News - 2012, Week 42

Monday22nd Oct 2012

  • News First UK Wii U Television Advertisement Breaks Cover

    Commercial break

    The first UK television advertisement for the new Wii U console aired tonight, shown in a commercial break during an episode of the TV series Homeland. Narrated by British comedian Adam Buxton, the advert did its best to show off the core features of Nintendo's new system, such as the GamePad's fancy touchscreen and the ability to...

Sunday21st Oct 2012

  • Review NightSky (3DS eShop)

    A perfect circle

    Three years ago, Nicalis announced a game called NightSky for release on WiiWare. Needless to say that never happened, but the project was far from dead. Last year our excitement was renewed by the news that NightSky would instead be released for the 3DS eShop, and now, at long last, it's finally here. The question everyone should...

  • Review Kirby Air Ride (GameCube)

    A Ride for all ages?

    Kirby, everyone’s favourite pink puffball, has hopped on his Warpstar and blasted into the world of “kart” racing in Kirby Air Ride for the Nintendo GameCube. He’s brought with him a few of his brethren, a unique set of controls, and some recognizable scenery, which is packed into this multiplayer-centric package. While...

  • Interview Braxton Burks - Pokémon Reorchestrated: Kanto Symphony

    Pokémon musical

    Clearly we're not the only ones that love orchestrated game music, as Pokémon Reorchestrated: Kanto Symphony has just been released to a positive response. The fan project reinterprets the 8-bit music of Pokémon Red / Blue in full orchestral form and has been cleared by Nintendo through Joypad Records, a company that specialises...

  • News Nintendo of Europe Offers Up Free Layton Swag

    A gentleman always travels in style

    With Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask just around the corner, Nintendo of Europe is rewarding early purchasers with some free swag! Starting on October 26 (at 8 AM BST/ 9 AM CST), those who register their copy of Miracle Mask will be eligible to win a free leather luggage tag, branded with Layton's signature...

Saturday20th Oct 2012

  • News Meet Leyla Hasso, The Fastest Female SNES Super Mario Kart Player

    She also bagged the PAL Women's World title at just 13 years old

    The original Super Mario Kart may be two decades old now, but it's still actively played on the competitive circuit, with yearly tournaments to establish who is the fastest SNES fan on four wheels. One of the world's most famous Mario Kart players is Sami Cetin, who is referred to by...

  • News Aksys Releases Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward OVA

    "I want to play a game"

    Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is set to release next week in North America, and publisher Aksys Games has taken the opportunity to release the game's anime prologue. Dubbed in English, the video reveals how main character Sigma was kidnapped, and how he must work together with eight other captives to escape the Nonary...

  • Talking Point Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost

    There are no easy answers

    Earlier this week we reported on the news that Foxconn, manufacturer for many of the world’s biggest technology companies, employed under-age interns to work on Wii U manufacturing. Foxconn admitted that it had employed 14-16 year old school attendees and stated that it had “apologized to each of the students for our...

  • News Counterfeit Nintendo Games Seller Faces Jail Term

    Made a small fortune pirating software

    Justin Success Brooks has been charged with selling counterfeit Nintendo games according to the Croydon Guardian. The 41 year-old's middle name proved to be innacurate as he was caught in an investigation supervised by Nintendo and the UK Interactive Entertainment association (UKIE). The two groups purchased...

Friday19th Oct 2012

  • News Gangnam Style Confirmed for Just Dance 4

    Ubisoft seems Psy-ched

    Ubisoft announced earlier today that Gangnam Style, the number one hit song by South Korean rapper Psy, will soon be available as downloadable content for Just Dance 4. Having attracted more than 490 million views since it first appeared on YouTube in July, Gangnam Style has become one of the most viewed videos on the...

  • News MCV: Wii U Is A Stopgap System, Real Successor Is Still To Come

    "It was never intended as a next generation console"

    Video game trade site MCV Pacific has posted an interesting opinion piece which speculates that the Wii U is merely a stopgap to lift Nintendo's flagging fortunes following the false start of the 3DS (in the west, at least) and plummeting Wii sales. The Wii U hasn't been given a new moniker, but...

  • Review Inazuma Eleven Strikers (Wii)

    Crazy super-duper Strikers!

    When it comes to Inazuma Eleven Strikers, don't let any references to football (soccer if you're of the North America persuasion) or the snazzy kits fool you, this isn't a football game. It's a ball game with football-style rules, infused with extravagant special moves and buckets of charm, which is guaranteed to raise an...

