Latest Features
Preview Battle Mode is Back On Form in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Back with a vengeance
We had one major complaint with Mario Kart 8 when we reviewed it on Wii U - its so-called Battle Mode was lazy and barely worth a look. It simply took place on Grand Prix tracks, so you'd drive around unaware of where your foes were (as a track map wasn't added until a post-launch update), which was a vacuous and pointless...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 12th April 2017
Games, amiibo, more games...
Nintendo may have given the longest slots of this week's Direct broadcast to ARMS and Splatoon 2, as expected, but there was plenty more to dive into. Across 3DS and Switch segments we saw a range of games, old and new, and there were even some accessory announcements to throw in; amiibo, of course, made their mark. All...
Feature What We Expect From the Nintendo Direct - 12th April
ARMS and Splatoon 2 will be the focus, but small surprises seem likely
Nintendo has a pattern of hosting a Direct or 'info drop' in the month of April, with the slot far enough away from the all-encompassing E3 to be a useful launching point for some interesting announcements. It'll also be the first Direct since the 3rd March hardware launch of...
Talking Point PS4 Pro and Xbox Scorpio Draw Battle Lines, But Nintendo Goes Its Own Way With Switch
Nintendo's bubble exists outside the 4K wars
These are strange times in the game console industry. It used to be that major rivals would release gaming machines that simply plugged into your TV and they'd battle against each other for around five years before upping the ante with new technology. Systems didn't always go head to head in terms of...
Poll What Wii U Ports Would You Like to Play on Nintendo Switch?
Filling out the release schedule
The Nintendo Switch has had a retail release this week, albeit one that may not set too many pulses racing - LEGO City: Undercover. We're still rattling through it for review, but it's interesting in that it's a port of a former Wii U exclusive; we should probably expect that to be a trend over the next year or two...
Feature From BIT.TRIP to Runner3 - The Nintendo Journey of Choice Provisions
"Nintendo platforms have always been CommanderVideo's home"
When Runner3 was announced as a Nintendo Switch exclusive this writer's eyebrows went up a fair amount - it's not particularly common for download games to be exclusive nowadays, much less so from studios with a track record of multiple cross-platform successes. Yet here we are - it's an...
Feature The Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2017 - Spring Edition
Big games on little cartridges
The Spring season is upon us, and with the Nintendo Switch out in the wild and settling into a groove we thought it was a good time to revive our 'Biggest Games' lists, which previously started to get a tad stretched for Wii U and 3DS. Such is the relative richness of the Switch line-up that we're back to separate...
Interview The Story of Snake Pass' Origin from Creator Seb Liese
Don't pass it up
Snake Pass is undoubtedly an original idea, but we weren't satisfied with just knowing it was different, we wanted to find out how it came to be. That's why in the video above we hooked up with the founder of Snake Pass' concept Seb Liese at EGX Rezzed to chat about how this whole idea came to be. What did you think of the unusual...
Feature One Month of Nintendo Switch - Five Improvements We Want to See
Going to the next level
The Nintendo Switch has now been out in the wild for over a month, and overall it's fair to say that it's picked up solid momentum. Sales and demand have been high, retailers and analysts have talked positively about its prospects, and a mix of interesting download titles along with (arguably) one of the greatest games of...
Talking Point One Month of Nintendo Switch - Early Momentum Brings Optimism
Nintendo now heads into a critical period to sustain early success
The Nintendo Switch launch hasn't been a flop. That might seem to be a peculiar standard to target, but let's consider the scenario before the system arrived. Counterbalancing excitement about the console and its concept, prior to launch, there were equally valid concerns that had...
Feature The Best Nintendo April Fools' Day Gags of 2017
Breath of the Wild jelly beans, retro Fire Emblem and more
Well, 1st April has come and the joke articles, social media posts and GIFs have done the rounds. For our part we decided to make fun of Nintendo's inability to keep meaningful secrets over the past year, making up some nonsense about a Mario-themed operation to plug the gaps and stop leaks...
Feature Thirty Years Ago, Little Mac Became a Champion in Punch-Out!!
To be the Man, you've got to beat the Super Macho Man
Another game is passing the 30 year mark. After all, in 1987 the NES was available worldwide, with lots of titles being released - Punch Out!! being one of them. Originally made as a prize giveaway for a Famicom Open Golf contest in Japan in 1987, it was a home conversion of the arcade games...
Poll A Month of Nintendo Switch - Do You Think It's Heading for Success?
