Review Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds (WiiWare)
Less Diamond, more rough
News Pokémon Conquest Heading to DS in June
Japanese feudal warlords, anyone?
News - 2012, Week 14
Sunday8th Apr 2012
First Impressions Mario Tennis Open
Nintendo serves up another winner
The mustachioed plumber’s handheld tennis and golf outings have an RPG history able to trigger warm and fuzzy feelings of nostalgia in all who earned hand cramps from them at one point or another. Those feelings won’t be triggered by Mario Tennis Open on 3DS as it eschews levelling up solo in favour of...
Review Penguin Patrol (DSiWare)
Snow major complaints; it's an ice game! Catch our drift?
The charmingly simple story of Penguin Patrol revolves around a young Eskimo who witnesses a greedy walrus slugging along with a sack full of distressed penguins. The walrus is obviously looking forward to a nice big dinner, but it's up to you to prevent him from getting that far. You...
Saturday7th Apr 2012
Feature The Super Mario Renaissance
We've never had it so good
When we think about Mario's glory years, it's easy to get lost in nostalgia. We might think back to the first time we played Super Mario Bros. and learned what a platform game was really capable of. We might think back to Super Mario World, which expanded upon the ideas of its predecessors in so many ways that felt natural...
Friday6th Apr 2012
Rumour ViviTouch to Demo Wii U Haptics Tech at E3
Feels good
Here's a Wii U rumour that's more towards the 'believable' end of the scale: Wii U's new controller could include haptic technology. According to an E3 floor plan (via NeoGAF), haptics specialist ViviTouch will show a Wii U peripheral at the upcoming trade show. ViviTouch's haptic tech is a more advanced form of physical feedback than...
Out Today Xenoblade Chronicles (North America)
About time
After a lot of campaigning and complaining, Monolith Soft's epic Xenoblade Chronicles makes it across to North America today. The mammoth RPG is available to buy from GameStop or Nintendo's online store. The regular version is $49.99, while the 'enhanced package' with black Classic Controller Pro will set you back $64.99 (plus tax, of...
News Add Tennis Balls to the List of Things Goombas Hate
Everything's a weapon
It's not just feet that pose a serious threat to eternal whipping boys the Goombas; tennis balls cause them serious harm too. Nintendo's new trailer for Mario Tennis Open showcases some of the new special games, from a Super Mario Bros.-inspired romp through World 1-1 and 1-2 to a Super Mario Galaxy face-off against a Luma. You...
News Pit and Pokémon Share Strong March Sales in Japan
Not in the top spot though
Pokémon Conquest — aka Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition in Japan — was the best-selling Nintendo title in the Land of the Rising Sun last month. The strategy crossover was released on 17th March, meaning it shifted 242,192 units in two weeks. In third place was Kid Icarus: Uprising, with 144,468 sales in the ten days...
Thursday5th Apr 2012
Review Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure (3DS)
It’s got the rhythm
The early part of 2012 has brought us some blockbuster titles on 3DS that, in their own way, involve plenty of tension and shooting enemies. Perhaps it’s time to sit back and indulge in something a little more off the wall and unexpected, and Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure certainly fits the bill. Despite the...
Review SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle (3DS eShop)
Spinning out of control
Back in 2010, Nintendo published an amusing little WiiWare title called ThruSpace, a game which at its very core simply involved flipping, turning and moving a block around in order to fit through gaps in walls. KeysFactory, the developer responsible for that title, has now created SpeedThru: Potzol's Puzzle — known as...
Nintendo Download 5th April 2012 (North America)
TNT, Colors and more
A long-awaited 3DS art package, a DSiWare puzzler and a WiiWare racer make up this week's digital downloads in North America. Here's the Nintendo Download: 5th April 2012 for Europe. 3DS Download Software: Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles, $6.99, 226 blocks) — A much-anticipated release for 3DS, this 3D art software was supposed...
News Nintendo: "Experience of Playing", Not Tech Specs, Key to Wii U
It worked for Wii
As the release of Wii U approaches, much focus seems to be on its technical capabilities, particularly its graphical prowess. Comments from anonymous developers that Wii U is less powerful than PS3 and Xbox 360 have raised the issue about how capable the machine 'needs' to be in terms of the graphics it's producing: we've already...
News Customisable Miis and Online Standings Served Up in Mario Tennis Open
Who wouldn't want a Bullet Bill outfit?
Mario Tennis Open isn't far away, and details about the title's single and multiplayer options are continuing to emerge. The latest update from Nintendo teases us with some single player features that may keep us busy when not on the worldwide multiplayer courts. The Special Games mode will apparently include...
News 3DS Sales Jump in Japan Thanks to Kingdom Hearts
Another big week
Last week 3DS sales jumped 50% thanks to Kid Icarus: Uprising; this week it's Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance bringing about the rise. Square Enix's Disney crossover RPG sold 213,579 units in its first week. By comparison, Kid Icarus shifted 132,526 copies in its first seven days on sale, but this week dropped to fourth place...
