Wii U eShop News
March2014
Video Allow This Epic Swords & Soldiers II Trailer To Pillage Your Eyeballs
Shaping up to be quite a (Viking) saga
We recently revealed that Swords & Soldiers II is bound for the Wii U eShop, and today we can show you the first full trailer for the game, which comes complete with gameplay footage, a booming soundtrack and electrocuted livestock. You can watch the full trailer below — be sure to let us know what you...
News Images Emerge of Wii U Mario vs. Donkey Kong Tech Demo Running On Nintendo Web Framework
More exciting stuff from Nintendo at GDC 2014
With the annual GDC preparing to close, a lot of cool bits of information regarding the latest game industry happenings and developments are popping up all over the net. Nintendo has already revealed a few things this week – including the fact it’s been able to shift 7.3 million copies of Animal...
News Nintendo Considering 3DS Build of Unity Engine
Always room for more tools in the developers' shed
Nintendo's partnership with Unity Technologies has served well in attracting indie developers by making it easier to bring their games to a Wii U-specific build of the popular engine. The fact that Wii U development kits come with a free Unity license is certainly an encouraging gesture as well. So...
News Keiji Inafune Discusses the Indie Experience in Japan and Shows New Mighty No. 9 Footage
"It feels like a return to the golden days"
GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2014 is now approaching its close in San Francisco, and has hosted a variety of games, demonstrations and reveals. As is also the norm there have been presentations from various figures in the games industry, with a particularly high profile example being that given by...
Nintendo Download 20th March (North America)
Pokémon battles, chess, discounts, freebies and more
It's that time, North America, when Nintendo lets you know what download treats await you on the Wii U and 3DS this week. There are new download-only titles on both platforms, while there are also freebies on each through a trial and retail demo. Throw in discounts across the systems and there'll...
Nintendo was "open minded, forward thinking" with networking challenges
While it may not have been making major headlines across the web, Nintendo's Wii U eShop has been pushing some landmarks in 2014. The first was with Blok Drop U, developer RCMADIAX seizing the crown of being the first developer to release a game through the Nintendo Web...
News Dead Pixel Entertainment Announces Sync, A Wii U Exclusive FPS Inspired By Metroid Prime
"How can we innovate an otherwise dull genre?"
Indie studio Dead Pixel Entertainment has lifted the lid on Sync, a first person shooter for the Wii U eShop which aims to channel the spirit of Metroid Prime and provide a AAA experience at a budget price. Speaking to Nintendo Enthusiast, Dead Pixel shared some details on this new title, as well as...
News Nintendo Unleashes Some Awesome Wii U eShop Trailers
Lots of good stuff on the way
With GDC 2014 well underway and Nintendo taking an active role with presentations and playable games, Nintendo of America has taken the chance to release some new, Wii U-focused trailers for some of the home console's eShop games on show at the event. Five trailers have been posted so far in this burst of activity, and...
News Pure Chess DLC Will Be Available Day One, And Won't Cost As Much As You Think
Standard game will still have three sets and environments
This week sees the launch of VooFoo's Pure Chess on Wii U and 3DS, and publisher Ripstone has dropped us a line to confirm that varied DLC for the game — which includes new pieces and locations — will be available from the moment the game goes live on the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores. Two...
News Artist Behind "The Bridge" Planning a Party RTS For Wii U
With music by Grant Kirkhope, no less
The Wii U eShop is attracting a number of multi-platform projects that are certainly catching the eye, but the number of exclusives is relatively slim. Thankfully there may soon be another to join those such as Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails; should an upcoming Kickstarter campaign succeed we could see a...
Interview Nocturnal on Flowerworks HD's Blossoming Development for Wii U
"The eShop is much improved over the Wii Shop"
In February it emerged that Flowerworks HD: Follie's Adventure was coming to the Wii U eShop, an updated version of the thoroughly enjoyable Flowerworks on WiiWare. Developer Nocturnal Entertainment, which had been relatively quiet after the WiiWare release, joined the ever-growing list of small...
Wii U launch gave the chaotic project renewed focus
Little Inferno has sold a million units across all platforms since it launched in 2012, but Tomorrow Corporation's Kyle Gray still thinks he and his company could have done a better job. To that end, he has given a talk at this year's GDC about the many mistakes made during the production of the...
News Aztez Is MadWorld Meets Empire-Building Strategy, And It's Coming To Wii U
Monochrome madness
Team Colorblind has announced at this year's GDC that its brawler and strategy hybrid Aztez is coming to the Wii U eShop, as well as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Xbox One. Aztez is described as a game of "conquest and brutality" which combines empire expansion with side-scrolling action sequences. The entire package...
