Latest Features
Talking Point Capcom, the Nintendo Switch and Gaming Business Realities
Sometimes Capcom and Nintendo are close partners, but not always
At the moment some Switch aficionados are a little baffled and frustrated with Capcom. There are multiple reason for this, but Monster Hunter: World (coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC) is arguably top of the list. Capcom has only shown limited support for the Switch so far, with a...
Feature Is It Really Cheaper To Order Retro Games Direct From Japan?
Forget eBay - there could be a cheaper option
Back in the '90s, it seemed that the Japanese got all the best stuff. Not only did games typically launch sooner in Japan, they came in gorgeously-illustrated boxes complete with full-colour manuals, putting the rather drab western equivalents to shame. Not only that, the Japanese were blessed with many...
Editorial The Switch eShop Library is Starting to Look Like the Real Deal
Keep it on the download
The Switch has only been out a little over five months, but in this helter-skelter world it already seems to be settled into the market. General buzz and demand remain high, there are major retail games due regularly for the rest of the year, and Nintendo is still in a continuous battle to ensure that supply meets demand. For...
Preview Jumping Into the Crazy World of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Including a stint in the co-op mode
While its reveal at E3 was anything but a surprise, the positive response to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was arguably unexpected. The idea of a crossover between the two IPs wasn't well received by everyone before it was shown, with this writer among the initial doubters. Yet the impact in LA was significant,...
Feature Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's Producer on the "WTF" Blend of Iconic Franchises
"From the very start it was a true cross-over project"
With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle now just weeks away, attention will start to shift to how this cross-over will perform on Nintendo Switch. Early instincts from leaks weren't positive for all, but it made a notable impact at E3 to win over a number of fans. We recently enjoyed some extended...
Feature Just How Bad Is Hori's Wired 'Solution' For Switch Voice Chat?
Wired for sound, for better or worse
You've all seen (and no doubt poked fun at) the official diagram for Hori's Switch voice chat headset, and you may well have tried out the rather irksome, smartphone-based voice chat system Nintendo has created for its leading console. For the full experience you really need one of Hori's headsets, which come...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For August And September
Mario + Rabbids, Pokkén Tournament and lots more!
Can you believe it's August already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of ARMS and Splatoon 2 and there's still lots more to look forward to in upcoming months. So what's on the horizon for Nintendo Switch fans, then? We've complied a list of...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - July 2017
More downloadable gems
The Switch eShop continues to pick up steam, with July seeing a noticeable ramping up in the number of download releases. There have been some busy weeks and plenty of interesting titles, so we're back with our series to sort the wheat from the chaff with our Nintendo Life eShop Selects awards for July. This month we've got...
Editorial amiibo Has Stalled, Because Nintendo is Forgetting What Makes It Special
A decline into minor unlocks and collectible DLC
Nintendo is still fully committed to amiibo, that much is obvious. New figures and cards continue to gradually emerge, some as expected with the biggest games (such as Splatoon 2 and Metroid: Samus Returns), and others a little unexpected like the cards that came out alongside Mario Sports...
Poll The New Nintendo 2DS XL is Out This Week - Are You Tempted?
Heading for a quiet launch
Nintendo launches new hardware this week, but unlike some of its previous iterations it's arriving rather quietly. In fact, the company hasn't mentioned it all that much on social media in the past week or two, so you may have forgotten it's happening. The New Nintendo 2DS XL arrives on 28th July, alongside Hey! Pikmin and...
Feature Nintendo Switch + LED Mini Projector: A Match Made In Gaming Heaven?
Big-screen gaming on the move
The hybrid nature of the Switch means that it straddles the divide between portable and domestic gameplay; it's a unit that is small and light enough to be carried in your bag for gaming on the go, but it also connects to your TV like a traditional system, offering big-screen delights as well. The super-portable nature...
Feature Re-acquainting Ourselves With an Old Ally in Metroid: Samus Returns
"It's time"
When it came to time for questions during our hands-on demo with Metroid: Samus Returns for the Nintendo 3DS, the very first thing we asked was, “Why now?” That's because, one deviation aside, Samus Aran has been out of the public spotlight for seven years - it's been a whole decade if you trace her absence back to the beloved...
Gallery King Of Games Celebrates 15 Years Of Awesome Video Game Clothing
15 years of looking the part
Premium Japanese gaming clothing brand King of Games is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary with a gallery of products and Nintendo-related kitsch at Nakano's Meteor Gallery. In case you didn't know, Nakano is a part of downtown Tokyo which is gaining a reputation as the "new Akihabara", making it the ideal...
