Popular Games by Hudson
Reviews of Hudson Games
Review Mario Party 2 - Party Like It's 1999 With One Of The Best In The Series
Yes, we know most places got it in 2000
This review originally went live in 2016, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Since 1998, the Mario Party series has entertained gamers by mixing the play of traditional board games with frantic minigame...
Review R-Type (Wii U eShop / TG-16)
More like our type
You can't have a conversation about shoot-'em-ups, or shmups, without mentioning R-Type. Back in the late '80s and early '90s the game was synonymous with the genre. Unfortunately for Nintendo fans at the time one of the best ports of the arcade classic was on the TurboGrafx-16, an also-ran console that never found its place in...
Review New Adventure Island (Wii U / TG-16)
An old-school endless runner
It's often said that there's no such thing as a bad idea, that it just needs the right moment to shine. More than any other medium video games like to rehash what's come before, retrofitting old concepts into new titles for something that can feel wholly unique while paying tribute to what's come before. For instance,...
Review Bonk's Adventure (Wii U eShop / TG-16)
The third (stone) wheel
Woe is the child who grew up with a TurboGrafx-16. Whereas battles of words and wills cropped up endlessly in the schoolyard by stalwart Nintendo and Sega fans in the great console wars of the early 90s, anybody with NEC's home rendition of the PC Engine was the gaming equivalent of Switzerland, a neutral entity that was more...
Review Lode Runner (Wii U eShop / NES)
Not quite endless runner
Broderbund's Lode Runner is a challenging puzzler that, unfortunately, hasn't aged particularly gracefully. Originally released in 1983 on computers like the Apple II and the Commodore 64, Lode Runner feels dated, even for an NES game. It's easy to see the reason Lode Runner was released on so many different platforms over...
Review Adventure Island (Wii U eShop / NES)
Skate and die
Adventure Island started life as the SEGA-produced arcade title Wonder Boy, which itself was ported to several different home consoles and spawned a popular series of sequels with show-stealing box art. NES-owners missed out on the title, and would have to wait until Hudson Soft teamed up with original developer Escape to release a...
Latest Hudson News
Wednesday23rd Oct 2024
Guide Best Mario Party Games Of All Time
Where does Jamboree rank?
What's the best Mario Party game? Mario is no stranger to spin-offs, but there's nothing like a good Mario Party to ruin family occasions and bring out the worst in people, right? Once a stalwart of the N64, there are tons of Mario Party games available, most following a very familiar formula, but the franchise has seen a...
Wednesday30th Mar 2016
Video More Footage And Details Emerge For The Cancelled Bonk: Brink Of Extinction
Cave story
Bonk is one of video gaming's most unlikely mascots. Originally named PC Kid and seen as the PC Engine's lead character in Japan, he was renamed Bonk when that console was released in North America as the TurboGrafx-16. Bonk would enjoy three mainline adventures on NEC's hardware - all of which were very well recieved - as well as...
Monday4th Jan 2016
Video Hudson's Abandoned R&D Lab Still Has Its Miniature Train Track In Place
All aboard the depression train
Those of you who have been gaming since the 8-bit era will no doubt be very familiar with the name Hudson Soft. A prolific developer during the Famicom / NES, PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 and Super Famicom / SNES eras, the firm was responsible for titles such as Bomberman, Adventure Island, Bonk, Star Soldier and many...
Tuesday20th Oct 2015
News Bonk's Adventure Has Been Rated By The ESRB For Wii U
The prehistoric platformer returns
The classic platform title Bonk’s Adventure is set to make a return with the game recently rated by the ESRB for the Wii U Virtual Console. Starring a strong and bald cave boy who goes on an adventure to rescue a princess, the charming title developed by Red Company and Atlus was originally released on the...
Wednesday18th Jan 2012
News Hudson May Continue as a Brand
There's hope yet
Late yesterday we reported the sad news that Konami is dissolving Hudson Soft, one of the industry's most experienced development companies. Although it's clear that Hudson will no longer exist as an independent entity, there's now hope that it may still retain its own brand and identity. Hudson released a statement on its website,...
