Feature The Poor Career Choice of Super Smash Bros. Professionals
"A game like this can't survive forever with no institutional support"
News A 'Big' Nintendo Announcement is Coming on Monday
Let the speculation commence
Guide Getting Started With Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii U
It's a big world out there
Hardware Review 8bitdo SNES30 And SFC30 Bluetooth Controllers
Clones 25 years in the making
News - December, 2015
Thursday31st Dec 2015
Tom Whitehead ponders a more open world for The Legend of Zelda
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with...
Nintendo Download 31st December (North America)
1080° Snowboarding, Molly Maggot and various discounts
It's the final North American Nintendo Download Update of 2015, and it's a little thin on content. Despite that there is a gem from the N64 era and some promising discounts, so all hope is not lost; let's get to it. Missed the European Nintendo Download Update? Well, your New Years' Resolution...
Weirdness Gamer Keeps Super Famicom On For 20 Years To Preserve Umihara Kawase Save Data
That's over 180,000 hours
Back in the days when cartridges used batteries to store save data, your precious save files would only remain in existence as long as the battery itself had juice - when the power ran out, the data was lost forever. Collectors of retro games will know this fact all too well; many RPGs from the '80s and '90s are now...
News Nintendo Dominates Festive Sales in Japan as 3DS and Wii U Lead the Way
Japanese 3DS hardware passes 20 million lifetime sales
2015 has been quite a year, and it's fair to say Nintendo has had mixed fortunes. Sales of Wii U and 3DS hardware have been reasonable if not barnstorming, but the company's Kyoto HQ may ring in the New Year with renewed spirits following its end of year sales in Japan. Starting with software,...
"It's crazy to think it all just started with a little Kickstarter"
Shovel Knight was one of the biggest success stories of 2014, yet it remained a significant part of the download scene in 2015. In the fifth article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series we chat again to Ian Flood and David D'Angelo of Yacht Club Games, talking in detail about...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo's 2015?
Final reflections
As we write this some parts of the world have already welcomed in the New Year, while some of us are getting ready to celebrate the occasion; this writer is preparing to sign-off for Hogmanay, which is the Scottish term for the occasion. Perhaps it's time, then, for a final reflection; it seems apt that the final word therefore...
News Bowser And Donkey Kong Skylanders Superchargers amiibo Releasing In Cheaper Combo Packs
No need to shell out for the starter pack, collectors
Skylanders Superchargers was pretty unique on Nintendo formats as the starter pack launched with either Bowser or Donkey Kong, and the figures could be toggled between Skylanders and amiibo functionality by turning the base. The problem for serious amiibo collectors is that you have to purchase...
News Tsunekazu Ishihara on How Iwata Helped Bring the Pokémon Series to the West
Good guy Iwata
Though it seems to have levelled out somewhat in recent years, there's no denying that Pokémon is one of the most recognised and prolific Nintendo brands around. It seems that this almost wasn't the case, though, as Tsunekazu Ishihara recently revealed in an interview with 4Gamer. Apparently, Pokémon was initially going to stay...
News Blitworks Will Be Publishing The Next Penelope on Wii U
It's in good hands
Some of you may remember some coverage we gave on a game called The Next Penelope about this time last year. At the time, it was due out on PC in a few months and it was promised to be on its way to the Wii U later in the year. While it may be that Aurelien Regard wasn't quite able to push it out before the new year, the game is...
Wednesday30th Dec 2015
Feature How Mario Kart Brought Two Soul Mates Together
The road to true love is littered with red shells
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed...
Random Here's Where All the Koopalings Got Their Names
Another mystery solved
The Koopalings are a colorful and varied cast of characters that add a nice layer of personality to the Super Mario series. The seven characters are all wacky in their own way and, oddly enough, they technically aren't Bowser's children. Nonetheless, they have nothing but mischief on their minds and they offer up some pretty...
News Japanese Hyrule Gold New 3DS LL Tying in with Hyrule Warriors Legends
A costume and fairy for the portable quest
The Hyrule Gold New 3DS XL that has been exclusive to GameStop will be making its Japanese debut this January alongside the release of Hyrule Warriors Legends. Although the game does not appear to be packaged with the system, Japan's Hyrule Gold 3DS LL will still come with a couple incentives for it. A...
News Koei Tecmo's President Seems To Think NX Is A Home Console First And Foremost
"Nintendo announced a new 'machine' called the NX"
2016 is the year that Nintendo reveals more about the NX, which - it has been rumoured - could unify the company's handheld and domestic console markets. Despite the chatter, no one really seems to know what the console is all about let alone have any idea about a potential Nintendo NX release...
Video Relive The Hype With This Japanese Smash 4 DLC Trailer
Are you out (C)orrin?
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS & Wii U is a game that keeps on giving, but as we all know all good things come to an end eventually. As most of you are aware, we were presented with newcomer Cloud from the Nintendo Direct in November, and then with Corrin and Bayonetta from December's final Super Smash Bros. Direct...
News There'll Be More Senran Kagura Bursting Onto the Scene in 2016
Will you be tempted to see what the fuss is about?
It's quite an understatement to say that the Senran Kagura series is controversial. While it could be argued that the actual gameplay is pretty solid, taking one look at the box art is enough to see what really gets copies flying off shelves. On one side, there are the people who appreciate it for...
Feature A Year in Development - Yacht Club Games Reflects on the First Half of 2015
"Not for a moment were we just resting"
Shovel Knight was one of the biggest success stories of 2014, yet it remained a significant part of the download scene in 2015. In the fourth article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series we chat to Ian Flood and David D'Angelo of Yacht Club Games, talking in detail about the studio's year. In this first...
Talking Point 2015 - A Peculiar Year of New, Old and Surprising Nintendo Games
Not quite the expected
Reflecting on Nintendo's 2015 isn't a simple task. There has been great sadness and disruption due to the passing of Satoru Iwata, and the company has been in a general holding pattern for large parts of the year. Let's consider the key releases or updates that have fallen back to 2016, in no particular order. Most prominent...
Tuesday29th Dec 2015
Talking Point Five Key Challenges Nintendo Faces with the NX
With talk of dev kits out in the wild the next generation is on the agenda
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves...
Talking Point The Easily Forgotten Hardware Release of 2015 - New Nintendo 3DS
Reflecting on the lovely but underutilised system
Nintendo released new hardware in 2015. Yes, it really did. It can seem so long ago now, but the New Nintendo 3DS arrived in the West in February, having made its début in Japan and Australia in late 2014. We were rather excited about it here at Nintendo Life, too, landing as it did with both The...
Gotta catch 'em all, again
1996 saw the introduction of the Pocket Monster - or Pokémon, as it is better known - series in Japan. That means that next year is the 20th anniversary of the birth of the franchise, and to celebrate this milestone fans will be able to purchase the very first base set of Pokémon cards - in Japan, at least. The set will...
Video How to Get a Skell in Xenoblade Chronicles X, Including Locations of Rare Items
Alex shows the way
We love Xenoblade Chronicles X, yet we're aware that it has a few negatives. The text and user interface could be better, and there are some difficulty spikes and awkward collectathons. The latter is particularly prominent when trying to secure your Skell licence, which you predictably need to get your own cool mech. For those of...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Looks Set to Hit Europe on 7th January
Wahoo!
Though the Wii U Virtual Console is missing a few obvious platforms and release - ahem, GameCube - it has brought some goodies. One of the welcome additions has been Wii downloads; a number of excellent games have arrived, including some that are relatively hard to find or expensive in physical form. It's certainly had its successes in terms...
News Yusuke Hashimoto Talks Star Fox Zero and Collaborating with Nintendo
A dream come true
It came as something of a pleasant surprise when Star Fox Zero was officially announced and it was revealed that Platinum Games was to be involved in the production. The studio that's made itself famous by producing over the top action games such as Bayonetta seems to be exactly what the dormant Star Fox series needs, and it will...
Review Sketch Wars (Wii U eShop)
Worse than a pen and paper
Sometimes, drawing with a time limit can be funny. Other times, it's pure frustration. Sketch Wars falls into the latter, giving the player a clumsy set of tools, a poor choice of words, and some awful presentation and sound just to round the whole unpleasant experience off. How does one even manage to mess up a game where...
Video Super Mario Maker Gives Us That Excitebike Platformer We Always Wanted, and a Small Update
Birdo is shown off ahead of New Year's Eve release, too
Super Mario Maker is not only a terrific creation tool and platformer in its own right, but it keeps us on our toes with its quirky updates. Next up on 31st December we'll have new Course Events that'll unlock Excitebike and Birdo costumes, with the former certainly tickling our fancy. The NES...
News Get Up to Speed with Awesome Games Done Quick 2016
Nintendo games new and classic are among speedruns for charity
Sure, holidays are cool and New Year's Eve lets you stay up late watching awful musical acts on the telly, but some look forward even more toward another event just beyond the first of January. Awesome Games Done Quick 2016 will be speedrunning games nonstop from 3rd-10th January in...
Monday28th Dec 2015
News Pokkén Tournament Will Feature 2-Player Local Multiplayer
And… exhale
For those of you that haven't been keeping track of the Wii U release schedule, Pokkén Tournament is an upcoming fighting game based on Pokémon. It began life as an arcade game exclusive to Japan, but it was a logical choice to port it over to the Wii U. The arcade version features two screens for local multiplayer and it was...
Nintendo Download 31st December (Europe)
1080° Snowboarding! Wave Race 64! Story of Seasons! More!
Well, we have the final European Nintendo Download Update details of 2015, and there are a couple of iconic N64 games and an enticing 3DS option included. It's not exactly a packed week, but those with a taste for the slopes or the waves should be happy. At the time of writing we've only...
Editorial Satoru Iwata Embodied The Playful Brilliance of Nintendo, and His Legacy Will Endure
"In my heart, I am a gamer"
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed the first time...
Review The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and his Square Mind (3DS eShop)
He's no square
The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and his Square Mind is one of the weirdest - and consequently, one of the most interesting - 3DS titles we've encountered. It has just a single play mode, in which the titular baron must escape the confines of his own home. The trick, however, is that the baron is insane and believes himself to be...
Giveaway Grab Yourself a Free Copy of Cube Life: Island Survival
We have 100 copies to give away (North America only)
It's the season for giving, so we have a giveaway of a Wii U eShop release for those among you keen on adventure and creativity. Developer Cypronia has kindly offered to give-away 100 free copies of Cube Life: Island Survival to Nintendo Life readers because, well, it's Christmas! It's a sandbox...
News Minecraft Has Become the Ninth Best-Selling Game on the Japanese eShop
A meteoric rise
Rumours of Minecraft: Wii U Edition - and its subsequent release - happened rather quickly, but it was something that wasn't entirely surprising. The eShop already had its fair share of Minecraft clones and they'd proven that there was demand for that particular type of game on the console. While it's maybe a bit of a stretch to say...
News Piranha Pit is Heading to Splatoon Very Soon
Depending on your time zone...
The festive Splatoon updates continue to roll in, with a new stage next to grace the game before we move into 2016. Piranha Pit is coming 'tomorrow morning', as confirmed by Nintendo of Europe; based on typical update times that should mean the stage goes into rotation at 7pm Pacific / 10pm Eastern on 28th December in...
Video Get on the Starting Blocks With Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Footage
Portable putting
The snappily-titled Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be an interesting arrival in 2016. The series has evidently been popular to date, but seeing how the latest entry fares in the current generation will be worth following; Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games was only on Wii U and didn't seem...
Sunday27th Dec 2015
Review Petit Novel series - Harvest December (3DS eShop)
A novel experience
The visual novel is without a doubt the most niche game genre in the West. While some visual novels that combine more traditional game elements have found success — Ace Attorney and Zero Escape come to mind — the vast majority of visual novels are not considered for western audiences. CIRCLE Entertainment's eShop release Petit...
"I'm kind of a Nintendo geek"
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed the first time...
News Splatoon Developers Talk Stage Design and the End of Regular Updates
It's been a good run
Splatoon has evolved significantly from its original state at launch, with fourteen stages and over seventy weapons available to gamers. Considering how popular the game has been, and how it's managed to maintain that popularity, it's safe to say at this point that the launch of this new IP has been a resounding success...
Feature Why We're Still Playing... Metroid Fusion
Mitch Vogel on how this portable title improved upon its predecessor
This is a series of features focussed on games that we keep playing again and again, either over an unhealthy number of hours or those that keep getting return visits long after they first graced our systems. After the release of Super Metroid on the SNES, it seemed that the...
Feature A Year in Development - Renegade Kid
"The 3DS is my favourite system to date. Period."
In the third article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series Renegade Kid's co-founder, Jools Watsham, talks about a year that brought various multi-platform ports and two remasters on the 3DS eShop. To begin at the beginning, your year kicked off with Moon Chronicles 2-4 in North America. For...
Saturday26th Dec 2015
News Freedom Planet 2 Announced and in Development, With a 'Nintendo' Release on the Agenda
Aiming to "define Freedom Planet's identity as a franchise"
Freedom Planet has been a highlight on the Wii U eShop this year, so much so that it secured fourth place in out staff Game of the Year awards for the store. Now developer GalaxyTrail has shared some terrific news - Freedom Planet 2 is in development. The first game rather famously began...
Video Check Out This Substantial Breakdown of The Legend of Zelda
Delving into the detail
Though we didn't have a full new Legend of Zelda adventure to enjoy this festive season - unless you just started Tri Force Heroes - such is the depth and history of the franchise that there are plenty of titles to take on when on holiday. It's one of Nintendo's most treasured IPs, and a definitive part of pop-culture around...
Based on the animated BBC series, Walking with Dinosaurs
With such a name, you'd be forgiven for thinking Dinox wanted to recapture the magic of past dinosaur shooters such as Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Sadly, this is not the case. Developed by Codix Games and published by Engine Software, Dinox is actually an educational quiz title for the Wii U eShop...
Feature Nintendo's Most Notable Moments of 2015
Reflecting on the past 12 months
In the coming days we're going to be turning our attention to 2016, so this seems like a good time to reflect on the year that has just passed. In the first of our articles to do just that some of our writers have picked out their stand-out moments or thoughts on the year. Take a look below and then share your own...
News Nintendo of Europe Announces the Next Splatfest for the Region
Would you rather be fit or rich?
Every time a new splatfest for Splatoon is announced, the topic of the battle is always something interesting. Some highlights thus far have been Autobots and Decepticons, Love and Money, and whether or not pineapple should be on pizza. While it seems like the least popular team is always the one that manages to eke...
Feature A Year in Development - 13AM Games
"All game development seems to be like you're getting ready for a party"
In the second article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series 13AM's Managing Director, Dave Proctor, talks about a big year for the studio that saw Runbow arrive as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Runbow seemed to start gaining momentum in 2014, but how would you describe the...
