News - November, 2013

Saturday30th Nov 2013

Friday29th Nov 2013

  • Review Bravely Default (3DS)

    A Critical Hit

    If there’s one thing famed RPG developer Square Enix cannot be accused of, it’s failing to change over time. The early Final Fantasy titles were an exercise in optimistic grandeur, their idyllic landscapes serving as the stage for huge, epic quests filled with wonder and discovery. As of late, however, the company seems to have...

  • News The 3DS YouTube App Has Finally Gone Live

    Huzzah!

    In the most recent major Nintendo Direct broadcast it was confirmed that a YouTube app was finally coming to the 3DS; it's been in demand for a good while. It was stated that it would arrive in November yet passed this week's official download updates by; thankfully the app has now arrived on the 3DS eShop in Europe and North America, so we...

  • Review 3D Space Harrier (3DS eShop)

    Welcome to the Fantasy Zone

    Sitting here in 2013, it's almost impossible to fully appreciate the kind of impact Space Harrier had when it hit arcades way back in 1985 — a year when many of today's active gamers weren't even alive. A showcase for Sega's "Super Scaler" technology and the company's skill at creating impressive hydraulically-driven...

  • News Rune Factory Developer Neverland Closes Its Doors

    Where now for Rune Factory 5?

    After a sluggish financial performance due to business changes, Rune Factory developer Neverland has announced it will be closing its doors. The Japanese company made the announcement via its official website, explaining that its financial status had deteriorated considerably in recent times. After failing to raise the...

  • News Here Are Some Attractive Black Friday Nintendo Deals in North America

    Are you joining the crowds online and in stores?

    Earlier today we posted some Black Friday deals available in the UK that also have shipping to Europe, so we thought we'd cover some enticing options available in the homeland of this shopping madness, North America. Below are some of the most attractive Nintendo-centric deals set to do the rounds...

  • Weirdness Drink Your Troubles Away With This Nintendo Flask

    Non alcoholic beverages are an option, of course

    Retro gaming and whiskey, does it mix? One inventor on Kickstarter thought so. Matt Cornell describes himself as a passionate gamer and one who is lucky to have been raised alongside the video game industry as it has developed. Now he is repaying it with a throwback to the legends he was raised on...

  • Video This Custom Zelda: Wind Waker Car Could Be The Best Thing About Forza 5

    A Link to the Pace

    As hard as it is to believe, there is a world outside of Nintendo, and the more perceptive ones among you will no doubt have realised that Microsoft launched its Xbox One console recently. One of the console's launch games was Forza 5, a technically impressive racer with amazingly detailed cars and tracks. The game also allows...

  • News Black Friday Madness Arrives in the UK, Too

    Plenty of Nintendo options to consider

    Black Friday used to be a single insane shopping day mainly limited to North America, potentially causing bemusement in other parts of the world seeing footage of enormous crowds fighting over discounted nappies. But still, like all things that make retailers and companies lots of money it's expanded, to the...

  • News Peach and Luigi Relaxation Sets Added to European Club Nintendo

    Luigi branded blankets and eye mask appear in one dreamy package

    With the insane amount of Nintendo joy we've all been experiencing this month, you wouldn't be judged for forgetting the simple things in life — such as eating, sleeping or general hygiene. Nintendo is full of caring people, however, and after a month of major releases has decided to...

  • News Nintendo Recreates Super Mario 3D World Through Shadow Hand Puppetry

    Shadow Play

    Super Mario 3D World has finally arrived in Europe, with the outstanding 3D platformer gracing retail shelves today. After its North American release last week this is a culmination of a heavy marketing campaign, helped along by the fact it's a terrific game, to try and make it and the Wii U the must-have combination this Holiday season...

  • Video Running Wild In Super Mario 3D World's Sprawling Savanna

    Wide open space

    So this is it — the last of our videos running up to the European release of Super Mario 3D World. For today's footage, we've picked one of our favourite levels here at Nintendo Life: World 5-4, otherwise known as Sprawling Savanna. Boasting amazing sunsets, massive open spaces and plenty of secrets to discover, this is one of the...

  • News Cubit The Hardcore Platformer Robot is Jumping Onto The 3DS eShop

    The title says it all

    While we may often beat the drum for the upcoming titles on the Wii U eShop, we shouldn't forget that the 3DS eShop has a strong record of serving up fun downloads. Spanish developer CoderChild has been in touch to confirm its next project is targeting release on the portable this year at a budget price, offering up simple but...

