Wii U eShop News
December2013
Video This Atmospheric Tengami Trailer Makes The Wait For The Wii U Version Even Harder
Turning the page
Tengami is certainly one of the most unique games we've seen in quite some time, and is one we've been keeping a watchful eye on ever since we broke the news that it's coming to the Wii U eShop. Developed by former Rare staffers Phil Tossell and Jennifer Schneidereit, Tengami is an adventure where you can interact with parts of the...
Video Nintendo Minute Highlights Its eShop and Wii U Favourites of 2013
Nintendo Life also makes a very brief cameo...
Not too long ago we told you about the Nintendo Minute show kicking off its Favourites of 2013 with the 3DS. Since then two new episodes have emerged covering the eShop platforms and the Wii U, as it all builds up to the overall favourites that are yet to be published. The eShop list in particular has...
News Nintendo Launches NES Remix Contest on Miiverse
Regular tips are also on the way
NES Remix was a surprise release from the most recent Nintendo Direct broadcasts, serving up bite-sized challenges and twists on 16 games from the iconic 8-bit system. We were big fans in our NES Remix review, and we certainly hope that more NES games — or perhaps those from other retro systems — will get the...
Review Double Dragon (Wii U eShop / NES)
Solo komodo
Double Dragon is notable for a whole host of reasons, among them that the NES version bears one of history's most misleading game titles by being a solo adventure with nary a dragon in sight. It also opens with an iconic, if anachronistic, bang — or, more specifically, a pow. A gangster brute socks a woman in the gut and carries her...
News Renegade Kid and Nicalis Titles Reduced on eShop Platforms
Ho ho holy moly so many discounts...
It seems that the 3DS and Wii U eShop platforms are going discount crazy, with plenty of reductions in Europe today, more on the way, and now North America happily getting in on the act. Both Renegade Kid and Nicalis are feeling festive, in the former case across regions and the latter just in North America...
News Nintendo of Europe's Ed Valiente Highlights the Creative Value of Indie Developers
"If there are interesting, creative... and fun games, consumers will come"
In what's surely been one of the most notable shifts of power in recent years, download and 'Indie' developers have gone from being underdogs struggling to release games to being central in a home console battleground. The continuing and extravagant growth of the PC Steam...
Nintendo Download 19th December (North America)
Knytt Underground, Classic Konami, 3D Sega and more
It's that time again, North America, when we can calm down from Nintendo Direct madness and consider the week's download options; this is the last pre-Christmas update, too. This week brings us new offerings on the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms, with plenty of diversity and styles to choose from...
News Nintendo of Europe Confirms Upcoming eShop Discounts
Top up those funds
Yesterday's Nintendo Direct broadcasts were certainly full of surprises, with some reveals also coming in as little as 10 seconds of video. One announcement that's worth pointing out for those that missed it in Europe is that there's an extensive range of discounts coming over the next few weeks, covering retail and download-only...
Review NES Remix (Wii U eShop)
Mixing it up
During what is likely to be the final Nintendo Direct of 2013, there were a few surprise game announcements. One of these was a bit more surprising than the rest, because it was available immediately after its announcement — NES Remix. At first glance, NES Remix might just seem like a collection of NES games, but in truth it's more...
News Wii Sports Club: Golf Swings Onto the Wii U eShop
Available now and includes an extra retro-inspired course
Rumoured yesterday due to system maintenance targeting its app, Nintendo today used its Nintendo Direct broadcasts to confirm that Wii Sports Club: Golf is available right now in Europe and North America. When you log into the game (or download it for the first time) you should automatically...
News Dr. Luigi announced for Wii U eShop
The Year of Luigi continues
During today’s Nintendo Direct presentations it was announced that Dr. Luigi will be coming to the Wii eShop. Based on the classic puzzler Dr. Mario, Dr. Luigi also requires players to line up colour-coded pills to destroy viruses. Dr. Luigi offers an original mode called 'Operation L' where the pills are, of course,...
News NES Remix Confirmed And Available Today on the Wii U eShop
16 NES classics with a twist
During today's Nintendo Direct extravaganza, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata confirmed NES Remix, a title previously outed in a rating by the Australian Classification Board. Available from today in the Wii U eShop, it contains mini-game versions of 16 classic NES titles, including the likes of Super Mario Bros.,
News PC Engine And MSX Games Coming To Japanese 3DS And Wii U Virtual Console Services
Retro goodies promised for next week
Nintendo has confirmed that it is expanding both the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Console services in Japan to cover additional systems. On the 25th December, PC Genjin (600 Yen) and Parodius (800 Yen) will be hitting the Wii U Virtual Console — titles which originally released on the PC Engine and MSX respectively...
