Wii U News

December2012

  • News Nintendo Releases a Video Guide for Wii to Wii U Transfer

    Don't forget the extra TV

    Though Wii U has been available in North America for nearly a month, Nintendo is still producing information and videos to help new owners get the most out of their systems. One strength of the new console, something that Nintendo's been offering for a number of years on different systems, is full backward compatibility...

  • News Monolith Soft: We Want To Be Like Bethesda

    Xenoblade Chronicles developer has big ambitions

    Monolith Soft is certainly a developer worth keeping a close eye on. In 2007 Nintendo became the studio's parent company by acquiring an 80% stake in the business, and since then the developer has made titles such as Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii and Project X Zone — a Japan only crossover RPG...

  • News Wii U Review Score Average Is Modest, At Best

    Doesn't necessarily tell the whole story

    Now that the Wii U and its launch library of games has been in the wild for almost a month, in North America at least, a general impression of the critical reaction to these titles and the console is starting to emerge. It's not a complete picture, of course, but gaming enthusiasts can start to see the trends...

  • News Masahiro Sakurai: The Wait For Smash Bros. Will Be Worth It

    Producer stops tweeting to focus solely on upcoming brawler

    Masahiro Sakurai, producer of Kid Icarus: Uprising, is currently working hard on the next instalment of the Smash Bros. series which will be available on both Wii U and 3DS. In his latest Famitsu column Sakurai reiterated that the game is still a long way off, and that Nintendo fans would...

  • News Oliver Twins Admit Dizzy Returns Kickstarter Has Failed

    Potential Wii U release no longer on the cards

    We've seen our fair share of Kickstarter success stories of late, but it's worth remembering that not every campaign achieves its goal. One Kickstarter project which looks unlikely to reach its target is Dizzy Returns, a drive by famous coding siblings The Oliver Twins to create an all-new game...

  • News Operation Friidom Petitions Nintendo For Greater Control Over Network ID Accounts

    You'll never take our Friidom

    As we've previously reported, Nintendo Network IDs are tied to a single Wii U console - for the time being, at least. Nintendo has stated that in the future that this will change, but that clearly can't come soon enough for American Nintendo fan Curtis Bonds, who has established a petition to speed things up a little...

  • News Nintendo Says The Play Limit On Demos Is Set By The Publishers

    But why have a limit in the first place?

    Similar to 3DS equivalents, Wii U demos come included with a play limit - meaning that after you've played a demo a certain number of times you can no longer access it, leaving it unavailable for further use. Eurogamer.net questioned Nintendo on why limits vary with each demo title, and why such a limit...

  • News YouTube Workaround Now Needed For Wii U Web Browser

    It works, but is a fiddle

    Many opinions on the Wii U's dedicated YouTube app agree on one thing — it's not the best. With slow load times and in some cases a bad habit of crashing, it seems ripe for some updates and improvements in the future. Many discovered that, courtesy of the system's speedy Web Browser, it was actually quicker and a far more...

  • News 2K Sports: Wii U Has The Potential To Offer A "Superior" Experience

    The smell of sweet success

    Senior Producer of NBA 2K13 Rob Jones has said that in many ways the Wii U version of the hit basketball title is "superior" to versions on other platforms - which is quite impressive considering it's also been released on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. He explains that the newest addition to the Nintendo console...

  • Review NBA 2K13 (Wii U)

    Hoop dreams

    Despite its only competitor in the basketball sim arena being dormant for the past few years, the NBA 2K series has continued to march forward year after year enjoying fan and critical acclaim thanks to its constant improvement with each franchise iteration. The series finally makes the bounce pass to a Nintendo console, and hoops fans...

  • Developer Interview ZombiU Producer Talks About Beginnings, Reactions and Survival Horror

    "Some players are not into survival, and that’s totally fine"

    In terms of high-profile third-party exclusives on Wii U launch day, ZombiU was comfortably the biggest show in town. While a number of multi-platform titles brought their HD shine to a Nintendo platform for the first time, those looking for a new experience that was hardcore in nature...

  • News The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition Revealed By Amazon

    Swinging into the Wii U launch window

    Marvel revealed earlier this year at the New York Comic Con that The Amazing Spider-Man - a game that's been on other consoles for a while now - would be making the move to Wii U in Spring 2013. Online retailer Amazon has now listed the game as available for pre-order and gives it a release date of 5th March,...

