News GameCube to See New Downloadable Life on Wii U
WiiWare just got more interesting
News These Are Your Club Nintendo Elite Rewards
Have you been doing your surveys?
News - July, 2011
Sunday31st Jul 2011
FAQ Nintendo Ambassador Program and Free eShop Games
We have answers
The announcement of global 3DS price drops and free eShop games might have you confused, which is why we've put together this FAQ to help you make sense of the issues. This FAQ is a work in progress and we'll update it when new information comes in. If you have questions, post them in the comments below and we'll do our best to...
Saturday30th Jul 2011
Talking Point Nintendo Makes Bold Move with the 3DS
3DS price cut an act of genius, or madness?
OK, deep breaths everyone. In its co-ordinated worldwide press releases on 28th July, Nintendo made a truly unexpected move. Some analysts were anticipating a potential 3DS price drop in the run up to the all-important holiday season, but the sheer scale of the reduction has caught many off guard. With the...
Friday29th Jul 2011
News Here's Nintendo's Most Up to Date Release Schedule
No surprises
Nintendo just updated its release global release schedule for the remainder of the calendar year, although it's disappointingly light on definitive dates for the company's biggest titles. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is still down for late 2011, Super Mario 3D Land is November and Mario Kart 7 is December. Here's the list of North...
Your own personal mixing board
Although the music/rhythm genre has fizzled a bit recently, we are still seeing a few releases here and there. And while Just JAM is nowhere nearly as deep or engaging as a Guitar Hero or Rock Band title, it does put quite a bit of musical direction in the palm of your hands via the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, but with a...
Talking Point The NES Games You Want on 3DS Virtual Console
By popular demand
We've already heard about the GBA games you want on 3DS Virtual Console, but that's only half the equation: Nintendo will also be giving away 10 free NES games to 3DS users too. The NES games announced so far are: Super Mario Bros.Donkey Kong Jr.Balloon FightIce Climber
News Iwata Shoulders Blame for Low 3DS Sales, Cuts Salary in Half
"Very, very sorry"
As the 3DS only shifted 710,000 units worldwide between 1st April and 30th June, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is feeling the hit in his own pocket, cutting his own salary in half. Iwata isn't the only high level Nintendo executive taking a hit: Shigeru Miyamoto's salary will drop by around 30%, as will fellow that of managing...
News Kid Icarus Definitely Slips to 2012 in Europe
Still on course for 2011 elsewhere
Just as we reported three weeks ago, flagship 3DS title Kid Icarus: Uprising has overshot and will reach Europe in early 2012. The most up-to-date Nintendo release schedule pegs Project Sora's first 3DS game for the first quarter of calendar year 2012, so Pit should shoot in any time between January and March next...
Interview Intrinsic Games - Amoebattle for DSiWare
Your questions, answered
A while ago we invited you to submit your questions for Amoebattle developer Intrinsic Games. We pitched the best ones to the indie developer and now we have a whole stack of answers. @Squiggle55 - What sets Amoebattle apart from other games in the genre? Traditionally, most games in the Real Time Strategy genre are for the...
Thursday28th Jul 2011
News NES and Game Boy Advance Games Coming to 3DS Virtual Console
But there's a catch
It's official: Nintendo's 3DS Virtual Console service is getting Game Boy Advance games. However, they will not be available to anyone who buys a console after the 3DS price drop on 12th August. Here's the deal. Any North American 3DS owner who picked up the console before 11th August and accessed the eShop will be classed as an...
Nintendo Download 28th July 2011 (North America)
Farming, shrines and more
In all the excitement about 3DS price drops and free download games, don't forget your old friend the Nintendo Download. Here's what's available in North America later today. 3DS eShop: Let's Golf! 3D (Gameloft, $6.99) — The eShop's first properly new downloadable game, Gameloft's golfing game features six courses, eight...
Talking Point The GBA Games You Want on 3DS Virtual Console
Go on, push our buttons
By now you've probably had chance to digest our Nintendo Ambassador program and free eShop games FAQ which explains the 20 free games current 3DS owners are entitled to, starting 1st September. All 20 games will be Virtual Console downloads — 10 from NES, 10 from Game Boy Advance — but so far only half the games have been...
News 3DS Drops to $169.99 from 12th August
Hoping to stop the rot
Fresh from the announcement of the Japanese 3DS price drop we have news of the North American savings. From 12th August the machine will drop to $169.99, down from $249.99, a huge price drop that Nintendo hopes will set the console up for a profitable holiday season. If you've already picked up your machine, you're eligible...
Nintendo Download 28th July 2011 (Europe)
Go on, let's golf
After a long wait we finally have the first new game to buy in Nintendo's 3DS software (download) category, as well as plenty of other downloadable content too. Let's see what's coming to Europe this week. 3DS eShop: Let's Golf! 3D (Gameloft, €6 / £5.40) — This isn't the first tee-off for Gameloft's sporting series, as we've...
News European 3DS Price to Drop by a Third, says Nintendo
Free eShop games too
Europe isn't being spared from the latest Nintendo 3DS price drops, as a Nintendo representative has told Eurogamer the machine's price will drop by around a third later this year: Nintendo of Europe will be reducing the European trade price of Nintendo 3DS to retailers by around a third from 12th August 2011, as part of a...
News 3DS Mario Titles Land in November and December
Official titles revealed
Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 will launch in November and December this year respectively, Nintendo has announced. The company made the decree in the same statement that outlined the new 3DS price drop and Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games
News From April to June, Nintendo Only Sold 700,000 3DS Consoles
That's worldwide
We knew 3DS was off to a slow start, but the bigger picture is becoming clearer thanks to Nintendo's latest financial report. The company reveals that in the three months before June 2011 the console shifted just 710,000 units around the world, with 4.53 million software units sold. By way of comparison, the legacy DS system —...
News Australia 3DS Price Goes to $249.95 on 12th August
Free games for everyone!
So we know about the European 3DS price drop and cheaper North American 3DS too, and now we have the next big piece in the puzzle: Australia. Nintendo of Australia announced the 3DS will drop to AU $249.95 from 12th August, down from $349.95. New Zealanders, your price will be NZ $343.99. As with the other territories, those...
News Rune Factory 3 Sprouts in Europe in September
Third DS instalment due
Rising Star Games has just announced its line-up for the rest of the year, and DS RPG Rune Factory 3 is coming to Europe in a few months' time. The third and final DS instalment in the series released in North America last year, bringing with it several big features: co-operative play for up to three players, the ability to...
News 3DS Gets Big Price Drop in Japan Next Month
Shaving zeroes
The 3DS has had a sluggish sales start so far but Nintendo is hoping to give the machine a kick start in Japan with a huge price drop effective 11th August. The recommended retail price will drop from 25,000 Yen (around $317 / £196) to 15,000 Yen ($190 / £117), a huge decrease this early in the console's life span. A similar price...
News Renegade Kid Shopping ATV Wild Ride 3D to Publishers
ATV sequel takes shape on 3DS
Renegade Kid, best known for its work on such DS titles as Dementium and Moon, is already hard at work on a 3DS sequel to its DS ATV racing title ATV Wild Ride. ATV Wild Ride 3D will take many of the same racing conventions of its predecessor, but this time the developer is tossing in a wealth of new gameplay functions,...
Wednesday27th Jul 2011
Review Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions (3DS)
Waka waka waka
Pac-Man and Galaga have provided 30 years worth of entertainment, coin shortages, hit songs and waka-wakas across the world, and to celebrate Namco has cooked up a number of presents for fans. One such present is Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions, a six-layer cake iced with 3D. But instead of a tasty bakery delight, some dead bugs have...
Rock you like a Hurricane
While it may be difficult to achieve the recognition and greatness of Shantae: Risky’s Revenge or Cave Story, platform adventure games are still very welcome on DSiWare. Antipole, the newest title from Saturnine Games, might not be the most original genre entry in the universe, it is still a very gravitating game with a...
News Just Why Is La-Mulana Taking So Long?
Explained inside
La-Mulana on WiiWare: it's not a myth, it's a real thing. Despite believing the game would be out months — if not years — ago, we're still waiting on the adventure game here, even with its recent appearance in Japan. What's the hold up? It seems the game has fallen foul of the ratings boards here in the West, according to the...
News There's Nothing Suggestive About This Video At All
It's quite normal
Have you heard of Senran Kagura? It's a new 3DS game from Japanese developer Marvelous, best-known for its Harvest Moon games of course. It's going for a slightly different market than the super-family friendly farming series with its newest title, though. The hack-and-slash game was announced back in April, but now we have a new...
News Uh Oh, Now Namco Goes for Single 3DS Save File
List is getting longer
Last month's Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D save file debacle might seem a long time ago now, but it's about time it got dredged up again as it appears Namco has stuck the unpopular system in Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions. According to a report from Wired, the cartridge only stores your most recent high score rather than the...
News EA Sports Working Closely with Nintendo on Wii U's Online
Vice president happy with Nintendo's attitude
Nintendo has expressed its own dissatisfaction with its online efforts and it's clearly one area that will need to be tackled with the upcoming Wii U. When Nintendo of America's president Reggie Fils-Aime spoke to Forbes, he talked about implementing a more flexible online system that will appeal to...
News Mario and Sonic 2012 Gets Release Dates, Yellow Box
3DS version due February
Like or loathe the sporting combination of plumber and hedgehog, SEGA's preparing to unleash another round of Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games to coincide with next year's English medal-a-thon. The Wii version hits North America on 15th November and Europe on 18th November, with the 3DS version a little...
News What Would You Want in a Potential El Shaddai Wii U Game?
Asks creative director Sawaki Takeyasu
The upcoming Wii U console has sparked the interest of many third-party developers, some of whom have never even developed for a Nintendo platform before. While Ignition is no stranger to Nintendo hardware, the creative director of its upcoming third-person action game El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron has...
News Level-5 May Consider Wii U Professor Layton Ports
Staff members talk Wii U
This week's issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu features a section where game developers and producers talk about Nintendo's next home console the Wii U, and among those that took part were Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino and Jiro Ishii, who's working on the upcoming 3DS title Time Travelers. As reported by...