News System Maintenance Targeting Wii Sports Club Shortly After Nintendo Direct
What a coincidence
As many Nintendo enthusiasts likely already know, tomorrow will bring another Nintendo Direct broadcast to capture our attention. Coincidentally — or not, as the case may be — a short burst of system maintenance will affect Wii Sports Club online play and rankings shortly after that broadcast. Below are the compiled details...
No need to block this one
The Wii U eShop is gradually building its library, but for the large part has been populated by relatively substantial games that cost a decent amount of change; while that's absolutely fine, this is a platform also suitable for inexpensive experiences either quick-fire or simple in nature. RUSH, like its Two Tribes...
Video Lycra-Clad Promo Insists That Wii Fit U Is "Fitness That Fits"
Working up a sweat doesn't have to be that hard
Wii Fit U is available for download from the eShop right now, and aims to expand on the massive global success of Wii Fit and Wit Fit Plus. In order to spread the word and educate the masses, Nintendo has released a promotional video which illustrates how versatile the game is and shows the benefits of...
News Physics-Based Puzzler BLOK DROP U Is Slotting Into Place On Wii U In 2014
Drop it like it's hot
BLOK DROP U — one of the first Nintendo Web Framework titles — will be hitting the Wii eShop early next year. Developer Michael Aschenbrenner got in touch with us to confirm the release date, as well as deliver a few details about the game. BLOK DROP U is a physics-based puzzle title where the objective is to guide a red...
News CastleStorm Bringing the Battle to Wii U on 26th December
Includes GamePad-only features
After some delay, Zen Studios has now confirmed — after the official Nintendo game page had suggested as much — that CastleStorm will arrive on the Wii U eShop in Europe and North America on 26th December; it'll cost $9.99 / €9.99. This has certainly had our attention for a good while, blending tower-defence...
News Wii U Version Of How To Survive Will Be Reanimated Next Year
Zombie title launched on other formats in October
Remember How to Survive, the zombie-infused action title which hit Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Windows in October? The game was due to see release on the Wii U eShop as well, but we've heard nothing about it since then. Thankfully, publisher 505 Games hasn't totally forgotten about the...
Nintendo Download 19th December (Europe)
Knytt Underground, more 3D Sega goodness, discounts galore and more
It's the start of another week as 2013 draws to a close, dear readers, and it seems that various download publishers have decided to get into the festive spirit with a lot of discounts available on both the Wii U and 3DS stores. We have new games, too, with Knytt Underground on Wii...
Review The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The true karate kid
Konami's classic action title The Legend of the Mystical Ninja is a welcome addition to the Wii U's slowly expanding library of Virtual Console offerings. In an era where lighthearted, fun characters have all but been forgotten in favour of grim shooters, playing as "Kid Ninja" — or Goemon, for fans of his Nintendo 64...
Nintendo Download 12th December (North America)
RUSH, Double (Double) Dragon, 3D Sega and more
It's Nintendo Download day, North America, and your collection of download treats for the week has been revealed. This week brings a mix of the old and new on both Wii U and 3DS, while DSiWare also makes an appearance. There's certainly decent variety on offer, so check out the details below. Wii U...
News Proposed Ghosts 'N Goblins Reboot Is Cancelled Following An Intellectual Property Dispute
Not all that shocking, really
Remember the Kickstarter campaign we reported on a while back about a possible reboot of Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins? The team behind the project stated that they would try and produce the game with or without Capcom's blessing, but did say that even if the Japanese giant refused to become involved, the name of the title...
News SNES Inspired 'Super World Karts GP' Adds Wii U to Funding Goal
Mode-7 inspired kart racer adds Wii U funding goal to Kickstarter campaign
With Mario Kart 8 on the horizon, you wouldn't be judged for wiping away a lone tear when thinking of some of the many great kart games of yesteryear. But as with any retro-binge, we are sometimes faced with a terrible realisation after a race down memory lane – these...
News Side-Scrolling Cyberpunk RPG Dex Is Hacking Into The Wii U eShop
Kickstarter campaign reaches Wii U stretch goal with a day remaining
Indie developer Dreadlocks has confirmed that its 2D Cyberpunk RPG Dex has successfully met the Kickstarter stretch goal which secures a Wii U eShop version. The side-scrolling title needed £14,000 of funding initially, and has now reaching almost £27,000 at the time of writing...
