Guides Upscaling Your Retro Consoles for HDTV Sets
The quest for the perfect picture
News Flipnote Memo Coming to 3DS eShop
Updated Flipnote Studio application to be available for free download
Feature The SLG3000 and the Glorious Return of Scanlines
How to get that authentic retro look from your modern flatscreen TV
News - April, 2011
Saturday30th Apr 2011
Review GO Series: Tower of Deus (DSiWare)
Prince of Persia Lite
With the absence of any Prince of Persia titles on Virtual Console, there's not really anything available for download in the way of acrobatic platformers in which the objective is to nimbly climb up ledges and perform almost pixel-perfect leaps. DSiWare's GO Series Tower of Deus somewhat fills this empty space, but mostly...
Review Word Searcher Deluxe (WiiWare)
Word down
It's hard not to question the practicality of a game like Word Searcher Deluxe. Word search books are almost literally a dime a dozen these days, and even the cheap-o books are becoming a little unnecessary considering the number of free options there are on the Internet and mobile app stores. As if that wasn't enough, Digital Leisure...
News Redbox Game Rentals Go Nationwide in June
$2 a night across the U.S.
Last October, when we announced that Redbox was beginning to expand their video game rental service, including Wii titles, to a much greater market, many of you asked, "When will it come to me?" Now we have the answer, if your Redbox is one of more than 21,000 locations – June 17th. Redbox offers dvd, Blu-Ray...
News Gamestation Registering Customer Interest in Project Café
Jumping the gun?
We're still over a month away from Nintendo's official reveal of its Wii successor, but that doesn't mean retailers aren't keen to get in there early and start securing customer interest. Several Nintendo Life readers have reported UK retail chain Gamestation has already started registering customer interest in the new console under...
Friday29th Apr 2011
Review Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters (Wii)
A master stroke?
The seasoned PGA Tour Golf series shoves Tiger out of the way this year, instead choosing to put “The Masters” tournament front and center. The case, promotion and advertising for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters are all Masters-centric, perhaps in a first step toward abandoning the long-running Tiger Woods branding...
Review Airport Mania: First Flight (DSiWare)
Smooth skies
Good news, everyone! The wait for the DSiWare port of Airport Mania: First Flight is finally over. Combining aspects of both the WiiWare version and the watered-down Airport Mania: Non-Stop Flights — already available on their respective services — this is definitely a game worthy of closer inspection. As stated above, this game...
They should keep it in the Congo
Ubongo is a board game popular in continental Europe, but its video game counterpart doesn't hit the target. The mechanics of the game are simple: up to four players play simultaneously, each with their own "plate", which is a shape that must be completely covered with Tetromino-like objects; imagine Tetris...
News Need for Speed: The Run Races to 3DS and Wii in November
Start your engines
Last year's Wii version of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit didn't go down brilliantly with gamers, but hopefully EA can atone for its errors with this year's entry Need for Speed: The Run on Wii. It's not just Wii getting a look in though, as Need for Speed: The Run is coming to 3DS as well. Promising "immersive...
News Beyond the Labyrinth Headed to 3DS in Japan
An RPG to watch
Pandora's Tower is among the highly anticipated games slated for the Japanese market but without any current plans for Western release. You can add to that list Beyond the Labyrinth, an upcoming 3DS RPG from tri-Ace, developer of such games as Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile and published in Japan by Konami. Directed by Takayuki...
Features The Characters of MotoHeroz
Meet the racers
In anticipation of MotoHeroz's June 2011 release on WiiWare, we've teamed up with Trials HD developer RedLynx to bring you a series of exclusive articles. Last week we brought you The World of MotoHeroz, and now it's time to meet its inhabitants. The Characters of MotoHeroz: There are four characters in the story of MotoHeroz, and...
News Cave Story 3D Coming August 9th
Hits the following month in Europe
Despite originally being expected in late June, NIS America has just announced that Cave Story 3D will be hitting stores in North America on August 9th, with a European release expected in September. You can check out the press release below for more details. NIS America is proud to announce today the official...
News 3DS Console and WiiWare Games On Offer in Abylight Contest
Will you be the lucky one?
If you didn't win our 3DS giveaway you might want to take a look at Spanish developer Abylight's website on Monday. In a contest to promote the studio's WiiWare game Fish'em All, Abylight will be giving the game away to 150 people between Monday and 27th May. One of those players will be chosen at random to win a Nintendo...
News Amazon Listing Outs June 17 EU Release for 3DS Naruto Shippuden
A new era begins
While Japan saw a 3DS entry in the Naruto Shippuden series on 31 March, an Amazon listing has outed a release date for the European localisation of Naruto Shippuden: The New Era 3D slotted for 17 June. There's no official retail description attached, but you can view footage of the game in the recently released 3DS software reel...
Nintendo Download 29th April 2011 (Europe)
WiiWare MIA
After several months of finding out the download days in advance, it's back to a wait and see approach this week, so let's see what's available for you to buy right now. Virtual Console: The Ignition Factor (Jaleco, Super NES, 900pts) — A top-down firefighting game, this is one of a kind on Virtual Console, so look out for our full...
News BIT.TRIP SAGA to Bring Entire Series to 3DS
Acclaimed WiiWare franchise returning this summer
The BIT.TRIP series is a favourite around here, with the 8/10-scoring CORE, the 9/10 BEAT, VOID, FATE and FLUX and the perfect 10 RUNNER. Aksys and Gaijin have announced that
News Antipole Contains a Surprise for Cosmos X2 Owners
Submitted to lotcheck now
Topsy-turvy DSiWare outing Antipole is on its way to the download service in the coming months, as developer Saturnine Games has announced the game's submission to Nintendo's lotcheck. Any players who've picked up Saturnine's DSiWare shooter Cosmos X2 can expect a special surprise too, with a bonus mode included that's only...
Thursday28th Apr 2011
News Sega Preparing a New Shining Game to "Sum Up the Series"
Might we see Shining Generations?
Last month we brought you news about the Shining Force SOS campaign, an attempt to reunite Sega with Golden Sun: Dark Dawn developer Camelot and bring about a glorious return of the Shining Force series. While the campaign has not yet received an official response from Camelot or Sega, there may be some hope on the...
News New 3DS Cartoon Network Fighter Screenshots Punch Out
How's it looking?
Who would win in a fight between Dexter and Samurai Jack? How about between Ben 10 and the Powerpuff Girls? Soon you can put an end to these globally-recognised debates with Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion, a new fighting game heading to 3DS on 24th May. Crave Entertainment sent over a group of new screenshots that show the...
News You Won't Get a Nintendo Console with a Buttonless Controller
That satisfyingly soft click is here to stay
With the introduction of touchscreens and motion controls, the cynical gamer might think it's a matter of time before Nintendo abandons the use of buttons all together. Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata assures us that that's not what the company has planned. During an Analyst Meeting earlier this week, Iwata was...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - May 2011
Five games for this year's fifth month
Normally, Nintendo reveals its Japanese Virtual Console plans for the upcoming month on the last Friday of the month, but this time we have it a day early. Next month sees a bit of a Neo Geo resurrection, with three new games being released for the system. Japan will also get the fifth NES outing of the Blue...
News Tales of the Abyss 3DS Coming to North America
Modern RPG classic heading Westward
Back in September, we learned that Namco Bandai planned to port the popular 2006 PlayStation 2 RPG Tales of the Abyss to the 3DS, fully updated with 3D graphics. We've just learned from the most recent issue of Nintendo Power that the game would see release in North America as well. The full page teaser reads:...
News Europe Has a Date with Wii Play: Motion on 24th June
Minigames detailed too
The announcement of new MotionPlus-toting minigame collection Wii Play: Motion came out of the blue for many, but it's very real and heading to Europe on 24th June, Nintendo has announced. The game will be packaged with a red Wii Remote Plus across Europe, marking the first opportunity for gamers to get their hands on the...
News We Have New 3DS Game Footage Just for You
StarFox, Zelda and more inside
Want to see new footage of Star Fox 64 3D, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and more? You've probably stopped reading this already and clicked play on the video below, so good for you. The video also shows footage of the newly-announced Tales of the Abyss, the intriguing Pac-Man and Galaga Dimensions
News Mighty Milky Way Takes to the Stars on 9th May
800 Points at the ready
WayForward's next DSiWare title is Mighty Milky Way, and it's coming to North America on 9th May for 800 Nintendo Points. The new game from the creators of the acclaimed Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a sequel of sorts to Mighty Flip Champs, as the game's director Sean Velasco explained in our Mighty Milky Way interview:
News Moon Diver Creator has a Much Better Idea for a 3DS Game
Under wraps so far
PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade title Moon Diver marks the return of Strider creator Kouichi Yotsui, but it won't be making the leap to Wii or 3DS any time soon, according to the creator. Why not? He has a much better idea up his sleeve. Cubed3 recently quizzed the creator on his non-Nintendo game, and asked about the...
