News Target To Offer 3DS XL Consoles For Only $149.99 On Black Friday
We're thankful for a 90% bigger screen
Review The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
A classic series gets a fresh new coat of paint
Review Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Wii U)
A pirate's life for Wii (U)
News - November, 2013
Saturday30th Nov 2013
News New LovePlus Launching With Limited Edition 3DS Consoles Next Spring
Looks lovely
Konami’s popular dating simulator returns next year with a new entry in the series, along with three limited edition 3DS XL designs. New LovePlus+ will feature new story scenarios and locations to visit, and will also be available in a deluxe package. “The Manaka Deluxe” set of New LovePlus+ includes a copy of the game, a 40...
News Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre Is Region-Free
Mixed messages
In the past — and to the outrage of some — Satoru Iwata has made it clear that the days of region-free Nintendo hardware and software are over. Now though, the door has been left slightly ajar. Whilst region-locks were thought to be the future of Nintendo gaming, this theory has now been partially crushed with the announcement of...
News Masahiro Sakurai Outlines His Heavy Smash Bros. Workload
"It's faster and more accurate to do it myself"
It's been highlighted in the past that not only is Masahiro Sakurai keen to implement his own vision and high standards, but that he's a particularly hard working individual. In fact early this year he highlighted how an arm injury was impacting his work, but that he was nevertheless persevering. One...
Review Brawl Brothers (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Sibling rivalry
Jaleco released a trilogy of side-scrolling fighters in Japan under the Rushing Beat banner, and while all three made their way to the west, they did so under different titles: Rival Turf, Brawl Brothers and The Peace Keepers. Inspired in no small part by the success of Capcom's Final Fight, the series never really managed to reach...
News Wii U Wins "Deals Award" For Being One Of The Best Kids Items This Holiday Season
Black Friday is brighter than it sounds
Despite the fact that the launch of Super Mario 3D World in Japan posted sales figures not quite on par with expectations, it seems the console is gaining traction as a go-to gift this holiday season. In addition to opinions beginning to emerge that Wii U could be a big
"Child of Light has many unique and distinctive features"
Upcoming Wii U eShop releases that catch the eye are often from small, independent developers, with a sense that it's these small teams that have freedom to express new ideas or conventionally niche approaches. For multi-national, multi-million dollar publishers the focus can be different,...
News Nintendo Launches New Wii U Christmas Advertising In Japan
'Tis the season to be jolly
Although Nintendo's advertising in various regions arguably took a while to ramp up, a fresh campaign in Japan appears to tick all the right boxes. It promotes the fun of Wii U with friends and family, as well as some of the exclusive first-party titles on offer this holiday season. The “Atsumareba” advertising...
Review Jewel Match 3 (3DS eShop)
Not particularly valuable
When it comes to puzzlers, a certain generation of gamers will remember when Tetris was the title that was endlessly cloned, reinterpreted and reinvented, with countless studios and developers trying desperately to recapture the cultural magic of what had to be the simplest idea in gaming yet: slotting shapes together...
Weirdness This is How Teslagrad Would Look on the Game Boy
Kind of awesome, actually
Teslagrad is one of quite a few upcoming Wii U eShop titles that Nintendo's been happy to show off in video sizzle reels. That's not surprising, as the Rain Games project has caught the eye with attractive visuals and clever magnet-based puzzle platforming mechanics. Its attractive visuals certainly play a part in the...
Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue Twenty
So long teens, hello more awesome games
It's finally happened, the WGAYPTW series has left its teens, and the emotional crisis it prompted led to it missing its normal schedule — that's right, it was nothing to do with the features editor forgetting to organise it, no way. But it's fine, this little series of game-related tittle-tattle is ready...
Friday29th Nov 2013
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
News Pokémon X & Y Online Battles Vulnerable to "Battle Analyser" Cheaters
There should be no place for cheats
It's an unfortunate part of Pokémon battles that some opt to cheat or gain unfair advantages, with official tournaments also falling victim. Unfortunately it's a blight now potentially affecting Pokémon X & Y, as details of a "Battle Analyser" tool are emerging. The tool works by setting up a PC as a Wi-Fi...
Nintendo Download 28th November (North America)
SEGA Classics go 3D, discounted Mario, touring the Louvre and more
It's Nintendo Download time again, North America, and this week brings a fairly diverse range of options. We have plenty of retro goodies on the Wii U eShop, reduced retro Mario on both Wii U and 3DS, revived SEGA classics on the 3DS as well as a tour of the iconic Louvre museum...
News There's A New Mario & Luigi: Dream Team 3DS XL Bundle On The Way
New North American SKU appears in Target advert
It would appear that Nintendo of America is launching a new 3DS XL bundle in time for Christmas. This time it's the turn of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team to get the pack-in treatment, coming pre-installed on a black and silver console which boasts an image of the famous siblings on its lid. The price...
News New Batman: Arkham Origins DLC Arrives, Major Story-Based Content Coming in 2014
Holy DLC overload, Batman!
Batman: Arkham Origins on Wii U may have been lacking the all-new multiplayer mode and — in the opinion of some — be below the standards of the Rocksteady predecessors, but it's still a title with some happy fans. Beating on thugs while saying "I'm Batman" in a very deep voice is fun. The Wii U version has, to date,...
Less than a week after saying the company was facing "the end"
Investment site The Motley Fool — which recently painted a rather dismal picture of Nintendo's future — has performed a complete about-face by claiming that Nintendo could end up being the big winner this holiday season. The opinion piece points out that although the Wii U has...
News Production Fault Pushes Hyperkin RetroN 5 Launch Into Next Year
Retro gaming powerhouse coming "first quarter, 2014"
If you're an avid retro gamer then chances are you've been saving your pennies for the Hyperkin RetroN 5, an all-in-one gaming system capable of running SNES / Super Famicom, Mega Drive / Genesis, NES / Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges. The console was due for...
News The Girl and the Robot is Officially Coming to Wii U
Reaches Kickstarter stretch goal with just hours to go
Last week we reported that indie developer, Flying Carpets, had added a Wii U eShop stretch goal to its Kickstarter campaign for The Girl and the Robot, after achieving the project's initial goal of $15,000 CAD. The title, which draws inspiration from classic games such as The Legend of Zelda:...
Sega went and got itself some RPGs
Fans of popular Atlus games like Shin Megami Tensei IV and Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan can start to turn that sigh of defeat into a sigh of relief. In mid-September, SEGA Sammy Holdings obtained Atlus's parent company, Index Corporation, after Index was forced to declare bankruptcy — an event that...
News Ashes Cricket 2013 Officially Cancelled as 505 Games Issues Apology
"Our deepest apologies, however, are reserved for the fans of cricket"
Earlier this week we reported that the continually delayed Ashes Cricket 2013 was briefly released on PC, before it was promptly removed following negative feedback. YouTube videos had quickly appeared following release highlighting a game that was simply not finished and up to...
News Retro-Inspired Adventure Platformer Lobodestroyo Adds Wii U to Funding Goal
Nintendo 64-style game includes Wii U in main target
While it has its critics, crowdfunding platform Kickstarter is a becoming a prominent stepping-off point for encouraging game development projects that need a helping hand. Often these games can draw from sources of inspiration not necessarily deemed profitable to a publisher but, nevertheless,...
News Nintendo of America Warns Of Kirby's Appetite in Thanksgiving Message
Nintendo Life wishes readers a Happy Thanksgiving / Happy Thursday
Gamers in North America — and some other select parts of the World — may be celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday today; we hope the day off work and school is at least partly being spent playing games, naturally. For many others it's just Thursday, so we'd like to wish everyone a...
Weirdness Model Chrissy Teigen Celebrates a Mushroom Kingdom Birthday
Bowser's name reportedly not found on the list
Singer-songwriter John Legend has got to be feeling pretty good right now. Marrying a model is one thing, but marrying a model who later decides to celebrate her 28th birthday with a Super Mario twist is something very special indeed. After tying the knot in September this year, the newly-weds moved on...
Video You'll Need Swift Feet To Conquer Super Mario 3D World's Pretty Plaza Panic
Watch the clock
If you're pushed for time, don't worry — today's Super Mario 3D World level is short and sweet, but just as exciting as any of the other stages we've covered so far. Pretty Plaza Panic gives you 100 seconds to make your way to the flagpole, but places plenty of distractions and challenges in your path. Super Mario 3D World...
Wednesday27th Nov 2013
Feature A Guide to the Best Nintendo Gifts For the Holiday Season
Consoles, games, and random stuff that must be owned
Farewell, stable bank balances. Prepare yourselves, credit cards. The Holiday season is upon us, with Black Friday — which is really Black Friday Week now — already kicking into gear in the U.S. and plenty of other places besides. It's the season to be jolly and generous to others, while...
News Super Mario 3D World Underwhelms on Japanese Chart Début
Wii U hardware sales increase by just 5,000 units
Last week we reported on the continuing dominance of the 3DS XL in Japan, and the hope that the launch of Super Mario 3D World would provide a notable boost to the Wii U hardware sales; unfortunately, that hasn't quite been the case. To start with software, Media Create's charts show that Mario's...
News The YouTube Wii U App Update is Now Live
"So hey guys, um, I have an update for you"
It was announced in the most recent Nintendo Direct broadcast that a YouTube app was finally coming to the 3DS, but it was also welcome news that the Wii U equivalent was set for an update. Although welcome that the video sharing giant supported the system with an official app, such has been its...
Review Coaster Crazy Deluxe (Wii U eShop)
Not so crazy after all
Hold on to your coaster cars, Nintendo fans, because with the release of Coaster Crazy Deluxe for the Wii U eShop, gaming just got a whole lot crazier….or did it? Frontier’s latest iOS port proves that despite Nintendo’s concerted efforts to simplify the process for converting indie titles to Wii U, some games are better...
News Miiverse Update Paves The Way For 3DS Version
Wii U and browser versions updated
As many will already know, Miiverse will arrive on 3DS in a December system update, which will join shared eShop funds and Nintendo Network ID integration on the portable. Nintendo has today issued an update on the Wii U and browser-based iterations of Miiverse as early preparations for the new arrival. Due to the...
Review Ohno Odyssey (3DS eShop)
Ohno or Ohyes?
Everyone loves to play an epic adventure, but there's also a place for lighthearted, bite-sized gaming — especially when it comes to portable titles. Despite its "epic" title, Ohno Odyssey, a physics puzzler from Big John Games, offers a bite-sized experience with addictive trial-and-error gameplay and a fair amount of charm. While...
News Cliff Bleszinski Thinks Super Mario 3D World Is "A System Selling Title"
Number of memorable moments is "staggering", says former Gears of Wars dev
Despite Cliff "Cliffy B" Bleszinski's opinions on the Wii and predictions of a future where Nintendo isn't making hardware, the former Epic Games director is a massive fan of the Japanese company, and has said so several tim
News Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre App Released Alongside Mini Nintendo Direct
Don't mona about the price
Update Nintendo of America has now confirmed that this app will be released in North America — it'll arrive in the region on 2nd December and cost $19.99. Original Article Way back in Spring 2012 we told you about the official Louvre 3DS tour guide application that was being offered to visitors of the iconic museum in...
Weirdness Nintendo of America Celebrates the Flying 3DS
"FAA FTW"
Nintendo's games, when you assess them with a critical perspective, are weird. The company's main mascot lives in The Mushroom Kingdom and fights an enormous turtle thing with a dog's name, while this year a major Wii U release put players in control of hundreds of colour co-ordinated minions that collect fruit and fight creatures to...
Video This Cat Fails to Get Into the Super Mario 3D World Spirit
No cats were harmed in the production of this video, obviously
Super Mario 3D World is packed with great ideas, and one of the most obvious "I can't believe this wasn't done before" examples is the cat suit. Even members of the Nintendo Life team that have little love for actual cats seem to adore the power-up, as it's fun to use and watch in...
News Check Out This Stained Glass Art With A Nintendo Twist
Heart (container) of glass
Let's be honest - when looking for festive gifts this year, an elaborate piece of stained glass artwork to hang in your cathedral / average-sized home might not be the first thing that springs to mind. However, the gallery of Rick Daniels' work showcased on his Etsy site may be just enough to tempt you. A self-taught...
News Animal Crossing Spreads The Holiday Cheer In This Adorable New Trailer
Rock around the Christmas tree with K.K.
What better way to spend Christmas morning than snuggle up by the fireplace, grab a delicious glass of egg nog, and load up a game of Animal Crossing: New Leaf on your Nintendo 3DS or 2DS? Nintendo is hoping that consumers will decide to do just that, as it's advertising the game again this holiday season...
Video This New Puzzle & Dragons Z Trailer Has A Monstrous Amount Of Detail
3DS outing expands dramatically on the popular mobile game
December will see the Japanese release of Puzzle & Dragons Z, the 3DS port of the insanely successful smartphone puzzle / RPG hybrid. Developer GungHo has released another trailer to crank up interest even further, and it contains more details about the game's massive over-world, the...
Video This Mario 3D World Level Has A Little Bit Of Zelda About It
Top-down tomfoolery
We've already seen how Super Mario 3D World imitates Mario Kart in one of its levels, and it's only fitting that the game also tips its hat to another popular Nintendo franchise: The Legend of Zelda. World 7-2 — otherwise known as Switchback Ruins — adopts a top-down viewpoint and features loads of Zelda-style bonfires to...
News EDGE 3DS 'Looking Good' For A Pre-Xmas Release
Passes Nintendo of America's certification checks
Last week we reported that EDGE would be coming to the 3DS eShop, and it appears we won’t have to wait too long. Earlier today, Two Tribes announced on Twitter that things were looking good for an EDGE 3DS Christmas release, or possibly even sooner. The publisher later confirmed that the title,...
News New Iwata Asks Takes In the Louvre and its 3DS Guide
A project Miyamoto-san indirectly "worked on for five or six years"
It arrived somewhat out-of-the-blue today, but Nintendo has released Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre on the 3DS eShop in Europe, a commercial version of the interactive guide that's been available at the Paris museum since Spring 2012; there's even an accompanying Mini Nintendo Direct...
Weirdness Mario Takes On Link In This Live-Action Smash Bros. Tribute
Nintendo's biggest characters square off
Smash Bros. may have given fans the tools to answer the age-old question of who would win if Mario had to fight Link, but for some, that's not enough. Stunt team Emc Monkeys — famed for its live-action replications of popular video games — has decided to settle the argument once and for all with its...