News Lobodestroyo Kickstarter Funded, Festival Of Magic Campaign Postponed Until New Year
Victory and retreat
We report on the latest Kickstarter happenings quite often here at Nintendo Life, and it's great to see so many great projects reach their funding goal purely on the basis of fan interest and support. It's not a guaranteed success for everyone though, so today we have some good news, bad news, and a rescheduling. First off is a...
News Club Nintendo Rewards Are Updated for December
Retro Picross! Really Difficult Mario! Surprisingly Pricey Balloon Fight!
Nintendo of America has taken its time updating its Club Nintendo rewards for this month, teasing us an extra day before dishing out the final dose of downloadable treats for 2013. As always there are four new games to choose from, and for the first time one of the home...
News EnjoyUp Games Announces Rock'N Racing Off Road For The Wii U eShop
It's gripped, it's sorted, let's off-road
Spanish developer EnjoyUp Games has confirmed today that it will be releasing a new title in 2014 by the name of Rock'N Racing Off Road. No screens are available at present, but EnjoyUp has revealed some details as well as a sample of the rocking soundtrack which will accompany the mud-splattered on-screen...
News Nintendo of America Reminds Gamers of 20% Discount on eShop Cards at Best Buy
Download fans, unite up!
Nintendo is certainly keen for Wii U and 3DS owners to consider going the download route with their favourite games. While there are still some obstacles scaring some away — such as premium prices and hardware-based account data — there have been growing numbers making the move to a virtual library. Nintendo of America,...
Nintendo Download 12th December (Europe)
Classic SNES Zelda, 3D Sega, RUSH, Level-5 discounts and much more
The European Nintendo Download update makes its usual Monday appearance and, this week, has plenty to offer. Another Super NES classic finally hits the Wii U eShop, we have new Wii U eShop software and 3D re-releases gracing the 3DS, along with a lot of very tempting discounts. This...
News Nintendo's Point of Sale Cards Helping to Drive Downloads in Japan
"It’s safe to say that it’s a risk-free system for the retailers"
New Super Mario Bros. 2 may not be regarded in the future as an iconic, unforgettable 2D Mario game — though various members of the Nintendo Life team do think it's rather good — but it did represent one important piece of Nintendo's modern history. It was the first physical...
News CastleStorm Gets Closer to Storming the Wii U eShop
"It should be ready to rock soon"
Zen Studios, to date, has been supportive of the Wii U eShop in bringing both Zen Pinball 2 and Star Wars Pinball to the platform, but we were starting to wonder whether the promised CastleStorm would ever make an appearance. The good news is that the title appears to be finally approaching release, with the studio...
News Wales Interactive Bringing Gravity Badgers and Master Reboot to the Wii U eShop
Physics puzzling and first-person "psychological adventure horror"
While a number of titles are taking their time to come to the Wii U eShop, the list of those that are on the way continues to grow. It's emerged that Wales Interactive — which is based just outside Cardiff — is bringing two titles to the download platform, with the first due in...
News Knytt Underground Arrives on the Wii U eShop on 19th December
A chance to explore during the Holidays
Knytt Underground, previously released on multiple platforms, has been one of the most intriguing upcoming Wii U eShop games since it was confirmed by publisher Ripstone. The work of Nicklas Nygren (best-known as Nifflas), it's an atmospheric and potentially lengthy experience that encourages exploration,...
News Fit Meter Iwata Asks Outlines Panasonic Partnership and Moving Beyond Pedometers
Also highlights the game maker's lack of fitness
Wii Fit U's retail release is creeping closer — it hits stores in Europe and North America on 13th December — yet it's been available for over a month as a free trial. In a change from the Wii original that best reflects the stronger distribution options that the eShop gives Nintendo, the trial...
News Teslagrad Wii U Release Drops Into 2014
Arrives on PC / Mac / Linux on 13th December
We've made little secret of the fact that we're anticipating the arrival of Teslagrad on the Wii U eShop, as our impressions in time spent with the game so far have been undoubtedly positive. Unfortunately it won't make its appearance on the store in 2013 as originally planned, with Rain Games officially...
News RUSH Confirmed for 12th December Release on Wii U eShop
The Two Tribes Classics Trilogy comes to an end
For those looking at low-cost additions for their Wii U download library, the Two Tribes Classics have certainly been tempting options — Toki Tori and EDGE have arrived so far. The final of the three releases now has a confirmed release date, with RUSH arriving in Europe and North America on 12th...