  • News New Assault Android Cactus Trailer Brings The Awesome

    Explosions galore

    In terms of upcoming Wii U eShop titles, we'd urge fans of bullet-hell action games to pay plenty of attention to Assault Android Cactus from developer Witch Beam. We went hands on with the early access PC build and were seriously impressed, with the attractive art-style and rock-solid frame-rate providing a twin-stick blast;

Thursday28th Nov 2013

Wednesday27th Nov 2013

Thursday28th Nov 2013

Wednesday27th Nov 2013

Tuesday26th Nov 2013

Monday25th Nov 2013

  • News Ashes Cricket 2013 Spins Onto PC, Yet Remains in the Wii U Pavilion

    A golden duck

    Update Ashes Cricket 2013 has now been removed from Steam, with plenty of unsurprisingly negative feedback on the title no doubt contributing to that outcome. To date publisher 505 Games, developer Trickstar Games and licensees (such as the ECB) are yet to officially comment. Once they do so we'll provide a full update article...

Tuesday26th Nov 2013

Monday25th Nov 2013

Sunday24th Nov 2013

  • Review Ben 10 Omniverse 2 (3DS)

    Ben bleh

    The latest tie-in to the Ben 10 television series, Ben 10 Omniverse 2 is a serviceable title that falls prey to many of the issues that plague licensed games. It's a shame, too, because the creative, action-packed world and characters of the series certainly would lend themselves well to a video game. Developer 1st Playable Productions has...

  • Talking Point The GamePad and its Role Defining the Wii U

    Strong concept or pricey issue?

    We're stepping into a vital period on the market for the Wii U. It's certainly far too early to say it's the definitive moment for the system, as releases such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. will also be maximised by Nintendo to achieve notable sales and momentum. With that in mind, it should still be...

  • News Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Announced For 3DS

    Coming to Japan in June 2014

    Persona, the critically acclaimed RPG series, is finally coming to the 3DS. During a recent event in Japan, Atlus revealed details for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. The spin-off is set to feature various characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4, as well as being presented in a chibi-like style. With previous...

  • Review Christmas Wonderland 3 (3DS eShop)

    Another name on the naughty list

    It was a cold night, and the gentle snow was just beginning to fall. All throughout Nintendo Life HQ there was evidence of good cheer. After all, Christmas was coming! Martin and Morgan were decorating the tree, newcomer Liam was introducing the team to his home-made eggnog, and Ron was entertaining the children by...

  • News Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for Festival of Magic

    Previous episodic structure appears to be abandoned

    Earlier in the year we told you all about Festival of Magic and conducted an interview with developer SnowCastle Games. Confirmed for Wii U, it's a game that promises to deliver a throwback JRPG experience — with some tweaks — that'll include turn-based battles, while also incorporating...

  • Video Explosive Fun Awaits in Super Mario 3D World's Bob-ombs Below Stage

    Light the fuse

    In the next of our Super Mario 3D World videos, we take at a look at World 5-5, which is packed with those adorable walking terror devices, Bob-ombs. Taking place in an underground section, Bob-ombs Below gives you ample opportunity to explore your destructive side, with a limitless supply of Bob-ombs and plenty of walls to...

Saturday23rd Nov 2013

Friday22nd Nov 2013

Thursday21st Nov 2013

Wednesday20th Nov 2013

Thursday21st Nov 2013

Wednesday20th Nov 2013

Tuesday19th Nov 2013

  • News Conception II Due in North America This Spring

    Harvest Moon this is not

    Atlus has never been a company afraid of bringing some of the more unorthodox titles to western shores. This… looks to be one of those. The company, in partnership with Spike Chunsoft, has announced that Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars will be localized and released in North America this spring for both the 3DS...

Wednesday20th Nov 2013

Tuesday19th Nov 2013

Monday18th Nov 2013

Sunday17th Nov 2013

  • Review Call of Duty: Ghosts (Wii U)

    Grabbed by the ghoulies

    With all of the noise made in the wake of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's success — everything from sky-high sales figures to unfortunate ad campaigns, or the rise, fall and subsequent embalming of developer Infinity Ward — it's easy to lose sight of just how phenomenal and innovative that game really was. Genres evolve...

  • News Performance of Batman: Arkham Origins Wii U Version Compares Unfavourably to 360 and PS3

    "It's hard to recommend the Wii U game at all"

    Just recently we published our Batman: Arkham Origins review, and for multiple reasons we felt that it fell below the standards of its predecessors. We also suggested the visuals were "shaky", though tech-heads now have a full Digital Foundry face-off to consider for the Caped Crusader's latest...