Tuesday26th Nov 2013
News If You Do Pick Up a PS4 or Xbox One, These Skins Will Make Them More Comforting
NES, we love you
Well, the 'console wars', 'resolution wars' and 'tedious one-upmanship wars' are well underway, with some pinning their flags to a console and declaring all others null and void. Of course, that's not the healthiest or most useful way to go about enjoying video games, but some will do so nevertheless. But still, it's OK to have...
A puzzling page-turner
American developer and publisher Big Fish Games is literally a big fish in the market of casual gaming. The creator of the Mystery Case Files series, the studio has carved out a profitable niche on PC and mobile platforms with its unique brand of hidden object puzzlers — and has also transferred some of these outings to the...
Review The Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths (Wii U eShop)
A breezy, scenic walk
The history of The Mysterious Cities of Gold is pretty wild. When the French-Japanese animated series ended its first run in 1983, the Famicom hadn’t even premiered in Japan. Fast forward about 30 years, and now not only has the show picked up where it left off, it’s even following in the tried and true tradition of video...
News New York Times Critic Identifies Super Mario 3D World and Wii U as Highlights of the Season
"The Wii U is also the only new console with a video game worth playing"
Yesterday wasn't necessarily full of happy coverage for the Wii U, such as the grisly news that the Xbox One is already close to passing the Wii U's lifetime-to-date sales in the UK. After plenty of happy Super Mario 3D World vibes, there's been some renewed caution and doubt...
News M2: Bringing Space Harrier To 3DS Was "Almost Impossible", But It's "The Definitive Version"
Who would have thought porting old arcade games could be this hard?
This week the 3DS eShop will finally be blessed with 3D classics from SEGA — including arcade classic Space Harrier — but getting these titles to run as perfectly as they do on 3DS was no easy task, as the developers have explained in a recent interview. Naoki Horii, President...
Video Watch Us Lift The Lid On Prima's Legendary Zelda Strategy Guide Treasure Chest
An unboxing of epic proportions
How time flies. It only seems like yesterday that we reported that Prima Games — famed for its detailed strategy guides — would be releasing a collectable box set containing strategy guides for several recent Zelda titles, including Twilight Princess,
News Nintendo States Its Wii U Case With a Holiday Infographic
TVii is still a thing in North America, remember
The Thanksgiving / Black Friday shopping weekend is upon us; the latter is a term becoming increasingly familiar to consumers outside of North America, while it's a big deal in the U.S. in particular. It kicks off the most valuable shopping period of the year, in which Nintendo is hoping to boost...
News Nintendo's Partnership With Southwest Airlines Takes Off As Mario Gives Away Free Wii U Systems
Mascot needs XXXL size high-vis jacket, probably
Nintendo has various corporate and promotional partnerships, and one of the most recently announced by Nintendo of America is a collaboration with Southwest Airlines. As the "official video game partner" of the company, Nintendo is setting up Wii U Gaming Lounges in some major airports until 22nd...
News Those Lovely Link Between Worlds Club Nintendo Posters Are Sold Out
Sad times...
Late last week we pointed you towards some rather attractive Link Between Worlds posters available on Club Nintendo in North America; they may have come at a pricey 500 coins, but looked worth the investment. Sadly, as has been pointed out in that article's comments, they're already sold out. The set was naturally sought after by Club...
Feature More Miiverse Favourites From Art Academy: SketchPad
Mario, Link, Pikmin and lots of lovely art
Back in August Nintendo released Art Academy: SketchPad on the Wii U eShop, a budget-priced drawing tool that utilises the GamePad touch screen and allows full colour image posts to Miiverse. For artistically minded Wii U owners it's certainly a terrific option that can deliver impressive results; not long...
News Former Pikmin Director Currently Working On "Original Title" for Nintendo
Veteran designer seems to be back in action
Nintendo may be looking to shake things up with an entirely new intellectual property in the near future, and former Pikmin director Masamichi Abe is tipped to be involved with the project's development. The revelation comes from current Tekken lead Katushiro Harada, who tweeted in response to a fan...
Developer Session Nifflas and Ripstone Talk Over Design Principles, Age Ratings and What's Next
"It’s a hobby that just kind of escalated"
Just last week we published the first part of our chat with Nifflas, in which the game designer — full name Nicklas Nygren — outlined many of the ideas that form upcoming Wii U eShop title Knytt Underground. We learnt a great deal about the complexity and depth that the title is striving for, in the...
Video Getting Hands On With Super Mario 3D World's Hands-On Hall
A level with a distinctly Japanese feel to it
The next in our gameplay videos from Super Mario 3D World has the taste of the Far East about it. World 6-3 — also known as Hands-On Hall — takes place in a Japanese castle, complete with sliding doors, deadly assassins and a moonlit, rooftop battle. Check out the footage below and let us know what...
Monday25th Nov 2013
Review Senran Kagura Burst (3DS eShop)
Fit to Burst
Fresh from the friendly fields of Rune Factory 4, XSEED returns with another, decidedly more deadly offering from the Land of the Rising Sun in Senran Kagura Burst. Taking its gameplay inspiration from classic side-scrolling beat-'em-ups, and its over-the-top, undergarment-filled style from anime and manga, this is a fun, frenzied...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Thanksgiving Weekend Deals for 3DS and Wii U
3DS deals and a Nintendo Land + Wii RemotePlus bundle confirmed
With Thanksgiving arriving on Thursday 28th November, and the following days representing possibly the most frantic shopping weekend of the year, Nintendo of America has outlined its official 3DS and Wii U offers for the period. Naturally many more will likely appear at individual...
News iPhone Gaming Controller Could Mean "The End Of Nintendo", Claims Investment Site
"Apple is already more important than Nintendo"
The Motley Fool — a site which aims to provide investors with advice, analysis and news — has claimed that the release of Logitech's PowerShell iPhone gaming control
Nintendo Download 28th November (Europe)
Mario's 3D adventure arrives, 3D SEGA Classics and a lot more
It's Monday, which means that the European Nintendo Download will give us a pleasing start to the week. On the way, most notably, is Mario's critically acclaimed 3D début on the Wii U, while the 3D classics from SEGA finally arrive in the West for the first time; in addition we also have...
News Xbox One UK Sales Set to Pass Wii U's Lifetime to Date Figures
North American figures also provide a reminder of the challenge ahead
It's well known and statistically clear that the Wii U has had a poor start on the market, a trend the company is striving to turn around with cheaper prices, value bundle offers, increased marketing and major game releases. The challenge ahead has been brought into focus this...
Weirdness Pokémon Cards Tell A Story of Family
I've just...got something in my eye...
The Pokémon series practically glows with nostalgia and childhood memories for many of us, and Nintendo seems determined to find new ways to break through the cold, callous, adult exteriors of some to appeal to that sentiment again. With this surprisingly emotive trio of cards it may have done just that, so...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fourteen
Mario in space, a sleepy Marth, celebrating 3D World and more
It's another Monday, the nights are drawing in and the festive season — with its associated shopping madness — approaches. Yet some things remain constant and reliable, such as new screens for Super Smash Bros. being posted by Masahiro Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room...
News Fan Campaign for Bayonetta Wii U Release Kicks Into Gear
Triggered by the Master of Twitter - Hideki Kamiya
Hideki Kamiya — of Platinum Games — may be an extravagant game maker, but he's also the self-proclaimed Master of Twitter, renowned for stirring up his followers and, occasionally, leading them on a merry dance. His style is normally to answer enquiries with retweets and short responses, and his...
News Warner Bros. Confirms LEGO The Hobbit For Release on the Wii U and 3DS Next Year
Go on an epic adventure with Bilbo and co.
Last week we reported that LEGO The Hobbit was scheduled for a 2014 release on 3DS and Wii U, with thanks to a scanned image of a promotional planner spotted in France - we stuck on the rumour tag for good measure as nothing about the title was confirmed. Today we come with good news, as Warner Bros. has...
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...
News Rare Originally Conceived Dinosaur Planet As A Racing And Adventure Crossover
Until Miyamoto had his say, of course
If you're familiar with Nintendo's history then you'll know that Star Fox Adventures on the GameCube actually began life as Dinosaur Planet on the N64. Created by UK studio Rare — then a first-party Nintendo developer — the game had progressed quite far before Shigeru Miyamoto decided that it would make a...
News European 2DS Pokémon X And Y Bundles Spotted In The Wild
Have you caught one yet?
We recently reported on 2DS Pokémon X And Y bundles hitting South Korea, and at the same time wondered if these packs would see a wider release. Seems we didn't have to wait long for the answer, as we're hearing reports that Euro retailers already have Pokémon X and Y bundles in stock. Dutch toy store
News The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Squeezes Into UK All-Format Top 10
The third highest selling single-platform title of the week
While the status of top-selling 3DS game was assured for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds in its début week, where it would stack up in the UK all-format chart was in far greater doubt. The Xbox One launched in various territories worldwide — including the UK — on the same...
Review Hands On! Tangrams (DSiWare)
All hands on deck?
Hands On! Tangrams, originally a DS retail game, is now a DSiWare title thanks to developer Island Officials; it's a simple, bare bones affair that is fun while it lasts, but has very little replay value and may prove too simple for more experienced gamers. Still, with the low entry price, there are worse puzzle games with which...
Video Get Your Feet Wet In Super Mario 3D World's Spooky Seasick Wreck
Ghost ship
North America got its hands on Mario's latest adventure last week, and Europe will be able to see what the fuss is about very soon indeed. As you'll know by now, we're running a video every day until the European release, and today it's World 6-2: a spooky trip across haunted seas in the Spooky Seasick Wreck. Those of you who want your...
Video Check Out This Puyo Puyo Tetris Trailer and Dream of Localisation
We may be lucky, right?
A little while ago we told you about Puyo Puyo Tetris, which is exactly what it sounds like. It's a puzzle mashup that dreams are made of courtesy of SEGA, and arrives on Wii U and 3DS in Japan on 6th February 2014. Sadly there's been no hint of localisation yet, though we certainly hold out hope that, at the very least,...
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
Review Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures (Wii U)
Pac ain't afraid of no ghost
As gaming's original icon, Pac-Man has enjoyed a long and varied career. He's munched Power Pellets on dozens of different platforms since his 1980 debut, starred in platform games on the Super Nintendo, raced go karts on the GameCube, had a Top-10 single on the US charts, and even worked under the baton of Mario maestro...
News Nintendo Shares Hit Three-Month High Ahead of Major Releases
Positive signs
Nintendo looks to be making a recovery on the stock market, with shares reaching a three-month high on 22nd November after gaining 4.2 percent on the Toyko Stock Exchange. The milestone lines up with the release of Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U, as well as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour on...
News GameChops DJ Releases Super Mario 3D World HipHop Video Remix
Prepare for musical enlightenment
GameChops is best known for its licensed video game remixes and dance music, and the latest track produced by the founder of the record label is no exception. To celebrate the release of Super Mario 3D World, Dj CUTMAN has created a HipHop video remix of the game’s main theme song. The slow, chilled and relaxed...
Video Let's Round Up The Latest Celeb and "Pitch" Nintendo Commercials
Some of the NL team aren't sure who these 'stars' are, forgive us
Over the past couple of weeks we've shared a number of Nintendo commercials with you, and they've attracted mixed reactions. Some have been popular, some haven't, but all have at least shown that the company's doing some old-fashioned advertising to encourage big sales this shopping...
News Check Out Another Legendary Zelda Violin Medley
From Taylor Davis, who's released a "Melodies of Hyrule" album
We do enjoy examples of Nintendo gaming culture in action here at Nintendo Life, and these often come in the form of musical arrangements and tributes. With The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds currently gracing stores around the world, popular YouTube musician Taylor Davis —...
Video Prepare To Go Super Sized In Mario 3D World's Tricky Trapeze Theatre
Plenty of acrobatics to be found here
Many North American Wii U owners will no doubt have gotten their hands on Super Mario 3D World when it launched in that region yesterday, and to mark the release of this amazing title we'll be running a video every day right up to the European street date — which is next week. Today, it's the high-flying...
Friday22nd Nov 2013
Review Mario Party: Island Tour (3DS)
Rolling the dice
Back in 1999, Mario and his crew could have taught Prince a thing or two about how to celebrate the coming of a new millennium. Establishing itself as a mainstay on the Nintendo 64, the Mario Party series showed up three times to blister hands and bring friends and family together to yell at each other at the top of their lungs...
Review Power Rangers Megaforce (3DS)
No, no, Power Rangers
Let's just say it up front so that nobody skimming the review will miss it: Power Rangers Megaforce is a terrible game. Not only that, it's actually broken in several respects. And we don't mean "broken" to mean "unfair" or "poorly designed." We mean "broken" to mean "it does not work." The concept of the game is promising...
Review Jett Rocket II - The Wrath of Taikai (3DS eShop)
A rocketing success?
It’s crazy to think that it’s been three years since we last saw Jett Rocket. Three years may not seem like it was that long ago, but a lot has changed during this time. As a result, not only is the planetary inspector only just making his handheld début on 3DS, but his creators at Shin’en Multimedia no longer have to...
Review Mega Man X2 (Wii U eShop / SNES)
A mega effort
Capcom has really been on the ball with the Wii U Virtual Console — in just about one year, it has managed to release every single Mega Man game that saw the light of day on the Wii Virtual Console — and more — with Mega Man X2 being the latest release. Much like the original Mega Man series before it, the X series doesn't seem...
Soapbox Zelda's Magic Creates A Link Between Generations
Damien McFerran on how Nintendo's new 3DS Zelda has created a vital bond
More than two decades ago, an excitable 12 year-old boy huddled down in front of his Super Nintendo console armed with a copy of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Having witnessed the critical acclaim directed towards this new action RPG the youth expectantly flicked up...
News CNET Outlines Console Purchase Choices And Highlights Wii U as a "Pretty Compelling Buy"
Different talking head, different outcome
There have been a number of times this year when, sometimes correctly and on other occasions harshly, the Wii U has endured negative coverage and, as a result, subsequent issues with its public image. We've had — and still have, to a degree — issues with awareness, while some dry spells of software have...
News North American Club Nintendo Releases a Gorgeous Link Between Worlds Poster Set
Legendary
As you may have noticed, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds has arrived almost everywhere today — it hits Australia on 23rd October and Japan, amazingly, on 26th December. It's been met with critical acclaim, and social networks are gradually being filled up with happy gamers sharing initial impressions. Keen to capitalise on...