Review Contra III: The Alien Wars (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Lasers and missiles and heliobombs, oh my
Just when you thought the Wii U eShop had reached a maximum capacity of irresistibly cute little creatures with the likes of Pikmin 3, Toki Tori and Kung Fu Rabbit, here comes Contra III: The Alien Wars to mow down the competition with its terrifying alien invasions, flamethrower-wielding protagonists and...
Video Nintendo Teases Footage Of Wii Sports Club: Golf In Full Swing
Complete with floor-based Wii U GamePad
Wii Sports Club consists of just Tennis and Bowling so far, but the long-term plan is to release all of the sports eventually — and as if to remind us of this fact, Nintendo has shared some footage of Wii Sports Club: Golf in action via its Instagram account
News Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams DLC May Come To Wii U Next Year
This news sounds quite dreamy
Two months ago, Black Forest Games released Halloween-themed DLC for PC-exclusive stand alone add-on Giana Sister: Twisted Dreams - Rise of the Owlverlord. This content didn't make its way to Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams for the Wii U eShop, with Managing Director of Black Forest Games Adrian Goersch promising that...
News Check Out These Space-Themed Kickstarter Updates For Wii U
Narwhals....In Spaaaaaceeee!
Anyone who's grown a tad disinterested in military shooters and sports licenses can usually look to Kickstarter for some titles with genuine creativity and unabashed weirdness. The latest multiplayer title looking for funding on Wii U, PS4 and PC can be summed up as 'a war between narwhals fought among the stars',...
News Shovel Knight Release is Pushed Back to Early 2014
The developers dig in
We've made no secret that we're looking forward to getting our hands on Shovel Knight, the début release from Yacht Club Games which is, itself, largely comprised of former WayForward employees. The formerly crowdfunded project is coming to the Wii U eShop, 3DS eShop as well as PC, Mac and Linux. Its original campaign cited a...
Nintendo Download 5th December (Europe)
Bravely Default, more retro SEGA goodness, Scribblenauts and more
Another week begins as we creep towards the Holidays, and Nintendo of Europe once again sends us on our way with a fresh download update. This week has some promising offerings, including more 3D SEGA goodies, a long awaited 3DS RPG and a much overdue Wii U and 3DS retail release;...
November2013
Review Brawl Brothers (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Sibling rivalry
Jaleco released a trilogy of side-scrolling fighters in Japan under the Rushing Beat banner, and while all three made their way to the west, they did so under different titles: Rival Turf, Brawl Brothers and The Peace Keepers. Inspired in no small part by the success of Capcom's Final Fight, the series never really managed to reach...
"Child of Light has many unique and distinctive features"
Upcoming Wii U eShop releases that catch the eye are often from small, independent developers, with a sense that it's these small teams that have freedom to express new ideas or conventionally niche approaches. For multi-national, multi-million dollar publishers the focus can be different,...
Weirdness This is How Teslagrad Would Look on the Game Boy
Kind of awesome, actually
Teslagrad is one of quite a few upcoming Wii U eShop titles that Nintendo's been happy to show off in video sizzle reels. That's not surprising, as the Rain Games project has caught the eye with attractive visuals and clever magnet-based puzzle platforming mechanics. Its attractive visuals certainly play a part in the...
News New Assault Android Cactus Trailer Brings The Awesome
Explosions galore
In terms of upcoming Wii U eShop titles, we'd urge fans of bullet-hell action games to pay plenty of attention to Assault Android Cactus from developer Witch Beam. We went hands on with the early access PC build and were seriously impressed, with the attractive art-style and rock-solid frame-rate providing a twin-stick blast;
News Retro-Inspired Adventure Platformer Lobodestroyo Adds Wii U to Funding Goal
Nintendo 64-style game includes Wii U in main target
While it has its critics, crowdfunding platform Kickstarter is a becoming a prominent stepping-off point for encouraging game development projects that need a helping hand. Often these games can draw from sources of inspiration not necessarily deemed profitable to a publisher but, nevertheless,...
News The Girl and the Robot is Officially Coming to Wii U
Reaches Kickstarter stretch goal with just hours to go
Last week we reported that indie developer, Flying Carpets, had added a Wii U eShop stretch goal to its Kickstarter campaign for The Girl and the Robot, after achieving the project's initial goal of $15,000 CAD. The title, which draws inspiration from classic games such as The Legend of Zelda:...
