News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate's 3DS Online Multiplayer Workaround Is Coming to Europe
We imagine North America will also be included
News Grant Kirkhope Wishes He Could Make Banjo-Kazooie 3 For Nintendo
Explains why Rare chose to make Nuts & Bolts
Review Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)
A change is as good as a rest
Review Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)
This game must be possessed
News - March, 2013
Sunday31st Mar 2013
Review Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity (3DS)
Neverending story
With the Pokémon series nearly ready to celebrate its 18th birthday next year, some of its many spin-offs have become enduring gaming traditions in their own right. The Mystery Dungeon games are a prime example, combining classic roguelike dungeon crawling with the endless appeal of playing as Pokémon, and as the series' first...
Review The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct (Wii U)
Walking Dud
Zombies are impossible to avoid. Not that the living dead are walking among us and causing havoc, but the media has been absolutely permeated by them. As evidence, we have The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct; the Wii U’s second game about zombies – known in-game as “walkers” – works as the prequel to a television show about...
News Epic Games: Developers Can Use Unreal Engine 4 For Wii U Titles
Mark Rein clarifies his previous comments
Unreal Engine 4 is Epic Games' impressive next-generation engine, which can help developers deliver more impressive visuals when making their latest titles. It's being geared towards the upcoming PlayStation 4 and the next Xbox, both of which are expected to have plenty of power under the hood. Recently...
News Expect Some Fresh Pokémon X & Y Information Next Saturday
Teaser trailer is quite mysterious
According to the latest episode of Pokémon Smash in Japan, fans of the series of games should have their Pokéballs at the ready to catch some new Pokémon X & Y news next Saturday. A teaser trailer featuring series producer Junichi Masuda was shown at the episode's climax, which showed him holding a...
Feature The Nintendo Easter Egg Hunt
We'll get you started with a few
It's Easter Sunday, and however you treat the day there's a good chance that you will, at the very least, eat a little more chocolate than you would on a typical day. However you spend the day, we should also celebrate the fact that the occasion lends its name to one of gaming's coolest features — in-game Easter...
Developer Interview Yacht Club Games On Shovel Knight And Loving Nintendo
"We grew up playing Nintendo games on the NES and SNES"
Yesterday we reported that Yacht Club Games' Kickstarter campaign for Shovel Knight had hit its funding target with two weeks to spare. Fresh from this success, studio founder Sean Velasco kindly took some time out of his busy schedule to speak to us about the split from WayForward...
News European Release of Devil Survivor Overclocked Marred By Game-Breaking Bugs
Ghostlight is working on a fix
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked was released a couple of days ago in Europe but it appears there are a few issues with it that are causing 3DS owners to become a little agitated. Unfortunately, the problems are more than just a mild irritation as they stop the player from progressing. For example, using...
News Square Enix Teases New Projects on Anniversary Website
It's been ten years since the merger
Square Enix will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on 1st April and to celebrate the company has launched a new website dedicated to the milestone. The site is open right now and upon entering you're met with the following message (translated from Japanese): As of April 1st we’ve reached our 10th...
Saturday30th Mar 2013
News Grant Kirkhope Wishes He Could Make Banjo-Kazooie 3 For Nintendo
Explains why Rare chose to make Nuts & Bolts
Banjo-Kazooie is revered by many as one of the best games to ever grace the N64. The platformer, which starred a docile bear and a wise-cracking bird, could have ended up being something completely different as it was originally set to be a highly ambitious venture known as Project Dream. Speaking as a...
News Retro City Rampage Has Only Sold a Quarter of the WiiWare Sales Threshold
A return in investment looks a long way away
Just over a month ago Retro City Rampage arrived on the Wii Shop on the Wii and, of course, Wii U, bringing a wacky, irreverent tale cloaked in endless parodies and retro-GTA infused gameplay. As a last fling for the WiiWare service, it was in our opinion worth the wait. As explained to us in our
News Epic Games Rules Out Unreal Engine 4 For Wii U
"If you want to make a Wii U game, we have Unreal Engine 3"
Epic Games' Mark Rein has been speaking recently about his company's impressive Unreal Engine 4, and has delivered some rather disappointing — but predictable — news for Nintendo fans. Speaking to Kotaku, Rein admitted that the cutting-edge game development engine won't be making its...
Talking Point Going Mobile Will Give Miiverse a New Lease of Life
A true Nintendo social network
We think that many Wii U owners are likely to agree on one key point: Miiverse is a welcome and excellent new feature on the system. Nintendo was clearly aware that it'd be a major feature and selling point, giving the platform its iconic pre-E3 demonstration and reveal with the viral star, Non-Specific Action Figure...
News GoldenEye 007 Multiplayer Took Just Six Weeks To Make
Rare staffers put it together right at the end
In 1997, Rare released GoldenEye 007 on the N64 and it became an absolute classic that arguably redefined the first person shooter genre and revolutionised the way multiplayer was done on home consoles. It all nearly never happened though as according to Grant Kirkhope, the composer behind the game's...
News Club Nintendo Japan Rocking Five New 3DS LL Cradle Colours
Let your 3DS LL sit in style
There are some new additions in the Japanese Club Nintendo rewards catalogue in the form of five different coloured 3DS LL cradles. As you can see from the image below, club members can choose from a red, green, white, blue and yellow cradle. Any of these colourful cradles can be redeemed for 200 points from Club...
News Colors! 3D Update Available To Download On 5th April
Colour us excited
Collecting Smiles has announced its popular artistic application Colors! 3D has finally had its major update approved by Nintendo - it will be available to download from 5th April. The update comes with several new additions. Firstly, you'll be able to follow your favourite artists in the gallery, which will allow you to see their...
Video Is This What Miiverse Will Look Like On Your Smartphone?
Miiverse made mobile
A video has hit the web which appears to show Nintendo's Miiverse running on a smartphone via its web browser. The footage shows someone navigating through several Miiverse posts in the iPhone's Safari browser — and not via a dedicated application. There's a chance that this may be the only way to access the service from a...
News Shovel Knight Hits Kickstarter Target, Stretch Goals Set
Still 2 weeks to back and secure your copy
Well, it's official, Shovel Knight — the debut title from Yacht Club Games — has met its Kickstarter funding goal of $75,000 and is coming to both Wii U and 3DS. There's been a lot of hype about the retro-styled platformer since the former WayForward team announced its arrival, while hands-on...
News Ubisoft: Players Will Let Us Know When They've Had Enough Assassin's Creed
As long as people are buying it, Ubisoft will keep on making it
Every year brings with it an Easter Sunday, a Christmas Day and a new Assassin's Creed title. The series is just over five years old now and there are five home console games already in existence as well as several portable iterations on the DS, PSP and Vita. It's reached the point now...
Friday29th Mar 2013
News Monster Hunter And Price Cut Trigger Wii U Sales Spike In UK
125 percent increase compared to previous week
MCV has reported that Wii U hardware sales rose by 125 percent in the UK last week. The staggering leap is thought to have been caused by the UK launch of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, as well as HMV's price reduction on the Premium bundle - a deal which represents a saving of £140. Were you one of the...
News Digital Foundry - Need For Speed: Most Wanted U Delivers as Definitive Console Version
Nice one, Criterion
Earlier this year, highly respected developer Criterion stated that its release of Need for Speed: Most Wanted U would be based on the PC version, taking advantage of the technical improvements Wii U can offer over Xbox 360 and PS3. The technical capabilities of Wii U in comparison to these rivals has been hotly debated by some,...
News Nintendo of France: Games Will Improve Wii U Sales, Not A Price Cut
Boost in 3DS sales attributed to first party releases
A lot has been said about the Wii U and its slow sales in 2013. For example, research emerged yesterday from ABI which claimed the success of Nintendo's new home console hinged on a price cut. However, not everyone agrees with this statement. Speaking at GameStop's post-earnings financial call,...
Feature Luigi's Diary - Extracts
It's tough being the younger brother
Luigi's everywhere at the moment, beginning his role as the focus of Nintendo's biggest campaign in the coming months — The Year of Luigi. He has a new game earning rave reviews and making a lot of 3DS owners very happy, he's gearing up for some joint adventures with Mario, a solo Wii U platforming spin-off...
Rumour Suda51 Set To Revisit No More Heroes
Grasshopper Manufacture teases its next project
Grasshopper Manufacture has been hard at work developing Killer is Dead, which will be released later this year on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. That hasn't stopped the studio's CEO Goichi Suda - more commonly known as Suda51 - from teasing his next game, though. In an interview with Famitsu, the...
News GameStop: Wii U Marketing Strategy Has "Not Broken Through" To Consumers
More first party titles will enable system to "take off"
Earlier in the month, GameStop President Tony Bartel said Wii U sales had been slower than the company had anticipated and that the system would need some great first party titles in order to compete. The games retailer recently had its post-earnings financial call, which has been reported on...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Easter Edition
Insert your own egg/Easter bunny pun here
It's the Easter Holidays which, whether you observe the religious aspects of the occasion or not, often means a long weekend of basking in the Spring sunlight and having a well-earned rest. That said, there's still snow on the ground for some of the Nintendo Life team, so staying inside and playing video...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Makes His Miiverse Debut
Nintendo legend declares 2013 'The Year of Luigi'
Satoru Iwata took to Miiverse for the very first time earlier on to reconfirm that the update Wii U users will receive in April will reduce the time it takes to launch and exit software. Not to be outdone, Shigeru Miyamoto has now made his Miiverse debut by submitting a post to celebrate the Year of...
No news on platforms yet
Founded in 2001, Metanet Software is an independent developer specialising in fun free-to-play web browser games. It found fame in 2005 with the release of N, a platformer that sees you play as a ninja running through levels avoiding obstacles and collecting gold. A DS version of the game was released in 2008 called N+ and...
News Runner 2 Patch Now Available To Download
A few niggling issues fixed
BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien was released for the Wii U eShop around a month ago but unfortunately some gamers experienced a few problems with it - one of which involved the game freezing upon trying to exit the software. The developer Gaijin Games impressively got a patch made up and sent it...
News Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Soundtracks Now Available on iTunes
Playing the game is a more fun way to listen, though
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is a notable part of the 3DS library for fans of rhythm-based games, as it combines some memorable music with solid, intuitive controls. For keen fans of the Final Fantasy franchise, meanwhile, it's probably one the most treasured titles in their collection. The title...
Video Luigi Gets His Hands On The Poltergust 5000
Bustin' makes me feel good
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is out and in the hands of gamers all over the globe, which strikes us as the perfect time to show off this cool "reveal" video for the iconic Poltergust 5000 ghost-busting gadget. Created by Nintendo in conjunction with iam8bit Productions, the video mixes in-game footage with live-action to...
News Digital Game Sales Growing 33% Year-on-Year in US and EU
Analysts reveal new data at GDC
The digital distribution of games has grown substantially in recent years with an increasing number of titles finding themselves in the Nintendo eShop, PSN, Xbox Live Arcade and Steam. Analysts from NPD, iResearch and Digi-Capital presented data at this week's Game Developers Conference on the state of the global...
Thursday28th Mar 2013
Review Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Third time's a charm?
Art of Fighting sprang onto the Neo Geo arcade scene in 1993 and brought with it several innovations that would become a staple of future Neo fighting titles. For one thing the game featured huge character sprites, some spanning nearly the height of the screen. It also introduced the now famous SNK zoom system that would keep...
Talking Point An Open Letter To Nintendo
A Wii U owner's plea to the company they love
Even the most dedicated Nintendo fan will admit that the Wii U hasn't had the best of starts. The console has struggled to shift units in the way that Nintendo expected, and although we've seen some quality software of late — including Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, LEGO City: Undercover and Need for...
Nintendo Download 28th March 2013 (North America)
Rhythm heroics, mastering rivers, racing and a price revelation
It's Nintendo Download time once again, North America, and this week is all about 3DS. Wii U, DSi and Wii all have a week off, though there's a mix of the old, the new and the even older to enjoy on the 3DS eShop. Let's get to the details. 3DS Download Software: HarmoKnight (Nintendo,...
News Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Update Goes Live on Wii U
Improved motion controls included
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was possibly one of the most pleasant surprises in the Wii U launch lineup, as it features a huge amount of fan-service and top-notch track design. Throw in some Wii U-specific multiplayer options, and it's been a stand-out in the system's young life. As we've seen recently...
News Darksiders II to Disappear From The Wii U eShop After 31st March
In Europe, at least
Earlier today we reported on a rumour that Crytek USA may be interested in buying the Darksiders IP, as it's one of the franchises that's been left unclaimed in the sale of THQ's assets. That's a pity, as despite the odd frustrating section Darksiders II was a thoroughly decent action adventure title. In what seems to be a...
News New Research Claims Wii U Success Hinges On A Price Cut
ABI believes the video game market is set to improve
The video game market has been contracting in recent years. According to research from ABI, sales of video game consoles dropped by around a quarter in 2012 as the big three systems came towards the end of their life cycles. The launch of the Wii U over the festive period was reasonably...
News Cave Story Approved And Set For Release On The European eShop
Saints be praised
When it comes to Nintendo Downloads, wherever you live there are certain releases that are much in demand and mysterious in their delay. They're not actually mysterious in practice, but the result of developers encountering specific issues with the Nintendo organisation in question, securing ratings or, perhaps, not having the...
News Metroid Prime Developer Working On 2D Platformer For Mobile Formats
Wii U eShop edition could be on the horizon
Sunbreak Games is a studio founded by former Retro staffer Jason Behr, who worked as lead level designer on the Metroid Prime series during his time with the company and can also list Halo 4 on his résumé. Behr has gotten in touch to let us know about his studio's next project, a 2D platform adventure by...
News iOS Developers May Be Able To Port Games To The Wii U
Opens plenty of opportunities
Nintendo is opening its doors to even more indie developers than ever, but it would seem that a new third-party service could make it even easier for bedroom coders to get their titles onto the Wii U eShop. According to a tweet from Steward Christie — who works for Tizen App Developers and is currently attending GDC...
News Best Buy R.O.B. Saga Reaches a Happy Ending
S.A.V.E.D.
Best Buy has decided not to destroy the R.O.B. unit that nearly cost an employee his job. The robot, which an employee unsuccessfully attempted to take home instead of being recycled as part of Best Buy's Renew Blue program, will instead be sent to the company's corporate headquarters to be put on display. Best Buy had some enthusiastic...
Out Today LEGO City: Undercover And Luigi's Mansion 2
Bumper times ahead for Euro gamers
Nintendo fans are being blessed with some seriously amazing software lately. We've only just had the amazing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on 3DS and Wii U, and today European gamers have a double helping of brilliance in the shape of LEGO City: Undercover and Luigi's Mansion 2. "There are technical cracks in its...
News Iwata's First Post On Miiverse Reconfirms Reduced Loading Times For Wii U
New update will make it quicker to load and exit games
Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata has taken to the Miiverse to reconfirm that the update Wii U users are receiving in April will bring with it faster loading times. Iwata wrote: Hello, this is Satoru Iwata of Nintendo. As we announced in the January Nintendo Direct, we plan to release...
News Access Miiverse On Your Smartphone And PC By The End Of May
Keep up to date on the go
During a talk at the Game Developers Conference today, Miiverse producer Kiyoshi Mizuki said Nintendo's popular social network application would be accessible on smartphones and PCs between April and May. A 3DS version is currently in development and will arrive sometime in the future, though a release date is unknown at...
News Witch & Hero Begins Its 8-Bit Quest on 4th April
European date set, North America "will be soon"
Witch & Hero is one of a significant number of download titles being published by CIRCLE Entertainment this year, as it moves increasingly away from DSiWare and onto 3DS download software. This one arrives in Europe in next week's update, with the North American release to follow soon, and promises...
News Toki Tori 2 to Launch With a Discount
The early bird gets the worm
Two Tribes has announced pricing details for the soon-to-be-released Toki Tori 2. As an extra bonus, however, the highly anticipated Wii U eShop title will launch worldwide on 4th April with a 10% discount in all territories. The following pricing information comes from Two Tribes' official blog; the listed prices are...
Video An Ultimate Monster Hunter Gives a Masterclass
Less gathering, more hunting
Quite a number of us have probably, judging by the popularity of the subject within the community's forums, been playing a fair bit of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on 3DS and Wii U. It's a title that — given the chance to sink its claws in — can be difficult to put down. Still, advancing to the stage where you can...
News Forgotten Memories: Sixth Sense Developer Hopes To Bring Game To Wii U
Can you sense it?
Psychoz Interactive is hoping to bring survival horror Forgotton Memories: Sixth Sense to the Wii U eShop. The game — which has been made using Unity — has been in development for a couple of years, with the studio now wanting to make plans to bring its work to the Nintendo console. Lead Programmer for Psychoz Interactive...
Rumour Vigil Co-founder Interested In Buying Darksiders IP
Will the horsemen ride again?
When THQ bit the dust a while back, Vigil Games was one of the companies which didn't get purchased. This seemed to spell the end of the popular Darksiders franchise. However, hope is not lost. It would appear that Crytek USA CEO David Adams has expressed an interest in purchasing the IP he and many members of his...
Competition Paint An Easter Egg, Win A Copy of Toki Tori 2 On Wii U
Two Tribes hatches an egg-travaganza of a competition
Toki Tori 2 isn't far away now, and to celebrate its impending launch on the Wii U eShop, developer Two Tribes is running a competition with an Easter theme. All you have to do is paint an Easter egg and submit it via Twitter or Instagram, making sure that you hash-tag it with #tt2egg. The best...
Wednesday27th Mar 2013
News Best Buy Employee On A Mission To Save R.O.B.
Battling corporate policy for the sake of gaming history
An employee at Best Buy is currently at risk of losing his job in a desperate bid to prevent a Nintendo Entertainment System Deluxe Set from being recycled. Sharing his story on Reddit, a customer recently brought the set into the store to have it recycled as part of Best Buy's "Renew Blue"...