Wednesday27th Apr 2011
Review Inchworm Animation (DSiWare)
Animazing!
When Flipnote Studio burst onto the DSiWare scene back in 2009, it quickly became one of the most popular releases on the service, although it is worth noting that the title was available free of charge. Sites dedicated to hosting the animation creations began popping up across the Internet and remain active almost two years later. Now...
Review Valet Parking 1989 (DSiWare)
A crash course in parking
The DSiWare service certainly has the ability to surprise with its diverse variety of genres and concepts. Developer Zordix AB is throwing its hat into the ring with Valet Parking 1989. The title is self explanatory, and the concept of valet parking has been envisioned as a time management puzzle game with a distinctly 80s...
News Nintendo to Promptly Work On 3D Video Service After Upcoming 3DS Update
Something other than games to enjoy
Nintendo is definitely trying to flex some of the multi-functional muscles of the 3DS as the company talks about providing something other than just games for its users. At the recent Financial Earnings Briefing, president and CEO Satoru Iwata reiterated Nintendo's plans to provide 3D video content for 3DS users...
Interview MonkeyPaw Games - BurgerTime World Tour
Developer talks classic arcade update
With the upcoming release of Burgertime World Tour on the WiiWare service, we thought now might be a good time to get in touch with MonkeyPaw Games and attempt to gain some new information on the title. John Greiner, president of MonkeyPaw Games, was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to sit down...
News No Waggle Needed to Master Rhythm Heaven on Wii
It's all about buttons
Nintendo's reluctance to reveal much of anything about the tentatively-titled Rhythm Heaven on Wii is a cause of much consternation, but one nugget we can share should enough happiness to unfurrow your brow. Due in the summer, the game will be playable entirely with buttons, meaning no need to use your Wii Remote as a fork,...
News Nintendo's Profits Show a Significant Drop, This Year Should Improve
Decreases in sales explained, and Nintendo's forecast for this fiscal year
Although Nintendo has claim to notable achievements with its hardware ― the DS has proved to be the best-selling handheld ever and global Wii sales have surpassed the 86 million mark, the company's profit numbers for the fiscal year ending 31st March 2011 show a...
News Nintendo Expected Higher 3DS Sales
Slips from the top of the Japanese hardware chart
It's been on the Japanese market for a couple of months now and worldwide for about half that time, but the 3DS simply isn't selling as expected by Nintendo. During Satoru Iwata's presentation at Nintendo's Financial Results Briefing, the president admitted that sales of the handheld started to slow...
News Iwata: Wii has More to Offer, Unannounced Games on the Way
Life in the old dog yet
Just because Nintendo is nearly ready to show off a new console doesn't mean incumbent home console the Wii is dead and buried. President Satoru Iwata is keen to keep the console alive, telling investors there are new games on the way every month of this year, with some unannounced titles too. In Japan, Nintendo has only...
News Infinite Dreams Sculpts Itself an ESRB Rating for Pottery Game
Let's Create! Pottery spinning its way to DSiWare
We all know there's hardly any simulation games about pottery, so it's about time someone did something about it, right? Right? Well, Infinite Dreams actually did do something to address that lacking genre last year when it released Let's Create! Pottery on the Apple App Store, and a recent...
Tuesday26th Apr 2011
News Star Fox 64 3D is a Newly-Arranged Classic with Motion Controls
ETA: This summer
As part of Satoru Iwata's presentation at Nintendo's Financial Results Briefing, the CEO spoke about the upcoming Japanese release of Star Fox 64 3D and what gamers can expect from Fox McCloud's stereoscopic return. Launching in Japan on 14th July, the reworked version of the classic scrolling shooter is described as: ... a...
Rumour Rare Looking Into 3DS Development
Banjo-Kazooie 3D a possibility
The rumour mill has been churning up some pretty exciting stuff lately, and here's a bit that seems plausible considering that Microsoft saw no problem with Rare working on DS games like Viva Piñata and Diddy Kong Racing. Supposedly, the company is in talks with Nintendo to develop games for the 3DS platform,...
News Big 3DS Release Dates Still Up in the Air
Lots still to be confirmed
Shigeru Miyamoto recently assured gamers that Super Mario 3DS will release in 2011, but those hoping to hear more concrete release plans at the recent investors' meeting will be disappointed, as Nintendo hasn't yet given any indications on when its biggest 3DS titles will hit the machine. Super Mario, Mario Kart, Paper...
News eShop Will Launch with Free 3D Excitebike Game
Expected "late May"
Excited by the upcoming release of the 3DS eShop? Of course you are, but we bet there's room for your excitement-o-meter to jump up a few notches when you hear the service will apparently launch with a free game. As part of Nintendo's 3D Classics range that will see older games re-released with a lick of three-dimensional paint,...
News Iwata Expresses Regrets About the Way the Wii was Marketed
In future, things will be done differently
The Nintendo Wii is approaching its fifth year on the market now, enough time has passed in that Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata can now reflect on how the console has performed and how he wishes its future performance will play out. Speaking to investors and analysts, Iwata expressed his regrets towards the way...
Talking Point Can Nintendo's Next Console Top Wii's Success?
Where to go after you've conquered the world?
The Wii is Nintendo's most successful home console ever, with 86 million machines sold around the world since it launched in 2006, but with the recent announcement of Nintendo's new console it's time to peek forward to the future. Wii was a remarkable success because it did something drastically...
Interviews High Voltage Software - Conduit 2
We go deep inside the Wii's newest FPS
A little under a week ago saw the release of the first person shooter Conduit 2, the highly anticipated sequel from High Voltage Software. To take a closer look at the development of the game (as well as a possible hint at future 3DS outings), we went behind the scenes with Kevin Sheller, a senior producer at...
News Over 2 Million Players Bought Mario's 25th Anniversary Game
Joins a long list of million sellers
It may have just been a glorified Super NES game, but that didn't stop Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition from doing the business at retail, selling 2.24 million copies around the world since its release. Other Nintendo-published Wii titles hitting the million sales mark in the past twelve months...
News The Ignition Factor Lights Up Virtual Console on Friday
Feeling hot hot hot
Jaleco is a hotbed of Virtual Console support these days, with Brawl Brothers, Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force and more under the publisher's belt, a belt which just got a little bigger with the upcoming release of The Ignition Factor on Friday. The firefighting game was never released in Europe so it'll carry the appropriate...
News Nintendogs + Cats is Nintendo's First 3DS Million-Seller
1.7m pet lovers served
Of the 20 or so 3DS games available around the globe, so far two have broken through the million sales barrier — Capcom's Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Miyamoto's cute 'em up Nintendogs + Cats. According to Nintendo's latest investor report, the canine collection sold 1.71m units since launch, an impressive total...
News Relax, the Vitality Sensor is Still in Development
Nothing to get worked up about
The Wii Vitality Sensor made waves at E3 2009 as one of the most bizarre Nintendo add-ons of recent times, then all-but disappeared from gaming radars as Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and the 3DS drew all the focus in last year's show. The sensor's invisibility caused many to suggest Nintendo had quietly ditched the...
Monday25th Apr 2011
News Flipnote Memo Coming to 3DS eShop
Updated Flipnote Studio application to be available for free download
So far 3DS lacks a programme to compare to the DSi's Flipnote Studio, but Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has recently announced that Nintendo is working on an updated version of the title called Flipnote Memo. Not much information was given other than that it would be available for a...
News Nintendo Confirms New Console
Releases next year and playable at E3
Nintendo Japan has indeed confirmed the existence of its new game console, set for release in 2012 according to a new press release from Nintendo. Sadly, we still don't have any official images of the console or its controller. Nintendo has also stated that the system will be playable at this year's E3 show in...
It'll take more than a new lick of paint to save this franchise
When High Voltage Software first decided to enter the Wii first-person shooter space, competition wasn’t exactly something they really had to worry about. Sure, there had been a few half-hearted ports of popular franchises, but The Conduit was the first proper FPS developed...
Review Music On: Learning Piano Volume 2 (DSiWare)
Beautiful harmony or sour note?
Abylight has already released seven Music On titles for the DSiWare service that teach basic instruction for such musical instruments as the keyboard and the guitar. While the Spanish studio has already released one title covering the piano, it's obviously decided that the instrument needed a follow-up with the...
News BestBuy Lists $20 3DS Cash Card for the eShop's eWallet
Pre-order virtual currency... now!
The 3DS eShop is set to launch next month, and global retailer BestBuy is gearing up for the launch by listing the first 3DS Cash Card. As noted in our mammoth 3DS FAQ, the eShop will ditch Nintendo Points in favour of a cash-based system, where game prices will be displayed in the region's local currency. Best Buy...