News Reggie Talks Up Wii U Blockbusters As Top 10 Sellers Across the Whole Generation
Assures Wii U momentum, teases VGX appearance and tackles smartphones
With the competition hotting up in the most vital shopping season of the year, Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime, used an appearance on GT.TV's latest episode to outline his reasoning for Wii U optimism, while also outlining lessons learned from a tough 2014...
News Fresh Details Swing Into View for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Gold hearts, 'Kong Pow' and new footage shown
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze may be delayed to early 2014 — February in North America — but with that new release window it looks set to be the first major Wii U title of the new year. Appearing on the latest episode of GT.TV, Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen introduced some new footage and...
Out Now Super Mario 3D World, A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour
Or, if you're not in North America, just A Link Between Worlds
Today's a particularly busy day in the games retail industry, and certainly one of the most crowded in recent memory. There's new hardware, of course, with last week bringing the PS4 to North America — which arrives next week in Europe — and today delivering the Xbox One throughout...
News The Girl and the Robot Adds Wii U Stretch Goal to Campaign
An ironclad friendship
Kickstarter projects often list many of the creator's influences during the process of creating their own title, and these can give an insight into the tone and style of the game to come. From the ground up, past inspirations continue to have an effect on today's releases, and serve as a high standard for developers to strive...
News GameStop Experiences Profit Gains, With Hardware Increases Driven by 3DS and 2DS Sales
Boxed discs appear to be making a comeback
As some have predicted the imminent demise of retail gaming outlets, brought on by an era of new restrictions on game sharing and the used games market, US retailer GameStop has drawn a course full sail in the opposite direction. A new report by Games Industry reveals that the US gaming giant actually...
Video Super Mario Soup Helps Drag Kids Away From Super Mario Game
It's like some kind of food-related paradox
Nintendo is no stranger to working with food companies to promote products, and the Japanese giant has now teamed up with soup maker Campbell's to create the ultimate post-gaming pick-me-up: Super Mario Soup. As you can see from the commercial below, it's the ideal way for parents to lure their excitable...
News SteamWorld Dig Coming to PC, But Follow-Up Will Still Arrive "Day One" on 3DS
"Nintendo has treated us like royalty"
SteamWorld Dig is a 3DS eShop title that's undoubtedly caused a stir among Nintendo Download gamers, while also receiving bounteous praise throughout its reviews. The work of Image & Form, it's been a title that's retained solid momentum after launch due to positive word of mouth, while Nintendo gave it...
Rumour LEGO The Hobbit Planned for 2014 Release
Will likely cover lots of film sequences that weren't actually in the book
Is there any franchise that LEGO video games can't cover? It's a tricky one, and we'd have to start tagging 'Woody Allen' films as a series if we had to try really hard — TT Fusion has already covered Batman, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Marvel to name some, though hasn't...
Video Nintendo UK Interview Shows Off GamePad Controls in Coaster Crazy Deluxe
"If you've got the GamePad and your finger, you can create a Coaster"
Coaster Crazy Deluxe arrived on the Wii U eShop in North America and Europe this week, the first download title from Frontier since the popular LostWinds and LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias on WiiWare. The development studio does have plenty of experience in theme park settings...
News Mega Drive: Collected Works To Include Input From Creators Of Ecco, Comix Zone And Vectorman
US developers on-board for the definitive history of Sega's 16-bitter
We recently reported on the Kickstarter campaign for Sega Mega Drive / Genesis: Collected Works, and are happy to report that the project has already passed its initial funding goal of £30,000. However, Read-Only Memory founder Darren Wall has gotten in
Video Take To The Skies In Mario 3D World's High Bounce Highlands
The only way is up
Many of you in North America will be playing Super Mario 3D World today, but for those in Europe — which isn't getting the game until next week — the torture continues. Allow us to add a little more to that pain by showing you World 4-4, a level focused on bouncing (and, in the case of Mario in this video, a lot of falling)...
Thursday21st Nov 2013
Simple but multi-sided
Two Tribes, in bringing its Classics series to the Wii U eShop, is among the first to deliver inexpensive experiences — especially with launch promotional prices — that have primarily made their home on other platforms for a good period of time. The updated edition of Toki Tori is based on its PC brethren, while now we...
News Nintendo Infographic Shows Off Phenomenal Pokémon X & Y Sales Records
Reached one million U.S. sales in one day
It's likely that anyone with a passing interest in Nintendo will be aware, by now, that Pokémon X & Y have been a major success since launch. The arrival of a new generation on 3DS was preceded by months of barely containable hype, and since hitting stores the two games have been breaking various sales...
Nintendo Download 21st November (North America)
Mario, Zelda, Crazy Coasters, EDGE, discounted Mega Man and much more
It's Nintendo Download update time again, North America, and this week brings two long awaited retail releases on the Wii U and 3DS, a new Mario Party game, plenty of reduced price Mega Man and some promising download-only content on the Wii U, in particular. There's plenty to...
Review Doodle Jump Adventures (3DS)
Scrappy
In recent years, many popular mobile games have found themselves being ported to consoles and handhelds, often with mixed degrees of success. Doodle Jump Adventures, based on Lima Sky’s smartphone hit Doodle Jump, is the latest phenomenon to make the transition and much like Angry Birds before it, does a good job of fleshing out the...
News Turn Your Animal Crossing Character Into A Custom Figurine
A new life for your New Leaf mayor
Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been a part of many 3DS users' lives for quite some time now, and in that time more than a few of us have surely grown particularly attached to their player character at the center of it all. This latest installment in the long-running series brought more customization options to the...
Review Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (Wii U eShop / SNES)
As deep as the ocean
Koei released quite an arsenal of strategy titles during the 16-bit era, many of them on the Super Nintendo console. While the original Uncharted Waters laid the foundation, its sequel New Horizons picked up right where it left off and managed to add quite a few new game play ideas to the mix to form one of the most in-depth and...
News Nintendo's UK Store to Release A Wii U Mario Mega Bundle
Three games, a Mario remote and, most importantly, a Mario hat
In early October Nintendo UK launched its own online store, which has since played host to some pre-order bonuses and a regional exclusive with this rather attractive Luigi-themed 3DS XL. It seems the website is keen to lead the line in terms of driving Wii U sales this Holiday season,...
"Nintendo is carving out a different audience"
Friday 22nd November is a major release day on a number of fronts, including Super Mario 3D World on Wii U (in North America, 29th November in Europe), The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on 3DS, as well as new hardware from Microsoft with the Xbox One; special mentions should also go to Mario...
News EA Germany Survey Fails To Acknowledge The Wii U
No mention of 3DS or Wii, either
If relationship troubles between Nintendo and EA weren’t already dire enough, the circus continues with a recent survey from EA Germany, failing to make mention of Nintendo’s latest home console, the Wii U. In the survey, the Wii U is not mentioned in any of the questions about current or next generation...
News Hyper Light Drifter May Include Mode 7 Mode, Creator Was Deadly Serious About SNES "Demake"
It's about time remakes went the opposite direction
Anyone who has ever played the original Super Mario Kart or F-Zero on the SNES will recall the glorious Mode 7 graphical effect. Its ground-breaking rotating backgrounds had a way of inducing disorientation and ecstasy in players, like a 16-bit drug of the highest order. SNES lover Alex Preston,...
Weirdness The Fresh Prince Meets Super Mario In This Toe-Tapping Mash-Up
I looked at my (Mushroom) kingdom, I was finally there
With the release of Super Mario 3D World almost upon us, what better way to celebrate than combine the lyrics of classic TV show Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air with the Wii U game's infectious soundtrack? That's exactly what one resourceful soul has done — you can witness the result below. If you're...
News Shovel Knight Digs Up a Few Surprise Features
Miiverse and Streetpass integration announced
The crew over at Yacht Clubs Games are still putting their backs into the development of Shovel Knight, according to a recent Kickstarter update. The team has offered a list of some of the current features it's working on, with a couple that'll be exclusive to the Nintendo versions of the game. In...
Video Super Mario 3D World's Chainlink Charge Level Will Test Your Skills
Make sure you grab the cat suit
Super Mario 3D World is almost with us — it launches in North America tomorrow — and to mark the occasion we're running a different video every day until the European launch, which is next Friday. Today it's World 3-2, otherwise known as Chainlink Charge. Considering how early on in the game this level appears,...
News EDGE to Roll Its Way Onto the 3DS eShop
Published by Two Tribes, ported by Cosmigo
EDGE arrives on the Wii U eShop in North America and Europe today, the second entry in the Two Tribes Classics series of low-prices releases. We're big fans, too, awarding it 9/10 in our review. Publisher Two Tribes has now confirmed that the title will also be making its way the 3DS eShop, soon, providing...
Developer Session We Chat to Nifflas About His Knytt Underground Vision
"I would say it’s a beautiful, slow-paced experience, very ambient."
We've emphasized in recent times that there are a good number of intriguing download-only titles coming to the Wii U eShop, bringing a variety of experiences to the fore. One that could be particularly involving and complex for players to tackle may be Knytt Underground, a title...
Wednesday20th Nov 2013
Soapbox Super Mario 3D World's Playful Whimsy is Refreshing, But Faces a Vital Commercial Test
Will an overwhelmingly positive critical response and buzz deliver success?
Something slightly surprising, to me at least, happened yesterday. Super Mario 3D World had a wonderful series of reviews that went live, on any major outlet you'd care to name, bang on the embargo. I'm not talking about the scores — which were excellent — but the...
Review World Conqueror 3D (3DS eShop)
Tanks, but no tanks
Field Marshal Archibald Percival Wavell of the British Army once said that “war is a muddle” and, quite frankly, we couldn’t agree with him more. The conflict he described was that of World War II; that's the very same that World Conqueror 3D strives to simulate, with messy results. No more than an overcomplicated clone of...
News Exclusive 2DS Pokémon X And Y Bundles Announced For South Korea
Gotta bundle 'em all
South Korean Nintendo fans will soon be able to get their hands on two new hardware bundles which include the recent smash-hit Pokémon X & Y. Instead of the gorgeous limited edition Pokémon 3DS XL bundles released in other territories, Nintendo of Korea has announced a red & white 2DS with a copy of Pokémon X, and a...
News 25 Year-Old Japanese Man Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Blow Up Nintendo's HQ
Said he would kill Nintendo executives "sooner or later"
It has been reported today that a 25 year-old Japanese man has been arrested in connection with death threats made against executives at Nintendo. According to Sankei News, the suspect used Nintendo's online inquiry form to make the threats, even going as far as to name the Nintendo staff he...
News Fossil Fighters Roaring Onto 3DS Next Year
Far from extinct
Nintendo’s RPG dinosaur series Fossil Fighters looks to be making a return next year with a new game in the series slated for 3DS. According to Nintendo Everything, the 3DS version is said to feature improved visuals, a lowered camera perspective, and movement in third-person. Players will also be able to select from a male or...
News Walmart Goes Early With the Link Between Worlds 3DS Bundle in the US, Sort Of
Link's between shelves already
Street dates for games and hardware certainly have a mixed record of enforcement, with the majority observed impeccably and others flagrantly disregarded — Pokémon X & Y was the in the latter camp. So on that score one major retailer in the US is already displaying the Link Between Worlds hardware bundle,...
News Super Mario 3D World Reaches Top Spot On Amazon's North American Best Sellers Chart
The buzz and hype clearly help
Yesterday saw an influx of very positive assessments of Super Mario 3D World, including our very own 10/10 review. These reviews seem to of had an impact on the game’s sales on Amazon, where the title is the number one best seller in the video game category in North America, at the time of writing. Considering the...
News FAST Racing NEO To Feature 'Hyper Real Graphics'
Shin’en to use 4K - 8K textures within the game
Shin’en’s recently announced Wii U eShop title FAST Racing NEO will feature “hyper real graphics” according to a tweet made by the developer earlier today. The follow up to 2011’s FAST Racing - League for WiiWare, will use between 4K and 8K textures to impress from a technical standpoint...
News Fire Emblem: Awakening and ZombiU Developers Outline the Challenges of Permadeath
"[Writing ZombiU] was the toughest challenge...in over 10 years of writing"
In an era of gamers regularly debating the level of challenge offered in modern titles, an argument that can be tough to resolve, the concept of permadeath is a relatively rare feature that caters to those seeking a lack of compromise in their experiences. Taking away...
News 3DS XL Given A Close Run by Vita and Vita TV in Japanese Charts
Wii U sales dip again, but remain above PS3 et al
The madness of Nintendo Direct meant that we skipped the Japanese chart update last week, which saw the 3DS remain on top and the Wii U sales dip to 17,737 units, which was still a long way above the lows it had suffered in previous months. We have been in the midst of a relative dip in new software...
Video What Happens When Mario 3D World Meets Mario Kart?
Mount Must Dash, that's what
If you read our Super Mario 3D World review yesterday then you'll no doubt be very excited indeed about getting your hands on the game when it launches soon. With that in mind, we'll be running a video every day right up to release, each showing one of the game's amazingly inventive levels. First up is World 3-6,...
News Rating For NES Remix Issued By Australian Classification Board
A multiplatform release by Nintendo - but what is it?
A mysterious rating has appeared on the Australian Classification Board site for a Nintendo title by the name of NES Remix. Listed as a "multiplatform" release — which would suggest both Wii U and 3DS — the game has been awarded a "G" rating, with the level of violence listed as having a...
News SteamWorld Dig Creators to Make "Huge Announcement" Tomorrow
Is there another SteamWorld game in the works?
Image & Form, the Swedish development studio behind 3DS eShop title SteamWorld Dig, stated on Twitter earlier today that it will be making a huge announcement tomorrow. Seeing as the tweet — which is shown below — tells us to speculate about what this could be, we thought it'd be rude not to...
Video CNET Pays Homage To The Nintendo Game Boy
The legendary monochrome system gets some welcome recognition
Portable video gaming would be very different were it not for the Nintendo Game Boy. Although it was technologically outdated by the time it launched — rival systems like the Sega Game Gear and Atari Lynx offered better displays and superior processing power — it nevertheless became...
News Signed EarthBound Cartridge to Be Auctioned Off for Cancer Patient
“For James”
EarthBound is all about strong bonds; not only within the game but also its fan community. There is nothing that may demonstrate this point more fluently in recent days than the story of a special EarthBound cartridge that will soon be auctioned off during the EarthBound Bash marathon. The cartridge began in the hands of James...