News Konami Dissolving Hudson Soft
Not to bee
Konami has just announced that they will be dissolving Hudson Soft on 1st March, bringing to an end a company that's become beloved by gamers over the years for such unforgettable contributions to gaming as the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 systems and the ever-popular Bomberman and Star Soldier series. For those of you who don't remember,...
Saturday4th Jun 2011
News Tetris Slots into Place this October on 3DS
The Tetris Company has other things planned too
Since the uncovering of an Entertainment Software Rating Board classification of a 3DS Tetris game, additional details regarding said game have now cleared a couple of things up. Speaking to Gamasutra, a representative from The Tetris Company clarified that the new game known simply as Tetris is being...
Monday28th Mar 2011
News Deca Sports Extreme Survives and Gets Rated by the ESRB
Any more Hudson titles on the way?
Following the news of the North American arm of Hudson disbanding last month leaving the future of its titles uncertain, Konami ― the publisher into which Hudson will be absorbed ― later clarified what the official situation was regarding Hudson's projects. Speaking to
Tuesday8th Mar 2011
News Master Higgins Has Not One But Two Upcoming Virtual Console Games
Another Adventure Island game added to the queue
Only last month, we reported that the OFLC had rated the second NES outing of everybody's favourite overweight islander based on a real person, Master Higgins, thus very likely meaning it was on its way to Virtual Console. Well, the OFLC has struck again, and has rated yet another Adventure Island...
Friday21st Jan 2011
News Konami to Take Over Hudson in April
Studio to be absorbed like one of Bomberman's explosions
Hudson, well known for its Bomberman and Deca Sports series, is to be fully absorbed by Konami on April 1 of this year. Konami, the studio behind Castlevania, Dance Dance Revolution, Silent Hill and many other titles has been Hudson's parent company since April 2005, holding a 54% stake. The...
Thursday20th Jan 2011
News Hudson Announces 3DS Line-up
Ball-playing, bomb blasting and brain training on the menu
Hudson has just announced the first three titles that they plan to bring to the 3DS this year. We already knew about the next entry in their Deca Sports series, now titled Deca Sports Extreme, and they've also added Bomberman and Nikoli's Pencil Puzzle, both working titles, to the mix. The...
Thursday13th Jan 2011
News All Ten Disciplines in Deca Sports 3D Now Revealed
A couple of surprises
Last December left us scratching our heads over what the complete list of sports were in Hudson's upcoming 3DS title, Deca Sports 3D, known as Sports Island in Europe. Aside from the initial four that were revealed, the remaining six were largely recognisable but a couple left us guessing. In the lead-up to the 3DS's Japanese...
Wednesday8th Dec 2010
News Ready Yourself for a Super Bonk Attack this Friday
Back in time for Christmas
If you're up for some Super Bonk action – and you live in Europe – you're in luck, as the game headbashes its way to Virtual Console this Friday. The Super NES classic isn't the only Virtual Console title heading to Europe before Christmas: Mario Party 2 is Nintendo's festive gift to you, launching on Christmas Eve...
Tuesday7th Dec 2010
News Opening Round of Info on Deca Sports for the 3DS
4 out of 10 sports officially revealed
Hudson is keeping itself busy with its line-up of 3DS titles and the company's Japanese website has been updated with some screenshots of the upcoming instalment in the Deca Sports franchise (otherwise known as Sports Island in Europe). Deca Sports 3D (not final title) will feature ten different sports, and...
Monday18th Oct 2010
News Hudson Has Six 3DS Titles In Development
Bonk, Omega Five, and Tetris due in 2011
Hudson's been keeping pretty quiet on the 3DS front since it pledged its support for the machine back in June at the E3 expo. Initial announcements of the Bomberman, Deca Sports, and Kororinpa franchises are now beefed up thanks to an additional three titles that have been added to the company's Japanese...
Saturday2nd Oct 2010
Nintendo Download 5th & 6th October 2010 (Japan)
October begins with Virtual Console and DSiWare
WiiWare's alternating weeks continue, but at least there's the Virtual Console to keep Wii owners happy – even better when the releases include classic arcade games! The DSi has a trio of actual games for a change with nary a lifestyle download in sight. Virtual Console: Commando (800pts Arcade,...