  • Nintendo Download 13th December 2012 (North America)

    Crimson RPG questing, ninja action, world music and more

    It's time for another Nintendo Download update, and this one brings with it quite a few titles on all platforms. There are some retail goodies, the conclusion of the Guild01 trilogy, a long awaited 3DS Virtual Console release and more. Let's get on with it, shall we? 3DS download software:...

  • News ZombiU Producer "Disappointed" By Early Reviews

    Additional opinions provided the antidote

    ZombiU was a high-profile system exclusive on Wii U's launch day, grabbing a lot of headlines and even having its own hardware bundle in Europe. It's also a survival horror title that we rated rather highly here at Nintendo Life, yet it attracted a broad range of diverse critical opinions in various reviews...

  • News System Faults Didn't Stop THQ From Bringing Metro: Last Light To Wii U

    Clarification incoming!

    We reported last month that A4 Games - developer of Metro: Last Light - had found that the Wii U had a "horrible, slow CPU", with Huw Beynon of THQ elaborating that the console wasn't "worth pursuing at this time". The end result is that Wii U owners aren't going to see the first person shooter on their consoles next year...

  • News Trine 2: Director's Cut Is Getting An Update Next Week

    Trine harder

    Frozenbyte has told Nintendo Life that an update for its Wii U eShop title Trine 2: Director's Cut should be available sometime next week. The update will bring several extra features, such as in-game voice chat and Wii U Pro Controller support, plus some additional language support and visual improvements. The puzzle-platformer sees...

  • News Nintendo Land Was Originally Going To Feature Star Fox And Excitebike

    Developers reveal the ideas that didn't make it into the final game

    In this week's issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, the developers behind the Wii U title Nintendo Land have spoken about its creation in a roundtable interview. Interestingly, they revealed that ideas for potential mini-game settings had to be put aside as development progressed...

  • News Nintendo Confirms It Is Possible To Transfer Network IDs To Another Wii U

    Only in the event of a repair, it seems

    Last month we reported that Nintendo Network IDs were tied to one console - meaning you couldn't sign into your own account on a friend's Wii U or worse still, if you were unlucky and broke your brand new Wii U, there would likely be no easy way to simply login on a new console and retrieve your details. For...

  • News Nintendo Explains Why Nintendo Land Doesn't Include Online Multiplayer

    It's all about encouraging gamers to play together in real life

    We're massive fans of Nintendo Land here at Nintendo Life Towers - multiplayer action is rife in Animal Crossing Sweet Day and Luigi's Ghost Mansion, but there are many out there who haven't sampled the wonders of the Wii U's star attraction due to a lack of potential co-players, and...

  • News Toki Tori 2 Delayed Until Early 2013

    This egg's not ready to hatch

    Developer Two Tribes has today confirmed that it's delayed the release of Toki Tori 2 on the Wii U eShop, so it won't be arriving on 20th December. The reasoning is simple; the developer wants to make a better game. Toki Tori 2’s a personal project for us. It’s first game we’ve made without being tied to a...

  • News Web Developer Puts HTML5 Games to the Test on Wii U Browser

    It works, sort of

    Prior to Wii U's launch we posted the news that the Wii U web browser posted impressive benchmark results when running resources such as audio and video, its score putting it above Internet Explorer 10. Those were pleasing results, though Matt Hackett, co-founder of HTML5 game developer Lost Decade Games, put the browser to work...

  • News Wii U Is The "Greenest" HD Console

    Not literally, obviously

    The Digital Foundry team over at Eurogamer.net has been doing a fair amount of work with Wii U since it launched, for the most part putting multi-platform titles through their paces on the system. The results, with Trine 2: Director's Cut being the exception, are that the system has often fallen slightly behind its rivals,...

  • News Japan Clocks Up Impressive Wii U Launch Sales

    New Super Mario Bros. U and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate most popular titles

    Wii U launched in Japan on Saturday, a whole three weeks after North America got its hands on the new console. As you'd expect Nintendo's homeland went wild for it, and that's been reflected in the opening weekend's sales. According to Famitsu Wii U sold 308,570 units in just...

  • News Petition Started To Get Dark Souls II On The Wii U

    Prepare to die, possibly?

    Namco Bandai recently announced Dark Souls II, the sequel to one of 2011's surprise critical hits. Only the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC versions have been confirmed so far - there's no love for Nintendo players, sadly. However, a group of fans is hoping to change that by petitioning Namco Bandai - and developer From Software - in...

  • News Give Your Wii U A Retro Makeover With This NES Skin

    Beauty is only skin deep

    The Wii U is an attractive system - a little too prone to picking up fingerprints perhaps, but aesthetically pleasing all the same. However, if it's just not "Nintendo" enough for you in its present guise, then you could slap this NES skin on it. Available in a gloss or matte finish, this skin will transform your shiny new...