News Hyper Light Drifter Developer Aims to Deliver the Same Experience Across All Platforms
Off-TV play is an aim on Wii U, while 8- 16-Bit difficulty is planned
We were rather pleased to confirm, in October, that Hyper Light Drifter had successfully reached a Wii U stretch goal in its successful crowdfunding campaign. Successful is putting in mildly, however, as the project raised $645,158 from an initial goal of $27,000; it's due in June...
Tuesday19th Nov 2013
Review Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)
A purrfect blend
Super Mario 3D World is a brave release as it strives, without any hint of apology, to hit on a formula to satisfy the majority of 2D platforming fans and the smaller — but still sizeable — legion of 3D Mario devotees. Many enjoy both, of course, yet they’ve always been distinct experiences that often lead to a clear...
News Wii U System Update 4.0.2 Goes Live
Spot the differences
It's system update time once again on the Wii U, though before you get out the party hats you should know that 4.0.2 U (North America) and 4.0.2 E (Europe) are only small files focused on "minor adjustments". As expected, the Nintendo changelog says the following. Further improvements to overall system stability and other...
News Nintendo of Europe Launches Free Super Mario 3D Land Promotion for New 3DS Owners
Great for newcomers
Nintendo of Europe has today announced a promotion to encourage new 3DS owners to register their systems, buy a game and — by extension — perhaps get a taste for Wii U-exclusive Super Mario 3D World. It's been announced that those that register a new 3DS or 3DS XL — and one of 15 games — on Club Nintendo between 27th...
Review Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land (3DS)
Regular Show game for 3DS, send it to the moon
When we heard that WayForward was developing a Regular Show video game, we were optimistic. Not only does the studio generally pump out better-than-expected licensed games, but last year it produced Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!, which ended up being a loving tribute to the...
News Nintendo Addresses Confusion Surrounding Wii U's Name In Latest TV Commercial
"We already have a Wii, sweety-kins!"
Nintendo seems to be getting serious with its latest Wii U advertising campaign. The company's latest television spot continues its series of humorous "Pitch" commercials that playfully feature children using diagrams and formal presentations to communicate to their parents that purchasing a Wii U just makes...
Review Secret Mysteries in New York (3DS eShop)
Find every object, for great justice
There's a real puzzle afoot in Secret Mysteries in New York, and it has to do with the game's title itself. No, it's not our attempt to figure out whether or not the phrase "secret mysteries" qualifies as redundant; it's why the developers bothered to rename Secret Mysteries in London for its eShop release. The...
Rumour Nintendo Employee Discusses Work on "Tablet With Educational Games"
Nintendo of America declines to comment
As far as rumours go, this is certainly one that's catching on, as Nintendo of America employee Nando Monterazu — described in his Twitter profile as a Software Engineer — posted a series of messages regarding his involvement in a tablet device separate from the Wii U and its GamePad; it'll supposedly have...
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...
News Aussie Rating Reveals The Title Of Nintendo's First Free-To-Play Effort
Steel Diver: Sub Wars breaks the surface
It was revealed some time ago that a version of Steel Diver would be Nintendo's first free-to-play offering, but we've now got a solid title thanks to The Australian Classification Board.
News Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Is Drifting Into Western Arcades This Winter
Hope you've collected lots of coins
Namco Bandai and Nintendo announced Mario Kart GP DX at the start of the year, but a western release of the coin-op hasn't been up for discussion — until now, that is. Arcade Hero is reporting that the game will be making its way out of Japan this year, with attendees at the IAAPA 2013 trade show in Orlando...
News Latest Iwata Asks Highlights Protracted, On-Off Development of Link Between Worlds
Initial wall concept featured Link design from Spirit Tracks
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is now just days away and has been critically acclaimed — we awarded 10/10 in our own review. Much has been revealed in various ways since then — we imagine many are studiously dodging spoilers — but the latest Iwata Asks provi
Video There Are Four New Super Mario 3D World Commercials to Show Off Its Awesomeness
See, it's fun
We can finally say it, unequivocally, without the big embargo anvil over our heads — Super Mario 3D World is a wonderful game. It's magnificent, actually, which is why we gave it 10/10 in our review; it's a must own for Wii U owners and those planning to pick up a system. Nintendo UK is keen to get the message out, of course, and...
Parent Trap Super Mario 3D World Is Another Family Classic From Nintendo
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson is feline groovy
It’s been a while since I first stepped into the world of 3D with Mario. Super Mario 64 seems like an age ago, and my whole family of five has been created in the meantime. However, like any worthwhile creation, a multiplayer version of this three dimensional play-space was important to get right...
News Here Are Some Lighter Moments from the Link Between Worlds Iwata Asks
Because we all need to (laugh)
Earlier today we provided a short summary and directed your attention to the recently-published Link Between Worlds Iwata Asks, in which Satoru Iwata discussed the title's development and design with five members of the team — design leader Koji Takahashi, assistant director Kentaro Tominaga, lead programmer Shiro...
Weirdness You'll Still Be Able To (Sort Of) Play Watch Dogs This Christmas
Perhaps not in the way you'd expect, though
Ubisoft's Watch_Dogs was one of 2013's most anticipated titles, until it got pushed into 2014, that is. While nothing can really remedy the disappointment of missing out on one of the most exciting new games in recent memory, you can still Watch Dogs — quite literally — thanks to the well-intentioned...
News The Second Best Damn Half Time Entertainment You'll Ever See
More Nintendo marching band madness
College Football and marching bands go together like Apple Pie and a cup of Joe in North America, and we hope you forgive our lazy cultural reference. But still, they do, and occasionally these groups put together ridiculously complicated routines with choreography to delight those in the cheap seats. Naturally...
News ZaciSa's Last Stand Blasting Towards the Wii U eShop
It's tower defence in space, so actually 'space-base' defence
A number of upcoming download-only games have been highlighted for the Wii U eShop in recent weeks and months, some of which by Nintendo in its own trailers. Naturally there are more projects yet to be widely seen, however, with one example likely to be ZaciSa's Last Stand by ZeNfA...
Monday18th Nov 2013
Blast from the past
3DS has amassed a curiously robust library of music creation software for a chunk of hardware built to play video games. The KORG brand in particular has made itself comfy on Nintendo's handhelds in the past few years, starting with an emulation of the classic MS-10 synth in KORG DS-10, and now the M1 gets the software treatment...
Nintendo Download 21st November (Europe)
Zelda arrives, Sonic demos, discounted Rayman, Wii U EDGE and much more
It's a full on Nintendo Download week, Europe, with the lineup kicking off our Monday with a bewildering range of options. We have some big-name retail titles arriving, three intriguing Wii U eShop download-only releases, a hugely attractive Rayman discount and a lot more...
News Happy Birthday, Wii U - You're One Today
Twelve months have passed since the North American launch
It's been a year since the Wii U hit store shelves in North America, and it's fair to say that the first twelve months of the console's life have been somewhat mixed. We've had some amazing games, like Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros. U and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, and there are...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Thirteen
Marth's sword, The Villager's net, a MARIO GALAXY STAGE and more
We hope you agree that Mondays are made a little better with more Super Smash Bros. screens, with this 13th entry in our series being unlucky for absolutely no-one; Masahiro Sakurai has been busy, as always, on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room Miiverse community board. Last week's...
News Nintendo Picks Up 10 Nominations for Spike VGX Awards
Super Mario 3D World up for Game of the Year
Spike TV's annual video game awards show, newly re-branded this year as VGX, has released the list of nominees for its 7th December ceremony. Nintendo doesn't make that bad of a showing among the potential winners, with Nintendo-only titles receiving 10 nominations (11 if you want to count the Wii U...
News Xenoblade Studio Monolith Soft Was Involved With Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Many hands make light work?
Nintendo working with other studios on its big titles isn't anything new, but it's nevertheless interesting to note that Monolith Soft's name appears in the end credits to The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. The Xenoblade creator — which is a subsidiary of Nintendo — isn't a stranger to the Zelda franchise...
News Check out These Awesome Super Mario Happy Meal Toys
Although you'll need to go to Japan if you want one
Do you love Super Mario, enjoy eating copious amounts of fast food and also happen to live in Japan? If so, then you're in luck! Starting from next month, McDonalds Japan will be offering two delightful Super Mario toys with its Happy Set meals (essentially the Japanese version of a Happy Meal)...
Interview KORG M01D Creator Nobuyoshi Sano Talks About Making Sweet Music On The 3DS eShop
Detune's Sano talks about turning 3DS consoles into music-making tools
To celebrate the release of KORG M01D on the 3DS eShop and the publication of our review, we present to you an exclusive interview with its creator Nobuyoshi Sano, conducted by dedicated fan Graham Ellaby. Since its launch in December 2010 on the Nintendo DS, KORG M01 has...
News Give Your Apple TV That All-Important Nintendo Vibe With These Retro Skins
Love the skin you're in
If you happen to own an Apple TV unit then you may feel that it's a little too plain for your liking, but fear not — Killer Duck Decals has the solution. The company has produced skins for the Apple TV unit which allow it to mimic classic Nintendo systems like the NES, SNES and
News Professor Layton Cracks the UK Top 10 as 3DS XL Hardware Sales Double
The gentleman finds a solution
Last week we reported that Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy made its UK chart début in 13th place; as a single-format title up against various multi-platform behemoths it was a respectable showing. It seems that the power of bundles has done much for the title and its predecessor — Professor
Review Word Wizard 3D (3DS eShop)
Dark wizard
Word games can be fun, addictive brain teasers, but they can also be tedious, unintuitive and shallow. Word Wizard 3D unfortunately falls squarely into the latter category. Though there are plenty of game modes, and none are fundamentally broken, there's nothing in Word Wizard 3D that justifies its purchase over various alternatives that...
Video Nintendo of America 3DS Holiday Commercial Asks "Why Do You Play 3DS?"
"Because it's Nintendo", of course
Recent days have, as is only sensible at this time a year, seen Nintendo up the ante with its marketing for the Wii U and 3DS, with some of its trailers even being spotted in actual TV commercial breaks. The Wii U messaging has been very much focused on the reasons for families to upgrade to the system, whereas the...
News UK Study Finds No Link Between Video Games And Behavioural Problems In Children
11,000 youngsters accessed in scientific research
A study by The University of Glasgow of around 11,000 children has found that no connection exists between playing video games at an early age and problems with behaviour later on in life. Researchers asked mothers to note the amount of time their children played games and to report on any issues...
News Jeff Willms Wins Donkey Kong World Championship for the Second Year Running
Sounds like it was a barrel load of fun
Jeff Willms proved that he still has the touch when it comes to the arcade classic Donkey Kong after he took home the grand prize for the second year in a row at the Kong Off 3 Donkey Kong world championship this past weekend. Competing in the tournament against Willms were 22 renowned Donkey Kong players,...
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...
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
Guide Using Nintendo Network ID On Your 3DS
What to expect when the service hits the 3DS soon
It was recently revealed that the Nintendo Network ID system is coming to the 3DS — and not before time. As well as opening up the likes of Miiverse to portable players, the new system will finally allow you to share your eShop credit balance between your Wii U and 3DS. If you own a Wii U then...
News Nintendo Confirms That Miiverse on 3DS Won't Allow Friend Requests or User Messaging
Like the browser-based service, then
The December arrival of Miiverse on the 3DS is sure to lead to a major expansion of users on the network, with the sizeable 3DS userbase joining those currently on the platform using a Nintendo Network ID on the Wii U. It's one part of what, we hope, will be a continual expansion of the ID system on the 3DS...
News Miyamoto: Nintendo Has Unfinished Business With Super Mario Galaxy Series
Release of Super Mario 3D World got in the way
Following on from Super Mario 3D World producer Yoshiaki Koizuma comments about the possibility of the Mario series returning to an open-world style approach if there was enough demand for it, EAD General Manager Shigeru Miyamoto has now assured fans in the latest Iwata Asks Interview that the...
Talking Point The Nintendo Network ID Creeps Ever Closer to Being Fit for the Modern Age
There's still some distance to go
Since the Wii U launched with its shiny new Nintendo Network ID system, we've been both pleased and frustrated with its implementation. The fact it's tied to the home console hardware has led us to be critical, on occasion, to the point where we once rather cruelly equated it to the abomination of its equivalent on...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe For 3DS Floats Into Japan on 11th January, Teaser Site Goes Live
Suck it up, Europe and North America
Everyone's favorite pink cream puff will be returning soon in a brand new adventure on Nintendo 3DS. Kirby: Triple Deluxe, as it was dubbed by the latest Nintendo Direct, has received an official Japanese release date, along with a brand new website. The game will be arriving on 11th January 2014 in the Land of...
Review Toki Tori (Wii U eShop)
Super cheap puzzle fun
Many moons ago, when WiiWare first launched on the Wii, Two Tribes had Toki Tori ready to go as one of the very first games on the service. It was a remake of the Game Boy Color game, which in itself was also a pseudo-remake; we liked it a lot. Unfortunately for some, however, a PC version of the game was released not too...
Weirdness Shigeru Miyamoto Meets Mario in Real Life
Sometimes you just can't get away from your parents
The Mario Bros. may be video game icons, recognizable to millions all around the world; yet you still wouldn't expect to see them strolling (or indeed jumping) down the street. Their 'adventures' in Brooklyn with Dennis Hopper aside, we've rarely seen the duo anywhere outside the green hills of the...
Review Secret Agent Files: Miami (3DS eShop)
Cold case
Hidden object games are a relatively new genre descended from “point and click” classics like King’s Quest, Broken Sword and others. Secret Agent Files: Miami strives to combine hidden object gameplay with more traditional point/click puzzle solving and attempts to make good use of the 3DS’ features along the way; yet the end...
News Oh Yes, The Mario Galaxy Stage is Confirmed for the New Super Smash Bros.
Gosh
Even though its release date isn't set, and that very few people in the world have actually played the games, we're rather hyped about Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS. This anticipation is helped by Masahiro Sakurai's daily image uploads, which we summarise every week to bring some joy to each gloomy Monday. So Smash Bros. is awesome, but...
News Suda51: "Nintendo Are Always Very Important To Us"
Sees the rise of indie games as the highlight of the current generation
Suda51 (or Goichi Suda as he’s known to his mum), the mastermind behind titles such as No More Heroes, Killer7 and Lollipop Chainsaw, hasn’t released a game on a Nintendo home console since No More Heroes 2 for the Wii in 2010. However, Grasshopper Manufacture’s CEO hasn't...