  • Review 4 Elements (3DS eShop)

    Not a perfect storm

    Engine Software's 4 Elements is a fun match-3 puzzler weighed down by unnecessary seek-and-find sequences and occasionally frustrating level design. Originally a PC game, 4 Elements' generic fantasy presentation hides an addictive game that will appeal to fans of Bejeweled and other "casual" puzzle titles. There's nothing wrong...

  • Review City Connection (3DS eShop / NES)

    Crash and burn

    Originally released as an arcade game, City Connection puts you in the shoes of a man who wants to travel all over the world in order to paint its roads white, thus proving that he's travelled across the globe. Sounds like vandalism to us, but that's the '80s for you! Of course, this would be rather difficult to accomplish on foot, so...

  • News These Three New Kickstarter Projects Are Trying To Fund Their Way Onto Wii U

    Crowdfunding just got a whole lot Wii U-er

    Kickstarter is once again the name with the games, as three unique new projects are all trying to crowdfund their way to Wii U stretch goals. The first of the Wii U hopefuls is Tadpole Treble, an aquatic adventure in which an adorable tadpole wiggles across levels that are set up as musical notation. As...

  • News Pier Solar HD Now Targeting Release in March 2014

    Lengthy update outlines positive reaction to visuals at Indiecade

    Pier Solar HD, an enhanced re-release of WaterMelon's Mega Drive / Genesis title released in 2010, is certainly on the radar of various members of the Nintendo Life team. It promises a rather traditional piece of RPG gaming, but will come with a HD sheen on the Wii U eShop. This HD...

Saturday16th Nov 2013

  • Review Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U)

    Same hero, less refined

    Whenever a video game franchise moves from one developer to another during its lifetime, there tends to be a few raised eyebrows. There are definite examples of licenses that have significantly improved following the move from one studio to another, such as the console games in the Skylanders series jumping from Toys for Bob...

  • Review Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3DS)

    Shell shocked

    It’s arguably difficult to consider Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV reboot as anything other than a rousing success. Blending together elements from the classic 1987 series with a more modern approach, the show has been a hit with fans both new and old, treading that awkward line between paying homage to the past and...

  • Poll As the PS4 Arrives, What Do You Think of the 'New Gen' Environment for Wii U?

    It ain't about 'next-gen' any more

    So can everyone stop talking about 'next gen" now, or do we have to wait for the One to complete the Triforce of systems? No doubt there'll still be talk of "next gen" experiences and bickering over resolutions and framerates, all while Mario casually says hi with 3D World. There's arguably a sense that the more...

  • News Pokémon Bank Pricing Emerges For Europe

    Pretty good value for a full year

    Earlier today we shared confirmation of Pokémon Bank pricing for Australia and New Zealand which, refreshingly, seems to be perfectly reasonable. Well known Pokémon site Serebii is now reporting confirmed prices for Europe, too — the rates given are £4.49 / €4.99 for a year's access, which predictably matches...

  • News Pokémon Bank Pricing Revealed For Australia And New Zealand

    A reasonable sum

    Game, technology, and software pricing may not be such of an issue in certain parts of the world, but in Australia and New Zealand it is the complete opposite. Pricing is so expensive, in fact, that the Australian Government is currently looking into how to solve the problem. With that in mind, this news will come as a relief to...

  • Review My Baby Pet Hotel 3D (3DS eShop)

    A pile of shih tzu

    We'll say this at the outset: pet sims are not for everybody. We know that much, and while the popularity of certain genres might baffle us at times, we'd never dream of holding a game's genre against it. While we may or may not get swept up in any particular enthusiasm ourselves, we'd like to think that we can distance ourselves...

Friday15th Nov 2013

Thursday14th Nov 2013

Wednesday13th Nov 2013

Thursday14th Nov 2013

Wednesday13th Nov 2013

Tuesday12th Nov 2013

Monday11th Nov 2013

  • News Disney Interactive Co-President Resigns

    Other co-president will assume full control

    Disney Interactive has seen its fortunes turning around as of late, thanks largely to the release of Disney Infinity, but that doesn’t mean the division still isn’t doing some restructuring. According to the New York Times, Disney Interactive Co-President John Pleasants announced

Tuesday12th Nov 2013

Monday11th Nov 2013

Sunday10th Nov 2013

  • Review Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Wii U)

    A pirate's life for Wii (U)

    Unless this is the first time you’re being exposed to Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, you won’t need a telescope to notice that the landscape has changed drastically from past entries in the series. Residing in the Caribbean, you take on the role of Edward Kenway, an 18th-century pirate who dreams of obtaining...