News Star Fox Developer: I Wanted To Say "Screw That" To Shigeru Miyamoto
Dylan Cuthbert reveals the magic of working with Nintendo
Star Fox is one of the Super Nintendo's most enduring classics, thanks largely to its ground-breaking use of 3D and tight, immserise gameplay. However, had Dylan Cuthbert — one of the game's key developers — had his way, it might have turned out very differently; something he now admits...
Feature A Short History of Luigi
From palette swap to main man
This week, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has been scaring — or more likely charming — 3DS owners in North America, while Europeans will get hold of the title very shortly. It represents Luigi's latest solo effort, as he chases ghosts with his Poltergust, with his widely acknowledged debut — bear with us, Mario is...
News No Battlefield 4 For Wii U Because DICE Wants To "Play It Safe"
Not ruling it out in the future, however
DICE creative director Lars Gustavsson has explained why the next entry in its best-selling Battlefield series won't be coming to the Wii U at launch. Speaking at GDC after the reveal of Battlefield 4's launch trailer, Gustavsson told Videogamer: I think overall for me as creative director, number one is...
News Kung Fu Rabbit Comes Out Kicking on Wii U eShop
Enter the lapin
Neko Entertainment was an early supporter of the Wii U eShop with European launch title Puddle, and shortly after release it hinted that more titles would be on the way to the platform in the near future. We can now exclusively reveal Neko's second game on the download service: Kung Fu Rabbit will be coming to the Wii U eShop very...
Video Wii U Menu Speed Upgrade Cuts Waiting Time By More Than Half
Nintendo shows off forthcoming performance enhancement
We all know that the Wii U isn't the fastest system when it comes to navigating the main user interface, but Nintendo is aware of this fact and is issuing two software updates this spring and summer which will cut down waiting times. The company has released a video which shows just how much...
Developer Interview Renegade Kid Tells Us More About Cult County
"It was important to us that our new FPS presented something unique"
Last week, just before its unveiling at PAX East, Renegade Kid revealed its upcoming 3DS eShop FPS title that had been confirmed earlier in the year. The accompanying logo and screens revealed relatively little, but did make it clear that the aptly-titled Cult County had a rather...
News ZombiU Patch Rises From The Grave To Harass The Living
Long-expected fix now hitting Wii U consoles worldwide
ZombiU is a fantastic game, but like so many modern titles, it shipped with a few bugs which have impacted the enjoyment of many players. Ubisoft confirmed that a patch was incoming a while ago, and we're now hearing reports that it's live. We don't currently have any solid details about what...
News Nintendo To Reveal Its Web Framework For Wii U At GDC
Big N looking to reduce development time for games and applications
The Nintendo Web Framework is due to be unveiled in a panel today entitled "Nintendo Wii U Application Development with HTML and JavaScript" at this week's Game Developer's Conference (GDC). The panel focuses on developing games and applications for Wii U using HTML 5, Javascript...
News Citizens of Earth Prepares to Invade Wii U eShop
Likened to Earthbound and Little King's Story
Indie developer Eden Industries has announced that its upcoming RPG, Citizens of Earth, will be hitting the Wii U eShop in 2014. The game tasks the player — as Vice President of the World — with rallying the citizens of a small rural town to battle wacky enemies and complete tasks for money and...
"Not just another NWC cart auction"
A copy of Nintendo World Championships 1990 owned by none other than "Gamemaster" Howard Phillips has recently sold on eBay for an incredible US $17,367. The game was listed as part of a unique package being offered by Howard, including an all-access badge he wore during the original competition in 1990 and a...
News Gunman Clive eShop Sales Surpass Combined Totals on iOS and Android
That's a bit Mega
When it comes to high-quality budget offerings on the 3DS eShop, we're not sure that they come any better than Gunman Clive, an action platformer with stylish visuals, multiple playable characters and a number of homages to classic franchises such as Mega Man. Although originally available on Android and iOS devices, with virtual...
News Netflix Now Available on TVii
Still no sign of TiVO
TVii was seen as an important selling point for the Wii U in North America at launch. Unfortunately, however, it was delayed by a month and when it was released it only featured Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus - services such as TiVO and Google Maps were nowhere to be seen. TiVO is set for an early 2013 release but it...
Video The Wonderful 101 Was Looking Good at PAX East
It's oh so wonderful
Those that were lucky enough to attend PAX East 2013 this year were given the chance to play The Wonderful 101, Platinum Games' upcoming Wii U exclusive. The footage below features our heroes battling it out against one of the giant robots, with plenty of action and fantastic visuals on show. Is The Wonderful 101 on your Wii U...
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Tops Japanese Charts
3DS remains best selling hardware, too
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has successfully spooked its way to the top of the Japanese sales charts. The 3DS adventure sold 280,151 copies in its first week on sale. The arrival of Luigi's latest outing helped the 3DS shift 76,553 units, putting it ahead of the PS Vita, which sold 41,073 consoles in the same...
News UK Gamers Rate Wii As "Best Ever" Console
2,000 GAME customers cast their vote
A survey of GAME customers in the United Kingdom has revealed that the general public rates the Wii as the world's best ever console. The high street chain quizzed 2,000 of its customers to obtain the information, and the Wii claimed 15% of the total vote. The Super Nintendo was the next most popular Nintendo...
News Rachel Features In New Resident Evil Revelations Gameplay Trailer
Don't get in her way
Last week it was confirmed that Rachel would be a playable character in the revamped version of Resident Evil Revelations for the Wii U. Capcom has now eleased a brand new trailer, focusing on Rachel eliminating all that crosses her path. She made her debut in the 3DS version, and soon gamers will be able to slip into her
News New Watch_Dogs Trailer Spies on Aiden Pearce
He's more than just a hacker
Watch_Dogs is one of many titles Ubisoft currently has in the works and it will be hacking its way onto several platforms, including the Wii U, at some point in 2013. A new trailer has now emerged for the game and anyone who watched the PlayStation 4 reveal event may find it a little familiar. The action found in the...
News Shovel Knight Closing In On Kickstarter Goal
17 days left to reach its target
Two weeks ago, Yacht Club Games said it was hoping to bring Shovel Knight to the Wii U and 3DS. Three days later, it had been confirmed that both versions will see a release. The 2D platformer is the studio's first title, and i
News Print Your Own Goldeneye Remote Mine
Golden gun not included
Anyone who played Goldeneye 007 back on the N64 will no doubt remember the countless weapons and traps included in its multiplayer mode. ComradeQuiche of Thingiverse has combined his fond memories and technical know-how to create a replica of the remote mine using a 3D printer and has posted the model for all to use. The...
News Nnooo Announces escapeVektor Sale
Escape for 50% less
Nnooo has announced that its 3DS eShop game, escapeVektor, will be sold at a 50% discount over the next three weeks. The critically acclaimed game's soundtrack will also be on sale. From the press release: "You can now grab the full game and original soundtrack for less than the normal price of the game," said Thomson. "Head...
News Wii U Version Of Lords Of New York Could Be On The Cards
Kickstarter project adds Wii U eShop edition as a stretch goal
Poker-based adventure RPG Lords of New York could be coming to the Wii U eShop, assuming it meets its Kickstarter goal of $295,000. It has currently gained just over $11,000 at the time of writing, with 20 days remaining. Here's the official description taken from the Kickstarter page:...
Competition Another Chance to Win £100 of Nintendo eShop Credit!
Plus 10 runners-up each snagging £15 too.
Fancy getting your hands on some free eShop credit for your 3DS or Wii U? We've joined forces with Nintendo UK once again to give away a whopping £100 of eShop credit to one lucky winner, plus £15 to ten runners-up. All you have to do to enter this fantastic competition is answer the question below. Good...
News PAX Australia is Sold Out
No more tickets available for the July event
PAX Australia will be taking place this Winter between 19th and 23rd July in Melbourne and if you haven't picked up a ticket yet you might be a bit disappointed to hear all passes have been sold. This comes from the event's official Facebook page, which stated the expo is now a sell out and no more...
Tuesday26th Mar 2013
Review HarmoKnight (3DS eShop)
Big beat
When you think Game Freak, you instinctively think Pokémon. It’s hardly surprising; the Japanese studio has been behind the million-selling franchise since day one, and the evergreen popularity of “catching 'em all” has ensured that the firm has little reason — or time — to explore other avenues. Apart from side-projects like...
News New 3DS System Update Gives the eShop a Spit and Polish
Update: fix confirmed for any post-update issues
Since posting this article we've been advised in the comments and elsewhere that this system update has caused issues in some cases; when an error occurs it prevents subsequent access to the eShop or System Settings. Courtesy of our wonderful Twitter followers we've been directed to a fix that'll...
News Nicalis Would Like To Bring Monaco or Spelunky To A Nintendo Console
Fez is "not even a consideration"
Phil Fish caused a bit of a stir over the weekend when he took to Twitter to say he felt Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate was more suited to the PlayStation Vita than the trusty 3DS. One game that has never made it to a Nintendo console is Fish's biggest creation, Fez. We here at Nintendo Life decided to find out how many...
News Miyamoto Teases the Possibility of a Real "Nintendo Land" in the Future
Step right up for the Spirit Tracks runaway train...
While on his press trip around North America in recent weeks, Shigeru Miyamoto has been busy speaking to a variety of outlets about his development philosophies and his most recent projects. It's in an interview with ABC News, however, where Miyamoto has been asked about the prospects of a...
News Fez For Wii U Is Highly Unlikely Unless Nintendo Pays For It
It'd have to port it, too
Fez creator, Phil Fish, has been doing the rounds across the internet recently, with his comments that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate would be more suited to the Playstation Vita; he later attempted to clear up the fact that he was taken out of context on Twitter, by saying that he loves Nintendo more than it deserves. In a...
Feature The Building Blocks for a LEGO City
One block at a time
As one of the most popular toys in the world, LEGO has been a part of almost everyone’s lives. The unbridled sense of creativity and possibility that the bricks produce is arguably unmatched by anything else, so it’s no surprise that the LEGO Group has continually pushed for the creation of LEGO games. Be it based purely on...
News Famitsu Unleashes New Details On Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 For 3DS
Summer release in Japan
We reported yesterday that the latest Famitsu magazine would have fresh information on the 3DS port of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 — also dubbed Break Record — in Japan, and quite a few details have indeed been released. The game has been given a summer release window in Japan, along with full voice work for the...
News European Pokémon 2013 Video Game Championships Dates Revealed
Compete to be the Pokémon World Champion
Europeans, think you've got what it takes to be the very best? Then you can compete in this year's Pokémon European Video Game Championships, in the hope of battling it out to earn a Travel Award to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver, Canada, this coming August. Trainers from all over...
News Etrian Odyssey: Millennium Girl Revealed In Famitsu Magazine
Remake of the DS original hitting Japan in June
Yesterday, we reported that the latest issue of Famitsu magazine could well be featuring some news on a fresh instalment in the Etrian Odyssey series. Leaks from Japan suggest that the magazine will be unveiling Etrian Odyssey: Millennium Girl for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is expected to launch in...
News Square Enix CEO Resigns Ahead of Financial Losses
Major restructuring is planned
With the financial year closing in the coming week, Square Enix has stated that it anticipates an "extraordinary loss" as it puts into effect major restructuring of the company. With disappointing sales of console titles and the costs of making sweeping organisational changes, the company anticipates reporting a loss...
News ZombiU Developers Talk Permadeath And Protagonists
Giving new meaning to "silent protagonist"
At this year's GDC, Ubisoft Montpellier gave a post-mortem discussion on their Wii U launch title, ZombiU, discussing the genesis of the game and the unique approach they took to involving the player in the story. First shown at E3 2011 as the darkly comical Killer Freaks From Outer Space, story design...
News Harvest Moon Heading to North American 3DS eShop in Late April
Legend of the River King will be available on 28th March
As we already know, Europe will be able to download the Game Boy Color version of Harvest Moon from the 3DS eShop on 28th March. However, North American farmers have been left in the dark, with many believing they've been put out to pasture. Well fret not, as Natsume has revealed via its...
News Toki Tori 2 Approved by Nintendo, 4th April Release is Confirmed
This chick's ready to fly, with some help
Last week we brought you the happy news that Two Tribes was setting a release date of 4th April for its long awaited Wii U eShop title, Toki Tori 2. As we also made clear, however, there was an element of risk as the game hadn't formally passed the Nintendo approval process, meaning that the developer was...
News Tecmo Koei Slices Team Ninja in Two
The company is reorganising after big profits
Tecmo Koei has been doing pretty well for itself recently. Last year it recorded a net profit of $27.9 million (£17.7 million) between the beginning of October and the end of December, which was a staggering 291.7% increase on the previous quarter. Now the company has announced it is reorganising its...
Monday25th Mar 2013
News Ubisoft Reveals Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Special Editions And First Gameplay Trailer
VIP pass 'The Watch' coming, too
Ubisoft has revealed the very first gameplay trailer for the upcoming new adventure in the Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, as well as four special editions. Those who pre-order the game will also gain access to 'The Watch', a VIP program allowing players to dive deeper into the Assassin's...
Talking Point The Download or Disc Dilemma
Do you download?
In moving from the Wii Shop and DSi Shop to the Wii U eShop and 3DS eShop, Nintendo has shown a desire to compete head on with the Xbox, PlayStation and Steam online marketplaces and offer full retail downloads. It's amazing to think that downloads from the Wii Shop were limited to a meagre maximum of 40MB, yet now we can download...
Review Naruto: Powerful Shippuden (3DS)
He's a laugher, not a fighter
The first thing that's going to strike you about Naruto: Powerful Shippuden is the super deformed art style. After all, Namco Bandai has plastered it everywhere, so it must be quite proud of how it turned out. That's probably a smart move, because the visuals rank among this game's main strong points. It's only when you...
News Hyperkin Details RetroN 5 Super Console In Video Announcement
Coming in July, plays 9 different game formats and upscales via HDMI
We knew that Hyperkin would be officially revealing the RetroN 4 console at this year's Midwest Gaming Classic, but the company surprised everyone by lifting the lid on the RetroN 5 instead. It pretty much showcases all of the functions that were hinted at with the RetroN 4, and...
News Platinum's Kamiya: "No Other Way" That Bayonetta 2 Could Be Made Without Nintendo
It's exclusive for a reason
Platinum Games’ Hideki Kamiya has reminded his Twitter followers that without Nintendo, the highly anticipated Bayonetta 2 wouldn’t be in development. Kamiya, who directed the original Bayonetta for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, is supervising development of the Wii U exclusive and directing a new IP, The Wonderful 101,...
News Phil Fish: I Love Nintendo In Ways It Probably Doesn't Deserve
Fez creator attempts to clarify anti-3DS comments
Yesterday, we reported on FEZ creator Phil Fish's comments regarding Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS. He posted a rant on Twitter which was quickly picked up by eagle-eyed Nintendo fans, who pounced on his percieved negativity towards the Kyoto company and its dual-screen hardware. Predictably,...
Feature The Making of Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom & Shadow Over Mystara
Hey waiter, you got some RPG in my beat ‘em up!
The fantasy role-playing series Dungeons & Dragons has enjoyed a long a fruitful relationship with the pastime of video gaming. We’ve seen countless digital interpretations of the tabletop war-game, each one utilising the staggering scope of the licence to create new and amazing worlds for the...
Nintendo Download 28th March 2013 (Europe)
A blocky adventure, heroic rhythm, retail goodies and more
As always, Europe, news of the download offerings coming to the region in this week's update are already here to start our week with a bang. While there are a few new additions, including a previously unannounced transfer tool, the main headline is the lengthy list of retail downloads...
News Android-based Ouya Console Will Have NES and SNES Emulation At Launch
Wii U rival to offer ability to play ROMs on your TV
Ouya is one of the more high-profile Kickstarter campaigns, having raised a staggering $8.6 million in 2012. The system will run on Google's Android operating system and should retail for less than $100 when it launches in June this year. Although its primary objective is to host titles similar...
News Nintendo Spells Out Why You Should Pick Wii U In Promotional Flyer
Desperate times call for desperate measures?
We've all been there. At some point over the past few months we've all had one person (or perhaps several) ask "What's the difference between the Wii U and the Wii, and why on earth should I get one?" Many seem to think it's associated with the original Wii, instead of an entirely new console altogether...
Review Forgotten Legions (DSiWare)
Tower offence
Forgotten Legions tells the story of a character named Merkhovious, who is apparently a wizard or some other type of magic user. He started using dark magic and was quickly banished from the town of Riverkeep, because the higher-ups there frown upon that sort of thing. Now Merkhovious is back, and he’s brought an army of undead...
News Young Justice: Legacy Coming To Wii U And 3DS Despite Show Axe
The legacy lives on
Little Orbit has announced that Young Justice: Legacy — based on the recently cancelled Young Justice animated series — will be released this September for the all major platforms, including 3DS and Wii U. The game was previously announced for release this Spring on the Wii, but those plans have apparently been scrapped...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Makes Its Debut in UK Top 10
Taking a bite out of the sales charts
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate hit Europe late last week, landing on Wii U and 3DS to accommodate all gamers with a current Nintendo platform. It's a high-profile release that's had a fair bit of attention — as well as broadly positive reviews — while the Wii U version has been seen by some as the first step in a...
News The Nintendo 3DS Celebrates its Two Year Anniversary
Still going strong
Two years ago, on 25th March 2011, the Nintendo 3DS arrived in Europe; its North American release was on 27th March. As the follow-up to the DS family of systems — the biggest selling series of handhelds in history — it arrived with plenty of expectation. After an excitable launch — it landed in Japan in late February —...
Review Jewel Master Atlantis 3D (3DS eShop)
A diamond in the rough?