  • News Sumo Digital: Mario Kart Should Incorporate Other Nintendo Franchises

    Smash Bros. in a kart

    Steve Lycett, executive producer of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, is quite proud of his game on Wii U - and rightly so. Recently he made comments about how he feels the game pushes the genre forwards and said that Nintendo's Mario Kart series could learn a lot from it. Speaking to Mario's Hat, Lycett said he has a...

  • Review Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition (Wii U)

    The Dark Knight Rises… again

    Last year saw the release of Batman: Arkham City, an open-world action adventure game that was touted as one of the best titles of its generation. Now Nintendo gamers are treated to an all new iteration of the already classic game made specifically for Wii U, with Batman: Arkham City: Armored Edition. While the new...

  • News Wii U Struggles to Make an Impact in the UK Software Charts

    Stock shortages or poor sales?

    When Wii U initially launched in the UK its system exclusive titles made a modest start in the all-format software charts, which was hardly surprising as only 40,000 units had been available for sale in its first week. This week's results, unfortunately, make slightly grim reading, with no Wii U exclusives making it...

  • Review Assassin's Creed III (Wii U)

    America, **** yeah!

    Assassin's Creed III is a weird game to launch alongside Wii U: there is little context for those Nintendo-only players who sat out the other four games because they perhaps didn't own the proper hardware, and those who are invested in the series probably already picked this up elsewhere when it released weeks before the Wii U...

  • News Wii U Selling 1.2 Games Per Console In North America

    Game sales low compared to Wii

    The Wii U was launched with a huge selection of games to choose from covering a whole host of genres. There's the likes of Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition for experienced gamers while titles such as Nintendo Land and

  • Review Darksiders II (Wii U)

    Don't fear the reaper

    Whenever a new piece of Nintendo hardware is released one of the first things fans ask is “when is a Zelda game coming out?” In the case of the Wii U, the answer is simple: it’s already out, it’s just called Darksiders II. Like the original Darksiders, this sequel wears its inspiration on its sleeve. You’ll ride a...

  • News BioShock Creator Has A Wii U, But It's For Pleasure And Not Business

    "Nothing is brewing right now"

    Ken Levine is a pretty big name in the video game industry. The mind behind such seminal titles as Thief: The Dark Project, System Shock 2 and BioShock, Levine's one of those figures who could potentially make third party support for the Wii U explode if he decided to jump on board himself - but sadly, that doesn't...

  • News Kickstarter RPG Days Of Dawn Could Be Questing To The Wii U

    Nintendo's console provides "dream setup" for forthcoming fantasy adventure

    German studio Bumblebee has revealed that if its Kickstarter campaign for fantasy RPG Days of Dawn is successful, it will consider porting the game to the Wii U. Days of Dawn is described by the developer as an old-school RPG with HD-quality visuals: "Days of Dawn“ is...

  • Review Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 (Wii U)

    Witness the fitness

    Wii Fit may have kickstarted the fitness genre, but it isn't the only game in town. Ubisoft's Your Shape series started out on Wii with its own motion capture camera before moving to Kinect, and now comes full circle with Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 for the Wii U. While ditching the motion capture for a Wii Remote comes with...

  • Review Funky Barn (Wii U)

    E - I - E - I - oh

    If you're looking for the most happening place on Miiverse, look no further than the community for Funky Barn. Filled with sketches of animals in sunglasses and musical references, it's become a haven for memes and the friendliest trolling you've ever seen. When somebody posts about the game itself rather than its title, it's met...

  • Feature Our Staff's Thoughts on Wii U - Part Two

    Because U are worth it

    Yesterday we brought you the first part of our staff thoughts on Wii U, so now we bring you the not-creatively-titled part two. More Nintendo Life staffers weigh in with their impressions, good and bad, of their new Nintendo home consoles. We recommend you get a comfy seat and a snack, as this entry is a little longer than...

  • News Wii U Launches In Japan To Great Fanfare

    Japanese gamers join the party

    Western Wii U owners may have noticed in the last few days that there’s been a few Japanese Miis wandering around the WaraWara and Nintendo Land plazas. That’s because it is now official: the Land of the Rising Sun has Wii U. The console launched on Saturday and Japanese gamers flocked to their nearest store in...

