News 3DS Update in May Includes eShop and Other Applications
Better late than never
Square Enix mixes it up with Mario, but is it any good?
Review Ghosts 'n Goblins (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
The original quarter-eating monster returns
News - January, 2011
Monday31st Jan 2011
Review Digger Dan & Kaboom (DSiWare)
Dig it
Digger Dan & Kaboom, right off the bat, has a lot going against it. For one thing, its title sounds like the name of some rejected Disney Channel cartoon trying to channel the success of Bob the Builder, and its awful CG concept art isn't doing much to combat that notion, either. Combine that with the fact that this game came completely...
News Will We See a Zelda 25th Anniversary Collection this Year?
Link reaches a quarter-century old
Last year, Nintendo's tubby mascot celebrated his 25th anniversary in the form of Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition, a collection that disappointed some in its paucity of interesting content. This year Nintendo will get a chance to wipe the slate clean and try harder, as its other ageless hero – Link...
First Impressions Kid Icarus: Uprising
Our Big N hearts go Pit-ter patter
As its sequel itself is keen to point out in a tongue-in-cheek manner, it's been 24 years since Pit flapped his wings up, up and away in his nail-biting platform debut Kid Icarus. The NES original cribbed the best bits of franchises like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda and Metroid and crafted an ambitious,...
News 3DS Contains Two Tiny StreetPass Minigames
More little extras tucked away
Yesterday we brought you our First Impressions: 3DS Operating System and Built-In Software, but we weren't able to try out the machine's built-in pedometer or the StreetPass as the consoles were tethered to desks or, even worse, human beings. Buried in the Nintendo investors briefing came a snippet from Satoru Iwata...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns Sells Over 4 Million in a Month
Worldwide sales as strong as DK's ground pounding
It hasn't been out for long when compared to the other big sellers of last year, but that hasn't stopped Donkey Kong Country Returns from flying off the shelves. The return of the Donkey Kong franchise by way of Retro Studios has been selling like hot cakes ripe bananas since its North American...
News If You Know Dragon Quest Trivia, You Could Meet the Creator
Not as ominous as it sounds
Nintendo's agreement to promote Square Enix's upcoming Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation on DS proves both companies are eager to capitalise on the success of last year's Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies. Last year, series creator Yuji Horii attended the DQIX launch to meet fans, but this year you'll h
News Iwata's "Most Important" Wii Title of Last Christmas is Surprising
He likes to move it, move it
Nintendo's financial results are always a treasure trove of information – it's how we found out about Pandora's Tower and Kirby on Wii, for example – but while you may come for the announcements, you'll stay for President Iwata's opinions on the period gone by. Looking back at last Christmas, Iwata highlighted one...
Nintendo Download 31st January 2011 (North America)
Mahjong, air hockey, dolphins, diaries and tarot cards
It's North America's turn for a bit of a catch-up with Europe in this week's Nintendo Download, but there are still a few interesting titles here that might take your fancy. DSiWare: All-Star Air Hockey (Skyworks Interactive, 200pts) – A handheld version of the classic arcade pastime, this...
News Zelda: Skyward Sword Getting "Finishing Touches"
Link's latest looks locked for later this...year
It's been a while since we heard anything concrete about the highly awaited The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Revealed at E3 2010 with nary a peep afterward, until one day last December, out of nowhere, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto poked his head out to say "it's half-finished, y'all."...
Sunday30th Jan 2011
First Impressions 3DS Operating System and Built-In Software
What to expect from the included channels, augmented reality games and multitasking
There are a ton of unknowns still left for Nintendo to address when it comes to the upcoming 3DS handheld, and the hardware's operating system itself it was one of the least-accessible aspects of our time with the device in New York and Amsterdam on Jan. 19. While...
Talking Point Is the DS Dead at Retail?
Console's heyday is over
Nintendo's DS has had unprecedented success at retail, becoming the world's biggest-selling handheld and shifting millions of copies of unusual titles including Nintendogs, Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? and the Professor Layton series. Now, however, with the 3DS on the horizon it looks lik
Saturday29th Jan 2011
Review Jam City Rollergirls (WiiWare)
The revolution has now been televised
According to the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, roller derby is one of the fastest-growing sports in the US right now, and anyone that's ever been to a bout can see why: hard hits, lots of action and ladies on wheels. Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore even got in on the action in the movie Whip It. What's not...
News If You're Down Under, Nab an Agent Ford Statue with Conduit 2
Limited edition goodies inside
We brought you new Conduit 2 screenshots yesterday, as well as details of the multiplayer modes, and if they put you in a pre-ordering frame of mind – and you live in Australia or New Zealand – you might want to check out the game's Limited Edition. Pre-order the Limited Edition from GAME, JB HiFi or EB Games and...
Friday28th Jan 2011
News 3DS Update in May Includes eShop and Other Applications
Better late than never
Recent reports of the Nintendo eShop being ready when the 3DS launches have now been countered by Nintendo's Q3 financial results briefing. The report states that the download store won't be available until the system's first update which will be rolled out towards the end of May, and that will be the case for other markets...
Review 1942 (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
A relic best left forgotten
Capcom's 19XX series is quite fondly remembered, for offering some unique and very solid gameplay over the five installments it has had so far. At least, that mostly counts for the later four, but not so much for the first. Although not as bland as Exed Exes, 1942 does not really offer too many novelties other than its...
News 3DS Too Full of Gadgets to Make a 3DS Lite Possible
Iwata talks, size matters
Ever since before the 3DS was officially unveiled, gamers claimed they would wait until the so-called "inevitable" revision that has accompanied all Nintendo's portable hardware over the years: you need only look at the number of iterations of the original GameBoy, GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS consoles to...
News New Pokemon DS Game Comes With... A Keyboard?
Or Pokéboard, if you will
The "games that teach you to type" genre has made one notable contribution to the gaming world: Typing of the Dead, Sega's bizarre typing/zombie title from the Dreamcast days. Right at the opposite end of the zombie spectrum comes this next title, Nintendo's Battle Get! Pokémon Typing for DS. "How can you...
News Launching This Spring is Nintendo's Secretive Title, Pandora's Tower
It's about death, or something...
During Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata's presentation at the company's Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing, a new Nintendo title for the Wii was announced and should be hitting Japan in the first half of 2011. Not much is known about the game at the moment, with the most solid of facts being the game will carry the...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - February 2011
Just three games this time
It doesn't look like Capcom is ready to release more arcade game even in Japan, with next month's releases featuring nothing from their catalogue. The games being released are all part of fairly big franchises, though only one of them is likely to see release elsewhere. The full list is as follows: Famicom: SD Gundam...
News Iwata: 3DS and NGP will Appeal to Different Target Audiences
"The customers will decide which is correct"
Nintendo isn't the only company with new portable hardware coming out soon as Sony has recently announced details of its follow-up to the PSP range of models in the form of the Next Generation Portable (NGP). Speaking to Bloomberg, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata spoke about the upcoming Sony handheld device...
News Nintendo Reveals New Kirby Platformer for Wii in 2011
Kirby sucks again
Europe hasn't even had a chance to tangle with Kirby's Epic Yarn yet, and already Nintendo of Japan has revealed the second proper Wii outing for the pink puffball in a new video on its Japanese website. Developed by HAL Laboratories, the game looks like a more traditional Kirby adventure than its string-based predecessor, with...
Nintendo Download 28th January 2011 (Europe)
Back to no Virtual Console games
Every one of Capcom's announced arcade titles is out now, which means they don't have anything else coming anytime soon. Nobody else seems to have picked up their slack this week, as there's no new Virtual Console titles, but as expected that means there's a decent amount of games for the other services. WiiWare:...
News There'll be Plenty of 3DS Consoles at Launch, UK
Nintendo beefing up supply chain
With pre-orders reportedly outpacing the pre-release demand for Wii in 2006, gamers and retailers across the UK might be worried there won't be enough stock after March 25th to keep up with demand. Nintendo doesn't want you to have to ring around stores, refresh websites and chase delivery vans to get your hands on a...
News Sega Lets Loose with New Conduit 2 Screens and Details
Multiplayer blown wide open
To get you into the alien-blasting mood ahead of the release of Conduit 2, Sega has furnished us with a stimulus pack of new screenshots and a list of the 14 multiplayer modes that feature in the sequel. There's the usual array of deathmatch and capture the flag gametypes, with other modes inspired by other successful...
Thursday27th Jan 2011
Square Enix mixes it up with Mario, but is it any good?
Mario is one of those annoying people who seems to be good at whatever he turns his hand to: not satisfied with merely being a tennis champion, golf champion, kart racing champion and constant saviour of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario is trying out four new sports in Mario Sports Mix for Wii and...
