News 3DS Hack Removes the Need for Flashcards to Play ROMS and Supports GBA Games
Still limited to old firmware and requires Cubic Ninja
Talking Point The Fragility of Buying Download Games
Download stores have changed what it means to own a game
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Final Round!
The actual last hurrah
News A Totally Complete Version Of Star Fox 2 Really Does Exist
And we're not talking about fan-made patched prototype ROMs, either
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
News - 2015, Week 21
Monday25th May 2015
Weirdness You Can Buy About 300 Copies of Jurassic Park on SNES for $1500
Fridge and Bacardi not included
It's no secret that we find some corners of eBay rather baffling - whether it's scalpers flogging pre-orders or just downright goofy goods, it's a Wild West of commerce. This example is certainly the latter, as it celebrates the upcoming Jurassic World movie in the most bizarre way possible. As you can see below, you...
Sunday24th May 2015
Talking Point The Fragility of Buying Download Games
Download stores have changed what it means to own a game
During the last console generation we saw a leap in the prominence of online connectivity in games; one of the major things to emerge from this shift was the rise of digital games and storefronts. It became easier than ever for Indies to reach larger audiences as the barriers to console...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Suffers Major Problems in Final Pre-Launch Session
Splatoon Global Backfire
Update: Surprisingly, servers re-opened shortly after the session was due to close, with connection issues initially intermittent before performance improved to near-perfect levels. Nintendo formally extended the session to 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am UK / 2am CET, with that extra hour largely running as smoothly as the...
Reaction There is a Positive Angle to Nintendo's Splatoon Global Testfire Issues
Lessons learnt
When Nintendo announced the first round of Splatoon Global Testfire sessions we described the idea as a clever Nintendo Direct highlight, as it achieved multiple goals. It created 'event'-style hype, gave curious Wii U owners a look at the game, and also allowed Nintendo to stress-test the online component with an audience of a decent...
Check that guitar solo
It's been a bit of a Splatoon weekend, so we thought we'd wrap it up with a couple of neat little snippets based on the game. Well, one is particularly cool, one may get a mixed reception. First up we have some outfits for those of you still checking into Animal Crossing: New Leaf on a regular basis, with some user created...
Saturday23rd May 2015
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Final Round!
The actual last hurrah
We thought the last Splatoon Global Testfire would be on 9th May, but Nintendo is treating us to one more session with the colourful shooter before launch. We've embedded a guide to the demo and will be blogging and chatting live. Let the splatting begin! [ [liveblog=live_splatoon_global_testfire_-_final_round]#Splatoon
Fashion A Young Reader Shows That Style Matters in Splatoon
"Splatoon Rocks"
Splatoon has various strengths to appeal to gamers of all ages, from its colourful aesthetic to hugely effective controls, and also its blend of shooting for kills and covering the ground. Another strength is fashion. There are clothes, hats, sneakers and even trendy glasses so you can look good when splatting opponents. Fashion...
Feature What the Heck is Puzzle & Dragons? - A Brief History, and Why Mario Got Involved
Match three with a difference
YouTube recently released a presser in anticipation of its 10th anniversary. Listed in acknowledgement of the milestone were several "top 10's", including the top 10 most viewed video game videos, as ranked by watch time: Minecraft Grand Theft Auto (series) League of Legends Call of Duty (series) FIFA (series) Garry's...
News Little Devil Inside Hits Its Target and is Coming to Wii U
Made it with two days to spare
Little Devil Inside is a success story on Kickstarter based not on the heritage and star power of its developers, but through the quality of the pitch. Having previously hit its goal of $250,000AUD, it's now successfully passed its Wii U stretch goal of $270,000AUD with two days to spare. If you missed it before, this...
News Pokémon Rumble World is One of the Top 10 'Trending' Games on YouTube
Free-to-view
We've written in the past that Nintendo's successes on YouTube are only sporadic, perhaps as a result of the company's arguably old-fashioned approach to allowing coverage of its games. Nevertheless, there's a surprise entry in a list of 'trending' games on the video service for April. The definition of 'trending' is games "that saw...
Friday22nd May 2015
News An Impressive 1.79 Million Players Have Crossed Swords With Fire Emblem: Awakening
...as of December 2014
Fire Emblem has traditionally struggled to make much of an impact in the West - we didn't even get to experience the franchise until the days of the Game Boy Advance - but it would appear that the turn-based series has finally caught the attention of players outside of Japan. A new promotional page has just gone live in Japan...