  • Video This Is Why CoD: Ghosts Is Best on Wii U

    On point

    'The latest instalment in the phenomenally successful Call of Duty franchise launched earlier this week, and it's probably already broken all sorts of crazy sales records' - is a sentence that you've probably read every year now, since around 2007. Nonetheless, Ghosts is out now for Wii U, and we reckon it's the best version money can buy...

  • News Nintendo Land Has Been Removed From the North American eShop

    Closing its doors on downloads

    At the beginning of this month Nintendo of America cut the price of Nintendo Land in half, chopping the recommended charge from $59.99 to £29.99 in stores and on the eShop. That's certainly a tempting price for those that didn't get a copy with their system, and makes sense with new bundles mixing up the packed-in...

  • News Nintendo of America Confirms 23 Locations for its Holiday Mall Experience

    Portland, Orlando and plenty more besides

    The Holiday shopping season is nearly here — perhaps it's already started for some — and Nintendo of America is preparing to take the Wii U, 3DS and its biggest games on a tour around various shopping destinations in the US. On the Wii U we'd expect titles such as Super Mario 3D World and Wii Party U to...

Saturday9th Nov 2013

  • News Target To Offer 3DS XL Consoles For Only $149.99 On Black Friday

    We're thankful for a 90% bigger screen

    In a bid to add even more justification to your ever-growing list of reasons why you should buy a 3DS XL, US retail store Target has decided to offer the consoles at an irresistibly low price of only $149.99 each. The catch, of course, is that the deal is only available on America's most endearing of shopping...

  • Review Wii Fit U (Wii U)

    Fit for purpose

    It’s astonishing just how successful the Wii Fit franchise has been for Nintendo since it first graced our living rooms in 2008. In fact, both Wii Fit and its expanded sequel Wii Fit Plus have each sold more than 20 million copies, which is staggering when you take into account that a good number of those purchases would have...

  • Feature Why Nintendo Isn't Popular in Poland

    Rob Burgess explains how a country with 40 million people has been missed

    Earlier this year we posted an article based on a Nintendo fan's blog, which explained how difficult it was to buy a Wii U in Poland, a large European country. Rob Burgess, the author of that blog, has since written a follow up article in which he explains in a little more...

  • Review Beyblade: Evolution (3DS)

    Worth taking for a spin?

    Despite the original anime TV series coming to an end almost a decade ago, it seems that Beyblade is still very much a thing. It’s curious to think that the concept of pitting spinning top toys against one another would prove so exciting for so many in this technologically enhanced day and age, but then the world...

Friday8th Nov 2013

Thursday7th Nov 2013

Friday8th Nov 2013

Thursday7th Nov 2013

Wednesday6th Nov 2013

  • News Spice Up Your Christmas Tree with These Retro Controller Decorations

    Deck the halls with retro game stuff

    For many of us, Christmas is the one day of the year where getting a new video game is pretty much guaranteed — provided you've been a good boy or girl that is. So it only makes sense that you should celebrate the day for the gaming goodness which it bestows on you, right? North American online retailer...

Thursday7th Nov 2013

Wednesday6th Nov 2013

Tuesday5th Nov 2013

Wednesday6th Nov 2013

Tuesday5th Nov 2013

Monday4th Nov 2013

Tuesday5th Nov 2013

  • News Academic Study Finds That Playing Games Can Increase Brain Matter

    The desire to play could also have an effect

    If you had to grow up with always listening to the admonishment that video games would “rot your brain,” you may find some satisfaction in more evidence pointing toward the contrary. A study conducted by Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité University Medicine St...

  • News Custom-made Luigi 2DS Now Up For Auction

    25 percent of proceeds go to Child’s Play

    The Luigi-themed 2DS console we reported on - which actually turned out to be nothing more than a convincing custom-made creation by Rose Coloured Gaming - is now up for auction. To take the Year of Luigi out in style, fans can now bid on this exclusive item until 17th November, with 25 percent of the...

  • News Supporters Needed To Rebuild NES Hero Mega Man In Lego

    From 8-bit to 8-brick

    Mega Man has always been a cherished icon since his very first appearance on the NES in 1987, and now a designer by the name of Alatariel seeks to immortalise the character further with an official Lego set. Classic stages from Mega Man 2 such as Wily's Castle and Metal Man can be seen recreated on the designer's page, and the...

