Wii U eShop News
July2016
Review Educational Pack of Kids Games (Wii U eShop)
What an apt name
Skunk Software is a studio that's released a handful of disappointing games on the eShop; its releases typically consist of sophomoric and barebones approximations of gambling games and educational games. Still, you have to hand it to the developers for trying to fill a gap in the eShop's library, as there aren't too many games in...
News Racing Apex Fuses Virtua Racing With Mario Kart Combat, And It's Racing Towards Wii U
Death on the track
Gamers of an advanced age will no doubt get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside when the name "Virtua Racing" is mentioned. One of the first genuinely effective demonstrations of 3D graphics in an arcade setting, this slick title followed on from the likes of OutRun and Super Monaco GP and paved the way for future Sega classics such as...
Review Bit Dungeon+ (Wii U eShop)
Devilish fun
As fast as video games have developed over the past few decades, when it comes to value for money the amount of replay value within a title remains an important factor when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. This is where Bit Dungeon+ excels, offering a one to two player roguelike endless adventure. Starting out as a free web...
To be a 'noid
Classic arcade styles have stood the test of time, making them ideal subjects for experimentation. Combine two in a certain way and you might just make a delicious chocolate/peanut butter combo of fun. The retro concoction of INVANOID, however, is a different matter. INVANOID combines the downward travelling foes of Space Invaders...
News Buddy & Me: Dream Edition Launches on 21st July
It's so fluffy!
UPDATE: It turns out that the release date is actually for North America as well. Original Story: A few months back, it was revealed that the adorable Buddy & Me: Dream Edition would be arriving on the Wii U eShop. An enhanced version of a popular endless runner on smart devices, Dream Edition aims to add new features such as...
Review Rubik's Cube (Wii U eShop)
The '80s are back...
Cypronia's take on the original rage quit toy, the Rubik's Cube, is now available on both the Wii U and 3DS eShop. Does this game differ a great deal from a physical Rubik's Cube? No, not really. Like with releases such as Epic Word Search Collection 2, it's down to personal preference whether you opt to have a physical,...
Nintendo Download 14th July (North America)
Monster Hunter Generations! Tumblestone! 3 TurboGrafx-16 games! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. We'd suggest that this week is a good 'un - there are promising download-only titles on both Wii U and 3DS, while the Virtual Console also has some tasty options. There are also two major...
News Wii U Exclusive 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa Hits July Release for North America
Same day as in Europe
There aren't many eShop titles that are still utilising the unique possibilities of the Wii U GamePad, so for that reason alone 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa is rather interesting. Developer Red Column is working towards the first entry of this episodic series (in three parts) making its mark, and has good news for North American...
Review Twin Robots (Wii U eShop)
Definitely not scrap metal
At first glance you would be forgiven for thinking Twin Robots was a copycat of Nintendo's very own Chibi-Robo!: Zip-Lash on the 3DS. This is not the case. Originally developed and released by Thinice for the Ouya game system in 2013 and later made available on multiple other digital platforms including Android and Steam,...
News A Duo Of TurboGrafx-16 Games Hit The Wii U Virtual Console In North America This Week
R-Type and New Adventure Island inbound
Kayne West will be delighted to find out that a lovely pair of TurboGrafx-16 games are making it on to the Wii U's Virtual Console in North America on 14 July [updated from 'later today', a mistaken mix up on dates in our original text]. Nintendo of America's site has listed both R-Type and New Adventure...
Review 153 Hand Video Poker (Wii U eShop)
147 extra hands don't make it any better
We pity the poor souls who paid their hard earned money on a dud as bad as 6-Hand Video Poker, where soulless presentation and meaningless gameplay combined to make it a nearly worthless product in our eyes. Skunk Software evidently thought that adding dozens of additional hands to the game would somehow...
News Nexis Games Hopes Wii U FPS Draw The Line Will Help Speed Up UCraft's Development
Minecraft clone still in production, despite Kickstarter failure
Indie developer Nexis Games is releasing a Call of Duty-style shooter on the Wii U eShop in the hope that the revenue generated will speed up the completion of its Minecraft-inspired title UCraft. Taking more than a little inspiration from Mojang's phenomenally successful title,...
Nintendo Download 14th July (Europe)
Monster Hunter Generations! Disney Art Academy! Tumblestone! Much more!
Another week begins, and we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to sink our teeth into. This week has plenty to offer with some major retail releases, some rather nice New 3DS Virtual Console offerings, a range of promising download-only options and some fantastic...
