Review Disney Infinity (Wii U)
Infinite possibilities, infinite potential
Review The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
Putting the wind back into the sails of The Legend of Zelda
News - September, 2013
Monday30th Sep 2013
Nintendo Direct Wii U And 3DS Broadcast Coming Tomorrow
Will focus on games "launching later this year"
Nintendo has confirmed that it will be airing a Nintendo Direct broadcast tomorrow which will cover Wii U and 3DS software launching later this year. The broadcast will take place 7AM PT / 10AM ET / 3PM UK time. With Pokémon X & Y just around the corner, there's a fair chance that we'll be...
Nintendo Download 3rd October (Europe)
A legend returns, singing, a fighting trilogy and more
It's the start of a new week, Europe, which means that it's Nintendo Download time. This time around there are various options across the Wii U and 3DS, including a long awaited remake, singing shenanigans and a retro trilogy. Without any more preamble let's get to the details. Wii U eShop:...
Interview Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag's Place in the Franchise, and Returning to Wii U
Wii U release dates also confirmed
Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag is, perhaps depending on your perspective, a highly tempting multi-platform blockbuster coming to the Wii U or, alternatively, a title below first-party releases and exclusives in the pecking order this Holiday season. It's a release, notably alongside another Ubisoft title in...
Developer gives us assurances on prioritising improved framerate
While it's easy to focus on the major first-party and exclusive games on the way to the Wii U in the coming months, it shouldn't be forgotten that Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, one of the highest profile multi-platform games of the year, is coming to the Wii U. It was perhaps...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Six
Wedding bells (?) in the air, Toon Link's arrival and more
It's Monday, which means Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS screenshot goodness from the Miiverse Director's Room community; Masahiro Sakurai, by simply posting five screenshots a week, is certainly bringing a little extra joy to our lives. Last week we had the reveal of Toon Link, while the...
Tuesday1st Oct 2013
News Extra Pre-Order DLC Available for Sonic Lost World on Wii U
Bonuses for UK and North America
Is Sonic Lost World’s Deadly Six Edition not quite enough incentive for you to plunk down for a pre-order, or are you just always on the lookout for more stuff? Depending on where you go, you can get some extra in-game goodies on top of the extra NiGHTS-inspired play. For UK consumers, ShopTo is offering codes
Monday30th Sep 2013
News Celebrate the launch of Pokémon X & Y at Nintendo World in New York
Come PokéParty on down!
Nintendo of America is set to host an exciting launch event at Nintendo World in New York on 11th October to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated Pokémon X & Y for Nintendo 3DS. Starting at 9.00pm EST and running until 1:00am, the event will provide Pokémon fans with the chance to play the upcoming games...
News Zelda-Like Hyper Light Drifter May Come To Wii U If Crowdfunding Campaign Hits $500,000
Kickstarter push has annihilated its initial target
Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D Action RPG, described by developer Heart Machine as playing like the best parts of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Diablo, but with "modernized mechanics and designs on a much grander scale". The game's Kickstarter campaign launched on September 12th and has...
News Chompy Chomp Chomp Party Heading To Wii U Next Year
Development on this tasty treat began last week
Chompy Chomp Chomp is available on PC and Xbox Live Arcade and is the first project from developer Utopian World of Sandwiches. However, there's a new system set to join the picnic as the studio has confirmed it started development of a brand new version on Wii U last week. It's set to be called...
News Kickstarter Project Opens For Edge of Eternity, Wii U Version On The Cards
We'd be eternally grateful
Midgar Studio has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Edge of Eternity, a Space-JRPG that's said to have "an old school turn based combat system". You jump into the world of Heryon, where you take control of Daryon, the game's protagonist who takes responsibility for saving the planet after an alien civilisation invades...
Sunday29th Sep 2013
News Extended Nintendo Network and Miiverse Maintenance Confirmed for 30th September
Will affect online play and leaderboards as well as the bespoke network
The Nintendo Network and Miiverse have a fairly solid track record in minimising downtime, but some upcoming maintenance will take the service down for a fairly extended period; there's some loose speculation on the web that this could be related to a potential Wii U update,...
News TT Games Reveals Some New Characters in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Will have a demo available on "most platforms"
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is set to blast onto Wii U in October in North America and 15th November in Europe, and anticipation for it is building by the day. Developer TT Games presented it during Eurogamer Expo as part of a Q&A session with director Arthur Parsons and revealed a few new characters...
A magnetic attraction
The Wii U eShop may have had what we could describe as a "steady" start, but in the remainder of 2013 and into 2014 there are a number of encouraging projects on the way. It's perhaps a product of Nintendo's efforts to spread the word and court smaller developers, as well as the Unity tools and assistance on offer, and it may...
News Shadow of the Eternals is Officially "On Hold"
Precursor Games announces the team will be "taking a break"
Precursor Games has had a couple of stabs at crowdfunding Shadow of the Eternals, which is pitched as a spiritual successor to the GameCube classic Eternal Darkness and was aiming for a Wii U release. The first attempt involved two campaigns that ran parallel to each other, one on the...
Review Tales to Enjoy! Three Little Pigs (DSiWare)
A case of swine flu
If you’ve been hanging around the site during the past two weeks, chances are you’ve at least stumbled onto one Tales to Enjoy review. These games are compilations of activities targeted at kids who are just learning how to read, write, and develop basic problem solving skills. Each one uses an identical interface, but...
Video New Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths Documentary Series Emerges For You To Explore
The Kickstarter campaign is almost at an end
Ynnis Interactive opened up a Kickstarter campaign about a month ago with the aim to bring Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths to other nations in English after the French production team received an influx of demand from those abroad who wanted to play the game. It has been a great success and the...
News Nnooo Set To Bring ORBITOR To Consoles
We just don't know which ones yet...
Australian developer Evil Aliens is behind ORBITOR, its first ever project which is currently on Steam Greenlight. It looked like it would be skipping the console market altogether, but that is no longer the case as the studio's compatriot Nnooo has announced it will be publishing the action adventure game on...
Saturday28th Sep 2013
News China Removes Game Console Ban
There is a catch or two
Earlier this year we reported that China was considering a removal of its ban on video game consoles; it was a rule that was bypassed by TV plug and play systems, including a Nintendo offering called iQue which included Nintendo 64 games. Modern systems with separately sold retail games were, however, out of bounds. As part...
Out Now Pokémon X & Y 3DS XL Models Arrive in North America and PAL Regions
Gotta collect 'em all
With the arrival of Pokémon X & Y now just two weeks away, at the time of writing, it's perhaps worth a reminder that new 3DS XL hardware has been released to celebrate the titles. The pictured systems hit stores on 27th September in North America and PAL regions, priced $199.99 U.S. / £179.99 / €199.99. As the release...
The error was spotted in Hiroshi Yamauchi's obituary
Writers and journalists, no matter the prestige of their publication, make mistakes. Facts are incorrect or the wording may be wrong, and corrections are made. The New York Times, in an admirable sense of perspective and maintaining standards, has corrected an error from an article published 25...
News Nintendo UK Looking To Raise Awareness Of Wii U With Tesco Campaign
"There are many people out there that don’t know what this is"
Nintendo UK has admitted that many consumers don't realise the Wii U is a new console, and that it intends to bolster awareness by embarking on an ambitious in-store campaign with leading UK supermarket chain Tesco. Nintendo is making sure that its new system has a considerable...
News Conatus Creative Includes Wii U and 3DS Stretch Goals For River City Ransom: Underground
It's yours for $320,000
Back in April this year, we reported that Conatus Creative — previously known as Combit Studios — was developing a sequel to River City Ransom, which was first released on the NES back in 1989. The company had planned to run a crowdufunding campaign towards the end of the Summer to help fund the game. Earlier this month,
Review Letter Challenge (DSiWare)
Missing the mark
There isn’t really an interesting or unique way to introduce Letter Challenge, but that might be the point. There are plenty of word-based puzzle games available in the world, and so many of them already exist in one form or another on the Nintendo eShop, but that wasn’t enough to stop Enjoy Gaming from throwing another one...
News Ohno Odyssey Puzzling Its Way to the 3DS eShop
Due this year
Big John Games has confirmed that it's bringing a new title to the 3DS eShop later this year — Ohno Odyssey. It'll be a physics-based action puzzle title, in which you use and manipulate various power-ups and items to guide your team mates to the safety of a pod; there'll be 35 levels. The developer says that the team has "worked...
Friday27th Sep 2013
We spend some time with the newest member of the 3DS family
When the 3DS first launched and showed the world exactly how incredible glasses-free 3D gaming could be, it was quickly dismissed by many as a gimmick and a dying fad. Now, almost three years and 30 million shipped units later, the 3DS is one of the strongest consoles on the market, and...
News Awesome Mario Kart Trophies Added to Club Nintendo Europe
Four available for 5000 stars each
We suspect, based on our community game nights and events — they will return! — that Mario Kart 7 is pretty high on a number of favourite game lists. The franchise is also the classic multiplayer experience on Nintendo systems, successfully bringing out the most competitive instincts in players. Naturally, if...
Exclusive New Instalment in SteamWorld Series Under Development for the 3DS eShop
Brjann Sigurgeirsson spills the beans to us
SteamWorld Dig, since its release on the 3DS eShop, has gradually matched critical acclaim with greater awareness and success on the platform. It's certainly a title that's captured the imagination of many regular 3DS eShop regulars, picking up plenty of positive word of mouth. We've spoken in detail to...
News Mighty No. 9 Sets an Ambitious 3DS Stretch Goal
Nearly $900,000 needed in four days
Mighty No. 9, the action-platformer from Keiji Inafune's Comcept studio — with a heavy Mega Man influence — has caused quite a stir since it launched its Kickstarter campaign. Its initial target was broken quickly, and a follow up stretch goal was soon hit to confirm a Wii U release. With just four days...
Review Gradius (Wii U eShop / NES)
Just keeps shooting
To say that the original Gradius was influential on the evolution of the side-scrolling shoot 'em up would be a gross understatement. When it hit arcades in 1985 it was lauded for its amazing level designs and simple, yet wildly playable, power-up system. This NES release was one of the first home ports of the game and has become...
News Nintendo Acquires 27% of Panasonic’s PUX Technology, Which Includes Voice Recognition
As well as tools for detecting handwriting, faces, objects, and gestures
Nintendo has, in the past, utilised technologies for its games and then purchased shares in the related companies, either in part of through a full acquisition. One example is from February 2012 when Nintendo purchased MobiClip, and in a similar move the company has now...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Explains That Internal Development Teams "Gravitate" Towards Big Franchises
Less about names and more about desired game styles
We suspect a common complaint for some with Nintendo's current and confirmed lineup of titles is the absence of particular cherished and relatively under-served franchises. Examples such as Star Fox, F-Zero and 1080° are notable examples, as they enjoyed various entries on previous systems yet...
News Batman: Arkham Origins Will Be Cheaper on Wii U
Savings in lieu of online multiplayer
Although Batman: Arkham Origins for the Wii U will not be receiving the online multiplayer mode provided to its Xbox 360 and PS3 brethren, the omission does seem to be reflected in a lower price point. Kotaku reports that a $50 price for the Wii U version has been confirmed with a represent
News Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Coming To Europe This Year, Enhanced Version On The Way
Bravely Default: For The Sequel is flying West
Back in August, we reported that Square Enix was working on Bravely Default: For the Sequel on the 3DS, an updated version of the original Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Gamers in the West have been eagerly anticipating the upcoming RPG since localisation was confirmed, but there still hasn't been a...
News Katy Perry's "Roar" to Be a Free Downloadable Track in Just Dance 2014
Eye of the tiger
Ubisoft has announced that Katy Perry's latest single, Roar, will be available as a free downloadable track when Just Dance 2014 releases over the next couple of weeks. Scheduled to launch 4th October in the UK and 8th October in the US, the latest instalment in the popular dancing series will feature more than 45 chart-topping...
News Nintendo Australia Announces EB Expo 2013 Lineup
Plenty for Aussie gamers to get excited about
Nintendo of Australia has revealed its lineup for the Sydney EB Expo 2013, and there's no shortage of great Nintendo content for those attending to look forward to. Confirmed to be playable for the 3DS are The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Sonic Lost World and Professor Layton and the Azran...
News Additional Minigames Confirmed for Spin The Bottle: Bumpie's Party
Put Your Hat On, Act Like An Animal, and Don’t Laugh
Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party is undoubtedly one of the quirkiest games on Wii U, incorporating the Wii Remotes in unique ways alongside the GamePad screen. It's also a title set to incorporate a unique pay structure, where early adopters get more content for less money, whereas those that buy...
Thursday26th Sep 2013
Nintendo Download 26th September (North America)
An epic tale is revisited, crazy fishing, a running discount and much more
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, with this week bringing new offerings to Wii U, 3DS and even DSiWare — it's the latest handheld that has the most content. A particularly enticing first-person RPG features in the retail downloads, while some sequels and WiiWare...
News Toon Link Adventuring Onto Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS
Maybe he'll tri-force (we are sorry...)
Just recently Peach was finally confirmed for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS, an inevitable reveal that nevertheless pleased plenty of fans. The official website for the games has now confirmed the return of Toon Link, the plucky young cel-shaded hero that, of course, is prominent once again in The Legend...
Talking Point The Steam Gaming Machines Are An Unconventional Challenge to the Wii U
Sony and Microsoft aren't the only competitors
When considering the challenges and competitors that the Wii U faces in the months and years to come, it's becoming an increasingly cluttered and tricky space to manoeuvre. Much the same was said during the early days of the 3DS, as its struggles saw it stacked up against smartphones and tablets; at one...
News Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass Confirmed for Wii U
Well, that's a first
Nintendo gamers should be familiar with some secondary treatment when it comes to online modes and DLC in triple-A releases; even when major titles bring all DLC to the Wii U, for example, the system often misses out on season ticket deals. While Batman: Arkham Origins on the Wii U will be missing the online multiplayer from...
News Robin Williams Says His Son Came Up With The Idea To Name His Daughter Zelda
Says he's yet to try a Wii U
Robin Williams has been a keen Nintendo fan and has always been happy to talk about his love for the games, with The Legend of Zelda being a particular favourite of his. Indeed, he even named his daughter Zelda as a result of his undying love for the franchise, however, during a recent Reddit AMA he said it was in fact...
Review Secrets of the Titanic 1912-2012 (3DS eShop)
A boatload of dull
2012 marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, a maritime disaster that saw around 1500 people lose their lives. People sadly die as a result of tragic accidents every day, but the reason why the Titanic has such a poignant legacy is perhaps because it was the result of human arrogance — not to mention...
News Pokémon Origins Coming to Pokémon TV in November
Gotta watch 'em all
The official Pokémon website has confirmed that the upcoming mini-series Pokémon Origins will be available to watch exclusively on Pokémon TV from 15th November. The upcoming four-part adventure is based closely on the very first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red & Blue, meaning that Ash Ketchum is nowhere to be found. The...
News Ubisoft Not Ruling Out Rayman Legends On 3DS
It would take time but Ubisoft is open to the idea
Rayman Legends has been out on Wii U, and a selection of other home consoles, for nearly a month now and has even made the transition to the PlayStation Vita, albeit without a load of levels that are set to be integrated at a later date. However, it was not made available for the 3DS, which is...
News Nintendo and System Exclusives Earn Golden Joystick Nominations
You still have time to vote
The Golden Joysticks are an annual games industry awards shindig in the UK, which take place this year on 25th October. The awards are based on the votes of the public, so they also give you a chance to back your favourite games and companies. You can vote until the end of this month at the link above, and as we know...
News Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games May Not Be Competing on 8th November After All
Nintendo says the eShop notification was an error
Earlier this week it appeared the upcoming Wii U title Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games was given a release date, as a notification on the system in North America stated it would be sliding in on 8th November. However, in a dramatic twist it seems this was in fact an error as...
Wednesday25th Sep 2013
Review Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl (3DS)
Don't call it a comeback
When Etrian Odyssey arrived on the DS in 2007, it was something of a revelation. A dungeon-crawler that traded in dusty catacombs for organic, open-air environments and prized cartography and character customization over narrative, it combined the best of pen-and-paper RPGs with Nintendo's new touch-screen hardware to create...
Review Rage Of The Gladiator (3DS eShop)
Are you not entertained?
The original WiiWare version of Rage of the Gladiator was a triumph in more ways than one; not only was it a hugely playable take on the classic Punch Out!! formula but it also managed to bring a considerable sense of gravitas to Wii's downloadable game service — a gravitas which was sorely lacking due to Nintendo's...
News Doublade Revealed for Pokémon X & Y, an Evolution of Honedge
Not the sharpest name, perhaps?
The Pokémon Company recently teased a new evolution announcement for Pokémon X & Y, and as promised it's used its Facebook page to make the big reveal. What it's unveiled is an evolution of the new Steel / Ghost Type Honedge; as you can see above this one will, appropriately, be called Doublade. Its height is...
News EA Executive: Shigeru Miyamoto is 'Falling Down on the Job'
Says consoles' demands are making consumers turn to mobile
Lately, it seems Nintendo has received its fair share of disparaging remarks from EA representatives, along with unflattering comparisons to Apple. And now today, at D.I.C.E. Europe, came the one-two combo of an EA executive unflatteringly comparing Nintendo to Apple. EA Chief Creative...
Video Level-5's Wii U RPG Wonder Flick Gets A Gameplay-Laden Trailer
Next-gen role playing with old school sensibilities
We revealed recently that Level-5's next big project is an RPG for the Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and PS Vita. Wonder Flick is due in Japan next year and will feature connectivity with a mobile application for smartphones and tablets. Level-5's Akihiro Hino insists that this link "goes beyond the...
News Lifetime Sales for the 3DS Have Now Surpassed the Wii in Japan
Cripes...
It's a weekly theme here at Nintendo Life that we report the ups and downs in the Japanese software and hardware charts, yet in the case of the 3DS it's often almost exclusively ups. It tops the hardware results almost every week, occasionally outselling all other system combined, and has a reliable set of ever-green titles in the software...
News Splinter Cell Blacklist Homeland DLC Available Now on Wii U
Missions, weapons and gear included
Splinter Cell Blacklist is Ubisoft's latest entry in one of its most popular franchises, blending its recent focus on action with the option — should you prefer — of reverting back to the classic sneaking for which the series is renowned. As is standard for any high-profile triple-A title, there's optional...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Outlines His Evolving Role in Overseeing Projects
Trusted producers such as Aonuma-san and Eguchi-san have greater control
It's been common knowledge for a couple of years that Shigeru Miyamoto's role has evolved at Nintendo. Once a producer with a heavy hands-on influence on multiple franchises, he still serves a role of oversight but with less micro-management, with the famed game designer and...
News SEGA Unleashes a Plethora of Sonic Lost World Screens
And yes, that includes 3DS screens
With its release now roughly a month away, SEGA is ramping up the presence of the upcoming Sonic Lost World on Wii U and 3DS. This week we've already learned more about the design ideas for Sonic's parkour moves, and even the eShop file sizes; SEGA's now followed up wit
News Monster Hunter 4 Maintains Japanese Chart Dominance
As does the 3DS, naturally
Last week we reported that Monster Hunter 4 sold a staggering 1.7 million retail units in just two days, a figure not too far off two million when estimated download sales were also considered. In its first full week and its second appearance on the Media Create Japanese software chart it's continued that strong form,...
News Well, Here's an Awesome Tanooki Mario Statue
Yours for just $199 US Dollars
We do like Nintendo memorabilia here at Nintendo Life, as anyone that follows our Instagram account can see. So when First 4 Figures announces a planned range of Super Mario statues that are officially licensed by Nintendo, you can bet we're interested. The first in this new range is set to be a beauty, too. It's a...
Video Epic Launch Trailer Shows Off The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
There's also a gorgeous orchestrated video for art contest winners
Wii U eShop enthusiasts in North America may already be adventuring through The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, but for everyone else the wait continues for its official arrival on 4th October. That's surprisingly close, however, and Nintendo UK has now released its own rather...
News SnowCastle Games Keen on Public Beta Testing and In-Game DLC Purchases for the Wii U eShop
Nintendo aims to be accommodating
While the current rate of arrival for new download-only titles on the Wii U eShop could be considered rather slow, the coming months look set to bring us a handsome range of new games, many of them multiplatform. With Nintendo's free Unity tools and generally supportive terms attracting a number of studios —...
Tuesday24th Sep 2013
News Sonic Lost World Will Dash Away With Plenty of Memory on Wii U and 3DS
We've got both file sizes for you to check out
With Sonic Lost World now powering up a spin dash for its October release on the Wii U and 3DS, those most interested in a purchase have the usual choice of sticking with a retail disc — old skool — or opting for an eShop download instead. Those considering the eShop route may want to know that it's...
News Online Multiplayer Comes To The Super Nintendo Thanks To SNESoIP
You can't stop progress
When the SNES was released in the early '90s, the concept of online play was very much in its infancy. PC gamers had dabbled with crudely beaming data over telephones in the '80s, and despite some notable attempts to replicate this on consoles — such as X-Band and Nintendo's own Satellaview service — there was never any...
Review Star Wars Pinball (3DS eShop)
Hard to see, the dual screen is
The Wii U version of Star Wars Pinball activated the hyperdrive of success and shot off into the stars, promising many more adventures to come — the table designs were impressive and fantastic production values sealed the deal. Unfortunately, downloading the same title onto your 3DS results in a poor compromise,...
News Wii U Family Hardware Bundles Revealed in Japan
Mario, partying, fitness and karaoke all in one box
When it comes to the Wii U, Nintendo is undoubtedly working hard to line-up offers and deals to make an impression on the market. We've recently seen a special bundle for The Wind Waker HD in North America — which is also coming to Europe — and more bundles are rumoured, such as one featuring...
News The Pokémon Company to Announce a New Evolution Tomorrow
Gotta reveal 'em all
To continue the never-ending hype surrounding Pokémon X & Y, The Pokémon Company has announced on its Twitter and Facebook pages that it'll reveal a never-before-seen evolution on the latter tomorrow, 25th September. The company is keeping hush on the details, asking trainers to guess who the Pokémon could possibly be an...
News Japan Getting Two New 3DS Colours, Pure White and Clear Black
Brings the total number of systems in the region to around 7,499
Japan has certainly had its fair share of exclusive 3DS systems over the years. For example, the Metallic Red 3DS, the special Luigi 3DS XL, the Kingdom Hearts 3DS and the lovely little
News Pokémon X & Y Will Unlock Multilingual Pokédex Entries Depending on Trades
Like having your own personal Roselia Stone
Pokémon X & Y are already the most globally synchronised entries in the series to date with a simultaneous worldwide release; now it is reportedly confirmed that a feature allowing Pokédex entries in multiple languages will also be part of the titles. Speaking to Nintendo World Report, Director...
News SEGA: Sonic Titles Perform "Really, Really Well on Nintendo Platforms"
The design philosophy behind parkour controls is explained
Amidst a sizeable contingent of first party software this Holiday season, the arrival of Sonic Lost World on the Wii U and 3DS is certainly a cause for some third-party optimism. Our own first impressions were full of praise, and we're hopeful that the final product will deliver on the...
Developer Interview Xander Davis on Astrogun, Indie Potential and the Wii U
"Gamers are dreamers, I think we all care deeply about realizing the dream"
Earlier this summer a story that caught the imagination of the Nintendo Life community revolved around Xander Davis, an independent developer that declared himself to be a Wii U believer — he'd previously dismissed the system prior to its launch. It was a case of going...
Video Two More Pokémon X & Y Commercials Are Caught Online
Those youngsters have been dreaming again
A week ago Nintendo of America unleashed a new Pokémon X & Y trailer, in which photogenic young gamers spoke about their dreams of new 'mon; clearly the hype is getting to their heads. The young dreamers have now returned in two new trailers, with these commercials clearly targeting those that can't get...
News New Sonic Lost World Trailer Reveals A Slight Delay to North American Release
European remains unaffected for the time being
The latest trailer for Sonic Lost World for the Wii U and 3DS reveals that the hotly anticipated release is due to suffer a delay across North America. The Deadly Six extended trailer, which features Sonic encountering each member of his evil enemies, confirms that the upcoming SEGA title won't reach...
News Seattle Mariners Hold A Moment's Silence For Hiroshi Yamauchi
The team paid their respects before the game against Kansas City Royals
Seattle Mariners held a moment of silence for Hiroshi Yamauchi, the team's majority owner, before their game against the Kansas City Royals yesterday. The former Nintendo President, who guided the company into the age of video games, died last week at the age of 85. In 1992 he...
Video Here Are Some Reasons to Love Animal Crossing: New Leaf, If You Need Them
No mention of silly hats, strangely
Earlier this summer one game seemed to be absolutely everywhere, and it didn't have any controversy or gun fights in sight, unless you count shooting balloons with a slingshot — Animal Crossing: New Leaf. For a good number of us it's probably still quite a distraction, as daily chores and tree shaking can be...
Review Tales to Enjoy! Puss In Boots (DSiWare)
Give it the boot
Tales to Enjoy! Puss in Boots is a compilation of activities and games geared towards the youngest audience, ages 3-6 years old. If you’ve taken notice of our review for Tales to Enjoy! Little Red Riding Hood, then you should know exactly what to expect here – exactly. The activities and interface are identical, but the...
News Atlus Slashes 10 Bucks Off Soul Hackers and Etrian Odyssey IV Again
Both are now available in North America for $29.99
Back in August, Atlus temporarily cut the price of a trio of games, including Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers and Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan. The company applied a $10 discount to the eShop versions, but i
News Xander Davis Explains Sources of Inspiration for Project CIDER
Nintendo also "deserves a lot of credit" for pushing forward Indie support
A few months ago Xander Davis, an independent developer and the man behind studio Astrogun, published a blog entry where he did a u-turn and became a Wii U believer; his hands-on experience after buying the system changed his opinion, after he'd harshly dismissed its...
Monday23rd Sep 2013
News Ubisoft Reveals Full Just Dance 2014 Tracklist
Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, ABBA and a bloke called PSY all feature
Just Dance 2014 will be grooving its way onto Wii U and Wii in early October and Ubisoft has now revealed the full list of tracks you can jive along to. It's set to feature a blend of old and new, with artists such as Bob Marley and ABBA standing alongside Lady Gaga, One Direction,...
Hat-trick hero?
The Inazuma Eleven football / soccer RPG franchise is a major success in Japan, so much so that spin-offs and new releases are — at a minimum — arriving on an annual basis. Localisation to Europe has been a slower burn, and unfortunately non-existent in North America, so the arrival of Inazuma Eleven 3, the third title in the...
Review Breath of Fire II (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Understandably lacking in freshness
The Super NES was home to what are still considered by many to be a some of the finest RPG experiences ever produced. It's a predictable lineup of big names, and Breath of Fire II doesn't often get a mention. If it was overshadowed in the past it perhaps has an early opportunity to earn new fans on the young Wii U...
News FIFA 14 on 3DS is Officially Just a Kit and Roster Update
It's called "Legacy Edition"
Those paying attention earlier today may have spotted FIFA 14 in the European Nintendo Download update, which is nice. Unfortunately it's priced at €49.99 / £39.99 on the 3DS eShop in the region, which is almost as ambitious as Ubisoft's download pricing of Splinter Cell Blacklist on the Wii U eShop. Of course, the...
Nintendo Download 26th September (Europe)
The football season kicks off, new and retro adventures and much more
Monday morning means one thing, and that's European Nintendo Download news. This week's offerings include plenty of retail titles, including two very different new RPG adventures on the 3DS and some Wii U retro goodies, alongside plenty of others and some discounts. Let's get...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Five
Olimar on 3DS, all the Single Ladies, a stage tunnel (?!) and more
It's time once again to build our hype for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS ahead of its 2014 (hopefully) release. Masahiro Sakurai, as normal, used the Smash Bros. Director's Room on Miiverse to share five new images last week; all to tantalise us further. It was a week without...
News Happy 124th Birthday, Nintendo
Our favourite company was founded 124 years ago today
124 years ago, Japanese entrepreneur Fusajiro Yamauchi founded the company we now know as Nintendo. Established in 1889, the firm manufactured Hanafuda ("flower cards" in Japanese) playing cards, and Yamauchi opened the first Hanafuda shop called "Nintendo Koppai" in his native Kyoto. Yamauchi...
News Four Turbografx-16 Games Return to the Wii Virtual Console in PAL Territories
A rather pleasant surprise
The Wii Virtual Console was not only the first of its kind on Nintendo hardware, but it had terrific diversity in the platforms and games that it offered; we'll have to see how far the Wii U Virtual Console progresses on those terms. One of the platforms that was supported, giving excellent opportunities to those that...
News Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Hits Funding Target to Confirm Release
Your wish has been granted
While the Shantae franchise has been best known for its appearances on portable systems — which will continue with Shantae And The Pirate's Curse on the 3DS eShop — Wayforward nevertheless decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign in order to fund a HD entry in the series: Shantae: Half-Genie Her
News The Nebula of NES Games Is An Infographic Done Right
A galaxy of classics
Despite the best intentions of the designer, infographics can often be monumentally dull affairs. Thankfully that isn't true with Pop Chart Lab's The Nebula of NES Games, a visual representation of more than 700 Nintendo Entertainment System titles, all neatly arranged in a swirling formation. The spiral advances...
News Howard Lincoln: Nintendo Has "No Plans" to Sell Stake in Mariners MLB Team
The late Hiroshi Yamauchi kept the team in Seattle
One of the many stories surrounding the remembrance of former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi is how he's considered the saviour of the Seattle Mariners baseball team, taking a majority share of the organization in 1992 when its previous owner was about to sell it to a Florida group. Yamauchi's...
Tuesday24th Sep 2013
News New Splinter Cell Blacklist Maps Creeping Onto Wii U
More action from the Billionaire’s Yacht and Dead Coast maps
With great stealth, a tweet from the official Splinter Cell Twitter account has revealed that two new maps will soon become available for download in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist. The new areas, named Billionaire’s Yacht and Dead Coast, will be attainable on all platforms,...
Monday23rd Sep 2013
News Doodle Jump Adventures Is Getting Physical In Europe
Smartphone platformer leaps to the 3DS in cartridge form
Beloved smartphone time-sink Doodle Jump is coming to the 3DS — but not in the form you might expect. The downloadable mobile game is getting a physical release via GSP Games, with a European release date of November 15th, according to Amazon UK. The game has a budget price of just £13.99...
News Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games is Sliding Onto Wii U This November
Wear your gloves, it's going to get nippy
Back in May, a SEGA-themed Nintendo Direct broadcast revealed Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, becoming the first Mario & Sonic title on the Wii U and bringing with it a new set of events for Nintendo's current home console. A release date was yet to be confirmed for Mario and Sonic's...
Events Join Us For 3DS Multiplayer Mayhem At Eurogamer Expo 2013
Drop by the Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone with your handheld in tow
The Eurogamer Expo 2013 opens this week, and Nintendo Life will be there in force. You'll find us right next to Nintendo's stand, where we'll be running a series of 3DS-related challenges which give you the chance to win eShop credit and other amazing prizes. The daily schedule can...
