Mario News

June2012

  • E3 2012 New Super Mario Bros. U Hopping Onto Wii U

    Miiverse will be a big part

    Nintendo has confirmed New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U, boasting that it will be the first social Mario game, making significant use of Miiverse. The trailer showed Yoshi, a flying 'squirrel' suit, and there's once again an emphasis on co-op multiplayer with Wii Remotes, while there's also a 'boost' mode that brings the...

  • E3 2012 Your First Look at Super Mario Bros. on Wii U

    Here it is!

    Nintendo said we wouldn't see any Wii U games in tonight's Nintendo Direct Live, but Satoru Iwata snuck in a cheeky glimpse of Super Mario Bros. to show off the system's new Miiverse functionality. It was only a short video and focuses more on the system's all-new social networking functions, but we'll never pass up an opportunity to...

May2012

  • News If Mario vs. King Kong was Created Today

    On Vita, no less

    It's often the subject of chilled-out debate amongst gamers: what if Mario had used a gun like Nintendo originally planned? What if Samus Aran had been a man? What if Kirby was made out of string? Well, not so much the last one any more. Still, it can be entertaining to think about some of our favourite games and wonder what they...

  • Feature Three Reasons Why Mario's Next Adventure Should Visit Subcon

    It's from Super Mario Bros. 2, if you didn’t know

    By the mid 1980s the world had fallen in love with a stocky Italian plumber named Mario. With the release of Super Mario Bros. on NES, the gaming icon left an indelible boot-shaped impression on the minds of gamers around the world and forever changed the landscape of the video game industry. After...

April2012

  • News Mario's Presence in UK is 'Smallest in the World'

    "We need to promptly improve this situation"

    It's become apparent from the weekly UK software charts that Nintendo titles are struggling to make a significant impact in the country. Today's financial report statements from Nintendo revealed an interesting statistic about the sales of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 throughout Europe, and the...

  • News Club Nintendo Offers Mystery Boxes

    May contain mushrooms

    Desperate to spend your Club Nintendo coins but just don't know what to spend them on? Let Nintendo help you out, with a series of Mario "Surprise Me" boxes for 300 coins. The box contents are secret, but Nintendo claim you'll get at least two surprises with a combined worth of over 500 coins. While the website shows...

  • Talking Point What New Super Mario Bros. 2 Means for 3DS and Nintendo

    Aside $$$

    The biggest news that came out of Nintendo Direct yesterday was the announcement of New Super Mario Bros. 2 for Nintendo 3DS. To say that the revival of 2D Mario has been a gigantic success for Nintendo is somewhat of an understatement; both New Super Mario Bros. on DS and New Super Mario Bros. Wii sold over 25 million copies each worldw

  • News Nintendo Direct April 2012 - Nintendo Reveals New Super Mario Bros. 2 for 3DS

    Wa-ha!

    We knew Nintendo is working on a new 2D Mario for 3DS, and now we know it's New Super Mario Bros. 2. Satoru Iwata revealed the game during the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, pledging it'll see release in Japan this August. Nintendo of America has also confirmed an August release via Twitter. Iwata

  • News Camelot Justifies No RPG Mode in Mario Tennis Open

    It's not you, it's Mii

    Unlike most portable Mario sports titles, there's no roleplaying mode in Mario Tennis Open. Nintendo Power asked Hiroyuki Takahashi, one half of Camelot's boss brothers, about the omission. Takahashi explained that this time around, Camelot was trying to create a console-quality experience with features like online play and...

  • News Mario Wii U "Based On" New Super Mario Bros. Mii

    Crowd pleaser

    The Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U that Shigeru Miyamoto teased yesterday will be based on last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii experience, Nintendo has confirmed. A representative told Kotaku: In a recent interview, Mr. Miyamoto confirmed that a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii

  • Feature Super Mario on Wii U - Crowd Pleaser or Game Changer?

    The plumber's conundrum

    The news that Shigeru Miyamoto will show off Super Mario Bros. on Wii U at E3 is more or less confirmation of what we all expected. When 3DS faltered many said Nintendo needed to show the way with a Mario game, and Super Mario 3D Land's Christmas appearance gave the console a big shot in the arm, becoming its first...

  • News Miyamoto to Show Wii U Mario at E3

    But in what form?

