News Pokémon Bank And Poké Transporter Will Hit The North American eShop in December
Comes with a free 30 day trial if you activate before 31st January 2014
Rumour Cryptic Messages In Pokémon X & Y Hint At Forthcoming Ruby & Sapphire Remake
Or is Game Freak just teasing us?
News - October, 2013
Thursday31st Oct 2013
News Namco Bandai Appears Impressed By Demand For Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode
Petition for western release now at over 16,000 signatures
Digimon World Re:Digitize Decode — a 3DS update of the PSP title Digimon World Re:Digitize — launched in Japan earlier this year. Since then, there have been calls from western fans of the series to localise the game for North America and Europe, but thus far Namco Bandai has remained...
Review Super Castlevania IV (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Fangs for the memories
The Castlevania series is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment, thanks largely to MercurySteam's commercially successful Lords of Shadow sub-series. However, as many hardcore Castlevania fans will repeatedly tell you until they are blue in the face and you are deeply, deeply bored, the God of War-style gameplay...
News These Wii U Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Screenshots Look Very Pretty Indeed
Yarr, it looks to be a decent Port!
By now, we're used to publishers being coy when it comes to showing off their Wii U versions of multiplatform games. More often than not, we won't actually get to see Wii U-specific footage or screenshots until the day of launch, when the community gets its hands on the game. Silence is deafening, as they say, and...
Nintendo Download 31st October (North America)
Wii Fit U, LEGO heroes, Super retro vampire slaying and much more
It's time for the Nintendo Download update, North America, in which we learn what delights will be infesting the Wii U and 3DS eShop platforms this Halloween and beyond. We have a stone-cold classic Super NES title on the Wii U, while one of the most lucrative Wii franchises makes its...
News Male Wii Fit Trainer Revealed as Latest Smash Bros. Challenger
He should Fit right in
Back at E3 2013, it was revealed that the female Wii Fit Trainer would be a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. It looks like she'll be in good company; series producer Masahiro Sakurai sent a post to Miiverse earlier today, indicating that her male counterpart would indeed be...
News Nintendo Reveals More Details for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Hero mode, new items and a tease at a hidden secret
As the weeks whizz by in the remainder of 2013, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on the 3DS gets ever closer — it arrives in Europe and North America on 22nd November. Nintendo, for its part, has been firing up the hype train, and a press release has now been issued with a number of...
Feature Ten Wii U and 3DS Games To Play This Halloween
Zombies, vampires, desolation, isolation and all that good stuff
It's that night, dear readers, when ghouls and monsters emerge from their pits of despair to torment the living. Or, another way of looking at it, children in rather inexpensive outfits come out to threaten adults with a good egging if they don't hand over sweets and candies. What a...
Review Wario's Woods (3DS eShop / NES)
It's back like you wooden believe
Originally released in 1994, Wario's Woods holds the prestigious honour of being the last officially licensed game to release for the NES in North America; that's a remarkably long time after the console itself launched in the mid-eighties. Yet while it's impressive that the legendary system received a first-party...
Feature The Nintendo Life Crypt of Downloadable Horrors II: The Bloodening
So many ruined SD cards...
It's the time of year during which a lot of people skulk around yelling "Boo!" As a video games review website, however, we prefer to boo terrible games. After all, isn't it the least bit frightening that these shambling, creeping monstrosities are out there trying to steal your money? We certainly lose sleep over it! In...
News EA's Financial Figures Reveal Dismal Wii U Software Sales
Wii not so great, either
Although EA has received much criticism for its poor support of the Wii U in recent times, it appears to make sense to the video game giant from a business perspective. EA’s decision to abandon Nintendo’s current generation home console has been validated with its most recent financial figures, which reveal that just...
Video Star Wars Meets Nintendo In This Stunning Animated Mash-Up
The Triforce is strong in this one
YouTube legend James Farr has already given us Super Mario Busters and New Super Mario Busters 2, but he's far from done with mashing up popular culture with Nintendo characters. His latest creation is Super Smash Wars: A Link To The
News New Video Content in the Pipeline for 3DS's Nintendo Video Service in North America
The Legend of Zelda and Pikmin to headline new line-up
Nintendo of America has announced a brand new line-up of new video content for its Nintendo Video service. Starting 1st November, the free video application will start showing new short-form videos, with more content coming all the way into 2014. Five new series have been planned, with content...
News Satoru Iwata Emphasizes "An Opportunity" for the Wii U This Holiday Season
The importance of variety
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Wii U once again served up the most damaging headlines from Nintendo's Q2 financial results. From 1st July to 30th September just 300,000 units were sold worldwide, adding to the Q1 results to account for 460,000 console sales in six months. Despite these figures Nintendo is standing by its...
News Nintendo Reports Continuing Improvement in Download Sales
Pokémon X & Y prompting more players to keep their 3DS with them
Satoru Iwata's Q2 financial briefing focused on three key areas — the strength of the 3DS, the strategies to revive the Wii U, and the continuing growth of Nintendo's download sales and platforms. In that final category, Iwata-san made clea
News Monster Hunter 4 Helps Capcom Boost Overall Sales By 16.9%
The franchise has shifted 27 million copies over the years
Capcom has posted its financial earnings for the six month period ending 30th September 2013 and things are looking good for the Japanese firm as sales have shot up 16.9 percent on last year's figures, with the help of popular titles such as Monster Hunter 4. Indeed, anyone who's been...
News Just Dance And Skylanders Wii U Bundles Coming To Australia And New Zealand
Mario & Luigi Premium Pack also on the way Down Under
Australia and New Zealand may have missed out on the limited edition Zelda-themed Wii U bundle, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Nintendo Australia has today announced it will bulk up its Wii U offerings with two new value packs - just in time for the holiday period. Consumers who...
News Satoru Iwata Highlights a Strengthening Worldwide Market Share for 3DS
First system since DS to surpass five million annual sales in Japan
When seeking good news and cause for optimism, Nintendo need look no further than the 3DS. A system that struggled in its early days and was written off in some quarters as out of touch and doomed to failure, it's gone on to combine a lower price, high quality games and more to...
Wednesday30th Oct 2013
Review Skylanders SWAP Force (3DS)
Swap-n-go
There is a common and unfortunate trend in video game development in which a great game is released on a home console, and then a vastly inferior version — or spin-off — is released as a portable title. Recent victims of this phenomenon include LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins and Sonic Lost World. While these shouldn’t be...
News Wii Sports Club Will Download Automatically With SpotPass
Assuming you have 1.3GB of space available
Yesterday we brought you some information from the latest Iwata Asks, in which it was explained that Namco Bandai had stepped in to take on development duties. Naturally those in attendance spoke about a variety of topics, another of which is the fact that — if you have 1.3GB of available space (on the...
News SEGA Confirms Western Release Dates and Details of 3D Classics Range
Rejoice, retro fans!
We've been aware of the 3D range of retro remakes from SEGA for a good while, splashing the cash on our Japanese unit while waiting for their eventual localisation. Of course, that's not an option for everyone, so the pleasing news is that SEGA has now confirmed release details for both Europe and North America, with a total of...
News Nintendo Financial Reports Bring Minor Profit, 3DS Success and More Wii U Struggles
PAL regions a key weak point in Wii U hardware sales
Earlier this year Nintendo revealed its Q1 financial results, in which it was able to report a net profit despite operating losses — value of the Yen and the mysteries of accounting allowed for a positive overall result. The trends largely continue with today's Q2 results (which also include the...
Feature Where Is Your Wii Balance Board?
Time to dust off that slab of plastic in preparation for Wii Fit U
Wii Fit U's special trial deal begins this Friday, and will no doubt trigger a fitness frenzy amongst flabby Wii U owners all over the globe. However, a lot of time has elapsed between the incredible popularity of the Wii original and the launch of this new title, and like so many...
Talking Point Nintendo's Ambitious Sales Targets Require Runaway Holiday Success
As the latest financial reports show, the time is now
Every three months we gain an insight into Nintendo's fortunes, with details on finances and sales information for different regions around the world. When it comes to solid numbers for hardware and software sales, the quarterly financial results reported by the Kyoto-based company can tell us...
News Iwata Braves Press Conference to Explain Nintendo's Earnings
Has faith that upcoming releases will reverse company's fortunes
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata made an appearance at a press conference in Osaka, Japan earlier today to explain the company's most recent financial results. Speaking about the ongoing troubles that Nintendo is currently experiencing with the Wii U, Iwata suggested that both the...
News Nintendo Will Be "Careful" About The Artistic Direction Of Zelda In The Future
Toon Link teaches Aonuma a valuable lesson
The recent release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD has stirred the Zelda pot once again, raising discussion about the artistic direction of the series over the years. Previously fans have seen realistic, cartoony and even cel-shaded takes on Link, but never before has Nintendo shown undue...
News Phantasm Studios Seeks To Resurrect Ghosts 'N Goblins With Or Without Capcom's Blessing
Ghosts 'N Goblins: Demon World slated for Nintendo eShops
Newly-established Phantasm Studios is looking to bring the legendary Arthur back from the dead with a fresh entry in the Ghosts 'N Goblins series. CEO and founder Monty Singleton has lifted the lid on a Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds for development, but there's a catch: he...
News Pokémon X & Y Reign Supreme in Japan Once Again, Though the Wii U and Sonic Endure Tough Times
The games are coming, the games are coming, the games...
Thanks to the lovely people at Media Create, we have our weekly dose of Japanese game charts to enjoy. In recent times it's been less about what's number one, but by how much it's dominating, and that applies to software and hardware. In the software stakes, Pokémon X & Y maintains its...
Review Pinball (Wii U eShop / NES)
Ball out?
Back in 1985, when Nintendo launched the NES in North America, there were a slew of games released with to-the-point titles like Baseball, Golf, and the game of the hour, Pinball. At the time, inviting these simple, accessible games into your home was almost life changing, and we have great memories bouncing around our heads of how they...
News Nintendo Confirms Live Orchestration in Super Mario 3D World
So our ears have not deceived us
We've been fortunate enough to spend some time, recently, with Super Mario 3D World, which we've rather enjoyed so far. In our preview last week we also said the following to reassure those with a taste for orchestral music in their Mario games, a practice that hit its peak in the Super Mario Galaxy games. There's...
News F1 Race Stars Aims To Scratch Your Mario Kart Itch On Wii U This Christmas
Cartoon racer is exclusive to the eShop in Europe and North America
Codemasters has revealed that F1 Race Stars: Powered Up Edition will be racing onto the Wii U eShop this December in both Europe and North America. The title was announced many months ago and was assumed to be getting a retail release, but it then mysteriously dropped off the radar...
Weirdness Worlds Of Power Is To Rise From The Grave In 2014
Nintendo Life's Philip Reed is taking a trip down memory lane
Young gamers growing up in the early 90s no doubt remember Worlds of Power. It was a series of youth-oriented novelisations of classic NES games...and the books have become legendarily awful. They were inaccurate, inept, and very poorly written. While their ostensible mission was to...
Video Here's Five Levels Of Super Mario 3D Multiplayer Mayhem For Your Delectation
Too cool for cats
Super Mario 3D World will be with us in time for Christmas and is sure to top the wish list of many a Wii U owner. We've been lucky enough to spend some quality time with the game and have put together this wacky multiplayer video which highlights five of the game's inventive and action-packed levels. Tom, Ant and Damo are the...
News NIS America Confirms Physical And Digital European Releases For Etrian Odyssey Untold
eShop demo will also be made available prior to launch
NIS America has confirmed what we all suspected: dungeon-crawling epic Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl is indeed headed to Europe. There's no solid release date as yet, but the publisher has confirmed that the game is coming in 2014. It has also been revealed that it will be...
Tuesday29th Oct 2013
News Nintendo Confirms The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL Bundle for North America
Comes with a download code for the game
Not long ago we reported that Nintendo of Europe had unveiled an attractive 3DS XL model for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, with a gold and black design that'll attract plenty of envious glances. Just three days later a leaked GameStop advert showed tha
Review Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (3DS)
A final puzzle to savour
The arrival of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is an occasion both exciting and tinged with sadness. For dedicated fans of the franchise across DS and 3DS there's the promise of hundreds of puzzles and a generous dosage of gentlemanly charm, offset by the knowledge that — for now at least — this is the last...
Feature The Madness That Is Super Mario 3D World's Multiplayer Mode
One crown to rule them all
In this personal reminiscence, Martin Watts describes his experience of playing Super Mario 3D World in multiplayer, and how it exposes our greatest flaws of character... Last week, Features Editor Thomas Whitehead and I were invited along to Nintendo UK's offices for a bit of hands-on time with one of Nintendo's most...
News Wii U Players Won't Be Able To Join A Clan In Call Of Duty: Ghosts
Not quite a band of brothers
Call of Duty: Ghosts will be rocking a new clan system when it launches soon, allowing fans to form cross-platform battle groups for the game's popular online multiplayer modes. However, something troubles us about the official FAQ for this element of the shooty-shooty, bang-bang game: Clans in Call of Duty: Ghosts...
News Reggie Fils-Aime Talks Mobile Strategy for Nintendo
Probably not quite what you think
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Amie has been making the rounds since his recent hijacking of Twitter, landing today with the editors at CNET to discuss Nintendo’s approach towards mobile devices. Don’t worry; this is still far from talking about Nintendo ditching its hardware and working for iOS...
Review Urban Champion (Wii U eShop / NES)
Won't somebody think of the children?
Urban Champion is back, and is a menace to society. It's a danger to young gamers for two reasons. If you're the type of gamer that thinks brutality and violence has no place in a title played by children, this tale of brawling 8-bit thugs bringing mayhem to the streets is a primitive but potent example of those...
News Shin'en Multimedia Announces FAST Racing NEO for the Wii U eShop
By popular demand
It's been common knowledge for a good amount of time that Shin'en Multimedia is planning multiple Wii U projects, with the intention to continue its support for Nintendo hardware. It's also been confirmed in the past that a successor to WiiWare title FAST - Racing League was on the cards, and after some recent Twitter prompts the...
News Wii Sports Club Is The Handiwork Of Namco Bandai, With Nintendo Assisting
External studio was instrumental in getting online Tennis working
It has been revealed during the latest Iwata Asks that Namco Bandai is handling development duties on the forthcoming Wii Sports Club. The selection of sporting titles — upscaled and improved from the Wii originals — joins the ever-increasing list of Nintendo franchises to be...
News Nicalis Quizzes Fans Over Potential For a Physical Release of the Cave Story 3DS eShop Version
Europe says hi
Cave Story has been released four times in total, though that number drops to two if you live in PAL regions. We've had versions on WiiWare, DSiWare, a retail Cave Story 3D and most recently an excellent 3DS eShop version. The latter edition is arguably the best, incorp
News Sega's Most Successful Console Is 25 Years Old Today
Happy birthday, Mega Drive
A quarter of the century ago, Sega released its most successful console. The Mega Drive hit Japanese retailers on October 29th, 1988 and would go on to sell an estimated 40 million units globally. Known in North America as the Genesis, the system was the first to genuinely challenge the supremacy of Nintendo's NES, and the...
Video Comedian Wayne Brady Gets a Tad Excited About Wii Party U
The rap has potential
Wii Party U is good, harmless, silly fun, or at least that's what we think. Nintendo wants lots of people to think that, of course, and while Nintendo UK released a trailer featuring Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Nintendo of America has been utilising the comedic talents of Wayne Brady for much of its publicity. He's been...
Video BloodBath Gets Gory in New Trailer
Due in November
During the summer we brought you the news that BloodBath is coming to the Wii U, a Hack'n'Slash title that pitches half a dozen gladiators against each other in multiple arenas. The trailer available at the time was from way back in September 2012, and all we really knew about the game was its setting — "a dystopian future where...
Nintendo Direct Check Out the Japanese Daigasso! Band Brothers P Direct Here
Including an overview trailer
A little while ago we reported on a new Jam With The Band title coming to 3DS, in development by Intelligent Systems. Jam With The Band on the DS certainly had some fans in Europe, though unfortunately it never made it to North America; Nintendo has now broadcast a special Nintendo Direct in Japan for the upcoming...
So long, and thanks for all the fish
Natsume has revealed that it will be localising Agatsuma’s Farewell Umihara Kawase for North American release under the new title Yumi's Odd Odyssey. A sequel to the much-loved Super Famicom game Umihara Kawase, this 3DS outing introduces extra characters like time-bender Noko, a young version of Yumi called...
Monday28th Oct 2013
News The Pokémon Company Is Working On A Detective Game In Which Pikachu Is Your Partner
Gotta sleuth 'em all?
It would appear that The Pokémon Company is working on a 3DS title which places you in the role of a detective who is teamed up with the famous Pikachu. The game was revealed during Japanese TV programme "The Professionals" in an episode which focused on Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekaz Ishihara. The game has a proposed...
Nintendo Download 31st October (Europe)
Free fitness for U, Castlevania gets super, a lot of discounts and more
This week's download news for Europe arrived a little later than normal, which we'll assume is an attempt to creep us out before they arrive on the creepiest day of the year. This time around we're light on new releases, though a major Wii franchise makes its awaited début on...
News Rayman Legends Lands With A Thud At Japanese Retail
Less than 1,500 copies sold
Rayman Legends was supposed to be a Wii U exclusive, but Ubisoft changed its mind and delayed the title to accommodate a multiplatform release. However, the wacky epic remains unique to Nintendo's console in at least one region: Japan. Sadly, it would appear that game hasn't been a hit with Japanese players. Although it...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Ten
A Lost World appears, Mega Man meets Pikachu, a risky flight and more
Monday's light relief is here, once again, courtesy of Masahiro Sakurai's posts on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room on Miiverse. We may not know when we can play this game — yes, we saw the rumoured release dates, but there's not enough salt in the earth for those right now...