News 3DS and 2DS Double Monthly US Hardware Sales to 452,000 Units For October
Pokémon X & Y are, unsurprisingly, super effective
It's NPD results time again, such as they are, with some data revealed for hardware and software retail sales in the US. Nintendo has unsurprisingly been one of the first to announce it own results, quite simply because they're impressive. For the sixth consecutive month in the United States the...
News Nintendo Stock Value Rises After Buying Stake In Mobile Web Company Dwango
Embracing the mobile market
Mobile gaming is something Nintendo reportedly has no plans of participating in anytime soon. President Satoru Iwata previously made it clear Nintendo would lose its identity if it were to make such a move. On other occasions, he has said this field of games and software development is under absolutely no consideration...
News Pokémon X & Y Enjoyed the Strongest Ever Nintendo Game Launch in Australia and New Zealand
Stock shortages to be resolved soon
Just recently we reported on the US NPD results for October, in which it was announced that the 3DS and 2DS systems had achieved monthly sales of 452,000 units, an impressive figure. Pokémon X & Y, unsurprisingly, played a major role in that success — between them the two titles passed 1.7 million sales in...
News Norwegian Cruise Line extends partnership with Nintendo, now offering Wii U
It’s no Daisy Cruiser
Nintendo is linked to baseball teams, love hotels, and even Mahjong sets, so it should come as no surprise it has other unique partnerships helping to expand the brand name globally. With this in mind, US cruise ship operator Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a partnership expansion with Nintendo to offer brand new Wii U...
Weirdness Wii Love This Nintendo Polar Bear
Fashioned entirely from Wii controllers
Christmas is fast approaching, soon you'll see that Coca-Cola advert on TV, but what better way to get into the festive spirit than a Nintendo polar bear made from 142 pieces of Nintendo gaming history? John Lewis, famed for its lavish Christmas advertisements and decorations, has a new display at its flagship...
News Ace Attorney Producer Wants To Revive Capcom's Final Fight
Motohide Eshiro also wants to revisit Devil May Cry and Shadow of Rome
Motohide Eshiro is the producer of Capcom's recent 3DS offering Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, and has worked in a wide range of roles at the company, including a programmer, director and planner. Given this wealth of experience, it seems only fair to ask which...
News Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths Will Find Its Way Onto the Wii U eShop on 21st November
Will arrive on the 3DS store "a couple of weeks later"
During the Summer we told you about Mysterious Cities of Gold: Secret Paths, which is based on the popular Japanese / French animated series of the same name; its popularity is on the rise again since its '80s glory days, and the game will be updated with free DLC to match up with new episodes...
News Jett Rocket II Delayed Down Under, Will Be Released "As Quick As Possible"
Aussies will just have to wait
While the rest of the world is enjoying Jett Rocket II: The Wraith of Taikai on the 3DS, the game is yet to be released — or even rated by the Australian Classification Board — Down Under. The information was delivered via a post on the official Facebook page of the game’s developer, Shin'en Multimedia. The...
Thursday14th Nov 2013
Review The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
A classic series gets a fresh new coat of paint
Much like everyone's favourite green-garbed hero Link, Eiji Aonuma, current producer of The Legend of Zelda series, is also on a quest of his own. However, Aonuma-san isn't tasked with saving Hyrule, nor is he desperately searching for the sacred Triforce; in fact, his personal mission isn't nearly as...
Nintendo Download 14th November (North America)
Mario & Sonic, cheaper Zelda, busty brawling and much more
The Nintendo Download news has come in later than usual today, and no wonder. It's another lengthy list to get through this week, with some major retail releases joining a host of download-only options. With further preamble, let's get to it. Wii U Virtual Console: Uncharted Waters: New...
News A Super Mario 3D World Soundtrack is Coming to Club Nintendo in Japan
Oh, and it has awesome cover-art
We've commented, throughout our coverage so far, that Super Mario 3D World has a terrific soundtrack performed by a live Big Band / orchestra. Gamers in Japan will have a chance to pick up an official soundtrack as a Club Nintendo reward, which is sure to cause enormous outpourings of envy from, well, everyone else...
Review Wario's Woods (Wii U eShop / NES)
Kinopio's Canopy
Wario's Woods has had quite a storied legacy over the last few decades, standing not only as the last officially licensed game released on Nintendo's legendary NES in North America in 1994, but also one of the very first titles available on the Wii's Virtual Console service. In-between those impressive milestones, it made an...
Miyamoto & Co. take Iwata through the warp pipe
Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata exercised his gift of gab yet again in the latest Iwata Asks, this time leaving no koopa shell unturned in a rousing discussion with the developers of Super Mario 3D World. Legendary Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto sat down with his fellow 3D World designers...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 13th November 2013 Broadcasts
Big news for 3DS and a whole load of release dates and details
So, another Nintendo Direct broadcast has come and gone. The reaction online seemed to be, as is now standard, rather mixed. Some have expressed disappointment, while others (such as this writer) thought the broadcasts did a rather good job. Primarily announced as providing details on...
Video Pitching a Wii U to Parents Requires Serious Production Values
Does your Dad say "Bow!"?
With the Holiday shopping season upon us, not to mention the upcoming madness of Black Friday, Nintendo is unleashing a new TV commercial in North America called "The Pitch". It involves two siblings selling the concept of Wii U, Super Mario 3D World and "togetherness"; it's not as dry as it sounds, honest. There's some...
News Paradise Lost: First Contact Makes Wii U A New Priority
Initial funding of $70,000 now guarantees a release on Nintendo's console
Previously we reported on the Kickstarter project Paradise Lost: First Contact and the team's controversial decision to leave development on Wii U as a final stretch goal, behind even other home consoles. The decision prompted debate on whether Nintendo's innovations...
"The team had a strong desire from the very start to call it "3D World"
Earlier today we posted a summary of some key points from a recently published Super Mario 3D World Iwata Asks, in which the team discussed camera angles, Rosalina and the desire to feature a large amount of content. The discussion took in plenty of other topics, naturally, as...
Parent Trap Forging A Link Between Worlds
Andy Robertson reveals how Zelda has inspired his son's artistic side
The biggest challenge in a family is the different perception of video games. While the gamers understand these experiences to be some of the most endearing, creative and life-giving encounters they experience, non-gamers consider them dry, solitary and mechanical affairs. Over...
Video Most Haunted Special With Call Of Duty: Ghosts
Derek Acorah investigates
Are we alone? Are there things that happen in this life that cannot be explained without consideration of the paranormal? Are there actually any ghosts in Call of Duty: Ghosts? These are questions that have haunted mankind for decades, but we're here — with the help of acclaimed UK spiritual medium Derek Acorah — to...
Wednesday13th Nov 2013
News Capcom's 3DS Smash Hit Monster Hunter 4 Is Venturing Outside Of Japan
Between this and Gangnam Style, South Korea has it all
In sometimes quiet and subtle ways, Nintendo has been expanding its presence in the Korean market ever since opening a new division of the company in Seoul back in 2006 and enthralling Korean gamers with many of its major software releases. In the case of Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the game saw...
News System Update Will Allow You To Share eShop Balances Across Wii U And 3DS
The first step towards a single account system?
During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast it was announced that players will be able to combine and share their eShop credit across their 3DS and Wii U systems. By signing into the 3DS with your Nintendo Network ID, you will be able to spend credit you have attached to that account. Likewise, any...
News Long Awaited YouTube Application Coming To 3DS Later This Month
Those funny cat videos are so close we can practically touch them
During today's Nintendo Direct it was announced that the popular video sharing website YouTube will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS. A date is yet to be specified, but we're told that it will arrive later on this month in both Europe and North America. You can easily view videos on the...
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies DLC Priced and Dated
A well orca-strated case
The previously announced DLC case for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies is set to take the stand next week in the West — you know, the one where Phoenix might just have the awesomest client ever? According to
News Oceanhorn for iOS Seems to be 'Heavily Inspired' by Zelda
"Grow from a boy to a legend", which seems familiar
What if the concepts behind The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker were merged with a visual style that hints at The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, with a camera angle somewhere between the two perspectives? We bet you'd get something like Oceanhorn, which is starting to roll-out on iOS...
News Nintendo's Miiverse Social Network Finally Makes Its Way To The 3DS
Comes hand-in-hand with shared eShop balances
Today's Nintendo Direct update delivered the welcome news of combined eShop credit across the 3DS and Wii U systems, but this came with another positive piece of information: Miiverse is finally coming to Nintendo's handheld. Miiverse launched with the Wii U last year, and a web-based version was...
News Nintendo of America Launches Weekly eShop Price Promotions
This week is all about the Zelda franchise
While many announcements in today's regional Nintendo Direct broadcasts were largely similar in both North America and Europe, one promotion confirmed by Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils-Aime may make some European gamers jealous. It's been confirmed that there'll be weekly eShop promotions covering the...
News Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida Wants The Wii U To Succeed
So much so, he's bought two of them
We've known that Sony's Shuhei Yoshida is a fan of the Wii U for some time — he has previously revealed that he owns Nintendo's current home console — but in a chat with IGN's Greg Miller, he has spoken a little more of his desire to see the console become a success. During the interview, Yoshida mentioned...
Nintendo Direct Watch The North American Presentation Live
Handheld delights await you within
If you're keen to hear about upcoming 3DS software then you've come to the right place. Airing at 8AM PT / 11AM ET, today's Nintendo Direct will focus on "previously announced" software for Nintendo's best-selling handheld console. You can watch the whole thing on this very page, and don't be scared to leave a...
News Classic And Modern Skins Pack Now Available In Batman: Arkham Origins
Style your Batman
Protectors of the Wii U version of Gotham City will be able to continue their fight against crime with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today releasing the New Millennium Skins Pack for Batman: Arkham Origins. The pack can now be purchased from the eShop for US$3.99 — $1 less than on PS3 and Xbox 360 — and will be...
News Animal Crossing Plaza To Be Updated Tomorrow
Bringing familiar faces and more reasons to pay a visit
The Wii U's first taste of Animal Crossing will be getting a beefy update very soon, as announced in today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts. On 14th November an update will be released with a few new features, emphasizing interactivity and the Miiverse community. Adding stamps to Miiverse posts,...
Video This "10 New Things" Super Mario 3D World Trailer Will Push Your Buttons
Super is the word
Super Mario 3D World is, based on many written perceptions of Nintendo fans online, a game that becomes increasingly exciting the more it's seen. The initial E3 trailer arguably struggled to prompt much buzz, but recent videos have taken the action up a notch and, in the process, ramped up the hype levels for the plumber's next...
News Bravely Default Demo Hits European eShop Today
North American release on 7th February
With a lot of buzz around Bravely Default, today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts brought positive news regarding an early chance to play for Europeans, as well as a release date for North America. In the European broadcast Satoru Shibata confirmed that a demo for the title will be released on the eShop today,...
News StreetPass Relay Point Improvements and Free SpotPass Content Announced
Rack up those hits
While not necessarily the biggest news to come out of today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts, there have been updates on the StreetPass Relay service that utilises Wi-Fi hotspots to give 3DS owners much needed hits. In Europe it's been confirmed that, as of 14th November, relay points around the region will begin to provide the last...
News Call Of Duty: Ghosts Patch Breaks The Cover Of Darkness On Wii U
Comes armed with minor fixes
Developer Infinity Ward has launched the latest update patch for the recently released Call of Duty: Ghosts. The patch covers all platforms, including the Wii U. The update has given the shooter title improved operations functionality along with some bug fixes. A band-aid has been applied to private match settings,...
News Get Tactical With Nintendo Pocket Football Club on the 3DS eShop Next Year
Football Manager, Nintendo style
Previously released in Japan as Pocket Soccer League: Calciobit in 2012, Nintendo has announced that Nintendo Pocket Football Club will hit the back of the net on the 3DS eShop in Europe next year. You can presumably attempt to become the next Sir Alex Ferguson as you take full control of your own football club by...
Nintendo Direct Watch The European Presentation Live
3DS is the focus
Today will see the broadcast of yet another Nintendo Direct, this time with previously announced 3DS games being the main focus. Presented by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata, the broadcast will air at 4PM UK time. You can watch the entire thing unfold on this very page...
News Nintendo Delivers Another eShop Sizzle Reel to Hype Some Download Treats
Wii U and 3DS eShop releases featured
During its August Nintendo Direct broadcast Nintendo of Europe released a rather awesome eShop sizzle reel. Such is the nature of development that plenty of those titles are yet to grace the download platforms, but today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts did include a fresh video that highlighted upcoming releases...
News Nintendo Outlines Details of Third Wave of Pikmin 3 DLC
Eight new Mission Mode stages incoming
Since Pikmin 3’s release back in the summer, the game has already seen two downloadable add-on mission mode sets, both available through the Wii U’s eShop. In today’s Nintendo Direct presentations, a third mission mode pack has been announced for release on 2nd December in Europe and North America; the...
News Ubisoft Launches Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Companion App
Compatible with the Wii U version
Ubisoft has launched a companion app for its most recent entry in the Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. The app is available for download on both iOS and Android devices, giving gamers a more immersive experience in Edward Kenway's Caribbean adventure. The second screen has many features...
News Wii Fit U Update Resolves Data Transfer Issues
Fixes 'lock up' issue
Last week we reported that some players were experiencing lock ups in Wii Fit U when attempting to transfer save data from either Wii Fit or Wii Fit Plus. Nintendo quickly issued a manual solution to resolve the problem, which involved deleting Mii characters in the Wii U Mii Maker, along with any transfer data. Fortuna
News Nintendo Reveals a Host of New Details For The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Link-ing it all together
With The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds now a little over a month away, Nintendo took the opportunity in its Nintendo Direct broadcasts to reveal some choice details about the game, including one that'll either thrill or disappoint fans of Majora's Mask. A few new characters were detailed — the first was Irene, a...
Video Nintendo Teases Zelda: Link Between Worlds Footage On Instagram
15-second trailers served up for your enjoyment
Instagram is so much more than just static photos these days — you can upload short videos, too. That's exactly what Nintendo is doing to promote The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which launches on 3DS shortly. As confirmed during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, 15-second trailers will...
News Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai Available Now on the 3DS eShop
Flying in early as a Nintendo Direct treat
With Jett Rocket being a stand-out on WiiWare and developer Shin'en Multimedia building an increasingly positive reputation on Nintendo's platforms, there's been a good degree of anticipation for Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai among Nintendo Download enthusiasts. With a promise of a silky smooth 60...