    Update: A Nintendo spokesperson has confirmed to Eurogamer.net that Nintendo will show off a Super Mario Bros. game for Wii U at E3. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, we'll see the first Super Mario game for Wii U at E3 this year. A translation of the original story sees Shigeru Miyamoto telling the news

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Director Shares Level Design Inspirations

    Similar to four-panel 'Kishōtenketsu' comics

    Super Mario 3D Land has been the recipient of critical acclaim and big sales figures. It was also the first 3D Super Mario title developed exclusively for a handheld, posing interesting challenges for Director Koichi Hayashida and his team, such as finding a way to provide short levels that are also...

  • Talking Point Is Nintendo Over-Reliant on Super Mario?

    Lots of plumbing to do

    Back in 1985, no-one could have imagined that a plumber saving a princess from the clutches of an evil turtle king could become one of gaming’s defining moments. Since the release of the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES, Mario has become not only the face of Nintendo, but arguably the face of gaming as a whole. Shigeru...

  • Feature The Super Mario Renaissance

    We've never had it so good

    When we think about Mario's glory years, it's easy to get lost in nostalgia. We might think back to the first time we played Super Mario Bros. and learned what a platform game was really capable of. We might think back to Super Mario World, which expanded upon the ideas of its predecessors in so many ways that felt natural...

  • News Nintendo Gives Mario a New Website to Call Home

    It's-a-me, Mario.com

    Mario isn't exactly a little-known figure, with the mustachioed mascot being arguably the biggest icon in the video game industry. That doesn't mean he doesn't need more visibility in the public eye, though, as Nintendo has now given its hero a new website to show off his games. For gamers interested in what titles feature Mario...

March2012

  • News The Mystery of the Super Mario Bros. U.S. Release Date

    If you know for sure, let us know

    Occasionally, an enthusiastic researcher will embark on a quest to find information on obscure gaming facts, so it's surprising that one of the great unknowns in video game history is the U.S. release date for Super Mario Bros. on NES. Considering the fact that this is one of the most successful and iconic video...

  • News Mathematics Proves That Mario Games Are Difficult

    Mario + Retro = Hard

    Many gamers, including those of us who consider ourselves to be accomplished gaming ninjas, find older Mario titles such as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World difficult to finish. Thanks to scientific research, we no longer need to feel shame when the dreaded 'Game Over' screen appears. According to an analysis of the...

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Director Wanted Cape Mario

    Fluttering in 3D

    Last week's Game Developer's Conference was clearly an ideal opportunity for Nintendo's brightest to talk about the company's main mascot. Koichi Hayashida, a key figure in all things Mario nowadays, revealed that Mario could have had a skateboard, amongst other things, and that he wanted Donkey Kong and Pikmin cameos in Super Mario...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Blasts Past 5 Million Milestone

    Come in, number nine

    Super Mario Galaxy just became the ninth Wii game to pass 5 million units in the United States after just four years on sale. Mario's first intergalactic adventure joins an auspicious list of other games sitting above the 5m mark in the U.S.: Wii Play (13.06 million) Mario Kart Wii (11.3 million) New Super Mario Bros.

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Could Have Had Skateboarding

    Cockroaches too

    Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida took to the stage at Game Developers Conference and revealed some of the stranger ideas Nintendo's EAD team cooked up but ultimately left out of last year's platformer. Among the oddball ideas were a pro skater Mario, where the plumber rode a Koopa shell around a half pipe; an elongated...

  • News Mario Party 9 is Coming Up the UK Charts

    So you better get it started

    Mario Party 9 may be trying a few new things, but it still knows how to keep a crowd happy. In this week's UK software charts the latest entry in the series has secured a very respectable third place, grabbing it a useful stash of mini-stars in the process. This is apparently the highest debut UK chart position for the...

February2012

  • News Nintendo and Radio Disney Team Up for Mario Party... Party

    What else?

    Nintendo of America is preparing a big bash for Mario Party 9, joining up with Radio Disney and Big Brothers Big Sisters for its New York launch shindig on 9th March, two days ahead of the game's official release. Four fortunate Radio Disney 1560 AM listeners will win entry to the event so they can "party with Mario and Luigi"...

  • News Nate Stehley Looks Happy With His Real-Life Mario Kart

    Who wouldn't be?

    Nate Stehley, winner of the Mario Kart 7 real-life kart, certainly looks thrilled in this new video showing his prize rolling up at his front door. Stehley can barely contain his excitement as the actual real Mario knocks on his front door and escorts him down to his new electric-powered kart, built by West Coast Customs. If you're...

  • News Expect to See a Real Mario Kart in Tennessee Real Soon

    Miyamoto not included

    Remember those real-life Mario Karts created by West Coast Customs? Nate Stehley of Clarksville, Tennessee just won one. Stehley will get the keys to his fully functional electric-powered kart on Tuesday, so if you step out next week and see a grown man driving a Mario kart with a glider attached, you're not going completely...