Review Emojikara: A Clever Emoji Match Game (Wii U eShop)
No Bed is a Lady
Here's a fun fact about the Japanese language - the word "Emoji" combines the Japanese for "picture" and "character". What's more, the word "Chikara" means power. What do you get when you combine the two? Emojikara, the name of a game that is anything but powerful (or clever, as the title would lead you to believe). While the...
Review STEEL LORDS (Wii U eShop)
Steel disappointing
Steel Rivals, released on the Wii U eShop not too long ago by indie developer nuGAME, was by no means a shining example of a quality fighting game experience. The package as a whole had poor production values and was uninspired in terms of its design. Be it the bland characters or broken fighting mechanics, it failed to garner a...
Video Latest Trailer For The Girl And The Robot Has The ICO And Studio Ghibli Feels
Coming to the Wii U eShop later this year
We covered The Girl and the Robot's Kickstarter campaign way back in 2013 when it was confirmed that the game was coming to the Wii U eShop. It's been awhile since we last heard anything about it, but developer Flying Carpet Games has just released the launch trailer, and it gives us a pretty comprehensive...
News Playtonic On Yooka-Laylee's Non-Linear Structure And Retaining That Trademark Rare Humour
"It's almost like Banjo-Tooie was yesterday and Yooka-Laylee was today"
Yooka-Laylee may have been cruelly pushed in 2017, but the game remains one of the most eagerly-anticipated titles of recent memory - and with good reason. It's being made by Playtonic Games, a studio formed almost entirely from ex-Rare staff, and it raised a massive amoun
News Dual Core Has Just Gotten a Significant Update in North America
Off TV Play and new character customization options
Some of you may remember Dual Core, a futuristic twin-stick shooter that launched a couple months back. We thought it was a pretty good time, praising the variety of modes and the couch co-op action. Of course, it's not without its flaws, but Gray Fin Studios aimed to combat some of these by...
News Rain Games On Teslagrad's Success and World to the West
Teslagrad shifted 1.6 million copies
Some of you may remember Teslagrad from a few years back, the metroidvania title that featured beautiful, hand-drawn 2D graphics. The gloomy, steampunk-esque environments created a fantastic atmosphere, and the magnetism-centric puzzles were quite smartly designed. It was certainly a unique title on the eShop,...
Nintendo Download 7th July (North America)
Legend of the Mystical Ninja! Flying Dragon! TAP TAP ARCADE 2! More!
It's time, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download update, and this week goes heavy on Virtual Console offerings in particular. The Wii U has two Culture Brain titles, including one that hasn't previously had a VC release, while the New 3DS gets a classic SNES game...
Review Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (Wii U eShop / DS)
New region, new Pokémon, similar circling action
During the Pokémon Ranger games you spend a lot of time wandering around catching Pokémon. Captures are different from the main series, however, as Poké Balls are ditched in favour of Capture Stylers, requiring you to use the touch screen to draw circles around the Pokémon with your stylus. The...
News Two-Player Roguelike Bit Dungeon+ Coming To Wii U eShop This Month
Procedurally generated dungeons and multiple endings await
Spanish developer Dolores Entertainment has confirmed that it is bringing its Roguelike dungeon crawler Bit Dungeon+ to the Wii U eShop on July 14th. The game features two-player co-op and procedurally generated levels. There are six different level themes, over 40 individual enemies and a...
Feature The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Games of 2016 - Summer Edition
Yes, we're combining the lists...
Summer is pouncing upon us and at the time of writing it's Independence Day in the US and a tad drizzly in this writer's part of the UK. It seems like a typical early July day, but we are shaking things up a little in this latest quarterly entry of the 'Biggest Games' series. We're combining the Wii U and 3DS...
News Wii U Exclusive 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa Arrives Soon in Europe
28th July in EU, "a few weeks" later in Americas
There aren't many games still on the way that prioritise the Wii U GamePad and its unique features, but the exclusive eShop title 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa is one example. Developer Red Column has the goal of showing how the second screen can still be used in smart ways to enhance gameplay and...
Review SPLASHY DUCK (Wii U eShop)
Just keep swimmin'
So why did the duck cross the water? In SPLASHY DUCK, it's to grab a bunch of coins before colliding with a whale. So, uh, now you know? SPLASHY DUCK is another addition to the RCMADIAX line of simply designed score attack games. The player guides a duck endlessly swimming a vertical channel in the middle of the screen. When...