News AfterZoom Mixes Pokemon, Augmented Reality, Chemistry
Abylight returns to DSiWare
Augmented reality is all the rage these days, but it's not just the preserve of the 3DS: DSiWare has a few AR games up its sleeves too, with Abylight's AfterZoom the latest to emerge. Players will use the DSi's camera to search out microscopic organisms, zooming into every day objects to see what tiny creatures can be...
Interviews Monster Tale - Dreamrift's Peter Ong
DreamRift's co-founder spins us a tale of two screens
Even though its successor released last month in Europe and North America, the DS was never going to go down without a fight. A new Pokemon generation dominated the handheld's last days as top dog, but right under the radar flew Majesco and DreamRift's excellent platform/pet RPG Monster Tale...
News It's Cafe Time on Nintendo's Development Site
Update: Images now removed
Update: The images have now been removed from the development site, but are archived here for reference. Many gamers and media outlets have been snooping around Nintendo's development site Wario World for some time now in the hopes of catching even a morsel of information about Nintendo's upcoming home console. Now it...
News 3.6 Million 3DS Consoles Sold Worldwide
"A smooth start" says Nintendo
Nintendo predicted 4 million 3DS sales in its first month, but the company's investor meeting reveals it didn't quite hit it, selling 3.6 million consoles around the world since its Japanese launch on 26th February. On the software side of things, around 9.43m 3DS games have been sold around the globe, with two titles...
Nintendo Download 25th April 2011 (North America)
DSiWare gets the lion's share
Put the excitement about the new Nintendo console out of your mind for a while and enjoy the Monday tradition that is the Nintendo Download. Most of the focus is on DSiWare this week, with one title on WiiWare and no Virtual Console outing due to the release of Mega Man X last week. DSiWare: Inchworm Animation (Flat...
News Come On In for Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D's Intro Movie
Welcome back, old friend
As the saying goes, "if it's not broken, don't fix it", which seems to be the thinking at Grezzo Co. judging from the introductory video to Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, embedded below. Complete with the original music, direction and pretty much everything from the N64 original, the video nicely sets up...
News Iwata: Wii Successor to "Offer New Ways to Play In the Home"
Get your thinking caps on
Despite a wealth of Project Café rumours, the exact nature of Nintendo's new home console is well-guarded, with persistent whispers of a touchscreen controller the closest thing to solid details about how it'll actually work. At the recent investors' meeting, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata gave a little insight into the...
Saturday23rd Apr 2011
Talking Point StreetPass - Is Silent Communication the Future?
We dive into the 3DS's automatic multiplayer
The 3DS is loaded with software right out of the box, from Face Raiders to Augmented Reality games, but it's the console's StreetPass functionality that Nintendo is banking on turning the console into a part of daily life for its owners. If you haven't been using StreetPass, you're missing out on some of...
Review Hellokids - Vol. 1: Coloring and Painting (DSiWare)
A decent artist's toolbox
With the free title Flipnote Studio available on DSiWare, it's kind of hard to really create anything that would be able to top it. Hellokids - Vol. 1: Coloring and Painting, however, does offer some decent options and might be fun for younger kids. The main draw for the young ones is probably the colouring mode, in which...
News Another Zelda Remake for 3DS?
Miyamoto's 3DS Zelda kick continues
It seems that the upcoming release of Ocarina of Time might not be the only Legend of Zelda remake we see appearing on 3DS, at least not if Nintendo's head game guru has anything to do with it. In a recent conversation with Edge magazine, Miyamoto talked about Nintendo finally getting back to game development...
First Impressions BurgerTime HD - MonkeyPaw Games
Time to build some burgers!
If you spent any significant amount of time at arcades during the early 80's, chances are you played BurgerTime at one point. While not as blisteringly popular as Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, the game did gain quite a following and even became a staple in many grocery stores. We've seen quite a few of these classic 80's arcade...
Friday22nd Apr 2011
Review Mega Man X (Wii Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
X-ceptional
Spinoffs in popular franchises have delivered historically mixed results over the years, but when Capcom spun the X series off of Mega Man, not only did they create a new line every bit as intense and engaging as the originals, but arguably even more polished and fun to a certain degree. And now, after a rather lengthy wait, Capcom have...
Rumour Wii 2 to Cost $350, Support 3DTVs, Out in October
Rumours continue to gain Stream
Nintendo Stream, Project Café, Wii 2: whatever you want to call Nintendo's next home console, you might be calling it "expensive" if the latest suggestion from rumour epicentre IGN is to be believed. Claiming the system will run a custom-built AMD grap
News Get Your First Look at 3DS eShop's Mega Man Game Now
Join the Project
Capcom's ready to bring something new to the Nintendo 3DS eShop next month, with Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version offering a taste of the upcoming Mega Man Legends 3. We now have the first footage of the downloadable game, and it's shaping up pretty nicely. At the moment we have no firm word on when the eShop will launch, game...
Features The World of MotoHeroz
Part one of our exclusive series
MotoHeroz is a new WiiWare game from Finnish developer RedLynx, developers of the highly acclaimed Xbox Live Arcade hit Trials HD. According to RedLynx: The game takes the fun, fast gameplay of physics-based racers, adds it to a frantic rally race, and delivers a fresh new kind of side-scrolling, platform racing...
News Don't Get Too Excited About Next Week's Investor Meeting
Stream confusion
Next Tuesday, 26th April sees Nintendo's end of financial year report, with rumours pointing to a live stream of the investors' meeting on the Japanese giant's website. While some have jumped to the conclusion that this spells out a special revelation from Nintendo, the truth may be far more mundane. A quick flick through Nintendo's...
Thursday21st Apr 2011
Rumour Could This Be the Next Nintendo Console?
More scrumptious rumours to mull over
Well the rumour mill marches on with yet another interesting development in the form of some pictures that may or may not be of the actual Wii successor. While it's easy to see that the system and controllers match the descriptions we've already seen popping up around the internet lately, there's absolutely no...
Review Where's Wally? Fantastic Journey 2 (WiiWare)
Spot the difference
Where's Wally? Fantastic Journey 2 is the second slice of the stripey one's retail appearance, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to you that it follows the exact same template as previous release Where's Wally? Fantastic Journey 1. Sadly, you can't carry your profile over from the first game, though it wouldn't make much...
Rumour Nintendo Stream Coming Sooner Than We Think
Rumoured name and release details revealed
According to a report today on IGN, Nintendo is considering Stream as one of the names for their upcoming game console. An IGN source also claims that the console might possibly see a release as soon as late October 2011, although it would seem more likely for Nintendo to wait until early 2012 in an effort...
News Super Mario 3DS Combines Galaxy and Mario 64, Out This Year
Best headline ever?
Earlier we reported that Shigeru Miyamoto is trying hard to deliver a new Mario this year, but there was some doubt whether the game in question was Super Mario 3DS or not. Now Miyamoto has brushed away the doubt: it is "completely original, and coming this year." Speaking to Edge, Miyamoto also revealed more details...
News Mario & Sonic to Face Off Again at London 2012 Olympics
Wii and 3DS on the podium
Sonic Generations may not be heading to Nintendo platforms but fans of the spiky one won't be without a new game to buy this year, as SEGA has announced Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games for Wii and Nintendo 3DS. The game will contain 50 Olympic-themed events, some of which will be familiar from past entries...
News 3DS Soars Back to the Top of the Japanese Hardware Chart
The back and forth struggle between 3DS and PSP begins
After a dominating start, sales of the 3DS in Japan have slowly been on the decrease and more recently, have been overtaken by the PlayStation Portable in the hardware sales chart. Now, it seems the 3DS is regaining momentum as the sales figures from last week are revealed. For the period...
News Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version to Hit 3DS eShop at Launch
3DSWare to start off with a bang
Soon after Mega Man Legends 3 was announced for 3DS, Capcom made it clear that they wanted to take fan input seriously and design a game for the players. They opened the Devroom to let gamers connect with the development team and vote on aspects of the title, but now they've taken things one step further, announcing...
News Wii and 3DS Harbouring a Centipede: Infestation this Autumn
The trailer has already burrowed deep inside
Atari has just announced its partnership with developer WayForward Technologies in bringing gamers the return of an old arcade classic from the '80s, beginning with Centipede: Infestation. The gameplay in Centipede: Infestation has been updated from the original but one thing remains: players will have to...
News Miyamoto: "Please Be Patient for Wii 2 Details"
Easier said than done
For the past week we've been bringing you Wii 2 rumours, but Shigeru Miyamoto has just all-but confirmed the console is in the works with a few well-chosen words spoken to Edge. The respected magazine pressed Mario's creator about the upcoming console, to which Miyamoto replied: Don’t ask! Even when the Wii launched we were...
Nintendo Download 22nd April 2011 (Europe)
Is it a good Friday?
