News It'll Be Possible To Catch All 719 Pokémon Using Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire With X & Y
Mega Evolution choices also explained
Download Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Special Demo Version
Catch yourself an exclusive UK download code
Guide How to Unlock the Full Roster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Big decisions, spoilers included
Rumour Nintendo Removed Tharja From Super Smash Bros. To Avoid A Higher Age Rating
Fire Emblem: Awakening's scantily-clad character just can't catch a break
News - October, 2014
Friday31st Oct 2014
Review Demon's Crest (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Fire-grand
Fans of the Ghosts 'n Goblins series should be familiar with the rather annoying little demon Firebrand; he would be the main reason Arthur would spend his time walking around the many levels of the games in his underwear. Capcom obviously thought enough of the guy to give him a series of his own, which began life on the Game Boy systems...
News Another Minecraft Clone, Cube Creator 3D Coming To 3DS eShop
Big John Games enters the fray
The race to create a compelling Minecraft clone for a Nintendo console is on and now Big John Games has revealed that it will be jumping on the blocky bandwagon with Cube Creator 3D for the 3DS eShop. The game is due to hit the eShop early next year, however Big John Games do hope to have a demo ready for December so...
News Walmart Display Shows Us Which amiibo Are Compatible With Mario Kart 8, and More
Smashing up the tracks
It's no secret that many of the amiibo figurines already revealed will work across a range of compatible software titles, and now a recently-discovered Wal-Mart promotional display has shed some light on which are set for use in Mario Kart 8. Nintendo Force editor Lucas Thomas managed to grab a picture detailing a list of...
Review Donkey Kong Land III (3DS eShop / GB)
Marvellous Monkeys
In 1997 the fifth generation of video games was well underway (even Europe and Oceania had the N64 by then), but the trusty Game Boy was still the place to go for portable gaming joy. Having successfully brought monkey platforming action to the handheld twice already, Rare produced a third game — the imaginatively titled Donkey...
News Sounds Like Super Smash Bros. Director Masahiro Sakurai Sure Could Use A Break
Somebody give this man a medal
Fans of Super Smash Bros. will already know just how much effort series head Masahiro Sakurai puts into developing Nintendo’s all-star franchise, but that hasn't stopped the passionate game maker from talking about how he balances his private life with the full-force development cycle of the Smash series. In his...
Working for pennies
Woah Dave is all about classic arcade action. Taking control of a blocky little guy named Dave Lonuts (who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Bert from Sesame Street), players will do their best to exterminate aliens and collect the change left behind in their wake. There are two modes to choose from, and once you’ve...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U European Release Date Brought Into November
Huzzah!
North American gamers are now less than a month away from enjoying Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the hotly anticipated fourth home console entry in the brawling series. While it hits that region on 21st November, European gamers thought they'd have to wait an additional torturous two weeks; thankfully there's been a change of plan. Nintendo...
News How To Carve The Perfect Luigi's Mansion Inspired Pumpkin This Halloween
Warning: this video contains knives and pumpkin guts!
Are you stuck for inspiration when it comes carving your pumpkin this Halloween? The classic Jack-o'-lantern is so passé these days, isn't it? However, fear not intrepid vegetable carver, as our chums at Nintendo UK are at hand to show us how to carve a Luigi's Mansion 2 inspired pumpkin...
News Here's A Fascinating Look At The Design Process Behind Bayonetta's Nintendo Themed Costumes
Finding common ground
Platinum Games really went all out with their port of the original Bayonetta to the Wii U. Giving Bayonetta the ability to cosplay as Princess Peach, Daisy, Link, and Samus Aran was a nice touch for Nintendo fans. The Mushroom Kingdom themed outfits replace combo-closing power strikes with Bowser's limbs, the Link costume...
Video Join Us For Nintendo Life's Haunting Halloween Night In
No Tricks here, just Treats for your Wii U and 3DS
Halloween is a wonderful time of year to watch scary movies, eat candy and play spooky video games, as opposed to being out in the cold. To help you decide on your entertainment for this ghoulish evening, we've come up with a list of games that can be played on your Wii U and 3DS, with many of these...
Feature Nintendo Life's Horrifying Halloween Gaming
Petrifying plans
It's the scariest night of the year, mainly due to strange children knocking on the door and demanding sweets in exchange for showing you their creepy outfits; if you don't have candy to give, the consequences can be dire. Of course, that's not really scary, but it's the time of year when ghosts, ghouls, zombies and reality TV...
Video I ♥ Virtual Console - Monster Party Is The Wackiest Halloween Classic You'll Never Play
This NES classic deserves another lease of life - or should that be death?
Halloween is upon us, and while children all over the globe get themselves ready to don horrible costumes and harass their neighbours for candy, we're taking a look at a spooky old NES classic which really should be on the Virtual Console on a day like today. Monster Party...
A divisive DK outing where the character's transition to 3D split fans' opinions. Plot, graphics, locations, and handling all do a DK game justice and are not faulted. However, it suffers from over-collectablitus, causing some tedious gameplay. DKC games had an addictive simplicity - offering challenge in a far more rewarding way which is lost...
News Former President Of Silicon Knights Announces New Entertainment Company, QE2
Will the spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness finally be released?
Dennis Dyack, former president of the now defunct Canadian-based developer, Silicon Knights, has announced the formation of a new entertainment company titled, Quantum Entanglement Entertainment Inc., also abbreviated to,“QE2.” The new company will focus on the development of...
News Polychromatic Extravaganza de Blob Will Be Making A Comeback Soon
Here's hoping for a sequel on the Wii U
Do you remember THQ's de Blob which splattered the Wii with all the colours of the rainbow way back in 2008? It was certainly an original title and one which we were quite fond of. As you will probably know THQ went bust back in 2012, but the promise of a de Blob sequel lives on as Nordic Games has announced...
News Electronic Super Joy: Groove City Bringing Mayhem To The Wii U eShop
Help JoJo reclaim her Laser-Nipples!
Michael Todd revealed today that he'll be bringing a port of his mischievous platformer Electronic Super Joy: Groove City to the Wii U eShop soon. The game has already received many positive ratings within the Steam community so it should be one to watch out for. The basic plot of the game involves a gia
Video Getting to Know the Spooky Residents of Persona Q's Velvet Room
She decorated in blue velvet
A hallmark of the Persona series' gameplay returning in Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, the process known as fusion allows players to create new personas through merging existing entities. Somewhere between consciousness and subconsciousness, the Velvet Room lurks, its residents waiting to help you with your madly...
News Moving Player Announces Game Adaptation And Publishing Program “Xport” For Indie Developers
Rakoo’s Adventure for Wii U also revealed
With Cosmophony for Wii U now available to the masses, Moving Player is looking towards a bigger and brighter future with its latest announcement at Game Connection Europe 2014; a console game adaption and publishing program for indie developers. The new program known as "Xport", allows indie developers...
Thursday30th Oct 2014
News Collectors Be Warned, Some amiibo Figures Will Be "Limited-Time" Offers
Gotta catch 'em all!
It's not long until we can get our grubby mitts on Nintendo's attractive looking range of amiibo figures. If you are something of a collector however you might want to hit that preorder button now, as some amiibos may quickly become quite rare. During a recent investors briefing Nintendo's Satoru Iwata spelt out clearly that...
News "Pre-Download" Service to Kick Off With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Download most of the game in advance
While the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores have taken great strides in bringing Nintendo towards current-day standards in digital retail, there are still various areas of improvement. Just recently Nintendo has begun to sell retail downloads online that can, by purchasing from the official website in North America...
Review Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The ape escape
Rare managed to do something incredible with Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong-Quest; it took the well refined gameplay and style of the first Donkey Kong Country game and made it even better. This second entry in the series features gameplay almost identical to its predecessor’s, but this time everything’s been streamlined...
News System Update 9.2.0-20 Now Available On 3DS
Improved stability, but not much else
Earlier this month, the hotly anticipated 3DS System Update introducing HOME Menu themes went live across Europe and North America. Additionally, this update activated the new Theme Shop, enabled screenshots of the 3DS HOME Menu to be taken, added a 3DS Image Share shortcut button, and also improved eShop...
Nintendo Download 30th October (North America)
Stealth Inc 2 and lots of spooktacular download goodies
It's Nintendo Download news time, North America, and this week has some seriously tempting options on both Wii U and 3DS to test your eShop funds to the limit. Let's find out more! Missed the European Nintendo Download update earlier in the week? You must be crazy! Still, don't worry, the full...
Review Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
A perfect harmony?
The Wii U eShop is becoming an embarrassment of riches, with a robust library of indie titles complemented by a growing lineup of strong Virtual Console games. Konami's Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is the second of three Castlevania titles released on the Game Boy Advance, and while it controls and plays similarly to its...
News Satoru Iwata Outlines Nintendo's First QOL Platform
Focused on improving sleep and reducing fatigue
Since its announcement in January this year, Nintendo intrigued and confused some observers when it outlined plans to produce a Quality of Life — or QOL — platform. It was explained that it would be an entirely separate product from game systems — with some potential for overlapping apps and...
News Nintendo Boasts New 3DS is its Best-Selling Remodelled Handheld System to Date
Grossly outselling its predecessors
Nintendo has announced that the New Nintendo 3DS and its bigger brother the New Nintendo 3DS LL have been privy to a success more uproarious than expected. In its latest financial report, Nintendo has claimed that over 400,000 New 3DS units have been sold in the mere three weeks that it has been available in...
News Iwata Cites "Same-Generation Hypothesis" For Strong Smash Bros. And Pokémon Performance
You grow up, but the games stay with you
Nintendo's Financial Results Briefing is out, and in it company president Satoru Iwata outlines why its Super Smash Bros. and Pokémon franchises are enjoying such robust commercial success. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has performed better than expected on 3DS, and anticipation for the Wii U entry is...
News Moscow Mural Replaces Crimea With Super Mario
Nintendo's icon spreads a positive message
Buildings are often used as giant canvasses to spread a message, and while this is mostly general advertising, it's not too uncommon to see a political statement splashed boldly onto a highly visible location. One 19th century residence in Moscow however proudly carries a depiction of Mario himself!...
News Nexis Games Launches Kickstarter For Minecraft Clone, UCraft Today
Developer needs to dig a little deeper for funding
We like to keep an eye on Kickstarter here at Nintendo Life, as it's helped some pretty fantastic projects to get off the ground in the past. Today, news has emerged that the outspoken developer behind UCraft has taken to crowd-funding in order to see the title through to completion. Nexis games...
News Runbow Developers Picked Wii U for its Massive Local Multiplayer Capability
Nine is enough
The Wii U's position as a party console seems to be cementing itself lately. It's now well known that the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. can support 8-player offline play, but Toronto-based indie studio 13AM has been working on Runbow, a game that can cram a full nine people around the TV (well, one can probably sit to the side...
Tomorrow Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS National Championship 2014 (UK)
We'll be there, why don't you join us?
Super Smash Bros. fans across the UK have been battling it out for a chance to be crowned National Champion 2014. The qualifying heats took place at selected GAME stores which determined 32 finalists — 4 from each of the 8 regional heats — who are now ready to battle it out one final time tomorrow, Friday...
News Nintendo Announces Super Smash Club For Australia & New Zealand
Smashing news
Following on from the September announcement of a Super Smash Bros. club for Canada, Nintendo has today revealed fans in Australia and New Zealand will soon be able to experience their very own Super Smash Club. Nintendo Australia delivered the news earlier via its Fac
News Curve Digital Talks Over Stealth Inc 2, Wii U Releases and Fluidity
A Fluidity Wii U title was pitched, but never happened
Curve Digital — or Curve Studios in its development guise — is particularly busy with the Wii U at the moment. This week it releases Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones as an exclusive on the home console, while it's publishing a range of enticing ports on the system, with Lone Survivor: The...
Combining Tetris with terraforming isnt your usual recipe for making a video game. Nevertheless, the Pickford Bros. managed to take these elements and merge them into the creative tour de force that was Wetrix. A thrilling 3D puzzler in which you attempt to create lakes to contain a never ending flood of water; it's remarkable just how tense the...
News Tengami is Coming to the Wii U eShop in November
Folded fun
Nyamyam have revealed to us that the beautifully crafted Tengami will be released in North America and Europe on 13th November. Tengami is a gorgeous puzzle game set in a pop-up book, where you have to slide, fold, and otherwise manipulate your paper surroundings in order to solve the intricate puzzels that are presented to you. Words...
Wednesday29th Oct 2014
Review Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Wii U eShop)
A sneaky classic
Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark was — after a name change from its risqué PC début — a well-received puzzle platformer on various platforms. Its simple but cute aesthetic was matched by some lovely level design, making it a surprise when Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones was announced as a Wii U exclusive by Curve Studios,...
News Nintendo Returns to Profit as Wii U Sales Show Signs of Life
Overall company sales still down on last year, though
Earlier this year Nintendo reported losses for Q1, as its poor run of financial results continued. Despite those troubles the company stuck to its projections that it'd return to profit this year while hitting more modest sales goals, and today's Q2 results bring good news in key areas; the...
Review Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (Wii U eShop)
Where is your mind?
Lone Survivor:The Director's Cut seems to have arrived on the Wii U eShop as a sudden apparition; creeping unnaturally under the radar during a slew of indie title announcements that emerged from E3 this year. Now, Jasper Byrne's twisted horror is ready to infect your mind just in time for the Halloween season, and it will not go...
Video Super Smash Bros. Announcer Xander Mobus Talks About His Role in the Franchise
The man behind the powerful voice...
YouTube channel Super Mario's Channel has posted a 25-minute interview with the announcer of the latest instalments in the Super Smash Bros. series, Xander Mobus; known for his work on Eve of October OVA1, some may be left scratching their heads once they discover the face behind the epic Smash 4 voice. He...
News Tournament Players Pass Judgement On 8-Player Super Smash Bros.
Could we see 8-player matches in professional events?
Nintendo recently confirmed that the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. will showcase 8-player battles, and the reaction from fans was predictably positive. However, it's worth considering how will this addition will impact professional Smash tournaments. Could we see chaotic 8-player matches...
News Capcom Offering Spooky Savings In North America On Resident Evil eShop Titles
Three games available for absolutely killer prices
If you live in North America and want to ramp up the scare factor this Halloween, then Capcom might have just the offer to get you in the mood. In a special Nintendo Halloween sale, Capcom will be offering three Resident Evil titles at significantly reduced prices across both the Wii U and 3DS...
News Yet More Mario 3DS HOME Themes Arrive in Japan, Smash Bros. Options on the Way
There's even one for the Cat Mario show
The range of 3DS HOME Themes is expanding rapidly, but it's in Japan where the most variety is available on a weekly basis. There's now yet another batch in Nintendo's homeland celebrating Mario games and the Mushroom Kingdom cast, while some Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS themes are on the way in early...
Book Review Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Castlevania
A bloody good read
Castlevania is one of those franchises which will always be inexorably linked with Nintendo. The series became a household name thanks to its well-received NES outings, and in the days of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS it strengthened this connection with six excellent "Metroidvania" releases. Although its future may well...
Video Let's Celebrate The Game Boy That The West Never Got
Shedding some light on a handheld classic
Nintendo's Game Boy range was massively successful all over the world — heck, even Kurt Cobain had one — but not every variant of the system made it out of Japan. Just before the launch of the Game Boy Color, Nintendo produced a revised backlit version of the original monochrome system which was...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Rushes Towards 2 Million Sales, New 3DS Continues to Sell Well
A monster success in sight
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is utterly thwarting its competition with nearly 2 million physical copies sold, even with new Sony-system titles being released thick and fast such as the acclaimed The Evil Within. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS drops down a good number of places, but this is largely due to the fact that...
Weirdness Mike Tyson Fights Himself in Punch-Out!!
K-Oh
While the NES version of Punch-Out!! now has 'Featuring Mr. Dream' in the title, before licensing issues and imprisonment in the '90s it was branded with the Mike Tyson name, who was one of the most ferocious boxers in Heavyweight history at his peak. He's now a somewhat mellow middle-aged man, of course, releasing books and conducting speaking...
News Awesome Fan Album Metroid Cinematica Released Today
Music to our ears
A young composer by the name of Sam Dillard has been hard at work composing and compiling his tribute to the spectacular music of the Metroid series, and has announced that the album is available to download right now. The 16 tracks on offer are all based heavily on tracks from the Metroid series as you might expect, but these are...
News Satoru Iwata Returns to Regular Work Following Surgery
Has lost weight but feels healthier
When Satoru Iwata missed E3 this year for medical reasons, there was some concern over the Nintendo President's well-being — it was then confirmed that he'd undergone surgery to remove a growth from his bile duct, and he subsequently missed the company's AGM (annual general meeting). Nintendo said little but to...
