News Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Confirmed For This Weekend
Demo available to download today
News Nintendo's E3 Focus to Reportedly be on Wii U and 3DS, not Smart Devices or NX
NX still set for 2016 reveal
Talking Point Is Konami About To Exit The Console Game Business?
Nintendo's old ally could be leaving the industry it helped to grow
News - 2015, Week 19
Sunday10th May 2015
News Nintendo's E3 Focus to Reportedly be on Wii U and 3DS, not Smart Devices or NX
NX still set for 2016 reveal
Following its annual financial results in this past week, Nintendo hosted a Q & A with investors. The Japanese-language transcript has now been published, though we'll need to wait longer for the official English translation - nevertheless, fans in the region have been interpreting key parts for the web to consider...
Poll Did The Splatoon Global Testfire Hit Its Targets?
A demo unlike any other
If you took part in the Splatoon Global Testfire this past weekend you'll have looked a great deal at the app's icon before loading, which is prominently branded as a 'DEMO'. Yet it was a demo unlike any other, with the download now essentially irrelevant, unless Nintendo schedules more online sessions. Three one hour...
News Nintendo "Currently Investigating" The Idea Of A Region-Free NX
Satoru Iwata outlines company's "optimistic" position
Sony and Microsoft have effectively abandoned the practice of region locking their hardware, leaving Nintendo as the odd-one-out with its Wii U and 3DS - both of which will only play software from their host region. In the past Nintendo has argued in favour of region locking, but more recently...
Doesn't make us feel bloo
Originally developed for mobile platforms, Bloo Kid 2 was well received back in 2014; indie developer 'winterworks' delivered a solid 2D platformer with responsive touchscreen controls. Although still a decent choice for the discerning mobile user, Bloo Kid 2 clearly becomes a much tougher proposition on the Nintendo 3DS...
News Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Teased by Comcept, Set for 11th May Reveal
The moon rises
The past week was rather exciting for fans of Castlevania and Koji Igarashi's work, as Igarashi-san launched a teaser site teasing a spiritual successor, allowing curious fans to choose between a pixelated sword or whip - if this isn't a Castlevania-style project, we'll be amazed. Expected to arrive on Kickstarter - retro-themed...
Video Did You Know Gaming? Explores the Fascinating History of the Wii
The surprising origins of Mii characters, original Remote designs and more
The Wii is Nintendo's biggest-selling home console in its history, out-performing lucrative predecessors such as the NES and SNES, while giving the company a lift after the relative struggles of the GameCube. It shook up the games industry - as the 'me too' reactions of Sony...
News The New Update For Teslagrad is Now Live in North America
Adds additional controller support, screenshots, and some bug fixes
For those of you that may have forgotten about it, Teslagrad is a sublime metroidvania adventure that was released early last fall. It follows the story of a young boy as he explores a decrepit castle and slowly unravels the mystery behind the conflict that led to the downfall of...
Saturday9th May 2015
News The Ocarina of Time Speedrun World Record Has Been Beaten Yet Again
Crikey
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is not only an all-time classic game, but the source of one of the most keenly fought speedrun world records. Speedrunning experts continue to set new standards, each seemingly defying the odds more than before. Well, the record has been beaten again, once again utilising quirky skips that can be accessed...
Reminder The First Splatoon Global Testfire Details Are Out
Stages and weapons outlined
The Splatoon Global Testfire is nearly upon us. The first round is tonight - remember that to take part you need to download the free demo from the eShop and hop online at the right time. The first session is going down at 8PM-9PM (Pacific) / 11pm-midnight (Eastern) / 4AM-5AM (UK) / 5AM-6AM (CET). Details have emerged...
Feature What NEC And Hudson Did Next: The Disasterous Story Of The PC-FX
The history of one of the 32-bit era's biggest flops
Complacency can be deadly. You only have to look at the changeover between the 16-bit and 32/64-bit generations for confirmation of this fact; amazingly, during this period of transition all of the established hardware manufacturers - Nintendo included - were caught with their trousers down while...