For years now, Cerasus Media has been pumping out game after game in the Jewel Master series, and very little has changed in that time. Each instalment is usually playable and entertaining enough, but in most instances the gameplay formula and overall presentation have remained the same. And while the classic phrase "If it...
News Ubisoft Not Disappointed With Wii U Install Base
Would still like to see more out there, though
The Wii U has had a slow start to the year. After selling a decent amount before Christmas, sales have started to slip and many Wii U owners are worried about the future of third party titles, considering the install base is currently much lower than other platforms. However, despite many attributing...
News Ecco The Dolphin Creator Launches Kickstarter For Spiritual Sequel, Wii U Version A Possibility
It's always good to have a porpoise in life
The team behind the original Ecco the Dolphin is attempting to fund a spiritual sequel using Kickstarter. Ed Annunziata — who created Ecco — is the man behind the aquatic venture, which is entitled The Big Blue. The campaign is seeking $665,000 to cover the costs of development, and has raised (at the...
News Gaze Upon The Mega Man Figures You Will Never Own
Custom made and packed with awesomeness
There's no shortage of Mega Man figures out there — the popularity of the character both in the west and Japan has ensured a steady flow of cool merchandise — but unsurprisingly most are based on the anime-style iteration of the character, and not the one found on the western boxes. Although they're not...
News Capcom Would Love To Work With WayForward Again
DuckTales might not be the only game they remaster together
Capcom revealed DuckTales: Remastered less than a week ago and already we've heard quite a lot about it. The downloadable game will be 70% faithful to the original, with the rest being additional material to smooth things out and bring the game into the modern era. It's being developed by...
News Dan Adelman: Nintendo Aims to Make eShop Publishing "as Frictionless as Possible"
Admires indie scene's "willingness to try out new ideas"
This is an important week for game developers of all sizes, as the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) gets underway in San Francisco. Nintendo will naturally have important members of the team on the scene, taking the opportunity to weigh up trends, discussion points and, most importantly, meet...
News News on Etrian Odyssey, Devil Survivor 2 Expected In Next Famitsu
More RPG goodness on the way for 3DS owners?
While fans in the West are just forging into Etrian Odyssey IV or eagerly awaiting its arrival, time marches on in Japan: news on what’s next for the series is expected to arrive soon. Tweets from Atlus Japan have teased an announcement regarding the Etrian Odyssey series which will appear in the March...
News Renegade Kid Open To Idea Of Moon Sequel
IP rights present an issue, however
Renegade Kid recently announced its new FPS, Cult County, which is to be released on the 3DS eShop episodically later this year and into next year. Speaking to Nintendo Force magazine about the horror-themed shooter, co-founder Jools Watsham made reference to his studio's DS horror series Dementium and the...
Sunday24th Mar 2013
Review Need for Speed: Most Wanted U (Wii U)
Just what U wanted
Criterion is best known for developing the smash hit Burnout games — which last appeared on a Nintendo console over ten years ago — but since then the studio's gone on to helm the long-running Need for Speed series of racing games. Its latest effort is Need for Speed: Most Wanted U, an enhanced port of last year's PS3/360...
News Fez Creator Believes Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is More Suited To Vita
He isn't a massive fan of the 3DS...
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is out right now on Wii U and 3DS and many gamers out there are having a great time tracking down monsters. One person who doesn't appear to be enjoying himself however is Phil Fish, founder of Polytron Corporation and creator of Fez. After picking up the 3DS version, Fish took to...
News No Updates Planned For Resident Evil: Revelations On 3DS
New features limited to HD version
3DS players wishing to play as the hairtastic Rachel in Resident Evil: Revelations will have to move on to the upcoming console version of the game, according to Capcom Senior VP Christian Svensson. Answering a fan request on the Capcom Unity forums, Svensson denied that any new content would come for the 3DS...
Ninterview Meet Adam Howden - Voice Actor For Shulk
This is the Monado's power!
Xenoblade Chronicles is an epic adventure on Wii, receiving universal praise from critics and gamers alike. Its release was so desired that it partly prompted fan-movement Operation Rainfall, and was the first of a trio of fantastic JRPGs to be localised for the West - The Last Story being second, and Pandora's Tower...
News Aussie Retailers Express Their Views on Wii U
Nintendo 'needs to build awareness'
Wii U has had a difficult few months in practically every country since the New Year. Many have attributed it to a distinct lack of new releases - something that is beginning to improve with the release of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. One nation where Wii U owners have had a more difficult time than others is...
News DuckTales: Remastered Won't Be Getting Any Multiplayer DLC
Staying true to the original
The original NES version of DuckTales was an entirely single player experience, however as anyone who's played the game will know, there's plenty of room for multiplayer considering all those nephews Scrooge McDuck has. Now that the classic title is being remade, everyone wants to know if Capcom or WayForward...
News MapleStory: The Girl's Fate is a South Korean 3DS Exclusive
Not even Japan is getting this one
Nintendo of Korea has teamed up with Nexon, one of the region's most prolific publishers, to bring a brand new MapleStory title to the 3DS. Unfortunately, however, it will be exclusive to South Korea. For those unaware, MapleStory is a 2D free-to-play massively multiplayer online RPG and it's grown considerably in...
Feature Nintendo Life's Staff Favourites - NES
Let's begin at the beginning
One thing you may have noticed, if you're a regular visitor to Nintendo Life, is that we're more than happy to wear our retro-enthusiast, rose-tinted spectacles as often as possible. A merger with VC-Reviews in April 2009 is an important part of our history, and we often share entertaining blasts from the past and wax...
Review Lola's Math Train (3DS eShop)
I choo-choo-choose you!
Lola’s Math Train, the follow-up to the pleasantly surprising Lola’s Alphabet Train, isn’t quite a game as much as it’s a learning application. In this instalment Lola, the jubilant panda, is here to help kids learn about math, numbers and logical problem solving through various interactive challenges. This is a...
News Turtle Tale Is Running And Jumping To The 3DS eShop
Hero in a half shell
Saturnine Games has revealed its next 3DS eShop title, a platformer by the name Turtle Tale. The game is a 2D platformer which calls to mind classic 8-bit and 16-bit games of yesteryear, and takes advantage of the console's 3D screen. Saturnine Games' Edward Di Geronimo Jr. shared this bit of information with us: You play as...
Saturday23rd Mar 2013
Review Super Pang (Super Nintendo)
Forever blowing bubbles
Capcom is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013. Since the company formed in 1983, it has published a host of classic titles from the Resident Evil series, countless Street Fighter games and many timeless iterations of Mega Man. One of its lesser known titles is Super Pang (known as Super Buster Bros. in North America), an...
News Original DuckTales Not Coming To Virtual Console
The remastered version won't be coming to 3DS either
The gaming world has been buzzing since Capcom announced DuckTales: Remastered and as expected people have been clamoring for information on the upcoming release. Thankfully, senior vice president Christian Svensson has been on hand to give us a few answers to our neverending questions. Earlier...
Hardware Classics NEC PC Engine
Emotion Engine
It's a common misconception that the Nintendo Super Famicom and Sega Mega Drive were close rivals in their native Japan. In reality, Sega was in fact third in the pecking order, and it was NEC's PC Engine which fought so bitterly with Nintendo for domination of the sales charts. A collaboration between hardware manufacturer NEC an
News Capcom Explains How DuckTales: Remastered Came To Be
"Frankly, you guys asked for it"
Capcom surprised many at PAX East by revealing that NES classic DuckTales would be receiving a HD remake under the guise of DuckTales: Remastered. The company's senior vice president, Christian Svensson, has since taken to the Capcom Unity forum to explain why the publisher decided to embark on the remastering of...
News Diablo III May Not Be A Sony Exclusive After All
Blizzard appears to be considering its options
Diablo III was shown off this weekend at PAX East and up to now it had appeared that it was a Sony exclusive, given that it's only been announced for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. However, this may not actually be the case as in an interview with Penny Arcade Report, the game's lead designer Joshua...
Talking Point The Perils and Positives of a Packed Release Schedule
Room for no more
We're all more than a little familiar with video game droughts by now. Until a few years ago, it was tradition to suffer a lack of software in the summer, surviving only on the ever-faithful backlog and the revitalising elixir provided by E3 info dumps. It's common in the months following a console launch too: we're sure you...
News Capcom Having "Ongoing Discussions About Mega Man"
No new game, but plenty of merchandise on the way
Capcom revealed a few things during its 'World of Capcom' panel at PAX East. For a start there were the announcements of DuckTales: Remastered and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara, which will both be coming to the Wii U eShop this summer. But it wasn't all about ducks and dragons, Mega...
News Erutan Beautifully Sings 'The Hunter's Mark' in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Trailer
Capcom developed the special trailer just for her
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate has finally emerged in the West and to celebrate the release Capcom has conjured up a new trailer which features well-known performer Erutan softly sing along with the game's theme. Erutan - whose real name is Kate Covington - has been playing music since she was one and a...
News Wii Mini Generating Little Interest in The UK
Maybe the cold weather is putting people off...
The Wii Mini emerged as a Canadian exclusive back in December and, relatively speaking, it did reasonably well - shifting 35,700 units between its launch and 31st January. This lead Nintendo to bring the bizarre little console to other markets - one of which was the UK, where it was rele
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Puzzle Swap Panel Ghoulishly Arrives In Europe
Streetpass puzzle collectors, rejoice!
Ahead of the launch of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon in Europe, Nintendo has released a brand new Puzzle Swap panel for the brother in green's upcoming adventure. The new puzzle piece can be found in the StreetPass Mii Plaza on the 3DS, you must be connected to the internet for the piece to come through. The...
News Gearbox: Future of Aliens: Colonial Marines in SEGA's Hands
Will it ever colonise on Wii U?
Nobody seems to know very much at all about the Wii U version of Aliens: Colonial Marines. The first person shooter was released on other platforms back in February and was supposed to be released for Wii U in the system's launch window - which is set to close on 31st March. There have been rumours that the title has...
Friday22nd Mar 2013
Guide Transferring Your Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Save Data
Sweaty palm time
As those of you currently diving Jaggi Helm-first into Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate no doubt already know, Capcom — and various retailers — have been encouraging you to buy two copies of the game. Naturally one is for Wii U and the other is for 3DS, with the big selling point being that you can transfer your save data between both...
Review Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (Wii U eShop / NES)
Heavy Hitter
Boxing is a fascinating sport. Two human beings enter the ring, then skilfully and tactfully beat the tar out of one another using nothing but their own gloved fists. It’s the perfect fodder for a video game, and that’s exactly why the Punch-Out!! series is such a classic. Originally released in North America as Mike Tyson's...
News All New DuckTales is Coming to Wii U
We kid you not
PAX East is underway, and we can expect some tasty new reveals over the coming weekend. One is completely out of left-field and likely to delight retro fans — published by Capcom and developed by WayForward, DuckTales: Remastered is coming to the Wii U eShop (and other platforms) this summer. The original DuckTales on NES is...
News Renegade Kid Reveals Upcoming 3DS eShop FPS - Cult County
3D screens to creep you out
We've know for a good while now that Renegade Kid, probably best known for 3DS eShop — and soon to be enhanced for Wii U eShop — title Mutant Mudds, has been working on a first-person title for the handheld's download store. In fact some may not be aware that the team produced three FPS titles for DS that, at the...
News More Capcom-Disney Games Could Be Remade if Duck Tales is Successful
Ch-Ch-Chip n' Dale!
Gamers got a huge injection of nostalgia today with the news that Duck Tales: Remastered will be coming to Wii U and other platforms this summer. Back in the 1980s and '90s Capcom released a series of Disney games on the NES and SNES, each of them with their own charm. In an interview with Polygon, Rey Jimenez, the producer of...
News Wii U UK Price Reaches New Low As HMV Slashes Premium Bundle Cost
£199.99 bundle represents a £140 saving
Embattled UK high street retailer HMV has reduced the price of the Wii U Premium bundle to just £199.99. The store is also throwing in a copy of Ubisoft's ZombiU for that price, which means buyers are making a saving of £140. This marks a new low for the Wii U's UK price, with retailers in the region...
Top dog, or just plain ruff?
It's that special time of the year again, when the world of casual gaming throws fluffy puppies and wide-eyed kittens at things and hopes to make a profit. This time Neopica has stepped up to the challenge with Pets Resort 3D. In the latest Nintendogs + Cats clone, the player takes command of a rather suspicious...
News Amazon UK Reveals New-Look eShop Cards
Available in £15, £25 and £50 denominations
Amazon UK has posted listings for the new-look Nintendo eShop cards. The cards are available in £15 (Toad), £25 (Luigi) and
News Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara Coming To Wii U eShop This June
Capcom unleashes the dragon at PAX East
Prior to PAX East Capcom teased us all by saying there would be a "surprise or two" in store during its 'World of Capcom' panel. It certainly wasn't kidding, as the company has not only confirmed that Duck Tales: Remastered will be making a welcome appearance this summer, but a Dungeons & Dragons...
News Iwata Asks Shines A Light On Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Shigeru Miyamoto joins Nintendo's President in the latest interview
It's been 12 years since Luigi's Mansion was released on the GameCube, and the long arduous wait for its sequel Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is close to being over. Next Level Games is the developer behind the title, and Nintendo President Satoru Iwata caught up with the studio in...
News Code Of Princess Picks a Fight With Europe on 28th March
Coming in at €29.99
Code of Princess was published in North America by Atlus way back in October last year, but the NA-centric publisher didn't want to do the same in Europe and PAL regions. It did eventually emerge that developer Agatsuma Entertainment was taking up that localisation itself, and that it was releasing the title as a download-only...
Out Today Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Join the hunt
Today marks the European launch of one of the year's biggest games: Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on Wii U and 3DS. The latest instalment in the long-running franchise which has taken its Japanese homeland by a storm, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate pits you against a wide variety of bloodthirsty beasts, each of which requires a...
Clone alone
The medium of video gaming has arguably witnessed some of the most ridiculous story lines in the history of humankind. Let’s face it, if you went to a literary agent with the concept of a portly Italian plumber giving up hunting giant apes and travelling to a land filled with talking mushrooms to save a princess from the clutches of a...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Ten
Oh baby, it's cold outside
First of all, we should apologise for using a tagline specific to those of us in parts of the world enduring a long Winter — a lot of the NL crew can see snow outside their windows right now, when they should see flowers in bloom and overly-chatty birds that won't stop tweeting (as birds do naturally, not on the social...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening Demo Questing To Europe On March 28th
You're having a Marth
Nintendo has confirmed that Europe will be getting a demo of Fire Emblem: Awakening on March 28th. Intelligent Systems' insanely popular turn-based strategy title has already been released in Japan and North America. The US release has been the most successful in the history of the franchise for that particular region. The...
Thursday21st Mar 2013
Review Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)
This game must be possessed
Nintendo has proclaimed 2013 to be "The Year of Luigi": a long overdue celebration of Mario's underdog brother. There are already a few Luigi-themed (or at least partially related) releases to come later in the year, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the Japanese games giant had a few more projects tucked up its sleeve...
Nintendo Download 21st March 2013 (North America)
Luigi goes on a spooky quest, Pokémon go exploring, Zen Pinball and more
It's Thursday, and time for your Nintendo Download update, North America. This week we have an oft-demanded Wii U download that finally makes it across the Atlantic, two major retail offerings, a couple of discounts and some extra download goodies. Check out all of the details...
Video This Is The Star Fox Movie We Want Hollywood To Make
Behind the scenes on a fan-made masterpiece
We've already seen how Nintendo games can get the Gritty Reboot treatment, but this latest fan-made video is going for a truly epic feel — and makes us wish that Pixar and Nintendo could join forces to make Star Fox: The Movie with Joe Morrisseau, George Hernandez, Jesus Martinez, Jeff Barruga and Jeremy...
Developer Interview Scientifically Proven Is Bringing "Brutal, White Knuckle" Platforming To Wii U
Former Call of Duty dev announces Blood of the Werewolf for the Wii U eShop
Scientifically Proven Entertainment is a studio which has its fingers in many pies. It produces award-winning apps, content for TV and — possibly most importantly — video games. Speaking of which, it gives us great pleasure to exclusively confirm that the company's next...
News Real Heroes: Firefighter Sequel In Development For Wii U
Flame on
The CEO of Scientifically Proven Entertainment has exclusively revealed to us that his company is working on a semi-sequel to the popular Real Heroes: Firefighter series. Previously available on Wii and 3DS, the franchise puts you in the position of a fireman attempting to douse the flames and rescue people from crumbling structures...
News Nintendo Removes Restriction On 18+ Content For the Nintendo eShop
Adults, now you can browse whenever you want
It seems that the restriction on 18+ content on the Nintendo Wii U eShop — and 3DS eShop, it should be noted — has finally been lifted. Games rated PEGI 18 (USK 18 in Germany) were only accessible during certain hours each day, from 11pm in some European countries until 3am — only giving four hours...
News New Patch Released For Call of Duty: Black Ops II On Wii U
Patch 'em up, mate
For those who have been having problems with Call of Duty: Black Ops II for the Wii U, you'll be pleased to know that Treyarch has released the latest update to fix a couple of issues with the popular first-person shooter title, details of which you can see outlined below. Changes specific to the Wii U version include: Feature...
News Next Level Games Has A "Top Secret" Title In Development
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon developer is hard at work
Next Level Games is the Canadian studio behind the upcoming Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and it appears it hasn't been taking any time off after the long development process. According to the LinkedIn profile of Devon Blanchet, a lead designer at the company, there's a "top secret" game that's been...
News Wii U Version Of Dead Island: Riptide "Not Worth It", Says Deep Silver
Lack of interest to blame?
The Dead Island: Riptide saga shows no signs of slowing down. We reported last week that publisher Deep Silver had said the Wii U wouldn't be getting the title because the game engine would need re-writing, a claim which developer Techland subsequently shot down in flames. Now, disgruntled fans are taking to Twitter to...
