News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Confirmed For Worldwide 3DS Launch in November
"A dramatic story within a spectacular new world"
If it's on Wii U, that'd make us happy
News Nintendo Announces The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U
Geoff Keighley to host Smash Invitational, challengers confirmed
Guide Getting Started in Mario Kart 8
Don't drive into the deep end
News - May, 2014
Saturday31st May 2014
News Older Wii U Bundles, Including All Black Systems, Discontinued in Japan
White models, 8GB and 32GB, now the main draw
While Nintendo sets off a major Wii U push with the arrival of Mario Kart 8 and with the system likely to enjoy a prominent role at E3 2014, it seems the company is nevertheless making logistical cost-saving decisions to ensure that the systems it does sell are produced as cheaply as possible. Part of...
What about those other items?
Whilst core items such as the banana, shell and mushroom have carried the traditions of the Mario Kart series over the past 22 years, there are many other forgotten, reinvented, and even untouched items that arguably contin
Mario Kart Month Nintendo Life's Team Shares Its Early Thoughts on Mario Kart 8
Share your impressions, too
Mario Kart 8 is now well and truly settled in on plenty of Wii U systems around the world. It seems that Friend Lists have never been busier, too, as a quick glance at almost any time of the day shows most are actively blasting around tracks. If you're a Wii U owner, there are decent odds this applies to you. That's also...
Weirdness This Cool System Supports Famicom, Super Famicom and PC Engine Games
Has its own screen, too
Retro console mods and units are certainly on our list of cool things here at Nintendo Life, and we often take the opportunity to review clone hardware that allows for extra convenient play of '80s and '90s-era systems. You may have the original units in your collection, but as their chips age and if you don't want multiple...
Mario Kart Month What Mario Kart Means To Me
Dave Letcavage shares his experiences with the series
In this personal reminiscence, Nintendo Life contributor Dave Letcavage explains how important the Mario Kart franchise — and gaming in a broader sense — are to him, recounting events of his life in which they've been invaluable sources of entertainment, fun and escape. You don’t need me...
Friday30th May 2014
News Pikmin 3 Update Adds New Stylus Control Style
Fling away, Merrill
An update to Pikmin 3 has arrived just in time for its inclusion in the Mario Kart 8 free game promotion, introducing a new way to send your minions hither and yon. In addition to the original GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, and Wii Remote/Nunchuk options, planetary explorers can now use the stylus and GamePad's touch screen to...
Talking Point The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U Should Open Some Doors
Such a simple idea, but perfect for pleasing dedicated fans
Let's kick this off with a remark that may, when read with fire in the belly, be interpreted as a tad controversial. The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, unveiled by Nintendo in a video advertising its upcoming Super Smash Bros. E3 Invitational event, is unlikely to excite or even...
Mario Kart Month The Developers Who Tried To Beat Nintendo At Its Own Game
Improving On Perfection
Veterans of the 16-bit era will vividly recall the first time they played Super Mario Kart. Nintendo's seminal racer was a genuine revolution; it took what had previously been quite a staid and serious genre and turned it into something light-hearted, yet immensely challenging and addictive. While Super Mario Kart had an...
News Masahiro Sakurai Shows Off Touch Screen Usage in Super Smash Bros. on 3DS
Steady those expectations...
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is a game in a slightly odd position. It's due this 'Summer', yet is being consistently overshadowed by its Wii U brethren; the latter has its own E3 Invitational and is still getting a lot more coverage of Masahiro Sakurai's Super Smash Bros. Director's Room. Fear not, 3DS fans, as Sakurai-san...
Review Arc Style: Baseball 3D (3DS eShop)
Take me out to a real ball game...
Arc System Works' latest casual sports title, Arc Style: Baseball 3D, contains the same extensive customisation options of Arc Style: Soccer!! 3D, but it also retains the sluggish, repetitive gameplay and adds some new issues to boot. There is fun to be had in the local multiplayer and even the single player...
News 1001 Spikes Hitting 3DS and Wii U on 3rd June
With a $5 loyalty discount for 3DS owners
1001 Spikes — formerly known as Aban Hawkins & the 1,001 Spikes — has been a long time coming for the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores, and Nintendo gamers may have been disappointed when it was announced earlier this week for a 3rd June arrival on Sony systems in North America, with no mention of the...
Video Watch Us Unbox The Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition Bundle
Be careful someone doesn't run off with your copy
Happy Mario Kart 8 launch day, everybody! To celebrate this momentous event, we've decided to do an unboxing video for the Limited Edition version of the game, which features an accursed blue shell and — of course — a copy of the game itself. It's rather good, as you'll know if you've already...
Video Comcept's Latest Mighty No. 9 Footage Shows Off Some Tasty Gameplay
"The pew pew heard you, friends"
Mighty No. 9 on the Wii U and 3DS eShop is still a good while away, currently planned for Spring 2015. As the result of living up to one of the most successful crowdfunding campaigns ever seen, however, developer Comcept has ensured that it's continued to update its Kickstarter page with regular updates. The latest...
Play Mario Kart 8 With Nintendo Life on Twitch - Live!
It is time
Earlier this week we told you about the Tournament we've launched for Mario Kart 8's opening weekend, and as promised we'll be hitting up Twitch for some fun races in Nintendo's Wii U blockbuster. This writer and Anthony Dickens will be your hosts and victims, as we'll be jumping into the Tournament to race, well, whoever shows up. If...
Video Days Of Our Tomodachi Lives Goes Down Under And All Over
Don't forget to take part in the caption competition
This week's Days of Our Tomodachi Lives episode is a little bit later than usual, but we can assure you that it is well worth the wait. Once again, we use the medium of Tomodachi Life to create a weird and wonderful soap opera which is uncanny in its reflection of what it's actually like to work...
News If You Like Rainbow Road Music, This Album Is For You
Shiryu brings us Rainbow Road Adventures
As you may have guessed from all the Mario Kart 8 articles, today is the Wii U title's launch day. A happy occasion for many Wii U owners, certainly, and one being celebrated in various ways. One such celebration that we think you'll enjoy is this album, Rainbow Road Adventures from musician and Nintendo...
News The Lost Worlds of Power: Volume 0 is Available
Bad writing for a good cause
If you'll remember, way back in October we covered the news that Worlds of Power, the legendarily awful series of video game novelisations, was being given new life. By...uh...me. The idea was to assemble a motley collection of writers and have them each produce their own terrible, unfaithful, barely recognisable...
Thursday29th May 2014
News Nintendo Announces The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U
Geoff Keighley to host Smash Invitational, challengers confirmed
It's safe to say that fans of Super Smash Bros. will be looking forward to the live Invitational event at E3. Nintendo has today ramped up the hype for the event by revealing the competitors, hosts and rules, but also an exciting peripheral that will allow players to use GameCube...
Guide Getting Started in Mario Kart 8
Don't drive into the deep end
As some of the Nintendo Life team still like discs that come in boxes, our original plan was to release a getting started guide on 30th May; then we remembered some of you trendy types may download the title as soon as it pops up on the Wii U eShop, which may or may not be at midnight. You just can't wait, right? So...
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Confirmed for Japan With Free Mercedes Car
Tournament also planned in commercial tie-in
Update: Nintendo UK has issued the following statement to Eurogamer regarding this news: The announcement this time was made by Mercedes-Benz Japan regarding their collaboration in Japan with NCL. As for the information relating to the distribution of the GLA kart for MK8 outside Japan, we will be able...
The trouble with nostalgia
In 2008, Matrix Software and Red Entertainment teamed up to develop a turn-based Role-playing game for the Nintendo DS appropriately titled Nostalgia. Incorporating classic JRPG gameplay and mechanics with modern visuals, this game was designed to tug at the heart strings of ageing gamers while still managing to provide an...
Nintendo Download 29th May (North America)
Mario Kart 8, Ittle Dew, Badgers defying gravity, Mega Man and more
It's that time again, North America, as we go through the download treats on the way to the eShop stores. A certain Wii U retail game is likely to steal the headlines, but there are also some promising new download-only titles and enticing Virtual Console games, along with a few...
Review Gravity Badgers (Wii U eShop)
Out of this world
Badgers and space are certainly two things we would have never expected to see together, but then here's Gravity Badgers, a game all about badgers in space. Originally released for PC, this relatively unknown game has now received a Wii U port, but is it worth your time? The plot in Gravity Badgers is almost non-existent, but...
News Mario Kart TV Web App Goes Live
It actually works
One of the new features of Mario Kart 8 is the ability to save, edit and share video highlights through Mario Kart TV. As we reported yesterday, those that have received copies early didn't take long to start uploading highlights to YouTube and Miiverse. The game is now out in Japan — in fact, Japanese gamers have had most of...
News Meet Sticks, The New Member of Sonic Boom's "Core Ensemble"
She's a jungle badger, by the way
Those that don't want Sonic to make any more chatty friends, look away now. Sega has unveiled Sticks, a jungle badger that will be a new member of the "core ensemble" in Sonic Boom, which takes in a TV show, licensed toy and merchandise range and, of course, the Wii U and 3DS games. Hiroyuki Miyazaki, Chief Content...
Video Experience the Blue Shell Blues in Mario Kart 8 With The Brett Domino Trio
We've all been blue shelled at some point
Mario Kart 8 does a lot right, including the fact that the blue / spiny shell moves along the ground to take out others en-route to the race leader, but the mere presence of that item is enough to irritate some. It likely annoys stronger players the most, as their reward for being rather good at the game is...
News Pokémon X & Y 2DS Bundles Coming to Australian Shelves
Hitting retailers on 26th June
Even with E3 on the horizon, and new games to be announced, Nintendo is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to many of its previously released titles. This trend can be seen with the most popular franchise available on Nintendo's handheld, Pokémon X & Y. Beginning on 26th June, Nintendo will begin to...
News Steel Diver Version 2.0 Delayed, Now Targeting Early June
Slow-paced update for the slow-paced FPS
3DS eShop free-to-play title Steel Diver: Sub Wars has a major update on the way, which was originally planned for release in May. To be called version 2.0, it'll include the following new features and adjustments. Bonuses for consecutive victories online More subs available to unlock for Premium...
Interview Goodbye Galaxy Games on Tappingo 2 Improvements, With Hints at What's Next
Working on an "FPS with guns and blood"
Just recently we published an interview with Hugo Smits of Goodbye Galaxy Games, discussing the studio's move into self-publishing on the 3DS and exploring the details of the bold 'Gomba' development tool that's in progress. Beyond that, of course, it's a company known for clever, innovative download games on...
Wednesday28th May 2014
News Zelda Williams Will Be at E3 2014 "Doing Something Extra Special"
You know what that means...
Zelda Williams took to Twitter to report that she will be participating in E3 2014 this year "doing something extra special." Nintendo fans know that Zelda Williams, the daughter of famous actor Robin Williams, participated in the Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary with some commercials for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of...
News Miiverse Tells the Tale of a Broken Mario Kart 8 Street Date
Oh, you naughty retailers...
There have been comments bouncing around online in the past day or so regarding Mario Kart 8 being sold early by some retailers. It brings to mind the early arrival of Pokémon X & Y in October 2013, though that was far more contentious due to the desire of Nintendo and Game Freak that some surprises would remain...
News XSeed Games Localizing Newest Harvest Moon for North American Release
Will not be using Harvest Moon brand for legal reasons
XSeed Games will be localizing the latest 3DS Harvest Moon, previously translated as Harvest Moon: Connect to a New Land, under a new title: Story of Seasons. Previously, XSeed localized the excellent Rune Factory 4 for North American 3DS owners. Unfortunately, XSeed's participation in the...
Mario Kart Month Expanding the Universe of Mario Kart
Nintendo Kart?
Back in December, Nintendo showed off a cleverly deceptive trailer for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS that briefly showed Kirby pulling off some audacious Warp Star moves in Mario Kart's Rainbow Road. Of course, that trailer turned out to be the reveal of Rosalina and Luma for Super Smash Bros., just another fun jok
News 3DS Tops Japanese Hardware Chart as Wii U Secures Home Console Crown
Put away the champagne, the numbers are still low
It's time for the weekly Japanese Media Create results, and they bring a couple of notable headlines this week. We see a boost for Wii U ahead of the 29th May launch — it's a day earlier in Japan — of Mario Kart 8, while Level-5's latest success story keeps on going. The software charts see...
Weirdness When PR Stunts Go Wrong - Watch Dogs
Anonymous package caused office evacuation and bomb disposal call
Wii U owners may not be able to play Watch Dogs this week, but that doesn't mean Nintendo gamers shouldn't follow Ubisoft's release with some interest — it is apparently still coming to Nintendo's system this year, remember. We can also get a laugh from bonkers PR moves that have...
News Pullblox World Puzzling Its Way to Europe on 19th June, Includes Cross-Platform Support
Price promotion also announced
In recent hours we told you about a Pullblox / Fallblox sequel confirmed for Wii U in Japan, and now Nintendo of Europe has wasted no time confirming the title for its region, while also unveiling a host of enticing details — it'll arrive on 19th June, just like in Japan, for starters. It will be called Pullblox...
Mario Kart Month A Brief History Of Mario Kart Item Evolution: Mighty Mushroom
There’s a shroom for every occasion
You wouldn’t normally associate a mushroom with speed, but just look at Toad with his white and red polka dot head – he’s always zipping about. Clearly he’s got a need for speed after excessive use of the mighty mushroom out on the track. Actually, it’s hard to imagine what’s even under that...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Pushmo World Release Details
3DS predecessors to go on discount
Earlier today we brought you details of Pullblox World coming to the Wii U eShop in Europe, and Nintendo of America has now stepped in to confirm its own release details. As with previous releases its branding will be slightly different, and it'll be called Pushmo World in the region. It'll arrive in North America...
News Check Out This Incredible Valve / Super Smash Bros. Melee Mash-Up
The right game in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world
Although Nintendo and Valve have never worked together, the two companies actually share quite a lot in common. For starters, they've both produced some of the most critically acclaimed and best loved video game franchises in history. While a joint collaboration between the...
News Pullblox/Fallblox Sequel Coming to Wii U eShop in Japan on 19th June
Right outta nowhere
According to a newly found addition to Nintendo of Japan's official website, a Wii U sequel to the Intelligent Systems-developed Pullblox (known as Pushmo in North America) and Fallblox (known as Crashmo in North America) translated as Pushmo/Pullblox World is coming to Japan on 19th June this year. The site is in Japanese, so...
Video Nintendo Shows Off Photos With Mario in New Trailer
Have a Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel video, as a bonus
Earlier this week we told you about the launch of the official Photos With Mario website, with some tongue-in-cheek comments about Nintendo of America finally remembering that it had released the download in the US. The rather nice web page has demonstration videos, attractive design and details on...
Video Shaun White and Shaquille O'Neal Appear in Latest Tomodachi Life Commercial
They're hungry, too
Ahead of its surprisingly close 6th June release date, Nintendo's keeping up efforts to show 2DS / 3DS owners the charms of Tomodachi Life, with the latest trailer introducing another two celebrity Mii characters that'll be promoted along with the game. This time around we have legendary basketball player and mascot of awful...
Play Mario Kart 8 With Nintendo Life in our Launch Party
Watch our chums at Eurogamer play it live today, and us on launch day
Mario Kart 8 is extremely close now, and aside from some cheeky people that have found gullible retailers the vast majority are eagerly awaiting delivery or to hit up the eShop on launch day. We figured now would be a good time to let you know of some of our plans to enjoy the new...