Friday25th Dec 2015
Feature The Poor Career Choice of Super Smash Bros. Professionals
"A game like this can't survive forever with no institutional support"
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with...
Mew will arrive in games old and new
2016 is going to be an exciting year for Pokémon fans as the series gears up to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. Some promising promotions have now been announced for Japan and, naturally, we're hopeful these will also be coming to the West. All of the following are hitting Nintendo's homeland on 27th February,...
Review Rytmik Ultimate (3DS eShop)
A Major success? Or does it fall Flat?
Music production is gradually becoming more and more accessible and is now much more affordable than ever before. In years gone by top quality records could only be created with a huge amount of technical knowhow and financial backing in fancy recording studios. Now it's pretty commonplace to have people making...
News Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima Has Published a New Message for Shareholders and Investors
"Nintendo will continue to flexibly transform itself"
The Nintendo Investor Relations website is the home of financial reports and various details, and also has a 'Message from the President' at all times. Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima has now updated it (hat tip to NeoGAF) with what is his first full message on the investor website. It's...
Game of the Year Nintendo Life's Reader Awards 2015
These are your winners
It's the season of end of year awards, and now it's time to reveal your winners for the best games on Nintendo hardware in 2015. Thousands of you cast your votes, and now the results are in. You had all of the same categories as in our staff awards, and these are the gongs that mean the most; rather than a team of 20 or so...
News Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays From Nintendo Life
Have a terrific Holiday
Whether this is Christmas, the Holidays or just 25th December to you, everyone at Nintendo Life wants to send you our warmest wishes. It's a time that's different for everyone - perhaps it's an opportunity for being with family, or close friends, or even a chance to treat yourself and share the Holiday with others online...
News The Rapid Blaster Pro Deco is the Next Weapon to be Coming to Splatoon
A last minute Christmas gift from Nintendo
It seems that just about every week, we receive another update to Splatoon that adds in yet another new weapon, or a variant on an existent model. This week is no different and a new update is due to drop in only a few hours. The new gun that will be made available is not a new model, but another 'deco'...
Thursday24th Dec 2015
Nintendo Download 24th December (North America)
Super Mario Galaxy! Discounts galore! Festive 3DS HOME Themes! More!
It's the final Nintendo Download Update before Christmas, which is a merry occasion indeed. However you treat the Holidays, the update should help make the week a bit more special; we have a Wii classic, some free DLC, 3DS HOME Themes and a whole load of discounts. Let's get to the...
News Masahiro Sakurai Talks About the New Fighters Soon to be Added to Super Smash Bros.
Sakurai thought that's a lot of Fire Emblem characters, too
As most of you are aware of by this point, there's still a little bit of DLC due to be coming to Super Smash Bros. 4. Most notably is the inclusion of three new characters; Cloud – of Final Fantasy 7 fame - is already out, Corrin – the protagonist of Fire Emblem Fates – is due out...
Game of the Year Nintendo Life's Staff Awards 2015
A tight battle for top spot
Another year of gaming has passed, so it's time to look back and pick out some of our favourites. 2015 was - it's fair to say - a mixed year for Nintendo; in terms of major game releases there were some undoubted highs, but also a range of disappointing spin-offs and minor releases. On the flipside it felt like a strong...
News Monster Hunter X Has Just Passed 3 Million Units Shipped in Japan
Includes physical copies, download cards, and digital sales
Monster Hunter is a series that has still been trying to find its footing in the west, though Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate demonstrated that it's making large strides towards mainstream acceptance outside of its home region. Nonetheless, Monster Hunter remains a cultural juggernaut in Japan,...
News The Art of Fire Emblem: Awakening Releases in North America in Summer 2016
Another quality art book from Dark Horse
It's no exaggeration to say that Fire Emblem: Awakening was a major turning point for the series, both critically and commercially. Up till that release, Fire Emblem had been suffering from waning popularity and was figuratively on its last legs. Awakening was intended to be the swan song for the series...
Review Polarium Advance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Black + white = fun exercise for the old grey matter
Draw a line. OK, you'll have to give it a bit more thought than that as you won't be passing through all the squares on screen, but Polarium Advance is a simple game to play. Each puzzle consists of white and black tiles and once you've picked a start point you must draw a single line, moving...
Video Watch Captain Toad Gleefully Jump in Super Mario Maker
The backpack's a bit lighter in 8-bit
Earlier this week Nintendo showed off some new Event Courses and Mystery Costumes coming to Super Mario Maker, so we shouldn't forget that Captain Toad will join the ranks on 25th December. As anyone who's played Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker can attest, he's a courageous little chap. Nintendo's Japanese...
Wednesday23rd Dec 2015
Reaction The Nintendo 'NX', and Why We Think a Unified Platform is the Future
Better, together
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed the first time around. Today we...
Feature A Year in Development - Shin'en Multimedia
"All in all we did the best we can, and this has already made us happy"
In the first of this 2015 'Year in Development' series, Shin'en Multimedia's Manfred Linzner talks about a big year for the studio that culminated in the December release of FAST Racing NEO on the Wii U eShop. As a studio you were relatively quiet early in the year, though...
Review Temple of Yog (Wii U eShop)
Yes, this is Yog
Human sacrifice usually comes across as a pretty big deal, but not so in Temple of Yog on the Wii U eShop. Here, the multitude of tributes you send to dungeon-crawly demises seems designed to be as disposable as a bag of crisps, and just as addictive to polish off one by one. Death is just part of the daily grind in the world of...
News Lost WiiWare Title Noitu Love: Devolution Is Coming To 3DS And Wii U Early Next Year
Better late than never
Back in 2010, we reported on the news that Noitu Love 2 was headed to WiiWare, but issues relating to the publisher meant it never happened. Thankfully, the title is being resurrected for the 3DS and Wii U eShops, and will be available in Q1 2016. Originally released on PC in 2008, the game uses a mouse-based control system...
Weirdness Gaming's Most Infamous Bad Guys Have Formed The World's Most Awesome Band
With the help of Jake Kaufman, Jirard Khalil and Grant Kirkhope
It's said that the devil has the best tunes, and that certainly seems to be true with the Big Bad Bosses, a fictional band composed of gaming's most sinister baddies - all appearing under aliases to avoid any kind of copyright nastiness. There's Ronix (Dr Robotnik), G-Cash (Ganondorf),...
News Super Mario Galaxy May Arrive on the North American Wii U eShop on 24th December
A festive treat
A number of Wii titles have now made their way to the Wii U eShop, and there could be a rather wonderful pre-Christmas treat on the North American store. Following a recent ESRB rating, Super Mario Galaxy's official game page on Nintendo of America's website is now listing it for a 24th December release, at the standard $19.99 price...
Video Ghostbusters, Batman, Police Academy Toys And Nintendo - Say Hello To Christmas, 1989 Style
iretrogamer.com's Tyler Esposito shares another home movie
1989 was a vintage year. Not only did it give the world Tim Burton's Batman and Ghostbusters II, it saw the release of the Sega Genesis and Game Boy in North America. It was also a big year for iretrogamer.com founder and occassional Nintendo Life contributor Tyler Esposito - then a...
News An Enhanced Version of River City Ransom is Being Made for 3DS
Japan-only, for now
Some of you may be familiar with the River City Ransom, the classic NES brawler. It's from the same developer as Double Dragon and Renegade, and fits right into the same genre as those two, while taking some creative liberties of its own. While it may be true that it's far from a perfect game and it's perhaps somewhat simple by...
And how to get the perfect PEGI rating
Steamworld Heist may be one of the last games to release in 2015, but it's also one of the best. Riding high on Metacritic it looks set to be the highest-scoring 3DS game of the year, and is throwing a spanner in the works of many overeager publication's "game of the year" lists. We sat down with Brjann...
Video Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka Show Off Super Mario Maker
Miyamoto-san is always a critic...
Based on some Game of the Year wins and its continuing popularity, we suspect that a decent number of gamers will be playing a bit of Super Mario Maker over the Holiday season. It's always nice to watch the masters show what the game can do, though, even when they're having an off-day. Nintendo UK has shared a...
News Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection Pre-Orders Go Live Next Month
Starting 2016 with a bang
Back in October, we delivered the happy news that Stuart "Super Famicom Guy" Brett's Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection had found a publisher and would be coming to store shelves in the near future. Bitmap Books has now revealed that pre-orders will open on January 2nd, giving you something to look forward to early in...
Play Get Into a Holiday Brawl With Nintendo Life in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Have a smashing time
As announced earlier this week, we've planned a couple of community gaming events to take us into the festive season; we've already played a bit of Mario Kart 8, so now it's the turn of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. You voted for the rules in our polls, though we're keeping
Video Take a Look Behind the Scenes of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Trivia abounds
The Monster Hunter series has been steadily growing more popular in the west and this is due in no small part to the massive success of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. The latest in Capcom's monster hunting franchise expanded and built upon many ideas that had been previously introduced and could certainly be argued as being the best in...
Feature Nintendo Life's Festive Gaming Plans - Part Two
Gaming with a smile
The Holiday season has rushed upon us this year, with the time for relaxation and festive cheer right around the corner. We have a variety of the usual end-of-year fare for you, including Game of the Year awards, retrospectives and optimistic glances towards 2016. Naturally, of course, we're also plotting some quality gaming time...
News Another National Streetpass Weekend is Coming Up in North America
A 'weekend' that lasts for a week and a half
With Christmas being mere days away, travel is likely going to be a large part of the lives of countless people as they go to be with family and/or friends for the holidays. Whether you travel by planes, trains, or automobiles, it goes without saying that bringing along the trusty Nintendo 3DS is an...
Events Gotta Bach 'Em All: A Night Out At Pokémon Symphonic Evolutions
(Disclaimer: No Bach was actually played on the night)
As with many of Nintendo's largest franchises, the music from the Pokémon games has captured its fans' hearts, being just as much a part of growing up as the monster-catching action itself. From the gentle beginnings in Pallet Town, right through to the epic Champion Battle themes, these songs...
Video Image & Form Launches Its Final SteamWorld Contest for 2015
Win the soundtrack, a stylish hat, games and more
SteamWorld Heist was one of a few high-profile and distinguished titles to land on the eShop in December, and unsurprisingly developer Image & Form is getting ready to step back and take a break for the Holidays. It's released one final episode of 'The Engine Room', however, with a neat prize on...
Tuesday22nd Dec 2015
News The Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes Now Gives 'Hero Points' When You Play Unwanted Stages
Allows easier access to materials for outfits
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a nuisance for completionists; with so many outfits to obtain there's plenty of repetition and luck of the draw required to fill your entire wardrobe. That's why we've been running around in the Princess Zelda dress all this time - yes, that's the reason... In...
Review Radiohammer (3DS eShop)
Hammer time
Between retail full-lengths like Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, and Rhythm Thief and the Emperor's Treasure, and eShop singles like HarmoKnight and Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe, the 3DS has put on quite a sh
Feature A Celebration of HAL Laboratory - Forever Focused on Fun
Kirby, Pokemon, Smash Bros., and Box Boy...
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed the...
News Final Fantasy VI Advance Arrives on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
Will hopefully journey to the West
Nintendo hardware may not be benefitting from all of the main-series Final Fantasy releases, but the recent arrival of Cloud in Super Smash Bros. and the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Explorers in the West are both indications of the solid relationship between Nintendo and Square Enix. Another small piece of...
Perhaps a sign of things to come?
The e-Reader was an interesting and quirky peripheral for the Game Boy Advance. It seems like it never quite reached its full potential, but the idea of scanning cards into games to get additional content was a fairly novel idea at the time. In a sense, it could even be viewed as DLC before the concept had really...
Talking Point Each Super Mario Maker Update Promises Much for the Future of the Franchise
Flying levels, helmets being vital to gameplay - the game has changed
The latest major Super Mario Maker update is live, being the second of its kind (outside of minor Mystery Costume additions) at the time of writing. The first notable update was, in some ways, focused on fixing perceived shortcomings of the launch code - it included stacked...
Review Just Dance: Disney Party 2 (Wii U)
A Dance Party for some
You never know how poorly coordinated you are until you play a round of Just Dance: Disney Party 2 - this is a rhythm game that's almost true to its name. While it does involve just dancing, it could also be named Just Dance: Disney Party 2 for The Skilled. Rhythm games like Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and Dance Dance Revolution...
Video Rare Shows Off Footage of Dream, The Banjo-Kazooie Predecessor That Never Saw Release
No, you're not dreaming
Though it's now owned by Microsoft and far removed from its days of dominance developing exclusives for SNES and Nintendo 64, Rare has a special place in the hearts of many Nintendo fans. It's an iconic studio and, as a result, its story has various facets and mysteries that remain the talk of retro gamers. One game that's...
Feature 505 Games On Bringing Terraria To Nintendo Consoles And Facing Off Against Minecraft
"There's a bit of rivalry between the Minecraft and Terraria communities"
With Terraria on the 3DS, Minecraft on Wii U and Terraria coming to Wii U soon, there's arguably never been a better time to be a Nintendo block-builder. Looking at the first direct capture from the Wii U game alongside some 3DS footage, Dean Scott - Producer on Terraria at...
News Takashi Tezuka on the Importance of Super Mario Maker and of Modernizing Mario
Evidently, Super Mario Maker was designed to be like a toy
It seems like you can hardly go a week nowadays without Takashi Tezuka or Yusuke Oshino - the Producer and Director, respectively - participating in some interview about Super Mario Maker. Not that we're complaining of course, as they almost always reveal more interesting information about...
News Prepare to Unlock Birdo and Excitebike Costumes in Super Mario Maker Soon
Two new NES REMIX courses coming up
Update: Oh, and Captain Toad is coming too... Original Article: Super Mario Maker truly is the game that keeps on giving, as today brings us an update which adds P Warp Doors, the Fire Koopa Clown Car and more to be used when creating levels. But what fun is an awesome level design witho
News Super Mario Maker Scoops Amazon Game of the Year Award
Now, if only Amazon US stocked the system properly
We're not sure what the 'thing' is between Nintendo of America and Amazon US, but the retailer in the region primarily sells Wii U hardware through third-party vendors, often at bizarre prices compared to other stores. Games are stocked and sold by Amazon, but not the systems directly; it's a...
Play Get on the Grid for Festive Mario Kart 8 Races With Nintendo Life
Aim for the podium
As announced earlier this week, we're having a couple of short community gaming sessions to warm us up for the Holiday season. It kicks off today (22nd December) with Mario Kart 8. You voted for the rules in our polls, though we're keeping it light-hearted and fun; as a result the Tournament we've set up is 150cc, with All Items...
Video Fans List Their Favourite Star Wars Games, Nintendo Titles Feature Heavily
Memories from the premiere
Those of you who have been living under a rock for the past month might be shocked to learn that a new Star Wars movie has just hit cinemas. Our friends over at iretrogamer.com attended a special showing at the Alamo Drafthouse in Houston, and decided to ask some fans which Star Wars video games they held closest to their...