News Wii Party U Can Be Downloaded Digitally Down Under
New title is available on the Australian Wii U eShop
Wii Party U was released last week, but it bypassed the North American and European Wii U eShops and is available exclusively as a physical purchase at the time of writing. It has been assumed that the game's reliance on physical items — such as a Wii Remote and GamePad stand — has resulted in...
News Kapow! Wii U And Wii Versions Of Young Justice: Legacy Are Cancelled
3DS version is still coming, though
We've been hearing some ominous rumours of late, but it has finally been confirmed via the game's Facebook page that the Wii and Wii U versions of Young Justice: Legacy have been cancelled. The superhero title — which is based on the Cartoon Network series — is still coming to the 3DS, however. Here's the...
Review Clu Clu Land (Wii U eShop / NES)
Clu Clu Bland
Back in the NES days, Nintendo had a lot of experimental, arcade-like games, many of which never quite made it into the big leagues in order to get sequels and the like. Perhaps one of the most often forgotten of these games is Clu Clu Land. Similarly to Kuru Kuru Kururin, you need to know a bit of Japanese in order to understand the...
News This Zelda Super NES Design is Rather Pretty
A lick of paint can do a lot
It's common for enthusiasts to take existing hardware and apply their own twists with alternate shells, skins and paint; just recently a surprisingly attractive 'Luigi 2DS' looked good enough to be official. The practice of tweaking consoles is perhaps most common with retro consoles, however, as the old are made new...
News Alien Haters Rejoice, You'll Be Able To Blast Xenomorphs In Call Of Duty: Ghosts
New online Extinction mode is teased
Call of Duty has featured a 'Zombies' mode in the past few entries, but it looks like Activision is going to change things up a little for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Instead of slaying the undead, you'll be facing opponents from a planet far, far away. According to leaked screenshots — and a post on the Call of...
News Animal Crossing Team to Utilise Hardware Capabilities to Drive Innovation for the Franchise
Social network sharing prominent in New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been a major hit on the 3DS, earning significant success in Japan before achieving impressive results in the West. It's been remarkable how its attracted a sizeable audience that incorporates a wide range of gamers, taking over social networks for a notable spell after...
News Pokémon X & Y Maintain Top Ten Places in UK All-Format Software Charts
New Leaf, Sonic Lost World and The Wind Waker HD still linger
One of the treats that Monday brings is the UK software chart, which in recent times has brought some cheer for Nintendo fans. This week is little different, as Pokémon X and Pokémon Y continue in the top ten in fifth and sixth places respectively; X still holds the upper hand over Y...
News Enjoy Gaming Confirms Zombie Blaster Removed from 3DS eShop Due to ESRB Error
Will rise from the dead again soon
Yesterday we reported that Enjoy Gaming's DSiWare title, Zombie Blaster, had been removed from the 3DS eShop service in North America. It has now come to light that the reason for the game's disappearance was actually down to an issue with the game's ESRB rating. Enjoy Gaming told Nintendo News
News Giana Sisters' Halloween-Themed DLC Not Hitting Consoles
Other treats promised in 2014, however
PC gamers who own Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (or the currently PC-exclusive stand-alone add-on, Rise of the Owlverlord), have the opportunity to scare up some additional fun with a free, Halloween-inspired level. Unfortunately, all console versions will be left in the dark. Adrian Goersch, Managing Director...
Sunday27th Oct 2013
News Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies Proves That Capcom Really Needs To Hire More Proofreaders
Spell to get well
Not so long ago, Capcom caused a few unintentional guffaws with its Resident Evil: Revelations packaging spelling error. You'd think that dropping such a notable clanger would encourage the firm to subsequently keep a close eye on its spelling, but having spent a while with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies on the 3DS,...
News Limited Edition Luigi 2DS Is A Custom-Made Console, Not An Official Product
Rose Colored Gaming fools everyone, including us
We are so glad we used the "rumour" tag when we posted that story about a Luigi-themed 2DS console the other day. Although the photos looked utterly convincing and we — like most of the internet — were taken in by the green-and-white system, it transpires that it's not an official product, but a...
News Data Says - Choose Squirtle in Pokémon Red & Blue
Logic once again seeks to ruin an Internet debate
It is one of the greatest questions of our common era: who is the best Pokémon to begin with in Red & Blue? Everyone has their own opinion they will likely take to the grave, but science writer Kyle Hill decided to try a data-backed argument in a recent blog article for Scientific American. In...
News Zombie Blaster Removed from the 3DS eShop in North America
The undead now seem to be dead
Zombie Blaster, a DSiWare on-rails shooter, shuffled onto the North American 3DS eShop on 10th October. It seemed entirely suitable for the month that features Halloween, of course, though in our review we awarded 3/10 and said "the only way to really win at Zombie Blaster is to not buy it in the first place". That...
News Retro City Rampage to Utilise Circle Pad Pro
Gunplay just got easier
Retro City Rampage will certainly be a welcome release on the 3DS eShop, making its way to Nintendo's portable after its appearance on WiiWare and a host of other platforms. It's an anarchic game full of energy, so could certainly be ideal for some escapism on the go. With development ongoing the developer, Vblank...
Saturday26th Oct 2013
Soapbox The Wii U Virtual Console Needs to Freshen Up
Tom Whitehead's frustrated at the untapped potential of the Virtual Console
OK, I'll join the club and say it. The Wii U and, to a degree, the 3DS Virtual Console are becoming rather frustrating, stale affairs. There's something odd that, years after working through the NES library on the Wii, we're now doing it all over again, despite the fact the...
Review Brunch Panic (3DS eShop)
Piece of cake
Brunch: a late-start, laid-back, Sunday morning meal where carbo-loading is king, and it's perfectly acceptable to pile as many waffles onto your plate as physically possible. Panic: a state of uncontrollable fear and anxiety; also an excellent Sega CD game. These are two worlds which don't often collide, perhaps — but they come...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Clarifies That Local Multiplayer is Still the Priority for Mario
"The answer to this question might change in ten years time"
Super Mario 3D World is shaping up as a title of significant potential, and certainly far more than a quick and easy HD upgrade on 3DS title Super Mario 3D Land. It may share branding and some common items with the portable title, but is also unique in its own ways and, unlike that 3DS...
First Impressions Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land
Good show!
D3Publisher was at this year's New York Comic-Con to demo its latest titles, and while Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! attracted more attention, its other Cartoon Network game, Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land seemed to have its own little following. Whereas Pendleton Ward's Adventure Time recalls...
News Parents Create Their Own Mario World in Child's Nursery
Hand-painted room gives off Paper-themed vibes
Mario has always been an appealingly safe bet for family gaming, and some families are excited to start on that gaming as soon as possible. The parents of Riley Craddock, who welcomed their child into the world on 19th October, have shared their newborn's beautiful, hand-painted nursery on Imgur. It...
Friday25th Oct 2013
Review Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies (3DS eShop)
Say hello to Justice
It's time to warm up those CHORDS OF STEEL, locate your magic panties and don the blue suit — Ace Attorney is back and it's as wacky as ever. Introducing a new cast of zany characters, as well as your old favourites, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is a welcome return to the franchise, complete with a fresh,...
News Pokémon X & Y Patch Now Available On The 3DS eShop
Phew!
Last week we reported on a game-breaking bug in Europe and Japan that had wheedled its way into some copies of Pokémon X & Y, causing save data to corrupt and forcing the player to restart the game. The issue was unearthed when players saved their progress in certain areas of Lumiose City, causing the game to freeze upon trying to load...
News Nintendo Announces Skylanders SWAP Force Wii U Hardware Bundle
Time to swap out that Wii?
Nintendo certainly appears to be gearing up to tempt potential Wii U owners this Holiday, with a variety of bundles joining upcoming releases to try and win over the market. Nintendo of America has now announced another option to tempt gamers in the region, teaming up with Activision to offer a Skylanders SWAP Force...
News Coloured 3DS XL Charging Cradles Coming to Club Nintendo
Limited quantities from 31st October, server meltdown inevitable
The 3DS XL seems to have been a success since its launch, and is certainly the model of choice for various members of the Nintendo Life team. It's come in a variety of designs, though has lacked what was once a much appreciated accessory of the original model — the charging cradle...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Doesn't Rule Out Additional HD Remakes and a Return to the Mario Galaxy Style
Naturally, new software is the priority
With the recent release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the continuing absence of the rumoured and desired GameCube library on the Wii U Virtual Console, and the ongoing and lingering sense that the Wii in HD would have been extra-special, it seems Nintendo is considering future opportunities to...
News Nintendo Comes Up Empty at the Golden Joystick Awards
Quelle surprise
In late September we reported on various Golden Joystick nominations for Nintendo games, hardware, concepts and exclusives; as awards voted for by the public and with a fair number of categories up for grabs, there was perhaps some hope of a sneaky award win. The voting public decided it wasn't to be, however. Some of those titles...
News You Can't Buy This Assassin's Creed Flintlock Pistol, But We Sure Wish You Could
Landstalker Props comes up with the goods yet again
If you're based in the UK and you have a penchant for video game cosplay, then chances are you'll be familiar with the sterling work of Landstalker Props. Landstalker has been producing accurate replicas of video game weapons for ages, and has tackled such projects as the gun from Portal and the...
News Reggie Fils-Aime To Tour North American Cities to Play Wii U and 3DS Titles With the Public
Twitter takeover included various gaming questions and, um, twerking
In case you weren't eagerly poring over Twitter recently, it may interest you that there was an account takeover by Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime, reacting to the fact that #askReggie had apparently been trending on the social network. Over the space of an...
Video Nintendo Shows Off Super Mario 3D World Stages and the Madness of Multiplayer
To troll or not to troll
Just recently we published our preview of Super Mario 3D World, and rather liked what we played. Our experiences so far give us optimism that it'll stack up in single and multiplayer; naturally the latter will be suitably chaotic but, potentially, a huge amount of fun. Nintendo of America's latest Nintendo Minute video...
News SEGA's Retro Remakes Down to Fans for "Next Lineup"
Europe and North America still awaits retro 3D series on the eShop
While now a software developer and publisher with other major interests in entertainment such as Pachinko machines in Japan, for some SEGA will always be the hardware and arcade company that brought joy to their early gaming years. It's a strong legacy, and the company often shows a...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Nineteen
Some of us have to be a bit secretive
It's time for the WGAYPTW feature to stop goofing off and join the real world, as it prepares to leave the teen existence for a life or work and drudgery. Or it'll carry on in such a grey, oppressive world as a beacon of frivolous gaming, where weekends are lost in our favourite pursuit. Yeah, let's go for the...
Video Watch Our Friends At Eurogamer Argue Over Super Mario 3D World Power-Ups
Because you can never have too many Mario 3D World videos
We were recently able to go hands-on with Super Mario 3D World, and found the game to be a little bit special. As if to confirm this, earlier today we posted a video from Nintendo which shows just how downright fun the game is. Just in case you're still not convinced that this will be
News Sega Genesis Owners Very Nearly Missed Out On Treasure's Gunstar Heroes
Sega of America almost passed on the legendary run-and-gun title
Localising Japanese games for western release is a costly process, and even today we still see a lot of titles remaining Japan exclusives and therefore tantalisingly out of reach. Back in the '90s it was very much the same deal, with many amazing 16-bit games failing to make the jump...
Video Footage of Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Emerges for 3DS Caped Crusaders
We pretend it's the Christian Bale Batman
Batman: Arkham Origins is the first portable title in the series kicked off by Rocksteady, and is developed by some Retro Studios veterans that founded Armature. Those two facts alone have some intrigued, but footage has been limited and when Warner Bros. did show more yesterday it was of the Vita version;...
Interview Mojo Bones on Bringing Siesta Fiesta to the 3DS eShop and Venturing Beyond Smartphones
"We’ve always been keen to work on 3DS"
While much recent attention has focused on titles on the way to the Wii U eShop, we shouldn't forget that the 3DS store has a prominent role to play in the coming months and years. We've gradually seen the library grow, with plenty of developers using the portable system as their point of entry into...
Weirdness Japanese YouTuber Dresses Up As Mega Man, Powers Up Via Electric Shocks
It's one way to celebrate the Blue Bomber's 25th, we guess
As we all know, Mega Man turns 25 this year. Capcom is doing its bit by re-releasing classic adventures on the Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console services, but what fans really want is an all-new Mega Man outing. They may well be getting it, too — although in the form of Mighty No.9, which is a...
Thursday24th Oct 2013
Review Mighty Switch Force! 2 (Wii U eShop)
Watered down or a sequel on fire?
WayForward’s puzzle-platforming series first debuted on the Wii U eShop back in November of 2012, when the developer gave the original Mighty Switch Force! an HD facelift and deemed it the Hyper Drive Edition. This time, the sequel — which released for download back in June on the 3DS — has been ported to...
A brave new world
Some things in life are unavoidable. Death, taxes, and disappointing Wii U sales in its first nine months of life. Nintendo has a plan for the rest of 2013, however, which is encouraging for its fans — we've had the enthusiast's favourite The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, and soon we'll have the return of styles and...
Nintendo Download 24th October (North America)
Destinies are fulfilled, retail big-hitters arrive and more
It's taken a little longer than normal to receive confirmation, but we finally have the North American download information for the week. This time around the focus is truly on retail downloads, though a much-anticipated download-only title arrives from Capcom. Let's get to it. Wii U...
News Resident Evil Revelations And Mercenaries Are Half Price On The eShop Over Halloween
A nice treat for North American Wii U and 3DS owners
It's that time of year again where people dress as werewolves and other spooky monsters, carve scary faces into pumpkins and dish out candy on Animal Crossing. Yes, it's Halloween and there are plenty of frightful franchises out there to get stuck into over the season, with Resident Evil being...
News Readers Of EDGE Consider Ocarina Of Time And Mario 64 To Be The Best Games Of The Last 20 Years
GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario Galaxy also make the top 10
Long-running UK video game magazine EDGE recently turned 20, and to mark the occasion it ran a poll to see what its readers consider to be the 20 greatest games to be released since the publication's birth in 1993. Unsurprisingly for Nintendo fans, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and...
News David Jaffe Is A Massive Fan Of Nintendo, But Thinks The Company Should Sell Out To Disney
"I just think it’s time to bring in some new blood"
Outspoken game developer David Jaffe — famous for his work on the Twisted Metal and God of War series — has suggested that Nintendo should sell itself to Disney if it wants to move forward as a company. Speaking to Hip Hop Gamer in an interview which contains some profanity — this is...
Rumour The Year Of Luigi Will Be Rounded Off With A Limited Edition 2DS Console
Green and white system is photographed, has Luigi stamp on the back
2013 is the year of Luigi, and Mario's brother has certainly seen a lot of action. He's starred in New Super Luigi U, has taken a lead role in games like Luigi's Mansion 2 and Dream Team and has even had his own
News Wii Party U Bypasses the Wii U eShop in Launch Week
Physical-only in both North America and Europe
Rumours have been swirling for a while regarding Wii Party U skipping the eShop at launch, and with both the European and North American updates now issued it's clear that those rumours were correct. We've been seeking comment since the rumours first surfaced and will continue to do so. It's the first...
News Proposed Boogerman Reboot Will Feature Earthworm Jim
16-bit icons stick together
We recently reported on a Kickstarter campaign to make a new version of Boogerman, a gross 16-bit platformer which originally appeared on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis back in the '90s. The creators are seeking $375,000 to fund the project and have raised just over $24,000 so far, with 27 days remaining. They'll no doubt...
News Super Castlevania IV Is Coming To The North American Wii U eShop In Time For Halloween
The children of the night, what sweet music they make
Nintendo has confirmed that Konami's whip-cracking classic Super Castlevania IV is coming to the North American Wii U eShop on October 31st — just in time for Halloween. Originally released in 1991, the game stars vampire killer Simon Belmont and is regarded by many Castlevania fans as one of...
News Nintendo Provides Reassurances on Wii Availability This Holiday Season
What happens once sold out, though?
This week came confirmation from Nintendo Japan that it's ceasing production of the Wii, suggesting that the end is nigh for the system. Of course, in territories such as Europe and North America there's been data — during the Wii U's quietest months — placing the last-gen little box of wonders only narrowly...
News NECA's New RoboCop Figure Is Based On The 1989 NES Game
Dead or alive, this figure is coming home with us
Toy maker NECA has revealed the next entry in its video game-inspired figure line, and it's none other than augmented officer Alex J. Murphy, better known as RoboCop. The figure takes inspiration from Data East's 1989 NES adaptation of the 1987 Paul Verhoeven movie. The concept has recently been...
"Think of Spelunky mixed with Zelda"
There are a number of intriguing projects on the way to the Wii U eShop, though not all have featured at expos or in Nintendo Direct sizzle reels. Imagine Me by KinifiGames is one such game, a title that was Kickstarted over two years ago for PC, Mac and Linux, and has now emerged as another experience bound for...
News Nintendo UK Joins Japan By Calling Time On Wii, Wii Mini Expected To Fill The Void
"Wii imports to Europe have been discontinued"
Nintendo has recently confirmed that production of the Wii is set to cease in Japan and despite some assurances from Nintendo of America, it's inevitable that western regions will follow suit. MCV has had confirmation from Nintendo UK that the system is also b
News Super Ubie Land Will Recieve Another Name Change Before Hitting The Wii U eShop
What's in a name, anyway?
Super Ubie Land has already seen one name change — it was originally called Super Ubi Land, but publisher Ubisoft understandably took issue — and now developer Notion Games has revealed that the Wii U eShop platformer will see another title adjustment before it becomes available. No details on what the new title will...