Video Zelda: A Link To The Past Gets Condensed Into Just Four Minutes
One of the best games ever in less time than it takes to eat a burger
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is unquestionably one of the best Zelda instalments, and quite possibly one of the greatest video games ever made. The games offers hours of top-notch entertainment, but YouTube user vgcuts has managed to cram all of that awesomeness into...
News Nintendo UK Promises to Meet Retailers, Share Wii U Strategy and Boost the System
"We look forward to updating – and exciting – our partners"
It's common knowledge that Wii U sales have lost momentum, worldwide, in the early months of 2013. After a promising set of launch figures, NPD results for North America in January and February have been low, Japanese sales are currently only beating Wii and Xbox 360 (which sells poorly...
News Mighty Switch Force! 2 Confirmed For 3DS eShop, Coming This Spring
Patricia Wagon returns
WayForward Technologies has confirmed the rumours and announced Mighty Switch Force! 2 for the 3DS eShop. The sequel to the massively popular Mighty Switch Force!, the follow-up once again stars the feisty Patricia Wagon, but this time around she's battling blazes in Tangent City. The game is expected to launch this Spring...
News Capcom To Make "New Product Announcements" At PAX East
Says there may be "a surprise or two" in store
PAX East is set to kick off in Boston this weekend and it's sure to generate a heck of a lot of buzz, what with the amount of video game companies that will be in attendance. One of those companies will be Capcom, which will be showcasing games such as Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Resident Evil...
News MercurySteam Still Interested In Developing A Contra Title
David Cox talks up his "second great love"
Back in June last year, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate developer MercurySteam revealed it would love to work on a Contra game for Konami, should the opportunity arise. It seems that desire is still burning brightly, as Konami's David Cox, who works very closely with MercurySteam, revealed in...
News Another Castle Hits Its Kickstarter Goal
$12,000 target reached with over a week left on the clock
Uncade's Wii U eShop title Another Castle has reached its Kickstarter funding target of $12,000 with 8 days to go. As you'll know if you read our exclusive interview with the creator of the game, Another Castle is a retro-style platformer with rando
News Square Enix Trademarks Fantasy Village in Japan
Are we looking at another life-sim?
It's fair to say that life simulation games are fairly popular in Japan. The 3DS currently has two big hitters tearing up the sales charts with Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Fantasy Life - both of which sold out at a staggering rate. This success has no doubt piqued the interest of several publishers and...
News Two Tribes Announces Toki Tori 2 Hatching Date of 4th April
Barring any approval disasters
Toki Tori 2 was one of the first games announced for the Wii U eShop, before we even knew how the platform would look. An original launch day release target shifted to December, but was then pushed back to an unspecified date due to a late decision that the game wasn't ready. As the developer's main man Collin van...
Wednesday20th Mar 2013
Review The King of Fighters '98 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
The best there ever was
For many 2D fighting game fans, The King of Fighters '98 represents the zenith of the series; the crowning glory of the only rival lineage to truly bloody the nose of Capcom's genre-defining Street Fighter. It's not hard to see why this is the case; the game looks stunning, has a massive roster of characters and boasts one...
News Wii U Version Of Deus Ex Will Be The "Ultimate Edition Of The Game"
Augments include better visuals, all the DLC and unique GamePad features
Deus Ex: Human Revolution's executive game director Jean-Francois Dugas and game designer Emile Pedneault have been speaking to our good friends at Eurogamer about the forthcoming Wii U port of the title, and have been quick to point out that Nintendo fans will be getting the...
Talking Point Wii U eShop Discounts Show It's a Vibrant Marketplace, Not a Monopoly
Nintendo's digital strategy continues to evolve
This week it was confirmed that a sale on Ubisoft's retail Wii U downloads, which arrived in North America in mid-February, will hit Europe this week. It's the latest small landmark in what's become a regular series of subtle evolutions in Nintendo's download platform strategies, and one that strongly...
News Fantasy Life Trademark Emerges in Europe
Now the trademark officer will fight some monsters
Fantasy Life, the adventure RPG collaboration between Level-5 and Brownie Brown (the Nintendo subsidiary now known as 1-UP Studio), has enjoyed a successful launch in Japan. It was practically a sellout in its first week at the end of 2012, and has gone on to accumulate nearly a quarter of a million...
News New Link Figurine Features Epic Detail
Check out that fabric
We do like to show you some awesome collectibles and figurines when they emerge, as sometimes they can be difficult to ignore. The Legend of Zelda is a franchise that gets its fair share of desirable decorations, one example being that from Max Factory, which we showed you last year. That was nice, but a Skyward Sword-style...
News Aliens: Colonial Marines Seems To Have Been Abducted From The Wii U
Oh alien, where art thou?
Aliens: Colonial Marines is one of those games that nobody seems to know anything about. We reported last month that it was scheduled for release in the Wii U launch window, which technically ends on the 31st March — Sunday week, to be exact. But where is it? A representative for SEGA was questioned on the game's status,...
Video Pokémon Snap Gritty Reboot Spoofs Jurassic Park
"Welcome to Pokémon Island!"
The Gritty Reboot team — which did such a fantastic job on Harvest Moon earlier this month — are back with another Nintendo-related trailer, this time based on the N64 title Pokémon Snap. The clip boasts the same astonishingly high production values as it predecessor, and this time spoofs the Hollywood smash-hit...
News LEGO City Goes A Little Too Undercover At North American Retail
Copies hard to find, retailers expecting stock later this week
LEGO City: Undercover launched in North America this week, but reports are coming in that finding the game isn't as easy as it possibly should be. Just as happened with Fire Emblem: Awakening a while back, it would seem that there's been some kind of shipping problem, as US stores are...
News 3DS is Back on Top of the Japanese Charts
Normal service is resumed
Last week the House that Mario Built may have been a little rattled, as 3DS was knocked off the top of the Japanese Media Create hardware charts for the first time — at least by our memory — since late 2011. Sony's Vita handheld combined a healthy price drop with the release of Soul Sacrifice to improve on its major...
News Punch Out!! Available To Download on Wii U Now in North America
Not picked up F-Zero yet? Hurry!
It feels like it was only yesterday when Nintendo announced it would be offering seven classic NES and SNES titles for the budget price of just 30c/30p as part of its celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Famicom. Since then we've had Balloon Fight and F-Zero made available for pennies, and now that time has...
News Nintendo Launches Year Of Luigi Miiverse Communities
Step forward, Luigi
To continue promoting the Year of Luigi this year, Nintendo has launched not only one, but three communities to support the brother-in-green on Miiverse. Wii U users can discuss Luigi or post doodles in his honour through the official Year of Luigi community, a dedicated discussion thread for upcoming 3DS title Luigi’s...
News Renegade Kid Confirms Upcoming FPS Will Support Circle Pad Pro
Name, logo and key imagery to be unveiled at PAX East
Renegade Kid is a pretty busy developer at the moment. It's recently released ATV Wild Ride 3D on the 3DS eShop and has Mutant Mudds: Deluxe, Mutant Mudds 2 and a new first person shooter for the 3DS in the works. That FPS is to be unveiled at PAX East with Jools Watsham, the developer's...
News Criterion: Support Need For Speed: Most Wanted And DLC Could Happen
"It's as simple as that"
At the weekend we reported on the rather depressing news that the Wii U version of Need for Speed: Most Wanted may be missing out on DLC support. Unsurprisingly, that caused quite a bit of ill-feeling, with many Nintendo fans taking to Twitter to voice their concern to Criterion's staff. One staff member who has been...
News Earthbound Creator, Shigesato Itoi, Gearing Up to Play SNES Classic in Live Stream
Watch and be jealous of Japanese gamers
Earthbound — or Mother 2: Revenge of Gyiygas in Japan — is one of those titles that's permanently on the agenda for some retro gamers; its absence in the West is a continual source of disappointment. With apparent licensing issues keeping the critically acclaimed classic off the Wii Virtual Console, the...
News Dragon Quest X Listing Appears On Amazon France
Confirmation at last?
Square Enix has so far refused to say if Dragon Quest X is coming to the west, but Amazon may have done the talking for them, as the retailer's French site has just posted a listing for the game. There's no sign of a release date yet and Amazon isn't using official box art (so you may wish to take this with a pinch of salt),...
News Another Castle Won't Be Coming To 3DS
The game's engine doesn't support the handheld
Last month we exclusively revealed that retro-styled platformer Another Castle would be coming to the Wii U eShop. The colourful 2D platformer is the pride and joy of David Byers, who has developed the game under the guise of Uncade. Uncade has released games for mobile platforms in the past, and some...
Tuesday19th Mar 2013
News This Is How You Recondition A Game Boy Advance
From second hand to factory fresh
Last week, we interviewed Rose Colored Gaming's Matthew "Wiggy" Wiggins about his unique range of console modifications. In the feature, Wiggins revealed that he gets quite a kick out of buying grimy-looking games and systems and then freshing them up for a new lease of life, and in a recent blog post on his site,...
News Sneaky GBA Emulator Makes Brief Appearance In Apple App Store
Managed to crawl in as "Awesome Baby Names"
Apple doesn't have the most triumphant reputation for vetting the products found in its App Store, and it looks as though another piece of copyrighted material managed to slip through the badly worn net. Earlier today, a Game Boy Advance emulator smuggled itself into the App Store using a cunning disguise...
Talking Point The Problem With 'Old' Wii U Ports
The classic catch-22
So, it looks like Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut is coming to Wii U, with a ratings board classification and the common knowledge that Australia-based studio Straight Right has been working on a high profile Square Enix franchise for Nintendo's new system. Although still in rumour territory until announced at PAX East...
News Wii U GamePad "Screams Innovation", Says Project Cars Developer
More positive comments
The developer behind Project CARS seems pretty pleased with the Wii U GamePad, saying that it "screams innovation" and that it intends to take full advantage of the controller's features. Speaking with NowGamer, Slightly Mad Studios creative director Andy Tudor said: The gamepad just screams new innovations for gameplay and...
You jelly?
Aside offerings such as I Must Run!, there haven't been a huge number of endless runner-style games on DSiWare. CIRCLE Entertainment's latest title, Goony, aims to fill that gap a little, while also proving that you don't necessarily need legs or a baffling amount of stamina to star in the genre – if you're a creature made of jelly, you...
News Dead Island: Riptide Developer Says The Engine "Runs On Wii U Without Any Problems"
Dev contests publisher Deep Silver's previous stance
At the weekend we reported that Dead Island: Riptide would be skipping the Wii U because a port would require a complete re-write of the game's code. That was the official stance of publisher Deep Silver, but developer Techland has countered the claim by stating that the engine runs perfectly on...
News Super Metroid is 19 Years Old Today
A defining game of the 16-bit era
We couldn't forget this anniversary now, could we? 19 years ago Super Metroid was released in Japan, though it was in later Western releases that it truly found an adoring audience. While not the first game in the series, it's arguably the most commonly cited and recognisable adventure starring Samus Aran. Whether...
News Ashes Cricket 2013 Announced For Wii U
Prepare to be bowled over
You would not believe how many emails we've had over the years about Ashes Cricket 2009. No, seriously — you simply would not believe it. It's easily one of the most requested titles we've ever covered, and the fact that it wasn't released in some cricket-loving parts of the world seems to have upset an awful lot of...
News Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Leaked By Amazon
Amazon spills details ahead of rumoured PAX East announcment
At the start of the month we reported on the rumour that a modified version of Square Enix's Deus Ex: Human Revolution was coming to the Wii U. That rumour has now been given additional weight by the editor of a German website, who has claimed on a podcast that he's seen the game —...
News Castlevania II: Simon's Quest And Donkey Kong 3 Coming To Japanese 3DS eShop
Arriving next week
Nintendo has confirmed that NES titles Castlevania II: Simon's Quest and Donkey Kong 3 will both be hitting the Japanese 3DS eShop on March 27th. Simon's Quest is one of the more unique entries in the Castlevania series, as it employs a day and night cycle and has strong RPG elements to it. Donkey Kong 3 is a sequel to the...
News Read The Thoughts of Monsters in Resident Evil Revelations
Rachel confirmed as playable in Raid Mode
Capcom has revealed a number of new features for the Wii U version of Resident Evil Revelations. Unsurprisingly the main additions come as a result of the GamePad, which is used to display your map, weapons and inventory when playing with two screens - similar to the way it functioned on the 3DS. As we...
News Nintendo Goes Big at PAX East
Buy games a day early, try some upcoming titles
PAX East kicks off in Boston this weekend — 22nd-24th March — bringing enthusiasts together in one glorious setting. Nintendo is going to be there in force this year, running a major booth and offering a variety of incentives, activities and hands-on opportunities for lucky attendees. For one...
Video This Brünnhilde Great Sword Can Be Yours For Just 60,000 Zeni
While stocks last!
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is pretty great and all, but sometimes you just want to put down your controller, pick up a massive blade and actually slay some beasts in the real world. Thank goodness then for the MHSN's recent promotion on the Brünnhilde Great Sword, which is an absolute steal at just 60,000 Zeni. Or perhaps you'd...
News Nicalis' Tyrone Rodriguez Urges Twitter Users To Pester Studio Pixel For 3DS Gero Blaster
We can get behind that
Earlier this month, we reported on Studio Pixel's next game, Gero Blaster. The Cave Story developer's new outing is a 2D side-scrolling action title which places you in the role of a trigger-happy frog. It's being pitched for release on iOS, but around the time of the announcement Nicalis' Tyrone Rodriguez twee
News Wayforward Teases Mighty Switch Force Sequel, We Think
Looking a bit apocalyptic
Wayforward Technologies recently confirmed a Mighty Switch Force sequel for 3DS, stating that it's due to arrive in the first or second quarter of this year; that's, well, any time in the next few months. Not long to wait, in that case, and the studio has taken to Twitter to tease what appears to be a screen from this...
News Toriko: Gourmet ga Battle Gets Hungry on 3DS This Summer
In Japan, and supposedly reminiscent of Power Stone
If you mention Power Stone or, more pertinently, Power Stone 2 to certain members of the Nintendo Life team, they may start to convulse and enter a fit of SEGA fanboy/girl glee, requiring a splash of cold water to snap them out of it. So when a four-player action brawler called Toriko: Gourmet ga...
News Super Hang-On 3D Speeding Into The Japanese 3DS eShop Next Week
Time extension
Space Harrier 3D was the first of Sega's efforts to give its illustrious arcade portfolio a new lease of life on the Nintendo 3DS, and it's being followed by another beloved coin-op smash-hit: Super Hang-On. Yu Suzuki's motorcycle racing classic is coming to the Japanese 3DS eShop next week for 600 Yen ($6.30 / £4.15 / €4.85). As...
Rumour Capcom Developing New Strider Title For Digital Services
Could Strider Hiryu be coming to the Wii U eShop?
Capcom's Strider is one of the seminal arcade titles of the '80s, thanks to its balletic gameplay, amazing visuals and fantastic setting. Given the amazing potential of the premise (who doesn't want to be a futuristic ninja?), it's surprising that Capcom hasn't done more to exploit the character over...
Monday18th Mar 2013
Review Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U)
Don't forget your potions
While the arrival of a new Monster Hunter title, particularly of the handheld variety, in Japan can probably cause retailer's systems to crash, it's a franchise that's been unable to capture that same fevered audience in the West. Capcom's latest attempt is Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, an expanded and enhanced re-release of...
Review Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (3DS)
A monstrous portable adventure
Back when the 3DS handheld was looking for saviours during the Holiday season of 2011, a certain mustachioed plumber was joined in Japan by Monster Hunter 3 G, an expanded version of the popular Wii title Monster Hunter Tri. Its sales were eye-catching and reflective of the fact that handheld Monster Hunter titles are...
Hardware Review Oyen Digital MiniPro 1TB Hard Drive For Wii U
Storage solution
As we all know, Nintendo's intention with the Wii U when it comes to storage is to let the user decide. Rather than equip the console with a massive hard drive, it has instead enabled owners to plug in their own solutions. The thinking behind this move is that storage is so cheap these days, most people have at least a couple of...
Nintendo Download 21st March 2013 (Europe)
Monstrous quests, reckless driving, retro boxing, a big sale and more
It's Monday, so you know what that means Europe. It's time for the Nintendo Download update news, letting us know what'll be dropping onto our systems later this week; we have a lengthy list that includes the latest €0.30 / £0.30 Wii U Virtual Console promotion, some...
News Did You Catch The Super Mario Easter Egg In Castlevania: Mirror Of Fate?
If you didn't, allow us to save you the bother
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate launched worldwide recently to a somewhat mixed reception. We really liked it, and the fact that it contains an amusing reference to Nintendo's Super Mario series only endears it to us even further. The Easter egg of which we speak is found on a dead body...
News Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode Dated for 27th June in Japan
V-Jump gets the, er, jump on the news
A little while ago we told you that PSP title Digimon World Re:Digitize was coming to 3DS as an expanded version, with Decode being plonked on the end of the game title. It's certainly a popular series in Japan, though can only really claim niche status in the West. While news of a localisation is,...
News FEZ Creator Insists The Game Wouldn't Work On The 3DS
"It would be kind of pointless"
Indie smash hit FEZ is coming to other platforms following a period of exclusivity on Xbox Live Arcade, but sadly it doesn't look like the 3DS eShop is going to be one of them. Creator Phil Fish — who caused quite a stir when he voiced his concerns about the Japanese games development industry and has also had some...
Video Someone Has Hacked Nic Cage's Face Into Zelda, Just Because They Can
"We had no goal, only Cage"
Oh boy. Some things in life simply defy explanation, so we won't even bother, but merely offer this befuddling video and allow you to draw your own conclusions. YouTube user Criken has created a texture mod for The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask which liberally coats various surfaces in the game with the face of...
