Thomas Whitehead

Thomas Whitehead

Former Editor, Nintendo Life

Author Profile

Tom has been involved in the games industry for over a decade, mostly writing about it or struggling to sell Indie games. Loves reading, writing, hunting Capcom’s fiercest monsters and watching baseball.

Having joined the site in 2011, Tom took over as Editor three years later, ably steering the good ship Nintendo Life through the Wii U waters and safely into the Switch era. He now serves as a Producer at PM Studios.

Username
ThomasBW84
Articles
11,883 (257 reviews)
First Article
Wed 26th, January 2011
Avg. Review Score
6.8
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  • Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS)

    38

    Review Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS)

    It's Layton, so you probably know the answer

    While gamers in Japan are eagerly awaiting the final part of the Professor Layton prequel trilogy, those of us in the West are relieved to finally get our hands on what was a Japanese 3DS launch title, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask — originally known as Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle...

  • Pokémon Train Hitting The Rails This Holiday

    30

    News Pokémon Train Hitting The Rails This Holiday

    In Japan, obviously

    Sometimes the Western world just isn't enthusiastic enough about video games. Sure, gamers in Europe and North America in particular buy an enormous volume of video games on a yearly basis and pay plenty of cash for new consoles, but do we, in our various individual cultures, love gaming enough to have anything as awesome as this...

  • New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not

    82

    News New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not

    Nintendo can't decide

    In recent hours it's been reported on a number of websites, including our colleagues at Eurogamer, that New Super Mario Bros. U will support a full 1080p HD resolution, a bump up from the 720p seen in various demo and hands-on sessions of the game. The game's official site has been quoted as saying the following. Experience...

  • 11th October 2012 (North America)

    95

    Nintendo Download 11th October 2012 (North America)

    Mario gets on the course, robots are rescued, the one true demo arrives and more

    Last week was a bit of a bumper week for the Nintendo Download update in North America, and we have another packed list for you. Every platform is covered in some form, and there's a demo and some videos to fill your time too; let's get right into it. 3DS Downloads:...

  • Boulder Dash-XL 3D (3DS)

    18

    Review Boulder Dash-XL 3D (3DS)

    Rockford reborn

    Every system has little-known titles — packed with content and well-constructed gameplay — that fail to fly off shelves or, in some cases, even get into high street stores in the first place. If Boulder Dash-XL 3D suffers that fate it'll be a pity, because it takes its subject matter and goes beyond the basic requirements,...

  • Nintendo Takes One Step Forward, One Back With Retail Downloads

    96

    Talking Point Nintendo Takes One Step Forward, One Back With Retail Downloads

    It's not quite right, yet

    During last week's Nintendo Direct broadcast in Europe, one eShop announcement that received relatively little fanfare was confirmation that a number of additional first-party titles were being made available on the platform. These titles stretch back to the earliest months of the system: now available on the European eShop...

  • Broken Rules Talks About Chasing Aurora and Being Early on Wii U

    9

    Interview Broken Rules Talks About Chasing Aurora and Being Early on Wii U

    Taking flight on Nintendo's new system

    Chasing Aurora is an eye-catching Wii U eShop title that's scheduled to arrive in November. While its art style immediately grabs attention, we wanted to know more about it, especially as it's only a matter of weeks away. We got in touch with developer Broken Rules and spoke to its man Martin Pichlmair about...

  • Super Mario World Was The Perfect Escape For a Novelist in Hiding

    17

    News Super Mario World Was The Perfect Escape For a Novelist in Hiding

    Salman Rushdie's inner gamer is revealed

    In literary circles Salman Rushdie is a much admired award-winning writer, and also one of the biggest names in the book industry. He's also courted great controversy during his career, notably when his novel The Satanic Verses outraged extremist groups and regimes to the point that there was a fatwa issued...

  • 11th October 2012 (Europe)

    30

    Nintendo Download 11th October 2012 (Europe)

    Pokémon dreaming, samurai sword slashing and rescuing robots

    So, it's finally time for this week's Nintendo Download update for Europe. We have a crack team currently investigating what happened to the official press release, but we'll go ahead and let you know what download delights are on the way based on what was revealed during last week's...

  • Bridgestone Responds to Sony's "Kevin Butler" Lawsuit

    70

    News Bridgestone Responds to Sony's "Kevin Butler" Lawsuit

    All because of a game of Mario Kart Wii

    Yesterday we picked up on the news of an ongoing court case between Sony and the actor behind Kevin Butler or, to be completely accurate, the actor's production company and Bridgestone. Sony's basic complaint was that the actor Jerry Lambert, so commonly known for his work as fictional Sony executive Kevin...

  • Retro City Rampage Trailer is Full of Old-School Cool

    24

    News Retro City Rampage Trailer is Full of Old-School Cool

    Spot the references

    Retro City Rampage arrives on PC and PS Vita today, which may draw some envious glances from Wii owners that were promised this title so long ago. The good news is that developer VBlank has already confirmed that the title is rampaging onto WiiWare later this year, so the wait is hopefully not going to be too long. On the plus...

  • Successfully Learning English: Year 5 (WiiWare)

    6

    Review Successfully Learning English: Year 5 (WiiWare)

    One more class, Freddy

    Successfully Learning English: Year 5 represents, probably, the end of an edutainment era. Across DSiWare and WiiWare, Freddy the Vampire has appeared in over 20 titles covering a few different subjects in relentless detail for young pupils, all with the same style, structure and bland presentation. The final part of the Wii's...

