News - 2012, Week 41

Monday15th Oct 2012

Sunday14th Oct 2012

  • Review Geist (GameCube)

    A Ghost of the Past

    Nintendo doesn’t have much of a history when it comes to publishing mature-rated games. In fact, they had never directly released an M-rated game before they published the critically acclaimed Eternal Darkness for the GameCube in 2002. So when it was announced that Nintendo was working closely with developer n-Space on Geist...

  • Review Robot Rescue 2 (DSiWare)

    Robot Parade

    The sequel to Teyon's first DSiWare release from back in 2009, Robot Rescue 2 charges players with leading a flock of oddly organic looking robots to safety across gridded stages. Rescuing these robots is made more complicated, and much more interesting, by the fact that their movement is synchronized. Press any direction on the D-pad...

  • News Pokémon Train Hitting The Rails This Holiday

    In Japan, obviously

    Sometimes the Western world just isn't enthusiastic enough about video games. Sure, gamers in Europe and North America in particular buy an enormous volume of video games on a yearly basis and pay plenty of cash for new consoles, but do we, in our various individual cultures, love gaming enough to have anything as awesome as this...

Saturday13th Oct 2012

  • News Pikachu 3DS XL Now Available For Pre-Order

    Pokéballs on the ready

    Last week, Nintendo of Europe president Satoru Shibata confirmed that the Pikachu 3DS XL would be coming to Europe later this year. Today UK retailer GAME has tweeted to its followers that the charming yellow handheld is now available for pre-order, with a price tag of £179.99. A release date for the device is yet to be...

  • News Young Boy Thinks Gameboy Micro Is The Latest Nintendo Handheld

    Kids will believe anything these days

    We've something to give you a little giggle this weekend, with the sweet tale of a young boy who believed that the Gameboy Micro was the latest Nintendo handheld on the market. Gamer dad Andy Robertson and his son were walking past a second hand store when the youngster spotted a Gameboy Micro sitting in the...

  • Feature Reinventing Nintendo's Major Franchises on Wii U

    Time for some comebacks

    Thanks to its fresh approach to gaming, the Wii has been a breeding ground for reinvention throughout its six year life cycle, offering us established franchises with a twist due in part to motion controls. The Legend of Zelda has been perhaps the biggest beneficiary of this in the form of Skyward Sword, with Wii MotionPlus...

  • News The Harp Twins Are Back With Another Musical Video

    Music to our ears

    Camille and Kennerly, known as The Harp Twins, are back with another game-themed arrangement, this time with a rather soothing Final Fantasy medley. The twins’ unique take on the harp involves new arrangements of well-known music pieces; it's certainly worked quite well in their favour, with a worldwide following and over 4...

Friday12th Oct 2012

  • Review Samurai G (3DS eShop)

    The "G" is for "garbage"

    UFO Interactive's eShop releases seemed to be on a slow but steady progression towards quality, with Johnny Kung Fu almost breaking through this underwhelming barrier. But then along comes Samurai G to pee in everyone's cereal. Samurai G is like being presented with a spoon and a bowl full of live bees: just one look is...

  • News The Truth Behind Donkey Kong Country's Opening Level Theme

    It's a stitch-up

    Remember the music for the opening level on Donkey Kong Country? Do you recall how it moves from one musical style to another, almost as if it's three different songs that have been fused together? That because it is. In an interview with CVG, former Rare composer David Wise reveals the truth behind the track: I was on holiday in...

  • News More Nintendo Costumes For Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition

    Dress up as Sheik, Captain Falcon and Toad

    Last month, Namco Bandai announced that gamers would be able to dress up as certain Nintendo characters in Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition; including big N's mascot Mario. New outfits have been added to the wardrobe, with players be able to dress characters up as Sheik (Zelda), Captain Falcon...

  • News Wii U Epic Mickey 2 May Not Feature Off-TV Play

    Golly, Pluto!