News Activision Rolls Out Transformers Combo Packs For Wii And DS
Just in time for Christmas
While it's easy to get excited about the new games coming to the Wii U and 3DS, it's worth remembering that there are an awful lot of Wii and DS consoles out in the wild, and plenty of people still rely on these superseded formats for their interactive entertainment — hence Activision's recent announcement of...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Gets The Dice Rolling On 17th January In Europe
Get the party started
Not too long ago we reported that Mario Party: Island Tour had suffered a delay into early 2014 — it was previously scheduled to arrive this month in Europe. Today's Nintendo Direct confirmed that the title will launch in the region on 17th January 2014, bringing with it a variety of wacky mini-games and seven new boards to...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Finally Dated for North America
Mark out 28th February in your diaries
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy arrived in Europe recently, bringing a close to the series in its current form. Unfortunately North American gamers only had a vague 2014 release window, but during today's Nintendo Direct festivities it was confirmed that the 3DS title will finally arrive in the region on...
Tuesday12th Nov 2013
News Call of Duty: Ghosts Wii U Performance Reportedly Drops Below PS3 and 360 Standards
Eurogamer's Digital Foundry issues its verdict
Activision's Call of Duty: Ghosts may not have reached the standard series heights with its sales — perhaps due to a combination of wearied franchise veterans, a middling critical reaction and the impending arrival of the One and PS4 — but it's nevertheless one of the biggest releases of the year...
News 2DS For $99.99 Among Major Sales Arriving On Black Friday
Plenty of cheap thrills summarised inside
Nothing captures the Holiday spirit quite like a line of angry shoppers wrapped around the outside of a Walmart store. On 29th November, Americans will officially ring in the Christmas season with the arrival of Black Friday, that annual all-day shopping event when retailers nationwide offer up countless...
Review Wii Sports Club: Bowling (Wii U eShop)
No splits here
When it comes to the games in the original Wii Sports that felt the most realistic and compelling, Bowling would have to be a candidate as the best of the lot. Golf and Baseball may have a say, too, while Tennis and Boxing — most definitely the latter — perhaps had the greatest degree of waggle. The fact Bowling reappeared in...
Talking Point Nintendo's Resilience Against Wii U Criticism Emphasizes Its Longevity
As the critics attack, Satoru Iwata simply looks ahead
It's been, overall, a tough couple of weeks for the Wii U's image in the online land of gaming enthusiasts. The focused attention of many outlets is, unsurprisingly and quite correctly, on the upcoming launches of the PS4 and the Xbox One, with Super Mario 3D World just about grabbing some...
Weirdness This Chart and Range of Tips May Help With Those Confusing Pokémon Weaknesses in X & Y
You'll need a memory like an elephant, er, Phanpy?
The world of Pokémon can be baffling to outsiders, which is perhaps more prevalent now that X & Y have sold millions of copies around the world. There are sure to be some that are new to the franchise, and they may be struggling to keep up with the many types, attacks and weaknesses that need...
News Nintendo Direct Broadcast Confirmed for 13th November
Focused on previously announced 3DS software
Update Nintendo of Europe has now confirmed its own regional version of this Nintendo Direct at the times indicated below, repeating the wording on a 3DS focus while inviting viewers to "join Mr Shibata". As has been the case in the past, it looks like at least a segment of the broadcast will be...
Weirdness Nintendo Goes Old School With a Mahjong Set
Though it does cost more than a 3DS
Those familiar with Nintendo history will know that before it moved into the electronic entertainment industry it was founded as a playing card company, producing and marketing its Hanafuda game. Though not quite returning to those roots in a literal sense, the company is releasing an attractive Mahjong set,...
News Pokémon X & Pokémon Y: Super Music Collection Now Available on iTunes
Includes 212 tracks as promised
Way back in August we brought you the happy news of a 212 track Pokémon X & Y soundtrack to arrive after the games were released; while Japanese fans can look forward to the lovely physical release (above) on 13th November, it's now available for the rest of us to download on iTunes. In truth, some of those...
Video Nintendo Unleashes New The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds TV Commercials
UK and Nintendo of America release contrasting efforts
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is surprisingly close to release, arriving in North America and Europe on 22nd November. While a number of dedicated Zelda fans have probably already decided to put down the cash, Nintendo is continuing its marketing offensive to hype the game; we've...
News DuckTales: Remastered Hits Retail Shelves in North America
New video celebrates its release (we think?)
If you've been holding off on DuckTales: Remastered until you had a version you could hold in your own two mitts and/or amass a swimmable vault-full of, then today is your day — if you're in North America, at least. The physical retail version of DuckTales: Remastered has been released to stores today...
Video Ubisoft Unveils Illuminating New Child of Light Walkthrough Footage
More than just a pretty face?
One of two new UbiART titles announced by Ubisoft just a few months ago, Child of Light caught the attention of the public with a whimsical style that stepped away from the outright zaniness of the celebrated frameworks' counterpart; Rayman Legends. Today we've been treated to a video demo of the game's mechanics, and...
News Wii Fit U Retail Release Delayed a Week in Europe
A bit of a stretch
Wii Fit U is already available as a free trial on the Wii U eShop, with a synchronised Wii Fit Meter then allowing that download to become a permanent purchase. Naturally Nintendo is accommodating those that prefer a disc copy or didn't pick up the original Wii software and balance board with retail releases, which are due in...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Details for Mario & Sonic Winter Olympics Remote Plus Bundle
Just an extra $10 for the controller
Already released in Europe, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games arrives in North America on 15th November. Nintendo of America has taken the opportunity to officially confirm the Wii Remote Plus bundle offering in the region, a product that various retailers had listed in recent weeks. For a...
Competition Nintendo UK Launches 'Me and #My3DS' Competition
Luigi special edition 3DS XL up for grabs
The Year of Luigi, which has seen Mario’s younger brother feature in a number of games, including Luigi’s Mansion 2, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and New Super Luigi U, is unfortunately drawing to a close. Nintendo UK, however, is still celebrating by offering one lucky person the chance to get their...
Video Check Out Wii Sports Club's Skill Shaper Modes
Brush up on your tennis and bowling
Wii Sports Club isn't just a series of HD remakes of the events seen in the Wii launch classic — it also offers "Skill Shaper" modes which are supposed to enhance and improve your talents by focusing on the basics. Each sport has three Skill Shaper events, and you can view all six (three from Tennis, three from...
Video Get Lost In Space As We Take You Through The Epic Opening Level Of Call Of Duty: Ghosts
In space, no one can hear you shoot Federation goons
Call of Duty games tend to open with a bit of a bang, and Ghosts is no different. The opening level starts off relaxed enough, with a battle-hardened father regaling his sons with tales of valour, but it soon takes a turn for the worst as an orbital space station starts taking pot-shots at...
Monday11th Nov 2013
Review Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi (3DS)
Ronin with the homies
Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi combines standard dating-sim tropes with a captivating setting and fantastic writing to provide an experience that is surprisingly greater than the sum of its parts — even if it may fall far out of the comfort zone of most players. When meek protagonist Chizuru ventures to Kyoto in search...
Review Wii Sports Club: Tennis (Wii U eShop)
What the deuce?
Way back at E3 2011, in that Wii U reveal that rather bizarrely confused half of those watching, Nintendo showed remixes of Wii Sports events that showed the GamePad being utilised in creative ways. It's perhaps surprising that over two years after that visual demo, we're just now seeing the iconic Wii pack-in make its way to...
News Full Screen Mario Web Game Closed Down Following Nintendo's Copyright Complaint
Popular HTML5 remake is no more
In mid-October we told you about Full Screen Mario, a free, open-source HTML5 web version of the original Super Mario Bros., the work of college student Josh Goldberg. The site attracted publicity due to its recreation of the original game, as well as a random map generator and level creator. With publicity came the...
Nintendo Download 14th November (Europe)
Picross, Mega Man returns, unpronounceable puzzles, discounts and more
It's just another manic Monday, dear readers, but Europeans can once again take solace in the week's download offerings. This time around we have the continuation of a popular puzzle series, a new puzzle IP, some rather fun 16-bit Mega Man and a scattering of other goodies...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Twelve
Marth, gardening tips, a spaceship-shaped bomb and more
With the start of another week we have our trusty round-up of screens from Super Smash Bros., courtesy of Masahiro Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. Director's Room Miiverse community board. Last week delivered another character announcement, with Marth confirmed as the latest challenge
Review Crazy Chicken: Director's Cut 3D (3DS eShop)
Straight to DVD
Crazy Chicken: Director's Cut 3D is an odd title, in that it's unashamedly simplistic yet reliant on gamers that perhaps have a hint of obsessive compulsive behaviour or, alternatively, those that cherish retro games that do little more than give you the same task repeatedly and stick your name on a leaderboard. What this does do is...
News SNES Generation Album Merges 16-Bit Sounds With Modern Game Music, and is Awesome
The Wind Waker's 'Outset Island' with Link to the Past sounds, oh my...
We do like a bit of top-notch video game music here on Nintendo Life, and a new retro-infused album by Alex Roe has been serenading our ears. The album SNES Generation takes modern games and recreates their music with sounds and samples from equivalent Super NES titles, with...
News Nintendo to Release Special 30th Anniversary Album of Famicom Music
And it looks to be a Japan exclusive
Amazon Japan has added a new product listing for Nintendo FAMICOM MUSIC, an upcoming music album to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Nintendo's breakthrough games system, the Famicom — or Nintendo Entertainment System as we know it in the West. Due to release on 4th December, the album is being produced by...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Is A Fan Of Mobile Hit Puzzle & Dragons
Could this bode well for the 3DS port?
Shigeru Miyamoto is arguably one of the most famous games designers on the face of the planet, having been involved with the creation of million-selling franchises such as Super Mario, Zelda and Pikmin. Given his lofty status in the industry, it's obviously quite an accolade to have him play your game — so...
News Senran Kagura Burst Will Brawl Its Way Onto the North American eShop on 14th November
It's a download-only release in the region
Fans of anime brawlers have no doubt been keeping an eye on Senran Kagura Burst, which includes the Senran Kagura: Skirting Shadows and the opposing Senran Kagura: Crimson Girls storylines in one package. As is almost standard for the genre, it's also attracted attention for its busty young protagonists...
News Bosses From Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light Shown Off as Extras in Bravely Default
Get connected
While the proof will be in the playing, there's some anticipation within the Nintendo Life team for Bravely Default, with the updated For the Sequel version — as it'll be known in Japan — arriving in Europe on 6th December and North America in 2014. Square Enix has provided details on tweaks to improve the gameplay and balancing,...
News Professor Layton's Final Adventure Can't Quite Puzzle Its Way Into UK All-Format Top 10
Re-emergence of Mario and Luigi U suggest some bundle sales
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy arrived in Europe last week, bringing a close to that particular part of the franchise, even if Level-5 is continuing the Layton name in other titles. UKIE has now issued its multi-platform chart results and, considering the range of big-name...
News WonderFlick Hits iOS and Android This Month, Cross-Platform Saves Should Support Wii U in 2014
In Japan, naturally
Earlier this year we told you about WonderFlick, a new RPG from Level-5 that will be coming to a host of platforms, including smartphones and the Wii U. The unique selling point of this title is an effort to directly correlate and connect progress on smartphones and consoles, with the developer aiming to go "beyond the...
News Publisher Read-Only Memory Is Creating The Ultimate Retrospective On Sega's Mega Drive
Or the Genesis, if you're American
We recently investigated Read-Only Memory's excellent Sensible Software 1986–1999, a book which uncovers the history of one of Britain's most iconic games studios. Now, the publisher is back with another Kickstarter campaign, and this time it's Sega's legendary 16-bit console which is the main focus.
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
News Fangamer Announces Earthbound Charity Event
Weekend marathon of the timeless RPG for a good cause
Fangamer has been hinting at something big and Earthbound-related for a while now, which should come as no surprise to those who know the company. They wear their passion for the cherished Mother series on their sleeves, so using this love to raise money seems like the perfect marriage...
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...
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
Weirdness CollegeHumor Updates The Pokérap With All 718 Pokémon
"Your dream of a new PokéRap is now a nine minute nightmare"
The Pokérap is probably something that older, veteran Pokémon fans cherish, a musical treat that lasted through the first three generations of the franchise. Of course, as the generations have passed and a lot more 'mon have been added, the practicalities have made it a thing of the...
News Pokémon Art Director Would Like to Simplify the Next Generation of the Franchise
So many 'mon
Pokémon X & Y on 3DS may be an entry in the series that's arguably a solid entry point for newcomers, but with each new Pokémon and type the franchise steps up the level of content to digest. It seems that series art director Ken Sugimori feels that way, as he's expressed a desire to see the games take a step back to simpler...
News Famitsu Reveals Japan's Best Selling Games Of The 21st Century
New Super Mario Claims Top Spot
Japanese video game publication Famitsu has just unveiled the top 100 Best Selling Video Games in Japan for the 21st Century (the period 1st January 2001 until 29th September 2013), and as expected Nintendo games feature heavily, with nine of the top ten games being for Nintendo platforms — seven of which are for...
News A Fresh Batch of Lovely Super Mario 3D World Screens is Ready
You want more, right?
It seems that, in the opinion of many, Nintendo's nailed a strong art-style and visual look for Super Mario 3D World, adopting the approach of 3DS predecessor Super Mario 3D Land while employing the more powerful hardware. Whenever new screens are released, we can't help but look. Nintendo has now unveiled even more screens,...
News Aonuma Keeps Returning To Zelda In The Hope Of Making A Perfect Game
Perfection is only a Triforce away
Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma exhibits all the traits of a true artist, from a willingness to buck the confines of tradition to the overwhelming desire to branch out into different territory. Now, he has admitted that with every new Zelda adventure, he has been striving to make the perfect video game. In an
News Nintendo Combats Wii Fit U Lock-Up Error With Manual Solution
No patch for now
The game-breaking troubles continue for Nintendo with Wii Fit U. Only weeks after the glitch in Pokémon X and Y was put to rest, it has now come to the attention of Nintendo that players may encounter an error causing Wii Fit U or the trial version of the game to lock up when attempting to transfer save data from Wii Fit or
Review Baseball (Wii U eShop / NES)
Not quite a grand slam
Originally released alongside the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1980s, Nintendo's Baseball is one of several simple, lean titles that, while primitive and slow by today's standards, still show a special Nintendo pedigree. Ideally these games would be released as a compilation; the content in Baseball,...
Video Check Out Captain Toad's Contribution To Super Mario 3D World
"Bring it on!"