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Round 3
The last hurrah
A number of gamers have enjoyed some online Splatoon matches, yet it's now time for the final session of the Global Testfire. It appears that there are no official live streams this time around, so we've embedded our very own guide to the demo. Join us for some chat in this final sesson! [...
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Round 1 With Nintendo Treehouse
It's time for battle
Splatoon is nearly here, and in a surprising move this week Nintendo's set up time-limited online sessions in a free demo; there are three one hour windows lined up. This is the first of these online sessions, and we're live streaming the Nintendo Treehouse while live blogging our experiences with the demo. Join us!...
Video Our Guide to the Splatoon Global Testfire Demo and an Awesome Japanese Trailer
All four weapons and both stages shown off
If you're unaware of the Splatoon Global Testfire Demo then you've clearly not been reading Nintendo Life. We're well aware that it's the dominant story right now, but that's probably because it's such darn fun. There's just one round of online play left, and that's at noon Pacific / 3pm Eastern / 8pm UK...
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Round 2 With Nintendo UK
Battle resumes...
Plenty of Wii U owners have already enjoyed a first round of online Splatoon, and now the second demo window comes at a convenient time for those in Europe. This is the second one hour session, and we're live streaming the Nintendo UK broadcast while live blogging our experiences. Join us!...
Friday8th May 2015
Feature The Key Details on Splatoon, Nintendo's Shot at a New Wii U Hit
Modes, guns, 8-bit games and amiibo
This week brought us Splatoon Direct, Nintendo's quirky pitch for its upcoming ink-based arena shooter. It's a game that's justifiably been talked up a fair deal, with a blend of intuitive and clever GamePad controls, bright visuals and a whole lot of gameplay potential. While large sections reiterated information...
News Don't Worry Colour-Blind Gamers, Splatoon Has Got Your Back
Ink-lusive to a fault
Being colour-blind is no laughing matter, especially if you're a keen gamer. Those of us fortunate enough not to suffer from the problem take it for granted just how many games rely on accurate colour perception; such titles are tricky to play if you can't tell one colour from another, and as a result, many colour-blind players...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X and Dragon Quest Help Wii U to Top Spot in Japan
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition tops software results
In recent weeks the Media Create Japanese charts have shown Sony systems and its releases nicking ahead of Nintendo's offerings, so with that in mind this week brings happier news for the big N. The company and supportive third-parties have topped the software and hardware results to...
News Iwata Reveals a Bit More Information on Nintendo's Upcoming Integrated Membership Service
Tracks past purchases and gameplay records
A point of contention for many years now has been Nintendo's rather deliberate approach to implementation of online services, but with the launch of the Nintendo Network and the eShop, Nintendo has made great strides in the past few years towards offering an increasingly more streamlined and modern online...
News You Don't Need A Yoshi amiibo To Unlock Stuff In Yoshi's Woolly World
Other figures will also be supported
Nintendo revealed some amazing yarn-based Yoshi amiibo toys recently, as well as confirming how they would work with the forthcoming Yoshi's Woolly World. Standard Yoshi amiibo were also confirmed as compatible with the Wii U platformer, but thanks to a leak of the Australian packaging, we now know that other...
Sunny side up
Budget-priced titles are a tempting option for consumers: for less than the price of a coffee you can get a video game. Unfortunately, not every game is up to the standards of indie gems like Gunman Clive, and sometimes even the most inexpensive titles can leave players feeling ripped off. Thankfully, Runny Egg joins a growing...
News Modder Creates A Bluetooth-Ready Game Boy, Because Why The Heck Not
Fantastic retro-fitting fun
If you're familiar with the world of Game Boy modding and music, then the name Joe Heaton should be known to you. This UK-based tech genius has been featured on the site in the past - both as an interview subject and to offer sagely advise to prospective modders - and he's back with his latest amazing creation. Heato
News Mega Man & Bass Kickstarts "Mega May" On Wii U Virtual Console
Dr.Wily's least favourite time of year
Last month, Capcom announced that their "Mega May" event was back in full force for 2015, focused on bringing classic GBA Mega Man titles to the Wii U Virtual Console. Now that the month is here and we're already panicking about how fast time is slipping by, these weekly releases have launched into action, with...