News Pixel Paint Lands On North America’s Wii U eShop This Week In All Its Retro Glory
Relive the pixelated past
If you’ve ever wanted a tool outside of a regular computer program to assist you with the recreation of retro pixel art, then Pixel Paint – brought to you by developer and publisher Two Kernel Connection – might just be the game for you. Due out on the North American Wii U eShop on 30th October for the price of...
Rares follow-up to Banjo-Kazooie didnt arrive on the N64 with quite the same amount of impact as that of its first 3D platformer, but it nevertheless an impressive, and one which drew much critical acclaim. Banjo-Tooie is an even bigger game that achieves a number of technical feats, such as long draw distances and real-time shadows, without...
Tuesday28th Oct 2014
Review The Legend of Dark Witch (3DS eShop)
Just short of legendary
As both a developer and a publisher, CIRCLE Entertainment has been paramount to the rising indie games scene on Nintendo handhelds. Starting on the DSiWare digital service and eventually moving forward to 3DS eShop titles, CIRCLE has managed to have its hand in around 40 releases since 2010. With that many games in its...
Review Just Dance 2015 (Wii U)
Just the ticket
Despite its name suggesting otherwise, Just Dance 2015 is in fact only the sixth entry in the main series of Just Dance games, and the aim is as simple as it gets; you have to replicate the dance moves that the on-screen dancers perform in time with the music and as accurately as you can. The ethos is simple, but can it provide...
News Super Smash Bros. 3-Poster Set Now Available from Club Nintendo in North America
Ringtones and wallpapers available in Europe
Club Nintendo may not keep fans happy at all times, but there are moments where appealing items and treats appear to part us from our collections of coins and stars. Both Nintendo of America and Europe have updated their catalogues in recent times, each with a different flavour. To start with the most...
Feature Ten Games That Are Perfect For Halloween On Your Wii U and 3DS
New, old, some spooky, some terrifying
It's Halloween season, dear readers, as one day isn't enough for enthusiasts of dressing up, bugging their neighbours and eating enough sweets / candy / chocolate to be physically ill. An interesting fact around the origins of Halloween is that... never mind, you just dress up and eat a lot. It's also about...
Video Try Not To Overheat As You Watch Excitebike Arena Footage From Mario Kart 8's DLC
Very excite
It's not long now until Mario Kart 8 gets its first helping of DLC, and to keep you keen Nintendo has released a video which shows off the amazing Excitebike Arena course — inspired, of course, by the NES game Excitebike. The course is packed with bumps which are perfect for trick boosts, and even features a massive status of the...
Review Cosmophony (Wii U eShop)
Off the beaten track
We can’t help but think that a parallel universe exists in which Cosmophony plays a central, cruel role in deciding a person’s fate. In this somewhat dystopian, yet oddly hip and cool universe where drum and bass is the norm, a technocratic regime (made up of original developer, Bento–Studio, and Wii U porting pros,...
News First 4 Figures Reveals Its Sizeable Link on Loftwing Piece
The sky's the limit
First 4 Figures are known as rather talented figure manufacturers, covering franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Kirby and Sonic the Hedgehog. Most notable, however, is its beautiful range of The Legend of Zelda collectible statues, spanning various games of the brand's rich history. They boast a slew of character statues, from...
News Developers Reflect on F-Zero As It Passes Ten Years in the Wilderness
"F-Zero is really something special to me"
Barely an E3 or Nintendo Direct goes by without someone in the Nintendo Life team muttering that maybe, against all odds, F-Zero will return. It's now been over ten years since F-Zero Climax, a thoroughly disappointing Game Boy Advance entry that's ignored by many, arrived in stores. It was an inglorious...
News Shovel Knight 3DS Theme Coming To Europe And Australia For A Limited Time
A special treat for patient PAL regions
While North American Nintendo fans have been enjoying Shovel Knight since June, Wii U and 3DS owners in Europe and Australia have been required to wait until next month for the local release of the medieval side-scroller. To reward these locations that have had to wait patiently whilst the eShop title was...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Nine
Nintendo Direct! Eight-Player Smash! NES Zapper! More!
Last week was rather exciting for those awaiting Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, as Nintendo provided a Nintendo Direct outlining over 50 'Must-See facts. That naturally played a big role in Masahiro Sakurai's Director's Room Miiverse community posts, as he
Weirdness These Halloween Pokémon Will Haunt Your Pokédex
Courtesy of horror manga artist Junji Ito
The Halloween season — apparently it's a season and not just one day — is well underway, and The Pokémon Company and Game Freak have gotten into the spirit of the occasion in their own unique way. One would assume they have some high profile games to sell. A week ago the first image of a rather fun...
News Dungeons & Robots Targeting Wii U in 2015
It features dungeons and robots, unsurprisingly
The Wii U eShop isn't, at present, short of projects confirmed for a release in the coming year. They range from high-profile titles to others from new studios; Dungeons & Robots by Glow Games Studio falls into the latter category. The lore is fairly lengthy, incorporating robotic figures that...
Taking everything that made ISS64 a true next-generation football game, ISS 98 went far further, solidifying its reputation as the best football game on the N64. Its arcade style stands the test of time with fluid controls and ISS64s bugs eradicated. Tournaments / scenarios allow immense enjoyment alone but multiplayer is where it truly shines...
Monday27th Oct 2014
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Update Includes Adjustments to "Balance the Game"
Must be downloaded to play online
Though it lacks the Tourneys that are coming to the home console iteration, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has one of the most substantial online setups available on the portable, with multiple modes and the ability to watch and bet on other matches. Due to the relative complexity of the game, its online...
Poll Should Nintendo Follow Microsoft's Lead With A Wii U Price Cut?
Xbox One reduced to $349.99 in the US over the Holiday season
We're in the middle of somewhat peculiar times in the home console market. In the monthly shenanigans that are the NPD results for sales in the US, for example, all of the talk is on PS4 vs Xbox One in terms of a head to head. Nintendo's Wii U isn't often mentioned in that 'race', and...
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire to Be Available in an Exclusive Dual Pack
Available exclusively in North America from Best Buy and Amazon
Nintendo has announced that a new retail pack containing both versions of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire will be available in North America on the game's release date, 21st November. The dual pack will retail for a total of $79.98, and the RRP for a single copy is $39.99...
Nintendo Download 30th October (Europe)
Stealth Inc 2, Shin Megami Tensei IV, Rare DK treats and much more
With this coming weekend being the spookiest of the year, the latest Nintendo Download Update details for Europe show us that the big N's keen to keep us all entertained in the safety of our own homes, avoiding the ghouls outside. This week is packed with new titles on Wii U and 3DS,...
Review Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Over the moon
Konami's Castlevania has changed directions in recent years, with the Lords of Shadow titles polarizing fans of the long-running series. That's why fans of the "Metroidvania" outings should flock to the Wii U eShop and download the Game Boy Advance Castlevania titles, which feature the series' signature exploration-based, semi-linear...
Review Mighty Final Fight (3DS eShop / NES)
Haggard by time or as mighty as ever?
Originally released for the NES in 1993, Mighty Final Fight is a home console spin-off of the original arcade classic, Final Fight. Interestingly, it came out a year after the technically superior home console port that appeared on the SNES and, furthermore, is quite a departure from the other games in the...
News Bayonetta 2 Kicks Into The Top 10 in UK Charts
55% of Just Dance sales on Wii and, no, we didn't forget a U
Bayonetta 2 arrived on Wii U last week, and it appears to have enjoyed a solid start in the UK market. The chart results released today confirmed that the brilliant Platinum Games action title was the most successful new release; it managed 7th place in the all-format chart and an...
News Activision Retail Titles Are Coming To The Wii U And 3DS eShops
Transformers and Spider-Man incoming
Activision hasn't really supported the Nintendo eShop in quite the same way as some of Nintendo's other third-party partners, but it looks as if that's going to change fairly soon. North American eShop listings have been spotted for Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark and The Amazing Sp
Review Namco Museum (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Does it deserve to be exhibited on your Wii U?
Originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001, Namco Museum is part of a long-running series (which goes by the same name) that saw regular releases over a 15-year period all the way up until 2010. This game is a compilation, featuring five classic arcade games: Ms. PAC-MAN, Galaga, Galaxian,...
News Crazy EarthBound Fans Open EarthBound-themed Media Kickstarter
Many other, equally crazy EarthBound fans are backing it
It's 20 years old, with a prequel and sequel never officially released in the West, yet EarthBound continues to possess a significant presence in the gaming world. You can largely thank the game's dedicated fanbase for that; some so dedicated that they're planning to produce a cultural...
Review Arrow Time U (Wii U eShop)
Let us point you in the direction of something more fun
Back in 1994, a company called Clickteam debuted Klik n Play, an amateur development program that allowed anyone to participate in the process of creating and sharing their own video games. One of the best parts of the software was its simplicity, which forewent complex coding in favor of a...
News You'll Be Able To Explore The Artistic Imagination Of An 8-Year-Old In Wii U Title Child's Mind
The result is "Marble Madness meets Jetpack Joyride"
Christian Sanders has an 8-year-old son, and like so many children of this delicate age, he loves to doodle. However, the crude creations committed to paper by Sanders' offspring are destined for a greater purpose than simply being stuck on the wall — they form the basis of Child's Mind, a title...
Video An Introduction To The Wild And Wacky Cast Of Bayonetta 2
Don't know your Loki from your Lumen Sage? Watch this
Bayonetta 2 is finally out, and as Nintendo fans, it may be highly possible that you haven't played the original game and therefore may be a little confused about who all these characters are. We've sorted you out with a short primer on who's who in this unusual world of Demons, Angels, Witches...
News Costume Quest 2 Confirmed for European Wii U Release This Week
Despite its absence from the Download Update details
When Double Fine confirmed that it was bringing Costume Quest 2 to the Wii U, it wasn't surprising that a number of fans were rather pleased. The original gained serious popularity thanks to its cute visuals and solid adventure RPG gameplay, so the promise of a sequel that'll improve on that...
As a rally racer, TGR was not alone on the N64. Yet it stood shoulders above the competition. Its copious variables really added longevity; taking time to become skilled enough to be an expert, whether racing in snow or choosing the right suspension. Graphically impressive with excellent course layouts and locations: Strip Mine a personal...
Sunday26th Oct 2014
Video Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Opening Cinematic Revealed
The start of something beautiful...
The opening cinematic to a new game is something that can give gamers the butterflies, and the crème de la crème of anticipated intros has finally been revealed by Nintendo — via IGN. The new Super Smash Bros. for Wii U opening movie, as expected, has us greeted by a host of Nintendo all-stars showing off...
Video The Secret Star Fox And Mario Bros. Easter Eggs Of Bayonetta 2
Do A Barrel Roll and don a moustache
The Nintendo costumes added to the Wii U edition of Bayonetta and its sequel are simply awesome. Each one changes the game in very clever and unique ways. But this isn't all that these costumes do. If you can handle spoilers, then you can find out by watching the videos below — right now!
News Shigeru Miyamoto Introduces His Pikmin Short Films in Tokyo
Details over release on Nintendo systems still unconfirmed
Not long ago we shared the news that Shigeru Miyamoto was preparing to unveil three Pikmin short films at the Tokyo International Film Festival. That takes place in the coming week, and Miyamoto-san has begun to talk more about the project ahead of the short films having their world...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Seven: Magician
The guild master keeps asking me witch one
In the seventh part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. Last week I investigated the potential causes of Reveria’s lack of cemeteries as an alchemist, and although I’m no closer to the answers I sought I did outfit myself with an...
Review Ballpoint Universe: Infinite (Wii U eShop)
Scribbles and bits
Creatively, the world of Ballpoint Universe: Infinite possesses an enchantingly bizarre kind of beauty that sets it apart. It truly feels like a tribute to the underappreciated act of doodling, where both mind and pen wander to create wide, rolling swaths of who knows what. This is only the visual part of Ballpoint’s design,...
Video Did You Know Gaming Tackles Donkey Kong Once Again
The Rare years
Rare's Donkey Kong titles have recently been making their way onto the Wii U eShop in Europe — and hopefully will do so soon in North America — making it a good time to look back on the franchise. Whether that timing was part of its consideration or not, we do have Did You Know Gaming returning to the DK IP in its latest video...
Nintendo 64x64 Jet Force Gemini
Rare again with another original title: wonderful visuals, addictive gameplay and atmospheric soundtrack. You're the JFG team, attempting to thwart antagonist Mizar and his insect army. As a third-person shooter, it showed another string to Rare's bow and was very popular. Personally, a least-favourite Rare N64 outing, having awkward controls and...
Saturday25th Oct 2014
News Use a 'Platinum Code' to Unlock Bayonetta and Co in The Wonderful 101
Move over, Konami
We're big fans of Platinum Games here at Nintendo Life, even to the point that we praised its Wii U legacy just recently. While many may be enjoying its latest release — Bayonetta 2 — on Wii U, some cool unlockable details for The Wonderful 101 may have some going back to the bonkers-yet-brilliant action game released in 2013...
Poll Buying Bayonetta 2 - eShop Convenience or Battling for Copies in Stores?
Many stores apparently selling out
Bayonetta 2 has now arrived on Wii U, available on the eShop and, of course, in stores. Yet a quick look on social networks suggests that plenty are struggling to get hold of the game in high street stores, with various retailers apparently selling out of stock. What's going on? It can mean multiple things...
News Nintendo Outlines Generous eShop Publication Policies
In theory opens the door to games like Binding of Isaac
It's no secret to those that frequent these pages or that browse the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores on a regular basis, but Nintendo is now open and supportive of all kinds of developers. That's come about through a consistent loosening of its publication rules, making it easier for studios and...
Video Follow Our Top 5 Bayonetta 2 Tips To Be A Better Witch
Know your Wicked Weaves from your Umbran Climaxes
With Bayonetta finally making her debut on a Nintendo console, it is entirely possible that you've never played the original game, so this sequel might seem a little overwhelming. But don't let this stop you from playing one of the best games of the year on any system, because we've come up with the...
Nintendo 64x64 Turok: Rage Wars
Amongst four Turok games, Rage Wars is only for the purest Turok fan. Essentially, its a multiplayer-only game: lots of game options, characters, weapons and levels make for great battling. Single-player is weak compared to canonical Turok games, with its most redeeming feature being Co-op mode; although, subsequently bettered by Perfect Dark...
Friday24th Oct 2014
Guide How To Find Every Umbran Crow In Bayonetta 2
Catch 'em all to unlock stamps for Miiverse
Umbran Crows are evasive little creatures. Twenty of these dodgy birds are hiding throughout the world of Bayonetta 2, and it's up to you to catch 'em all. Not only can locating each one be a task in itself, but possessing the requisite speed and skill to scoop them up before they're alerted to your...
Guide Tips And Tricks To Get You Started In Bayonetta 2
Struggling to climax? Follow our advice
Bayonetta 2 has difficulty options that accommodate all skill levels, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from some tips to help get you started. The below guide will help provide you with an understanding of how to approach even the most challenging situations with a degree of confidence. Combat:...
Review Disney Infinity 2.0 (Wii U)
Marvel and the House of Mouse combine
Disney Infinity is back on Wii U with Marvel toys and adventures, expanded upgrades and harder difficulty levels. Less positively, Disney Infinity 2.0 drops Wii support and forces existing players to purchase another Starter Pack to access new Play Sets. The big ticket this year are the three headline Marvel...
Review Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 (Wii U)
Pac is back! .....again
There's a moment during the opening cutscene of Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 where the series' villain Lord Betrayus delights over his giant robot being ready to ''unleash on Pacopolis. Again!'' It's just a throwaway joke that's fitting of the Saturday morning cartoon vibe, but while it may have raised a slight smile...
Review Donkey Kong Country (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Hasn't aged a day
Back in 1994, before 3D games had taken off, a little UK-based games developer called Rare decided that if it couldn’t have good looking 3D models in a game, it'd have to get creative. Donkey Kong Country used a pioneering new technique for the time that took images of pre-rendered three dimensional models and turned these...
Feature Breaking Down Over 50 Must-See Things in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Step by glorious step
Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Nintendo Direct delivered what it promised — 50 'Must-See Things'. In fairness to the 'New Things' wording deployed on multiple occasions by Nintendo of America, meanwhile, it wasn't far off that target either, even if that would require a little more slack and an absence of cynicism. In...
Review Donkey Kong Land 2 (3DS eShop / GB)
Diddy's 8-Bit Quest
The success of Donkey Kong Country inevitably saw a sequel released. Likewise when Donkey Kong Land proved a similar platforming experience was possible on the Game Boy, it was a no-brainer that Rare would release a second handheld adventure. This time Donkey Kong has gone and gotten himself captured, and so it's up to Diddy and...
News Nintendo's Quirky amiibo Video Shows How They're Used in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Have a Bayonetta 1 & 2 eShop offer explanation as a bonus
In recent weeks we've emphasized — in some editorials and general articles — that Nintendo needs to start building more awareness of amiibo with understandable, interesting promotions, videos and so on. We're starting to see that process get underway, with the company following up its...