Thursday30th Sep 2010
Interviews Hudson - Oops! Prank Party
We talk with producer Yukihiro Kobayashi about the new Wii title
While party games are relatively common today, the one that put the genre on the map is undeniably Hudson's Mario Party, released a little over a decade ago on the Nintendo 64. Now the company's making another foray into the party business with the devious Oops! Prank Party, set for...
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
Monday27th Sep 2010
News My Planetarium Trailer and Screenshots Look Stellar
All in Japanese, though
The ESRB outed My Planetarium a month or so ago, and now the Japanese website has been updated with the first screenshots and trailer of Hudson's upcoming gaze 'em up. With three different modes allowing you to view the night sky freely, learn about the history of constellations and search for particular clusters, nebulae and...
First Impressions Lost in Shadow
We take Hudson's new platformer for a spin
It doesn't take a genius to see that Hudson's upcoming Lost in Shadow release isn't your typical run-of-the-mill platformer. Not only does the game feature a protagonist that's not even a real person, rather his shadow, it also features some absolutely mesmerizing audio and visuals to further make it stand...
Friday24th Sep 2010
Nintendo Download 28th & 29th September 2010 (Japan)
Two each for Wii and DSi next week
Could predictions of the death of WiiWare in Japan have been premature? It appears so as there's two new titles coming next week, both from 3rd parties. Import gaming fantatics should reign in their excitement, however as both appear to be "lifestyle" apps rather than games. The DSi offerings are unlikely...
Tuesday14th Sep 2010
News Lost in Shadow Documentary Sheds Light on the Game's Creation
Our well of shadow puns is running dry
It may have been pushed back until 2011 in North America, but Lost in Shadow is still looking like one of the Wii's brightest upcoming releases. This behind-the-scenes documentary is in keeping with the game's unique graphical style, projecting the game's development team as shadows rather than the usual...
Tuesday7th Sep 2010
News Last Chance to Like Lost in Shadow and Raise Money for Charity
Your thumbs still worth 10 cents to Child's Play
Hudson's promising Lost in Shadow (A Shadow's Tale in Europe) may have been delayed until 2011 but there's no need to cry about it: it's all for a good cause, in fact. Every "Like" of the game's official Facebook page between August 30th and 4pm PST today will raise 10 cents for Child's...
Sunday29th Aug 2010
News My Planetarium Gazes Out Into the Expanding WiiWare Library
Hudson's galactic follow-up to its My Aquarium series
Hudson's been releasing some fairly decent and relaxing simulations on the WiiWare service lately. The developer has more than likely extracted all it can from the aquarium route, at least for the time being, however – and an ESRB rating has revealed a new direction that's a lot more cosmic in...
Monday9th Aug 2010
News My Aquarium 2 Website Makes a Splash
Dive into new information
Just released in Japan, My Aquarium 2 is due to ride the waves to the Western world within the near future, so it's a good job Hudson has opened the information floodgates by launching the game's website. As well as the option to use the Forecast Channel to update the in-game weather and the revelation that your fish will...
Saturday31st Jul 2010
Nintendo Download 3rd & 4th August (Japan)
Fish and VC goodness for the Wii; the DSi gets the usual bumper crop of new titles
WiiWare: Blue Oasis: Michi naru Shinkai (500pts - Hudson) — People in the know will recognise Blue Oasis as the Japanese name for Hudson's perennially popular virtual fish tank, My Aquarium. Apparently not satisfied with what has to be one of the best-selling...
Thursday29th Jul 2010
News The Latest Lost in Shadow Trailer Materialises
Behold... the Watchman's Sword
Hudson Entertainment has announced that its upcoming puzzle platformer will launch in North America on 4th January 2011, and we've got our hands on some new screenshots and the latest trailer, which sheds light on one of Lost in Shadow's features: the act of materialisation. From the press release: While the main...
Friday4th Jun 2010
News Hudson Announces E3 Lineup
To include mysterious secret title...
Hudson Entertainment recently announced the list of games that it'll be showing off at the upcoming entertainment exposition which we know as E3. Their Wii lineup will feature BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion – Battle Fortress, Deca Sports 3, Oops! Prank Party and Lost in Shadow while for DS it'll be presenting...