Sunday22nd Sep 2013
Video Watch Two People Unbox The Zelda: Wind Waker HD Wii U Bundle
Their faces are beaming!
The release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is upon us, and to mark the occasion Nintendo has launched a limited edition bundle which includes a digital copy of the game, a digital version of Dark Horse's Hyrule Historia book and a fancy GamePad with Zelda-style detailing. To be honest, only the GamePad is of any...
Developer Interview Eric Carter on Skylanders: SWAP Force for Wii U
Producer discusses UI differences and developing on Wii U
At the time of writing, the launch of Skylanders: SWAP Force, the third instalment in the highly successful Skylanders game series, is just a few short weeks away. In preparation for its release, we were generously invited to tour Vicarious Visions headquarters in Albany, NY to learn a little...
News Wii U UK Software Sales on an Upward Trend, But Have a Long Way to Go
Still well behind DS and Wii, as 3DS leads Nintendo systems
Recent weeks have seen a couple of high-profile titles, published by Nintendo, arrive on the Wii U. In terms of the UK market, Pikmin 3 arrived in late July while The Wonderful 101 landed in late August. It seems those releases contributed, with some others, to bring an increase in Wii U...
Feature The Weird World of Video Games
Weirdness makes the World go 'round
Sometimes it feels like this video gaming hobby of ours can be a dreadfully serious business. We worry about the direction of brands we love — in many of our cases, of course, Nintendo — or perhaps we get hot and bothered about what games are coming, those that aren't, or a myriad of other things. There are...
News Over The Moon Bringing The Fall on an Adventure to the Wii U
The dev is now an official Nintendo developer
Developer Over The Moon launched a Kickstarter campaign this month for The Fall, with the hope of bringing the game to the Wii U if it successfully reached one of its stretch goals of $29,000. The developer has now revealed that it has become an official Nintendo developer, so the game will be making...
News Renegade Kid Hopes To Bury Treasurenauts in The 3DS eShop in December
It's been given an ESRB rating of E10+
Renegade Kid is currently developing a 2D platformer for the 3DS called Treasurenauts, which features customisable characters and local multiplayer. The studio behind Mutant Mudds has said it will emerge in the fourth quarter of 2013 and it looks as though that will be the case as co-founder Jools Watsham has...
News Citizens of Earth Development Team Includes Former Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Staff
Previously confirmed title now takes to Kickstarter
Earlier this year we reported on Citizens of Earth, a humourous RPG in which you are the world's Vice President and recruit from up to 50 characters for a wacky quest. It was reported that it would come to the Wii U in 2014, alongside PC, Mac, iPhone and Android. That was back in March, and it...
News 5th Cell Producer Reveals Why Scribblenauts Was Mixed With The DC Universe
Keeping things fresh for fans of the series
5th Cell announced Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure back in May, spicing up the popular Scribblenauts series with the chance to create objects and scenarios with some of DC's most famous characters. In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, senior producer Caleb Arseneaux explains why...
News Banking Dream and Cafe Dream Will Come To The 3DS eShop Next Year
CIRCLE Entertainment cancels the DSiWare development
CIRCLE Entertainment is behind the DSiWare titles Publisher Dream and Bookstore Dream and not too long ago it confirmed it would be bringing Banking Dream and Cafe Dream to the platform. However, it has now confirmed both these games have been cancelled, although it won't be the last we see of...
Saturday21st Sep 2013
News Shin'en: If Developers Can't Make Great Looking Games On Wii U, It's Their Own Fault
A bad workman blames his tools
Let's be honest — the Wii U is going to be left in third place in technical terms when the PS4 and Xbox One release later this year. Nintendo's system simply isn't as powerful as Microsoft and Sony's machines, so it's reasonable to expect something of a graphical disparity between the platforms — just as was the...
Reaction Nintendo Reminds Us of the Wii's Glory Days With Wii Fit U and Wii Sports Club
Inexpensive upgrade options are vital for attracting the Wii generation
This week Nintendo didn't so much surprise us with a Nintendo Direct, but left it outside the door unannounced and ran away giggling. Again apparently relying on the rapid influence of word of mouth, or perhaps acknowledging that much of the target audience aren't Nintendo...
Hardware This Custom Tron N64 Makes Us Want To Return To The Grid
Greetings, programs!
Zoki64 is famous for his hardware modifications, and his latest project is a real masterpiece. He's painted an N64 straight out of Tron, complete with elements which glow in the dark. You can see the system in the video below, accompanied by Daft Punk's excellent music for the recent sequel, Tron: Legacy.
Hands On Skylanders: SWAP Force
We visit Vicarious Visions HQ to check out Skylanders: SWAP Force
It’s difficult to believe that the Skylanders franchise — a series that has sold millions of copies worldwide and has spawned a multitude of sequels and spin-offs — is only just turning two years old. Since the 2011 release of the series debut, Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure,...
Weirdness Watch Nearly 1000 Mario Players All At Once
Super Mario Boy
For those that have played Super Meat Boy, which unfortunately never made it to a Nintendo system, a highlight can be the replay that follows every completed level — all of your attempts are shown at once. If you can imagine that with a Super Mario Bros. level, but with 974 players on display, then you can imagine what's coming...
News Former Nintendo Composer Dedicates Retro Remixes to Hiroshi Yamauchi
Super Mario Land and Metroid both given special new tracks
Earlier this week former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi passed away at 85 years of age. He'd led the company from 1949 to 2002, overseeing a revolution as Nintendo became the world's leading video game console manufacturer. By leading Nintendo to such success in the industry,...
News Hands-On: Why Beyblade Evolution Could Be The Best RPG You've Overlooked This Year
You spin me round
With the growing interest in games like Skylanders SWAP Force and Disney Infinity, core gamers have learned to look a little harder at cartoony offerings before writing them off. There are plenty of clangers to avoid, but discerning the chaff from the wheat is becoming somewhat harder. Beyblade Evolution on 3DS is coming this year...
Friday20th Sep 2013
Interview Junichi Masuda and Hironobu Yoshida Discuss Pokémon X and Y, Mega Evolutions and the 2DS
On the road to Luminose City
On 12th October budding Pokémon masters will be able to explore first-hand the beautiful polygonal 3D environments of the French-inspired region of Kalos, where trainers rush around on roller-skates and a giant Ryhorn snoozes outside your front door. We caught up with Pokémon X and Y's Director Junichi Masuda and Chief...
Out Today The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (North America)
Sailing off with your hard drive space
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is here, if you're happy to download and live in North America. While many of us count the days until 4th October, this HD remaster / remake / whatever you want to call it has docked in the North American eShop ahead of time. It coincides with an official Wii U price cut in...
News Miyamoto: Retro Studios is High on The List of Candidates For A New Metroid Game
Discusses Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the future of Samus
The UK Official Nintendo Magazine published its 100th issue this month, which is a pretty impressive milestone, and to celebrate it sat down with Shigeru Miyamoto and spoke about several things, including Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Metroid. During the interview,...
News You'll Have to Wait Until December to Get a Pokémon Bank Account
Chip and pin at the ready
Earlier this month, during a special Pokémon Direct Broadcast, Nintendo and Game Freak announced a new cloud-based service called Pokémon Bank, where trainers can store their Pokémon and dig them up again for later use. The news that you would have to pay for this service sparked a quite diverse reaction from fans as...
News Monster Hunter 4 Launch Sales Estimated to be a Series High
Surpassing PSP release Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Earlier this week we reported that Monster Hunter 4 had surged to number one in the Japanese charts, selling an outstanding 1,715,060 units at physical retail in just two days. Those figures were impressive, but Media Create has estimated that the latest release may have enjoyed the biggest-selling...
News A Hat in Time Developer Teases Good News For The Wii U
Keeping things hush at the moment
Back in February, we reported that 3D cel-shaded platformer A Hat In Time could be coming to the Wii U, but nothing was confirmed at the time. A Kickstarter campaign opened for the game towards the end of May, with developer Gears For Breakfast revealing it was in talks with a publisher about bringing it to the Wii...
News Surprise! Aonuma Doesn't Consider The CD-i Zelda Games To Be Canon, Either
Glad we're all on the same page
Many moons ago, when CD-ROM was still a new and exciting storage medium, several companies released CD-based systems in the hope of catching a ride on the interactive entertainment roller-coaster. One of those firms was Phillips, which created the CD-i (the "i" stands for "interactive", in case you were wondering)...
News System 3 Confirms James Pond: Codename Robocod Reboot For 3DS And Wii U
UPDATE: IP owner Gameware comments on the news
Update: Gameware's PJ Belcher has gotten in touch to clarify the ownership of the Pond name: Gameware owns the full IP to Pond, but to help keep the brand alive it has be licensing the rights to Robocod (specifically) for other developers to bring him to new platforms. This was true of the DS, GBA PS1...
Saturday21st Sep 2013
Review Tales to Enjoy! Little Red Riding Hood (DSiWare)
You should probably stay out of the woods.
Tales to Enjoy! Little Red Riding Hood is a collection of activities and games designed to be accessible to young children, ages 3-6 year old. With eight modes in all – which consist of puzzles, games of memory, a digital colouring book, and of course a re-telling of the classic fairy tale – there’s...
Friday20th Sep 2013
Video Teenage Mutant Koopa Troopas is a Delightfully Bonkers Mashup
Spot the references
YouTube user James Farr is rapidly developing his reputation as a top-notch animator, while his wacky style has earned him some fans here at Nintendo Life. He's previously given us Super Mario Busters and The New Super Mario Busters 2, and returns with an all-new video — Teenage
News Panzer Dragoon Creator Yukio Futatsugi Wants To Work With Nintendo Again
"We have a good relationship with them"
Yukio Futatsugi — the man behind Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword and Sega's beloved Panzer Dragoon series — clearly likes to keep himself busy. He's been speaking to Siliconera at the Tokyo Game Show about his future projects, and has revealed a desire to work wit
News Nintendo of America Adds Deutsch LA to its Line-Up of Creative Agencies
Responsible for digital and social media marketing in North America
The next 12 months are pivotal for Nintendo, as it'll aim to maintain 3DS momentum and drive major improvements in Wii U sales in the face of numerous and big-hitting competition. There's plenty of software on the way for both systems, alongside bundles and price promotions to tempt...
Video Let's Play DuckTales: Remastered - Episode I: The Moon
Getting to grips with the updated classic
DuckTales: Remastered — WayForward's HD reimagining of the NES classic — is, according to Nintendo Life Editorial Director Damien McFerran, a very challenging game. Rory Cocker — a 20-year-old, nappy-clad baby of a gamer — is, according to Damien, relatively inexperienced and naive. You may have...
News La-Mulana is Receiving A Sequel
No news on platforms just yet
La-Mulana finally excavated itself to WiiWare last year after a lengthy process. Originally a PC title, it turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable game on Nintendo's system and earned a 10/10 from us in our review. Now, some six years after its original release, developer Nigoro has a sequel on the cards that will be...
News Cut the Rope Slices Its Way Onto the North American eShop
Om Nom just had to have his 3D candy today
Update: The game's publisher, ZeptoLap, has confirmed that the eShop price of $9.99 is correct, contrary to the quoted price in the announcement press release. Original Article: There has been a little confusion with the North American 3DS eShop release of Cut the Rope, which seemed all set for...
Video Here's What Puzzle & Dragon Z's Japanese Commercial Looks Like
Spoiler: plenty of wide-eyed anime characters lie within
Mobile smash hit Puzzle & Dragons is coming to the Nintendo 3DS in the shape of Puzzle & Dragons Z, an enhanced version which creator GungHo hopes will sell over one million copies. The Japanese commercial for the game is below, and shows some of the graphical refinements that have...
Thursday19th Sep 2013
News Meet Aurorus, Another Evolution in Pokémon X & Y
Keeping it cool
We've recently had the opportunity to go hands on and learn much more about Pokémon X & Y, and one little tid-bit of info we were given is actually for a new 'mon; it's rather charming appearance has already greeted your eyeballs above, of course. Called Aurorus, this is a Tundra Pokémon that is a Rock / Ice type. It's the...
News Junichi Masuda Confirms That the Pokémon X & Y Overworld is 2D Only
"We really wanted to make the overworld as beautiful as possible"
There has been some online chatter over the past 24 hours suggesting that the overworld in Pokémon X & Y is 2D only, naturally leading to some disappointment amongst all of the hype around the title. Speaking to Digital Spy, director Junichi Masuda confirmed that to be the case,...
Nintendo Download 19th September (North America)
A legendary HD release, monstrous discounts, classic Mario and much more
We have a bumper Nintendo Download week for you, North America, with over a dozen games gracing the Wii U, 3DS and even the DSi. A certain Zelda title is headlining, but we also have terrific — but brief — Monster Hunter discounts, some retro goodies and enough new 3DS...
Feature Hiroshi Yamauchi - The Man Who Made Nintendo
We pay tribute to the former Nintendo president, who died today
Earlier today, we reported on the sad news that former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi had passed away at the age of 85. For many younger Nintendo fans, the name might not mean anything — Yamauchi's time in charge lasted from 1949 to 2002, and Nintendo's recent glory years have...
News Pokémon X & Y Nearly Had a Feature To Translate Pokémon Cries
"Stop force-feeding me Poké Puffs!"
October is just around the bend, which means you'll soon be able to try out the intriguing new features tucked away in Pokémon X & Y, such as Pokémon Amie and Super Training. But what about the features that didn't quite make the final cut? We recently spoke with Director Junichi Masuda and Designer...
News Nintendo's Former President, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Has Passed Away
He was 85 years old
Update: Satoru Iwata has issued the following short statement: We will continue to treasure the values Yamauchi taught us - that what makes you unique lies at the core of entertainment. And we at Nintendo will continue to change the company flexibly to adapt to the times, as Yamauchi did, to carry on his spirit. Original...
News Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is Half Price in Europe and North America
For just a few days, hurry!
Those that have been paying attention to today's North American download update have hopefully spotted something rather wonderful, and we don't just mean the early download release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. Capcom's rather terrific Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is now half price on the Wii U and 3D
First Impressions Pokémon X & Y
Katy and Martin go hands-on
We were recently lucky enough to get some hands-on time with Pokémon X & Y, and see in advance what sort of impact the new 3D engine and gameplay has had on the core Pokémon franchise. As two of us were able to attend the event and both experience the game individually on some shiny 2DS systems, our first...
Friday20th Sep 2013
Review Tecmo Bowl (3DS eShop / NES)
Watch that 3DS hinge on the snap
Before video game football became just as complex as real-life football, there was Tecmo Bowl. There weren't hundreds of plays with varying formations or special spin moves to worry about, in fact you didn't actually have to know much about the game of football to enjoy and play it. It was this simplicity that made...
Thursday19th Sep 2013
News SoulCalibur II HD On Wii U "Isn't Out Of The Question", Says Series Producer
Could Link cross swords once more?
Namco Bandai's weapons-based brawler SoulCalibur II may be getting a HD remaster for the PS3 and 360, but the game still has a chance of coming to Wii U, according to series producer Masaaki Hoshino. When asked if there was any chance of the title hitting Nintendo's machine, Hoshino replied that it "wasn't out of...
News Atlus Reaches Out to Fans Regarding Acquisition by Sega
“Sega understands our drive to achieve quality”
With news that Sega Sammy has acquired Atlus’s parent company, Index still being freshly digested by many, Atlus President and CEO Naota Hiraoka has released a statement addressed to the company’s fans and customers. Hiraoka gives a brief recap of Index’s troubles and how Atlus will continue...
News New Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! Screenshots Come into View
Finn and friends are going on an adventure
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! is being released very soon according to D3Publisher. It's the follow up to the equally bizarrely named Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d you steal our garbage?!, which was on 3DS and DS. This time round Finn, Jake, Marceline, Cinnamon Bun and...