News Wii U-Exclusive Super Smash Bros. Modes and Challenges Unveiled
Smash Tour! Special Orders! Master Fortress!
An area of interest going into the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Nintendo Direct was exclusive gameplay modes on the home console. We've covered a number of these already in other articles, while some existing modes will also be shared with others through the inclusion local co-op. Yet there were some other...
Weirdness If Super Smash Bros. Was a WWE game, It'd Be Terrifying
What the...
WWE is big business, with millions of loyal fans and typically impressive sales of pay-per-views, merchandise and, of course, video games. We're pretty confident we'll never see a Hyrule Warriors-style mashup between the franchises, however, as it doesn't take much imagination to realise that it would be a bit weird. Yet still, that's...
News Slender: The Arrival Is Stalking Its Way To The Wii U eShop
Cult survival horror title is being published by Majesco
A PEGI rating has revealed that Majesco is publishing the Blue Isle Studios title Slender: The Arrival on the Wii U eShop. The game originally launched on PC and Mac back in 2013 and has since become something of a cult classic. It features the iconic Slender Man, a faceless antagonist who...
Video Project CARS Halloween Trailer Shows Off Weather Effects
Wii U wording changes to "later on in 2015"
Project CARS recently suffered a delay until March 2015 on PS4, Xbox One and PC, with the Wii U release simply given a '2015' window. When sending out a new Halloween-themed trailer publisher Bandai Namco has now stated that the Nintendo home console's version will land "later on in 2015" which,...
News Proun+ is Coming Soon to a 3DS Near You
SpeedX on speed
Following the release of the original, the new and updated Proun+ is heading to 3DS for the first time. The game itself is very similar to another game called SpeedX 3D; the objective is to journey along a tubular path and rotate yourself around it so as to avoid the obstacles that are presented to you. The game's style focuses on...
In the 3D age, this took Tetris to the next logical stage. By matching shapes, you break into a sphere to (e.g.) rescue that which is trapped inside. Graphically, it sensibly wasnt overcomplicated, further accompanied by superb music score. Highly addictive in single and multiplayer modes, as all puzzle games should be. Despite this, still parts...
News Rhythmic Rail Shooter Cosmophony Arriving In Europe & The Americas on 30th October
Fallen goddess
Last month it was revealed that Bento Studio’s musical rail shooter, Cosmophony, would be adapted and ported to the Wii U by Moving Player. Now, the latest announcement has revealed the upcoming Wii U eShop release will be arriving in both Europe and the Americas on 30th October, for the price of £3.49, €3.99 & $3.99...
Thursday23rd Oct 2014
Nintendo Direct Super Smash Bros. for Wii U - Live!
50 New 'Must-See' Things incoming
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is getting ever closer, and Nintendo's going to provide a Nintendo Direct blow-out that'll show 50 'new' or 'must-see' things, either of which will be just swell. Join us as it all happens. [liveblog=nintendo_direct_super_smash_bros_for_wii_u_live]#NintendoDirect #SmashBros
Friday24th Oct 2014
News Mewtwo Returns to Super Smash Bros., Ridley and Metal Face Explained
Mewtwo arriving next year
Nintendo has announced the return of Mewtwo to the Super Smash Bros. series after being absent in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, much to the distaste of many fans. There's no word on how he'll function yet, but he won't be playable right away, as this iconic monster is still in development. Mewtwo will be available to fans who...
Thursday23rd Oct 2014
News More PDP GameCube-Style Wired Fight Pads Pay Homage to Donkey Kong, Link, Samus and Wario
Will work as Wii Classic Controller, and with Smash Bros. Wii U
Last year and just before E3, as the hype for a certain Wii U brawler intensified, accessory company PDP announced its GameCube-styled Fight Pad controllers, with the revealed designs being based on Mario, Peach and Yoshi. Though Nintendo has its own GameCube Smash Bros. controller and...
News Attack on Titan: The Last Wings of Mankind Looks Set for a Western Release
Good old Atlus saving the day
Attack on Titan: The Last Wings of Mankind is a promising 3DS action game based on Wit Studio and Production I.G's anime series — which itself is based on Hajime Isayama's original manga. Having performed well commercially in Japan, Spike Chunsoft recently announced an updated "CHAIN" version for Japan this December,...
Nintendo Download 23rd October (North America)
Double Bayonetta, Aria of Sorrow, Fantasy Life, Pokémon, Shantae and more
It's Nintendo Download news time, North America, and this week has some seriously tempting options on both Wii U and 3DS to test your eShop funds to the limit. There's intense action on Wii U, retro Castlevania goodness, along with retail and download goodness on the 3DS...
Feature Five 'New Things' We Want in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Time to take the franchise to another level
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U increasingly close to release, Nintendo's gearing up to answer the call for full details of its features with an upcoming live Nintendo Direct that'll introduce 50 'new things'; that's a bold and exciting promise. Though, as an important note, some of Nintendo's messaging...
News Nintendo of Europe Distributes Free Halloween 3DS HOME Theme to Club Nintendo Members
Check your email, if you dare
It's nice to receive free things, as loyal customers, so Club Nintendo members in Europe should be pleased to know that the big N is distributing download codes for a Halloween 3DS HOME theme — check those emails if you're a member that receives the regular newsletters. The theme itself has a typically light-hearted...
News You Can Use The Wii U GamePad For Voice Chat, Stage Building And More In Super Smash Bros.
Padding it out
While some developers are certainly guilty of underusing the Wii U GamePad, that criticism can't be laid at the feet of the team behind Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The forthcoming fighter will make robust use of the unique controller, not only during battle but in-between brawls as well. During normal play it will be possible to use...
News 8 Player Smash Mode Confirmed For Wii U Super Smash Bros.
The catch? It's offline only
Nintendo has confirmed that the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. will allow for 8 player fights. The news came during today's special Nintendo Direct broadcast, and is tempered by the fact that the game will only support 8 players in offline mode. It was also confirmed that only certain stages would allow for so many...
News The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword 3DS HOME Theme Lands in Japan
Joined by seven Tales themes we'll likely never get
3DS HOME Themes are now becoming a rather common update for owners of the portable, with Nintendo adding a notification dot on the relevant menu to alert us to new options as they appear. There's already a decent variety, though a recent arrival in Japan has us rather jealous already. Pictured...
Review Turtle Tale (Wii U eShop)
Half-shelled
Retro-styled platformers have become very common in the current generation of games, thanks to download platforms and readily available, inexpensive development tools. Some titles, such as the insanely difficult, finely crafted 1001 Spikes, show an immediate artistry and sense of game design. Others, unfortunately, are bare experiences...
Friday24th Oct 2014
News Bigger Stages, Dual-Plane Battles and Danger Zones Exclusive to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Miiverse Stage coming after launch
Today's Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct was packed full of details, and one area that merited plenty of attention was stages. There were some key announcements that'll shape how we get into battle. One key inclusion is Bigger Stages, which will support 8 Player Smash Mode in particular and, as a result, will be...
Thursday23rd Oct 2014
News Tourneys and Official Tourneys Giving Super Smash Bros. for Wii U a Competitive Edge
Not ready for launch
Today's Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct was full of details around Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with a particularly exciting announcement being customisable and official Tourneys; these won't be available on launch day, however. When they do arrive, though, they look promising. Standard Tourneys are rather similar to their...
News Five Additional Cover Plates Announced For New 3DS Australian Release
Will retail for $17.95 each
While Japan’s onslaught of cover plate announcements for the New 3DS continue, the rest of the world is left pondering if a considerable amount of them will ever see the light of day outside of the region. Adding a ray of hope to the situation, Nintendo of Australia has today announced via Twitter & Facebook th
Friday24th Oct 2014
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Takes Sharing Experiences to New Levels
A lot of firsts for the series
Although it will not be implemented at launch, Nintendo has announced plans to include functionality within Super Smash Bros. for Wii U that allows you to share various content with others over the internet. This feature isn't just limited to friends either, as you can choose to share your creations with the entire...
Thursday23rd Oct 2014
News The Writer Who Penned Chronicle Also Wrote A Super Mario World Screenplay, And It Sucks
"This is not a movie," Max Landis admits
1993's Super Mario Bros. movie is generally regarded as a failure — both commercially and critically — but it has nevertheless gone on to become something of a cult classic. However, we're not sure the same would ever have been said about Max Landis' proposed movie adaptation of Super Mario World, which...
Nintendo 64x64 Super Smash Bros
It may feature a limited number of characters and stages compared to later instalments, but Super Smash Bros. packed one hell of a punch when it landed in 1999. It feels a tad sluggish today, but the brawl 'em up's arena style gameplay system stills offers an addictive and frantic multiplayer experience. The merging of different Nintendo universes...
Video Let's Play Bayonetta 2 With Lydia
It's the witching hour
Hello everyone! Fresh from my on-track success in Mario Kart 8, I thought I'd turn my hand to witchcraft in Platinum Games' superb Bayonetta 2. In the first of a series of action-packed videos, I run through some of the game's many amazing levels battling demonic beasts so filthy and foul that I had to have a good lie down...
News A World of Keflings Unleashes On The North American Wii U eShop November 13th
European release underway
The last time we received an update on the status of A World of Keflings, was when NinjaBee Games reassured Wii U owners in August, that the long-awaited title was still on its way to Nintendo’s latest home console. Now, after much anticipation, NinjaBee has finally confirmed the game will be released on the Wii U eShop...
News Football Up Online to Kick Off in Europe Soon
Discounted price for those that own its predecessor
EnjoyUp Games is a prolific download game developer on Nintendo hardware, and is revisiting one of its releases for an online update on 3DS — Football Up Online will arrive as a successor to Soccer Up 3D / Football Up 3D on the eShop. In terms of features, much seems to remain unchanged from the...
Wednesday22nd Oct 2014
Review Shantae And The Pirate's Curse (3DS eShop)
A pirate’s life for me
It’s interesting to track the progression that WayForward's Shantae series has undergone over the past decade. Beginning in 2002, the original title was released on the Game Boy Color, an unfortunately timed release that was mostly overshadowed by the recent introduction of the Game Boy Advance. Despite an attempted sequel...
News Masahiro Sakurai Gives a Glimpse of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Fighter Reveal
There's a NES zapper involved...
There's not long now until a Live Nintendo Direct focused on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, which is promising "50 new things" — that alone is leading to all sorts of speculation. When Masahiro Sakurai teases, however, we know that there's reason to take notice. His latest Miiverse Pic of the Day builds us up with...
Review Ninja Battle Heroes (3DS eShop)
Kawaii katana
Tom Create, known for its contributions to the DSiWare GO Series, as well as games dating back to the Super Famicom era, has created a little gem in Ninja Battle Heroes, an action brawler bursting with adorable personality and surprisingly deep gameplay. Despite a generic title that describes little about the experience other than that...
Video How Much Faster Is The New Nintendo 3DS?
Quite a bit, as it happens
The New Nintendo 3DS is available now in Japan, and we've been spending some quality time with the system — as you'll already know if you've checked out our review and hands-on video. One of the most common questions we've had since getting the console relates to overall speed — is it really that much faster than the...
Talking Point Platinum Games Has Secured a Golden Wii U Legacy
Bayonetta 2 joins the brilliant Wonderful 101
We argued, right at the start of our Bayonetta 2 review, that the "Wii U library is small, but also diverse and exciting". The reason we opened with that point is that, despite lazy comments often shared online — increasingly irrelevant with each passing month — stating that the Wii U has 'no games',...
Tanooki Buggy also revealed!
If you haven’t already pre-purchased the upcoming Mario Kart 8 downloadable content, due out this November and May 2015, then this latest reveal might just be enough reason to take the plunge. Nintendo has released a new trailer revealing Yoshi Circuit from the 2003 GameCube series entry, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!,...
Huntin' and relaxin'
It seems Capcom's latest entry in the Monster Hunter series has proved its worth even further in Japan by outselling Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS not only this week, but in lifetime physical sales. Smash Bros. has still done well, placing it behind Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate but in front of everything else. Unfortunately...
News ShopTo.net's £180 Wii U Bundle with Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 is Too Cheap to Pass Up
Tremendous wares
ShopTo.net has begun taking orders for a very reasonable Wii U bundle that may be enough to tempt those currently on the fence; if you're looking to buy a Wii U this is quite likely the best deal you'll find for a long time. We've also included a couple of other deals in case Bayonetta 2 isn't your thing. If you're not sure, you can...
Thursday23rd Oct 2014
News Former Sega of America Marketing Director Divulges Struggle to Name Tails "Tails"
Also introducing "Sonic's orthodontist"
Sonic's faithful, tech-savvy buddy is best known as "Tails," a name that one typically wouldn't expect to have any reasoning behind it aside from acknowledging a plurality of appendages. However, in the corporate world, things often aren't so simple--especially if you had "Sega of America" on your office door...
Wednesday22nd Oct 2014
Review 99Seconds (Wii U eShop)
A twitch in time saves 99
Time is a very valuable commodity. At least that’s what people say, but there always seems to be time for sneaking a quick little game of something between tasks. 99Seconds seeks to fill those blips in your life, and perhaps a few more, with a classic dodge ‘em style of gameplay. The Wii U version of 99seconds is...
Video Terrifying Giant Mii Heads Promote Halloween National StreetPass Weekend
Nightmare fuel
We sometimes describe Mii characters as our happy, aspirational and trouble-free selves here at Nintendo Life, the embodiment of our personalities in a world where every day is a trip to the Mushroom Kingdom to share some cake with the Mario Bros. and Princess Peach. When Nintendo of America decides to represent Miis to the world,...
News Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami Is A Fan Of Strong Female Characters
"I don’t like female characters who are submissive to male characters"
Shinji Mikami is the man behind The Evil Within, a new survival horror epic which has recently launched on PS4 and Xbox One. However, his most famous creation has to be Resident Evil, a game which has sold millions and spawned numerous sequels, many of which have made their way...
News Pilgrim is Another Download Game Making the Journey to Wii U
A land where it's often raining
The Wii U eShop continues to attract a diverse range of projects, and another on the way is an ambitious game called Pilgrim from developer Disintegration Games. Its target scope is rather grand, as it incorporates a period of 100 years and multiple characters, starting with a young Scottish immigrant travelling to...
News Minor Miiverse Update Allows You to Focus on Friends
Except on 3DS, as its friend system is a bit pants
Miiverse is often evolving, rather like your hardy Pokémon or the swag on Reggie Fils-Aime's desk, and its web-based setup means that Nintendo can make small changes without any effort required from us, the gamers. The social platform has had another minor tweak, with Nintendo of Europe's Marty...
UK Event Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS National Championship Grand Final - Tickets Up For Grabs
We have 30 pairs of tickets for Nintendo Life readers
Super Smash Bros. fans across the UK have been battling it out for a chance to be crowned National Champion 2014. The qualifying heats took place at selected GAME stores which determined 32 finalists, 4 from each of the 8 regional heats, who are now ready to battle it out one final time on Friday...
Nintendo 64x64 Shadows of the Empire
At the time, a decent addition to the Star Wars franchise despite its failings being magnified up against Mario 64. Level locations, atmosphere, music capture the Star Wars universe well. Personally, too many third-person platform levels: the game needed more variety. These levels are clunky and some overly long. Bosses can also be unnecessarily...
Video Atlus Releases a Preview of the Persona Q Art Book and New Character Trailers
Not quite the Grand Grimoire but still pretty nice
This week's Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth pre-release content, courtesy of Atlus, includes a preview of the Persona Q: The Wild Cards Premium Edition art book, along with two new character trailers of the lady in charge and one of the strangest characters yet seen in the Persona series. The...
Tuesday21st Oct 2014
Rumour Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Data Prompts More DLC Speculation
More Smash
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS isn't short of content, and the upcoming live Nintendo Direct is promising "50 new things" for the home console iteration; it's clear that Masahiro Sakurai and his team have devoted a great deal of effort to details both big and small. Gamers and fans always want more, of course, and with major Nintendo...
Weirdness Super Smash Bros.' Announcer Sings the Original Pokémon Anime Theme
Gotta smash 'em all
It seems that Xander Mobus – the announcer for Super Smash Bros for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS – has a lighter side beyond his official work with Nintendo, and asked the Smash-playing public what they wanted him to say in the announcer's voice. Many people asked him to sing the original theme from the Pokémon anime, and without...
News Link amiibo Compatibility Confirmed for Hyrule Warriors
Figurine of Time
It wasn't so long ago that developer comments regarding Hyrule Warriors led some to believe that amiibo support wouldn't be included, yet Nintendo of America has now confirmed quite the opposite — the Link amiibo toy will be compatible with Koei Tecmo's action title. You can see the tweet below, which oddly includes a rather...