Nintendo Download 7th July (Europe)
Splatoon discount! Professor Layton Movie! TAP TAP ARCADE 2! More!
With the start of another week we have the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and it's a relatively modest line-up this time around. Two new budget download-only titles arrive on the Wii U, while a fan-favourite also gets a timely discount. On the 3DS there's DLC, discounts...
Review Slots - Pharaoh's Riches (Wii U eShop)
More like Pharaoh's Rags
There seems to be a dearth of casino-style or gambling games on the Wii U eShop, so Skunk Software has taken it upon itself to try and fill this gap. Unfortunately, there is a glaringly obvious reason why gambling games aren't found all over the eShop: they simply don't work as intended. For its part, Slots - Pharaoh's...
June2016
News PC Owners Can Sign Up Now for a Mekazoo Closed Beta
A promising platformer also due on Wii U this year
Mekazoo is a title we've had our eye on for some time; developed by The Good Mood Creators, it blends slick visuals with platforming and animal transformations. It certainly brings to mind some classics such as the Donkey Kong Country titles (old and new), while also having its own sense of style...
Nintendo Download 30th June (North America)
Super Mario RPG! Zero Time Dilemma! Minecraft Story Mode DLC! LEGO! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week has some rather tempting options, with major retail releases across both Wii U and 3DS, along with big name DLC to also consider on each platform. The Wii U Virtual Console...
News Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing Confirmed for Wii U
GO GO GO!
EnjoyUp Games has been one of the most prolific publishers in the eShop era, releasing various titles across Wii U and 3DS while recently moving onto other platforms such as Xbox One. The studio has now confirmed its next planned Wii U release, with no firm date as yet - Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing. It's the latest in line for the series...
News Wii U Version Of Road Redemption Being "Re-Evaluated"
But at least it's not cancelled, like the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions
The Wii U port of Road Rash spiritual successor Road Redemption is currently being "re-evaluated", according to developer DarkSeas Interactive. The Kickstarter-funded racer - which has sold around 100,000 copies during its spell in Early Access on Steam - was supposed to arrive...
News Tumblestone is Tumbling Onto Wii U on 12th July
We apologise for the headline
Tumblestone is a name you may recognise from some Nindie promotions and previews from Nintendo of America, with the upcoming action puzzle title getting plenty of buzz. The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild - a neat name for a development studio - is now nearly ready to share it with the world. The title's arriving on 12th...
News Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap Remake Appears To Be Wii U-Bound
According to its BitSummit 2016 listing, anyway
DotEmu and Lizardcube recently lifted the lid on a HD remake of Sega and Westone's excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. At the time of the reveal it was confirmed for consoles and PC, and neither publisher nor developer would commit to the title coming to a Nintendo platform. However, according to...
News Tadpole Treble Hits Snag On Wii U, Now Expected This Summer
"I didn't come this far to not have my game on a Nintendo system, by gum!"
Tadpole Treble was supposed to be with us this March, but the Kickstarter-funded title missed that release date. We've now had an update on why that was the case, as well as a revised release window of Summer. It seems that the game has hit some snags when it comes to...
News Pirate Pop Plus Is Like Anti-Gravity Pang, And It's Coming To Wii U And 3DS
13AM Games handling publishing duties
Update: 13AM Games has published an official response to this leak, which you can see below: We've had another little leak this past week (2016 is the year of 13AM leaks, it seems). But like all leaks, this is some exciting news! 13AM Games is no longer just 13AM Games! We have opened up to game publishing...
Nintendo Download 30th June (Europe)
LEGO Star Wars! BoxBoxBoy! Battle Cats! Zero Time Dilemma! DLC! More!
With the start of another week comes the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. This week has some promising download-only releases across Wii U and 3DS, while there are also multiple retail titles to choose from including the latest in the LEGO and Zero Escape IPs. Beyond...
News MixedBag Bringing Metroid-Inspired forma.8 To The New Nintendo 3DS
And another undisclosed game for all 3DS models
Indie studio MixedBag has revealed that it is bringing forma.8 to the New Nintendo 3DS as well as the Wii U eShop. The game places you in the role of a probe sent to investigate a mysterious alien world in order to locate a special power source, and MixedBag have cited Metroid as a key influence. The...