It's certainly a quiet Friday, with one new title for WiiWare and a pair for DSiWare. Read on to find out what's vying to take your Nintendo Points away from you this week. WiiWare: Ubongo (Korner Entertainment, 800pts) — The popular board game comes to WiiWare courtesy of Korner, the same team that brought you Fireplacing...
News Miyamoto: "I Will Do My Best to Deliver New Mario This Year"
Pulling out all the stops
We haven't seen much of Super Mario on 3DS save for a few early screenshots, causing some to speculate the game won't see release until 2012 at the earliest. However, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto wants to assure fans that he's doing everything to bring a new Mario game out this year. Speaking to GameBlog.fr, Miyamoto...
Wednesday20th Apr 2011
Review Adventure Island II (Wii Virtual Console / NES)
Higgins returns
The first Adventure Island was nothing more than a copy of Wonder Boy with some redone graphics. While Wonder Boy quickly became more of an Action RPG series, Adventure Island stuck to the platformer formula for a while before eventually following the same path. The general mechanics are still the same. Higgins' girlfriend has been...
News Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D's European Box Art is Simply Beautiful
Beats the gold standard
We thought the golden cover art for Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D in North America was good, but this artwork for the European version trumps it. Showing Link and Epona on one of many gallops across Hyrule, it may not be quite as classy as North America's cover but it's certainly more colourful. Check out that attention...
Review Successfully Learning English: Year 2 (DSiWare)
Vocabu-scary or the definition of fun?
After four entries in the Successfully Learning Mathematics WiiWare series, Tivola is now turning its attentions to studying English, and this time Freddy the Vampire flies – at night, of course – over to DSiWare instead. It’s time to start a new class, but will this help young gamers learn their ABCs?...
News Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove Does the Monster Mix on WiiWare
Groove to the beat next month
Considering the overwhelming success of Wii dancing games at retail, it's a wonder that next month's Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove: Monster Mix will be one of a select few when it launches next month. Natsume's spooky-themed rump-shaker will land on the download front next month, bringing multiplayer support for four...
Rumour Retro Studios Working on Game for Wii Successor
And relax
Ready for another batch of Wii 2/"Project Café" rumours? Of course you are. The latest round comes from Gameolosophy — no, us neither — who have gone all-out with claims of fan-favourite developers, third-party loving, storage solutions and more. The most interesting nugget of a rumour hidden at the bottom of the story is...
News 3DS Down to £179.99 in UK as Price War Rages On
How low can it go?
Last month Nintendo's James Honeywell said 3DS won't be this cheap forever, but price-cutting on the console continues apace as select UK retailers are selling the console for just £179.99 going into the Easter weekend. GAME and HMV both have the console available to buy from today for £17
News Crush 3D to Flatten Your 3DS
Sega to breathe new life into a PSP classic
Crush, a unique PSP puzzler/platformer from 2007, has been outed by the ESRB as heading to the 3DS as Crush 3D. Crush was a critical success, if not a commercial one, which may give hope to those of you hoping that your favourite less-than-successful franchises might see the light of day once more. Sega's...
Tuesday19th Apr 2011
News Ocarina of Time 3D Gets Boss Rush Mode and Helpful Videos
Take on the baddest of the bad
We already know that Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will feature the revamped Master Quest too, but gamers who want more action can check out the new Boss Challenge mode, likely to the the new content Satoru Iwata mentioned recently. The new feature is unlocked at a certain point during Link's adventures in Hyrule...
Review Escape Trick: The Secret of Rock City Prison (DSiWare)
Far more frustrating than fun
Despite the system's unique touchscreen feature, we've seen very few point-and-click adventures for the system. Intense Games hopes to remedy that situation with the release of its mystery adventure Escape Trick: The Secret of Rock City Prison on DSiWare. Combining a story full of plot twists with point-and-click puzzle...
News 3DS UK Tour Keeps Rolling On with New Dates Confirmed
StreetPass opportunities galore
Nintendo's UK arm keeps on bringing the 3DS to punters up and down the country, with more dates confirmed over the coming months. The press release mentions the thrill of playing new releases before anyone else, including games that aren't even available in this country, though there's no specific titles mentioned. We...
News This Zoonies - Escape from Makatu Trailer is the Mane Attraction
We're not lion
Zoonies - Escape from Makatu is coming to DSiWare next week, and anyone wanting to see the game in action will be pleased to find the official launch trailer below. The physics-based puzzle platformer finds Leo the lion stranded in the jungle after a plane crash, after which he must escape from the dangerous Tubas warriors and their...
Monday18th Apr 2011
Awesome ink
All right, let’s be serious for just a minute. Who here hasn’t dreamed about the glitzy and glamorous lifestyle that comes with being a tattoo artist? Well, now you can finally fulfill your fantasy with the release of Art of Ink from Sabarasa for DSiWare. Though it’s obviously not a completely accurate representation of life in...
News 3DS Launch Sales Have Been Breaking Records Worldwide
Reggie Fils-Aime explains why the 3DS and DS launches shouldn't be compared with each other
The 3DS has launched in all major territories now and the launch period sales figures have been undoubtedly impressive. Japan was the debut region for the 3DS and a reported 374,764 consoles were sold during its launch weekend with another 209,623 units...
Nintendo Download 18th April 2011 (North America)
Take on Mega Man X
After the news that Mega Man 5 is coming to Virtual Console, we have the unexpected arrival of Super NES Blue Bomber outing Mega Man X. Virtual Console: Mega Man X (Super NES, 800pts) — Run, jump, blast: it's Mega Man in the 16-bit era, and the first Super NES entry in the series to arrive on Virtual Console. Look out for our...
News ESRB Rating Outs Mega Man 5 for Virtual Console
Charge your Mega Buster
You can't stop the Blue Bomber's exploits on Virtual Console, as ESRB has rated Mega Man 5 for North America. Interestingly there's no PEGI rating for the game yet, indicating this may be one of the few Virtual Consoles titles to hit North America before Europe. The ESRB makes what was once the pinnacle of intense blasting...
News Shift Your Continuum with BlazBlue 3DS on 31st May
Tune into BB:CS 2
Here's a fun game: count all the fighting games on DS. After that, with your free hand, scroll down to look at the new trailer for BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II for 3DS, confirmed for a North American launch on 31st May. While Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition and Dead or Alive: Dimensions might be scrapping it out for the crown of...
News Wii Sports Resort and Wii Party Drop to $39.99 Next Week
The price cleaver comes down again
The rumour that Wii may drop to $150 in May caused an avalanche of Wii 2 rumours, so the announcement that Wii Sports Resort and Wii Party are dropping to $39.99 could add to the landslide. From 25th April Wii owners in North America will be able to grab the Wii Sports Resort with a MotionPlus accessory
News Cricket Challenge ESRB Rating Bowls WiiWare a Googly
That's a cricket term
North American cricket fans frustrated at being unable to purchase Ashes Cricket 2009 on their side of the pond should stay tuned to the Wii Shop Channel in the coming months, as the ESRB has just rated Cricket Challenge. Gameshastra's leather-on-willow title will be the first dedicated representation of the sport to make it...
News MDK 2 Shoots for 1000 of Your Nintendo Points on 9th May
WiiWare's next big title
Dreamcast adventure MDK 2 was very well regarded in its day for its unique combination of action and puzzles, and is still fondly remembered for introducing many to the joys of sniping. Now Interplay's tale of three unlikely heroes has received a date for WiiWare: 9th May. For 1,000 Points players can jump into the tale of...
News Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Utilises Home Console Assets
Capcom the Re-Animator
The arrival of the Resident Evil series on the 3DS is the bearer of two gifts: an anticipated return to the series' exploration roots by way of Resident Evil Revelations, and online cooperative action in spin-off title Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. Two titles offering two different zombie-related experiences, but both
Sunday17th Apr 2011
Some folks call it a Slingo
Remember Slingo, the popular, fun and highly addictive internet game that had you wasting most of your work hours trying to get the high score? Well, thanks to MumboJumbo, this incredible browser game is now available on DSiWare in the form of Slingo Quest, a reincarnation of the classic with a few extra surprises...
Saturday16th Apr 2011
Talking Point What You Want in a New Nintendo Home Console
Wii 2 HD Remix
This week the E3 2011 Rumour-o-Matic has suddenly spluttered into life: powered by an endless crew of anonymous sources, the rumours claim Wii 2 will contain a Blu-ray drive and screen-toting controller, as well as repeating the oft-heard statement that Nintendo is looking to "recapture the hardcore gamers and third-party developers"...
Friday15th Apr 2011
News This Solatorobo Concept Artwork is Pretty, Stunning
Screenshots look good too
We recently brought you the good news that Nintendo will release Solatorobo: Red the Hunter in Europe, but if the first fleeting glimpses of its furry robots didn't stir your interest this motherlode of concept art from Nintendo should seal the deal. Showing floating islands, flying robots and almost everything in between,...