Review Coaster Crazy Deluxe (Wii U eShop)
Not so crazy after all
Hold on to your coaster cars, Nintendo fans, because with the release of Coaster Crazy Deluxe for the Wii U eShop, gaming just got a whole lot crazier….or did it? Frontier’s latest iOS port proves that despite Nintendo’s concerted efforts to simplify the process for converting indie titles to Wii U, some games are better...
Developer Session Nifflas and Ripstone Talk Over Design Principles, Age Ratings and What's Next
"It’s a hobby that just kind of escalated"
Just last week we published the first part of our chat with Nifflas, in which the game designer — full name Nicklas Nygren — outlined many of the ideas that form upcoming Wii U eShop title Knytt Underground. We learnt a great deal about the complexity and depth that the title is striving for, in the...
Review The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths (Wii U eShop)
A breezy, scenic walk
The history of The Mysterious Cities of Gold is pretty wild. When the French-Japanese animated series ended its first run in 1983, the Famicom hadn’t even premiered in Japan. Fast forward about 30 years, and now not only has the show picked up where it left off, it’s even following in the tried and true tradition of video...
Nintendo Download 28th November (Europe)
Mario's 3D adventure arrives, 3D SEGA Classics and a lot more
It's Monday, which means that the European Nintendo Download will give us a pleasing start to the week. On the way, most notably, is Mario's critically acclaimed 3D début on the Wii U, while the 3D classics from SEGA finally arrive in the West for the first time; in addition we also have...
News Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for Festival of Magic
Previous episodic structure appears to be abandoned
Earlier in the year we told you all about Festival of Magic and conducted an interview with developer SnowCastle Games. Confirmed for Wii U, it's a game that promises to deliver a throwback JRPG experience — with some tweaks — that'll include turn-based battles, while also incorporating...
News The Girl and the Robot Adds Wii U Stretch Goal to Campaign
An ironclad friendship
Kickstarter projects often list many of the creator's influences during the process of creating their own title, and these can give an insight into the tone and style of the game to come. From the ground up, past inspirations continue to have an effect on today's releases, and serve as a high standard for developers to strive...
Video Nintendo UK Interview Shows Off GamePad Controls in Coaster Crazy Deluxe
"If you've got the GamePad and your finger, you can create a Coaster"
Coaster Crazy Deluxe arrived on the Wii U eShop in North America and Europe this week, the first download title from Frontier since the popular LostWinds and LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias on WiiWare. The development studio does have plenty of experience in theme park settings...
Review Mega Man X2 (Wii U eShop / SNES)
A mega effort
Capcom has really been on the ball with the Wii U Virtual Console — in just about one year, it has managed to release every single Mega Man game that saw the light of day on the Wii Virtual Console — and more — with Mega Man X2 being the latest release. Much like the original Mega Man series before it, the X series doesn't seem...
News Shovel Knight Digs Up a Few Surprise Features
Miiverse and Streetpass integration announced
The crew over at Yacht Clubs Games are still putting their backs into the development of Shovel Knight, according to a recent Kickstarter update. The team has offered a list of some of the current features it's working on, with a couple that'll be exclusive to the Nintendo versions of the game. In...
Developer Session We Chat to Nifflas About His Knytt Underground Vision
"I would say it’s a beautiful, slow-paced experience, very ambient."
We've emphasized in recent times that there are a good number of intriguing download-only titles coming to the Wii U eShop, bringing a variety of experiences to the fore. One that could be particularly involving and complex for players to tackle may be Knytt Underground, a title...
Review Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (Wii U eShop / SNES)
As deep as the ocean
Koei released quite an arsenal of strategy titles during the 16-bit era, many of them on the Super Nintendo console. While the original Uncharted Waters laid the foundation, its sequel New Horizons picked up right where it left off and managed to add quite a few new game play ideas to the mix to form one of the most in-depth and...
Nintendo Download 21st November (North America)
Mario, Zelda, Crazy Coasters, EDGE, discounted Mega Man and much more
It's Nintendo Download update time again, North America, and this week brings two long awaited retail releases on the Wii U and 3DS, a new Mario Party game, plenty of reduced price Mega Man and some promising download-only content on the Wii U, in particular. There's plenty to...
Simple but multi-sided
Two Tribes, in bringing its Classics series to the Wii U eShop, is among the first to deliver inexpensive experiences — especially with launch promotional prices — that have primarily made their home on other platforms for a good period of time. The updated edition of Toki Tori is based on its PC brethren, while now we...