    At a preview event on Tuesday, a Disney Interactive employee apparently confirmed that Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of Two will not include off-TV play. This means that you won’t be able to play the game solely on the Wii U GamePad. Off-TV play was something Junction Studios would have liked to achieve, but due to time restrains it...

  • Feature The New Dimensions of Pokémon

    Snap and Dream Radar change the perspective

    Trading cards and anime episodes aside, the Pokémon series is known for a long-lasting line of handheld RPGs. You've almost certainly played one or two of them — and we suspect that quite a few of you are already getting into Pokémon Black & White 2 — most likely followed by an obsessed state of...

  • News Check Out These Amazing Nintendo Can Sculptures

    Brings a whole new meaning to recycling

    Ever thought of empty cans as art? Well we certainly didn't, but a Japanese sculptor by the name of Makaon did. Collecting various cans, she cuts them up and uses them to sculpture notable characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Batman and Darth Vader. Of course it's the Nintendo icons that caught our eyes; she...

  • News Watch Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate's Newest Trailer Right Here

    Two hunters are better than one

    Capcom is kicking off New York Comic-Con with a brand new trailer for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, which is set to release sometime in March 2013. While the trailer mostly focuses on the Wii U version and its online co-op, there are a few glimpses into the 3DS version, and the ability to play locally alongside the Wii...

  • News Ikachan Confirmed For Both DSiWare And 3DS eShop

    Two platforms, same game

    Yesterday, we teased a picture that showed Ikachan running on a 3DS. For those who don't know, Ikachan is a 2D retro style platformer from Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, the man behind Cave Story. While developer Nicalis was originally intending to release Ikachan as a DSiWare title, they decided to produce two versions of the...

  • News Pokémon Video Game Autumn Regional Championship Details For North America

    Your journey to Victory Road begins this weekend

    It's just a little over a week since Pokémon Black & White 2 released across the US, and already the Pokémon Video Game Regional Championships will take place this weekend. That's right fellow trainers, the Championships begin in North America this Sunday, October 14th. The Autumn Regionals are...

  • News Thundercats Let Loose On DS October 30th

    Feel the magic, hear the roar

    An official trailer for Thundercats has finally put a release date in place for the DS action epic. The game had previously been scheduled for a North American release September this year, but was pushed back a month. The side-scrolling action game follows the first six episodes of the rebooted Thundercats series where...

  • News Take a Tour of The Tower of London, ZombiU Style

    The Beefeaters might end up eating you

    To drum up even more interest in its undead-filled Wii U launch title ZombiU, Ubisoft has released a video walkthrough for the game's spooky Tower of London segment. Set in the famous structure - which can trace its history all the way back to 1066 - the video illustrates the kind of hair-raising gameplay you...

  • News Casual And Hardcore Gamers, Madden NFL 13 Has Something For You Both

    But will it be enough to make up for missing features?

    Developers at EA Tiburon have stated that they are doing their best to take advantage of the Wii U's unique capabilities in ways that they hope will be the best for both casual and more experienced gamers, and hopefully will make users feel that they are not missing out too much on features that...

  • News Want to Know How to Play Spirit Hunters?

    Developer videos explain forthcoming DSiWare AR title

    Each week up until the release of Spirit Hunters on DSiWare on November 22nd, developer Nnooo will be releasing videos which give a little more detail on the inner workings of this interesting augmented reality title. Using your 3DS or DSi's camera, Spirit Hunters lets you do battle with ghosts...

Thursday11th Oct 2012

  • Review Liberation Maiden (3DS eShop)

    Maiden voyage

    A few months ago, Japan received the 3DS game Guild01, essentially a compilation of four specially developed games, each created by different well-known designers. Instead of simply releasing the collection in the west, Level 5 has chosen to instead publish the individual games as eShop titles — though it seems that only three of the...

  • Nintendo Download 11th October 2012 (North America)

    Mario gets on the course, robots are rescued, the one true demo arrives and more

    Last week was a bit of a bumper week for the Nintendo Download update in North America, and we have another packed list for you. Every platform is covered in some form, and there's a demo and some videos to fill your time too; let's get right into it. 3DS Downloads:...