News Chibi-Robo! Let's Go, Photo! Coming Into The European Frame on 3rd July
Photo contest confirmed with exclusive costumes up for grabs
Chibi-Robo! Photo Finder was a rather quirky, fun arrival on the 3DS in North America at the start of 2014. Its appeal can be tricky to explain as you use the system's cameras to find real-world items and colours to solve puzzles for bizarre characters — we gave it a modest...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour in the NLife Masters - Round Three
Time to rush around the toughest course
We're now into our third week of Mario Golf: World Tour tournaments — the NLife Open is underway with the code 62-8482-5663-7364. Of course, we also let you decide many of the terms of the NLife Masters, a contest decide to separate the star characters from the standard unlocks, where skills are put to the...
Tuesday27th May 2014
Interview Mario Kart 8 Director, Kosuke Yabuki, On Key Features of the Wii U's Blockbuster Release
"Not ruling out the possibility" of a Smash Bros. roster approach in future
For Wii U owners this week is about one game, Mario Kart 8. A new arrival in the franchise is always an exciting occasion, and in some respects this entry takes the series forward in more ways than its predecessors — it brings HD visuals to the franchise for the first...
Review Mega Man V (3DS eShop / GB)
There's a Stardroid waiting in the sky
The handheld Mega Man games, up until now, have been remixed mashups of two NES titles each. Some of them hewed more or less closely to the source material, while others were emboldened to evolve the original ideas is exciting new directions. Mega Man V, however, throws the very concept of "source material"...
News Best Buy's 'Smash-Fest' Venues, Perks and Demo Details Confirmed
Free gold coin and $5 voucher for early event pre-orders
Nintendo's all set for a relatively busy E3 in a couple of week's time, gearing up with a 'Digital Event', live Super Smash Bros. Invitational show, live streaming and demonstrations from the Treehouse team throughout the show and, of course, demo units at Best Buy stores around the U.S. The...
Poll A Tale of Two Blockbusters as Mario Kart 8 and Watch Dogs Arrive This Week
How will you spend your cash?
A gaming year is often summed up by crowded, high-profile release windows, typically in November as Holiday shopping and Black Friday insanity sweep stores in multiple territories. While this week isn't quite on that scale, it does see the rather brilliant Mario Kart 8 on Wii U go up against Watch Dogs on, well,...
News LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Looks Out of This World
Coming to Wii U and 3DS, details and screens inside
Warner Bros. and TT Games have announced that they'll be continuing their popular LEGO series of games at the beginning of Autumn / Fall, confirming LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham for a variety of platforms including Wii U and 3DS. As the title suggests, this entry will go beyond Batman's comfort...
News Evil Controllers Offers Custom Mario-Themed Wii U Pro Controllers
$30 more than the standard pad
Not long ago it seems there was a fair bit of buzz over PDP's announcement of a licensed GameCube-inspired Fight Pad for Wii and Wii U, which is all set to be shown in some form during E3. If you're a fan of the existing Wii U Pro Controller but want a more interesting design, however, a custom range from Evil...
Review Double Dragon II: The Revenge (3DS eShop / NES)
Now actually living up to its name
As one of the first scrolling beat 'em ups ever made, the original Double Dragon became a smash hit when it was released way back in 1987, and like most arcade games at the time quickly received a port to the NES. A single year later, Double Dragon II was released in arcades and, as was to be expected, it was also...
News Nintendo Japan Announces Plans for YouTube Affiliate Program
Nintendo provides a statement
Update: Nintendo has provided us with the following statement, largely reiterating what's been suggested in Nintendo Japan's tweets. Nintendo has been permitting the use of Nintendo copyrighted material in videos on YouTube under appropriate circumstances. Advertisements may accompany those videos, and in keeping...
News Handle Stand Adds Steering Wheelosity to Your Wii U GamePad
Hands at 10 and 2
When Mario Kart Wii introduced motion-controlled steering, an accessory in which to slap one's Wii Remote was a natural addition. Now that Mario Kart 8 allows the same type of control with the much bulkier, rectangular GamePad, at least one company has taken it upon themselves to reinvent the wheel. The Handle Stand for Wii U,...
Video This Minish Cap Trailer is as Cinematic as Game Boy Advance Gets
Music, flowing blond locks, it has it all
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap arrives on the Wii U Virtual Console this week in Europe, adding to the small but impressive range of Game Boy Advance titles on the system. Developed largely by Capcom, it stands up alongside its contemporaries as an excellent 2D adventure. With its arrival just a few...
News Spiffy Mario Kart 8 T-Shirts Arriving 29th May on Club Nintendo Japan
Get ready to be jealous
A special edition Mario Kart 8 T-shirt will be making its way to Club Nintendo Japan alongside the game on 29th May. The shirts will cost 600 points and, as you can see, feature nifty silhouettes of twelve playable characters on the front and a small tire graphic on the back. They come in both medium and large sizes and are...
Video These Mario Kart 8 Players Are Getting Rather Immersed in the Experience
Two fresh commercials emerge
Nintendo has released quite a variety of commercials so far for Mario Kart 8, ranging from straight-up gameplay sequences to a quirky series that recreated items and features in a fictional real-world wacky lab. Two fresh commercials go for a mix of both ideas, while also showing off the game's local multiplayer selling...
Video Check Out This Impressive Recreation of the Intro to Another World
Rumoured remake coming to Wii U and 3DS, remember
We may not exactly be short of artistic, narrative-driven games with creative environments in this age of the Indies, but in the early '90s games that weren't simple and fun action rarely made a significant impact with mainstream audiences. Another World, with a few select others, achieved that...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe Drops Outside UK Top 20 But Survives Another Week
Hang on little buddy!
The weekly UK charts have seen a number of 3DS titles deliver a decent début performance before falling out of the reckoning; no 2014 releases have yet hit that magical consistency enjoyed by some major titles of 2013. There are more significant games on the way to the portable, of course, and the latest visitor to the charts...
Monday26th May 2014
Nintendo Download 29th May (Europe)
Mario Kart 8, badgers, a Minish Cap, loads of tasty discounts and more
It's Monday morning, and Nintendo clearly wants this to be a particularly awesome week for its fans. This week's download update is packed full of options, including one of the biggest releases of the year, some exciting new download options and a whole load of tempting...
News Photos With Mario Official Website Launches With Details of $10 eShop Cards
So the AR cards are 'free'
Last week Photos With Mario launched with no fanfare, as Nintendo of America placed it on the U.S. store and said, "oh, there's a thing for you, if you want it". It didn't even get a mention in the company's official Download Update, simply left on the eShop unloved and alone. Of course, some gamers have shown some love...
News Nintendo Releases Unlock Code Hint for NES Remix 2
So many winking Mii characters!
NES Remix 2 may have been around nearly a month now, but there's a decent chance that a number of gamers are yet to unlock all of the different game challenges that are available. Maybe some of us are particularly rubbish at Dr. Mario, for example. Aware that some may need a helping hand, game director Koichi...
News Fans Plan a Revival of Mega Man Legends 3
Of course...
Those that were there at the beginning of the 3DS era, in Spring 2011, may remember the buzz around Mega Man Legends 3, the series exclusive from Capcom. It was hyped as a coup for the system, though Capcom was getting cold feet as 3DS sales initially struggled and, in all likelihood, had doubts regardless of hardware performance. We...
News Nintendo's Stock Value Creeps Back Upwards After a Tricky April
Going in the right direction at the moment
2014 has been a slightly peculiar year, so far, for Nintendo. It emerged from 2013 on the back of a breezy, confident Nintendo Direct in December and positive noises that the Wii U — particularly — wouldn't endure a games drought in the first half of the year. With respect to some download developers...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Thirty Nine
Assist Trophy Capsule! Mirrored characters! Ike! More!
E3 creeps ever closer, which should mean more information on Super Smash Bros. isn't far away. The past week was actually fairly eventful for the titles, however, with loose comments from Nintendo's French division suggesting that the Wii U version will utilise the NFC Figurine Platform, with...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 26th May
More crowdfunding to consider
Last week was a rather busy update, with quite a few promising titles hitting their targets and being confirmed for Wii U. This week we've added a few projects requested in the past week, while there's one success and a couple of updates to get through. Without further ado let's get to it. Funded Projects: Red...
Matters Of Import Survival Horror In A Sweet Home
Warning: Home not as sweet as advertised
Videogames made to tie in with movies have never been anything new, not even way back in 1989 when Capcom’s adaptation of Japanese horror movie Sweet Home hit the Famicom. What sets Sweet Home apart from the usual licensed fare is that not only does it vaguely resemble the material it’s based on, but...
Video This Live Action Street Fighter Web Series is Surprisingly Good
No, really
Live action shows based on games aren't exactly rare, but those with respectable production values and official licensing are. Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist falls into the latter category, beginning life as a proof of concept video on YouTube before gaining official rights from Capcom and private investment. At one point it was destined...
Sunday25th May 2014
Mario Kart Month Keeping the Mario Kart 8 Race Going With DLC
Are you thinking what we’re thinking?
As we’re all aware, Mario Kart 8 is just about to zoom around the corner and handbrake turn into our shiny Wii U consoles, which makes it pretty difficult to think about anything else at the moment. With the recently released Mario Golf: World Tour offering paid DLC packs – including additional courses,...
Review The Denpa Men 3: The Rise of Digitoll (3DS eShop)
Good vibrations
Before Denpa Ningen no RPG washed up on Western shores as The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave in 2012, it felt like a localisation long-shot: a candy-coloured JRPG with off-the-wall style, an AR-based hook, very little story, and deceptively traditional, grind-heavy gameplay. Even the Denpa Men themselves — colourful and oddly...
Review Alien On The Run (3DS eShop)
Out of this world
After a few weeks full of ports and disappointing original titles on the eShop, Japanese studio G-Style's 3DS-exclusive Alien on the Run is a breath of fresh air, a surprisingly addictive "comical escape game" that has arrived on the store at relatively short notice. You play as an alien named Delude who has been abudcted by a UFO,...
Video More Interesting Game Boy Facts To Wrap Your Head Around
Popular YouTubers Did You Know Gaming and Vsauce3 unite once again
Earlier this week we featured a video made as a collaboration between popular YouTube channels Did You Know Gaming and Vsauce3 that highlights an assortment of facts and oddities about the original Game Boy system, which
News Don't Touch Anything Red announced for Wii U eShop
Play the demo in your browser today
Indie developer Helix Games will be bringing its challenging upcoming title Don't Touch Anything Red to the Wii U eShop in the not-too-distant future. The game features off TV play, versus and co-op modes, two single player modes and five-player multiplayer only possible on the Wii U by use of the GamePad. While...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour - Results and Round Three
Stepping up another level
It's time once again, a day behind our normal schedule, to reveal the results of the latest Nintendo Life tournaments in Mario Golf: World Tour; we'll also get the ball rolling on the next round, too. Let's start with the winners. Last week saw NLife veteran and reviewer Marcel van Duyn — aka Drake — win both...
Saturday24th May 2014
News Digital Foundry Pins Down Mario Kart 8's Resolution and Framerate
No, not actually native 1080p
After a lengthy build-up, Mario Kart 8 is almost here, the latest entry in the hugely popular franchise. It's been critically acclaimed on multiple fronts, with plenty also lavishing praise on the visuals and performance of the title; in our review we said that visually "MK8 is a stunner, and joins titles such as Super...
Review Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Akuma Matata
Street Fighter II casts an indelibly long shadow over the rest of Capcom's fighting games from the 1990s. First launched in 1991, SFII in all its Super and Turbo varieties has become synonymous with the Street Fighter franchise, a cultural touchstone the series wasn't truly able to move past until the launch of the successful Street...
Review Fit Music for Wii U (Wii U eShop)
Fit dance the blues
Losing weight and getting active isn't always an easy task. The motivation, patience and willpower it takes to make a healthy lifestyle change is one that many find daunting, and so there is an entire industry built around making the idea more palatable. Using games consoles to try and get you up off the couch may seem like an...
Mario Kart Month Mario Kart's Best Weapon Isn't What You Think
Green Shells For Pride and Honour
Games in the Mario Kart series — including the forthcoming Mario Kart 8 — are usually referred to as racing games, but we all know that's only half the story — the other half is gladiatorial combat on wheels, battles fought between competitors using whatever Super Mario-themed objects of destruction they can...
Video Nintendo Minute Unboxes The Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle
What's inside the box? Well, a Wii U...
We do rather like the regular Nintendo Minute videos here at Nintendo Life, and the latest is one for all you unboxing fans out there. Don't deny it, don't pretend you're too self aware and mature to enjoy watching someone open a box with a thing inside — we know you like unboxings. It's a secret shame for...
Outlines Gomba details and release plans
When it comes to Nintendo's portable download platforms, we think it's fair to say that they've been the home of a number of intriguing, unique titles from a broad spectrum of developers. Unlike the emergence of the Wii U store's expanding library courtesy of its support for off-the-shelf dev tools like...
Friday23rd May 2014
About 10 million more trades needed
Part of the ongoing appeal of Pokémon X & Y is the wealth of online features that give it life beyond the core single player experience. While battling is an option, of course, the Global Trade Station also allows players to exchange 'mon with each other. It's certainly popular, and with a major landmark...
News Ike Joins the Battle in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
All of the reveal images inside
We've certainly seen plenty of character reveals for Super Smash Bros. this year, but it seems that Masahiro Sakurai and his team aren't finished quite yet. Today confirms Ike as a new challenger, returning after his series début in Super Smash Bros. Brawl on Wii. To start of with Sakurai-san's Miiverse update,...
News Hyrule Warriors Is The Zelda Game That Eiji Aonuma Could Never Make Himself
Developers behind the Wii U action title give some more detail
The core development team behind the forthcoming Hyrule Warriors has spoken to Famitsu about the reasons for combining the hitherto unassociated Warriors and Zelda franchises. The Japanese publication spoke to Tecmo Koei producers Hisashi Koinuma and Yosuke Hayashi — as well as Zelda...
Talking Point It's Not Too Late for Nintendo to Join the Minecraft Party
The blocky horse hasn't bolted, yet
If Minecraft was a conventional video game, its time in the sun would have passed by now, or we'd currently be playing Minecraft 4 and questioning whether Mojang was going 'a bit EA' with its annual releases. That's far from the reality, however, as this is a game that has ignored convention to establish itself as...
News Nintendo Confirms New 'Sea Green' 2DS Model
Arriving alongside Tomodachi Life
With Tomodachi Life arriving in Europe and North America on 6th June, Nintendo has been pushing some fairly heavy marketing for the title. Commercials produced by Nintendo of America in particular have certainly been aiming for a young demographic, so it's of little surprise that a new 2DS model has now been...
News Nintendo Teams Up With E4 For Mario Kart TV Promotion
Have your highlights shown on TV
With Mario Kart 8 now just a week away, Nintendo UK has announced an intriguing partnership with E4 — the UK TV channel — to show player's exploits in Mario Kart TV in the commercial break during peak time. Not only will it be an exciting opportunity for early adopters of the game, but this promotion seems like a...
How many licks does it take to get to the centre of this game? One.
Start Candy Match 3 up and its cheery-looking title screen greets you with… complete silence. Your ears may pick up nothing, but your soul should be hearing the dire warning screeched out by the very void: abandon all hopes of creative or original effort, ye who enter here!...
Video How To Become A Mario Kart 8 Master In Eight Easy Steps
Our newcomer's guide to mastering the basics
Mario Kart 8 launches at the end of this month, and if you've already read our glowing review, then you'll be well aware that this is a game you need to experience for yourself. The Mario Kart series has gradually evolved and developed over two decades, and there will be many people preparing to play...