News Catch Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 in October, Europe
Nearly slime time
We originally thought that Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 was going to make it next month, but now Nintendo Europe has dashed those hopes by announcing a release date of 7th October. The monster-catching spin-off from the main Dragon Quest series communicates with the most recent DS releases, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the...
News Metal Gear Solid 3D Delayed to 2012 in Australia
Maybe elsewhere too
Kotaku Australia is reporting that Konami's Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D has been pushed back from its expected late 2011 release date to next year. It's worth pointing out that this is based on a comment from an Australian Konami representative, and the most recent release schedule for Europe and North America pegged the...
News Castle Conqueror Sequel Starts a Revolution
They might take our land...
Some months ago, CIRCLE Entertainment released Castle Conqueror on DSiWare, and it turned out pretty well. There was some room for improvement though, so we're hoping that the newly announced follow-up Castle Conqueror — Revolution is a better big brother. We termed the original game a strategy game for beginners, but...
Tuesday26th Jul 2011
News New 3DS System Update Warns You About Piracy
Stern words indeed
Remember when Nintendo warned using piracy devices may disable your 3DS? The latest 3DS system update may well have started that process. The update arrived yesterday with little fanfare, but here's the official description from Nintendo: System stability improvements and other adjustments Further improvements to overall system...
Review Jagged Alliance (DSiWare)
Watch out for sharp edges
On paper, Jagged Alliance looks like a must-have for fans of tactical role-playing games. A mid 90s PC classic that was originally distributed as a DS retail release in 2009, now available at a significantly lower price of 500 Nintendo Points – it’s a win-win, right? Well, two areas that hit the mark are storyline and...
Review Captain America: Super Soldier (Wii)
Shield your eyes...
There's been a fair amount of hyperbole thrown around for Captain America: Super Soldier in the gaming community, with many people making wild claims that SEGA has done for The First Avenger what Rocksteady did for The Dark Knight. While there are definite hints of Batman: Arkham Asylum in High Voltage's Wii outing for Cap', the...
News Points Burning a Hole in Your Pocket? Try Burn the Rope
WiiWare's next hot title?
Burn the Rope is coming to WiiWare in North America on Thursday with a price tag that's sure to ignite debate. The WiiWare version of the popular iOS puzzler arrives on Thursday with a price of 1,000 Nintendo Points. The same game on iTunes will run you around $0.99, with extra levels available to download for more money of...
News Nintendo Gets Around to Releasing Inazuma Eleven in UK
About time
In January, Nintendo did something unusual: it accidentally released a video game. A small number of copies of DS football RPG Inazuma Eleven from Level-5 deftly dodged the tackles of Nintendo's distribution system and scored a few goals with customers before Nintendo blew the half-time whistle and the error was corrected. Now the game of...
News Harvest Moon Creator Looking at 3DS, Wii U Development
Wada piece of good news
Yasuhiro Wada created the very first Harvest Moon before going on to work on Little King's Story and No More Heroes, among other games. So when Wada says he's developing a 3DS game, it's most definitely Good News. Wada confirmed to Official Nintendo Magazine that he's currently working on a 3DS game, though wouldn't say...
News Combat Wings Readying a Wii Air Raid in September
Will it bomb?
City Interactive's arcade dogfight game Combat Wings is approaching the Wii runway later this year, and the latest screenshots of the game don't look too shabby. The game was originally due for release last year but was delayed to make way for a release on other formats including PlayStation Move. Hopefully its arcade gameplay will...
Monday25th Jul 2011
Review 3D Classics: Xevious (3DSWare)
Xevious goes 3D
When Xevious first hit arcades back in 1982, it became known for its odd visual style and unique sound effects. Now, after a number of releases on various platforms over the past 30 years, the game now makes an appearance on Nintendo's 3DS system via the eShop. While being able to take the game with you on the go for those quick...
News If Fans Speak Up, Majora's Mask 3DS Might Happen
Straight from the top
The 3DS remake of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has gone down pretty well, but there are plenty of gamers for whom Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is the superior game and more deserving of a 3D update. Perhaps if those people are vocal enough, their wish may come true. That's the vibe from Zelda supremo Eiji Aonuma anyway,...
News These Handmade 3DS Cases are Awesome
Score money off inside
Etsy is a haven for talented creative folk with a love of video games, with dozens of Nintendo crafts, toys and trinkets available. The latest motherlode of Nintendo-related goodness comes from crafty New Zealander Ki and his handmade 3DS cases. The cases come swathed in designs ranging from a cheery Shigeru Miyamoto to a...
News Three New Rewards Hit Club Nintendo in North America
Giant AR card approaches
Club Nintendo coins burning a hole in the brick you use to store them? Want to set them free but don't fancy bashing your head in? You need a new reward, then. You can now choose from a Metroid: Other M screensaver, a set of three posters charting the history of Donkey Kong or, best of all, a giant double-sided AR card for...
News Amazon Suspends 3DS Sales
Update: All is well
Second Update: The 3DS is back on sale at Amazon, with no explanation of how the problem was solved. As you were, then. First Update: An Amazon representative had this to say on the matter: “The reason why this is under a review : The flip-screen is loose when its opened, please inform them that Nintendo has confirmed as long...
News Collect These Sonic Generations Screenshots for a Continue
Or a Chaos Emerald, maybe
We've got some fresh new shots of the special stage from Sonic Generations and we're not afraid to use them. As previously confirmed, the special stage rather resembles the bonus level from Sonic Heroes, with the spiky speedster collecting variously coloured bubbles or balloons to get ever closer to that elusive Chaos...
News Crazy Hamster Swaps Pet Shop for DSi Shop in August
Part of the DSiWare genus
Having passed Nintendo's lotcheck earlier this month, Gamelion's Crazy Hamster will gnaw its way to the DSi Shop early August. Players will help the little hamster get from one part of the level to another via a selection of tools that will help the little fella navigate the terrain as if it was Bear Grylls. Gamelion has...
Sunday24th Jul 2011
Review Kung Fu Dragon (DSiWare)
Since you're climbing a waterfall, you're more of a Kung Fu Salmon
If there's one thing we can say about Kung Fu Dragon, it's that there's really not much to say about Kung Fu Dragon. It's a game that's content to limit itself in nearly every respect, and that's going to earn it its share of detractors, but it's also a game that makes surprisingly...
News Two More WiiWare Compilations from Nordcurrent
Good news if you like arcade and party games
Nordcurrent has just been in touch to let us know it has another two WiiWare releases lined up. Firstly is the continuation of the 101-in-1 series with 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix. A collection of mini-games that was released on the DS back in 2009, Nordcurrent will be serving it up again, this time for...
News Nudge Nudge, Marvel Pinball Rolls Towards Wii U and 3DS
Let the inner pinball wizard out
The Marvel Video Games panel revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2011 that Marvel Pinball will be pinging its way to the Wii U and 3DS. Already available on Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, Marvel Pinball stars numerous superheroes from the Marvel universe and features a number of highly detailed tables on...
Saturday23rd Jul 2011
Where can Wii go from here?
Let's not beat around the bush here: WiiWare hasn't been a runaway success. Many Wii owners are unaware the service exists, what it offers and why they would want to use it, and those console owners who are familiar with the Wii Shop Channel are just as conscious of its myriad problems: poor content, dull presentation and...
Piping hot
Nintendo could have gone in any number of directions with its first Mario outing on 3DS: an enhanced remake of a previous game a la Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, an extension of the Super Mario Galaxy series or a sequel to the mega-selling New Super Mario Bros.. It's done none of these, or possibly all of them at once. For a start,...
News Aonuma Opens a Treasure Chest of Skyward Sword Details
Dun-dun-dun-dunnnn!
In a recent interview, veteran Nintendo developer Eiji Aonuma revealed some interesting details about The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, on which he's currently working. If you're not a fan of spoilers stop reading now! Ganon, Link's adversary since the early days, will not appear in the game. In fact, the odd-looking Lord...
News Gremlins Gizmo Trailer Spotted at Comic-Con
Unleashed on North America this year
During this year's San Diego Comic-Con event, a small booth was spotted showing a trailer for an upcoming video game adaptation of the Gremlins franchise. Before you get too excited, it appears to be a collection of mini-games that are making their way to the Wii and DS. The trailer for Gremlins Gizmo showed a...
First Impressions Kirby: Mass Attack
Kirby rides again!
The DS is nearing the end of its life now; there are very few big games planned as everybody's making the move to the 3DS. Still, Nintendo's got another title coming out in the form of Kirby: Mass Attack, which takes the traditional Kirby platforming and gives it another unique twist. We had a chance to sit down with a still...
News Fishing Resort Tugging on a North American Line
Prope's fishing game reeled in this Fall
From hedgehogs to kiwis, Yuji Naka has been involved with games that star somewhat uncommon animals and his studio Prope is getting ready for the release of its upcoming Wii game that follows a similar trend: this time, it's fish. Since leaving SEGA in 2006, Naka went on to found Prope and along with fellow...
Friday22nd Jul 2011
News Fox Flies Into a New Trailer for Star Fox 64 3D
What, no barrel roll?
Nintendo has released a fresh trailer for the upcoming Star Fox 64 3D, due for release on 9th September in Europe and North America. This new video shows off various parts of the single-player campaign, including linear levels and some dog-fighting (or fox-fighting) action. There are some impressive graphics on show, while...
News Solatorobo Dev Would Like to Work on Mega Man Legends 3
A glimmer of hope?
CyberConnect2, the developer behind the acclaimed Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, is currently collaborating with Capcom on Asura's Wrath for PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360, but what would CEO and President Hiroshi Matsuyama like to work on next? When posed the question recently, his answer was none other than the freshly cancelled...
First Impressions Rayman Origins (Wii)
Back to his best?
Rayman Origins is the long awaited return to 2D platforming for Ubisoft's chopper-haired hero. While the version we played at a recent preview event was running on Xbox 360, we were told the team is aiming to make the Wii version as similar as possible. Running on Ubisoft's new UbiArt framework, the game is extremely beautiful —...