Monday21st Dec 2015
Nintendo Download 24th December (Europe)
Retro Mario goodness! Kung Fu fighting! Loads of Discounts! More!
It's the final Nintendo Download Update for Europe before Christmas, Xmas or 25th December, whatever you choose to call it. It brings a couple of popular retro Mario treats, a decent Wii U eShop title, a whole load of discounts and more besides. Let's get to it. Wii U eShop: Kung Fu...
News Here are the Top Three Wii U and 3DS Games, According to Miiverse
And the winner is...
It's getting to be that time of year where gaming publications all over the world are picking their favorite games of the year. While there still has yet to be any sort of universally recognised awards, the same handful of games generally tend to pop up on different lists and there's usually not too many surprises as to which...
Rumour Data Miners Discover Another Costume for Super Mario Maker
Guess what it is?
Nintendo has certainly made some rather unforeseen choices when deciding what costumes to add into Super Mario Maker. We've seen one that combines Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario, one that has three Toon Links standing in a totem pole formation, and even one of a random Japanese game show host. These don't really seem out of place,...
Higher ticket sales, but lower takings
The world may be gripped by Star Wars fever at the moment but in Japan, the most-seen movie didn't feature lightsabers or X-Wings, but mischievous ghosts and magical timepieces. More tickets were sold for Yo-Kai Watch the Movie 2: King Enma and the 5 Stories, Nyan! than Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but due to...
News Former Argonaut Staffer Is Reviving The Legendary Neo Geo Title Windjammers On 3DS
Say hello to Power Disc Slam
For those of you with fond memories of fast-paced sports arcade games like Windjammers from the good old days, it will come as great news to hear that newly-formed UK based Chequered Cow Games is bringing the magic back with Power Disc Slam, set to arrive on the 3DS eShop early next year. This modern take on the...
News Nintendo Wins Bizarre Patent Case in Defence of Mii Characters
It was claimed it infringed patent for police sketch-artist data
Nintendo battles its share of patent cases in the courts; some are serious challenges against major companies, and the big N has even lost a few over the years. A lot of the time, however, it sees off claims from smaller companies, particularly those that seemingly take ownership of...
News Monster Strike Ships Over A Million Copies In Just Four Days
Mobile smash finding favour on 3DS
Monster Strike - a mobile phone smash in Japan with daily revenues of over $4 million - is shaping up to be something special on 3DS, too. The game - which was co-created by former Capcom legend Yoshiki Okamoto - has shipped over a million copies in four days in Japan. Like fellow Japanese smartphone hit Puzzle...
News Nintendo Achieves Modest Results in UK Christmas Charts
Call of Duty was number one, of course
Rather like the Christmas music chart number one being a coveted position, the same principle is applied to video games - in the UK, at least. Securing top spot in the final results prior to 25th December is an extra gong to celebrate, a string for a publisher's bow. Somewhat predictably that honour falls to...
News Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata Shares Season's Greetings
"See you again in more Nintendo Directs!"
'Tis the season of glad tidings, exchanging gifts and eating too much unhealthy food; it's also a time to play a whole lot of video games, naturally. We'll be saying Ho Ho Ho and sharing our season's greetings on Christmas Day as per tradition, but Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata is clearly off...
Play Enjoy Some Festive Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. With Nintendo Life
Playing as a community
It's been too long since we last ran some community online gaming here on Nintendo Life, so with the festive season and some extra play time at our disposal we thought we'd bring it back for some Holiday fun. It's a slightly off-the-cuff and late decision, but the plan is to host events that you can join for both Mario Kart 8...
News Project X Zone 2 EU Release Date Brought Forward, Demo Coming in January
A crazy new trailer arrives, too
Project X Zone 2 will be among a glut of promising releases in early 2016, and will also be relatively unique among the crowded batch of arrivals. The RPG will once again mash up Capcom, SEGA and Bandai Namco franchises, and this time will throw in a bit of Xenoblade Chronicles and Fire Emblem for good measure. If...
Feature Nintendo Life's Festive Gaming Plans - Part One
Our team share their Holiday gaming routines
The Holiday season has rushed upon us this year, with the time for relaxation and festive cheer right around the corner. We have a variety of the usual end-of-year fare for you, including Game of the Year awards, retrospectives and optimistic glances towards 2016. Naturally, of course, we're also plotting...
News ZeNfA Productions is Bringing Drop It: Block Paradise! to Wii U in Q2 2016
The first major collaboration between ZeNfA and RCMADIAX
Some of you may be familiar with ZeNfA Prodcutions' latest game, ZaciSa's Last Stand. The studio set out to deliver a budget tower defense game, and - for better or worse - that's exactly what was delivered. While it's initial release wasn't too well received, the enhanced re-release fared a...
Sunday20th Dec 2015
Review Trauma Team (Wii U eShop / Wii)
Trauma Drama
Back in the early days of the Nintendo DS, Trauma Center: Under the Knife was a standout example of how the then-new touch screen controls could provide a fresh experience on the go. Atlus would then take its anime-pumped surgery games to the Wii, translating touch controls to motion controls, and found a winning combination there as...
Nintendo Life Weekly The Last Smash Bros. DLC Fighters, Super Mario Galaxy on Wii U eShop and More
Week & feeble
The final Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct caused a stir amongst the fans, but just in case you're not as hot on these things as you'd like we've once more produced a compendium of the biggest news of the past week coupled with all the releases and reviews you'd expect from Nintendo Life Weekly. This week we look at the last Smash...
Editorial Gamers Remember and Celebrate Satoru Iwata in Their Own Special Way
His legacy remains
We're going to kick off our run of year-end features with this touching piece by long-time reviewer and news writer Tim Latshaw. He reflects on the way gamers commemorated and remembered Satoru Iwata following his passing, and how his legacy lives on. An interesting form of tribute to Satoru Iwata was observed in the weeks...
Saturday19th Dec 2015
Review Minecraft: Wii U Edition (Wii U eShop)
The best at its craft
It's difficult to describe the appeal of a game such as Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Though there is technically an 'end' to it, the whole experience isn't really about anything. You can explore caves. You can build houses. You can fight mobs in the night. You can farm crops and animals. On the surface, Minecraft seems like a...
News Super Mario Maker Director Shares Details About the Upcoming Update
Still no slopes, though...
As many of you are aware, a new update was recently announced for Super Mario Maker. The update seems to be fairly meaty; it'll be adding a clown car that can spit fire, bumpers, P-Switch doors, a world record leaderboard, and functionality with the new website. Of course, this is all completely free of charge, and it'll...
Guide Learning How to Survive the Hostile World of Minecraft
It's dangerous to go alone
Though many are already veterans of Minecraft, some of you may be experiencing the open world sandbox game for the first time. Once you get the hang of things the mechanics seem pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit overwhelming when you're just getting your feet wet. As a result we've put together a list of...
Video Check Out This Footage of Paradise Lost: First Contact
Another promising Indie game for the Wii U eShop
It seems like 2D Metroidvania games are all the rage these days among Indie studios. This isn't necessarily a bad problem to have, considering that Nintendo and Konami don't seem keen to make more Metroid or Castlevania games in this vein, but these Indie attempts do tend to blend together. It's nice,...
Friday18th Dec 2015
Editorial Xenoblade Chronicles X Has Tiny Text - Time for an Update?
Tom Whitehead's not really seeing it, are you?
This week we received an interesting email from one of our readers, Victor, which made a very good point. The text in Xenoblade Chronicles X is too small, and it should be improved; it was a lightbulb moment when we realised we should have brought it up far sooner - I certainly should have. In my...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition to Get Update 1.8.8 in 2016, Out Now on Sony and Microsoft Systems
A slow build
Earlier this week we tuned in to Microsoft Studios' Minecraft Monday to see if it was worth hosting on Nintendo Life; in other words, to see if Minecraft: Wii U Edition was being shown off. Unfortunately it wasn't, but the regular viewers over on Twitch were hugely excited; that's because update 1.8.8 - which is a notable one despite...
News Sales for Dementium Remastered Have Been Much Lower Than Expected
Renegade Kid may pull out of 3DS development if trend continues
Not too long ago, we reported on Totes the Goat, a side project of Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham. When he was discussing how the game came about, it was mentioned how the studio has a tough time getting good footing in the eShop. Although most Renegade Kid games have been fairly well...
Video Check Out This Footage of Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories
Isn't it relaxing?
As we reported a few weeks ago, Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories will release on the Wii U sometime in 2016. It's releasing on multiple platforms, however, and the iOS version is supposedly due out sometime in the next few weeks. In an effort to promote the game more and to build some hype, Natsume recently shared some footage of...
Video Final Fantasy Explorers Multiplayer Trailer Shows That Teamwork Pays Off
It's coming West in January, don't forget
With the recent arrival of Cloud in Super Smash Bros., Square Enix and Nintendo seem to be bringing Final Fantasy back into the frame, even if the mainline entries continue to elude the latter's hardware. It's easy to forget with all of the current distractions, of course, that Final Fantasy Explorers is...
News Mr Saturn and Master Belch Are Heading to Super Mario Maker on 19th December
The Mother lode
In recent times Nintendo's been upping the ante with Super Mario Maker Course Events, with unlockable Mystery Item outfits related to first- and third-party games, TV shows, magazines and even cars. The next two are, we suspect, going to be rather popular among retro aficionados. Both Mr Saturn and Master Belch, of EarthBound fame,...
Video Behind The Scenes On The GameCube Star Wars Rogue Leader Games
Stay on target
The world is going Star Wars-mad at the moment, what with The Force Awakens hitting cinemas this week. To mark the event, Nintendo Life contributor Gonçalo Lopes has uploaded the behind-the-scenes documentaries which were included on Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader and Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike as...
News Shovel Knight amiibo Delays Continue in the UK, With Amazon Listing it for 8th January
Can't dig his way out of customs
For UK-based Shovel Knight fans there's a bit of sad news: various customers - including your humble writer - have had emails from the Official Nintendo UK Store advising that their amiibo figures have, once again, been delayed. Originally due earlier in the month, it seems as if the figures may now slip into early...
Video Check Out the Nintendo Badge Arcade Rabbit Costume in Super Mario Maker
He's right at home in a platformer
Nintendo Badge Arcade launched about a month ago in the west, finally giving western gamers an opportunity to customize their screens even more than before. The free to start game has drawn some criticism for being a little cheap when it comes to value per play, but it nonetheless remains an infuriatingly addicting...
News The Tri-Slosher Nouveau is The Next New Weapon in Splatoon
Posh name for a green bucket
Splatoon is heading towards the end of its weekly benevolence that brings us free extras, so we should make the most of it while we can. As is often the case the development team is serving up a fresh weapon in time for the weekend, and this time it's the Tri-Slosher Nouveau. Well, it's a green bucket, so the name seems...
Thursday17th Dec 2015
Review Animal Crossing: Wild World (Wii U eShop / DS)
Why this world?
The very idea of a portable version of Animal Crossing filled this reviewer with glee when he first read about it back in the days of magazines and routers without wi-fi as standard. Animal Crossing: Wild World has always been a very special game to fans as it expanded upon the original GameCube title (for this region at least) but...
Nintendo Download 17th December (North America)
Minecraft, Smash Bros. DLC, Temple of Yog, discounts galore and more
It's that time once again for the Nintendo Download Update, and this week brings us a long-awaited sandbox game, a promising Wii U eShop exclusive, some enticing 3DS eShop options, DLC, a lot of discounts and more besides. There's plenty to cover, so let's get to it. Missed the...
News Splatoon Developers on the Future of Splatoon and DLC
No future plans for paid DLC, free DLC is done in January
Splatoon has really come a long way since its initial launch. The Splatoon that we were introduced to back in May was still an excellent game, but a strong argument could be made that the game was uncharacteristically light on content for a Nintendo game. Since then, new maps, game modes,...
Talking Point Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS Set a Standard That'll Be Tough to Follow
What can Sakurai-san do next?
Though some DLC and amiibo are still to arrive, leaving the development team with some work to finish off, it's certainly the end of an era for this generation of Super Smash Bros. The very nature of the Final Video Presentation was always going to be a tad divisive - the Fighter Ballot, in particular, had been a red...
News Upcoming Super Mario Maker Update Adds P Warp Doors, the Fire Koopa Clown Car and More
World record times will be shown for courses
Nintendo continues to improve and enhance its biggest Wii U releases, and Super Mario Maker is now all set for its next major update on 22nd December; it'll add three new items and a neat feature in the course selection area. To start with the latter, each course entry will now display who completed it...
News Prepare to Get Creative With Minecraft-Inspired Game Discovery Coming to Wii U eShop Soon
Minecraft competition
The long-awaited Minecraft: Wii U Edition finally arrives on the Wii U eShop today, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that the mighty Mojang-developed game would have sent pretenders to the throne running and screaming into their blocky pixel castles. Not so, Cube Life: Island Survival continues to receive updates, uCraft is...
News Splatoon Update Improves Matchmaking, Tinkers With Rainmaker And Generally Tightens Things Up
Full list of changes in 2.4.0 update included within
A new update for Splatoon goes live today, and we've got the full list of changes for you to gaze at in wonderment. These include improvements to the matchmaking service, the addition of prohibited areas in the Rainmaker mode and the closing of certain level shortcuts in all game modes. You can...
Video Mother 3 Hits Japanese Virtual Console With Impressive Trailer In Tow
Will we ever see this classic in the west?
The Game Boy Advance title Mother 3 hits the Japanese Virtual Console service today, and to mark the event Nintendo has released a surprisingly comprehensive trailer. Mother 3 is the sequel to EarthBound - which was known in Japan as Mother 2. Originally intended for release on the N64's 64DD drive, it...
News Niantic Developers Elaborate More on the Design of Pokémon Go
Many lessons have been learned from Ingress
As many of you likely remember, a location based multiplayer game called Pokémon Go was announced earlier this year for smart devices. The game will aim to place virtual Pokémon in the world around you, and place you in the shoes of an aspiring Pokémon Trainer. You'll be able to catch, trade, and battle...
Gallery Gawk at This Super Mario Maker Infographic and Its Impressive Stats
Nintendo Badge Arcade event course coming on 18th December, too
Nintendo's keen to make a fuss about Super Mario Maker today, outlining details for a neat update that's coming on 22nd December. There's more, however, including an announcement for the next Event Course. That next goodie will be a Nintendo Badge Arcade course, which will arrive on...
Review Jones on Fire (Wii U eShop)
Through the Fire and the Flames We Rescue Cats
If you have a cat anywhere nearby when you play Jones on Fire, it's going to start snooping around at what you're doing. As this is an endless runner about saving kitties from a raging inferno you're going to be hearing a lot of appreciative meows, and your cat's going to want to know what's up...
