DS - News
December2010
News Next March, North American Pokémon Fans Can Catch 'Em All in Black & White
Do you plan on capturing Oshawott and co. next year?
Nintendo has just announced that they're releasing the next entry in the Pokémon series, Pokémon Black and White, on March 6, 2011 in North America. Many have criticised the previous releases for sticking too closely to formula, but this upcoming title seeks to change things up a bit with a new...
Features NES Characters, Then and Now: Part One
See how some of your favourite characters have evolved over the past 25 years
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a system that stimulated the imaginations of designers and gamers alike. Whether it was the smiling, dream-like wonderland of the Mushroom Kingdom, the sprawling fantasy world of Hyrule or the atmospheric depths of planet Zebes, the...
Review Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp (DS)
Decent but a bit murky
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premiered over 40 years ago, introducing television audiences to the lovable Mystery Inc. team and its unique line-up of distinct characters, each charming in their own way. It followed them as they took on spooky yet ridiculous case after case, and over time the show firmly embedded the phrase...
Review Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (DS)
Ga'Hoo would torture themselves with this?
TV and movie tie-in games are relatively synonymous with tedious, uninspired titles rushed to release to fool the poorly informed. Rather than clever game design, effort goes toward getting the game onto store shelves in time for box office hype to drive sales. Still, some of us try to remain optimistic,...
News Dragon Quest VI is Nintendo's Valentine's Gift to You, North America
Western debut for classic RPG
Following on from the success of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, Nintendo has confirmed it'll bring predecessor Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation to North America on February 14th 2011. The game was originally released in Japan on the Super Famicom back in 1995 and never saw a release in the Western...
Review Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! (DS)
Little Mario, big fun
For fans of the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, the good news is that Mini-Land Mayhem! is another truly stellar entry in the series. For those who are not yet fans, the good news is that Mini-Land Mayhem! is an excellent place to start. Mario's latest business venture (seriously, when does he ever find time to do any actual...
News EA: Nintendo Needs to Drop Wii Price, Help Third Parties
Just a couple of suggestions from John Riccitiello
Whether it's the top priority or not, Nintendo is undoubtedly looking to pick up declining profits with the upcoming 3DS. However, in response to the Move and Kinect peripherals for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively, launching new hardware might not be the only answer if Nintendo is to...
News Get Your Hands On a Ghost Trick DS Demo Right Now
Update: Now live in Europe
Not content with offering a free Flash demo of upcoming supernatural puzzler Ghost Trick, Capcom is now giving DS owners in North America a chance to try out the title with a downloadable demo. To get your stylus on the new demo, fire up your Wii and head over to the Nintendo Channel, and be sure to let us know what you...
News Pull Up a Chair and Get Acquainted with Okamiden's Cast
Susano, Kushi, Issun and more
If you've played Okami you're probably already familiar with many of the characters in Capcom's upcoming DS spin-off Okamiden, but here's a few videos to remind you and fill in any gaps just in case. Okamiden reaches North America on March 15th, with a European release date to follow on March 18th. Kushi video Susano...
Podcast NLFM Episode 11: A Holiday Season in FLUX
Take a sneak peek at the final BIT.TRIP, sigh at simians, sneak along with a secret agent and get into the spirit of the season
We look to the future here at Nintendo Life. Why, take this episode of NLFM, the little ol' chip and game music podcast we've got going: it's got an exclusive first listen of the soundtrack to Gaijin Games' upcoming...
News Nintendo Sold a Boatload of Hardware in November
2.7m served
While hardware sales for Wii and DS are definitely tailing off compared to their glory years, this time of year has always been kind to both consoles and it looks like this year is no different. According to numbers from the NPD group, Nintendo sold a total of 2.7m Wii and DS systems across North America last month, with DS just shading...
News Research Shows More Consumers are Choosing Their Phones for Gaming
Whilst gaming on the DS/PSP are on the decline
With the technological capabilities of modern smartphones on the increase and the popularity of digital games from outlets such as the Apps Store, it's no wonder Nintendo has been as vocal as it has about how companies like Apple are the real enemy in relation to their own console sales. In recent...
News Renegade Kid's New DS Game is ATV Wild Ride
Didn't see that coming
Renegade Kid has made a name for itself with atmospheric first-person games for DS – Dementium II and Moon in particular – but now it's trying something a little lighter, with ATV Wild Ride on the way in January. Using the same engine that powered Moon and Dementium, the game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second and...