News Check Out the First Just JAM DLC in These Trailers
100 Points a pop
Just JAM, the music-based WiiWare game from Big John and Zivix Interactive, released earlier this month, and now the first two batches of downloadable content have gone live. You can preview the first selection in the trailer below, which includes Soar by Roster McCabe, Shadow Godz by The Alpha Centauri and Let's Dance To This by...
News Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Trailer Approaches
Let us set the scene...
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 is only a few months away you know, and this short but sweet trailer for the game sums up the next Square Enix adventure quite neatly. You crash land on an island and must gather and train an army of monsters to stay alive. It's a little different from the traditional Dragon Quest gameplay, with...
Thursday21st Jul 2011
News Capcom Blames the Fans for Mega Man Legends 3 Cancellation
Take that!
With fans still wondering why Capcom cancelled the fan-based Mega Man Legends 3 project and prototype, Capcom Europe has an answer: lack of an audience. Responding to one user via the Capcom Europe Twitter, the company commented: it's a shame the fans didn't want to get more involved :-( if we saw there was an audience for MML3 people...
News Capcom Apologises for Poorly Worded Tweet
"We'd never ever blame fans"
Last night, Capcom Europe responded to fan inquiries regarding the cancellation of Mega Man Legends 3 with a Tweet that it's now admitting was perhaps not the right choice of words: it's a shame the fans didn't want to get more involved :-( if we saw there was an audience for MML3 people might change minds Now the...
Nintendo Download 21st July 2011 (North America)
Nintendo Video arrives!
After last week's excitement with the Netflix application coming to 3DS, now everyone gets a taste of free 3D video with the Nintendo Video application to download from the eShop. Elsewhere there's a 3D Classic, some DSiWare and a WiiWare title too. 3DS eShop: 3D Classics: Xevious (Nintendo, $5.99) — The second...
Nintendo Download 21st July 2011 (Europe)
3D Classics Xevious is here!
Now everyone's had their fill of the first game in the 3D Classics series, the NES favourite 3D Classics: Excitebike, it's time to kick it into second gear with the next instalment. Elsewhere there's a 3DS VC game and a trio on DSiWare, though WiiWare and the Wii Virtual Console take the week off. 3DS eShop: 3D Classics:...
Preview The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Hands-on once more with the Hero of Time
In all the Wii U commotion at E3 this year, Link's next and final outing on Wii was rather lost, but we were able to reconnect with the Hero of Time at a recent preview event in the UK. Three levels in total were playable: an aerial bird race, a dungeon and a face-off against Lord Ghirahim. With Wii Remote...
If you like difficult levels, it's for you
The game has still not been released in Europe and North America, but details of the upcoming DLC for La-Mulana have now been revealed. Downloading the 300 Nintendo Point package will unlock a boss rush mode, which comes with a timer so you can try to beat your best times on it. But any La-Mulana veterans...
As good as Bill Nye, or would it make him cry?
Pokémon and its ilk channel a sense of wonder as players explore new worlds to learn about their inhabitants. It seems that someone over at Abylight had the revelation that our own planet is filled with fantastic creatures as well – they're just too small to see. AfterZoom has you go about collecting...
News Boost Your 3DS Battery with Hyperkin's Powerplus
Squeeze more juice
The 3DS's battery life isn't the best around, but Hyperkin's newest accessory will keep the power light at the end of the tunnel on a little longer. The 3DS Powerplus is a rechargeable 1800mAH battery pack that nearly doubles the console's battery life, slotting onto the console and charging via USB, and is available now for...
News The Oregon Trail to Settle Down on Wii & 3DS
Fording rivers and catching cholera has never been so exciting
If you went through public school in the United States, chances are The Oregon Trail was an important part of your childhood. It's already trekked to DSiWare via Gameloft, but now GameFly lists a retail version fording the Wii and 3DS rivers this November. It's coming from Red Wagon...
Review Extreme Hangman 2 (DSiWare)
Extreme Sequel
If you’ve played the first Extreme Hangman game, then you know exactly what to expect with Extreme Hangman 2. While the word categories and visuals may have changed a bit, the core gameplay remains exactly the same. Though there is little different between the two games, that doesn’t necessarily detract from what Extreme Hangman...
News New Zelda: Skyward Sword Trailer is Right on Target
The strongest Link?
While we anxiously await a release date for Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, have a new trailer for the game straight from San Diego Comic-Con. The trailer is 1:45 of pure gameplay footage and shows the return of the Gorons, the evil (and goth-tastic) Lord Ghirahim and plenty more aspects of the game we haven't seen yet. We got to...
Has Pit found his wings yet?
Masuhiro Sakurai's game of two halves continues to delight and frustrate in almost equal measures. When we played the game back in January we came away thoroughly impressed with the aerial sections but less enamoured with the ground fighting elements, and this hasn't changed based on our latest hands-on time with the...
News Nintendo Brings Star Fox 64 3D Forward to 9th September
Barrel roll with it
Star Fox 64 3D will buck Nintendo of America's regular trend for releasing games on Sunday, and will instead see release on Friday 9th September. We had chance to try the game out at a recent 3DS preview event and can confirm the game is shaping up pretty nicely, with some impressive use of 3D and a pleasing faithfulness to the...
News Jupiter Creating Picross E for Nintendo 3DS eShop
Okay, now this is exciting
Picross DS is still one of our favourite reasons to power up the DS these days, so the news that developer Jupiter is working on a sequel for the 3DS eShop is reason to rejoice indeed. Titled Picross E, the game is heading to Japanese 3DS consoles on 27th July for just 500 Yen. While we can't imagine it making the most...
News Nintendo Refuses to Confirm GameCube Downloads on Wii U
No denying either
Yesterday we reported that GameCube games could come to Wii U via WiiWare, and Nintendo has now released an official (and very carefully worded) statement to Destructoid: To clarify the capabilities of the Wii U system: As correctly stated, Wii U will not play Nintendo GameCube discs, however Nintendo has not made any...
News Nintendo UK's Metroid Hub is Open to Visitors
Come in, take a seat
As if to prove that Nintendo hasn't forgotten about the 25th anniversary of Metroid that kicks off early next month, the company's UK wing has just launched an official hub to celebrate Samus's space adventures. The Metroid Portal contains information on most of Miss Aran's adventures, with the only omission being Game Boy...
News You'll Get Your First 3DSWare Game Next Week
What will it be?
Let's Golf! 3D will be the first new downloadable game for 3DS, and it's out next week. Gameloft's 3D version of a good walk ruined launches in Europe on 28th July for £5.40, with six courses, eight characters and two player modes confirmed too. Will this be a swing and a miss or a great teeing-off point for the future of...
News 3DS Double Sales in Japan After Star Fox and Flare Red Launch
The Fox effect
Star Fox 64 3DS hits the West on 9th September, but it's already out in Japan and has given the console's sales a sizeable boost. Between 11th and 17th July, the game shifted 32,475 units across the country, putting it in sixth position behind two PlayStation baseball games, Taiko Drum Master Portable DX on PSP, Puyo Puyo!! on DS and...
News Dr. Mario Cures Japanese Virtual Console Next Week
Say "ahhh"
Japan's about to come down with a fever, and Dr. Mario is the cure. The medicinally-minded Game Boy puzzle game comes to the console next week for 400 Yen. DSiWare fans might already be familiar with the game from Dr. Mario Express, but interestingly this is the first time we've seen the original released on Virtual Console — the NES...
News First Zelda Concert Takes LA in October, Tour Starts in 2012
Ticket prices inside
Nintendo's orchestral tribute to the Legend of Zelda series will kick off on 21st October at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, ahead of a full tour in 2012. The 70-piece orchestra and choir will play pieces picked by Koji Kondo and the Nintendo sound team and will be produced by the team behind the PLAY! A Video Game...
Wednesday20th Jul 2011
News GameCube to See New Downloadable Life on Wii U
WiiWare just got more interesting
Many have wondered whether the Wii U will include a Virtual Console service updated with GameCube games, and now NOA executive Amber McCollom has revealed that the answer is yes – through WiiWare. In an interview with NintendoGal, she is quoted as saying: GameCube discs will not be compatible with Wii U, but a...
News Nintendo Trademarks Mii U, WiiWare U, Wii U Music and More
Oh, the possibilities...
A smorgasbord of trademarks that Nintendo of Japan reserved approaching the unveiling of the Wii U at E3 has just been revealed. Most of these are likely to end up as unused protective placeholders, a usual practice for the Big N, but it's still neat to see what the company might have up its sleeves. It's also worth noting...
First Impressions Sonic Generations
Making us blue
June was Sonic's 20th anniversary, and later this year Sega celebrates with Sonic Generations, a project that aims to combine the hedgehog's best and, admittedly, worst moments. 3DS owners get a very different version to PS3 and 360 fans, both for better and worse. Sonic Generations on 3DS joins traditional 16-bit style platforming...
First Impressions Heroes of Ruin
To arms!
There haven't been many new franchises so far in 3DS's short life so far, but RPG masters Square Enix and handheld specialists n-Space are busy preparing a very promising new IP for release in 2012: Heroes of Ruin. We recently went hands-on with the game, and from our early impressions it's one that should hit your radar. From the off it's...
News Pyramids is a New Game Coming to the 3DS eShop
So be happy!
We know you're bored of not being able to download any new 3D games to your beloved 3DS, and that any announcement of future 3DS downloads is like a faraway carrot, but indulge us anyway. Enjoy Gaming has just announced Pyramids, a puzzle-platform adventure coming to download later this year. You play a fearless adventurer — wearing a...
News Vigil Games Talks Darksiders II and Tricky Wii U Development
Staff members have high opinions of the console
The action adventure game Darksiders II for the Wii U won't look any better than the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 versions, but not because it is unable to do so. Jay Fitzloff, marketing manager at THQ's Vigil Games spoke to Video Gamer about how relatively easy it was to get the the visuals to match the...
News Furry Legends DSiWare Sent to Lotcheck
First screenshots here
We haven't heard anything on Gamelion's Furry Legends: Beginnings, the second volume in the series that began with WiiWare's Furry Legends, for a very long time. But that's all changing right now. Gamelion has just informed us that it has submitted the title to Nintendo's lotcheck, where it'll be tested for bugs and given...