News What Do You Make of This 3DS Prototype?
Better than the real thing?
Nintendo consoles go through countless prototypes before the final version hits the shop shelves, so it's no surprise that the 3DS didn't always look the same way it does now. The newest instalment of Iwata Asks, in which Nintendo President Satoru Iwata chews the fat with his colleagues, reveals a few interesting...
Believe in angles
There's a wealth of puzzle games on DSiWare, but 505 Tangrams is the first tangram-based title to hit the shop so it's got the genre all to itself. How high does it set the bar for future tangram titles to match, though? If you're not sure what a tangram is, allow us to enlighten you. You're given a silhouette, here in one of five...
News Top Screen Backlight to Blame for 3DS Battery Life
Too bright by half
There's no dressing it up: the 3DS's battery life of 3 - 5 hours is disappointing. Ryuji Umezu, the system designer, talked to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata about the many features that sap away the machine's battery life, with the main culprit, as you would expect, the 3D top screen. Explaining that the most energy-hungry...
News Reggie Explains Why Nintendo Stuck With Friend Codes For 3DS
Easier now for gamers, but is it the most convenient overall method?
Nintendo knows that one area it needs to improve on is its online strategy, and in particular, the online functionality of its range of hardware. With the upcoming 3DS, the company is hoping to improve on several areas that its been lacking in in recent years: one example is a more...
News Smell the Burning Rubber in this Ridge Racer 3DS Trailer
Looking tyred?
Namco Bandai's flagship racing franchise is pulling donuts in the car park as it waits for the release of 3DS in March, but rather than show you that the publisher wants you to see this new trailer instead. Unfortunately it contains no gameplay footage whatsoever, so you can't appreciate the game's graphical style, nor can you get a...
Podcast Episode 20 - Jon and James Talk 3DS
Information, impressions and intelligent discussion
It's been a long old time since the Nintendo Life podcast graced your earholes, but if ever there was an occasion to resurrect the series it would be Nintendo's 3DS events in New York and Amsterdam. Our man in New York Jon Wahlgren and Amsterdam attendee James Newton sat down for a transatlantic...
Competition Design the Official T-Shirt for Team Chien!
Hank needs your help
If you've ever been one of a legion of fans, you know that the best way to show your pride and look cool doing it is with the power of the t-shirt. Team Wiebe's in the lead with a snazzy design even if their leader no longer holds the record. Now, current champ Hank Chien is looking for YOUR help to remind him who's the boss...
News Profits Down 46% As Nintendo Makes $1.3 Billion
Cuts sales projections for Wii and DS
The accounting period just before launching a new console is always a tough one: who's likely to shell out for a machine when a newer, shinier model is on the horizon? Perhaps that's partly to blame for a sharp decrease in Nintendo's third-quarter profits which saw the company's operating profit drop to $1.3...
News Check Out the Fins on These Flipper 2 Screenshots
New stage pictured
Flipper 2 is taking a totally different approach to predecessor Flipper, with its new gameplay using just one action button. Developer Goodbye Galaxy Games just sent over some new screenshots of the game, and it seems to be shaping up nicely. The new shots show off an ice stage and a level based on ancient ruins, with coins,...
Wednesday26th Jan 2011
Review Airport Mania: Non-Stop Flights (DSiWare)
Economy class
In November, Nintendo Life received an unexpected – and quite pleasant – shock from a little game called Airport Mania: First Flight. It was a release that flew in from totally off the radar, and immediately became one of our favorite games on the WiiWare service. It was a deceptively deep, engaging game of time- and...
Review Spot the Differences! (WiiWare)
Can you spot the fun?
Spot the Differences! is a new WiiWare entry from Sanuk Games, a developer whose focus on Nintendo consoles so far has largely been downloadable puzzlers. This release follows the same standard modus operandi as Cosmonaut's 5 Spots Party and Enjoy Gaming's Spot the Difference – look at two images side by side and identify...
News 101 Dolphin Pets to Make "African-Style" Dolphins Possible
Teyon does it again
You may have played 101 Shark Pets on DSiWare, but if you prefer your pets a little less man-eating Teyon has just the thing up its flipper: 101 Dolphin Pets, a simulation game with a twist. As well as the usual array of pet-training exercises, minigames, dressing-up and all-around dolphin care, you'll be able to alter your...
News Sonic Colours Soundtrack Racing to iTunes
Grab some sonic satisfaction
Wii platformer Sonic Colours (or Sonic Colors, if you prefer) was praised for its soundtrack, and iTunes users will be able to download the game's audio stylings across North America, Europe and Japan from January 26th. At $1.29 / £0.99 a track it's likely to mount up, with 82 tracks spread across three discs, but you...
Interviews Dr. Hank Chien, the Current King of Kong
Doctor Kong tells all
We recently live blogged former King of Kong Steve Wiebe's attempt to take back the Donkey Kong record, but before last March, we weren't even aware that a new champ was out there. We recently sat down with the New York plastic surgeon to get his thoughts on his rise to fame, competitive playing and more as well as get some...
Review Ante Up: Texas Hold'em (DSiWare)
Sometimes less is more
Since we've already seen a host of Texas Hold'em games released on the WiiWare and DSiWare services, it would be quite easy to dismiss this fourth entry, Ante Up: Texas Hold'em, as just another attempt to cash in on the game's popularity. But even with the game's minimalistic visual approach, it's difficult not to be impressed...
News Pokemon Designer Explains New Legendary Monsters
Strong, sharp, lots of lines
Pokémon Black & White aren't just offering new features like online video chat, three-on-three battles and seasonal gameplay: two of the biggest new additions are slapped right on the front of the box. Legendary Pokémon Reshiram and Zekrom take centre stage on the game's box art, but how did Pokémon master Ken...
News Reggie: Steel Diver Makes Up for Lack of Zelda at Launch
Submarine game is "awfully compelling", says honcho
While we don't yet have a rock-solid launch line-up for 3DS in either North America or Europe, we do know that Nintendo's two top guys, Mario and Link, won't be making their appearances on the console before E3 in June. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime says the titles will be released...
News Sakaguchi: To Succeed Internationally, JRPGs Need to Change
Will Last Story lead the way by example?
There have been many Japanese games that never made it out of their own country but far from publishers being lazy or concerned that localisations won't be profitable enough for the hassle, perhaps the reason genres like Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) sometimes struggle to find success in the Western...
Competition Mario Sports Mix Giveaway!
Bag yourself a copy of Mario Sports Mix
To celebrate the release of upcoming Wii title Mario Sports Mix, a Mario themed sports compilation, Nintendo Life and Games Basement, a leading UK video game online retailer, are proud to offer 3 copies of the game to Nintendo Life readers who live in Europe or North America. All you have to do is answer the...
Tuesday25th Jan 2011
R-Lite: cut-down, but still a cracker
Following its original 1987 arcade release, Irem's highly regarded R-Type was ported to numerous home systems, with this Game Boy version appearing in 1991. For those not in the know (estimates range from 2-5 people living under a rock) the aim of the game is to take your space fighter and blast your way through...
Review Glory Days - Tactical Defense (DSiWare)
Glorious
odenis studio has built a good track record on DSiWare, with its capture-the-flag-on-wheels adventure Pop Island and its follow-up, Pop Island: Paperfield. Before that, however, it was responsible for the combat strategy Glory Days titles, and now it's drastically altered and miniaturised the formula into a downloadable top-down...
Sell it
Quick! What's the most convoluted and fun-deprived card game on the DSiWare service? Wrong: it's The Seller, an unnecessarily complicated and almost completely unstimulating card game that probably won't even keep you awake long enough to irritate the Hell out of you. Now, let's get one thing clear: The Seller isn't broken. It's (almost) a...
News Kiloo Games Announces Zoonies for DSiWare
You can't hide those lion eyes
Cute animal-based platformers used to be ten-a-penny in the olden days, but with the advent of more powerful consoles the genre has noticeably diminished. Thankfully the portable nature of the DSi combined with the console's download service means fans of big-eyed animals collecting things can still be entertained,...
News Inazuma Eleven Looking to Score in Europe on Friday
But where's the marketing?
You'd think a football game from the creators of the Professor Layton games would be enough to pique the interest of games retailers, but judging from the complete lack of awareness and availability in the marketplace you'd be greatly mistaken. Inazuma Eleven for Nintendo DS launches across the UK and Europe this Friday,...
News Xbox Live Arcade's Antipole Flipping to DSiWare
Saturnine Games returns
Xbox Live Arcade title Antipole attracted plenty of attention with its gravity-flipping gameplay, and soon DSi owners will be able to get their hands on the innovative platformer as developer Saturnine Games has announced it'll be bringing the title to DSiWare. The game is said to be progressing well, with several stages...