News Expect Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty To Cost Around Thirty Bucks
Title has cost around $5 million to develop
Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning has been speaking to Eurogamer about his studio's forthcoming titles, and has stated that the forthcoming remake of the original game — Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty — will be one of the most expensive download-only releases on the Wii U eShop. Lanning has said that he expects...
Nintendo Download 20th March (Europe)
Cross-platform chess, retro Dracula slaying, discounts galore and more
It's that time, Europe, and after two weeks of being delayed by a day the Download Update information has been unleashed promptly to kickstart our week. It includes an intriguing cross-platform release on Wii U and 3DS that could fill a nice gap in the eShop library, two NES...
News Julius Caesar Will Be Taking the Battle to the Field in Mad Men Football
Rome wasn't developed in a day...
Mad Men Football is one of the most intriguing recent reveals for the Wii U eShop, with developer AE Games initially grabbing attention with a call-to-arms for smaller developers to step into the places vacated by some major third parties. That aside there's a game in the works, nevertheless, which promises high...
News Kiki's Koi Koi Is Coming To The Wii U eShop
Here fishy, fishy, fishy!
This year will mark the 125th anniversary of Nintendo as a company and its humble beginnings as a Hanafuda card maker. It seems fitting then that developer How Seven! – previously known as Cobalt Ceiling Games – has recently announced that it’ll be bringing Kiki’s Koi Koi to the Wii U’s eShop. The title, which was...
News Wii U eShop Exclusive I've Got to Run! Will Hurry to North America in Q2 2014
Another new studio making its début on the system
4 Corner Games, a one-woman studio operating out of Wisconsin in the U.S., has announced its first commercial foray into gaming. Syrenne McNulty's Wii U eShop-exclusive I've Got to Run! is a randomly generated auto-running platformer making its début in Q2 2014 in North America. Starring original...
News Wii Sports Club: Golf Adds Resort Course as a Free Extra
Additional free trial on the way
Nintendo's certainly been busy with its updates this week, conducting eShop maintenance and updating both Steel Diver: Sub Wars and Wii Fit U. We can now add Wii Sports Club to the mix, though the update is to give us additional content rather than fix or improve minor bugs. This new and free content is for
News Super Mario Kart Drifts Onto Aussie Wii U Virtual Console on 28th March
Mario Kart 8 discount promotion included
Following the original Nintendo of Europe announcement, Nintendo Australia has now confirmed that Super Mario Kart will also be released on the Aussie Wii U Virtual Console on 28th March. To celebrate the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8 and the VC version of the classic Super Nintendo game that started it...
News Evofish Swims Across To Australian Waters This April
Additional controller support also on the way
Our review of Evofish went live earlier this week and it was described as a “remarkably shallow experience" but one that was "inexpensive enough to warrant a download" for those desperate for new multiplayer experiences on the Wii U. Despite the title’s inability to make a serious splash here on...
Review Renegade (Wii U eShop / NES)
GET LOST, PUNK!
What's the expiration date for nostalgia? Is there a certain amount of time that has to pass before we start looking fondly back at the old, often inferior, games of our youth? It's undeniable that some games have aged gracefully and are still just as good today as they were at their initial launch, but that's far from a steadfast...
Video Extended Mighty No. 9 Footage and Details Released
Running, dashing, backward jumps and, of course, a death animation
In February we posted a video of Keiji Inafune testing Mighty No. 9, a short clip in which he seemed rather pleased with the work in progress. An extended version has now been released that shows a ledge climb animation, more of the background test and, right at the end, a...
News Tyrone Rodriguez Continues to Lobby Nintendo to Approve The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
We have no objections...
Some may remember that, way back in 2012, Nintendo rejected The Binding of Isaac, a title developed by Edmund McMillen who is well known as one half of Team Meat. The rejection was due to "questionable religious content", though when talking about an improved version of the game in development shortly after McMillen...
Review Dr. Mario (Wii U eShop / NES)
One play a day...
It feels as if Dr. Mario has been a near constant presence — in some form — over recent years, but the oddity is that the Wii U Virtual Console release of the NES version is the début for that iteration over the most recent system generations. We've had fresh DSiWare and WiiWare releases, with the latter perhaps halting a...
News Shovel Knight Release Pushed Back "A Few Weeks"
"We’ve been working literally every day, and every waking hour"
The upcoming arrival of Shovel Knight on Wii U and 3DS is undoubtedly a potential highlight in the near future, with plenty of positive vibes around the title. We'll all have to wait a little longer to see whether it fulfils its potential, however, as Yacht Club Games has issued a...
