Wii U eShop News
May2015
News Humble Bundle Issues Official Statement About Region-Locked Nintendo Promotion
“Our goal is to make games as universally accessible as can be”
A representative of Nintendo yesterday clarified via social media that the company tried for months to make its Humble Bundle globally available. Responding to comments on Twitter, Damon Baker of Nintendo America revealed there were efforts to open up the bundle deal worldwide, and...
News Natsume Planning Wii U and 3DS E3 Reveals, More Harvest Moon DLC and Loads of GBA VC Games
Crikey
Natsume is an ever-present on Nintendo hardware, it seems, and it's got plenty of content on the way, sharing the happy news through its 'CeeCee' Tumblr page. For starters it seems the company will be busy at E3, and announcements at the show will include news for 3DS and Wii U gamers. There'll be "something for the Harvest Moon fans", too...
News MouseCraft Will Hope to Make Some Cheese on the Wii U eShop
Lemmings meets Tetris
The list of Indie titles heading to the Wii U eShop has expanded once again, with studio Crunching Koalas confirming that MouseCraft will come to the Wii U eShop in Fall / Autumn this year. It's described as a blend of Tetris and Lemmings, as you place blocks as paths and obstacles to guide three blind mice to safety;...
News Humble Nindie Bundle Sells Over 37,000 Units in Just 24 Hours
Over $340,000 raised and counting
Nintendo of America and key Indie partners caused a stir recently when the Humble Nindie Bundle was unveiled, which allows eShop gamers in the Americas - it's not available in PAL territories - to pay what they want for a batch of excellent Wii U and 3DS games. If you pay over certain limits you get more games. To...
News Assault Android Cactus is Blasting Its Way to Wii U This Summer
Frantic twin-stick shooting
Assault Android Cactus has been in the works for quite some time, originally going on the expo circuit in Fall / Autumn 2013. It's an intense twin-stick shooter from Witch Beam, a small team of experienced developers based in Australia. Way back in September 2013 we gave some hands on impressions from the early access PC...
News RCMADIAX Announces Three New Titles For The Wii U eShop, Arriving In North America This Summer
Super Robo Mouse is also back in development
After reportedly moving away from Nintendo eShop development, the creator of Spikey Walls, RCMADIAX, returns to the Wii U eShop this summer with the announcement of a trio of titles for North America. The previously revealed Color Bombs is a chain reaction game, Don't Crash requires quick reflexes to...
News Nintendo Wanted To Make Its Humble Bundle A Global Offer, Expects To Do So "Eventually"
"Tried for months to make it global"
Nintendo surprised pretty much everyone by announcing its own Humble Bundle yesterday, albeit one which is sadly limited to North America. Non-American players are already making their displeasure felt on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and while the disappointment of missing out on this amazing...
News Humble Nindie Bundle Allows Wii U and 3DS eShop Gamers in North America to Pay What They Want
It's happened
Well, it's happened, and it's quite a landmark for the Wii U and 3DS eShop and a few key developers. The latest Humble Bundle - which groups games together and allows you to pay what you want to unlock some or all of what's on offer - is currently offering up the Humble Nindie Bundle in the Americas; unfortunately gamers in other...
News Extreme Exorcism is Creeping Onto the Wii U eShop Soon
I ain't afraid of no ghosts!
The good folks at UK-based Ripstone Publishing have teamed up with indie devs Golden Ruby Games to bring the paranormal platformer and spooky party game Extreme Exorcism to the Wii U eShop later this year. Not for the faint hearted, Extreme Exorcism is an arena platformer where every move you make comes back to haunt...
Review Nihilumbra (Wii U eShop)
Nothing and everything
Nihilumbra is an existentialist platforming-fan's dream, with plenty of puzzles and unsettling presentation to make players feel isolated and challenged by their environment. Though the title's arrival is a tad late on Wii U, it is nonetheless admirable how much life developer Beautifun Games has breathed into this adventure...
Nintendo Download 28th May (Europe)
Splatoon, Fossil Fighters, Strangeness, an imported retro treat and more
Much later than normal due to a public Holiday, we finally have this week's Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. There's a hotly anticipated Wii U retail exclusive, of course, while there's also a retail arrival on 3DS. Wii U owners have more options with an intriguing...
News Tic Toc’s Adventures Of Pip For Wii U eShop Arrives In North America On 11th June
No information regarding a European release at this point in time
Update: Just days after the latest release announcement, Tic Toc Games have revealed Adventures of Pip will now be arriving next week in North America on 4th June. Original: Last month Tic Toc Games announced its Kickstarter project, Adventures of Pip, was scheduled to release in...