News FAST Racing NEO is Going Up a Gear in January Update
Have that minimap you always wanted
FAST Racing NEO has already established itself as one of the year's finest Wii U eShop releases, and Shin'en Multimedia is keen to make it the best game it can be. An update is on the way in January which will add welcome features along with some improvements to stability. In addition to a minimap on the TV while...
News Analysts Weigh in on Nintendo's Successes and Failures with amiibo
It's been a great start, but there's plenty of room for improvement
Nintendo's amiibo lineup has certainly been a case of ups and downs. The popular collectible figures have generated some handsome profit for the company and it seems that more figures are launching all the time. However, amiibo have been plagued by stock issues ever since they've...
News Nintendo Shows Off Splatoon's New Upcoming Stages Through the Art of Dance
Piranha Pit and Ancho-V Games on the way
With Splatoon's free DLC set to largely wrap up in January, beyond balancing tweaks and fixes, its no surprise that it'll try to close with a bit of a bang. Since its May launch the game has expanded a great deal with new modes and maps, and it'll be the latter which gets a boost soon. Piranha Pit and...
News Pokémon Go Grabs Sixth Place in Google's Top US Video Game Searches for 2015
Agar.io is number one
Well, the end of 2015 approaches, and one of a handful of intriguing year-end summaries has now been issued by Google. It's produced charts and data for the most searched terms around the world during 2015, with some interesting results. The US section has a Video Games top 10 among the available data, and a quick look reveals...
Wednesday16th Dec 2015
Smashing
Well, we now have the final Super Smash Bros. cast for the Wii U / 3DS generation, with Cloud arriving imminently - at the time of writing - while Bayonetta and Corrin are due in February 2016. They'll all add their own twists to the roster and wrap up the largest and most ambitious Smash Bros. line-up to date. We've already compiled the...
Poll Did The Final Video Presentation for Super Smash Bros. Provide a Memorable Ending?
We also summarise the big announcements
Well, it's over. Though the last pieces of content for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS are due in February 2016, the full batch of DLC and the final roster has been announced. That's it, finito, done. That sense of finality, which is probably also Masahiro Sakurai's way of saying "don't bug me about it any...
"Nintendo has a history of doing things its own way"
Next year we're going to hear a lot more about Nintendo's next console, currently codenamed NX. The system has been shrouded in secrecy since it was first announced earlier this year, but rumours are circulating that it could be a console/handheld hybrid which effectively unites the two markets...
News Mercedes-Benz Representative Explains the Company's DLC Deals with Nintendo
Appealing to nostalgia
In a rather strange turn of events, the first DLC ever released for Mario Kart 8 was all themed around Mercedes-Benz cars. Understandably, this put many gamers on edge and many saw it as a sign that the company was 'selling out', though this was perhaps an unfairly harsh criticism. At any rate, Mercedes-Benz DLC struck again...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X Creator Tetsuya Takahashi Prefers Western Games To Japanese Ones
Next project will be entirely different, too
Xenoblade Chronicles X has just launched in the west to very positive reviews, and to mark this occasion Time has been speaking to creator Tetsuya Takahashi, the man behind the entire "Xeno" series of video games. Takahashi revealed that he actually prefers Western games to those developed in his own...
Feature Five Star Wars Games, on Nintendo, That Are Strong in the Force
Pew pew pew
Unless you live on a desert planet and/or an internet free zone, you may be vaguely aware that Star Wars stuff is happening, something about an awakening Force. This writer's only pretending to play it cool, though, as in reality he's gorging on trailers for the new movie, listening to soundtracks and generally having a constant...
News Wii U and 3DS Hardware Sales Lead the Way in Japan
Monster Hunter X, Splatoon and Super Mario Maker going strong
Sales are on the up in Japan as the Holiday season approaches, and the latest Media Create chart results bring very happy reading for Nintendo in terms of both software and hardware. Starting with software, Monster Hunter X (Cross) continues its dominance at number one, with its lifetime...
News Napster is Coming to the European Wii U eShop on 17th December
OK then...
When people talk about the music streaming scene, they're often comparing familiar brands when considering which service to use. Some go with the big boys of Google, Apple or Amazon, and others maybe opt for smaller companies like Spotify or the Jay Z-led Tidal. Napster though? It's not normally in the debate. Napster was actually pretty...
News Back In 1990, Miyamoto's Desire Was To Make Video Games Parents Wanted Their Kids To Play
"Ah, good! My child is old enough to play video games now!"
Video games are often unfairly blamed for society's ills, with critics claiming they make players violent or antisocial. While some might assume such claims are a recent thing, a newly-translated interview with the team behind Super Mario World reveals that such unwarranted criticism has...
News Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei Dated For a 19th April Release in the West
Better watch out, Fire Emblem
You'd be forgiven if you've never heard of the game mentioned in the headline, as it's admittedly from a fairly niche franchise. Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei is the latest game in the Langrisser series, which evidently was Fire Emblem's biggest rival back in the day. Langrisser started on the Sega Mega Drive and had...
Video Catch Up With All The Super Smash Bros. Final Presentation Footage
Including new challenger introductions
Well, that was something. Masahiro Sakurai pulled out a few surprises in his final Super Smash Bros. video presentation, while also going into typically exhaustive detail on movesets for new characters. The big reveals were Corrin - from Fire Emblem Fates - and Bayonetta, with the PlatinumGames icon being a...
Video New Super Mario Maker Costume Adds a Dash of Monster Hunter
Monster Hunter X Super Mario Maker
It seems that new character costumes for Super Mario Maker are becoming more and more of a regular thing. Sure, they don't actually do anything, but it's nonetheless a welcome addition, if only for variety's sake. The developers have expressed interest in the past in introducing costumes that will be more widely...
Video Learn About the Intriguing History of Castlevania
Including the glory years
Castlevania is a classic franchise, and we're not simply talking about the entries from the NES and SNES era. It's easy to look at the current status of the series and bemoan the loss of the 'good old days', but the IP was still receiving wonderful releases not so many years ago. The six games across GBA and DS are...
News The Legend of Dark Witch 2 Will Cast Its Spell Very Soon on 3DS
Four HOME Themes arrive on the same day
The Legend of Dark Witch was a bit of a surprise on the 3DS eShop, with the action platformer proving to be a solid addition to the store; we gave it a recommendation in our review. Publisher CIRCLE Entertainment has now confirmed some key details around the sequel, including the fact it's arriving in North...
Tuesday15th Dec 2015
Rumour Data Miners Leak Some of the Information From Tomorrow's Nintendo Direct
Here we go
Data miners are notorious for getting ahold of footage and information ahead of the release of major announcements, typically because developers sometimes tend to put out software updates ahead of the announcements themselves. The process doesn't seem to be overly difficult, it just requires a computer and enough technical savvy to know...
Live Watch Masahiro Sakurai's Super Smash Bros. Final Video Presentation
This Cloud has a silver lining
Well, it's time - Masahiro Sakurai is gearing up for his 'Final Video Presentation' for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS. There'll be release details for Cloud, of course, but we anticipate some surprises and additional challengers for the roster. Join us for all the live action...
BASIC Beast
We've said it before, and we'll say it again: The general-purpose, relatively simple programming environments of the BASIC family are a great place to get started with coding. Developer SmileBoom first brought its own variant of BASIC to DSiWare in 2012 with the charming Petit Computer, and now is back and stronger than ever with...
Weirdness North American Devil's Third Copies Sell for Silly Money on eBay Due to Stock Shortage
Now THAT's the greatest trick the devil ever pulled
Now, we didn't pull punches in our assessment of Devil's Third, awarding it 5/10 (average) in our review largely thanks to the ambitious online component, with the solo campaign faring less well. That said, we did try to consider some of its positives, and for benevolent gamers that can look past...
News Bayonetta Confirmed as New Challenger in Super Smash Bros.
Bewitching
Masahiro Sakurai's Final Presentation for Super Smash Bros. has finished, and the final reveal and challenger was none other than PlatinumGames' Bayonetta; a February 2016 release is the target. In addition to the fighter there'll also be an Umbra Clock Tower stage, which replicates the iconic scene that's familiar from the first...
Feature What We Expect From the Super Smash Bros. Final Video Presentation
A glorious end to an era?
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have now been out for over a year, and since launch we've seen numerous updates, tweaks and cast additions. Some of the new challengers have been expected arrivals, others have been surprises, and this gen's entries have certainly provided some of the biggest talking points and...
News Corrin Chooses to Fight in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
Protagonist from Fire Emblem Fates joins the roster in 2016
The Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS roster has gained another sword-wielding fighter to join the family of over 50 characters. Corrin, the main protagonist and playable character from Fire Emblem Fates, will join the fight with a handful of unique moves, weapons, and specials. In a...
Video Figure Out the Online Features of Xenoblade Chronicles X With The Latest Survival Guide
Online quests, treasure deals and more
Xenoblade Chronicles X is a game with incredible depth, not just in the solo campaign but also in the various ways you can connect and interact with others online. Shared quests, group battles, recruiting avatars of other players, trading items - it's all in there. It can be confusing, and even after sinking...
News You'll Want To Get Your Paws On This Lavishly Illustrated Animal Crossing Guide
Unofficial, but in the best way possible
A Guide to Village Life isn't an official publication to accompany Animal Crossing: New Leaf - hence the fact that the game's name doesn't appear anywhere on the cover. However, that's not a bad thing at all - it's highly unlikely that any official guide would have the same degree of love and care lavished on...
Video Check Out the Super Mario Bros. 3 Port That Never Was
What could've been...
For those of you that have been playing video games for several decades, you probably remember the glory days of id Software. Beginning its work on the PC, the studio is arguably responsible for the modern shooter genre, with games such as Quake, Wolfenstein, and Doom all being products to emerge from the studio. While shooters...
News Ryu, Roy and Famicom Colour R.O.B. amiibo Will Be Released On 18th March
Cloud, Corrin and Bayonetta amiibo also confirmed
In the final Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS video presentation, series creator Masahiro Sakurai has revealed more amiibo will be arriving in store soon and also confirmed amiibo development for the three newly announced fighters. Ryu from Street Fighter, Roy from the Fire Emblem series, and a...
Review Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (Wii U eShop / NES)
Nice videogame, shame about the plot
After dealing with that dark sword business Ryu Hayabusa might have hoped to put his feet up, but more evil schemes are in motion and so he must do his ninja thing once more. The powerup from the previous game that could provide duplicates to help in his quest has gone, but it turns out there is still another Ryu...
News Final Mii Fighter Costumes and Hats Detailed for Super Smash Bros.
Tails! Knuckles! Geno! More!
The final wave of Mii Fighter hats and costumes have been revealed in today's special Super Smash Bros. presentation. Firstly, in combination with the new fighter Cloud from the Final Fantasy series, a Chocobo hat will be released alongside the anticipated fighter. Also, a surprise costume from the beloved Super Mario...
Video Your Washed-Up Parent Can't Handle Modern Games So Get Them A NES This Christmas, Says eBay
"THIS is a video game!"
eBay may primarily be about the buying and selling of second hand goods, but that doesn't mean the company is going to sit back and miss out on the retailing frenzy that is Christmas. With that in mind, the firm has published a commercial which focuses on how it can enliven the festive period of gamers, but in our eyes it's a...
News A Version of the Pokkén Tournament Arcade Controller Will Be Made for the Wii U in Japan
You know you want one
Pokkén Tournament is due out in the west sometime in spring and hype for it continues to grow. Just recently, Sceptile was announced as a new fighter, and Electrode and Farfetch'd were announced as Support Fighters. At any rate, it seems that there's a bit of a dearth of modern fighting games on the Wii U, so this should make...
Random Turok Remaster on PC Opts for a Prehistoric Look
More fog required
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter on the Nintendo 64 is an interesting title in the history of the FPS genre; it played its part, alongside much-loved contemporaries like GoldenEye 007, in pushing first-person shooters onto another level. It arrived early on the system - when its library was still tiny - and generated a lot of buzz. Modern...
Stormy clouds for the eShop servers
As was widely expected, Masahiro Sakurai took the opportunity in his video presentation to confirm that Cloud will be available to pick up from Super Smash Bros. "within hours" of the presentation; we suspect many are already waiting impatiently. In addition to the character there'll be the Midgar stage, which...
Video Enjoy Some Pokkén Tournament Mayhem in This Two Minute Showcase
Masked Pikachu is life
Pokkén Tournament will be a key release for Wii U in 2016, with its brand power and concept sure to attract plenty of buyers. Fans have been looking on enviously at those with access to the arcades for long enough, and pretty soon we'll all be joining in. There'll undoubtedly be plenty of hype and build-up next year, but we...
Monday14th Dec 2015
News Accusations of Plagiarism Directed at Popular Super Mario Maker Level Creator
Copies, similar concepts or coincidence?
Courtesy of its nature as a level creation tool, Super Mario Maker will be a title that can intrigue and keep us interesting for months and maybe years to come. Its popularity is evident in the sheer mass of stages to be found and played, and naturally some demonstrate similar ideas and approaches. One of...
News An ESRB Rating of Super Mario Galaxy for Wii U Has Been Spotted
No, it's not an HD remake
It seems to be the case that timing video game ratings can be a struggle for many developers, and often leads to the game being outed ahead of an official confirmation. We've seen this numerous times in the past ahead of Virtual Console releases, and most recently, with the premature announcement that Minecraft would be...
Big changes happening at Nintendo's US-based studio
Nintendo Software Technology - as we've reported in the past - has endured a troubled history of late. The studio responsible for Wave Race: Blue Storm and Mario vs. Donkey Kong was once a major player in Nintendo's network of internal studios, but the costly disaster that was Proje
Nintendo Download 17th December (Europe)
Minecraft! Retro Mario! Onimusha Tactics! Loads of discounts! More!
Another week is underway and we have the Nintendo Download Update for Europe. This week the star attraction is undoubtedly Minecraft on Wii U, but there are also quite a few retro offerings and some intriguing download options, in addition to a huge number of 3DS HOME Themes and...
News Microsoft Gets Cute About Possible Rare Replay Release On Wii U
"Suggest it to the great folks at @RareLtd"
As we all know, Minecraft on Wii U is no longer a fantasy - it's real. And, as many have pointed out, that means that Microsoft is releasing a game on a Nintendo system. Wonders never cease, right? This event has predictably triggered a frenzied response online, with some incredibly optimistic individuals...
News The New Steam Pokémon, Volcanion, is Revealed in Full and Will be Distributed to 3DS Titles
That's number 721
A recent CoroCoro magazine leak announced the Volcanion Pokémon, confirming that it would feature in the 2016 movie for the series. The Pokémon Company has now done an official reveal through a video and web page, giving us some details, footage and screens to gawk at. Volcanion is number 721, for those counting - thanks,...