Positive early sales and talk of high demand bodes well
The Nintendo Switch is one month old. We don't think that's a landmark worthy of cake and balloons, but it's an interesting one nevertheless. Having hit stores on Friday 3rd March the results so far have been quite positive - yes, Nintendo has a chance with this one. The opening weekend went...
"It's mostly my daughter Maddi's fault!"
Capcom's Ghouls 'n Ghosts series is held in high esteem by many a retro gamer, yet the franchise is currently dormant and we're unlikely to see a sequel any time soon. However, we may be getting the next best thing in the form of Battle Princess Madelyn, a spiritual successor created by Causal Bit Games and...
Talking Point Defining a Sequel and How It Affects Games Like Splatoon 2
Choose your own Electric Boogaloo meme
Sequels, everyone has an opinion on them. A bit like talk around 'soft launches' and 'lazy ports', sometimes the wider consensus that follows games or systems isn't always accurate or fair. Yet that's the beauty of the internet, and sometimes its biggest flaw - the agenda isn't entirely set by public relations...
First Impressions Splatoon 2 - What We Learned About Weapons, Visuals and Controls
A step up on Nintendo's latest hardware
Over the past few days Nintendo Switch owners had a chance to try out Splatoon 2 in its first Global Testfire. There's no firm release date for the colourful shooter as yet, and much about it remains a mystery; as a result it's not unreasonable to wonder whether it was simply the first Global Testfire with...
Poll What Did You Think of the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch?
We have an inkling that you had fun
Well, it was fun while it lasted - the past weekend brought us six hours of gameplay in the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire. Thanks to timezones it's likely most missed a session or two, but nevertheless it was a chance to try out two new stages, an all-new weapon and various adjusted old favourites. We played it a...
Live Blog The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch - The Final Session!
Ink the town red one last time
Well, there have been five opportunities to play the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire, and now we're into the sixth and final session. It all goes down at 4-4:59 a.m. PT / 7-7:59 a.m. ET / 12:00 - 12:59 BST / 13:00 - 13:59 CET; it's the final splatdown...
Live Blog The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch - Round Four!
We still think Spla2oon is a cooler name
We're now on the home stretch of one hour sessions in the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire, with this upcoming slot arguably the most convenient of the lot. It's all going down at 12-12:59 p.m. PT / 3-3:59 p.m. ET / 19:00 - 19:59 GMT / 20:00 - 20:59 CET. Let's get splatting!...
Live Blog The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch - Round Three!
Let's go round again
We're now well into the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire weekend with session three rolling around. This arrives at a nice early evening time in countries like Japan and Australia and late morning in Europe, so hopefully there'll be plenty of players. It all goes down at 4-4:59 a.m. PT / 7-7:59 a.m. ET / 11:00 - 11:59 GMT / 12:00 -...
Live Blog The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch - Round 2!
Let the splatting commence
If you missed your chance to play a bit of Splatoon 2 in the first session of the Global Testfire, don't despair - turn that frown upside down. The second session falls right into Friday night in North America (or Saturday morning in Japan and Australia). While sane Europeans get some sleep, have some fun splatting others...
Live Blog The Splatoon 2 Global Testfire on Nintendo Switch - It Begins!
Featuring the Nintendo Treehouse team in a live broadcast
Though it's yet to get a formal release date, we can now enjoy a bit of Splatoon 2 in the first session of its Global Testfire. Kicking off at 12-12:59 p.m. PT / 3-3:59 p.m. ET / 19:00 - 19:59 GMT / 20:00 - 20:59 CET, we'll have about an hour of play while the Nintendo Treehouse team will...
Poll Is the Splatoon 2 Global Testfire Boosting Your Nintendo Switch Hype?
Nintendo goes early in comparison to the original's online demo
When Nintendo unveiled some early retail release dates and windows, we couldn't help but ponder the gap between The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. With ARMS still sitting in a vague 'Spring' window and a number of third-party retail relea
Editorial After The Bold Brilliance Of Breath Of The Wild, Where Can Zelda Go Next?
Will we ever see another traditional Zelda outing?
It's fair to say that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ranks as one of the finest video games of recent times, and is arguably the best title in the franchise so far. It has been showered with positive reviews and has contributed massively to the success of the Nintendo Switch launch; this is...