News SEGA Finally Makes Aliens: Infestation Official
Bursting from the chest of secrets
Retail rumours and ESRB age ratings let us know that Aliens: Infestation was approaching, and now SEGA has finally lifted the lid on its upcoming DS title. Developed by WayForward in conjunction with Aliens: Colonial Marines developer Gearbox Software, the game features typically handsome WayForward sprite work and...
Review Successfully Learning German: Year 4 (DSiWare)
What’s the German for deja-vu?
Successfully Learning German: Year 4 has arrived, looming on the DSiWare landscape with a sense of inevitability. The decision by Tivola to convert a retail release into multiple downloads means that fans of edutainment titles have been spending a lot of money on their DSi. Moving on from Year 3, Freddy the Vampire...
Tuesday19th Jul 2011
News Mega Man Legends 3 Cancelled
Goodbye, devroom
Mega Man Legends 3 has easily become one of the more interesting projects in development for the 3DS, with its influence on fan input in the form of an interactive online devroom, votes to decide character designs and more and an announced Prototype Version, once planned to launch alongside the eShop, which would showcase the game...
News Heavy Fire Will Blow Up your 3DS
Are you one of the chosen few?
Teyon's Heavy Fire series of on-rails shooters has already torn through WiiWare with Heavy Fire: Special Operations, doubled back for the sequel Heavy Fire: Black Arms and set its sights on Wii, XBOX Kinect and PlayStation Move retail with Heavy Fire: Afghanistan despite quite unfavourable review scores for the...
News Get Ready to Catch Pokémon Rumble Blast on your 3DS
North American release of 24th October announced
We earlier reported on Super Pokémon Rumble, the sequel to WiiWare's Pokémon Rumble headed to the 3DS in Japan. Nintendo has just announced that the game will make its way West as well as Pokémon Rumble Blast, with a North American release date of 24th October announced. The game will see dozens of...
News Miyamoto Talks the New Generation Behind the Wii U
Expect new heroes on the console
General manager at Nintendo EAD Shigeru Miyamoto spoke to French newspaper Libération after the events of E3 and gave a little insight into the development of the Wii U and how there's a new generation of designers emerging. When Libération asked Miyamoto if he was the brains behind the Wii U's hardware design, he...
News Miyamoto: "Wii U is an Attractive Environment for Developers"
Nintendo's duty to create new ways to play
With the Wii U poised to setting a new paradigm in the way a controller is related to its console, Nintendo is clearly keen on setting itself apart from its competitors once again. In an interview conducted by French newspaper Libération, Shigeru Miyamoto explained that if a generation of consoles are...
News It's OK Mega Man Fans, Dr Wily's Revenge is Imminent
Some light at the end of the tunnel
Disappointed that Mega Man Legends 3 is cancelled? You'll still get to try some Mega Man goodness on your 3DS this year at least, as the ESRB has rated Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge. While of course age ratings aren't cast-iron release confirmations — PEGI rated Mega Man Legends 3: Prototype Version after all —...
News Pachter Thinks Nintendo has Superior First-Party Software
Despite what Xbox CFO thinks
In response to what Xbox chief financial officer Dennis Durkin said about Microsoft's first-party software line-up being "superior" to that of Sony and Nintendo's (as reported by Industry Gamers), Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter has shared his two cents. Speaking to Industry Gamers, Durkin was asked...
News Capcom Could Show Wii U Creations at Tokyo Games Show
Capcom COO cagey
The third party Wii U games video shown at E3 had plenty of talking heads, but not all of them had games to show off. Some big names weren't present at all however, with Capcom a notable absentee from the jollity. That could all change in September though, according to Capcom COO David Reeves. In a recent interview with MEGamers,...
News Yuji Naka's Haunted Tower Never Made it to Wii
Never will
Yuji Naka, the father of Sonic the Hedgehog, has released a few games on Wii since starting up Prope: Let's Tap and accompanying WiiWare condiment Let's Catch, as well as the cutesy Ivy the Kiwi?. As with all developers however he's not had a 100% release record, and one of the projects that never made it to release came to light in a...
News Shinobi on 3DS Remains Hidden Until November
SEGA producer reveals the game's influences
SEGA has found itself pushing back the releases of two upcoming 3DS titles lately: CRUSH3D from Zoë Mode and the other being Shinobi from Griptonite Games. The latest press release from the publisher states the new release date as 11th November ― two months later than what was previously planned...
News Hopes for CRUSH3D to Launch This Year Have Been Crushed
SEGA announces new release date
Brighton-based Zoë Mode studio head Paul Mottram recently pointed to the lower-than-expected success of the 3DS as the reason for pushing back the release of the studio's upcoming puzzle game CRUSH3D. Now publisher SEGA has stepped in and announced the revised European release date. CRUSH3D has now been scheduled...
News A Week in the Life of Renegade Kid
Behind the scenes look at game development
For those of you who enjoy an inside look at the daily life of a game developer, Renegade Kid co-founder and Creative Director Jools Watsham has just the thing for you. All this week, Jools will be posting a vlog on his YouTube account each day in which he'll talk about some of the interesting aspects of...
Monday18th Jul 2011
Review Successfully Learning German: Year 4 (WiiWare)
A dezent learning tool
As the overall level of education across the world rises, the pool of talented young people becomes much deeper, wider and more competitive. Consequently we've seen a general increase in home tutors, after school classes and educational software. Of this latter method of out-of-school learning, very few have the capacity to...
First Impressions Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
Snake returns to Nintendo
It's odd that, despite Hideo Kojima requesting Solid Snake to be put in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there haven't exactly been many games from the Metal Gear series on Nintendo systems, and none since that crossover happened. Thankfully, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is due to change that later this year. An enhanced port...
Review Jewel Keepers: Easter Island (DSiWare)
Semi-precious stones
No one knows what it is that makes match-three puzzle games so fun and addictive to play, but it’s unavoidable. Wherever you turn, match-three puzzles exist, and it’s clear that DSiWare is no exception to that rule. With games such as Bejeweled Twist and Ikibago already available, Jewel Keepers: Easter Island is in good...
News Nintendo Returns to Comic-Con with Multiple Playable Games
18 titles spread across Wii, 3DS and DS
Nintendo is set for its return to Comic-Con in San Diego this year and among other activities, the special Nintendo Gaming Lounge will be set up so that attendees can stop by and try out some of the latest releases. As well as Nintendo's booth (#5135) at Comic-Con, the Nintendo Gaming Lounge situated in the...
News Get Up Close and Personal with Your Lover in Rune Factory 4
See it all in 3D
Marvelous's popular marriage of farming and action RPG battling Rune Factory is coming to 3DS in the well-rounded form of Rune Factory 4. Whereas previous instalments have jumped you from the "we're in love" stage straight to "marriage, now", Rune Factory 4 wants to slow things down. It's been hurt, you know?...
News Crush 3D "Delayed Due to Success of 3DS"
Or lack of it?
British developer Zoë Mode is behind upcoming 3DS puzzler CRUSH3D, and studio head Paul Mottram recently revealed the game was delayed for a somewhat unusual reason: not because it was going through development difficulties, but because of the console's impact, or perhaps lack of it. Citing the fact that there are now so many game...
News 3DS Virtual Console Lands On Its Feet with Catrap
Another game rated
What do you mean you don't remember Game Boy puzzle game Catrap? Well, the Australian ratings board doesn't want you to forget, as it's just announced a rating for the cutesy block-pushing game — also known as Pitman in Japan — with a 3DS Virtual Console release looking likely. Game historians might be interested to know the...
News Guillemot: "Assassin's Creed Wii U Won't Be Revelations"
Ubisoft CEO teases what's in store
With the recent news that Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy for the 3DS has been scrapped, we were left wondering if the Wii U instalment of the popular stealth, action series might follow the same route. In an interview with Swedish website Aftonbladet (as translated by the Swedish branch of
News Here's How You Play Capcom's 3D Sound Game
You know, Nazo Waku Mansion
Capcom's Nazo Waku Mansion isn't content with just 3D graphics — it's using 3D sound too, along with almost every other 3DS feature imaginable, as you can see in this video below. The young lady playing the game uses the console's gyro sensor, motion detection, microphone, touch screen and more in ways that include...
News Your Free Antipole Soundtrack Awaits
Game out this Thursday
Antipole is ready for release in North America this Thursday, and to get you in the mood Saturnine Games has released the game's soundtrack for free via its website. The nine-track aural accompaniment was composed by Cosmos X2 musician Zack Parrish, with tracks ranging from retro tunes to pieces like You Think You're Tough?...
Sunday17th Jul 2011
Review Game & Watch Gallery (3DS eShop / GB)
More than a fresh coat of paint
Most fans of the Game & Watch series likely enjoy it for its simplicity. The nature of the original devices meant that certain allowances had to be made for the primitive visuals, sounds and rigid controls. All three of these things are charming in their own right, but what really made people fall in love was the...
Review Baseball (3DS eShop / GB)
The Babe Ruth of bad games
Hey, kids! How would you like to revisit a game from the Game Boy's early years that wasn't very good to begin with and, in addition, has aged horribly? Sounds exciting, we know, but it gets better: the only marginally redeeming feature of the game – the ability to play it with your friends – has been disabled,...
News Capcom COO Thinks Monster Hunter Will Make It to 3DS
That's a quest we'd like to see Capcom take
Prior to Capcom's Captivate 2011 event in April, gamers were hoping for some kind of Monster Hunter-related announcement for the 3DS after the popularity of Monster Hunter 3 (Tri~) for the Wii. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort took place. However, a recent interview with Capcom's European chief...
News ESRB Rating Offers Intel on Aliens: Infestation
Genre among other things revealed
A recent Entertainment Software Rating Board classification has revealed further details regarding Aliens: Infestation for the DS ― the return of the sci-fi horror franchise by publisher SEGA. Developed by WayForward Technologies, the game will be a side-scrolling shooter with plenty of weapons in stock as...
Saturday16th Jul 2011
News Sorry, Looks Like Netflix Isn't Getting 3D Movies
Popcorn staying resolutely 2D
The other day it seemed 3D movies were coming to Netflix 3DS, owing to this section of the press release: The new Netflix application for Nintendo 3DS displays movies and TV episodes in 2D on the system’s upper screen. Users will soon have access to an additional library of select movies that can be viewed in 3D...