News Pure Chess Will Checkmate Your Wii U And 3DS Very Soon Indeed
Developer VooFoo had to fine-tune the cross-platform multiplayer
There was a bit of a delay making the jump to Nintendo platforms, but Chess nuts need not wait much longer. Pure Chess publisher Ripstone has today announced that the highly anticipated digital title will finally be making its way to the 3DS and Wii U eShops on March 20th. The game...
A fish out of water
The core premise of Evofish is based ever so loosely on the fundamentals of nature and evolutionary science. As a fish in the ocean, you must snack on fish smaller than you are while also avoiding larger predators looking to eat you. Doing so successfully will enable you to grow in size and “evolve” into a species that’s...
News Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014
"Nintendo offers wide-ranging support for indie developers"
Next week San Francisco will host the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2014, from 17th to 21st March, a significant event that brings thousands of developers and publishers together. It hosts talks and presentations, while also giving companies an opportunity to network with others and...
Developer Interview Causal Bit Games On Scratching That Hardcore Itch With Insanity's Blade
"This is how I want to feel while I split my enemies in half"
We recently reported on the confirmation that Causal Bit Games is bringing its retro-inspired action title Insanity's Blade to the Wii U eShop. Looking like the best 16-bit hack-and-slash game you never played, this digital download aims to capture the feel of genre classics like R
News Nintendo of America Launches eShop Indie Website
Links, links everywhere
With the eShop platforms increasingly becoming integral parts of the Wii U and 3DS, Nintendo is likely to continue to increase its support for the stores. Much has been done to ease entry requirements, a process that began on the 3DS, while the Wii U store has opened up new avenues with development tools and access through...
Nintendo Download 13th March (Europe)
Yoshi, Pokémon, Luigi, Cubes and more
The Nintendo Download information is a day later than normal for the second consecutive week, yet the details are finally here. They bring two Virtual Console releases and a discount for Wii U, some more Luigi-themed discounts, and in addition the 3DS has a variety of new offerings — download-only and retail...
News The Club Nintendo Rewards Are In For March
Kid Icarus! Yoshi! Being a barber! Battling numbers! Accessories!
Our monthly routine is here once again, as Club Nintendo in North America has finally updated its rewards with more downloadable games that can be yours in exchange for some hard earned coins. This time around we have two Virtual Console games, a DSiWare option and a quirky WiiWare...
News MixedBag Outlines Design Ideas Behind forma.8
A "necessity to be interesting, even with a simpler aesthetic"
The list of titles coming to the Wii U eShop has continued to grow in recent times, with forma.8 from Italian developers MixedBag being a recent example. It's coming to a host of additional platforms — Vita, PS4, iOS, PC, Mac and Linux — with the Unity support of the Wii U (and...
News Zen Studios DLC For Star Wars Pinball and CastleStorm Landing on the Wii U eShop This Week
That's in North America and Europe
Zen Studios has shown solid support for the Wii U eShop to date, releasing multiple titles and accompanying DLC on Nintendo's system. While there have been slight delays to the arrival of DLC, in particular, it's nevertheless pleasing for Wii U owners to get access to all of the content in some of the developer's...
News These NES Remix 2 Screens Are Full of 8-Bit Goodness
Dem Boos
NES Remix was a pleasant surprise when revealed as an imminent Wii U eShop release following the last Nintendo Direct of 2013, a slightly wacky compilation of memorable NES games with twists to the gameplay. Great for reminiscing or experiencing 8-bit games for the first time, and featuring a star and stamp collection system to keep the...
News Festival of Magic Kickstarter Relaunches With a Fresh Name
Earthlock is already well on its way
Late last year we reported that SnowCastle Games had launched a crowdfunding campaign for Festival of Magic, an RPG that had been in the works for a number of months and including a Wii U eShop release. That original campaign was put on hold, however, and was due to go live once again on 20th February; it's taken...
Video Manami Matsumae Performs Her Awesome Mighty No. 9 Theme Song
Tune those retro ears
Update: Unfortunately the live performance video and the related source article have been taken down. Below is another version of the theme tune in the meantime... [ Original Article: The release of Mighty No. 9 may still be over a year away on multiple platforms — including the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores — but we can...
News Armillo Release Date Pushed Back Into May
Was originally aiming to roll into the Wii U eShop on 24th March
Armillo has long been on the watch lists for some Wii U owners; it was originally revealed in early 2013. Plenty of effort has clearly gone into the project, which has promising-looking gameplay and will be a timed exclusive on Nintendo's home console. It had been targeting a release...