Review Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands (DS)
Farming fun in the sun
Harvest Moon’s power to enthral and entrap gamers is often underestimated by those who have yet to experience the unbridled thrill of growing a crop of healthy tomatoes, but nearly 15 years after the original Super NES Harvest Moon the series continues to sell well to experienced farmers and newcomers alike. Now Harvest...
News Ubisoft Sticks It to Michael Jackson: The Experience DS Pirates
Vuvuzela: The ultimate anti-piracy tool
Piracy on the DS is a big problem for Nintendo as well as other developers, and if they can't beat the pirates, they might as well have some fun with them. If you're a software criminal, Ubisoft isn't making things smooth for you. One thing about this year's World Cup tournament that people won't forget is the...
News Get a Taste of Ghost Trick With Free Flash Demo
Who did the killing?
Ghost Trick isn't far away now, so if your excitement is reaching supernatural heights you might want to check out this free Flash demo from Capcom that will help ease you into the game's unique universe. With plenty of cheeky dialogue and some moderately mind-bending puzzles it's well worth a play even if you're not...
News Puzzle Fans Can Get Creative With Hidden Photo for DSi
Utilises the camera to construct puzzles and challenges
Retail games developed exclusively for the DSi are few and far between, but Most Wanted Games is chipping in with its own take on the use of the DSi camera within a game. From the makers of Mystery Tales, the upcoming Hidden Photo requires players to take photos of themselves and their...
Review Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (DS)
Hokey Poké?
There are two types of players in the world of Pokémon: those who enjoy capturing, training and battling with their Pokémon, and gentler, liberal-minded players who assume responsibility for the safety and well-being of the beloved pocket monsters. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, the third instalment in the Pokémon Ranger series,...
November2010
News A New Appointment With the Brain Training Series Has Been Booked
Kawashima and Iwata conducting their "special idea" in a new game
The Brain Training (also known as Brain Age) series is making a return after a long hiatus as Prof. Ryuta Kawashima confirms in his new book, Saraba Nou Game. Translated as "Farewell Brain Games", the book talks about the development of the third title in the popular puzzle...
News Nintendo Shifts 1.5 Million Consoles During Black Friday Week
Almost a million DS systems alone
Black Friday proved to be a very prosperous period for Nintendo as the various bundle packs that have been rolled out helped the company shift an impressive number of units in less than a week. Between Sunday 21st November and Saturday 27th November, consumers snapped up 900,000 units of the DS range of handhelds...
News We Want Skinless Mr Science to Reach the Western World
DS's oddest game ever
You don't need to have a very vivid imagination to guess what a skinless chap named Mr Science might look like, and you'd probably be right. Japanese TV show Tobidase! Kagaku-kun features the muscular man going on adventures and teaching kids about science, the perfect basis for a DS game, of course. Roughly translated as Fly...
Review Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (DS)
Worth its weight in gold?
When the Golden Sun series kicked off on the Game Boy Advance in 2001, it was lauded for its unique visual style and challenging puzzle elements, but after two releases the series took an extended break, so long in fact that many fans wondered if the series would ever see another entry. Now, over seven years later, Camelot...
Review Call of Duty: Black Ops (DS)
Portable ops
Even though they're wheeled out every year alongside their console cousin, n-Space's Call of Duty games on DS never cease to surprise. From making first-person gameplay work well on the unconventional handheld to pushing horsepower limits, each entry seems to have something new to prove. This year, Call of Duty: Black Ops pushes the DS...
Review Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar (DS)
Top of the crops
Harvest Moon games have remained largely the same since the series made its debut on the Super Nintendo all those years ago. You get up, tend to crops, care for animals, get married, raise a sprog, and continue forever. However, the latest title to hit North American shores, Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar, strays from the template...
Review Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (DS)
Flail, you fools!
Released in parallel to the Headstrong Games-developed Wii title, it is worth noting that the DS version of Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest is a separate game, not just a handheld port of the Wii version. It shares similarities with the Wii game, predominantly in its hack-'n-slash gameplay, but it distinguishes itself in the...
Review Super Scribblenauts (DS)
Word
We've always had to accept that in video games, there will always be more objects we want to play with than those we're allowed to use. The original Scribblenauts changed all of that, allowing the virtual world to become a malleable, ever-changing playground. You solved simple objectives in search of a Starite, manifesting any object that its...
