News - 2012, Week 10

Sunday11th Mar 2012

  • Review Zuma's Revenge (DSiWare)

    An expensive addiction

    We'll say one thing for PopCap — it sure knows how to transform simple tasks into madly addictive experiences. And from Peggle and Bookworm to Plants vs. Zombies, Nintendo fans have been able to enjoy excellent ports of some of its most popular games. Zuma's Revenge is the most recent PopCap title to make the jump to...

Saturday10th Mar 2012

  • Feature Nintendo's Motion Revolution

    Gaming for everyone

    The release of the Famicom is often regarded as one of the biggest moments in gaming history, as it not only brought Nintendo into the home console arena, but it also introduced the world to a plumber named Mario. The console, as we know, proved to be an incredible success and has helped create the industry we have today, but...

  • News VVVVVV Update Released on eShop

    The flip fix is in

    For those of you who haven't fired up your 3DS eShop today, we're pleased to announce that an update to VVVVVV has been released that will fix the Flip Mode problem of the original release. We updated the game and took it out for a test ride and the Flip Mode now works perfectly. This should add some replay value to the game for...

Friday9th Mar 2012

  • Review Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (3DS eShop / GB)

    Heavenly

    When the original Kid Icarus hit the NES, many gamers weren't sure exactly what to think of it. For starters the game's protagonist was a cute little winged angel (at least we thought so) who ran around shooting tiny arrows at mythological enemies. Of course it didn't help matters that the game was released around the same time Nintendo's...

  • News Europe's Virtual Console Loses 6 Games This Month

    Some in, some out

    Recently we reported that two more games will leave Europe's VC service at the end of this month, but that's not the extent of the damage. At least six games will disappear from the Virtual Console on 31st March: R-Type (TG-16)Vigilante (TG-16)Ninja Spirit (TG-16)

  • News Be Careful When Watching This Kid Icarus Medusa Trailer

    It might turn you to stone

    Haven't had your fill of Kid Icarus: Uprising media after the 3D anime and 3D screenshots, here's some — 2D — footage of the game in action. The Medusa trailer below is one of the better videos Nintendo's released, with new bosses, weapons and wizards of various foods on display. At 4:38 it's got everything you could...

  • News Kid Icarus 3D Anime Hits North America This Week

    Two-parter inbound

    Europe got a Shaun the Sheep 3D episode this week; North America gets a two-part 3D anime based on Kid Icarus: Uprising. We'll leave you to decide who got the better end of the deal. 3DS owners in North America can power up their Nintendo Video applications to find the first (and, depending on when you read this, second) part of...

  • Out Now History of Nintendo: Volume 2 - Game & Watch

    Book 'em

    The second instalment in Pix'n Love Publishing's History of Nintendo book series is out today. The 200-page tome looks at the history of the Game & Watch, with reviews of every unit, over 1,500 pictures and exclusive documents too. If you've ever wanted to know more about Nintendo's 1980s portable games, this book should scratch that...

  • News A Kid Icarus Tournament Winner Is Draenmhar

    First past the post

    Nintendo of America's nationwide Kid Icarus: Uprising tournament kicked off in San Francisco yesterday, with the mysteriously-named Draenmhar D. emerging victorious in the heat to win a trip to New York for the final. As you can see in his photo here he's pretty pleased with his victory, but one thing bothers us Draenmhar: why...

  • News Inafune Plans to Release King of Pirates Worldwide

    Sailing the seven seas

    Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's next project, King of Pirates, is only confirmed for Japan at the moment, but if Inafune has his way we'll see it leave the Land of the Rising Sun and come to the West. Speaking to Joystiq, Inafune said that like all his titles, he's aiming King of Pirates for a global release: For all my...

  • News Harvest Moon Creator Reflects on Hellish Development

    Where did it all go right?

    The very first Harvest Moon was a seminal moment in gaming history — at least, it was if you like farming games — but series creator Yasuhiro Wada recently spoke at GDC 2012 about how close he came to giving up on the game before release. Initially the game began as a cow-raising simulator, inspired by the ever-popular...

  • News Super Mario Galaxy Blasts Past 5 Million Milestone

    Come in, number nine

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

Thursday8th Mar 2012

  • Review Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (3DS eShop / NES)

    Dreamy

    With ten NES titles originally released on the 3DS for Ambassadors only, it wasn't much of a stretch to expect the first ten put up for sale to be the same games. But we've already received a title that actually wasn't part of the Ambassador batch, and Nintendo has picked one of the best possible games. Originally released in 1987,...