Captain Toad — previously seen in Super Mario Galaxy — has a starring role in the forthcoming Super Mario 3D World. He takes part in exclusive levels where he has to traverse various obstacles in order to grab as many stars as possible. The unique thing about Captain Toad's challenges is that he can't jump. Another major...
Competition Are You Fast Enough to Enter the SteamWorld Dig Perfect Run Contest?
Be the best digger
In the months following the release of the excellent SteamWorld Dig on the 3DS eShop, our friends at Image & Form have had varying reports from fans about how quickly were able to complete the game. Some of these were so impressive that they have even caused CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson to question his own skill at playing the...
Hot footage, or does it leave you cold?
Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games has launched today in Europe, continuing the hugely popular series starring the Nintendo and SEGA mascots. Unlike previous entries that appeared on the Wii and 3DS, this latest entry is only on the Wii U and is setup to utilise the system's various control...
News Nintendo UK Planning Major TV Campaign For Super Mario 3D World
Do not adjust your set
Much has been said about Nintendo’s marketing of the Wii U, or at least, lack of it. Our recent poll suggests that many of you don’t think Nintendo is doing enough to promote the Wii U. Nintendo UK, however, has announced plans to raise awareness for the upcoming Super Mario 3D World release. Speaking to MCV, Nintend
Rumour Nintendo Is Looking To Release The Wii U In Brazil This Year
High import fees and piracy concerns no longer a problem?
As global as Nintendo is, there are still a number of untapped markets around the world. One of them includes Brazil. Only recently did Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime single out Brazil as an important area of growth for Nintendo’s business future — explaining that the...
Interview Dakko Dakko on Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, Clever Cats and Utilising the Wii U
"We’re making an interesting hybrid of some of our favourite games"
While the Wii U eShop has a fair number of download-only projects on the way, it's a relatively modest number that are exclusive to the platform. That's unsurprising, as development tool such as Unity — combined with supportive low cost-of-entry platforms — allow smaller...
Video Nintendo Wii Sports Club Trailer Goes For Cheesy Family Fun
Grandparents, kids and bland aspirational rock music ahoy!
Who remembers the marketing for Wii Sports? We sure do, because it did a rather effective job, in an over-nostalgic and excessively cheesy way, of showing how absolutely anyone could play Nintendo's motion controlled system. We saw young children, parents and grandparents united in some...
News Disney Interactive Sees Big Financial Boost in Q4
Disney Infinity is keeping this steamboat chugging
Disney Interactive has been a financially struggling arm of the Walt Disney Company, but its investment in Disney Infinity is showing a significant payout as more game consumers are putting their money where the mouse is. According to Disney's latest earnings report, Disney Interact
News Dakko Dakko Cautiously Shares Sources of Inspiration for Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails
"It’s very arcade-like, very quick, fast and runs really smoothly"
In terms of upcoming Wii U eShop games that we're keen to play and learn more about, Dakko Dakko's Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is certainly on the list. It's a relatively rare example of an exclusive, too, in an age where so many small developers are using flexible tools to...
Thursday7th Nov 2013
News Nintendo Releases Handy Wii U Comparison Chart
Spot the difference
Since its launch, consumers — and even some retailers — have had trouble differentiating between the Wii U and its older sibling, the Wii. In a move to help consumers clearly distinguish between the two consoles, Nintendo has distributed a comparison chart detailing the different features of the Wii U and the Wii. The chart...
News Marth Confirmed as the Latest Challenger in Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS
Emblematic of the growing roster, screens galore inside
Since it was officially unveiled at E3 2013 with a fairly modest roster, Masahiro Sakurai and his team have been gradually expanding the number of playable characters in the new Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS and, by extension, building hype. Today it's been announced that Marth will be...
Nintendo Download 7th November (North America)
Wii Sports is back, Toki Tori returns, retro Wario and more
Arriving later than normal today, we have the Nintendo Download news for all of you gamers in North America. This week serves up a couple of options within Wii Sports Club, while we have the return of a popular WiiWare game, retail options and a number of download-only offerings. Let's get...
News Project CARS Pushed to Autumn 2014 and Re-Confirmed for Wii U
Xbox 360 and PS3 look to be dropped in favour of One and PS4
Project CARS is an intriguing project in that it's been pushed forward by crowdfunding and by thousands of beta testers that have been playing a role in helping development towards its completion. Coming from Need for Speed veterans Slightly Mad Studios, the messaging around the game has...
Talking Point Regional Online Multiplayer Misses the Point
Wii Sports Club keeps it local, unless you're in a PAL territory
Nintendo can work in mysterious ways at times, especially when it comes to online modes. Some will feel that the company doesn't actually deliver enough online gaming — with many titles committed to local multiplayer only — while we have others serving up regional online play. The...
News Collecting Rupees In...Call Of Duty? Ghosts Features Zelda Easter Egg
Rupees really are important now
When Eiji Aonuma announced that collecting rupees would be more important than ever in the new 3DS Zelda adventure, A Link Between Worlds, he probably never realized that significance would carry over to the Call of Duty franchise. It seems the latest COD title — Ghosts — contains a
News Nintendo Files New Pokémon Trademark "Great Detective Pikachu"
This is a case for Pikachu!
A short time ago we reported on a new Pikachu-focused Pokémon title that was apparently in development at Game Freak. We then heard that the game would place the player in the role of a detective, with Pikachu acting as a partner who helps solve crimes. We've now heard that Nintendo has filed a trademark in Japan for...
Video Watch Japanese Celebrity Aya Ueto Make Cat Noises In These Mario 3D World Commercials
Almost too cute
In Japan — just like any other part of the world — famous faces are often rolled out to promote various products or services. For Super Mario 3D World, NCL has selected Japanese singer, actress and all-round personality Aya Ueto to front its TV campaign for the game. She's a good choice; easy on the eye, relatively famous and...
News Super Mario 3D World Director and Producer Discuss Content Choices
Cats, maps, and the absence of Yoshi
With the release of Super Mario 3D World creeping up on little cat feet, producer Yoshiaki Koizumi and director Kenta Motokura recently sat down with IGN to talk about some of the more noticeable inclusions and omissions in the game. The increasingly iconic Cat Suits were the natural first stop in questioning...
Parent Trap Helping Newcomers Start Playing Pokémon, Zelda and Metroid
Andy Robertson on bringing new players to the Nintendo banner
One of the difficulties of big video game series for any newcomer (never mind families) is when and how to jump in. Franchises like Skylanders, Zelda and Metroid offer lots of different games on lots of different formats that a family could buy to get started. However, the problem is that...
News Wii Sports Club Goes Live Right Away in North America
The courts and alleys await, in a friendly sporting sense
Nintendo is really keen for you to sample the delights of Tennis and Bowling in Wii Sports Club. If you don't jump onto the eShop it'll be delivered to your Wii U — space permitting — via SpotPass, while Nintendo of America has confirmed that the download is available right away on the...
News These Animal Crossing Plushies May be Hard to Resist
Cuteness overload
Animal Crossing: New Leaf has been around for a good while now, but there are still plenty of 3DS owners accumulating a worrying number of hours as they build their perfect towns. If charming and compulsive is a combination you enjoy, it's still quite possible the best game out there. We'd suggest some of the biggest fans may be...
News Former Video Game Destination Blockbuster Video Closes Its Doors In The US
Wow, what a difference: no more Blockbuster
Although GameStop and Target remain as the two great retail destinations for video games in the US, the digital revolution has cemented the end of yet another large corporation — Blockbuster Video announced yesterday that it will be closing its doors for good. The movie and games giant has confirmed that...
Wednesday6th Nov 2013
News Mamma Mia! The Mario & Luigi Wii U Bundle Is Sold Out At Target And GameStop
New set flies off shelves in lead up to the holiday season
With the recent influx of new Wii U bundles offering pack-in games such as The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, Wii Party U, Just Dance 2014 and Skylanders SWAP Force, it’s clear Nintendo is offering a wide variety of options in order to entice potential customers this holiday season.
News Wii Party U and Wii Fit U Deliver Major Increase to Wii U Hardware Sales in Japan
Pokémon X & Y dominate at number one, of course
The weekly Japanese charts often tell the same story, with the 3DS dominating the hardware scene and, in the recent software stakes, Pokémon X & Y doing the same. Those trends continue this week, but we actually have positive Wii U results to share as well, with Wii Party U and Wii Fit U bringing...
News Pre-Order Super Mario 3D World At GAME And Receive These Purr-fect Gifts
This keyring and Cat Sleeve could be yours
GAME has let the cat out of the bag by revealing its pre-order bonus for those looking to purchase Mario's upcoming Wii U adventure, Super Mario 3D World. If you place your order with the retailer you'll bag yourself a keyring featuring Mario's transformation as a cat, which no doubt will claw its way onto...
Hardware Review Gametech Neo Fami
The Famicom Clone To Rule Them All?
The concept of clone retro hardware isn't anything new — in fact, we've already covered the likes of the Retro Duo V2, RetroN 3 and SupaBoy here on Nintendo Life — but as time goes on these cheap and cheerful systems are becoming more and more desirable. Older machines are either failing
News Nintendo Issues Full Statement Regarding Uncensored Lyrics In Wii Karaoke U
"Nintendo does not restrict which songs are included in the catalogue"
Last week, we broke the news that Wii Karaoke U contains uncensored versions of songs with offensive lyrics, and that these songs can be downloaded and accessed by anyone using a Wii U console. Nintendo of Europe has now given us an official statement regarding this matter,...
News EA: Being Voted The Worst Company In America Was "A Wake Up Call"
CEO Andrew Wilson wants to focus on "making great games"
If you're a Nintendo fan, then the chances are you probably don't think much of EA right now. Following assurances that the company would enjoy an "unprecedented relationship" with the creator of the Wii U, EA has practically abandoned Nintendo, to the point where its sales across Wii, Wii U...
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...
News Nintendo Goes Live With Full North American Site For Super Mario 3D World
The cat is out of the bag
Though naysayers have reprimanded Nintendo over its lack of a successful marketing campaign for Wii U, the company's brand new site for Super Mario 3D World shows no sign of the lackluster advertising claimed by many media outlets. The new website's handsome display features individual pages showcasing the game's story,...
News Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo Discuss Their Involvement with Super Mario 3D World
There's plenty of high notes
In a recent interview with Destructoid, Nintendo composers Mahito Yokota and the legendary Koji Kondo revealed a number of new details regarding their work on upcoming Wii U title, Super Mario 3D World. In terms of how involved each composer has been involved with the game, Yokota acted as sound director and main...
Video Watch Andre Agassi Get Beaten At Wii Sports Tennis By A Little Girl
How the mighty have fallen
Wii Sports Club is coming to the Wii U this week, and to remind us of this fact Nintendo has produced a TV advert featuring tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. In the commercial, Agassi can be seen struggling to beat an unknown opponent in Wii Sports Club: Tennis, whom he believes to be his partner, Graf...
Working on Nintendo hardware "makes you feel legit"
While we're yet to quite see the promised influx of games onto the Wii U eShop, the lengthy list of projects in development is certainly exciting for download gamers. Small and independent developers could play an integral role in how attractive Nintendo's platform is to its adopters, and one...
Weirdness You Could Hang This Mini Lego Mario Question Block on Your Christmas Tree
We particularly like the Lego Atari 2600
The Holiday season is a festive, happy time, when many off us happily pile on the pounds and, presumably, play a lot of games. It's a time of backlog busting and, perhaps, silly family games — that Wii or, dare we say Wii U can provide the latter activity in particular. Some of us may also have a Christmas...
News Packaged Physical Release of Wii Sports Club May Happen
Might not be an exclusive digital offering
Nintendo is a smart cookie when it comes to milking franchises. Its products, services, and software regularly offer the perfect balance of new and old. The latest example of this is Wii Sports Club – a digital remake of the original Wii Sports in HD, with online play and Miiverse functionality joining...
Video Nintendo Unleashes New Trailer for Bravely Default
Oh, the sweet music
We don't always have the opportunity to celebrate the localisation of a Japan-based and developed RPG to the West, so the news earlier this year that Bravely Default — from Square Enix — would step out of Japan was sure to please 3DS fans. It hits Europe on 6th December — along with a lovely collector's edition packed with...
News Nintendo Releases New Pikmin 3 DLC in North America
Whittle down your Pikmin reserves with four new missions
Nintendo of America has announced that a second set of downloadable content is now available for Pikmin 3 owners in North America. The pack of four new "Battle Enemies!" missions is available to download from the Wii U eShop for $1.99. One of the stages is free, although you need to receive...
News Paradise Lost: First Contact Leaves Wii U Stretch Goal Till Last
Wii U target is more than three times the initial $70,000 goal
By now we've come to understand that Nintendo's innovations have many developers excited by the possibilities, and many more simply scratching their heads. The Kickstarter project for acclaimed indie game Paradise Lost: First Contact by developer Ashtree Works has left its Wii U port...
Tuesday5th Nov 2013
Poll Is Nintendo's Wii U Advertising and Marketing Doing Enough?
It's safe to say the 3DS messaging is doing fine
It's a common refrain for critics of Nintendo to state that it doesn't do marketing well. Some may see adverts featuring celebrities or colourful trailers of smiling children and despair, as there's often a sense that in targeting families and young gamers with much of its advertising the company has...
Weirdness Shiny Pokémon Finder Takes No-Hands Approach
This will probably void your warranty, though
There is a certain breed of Pokémon player out there who would do just about anything to capture the rare, “shiny” variety of each creature. Their fascination with shinies borders on a raccoon-like intensity — yet unlike most raccoons, many of these humans have access to technology. YouTube user...
Video Experts Believed Nintendo Was In Trouble Back In 1990, Too
Some things never change
When you're one of the world's most recognisable brands then it's only natural for people to predict your downfall. That has happened to Nintendo many times in the past, and history is repeating itself as a new console war begins in earnest. Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One launch this Christmas, and these hardware...
News Super Mario 3D World Producer Says DLC is Unlikely To Happen
Title will be largely traditional
Nintendo has experimented with DLC on relatively few occasions, and it doesn’t look like its approach to modern-day gaming will be changing pace anytime soon. In mostly unsurprising news, Super Mario 3D World producer Yoshiaki Koizuma has revealed DLC for the upcoming Wii U title is unlikely to happen. Although...