Review Paper Monsters Recut (Wii U eShop)
The power of papercraft
In an increasingly busy eShop with titles that are wildly inconsistent in quality, download games have to make an immediate impression to get noticed. With a lovely visual style, Mobot Studios' Paper Monsters Recut instantly stands out among the crowd — an enhanced port of a mobile game, Paper Monsters Recut is a fun,...
Feature The Making of Rocket: Robot on Wheels
How one of the N64's most criminally under-appreciated games came to be
The Nintendo 64, while simultaneously renowned and infamous for doing many things, is arguably best remembered for defining the 3D platforming genre. When Super Mario 64 released in 1996, it didn't just blow everyone’s socks off; it revolutionised home console gaming and set...
Talking Point Nintendo's Ability to Charm Young Gamers is Vital for its Success
Proper next-gen
There was a period, in the latter half of the last generation of systems, when it seemed as if Sony and Microsoft were making a major play for the young gamer's market — Microsoft pushed for advertising presence on major multi-platform franchises, in particular, while Sony tried new ideas with its range of Wonderbook releases. Both...
Nintendo 64x64 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
A Link To The Mask
Releasing another same-platform entry following up the greatest game the N64 had seen was bold by Nintendo. Its two new gameplay mechanics, time travel and the use of masks, were simple at heart yet utterly integral in creating a sublime, more interesting, and darker world than Hyrule. It retained everything exquisite about OoT...
News New Music and Voice Samples Discovered in the Donkey Kong Arcade
A few decades on, there's still more to find
The Donkey Kong arcade was a key turning point for Nintendo as a company, as it brought Shigeru Miyamoto to the fore and helped to demonstrate to Hiroshi Yamauchi and his management that the video game business could be lucrative for the company. It's so iconic that a small band of gamers still compete...
News The Game Boy Color is Now 16 Years Old
It'll be asking to host house parties...
Nintendo's released so many systems and iconic games that anniversaries are a regular occurrence; now it's the turn of the Game Boy Color — it's 16 years old, having been released in Japan on 21st October 1998. While some attribute Nintendo's trend for focusing on innovation and content over raw power as a...
Wednesday22nd Oct 2014
News Tetrobot and Co. Puzzles Its Way Onto Wii U Next Week
Neko Entertainment returns to publish another eShop game
Neko Entertainment has announced its PC-hit, Tetrobot and Co.’s, arrival onto mobile and tablet devices. It’s not surprising, for this popular puzzle game has become quite a hit on Steam, providing PC gamers with hours of mind-boggling fun — the big news however, is that it will also...
Tuesday21st Oct 2014
News RETRO Game Magazine Well On Its Way To Funding Another Year Of Issues
One for the print fans
While we've seen some iconic brands close down over the past year in the gaming print industry, some magazines and print projects have found life by gaining support through crowdfunding platforms. One of these is RETRO Video Game Magazine, which launched last year through a successful Kickstarter campaign; it's now back to...
News Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley Heading to PAL Regions in Early 2015
Bergsala strikes a deal with Natsume
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley hits North American stores on 4th November, the latest franchise entry for 3DS and one of its most ambitious titles to date. While the blend of farming, relationship building and RPG elements will be present and correct, this entry offers significant editing tools to shape the...
News Young'uns Invited to Camp Pokémon on Apple Devices
Parents will never get their iPhones back again
The Pokémon Company continues to explore the tall grasses outside Nintendo. Following the release of a Pokémon Trading Card Game app on iOS, a free, kid-centered app called Camp Pokémon is now available. Camp Pokémon campers can explore a collection of mini-games on a colourful island filled with...
News Castle Conqueror EX Invades the North American 3DS eShop on 23rd October
Are you ready to do battle against The Empire?
CIRCLE Entertainment’s latest title, Castle Conquerors EX, for the 3DS eShop was teased in August as the sixth release in the real-time strategy series, with plenty of improvements promised over the DSiWare original. Now, the prolific digital developer has revealed Castle Conqueror EX is invading th
News Pixel Galaxy: Enemies Aren't Forever is a Shooter That Looks Like an Eye Exam
We mean that in a good way, we think
The download scene isn't short of retro-styled titles, as they can be an effective way to develop on a budget and appeal to a wide range of gamers. Another throwing its hat into the ring, through Kickstarter, is Pixel Galaxy: Enemies Aren't Forever; it's only looking for $6000 in funding, too. Apparently...
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Special Demo Version US Distribution Details Revealed
Lots of chances to catch a code
The demand for the Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Special Demo Version has been truly extraordinary, with our own UK giveaway drawing numbers of applicants well into five figures. We produced a guide on how to grab a code in different countries, though
Monday20th Oct 2014
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Live Nintendo Direct to Introduce "50 New Things"
It's all happening on 23rd October
Last week Masahiro Sakurai confirmed that an announcement was on the way to show "the true potential" of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Talk of a Nintendo Direct naturally spread, and Nintendo has now confirmed that will happen — the twist is that it's a live event that's "focused on 50 new things". It all sounds...
News Two Pokémon Game Boy Color Titles Dated For North American 3DS eShop
Nintendo's trading on your nostalgia
Nintendo of America has decided that November will be the month of Pokémon on the 3DS eShop, with two Game Boy Color titles heading to the store before the latest releases arrive at retail. Nintendo's official website has updated listings to show what's coming and, in one simple page, has confirmed a release...
News Mega Steelix and Mega Glalie Confirmed for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
More Mega Hype
With the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire now just one month away, The Pokémon Company is stepping up its efforts to build hype for the new titles. It's doing this primarily through Mega Evolution announcements, of course, and another two have been confirmed. This time around we have Mega Steelix and Mega Glalie...
Nintendo Download 23rd October (Europe)
A Bayonetta double discount, Disney magic, more Rare DK, Themes and more
It's time to brighten up our Monday with the European Nintendo Download Update, and this week's line-up is full of fantastic titles. We have a double-helping of Platinum Games action on Wii U, some Disney magic on 3DS, some classic retro games across both systems, a new 3DS...
News These GameCube-Style Mario Bros. Controllers Offer An Edge In Super Smash Bros.
Rocking a turbo button like it's 1989
Hori has produced some of the more attractive licensed Nintendo peripherals, and it's now confirmed two Super Mario Bros.-themed GameCube-style controllers — they're only confirmed for Japan so far, each retailing for 2,980 yen. While looking almost identical to Smash players’ beloved GameCube controller,...
Tuesday21st Oct 2014
News Atlus Discounts 3DS eShop Titles in North America
In other news, the sun rose this morning
It'd be awfully bitter to complain about Atlus providing deals on its 3DS eShop lineup, but the frequency has gotten to a point where it might be more efficient to tell you when their games are not on sale. A couple of these discounts were noted in last week's Nintendo Download for North America, but here's...
Monday20th Oct 2014
News This Super-Cute Toon Link Nendoroid is Looking for Adventure
Pre-orders open in the US
Earlier this year we told you about Good Smile's super-cute Toon Link Nendoroid, confirmed for an August arrival in Japan and an eventual journey to the West. The happy news is that it's adventuring to the West soon — or seems to be available now, in some cases — and is potentially one of the most adorable collectible...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U to Feature Grab the Coins Mode, Temple Stage May Return
Slipped in slyly by sneaky Sakurai
Sakurai san has once again treated us to some pictures of menus from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in his pic of the day on Miiverse. Not a terribly exciting series of screenshots or indeed descriptions, but one little detail seems to have passed over the heads of many of the users who have commented. In the first...
Round Table Let's Talk Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo Life team chat about the handheld brawler
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has been out for a few weeks now, so we've all had chance to blast through Smash Run, collect plenty of trophies and face off against human opponents both locally and online. Here at Nintendo Life Towers we felt that now was the perfect time to look back at the...
News Grab yourself a Free Luigi Hat in Official Nintendo UK Promotion
Hats off to Luigi
Nintendo UK is giving shoppers the opportunity to grab a replica green hat upon purchasing any Luigi-themed merchandise from the Official UK Store. All that customers need to is purchase a Luigi item from the online store, add the Luigi hat to their shopping basket, and upon checkout the price of the cap will be amended to £0.00...
News Mad Men Football Shows Off Its New N64-Inspired Sports Uniform
"It's time for another revolution"
AE Games caused quite a stir when it announced Mad Men Football a while back. Showing off little more than concept artwork, the indie developer made some bold claims about the final product — despite not having any real industry experience — and predictably attracted quite a bit of criticism online. This...
News Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Launch Trailer Whips Into Action
Wii U version coming this Winter
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse arrives in the 3DS eShop in North America this week for $19.99 — it's due in Europe "as soon as possible" — and WayForward is gearing up for the long awaited release. The IP is still very much the studio's main event, with this third entry having endured a number of delays; it's now...
News Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX to Quicken Pulses on 30th October
Shoot anything scary
Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX, an updated and enhanced version of the WiiWare original has been confirmed for 30th October in Europe, with the developer also aiming to confirm a North American release this week; we suspect it'll hope for the same Halloween window. You can see the studio's breezy confirmation, via Twitter,...
Feature A Week of Super Smash Bros. Wii U and 3DS Screens - Issue Fifty Eight
It's back! Apologies for its absence! Please understand!
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is on the way, and many are already masters of the 3DS version. Masahiro Sakurai is doing what comes naturally, then, updating the Director's Room Miiverse community with new posts every day. Yet still, let's address the obvious question to our loyal and eagle-ey
News Hazewalker Kickstarter Campaign Launches With $100,000 Goal
We missed it from our summary, oops
We made a slightly odd omission in our last Kickstarter summary article, in that we failed to include a title we'd written about prior to its campaign's launch — Hazewalker. Let's remedy that right now, shall we? It caught our eye with its pre-launch press release and footage, as it has some ambitious scope and...
What a treasure
Few N64 games manage to come close to delivering the sheer amount of chaotic action that Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh delivers in droves. A Japanese exclusive, this 2D shoot em up majestically -- and intentionally -- puts both the player and the console through their paces; the hundreds of projectiles and enemies on screen at any one...
Sunday19th Oct 2014
News Miley Cyrus Confuses Fans by Owning a Wii U
She's gaming like a wrecking ball
When she's not twerking violently or sticking her tongue out in front of an audience, it appears Miley Cyrus enjoys early morning sessions on Nintendo's latest home console. The 21-year old pop icon has uploaded a photo onto her official Facebook page of her brandishing a Wii U Pro Controller and wearing some sort...
Make your own pyramid scheme
Almost three years ago to the day, Enjoy Gaming’s Pyramids had the honor of becoming the second independently-published eShop title to utilize the stereoscopic 3D feature of the Nintendo 3DS. While it didn't quite blow anyone away in that regard, with its simplistic graphics making negligible use of the effect, it...
Poll Nintendo Minute Debate - Is Super Mario World or Super Mario Bros. 3 More Influential?
Well, which one?
We often like to share Nintendo Minute videos here on Nintendo Life, the series in which hosts Kit and Krysta play games and do various things to entertain big N fans. Their video this week tries something a little different, as the two hosts debate the following: Which game is more influential – Super Mario World or Super Mario...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Six: Alchemist
Things that make you go boom
In the sixth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. Last week I got a lesson in Castelean civics as a paladin, and after thinking perhaps a little too much about the fact that no kingdom in Reveria seems to have any cemeteries despite all being...
Review Riding Star 3D (3DS eShop)
Fault!
Horses are supposed to be noble, herd-based creatures with personality and spirit. A simulation of caring for and riding one should be an intricate, rewarding experience as a bond is formed between rider and animal. Riding Star 3D does not worry itself with any of this. It botches the majesty of the horse so badly that one starts to wonder...
Say Cheese
Off-beat and remarkably novel, its surprising just how well Pokémon Snap works as a concept. In this snap em up, you trade in your Pokéballs for a trusty camera, with which you have to take the best Pokémon portraits possible. Sporting delightful environments and plenty of secrets to keep you coming back, its still one of the...
Saturday18th Oct 2014
News Wii U Owner Proves That Rejecting The End-User License Agreement Locks The System
No option to disagree
Not too long ago, in late September, Nintendo provided a major system update that enhanced the functionality of the Wii U and made changes to its functionality. Around that time there was also a change to the End-User License Agreement (EULA), which is a prompt of legal jargon that the vast majority simply agree to as quickly...
News Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty Wii U Delay Seems to be Due to 8GB Basic Model
"If you're going to make a Wii U game, it better run on the 8GB unit"
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a critically acclaimed title that has been praised for being an accomplished reboot of a retro classic. It arrived on PSN earlier this year, though the promised Wii U eShop iteration has been absent. An explanation for the delay seems to have arrived,...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV Dated for 30th October in Europe
Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
The long wait for a definite Shin Megami Tensei IV release date in Europe has come to an end. Originally announced by Atlus for Europe in Q3 2014, after an unexpected hiatus in the title's development a subsequently revised release window of September, pricing, and DLC details were announced this past...
News Pier Solar and the Great Architects Landing in North America on 23rd October
Actually, no it's not
Update: Publisher Watermelon has now confirmed that the Nintendo listing for 23rd October was inaccurate; as a positive it's stated on Facebook that a release date will be confirmed in the coming week. Original Article: After a series of delays, former Kickstarter campaign
Mario Kart on snow
Racdym's cute and vibrant snowboarding-themed racing game is one that's unfairly drowned out by the perpetual, yet understandable noise that surrounds its more popular counterparts, Mario Kart 64 and Diddy Kong Racing. Incorporating a remarkably balanced offensive / defensive power-up system and a nifty stunt system that feeds...
Friday17th Oct 2014
News It'll Be Possible To Catch All 719 Pokémon Using Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire With X & Y
Mega Evolution choices also explained
The ‘Gotta Catch ‘Em All' slogan has become a thing of the past due to the endless trading that one would have to do to achieve this feat in modern Pokémon games. Conquering this monstrous goal would require one to possess Nintendo’s evolutionary chain of hardware systems, as well as copies of several...
News Game Freak Confirms That The Pokémon Stadium Series Is On Hiatus
Possibly forever
When Pokémon X & Y was released last October, fans were given the opportunity to experience 3D battles in the main series for the very first time – channelling the spirit of the Pokémon Stadium series, all bar the announcer. Pokkén Tournament – a fighting game spin-off by Bandai Namco – was yet another recently...
Weirdness Sony Fan Creates Petition In Hope Of Bringing Super Smash Bros. To The PS Vita
"Nintendo needs to port this game to the PSVita."
A Sony PlayStation fan by the name of David Smith, who resides in Florida City, has created a petition on Change.org demanding Nintendo port Super Smash Bros. for 3DS to the PS Vita. His reasoning — Sony fans do not want to buy an ‘underpowered console’ but would gladly buy a quality title...
Parent Trap Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Demo Is Perfect For Pocket Monster Newcomers
Both young and old alike
Parents can lag behind their children in their video-game consumption. A combination of a sentimental connection to games of yore and a dwindling amount of free time for their hobby often results in the kids playing new games first. Even for a series as long standing as Pokémon, many parents simply don’t get what all the...
Review Donkey Kong Land (3DS eShop / GB)
Mobile monkey magic
Donkey Kong Country was a fun and popular platformer for the SNES, but not everyone thought it was great. Some people (possibly Mega Drive / Genesis owners) said the game was in fact quite poor and any fans were deluded fools drawn to it for reasons other than gameplay – or, as Cranky Kong says, “put a few fancy graphics and...
Video We Tackle the Legendary Hyrule Warriors "Master Quest Pack" DLC
Horsing around
Hyrule Warriors has made quite an impact since its launch, with positive sales so far in the US. Koei Tecmo and Nintendo have plans to keep fans happy, however, with four sets of DLC on the way. The first batch of DLC — Master Quest Pack — is now available in Europe and North America; it includes the following content. Five new...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Amazon Listing Says a Stage Creator is Coming
A "board game mode", too
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U just a little over a month away, we know that Nintendo is gearing up to reveal more details; Masahiro Sakurai recently stated that an upcoming announcement would reveal the game's "true potential". That sort of teasing comment certainly gets fans speculating, but now Amazon has added more...
News The Photo Studio in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is Perfect for Comedy
New trophies also confirmed
With the release of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U rapidly approaching, we can expect plenty of information and reveals in the coming weeks; Masahiro Sakurai has raised hopes of another Nintendo Direct, stating that an announcement is coming to reveal the game's "true potential". The game designer is still posting daily on...
News Project CARS Delayed to March 2015 on PS4 and Xbox One, Wii U Still Stalled with '2015' Window
Losing the race
Earlier today rumour spread that Project CARS was facing a delay, as screencaps of a forum post did the rounds. Publisher Bandai Namco has now reacted with an official press release to confirm that the release date has been pushed back, positioning it as a strategic choice to avoid the excessively over-crowded Holiday season and to...