Review Shapes of Gray (Wii U eShop)
Murky depths
You see two objects in a circular gray field, as if looking in through an electron microscope. Move the left stick and you'll find out which object is you. Hit buttons until you reach the shoulders or triggers and find out you're not just a little blob, but a little blob with a sword. Strike the other geometric creature in sight and...
News Unity 5 Support Underway for Wii U, Though First Releases Not Due Until After Fall
Earlier releases stick to existing version 4 build
It's not that long ago that Unity Technologies unveiled Unity 5, the latest major upgrade in the widely used game engine. It brings improved development capabilities and the potential for more detailed visuals. Unveiling a new engine doesn't mean immediate support for all confirmed platforms,...
Talking Point The Fragility of Buying Download Games
Download stores have changed what it means to own a game
During the last console generation we saw a leap in the prominence of online connectivity in games; one of the major things to emerge from this shift was the rise of digital games and storefronts. It became easier than ever for Indies to reach larger audiences as the barriers to console...
News Little Devil Inside Hits Its Target and is Coming to Wii U
Made it with two days to spare
Little Devil Inside is a success story on Kickstarter based not on the heritage and star power of its developers, but through the quality of the pitch. Having previously hit its goal of $250,000AUD, it's now successfully passed its Wii U stretch goal of $270,000AUD with two days to spare. If you missed it before, this...
Review Swords & Soldiers II (Wii U eShop)
A tasty treat
In the Swords & Soldiers universe Vikings are obsessed with barbecue and spicy food, which is a curious spin on history if ever we've seen it. Such is the nature of this cartoonish and lighthearted franchise, which now receives its second entry as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Swords & Soldiers II is as complex a proposition as the...
News Physics Puzzler Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut Coming To Wii U eShop This Summer
New story, soundtrack and voice acting
Remember Q.U.B.E.? This physics-based puzzler was announced as coming to the Wii U a few years ago, but we've heard little since - until now, that is. Publisher GRIP Games has confirmed that Nintendo's console is still getting the game, but instead of the standard edition will be blessed with the...
News Little Devil Inside is Close to Bringing Its Adventure to Wii U
Better the devil you know
There have been some high-profile Kickstarter successes recently, though some are still more modest - but impressive - achievements from relative unknowns. Little Devil Inside by Neostream is one such example of the latter, having raised nearly $260,000 AUD at the time of writing to pass its $250,000 AUD goal. This...
News RymdResa Looks Like an Intriguing Pixelated Space Odyssey
Explore forever, and ever, and ever...
Occasionally the Wii U eShop attracts small developers not just for its increasingly solid support for 'Nindies', but due to the hardware's flexible control options - by which we really mean the GamePad. Titles developed with PC and/or smart device controls in mind can be supported in unique ways with the...
News Natsume Is Bringing Two Arc System Works Titles To North America In July & August
More love for the eShop
Publisher of the Harvest Moon series, Natsume, has announced it has partnered with Arc System Works to release two titles for Nintendo's eShop platform in North America over the coming months. Gotcha Racing, coming to the 3DS this July, is a top-down racing game where players gather parts from capsule machines to build a...
News Don't Starve: Giant Edition to Come With Extra Gift Copy at Launch
European release date also confirmed
Don't Starve: Giant Edition has featured prominently in Wii U eShop sizzle reels and upcoming release lists, and is now confirmed to come with an extra incentive. It'll arrive in North America next week on 28th May, and a week later in Europe on 4th June; all copies bought before 28th June will also receive a...
Nintendo Download 21st May (North America)
Swords & Soldiers II, classic Mega Man, Puzzle & Dragons and much more
It's that time again, slightly later than normal, for the North American Download Update details. This week brings a range of new options on Wii U, a number of which are exclusives, along with a 3DS retail release, the latest from CIRCLE Entertainment and a whole load of...
News Minecraft Clone Cube Life: Island Survival Confirmed For June Release, Launch Discount Revealed
60 percent off at launch
Minecraft clone Cube Life: Island Survival is coming to the North American and European Wii U eShops at the start of June, publisher Cypronia has told us. The title offers crafting with over 200 items and tools, wild animals to fend off, local inhabitants (which you'll be able to trade with or slaughter, depending on your...
News Wii U Stretch Goal Seemingly Teased for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
If you squint you can see it
When Koji Igarashi - the producer on classic Castlevania titles - teased a Kickstarter campaign, there was an unsurprising meltdown online. The eventual Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Kickstarter campaign delivered what many hoped for - an action platformer that brings to mind the heritage of Igarashi-san's best work,...