Weirdness Former My Chemical Romance Frontman Can't Get Enough Of Zelda: Wind Waker
"I play Zelda with my daughter now"
When Activision announced its plans to relaunch Guitar Hero recently, ex-My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way was one of the artists it recruited to promote the move. Way has since been talking to UK newspaper Metro about gaming in general, and has revealed that he's a big fan of The Legend of Zelda - and the...
Video Here Is The Trailer For The Delayed Wii U Title, Red Goddess: Inner World
“Testing and debugging is taking more time than anticipated”
In case you missed it, Yanim Studio has revealed its upcoming Kickstarter-funded project, Red Goddess: Inner World, for the Wii U and various other platforms has been delayed. The Wii U release date, originally on-target for this year, has been pushed back until the first quarter of...
News Nintendo Has Shipped 10.5 Million amiibo Worldwide
amiib-whoa
It's pretty safe to say at this point that amiibo has definitely proven to have been a profitable venture for Nintendo. While it may be that some figures are extremely difficult to find in stores, it cannot be understated that demand has been high all across the board; especially considering that, with new games being released each month...
Slow and steady
In March Nintendo announced its partnership with DeNA to bring its IP to smart devices in apps and games. It was a fairly drastic shift in direction, with the talk turning from apps that would have the sole aim of directing consumers to Nintendo hardware, to directly acknowledging the need for big-hitting franchises to have games on...
News Nintendo Share Value Increases With Profits and Smart Device Gaming on the Agenda
Nintendo pushes back system plans for developing countries
Whether by design or simply coincidence, Nintendo managed to bury its financial results behind a Splatoon Direct, though for the first time in a few years the reports were actually positive. Nintendo made a larger than expected profit despite missing some sales targets, and expects improved...
Out Now Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush
The drawn out release is here!
As you may have noticed we've been going kooky for Kirby this week, as the round, pink protagonist's latest adventure, Kirby And The Rainbow Paintbrush, has finally come to European shores. It's been a few months since the game's North American release, so you may already know quite a bit about it, a game we called "a...
News Producer Of The Mario Kart Series Appointed As Head Of Nintendo’s Mobile Development Division
Likely to mean Hideki Konno
Following Nintendo's big announcement in March that it would partner with DeNA to bring popular Nintendo IP to new games on smart devices, there was much speculation about how exactly this enthralling venture would unfold. Now Japanese news outlet Sankei is reporting that Nintendo's latest financial results have shed...
Nintendo Life Weekly 8th May 2015
All wrapped up in a bow
Like a gracious army of waitresses we've come to serve you another delicious slice of the last seven days in Nintendo news, releases, and reviews. We've had a bit of a rebrand as some people felt that the original name was misleading and confusing, so we hope you agree that the new name is neither of those things. As always...
News Nintendo UK Hosting Splatoon Global Testfire Twitch Stream Tomorrow
Splat attack
Today sees the launch of the Splatoon Global Testfire, and Nintendo UK is hosting its own Twitch stream tomorrow. The first testfire session takes place at 4AM BST tonight, which understandably makes it less than ideal for UK gamers - unless you're planning on stocking up on caffeine and pulling an all-nighter, of course. Instead,...
Thursday7th May 2015
Review Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition (3DS)
Enter the dragon
At first glance you could be forgiven for thinking that Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition is no more than a colour-matching puzzle game with fancy visuals, and whilst there is certainly a level of truth to that, the grander picture is something quite different. To start off with Puzzle &...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Confirmed For This Weekend
Demo available to download today
Nintendo has confirmed that demo sessions for its forthcoming Wii U shooter Splatoon will be held later this month. The sessions - which are dubbed "Global Testfire" - last for an hour each and are open to all Wii U owners, regardless of region. A downloadable demo version of the game will be made available today...
News Nintendo and Universal Studios Announce Theme Park Partnership
Time to visit Nintendo Land for real?
Nintendo, together with Universal Parks & Resorts, has today announced a partnership that will bring attractions based on Nintendo's games and characters to Universal theme parks. Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories...