Wednesday26th May 2010
News Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap - Get Practising with 16-Shot Shooting Watch for DSiWare
Hudson's tap trainer on the way to the US
It's been available on the Japanese DSiWare market for a few weeks now, but a recent ESRB rating has revealed the 16 Shot! Shooting Watch is on its way to North America in the near future. Although it sounds like a rather James Bond-esque gadget, the Shooting Watch is a device to help you find out exactly...
Thursday13th May 2010
News Necromancer 2 Lurches onto DSiWare in Japan Next Month
Western release currently uncertain
Hudson Soft's Necromancer probably isn't on your list of Top Ten Games for a DSiWare Revival. Released on the TurboGrafx-16 over twenty years ago, it's a decent RPG that received a sequel for mobile devices last year. Guess which version DSiWare is receiving? Titled Necromancer: Nightmare Reborn, it's a beefed-up...
News Hudson Enlightens Us with Lost In Shadow Teaser
Lose yourself in this intriguing new video
Hudson Entertainment recently debuted a teaser for its upcoming Wii title Lost in Shadow (otherwise known as Tower of Shadow and A Shadow's Tale), starring a shadow and his Sylph companion. The latter will manipulate the light source and the former will utilize the dynamics of luminescence to climb a...
Friday7th May 2010
First Impressions Illust Logic
Downloadable picross? Yes, please!
Although video game versions of nonograms (better known to Nintendo gamers as Picross) were originally controlled with a D-Pad and buttons like any other game, it's clearly a genre that benefits massively from the touchscreen interface of Nintendo's DS family of handhelds. No surprise then that Hudson has seen fit...
Friday23rd Apr 2010
Nintendo Download 27 & 28 April (Japan)
World Game Parade comes to a close, bountiful VC and lots of DSiWare, next week in Japan
WiiWare: Katamuki Spirits (500pts - Marvelous) – Whilst it may have a fancier sounding name, this is of course DK Games' Equilibrio re-badged as the final entry in Marvelous Entertainment's World Game Parade. We certainly thought it was a fun marble rolling...
Tuesday13th Apr 2010
News Hudson Serves Up Deca Sports 3 Announcement
Will include MotionPlus support and online play
Hudson recently announced plans to release the next iteration in its Deca Sports series (known as Sports Island in the UK), Deca Sports 3. According to its press release, Hudson is including Wii MotionPlus support for all ten games, which may pique the interest of those unfamiliar with the series. As...
Monday12th Apr 2010
Nintendo Download 12 April 2010 (North America)
Mad shooting for the Wii, Gangs, cards, planes and brick-breaking for the DSi this week in North America
It's a catch-up week on the Wii in North America, though there's some fresh faces on the DSi to get everyone's attention. Also of note is the premier of the latest Big Name Game microgame for WarioWare D.I.Y created by Alex Neuse of Gaijin Games,...
News Hudson Announces New Mini-Game Collection
Trying out Oops! Prank Party may not be a mistake
Don't let the Wii's over-saturation with party games fool you: not every casual collection is meant for the discount rack and your gullible grandmother's shopping list. Face it – back when it was still cool, you were sanding down your analogue stick in Mario Party like the rest of us. Now the same...
Saturday10th Apr 2010
News Konami Sheds More Light on A Shadow's Tale
New trailer for the platformer previously known as Tower of Shadow
It's not often that platform games manifest themselves in a unique hue that illuminates them from their surroundings, and this upcoming Wii title from Hudson Soft could well be the latest example of a game that does. In more ways than one, mind. Since it was announced last August, we...
Monday29th Mar 2010
Nintendo Download 29th March 2010 (North America)
Wario, cafe table waiting and medieval battles on Wii; fireworks, turtles, fruity puzzles and music tuners for DSi
Another Monday, another handful of games vying for your hard-earned Nintendo Points! The offerings are all across the board today with new DSiWare apps for musicians and a much-anticipated N64 release on Virtual Console. While not...
Friday19th Mar 2010
News New Diner Dash Screenshots
Order up!
The guys over at Hudson were kind enough to send over a fresh batch of screenshots of their upcoming WiiWare release Diner Dash for you to enjoy. The game is set to hit the European WiiWare service on March 26th for 1000 Wii Points. Diner Dash will come to life in 3D on new generation consoles when players have the option to take direct...