News Project CARS Will "Look And Feel Amazing" On Wii U, Says Developer
"Likely" to run at 720p and 30fps
Project CARS developer Slightly Mad Studios has revealed that the Wii U version of the game will run at 720p and 30fps, but will still "look and feel amazing". Creative Director Andy Tudor has been speaking to NowGamer about the forthcoming racer, and had this to say: We always prefer to aim for 30fps generally...
News Limited Time Luigi Sale Hits North American Club Nintendo
Cue shocked Luigi face
A bit like those rare occasions when things go Milhouse's way in The Simpsons, right now we can picture a beaming Luigi confidently saying, "everything's coming up Luigi". It's his year — it literally is his year according to Nintendo — and he's getting ready for his second major solo adventure hitting stores with Luigi's...
News Shovel Knight Confirmed For Wii U And 3DS
PAX East promotional banners reveal all
Last week we reported on Yacht Club Games' first title Shovel Knight, which at the time was only down for a PC release. The developer - formed by ex-WayForward staff members - did say that it hoped to bring the game to Wii U and 3DS as well but made no promises. Well it looks as though the confirmation we...
News Shaun Of The Dead Star Seems Pleased With ZombiU Homage
You've got red on you
We've all heard of life imitating art, but what about art imitating art? That's exactly what has happened with ZombiU, as it gives the player a cricket bat as their only melee option — a loving nod to the seminal 2004 British horror comedy Shaun of the Dead. In case you haven't seen it, the film focuses on one man's quest to...
News Updated Ace Attorney 5 Website Submits More Information
New details on Kizuki Kokone, Apollo Justice and 3DS features
The Ace Attorney series will soon be making the leap over to the 3DS with Ace Attorney 5. It sees Phoenix Wright take centre stage once more, and this time he has a new assistant to help him snare sneaky lies from testimonies. Capcom has recently updated the Ace Attorney 5 website and,...
News Ubisoft Wii U Titles Receive eShop Price Cuts In Europe
Grab them while they're cheap(er)
If you've been keeping your powder dry when it comes to purchasing digital games on your Wii U console, today's European Nintendo Download news should be music to your ears, as Ubisoft has reduced the price of all of its titles on the Wii U eShop. It follows a similar sale which occurred in North America not so...
News Preorder Both Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Versions At GAME, Get A Free T-Shirt
Suit up for the hunt
UK retailer GAME has confirmed that customers who preorder both the Wii U and 3DS versions of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will receive an exclusive T-Shirt which should make them the envy of their fellow hunters. In a similar offer, UK online store ShopTo has announced that those who preorder either the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate...
News LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins Hitting Europe On April 26th
Potential block buster
Nintendo has confirmed that LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins will launch in Europe on April 26th. That's not long after the North American launch, which happens on the 21st. The 3DS title is a prequel to the Wii U version, which launches in the region on March 28th — the North American release takes place today...
News EA CEO John Riccitiello Resigns
Decision made after poor financial results
Electronic Arts' John Riccitiello has handed in his letter of resignation and will be stepping down from his position as chief executive officer on 31st March 2013 after being in charge of the company for six years. Larry Probst, who was the publisher's CEO from 1991 to 2007, will be the man in charge...
Video It's a Fighting Robot Controlled By a Famicom Controller
Step aside, R.O.B.
Video game enthusiasts are often wonderful people, in that they'll do something unspeakably cool and awesome simply because they feel like it; that's why we rather adore quite a lot of video game culture. We also like anything that fuses modern technology with retro gadgets, which is exactly what this Japanese genius has done...
News Rabbit-Bashing Cartoon Game Slashear Could Be Coming To The Wii U eShop
You guessed it, it's another Kickstarter campaign
The flood of Kickstarter-funded projects continues, with the latest being Slashear, which is rather awkwardly described by its developer as "a real cartoon filled with crazy stories and fun battles!" Although it's currently intended for smartphones and tablets, one of the campaign's stretch goals...
Sunday17th Mar 2013
Review Mega Man 3 (3DS eShop / NES)
Sibling rivalry
It's fitting that Mega Man 3 introduces our hero's antagonistic, cocksure older brother Proto Man, as the game itself seems to eternally duke it out with its own brother Mega Man 2 for the coveted title of Best in Series. But wherever you may fall on the question, there's no doubt that this third installment in the classic franchise...
News Wii U Version of Need For Speed: Most Wanted Unlikely To Get DLC Support
The most wanted DLC looks set to skip Wii U
The Wii U edition of Need for Speed: Most Wanted will be released in just a few days time, and those who pick up a copy will find that the Ultimate Speed Pack — downloadable content on other versions — will come included free of charge. Unfortunately, however, it appears that any future DLC for the...
Round Table Let's Talk About the F-Zero Franchise
Ready
With SNES classic F-Zero coming to the end of its spell as the 30 cent/30 pence Famicom Anniversary promotion on the Wii U eShop, some of us in the Nintendo Life team thought that it was the perfect time to talk about the franchise. With just four main releases — include the GBA title but discounting the arcade unit — it's not been...
News Nintendo Renews Eternal Darkness Trademark
A sequel could yet see the light of day
Released in 2002 on the GameCube, survival horror title Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem became an instant cult classic. Since then there have been glimpses of evidence that a sequel would eventually come to be, but up to now it hasn't happened. The game has come excruciatingly close to a sequel and now,...
News Legend Of Zelda Hacked To Make Zelda The Hero
Well her name is in the title, after all
Recently, we saw Pauline switch roles with one-time romantic attachment Mario, and now it's the turn of Hyrule's most celebrated couple to change places. Animator Kenna W. decided to mod The Legend of Zelda to realise one of her childhood dreams — to get to play as the titular princess: For me, I played...
News Dead Island: Riptide Is Skipping Wii U
Game engine would need to be rewritten, says producer
Zombie-slaying sequel Dead Island: Riptide is joining Saints Row 4 as another title which isn't coming to the Wii U. Speaking in an interview with Digital Spy, Deep Silver producer Alexander Toplansky revealed that the port wasn't happening because his team would have to rewrite the game's code:
News Youkai Watch Releasing This Summer in Japan
One to watch out for
Level-5's latest project is Youkai Watch, a 3DS game about a young boy who acquires a special wristwatch that allows him to see ghostly creatures in his environment. Using his own ghosts he can battle them and stop townsfolk from being haunted - such a nice boy. Youkai Watch has now been given a more concrete release, with...
Saturday16th Mar 2013
Reaction Doom and Gloom Merchants on Wii U Being Nintendo's Last Home Console
We discuss the casual dismissal of Wii U in some quarters
In a regular series of features, we're going to take a rather strong statement or opinion expressed about Nintendo, and give our own take. These opinions aren't those of the site as a whole, but rather of a collection of your humble Nintendo Life writers. This time around we're looking at a...
News Next Level Games on Working With Nintendo to Create Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
Miyamoto demanded a multiplayer experience to rival Mario Kart
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon is being released on the 3DS at the end of this month. It's been developed by the Canadian studio Next Level Games, the team behind a host of Nintendo games such as Punch-Out!!, Mario Smash Football and Mario Strikers Charged. There's no doubt that landing the...
News Nintendo of America Reorganising its Operations
New York employees heading to Redmond
Nintendo is reorganising its operations in North America by moving some of its employees from the Park Avenue offices in New York to those in Redmond, Washington. A much smaller office will soon open up in New York, where a few staff will remain. For those of you who are worried, the Nintendo World Store isn't...
The Amazing Bento Lady!
We've always been told that you shouldn't play with your food, but we'll make an exception for the art of Bento. For the uninitiated, Bento is kind of like a Japanese packed lunch - it's a single-portion meal which is often arranged in a visually appealing manner. In Japan, mothers often spend a large amount of time creating...
Friday15th Mar 2013
News The Game Boy Color’s Only First-Person Shooter Comes Back From The Dead
Unreleased Tyrannosaurus Tex emerges from exitinction
2001 was supposed to see the release of UK-based Slitherine Software's Tyrannosaurus Tex, a first person shooter for the Game Boy Color which boasted smooth 3D action and a compelling deathmatch mode. However, prospective publisher Eidos — now part of Square Enix — decided not to release the...
Talking Point The Pros and Cons of a Wii U Price War
Sell, sell, sell, say the retailers
Earlier this week we saw a bit of a Wii U price war break out, in the UK at least, with Amazon UK joining Asda in slashing the price of both Wii U models by £50. At the same time, a number of US retailers are being rather creative with their offerings, not necessarily going for a full-blown price reduction but...
News Saints Row 4 is Skipping Wii U
Will only be on "current-gen consoles" and PC
When THQ sold off its assets at auction earlier this year, Volition ended up in the hands of Koch Media, which has naturally now taken on the Saints Row franchise as a result. Koch Media denoted the series to Deep Silver, which has now confirmed the first game to be released post-THQ will be Saints Row...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening's US Sales Are The Best In The History Of The Series
180,000 units sold since launch
Nintendo has confirmed that Fire Emblem: Awakening has enjoyed the best first month sales in the entire history of the franchise, shifting 180,000 units since its launch on February 4th. Impressively, around 63,000 of that total was downloaded via the 3DS eShop. In contrast, the game's handheld predecessor — Fire...
News Pokémon Rumble U Trailer Shows NFC in Action
Details of first set of figurines included
Announced in Coro Coro magazine in February, Pokémon Scramble U, commonly being called Pokémon Rumble U in the West, arrives as a download-only Wii U title on 24th April for 1800 Yen, which at the time of writing equates to just over $18/€14/£12; it continues on from Pokémon Rumble on WiiWare and...
News Nintendo States That an External Hard Drive is Needed for LEGO City Undercover Download
Update: File size of 22GB will squeeze onto a Deluxe/Premium Wii U
Now that LEGO City Undercover is available for download in the North American eShop, IGN has completed a download and confirmed that it is a 22GB file that will squeeze onto a Wii U 32GB model with enough space. That confirms the suspicion that Nintendo's official website stating a...
News Nintendo Responds To Guilty Verdict In 3D Patent Case
"Nintendo is confident that the result will be set aside"
Nintendo has responded to the guilty verdict issued in its case against former Sony inventor Seijiro Tomita, who won $30.2 million in damages after insisting that Nintendo stole his idea for 3D display technology. The statement reads as follows: A jury awarded $30.2 million in damages to...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Swings Into a Release on 24th May
We're not monkeying around
Announced recently during a Nintendo 3DS Direct broadcast, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is a handheld re-release of the critically acclaimed Wii platformer, originally developed by Retro Studios. It's a title that involves plenty of perspective changes from foreground to background, and as a result it's not hard to see...
News Yacht Club Games Is Hoping To Bring Shovel Knight To The Wii U And 3DS
"May remind you of Mega Man, Castlevania, or Dark Souls!"
Yacht Club Games — the new studio formed by ex-WayForward staff members — has revealed its first project via a Kickstarter campaign. Shovel Knight is a 2D platforming epic which calls to mind the 8-bit NES era, and is described by the developer as "a hot mashup of new and old that may...
News U.S. February Sales Figures Make Grim Reading for Wii U and Wider Industry
A marginal increase on January's poor results
NPD has released its figures for February video game sales in the U.S., and they're not results to give cheer to Nintendo, or even retailers and those invested in the overall traditional gaming market. Taken as an overall sales figure, hardware, software and accessories across the board dropped 25% in...
Competition Win £100 of Nintendo eShop Credit!
Plus 10 runners-up each snagging £15 too.
Want the chance to win some free eShop credit for your 3DS or Wii U? Of course you do — who wouldn't, right? Well now you've got a chance. We've teamed up with Nintendo UK to offer £100 of eShop credit to one lucky winner, plus £15 to ten almost-as-lucky runners-up. All you have to do to be in with a...
News Monster Hunter Producer Answers Fan Questions In New Video Interview
Did your question make the cut?
A few weeks back, Nintendo UK asked Monster Hunter fans to put some questions to producer Ryozo Tsujimoto with the aim of getting them answered in an exclusive video interview. The video has now been posted online, and gives a little more insight into the creation of what is likely to be one of the biggest Nintendo...
News SteamWorld Dig Is Burrowing Its Way To The 3DS eShop This Year
"Not another 3D effect showcase nor a cheap port", according to the developer
Swedish studio Image & Form has announced SteamWorld Dig, a new title for the 3DS eShop which is expected to launch later this year. Set in the same post-apocalyptic world as SteamWorld: Tower Defense, the game will be a "hardcore platform mining adventure" with...
News Former Assassin's Creed Creative Director Patrice Désilets Returns To Ubisoft
Back at Ubi after THQ's bankruptcy
Former Assassin's Creed lead developer Patrice Désilets has joined Ubisoft — the company he left in 2010 — after the French publisher acquired THQ Montreal, where he was employed as creative director. The studio was up for sale following THQ's recent bankruptcy. Désilets was working on two previously...
Thursday14th Mar 2013
Review LEGO City: Undercover (Wii U)
On the block rockin' beat
Between the lucrative high profile movie tie-ins and people begging for Zelda and Mega Man editions, it's sometimes easy to overlook the fact that The LEGO Group cut its teeth on its non-licensed playsets. From fantasy wonderlands to more ordinary examples, the building bricks were an ever-popular force with children and...
Nintendo Download 14th March 2013 (North America)
Hunting monsters, going to the City, throwing retro punches, being Mega and much more
It's Nintendo Download update time, North America, with so much packing the eShops and DSi store that we even had the information earlier than normal — all the more time to soak it up. Quite a few high profile retail downloads are joined by some demo action, a...
News Nintendo Loses 3D Patent Case Against Former Sony Inventor
Ordered to pay $30.2 million in damages
A few weeks ago, we reported that Nintendo was being taken to court by former Sony staffer Seijiro Tomita, who insisted that the Kyoto company stole his idea for glasses-free 3D screens and used it on the Nintendo 3DS. Tomita's claim was that he demonstrated the tech to Nintendo in 2003, and that several of...
Rumour Pikachu 3DS XL Already In US Stores, March 24th Release Mooted
Update - Nintendo confirms release date and price
Nintendo has now confirmed that the Pikachu 3DS XL will be released on March 24th in North America. In will include a 4GB SD card — as is standard for the XL model — and will have a suggested retail price of $199.99. Original article Nintendo's recent TV commercial for Pokémon Mystery Dungeon:...
News The Electus 64 II Mini Brings the Sexy Back to Nintendo 64
Packed with features that actually work
When it comes to modded consoles — which in this case means one that plays actual cartridges, not ROMS — we've seen plenty of innovative efforts over the years. Enthusiasts with a flair for hardware tech have produced handheld GameCube systems housed in tupperware boxes — we kid you not — a Super NES...
News GameStop: Wii U Will Need Great First Party Titles To Compete
Sales have been "slower than expected"
It's no secret that Wii U sales have been a bit on the sluggish side in 2013, but many retailers are hopeful they'll soon pick up once a few more games start being released. One games retailer that has been disappointed with the number of Wii U units flying off the shelves is GameStop. In an interview with...
News Fast & Furious: Showdown Speeding To Wii U
Australian retailer outs new racing title
Australian retailer EB Games has confirmed that Fast & Furious: Showdown is coming to the Wii U. The game looks set to coincide with the release of the sixth movie in the long-running movie franchise. EB Games has a release date May 22nd. VG247 has
News This NES Arcade Unit is a Perfect Introduction to Gaming
All for one lucky little girl
Earlier today we posted an article on The Electus 64 II Mini, a handheld Nintendo 64 that resembles a glossy, chunky Game Boy. And rather like London buses (wait for an eternity and two come at the same time), we've been directed to an arcade cabinet that plays NES games — just like the handheld N64, that's actual...
News UK Price War Rages As Asda And Amazon Slice £50 Off Wii U Cost
Basic and Premium bundles down to £199 and £249 respectively
The cries for a Wii U price cut seem to have caused a reaction, as both Amazon.co.uk and UK superstore Asda have knocked £50 off the price of both Wii U bundles. Asda — which is owned by US store Walmart — was the first to move, cutting the price of the Basic and Premium bundles...
News Zen Pinball 2 Launches Into North America on 21st March
The wait is nearly over
Every week with Nintendo Download updates for both North America and Europe, there are games that are eagerly awaited and seem to be perpetually missing. It can be frustrating, but one wait being endured by North American Wii U owners is almost at an end — Zen Studios has confirmed that Zen Pinball 2 will arrive on the Wii...
News Disney Infinity Pushed Back To August
"It gives us a little more time to add bells and whistles"
Disney Interactive has revealed that its Disney Infinity video game and toy range will be launching in August instead of June, as was originally planned. August 18th is the proposed launch date in North America, with other regions getting the game two days later. Speaking to The New York...
News Ghostlight May Yet Bring Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 To Europe
Publisher is considering its options
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked will finally be released in Europe on 29th March. It's being published by Ghostlight, which took up the task due to Atlus only localising it for North America. Attention has now switched to the game's sequel Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
News Broken Rules Has A New Game In The Works
Will be set in the same world as Chasing Aurora
Chasing Aurora has been in the Wii U eShop since the system's launch, and plenty of people have been enjoying soaring through it; a demo for the game is now available to download free of charge for those wanting to fly before they buy. In a recent interview with 4CR, Broken Rules, the developer behind...
Wednesday13th Mar 2013
Review The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition (Wii U)
Spidey takes Manhattan, again
Our friendly neighborhood wall crawler's cinematic reboot in last summer's The Amazing Spider-Man had us leaving theatres utterly torn. We're down with new interpretations and while the Spider-Man on-screen offered a lot of what we love about the character, the surrounding film was kind of a mess. The same can be said...
News Nintendo Reveals Flipnote Studio For The 3DS eShop
Holy flip!