Video New Wii Party U Trailer Serves Up a Celebrity
Andre Agassi's got "mad skillz" (alright, we added the z)
Wii Party U arrives in stores on 25th October — at the time of writing it's not appeared on the eShop — and Nintendo will naturally push it as the game of choice for families interested in a Wii U. With hardware and Wii MotionPlus software bundles, it's likely to be targeted as a...
Wednesday23rd Oct 2013
News This Is How Much Space Super Mario 3D World Will Gobble Up On Your Wii U
Perhaps not as much as you'd expect
Super Mario 3D World is just around the corner, and we can reveal how much space the game will take up if you opt for the digital download route. The eagerly-awaited platforming epic clocks in at 1702MB, which isn't too bad when you consider that Sonic Lost World was a 8475MB download. How has Nintendo managed...
Don't be tardy for this party
It's no secret that Nintendo has struggled with getting the word out about the Wii U. Unclear branding and messaging — not to mention a lack of consumer awareness and hard-hitting software in the first half of 2013 — have resulted in a lot of confusion and missed opportunities. More importantly, the company itself...
News Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Will Lay Claim To This Much Space On Your 3DS Console's SD Card
If you take the digital download version, of course
Yesterday we had the scoop on the download size of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, while earlier today we revealed how much space Super Mario 3D World would take up on
News Bravely Default Deluxe Collector's Edition Detailed For Europe
Includes Agnès figure, music CD, AR cards and artbook
Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that Bravely Default will be getting a deluxe collector's edition when it launches on December 6th. The set includes: Bravely Default (Nintendo 3DS Game Card) Agnès Figurine Deluxe Artbook 34 AR Cards Original Soundtrack CD In addition to this set, a smaller...
News Saucy JRPG Toushin Toshi II Is Getting Remade For The Nintendo 3DS
"God of the City" will launch in Japan early next year
Japanese developer Imageepoch is remaking Alicesoft's controversial PC RPG Toushin Toshi II for the Nintendo 3DS. The game — which carries the name God of the City — launches on January 30th 2014, and will retail for 6279 Yen. The original title was released in the early '90s and became...
News Mario & Luigi Premium Wii U Bundle Confirmed For North American Release
Retail price of $299.99, available November 1st
Nintendo of America has confirmed that the Mario & Luigi Premium Pack which was recently confirmed for Europe is also getting a release state-side. The bundle — which comprises of a 32GB Wii U with New Super Mario U and New Super Luigi U on a single disc — launches November 1st and will retail...
News Two New Limited Edition 3DS XL Consoles Coming To Japan Next Month
Orange x Black and Turquoise x Black will retail for 19,000 Yen each
The production line of limited edition 3DS hardware continues unabated with the news that Japan is getting not one but two new 3DS XL (LL in that part of the world) systems. The Orange x Black and Turquoise x Black consoles will both go on sale on November 28th for 19,000 Yen. The...
Video This Japanese Super Mario 3D World Trailer Is Six Minutes Of Pure Platforming Bliss
Update: An English language version has now surfaced
Update: There is now an English version of the trailer that features the phrase "cat's pyjamas". It can be found below the Japanese one. Enjoy! Original Article: The excitement level in the Nintendo Life office for Super Mario 3D World is reaching fever pitch, but this new Japanese trailer may...
News The Wonderful 101 Update Now Available To Download
The Wonderful 101 ver.1.1.0
The Wonderful 101 smashed onto the scene earlier this year on Wii U and plenty of people have been enjoying the insane adventures of Wonder Red and his band of merry men and women. However, there were a few very minor niggles with the game that needed to be fixed and Nintendo has now released a patch to make the...
News Pokémon X & Y and Monster Hunter 4 Continue Chart Dominance in Japan
Monsters big and small
It's Wednesday, which means it's Media Create Japanese charts day. It's the land where the 3DS rules supreme, while the Wii U awaits its (hopefully) triumphant revival later in the year. This week brings relatively little change, which means good things for Nintendo's portable system. As expected, Pokémon X & Y and...
UK players will have the perfect place to store their cards
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy will be landing in Europe on 8th November in both retailers and on the 3DS eShop. To celebrate its big launch, GAME is offering a special gift to those who pre-order the last iteration of the current trilogy. Those who reserve a copy at the UK retailer...
Video This Is The Effect Wii Party U Has On Excitable Children
Ain't no party like a Wii U party, y'all
Perhaps the best way to assess the impact of Wii Party U — along with our in-depth review, of course — is to see it in action. This new release is designed for families to play together in the same room so to test this out, we eavesdropped on one family as they played — with permission, of course...
UPDATE: Angry Bunnies also confirmed for 3DS eShop release
Slovakian developer and publisher Cypronia has announced four new titles for the Wii U eShop. These include puzzler Color Zen, art package My Style Studio: Notebook and "hairdressing app" My Style Studio: Hair Salon. However, the most interesting release has to be An
Tuesday22nd Oct 2013
News Just Dance Kids 2014 Features Over 30 Tracks And A Dance Director Mode On Wii U
The kids are on the dance floor
Just Dance 2014 was released earlier this month and its younger sibling Just Dance Kids 2014 has now joined the party as well. It's available on both Wii U and Wii and as the title suggests this one is aimed mainly at children and therefore features appropriate songs and content. The tracklist boasts more than 30...
News If Nintendo Did Make A Smartphone, We'd Want It To Look Like This
Feast your eyes on these Famicom and Super Famicom phone mock-ups
There have been calls for Nintendo to enter the mobile phone market for years, with some even going as far as to create 3D renders of what they believe a "Nintenphone" should look like. While the Kyoto company has so far resisted the urge to leap into the handset arena, if it does...
Soapbox The Wii Changed The Face of Gaming, Before The Console Industry Promptly Forgot Its Lessons
Tom Whitehead believes that the Wii's good work has, in part, been wasted
This week the Nintendo Japan website updated the status of Wii production, officially bringing it to an end. We'd previously argued that Nintendo could have ruled the micro console market with Wii and the company, potentially, missed a trick; it seems to be a decision made on...
Review Escape From Zombie City (3DS eShop)
Braaains over beauty
There's certainly no shortage of zombie-themed titles on the 3DS eShop, and it would be easy to lump Escape from Zombie City in with the seasonal shovelware shuffling onto the scene just in time for Halloween — but there's a little more to the story than that. The brainchild of developer Tom Create — responsible for the GO...
Artwork The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Reversible Covers Shown Off
Double the delight for Europeans
Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo UK previously revealed that The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS will feature a reversible cover sleeve for those purchasing the game in Europe. One side of the sleeve will feature the regular multicoloured artwork, with the other being basked in a lovely golden hue...
News Bravely Default To Feature Optional Special Attack Abilities as Microtransactions
Can also be obtained by eight hours in 3DS sleep mode
After a fair bit of waiting, 3DS RPG fans in the West are no doubt looking forward to getting their hands on Bravely Default — it's based on the updated version known as Bravely Default: For the Sequel in Japan. The goal of the fresh iteration is to improve and react to feedback on the original...
First Impressions Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!
(More) Adventure Time with Finn and Jake!
D3Publisher, which published last year’s Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why’d You Steal Our Garbage?, attended this year’s New York Comic Con with the next title in the growing series. Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! — developed by WayForward — will be released this...
News Pokémon Developers: Paid DLC Could "Ruin The Worldview" of The Franchise
Kalos does not accept your worthless paper currency
With the popularity, collectibility, and - let’s face it - addictibility of the Pokémon franchise, the specter of micro-transactions for special critters and bonuses seems to loom more menacingly as mobile gaming grows. But according to Pokémon art director Ken Sugimori in a 4Gamer interview...
Video of Comic-Con presentation includes additional game footage
Eiji Aonuma has often resisted describing The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as a sequel, though it is of course set in the same world as the iconic Super NES title A Link to the Past. Over recent months we've seen a number of comparisons between the two overworlds, typically...
Video A Brief Glimpse at the New Pikachu 3DS Game Includes Some Strange Motion Capture
No Pikachu, no!
Just prior to the release of Pokémon X & Y, it was confirmed that a new game starring Pikachu had gone into development; that's hardly surprising news, as The Pokémon Company has never been afraid of spinning off the main series to keep keen fans busy. The "top secret" game has now made a brief appearance courtesy of Japanese...
News The Mystery of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy's File Size is Solved
Every puzzle has an answer!
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is the final iteration in the current trilogy and is due to arrive on 8th November in Europe, while North America will get puzzling next year. The 3DS title will of course be available in the eShop and will be a fair sized download. You'll need to have 7,309 blocks available in order...
Video Nintendo Releases a Pokémon Series Showcase For You to Enjoy
The presenter says "Pokémon" roughly one billion times
While Nintendo's marketing for Pokémon X & Y has featured the usual excitable adverts and footage, with the games now released the company has taken a step back to present a Pokémon Series Showcase. For those new to Pokémon or perhaps too young to have been around since the earliest...
Review 101 Penguin Pets 3D (3DS eShop)
These penguins might leave you cold
When was the last time you met someone who distinctly disliked nature’s own best-dressed Antarctic fowl, the penguin? The answer is probably “never”, and Teyon is here to capitalize on that fact with its newest virtual pet product — 101 Penguin Pets 3D. Aimed directly at unsuspecting children and designed...
News Nintendo Unleashed Details Revealed for MCM London Comic Con
The last stop for the 2013 tour
As part of a sustained campaign to raise awareness of the Wii U and 3DS libraries, Nintendo UK has been taking its Nintendo Unleashed tour to various expos, events and locations, including a major presence at the recent Eurogamer Expo. The company has now confirmed its lineup for this week's MCM London Comic Con (25th...
News 2DS Now Available For Less Than £100 In The UK
The run up to the holiday season is upon us
The Nintendo 2DS launched less than two weeks ago on the same day as Pokémon X & Y landed on shelves around the world. Retailers in the UK set the price at £109.99 but with Christmas fast approaching several of them have made the move to knock a whole ten pounds off to get the console under that...
Video This Stop Motion Mega Man Video is a Bit Awesome
Over 10,000 photos used
As regular readers will know, we like drawing attention to some of the best and most interesting examples of gaming culture, where fans go to extraordinary lengths to simply produce something fantastic for others to enjoy. One YouTube creator we've featured is FinalCutKing, a channel that gave us the rather brilliant Post-It...
Monday21st Oct 2013
Review Just Dance 2014 (Wii U)
Boogie wonderland
Ubisoft's party bus has pulled in right on time yet again, with another autumn bringing another main entry for the effortlessly silly Just Dance series of all-around good times. The franchise has had an annual numbered release since it first boogied in 2009, and this year eschews the numeric uptick in favor of a far more honest...
Nintendo Download 24th October (Europe)
Phoenix Wright, Mighty Switching on Wii U and a ludicrous range of options
Some weeks can be rather quiet in the Nintendo Download update; this is not one of those weeks. This may well be the longest list of downloads and promotions that we've seen yet, with some anticipated titles and a few that have rather come out of left-field. There's a...
Review Snow Moto Racing 3D (3DS eShop)
Wet snow
Zordix's latest 3DS eShop title, Snow Moto Racing 3D, is a would-be fun racer marred by generic presentation, choppy frame rate, and unresponsive controls. The latest in the Moto Racing series – Aqua Moto Racing 3D was previously released – Snow Moto Racing 3D is a smartphone port that doesn't quite make the transition...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Nine
Pokémon, Fox has lovely teeth, a Mario stage and more
Monday means Miiverse here on Nintendo Life, or to be more specific screens from Super Smash Bros. that have been published on the bespoke network. As always, Masahiro Sakurai has taken to the Director's Room for the upcoming Wii U and 3DS titles to release new screens on each working day; he...
News Wii U Isn't Getting Need For Speed: Rivals Thanks To Low Sales Of Most Wanted
"I’d love for it to be way bigger than it was"
The Wii U version of Need for Speed: Most Wanted is arguably the definitive version, adding in new features which are exclusive to Nintendo's console. However, it didn't sell as well as expected — which seems to be a key reason why we're not getting Need for Speed: Rivals. The Six
News VD-Dev Aiming For 60 Frames Per Second For Gears Of War-Style 3DS Shooter IronFall
Third person action title uses a custom game engine
VD-Dev may not have revealed a great deal about its forthcoming 3DS shooter IronFall but the game is already causing quite a stir with Nintendo fans. The indie studio — which was responsible for the technically impressive DS title C.O.P. The Recruit — has been speaking to Nintendo Everything...
News Overlay Gives an Old NES Controller Some New Zelda Sleekness
Wii U isn't the only one who looks good in black and gold
Have you been hearing this strange, quiet sighing noise ever since you got your limited edition Zelda Wii U bundle? It's probably coming from your old NES controller, wistfully eyeing that totally dope, gold-emblazoned GamePad and wishing it could have been as radically awesome in its day...
News Bewitching Adventure Knite & The Ghost Lights Is Confirmed For Wii U eShop Release
"We're really excited about this and have been waiting to announce it"
Knite & The Ghost Lights is one of the most unique looking titles we've seen on Kickstarter yet, and its creators are aiming to release a Wii U port "close to launch". Developed by Mobot Studios — which is also behind Paper Monsters — the game offers a mixture of...
News Nintendo Japan Confirms an End to Wii Production
Wii will miss it
Not so long ago Nintendo Japan issued a statement to confirm that it was planning to bring Wii production to a close; this very much followed the manufacturing policy that had been taken with the GameCube to Wii transition. As we argued, however, Nintendo may be missing an opportunity by dropping the hugely successful system so...
Weirdness If Pokémon Battles Were in First-Person, It'd Be a Lot Less Cute
Ouch
Pokémon fever has been in force for many weeks and months now, culminating in the recent release of Pokémon X & Y. Like many of the most successful and best-loved franchises on Nintendo systems, it's also a rather peculiar premise that's been going strong for many years. As we suggested in our weekend article, playing Pokémon games can...
Console wars ahoy!
In recent weeks and months we've seen a few projects emerge that utilise multiplayer between Nintendo systems and others from Sony, Microsoft, iOS and Android. One example on the market is Disney Infinity, but in the download-only stakes we have upcoming titles Pure Chess and Cubemen 2, titles that'll boost their online components...
News Sonic Can't Quite Dash Into the UK All-Format Top 10
Both Pokémon titles drop below the multi-format Skylanders SWAP Force
UKIE has issued its update of the latest comings and goings in the UK software all-format charts, and there are some positives and negatives for Nintendo to consider. At the higher end of the scale we have Pokémon X & Pokémon Y in fourth and fifth place respectively, both...
Video Holy PR Hype! It's a 17 Minute Batman: Arkham Origins Gameplay Walkthrough
Batman does his usual bat-like stuff
Late last week the news that Batman: Arkham Origins and Blackgate are delayed on Wii U and 3DS in Europe made some Nintendo Life staffers roll their eyes so vigorously that medical attention was required. Of course, North American gamers don't appear to have such a delay, so Europeans will probably be told to...
News Paper Monsters Recut Will Fold Onto The Wii U eShop This Winter
A cut above the rest?
Paper Monsters Recut, an enhanced HD remake of the previously released Paper Monsters for iOS devices in 2012, will be tearing its way onto the Wii U eShop this Winter. Developed by Mobot Studios, new and improved levels will be glued onto the finished product, as well as brand new enemies to tackle and more power-ups to use...
Sunday20th Oct 2013
A Rune of one's own
The Harvest Moon series has become something of a standby over the last decade or so, so it's easy to forget just how revolutionary it was when it first hit the Super Nintendo back in 1996. An RPG where players progressed not by fighting battles or banishing evil, but by tending gently to the land, caring for animals, and finding...
Feature Our Favourite, Quirky and Baffling Pokémon X & Y Moments So Far
If in moral doubt, stuff 'em with Poké Puffs
Pokémon X & Y has been in stores for a little over a week, and we imagine some 3DS gamers have devoted more hours to the game in that time than they'd care to admit. Gotta catch 'em all really means "gotta play the game until my eyes pack in". While both X & Y are all about the serious business...
News Repairing a 2DS Screen Costs $65 Plus Shipping in North America
That's half a new 2DS
The 2DS, as its design suggests, is a tough little unit designed to survive the rigours of clumsy young hands — as we put it in our Nintendo 2DS review, "this thing can take a hit". Of course, it's not indestructible, and even without the break-ready 3DS hinge and regardless of its tough plastic back, it still has two screens...
Saturday19th Oct 2013
Review Skylanders SWAP Force (Wii U)
Swap ‘til you drop
It’s no secret that collecting and gaming go hand in hand — how else can you explain the popularity of special editions of games that come with physical content as well as toys and figurines? Taking this into account, it’s no wonder that the Skylanders series has become so popular and successful since its inception just...
News Eiji Aonuma Confirms Minor Changes to A Link Between Worlds to Accommodate 2DS
3D is still recommended, however
Although it has a top-down perspective, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds has certainly been a title with a focus on utilising the auto-stereoscopic screen of the 3DS. Nintendo has proudly shown off the fact that the title runs at 60fps (frames-per-second) with 3D enabled, and various puzzles and dungeons...
The game where co-op is the way to play
Earlier this year Nintendo of Europe released a Wii U eShop sizzle reel of upcoming games, some of which were seen for the first time in that Nintendo Direct broadcast. One of the many games given a few seconds to shine was FORCED from BetaDwarf (a studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark), an arena brawler with a...