News Masahiro Sakurai Talks About Fire Emblem Characters in Smash Bros.
It seems to be that he's a big fan of Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem has enjoyed something of a revival in the last few years. Fire Emblem: Awakening was really the big turning point, and it's no exaggeration to say its largescale success literally saved the series. This was somewhat reflected most recently in Smash 4, where Fire Emblem graduated to having...
News Nintendo of America Lines Up Some Last Minute Festive Deals
Hardware! Games! amiibo!
We're at that point where, if you're still buying festive gifts, you're probably doing it in a bit of a panic. Time is running out to get down to stores or order online, so haste is required. Nintendo of America is keen to help out and snag some late sales, however, setting up and promoting some last minute deals with...
It deserved better
The UK chart results are out, with these being the penultimate listings issued before the final Christmas list is released next week. It continues the status quo, largely, with a disappointing but inevitable week two drop-off for one of the year's finest games. Xenoblade Chronicles X has unfortunately dropped out of the...
Feature Time to Vote for Your Nintendo Life Game of the Year Awards 2015
Nintendo Life reader awards to be decided
As 2015 draws to an end it's that time once again - Game of the Year Awards. We're continuing with tradition (albeit with some improved polls) in having both Staff and Community awards; the latter are entirely in your hands. As in previous years you can vote through a series of polls. We've shaken it up a...
News Minecraft Developer Acknowledges Demand for a Minecraft amiibo
Now, wouldn't that be something
Minecraft: Wii U Edition was announced about a week ago and has been met with mixed opinion. Many say the port is too late and the suggested price will no doubt turn many away. Nonetheless, it's still exciting that a game that seems so well fit for the Wii U is finally making its way onto the eShop. It's also notable...
Random Check Out the Latest Stage From Panga, Super Mario Maker Creator Extraordinaire
Skyway to Shell, yatta!
It's been a little while since we've covered Panga, one of the most hardcore Super Mario Maker creators to be found, so it's time for another dose of platforming insanity. Panga has developed a sizeable Twitch and YouTube audience for his extremely complex creations, which typically require pixel-perfect jumps and moves to...
New 3DS has a higher framerate, but no 3D
Terraria is on the 3DS eShop already, having arrived in the most recent update. It had been long anticipated, especially by those Nintendo fans seeking a version on the go - the Wii U version hasn't made it out yet. A member of the development team has been clarifying details, however, and the good news for...
Sunday13th Dec 2015
Nintendo Life Weekly Final Smash Bros. Direct, Minecraft on Wii U and More
The end of an era approaches
It was a busy week in the world of Nintendo, with two announcements standing out above all others and a couple of corking eShop releases that were reviewed. As is now tradition we've decided to make life easy for you if you're trying to keep up, collating the best news of the week as well as all of the releases and...
Feature Wrestling On The Cube: A Complete History
From WWE to Ultimate Muscle, and Beyond
Ah, wrestling… one of our oldest guilty pleasures. That peculiar sport / reality show / soap opera is filled with ups and downs and this pattern is somewhat mirrored by its video game counterparts. After dusting off the trusty GameCube and taking a look at the extensive number of wrestling games of its...
News Tri Force Heroes Developers Talk About the Engine it was Built on and a Cut Costume Idea
Evidently, there would've been a naked costume
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes has been out for a couple months now and it was very much met with divided opinions. This was a bit of a surprise, as Zelda games usually do quite well critically, but probably had a lot to do with the different direction it took with multiplayer. All the same, it's...
News Hitoshi Yamagami Talks a Bit About Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem's Conception
Still a bit of a head scratcher
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem is a fascinating upcoming release that aims to cross over both of the popular franchises, though it does appear to be more Shin Megami Tensei than it does Fire Emblem. The game has been confirmed to be coming west, though there's still barely any information surrounding the...
News Digital Foundry Gives a Thumbs Up to FAST Racing NEO
"The end results are simply fantastic in motion"
FAST Racing NEO is out now on the Wii U eShop, and as far as we're concerned it's a fantastic racing game. It delivers pacey action and looks great, standing out one of the store's best titles and also helping to fill that sci-fi racing itch some may have. Intriguingly, our chums at Digital Foundry...
Rumour PEGI Rating Outs the Development of a Tharsis Port for Wii U
The latest from Choice Provisions
Choice Provisions is a prolific studio responsible for engaging and quirky gameplay experiences. Titles such as Woah Dave!, the Bit. Trip Saga, and Dragon Fantasy: The Volumes of Westeria, are its most notable releases and they've all done pretty well commercially and critically. Perhaps in an effort to provide...
Saturday12th Dec 2015
Video Check Out the Opening Cinematic that Introduces Linkle
From humble beginnings
For the few of you that have been living under a rock, Linkle is a new playable character in the upcoming Hyrule Warriors Legends, notable for basically being a 'female Link'. Of course, Linkle is very much her own character; her backstory may be a little similar to Link's, but she still has many traits that set her apart...
Review Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Wii U eShop / NES)
Tough but fun Ninja action - Part 2
For the first NES Ninja Gaiden game, Tecmo created a tough but fun action platformer. It was very different to the scrolling beat 'em up action of the arcade game, but people liked it; sales must have been good too, because Ryu Hayabusa returned for a second NES outing. Gameplay in Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword...
Live Watch the GameCenter CX Super Mario Maker Special
Shinya Arino tackles fan-made courses
Here's a little Saturday treat - a special episode of GameCenter CX that's going to be broadcast live for the whole world to enjoy; it should be a fun watch with host Shinya Arino taking on fan-made courses, so join us to watch it live...
News Development is Progressing Smoothly on The Deer God for Wii U
We're absolutely fawning over those visuals
As was revealed back in mid-September, The Deer God will be making its way to the Wii U eShop, courtesy of Mobot Studios. The 2.5D action platformer from Crescent Moon Games sees players exploring a beautiful world as a humble deer, with the ability to reincarnate as other animals. Though it's already been...
Video The Zink Mini Splatling Comes to Life on the Battlefield
Zink-capable of failure
Splatoon is the gift that keeps on giving, and this week the arsenal has been expanded to include the Zink Mini Splatling! This little beastie is strikingly similar to its non-Zink counterpart as you might expect, but this thing comes bundled with disruptors for keeping your prey still as well as a bubbler to save you from...
Friday11th Dec 2015
News Nintendo Remains Bullish Around the 3DS and Its Future Prospects
"Nintendo 3DS is here to stay"
Courtesy of long-term projects and some localisation timelines, the 3DS has a pretty decent selection of major retail releases in the first half of 2016. There are games like Fire Emblem Fates, Project X Zone 2, Bravely Second End Layer, Hyrule Warriors Legends and various others depending on your territory; heck,...
News Super Mario Maker Updates Set to Continue, Along With More Mystery Mushroom Outfits
Don't expect pixel Reggie or Miyamoto, however
This week brought one of the quirkier content updates for Super Mario Maker with a Mercedes course and Mystery Mushroom Outfit. A rather peculiar addition, it continued the trend of Event Courses blending Nintendo franchises - often tying into recent releases - with third-party partnerships. There has...
Guide The Best Nintendo Gifts For The Holiday Season (US Edition)
Some last minute treats
It's that time of year when we look forward to the Holidays on the one hand, and suffer sweaty brows on the other as we fret over late gift purchases. What to get your Nintendo-obsessed loved one this festive season? What gift will be good enough? Well, don't fret, we've looked around the web to find a range of gifts that...
News Ten Hours of Maintenance on the Way for the Nintendo Network
Could affect Sunday evening online gaming time in North America
Earlier this week a 'big news' tease caused some curiosity around a major batch of maintenance on various Nintendo Network service. The major announcement turned out to be Minecraft: Wii U Edition, so we're back to maintenance being a rather dull thing that can affect our online gaming;...
News The November NPD Results are in, Nintendo Exclusives Fail to Crack the Top Ten
Tough month for Nintendo
The NPD Group is an independent market research company that tracks sales across various industries and how they perform in North America. Naturally, the game industry is tracked by this group and each month's results are based off of new games sold at retailers. Be sure to note, NPD does not track digital or second hand...
News Reggie Talks Smartphone Gaming and My Nintendo
Focusing on making entirely new experiences
About a month ago, Nintendo held an investor's meeting where details were finally revealed around the highly anticipated Nintendo rewards program and Nintendo's first smartphone game from the DeNA partnership. Opinions on the smartphone app, Miitomo, were admittedly divided, though the new 'My Nintendo'...
News Splatoon's Next North American Splatfest is Basically a Survey for Santa
Are you naughty or nice?
The next Splatoon Splatfest has been announced for North America and, to be fair, it's a fairly witty and festive head-to-head this time around. It'll also provide some handy data for Santa (or Nintendo's number-crunchers, in reality) on a key topic - are you naughty or nice? It's one of the funnier contests that we've...
News Code Of Princess And Yumi's Odd Odyssey Studio Agatsuma Is No More
Dissolved as of today, liquidation happening next year
Japanese firm Agatsuma Entertainment has revealed that it is closing its doors. The publisher of Code of Princess and Yumi's Odd Odyssey, Agatsuma has been officially dissolved as of today. Liquidation will occur on March 31st, 2016. The firm was perhaps best known for assisting with...
Video Take a Look at the Famicom 3D System
Surprisingly cool for the time
The 3DS has now been on the market for over four years, in that time making use of auto-stereoscopic 3D in a lot of games. After the original models suffered from a narrow viewing angle the New 3DS has delivered more stable 3D, so in this time of Nintendo's improved and solidified the technology it can be interesting...
News Jools Watsham Explains Why his Latest Game Didn't Release on Nintendo Platforms
"The market isn't quite as healthy as it once was for us"
Renegade Kid is a studio that has been supporting Nintendo consoles since the days of the DS. It arguably rose to prominence in current generation, though, as a higher volume of releases and the visibility offered by the eShop has catapulted it to higher levels of success. Generally speaking,...
Video Extended Hyrule Warriors Legends Trailer Shows Off New Content
Including customisable fairies and lots of combat
Hyrule Warriors Legends is one of a glut of 3DS titles due in the first half of 2016, a re-release of the Wii U title with new characters such as Tetra and Linkle, new scenarios in the story, extra features and an additional Adventure Mode map. It has plenty to offer, then, and Tecmo Koei has...
News The New Shovel Knight Update Just Went Out on Wii U in Europe, 3DS Update Slightly Delayed
Paving the way for the amiibo
As many of you are aware, the Shovel Knight amiibo launches in Europe in about a week and in North America on 8th January. It'll bring a whole new wealth of features, such as a customizable knight, challenge stages, and co-op in the Wii U version. Yacht Club Games prepared an update to preempt the amiibo launch in...
News Zink Mini Splatling Weapon Coming To Splatoon Later Today
Or early tomorrow, if you're in Europe
The Splatoon weapon drop continues with the launch of the Zink Mini Splatling. This compact yet deadly firearm will be available later today in North America, with the European launch coming tomorrow morning. Are you keen to get your hands on this new weapon? Is the drip-feed maintaining your interest in...
Thursday10th Dec 2015
Guide Here's How To Make That Xenoblade Chronicles X USB Drive More Useful
Hack the planet
The North American collector's edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X comes with a USB drive containing 10 tracks from the game itself. It's a neat little extra, but largely useless once you've listened to the music - which is why Nintendo Life reader Ben "mikey64" Barger has come up with this handy little hack which allows you to turn it...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition Will Support the Wii U Pro Controller, Voice Chat, and USB Keyboards
Taking the edge off
Minecraft: Wii U Edition was only announced a couple days ago, and naturally it's been the center of much attention. While it may be true that this is news that has been long-awaited, the unfortunate exclusion of GamePad inventory management has turned many potential buyers away from picking up this version. Additionally, the...
News Fascinating Patent Shows Nintendo Portable Utilising Free-Form Screen Technology
First rumours of 2016 production emerged in late 2014
With the Nintendo NX hardware due to be revealed in 2016, the web's going into overdrive looking for clues and pointers to the hardware's form. A recent spot highlighted an intriguing 'supplemental computing device' that would use the Cloud for processing; now we see the return of 'free-form'...
Nintendo Download 10th December (North America)
SteamWorld Heist! FAST Racing NEO! Terraria! Devil's Third! More!
It's time for the North American Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week is full of enticing options. Two much-anticipated and terrific 'Nindie' download-only releases arrive on Wii U and 3DS, while each system also has a high profile retail release to consider. There are...
Feature A Pokémon Retrospective: Generation 4 - 2006 To 2010
Don't call it a comeback
As we build up to the 20th anniversary of Pokémon in February 2016 and look hotly ahead towards brand new things, we're continuing our journey through each generation of Pokémon; this month we look at the generation that encapsulated the early years of the DS era, in particular. If you need to catch up before reading...
Review Medabots AX: Metabee & Rokusho (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Medaboring
The previous Medabots game was an RPG which had some cool ideas and stayed quite true to the source material, but ultimately was undermined by a handful of major annoyances. Medabots AX, strangely enough, was actually originally released shortly before it, but this time around has seen the light of day second. Surprisingly, this game is...
Review Kirby Mass Attack (Wii U eShop / DS)
Safety in numbers
Known in Japan as Atsumete! Kirby, Kirby Mass Attack is the final title in the long-running HAL Laboratory series for the Nintendo DS. Originally released in 2011, Mass Attack moves away from traditional platform game design in preference of a completely touch-driven experience. Thankfully, unlike the original 2005 entry for DS –...
News Hyrule Warriors Legends Will Allow You to Find and Customise Your Own Fairies
The Great Sea brings Wind Waker flair to Adventure mode, too
Hyrule Warriors Legends is shaping up to be a fairly substantial expansion on the core content of the Wii U original, with the HD entry already having a lot to offer. Various new characters and fresh stages have emerged over recent months, and now a couple more details have emerged via...
Video Watch How These Families React to an Interactive Mario Display
Mario chats up a storm
Christmas is only a few weeks away at this point and that means that malls and shopping centers everywhere are holding a very high volume of Christmas shoppers on the average weekend. We've all been there at one point or another; there's nowhere to park, it's difficult to find what you came for, and lines are practically out...
Video Reggie Fils-Aime Busts Some Moves and Dances in Latest Yo-Kai Watch Commercial
Erm, his body is ready?
Yo-Kai Watch has been getting a notable marketing push from Nintendo of America, with the company going so far as to utilise its most recognisable figureheads - notably Reggie Fils-Aime and Bill Trinen - in 'very important meeting' videos. We've seen Bill stuff his face with donuts and both men be rather grumpy, but the third...
News Bravely Second End Layer Is Coming To Europe In February
Deluxe Collector's Edition will be available
Nintendo has just confirmed the European release date for the 3DS RPG Bravely Second End Layer. The title will launch on February 26th 2016, and will come in standard and limited "Deluxe Collector's Edition" packages. The latter includes a figure, CD soundtrack and artbook. The original Bravely...