Reaction The Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Is a Clever Nintendo Direct Highlight
Stress tests servers, creates an 'event' and builds hype all at once
Nintendo isn't quite as old-fashioned as some like to pretend; it is, after all, a multi-billion dollar entertainment company that manufactures and sells consoles. In recent times it's signalled a serious intent to tackle the smart device market, shake up its customer loyalty...
Nintendo Download 7th May (North America)
Splatoon demo-ish, strangeness, retro Mega Man, Atlus goodness and more
After a delay while the Splatoon Direct festivities were completed, we now have the download update details for North America. There's a much-hoped for demo (sort of), classic Mega Man, platformers on the 3DS, a whole load of discounts, DLC and a particularly quirky Indie...
Hints at more MK8 extras
Nintendo has released its financial results for the past year, which brought stronger profits than expected despite sales being down; the results are testament to a leaner, meaner Nintendo. It's predicting more profits in the coming year, though the 3DS family in particular is expected to decline. Yet in its section...
News Nintendo Outlines 2015 Software Plans, Star Fox Still Due For Take-Off
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem coming this year in Japan
Nintendo has just released its financials, and as part of that report has outlined its software release plans for the remainder of 2015. Unsurprisingly, Zelda on Wii U is nowhere to be seen - it has been pushed into next year - but elsewhere there are many reasons to be cheerful.
News Splatoon Mii Fighter Outfits Coming to Super Smash Bros. in the Summer
GameStop pre-order bonuses in the US, also coming to Europe
Nintendo has wrapped up its Splatoon Direct, which provided over 30 minutes of details on the upcoming Wii U-exclusive shooter. One piece of information saved until the end was confirmation of Splatoon-themed Mii Fighter outfits for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS; their...
News Play 8-Bit Retro Squid Games While You Wait For An Online Match In Splatoon
Complete amiibo missions to unlock special gear & more mini-games
The plaza featured in the upcoming Wii U title, Splatoon, will allow players to interact with the game world in an assortment of ways, and the latest Nintendo Direct today has revealed a few extra hidden surprises within the happening location. First is the inclusion of a vintage...
Nintendo Direct Watch the North American Splatoon Direct - Live!
A splattering of info
Splatoon is just a few short weeks away, and Nintendo is going to show it off to convince us that the colourful new Wii U IP is a must buy. Join us to watch all of the ink-splatting live, as we expect information on amiibo, online modes and more...
News Mario Kart 8 Passes Five Million Sales and eShop Download Numbers Continue to Rise
The latest sales figures for the biggest Wii U and 3DS games
Nintendo has today unveiled its annual financial results, which brought higher than expected profits for the company. Various other snippets of information were included in the announcements, including a breakdown of sales numbers for the biggest games on Wii U and 3DS. The most notable...
Truly super effective
Pokémon is a bit of a big deal; that's news to absolutely no-one. It's a brand that's sustained impressive levels of sales and interest even in tricky and evolving times, still proving hugely successful on the 3DS while also releasing a host of spin-offs and - yes - smart device apps. It makes an awful lot of money, too. In...
News Official Nintendo UK Store Launches Splatoon Wii U Bundles with amiibo and a GamePad Skin
If you're happy to wait until June
Nintendo's clearly keen to make a success of Splatoon, as shown not only by broadcasting a special Nintendo Direct but also in the previous announcement of a Wii U hardware bundle for the game. It's a smart move, though the downside in Europe is that - oddly - the bundle won't arrive until 19th June, a few weeks...
News Pick A Side And Represent It In Splatoon's Themed Event, Splatfest
Earn valuable Super Sea Snails as rewards
It's well documented that the anticipated Wii U squid shooter, Splatoon, is heavily focused on team-based ink wars, and the the latest Nintendo Direct celebrating the title's upcoming release has revealed the trend will continue with themed events known as 'Splatfests' – further encouraging team spirit...
News Nintendo Announces Higher Than Expected Profits Despite Missed Sales Targets
"A gaming application for smart devices" to help improve revenue
Nintendo has today revealed its financial results for the 2014 / 2015 year, which have delivered profits as expected from its previous projections in its Q3 results. The results are an improvement over the projections previously given, primarily due to yen depreciation and streamlined...
