August2012

  • Out Now 3DS XL Goes Big in North America

    And New Super Mario Bros. 2, of course

    It's Sunday, a day of rest and laziness for so many, but perhaps this one has a slightly different meaning for some keen 3DS gamers in North America: it's 3DS XL day. Oh, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 day, as well. 3DS XL graced Europe and Japan in late July, with the North American release seemingly being held...

  • Talking Point The Long Suffering Luigi

    Green with envy

    This week brought some disappointing news for fans of the other mascot brother, the one who wears green and can often be found sitting in the corner, twiddling his thumbs and waiting to get involved. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon was spooked into 2013 in North America, while European release news is still up in the air. Also in the...

  • News Nintendo Only Plans to Make One 2D Mario Per Platform

    Plumber deal

    The idea of Mario fatigue has been wafting through the air recently, thanks to New Super Mario Bros. 2 launching on 3DS this weekend as another 2D Mario, New Super Mario Bros. U, is being prepared for release in a few months at Wii U's launch. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata insists that this won't be a regular thing, however —...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Takes Over GAME Store In London

    Wahoo!

    If you happened to be around GAME Oxford Street in London today, you may have noticed the increased presence of a certain friendly — and recently gold-hungry — plumber. Don't worry if you missed out, though, as the madness is due to continue tomorrow. Nintendo UK has announced that an exclusive New Super Mario Bros. 2 gaming event will be...

  • Out Now New Super Mario Bros. 2 Hops Into Europe

    Only two more days for you, North America

    If you've been living in a cave and cut off from the outside world in recent weeks, then this may be news to you: New Super Mario Bros. 2 is now available in Europe, and graces North American stores in just two days, on 19th August. You all knew that, we hope, but if you didn't then we'd expect you to...

  • News Learn With Pokémon: Typing Adventure Taps Into Action on 21st September

    European typing woes solved

    So you can't type very well, a state of affairs entirely intolerable in the modern day and age, and it's something that has to be resolved promptly. You're also a big fan of Pokémon, and just wish there was a way to improve your typing and indulge your favourite hobby all at once. Well, the dream is a reality, as Learn...

  • Feature DS Games We Want on Wii U

    Two screens, only much bigger

    Seven years and over 150 million sales have passed since Nintendo surprised the world by releasing its dual screen handheld back in 2004, introducing true touch screen gaming to the masses for the first time. The concept proved such a success that Nintendo has now implemented it in its next home console, Wii U, via a...

  • News 3DS XL Cradle and AC Adaptor Available 24th August

    In the UK, that is

    3DS XL owners in the UK can now unite for one mighty sigh of relief, as online retailers play.com and amazon.co.uk are both currently advertising the 3DS XL console's charging cradle and AC adaptor as available to purchase from the 24th August, at the sum of £19.99. While separate 3DS AC adaptors have been readily available for...

  • News 3D Classics Excitebike Revs Up as Club Nintendo Reward

    It's wheelie rather good

    Pull those leather jackets out of the wardrobe, North American Club Nintendo members — you can now get 3D Classics Excitebike as a reward until 26th August. The 3DS eShop game was free to download for a time last year, but if you missed out you can now grab it for 150 of your shiniest reward coins. Ride on over to our 3D...

  • News There's a Fluidity Sequel Coming to the 3DS eShop

    Go with the flow

    In case you missed it in yesterday's North American release schedule, or overlooked it in favour of squealing about Paper Mario: Sticker Star, there's a sequel to WiiWare game Fluidity on the way to the 3DS eShop. We don't know much aside the title, Fluidity: Spin Cycle, and a vague release date of the fourth quarter of 2012, but...

  • Feature Let's Celebrate Kirby's Spin-Offs

    Kirby's had a busy 20 years

    Earlier this month, at his apocryphal 20th birthday celebration, we're sure Kirby was able to blow out his candles with trademark gale-force and reflect on what has been, even for a Nintendo character, an astoundingly diverse career. While keeping his day job of walking from left to right and inhaling enemies, Nintendo's...

  • News Whoever said Penélope Cruz, You Were Right!

    Unlikely moustache wearer

    In the latest of a long line of celebrity tie-ups, Penélope Cruz has joined forces with her sister, fellow actress Mónica Cruz, to star in a new campaign for New Super Mario Bros. 2. Nintendo teased us yesterday with a picture of the star without revealing who it might be. Our readers had lots of good guesses including...

  • Competition New Super Mario Bros. 2 Sparks Coin Rush!