  • Review Crosswords Plus (3DS)

    A few cross words

    The 3DS is no stranger to puzzle games, with Japanese developer Nikoli being responsible for most of the puzzle games on the market. While games like Sudoku, Hitori and Kakuro have provided us with enough numbers to last a lifetime, there’s a distinct lack of wordplay on Nintendo’s newest handheld. Enter Crosswords Plus, the...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. U Confirmed as 1080p, Or Not

    Nintendo can't decide

    In recent hours it's been reported on a number of websites, including our colleagues at Eurogamer, that New Super Mario Bros. U will support a full 1080p HD resolution, a bump up from the 720p seen in various demo and hands-on sessions of the game. The game's official site has been quoted as saying the following. Experience...

  • Rumour Super C Coming to 3DS Virtual Console in The West

    Third party NES classics make it out of Japan?

    Up until now, Nintendo retro lovers have only had first-party NES titles to play on the 3DS Virtual Console. Although Japan has seen a steady stream of non-Nintendo games - including the awesome Mega Man 3 - those games haven't shown any sign of coming to the west - until now, that is. Konami has just...

  • Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - Resident Evil 6

    A much needed second chance

    As great as Nintendo’s first-party efforts are, Wii U is going to have a reliance on its third-party support. Nintendo certainly recognises that and has already drawn franchises like FIFA, Call of Duty, Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed to its cause. However, as encouraging as that is, it’s still not enough. The...

  • First Impressions Fire Emblem: Awakening

    Could this be the best entry in the Fire Emblem series yet?

    The Fire Emblem series has long been famous and hugely successful in Japan. With a long string of titles stretching back to the days of the Nintendo Famicom, the franchise is now starting to catch on in the west. Arguably the most famous tactical RPG in the world right now, Fire Emblem fans...

  • News Two Tribes: Old Wii U GamePad Design "Was Like a Toy"

    Developer is pleased with revised model

    As with any consumer product, the Wii U has gone through revisions since it leapt off the drawing boards at Nintendo's Kyoto HQ. One of the features that has undergone the most change is the GamePad itself; as you will no doubt recall, the first publicly-announced model had slider pads like the one seen on...

  • News Take A Look At The Inside Of The Wii U

    It's the inside that counts

    Ever wondered what the inside of the Wii U looks like? As part of the Iwata Asks series, four Nintendo product developers and general managers sat down this week to discuss the engineering behind the Wii U, as well as how it differs to the Wii. There is an incredible amount of detail on the challenges and processes that...

  • News Guess What? Michael Pachter Isn't a Fan of The Wii U

    Doesn't think third parties will succeed on Nintendo's new console

    Wedbush Securities Digital media and electronics analyst Michael Pachter seems to have an odd relationship with Nintendo. He's forever casting doubt on the company's chances, taking any chance he can to stick the boot in and predict naught but doom and gloom for Mario and company...

  • News Kylie Sing & Dance Coming To Wii Next Month

    We just can't get you out of our heads

    This year will mark Kylie Minogue's 25th year in music, and what better way to celebrate by singing and dancing the night away with Kylie Sing & Dance for the Wii in November. The game will feature 25 of Aussie starlet’s globally recognised smash hits, including tunes such as ‘Spinning Around’, ‘I...

  • News Soothsayers, Begone - 3DS Software Sales Rise 89 Percent Over Last Year

    Nintendo's handheld remains robust in the face of mobile competition

    Like a broken record, industry experts seem to delight in telling anyone that will listen that the 3DS is doomed. The rise of mobile phone gaming on iOS and Android seems to suggest to many that traditional consoles have no real future, but this anaylsis conviently ignores the fact...

  • News Nicalis Teases 3DS Ikachan Port

    2D classic from the same developer as Cave Story

    Had your fill of Cave Story already? Well prepare to get unreasonably excited, because it would appear that Daisuke Amaya's Ikachan is headed to the 3DS. Created in 2000 by Amaya (better known by the pseudonym Pixel) - 4 years before Cave Story, perhaps his most famous work - Ikachan focuses on the...