Review Donkey Konga (GameCube)
Moving to a new beat
Donkey Konga is a pretty average rhythm action title when purely viewed as a piece of software engrained upon a small disc that one slaps onto the GameCube's spindle. Without a "true" Donkey Kong platformer on the horizon Nintendo rather shamelessly took the beloved characters of the franchise and transposed them into...
News Introducing VitaGamr for PlayStation Vita!
Our network expands once more
By now you'll be familiar with our PlayStation Move website Movemodo and KINECTaku for Kinect news and reviews, but we'd like you to meet the newest member of the Nlife network: VitaGamr. VitaGamr will be heaven to anyone interested in PlayStation Vita, bringing you news, reviews, interviews and features about Sony's...
Friday15th Jul 2011
Review Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (DS)
This hunter should become the hunted
Solatorobo: Red the Hunter isn’t a game title that is likely to storm to the top of the sales charts. There are no well-known franchise names, no mainstream marketing campaign, and no hint of generic, dull gaming characters and designs. Being a Japanese action RPG, this game is different from the vast majority...
Review 3D Pixel Racing (WiiWare)
Even the pixels can't save this one
Long-time gamers have a unique love affair with the pixelated visual style of yesteryear, so it comes as no real surprise to see developers like Silicon Studio, creators of PlayStation 3 game 3D Dot Game Heroes, have success melding the nostalgic look of pixelated sprites with the modern visual capabilities of...
Review Mario's Picross (3DS eShop / GB)
Fun with numbers
Picross has always been one of the weirder puzzle games at which Mario has tried his hand. It seems very boring to slowly create a picture using nothing but numbers, but once you get the hang of it the time simply flies by and you'll find yourself playing for hours on end. Mario's Picross was the first game in which Mario attempted...
News Uncharted Studio: "Wii U is Full of Holes, Nothing Sony Can't Do"
So not impressed so far, then..?
Uncharted developer Naughty Dog has given its opinion on Wii U in an interview with NowGamer, and the studio isn't sold on Nintendo's innovation this time around. Game director Justin Richmond from Sony-owned Naughty Dog said the console looks interesting but is nothing that couldn't be done on Sony consoles: To be...
We go one-on-one with popcorn in one hand and a stylus in the other
In many cities across North America you can still find them: all-but-deserted video rental stores trying every special deal and coupon in their cap to reclaim business from the rampantly successful postal-based Netflix service. But for many, getting movies in the mail isn't its best...
News Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy Vanishes into the Crowd
Re-emerges in Revelations
That Ezio Auditore da Firenze sure knows how to disappear into the crowd. So well in fact, his skills at vanishing are spilling over to the status of the Assassin's Creed title that was planned for the 3DS. Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy was originally planned for the 3DS but during an interview with Joystiq, Darby McDevitt...
News Dedicated Gamer Aces Dragon Quest IX After 773 Hours
100% complete. Wow.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the biggest games on DS, but you may not realise exactly how big until you read this. Committed player Steve Tolin has seen all there is to see in the Square Enix RPG: he's defeated every enemy type, grabbed every item and piece of clothing and found every Alchenomicon...
Review Make Up & Style (DSiWare)
Shaky foundation
Looking good is hard work. For those who want to learn or just enjoy playing around with lipstick and powder comes Make Up & Style, attempting a fun and informative take on facial beautification. But is this title good enough to make you blush, or is it only the eye-shadow of a good game? While Beauty Academy went for a...
News Ocarina of Time 3D was Second Best-Selling Game of June
United States figures are in
Although The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D launched in the middle of the month, 11 days was all it took for the Zelda remake to establish itself as the second best-selling single-format game for the month of June. According to independent market research company NPD Group, more than 283,000 copies of the game were...
First Impressions Rhythm Heaven (Wii)
Tapping never felt so good
At last week's Nintendo press event in the Netherlands, we played several games, but one which has oddly not seen much coverage around the web yet is the latest entry in the Rhythm Heaven series. Scheduled for release in Japan next week, the demo Nintendo had on offer was completely untouched by translators, and was thus...
News In Case You Missed It, We Have the Shinobi 3DS Trailer
It's here, in fact
You may have seen this trailer for Shinobi already, but we wanted to remind you that SEGA is finally bringing the ninja warrior back eight years after his last appearance. The 3DS adventure is in development at portable specialist Griptonite, with a September release date pencilled in from Sega. Players take control of Jiro...
News Hunt Down New Solatorobo Quests Every Week
Learn how inside
By now you've hopefully read our Solatorobo: Red the Hunter review, and if the 20-hour story mode isn't long enough for you there's good news: it doesn't end there. Nintendo has just given more details about the game's free downloadable quests that keep the action going after the credits roll. The first quest, available today, puts...
Thursday14th Jul 2011
News Angry Birds Could Be Flocking to Wii U and 3DS
Any guesses why?
Rovio has recently told Eurogamer that it is "looking at every console" as a potential platform for its popular Angry Birds series, and with Nintendo platforms alone, the studio has been floating the idea of a handheld and a WiiWare release. With the recent hardware unveiling that took place at E3 2011, Rovio truly does...
News 3D Movies Coming to the 3DS Netflix Service
Another feather in the 3DS's cap
While free video content have started being rolled out to Japanese and European 3DS users, the subscription-based Netflix streaming service has launched on the North American Nintendo eShop, allowing existing Netflix members on the $7.99 price plan and upwards to stream content onto their 3DS consoles. In Nintendo's...
Nintendo Download 14th July 2011 (North America)
Pixels and Netflix!
3DS gets its first "proper" downloadable application today in the very red form of Netflix. If you want something just a bit more interactive, there's plenty of new games to download too, as you'll read in the beautifully formatted list below. 3DS eShop: Netflix (free) — The streaming video app comes to 3DS, and is...
Nintendo Download 14th July 2011 (Europe)
Will you pick up Picross?
North America is revelling in a delight of digital downloads today, but let's see what European Nintendo fans can spend those funds on this week. 3DS Virtual Console: Mario's Picross (Game Boy, Nintendo, £3.60/€4) — Mario's first foray into the world of picture crosswords, this is developed by Jupiter, the team behind...
News EA Founder Criticises Nintendo's "Feudal Dark Age"
Evil overlords clash
EA founder Trip Hawkins isn't afraid to speak his mind, doing just that at a recent games conference in San Francisco. Hawkins criticised Nintendo for ushering in a "feudal dark age" with its hardware, in which "developers don't own the land they're tilling," a reference to Nintendo's licensing and...
Cock-a-doodle-don't
Running a farm is hard work – there are animals to feed, goose eggs to collect and bears to capture and sell to market. Such is the setting of Farm Frenzy, an agricultural time and resource management adventure. But is this a prize pig or should it be put out to pasture? The small, symbiotic playing field divides between...
News Eiji Aonuma Talks Zelda Ideas and Development
Pace of Zelda development "in some ways a problem"
Having been an integral part of the Zelda series since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Eiji Aonuma was naturally one of the key people Nintendo turned to in order to visualise how a Zelda "experience" might look on the Wii U. Speaking to IndustryGamers, Aonuma recalled being involved...
Wednesday13th Jul 2011
Review ANIMA: Ark of Sinners (WiiWare)
Time to repent
Recent history in the WiiWare platform hasn’t seen an over-abundance of must-have, exciting releases. There is little surprise, then, that the release of ANIMA: Ark of Sinners was met with some optimism. With trailers giving an impression of an old-school Castlevania style of gameplay, a lot of gamers’ interests were piqued. The...
News Netflix Arrives on 3DS in North America Tomorrow
(Updated with more details) Start streaming!
Those 3DS owners in North America upset about the slight delay to the Nintendo Video application might want to start smiling now: Netflix is coming to 3DS tomorrow. The free application will allow Netflix members with an unlimited streaming plan to watch TV shows and movies in 2D on their 3DS through the...
Review Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters (3DS)
"Anything I see in my mind, I cannot create"
The premise behind the superhero powers of the Lantern Corps, in which a Green Lantern can use their willpower to create solid green light constructs based upon anything they imagine, is a near impossible ability to recreate in a video game. It would take a brave developer to truly innovate in a game...
News Crytek: Wii U Technology a Far Cry From Wii Hardware
Investigating the new machine
Crysis and Far Cry developer Crytek is looking at the Wii U quite closely, discussing the console's core future with NowGamer in a recent interview. The European developer told the site it was interested in the machine and is pleased with the technological leap over the present Wii hardware: We were unfortunately...
News Nintendo Video Application Live in Europe Right Now
It's waiting for you
Fed up of waiting for the Nintendo Video application, Europe? Then wait no longer — it's available now. It should have its own little space on the 3DS eShop main screen, but if not it'll turn up if you simply search for "video". It appears different countries will receive unique videos, so content available in your...
Don't catch it
Cast your mind back a few months to the launch of Ubongo on DSiWare. In that instance, Korner Entertainment took a popular board game and turned it into a mediocre puzzle/board game; here, Korner has removed the board game licence, the story and the gem-grabbing puzzle mode to reduce the package right down to its barebones. Is it...
News Would You Pay $150 for this Metal Sonic Statue?
We know someone who would
First 4 Figures has made a name for itself with high-end statues and dioramas, but quality doesn't come cheaply. The company has opened pre-orders on its new Metal Sonic statue, starting at just $155. As with previous lines, there are two versions available: a 'standard' edition at $154.99 and a more expensive exclusive...
News Irrational Has No Plans for Wii U Games Yet
Just likes the machine
Ken Levine of Irrational Games appeared in the Wii U third party software video at E3 to wax lyrical about the console, but don't take that as a sign that the BioShock developer has something in the works for Wii U. Speaking to IGN, Levine was quick to explain that the team has no plans for anything on Wii U. While he didn't...
Tuesday12th Jul 2011
Review Big Town Shoot Out (WiiWare)
John Marston died in vain
You're stuck in traffic on a rainy day. Positioning yourself between the cars ahead and behind you, avoiding collision with the merging vehicles, occasionally reading street signs; these things don't require skill so much as a sort of passive awareness. It's not your first time in traffic. You know the drill. It's a test...