News Watch Dogs Companion App Updated For Compatibility With Wii U
The dog's been given a bone
Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs for Wii U is due out next month, and new details about the long-awaited release continue to surface. After a series of ongoing promises, an eventual confirmation that the game was in fact on its way to Nintendo’s latest home console, and follow-up news that the Wii U entry
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 17th October
Build your own N64 and more project updates
Kickstarter, despite seeing funding amounts and success stories go down in recent times, is still a source of interesting crowdfunding projects for the Wii U, in particular. It also throws up occasional alternatives that can intrigue Nintendo gamers, even if the 3DS has been much less prominent in past...
News Atlus Finalises Persona Q Premium and Limited Standard Editions
Who doesn't want tarot cards?
Atlus has finalised the contents of its upcoming brooding teenage dungeon crawler Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth's retail special editions, set to release in North America on 25th November and in Europe on 28th November. Pictured below and serving the most angst per dollar/pound/euro, Persona Q's The Wild Cards...
Nintendo 64x64 007 The World is not Enough
Christmas only comes once a year
No beating around the bush here; Eurocom produced a Goldeneye clone of epic, almost plagiaristic, proportions. Yet if one ignores this, TWINE is still an enjoyable FPS: objectives vary and increase with difficulty; AI is decent; locations represent the film faithfully; and its well-animated throughout. A return to...
Video Curve Studios Shows Off Some Stealth Inc 2 Gadgets
Delightfully tricky
Stealth Inc 2 is due for release on 30th October, bringing its blend of tough Test Chambers that are well known from the first title, and a sizeable 'Metroidvania' world, exclusively to the Wii U. Last week we brought you a developer commentary video showing off that overworld, and now we can share the second video — along...
Thursday16th Oct 2014
News Eiji Aonuma Wants Mario Kart 8's DLC Master Cycle In Future Zelda Games
Extra horsepower for the Zelda franchise
It's not long now until November, which means the first batch of DLC for Mario Kart 8 will arrive. As it's The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 and will include Link as a playable character, there's understandable hype. The recent reveal of The Master Cycle naturally grabbed our attention, then, a rather slick...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Announcement Revealing its "True Potential" is on the Way
Development isn't finished yet
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U isn't far away, due in late November / early December depending on your region. Logically development should be drawing to a close, as a result, though Masahiro Sakurai — in his most recent Weekly Famitsu column — has said "I'm not done yet...". There's still work to be done. Of course,...
Nintendo Download 16th October (North America)
Harmony of Dissonance, Lone Survivor, Ballpoint Universe and much more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for Nintendo Download Update details to brighten your day and lighten your wallet. This week sees a collection of promising new download games across Wii U and 3DS, along with high quality retro options on both systems. Throw in a...
News Junichi Masuda Talks Pokémon Snap and Listening to Fans
Get your Game Freak on
In a recent interview about Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, director of the Pokémon games Junichi Masuda talked about the fans' desire to see a new Pokémon Snap game. Masuda-san was clear to point out that the N64 cult classic "wasn't originally developed by Game Freak", although it does seem that he has a certain...
News 3DS Homebrew Hacker Makes Progress on New Nintendo 3DS
Can of worms, re-opening...
In recent months we've been following the efforts of Smealum, a hacker who's been developing a homebrew channel for the 3DS. As it approached its final stages of development it was emphasized that although the channel will not run illegal 3DS ROMS, it will support homebrew games and apps. The fuzzy moral ground comes with...
News Here's A Closer Look at Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire's PokéNav Plus
More features than you can shake a Shiftry at
Ever since the second generation, every entry in the main Pokémon series has had some sort of little gadget that helps you navigate the world of tall grass and impossibly hardy shrubs. Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire are no exception to this rule, and bring back the classic PokéNav from the...
News Nintendo Celebrates Super Smash Bros. and Wii U Success in NPD Results
Wii U and 3DS hardware sales enjoy sizeable improvements
It's that time again for NPD results, the sales data that gives some idea — if not the full picture — of the game retail sector in the US. Nintendo's enjoyed some good spells in recent years with the 3DS, in particular, and is happy enough with its September performance to be one of the...
News Trailer Shows Off Today's First Batch of Hyrule Warriors DLC
"Master Quest Pack" gallops its way onto the eShop
The first batch of Hyrule Warriors DLC arrives today in Europe and the US, bringing a treasure chest full of exciting extras. The "Master Quest Pack" (the first of four announced DLC packages) will provide Hyrule Warriors owners with the following downloadable content: Three new playable...
News Nintendo Confirms Retro Halloween Scares for the Virtual Console
Castlevania! Gargoyle's Quest! Erm, Kirby. More!
Today has brought us the usual North American Nintendo Download Update details, which delivered a fairly handsome line-up, and the big N has also outlined a range of Virtual Console titles that'll be haunting our systems up to Halloween — in most cases, anyway. Below are the four titles that are...
News Nintendo UK Executive Says Wii U Has Had "Quite a Good Year So Far"
Moving on up
The "Wii U has had quite a good year so far," according to Shelly Pearce, head of UK Marketing, in an interview with MCV Magazine. The system has been picking up momentum as of late in the UK with an impressive 60% increase in sales; Pearce puts much of this improvement down to the success of Mario Kart 8. We've really seen momentum...
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Lead the Way in New Nintendo 3DS Kisekae Faceplates
Animal Crossing! Plumber's moustaches! More!
The New Nintendo 3DS is now out in Japan and has enjoyed a strong start in the charts, shifting nearly 235,000 units in its launch weekend. The smaller model was actually outsold by the LL (XL), which surprises us for one reason — Kisekae faceplaces. We can't help but be charmed by these faceplates,...
News Transport Yourself To The Eighties With This Totally Dope Ultimate NES Remix Cap
Ships with the game when you buy from the UK online store
Ultimate NES Remix is a collection of mini-games inspired by some of Nintendo's finest 8-bit escapades and — we we're sure you're aware — hits the 3DS next month. Just in case the game's considerable retro vibe isn't strong enough for you, you can now pre-order the title from the...
Weirdness New Range of Irish Stamps Feature Mario, Sonic, and More
Enough to make you go green with envy?
In a decision that's sure to excite stamp collectors and gamers alike, the Irish Postal Service has recently issued a retro-themed collection of postage stamps that feature some of the most recognizable characters from gaming history. The 'Game Icons' series pays tribute to the industry's colourful past with...
Review Horse Vet 3D (3DS eShop)
Horse pucky
Two things became apparent during Nintendo Life's time with TREVA's Horse Vet 3D. The first is that, apparently, everyone owns a horse; the second is that these horses needed a lecture in safe mating, as nearly all the horses treated had scabies at one point or another. Horse Vet 3D, like TREVA's recent offerings Top Model 3D and Outback...
Review Secret Empires of the Ancient World (3DS eShop)
Trash as old as time
Do you have too much money and space on your SD card? Are you the type of person who enjoys finding objects hidden in low-resolution images? Do you adore games with lengthy and misleading titles? Then we've got just the thing for you! Welcome to the depressing experience that is Secret Empires of the Ancient World! This is the...
Feature Brawl With The Nintendo Life Team in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Fight club
Many 3DS owners will already be well into their time with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS by this point, customising their fighters and pinning down their 'main' for tough online battles. A fun feature of this game, of course, is its Mii integration: you can choose from three core Mii Fighter types — Brawler, Swordfighter and Gunner...
News Ubisoft To Release Petz Beach And Petz Countryside For The Nintendo 3DS
50 different petz to nuture
Ubisoft has announced today that it is launching two new entries in its long-running Petz franchise. Petz Beach and Petz Countryside will launch on the Nintendo 3DS this month, and will allow players to look after 50 different animal types. The two games will feature connectivity with one another, and will also utilise...
Nintendo 64x64 Pok?mon Stadium
THE PRE-BATTLE HAS BEGUN!
Transferring data between games is a common feature nowadays, but in 1999 it was a huge deal for Pokémon fans who could finally see their favourite creatures battle it out in 3D. The pure focus on battling -- with various rule sets to choose from -- makes for a change of pace from the Game Boy original. The mini-games,...
Feature Ari Pulkkinen's Quest to Turn the Volume Up on Game Music
Music is "the biggest emotional aspect in any game"
There's surely little debating that music is absolutely integral to a video game experience. Nintendo has successfully riffed on iconic themes for decades, while still producing terrific new soundtracks in its current-day efforts that can only add to the excitement of the gameplay. This is...
Wednesday15th Oct 2014
Download Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Special Demo Version
Catch yourself an exclusive UK download code
Not long ago Nintendo of Europe announced that Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Special Demo Version was on the way; it's been confirmed for PAL regions and Japan but not, as yet, North America. The demo will naturally introduce gamers to the upcoming releases and allow some exploration and...
Guide How to Catch a Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Demo Code
Including North American details
Nintendo has now launched its Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Special Demo Version in Japan and PAL territories, which includes unique gameplay and Mega Evolutions that can then be transferred to the full game when it's released; North American details are also coming through. As you may have seen, we're...
News Pokémon X & Y Won't Be Patched to Accommodate New Mega Evolutions
Strictly Omega Ruby/Alpha Sappire
In a recent interview, Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori of Game Freak discussed various elements of the upcoming Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, and one such discussion revealed the unfortunate detail that the new Mega Evolutions won't be appearing in Pokémon X & Y. Whilst these two new titles will...
News Nintendo Reveals The Master Cycle for Mario Kart 8's Zelda DLC
"Plenty of horse power"
When Nintendo announced DLC for Mario Kart 8 it caused quite a stir, not least because it'll incorporate other much-loved franchises into the racer. There'll be The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 in November and Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 in May 2015, with each pack also incorporating other IPs such as F-Zero. Details...
News Super Smash Bros. Website Introduces amiibo Details
Each amiibo is "uniquely your own"
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be the first title to support amiibo toys, with the initial range designed for the brawler — they will eventually be supported in a host of other games, too. Though we have an idea of how the figures will be integrated into the game, the official website has begun to lay out the...
Review Nobunaga's Ambition (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Feud of dreams
Nobunaga’s Ambition, long one of publisher Koei’s flagship series, deserves its rightful place in the history of strategy titles. This SNES iteration, like many of its brethren, has an engaging setup that rewards careful planning and execution once the learning curve is cleared. Actually, “curve” might be too gentle a term...
Meet Hellena Taylor, the talent behind Bayonetta's sassy dialogue
Bayonetta 2 is a bit special, as you'll be aware if you've already read our review. The sequel to the 2010 cult classic (also now available on Wii U), this title is Platinum Games at its finest — over the top action, incredible visuals and a spunky female lead with spider-like limbs...
A very healthy week for the 3DS
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate — known as Monster Hunter 4G in Japan — has utterly decimated the competition in its launch week, selling nearly 1,500,000 physical copies, but Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS still stands up as a strong contender in second place. Yokai Watch 2 also makes its way back up the charts as the...
News New Nintendo 3DS LL Outsells Standard Model By Almost Three To One In Japan
Despite those oh-so-gorgeous Kisekae plates
The New 3DS and New 3DS LL (XL to us westerners) launched in Japan at the end of last week, and with the standard model offering the ability to fit new front and back plates, many predicted that shoppers would pick customisation over screen size this time around. However, according to figures published by...
News Super Smash Bros. Fans Teased Further by New Mode Screenshot
No significant details given
Sakurai san loves to keep his fans on tenterhooks, and today he released a new screenshot that revealed two versions of a new single-player mode in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The picture shows two differing versions of what can be assumed is a single mode of play. The two versions are prefixed 'Master'...
Video Your Heart Will Melt At This Sega Genesis Promo Created By A Son and His Gaming Mad Father
1991 home movie intended to convince family members to dump the NES
As you'll know if you've read the recent Console Wars, back in the early '90s Nintendo was still very much the king of the hill when it came to video games. Sega's time in the sun was yet to come, but the 16-bit Genesis (Mega Drive if you're outside of the US) was already making...
Feature Bayonetta - Creating Gaming's Combative Heroine
A unique part of the gaming scene
While it's a release that'll perhaps be battling the odds to make a major commercial impact, Bayonetta 2 will arrive as a Wii U exclusive on 24th October in the West, joined by an enhanced port of its predecessor. The new entry arrives as a relatively unique arrival, one of few dedicated action games of its type in...
Thursday16th Oct 2014
News Curve Studios Outlines Release Details of Four Wii U Titles
All before December
Curve Studios has a strong history of working on Nintendo hardware, perhaps most notably with Nintendo-published titles Hydroventure / Fluidity on WiiWare and Hydroventure / Fluidity: Spin Cycle on the 3DS eShop. The development studio's work goes way beyond those two games, of course, and it's been responsible for a range of...
Wednesday15th Oct 2014
News Pokémon Global Link To Undergo Maintenance
Power Plant shuts up shop temporarily
The Pokémon Company International has confirmed that the Pokémon Global Link (an online multiplayer feature that is used to provide players with services including battling and trading) will be undergoing maintenance next month. Now hold your Ponyta, this will only take place from November 13th to the 21st in...
News UCraft Developer Promises Extensive Features and Releases New Trailer
Online modes included
The recent announcement of UCraft for the Wii U eShop made it one of a small band of titles on the way to Nintendo hardware that cite Minecraft as a source of inspiration. This effort from Nexis Games is targeting a Holiday 2014 release window, and the developer has now released more details and an extended video of footage...
Review Painting Workshop (3DS eShop)
Digital canvas
The 3DS has continued to thrive as a result of its varied and expansive software catalogue, providing a one-stop-shop for RPG, platforming, and even action fans to find some really solid titles. It's not only that though, as the eShop has opened the door for smaller developers to release more subdued or technical affairs, be it music...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Ships Over Two Million Units in Just Five Days
Monstrous success
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate arrived in Japan — where's it's known as Monster Hunter 4G — on 11th October, alongside the New Nintendo 3DS models. An expansion of the original Monster Hunter 4, it looks set to recreate the success of that release. Capcom has issued a press release outlining the early progress of the new title,...
News Shovel Knight For Wii U & 3DS Launches In Europe And Australia This November
Finally!
Whilst North American Nintendo fans have been enjoying Shovel Knight for what feels like an eternity now, Wii U and 3DS owners in other parts of the world are still yet to experience the joys of this medieval side-scroller. Thankfully, the wait is nearly finally over for these remaining locations, with developer Yacht Club Games today...
Operation Alien Overlord
A valiant console port of a PC classic, Quake II on the N64 comes with an original campaign and four-player multiplayer. The latter is where the game truly shines, providing a quicker and much deadlier arena shooter experience than competing titles on the system. It excels in terms of technical performance -- notably the...
Tuesday14th Oct 2014
A shiny new trailer shows off additions
With just over a month until release, the hype for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire is starting to build towards a crescendo. Not shy of feeding that excitement, The Pokémon Company has unleashed full details on new Mega Evolutions and features for the upcoming titles, which initially came out in...
News Bayonetta 2 in North America Comes With a Rather Nice Bayonetta Disc
A great deal
When Nintendo announced, almost in passing, that a Wii U port of Bayonetta would be provided with system exclusive Bayonetta 2, there were many happy action fans — not least because that first game port hadn't even been confirmed before that point. There was then much confusion over distribution, however. In North America all...
Video New Nintendo 3DS Unboxing And Hands On
Watch in awe as we remove and refit a face plate
We've got the New Nintendo 3DS in the office right now and in-between gazing at its rock-solid 3D screen and fondling its nipple-like C-Stick, we somehow found the time to record a special unboxing and hands-on video, which you can view below. The new console — currently only available in Japan —...
News Shiny Mega Gengar Haunting Up North American GameStops Until 26th October
It's a right white fright!
Visitors to participating GameStops in North America can engage in some early Trick or Treating. From now until 26th October, free codes are being distributed for owners of Pokémon X & Y to possess a Shiny Gengar holding some Gengarite. The Shiny Gengar on its own knows Sludge Wave, a move it can't pick up through...
News You Can Now Purchase Select Digital Titles on Nintendo's Official Site
North America only at the moment
Nintendo is moving with the times, and now it seems you can buy a selection of Nintendo-published titles straight from their official website. Games such as Hyrule Warriors, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, and Mario Kart 8 are among those that you can choose to purchase throug
News New Nintendo 3DS 'Kawaii' Kisekae Faceplates Join Upcoming Smash Bros. Set
Our poor wallets
The New Nintendo 3DS may be a while away is most territories, but it's enjoying its first week since release in Japan. We suspect that the substantial range of Kisekae faceplates are selling rather well, too, and Nintendo's already lining up more designs to supplement the 38 varieties already available. First of all we have number...
Weirdness Super Mario 64 Has a New Level of Immersion in Oculus Rift
Motion controls for punching, anyone?
We've seen plenty of Oculus Rift mods over the past year that attempt to breath new life into retro Nintendo games. Some have been a tad peculiar, while examples such as Metroid Prime suited the virtual reality technology particularly well. Running a Super Mario 64 mod through the VR headset isn't new, but...