News Get Inked With This New Nintendo 3DS Splatoon-Themed Cover Plate
Be as stylish as a squid this July
The latest Nintendo Direct celebrating the upcoming release of the squid-based shooter, Splatoon, has just come to an end. While this title is making a splash exclusively on the Wii U, Nintendo has also revealed New 3DS owners will be able to be as stylish as Inkling Girl and Inkling Boy while out on the streets,...
News Project Giant Robot Will Be Out Sooner Than You Probably Expect
Yes, it is still a thing
Remember Project Giant Robot? It was shown off at last year's E3 but has dropped off the radar entirely since then, which has made some - us included - fear for its future. However, Nintendo has outlined its 2015 software plans and Project Giant Robot is still in there - and we may get to play it sooner than you think...
Video Nintendo of America's Splatoon TV Commercial Attempts to Introduce a Theme Song
Coming for ya, Taylor Swift
When it comes down to marketing styles, the gap between Europe and North America continues to widen. Nintendo of America's approach to selling Splatoon has been heavily focused on young gamers, in particular, while it's slightly more neutral in the EU so far. With a game that colourful, to be fair, targeting a young...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Includes Discount For Eager UK Inklings
Available for as little as £31.49 on the eShop
A "Global Testfire" for the Wii U title Splatoon takes place this weekend, and to celebrate the event Nintendo UK is offering a 10 percent discount for those who download the demo and take part. That means you'll be able to download the full game on May 29th for just £31.49 - a neat saving over the...
News Nintendo Outlines Splatoon's Free Post-Launch Content
New stages, matchmaking modes and items incoming
During today's special Splatoon-themed Nintendo Direct revealed Nintendo's post-launch plans for the game, which includes new levels, modes and weapons. When the game launches on May 29th there will be five stages available in the online "Turf War" mode: Urchin Underpass, Saltspray Rig, Walleye...
News Yooka-Laylee Hit The $1 Million Point Faster Than Any Other Game In The History Of Kickstarter
On course to be the UK's biggest gaming Kickstarter campaign, too
Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee reached the $1 million marker faster than any other game on Kickstarter, it has been revealed. The campaign smashed its initial funding goal of £175,000 in less than 40 minutes, and by the end of its first full day had
Nintendo Direct Watch the European Splatoon Direct - Live!
Gunning for glory
Splatoon and its own amiibo toys hit stores at the end of May, and Nintendo's taking this chance to pitch the Wii U exclusive to its fans. Join us for the European variation of the presentation; we expect information on those amiibo toys, online modes and more...
News iOS Title Catch The Rabbit Sure Does Remind Us Of Something
Dang Nabbit
Another week, another smartphone title that shamelessly pillages from Nintendo's back catalogue. This time, it's an iOS release by the name of Catch the Rabbit, which showcases "a mischievous rabbit" who has "stolen all the golden fruits." The aim is to catch the rabbit by "jumping from platform to platform without falling". Take a look...
Video Catch Up With the Splatoon Direct Broadcasts
Enjoy your fake scientist voice-over of choice
Earlier today Nintendo served up its Splatoon Direct broadcasts, which revealed quite a few intriguing details, including what is effectively the first ever timed Beta demo by Nintendo. Check you out, big N, welcome to the future! We've written a host of news articles on the various details that...
Wednesday6th May 2015
Feature What We Want to See in the Splatoon Direct
Inking in the details
It's now less than a day until our next Nintendo Direct or, to be more precise, a Splatoon Direct. Nintendo is mimicking its Direct scheduling approach from 2014, filling the spaces between its latest major broadcast and E3 with presentations focused on retail releases. Mario Kart 8 had its own - fairly lengthy - Direct not...
News Updated Documents Point to Multiple amiibo Restocks for North America
Includes Shulk, Toad and Mario
Nintendo of America and amiibo have a complicated relationship - the toy range is a commercial success, but has also fallen victim to stock issues in the region that frustrate plenty of dedicated fans. Entire websites and Twitter accounts are devoted to tracking stock and pre-order launch times as the scrabble for...