News Check Out This Gorgeous Metroid Prime Visual Feature
Part of an "empty spaces" mini-series
The Metroid franchise remains a keen source of interest for Nintendo fans and, to some extent, gamers in general. From its iconic NES début to the stand-out Super NES entry, it's a series that has enough lore and variety in style to keep conversations lively for a long time. Retro Studios has played its own...
Video Capcom's Mega May Spotlight Shows Off The 3DS Virtual Console Mega Man Releases
See what's on offer
If you happen to be a Mega Man fan with a 3DS in North America, then May has potentially been your favourite gaming month in some time. Capcom has been running its Mega May event, which has basically meant releasing the various Game Boy series entries to the Virtual Console, with a couple of Game Boy Color titles thrown in. It's...
Competition Nintendo Launches Competition to Win Trip to E3
Includes chance to play a winner at the Super Smash Bros. Invitational
E3 is getting ever closer, and Nintendo fans may be cautiously hoping for exciting things from the company this year. Nintendo of America has decided to give gamers a chance to enjoy the event for themselves, launching a 'Super Smash Bros. People's Challenger' contest. The focus...
News The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Arrives in Europe on 29th May
Yep, that's next week's update
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is not only an excellent portable entry in the series, but is also interesting for the fact that Capcom was primarily responsible for its development. Just this week we shared the happy news a game page listing had popped up for a Wii U Virtual Console release in North America — a...
News Become The UK's Best Mario Kart Family, Win Real And Impressively Proportioned Trophies
Thanks to our friends at Family Gamer TV
There’s an argument in many households all around the world over who is really better at Mario Kart. With the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8, this domestic contest is only going to get hotter. To help settle the debate once and for all, Family Gamer TV has set-up its own Mario Kart 8 Family Championships...
News Mario Will Be Racing In Reality At This Weekend's History 300 At Charlotte Motor Speedway
Not upside down, sadly
Mario Kart 8 may not have much of a grounding in reality, but the game will be getting some welcome real-world exposure at this weekend's History 300 At Charlotte Motor Speedway event. US retailer GameStop has taken over the livery of double Daytona 500 winner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racer Matt Kenseth's Toyota Camry in...
Thursday22nd May 2014
News The Wii U Version Of Super Smash Bros. Will Utilise The NFC Nintendo Figurine Platform
From the mouth of Nintendo of France's managing director Stephan Bole
Update: Nintendo UK has issued us with the following statement: On 8th May 2014, Mr Iwata announced the decision for Nintendo to release character figurines with built-in NFC functionality that are compatible with video games starting from this year-end sales season. There...
News Here Are Plenty of Lovely Hyrule Warriors Screenshots at Which to Gawk
So pretty...
With Hyrule Warriors doing the rounds in the Japanese media and, by extension, getting Wii U gamers in the West a tad excited as well, Tecmo Koei's enjoying additional interest in its latest Warriors collaboration. Teaming up with one of Nintendo's biggest brands can have that effect. If you're keen to see more, of course, the official...
Nintendo Download 22nd May (North America)
Squids, Turtles, Soldiers, Aliens, Street Fighting and more
It's that time once again, as we have the full details of this week's Nintendo Download offerings in North America. This week brings us retro delights and new games on both the Wii U and 3DS, along with more DSiWare to keep the old portable going. Let's get to it. Want to know what arrives...
Review Swords & Soldiers (Wii U eShop)
The battle returns
Originally released exclusively on WiiWare in 2009, Swords & Soldiers has had its fair share of ports in the five years since its initial release; it's made an appearance on almost every platform under the sun. The last of these to grace a Nintendo platform, the 3DS version, was not exactly a shining example of what one would...
Review SQUIDS Odyssey (Wii U eShop)
Calamari meets kamikaze
Squids Odyssey plays like a mix between Angry Birds, billiards, and a strategy RPG. If that sounds like fun to you, that’s because it is. A cast of cephalopodic heroes embarks on a quest to save their underwater world from a corrupting black ooze the best way they know how: by launching their soft, squishy little bodies...
Site News Check Out Nintendo Life's eShop Picks On Your Wii U And 3DS
Recommended viewing
Those of you with especially good memories will recall that Nintendo Life has been featured on the eShop twice in the past few years — back in 2011, we were asked by Nintendo of Europe to contribute a list of our favourite eShop titles, and a year later we supplied our red-hot summer picks for the North American eShop. We're...
News The Legend Of Zelda: Minish Cap Will Be Sizing Up The Wii U eShop Soon
If you want to get ahead, get a hat
Nintendo has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap is coming to the western Wii U Virtual Console service in the near future. A page has appeared on the official Nintendo of America site which details the game, but the release date remains "TBC". Minish Cap was first released on the Game Boy Advance...
Review Turtle Tale (3DS eShop)
Turtle Recall
Do you love retro platformers but wish they featured more squirt guns? Not to be confused with the children's animated film A Turtle's Tale from a few years ago, Saturnine Games' Turtle Tale brings Super Soakin' platforming action to the eShop at a budget price, but don't let its colourful graphics fool you: Turtle Tale is a strict...
News Hyperkin Finally Shipping Its Retron 5 Console This Week
$140 in the US, £119 in the UK
Hyperkin will begin shipping its Retron 5 console this week, according to IGN. The system is a retro powerhouse, and will play NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy Advance, Famicom, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Sega Mega Drive and Super Famicom games. It will also play Master System games using the Sega Power Base Converter. It...
News Tecmo Koei and Eiji Aonuma Outline Origins of Hyrule Warriors
"We have many fans of The Legend of Zelda in our company"
After months of silence following its December 2013 reveal, Hyrule Warriors is undoubtedly a hot topic as a result of its recent Famitsu coverage. Hitting Japan on 14th August, confirmed gameplay details have perhaps contributed to a sense of optimism around this Warriors and Zelda crossover...
News Check Out These Awesome LEGO Super Smash Bros. Concepts
Block and roll
Despite numerous film, TV and comic book franchises undergoing the LEGO treatment in recent times – not to mention indie video game mega-hit Minecraft – we've yet to see a crossover featuring any of our favourite Nintendo characters. However, with your support that could soon change, thanks to a couple of ideas put forward on the...
News Fresh Nintendo Wii U Patent Looks Like a Wii Music Game
At least a potential E3 reveal won't be a live demonstation
It seems that today is a day of potential E3 leaks, and this one will likely divide Nintendo gamers. We're aware that some of the Nintendo Life community enjoyed Wii Music, so this writer will restrict expressing his feelings of trepidation and fear at this possible reveal — the lead...
News Mario Golf: World Tour's Flower Pack DLC Is Delicately Chipped Onto The Green
Nabbit while you can
The second helping of DLC for Mario Golf: World Tour is now available in both North America and Europe. The new Flower pack takes up 447 blocks (that's the EU size) and showcases the Layer-Cake Desert and Sparkling Waters 18-hole courses. Furthermore, that loveable rogue Nabbit is now a playable character, and as before fresh...
Video Feast Your Eyes On Episode One Of Days Of Our Tomodachi Lives
And take part in the caption competition to win a role in episode two
Last week, we told you about an amazing new event in web-based televisual programming: Days of Our Tomodachi Lives. A soap opera created entirely with Tomodachi Life, it is surely set to become one of the most significant contributions to popular culture yet seen, and the most...
News Tappingo 2 Confirmed for a Summer Release on 3DS eShop
Over 100 puzzles and a new zoom option promised
Fans of download games on DS and 3DS that also love a gameplay twist or puzzling challenge may be familiar with Goodbye Galaxy Games, which recently brought Tappingo to the eShop. We certainly appreciated its charms, awarding it 7/10 in our review. The good news is that Hugo Smits, the man behind the...
Wednesday21st May 2014
News PDP Confirms the GameCube-Inspired Wired Fight Pad For Wii and Wii U
Arriving "this Holiday season"
Controller accessories were everywhere in the Wii era, with various companies fighting over a piece of the sizeable, tasty pie of the system's sales. We can expect that trend to continue to some degree with the Wii U, though the uptake has been slower due to its smaller fan-base to date. Fear not, third-party...
News Hyrule Warriors Screenshots and Gameplay Details Emerge
Team Ninja character design strikes, it seems
It seems Hyrule Warriors is quite the hot topic right now, with news of its Japanese release date and Team Ninja involvement just recently bombarding our screens. As it's coming relatively soon in Nintendo and Tecmo Koei's homeland — 14th August — there's a little hype starting to build. More...
News Nintendo Confirms Tomodachi Life: Welcome Version, Two Gift Codes With Each Retail Copy
Get a rare panda suit!
Arriving on 6th June, Tomodachi Life is undoubtedly Nintendo's big hope for a viral hit on 3DS this coming Summer. The Mii-sim's goal is to draw you into its wacky world, exactly the sort of approach that can create buzz on social networks and achieve long-term sales. Nintendo is keen for plenty of gamers to at least try the...
News HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games Retract Claim to Sadness IP
Others currently seeking to pick up the rights
Yesterday we posted the news and a short interview regarding a revival of the lost Wii game, Sadness, with independent Wii U developers teaming up to work on the project. It was news that excited plenty of download gamers, and there was certainly confidence of the project being on solid footing in our...
News Miiverse Update Changes Profiles in New User Page, Adds a Couple of Extra Features
Set favourite posts and 'Yeah' comments
Miiverse, Nintendo's continually evolving bespoke social network, has had another update applied today. This time around there are improvements — at least we think they are — to all three versions across Wii U, 3DS and web browsers. To start with, there's now a revamped User Page, with the User Menu of...
News Japanese Retail Sales Struggle as Just 76 Units Separate PS4 and Wii U
Yo-kai Watch approaches one million retail sales
The Japanese chart results are in from Media Create, and unfortunately they continue the recent trends of poor sales across software and hardware. There are some bright-spots from a Nintendo perspective, though not necessarily radiant enough to lighten up the overall picture. To start with software,...
News This Foul-Mouthed Bomberman Clone Is Blowing Up The Wii U eShop Soon
Tick, tick, tick, tick, BOOM
Fans of explosive destruction and naughty swears will be pleased to hear that Sanuk Games has announced that its next game is due to hit the Wii U eShop in the coming months. Bombing Bastards is an attractive arcade action title which is clearly inspired by Hudson's iconic Bomberman series, and features the vocal talents...
Review Adventures of Lolo (Wii U eShop / NES)
YOLO, Lolo
HAL Laboratory's 1989 puzzler Adventures of Lolo falls into the same category as titles like Mach Rider and Clu Clu Land: C-list NES classics that are often overlooked today but provide an arcade-like fun experience for those searching out Nintendo's "deep cuts" from the '80s. Adventures of Lolo is probably best remembered these days as...
Feature Memories of the Wii and DS Wi-Fi Connection Era
When the Nintendo Network was but a twinkle in Iwata-san's eye
It's finally happened, the Wi-Fi connection on the Wii and DS is gone, disconnected on 20th May. The DSi and Wii Shop platforms are still running, but online multiplayer and content in games is now shut down, prompting the end of an era for the last-gen systems. Regardless of the...
Feature Tomodachi Life Is The Game Your Mii Has Been Waiting For Since 2006
Bringing digital denizens to life
When Nintendo introduced the Mii concept along with its Wii console back in 2006, it was something of a revelation — so much so that former bedfellow Rare was inspired to imitate the character creation system on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console with its similarly cute Avatars. A digital representation of the player...
Review Deep Sea Creatures (DSiWare)
Shallow waters
Collavier's Deep Sea Creatures, a slow-paced sim about deep sea fish and tank management, is not for everyone. While there is nothing particularly wrong with the game, its leisurely pace, lack of immediate challenge and poor instruction will likely turn off players looking for a more satisfying experience. For players genuinely...
News NPD Q1 Spend Shows 1% Drop Despite Substantial Hardware Boost
It's a tough market out there
In recent weeks our coverage of the Japanese chart results has shown a certain pattern — sales are low and showing a lack of momentum. Despite two new home consoles in the past six months and Nintendo beginning to step up its efforts with both Wii U and 3DS, the latest figures for US retail sales are also showing a...
News Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's Third DLC Set Announced
Advent Children-style Cloud joins in too!
We've been keeping you up-to-date with Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's DLC packs, and this latest set is no exception. We'd certainly hope and expect that the same sets will be available when this title hit
News Gargoyle's Quest II Swoops Onto the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
3DS or Wii U is fine in the West, really...
So, Gargoyle's Quest II may be on its way to the Virtual Console in the West, perhaps. Up to now we've seen the NES version arrive on the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan, while it's been rated by the Australian Classification Board — it's on the cards, then. This sequel — a prequel in terms of the plot...
Tuesday20th May 2014
Exclusive Lost Wii Game, Sadness, To Be Revived as Wii U Exclusive
HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games are collaborating on development
Update 2: Following a rapid progression of events, HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games have retracted their claims to the Sadness brand — the details are available in this updated article. Update: In follow-up comments to our colleagues at Euro
Hands On Photos with Mario and AR Card Fun
Koopa Troopas invade your living room!
How long has it been since you thought about AR (augmented reality) gaming on your 3DS? If the stack of AR cards that came with your system is gathering dust in a corner somewhere, go dig 'em out, because Nintendo has finally released a new AR game; it doesn't even seem to want you to know about it. Photos with...
Review Cut the Rope: Triple Treat (3DS)
Triple the fun and no strings attached
The Cut the Rope franchise may have risen to fame through its release on the Apple App Store, but it has also had a pretty prominent history on Nintendo’s most recent handheld systems, too. The first game in the series was originally ported to DSiWare back in 2011, before returning again on the 3DS eShop last...
Eiji Aonuma is supervising
With Hyrule Warriors recently given a release window of Summer for Japan, details of the action mash-up are starting to emerge. It's been announced in Famitsu magazine that the Tecmo Koei Wii U title will hit Japan on 14th August, with some other snippets of information also emerging. In terms of the teams working on the...
Video The Latest Mario Kart 8 Commercial is Possibly the Strangest Yet
Weird is good, right?
It's the opinion of some, including this writer, that Nintendo's renewed focus on seizing attention in the face of tougher times has reminded the company of key parts of its identity. After bland lifestyle adverts in the Wii and DS era as Nintendo merely needed to release something to make big bucks, we're now seeing the...
Video Here are Some Fun Game Boy Facts and Awesome Footage
Do You Know Gaming and Vsauce3 team up
Not so long ago the Game Boy celebrated its 25th anniversary, an important landmark for one of the most important pieces of gaming hardware ever produced. We already gushed over it accordingly, but hugely popular YouTube channels Did You Know Gaming and Vsauce3 have collaborated on two videos to highlight some...
Preview Ripping It Up With Wii U eShop Action Title Insanity's Blade
Armless fun for all the family
While Capcom, Konami and many of the other games companies which forged their reputations during the 8-bit era have since moved on to creating next-gen experiences, they have left a rich legacy of retro gaming brilliance which is proving to be particularly fertile ground for indie studios — one of which is Causal Bit...
News ESRB Rating Reveals Some Cheeky Passwords in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
No, one of them isn't "Justin Bailey"
The ESRB has passed its rating on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, which is set to release in the West sometime this year. A bit surprisingly, Curtain Call has been given a "Teen" rating, one notch higher than the "Everyone 10+" of its
News Nintendo To Welcome 3000 Fans For Live Super Smash Bros. Invitational Event at E3
First come, first served
Nintendo is, once again, approaching the upcoming E3 extravaganza in its own way. It will be broadcasting a Nintendo Digital Event, live demo booths at Best Buy stores around the U.S. and streaming live demonstrations from the famous Treehouse team. Plenty to enjoy, then, but it'll also show off Super Smash Bros. on Wii U...