  • News Ubisoft Announces Rabbids Rumble North American Release Date

    Three extra days of Rabbid fun

    Last week we reported that the Rabbids would be rumbling on to European 3DS consoles on 16th November. Today Ubisoft has confirmed that Rabbids Rumble will be launching on 13th November in North America, three days before it hits European shores. Rabbids Rumble features over 100 crazy Rabbids to capture and collect,...

  • News Mutant Mudds Free DLC Arrives in October

    20 new levels, entirely free of charge

    Mutant Mudds fans, take note: Renegade Kid has confirmed that it is releasing free DLC for the game this year. Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham has stated that the update will be released in Europe on October 18th and North America on October 25th. Here's a handy bullet point list of new features, courtesy of...

  • News Rayman Origins Was In The Works For The Wii U

    Rayman Legends predecessor could have been on the Wii U

    Once upon a time, Rayman Origins was in the works for the Wii U, as Ubisoft expected an earlier launch date for the console. Sadly the team had no choice but to scrap development once they discovered that the system wouldn't be released in 2011. Rayman creator Michel Ancel told Nintendo Power...

  • News Castlevania, Mega Man 4 And Donkey Kong Heading To Japanese eShop

    Popular NES titles making their way to the 3DS Virtual Console next week

    Japanese gamers are in for a treat next week, as Castlevania, Mega Man 4 and Donkey Kong will all be released for the 3DS Virtual Console on October 17th, priced at 500 yen each. Both Mega Man 4 and Donkey Kong are the original Famicom versions of the games, whereas...

Wednesday10th Oct 2012

  • Review Just Dance 4 (Wii)

    Sweat baby, sweat

    The video games industry is currently inundated with a plethora of fitness games promising to give you abs like Schwarzenegger - if you're willing to pay the price. But how many of these titles actually perform? While the Just Dance franchise might be categorised into the silly party genre, Just Dance 4 in fact provides a fun...

  • News Will LEGO City Undercover Have Multiplayer? Not Even Nintendo Seems to Know

    Confusion reigns

    For the longest time, we've been labouring under the belief that the forthcoming LEGO City Undercover will boast a two-player mode. Heck, we've even listed it as such on the game's profile page on this very site. However, it would appear that the number of players that will be able to enjoy the game on a single Wii U console at any...

  • Review Boulder Dash-XL 3D (3DS)

    Rockford reborn

    Every system has little-known titles — packed with content and well-constructed gameplay — that fail to fly off shelves or, in some cases, even get into high street stores in the first place. If Boulder Dash-XL 3D suffers that fate it'll be a pity, because it takes its subject matter and goes beyond the basic requirements,...

  • Talking Point Nintendo Takes One Step Forward, One Back With Retail Downloads

    It's not quite right, yet

    During last week's Nintendo Direct broadcast in Europe, one eShop announcement that received relatively little fanfare was confirmation that a number of additional first-party titles were being made available on the platform. These titles stretch back to the earliest months of the system: now available on the European eShop...

  • News Justin Bieber Surprises Just Dance 4 Fans

    The girls just couldn't 'Belieb' it

    Ubisoft invited a bunch of young girls to come and play Just Dance 4 early for what they thought was a research focus group. The girls figured they were being asked to give some feedback on the game, but little did they know that Ubisoft had another trick up its sleeves. Justin Bieber was called upon to help...

  • Nintendo Download 11th October 2012 (Europe)

    Pokémon dreaming, samurai sword slashing and rescuing robots

    So, it's finally time for this week's Nintendo Download update for Europe. We have a crack team currently investigating what happened to the official press release, but we'll go ahead and let you know what download delights are on the way based on what was revealed during last week's...