News Icy Wind Games Set To Release Action-Adventure Title "Heroes, Help!" On Wii U In Q1 2016
Brought to you by an indie studio based in Sweden
The new two-man Stockholm-based indie studio, Icy Wind Games, is set to release its upcoming action-adventure Wii U title – Heroes, Help! – in Q1 2016. The top down title featuring 4-player local co-op involves travelling through a wide range of environments and fighting large amounts of enemies...
Review New Super Mario Bros. (Wii U eShop / DS)
LittleBigKingdom
When New Super Mario Bros. released for the Nintendo DS back in 2006, it had been roughly 15 years since the portly plumber starred in a proper 2D platformer. Not only that, but side-scrollers in general had been largely ignored since 1996, when the Nintendo 64 hit the market and assured us that 3D gaming was the way of the future...
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
There's a worrying trend at present, in which ambitious and creative independent developers announce a sizeable Wii U exclusive, and then have to defend their pricing. That's happened twice in recent times with Affordable Space Adventures and - this week - Swords & Soldiers II. We've also had a reliable...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue & White (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Gotta bust 'em all
The Mega Man Battle Network series was a brilliant idea from Capcom to offer a refreshing and unique departure from the classic action platformer, while still delivering a colourful and engaging gameplay experience. Though it wasn't the first time the Mega Man series flirted with becoming an RPG, it was by far the most...
Review Ultratron (Wii U eShop)
Ultratraumatic
Ultratron thinks it's Dark Souls. 'Prepare to Die', it warns the player's battledroid before it takes to the battlefield in an almost impossible attempt to survive against a constant barrage of evil killer robots. Ultratron also loves Pac-Man. As well as having to collect 'pellets' as a form of currency in order to purchase weapons...
Exclusive eShop Publishers Are Dropping Releases In Germany Due To Low Sales And Cost Of USK Rating
Smaller indies also struggling to make a living on Nintendo systems
We've reported on the less-than-ideal nature of global age ratings in the past, and what they mean for indie developers attempting to make a living on Nintendo's systems. Releasing a game internationally isn't a simple matter of pushing a button; age ratings must be granted in every...
News Ronimo Games Explains Pricing for Swords & Soldiers II
"There should be room for bigger, better and higher quality indie games"
Arriving this week, Swords & Soldiers II will be another Wii U eShop exclusive, following up on the popular WiiWare original which - eventually - also found its way to multiple platforms. This time around more is made of the Wii U's options with the GamePad, however, and as...
News Come Up With Witty One-Liners to Become a SteamWorld Heist Ambassador
Plagiarising Bender isn't an option
In recent weeks Image & Form has been keeping the fires burning for the planned Fall release of SteamWorld Heist, which is coming to various platforms including Wii U and 3DS. Its mix of 2D strategy, procedurally generated levels and a quirky premise have made it one of our most eagerly watching download...
News Don't Starve: Giant Edition Arrives on the North American Wii U eShop on 28th May
Sate your hunger
It appears that 28th May will be a rather exciting day for Nintendo gamers. As you may have been aware, 28th May is the eve of Splatoon's launch; no doubt thousands of gamers will be keeping a few cans of energy drinks on hand as they get started on the game as soon as it launches at midnight. However, earlier in the day, the eShop...
News UCraft is a Wii U Exclusive Once Again
Due this Holiday season
UCraft has had a turbulent development history to date - originally announced by Nexis Games as a Wii U exclusive, the Minecraft-inspired sandbox game had unrealistic release window targets, a failed Kickstarter campaign and then caused controversy by going multi-platform with a PC release. There were then plans for a
News Here Are The Tracks You'll Be Driving Around in 90's Arcade Racer
Mountains! Airports! Playrooms! Virtua Racing!
Last week we got a look at how 90's Arcade Racer was shaping up on Wii U, and now a backer-only update has gone live on the game's Kickstarter page which details the tracks you'll be speeding around when the title eventually launches - hopefully later this year. There's a track layout as well as a shot...
Nintendo Download 21st May (Europe)
Swords & Soldiers II, yarn Kirby, Paper Mario, Curve Digital sale and more
It's time for another Monday morning to be brightened up by upcoming download delights, and this week's European Nintendo Download Update has some promising choices. On the Wii U we have an exclusive from Ronimo Games, a soft and cuddly Good-Feel game and a classic N64 title,...
News Yooka-Laylee’s Game Worlds Will Be Contained Within "Magical Books”
A novel idea
Playtonic's spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie and popular Kickstarter project, Yooka-Laylee, aims to recreate the magic of the 3D platform titles of yesteryear with charming characters and classic level design. With development well underway, creative lead Gavin Price has recently discussed the team's approach to level creation in...