News Californian Mobile Developer Robot Invader Expresses Interest In Wii U and 3DS Development
"Maybe someday" for Wind-up Knight
Californian game studio Robot Invader has recently expressed interest in bringing its medieval platform runner Wind-up Knight to the Wii U and 3DS. A question posed to the Android and iOS developer via its official Twitter account asked if it had any plans to bring Wind-up Knight to the 3DS or Wii U in the near...
Feature Lifting the Curtain on Game Ratings and the Headache of Worldwide Releases
Developers and publishers give us the details
In recent weeks some headlines have been made by the ratings agencies and the related processes for getting eShop games from development studios and onto our Nintendo consoles. An early shot was fired by Renegade Kid in an interview with us late last year, in which co-founder Jools Watsham explained why,...
Review BLOK DROP U (Wii U eShop)
In Soviet Russia...
Developed by the one-man team at RCMADIAX, BLOK DROP U represents the first eShop release to emerge from the Nintendo Web Framework platform, an HTML5-based approach that aims to deliver browser-bite-sized indie experiences direct to your GamePad. True to that concept, BLOK DROP U is a simple physics-based puzzler with a fun and...
Nintendo Download 6th March (North America)
Retro golf, dropping Bloks, golden cities, discounted Running and more
It's that time, North America, with another batch of downloads arriving on the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms. This week brings new and Virtual Console games to both systems, as well as a discount to celebrate the one year anniversary of one of the finest Wii U eShop titles to...
News SNES Classic Super Mario Kart Is Racing To The Wii U Virtual Console This Month
Download and get a discount on the cost of Mario Kart 8
Nintendo UK has announced that Super Mario Kart will be hitting the European Wii U Virtual Console later this month — March 27th, to be precise. What's more, as part of a special promotion in the run up to the release of Mario Kart 8, if you download Super Mario Kart you will receive a...
News EnjoyUp Confirms Abyss for the Wii U eShop
HD depth
Way back in April last year EnjoyUp Games showed Abyss running on the Wii U, leading to thoughts of a sequel or HD remake of the well-regarded DSiWare title. The latter has now been confirmed, with the studio confirming to us that it's aiming for a release in April or May, while there'll be a budget price — $1.99 in North America, for...
News Internal Invasion Blasting Onto the Wii U eShop
Uses Construct 2 and the Nintendo Web Framework
In recent weeks and months we've seen a growing number of download games confirmed for the Wii U eShop, either utilising Unity or Nintendo Web Framework tools that help developers bring their games to the system with as little cost as possible. The Web Framework, which supports code such as HTML5 and...
News Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition is Wrestling Its Way to the Wii U eShop
Good times
If you're an eager download gamer that owns a PS3 or PS Vita, there's a decent chance that you've played Guacamelee by Drinkbox Studios; our partners at Push Square gave the action / platformer / brawler an 8/10 score in their review, describing it as "a fiery adventure for fans of platformers with a bit of a kick". The good news is that...
Interview BNC Design Studios on Gemology, the Wii U eShop and Utilising the System's Capabilities
"There is no other platform that could support our games"
Just this week we revealed that Gemology is on the way to the Wii U eShop, another title from a new developer. In this case that company is BNC Design Studios, and those of you with good memories may recall that we spoke to its founder Jake Taylor about his desire to explore licensing...
News New Child of Light Trailer Shows Off Co-Op Mode
A point of light
To all those wandering lost in the dark, may you be visited by a spark. Reveal hidden passages, protect one another. Join forces to uncover Lemuria’s secrets, for the darkness is full of dangers. Ubisoft has released another trailer for the gorgeous-looking, fairy tale-inspired RPG adventure, Child of Light. This time, clips...
Video This Pier Solar HD Teaser Trailer Will Make You Weep Tears Of 16-Bit Joy
HD update of WaterMelon's retro RPG is shaping up nicely
Pier Solar HD is one of those Wii U eShop titles that we simply can't wait to get our hands on, having already played and enjoyed the Mega Drive / Genesis original. Developer WaterMelon has now released a new teaser for the HD edition, which not only ties in with the game's arrival on Steam...
News Inti Creates Explains the Development Processes Behind Mighty No. 9
Keiji Inafune gets at least one fresh build every month
In terms of Kickstarter success stories, Mighty No. 9 is undoubtedly in the top tier. With last year being an anniversary year for the Blue Bomber and Capcom making no moves to produce an official game, Keiji Inafune rather cleverly gauged the mood and seized the moment. As the figurehead well...