  • Feature Our Staff's Thoughts on Wii U - Part One

    The beginning of a new era

    Now that Wii U has arrived in both Europe and North America, a number of the Nintendo Life team have got their hands on the system and have been happily playing various launch titles. We've already produced a number of Wii U reviews — with more on the way — and provided a formal hardware review, but decided that it'd...

  • News Mass Effect Trilogy Could Yet Come To Wii U

    BioWare has plans for Nintendo's new console

    Mass Effect 3 was a Wii U launch title and saw the franchise make an appearance on a Nintendo console for the very first time. Naturally fans of the series want to see the previous two games make the move to Wii U as well, but BioWare has no plans to do so - at least for now. Speaking to GamerSyndrome,...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. U Wins VGA For Best Wii / Wii U Game

    No other Nintendo winners

    Another year, another Video Game Awards (VGA) extravaganza on Spike TV. The VGAs are undoubtedly polarising within the gaming community, possibly due to their reliance on celebrity presenters — Samuel L. Jackson made his fourth appearance this year — exclusive premieres of trailers and a lot of glitzy goings-on that...

  • Talking Point Time for Wii U to Treat Us Like Adults

    The nanny console

    This week has brought us an interesting story about Wii U eShop restrictions that are limited to European consoles, but perhaps provide greater insight into the relationship between gamers and their new Nintendo systems. It came to light that what we initially thought was a botched parental control issue on the platform was...

  • News Nintendo UK Looking To Maintain Wii U Momentum

    Focus turns to Q1 2013

    It's fair to say the Wii U's launch has been a success, with the system selling out across the United States and shifting 40,000 units in the UK. Extra shipments are coming in thick and fast to meet the extreme demand that you'd expect for a new Nintendo console at Christmas time. Nobody really doubted that Wii U would be...

  • News 18-Rated Content on Wii U eShop Only Accessible for Four Hours a Day

    Yes, really

    Earlier this week we received messages from readers that couldn't download ZombiU or Assassin's Creed III from the Wii U eShop. We tested this and received the same error message, which made it seem as if there were botched parental controls on the platform. You cannot view this content. The times during which this content can be...

  • Review Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (Wii U)

    Mighty morphin power racers

    SEGA may no longer be the same company that bloodied Nintendo’s nose during the glorious days of the 16-bit console wars, but it still has a keen fan base and a truly amazing legacy within the games industry. Even so, there have been numerous occasions over the past few years where it's struggled to emerge from...

  • News Here's How PlayStation Boss Shuhei Yoshida Lovingly Trolled Nintendo

    Subtle yet effective

    President of Sony's Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, has recently treated himself to a Wii U. That's right, Yoshida (@yosp as he's known on Twitter), posted his Nintendo Network ID to his followers earlier this week in the hope of discussing his experience with fellow Wii U users. However, in a cheeky and light-hearted...

  • Review Wipeout 3 (Wii U)

    Thrills and spills

    Gamers will forever associate the name Wipeout with Psygnosis' futuristic racing series, but in the world of primetime TV, Wipeout means wacky announcers, massive pratfalls and Big Red Balls. Based on ABC's hit US game show (which our UK readers will recognize as Total Wipeout) Wipeout 3 brings the slapstick spirit of the show to...

  • News Rayman Legends Release Date Confirmed For The UK

    Update: EMEA territories on 28th February, UK on 1st March

    It's been confirmed by Ubisoft that this title will actually arrive in the UK on 1st March, but in the other EMEA territories on 28th February. Original article One title that was noticeably absent from the Wii U launch in Europe was the graphically stunning Rayman Legends. Back in October...

  • News How A Modified Wii Zapper Inspired The Wii U

    Prototype also impacted the development of the 3DS

    With the Wii U launching in Japan tomorrow, the latest edition of Iwata Asks focuses on Nintendo Land, one of the console's most significant first-party titles. During the interview, Takayuki Shimamura from EAD's Software Development Department revealed a prototype Wii Zapper - with a screen...

  • News Nintendo Enjoys Bumper North American Hardware Sales In November

    More than 1.75 million hardware units shifted in one month

    Nintendo has released its sales figures for the month of November, revealing that it has sold more than 1.75 million units across the US. This means that November 2012 marks the 36th time that Nintendo has sold over 1 million units in a month in North America since 2004. Attributing to this...

  • News Pachter: "I think Nintendo becomes completely irrelevant"

    Outspoken analyst casts doubt on Nintendo and Wii U's third party appeal

    Michael Pachter - Managing Director of Wedbush Securities and someone who can always be relied on to stir up emotions - has made some interesting comments regarding Nintendo at the Digital Game Monetization Summit in San Francisco. Speaking mainly about the state of the games...