Review Paper Mario (Wii U eShop / N64)
Historical document
Can we take a moment to appreciate just how gloriously wacky it is that a game like Paper Mario exists in the first place? This is an idea that followed in the footsteps of Super Mario RPG, the Square/Nintendo collaboration which in itself marked a big departure in genre for the Mario universe. Nintendo would continue down this...
Video Nintendo Releases a Showcase for Wii U Exclusive Affordable Space Adventures
Teaming up in space
Affordable Space Adventures is a unique recent release on multiple fronts - it's an Indie game that's also a Wii U exclusive, while it takes advantage of the Wii U GamePad's capabilities for dual-screen play. We were rather impressed and gave it a strong recommendation in our Affordable Space Adventures review. Although it's...
News Free Anniversary Update Rolling Out To Scram Kitty And His Buddy On Rails
The cat who got the cream
Dakko Dakko has confirmed that a free update will be flinging its way to Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails soon to mark the game's first birthday. The update adds "a new play style, allowing players to freely aim one direction whilst riding in another using a 'twin-stick' control setup" and will begin rolling out today...
News Monochroma For Wii U Scrapped Due To Technical Issues
"We have serious performance problems that we can't overcome"
1950s dystopian puzzle platformer Monochroma was successfully funded on Kickstarter back in August 2013, raising $84,645. The game was then subject to some lengthy delays, with the promised Wii U version getting pushed back to a vagu
Video This Introduction Trailer May Just Get You Hyped for Swords & Soldiers II
Out on 21st May
The Wii Shop may have had its flaws, but it was also home to some truly excellent download games. Swords & Soldiers from Ronimo Games was undoubtedly one such example, and so there should certainly be some hype for the Wii U exclusive Swords & Soldiers II. Out on 21st May in North America and Europe, with prices of $19.99,...
News Capcom's Spring Sale Offers Up Six eShop Discounts in North America
Street Fighter! Resident Evil! DuckTales!
The eShop stores on Wii U and 3DS often have a range of discounts, and Capcom is the latest to cut prices on some of its biggest releases. Details of the current discounts in North America are now available, and match up with equivalent deals that have also arrived in Europe this week. Six games have been...
Nintendo Download 14th May (North America)
Nindies on Wii U, NSMB, Mega Man, another 3D SEGA Classic and more
Update: Stretchmo is now also available as a free download from the 3DS eShop. Original Article: It's that time again, North American gamers, with another Nintendo Download update to deliver some digital goodies on Wii U and 3DS. This week brings some pro
Review High Strangeness (Wii U eShop)
The best bits of both worlds
High Strangeness borrows its name from the real-life term used by those who study UFO sightings to describe an inability to explain one's experience with an extraterrestrial. Fittingly, this bizarre title offers gameplay and visuals in both 16-bit and 8-bit styles, which the developers attempt to explain as a "12-bit...
News Combat Core Is What You'd Get If Super Smash Bros. And Power Stone Had A Baby
Kickstarter incoming, Wii U version in contention
Ever wondered what would happen if you fused Super Smash Bros. with Capcom's cult brawler Power Stone? We're sure the result would be pretty close to Combat Core, a PC fighting game which should be coming to consoles, dependant on a successful Kickstarter campaign. Created by Micah Betts, Combat...
News New Super Mario Bros. Releases On The North American Wii U eShop This Week
Will be available for $9.99
After yesterday’s ESRB rating for the 2006 release, New Super Mario Bros., it was expected the title would launch soon on the North American eShop. It appear fans of the DS hit won’t have to wait much longer with Nintendo’s official game page revealing the now classic Mario adventure will be made available thi
Video Here Is The First Footage Of 90s Arcade Racer Running On The Wii U
Looks superb
It’s been quite some time since we last heard from developer Antonis "Pelikan13" Pelekanos about his hotly anticipated Kickstarter project, 90s Arcade Racer. A love letter to SEGA’s cabinet racer line including the likes of Daytona USA, 90s Arcade Racer for the Wii U eShop and several other platforms will pay tribute to the arcade...
Review Mega Man & Bass (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Here comes the bass
A brief bit of history on Mega Man & Bass. A few years after Mega Man 8 notoriously became a Playstation and Sega Saturn game, Keiji Inafune - the series' creator - felt that he still owed one more game to children that had not yet upgraded to next gen hardware and still owned only the Super Famicom. Technically a spin-off...