News Let the Pokémon Conquest Trailers Begin
Strategise open
Yesterday's announcement of Pokémon Conquest — that's the English name for Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition — for North America now brings with it a brace of trailers. The first is the opening movie you can expect to watch on your DS come 18th June, while the other is an introduction to the gameplay mash-up of grid-based strategy,...
News Sonic Designer Hirokazu Yasuhara Joins Nintendo
It's just not natural
Hirokazu Yasuhara, an instrumental member of Sonic Team during the 1990s, has taken a new role at Nintendo of America. Yasuhara — sometimes known as Carol Yas — was game planner on the original Sonic the Hedgehog before directing and designing the best of the hedgehog's 16-bit adventures. His final game at SEGA was...
News Rush Rush Rally Racing Parks in Europe on 19th April
Really
Update: The correct release date is 19th April, not 12th as previously stated. Senile Team's Rush Rush Rally Racing is on the way to Europe in two weeks. The indie racer — first developed for Dreamcast, fact fans — was first announced for WiiWare in August 2010, but the wait is due to be over on 19th April for 900 Nintendo Points. Up to...
News Amoebattle's Quarantine Period is Nearly Over
Release due soon
After a long wait, Intrinsic Games' Amoebattle is nearly ready to infect DSiWare. The real-time strategy game with a distinctly germy theme has been approved for release by Nintendo of America, with a definitive release date expected in the near future. If you want to know more about Intrinsic's RTS, you can read our Amoebattle...
News GAME Getting Back On Its Feet After Takeover
Reward cards and trade-in deals return
In recent weeks we've reported on the troubles at UK retailer GAME Group, with a number of high profile titles on Nintendo systems not being stocked and the company eventually going into administration, with over 2000 jobs lost. While our thoughts and best wishes are with those staff, there was positive news...
News Nintendo UK Unleashes 2012 Tour Dates
Try before you buy
It's that time of year when Nintendo takes its wares on the road across the UK, with the first three events dated. Visitors to the tour can try out Mario Tennis Open, battle and trade AR cards for Kid Icarus: Uprising and play Pandora's Tower. The first three people into the show — steady on, Nintendo — will each take home a...
News Going to PAX East? Come Say Hello!
Corner a panda
If you're heading to PAX East this Friday or Saturday, make sure you keep your eyes open for our man on the ground, Jon Wahlgren. The panda himself will be on the show floor on Friday and Saturday, proudly decked out in a Nintendo Life t-shirt. Not only will Jon be happy to pose for photographs, sign autographs and bless your child,...
Wednesday4th Apr 2012
Review Inazuma Eleven 2 Firestorm (DS)
Back of the net
It’s time to save the world from aliens, but how? We could solve a lot of puzzles, blast enemies away with big guns, fly through space in an intergalactic warship or, alternatively, play football. In the universe of Inazuma Eleven 2 there isn’t a single problem that can’t be solved with a football – or soccer – match...
Review Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Island of Diamonds (WiiWare)
Less Diamond, more rough
Here it is, the thrilling conclusion to yet another series of episodic games that failed to impress from the get-go. That’s not to say that the Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math series was a complete let-down, but a few crucial flaws detracted from the package as a whole and really held the entire series back. What...
News Pokémon Conquest Heading to DS in June
Japanese feudal warlords, anyone?
Nintendo of America has revealed Pokémon Conquest is coming to the continent on 18th June. The translated version of Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition will arrive on Nintendo DS this summer, bringing a different form of strategy to the table. Update: Nintendo of Europe has responded to our email, saying: We have...
News More Gorgeous Epic Mickey 3DS Screenshots Revealed
What a Beauty
Like us, you were probably pretty excited when you heard about Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for 3DS, a new 2D platformer from Monster Tale studio DreamRift. Now Disney has released a few more details on this intriguing upcoming title. The previously revealed painting mechanic involves sketching on the touch screen before the...
Talking Point Is Wii U's Power Really That Important?
It's how you use it
One topic's dominated the Wii U news since Nintendo revealed its new console at E3 2011 — just how powerful is it? Nintendo's Wii U technical specifications give the vaguest of nods to its under-the-hood power, just mentioning a multi-core IBM processor — which we know is based on game show-conquering chip Watson — but it...
News Gearbox: Wii U Out-RAMs Xbox 360 and PS3
Has "really great processor"
There's a lot of Wii U love going on at Gearbox these days. Last week Randy Pitchford implored Nintendo for more Wii U power, and now the studio's Brian Martell has told Official Nintendo Magazine the console will have one of the best-looking versions of upcoming shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines. Martell is chief...