  • News Mario Tennis Opens Up with New Gameplay Video

    Another Camelot smash hit?

    Now we know Mario Tennis Open is out in May it's time to feast your eyes on some fresh gameplay footage, showing off the new multiplayer and touch screen functions. You'll be able to use the 3DS console's built-in gyrometer to move your system around to take a look around the court, though we're not quite sure of the...

  • News Mario Tennis Open for North America on 20th May

    Tightly packed

    Mario Tennis Open's global release dates are in, and it's a tight grouping. North America gets the game first on 20th May, before Japan on 24th May and Europe on 25th May. Camelot's first online game in the series includes head-to-head multiplayer with skill-based matchmaking. Nintendo has also revealed you'll also be able to pick up...

  • News Mario & Sonic Sales Nearly Double in a Week

    Going for gold

    SEGA's sporting symposium just enjoyed a sales surge in the UK charts, with a whopping week-on-week sales increase of 94%. Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games on 3DS was released on 10th February, resulting in a 145% increase to send the title up from 31st to 10th position. Now sales of the 3DS version and discounts of...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Mobile App Makes Kart Combos Clearer

    Take advantage

    With so many different kart pieces to unlock in Mario Kart 7, it can be tough knowing what's what and how to maximise your kart's abilities for land, sea and air. That's where the Combo Explorer app for iOS and Android can come in handy. The application lets you create a custom kart from all in-game parts and see how it stacks up...

  • News Super Mario Bros. Ambassador Update Hits North America

    You're in

    3DS Ambassadors in North America can now download the update for Super Mario Bros. that adds Virtual Console restore points to the experience. Head over to the eShop, select Titles You've Downloaded and scroll to find the game; tap Update and you're on your way. As you know, Nintendo's ultimate plan is to add wireless multiplayer, restore...

  • Feature Nintendo Characters Looking for Love

    Will you be their player two?

    Like so many others, we at Nintendo Life get swept up in the romance that is in the air during St. Valentine's Day. We love the smell of the flowers, the taste of the chocolate and the irresistible allure of digging through the online dating profiles of strangers, hoping to find something amusing. Surprisingly, we got...

  • News See, Kids? Sonic and Mario Weren't Always Friends

    A little history lesson

    Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games might have been SEGA's biggest seller of last year, but don't let it fool you: it's an uneasy alliance. Sonic Wrecks recently posted a video from SEGA's official library that dates way back to 1992, from a time when the plumber-hedgehog rivalry was at boiling point. Just...

  • News Can You Complete Super Mario Bros. In Under Five Minutes?

    Mamma mia

    Over 25 years on from release, people are still playing Super Mario Bros. on NES. Andrew Gardikis has probably played it more than most, as he's just set a new world record for fastest completion of the NES classic. Clocking in at 4:58.72, the time beats the previous record by ten seconds. Last year, Gardikis attempted to break the five...

January2012

  • News Mario Kart Wii Races Past 30 Million Sales Milestone

    No brakes

    Mario Kart Wii has sold a whopping 31.9 million units around the world. The Wii racer has shifted 4.9m copies worldwide since April, standing as the biggest-selling Wii game of the financial year so far. It's not the only Mario game hitting milestones: perhaps due to its inclusion in the Nintendo Selects range, Super Mario Galaxy has...

  • News Super Mario 3D Land is 3DS's First 5 Million Seller

    Just can't get enough

    Super Mario 3D Land is the first 3DS game to sell over 5 million copies worldwide. According to Nintendo's latest figures, the game sits at 5.03m units sold around the world, just ahead of Mario Kart 7's 4.54m sales. Both have easily trumped the previous best-seller, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, whi

  • News Nintendo Announces 2D Super Mario Title for 3DS

    Coming soon

    Nintendo will release a new 2D side-scrolling Super Mario title for 3DS in the next financial year, president Satoru Iwata has announced. Speaking to investors about the upcoming titles for the console, Iwata said: Although there is no logo here, we are planning to release a totally new side-scrolling action Super Mario in 2D as a key...

  • News Mario and Zelda Sheet Music Now Available

    Ocarina of Tune

    Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda are arguably Nintendo's most prominent and famous franchises. With a shared history spanning 25 years and a lot of games, fans have been treated to some glorious music, whether it's been chip-tune or orchestral. Now, thanks to Alfred Music Publishing, musical gamers have the opportunity to play...