  • Nintendo Download 8th March 2012 (North America)

    Minigolf and Mr Dream

    Next week sees Game Gear games come to North America, but until then you can engage in some sporting digital delights, with golf and boxing represented in this week's download leaderboard. Here's what's competing for your cash. 3DS Download Software: Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (Shin'en, $4.99) — A much-enhanced version of...

  • News Kid Icarus: Uprising 3D Screenshots Swoop Into View

    While you wait for the real thing

    The hype is starting to build for Kid Icarus: Uprising, with launch now just over two weeks away. In order to get you ready for some 3D arcade-shooting action, Siliconera has bundled together a rather large batch of 3D screenshots to view on your 3DS. In order to view these images, you'll need to

  • News Super Mario 3D Land Could Have Had Skateboarding

    Cockroaches too

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

  • News Resident Evil Revelations Almost Had Campaign Co-Op

    Killer shrimp were also considered

    Resident Evil Revelations was the first major release on 3DS this year, and it's pushed a lot of buttons with an impressive campaign and online co-op mode. Like all video game projects, however, the final product doesn't include everything that the developers initially intended, as producer Masachika Kawata and...

  • News Bathe in the Glory of Miyamoto's Development Wisdom

    Quotes from the master

    Shigeru Miyamoto knows a thing or two about making games. As general manager of Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis Division he's worked with staff including Yoshiaki Koizumi, Takeshi Tezuka and many more. One of his protégés is Koichi Hayashida, director of Super Mario 3D Land, who took to the stage at GDC 2012 yesterday and...

  • News Keiji Inafune Gives Rallying Call to Japanese Developers

    'It must happen now'

    It seems that the Japanese game industry has become a notable topic at this year's Game Developer's Conference. As we reported yesterday there was some controversy around comments made by indie developer Phil Fish, yet some would agree that, despite the bluntness and innacuracy of saying that Japanese game 'suck', there are...

  • News 3DS Hardware and Software Still Dominating Charts in Japan

    Another week, same story

    In recent weeks there has been one trend that has been impeccably reliable: that the 3DS is outselling its competitors in Japan. Its software has also invariably sold well, with multiple titles camped out in the top 10. As reported by Andriasang, 3DS is once again the top selling hardware in The Land of the Rising Sun with...

Wednesday7th Mar 2012

  • News Pokémon Champion Stripped of Title After Hotel Incident

    Update: Puig tells his side

    After the unsavoury hotel incident at the Pokémon Video Game Championships this past weekend, it seems Masters champion Rubén Puig Lecegui has had his title taken off him. Puig was allegedly involved in the incident that threatened to overshadow the tournament, and although he emerged victorious in his division the...

  • News Indie Developer Phil Fish Says Japanese Games 'Suck'

    Clearly hasn't been playing much Nintendo

    The Japanese game industry is undoubedly facing challenges, and in the opinion of some is losing its influence as the homeland of gaming: as Keiji Inafune said at the Tokyo Game Show in 2009, for example, 'Japan is over'. That said, a comment made by indie developer Phil Fish at a GDC (Game Developer's...

  • Talking Point The Inevitability of Digital Retail Games

    How will it affect our gaming?

    For Nintendo gamers, the video game market is currently a simple, relatively traditional place. If you want to buy a retail title, you hit the high street or visit your online retailer of choice and pick up a box with a disc or game cart inside. Pop that media into your Wii, 3DS or DS and you’re immediately playing...

  • News Darksiders II Creative Director: "Don't Compare It to Zelda"

    There's no link

    THQ's original Darksiders on PS3 and Xbox 360 drew a lot of comparisons with Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series, but creative director Joe Madureira wants the upcoming Wii U sequel to skip those analogies this time. Joe Mad told Official Nintendo Magazine he only wants to compare Darksiders II to its predecessor: I'll be curious...

  • News Two More Sonic Game Gear Games Rated

    Have a Blast

    The Australian Classifications Board has rated two more Sonic the Hedgehog games for 3DS Virtual Console. The Game Gear titles Sonic Blast and Sonic Labyrinth have both been rated for 3DS Virtual Console, indicating we'll see them somewhere further down the line. While neither is fondly remembered as a classic title in the Sonic canon...