Mediocre No. 9, more like
There are few Kickstarter projects that have gained as much attention as Keiji Inafune and Comcept's Mighty No. 9. Billed as a spiritual successor to Capcom's seemingly dormant Mega Man series - a lineage Inafune is closely connected with - this new project was supposed to bring back everything fans loved about the Blue...
News Pawbyte's 'Game Pencil Engine' Development Tool is Released, Supports Wii U
Supports languages such as HTML5
About a year ago we reported on Pawbyte's Game Pencil Engine, development software that also operates as a 2D editor, that was released for PC development. The key news was that it was also promising future support for the Wii U, adding to tools such as Construct and Impact, in particular, in helping developers...
Hands On Painting the Walls Red with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Oh, it's good. Very good.
Back in 1997, Koji Igarashi made gaming history with the extremely successful Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The reason that Castlevania shares half of the name with "Metroidvania", Symphony of the Night was lauded for its fantastic art direction and intricately designed castle. Later on, the formula established by...
News Patch For Minecraft Battle Mini-Game Rolling Out Now
Fixes issue that prevented people from joining public games
4J Studios has confirmed that a patch to fix issues with the newly-released Minecraft Battle Mini-Game is rolling out now. Released on the 21st June, the new mode crashed when players attempted to join public games. Have you have the patch yet? Let us know if it has solved the problem...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (North America)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! SNES Ghouls 'n Ghosts! Pokemon! More!
It's that time, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a few major retail releases on Wii U, while the SNES is back on the New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. Elsewhere there are three Pokémon games on the Wii U Virtual...
Reminder It's the Final Countdown on Nintendo of Europe's eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale
Grab 'em while they're hot
Two weeks ago Nintendo of Europe launched its eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale with more than 40 games getting discounts. It didn't have the same wow factor as the equivalent promotion in Japan, but it's nevertheless given gamers in the region opportunities to grab some quality games at a decent discount. Well, it ends...
News Yacht Club Games Provides Update on Future Campaigns and Content
Stretching development out
Shovel Knight has been a notable debut success for Yacht Club Games, and it's still ongoing. As a result of numerous stretch goals from the original Kickstarter campaign the studio has been working - for well over a year - on free updates. The studio has now sent out a status update to backers, also shared on its website,...
Review Dual Core (Wii U eShop)
What a blast
In a derelict space station on Europa - one of Jupiter's moons - two AIs have activated, unaware of what has happened inside. Over the course of their journey they discover it has been overrun with aliens and rampaging machines. The two AIs have to make their way out of the space station alive and find out about what happened in the...
News Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Treble Heading to the North American eShop This Week
GBA and DS goodness
Nintendo of America has confirmed that there's plenty of Pokémon goodness on the way in this week's Download Update on 23rd June; three releases are coming to the Wii U Virtual Console. The three games due will give Pokémon spin-off fans plenty to do, with a mix of GBA and DS gaming on the home console: Pokémon Mystery...
Hands On Dealing Death by a Thousand Cuts with SEVERED
The latest from DrinkBox Studios
Many of you will no doubt recall Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, a wildly inventive and colorful 2D Metroidvania that set the eShop alight when it released back in 2014. We absolutely loved it, and if early impressions are anything to go by, it seems as though DrinkBox Studio's next game - coming to...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (Europe)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! Mighty No. 9! Nintendo Selects! More!
It's the start of another week, and though a little later than normal Nintendo of Europe has issued details on what we can expect in this week's download update. It's a week with multiple high-profile retail releases, including some tasty new discounts in the Nintendo...
News 2D Shooter And Adventure Mash-Up Starr Mazer Confirmed For Wii U And 3DS Release
Japanese company Playism handling publishing duties
Remember Starr Mazer? A curious mix of point-and-click adventure and 2D shooter, it took to Kickstarter a while back and looked so goshdarn amazing that it had us crossing every available limb in the hope that it would eventually find its way to Nintendo consoles. It looks like we can finally...
News "Oops", Says Image & Form as 'SteamWorld Bundle' Rating is Spotted for Wii U
The pressure's building
Image & Form has established itself as a Nindie to be reckoned with thanks to the eShop releases of SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist, both arriving on the 3DS and Wii U. It seems that those titles will be getting combined into one steamy bundle, too. A USK (German) rating from May has been spotted
Nintendo Download 16th June (North America)
Super Paper Mario! Rhythm Heaven Megamix! Terraria! Much more!
As E3 enters its last day in LA it's time to go back to some old routines, with the North American Nintendo Download Update being one of them. This week seems to be a strong offering, with notable releases across Wii U and 3DS, along with some high-quality Virtual Console offerings on...