News Get a 2DS + Animal Crossing: New Leaf for £129.99 at Nintendo UK Store
Not a bad price to indebt your life to a raccoon
Should you happen to be in the market for a brand new 2DS and a copy of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, then just sidle on into the inconspicuous tent the Nintendo UK store has set up in the town plaza. The online store is currently offering a 2DS of either colour paired up with New Leaf for £129.99, a...
News Ping 2: Attack of the Spheres Hoping To Bounce Its Way Onto Wii U
Kickstarter campaign is looking for $20,000
NAMI TENTOU MUSHI is the small development studio behind Ping, a puzzle game found on Android. It's now working on the sequel, which is making the move to Wii U, PC, Mac and Linux as the scale and power required has surpassed that of mobile devices. It's called Ping 2: Attack of the Spheres and in order...
Friday18th Oct 2013
Review Sonic Lost World (Wii U)
Sonic gets lost in his own world
It's tough being Sonic. Every new release starring the mascot comes with a significant weight of expectancy, and the evolution from his 16-bit 2D heights to a current-day franchise hasn't always been straight-forward or successful. His home console exploits have been showing positive trends, however, with Sonic...
Smaller screens, bigger problems
Due to the disparity between technical capabilities, it's tough for a dual Wii U / 3DS release to hold up on the portable device that's captivated tens of millions of gamers. So let's just toss that comparison aside and acknowledge that much of the 3DS iteration of Sonic Lost World is following the same principles...
News GameStop Advert Offers A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL and Luigi Bundle
It was inevitable
Earlier in the week we shared the happy news — and some pretty images — of a limited edition The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL model coming to Europe, alongside the rather attractive Luigi 3DS XL that's been available in Japan for a number of months. A GameStop Black Friday ad in the US seems to reveal that the...
News Nintendo Working on Fix for Pokémon X & Y Game Breaking Bug
Provides advice on avoiding and resolving the issue in future
Update: There has now been an official English translation of Nintendo's notification, which advises that the fix in question will be an application to download from the eShop; this will then restore corrupted save data. There's also an English version of the map, showing the blue areas...
News GAME Offers Musical Chest With Collector's Edition of A Link Between Worlds
There's the rub...
Earlier this week Nintendo announced that GAME would offer a musical chest with pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between World, and then — bizarrely — GAME backtracked and said it had nothing to announce. For those that wanted the rather fun-looking collectible, it was both confusing and disappointing. The situat
Feature A Supersonic History of Sonic Cartoons
I’m waaaaiiiiting...
For anyone growing up in the early nineties, there was one gaming rivalry that dwarfed all others – Nintendo vs SEGA. While the feud gave us classic moments such as “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” and the infamous Genesis ‘blast processing’, this gaming cold war would split playgrounds and even families over who...
News Nintendo Wants To Close Down This Open-Source Web Version Of Super Mario Bros.
"Full Screen Mario" infringes copyrights, claims Nintendo
Full Screen Mario is a recreation of the original Super Mario Bros. which runs in your web browser. It has all of the original levels and even allows you to create your own stages. It's an impressive feat of programming by a single person — college student Josh Goldberg — but Nintendo is...
News Hey Australia! You're Getting The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Chest Too!
Will be a free gift with pre-orders at EB Games
Earlier this week Nintendo confirmed a special musical chest would be a special bonus for those who pre-order The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on 3DS at GAME in the UK. As it turns out, the lovely little gift is actually part of a limited edition set exclusive to the retailer that also...
Artwork These Isometric Super Mario Drawings Are Rather Impressive
It's the little details
The weekend is upon us, so it seems like as good a time as any to gaze upon some impressive Mario fan art, and these isometric collaborations certainly fit the bill. They're the work of more than a dozen like-minded artists that met on the Mario Fan Games Galaxy Forums, representing what seems to be the fruits of a fairly...
News Year of Luigi Commemorative Coin Emerges On European Club Nintendo
I'm Luigi, number one!
To further celebrate the Year of Luigi, Nintendo of Europe has updated its Club Nintendo Stars Catalogue with this gorgeous commemorative gold-coloured coin. The item, which features the 'other brother', will set you back 1,500 of your hard earned Star Coins, and we couldn't think of a better item to spend them on. It comes...
News Batman: Arkham Origins and Blackgate Delayed in Europe
Only on Nintendo systems and PC, though
When it comes to the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins, its relationship with the Wii U has been rather frosty, which is appropriate as the Dark Knight will be beating on thugs in a Winter setting. Nintendo's system is missing out on the multiplayer mode — which itself is a first for the series — and it's...
Video These Fans at the Pokémon X & Y New York Launch Had a Jolly Time
Happy faces everywhere
The launch of Pokémon X & Y may have been an event to savour for many fans, but the official event at the Nintendo World Store in New York seemed to go all out. With a lot of gamers in attendance of all ages, it seems that the desire to experience the release with many others was a big attraction. Nintendo's now released...
Video You've Got To Be Quick To Catch This Sonic Lost World Footage
The Blue Blur doesn't hang around
Today sees the release of Sonic Lost World, and if you've already checked out our review of the Wii U version you may be keen to see the title in motion before making a purchase. Rest easy — we can fix that for you. Below you'll see three of the game's levels in motion, hopefully giving you a pretty decent...
News Zen Studios Releases A Patch For Star Wars Pinball On 3DS
Those crashing issues should now be no more
Star Wars Pinball was released on Wii U and 3DS earlier this year but unfortunately the handheld version was liable to crash at certain points. Indeed, as we detailed in our review when you head over to the leaderboards the game simply stalls and throws you to the 3DS menu. It's fair to say we were a tad...
Thursday17th Oct 2013
Hardware Here's What The Nintendo 2DS Looks Like With Its Clothes Off
Nintendo's new console gets pulled apart in these exclusive shots
Last week saw the release of the 2DS, the latest member of Nintendo's popular line of 3DS handhelds. Most of those who were lucky enough to pick up one of these systems will have been enjoying the new form factor and highly portable nature of the device, while others will have been...
News Capcom Issues Update On Game Boy Mega Man Titles Heading To 3DS Virtual Console
They're on the way, Mega Man X2 could also be possible
Capcom is celebrating a lot this year, with the company itself reaching its 30th anniversary and Mega Man hitting his 25th birthday. While the Blue Bomber hasn't had a new game to celebrate the occasion, he is to be a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS and...
News 3DS Tops NPD Hardware Charts Once Again, As Wii U Sales Increase More Than 200%
Nintendo talks up momentum for both systems
It's NPD results time for US video game sales, and though the numbers are often debated due to their focus on physical retail, they nevertheless provide some useful data to gauge Nintendo's performance in such an important market. Nintendo has taken the opportunity to rush out of the gate to reveal its...
Nintendo Download 17th October (North America)
A Mighty sequel, retro 'goodies', retail options, racing on snow and more
It's that time again, North America, for the Nintendo Download update to brighten up your week and get you through to the weekend. There's a fairly lengthy list of options on the Wii U and 3DS, incorporating the new, the old and the very old; with plenty of diverse options to...
News XSEED Aiming For November Release For Busty Anime Brawler Senran Kagura Burst
Download version will take up less than 2GB of space on your 3DS SD card
Publisher XSEED has revealed that Senran Kagura Burst should be out in North America some time next month, and that the 3DS eShop version of the game will have a download file size of less than 2GB. The news was posted on the company's Facebook page: November-ish on the...
News Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Is A 14GB Download On Wii U
Hope you've invested in a hard drive
It has been revealed that Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut will occupy 13833 MB of space on the Wii U. That's not the largest download game on the system by any means, but it will surely cause headaches to those who have had their console for a while and haven't yet invested in a hard drive for...
News Nintendo Applies Minor Update to the Wii U Version of Miiverse
Don't get too excited
Miiverse has evolved a fair bit since its launch with the Wii U in November 2012. It may not feel that way, but the network was certainly more restricted and less intuitive than its current day version, not to mention the fact that it's now available on any web browser. It's also a service that Nintendo has been able to update...
News UK Retailer GAME Less Than Happy With Rivals Ignoring Pokémon X & Y Street Date
"We are seeing street date breaches occur on a frequent basis"
Last week saw the release of Pokémon X & Y on the Nintendo 3DS, unquestionably one of the year's biggest releases. Nintendo took the brave step of releasing the game globally on the same day — October 12th — which meant that everyone could experience the adventure together,...
Feature Last Night A Hedgehog Saved My Life
Damien McFerran recalls his once ardent love for Sega's Sonic
This week sees the launch of Sonic Lost World on Wii U and 3DS. Two of the most anticipated Sonic games in years, these new instalments have been subject to the usual level of hype which seems to surround any new adventure starring Sega's popular mascot. I've been swept up in this...
Artwork Increase Your Desktop Awesomeness With These Pokémon X & Y Wallpapers
It's Super Effective, catch 'em both and so on...
Not so long ago we provided you with a rather attractive wallpaper for The Wonderful 101, which was downloaded over 1000 times. As so many of you clearly like having a high-res and snazzy wallpaper of an awesome game, it makes sense to do the same for Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. The two releases have...
News Hulu Plus Now Available on the 3DS in the US
For realsies
In October 2011 we heard that Hulu Plus was coming to the 3DS, and then we heard that it was still in the works in January 2012; then we probably wrote it off as the months drifted by. It may have been two years in the making, but Nintendo has now announced that a new Hulu Plus app will be available to download from the 3DS eShop today...
News New Nintendo Selects Titles Coming to Australia and New Zealand
Price drops scheduled Down Under
With the holiday season just a few months away, Nintendo of Australia has announced a list of "Nintendo Selects" titles set to be released in Australia and New Zealand at a new, cut price. Some of the most popular titles for the Wii are being offered up to those who may have missed these titles orginally. The...
News Reboot Of Gross 16-bit Platformer Boogerman Could Be Coming To Wii U
Boogerman 20th Anniversary: The Video Game is getting Kickstarted
16-bit cult classic Boogerman could be getting a HD remake for PC, Mac OS, PS4, PS Vita, and Wii U — should it successfully meet its Kickstarter goal of $375,000. The campaign is being run by original creators Mike Stragey and Chris Tremmel, who produced Boogerman 20 years ago when...
Weirdness UK Tabloid Reports on Fictional Deus Ex "Eyeball Implant"
Journalistic research triumphs again
British tabloid The Sun has been on our radar at Nintendo Life in the past, most notably for its ludicrous 'medical' coverage of the dangerous effects of the 3DS, in which a journalist played in 3D while walking down the street and then complained of feeling ill. The paper also published articles at the time...
News Capcom Celebrates 30 Years With New Character Encyclopedia
Full of artwork and details for around 200 characters
Capcom has plenty of franchises under its belt, with the likes of Mega Man, Street Fighter and Resident Evil to name a few. You could probably create a whole encyclopedia detailing every single character that's ever graced a title from the company. Well, wouldn't you know it? Someone actually...
News Mario & Sonic At Sochi 2014 Winter Games Confirmed For November 8th Release In Europe
New modes detailed, too
Nintendo has today confirmed that Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games will launch in Europe on November 8th — the same as the North American release date that was previously revealed and then denied back in September. The game will feature 12 event based on real-life Winter Olympic sports, with another 8...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Heading Down Under in November
Will arrive a day later than Europe
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is scheduled to arrive on next month in Europe, while North America will be able to embark on the adventure at some point in 2014. Being a PAL region, it was never really in doubt gamers in Australia and New Zealand would receive the highly anticipated puzzler at around the...
Events Nintendo Life at Play Expo 2013
How retro can you go?
Last weekend, thousands of gamers descended upon EventCity in Manchester, UK to attend Play Expo 2013. Organised by Replay Events, the yearly expo focuses in four key areas of gaming: current gaming (now.play), retro (re.play) tournaments (pro.play) and activities for the ever-growing Cosplay scene (cos.play). Being the video...
News Ghostlight Now Shipping Devil Survivor 2 Pre-Orders To Customers
There are even a few spare copies left
Back in July, Ghostlight made the DS title Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 available for pre-order in Europe on its website and said it would sell the games if enough people reserved a copy. Sure enough, there were plenty of eager gamers in Europe who did just that, despite the possibility of the enhanced...
Wednesday16th Oct 2013
Rumour Cryptic Messages In Pokémon X & Y Hint At Forthcoming Ruby & Sapphire Remake
Or is Game Freak just teasing us?
Pokémon X & Y may have only just hit the 3DS, but there are people out there who want more — namely remakes of Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire. There have been calls from fans for Game Freak and Nintendo to update these classic entries, and if mysterious hints left in X & Y are anything to go by, the wait...
News Eiji Aonuma Explains Why The Legend of Zelda Isn't a Yearly Franchise
Quality is the key
Time has played a key role in many of the games in The Legend of Zelda series, and it would seem that it's also quite important when it comes to its development. In a recent interview with Shack News Eiji Aonuma explained why we don't see our favourite green-garbed hero on a yearly basis, as per Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed...
News Game Breaking Pokémon X & Y Bug Affecting Some Gamers in Europe and Japan
Darn...
We're sure millions of 3DS owners are currently merrily playing Pokémon X or Y — or both if they're really keen — but some seem to be running into issues. It's being widely reported that some European and Japanese owners are running into a bug that corrupts their save and, unfortunately, prompts them to restart the game from scratch...
News Refurbished 3DS Systems on Sale at Nintendo Online Store
Includes discontinued Aqua Blue
Looking to save a bit of coin on a 3DS or a 3DS XL? You might want to consider a newly discounted refurbished unit from the Nintendo Online Store. Nintendo has taken an extra $10 of several varieties of its handheld. The Aqua Blue and Midnight Purple 3DSes are now $109.99 while the Blue/Black and Red/Black 3DS XL...
Interview SEGA On Bringing Sonic Lost World to Wii U and 3DS
Takashi Iizuka tells us about the ambition of Sonic's latest adventure
Gone are the days when Sonic and Mario were in bitter opposition, smack-talking each other in adverts and fighting for the affections of millions of gamers. Now we have cross-overs and Nintendo-system exclusives, with Sonic Lost World arriving on the Wii U and 3DS to continue the...
News Wii Party U Gets It Started With a Relatively Hefty File Size
That'll explain why the Basic Bundle has a disc copy...
Wii Party U may not have been blessed with excessive hype in recent weeks, but it's getting rather close to its European and North American release on 25th October. It's sure to be a notable part of Holiday Wii U adverts targeting families, too, especially with the hardware bundle confirmed for...
Rumour Sony Running Campaign To Push Potential Wii U Buyers Towards PS4 And Vita
Sneaky business afoot in Germany?
The Wii U is unique in that it offers the second screen experience right out of the box — with rival consoles attempting to leverage smartphone and tablet applications to create the same kind of gameplay, Nintendo has an advantage in that users don't have to own additional hardware to achieve the same result...
News Rayman Legends And Splinter Cell Blacklist Both Sold Less Than Expected, Says Ubisoft
Where now for these two long-running franchises?
Yesterday, we reported that French publisher Ubisoft had pushed back the highly-anticipated Watch_Dogs to Spring 2014, and today brings more dismal news — it has been confirmed during a conference call that both Rayman Legends and
News Pokémon X & Y Pass 1.8 Million Retail Sales to Top Japanese Charts
Monster Hunter 4 in third, Wii U hardware sales drop further
When it comes to confirming the software number one in this week's Japanese Media Create software charts, it's a predictable task. Pokémon X & Y has stormed to the top spot with over 1.8 million sales at retail, just beating the week one sales of Monster Hunter 4. Capcom's title has...
News Sonic Lost World Producer Admits "There Was a Struggle in 3D Sonic Games"
Takashi Iizuka tells us about moving forward on Wii U and 3DS
With its arrival in Europe this week, SEGA fans are no doubt gearing up to put Sonic Lost World through its paces, either on Wii U or 3DS. The blue blur still has a number of highly dedicated fans, and one guaranteed way to pick a fight online is to make a generic comment along the lines...
Review GOLF (Wii U eShop / NES)
Sub-par
Before the hyper-realistic, face-deforming technology of modern Tiger Woods games was conceived in the deepest dreams of Electronic Arts (a company busy with Marble Madness at the time), there was Golf for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game wears its no-nonsense attitude on its sleeve, focusing on simulating the time-honoured sport...
News GAME Issues Update to Backtrack on Musical Chest Offer With A Link Between Worlds Pre-Orders
That link is now in the past
Earlier this week we shared the rather pleasing news that GAME would be offering a musical chest with pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, a rather nifty little collectible that plays the famous "Ta-da-da-daaa" sound when opened. That was announced by Nintendo UK, yet GAME has now rather strangely...
Review Tennis (Wii U eShop / NES)
Net-net, a loss
Tennis — the NES game, not the actual sport — hails from an age when the most rudimentary of virtual simulations could be entertaining and notable simply by existing, perhaps causing a passing family member to comment on how it looks just like the real thing. Although a genuine novelty in the 80s, this dull-as-toast recreation of...
News A Third Limited Edition Monster Hunter 4 3DS Model Emerges in Japan
The West says hi, Capcom!
Monster Hunter 4 has been a bit of a triumph since its release in Japan, surpassing three million sales already and in the process easily hitting Capcom's targets. It's been a positive for Nintendo, too, as it can cite the substantial success of a third-party exclusive on the 3DS. It's certainly been a strong partnership...
News Mighty Switch Force! 2 Dousing the North American Wii U eShop This Week
"Everywhere else" on 24th October
We've known for a good while that WayForward is bringing 3DS eShop release Mighty Switch Force! 2 to the Wii U eShop, following in the steps of Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition. The developer has been targeting an October release and, based on the tweets of main man Matt Bozon, it seems to have succeeded...