News Prepare Yourself, There's A Bayonetta Anime Movie In The Works
Trailer breaks cover
With its buxom lead character, hordes of angelic demons and preoccupation with over the top action, Platinum's Bayonetta is perfect fodder for an anime adaptation — which makes you wonder why it's taken this long for it to actually happen. Bayonetta: Bloody Fate is being handled by animation studio Gonzo (Hellsing, Final...
Video This Bravely Default: For the Sequel Trailer Sets the Scene
Dat music
After some doubt and confusion over the past year, we suspect a good number of 3DS and RPG fans were relieved when Bravely Default: Flying Fairy was confirmed for the West by Square Enix. Confirmation of Bravely Default: For the Sequel in Japan naturally had us wondering which version of the game we'd receive, so news that we'll receive...
Wednesday18th Sep 2013
Poll Would You Buy Grand Theft Auto V On Wii U?
Would Rockstar's latest epic have you reaching for your wallet?
Oh boy. When I published our latest "Soapbox" piece about Grand Theft Auto V and how it may not be entirely suited to everybody's tastes (it takes all sorts to make the world go around, folks), I wasn't expecting a topic with over 500 comments. It's been fascinating to see how...
News Wii Sports Club Takes The Competition Online With HD Visuals And Wii MotionPlus Support
Regional clubs confirmed, each sport available as a separate download
During today's shock Nintendo Direct broadcast it was confirmed that Wii launch title Wii Sports is getting resurrected for a new generation, with lush HD visuals, online play, Wii MotionPlus compatibility and a new pricing model which allows users to buy daily access or purchase...
Video This Japanese Pokémon X & Y Overview Trailer is Almost Too Epic
All aboard...
Update: Courtesy of a heads up from NintenDaan, we've now uploaded a higher quality version of this trailer and some 3DS eShop commercials below. Enjoy! Original Article: Pokémon X & Y is coming rather soon, and if you didn't know that then you're clearly not paying any attention to the world of the 3DS. Its arrival on 12th...
News You'll Be Able To Use Wii Fit U For One Month Free Of Charge
Trial download available from November
Nintendo has announced that it will be giving Wii U owners the chance to fight the flab for free with a entirely gratis one-month trial of the forthcoming Wii Fit U. From November 1st, North American and European Wii U owners will be able to download the game from the Wii U eShop and take part in 77 different...
Video This Tokyo Game Show Sonic Lost World Trailer is Rather Impressive
Oh my giddy Aunt
With its October dual release on the Wii U and 3DS getting ever closer, we can expect SEGA to start making plenty of noise about Sonic Lost World in the coming weeks. Exclusive to Nintendo's systems and incorporating some Wisp elements seen in Sonic Colours, early impressions — including our own — have given out plenty of...
News Iwata Asks Explores The Origins of Toon Link and The Process Behind Making The Wind Waker HD
Satoru Iwata takes to the Great Sea to find out more
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is tantalisingly close to being released on Wii U. It emerges in North America and Europe on 4th October and will even have its own special limited edition console bundle for those who haven't embarked on their Wii U adventure yet. With the release date...
Nintendo Direct Check Out the Wii Fit U Direct Here
Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime get down to details
Earlier today we shared some surprising news regarding the release of Wii Fit U, namely that it'll be available for a month free of charge, and that if you then purchase a Wii Fit Meter accessory — $19.99 in the U.S. with equivalent prices elsewhere — you can then keep your free download...
News DuckTales: Remastered Coming to Retail on Wii U in North America
Woo-oo!
DuckTales: Remastered is exactly what the title suggests, it's a re-worked modern version of the classic — and challenging — NES game. For fans of the original that fancied a shiny new run-through it's been largely well-received, but its old-school sensibilities also saw it cop some criticism; it's certainly down to taste. Up to now...
News Sega Sammy Acquires Atlus Parent Company Index For 14 Billion Yen
Reports suggest purchase will take place in November
UPDATE: It's now been confirmed that SEGA — or rather a part of the company called Sega Dream Corporation — has indeed bought Atlus. It's anticipated that the deal will be wrapped up by 1st November, and the following was in the press release. The Company believes that transfer of Index's...
News Wii Street U Update Allows You to Walk the Virtual Streets
Time to bust out the Balance Board
Wii Street U powered by Google may not be a major part of the Wii U software library, but it can be a fun extra and, essentially, a bit of a tech-demo to show friends. So far the app allows you to check out worldwide locations and utilise the GamePad motion sensors for that classic "window to the world" feel, while...
News Monster Hunter 4 Shifts Over 1.7 Million Retail Units In Two Days
More than a quarter of a million 3DS sales in the same week
So, Monster Hunter 4 is a bit popular in Japan. We recently reported Capcom's announcement that over two million copies had been shipped in four days, with download purchases also lifting it to third in the all-time 3DS eShop regional chart at that point. If anyone was concerned that a...
The 3DS and Wii U Virtual Console get the follow-on treatment
Japanese players will get the chance to go sequel-crazy next week thanks to the arrival of three classic games across the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Console services. On the handheld front, Mega Man II (the Game Boy version, not the NES sequel) is hitting the 3DS eShop for 500 Yen. Although...
News Scribblenauts Creator 5th Cell Hopes To Continue Working On Wii U And 3DS
"We’ve enjoyed developing for these platforms tremendously"
Scribblenauts studio 5th Cell has already given the Wii U and 3DS Scribblenauts Unlimited and is currently hard at work on Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure. Senior Producer Caleb Arseneaux has been speaking to Nintendo World Report about the company's future plans, and if...
Tuesday17th Sep 2013
Review The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD (Wii U)
Putting the wind back into the sails of The Legend of Zelda
From the moment Nintendo first announced The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD for Wii U, it has consistently reminded us that the project is about more than just bringing HD graphics to a classic game. In fact, this remake arguably serves a much greater purpose than any Legend of Zelda...
Soapbox Why Grand Theft Auto V Isn't For Me
Damien McFerran reminds us that other games are available
This week sees the release of Grand Theft Auto V on PS3 and 360 — but, alas, not the Wii U. But of course, you already knew that, because unless you've recently taken up residence beneath an exceptionally large rock, you'll have found it absolutely impossible to avoid hearing about...
Review Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (Wii U)
Silent but deadly
American espionage author Tom Clancy may have his name plastered all over the box, but he hasn’t written a single Splinter Cell book. The series is wholly a Ubisoft creation, allowing the publisher free reign over the franchise’s creative direction to best suit whatever purpose it would like. Creative license is exactly what...
Feature Why Zelda: Wind Waker HD Is The Perfect Game For Families
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson goes questing with his offspring
A lot has happened since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was released for the GameCube. In the video game world we have seen another two generations sweep on and off our radar, while in my family there has been the arrival of a new generation in human form — two more children. The...
Review Pinball: Revenge of the 'Gator (3DS eShop / GB)
A snappy pinball title
HAL's Pinball: Revenge of the 'Gator is a game which really needs to be approached with context in mind; back when it launched in 1990, real pinball games were still popular in arcades and digital representations were only just starting to offer the same level of enjoyment. Naxat's seminal Crush series — which includes Alien...
News Publishers Reveal Sales Figures for Skylanders and Disney Infinity
Activision and Disney prepare themselves for a festive battle
The war between the two major players in the figurine beaming adventure game genre has been raging lately what with the release of Disney Infinity last month. Naturally, the ambitious project takes a lot of influence from Activision's Skylanders series and according to Disney Interactive...
Video New Pokémon X & Y U.S. Trailer Makes its Debut
These kids are dreaming of Pokémon, apparently
With its release now just weeks away, Pokémon X & Y will be everywhere including, if the new U.S. trailer is to be believed, in your dreams. That's right, there's no escaping this one. Reportedly shown on U.S. TV last night, this trailer features a few photogenic young gamers talking about...
Developer Interview Black Forest Games on Bringing Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams to Wii U
"We are planning to bring every game we develop to the Wii U as well"
The Wii U eShop may have endured a relatively dry spell immediately after launch, but in recent times it's played host to a number of highly rated titles, with plenty more on the way. One of these releases is Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, a new title in a franchise that dates...
News Mighty No. 9 Passes Wii U Stretch Goal With A Fortnight Remaining
That's Mega news
Keiji Inafune's crowdfunding for Mighty No. 9 has, unsurprisingly, been progressing rather well. After a few frustrating years for fans of the Blue Bomber, Capcom's former employee and the man many consider to be the father of the series is working on a game with undoubted conceptual similarities. Not only that, but he's brought in...
News Inti Creates Revealed to be Working on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Mega Man developer also on board with Mighty No. 9
The simultaneously running Kickstarter campaigns for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and Mighty No. 9 have proven that genies and robots can peacefully co-exist in the modern world. Teams for both games have been supporting each other over social media, but today it was shown they’re in more cahoots than...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ships Over Two Million Copies in Four Days
That's just monstrous
So, Monster Hunter 4 is out now in Japan. While Capcom has admittedly had a hard time replicating the success of the franchise in the West, in Japan it's a sure thing, as a dedicated and monstrously large fan-base rarely hesitates to weigh-in on the latest entry. We'll give you one guess what'll be top of this week's Japanese...
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies Set To Take The Stand in October
Will preside in the eShop on 24th October
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies has been given a release date in North America and Europe. According to the official Ace Attorney Facebook page, it will emerge into the 3DS eShop in both regions on 24th October and will be priced at $29.99 / €24.99. While Japan received a physical copy of...
News River City Ransom: Underground Dev Wants To Bring The Game To 3DS And Wii U
Conatus Creative looking to bring River City Random "home" to Nintendo
We reported last week on a Kickstarter campaign for an officially licensed sequel to the NES classic River City Ransom (known as Street Gangs in Europe). When the campaign went live there was no word on which consoles it would be released on, should it find the required funding...
News Youkai Watch Receiving A New Game in Japan Already
Will it be a sequel or an enhanced version?
Level-5 released Youkai Watch in the Summer in Japan and it looks like the region is set to receive another iteration of the series as CoroCoro magazine has stated a new title is in the works. The 3DS title centres around around a young boy who comes into possession of a special wristwatch that enables...
Weirdness If Only The Dark Knight Was a Retro Game
"Wanna know how I got these scanlines?"
Just yesterday we shared the fact that there's a retro-styled Game of Thrones game, which draws inspiration from the TV show. To continue that theme we now have a video that recreates The Dark Knight as it would be in a retro game; this is a rather fun recreation of key events as they could work in a game of...
News Capcom Collaborates with Musicians on Mega Man Tribute Albums
A remix album and and all new rock tracks
This Mega Man anniversary year may have lacked a new title in the franchise — aside from a sanctioned PC fan-game — but has included plenty of memorabilia and soundtrack releases. Some examples have been rather good, such as neat little figurines, while others — such as this Rush tissue pouch in Japan...
Monday16th Sep 2013
News The Pokémon Company Brings Back Its "Gotta Catch 'Em All" Sweepstakes
That's your big reveal, folks
Over the past weekend we reported that The Pokémon Company was teasing a special announcement; the time has come and the big news is either awesome or disappointing, depending on personal taste. The company has re-launched the "Gotta Catch 'Em All" promotion in the U.S. — sorry, Canada and the rest of the world...
Rumour Wii U New Super Mario Bros. and New Super Luigi U Hardware Bundle Sighted
Wii Fit U listed for November, too
It's Wii U bundle rumour time, everyone! We all like juicy speculation based on retailers either breaking an embargo or making products up, and courtesy of Twitter user Oisin1001 more information on potential Wii U releases has been spilled; both are reportedly from a Smyth's Toys catalogue, which is a retailer in...
Hands On Assault Android Cactus
Crazy name, crazy game
Assault Android Cactus is a name that may initially baffle, but once the game begins makes perfect sense; that's the case with this title as a whole. Bullet-hell shooters like this can look like confusing, terrifying propositions to the wrong audience, but once into the action anyone with quick thumbs will have a lot of fun...
Nintendo Download 19th September (Europe)
Wii U gets Mega, intergalactic pinball, AiRacing, gladiators and more
It's Monday morning, Europe, which doesn't mean dreary skies and the beginning of another week's working drudgery, it actually represents Nintendo Download news day. The goodies due to arrive on Thursday this week are all on the Wii U and 3DS, with a Capcom classic on the home...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Four
Plane trouble, Kirby, the arrival of Peach and more
It's that time again, dear readers, when we bring together the lovely images shared by Masahiro Sakurai last week over on Miiverse. Even though Super Smash Bros. only has a vague 2014 release window, that doesn't mean we can't be hyped for it now, to the point we'll be positively combustible when...
Weirdness There's a Game of Thrones 8-Bit Game
Watch out, HBO
For those that aren't actually aware, Game of Thrones was around long before it arrived as a big-budget behemoth on TV; the original book was called A Game of Thrones and was book one in the series titled A Song of Ice and Fire, which is still going — hats off to you, George R. R. Martin. There's no doubt that the TV series has...
Exclusive 3DS And Wii U Versions Of New James Pond Game Are "Part Of The Plan"
"What platforms we support will be up to the fans"
As we reported last week, everyone's favourite underwater agent is getting a revival thanks to Kickstarter and there's a good chance he'll be making a splash on the Wii U or 3DS — or perhaps even both. We've been talking exclusively to Chris Sorrell — the man behind James Pond — and PJ...
News Hometown Story's Character Episodes and Interactions are on 3DS but not iOS Version
"If you want to play even more there is the 3DS version"
Hometown Story is the upcoming 3DS title from Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of the Harvest Moon franchise. Though on the surface it seems to be treading similar ground to that of the established Natsume franchise, Wada recently told us in an interview that "you can expect fresher characters and...
News Iwata Asks Connects With The Team Behind StreetPass Relay
Discusses the origins, the implementation and International StreetPass
The StreetPass relay points are starting to spread across the globe giving 3DS owners more chance to connect with fellow gamers using the unique feature. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata recently sat down with the team behind the project in the latest Iwata Asks interview where...
News Nintendo UK Announces National StreetPass Day
Major events in London, Manchester and Birmingham
The 3DS has many qualities, but arguably one of its finest features is StreetPass. Like many of Nintendo's cleverest ideas, its not particularly hi-tech or revolutionary, but by combining a charming app and mini-games with the idea of passing and 'meeting' strangers while out and about, the portable...
Video Getting To Grips With Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl
We give you an exclusive first look at the new 3DS RPG classic
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl arrives in North America on October 1st, but we've been granted early access to the game thanks to our good friends at Atlus. Below you'll find our exclusive "First Look" video which details the opening moments of the game, from the animated...
News The Harp Twins Strike Again With A Whimsical Mario Medley
The harp-playing duo are in another castle
Long-time fans of Nintendo Life will no doubt recall Camille and Kennerly — better known on YouTube as The Harp Twins — and their spine-tingling rendition of Ballad of the Goddess from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The girls were kind enough to speak
News Burnout And Need For Speed Studio Criterion Downsizes To Just 15 People
Working on new IP outside of the racing genre
UK studio Criterion — which created the Burnout series of games and has had a key role in recent Need for Speed titles — has downsized to just 15 staff. The smaller company will now focus on titles away from the racing genre in which it found so much fame. Criterion staff are assisting EA's Ghost...
Sunday15th Sep 2013
News Dan Adelman - Nintendo is "Very Much Aware" of Demand for a Unified Account System
Talks up download game quality, emphasizes the pros of the Unity deal
While short term recovery is very much on the agenda for the Wii U, its medium and long-term prospects are also important for the big N. Naturally that revolves around games, as Nintendo will aim to supplement its first and second-party projects with third-party blockbusters and,...