  • News 5th Cell Explains Lack Of Nintendo Characters In 3DS Scribblenauts

    It all comes down to 'timing'

    Just yesterday, Warner Bros. Interactive announced that a handful of characters from the Mario and Legend of Zelda series will be featured in the upcoming Wii U version of Scribblenauts Unlimited. However, the 3DS version of the game won't be getting in on the action. While an official explanation for this discrepancy...

  • Movie Review Ace Attorney

    Phoenix's début on the big screen makes a good case

    While the video game and movie industries have arguably managed to advance and make some great strides over the last few years, the same can't be said for their offspring. Whether it be the sexy archaeological adventures of Lara Croft, or the hard-hitting, guns-a-blazing ways of Agent 47, most...

  • News This Denpa Men Promotional Video Is Tight

    Skin tight, we mean

    As you'll no doubt be aware from our The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave review, it's a fantastic game that every North American 3DS owner should download right away. So fantastic in fact, developer Genius Sonority has decided that it's worthy of a trailer starring men in skin-tight bodysuits. In this video - which is being dubbed...

  • News Chasing Aurora 'Freeze Tag' Mode Gameplay Footage

    Tag, you're it!

    Back towards the start of the summer, Broken Rules announced Chasing Aurora, a beautiful physics based flight game for the Wii U eShop this year. Broken Rules is aiming for a November release; it's hoping to have it ready for Wii U's launch day. Below is a gameplay trailer for one of the multiplayer modes, 'Freeze Tag', where the...

Thursday18th Oct 2012

  • Review Code of Princess (3DS)

    A code worth cracking

    For a while now, hack-and-slash has been significantly undermined as a legitimate genre in video gaming, but Code of Princess doesn't care about any of that. Code of Princess spits in the face of modern 3D gaming and says “I can do things better,” and then goes out and does it. Being touted as a spiritual successor to Sega...

  • Review The Last Blade 2 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)

    Last Blade Part Deux

    When the original Last Blade title was released it took weapons-based fighting in 2D to new heights with its fluid play controls and intense fighting action. Not wanting to rest on its laurels, SNK soon put together a sequel that didn't try to really overhaul anything, but rather stuck to tweaking a few minor aspects of the...

  • Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (North America)

    Time to get stylish, pose for the camera, go fishing, fly a spaceship and more

    North America has enjoyed some busy Nintendo Download updates of late, with plenty of variety to choose from. This week is no exception with something for everyone, and the odd surprise, so let's get on with it. 3DS Download: Sparkle Snapshots 3D (Nintendo, $5.99) —...

  • News Wii U In-Game Voice Chat Won't Use GamePad Microphone

    Oh, Nintendo

    It's hoped by many that Wii U will finally take Nintendo onto a more level playing field in online gaming, though news that Call of Duty Elite isn't coming to Wii U at launch is undoubtedly disappointing. According to a report today from Kotaku, meanwhile, it seems that in-game chat will neglect to use the GamePad microphone, which...

  • News New Animal Crossing 3DS Details Reveal Streetpass Mode

    More reasons to become a recluse

    Fresh information about Animal Crossing: Jump Out has been updated on the Animal Crossing 3DS official website. A new Streetpass mode is included, where other players can view your badges that you obtain from Palotini, who rewards you for your hard work — that includes catching fishes, gathering a variety of stuff...

  • News Nintendo Responds To Foxconn's Admission Of Guilt In Child Labour Scandal

    "We take our responsibilities as a global company very seriously"

    Yesterday, allegations surfaced online that Chinese manufacturer Foxconn - which counts Nintendo, Sony and Apple as some of its clients - was employing children in its factories. Foxconn has since admitted guilt, issuing the following statement: We recognize that full...

  • News Amazon Japan Releases Online Pokémon Store Into The Wild

    Time to waste some money

    Amazon Japan has opened a special online Pokémon Store today. Nintendo and developers Game Freak have partnered up to launch the awesome virtual store, which includes various items such as figures, plushes, Pokémon trainers and kitchen equipment. They even have a life-size Pikachu plush on sale for 3,800 Yen. There are...

  • News Charles Martinet Interviewed At Random During Security Breach

    But they have no idea who he is

    One of the many advantages of being a video game voice actor is that you can walk down the street without anyone giving you so much as a second look. However, when you're the voice actor of one of the most iconic characters in gaming, it's a different story altogether - which is why we were very surprised to see...