Exclusive Gemology Dropping More Puzzle Action Onto The Wii U eShop
Online play and stage building planned as post-launch DLC
The Wii U eShop is, as all of the game announcements and emerging release dates make clear, getting close to a flurry of releases that may continue for much of 2014. It's a target store for established developers to some degree, but is also attracting plenty of newcomers to the industry. One...
Nintendo Download 6th March (Europe)
Pac-Man, Tappingo, Luigi discounts and more
A day later than normal — probably due to a public Holiday in Nintendo of Europe's homeland in Germany — we now have details of what will be gracing the Nintendo download platforms this week. There are some retail options on both Wii U and 3DS, the latest title from Goodbye Galaxy Games, the return of...
News NES-Style Action Title Insanity's Blade Is Cutting A Bloody Path To The Wii U eShop
Creator Causal Bit Games is now approved for Wii U development
Last year, Canadian studio Causal Bit Games successfully kickstarted the excellently-named Insanity's Blade, a tribute to the 8-bit hack-and-slash platformers of yesteryear. Boasting action and RPG elements and 18 different levels to conquer, the game also features a VCR6-based...
News KnapNok Games and Nifflas Collaborating on Wii U eShop Exclusive, "Affordable Space Adventure"
"Hopefully we can show that the Wii U is great"
Enthusiastic download gamers making the most of the Wii U eShop will most likely have heard of both KnapNok Games and Nifflas. The former is the studio behind quirky party game Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party, which used the GamePad as the primary display and recreated humorous activities with Wii...
News GBA Titles Super Mario Ball And Pac-Man Collection Rated By Australian Classification Board
Headed for Wii U Virtual Console
Following the trend of the past few weeks, another pair of Game Boy Advance titles — expected to arrive sometime soon on the Wii U Virtual Console — have been classified by Australian Classification Board. The classifications have revealed Super Mario Ball (also known as Mario Pinball Land) and Pac-Man...
February2014
News MixedBag Confirms forma.8 for the Wii U eShop
Stylish space adventure on the way
Earlier this week we reported that Italian developer MixedBag was teasing a Wii U project, and the studio has now confirmed that it's bringing one of its two current projects — forma.8 — to the eShop; it's also coming to Vita, PS4, iOS, PC, Mac and Linux. It's yet more welcome news for the home console's...
News Hush Is An RPG All About Courage, And It Could Be Coming To The Wii U eShop
Game Studio 78 is looking to bring its debut to Nintendo's system
The Wii U's appeal to indie developers continues, with Portuguese company Game Studio 78 being the next developer to pledge its support to the system. The fledgling studio is currently preparing an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign for its first title, which goes by the name of Hush...
News Ballpoint Universe Coming To The North American Wii U eShop On March 18th
A scribble-driven adventure
While the retail side of Wii U isn't so dandy right now, the system’s digital library continues expanding at an impressive rate with a lot of indie developers pouncing on the favourable opportunities to be had. Part of the excitement is Arachnid Games' involvement, along with its side-scrolling shooter and platform...
News It's Not Waluigi Time In The New Super Smash Bros. For 3DS And Wii U
He’s an Assist Trophy (again)
The character line-up in the new Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS has been shaping up nicely so far. There are both classic and modern characters such Mario and the recently revealed Diddy Kong, thrown in with the
News Dutch Developer Ronimo Games Working On Swords & Soldiers II For Wii U
A sequel to the 2009 WiiWare original
Ronimo Games is best known by Nintendo fans for its release of Swords & Soldiers on the WiiWare service back in 2009. Less acclaimed was the release of the 3D version of the game on the 3DS eShop last year. However way you've heard about the Netherlands-based studio and its side-scrolling strategy game, the...
News Darksiders 2 Slashing Its Way Back to the EU eShop
Nordic Games "watching the Wii U situation"
Last April, Nordic Games picked up several of THQ's IPs including the Darksiders series. After almost a year's absence, the Austrian publisher has returned Darksiders 2 to the European Wii U eShop; according to business and product developer Reinhard Pollice, it is still continuing to monitor what he...
Nintendo Download 27th February (North America)
Professor Layton, Renegade, Tappingo and farming
The time has come, North America, for details of the goodies that'll be available to download on the eShop stores this week. The latest Professor Layton title makes it's arrival on the 3DS, along with some other VC classics and downloadable delights. Without further ado, let's get to it. Missed the...