News Nintendo "Would Like to Enrich" Its Virtual Console Lineup
Will also aim to utilise smartphones outside of games
Not too long ago we published a Soapbox article that argued it's high time for the Wii U Virtual Console to freshen up, after the arrival of a number of low profile and disappointing titles on the service; beyond that, we've also already seen many of the better games to grace the service on the...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV DLC Joins Game in 25% eShop Discount Until 11th November
Don't worry wallets, there are only 11 DLC packs
Last week's Nintendo Download update for North America brought the news that Atlus was offering a temporary discount on RPG epic Shin Megami Tensei IV, with the price reduced to $39.99 from $49.99; that offer runs until 11th November. The publisher has now confirmed that in-game DLC is also part of...
First Impressions Stardust Amazoness
Arc System Works swaps fighting for dungeon-crawling in this saucy RPG
Arc System Works may be famous for the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series of fighting games, but the company is broadening its horizons somewhat with dungeon-crawling 3DS RPG Stardust Amazoness. Starring an all-female cast trapped in a futuristic prison complex, the game showcases...
Video Nintendo Gets Literal in TV Commercial for Super Mario 3D World
Cat outfit with over-sized paws + Wii Remote = many deaths
With Super Mario 3D World now less than a month away from release, it's surely time for Nintendo to crank up the hype machine. As a title aiming to incorporate a range of gamers, its unsurprising that Nintendo of America's recently released TV commercial focuses on the theme of playing the...
News Satoru Iwata Outlines Wii U Holiday Target Audience and Aim for a "Unique Approach"
"Imitating others is the kind of reasoning that Nintendo tries to avoid"
Last week Nintendo revealed its Q2 financial results, which delivered a narrow profit but showed a largely downward trend in performance, particularly as the Wii U endured a poor Summer. Nintendo has now released the official translation of the financial results Q & A that...
News The Combined 2DS and Pokémon X & Y Launch Was Planned to Provide "Entry-Level Product"
Not a quick fix or retreat from 3D visuals in future projects
When the 2DS was revealed it was met, by some at least, with derisive snorts and incredulity. Despite its clear target audience, demonstrated perfectly by its co-ordinated launch with Pokémon X & Y, there was — and still is, probably — a line of argument that said it was a silly...
News Dragon Quest Monsters 2 Dated for Japan, Alongside 3DS XL Model
So pretty...
Earlier in the year we directed your attention to the fact that Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Wonderful Mysterious Keys was coming to the 3DS in Japan, a remake that incorporates the content of the two original iterations on the Game Boy Color. It'll feature over 800 new monsters, eight player multiplayer and various...
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...
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...
News The Wii Mini Will Arrive in the U.S. in November
Includes a copy of Mario Kart Wii and will cost $99
Back in December 2012 we imported a Wii Mini from Canada — before it was confirmed for Europe — and gave our assessment in a hardware review. Here's what we said in summary: The Wii Mini is, as we were largely aware - a scaled-down version of Nintendo's best-selling system. The lack of online...
News Nintendo Updates Available Club Nintendo Reward Games in North America
Better start counting those coins
Update: WiiWare title Art Style: Cubello is also available as a reward until 8th December, at a cost of 150 coins. Original Article: Nintendo has updated its North American Club Nintendo Rewards service with three new games to download. From now until the 8th December 2013, users who have enough Club Nintendo...
Nintendo Download 7th November (Europe)
Wii Sports returns, Layton's legacy, Olympics, Batman and much more
The download details for Europe arrived a little later than usual this week, possibly because it's a rather lengthy release list. We have high profile retail games on Wii U and 3DS, along with some interesting download-only options and discounts both permanent and temporary. There's...
Review Arcade Classics 3D (3DS eShop)
Six terrible games for the price of one terrible game
Mini-game collections have always run the quality gamut, but it's fair to say that the numbers are weighted much more heavily towards the negative end of the spectrum. For every Game & Watch Gallery there's a seemingly infinite number of Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade Rooms. So if we really wanted...
Review Angry Bunnies (3DS eShop)
Rotten egg
Whenever a new game, franchise or genre becomes mega-successful, countless similar titles and rip-offs are bound to emerge. Rovio's now-iconic Angry Birds series is one of the most successful mobile franchises of all time, and for good reason — the simple, physics-based gameplay is quick and addictive, the birds and pigs have...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Plans to Step Away From Working Directly on Future Mario Titles
"There is little chance that I'd be able to take the time necessary"
While Shigeru Miyamoto is still very much at the forefront of Nintendo's game development, his role in recent years has increasingly evolved to that of a general producer, overseeing a number of projects while going "hands-on" with relatively few. His imprint is, however, all over...
News Junichi Masuda Confirms That Over Ten Million Pokémon Have Been Exchanged in Pokémon X & Y
Game Director shows interest in more Mega Evolutions
Game Freak, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company all invested a great deal of effort into building hype for Pokémon X & Y on the 3DS. It seems to have done the trick, with hugely impressive sales to date and the software even being linked with increased StreetPass activity; the two games have...
Video This IronFall Tech Demo is Rather Impressive
Hopefully the game itself will match up well
Recently we've brought you some coverage of IronFall, a third-person shooter from developer VD-Dev that's making its way to the 3DS eShop. It's a project with plenty of ambition, including a goal of running at a silky smooth 60 frames-per-second. While screens and bold declarations have brought some...
News Take A Look At The Red Steel 2 We Never Got To Play
Leaked production screens show a different style
Red Steel was Ubisoft's big Wii launch title many years ago, and despite its cool visuals, it didn't quite get the gameplay right. Ubisoft atoned for its sins to a certain extent with Red Steel 2, but the game was almost unrecognisable thanks to a totally different "Samurai Western" setting. However,...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Eleven
Spin attacks, Wii Fit Trainers, a posing Pit and more
Another working week has begun, but we have Masahiro Sakurai's updates on the Miiverse Super Smash Bros. Director's Room community to get us off to the perfect start. The man with a plan may not be ready to tell us when we can expect the new Super Smash Bros. games to arrive on Wii U and 3DS, but...
News River City Ransom: Underground Dev Still Wants To Bring The Game To Nintendo Consoles
Smartphones, not so much
Conatus Creative's Kickstarter campaign for a new version of River City Ransom may have surpassed its original funding target, but it failed to meet the stretch goals which would secure a version for consoles — including the Wii U and 3DS. River City Ransom: Underground is only certain for PC, Mac and Linux at present,...
Weirdness This Game Boy Color Costume Actually Plays Game Boy Advance Games
Trick or treat yourself to a bit of Pokémon?
A YouTube user who goes by the name of MikeHandidate managed to outdo even the eccentric scientist Victor Frankenstein this Halloween by dressing up as none other than a giant, fully functioning Game Boy Color. While the costume does share some similarities to Frankenstein's monster in that it's a tad...
News Super Mario 3D World's Team Highlights the Values of Accessibility and Empathy
The cat costume is designed with beginners and veterans in mind
Much has been said about Super Mario 3D World and its approach in recent weeks; while we had a say in our preview and feature on the madness of the multiplayer, it'll be interesting to see how gamers of various backgrounds and proficiencies adapt to the title. It's clear
News Federal Aviation Administration Lets Passengers Use Electronics For Full Duration Of Flights
Break out that 3DS and get ready for take-off
Have you flown that hang glider through all of the missions in Pilotwings Resort yet? If not, the US Federal Aviation Administration is about to provide you with an excellent chance. Last week, the FAA announced that its rules and restrictions limiting the use of electronic devices on commercial flights...
Sunday3rd Nov 2013
Rumour Hacker Unlocks Three New Legendary Pokémon in X & Y
Spoiler alert...
It’s common knowledge people love to hack Nintendo’s games, and the latest entries in the Pokémon series are no exception. Less than a month after the release of X and Y, a skilled fan has reportedly uncovered new Pokémon. According to Serebii.net, hacker Smealum has revealed the existence of three new legendary Pokémon...
Review Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (Wii U)
Back on the slopes and going nowhere fast
Unless you’re an enthusiast or currently living in Sochi (that’s in Russia, by the way), there’s a good chance you aren't aware that the Winter Olympics are almost upon us. Yes, it’s time for all your favourite winter sports to hit the screens again; sports such as skiing, skiing off a cliff,...
News Super Mario Bros. 3 Is Leaping To The Wii U And 3DS Virtual Console Services Soon
The best NES entry is getting a new lease of life
Not since the movie The Wizard has Super Mario Bros. 3 been played on this many screens. It appears the game often touted as the greatest Super Mario of them all will be headed to the Wii U Virtual Console, as Nintendo’s main website has listed Super Mario Bros. 3 for its flagship system. An...
Review Just Dance Kids 2014 (Wii U)
Get ready to wiggle
If you want to juice up a party then you can’t do much better than getting everyone on the dance floor, and the Just Dance series has been responsible for untold cut rugs for years now. But sometimes, when the age-appropriate drink for party-goers is juice, the grown-up songs and elaborate choreography of the mainline games...
Review Donkey Kong 3 (Wii U eShop / NES)
Bugging you?
When the original Donkey Kong proved immensely popular, Nintendo decided to ride off its success and create a sequel changing the roles, making Mario the villain and Donkey Kong Jr. the hero. What is surprisingly not well known, however, is that there was a third game after that. While the next logical next might have been to allow you...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Passes 6 Million Copies Sold Milestone
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sucks up some impressive sales, too
Nintendo has released new life-to-date global sales figures for its first-party 3DS software library, all of which show that the little 3D-enabled system is attracting a lot of people's attention. At the top of the list is Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a game which has already amassed a...
News This Beautiful Zelda-Themed N64 Console Must Surely Come from the Sacred Realm Itself
Shinier than a 100-Rupee Piece
You may recall that earlier this week we shared with you a rather nice looking Zelda-themed SNES that was created by Slovenian console artist, Zoki64. Well, he's just added some more pictures to his portfolio, this time showing off a new Zelda-inspired N64 design, and one which looks so good that even the Goddesses of...
News Crowdfunding Campaign For Paradise Lost: First Contact Includes Wii U Stretch Goal
Alien life-form is found
A Kickstarter campaign has crash landed for extraterrestrial stealth-puzzler title Paradise Lost: First Contact, currently seeking $70,000 to gain funding for development. A Wii U version could possibly be in the works if it meets its staggering stretch goal of $250,000 by 1st December. Set in a bio-engineering facility,...
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
News Nintendo Disables Swapnote's SpotPass Service Due to Online Safety Concerns
Service was "actively misused"
The SpotPass service that allows the sending and receiving of drawings and photographs in Swapnote (Nintendo Letter Box in Europe) has been indefinitely disabled. The online service had been used to distribute "offensive material" to minors, Nintendo said. The software - downloadable from the 3DS eShop - is designed...
Weirdness This Real-life Majora's Mask Is Incredible
Majorly cool
If you've ever played the sequel-of-sorts to the N64 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, then you'll understand why owning your very own Majora's Mask might not be a very good idea. Much like The One Ring from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic The Lord of the Rings novels, or, more fittingly, the Fused Shadows from The Legend of...
News Wii Karaoke U Doesn't Censor Explicit Lyrics
Cover your eyes and ears, kiddies
This morning, we reported that Nintendo had disabled Swapnote's SpotPass functionality due to safety concerns. The Japanese giant is clearly mindful of its younger fans, but doesn't seem to have checked the kind of songs which are available through Wii Karaoke U. We've discovered that the Wii U title grants access...
News Go Green With The Luigi Special Edition 3DS XL, Available In The UK Today
Exclusive to Nintendo's online store
2013 is the year of Luigi, and Nintendo is making sure we're all aware of that fact with a special edition 3DS XL. It's a white system which is covered with Luigi's iconic silhouette, and is the ideal way to show your support for Mario's taller sibling. Just make sure you've got a charger handy, as the European...
News 3DS XL Coloured Charging Cradles Sold Out On Club Nintendo
Snapped up within an hour
Last Friday, we reported that the North American Club Nintendo would be offering multi-coloured 3DS XL charging cradles from 31st October, costing members 500 coins apiece. As expected, they sold out quite quickly - they were reportedly gone within the first hour of appearing on Club Nintendo. It was no lie when it was...
News Nintendo Titles Continue To Be Illegally Peddled On Android Google Play Store
Donkey Kong Country HD, anyone?
Smartphones may be a growing market when it comes to gaming, but the companies running these platforms seem to have a real problem controlling what kind of content goes up. Android's Google Play market is probably the worst offender, with Google seemingly content to allow developers to sell whatever apps and games...
News The Nintendo 2DS Was The UK's Best-Selling Console Last Week
Sub-£100 price point and Pokémon seem to have done the trick
Nintendo 2DS was "comfortably the UK's best selling console" last week, according to MCV. The latest addition to the 3DS family launched alongside the immensely popular Pokémon X & Y, and was slashed to a sub-£100 pricepoint by major UK retailers such as Tesco and Amazon. From...
News Nintendo's At It Again With Its Musical Zelda Easter Eggs
A Link Between Worlds theme hides a secret
As you all know, The Ballad of the Goddess from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is in fact just Zelda's Lullaby played backwards. If you're just discovering this for the first time, We'll give you a minute to let you come to terms with it. ... Done? OK, then catch your breath and prepare to be dazzled...
News Iwata: Wii Fit U's Free Trial Period Will Improve Wii U Sales Momentum
Getting fit for free
During a recent financial meeting with investors, Satoru Iwata has discussed how Nintendo hopes to improve Wii U sales momentum with the release of Wii Fit U and the month’s free trial period. The company president explained it was difficult to turn heads once the Wii U launch-period had passed: Under the current...
News Nintendo of America Cuts Recommended Price for Nintendo Land
If you don't have it with your Wii U, now's the time
We suspect a significant percentage of current Wii U owners have a copy of Nintendo Land, simply due to the 32GB model — with which it was originally bundled at launch — selling in greater numbers in the system's early days. A number of upcoming bundles are shaking up the formula, however, and...
News Super Mario Galaxy Is Eurogamer's Game of the Generation
It's not a Golden Joystick, but it'll do
Over the past 10 days or so, our friends over at Eurogamer have been charting the best games of the past generation - a feat that's easier said than done. Naturally, we kept an eye on proceedings, looking out for any Nintendo titles that might crop up. We watched blockbuster after blockbuster take the...
Video Bet You Wish You Were Talented Enough To Build This Awesome Zelda Sandcastle
A sandy work of art
The recent release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD was pretty big deal for Nintendo, and the company celebrated the event in the most logical way possible: it commissioned some artists to construct a massive sandcastle based on one of the game's locations. You can watch the building of this amazing sculpture below, and...