  • News Business Insider: Wii U Is The Most Fun I've Had With A Game Console, Ever

    Glowing praise from an unlikely source

    As the Nintendo-loving world waits with bated breath for the Wii U to launch and various skeptics pour scorn over its chances, it would appear that the new format has unequivocal support from one sector of the market, at least. Business Insider's Dylan Love got some hands-on time with the new console at a...

  • News Ghosts 'n' Goblins Coming To 3DS eShop Next Week

    Ready to make your blood boil?

    It may not be that Mega Man game you were hoping for (and thank god it's not Mega Man Xover), but Capcom has just announced that the NES version of Ghosts 'n' Goblins will be making its way onto the 3DS eShop on 25th October in America. This soul-crushing side-scroller hit arcades ba

  • News 3DS and Bravely Default Flying High in Japanese Charts

    As expected, really

    We've often reported that 3DS is performing particularly well in Japan, and that trend is continuing this week with the release of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, the eagerly anticipated RPG from Square Enix. When considered alongside recent positive news about 3DS software sales in North America, it seems as if Nintendo's...

  • News Brick-Based Mario Videos Prove Everything Looks Better In Lego

    Build it and they will come

    Following on from the awesome Lego Zelda shield we featured a while back, we've stumbled across some amazing Lego-themed Super Mario videos. Created using what appears to be a clever combination of computer editing and actual brick images, these videos replicate the look of Mario's early NES adventures via the medium of...

  • Review Nurikabe by Nikoli (3DS eShop)

    Blocked and loaded

    The Nikoli puzzle factory is filled with evil geniuses. There really is no way else to explain their signature puzzle types sudoku, kakuro, hitori and the plethora of others that have hit the eShop by way of developer Hamster — the puzzles are simple in premise, seem easy enough to complete but then dropkick your brain when...

  • Events Nintendo Gala at the 56th BFI London Film Festival

    Nintendo Life takes to the red carpet

    It was a big night at the 56th BFI London Film Festival on Monday, as the much-anticipated Nintendo Gala took place at Odeon West End in Leicester Square. Hundreds of film critics, movie experts and even games journalists descended upon the renowned movie theatre to attend the premiere of Wayne Blair’s The...

  • News Monster Hunter 3 G Traps an eShop Discount in Japan

    Re-packaged "Best Price" offer also on the way

    Fans of the Monster Hunter series that live outside of Japan have been a little hard done by, casting envious glances to gamers in Japan who are looking forward to Monster Hunter 4, while the rest of us wait for the expanded version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. While Ultimate is also coming to Wii U...

Wednesday17th Oct 2012

  • News Nyko Experiences Power Outage, No Longer Releasing 3DS Power Grip Pro

    Want more power? Well you're not going to get it

    Back towards the start of the summer we reported that Nyko had a 3DS accessory — dubbed the Power Grip Pro — in the works. The peripheral aimed to amend the current Circle Pad Pro with a case and a battery that offered triple the amount of gameplay time. Sadly, Nyko revealed on its Twitter...

  • Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (Europe)

    Mega Man goes portable, Mad Dogs, free Mutant Mudds DLC and more

    While last week brought Pokémon dreaming and long-awaited samurai action to Europe, this week's update aims for the surprise factor. The upcoming 25th Anniversary of a certain Blue Bomber is celebrated, sort of, a retro light-gun game get's a second chance on the 3DS eShop, while the...

  • Review Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt 2 (DS)

    Is history repeating itself?

    In these risk-averse times, publishers are increasingly relying on sequels to existing IPs to ensure that they turn over a profit. The problem doesn’t stem so much from a dearth of creativity in the industry, but rather as consumers we have a horrible habit of sticking with what we know. Much like the video game...

  • News Pikmin 3 Sprouting For Spring 2013 Release In North America

    Out of the launch window?

    According to the latest Iwata Asks, the highly anticipated strategy game Pikmin 3 has been pushed back to a Spring 2013 release in North America. The game was previously slated as a 'launch window' title across the US, but that period ends on March 31st - which is just eleven days into Spring. Unless it is released between...

  • News Under-Age Workers Allegedly Worked on Wii U Manufacturing

    The latest controversy for Foxconn

    If you own a number of gadgets and gizmos from major companies such as Apple, Sony and Microsoft, it's in all likelihood been manufactured by Foxconn, based primarily in China. The reason we can buy technology at affordable prices isn't just because of cheaper parts and research, but due to low-paid labour in...