News Hyper Light Drifter May Include Mode 7 Mode, Creator Was Deadly Serious About SNES "Demake"
It's about time remakes went the opposite direction
Anyone who has ever played the original Super Mario Kart or F-Zero on the SNES will recall the glorious Mode 7 graphical effect. Its ground-breaking rotating backgrounds had a way of inducing disorientation and ecstasy in players, like a 16-bit drug of the highest order. SNES lover Alex Preston,...
News FAST Racing NEO To Feature 'Hyper Real Graphics'
Shin’en to use 4K - 8K textures within the game
Shin’en’s recently announced Wii U eShop title FAST Racing NEO will feature “hyper real graphics” according to a tweet made by the developer earlier today. The follow up to 2011’s FAST Racing - League for WiiWare, will use between 4K and 8K textures to impress from a technical standpoint...
News Hyper Light Drifter Developer Aims to Deliver the Same Experience Across All Platforms
Off-TV play is an aim on Wii U, while 8- 16-Bit difficulty is planned
We were rather pleased to confirm, in October, that Hyper Light Drifter had successfully reached a Wii U stretch goal in its successful crowdfunding campaign. Successful is putting in mildly, however, as the project raised $645,158 from an initial goal of $27,000; it's due in June...
News ZaciSa's Last Stand Blasting Towards the Wii U eShop
It's tower defence in space, so actually 'space-base' defence
A number of upcoming download-only games have been highlighted for the Wii U eShop in recent weeks and months, some of which by Nintendo in its own trailers. Naturally there are more projects yet to be widely seen, however, with one example likely to be ZaciSa's Last Stand by ZeNfA...
Nintendo Download 21st November (Europe)
Zelda arrives, Sonic demos, discounted Rayman, Wii U EDGE and much more
It's a full on Nintendo Download week, Europe, with the lineup kicking off our Monday with a bewildering range of options. We have some big-name retail titles arriving, three intriguing Wii U eShop download-only releases, a hugely attractive Rayman discount and a lot more...
News These Three New Kickstarter Projects Are Trying To Fund Their Way Onto Wii U
Crowdfunding just got a whole lot Wii U-er
Kickstarter is once again the name with the games, as three unique new projects are all trying to crowdfund their way to Wii U stretch goals. The first of the Wii U hopefuls is Tadpole Treble, an aquatic adventure in which an adorable tadpole wiggles across levels that are set up as musical notation. As...
News Pier Solar HD Now Targeting Release in March 2014
Lengthy update outlines positive reaction to visuals at Indiecade
Pier Solar HD, an enhanced re-release of WaterMelon's Mega Drive / Genesis title released in 2010, is certainly on the radar of various members of the Nintendo Life team. It promises a rather traditional piece of RPG gaming, but will come with a HD sheen on the Wii U eShop. This HD...
News Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths Will Find Its Way Onto the Wii U eShop on 21st November
Will arrive on the 3DS store "a couple of weeks later"
During the Summer we told you about Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths, which is based on the popular Japanese / French animated series of the same name; its popularity is on the rise again since its '80s glory days, and the game will be updated with free DLC to match up with new episodes...
Review Toki Tori (Wii U eShop)
Super cheap puzzle fun
Many moons ago, when WiiWare first launched on the Wii, Two Tribes had Toki Tori ready to go as one of the very first games on the service. It was a remake of the Game Boy Color game, which in itself was also a pseudo-remake; we liked it a lot. Unfortunately for some, however, a PC version of the game was released not too...
Review Wario's Woods (Wii U eShop / NES)
Kinopio's Canopy
Wario's Woods has had quite a storied legacy over the last few decades, standing not only as the last officially licensed game released on Nintendo's legendary NES in North America in 1994, but also one of the very first titles available on the Wii's Virtual Console service. In-between those impressive milestones, it made an...
Nintendo Download 14th November (North America)
Mario & Sonic, cheaper Zelda, busty brawling and much more
The Nintendo Download news has come in later than usual today, and no wonder. It's another lengthy list to get through this week, with some major retail releases joining a host of download-only options. With further preamble, let's get to it. Wii U Virtual Console: Uncharted Waters: New...
News Paradise Lost: First Contact Makes Wii U A New Priority
Initial funding of $70,000 now guarantees a release on Nintendo's console
Previously we reported on the Kickstarter project Paradise Lost: First Contact and the team's controversial decision to leave development on Wii U as a final stretch goal, behind even other home consoles. The decision prompted debate on whether Nintendo's innovations...
News Nintendo of America Launches Weekly eShop Price Promotions
This week is all about the Zelda franchise
While many announcements in today's regional Nintendo Direct broadcasts were largely similar in both North America and Europe, one promotion confirmed by Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime may make some European gamers jealous. It's been confirmed that there'll be weekly eShop promotions covering the...