During a Japanese only mini Nintendo Direct, President Satoru Iwata announced that Flipnote Studio 3D was on the way for the 3DS eShop in Japan. It's said to be more powerful than its predecessor, and the free base application will be available from the eShop this coming Summer. The app will allow users to make 3D animations with up to...
News Sakurai: Online Play Will Be Improved in Upcoming Smash Bros.
"We've learned a lot about net play since Brawl was released"
Super Smash Bros. Brawl was one of the few Wii games to venture online. By delving into the Nintendo WFC players from all four corners of the world could brawl with each other in what was a decent experience in some battles, and a more turbulent one in others. Unfortunately, as with most...
News Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode is Double The Length of The PSP Version
Will feature over 160 digital monsters
Last month we reported that the 3DS would be getting an updated version of the PSP game Digimon World Re:Digitize in Japan. All we knew was that it will include a couple more story chapters and would have an extra word chucked on the end of it for good measure. Yes, Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode certainly...
Ninterview Meet Roger Craig Smith - Voice Actor for Sonic the Hedgehog / Chris Redfield
A hedgehog's got to do what a hedgehog's got to do
Roger Craig Smith is a very talented man. He's done voice overs for a wide range of characters in top video games, but most would recognise him as the voice behind the modern Sonic the Hedgehog, and Chris Redfield in the more recent Resident Evil series of games, including Resident Evil:...
News Flipnote Studio 3D Drawing to the West, For Free, This Summer
Localised Nintendo Direct details online and sharing communities
Earlier today we brought you the news that Flipnote Studio 3D is coming to Japan this summer; the happy update is that it looks set to arrive in the West in the same period, with Europe confirmed and North America very likely to join in. Nintendo of Europe has also released a new...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening SpotPass Content Going Into Battle Today
New and free content every two weeks
Fire Emblem: Awakening has been critically acclaimed and earned plenty of praise from Nintendo gamers since its arrival in North America; whether it's the expansive amount of content and gameplay, clever tweaks to the formula or polished mechanics, it's been popular in the Nintendo Life community and, frankly,...
News Vita Knocks 3DS Down to Second in the Japanese Charts
Hell hath indeed frozen over
It's Japanese charts time and, to the astonishment of the world, the Gods and all creatures of the Universe, the 3DS is only the second highest selling system in Nintendo's homeland. Sony's PS Vita, combining last week's price drop and this week's release of Soul Sacrifice (as well as, to a lesser extent, Tales of Hearts...
News Apollo Justice Returns in Ace Attorney 5
Justice is blind
More news on Ace Attorney 5 has been promised by Capcom but as of yet we've had no major announcement. However, we have learnt — thanks to a picture in the latest Famitsu magazine — that Apollo Justice is making a return in the upcoming game. The picture shows the young attorney as we've never seen him before. He's still...
News Unannounced Square Enix Wii U Title To Be Revealed At PAX East
What could it possibly be?
Square Enix will be attending PAX East this year, showcasing games for various platforms; this will apparently include a Wii U title. In an invitation sent to Gamezone, the company indicated that a previously unannounced title would be revealed for the console, although details were scarce. The convention will take place...
News Pentagon To Review Controversial New "Nintendo" Medal
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to reconsider Distinguished Warfare Medal
Last month, the Distinguished Warfare Medal was unveiled by the US military. The medal is awarded to US troops who make "extraordinary achievements directly impacting combat operations...regardless of the member’s physical location or domain". This includes those involved in...
News Pokémon Scramble U Set To Be The First Wii U Title To Use The NFC Feature
We can hear our wallets crying
The latest edition of CoroCoro magazine has released some new information on upcoming Pokémon title for the Wii U, Pokémon Scramble U. The game will be released in Japan on the 24th April, and it'll be the first title to utilize the console's NFC (Near Field Communication) feature. NFC allows the player to place...
News Two Tribes: We Could Make A Damn Fine Star Fox Game For Wii U
"It would be awesome to work on"
Two Tribes co-founder Collin van Ginkel has revealed that the studio would love to work on a new Star Fox game for the Wii U. Speaking in an interview with NintyChronicle, van Ginkel was asked which franchise he would want to work on someday. He replied: I think we could make a damn fine Star fox game for Wii U...
News Official Pokémon Facebook And Twitter Pages Tease Pikachu-Related Announcement For Tomorrow
Let the Pikachu out of the bag already
Earlier this week, Nintendo of America released a TV commercial promoting upcoming title Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity for the 3DS, but there was also a sneaky glimpse of the limited edition Pikachu 3DS XL in the advert. This got quite a few people excited, as the special edition handheld is...
News A World of Keflings Is Migrating To Wii U eShop Later This Year
XBLA hit is heading to Nintendo's console
NinjaBee Studio has confirmed that it will be bringing its Xbox Live Arcade title A World of Keflings to the Wii U eShop later this year. The sequel to A Kingdom for Keflings, A World of Keflings launched on the Xbox 360 back in 2010. It places you in a fantasy world where you must help Keflings — small...
News The Nano Soundtrack Collection is Blowing Up Speakers Right Now
Shin'en delivers a gift to the fans
After confirming the imminent arrival of Nano Assault EX on the 3DS eShop last week, Shin'en Multimedia stated that it had a much-requested surprise on the way for fans of the series — that new treat is The Nano Soundtrack Collection. As anyone who's played any of the "Nano" titles — from DS to Wii U — will...
News Sami Cetin Regains PAL Super Mario Kart Time Trial World Title
Niece Leyla Hasso bags the women's world title, too
UK Super Mario Kart champ Sami Cetin has regained the PAL version Time Trial World Title for the second time. Sami previously held the title from September 1998 until April 2004, and beat one of the World Records set by former title holder Karel van Duijvenboden of the Netherlands on Sunday, March...
Tuesday12th Mar 2013
Review Legend of the River King (3DS eShop / GBC)
Nothing smells fishy here
Natsume is mostly known for its Harvest Moon games, but what you might not know is that there is another long-running series from the same developer - in fact, its first game predates the first Harvest Moon by 6 years. Legend of the River King is one of only four games in this series released outside Japan, and it's now...
News Zelda Game Boy Color Oracle Duo Heading To Western 3DS eShops Before Summer
Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma gives us new hope
During last month's Japanese Nintendo Direct, it was announced that Japanese gamers would be able to purchase both The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracles of Seasons on the 3DS eShop from the 27th February — so it was only a matter of time before the classic Game Boy Color...
Fire Emblem's old rival deserves a second chance
As you dig yourself into Fire Emblem: Awakening’s monstrously addictive campaign, spare a thought for some of the other turn-based strategy RPGs which haven’t been given the chance to impress an entirely fresh generation of players. Like Langrisser, for example. Chances are, unless you really know...
Review Wrecking Crew (3DS eShop / NES)
I'm gonna wreck it!
It’s common knowledge for most gamers that Mario has been in countless games over the years, in which he has taken on a bevy of different roles and occupations. From race-car driver to boxing referee, Mario has done it all. Curiously enough, just about the only job Mario hasn’t performed in a video game is that of a plumber,...
News Nintendo Announces Mint White 3DS XL For Japan
Tomodachi Collection bundle coming, too
During Nintendo's latest Japanese Nintendo Direct, the company announced a brand new minty fresh colour to its ever expanding 3DS colour collection — a Mint White 3DS LL (XL in the West). The new addition will release in Japan on the 18th April, and will retail for 18,900 Yen (approx. €150 / £131 / $196)...
News Four Classics Available Now in the Latest Club Nintendo Rewards
Check your coin balance, North America
Every month Nintendo of America unveils its latest Club Nintendo offers, giving members a chance to exchange hard-earned coins for download codes. Often the games available are hit and miss, but this month seems to offer a strong line-up to suit various tastes. The following are all available until 7th April...
Talking Point Review Scores and Unwinnable Arguments
Just how important are review scores?
Last week we published our Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate review; we liked it, despite some flaws that we outlined, and gave it a strong recommendation with a score of 8/10, which counts as "very good" in our review scoring policy. Such was the reaction to the review here, elsewhere and to the...
News Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy Announced for 3DS in Japan
We're counting down the years to localisation
During the recent Nintendo 3DS Direct in Europe, it was announced that the third entry in the Inazuma Eleven handheld series would be coming to Europe this summer. As it's the 3DS version (not DS) it seems to be the enhanced edition that was part of a trilogy release in Japan — no trilogy was...
News Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Heading to Wii U eShop
It's what dreams are made of
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dream is a platformer developed by Black Forest Games and has been out on PC since October last year. A console release is imminent with a PSN and Xbox Live Arcade version on the cards as of right now. However, the developer has confirmed on its Facebook page that Giana Sisters: Twisted Dream will...
News Pixelscopic Hopes To Bring The Zelda-Inspired Delver's Drop To A Nintendo System
"Our inspirations come primarily from the Super Nintendo Era, though we're pulling from a lot of other sources as well."
Delver's Drop is the kind of game you'd get if you combined The Legend of Zelda: Link To The Past with Demon's Souls and added in a pinch of Diablo — and it could be coming to a Nintendo console in 2014, if all goes according to...
Video Assassin's Creed III - Tyranny of King Washington's "Wolf Power" Has Some Bite
It's a dog's life
As a big-budget release, Assassin's Creed III was always destined to have a fair bit of DLC. After a couple of packs featuring extra missions and multiplayer bonuses — the latter's not recommended on Wii U due to the lack of an active online community — it got to the main event, The Tyranny of King Washington. It's a new...
News Miyamoto: "Entertainment is an Unpredictable Industry"
Not at a point of concern for Wii U as yet
Shigeru Miyamoto, as you've no doubt noticed, has been on a press tour around the U.S., and the most recent port of call seems to have been the New York Times. A number of topics were covered, and in terms of the ever-present question of Wii U momentum the Nintendo executive admitted that he'd naturally...
News Richie Branson Celebrates Chrono Trigger Anniversary With a New Rap
Three free tracks, album on the way
Last summer we directed you to a music track from rapper Richie Branson, called Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, which combined rap with enough game references to satisfy almost anyone. He's now returning with a new album that's focused on SNES classic Chrono Trigger, and to celebrate the 18th Anniversary since its...
News UK Supermarket Chain Asda Preparing a Bid for HMV
Around 120 stores could remain
Earlier in the year we reported that the UK and Ireland retail firm HMV had gone into administration, the latest embattled high-street chain to do so. Although best known in the past for selling music, its stock has diversified to other areas such as video games, making it one of the most prominent high street sellers...
Monday11th Mar 2013
Review Nano Assault EX (3DS eShop)
EXceptional
Shin'en is certainly no stranger to the shoot 'em up genre, having already had some solid success with its Iridion releases on Game Boy Advance and Nanostray titles on DS. For those who don't remember, it was just a little over a year ago when the developer released Nano Assault on Nintendo's 3DS system and showed just how amazing the...
Ninterview Wiggy Design On Breathing Life Into Old Systems
Console modification with the human touch
Although it's always exciting to open up the latest and greatest consoles and get to grips with the incredible advances being made by hardware manufacturers, there's something about vintage systems which makes them appealing long after they fall out of fashion and become technologically obsolete. Your...
Nintendo Download 14th March 2013 (Europe)
Flying for less, stopping invaders, mastering jewels and more
It's Monday morning, so once again Nintendo of Europe is starting the week with the news of what we can expect in this week's Download Update. There's a demo and sale of a recently updated launch release on Wii U, various 3DS offerings and a one-button runner from CIRCLE Entertainment...
News Special Edition Pikachu 3DS XL Shows Up In North American Commercial
Nintendo, you tease
Remember that awesome Pikachu 3DS XL that hit Japan all those months ago? It's long been rumoured that it could be heading stateside, and it would appear that we now have confirmation of that momentous event — from Nintendo itself, no less. The distinctive yellow system stars in the new TV commercial for
News Terra Incognita Hits Wii U Kickstarter Target
Developing on a tight budget
Over the weekend we directed your attention to another Kickstarter campaign, with Terra Incognita adding Wii U as a funding stretch goal. It's a project with the self-professed objective of producing an experience reminiscent of turn-based RPGs with old-fashioned pixel graphics. As our initial story explained, the...
News The Creator Of Retro City Rampage Suffered To Bring The Game To Market
Brian Provinciano is keen to work with Nintendo again, though
Vblank's Brian Provinciano has been speaking about the development of Retro City Rampage, and has revealed that getting the game finished came with a terrible price for him personally — it impacted his health. Talking to Wii's World, Provinciano explained the events surrounding the...
News There's A New Turrican Game Inbound, But Super Turrican Is Off The Table
News of a new entry is sullied by the removal of the SNES version from the Virtual Console
The latest issue of German Retro Gamer magazine has revealed that a new entry in the Turrican series is on its way. Turrican Rebirth will be a 2D shooter with a heavy emphasis on customisation, allowing players to make their own weapons and stages to share...
News Launch of Professor Layton's Final Adventure Falls Below Series Heights
Only his 3DS debut performed worse in week one
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies is likely to already be on the wishlists of a number of puzzle fans in the West, arriving in Japan as the sixth main-series title starring the tea-drinking and fashionable hat-wearing academic. It'll bring a conclusion to the prequel trilogy and, if Level-5 sticks...
News Miyamoto Overseeing Series of Animated Shorts
Even in his spare time he's playing with Pikmin
Nintendo has a bit of a history in cartoon making, as anyone who ever had the pleasure of watching The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! will testify to. It seems as though the company is now contemplating venturing into the business once more, with a few animated shorts designed to be viewed using the...
News Pandora's Tower Will Be Invading North America in April
XSEED reveals first US trailer
Back in January, XSEED Games announced that it would be bringing the long awaited Japanese action-RPG Pandora's Tower to North America in Spring 2013. It's now been narrowed down a little bit more, as the publisher has announced it will be releasing it at some point in April. XSEED has a bit of a reputation for...
Video Get Spooked by Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon's "ScareScraper" Multiplayer
We want a polterpup
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon's release is now around two weeks away for both North America and Europe, a long-awaited sequel to the GameCube launch title. As well as featuring an all-new adventure with the under-appreciated brother, it'll include local and online multiplayer, an extra mode that was kept under wraps for the majority...
News The Nintendo DS Celebrates its 8th Birthday in Europe Today
Blow into the mic to put out the candles
Eight years ago today, Europe became the last major territory to get its hands on the original DS, that now known as the "phat". It can be easy to forget that it was a handheld that truly innovated the concept of mainstream handheld gaming, incorporating a clamshell two screen design famously pioneered in the...
News Spin The Bottle Gets Second Equally Bizarre Teaser Trailer
Pass the badger, if you please
Wii U eShop title Spin The Bottle has received its second trailer, and to be perfectly honest we're still none the wiser about this slightly mad but incredibly interesting new game. You can view the trailer — in all its sausage-shaped glory — below. It seems to show the names of some of the mini-game tasks within...
News Mega Man Boss Battle Exhibition Artwork Now on Sale
Worldwide shipping is available
While Capcom may be showing little love for its iconic Mega Man franchise, fans and those inspired by the games continually do so in the developer's place. One example is the Mega Man Boss Battle exhibition currently running at the Gauntlet Gallery in San Francisco, a showing open until 31st March. It features a...
Sunday10th Mar 2013
Review Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (Game Boy Advance)
The dynamic duo go portable
When we at Nintendo Life think of Rare’s masterpieces from the Nintendo 64 era, we think of expansive and adventurous games like Donkey Kong 64, Jet Force Gemini, and of course the beloved Banjo-Kazooie series. Off-the-wall characters, exuberant locales, and an epic sense of scope added to the hook of what made these...
News Pachter: Wii U Will Sell Between 30 to 50 Million Units During Its Lifetime
Will "Probably" Be Nintendo's Final Home Console
Industry analyst Michael Pachter has been speaking at the ongoing SXSW Interactive 2013 festival in Austin, and has delivered some dismal predictions for Nintendo's Wii U console. During his presentation, Pachter addressed the future of home consoles, and gave some proposed figures for the big three...
Talking Point Nintendo's Stock Jump Bodes Well for the Value of Potential
History and pedigree in the industry are vital weapons
This week brought some interesting and, perhaps, unexpected news. Nintendo's stock jumped a little over 7% on the Osaka Stock Exchange, a boost attributed to factors such as a weakening Yen being a benefit against trade in the U.S., while positive economic news from the big N's most valuable...
News Dad Hacks Donkey Kong So His Daughter Can Play As Pauline
Role reversal
Remember the story of Mike Hoye and his daughter Maya? He didn't want her to have to play The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker from a male perspective, so he hacked the game to make Link a "she". YouTube user Mike Mika has performed a similar trick, this time making the hero of Donkey
News Mega Man 3 Hitting 3DS Virtual Console Next Week
4, 5 and 6 to follow in April, May and June
Capcom has confirmed that Mega Man 3 will be coming to the North American 3DS Virtual Console next week — March 14th, to be precise. Furthermore, the company has confirmed that Mega Man 4, 5 and 6 will launch in April, May and June respectively. We've no confirmation that the game will be hitting Europe...
Saturday9th Mar 2013
Video Possibly the Most Legendary Zelda Cake Ever
Seriously, this is ridiculous
Some video game fans, particularly those in the Nintendo camp, sure go to a lot of trouble to demonstrate just how much they love their chosen games or franchises. It also seems that there's no better combination than big gaming fans doing something for their own little gamers, as this cake based on The Legend of Zelda:...
News Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya's New Title, Gero Blaster, Looks Set for 3DS
Nicalis seems to be stepping in once again
Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya is quite a favourite among some gamers, particularly those with a taste for retro-styled graphics. Best known for Cave Story and for his origins developing games as PC shareware, new releases from the one-man developer have been less forthcoming. Fans with a 3DS in North America have...