News Three New Nintendo 3DS Bundles Heading to Europe on 26th June
Include cover plates, game copies and HOME themes
The New Nintendo 3DS arrived on 13th February along with some key releases, providing a fairly substantial update to the original models. An improved 3D screen with head tracking, NFC (amiibo) support and the C-Stick are among its additions, while in Europe there were smaller models and XL...
News A Dragonite Distribution is Flying Into GameStop in the US
From 22nd June to 12th July
Pokémon games often find ways to stay interesting months after release, primarily through online events and distributions. Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire fans in the US have some good news to savour, then, with a Dragonite distribution confirmed to be on the way. Available as a serial code in GameStop stores...
Gallery Splatoon Development Updates Bring Fashion, amiibo, Game Modes and More Paper
Let's warm up for Splatoon Direct
It's been over a month since we collated updates from Splatoon Tumblr page, which brings translated snippets of information and colourful screens from the development team in Japan. They always bring us fashion, often include looks at modes and gameplay, while also providing lowdowns on various ink-splatting...
News High Strangeness is Out Now on Wii U in North America and is, Well, Strange
Launch trailer sums it up nicely
Midnight City is a publisher with an eye for quirky experiences, and may be familiar to Wii U owners through its publishing of Double Fine's Costume Quest 2 on the system. It's now stepped up with High Strangeness, developed by Barnyard Intelligence Games. It's described as "a hybrid of 8 and 16 bit games - a 12 bit...
Review Best Friends - My Horse 3D (3DS eShop)
Put this one out to pasture
It seems as though publishers just can't get enough horse related games released on the 3DS, with Best Friends - My Horse 3D being the sixth one; you'd think by now that horse racing simulator games would have been mastered, but you'd be sadly mistaken. Best Friends - My Horse 3D does absolutely nothing to improve on...
News Yooka-Laylee Character Designer Spills on Creating Playtonic Games' Quirky Heroes
"Big eyes, big teeth, big belly. You can’t go wrong with these traits"
If the core appeal of your game is 3D platforming, there are key ingredients that simply must be included - slick controls, a smooth camera and solid mechanics are naturally part of the recipe. Immediately charming characters are also a must, though - unlike some genres where...
Feature Here Are Our Fondest Kirby Memories
Rainbow Paintbrush finally launches in Europe this week, so we talk Kirby
This week sees the release of Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush (Rainbow Curse to you North Americans) in Europe, and we thought it would be the ideal time to share some of our most treasured Kirby-related memories with you, our dear readers. Since he bounded into our lives in...
Review Titanic Mystery (3DS eShop)
My heart can't go on
If you aren't some form of malicious AI bent on revenge against humanity, then the idea of mixing puzzle gameplay together with tragic events might not make very much sense. It's a strange combination that has "honoured" the RMS Titanic in particular with several different examples, and we've pondered both the implications and...
News Modern Super Sonic Joins The Ranks at First 4 Figures
Cue arguments about Modern vs Classic Sonic in 3, 2, 1...
First 4 Figures is a name synonymous with collectible figurines - from Link and Epona, to Mega Man and many more, the company has kept resin distribution companies in business for years. The latest addition to the range caught our eye, meanwhile, blending a classic character with its modern...
Video Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush Launch Trailer Brings a Colourful Clay Overload
Finally arrives in PAL territories this week
Gamers in North America have been able to tackle Kirby and the Rainbow Curse on the Wii U for some time, wearing out GamePad touch screens in the latest HAL title starring the pink puffball. Its journey to PAL regions - as Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush - has taken longer, but it's finally due this week...
News Imageepoch CEO Remains Absent With Removal of Twitter Account
Still no official word, though Stella Glow still on course
Developer Imageepoch is well known by fans of the Japanese gaming scene and recently completely 3DS exclusive Stella Glow, which is being published by SEGA in Japan and Atlus in North America. Unfortunately, news around the developer took a troubling turn in early April with the...
Video Step Inside Classic Home Video Games Author Brett Weiss' Room of Doom
The ultimate man-cave?