News Nintendo Delivers Another eShop Sizzle Reel to Hype Some Download Treats
Wii U and 3DS eShop releases featured
During its August Nintendo Direct broadcast Nintendo of Europe released a rather awesome eShop sizzle reel. Such is the nature of development that plenty of those titles are yet to grace the download platforms, but today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts did include a fresh video that highlighted upcoming releases...
News Animal Crossing Plaza To Be Updated Tomorrow
Bringing familiar faces and more reasons to pay a visit
The Wii U's first taste of Animal Crossing will be getting a beefy update very soon, as announced in today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts. On 14th November an update will be released with a few new features, emphasizing interactivity and the Miiverse community. Adding stamps to Miiverse posts,...
News System Update Will Allow You To Share eShop Balances Across Wii U And 3DS
The first step towards a single account system?
During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast it was announced that players will be able to combine and share their eShop credit across their 3DS and Wii U systems. By signing into the 3DS with your Nintendo Network ID, you will be able to spend credit you have attached to that account. Likewise, any...
News Classic And Modern Skins Pack Now Available In Batman: Arkham Origins
Style your Batman
Protectors of the Wii U version of Gotham City will be able to continue their fight against crime with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today releasing the New Millennium Skins Pack for Batman: Arkham Origins. The pack can now be purchased from the eShop for US$3.99 — $1 less than on PS3 and Xbox 360 — and will be...
Video Ubisoft Unveils Illuminating New Child of Light Walkthrough Footage
More than just a pretty face?
One of two new UbiART titles announced by Ubisoft just a few months ago, Child of Light caught the attention of the public with a whimsical style that stepped away from the outright zaniness of the celebrated frameworks' counterpart; Rayman Legends. Today we've been treated to a video demo of the game's mechanics, and...
Review Wii Sports Club: Bowling (Wii U eShop)
No splits here
When it comes to the games in the original Wii Sports that felt the most realistic and compelling, Bowling would have to be a candidate as the best of the lot. Golf and Baseball may have a say, too, while Tennis and Boxing — most definitely the latter — perhaps had the greatest degree of waggle. The fact Bowling reappeared in...
Video Check Out Wii Sports Club's Skill Shaper Modes
Brush up on your tennis and bowling
Wii Sports Club isn't just a series of HD remakes of the events seen in the Wii launch classic — it also offers "Skill Shaper" modes which are supposed to enhance and improve your talents by focusing on the basics. Each sport has three Skill Shaper events, and you can view all six (three from Tennis, three from...
Review Wii Sports Club: Tennis (Wii U eShop)
What the deuce?
Way back at E3 2011, in that Wii U reveal that rather bizarrely confused half of those watching, Nintendo showed remixes of Wii Sports events that showed the GamePad being utilised in creative ways. It's perhaps surprising that over two years after that visual demo, we're just now seeing the iconic Wii pack-in make its way to...
Nintendo Download 14th November (Europe)
Picross, Mega Man returns, unpronounceable puzzles, discounts and more
It's just another manic Monday, dear readers, but Europeans can once again take solace in the week's download offerings. This time around we have the continuation of a popular puzzle series, a new puzzle IP, some rather fun 16-bit Mega Man and a scattering of other goodies...
News Nintendo Land Has Been Removed From the North American eShop
Closing its doors on downloads
At the beginning of this month Nintendo of America cut the price of Nintendo Land in half, chopping the recommended charge from $59.99 to £29.99 in stores and on the eShop. That's certainly a tempting price for those that didn't get a copy with their system, and makes sense with new bundles mixing up the packed-in...
Review Baseball (Wii U eShop / NES)
Not quite a grand slam
Originally released alongside the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1980s, Nintendo's Baseball is one of several simple, lean titles that, while primitive and slow by today's standards, still show a special Nintendo pedigree. Ideally these games would be released as a compilation; the content in Baseball,...
Interview Dakko Dakko on Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, Clever Cats and Utilising the Wii U
"We’re making an interesting hybrid of some of our favourite games"
While the Wii U eShop has a fair number of download-only projects on the way, it's a relatively modest number that are exclusive to the platform. That's unsurprising, as development tool such as Unity — combined with supportive low cost-of-entry platforms — allow smaller...
Video Nintendo Wii Sports Club Trailer Goes For Cheesy Family Fun
Grandparents, kids and bland aspirational rock music ahoy!