News Image & Form Considering SteamWorld Heist DLC, But Not For Day One
"It needs to be something more"
SteamWorld Heist is certainly one of the most prominent Indie downloads on the way this year, with Image & Form's 2D strategy title set to come to the eShop on Wii U and 3DS, along with a host of other platforms. The studio's been keeping fans up to date with weekly updates, too, tackling questions and running...
News Acro Storm Fuses F-Zero With Extreme-G, And It's Racing To The Wii U eShop
Hoverbikes ahoy
Look, we all want a new F-Zero game - that's a given. But until Nintendo actually announces it, we'll just have to make do with titles inspired by the famous racer - titles like Acro Storm, which is currently being developed by Indie studio Blue Comet Games. Built using Unity and featuring 16 different futuristic tracks, Acro Storm...
News Introducing The Very First Support Character In Yooka-Laylee, Trowzer The Serpent Salesman
A snake wearing trousers
Support characters were very much a staple of 3D platform games during their prime, and it looks like Playtonic Games will continue this tradition with the recent reveal of the first support character in Yooka-Laylee: Trowzer, the serpent salesman. A business-snake whose career never took off, the smug salesman is...
News Shapes of Gray Arrives On The North American Wii U eShop May 21st
“Hotline Miami meets WarioWare”
Described by Secret Tunnel Entertainment as “Hotline Miami meets WarioWare”, Shapes of Gray is set to arrive on the North American Wii U eShop on 21st May. As previously noted, Shapes of Gray is an aesthetically simple 2D title that takes players through 10-second battles within small game environments...
News Playtonic Confirms Post-Release DLC as the Next Stretch Goal for Yooka-Laylee
"When – and only when – we've finished and shipped the full version"
It's pretty safe to say that Yooka-Laylee is shaping up to be a massive success. After meeting its initial funding goal in less than forty minutes, Yooka-Laylee went on to become the fastest Kickstarter game to pass the $1 million mark. Evidently, gamers around the world really
Nintendo Download 14th May (Europe)
S.T.E.A.M., GBA Mega Man classics, 3D Thunder Blade and Wii U Nindies
Another week begins, which means it's time to gaze upon the download treats heading to Europe this week. It's a pretty strong line-up, with two encouraging Nindie arrivals on the Wii U, two GBA Mega Man titles, another SEGA Classic, the latest 3DS retail arrival from Intelligent...
News The New Update For Teslagrad is Now Live in North America
Adds additional controller support, screenshots, and some bug fixes
For those of you that may have forgotten about it, Teslagrad is a sublime metroidvania adventure that was released early last fall. It follows the story of a young boy as he explores a decrepit castle and slowly unravels the mystery behind the conflict that led to the downfall of...
Video Here Is The Trailer For The Delayed Wii U Title, Red Goddess: Inner World
“Testing and debugging is taking more time than anticipated”
In case you missed it, Yanim Studio has revealed its upcoming Kickstarter-funded project, Red Goddess: Inner World, for the Wii U and various other platforms has been delayed. The Wii U release date, originally on-target for this year, has been pushed back until the first quarter of...
News Mega Man & Bass Kickstarts "Mega May" On Wii U Virtual Console
Dr.Wily's least favourite time of year
Last month, Capcom announced that their "Mega May" event was back in full force for 2015, focused on bringing classic GBA Mega Man titles to the Wii U Virtual Console. Now that the month is here and we're already panicking about how fast time is slipping by, these weekly releases have launched into action, with...
News Play 8-Bit Retro Squid Games While You Wait For An Online Match In Splatoon
Complete amiibo missions to unlock special gear & more mini-games
The plaza featured in the upcoming Wii U title, Splatoon, will allow players to interact with the game world in an assortment of ways, and the latest Nintendo Direct today has revealed a few extra hidden surprises within the happening location. First is the inclusion of a vintage...
Nintendo Download 7th May (North America)
Splatoon demo-ish, strangeness, retro Mega Man, Atlus goodness and more
After a delay while the Splatoon Direct festivities were completed, we now have the download update details for North America. There's a much-hoped for demo (sort of), classic Mega Man, platformers on the 3DS, a whole load of discounts, DLC and a particularly quirky Indie...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Includes Discount For Eager UK Inklings
Available for as little as £31.49 on the eShop
A "Global Testfire" for the Wii U title Splatoon takes place this weekend, and to celebrate the event Nintendo UK is offering a 10 percent discount for those who download the demo and take part. That means you'll be able to download the full game on May 29th for just £31.49 - a neat saving over the...