Wednesday10th Mar 2010
News 5th Hanabi Festival Inbound
Featuring the mighty Castlevania Rondo of Blood!
While we speculated on the return of the Hanabi Festival recently, Nintendo were busy putting the finishing touches to the fifth instalment of their import spectacular, due to launch this Friday. Kicking off with the fantastic Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and taking in IronClad, Milon's S
Friday19th Feb 2010
News Pick Up, There's A Developer Diary Calling
New footage and details about Hudson's upcoming horror game
We've already gone hands-on with Hudson's horror title Calling, but maybe you'd like to hear some of the people involved with the development talk about the scare-fest. Eh? Eh? Alongside new footage, Chief Director Kazufumi Shimizu and Concept Creator and Design Director Takeshi Inomata...
Friday12th Feb 2010
Nintendo Download 16th & 17th February 2010 (Japan)
Japanese downloads go on a diet
There's still something being offered in each category next week, but this has to be one of the lightest Japanese download weeks we can remember with only four games on offer across both platforms. WiiWare: Diner Dash (1000pts - Hudson) — Hudson is pretty good about doing worldwide releases close together so you...
Tuesday9th Feb 2010
News Hudson Bringing Tetris Party Live to DSiWare
Party on the bus
Nintendo handhelds and Tetris go together like chocolate and peanut butter, so it's a bit disheartening that the stellar Tetris DS is so hard to come by these days. Hudson hears your pain and is stepping in with Tetris Party Live for DSiWare, which was discovered by Siliconera via an OLFC rating (G, by the way). Tetris Party on...
Monday8th Feb 2010
Nintendo Download 8th February 2010 (North America)
Another big update for North America: blasting, dancing, balloons, rockets and more this week!
The big North American updates keep on coming. This week there's four new WiiWare releases, five new DSiWare releases and a quirky NES adventure game. WiiWare: Blaster Master: Overdrive (1000pts - Sunsoft) -- The announcement of the original NES classic...
Saturday6th Feb 2010
Nintendo Download 9th & 10th February 2010 (Japan)
A revamped PC Engine game comes to WiiWare, more Mega Man on the VC and a DSiWare gaming assault next week in Japan!
The Wii only has two downloads next Tuesday, but they're both hotly anticipated releases for strategy and retro fans. DSiWare is where the real download action is though, with no less than seven releases - all of which appear to be...
Monday25th Jan 2010
News Castlevania: Rondo of Blood ESRB Rated
The wait is almost over.
We just recently saw the release of Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth in North America and now news has just leaked out that Castlevania: Rondo of Blood has just been ESRB Rated. Honestly, it can't get much better than this for Castlevania fans, and it would seem that Hudson's release of the game can now not be too far...
One call you might want to take.
For those of you who love a good scare or just enjoy a playful romp through the latest survival horror title, Hudson's got just the game for you. In fact, they were even kind enough to send us over a preview build of their upcoming horror release Calling to check out and we have to say, this is easily one of the...
Saturday16th Jan 2010
Nintendo Download 19 & 20 January 2010 (Japan)
Another light week for Japanese downloads.
Nintendo corporate seems to be imitating the European division when it comes to the Wii in Japan with a second week of VC-only downloads: only one title this week for the little white box. The DSi fares a little better with five new releases, some of which are actually games! Virtual Console: Salad no Kuni...
Monday28th Dec 2009
Nintendo Download 28 December 2009 (North America)
Ten new games to celebrate the advent of 2010!
Nintendo have updated their weekly North American downloads for the last time in 2009, and the year is going out with a corker of an update! Not only is Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth out today but also PilotWings to boot for Virtual Console fans. This is in addition to eight other ones released...
Monday21st Dec 2009
Nintendo Download 21 December 2009 (North America)
Eco-shooting, arcade ninjas, Super Smash Bros., Dragon's Lair and more in this week's download offering.
Nintendo are putting out a decent number of titles in North America with the end of the year rapidly approaching, with a nice mix of new and catch-up titles on offer. Todays VC and WiiWare offerings mean that there's now 500 titles to choose...