News Namco, Capcom and SEGA Secret Countdown Starts
It's on
That mysterious SEGA, Capcom and Namco Bandai 3DS game just advanced to the next stage of teasing: the dreaded countdown site. After weeks of colour coded hints that seem to nudge towards characters ranging from Ken Masters to Bahn from long-dormant SEGA scrapper Fighting Vipers, the site's updated to include a new countdown will end at...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Pops The Question
Will you marry me, Wyvern Rider?
The release of Fire Emblem: Awakening is getting ever closer in Japan, with European gamers awaiting further clarification on the 'summer 2012' window and North American compatriots eagerly hoping for any news. Now that it's almost arrived in Nintendo's homeland the title has been the subject of an Iwata Asks column,...
News Men in Black: Alien Crisis Confirmed for Wii
The good guys dress in black, remember that
Another summer blockbuster, another video game spin-off. Many of these movie-based games are of questionable quality, and it's slightly concerning that we're only now finding out about Men in Black: Alien Crisis for Wii, to be published by Activision. This title will be released on 25th May, the same day...
News Nintendo Gives Mario a New Website to Call Home
It's-a-me, Mario.com
Mario isn't exactly a little-known figure, with the mustachioed mascot being arguably the biggest icon in the video game industry. That doesn't mean he doesn't need more visibility in the public eye, though, as Nintendo has now given its hero a new website to show off his games. For gamers interested in what titles feature Mario...
News Boulder Dash-XL 3D Wants to Rock 3DS in July
Budget retail release revealed
Reef Entertainment has revealed it's bringing Boulder Dash-XL 3D to 3DS this summer. A 3DS retail release of last year's PSN and Xbox Live Arcade game, it features 150 brand new maps and the ability to share high scores and unlocked items via StreetPass. it's set to hit Europe on 20th July for a budget price of...
News Square Enix Pegs Heroes of Ruin for 26th June
Casts level 2 Intrigue
3DS's online action RPG Heroes of Ruin is due to land on 26th June, Square Enix has revealed. The title was originally promised for 'early' 2012 but has now seemingly slipped to the middle of the year. Hopefully that means its ambitious online multiplayer, including voice chat and regular new content via SpotPass, will make...
Tuesday3rd Apr 2012
News Developers: Wii U "Less Powerful than PS3 and 360"
Is it, isn't it?
Welcome once again to the best game show on the internet, How Powerful is Wii U? While recently Darksiders II developer Vigil Games said Wii U is "on par" with current generation consoles, now a band of anonymous developers have spoken out to Games Industry.biz about the machine's power, claiming it's not got quite as much...
News Tetris Party Live Disappears from eShop
Publisher explains why
Check the 3DS eShop or DSi Shop and you'll notice that Tetris Party Live is no longer available to buy, either in North America or European regions. We reached out to the publisher, Tetris Online Inc., for an explanation. Casey Pelkey, vice president of marketing, had this to say: I can confirm that Tetris Party Live is no...
News Shining Force and Defenders of Oasis Rated for 3DS VC
Prayers answered
The Australian Classification Board is a treasure trove of hints at which games are waiting in the Virtual Console wings, and it's come up trumps again today with two more Game Gear games rated for 3DS. Shining Force: Sword of Hajya and Defenders of Oasis are both approved for sale on 3DS, and should hopefully hit the service later...
Rumour Wii U Release Date Unveiled in Mystery Email
So secret we can't see it
It's Wii U speculation day, it seems. Just as we get over the latest anonymous sources telling us that Wii U is less powerful than PS3 and Xbox 360, we hear about the Wii U release dates being leaked. According to a Wii U themed website, and now being circulated around the web, Nintendo's next console will hit North America...
News Square Enix Involved in NES Google Maps April Fool
Officially confirmed
When it comes to Nintendo-themed April Fools jokes, Google showed plenty of creativity with Google Maps 8-bit. Some of our readers with a solid grasp of NES classics observed that the music and overall theme of the fictional cartridge strongly resembled the original Dragon Quest: accessing the trial version online also involved...
News Japan Gets Customisable Club Nintendo Polo Shirts
Get Rover here
Want to be the best dressed gamer out there? These customisable polo shirts are just the thing. Club Nintendo in Japan is offering the shirts to all members for the cost of 550 points. You can choose from one of eight colours and one of six embroidered icons: Donkey Kong, a Fire Flower, Rover from Animal Crossing, Mr Game & Watch...
News Funcom: Wii U Could Do MMOs Without Compromise
Who needs F keys?
Massively multiplayer online games and consoles don't exactly have the strongest working relationship, despite the efforts of sizeable publishers: SEGA had Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe, Square Enix brought Final Fantasy XI to Xbox 360 and Sony Online Entertainment's EverQuest Online Adventures for PS2 only just...
News Ubisoft Wants to Be Top Dog on Wii U
Sound familiar?
Ubisoft will stick to its tactic of big launch support for new consoles when Wii U launches later this year. Last year Ubi launched six games alongside 3DS and, back in 2006, released half a dozen games on the same day as Wii. That plan helped it become the biggest third-party publisher on both formats — though Ubi's Wii success...