Video Footage Surfaces of Cancelled Wii Star Wars Title
A Rogue Squadron resurrection that never left the base
In what at least feels like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Factor 5's Rogue Squadron games were all the rage on the N64 and GameCube. Following Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, the company would attempt some projects for Microsoft and Sony, but either found little success...
Preview Bat-Swinging into Action in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
Go West young man
Already a successful branch of the LEGO series of games, the LEGO Batman line is soon to add a third entry into its already successful lineup. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, as its name suggests, takes the action outside of just Gotham and spreads it around the globe and even outer space — but does it measure up? We got some...
Video Another Neat 1-UP Trick Has Been Found in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Awesome skills
The NES-era Mario platformers are still much-loved to this day, and are still tested and experimented upon by eager gamers looking for glitches and tricks. Given the limitations of the 8-bit hardware these are bountiful and are still being found; they can be rather entertaining for those of us without the skills to find them...
Video Sanzaru Games Discusses Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal for 3DS
They're excited, and want you to be excited too
After their explosive announcement earlier in the year, there's a sense that the buzz around the Sonic Boom games on Wii U and 3DS has faded a little. It won't be long before we see what they have to offer, however, as both arrive in November. 3DS release Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal is being...
Hey, Mario! We got a letter from Princess Peach!
It may possess a paper-thin aesthetic, but Paper Mario's biggest success is that it adds considerable depth to what is historically a story-weak franchise. The puzzles may be a little on the simple side, but otherwise this is a rich and fulfilling RPG experience -- something which is quite hard to...
Video Here's a Simultaneous Speedrun of Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye
All in under an hour
We're certainly fans of speedruns here on Nintendo Life, as few gaming pursuits push the boundaries of games and those playing them as far. Whether world records in classic Zelda games that exploit errors in coding, or flat-out runs that tackle every stage in order, there's plenty to enjoy in seeing the best of the field show...
Monday13th Oct 2014
Hardware Review The New Nintendo 3DS Is The Best Yet
We go hands-on with the Japanese model
Nintendo has a history of iterating and improving the various handheld consoles it has produced over the past few decades. The original monochrome Game Boy started this trend of gradual enhancement — with the Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Light offering tangible advantages over the 1989 original — and since...
Spellbinding and brutal
The Wii U library is small, but also diverse and exciting; Bayonetta 2 from Platinum Games arrives as a system exclusive to forge its own brilliantly destructive path. Its arrival with a port of the original Bayonetta gives Nintendo gamers an opportunity to dive into this developing franchise in full, and also illustrates the...
News Rare Donkey Kong Delights to Grace the Wii U and 3DS
Games from Rare, not rare games
Today's Nintendo Download Update news for Europe brought a few welcome surprises for Virtual Console fans, including confirmation that this week will bring us the Super NES classic Donkey Kong Country and the VC début of Donkey Kong Land. The good news didn't stop there for DK fans, however. As the detail was buried...
Review Legend of the River King 2 (3DS eShop / GBC)
Return of the King
As an extra, easter egg or background element, fishing seems to pop up everywhere in video games; from side-angle angling in Link’s Awakening and Rumble Pak-reeling in Ocarina of Time to museum-filling in Animal Crossing and fly-rod flinging in
News The Club Nintendo Rewards for October Have Been Confirmed
Kersploosh! 3D Classics: Kid Icarus! StarTropics II! More!
It's that time again, North American Club Nintendo fans, for the monthly rewards update that will try to separate you from your hard-earned virtual coins. This batch shakes things up a little from the last two months, with two 3DS eShop releases included in the portable offerings along with...
Nintendo Download 16th October (Europe)
DK delights and discounts, Lone Survivor, themes, PAC-MAN and more
The start of a fresh week can be a happy occasion for European Nintendo gamers, as it means Nintendo Download Update news. While it doesn't always provide thrills and spills, this week's selection certainly has some tempting options, including a new title on Wii U, some retro...
News Nintendo Releases a Sneak Preview of New 3DS HOME Menu Themes
You can't see the spinning, though
Following the recent launch of 3DS HOME menu themes Nintendo confirmed that there'd be weekly additions to the Theme Shop, at least in the early days. The European Download Update for this week will bring the next four additions to the Nintendo IP range, which cost $1.99 / €1.99 / £1.79 each. These themes will...
News Inquisitive Gamers Stumble Across Potential eShop Web Store
It already works, apparently
Nintendo has consistently maintained that it would explore options to make the eShop easily accessible in web browsers, a policy that's brought us Miiverse and Mario Kart TV on PC, Mac and mobile devices. With the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS becoming increasingly important to Nintendo, it's unsurprising that calls...
Gallery Enjoy a Cuteness Overload in These Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Screens
D'awwwwwww
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker could quite possibly be the most adorable game played on Wii U systems this Festive season — unless you're in Europe and it's a New Year treat. Last week cleared up release dates and, we shouldn't forget, revealed Toadette as a playable character, tipping this one over the safe levels of cuteness. It is...
News Tetris Ultimate Dated for 3DS, Will Cost Less on the eShop
Download incentive
Ubisoft certainly has its critics among Nintendo gamers, and the fact the upcoming Tetris home console releases published by the company are skipping Wii U doesn't help matters. The 3DS is still a money-spinner, however, and Tetris Ultimate on the portable will feature exclusive modes and gameplay to make use of the hardware. The...
News Nintendo Releases Drop in UK Charts in Face of Major Multi-Platform Titles
Smash Bros. clings on in top 10
The challenge facing Nintendo in the vital coming months, at retail, is to attract major hardware and software sales on exclusive titles while confronted by a raft of multi-platform blockbusters. In the West, particularly, it's going to be a tough ask for Nintendo's single-format games to hold their own, which is...
Nintendo 64x64 Conker's Bad Fur Day
One mean %&*@% Squirrel…
Only Rare could have taken the cutesy adventure platformer genre and so masterfully warped it into such an hilariously offensive and beautifully vulgar gameplay experience. Enter Conker, a binge-drinking squirrel, whose walk home from the pub quickly turns into an adventure of inappropriate and scatological proportions...
Sunday12th Oct 2014
News The New Nintendo 3DS Web Filter Does Successfully Block Adult Content, Most of the Time
There's a loophole to be fixed
The New Nintendo 3DS is now out in Japan, and it'll be intriguing to see just how much the models boost sales of the hardware in the country. It has various new features, such as a faster CPU, the c-stick and improved stereoscopic 3D viewing, though it's one of the less headline-grabbing inclusions that's recently been...
Review Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle (3DS)
Tenkai toy, fivekai game
Games aimed at children are an interesting beast – often you’ll find them less challenging than other games, and if it contains a plot it’s a simple, easy-to-follow romp through a colourful and engaging journey. Unfortunately, Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle doesn’t quite measure up to these expectations. The game...
Preview Going Retro On The Go With Ultimate NES Remix
The ultimate collection?
Stealthily announced a month or two ago, there is still some uncertainty about what exactly Ultimate NES Remix contains. Is it a new game, is it NES Remix and NES Remix 2 stuck together in one package, like the Wii U retail release, or is it something else entirely?
News Mega Man Felyne Armour Makes Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Even Stranger
Equip a Rush Hammer, too
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will be the latest entry in an already strange series — in which characters pose while drinking a potion and can be made to dance and prance on command — and that's absolutely fine; that combination of quirkiness and hardcore challenge is part of its appeal. The new entry is taking things...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Five: Paladin
Turn undead into what?
In the fifth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. NOTE: This week's entry contains a spoiler so diabolically genre-ruining that the esteemed Ant Dickens had to program a special tag in the Nintendo Life content management system to contain it. Click on the...
Video Catch Up With Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. National Open Tournament
The best player in the US has been crowned
This weekend brought us the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS National Open Tournament in the US, in which the Nintendo World store in New York hosted a little under four hours of battles in the latest release. The competitors had all won through from regional events to compete for the National title...
Par 4
One of Mario Golfs biggest successes is its intuitive and simple interface; its easy for anyone to play, making it a title that appeals even to those who dont show any enthusiasm for the real-life sport. Featuring a good number of playable characters; varied and challenging courses; and connectivity with the Game Boy Color version,...
Saturday11th Oct 2014
Video How Hyrule Warriors Forges A Link With Zelda's Past
Comparing the legendary locations
There are few locations in the world of gaming that are as close to our hearts as those featured in The Legend of Zelda series. The recently released Hyrule Warriors brings yet another fresh take on these iconic locales, but for those who are don't know their Death Mountains from their Lake Hylias, here's a look at...
Review Mon Premier Karaoké (Wii U eShop)
Should you take a chanson this?
Rarely is it possible to describe a game in a single word, yet after mere minutes of playing Mon Premier Karaoké you can aptly sum it up as “niche”. After all, this is a game that’s aimed squarely at young, French-speaking children, and so to be able to use a word of French origin to describe it is...
Nintendo 64x64 Mystical Ninja 2 Starring Goemon
Goemon returns!
The follow-up to Goemon's first 3D outing trades the free-roaming environments of its predecessor for a tighter and far more challenging 2.5 experience. The game comes with a two-player cooperative mode, which also extends to the series' renowned giant robot battles. Of particular note is the fantastic music, which merges traditional...
Friday10th Oct 2014
Review Castlevania: Dracula X (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Tainted blood
When you think of the definitive side-scrolling Castlevania experience, we imagine for most people it’s imagery of Symphony of the Night or Super Castlevania IV that first creeps into the ol’ noggin. But while those might be the most popular of responses, there’s a slightly more obscure game in the franchise that many die-hards...
News More Mega Evolutions Appear for Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Mega, man
The latest issue of CoroCoro Magazine has been released in Japan, and in it was yet more news about Mega Evolutions making their way onto Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. The monsters that will be getting a Mega facelift are Pidgeot, Beedrill, Latias, and Latios, and you can see them all for yourself in the images below. Both Mega...
News New Nintendo 3DS Videos Show Off Compulsory Screwdriver Skills
Required for faffing about with faceplates and micro SD cards
We suspect that a good number of you reading this are preparing to pick up a New Nintendo 3DS later this year (Japan, Australia and New Zealand) or in 2015 (everywhere else), but you'll need more than just a higher-capacity micro SD card — you'll need a screwdriver and a willingness to...
Contain yourself, it's only audio
Often assets that go unused in games can still be found kicking around in the code somewhere, and it seems that Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is no exception. Audio has been discovered of the announcer declaring a number of modes and features that are not present in the final version. Many of them were present...
FAQ Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS
Got a niggling question? We could have the answer
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is without a doubt one of the biggest releases of the year, and has already shifted almost 3 million copies worldwide. However, if you've not picked it up so far then you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. Smash may be popular with seasoned Nintendo fans,...
News Captain Toad's Joined by Toadette in Treasure Tracker as European Release Date is Confirmed
Too cute for words
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will grace stores in North America on 5th December, and now finally has a release date for Europe; it is in January 2015, as previously confirmed — it'll start hunting for treasure in the region on 9th January. It may be spinning off from the bonus levels in Super Mario 3D World, meanwhile, but...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 10th October
More titles to consider
It's been just over a week since our last Kickstarter summary, in which we caught up on past campaigns and looked at some fresh arrivals. Since then we've had a couple of success stories, while two intriguing new projects have emerged that may be worth your attention. As before we are showing projects with attainable goals...
Weirdness Monster Hunter Series Producer Denies Existence of the 'Desire Sensor'
Does confirm need for gloves while playing
For those who don't know, the Monster Hunter series of games is rumored among fans to have the unique and utterly frustrating functionality of a 'desire sensor' which allows the game to detect and purposefully withhold the specific loot that a player needs in order to extend replay value. In an interview...
Near Perfect?
The Messi of FPSs: sublime graphics, gameplay, longevity, multiplayer. Goldeneye was tough to follow but the freedom of originality allowed Rare to let their creativity loose: Co-op mode; superb array of weapons; using Miyamoto's face (!) are some of my favourites. So why do I prefer Goldeneye? To me, it reinvented FPSs; Perfect Dark...
News Rising Star Games' New Online Shop Now Open
No oddly numbered watches available at time of writing
As part of Rising Star Games' tenth anniversary celebration, the company's own online shop is now open, offering a selection of Rising Star's games and some new merchandise including company logo pins, T-shirts, and mugs. This current selection of products is available as a thank-you to early...
News Collavier Corporation's Monster Combine TD Is Battling Its Way Onto The 3DS eShop
Summon a range of mythical creatures & beasts and enter the fray
Japanese publisher and developer Collavier Corporation, founded in 2008, has announced it is bringing Monster Combine TD exclusively to the 3DS eShop. Monster Combine TD aims to bring fresh and intuitive gameplay to the tower defence genre. Players will embark on an adventure to a...
News Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley Set to Bloom on NA Store Shelves This 4th November
Europe barren for now
Natsume, Inc recently confirmed via Twitter that the North American release date for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley will be 4th November: [tweet 520216714311520256] Although no European release date has been set, Natsume also confirmed that a publisher is being sought out and that it expects the title to reach the otherpart of...
Thursday9th Oct 2014
Nintendo Download 9th October (North America)
Bayonetta 2 demo, Pac-Man, Castlevania and lots of Petz gamez!
It's that time again, North American gamers, with details of this week's Nintendo Download Update treats now here; no, we're not sure why there was a delay. Particularly pleasing is a high profile Wii U retail demo, while a bit of a GBA gem also lands on the home console. Let's get on...
News Bayonetta 2 Demo Now Live In The European Wii U eShop
Climaxing too soon?
A demo for the forthcoming Wii U action title Bayonetta 2 is now available on the European Wii U eShop. The game doesn't launch until October 24th in North America and Europe, but Nintendo is clearly aiming to build up hype prior to release. A Wii U-exclusive sequel to the 2010 original — which is also coming to Nintendo's...
News Capcom Won't Greenlight Sequels If A Game Doesn't Sell Over Two Million Copies
No plans for future Darkstalkers games, either
Capcom's Yoshinori Ono has revealed that the company is chasing big sales right now, and that sequels won't be given the go ahead unless the previous title cleared two million units sold. The comment was made in an interview with Famitsu, where Ono also said that there would be no future Darkstalkers...
News Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow to Complete GBA Trilogy on Wii U Virtual Console
Scarily good
The Game Boy Advance enjoyed a terrific trilogy of 2D Castlevania titles — as did its successor, the DS — which set impressive standards for portable entries in the franchise. With GBA games on the Wii U, the prospect of playing them on the GamePad — or the TV if you like enormous pixels — must have come to the minds of Konami...
Video Let's Play Mario Kart 8 With Lydia
First up, Mushroom Cup 150cc
Hi guys! I guess some introductions are in order. I'm Lydia and you may (or may not) know me from my YouTube channel Squid Gaming. I'm here to take on the Mario Kart 8 challenge set by those lovely folks at Nintendo Life. Whilst dancing to the Pokemon theme tune at EGX London (I know, what was I thinking?), I bumped...
News Mega Video Game Fan Aaron "NintendoTwizer" Norton Auctions Gaming Goldmine
Coins and rupees incoming?
If you thought your gaming collection was something extraordinary, think again. eBay enthusiast reel.big.fish — perhaps better known as Aaron “NintendoTwizer” Norton — has decided to auction his entire collection of consoles, games, and gaming memorabilia. This includes more than 5,700 games, with systems (and...
Friday10th Oct 2014
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy States a Case for December
European and North American release dates announced
Let the record show that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy has been cleared for a December release on the 3DS eShop, according to Capcom. The company made its announcement during the "World of Capcom" panel at New York Comic Con. North American truth-seekers can expect the game on 9th December,...
Thursday9th Oct 2014
News The Legend of Dark Witch Unleashes On The North American 3DS eShop Next Week
European release to be determined
CIRCLE Entertainment has announced its Japanese 3DS eShop hit The Legend of Dark Witch will be released in North America on October 16th for $3.99, with a European release to be determined. The Legend of Dark Witch is a 2D platform action game where players take on the role of the witch Zizou who has been tasked...
News The Terrifying Toys Vs. Monsters Is Coming To The 3DS eShop
It’s time to face your fears!
We’ve all been there before – a big and scary monster is chasing you around in your dreams and there is nothing you can do but cuddle your soft toy or favourite action figure. EnjoyUp Games has obviously had the same problem, because it’s now found an imaginative solution. Toys vs. Monsters for the 3DS eShop,...
Nintendo 64x64 Mission: Impossible
"should you choose to accept it"
Best enjoyed without the obvious comparison with other movie tie-ins. Don't judge on the poor opening two levels; they're far more engaging and complex as it progresses, plus unlocking levels like Terminal Room is immensely rewarding. Its strength is the stealth elements of the game, although unfortunately hindered...
News Renegade Kid Releases Debut Trailer For Upcoming 3DS eShop Title, Xeodrifter
Even Samus Aran would be marginally impressed
If you caught the original announcement back in August, you’ll already know Renegade Kid’s next project is a Metroidvania-style action-platformer titled Xeodrifter for the 3DS eShop. So for those who did miss this exciting bit of news, Jools Watsham and company have now released a debut trailer of...