News Nintendo Treehouse Staff Reveal The Process Behind Choosing Which Games To Localise
They're a secretive bunch
The famous Nintendo Treehouse is situated deep in Nintendo of America's headquarters and is responsible for a lot of things, including bringing the company’s games from Japan to North America. Shrouded in a mist of secrecy, the team that climbs up to the Treehouse every day are often devising complex marketing...
News Inazuma Eleven 3 Needs Plenty of Memory Blocks to Boot Up
Yikes
Inazuma Eleven 3 arrives in Europe on the 3DS in less than two weeks, coming in two different flavours with alternative side-stories — Lightning Bolt and Bomb Blast. With Nintendo on publishing duties it'll also arrive on the 3DS eShop, naturally, though it's another title that may prompt some to splash out on a hefty SD card. The Bomb...
News Lilt Line Developer Seeks Crowdfunding for Sequel and Includes a Wii U Stretch Goal
Gaijin Games published the original, from different cloth, on WiiWare
WiiWare enthusiasts among you may remember Lilt Line, the WiiWare title developed by different cloth and published by Gaijin Games, the latter being particularly well-known for its BIT.TRIP series. The concept was simple, as you guided a line down increasingly tricky tracks while...
Saturday14th Sep 2013
Talking Point Marketing Wii U to the Masses
Time to spread the word
While we await a potential increase in hardware sales, even Nintendo would admit that the Wii U has underperformed in its debut year. With poor sales to date and a year’s head start over its next-gen competition arguably squandered, the Wii U is in the unenviable position of heading into its first anniversary with yearly...
News The Pokémon Company Teases "Special Announcement" On Monday
Trainers are in for a "surprise"
There's nothing like a company teasing its fans, and that's exactly what The Pokémon Company has done over on its official Twitter account. Giving very little away, it told its followers that it has a "surprise" in store for trainers, and there will be a "special announcement" this Monday, the 16th September at 8am...
Review TNT Racers - Nitro Machines Edition (Wii U eShop)
An explosive racer with a twist
TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition may feature vehicles, courses and chequered flags, but it’s not your typical racing game. Instead of getting to the finish line first, this one is all about getting to the finish line full stop, as you focus on pummelling your opponents out of the race while staying alive yourself...
News 3DS System Update Goes Live, Doesn't Really Do Anything
Will version 6.3.0-12E rock your world?
If you haven't fired up your 3DS in the last 24 hours, a surprise may await — it's an all-new system update! Those cheeky scamps at Nintendo have once again been working on the following changes to your beloved handheld. System stability improvements and other adjustments. Further improvements to overall...
News MapleStory: The Girl's Fate Will Be Released in Japan
No news on a Western release just yet
Earlier this year we reported on a new MapleStory title that emerged on the 3DS exclusively to South Korea. MapleStory: The Girl's Fate was published by Nexon in the region but that exclusivity has now been broken as SEGA has partnered with the South Korean publisher to take the game to Japan at some point in...
Weirdness Robots Play Classic Nintendo Music and Sound Effects
The wonders of 8-bit games and the greatest low-cost PC in the world
Sometimes clever people take a creative idea and then lovingly wrap it in gaming nostalgia, often posting the results on YouTube. A fine thing it is too, as it all adds to gaming culture and, ultimately, the best examples can be hugely entertaining. YouTube user roboband produced...
News Taxi Journey Will Drive Onto Wii U if Kickstarter Campaign is Successful
$130,000 is displayed on the meter
A new Kickstarter campaign has been set up by the small French developer Lexis Numerique for a unique little sidescroller called Taxi Journey, which it aims to release on Wii U and PC. Pitched as an original adventure game with puzzle elements, Taxi Journey sees you embark on a four wheeled adventure in a universe...
News CoderChild Developing Cubit The Robot For 3DS
The levels are coming along nicely
CoderChild has been developing a game called Cubit The Robot but little information about it has emerged short of a few screenshots on social media. However, the Spanish studio has now revealed on its Twitter page Cubit will be heading to 3DS as it helpfully displayed a 3DS hashtag alongside a couple of new...
Friday13th Sep 2013
News The Pokémon Company Confirms X & Y Starter Evolutions, Mega Mewtwo X and More
Along with lots of images and a starter evolution trailer
Earlier this week CoroCoro magazine revealed Pokémon X & Y starter evolutions, Mega Mewtwo X and new 'mon, plenty of details to keep the hype train going at full pelt. All of that information was translated and shown in scans, so The Pokémon Company has now released full details for the...
Developer Interview WayForward on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, Going to HD and Expanding the Franchise
Moving onto bigger screens
WayForward is a company that seems to have two very different representations of itself. There's the contracting company that takes on projects for third-parties, some of which are excellent, crowd-pleasing projects and other movie spin-offs that perhaps aren't, and then there's WayForward the developer of its own popular,...
Review Super Mario Bros. (Wii U eShop / NES)
Forever running to the right
Mario. Say it loud and there's music playing. Say it soft, and it's almost like praying. Super Mario Bros. was, is, and will always be one of gaming's great masterpieces, and its availability on any additional format is a good thing. It's come to the Wii and 3DS Virtual Consoles before, and now jumps onto the Wii U...
Review Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link - Unforgiving But Underappreciated
Zelda II, have you any tough dungeons? Yes sir, yes sir...
Back in the early days of several franchises, the second game in a series tended to be radically different from the first, as developers had not quite pinned down what they wanted the series to become. Take a look at Castlevania II or the Western Super Mario Bros. 2, for example. Zelda II:...
News 3DS Reigns in the U.S. for Another Month as Pikmin 3 Sneaks Into the Top 10
NPD results bring good news for Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, too
The NPD results for August video game sales in the U.S. have been released, bringing more good news for the momentum of the 3DS and a gllimmer of light in Wii U software sales. With a number of blockbusters — in particular Madden NFL 25 — arriving, August brought the first...
News WayForward Initially Planned a Shantae HD Title for the Wii U Launch
"Half-Genie Hero could become our Symphony of the Night"
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a new HD entry in the series currently undergoing a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter; at the time of writing over $260,000 of the $400,000 target has been pledged with 21 days to go. It's an ambitious release from WayForward, which is set for a significant...
Review Mahjong 3D - Essentials (3DS eShop)
Mahjong 3D Lite
A while ago, TREVA released Mahjong 3D: Warriors of the Emperor on the eShop, which surprisingly wasn't "just another" Mahjong game but, instead, a rather unique and fun take on the genre, featuring characters and a campaign mode. As is frequently the case with Mahjong games, the title might be a bit misleading — this is not the...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Seventeen
WGAYPTW (snappy, right?) gets closer to adulthood
It's been a long journey for the What Games Are You Playing This Weekend series of articles. What started with such excitable promise became an irregular, grumpy visitor to the Nintendo Life servers, before a stern telling to brought it around to its new regular fortnightly slot. After last time's...
News Nintendo Cleared in Wii Patent Dispute With Creative Kingdoms
It threatened the U.S. import of Wii systems
Nintendo has to regularly defend itself in patent disputes, winning in many cases with the occasional exception. While the 3DS screen technology loss to Tomita Technologies USA could cost Nintendo $15.1 million, other cases have the potential to prevent imports of Nintendo systems to major territories —...
News Contra III: The Alien Wars Listing Points to Virtual Console Releases
Spread Guns at the Ready
Konami's classic shoot 'em up may be about to blast it's way onto the Wii U and/or the 3DS eShop in the West, if a recent rating by the OFLC is anything to go by. Contra III: The Alien Wars, or Super Probotector: Alien Rebels as it's known in PAL regions, was rated on 11th September, indicating that further Virtual Console...
News Devil Survivor Overclocked Should Be Available in The European 3DS eShop Next Month
It's long overdue
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked emerged in Europe earlier this year, but suffered with teething problems that saw the game break part way through. Thankfully, Ghostlight, the publisher in Europe, created a patch and all is well again, with players now able to play the game in full without worrying about it crashing...
Video Check Out These Highlights From Hideki Kamiya's Presentation at PAX Prime
Wonder Red's original design was, peculiarly, a balding hero
The Wonderful 101 will be released in North America on 15th September, and a major part of its marketing push in the region came recently at PAX Prime, where the title was on show and Hideki Kamiya gave a developer's presentation. While not doing that he posed with happy gamers and...
News Video Games Live Will Be Releasing Its Third Album After Kickstarter Success
Music to our ears
Video Games Live has been touring around for a good few years, performing some of gaming's greatest ever themes and ballads using a range of different musical instruments. It was created by industry veteran Tommy Tallarico, and the team set up a Kickstarter campaign a month ago in an attempt to acquire the funding for its third...
News Star Wars Pinball Bringing the Force to 3DS on 19th September
Includes the three original tables
Earlier in the Summer there was a disturbance on the Force, and we discovered that Star Wars Pinball was coming to the 3DS eShop. Zen Studios has now struck down the ratings agencies — though they may come back stronger than can possibly be imagined — and confirmed that the title will indeed arrive on the 3DS...
Thursday12th Sep 2013
Feature Great Nintendo 64 Multiplayer Games You May Not Have Played
All you need is a bunch of friends
When it comes to local multiplayer, the Nintendo 64 is undoubtedly one of the best systems around. With four controller ports built into the console, as well as a solid line-up of classic multiplayer games, it isn't surprising that the system is still being enjoyed by many people around the world – it is, after...
Nintendo Download 12th September (North America)
Things get Wonderful, an untold story has a demo, discounts galore and more
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, with a host of new offerings to tempt you this week. We have a wonderful PlatinumGames Wii U retail exclusive, classic Zelda, a promising demo, various sales and more. The DSi even gets some love this week, leaving the Wii as the...
News Nintendo Tested Two Other Zelda Titles in HD on the Wii U
Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword in HD does sound good
When considering graphical approaches for the new Legend of Zelda title currently in development for Wii U, Nintendo experimented with several art styles; The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker wasn't the only game in the popular series that the company tried out in HD. Speaking with Polygon,...
News Peach Finally Confirmed For Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS
Screens galore!
It's finally happened. We knew this day would eventually come. Peach has been confirmed as a playable character in the new Super Smash Bros. titles coming to the Wii U and 3DS; it wouldn't have been right if the famous Princess hadn't been included. The official Smash Bros. website has announced this arrival with a bombardment of...
Weirdness These "Anywhere Buttons" Look Daft Wherever You Are
Use these things in public, we dare you
Hey, 3DS gamers! Do you want to look particularly silly when playing your handheld device in public? Have you always looked at that pesky touchscreen and thought, darn, I wish I had an adhesive stick-on D-Pad for that non-button area? Then step right up, for the "Anywhere Buttons"! Order now, preferably...
News WayForward Fought "Many, Many Battles" to Keep Shantae as a Lead Character
More back-story to be explored in Pirate's Curse and Half-Genie Hero
WayForward seems to be having a rather busy year, producing the much-anticipated DuckTales: Remastered with Capcom, while the studio's name has popped up on some licensed titles. While those projects are part of what keeps the company in business, it's best known for its own IP;...
News Pyroar Revealed for Pokémon X & Y
With a snazzy video, too
Update: Earlier today eagle-eyed Pokémon fans found an image of Pyroar on IGN, and now the site has officially revealed the 'mon. An evolution of Litleo, it's a fire and normal-type Royal Pokemon with abilities such as Rivalry and Unnerve. It can also unlock Normal-type move Echoed Voice, "which makes its power grow with...
News 2013 Skylanders Champion Walks Away With All 56 Swap Force Figures
Quite a prize
At an event in London’s Olympic Park, James Tubb (9) was crowned Official Skylanders Champion. He not only wins the crown but also every Swap Force figure. Nice haul! The Official Skylanders championships started out in various UK regions in GAME stores. Each of these qualifier events called Skylanders fans to come into the store...
Video These Sonic Lost World Bosses Look Rather Fun
The Deadly Six show what they're made of
We've seen quite a lot of the Wii U and 3DS-exclusive Sonic Lost World in recent months, and a combination of footage and hands-on time has been prompting some rather positive vibes around the web. We probably shouldn't be that surprised, as Sonic Colours and Sonic Generations were, in the opinion of plenty,...
News Four New Titles Added to Wii "Nintendo Selects" Budget Range in Europe
Karting chaos, brawling and monkeying around included
Late last week Nintendo of America revealed three Wii classics getting a price reduction in the region ahead of the Holiday season. Nintendo of Europe is now making the same move, in its case adding four new titles to the Nintendo Selects range. Although recommended prices aren't provided in...
Video The Wind Waker HD's New Features Are Shown Off, Along With Gorgeous Visuals
Hero Mode, first-person view, Miiverse and more
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is getting ever closer, and its combination of enhanced visuals and gameplay tweaks should attract a fair bit of interest from newcomers and perhaps even a number of those that played the GameCube original. Earlier today we shared 10 minutes of footage that we've...
Video Feast Your Eyes On 10 Minutes Of Zelda: Wind Waker HD Gameplay Footage
We sail the seven seas for you
It's not long now until the world gets to experience The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD on the Wii U, so to ensure that your anticipation levels remain at maximum we've cooked up some gameplay footage taken from our first few hours with the epic adventure. If you've played Wind Waker on the GameCube then it will...
Video Want To Know Which Version Of Street Fighter II Runs The Fastest?
All three Wii U Virtual Console versions tested
The SNES versions of Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting and Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers are all now available on the Wii U Virtual Console, allowing fans of Capcom's iconic series to refine their pugilistic skills. One of the most common...
Potential fulfilled
Toki Tori 2 was a bold, ambitious game in its design, and delivered on many fronts. Its deliberately hands-off approach, combined with occasionally ambiguous objectives and awkward backtracking counted against it in the eyes of some — certainly not all — gamers. In our review we awarded 7/10, concluding that a high degree of...
News Mario Kart 8 is Confirmed for the Eurogamer Expo
Ready, set...
A week ago we were happy to share the news of the big hitters that Nintendo is bringing to the Eurogamer Expo this year, as well as confirmation of our very own StreetPass and multiplayer booth. There were some exciting titles announced, such as Bayonetta 2,
News James Pond Franchise to Return With Crowdfunding Campaign
The original's creator, Chris Sorrell, is on board
Gamers of a certain age may remember the original James Pond, which graced a number of platforms including the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis; the sequel James Pond 2: Codename RoboCod has also been ported a lot, including a DS version in 2005. At its peak in the '90s the series was quite a hit in pop...
News Bertil Hörberg Shows Gunman Clive Running on the Wii U
Undecided on a potential release
Although his one-man studio has only released one game on Nintendo systems, its quality is such that the name Bertil Hörberg is fairly well-known among Nintendo download enthusiasts. Gunman Clive is not only an excellent game at a fantastic budget-price on the 3DS eShop, but its also held up as a notable success...
Wednesday11th Sep 2013
News CoroCoro Magazine Reveals Pokémon X & Y Starter Evolutions, Mega Mewtwo X and New 'Mon
All aboard the magazine scan hype train!
We have genuine fears for the health of some Pokémon fans; if the game doesn't arrive soon they may, as we've previously suggested, spontaneously combust. The Pokémon Company doesn't mind, however, as it continually feeds new information that makes many of us — even the uninitiated — want to play this...
News Wii U Version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist Gets Patched Up
A few small problems have been fixed
Ubisoft has released a patch for the Wii U version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist, which will see a number of niggling issues fixed in a range of different modes. Most of the problems appear to be in the Spies vs Mercs multiplayer mode, but there are also a few in the co-op and single player campaign too. The full...
Review Darts Up 3D (3DS eShop)
Throwaway or bullseye?