  • News Amazing Nintendo School Homecoming Restores Faith in US Education System

    Learning with friends

    We've seen some cool School Homecoming ideas in the past, but this one probably tops them all. A Reddit user by the name of coonster has posted up some photos of the Nintendo-themed homecoming at his place of education, complete with references to Starfox, Pokémon and - of course - Super Mario. You can check out the full...

  • News Activision Releases New Trailer For Transformers Prime

    Planes, trains and Autobots

    Based on the award-winning animated television show produced by Hasbro Studios, Transformers Prime lets you play as your favourite Autobot character and embark on an action-packed adventure to save the earth from the evil Megatron and his new secret weapon. Get a preview glimpse of the Wii U version in the video below,...

  • News Cave Story Fix is "Coming Soon"

    Curly Story will be saved

    If you haven't read our Cave Story review, then let us sum it up for you: we loved it. The eShop version of the indie game that started it all is fantastic, except for one issue. It turns out that some people are having problems with the Curly Story mode. Specifically, they can't get past the first couple of screens...

  • News Super Mario World Was The Perfect Escape For a Novelist in Hiding

    Salman Rushdie's inner gamer is revealed

    In literary circles Salman Rushdie is a much admired award-winning writer, and also one of the biggest names in the book industry. He's also courted great controversy during his career, notably when his novel The Satanic Verses outraged extremist groups and regimes to the point that there was a fatwa issued...

  • News NPD: US Consumers Want a Hot Item This Xmas, But The Wii U Isn't It

    Industry as a whole is in better shape, though

    2012 hasn't been a fantastic year for the video game industry in terms of sales. Year on year, the market is shrinking - August saw a drop of 20 percent, which is understandably worrying for developers, publishers and retailers. However, The NPD Group - whose job it is to research sales trends in the...

  • News Teens Losing Interest In Social Gaming, Turning To Traditional Consoles

    Research also shows the growth of digital downloads

    Everywhere you look, there seems to be a story about how traditional consoles are under threat from social gaming, and that the console market as we know it is all but doomed. However, new research from Analyst firm Piper Jaffray reveals that attitudes towards social gaming are changing, with teen...

  • News Here's That Batman Arkham City Video Walkthrough You Wanted

    See what Wii can do for U

    Warner Bros. Montreal is in charge of developing Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition, and they've released a video that shows off exactly how the Wii U GamePad will change the way you play. While the core gameplay hasn't been altered, the touch screen and gyroscopic functionalities of the GamePad allow you to wield The...

  • Interview Broken Rules Talks About Chasing Aurora and Being Early on Wii U

    Taking flight on Nintendo's new system

    Chasing Aurora is an eye-catching Wii U eShop title that's scheduled to arrive in November. While its art style immediately grabs attention, we wanted to know more about it, especially as it's only a matter of weeks away. We got in touch with developer Broken Rules and spoke to its man Martin Pichlmair about...

  • News Factory Fire Will Not Affect Wii U Production

    Nintendo says there's no impact on units being shipped

    News has emerged that a fire broke out at an unnamed Wii U system assembly factory in Japan, with just a little over a month until the console's release across North America, Europe and Japan. An analyst for the Australian bank Macquarie, in Tokyo, subsequently downgraded Wii U’s shipping...

  • First Impressions Dopamix

    Is this Japan-only eShop release going to be music to your ears?

    As games get more complicated, with motion controls and complex button layouts, is it still possible to have fun while playing a game using only one button? With the Japan-exclusive eShop title Dopamix (made by G-mode, the current owners of the Data East back catalogue, which includes...

  • News Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Will Make Its Way To The eShop

    Paint the town red

    Disney Interactive Studios has revealed that those who wish to purchase Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion when it releases on 18th November across North America (the same day as Wii U arrives), have the choice of picking it up in stores or downloading from the Nintendo eShop. It looks like that'll make it the first third-party title...

  • News EnjoyUp's Zombie Skape Shuffling To DSiWare Soon

    Skateboards and Zombies galore

    EnjoyUp Games, the publisher behind La Mulana and Chrono Twins, has announced Zombie Skape today for DSiWare and the 3DS eShop. It's described as an arcade game with a 'terrifying' atmosphere. Oo-er. Protagonist Ethan dreams to become number one number one at skateboarding and outdo his idol Johnny Eagle. Unlucky for...