Author Brett Weiss has written several highly respected books on the history of the video game industry, and unsurprisingly has managed to amass a pretty awesome collection of consoles and systems over the past few decades. iretrogamer.com - a new YouTube venture from occasional Nintendo contributor Tyler Esposito - was lucky...
Tuesday5th May 2015
News Disney Infinity 3.0 is Announced With Star Wars, Marvel and Inside Out, Confirmed for Wii U
We break down the major details
Disney Infinity 3.0 has been announced and features play-sets and characters from every Star Wars movie, alongside improved cross-franchise compatibility and play-sets for Inside Out and Marvel. With a strong announcement from Lego Dimensions and expected news on the next Skylanders game, this is an impressive...
Feature A Fit-To-Burst History Of Kirby Games
In 22 easily swallowable installments
Kirby has always existed to present an appealing leaping-in point for beginner players, a job he has performed well for nearly two dozen years now. And yet, many of the players who helped cut their gaming teeth on a Kirby title still stick with the series after all this time. As more games are added to the Kirby...
Video 'Smashified' Series Adds King K. Rool to the Collection of Super Smash Bros. Speed Paintings
In a while, crocodile?
YouTuber Artsy Omni has added a new video to the 'Smashified' series (a series that takes our favourite and most-wanted characters for Smash Bros. DLC and recreates them in the game's art style), and this time the focus is on King K. Rool - a logical choice considering that the antagonist of the Donkey Kong series is arguably...
News Portal, The Simpsons and Scooby Sneak Into Lego Dimensions
Adios, bank balance
After much internet rumour and speculation, a listing on Walmart for some Lego Dimensions packs (that was hastily removed) has confirmed a Portal and The Simpsons level pack for Lego Dimensions. It also included listings for character packs on Scooby Doo, Jurassic World and Chima. The news comes after many Lego fan sites have...
Weirdness This Chain Chomp Cat Bed Sold for Over $1000
Quite a cat nap
Furniture and art pieces based on Nintendo systems and characters are pretty common, especially in the world of niche traders that sell their wares online. Whether you want cushions, coffee tables or lamps shaped like question blocks, the internet is there for you. It's not every day, however, that you see a cat bed shaped like...
Review River City Ransom (Wii U eShop / NES)
Holding your funds for ransom
Originally released in Japan for Nintendo Famicom, classic beat 'em up 'Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari' was then heavily localised for its eventual release in the US; background artwork was amended to look more 'western' (for example, rooftop tiling designs and mailboxes were changed) plus all location names were updated...
News Yooka-Laylee Sets a New Stretch Goal to Smash, This Time for a Fully Orchestrated Soundtrack
A Rare treat
Yooka-Laylee is proof that combining industry veterans of an iconic development studio with a genre that brings to mind the late '90s is a tonic for success. From that laboured bit of wordplay we segway to Playtonic Games, which has quickly turned from a start-up of excellent developers into a significant Kickstarter success story...
News Teaser Site For Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Lets You Have Your Say
Sword or whip - which will you choose?
Yesterday, we reported on a rumour which seemed to suggest that Koji Igarashi - he of Castlevania fame - was about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for his next game. The rumblings appear to have been true, as Igarashi has just launched a teaser site for his next venture - and it allows fans to have some...
News Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends Is Brawling Its Way To Wii U And 3DS
Super Smash Bros has company?
Little Orbit has announced that it is publishing Vicious Cycle's Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends on Nintendo Wii U and 3DS later this year. Boasting 20 different characters as well as offline and online play, Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends contains plenty of modes, such as Tournament of...
News Sega Won't Have A Booth At This Year's E3
"Collaborating" with "various business partners", instead
Sega recently offered 300 of its global staff voluntary retirement during a period of restructuring, prompting speculation about the company's future in the console arena. The Japanese veteran has now delivered some more bad news - it won't have a booth at this year's E3. This was confirmed...
News Nihilumbra Begins Its Wii U Journey on 14th May
Includes system-exclusive co-op, remember
It's been a little while coming, but BeautiFun Games' Nihilumbra finally has a confirmed release date on the Wii U. Having cleared Nintendo's testing it'll arrive on 14th May in Europe and North America. This puzzle adventure incorporates a painterly art style and a variety of mechanics, in which you use a...