EnjoyUp Games' latest eShop release moves the party into the pub with Darts Up 3D, a motion-controlled iteration of the classic tavern target-toss game. While not a deep or polished experience, it's a fun little game that will appeal to fans of darts and simple multiplayer games in equal measure. There are three modes to...
News 3DS Hardware Sales Continue to Rise in Japan, Wii U Numbers Drop Again
Counting the days to The Wind Waker HD?
Wednesday is Media Create charts day in Japan, which often means more pleasing 3DS news. As we've become familiar with, however, it often means the opposite for the Wii U. In terms of the software chart this week, there are no notable new releases on Nintendo hardware, meaning that some evergreen titles on...
News Taiko: Drum Master Wii U Version Bringing the Beat to Japan in November
Has potential for some serious sales
The Taiko: Drum Master series of games — and there are many — is hugely popular in Japan. The range of releases on multiple systems accounts for that, with five variations released on the Wii alone, three on DS and one on 3DS — releases in the West have been exceptionally rare in comparison. They're such...
News Miiverse Update Allows Activity Feed Posts Outside of Communities
It's MiiTwitter
We've compared Miiverse to Twitter — as well as other social networks — a few times in the past, but a subtle update seems to have expanded the bespoke network to something even closer to the ever-present tweeting medium. You can now post comments on anything you want, within the Miiverse rules, on your Activity Feed without...
Talking Point Considering the Methods and Means of Game Reviews
Andy Robertson suggests evolution, Tom Whitehead simply seeks standards
In this special Talking Point feature, we consider a question fundamental to one of the core aspects of Nintendo Life — game reviews. They're often a source of huge interest around the web on hundreds of websites, and also the potential cause of controversies that are, at...
News Puyo Puyo Tetris Could Be The Perfect Puzzle Mashup
When two become one
So, who likes Tetris? And who likes Puyo Puyo? If you raised your hand — either literally or in your head — for both of those questions, we suggest that you start praying to the Gods of localisation, as a mashup of the two is coming to the Wii U and 3DS. The latest edition of Weekly Famitsu has revealed Puyo Puyo Tetris, a...
News Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for Licensed River City Ransom Sequel
No consoles confirmed as yet, however
Earlier in the summer we told you about a Canadian development studio that was planning to launch a crowdfunding campaign for a licensed sequel to the much loved NES brawler River City Ransom / Street Gangs. Known then as Combit Studios, the rebranded Conatus Creative has now launched its Kickstarter campaign...
News Atlus Shows Off Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl Classic Mode
Saved data can be exchanged between Story Mode
Do you want to get away from all that pre-made drama of Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl’s Story Mode and just relax in the soothing terrors of pure dungeon cartography? Then Classic Mode is for you. Classic Mode offers a straight-up Etrian Odyssey experience for those who grew up with the...
News Capcom Expects A Significant Decline in Packaged Games Come 2017
Will be focusing more on digital
Capcom has predicted a significant fall in its packaged game sales come 2017, but believes other areas of its business will help make up for the drop in revenue. In its annual report the Japanese giant revealed it shipped 14 million units overall in the 12 months ending 31st March 2013, with North America being its...
News Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND to Threaten Neighbour Relations From 4th October
Sing your heart out, baby
Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND had previously been confirmed for a 2013 in the West, and Nintendo of Europe has been first to step out in its fanciest get up to grab the mic, confirming a release date of 4th October in the region. It'll be a free download initially, which will allow you to browse and become familiar with the app...
Tuesday10th Sep 2013
News Leaked Ubisoft Games Confirmed, but Skipping Nintendo Platforms
Child of Light stands alone, so far
Last week we reported on an apparent leak of upcoming Ubisoft games from a planned press day, which contained a number of entirely feasible games; in a series of reveals today Ubisoft has stepped out with details. We've already had the wonderful news that Child of Light is coming to the Wii U, a UbiArt project...
Developer Interview Two Tribes Clarifies Toki Tori 2+ Details and Confirms Classics Coming to Wii U
A great idea fully hatched?
Toki Tori 2 was always high on a number of Wii U eShop wishlists when it was announced prior to the Wii U's launch. Toki Tori was an early standout on WiiWare, yet developer Two Tribes didn't simply repeat the formula with the sequel, instead opting for a bold approach where puzzles were simply part of a larger world, and...
News Ubisoft's Child of Light Set to Shine on the Wii U
Slated for a 2014 release
During GDC Europe Ubisoft's Patrick Plourde, the director of Far Cry 3, announced that his next project would be a downloadable title called Child of Light. It's a sidescrolling RPG that utilises the exceptional UbiArt engine, which was most recently used in Rayman Legends; it promises to be the perfect tool for a fairytale...
News The Wonderful 101 Could Have Been Released on Wii
Wii U eventually became the console of choice
The Wonderful 101 has been out on Wii U for a good few weeks now in Europe and Japan, but it all could have been so different as Hideki Kamiya, the director behind the unique title, has revealed it was tentatively scheduled for a Wii release instead. In an interview with USgamer, Kamiya said the game...
Wednesday11th Sep 2013
Weirdness If You Always Wanted to See Kanto From Pokémon Red and Blue in Minecraft, Here You Go
Spare 10 minutes to reward hundreds of hours of effort
If we were to name a top ten, maybe even a top five, of the biggest franchises in the current gaming landscape, it's possible that both Minecraft and Pokemon would feature. Minecraft, and its ability to allow gamers to create their own worlds, has become a phenomenon, while the hype surrounding...
Tuesday10th Sep 2013
Release dates and an exclusive first-look at gameplay footage inside
AiRace Speed was announced just recently, the third in the series after two rather enjoyable DSiWare releases in that franchise. With a promising statistic of 18 tracks and a reasonable price point of $4.99 in North America and €4.99 / £4.49 in Europe, combined with its solid...
Review Jewel Adventures (DSiWare)
Woo-hoo, glitchy woman
Jewel Adventures is a puzzle game that’s partially familiar due to its match three gameplay, but freshened up by a few extra layers of depth. A sense of story, enemy battles, world (re)building and various gameplay goals are the glue that gives this puzzler a bit more substance than most like it. Much of it is only fluff –...
News Square Enix Reveals Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call In This Week's Jump Magazine
It's a sequel, not an expansion
Last week we reported that Square Enix filed a U.S. trademark for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call on 27th August, suggesting that the original Theatrhythm Final Fantasy may be getting a re-release that includes all of the previous DLC. This week's Shonen Jump magazine reveals that the company is actually...
News Nintendo of America Highlights Strengths of eShop Platforms, and Plans to Embrace New Ideas
Over 1000 developers have expressed interest in the Wii U
With much talk at the moment surrounding Nintendo's third-party prospects and its positioning to embrace new ideas and changes in the video game market, key figures within the company are taking every opportunity to highlight the positives of its approach. With that in mind, Nintendo of...
News Just Dance Steps Up To 5 Million Sales in the UK
The series has been most successful on Wii so far
Ubisoft has confirmed Just Dance has now sold over 5 million units in the UK, with the Wii being the most successful platform for the series. The French publisher revealed the numbers just before the launch of Just Dance 2014, which is set to land on Wii U and Wii, as well as PlayStation 3 and Xbox...
News Child of Light Co-Op Element Takes Inspiration From Super Mario Galaxy, Yet Aims For Better
"It's fun to share an adventure"
Ubisoft has confirmed that the visually attractive and conceptually interesting Child of Light will be coming to the Wii U, a welcome inclusion despite a couple of disappointing exclusions elsewhere. One aspect of the early footage and screenshots that shines through is the presence of Igniculus, a blue ball of...
News Rage of the Gladiator Battles Onto the 3DS eShop on 19th September
Gamelion shares release and game details with us
A week ago we shared the news that WiiWare brawler Rage of the Gladiator is coming to the 3DS eShop. At the time it was anticipated to be available within a few weeks, but Gamelion has now been in touch with us to share that it'll arrive in North America and Europe on 19th September for $6.99 /...
News Zen Studios Confirms Star Wars Pinball: Balance of the Force DLC Pack for Fall
Three new tables included
Zen Studios has released details on more tables to fill some of those empty spaces in Star Wars: Pinball; it's a pack of three tables called Balance of the Force. In its press release the developer has promised that the pack "will integrate seamlessly into existing Star Wars Pinball games and Zen Studios pinball platforms...
News Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl Demo Arrives on 16th September
You can also meet Arthur, the adolescent Alchemist
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is now getting rather close to its release date of 1st October in North America. With that in mind a demo is set to be released on 16th September, to get 3DS owners warmed up ahead of the full game. Atlus has also begun the introduction of individual...
Monday9th Sep 2013
Review Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (Wii U eShop)
Worth the wait?
After several delays and well publicised development issues, Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara has finally launched on Wii U; while it’s not without issues, the wait was worth it. Developed by Iron Galaxy Games, Chronicles of Mystara is a HD remastering of Capcom’s arcade brawlers Dungeons & Dragons:...
Review Angry Birds Trilogy (Wii U)
An angry trio
What can possibly be said about Angry Birds that hasn’t been said a million times already? A game that started out as a humble iPhone app just four years ago has now permeated our culture in a huge way. There are multiple sequels to the original game, toys, books, an animated television series, and it’s nearly impossible to walk...
News New Pokémon Movie Screening In Cartoon Network Event on 19th October
A sneak peak of Pokémon the Series: XY will also be shown
It's pretty difficulty to avoid Pokémon X & Y right now, as its release creeps ever closer and fans worldwide contemplate which version to buy, and whether they simply have to play the new entries on a limited edition 3DS XL. Nintendo revealed a lot in its recent Pok
Talking Point With Calls for Nintendo to Follow the Crowd, It Faces a Dilemma
Sony's Vita TV joins the noise of huge releases and lots of consoles
It's been a busy week of opinions on Nintendo, the Wii U and the 3DS. Whether you agree with some, disagree or are simply baffled by it all, it seems that games industry figures are only too happy to queue up and say what Nintendo should be doing to remain a key player in the...
Nintendo Download 12th September (Europe)
Dungeons & dragons, classic Mario, Toki Tori 2 with a + and more
It's Monday, which means Nintendo Download news for Europe. This week brings a modest number of titles, though they do include a long awaited Wii U download from Capcom, classic Mario, a major Toki Tori 2 update and the download arrival of the blue blur's most recent adventure on 3DS...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Three
DK SMASH!, balloon popping, Pit and Mega Man battles and more
Another week has passed, Super Smash Bros. fans, and Masahiro Sakurai has once again delivered new screens to entice us ahead of the 2014 (we hope) release. Some are funny, some reveal genuine information about the game, and all are delicious eye candy. This week we have four Wii U...
News Aonuma Explains His Quest to Have Improved the "Overall Game Flow" of The Wind Waker HD
Also states that Skyrim has not been a direct influence on the next Zelda
Development of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is now complete, with manufacturing on physical retail copies no doubt underway and members of the press happily playing through to work towards producing their reviews. It would seem like a good time, therefore, for Eiji...
News Early Estimates Place Pikmin 3 August Sales in the U.S. at 185,000 Units
Not too far behind multi-platform titles such as Disney Infinity
Later this week, on 12th September, the NPD results for August video game sales in the U.S. will be revealed and, in addition, Nintendo may or may not reveal key statistics and sales of its own. The statistics from NPD aren't without flaws and shortcomings, particularly as they don't...
Video Nintendo Reels Out Plenty of PAX Prime Videos
We'll throw in the latest Mario & Sonic Winter Olympics trailer, too
PAX Prime was a busy event last week, bringing its share of big reveals while also letting gamers go hands on with some major upcoming releases. Nintendo certainly went all out, bringing a substantial range of Wii U and 3DS games to the show, as well as some suitably extravagant...
News Rune Factory 4 European Localisation Confirmed
Zen United is doing the honours
The Rune Factory franchise certainly has its fans, the RPG series having been gradually brought to the West by various publishers in recent years. The arrival of Rune Factory 4 in Japan last year naturally had enthusiasts wondering about when it would be localised; while XSEED is doing the honours for North America...
News TimeSplitters Rewind "A Possibility" On Wii U, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
Fan-made remake is coming to PS4 and PC for now
TimeSplitters Rewind is a fan-made remake of Free Radical's popular FPS title, and there's a very slight chance it could be coming to the Wii U. Project Manager Michael Hubicka recently conducted an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, and was asked about the chances of a Nintendo version: I'm not...
News Nintendo Misses Out on Nikkei 225 as Stock Slumps Over 8%
Recent stock rises partly due to potential of joining the listing
Earlier in the Summer we saw increases in Nintendo's stock value as a strong performance from the 3DS and the prospective inclusion on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average drove positive trading. The Nikkei 225 lists notable stocks and is undoubtedly a positive inclusion for any company...
News WayForward Hopes To Release Wii U Version of Mighty Switch Force! 2 in October
Will be more than just a typical HD port
Last month, WayForward confirmed Mighty Switch Force! 2, the 3DS eShop title that emerged in June, will be coming to Wii U in the future. However, the developer did state it was a "backburner project" and considering it is pretty busy at the moment, what with the unveiling of the Kickstarter project for
Video Inazuma Eleven 3 Trailer Shoots For Craziness
When simply kicking a ball isn't enough
Last week we shared some quirky Inazuma Eleven 3 trailers, which aimed to show how football would work if it included just some of the crazy moves typical in the franchise. They were a bit of fun, but in the latest trailer released by Nintendo it's all about showing off what the title's all about, including...
Sunday8th Sep 2013
News Monster Hunter 4 Will Allow You To Dress Up As Link Through Collaborative DLC
See Mario and Luigi outfits in the full presentation, too
During this morning's Monster Hunter 4 themed Japanese Nintendo Direct, Capcom revealed that the upcoming 3DS title will allow players to obtain costumes from Nintendo's biggest franchises through specific DLC quests. One quest enables you to dress up your Felyne in the famous Mario and...
Weirdness Say Hello to the Cross Plane, a GamePad For Other Systems
Well, not quite
In recent years Nintendo has produced some innovative products with established technology, endured some sniggers and confused coverage, and then seen the idea mimicked and reproduced by others. The idea of touch screens in gaming was rather fresh when the DS was unveiled, and some mocked the waggle motion controls of the Wii —...
News Sometimes Finding a Wii U to Buy Ain't Easy
Take Poland, for example
Update: Since publication, the writer of the source article — R J Burgess — has kindly been in touch. As his blog about the challenges of finding a Wii U in Poland was written in June, he's provided us with the following update on the status of Nintendo content — from his experience — in the country; it seems to tie...
News Without iOS Support Nintendo "Doesn’t Reach Today’s Kids" Says Apple Advocate John Gruber
Tech Bloggers Go To War Over Nintendo's Future
The unexpected announcement of the 2DS has led to some rather interesting opinion pieces appearing online, many of which actually defend Nintendo's move and see the cut-price console for what it truly is: an entry-level proposition that is sure to find its way under many Christmas trees this holiday...
Review Spot the Differences: Party! (Wii U eShop)
Spot a different party
Spot the Differences: Party! will hand you photo after photo, politely asking you to identify the inconsistencies between their lookalikes until you either pass out from unrelenting boredom or stare at each and every one of the 300+ pictures on display. Go it alone or rope a friend or three into the monotony, but unless...
Saturday7th Sep 2013
News Atari Founder Nolan Bushnell Claims Nintendo "Could Be On The Path To Irrelevance"
Says a handheld gaming-only device "doesn't make sense any more"
Atari founder Nolan Bushnell has spoken about Nintendo's current situation and admitted that the company finds itself in a "very difficult position". Talking to the BBC at Campus Party Europe — a London-based O2 event involving thousands of developers working on various technology...