  • News This LEGO City: Undercover Trailer is a Treat

    Shawshank Redemption, anyone?

    During yesterday's Nintendo Direct shenanigans, it was tough to keep track of the varied footage and announcements from across the regions. With that in mind, we consider it our duty to make sure that you see the latest LEGO City: Undercover trailer that was included in the Nintendo of Europe broadcast. Not only does...

  • Nintendo Download 6th December 2012 (North America)

    Titanic murders, mighty bombs, burgers and retail goodies

    It's Nintendo Download update time, and this week brings a rather lengthy list of titles for North America. All four systems are covered, with quite a few retail games making their download début, so let's get on with it. 3DS download software: Murder on the Titanic (Joindots GmbH, $7.99)...

  • News Conker's Bad Fur Day Creator Could End Up Making Wii U eShop Games

    "It definitely might have potential for the new controller"

    Chris Seavor - the man behind Rare's infamous Conker's Bad Fur Day on the Nintendo 64 - has revealed in an interview with Not Enough Shaders that he's considering the possibility of developing for the Wii U eShop:

  • News Wii Fit U Arriving In The U.S. In Q1 2013

    Features an all new dance category

    Wii Fit has certainly been a revelation for modern day gaming that's turned people's living rooms into their own personal gym. It was part of what made people who were unfamiliar with the hobby give it a go, and its success was phenomenal. At E3 earlier this year, Nintendo announced that it would be bringing out a...

  • News Nintendo Vs. Zombies: 28-Bits Later Mixes Metroid, Mario And ZombiU

    All set to a obligatory dubstep soundtrack

    To create hype for the launch of the Wii U, Nintendo issued consoles to a select group of movie-making fans and gave them 10 days to create a short film to promote the system. YouTube movie making group mikeNgary Films were lucky enough to receive a console and came up with Nintendo Vs. Zombies: 28-Bits...

  • News Error Prevents Purchase Of ZombiU And Assassin's Creed III On Euro Wii U eShop

    Botched parental restrictions in EU to blame?

    Update: Despite testing this issue throughout the day we've now discovered, thanks to prompts from readers who've encountered the issue with some videos on 3DS systems, that this issue is caused by a restriction to accessing 18-rated content before a specific time. A test after 11pm UK time brought us...

  • News Scribblenauts Unlimited And SiNG Party Arrive in Europe Early 2013

    Plenty of puzzles and songs in the new year

    Scribblenauts Unlimited sadly missed out on the European Wii U launch, but now Nintendo of Europe has announced that the puzzle game will be making its way to the home console on 8th February 2013, with the 3DS version also out on the same day. Maxwell's latest adventure did make it out for the North...

  • News Pikmin 3 and Animal Crossing: New Leaf Drop Into Q2 2013

    Localisation and development to blame

    During today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts in North America and Europe, Nintendo showed fairly brief glimpses of Pikmin 3 and Animal Crossing: New Leaf, with the Wii U title getting a little longer to flex its HD muscles. There was disappointing news, however, as Nintendo of Europe boss Satoru Shibata confirmed...

  • Nintendo Direct Watch The European Presentation Live

    Find out what's in store for European gamers in 2013

    Following on from this morning's Japanese presentation and running alongside the North American event, Europe's Nintendo Direct is taking place at 5PM UK time. On the agenda are Wii U and 3DS titles for the remainder of 2012 and early 2013. As always, we'll be providing comments as the event...

  • News Nintendo Direct December 2012: Watch The North American Presentation Live

    Wii U and 3DS titles to be revealed?

    Japan has had its turn, now it time for North America to get the Nintendo Direct treatment. At 9AM PT (12PM ET) Nintendo of America will hold yet another Nintendo Direct presentation, focusing on forthcoming Wii U and 3DS software due to be released both this year and early in 2013. The event will last for around...

  • Review Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper (Wii U)

    Hyper fighting

    It's great to see such a variety of titles hitting the Wii U during its launch window, and of the many ports it's a joy to see the best of the Warriors Orochi games make the transition in Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper. For the uninitiated, the Warriors Orochi series is a crossover of the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors games, where...

  • News TVii and Hulu Part of Day One Wii U Update in Japan

    NA and Europe apps on the way?

    In today's Japanese Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata focused on the company's homeland launch details for Wii U, with the system arriving on 8th December. One announcement that did catch the eye was confirmation that TVii will be part of the day one update, along with the slightly less surprising confirmation of a Hulu...