Talking Point Splatoon 2's Salmon Run Shows Off the Switch's Local Multiplayer Strengths
Flawless fun
When Nintendo confirmed that the co-op Salmon Run mode in Splatoon 2 would take place in specific limited time windows, there were some understandable groans. Nevertheless since the game's launch it's not been much of an issue, as the mode has been available pretty much whenever we want to play it. The function of the time windows is...
Editorial Nintendo, Somehow, Has Gone Backwards With Voice Chat on the Switch
It's actually worse than on Wii U and 3DS
When Nintendo confirmed that it'd be running lobbies and voice chat through a dedicated smartphone app there were plenty of critical remarks online. As a site we followed the line of a wait and see approach, but as crazy Hori workarounds and limited details emerged there was the whiff of a messy launch, and...
Feature RIVE Adds Copilot Mode as Two Tribes Tell Us About Upcoming Nintendo Switch Version
"We've always held the Nintendo aesthetic in high regard"
RIVE has proven to be an interesting project - it's a truly challenging and smart twin-stick shooter that is a swansong for Two Tribes. The studio brought us some excellent titles over a number of years, but decided that it would make one final game before moving on to new things...
Feature Just How Hard Is It To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
We hit the streets of Tokyo on Splatoon 2 launch day to find out
Today is Friday, July 21st. It's horrendously hot and humid in Japan. It's the height of summer and the start of the school holidays in many parts of Tokyo. It's also the day that Splatoon 2 is out. As if the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles wasn't bad enough, Nintendo's newest...
Feature Just How Hard Is It To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
We hit the streets of Tokyo on Splatoon 2 launch day to find out
Today is Friday, July 21st. It's horrendously hot and humid in Japan. It's the height of summer and the start of the school holidays in many parts of Tokyo. It's also the day that Splatoon 2 is out. As if the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles wasn't bad enough, Nintendo's newest...
"I feel like Zelda: BOTW might become my favourite game of all time"
It might be a struggle to explain to your grandparents exactly how big a deal YouTube is these days, but a few facts and figures usually help. Joseph "Stampy Cat" Garrett - one of the world's most popular Minecraft YouTubers - has over 8 million subscribers (not to mention...
Feature Splatoon 2 and the Spirit of Miiverse - In Pictures
Ponies, memes and slightly odd complaints
Splatoon 2 is about to hit stores, but it's arrived on the eShop in Japan and some have received their pre-orders early all around the globe. While trying to figure out the Nintendo Switch Online app and generally messing about, your humble scribe clocked the first in-game Miiverse-style posts, following on...
Feature Ex-Rare Composer Grant Kirkhope On "Breaking Mario" And Following In Koji Kondo's Footsteps
"We've poured ourselves into this game to try and make it special"
It's fair to say that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle didn't have the most auspicious of starts. When the game leaked it was met with a fair degree of scepticism, but that all changed when the title was unveiled onstage at E3, complete with an appearance by Shigeru Miyamoto himself...
Gallery A Look Back At Some Of Miiverse's Craziest And Most Beautiful Moments
"y cant metroid crawl?"
Nintendo's quirky social network Miiverse was launched way back in 2012 alongside the Wii U, and was later rolled out to the 3DS. While many gamers used it to request or share tips on their favourite games, there have been many amusing moments over the years, and some heartbreaking ones too - such as this doomed Miiverse...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo 3DS Games of 2017 - Summer Edition
Life in the little portable yet
Back at the start of Spring we started our usual 'Biggest Games' series, but didn't get around to doing a 3DS equivalent. To be honest, there wasn't much confirmed for the portable, regardless. We had a small collection of solid games, certainly, but they were slim pickings. From Spring onwards, however, a handful of...
Editorial In Praise of the Smaller New Nintendo 3DS - The Best 3DS*
*Well, in Tom Whitehead's opinion
Nintendo sure likes to iterate its portable hardware, and the 3DS 'family' has been no exception. There's been the 3DS, the 3DS XL, the 2DS, the New 3DS, the New 3DS XL and soon the New 2DS XL. Throw in various colours, limited editions and cool designs and it's been a typically dizzying generation. For me, though,...