News Super Street Fighter II Strikes Europe Next Week
Hadouken!
The much anticipated Mega Drive version of Super Street Fighter II is due to reach Europe next week. The official Nintendo site lists the game for 12th April at 800 Points. We've already got Super Street Fighter II on SNES available on Virtual Console, but this Mega Drive version is due to launch with online multiplayer, a Virtual Console...
Monday2nd Apr 2012
News Get a Free Farming Simulator 3DS Demo, Europe
Our excitement is too much
On the fence about picking up Farming Simulator 2012 for 3DS? Would a free demo win you over? European 3DS owners, you can play a free sample of the must-have farming title this week when the eShop updates with a downloadable demo. The official description is almost too exciting to publish: Put on your boots, grab your...
Nintendo Download 5th April 2012 (Europe)
Speeding thru
It's an auspicious day when Europe gets a new piece of 3DS download software, and that's exactly what's on the (SD) cards this week as Nintendo itself publishes another digital delight. Elsewhere there's an ages-old WiiWare game, a pretty poor DSiWare game and the world's most exciting demo. 3DS Download Software: SpeedThru: Potzol's...
News 3D Photography Competition Snaps Into Action in UK
Time to get creative
The 3DS camera may not produce the highest quality images, to put it mildly, but it does allow 3D and augmented reality opportunities for creative photographers. In order to encourage more UK gamers to make use of their handheld's cameras, Nintendo is teaming up with National Geographic Kids and The Royal Photographic Society to...
News Kid Icarus: Uprising Fails to Fly in UK Charts
Pit's wings burn up
While Kid Icarus: Uprising has flown high in the Japanese charts and won the prestigious Nintendo Life Game of the Month award for March, it's dropped out of the top ten in the latest UK charts. Pit's latest adventure comes in at number 14 in the chart in its second week, a drop from seventh in its debut week but the...
News Club Nintendo Coin Spreadsheet Updated and Expanded
It has the answers
Each Club Nintendo region has its own loyalty bonus scheme, which in the case of North America is the coins system. Figuring out how many game codes or downloads you need to get that free prize can be a troublesome business, but there is an easy way to get the information you need. As we reported last year, an intrepid Nintendo...
News N-Space Would "Love to Work" on a New Geist Title
Talk about Heroes of Ruin, too
N-Space is a developer that is becoming a regular on Nintendo systems, perhaps best known for producing the DS port of Call of Duty: Black Ops. It's currently in the process of developing Heroes of Ruin on 3DS, a new RPG that will be published by Square Enix. Before we get to that, though, it seems that it's interested...
News April's Club Nintendo Rewards Are Now Available
Two WiiWare and DSiWare on offer
With April now in full swing, Club Nintendo's updated the games on offer for a smattering of coins. Here's what you can pick up for coins if you're a member of the North American Club Nintendo: WiiWare You, Me, and the Cubes — 200 coinsExcitebike: World Rally — 200 coins DSiWare Metal Torrent — 150 coins R
News Japanese Virtual Console List: April 2012
Slowing down
It's a bit of a slow month this time for Japan, as only two new games will be released. Neither are big surprises: Europe already got one a while ago and the other has already been announced for European release. Both of them are pretty nice games though, so although the offerings are slim compared to normal, at least they're of good...
News Nintendo Reveals Playable PAX East Line-Up
Anyone for tennis?
PAX East is just a few short days away, and Nintendo of America has revealed the games attendees can get to grips with in Boston this weekend. Kid Icarus: Uprising players eager to expand their AR card collection might want to head to the show as there'll be a scavenger hunt and the ability to trade, share and collect new cards...
News Musical Epic Mickey 2 "Won't Make You Sing"
Good to know
As Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two was unveiled by legendary game designer Warren Spector, comments that it would be a 'musical' game raised some eyebrows. While some assumed that this simply meant the inclusion of songs in the storytelling, others interpreted that description as meaning that the game would include singing and,...
News Hi-Ya! It's Johnny Kung Fu Trailer Number Two
This time it's personal
eShop scrapper Johnny Kung Fu caught our attention with its Game & Watch-inspired stages, and there's a further glimpse of the old-timey presentation in this second trailer below. UFO Interactive hasn't given a date for Johnny Kung Fu yet but when it does, we'll pass it on.
News Baker and OpCapita Deal Saves GAME
Better late than never
GAME has left administration after less than a week. Investment firm OpCapita negotiated a sale of the company's UK assets to Baker Acquisitions Limited, bringing GAME Group out of administration and providing it with the necessary capital to continue trading over the near future. Baker has confirmed there are no more plans...































