News Nintendo Overcomes Patent Dispute With Non-Practicing Entity
Five year fight finally comes to a close
Way back in February 2009, Wall Wireless LLC – a company whose primary focus is to enforce patents – took Nintendo to court claiming that it had infringed a patent with the DS and DSi hardware systems. Finally, however, after the United States Patent and Trademark Office cancelled all of the patent claims...
Feature Celebrating 25 Years Of A Legendary Final Fantasy Title
When is a Final Fantasy not a Final Fantasy? When it’s a SaGa!
Way back in the mists of 1989; when we were all wondering how Nintendo’s Game Boy could possibly stand up to the mighty full colour Atari Lynx and whether it was really worth handing over $200USD/£190 for Sega’s new console, Squaresoft (as it was then known) decided to release an...
News Book Series Will Take In-Depth Look at Original Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack
By an author who knows the score
The 33 1/3 book series offers individual, journalistic studies of influential albums by performers ranging from James Brown to Radiohead. In a departure from their standard venues, an upcoming book is going to focus on a smaller but no less memorable collection of work. Super Mario Bros. - Koji Kondo has been...
Video This Tomodachi Life TV Spot Will Surely Make Ryan And Andy Global Stars
It's all about Andy
Nintendo of America is making sure every 3DS owner knows that life-sim Tomodachi Life is coming soon with a series of TV spots aimed at a pretty wide audience. The adoreable Lilly and Hannah starred in the first commercial, but this time around we've got a genuine star in the making in the form of Andy. Sure, his co-star Ryan...
Monday19th May 2014
News Club Nintendo Distributing Tomodachi Life Demo Codes to Select Platinum Members
Go check your email already!
Nintendo of America is distributing a special access code for a demo of Tomodachi Life to a select group of Club Nintendo members who have achieved Platinum status (those who have earned 600 Coins or more during the current fiscal year). The demo, entitled Tomodachi Life: Move-In Version, will allow you to transfer your...
News Photos With Mario Available for Free Now in North American eShop
Not exactly a high profile launch
Photos With Mario, previously released in Japan alongside AR cards sold at retail, has dropped onto the 3DS eShop in North America; it's free, so no complaints here. This is rather like a dedicated and improved version of the original AR card app, as you simply pose and snap pics of various characters for your...
Barrel full of mediocrity
It doesn’t take an analyst to know that the entertainment industry loves a good trend, and one current example is to find a hugely popular work of fiction, turn it into a big-budget film, then let Warner Bros. make a LEGO video game out of it. The works of beloved fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien, of Lord of the Rings and...
Review Mega Man IV (3DS eShop / GB)
Great things in small packages
With one exception, which is also making its way to the 3DS Virtual Console, all of the Game Boy Mega Man games take two of the NES titles and rework them a bit. Some old faces in new places, so to speak. A sprinkling of unique bosses and weapons help to carve out identities for these portable experiences but, by and...
Nintendo Download 22nd May (Europe)
A SQUIDS Odyssey, Swords, Klonoa and much more
It's another Monday morning, which means we have a juicy Nintendo Download update for European gamers. This week includes plenty of options on both Wii U and 3DS, with brand new and Virtual Console titles on both systems. Without further ado, let's get to the details. Wii U eShop: SQUIDS Odyssey (The...
Reminder Nintendo's Wi-Fi Service on Wii and DS Closes on 20th May
Get in those last online rounds
An era ends on 20th May. Not a glittering golden era that will live on through the ages, but nevertheless a period of time that brought plenty of good times for Nintendo gamers. Nintendo is shutting down its Wi-Fi connection service on Wii and DS, primarily as a result of the closure of the GameSpy infrastructure that...
Review Color Zen (Wii U eShop)
Passes with flying colours
If you enjoyed Abyss earlier this month and you're thirsting for another relaxing, atmospheric Wii U eShop title with a smooth electronic soundtrack, Color Zen is exactly what you're looking for. It's a puzzle game with no time limit or scoring system: you simply match colours and unwind. The iOS/Android success-story has...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Thirty Eight
Charizard! Little Mac! The Villager! More!
We may still be waiting on formal release dates — especially for the 3DS version — prior to E3, at least, but we can still keep our hype levels for Super Smash Bros. up by gawking at shiny new screenshots. In last week's efforts Masahiro Sakurai showed off character designs, revealed a Final Smash,...
News Nintendo Brand Manager Hopes Mario Kart 8 Will Serve as a "Catalyst" for Wii U
"Mario Kart is one of our killer titles"
Though no game ever achieves loving praise from 100% of those that play it, Mario Kart 8 has been the recipient of plenty of compliments in reviews to date. What truly matters for Nintendo, however, is that buzz about the release will not only make it a must-buy for Wii U owners, but also entice other gamers...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 19th May
Yet more games make the cut for Wii U
It's been a busy week in the world of Kickstarter funding, with plenty of positive news for Nintendo gamers. There are three projects that have hit Wii U targets, a new entry that looks promising for the 3DS, and unfortunately some that have failed to make their mark. Plenty to consider, then, so let's get to...
That's technically still Summer, if true
Update: The director of Official Nintendo Magazine in Spain has exchanged some clarification tweets with the publisher of the source story, Nintenderos, simply stating that the 3DS entry still has a Summer release without being confirmed for September. In an impressive feat of backtracking that defies the...
News Wacky Physics-Based Puzzler Gravity Badgers Releasing 29th May
Grow out your mullet in celebration
Wales Interactive's utterly zany physics-based puzzler Gravity Badgers will be making its way to the Wii U eShop on 29th May. Nintendo Life had a little chat with Wales Interactive's Managing Director David Banner back in January; the team, excited by the possibilities offered by the GamePad, is also working on a...
News Kirby Seizes Top Ten Single-Format Chart Début in the UK
16th in all-format results, though
While gamers in North America have been enjoying Kirby: Triple Deluxe since 2nd May, it arrived two weeks later in the European market. Its début UK chart results are in, then, and the outcome is solid if unspectacular. The happiest outcome is that Kirby's latest is 9th in the single-format chart, mixing it with...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour in the NLife Masters - Round Two
Now it's getting serious
After an opening week in which three players dominated the Nintendo Life tournaments, we're now up and running on this week's competition — the NLife Open is underway now with the code 38-1178-3488-9460. As promised, however, your votes in a variety of polls set the requirements for the NLife Masters, even if we did have...
Sunday18th May 2014
Round Table Let's Discuss Our Hopes and Dreams for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Bold ambitions
When The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS, franchise fans young and old lost a great degree of composure. It's no surprise that a remake is coming to Nintendo's current portable but it's come rapidly after X & Y, while its reveal was sudden and through a press release. A global...
Book Review Console Wars - Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation
An insightful history with a bit too much Blast Processing
It's crystal clear from the first page of Blake J. Harris' Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle That Defined a Generation that the book is destined for the big screen. With not one, but two movies based on Console Wars already in production before it even hit bookstore shelves– a...
Saturday17th May 2014
News Tecmo Koei Hopeful That Hyrule Warriors Will Tap Into Zelda Fanbase and Hit One Million Sales
This new screen looks rather tasty
While it's been absent from Nintendo's Direct broadcasts since its shock reveal in late 2013, Hyrule Warriors is a potentially intriguing title on the way to Wii U. The Tecmo Koei-developed title, spinning off from the well known Dynasty Warriors franchise, is due this Summer in Japan and will hopefully not be far...
News Wii U Reportedly Uses Less Energy to Run Than Wii and Rivals
Natural Resources Defense Council highlights low energy use
A report by the the Natural Resources Defense Council suggests that the Wii U annually consumes less energy than the Wii, as shown in the graph below: The graph, which is designed to show how much energy your console drains across the year, illustrates that the Wii U is more effective in...
News Several New Pokémon Online Competitions Announced
Battles to keep you busy over the summer months
Even with news of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire dominating the Pokémon news space, it seems that the already released Pokémon X & Y show no signs of slowing down as more competitive events have been announced. Several new online competitions for the 3DS Pokémon titles have been...
Video The Piranha Plant and a "Crazy Plunge" Tested in the Latest Mario Kart 8 Commercials
Advertising with some bite
Over the past week we've shared a few Mario Kart 8 30-second commercial that have been doing the rounds, incorporating some fun live-action sequences with game footage. Nintendo's now uploaded a couple more examples, covering the Piranha Plant — an excellent new item in this entry — and showing a "crazy plunge" that's...
Review Sokomania 2: Cool Job (DSiWare)
Overheated
Cinemax's 2010 DSiWare puzzler Sokomania received a disappointing 3/10 in our review, due to its cheap presentation, lack of content and absence of variety. Unfortunately, Sokomania 2: Cool Job, while sporting a little more personality and improved visuals than its predecessor, doesn't improve upon the one-note gameplay and feels just as...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour - Results and Round Two
The gauntlet has been thrown down
It's the moment that golfers have been waiting for, the results of the opening NLife Open and NLife Masters tournaments in Mario Golf: World Tour, in addition to the launch of the new tournaments. It's on! Let's start with the winners. These show-offs took up the top three positions in both tournaments, while the...
Friday16th May 2014
Reaction Mario Kart 8 Accused Of Poor Sales Potential, Ruining Battle Mode And Racism
Mario Kart Hate
Mario Kart 8 launches at the end of this month, and as you'll know if you've consulted our review, it's well worth looking forward to. It would seem that most of the gaming press agrees with us; the game has scored very highly across the board. However, opinions are like belly buttons — everybody has one — and unsurprisingly,...
News Nintendo Hosting Two Big Evening Presentations at E3
One is for a mystery new 3DS title
Nintendo may not have a main stage E3 press event in its plans this year, but that does not mean it won't have any interesting presentations. Press have been receiving invitations to two developer discussion events, each scheduled to run for about 90 minutes. The first, planned for Tuesday, 10th June from 7-8:30...
Video Check Out This Mario Kart 8 And Mario Kart Wii Moo Moo Meadows Comparison
Ahead of the pack?
With Mario Kart 8 getting rave reviews all over the interwebs, Family Gamer TV has dialled in for some close up comparison of the Moo Moo Meadows level on both the Wii and Wii U. While it is of course expected that the Wii U version looks better, quite how much better is kind of mind-blowing. Certainly this night and day...
News Ubisoft Makes Little Mention of Nintendo in Plans for Financial Year, Sales Show Why
Just 3% of sales on Wii U, zero on 3DS
Ubisoft has published its financial results and reports, and having reported losses has been outlining plans and expectations for a successful coming year; pre-orders for Watch_Dogs and other major releases are cited as positives, though despite Just Dance 2014 hitting six million sell-in units and evidently...
Mario Kart Month A Brief History Of Mario Kart Item Evolution: The Shell
When spiny blue shells grow wings
If you thought Donkey Kong’s banana-throwing antics were foul play out on the circuit, Koopa Troopa is probably worthy of mention as well – no doubt coming under fire from various animal rights groups for the exploitation of his own species. Although shells have been one of the many foundations of Mario Kart...
News Wii U Software Has a Boost in U.S. Sales as LEGO Takes Over
Decent portable LEGO sales for Nintendo
In what's one of the quietest NPD sales updates of recent times, some limited details have emerged of April physical retail sales in the U.S. There's a relatively minor piece of positive news for the Wii U, while the software top 10 has an air of familiarity and one brand showing continued strong form. In...
News You'll be Able to Play as the Girl Villager in Super Smash Bros.
Sakurai-san - "how lovely"
With Super Smash. Bros. on 3DS just months away, sitting pretty with a Summer release window, we're starting to get to the nitty-gritty of details in Masahiro Sakurai's Miiverse posts. His latest 'pic of the day' shows us the greater flexibility that we may see in character customisation or, in some cases, variations of...
News Ubisoft Data Places Mario as the Second Highest Selling Franchise Since 2005
Games with guns won
While Ubisoft's recent financial reports and briefing aren't exactly packed with delightful news for Nintendo gamers, there is some positivity to be found. It's all from a table designed to show off the success of the company's biggest brands, which demonstrates some impressive sales for Nintendo. A table covering 2005 to 2013...
Video DreamWorks Animator Transforms His Son Into A Shell-Throwing Mario Kart Hero
Shell shocked
DreamWorks Animator Daniel Hashimoto has created a series of videos which star his son in the role of Action Movie Kid, where movie-standard special effects are applied to make his life look a little more incredible. The latest episode couldn't be more timely with Mario Kart 8 around the corner, as Hashimoto places his son in a...
News Hover: Revolt of Gamers Hits Wii U Kickstarter Target
Another download title confirmed
For those following our weekly Kickstarter summaries, Hover: Revolt of Gamers by Midgar Studio has been a particular source of optimism. The colourful and promising free-running title has shown strong momentum with a realistic Wii U stretch goal. The positive news is that, with six days to go at the time of writing,...
Rumour Wii Sports Club Japanese Retail Bundle Points to July Release for Boxing and Baseball
A knockout for Wii U?
The Wii Sports Club range on the Wii U eShop has offered some decent fun so far, bringing HD, Miiverse and MotionPlus upgrades to three events from the iconic Wii Sports. We're still awaiting Baseball and Boxing, of course, in order to complete the set; if a Japanese retail blog is to be believed, they're not far away. The...
News Road Redemption Developer Outlines Plans for a "Living, Breathing World"
An attempt to revitalise the arcade racing genre
Road Redemption, when it was successfully funded on Kickstarter, attracted plenty of attention due to comparisons with the iconic Road Rash series. The prospect of an action racer in that mould, along with concept footage that showed solid intentions, helped the campaign to funding success. The...
Video Nintendo Minute Picks Some Favourite Mario Kart 8 Tracks
Cloudtop Cruise! Mount Wario! Sunshine Airport!
There's just a bit — alright, a lot — of buzz around Mario Kart 8 at the moment, with this week's reviews generally declaring it to offer a jolly good time. We were happy campers in our own review, awarding it 9/10 and using the rather cheery tagline of "8th Wonder of the World". In other words,...
Out Today Kirby: Triple Deluxe (Europe)
Triple the fun
It's great being a Nintendo fan in Europe these days isn't it? Nowadays we normally get games at the same time as our cousins across the pond. Not so in the case of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, however — how dare NoE make us wait an extra two weeks for the loveable pink puffball? Only teasing, what's a few weeks between friends? Kirby's...
Thursday15th May 2014
8th Wonder of the World
Since the Super NES every Nintendo system — apart from the Game Boy Color and the doomed Virtual Boy — has been boosted by an entry in the iconic Mario Kart series. Despite its drastic evolution throughout the generations of hardware it nevertheless feels familiar each time around, while other entries in the kart racing...
News Philips Claims Wii And Wii U Infringe Two Of Its Patents, Seeks Ban In The United States
Dutch electronics giant seeking compensation package, too
Dutch electronics manufacturer Philips is claiming that the Nintendo Wii and Wii U systems infringe on two of its patents — one of which dates back to 1996. According to Dutch site NU, Philips has submitted documents in the United States which call for a ban on selling both systems in that...
News These Super Mario McDonald's Happy Meal Toys in Malaysia Are All Kinds of Awesome
Penguin Mario! Boomerang Mario! Peach!
Not so long ago there was a Super Mario range of McDonald's Happy Meal toys in the UK; restaurants near Nintendo Life HQ reported increased sales to late 20s / early 30s bearded men, some of whom had no children in tow to justify their visit. We even did an unboxing. The same wave of enthusiasm for cheap food...