Feature Solving the Puzzle of Death Squared on Nintendo Switch
"It's the perfect gateway game to play in co-op"
The Nintendo Switch eShop has had a couple of busy weeks, with a pleasing range of quality titles arriving on the hardware. One to land in North America and Europe on 13th July is Death Squared by SMG Studio. A puzzle game previously well received on PC, it works nicely as either a co-op...
Feature Talking Trade With Bonnie Gordon, Voice of Fire Emblem: Echoes' Silque
On being Silque and singing Mother Mila's praises
Modern Fire Emblem games have been a real cornerstone of the 3DS’ library, with Awakening, Fates, and Echoes each excellent examples of the series’ endless tactical RPG appeal. They’ve become fan favourites not only because of their satisfyingly strategic gameplay, but also because of the...
Preview Whistling for Attention in Hey! Pikmin
A small world
It's been pleasing for 3DS owners to see that, while a shiny alternative is on the market, the successful family of portables continues to have an important role in Nintendo's plans. With titles like Metroid: Samus Returns and of course Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on the way, the era of dual screens and some stereoscopic 3D isn't...
Preview Going Solo in Splatoon 2's Single Player Hero Mode
Off we go to Octo Canyon
Due to the online servers not yet being available this preview is entirely focused around the single player campaign. Make sure you keep an eye out for our full review where we look at the whole kit and caboodle! If there’s one complaint people had about the original Splatoon it’s that the single player Hero Mode,...
Feature Castlevania Show Producer Adi Shankar On Respecting Fandom And Future Seasons
"I didn’t want to participate in the massacre of my childhood"
If you have a Netflix subscription and you're a Castlevania fan then chances are you've already digested the four-episode adaptation that has recently gone live on the streaming service. Based on the events seen in Castlevania III, the show includes the vocal talents of Richard...
Editorial Satoru Iwata's Vision for Gaming Continues to Shine Through Nintendo
Two years on from Iwata-san's passing, his legacy endures
It was two years ago on this date, 11th July, that Satoru Iwata passed away. It reflects the impact he had on the gaming industry that it was a day with a very real emotional impact on so many of us. The majority of his admirers never met him in person, but his unique style of leadership and...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch eShop Games of 2017 - Summer Edition
It's heating up
The Nintendo Switch is now settling into plenty of households, building up an interesting library of games in the process. The eShop adds plenty to the system's library, of course, and it's now time for us to revisit a list of what we think are the 'biggest' games still due on the store this year - you can check out our equivalent...
Feature Castlevania Season 1 Review: Plenty Of Blood, Bad Language And Bite
And better than we could possibly have hoped for, to boot
Out of all of Konami's illustrious back catalogue, Castlevania holds a very special place in the hearts of gamers. From its humble beginnings as an 8-bit take on Bram Stoker's famous Dracula story, it has gone on to create a self-contained world which uses the vampire legend as its foundation...
Feature Seeking Illumination from the Creators of Bulb Boy on Nintendo Switch
"We believe the Switch audience will appreciate the spirit of Bulb Boy"
Today brings the release of Bulb Boy to the eShop in North America (due on 13th July in Europe), which is certainly a unique arrival for Switch owners to consider. It blends point and click gameplay with a quirky style and surreal storytelling, certainly setting itself...
Guide How To Beat Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Trial Of The Sword: Final Trials
Realise your potential
The first DLC pack for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been released and with it comes the Trial of the Sword, a series of 50 challenges split across three sections Link must complete in order to fully power up the Master Sword. Completing all three sections will raise the Master Sword's power from 30 all...
Guide How To Beat Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Trial Of The Sword: Middle Trials
Stuck in the middle
The first DLC pack for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been released and with it comes the Trial of the Sword, a series of 50 challenges split across three sections which Link must complete in order to fully power up the Master Sword. Completing all three sections will raise the Master Sword's power from 30...
Guide How To Beat Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Trial Of The Sword: Beginner Trials
A trying time, indeed
The first DLC pack for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been released and with it comes the Trial of the Sword, a series of 50 challenges split across three sections which Link must complete in order to fully power up the Master Sword. Completing all three sections will raise the Master Sword's power from 30 all...
First Impressions Running Scared from Sonic Forces
Where's the SSSSSS when you need it?
