February2024
Random Sonic Superstars' Free Shadow Costume Is Certainly Something
The ultimate costume?
Sonic Superstars is celebrating the announcement of Sonic X Shadow Generations with a free Shadow the Hedgehog costume, and you can download it now for free (thanks Sonic Stadium!). Originally announced at the recent Sony State o
October2023
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Sonic Superstars?
Did this Sonic 'Trip' up?
Sonic Superstars marks Sega's grand return to the world of '2D' Sonic after the highly acclaimed Sonic Mania back in 2017. We thought it was pretty darn good here at Nintendo Life and awarded it a score of 8/10 in our review, stating that "this is the first original 2D Sonic game that feels truly authentic to the Genesis...
Site News So, Where's Our Sonic Superstars Review?
Superstarstruck
It's Friday the 13th and, in addition to a plethora of spookily-themed articles, you may have seen reviews for Sonic Superstars going live on gaming outlets across the web. And having seen those, you may have come to Nintendo Life looking for our verdict on the Switch version. And having seen this article on the homepage, you're now...
News The First Review For Sonic Superstars Is Now In
Can it possibly live up to that superstar key art?
We're less than a week away from Sonic's return to the second dimension (well, not really, but it's a side-on platformer in the classic mould, okay?) in Sonic Superstars. After spending some hands-on time with it back at Summer Game Fest, this throwback to the classic 2D games was showing a lot of...
August2023
Random Giant LEGO Death Egg Robot Delights At Sonic Superstars Gamescom Booth
Brick by brick
Sega's presence at Gamescom has been keeping Sonic the Hedgehog fans very happy. And as expected, the booth for Sonic Superstars is appropriately decked out with the blue blur's newest adventure. However, there are a couple of other attractions that have been catching fans' attention — a rather gigantic LEGO display. We already...
News Sonic Superstars Locks In October Release, Right Before Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Including a brand new battle mode
We knew we'd be getting some Sonic Superstars news at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023, and we got the best news possible — a release date. Sonic Superstars will launch on Nintendo Switch and other platformers on 17th October, which has been the rumoured release for quite a while. The brand new trailer showcased...
June2023
News Sonic Mania Dev Confirms Superstars Translates 'Retro Engine' Physics Into 3D
Super Sonic
If you weren't already excited for Sonic Superstars — the brand new 2D Sonic game, announced at last week's Summer Game Fest — then this news should get you rushing for those red sneakers. Christian Whitehead, the lead developer on Sonic Mania, has confirmed that the physics of Headcannon's 2017 retro hit has been "fully translated...
Hands On Sonic Superstars Is Exactly What Sonic 4 Should Have Been
A triumphant return
Despite the promising debut trailer for Sonic Superstars, a niggling feeling of doubt had crept into our minds prior to our hands-on session with the game at Summer Game Fest. After all, this latest side-scrolling effort from Sonic Team really has two things going against it straight away. Number one; aside from the spectacular
News Sonic Superstars Developed By Original Designer's Studio
Talks "fell through" with Sonic Mania dev
It's been revealed Sonic Superstars will be developed by the Japanese team at Arzest - a studio run by Naoto Ohshima, who is best known for designing the blue blur. Sonic Team's head Takashi Iizuka has revealed how the studio became involved when plans "fell through" with the Sonic Mania developers,...
July2022
News Yuji Naka Erases Former Co-Worker And Sonic Creator Naoto Ohshima From Team Photo
Update: Naka adds more detail
Update: Naka has posted some tweets which appear to give a little more insight into the altered photo: It would seem that Naka is referring to the fallout surrounding the release of the much-derided Balan Wonderworld, which was created alongside Ohshima. Original Story [Tue 5th Jul, 2022 21:30 BST]: Things are...
May2022
News Square Enix Declines To Comment On Yuji Naka's Balan Wonderworld Lawsuit
Update: Square Enix's response
Update #2 [Fri 13th May, 2022 11:45 BST] As part of Square Enix's earnings briefings today, the company has confirmed it had a lawsuit case with Yuji Naka, but has declined to comment further. The only response the prominent Japanese developer gave was to say that Balan Wonderworld "is a game that we recommend with...
December2021
Soapbox In Defence Of Balan Wonderworld, 'The Worst Game Of 2021'
And after all, you're my Wonderworrrld
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics or random stuff they've been thinking about. Today, Stuart discusses his love and admiration of a game dubbed 'the worst' of the past year... Hello, my name is Stuart Gipp, and I think Balan Wonderworld is quite good...