  • News Wii U GamePad Wireless Range is "Fine Within The Same Space"

    If your walls are thin, the bathroom may be an option

    The Wii U GamePad is Nintendo's next big home console innovation and the main selling point of the system. A big part of that appeal is the fact that it wirelessly streams the game, whether it's a match for the TV images or alternative features, from the console to the controller. We all know...

  • News Captain Falcon's Twister Race Leads Final Nintendo Land Mini Game Trio

    New details also include Octopus Dance and Yoshi's Fruit Cart

    A picture of a fact sheet has been found detailing the final three Nintendo Land attractions which have - up until now - not been revealed. The picture was taken by an ONM reader at the Play Expo in Manchester last weekend, which provides fresh information on the upcoming compilation...

  • News Nintendo Invades Scribblenauts Unlimited

    Characters from Legend of Zelda and Mario to make appearances

    Recently 5th Cell teased Nintendo fans with a mysterious image which hinted that a few well-known characters would be making an appearance in the upcoming Scribblenauts Unlimited. Now Warner Bros. has revealed that a handful of characters and items from the Legend of Zelda and Mario...

  • Events Play Expo - A Day of Bitmaps, Digital Sumos, Wii U and Pac-Man Vs. Ghosts

    When gamers come together

    It was upon arriving at Eccles train station, ready for Play Expo and briskly navigating a muggy mist lurking over the Manchester Ship Canal, when we contemplated if the UK’s weather had decided to skip autumn altogether and engulf us in this mid-October Sunday with a winter chill. However, within the space of an hour of...

  • News ZombiU Structure "Really Inspired by Metroid"

    "Difficult but fair" challenge also a focus

    ZombiU is arguably the highest-profile third-party title on Wii U at launch, dominating the system's demo areas at trade shows and even getting its own console bundle in Europe. Despite the occasional bug and glitch, the builds that we've seen are also promising, with a potential level of immersion and...

  • News Call Of Duty Elite Isn't Coming to Wii U at Launch

    Activision confirms that Call of Duty Elite will not ship with Black Ops 2

    Wii U's online system still remains a mystery to many developers, as Nintendo continues to remain tight-lipped on how things like Miiverse and the eShop will work. Just yesterday, Activision admitted that it was unsure as to how they will deliver DLC to Wii U players, or...

  • News Disney Paints A New Epic Mickey 2 Trailer

    Now with 100% more Warren Spector

    Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is set to release next month, and to celebrate we've been given a new video which shows off some paint and thinner gameplay. Here's the official blurb: This new video features exciting gameplay as game developer Warren Spector discusses Mickey’s magic paint brush and his...

Tuesday16th Oct 2012

Monday15th Oct 2012

  • Review Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask (3DS)

    It's Layton, so you probably know the answer

    While gamers in Japan are eagerly awaiting the final part of the Professor Layton prequel trilogy, those of us in the West are relieved to finally get our hands on what was a Japanese 3DS launch title, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask — originally known as Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle...

  • Review Mario Golf (3DS eShop / GBC)

    A beautiful day on the links

    Released in 1999 to dovetail with the N64 game of the same name, the Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf is more than just a scaled-back, portable edition. In fact, it stands well enough on its own merits, and it's almost unfortunate that it shares a name with its console counterpart; it really does have an identity all...

  • Rumour Wii U Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Not Running Natively At 1080p?

    Uh-oh

    A few days ago, Nintendo was left with egg on its face after issuing conflicting reports about what resolution New Super Mario Bros. U would run at. Now, it would seem as if Activision is the company that is to be left red-faced. According to GotGame, an Activision representative has confirmed that

  • News Ubisoft States That Wii U GamePad Latency is "Just 1/60 of a Second"

    GamePad is "more advanced than what people might think"

    Nintendo's most recent systems, particularly from DS onwards, have succeeded on the strength of unique selling points rather than raw power, even if some label these as "gimmicks". DS introduced dual screens and stylus-based touch controls, 3DS was initially marketed on its glasses-free 3D...

  • News Archos Uses Star Fox And Mario To Demo Its Console-Killing Tablet

    UPDATE: Blogger posted video and installed emulators - nothing to see here...