Talking Point Nintendo's eShop Policies Deserve Both Praise and Attention
We break down the known details of eShop publishing
Just recently we reported on announcements made by Nintendo of Europe's Business Development Manager, Ed Valiente, who gave a presentation on eShop publishing at The Indie Games Collective event at the UKIE HQ in London. We picked up on a couple of notable revelations, relating to Miiverse coming...
Interview Exploring The Centre for Computing History - Cambridge
Taking a trip down memory lane
One of Cambridge’s best kept secrets is The Centre for Computing History, a museum dedicated to preserving the history of home computers and video game consoles from all eras. Located on a quiet industrial estate only a few miles outside of the historic city centre in East Anglia, England, the museum is not one you...
Rumour Nintendo Renaming The 3DS Page On Facebook
"Nintendo Handheld Gaming" looks set to replace it on 19th September
Nintendo is renaming the Nintendo 3DS Facebook page, according to an email sent from the social network to a selection of people who like the page. When Facebook pages change their names, an email is sent out by the social network to inform people of the change. Nintendo hasn't...
Rumour Nintendo Set To Rename The Wii U Facebook Page
It'll soon be known as "Nintendo Console Gaming"
Earlier today we reported that the 3DS Facebook page would be getting a name change after several people received emails from the social network telling them that from 19th September it would be known as "Nintendo Handheld Gaming". Well, it appears Nintendo has also decided to go down the same route...
News Keiji Inafune Shares His Thoughts on PlatinumGames, Working With Fans and Mega Man's Creation
Kaio: King of Pirates' fate is in the hands of its publisher, Marvelous
Keiji Inafune caused a bit of a stir a week ago, satisfying the fantasies and dreams of many Mega Man fans by announcing Mighty No.9, a 'spritual successor' to the Mega Man franchise that's steadily creeping towards its crowdfunding stretch goal that will bring a Wii U release...
Friday6th Sep 2013
News Nintendo Confirms Miiverse for 3DS "Soon", Smartphone Apps for Network Also Coming
Keeping us connected at any time
Launched on the Wii U, Miiverse has slowly and surely come a long way. Regular updates since launch have allowed longer messages to be posted, the sharing of posts to external networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and perhaps most importantly the launch of a web version — — which has gradually incorporated all...
Review J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings - Volume I (Super Nintendo)
Middle Earth is doomed
Before Peter Jackson came along and turned The Lord of the Rings into one of the most popular cinematic experiences of all time, the video game licence to J.R.R. Tolkien's literary epic was held by the now-defunct Interplay. The company pumped out related games for the Commodore Amiga computer and PC CD-ROM — the latter of...
News StreetPass Relay Issues Reported in North America
New Iwata Asks outlines how it came to be, meanwhile
Launched in early August, the StreetPass Relay system was rolled out to utilise public Wi-Fi spots, already part of the Nintendo Zone network, to would allow anyone to pick up hits from those that had passed before; the next 3DS owner would then get your StreetPass data, and so on. Nintendo was...
All part of an indie-friendly approach
Earlier today we shared reports that Miiverse is set to come to the 3DS "soon" and, in the future, receive dedicated smartphone apps. That information was from attendees at The Indie Games Collective event at the UKIE HQ in London, where Nintendo of Europe's Business Development Manager, Ed Valiente, gave a...
News Three Wii Classics Get A Price Reduction in North America
Two Mario titles and a visit to Wuhu Island now available for $29.99
Part of Nintendo's push for the Holiday season is to promote the good value of its various systems and games, and with that in mind Nintendo of America has confirmed three major Wii titles that, as of today, will have a suggested retail price of just $29.99 in the region. These are...
News Nintendo UK Preparing Major Advertising Push For Pokémon X & Y and 2DS
Animal Crossing: New Leaf has had the most video game TV ads in the UK
The Holiday season means big bucks in major gaming territories as parents, children and older gamers all look to spend plenty of money on the systems and games that tickle their fancy. This year promises to be one of the most crowded and competitive seasons in recent memory, with...
News Eiji Aonuma Advises Adventurers to Hoard Rupees in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
"It will be more important than ever"
One of the oddities of the Zelda franchise is its currency system — Link runs into strangers homes to loot their chests and smash their pots for money, and he can even accumulate wealth when chopping up grass in the wilds. We've tried cutting grass ourselves in the hopes that money will simply appear where the...
Talking Point The Wonderful 101 Provides Some Rare Family Friendly Thrills
Falls nicely into the PEGI 12 and ESRB Teen bracket
In this Talking Point, our colleague Andy Robertson — who runs FamilyGamerTV — explains why The Wonderful 101 is a game perfectly suited to families and, in particular, the young teen audience; it's an age group rarely catered to directly. Andy regularly works with families and appears on radio...
News Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director Pleased with Early Wii U Sales
Patch for GamePad music also said to be on its way
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is still a fresh arrival on the Wii U eShop, with just over 2 weeks’ exposure in Europe and a release only yesterday in North America. But it’s never too early to talk about sales expectations, right? Adrian Goersch, managing director at developer Black Forest...
Video The New Shantae And The Pirate's Curse Trailer Shows That Pixels Are Gorgeous
Prepare yourselves, 3DS gamers
Update: Nintendo UK has published a video interview with Matt Bozon and Voldi Way of WayForward; they explain more about the game, stating that it's more "guided" but with scope for exploration, while also outlining the general plot. Bozon does drop a spoiler from the ending of Shantae: Risky's Revenge, so bear that...
News Assault Android Cactus to Feature Off-TV Play and Wii Remote and Nunchuk Controls
Dual stick controls will also be included, naturally
Not long ago we told you about Assault Android Cactus, an action shooter from Australian developer Witch Beam that's targeting a Q1 2014 release on the Wii U eShop. With a top-down perspective and plenty of twin-stick mayhem potentially on offer, it looks like it could be a stylish slice of fun...
Rumour Ubisoft Press Day Leak Reveals Rabbids, Rayman and More Assassin's Creed
Surely "Assassin's Creed: Pirates" isn't a thing...
We do enjoy the occasional juicy rumour here at Nintendo Life, especially when it involves unannounced games. Remember when rumours spread that the latest Assassin's Creed title would feature pirates? Oh how we chuckled... Of course, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag will undoubtedly tackle its...
Nintendo Direct Japanese Monster Hunter 4 Broadcast Coming September 8th
The hunt is almost on
Monster Hunter 4 hits Japanese store shelves on September 15th, but just in case there wasn't enough hype surrounding its launch already, Nintendo is holding a special Monster Hunter-themed Nintendo Direct on September 8th. The video will go live at 8PM JST, 1PM CEST and 7AM EDT. It's going to be in Japanese obviously, but it...
Video This Documentary Tells the Tale of Final Fantasy's Origins
When Square was in a tough spot
The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the best known in the industry, and over the course of nearly three decades has evolved in numerous ways. It's also the source of one of the most interesting stories in gaming, as its very name is testament to its status as a last-ditch attempt at survival for Square, the company...
News Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths Will Officially Be Made in English
We catch up with Fleur Marty to find out about the new stretch goals
Ynnis Interactive has been running a Kickstarter campaign in order to bring Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths, the puzzle adventure game based on the Japanese-French animated series of the same name, to other nations in English. It has now reached its goal and international...
Video Check Out the Full Keiji Inafune PAX Panel, Including Mighty No. 9 Reveal
The crowd certainly enjoyed it
This past weekend Keiji Inafune confirmed Mighty No. 9, a crowdfunded project that will see the iconic designer — best known for the Mega Man series — team up with a number of former colleagues to deliver a new IP with undoubted conceptual similarities to the Blue Bomber. It was an announcement that likely had fans...
Thursday5th Sep 2013
Nintendo Download 5th September (North America)
Dungeons & dragons, twisted dreams, rare retro shooting and much more
It's Nintendo Download update day, North America, and there are some real goodies on offer this week. We have long awaited Wii U eShop games, a rare NES shoot 'em up on the 3DS Virtual Console and various other treats. Without further ado, here are the details. Wii U eShop:...
News The World's Most Scathing Video Game Critic May Be Warming To Wii U
"There's definitely something about it I find comforting" says Yahtzee
Video game critic Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw is best known for his breathless rants about mainstream forms of interactive entertainment, and has previously been quite negative about the Nintendo Wii U. However, in his most recent column for The Escapist, Croshaw appears to have...
Video There's A Fan-Made Final Fantasy VI Movie In The Works
Makers of Final Fantasy: Terra "seeking permission" from Square Enix
We love a good fan-made movie here at Nintendo Life — although they often look a bit goofy or unintentionally amusing, they show just how passionate and creative gamers can be when they've got a HD video camera, a decent PC and a capable video editing program. Final Fantasy:...
News Wii U TVii App Now Allows You to Doodle on "Your Fave Live TV Moments"
BAM!
The Wii U is increasingly becoming home to some excellent games, with more on the way, but it does have other tricks up its sleeve. Miiverse is the most commonly used, perhaps, while thoroughly decent web browser and video chat functionality shouldn't be overlooked. If you're in North America there's also TVii, the app that provides an...
Video Stan Lee is the Ultimate Super Hero in Upcoming LEGO Marvel Madness
Best. Character. Ever.
It was announced earlier in the summer that Stan Lee will be playable in the upcoming LEGO Marvel Super Heroes game. The title is coming to Wii U, 3DS and DS in October, and is sure to be on the wishlists of Marvel and LEGO fans; as a mashup it's full of potential. Stan Lee's character was confirmed to have various abilities,...
News Sword 'N' Board Confirmed For Wii U
Kickstarter-funded adventure RPG is on the way
Just short of a month ago independent games developer Robert Busey opened up a Kickstarter page for his new game Sword 'N' Board. Essentially, it's a puzzle-based adventure RPG that sees you battling through imaginary monsters, cardboard forests and dark pillow fort dungeons all in an attempt to find...
News Over 61% of Q2 Game Sales in the U.S. Were From Download Products
That'll be why Nintendo's pushing the eShop platforms, then
It's been reiterated enough times that, despite the desire of many to maintain physical retail collections of games, the rise of download platforms and products nevertheless continues to gain momentum. While Nintendo weighs in with the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS, there's also...
News Nintendo Is Bringing Its 2013 Big Hitters To Eurogamer Expo
Plus Bayonetta 2 and massive indie support
Nintendo has confirmed that it is bringing all of its major Q4 titles — and more besides — to this year's Eurogamer Expo, which takes place at Earl's Court in London from September 26th to the 29th. Attendees will be able to go hands-on with upcoming Wii U titles like Bayonetta 2, Donkey Kong Country:...
News Nintendo To Host Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone At Eurogamer Expo 2013
Play games, win prizes, get those important StreetPass hits
We're proud to announce that we're bringing the Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone to this year's Eurogamer Expo in association with Nintendo. The expo — which is due to take place at Earl's Court in London — is already sold out and will attract over 70,000 visitors from September 26th to...
News Ghost Song: A Journey of Hope Misses Wii U Fundraising Target But May Still Arrive
"I'm working to make this happen anyway"
In August we brought you details of Ghost Song: A Journey of Hope, a crowdfunded project with stylistic references to Super Metroid, in particular. With bold plans to incorporate ideas from the likes of Dark Souls, its setting and storyline was promising to the extent that it quickly reached its funding...
News Nintendo: We Need To Do A Better Job Of Attracting Indies To The eShop
"We've learned a lot of lessons over the past five or six years"
If there's one thing you learn from speaking to indie developers working on the Wii U and 3DS eShops, it's that Nintendo is a much easier company to work with these days when you're a small-scale studio. The nightmare days of WiiWare are long gone, but that doesn't mean that the...
Video If Inazuma Eleven Football Was Real, Costs Would be Astronomical
Footballs and pitches going up in flames
While the franchise is big business for Level-5 in Japan, Inazuma Eleven has had limited localisations in Europe and none in North America, earning loyal fans without necessarily troubling the upper-reaches of software charts. Europe will have its next dose of Inazuma Eleven goodness on 27th September, with...
Start your engines
TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition is a high octane battle racing game developed by German studio keen games. It draws on inspiration from classic titles like Micro Machines and features an isometric viewpoint with all drivers competing on the same screen. Previously released on WiiWare, this updated version on Wii U crams in...
Video Winged Pikmin Gatecrashes Red Bull Flugtag 2013
No blue Pikmin were harmed in this publicity stunt
Did you know that Nintendo of Canada constructed a Winged Pink Pikmin for Red Bull's Flugtag event in Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada this year? No? Well now you do — and what's more, you can view the flight trajectory of said Pikmin in the video below. Needless to say, the real-world version didn't fly...
News Bravely Default: For the Sequel To Serve as Testing Ground For Follow-Up
For the Sequel version to be used, erm, for the sequel
A good number of RPG gamers in the West have no doubt been looking forward to Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, the 3DS title from Square Enix that's performed well both commercially and critically in Japan. While we've been awaiting its arrival in PAL territories and North America, however, it's...
News CommanderVideo to be a Playable Character in Aban Hawkins & the 1,001 Spikes
Still planned for release on Wii U and 3DS this year
Aban Hawkins and the 1,001 Spikes was announced for the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms way back in April 2012, with the original target being to release the title on both systems that year. It's a project that's fallen largely silent, however, though publisher Nicalis has provided updates on...
Wednesday4th Sep 2013
News Pokémon X & Y 3DS XL Systems Hit the West on 27th September
In red and blue varieties
Update: Nintendo of Europe has confirmed what we suspected in the article below — these limited edition systems will not be bundled with copies of Pokémon X & Y. Original Article: During today's Pokémon Direct broadcast, Satoru Iwata spilled the beans on a routinely leaked and widely ex
Review Disney Infinity (Wii U)
Infinite possibilities, infinite potential
The first impression that some on the periphery have of Disney Infinity is that it can easily be written off as a direct copy of the Skylanders blueprint. In truth, what we have here is an action-adventure game that uses real-world figures and implements them in the video game as playable characters, which...
Mega Evolutions for each also revealed
It has been revealed that players will be able to select classic first generation Pokémon Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle in the forthcoming 3DS title Pokémon X & Y. In a twist on the usual Pokémon formula, you are not given Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie from Professor Sycamore — you choose one of...
News Nintendo Launching Cloud-Based Pokémon Bank Service Alongside Pokémon X & Y
Store your Pokémon online for a yearly fee
Nintendo and Game Freak have announced during today's Pokémon Direct broadcast that they are launching Pokémon Bank, a cloud-based service which will allow players to upload their Pokémon online and retrieve them for use in later titles. With previous game in the popular series, you'd spend a lot of...
Review Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Work in progress or fighting masterpiece?
Street Fighter II hit arcades in 1991 but amazingly, by the time 1993 rolled around, players had already experienced three upgrades to the core game: Street Fighter II': Champion Edition, Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting and Super Stree
Reaction The Pokémon Bank and the Inevitability of Online Charges
Gotta buy 'em all
Today's Pokémon Direct broadcast brought 20 minutes of hype for the upcoming Pokémon X & Y, titles that will practically sell themselves regardless. There was some exciting news about limited edition hardware and, oh yes, the choice of
Video Want To See Just How Much Better Zelda: Wind Waker Looks In HD?
Standard definition just doesn't cut it anymore
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD hits the Wii U very soon, and for many it will be a chance to revisit one of the greatest games ever made. However, we've lost count of the number of times we've heard people say things like "how much better can it possibly look in a higher resolution?" or "the...
News Poké Transporter Confirmed for X & Y
Bring across all 'mon from Black & White as well as Black & White 2
As part of today's Pokémon Direct broadcast, we learned all about the Pokémon Bank Service, which will include a yearly fee to store up to 3000 'mon in the cloud. That has obvious benefits for Pokémon X & Y, but will also likely be used
Nintendo Direct Watch The Pokémon Direct Broadcast Live
Pokémon X & Y details revealed within
Today Nintendo will run a Pokémon-themed Direct broadcast which will focus on the forthcoming Pokémon X & Y for the 3DS console. The video will air at 7am PST / 1PM CEST / 12PM UK time. You can watch the entire broadcast below and post comments to share your opinions with other Nintendo Life readers...