E3 2016 XSEED Bringing Japanese-Style Action Adventure Exile's End To Wii U
A "cinematic platformer" made with Japanese artists
During our US team's walk around the showfloor at this year's E3 it has been discovered that XSEED is bringing the indie title Exile's End to the Wii U eShop. Created by one-man studio Magnetic Realms (in reality Japan-based Australian Matt Fielding), Exile's End takes inspiration from a wide...
E3 2016 Nintendo Unveils Massive E3 eShop Sale in North America
Additional 10% off some titles with My Nintendo
Nintendo's presence at E3 also comes with eShop deals for Wii U and 3DS owners in North America. There's a focus on Zelda and Pokémon games, but other top titles including Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon are also up price cuts. Games from both Nintendo and third parties are on sale from 14-21 June...
E3 2016 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Get a Discount in Europe
With an extra discount for My Nintendo members
Nintendo of America has unveiled a hefty list of eShop discounts (we're compiling the list at the time of writing), and Nintendo of Europe has also pitched in. It's added two titles to its existing 5 year anniversary sale to give an extra retail treat for the region. Both iterations of the current-gen...
Review PixelJunk Monsters (Wii U eShop)
No monsters are getting through on our watch
The Forest Defender, Tikiman, is back to protect his children in PixelJunk Monsters for Wii U. Developed by Q-Games and Double Eleven, PixelJunk Monsters is the second game in the PixelJunk series that started on the PlayStation 3. This time around Double Eleven is porting the popular indie game to the...
Feature Tom Happ on Axiom Verge Coming to Its 'Home Turf' on Wii U
We still can't believe this game is the work of just one guy
It boggles the mind how Axiom Verge is the work of one man. It took five years for creator Tom Happ to produce the game on his own, putting together this game that deftly incorporates elements of Metroid, Contra, and other retro classics. With a list of influences like that, it's tough...
Feature Thunder Lotus Games Dives Into Norse Mythology With Jotun: Valhalla Edition
Ragnarok and roll
Unveiled earlier this year for the Wii U eShop, Jotun: Valhalla Edition is certainly an eye catching game. Thunder Lotus Games dives into Norse mythology, putting the player into the shoes of Thora, a Viking Warrior that must prove herself to earn a place in Valhalla. Those are big stakes for an action-exploration game. A hit on...
Feature We Chat to Drinkbox Studios About SEVERED for Wii U and 3DS
Swiping answers from producer Graham Smith on the touch-based dungeon crawl
Drinkbox Studios is perhaps best known for its beloved, rather cheeky lucha-themed exploration platformer, Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition, which hit the Wii U eShop in July 2014. We rather dug it in our review, but it's been two years now and we're itching for...
News Runbow Pocket and SEVERED Confirmed for the eShop
Runbow Pocket is a New 3DS exclusive
During its appearance on the YouTube@E3 show Nintendo focused on some exciting Nindie games on the way to the eShop later this year. Four releases were covered in total, covering 3DS, New 3DS and Wii U. The main reveal was arguably Runbow Pocket, which will be a New 3DS exclusive later this year. It includes...
News Stardew Valley is Digging Its Way to Wii U
Dev keen to use "special console features like the Wii U's second screen"
Stardew Valley has been a major success on PC, with its charming aesthetic and gameplay hooks earning a lot of fans. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Harvest Moon, it blends farming and living off the land with elements of adventure. The pleasing news is that the...
Review Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (Wii U eShop / DS)
Going for a slam dunk
From his first venture into Karting through to competing in the Olympics, Mario has been spending plenty of time taking part in activities other than Princess saving. In 2007 (European release) Mario and his mates tried their hands at shooting a few hoops on Nintendo DS in Mario Slam Basketball (aka Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in the...
Nintendo Download 16th June (Europe)
Gunslugs! Fire Emblem Fates DLC! Twin Robots! Discounts Galore! More!
Happy E3 week to one and all; unsurprisingly we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to get it started. We have puzzle platforming on Wii U and frantic run-and-gun action on the 3DS as new releases, along with a retail download targeting young gamers. Fire Emblem...
News Dual Core Gets European Release Date Along With Update in North America
Off-TV play is on the way
Dual Core is one of the Wii U eShop's most intriguing recent arrivals (we're still working on a review), with dual-stick shooting along with co-op play and RPG elements. Developer Gray Fin Studios has now confirmed some positive additional details for both European and North American gamers. First off, the European release...
