HAL Laboratory News Articles
Sunday22nd Feb 2015
News Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Developers Discuss the Art Style and Sources of Inspiration
Blessing or a curse?
Just this Friday, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse released in North America to general critical acclaim. We awarded it a 7/10; while praising the excellent art style, we felt there were underutilized gameplay applications of the clay theme. As part of the buzz surrounding the game's release, GameSpot recently conducted an interview...
Friday20th Feb 2015
Video Check Out Kirby's Adventure Wii on the Wii U eShop
You'll need shades with all those colours!
Nintendo's latest Wii digital re-release for Wii U in Europe is Kirby's Adventure Wii - AKA Kirby's Return To Dream Land. This Wii title from 2011 is a back-to-basics adventure that puts Kirby into familiar territory - there's no need to complain if you're in North America, you get the brand new Kirby and...
Thursday20th Nov 2014
News Masahiro Sakurai Explains Why Mewtwo Isn't Paid DLC in Smash Bros.
Mewtwo intended as an "experiment", no paid DLC in development
With only a few days left until the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, series creator Masahiro Sakurai has sought to clarify, in an interview with IGN, his reasoning for not including Mewtwo as payable downloadable content for the upcoming title. Mewtwo, whose last series...
Wednesday9th Jul 2014
News Stand-Alone Kirby Fighters And DeDeDe's Drum Dash Headed To The Japanese 3DS eShop
Both feature new content, both out this month
Those of you wise enough to have purchased the rather excellent Kirby: Triple Deluxe will be aware that the mini-games included with the title — Kirby Fighters and DeDeDe's Drum Dash — are jolly good fun, and stand-out releases in their own right. It would appear that Nintendo agrees, because the...
Monday5th May 2014
News Nintendo Confirms Kirby: Triple Deluxe eShop Deal, Get Kirby's Dream Land 2 Free
Suck that up, Europe
Update: Nintendo of Europe has corrected the dates from the original announcement below. To qualify Kirby: Triple Deluxe must be downloaded by 12th June following its release, and the Dream Land 2 code must then be redeemed by 13th July. Original Article: With Kirby: Triple Deluxe around the corner in Europe — it's already...
Wednesday30th Apr 2014
News HAL Laboratory Director Explains Why Kirby Tends To Be A Ball Of Rage On Western Covers
"We know there is a serious side to Kirby as well"
If you're a keen import gamer, then you may have noticed a slight disconnect between Kirby's games in the east and in the west — the Japanese boxart usually has a happy, smiling Kirby, while the covers of his western releases showcase a more determined — even grumpy — expression. Kirby:...
Wednesday12th Feb 2014
News Now There's a Kirby You Can Wear
You won't look ridiculous either
Gaming fashion is sadly all-too-often nothing more than a current-gen logo or character ripped from some art you've already seen plastered everywhere, and then printed on a "one size fits all" (allegedly) black t-shirt, or an ironed-on bit of pixel art slapped roughly in the middle of the chest area if you're after...
Wednesday15th Jan 2014
First Impressions Kirby: Triple Deluxe Is Three Times More Fun Than Most Other 3DS Games
Definitely doesn’t suck
It’s obvious from the moment you start that Kirby Triple Deluxe is Nintendo and HAL Laboratory at the height of their collective powers — software and hardware coming together to create a game as games should be: good fun, embracing all of the the 3DS’s unique features without ever reducing them to mere gimmicks. We...
Wednesday20th Nov 2013
News Signed EarthBound Cartridge to Be Auctioned Off for Cancer Patient
“For James”
EarthBound is all about strong bonds; not only within the game but also its fan community. There is nothing that may demonstrate this point more fluently in recent days than the story of a special EarthBound cartridge that will soon be auctioned off during the EarthBound Bash marathon. The cartridge began in the hands of James...
Tuesday1st Oct 2013
News New Kirby Game Will Be Blowing Up The 3DS in 2014
Full of hot air, but in a good way
Today's Nintendo Direct may have had a few surprises — the delay of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the confirmation of Sonic in Smash Bros. being two examples — but there was only one new game announced: a fresh Kirby instalment on the 3DS. Some gameplay footage was shown and it all looks very...