Monday24th Jan 2011
Review Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (DS)
Trick or treat?
When Shu Takumi broke away from the Ace Attorney series to create a new game for the Nintendo DS, there were many who wondered whether anything else could ever live up to a certain Phoenix Wright and his long succession of adventures. Fans of his work and point-and-click adventures have no need to worry as Ghost Trick is a...
Review Black Tiger (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
Ghosts 'n Goblins 'n Gimmicks
In 1985, Capcom released the infamous Ghosts 'n Goblins upon the world. Still regarded as one of the most challenging games ever made, it was a smash hit and cost many players many, many quarters as they died again and again. Although it would get a sequel eventually, after two years, Capcom decided to make a similar...
News No, You Cannot Fight as Samus in Dead or Alive: Dimensions
Hopes, crushed
That video of Samus Aran appearing in Dead or Alive: Dimensions? Awesome, and more than enough to kickstart the rumours of the intergalactic bounty hunter being able to kick ninja rump as a playable character. That rumour, awesome though it may be, is totally false. Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi explained to Eurogamer that the Nintendo...
News Rodea the Sky Soldier Flying to Wii and 3DS
Check out Yuji Naka's newest project in action
We recently heard word that Yuji Naka, former head honcho of Sega's Sonic Team, was working on a brand new and highly secret project for both the Nintendo Wii and 3DS systems, but so far we've seen very little in the way of screenshots and absolutely no video of the game in action at all. Well the wait...
First Impressions PilotWings Resort
PilotWings returns after a billion years
Another long-abandoned fan-favorite series, PilotWings debuted on SNES but hasn't seen the flight of day since the N64 launched way back in the mid-90's with the lovely PilotWings 64. But despite the series' rarity, the third installment, PilotWings Resort, which we were able to go hands-on with in Amsterdam...
Podcast NLFM Episode 14: The Past and Future, Remixed
Check out some of our favourite remixes of classic franchises coming to 3DS
We're absolutely killing 2011 with our new weekly schedule, even if we're a little late in the day from time to time. As in every episode so far. This episode we're inspired by the 3DS line-up and looking towards both the future and past by checking out some excellent...
News Plenty of Action in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Trailer
Looks pretty faithful to past mercenary instalments
Capcom currently has two Resident Evil titles in development for the 3DS, and with one nearing completion sooner than the other, it's time to see what the trailer for Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D has in store for us. Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D is a handheld re-mastered collection of stages...
Nintendo Download 24th January 2011 (North America)
Action on land, sea and air
There's a definite airborne theme to this week's downloads, with rockets, meteors, fighter planes and passenger aircraft all featured across the three download channels. Let's take a look at what's available. WiiWare: Jam City Rollergirls (Frozen Codebase, 1000pts) – An arcade action take on the growing sport of roller...
News Twisting and Matching 3D Objects Comes to DSiWare
In 3D Twist & Match, of course
Forget matching three like-coloured objects together; matching three-dimensional objects to their silhouettes is where it's really at, as Sanuk Games is bringing 3D Twist & Match to DSiWare in the near future. Sanuk Games is promising a range of difficulties and themed objects, including food, Christmas, tools and...
Sunday23rd Jan 2011
News Why the 3DS Will Not Use an Achievement System
Nintendo appeals to gamers' sense of discovery
Across the current generation of game systems, all but Nintendo's have one thing in common – some sort of Achievement scheme. This is a feature that tracks certain actions performed and points reached across titles, tallying it all into one cumulative score. Nintendo's Bill Trinen has said that even...
Review Animal Boxing (DSiWare)
Not just cruelty to animals, unfortunately
For those who don't know, Animal Boxing was originally released as a DS retail title two years ago to little fanfare. In fact, even though the game has just been recently released on DSiWare, most people don't even know it was originally a retail release. Perhaps this might explain the reason the game's...
News LucasArts Assembles the Facts on LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars for 3DS
Use the 3D force!
From Indiana Jones to Harry Potter and more, many beloved franchises have gotten the LEGO twist and been featured in idiosyncratically silly video game adaptations, and one of the first was Star Wars. The saga will continue on the 3DS with LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, and LucasArts has given us all the facts on this upcoming...
Review Missy Mila: Twisted Tales (DSiWare)
Child's play
Virtual books aren't really anything new on the DS, having seen full retail releases such as 100 Classic Books Collection containing classic literature such as Around The World In 80 Days to the DSiWare series of Flips. This time around, we have Missy Mila – Twisted Tales, a small collection of five original children's stories (Baba...
First Impressions 3DS Video Round-Up
Eyes-on with a whole lot of titles
Regrettably not all the best-looking titles at the Discover 3DS event were available to play, with many games only visible in rolling footage. We spent plenty of time touring the cinematic areas of the events in Europe and New York to see how some of the non-playable games were shaping up. One of the best-looking...
News Australian 3DS Event Set for February 8th
Release date and price likely to be revealed
Nintendo Australia has announced that they'll be holding an event on February 8th in Sydney to discuss their launch plans for Nintendo's upcoming 3DS system. While no specifics of the event have been detailed so far, speculation points to an Australian release date and price point being revealed to the...
News The Official 3DS UK Tour Starts Next Month
Four cities announced so far
You have to see it to be believe it. That's what Nintendo thinks consumers ought to do with the upcoming 3DS anyways, and if that's the ethos that Nintendo is going by, then what better way is there to let the public know about the 3DS than a nationwide UK tour? That's exactly what Nintendo has up its sleeves and to...
News European 3DS Launch Line-up Close to Being Finalised
To be revealed a lot sooner than the Japanese launch
Seven weeks prior to the upcoming Japanese launch of the 3DS, Nintendo was in a position where it officially revealed the launch titles that will be released in conjunction with the console. Whilst Nintendo of Europe isn't quite ready to announce what titles will be available on 25th March, the...
Saturday22nd Jan 2011
First Impressions The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
The Hero of Time, now in three dee's
Few games are as hotly anticipated for Nintendo's upcoming handheld as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and with good reason: when the game originally hit the N64 in 1998 it was quickly hailed by gaming's vox populi as the greatest game ever. That's a title that many still bestow upon it after 13 years...
News Burst Bubbles Like Never Before in Bust-a-Move Universe
Or Puzzle Bobble, if you prefer
3DS is receiving its fair share of massive-selling, action-packed franchises – we've already played Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries and Pro Evolution Soccer – but what about something a little more sedate and thoughtful? Square Enix is lining up just the thi
First Impressions Ridge Racer 3D
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Raceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer
Namco's Ridge Racer series has been around the block a few times on Nintendo platforms, starting out with Ridge Racer 64 all the way up to Ridge Racer DS with a pit stop on Gamecube in between. Now the franchise is drifting on over to 3DS with the appropriately named Ridge...
Friday21st Jan 2011
News 3D Dino Fighting Detailed in Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
Take a trip to a land that time forgot
You may not be keen on Ubisoft's Combat of Giants franchise, the three DSiWare incarnations of which – Mutant Insects - Revenge, Dinosaurs - Fight for Survival and Dragons - Bronze Edition – each scored a 5/10 in our reviews, but hopefully things will improve with Ubisoft's next entry in the series, the 3DS
News James Noir's Hollywood Crimes Mixes Murder With Game Shows
Ubisoft's interactive 3D movie hoping to win big
Several developers have puzzle games already lined up for the 3DS, and Ubisoft isn't about to miss out on the party. James Noir's Hollywood Crimes (formerly known as Hollywood 61) sets itself apart from the rest of the 3DS's puzzle repertoire by presenting itself as an interactive 3D movie... with...
News The 3DS eShop and Browser Will Be Ready on Launch Day
You'll need to update to get them, though
Worried that the 3DS's Internet Browser and new Virtual Console and 3DSWare eShop wouldn't be available at launch? Fear not – Nintendo has spoken, and the service will be available on the same day as the console's arrival. You'll still need to run an update in order to receive the features, as consoles...
First Impressions 3DS Virtual Console
Time travel meets blur-o-vision
Virtually nothing is known about how the 3DS will handle its new eShop apart from that it will eventually offer a Virtual Console for Game Boy and Game Boy Color software, and in New York City and Amsterdam this past Wednesday Nintendo Life was able to test out a couple of games confirmed for Shop shelves: Super Mario...
News Konami to Take Over Hudson in April
Studio to be absorbed like one of Bomberman's explosions
Hudson, well known for its Bomberman and Deca Sports series, is to be fully absorbed by Konami on April 1 of this year. Konami, the studio behind Castlevania, Dance Dance Revolution, Silent Hill and many other titles has been Hudson's parent company since April 2005, holding a 54% stake. The...