News B3 Game Expo For Bees Gets Surprise Price Cut
That'll sting
B3 Game Expo For Bees is one of the quirkier titles to come to the Wii U in recent times, blending first-person shooting and adventure with some neat usage of the GamePad. One of the downsides (which we highlighted in our review) is its brevity, and we observed that "it might be worth it to pick this title up sometime on a sale or...
Video The Battle Mini-Game for Minecraft: Wii U Edition Goes Live on 21st June
Get ready to Nintendoom your friends in the arena
A couple weeks ago, it was announced that another free update would be coming to Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Following hot on the heels of the Super Mario Bros. Mashup Pack, this new update will include a new Battle mode where players duke it out in arenas and fight for glory. The new mode will have...
News Two Short-Term Rewards Are Added to My Nintendo in Europe
Kirby and karaoke
We think it's fair to say that My Nintendo has had a mixed reception since launching as the new loyalty service from the big N. It's offered some unique rewards, including its own game with My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but has also failed to inspire with some of its other options. Its latest...
Nintendo Download 9th June (North America)
Kirby: Planet Robobot! Olympia Rising! Wario! Puzzles! More stuff!
It's that time again, dear reader, for the last Nintendo Download Update before E3. This week brings a fabulous Kirby retail release on 3DS, and beyond that there are some interesting download-only options across both the Wii U and 3DS. Without further pre-amble, let's get to it...
Talking Point Five Years of eShop Progress Doesn't Mask Nintendo's Next-Gen Challenge
Gamers want a lot, it seems
Earlier this week the 3DS eShop - and the eShop as a broader brand - celebrated its 5th Anniversary, and we shared a rather cheerful article in praise of the progress made with the store. Though Nintendo was relatively early in the download scene with the Wii and DSi stores, both had a number of issues and over-stringent...
News Nintendo Announces E3 eShop Discount Plans and Miitomo x The Legend of Zelda Promotion
Retweet for wigs
Nintendo has slowly started to flesh out its E3 plans, and has now confirmed a couple of additional promotions to get us in the mood before and during the event. First of all, we're contractually obliged to share some handsome concept art that Nintendo including in its press release, as it's lovely. There's more Legend of...
Video Feast Your Eyes On This Footage Of Mighty No. 9's Boisterous Bosses
Feeling the burn
The much-delayed Mighty No. 9 might have taken a credibility hit thanks to its recent trailer, but this spiritual successor to Capcom's legendary Mega Man is still shaping up nicely - as the following gameplay footage attests. GameSpot has captured video of three different bosses from the game, proving that creator Keiji Inafu
Video Check Out This Early Footage of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Looking good
Considering the self-destructive route Konami has been on in recent times, it's been disappointing to see many of its popular franchises effectively put on ice, including the Castlevania series. Of course, it could be argued that it's been awhile since the last classic Castlevania game came out, as Mercury Steam took the series in a new...
Review B3 Game Expo For Bees (Wii U eShop)
Hot Buzz
There is something so delightfully goofy and left-field about the premise of B3 Game Expo for Bees that it's difficult not to be utterly charmed by it. A bee security guard protecting bee gaming companies in a "convention hive" from a firsties-obsessed robotic bear? That's the type of organized randomness that can make for something...
Review Run Run and Die (Wii U eShop)
As fun as running straight into a brick wall
'Runner' games similar to the likes of Bit.Trip Runner have been a popular choice for quite some time now. Popularised by mobile titles and best enjoyed for their addictive "one more try" gameplay, the genre often strips the medium down to its very basics - just one button to press and a top score to aim...
News Playtonic Handling Wii U Version of Yooka-Laylee, Team17 Porting To PS4 And Xbox One
"We wanted to make sure that Wii U gets the right attention"
It's tempting, in light of the system's declining role in the market and modest userbase, to be rather fearful around third-party Wii U projects. With Yooka-Laylee moving into 2017 it'd be understandable to feel twitchy; yet thankfully this is a Playtonic Games title, with the studio being...
Interview Playtonic On Yooka-Laylee Progress And Its New 2017 Release Window
Going behind the scenes on the exciting platformer
Yooka-Laylee is aiming to bring back the long-forgotten 3D platforming/collectathon genre that helped make developers such as Rare juggernauts of the industry, and is also one of the last shining beacons of hope for long-suffering Wii U owners. We were lucky enough to have a first-hand look at the...