Tuesday15th Oct 2013
News Nintendo Announces Luigi and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL Models
New Zelda title to have reversible cover, too
While we often bemoan the absence of some particularly snazzy 3DS hardware designs in the West, we today have some happy news to share. The previously Japan-only Luigi 3DS XL model is coming to Europe on 1st November, and a special The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL is also being released...
Poll Did You Pick Up Pokémon X, Pokémon Y or Both?
The ultimate choice...
Based on confirmed sales, social networks, the most active threads on our forums and general chit-chat, it seems that lots of 3DS owners are playing Pokémon X & Y. Of course, we write Pokémon X & Y in a way that perhaps doesn't make clear that they're separate releases, and with any new 'mon generation there's always...
News Here Are More Gorgeous Super Mario 3D World Screens to Enjoy
Oh my giddy Aunt
After the first impressions from its E3 trailer could possibly be summarised as "looks nice, but it ain't Galaxy 3", Nintendo has recently upped the ante to show Nintendo fans that Super Mario 3D World can deliver an experience to be remembered. The proof will be in playing it, of course, but a fabulous new trailer and a series of
News "Uninformed" Store Staff Are Hurting Wii U Sales, Claims Senior Games Analyst
"They didn't even understand what it was"
The poor sales of the Wii U have been blamed on a lot of things, such as a lack of games and high price point. However, there's also the question of the branding and whether or not Nintendo has been successful enough in informing potential buyers about the difference between the new console and its...
News Pokémon X & Y Sell Over Four Million Copies Worldwide in Just Two Days
The fastest-selling 3DS games of all time
The excitement and buzz around Pokémon X & Y ahead of their worldwide launch was extraordinary, and it seems that the perceived hype has converted into big sales for the titles. Nintendo has announced that the two releases, combined, sold over four million copies in just two days, on Saturday 12th and...
Wednesday16th Oct 2013
News Day One Update Looks Set to Spin Into Sonic Lost World on Wii U
It's only a little 'un
Later this week we'll let you know what we think of Sonic Lost World, the new arrival coming to both Wii U and 3DS in different forms. While we can't share our opinion yet, we will let you know that there seems to be a small day one update for the Wii U version, so make sure you're not one of the minority that doesn't have...
Tuesday15th Oct 2013
First Impressions Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
A "Risky" new title
While Wayforward Technologies' Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is one of Nintendo Life's more anticipated upcoming eShop titles, the critically acclaimed series has yet to resonate with the "mass market," likely because the original had the misfortune of being released on Game Boy Color at the end of its life cycle and its sequel...
News Splinter Cell: Blacklist Receives A Fresh Patch
A few more issues are now fixed
Ubisoft released a patch for Splinter Cell: Blacklist last month that fixed a few small problems some players were encountering, including the timer issue the progress bar was having in the daily challenges and a couple of animation glitches. It has now followed up that update with a new one that will tweak the game...
Weirdness Uh-Oh, That Guy Who Likes To Microwave Things Got His Hands On A 2DS
Confirms the "single screen" theory in the most brutal way possible
YouTube user dOvetastic likes to microwave consumer products for his own twisted entertainment, and films the results so the wider world can share in his rather disturbing pastime. You might recall his previous videos featuring a 3DS XL and Wii U. He's managed to secure a brand new...
News Michel Ancel: The Biggest Surprises Seem To Come From Nintendo
"Nintendo’s greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is innovation"
Rayman Legends creator Michel Ancel has been speaking to Official Nintendo Magazine about Nintendo's position in the industry, and has pointed out that the company's greatest strength — and weakness — is its willingness to take risks and come up with fresh ideas:...
Feature Active Gaming is Here To Stay And is Helping People Get Fit
Games like Wii Fit U can make a big difference to people's lives
Many people in the world claim video games are partially to blame for rising obesity levels, with individuals disregarding physical exercise in favour of a round of Mario Kart or a bout of Call of Duty, but there are doctors and scientists out there who say playing active games such as...
News Eiji Aonuma Explains Why He Thinks Fans Came To Love Wind Waker's "Toon Link"
How the haters became fans
When The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was revealed over a decade ago, the reaction from fans was negative to say the least. Online forums were ablaze with angry posts stating that Nintendo had dumbed down the esteemed series for a kiddie audience. Fast forward to the present day, and Wind Waker is lauded as a classic...
News Watch_Dogs Pushed Back to Spring 2014
That's on all platforms
In a surprise move, especially as it was due for release in the third week of November, Ubisoft has delayed the much-anticipated Watch_Dogs to Spring 2014. The new IP had gained plenty of attention, but there were warning signs when it was only visible as a prepared demonstration at the recent Eurogamer Expo, rather than as a...
News Monster Hunter 4 Surpasses Three Million Sales in Japan
Including download numbers
As we've reported in recent weeks, Monster Hunter 4 has been achieving particularly impressive sales since its launch in Japan, moving quickly towards Capcom's targets. The company had anticipated 2.8 million sales by the end of March 2014, yet has now confirmed that the title has already surpassed three million sales at...
News Ubisoft Updates Financial Targets To Reflect Release Schedule Changes
Lack of Watch_Dogs in 2013 means there'll be less money coming in
Earlier today Ubisoft revealed Watch_Dogs would be delayed across all platforms, meaning we won't get to play as Aiden Pearce this year after all. Originally scheduled for a November release, the title will now emerge in Spring 2014, while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One title The Crew...
News Two Tribes Aiming To Release Toki Tori On Wii U eShop Before October Is Out
Expect it on the 31st October
During the Summer, developer Two Tribes announced on its Twitter account that it was working on a "Two Tribes Classics" series for the Wii U, which is set to include previously released titles such as Toki Tori, RUSH and EDGE. Earlier this month,
Weirdness A Mario Kart Movie Could be Epic
As epic as the Need for Speed flick, anyway
Some game franchises certainly like to take themselves seriously, particularly those so proud to tag themselves as 'mature' — you know the ones. Need for Speed sort of qualifies, as even though the games are relatively mindless fun it has an upcoming movie that's giving off some pretentious vibes. It's...
Monday14th Oct 2013
News First Screenshot Of 3DS Title IronFall Emerges, And It Looks Very Pretty
Title will "push the 3DS to its limits", according to the developer
C.O.P. The Recruit developer VD-Dev has revealed the first image of its forthcoming 3DS third-person shooter, IronFall. The game has been described by the studio as "pushing the 3DS to its limits". It has been in production for two years and will be the company's first...
Review Final Fight 3 (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Third time lucky?
Following the enjoyable-but-flawed SNES conversion of the original Final Fight and its disappointing sequel, Final Fight 3 can be viewed as Capcom's attempt to atone for its previous sins and give fans a domestic exclusive worthy of the name. Released relatively late in the lifespan of Nintendo 16-bit's console, this third entry is...
Nintendo Download 17th October (Europe)
Sonic arrives, Urban Champion returns (?!), some tasty discounts and more
While the Monday blues are common, the Nintendo Download update arrives to bring a ray of sunlight to our week. This time around there are a few retro games, including a surprise return, Sonic dashes onto the Wii U and 3DS and we have some encouraging discounts to consider...
News GAME Offers Music-Playing Chest With A Link Between Worlds Pre-Orders
It plays exactly what you think it does
Follow along, children: The Link goes “YAHHHH!” The Navi goes “HEY!” And the item chest goes “Ta-da-da-DAAAA!” For UK fans of that last iconic fanfare, pre-orders of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds from GAME will come with a musical collectable chest to triumphantly hold over your head...
News The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Confirmed for Wii U and 3DS
Swinging on to Nintendo systems next spring
Activision and Marvel Entertainment have announced a new video game based on the upcoming feature film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is coming to Wii U and 3DS next spring. Developed by Beenox — the studio also responsible for the Wii U and Wii versions of last year's The Amazing Spider-Man — to coincide...
News Just Dance 2014 UK Commercial Lands Ubisoft And Nintendo In Hot Water
Nicky Minaj lyric confused for an "N-Bomb"
Just Dance 2014 launched at the start of October and commercials for the game have been airing recently in the UK. However, these adverts have come under fire for questionable lyrics — watch the video below and listen out around the 10 second mark: You'll hear Nicky Minaj utter the line "My name is...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Eight
Sonic kicks in, Wii Fit Trainer chills out, Pit battles Samus and more
No Monday would be complete without a fresh dose of Super Smash Bros. screenshots, courtesy of Masahiro Sakurai's efforts on the Miiverse Director's Room community. We don't know when the game will arrive — apart from a vague 2014 window — but we'll happily feast our eyes on...
Video Here's How The 2DS Stacks Up Against Other Handhelds When It Comes To Stamina
How does that 1300mAh battery compare?
Family Gamer TV's Andy Robertson — the man behind our Parent Trap blog — has followed up his initial 2DS battery life test by putting the new console up against a wider range of Nintendo systems — all in the name of science, of course. As we reveal
News Pokémon X & Y Occupy Third and Fourth Spots in UK All-Format Chart
The Wind Waker HD hangs on in top 10
The hype around Pokémon X & Y has finally ended, as many 3DS gamers around the world are now immersed in establishing their teams and training 'mon. Naturally we're left to wonder how the excitable build-up has translated to sales, and we'll have a good idea on Wednesday for Japan, though we'll need to wait...
First Impressions Shovel Knight
We dig it
Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight for Wii U, which made waves with an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, was on display at the recent New York Comic-Con. While more mainstream releases were generating huge lines and impatient parents, the deceptively simple-looking Shovel Knight was something of a hidden gem, making a great...
News Wii Sports Club Marketing Steps Up in Japan
Dat music
Nintendo's strategy to earn Holiday sales for the Wii U is relatively diverse, and that variety in offerings is certainly well demonstrated by Wii Sports Club, which transitions the bundled Wii classic to an eShop release with updated visuals and online play. It could be perfect for attracting upgrades from Wii owners, though Nintendo will...
Video Nintendo Shows Off 10 Minutes of Skylanders: SWAP Force on Wii U
Smash and swap
While Nintendo gamers keen on new Wii U software may be contemplating Sonic Lost World this week, it's not the only major release gracing Nintendo's system. Another is Activision's potential behemoth Skylanders SWAP Force, the latest in the toy-collecting action-adventure franchise. It'll also arrive on 3DS and Wii, of course, but...
Video Check Out WaterMelon's New SNES Title ProjectN
Going underground with the developers in Germany
Indie developer WaterMelon is perhaps most famous for its Mega Drive title Pier Solar, which is coming to the Wii U eShop next year. However, the small studio is also working on a brand-new SNES title, currently referred to as ProjectN. WaterMelon has been uploading some rather amusing — not to...
News Train Simulating Shenanigans Live On With the 3DS in Japan
If Densha de Go! 64 is out of your price range
Just recently we published a retro review for Densha de Go! 64, a remarkably tricky and realistic train simulator that even came with a unique controller. If you want to experience the trials, tribulations and challenges of being a train driver, that's a title for you. While slightly quirky simulator...
News Assassin's Creed IV Director Would Like The Series To Visit Ancient Egypt
The writing's on the wall
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is starting to appear on the horizon. It's slated for a 29th October release in North America, while European swashbucklers will have to wait a little longer as it will emerge on the 22nd November. It's the culmination of two and a half years of work but the game's director Ashraf Ismail has...
News Snow Moto Racing 3D Slides Onto the 3DS eShop in North America on 17th October
Keeping it cool
Not so long ago Zordix AB released Aqua Moto Racing 3D on the 3DS eShop, a title with some flaws — some of the technical issues were tackled in a subsequent update — that nevertheless tried to serve up fun racing which may have prompted some to reminisce over Wave Race. Of course the Moto Racing franchise is an established series...
Sunday13th Oct 2013
Review Zombie Blaster (DSiWare)
A grave disappointment
Throughout DSiWare's long and not always distinguished history, we've seen a lot of games come and go. From puzzlers to RPGs to interactive storybooks, we've spent the past several years wading through every single release, doing our best to separate the rare diamonds from the dirt. Zombie Blaster interested us simply because,...
Review Halloween: Trick or Treat 2 (3DS eShop)
Another hidden-object game? Now that's scary!
Halloween: Trick or Treat 2 (the sequel to the abysmal Halloween: Trick or Treat on DSiware) is a collection of games that mostly revolve around hidden-object searches, with a continuous focus on spooky settings and creepy themes; it features pre-rendered, quasi-blurry images loaded with junk, where you...
Hands On Toki Tori and EDGE (Two Tribes Classics)
Budget brilliance?
After announcing their existence earlier in the year, Two Tribes recently lifted the lid on its Classics range coming to the Wii U eShop, three games that come to Nintendo's latest system in shiny optimised HD forms. It's possible that they'll all be familiar to gamers in some form or other, with each having appeared on a mix of...
Review Tales to Enjoy! The Ugly Duckling (DSiWare)
A load of quack
Another Tales to Enjoy game? Yep, we regret to inform you that it’s true. But this time it’s the most repulsive of all…The Ugly Duckling. If you haven’t been following along as of late, Tales to Enjoy is a series of games that uses the same exact interface and activities, but swaps out one fairly tale or fable for another...
News Doctor Strange Table on the Way to Zen Pinball 2
Marvel-lous
Zen Pinball 2 is a title that offers plenty of excellent tables on Wii U, with various individual options and sets that can be picked up. That DLC model opens up the possibilities for more content, of course, and it seems that Zen Studios is keen to keep Wii U owners in the loop. The studio has confirmed that it's bringing a Doctor...
Saturday12th Oct 2013
Guide Pokémon X & Y - All You Need to Know to Get Started
A spoiler free zone
So, it's now officially here, the global release date for Pokémon X & Y; in fact, it's likely that many of you that read this are either in possession of or preparing to acquire a copy for yourself. For some it's the continuation of a long-running gaming passion, and in a few cases may be a first dabble with the franchise...
News Don't Expect To See A Mainline Pokémon Game On Wii U Or Your Smartphone
Microtransactions also ruled out, for the time being
As you may well be aware, Pokémon X & Y launches worldwide today. VG247 has been speaking to Game Freak's Junichi Masuda about the potential future of the best-selling series. One of the topics up for discussion was the possibility of more Pokémon games on the Wii U. We've already seen...
News Aonuma: Information About Majora's Mask Can Be Found By Playing A Link Between Worlds
Oh Aonuma, you tease
Another day, another "Majora's Mask remake" slice of speculation. As many will know by now, the successor to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 has been teased time and again, but we don't seem to be growing tired of it; we're feeding from the information. There have been rumours, a listing
Review Densha de Go! 64 (Nintendo 64)
Lost in "trainslation"
The massive surge in the number of simulation games over the past few years has been nothing short of baffling. Years ago, Microsoft Flight Simulator was essentially the sole attraction in this specialist genre, but now it seems virtually anything can and should be turned into a simulation. Road Works Simulator, Farming...
News Eiji Aonuma Wants it to be "Fun To Get Stuck" in A Link Between Worlds
"We kind of have a bad habit of hand-holding"
Following his recent presentation at New York Comic Con, during which he revealed a new trailer and more information on A Link Between Worlds, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma had a chat with Polygon about the upcoming 3DS title. He confirmed that development had finished last week, mea
Rumour Shipments of Pokémon X & Y Delayed to U.S. Military Exchanges
Government shutdown to blame
The above photo is purportedly taken from a store on a U.S. military base. Although exact details are not known, it is not difficult to believe such a thing could happen, as the partial shutdown of the U.S. government had previously shut down military grocery stores entirely up to 5 days ago and it may take some time to...
Review Final Fight 2 (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The Sophomore Slump
The SNES port of the original Final Fight may have successfully translated the gameplay from arcade to home console, but it was missing some key elements: the third character Guy, an entire level and — most important of all — the vital two-player co-op mode. Capcom sought to rectify these shortcomings in the SNES-exclusive...
News QubicGames Hopes To Release A Game On The Wii U In The Next Year
Currently preparing its own game engine
The developer behind 3DS eShop titles 2 Fast 4 Gnomz and AiRace Speed has expressed its interest in developing games for the Wii U. In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, QubicGames revealed it's currently working on its own game engine, C-Way, to allow it to handle development on the Wii U. We are...
Video Wooden Sen'SeY Gets Acrobatic in New Trailer
The way of the Wii U
Earlier this year a raft of new titles were confirmed for the Wii U eShop for late 2013 and 2014, showing some of the benefits of Nintendo's efforts to support smaller studios on the platform. The offer of free Unity tools and licensing has been particularly tempting to developers that utilise the engine, helping to minimise the...
Friday11th Oct 2013
News Zelda: Wind Waker HD Release Triggers 685% Increase In UK Wii U Hardware Sales
...although it's not known how many units were actually shifted
Trade publication MCV has revealed that the release of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD has caused a 685% increase in Wii U console sales in the United Kingdom — however, it's not been revealed exactly how many units that jump entails. The news backs up Nintendo's stance that games...
News UK Retailers Break Release Date for Pokémon X & Y
It's not just early deliveries any more
Earlier this week we bemoaned the fact that Nintendo's global release plans for Pokémon X & Y had been undermined; what was a concerted effort to release the new generation of the franchise to everyone at once had been let down by some of the gaming press, public and retailers. It had been an...
News Nintendo Unveils New Trailer and Details For The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Introducing Lorule and Hilda
As previously announced, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma has just completed his developer presentation at this year's New York Comic Con, and the Nintendo of America Twitter account has shared some details online. While a video of the presentation will apparently be available soon, a new trailer and some intriguing new...