News Zelda 3D Developed by Grezzo Co, Not Nintendo EAD
Secret of Mana director's studio in charge
Until now, we had assumed that Nintendo EAD, responsible for most Zelda games, would develop the hotly anticipated 3DS title The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, but an OFLC rating has revealed that the honour instead belongs to little-known Japanese studio Grezzo Co. Grezzo is helmed by Koichi Ishii,...
Rumour Wii 2 has Blu-ray Drive, Controller Contains a Screen
Whatever next?
The rumour that Nintendo may unveil a new console at E3 has sprouted legs and run away with the Internet rumour mill today, with reports of various levels of believability hitting the web. French site 01.net has allegedly leaked the system's specifications. According to the site (which scooped the specs on Sony's NGP before its...
News See Samus in Action in Dead or Alive: Dimensions
Team Ninja becomes Team Bounty Hunter
We've known for some time that Samus Aran will appear in Dead or Alive: Dimensions as a non-playable character, but if you're the sort of person who likes to see things with their own eyes then this video will please you no end. The footage accompanies a new press release from Nintendo that reconfirms the game's...
News Pokemon and 3DS Helped Nintendo to a Record-Breaking March
2.4m critters sold
Pokémon Black & White were monster sales successes in March, shifting nearly 2.5m units across North America and raking in the dough for Nintendo. The new games, combined with the 3DS launch, resulted in Nintendo's best March ever for portable gaming. In four days on sale the 3DS sold just under 400,000 units, not far behind...
Thursday14th Apr 2011
Feature The SLG3000 and the Glorious Return of Scanlines
How to get that authentic retro look from your modern flatscreen TV
Sometimes, outdated technology has a quality which seemingly defies description. For example, those of you that are old enough may harbour a strange nostalgic affection for the monochrome Game Boy’s blurry LCD screen, even to the point of spurning the updated Game Boy Color...
Friday15th Apr 2011
Review Anonymous Notes Chapter 1 - From The Abyss (DSiWare)
Non-stop grind
There's nothing quite like a good dungeon crawler to waste away an afternoon. All that hacking and slashing and magicking and looting and leveling — when these gel together, why, yes, please. These are all traits found in Anonymous Notes Chapter 1 - From The Abyss, but sadly the glue keeping the game together lacks a very vital...
Thursday14th Apr 2011
Interviews TT Games - LEGO Battles: Ninjago (DS)
We talk about ninjas and studs
LEGO Battles: Ninjago is bringing its own brand of Spinjitzu to North America and Europe this week. TT Games producer Vince Grogan appeared in a puff of smoke, so we hurled shuriken-sharp questions in his direction until he fled. Nintendo Life: What's the first thing we should know about LEGO Battles: Ninjago? Vince...
Review 3D Twist & Match (DSiWare)
Not a perfect match
There are quite a few games on DSiWare which started off as part of another title but have been released seperately. However, there's also quite a few games that seem like they really should've been part of something else, and 3D Twist & Match undoubtedly falls into the latter category. The sole objective here is to rotate...
Rumour We May See a New Nintendo Console at E3
Sources say Nintendo set to announce new home console
Well it seems that our little hint about a new console possibly coming from Nintendo in our recent article about the Wii price cut might be coming true after all. Game Informer has just let loose with what could be the biggest E3 rumour to date: according to multiple sources, Nintendo is getting...
News New Kirby Game Details Gathered, Now Absorb Them
A gang of Kirbies embark on their latest DS adventure
Since Nintendo announced the development of a new Kirby game at a conference it held last September, things have been rather quiet until now. As reported by 1UP, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has detailed some initial game info on Atsumete! Kirby (roughly translated as Gather! Kirby.)
Nintendo Download 15th April 2011 (Europe)
Head back to Adventure Island
Hudson hero Master Higgins resurfaces on Virtual Console in Adventure Island II, alongside new titles from Ludia and Tivola. Virtual Console: Adventure Island II (Hudson, NES, 500pts) — Master Higgins is back with his trusty axe, four dinosaurs and an evil witch to take down. This NES platformer brings back fond...
News Hey, Listen, We Have 19 New Ocarina of Time Screenshots
Hey, listen!
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is ready to eat up your every waking hour after its release in mid-June, so Nintendo has released a stack of new screens to get you in the mood for Hyrule. The stills show Saria, Link, Ganondorf and the Princess herself in all their high resolution glory, but don't forget the 3D effect of the...
News UK Museum Celebrates Handheld Gaming with New Exhibition
Full disclosure: it's in Swindon
Nintendo fans have a better grasp on handheld gaming than many, but Swindon Museum of Computing in England is about to plot the history of the portable with a new exhibition. The new 'Gaming on the Go' exhibition charts 35 years of handheld history, starting with Mattel's 1976 Auto Race, a game running on a...
News Shin'en Brings Bullets Back with Nano Assault for 3DS
Have a blast
Shin'en Multimedia has made a name for itself with pushing superb graphical performances from Nintendo hardware, from Nanostray to Jett Rocket, so the news that the developer is working on Nano Assault for 3DS should have you pricking up your ears. The fact it's a shoot 'em up set inside a world that resembles electron microscope...
News Pandora's Tower Will Require Players to Collect Monster Meat
It's for a noble cause
With the recent Pandora's Tower trailer hitting our computer screens, gamers are finally catching a glimpse of what the game is all about. Thanks to tidbits gleaned from Japanese retailers, we now know a little bit more. The central character is Ende, equipped with a chain as seen in the trailer. As he progresses through the...
Wednesday13th Apr 2011
Review Physiofun: Pelvic Floor Training (WiiWare)
Are you sitting comfortably?
On a service practically overflowing with niche games, Physiofun: Pelvic Floor Training is the undisputed champion: a game designed to help prevent postnatal urinary incontinence. 99% of you can stop reading now, unless you really want to know how successfully a video game can strengthen your pelvic floor, in which case...
Review Successfully Learning Mathematics: Year 5 (WiiWare)
Your number's up
No sooner did the bell ring to signal the end of Successfully Learning Mathematics: Year 4 then it's time to buy a new uniform — figuratively speaking — and sit at the front of the class for Successfully Learning Mathematics: Year 5, the final game in this particular series. Continuing to guide you through your numerical...
News Hands-On: Snakebyte 3DS Starter Pack
Something to get your teeth into
There's a stack of 3DS accessories eager to take your money, and manufacturer Snakebyte has put together a Starter Pack that contains almost everything you'll need to get started with your shiny new machine. The pack costs €19.99 and contains: Premium synthetic leather-pouch for the 3DS, three gaming modules as...
News This Dr Lautrec Trailer Reminds Us of a Rather Devilish Puzzle
Do you need a hint coin?
Konami's created some of gaming's greatest heroes: Solid Snake, Simon Belmont, the dude from Contra. Now the firm is ready to introduce its latest leading man, heading to 3DS in the summer. Dr Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights was revealed last year and immediately attracted attention due to its superficial similarity to...
Rumour Nintendo May Cut Wii Price to $150 Next Month
Swinging the cost cleaver
Should you have held off from buying a Nintendo Wii for cost reasons, you may get your time next month if this latest rumour is to be believed. Engadget has claimed a "trusted source" has informed them the Wii will drop to $150 on 15th May as an attempt to improve the console's fortunes in North America. The...
News Star Fox 64 3D Entering Japanese Airspace on 14th July
The fox that can fly makes his return this summer
Fox McCloud and his motley crew of wingmen are back this summer as they barrel roll their way into an upcoming Japanese release. Announced back at E3 2010, Star Fox 64 3D is an updated 3DS instalment of Star Fox 64 on the Nintendo 64, and thanks to the depth perception achieved by the handheld's 3D...
Competition Winners 3DS & 4 Ubisoft Games (UK)
Do'ya feel lucky, punk? Well, do'ya?
To celebrate the launch of Nintendo's record-breaking 3DS handheld we teamed up with our PALs at Ubisoft with a very tasty competition with a total prize value of almost £1,000. We had well over 500 entries, and the three winners drawn from our special Competition-tron 3000™ AI computer system were...
Tuesday12th Apr 2011
Review Play with Birds (WiiWare)
Play with Turds
Last year, the revamped WiiWare version of the beloved indie game La Mulana was delayed upon its submission by publisher Nicalis, as it was deemed "not good enough” by Nintendo's quality control team. Nicalis must have sent Nintendo a dirty diaper with the words “La Mulana” scrawled crudely on the side instead of an actual...
A slippery slope downwards…
If there is one thing missing from the video game world, it’s a snowboarding game starring goblins and dragons, and Enjoy Gaming is aiming to fill the void with Trollboarder. It’s been marketed as the ‘craziest snowboard game in history’, but is this zany fun or an experience that will drive you mad? The premise...