  • Video Watch Eiji Aonuma Harness Link's Power To Evade Sinister Nintendo Of America Goons

    With tongue firmly in cheek, of course

    The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds grants Link the ability to turn himself into a flat painting and therefore stick to walls. This skill is used to good effect in the forthcoming 3DS epic, allowing the player to solve puzzles and reach new areas. During the recent New York Comic Con, Zelda series head...

  • News Mega Man 2.5D Beta Blasts Into View With Co-Op Play

    Fan game teams up with Proto Man on PC

    So, OK, time continues to pass and we still don't have a new and official Mega Man game to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the franchise. We have soundtracks, USB sticks, plushies and tissue dispensers, but no game. Such is life. Thankfully Mega Man fans often fill the void, and we've seen some fan games...

  • News APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat Campaign Adds Modest Wii U Stretch Goal

    Nintendo reached out to Actos Games over word game

    We've consistently banged the drum, here on Nintendo Life, highlighting how Nintendo's support for Unity tools and HTML5 on the Wii U could bring an enticing range of download-only games to the system's eShop. One potential addition, courtesy of the HTML5 tools available through the Nintendo Web...

  • News Tappingo! Details Puzzle Their Way Into View

    Picross-ing over to the 3DS eShop

    A good while ago the main man behind Goodbye Galaxy Games, Hugo Smits, confirmed that his first 3DS eShop title would be Tappingo, a puzzle title that aims to incorporate popular ideas in a fresh way. The game maker has now been in touch with further details and screenshots, saying the following. Solve pixel art...

Sunday3rd Nov 2013

Monday4th Nov 2013

  • Review Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut (Wii U)

    Myths of the near future

    Square-Enix's idea to bring Eidos Montreal’s swell Deus Ex: Human Revolution to the Wii U over two full years after the game first saw light of day on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC is a curious resurrection, perhaps, but given the quality of protagonist Adam Jensen’s cyberpunk caper the title deserves as big of an audience as it...

Sunday3rd Nov 2013

Monday4th Nov 2013

Sunday3rd Nov 2013

Saturday2nd Nov 2013

  • Weirdness You Can Fix Your NES 72-Pin Cartridge Connector By Boiling It

    You learn something new every day

    The NES was really popular, and that means there are lots of consoles out there right now either sitting unused in cupboards or (preferably) still providing entertainment almost three decades after the western release of the system. However, it's a simple fact that the older a device is, the more chance there is of...

  • Review Goof Troop (Super Nintendo)

    Gawrsh!

    In the late '80s and early '90s Capcom created a range of games, based on Disney franchises, for the NES and SNES. The likes of Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers and DuckTales all made appearances, the latter of which has even been given the HD treatment for modern systems, including Wii U. One of the more interesting titles was...

  • News Flipnote Studio 3D Friends Gallery Disabled in Japan

    Paid service World Gallery remains

    Yesterday we reported that Nintendo had halted the Swapnote / Nintendo Letter Box SpotPass service due to some users utilising it to "exchange offensive material". The direct exchange of photos, and minors actively sharing their friend codes and photos, were both highlighted as issues that drove the decision to...

  • News Nintendo UK Online Store Offers Musical Chest As Pre-Order Bonus For A Link Between Worlds

    Pre-order now to secure the collectible

    Earlier this month, Nintendo announced via Twitter that if you pre-ordered The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds from GAME, you'd get a musical treasure chest which plays the tune we've all grown to love when Link opens a chest to find a new item. It's become apparent that not only are GAME offering the...

  • Talking Point Nintendo's Safe and Family-Friendly Focus is Integral to Its Fortunes

    While heavy handed with Swapnote, providing a clean environment is crucial

    Nintendo has made some interesting headlines recently here on Nintendo Life, as it's acted proactively to avoid potentially embarrassing issues with Nintendo Letter Box / Swapnote and the Japan-only (so far) Flipnote Studio 3D. The company disabled SpotPass communication...

  • Video Nintendo Releases New Trailer For Mario Party: Island Tour

    Footage arrives ahead of its release this month

    Nintendo has released a new trailer for its upcoming dice-rolling, mini-game playing, friend bashing bonanza on the 3DS, Mario Party: Island Tour. First revealed back in April during a Nintendo Direct broadcast, the latest footage shows the usual chaotic environment that you'd expect from the Mario...

Friday1st Nov 2013