News Radiant Historia is Waiting for You in February 2011
A time travelling RPG that's not made by Square?!
Atlus has been a staunch supporter of the DS for years, releasing some quality, quirky RPGs in that time, and the company has just announced another title bound for North America next year in the form of Radiant Historia. The press release hits all the key areas, promising to "channel the heart...
News Meet Snivy, Oshawott and Tepig, Pokemon Fans
Official names for Black and White starters
Regardless of how you feel about Pokémon Black and White's starter Pokémon, at least you now have official names you can call them instead of Smugleaf, Hamferno and The Water One. Yesterday, the names of the monsters who'll accompany you through thick and thin when the game reaches the Western world next...
News This Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Trailer is Bursting with Psynergy
Through the fire and flames
There's not too long to wait until Golden Sun: Dark Dawn materialises on North American shores, so now's as good a time as any to take a look at the new Psynergy powers the Adepts will be using on their journey. Most of the spells on show in this new trailer will be familiar to gamers who've played previous titles in the...
News Limited Edition Orange and Green DSis Spice Up Black Friday
New colours abound (now with press release)
It's one of the biggest shopping days of the year, so it's no surprise Nintendo has chosen to launch new DSi colours on Black Friday, according to this Gamestop catalogue. The new orange and green machines will go on sale from Friday with Mario Party DS, selling for $149.99 whilst stocks last. Nintendo...
News Price Slashing Helps Sonic Colours Jump to UK Top 20
That's better
Whilst the first week of sales for Sonic Colours on DS and Wii resulted in a disappointing 36th place for the hedgehog's latest outings, his second week on sale has seen significant gains, breaking into the UK Top 20 at number 18. Whilst we like to think our Sonic Colours DS review and Sonic Colours Wii
News Shopping Malls to Bring Gamers Together as Part of Nintendo's Tour
Sample some of the top Wii and DS games of the year
With Christmas only a few weeks away, shopping malls are already getting crammed with people wearing a ridiculous amount of layers and all rushing about, reluctantly spending an amount of money that's even more ridiculous. Well, if you want to take a break from all that gift-buying, or even if you...
News Dive Into Lego Pirates of the Caribbean Next Year
TT Games raids Davy Jones' Locker
Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Batman: some of the world's biggest film franchises have received the Lego treatment, and now it's time for Disney's popular pirates to walk the bricky plank, as Disney announces Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game out next year. Heading to Wii and DS as well as...
News WiiWare Developers Take On WarioWare: DIY
Big and little names lined up
If you've hit a plateau with your game-making inspiration in WarioWare: DIY for DS, Nintendo's next series of downloadable minigames might put the spark back into your ideas. A string of WiiWare developers will be bringing their ideas to life in the coming weeks, kicking off on Friday with a game from Max and the Magic...
News This Jedward Dragon Quest Promotion is Getting Too Much
Bonkers video inside
Part of Jedward's joint role as face of Nintendo UK is, naturally, to draw attention to the company's fantastic line-up of games from users who might not normally be into gaming. This video below is a perfect example. At a recent canvassing event for Dragon Quest IX, the talented twins took to the stage dressed as their Dragon...
All things bright and beautiful
The portable part of a hedgehog double whammy, Sonic Colours is – you guessed it – a high-speed 2D platformer. But wait, there’s more: this time Sonic is joined by a range of unique power-ups that help to refresh the standard formula. If you’ve played either of the hedgehog’s previous two outings on DS, the...
Podcast NLFM Episode 10: Fear Your Tears
From Kirby to 80's synthpop chip covers, this month's episode is all encompassing
Variety is the spice of life, and thanks to the insane variety of this 10th episode of our chip and game music podcast NLFM you'll be feeling that spice for hours after consumption. It's so spicy that we think we've got flavor for every mood, whether you're in the...
Third-person Bond is first-rate fun
Whereas Nintendo console gamers only get one James Bond shooter this fall, with the first-person GoldenEye 007 on Wii and third-person Blood Stone on HD platforms, DS owners get their pick of the litter with diminutive versions of both courtesy of developer n-Space. Just as GoldenEye on DS did, Blood Stone 007...
News Nintendo Expecting Consumers to Buy Ho-Ho-Hardware This Christmas
NPD sales figures show Nintendo's dominance in the U.S.