News Yooka-Laylee Hit The $1 Million Point Faster Than Any Other Game In The History Of Kickstarter
On course to be the UK's biggest gaming Kickstarter campaign, too
Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee reached the $1 million marker faster than any other game on Kickstarter, it has been revealed. The campaign smashed its initial funding goal of £175,000 in less than 40 minutes, and by the end of its first full day had
News Project Giant Robot Will Be Out Sooner Than You Probably Expect
Yes, it is still a thing
Remember Project Giant Robot? It was shown off at last year's E3 but has dropped off the radar entirely since then, which has made some - us included - fear for its future. However, Nintendo has outlined its 2015 software plans and Project Giant Robot is still in there - and we may get to play it sooner than you think...
News High Strangeness is Out Now on Wii U in North America and is, Well, Strange
Launch trailer sums it up nicely
Midnight City is a publisher with an eye for quirky experiences, and may be familiar to Wii U owners through its publishing of Double Fine's Costume Quest 2 on the system. It's now stepped up with High Strangeness, developed by Barnyard Intelligence Games. It's described as "a hybrid of 8 and 16 bit games - a 12 bit...
News Yooka-Laylee Character Designer Spills on Creating Playtonic Games' Quirky Heroes
"Big eyes, big teeth, big belly. You can’t go wrong with these traits"
If the core appeal of your game is 3D platforming, there are key ingredients that simply must be included - slick controls, a smooth camera and solid mechanics are naturally part of the recipe. Immediately charming characters are also a must, though - unlike some genres where...
News It's Hats Off to the Latest SteamWorld Heist Ambassador Challenge
For all you doodlers out there
With SteamWorld Heist heading to Wii U, 3DS and a load of other systems later this year, Image & Form is keen to keep its fans busy in the build-up. Part of those efforts are bi-weekly competitions for someone to become a SteamWorld Ambassador; they'll get to play Heist before it comes out and get free copies on...
Review River City Ransom (Wii U eShop / NES)
Holding your funds for ransom
Originally released in Japan for Nintendo Famicom, classic beat 'em up 'Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari' was then heavily localised for its eventual release in the US; background artwork was amended to look more 'western' (for example, rooftop tiling designs and mailboxes were changed) plus all location names were updated...
News Funk of Titans Aims to Teach "Jive-Turkey Pagan Titans" Some New Beats
Dig if you will the picture
While the Wii U eShop isn't short of download-only platformers, some can be criticised for being a little lacking in personality or creative flair. While the gameplay of Funk of Titans looks like fairly conventional fare, the concept gets prizes for its pure chutzpah. Developed by A Crowd of Monsters - not an actual...
News Yooka-Laylee Sets a New Stretch Goal to Smash, This Time for a Fully Orchestrated Soundtrack
A Rare treat
Yooka-Laylee is proof that combining industry veterans of an iconic development studio with a genre that brings to mind the late '90s is a tonic for success. From that laboured bit of wordplay we segway to Playtonic Games, which has quickly turned from a start-up of excellent developers into a significant Kickstarter success story...
News Nihilumbra Begins Its Wii U Journey on 14th May
Includes system-exclusive co-op, remember
It's been a little while coming, but BeautiFun Games' Nihilumbra finally has a confirmed release date on the Wii U. Having cleared Nintendo's testing it'll arrive on 14th May in Europe and North America. This puzzle adventure incorporates a painterly art style and a variety of mechanics, in which you use a...
Nintendo Download 7th May (Europe)
Kirby, DS Yoshi, Puzzle & Dragons duo, a free HOME theme and more
It's the beginning of another week, and though the UK Nintendo Download Update details and pricing haven't been issued due to a public Holiday, the information for the European region as a whole has still been released (with thanks to Daan Koopman for his assistance). This week's...
Talking Point Nintendo's Legacy Makes The Virtual Console Essential, But It Must Modernise
Idealism should make way for realism
Technologically, the world is busier and noisier than it's ever been before. So many gadgets and screens demand our time and loyalty, from smart TVs with hundreds of channels and streaming apps, to smartphones and tablets and, of course, game systems. Those with a decent amount of spare cash that are anxious to...
Poll Is It Time For a Fresh Alternative to the Virtual Console?
Bundles, remixes, subscription services - what's next?
When the Wii launched it had plenty of exciting ideas that contributed to its extraordinary success. One service that appealed to older gamers and / or dedicated fans was the Virtual Console - while relatively niche services had offered older games for download in the past, this was a game...
News Yooka-Laylee Double-Jumps Through Final Kickstarter Stretch Goal In Less Than 24 Hours
£1 million in the bag, day one Wii U release assured
Update: Playtonic Games has now announced two new stretch goals on its campaign page. £1.1 million will bring an N64 'shader mode' plus a DK rap + video in the credits, while £1.2 million will add a developer walkthrough and commentary video. At current momentum these will likely be passed in...