News 100 WiiWare Copies of Retro City Rampage Are Up for Grabs To Celebrate Anniversary
And yes, they can be played on a Wii U
Retro City Rampage is one year old, a landmark for Vblank Entertainment's labour of love that parodies and references a boggling amount of '80s and '90s pop culture. It's a full-on, in your face experience, which may explain why it has such a loyal fanbase. The title isn't done yet, of course, with a 3DS eShop...
News Illegal Nintendo Clones Are Running Rampant On Windows Store
Fancy Mario Jump!, Bowser Town Defense, Pokemon Attack! or Yoshijump?
Games which illegally use Nintendo characters are flooding the Windows Store, according to a report by Develop. Titles such as Mario Jump!, Bowser Town Defense, Pokemon Attack! are Yoshijump are all available now for download on Windows 8 devices — some of these games have been...
News PETA Clamours for Attention with Spoof Pokémon Flash Game
Let's hope it PETAs out soon
With Pokémon X & Y only a day away from its global release, animal rights organisation PETA has seized the opportunity to piggyback the games' current media attention and highlight its own cause by creating a spoof Pokémon game. Entitled Pokémon Red, White and Blue, the parody Flash game is essentially designed...
Review Final Fight (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Because the world needs more wrestling mayors
Back in the late '80s and early '90s — when arcades were still the biggest draw for dedicated gamers — Capcom was the company to beat when it came to coin-op success. It produced a string of classics around this time, most of which saw conversions on the popular home consoles of the period. While...
Video Nintendo Prepares Pokémon X & Y Trainers With Launch Trailer
Of course, you might already be playing it...
Pokémon X & Y launches on 12th October, so unless you're fortunate enough to have it drop into your mailbox today you have just one sleep before jumping into an all-new generation of the venerated series. Perhaps as a final pre-launch hurrah for its hype machine, Nintendo has released a new...
News Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed Now Available On 3DS And DS In The UK
Coming to the US in November
When you think of pint-sized monsters on a Nintendo handheld you're bound to think of Pokémon, but there is in fact another adorable creature-based title available right now in the UK in the form of Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed. A whole day before Pokémon X & Y is officially launched - though many retailers in...
News Nintendo UK: Awareness Is The Real Issue With The Wii U, Not Price
"Many mums don’t know what this is"
Nintendo UK's marketing head Shelly Pearce has been speaking to MCV about the challenges facing the Wii U this Christmas, and admits that the company still has work to do when it comes to educating buyers about the difference between the original Wii and its successor: There was a big misconception at launch...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Eighteen
WGAYPTW is all grown up
Issue eighteen. It's been a long journey for this little feature, in which Nintendo Life staffers share their weekend gaming plans and the community does the same in the comments, leaving us with so many dreams laid out in front of our eyes. This series has now reached adulthood, bringing a tear to the eye. Fond reminiscing...
Lost in space
Just when you thought that the DSiWare service had nothing left to offer except some word puzzles and interactive children’s books, along comes Astro. It's quite clear that this is intended to pay homage to the Atari classic Asteroids in its design and gameplay, but it falls short of recapturing what continues to make the original a...
News Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic Gets Cooking On the 3DS eShop in North America
Nearly two years after its retail release
Occasionally Nintendo doesn't include all details in its weekly download updates for each region, and this week there's an extra treat awaiting North America gamers. Nearly two years after its retail release, Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic is available on the 3DS eShop in North America; it's priced at $19.99...
News Hyper Light Drifter Confirmed for Wii U
Summer 2014 is the target
Not so long ago we told you about Hyper Light Drifter, a "2D action RPG" that was seeking funds to bring its games to a variety of platforms. Developer Heart Machine added a Wii U stretch goal at $550,000, and as a sign of this project's popularity it's now passed that total with a little over a day to go. At the time of...
Video Nintendo Life At Eurogamer Expo 2013 - The Highlights
You've seen the photos, now watch the video
At the end of September we were lucky enough to be part of Eurogamer Expo 2013, the UK's biggest gaming event with over 70,000 people in attendance. As you'll already know if you've seen the photos we posted not long ago, we ran the (very busy) Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone, offering 3DS fans the chance...
News Brunch Panic To Bring Catering Madness to the 3DS eShop
Bagels! Sandwiches! Panic!
Circle Entertainment is to continue its record as one of the most prolific developers and publishers on Nintendo Download platforms with Brunch Panic, a resource management / action game that sees you provide lunch — or brunch, we guess — to lots of quirky characters. Developed by FK Digital, this certainly appears to...
Thursday10th Oct 2013
News Eiji Aonuma Wants the Wii U Zelda's Hyrule to be "A Setting No One Has Ever Imagined Before"
The quest for uniqueness remains at the core of the franchise
The Legend of Zelda can be a contradictory series, at times. It's tempting for gamers to reel off a list of what binds the various entries together, perhaps even bemoaning similarity in dungeon and collect-a-thon structures. And yet it's a series that's experimented with stylus-only...
Hands On An Evening With Wii Karaoke U By Joysound
Take On Mii
Nintendo has previously stated that one of its main objectives with the Wii U is to provide experiences that can’t be done on other video game systems. In addition to this rather admirable quest, the company has also been keen to emphasise the fun that can be had with the system in local multiplayer. So far it hasn't had a great deal...
Talking Point Nintendo's Catch-22 With Retail Game Pricing
Go high, get criticised. Go low, get criticised...
This week Nintendo UK launched its own online retail store, stepping into the market typically occupied by the likes of Amazon, Gamestop, GAME and various others; even the bricks-and-mortar retailers mentioned have an increasing reliance on web sales. It's a more up-to-date, relevant proposition...
Nintendo Download 10th October (North America)
Pokémon, retro sports, water racing, lots of zombies and more
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, with a certain Game Freak title dominating attention this time around. There are some other offerings, retro and new, to consider, including two(!) zombie-themed games on Nintendo's handhelds. Let's stop blabbering and get on with it, shall we?...
News Pokémon X & Y Iwata Asks Explains Sky and Horde Battles
Also has a few (laughs)
With Pokémon X & Y now just days away, or hours if you ordered from a cheeky online retailer, Nintendo's lining up its final marketing push for the title's global release alongside the 2DS handheld. One part of this is a new Iwata Asks, which is a follow up to the dedicated Nintendo Direct video that was broadcast...
News Pokemon X & Y Designer: Creature-Making Isn’t Easy
Many more monsters are rejected than make it in the games
For anyone who ever doodled up their own Pokémon on their school papers, getting a chance to create real monsters for new games in the series might seem like a dream job. Pokémon X & Y graphic designer lead Hironobu Yoshida doesn’t dispute this, but he doesn’t say it’s an easy...
News Nintendo Confirms Three New Wii U Hardware Bundles for Europe
Mario and Luigi, Wii Party U and Just Dance offerings
We've had plenty of speculation in recent times regarding Wii U bundles, as it's seemed inevitable that Nintendo will boost the value of its offerings with packed-in options to cater to various audiences. Nintendo of Europe has today stepped forward with its own offers, all set to arrive in...
News Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Will Cost $20 More On Wii U Than On PS3 And 360
The Nintendo tax?
When Square Enix announced Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut for the Wii U, everyone was pretty happy about getting to play a past classic with enhanced GamePad functions. However, when the news broke that this "exclusive" version was also coming to the PS3 and 360, some Wii U owners felt slightly short-changed. That...
Review Family Bowling 3D (3DS eShop)
Pins with kin
If you were fortunate enough to grow up near a bowling alley, you might have fond memories of family outings full of comically unappealing shoes, embarrassing bowling stances from certain members of your clan, and slipping spectacularly on finely polished floors at least once. You probably didn't get to throw a twelve-pound ball at a...
Interview Image & Form CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson Talks SteamWorld Dig And Working On The eShop
Critical reaction, the Wii U eShop and picking 3DS over smartphones
At this year's Eurogamer Expo we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to speak to Image & Form's Brjann Sigurgeirsson about the company's 3DS eShop title, SteamWorld Dig. In the interview, Sigurgeirsson speaks about the development of the game and its lore, its critical...
Parent Trap The Wii Is Still Crucial To Family Game Success
Andy Robertson (not pictured) on why Nintendo's old console is still vital
While core players slowly turn their attention to the next generation of consoles, families are still getting a lot of value from the Wii. Families don’t buy as many games for their gaming systems as other demographics — the long tail of family gaming habits means that...
News Doodle Jump Is Making The Journey To Nintendo DS
The forthcoming 3DS version gets a companion
A short time ago we reported on the impending release of Doodle Jump Adventures for the 3DS — a console port of the popular smartphone title, Doodle Jump. It has now been confirmed that the DS will also be getting a version of Lima Sky's title, named Doodle Jump Journey. It's a scaled-down offering...
News The Fall Targets an April 2014 Release on Wii U
"I can't wait to see how we can best use that fantastic controller"
Not so long ago we reported that crowdfunded title The Fall would eventually come to Wii U, on the grounds that Over The Moon had been officially licensed as a Nintendo developer. At that stage the campaign was still some way off its Wii U stretch goal, but having now passed that...
News Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures To Come to Life in March 2014
Not the spookiest time of the year
Earlier this year we learned that Pac-Man And The Ghostly Adventures would come to both Wii U and 3DS, another return — one of many — for Namco Bandai's most recognisable mascot. Originally pegged for Winter 2013, the publisher has now revealed that the title will arrive a little later than expected in Europe...
News Chocobo Racing 3D Fails To Reach The Finishing Line
Development seems to have just stopped
It's just over 3 years since the 3DS was announced back at E3 in 2010, and with it was a list of third party titles set to grace the handheld during its lifespan. Square Enix had its fair share of games listed for the 3DS, with Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance landing in 2012; in the same year Theatrhythm:...
Review Happy Circus (3DS eShop)
When an Otter's happiness means a golden jacket
It's easy for older gamers to be miserable cynics when edutainment games come around, lazily categorising them as shovelware and stating with unsubstantiated confidence that no one buys these downloads. Except, someone is buying them, as the range of these titles is slowly growing on the 3DS; more...
News Two Tribes Confirms Toki Tori 2+ Level Editor Will Not Hatch On Wii U
From the fridge to the freezer
Earlier this week Martijn Reuvers of Two Tribes took to Miiverse to confirm the developer had been forced to put the level editor for Toki Tori 2+ "in the fridge" due to other commitments. Sadly, it appears Wii U owners won't get the opportunity to play around with the feature as the studio has now stated its...
News Etrian Odyssey Untold: Millennium Girl Receives European Rating
A story set to be told on European shores
Etrian Odyssey Untold: Millennium Girl was released in North America earlier in the month and it appears the popular 3DS RPG may be making it to Europe too as it has been rated by the USK classifications board. The Etrian Odyssey series has seen a few titles released in Europe, including Etrian Odyssey IV:...
Wednesday9th Oct 2013
Talking Point Pokémon X & Y's Grand Global Release Plan Has, Sadly, Been Undermined
Leaks, ruthless retailers and impatient gamers suck away intended magic
The excitement was undeniable when Satoru Iwata, in a Nintendo Direct broadcast, announced Pokémon X & Y and confirmed that it would have a global release date. That's almost upon us, 12th October, meaning that aside from time zone differences 3DS gamers around the world...
News Pokémon X & Y Sells Out in Japan Before It Even Launches
Monster Hunter 4 stock also running incredibly low
It seems that the launch of Pokémon X & Y can't come soon enough for Japanese 3DS owners, with both versions of the upcoming instalment in the popular franchise reportedly having already sold out ahead of release. Pokémon X & Y are the first games in the long-running series to feature...
News Keiji Inafune Won't Rule Out Publishing Mighty No. 9 With Capcom
Would consider Mega Man options with an "offer we couldn’t refuse"
Kickstarter is an interesting model, in that a developer can seek investment from the public — or perhaps you think of it as advance pre-orders, donations? — but then still seek a traditional publisher after using crowdfunded money to make the game. In theory there's nothing...
Fun and repetition Picross paths
There’s a question you must ask yourself before proceeding: do you want to play Picross? There’s been ample time to give the pastime a try, what with all the previous games put out by Jupiter, and the next step in this journey is remarkably similar to the last one. Picross e3 is a finely crafted puzzle game worth...
Rumour Cherry And Mango Wii U Colours Outed By Toys R Us France
Due in November and December respectively
Toys R Us France has listed two new colours of the Wii U console: Cherry and Mango. The listings state that the Cherry console will launch on November 27th at €299.99 while the Mango hue is expected on December 4th fo €50 less. The price difference suggests that the Cherry bundle will include elements...
News GamePad High Capacity Battery Available Now in Europe
Comes with a 1-3 week delivery wait in the UK
The 3DS — particularly the standard model — and the Wii U GamePad have something in common: a blinking red light of doom. Nintendo's efforts to maintain manageable prices leads to various compromises, which is common with much technology, and battery life is a common theme of complaint for gamers...
Review Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends (3DS)
Bonjour, Kitty
Hello Kitty first burst onto the scene in 1974 courtesy of Japanese company Sanrio, which designs and produces products solely aimed at the kawaii – meaning cute in Japanese – section of popular culture in the country. Since then, Hello Kitty has become one of the most recognised and successful brands in the world, appearing on...
News Nintendo UK Launches Online Retail Store
Offering consoles, the latest titles and some extras
Nintendo UK has today launched an online store that offers a large range of games, consoles and some gift ideas. It's an intriguing move by the regional team, offering its own online store of physical products alongside conventional retailers. The stock is primarily focused on products developed,...
News A Decade After Being Bought By Microsoft, Rare Still Wants To Channel The Spirit Of Nintendo
UK studio wants Kinect Sports Rivals to emulate Nintendo classics
As we all know, Rare used to be one of Nintendo's most valuable development studios, but was acquired by Microsoft in 2002 to work on its Xbox console. As the years have passed the company has seen staff come and go, and few remain who can remember the days of the SNES, N64 and...
Thursday10th Oct 2013
Review Mystery Murders: The Sleeping Palace (3DS eShop)
Dead or just resting?
You won't have to look long to find quite a few hidden-object games on the 3DS eShop, but the Mystery Murders series stands out by attempting to inject a little soul into the I-Spy formual. Equal parts PC-style adventure game and Where's Waldo whodunit, they frame the item-finding with simple puzzles and spooky stories. The...
Wednesday9th Oct 2013
News Yoshi's Cookie to Be Removed From European Wii Shop Channel
Oh how the cookie crumbles
Nintendo has updated the Wii Shop Channel with a new message stating that Yoshi's Cookie will be no longer available for sale as of 11th October. The surprise announcement doesn't provide any details as to why the NES game is being removed. It was originally developed by Bullet-Proof Software, with Nintendo acting as...
Video Proof That Mario Kart 8 Can Only Be Enriched By The Addition Of F1-Style Commentary
Murray Walker would be proud
Mario Kart 8 is shaping up to be something pretty special, with its amazing visuals, upside-down track design and trademark killer gameplay. However, the following video — produced in conjunction with our friends at Family Gamer TV and Team VVV — illustrates that there's always room for improvement. What Nintendo...
News Iwata: We Never Fear Failure And Always Seek To Challenge The Status Quo
"Opening the first door is when things are most interesting"
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has been speaking at the recent B Dash Camp Osaka 2013 about his company's outlook on business and where it sees itself in the industry, as well as making the Pokémon series a success in the west. Iwata says that Nintendo doesn't fear failure, and that...
News Inafune: If You Haven't Played Mario, You're Probably Not Good At Designing Games
"Mario is, for game creators, the development bible"
Nintendo's Mario series is arguably one of the most influential in the realm of video gaming. Super Mario Bros. on the NES almost single-handedly turned the 2D platformer into the world's genre of choice, while the transition to 3D in Super Mario 64 achieved a similar impact and resulted in...
News Hello Kitty Kart Racer Hitting Wii U This Year
Um, awesome?
Just today we filed our review for Around the World With Hello Kitty and Friends, a competent 3DS minigame collection for young children. The exciting news for fans of the franchise is that Hello Kitty Kruisers is coming to the Wii U this year, which is great for young gamers but unlikely to satisfy our Mario Kart 8 cravings. We are...
News Ripstone Confirms Plans to Include Sony Systems in Wii U and 3DS Pure Chess Online Multiplayer
Believes the Wii U audience "has a voracious appetite for content"
Pure Chess, alongside the Nnooo-published Cubemen 2, is forging ahead on new ground for Nintendo systems by introducing cross-platform online multiplayer. In both cases Wii U players (also on 3DS in the case of Pure Chess) will be able to take on other players that are on smartphone...
"Ittle Dew has been 'that game' for us for a very long time"
Based in Sweden, Ludosity is a small and successful developer that has created software for a vast range of platforms, including 3DS, Steam and tablets. The studio is behind titles such as Boulderdash-XL 3D and Alien Chaos, both on the 3DS and its latest title, Ittle Dew, sees the studio...
Weirdness Beautiful Master Sword Replica Up for Auction
Must pick up in Lost Woods
Would you like a sword? All right, dumb question. If someone were just handing them out on the street, who wouldn’t take one? Let’s rephrase: are you looking for a nicely made replica of Link’s Master Sword? Because if you are (or just realized you need to be), it’d be hard to go wrong with this beauty currently...
News New 3DS Harvest Moon Game Coming To Japan Early Next Year
Harvest Moon: Linking the New World is 80 percent complete
It has been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that a new Harvest Moon title is in development for the 3DS. Harvest Moon: Linking the New World is due out in Japan in February and is being produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto. Character design is being handled by Igusa Matsuyama. The...
News Monster Hunter 4 Continues to Devour Competition in Japan
Passes 2.5 million physical retail sales
It's time for the weekly Japanese sales progress report via Media Create, and Monster Hunter 4 continues its strong momentum, hopefully boding well for the future of the series' growing partnership between Capcom and Nintendo. While that blows all competition away in the software chart, the 3DS is doing a...