  • News Wahoo, It's a Mario Party 9 Trailer

    You can cry if you want to

    The latest Mario Party 9 trailer is in and shows off some of the 80+ minigames you can expect when it launches in March. Long-time Mario fans will pick up on countless references: Super Mario Sunshine's Piantas make an appearance, but there's plenty more to see if you keep your eyes peeled. How many can you spot?

  • News Finally, Shouting at Donkey Kong Makes a Difference

    "You stupid ape!"

    SEGA's Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games uses just about every input the 3DS has to offer, but it's the weightlifting event that looks to make best use of the machine's microphone. As the new trailer below shows, you can shout at your character to give them an extra bit of power. While it might make you look a bit...

  • News Europe Joins the Mario Party on 2nd March

    Send your invitations now

    Partygoers across Europe get an extra reason to be cheerful on 2nd March when Nintendo releases Mario Party 9 across the continent. The second Wii instalment in the series, MP9 includes new boss battles, 80 minigames and vehicles too. North America gets it on 11th March. WHO WILL YOU INVITE TO YOUR MARIO PARTY? Rivals...

  • News Australia Gets Chance to Win Mario 3DS Consoles

    And 3D Classics: Kid Icarus

    Europe, your maniacal grip on 3D Classics: Kid Icarus and those Mario 3DS consoles is loosening. Nintendo of Australia just opened up its very own It's a Me, Mario competition with near-identical rules to Europe's: register two 3DS games with Club Nintendo and you get a free code for Kid Icarus, with entrants over the age...

  • News Nintendo Has No Plans to Fix Mario Kart 7's Maka Wuhu Glitch

    So keep on droppin'

    If you've played Mario Kart 7 online, chances are you've encountered the Maka Wuhu glitch that allows devious racers to bypass a huge section of the course. Nintendo knows about it too, but will it do anything to address it? Stick Twiddlers emailed Nintendo of America about the issue and got this response: Thanks for your...

  • News 3DS Hardware and Software Tops Japan's 2011 Charts

    Outselling the rest

    Nintendo 3DS has achieved the 2011 chart double in Japan by topping the hardware and software charts for the year. Statistics from Enterbrain (via Andriasang) show 3DS shifted 4,135,739 units since its February launch, twice as many as the second place — and now seven years old — PSP with 1,960,177 sales. Wii didn't make it...

December2011

  • News Join Our Mario Kart 7 Communities for Festive Fun!

    Show us some skill

    If you're one of the many thousands unwrapping a 3DS console and/or Mario Kart 7, you probably want to try out its really rather good online modes. We've put together not one, not two, but three official Nintendo Life racing communities for you to take part in. Here's how to get involved: Load up Mario Kart 7 Install the Mario...

  • News How Was Super Mario Bros. 3 Made?

    Origin tails

    The Tanooki tail is back in a big way this year, but it's time to take a look back at when and how it entered the Mario canon way back in Super Mario Bros. 3. Chris Covell's website has a translation of The Stars of Famicom Games, a 1989 book taking a sneaky peek at how Mario's greatest 8-bit adventure was created, from ideas to...

  • News Just Dance 3 Gets Mario DLC on 14th December

    Wa-ha!

    Just Dance 3 is about to get a whole lot more plumber-y, as Nintendo UK has announced a Mario song is on the way next week. From 14th December you'll be able to download The Mario Song for 250 Nintendo Points, a medley of classics beats and tracks from Mario games past. An on-screen Mario jives to the beat, and the dance marks all wear Mario...

  • News 3DS Nears 3 Million Sales in Japan

    Mario Kart does the business too

    3DS is selling better than ever, with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata telling the Nikkei newspaper (via Andriasang) the system is about to tip the scales at 3 million units sold in Japan — two weeks quicker than the DS reached the same milestone. The news comes a week after Nintendo confirmed 3DS beat the DS's...

  • News Japan Buys Half a Million Copies of Super Mario 3D Land

    Off to a flyer

    Super Mario 3D Land saw release in Japan last month and made light work of the competition, selling over 500,000 copies across the country. Andriasang reports the game shifted 542,842 copies across Japan between 31st October and 27th November, with the best first-week sales of any 3DS game yet. In North America Super Mario 3D Land set...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Director Said No to Kuribo's Shoe

    Not a wind-up

    After Super Mario Bros. 3 it took the Tanooki tail years to make a resurgence, appearing in both Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, but it's not the only retro power-up from the game overdue a revival. IGN recently spoke to Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida about the game and asked about the legendary Kuribo's shoe, one

  • Guide Mario Kart 7 Top Tips

    Be magnificent in MK7

    By now you'll probably have pumped a stack of hours into Mario Kart 7, but if you're still finding yourself more loser than leader we've got Mario Kart medallist James Newton to put together a few short tips to help you shave seconds off your performances. If you want to put your new skills to the test, check out our Mario Kar

  • News Nintendo Life Takes the Podium at Mario Kart 7 Launch Event

    We're number... two!