News Yooka-Laylee Delayed Until 2017, E3 2016 Trailer Looks Lovely All The Same
Take the rough with the smooth
Playtonic has just released the E3 2016 trailer for its forthcoming 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee, and the footage illustrates quite keenly just how far the game has come since we first laid eyes on it last year. The title - which is now being released in Q1 2017 - is shaping up very nicely indeed, and it appears that...
Review Kick & Fennick (Wii U eShop)
A boy, a bot, and a really big gun
When picking up any platformer for the first time, it's just second nature to check for the jump button. They're so ingrained in the experience, you're likely hearing Mario's sound effect in your head even as you're reading this. Look for a jump button in Kick & Fennick, however, and you're not going to find...
Nintendo Download 9th June (Europe)
Lots of Kirby! Fire Emblem Fates Revelation! Terraria on Wii U! Much more!
With the start of another week we have the European Nintendo Download Update details, and there are multiple promising arrivals this week. Kirby is on top form with the latest major retail release on 3DS, while on Wii U we have world-building and humorous adventure on offer...
News Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is All Set for a September Release on the Wii U eShop and at Retail
Quite a transformation
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the latest entry in the excellent WayForward series, has been a long time coming since it was successfully funded on Kickstarter. With a flashy HD engine and a multi-platform launch for the first time, it's clear that it's an important release for the developer. WayForward has now confirmed that the...
Video Image & Form Reiterates That SteamWorld Heist is Coming to Wii U 'Pretty Soon'
Hints at cross-buy discount, too
SteamWorld Heist may be one of the top games to have arrived on the 3DS eShop in 2015, but some have been patiently awaiting HD iterations. PS4 is first up on this score (along with Vita) but has seen its release pushed back a little to (hopefully) come out alongside the PC version. For Nintendo gamers, of course,...
Review Sudoku and Permudoku (Wii U eShop)
Grids meet GamePad
Type "sudoku" into the search engine here at Nintendo Life and you'll discover two things. First, there are a lot of sudoku games out there, from children's starters starring Lola the Panda to those proclaiming to be for elite brains only. Second, of all these games, only this one here, Sudoku & Permudoku, is designed for the...
News Olympia Rising Ascends to North America on 9th June
Just in time for summer
For those of you that live in North America, you may remember that Olympia Rising released in Europe a couple months ago. The retro 2D action platformer calls Kid Icarus to mind with its greek mythology inspired themes and its colorful visuals. We rather liked it in our review, praising the story and visuals, but criticising...
News XSEED Games Will Be Publishing the Physical Copies of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Soundtrack CD to be included
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is slowly but surely creeping its way slowly towards its inevitable release date, as hype and expectations continue to build by the same factor. The first entry in a new trilogy for the series looks like it'll be trying a lot of new stuff, and Shantae fans are understandably eager to see what the...
Review Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice (Wii U eShop)
Here be dragons
Last year's Dragon Fantasy: The Volumes of Westeria was a thorough, if unsurprising, callback to the early days of JRPGs. Rather than try to buck tradition and innovate, it instead opted to embrace all the well-trodden tropes that made the genre so popular. Its sequel, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, is very much the same in...
News Runbow 3DS Retail Edition Spotted on Amazon
Update: 13AM Games says listing has 'misinformation', but has E3 plans
Update: 13AM Games has given us an update on this Amazon listing: We're happy that people are excited about the possibility of a 3DS and retail version of Runbow, but we have to make it clear that this leak is not from 13AM Games and unfortunately contains some misinformation...
Nintendo Download 2nd June (North America)
Metroid Prime Hunters! DKC3! Kick & Fennick! More!
It's that time once again for the North American Nintendo Download Update, and this week has a mix of genres and styles to choose from. New Wii U releases include some platforming and shooting, while the same can be said for the Virtual Console releases across the home console and New 3DS. Beyond...
News Metroid Prime Hunters Hits the Wii U Virtual Console in North America Tomorrow
Let the hunt begin
Though there were a few tentative attempts at making a Metroid 64 for the Nintendo 64, nothing concrete ever fully materialised, leading many to wonder if Super Metroid would ever receive a proper follow up. The silence was finally broken many years later on the GameCube with the release of Metroid Prime, Samus' first 3D...