Video We Adventure Through the Opening 30 Minutes of Monster Hunter 4
DIE, HERBIVORES!
Monster Hunter 4, the game that's whipping up a frenzy in Japan, is an elusive beast. Despite going to the effort of releasing Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in the West on Wii U and 3DS, and despite the franchise being a Capcom IP that's surely one big release away from 'breaking' the West, it remains tantalisingly out of reach. We're...
Tuesday8th Oct 2013
Rumour New Pokémon Game In Development, Focusing On Pikachu
Pika-who?
According to Japanese website NHK, The Pokémon Company is currently developing a brand new Pokémon title which focuses on Pikachu. The title is said to have started development during the summer. President and CEO of the company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, is set to appear on Japanese TV on 28th October, with the existence of a new game in...
News News Site Claims That Zelda "Takes A Dim View Of Workers, People Of Colour And Women"
Best not mention GTA, then
You might assume that time spent in the mythical land of Hyrule is unlikely to cause anybody any undue distress, but according to some, that simply isn't the case. News and entertainment site Salon.com — which has a monthly unique readership of 15 million — has controversially branded The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of...
News Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition Isn't Coming To Wii U
Creator Ed Boon confirms the absense of a Nintendo version
Injustice: Gods Among Us was one of the Wii U's big third party offerings this year, but it was treated by publisher Warner Bros. as the black sheep of the family. DLC which arrived in a timely fashion on other formats was held back for the Nintendo version, suggesting that it was more of an...
Soapbox Nintendo Could Have Ruled The Micro-Console Market With Wii
Has Nintendo missed a trick by dropping the Wii so soon?
In January Sony officially discontinued production of the PlayStation 2 console after selling an incredible 150 million systems over a 12 year period. Despite the unstoppable march of technology, Sony had managed to keep its best-selling console running — albeit in a much diminished capacity...
News Nintendo Wants Wii U To Be "The Console That Every Developer Wants To Publish On"
"We have strong relationships with third parties"
The Wii U still isn't exactly where Nintendo wants it to be, with sales continuing to flag in both the West and Japan. The topic of third party support for the console has cropped up several times during 2013, but Nintendo's Scott Moffitt feels the system is in a strong position as we approach the...
News Ubisoft Explains Wii U Watch_Dogs Visuals as "In Between" Current and Next-Gen
"We're optimising the controls for the beast that is the Wii U GamePad"
With regards to some key multi-platform titles coming to Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 and Xbox One, or a combination of those five, we're in a slightly awkward spot where preview videos inevitably show footage from the upcoming Sony or Microsoft systems, and Wii U owners are left...
News Assassin's Creed IV DLC Looks Set to Sail Past Wii U
Nintendo platform excluded from announcement
Ubisoft has today announced a round of DLC and an accompanying season pass for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, but the reveal excludes the Wii U. Platforms confirmed in the press release for EMEA territories were PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC — the North American equivalent didn't list platforms...
Weirdness If Pokémon Meets King of the Hill, the Results Are Bizarre
Because almost everyone plays Pokémon
Some of you in the Nintendo Life readership may be fans of King of the Hill, the animated series that ran on TV from 1997 to 2010, picking up a number of awards in the process. With over 250 shows behind it, there's little surprise that the series has plenty of fans online that are more than happy to celebrate...
Hands On Pure Chess (Wii U eShop)
The grand old sport comes to the people
While the 3DS eShop is maturing into a platform with a healthy variety of experiences, and the Wii U eShop promises to do so, one obvious gap is in delivering a virtual edition of one of the grandest old games / sports in existence. Chess may have appeared as a minigame option in a mediocre 3DS game or two,...
News Tommo Refuses to Follow SNK's Neo Geo X Termination Demand
Send in the lawyers
Yesterday we reported that SNK had retracted its license and demanded an end to the manufacturing and sale of the Neo Geo X, a portable version of the iconic '90s console. We rather thought that'd be the end of the matter, as the IP holder had issued a rather blunt demand — lesson learned, never underestimate the power of...
Video Dixie Kong Struts Her Stuff in This New Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Trailer
That ponytail has so many uses
During last week's Nintendo Direct, it was revealed that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has been pushed back slightly to a February 2014 release to ensure the developer Retro Studios can deliver the optimum gaming experience. However, to ease the pain a li
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Minigame Details Are Revealed
GAME to offer a leather card wallet with pre-orders
While North America unfortunately has to wait until 2014, Europe has around a month to wait for Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, which is set to be the final main adventure starring the puzzle solving gentleman. It's the sixth entry, and long term fans are sure to be left with a little...
Video A Punboxing of The Wind Waker HD Collector's Edition
A very punny video
When the Collector's Edition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD landed at my doorstep on Saturday morning, I was, naturally, eager to show it off to all my envious real-life friends. Then I thought, hey, why not exhibit myself as a massive, deplorable show-off to everyone on the internet, as well?! So here I am. Now,...
Events Nintendo Life At Eurogamer Expo 2013
A pictorial record from the show floor
If you're based in the United Kingdom then you'll no doubt have heard about the recent Eurogamer Expo 2013, which is the UK's largest video game show by quite some margin. EGX — as it is also known — took place at Earl's Court in London from September 26th to September 29th, and saw more than 70,000 gamers...
News James Pond Kickstarter Campaign Has Been Cancelled
"We are not giving up"
Not so long ago Gameware Europe opened a Kickstarter campaign for a new James Pond game, an attempt to revive a franchise popular in the '90s. Although not a full time member of the team when launched, the original creator Chris Sorrell was also set to be involved in the project; he even explained to us that he was hopeful of...
News Two Tribes Teases New Title While Describing Toki Tori 2+ Level Editor as "In The Fridge"
Announcements made on Miiverse
One feature that never made it to Toki Tori 2 on the Wii U eShop, even in its + update, is the level editor. Although shown in a crude form at press events as far back as August 2012, it's never made it into the final cut on Nintendo's platform. Unfortunately it looks like the feature isn't coming anytime soon, as the...
Monday7th Oct 2013
Guide How To Capture Video And Screenshots From Your 3DS
Turn your handheld into a multimedia star
As the next generation of home consoles looms over us, the topic of video sharing is becoming ever more important. Both the PS4 and Xbox One will offer the ability to record and upload your gaming performances so others can appraise them online, which will surely lead to an explosion of self-made clips on...
News Pokémon X & Y Torchic Distribution Announced
Grab Your Flaming Fowl
With the release of Pokémon X & Y only days away, Nintendo has announced that Torchic, the fire starter from Generation III, will be released via Wi-Fi as a special distribution event to mark the release of the two titles. From October 12th, Pokéfans will be able to download their special Torchic simply by connecting...
News Toys "R" Us Confirms Exclusive Range of Skylanders SWAP Force Characters
Legendary Grim Creeper has a cool name
When you combine a video game with toys that bring characters to life, you get monster profits. You also get plenty of promotions from one of the world's most recognisable toy store brands, and Toys "R" Us is continuing its record of promoting and gaining exclusives for the Skylanders series with some special...
News Tesco To Offer a Special Pokémon X & Y Serial Code Gift in UK
Another way to receive Mystery Gifts
With the arrival this week of Pokémon X & Y, those that have yet to pick up a pre-order or decide on a store are likely to be weighing up a series of incentives before choosing a retailer or the eShop. In what's perhaps an extension of the increase in co-operation between Nintendo UK and Tesco, it's been...
News US Retailer Lists Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon For Wii U
Newegg claims the 3DS title is making the jump to Wii U this year
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon — or Luigi's Mansion 2, if you're in Europe — was one of 2013's stand-out 3DS titles. It was so good that some lamented the fact that it was on a handheld — it was exactly the kind of epic experience that the Wii U could really have done with during...
Review Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff (Wii U)
Not the best quest ever
Have you ever read a book on parenting? Libraries full of instruction manuals exist on how to raise a child properly, ranging from topics such as bathing to teething to using the potty for the first time. Imagine, if you will, that there was a video game version of those books. A video game designed entirely to teach children...
News Club Nintendo Rewards are Updated for October
Karting! Zelda! Other Things!
Sometimes Club Nintendo sure takes its sweet time, waiting a whole day after the expiry of the last month's game rewards before dishing out a new set. The lovely people behind good old CN in North America may be cheeky scamps, but they have now updated the offerings over which you can mull. This time around we have two...
Nintendo Download 10th October (Europe)
Pokémon, Pokémon and more
It's Monday morning, European Nintendo gamers, which means happy download news to bring smiles to our faces. This week is dominated by a game where you collect creatures and explore a vast land, which has had a teensy bit of hype in recent months. There are also a couple of retro goodies on the Wii U Virtual Console,...
News If You Liked the Latest Super Mario 3D World Trailer, You'll Love the New Screens
Looks creative and fun enough to us
It's amazing how effective a well constructed trailer can be in either reversing opinion or, less drastically, just building additional hype for a major title. While the Super Mario 3D World E3 trailer was competent, fun and showed off the commercial sense driving Nintendo's Wii U development projects, we think...
News Neo Geo X Handheld Shut Down By SNK
And just like that, it's gone
Not so long ago we reviewed the Neo Geo X and Mega Pack Volume 1, a potential low cost option for gamers to own a piece of portable hardware that could run games from the iconic system, ideal if a Wii Virtual Console or pricey Neo Geo system aren't handy. While it had its merits, our conclusion reflected some...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Seven
Link power, flying high, Sonic's arrival and more
It's that time again, dear readers, for Super Smash Bros. screenshot goodness from the Miiverse Director's Room community, all courtesy of Masahiro Sakurai. Last week brought another character reveal, with Sonic announced during Nintendo Direct and looking rather dashing on his profile page scree
News The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Lands in 4th Place in UK Charts
Making waves for Wii U
With a number of major titles coming to the Wii U in the remainder of 2013, it's natural to wonder which will do the most for the system's hardware sales and overall prospects. There are new titles coming that cover different bases, with exclusive Sonic joining the potential bankers such as Wii Fit U and Super Mario 3D World...
News Hometown Story Collector's Edition Planned for November Release
Game also scheduled for Q1 in Europe
If you’ve pre-ordered Hometown Story, Natsume’s new life sim coming to North America on 22nd October, you may be due for a cute Ember plushie depending on where you go: green at Gamestop, red at
News Meet Molotov Man, Sensible Software's Unreleased Answer To Bomberman
Little-known SNES outing is detailed in new book celebrating the UK studio
Sensible Software is a company which is perhaps more famous in the UK than the rest of the world. Founded in 1986 by Jon "Jovial Jops" Hare and Chris "Cuddly Krix" Yates, it produced titles for 8 and 16-bit computers, many of which were ported to consoles such as the Sega...
News Legend of the Lancer Bound for Kickstarter, Wii U Stretch Goal Planned
Draws inspiration from Super Mario World and Mega Man X
Gorilla Press Games has announced that it will shortly commence a Kickstarter campaign for a new non-linear Metroidvania-styled game called Legend of the Lancer. Currently planned for PC, the development studio is hoping to also bring the game to Wii U — provided a stretch goal is met, of...
Sunday6th Oct 2013
Mystifyingly bad
Porting games has always been common practice for most third-party companies. It goes without saying, but it makes good business sense for a game publisher to enable its software to reach as wide an audience as possible. And it's something that most of us don't have a problem with; if a company makes it easier for us to play its...
News Nintendo of America Selling Wii Remote Rapid Charging Cradle and Rechargeable Battery Set
No more scrambling for batteries
Earlier this year, Nintendo stated in an online customer survey it was exploring the possibility of releasing an official Wii Remote Plus fast battery charger to give gamers a bit more juice when playing for prolonged periods. The company has now decided to release one and Nintendo of America has started selling the...
Feature Nintendo Life Book Club - Mega Man II
Who needs a new game, huh?
Due to the huge success of our first entry in the Nintendo Life Book Club (our look at the novelization of Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, which you can read here), we have decided that it's a series worth continuing. Yes, it took us two solid years to reach that conclusion. Leave us alone. The point is that we're finally...
Video Just Dance 2014 Developers Delve Into The Exclusive Wii U Features
The GamePad is the perfect dance partner
Just Dance 2014 jived its way onto Wii U last week in Europe, with an extensive tracklist consisting of contemporary pop songs and old classics. The Ghostbusters theme is even available to groove along too. The Wii U edition naturally has a whole host of system specific features and Nintendo recently sat...
Saturday5th Oct 2013
News How To Survive Developer Points Out Reason For Lack of Online Multiplayer In Wii U Version
More focused on the story mode and GamePad features
Back in August, we reported that zombie title How To Survive would be slaying its way on to the Wii U eShop. However Wii U owners will be receiving a watered down version of the game with the online multiplayer found on other platforms being absent - something that is becoming more common for...
Video Compare 16-Bit With HD In This Pier Solar and the Great Architects Trailer
Set to shine in Q1 2014
Towards the end of last year indie developer WaterMelon ran a successful crowdsourcing campaign to bring its 2010 Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in the US) title Pier Solar and the Great Architects into high definition on a range of systems including Wii U. It's set to release into the eShop in the first quarter of 2014 and...
News Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land Coming To 3DS This Month in North America
The pair are heading on an eggscellent adventure
North American fans of Regular Show are in for a treat this month, as the first game based on the Cartoon Network series is being released in the region on 29th October. It's known as Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land and features an original storyline and concept written by the series...
News Hyper Light Drifter Receives Official Wii U Stretch Goal
Needs $550,000 to drift into the eShop
Heart Machine has been running a Kickstarter campaign over the last month in an attempt to make Hyper Light Drifter a reality and to say it has been successful would be an understatement. Initially hoping to nab $27,000 in funding, the developer is now approaching the $450,000 mark with just seven days left to...
News Aqua Moto Racing 3D Splashing Into North America Next Week
Will be an improved adaptation of the European version
Zordix is the developer behind the Moto series of games, many of which are found in various smartphone app stores. It made its 3DS eShop debut in June when Aqua Moto Racing 3D swept into Europe, but a North American version has not yet emerged. Well the studio has now confirmed the game will be...
Friday4th Oct 2013
News Pokémon Bank And Poké Transporter Will Hit The North American eShop in December
Comes with a free 30 day trial if you activate before 31st January 2014
During September's Pokémon Direct, we learned all about the Pokémon Bank system, which is a cloud-based service that enables players to upload their 'mon with the purpose of retrieve them for use the titles that will appear after Pokémon X
Evolution or revolution?
Do you remember that first time you rushed home with the latest copy of Pokémon, gleefully slotting it into your handheld and dreaming of becoming the next Pokémon Master? Everything was new, fresh and exciting. Every time that pixelated grass flickered and you encountered another never-seen-before monster you held your...
Parent Trap Nintendo 2DS Family Stress Test
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson takes a look at the 2DS
With the 2DS fast approaching I've had some hands on time with the device. Rather than waxing lyrical over the perfectly crafted design (or indeed bemoaning the cheese-like profile) I wanted to put the console to the test in a real family setting. So I set-up another of my time-lapse battery...
News Nintendo Considering Cross-Buy eShop Purchases, But Doesn't Have Anything To Announce Yet
Feature will be added if enough developers demand it
If you own a PS3 and PC Vita then you'll be aware of the excellent "Cross-Buy" function, which allows you to purchase a game on one system and then download it on the other for free — provided it's available on both in the first place, of course. With so many Virtual Console titles now appearing...
Review Milon's Secret Castle (3DS eShop / NES)
A secret best kept hidden
Hudson had many classics in its NES library - Adventure Island, Faxanadu and Bomberman are just a few of the great titles it gave us all back then. Milon's Secret Castle probably shouldn't be counted among those. As the title might reveal, you play as Milon, who has to make his way through a castle filled to the brim with...
Out Now The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
Hoy, Small Fry!
The day has finally arrived: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is now available in Europe (and North America) as a physical release! Back in 2003 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker emerged on the GameCube and brought with it a fresh graphical style that divided fans completely. Instead of the traditional design seen in Ocarina...
Review Family Table Tennis 3D (3DS eShop)
Family, friendly - fun?
After developing something of an unenviable reputation on WiiWare, Arc System Works' Family series of sports games has been reborn as a dependably decent option on the 3DS' eShop. Following on from Family Tennis 3D and Family Kart 3D, Family Table Tennis 3D is the latest in the line, and while it isn't quite up to the...
News Working With Western Developers Is All About Trust, Says Miyamoto
"We know we can rely on them"
It's no secret that the world of games development has shifted slightly in the past few years. Japan was once the centre of the gaming universe, with companies such as Square, Konami, Capcom, Sega and of course Nintendo offering the best titles the world had to offer. While those companies are still doing sterling work,...
News Pokémon Hanafuda Playing Cards Hitting Japan This Month
Is Nintendo going back to its roots?
As we all know, Nintendo started life not as a video game maker (that would have been hard in the 1880s) but as a card manufacturer. The company seems to be going back to its roots to celebrate the launch of Pokémon X & Y, as a site has just gone live in Japan with the title "Pokémon Hanafuda". There's a...
News Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Conjures Up More Than Twice Its Kickstarter Goal
Two more stretch goals achieved in final day
Gather the noisemakers and break out your best pair of harem pants, because Shante: Half-Genie Hero has finished its Kickstarter campaign with several extra stretch goals tacked on. The final total at the end of the campaign is $811,962, including more than $35,000 in PayPal donations. That is more than...
News UK Band Union J Is Changing Its Name To "Union XY" To Mark The Launch Of Pokémon X & Y
X Factor stars dressed up as Pikachu to make the announcement
Remember when we reported yesterday that UK boy band Union J would be promoting Pokémon X & Y? It turns out that the act — which rose to fame on TV talent show The X Factor — is changing its name to "Union XY" to celebrate the launch of the highly-anticipated title. The news was...