News Yooka-Laylee Kickstarter Campaign Smashes Its Funding Goal In Less Than An Hour
Thousands of backers jump in for spiritual Banjo-Kazooie Successor
Playtonic Games, a new studio comprised of ex-Rare developers, has been generating a lot of hype for its first project. We know from speaking to the studio, however, that it'll be absolutely stunned by the reaction to the Kickstarter campaign for its first game - Yooka-Laylee. After...
News Classic Arcade Shooter Ultratron Is Inserting Credits On May 14th
Twin-stick Robotron homage launching on the Wii U eShop soon
Curve Digital has confirmed that Puppygames's Ultratron is launching on the Wii U eShop on May 14th. A loving tribute to arcade shooters like Robotron and Smash TV, Ultratron is a twin-stick blaster with a retro-futuristic soundtrack and "slick, stylised graphics." It even has a filter...
Exclusive Behind The Scenes On Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee
Meeting with a Rare breed of developers
They say that the apple never falls far from the tree, and that's certainly true of UK startup Playtonic Games. Based on an industrial estate in the middle of the rolling English countryside, this team of former Rare developers is but a stone's throw away from the historic town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where Rare...
First Impressions Hands On With Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee
Damien and Thomas share their initial impressions
The cat - or should that be chameleon - is out of the bag. Fledgling UK studio Playtonic Games has lifted the lid on the stars of its début title - Yooka and Laylee - and has sent Rare-loving Nintendo fans into a frenzy of anticipation by confirming that the game will be coming to the Wii U eShop...
News Elliot Quest Patch Fixes Bugs and Graveyard Glitch
Version 1.2.2, for the record
Elliot Quest is an indie RPG on the Wii U that was heavily pushed by Nintendo ahead of release, which is hardly surprising due to its retro-style visuals and design. It's also a solid advertisement for the occasionally maligned Nintendo Web Framework, too. At launch it did have some shortcomings, though to the credit...
Parent Trap Why Affordable Multiplayer Adventures Matter
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson tackles a space odyssey with his kids
Players in young families are all different, but they are also all in the same place. That's why local multiplayer games with different roles of varying difficulty work so well. However, get the balance wrong and young players will soon los
News Less Than A Day Old And Yooka-Laylee Already Has Lots of Awesome Fan-Art
Now that's a Rare sight
It's been less than a day now since Playtonic Games lifted the lid on its upcoming game, Yooka-Laylee, and already the Internet has gone fan-art crazy. This is all before the Kickstarter campaign has even gone live, too, emphasizing the hype around this project. We've picked out some early winners in the fan-art stakes for...
First Impressions Tapping In With amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits
amii-boo
There's a decent indication that amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits (known as amiibo Touch & Play: Nintendo Classics Highlights in Europe) is considered a fairly valuable release - internally - by Nintendo. When highlighting the role of amiibo in an investor's briefing at the start of the year Satoru Iwata referenced the project by...
News Quadcopter Pilot Challenge Aims to Take Flight on the Wii U eShop
Uses the GamePad for a separate camera
The Wii U eShop continues to attract fresh developers, some with ambitious ideas, and TACS Games appears to be in this category with Quadcopter Pilot Challenge. Based on the small toy craft of that name, this title appears to aim for a blend of Pilotwings-style challenges and ambitious use of the GamePad...
News Rynn’s Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest Arrives On The Wii U And 3DS eShops This Fall
Defeat an army of reptiles as a fearless fox
Yet another indie title will arrive on the Wii U and 3DS eShops soon, with developer Arcane Four Studios announcing their side-scrolling 2D platform game, Rynn’s Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest, will be released this fall. Players take control of a fox named Rynn as they attempt to take back...
Would also love to see Shovel Knight added to the Super Smash Bros. roster
Yacht Club Games’ side-scrolling platform title, Shovel Knight, was a huge success on launch, receiving critical praise and scooping up several game awards soon after. Since its initial release on the Wii U, 3DS and PC in June last year, the independent developer has been...
April2015
News Ubisoft Releases "Child of Light: Reginald the Great" Art eBook for Free
Another charming piece of lore
There are some that take enjoyment from being rather anti-Ubisoft, but the publishing and development giant undoubtedly produces some exceptional work. Child of Light, released last year on the Wii U eShop and a host of platforms, was one such example. Utilising the gorgeous UbiArt engine it brought us a charming new...