News Image & Form Celebrates SteamWorld Heist Release With an Open Letter to Fans
"Games aren't indie or AAA - they're just better or worse."
We've seen a number of excellent eShop releases in 2015, and a handful of weekly updates that have been rather exciting, but the 10th December Nintendo Download Update is right up there among the best. On Wii U there's Shin'en's FAST Racing NEO while on 3DS there's Image & Form's...
News Pokémon Now Has an Official Tumblr Page, For All You Trendy Types
Officially sanctioned Pikachu GIFs ahoy!
It can be hard to keep track of which social media platforms are 'hot', and which ones are the new Bebo or Google+, also known as 'that thing I have a login for but haven't used in about four years'. We think Tumblr is a popular thing now, and we like the official Splatoon page in any case - this writer's too...
Video Sceptile Has Been Confirmed as a Fighter in Pokkén Tournament
Electrode and Farfetch'd are also in, as support characters
As some of you may remember, a new Pokkén Tournament fighter was due to be revealed on the 10th, with new support Pokémon due to be announced, too. The announcement was supposedly leaked a couple days ago by accident on a Japanese Pokémon show, where a display was spotted that outed the...
Video Soothe Your Soul With Some of the Calmer Music from Xenoblade Chronicles X
With some nice quotes about its composition, too
We rate Xenoblade Chronicles X very highly here at Nintendo Life, and the odds are good that many others with the game now do likewise. It's a hugely impressive achievement from Monolith Soft and a strong showcase for Wii U in many respects, including its soundtrack. We think the soundtrack for this...
News The Game Awards 2015 Was Viewed by 2.3 Million People
Game Awards 2016 is "very likely"
About a week ago, The Game Awards 2015 took place in LA, with the event being livestreamed on sites such as Twitch. Nintendo earned three awards, with Splatoon winning Best Multiplayer and Best Shooter, and Super Mario Maker winning Best Family Game; though the company admittedly didn't have a terribly strong...
Wednesday9th Dec 2015
Review SteamWorld Heist (3DS eShop)
You feelin' lucky, steampunk?
When a studio has a surprise hit such as SteamWorld Dig, it would likely be forgiven if a straightforward sequel rapidly followed. That doesn't seem to be the norm on the eShop, however, and Image & Form has produced an ambitious follow-up in the form of a turn-based strategy game with a twist, placing trick shots...
News Nintendo Confirms Details for the Super Smash Bros. Direct
It's the 'Final Video Presentation', featuring Cloud and more
We know it's been coming, but we doubt that makes it any less exciting. Nintendo has now confirmed details for the Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Direct - branded as the Final Video Presentation - which should bring huge hype for fans of the Wii U and 3DS entries. For starters it's all going...
Review Monster High: New Ghoul in School (Wii U)
A Strange Beast
The catchy refrain in a song at the beginning of Monster High: New Ghoul in School declares - "We are Monsters. We are Proud.". Its words sum up the game's positive message of "who you are is more important than what you are". Soon thereafter, players are led into a character creation mode to decide the kind of pretty monster you...
News Minecraft on Wii U Won't Feature Inventory Management on the GamePad Screen
Oh...
For those of you that are behind the curve, Nintendo's 'big news' this Monday was the official confirmation that Minecraft will be coming to the Wii U. This has been news that many have been waiting to hear for a long time, as the Wii U seems like it's set up almost perfectly for the game when one considers how the GamePad could be utilized...
News Microsoft's Phil Spencer "Would Be Happy" To See Nintendo Games On Xbox One
Looked at working with Nintendo on GoldenEye "many times"
Is Hell feeling a bit chilly? Are pigs taking to the skies? It might be prudent to check, because Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has voiced the opinion that he would love to see Nintendo games on the Xbox One. It's an outlandish statement, but one which has a logical root. It has just been...
Poll Are You Excited About Minecraft: Wii U Edition, Or Is It Too Late?
Building the hype train
One of the great will-they-won't-they sagas of the Wii U generation has come to an end; Microsoft Studios is bringing Minecraft: Wii U Edition to the eShop on 17th December. The concept and the platform have long seemed suited for each other, yet such has been the wait for it to happen that smaller developers have attempted...
Review Kirby: Power Paintbrush (Wii U eShop / DS)
Time has passed
Kirby: Power Paintbrush – also known as Canvas Curse in North America – was originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Following the trend of many other franchises during this new generation of handheld gaming, the HAL Laboratory-developed title moved away from traditional platform game conventions by utilising the defining...
News Mercedes Arrives in Super Mario Maker With a Course and Mystery Mushroom Outfit
Yes, really!
Yes, that is a Mercedes 'outfit' in Super Mario Maker. No, we haven't faked this in Photoshop. Yes, this is actually happening. Mario Kart 8 fans may recall when free Mercedes DLC - with three karts in total - arrived in the racer; it was a bit tacky, but ultimately you could ignore the cars and pretend they didn't exist. After all,...
Monster Hunter X (Cross) is still dominant
The Media Create results for Japan are out, and this week has a few interesting talking points to consider in terms of both hardware and software. Starting with the latter, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam makes its debut in second place with just under 50,000 sales; its launch numbers are actually a little...
News Eiji Aonuma Talks Linkle's Origins and Appearance in Hyrule Warriors Legends
Initially was planned to be Link's sister
As many of you probably saw earlier today, IGN did a brief interview with Eiji Aonuma regarding the upcoming release of Hyrule Warriors Legends. The topic of Linkle was brought up and Aonuma mentioned how there's a possibility that she'll show up in future main series Zelda games. Only time will tell, but it...
Random There Are Legend of Zelda Mods in Fallout 4, Of Course
The Pip-Boy's never look better
Fallout 4 may have enough bugs to fill a Starship Troopers movie, but there's no denying the popularity of Bethesda's sprawling post-apocalyptic title. It's sold huge numbers of copies, with Bethesda and retailers being so confident that 12 million units shipped at launch in November - 12 million. For PC gamers...
Video This Terraria Launch Trailer Goes for the Silent Treatment
Keep on digging
It's a bit of a bumper week on the eShop for both Wii U and 3DS owners, with the highest profile arrivals set to be FAST Racing NEO, SteamWorld Heist and Terraria. The latter, rather like the upcoming Minecraft: Wii U Edition, has been a hugely popular game on various systems that's finally making its way to Nintendo hardware...
Video Five Ways FAST Racing NEO Isn't F-Zero
That's not a bad thing
FAST Racing NEO is hitting the eShop on 10th December, and we've already shared our review in which we say it's downright excellent. We even mention F-Zero in the opening paragraph, yet the devil's in the detail - this is very much its own game, not a tribute act. Our video man Alex has decided to make this clear, so has...
Video Take A Trip Through The Magical Kingdom In Capcom's Most Underrated NES Disney Outing
But what's Donald Duck's middle name?
Capcom produced plenty of amazing games for the NES, and many of those were based on popular Disney properties such as DuckTales, Chip 'n Dale and TaleSpin. However, one such game never seems to get much attention, despite the fact that it offers a pretty unique concept which sets it apart from its licenced...
Review Word Party (Wii U eShop)
Where's the party at?
The Wii generation brought about countless games that ended with the word "party." Some were a blast, like Boom Blox Bash Party, while others were downright miserable minigame collections (we're never going to a Game Party again). Lightwood Games' latest word-inspired eShop title Word Party makes us think it's time to start...
News Medabots: Metabee and Rokusho Arrive on the Wii U North American VC This Thursday
Filling that robot combat gap in the library
Medabots is a series that never really caught on much in the West. Something of a 'me-too' Pokémon series, the franchise instead focuses on building robot warrior Medabots instead of training monsters. It has some interesting ideas, such as how individual robot parts have their own health gauges, but...
News Nintendo's Move To Smartphones Helped It Top Japan's Gaming Stock Market
DeNA deal and Splatoon success kept things ticking over in 2015
Nintendo may have endured a difficult 2015 with delayed titles and underperforming hardware, but on the Japanese stock market the company has been dominant, outpacing Sony and other traditional game publishers. This robust performance is largely down to Nintendo's deal with DeNA, which...
News Four More Animal Crossing amiibo Heading to Europe on 29th January
Resetti has found his inner peace
While we wait to see whether US sales of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival help to make up for it tanking badly in territories such as the UK, we wonder whether the amiibo collection that accompanies the game will fare better. After all, Nintendo has acknowledged that a number of people are buying the figures as...
News GameCenter CX Takes on Super Mario Maker this Weekend
And it looks like we can watch!
If you've been playing the Event Courses in Super Mario Maker, you've probably seen the two courses made by Shinya Arino, host of the long-running Japanese gaming series GameCenter CX. You might've even snagged the character costume of the kacho (chief) himself! Of course, that means you likely had to deal with a few...
News Tabletop Gallery and Avoider Release on 7th January in North America
The latest from RCMADIAX
RCMADIAX may not be the most popular studio on the Wii U eShop, but nonetheless it has about a dozen games under its belt. It was revealed about a month ago that there would be a new game called Avoider releasing sometime in Q1 and we now have a release date for that and another somewhat puzzling release. Avoider will be...
Tuesday8th Dec 2015
Review FAST Racing NEO (Wii U eShop)
Christmas comes early for race fans
FAST Racing NEO is a game that seeks to fill the F-Zero-sized hole in every Nintendo fan's heart. Shin'en's racer is quite different from Nintendo's classic franchise, but it still does a great job at giving that high speed racing fix that some Wii U owners are desiring the most. The first thing we should note...
Video This is the Animal Crossing Wii U Game We'd Hoped For
Hats off to TheBitBlock
Nintendo's Digital Event during E3 2015 had its ups and downs, with some reveals sparking discontent among many watching Nintendo fans. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival was a reveal that caused some frustration - it was a Wii U game in the franchise, just not the one we were expecting. In our view amiibo Festival didn't...
Art Here's Another Western Take On The Legend Of Zelda's Link
The Hero of Time is looking a bit more rugged (again)
Last week, we featured some concept renders of Link from The Legend of Zelda created by 343 Industries character designer Kyle Hefley. Sporting a more mature and realistic look, it was an interesting mix between east and west. We've unearthed another piece of Link art and it shares some...
News Xenoblade X Art Designers Created the Game's Armor Sets with Samurai in Mind
Space Ninjas
Xenoblade Chronicles X is out now in all regions and contains a staggering amount of content. Among this content is an extremely diverse and varied array of armor sets, which provide a suitable level of customizability and depth for character loadouts. Perhaps most importantly, there's even a 'fashion armor' option that allows one to...
News Linkle to be Considered for Future Legend of Zelda Titles
"She doesn’t feel out of place at all in the world of the Zelda games"
Hyrule Warriors earned praise for various factors when it arrived on Wii U, with one being the diversity of the playable cast. It was a significant diversion for the series as players were able to play as villains such as Ganondorf, alongside other familiar characters like...
News Gone Home is No Longer on its Way to the Wii U eShop
Looks like it's just gone home
As some of you may be aware, Gone Home was just recently re-confirmed to be coming to consoles. The popular Indie game got its start on the PC in 2013 and acquired something of a cult following. Majesco Entertainment was due to assist in bringing it to consoles earlier this year, but the deal unfortunately fell through...
Guide The Best Nintendo Gifts For The Holiday Season (UK Edition)
Tis the season to be generous
It's that time of year when we look forward to the Holidays on the one hand, and suffer sweaty brows on the other as we fret over late gift purchases. What to get your Nintendo-obsessed loved one this festive season? What gift will be good enough? Well, don't fret, we've looked around the web to find a range of gifts...
News GAME and Official Nintendo Store Delay Shovel Knight amiibo Pre-Orders in the UK
Delays everywhere, no longer just GAME
Update: The official Nintendo UK Store is now joining in with delaying Shovel Knight amiibo pre-orders, despite the subsidiary tweeting on 7th December that the figure was coming this Friday (11th December). We've amended the headline of this article accordingly. Below is an excerpt from the email being sent...
Weirdness A Dragon Punch Would Take Your Head Clean Off, Says Science
These Street Fighters are clearly quite tough
Street Fighter's Dragon Punch - or Shoryuken - is one of the most iconic moves in fighting game history. A rising uppercut which propels your opponent into the air, it's handy for dealing with mid-air attacks and knocking your rival off-balance, and in the right hands, is a deadly weapon which can turn...
News Steel Empire Blasts Into Europe on 17th December, With a Discount Also Heading to North America
Teyon announces a range of festive discounts
We're certainly fans of Steel Empire on the 3DS eShop, a classic shmup that's been given a quality remaster on the portable - we didn't exactly hold back any praise for it in our review. Unfortunately, however, it's been rather pricey in North America ($29.99 in the US) and has taken a while to arrive in...
Random Disney Engineers Play NES Classics In Innovative Fashion
8-bit, 8-player, 8-projector madness!
Disney has always been known for its innovative flare, including within the videogame industry through its licenses and Disney Infinity titles. However, Disney Infinity is not the topic of discussion here, for the Disney Research team has revolutionised a way of revisiting NES classics in the form of...
News SteamWorld Heist to Add "Fun Game Stuff" in Free January Update as Launch Trailer Arrives
Extra steamy
SteamWorld Heist is out this week on the 3DS eShop, joining Terraria on the portable and FAST Racing NEO on Wii U; along with some other releases it's looking like a crowded update. Image & Form will no doubt be hoping that the SteamWorld brand and anticipation for the turn-based strategy shooter will see it t
Video Check Out Jools Watsham's Playthrough of Dementium Remastered's Introduction
Resident Evil-lite
While Europe still has to wait a bit, Dementium Remastered is out now in North America and stands as a pretty solid survival horror game; filling a gap in the eShop that very few have notably tried to fill. We awarded the game a 7/10 in our review, praising the upgrades this version received, while criticising certain gameplay...
Monday7th Dec 2015
News Minecraft Finally Digs Its Way Onto the Wii U eShop on 17th December
Six free add-ons and Nintendo content in the works
Update: It's been confirmed in a Microsoft live stream that the Wii U Edition of Minecraft will get a physical retail release 'later', but is eShop only - as expected - on 17th December. Original Article: Just before Nintendo's November Direct a PEGI rating emerged for Minecraft on Wii U. It...
News Nintendo Has Quite A Bit Of Maintenance Planned For Today
Connected to today's "big news", perhaps?
Nintendo apparently has some big news planned for today, as well as plenty of maintenance down-time which will impact various services and games. Online play and rankings will be down today from 21:00 until 02:00 (UK time) tomorrow. During roughly the same window, the online elements of the following games...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X Earns Modest UK Chart Position But Outsells Predecessor
Up 73% on launch sales of Wii title
With another week underway we have the UK chart results, which carry extra interest following the launch of Xenoblade Chronicles X, a title that has drawn critical acclaim and hype from enthusiasts but nevertheless has a tough task converting that into big sales. That's how it's turned out in the UK, at least -...