    Mario Kart 7 is out now around the world, and to celebrate the release of Mario's latest racing outing Nintendo UK shelled out on a launch party at London's Sports Café this past Wednesday. Nintendo Life editor James Newton was there. The café's interior was decked out in Mario Kart livery, with stacked tyres and plenty of 3DS...

  • News Join the Official Nintendo Life Mario Kart 7 Communities

    Let's see some skill

    Mario Kart 7 is out around the world this week, and to get you all playing together we've set up an official Nintendo Life community for you to join. To make sure everyone finds something to enjoy we've set up a range of game types, all in the 150cc class. To join the Nintendo Life community on Mario Kart 7, follow these steps:...

  • News Digital Makes Up 14% of Key Nintendo Franchise Sales

    The figures are in

    Nintendo does not release sale statistics for its digital content, leaving us with no real idea of how the company's download sales are doing. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime did give away one intriguing nugget of information in a recent interview with Time, however: The packaged content gets all the buzz and the...

November2011

  • News Iwata Asks Sheds Light on Mario Kart 7's Creation

    Retro and Nintendo in harmony

    By now you've presumably read our Mario Kart 7 review, giving the latest 3DS racer a well-deserved 9/10 score. If you want to know more about how the game was put together, Nintendo's got you covered with an Iwata Asks interview all about MK7. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke to series producer Hideki Konno and...

  • News Game Paused Shares Classy Mario and Zelda Shirts

    Boldly going

    Your wardrobe is probably missing shirts showing neon Mario leaping over a Super NES pad, not to mention garments depicting 112 icons of moments from the last 25 years of The Legend of Zelda. Your wardrobe shame could end soon though, with two new shirts from Game Paused. The classic Mario and anniversary Legend 25th t-shirts sell for...

  • News Mario and Skyward Sword Set Series Sales Records

    Quick off the mark

    Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has told USA Today that the latest outings for Mario and Zelda have smashed series sales records. Super Mario 3D Land became the fastest-selling handheld Mario game in history, shifting over 500,000 units since it launched on 13th November. The plumber's long-awaited début gave 3DS...

  • Feature Keeping Mario at the Top

    A never-ending icon

    Mario is the face of Nintendo, a fact that is clear to most. As a character, however, he lacks any depth or back-story. Although some titles, such as the Mario & Luigi RPG titles on the Game Boy Advance and DS, apply a simple and humorous story to Mario and his world, he is often simply rescuing a Princess from a giant turtle...

  • News Send Your Friend a Mario Kart 7 Item to Brighten Their Day

    Here comes Bullet Bill!

    Mario Kart 7 is out next week, and to get you geared up (sorry) Nintendo has revamped the game's official website with new videos, information and social features. By visiting the items page you can send any of your Facebook friends an item from the series, so why not be the best friend ever and send them a Spiny Shell? We're...

  • News Nintendo Finishing Mario Kart 7 Was an "Act of Emergency"

    Calling all cars

    Mario Kart series producer Hideki Konno has revealed Nintendo saw finishing work on Mario Kart 7 as an "act of emergency", according to a new Japanese Iwata Asks article (via Eurogamer). Konno reveals the game started development with just eight staff attached, but that once team members were peeled off to wo

  • News Miyamoto: "Super Mario 64 Was Boring"

    Wasn't always a classic

    We now know that Super Mario 64 is one of the most important genre leaps in gaming history, taking Nintendo's mascot from 2D into 3D with enormous skill and craftsmanship. However, creating the game wasn't plain sailing, as a new Iwata Asks reveals. The discussion — which comes in at a colossal 26 pages — reveals that...

  • News Miyamoto Not a Huge Fan of Mario Kart 7 Customisation

    But he came around

    One of the biggest additions to Mario Kart 7 is the ability to change up your racer to suit the surroundings: big tyres, little tyres, that sort of thing. That's not to say that everyone within Nintendo was keen on including customisation though, with gaming genius Shigeru Miyamoto revealing he was against it initially. Speaking...

  • News Zelda and Mario Break Into UK Top Ten

    Strong showing

    In one of the most crowded release weeks in the gaming calendar, Nintendo's key players have performed well to enter the UK top ten chart. Super Mario 3D Land leapt into ninth place, while The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword grabbed seventh position. Further down the chart, the latest crossover between plumber and hedgehog, Mario and...