News Playtonic's Project Ukulele Becomes Yooka-Laylee, Wii U Release Confirmed
Meet the stars of the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie
Playtonic Games has finally lifted the lid on its new game, revealing its final title: Yooka-Laylee. Previously referred to as Project Ukulele, the game is being pitched as the spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie and even shares the same dual-character set-up. Yooka is a chameleon who can...
Nintendo Download 30th April (North America)
Paper Mario, amiibo tapping, mech blasting, pinball DLC and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for details on the fresh download treats making their way to the eShop. This week brings an amiibo freebie, a Nintendo 64 classic, DLC, demos, discounts and more besides. It's certainly a diverse and quirky line-up this time around, so let's...
Video Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies Shines On Wii U
A pleasurable experience
For the latest Wii release to get another chance on the Wii U eShop, Nintendo has given us something a little different in Treasure's Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies, or Star Successor as it's known in North America. A sequel to an N64 game that never even made it out of Japan (until a Virtual Console release on...
News Pawbyte Launches Game Pencil Engine to Support Wii U Development
Suitable for the Nintendo Web Framework
Since Nintendo introduced the Nintendo Web Framework on the Wii U, there's been a substantial expansion of HTML5-based projects on the system's eShop. Easier to learn and implement than alternatives, multiple software suites are available to help developers program and port their games to Nintendo's home...
News Mighty No. 9 Confirmed for September Release, Along With Physical Retail Version
Deep Silver publishing, 3DS release due "at a later point"
Mighty No. 9, the upcoming title from Keiji Inafune's Comcept studio that has Mega Man fans rather excited, finally has release dates. As many have guessed it won't arrive this Spring, but is hitting the Wii U in North America on 15th September and other territories on 18th September. In...
News Image & Form Answers Questions on SteamWorld Heist Platform Features, Multiplayer and amiibo
Announces the first 'Ambassador' contest winner, too
SteamWorld Heist is certainly one of the highest-profile download-only releases heading to the Wii U and 3DS this year, and ahead of a Fall release window Image & Form is keeping fans informed with weekly updates and contests. Last week the studio launched its first SteamWorld Ambassador...
Review My Style Studio: Notebook (Wii U eShop)
Out of style
Theoretically, the Wii U is a great platform for art applications and software. Art Academy: Sketchpad and its dedicated Miiverse community have created some wonderful works of art using the GamePad, with many wondering where the heavily delayed full Art Academy application is. Cypronia's My Style Studio: Notebook might be a tempting...
Nintendo Download 30th April (Europe)
Smash Bros. DLC, Sin & Punishment 2, amiibo freebies and much more
It's the start of another week, and as always we have the European Nintendo Download Update to warm us up to the goodies on the way. This time around we have a popular Smash Bros. fighter available to buy, a free app of amiibo-powered retro demos, along with an excellent new Wii...
Review TABLETOP GALLERY (Wii U eShop)
No Dice
TABLETOP GALLERY serves as a compilation as of three eShop titles previously only released in the US - TOSS N GO, SHUT THE BOX and POKER DICE SOLITAIRE FUTURE. Each of these dice-rolling titles never made their way to European shores, prompting developer/publisher RCMADIAX to eventually re
News amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits Bringing Retro Freebie Fun to North America on 30th April
Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition demo on the same day
For those in North America with a Wii U and 3DS that fancy some free gaming, the upcoming Nintendo Download update - on 30th April - will certainly deliver. First up will be amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits, the quirky Wii U app that serves up 30 demos of retro Virtual Console...
Review Bubble Gum Popper (Wii U eShop)
Pop goes the bubble
Bubble Gum Popper is about as basic as a match-three puzzler can get, and unfortunately this doesn't work in the its favour. Puzzle games don't necessarily have to be groundbreaking to be worthwhile, but it certainly helps if they're at least engaging; this lacklustre effort is barely even worth the low price thanks to its...
News Natsume Suggests That Nintendo's Moving Away From SNES on Wii U Virtual Console
Explains how games are selected for the Virtual Console
Natsume is a publisher and developer that pops up relatively regularly on the current day Virtual Console, certainly more so than some other names that were common on the Wii but have appeared less on the Wii U and 3DS. As such it's a company with some useful insight into how the platform...
Nintendo Download 23rd April (North America)
Mario Kart 8 DLC, DS karting, Mewtwo, 3D cube creation and more
Happy Mario Kart Day, Nintendo gamers! The usual download update details are out a little later than normal for North America and, unsurprisingly, the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 has a prominent place in the listing. It's not the only fresh arrival, though, we also have more Mario Kart of...