  • News Havok Physics and Animation to Power Wii U Games

    Some of them, anyway

    Havok will provide its physics and animation tools to developers working on Wii U. Havok Physics is arguably the most recognisable in-game physics engine — a small field, admittedly — and has powered games including Half-Life 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and more. Managing director David Coghlan is very excited: We are...

  • News Castlevania: The Adventure Whips Japan Next Week

    3DS VC gets spooky

    Castlevania: The Adventure will take a bite out of the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan next week. The Game Boy game reaches Japan on 14th March alongside the previously-announced launch of Game Gear. Christopher Belmont's solo outing will cost ¥400, and while it's not the best 'vania title on Nintendo's humble black and white...

  • News Take a Good Look at Ketzal's Corridors

    They're through here

    It's not long until you'll be able to download Ketzal's Corridors for 3DS, and Nintendo has released a new trailer for the game showing what you can expect. It'll all look pretty familiar to anyone who's played ThruSpace on WiiWare, but hopefully the 3D screen will add something fresh to the experience. Nintendo of America's...

  • News Renegade Kid Teases New eShop Game

    No Mutant Mudds here

    Renegade Kid, developer of the critically acclaimed Mutant Mudds, has launched a teaser website for its next game, Bomb Monkey. The image in this article is the whole website, a one page image of a monkey with a bomb on its head standing on aztec-style blocks, with the word 'puzzling' in place of a normal Flash loading bar. So,...

  • News Shin'en Licensed to Develop for Wii U

    Rocket start

    German developer Shin'en Multimedia is licensed to develop for Wii U. The team behind WiiWare hits Art of Balance, FAST Racing League, Jett Rocket recently updated its home page with the following message: Welcome to Shin'en's web-site. If you're interested in our services and productions, you've come to the right place. Shin'en was...

  • News Junction Point Holding "Epic" Event on 27th March

    What could it be?!

    After months of speculation, rumour and cat-out-of-bag-letting, it seems Junction Point is finally ready to lift the lid on Disney Epic Mickey 2. The developer has scheduled a press event for 27th March, saying nothing more than it will reveal an "epic project". Late last year a Disney newsletter mentioned Epic Mickey 2, and...

Tuesday6th Mar 2012

  • News North America, These Are Your Upcoming eShop Games

    Lots on the horizon

    While Europe is celebrating something of a Virtual Console revival this month, North America has a stack of 3DS eShop content on the way in the coming weeks and months. For a start, Game Gear games hit the North American eShop on 15th March, but there's more. Here's what's on the cards according to Nintendo's latest press...

  • Ninterview Camille and Kennerly - The Harp Twins

    Making sweet music

    The internet is full of unusual covers of Nintendo songs, but none caught our eye quite like this Ballad of the Goddess harp duet by identical twins Camille and Kennerly, aka The Harp Twins. We talked to the musical duo about gaming, music and sticking together. Nintendo Life: Hi guys, thanks for agreeing to this interview! First...

  • News Game Gear Hits North American eShop on 15th March

    Treble trouble?

    When the eShop was announced, SEGA aficionados welcomed the news that Game Gear titles would arrive on the platform. Famous for guzzling batteries and offering a high-tech alternative to the humble Game Boy, this was a handheld that took many console favourites on the go. The wait is almost over with confirmation that three titles...

  • Nintendo Download 8th March 2012 (Europe)

    Minigolf ahoy

    It's a big old Nintendo Download this week, with a 3DS demo, Game Boy game, two Wii Virtual Console games and original 3DS download software hits alongside DSiWare puzzlers and a WiiWare demo. Let's get to it. 3DS Virtual Console: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (Game Boy, Nintendo, £2.70/€3) — Pit's second adventure comes to...

  • News Sound-chip Enthusiast Explains Retro Sound Design

    NES music gets the treatment

    For some gamers there's a particular pleasure to be found in listening to music from previous console generations. We're not referring to the midi-fest of the N64, but going all the way back to the original NES. Technological limitations meant that only certain sounds and compositions could be used, but clever design...

  • News Hideki Konno Discusses Mario Kart 7 and its Development

    Blue shells aren't going anywhere

    Mario Kart 7 is now well established as one of the games to own on 3DS, contributing to an important revival for the handheld in the Holiday period. We'd wager a lot of gamers are still revving up their karts for some racing, which says a lot for the series' appeal to gamers of varying experience levels. IGN has...