Talking Point For Better Or For Worse, The Wii U GamePad Is Here To Stay
Don't expect a Microsoft-style U-turn from Nintendo
The brief lifespan of Microsoft's Xbox One has been overshadowed by a series of embarrassing turnarounds. First, the company was forced to bow to popular opinion and alter its policy on having an "always on" internet connection, then it quickly changed its stance on indie self-publishing. More...
Nintendo Download 15th May (North America)
Wii Party U(?!), Scram Kitty, Chronicles of the Moon and much more
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, and this week certainly brings decent variety and some much anticipated games. There are two exclusives across Wii U and 3DS that stand out, along with some other downloads and Virtual Console entries on both current systems. Let's get to...
News This Pokémon Trainer Red Nendoroid is Ludicrously Cute
D'aww, catch 'em all little buddy
We do like cute collectibles here at Nintendo Life, and the Nendoroid range from Good Smile is up there with the very best. We've covered Luigi and Toon Link before, and now Pokémon Trainer Red is in on the act. Due for release in Japan for ¥4,500 (approx $44) in September, the product page for this says the...
News Unique Vivillon Distribution Confirmed for Paris Pokémon Center
The chance to grab a special pocket monster
One of the most exciting aspects of Pokémon is the various distributions that occur throughout a specific game's life cycle. Not only does it revoke interest in many players, it provides enthusiasts the chance to get unique and special Pokémon, many of which are not available through the standard game...
Matters of Import Tomodachi Collection
The best of friends?
Tomodachi Collection is more a toy than a game in that very special Nintendo way: your own mad little island full of Miis that you never knew you wanted but you suddenly find yourself unable to live without, and while it may be the five-year-old prequel to the upcoming English language Tomodachi Life, that doesn't mean the...
A traditional match-three lacking in splendour
Anyone familiar with the world of match-three games will know almost exactly what to expect from a title such as Jewel Match. Released, oddly enough, after Jewel Match 3 on the 3DS, this DSiWare version strips out the story, hidden object finding, and other extra mini-games of the past sequel and...
News Monster Hunter Team Discusses Continuing Evolution and Growth of the Franchise
"Games that ‘expand’ need all kinds of preparations"
Capcom's recent financial results referred to the "explosive popularity" of Monster Hunter 4, with the 3DS title contributing much to the company's profits. The upcoming Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will expand on the original and aim for double-dip success in Japan, but will also arrive in the...
News Color Zen to Chill Out on the Wii U eShop in North America Today, Europe on 22nd May
And... relax
A little ahead of the official North American download update from Nintendo, it's been confirmed that chilled-out puzzle game Color Zen will arrive on the Wii U eShop today; it'll come to Europe one week later on 22nd May. Developed by Large Animal and published by Cypronia, this is being plugged as a "new kind of puzzle game". With...
News HTR High Tech Racing 3DS Development Update Brings Good News
Vroom vroom
In summer 2013 we told you about HTR High Tech Racing, which aims to recreate Scalextric-style fun on the 3DS eShop. It's not a concept that's particularly common in the video game market, which may mean it'll be unique and fun enough to grab the attention of download game fans. There's a '+' version approaching release on PC and Mac,...
Wednesday14th May 2014
News Here's a Handy Guide to Pokémon Services That'll Stop With Nintendo's Wi-Fi Shutdown
Sad times
As switched on DS and Wii owners likely already know, a number of Wi-Fi services will be shut down on 20th May, with high profile examples being the loss of online play in Mario Kart entries on both systems and other examples such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For Pokémon fans, meanwhile, the impact on those last-gen games could be...
News Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal World Duel Carnival Is On The Cards For A Euro 3DS Release This June
Play your cards right
Konami has confirmed that it is bringing Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal World Duel Carnival to Europe on June 26th. The first entry in the card-battling series to hit the 3DS, Zexal World Duel Carnival launched in Japan at the end of last year and is based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal anime and manga. This is also the first time that the Zexal...
Review Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails (Wii U eShop)
Off the rails
Announced over a year ago, Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails was one of the earliest Wii U download games to be confirmed. Now that it's finally here, has the wait been worth it, or should this game scram? Although you're pretty much immediately thrown into the action, there is a little bit of a story to Scram Kitty. The titular cat,...
News Mario Kart 8 Free Wii U Game Promotion Extended to Scandinavian Countries
A pin code and web page will be distributed
For those picking up Mario Kart 8 when it launches at the end of May, a welcome bonus is that registering the game by 31st July will entitle those gamers to a free Wii U retail title. You can see all of the details right here. This is tied to Club Nintendo, which has unfortunately ruled it out in...
Talking Point The Nintendo Figurine Platform Could be a Vital Money-Spinner
A '90s approach that can still work
The Nintendo brand used to be everywhere. In the late '80s and early '90s the big N's brand, particularly in North America, was ever-present and dominant in the market. Mario and his fellow mascots had TV shows, cereal brands, toys and assorted paraphernalia all over store shelves. If you grew up in that era and...
News Nintendo Confirms Five New Titles for 3DS LL "Recommended Software" Promotion in June
Three Pokémon games, New Leaf again and puzzling dragons...
Not so long ago we told you about the rather neat 3DS LL (XL) "Recommended Software" promotion in Japan, which rewards those that pick up the model with a voucher for a free retail game. This runs until 30th September, but the twist is that the available free games will change every month...
News Sonic Boom Producer Explains Recent Silence Over Project
Expect a rush of new info at E3
Sonic Boom made a lot of noise when it was announced in February, but little more than a few peeps have been heard since. Producer Stephen Frost took to the forums of fansite Sonic Stadium to explain the drought in new information. According to Frost, much of the radio silence has come from working alongside the s
Review Parking Star 3D (3DS eShop)
Back it up and dump it!
There are so many driving games on the market today, we've been oversaturated with choice; whether you want a hardcore racing sim, a lighthearted arcade game, a futuristic hovercraft racer, or all your favourite corporate characters go-karting together, there's something out there for you. But you know what the driving game...
News Nintendo Promotes $99 2DS Target Deal, Available Until 17th May
Think of the children!
A statistic that probably got little attention when Nintendo was dishing out financial results and sales figures recently was that, between 12th October 2013 and 31st March 2014, 2.2 million 2DS systems were sold in Western territories. The budget 2D-only iteration of the portable, which comes with a slab / tablet design, has...
Video Musician Lindsey Stirling Dresses Up As Aurora From Child Of Light, Because Why Not?
Popular artist channels Ubisoft's RPG hit for unique video performance
We love Lindsey Stirling here at Nintendo Life — not only does she play a mean fiddle (OK, violin), but she's absolutely potty about video games and never misses an opportunity to cover the soundtrack of a famous title or dress up as a popular character. Her latest video —...
News App Supporting 3DS Tethering With Mobile Confirmed for Japan
Nintendo in partnership with DoCoMo
While tech-savvy gamers may already know how to 'tether' their 3DS to a smartphone in order to use its online connection, Nintendo has confirmed an app — in partnership with provider DoCoMo — that is rolling out in Japan. Its goal is to make tethering the portable system with a mobile's connection as easy as...
Video Behold The Incredible Destructive Power Of The Mario Kart 8 Super Horn
Spiny blue shells, begone!
A short time ago we posted a video of Nintendo's new TV spot for Mario Kart 8, which gives a humourous spin (no pun intended) to the game's use of anti-gravity. Nintendo has now posted this video — along with two others — to its YouTube channel, and you can watch them in glorious HD quality below. The most amusing...
News Heart Forth, Alicia Successfully Hits Wii U Kickstarter Target
3DS version still on the cards
Successful Kickstarter project Heart Forth, Alicia, a '90s-inspired 'Metroidvania' RPG, has hit its Wii U stretch goal of $200,000 and will now be coming to the system. Wii U owners will have the opportunity to play the mystical retro-flavoured game about a young wizard on her journey to stop an evil Spirit from...
Feature Be Part Of Our Forthcoming Webshow 'Days Of Our Tomodachi Lives'
Your chance to be a global superstar
With the release of 3DS life-sim Tomodachi Life now just weeks away, we're going to be running a special competition where you — the lovely Nintendo Life readership — will have the chance to be (almost) famous and have your Mii established a key character in an ongoing web series. For the next six weeks...
Video Check Out This Pretty Comprehensive Guide To The Charms Of Tomodachi Life
Bringing your Mii to life
Tomodachi Life launches next month, and Nintendo is taking steps to ensure that the appeal of this incredibly unique game is as obvious as possible. With this in mind, Nintendo UK has produced a video which runs for almost four minutes and outlines some of the things you'll be able to get up to in the final game. The clip...
News Yo-kai Watch and 3DS Continue to Lead the Way in Japan
Sales remain low overall, however
While Nintendo can take heart from its continued lead in the Japanese charts, overall trends in the market remain a concern. The latest Media Create figures are in, and continue recent form of low sales in software and flat levels in hardware. To begin with software, Level-5's Yo-kai Watch continues to impress,...
News Goodbye Galaxy Games Now An Approved Nintendo Publisher
Studio aims to self-publish and support other indie developers
Goodbye Galaxy Games, a name possibly familiar to download fans of the DSi Shop and 3DS eShop, has confirmed that it's now in possession of a publishing license from Nintendo. Previously the studio has worked with publishers such as CIRCLE Entertainment and others to bring games such as...
Tuesday13th May 2014
News Here Are Five New Retail Titles Coming to Wii U
BOOM
We have a confession to make. There are five new retail games coming to the Wii U and (probably) its eShop, but here's an advance warning. Lower your expectations. Push them down so low so all that remains is a jaded, cynical gamer that trusts no-one and nothing. Have you done that? Good. Now, in fairness, the five games on the way have their...
News New 3DS System Update 7-2-0-17 Now Live
Parents have never had so much control
In a never-ending quest to offer stability and usability to 3DS gamers, Nintendo recently released a system update lovingly named 7-2-0-17 into the wild. Here's what the update offers: Version 7.2.0-17 available via wireless Internet connection includes the following improvements: Added new Parental Control...
Review Mega Man III (3DS eShop / GB)
Third time's the charm
After the fun but flawed Dr. Wily's Revenge and the almost thoroughly disappointing Mega Man II on Game Boy, Capcom made a serious and substantial course correction. The result is Mega Man III, and we couldn't be happier about that. Retaining the template from Dr. Wily's Revenge (two sets of Robot Masters, a new Mega Man...
News Satoru Iwata Explains "Conservative" Wii U Sales Projection of Just 3.6 Million Units
A target Nintendo "should at least reach" through MK8 and Smash Bros.
When Nintendo released its financial results recently, we highlighted the worryingly low projection for Wii U sales. While the 3DS is expected to sell around 12 million units over this fiscal year, Nintendo's estimate for its home console is just 3.6 million units — should that...
News The Band of Thieves & 1000 Pokémon is a Free 3DS eShop Title Coming to Japan
Uses StreetPass and ties into upcoming movie
Pokémon XY The Movie - The Cocoon of Destruction & Diancie is coming to Japan in July, and CoroCoro magazine (via Serebii has announced that a free 3DS eShop game will be released to tie in with the film. The Band of Thieves & 1000 Pokémon is due on 5th June in Japan and will only be available...
Weirdness Gaze in Wonder at Junkboy's 16-Bit "Demake" Art
Don't you want Super Smash Bros. on SNES?
Retro-inspired "demakes" of popular modern games are all the rage these days, but don't you want to put some on your walls? Swedish graphic designer Junkboy has created a wide array of gorgeous 16-bit demake art, much of which is available for purchase online. You can check out his Tumblr page for the full...
Mario Kart Month A Brief History Of Mario Kart Item Evolution: The Trusty Banana
Plenty of slip-ups contained within
Since the very beginnings of Mario Kart in the 1992 Super Nintendo original, items have been a truly defining aspect of the series. Little did we – and perhaps even Nintendo – know various themed items and effects originally extracted from the traditional Mario universe would go on to become such an integral...
News Nintendo's Plan for "Redefining the Definition of Video Game Platforms" Around Two Years Away
Company has a "clear idea to some extent" on future hardware direction
Following the financial results issued last week, Nintendo has now issued the officially translated Q & A with shareholders in which company President Satoru Iwata addressed a series of tough questions, some of which concerned the company's plans over the next 2-3 years to...
News Square Enix Considering "Overseas" Release of Dragon Quest X
But over which seas?
Locked in Japan since its release in 2012, Square Enix revealed its massively multi-player online RPG Dragon Quest X is under consideration for hitting new shores. A slide from the company's most recent financial report states that "expansion to overseas market is under consideration" for the successful title. It should be...
Video This "Upside-Down Test" Mario Kart 8 Commercial is a Bit Awesome
"It's Flipping Fun"
Nintendo has expressed its desire to heavily promote Mario Kart 8 in the coming weeks and months, no doubt hoping to tempt a lot of gamers on the fence regarding the Wii U to take the plunge. In-store ads and a Mario Kart TV web app will play roles, though we should expect the company to spend some marketing money on good-old TV...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Thirty Seven
Wonder-Red! Bullet Bill! Dragoon! More!
We're a day later than normal, but it's time for our summary of last week's Super Smash Bros. screens. The latest collection from Masahiro Sakurai showed some new items, improved detail on others, while also revealing what's sure to be a popular trophy among keen Wii U gamers. Once again the offerings on the...
News Satoru Iwata Believes Nintendo Can Establish a "New Core Business" to Join Video Games
To "consider establishing other pillars that leverage its strengths"
When Satoru Iwata announced that Nintendo would be revealing a Quality of Life (QOL) platform in the coming year, some Nintendo fans expressed concern that the company would be diverting resources and attention away from its core gaming systems. While that'll be an ongoing topic,...
News Planet Virtual Boy Founder Explains His Passion for Nintendo's Failed System
"It's like digital archaeology"
The Virtual Boy was, for a sustained period, ignored and essentially wiped from Nintendo's history — it was only released in Japan and North America and flopped, with only 22 official games making it to market. The company's stance has softened in recent times, with the system making cameo appearances in quirky 3DS...
News Nintendo UK Officially Launches Its Store's "Cool Stuff" Range
More products added since it was spotted last week
Last week we reported on a whole load of 'cool stuff' on Nintendo's official UK store, and the regional body has now officially launched this new and expanded range of exclusive figurines, accessories and clothing for digital consumers. It includes some merchandise that has only previously been...
News Pokémon Black and White 2 Soundtrack Album Completes Set on iTunes
The era of the Super Music Collection is over...
Over recent months Game Freak has released six substantial Pokémon albums, and has now confirmed the final entry — Pokémon Black 2 & Pokémon White 2: Super Music Collection. This is available on iTunes right now for $9.99 / £7.99 / €8.99. It features a whopping 172 tracks from Pokémon...
News Swords & Soldiers HD to Invade the Wii U eShop on 22nd May
Arriving in both North America and Europe at a budget price
After the original version established itself among the top-tier of WiiWare games, Wii U owners may be pleased to hear that Swords & Soldiers HD is due very soon — it'll arrive on the eShop in North America and Europe on 22nd May at a budget price of $2.99 / €2.99 / £2.69. Below...
Monday12th May 2014
Feature What Can We Expect From Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire?
November can't come soon enough
Within the last week, it was announced that remakes of Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire are coming this year. Since then, we've been blessed with a (very) small teaser but ultimately know absolutely nothing about the remakes or what they will bring. So, the question is, what should we expect? That's a tricky one to...
News Club Nintendo Rewards Updated for May, Physical Items Return
Super Metroid! 3D Classic! Brain Age! Mario Kart 64!
During April Nintendo of America took away physical rewards from Club Nintendo ahead of maintenance work, and it's now reintroduced its standard range a day ahead of schedule. Little has changed, though it's worth checking out the updated options on the official website, with Mario and Luigi 3DS...