Video 'Nindie' Trailers Flood Nintendo's Official YouTube Channel
Strong, nindependent titles
Nintendo has released a wealth of new trailers for upcoming indie games that it is showcasing at IndieCade 2014. Charmingly referred to as 'Nindies', these developers have all declared their commitment to Nintendo's systems, and you can see just a snippet of the fruits of their labour in the trailers that you can see...
Video Rei And Aigis Persona Q Character Trailers Released By Atlus
The girl with the cast iron stomach and the android
This week's Persona Q trailers from Atlus feature two young women of the Persona Q dungeon-crawling team: both blonde, one synthetic and all entertaining. Atlus has also released the second part of USA PR manager John Hardin's behind the scenes interviews with several of Persona Q's voice actors...
Wednesday8th Oct 2014
News Turns Out The GameCube Controller Adapter Won't Be Compatible With Other Wii U Software
Works with "Wii U & Smash Bros. for Wii U specifically", says Nintendo
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we reported that the forthcoming GameCube controller adapter — being launched alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U — would allow the classic pad to be used with other Wii U games. The source was Nintendo's own online store, which...
Review KORG DSN-12 (3DS eShop)
Electric Feel
Teaming up with Japanese developer Detune once again, KORG has proven itself to be quite enamoured with the 3DS eShop by releasing another piece of music creation software, in the form of KORG DSN-12. Emulating the popular MS-10 analogue synthesizer, this title brings us back to a time of smoke-filled clubs and angst-ridden youths all...
Review Game & Watch Gallery 3 (3DS eShop / GBC)
A gallery worth visiting
As over 50 different Game & Watch titles were released during the eighties, Nintendo had the clever idea to give a select few a fresh coat of paint, giving them a visual makeover, adding music, turning them into Mario-themed titles and then putting them together in a collection which allowed you to play both the new and...
News Grab A Free Digital Booster Pack For Pokémon TCG Online Right Here
Fun is on the cards
Based in North America? Already downloaded the Pokémon TCG Online app on your iPad, iPad mini, Mac or PC? Then you're in luck, as we've teamed up with The Pokémon Company International to offer you a digital booster pack of Pokémon TCG cards absolutely free of charge. All you have to do is input the code below in the Pokémon...
Interview Mobot Studios Discusses Paper Monsters Recut and its Commitment to Wii U
Not papering over the cracks
It's already clear that, for devoted and keen Wii U owners, the eShop is a sanctuary of regular releases. Indie gaming is all the rage, and the eShop eco-system is already taking on a fairly unique identity with a mix of major download releases, occasional exclusives and — for better or worse, depending on the game —...
News Super Smash Bros. Takes the Lead in Japan Once Again, 3DS Sales Dip Further
But we're not worried
Once again Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has obliterated the competition and sold over 100,000 units in the past week in Japan. This coupled with the recent announcement of 2.8 million copes sold worldwide is a very sturdy figure to be leaning upon. The PS3's new entry in the Kingdom Hearts series couldn't beat the bea
Video You'll Be Able To Play As Metroid's Samus Aran In Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Bounty Hunter Ultimate
It has already been revealed that Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is getting some interesting crossovers, but this latest one is perhaps the best yet. Nintendo has posted a new trailer which shows Metroid's Samus Aran — in both her armoured and Zero Suit guises — kicking monster butt within the eagerly-awaited 3DS title...
Review Red Riding Hood (Wii U eShop)
All the better to bore you with, my dear
Clearly aimed at children, Brave Rock Games' Red Riding Hood is a vaguely interactive storybook that, while certainly not a scam at the inexpensive asking price of $1 USD, will take users no more than 15 minutes to play through. With bare-bones presentation, narration that moves at a snail's pace and nearly...
News Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Finally Shakes its Release Delay Hex
3DS version coming to North America on 23rd October
Fans of WayForward's half-genie have been wishing for Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for some time, with the game getting pushed back more than once through 2014. The light at the end of the tunnel is finally nearing, though, and the game is scheduled to first materialize in the North American 3DS...
News Nintendo Highlights 'Nindies' and Their Games at IndieCade 2014
We're not sure we can forgive that name, though
Nintendo has compiled a long list of prolific indie games that will be making an appearance at IndieCade 2014 which runs from the 10th to the 12th of this month in California. Nintendo is quick to showcase this promising batch of titles that are coming to the systems. This list of titles that will be...
Nintendo 64x64 WCW/nWo Revenge
"Fighting Game of the Year"
The best WCW game ever and only bettered by THQ's very own No Mercy. The game engine was the best a wrestling game ever had; simple controls to use, with scope to hone and perfect for expert status. It had a fantastic roster, all WCW arenas and competition for every belt. Revenge should have had a proper create-a-player...
Video You are Hereby Ordered To Surrender Nearly Three Hours Of Your Life To Game Boy Title Screens
Strangely mesmerising
Ever wondered what it would be like to sit through every single Game Boy title screen? Ponder no longer, as YouTube user NicksplosionFX has given us the chance to do just that. The video below is almost three hours (2:42:02, to be precise) of Game Boy title screens — that's every known original game for the console — and...
Video Check Out this Adorable Tribute to the Mother Series
That's 'Earthbound' to us
Regardless of who wrote them, fans are the ones who can really tell the story of a game better than anyone, and that statement is no truer than in this video which pays homage to the Mother series, which sadly still only exists as a single game outside of Japan. All of the peculiarity, all of the charm, and all of the...
Video Join Curve Studios On An Exploration Of Stealth Inc 2's Overworld
Developer gives us an exclusive video commentary
Stealth Inc 2 is coming to the Wii U eShop very soon, and to mark this event we've teamed up with developer Curve Studios (the guys who are officially the best at Mario Kart 8, don't you know) to bring you a series of videos which focus on different elements of the title. The first video — shown...
News Demo Of ZaciSa's Last Stand Touching Down On The Wii U eShop Soon
Try before you buy
ZeNfA Productions has announced a demo of ZaciSa’s Last Stand is now in the hands of Nintendo, ready to be approved for the Wii U eShop. This latest news about the 2D tower defence title follows this year's July release in North America, and Patch 1.01 for the game in August that added extra content, as well as many improvements...
Tuesday7th Oct 2014
News Nintendo Confirms GameCube Controller Adapter Will Have More Use Than Just Super Smash Bros.
UPDATE: Or Not, as the case may be
UPDATE: Nintendo has revealed that the text was a mistake. ORIGINAL STORY: The official description for the GameCube Controller Adapter – set to be released on the 5th of December this year in Europe in time with
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Release Dates Confirmed
Smashing news
Update: Nintendo of America has now confirmed that Super Smash Bros. on Wii U will arrive in North America on 21st November. In addition the GameCube Controller Adapter will be sold separately with a recommended price of $19.99, the Smash Bros. wired GameCube pad will be $29.99, while a bundle of the game / controller / adapter will...
News 3DS System Update 9.0.0-20 Is Now Live with Home Menu Themes
Various themes and Theme Shop now available!
The hotly anticipated 3DS System Update introducing HOME Menu themes has gone live across Europe and North America. Version 9.0.0-20 (add an E or U to the end of that depending on where you live) allows 3DS owners to use themes to customise both the design and sounds of the HOME Menu. Additionally, this...
Video Take a Look at All of the 3DS HOME Menu Themes
Characters, patterns and cards
Nintendo recently released the most recent 3DS system update, which includes HOME menu themes. The idea of snazzy wallpapers and sound effects to accompany the front-end of the portable's user interface is exceedingly simple and inevitably popular, with Nintendo offering non-branded designs at a budget price and others...
Gallery A Closer Look at the Six New amiibo Figures
Oh Luigi, you lovable scamp
Earlier today Nintendo confirmed release dates and details for amiibo figures, with the pleasing announcement of a 'second wave' of six toys that will arrive in December — they're confirmed for the 19th of that month in Europe and are yet to be pinned down in North America. They'll bring more of the Super Smash Bros...
News Nintendo Announces amiibo Release Dates and New Figurines
Luigi! Little Mac! Captain Falcon! More!
With the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U release dates now confirmed, there's more exciting news for those planning to spend a lot of their festive money on Nintendo's console this year. Release dates have been confirmed for the launch range of amiibo, along with a second wave of six new figurines. The first...
Video Here Are Some Fun Facts About The Mighty GameCube
GCN or NGC?
The GameCube may be Nintendo's lowest-selling home console to date, but for some it's a special part of the company's history. It was the last occasion when a Nintendo system competed toe-to-toe with contemporaries in terms of raw graphical power, it brought us some absolute classics in its library, and it had a handle. Its controller...
News Official Nintendo Magazine Announces Closure in the UK
All staff to be relocated to other roles
Nintendo UK and publisher Future have confirmed that the next issue of Official Nintendo Magazine — known affectionately as ONM among fans — will be the last. In an official statement it's been confirmed that issue 114 on 14th October will be the concluding release, while the magazine's website and social...
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Sells Over 2.8 Million Copies, amiibo Update Planned
Doing well, then
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS has now completed its global release, giving a whole lot of happy Nintendo gamers a chance to enjoy the first portable entry in the series. It's done well in Japan at launch, but with launch weekend sales now added for the West, how has it fared so far in terms of raw numbers? Rather well, it...
News Masahiro Sakurai Shows Off amiibo Interface in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Trophy evolves into a figure player, as a fun extra
With the portable entry now here, attention inevitably turns to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with Masahiro Sakurai no doubt preparing to reveal more about the HD entry ahead of its Winter release. A key feature of the home console version, of course, will be its support for amiibo figurines. We've...
News Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Begins North American Adventure on 5th December
amiibo support coming in 2015
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was a surprise announcement during E3, spinning off the basic principles of the bonus levels in Super Mario 3D World for a full release. It's the first time that the captain and his brethren have been the stars of their own game, and we were rather impressed in our first imp
News Satoru Okada, Director Of Game Boy And DS Hardware Development, Is No Longer With Nintendo
Departed way back in 2010
There have been recent reports that Satoru Okada, a prominent figure within Nintendo, has retired from the company. Nintendo has now confirmed to us that he has indeed left the company, but that he did so way back in January 2010 — it was certainly a quiet departure. While Okada-san may not be immediately recognisable...
News This Castlevania Super NES May Be The Spookiest Console Yet
We want one
The eagle-eyed among you have no doubt noticed that we like some modded retro consoles here at Nintendo Life; giving a new design and style to a lovely old system can be a fine thing indeed. This latest effort is also perfect for the upcoming Halloween festivities. It's the work of Vadu Amka, who we've featured before with some stylish...
News Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Battles Into Top 5 of UK Charts
Cars and Mordor combine to hold it back
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS arrived last week with plenty of buzz and hype, bringing us the first portable entry in the popular series. Here in the UK it was also a hugely popular demo at EGX in London; so how did that hype convert into launch sales? Nintendo's portable brawler has enjoyed a strong...
Acclaim Entertainment took the successes and failures of its original first-person shooter for N64 and used them to influence the creation of a sequel that was superior in virtually every single way. The campaign mode is much more tightly designed, although getting lost is still quite easy at times. When played using an Expansion Pak, the game...
Wednesday8th Oct 2014
News Miniatures for Mega Man: The Board Game Take Shape
You can keep your stupid Monopoly car
While many are enjoying a new way to play as everyone's favourite super fighting robot in Smash Bros., let us not forget the fully unplugged experience coming in the form of Mega Man: The Board Game. Developer Jasco games has been working steadily on the project since blasting their Kickstarter goal early this...
Monday6th Oct 2014
Rumour Nintendo Removed Tharja From Super Smash Bros. To Avoid A Higher Age Rating
Fire Emblem: Awakening's scantily-clad character just can't catch a break
Remember when Nintendo of America censored the character Tharja in the Fire Emblem: Awakening DLC? If rumour is to be believed — and we should stress that this is very much a rumour — then the same thing has happened in Super Smash B
Feature The Biggest 3DS Games of 2014 - Fall Edition
Gems to take on the road
In recent days we published our updated list of the biggest games coming to the Wii U, so naturally it's time for the 3DS equivalent. Our Summer edition for the portable was full of excellent titles and, as a matter of fact, a number are still yet to arrive. That said, Super Smash Bros. for
Nintendo Download 9th October (Europe)
Turtles, Sagas, Painting and MIGHTY FINAL FIGHT!
It's time to brighten our Mondays with the European Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week serves up a lot of options across the Wii U, 3DS and even DSi. There are some new releases on both eShop platforms along with Virtual Console entries, plenty of discounts and even a DSiWare release...
News We'd Be Cheating Fans By Bringing Assassin's Creed Unity To Wii U, Says Ubisoft
"It wouldn't be possible"
Assassin's Creed Unity was always envisaged as a next-gen title, and its no-show on the Wii U should perhaps come as no great surprise. However, the game's creative director Alex Amancio still has to field questions on the topic, and has given Red Bull the most detailed explanation we've seen so far: I mean this is why we...
News Square Enix's Latest 3DS RPG Final Fantasy Explorers Won't Support Stereoscopic 3D
Still likes the Circle Pad Pro, though
If you're one of those people who likes to move that 3D slider up to "max" then you might want to stop reading now. Square Enix has confirmed that its upcoming Nintendo 3DS title Final Fantasy Exporers will not feature stereoscopic 3D graphics output. It's not all bad news, though — Final Fantasy Explorers...
News You Can Now Download The Entire Banjo-Kazooie Soundtrack For Your Listening Pleasure
And we mean the ENTIRE soundtrack
Rare's N64 classic Banjo-Kazooie is one of the best 3D platformers you're likely to find on any console, and its soundtrack was also pretty swell to boot. You can now download every piece of music contained in the game — that's 164 different tracks — over at composer Grant Kirkhope's Bandcamp page. It's not...
Tuesday7th Oct 2014
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate's Producer Gives Stories Behind Crossover Material
When companies are friends, you get blue-furred Felynes in your game
As Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate ticks closer to open season in the West, the steady trickle of collaborative content news released to fans runs the full gamut between Awesome and Ridiculous: you can dress as Link, have Isabelle and Mr. Resetti run along
Monday6th Oct 2014
Nintendo 64x64 Sin & Punishment
A real gem from the legendary shmup factory that is Treasure, Sin & Punishment delivers a consistently action-packed experience from start to finish. A Japanese exclusive that finally saw an international release through the Wii Virtual Console in 2007, the combination of ranged and melee combat results in a varied gameplay experience. The story is...
News Japan Is Getting A Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Nintendo Direct This Week
What's that coming over the hill?
As we all know, Japan is pretty bonkers about Monster Hunter. The series is one of the country's most popular video game franchises, and after the amazing commercial success of Monster Hunter 4 on the 3DS, Japanese fans are getting an improved version in the form of Monster Hunter 4G (known as Monster Hunter 4...
News Tengami Wii U eShop Release Expected Next Month
Worth the paper it's written on?
The visually stunning Tengami may have launched on iOS earlier this year, but we're still waiting on the Wii U eShop version. Developer Nyamyam previously stated that June would be the month, but that soon came and went with no sign of a release. Last we heard, the game was complete pending age ratings and general...
Video Check Out Our Second EGX 2014 YouTube Mario Kart 8 Challenge
Twelve more YouTube gamers race to the finish line
EGX 2014 may be a fading memory for some, but here at Nintendo Life we're committed to making sure everyone remembers how truly amazing it all was. With that in mind, we bring you not one but two new videos from the EGX weekend, both of which focus on the live events we held which showcased the...
Sunday5th Oct 2014
Video Début Footage of UCraft Aims to Show Minecraft Credentials
Building trust?
We're in the middle, it seems, of a Minecraft clone — or 'inspired by' Minecraft — phase on Nintendo systems, with UCraft from Nexis Games being an example on the way to the Wii U eShop. With Mojang staying away from Nintendo systems and now under Microsoft ownership, it's possible these small studio downloads will be the closest...
Feature Working 9 to 5 in a Fantasy Life - Week Four: Blacksmith
The glamour of the hammer
In the fourth part of a regular series, Karen takes on Fantasy Life in a variety of 'lives' and documents her adventures. At the end of my turn as a miner I sold off enough of the floor covering of loose ore and gems I had robbed various kingdoms of to make a small path to the door of my small attic room, the bed, the...
Nintendo 64x64 Space Station Silicon Valley
Its hard to believe that SSSV was created by the team that would go on to develop Grand Theft Auto III; quirky, playful and downright bizarre in tone, yet remarkably fun as a result. Playing as a crawling microchip, you must commandeer various robotic animals to defeat enemies and solve exceptionally creative puzzles in a futuristic amusement...