Tuesday9th Oct 2012

  • News File Sizes Revealed For 3DS eShop Retail Downloads

    Better stock up on those SD cards, this could get ugly

    Last week, Nintendo of Japan confirmed during a Nintendo Direct presentation that a list of current 3DS titles would soon be available for download from the Nintendo eShop. It's good to see Nintendo pushing their retail games as digital downloads, but just how much space will they actually take...

  • Developer Interview Frozenbyte Talks Trine 2, Wii U eShop and Working with Nintendo

    An ice chat

    The excitement for Wii U isn't limited to the second screen, the possibility of five player games or the chance that Nintendo is getting its groove back with third party publishers: there's also the small matter of its approach to digital distribution. WiiWare started well before floundering and DSiWare hosted a few gems among its...

  • News Capcom Responds To The Lack Of Mega Man On 3DS

    Too good to be true?

    If we were to choose one franchise that is disappointingly absent from the 3DS library, it would have to be Mega Man. Following the soul-shattering decision to cancel Mega Man Legends 3, Capcom released Mega Man 1-3 on the 3DS eShop, but these Virtual Console titles have been limited to Japan. With fans clamoring for a Western...

  • Review Successfully Learning English: Year 5 (WiiWare)

    One more class, Freddy

    Successfully Learning English: Year 5 represents, probably, the end of an edutainment era. Across DSiWare and WiiWare, Freddy the Vampire has appeared in over 20 titles covering a few different subjects in relentless detail for young pupils, all with the same style, structure and bland presentation. The final part of the Wii's...

  • News Wii U Resellers Captilise On Demand By Fleecing Consumers

    Would you pay $1,550 for Nintendo's new console this Christmas?

    Unless you count the Virtual Boy, pretty much every new Nintendo console has experienced incredible demand in the first month of its release. Millions of people want to upgrade but stock is usually limited - hardly surprising with brand new hardware. Sadly, this situation allows...

  • Feature EB Expo 2012 Nintendo Booth Impressions

    Get N or Get Out

    As you may have noticed over the past few days, we have been posting our impressions of games that were available to play at the recent EB Expo. We've also got some impressions for you of Nintendo's impressive booth itself. Throughout the weekend, the line to get into the Nintendo booth was one of the longest. The line moved at a...

  • Review Academy: Chess Puzzles (DSiWare)

    Chess, minus chess

    Sometimes a game is so simple in concept that it’s difficult to find the right words to describe it. It’s also worth keeping in mind that simplicity is not always a bad thing, and it can often work in a game’s favor. With that being said, Academy: Chess Puzzles is the definitive simple pleasure. The first thing that needs...

  • News Bridgestone Responds to Sony's "Kevin Butler" Lawsuit

    All because of a game of Mario Kart Wii

    Yesterday we picked up on the news of an ongoing court case between Sony and the actor behind Kevin Butler or, to be completely accurate, the actor's production company and Bridgestone. Sony's basic complaint was that the actor Jerry Lambert, so commonly known for his work as fictional Sony executive Kevin...

  • News Computer Virus Responsible For Bomb Scare at Nintendo's Japanese HQ

    "This week, I'm going to blow up Nintendo headquarters"

    A rather worrying computer virus has hit Japan which allows hackers to take control of another person's machine and use it for whatever means they wish. This virus has already claimed its first high-profile victim in the shape of animator Masaki Kitamura, who was arrested (and subsequently...

  • News Puddle For Wii U Will Be The Definitive Version Of The Game

    Neko Entertainment explains why the Wii U version is the best so far

    In September we confirmed that Puddle would be available for Wii U on the Nintendo eShop. Neko Entertainment has now dropped some good news on the Wii U version, that it's been improved in a number of areas specifically for Nintendo's upcoming home console. Due to the good...

