November2014
News Teaser Tweet Suggests Binding of Isaac on the 3DS
Could it finally be leaving Purgatory?
The Binding of Isaac may be one of the most-discussed games in Nintendo circles that hasn't yet appeared on a Nintendo system. The original title was denied publication by The Big N in 2012, seemingly over the nature of its content. Since then, the idea that The Binding of Isaac may still appear on the Wii U or...
July2014
News Cave Story 3D to Arrive on 3DS eShop in North America and Europe This Year
Yep, Europe has been specifically mentioned, too
How many copies of Cave Story does it take to fill up an SD card? Just one of each version released so far, probably. Some games are particularly memorable and brilliant, with Cave Story arguably a good example, so multiple releases are somewhat tolerated. On Nintendo systems alone Cave Story's been...
June2014
News Off-TV Play Coming to 1001 Spikes on Wii U
The fun of Spikes! In your hands!
Tough-as-nails platformer 1001 Spikes has earned its share of die-hard (and often) fans. However, a seemingly consistent criticism of the Wii U version among players, and also mentioned in our review, is the lack of off-TV play. But publisher Nicalis has been listening, and have tweeted that a free update in the...
News 1001 Spikes Creator Believes Trends Are Shifting Back Towards Tough, Challenging Games
"We are at a cusp of a new revolution"
1001 Spikes is available now on the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores in North America, and early noise around the platforming title is that it's pretty darn tough. Retro in looks and, it seems, retro in style, it's sure to endanger 3DS systems and GamePad controllers now that it's nestling on some systems. Though...
May2014
News 1001 Spikes Hitting 3DS and Wii U on 3rd June
With a $5 loyalty discount for 3DS owners
1001 Spikes — formerly known as Aban Hawkins & the 1,001 Spikes — has been a long time coming for the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores, and Nintendo gamers may have been disappointed when it was announced earlier this week for a 3rd June arrival on Sony systems in North America, with no mention of the...
April2014
News Grinsia Heading To The North American 3DS eShop On 8th May
No news on a European release date as yet
Kemco’s well received iOS and Android title, Grinsia, will finally be arriving on the 3DS eShop next month. The port of the classic JRPG-style game is being published by Nicalis, which has previously brought us indie games such as Cave Story and VVVVVV; it's recently confirmed the release date on its...
News Cave Story is Finally Coming to the 3DS eShop in Europe and Australia
It's time
Some regional release sagas roll on and on, with publishers on tight budgets or with limited resources sometimes deciding not to jump through the hoops for ratings and approval in Europe and Australia, particularly. One example has been running for so long that those asking for it gradually forgot to complain any more — Cave Story on the...
March2014
News Tyrone Rodriguez Continues to Lobby Nintendo to Approve The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
We have no objections...
Some may remember that, way back in 2012, Nintendo rejected The Binding of Isaac, a title developed by Edmund McMillen who is well known as one half of Team Meat. The rejection was due to "questionable religious content", though when talking about an improved version of the game in development shortly after McMillen...
February2014
Video Nintendo Minute Catches Up With Two eShop Developers
Vblank Entertainment and Nicalis discuss upcoming releases
Nintendo of America's recent Nintendo Direct broadcast included some Indie-download chat, likely taken from a multi-game event held earlier this month. For its part the Nintendo YouTube Channel's 'Nintendo Minute' spoke to more publishers and developers about games on the way to the eShop...
News Nicalis: We'd Like To Support Europe, But Nintendo Doesn't Make The Process Easy
Tyrone Rodriguez talks about regional differences
Nicalis is the publisher behind eShop classics like Cave Story, Ikachan and NightSky, and the company will be helping Pelikan13 launch the fabulous-looking '90s Arcade Racer on the Wii U later this year
December2013
News Renegade Kid and Nicalis Titles Reduced on eShop Platforms
Ho ho holy moly so many discounts...
It seems that the 3DS and Wii U eShop platforms are going discount crazy, with plenty of reductions in Europe today, more on the way, and now North America happily getting in on the act. Both Renegade Kid and Nicalis are feeling festive, in the former case across regions and the latter just in North America...
October2013
News Nicalis Quizzes Fans Over Potential For a Physical Release of the Cave Story 3DS eShop Version
Europe says hi
Cave Story has been released four times in total, though that number drops to two if you live in PAL regions. We've had versions on WiiWare, DSiWare, a retail Cave Story 3D and most recently an excellent 3DS eShop version. The latter edition is arguably the best, incorp
September2013
News CommanderVideo to be a Playable Character in Aban Hawkins & the 1,001 Spikes
Still planned for release on Wii U and 3DS this year
Aban Hawkins and the 1,001 Spikes was announced for the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms way back in April 2012, with the original target being to release the title on both systems that year. It's a project that's fallen largely silent, however, though publisher Nicalis has provided updates on...