  • PETA Targets Pokémon Black & White 2 in Latest Campaign

    202

    News PETA Targets Pokémon Black & White 2 in Latest Campaign

    Opportunism or a fair moral case?

    Last year, with the arrival of Super Mario 3D Land, PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — launched a campaign against Mario, on the grounds that his Tanooki suit encouraged the wearing of furs. It was a widely criticised move, as it disregarded the sheer fantasy of obtaining the suit from a...

  • Rayman Legends Won't Arrive Until Q1 2013

    39

    News Rayman Legends Won't Arrive Until Q1 2013

    Launch day disappointment

    When it comes to big third-party exclusives, Rayman Legends is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated Wii U launch window releases. We say launch window, as Ubisoft has now confirmed that the title isn't due to hit stores until Q1 2013, which means any date between 1st January and 31st March next year. In a statement...

  • Kevin Butler Actor Seen Near Wii Console... Sony Takes Him to Court

    113

    News Kevin Butler Actor Seen Near Wii Console... Sony Takes Him to Court

    Yes, really

    Some of you may remember a news article that we posted around a month ago that starred fictional Sony VP Kevin Butler, which we did so with tongue firmly in cheek. We highlighted a Bridgestone tyre advert in which the actor who plays the character, his real name is Jerry Lambert, was seen near a Nintendo Wii, possibly causing indignation...

  • Nintendo's Focus on the 3DS eShop

    45

    Talking Point Nintendo's Focus on the 3DS eShop

    Gaming on a budget

    This week’s European Nintendo Direct prompted the usual range of predictions before the event, ranging from optimistic but unlikely hopes to pessimism and predictability. What Nintendo of Europe boss Satoru Shibata gave us, surprisingly, was a broadcast heavy with eShop exclusives, some new and surprising and others with...

  • GameCube Coming to Wii U Virtual Console

    119

    Rumour GameCube Coming to Wii U Virtual Console

    It's bound to happen, right?

    The Wii U eShop is still a mystery, to the extent that we're assuming that it'll be branded as "eShop" on the basis of new pre-paid funding cards spotted in North America. Another mystery is the Virtual Console, as we've only been introduced to new download titles scheduled for the launch period, with few clues as to...

  • What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Seven

    111

    Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Seven

    It's back

    Earlier this week, in a peculiar moment of a united group consciousness, the Nintendo Life team exclaimed as one: "hey, what happened to the weekend gaming features?" What did happen? Nintendo and video games happened, with enough Wii U madness — including a little bit of 3DS — and expos to distract us from our fortnightly duties of...

  • Nintendo Announces Big eShop Releases Coming This Year

    27

    News Nintendo Announces Big eShop Releases Coming This Year

    Hydroventure, Denpa Men, Hana Samurai and Nano Assault EX on the way

    For those that enjoy filling up their 3DS SD card with a variety of high-quality download titles, Nintendo of Europe's Nintendo Direct broadcast brought a fair bit of good news regarding games that we can expect to see soon. Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated is Hana Samurai: Art...

  • Fallblox Confirmed for November Release in eShop

    54

    News Fallblox Confirmed for November Release in eShop

    Sequel to Pullblox known as Crashmo in NA

    When speculating before Nintendo of Europe's latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, it's unlikely that many gamers would have predicted the confirmation of Fallblox, a sequel to the rather excellent Pullblox on 3DS eShop; just as Pullblox was known as Pushmo in North America, this latest entry will be known as...

  • Guild01 Titles Heading to eShop

    30

    News Guild01 Titles Heading to eShop

    SUDA51's Liberation Maiden Available Now in Europe

    Not long ago we reported a rumour that Level-5's Guild01 could be coming to North America, which was exciting as it's a collection of four 3DS games developed by different studios in Japan. Today's Nintendo Direct in Europe sprung a surprise, with confirmation that three of those titles will be...

  • Pikachu 3DS XL Coming to Europe "Later This Year"

    26

    News Pikachu 3DS XL Coming to Europe "Later This Year"

    White 3DS XL also on the way

    Do you remember when a Pikachu 3DS XL was released in Japan earlier this year, prompting long lines and pandemonium as it arrived? We may see similar scenes in Europe, to a lesser extent, as Nintendo of Europe boss Satoru Shibata has confirmed that the cutest 3DS XL around is coming to the region later this year...

  • Watch the European 3DS Nintendo Direct Here - 4th October 2012

    186

    News Watch the European 3DS Nintendo Direct Here - 4th October 2012

    Time for some hype, in 3D

    Does anyone remember the dark old days when Nintendo rarely spoke to fans directly, leaving us hanging for weeks, sometimes months with little official word on what's going on? Those days seem like part of a distant past since Nintendo Direct broadcasts began in earnest this year. We never have long to wait before the next...

  • New Super Mario Bros. U Trailer Shows Off Co-Op, Controlled by Mario Masters

    54

    News New Super Mario Bros. U Trailer Shows Off Co-Op, Controlled by Mario Masters

    The music works on us

    New Super Mario Bros. U is potentially the biggest day one Wii U title, though it does have competition and has to fight against Mario fatigue. There seem to be two distinct camps of gamers at the moment: those that can't get too much of Mario's platforming antics, and those that feel they've played quite enough Mario for one...