  • News Reggie: Time Spent on Rival Devices is a Missed Opportunity For Nintendo

    Company looks to offer a broader degree of entertainment

    Nintendo is entering a unique phase in its existance, a period where its rivals not only include Microsoft and Sony, but also Apple and Google. Despite Nintendo's best efforts to deny the threat, mobile and social gaming is most definitely on the rise, and many predict that the traditional...

  • News Retro City Rampage Trailer is Full of Old-School Cool

    Spot the references

    Retro City Rampage arrives on PC and PS Vita today, which may draw some envious glances from Wii owners that were promised this title so long ago. The good news is that developer VBlank has already confirmed that the title is rampaging onto WiiWare later this year, so the wait is hopefully not going to be too long. On the plus...

  • News 3D Classics: Urban Champion Is A Downloadable Reward On Club Nintendo

    Time to become a champion, again

    North American members of Club Nintendo have a new title to spend their valuable coins on, but it might not be what you were hoping for. 3D Classics: Urban Champion is available as a reward until October 21st, and will set you back 150 coins. This 3D Classics title first became available a little over a year ago on...

  • News We Really Wish This Super Mario Kung Fu Movie Actually Existed

    It's already better than the Hollywood effort

    If you're old enough to remember the terrible Hollywood live-action Super Mario Bros. movie then there's a good chance you still carry the mental scars. Even lead actor Bob Hoskins isn't a fan! It would appear that the world is still waiting for the definitive Mario movie, but in the meantime you can...

  • News Trine 2 Developer: Nintendo is Reaching Out to Indies

    Exclusive interview reveals information about Wii U patching process

    Trine 2: Director's Cut developer Frozenbyte has spoken to us in an exclusive interview about working on Wii U, and has continued the current trend for positive comments about Nintendo's attitude towards smaller studios. Contrary to the perception that Nintendo is aloof and...

  • News New Rabbids Rumble Trailer Shows European Release Date

    Let's get ready to rumble

    It has been just over 4 months since Rabbids Rumble was confirmed for the Nintendo 3DS, and Ubisoft has finally given us a release date for its wacky second outing on the handheld system. During a brand new trailer, it is confirmed that the 8th game in the series will be released across Europe next month on the 16th...

Monday8th Oct 2012

  • News PETA Targets Pokémon Black & White 2 in Latest Campaign

    Opportunism or a fair moral case?

    Last year, with the arrival of Super Mario 3D Land, PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals — launched a campaign against Mario, on the grounds that his Tanooki suit encouraged the wearing of furs. It was a widely criticised move, as it disregarded the sheer fantasy of obtaining the suit from a...

  • Review Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure (3DS)

    A royal pain

    Disney has a long history of using video games to place its familiar characters into unfamiliar contexts, often mixing several disparate worlds together for the sake of effect. The best part? It quite often works. From Mickey Mouscapade to the Kingdom Hearts series to the upcoming Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, it's usually great fun...

  • Hands On Is New Super Mario Bros 2 DLC Worth Your Golden Coins?

    Should you download those Coin Rush levels? Read on to find out

    Nintendo may have produced paid DLC before, particularly on 3DS, but it’s now taken its first steps into worldwide DLC on a big-name title. We are of course talking about the DLC for New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the 3DS, which comes in the form of three new content packs for the...

  • News Could This Be The Finished Wii U Interface?

    Let's face it, it looks mighty fine

    Wii U demo units have been set up in Nintendo World Store in New York City, where gamers will get the perfect chance to test out the upcoming console and what it has to offer. Not much information has been given about the Wii U eShop or the console's front-end interface, something we touched upon last week. It...

  • News Our Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct Translation Awaits Forest Folk Within

    A complete summary of the Japanese presentation

    Last week there was a special Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation covering the forthcoming Animal Crossing: Jump Out on 3DS. As usual, we've got a summary of the entire video, saving you the bother of having to actually learn Japanese in order to understand it. Iwata starts out by introducing us to...