News Kosuke Yabuki Explains That Every Mario Kart is Made "From Scratch"
Explains retro course design and Battle mode's lack of arenas in MK8
Mario Kart 8 is now just a few weeks away, and the secrets of its modes and design have been stripped away in favour of anticipation as Wii U owners become keen to get their hands on the latest racer in the series. In a mini-interview with EDGE magazine, Kosuke Yabuki took the...
Nintendo Download 15th May (Europe)
Scram Kitty, Kirby, GBA's Wii U return and more
It's another Monday morning, Europe, but we have the European download update to remind us of what treats await later this week. It's a small batch this week that nevertheless has some potential crackers, with major releases — download-only and retail — across both Wii U and 3DS. Let's get to the...
First Impressions Does Mugen's 2DS XL Battery Make Or Break The Handheld?
With great power comes increased girth
Whether you love or hate the Fisher Price-style design of the robust 2DS, we can all agree on the need for longer battery life in our handheld devices. With that in mind, Mugen is just about to release a battery upgrade for the 2DS that doubles the capacity of the internal power cell and costs a princely $89.99...
News EA Releases Lengthy List of Online Services to be Shut Down on DS and Wii
Oh no, not Bejeweled 2!
Closing down online game services is all the rage at the moment, with Nintendo switching off elements of its Wi-Fi services on the Wii and DS on 20th May. It appears that EA is now joining in the fun, with online services for over 50 games closing at the end of June. The range of games is old enough to incorporate a period...
News Nintendo Announces "Mario Kart 8 Test Drive Days" At Over 2700 GameStop Stores
Pre-orders to get a special poster, too
It's pretty clear that plenty of Wii U owners are now impatiently awaiting Mario Kart 8, while others may be tempted to dive in and buy a system for the latest entry in the iconic series. Nintendo's cranking up the hype, meanwhile, with public-access demos now confirmed to be on the way to more than 2,700...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 12th May
Some fresh projects to consider
It's that time again when we provide updates on a batch of Kickstarter projects currently doing the rounds for Wii U and 3DS. It seems that there's some momentum around the Wii U eShop, in particular, as we're consistently being pointed to fresh projects that have included Nintendo's home console in their funding...
News Final Skylanders SWAP Force Figure, Doom Stone, Makes Début At Toys "R" Us On 13th May
A solid finale
Portal Masters in the US should plan on clearing some space for a final addition to their Skylanders SWAP Force army, when the mighty Doom Stone arrives this week. From Tuesday, 13th May, Toys "R" Us stores nationwide will be the first to stock this glorious golem in limited quantities, which hopefully shouldn't result in too many...
The best of both worlds
The WiiWare platform may not always be considered in a particularly glowing light, but it's undeniable that it did deliver some top-class download experiences. One of these was Swords & Soldiers from Ronimo Games, a side-scrolling real-time strategy title that made use of the Wii Remote pointer in an intuitive, natural...
Video Nintendo Goes For The Female Pre-Teen Vote With This Tomodachi Life Commercial
Whoa! Cool!
Tomodachi Life isn't far from release now, and Nintendo clearly has high hopes for the game's commercial fortunes. However, it could be argued that the company hasn't had such a tricky title to market for quite some time; Tomodachi Life isn't really a game as such, and is clearly going to require some savvy promotion to really hammer...
News Pokémon Art Academy Confirmed for European Release on 4th July
Will draw you in
Update: Nintendo of America has now issued its own press release confirming this title for the region, but has only provided a release window of "this fall". Original article: Not long ago it was confirmed that Pokémon Art Academy is arriving in Japan on 19th June as a retail title on 3DS. We speculated that a release in the...
News Mario Golf: World Tour Hits a Bogey in UK Charts
Tumbles to 37th place in its second week
It's not always the case that well constructed and fun games achieve deserved success wherever they go, and Mario Golf: World Tour is a case in point. In the UK charts — which only last year frequently had multiple 3DS titles populating the top 40 — it's endured a tough second week, in which it's also the...
News The 2014 My Famicase Exhibition Is Packed With Fascinating Flights Of Fictional Famicom Fancy
Too bad none of them are real games
Japanese game store Meteor has been running its "My Famicase" art exhibition for the past few years, and each year the entries go above and beyond our expectations. The idea is that artists create "fake" Famicom cartridge labels which are in keeping with the designs of the '80s and ''90s, but have a modern vibe as...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour in the NLife Masters
Step it up
With Mario Golf: World Tour now gracing 3DS and 2DS systems around the world, we decided last week to launch our first NLife Open tournament; hit up that link for the full details. As explained in that article we'll be running two contests a week, the second voted for by you, and a day later than planned here are the results of your...
Sunday11th May 2014
Review Moon Chronicles: Episode 1 (3DS eShop)
Down the hatch...
Renegade Kid originally released first-person shooter Moon on the DS with publisher Mastiff in 2009, though sales were relatively modest — this episodic digital re-release, retitled Moon Chronicles, will be the first time many players experience the game. The 3DS isn't always considered ideal for first-person shooters, but Moon...
Review The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Wii U)
This reboot of a reboot could use another reboot
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is exactly the video game that the film deserves. Sony and Activision couldn’t have planned it better if they tried. Nowadays, Spider-Man’s existence outside of comic books isn’t for creative purposes, and the accepted level of quality is appalling on all fronts...
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Footage Revealed
Hopefully more to come soon
Japanese television program Pokémon Get☆TV has revealed a few seconds of footage from the upcoming Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire titles. During the 40 seconds of footage, Kyogre and Groudon were shown in a three-dimensional environment, similar to that of Pokémon X & Y. It was also suggested that these...
News Ultra Rare Ocarina of Time Prototype Reportedly Surfaces on eBay, Costs £100,000
Worth breaking the rupee bank with this one-of-a-kind cart?
A rare prototype cart for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has apparently surfaced on eBay – and with a 'Buy it now' price of £100,000 it costs a pretty penny, too. The game is a debug version and therefore includes a debug menu that can be navigated at will upon loading a file...
Review Mega Man II (3DS eShop / GB)
Get equipped with tarnished legacy
Ask any fan of the Blue Bomber to name their favourite game in the series and the odds are good that they will say either Mega Man 2 or Mega Man 3. That's to be expected, though; both of those games are among the best on the NES, a system that had no shortage of great platformers and action games. What's less...
Video This New Insanity's Blade Trailer Cuts A Gory Swathe Through The Web
PC release confirmed for later this month, Wii U version coming later
We've been following the progress of Insanity's Blade closely over the past few months and can't wait to see what the game looks like when it finally hits the Wii U eShop. Causal Bit Games successfully kickstarted its unique take on the side-scrolling action platformer at the end...
News I've Got to Run! Gains Nintendo of America Approval for Wii U eShop Release
Trailer coming soon for Wii U exclusive
Auto-running platformer I’ve Got to Run! has now passed Nintendo of America’s approval process, bringing it closer to release. Developer Syrenne McNulty of 4 Corner Games confirmed the news in a recent tweet: A trailer for the game should be revealed on Wednesday 14th May, meanwhile: Coming...
Saturday10th May 2014
Watch Début Footage of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire - Live!
Time to shine
After it's exciting reveal earlier this week, we can now catch an early glimpse of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, which will be coming to the 3DS in a worldwide release in November. Join us for its big début. [liveblog=pokemon_footage_may_2014]#Pokemon #3DS
Review Mach Rider (Wii U eShop / NES)
Groovy little motorbike
If you were lucky enough to pick up a shiny new NES way back in 1985, you would have had your pick of several future classics from a legendary launch-day lineup. If your idea of a digital good time happened to involve motorcycles, you were particularly spoilt for choice, with Excitebike and Mach Rider representing two-wheeled...
Play Let's Race Through Mario Kart 1-7, Live!
Let's do this...
As you're hopefully aware, we announced earlier this week that we're running a marathon live stream of Mario Kart 1-7, in which two courageous souls from the Nintendo Life team will sacrifice their Saturday for your entertainment. We'll also be hoping that the elaborate setup of cables for the broadcast won't spontaneously combust;...
Interview Yanim Studio on its Kickstarter-Funded Wii U Adventure, Red Goddess: Inner World
"Nintendo's audience will love what this game has to offer."
On Tuesday we reported on Red Goddess: Inner World, a beautiful new Kickstarter-funded Metroidvania-style title headed to Wii U, PS4, PS Vita, and PC next year if the campaign reaches its funding goal. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a gander at the Kickstarter trailer:
Video Join Us For A Relaxing Weekend Drive Around Mario Kart 8's Vintage Circuits
A blast from the past
In keeping with previous entries in the series, Mario Kart 8 resurrects popular tracks from past games. These are far from being lazy upgrades, though — many have been retooled to take advantage of the game's anti-gravity focus, and all of them naturally benefit from a luscious HD lick of paint. In the video below, intrepid...
Friday9th May 2014
News First Footage of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire To Air In Japan This Weekend
Who wants to see it?
This week's announcement of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the 3DS caused plenty of excitement, with many of you sharing your views on the news. The Pokémon Company stated that the "new titles promise to take players through a dramatic story within a spectacular new world", and Satoru Iwata said in his...
News Pokémon Trading Card Game: XY - Flashfire Expansion Available Now
Mega Charizard-EX cards lead the pack of hot new additions
Earlier this year, Pokémaniacs found out through our initial announcement that the Pokémon Trading Card Game would be undergoing some Mega Evolution when the game-changing Pokémon TCG: XY launched on 5th February. Now, the other blazing hot expansion we announced has arrived in stores...
News Activision Is Interested in Making a Skylanders Movie
File under "least surprising news of the day"
In an interview with Examiner, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg said he's open to the idea of a film based on the popular Skylanders series. After the staggering success of The Lego Movie and the recent announcement of a Minecraft flick, Activision looks forward to jumping on the film adaptation bandwagon:
Review Stick It To The Man (Wii U eShop)
Get out of my thoughts and into my Wii U
You're on the run from the law, hunted for a crime you didn't commit and unable to return to your own home for fear of being caught. A road block looms ahead, halting everyone except for an acclaimed opera singer who is performing later that evening. As the sirens echo through darkened streets, you slowly...
Mario Kart Month Mario Kart 8 Character Profiles: Koopalings Galore
Our profile series concludes with the new MK8 contestants
With Mario Kart's ever-expanding roster of eligible drivers, it can be tough to keep track of them all. When you're out there on the crowded raceway, how are you supposed to tell your Birdos from your Koopa Paratroopas? Have no fear: Nintendo Life is here to help you with handy character...
News Sonic Lost World Hits 710,000 Sales as Sega Lines Up Significant 3DS Support
Nintendo's portable projected to be Sega's biggest console market this year
Like pretty much every other major Japan-based corporation, Sega — or SEGA Sammy Holdings to be more accurate — has published its financial results. For Nintendo gamers it reveals some interesting, and pleasing, results. To start off with some reasonably positive news,...
Putty in your hands
Putty Squad is a platform game that was originally developed by British developer System 3 for the Amiga in the '90s, but the official release had to wait until 2013, when the Amiga version of the game was rolled out on System 3's website as a Christmas gift. However, the original was actually published in 1994 for the Super...
Video Mario Kart 8's Balloon-Popping Battle Mode Looks Something Like This
No arenas this time around
Battle Mode has been an intrinsic part of Mario Kart since the days of the SNES original, and that hasn't changed in Mario Kart 8. However, instead of popping balloons in a specially-designed arenas, this time around your battles occur on a limited selection of tracks from the game itself: Moo Moo Meadows Dry Dry...
News Nintendo Apologises "For Disappointing Many People" Over Tomodachi Life Same-Sex Marriage Issue
Potential future entry to be "more inclusive" and representative
Nintendo has this week been making headlines over the absence of same-sex marriages in upcoming 3DS Mii-sim Tomodachi Life. Following a social media campaign called Miiquality, Nintendo issued a response to explain its reasoning. As well as extensive coverage in the gaming media,...
News Masahiro Sakurai Releases Awesome Super Smash Bros. Dragoon Screens
Dat Dragoon
Poor DK, whether through being dim or simply suffering as a victim of other Nintendo mascots, he can't catch a break. Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but he's the victim in the latest screens published by Masahiro Sakurai on the Super Smash Bros. Miiverse Director's Room. Though we normally reserve these for a weekly round-up, the...
Video Check Out This Footage Of Lost WiiWare Title Bonk: Brink Of Extinction
Bonkers
Those of you with good enough memories to recall Bonk: Brink of Extinction will be aware that the game never saw the light of day; developed by Pi Studios in the US, the download-only release was scheduled to hit PSN, XBLA and WiiWare, but publisher Hudson Soft pulled the plug in 2011 — just after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in...
News Moon Chronicles Lands on the 3DS eShop in North America on 15th May
First episode to cost $8.99
Moon Chronicles, the enhanced and episodic remake of Renegade Kid's DS retail title Moon, will make its 3DS eShop début on 15th May in North America. As previously revealed this will be released in four parts, with the opening section costing the most and including a sizeable chunk of the storyline. It is a "season",...
News Little Orbit Bringing Adventure Time: Secret of the Nameless Kingdom to 3DS
WayForward reporting for developer duty a third time
Little Orbit has announced plans to bring Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom to Nintendo 3DS this November. WayForward will once again be handling development, bringing its total number of games featuring the Adventure Time property to three. The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom...
Play Mario Golf: World Tour With Nintendo Life
Vote for a second tournament's rules
Mario Golf: World Tour is a bit brilliant, and even when you've gone through the single player action there's much more to do — the online options are potentially never-ending. Now, by popular demand and because it's too good a chance to pass up, we're going to be running our own weekly tournaments that are...
Video Temperatures Rise With This Heated Bolero of Fire Violin Cover
Triple time tablature
The last time we featured musical prodigy Taylor Davis she had recorded an assured violin cover of the Gerudo Valley song from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Davis is no stranger to performing covers of classic Zelda songs, having also released an impressive violin medley late last year, and now she’s back with
News Armillo Release Date Pushed Back Slightly, Launch Discount Confirmed
Formal announcement on global release coming very soon
Armillo is another entry in the pleasingly lengthy list of download games heading to the Wii U eShop, with developer Fuzzy Wuzzy Games supporting the system by making its release a timed exclusive. It has taken a little longer than expected to arrive, and the studio has issued an update to...
Thursday8th May 2014
News Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition Software Bundle Coming To North America
But will only be available from the Nintendo World store in New York
When the Mario Kart 8 limited edition software bundle – containing a copy of the game and a Blue Shell figurine – was announced for Europe, many Nintendo fans across North America feared they would be missing out on a collectable item. Fortunately, for those wanting something...
News Satoru Iwata Announces 'Nintendo Figurine Platform' to Utilise NFC for Wii U and 3DS
Like Skylanders and Disney Infinity, but with Nintendo characters
Update: The translated English investor briefing has now been posted, confirming the details outlined below. The provisional names for this range — or 'platform' — of figurines are 'NFC Featured Platform' and 'Nintendo Figurine Platform'. Original Article: With the continuing...
Nintendo Download 8th May (North America)
GBA Wario, more Mega May, Denpa Men, Grinsia and much more
It's download update time, North America, and this week brings a diverse mix of old and new, including a fresh Game Boy Advance offering on the Wii U Virtual Console. There are three brand new games on the 3DS eShop, two more Mega Man "Mega May" games and, unbelievably, three DSiWare...
News Nintendo Creating a New Console for Emerging Markets, Including China
"For us, Microsoft's approach wouldn't work," Iwata says
In an interview today with Reuters, Nintendo president and CEO Satoru Iwata revealed the company is planning to introduce new hardware and software for unspecified "emerging markets" over the next two years to take advantage of a rising middle class in many parts of the world; China...