Sonic Team, for the longest time, seems to think that Sonic is all about speed. To be fair that’s what all the marketing for the original games was pushing, but in reality speed in Sonic is a reward for playing well, not the standard staple of each game in the series (in terms of the old school classics, at...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017 - Summer Edition
Plenty to keep us busy
Back in April we listed the Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017 in our Spring Edition, so now it's time to reassess and update for the Summer. A number of the games that featured in that previous list have since been released while E3 and so on have also brought us fresh announcements, ensuring that we have some...
Feature The Master Trials DLC - Rediscovering the Joy of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
And facing a big challenge
When Nintendo announced the Expansion Pass for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild there was understandable concern, especially as the company fell into the much derided strategy of announcing the plans well ahead of the game's release. The case wasn't helped, either, by the somewhat tacky initial add-ons in the form...
Hardware Review SFANS Adapter For Switch: The World's First Truly Portable Dock
Small enough to fit in your pocket
Update: Since this review went live it has been brought to our attention that the tech inside the SFANS is actually taken from a Chinese-made dongle intended for Samsung smartphones. This in no way changes our opinion of the SFANS Adapter. Original Story: The portability concept of the Switch is something which...
First Impressions Kicking Off With FIFA 18 on the Nintendo Switch
Taking to the pitch on the Switch
After a notable absence from Nintendo platforms, FIFA is finally making its return to a Nintendo home console. The last ‘current-generation’ release a Nintendo console has seen was as a Wii U launch title all the way back in 2012 in FIFA 13, though a few entries with minimal updates did arrive on 3DS and Wii in...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For July And August
Splatoon 2, Mario + Rabbids and more
Can you believe it's July already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and ARMS and there's still lots more to look forward to in upcoming months. So what's on the horizon for Nintendo Switch fans, then? We've complied a list of all the good stuff coming...
Feature The NES and SNES Mini Could Live On Through Nintendo Switch
Bundle 'em up
This writer recently had a bit of a whinge about SNES Mini pre-orders and the pending stockopalypse, which some agreed with and others didn't. Nevertheless, it's still the case that The Super NES Classic Edition (NA) / The Nintendo Classic Mini: Sup
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects - June 2017
Games worth grabbing
The Switch is off to a strong start on its eShop; as of yet there's been very few shovelware titles and yet a veritable feast of excellent games to sink our collective teeth into. But which of these are the very cream of the crop? Thankfully we're back with our almost-new series to sort the gold from the gunk aptly named the...
Editorial The Frustrating Quest for a SNES Mini is Bad Business for Nintendo
It'd be funny if it wasn't true
Oh, Nintendo. We love you, we care about you, but you do drive us crazy sometimes. We're too involved to break it off, but sometimes we need a bit of a cool-down from your shenanigans. Here's how you turn hype for a hugely anticipated product into frustration, in some cases anger, and yes even mockery. You announce a...
First Impressions Dropping in on Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase
A Jaleco Jam of Falling Fruit
The launch of the Switch was an especially exciting one because, for the first time on a Nintendo system, a region-free eShop meant gamers everywhere had access to content from outside their home territory. North American gamers could grab VOEZ from the European or Japanese shops a week before its release in the region,...
Matters Of Import Finding The Secret Of Mana In Seiken Densetsu Collection On Switch
Mana from heaven
While Square's Seiken Densetsu series continues to this very day, it's the two SNES / Super Famicom outings on which the franchise built its enviable reputation. Seiken Densetsu 2 - better known in the west as Secret of Mana - is arguably one of the finest RPGs ever made, while its sequel has only been held back from wider acclaim...
Feature We Quiz the Fire Emblem Warriors Developers On Characters, Game Design and More
"If people enjoy the game it would be great to make a sequel"
Way back in January during the big reveal of the Switch, Nintendo lifted the veil on Fire Emblem Warriors, the latest collaboration between the big N's internal teams and Koei Tecmo. After plenty had fun with Hyrule Warriors on Wii U and then Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS,...
Guide Everything We Know About the Super NES Classic Edition
The games, the controllers, and the regional variations
After plenty of rumours and assumptions based on common sense, Nintendo unveiled The Super NES Classic Edition (NA) / The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL / Europe / Australia / New Zealand), though it was an announcement with some surprises. There's...
Feature The Full Story Behind Star Fox 2, Nintendo's Most Famous Cancellation
"The series was never intended to be limited to linear 3D scrolling stages"
To celebrate the announcement of the SNES Classic Mini, we're republishing the full story behind the cancellation of Star Fox 2, which first appeared on the site back in May 2015. This year will see the launch of another entry in Nintendo's long-running space battle...