Feature Articles
Friday29th Dec 2023
Soapbox It's Time For A Zelda 1 Remake, Please
Or a 'temporal localisation', if you like
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, as TOTK anticipation increases to dangerous levels, Gavin explores why it's time for Nintendo to go back to a very specific well... Look, I'm all for...
Monday20th Nov 2023
Soapbox Zelda: Ocarina Of Time's Kokiri Forest Rivals World 1-1 As A Perfect Intro
Move it, Mido
November 21st, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Japanese launch. To mark this historic Hyrulean occasion, we'll be running articles throughout the week dedicated to the game, our memories, and its legacy. Today, Ollie sings the praises of Ocarina of Time's mystical opening location, Kokiri...
Monday24th Apr 2023
Talking Point What Is A 'Traditional' Zelda Game, Anyway?
And does Breath of the Wild fit the mould?
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild when it launched back in 2017, there are undoubtedly those who yearn for a return to what they deem to be a more “traditional” Zelda experience. With its open world, shrines, weapon degradation, and ‘rune’...
Thursday14th Jul 2022
Soapbox Games Go Down Better When Paired With Books, Movies, And TV, Just Like Wine
Well, not JUST like wine. You can't drink a book
I don't know much about wine, but I sure like to pretend I do, and I bet I'm not alone. Who else here — of drinking age, that is — has bought a red wine to accompany dinner, because it "goes well with pasta"? How many times have you been poured a glass of wine to "taste" in a fancy restaurant,...
Wednesday25th Aug 2021
Talking Point How Much Would You Pay For A Mint Copy Of Super Mario Bros.?
6 golden coins? 8 red coins?
Following on from the recent record-breaking sales for retro games, including $2 million USD for a copy of Super Mario Bros. and $870K USD for The Legend of Zelda on NES — not to mention the unf
Saturday13th Mar 2021
Feature A Brief History Of Nintendo’s Home Hardware Add-Ons
A multi-format menagerie
Nintendo’s handheld console upgrades were so common for so long you could practically set your watch by them: the leap from Game Boy to Game Boy Color via the Pocket; the GBA’s evolution from its original battery powered form to the blazing intensity of the Micro’s beautiful screen; the more recent range of DSis, XL
Friday12th Mar 2021
Random Forget Fat Pikachu - We're All About Wide Link
What a good boy
What's that you've got there? A triangle? Good job! If you're ever having a bit of an off day, may we recommend looking through old Zelda key art? Whether you have a few manuals from the old games lying around, or you just want to browse the Zeldapedia galleries, it's something that always cheers us up. This is Link and Ganon...
Sunday21st Feb 2021
Feature 8 NES Games That Were Better On Famicom Disk System
Saves + Synth > Passwords
The Famicom Disk System (or the Family Computer Disk System to give its full title) released in Japan — and Japan only — on 21st February 1986. This Famicom add-on came with a wave of new games on bespoke Nintendo-branded floppy discs which had several advantages over cartridges at the time, plus one or two drawbacks...
Thursday10th Dec 2020
Feature What Does Nintendo Have Planned For Zelda’s 35th Anniversary?
Our predictions for 2021's biggest gaming birthday
The 35th anniversary year of Super Mario Bros. will soon draw to a close and although Nintendo has extended the celebrations to 31st March 2021 (a day which Mario himself will do well to survive, it seems), 2021 marks the 35th birthday of the next-most celebrated series in the Kyoto company's...
Saturday12th Sep 2020
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (September 12th)
Here are our picks, but what are yours?
It's been another crazy week in Nintendo Land, with the announcement of a brand new Zelda game on Switch and more rumours of Nintendo diving into the world of 4K, but enough about that – let's talk about our weekend gaming plans. Members of Nintendo Life have done just that below, and we'
Tuesday18th Sep 2018
Soapbox Why I'm Not Excited About Playing NES Games On The Nintendo Switch
All NES'ed out
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert admits that he's not in the least bit excited about the prospect of playing NES games again in 2018... They say that...
Sunday21st Jan 2018
Feature The Best Zelda Cosplays To Hyrule Them All
The best fan-made costumes rupees can buy
The Legend Of Zelda series of games is loved by Nintendo fans world-wide, and has proved popular with cosplayers around the globe as a way of showing their appreciation for its myriad characters and creatures. With Breath Of The Wild winning multiple awards in 2017 and frequenting the top of many 'game of...
Friday12th Jan 2018
Soapbox Dark Souls' Ruthless Recipe Perfectly Suits Switch’s Evolving Audience
Preparing to die on Switch will be a watershed moment
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, editor Dom explores the viscous and empowering minutia of the Dark Souls phenomenon and how it's a match made in...
Saturday12th Jul 2014
Poll Which Is The Best Legend Of Zelda Game?
Hookshot your vote in
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises, and has arguably been responsible for some of the best video games ever created. Since the launch of the original game back in 1986, we've seen the series move from 2D to 3D with assured competence, and this year we'll see a crossover release — in the shape of...
Saturday3rd Dec 2011
Feature Memorable Zelda Moments
The wonderful world of Hyrule, and beyond
The Legend of Zelda is one of the best loved Nintendo franchises, over 25 years old and still finding new ways to thrill gamers. The significant number of Zelda releases means it boasts an incredible history and reputation, with each new entry’s adventure contributing its part to the lore of the series...
Friday24th Dec 2010
Features NES Characters, Then and Now: Part One
See how some of your favourite characters have evolved over the past 25 years
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a system that stimulated the imaginations of designers and gamers alike. Whether it was the smiling, dream-like wonderland of the Mushroom Kingdom, the sprawling fantasy world of Hyrule or the atmospheric depths of planet Zebes, the...
Sunday31st Oct 2010
Be afraid. Be very afraid
Halloween is upon us. We've been celebrating Spook Month for the past thirty-one days, with reviews of frightening or fright-themed retro games every Friday and Saturday, and after a good bout of trick-or-treating or dressing up to go to Rocky Horror, we'll be sitting down to some of our favourites that make us cringe, jump...
Tuesday26th Oct 2010
Features Things We Miss About the 8-Bit Era
It's the little things that count
Today, the virtual reality experience of the Wii is as immersive as Lawnmower Man director/writer Brett Leonard ever could have hoped, with Mario as real and in-person as an actual member of our family and special effects so vivid that we compulsively hold our breath during underwater levels. Okay, maybe things...
Saturday23rd Oct 2010
You tell us why you loved that 8-bit magic machine
To help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the NES's North American debut, we asked you to send in your favourite memories with that machine, and you delivered. We apologise to those whose letters we unfortunately were unable to find a place for, but whether you made it into the article or not, it's...
Thursday21st Oct 2010
Learn our shocking pasts
To continue our celebration of 25 years of NES, the staff's gathered around the campfire to share their favourite memories of that little dream machine. Not everyone could make it to the party, unfortunately, but we're sure that those who couldn't had good reason to stay home. Join us now as we lay bare our souls to you and...
Thursday29th Oct 2009
Feature The Spooky Denizens of the World of Nintendo
We run down the scariest of scaries the Big N has cooked up
We here at Nintendo Life love Halloween. Despite the fact it was originally a time when the dead were believed to cause sickness to the living and damage their crops, but nowadays it's just a good excuse to gorge ourselves on delicious, delicious candy. As part of our All Hallows’ Eve...