Editorial Addressing The Tomodachi Life Same-Sex Marriage Issue
Including our policy moving forward
As many of you are likely aware, Nintendo recently released a statement responding to a "Miiquality" campaign seeking the inclusion of same-sex marriages in Tomodachi Life. You can read it in full in our article on the subject, in which Nintendo states that it will not be including the option. The purpose of this...
Video Nintendo Shows Off The Wii U's Forthcoming Quick Boot Menu
Regular system boot also getting a turbo boost
Fed up of wasting all those precious seconds waiting for your Wii U to boot up from cold? Fear not, because Nintendo has the solution, and it's coming in a firmware update this year. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed the new quick boot menu during the recent investor's presentation. The sequence...
Video Witness The Intolerable Cruelty Of Mario Kart 8
All thanks to Mario Kart TV's awesome slow-mo feature
Mario Kart TV is one of the biggest additions to Mario Kart 8, and will allow players to save, edit and share their finest on-track moments. It's also great for messing about with and creating daft little videos, such as the one we present to you below. The game's slow-mo feature makes even the...
News Download Sales On Nintendo Formats Have Trebled In The Last Two Years
$235 million in digital sales gained in the past 12 months
Nintendo has confirmed that digital revenue across its consoles has tripled in the past two years. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata revealed the statistic at the recent investor's briefing, explaining that during the financial period between April 2013 and March 2014, around 24 billion Yen...
News Amazon Germany Offers an Exclusive Steelbook Edition of Mario Kart 8
Check this beauty out
Whenever the phrase 'steelbook' appears in relation to a limited edition game release, our interest is immediately piqued. Some of team Nintendo Life are still insanely jealous of the Metroid Prime Trilogy steelbook that was released in North America but not in Europe, for example. Metal is lovely for game packaging. It seems...
News Nintendo Looking To "Harvest" 3DS Success To Avoid An "Unacceptable" Fourth Year Of Losses
"We would like to retrieve 'Nintendo-like' profits as soon as possible"
In its recently-posted investor's briefing, Nintendo has revealed its plans for the near future and how it aims to turn around three years of consecutive operating losses. We've already heard about the proposed
Play We'll Be Blasting Through Mario Kart 1-7 in a Twitch Marathon
Not a ROM in sight
Not long ago we took our first tentative steps into the world of Twitch when we played a bit of Mario Kart Wii live for your amusement. Now we're planning to go a step further and marathon the first seven titles in the series; before any of you say "what about the arcade cabinets", we'll have feature content about those this...
News Bayonetta 2 Listed for Summer Release in Japan
PlatinumGames title and Hyrule Warriors still just '2014' for the West
Following its recent financial results report, Nintendo has issued some supplementary information that includes release dates and windows of major upcoming titles. Following the trend of the last quarterly update juicy dates are held back, presumably in favour of later reveals,...
News Nintendo Reveals 'Mario Kart TV' Web App in Financial Results Briefing
Connecting with NNID will provide extra features
Earlier today we shared a report from Nikkei announcing a Mario Kart 8 website or app in translated comments from a Satoru Iwata press conference. Now that the translated investor briefing has been released we have some more firm details and a screen of the service in action. This will be a web...
News Capcom Hails "Explosive Popularity" of Monster Hunter 4
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies target "basically achieved"
It's no secret that Monster Hunter 4 has been a substantial success for Capcom, blowing away initial projections and now challenging for the crown of best-selling title in the franchise; it's sold 4.1 million copies in Japan alone, as of 31st March. In its financial results...
News Cooperative Puzzle Adventure Shadow Puppeteer Coming to Wii U eShop
Developer Sarepta Studio approved for Wii U development
Norwegian developer Sarepta Studio has been approved to develop games for Nintendo systems, and its first order of business is to bring co-op puzzle adventure Shadow Puppeteer to the Wii U eShop. The game was initially announced as a PC release, but the developers at the studio are ecstatic to...
News Infinity Ward Merges With Neversoft To Form Super Studio, Retains Infinity Ward Name
Still no official word on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare on Wii U
Neversoft, the developer behind the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, has merged with Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward to form a brand new "super studio". A memo written by CEO of Activision Publishing Eric Hirshberg — and subsequently obtained by Giant Bomb — outlines the deal:...
News Adventures of Pip Kickstarter Campaign Adds Wii U Support
Included in the $90,000 main goal
Tic Toc Games has announced that its recently-launched Kickstarter campaign for Adventures of Pip will now include support for the Wii U. The update, which can be seen below, came soon after receiving the all clear from Nintendo: IT'S FINALLY OFFICIAL! How cool is Nintendo! So cool they called us last night to say...
Wednesday7th May 2014
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Confirmed For Worldwide 3DS Launch in November
"A dramatic story within a spectacular new world"
Last year's arrival of Pokémon X & Y on the 3DS brought the hugely successful franchise to a new generation of hardware, but Nintendo and The Pokémon Company is wasting no time in bringing more titles to the system. A sudden press release has announced Pokémon Omega Ruby & Pokémon Alpha...
If it's on Wii U, that'd make us happy
Quite a few major gaming companies are revealing their financial results today, one of which is Tecmo Koei. It had some positive news all around, and in an update likely to bring sighs of relief from Japanese Wii U owners confirmed that Hyrule Warriors — a name that may yet change — is set for a Summer...
Feature Nintendo's Smash Bros. Invitational Could Be Just The Beginning For Contests and eSports
Isaiah TriForce Johnson tells us about Nintendo's competitive thinking
When Nintendo revealed its plans for E3 2014, much attention was unsurprisingly paid to its decision — for the second year running — to forego a live presentation in favour of a "Digital Event". Yet only a narrow focus would lead to a conclusion that Nintendo won't be running...
Cross your pis and mind your queues
As its title suggests, Picross e4 is not Jupiter’s first trip to the intellectual rodeo. The developer has been releasing collections of the classic puzzle at a steady pace, adding small tweaks to an already reliable formula. This latest instalment identifies itself with sunny hues, and fans of the series may...
News Nintendo Reports Financial Losses As Expected, Along With Modest Wii U Sales Targets
Only 3.6 million Wii U hardware sales expected in the current year
Nintendo has today revealed its financial results for the 2013 / 2014 year, which unsurprisingly bring losses as projected by the company in its Q3 report. Losses are higher and sales are down on those estimates, however, pointing to a difficult Q4 for the company, while there are...
News Here's an Updated Summary of Nintendo's Software Bestsellers
Pokémon and Mario lead the way
When Nintendo releases its updated financial reports, it also publishes fresh figures for hardware and software — we've covered the former in our main summary of the year-end results. The software highlights tell their own tale, however, and perhaps help to explain why Nintendo opts for particular franchises and...
News 2DS CPU Update Looks Set to Adjust System Security
FCC filings spotted
Following its launch in Western territories on 12th October 2013 — alongside Pokémon X & Y — the 2DS has sold (as of 31st March 2014) 2.2 million units. That's not too bad for a hardware iteration targeted at a rather specific demographic and not given the most high profile of launch campaigns. As a budget tablet-like...
News Nintendo Rules Out Same-Sex Marriage in Tomodachi Life and Explains Position
"Nintendo never intended to make any form of social commentary"
As you may be aware, upcoming 3DS title Tomodachi Life has drawn some criticism due to the absence of same-sex marriages in the Mii-sim, with only male and female characters having the relevant relationship options. The topic was first raised in 2013 with the Japanese release, with some...
News XSEED Considering Publishing Forbidden Magna in North America
A Marvelous proposal
Forbidden Magna is an intriguing and beautiful-looking game under development at Marvelous AQL in Japan. If things work out, XSEED has expressed an interest in placing the strategy RPG with potential inn management elements in North American hands as well. Siliconera had the chance to ask
Weirdness The GlomTom is a Cushion for Resting Your Arms When Gaming, and Needs Your Money
It makes this Tom glum
Have you ever been playing a game and thought, "what I really need is a 15 degree incline for my controller-grasping hands and arms"? Has the discomfort ever driven you to distraction, and a normal cushion simply doesn't do the trick? Fear not, because GlomTom is here. GlomTom is a cushion, but an ergonomic cushion...
News Western Markets Vital For Nintendo Hardware Sales as Japan Gains Ground
More 3DS units sold in Japan than North America
With Nintendo no doubt plotting its route to profitability in the coming financial year, one area of consideration is likely to be boosting sales outside of Japan. Worldwide results are important, of course, but the Wii U and 3DS are showing patterns of dropping sales in the West as compared to...
News Mario Kart 8 Smart Device Website or App on the Way
To provide services such as ranking checks
Mario Kart 8 is already forging new ground on the Wii U, with Nintendo having confirmed not only the Mario Kart TV feature, but the ability to upload those highlights reels directly to YouTube from within the game. It also seems set to represent Nintendo's first move into producing an accompanying smart...
News Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's Second Wave of DLC Confirmed
Mostly newer games this time, with one classic face
Square Enix has just released a second set of DLC tracks for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call; it's a little shorter than the last set and there are no time-limited freebies this time, but with so much to be getting on with already it's probably a good idea to not drown gamers in additional...
Tuesday6th May 2014
Guide How to Become a Pokémon Battle Tournament Master
With tips from the champs
Last weekend we were lucky enough to spend the day watching nail-biting Pokémon battles and chowing down on innumerable amounts of pizza with comedian Johnny Vegas at the UK Pokémon X & Y Battle Tournament 2014 Grand Final. At the end of a long day of battling the winners of the four categories were decided, with...
System predicted to stay behind PS4 and Xbox One in generation sales
We're now well and truly into a fresh generation of home consoles, with Nintendo's 2012 Wii U release now joined by the late 2013 arrivals of PS4 and Xbox One. The previous Wii / PS3 / Xbox 360 era brought impressive sales all around, though a continually evolving market and...
Mario Kart Month Mario Kart 8 Character Profiles: Mo' Babies, Mo' Problems
Imagine: Karting Babyz
With Mario Kart's ever-expanding roster of eligible drivers, it can be tough to keep track of them all. When you're out there on the crowded raceway, how are you supposed to tell your Dry Bowsers from your Honey Queens? Have no fear: Nintendo Life is here to help you with handy character profiles on every racer in this May's...
News Pokkén Fighters and Pokkén Tournament Trademarks Emerge in Europe
Breathe and count to ten...
Last year rumours swirled of a Pokémon fighting game for Wii U, as trademarks for Pokkén Fighters and Pokkén Tournament arrived in North America shortly after the following video from the Tokyo Game Show had grabbed attention. At the end of the video there's a glimpse of Mega Lucario and Mega Blaziken facing off in...
News Here's a Video of The Temple of Time Made With Unreal Engine 4
Timeless
There's plenty of speculation, reasonably so in light of time that's passed and the fact it's needed for the system, that we may see the first footage of the new The Legend of Zelda Wii U title at E3. That's not confirmed, of course, but since the Zelda-themed demonstration video that did the rounds during the Wii U's big reveal at E3 2011,...
News Sleek Metal NES Analogue Nt Now Available for Preorder
$499 price point and colour options revealed
Seattle-based custom console manufacturer Analogue Interactive has spilled the beans on its upcoming Analogue Nt, a sexy aircraft-grade aluminium NES/Famicom we reported on back in March. Set for a release this summer, the Analogue Nt is now available for preorder through the company's website with a base...
News Nintendo UK Store Promotes Its Awesome 'Cool Stuff' Range
Figurines! Clothes! 3DS cases! Much more!
We like cool stuff, we suspect you like cool stuff too — it's cool after all. The Nintendo UK store — still surprisingly the only official online store of its type in terms of range of goods and setup — is keen to let you know that it's got you covered for fun gaming extras that help you show the world...
News Red Goddess Kickstarter Campaign Brings Gorgeous 2.5D Metroidvania to Wii U
$30,000 target and Wii U as a main goal
Spanish developer Yanim Studio has just launched the Kickstarter campaign for its upcoming Metroidvania action-adventure title, Red Goddess: Inner World, set for a March 2015 release on Wii U, PC, PS4, and PS Vita. The goal is a realistic $30,000, with just over $5,000 already pledged and a whole month to go...
Video We Blast Around Five Of Our Favourite New Tracks In Mario Kart 8
Mii spotted in rather tight racing leathers
Mario Kart 8 is creeping ever closer, bringing with it plenty of excitement for Wii U owners. Nintendo produced a rather entertaining Mario Kart 8 Direct recently, and there's plenty of buzz about this one online. Like many others we're planning quite a few videos ahead of release to show you what it's...
News Gaze at This Pokémon Game Boy and Know That You Want It
Design celebrates Red & Blue, and maybe a bit of Yellow
Pokémon is a powerful force, a franchise that continues to shift millions of units and draw gamers in not just to the core games, but spin-offs, animations and trading card games, too. Pokémon X & Y on 3DS have continued the success, bringing the franchise to Nintendo's current generation...
Weirdness Conan O'Brien Reveals E.T. Wasn't the Only Atari Game in the Landfill
The TV host and noted game journalist brings us startling video evidence
When a group of Xbox documentarians (presumably fuelled by Mountain Dew and Doritos) unearthed Atari's infamous landfill in the New Mexico desert last month, the excavation made international headlines. Late-night talk show host and accomplished video game historian Conan...
News Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn Slam Dunks Its Funding Goal
Kazaaming his way onto your Wii U
New Jersey developer Big Deez Productions has finally passed its $450,000 crowdfunding goal on Indiegogo for the upcoming Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, set to hit Wii U, PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360; it raised $473,884 of its $450,000 goal, hitting its target relatively late in the day. When it made its début...
News Yoshi Folder & Bookmark Set Arrives on Club Nintendo on Europe
Cuteness overload
The relatively recent 3DS release Yoshi's New Island may have endured a mixed critical and commercial reaction, but we certainly haven't lost any of our love for the mascot(s). Even if his games are occasionally missteps, we still think he's the best dino-like hero in the games industry — he's not a dinosaur, apparently. Club...
News Arc Style: Baseball 3D Is Up to Bat on 3DS Next Week
Full-scale baseball on deck for 15th May
Did Rusty's Real Deal Baseball's bite-sized minigames leave you hankering for a full-on baseball title? You're in luck, as Arc System Works is bringing Arc Style: Baseball 3D, released last year in Japan, to the North American 3DS eShop on 15th May. Following in the footsteps of Arc Style: Soccer 3D and Arc...
News Mario Golf: World Tour Swings Into 18th Place in UK Single Format Chart
Misses top 20 in all format equivalent
We're big fans of Mario Golf: World Tour here at Nintendo Life. Beautifully constructed, well balanced and full of offline and online content, it delivers a top-notch experience on the 3DS. Unfortunately it's only had a modest start in the UK charts following its release on 2nd May, actually coming in lower on...
News Cruel and Cuddly Platformer Chubbins Sent to Nintendo for Approval
Hopping for a June release on the eShop
Chubbins. Go on, say it out loud. Chubbinnns. We last reported on this challenging-looking platformer with its perpetually bouncing bunny in March, when developer Dahku Creations announced it was bringing the title to the Wii U eShop. According to new word from Dahku, the Wii U version has now been...
News Sokomania 2: Cool Job Pushes Its Way Into North America on 8th May
DSiWare lives on
DSiWare will never end. Or so it seems. Prolific developer and publisher Cinemax is bringing another title to the platform, though has stated that it'll be the last entry before it moves onto 3DS eShop releases. Arriving this week in North America is Sokomania 2: Cool Job, a box pushing puzzle sequel that'll cost just 200 Nintendo...