  • Nintendo Direct Watch The Japanese Wii U Presentation Live

    Covering the Wii U launch in Japan

    You may not realise it, but the Wii U hasn't actually launched in its native Japan yet. Us lucky westerners may already be knee-deep in Mario, ZombiU and Miiverse, but in the Land of the Rising Sun the system doesn't hit store shelves until the 8th of December. While the Nintendo Direct presentations for North...

  • News Wii U And 3DS Firmware Updates Go Live

    "Further improvements to overall system stability"

    Nintendo has pushed out firmware updates to its Wii U and 3DS consoles. In the case of both updates, Nintendo states that they offer "further improvements to overall system stability". This is the second update for the Wii U, following the 1GB install which occurs when new systems are switched on...

  • Review Tank! Tank! Tank! (Wii U)

    Meh! Meh! Meh!

    Every so often a video game comes along with a concept so amazing that copies should come with a roll of duct tape to keep consumers from having their faces rocked off. Tanks with crazy weapons fighting giant robot monsters in expansive, destructible cities seems like a concept that you’d have to work pretty hard to screw up...

  • News Trine 2: Director's Cut on Wii U Outperforms Rival Consoles

    A small win for Wii U graphics obsessives

    Trine 2: Director’s Cut has been a high profile launch download on the Wii U eShop, due to its popularity on other formats and eye-catching visuals. Prior to release day it drew a lot of attention for the latter reason, in that it showed off the fact that Wii U was bringing Nintendo into the HD age, and...

  • News Pier Solar HD Kickstarter Smashes Through Wii U Stretch Goal

    Nintendo version now assured

    You'll have to forgive us if we've been talking a lot about Pier Solar recently, but we're rather taken with WaterMelon's 16-bit RPG. Launched in 2010 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, the game received a limited print run which has since become a collector's item. Keen to get the game into the hands of a wider audience,...

  • News LOVEFiLM Arrives on Wii, Wii U App Will Go Live "Soon"

    Or you could use Wii mode on your Wii U

    Wii may be fading into the shadows in the face of its HD successor, but today brings a new release to the little white box in the UK. It's the LOVEFiLM app, which will allow subscribers to stream TV shows and movies directly to their TV, assuming they have a suitable online connection. If you're a subscriber,...

  • News Reggie Fils-Aime Focused on Customer Feedback, Not Industry Critics

    "Every time we launch a new system, there are significant challenges"

    With the exception of Japan, which joins the party this weekend, most of the world has now had the opportunity to pick up a Wii U, or to at least be told that it's out of stock while extra supplies are brought in. Thanks to the wonders of the internet and Nintendo's own Miiverse,...

  • News Wii U Update Will Be Available Out Of The Box Next Year

    Oh why must U make us wait

    We all had to face that dreaded update for Wii U upon first setting it up, leaving no choice but to pop off for a cup of tea or a quick stroll to the shops and back. It has come as no surprise, however, that this hour long update - some have had less time to wait, while others had much longer - will come pre-installed with...

  • News This Week's European Nintendo Direct To Focus On Wii U And 3DS Games

    2012 and beyond

    Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that a Nintendo Direct presentation will take place on the 5th December (that's tomorrow). The presentation will occur at 5PM UK time and will focus on 2012 and "early 2013" software for the Wii U and 3DS. It will be hosted by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata. As always, we'll be covering...

  • News Sony's President of Worldwide Studios Has A Wii U

    Shuhei Yoshida gets his game on

    Although most rabid fanboys would love to think that Sony and Nintendo's employees loathe each other so much that they can't even bring themselves to look at a system created by their rival, that obviously isn't the case. Just like common gamers, individuals within these two great companies will have access to a wide...

  • Feature Taking Off to the Miiverse

    Remember everyone, it's all about empathy

    Apart from those living in Japan, many Nintendo gamers will have now spent some time with Wii U, Nintendo's new home console and foray into a variety of bold new directions. A great deal of focus, unsurprisingly, is given to the company's first dalliance with HD visuals, and more prominently the various uses...

  • News Sick Of The Wii U GamePad's Weak Battery Life? Nyko Is Your Friend

    Giving gamers a boost

    The Wii U GamePad is a wonderful piece of kit that allows the user to do some amazing things. The problem with that is that you’re going to want to use it a heck of a lot, meaning that you're going to have to get used to seeing that flashing red battery warning light. Thankfully peripheral maker Nyko has already set about...