News Italian Developer Mixed Bag Teasing a Wii U Reveal for 28th February
Its two current games look promising
In the continuing trend of download developers showing enthusiasm for the Wii U, Italian studio Mixed Bag has been in touch to tease a reveal for the system on 28th February — with the company's history of iOS and PC download software the eShop seems a likely destination. The official website for the company...
News Aqua Moto Racing Utopia Splashing Onto The Wii U eShop
It's Wave Ra... sorry
In news that's sure to tickle the nostalgia of those with fond memories of the Wave Race franchise, Zordix AB has confirmed that it's bringing Aqua Moto Racing Utopia to the Wii U eShop. This seems to be a progression from Aqua Moto Racing 3D, a smart device title re-tooled for the 3DS eShop. Despite some fun foundations that...
News CastleStorm's First DLC Expansion, Outcast to Savior, Assaults the Wii U eShop This Week
Second add-on "The Warrior Queen" still planned
Update: Mel Kirk of Zen Studios has confirmed that this DLC will cost $2.99 / €2.99 / £2.39. Original Article: The arrival of CastleStorm on the Wii U eShop last year likely delighted Nintendo download gamers that had been eagerly anticipating the Zen Studios title; its blend of tower defence and...
Interview HullBreach Studios Outlines Its Ambitions for a Wii U Space Epic
Wants to "give reason to go back to the console day after day"
Earlier this year HullBreach Studios announced HullBreach Uncloaked, a Wii U follow-up and modernisation of a Wii browser-based MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) called HullBreach Online. It's quite possible that many won't have heard of the Wii title due to its...
Video Nintendo Minute Digs For Details on Shovel Knight With Sean Velasco
Finding that retro balance
As the weeks pass we're certainly getting closer to some enticing eShop releases, one of which is Shovel Knight on the Wii U and 3DS eShop. Having succeeded in the crowdfunding arena Yacht Club Games is approaching its début, with 31st March the confirmed target release date. There's been plenty of positivity around the...
Nintendo Download 27th February (Europe)
AeternoBlade, fishy business, retro Wario, Senran Kagura and much more
Monday morning means Download news time in Europe, and this week Nintendo has delivered a fairly lengthy list of options on the way. There are new titles on Wii U and 3DS as well as some retro VC options, while a variety of temporary and permanent discounts also arrive to tempt...
News Best Buy's 20% eShop Card Discount is Back
Nintendo wants you to know
Late last year Best Buy reduced eShop pre-paid cards by 20% in North America, tempting gamers to go the download option by essentially offering a discount across all games on the download stores. Shoppers had the chance to spend, for example, $40 to receive $50 of credit; as a promotion to encourage more to take the...
News NPD Data Shows More U.S. Gamers Switching to Downloads
The tide is turning...
As the eShop platforms become increasingly important to Nintendo, while rivals also promote their online stores, we're seeing more and more gamers 'going digital'. Even with Nintendo's account system being linked to hardware, increasing numbers are happy to enjoy the convenience of downloading retail games, taking away any...
Talking Point The Nintendo Web Framework and the Return of 'Old-School' Indies
The Wii U eShop could have quite a mix of games
Considering the fact that Nintendo Life began in part — through the pre-merger WiiWare World — as a resource dedicated almost exclusively to covering download games, we've seen hundreds come and go in the continually evolving online stores. WiiWare was a big deal when it launched, as for the first...
News Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition Sneaking Onto the Wii U eShop
A HD re-release of the 3DS title
Last year Nintendo gamers not only had the opportunity to enjoy Batman: Arkham Origins on Wii U, but also Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate on the 3DS, a 2.5D action game from Armature, a studio setup by former Retro Studios employees. Warner Bros. has now announced that the portable release — it was also on Vita...
Nintendo Download 20th February (North America)
DK is back, NES action, forging weapons, kung fu rabbits and more
The time has come, North America, for details of the goodies that'll be available to download on the eShop stores this week. The latest title from Retro Studios is the headline arrival on Wii U, while two NES games (one on each current Virtual Console) are joined by three promising...
News Tengami's Wii U eShop Release Set to Unfold in June
Crafty
We've written a lot about Nyamyam's Tengami, as it looks like an intriguing prospect for the Wii U eShop. It incorporates an attractive pop-up book style, promises a relaxing adventure and features music from the highly regarded David Wise, composer of the soundtracks for Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, among...