News It's Hats Off to the Latest SteamWorld Heist Ambassador Challenge
For all you doodlers out there
With SteamWorld Heist heading to Wii U, 3DS and a load of other systems later this year, Image & Form is keen to keep its fans busy in the build-up. Part of those efforts are bi-weekly competitions for someone to become a SteamWorld Ambassador; they'll get to play Heist before it comes out and get free copies on...
News Funk of Titans Aims to Teach "Jive-Turkey Pagan Titans" Some New Beats
Dig if you will the picture
While the Wii U eShop isn't short of download-only platformers, some can be criticised for being a little lacking in personality or creative flair. While the gameplay of Funk of Titans looks like fairly conventional fare, the concept gets prizes for its pure chutzpah. Developed by A Crowd of Monsters - not an actual...
Monday4th May 2015
Review Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker (3DS)
Dial D for Demons
The original Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor - a game in the grand tradition of titles cleverly acronym'd to reference Nintendo's dual-screened handheld - represented a new take on Atlus' long-running Shin Megami Tensei games, combining the series' modern setting and demon-taming mechanics with tactical, strategy-RPG gameplay...
Talking Point Is Konami About To Exit The Console Game Business?
Nintendo's old ally could be leaving the industry it helped to grow
Konami has been in the headlines a lot lately. First up were those troublesome rumours regarding the impending departure of Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear series and arguably the Japanese company's most valuable and famous employee. It would appear that Kojima is set to...
News Hacker Produces Region Free Exploit for Current New Nintendo 3DS System Version
New 'stability' update no doubt on the way
Though the DS days of mass hacking and playable ROMS through common R4 cards are a thing of the past - to the relief of developers and publishers - there are still those that mod the 3DS for niche purposes. Such has been Nintendo's aggressive approach to firmware updates to lock out exploits, any attempts...
Nintendo Download 7th May (Europe)
Kirby, DS Yoshi, Puzzle & Dragons duo, a free HOME theme and more
It's the beginning of another week, and though the UK Nintendo Download Update details and pricing haven't been issued due to a public Holiday, the information for the European region as a whole has still been released (with thanks to Daan Koopman for his assistance). This week's...
News Rumour: Koji Igarashi's Castlevania Successor Could Rise From The Grave This Week
"The first sign rises with the full moon. Soon, I will return"
Long-time Castlevania producer Koji "IGA" Igarashi left Konami a while back to move into indie development, but aside from a cryptic double-page PAX flyer, we've heard very little about what he's up to. However, this week could change all of that, if rumours swirling around the dark and...
News Warren Spector Reminisces About the Development of the Epic Mickey Series
Learn how the series came together
Disney Epic Mickey could be argued as being something of a letdown on the Wii. After an initial reveal showcasing remarkably dark concept art and promising a dynamic and choice-driven narrative, many saw it as a bold and promising new direction to take Disney's famous mouse. The resultant game, and its sequel for...
Weirdness Mayweather vs Pacquiao Gets the Punch-Out!! Treatment, Again
It's pretty accurate
This past weekend the "Fight of the Century" - Mayweather vs Pacquiao - took place in Las Vegas, though for plenty that splashed out on pay-per-view to watch it there was some disappointment. Lacking in fireworks and with a predictable outcome, it couldn't live up to the - admittedly over-the-top - hype. We already shared one...
News You Can Own Sid Meier's SNES Development System, If You Have A Spare $9.5K
"The 'Holy Grail' of video game collecting"
Legendary game design Sid Meier is responsible for some of the most iconic titles in the history of the interactive entertainment industry. He helped found Microprose in the 1980s and has since produced the likes of Civilization, Sid Meier's Pirates!, Silent Service and F-15 Strike Eagle. It's now possible...
News Nintendo of America Apologises for amiibo Shortages and Promises More Re-Stocks
"We understand how frustrating it can be at times"
We don't think any dedicated Nintendo fan would disagree that the company's had plenty of problems with stocking and distributing its amiibo range of toys. While there's an abundance of certain 'main' figures, some options sold-out at the pre-order stage and have never returned, while tales of...
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