News Terra Incognita Could Come To The Wii U If Kickstarter Goal Is Reached
Going back to the basics
Terra Incognita, a retro-inspired RPG that plans to bring some nostalgia to gamers, will make its way to the Wii U if its Kickstarter campaign is successful. Dan Steer, the creator behind the nostalgic venture, has confirmed via the game's Kickstarter page that if the project reached £3,500 that it would indeed journey...
Ninterview The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
Orchestrating classic gaming music
Earlier this week we told you about the upcoming Super Metroid Symphony, which will be formally licensed by JoyPad Records and available for sale. It's being produced by Blake Robinson's Synthetic Orchestra, a prolific project that's specialised in producing orchestral arrangements of popular music, ranging from...
Friday8th Mar 2013
News Minecraft is Just As Likely To Appear on Wii U as Any Other Platform
Hope for it yet... Maybe...
The massively popular indie title Minecraft has built itself quite a fanbase since its emergence in 2011. It all started on mobile devices and PC, but moved over to the console market when it appeared on the Xbox Live Arcade. Due to Microsoft's exclusivity deal with Mojang, the game's developer, it hasn't been made...
News Team Meat: We'd Work With Nintendo If Meat Boy Made It Into Smash Bros.
"Nintendo are you listening? Smash Bros! Just f***ing use the character"
Super Meat Boy creators Edmund McMillen and Tommy Refenes have been speaking to Eurogamer about their future projects, and have revealed that they would be prepared to work with Nintendo again — with one small caveat. McMillen: "I want Meat Boy to be in Smash Bros. That...
News Miyamoto: Mobile Competition Actually Helps Wii U
Says the console will be "very much improved" once updates are complete
The performance of the Wii U operating system has been a major talking point ever since its release. A few system updates have arrived since the console launched that have smoothed things out a bit, but the major updates are yet to be implemented. In an interview with TIME,...
News Nintendo's Stock Price Jumps Higher than Mario
Happy shareholders spotted smoking cigars and drinking expensive brandy
Sometimes relatively obscure financial news can bring rather nice vibes for Nintendo and its fans, such as today's confirmation of a fairly meaty jump of over 7% in share price, to 10,330 Yen — roughly $110 / €85 / £73. While it'd be nice to think that this surge in value...
News Harvest Moon Gets The Hollywood Reboot Treatment
Down on the farm
Hollywood reboots are pretty tiresome these days — it would appear that film-makers have run out of new ideas entirely. Still, every cloud has a silver lining, because the loathsome trend of pilfering ideas from the past has inspired the YouTube series Gritty Reboots, which parodies the process but uses video games for its ideas,...
Talking Point NFC and AR - Two Cool Extras That Need Some Love
The features that time forgot
Remember the augmented reality (AR) games on 3DS? Go on, check your handheld, they're still there, quietly sitting on the home screen waiting to be enjoyed. Built into the system for all to experience whenever they like, taking an established technology and adding a hefty dose of Nintendo whimsy and charm. They were...
News Capcom's Gun.Smoke Rated For 3DS eShop Release
This town ain't big enough for the both of us
As we reported a short time ago, Capcom looks set to bring its Capcom Arcade Cabinet releases to the Nintendo 3DS as stand-alone downloads. 1943 got rated by the ESRB recently, and the vertically-scrolling shooter has now be joined by wild west blaster Gun.Smoke. Interestingly, Gun.Smoke is actually...
News Wii U Error Preventing Access To eShop And Firmware Updates In Japan
Fix expected this weekend
Wii U owners in Japan are reporting that an error with the system is preventing them from accessing the eShop, as well as downloading firmware updates. According to Nintendo, a patch will be issued to fix the error — officially titled 105-3102 — this weekend, but the timing couldn't be worse. Beta testing for the Wii U...
News Game Freak Reveals The Origins of Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight
A demo will be in the 3DS eShop soon
Rhythm-based platformer Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight is a new IP from Game Freak, the developer behind the Pokémon series. It was released in Japan last August and will be jiving on over to North America and Europe in March. As the release is almost upon us, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has put on his...
Review Easter Eggztravaganza (DSiWare)
All cracked up
Whenever a major holiday is just around the corner, it’s no surprise that a flood of related products hit the market just in time to grab the attention of consumers. It happens with almost everything, from food to toys to lawn ornaments, and video games are no exception. While it’s not fair to knock a product for being a blatant...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Nine
Because that's what weekends are for
The weekend is upon us, so it's time to break out the good-stuff — by which we main games, obviously. There are always more games to play, even if none of them happen to be new; if you haven't bought anything this week just play something you already have, unless it's a recently released online-only single...
News Kickstarter Launched For SNES Super 4-in-1 Multicart
$10,000 funding goal in place
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to produce a Super 4-in-1 cartridge for the SNES. The cart will contain four homebrew titles: Mazezam, UWOL: Quest for Money, Skipp and Friends Unexpected Journey and N- WARP Daisakusen. The creators are looking to secure $10,000 to fund the project. At the time of writing, they...
News The Adventures Of Dash Could Be Hitting The Wii U eShop
"We hope to bring it to the Wii U as quickly as possible"
Platform puzzle romp The Adventures of Dash could be bound for the Wii U eShop, according to developer Robotoki. A Kickstarter to fund the game has just launched, and although the Wii U isn't currently getting a version, that will change if the campaign is successful: We are already...
News Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked Arriving A Week Early in Europe
Will now be available on 29th March
Not so long ago we reported that Ghostlight would be publishing Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked in Europe on 5th April. Yet it seems that the publisher is pretty eager to get the game out into the wild, and has now confirmed it will be released on 29th March - a whole week early. Considering it's a...
News U.S. Trademarks Suggest Guild02 eShop Localisations
Hopefully, anyway
In a recent Nintendo Direct focused on the Japanese market, Guild02 was confirmed for the region, a trio of eShop downloads — as opposed to the retail release of Guild01 — published by Level-5 and produced by some of the most respected names in the industry. With three of the four Guild01 titles arriving in the West as...
Thursday7th Mar 2013
News F-Zero AX Found Hidden In GameCube F-Zero GX
Arcade version discovered by hackers
If you're one of the thousands of people that still despairs that the arcade version of F-Zero GX — cunningly titled F-Zero AX — was really hard to find in its heyday, and has since all but died out, we've got some good news for you. The intrepid folks over at The Cutting Room Floor have found that the...
Nintendo Download 7th March 2013 (North America)
A Nano Assault, falling down a well, wild ATV racing and much more
It's Nintendo Download day, North America, which is particularly good news if you own a 3DS or like a bit of Neo Geo retro action on Wii — if you only have a DSi or Wii U, never mind. It's a packed lineup for the big N's current handheld, with a broad range of download-only and...
Review ATV Wild Ride 3D (3DS eShop)
A game of hills and valleys
Bringing online racing to the 3DS eShop in any form is a pretty ambitious undertaking, but we'll say up front that ATV Wild Ride 3D gets that part exactly right. In our experience the online racing is fast, smooth, and reliable. As far as that goes, we genuinely couldn't ask for anything more, and the simple fact that it...
News Namco Bandai Announces Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life For 3DS In Japan
3DS LL bundle also revealed
Namco Bandai, together with Disney Japan, is developing a new 3DS title, Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life. The game will release in Japan on 11th July, and will also receive a limited edition 3DS LL bundle; the handheld itself is white and includes a special design on the surface, with gold and white Mickey Mouse...
News Nintendo Outsourcing Development Of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
Monster Games responsible for porting the Wii title to 3DS
A while back, there was a rumour that Monster Games was working on a new game for Nintendo. Speculation suggested it might be another Donkey Kong title, but a lack of solid evidence made many — Nintendo Life included — dismiss the chatter as unfounded gossip. Turns out the rumour had a...
News Shigeru Miyamoto: Luigi's Mansion is Suitable As "Lighter Fare"
There are "quite a number of Luigi supporters internally, as well"
Yesterday we brought you the latest comments from Shigeru Miyamoto on the subject of his eventual retirement, and now GameSpot has released a larger chunk of its interview with the iconic Nintendo executive. Looking at upcoming games, the ever-approaching Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon...
News Pikmin 3 Aims to "Simply Go Deeper" Than Previous Experiences
Miyamoto believes players need to play Wii U before grasping "how fun it is"
As part of an extensive interview that's been published by GameSpot, we've already been given an idea of Shigeru Miyamoto's perspective on Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon's role as "lighter fare" on 3DS. Naturally a big topic raised with the executive producer was an upcoming...
Developer Interview Uncade's David Byers Talks Another Castle And His Love Of Nintendo
"I think the Wii U is going to be a really indie-friendly platform"
As we exclusively reported a short time ago, Uncade's Another Castle is coming to the Wii U eShop in 2014. An old-school platform epic designed to test your reflexes and tickle your nostalgia-bone, the game is the work of just one man: David Byers. Fresh from announcing that Another...
News Liberation Maiden Takes Flight to iOS
Flying solo from 3DS
In a surprising development, former Guild01 compilation game and current eShop download, Liberation Maiden, has made the jump to Apple's iOS platform. We say that this is surprising, but it's now just one of a number of 3DS titles that have gone in either direction between the Nintendo handheld and smartphone/tablet devices...
News Chasing Aurora Update Now Available on Wii U eShop
Ready for download in North America and PAL regions
Chasing Aurora was a launch title on the Wii U eShop, bringing with it a focus on local multiplayer that was undoubtedly unique among its contemporaries. It's since become available as a demo and had a price promotion, though developer Broken Rules admitted earlier in the year that despite a...
News Tails Adventure And Crystal Warriors Get Rated For Western Release
More Game Gear goodness on the way
Game Gear titles Tails Adventure and Crystal Warriors have both received ratings from the Australian OFLC. The former is a spin-off from the Sonic the Hedgehog series which stars cute sidekick Tails, while the latter is a turn-based RPG in the same mould as Shining Force. The Japanese 3DS Virtual Console received...
News Etrian Odyssey IV's Quest to PAL Regions This Spring is Courtesy of NIS America
Picking up the publishing buff
While Atlus is doing a sterling job of localising titles such as Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan to North America, Europe and PAL regions as a whole are often left to other companies to pick up; an example being Ghostlight's upcoming release of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked, which Atlus brought...
News Former WayForward Team Goes Solo With New Studio, Yacht Club Games
Nintendo systems on the agenda
WayForward Technologies is a studio that, in the opinion of quite a few, has produced some top-notch titles on Nintendo platforms and earned a place as a trusted developer. It's interesting news, in that case, that a team of six from the developer has split off and launched its own studio — Yacht Club Games. The...
Rumour EA Looking into Taking on More Sports Franchises
It's most likely UFC, though
Publishing behemoth Electronic Arts certainly has a fair amount of sports franchises under its belt. It seems the company hasn't reached the last notch just yet though, as chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen has suggested it could take on a couple more franchises. During the recent Wedbush Technology Conference,...
Wednesday6th Mar 2013
Feature Series Reboots That Have Divided Gamers
They did WHAT with [insert treasured franchise name here]?
There are some undeniable truths in life, death and taxes being two examples, and the video game industry has its own rules and obligations that can never be avoided. One of these revolves around reboots of treasured franchises — if you're going to "re-imagine" a popular character or...
News Miyamoto Discusses Retirement In Recent Interview
That day will be a sad day indeed
We're not looking forward to the day that Shigeru Miyamoto retires from Nintendo, but sadly, it's inevitable. The legendary video games producer, who turned 60 last November, said in a recent interview with GameSpot that it would be strange not to be thinking of retirement, but the various projects and his workload...
News Hyperkin's RetroN 4 To Support SNES, Genesis, NES and GBA Software
Everything but the kitchen sink
Hyperkin has been producing hardware clones for a few years now — clones which provide a decent alternative for those moments when your trusty SNES dies on you and you can't abide the feeling of buying a second-hand replacement. We've already covered the RetroN 3 and SupaBoy Portable on this site, and found them to...
Review Puzzler World 2013 (DS)
A puzzling affair
There are a number of reasons why the Puzzler World series continues to see new life on DS. For one, it's still a bestselling series, which is no doubt partly down to the DS's impressive install base around the world. However, it's also the fact that the titles' word and logic puzzles — which historically have been restricted to...
News TT Fusion: LEGO City: Undercover Will Be "The Best Game on the Wii U"
May be a bit biased...
Wii U owners haven't had a whole lot of new releases in recent weeks - the delay of Rayman Legends hasn't helped matters - but LEGO City: Undercover will be arriving in a few short weeks, which is definitely something to look forward to. Loz Doyle, the game's executive producer, recently spoke to NOW Gamer, where he revealed...
News Sayonara Umihara Kawase Confirmed For 3DS
Super Famicom classic gets an update
It has been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that Umihara Kawase — a series which started life on the Super Famicom and has since enjoyed instalments on the PlayStation, PSP and DS — is getting another sequel, this time on the 3DS. A platformer in which the lead protagonist uses a fishing line to hook...
News Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Price Slashed For North American eShop Release
Digital copy will cost just $20, releases March 7th
Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D will be hitting the North American 3DS eShop on March 7th, and will cost just $20 to download. Originally released as a retail title in 2011, the game has already been made available for download in Japan. As you'll know if you read our
News Ace Attorney Collection for 3DS Has Been Proposed "Many Times" at Capcom
We should "hang in there"
While the 3DS has seen some notable franchises carry across from its predecessor, the DS, one that hasn't done so in the West is Ace Attorney. Japan has been enjoying Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney since late last year, while Ace Attorney 5 is expected in the same region later this year; alas, localisation hasn't even...
News Ubisoft Is "Optimistic" About Wii U, But Would Like a Price Cut All The Same
"We think that Wii U will find its public at some point"
Ubisoft’s executive director for EMEA territories Alain Corre has added his voice to the those calling for a Wii U price cut. When asked by Edge Online if he would welcome a reduction in price, Corre said: Always. We always want the hardware to be at a low price because we want as many...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies Pushed to Second in Japanese Charts
3DS systems hold off the reduced-price Vita, just
It's Media Create Japanese chart time again, and some things remain ever-present: Animal Crossing: New Leaf is still hanging around near the top, 3DS is still the best selling platform (only just, for once) and Wii U is still awaiting games before it can enjoy a sales bump. That said, this week's...
News Another Study Claims Playing Wii Can Benefit Surgeons
An hour a day keeps the doctor away
Way back in 2008, while most of the world was getting to grips with the wonder of the Nintendo Wii, a group of researchers was looking into how the system could help with important medical procedures. That's right, a US study discovered that surgeons performed their duties much more effectively and efficiently...
News Research Discovers That Old Timers Are Far Happier If They Game
Video games are good for you after all
It's not just surgeons who benefit from a spot of video gaming - old people do, too. A newly published academic study has concluded that older people are happier and gained a higher level of well-being through frequently playing computer games — even if only for short spells at a time. Researchers at the...
Video More LEGO City: Undercover Webisodes Introduce the Cast
Meet Chief Dunby and Frank Honey
With its release looming ever-closer, Nintendo UK is continuing its webisode series to introduce the cast of LEGO City: Undercover. The first video revolved around Chase McCain, the hero that you control as you venture around the open-world city and indulge in various wacky shenanigans. The latest videos — yes, one...
News Two Tribes: Toki Tori 2 Development is Complete
It's been submitted to Nintendo
Two Tribes has been working hard on getting Toki Tori 2 ready for release. Recently it said it had approached Nintendo for more time and was told to take as long as it needed to get the game right before launching it into the Wii U eShop. Fortunately for us it didn't take much longer, as Two Tribes has announced that...
News Nano Assault EX Also Goes Virus Hunting In North America on 7th March
It's now a trans-Atlantic virus
It was confirmed at the start of the week that Nano Assault EX is coming to Europe in the upcoming 3DS eShop update on 7th March, ending one of the most well-rehearsed "where's xxx" comment threads in the Nintendo Life community. Thankfully it's not just Europe that'll finally get its hands on Nano Assault 1.5, as...
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo UK - Round 2
Kicks off from 7-9pm UK time
At the weekend Nintendo UK invited racers to some rounds of Mario Kart 7, though without a huge amount of advance warning. Nevertheless, the event — which should be open to worldwide players, we imagine — clearly went down well, as another official community get-together is confirmed for today between 7-9pm UK time;...
Tuesday5th Mar 2013
Review Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate (3DS)
A change is as good as a rest
As much as it will pain Castlevania fans to admit, the series was in a pretty bad state prior to the release of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in 2010. Although a string of “Metroidvania” entries — produced under the guidance of the enigmatic Koji “IGA” Igarashi — had hit the mark from a critical standpoint,...
Review Coaster Creator 3D (3DS eShop)
Layin' down tracks
Anyone who's ever stepped off of a roller coaster with a huge grin and an idea for a ride of their own will appreciate the immense appeal of Coaster Creator 3D's concept. It combines the classic video game experience of going really fast with the medium's unique ability to let you do things you wouldn't necessarily be able to in...
News Platinum Games: Ask Capcom if You Want Okami 2
Hideki Kamiya appears open to the idea
Okami, with its vibrant Japanese art style and immersive gameplay elements, is loved by many a gamer. Originally a PlayStation 2 title, it came to the Wii with motion controls and also recently had a HD version made for the PlayStation 3. Plenty of people out there would love to see a sequel made —...
News Doesn't Look Like Minecraft Will Be Coming To Wii U Anytime Soon
Love can't build a bridge?
The Wii U eShop is becoming a haven for indie developers, but it seems that not everyone is keen to join the party. According to Edge Online, Mojang’s Jens Bergensten has said that his company is unlikely to port its indie smash hit Minecraft to the Wii U. Bergensten said: Microsoft has an exclusivity deal for...
News PETA Starts "Whaling" About Assassin's Creed IV's Animal Cruelty
Not a joke this time, presumably?