Interview Ripstone and Zoink on Prioritising Fun in Stick It To The Man
"I just did something I thought looked cool"
Stick It To The Man by Zoink! promises to be an intriguing release when it arrives on the Wii U eShop in Spring. After previously arriving on PS3, PS Vita and PC, its arrival on the Wii U will make use of the GamePad to enhance the mind-reading mechanic, with Zoink! founder Klaus Lyngeled referring to the...
News Namco's Klonoa: Empire of Dreams & Mr. Driller 2 rated by Australian Classification Board
Expected to arrive on Wii U VC soon
As reported last week, Game Boy Advance titles will finally be released on the Wii U Virtual Console from April onwards. While there’s still no pricing or release dates beyond the initial month, what we do know is the first batch arriving on the service will include Metroid Fusion, Mario & Luigi: Superstar...
Review NES Open Tournament Golf (Wii U eShop / NES)
Par for the course
If there's one specific niche of which there is no longer any shortage, it's sports titles featuring Mario. The iconic plumber's unlikely prowess at just about any athletic challenge is now extensively and frequently documented, with the likes of Mario Tennis and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games gracing home consoles on a...
Video These Are The Ten DS Games We Want To See On The Wii U Virtual Console
Which one did you vote for?
The news that Nintendo is bringing DS games to the Wii U had us dreaming of all the amazing titles we wanted to see arrive on the eShop. Like some kind of benevolent moving-image god, our resident video guru Rory has transcoded these desires into magical lights and sound, and has lovingly deposited the results onto the...
News Stick It To The Man on Wii U "Feels Funnier" Thanks to GamePad Functionality
Klaus Lyngeled tells us "it's like you get the gold version"
After a degree of speculation, it was confirmed last week that Stick It To The Man is coming to the Wii U eShop, targeting a Spring release. Currently available on PC, PS3 and PS Vita, it's a distinctive title from Zoink!, with UK publisher Ripstone stepping in to bring the title to...
Developer Interview PhobosLab on XType Plus, Impact and Why the Nintendo Web Framework Matters
The HTML5 revolution begins
While there are aspects of the Wii U that can questioned and put under scrutiny, its role in engaging and encouraging download-only developers should be emphasized as a major positive. The support for the widely used Unity engine — with free licensing and tools — has opened the platform up to a number of developers,...
News HTML5 Impact Engine Developer Talks Up The Value of the Nintendo Web Framework
"The NWF can provide a lot of features that a typical Web Browser can't"
Details recently emerged for XType Plus, an arcade shooter with origins as a HTML5 browser game, which is on the way to the Wii U eShop. The original version of this title is technically playable for free via the Wii U web browser, yet performance can be choppy and...
News Old School RPG Pier Solar Coming To Wii U In April, 3DS Version Could Happen
WaterMelon's future projects could come to modern consoles, too
Remember Pier Solar? We covered it quite some time ago, and also delivered the good news that the game was getting remastered for a HD release on the Wii U eShop. Things have gone a bit quiet on this front recently and the last we heard, the game was aiming
Review Super C (Wii U eShop / NES)
Junco Partners
Konami's massively popular Contra became synonymous with side-scrolling shoot-'em-up action when it was released for the NES in 1988 — so much so that when the sequel hit Nintendo's home console in 1990, Konami felt confident that a single, stylized 'C' would be enough to evoke the series' name in the hearts and minds of loyal fans...
News Gem Break Aiming to Join the HTML5 Wii U eShop Influx of 2014
Targeting Q4
Although details became public relatively early in 2013, it's taken time for the Nintendo Web Framework to begin delivering results. With titles such as Drop Blok U and others creeping closer, we'll soon see more developers familiar with code such as HTML5 and Javascript arriving on the Wii U eShop. Another to throw their hat into the...
News SQUIDS Odyssey Trailer and Screenshots Show Potential for This Spring Release
A Wii U and 3DS eShop release
SQUIDS Odyssey from The Game Bakers was one of a number of promising eShop games recently listed by Nintendo as due in the next few months. Two campaigns for the title have previously been released on PC and mobile platforms, but now arrive as one compilation to be available on both the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores...
Nintendo Download 20th February (Europe)
It's on like ..., Retro City Rampages again, tasty discounts and much more
Monday morning means happy times for European download fans, and the latest update is through from Nintendo. This is a rather good week by most standards, with an exciting Wii U retail title being joined by some excellent titles on the 3DS eShop, with some tempting discounts...
Bad harvest
The idea of packing up, escaping the crowded, polluted confines of the city and setting up a farm out in the sticks is something that has often been romanticised in various media. The thought of kicking back and raising some chickens in the peace and quiet of the countryside sounds nothing short of blissful to some people. The reality,...