News Sorry Everyone, There Was No Monster Hunter 3DS Reveal
Give F5 a break
So, despite everyone's biggest hopes and best intuition, Capcom's Captivate 2011 event came and went without even so much of a sniff of Monster Hunter 3DS. Capcom Europe confirmed via Twitter that there was no Monster Hunter content shown off at the event last week, nor were there any Ace Attorney-related revelations either. In fact,...
News European Virtual Console Gets Chrono Trigger in Quarter 2
Should be here before July
We hereby christen today "Good News Tuesday". Not only have we discovered the release dates for countless titles — Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and plenty more — we've also had confirmation from Nintendo that classic Square RPG Chrono Trigger will see the light of...
News Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Launches on 19th June
Rejoice!
Iwata said it would happen, and he was right: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will reach stores across North America before June is out. Nintendo has announced the game will see release on 19th June, less than two weeks after E3. The company also reconfirmed the inclusion of Zelda: Master Quest, a harder version of the original Ocarina,...
News Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust Rounds Out a Busy June
27th June date unearthed
Wii Play: Motion launches on 13th June and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D isn't far behind, but there's a third Nintendo title on the way in June: Mystery Case Files: Dust to Dust on 27th June. The first Wii entry in the super-successful series, this makes use of the console's multiplayer features to allow gamers to...
News Nintendo to Release Solatorobo: Red the Hunter in Europe
Update: 1st July release confirmed
Update: Nintendo has revealed the game will launch in Europe on 1st July. It seems like only last week we asked what's going on with Solatorobo: Red the Hunter?, and now we have the answer: Nintendo will release the Namco Bandai game in Europe later this year. As in similar deals for Super Street Fighter IV 3D...
News Europe, Your Q2 Release Line-Up is Waiting
Lots to look forward to
Here's hoping you have plenty of coins in that wallet if you're intending to see most of the games this year has to offer, as Nintendo Europe has released an overview of the games coming to Wii, 3DS and DS in the next three months. Further down the line will see European releases of Wii Play: Motion with a Red Wii Remote...
News Dust Off Your MotionPlus for Wii Play: Motion in June
A sequel after all this time
2006's Wii Play was once the best-selling game in the US ever, so the only surprise is that it's taken Nintendo so long to announce a sequel. Wii Play: Motion is Nintendo's new pack-in title for the Wii Remote Plus, heading to North America on 13th June. Containing 12 minigames that all require the MotionPlus — or...
News Zelda: Ocarina of Time Reaches Europe on 17th June
Two day head start
Hey, Europeans, your good luck when it comes to getting 3DS-related things before North Americans continues, as Nintendo of Europe has announced that Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will reach Europe on 17th June, two days before its North American launch. The game has been localised into five languages: English, French,...
News These Games Are Coming to You Before June is Over
What lies in store?
Nintendo's list of games to be released on Wii, DS and 3DS in the next three months contains a few surprises — we already reported on Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D's launch date — but let's not forget the third-parties who continue to support Nintendo consoles. The list below is an overview of the games on the way to North...
News We Just Hooked a Big Bass Arcade Trailer
You should see the one that got away
Big John Games has just dropped us a line (sorry) to let us know its frantic fishing game Big Bass Arcade has passed Nintendo lotcheck and is swimming its way upstream to the DSiWare shop. The creators of Thorium Wars have changed theme slightly to create a pick-up-and-play fishing title, with a range of locales,...
News Dead or Alive: Dimensions Release Dates Flex Their Muscles
Handbags at the ready
Most fight fans are already tucking into Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, but gamers after a more three-dimensional brawler can look forward to grappling with Dead or Alive: Dimensions in May. European gamers take to the ring on 20th May, with North American gamers not far behind on 24th May. Thanks to Team Ninja's work on...
News Europe Takes On Dragon Quest VI on 20th May
Start the reverie
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation launched on Valentine's Day in North America, but with the slushy holiday out of the way it's coming to Europe on the less puntastic date of 20th May. Receiving a name change to Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie — that's "absentminded dreaming while awake", linguaphiles — this DS...
Monday11th Apr 2011
Guides Using QR Codes on Your Nintendo 3DS
Sharing Miis is fun and easy
Easily one of the more popular features of the Wii console was the ability to create personalised avatars called Mii characters. Nintendo has brought this unique feature over to the 3DS, with a host of new features that make creating and sharing them not only much easier, but more fun as well. We know that many of you...
News Fan-Made Super Mario Bros. 3 in 3D is A Little Bit Awesome
See a classic in a new light
We've already seen hints that Super Mario on 3DS will include the famous Tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros. 3. What would the entire game look like in 3D, though? Let user Kevin Zeeff show you. As part of Zeeff's "Game Cubed" series, Mario's best 8-bit adventure has received a retro 3D makeover, and while it's...
News Capcom Objects to Ace Attorney Investigations 2 Translation Costs
(Not) Coming to America
Capcom's spiky-haired Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney has enjoyed considerable critical success since his first DS appearance several years ago, but it seems the latest outing for his nemesis/friend Miles Edgeworth won't see the light of day in the Western world. Capcom's corporate officer Christian Svensson recently revealed...
News Super NES Classic Controller Visits Australian Club Nintendo
Welcome back, old friend
The Classic Controller and its Pro variation are all well and good, but if you're blasting through Super Mario World or Super Metroid you might feel your thumbs itching for some classic Super NES pad action. Well, Club Nintendo members in Australia can now revisit the fan-favourite pad. Costing 3,000 Stars, the controller...
News Get Animated at Inchworm Animation's Impending Release
Approved, dated and priced
Five years in the making, Flat Black Films' animation software Inchworm Animation is finally approved and penned with a release date. A hot contender to Flipnote Studio's reputation as the premier animation application available at the DSi Shop, Inchworm Animation certainly packs a punch in the functionality department,...
News The GameBoy Makes Beautiful Music Even When Switched Off
There's nothing it can't do
Forget about actually having the GameBoy turned on to make music; the video below proves that its components can sing in their own right. While we've seen countless Nintendo beatboxers, it's far less common to see the machine itself take centre stage, but that's precisely what's happened here. YouTube user MrSeberi has...
Nintendo Download 11th April 2011 (North America)
Ink, birds, slingos and prisons
It's that time on a Monday again: here's the delicious downloadable delights dished out today, hoping to separate you from the numeric currency locked away within your DSi and Wii consoles. WiiWare: Play with Birds (Games Farm, 500pts) — A mix of avian-themed minigames that takes you through the life of a cartoon...
News Rejoin Master Higgins with Adventure Island II on Friday
First of three on the way
We know that there are three Adventure Island games coming to Virtual Console, and the trio of island-bound adventures kicks off this Friday with Adventure Island II for 500 Points. Hudson hero Master Higgins still has his faithful axe as well as the ability to join forces with four dinosaurs, each with unique abilities...
News Research Firm Predicts 12m 3DS Sales by 2012, 70m by 2015
But won't beat the DS
IHS Screen Digest has predicted the 3DS will sell well in the coming years but believes the original DS line will still reign supreme as the top-selling Nintendo handheld. The company's research suggests 3DS will shift 11.6m units worldwide by the end of 2011, compared to the DS's first-year sales of 13.1m. Screen Digest...
News Masuda: Playing Pokémon is All About Being Heroic and Fair
Gaining membership at Team Rocket just got tougher
As fun as it might sometimes be to play as the antagonist, Pokémon is one franchise where that prospect seems unlikely according to the series director. Official Nintendo Magazine caught up with Junichi Masuda recently and asked whether there would ever be a game where players could take on the...
Sunday10th Apr 2011
Review Absolute Baseball (DSiWare)
Foul balls
What happens when you take baseball, America’s favorite pastime, and mix it with Japan’s favorite pastime, the turn-based RPG? You get Tasuke’s newest DSiWare game, the Frankenstein-esque genre crosser titled Absolute Baseball. While the idea here is nothing less than genius, does an RPG in which you take control of a baseball...
Review GO Series: Captain Sub (DSiWare)
Diving to the murky depths
DSiWare has seen quite a few ‘GO’ titles during its lifespan, and the latest in the series is GO Series: Captain Sub. This title marks another departure in the series with a combination of puzzling, shooting and exploration. The question is whether this game is worth the expedition undersea. The premise of the game is...
Review Successfully Learning Mathematics: Year 4 (WiiWare)
A game you can count on?
This is the third entry in Tivola's educational series, representing another year/grade of maths puzzles to help your youngsters pick up the basics. Previous entries haven't been quite up to par, and that sadly continues with Successfully Learning Mathematics: Year 4. Freddy the Vampire returns to help guide players through...