First Impressions Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
The franchise's first 3DS outing is familiar territory for fans
Of the two games in the horror series slated for 3DS, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D is at first blush the least interesting. Where Resident Evil: Revelations looks to be taking the atmosphere back to the series’ spooky roots, Mercenaries is a complete embracement of the...
News Pachter: Nintendo Should Charge More for 3DS
$250 is just too cheap
Industry analyst Michael Pachter's already thrown his weight behind 3DS to defeat Sony's forthcoming PSP2 in the next generation of the handheld wars, but he'd certainly feel happier about the machine if it were, you know, just a little more costly. In an interview with Industry Gamers, Pachter stated he believes Nintendo is...
News Rayman 3D Details Revealed
Will adapt Dreamcast classic Rayman 2
When Rayman 3D showed up on the ESRB and OFLC websites, speculation ran wild over what form the adventure would take. Ubisoft has just answered that question, revealing that it would adapt the Dreamcast version of the armless wonder's first 3D adventure, Rayman 2. It's expected to ship during the first quarter...
News Nintendo Defends European Retailers' Pricing of the 3DS
There's nothing else like it on the market
Nintendo's launch announcement of the upcoming 3DS was bittersweet yesterday as the release date and schedule of games were missing the all-important price tag of the system itself. With no final pricing currently determined for the U.K. and the rest of Europe, the majority of retailers have listed the...
First Impressions Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
The beautiful game goes 3D
The revelation that Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D would find a home in Europe during the 3DS's launch period was no surprise to some, but the major part it played in Nintendo's conference showed the two companies obviously have big plans for the game's role in the 3DS launch. Our hands-on time with the world's...
News Ubisoft Hits and Runs with Driver Renegade 3D Details
Take out the five kingpins in this action driving game
Ubisoft is revving up Driver Renegade 3D for release on the 3DS this spring, and they've just delivered some high-speed details on what they're claiming to be the first action driving game on the system. Taking place between the events of Driver and Driver 2, the new game will follow John Tanner...
Nintendo Download 21st January 2011 (Europe)
More Capcom classics
Virtual Console is the clear winner this week with two new Capcom arcade games, but that's not to say the rest should be ignored outright. Although WiiWare only gets one new download, DSiWare gets four of them, so hopefully there's something for everyone. WiiWare: Spot the Differences! (Sanuk Games, 500pts) – Another...
Ubisoft tells the wacky facts on Travel in Time 3D
Last week we reported on Rabbids Travel in Time 3D, a side-scrolling take on the Raving Rabbids' mini-gaming time-travelling exploits on Wii, and now Ubisoft has revealed more information on the upcoming title. Due for release during the first quarter of 2011, Rabbids Travel in Time 3D features 60...
News Ubisoft Lays Out its Tom Clancy 3DS Arsenal
Three-dimensional stealth
Ubisoft has announced plans to bring two Tom Clancy titles, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D, to the 3DS this year, and the company has just revealed more information about both games. Shadow Wars will put you in command of the Ghosts, the most elite fighting squad in the world, as...
News Ubisoft Behind the Wheel of Asphalt 3D's Western Release
Start your engines!
Since it was announced last year that Asphalt 3D would be burning rubber to make it in time for the 3DS's launch window, the game has got itself a publisher outside of Japan, where it is published by Konami, and is now being brought to the Western hemisphere courtesy of Ubisoft. Developed by Gameloft, Asphalt 3D will feature 17...
Thursday20th Jan 2011
Review Oscar in Toyland 2 (DSiWare)
Oscar in Average Land 2: Mediocre Harder
In September 2009 we got Oscar in Toyland on DSiWare, and almost a year ago we saw its follow-up, Oscar in Movieland, come to the service. Both of them were secretly slightly redone ports of Amiga platformers, which, in a weird way, meant that there were actually some Virtual Console games available on the...
First Impressions Dead or Alive: Dimensions
A contender?
Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition may have been many attendee's standout game of the show, but Tecmo Koei's first portable Dead or Alive title had its fair share of admirers throughout the Discover 3DS event. We put the fighter through its paces and attended Team Ninja's developer roundtable to bring you all the information...
First Impressions Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Indestructible
You have to go back a long time to find the last time a Street Fighter title appeared on a Nintendo console – Street Fighter Alpha 3 on the GameBoy Advance in 2002, in fact. Now Capcom is once again giving Nintendo fans a portable port of its famous fighter with Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition. We went toe-to-toe with the title...
News Hudson Announces 3DS Line-up
Ball-playing, bomb blasting and brain training on the menu
Hudson has just announced the first three titles that they plan to bring to the 3DS this year. We already knew about the next entry in their Deca Sports series, now titled Deca Sports Extreme, and they've also added Bomberman and Nikoli's Pencil Puzzle, both working titles, to the mix. The...
News Doctor Lautrec Might Not be Your Typical Puzzle-Solving Hero
Clues as to what Konami's 3DS puzzle game is all about
With so many video game franchises out there, there are bound to be some that contain characters that look alike, no? Be it a simple case of coincidence, or what is supposedly the simplest form of flattery, Konami has revealed a little bit more on its upcoming puzzle-solving protagonist that...
News Keep DodoGoing with DodoGo! Robo
A third egg in the DSiWare omelette
In 2010 we enjoyed the innovative DSiWare puzzler DodoGo! and its sequel DodoGo! Challenge, which tasked players with guiding the last remaining dodo eggs to safety. Well, it appears that the titular bird still isn't quite extinct as the third instalment, DodoGo! Robo, has just been rated by the ESRB. From the...
News Liight Approved for WiiWare
Finally, there will be a Liight in the darkness of everybody's life [Updated with trailer]
A while back, we showed you Liight, a puzzler from Studio Walljump that involves illuminating targets of various colours using the base elements of red, green and blue light in various combinations. It looked quite exciting, but we hadn't heard anything about...
Wednesday19th Jan 2011
Live Text 3DS Events in Amsterdam and New York
All the updates here, live!
Today on January 19th, at 9am EST / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET, Nintendo is hosting two conferences: one in New York, one in Amsterdam, at which the company will announce the release plans for its Nintendo 3DS console. Nintendo Life's Jonathan Wahlgren (@jonwahlgren) is our man in New York and James Newton (@DaddyNewts) will be...
News There's a Limit on Transferring Software from One 3DS to Another
Your games are going places... just not too many places
While we've known about the ability to transfer DSiWare to the 3DS for a while now and learned today about transferring software between devices (DSiWare, 3DSWare and Virtual Handheld), we've just found out that there will be a limit to how many license transfers you can make. From Play.c
Nintendo spills the beans on the 3DS and all of its features and hardware specs
We've already seen tons of information floating around about Nintendo's upcoming 3DS system, but with today's revelations, we decided it was time to collect all of the various bits of information into one tidy spot. You can check out all of the information we currently...
News 3DS: Including StreetPass, SpotPass, eShop, Mii Maker & AR Cards
Straight from the 3D horses' mouth
Nintendo have today announced the final details of the 3DS system along with a price and release date in both US and Europe. The company that changed the world of video games with touch-screen gaming in 2004 and motion-controlled gaming in 2006 now pioneers the next dimensional shift. On March 27 (Europe March...
Review Alien Puzzle Adventure (DSiWare)
Connect three puzzle action returns to DSiWare.... again
Puzzlers are a dime a dozen on DSiWare. They range from connect three games like A Little Bit Of... Puzzle League to simple bubble-popping in Pop Plus: Solo. Now we have Alien Puzzle Adventure, Mastertronic's second title for the service. Does it do enough to stand out from the crowd? Not...
News 3DS Launches in Europe on March 25th
All the details inside!
At long last, Nintendo has announced the European release date for its new 3DS console. The machine will launch on Friday March, 25th. NoE is yet to announce a final price for the UK and the rest of Europe, however most retailers are reporting £229.99 / EUR 249. It will be available in Aqua Blue and Cosmos Black. The...
News Feel the G-Force With New FAST - Racing League Screenshots
Shin'en Multimedia pushing the capabilities of WiiWare once again
Last September, we brought you word on Shin'en Multimedia's upcoming racing title FAST - Racing League, and with the German developer's track record of producing visually-compelling titles, this racing game doesn't seem to deviate from that reputation at all. The game's website has...
News PES 2011 3D Launching this Spring, No Mention of Online
See the game up and running here
With the recent rumour that PES 2011 3D will be a launch title when the 3DS is unleashed across Europe on 25th March, Konami has released some solid details on its upcoming football game, but the date is still up in the air. What we do know is that PES 2011 3D will be available this Spring and when the time comes,...
News 3DS Hits North America on March 27 for $249.99
Games, prices, details - all inside!