It's approaching the season of giving but, for the most part, that giving requires some buying at some point and the President at Nintendo of America is confident that consumers will be buying a lot of Nintendo hardware this Christmas as the Holiday season is more important to the company than...
News Sega Creates an Animal Crossing to Promote Sonic Colours
Wordplay!
Okay, so Sega isn't really creating an instalment in Nintendo's happiest franchise Animal Crossing, but the blue and white company did create a safe hedgehog crossing point in London to promote this Friday's release of Sonic Colours for Wii and DS. With 50,000 hedgehogs a year lacking the speed to cross British roads safely, Sega dedicated...
Use the handheld, that's what it's for!
Developer n-Space is no stranger to first-person shooters on Nintendo's technologically humble portable, having delivered three increasingly advanced Call of Duty DS games day-and-date with their console counterparts. That successful core formula hasn't changed all too much for their retelling of James Bond's...
News First Retail DS Karaoke Game Instructs Players to Just SING!
December could become noisier
Engine Software is clearly not happy with just providing karaoke games on the DSiWare service; no, it wants to provide the first retail karaoke game on the DS too. After last year's Just Sing! Christmas Songs, and the relatively-recent Just Sing! National Anthems, the Just SING! series is making its cartridge form debut...
News GoldenEye's Return Sells Twice As Well As HD Bond Outings
Still only debuts at number 13
It's not very often a Nintendo-exclusive title outsells a similar game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but the GoldenEye name clearly still carries appeal for UK gamers as the game comprehensively outsold HD 007 outing James Bond 007: Blood Stone. Although the Wii and DS game landed outside the UK Top Ten at number 13,...
News Okamiden Gives Europe Reason to be Cheerful in March
US on March 15th, EU on March 18th
Capcom's wolf goddess 'em up Okamiden has just received a confirmed European release date of March 18th 2011, as well as final – and very oriental – box art. Capcom has also announced a new competition on the official Okami Facebook page, inviting entrants to draw their own "goblin face" to win a 3DS,...
News DS to Have Life After 3DS, says Nintendo
Company will still bring big games to DS
If you're not caught up in the whirlwind of excitement surrounding the 3DS and want to stick with your trusty DS, you'll be glad to hear that Nintendo still wants to bring major titles to the machine even after the 3DS is available. Satoru Iwata stressed the importance of quality software for the machine's...
October2010
Review Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals (DS)
A brilliant retelling of a classic RPG
When the original Lufia 2 was released on the Super Nintendo, it came rather late in the console's lifespan and with very little fanfare. Sadly, this meant that many gamers missed out on one of the true RPG gems to come out of the 16-bit era. Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals is a complete re-imagining of Lufia 2,...
Review Puzzler World 2011 (DS)
Puzzlingly good
You'd be forgiven for not being familiar with Ubisoft's Puzzler series. Based on an ongoing magazine, the first game saw release in 2008 as Puzzler Collection, which was then followed up by Puzzler World in 2009. The games contained numerous puzzle types ranging from crosswords and Sudoku to more obscure games such as Link-A-Pix and...
News Nintendo & Capcom Team Up to Spook European Gamers With Ghost Trick
Phantom detectives to start their investigations from 14th January
Nintendo has confirmed that it has signed a distribution deal with Capcom for its upcoming European release of Ghost Trick Phantom Detective on the DS. It's not the first time Nintendo has stepped in to help out a third-party title; the most recent collaboration between the two was...
News Buying Ivy the Kiwi? Helps Save Real Kiwis
10p donated to Save the Kiwi Trust
You don't see many video games about kiwis, though this is Rising Star Games' second game to feature the flightless bird following DS romp New Zealand Story. The lack of kiwi-based games might be due to the increasing danger of extinction faced by its real-life counterpart, but if you want to do something about...
News First Plants vs. Zombies DS Trailer Sprouts and Shambles
Popcap title in motion
We broke the news of Plants vs. Zombies coming to DS in August, but now Popcap has released the first trailer ahead of the game's release in January. With new achievements, a two-player versus mode and four brand new minigames, the trailer should allay fears that the game wouldn't justify its full retail price tag. It also...