Nintendo Download 10th December (Europe)
SteamWorld Heist! FAST Racing NEO! AVGN! Terraria! More!
Another week kicks off with the European Nintendo Download Update, and it's certainly one of the stronger weeks in recent times for eShop fans. Both the Wii U and 3DS have highly anticipated 'Nindie' releases, while a hugely popular sandbox / crafting adventure also arrives on the portable as...
Review Johnny's Payday Panic (3DS eShop)
Minimum wage, maximum fun
Taking a look at the Cooking and Gardening Mama games, it's obvious that developer Office Create knows how to take menial tasks and turn them into surprisingly engaging video games. Though North America hasn't seen a new title featuring Mama on a Nintendo platform in the past year (the latest release was a little more...
Review Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Contra-ry to popular opinion...
The Contra series of games includes some of the run-and-gun genre's greatest titles; along with the Metal Slug series you won't find a finer bunch of ridiculously tough, immaculately designed platform action experiences. We've already been blessed with a Wii U Virtual Console port of Konami's 1992 SNES masterpiece...
Review Family Fishing (3DS eShop)
Fins with Kin
As the house of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, Arc System Works is perhaps best known for its fighting games, but over the past few years it's also been quietly churning out a series of arcadey eShop sports games starring a multitalented Japanese family. Billy and his hyper-competitive clan have already brought charming, thoroughly decent...
Live Watch Microsoft's Minecraft Mondays Stream, Here's Hoping for Wii U Footage
"Exciting news", for those that haven't heard
Earlier today Nintendo confirmed that Minecraft: Wii U Edition is coming to the system's eShop on 17th December, and will include six free DLC packs as standard, with 16 more available to buy. With future Nintendo-specific content also promised, it may be worth watching this Microsoft Studios Minecraft...
Video Catch Up on Some Glitches, Trivia and Easter Eggs for Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda
Some may even surprise you
As another weekend draws to a close it can be nice to catch up with some retro classics and fascinating facts. With Super Mario having its 30th Anniversary this year and The Legend of Zelda due to hit the same landmark in 2016, they seem like good topics. Once again the Did You Know Gaming? YouTube channel has been...
News Sceptile Spotted as Potential Reveal for Pokkén Tournament Roster
It's not so Farfetch'd
Pokkén Tournament is heading to the Wii U in 2016 and will be one of the system's key releases in the early part of the year. With a major announcement for the title due on 10th December, we were all set to find out which fighter and support characters were being added following a fan poll earlier in the year. It seems,...
Video Here's What Luigi Mansion Arcade And Mario & Sonic At The Rio Olympics Look Like In The Flesh
Hands-on footage from IAAPA 2015
Nintendo and Sega enjoy a pretty close relationship these days, with several big-name Sega titles being exclusive to the Wii U and 3DS. The two firms are also working together on arcade hardware, with new titles being shown off at this year's International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, or IAAPA for...
Feature Behind the Scenes of SteamWorld Heist
A look at development, marketing and the game's pitch for success
SteamWorld Heist is out on 10th December on the 3DS eShop, and is a title that's intrigued us from the moment it was first revealed. Its predecessor SteamWorld Dig took off on the 3DS, gaining critical acclaim and a legion of dedicated fans, in the process also helping boost developer...
News Shinya Kumazaki Commemorates Kirby's 23rd Birthday on Miiverse
Claims his favorite spin-off game is Kirby Air Ride
Kirby is one of Nintendo's most beloved characters, having appeared in numerous games since his debut in 1992. While the super tough pink puff stars in his own series of mainstream platformers, Kirby is arguably most notable for how much experimentation he's been subject to. Kirby games are known...
News SteamWorld Heist Will Have Over 100 Weapons and Nearly 100 Hats
Looking fresh
SteamWorld Heist is only a few days away from release now, and hype for the game is at an all-time high. Offering up a distinct experience from its predecessor, SteamWorld Dig, many are curious how Image & Form's latest entry in the SteamWorld series will stack up in comparison. Based off of what's been shown up to this point, it...
Sunday6th Dec 2015
News A 'Big' Nintendo Announcement is Coming on Monday
Let the speculation commence
The Nintendo Direct last month was arguably the first time the Big N had any major news to share since E3. Ever since, hype levels have come back down to normal levels, without too many surprise announcements to be had. While it's still unknown when the next Nintendo Direct will be taking place, it seems that some kind...
Random Take a Look at This Unofficial Version of Moonview Highway on Mario Kart 7
The closest thing this game's seen to DLC
It's difficult to believe, but Mario Kart 7 just passed its 4th birthday. Things looked a lot different in the days of its launch; the Wii U was still a year away, the eShop was in its infancy, and there admittedly weren't very many 3DS games worth owning. Mario Kart 7 marked the beginning of change, kicking...
News Nintendo's Next European Splatfest is the Most Random Yet
Pizza preferences
Splatoon is a game that seems to always have something fresh for us to enjoy. Whether it's the weekly additions of new weapons or, occasionally, a new stage, those that fire it up regularly normally have a something new to check out. Splatfests are another part of that, with topics that range from being rather neat to others that...
Video Check Out New Footage of Ghost Song: A Journey of Hope
Due out on PC in early 2016, consoles possibly after
Some of you with longer memories may remember Ghost Song: A Journey of Hope. The upcoming 2D action game began life as a flash project before the developer chose to set up a Kickstarter. Ghost Song takes inspiration from Super Metroid and Dark Souls, but unfortunately it is not currently on its...
Saturday5th Dec 2015
DRM = Dopey Rights Management
If you want to listen to the Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack it's not particularly difficult; it can be easily found around the web. Unfortunately, for some that are actually paying for the privilege, there can be surprising issues. This relates to the gorgeous Special Edition of the game in North America, which...
Talking Point Nintendo is Right to Move On From the Wii Family Name With NX
Perfect for its time, but change is due
Earlier this week TIME shared an intriguing interview with Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima, and one of the topics raised regarded the NX and the fact it won't be the 'next' in the Wii / Wii U line of systems. That's been reasonably clear for quite some time, as comments around the new hardware (to be...
News Xenoblade Director on What's Next for the Series and What Makes it So Popular
Perhaps a third game in the series will come about
Xenoblade Chronicles X is now out all around the world and it's been met with generally positive reception all across the board. The open world RPG presents a staggeringly massive world for players to explore, packed out with dozens, if not hours, of gameplay potential. Fans of both traditional...
Feature A Night at The Game Awards
Mitch Vogel shares his first experience of the awards show
As a fairly average individual who hails from Wisconsin, I never would've thought I'd one day actually find myself at a major gaming event such as The Game Awards. For years I've watched events on livestreams and videos, but it's always seemed like the awards shows and major presentations...
Video Check Out This Explanation of How Steamworld Heist Plays
Pulling a job
A few days ago, it was revealed that Steamworld Heist will be releasing on 10th December, a little less than a week from now. Those who buy it before the end of the year will receive a discounted price and 3DS buyers will have the added bonus of a home screen theme that will become unavailable once 2016 begins. In order to build hype...
Friday4th Dec 2015
Guide Getting Started With Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii U
It's a big world out there
Xenoblade Chronicles X is out now in North America and Europe, which is certainly something to celebrate for Wii U owners that enjoy immersive, challenging RPG experiences. We've already shared our view that it's a fantastic game in our review - in that article we describe various key gameplay mechanics, so give that a...
Live Watch The Game Awards 2015 From Los Angeles
Reggie Fils-Aime appearance and Nintendo nominations to feature
After a successful debut in 2014, The Game Awards return for another round; this time the festivities are taking place in Los Angeles. Reggie Fils-Aime will make an appearance while some Nintendo titles are up for awards, and there'll also be music from CHVRCHES and deadmau5. Join us...
News Splatoon And Super Mario Maker Honoured At The Game Awards 2015
Satoru Iwata gets a special tribute, too
The Game Awards 2015 took place in Los Angeles last night, and while Nintendo didn't choose to show off any new games or make any groundbreaking announcements, the company did come away with three (and not two, as we previously reported) awards. Super Mario Maker was awarded Best Family Game, while Splatoon...
News Sega Slashes Full-Year Net Profit Projection By 90 Percent
19 billion Yen down to 2 billion Yen
Japanese gaming veteran Sega has lowered its revenue and profit forecasts for the end of this fiscal year, citing increased competition and development delays for the revised projections. Sega's revenue forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2016 has dropped by 65 billion Yen to 355 billion Yen. The impact on...
News Yacht Club Games Unveils Full Details of Shovel Knight amiibo
Arrives in Europe on 11th December, North America on 8th January
When Yacht Club Games lifted the lid on the Shovel Knight amiibo, it certainly came as a pleasant surprise. Third party amiibo were an inevitability, but few individuals likely expected the first one to be Shovel Knight, of all characters. The release date of the figure has been up in...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Playing it safe once more
While many would argue that Mega Man Battle Network 4 brought with it some unwelcome changes, Capcom did not seem to pay much heed to fan complaints. Indeed, the fifth (!) entry is a fairly by-the-numbers sequel, featuring little in the way of changes or additions and is mostly similar to its predecessor. Mega Man villains...
News You Can Now Blow 367 Bucks On A Single Pikachu
Thanks to German toymaker Steiff
How much do you love Pokémon star Pikachu? Enough to part with $367, perhaps? You now have the opportunity to prove that because German toymaker Steiff - famed for its hand-made teddy bears - has created what has to be the most expensive Pikachu toy in the world. Priced at 45,000 Yen (US$367), pre-orders for this...
News Nintendo Smartens Up For "Super Moschino" Collection Of Shirts, Sweaters And Accessories
"The coolest fashion from the Mushroom Kingdom!"
Nintendo has teamed up with the famous fashion brand Moschino to create a new collection of items inspired by Super Mario Bros., a series which marked its 30th anniversary this year. The collection includes T-Shirts, sweaters, bags and other accessories - including backpacks and wallets. You'll be...
Video FAST Racing NEO's Hero Mode Melts Further Faces with an F-Zero Twist
Shield your eyes
FAST Racing NEO is fast, we've certainly established that, but lurking in the game's menus is another mode that takes the speed to further levels of ridiculousness. Hero Mode bring in new rules and mechanics that aren't found in the rest of the game, so rather than just trying to get around and rank as high as you can, these...
A healthy saving
Nintendo is doing 24 special offers for the 24 days of Christmas, and today's deals include a pretty sweet bargain for fitness lovers. The Wii Fit U Meter - which works in conjunction with the game to track your physical activity outside of the home - is on sale for £3.99. It's available in red,
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part Three
Martin Sauter talks about creating landscapes for racing
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases, with its arrival due on 10th December. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre...
Thursday3rd Dec 2015
Review Pokémon Picross (3DS eShop)
Pika-p and play
During the Nintendo Direct in November one of the surprise announcements was Pokémon Picross. It seemed like a bizarre idea, but crossing over the Pokémon franchise with the quirky Picross series is precisely what the somewhat stagnant puzzle series needed, adding a considerable amount of replayability and strategy onto the...
News NX Won't Be The Next Version Of Wii Or Wii U, Says Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima
"It's something unique and different"
NX is expected to launch next year, but we still know very little about the new console - although rumours are circulating that it will combine Nintendo's domestic and portable hardware interests. In an interview with Time, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima stopped short of giving away any solid details...
Concept ties into speculation around NX and My Nintendo accounts
The Nintendo NX - a name that will likely change - will remain a mystery until Nintendo unveils it in 2016, yet a combination of logic and speculation have allowed a partial picture to form. Just recently Tatsumi Kimishima commented that it's "something unique and different" from the...
Nintendo Download 3rd December (North America)
Xenoblade Chronicles X! Dementium! Pokémon Picross! More!
The time is upon us, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download update. This week brings a huge retail release on Wii U, a couple of high profile 3DS eShop releases and some other tempting options. Let's get to the details. Missed the European Nintendo Download Update earlier in...
Review Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (Wii U eShop / NES)
A tough but enjoyable adventure for Bimmy and friends
Bimmy. If there's one thing people know about Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones, it's Bimmy – a typo during the game's (multiplayer) intro that humorously renames the main protagonist. There's more to this third NES entry in the Double Dragon series than a small chuckle however. There's a...
Video We Might Melt Your Face Off With This Speed Comparison for FAST Racing NEO
It's not called MODERATELY QUICK Racing NEO, after all
With FAST Racing NEO it's all in the name - it's futuristic sci-fi racing that's supposed to feel ludicrously quick, bringing to mind classic franchises like F-Zero and WipEout. In total it has three core speed settings - Subsonic, Supersonic and Hypersonic, or as we call them 'quite fast',...
News Nintendo UK's 24 Days Of Christmas Promotion Offers Up Some Festive Discounts
Bayonetta 2 for £11.99? Yes please
Nintendo UK is getting into the festive spirit by offering 24 different discounts for the 24 days running up to Christmas, and one of today's helpings should be of particular interest to Wii U owners. The amazing console exclusive Bayonetta 2 is on offer for just £11.99, down from its usual price of £39.99. One...
News Wii U Version Of Indivisible Not Possible, But NX Is Up For Consideration
"We’ll consider an NX version when we know anything about the system"
Indivisible is an action RPG from the makers of the popular Skullgirls, and has just managed to secure over $1.5 million of crowdfunded cash via IndieGoGo. Boasting a mixture of 3D environments and lush 2D animation, the game features platforming segments and turn-based combat,...
News Tatsumi Kimishima Discusses His Focus on Nintendo's Future and Developing Talent
Aims to be in charge beyond first year
You'll have seen Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima in a range of headlines today, as the executive has shared one of his most rounded and substantial interviews to date with a Western publication. TIME has spoken to the man at the top of the company, and he's been fleshing out and clarifying some important...
News Pokémon Rumble World Physical Retail Edition Heading to Europe and Australia
Strips out all microtransactions
Pokémon Rumble World has been one of Nintendo's key free-to-play experiments on 3DS, and was recently reported by the company to be one of its most successful download offerings to date. Perhaps keen to capitalise on that success a remixed version was released as a budget retail title in Japan; that same version is...
News Terraria Digs Its Way Into the 3DS eShop on 10th December
It's looking like a crowded week...
We already have FAST Racing NEO coming to Wii U and SteamWorld Heist to 3DS on 10th December, and now the eShop update will have another high profile arrival - Terraria. The 2D platformer / resource / sandbox game has become a huge success since it took off as an Indie title on PC, picking up 505 Games as a...
Rumour Universal Making Massive Land-Grab In Florida To Add Third Theme Park
Could this be the Nintendo theme park?