Editorial Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Most Accessible of Nintendo Switch Games
Fun for anyone, defying series convention in the process
When the Nintendo Switch Teaser Trailer was unveiled in October, my family were among many - seemingly - that loved the idea and the concept. My brother, who hadn't been in on the Wii U generation, was very much attracted to it and wanted one, while my mum is a Nintendo enthusiast in any case...
Talking Point Nintendo's Upgraded Confidence in Switch is a Relief
Likely points to major game reveals still to come
When assessing the general interest in Nintendo Switch, the various metrics - in firm figures and from surveys and so on - show a system with a decent chance at success. The important work is still to come for Nintendo, but while there was always the uneasy sense that the wider public never truly...
Site News A Massive Thank You To All Our Viewers On YouTube
You really are lovely people
If you're a regular viewer of the Nintendo Life YouTube channel then you will no doubt have noticed that we passed the 100,000 subscribers mark a short time ago - an incredible achievement of which we're very, very proud. The man who almost single-handedly made it possible is Alex Olney, Nintendo Life's resident video...
Deals Splash Your Rupees On This Amazing Legend Of Zelda Merchandise
Digging Breath of the Wild? Check out this cool gear
Hopefully you're enjoying the amazing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on your shiny Nintendo Switch (or well-loved battered Wii U). Such is the effect that this open-world adventure has had on you, now you want to showcase your Zelda passion to the world. With this in mind here's some of...
Book Review The Unofficial NES/Famicom: A Visual Compendium
Could this be the perfect coffee table book?
We've seen an explosion in books celebrating retro video game history lately. One of the most prolific publishers is UK-based Bitmap Books, which is responsible for many of our favourites - including the excellent Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection. Their catchily titled 'Visual Compendium' series has...
Feature What Happens When you Play Breath of the Wild as a Multiplayer Game?
Adventuring together
In this article Nintendo Life regular Alan Lopez gives an account of his attempt to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with his partner, as real life didn't suit his desire for diving into the lengthy adventure on his own. I've always gotten a chill before I started something I knew was going to be really great. I...
Editorial On the Road With the Nintendo Switch
Putting the portable to the test
If you need any indication of how the 'hybrid' form factor of the Nintendo Switch means different things to different gamers, just chat to half a dozen system owners about how they play the console. For my part it's been mostly a home console, with the tablet spending a lot of time in the dock; yet I know quite a few...
Feature Bringing The Sega Classic Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap To A New Legion Of Fans
"The game is full of subtleties and secrets"
For anyone who grew up playing the Sega Master System it is likely that Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap will bring back fond memories. This was a Metroidvania-style title before the term was even coined; its superb combination of action platforming, puzzle-solving and exploration held its own against...
Talking Point Nintendo Switch Has Started Well - Now the Real Challenge Begins
Nintendo has every right to be pleased with the system's launch
After a tough four years for Wii U and the direct correlation between Pokémon hype and 3DS hardware sales, it was easy to approach the Nintendo Switch launch with trepidation. At different times since mid-January many observers and followers of the company have likely gone through...
Feature Our Team Reflects on a Week With Nintendo Switch
We like it, as a decent summary
With the Nintendo Switch now out for a week, plenty of eager Nintendo fans have put down a lot of money and jumped into the company's latest hardware offering. Various members of our team are in that group, as you'd expect, and having spent the past seven days playing around with the hardware we thought it worthwhile...
Poll One Week On - How Do You Feel About the Nintendo Switch?
As launch hype fades and normality returns
When any new console launches, from Nintendo and otherwise, it's a period of excitement, buzz and plenty of irrationality online. Advocates and critics have blazing arguments, praise is high and issues are blown out of proportion, and actually understanding the cold reality is tricky. Nintendo has been able...
Matters Of Import Fusing Classics In Puyo Puyo Tetris On Nintendo Switch
We go hands-on with the import version ahead of the western release
Tetris is a pretty significant title in the history of Nintendo - had the company not been able to license the seminal Russian puzzler back in the late '80s then it's likely that the Game Boy wouldn't have been the massive global success it was. Long seen as the game which sold the...
Hardware Review My Arcade NES Classic Mini Controller
Looks aren't everything
Given how hard it is to actually find a NES Classic Mini right now, it should come as no great shock to also learn that spare controllers for the console are also in very short supply. While Nintendo seems incapable of meeting demand for this clone system and its accessories, third party peripheral makers are having a field...
Feature We Grade the Various Nintendo Switch Launch Complaints from the Web
'Valid', 'Fair-ish' and 'Are you kidding me?!'