Saturday9th Apr 2011
Features Nintendo 3DS Launch Game Buyer's Guide
Every game reviewed, rated and ranked
So you've got yourself a spanking new 3DS console, but which of the currently available games is worth your money and which should you avoid? If you're lost in a sea of three-dimensional decisions, fear not: our 3DS reviews are here to help you make the right choice. We have in-depth reviews of ALL 18 3DS games...
News Sony CEO Refers to Nintendo Handhelds as "Babysitting Tools"
Don't get him started on the issue of self-respect
Some Sony executives have positive things to say about the company's rivals, and some don't. Sony president and CEO Jack Tretton is without doubt a person that falls into the latter category. Speaking to Fortune, Tretton refers to Nintendo's handheld offerings as the "Game Boy experience", and he...
Friday8th Apr 2011
Review Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (Wii)
“It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek.”
As a hack-'n-slash game based on the famous movie franchise, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest enters a field that is already well-plowed by earlier releases. But with it's unusual twist on storytelling, is there something here worthwhile to nudge burned-out fans...
Take the bait
Hey there! Do you want to play some WiiWare game called Planet Fish? Didn't think so. Well then, do you want to play a highly original and puzzle-based spin on the fishing genre that's big on fun and creative problem solving? Ah, well then you do want to play Planet Fish, a game that is able to transcend its unappealing title and...
News Nintendo Wants More Developers Like Retro Studios, Please
Who doesn't?
We reported recently that Retro Studios thinks like Nintendo, so it shouldn't be any surprise that Nintendo is keen to find more developers on the same wavelength. Speaking to Edge magazine, Nintendo's US liaison Kensuke Tanabe stressed the importance of fostering stronger relationships with Western developers, in addition to Nintendo's...
News Work Out With Your Own UFC Personal Trainer This June
In a video game, that is
Ultimate Fighting Championship-licensed video games have traditionally been combat-based, but THQ's latest UFC title will be a multi-platform health and fitness game, focusing on providing high-intensity workouts. UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System features some of the world's most renowned mixed martial arts...
News There's a Touch of Virtual On to this New DSiWare Game
Called "Battle of Elemental"
There aren't enough games that pit giant weapon-packed robots against each other and there never will be, but even after several years we've still got a soft spot for Sega's Virtual On series. This arena-based robot combat title has never quite conquered the mainstream, but its influence is keenly felt in several titles,...
Thursday7th Apr 2011
Guides Upscaling Your Retro Consoles for HDTV Sets
The quest for the perfect picture
Getting a pin-sharp, colourful image on a modern gaming console is about as hard as falling off a log. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 support HDMI output for true HD gaming, and although the poor old Wii is still stuck in the land of 480p, it’s still capable of kicking out a pretty decent image via component...
Review Brawl Brothers (Wii Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
A marked improvement
Jaleco released several beat 'em ups on the SNES, although you may not know that three of them are actually related. Exclusively in Japan, the games Rival Turf!, Brawl Brothers and The Peace Keepers were all part of one series called Rushing Beat, but for their North American releases they were retitled, and the story and...
Review Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (3DS)
Shogun fun or just ho-hum?
Tecmo Koei's Warriors franchise is a bit of a strange beast. While many entries in the series have garnered little critical acclaim, the games have a dedicated fanbase and continue to support the series after countless entries. It's no wonder, then, that the company decided to bring its hack-and-slash franchise to the 3DS...
Review Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (3DS)
Hold on to your butts
Indisputable fact: dinosaurs are awesome. Giant, majestic beasts who would just as soon munch a twig as rip your face off with their crazy teeth, they really have few equals on this planet in terms of sheer cool. Dragons and giant sharks are pretty rad too, but neither of those girls are clever enough to figure out a door...
A fairy solid puzzler
We've seen a fair share of puzzlers on DSiWare, so any time a new title from the genre is released, it's generally met with a cautious approach, especially considering the number of mediocre releases we've seen so far. Having initially made its rounds on the PC and Mac, A Fairy Tale makes its way onto DSiWare and brings all of...
News This Custom N64 Has a Hidden Secret for Multiplayer
Surprise, a control port!
Custom consoles are all the rage these days, and the Nintendo 64 is particularly ripe for fan-made hardware revisions. The portable machine below might look oddly familiar to those who've seen the iNto64, but it's got an ace up its sleeve: a controller port. The combination of N64, screen and control port means split-screen...
Review Dancing Academy (DSiWare)
Uh-oh, I’m dancing with my stylus
Tivola’s ‘Academy’ series of games is becoming a prolific presence on DSiWare. In consecutive months we've had Model Academy and Beauty Academy. These titles have targeted pre-teen girl gamers and the latest entry, Dancing Academy is no different. We’re dusting off our dancing shoes to determine whether...
News Nintendo Said Unto the Patent Office: Let There Be Wii Light
Another wacky peripheral gets uncovered
Nintendo's always been one for experimenting with peripheral accessories designed to boost the functionality of its hardware. From football controllers, to inflatable horseback saddles, Nintendo's patented them all. A recent uncovering by Siliconera
News n-Space Has Three 3DS Games Up its Spacious Sleeves
And a DS game too
Studio n-Space has had a hand in all sorts of games over the past 15 years, from Geist right up to GoldenEye 007 and Call of Duty: Black Ops on DS. It's proven itself extremely adept at handling the DS architecture, so the news that the team has a trio of 3DS games under wraps should please some. The official n-Space blog recently...
Nintendo Download 8th April 2011 (Europe)
One of the most unique weeks ever
WiiWare has seen some odd releases over the years — step forward Muscle March, Tomena Sanner and Fireplacing — but the bar has been raised with this week's download. Read on in astonishment. WiiWare: Physiofun: Pelvic Floor Training (Kaasa, 1000pts) — Pelvic floor exercises are designed to help strengthen the...
News Zoonies - Escape from Makatu Breaks Out on 29th April
Zoological platformer for DSiWare
Kiloo Games just got in touch to announce the European release date for Zoonies - Escape from Makatu, a new puzzle-platformer for DSiWare. Leo the lion will touch down on 29th April for 500 Nintendo Points. After bailing out of his crashed plane deep in the jungle, Leo finds himself hunted down by the Tuba tribe and...
Wednesday6th Apr 2011
News Harvest Moon: A Tale of Two Towns Coming to DS and 3DS
Double farming joy
Natsume, the house that Harvest Moon built, has announced plans to bring Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns over to North America for both Nintendo DS and 3DS, according to a Facebook post. While the company explained this isn't the 3DS Harvest Moon game originally announced at E3 2010, leaving us to wonder if the mention of 3DS...
News Your First Look at Pandora's Tower is Below These Words
Open the box
Nintendo's financial report in January this year unearthed all sorts of interesting bits of news, including Pandora's Tower on Wii. The game stayed hidden atop a lofty tower until now, as Nintendo has released the first trailer for its Wii adventure. The game appears to be a story-driven action game, with cutscenes spliced between...
News What's Going On With Solatorobo: Red the Hunter?
Trademarks and ratings emerge
As if screaming "don't forget about me!", the humble Nintendo DS has given gamers a glimmer of hope that at least one more intriguing title will make it to the handheld; in Europe, at least. Namco Bandai recently trademarked Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, presumably a localised version of its currently Japan-only...
News Nintendo Buys Up TheLastStory.com, Points to Nintendo.com
Announcement on the way?
Japanese RPG The Last Story has attracted more than a few envious glances from transatlantic gamers eager to delve into Mistwalker's Wii roleplayer, but so far Nintendo has made no concrete announcements about the game heading to the West. Now there's a little glimmer of hope for fans in North America. The domain name...
News The Hidden Finds Its Way to the 3DS This October
Augmenting reality, paranormal-style
The 3DS has shown gamers how they can manipulate what they see via the system's external cameras thanks to the built-in Augmented Reality applications, and Majesco Entertainment's recent announcement shows that the publisher also wants a slice of the proverbial AR pie. The Hidden is in development for the 3DS by...
Rumour We May See Big Capcom Announcements Next Week
Monster press event planned
Capcom's Captivate event is just a few days away, and Japanese magazine Famitsu (via Andriasang) is reporting the publisher has at least six games to show off. Known titles include Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3Dm Street Fighter X Tekken — a 3DS version of which is rumoured — and non-Nintendo titles Asura's Wrath...
Tuesday5th Apr 2011
News Celebrate 15 Years of Resident Evil With This Special Trailer
According to Wesker, things are just warming up
In celebrating 15 years of Resident Evil, Capcom has released a trailer that takes us back to where it all began, as well as where the franchise will be taking us in the not-so-distant future. Narrated by Albert Wesker, the trailer compiles footage of games both old and new. From the upcoming...