Who remembers the marketing for Wii Sports? We sure do, because it did a rather effective job, in an over-nostalgic and excessively cheesy way, of showing how absolutely anyone could play Nintendo's motion controlled system. We saw young children, parents and grandparents united in some...
News Dakko Dakko Cautiously Shares Sources of Inspiration for Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails
"It’s very arcade-like, very quick, fast and runs really smoothly"
In terms of upcoming Wii U eShop games that we're keen to play and learn more about, Dakko Dakko's Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is certainly on the list. It's a relatively rare example of an exclusive, too, in an age where so many small developers are using flexible tools to...
Nintendo Download 7th November (North America)
Wii Sports is back, Toki Tori returns, retro Wario and more
Arriving later than normal today, we have the Nintendo Download news for all of you gamers in North America. This week serves up a couple of options within Wii Sports Club, while we have the return of a popular WiiWare game, retail options and a number of download-only offerings. Let's get...
News Wii Sports Club Goes Live Right Away in North America
The courts and alleys await, in a friendly sporting sense
Nintendo is really keen for you to sample the delights of Tennis and Bowling in Wii Sports Club. If you don't jump onto the eShop it'll be delivered to your Wii U — space permitting — via SpotPass, while Nintendo of America has confirmed that the download is available right away on the...
News Paradise Lost: First Contact Leaves Wii U Stretch Goal Till Last
Wii U target is more than three times the initial $70,000 goal
By now we've come to understand that Nintendo's innovations have many developers excited by the possibilities, and many more simply scratching their heads. The Kickstarter project for acclaimed indie game Paradise Lost: First Contact by developer Ashtree Works has left its Wii U port...
News Nintendo Issues Full Statement Regarding Uncensored Lyrics In Wii Karaoke U
"Nintendo does not restrict which songs are included in the catalogue"
Last week, we broke the news that Wii Karaoke U contains uncensored versions of songs with offensive lyrics, and that these songs can be downloaded and accessed by anyone using a Wii U console. Nintendo of Europe has now given us an official statement regarding this matter,...
Video Watch Andre Agassi Get Beaten At Wii Sports Tennis By A Little Girl
How the mighty have fallen
Wii Sports Club is coming to the Wii U this week, and to remind us of this fact Nintendo has produced a TV advert featuring tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. In the commercial, Agassi can be seen struggling to beat an unknown opponent in Wii Sports Club: Tennis, whom he believes to be his partner, Graf...
Working on Nintendo hardware "makes you feel legit"
While we're yet to quite see the promised influx of games onto the Wii U eShop, the lengthy list of projects in development is certainly exciting for download gamers. Small and independent developers could play an integral role in how attractive Nintendo's platform is to its adopters, and one...
News Packaged Physical Release of Wii Sports Club May Happen
Might not be an exclusive digital offering
Nintendo is a smart cookie when it comes to milking franchises. Its products, services, and software regularly offer the perfect balance of new and old. The latest example of this is Wii Sports Club – a digital remake of the original Wii Sports in HD, with online play and Miiverse functionality joining...
News APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat Campaign Adds Modest Wii U Stretch Goal
Nintendo reached out to Actos Games over word game
We've consistently banged the drum, here on Nintendo Life, highlighting how Nintendo's support for Unity tools and HTML5 on the Wii U could bring an enticing range of download-only games to the system's eShop. One potential addition, courtesy of the HTML5 tools available through the Nintendo Web...
Nintendo Download 7th November (Europe)
Wii Sports returns, Layton's legacy, Olympics, Batman and much more
The download details for Europe arrived a little later than usual this week, possibly because it's a rather lengthy release list. We have high profile retail games on Wii U and 3DS, along with some interesting download-only options and discounts both permanent and temporary. There's...
Review Donkey Kong 3 (Wii U eShop / NES)
Bugging you?
When the original Donkey Kong proved immensely popular, Nintendo decided to ride off its success and create a sequel changing the roles, making Mario the villain and Donkey Kong Jr. the hero. What is surprisingly not well known, however, is that there was a third game after that. While the next logical next might have been to allow you...
News Crowdfunding Campaign For Paradise Lost: First Contact Includes Wii U Stretch Goal
Alien life-form is found
A Kickstarter campaign has crash landed for extraterrestrial stealth-puzzler title Paradise Lost: First Contact, currently seeking $70,000 to gain funding for development. A Wii U version could possibly be in the works if it meets its staggering stretch goal of $250,000 by 1st December. Set in a bio-engineering facility,...