Monday5th May 2014
Review Mega Man Xtreme (3DS eShop / GBC)
Xtreme Mediocrity
Mega Man X is often touted as one of the best games the SNES had to offer, which is certainly saying something. Its first sequel is further from consensus, but it's still safe to say that it's a great followup to its predecessor. If you've played either of these games — and, if you haven't, stop reading right now and do that —...
We all live in a cyclops submarine
Abyss is perhaps exactly the sort of game the Wii U eShop needs in greater numbers: adventurous little indie titles with strong artistic vision and a focus on core game mechanics. With a budget price tag, you can't afford not to try out Barcelona studio EnjoyUp Games' HD re-release of its attractive 2012 DSiWare...
Process outlined as Microsoft solidifies plans
At the beginning of this year Nintendo stock prices had a temporary bump that some attributed to China formally lifting its console ban, a move that had been confirmed in 2013. As a still-growing economy of a significant size and a market increasingly open to non-Chinese products and brands, it's a...
News Nintendo Confirms Kirby: Triple Deluxe eShop Deal, Get Kirby's Dream Land 2 Free
Suck that up, Europe
Update: Nintendo of Europe has corrected the dates from the original announcement below. To qualify Kirby: Triple Deluxe must be downloaded by 12th June following its release, and the Dream Land 2 code must then be redeemed by 13th July. Original Article: With Kirby: Triple Deluxe around the corner in Europe — it's already...
Nintendo Download 8th May (Europe)
Return to the Abyss, more Denpa men, discounts galore and more
Monday brings the beginning of another week, and Nintendo of Europe has once again served up details of the download goodies on the way this week. The stand-out is possibly the third entry in a popular AR series on 3DS, though there's a tempting budget title on Wii U, NES titles on both...
News There's No Chance of Super NES Mortal Kombat Titles Coming to the Wii U Virtual Console
Darn
Update: Ed Boon has posted a couple of follow-up tweets in relation to Super NES Mortal Kombat titles on the Wii U Virtual Console. In the context of his messages we don't think these change anything, but they're below so that you can decide for yourselves. Original Article: The Wii Virtual Console is, looking back at it now, a seriously...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Thirty Six
Midna! Super Leaf! Dillon! More stuff!
It's that time, despite this being a holiday Monday in some parts, for our usual summary of last week's Super Smash Bros. screens. The spotlight may have been stolen last week by an upcoming kart racer, in particular, but Masahiro Sakurai did keep up his usual rate of a pic a day. As always the offerings on...
Weirdness Monster Hunter 10th Anniversary Merchandise Includes Electric Guitars and Golf Gear
Turn the nerdy up to 11
The Monster Hunter franchise turns ten this year, and to celebrate Capcom has licensed all sorts of fun (and expensive) MH-themed merchandise in Japan; everything from jewellery to golfing goods to electric guitars. A few highlights: Japanese heavy metal guitar manufacturer ESP has created this gorgeous monster-hunting...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 5th May
Ups and downs
We're a day later than normal, but we haven't forgotten our regular Kickstarter project update; the previous week has brought quite a few notable updates. We have successes and failures to consider, and some additions over which to cast our eye. As always the focus is on current campaigns or those that have been completed in the past...
News Renegade Kid Moving On To A "New Experimental 2D Game for 3DS" After Kickstarter Failure
"It has pixels and stuff"
Renegade Kid is one of the best known download developers on the 3DS, in particular, with Mutant Mudds perhaps the most popular of its titles to date. There are also exciting things on the way, with Moon Chronicles bringing episodic play to the the 3DS eShop and Treasurenauts looking like a colourful 2D romp. There are...
News Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails Confirmed For Release on 15th May
That's in Europe and North America, prices also in
Update: We've asked Dakko Dakko for pricing details, and the studio's director Rhodri Broadbent has kindly confirmed that this will cost £8.99, €9.99 and $9.99. Original Article: Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, from UK-based developer Dakko Dakko, has been on our radar as a Wii U...
Sunday4th May 2014
Mario Kart Month Mario Kart 8 Character Profiles - The Veterans
It's a Mario (Kart) Party!
With Mario Kart's ever-expanding roster of eligible drivers, it can be tough to keep track of them all. When you're out there on the crowded raceway, how are you supposed to tell your Petey Piranhas from your Ludwig von Koopas? Have no fear: Nintendo Life is here to help you with handy character profiles on every racer in...
Mario Kart Month An Outsider's View Of Super Mario Kart
Kerry sees if the 16-bit classic is still in pole position
Mario Kart 8’s release is now just a few weeks away and everyone here at Nintendo Life is so excited about the game that they can’t sit still without applying superglue to their chairs first. Well everyone except me; I honestly haven’t been anywhere near a Mario Kart game for at least...
Review Ava and Avior Save the Earth (Wii U eShop)
Toxic waste
A good educational video game needs to be both enriching and fun for the player. While 2020 Venture's Ava and Avior Save the Earth may sound like a good idea — it attempts to teach children about recycling, composting and getting rid of waste in a "green" way — it fails in almost every regard. With amateurish presentation and...
News Curve Studios And Dakko Dakko Heap Praise On The "Inspirational" Wii U
"The Wii U is a perfect system for indie development right now"
While big-name publishers such as EA, 2K Games and Bethesda are happy to ignore the Wii U, Nintendo's console isn't short of support from indie developers. Smaller studios are usually faster and keener to pounce on new ideas, and the concept of second-screen play has clearly captured...
Video Nintendo Goes Trailer Crazy For Mario Golf: World Tour and Kirby: Triple Deluxe
The awesome Kirby choir returns
If you happen to be a 3DS owner that lives in North America, this week has been particularly exciting due to the arrival of Mario Golf: World Tour and Kirby: Triple Deluxe; gamers in Europe can also hit the golf course, with Kirby on the way on 16th May. Both are rather irresistible in their own ways. Nintendo has...
Saturday3rd May 2014
Guide Getting Into The Swing Of Mario Golf: World Tour
An excellent approach
Mario Golf: World Tour has arrived on 3DS, and if it's not on your current wishlist you should perhaps reconsider. It takes the basics of golf and smothers them in Super Mario charm, with a careful blend of solid mechanics and typical Mushroom Kingdom zaniness. Whether an inexperienced player or a skilled gamer, it accommodates...
News Mario Golf: World Tour’s DLC Isn't Locked Away in the Main Game
Add-on packs are separate downloads
Mario Golf: World Tour has hit shelves in North America and Europe, and we’re certainly fans of the game as we awarded it 9/10 in our review. One of the title’s features, which has divided opinion among the Nintendo community, is Mario Golf’s DLC. Nintendo offering additional paid-for content isn’t a...
News The Awesome Hori Mario Kart 8 Accessories Seem To Hit The Final Straight For North America
Happy times
Not so long ago we had the happy news that Hori's rather attractive Mario Kart 8-themed GamePad skins and wheels to Europe. It seems that the accessory company — likely with distribution assistance from Nintendo — is also bringing its goodies to North America, too. The Mario and Luigi themed Wii wheels and GamePad skins have popped...
Ninterview Sami Cetin On His Journey To Super Mario Kart Success
The UK Super Mario Kart champion shares his experiences
With Mario Kart 8 now around the corner, it's an ideal time to begin looking both forwards and to those predecessors that made the series such an integral part of our gaming lives. Super Mario Kart on Super NES started it all, with its Mode 7 visuals and terrific design winning over millions of...
News Cult County Kickstarter Ends Without Success, Developer "Discussing Other Options"
Jools Watsham thanks 1492 backers
For those that have been following the project closely, it should come as no surprise that Renegade Kid's Cult County Kickstarter campaign has fallen short of its target. The project was to come to Wii U, 3DS and host of platforms, but ended well short of its target with $46,736 raised of the $580,000 goal. It's...
Friday2nd May 2014
Talking Point What We Want To See From Nintendo's Next Handheld
Pocket-sized predictions
The 3DS is now more than three years old, which — if tradition is to be followed — places it roughly halfway through its effective life span as Nintendo's main handheld system. It's almost certainly the next piece of hardware that Nintendo will seek to replace, and given the (quickly quashed) rumours of new hardware...
Review Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Egg-ceptional platforming
When you take into account just how much of a landmark title Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island was when it released back in 1995, it’s absurd to think that it’s only just being re-released on one of Nintendo’s Virtual Console services – well, that is if you exclude the exclusive 3DS release under the guise of the...
News Nintendo Quashes Rumours Of New Hardware At E3 2014
Official confirmation that no new hardware will be shown
Earlier today, we reported on some comments made by IGN's Jose Otero and Peer Schneider regarding Nintendo showing off new hardware at this year's E3. Schneider, who is the co-founder of IGN and has been working in the industry for quite some time, even stated: They're absolutely going to...
News Spike Chunsoft Wants To Release 3DS Title Attack On Titan In North America
Giant expectations
Spike Chunsoft has revealed to Siliconera that it wants to release Attack on Titan: The Last Wings of Mankind in North America, and is currently looking for a publishing partner. Based on Wit Studio and Production I.G's anime series — which in turn is based on Hajime Isayama's original man
Rumour Nintendo Will Reveal New Hardware At This Year's E3
"They're absolutely going to show new hardware this year"
Nintendo has already revealed some of its plans for E3 2014, but if a new rumour is to be believed, it could be showing off more than just new software at this year's show. In the latest episode of Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN
Review Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst (3DS eShop)
Never go back
Publisher Big Fish Games has certainly got the hang of porting its old PC games to the Nintendo 3DS. After releasing many of them as retail games in PAL regions, it has started to hawk them on the 3DS eShop as well. The original Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst was released in 2008 for the PC and is an evolution of the Mystery...
News Upcoming Child of Light Patch to Rename Difficulty Settings
From "Normal" and "Hard" to "Casual" and "Expert"
There's more than one way to experience Child of Light, and the developers are hoping to make that a bit clearer by renaming the title's two difficulty settings. Instead of "Normal" and "Hard", there will be "Casual" and "Expert." Writer Jeffrey Yohalem mentioned during a livestream event with...
Coming to the new game, too?
As we all know, Disney Infinity 2.0 will feature a large helping of Marvel characters. However, families with children who aren't as excited by the idea of a game based all around superheroes can take solace in the glimpses of a few non-Marvel characters we see in the trailer, along with the promise made from the...
News Activision Enlists Kevin Spacey To Sell Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare's New Brand Of Combat
Last gen versions are coming, but will Wii U be included?
Activision has shown off the reveal trailer for the latest entry in its massively popular Call of Duty series, and this time you'll be playing with even more futuristic toys. The footage for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare shows exo-suits, hoverbikes and special gloves which allow the wearer...
Video Nintendo Minute Kicks Off its Mario Kart May With Some SNES Racing
Back to the beginning
May is a big month for fans of the Wii U and the iconic Mario Kart series, and you can be sure that Mario Kart 8 and its predecessors will get plenty of coverage. Nintendo will be shouting from the rooftops, naturally, and its own weekly Nintendo Minute show will be getting into the act. Somewhat appropriately, the Nintendo of...
Thursday1st May 2014
Harvest Merchant
Released in North America and Japan last year, Hometown Story has now hit European shores at long last, thanks to the efforts of Rising Star Games. You play as a young boy — or girl, if you wish — who takes over a shop in a small town after his grandmother, who previously owned it, passes away. If this sounds in any way similar...
Nintendo Download 1st May (North America)
Triple Kirby, Mario Golf, Mega May begins and more!
It's Nintendo Download time, North America, and this week brings some rather tempting offerings to both the Wii U and 3DS. There are retro classics on both Virtual Consoles along with brand new software, while some discounts and two major retail titles also make an appearance. Let's get to the...
Weirdness Super Mario Bros. 3 Can Be Beaten in Under Three Minutes
Amazing scenes
Speedruns remain a popular part of gaming culture, ranging from current day titles to treasured retro classics. Super Mario Bros. 3 naturally gets the treatment plenty of times, but two intrepid speed runners have now found a glitch that allows it to be beaten in under three minutes. Lord Tom and Tompa are the duo that have worked on...
Talking Point Nintendo's E3 Plans Are Full of Tantalising Potential
Talk of retreat is unjustified
The moment Nintendo announced its plans for E3, we suspect some immediately began to sharpen their metaphorical knives and state that the company was, once again, in retreat at the world's highest-profile games industry showcase. Undoubtedly E3 2013 had been a partial retreat, forgoing the live press conference due to...
News Nintendo Ramps Up Its Merchandising Efforts With "World Of Nintendo" Toy Range
Coming to Australia this year
Nintendo has some of the most recognisable IP in the world of entertainment, and is clearly taking steps to leverage its library of characters with a new "World of Nintendo" range of toys and merchandise. 2014's big release Mario Kart 8 is getting a sizable push, with special track sets and cars hitting the market...
News Limited Time Pokémon Center Coming to Paris
Still no battling in the Eiffel Tower
It's no secret that the Kalos Region of Pokémon X & Y was inspired by the beauty, culture, and charming professors(?) of France. Now, for a fleeting amount of time, the real country will more closely resemble its virtual counterpart with its own Pokémon Center. As reported by Serebii and posted on the...
News Harvest Moon 3 And Lufia: The Legend Returns Rated For 3DS Virtual Console Release
New Game Boy Color games incoming
If you're looking forward to playing more handheld classics on your 3DS then you'll be pleased to learn that the Australian Classification board has handed out ratings for two new Game Boy Color games. Harvest Moon 3 and Lufia: The Legend Returns have both been given a "General" rating, which is a good sign that...
News Mario Kart 8 Bundle Dips Below £200 In The UK, Includes Additional Free Game Offer
Grab yourself a bargain
With Mario Kart 8 hitting the streets later this month, there has never been a better time to take the plunge and buy a Wii U console. Of course Nintendo are handily bundled together their Triple-A kart racer with the system, but where is the best place to buy it from? We'd recommend that you consider slapping in a preorder...
News Ubisoft Now "Fully Focused" On Making The Wii U Version Of Watch_Dogs "The Best It Can Be"
Still no word on when it's actually coming, though
As we all know, Ubisoft's Watch_Dogs is shipping on May 27th — but not on the Wii U. Following the widespread delay of the game last year, the French publisher held back the Nintendo version in order to ensure that the other editions are as good as they can be — much to the chagrin
Feature Let's Take A Look At The Crazy Supporting Cast Of The F-Zero Universe
Checking out the rest of the grid
Everybody loves Captain Falcon, and it's not hard to see why — he's an interplanetary bounty hunter and racing champion with Judge Dredd's fashion sense and a punch so powerful people know it by name. There's very little not to love. However, if you can tear your eyes away from Falcon's radiant brilliance for a...
News Pokémon Announces 2014 International Challenge May
Online competition coming to Pokémon X & Y
The Pokémon Company has unveiled the newest of its competitive events for the fan-loved Pokémon X & Y titles for the 3DS. The 2014 International Challenge May is the latest online competition offered and allows any player with a copy of Pokémon X or Y to compete in battles with gamers from around...
News Curve Studios Announces Wii U Exclusive Stealth Inc 2
Tactically Excellent Announcement
Curve Studios has revealed that it is working on a sequel to its popular download title Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark, and that it is being developed exclusively for the Wii U. The original game — which was launched on PC under the name Stealth B*****d Deluxe: Tactical Espionage A**ehole — has been...
Square Enix's new game shifts 80,523 copies, with 27,914 3DS XL units sold
The Japanese launch of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call allowed the Nintendo 3DS XL to double its weekly sales total, but on the whole the Japanese games market remains stuck in something of a rut, with hardware sales at a five year low in the period between April 14th...