Saturday24th Aug 2013
News Marcus Lindblom - Writing the English Script for EarthBound Was a Giant Step
But it was worthwhile
Writer and EarthBound designer Shigesato Itoi is a cultural icon in Japan and a name well known among longtime fanatics of the game. But the text from the English version of the game came from other, mostly unsung sources. Marcus Lindblom, who chiefly shouldered EarthBound’s localization writing, has had a chance to shine on...
Thursday23rd May 2013
News EarthBound Listing Materializes on Amazon UK
You cannot grasp the true form of Amazon’s listing
We already know that the kooky SNES RPG EarthBound is making its long overdue appearance on the Wii U Virtual Console in Europe and North America sometime this year. Then what’s up with this odd listing for the game on Amazon UK? It may just be a placeholder for a download code, but the £44.99...
Wednesday1st May 2013
News Trio Of Kirby Games Hitting Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Three Super Famicom classics incoming
Japanese Wii U owners are being treated to three Kirby titles in a single week. Some folks have all the luck, right? The games in question are all Super Famicom titles. Kirby’s Super Star Stacker (Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu), Kirby’s Dream Course (Kirby Bowl), and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (Hoshi no Kirby 3) will...
Thursday30th Jun 2011
Nintendo Download 30th June 2011 (Europe)
A dreamy download
This week it's fairies, vampires and dreams on the European Nintendo Download, including the first outing of a famous and beloved mascot from the Big N. What games are you dreaming of downloading? 3DS Virtual Console: Kirby's Dream Land (Game Boy, UK: £3.60, EU: €4) — Kirby floats onto the 3DS with his first dreamy adventure,...
Monday20th Jun 2011
Kirby sucks once again
Although Kirby's Epic Yarn was a wonderful experience, there were a lot of diehard Kirby fans who we're a bit put off by its radically-different visual style and gameplay scheme. Now Nintendo is sending Kirby back to his roots and bringing back not only the familiar visual stylings fans have grown to love over the years, but...
Thursday14th Apr 2011
News New Kirby Game Details Gathered, Now Absorb Them
A gang of Kirbies embark on their latest DS adventure
Since Nintendo announced the development of a new Kirby game at a conference it held last September, things have been rather quiet until now. As reported by 1UP, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has detailed some initial game info on Atsumete! Kirby (roughly translated as Gather! Kirby.)
Friday7th Jan 2011
News Iwata Asks About 3D Gaming on the Famicom Disk System
Early 3D experiments under the microscope
Nintendo's history with 3D goes back years before the 3DS was ever announced: the GameCube was 3D-compatible with an LCD accessory, Satoru Iwata still has a 3D GameBoy Advance in his sock drawer and of course there was the much-maligned Virtual Boy. But the love affair goes back still further, as discussed...
Wednesday29th Sep 2010
News Nintendo of Japan Showcases Wii Line-up in New Video
Includes footage of (presumably) a new Rhythm Heaven game
As part of their recent conference, Nintendo of Japan's just released a video showcasing some hotly anticipated games in the upcoming Japanese Wii line-up. Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to Super Mario Collection Special Pack and Mar
Thursday31st Dec 2009
News Look out Europe! Picross 3D Coming to Swallow Up Your Time
3D chiseling goodness due on February 5th
Picross 3D was released all the way back in March for our Japanese friends. Since then Nintendo announced it for more Western shores during E3 in June, and then things went a bit quiet on the block-chiseling front. However, now Nintendo of Europe have piped up saying Picross 3D is now due for Europe on...
Sunday31st May 2009
News Nintendo To Stop Taking Brawl User Content
No new stuff after June 30.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a game absolutely packed with content, is about to lose a nice little feature soon. Over at the official Brawl site, this nugget has appeared: As of June 30th, 2009, the current service that accepts user-generated snapshots, stage designs, and replay data will no longer be available. Please note,...