News UK Dragon Questers Unite at These HMV Events
Exclusive events for Celestrians
If you haven't experienced Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in its multiplayer mode, you're missing out. UK residents keen to leap into the game's social side can do so at selected HMV Gamerbase stores in collaboration with Nintendo of Europe. Attendees can take on Estark, nab an exclusive slime and...
News Fils-Aime: Nintendo's Biggest Current Threat is Apple
Could Nintendo be taking Sony and Microsoft too lightly, or over-reacting to Apple?
It's strange that Nintendo would see Apple and its range of iOS devices as more of a threat than Sony or Microsoft and their stake in the home console and handheld markets. Reggie Fils-Aime, President at Nintendo of America has echoed the concerns of Satoru Iwata and...
News Professor Layton Unwinds in UK Chart Top Five
Lost Future found
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future made its way to UK shores last Friday and enjoyed a strong launch weekend as the second-highest new entry in the chart at number 4. Wii Party slipped a pair of places to number 6, sandwiching Just Dance 2 at number 5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl made a surprise re-entry in the charts at number...
Competition Tell Nintendo Europe a Story and Win a Trip to Kyoto
Share your love in video form
If you're a European Club Nintendo member and you want to share your love of Nintendo games with the world, you might want to grab your video camera and create a piece for Tell Your Nintendo Story, a new competition from Nintendo itself. You can record a video straight from your webcam or upload any pre-recorded video...
News THQ Expects Wii & DS Markets to Have a Strong Christmas Performance
Publisher to offer "Great Games, Great Value"
THQ recently showed its support for Nintendo's upcoming 3DS but it's not forgetting about the Wii or the DS in doing so. Jon Rooke, THQ's UK Managing Director has told GamesIndustry.biz that the company is confident that the Wii and DS market will bounce back from slum
News Nintendo's DS Line Out-Sells Competition in Mid-October
Gotta buy 'em all!
Japanese shoppers are still snapping up Nintendo's portable hardware more than any other range of systems as sales figures for the week ending 17th October shows the various DS models are top of the pile. Although Sony's PSP sold the most on an individual basis with 37,127 units, a total of 47,101 units of the Nintendo DS and all...
News New Golden Sun Trailer Light on Talk, Big on Excitement
Summons, battles and... Kraden?
With Golden Sun: Dark Dawn around six weeks away from the Western world, there isn't long left until we can get to grips with Camelot's newest RPG, its first in seven years. This trailer might just make that wait a little harder to bear, showing off as it does some of the new Summons, Psynergies and a returning...
Review Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow (DS)
Forever in the shadow of other RPGs
Awakened Shadow is the third RPG game in Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Blue Dragon series. Developed at Mistwalker Studios, this iteration also marks the third completely new gameplay style after the turn-based tactics of the original and the RTS stylings of Blue Dragon Plus. Awakened Shadow has a more real-time action...
News EA Builds Sims 3 Trailers for Wii and DS
Get ready to meet your new family
The Sims is quite popular, apparently. Popular enough for Electronic Arts to bring the nonsense-speaking humanoids back to Wii and DS in the form of The Sims 3. Both consoles will receive bespoke versions of the virtual life simulator, each with its own modes, challenges and objectives. The Wii version is set to...
News Walmart Leaks Red DSi XL Package for America
Then sort-of rescinds it
Oh, the treacherous life of an Internet video games retailer. You need only put something online for mere seconds and it's already been documented, disseminated, dissected and discussed by the ever-hungry gaming audience. Such is the fate of Walmart this week, who advertised the limited edition red DSi XL ahead of any...
News Wii Party Leads Nintendo Chart Climb
This just in: Nintendo advertising campaign works
Never let it be said that teaming a completely harmless boyband with a family-friendly video game doesn't work. Kiddie favourite boppers JLS have clearly been doing sterling work in promoting Wii Party, as the game leaps six places to number four in the UK chart. With the exception of re-entries, the...
News Gamers Can Now Pre-Order the Limited Edition Red DSi XL
If value for money had a colour, could it be red?
Earlier this week we brought you news that in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo will be bringing the limited edition red DSi XL to Europe and now we have word of how much it will set back euro gamers too. Asides from the pre-installed A Little Bit of... Dr. Kawashima's...
News The DS Isn't Just for Gaming, It Can Help With Shopping Too
Turning visits to the supermarket into a real-time strategy game
What makes technology so marvelous is the multitude of tasks we can get a single piece of hardware to do. Single women (and men, we suppose) can probably find more than one use for an electric toothbrush, drivers prone to getting lost can use their phone to make calls as well as...