    There be gold in them hills!

    It's not long until New Super Mario Bros. 2 hits both the digital and retail stores, out on Friday (Aug 17th) Mario's latest adventure is set to be coin-crazy. To celebrate Mario's love for coins Nintendo UK has unveiled "Coin Rush", a competition where, just like in New Super Mario Bros. 2, it’s up to you to collect...

  • News Who's New Super Mario Bros. 2's Mystery Celebrity?

    Guess who

    Nintendo of Europe is having a little fun with the advertising campaign for New Super Mario Bros. 2 before the game is released on Friday. Can you guess which mystery celebrity is wearing Mario's famous moustache? The answers have been flowing in all day on Twitter, but apparently nobody's got it right yet. Frankie Sandford, Emma Watson...

  • News Nintendo Confirms Its Holiday Hits in North America

    Paper Mario, art, freaky formees and a famous professor

    We've already brought you the disappointing news that Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is pushed back to 2013 in North America, but we do have details on some games that most assuredly are confirmed for 2012. In fact, looking at the schedule suggests that Luigi may have been given a breather so that...

  • Rumour Wii U European Launch Could be Delayed

    Manufacturing problems with the GamePad

    At present there are some rumours swirling around the internet about potential launch dates for Wii U, with most agreeing that Nintendo is aiming for early-mid November. That's in North America, but industry sources seem to be suggesting that there may be delays in Europe, with some speculating that it'll...

  • News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Spooked Into 2013 For North America

    What are you going to play at Halloween now?

    A recent press release from Nintendo of America has revealed that would-be ghostbusters will have to wait until next year to get their grubby mitts on Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Here’s the official statement from NoA: Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon will now be available in the first half of 2013 in...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Will Cost £39.99 to Download

    Coin rush

    It's been confirmed by Nintendo UK today that New Super Mario Bros. 2 will cost £39.99 (€50.88) to download when it hits the eShop later this week. As Nintendo's first foray into selling full retail games via its eShop, it's understandable that they have opted to stick to the recommended retail price (RRP) to test the waters. But when...

  • Round Table Let's Talk About Super Mario

    Get a comfortable seat

    We've already unveiled our favourite Super Mario games, but it's a series with plenty of talking points. We're in the middle of the busiest spell of new Super Mario games in the history of the franchise, with two 'New Super Mario Bros.' titles arriving this year, which will mean that three new entries will have arrived within...

  • Feature Our Favourite Super Mario Games

    The impossible list

    With New Super Mario Bros. 2 about to hit stores, it's prompted a lot of debate about the Super Mario series as a whole. We decided that we'd take on the list that cannot win, and declare Nintendo Life's favourite Super Mario games. In total, 16 members of staff rated their top 10 Super Mario titles from a list of 14. Only games...

  • News Original Freakyforms to be Removed From European eShop

    Oh dear

    Earlier today we shared the news that New Art Academy and Freakyforms Deluxe will be retail downloads in Europe, arriving on 17th August alongside New Super Mario Bros. 2. Of course, that meant that there could potentially be two Freakyforms titles in the eShop, with the original download version including less content but coming in at a...

  • News New Art Academy and Freakyforms Deluxe Confirmed as Retail Downloads

    'Many more' on the way

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 arrives in Europe on 17th August and will be the first retail download title on 3DS eShop. While this is already underway in Japan and Nintendo of America has revealed details of its distribution, Nintendo of Europe has been relatively quiet on its own plans. In a press release today it's been...

  • News Inazuma Eleven Compilation Kicking Off on 3DS

    Europe may get it this decade

    For European fans of the Inazuma Eleven franchise it's been a slow process to get hold of the first two DS titles, especially considering the fact that Japan is already into a 3DS spin-off series; North American soccer fans have been completely deprived. If you're in Japan, however, there's almost too much crazy...

  • News Dragon Quest X Storms to Number One in Japan

    3DS and Wii sell big, too

    Last week's Japanese charts brought big sales for New Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3DS, with the XL model contributing over 190,000 sales on its own. The good times keep coming for Nintendo in its homeland this week, with the latest results from Enterbrain showing strong performances in both software and hardware. The big...

  • News Nintendo Hypes 'eShop Heroes' in New Trailer

    Get a load of that music

    Just yesterday we posted a feature arguing that the 3DS eShop deserves big franchises, and that providing a variety of bite-sized download titles with recognisable names or neglected series could be a good thing for the platform. On the flip-side, however, Nintendo has used the store to introduce new characters and IPs to...