  • News Nothing Says "Marry Me" Like Swapnote

    Romance is alive

    Communication freebie Nintendo Letter Box/Swapnote is ideal for sketchy doodles and sharing glorious 3D photos of your dinner, but could it have a higher purpose? Could it be used to bring about a life of blissful matrimony? Yes. The video below is simultaneously the nerdiest and most heartwarming video we've seen all year. Call us...

  • News 3DS Notches Up 4.5 Million U.S. Sales So Far

    Outstrips DS

    3DS recently hit 4m console sales in the United States, and Nintendo of America has just revealed the system sales now stand at over 4.5m in the U.S. alone. By comparison, the Nintendo DS sold 2.4m units in the United States in its first 12 months, so 3DS has had a pretty good opening year. Nintendo's other figures for comparison make...

  • News Dead or Alive: Dimensions Demo Punches Europe This Week

    On guard

    Tecmo Koei scrapper Dead or Alive: Dimensions is the latest 3DS game to get a playable demo in Europe this week. The fighter gets a free trial version in this week's eShop update, due as always on Thursday. You can always read our Dead or Alive: Dimensions review to see if this is 3DS's king of fighters or just a jobber.

Monday5th Mar 2012

  • News Spanish Pokémon Team Disgraced

    Pokémon Brown

    This past weekend saw the Pokémon Video Game Championships hit Birmingham, UK, with teams travelling from all over Europe for a shot at the prize. While the event itself went off without a hitch, Ruben Puis Lecegui defending his title to secure a trip to Hawaii, we've heard rumblings of an unpleasant occurrence along the way...

  • Review Metroid (3DS eShop / NES)

    The classic that inspired so many still holds up today

    The NES section of the 3DS's Virtual Console expands by another notch with the addition of Metroid, regarded by many as one of the best entries that amazing series has to offer. The great news is that it's every bit as wonderful as you remember; the bad news is that it's no more interested in...

  • News Three Turbografx-16 Games Dropped from VC

    Bloody Wolf drops off

    Europeans might think they've got it tough with two more games set to leave the Virtual Console this month, but North America's VC just thinned out too. Turbografx-16 games Bloody Wolf, Drop Off and Silent Debuggers have all been removed from the service in North America, and will be taken off Japan's servers tomorrow. At t

  • News Assassin's Creed III is Coming to Wii U

    Sneaky

    Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed III will be released on Wii U, the publisher has revealed. The game reaches PS3 and Xbox 360 on 31st October but as we don't know when Wii U is out don't take this as a day one Wii U release. Still, the news that Ubisoft's supporting Wii U with one of its biggest upcoming titles has to be a reason to be cheerful,...

  • News Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Celebrates Japanese Launch at Hooters

    Where else?

    Here at Nintendo Life we often attend or read news of launch events, some of them quirky and full of character. The Japanese press reception to celebrate the release of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, however, may have seized the crown for the most unusual launch party yet. As reported by Andriasang, game journalists in Japan attended...

  • News Two More Games to Leave EU Virtual Console

    Get them while you can

    After Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was pulled from Virtual Console, two more titles are set to leave the service in Europe this month. Super NES games R-Type III: The Third Lightning and Super R-Type will no longer be available to download after 31st March. It's not the first time this has happened with the venerable shooter...

  • Review Aahh! Spot the Difference (DSiWare)

    Spot the indifference

    Greetings, fans of two-pictures-that-are-seemingly-identical-but-are-actually-slightly-different-to-one-another! Aahh! Spot the Difference is here to make you happy people indeed — as long as you don't mind the fact that it's short, bland and totally forgettable, that is. Adding another log to the bonfire of similar titles,...

  • News Shaun the Sheep Comes to Europe This Wednesday

    Only on 3DS

    Those long-awaited episodes of Shaun the Sheep make their way to 3DS in Europe this week, with the first episode available on Wednesday. The first of 15 episodes launches on 7th March, with a new episode due every week through SpotPass. They're all free and exclusive to 3DS through the Nintendo Video application. FIRST 3D SHAUN THE...

  • News Mario Party 9 is Coming Up the UK Charts

    So you better get it started

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

  • News UK Pokémon Video Game Champions Crowned

    The very best

    Putting aside the nonsense from the weekend, here are the three young trainers who emerged victorious from the UK Pokémon Video Game Championships. Rubén Puig Lecegui successfully defended his title in the Masters Division, which includes anyone born in or before 1996. Last year Puig lost in the semi-final to reigning world champion...