Video Nintendo Minute Catches Up With Two eShop Developers
Vblank Entertainment and Nicalis discuss upcoming releases
Nintendo of America's recent Nintendo Direct broadcast included some Indie-download chat, likely taken from a multi-game event held earlier this month. For its part the Nintendo YouTube Channel's 'Nintendo Minute' spoke to more publishers and developers about games on the way to the eShop...
News Adventure Thru 8-Bit Land is Another Wii U eShop Title From a New Developer
A side-scroller with homages to the classics
Barely a day passes at the moment without more download-only games being confirmed as in the works for the Wii U eShop, as Nintendo's indie-friendly policy continues to bear fruit. The store seems to be a destination for newcomers, too, with Adventure Thru 8-Bit Land currently in development by R & P...
News Flowerworks HD to Burst Into Life on the Wii U eShop
Undergoing approval with Nintendo
Veteran Nintendo download gamers may remember Flowerworks on WiiWare, a title we described as "a bit goofy, cute and colourful and a lot of fun" as we awarded it 8/10 in our review. Its peculiar premise of pollinating plants for spectacular visual fireworks was charming, with pointer controls that were perfect at...
News Mario Kart 8 Accelerates to Number One on Amazon Japan
Top 10 in the UK
After confirming a May release in late January, Nintendo used its latest Direct broadcasts to announce that Mario Kart 8 will arrive on 30th May in North America and Europe, with it arriving one day earlier in Japan. That official date has seen retailers start to open pre-orders, and Nintendo is no doubt watching to see whether the...
Feature What We Want to See in SNES Remix
Because it must be on the cards...
Following on from this week's Nintendo Direct where NES Remix 2 was revealed, our hopes were raised for a SNES Remix to be announced in the near future. It's got to only be a matter of time, right? With this in mind we devised a likely list of candidates for a 16-bit remix mash-up. These are all Nintendo-published...
Review Ninja Gaiden (Wii U eShop / NES)
Original Gaiden
With a hit-list of sequels and spin-offs spanning more than two decades and its latest iteration — Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge — even slicing out a spot in the Wii U's launch lineup, Ninja Gaiden's reputation precedes it. An East-meets-West action platformer with an Japanese aesthetic and an American action-hero heart, this is...
News AE Games Reveals Mad Men Football, High Impact Gridiron With "An Historical Twist"
Would George Washington have made a tasty quarterback?
AE Games — the indie studio which caused a few ripples when it announced its support of the Wii U earlier this week — has now confirmed its first title: Mad Men Football. Described as American Football with "an historical twist", the game will take notable figures from world history and...
News Evofish Aims to Bring Multiplayer Party Madness To Wii U eShop
Supports 2 to 5 players
If you like fish and parties, you’ll be in your element with Moving Player’s upcoming Wii U eShop title, Evofish. The game has just been approved by Nintendo and "will shortly be available on the European Nintendo eShop." If you’re wondering what a game like this could possibly offer, well, quite a lot, actually...
News A Radiant New trailer For Child of Light Emerges, With A Slight Change To The Euro Release Date
Burning brighter with every glimpse we get
Ubisoft's artistic action-RPG Child of Light has been drawing plenty of attention since its announcement last year, and yesterday's Nintendo Direct has treated us to yet another gorgeous trailer. There's plenty of gameplay brought to light as the young Princess Aurora battles, explores, and puzzles her way...
News Game Boy Advance Titles To Hit Wii U Virtual Console From April Onwards
Metroid Fusion and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga are early highlights
Whether it's the desired platform for the portable's games or not, Nintendo today used its latest Direct broadcast to provide an update on progress bringing Game Boy Advance titles to the Wii U Virtual Console; after a fairly lengthy delay, we know they'll start to arrive in...
News NES Remix 2 Will Bring Even More 8-Bit Favourites To Your Wii U
Also comes with Super Luigi Bros.
When the original NES Remix hit the Wii U eShop late last year, it took us all by surprise. Thankfully it was a nice surprise and is still a firm favourite in the Nintendo Life office. Who could resist a second helping? During tonight's Nintendo Direct broadcast it was revealed that NES Remix 2 will be released on...
News Stick It To The Man Confirmed For Spring Release on Wii U eShop
It's like they were reading our minds
UK publisher Ripstone has already worked with download game developers such as Nifflas to bring us Knytt Underground on Wii U, while Pure Chess is on the way to both Wii U and 3DS. The publisher is continuing to target the home console's store, however, with confirmation today that Zoink's Stick It To The Man is...