News Fan-Made Metroid Game Miniaturises Our Beloved Heroine
Minitroid tech demo now available
It must be one of those enigmatic laws of the universe, that if you shrink something, anything, then it instantly becomes cute. Thanks to three Metroid fans, that's exactly what they've done in their interpretation of the retro platforming series. The Metroid Database has unveiled the Minitroid tech demo, developed...
News Nintendo Refutes Claims of Widespread 3DS Headaches
Responds to refunds, too
Lynchpin of tabloid sensationalism The Sun has recently kicked up a fuss over the Nintendo 3DS, claiming thousands of users have suffered headaches and dizziness as a result of using the machine, but have been refused refunds at retailers. Now Nintendo UK has stepped in to respond, a spokesperson stating: Recent reports are...
News Ubisoft's Petz Fantasy 3D Contains Lethal Levels of Cuteness
Oh gaudy
After a glorious two weeks on shelves around North America and Europe, the 3DS has convinced many it's not just a souped-up Nintendo DS: it's got no Petz games for a start. Well, that honeymoon period is about to end, as Ubisoft has announced Petz Fantasy 3D for release in June. Animals including unicorns and red pandas hatch from giant...
News Get a Gold Blanka Figurine Via SpotPass Now
Or read the code inside
SpotPass, so we're told, will deliver fresh updates straight to your 3DS: new characters, new content, all automatically and for free. Don't believe us? Ask a Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition player, as they recently received a new figurine from Capcom through thin air. While a level 7 golden Blanka statue doesn't sound...
News Sega Teases Sonic Anniversary Announcement for 7th April
Hold onto your sneakers
Last year was the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., and there was much rejoicing, but this year Sega's jumping for joy over Sonic the Hedgehog reaching 20 years old. While Sonic's official birthday is 23rd June, the celebrations kick off on Thursday 7th April at the official Sonic the Hedgehog Facebook page. The Sonic...
News Steel Diver Depth Charges Towards Europe on 6th May
Sub-tle puns ahoy
The wait for submarine adventure Steel Diver to reach Europe won't be as long as first feared, as Nintendo confirms the game will hit the continent on 6th May. The game is a combination of styles, with a two-dimensional obstacle course of sorts as well as a gyroscope-powered periscope mode and a Battleships-style strategy minigame...
News After Nine Years, Retro Studios Thinks Like Nintendo
Two companies "share a vision"
While many of us would love to work 10,000km away from your boss, when you're creating new instalments in some of Nintendo's best-loved series, it's not ideal. That's the situation at Texas-based Retro Studios, but after years of working with Nintendo's Japanese headquarters the developer has learnt a valuable skill:...
Monday4th Apr 2011
News Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions Includes Modern Remakes
Including Championship Edition
The new motion-controlled games in Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions aren't the only versions of the Namco classics you'll be able to play when the compilation launches in May, as Famitsu (via Andriasang) has revealed there are a further four games included on the cartridge. As well as the original arcade versions of...
Nintendo Download 4th April 2011 (North America)
Here's your Bonk
Banishing the memory of last week's poor showings on the Nintendo Download, this week offers up a bumper crop of games, with Virtual Console, DSiWare and WiiWare all receiving fresh new games to play. Virtual Console: Super Bonk (Super NES, 800pts) — A platformer so classic it's practically prehistoric, Super Bonk takes the...
News WiiWare Gets Weirder with Pelvic Floor Training on Friday
Deal clencher
Last year Kaasa released Physio Fun Balance Training to help rehabilitate patients following hip, leg or foot surgery. Many readers rubbed their eyes in disbelief, but you've seen nothing yet. This Friday sees the release of Physiofun: Pelvic Floor Training for 1,000 Nintendo Points. Pelvic floor exercises are chiefly used to help...
News WayForward Talks 3DS Shantae Possibilities
Sounds eager
Shantae: Risky's Revenge is the best thing on DSiWare and, according to Metacritic, the best game released on DS last year, a stunning achievement indeed. With the 3DS available now, WayForward's Matt Bozon has touched on plans to bring the half-genie into the third dimension in an interview with CVG. While there was no official...
Sunday3rd Apr 2011
Let’s do the time warp, again
If you’re a Nintendo gamer and have never seen a Rabbid before, you might be the only one. Whether you’ve bought the titles or not, these wacky critters have had a number of releases, of varying standards and styles, released on the Wii and DS. Their ubiquitous nature has made them mascots of sorts for Ubisoft,...
Saturday2nd Apr 2011
Domo arigato, DodoGo! Robo
With two games already available on DSiWare — DodoGo! and DodoGo! Challenge — you'd be forgiven for thinking that each DodoGo! game is simply a level pack expansion to the previous game. This was true for the second title, Challenge, but things are a bit different here, as while the first two titles were very similar...
News Capcom Brings New Super Mario Bros. Wii to the Arcades
With a twist, or shall we say "spin"?
A Mario game from Capcom? That's what Japanese arcade gamers will be playing, although it's not exactly what you would expect. Capcom has announced its medal machine New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World has hit arcades in Japan. Based on New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the cabinet supports four players and the object...
News Outbreak of Resident Evil Revelations Planned for 2012
Biohazard fans have a while to wait
It's no surprise that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D will be launching before Resident Evil Revelations does on the 3DS, but it appears the two won't be launching in the same year; with the former scheduled for a June release, we may have to wait a while longer for the latter. According to the official Resident...
Friday1st Apr 2011
Oooh yeaahh!
There's something undeniably special about a wrestling match. Combining colourful characters, high-flying acrobatics and riveting rivalries, it's an exciting spectacle that too often gets the shaft for being a fake sport than a real piece of theatre. At least, that's the sentiment you might share at a live event, your enthusiasm and...
Review Where's Wally? Fantastic Journey 1 (WiiWare)
Lite stripes
The world's most famous stripe-wearing recluse is making his first appearance on WiiWare following a trio of outings on DSiWare. Where's Wally? Fantastic Journey 1 (known as Where's Waldo? in North America) is all-but identical to the DSiWare release Where's Wally? Travel Pack 1, with the same stages and objectives, but it works much...
News 3DSWare File Size May Be Bigger Than WiiWare
Let's hope so
WiiWare's restrictive 40MB file size has caused a few casualties in its time, with promising projects making the jump across to other formats where there's a little more room to breathe. While we still don't know much about 3DSWare, other than this fetching (if temporary) 3DSWare logo, a new interview with Nnooo's Nic Watt suggests we...
News 3DS Vision Lens to Change the Way You View 3D
April Fool!
This was an April Fool's joke. Just in case the 3DS's three-dimensional prowess isn't enough for you, Nintendo has just announced plans to augment its already impressive offering by introducing the new 3DS Vision Lens just in time for the holiday season. The bizarre-sounding accessory promises to get you in touch with your games like...
News Monster World IV Coming to Virtual Console in Europe
PEGI rating seals the deal
In February we brought you news that Monster World IV was finally coming Westward, according to a rating by the Australian OFLC, and there was much rejoicing. Now the European rating board PEGI has got in on the act, rating the game for Virtual Console in Europe. Naturally there's no specific release date yet, but the fact...
News PlatinumGames President Saddened by Decline of New Ideas
Pledges to bring smiles back
Japanese developer PlatinumGames has been responsible for some pretty innovative games over the past five years: Wii gorefest MadWorld and DS space RPG Infinite Space for Nintendo's formats, as well as the superlative Bayonetta and Vanquish for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Five years in and not a sequel in sight,...
News Mysterious Teaser Image Hints at BIT.TRIP 3D
CommanderVideo to return?
It's pretty certain that Gaijin Games is developing for 3DS, but the team isn't yet ready to share any concrete details. However, this mysterious teaser image just arrived in our inbox here at Nintendo Life, pointing to a possible 3D excursion for CommanderVideo. Bear in mind that as with most things posted today there's...
News Captain America and Thor Trailers Power-Up Wii Together
Sega's Marvel-lous double team
Cards on the table here: Sega's comic book movie tie-ins have not been fantastic. Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk; none of these games have set the world of Wii alight. But hey, we have new trailers for Thor: God of Thunder and Captain America: Super Soldier to make things better. Both tie-ins for upcoming Ma
News 3DS is the Fastest-Selling Nintendo Handheld in Europe, Too
Cue global hootenanny
Nintendo of America was quick to shout when the 3DS had the best first-day sales of any Nintendo handheld, and now Nintendo of Europe has joined in the sales trumpeting by confirming that it too has enjoyed record-breaking sales. According to the press release, 303,000 3DS consoles were sold across Europe in the first weekend...
News Happy Two-Year "Nintendo Life" Anniversary
Celebrating two years of awesomeness
It was on this day in 2009 that Nintendo Life merged with WiiWare World and VC-Reviews to create the site you see before you now. In the past two years we've seen enormous growth: our monthly readership has more than doubled in that time, and we now receive more than one million visits every month, making us one...