Nintendo of America just confirmed its new 3DS console will launch on March 27 for $249.99, available in Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue. Nintendo claims 30 games will accompany the console on or near (before the end of June) launch. The list of titles confirmed as in development for 3DS includes: Nintendo: Animal...
News Sega Announces PAL Region Release Dates for Conduit 2
New weapons trailer to check out too
Eurocom made sure 2010 went out with a bang by chipping in with its Wii version of GoldenEye 007, securing itself as one of the top first-person shooters on the console. High Voltage Software has yet to release its upcoming shooter though, but at least the dates have been set as to when gamers can get their hands...
Tuesday18th Jan 2011
News Nintendo Confirms 3DS Will Be Region-Locked
To what extent?
Back at E3 2010, Nintendo revealed that the decision on whether the 3DS will be region-locked hadn't been made yet, and just earlier this month, an alleged portion of a Nintendo support email spoke of "region codes" being built into the 3DS system and its games. Ahead of Nintendo's dual 3DS conference tomorrow, the company...
Review Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time (WiiWare)
Shark sandwich
In November of 2009, Stickmen Studios brought us Dragon Master Spell Caster, and we figured, at least, that its next game couldn't get any worse. In May of 2010, it released Kung Fu Funk for the sole purpose of proving us wrong. But that was the distant past. We're older now. Wiser. Could Doc Clock and the Toasted Sandwich of Time...
News Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle to get Daily New Puzzles
Level-5 really is outdoing itself
Fans of the Professor Layton series should by now be familiar with Level-5's commitment to providing post-release content in the form of new puzzles, and the upcoming 3DS instalment isn't about to break that habit. Previous games in the franchise have provided new puzzles which could be downloaded on a weekly basis,...
News Be the Hip Hop King in Cinemax's Third Rytmik Release
... to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
With two Rytmik titles already under its belt, Czech developer Cinemax is getting ready to launch the third instalment in the franchise, and following Rytmik: Rock Edition, musically-creative gamers can look forward to something with a little more Hip to the Hop. The Rytmik: Hip Hop King user-interface will...
News MotoHeroz Trailer Unleashed
First footage of WiiWare racer
RedLynx already announced their upcoming game MotoHeroz a few months ago, but only gave us two screenshots to look at. Now, they've released a trailer. The developer might not mean much to Nintendo-only gamers, but people with multiple systems might recognize them as the creators of the Trials games on Xbox Live Arcade...
Monday17th Jan 2011
News Wow, Disney Epic Mickey Sold 1.3m Copies in North America
Good start for the mouse
It may have divided players and critics, but Disney Epic Mickey did the business at the cash registers, shifting 1.3 million copies across North America in December. According to figures from the NPD Group, the game was the sixth best-selling title across all formats last month, just behind Donkey Kong Country Returns...
Podcast NLFM Episode 13: Yep, Still Weekly
Storms can't hold this podcast back
Your eyes doth not deceive you: NLFM is back with another episode a mere week after the last one. And man, did we almost not make it thanks to an impending snowstorm and travel arrangements. But lo and behold, here is a delicious ear scoop for you. We couldn't bail on our weekly promise one week after making it,...
News Fan-Made Petition to Bring Last Story Westward Gains Steam
6,800 signatures and growing
The other day we brought you news that Nintendo has no plans to bring Last Story Westward, and naturally it gave rise to plenty of ire amongst Wii gamers. Keen to do something about it, one fan created a petition to bring the game to North America and Europe, and it's already gained close to 7,000 signatures. If you want...
News Watch the 3DS Europe Event Live Online
Nintendo brings the stream
We'll be bringing you updates of Nintendo's European 3DS press event throughout the day on Wednesday, but if you really have to see things for yourself you'll be pleased to know Nintendo will be streaming the entire event online. Simply bookmark the 3DS Europe live broadcast and check back on Wednesday from 3pm CET / 2pm...
Nintendo Download 17th January 2011 (North America)
Puzzles, pugilists and more puzzles
Another varied array of titles this week, with time-travelling toasted sandwiches, boxing animals, tactical defending and more. Let's get right to it. WiiWare: Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time (Stickmen Studios, 1000pts) – Hopefully this game has more than just a fantastic title to offer, but considering...
News Plain Sight to Show its Self-Destructive Side on WiiWare
Suicidal robots aren't something you see very often
When characters die in video games it usually evokes a negative reaction, but Beatnik Games has other ideas. In its upcoming WiiWare version of Plain Sight, players will be required to kill themselves if they want to rack up the points needed to progress. Don't worry, it's not as morbid as you...
Rumour Pro Evolution Soccer a 3DS Launch Game in Europe
Konami present at event
In just 48 hours we will know when the 3DS will be available, how much it'll cost and its launch line-up in full, but for now rumours will have to do. Here's one to take with a small-to-moderately sized pinch of salt: Pro Evolution Soccer will be launching alongside the 3DS in Europe. Nintendo has several developer interviews...
Sunday16th Jan 2011
News Pac-Man Returns to Our TV Screens Via Unscripted Series
Game show tie-in, come on down!
Remember all those old TV shows based on your favourite video game franchises? Whatever happened to those? Oh, wait. They disappeared into the mist of time either because they were instantly forgettable, or television networks grew tired of them. In conjunction with the 30th anniversary of one of video gaming's most...
Saturday15th Jan 2011
Worth the climb
Few would argue that the DS lacks a robust library of puzzlers, and fewer still would suggest that in separating the wheat from the chaff, a PC port that retails for under 20 dollars and carried the label "Premium Casual Games" in its original incarnation would belong to the former. The unassuming Puzzle Expedition,...
Live Text Steve Wiebe Attempts to Re-Claim Donkey Kong World Record
It's on!
Today at 3:30 PM CST, we'll be bringing you live text updates below of Steve Wiebe's Donkey conquest to take back the title from Dr. Hank Chien. We'll be live at Chicago, IL's Logan Hardware bringing you to-the-second updates on the schoolteacher's climbing score. Will he reach a kill screen? Will he top Dr. Chien's 1,068,000 points? Will...
Friday14th Jan 2011
Review Despicable Me: The Game - Minion Mayhem (DS)
Forgettable game
Like its home console counterpart, Despicable Me: The Game – Minion Mayhem refreshingly constructs an original experience around elements from a film rather than rigidly attempting to follow the source material and fit it to a game framework for which it was never intended. Unfortunately, beyond that it shares the status of subpar...
News Limited Edition Pokemon Black and White DSis to Hit Europe
Black or white?
When Pokémon Black and White hit Europe on March 4th, choosing which coloured game to go for won't be the only difficult decision on the shelves, as the games will also launch alongside two limited edition DSi consoles. Available in black or white, the bundles come with a copy of the appropriately-coloured game, with the console...
Are you ready for this jelly?
Ports can be a tricky business. Change too much about beloved game and fans of the title will likely gripe, while not adding any new content earns the moniker “lazy port.” Still, lots of games on WiiWare have managed to straddle this fence successfully, like Lilt Line and Crystal Defenders, while others like Space...
News Protect Your 3DS from Cats and Dogs with Cat and Dog Cases
Accessories unleashed
Here's a question for you: would you release an accessory for a console that wasn't available? Probably not, and chances are the folks at iMP Gaming wouldn't either, which makes the launch of their 3DS cases across Europe and North America in February an interesting proposition. Designed to maximise the excitement around...
Review Exed Exes (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
Extremely excruciating
We've seen a metric tonne of shoot 'em ups made available on Virtual Console already. With well-known classic games like the Gradius and Star Soldier series as well as lesser-known greats like Cho Aniki and MUSHA among them, there's more than enough good stuff available to satiate the desires of any fan of the genre. Because...
News Nintendo's 3DS Events - We Want Your Questions!
What do you want to know?
On Wednesday January 19th Nintendo is holding two press events: one in Amsterdam, one in New York, to kick off simultaneously at 9am EST / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET. Nintendo Life's Jonathan Wahlgren and James Newton will be present at the North America and European events respectively, and they'll be perfectly placed to bring you...
Nintendo Download 14th January 2011 (Europe)
3 new DSiWare titles, but the other services aren't completely ignored
Europe mostly plays catch-up again this week, with three of the five new downloads already being available in North America. DSiWare makes up the bulk of this week's releases, with the other two services only getting one game each, and it's also the only one of the services to...
News DSiWare's Animal Rights Record Takes a Beating on Monday
Fight some critters in Animal Boxing
There's nothing funny about animal cruelty or boxing, but we defy you not to raise a smile at this video of Animal Boxing, heading to DSiWare on Monday. A cartoon-styled first-person boxing game is a new one on us, with the game boasting local wireless multiplayer modes and 50 fuzzy critters to smack around in...