Review Fortified Zone (3DS eShop / GB)
Link goes Commando
Jaleco seems to be good at making a game of just about any genre. We've seen fighters, sports games, a firefighting game and more, and this one can probably be best described as a mix of The Legend of Zelda and Commando, similarly to the original Metal Gear, in a way. Like many old games there's not much of a story. You play as...
News Retro Roads Never Looked Better Than 3D Pixel Racing
Blocks are best
If we said "here's a cool-looking racing game from the creators of Enjoy Your Massage!" you'd probably close your browser and race to scrub your eyes clean of those three hideous words linked to one of WiiWare's worst-ever games. Don't do that, though — 3D Pixel Racing actually looks kind of cool. Boasting a graphical...
Review Roller Angels (DSiWare)
Angelic
Roller Angels doesn't know what it wants to be; it's torn between Canabalt's forward-moving platforming action, Jet Grind Radio's alt-rock rebelliousness and de Blob's sense of beautification, without really committing fully to any one of them. Maybe that's a good thing. Yes, it lacks the first's pitch-perfect mechanics, the middle one's...
News Bobby Carrot Forever Finally Ready for Release Next Week
Something to chew on
Bobby Carrot Forever has been in development a long, long time: our news coverage dates back to December 2008, but after years of toiling FDG Entertainment's leporine hero is finally ready for action. On 21st July the game will hit the Wii Shop Channel for 800 Points, a pretty reasonable asking price for a 15 hour game with 72...
News The Super Mario Bros Movie Could Have Turned Out Very Differently
Read original drafts that powered up to become the final film
"Women are like old-time sinks. They run hot or cold, no in between." That's just one of the many lines, this one spoken by Mario himself, that might have ended up in the 1993 Super Mario Bros movie had the producers gone with one of four original scripts. It turns out that quite a saga...
News North America Nintendo Video Service Due "Later This Summer"
Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week...
Tomorrow, Europe gets the Nintendo Video application, as does Japan. Nintendo of America hasn't formally announced its plans yet, but now we have a bit more information and it doesn't sound entirely promising. Nintendo of America informed Joystiq that the service will arrive "later this summer". Granted,...
News Tennis As a 3D Classics Release Was Way Out
Don't need Hawk-Eye to tell us it's no good
Tennis for the NES has already been released via the Wii Shop Channel as a Virtual Console game, but at one point, it was also in the process of being brought over to the 3DS as part of the 3D Classics range. The latest Iwata Asks centres on the Nintendo eShop and reveals why that re-release never came to...
News The King of Kong Remake Could End Up as a Mockumentary
Seth Gordon talks directorial influences
Seth Gordon's The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters documentary about Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe ― two gamers on a quest for a world record-breaking high score on Donkey Kong ― is still on course for a remake, but the style in which the film will be presented might in some ways end up being a...
Competition Free Buy-In for Our Ante Up: Texas Hold'em DSiWare Competition (North America)
Five copies up for grabs
Ante Up: Texas Hold'em is one of the better poker games available on DSiWare, and now we have five copies of the game to give away to DSi owners in North America, coinciding with the happening-right-now World Series of Poker. If you want to win the game, be sure to follow MonkeyPaw Games on Twitter and follow Nintendo Life...
News Flip Over Antipole on 21st July
500pts for puzzle platformer
After shooter Cosmos X2, Saturnine Games is ready to release its second DSiWare game. Antipole, next week. The gravity-bending platform puzzle game will reach DSiWare in North America on 21st July and sell for 500 Points. Saturnine also sent over the launch trailer below, so check it out and pop back after the 21st for...
Monday11th Jul 2011
News Nintendo Video Application Launches in Europe This Week
3D TV in your hand
The 3DS eShop will be updated this week with the much anticipated Nintendo Video application. Nintendo is hosting a 3DS event in the UK next Tuesday. The invitation bears the phrase "you won't believe your eyes" — could this be related to the 3D video application? Download the free Nintendo Video application, only for...
News Cliff Bleszinski Thinks Wii U Naysayers Will Still Buy It
Gears of War creator sounds confident
The Wii U has got a lot of people excited and Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski is no exception. Speaking to IndustryGamers, he spoke confidently on Nintendo's ability to sell the Wii U to gamers ― even the ones who aren't convinced with Nintendo's upcoming home console. Regarding the naysayers who dismiss...
News Xenoblade Artwork and Screenshots Show a Lot of Heart
Affinity mode featured
Having found itself at the centre of a huge operation revolving around its localisation, Xenoblade Chronicles certainly has a lot to prove, but judging from this artwork it's got no fears in that department. New screenshots from Nintendo show the game's party affinity system, showing how well members of your team like each...
News After WWE All-Stars, Wrestlers Begin to Brawl
Take it outside
WWE All-Stars took the wrestling game template and tore it up, but the newly revealed WWE Brawl looks like it'll take the template and body-slam it through a concrete block. New footage of the Wii game shows a street fight scenario where wrestlers have superhuman abilities, taking the All-Stars idea a touch further. Check out the...
News Let's Get Ready to Super Pokemon Rumble on 3DS
Gotta bash 'em all
WiiWare monster fans will remember Pokémon Rumble, in which your toy Pokémon fought others in a last-one-standing battle royale. That excitement is coming to 3DS soon with Super Pokémon Rumble (also known as Super Pokémon Scramble) out in Japan this summer. The game uses the classic top-down viewpoint as you battle other toy...
News Sakaguchi: Last Story Gameplay Took Precedence Over Plot
Only his third game to do so after Final Fantasy I and VII
The Last Story is coming to Wii via Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy VII, but the titles share another unique similarity as well – Sakaguchi created the gameplay elements first, then the story, for all three. There are... places in games such as the moment...
News Metroid Remix Album Sounds Pretty Sweet So Far
Samus it ever was
Next month marks the 25th anniversary of Metroid, and dedicated fan community ShineSparkers has just released a preview of remix album Harmony of a Hunter. The OCRemix project contains tracks spanning Samus Aran's gaming history, from 8-bit to today, with styles ranging from electronic to choral. The snippets provided so far...
News Will You "Stop the Swarm!" When It Hits Your City?
The Mercenaries 3D event spreads like a virus
Blasting monsters in the face sure is fun, which is why the StreetPass Network has a Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D event lined up where gamers can get together and enjoy Capcom's third-person action game. The independent group has set up a worldwide list of locations where 3DS owners can bring their...
News Warning: Deranged Rodent DSiWare Coming This Summer
Get prepared with these Crazy Hamster screenshots and trailer
Man has always loved his hamsters. But what happens when those hamsters say "No more"? You help them navigate their world without dying, of course. The new DSiWare title Crazy Hamster from Gamelion, creators of Furry Legends, sees you build ladders and bridges, extinguish fires,...
News First Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Screens and Art Appear
To the Cloud!
The 3DS's first taste of Final Fantasy gaming is coming in the unexpected form of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a rhythm game in a Chibi style. Contrary to early reports, the game is not developed by Jupiter, the team behind the phenomenal The World Ends With You, but instead Electroplankton and Retro Game Challenge team indieszero is...
News Videogame History Museum Needs Your Donations
Needs to raise $30,000
In the UK, the Retro Computer Museum just moved to a new home, and now the Videogame History Museum over in Silicon Valley needs to raise funds for its own bricks-and-mortar initiative. The non-profit charity needs to raise $30,000 to build itself a permanent building in which to house its classic coin-ops, consoles and gaming...
Sunday10th Jul 2011
More is less
Whenever a title advertises a unique, never-before-seen element, the test of whether it's a true innovation or a simple gimmick largely comes down to whether it improves gameplay. DualPenSports is built around one such thing: two oversized plastic yellow styluses are included in the case. But, wait, the 3DS has a single-touch interface,...
Saturday9th Jul 2011
Talking Point Wii U - Revolution or Evolution?
Is the Wii U innovative enough, or just a big DS?
When looked at logically, perhaps there is a valid point to be made about the Wii U. Admittedly, launch is a while away, and further details on the console and its capabilities will no doubt flow in the coming months, but the focus of this article is simple: will Wii U ‘disrupt’ the industry and...
Friday8th Jul 2011
Review The Lost Town - The Dust (DSiWare)
Diamond in the Dust
Quite a few attempts have been made at producing a good DSiWare action RPG by now. Some of these games turned out to be top-notch, and others not so much. Thankfully, The Lost Town - The Dust falls into the category of games that are definitely worth their weight in Nintendo Points. This lengthily titled action RPG combines...
Get your QIX fix, dudes and chix!
QIX is the story of... aw, forget it. The eShop download screen has more of a story than QIX does, but that's a good thing. It means that the game can be played over and over again without feeling even slightly repetitive. The gameplay isn't just pushed to the forefront in QIX... the gameplay is all there is. QIX...
News Nintendo Researching Mobile Phone Possibilities
Don't rule it out
In the days of the Game Boy, the idea of a portable telephonic device that also contained a powerful games console was a complete pipe dream, but here in the 21st Century the smartphone market undeniably overlaps with Nintendo's handheld consoles. Never one to be bullied out of its own game, Nintendo has conducted considerable...
News Nintendo Considering Automatic Demo Downloads for 3DS & Wii U
Turn your console into a veritable warp pipe
At a recent shareholders' Q&A session, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke about introducing new releases to unfamiliar gamers through automatically downloaded demos. Just like agreeing to StreetPass or SpotPass, players would confirm their interest in receiving the content, which would later show...
News The Thought of a Shooter-Only Future Makes Iwata Sad
Don't make him cry
Here in the West, lots of people like video games in which you shoot people. This is a fact. The war shooter genre, driven by the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield, has become a huge industry in its own right, raking in countless millions of dollars worldwide every year. Don't tell Satoru Iwata this is the way all games are...
"Transcends anything I’ve ever done before"
Those sceptical of Wii U's ability to change gaming might want to heed the words of Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, who recently gave the upcoming system a huge endorsement, complimenting its second screen setup, calling it cool, precise and powerful. He's quoted as saying: It's a high definition...