News Antipole DX Aims to Flip Expectations in Its Latest Trailer
Development winding down for a release later this year
We've been closely watching Antipole DX, the rather promising dual release coming to the Wii U and 3DS eShop this year. It's an enhanced re-release of the rather good DSiWare title Antipole, with much-improved visuals, new levels, online leaderboards and Miiverse stamps. Developer Saturnine...
News Lost Reavers Updates to Version 2.0.0, Adding a New Stage and Some Tweaks
Extra XP also available until 8th June
Lost Reavers may be a free download, but it's struggled to make the right impression since its arrival on Wii U. We only gave it a very modest recommendation in our review, mainly due to the fact it can be played for free and all that's lost is time, but it's certainly got key areas where it needs to improve...
May2016
News Mega Man Legacy Collection Among Discounts in Capcom's North American eShop Spring Sale
Resident Evil games! Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate! More!
Discounts, we all love them, and it seems that Capcom has unveiled some as part of an eShop Spring Sale to tempt North American Wii U and 3DS owners to part with some cash in the coming week. The following price cuts are live and are only running until 6th June, so if you're in the Americas you...
News IronFall Invasion Studio Is Bringing RISE: Race The Future To Wii U, 3DS And Nintendo NX
Futuristic drift-based racing inspired by Sega Rally? Yes please
IronFall Invasion developer VD-Dev has lifted the lid on its next project, a racing game under the title RISE: Race The Future. An arcade-style racer which draws on Sega Rally for inspiration, RISE is coming to a wide range of systems, including the Wii U, 3DS and (eventually)
News Prism Pets is on its Way to the Wii U eShop Soon
How relaxing
The success of the eShop on the Wii U paired with the touch screen-centric controller has led to many smart device games (or others of that ilk) popping up on the digital storefront. While many of these may offer experiences that some may call shallow, they represent a side of gaming that's more focused on instant gratification, and it...
Review 8Bit Hero (Wii U eShop)
Crawls flat
Retro-style pixelation is a tricky commodity to master. Pull it off well in a game and players can bask in warm, fuzzy nostalgia or (for the young'uns) simply enjoy an artful use of the form. If you don't integrate it well, players might just wonder why the style choice was made in the first place. 8Bit Hero unfortunately leans toward...
Interview Exploring the Ambition Behind 3Souls, the Episodic Wii U eShop Exclusive
Utilising the GamePad and "kishōtenketsu" approach
Though the console is in the midst of a disappointing sales decline, the Wii U is a system that - for those already on board - still has plenty to offer. It's in the download scene where intriguing titles can still be found, and the eShop on the home console continues to attract ambitious new...
Nintendo Download 2nd June (Europe)
Donkey Kong Country 3! Kick and Fennick! Fire Emblem DLC! More!
With the start of another week we have the European Nintendo Download Update, outlining what goodies are on the way in a few days. The new arrivals are low in number but have some quality nonetheless, while there are a range of discounts to consider. Let's get to it. Wii U eShop: Kick...
"We want to surprise the player all the time"
Just recently Playtonic Games raised the curtain on Yooka-Laylee, a title that's got a lot of 3D platforming and Rare fans excited. The studio is a mix of veterans from the venerable developer along with some younger talent, and after a period of silence it's emergeed to share more of its project.
News Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu Really Doesn't Like The New Mighty No. 9 Trailer
"Unforgivable"
Yesterday, we reported on a new Mighty No. 9 trailer which featured such gems as "combo on combo action" and gameplay that will "make the bad guys cry like an anime fan on prom night." The trailer hasn't gone down well, and currently has over 14,000 downvotes on YouTube. However, anime fans aren't the only people dissatisfied with...
News Battle Minigame is Heading to Minecraft Console Editions in June
No explicit mention of excluding Wii U, break out the bunting!
Though it took its sweet time, Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been a welcome and quality arrival on the system, with the recent free addition of The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack being another plus point. Now it seems that all of the console versions are in line for some free content soon, with...
Nintendo Download 26th May (North America)
StarTropics x2! Futuridium! Dragon Fantasy! Dual Core! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week is undoubtedly a good one, with multiple promising releases across Wii U and 3DS. There are a couple of NES classics, a twin-stick shooter, a retro-styled RPG and a fast paced action title...
News North America Gets Both StarTropics Games for This Week's Wii U Download Update
At last
StarTropics is one of those franchises that saw its start on the NES and never really took off after that. Playing somewhat like a tropical version of The Legend of Zelda, StarTropics was something of a cult classic, made particularly famous for a letter which came with each copy that players had to dip in water to receive a secret message...