March2021
News Balan Wonderworld Is Getting A Suspicious Amount Of 10/10 Metacritic User Reviews
Apparently, it's the best platformer ever. Who knew?
Balan Wonderworld has had some shockingly awful press around its release, including warnings of scenes that are unsafe for epileptic players, and a bunch of reviews that rarely poke their heads up above the 6/10 mark. Needless to say, it's not looking good for Square Enix's latest, made with
July2020
News Balan Wonderworld, A 3D Platformer From The Creators Of Sonic The Hedgehog, Is Coming To Switch
Lined up for "Spring 2021"
A new game from Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima, perhaps best known as the creators of one Sonic the Hedgehog, has been announced as part of the Xbox Games Showcase. Square Enix is bringing Balan Wonderworld to Switch and other consoles in next spring. Described as a 3D action platforming game for 1-2
February2020
Feature It's Been Nearly Five Years, So Where In The World Is Pikmin 4?
We propose and pick apart Pikmin 4 theories
Last year we looked at the dormant Nintendo franchises we'd like to see return on Switch, and our desire to see any or all of those series again still burns strong in 2020. With Nintendo's biggest money-spinners having received a Switch entry already, it's now time to bring back some of the company's...
June2017
News My Nintendo in North America Has Been Updated with New Pikmin Rewards
Remember those awesome Pikmin cartoons?
Though there’s still lots of mystery around what exactly is going on with Pikmin 4 behind closed doors at Nintendo HQ, fans of the series can at least rest easy knowing that the 2D spin-off Hey! Pikmin is only about a month away from seeing a release on the 3DS. Given that Arzest is the studio behind this...
Video Get a Good Look at Hey! Pikmin in this Overview Trailer
Check out plenty of gameplay and amiibo features
Hey! Pikmin, so far, doesn't seem to be generated a huge amount of buzz ahead of its July release. Developed by Arzest, this portable spin-off - tellingly not called Pikmin 4 - adopts a 2D approach to the exploration, puzzle solving and combat for which the series is known. We remained sort of on the...
May2017
Hands On Hey! Read These Hey! Pikmin Impressions
Hey! Listen!
This week - in New York City - Nintendo invited us to play Hey! Pikmin, the first title in the series developed outside of Nintendo's internal teams. Hey! Pikmin is being developed by Arzest, the studio behind Yoshi's New Island, which failed to make a big splash with 3DS owners. Hey! Pikmin takes a totally new approach with the...
April2017
News Arzest Emerges as Developer of Hey! Pikmin
Oh...Pikmin
Hey! Pikmin, the 2D platforming portable take on the much-respected series, is heading to the 3DS in July. Of course some have wondered about its status within the series, though the name and style has always implied it's a portable spin-off as opposed to 'Pikmin 4'. That impression has only been solidified by the news of the game's...
March2016
News The Guy Who Designed Sonic The Hedgehog Supervised On Mario & Sonic At The Rio Olympics
Not Yuji Naka, the other one
The credits for Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have revealed that Arzest was involved with the game's development. Sega fans will recognise Arzest as the home of several former Sega employees, including Naoto Ohshima - perhaps better known as the guy who designed Sonic the Hedgehog. While Yuji Naka was...
March2014
Month Of Yoshi Your Travel Guide To Yoshi's Island
Going anywhere nice this year?
Though we've finally shaken off the last of Winter's dreary cold here at Nintendo Life HQ, it's always tempting to consider taking a quick break somewhere bathed in sun and kalimba music. In our search for the perfect spot, we've come across an old travel brochure that fits right in with the Month of Yoshi. What...
Interview Takashi Tezuka on Bringing Yoshi's New Island to the 3DS
"We used the original as a base on which to add new elements"
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island is often regarded as one of the finest platformers on Super NES, and potentially a stand-out across generations. After Yoshi's hugely popular appearance in its predecessor, it was a natural progression and one that certainly paid off for Nintendo. Now,...
January2014
Video Yoshi's New Island Trailer Shows Off Vehicle Transformations
Because Yoshi can do anything
Yoshi's New Island hits 3DS on 14th March in both Europe and North America, making it one of the earliest major first-party releases on the portable in 2014. As a sequel to the marvellous Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island on Super NES, it has a tough legacy to emulate. But still, it's Yoshi, so we should try and look...