    EDIT: Since this story went live we have been contacted by the person who created the video, who has made it clear that they installed the emulators and ROMs themselves onto the demonstration device when it was shown at a recent trade show, and not Archos: Archos...

  • Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - Dishonored

    Choose how you play

    Wii U owners will know what it means to be an assassin after Ubisoft introduces us to Connor in Assassin’s Creed III later this year. However, while this native American is more adept with Tomahawks and muskets, Arkane Studios has other plans. Doing his work in a Steampunk inspired Victorian London, this particular assassin...

  • News Retro Studios Gets a Bigger Office

    Scaling up for Wii U development?

    Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country Returns developer Retro Studios has moved to a larger premises, hinting that the company is expanding to handle significant support for Nintendo's Wii U console. According to n1ntendo.nl, the move was very hush-hush, and no press release was issued to mark t

  • News Reggie: "Certainly Possible" Wii U Consoles Could Be Sold By Cable Providers

    Nintendo of America president hints on the future of Wii U

    In an interview with the Seattle Times, Nintendo of America President Reggie-Fils Aime left open the possibility of selling Wii U consoles through cable providers. While this might seem pretty far-fetched, it's well-known that Nintendo is hoping for big things from its Nintendo TVii...

  • News Nintendo Drops Price Of Wii Ahead Of Holiday Season

    Inexpensive family fun this Christmas

    Good news for those of you who don't have a Wii, Nintendo is dropping the suggested retail price to $129.99 in advance of the busy holiday shopping season. This new console bundle will be available across the US on October 28th. Both Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort will come included on a single game disc, as...

  • Rumour Square Enix Triple-A Title Being Ported to Wii U

    Straight Right employee can't keep a secret

    Straight Right is the Australian development studio that's becoming a little better known to Nintendo gamers, courtesy of it handling the Wii U port of Bioware's Mass Effect 3. The company is showing plenty of enthusiasm for Nintendo's new system, saying the following when addressing its desire to meet...

  • News Former Sega CEO Was Instrumental In Securing Unity's Nintendo Deal

    Development platform is being pushed out to first and third party studios

    We've already touched upon the significance of Nintendo's agreement with Unity, but CEO David Helgason has spilled a few more beans in an exclusive interview with the lovely folks at VG247

  • News Blizzard Was Working On Diablo For The Game Boy Color

    Diminutive dungeon crawling

    Recent hiccups relating to Diablo 3 aside, Blizzard's fantasy series has been a critical and commercial smash for years now - so much so that the company was at one point considering a money-spinning version for the Nintendo Game Boy Color. Named Diablo Junior, the game would have taken a leaf from Pokémon's book by...

  • Rumour Youkai Watch Coming To 3DS

    New Level-5 IP looks promising

    According to the latest edition of Japanese magazine CoroCoro Comic, Youkai Watch is heading to 3DS; the game was first announced by developer Level-5 one year ago at its Vision event. Youkai Watch is all about a boy who wears a special watch that allows him to see and interact with ghosts, and similar to...

  • News Ken's Rage Cannot Be Contained By PS3 And 360 Alone, Wii U Version Confirmed

    Fist of the North Star sequel says you're already dead

    The sequel to 360 and PS3 brawler Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage has been confirmed as coming to the Wii U. Based on one of the most famous anime franchises of all time, Ken's Rage 2 looks disarmingly similar to its prequel and uses Koei's long-running Dynasty Warriors template as its...

  • News Pokémon Black and White 2 Catches a Strong UK Chart Début

    Both versions in the top five

    Pokémon Black and White 2 may be getting played on a lot of 3DS systems at the moment, but we shouldn't forget that it probably represents the last big hurrah for the humble DS. It's a big release for fans of the series that Nintendo no doubt hopes will perform well, and early indications in the UK charts are certainly...

  • Hands On Spirit Hunters Inc.

    Die hard the hunter

    It's hard to believe that it's been almost three years since we first saw Spirit Hunters Inc. in its earliest incarnation. But rest assured, that development time has gone into turning the idea into a rather diverse and playable augmented reality experience. When you first begin playing Spirit Hunters Inc., the game seems fairly...

  • News The Amazing Spider-Man is Swinging Onto Wii U Next Year

    Our spidey sense is tingling

    Marvel has announced, at this year's New York Comic Con, that The Amazing Spider-Man will be available next Spring for Wii U. The port was announced during Marvel's panel at the convention, and the game will be taking advantage of the GamePad's touchscreen controls, as well as having the option to use motion control...