August2013
News Nicalis: Kemco's Mobile RPG Grinsia Coming to 3DS
May give retro fans a reason to smile
Fans of the old-school JRPG style may want to keep an eye on developer Nicalis, as it's recently announced plans to bring Kemco’s Grinsia to the 3DS. The reveal was made in an exclusive two-page interview with Nicalis’s Tyron Rodriquez in Nintendo Force magazine. Grinsia is among Kemco’s number of RPGs...
News Nicalis Teases SNES-Style JRPG Title For 3DS
Excited yet?
Nicalis has taken to Twitter to tease a new project for the 3DS which combines Japanese role-playing with SNES-style music. A long-time supporter of the 3DS eShop, Nicalis has previously given us titles such as VVVVVV and Ikachan. There's no news on what this mystery game could be, but given the company's track record we're getting...
April2013
Talking Point The Blurring Lines of Kickstarter Fundraising Goals
Pwnee Studios gives its perspective on the publication deal with Ubisoft
If you go back just a few years, the idea of developers raising funds for non-existent games from the consumer marketplace may have seemed to be a wacky proposition. The thinking may have been along the lines of "ask consumers to pay for a game that isn't even in development...
March2013
News Cave Story Approved And Set For Release On The European eShop
Saints be praised
When it comes to Nintendo Downloads, wherever you live there are certain releases that are much in demand and mysterious in their delay. They're not actually mysterious in practice, but the result of developers encountering specific issues with the Nintendo organisation in question, securing ratings or, perhaps, not having the...
News Nicalis Would Like To Bring Monaco or Spelunky To A Nintendo Console
Fez is "not even a consideration"
Phil Fish caused a bit of a stir over the weekend when he took to Twitter to say he felt Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was more suited to the PlayStation Vita than the trusty 3DS. One game that has never made it to a Nintendo console is Fish's biggest creation, Fez. We here at Nintendo Life decided to find out how many...
News Nicalis' Tyrone Rodriguez Urges Twitter Users To Pester Studio Pixel For 3DS Gero Blaster
We can get behind that
Earlier this month, we reported on Studio Pixel's next game, Gero Blaster. The Cave Story developer's new outing is a 2D side-scrolling action title which places you in the role of a trigger-happy frog. It's being pitched for release on iOS, but around the time of the announcement Nicalis' Tyrone Rodriguez twee
News Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya's New Title, Gero Blaster, Looks Set for 3DS
Nicalis seems to be stepping in once again
Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya is quite a favourite among some gamers, particularly those with a taste for retro-styled graphics. Best known for Cave Story and for his origins developing games as PC shareware, new releases from the one-man developer have been less forthcoming. Fans with a 3DS in North America have...
February2013
News NightSky to Arrive in Europe on 21st February
We can stop asking now
So, remember NightSky, Europe? Yeah, it was that rather attractive, serene puzzle title that we awarded a perfect 10 in our NightSky review way back in October 2012, when lucky North Americans were downloading it with big smiles across their faces. Yep, that one. The good news is that its publisher, Nicalis, has now confirmed...
January2013
News Ikachan Swimming Into The 3DS eShop in North America Before February
Guxt also on the way
Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, the developer behind the much-loved Cave Story, will have two new games in the 3DS eShop this quarter: Ikachan and Guxt. As with Cave Story, both games will be published by Nicalis - the same company behind VVVVVV. Ikachan sees you take on the role of a squid who swims through an underwater realm, looking...
November2012
News Nicalis Blasting onto 3DS eShop with Guxt
Shmup from Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, creator of Cave Story
Nicalis may have a rather questionable record of localising its download titles in all regions — mention Cave Story on DSiWare or the 3DS eShop to a European and see what happens — but it does actively seek to bring high-quality indie releases to Nintendo systems. When you consider that...
October2012
News Don't Worry Europe, You'll Be Getting NightSky Soon
November to be exact
To everyone's surprise, Nicalis announced over Twitter earlier today that NightSky will be coming to the EU eShop 'sometime in November'. The indie developer revealed that the game has already been approved by Nintendo of Europe. The game releases stateside this coming Thursday (25th October). The full tweet reads: Hey EU,...
News Ikachan Confirmed For Both DSiWare And 3DS eShop
Two platforms, same game
Yesterday, we teased a picture that showed Ikachan running on a 3DS. For those who don't know, Ikachan is a 2D retro style platformer from Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, the man behind Cave Story. While developer Nicalis was originally intending to release Ikachan as a DSiWare title, they decided to produce two versions of the...