News Iwata Knows 3DS Launch Line-Up was Lacklustre
Big titles were AWOL
The 3DS launched without a Mario or Zelda game, and it's fair to say the machine's sales so far haven't been stunning. Satoru Iwata was recently asked about this matter during a shareholder Q&A, and acknowledged the machine's software line-up wasn't impressive. If we had have launched the Nintendo 3DS after we had prepared...
News Xenoblade Chronicles is Coming Early, UK & Europe
August just got a little bit hotter
Xenoblade Chronicles, the greatly anticipated Wii RPG due out this summer in Europe and the UK, is launching two weeks earlier than the previously scheduled date of 2nd September. The game will now launch 19th August. That makes just a little less time to order that sexy preorder package. The game is also...
News Awesome Nintendo Hip-Hop Starts Your Weekend Right
Block-bashing beats
We love a bit of Nintendo-inspired music, and it's testament to the company's creativity that it inspires artists over a wide range of genres, from Japanese beatboxers to Mario Kart jazz. Hip hop artist Heath McNease is a new favourite here at Nintendo Life Towers, waxing lyrical about Tanooki suits, the Konami code and...
News XSEED: Localising Solatorobo Did Not Open Channels of Communication with NOE
Future prospects of publishing Nintendo titles "very slim"
With Nintendo of America's announcement that it had no plans to release Xenoblade Chronicles or The Last Story coupled with their recent emphasis on bringing more third parties to the table, some hoped that the Big N would allow a smaller Western publisher to do the honours and thus end...
News Amoebattle Featured in Indie Showcase Top Ten
Only Nintendo game nominated
Real-time strategy game Amoebattle is evolving onto DSiWare later this year, and it's already lined up in a high-profile indie games showcase this month. The Develop Expo's Indie Showcase highlights the best independent studios in the world, with Intrinsic Games featuring alongside nine other teams. Amoebattle is also...
Thursday7th Jul 2011
First Impressions Resident Evil Revelations
A return to survival horror
Although Capcom originally coined the term "survival horror" to describe the first Resident Evil, one can't say that the franchise has been very much about that as of late. Resident Evil 4 and its sequel were far more heavily focused on action rather than suspense, with almost no scares to be found. Of course,...
News Wii U is Technically 3D-Ready
Check that off the list
While it may have taken Nintendo a few years to jump on the HD bandwagon, it seems the company doesn't want to be in a position where it finds itself being left behind again when it comes to the latest trend in consumer technology. In an interview conducted by Mercury News, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata clarified the focus...
News Nintendo Collaborating with Third-Parties to Make Hits
We don't hear the 3DS or Wii U complaining
At this year's E3, Nintendo showed that having strong support from third-parties is definitely something that the Wii U is striving for, and at the post event shareholders' meeting, Satoru Iwata spoke briefly about the kind of titles we'll see the company produce in the coming years. Keen to show that the...
News Nintendo Faces Lawsuit Over 3DS Screen Patent Infringement
Here comes the science
The whole 3D-without-glasses deal is still pretty impressive several months after the 3DS launch, but Tomita Technologies isn't happy about seeing the tech turn up in Nintendo's latest portable, taking the company to court with claims of patent infringement. Seijiri Tomita, a veteran engineer who worked at Sony for 30 years,...
News Iwata Discusses More Built-In 3DS StreetPass Games
Find Mii again
Nintendo's built-in StreetPass games Find Mii (also known as StreetPass Quest) and Puzzle Swap are rather neat incentives to carry your 3DS console around, but once finished there's less reason to venture out into the world with your 3DS in your pocket. Nintendo realises this, and president Satoru Iwata acknowledged the issue at a...
Nintendo Download 7th July 2011 (Europe)
A double 3DS delight
Frustrated that Japan is getting all the 3DS Virtual Console games before Europe? The comeback starts here, with two games released on the portable's download retro service this week, as well as a pair of DSiWare games and even a WiiWare adventure too. Read on. 3DS Virtual Console: Fortified Zone (Jaleco, €3/£2.70) — A spot...
Rumour Kid Icarus: Uprising to Miss 2011 in Europe
Pit overshoots
It seems 3DS owners in Europe might have to keep waiting for Pit's long-awaited return: Kid Icarus: Uprising might not see release this year. Nintendo Life reporter Marcel Van Duyn attended a Nintendo preview event today, where Kid Icarus: Uprising was marked down for a "Q1 2012" release, meaning it would miss the lucrative...
News 3DS Could Be Your Ticket to International Museums
Console's educational uses being explored
There's been some interesting dialogue being had within Nintendo. As part of the 3DS's remit to offer unique experiences, it appears Nintendo executives have been exploring ideas that fall outside of the video game category and more within the interactive educational school of thinking. Educational software...
News Mixed Wii U Reaction and Share Dip Doesn't Faze Iwata
Proceed with confidence
Nintendo's shares fell 10% after the Wii U was revealed, a surprising result considering many of the hands-on impressions of the console were positive. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is puzzled by this situation, but still has faith in Nintendo's new console. Answering questions at the company's 71st annual general meeting,...
Nintendo Download 7th July 2011 (North America)
A strong week?
Another one-two punch of 3DS Virtual Console games this week, as well as a mixed bag of DSiWare and a little musical entertainment on WiiWare. Let's do this. 3DS Virtual Console: Fortified Zone (Jaleco, Game Boy, $2.99) — Guide a male and female soldier through the fortified zone in this top-down shooter. It may not be the most...
News Iwata: "We Must Continue to Combat Negative 3D Rumours"
Giving the president a headache
Despite carefully worded health advice from Nintendo itself, not to mention supporting advice from eyesight specialists, there still seems a negative perception of the Nintendo 3DS console's stereoscopic capabilities, partially fuelled by certain disreputable media outlets. A recent shareholders meeting at Nintendo...
News Iwata: "Difficult to Launch Hardware Close to Its Announcement"
The timing of the 3DS and Wii U is certainly debatable
Everyone loves a bit of gossip, and what better gossip is there in the video game industry than what new consoles are capable of? That appears to be one of Nintendo's main problems when it's in the process of unveiling new hardware. Like the company and its products or not, many are interested...
Wednesday6th Jul 2011
News Square Enix's Final Fantasy 3DS Game is a Little Off-Beat
Cloud used Rhythm Stick!
Square Enix's first foray into 3DS for its beloved Final Fantasy series hasn't come in the expected RPG or Chocobo racing; it's something very different. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is a "theater rhythm action game" according to Square Enix, with players tapping the screen in rhythm to progress. Of course the game's...
News 3D Classics Urban Champion Coming to Brawl on eShop Soon
The NES 'classic' which no one asked for in 3D!
While we wait for some original 3D games to arrive in the eShop, we’re more than happy to enjoy some classic NES remakes. 3D Classics Excitebike was warmly received, especially as it was a free download to coincide with the delayed eShop launch. We’re also looking forward to 3D Classics Xevious in...
News Nintendo Still Not Heading into iPhone Games
Pokémon app out of their hands
The announcement of an official Pokémon game for the iPhone and iPod Touch caused some news outlets to speculate that Nintendo was testing the App Store water for its other major properties. This isn't the case of course, as the company clarified. Nintendo shares rose as much as 4.9% after the announcement of...
News Naka and Iizuka Drop Hints at Third NiGHTS Game
Dare to dream
In a year seemingly packed full of anniversaries, yesterday marked 15 years since Sonic Team masterpiece NiGHTS into Dreams released on Sega Saturn, with only disappointing Wii follow-up NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams expanding the series' canon. In a recent interview with leading NiGHTS site NiGHTS into Dreams.com, former Sonic Team head...
Review Successfully Learning German: Year 3 (WiiWare)
Hier gehen wir wieder
By now you probably have a fairly good grasp on whether or not Tivola's array of educational games is for you, and Successfully Learning German: Year 3 does absolutely nothing to change the series template. If you're still desperately grappling with the language then this second instalment of Wii-based linguistic training might...
News Check Out Retro's Unreleased American Football Game
Life before Metroid
Before there was Metroid Prime, Retro Studios hadn't had a bona fide hit, and several of the studio's games were cancelled before seeing the light of day. One such title was this unnamed American football game, recently featured by prominent site Unseen64. The animation shown below is undoubtedly impressive, particularly...
News Reggie Discusses Wii U Branding, "Not a Difficult Sell"
Will be different to Wii
Nintendo's decision to include the well-known Wii name in its successor, the Wii U, looks on the surface like it'd make marketing the console easier, but Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime says the company will take a different approach to its dual-screen home console. Speaking to Forbes, Fils-Aime clarified the...
News Vigil Games Talks About Wii U Development and Darksiders II
Could the Wii U version be the best one?
One of the several third-party titles that were included in the Wii U software line-up at Nintendo's E3 2011 conference was Darksiders II from Vigil Games, and a couple of the studio's staff members have spoken to Game Informer about the process of getting something ready for E3 and what it's like working...
News Fils-Aime: "Wii U Welcomes Publishers' Online Networks"
"Be water, my friend."
When Nintendo's CEO and president is vocally unhappy about something, you know it's going to filter down and action will be taken to try to rectify the problem. Speaking at the investor's meeting as part of E3 2010, Satoru Iwata professed Nintendo's dissatisfaction with its own online efforts. That was over a year ago, and...
News 3DS Getting a Piece of Rayman Origins Too
Ubisoft doesn't want anyone to miss out
Rayman Origins sure is full of surprises, and it's not even out yet. First there was the revelation that the once Xbox Live Arcade and Sony PlayStation Network-only 2D platformer was also headed to the Wii. Now, it seems the latest in the Rayman series will also appear on yet another platform. In the latest...
News Cuthbert and Miyamoto Taught Each Other Their Native Tongues
Now that's successful learning
Were you ever curious where Miyamoto picked up his English skills? It turns out the responsible party is Dylan Cuthbert, creator of Star Fox, president of Q Games and one of the best-known Westerners to get in good with Nintendo. When he was featured in the most recent Iwata Asks, he revealed that the two taught each...
