Game Boy system as a controller for your GameCube...
Video This Pocket-Sized Portable Plays GameCube And Wii Games
But you can't buy it
Portable Wii consoles aren't a new thing – we've seen one that fits inside a coat, lest we forget – but few fan-made mods come as elegantly packaged as this one. The PiiWii Pocket is the creation of YouTuber Shank Mods, and uses actual Wii internals rather than emulation. It comes with a suite of controls, internal cooling...
December2018
Random Humanoid Cats Discovered In Korean Version Of Super Paper Mario
Unused levels also uncovered
There's apparently been a recent and slightly odd discovery in the Wii release, Super Paper Mario. It's all tied to the 2009 South Korean version of the game. YouTube channel GamingIntus, which was able to sift through the files, found unused levels and content that had no resemblance to anythin
November2018
Standard definition Groose it is!
Over the last few days, the Nintendo community has been bubbling with excitement (or in some cases, mild indifference) over the idea of an HD re-release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately for those who wanted to see it happen, however, it would appear that no such project is in...
News Nintendo Suspending Wii Video Streaming Services Early Next Year
The end of an era
Netflix recently sent out an email notifying users Nintendo will be suspending all video streaming services on the Wii - including the Netflix Channel - at the end of January 2019. Here's the full message below, courtesy of a post on Reddit: Unfortunately, Nintendo will suspend all video streaming services on Wii—including the...
October2018
Four lists, forty great games
While much of the attention has unsurprisingly been given to the Switch, Nintendo's recent avalanche of financial data has also given us an updated look at sales across other recent systems. We wouldn't blame you for thinking that these consoles mustn't generate any software sales these days, but with Mario Kart Wii...
News A Decade Later Mario Kart Wii Has Now Sold 37.14 Million Copies Worldwide
Speeding ahead
Nintendo's latest financial results have revealed the Switch has now shifted 22.86 million units worldwide. The system has done so well, it has already outsold the lifetime sales of the GameCube. While revenue for the company is predominantly coming from its new hybrid device released early last year, there's a certain...
Random Japanese Auction Reveals Wii Remote Prototype For The GameCube
Paving the way
Over the years, there have been plenty of prototype Nintendo systems, controllers and accessories publicly revealed. If you think you've seen them all, perhaps not. Ars Technica reports how a recent listing on a Japanese auction site has shed light on a rare Wii Remote prototype designed for the GameCube. The controller sold for...
News Ubisoft Shutting Down Online Services For Older Just Dance Games On Wii And Wii U Next Month
No more dancing
This year's Ubisoft conference at E3 revealed Just Dance 2019 was on its way to the Wii and Wii U. Despite the success of the Switch, the older Nintendo systems have remained relevant enough for the French publisher to continue releasing its latest entries in the series on. While it's been a good run for these systems over the...
Random Modder Builds Fully Functioning Nintendo Wii Inside A Breath Mint Tin
"It's the worst thing ever"
We've seen some pretty crazy stuff over the years here at Nintendo Life, but we genuinely think that this might just slide its way into the top spot of our 'random, crazy, but absolutely wonderful' list. A hardware modder going by the name of Shank has seemingly managed to squeeze a fully functional Wii into an Altoids...
August2018
News Mario Kart Wii Will Soon Be Playable On The Nvidia Shield In China
Will Wii emulation ever come to Switch?
You may well be aware that a number of Nintendo's first-party Wii titles have been ported to the Nvidia Shield in China as part of the two companies' growing friendship, with several classics already being available. Now, it looks like Mario Kart Wii is about to drift its way into the action, too. During...
Party like it’s 2008
On the same day we find out about Nintendo applying for an Endless Ocean trademark, the Australian Classification Board reveals Ubisoft's 2008 Wii title Sports Party is making its way to the Switch at some point in the near future. Originally released on the Wii a decade ago, Sports Party features nine...
A surprise catch
Take a moment to reflect on the Nintendo Wii generation and you’ll likely remember Wii Sports, Mario Kart Wii and perhaps even Wii Fit. One title made available early on in the system's life that didn’t get as much attention was the scuba diving game Endless Ocean. Originally released in Japan as Forever Blue
July2018
Video “Beta" Version Of Bowser’s Castle Uncovered In Mario Kart Wii
A technical mouthful
Mario Kart Wii introduced many new features to the long-running series including motorbikes and 12 racers on-track at once. While the exploitation of the 'wheelie' mechanic was rife back in the day, generally the Wii version is still looked upon as a memorable entry in the series thanks to its online play, accessible nature and...
Parent Trap I Really Miss The Nintendo Wii
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson remembers the good old days of waggle
Parents are notoriously bad for being sentimental. Whether it’s watching Monty Python, playing Tetris on the Game Boy or buying sweets by the ounce, I often catch myself getting more excited about introducing my children to the things I loved from my childhood than actually...
June2018
News Ubisoft Confirms Just Dance 2019 For Nintendo Switch, Wii U And Wii
Take your pick
It may well be the one announcement you can always rely on from Ubisoft's E3 conferences, but we're happy to bring confirmation that Just Dance 2019 has been confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Wii. Last year's edition also released for all three consoles, so we're not surprised to see it spread across the platforms, but there's...
Video Let's Revel in Nintendo's Best E3 Moments from History
It's mostly 2004, we're not going to lie
Nintendo has had a mixed bag of E3 moments. High and low points are to be expected, and as we've already looked at some of the more embarrassing instances, we thought in the run up to E3 2018 it was time to take a more positive look at things, to bring balance to the universe in an arguably more constructive...