As well as branching out into the smartphone gaming business in 2016, Nintendo is also looking to leverage its properties by hooking up with Universal Studios, with the aim of creating a theme park featuring the likes of Mario and company. That particular deal was inked earlier this year, and Universal is now...
Video Linkle Gets Shown Off in New Hyrule Warriors Legends Trailer
Crossbow power
Hyrule Warriors Legends will be one of a few high profile 3DS releases in early 2016, with the 3DS port introducing some key new characters and content. One of the most notable additions is Linkle, an all-new character that'll have her own story-segment in the game. The Japanese release is a couple of months ahead of the Western...
News Monster Hunter X Has Passed 2 Million Units Shipped in Japan
Positively monstrous sales
It's a fairly well known fact that Monster Hunter is a pretty big deal over in Japan. While it certainly has a large fanbase here in the west, the Japanese audience is where this series really pulls the numbers. Perhaps this is due to the larger install base or maybe it's just something about the culture of Japanese life,...
"There's a ton of game there, but there's always room for more!"
Wayforward is a studio that has made its name on the excellent 2D platformers that it's put it out. While titles like Ducktales: Remastered, Contra 4, and Aliens: Infestation do an excellent job of showcasing the studio's talent, it's Shantae – Wayforward's flagship franchise –...
"The smart device business is not a simple business"
Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima took over from the late Satoru Iwata this year, and is overseeing an exciting time in the company's history. He's been speaking to Time about various pressing topics, one of which is Nintendo's new smart device strategy. Next year, the company will be...
Video Get a Closer Look at Genei Ibun Roku #FE Gameplay and GamePad Usage
And wonder what the heck is going on with the story...
Genei Ibun Roku #FE - originally known as Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem - arrives in Japan on 26th December. Developed by Atlus and having been rumoured in the past to have endured some development issues, it's emerged as a colourful title with plenty of quirks - it's rather bright for Shin...
News DeNA Cuts Staff At Singapore Studio Ahead Of Pivotal 2016
Restructuring ahead of its Nintendo adventure?
Nintendo's smartphone gaming partner DeNA appears to be restructuring its Singapore office ahead of what could be the biggest year in its history. DeNA is working with Nintendo on a host of smartphone games which it hopes will rake in $25 million a month in revenue. The first games will be released in...
Wednesday2nd Dec 2015
Hardware Review 8bitdo SNES30 And SFC30 Bluetooth Controllers
Clones 25 years in the making
Chinese firm 8bitdo is on a roll when it comes to making Bluetooth controllers which look and feel like classic Nintendo pads. We've already had the NES30 and the FC30 Pro - the former taking inspiration from the classic 8-bit console and the latter sporting design cues lifted from the Japanese edition of the NES, the...
News Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories Releases for Wii U in 2016
Mobile versions will apparently be coming first
Harvest Moon is a refreshingly relaxing series within the RPG world. Rather than embark on an action packed globetrotting adventure, these games provide a break from tradition by having the player just enjoy farm life. Buying animals, tending to crops, and interacting with other villagers are the...
Review The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Wii U eShop / DS)
An epic sail
When thinking about the best games from the Legend of Zelda series, many automatically jump straight in at the deep end with the big, home console releases; games such as Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker always seem to make it to the top of peoples' lists. Games often overlooked are those that have appeared on Nintendo's portable...
News FAST Racing NEO Release Date and Pricing Speed Into View
Start your engines
It's an eagerly anticipated Wii U eShop exclusive, and now Shin'en Multimedia has finally confirmed the launch details for FAST Racing NEO; the good news is that we'll be on the grid soon. It will arrive in North America and Europe on 10th December, and even better it'll be at a rather reasonable €14.99 / $14.99 / £10.99...
News See All That's Coming in the Tri Force Heroes 2.0 Update
Slip into something more compatible
As announced in the last Nintendo Direct (hold on a sec while we fondly reminisce... OK, we're good), an update for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is upon us; dropping 2nd December in North America and 3rd December in Europe. While the Direct told us about the Den of Trials and a couple new outfits, the...
News Reggie Fils-Aime Confirmed for The Game Awards as Gerudo Valley Music Remix Arrives
Get out the glow sticks
The Game Awards are almost upon us, and there's renewed confirmation and confidence that Nintendo will feature in the show, hopefully with a bang. For starters a new trailer for the event confirms that Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime will appear, just as he did in the 2014 show. He'd long been confirmed as a...
News You'll Now Be Able To Play Mini-Games During Loading Times
Bandai Namco's "Ridge Racer" patent has expired
Once upon a time, consoles were sold on the fact that they loaded software instantly without the waiting times associated with formats that used tapes, floppies or sluggish CD drives, but these days that distinction has all but vanished, with some next-gen releases making players stare at...
Random The Super Mario Bros. Ground Theme Has Actual Lyrics
You don't have to just hum it anymore!
Super Mario Bros. was a trailblazer for video games in numerous ways, one of which was the iconic soundtrack that backed the whole game. Particularly, the original "World 1-1" theme has passed on into legend at this point; arguably one of the most recognizable tunes in gaming and one that has been remixed...
News Project M Development Ends as Its Team Looks Ahead to 'New Projects'
Is also no longer available to download from the official website
It's the end of an era in the Nintendo game mod community, in particular for the Super Smash Bros. community. Project M, the mod project that originally aimed to bring Melee content and mechanics into the Wii's Brawl, has shut down. For some Nintendo's last-gen effort was a let-down...
Video Three Minute Showcase Demonstrates Action and Looting in Wii U Exclusive Lost Reavers
Or Project Treasure, as you may know it
When Bandai Namco confirmed Project Treasure as a free-to-start Wii U eShop exclusive at the start of 2015, it raised eyebrows and some hopes. Four-player co-op action games are relatively common, but a free-to-play entry in the genre on Wii U is certainly a unique proposition. Now called Lost Reavers it's...
News Monster Hunter X (Cross) Storms to Japanese Chart Lead and Boosts New 3DS Sales
Nearly 1.5 million sales in two days
It's that time again for Media Create chart results from Japan, and this week's numbers have an air of predictability about them; that's good news for both Nintendo and Capcom. The launch of Monster Hunter X (Cross) has brought nearly 1.5 million sales for the title - with Famitsu having a number slightly above...
Video Build the Buzz for Xenoblade Chronicles X With This Extended Launch Trailer
See the world, meet the cast
Xenoblade Chronicles X is nearly here, and pretty much all that can be said has been shared already. For our part we love it, and it's also a nice technical showcase for the Wii U. Basically, there's plenty of buzz telling Wii U owners that they should be considering it. It's an enormous adventure, of course, and the...
News Black Friday Sales Bring Little Joy for Nintendo in the UK
Three titles in the top 40, with PS4 and Xbox One dominant
The UK chart results have taken a little longer to come out this week as Black Friday numbers have been brought together, and the final results aren't brilliant for Nintendo. In a brief hardware mention Chart-Track states that hardware sales were up compared to the previous year, and that...
News Mahi Mahi Resort Map Arrives in Splatoon on 3rd December
Or early hours 4th December in Europe
As is the norm, the Nintendo Treehouse has used one of its live events to make a neat announcement, in this case related to Splatoon. During the Splatournament it was confirmed that the Mahi Mahi Resort map will arrive in the game at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern in North American on 3rd December, which is 2am UK /...
Live Catch All The Splatoon Action From the Nintendo Treehouse Splatournament
Kids and squids back in the limelight
In the November Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that Treehouse team members will be going head-to-head in Splatoon's various modes - there'll be Turf War, Tower Control, Splatzones and Rainmaker rounds to decide the winners. Join us as we ink in the details and see Bill Trinen and company battle it out...
News Circle Entertainment Claims That Nintendo of America Only Allows Up to Four Themes Per 3DS Game
Maybe an attempt to promote variety?
Though most updates to the 3DS just make the device even more stable than before, there have been rare occasions where new, major features were added, such as the introduction of Miiverse to the platform. Another major improvement was the addition of home screen themes, providing gamers with a way to customize...
Review Christmas Adventure of Rocket Penguin (Wii U eShop)
Santa's not the only one flying through the skies
We love the holiday season here at Nintendo Life, so how could we pass up the chance to review Christmas Adventure of Rocket Penguin for the Wii U eShop? Released on the eve of the Christmas season as malls across the globe start pumping seasonal tunes to their shoppers, it's nice to see games get in...
News The Yo-Kai Watch Franchise Has Now Shipped Over 10 Million Copies
Will it take off outside Japan?
Yo-Kai Watch from Level-5 is a series that, despite having its own identity and style, undoubted has its eyes fixed on Pokémon. A hit that originally took off when the anime series gained viewership - game sales spiked once the TV show got into its stride in Japan - it's been relentlessly expanded. In Japan there are...
News Festive 3DS HOME Themes Start to Roll Out in Japan
Ho ho ho
The Holiday season is upon us, which is rather jolly indeed. No, that's not cynicism, but actually sincere - it's a time of year when we can spend more time with family and friends, and either go all in with gift buying and giving or simply hand over the gift of our precious time. Don't offer 'time' to all loved ones, though, they might...
Tuesday1st Dec 2015
News You Can Now Register For A New Nintendo Account In Japan
It's happening!
With the Club Nintendo service finally shutting down this year, fans have been waiting expectantly for Nintendo's new account system. The company revealed the snappy title of Nintendo Account in October, and explained that the system will use cloud storage to exchange data between platforms. It was also revealed that accounts will be...
News Digital Foundry Gives Xenoblade Chronicles X a Thumbs Up
"Gives us hope for the upcoming Zelda title on Wii U"
Xenoblade Chronicles X arrives this week in the West, and we've already said in a number of words why you should strongly consider it, awarding a 9/10 in our review. Planet Mira is a fantastic setting, and beyond that Monolith Soft has taken a number of its ideas and mechanics from Xenoblade...
Video Two Ways of Looking at the Incredible Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo
Wool-dn't you like to know?
Mega Yarn Yoshi is the latest madcap idea from Nintendo to expand its line of amiibo toys-to-life figurines and this time they've really outdone themselves. This gargantuan monster stands at a smidgen over eight inches tall, dwarfing its standard-sized Yarn Yoshi compadres who stand at just three and a half inches. As...
News Monster Hunter X Has Outsold Monster Hunter 4G on the Japanese 3DS eShop
In just three days
As some of you may be aware, Monster Hunter X just launched in Japan only a few days ago. The follow up to last year's Monster Hunter 4G boasts a much more dynamic and fast paced combat system that should make most fights even more exciting and spectacular. While it's still not confirmed for the West, it's practically bound to...
News SteamWorld Heist Release Date and Pricing Confirmed
The temperature's rising
We're stepping into an exciting period of releases at retail and on the eShop, and one of the most ambitious downloadable 3DS titles on the way has a firm release date and pricing. Image & Form has confirmed that SteamWorld Heist will arrive on 10th December and will have a launch discount until the end of 2015. As...
Feature There and Back Again - A Xenoblade Tale
How Monolith Soft’s Magnum Opus brought Gonçalo Lopes back to JRPGs
In this article Gonçalo Lopes, better known to many as music composer and arranger Shiryu, talks about the lasting impact that Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii has had on his gaming life. Being a European PAL gamer in the early '90s was pretty cool. Yet being a well-informed...
News Triple Power Coming to Super Mario Maker With Paper Mario Costume
Created by the Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam team
Super Mario Maker is the platformer with endless content, naturally, though the batch of 'Event Courses' developed by Nintendo and its chums continue to add some nice little treats. A number of these add Mystery Mushroom costumes, some that are quirkier than others; we've have totem Links to celebrate The...
Parent Trap Is 3DS Download Play The Perfect Family Feature?
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson celebrates an underrated system-seller
The 3DS is quite a system, and has found its way into the hands of more than 50 million players all over the world. However, there are a few features on the console that families often overlook, one of which is Download Play. Of course, expert and avid Nintendo players know all...
News A Major Pokkén Tournament Announcement is Coming on 10th December
A new fighter and new support character are inbound
Pokkén Tournament is really beginning to drum up some hype, now that it's been officially confirmed to be coming West. The Tekken-inspired Pokémon fighting game certainly appears to be blast; with vibrant visuals and fast-paced, dynamic action, it's certainly a game that Pokéfans will happily...
Review Cutie Pets Jump Rope (Wii U eShop)
Is this some sort of strange experiment?
We won't go so far as to accuse Cutie Pets series developer Yazar Media Group of a heinous plot to thumb its nose at the very laws of nature. It's certainly not a heinous plot, at the very least; we'd call it more stare-worthingly kooky. But if you believed the cryptozoological marvel known as Mandeer in...
News We'll Be Seeing More Of Level-5's 3DS Title The Snack World This Month
Anime will debut alongside Yo-Kai Watch the Movie 2 in Japan
At its media event this year, Level-5 lifted the lid on its latest cross-media extravaganza, The Snack World. The property is hitting a wide range of sectors - including smartphones, TV, comics and toys - but Nintendo fans will be interested to learn that it's coming to the 3DS as well...
News Here's How the Nintendo Treehouse 'Splatournament' Will Go Down
May the best squids win
In the recent Nintendo Direct, it was announced that there would be a Nintendo Treehouse Splatoon tournament with teams of Treehouse staff battling each other for glorious victory. Fresh details were recently revealed surrounding the anticipated competition, and it looks like it'll cover all the bases. The event will take...
Music Metal Gear Solid And Etrian Odyssey Composers Launch Snooze-Worthy Secret Of Mana Album
Lullabies to paralyze, in a good way
Update: We'd just like to clarify that AYAKI was a piano performer on Etrian Odyssey and PersonaQ, and not the composer, as we originally indicated. Original story: The soundtrack to SNES RPG Secret of Mana is regarded as one of the finest of the 16-bit era, with Hiroki Kikuta's soothing compositions matching...
Gallery Pretend to Make Your Devices Faster With Some FAST Racing NEO Wallpapers
'Big news' teased for 2nd December
FAST Racing NEO is heading to the Wii U eShop in December and certainly has the potential to be one of the download highlights of the year. While we await the final release date, however, we have some pretty wallpapers that we can add to our desktops to keep us going. You can see them below (click to enlarge), but...
News Console Modder Zoki64 Is Back With Another Super Mario-Themed SNES
To mark 25 years of Super Mario World
This year marks 3 decades of Super Mario goodness, and famed console modder Zoki64 decided to celebrate that fact with a gorgeous custom SNES system. This year is also the 25th birthday of Super Mario W
News Dinox Will Fill That Dinosaur Trivia Gap in the eShop
Another box ticked!
We've often written about the Wii U eShop offering an impressively diverse range of genres in its games, catering to fans of platformers, shoot 'em ups, puzzle games, more platformers... There have also been some trivia / quiz games, but none have been solely about dinosaurs. Well, that gap in the market will be filled by Dinox,...