Animal rights orgnaisation PETA is no stranger to using video games to further its cause — it infamously attacked Mario for wearing a Tanooki suit, but later admitted that it was just a joke. Now, the group has its sights set on Ubisoft's recently-annoinced Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag for "glorifying" the...
News Wii U System Update Adds "Stability Improvements"
Don't get too excited
A while back, Nintendo publicly admitted that the Wii U needed a speed boost, and stated that updates were on the way this year which will make games boot faster and generally streamline the user experience. Today, an 30MB update — version 2.1.3 U — has been pushed to consoles all over the world which offers "further...
Talking Point Nintendo's Revised Approach to E3
It’s not all about the LA expo
Nintendo has often been one of the most secretive companies in the world, and while that prevents any unwanted information being leaked ahead of schedule, it means that at times it’s infuriating to follow as a fan. Up until a few years ago, the only chance we got to look inside the hallowed grounds of Nintendo HQ...
News Miyamoto: Harnessing NFC On Wii U Is Our Priority Right Now
Nintendo's Senior Managing Director also talks dual GamePad support
Super Mario creator and Nintendo Senior Managing Director Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed a little more about his company's plans for the Wii U console, and NFC features quite heavily. Speaking with Polygon, Miyamoto stressed that NFC is going to happen in a big way on the Wii U:...
News Resident Evil Revelations "Infernal Mode" on Wii U Looks Hard as Hell
We need a bigger gun...
While it's not quite the new series entry we may have been hoping for, Resident Evil Revelations on Wii U does take an excellent 3DS title, add some additional characters for the online co-op mode and apply a lick of HD paint. While we need to see it in action and sample its GamePad controls to get a better idea of whether...
News Scribblenauts Collection Out Now in North America
Both DS instalments on one handy cartridge
North American gamers have been pleasantly enjoying Scribblenauts Unlimited on Wii U and 3DS for a while now, while Europe is still waiting to get its deprived mitts on it. It looks as though Europeans will have more reasons to be jealous now, as Warner Bros. has released Scribblenauts Collection on the DS...
News Ubisoft "Can't Disclose" Information About Rayman Legends NFC Connectivity
Skylanders-style figures were "something we were thinking about", says publisher
Remember that leaked Rayman Legends trailer which appeared to indicate that the game would boast some kind of NFC connectivity with action figures? It turned out to be a case of Ubisoft "thinking out loud" rather than an indication of what the final game will contain,...
News Lead Designer On Watch_Dogs Has Parted Company With Ubisoft
Jamie Keen has joined EA
It has been reported that Watch_Dogs lead game designer Jamie Keen has left Ubisoft and is now working at EA Gothenburg — also known as Ghost Games. VideoGamer.com found the information in Keen's
News Ubisoft: Michel Ancel Not Currently Working on Beyond Good & Evil 2
He's "like 300 people", but all of them are focused on Rayman Legends
Beyond Good & Evil 2 is a Ubisoft project that we know is on the way - we just don't know any specifics yet. Ubisoft Montpellier is the studio behind the game, with Michel Ancel at the helm. However, Ancel has been reasonably busy as of late, what with the development of...
News It's Chiptune Album Time, and This One's For SEGA Fans
Oh, the sweet beats
We may be called Nintendo Life, but ever since the Wii Virtual Console came into being it's given us a viable excuse to talk about a lot of other systems, including Nintendo'a arch-nemesis of the early-mid '90s, the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis. Which is no bad thing, the games industry, past and present, is about a lot more than...
Video ATV Wild Wild 3D Gameplay Tips Designed to Win First Place
Get ahead in the race
Arriving in North America in this week's download update, ATV Wild Ride 3D is the latest release from Renegade Kid, and is a new version of a DS retail title; with this one being self-published by the developer, it's been able to make changes that it wanted to see in the original. With any racing game it's imperative to know...
Monday4th Mar 2013
Review Retro City Rampage (WiiWare)
Rack up those combos, Player!
Retro City Rampage is a lot of things, but subtle isn't one of them. One of the first screens — with the title "Common Sense Warning!" — informs you that the game is packed with parodies, and it continues to bludgeon you over the head as you play. You may be a pixellated character given some freedom to romp around a...
Review BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Wii U eShop)
A bolt of bliss
There's a really strong sense of liberation to BIT.TRIP Presents: RUNNER2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, made more pronounced if you’ve hung with any of the six WiiWare entries of the series. In no small part is it because of all the running and jumping, which does metaphorically speak strongest to our sense of freedom —...
News Ubisoft: Female Protagonists in Main Assassin's Creed Titles "Wouldn't Be Surprising"
Could Assassin's Creed V star a leading lady?
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has been officially revealed - we now know it'll be hitting North American shores on 29th October before setting sail for Europe for a 1st November release. The next instalment in the series will have you take control of Edward Kenway, the father of Haytham Kenway from the...
I’ll play your game, you rogue
As the tagline on the game’s case suggests, the ever popular Jeopardy! very well might be “America’s favorite quiz show”. Countless incarnations of the television program have swept across game consoles from the NES to the current generation of platforms, finally landing squarely on Wii U. After years and...
News Does The JXD GamePad 2 Remind You Of Anything?
Certainly rings a bell
Last year we were graced with the Droid X360, a Chinese-made clone of the PS Vita which runs Google's Android operating system. This year, we've got another copycat device which shares more than a few similarities with the Wii U GamePad - it even has the same name. The JXD S7300 GamePad 2 has a 7-inch capacitive screen, a...
Nintendo Download 7th March 2013 (Europe)
Assaulting a virus, life-saving fishing and classic run 'n gun action
Nintendo is on the ball this week Europe, sending sweet download news our way as we awake from our slumber. The list this week is a rather small one, but the mix of new, old and revamped old franchises arguably represents quality over quantity. The goodies for 3DS and Wii are...
News Nintendo to Show a Lot of Unreleased Games at the SXSW Gaming Expo
Get your mitts on them before anyone else
If you're heading to the SXSW expo in Austin, Texas this weekend you may be lucky enough to grab yourself some play time with a handful of the big Wii U and 3DS releases of the year. The best part? Quite a few of these games haven't even hit the shelves yet. Animal Crossing: New Leaf will make its North...
News Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Release Dates and Details are Pillaged
Arriving during the triple-A silly season
So, we can legitimately reveal some key Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag details now, even though the embargo has leaked more than a ship pillaged by Blackbeard — add your own additional pirate puns here, dear readers. For starters, the details that really matter are that the game will arrive on Wii U on...
News Wii U January Sales in U.S. May be Higher Than NPD Figures, Thanks To Resellers
Doesn't mean more systems in homes, however
In mid-February the video game sales-tracker for the U.S., NPD, issued its sales results for January — the figures showed a year-on-year industry decline and Wii U sales "well below" 100,000. The actual estimate was between 45,000 and 59,000 Wii U sales, which reinforced a general impression —...
News Project Happiness is Now HomeTown Story
Developer reveals more details on the game
During E3 last year, Natsume teased the world with its next game, known only as Project Happiness. The official name has now been revealed, it'll be known as HomeTown Story - though we're sure there's still a lot of happiness involved. Yasuhiro Wada, creator of the Harvest Moon series, is the man behind...
News Super Metroid Symphony Album to be Released on 19th March
Another arrangement from the Synthetic Orchestra
While many enthusiasts and talented musicians create terrific remixes or orchestrations of popular game soundtracks, not all are as prolific or well-regarded as the Synthetic Orchestra. The creation of Blake Robinson, the studio is his project to take well known themes from various sources — many of...
News Corecell's ChronoBlade is Now Called AeternoBlade
The 3DS title isn't far from release
Thailand-based developer Corecell announced it was in the process of making a 3DS title called ChronoBlade back in 2011. However, although the game is still on track, it's received a name change. The managing director at Corecell recently told Cubed3 that the new name is AeternoBlade. AeternoBlade is a...
News Circle Entertainment Backing the eShop In A Big Way This Year
Loads of titles in development
Developer Circle Entertainment has revealed a list of all its titles for 2013 and the level of support is pretty damn impressive. We already know about some of these games, but there are a few new names thrown into the mix, too. Some are ports, some are follow-ups and some are brand-new offerings. Goony (DSiWare,...
News "Modified" Version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution Classified by Australian Ratings Board
Is an enhanced Wii U port on the way?
A new "modified" version of Square Enix's Deus Ex: Human Revolution has been classified by the Australian Ratings Board. The rating board listing does not specifically state which systems the title is for. However, the Wii U seems to be a likely choice, given that it was previously discovered by Eurogamer that...
Sunday3rd Mar 2013
Interview Meet Antony Del Rio - Voice Actor for Pit / Dark Pit
Sorry to keep you waiting!
Last year saw the resurrection of Kid Icarus, with 3DS title Kid Icarus: Uprising. It is the third game in the Kid Icarus series and the first since Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters back in 1991 - a whole twenty-year wait, with the small exception of the heroic angel featuring in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. The...
News More Hints At Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Localisation
Just announce it already...
We reported last week that the official Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Twitter account hinted at the game's localisation in the West. A follow up tweet has emerged; we have no doubt that fans who were eager to hear some news replied to the original tweet expressing their excitement for the game: It seems that there is...
News Crytek: Crysis 3 Was "Very Close To Launching" On Wii U
The game was running on Nintendo's system
EA published Crysis 3 in February on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Unfortunately, Wii U missed out on the futuristic first person shooter, but that hasn't stopped people holding out hope for it. Back in January, Cevat Yerli, CEO and founder of Crytek, the game's developer, said Nintendo and EA did hold...
News Capcom Releasing Special Mega Man Ultrabook in Japan
North America's getting some flash drives, though
In December of last year, Mega Man celebrated its 25th anniversary. Yes, it was way back in 1987 when Mega Man blasted his way onto the NES and quickly cemented himself into gaming folklore. To celebrate the Blue Bomber's birthday, Capcom is releasing a special edition Mega Man Ultrabook. The design...
News Two Tribes: Wii U is "Perfect For Us"
Developer may use Miiverse to share user-created content
Puzzle-platformer Toki Tori 2 has suffered a few delays in the run up to its highly anticipated release on the Wii U eShop. Two Tribes, the game's developer, told us in an interview last month that Nintendo was very understanding about the delay and told it to take its time in implementing...
News LinkedIn Profile Reveals Ubisoft Montpellier Has Unannounced Multiplatform Title In The Works
It's a "full physics related project"
Ubisoft staffers certainly enjoy revealing things on their LinkedIn profiles. Last week an employee listed Splinter Cell: Blacklist as an upcoming Wii U title, and now another has added an unannounced project to their online CV. According to Gregory Riachi’s profile, Ubisoft Montpellier has been working on a...
Saturday2nd Mar 2013
Review Wheel of Fortune (Wii U)
Worth a spin?
Since its debut in 1975, Wheel of Fortune has been an early evening staple in homes across America. Its engaging simplicity has had viewers shouting answers at their television sets for almost 40 years now, and the tension stirred by a spin of its titular wheel has been felt by everybody rooting either for or against any given...
Review Splash or Crash (3DS eShop)
All's well that ends well
Simple though it might be, dropping things from a huge height is still pretty entertaining. There's the catharsis of just letting something go, the satisfying sound when gravity takes its hold and an object plummets to its final destination. The plop as a stone reaches the bottom of a well can be deeply gratifying, for...
Interview Vblank Entertainment On Bringing a Retro Rampage to WiiWare
"It’s a twenty layer dip with something for everyone"
After a lengthy wait and a lingering suspicion that it would never come, Retro City Rampage has arrived on WiiWare, bringing its own blend of old-school game mechanics with a chaotic storytelling style. There are enough parodies and in-jokes to fill a dozen games, and it arrives on the service...
Talking Point The Positive Power of Gaming
Stepping away from blaming games
We live in a world where blame is often too easily shifted and personal responsibility too easily avoided. Excuse-making has arguably become the fad of our time; as the laundry-list of blame-accepting environmental influences grows larger, the courage to accept and improve our own faults seemingly becomes more rare...
News Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity Demo Arrives In North America Next Week
Well worth exploring
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity will be releasing on 3DS in North America on 24th March. The latest instalment in the sub-series will feature local multiplayer, have additional downloadable content and allows players to use the 3DS camera to scan objects and access new locations. Nintendo of America has announced it...
News Future Confirms An Official Pokémon Magazine For The UK
There'll be 13 issues a year
This is going to be a big year for Pokémon, with the series making the big leap over to the 3DS in October with Pokémon X & Y. The new iteration is set to be a complete overhaul of what we're used to, with it evolving into a fully 3D environment rather than the fixed overhead viewpoint. In order to help people...
News Ubisoft Devoted Significant Resources to Watch_Dogs After E3 Reveal
Yves Guillemot is confident it will live up to the hype
Interest in Ubisoft's upcoming multi-generational Watch_Dogs title seems to be growing by the day. The game will be released on Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and the yet to be launched PlayStation 4. It turns out Ubisoft really stepped it up a notch after announcing the game at last...
Play Mario Kart 7 with Nintendo UK
Bob-ombs at the ready!
Grab your race suit and join Nintendo UK in a special Mario Kart 7 community event happening right now. The event has been arranged via the official Nintendo 3DS UK Facebook page and is due to last until 4PM GMT. "The special Mario Kart 7 Community event code is 28-7591-1601-9148. The event is now open, good luck to all...
Friday1st Mar 2013
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate's 3DS Online Multiplayer Workaround Is Coming to Europe
We imagine North America will also be included
Not too long ago we told you about an option for online multiplayer in Monster Hunter 3 G on 3DS in Japan, which will require a separately sold Wii or Wii U LAN adapter, a Wii U and an app — due to the core software only supporting local multiplayer. No doubt useful for those that only own the 3DS...
News Vblank Entertainment: Retro City Rampage on WiiWare is a "$20,000 Gift to the Fans"
Shares praise for eShop improvements
Retro City Rampage is available now on the Wii Shop or, if you've long since moved onto a Wii U, on the same platform in the new system's Wii Mode. A manic, parody-heavy flashback to the original GTA and with pop-culture references from further back in time, it's an experience unlike any other WiiWare release of...
News Wireless Wii Portal Inspires Skylanders Chess Invention
There's a use for those old Portals of Power after all
As you will have no doubt read, Skylanders Swap Force will require a new Portal and Starter Pack this year. Family Gamer TV owner and occasional Nintendo Life contributor Andy Robertson asked his kids what they should do with their old Portal of Power, and they came up with a version of Chess...
News Konami Won't Rule Out Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow 2 On Wii U
Never say never
Konami has been fairly adamant that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 isn't coming to the Wii U, thanks simply to a lack of available resource and time. This is perfectly understandable; developer Mercury Steam has only just finished work on the 3DS title Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, and has its hands full developing...
Interview Reinventing Castlevania For A New Handheld Generation
Konami's Dave Cox talks about the latest entry in the bloodsucking franchise
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is almost with us, so what better time is there to sit down with the producer of the game and chat about its development, inspiration, aims and challenges — as well as the future of the Castlevania franchise? Nintendo Life:...
News Capcom Seeks a Western "Breakthrough" With Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
"We're giving opportunity and options to consumers to really pick up the version they want"
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is old news in Japan — in the case of the 3DS version, very old news — yet it's one of two high-profile releases landing on the Wii U in the West in March, while also giving Nintendo handheld owners their first chance of slaying...
News These Disney Infinity Accessories Will Drain Your Wallet
The need for a second job, is now
Accessory manufacturer PDP unveiled a line-up of peripherals that will be available alongside the launch of Disney Interactive Studio's upcoming summer hit title, Disney Infinity, for the Wii U. The specialist company is planning to release cases and stands which can store your character figures, as well as...
News Crytek CEO: "The Notion Of A Single Player Experience Has To Go Away"
Wants to see Connected Single-Player or Online Single-Player instead
There's been a lot of talk about what the future holds for the video game industry and how games will be distributed in the coming years. Mobile gaming is becoming more popular, and retail games are starting to become more readily available through online stores. Free-to-play...
News Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight's US Price Is Revealed
Better start saving those pennies now
A listing for Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight has appeared on the US 3DS eShop, suggesting that the title will go on sale for $14.99 when it releases next month. The rhythm platforming game, developed by Game Freak (famous for the Pokémon games), is a download-only title for the system. While the US price point may...
News Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Twitter Account Hints At Localisation
We'll take any hint thrown our way
It's a regular occurence, especially with 3DS, to look at some attractive and promising titles and realise, with a heavy heart, that they may never make it outside of Japan. They're typically RPG titles, and they're often accompanied by gorgeous, imaginative visuals and special edition releases packed with...
News The Conduit Getting HD Remake For Mobile Tegra Devices
...but will it come to Wii U?
The Nvidia TegraZone website has been updated with game information for the mobile port of High Voltage Software's The Conduit, and it appears that the game will be receiving a HD update. Tegra-based chipsets can be found in smartphones and tablets. Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer for High Voltage Software, has...
News Gaijin Games: Runner 2 Fix is On The Way
The patch is with Nintendo already
BIT.TRIP Presents: Runner 2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien was released onto the North American Wii U eShop last week, representing the series' leap into the HD era of gaming. The release hasn't gone as smoothly as Gaijin Games would have hoped though, as many who downloaded it have been experiencing freezing...
News Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked Arrives in Europe on 5th April
The long wait is over
When it comes to localised titles, a release in North America doesn't always mean the same arrival in Europe and PAL regions, as not all publishers cover both territories. Atlus is a case in point, which means that exciting releases such as Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan may arrive in North America yet bypass Europe,...
News Renegade Kid Developing New Title Called Treasurenauts
Some treasure has been spotted
The developer of hit 3DS eShop title Mutant Mudds is working on a new title, according to Siliconera. A trademark reveal had been discovered by the site on the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), which had been filed by developer Renegade Kid. We reached out to Jools Watsham, founder of Renegade Kid,...