Saturday4th Oct 2014
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2014 - Fall Edition
Plenty of gaming on the way
By now you should be fairly familiar with our quarterly tradition of looking at the biggest games coming to the Wii U. Our Summer edition gave us a fairly strong line-up, and we now head into the final quarter of the year with a mixture of major retail titles and some select eShop entries. As we're sure you've figured...
Review Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit (3DS)
M-I-X the flour into the bowl
Majesco’s Mama is nothing if not prolific; with nearly a dozen main titles and spin-offs on DS, 3DS, Wii, and iOS, spanning genres as diverse as gardening, babysitting, and crafting, it’s easy to forget that it all started with a whisk in 2006’s Cooking Mama for the DS. Mama may have branched out since then, but...
News XSEED Will Release Rune Factory 4 as an eShop Title In Europe
Unnamed developer is assisting the process
After the closure of Japanese developer Neverland in November last year due to sluggish performance, along with further bad news of the cancellation of its most recent title, Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS in Europe, the chances of the fourth entry in the beloved series being released outside of North America...
Ah Mr. Bond, we've been expecting you...
A masterpiece of the first-person shooter and entire console gaming. Beautifully rendered visuals immerse you in the well-expanded film world with controls easy to use, challenging to perfect. Three difficulty levels pitched faultlessly wonderfully rewarding on completion, especially Secret Agent. Levels...
Friday3rd Oct 2014
Guide How to Unlock the Full Roster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Big decisions, spoilers included
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is now available around the World, and millions of 3DS gamers will be booting up the game and taking their first tentative steps into the first portable entry in the series. It's always exciting to move into a new generation of Smash Bros. and try out old favourites, or to jump...
Review Donkey Kong: Original Edition (3DS eShop / NES)
Whole once again
The legendary arcade title Donkey Kong is slightly infamous for receiving a rather botched NES conversion. Lacking several screens, animations and even an entire stage, it wasn't exactly one of Nintendo's finer porting jobs, especially when other home versions by different companies did manage to include all of the original content...
Review Art of Balance (Wii U eShop)
The perfect balance
Art of Balance is a game that was first released on WiiWare, and was easily one of the best titles to grace the platform. Soon after a portable version was released on the 3DS, and now we get the biggest iteration yet on the Wii U eShop; as it's the third title you’d expect it to pull out all the stops, and Shin’en Multimedia...
Weirdness Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Explains Why 'Metroid' Can't Crawl
Bravo, Nintendo, bravo
Miiverse is wonderful in various ways, and since its launch with the Wii U in November 2012 it's even thrown up a meme or two. An iconic example is the y cant metroid crawl (sic) thread that was widely spotted following the Virtual Console release of Super Metroid; whether legitimate or the work of a prankster, it was rather...
News Now You Can Gawk at New Nintendo 3DS Demo Units and Packaging from Japan
Let's all move to Japan
While it may pain millions of Nintendo fans around the world to hear it again, the New Nintendo 3DS arrives in Japan on 11th October — it then makes its way to Australia and New Zealand on 21st November. As a result Nintendo is stepping up its marketing efforts, including some particularly colourful and charming TV...
Competition Win a Limited Edition Super Smash Bros. Nintendo 3DS
Super Smashing Contest
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is now available in stores around the world, one of the biggest launch events in the 2014 gaming calendar. To celebrate the occasion we've teamed up with Nintendo UK to give away one rather awesome Nintendo 3DS Super Smash Bros. Limited Edition Console; this includes the game pre-loaded on...
Preview Felling Titans in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
It's about to get bloody
Monster Hunter is one of those series that has taken a long time to gain any real presence in the West; in Japan the game is as popular as Pokémon, but for some reason it just hasn’t hit the big time elsewhere like other franchises. With the upcoming Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on the 3DS, Capcom hopes to change that, and...
News Masahiro Sakurai to Focus on "Hidden Elements" of Super Smash Bros. on Miiverse
"I'll be done with posting new pics by the end of the year"
Not so long ago Masahiro Sakurai provided an update on his plans to continue his Pic of the Day posts for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. For those of us that enjoy keeping up with the game designer's posts that was good news, with updates promised at that poin
News The Studio Behind Sega's Wonder Boy Series Might Be Going Bankrupt
Not so wonderful
Japanese veteran Westone Bit Entertainment is apparently on the verge of going bankrupt, according to Game Watch Impress. Westone is best know for producing Wonder Boy, a title which would spawn the Monster World series and would be re-tooled to create Hudson's Adventure Island franchise. The Tokyo District Court is currently...
Parent Trap Can Biff, Chip And Kipper On 3DS Really Help Kids To Read?
Family Gamer finds out
The best-selling Phonics Fun with Biff, Chip and Kipper book series offers a unique learning experience tailored to UK schools not only in the style of teaching but the characters and books used to help children learn to read. The global nature of video-games warrants the investment that brings us some of the best...
News Azure Striker Gunvolt Targets An Australian Release
As we expected, right?
With retro-styled 2D action title Azure Striker Gunvolt now available on the 3DS eShop in North America, and a European release date bound to pop-up at some point in the near future, Australians have been left wondering where they fit in. Normally, Aussie releases fall under European PAL territory – and that’s probably...
News Nintendo UK Teams Up with Petits Filous Frubes
Fruity Frubes
Starting this month Nintendo UK has embarked on a co-promotion with Yoplait, allowing a cast of iconic characters from the Super Mario franchise to be showcased on the packaging of the popular Petits Filous Frubes snack. Running all the way up until 30th April 2015, the much-loved Nintendo mascots will be divided into Vanilla and...
Nintendo 64x64 Mickey Speedway USA
Rare's spiritual follow-up to Diddy Kong Racing didn't contain quite the same level of magic and charm -- surprising given its Disney setting. Nevertheless, Mickey's Speedway USA achieves on a technical level, sporting a mostly consistent frame rate and tight track design to boot. The multiplayer mode is a worthwhile alternative to more popular...
News Actos Games Launches Tutorial Video Series To Explain Wii U eShop Exclusive, psyscrolr
Get psyched!
North Carolina-based Actos Games, the creator of the recently announced Wii U eShop platformer psyscrolr, has released a new tutorial video series explaining how the GamePad will be utilised in the project that promises to feature strong narrative elements, epic boss battles and seamlessly integrated puzzle mechanics. The first video...
News Engine Software Unveils Price And Release Window For Upcoming 3DS eShop Title, MindFeud
First screenshots also released
Towards the end of last month, Dutch-based outfit Engine Software revealed it would collaborate with Norwegian developer Monkeybin to release the popular iOS, Android and Facebook social board game MindFeud on the 3DS eShop later this year. Now, in the latest developments, Engine Software has announced the game will...
Thursday2nd Oct 2014
Guide Everything You Need to Know About Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
The time is now
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is finally here, the latest brawling behemoth from Masahiro Sakurai and his team. It's been critically acclaimed, awarded 9/10 in our own review, and has proven that — despite some initial fears — the franchise arrives on the portable as a full-fat, fantastic game. With midnight launches on the...
News Mega Rayquaza Confirmed for Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Will Mega Evolve in a unique way
There's been a lengthy Niconico broadcast of Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire today in Japan, and as was promised there's been a major reveal to excite fans. Mega Rayquaza has been announced, and looks set to play an important role in the story. To start with the technical details — via Serebii — we're...
Nintendo Download 2nd October (North America)
Smash Bros. arrives, Castlevania goodness, 99Seconds and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, with details of this week's Nintendo Download Update treats now here. The headline arrival is rather obviously Super Smash Bros. on 3DS, though we have some other choices — including a Castlevania title's Virtual Console début — to...
News Nintendo Confirms Two More Début Releases Coming to the Virtual Console
Wii U and 3DS both covered
The Nintendo of America download update is always a popular arrival, but the region's habit of announcing future arrivals is also a neat bonus. It helps when the announced Virtual Console games are enticing, too, which was certainly the case last week with confirmation of two Castlevania titles making their VC débuts...
Video This Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Launch Advert Will Fire You Up
The hype is real
At the time of writing Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is just hours away, bringing us the first portable entry in the series and ending some serious pre-launch hype; then we'll start all over again for the Winter arrival of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. As the brawler is now upon us Nintendo UK has released a suitably dramatic...
News Nintendo Scares Up Pumpkaboo for October Pokémon X & Y Distribution
Does not pair well with seasonal lattes
As a spooky special for the month of October Nintendo is offering Pokémon fans a super-sized pumpkaboo, via online distribution for Pokémon X & Y. This particular Pokémon has a high probability of possessing its hidden ability, Insomia, something very rare in pumpkaboo of this size. This distribution...
Video The Wiivengers is the Latest Marvellous Animated Short From James Farr
The Avengers had better watch out
If fast-paced animated parodies stuffed with Nintendo characters, references and in-jokes are of interest to you, there are decent odds that you're aware of James Farr's videos by now. To date popular film franchises such as Ghostbusters and Star Wars have been given the treatment in a whirl of bright colours and...
News Harmony of Heroes, Free Super Smash Bros. Fan Album, Launches on 4th October
101 tracks in total
Harmony of Heroes, the free fan album dedicated to the Super Smash Bros. series, has a confirmed release date of 4th October, just a day after the arrival of the 3DS title in Europe and North America. It's a large-scale project involving contributors from around the world, bringing together a grand total of 101 tracks. The lead...
News Australian McDonald's Now Offering Mario Kart 8 Toys In Happy Meals
Race in and get them while you can!
If Pokémon trading cards and spin discs didn’t tempt any Aussie readers here on Nintendo Life a few months ago, perhaps these Mario Kart 8 toys Maccas – that’s McDonald’s to the rest of the world – are currently offering as their latest Happy Meal promotion in the land down under will. The Australian...
Friday3rd Oct 2014
News Heroes Never Lose: Professor Puzzler's Perplexing Ploy Powering Onto Wii U
Passing pre-determined profit point provides portable preference!
If you enjoy your puzzle games with opponents and real-time arcade style, then please allow a new Professor to make your acquaintance. Action-puzzler Heroes Never Lose: Professor Puzzler's Perplexing Ploy has already surpassed its Kickstarter goal, and the acquisition of a Wii U...
Thursday2nd Oct 2014
Event Mario Kart 8 UK Championship 2014 At EGX
Coverage from the big day
At this year's EGX we hosted the Mario Kart 8 UK Championship with The Official Nintendo UK Store in order to find the best Mushroom Kingdom racer in the entire country. After a series of gruelling online heats we whittled it down to 12 challengers, all of which met at EGX to decide who was the supreme talent on the track...
News Defense Dome Aiming for Super Scope Nostalgia on Wii U This Holiday
Shoot on sight
Hullbreach Studios has announced an additional confirmed title as a Wii U eShop exclusive, a project that aims to tap into nostalgia for the SNES Super Scope game, Intercept. The clunky bazooka-like peripheral won't be used on the Wii U, of course, but Defense Dome will use the GamePad's gyroscope for aiming; it'll be a budget-priced...
News Tadpole Treble's New Trailer Shows the Lighter Side of Developers
Throwing money into the mix
BitFinity – the developer behind the upcoming Wii U eShop title Tadpole Treble – has put together a new trailer to show off how far the game has come in its development cycle, taking a similar approach to Curve Studio's recent trailer for Thomas Was Alone. The game initially began as a Kickstarter and reached its
News Atlus Releases Zen and Junpei Character Trailers for Persona Q
The outsider and the life of the party
In the lead up to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth's November release Atlus has released two more character trailers this week, and another trailer featuring the cast of Persona 3. Making his series debut in Persona Q, Zen is a crossbow-wielding single-minded knight in shining armour who lacks the ability to...
Nintendo 64x64 Mischief Makers
2D on 3D platforms is risky. Mischief Makers shows how to get it right: by being utterly unique. Immediately surreal, youre Marina; a robot on a quest to save her creator..! You jump, shake and throw your way through levels and worlds, and this simple premise is variedly combined to offer many types of level. 2D but nothing like you played on the...
Wednesday1st Oct 2014
"We need to listen not just to the biggest fans"
This week sees the launch of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the first portable iteration of the famous fighting game franchise. As you'll already know if you're a seasoned reader of Nintendo Life, we've delivered our critical verdict of the game and found it to be something of a smash hit, and in...
News Want Bayonetta 2 On PS4 And Xbox One? You Might As Well Ask For Zelda Or Mario, Jokes Kamiya
"If Nintendo doesn’t say yes, it’s not going to happen"
As has been mentioned several times in the past, Bayonetta 2 simply wouldn't exist if it weren't for Nintendo. The sequel was started with Sega's support, but when that company pulled out, the project almost collapsed before Nintendo stepped in. Despite this knowledge, lots of Sony and...
News Super Smash Bros. Slams the Competition Yet Again, 3DS Sales Drop
Wii U sales remain steady
Once again Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS tops the Japanese software charts, boosting the physical sales well on the way toward 1.5 million units. Elsewhere in the charts we can see that Fatal Frame: Oracle of the Sodden Raven (known as 'Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden' outside of Japan) has had a...
News More Minecraft Mania Looks Set for Wii U With Stone Shire
From voxel fans Finger Fun Games
Throughout human history we've had various eras in which one resource or object is craved in great numbers — we had the gold rush in the US, the coal rush wherever it's found, Rush the movie, RUSH the game and plenty more besides (you got a bit lost there - ed). We're now in the midst of the Minecraft rush on...
News Orbital Gate Stage Brings Star Fox Mayhem to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
A space epic
With Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS set for an imminent arrival, Game Designer Masahiro Sakurai is starting to shift attention towards to the Wii U version that still awaits a release date. Sakurai-san's latest Miiverse Pic of the Day continues recent form in revealing another new stage for the Wii U version of the game, this time...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate's Questionable Expo Banner Was Just an Error After All
No hunting on Wii U
A recent banner discovered at a German expo with both the Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Wii U logos in coupling has been declared as simply an error, and Capcom appear to have no plans to release the game on the Wii U. The official word from Capcom PR is as follows: This was a printing mistake made when the wrong system logo...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 1st October
Successes, failures, maybes and newcomers
It's been a while since our last Kickstarter summary article — our apologies, please understand — so we thought we'd make a return to check on the success or otherwise of those that made the list last time, while also highlighting new projects currently doing the rounds. As before we are showing...
Video Which YouTube Star Is Best At Mario Kart 8?
They don't just play Minecraft, you know
Yesterday we brought you the special indie developer Mario Kart 8 tournament we ran at this year's EGX, and today we've got another racing treat — a similar event which features twelve of the UK's most popular YouTube gaming stars. The assembled challengers can call upon a combined total of over 12 million...
News Nintendo UK Confirms Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS National Championship
Winner gets a Wii U, Smash Bros. for Wii U and a goody bag
Nintendo of America recently announced a National Smash Bros. Championships in the US, but there's some good news in the UK with confirmation that an equivalent contest will run in the country. Nintendo UK has confirmed that online registration starts on 3rd October and will run until 8th...
Video Volga Unleashes Flames of Justice in Hyrule Warriors Trailer
Another freebie playable villain in Japan
Just recently we outlined some of the details for the upcoming Master Quest DLC in Hyrule Warriors, which will include a new scenario playable with Cia, along with Epona as a 'weapon', a new Adventure Mode area and clothing. A new video released by Koei Tecmo now shows the villain with the deadliest goatee...
News Hazewalker to Target Wii U for Dual-Screen Metroidvania Experience
Kickstarter campaign to launch on 15th October
The term Metroidvania is thrown around a lot, possibly because it represents one of the most popular styles of game available; you play, you learn, and you triumph over obstacles with new abilities. When you combine action gameplay with exploration it can be a winning formula. The latest developer to...
First Impressions Blasting and Hacking in RIVE
Two Tribes gets less cerebral
Earlier this year Two Tribes endured a restructuring process and re-formed its development company, in the process shrinking the team down to three, still including original founders Collin van Ginkel and Martijn Reuvers. Previously associated with the Toki Tori brand and its publishing business, the struggles of Toki...
Video Wii U Skylanders Trap Team Gets First Full Showing At EGX 2014
Gotta trap 'em all
At EGX this week there was one booth on the Nintendo stand with a constant crowd of kids. Unlike the other games on offer though, young players at the expo each contributed to a team effort to beat Skylanders Trap Team — a kind of communal “EGX Plays”. A lot of the excitement was around this being the first full public...
News Thomas Was Alone to Make Friends With Wii U in November
Next-gen shapes
Not so long ago a German rating revealed that Mike Bithell's million-selling title Thomas Was Alone is coming to the Wii U, with Curve Studios following up on its previous ports to Vita and PS3. The publisher has now confirmed the title will arrive in November for £6.99 / $9.99; it'll also arrive on PS4 and Xbox One. Thomas Was...
Imagine the fast-paced gameplay of Quake, throw in some futuristic hover vehicles and you've pretty much got Forsaken. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this game is the incredible sense of speed you move at, although this quickly disappears with three other players also firing off various high-tech weapons. The campaign doesn't provide quite...