  • News Classic and Modern Mario Stages Step Onto Fortune Street

    World 1 awaits

    Nintendo and Square Enix team-up Fortune Street is bringing the best of both franchises to its world of board games, with new screenshots showing some of the familiar sights you'll be trying to conquer with the upcoming Wii game. The game takes in spots of Mario history, starting from the classic World 1 from Super Mario Bros. and...

  • Out Today Super Mario 3D Land and Wallpapers

    Double whammy

    Talk about good days: Nintendo fans in Europe have a new Mario and a new Zelda to choose from today, as the much-anticipated 3DS release Super Mario 3D Land finally reaches European shores. To celebrate the plumber's first true 3D platforming game we've put together some awesome computer wallpapers to bring a touch of the Mushroom...

  • News West Coast Customs Creates Real Life Mario Karts

    If only they were street legal

    Just as we guessed when Nintendo announced its presence at the LA Auto Show, the company's team-up with West Coast Customs is all in aid of Mario Kart 7. West Coast Customs — best known for its appearances on Pimp My Ride of course — created two life-size Mario Karts to promote the upcoming 3DS racer, out in early...

  • News PETA - Relax Mario Fans, It Was All a Joke

    Fur real

    Oh, PETA. Your Tanooki Flash game stirred up a real hornet's nest, and Nintendo's reaction threw frogs and penguins into the mix. Now PETA has clarified its original intentions — it was all a joke. The organisation just sent over a statement that says its Tanooki-related Flash game was all a tongue-in-cheek joke, and that it really wishes...

  • News Nintendo Reacts to PETA's Tanooki Campaign

    Telling tails

    Yesterday's controversial PETA campaign against Mario's Tanooki suit certainly stirred up some heated discussion about the power-up's inclusion in Super Mario 3D Land. Now Nintendo has responded to PETA's claim that the Tanooki suit encourages people to wear fur with an official statement to Eurogamer: Mario often takes the app

  • News PETA Launches Campaign Against Mario

    We're not kidding

    If there was any doubt that Super Mario 3D Land is a high-profile game release, that has now been banished. It has emerged today that PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — has launched a campaign against Mario. The complaint revolves around the Tanooki suit, with the PETA website stating the following: When on a...

  • Feature How Japanese Folklore Inspired Mario's Tanooki Suit

    What’s a Tanooki, anyway?

    Ever since Super Mario Bros. 3 landed on store shelves, when Nintendo fans hear the word “tanooki” they almost always produce an excited smile and start reminiscing about days spent flying through levels as Racoon Mario. If you were to utter this same word today around these same Nintendo fans you’d probably get a...

  • News More Mario Kart 7 Courses Revealed

    Dare you discover them?

    If you want to find out some of the retro courses that have made the grade in Mario Kart 7, the latest update to the game's official Japanese website might throw some light on the situation. The game's Shell, Banana and Leaf Cup courses and six battle arenas have now been unveiled, with selections from Mario Kart 64, Mario...

  • News Hideki Konno Talks Mario Kart Wii U Ideas

    It'll be "unique"

    Hold onto your hats: Nintendo is investigating bringing Mario Kart to Wii U. Series producer Hideki Konno spoke to Nintendo Power recently about the potential for the flagship multiplayer racer to come to Nintendo's next home console, saying: I can't get into specifics, but I do want to create a new and enjoyable Mario Kart that...

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Leaps to a Strong Start in Japan

    Bigger than galaxies

    By now you've read in our Super Mario 3D Land review that Mario's latest outing is very good indeed, but has it succeeded in lifting the console's sales in Japan? Yes, and how. In its first week the game shifted a staggering 343,492 copies, according to figures from Media Create (via Andriasang). That's nearly triple the amount...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Orbits London 2012 Olympic Games

    It'll make sense

    Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games takes inspiration from all corners of both companies' history: screenshots have reminded us of Yoshi Story, Sonic Adventure and more. But we've just received more screenshots showing the most universe-shaking crossover yet. Despite earlier rumours that Sonic would appear in

  • News Mario and Zelda's Babies Would Play Like This

    The ultimate crossover chaos

    We found out after E3 that there's a Zelda-style level in Super Mario 3D Land, and now we have a video look. As you can see below, the game takes more than a few cues from old-school outings like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Link's

  • News Atlanta, You're On Mario's Touring Itinerary Too

    He gets around

    Atlanta, Georgia is the next stop on Mario's tour of the United States to promote Super Mario 3D Land. The plucky plumber is taking in the unique sights of the Atlanta Underground this Friday, 11th November, with a surprise performance by a gang of Marios in Tanooki tails and ears. ATLANTA ON ALERT FOR MASS MARIO SIGHTING AT ATLANTA...