The internet is great for many things. It's an incredible resource for information on how the universe works, societies and cultures of the world and how to make a nice dressing for your salad. It's also home to people's passions that they can then share with others - in the gaming space alone people...
Feature Ten Useful and Fun Little Details to Know About Nintendo Switch
Some of the icons are quite small, after all
A number reading this page will have spent the last weekend dabbling around with the Nintendo Switch. We've been doing this too, of course, and have also observed friends and family doing the same. Add to that the power of the internet and some interesting little discoveries have been made, some of which...
Feature David Wise On Creating "Aztec Rock And Roll" For Snake Pass
"I'm a Nintendo-influenced fan boy at heart"
David Wise is something of a legend in the realm of video game music; plucked from the obscurity of Leicester's high street by the Stamper Brothers, he would become Rare's in-house composer for many years, almost single-handedly creating the aural accompaniment to the studio's NES, SNES and Game Boy...
Feature First Impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Wii U
A solid start
We've been absolutely blown away by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Switch, awarding it the maximum of 10/10 in our review. As a game to introduce players both to a revolution in the IP and new hardware it delivers in spectacular fashion. Yet, of course, just like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess it is st
Poll Merry Switchmas - Has the Nintendo Switch Launch Got You In a Festive Spirit?
That new console vibe
Happy Switchmas Day everyone! It was like the day would never come. No, seriously, this writer thought the wait would never end. The system is here though - its launch line-up has The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and some other stuff at retail, while the eShop line-up fleshed out a little prior to launch (especially...
Feature A Nintendo Switch Launch Day Report from Tokyo, Japan
Ready to flip the Switch
The day is finally here! The third day of March, 2017. The day the world can finally line up and purchase Nintendo's seventh home video game hardware iteration. I've actually been around for all of them and specifically I've been living in Japan since the Game Boy Advance days, so I've seen a lot come and go. The release of...
Feature The Long Journey to Lead the Nintendo Switch Line - CND and TriForce
"There have been countless wonderful moments"
The Nintendo Switch has already arrived in some houses courtesy of early deliveries, and fans around the world are gearing up for midnight launches. One tradition is set to continue in the US, too, with a 30 day journey by a super-fan to be first in line for the official debut sale in the country...
Feature Some of Our Favourite Legend of Zelda Games
Looking back before we look forward with Breath of the Wild
With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild so close that we can almost touch it, the famous franchise is on everyone's lips once again. Before the Switch / Wii U entry arrives to rock the boat, we thought we'd celebrate some of our favourites in a snappy and personal article. Four of our...
Hardware Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Review
Play like a Pro
Nintendo has created some truly amazing controllers over the past three decades, from the ergonomic SNES pad with its industry-defining four-button cluster and shoulder buttons to the groundbreaking Wii remote. It might sounds a little like hyperbole to suggest that the new Switch Pro Controller tops all of these in terms of being a...
Hardware Review Nintendo Switch: Nintendo's Most Important Console Yet
Time to make the Switch?
It's no exaggeration to claim that the Switch is Nintendo's most important console release so far. After the commercial disaster that was the Wii U and the decision to reshuffle internal teams to remove the schism between handheld and home development, the Switch represents a one-shot strategy for the Kyoto giant; while the...
Feature Snipperclips - Working With Nintendo To Create A Switch Co-Op Classic
"We knew the game's strength was local co-operative multiplayer"
Since we grabbed some time with it at the end of a January Nintendo Switch preview event, we've been looking forward to Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!. Conceptually it is a game that can work on any system with at least two pads, but the 'play anywhere' multiplayer of the...
Feature A Breakdown of the Nintendo Switch eShop Games of 2017
The key releases not featured in the Nindie showcase
Today brought us the Nintendo Switch Nindie Showcase, which contained a whole lot of intriguing reveals of download games. If you want to catch up on all the notable announcements check out our Nintendo Switch and Switch eShop channels (mainly the latter). In addition, though, Nintendo unveiled...
Feature Zoink Tells Us About the Big Switch with Flipping Death
Zombie Vikings could be re-animated on Switch too
Nintendo's 'Nindie Showcase' delivered on its promise, unveiling some intriguing titles for the new system that could certainly prove interesting in the coming days, weeks and months. One title that stood out was Flipping Death by Zoink Games, or just Zoink for short. Very much adopting the comedic...