News Details of Doctor Who Titles Emerge from the TARDIS
Two titles totally different
The upcoming Timelord adventures Doctor Who: Return to Earth for Wii and Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth for DS are expected to make their way to Europe in four weeks, so it's a little odd we know nothing of either title barring some screenshots. Worry not, as the Official Nintendo Magazine has unearthed a few nuggets of...
News We May See More Undead DS Shooters Thanks to ZombieZ Seeker
7 Raven Studios is bucking the trend
The majority of first-person shooters might require gamers to shoot at soldiers but Zoo Games is bucking the trend with its upcoming zombie-orientated on-rails shooter for the Nintendo DS. The creator of relatively low-key Wii and DS games has an upcoming handheld title called ZombieZ Seeker which has been rated...
Review Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS)
As challenging as it is charming
Having already had success with its two previous Final Fantasy DS remakes, Matrix Software decided to take a fairly different approach for the brand new and completely original Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. While some of the basic gameplay elements were carried over, the game received a fairly significant...
News Mew Returns to Pokemon in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Catch the psychic one at last
Remember when you first played Pokémon and your friend showed you the amazingly rare Mew, Pokémon #151 when 150 was a big deal? Now you can relive those glorious days again in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver as you'll be able to catch the cutesy Psychic-type monster from Friday. Mew is being released to commemorate...
News Sonic Colours DS Includes Leaderboards and Online Multiplayer
Wii gets leaderboards too
We knew that Sonic Colours Wii is going to feature cooperative multiplayer, but an IGN interview with Sonic Team lord Takashi Iizuka has revealed the DS version will also feature multiplayer, either through local wireless play or online via Nintendo WiFi Connection. As opposed to the Wii version's cooperative play the DS...
News Super Scribblenauts' UK Marketing Scheme Involves Eggs
Anybody know any good egg puns?
Wordplay and eggs: they go together like boiled egg and soldiers. What better way to celebrate the launch of wordsmithery sequel Super Scribblenauts than to tie-in with leading ovum producer Stonegate Eggs, then? Specially branded boxes containing so-called "Intelligent Eating Eggs" will bear the likeness of...
News n-Space CEO Describes the Games Industry as a Mess
"n-Space is down, but definitely not out"
It seems n-Space – the company behind several DS instalments of home console titles – is one of the latest development studios that's resorted to reducing its staff numbers due to the pressure of the economic climate of the last several years. Last Friday's undisclosed number of lay-offs has had the...
News Piracy Not to Blame for Poor Software Sales, Says Iwata
Blame must be divvied out more evenly
We know that the DS has suffered a great deal from the impact of piracy, with many titles failing to gain the sales they deserved, in part due to the ease with which software is pirated on the device. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata isn't convinced the blame lies squarely at the feet of pirates however,...
Rumour Sonic 20th Birthday Pack Not Just Selling 16-Bit Memories
Best of Sonic in glorious 3D... wait, come back!
It's a rich old time for fans of classic side-scrolling platformers: Super Mario Bros. celebrated its 25th anniversary recently, and next year – June 23rd, to be precise – is the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog. With Nintendo having pushed the boat out to commemorate its iconic hero's 25th...
News A Duo of Doctor Who Titles Regenerate in November
One on Wii, one on DS
The announcement of new Doctor Who games on Wii and DS brought more than a ripple of excitement to the gaming world, and now we have official release dates for both games. Fans of the time-travelling Doctor will be able to get their hands on Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth for DS and Doctor Who: Return to Earth for Wii on November...
News Surprise! Pikachu DSi Charger Coming to North America
Just in time for Christmas
There's no doubt you remember this incredible Pikachu DSi charger that raises questions of exactly how the little electric mouse is charging the console. Well, North American gamers will soon get their chance to inspect the accessory close-up, as Hori is bringing it Stateside. You can currently pre-order it from Amazon for...
News Namco and Rising Star Team Up to Bring More Harvest Moons to Europe
Animal Parade and Sunshine Islands, to be precise
You wait six months for a Harvest Moon game to reach Europe, and then three come along at once. Rune Factory 2 sprouted across Europe today, and now publisher Rising Star Games has teamed up with Namco Bandai Partners to distribute two more titles before the end of November. Harvest Moon: Animal...