News WayForward Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Wii U listed as a platform
Late last week WayForward began a countdown to a Kickstarter project, prompting fans to speculate on what it could be. Perhaps unsurprisingly it's for a new title in one of its most adored original IPs — Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. If funded it'll be a multi-platform HD adventure for the character, with the Wii U listed...
News Mighty No. 9 Wii U Stretch Goal Has Been Reduced
It's now set at a cool $2,200,000
The Kickstarter campaign for Mighty No. 9 kicked off over the weekend and it has already smashed through its original $900,000 goal, meaning the game will definitely be coming to PC. When comcept USA revealed its new project it stated a home console version for Wii U, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 would be made should...
News The Wii U Continues to Struggle in Japanese Charts
The Wonderful 101 departs the top 20 in its second week
The Japanese charts often provide solace for Nintendo, especially with 3DS hardware and software sales continually leading the way. While the portable's hardware performance retains its strong run this week, the Wii U's issues in the market have been brought sharply into focus once again. The...
News Hideki Kamiya "Would Be Honoured" If One Of His Creations Made It Into Smash Bros.
Not so keen on making Star Fox anymore, however
The Wonderful 101 creator Hideki Kamiya has revealed to Polygon that he'd love to see one of his characters make it into a Super Smash Bros. title. Arguably one of Japan's most recognisable developers, Kamiya has always insisted that he's a massive Nintendo fan, and he's clearly keen to be involved...
News Sonic Generations Will Cost $29.99 On The North American 3DS eShop
Will you be taking the plunge?
We recently reported that Sonic Generations is getting a digital release in North America this week, and we can now confirm the price of the game: $29.99. When we ran the original report we commented that the price would have to be reasonable, as pre-owned copies of the physical release can be picked up relatively...
News Super Castlevania IV Is Whipping The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
A 16-bit classic to get your teeth into
Japanese Wii U owners will be able to enjoy what is arguably Simon Belmont's best adventure next week as Super Castlevania IV (or Akumajō Dracula as it's known over there) hits the Virtual Console in that region. The first 16-bit outing for Konami's esteemed vampire-hunting series, Super Castlevania IV was...
News Chiptune Artist Dj CUTMAN Releases Zelda: Link's Awakening Tribute Album
A link to the ghetto blast
Dj CUTMAN is a name you'll probably be familiar with if you follow the world of chiptune music, and he's just launched another album packed with retro-tinged tunes updated in a modern style. Taking inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, MeowMeow & BowWow is a collaboration between Dj CUTMAN and fellow...
Video Watch_Dogs Footage Shows Off Hacking, Open-World Elements and Driving
Some ooh and aah moments to enjoy
Watch_Dogs is a Ubisoft title that can quite easily attract attention no matter what home console you happen to own, as it's coming to all major current systems including the Wii U. It's undoubtedly ambitious in scope, promising a campaign that can be seamlessly interrupted by other players online, and the...
News AiRace Speed Flying Onto the 3DS eShop Soon
A need for speed
Two DSiWare releases that we rather enjoyed were AiRace and AiRace Tunnel, and with that in mind we're certainly pleased to hear about AiRace Speed from QubicGames. Due on the 3DS eShop "late summer", which could mean in the next few weeks, this high-speed flying game will cost $4.99 in North America and €4.99 / £4.49 in Europe...
Tuesday3rd Sep 2013
Weirdness This 1DS Spoof is Remarkably Well Done
Or the 1Dees, as ABC news would call it
The 2DS has, despite its obvious reasons for existence in the market this Holiday season, been open to plenty of incredulity and mockery online. That was its inevitable fate, as no amount of logic — or the fact it's not threatening anyone — will spare it some teasing on the web. We must doff our caps to...
Talking Point The Wii U May Be Playing Catch-Up With Some Developers, But Money Always Talks
Some third-parties may never be on board, however
The challenges facing the Wii U, like those that faced the 3DS before it in 2011, are numerous. It's seeking to reverse stalled momentum that was, perhaps strategically, allowed to happen in exchange for a busy lineup of games in the second half of the year. This is being done against the backdrop of...
Interview Designer Luc Bernard Talks Wii U And Crowdfunding His Vision
The man behind Eternity's Child is back
Remember Luc Bernard? He's the guy behind Eternity's Child — the WiiWare title that never was — and has since produced a string of titles such as Mecho Wars and SteamPirates on iOS and Android. A long-time fan of Nintendo, Bernard has been watching the recent developments on the Wii U and 3DS with...
News Club Nintendo Rewards Updated for September
Take to the skies and march with the minis
It's that time of the month when Nintendo offers up some tasty rewards for North American Club Nintendo members to enjoy. This year really is flying by isn't it? Two Wii Shop and two 3DS eShop games will be available to download in exchange for your hard earned coins and of course Wii U owners can access...
News Nintendo Has A "Continuing Relationship" With Minecraft Studio Mojang
But there's no news of a Wii U or 3DS version
Minecraft is massive — but you surely don't need us to tell you that. The indie game started life as a PC title but has since made the jump to Xbox 360 and smartphones, picking up millions of new players as a result. The question of Minecraft coming to Nintendo platforms has been asked before, but...
Nintendo Direct Pokémon Direct Scheduled For Wednesday September 4th
More details on Pokémon X and Pokémon Y coming our way
Nintendo has confirmed that a special Pokémon-themed Nintendo Direct will be broadcast tomorrow. Hosted by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata himself, the video will offer more details on Pokémon X & Y, which launches worldwide in October. The broadcast will go live at 1PM in Central...
News Bethesda: The Time For Convincing Publishers And Developers To Support Wii U Is "Long Past"
Bethesda’s Pete Hines feels Nintendo has missed the boat
The Wii U badly needs third party support — that's a fact that few people will argue about. With the Xbox One and PS4 looming on the horizon, Nintendo is doing its utmost to attract publishers and developers, but Bethesda’s Pete Hines feels that it's too little, too late. Speaking on...
News Eurostyle Neo Geo Shooter Gunlord Is Blasting Its Way To 3DS And Wii U
Indiegogo campaign started to fund development
UPDATE: Since this news item was written the original Indiegogo page has been removed and a new one has risen up in its place, with a lower goal of 40,000 Euros. We have updated the links to reflect this. The flexible funding option has now also been removed, meaning that NG:DEV.TEAM will only get the...
News Esteemed WiiWare Brawler Rage Of The Gladiator Is Coming To The 3DS eShop
Fresh ratings show the game is coming back to Nintendo
Rage of the Gladiator was one of WiiWare's big-hitting titles a few years back before hopping over to smartphones to thrill iOS and Android players. However, the circle of life looks like it could become complete once more as the game heads back in the direction of Nintendo — recent PEGI and
News Moving Player Reveals its 3DS and Wii U eShop Lineup
Education, fishing, strategy and a mash-up called Triboo
Moving Player is a development studio that's recently began its moves into Nintendo download projects, having been founded in 2010 and produced a number of smartphone games. Its first entry onto Nintendo's systems was Tangram Style on the 3DS, and it's now announced four new games due to...
News Keiji Inafune Thanks Mighty No. 9 Backers in New Video
Former co-workers and employers also appreciated
A very happy and slightly exhausted-looking Keiji Inafune has taken to YouTube to thank everyone who has helped his Mega Man-influenced Kickstarter project, Mighty No. 9, reach its initial funding goal in blinding speed. An update from the development team was also posted to the project’s...
Review Chrono Trigger Symphony: Volume 1 by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra
A timeless classic
Chrono Trigger is rightly remembered for being one of the best games to ever grace the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Even now, players around the world come back to it over and over again – no doubt partly thanks to both the recent Nintendo DS and iOS ports. But if there’s one element of Chrono Trigger that’s truly...
Video Street Fighter Fans, This 25th Anniversary Documentary Is For You
Get some snacks and a drink
As we've seen with Nintendo in recent years, plenty of major publishers are celebrating major anniversaries that go back to the 8 and 16-bit eras. Capcom is included in this, and has celebrated Mega Man by releasing a load of merchandise and by being upstaged by Keiji Inafune — the latter clearly wasn't part of any...
News Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara Battles to North America This Week
European release set for 12th September
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara has been a frustrating release for some Nintendo eShop gamers. After arriving on rival platforms earlier in the summer, issues with the Wii U build caused a rather late notice delay and then multiple weeks of silence and, we imagine, failed submissions. Just over a...
Out Now Rayman Legends (North America)
It's arm-less fun
Rayman Legends is released today in North America, and it arrived in Europe on 30th August. Of course, in a perfect world for the Wii U it would have arrived on the system as an exclusive during the launch window, but despite its controversial route to market it is now here, and earning plaudits from writers and gamers around the...
News Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition Update Now Live in Europe
Fixes "a few bugs"
A new patch for Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition is now available to download from the Wii U eShop in Europe. Players won't need to do anything as the update will be applied automatically once you're connected to the internet. Matt Bozon, creative director at WayForward, made the announcement on his Twitter page, where he...
Monday2nd Sep 2013
News Here's How Much Space Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Will Take Up On Your Wii U
Memory matters
Every Nintendo fan loves hearing about download sizes for major Wii U and 3DS titles — mainly due to the fact that whenever a new game is released you usually have to decide which title you've going to expunge from your console's internal memory because you still haven't gotten around to buying a bigger SD card (in the case of the...
Hardware Review N64 Hori Mini Pad
Better get this controller in a Hori
The original Nintendo 64 controller proved to be quite divisive as far as gamepads are concerned. With its peculiar three-pronged design – which was partly borne out of Nintendo’s fear that 3D gaming might not take off – camera buttons and novel Z-trigger, the controller was the perfect tool for fully...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Two
From nose pinching to reset bomb detonations
Last week we started a new series of features highlighting the weekly screens distributed by franchise boss Masahiro Sakurai, which we rather wittily called "A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii and 3DS Screens - Issue One. Now we have issue two, which brings five more delicious screens at which to gaze. As...
News Rayman Legends Sells More Copies In The UK On Wii U Than Any Other Format
Nintendo's console leads the charge
As we all know, Rayman Legends was intended to be a Wii U exclusive, and a launch title to boot. However, Ubisoft decided against taking the single platform route and delayed the game in order to port it to other systems — a sound business move, but one that angered many Wii U buyers who had been looking forward...
Nintendo Download 5th September (Europe)
Explosive racing, a legendary titan, cheaper Mickey and more
Monday mornings are, perhaps strangely, relatively happy times for some Nintendo gamers in Europe. The download delights due this week have been revealed, and this time around there are two new Wii U download-only games, a long awaited 3DS RPG and much more. Let's get right to the details,...
News There's a Shiny New StreetPass Mii Plaza Update in Europe
The mystery update does something, right?
Update: It seems that the purpose of the update has been identified by eagle-eyed members of the Nintendo Life community. The previous update removed the overall total figure in the counter for puzzle pieces collected, and now it's back. Photographic evidence is at the bottom of the article, thanks...
Review Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The need for speed
Although many will accuse Capcom of flogging the Street Fighter license within an inch of its life, the company wasn't solely to blame for the production line of incremental updates which appeared after the release of the original Street Fighter II. Unscrupulous arcade owners would "hack" arcade boards to increase the speed of the...
News Jools Watsham Offers to Help Create a 3DS Version of Mighty No. 9
...And the response sounds rather promising
A few days ago comcept USA announced a Kickstarter project for Mighty No. 9 — a spiritual successor to Capcom's Mega Man series — and it has been receiving a lot of attention from funders, press and even other development studios since then it would seem. The project has already reached its minimum...
"With the Legends project we didn't get to do all that we wanted to do"
Over the weekend Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune caused a minor internet meltdown by launching a Kickstarter campaign for Mighty No. 9, a project with an all-star development team and a strong Mega Man vibe to it. At the time of writing the fundraiser has unsurprisingly gained...
News Rayman Legends on Wii U Wins Digital Foundry Face-Off
Oddly enough, it has something to do with the ol' GamePad
The Wii U version of Rayman Legends has been declared the definitive version of the game in a recent comparison test carried out by Digital Foundry over at Eurogamer. The analysis — which usually focuses primarily on visual performance — considered the Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and...
News Bravely Default: For The Sequel Has English Script DLC
Could this be the version the west is getting?
Update: The official Twitter account for this title has now confirmed that this expanded, improved version of the title is indeed the basis for the localisation to the West. Original article: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is coming to the west, but we're still largely in the dark as to when. The...
News Image & Form Discuss How SteamWorld Dig Became Such A Success
Word of mouth built up a head of steam
Nintendo 3DS eShop title SteamWorld Dig has certainly been a success for Swedish developer Image & Form. Released in early August, it shot right to the top in the European and Australian eShop, while it has been riding high in the North American store as well. Its success is even more impressive when you...
News Hideki Kamiya Interested in Portable Bayonetta and Okami Spin-Offs If "Given the Chance"
Take some Platinum madness on the road
While speaking to Siliconera at the Penny Arcade Expo, famed video game designer and director Hideki Kamiya was asked whether he would be interested in bringing a game of his own to a handheld system. Having worked on the likes of Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe,
News New Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Release Hinted at in Trademark
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call is listed
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is a gem in the 3DS library, and along with SEGA's Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure gave us a resurgence of rhythm music games, which continued with the eShop-exclusive HarmoKnight. While there are plenty of rhythmic gamers probably hoping that the Theatrhythm name...
News Devil Survivor 2 Hits Pre-Order Target to Confirm EU Release
Additional pre-orders are now guaranteed
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 has had a rather odd route to release in Europe. Ghostlight picked up publishing duties for the DS title in Europe, but not before a 3DS port was confirmed for Japan. With time and effort invested in the DS original, Ghostlight has nevertheless persevered. Its path to the...
Sunday1st Sep 2013
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2013 - Autumn / Fall Edition
The games are coming
At the start of the year we listed what we considered to be ten of the biggest Wii U games of 2013, and as the year has progressed we issued updates for Spring and Summer. As each progressive list shows, game releases and a fair batch of Nintendo Direct surprises can certainly change that outlook, and change is
Interview Hideki Kamiya on The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2 and Working With Nintendo
Talks with us about inspiration, sequels, and Internet meltdowns
Hideki Kamiya's personality ripples across everything he touches, growing in strength as it travels and comes out like a roar. His signature, hardcore style is found in a long line of original gems like Viewtiful Joe and Bayonetta; these are titles that, arguably, couldn't have come...
News Mega Man Creator Keiji Inafune Working On Spiritual Successor Mighty No. 9
Wii U version added as stretch goal to Kickstarter campaign
Capcom may be content to allow Mega Man's 25th birthday to pass without a brand-new adventure, but creator Kenji Inafune has taken matters into his own hands and is attempting to make a spiritual successor to the Blue Bomber via Kickstarter. Mighty No.9 is Mega Man in all but name,...
That really should be that, then
After the $50 price cut for the Wii U 32GB model was announced, some naturally made comparisons to the 3DS price cut of 2011 and wondered whether some form of Ambassador Program would be offered, in which 3DS early adopters received 10 NES and 10 GBA games. The scenarios are different, of course, in that the Wii U...
News Animal Crossing Plushies Move In
Will never pester you for fruit
You can admit it. Animal Crossing: New Leaf continues to seep its way into your life, your daily routine interrupted with thoughts of bell-generating schemes and what time so-and-so is visiting your house tonight. You did remember to buy turnips from Joan today, right? Good, good. For those who are genuinely New...