News Shovel Knight Now Scheduled For A "Winter" Release
Yacht Club Games reveals a vague release window
Shovel Knight is currently tunneling its way towards the Wii U and 3DS eShop. The project is the work of Yacht Club Games, a team made up of former WayForward staff, and started as a humble crowdfunding campaign that spiraled into a major success story. The developer originally stated it was aiming...
News Pandora's Tower Creator Ganbarion Is Co-Developing Wii Fit U
Name appears on the title screen
Recently, Nintendo has made a habit of outsourcing or collaborating with other studios on many of its key titles, and it would appear that Wii Fit U is no exception. According to Kotaku's Stephen Totilo, Pandora's Tower developer Ganbarion is involved with the forthcoming Wii U title, as its name appears on the...
Thursday3rd Oct 2013
News We Opened Up The Nintendo 2DS And Found A 1300mAh Battery Inside
Same as the original 3DS model
We've been spending a lot of quality time with Nintendo's new 2DS console, and one of the first questions people have about the machine is how the battery life shapes up when compared to the 3DS and 3DS XL. Family Gamer's Andy Robertson will be answering that question in more detail as part of his Parent Trap blog on...
News Microsoft Wants You To Know That Its Surface Tablet Can Play SNES Games
It's OUYA all over again
Emulation is a grey area at the best of times, but one thing that is a massive no-no is rival companies using the emulated titles of others to promote their own products. We've already seen the team behind the OUYA console attempt to use SNES emulators to sell their micro-console, and now Microsoft is getting in on the act...
Nintendo Download 3rd October (North America)
Crazy racing, retro brawling, classy puzzling and much more
It's Nintendo Download time once again, North America, and just a little later than normal this week. We have a fairly lengthy list for you to pore over, covering content on the Wii U and 3DS eShops as well as one DSiWare title. There's plenty to get through, so let's leap right in. Wii U...
News Wild Pokémon Appear! Aromatisse and Slurpuff Announced for Pokémon X & Y
What the smell!?
Two new Pokémon have been revealed ahead of Pokémon X & Y's global release next week, and it seems that the sense of smell is a running theme with these two creatures. Slurpuff, the evolved form of cotton candy Pokémon Swirlix, looks equally as pink and fluffy as its earlier form. However, its most impressive feature is that...
News Pokémon X & Y Pre-Orders Set 3DS Record in Japan
MEGA pre-orders still have over a week to evolve
Pokémon X & Y are now just a little over a week away, meaning that soon the hype will end and millions of dedicated fans around the world will be able to dive into a new generation on 3DS. The titles look set to bring some fresh ideas to the franchise, a new land to explore and plenty of 'mon to...
"Why does it have to be traditional?"
While this week's Nintendo Direct was light on major revelations, Satoru Iwata did take the opportunity to explain that The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds would shake up item and dungeons conventions — some key items will be available to rent and buy, rather than be unlocked in the story, giving the...
News Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Finally Dated for Wii U
Alongside other platforms
To be blunt, the reveal of Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut seemed a bit off when it was due near the Wii U's launch, as it was one of the oldest ports being mooted for the system — even if it fixes troublesome sequences and GamePad features are part of the deal. Publisher Square Enix then went quiet on a release...
News UK Boy Band Union J Sign Up To Promote Pokémon X & Y
Following in the footsteps of fellow X Factor stars One Direction
It has been revealed that UK act Union J will be working with The Pokémon Company International to promote the forthcoming Pokémon X & Y. In you're from outside of the United Kingdom, you may well be wondering who Union J are. Billed by many in the music industry as the next...
News Hometown Story Will Be Released This Month In North America
A new 3DS title from the creator of Harvest Moon
Natsume has officially announced a release date for the upcoming 3DS life sim Hometown Story. It will become available this month in North America, on 22nd October to be exact. Those unfamiliar with the title may be more acquainted with its creator's other popular game, Harvest Moon. Indeed, Yasuhiro...
News Nintendo Reveals Big Plans for Indiecade
Panel on eShop publishing and lots of playable games
One of a number of themes that Nintendo's been communicating this year is its support for small 'indie' developers on its eShop platforms. In some respects the big N has faced a challenge moving the message beyond the flaws of the DSi and Wii stores, making clear to developers around the world...
Video Proof That Pokémon + Dubstep = Not Quite As Bad As It Sounds
When Lindsey Stirling & Kurt Hugo Schneider team up, it's super effective!
Classically-trained violinist Lindsey Stirling is no stranger to video games — she's already done several performances based on the themes from famous titles, and has even smashed a few pots dressed as Link from
News IDC Expects Console Sales To Rise This Year
Console channel downloads also expected to exceed those of PC
The number of game console bundles shipped worldwide in 2013 will be slightly higher than the 2012 total of approximately 33 million bundles, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation. Console sales have been sliding since 2009 but the research company claims this...
News Capcom Europe To Axe More Than Half Its Workforce Due To Major Restructuring
Forced by the "changing market conditions the industry is facing"
MCV is reporting that Capcom Europe is to cut "more than half" of its workforce in a major restructuring campaign. The move comes after a similar move in the US, and follows a disappointing year for the company which saw titles like Lost Planet 3, Resident Evil 6 and DmC: Devil May...
News Splinter Cell Creator Tom Clancy Passes Away Aged 66
Best-selling author co-founded studio Red Storm in 1996
It has been revealed that Tom Clancy has passed away in a Baltimore hospital, aged 66. Famous to millions for books such as The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and The Sum of All Fears, gamers will know him better via titles such as Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell. Clancy...
Video Let's Play DuckTales: Remastered - Episode II: The Amazon
Let's try this again, shall we?
If you've been keeping up with our Let's Play videos on YouTube, then you'd have seen that a certain Damien McFerran had recently pitted me against the trials and tribulations of DuckTales: Remastered on the Wii U eShop. With a decent amount of retro experience to my name, I felt fairly confident as I stepped up to t
Wednesday2nd Oct 2013
Feature Five Reasons Why The 2DS Will Be The Biggest Selling Handheld This Christmas
Forget the jokes, we think Nintendo has a hit on its hands
When Nintendo announced the 2DS a short time ago, the internet was almost united in its level of befuddlement. Why remove the one thing the original system was sold on: its ability to display 3D images without the need for special glasses? It seemed like a backwards step for Nintendo and an...
News Gazooks! Pokémon Favourite Charizard Can Mega Evolve Into X And Y Variants
Super effective, to say the least
It was recently revealed that Pokémon favourite Charizard can "Mega Evolve" into Mega Charizard in Pokémon X & Y — a more powerful variant of the existing monster which is incredibly adept in battle. However, today it has been announced that Charizard actually has two Mega Evolved forms: Mega Charizard X...
Review AiRace Speed (3DS eShop)
Have you the need?
AiRace Tunnel was a neat little arcade flight obstacle course on DSiWare that felt as if it was a bonus mode ripped out of a larger racing game. A few months later, QubicGames dropped AiRace onto the service, which was that larger game, filled with actual race courses against opponents other than time. That same trajectory...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 1st October 2013 Broadcasts
Few shocks, some release dates and awesome footage, with a couple of delays
Gauging opinion on the 1st October Nintendo Direct broadcasts in North America and Europe is relatively tricky, as the Wii U system update preceding it lacked that much desired improvement of an account system that escapes the shackles of hardware, while the broadcasts...
News Monster Hunter 4 Dominates in Japan as The Wind Waker HD Has a Modest Debut
No notable hardware boost for Wii U
Monster Hunter 4 has successfully maintained its momentum in the Japanese charts this week, remaining at the top of the software list despite a range of new releases arriving in stores. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD also arrived on 26th September, but despite some figures within Nintendo's departments in...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Delayed to Early 2014 in Europe
Sad face...
During yesterday's Nintendo Direct shenanigans, with a slew of confirmations and mini-reveals to divert attention, Nintendo pushed back a winter 3DS release, and with a little more subtlety than the formal announcement of the Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze delay on Wii U. Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that Mario Party: Island...
News Nintendo Confirms Lineup and Big Plans for New York Comic Con
Eiji Aonuma to host a special developer presentation
The New York Comic Con event hits the Javit Centre in the city from 10th-13th October, and Nintendo of America has confirmed that, like at previous events such as PAX Prime, it'll be going all out to impress attendees. A standout event will be a special developer presentation by The Legend of...
News Two Tribes Confirms Details of Three Titles in Wii U Classics Range, All Hitting This Year
There's some serious value on offer
It's been no secret that Two Tribes, which has recently seen a surge in Wii U eShop sales with the excellent Toki Tori 2+, has been planning a Classics range for the Wii U eShop, including titles familiar to Nintendo gamers and a couple that will be new to some. The details have been revealed today and, it has to...
News Sonic Dashes Into Action in These Super Smash Bros. Screens
Too fast to be last
With all of the Nintendo Direct madness yesterday, we were certainly pleased to report on the confirmation of Sonic as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS, a welcome return for the SEGA mascot that made his debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. As is standard for the reveal of a new Cha
Weirdness Here's a Team Fortress 2 Star Fox Deathmatch Mod
Yes, really
Team Fortress is a phenomenon, as the Valve-developed multiplayer FPS typifies the features that many PC gamers adore — basically, it can be modded and manipulated in a lot of ways. It's a major part of the game's appeal, though the default crazy cartoonish action has a legion of fans, with plenty still playing the ageing game to this...
News More Mega Man Love Is Coming To Japanese Virtual Console Services
Game Boy and Super Famicom sequels on the way next week
Mega Man is 25 this year, and Capcom is wasting no time in pumping out as many of his classic adventures as possible onto Nintendo's Virtual Console services. Next week — October 9th, to be exact — will see the release of Mega Man III on the 3DS eShop and Mega Man X2 on the Wii U eShop...
News Extra Chapter Funded for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Less than 2 days left in Kickstarter campaign
WayForward’s fundraising campaign for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero may not be building as quickly as the unstoppable, money-inhaling juggernaut that was Mighty No. 9’s, but it has still been successful. Totals have been breaking into stretch goal territory in the campaign’s final days, now including an...
News Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party DLC to Make Use of Wii U GamePad's Camera
Put on your best smile
Developer KnapNok Games has confirmed that its upcoming update for Spin the Bottle: Bumpie's Party will include six new mini-games that revolve around the Wii U GamePad's camera. Due shortly before Christmas, the fresh content promises to use many of the Wii U's bespoke features — such as the gyro, camera, facial and smile...
Video New Treasurenauts Trailer Filled to the Brim with Booty
Treasure this footage
Renegade Kid's co-founder, Jools Watsham, could barely contain his excitement earlier today as he unveiled a brand new trailer for upcoming 3DS eShop title Treasurenauts, a day earlier than scheduled. The 2D platformer follows the mishaps of the famous Treasurenauts, who have been marooned on a uncharted island in the middle...
News "Small" Number Of Staff Laid Off At Sega Of America
Exact number unknown
It has been confirmed that Sega of America has laid off a number of its staff. VentureBeat has reported that the number of employees affected is "small", but the exact figure is currently unknown. A spokesperson for Sega said: As the gaming industry continues to evolve, companies must adapt and adjust in order to compete and...
News Blast 'em Bunnies Shooting Its Way to the 3DS eShop
Watch out for PETA, Nnooo
Sydney-based developer Nnooo is likely to be a familiar name to Nintendo download enthusiasts, with a number of releases on WiiWare, DSiWare and the excellent escapeVektor on the 3DS eShop. In recent times the company has taken on the role of publisher for two upcoming releases, but has today confirmed its next in-house...
Tuesday1st Oct 2013
News Mario and Luigi Wii Remote Plus Controllers Jumping to Stores
Can you resist?
We'd bet reasonable money that a good number of Wii gamers have multiple varieties of Wii Remotes, with plenty of colours and limited editions available over the years. Nintendo has now confirmed two new designs for the Holiday season to celebrate the most famous brothers in the industry. The Mario and Luigi designs, above, will...
News New Wii U System Update Goes Live Across Europe, North America and Japan
Brings Wii Off-TV play, but with a twist
A brand new firmware update has pushed its way across the Mushroom Kingdom and landed on Wii U consoles across Europe, North America and Japan. The prompt for the update began after the scheduled extended maintenance for the Nintendo Network and Miiverse ended. One of the big changes included is the use of...
News Sonic The Hedgehog Confirmed For Super Smash Bros. On Wii U And 3DS
Sega's mascot makes his much-hyped return
One of the biggest questions surrounding the forthcoming Super Smash Bros. title for Wii U and 3DS was whether or not Sonic the Hedgehog would be included in the rapidly-expanded roster of combatants. He appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but it wasn't known if he would be returning — until now, that is...
Live Watch Today's Nintendo Direct Right Here
Focusing on the remaining titles of 2013
Watch the presentation by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata for the latest news on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS software launching in the remainder of 2013! [liveblog=nintendo_direct_2013_10_01_na]#NintendoDirect #NintendoDirectNA
News Super Mario 3D World Brings New Power-Ups to the Mushroom Kingdom
Duplicate characters, a cannonball weapon and more
Super Mario 3D World, particularly with the delay of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, is arguably the most notable big-name Nintendo blockbuster with the task of driving Wii U Holiday sales. Up to now relatively little had been seen beyond the E3 reveal and the demo build that's been doing the...
News Mighty No. 9 Confirmed for 3DS
Wowza
Mighty No. 9, the project from Keiji Inafune's Comcept studio that, in the eyes of many fans, is a true follow-up to the iconic Mega Man franchise, has been a crowdfunding phenomenon. Despite having a target release of April 2015 gamers have been quick to rush and show support. Having previously hit its Wii U stretch goal with relative ease,...
News New Kirby Game Will Be Blowing Up The 3DS in 2014
Full of hot air, but in a good way
Today's Nintendo Direct may have had a few surprises — the delay of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the confirmation of Sonic in Smash Bros. being two examples — but there was only one new game announced: a fresh Kirby instalment on the 3DS. Some gameplay footage was shown and it all looks very...
News Nintendo Set To End Production of the Wii
Wii don't want to hear any more
Update: Nintendo of Europe has provided a statement to Eurogamer regarding this news. Yes, NCL did update their website on 29th August with a small notice to state that Wii hardware production will stop in the near future. This specific message was referring to the Japanese market. No specific time frame has been...
News Pikmin 3 Mission Mode DLC Launches Today
Software update also improves rankings
One title that quickly kicked the software malaise around the Wii U into touch for existing owners in recent months was Pikmin 3, a project clearly of major significant to Shigeru Miyamoto. The real-time strategy title delivered, too, earning strong reviews around the web and positive word of mouth from those...
News Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Online Multiplayer Outlined
Compete for your country
Despite previous entries gracing both Nintendo's home consoles and handhelds, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is a Wii U exclusive ahead of the real event next year. Arriving in Europe on 8th November and North American on 15th November, it'll incorporate GamePad and Wii Remote / Nunchuk controls for...
News Improved StreetPass and Nintendo Zones Coming to North America Later This Month
Make sure you take your 3DS with you wherever you go
Earlier today, Nintendo of America announced a handful of new improvements and features for its ever-growing StreetPass and Nintendo Zone services. You may recall that Nintendo previously enhanced all of its StreetPass and Nintendo Zone locations with StreetPass relay functionality, which allows...
News The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Shakes Up Item and Dungeon Conventions
Dated for 22nd November
While the Wii U gets the remake treatment with The Wind Waker HD, the 3DS is getting the all-new The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which itself is set in the same world as Super NES classic A Link to the Past. Relatively little has been revealed to date, with Nintendo teasing small details and revealing returning...
News Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Delayed Until Early 2014
No chance for monkey business before Christmas
During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast — which focused on upcoming Wii U and 3DS software — it was announced that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has been delayed until early next year. Nintendo has revealed that more time is needed to finish the title, which is now expected to hit store...
News Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies Demo Is Available Now On The 3DS eShop
No objections from us
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is one of our most anticipated 3DS eShop titles, and it was confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast that a demo is going live in both North America and Europe. The demo went live at the conclusion of the broadcast — which means it's available as we speak. Let us know...
News Wii Party U's House Party Mode Aims to Serve up a Unique Experience
Peripherals at the ready, people!
In its Nintendo Direct presentation earlier today, Nintendo unveiled new details about its upcoming mini-game bonanza, Wii Party U. In the game's House Party mode, players will be able to experience a number of new mini-games that make simultaneous use of the Wii Remote and Wii U GamePad in a rather unique and...
News Bravely Default Dated for 6th December in Europe
Q1 2014 in North America
We suspect that Bravely Default — the Flying Fairy part of the name seems to have been dropped in the West — is on quite a few 3DS wishlists. The handheld is gradually, like its DS predecessors, building up a range of quality RPG experiences, and based on the positive critical and commercial response in Japan this looks...
News Scribblenauts Unlimited Finally Hitting Europe On December 6th
Better late than never
Scribblenauts Unlimited was a Wii U launch title, but has been MIA in Europe for the majority of 2013. Thankfully, during today's Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that the game is finally seeing the light of day — more than a year after it appeared in North America. Euro players will be able to get their hands on 5th Cell's...
News Ubisoft Quebec Planning Major Expansion of Workforce
The home of some Assassin's Creed work, among others
While some major publishers and developers have found life difficult in recent years, Ubisoft is a corporation — like EA and Activision — that seemingly continues to expand. With a number of powerful brands across multiple genres and platforms, we continue to see plenty of Ubisoft games, of...