News Save the Earth Soon with the Imaginatively Titled Earth Saver
More localised Japanese budget fun from the GO Series
We've seen many Japanese DSiWare titles that we never thought would reach us thanks to the GO and G.G Series, featuring simple but entertaining experiences over a wide variety of genres and usually retailing for 200 Points. The latest to get a rating by the North American board, the ESRB, is GO...
News Boom Boom Squaries Goes Bang on January 28th
200 Points for animal puzzler
Gamelion's Boom Boom Squaries is an off-shoot of its Furry Legends series, heading to DSiWare in Europe on January 28th. An animal-themed puzzler, your 200 Points net you four gameplay modes, with 26 classic mode levels and 40 challenges to pit your wits against. Rather than matching objects you must blow up Squaries...
Thursday13th Jan 2011
Steeeeeeerrrrrike three!
Say what you will about Hudson's Deca Sports series... it at least keeps trying to get things right. Each release makes at least some small attempt at forging the way forward, whether it's something as simple as a refined gaming experience or a complete reimagining on a totally different platform. We've had two prior...
News All Ten Disciplines in Deca Sports 3D Now Revealed
A couple of surprises
Last December left us scratching our heads over what the complete list of sports were in Hudson's upcoming 3DS title, Deca Sports 3D, known as Sports Island in Europe. Aside from the initial four that were revealed, the remaining six were largely recognisable but a couple left us guessing. In the lead-up to the 3DS's Japanese...
News Super Street Fighter IV 3D Takes the Fight to the World
"Lag-free" online promised
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated 3DS titles, making use of many of the machine's new features, including its Internet capabilities. Capcom is promising a lag-free and fully-developed online experience for the title, as detailed at AndriaSang. Taking the Arcade Request feature...
News Iwata Hints at 3D Video Recording with Future 3DS Updates
Another string to the 3DS's bow
Along with the games that are in production for the upcoming 3DS, it seems Nintendo has allowed itself enough room to experiment with other uses and applications for the device. In a 3DS edition of Iwata Asks, the President of Nintendo Japan Satoru Iwata talks about the popularity of 3D cameras and hints at the...
News Look Out Fireplacing, You've Got Competition
Let the flaming commence
Still recovering from all the thrills and spills of maintaining a virtual fire in Fireplacing on WiiWare? Well you might be in for a second thrilling instalment of fireplace action, as the ESRB has rated a new title: Cozy Fire. In this non-stop action adventure you must tend to virtual fireplaces and, in a first on the...
News Nintendo Has "No Plans" to Bring Last Story Westward
Mistwalker title stuck in limbo
Wii roleplayer Last Story has attracted plenty of interest all over the world due to the involvement of Final Fantasy honcho Hironobu Sakaguchi and the game's impressive graphical showing, but hopes of seeing it make the journey to Western shores have just taken a dent. A Nintendo representative told VG247 the company...
News Nintendo Praises Sony and Microsoft's Contributions to Gaming Industry
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
Gone are the days when you could call Nintendo a big fish in a small pond. Modern gaming has undoubtedly expanded the size of the waters, and there are once again, several big fish that inhabit said pond. Speaking at the Learning Without Frontiers conference yesterday in London, General Manager of...
News Rabbids Prepare to Invade 3DS with Travel in Time
Bwwaaaagh, of course
If you wondered why Ubisoft's latest outing for its chaotic creatures, Raving Rabbids Travel in Time, only made its way to Wii this might go some way to explaining: the white terrors are heading to 3DS instead. Famitsu has the game pegged for a Japanese release on March 24th, but unlike its Wii counterpart it looks set to be a...
News Iwata: Making Consoles is Like Buying Sushi, and Other Insights
Crazy comments from top dog
We could have had 3D gaming years ago, had Nintendo's experiments with the Virtual Boy, Famicom Disk System, GameCube and GameBoy Advance gone better. Does this frustrate President Satoru Iwata? Of course, but it also seemingly makes him hungry, if his comments in the latest Iwata Asks are anything to go
Wednesday12th Jan 2011
A+
The year may be young (really, really young) but we've already seen two must-have games hit the DSiWare Shop. The first was Alt-Play: Jason Rohrer Anthology, a collection of some of the most beautifully realised artistic statements gaming has to offer. The second is Surfacer+, a wonderfully unique action-puzzler that came out of nowhere and...
This tractor's a little bit rusty
Nordcurrent don't have a great record when it comes to WiiWare, having brought us the some stinkers such as Robin Hood: The Return Of Richard and 5 Arcade Gems. Now we have Urbanix, where you play as a tractor who is simply trying to build a town on an empty field, while cloning the gameplay of arcade classic Qix...
News Contents of 3DS Box Revealed
Charging cradle and 2GB SD card included
Everyone loves packaging, and Gizmodo has just revealed what's inside that of the 3DS. As well as the system, the box will hold a charging cradle, AC adaptor, 10cm touch pen, 2GB SD card, six augmented reality cards and instruction booklets, screen shots of which were earlier posted by Famitsu. They also...
Review EJ Puzzles: Hooked (DSiWare)
Crab your enthusiasm
When last we heard from Electron Jump games...erm...uhhh...well, you know where we're going with this. Suffice it to say we weren't quite thrilled about wading through such questionable waters a second time. But a strange and unexpected thing happened with their most recent release, EJ Puzzles: Hooked. It turned out to be a...
News Learn the Art of Spinjitzu with LEGO Battles: Ninjago
Strategy sequel coming this spring
In conjunction with the launch of LEGO's Ninjago construction sets, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced that a sequel to the 2009 strategy game LEGO Battles is in the works and should reach DS gamers this spring. Developed by Hellbent Games and produced by TT Games, LEGO Battles: Ninjago allows...
News So This is What a Naked 3DS Looks Like
Machine strips off
While we all know that the 3DS's technology isn't powered by wizards and warlocks, it's still surprising to see just how mundane the machine's insides are. Following the handheld's "vacation" from a Chinese production line, some enterprising console lover has taken the console apart and displayed its guts for all to see...
News Big Blue Bubble Bursting Onto the 3DS Scene with Two Upcoming Titles
A fiery puzzle game and an alternate reality late 1800's side-scrolling hack and slash
Big Blue Bubble has had mixed results with past releases on Nintendo platforms. From home improvement, to digital slapshots, to overweight men throwing metal sticks, the company is surely hoping for a more successful critical response from its upcoming releases on...
News Roll Up, Roll Up For the UK 3DS Price Rumour Round-Up
The greatest show on Earth
Rumours are great: all the fun of information with none of the hassle of facts. With Nintendo sticking to its January 19th event to reveal the official details of the 3DS's launch price and release date, several UK retailers have jumped the gun with their own guesses, varying from the optimistic to the greedy. UK site...
News MUDDS Won't Be Making a Splash on DSiWare After All
Renegade Kid campaign falters
You might remember that last month we brought you news of a campaign to get Maximilian and the Rise of the Mutant Mudds on DSiWare, where developer Renegade Kid asked for 1,000 comments on a blog post to see if the game had an audience on the download service. Regrettably, one month later, the campaign has ended without...
News Monochrome Pokemon Come to Europe on March 4th
Before the US? What's going on?
Clear your diaries for March, European Pokéfans: Pokémon Black and White will launch across the continent on March 4th, Nintendo has announced. The next instalment in the freakishly popular monster-catching series gets to European shores a whole 48 hours before its North American release, an unexpected but no doubt...
News First Flipper 2 Screenshots Released
More detailed, but still quite retro
The folks over at Goodbye Galaxy Games were kind enough to send over the first batch of screenshots from their upcoming DSiWare sequel Flipper 2. As you can see in the shots, the game has a very retro look to it, but shows quite a bit more detail than its predecessor. Developer Hugo Smits has promised a steady...
Tuesday11th Jan 2011
Rumour The D in DSi May Soon Stand for "Discontinued"
From two screens to zero
Nintendo has already announced plans to continue to support the DS once the 3DS is released. Some disquieting information from a Japanese retailer, however, suggests that the Big N is already discontinuing one popular incarnation, the DSi, which hit store shelves there in fall of 2008. The source states that the Nintendo DSi...
Rumour 3DS will be Region-Locked According to Nintendo
Following in the footsteps of the DSi and DSi XL?
An email response supposedly from Nintendo JP Support has dashed gamers' hopes of eventually importing games for their 3DS. As spotted by a member at NeoGAF, the quoted email originally posted on Korean message board Ruliweb speaks of the 3DS and how it locks out foreign games upon detection, making...
News QubicGames Serving Up My Little Restaurant: All Welcome on DSiWare
AiRace publisher getting into the culinary business [UPDATED, including new screens]
QubicGames, known to DSiWare players for AiRace and AiRace: Tunnel as well as the upcoming Remote Racers, just had a title of a different sort rated by the ESRB: My Little Restaurant: All Welcome. Already available for iPhone and iPod Touch, the game lets you run...