News Find Chibiterasu in New York, Win a Chibiterasu Plush
Missing: legendary god in wolf form. Reward: toys.
Anyone in the New York area who fancies a bit of a treasure hunt may want to keep their eyes peeled for this poster of a missing Chibiterasu, star of Capcom's Okamiden, for the chance to win a plush keyring of the lupine goddess. The first three people to find the poster, take a photo of themselves...
News Rune Factory 3 Sprouting Across North America in November
November 9th, to be precise
Whilst budding European horticulturists wait to get their green fingers on Rune Factory 2, due out tomorrow, North American farmers can look forward to the third instalment, the cleverly entitled Rune Factory 3, arriving on November 9th. As well as the usual mixture of farming and fighting, Rune Factory 3 is the first...
News Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Hits North America in January Too
Only a few days apart
Yesterday we told you that Kingdom Hearts Re:coded will reach Europe on January 14th 2011, with a North American release date yet to be confirmed. Now we've had it confirmed – if only it were always that quick – as launching on January 11th, 2011. Here's the press release in all its Disney/Square Enix crossover glory. LOS...
News Sega Strikes Poor Sonic Games from Catalogue to "Increase Brand Value"
Below-average games no longer sold
Sonic's career has more ups-and-downs than a Dr Robotnik theme park, and nobody's more aware and more hurt by this than Sega itself. In fact, the company's so upset by the hedgehog's past transgressions that it's removing his less enjoyable adventures from its back catalogue. Sega's senior vice president of EMEA...
News Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Reaches Europe in January
Disney-tastic start to the New Year
The latest collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, has just been confirmed for a release across Europe on January 14th. A beefed-up port of a Japan-only mobile game, Re:coded features fan favourite characters from both companies, including Cloud Strife, Mickey Mouse and Hercules, as...
News Europe Awakes to a Golden Sun on December 10th
Dark Dawn dated
We had our fears that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn would land in 2011, but Nintendo's latest release schedule pins the game down for launch on Friday December 10th. If you want to catch up on our coverage in anticipation of what's sure to be one of DS's finest RPGs of the year, you can read our First Impressions and check out some Golden...
News Captain America Bringing Justice to Wii and DS Next Year
The latest in Sega's comic book titles
Sega's rather busy on the old Marvel Comics licence these days, having brought Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk to Wii and DS, with another title based on the upcoming Thor movie currently in development. The company has also just announced it's bringing Captain America: Super Soldier to Wii and DS...
Podcast NLFM Episode 9: Halloween Hootenanny
You don't need to be the master of unlocking to access these horror treasures
Boo! It's a regular fright fest in this episode of NLFM as we queue up some of our favorite horror game tracks. BEHOLD! the wonders of mad science gone wrong! GASP! at the children of the night! WONDER! how Chuck D. Head doesn't need more painkillers! RUN! from the...
News Prepare for Celebrity Overload in Nintendo's Christmas Campaign
It doesn't stop at Jedward
Nintendo of Europe is very fond of having familiar faces present its campaigns: Ant and Dec represented the brand for years, and Irish nightmare twins Jedward were recently brought on board for the coming Christmas period. That's only the tip of the superstar iceberg however, with the full range of personalities now...
News Capcom's Okamiden Limps to Retail in Japan
DS sequel lags behind PS2 and Wii versions in day one sales
We're absolute suckers for cute animals here at Nintendo Life so the high expectations we hold for Capcom's DS title Okamiden are entirely understandable - it's just a shame that Japan doesn't seem to feel the same way. First-day sales figures for the Okami sequel suggest that only 10,000...
News Mario and Sonic Olympics was Yuji Naka's Idea, says Yuji Naka
Idea pitched before he left Sega
The man behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka, had left Sega by the time Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games was underway, but Mr Naka has said that he came up with the concept before his departure. Speaking to the audience at this year's Eurogamer Expo in London, Mr Naka said: It was actually my idea, and I was...
Review Pang: Magical Michael (DS)
It's showtime!
Everyone loves Magical Michael, 'cause the tricks that he does are ever so cool. However, at the moment, no one is particularly loving him, as a failed experiment on his part has caused hundreds of dangerous bubbles to be released across the world. Now it's his task to venture across the planet and eliminate the threat. If you've...
News Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Crown Job System Trailer
Unique character customisation system explained
The folks at Square-Enix have just sent over the newest video for Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light which shows how to use the game's unique Crown Job System. As you can see in the video, there is a huge degree of customisation made available to the player by wearing and upgrading the various...
News Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem Launches Next Month
The fourth in the series aims to be more user-friendly
When Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! was announced at this year's E3, we knew we'd be seeing its release sometime in the holiday season, but now Nintendo has confirmed that a North American release will go ahead next month. When the fourth title in the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series...
News Ivy the Kiwi? Emerges from its European Egg on October 29th
Yuji Naka's latest opus nearly hatched
Ivy the Kiwi? for Wii and DS is the latest game from Yuji Naka, best known for his involvement in the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's been out in North America for some time, but a European release is just around the corner, with publisher Rising Star Games announcing the game will launch on Friday,...
September2010
News October is Spook Month on Nintendo Life
Frightful Fridays and Scary Saturdays ahead
As we all know, October 31st is All Hallows Eve, popularly known as Halloween. It's a night when some of you will dress up in your favourite fear-inducing garb and haunt the town, others will dress up as well but instead go to screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and others still will stay home and...
News Nintendo Predicts 4 Million 3DS Units to Sell in Debut Month
That's Nintendo with its conservative hat on
It's all very well showering us with release dates and pricing (well, for Japan anyway) and the trailers and screenshots certainly don't do any harm, but how well does Nintendo think the 3DS will perform sales-wise? Nintendo is predicting the 3DS to shift more than 4 million units by the end of the...
News Nintendo of Japan Shows Off Upcoming DS Games
New Kirby title and more (now with video!)
As part of its recent conference, Nintendo's released screen shots of six upcoming DS titles including a new Kirby adventure, a Pokémon typing-based game and the next entry in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, Mini-Land Mayhem. There are some friendly dogs and fearsome dinos to see as well, not to mention...
News Japan Receives Red DSi XL in Honour of Mario's 25th Anniversary
Limited edition console on the way
Yes, it's the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and even the most ardent plumbing fan might be getting just a little fed-up of the fanfare. Just show that person this upcoming Mario edition DSi XL and watch their face light up again, though. Released in Japan on October 28th, the machine is of course in...
News Buy Advance Copies of the Game at the Super Scribblenauts Event
Get them signed too while you're at it
It's not long now before 5th Cell releases Super Scibblenauts, the sequel to 2009's Scibblenauts, and in conjunction with the game's launch GameStop will be holding a special event where gamers can take part in a costume contest and even buy copies of the game ahead of its scheduled retail release. The GameStop...
News Classic Mario DS Games Get Reprints at Toys 'R' Us
Mario Hoops, Super Princess Peach and Partners in Time
So it's Mario's 25th anniversary and everyone's after a piece of the plumber, particularly fans of portable gaming, but some titles can be hard to find. That's why it's good news that Toys 'R' Us has secured a wad of brand new versions of Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Super Princess Peach and Mario and...
News Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Action Battle Points Trailer
Combat gets covered
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is shaping up to be another quality entry in the famed RPG series, with its unique graphical style and developer heritage. Its battle system could take a bit of getting used to though, which is why publisher Square Enix has put together a brief video showing you how to get the most out of the...
News Japanese DS Sales Spike Last Week in Mysterious Circumstances
Whatever could be the driving force?
Of course, Pokémon Black & White saw their Japanese release last week, with hardware sales more than doubling across the country. Previous week's DS sales stood at a respectable 39,749 across all models, with last week's figures passing 85,000 units sold across the entire week. In fact, the DS range outsold...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Named Game of the Year in CESA Awards
Top Japanese designers give Mario the nod
New Super Mario Bros. Wii was Nintendo's big Christmas hit of 2009, sweeping all before it in a multi-coloured wave of shells, fire flowers and multiplayer rage. It wasn't just a big hit with consumers though, netting a range of awards, the latest being the Grand Award from Japan's Computer Entertainment...
News Sonic Colours Gets Special Edition Figures in PAL Regions
Grab a batch of toys with the game
North American hedgehog fans will be able to keep their heads warm with this pre-order Sonic hat, but gamers Down Under are heading towards a warmer time of year. What will they get to honour the release of Sonic Colours? Some figurines, that's what. EB Games Australia lists special editions for both the Wii and DS...