  • News GAME and Gamestation Give Away Mario 3DS Pouches

    But only if you pre-order

    With Super Mario 3D Land out next week and Mario Kart 7 hot on its heels two weeks later, GAME and Gamestation are stepping up their pre-order initiative with two giveaways. Pre-order customers will receive a 3DS pouch bearing artwork from the relevant game when they purchase their game. Neat giveaway items, but as we'd bet...

  • News Chicago, Mario is Coming to See You Too

    He gets everywhere

    Mario visits the Windy City next week to promote upcoming 3DS release Super Mario 3D Land, appearing at the John Hancock Center on 9th November. As with his other events in Austin, TX, New York City and San Diego, there'll be an army of Tanooki Marios making an appearance for a surprise performance. What city do you think will be...

  • News Austin, Texas Gets In On the Mario Launch Love

    Spreading far and wide

    After San Diego and New York, where else can Nintendo go to spread the word about Super Mario 3D Land? How about Austin, Texas? On 7th November Nintendo will take a host of Tanooki Marios to the Republic Square Park in Austin, TX for an impromptu (as in "extremely rehearsed") performance of a surprise nature. Still...

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Made for Snacking, Not Gorging

    Handheld finger food

    3DS might be as powerful as Wii, but it's in a very different setting, as Super Mario 3D Land director Koichi Hayashida explains in a recent Iwata Asks. According to Hayashida, if Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a grand imperial banquet, Super Mario 3D Land is fast food, designed to be consumed quickly in short bites: [Super Mario...

October2011

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Launch Spreads to San Diego

    Nothing in between

    Mario mania isn't just taking in New York, as Nintendo has revealed San Diego California can expect a Mushroom Kingdom-themed party next week to celebrate the launch of Super Mario 3D Land. This Friday, "sometime between 12pm - 1:30pm" according to Nintendo, dozens of Marios in Tanooki ears and tails will race through...

  • News Two New Characters Take To the Mario Kart 7 Grid

    You may bee surprised

    Metal Mario and Lakitu are two of the already-confirmed characters joining the roster in Mario Kart 7 in December, but they're not the only new faces you'll be able to pick. Honey Queen from Super Mario Galaxy and Wiggler, first seen in Super Mario World have both signed up as competitors in Nintendo's big 3D racer. Last week...

  • News Explore Super Mario's 3D Land at New York Launch

    Tanooki tails mandatory

    For the North American launch of Super Mario 3D Land, Nintendo is going all-out by turning Times Square into a real-life rendition of the Mushroom Kingdom. From 12th November, fans will be able to pick up their very own Tanooki tail and ears to wear while leaping through Mario's world: green pipes, coin jumps and even the...

  • News Iwata: We Want 3DS Sales to Show Consoles are Here to Stay

    President comes out swinging

    One of the most anticipated 3DS games is nearly here: Super Mario 3D Land releases in Japan next week, and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata expects it to ignite 3DS hardware sales. Speaking to investors after the company's quarterly results, Iwata revealed that since the price drop the 3DS is selling at a better pace than...

  • News Swimming, Cycling and Spin Attacks in Mario and Sonic Trailer

    It gets weirder

    The first screenshots of Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games did indeed blow minds and collapse worlds: from dinosaurs riding horses to Sonic the Hedgehog taking part in a walking race, there were truly incredible scenes. This next trailer can't quite match it, but makes a good effort anyway. Events new to the series...

  • News You Don't Just Play as Mario in Super Mario 3D Land

    Back to the land of intrigue once more

    There's still a lot of mystery surrounding Super Mario 3D Land — remember the Luigi statue spotted in the enormous panoramic artwork? It seemed to hint at an appearance from the nervous brother in Mario's next adventure. While we think you can probably see where we're going with this, our next sentence may...

  • News Classic Courses Captured in Mario Kart 7 Stills

    Balloons at the ready

    It's no surprise that Mario Kart 7 features courses from previous games, but now you can race by land, air and sea some past tracks might work a little differently. In the new shots below we've got some aerial action in Mario Kart Wii's Mushroom Gorge, the return of Balloon Battle in a Super Mario Kart-inspired battle stage and...