  • First Impressions Paper Mario Sticker Star

    Stuck on you

    Tucked away on the roof of the ZombiU building in the Nintendo booth at the EB Expo were a few hidden 3DS gems. Among them was Paper Mario: Sticker Star, and as you can imagine we eagerly wrestled the closest copy from the display unit and dove right in. The version available to us appeared to be very close to the final build, as we...

  • News Kevin Butler Actor Seen Near Wii Console... Sony Takes Him to Court

    Yes, really

    Some of you may remember a news article that we posted around a month ago that starred fictional Sony VP Kevin Butler, which we did so with tongue firmly in cheek. We highlighted a Bridgestone tyre advert in which the actor who plays the character, his real name is Jerry Lambert, was seen near a Nintendo Wii, possibly causing indignation...

  • News Want to Know Why Rayman Legends is a Wii U Exclusive?

    Developer reveals why Ubisoft decided against a multi-platform release

    Rayman Origins was a real cracker of a game, offering lush visuals and engaging action. It was also released across a wide range of formats - something which won't be happening with its sequel, Rayman Legends. Speaking to Nintendo Power, level designer Chris McEntee explained...

  • First Impressions Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

    Hands-on impressions from the EB Expo in Australia

    Sega had a playable version of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed at the EB Expo 2012, so we naturally took the opportunity to check out how it compares to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions, as well as see if the previously-noted frame rate issues were indeed solved,

  • News Indie Developers Speak Highly of Wii U eShop

    Positive comments suggest that Nintendo is working well with smaller studios

    If you ask the average WiiWare developer how much money they made off the back of the service, you'd probably be shocked. In the past, indie devs have been less than positive about Nintendo's online portal, providing figures which make for very grim reading - even more so...

  • News Monster Shooter is Locked and Loaded for 3DS eShop

    Another mobile port in the offing

    Gamelion has announced that it is preparing to unleash yet another of its mobile-to-3DS offerings. Monster Shooter is already available on iOS and Android - on which it has clocked up a respectiable 5 million downloads - and features "dual stick mayhem", apparently. Gamelion is also adamant that this is "one of the...

  • News Rayman Legends Won't Arrive Until Q1 2013

    Launch day disappointment

    When it comes to big third-party exclusives, Rayman Legends is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated Wii U launch window releases. We say launch window, as Ubisoft has now confirmed that the title isn't due to hit stores until Q1 2013, which means any date between 1st January and 31st March next year. In a statement...

  • News Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Release Date Confirmed For Australia

    On its way down under

    Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask was released as a launch title in Japan for 3DS on 25th February, and at a little over a year and a half old is finally being released in Europe on 26th October, arriving in North America on 28th October. Fear not, our Australian readers, as Nintendo has now lifted the lid on a release...

  • News Hotel Transylvania Coming To Europe On Nintendo DS And 3DS

    Embark on a spooktacular journey with Hotel Transyvania this Halloween

    Avanquest Software Publishing has today announced the release of Hotel Transylvania for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, with a release date of October 26th 2012 for DS and November 9th on 3DS across Europe. The game is being released to tie in with Sony Pictures Animation’s...

  • News Mass Effect fans, Take Note: Cris Velasco Is Scoring ZombiU's Soundtrack

    Veteran game composer crafting a dark score for Ubisoft's upcoming zombie title

    Hot off the heels of Mass Effect 3 and Borderlands 2, BAFTA award winning composer Cris Velasco will be lending his musical talents to the horror genre with Ubisoft's ZombiU. Best known for his work on the God of War series, Cris is no stranger to the game industry,...

  • News Mobile Hit Gunman Clive is Shooting His Way to the 3DS eShop

    Mega Man-inspired action platformer is one to watch

    If you own an iOS or Android-based smartphone then you may have already experienced the excellent Gunman Clive. A homage to the classic action platformers of old, the game has been confirmed by its developer as a forthcoming 3DS eShop title. Speaking to Not Enough Shaders, creator Bertil Hörberg...