News Steve Wiebe Attempting to Reclaim Toppled Donkey Kong Record This Saturday
Join us as we bring you live coverage
Round and round the high score wheel goes, and yesterday it stopped once more on New York plastic surgeon Dr. Hank Chien with a barrel-blasting 1,068,000 points, besting Wiebe's September record by a cool 4,000. However, this Saturday Wiebe will attempt to take it back again, and you can tune in to Nintendo Life...
News More Kid Icarus: Uprising Gameplay Videos
Check out the mythical shooter in action
Kid Icarus: Uprising features the unique distinction of being not only one of the most anticipated 3DS titles, but also one of the first-party games we know the least about so far. The game features a unique split-style of gameplay that will change between aerial combat sequences coupled together with...
News Giana Sisters DS Gets ESRB Rated
Beloved platformer finally coming to NA
Well it looks like Giana Sisters DS is finally coming to North America after a rather lengthy wait. The game was recently rated by the ESRB and hopefully we'll be seeing a release here in North America very soon. No word yet on the publisher or any release details, but we'll keep you posted as we find out more...
News Improved Rhythm Core Alpha Hitting PAL Regions Next Week
Music to Europe, UK, and Australia's ears
Last August saw the NA release of the music creation application Rhythm Core Alpha from SoftEgg Enterprises. While the rest of the world is still waiting on a localized version to hit their DSi Shop, the developer has recently revealed that it's almost here and with it come numerous improvements over the...
Monday10th Jan 2011
News Earn Coins by Walking Around With Your 3DS
But what to do with them?
Nintendo clearly wants us to be carrying the upcoming 3DS around with us as much as possible; with the StreetPass feature alone, gamers are being encouraged to take their 3DS systems to the street and see what treats await them simply by passing fellow gamers out in the real world. The incentive doesn't stop there, though...
Podcast NLFM Episode 12: Ch-ch-changes
New year, new podcast
Changes are a-brewin' with NLFM this year as the show enters its second season. First of all, we're shrinking and growing at the same time. Is your mind blown yet? Tell the rest of the goo in your skull to stay calm, as what this means is that while the average episode will shrink in length, we're ditching the whole monthly...
News Fighters can be Voyeurs too in Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition
When not sweating it out with combos, kick back and just watch
With last weekend's Nintendo World 2011 event comes fresh new details on several anticipated 3DS titles, one of which is Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition from Capcom. We've previously reported on the game featuring an action figure collection mode which utilises the 3DS's StreetPass...
Nintendo Download 10th January 2011 (North America)
A scoop of fun with a dash of soul-crushing
WiiWare: JellyCar 2 (Disney Interactive Studios, 500 Points) - The sequel to the popular iOS game hits WiiWare, promising even more driving platforming fun(ing). We'll give this one a proper whirl and let you know if it's a joyride or if it melts in the sun. Soccer Bashi (Icon Games, 500 Points) - A...
News Four Million 3DS Systems Available Worldwide for Launch Window
Will it be enough?
When Nintendo of Japan's Satoru Iwata recently sat down with the Wall Street Journal, he let it be known that Nintendo would have four million 3DS systems available to consumers worldwide through the end of the fiscal year on March 31. Of these four million units, 1.5 million will be allocated to Japan with the remaining 2.5...
News Flipper Sequel Gets a Publisher, Aims for Q2 Release
Goodbye Galaxy Games teams up with Engine Software
Back in October, we brought you the exclusive news that a Flipper sequel was in the works, and now Goodbye Galaxy Games has announced that it has signed a contract with publisher Engine Software, making the arrival of Flipper 2 that much closer. Aside from publishing duties, Engine Software will...
News Third-Parties Take the Lead for Japan 3DS Launch
Only one first-party game launching alongside the handheld
With the 3DS launching in Japan on 26th February, it's perhaps surprising that there's only going to be one first-party title that will be sitting on the shelves when the wonder machine hits retailers. Nintendo has updated its website with a line-up of upcoming 3DS titles, with a total of...
Sunday9th Jan 2011
Review Ghosts 'n Goblins (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
The original quarter-eating monster returns
Over two years ago, before Nintendo introduced the Virtual Console Arcade, Capcom released the NES port of Ghosts 'n Goblins on Virtual Console. Arguably the most well-known version of the game out there, it's infamous for being an incredibly challenging and, frequently, totally unfair game. While it would...
News 3DS Battery Life Revealed
Better keep that charger handy
Nintendo has just recently released some details on the battery life of their upcoming 3DS system at their Nintendo World 2011 event in Tokyo and the news might surprise (and disappoint) some fans of Nintendo's usual crop of handhelds. Depending on the level of brightness being used and playing a 3DS-specific game, the...
Review Word Searcher 2 (DSiWare)
Legend of the seeker
In late 2009 and early 2010, Digital Leisure released versions of Word Searcher on both WiiWare and DSiWare respectively. Finally, after nearly a year of waiting, fans of the original adventures can quit holding their breaths and take in the fresh air of Word Searcher 2, available now as a brand new addition to the DSiWare...
Features Nintendo Life Reader's Choice Awards 2010
The top Wii and DS games of the year, as voted by you
We showed you ours, now it's time for you to show your favorite games of 2010. The categories may have been limited, but your response wasn't. Here are the Wii (including WiiWare), DS (including DSiWare) and overall Reader Games of the Year. Reader Wii Game of the Year: Winner: Super Mario Galaxy...
Saturday8th Jan 2011
Review Alt-Play: Jason Rohrer Anthology (DSiWare)
Real art style
Jason Rohrer has made a name for himself in the art game sphere with numerous small and thought-provoking PC games. To kick off their Alt-Play compilation series, Sabarasa has pulled together a collection of three of his most notable releases so far in the Jason Rohrer Anthology: Passage, Gravitation and Between. While DSiWare patrons...
Interview Geek Prints - Retro Video Game Clothing
Being a nerd has never looked so fashionable
There are many ways to show your appreciation for gaming's illustrious past. One is obviously re-living classic titles via Nintendo's popular Virtual Console service, while another is seeking out original hardware and software for that authentic experience. However, here at Nintendo Life HQ we've been...
Features Nintendo Life's Game of the Year 2010 Awards
Find out what buttered our biscuits and floated our boats last year
Fantastic. Packed. Hardcore. Whatever the word, it must be said that Nintendo gamers had an incredibly superfluous amount of quality software to choose from in 2010. Numerous long-neglected franchises returned to roaring glory, modern classics were born and “core” gamers could...
News Got Move or Kinect? Then Check Out Our Other Sites!
A whole world of gaming out there
2010 was a fantastic year for Nintendo Life, and as we head into 2011 we'll continue to bring you 100% review coverage of WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare games, as well as all the Nintendo news and features you could ask for. If you also own a 360 or PlayStation 3 and own Kinect or PlayStation Move, you might...
News DS Dominated 2010 as the Best-Selling Console in the U.K.
Performing as strong as ever late in the game
Nintendo recently revealed that the DS is the best-selling console ever in the United States, but it seems the handheld has also performed pretty well in the United Kingdom too. According to MCV's retail sources, combined sales of the DS family of consoles outsold the Xbox 360 by just 50,000 units,...
Friday7th Jan 2011
Review Magic Destiny - Astrological Games (WiiWare)
Reach for the stars
Astrology has been around for a very long time now. With records of its existence dating all the way back to 5,000 years ago, it comprises a group of methods and systems examining the relative positions of astronomical objects to provide information about an individual's personality as well as make predictions about their future...
News Iwata Asks About 3D Gaming on the Famicom Disk System
Early 3D experiments under the microscope
Nintendo's history with 3D goes back years before the 3DS was ever announced: the GameCube was 3D-compatible with an LCD accessory, Satoru Iwata still has a 3D GameBoy Advance in his sock drawer and of course there was the much-maligned Virtual Boy. But the love affair goes back still further, as discussed...
Nintendo Download 7th January 2011 (Europe)
More Capcom arcade classics, plus a bunch of catch-up titles
Capcom is continuing their Virtual Console Arcade support with another two games, both of which were of course announced some time ago. At this rate they'll run out of games before we hit February! They're accompanied by a mixture of completely new games and games North America already...
News 3DS Could Help UK Games Industry Recover in 2011
Industry looks to the future
Recent figures released by UK chart overlords GfK Chart-Track indicate the UK game market is down 13% year-on-year in 2010, and a massive 29% lower than 2008 when the Wii and DS were at their height. Now the games industry is looking towards 3DS to get it back on track and help the industry recover from disappointing...