  • News We Wish These Mario 3DS Consoles Weren't Japan Only

    Too cool for words

    It's a complaint we've heard countless times over the years: "Japan gets all the cool stuff." It's not always true of course — just look at StarTropics — but these limited edition Mario-themed 3DS consoles are definitely some of the coolest things we've seen. The Mario, Peach and Super Mushroom machines are special...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Online Features Come Into View

    Group effort

    As promised, Nintendo has opened up about the online features in its big multiplayer title for 2011, Mario Kart 7. One of the big new features is the ability to create groups for your friends, letting you organise players into specific skill, location or friendship groups, with these shared via StreetPass too. You can also custom rules...

  • News StreetPass Mode Shown in Super Mario 3D Land Vid

    More to share

    Nintendo just released a new video sharing a little information about the StreetPass mode in surefire Christmas hit Super Mario 3D Land as well as some of the other recently announced features and characters. The local sharing function allows players to exchange so-called "Mystery Box" levels with each other. These stages are...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Art Shows DK, Peach and Big Blue Shells

    All the right ingredients

    Last week's Mario Kart artwork — Mario Kartwork, if you will — has been quickly overtaken by this new set of pictures showing Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and Mario all enjoying their brand new rides. Peach's regal mobile looks fine and dandy with its tiny wheels, while DK and Mario have both decked out their rides with...

  • News New Super Mario 3D Shots Show Tonnes of New Stuff

    But we won't say what

    Nintendo's putting out new media every week for its biggest titles, but we know you like to save yourselves until the games are released. We do too. That's why we're not going to tell you about the new power-ups, stages or bosses pictured in the Super Mario 3D Land screenshots below. Instead, we'll just let the 62 new images...

  • News So That's What a Boomerang Flower Looks Like

    Guess what it does

    A few weeks ago we brought you news of a new power-up in Super Mario 3D Land, and now we see exactly how you'll be strapping on the new suit. The official Super Mario 3D Land website just updated with some brand new screenshots, showing off more of the game's secrets. For instance, we now know that Boom Boom's female counterpart...

  • News Ain't No Party Like a Mario and Sonic London Party

    Just stay away from Soho

    SEGA's next spin on multiplayer sports is just a month away, and to get you all excited for Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games the publisher has revealed a new trailer showing off the game's London Party mode. The minigame mode sees Mario, Sonic and friends take to the streets of England's capital city in...

  • Podcast Episode 22 - Heroes of Ruin and Super Mario 3D Land

    Plus Zelda hype too

    That's right: the Nintendo Life podcast is back in action, focusing on some of the biggest games set for release in the next six months. We talk to Heroes of Ruin community manager Kevin Eva about some of the gameplay modes and secret surprises in one of 2012's most promising games, Brad Long shares some of his thoughts about...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Art Races Your Screen

    Sorry, that should say "graces"

    It's wall-to-wall artwork these days, with new Kirby art released today and now some character artwork for Mario Kart 7 screeching in too. The underwater art is particularly nice, and even if the other artwork has been seen so far it's still a nice reminder that we'll all be able to play some Mario Kart on 3DS in less...

  • News Reconfigured Black Wii Heads to North America

    Mario in tow too

    The new Wii console without GameCube support is officially coming to North America, Nintendo has confirmed. From 23rd October Nintendo will offer a black Wii with New Super Mario Bros. Wii and an exclusive Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack CD to boot. The deal will cost around $149.99. Will you be picking one up? BLACK WII HOLIDAY...

  • News Blue Wii Console Competing for Europe's Christmas Money

    Mario and Sonic bundle revealed

    Nintendo's going all-out on coloured consoles these days: after the red, pink and white 3DS consoles, the company has announced a new blue Wii bundle on the way to Europe before Christmas. The newly announced pack is in honour of Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, out 18th November, and includes a copy...

  • News Looks Like Mario's Got His Boomerang Suit On

    Not a throwaway addition

    A new piece of artwork has surfaced online showing one of the suits heading to Super Mario 3D Land: the boomerang. While Nintendo hasn't officially released any video or details of the suit, it's not hard to figure out anyway: Mario throws a boomerang. It comes back. Pretty simple. The Boomerang Bro enemies appear in Super...

  • FAQ Your Super Mario 3D Land Questions

    Updated! New questions! New answers!

    We've played the first two worlds of Super Mario 3D Land, and so we opened our inboxes to invite questions from you, the information-hungry Nintendo Life readers. Of course, the game isn't out yet so there are some questions we simply can't answer, but in the interests of fairness we'll reproduce those questions...

  • News Two More Super Mario 3D Land Trailers for You

    Nintendo, you are really spoiling us

    If there was any doubt at all that Super Mario 3D Land is one of Nintendo's biggest focus titles for 2011, the sheer amount of new material released for the game lately should put those thoughts to bed. After 74 screenshots, new character artwork and

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