News Just How Good Is The Nvidia Shield Wii Emulator, And What Does It Mean For Switch Owners?
Digital Foundry finds out
Nvidia and Nintendo are pretty cosy right now, thanks to the fact that the former is supplying the very capable internal technology for the best-selling Switch console. The two firms are such fast friends that Nintendo has allowed Nvidia to launch a series of Wii classics on its Android-based Shield console, which is based...
April2018
Video Here's What Happened To The Grinder, A Wii Horror Shooter Lost To Development Hell
Left for dead
Back in the mid to late '00s, some third-party developers were doing their best to put the under-powered Wii through its paces. The Conduit developer High Voltage Software was one of those studios, which doubled down on its console exclusivity with Left 4 Dead-esque horror shooter, The Grinder. It became one of the most...
March2018
News Here's How The Nvidia Shield Port Of Mario Galaxy Handles The Lack Of Motion Controls
Retro-fitting the past
Super Mario Galaxy touched down on the Nvidia Shield in China recently as part of a deal which will see other Wii classics come to the set-top box in that region. As we all know, Galaxy made good use of the Wii's motion-sensing controller to deliver fun gesture-based gameplay - something that is impossible on Nvidia's...
February2018
Video 9 Mario Games We Wish had Never Existed
Pesky plumber
Mario's been in countless fantastic games over the years, but to say our favourite portly plumber has a spotless record is an outright lie. Usually at the hands of another studio, Mario's been the figurehead of some truly awful video games over the years. That doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed for what they are, of course, but...
January2018
News Valve's Gabe Newell Once Met With Nintendo About A "Joint Project"
"This was like probably seven years ago. It was super casual"
Gabe Newell's son Grey has revealed that the Valve boss once met with Nintendo in Japan to discuss a joint venture between the two companies which sadly went nowhere. Speaking on a stream with Valve News Network, Grey casually revealed that he once got the chance to play Super Mario...
Reminder Time To Purchase Wii Shop Points Is Running Out
They'll be gone soon
A few months ago, Nintendo made the expected announcement that it would begin the process of shuttering the Wii Shop Channel, following on from the DSi shoppe which met a similar end. Now that all other online applications for the Wii have been discontinued, those who still purchase games on the Wii Shop have until January 31st,...
Soapbox Why You Should Consider Catching Big Air With Wii's Excite Truck
If you still have access to a Wii or Wii U, that is
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, Dave Letcavage discusses his somewhat recent introduction to the divisive Wii launch game Excite Truck, and makes a case...
Random Mario Kart Wii Made Amazon's Top 100 Games In December
Did you get the right Mario Kart under your tree?
Christmas 2017 was a bumper one for Nintendo, with the Switch - and its software - selling impressively. However, it would seem that older Nintendo games have benefited from the increased exposure, as Mario Kart Wii - which is almost a decade old - made Amazon's top 100 video game best seller
Soapbox Let 2018 Be The Year The Third-Party Exclusive Takes Over On Nintendo Switch
Just without the soulless cash-ins we saw in the Wii era
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Dom explores the gap in Nintendo's software library and how a the need to develop third-party exclusives will only make...
December2017
Soapbox No, HD Wii Games Coming to Nvidia Shield Doesn't Foretell a Switch Virtual Console
Sometimes the truth hurts. A lot
I think it's fairly safe to say most of the people reading this want a Virtual Console presence on the Switch, or at the very least wouldn't actively dislike the idea. And so mutterings are afoot saying that the recent reveal of Wii games coming to the Nvidia Shield in China could be pointing to just such a service...
News Nintendo Is Bringing Classic Wii Games To The Nvidia Shield In China
Could we see these on Switch?
Earlier this year we brought you the rumour that Nintendo was planning to release New Super Mario Bros on the Nvidia Shield in China. Given how difficult it is to sell consoles in China, it would appear that Nintendo is using smart devices like the Nvidia Shield to crack the market and sell its games. Naturally...
Video Take To The Skies In This Trailer For Factor 5's Unreleased WeFly
Pilotwings on Wii, basically
Earlier this year we reported on Liam Robertson's excellent investigation into Factor 5's WeFly - basically Pilotwings for Wii - which went into detail about the game's development and its subsequent cancellation. Robertson is back with another neat exclusive - a hitherto unseen trailer for the game which was only...
November2017
Video Check Out The Canned Justice League Game That Almost Came To Wii
For justice!
The upcoming Justice League movie marks the end of many years of speculation about how Hollywood would adapt one of DC Comics' most famous properties. A film based around the heroic exploits of this superhero team has been mooted for many years, and back in 2009 it very nearly happened with Mad Max director George Miller at the helm...
News Captain Rainbow's Fan-Made Translation Patch Is Now Available For Testing
A rocky rainbow road to English text
Captain Rainbow was one of the Wii's most original titles but sadly it never got localised for western release. While it's certainly possible to fight your way through the game without any knowledge of Kanji, a western translation is something fans have been holding out for for years - and it's now a reality...
Anniversary It's Been 10 Years Since Super Mario Galaxy Landed On The Wii
But do you prefer it to Super Mario Odyssey?
Time flies when you're having fun, and we're certainly having a lot of fun with the recently released Super Mario Odyssey on Switch. Of course, it is unlikely that we would have had the delights of Odyssey without the groundwork laid out before in Super Mario Galaxy which - funnily enough -...