Tuesday5th Jul 2011
Features 10 Life Lessons Learned From Mega Man
It's not just blasting, you know
Playing the Mega Man series is cathartic in many ways. You get to listen to great music, appreciate the impressively cartoony visuals Capcom wrung out of the NES hardware, and experiment with many unique and varied abilities. But overall, we tend to like it because it's mindless. It's a platformer with clear rules...
News Tales of Graces Wii Will Not Be Released In the West
More bad news
Japanese RPGs and Wii consoles are like Superman and Clark Kent at the moment: we're sure they're related, but they're rarely seen in the same place at the same time. While Operation Rainfall continues to campaign for Nintendo to bring its infamous three across the Atlantic, Namco has confirmed Tales of Graces won't be making it to the...
Review Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident (Wii)
Worth the search
When Nintendo announced Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident as one of the only Wii titles it planned to publish for the quarter it set itself the lofty task of creating a hidden object puzzle-based game on which the Big N could feel proud to put its name. If such a release fails to stand out in quality, it amounts to yet...
News Resident Evil: Revelations Graphics "Will Blow You Away"
So says producer
3DS has already produced some pretty stellar-looking games, but Capcom is already heading for the graphical high ground with next year's Resident Evil: Revelations, with producer Masachika Kawata confident it'll be among the best looking games on the system. Citing recent release Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D as a current high...
Motorcycle platforming?
Motorcycle racing games have long been a staple of video gaming over the years, and while we've seen some extremely unique gameplay ideas injected into them, there's probably never been one quite like Moto eXtreme. Rather than stick to the traditional racing action, developer Chillingo has instead crafted a motorcycle...
News Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows DS Looks Like This
Could it be magic?
The boy wizard might be facing his final adventure at the box office, but he's got at least two more DS games in him, with LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 due later this year. It's not the only magical outing though, as next week sees Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II - The Video Game — surely the best name for a game...
Review Hearts Spades Euchre (DSiWare)
A game with a lot of heart
Card enthusiasts searching for quick and casual DSiWare fun are in luck with Hearts Spades Euchre from Cosmigo, the same company that brought us the surprisingly high-quality 505 Tangram. The studio returns here with another above average title with a modest, to-the-point name that risks seeing potential customers...
News European eShop Updated with More 3D E3 Trailers
Collect them all!
After all that waiting for 3D E3 trailers to hit the European 3DS eShop, Nintendo has made good and uploaded the second batch of videos, bringing the total number available to 10. You can now download to your 3DS videos for: Paper Mario Animal Crossing Luigi's Mansion 2 Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D
Review Successfully Learning German: Year 3 (DSiWare)
Freddy is back, and tougher than ever
It’s another week and another Successfully Learning title from edutainment specialists Tivola. This relentless schedule of language learning titles on DSiWare continues with Successfully Learning German: Year 3. Young German speakers are once again led to the classroom by the smiling and freckled vampire...
Monday4th Jul 2011
News Super Mario 3DS Has a Wardrobe of Famous Power-Up Suits
A metaphorical wardrobe, you understand
Super Mario has made a big song and dance about the return of the Tanooki suit, but it's not the only famous garb the plumber can plod around in. Yoshiaki Koizumi has told Official Nintendo Magazine that there will be other familiar suits available in the 3DS adventure later this year: Also, I should point...
News Localisation Evidence Grows as Pandora's Tower Demoed at Expo
Settle down, North America
The Japan Expo held in Paris, France has come and gone and of the many games that were playable at the event, perhaps the most eyebrow-raising title was Pandora's Tower. Developed by Ganbarion, the action adventure game is one of three major titles that western gamers have been vocal about in light of Nintendo of America...
News Capcom Will Not Repeat Mercenaries 3D Save File Mistake
Dark days are over
The Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D save file debate is only just abating, but Capcom has certainly noticed the ire it attracted online, and has spoken directly to its fans about the issue. In a video posted on Capcom Unity, Capcom US Vice President Christian Svensson acknowledged the issue and strongly hinted that a single,...
News We Could See Inchworm Animation Come to 3DS
Inching closer
DSiWare animation suite Inchworm Animation is certainly an accomplished package, but already developer Bob Sabiston is looking to the future for the series. Talking to Joystiq, Sabiston discussed a potential outing for the series on 3DS, revealing some of the features omitted from the DSiWare original: People are asking a lot about a...
News Retro Computer Museum Now Has a Permanent Home
Rooted in Leicestershire
The Retro Computer Museum just recently celebrated its third birthday on Sunday, and along with the anniversary announcement came the news that the museum now has a permanent home in Leicestershire. Now the museum has a fixed address, it should hopefully mean events and exhibitions will be more frequent. The exact location...
News Submit Your Amoebattle Questions for Intrinsic Games
Get DSiWare RTS answers
Amoebattle for DSiWare isn't your average DSiWare game: it's not a puzzler or a card game, it's a real-time strategy played on a molecular level. Coming from Intrinsic Games, the team behind the pretty good Divergent Shift, Amoebattle puts you in charge of a squad of single-celled organisms fighting off an infection. We'll be...
Rumour Aliens: Infestation to Attack DS in October
Maybe through the chest
Here's something we didn't see coming: according to UK retailer Gamestation, SEGA is bringing the queen of all sci-fi series to DS in October. The retailer's website lists Aliens: Infestation for DSi and DS Lite, and further digging revealed the game's presence on an in-store pre-order list with a tentative release date of...
Review Boardwalk Ball Toss (DSiWare)
Not quite as big a rip-off as the real thing
For as long as humans have stacked milk bottles in pyramid formations, people have yearned to topple them. Salvation for these individuals came by way of the carnival – but what's a toppling enthusiast to do on the walk home, or on the bus the next day? Enter Boardwalk Ball Toss, the perfect solution...
Sunday3rd Jul 2011
Review Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Stealth Force Edition (3DS)
Transformers! Now with less transforming
When you think of Transformers, you likely recall the catchphrase “robots in disguise.” Autobots and Decepticons can go from behemoth robot to your average GMC in a heartbeat, able to fool unsuspecting eyes into thinking they are no more than your everyday automobile. So it seems a bit strange to then...
Saturday2nd Jul 2011
Talking Point The Growing Storm of Operation Rainfall
Is gaming's biggest consumer advocacy movement a noble cause, or does NoA know best?
What you see to the right of this text is a poster for Operation Rainfall. It features screen shots and information on Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower, all of which Nintendo has published in Japan to positive reviews and sales, and none of...
Features Bizarre Emails Sent to Nintendo Life - Volume 3
In which the world continues not to make sense
Bizarre Emails Sent to Nintendo Life and its world-beating sequel Bizarre Emails Sent to Nintendo Life — Volume 2 exposed some of the provocative, embarrassing and downright idiotic emails we receive on a daily basis here. From readers confusing us with the real, actual Nintendo to banned users...
News Nintendo Invests 16 Billion Yen in Kyoto R&D Building
Got to spend money to make money!
Japanese news publication Nikkan has recently reported on Nintendo's new Kyoto, Japan facility and the amount of investment the company has put into the project. As translated by Andriasang, Nintendo is investing ¥16billion (approximately $204million or £127million) into the new building which will be situated at...
News Tales of the Abyss Dated for Europe
Namco Bandai RPG out this November
During the Japan Expo 12th Impact event in Paris, France this week, Namco Bandai announced the European release date of its 3DS role-playing game, Tales of the Abyss. Based on the 2006 PlayStation 2 original, Tales of the Abyss stars Luke fon Fabre, the heir to an aristocratic family who has spent too long being...
Friday1st Jul 2011
News These Are Your Club Nintendo Elite Rewards
Have you been doing your surveys?
North American Gold and Platinum Club Nintendo members, here are your hard-earned rewards for this year. Gold members get a 2012 Nintendo desk calendar, while Platinum members can claim 25 limited edition pin badges presented in six puzzle boxes that, when rearranged, create images of Mario, a mushroom and Goomba...
Review Kirby's Dream Land (3DS eShop / GB)
Is Kirby's debut adventure worth getting sucked into?
Kirby's debut adventure has been around the block a couple of times now, having been remade and mechanically enhanced for both Kirby Super Star on SNES as well as the DS version of that release called Kirby Super Star Ultra. Stripped down and monochromatic in comparison, this original Game Boy...
News SEGA, Aksys and Konami All Use Permanent 3DS Save Data Too
Not just Capcom
While Capcom continues to take flak for the Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D save file debate, it's worth pointing out that it's far from the first publisher to use non-deletable save data on 3DS. As owners of Super Monkey Ball 3D, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D and BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2 will
News Metroid Database Translates Other M Artwork for Your Pleasure
See Samus in a new light
Metroid: Other M certainly had some delicious artwork, most of which was only available in Japanese, but those hard-working folks at the Metroid Database have translated plenty of concept art into English. From sketches of Zero Suit Samus to maps and boss concepts, the artwork is well worth a look over if you're into Samus's...
Interview Star Odyssey and The Challenge of Bringing Dead Games Back to Life
We speak to Super Fighter Team's Brandon Cobb about its latest retro resurrection project
If you're the kind of person that appreciates vintage gaming then chances are you're already familiar with Super Fighter Team. Formed in San Diego, California with the express intention of giving long-forgotten games a new lease of commercial life, the group...
News Super Mario Galaxy Director was Kept in the Dark About Wii U
Koizumi left guessing
Nintendo unveiled Wii U at E3 in June without a single official first-party game to demonstrate it — attendees had to make do with tech demos like New Super Mario Bros. Mii and Zelda Wii U. If you were wondering why there wasn't a more concrete showing of upcoming games, it could be because Nintendo's legendary secrecy...
News Heroes of Ruin Offers Over 80,000 Weapons to Loot
You'll need big pockets
Square Enix dungeon crawler Heroes of Ruin isn't going to disappoint those who love to loot: the game's producer Tim Schwalk has told Siliconera there are over 80,000 weapons available. The game offers four classes — Gunslinger, Vindicator, Alchitect and Savage — each with over 20,000 weapons to equip, with a...
News GameFly Isn't Renting Resident Evil: Mercenaries 3D
That leaves begging or stealing, we guess
The decision to allow one permanent save file in Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D — for better or worse — continues to attract attention, with North American rental company GameFly choosing not to offer the game to its subscribers. No statement was given, but the game's page simply says: Not...