  • News Wii U Hits 40K Sales in UK Launch

    Might not sound like much, but it's a sellout

    Although Europe-wide figures are yet to surface, it appears that Wii U has been a sell-out success on its launch weekend in the UK. According to MCV's estimates, 40K units were sold throughout the UK, with retailers reporting that this effectively meant a complete sellout. Weeks ago there were worrying...

  • News Wii U Premium Bundles Most Popular in UK Launch

    System memory and a bundled game matter, clearly

    The Wii U Premium Pack was by far the people's favourite in the UK over its launch weekend, proving to be the superior of the bundle bunch. The Premium 32GB bundle reportedly accounted for 60% of the Wii U's sales this past weekend, while the ZombiU package sold at 30%. That just leaves the Basic 8GB...

  • News Wii U Titles Make Début in UK Top 20

    Early beginnings for a small install base

    It may be tempting to read the headline that Wii U titles are just in the top 20 of the UK software charts and wheel out the "Nintendo is doomed" line, as anything other than number one is a disaster of epic proportions. Of course, that's not how the real retail world operates, and the early results for Wii...

  • Review FIFA 13 (Wii U)

    Party like it's 2011

    EA has a bit of history when it comes to releasing versions of FIFA on new consoles. No matter how many years the series runs for or how many formats the game is released on, the first edition on a new machine is always a bit hit and miss. You can track that all the way back to the days of the Sega Megadrive and EA’s first...

  • News You Can Use PlayStation 2 Pads On Your Wii U, Should You Want To

    Optional extra

    Are you a bit bummed about the fact that the Wii U Pro Controller isn't compatible with original Wii titles? Do you consider Sony's iconic Dual Shock pad to be one of the best in the business? Well you're in luck - Datel Japan has released an adapter which allows you to use your PlayStation 2 joypad on the Wii U or Wii. All you have...

  • Feature Your Guide to a Nintendo Holiday

    Christmas time, Mario and Trine...

    It's Christmas time, and we all know what that means — rapidly depleting bank accounts, lots of food and merriment, and plenty of video gaming. The Holiday season actually means different things depending on your own perspective, of course, but to many it's a great opportunity to spend time with family and...

  • Review Game Party Champions (Wii U)

    Mini lame

    Whenever a new console is launched, there are always one or two decidedly awful titles released that have been thrown together in time for the big night. The publisher’s thinking here is that most early adopters will want to leave the store with a stack of games for their new console, and if they keep the retail price low, their atrocity...

  • News Amazon Distributes Nintendo Land Codes For Missing Bundle Copies

    You may have to ask for a physical copy

    During the European Wii U launch shenanigans a few days ago, we reported that some gamers were receiving their Wii U systems a day early from Amazon and other online retailers, but that some Premium bundles were missing their copy of Nintendo Land. This must have been particularly frustrating for those buying...

  • Talking Point Selling the Wii U Concept - The GamePad and eShop

    All part of a big package

    So the Wii U system is now well and truly out in the wild, with Japan being the last major territory to join in. It may seem peculiar that Nintendo should satisfy its home country last, but judging from the area's consistently daunting sales of 3DS it's not likely to be a tough market to crack. North America and Europe —...

November2012

  • News Your Wii U GamePad May Be More Responsive Than Your HDTV

    Latency tests show that Nintendo's streaming tech is rock solid

    One of the first things many people will question when picking up the Wii U GamePad for the first time is the quality of the streaming. With no wired connection between the console and controller, many make the assumption that the delay must be greater than when playing on a standard...

  • News Wii U Takes London By Storm With Midnight Launch

    Hundreds of Nintendo fans braved the cold

    For Europe, the wait is finally over. At the stroke of midnight on November 30th the Wii U was released into the wild, and there's no better way to celebrate such a thing than to hold a big midnight launch event at HMV’s flagship store on Oxford Street, London. People flocked from far and wide to get a...

  • Review Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (Wii U)

    Bloody hell

    It’s been a long time since master ninja Ryu Hayabusa infiltrated a Nintendo home console, with 1995’s Ninja Gaiden Trilogy for the SNES marking his last appearance. Tecmo Koei decided the time was finally right for Ryu to make his return with Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, a souped-up, improved version of Ninja Gaiden 3, which...

  • Hardware Review Wii U

    The Nintendo Life verdict on the biggest hardware launch of 2012

    After months of waiting, the Wii U is finally here. The system launched in North America on the 18th and comes to European shores today. We’ve had our hands on a Euro console for a while now, and have been putting it through its paces to bring you our impressions of what is...