News Live Out Your Glory Days on January 17th for 200 Points
Ten-hut!
odenis studio has a reputation for quality portable titles at cheap, cheap prices, having released 500 Point racer Pop Island and follow-up Pop Island: Paperfield for 200 Points. Its next release, Glory Days - Tactical Defense, is built on the same principles: silky smooth 60fps gameplay and a cheap price, and it's coming to North America...
Thursday6th Jan 2011
News Drool Over This Donkey Kong Country Returns Concept Art
Then throw a barrel maybe
The art style in Donkey Kong Country Returns is pitch-perfect, showing respect to the gorilla's history and containing countless tiny references to his previous outings as well as other Retro Studios titles. The concept art that went into producing this unique art style is every bit as impressive as you'd expect,...
News 3DS May Be Beneficial to Young Players' Eyes, Actually
Could help with diagnoses
Nintendo's no doubt covering itself with its recommendation that kids under 6 don't play 3DS, but the American Optometric Association has issued a press release stating the machine could actually have benefits. In fact, optometrists, professional health care providers committed to children's vision and eye health, say 3D...
News MadCatz Gets In There Early with 3DS Accessories
Introducing "MicroSuede"
New consoles and accessories go together like Mario and Yoshi, so it's no surprise that MadCatz already has a range of 3DS peripherals designed, priced, named and described in intricate detail. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the line-up includes the usual collection of screen protectors and carry...
Wednesday5th Jan 2011
News Charge Your Wii Remotes with Sonic Induction Power
Sit them down, charge them up
There's truly no more stylish way to charge your Wii Remote's exhausted batteries than this Sonic the Hedgehog induction charger, but there are plenty of cheaper ones: this baby will set you back a hefty $49.99. Powering your Remotes by the magic of induction, you can replenish their battery power without removing their...
News Enter The Masters Tournament in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12
Golf franchise makes a return with some new features
EA Sports President, Peter Moore, made it clear that he was disappointed with the sales performance of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 on the Wii, even though it was a critically-acclaimed title. Whatever the cause of the sales numbers was, it was evident that EA Sports would have to do something special...
News See Yourself in Ridge Racer on the 3DS
Reiko Nagase won't be the only pretty face in-game
Last October, we brought you the list of launch window titles for the Japanese release of the 3DS sytem, and although not every title will have a guaranteed spot next to the handheld when it launches on 26th February, racing fans will be greeted at some point with Namco Bandai Games' Ridge Racer, of...
News Grab Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded in New York this Sunday
Can't wait? Get it early
It's under a week until Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded reaches North America, but if you're absolutely desperate to get your hands on the latest Disney/Square-Enix crossover you can get it early at a special Nintendo World Store event this Sunday. Hosted at the Nintendo World Store in New York, the first 300 people to get in will...
News Sakurai Gives Tips on Optimum Conditions When Playing 3DS
Sound advice of the visual-kind
We all know that there's a certain "sweet spot" we have to be positioned in if we are going to get the best out of the 3D effect on the 3DS, but what else can we do to make the visuals really jump out at you? According to Masahiro Sakurai, not fidgeting would help. The Project Sora director behind the...
Tuesday4th Jan 2011
News Grab a Shiny Legendary Trio of Pokemon at Gamestop
No preorder required
Excited about Pokémon Black and White? Of course you are, and what better way to boost that excitement than with a monster-themed giveaway at Gamestop? Trainers who visit participating stores will receive the legendary trio of Raikou, Entei and Suicune in their super-rare Shiny forms for their Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver...
News Nintendo Issues Warning on 3D Image Safety for Kids
Kids under 6, stick to 2D
We've heard plenty of times over recent months that 3DS could cause eye problems in later life, and now Nintendo is taking no chances by issuing a formal statement aimed at parents of young children, advising them to play with the 3D effect turned off. Nintendo quotes vision researchers who claim: There is a possibility...
Review Midnight Mysteries: The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy (DS)
Hint: The heart is beneath the floorboards
What we know about the death of Edgar Allan Poe is as cryptic and tragic as some of his written tales. After a more than imperfect romantic life, he was reunited with his love of long before, Elmira Royster Shelton, and the two were engaged to be married. On a trip that took place soon thereafter, Poe fell...
Review Music On: Drums (DSiWare)
Hard to beat
Abylight's been putting out music games on DSiWare for a while, so you'd expect the Spanish studio to have it down to a fine art by now, but it's had a few bumps along the way. Thankfully Music On: Drums is a better outing than previous series entry Music On: Playing Piano, as it plays out more like an electronic drum sequencer than a...
Bustin' makes us feel meh
Ghost Mania is the WiiWare reincarnation of an iPhone game called Spooky Spirits: Puzzle Drop!! This new version of the game features updated graphics and sound in addition to redesigned levels and an additional multiplayer mode, but was it worth exhuming those old bones? Is there life in this one yet, or is it an...
News Cross Everything and This Monster Hunter 3DS Rumour May Come True
Wait and see
Monster Hunter's spiritual home is on the PSP, where its many incarnations have sold countless millions in Japan, and far fewer copies elsewhere in the world. Last year saw its first appearance on a Nintendo console with the formidable Monster Hunter 3 (~Tri), a critical success, and since the revelation of the 3DS fans of the series...
News DS is the Best-Selling Console Ever in the U.S.
47 million served
In its six years on sale in the United States the DS has sold a whopping 47 million units, making it the nation's biggest-selling console ever, according to Nintendo's latest press release. Wii had a good year too, topping 7 million units for the third year in a row, the first time a games console has done so, but its...
News Planetary Body Spotted and Named by Renegade Kid
Developer wants to bring a conversion of an existing game to the 3DS
Another year, another cycle for our dear old planet Earth, and, in true planetary fashion, co-founder of Renegade Kid Jools Watsham has revealed that a 3DS game is in the works. It's possible as well that for fans of Moon, the title might seem quite familiar indeed. Speaking on his...
News Relive 2010's Biggest News Stories, WarioWare-Style
Oil spills, royal engagements, cat bins
If you can remember anything about 2010 that wasn't Nintendo-related, you're doing better than us. The only way we can recall the important events of the last twelve months is with this superb video created with WarioWare DIY by UK magazine NGamer, which features minigames based on ten of the biggest news...
News Surfacer+ Cropping Up on DSiWare Next Week
Crossbreeding skill with strategy
French developer Lexis Numérique has announced that it will be bringing a version of its iPhone game Surfacer to the DSiWare download service. Players must create and control the size of flowers by using the stylus and use them to fill up the screen. Enemies will appear from both sides of the screen and gamers must...
Monday3rd Jan 2011
News Super Mario 64 is a 5-Minute Adventure With the Right Tools
The rotund plumber is faster than he looks thanks to an emulator-assisted speedrun
Video games are a wonderful way to show off best times and high scores after spending countless hours in attempting to achieve them, but when orthodox methods aren't enough to impress, gamers (and obsessives) must think outside of the box. A group of speedrunners have...
Features Vote For Nintendo Life Reader's Choice Award 2010
Make sure your favorite game of the year gets the acclaim you feel it deserves
It wouldn't be too much of an understatement to say that Nintendo platforms had a mammoth year in 2010 with regards to excellent software. But we play by Thunderdome rules here at Nintendo Life around award season, and we're handing over a cache of weapons to you. Which...
Nintendo Download 3rd January 2011 (North America)
Kick off with the first download of the year
The first Nintendo Download of the year isn't a classic, but it brings some notable titles to DSiWare and a new WiiWare demo as well. Let's get this show on the road. WiiWare: Sneezies (Chillingo, 500pts) - A cutesy puzzler that began life on the iPhone, Sneezies is a decent enough title but doesn't do...
Sunday2nd Jan 2011
Talking Point Zelda: Skyward Sword is 2011's Biggest Game
Link to the future
Earlier today we brought you a list of five Nintendo games to thrill you in 2011, but one big name was absent: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, as it wasn't really fair to put arguably this year's biggest title against anything else. Link's previous adventure on Wii, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, was never developed with Wii...
Features Five Nintendo Games to Thrill You in 2011
Gaze into our crystal ball
Were you happy with how 2010 panned out? We're guessing many of you had at least one eye on the future, as 2011 promises to be another twelve months full of exciting revelations, unexpected announcements and surprise appearances. When it comes to the titles we already know about, we've picked five that should definitely be...
Saturday1st Jan 2011
News Happy New Year from Nintendo Life!
Here's to what 2011 brings
2010 was a fantastic year for Nintendo gamers, with Super Mario Galaxy 2, Shantae: Risky's Revenge and countless other top titles making their way to consoles in 2010. It was also a great year for Nintendo Life, during which we attended Media Summits, 3DS hands-on events and, for the first time,