  • News Wii U Can Stream MP4 Videos Directly From Your Computer

    Watch trailers and more

    European Nintendo fans are only just getting their hands on the shiny new Wii U console today, but users in the States are starting to find out some cool hidden features - such as the ability to stream MP4 videos straight from your computer. Entering your computer's IP address into the Wii U browser allows you to beam movies...

  • Guide Getting Started With Your Wii U

    Nintendo provides some how-to guides for your new console

    Unlike most readers at Nintendo Life, not everyone who buys a Wii U will know everything about it before they've even opened the box. Hardware launches such as this are a great time for companies to attract new users, with that in mind Nintendo has released a series of handy videos to get...

  • Review Nintendo Land (Wii U)

    This Land is your land

    Nintendo Land has a lot to live up to. Not only does its name invoke a fantastic, imaginary kingdom many of us would happily sail to sight-unseen, it's also the game poised to provide proof of the Wii U's concept, as Wii Sports did for the Wii back in 2006. And like Wii Sports before it, if you've picked up a Deluxe Wii U it's...

  • News Molyneux: Wii U Is Good, But It's Not Great

    Industry veteran has "unbelievable respect" for its creator, though

    Co-founder of 22 Cans and industry legend Peter Molyneux has already spoken out a few times saying he doesn't think modern day consoles are equipped properly for the ever-changing gaming market. Recently the former Bullfrog and Lionhead boss said he "struggles to see anything...

  • News Assassins Creed III, FIFA 13 And Mass Effect 3 All Come Without Online Passes On Wii U

    Pre-owned copies will be able to go online without code redemption

    In an attempt to stop people buying their games from the pre-owned section, games publishers often slip a code into the packaging of their latest games that will be required should you wish to play online. We already know that Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition does not require...

  • News Nintendo's Wii U Marketing Currently Focusing On Core Fans

    Will move onto a broader audience in coming months

    Nintendo’s marketing machine is in full swing right now as the final hours tick down to the European Wii U launch at midnight. A lot of the marketing has focused on telling people what they can do with Wii U, as we’ve seen with several television adverts showing families having a jolly good time...

  • News Hacker Claims To Have Deciphered Wii U CPU and GPU Speeds

    Info apparently obtained from Wii U hacks

    For plenty that aren't merely interested in playing games on Wii U, but also want to know about its capabilities under the hood, the past few weeks have been full of claim and counter-claim about various aspects of the system. The CPU has been at the forefront of the debate, with negative and damning...

  • News Some Euro Wii U Buyers Reporting A Distinct Lack Of Nintendo Land In Their Premium Bundle

    Some of our bundled software is missing

    As you'll no doubt be aware if you've been closely following our Wii U Euro launch thread, many people who ordered their systems online have been getting them a day early. While this should be reason enough to be very excited indeed, we've been informed by some early adopters that their joy has quickly turned...

  • Nintendo Download 30th November 2012 (Europe) - Wii U Edition

    Got your hard drive ready?

    Wii U is finally arriving in Europe and PAL regions, and with it comes all of the excitement of a new system. Part of that — after the system update, of course — is the Wii U eShop, which arrives with some exciting download-only games as well as a host of retail titles. There's plenty to get through, so let's get to...

  • Feature EU Wii U Launch Day - Live!

    Hey America, now it's our turn!

    Wii U launched what feels like years ago - Sunday 18th November in North America, to be precise. After literally days of waiting (days can seem like months when it comes to new Nintendo hardware) Europe is finally getting the shiny new system, and we're going to share the experience with you just as we did with the US...

  • Review New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)

    High definition hijinks

    New Super Mario Bros. U marks the first time that a brand new Mario game has accompanied a Nintendo hardware launch since the days of the N64, and consequently places an inordinate amount of pressure and expectation on its high-definition shoulders. It’s perhaps not what hardcore fans wanted; following so closely on the...

  • News Iwata: We Don't Want To Emulate Xbox Live and PSN

    Nintendo president also sorry for 1GB day-one update

    Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has stated in an interview with IGN that his company is not attempting to play catch-up with rivals Microsoft and Sony when it comes to online services. With the recent launch of the Wii U and the establishment of Miiverse, Nintendo has recieved a few critical...

  • News Wii U Version Of 007 Legends Canned In Australia

    Epic Mickey 2, NBA 2K13 and Marvel Avengers all delayed

    The Wii U launches in Australia on Friday and several stores will open at midnight so that eager Aussies can get hold of one as quickly as possible. However, three games that won't be available alongside the Wii U Down Under are Epic Mickey 2: Power of Two, NBA 2K13, and

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