Video Get The Best Picture From Your NES With This Comprehensive Guide
Retro refinement
Whether you're hoping to dig into some more obscure titles, or want to fully relive the days of flickering tv screens and boxy controllers, there's still plenty to be said for hooking up the original NES and getting a properly authentic experience. Unfortunately, Nintendo's first home console isn't the easiest to work with if you're...
Review Swords & Soldiers II (Wii U eShop)
A tasty treat
In the Swords & Soldiers universe Vikings are obsessed with barbecue and spicy food, which is a curious spin on history if ever we've seen it. Such is the nature of this cartoonish and lighthearted franchise, which now receives its second entry as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Swords & Soldiers II is as complex a proposition as the...
Video Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Blame Could Largely be With SEGA, Not Big Red Button
Seg-ah
Sonic Boom didn't do well on any metric; its sales failed to match those of fellow Nintendo exclusive Sonic Lost World, and it was panned by many critics and Sonic fans alike. Like any project it has its defenders, but many are agreed that it was a major disappointment, with Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric on Wii U being the biggest culprit. It...
Video What Do You Get When You Combine Mario Kart and Mad Max?
Mario Kart: Fury Road
It's the movie that everyone is talking about right now, Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult. Whilst you might not expect any crossover between this post apocalyptic world and the mushroom kingdom all it takes is some choice edits of blue shells, mushrooms and banana skins to the film's...
Hands On Disney Infinity Toy Box 3.0 Brings A Fresh Mario Kart Rival To Wii U
Sumo Digital works its magic once more
Getting hands-on with the Toy Box for Disney Infinity 3.0 was more than a little interesting, not least because of the Star Wars content and characters therein. At an event in London yesterday we had a chance to experiment with the new game creator as well as try both the Toy Box Takeover adventure and Toy Box...
News Little Devil Inside is Close to Bringing Its Adventure to Wii U
Better the devil you know
There have been some high-profile Kickstarter successes recently, though some are still more modest - but impressive - achievements from relative unknowns. Little Devil Inside by Neostream is one such example of the latter, having raised nearly $260,000 AUD at the time of writing to pass its $250,000 AUD goal. This...
News The Most Recent Media Create Japanese Charts Brought the Lowest Sales Since 2001
Tough times
The Media Create Japanese chart results for this week were particularly bad, with lousy software numbers and falling hardware sales. Nintendo had enjoyed a strong few weeks in terms of units sold and number of games in the top 20, yet the overall numbers were so low this time that little cheer could be taken; the fresh release from...
News Natsume Is Bringing Two Arc System Works Titles To North America In July & August
More love for the eShop
Publisher of the Harvest Moon series, Natsume, has announced it has partnered with Arc System Works to release two titles for Nintendo's eShop platform in North America over the coming months. Gotcha Racing, coming to the 3DS this July, is a top-down racing game where players gather parts from capsule machines to build a...
News Physics Puzzler Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut Coming To Wii U eShop This Summer
New story, soundtrack and voice acting
Remember Q.U.B.E.? This physics-based puzzler was announced as coming to the Wii U a few years ago, but we've heard little since - until now, that is. Publisher GRIP Games has confirmed that Nintendo's console is still getting the game, but instead of the standard edition will be blessed with the...
Video This New PoPoLoCrois: Harvest Moon Trailer Will Scratch Your Fantasy Life Itch
Who needs Fantasy Life 2 anyway?
PoPoLoCrois: Harvest Moon is a mash-up of two famous Japanese RPGs and is coming to Japanese Nintendo 3DS systems on June 18th. Another trailer has just been released in Japan which shows off some gameplay footage, as well as some charming animated sequences. While the Harvest Moon series needs no introduction, the...
News Nintendo UK Planning Massive Marketing Push For Splatoon
Get ready for a campaign that will rival that of Mario Kart 8
Nintendo UK has big plans for forthcoming Wii U shooter Splatoon, and has confirmed that it has a marketing push in the works which will match that of Mario Kart 8, one of the console's most successful games. Plans include digital billboards, cinema ads ahead of Tomorrowland and Mad Max,...
Nintendo Life Weekly Metroid Fan Prequel, UCraft, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
News, reviews, the whole kazoo
Keeping up with everything amidst a busy lifestyle is a tricky task, so once again we've condensed all of the top news stories, reviews, releases, and videos from the past week into one convenient audio-visual treat. This week we take a look at news surrounding Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, the infamous UCraft, a...
News Waka-Waka-Well I Never, Pac-Man Turns 35 Today
Everyone's favourite pill-popper is all grown up
Mario and Sonic may be two of gaming's most recognisable faces but even they are young pups when compared to the true elder statesman of interactive entertainment: Pac-Man. 35 years ago, Namco released Toru Iwatani's seminal title in Japanese arcades and began a gaming legend which endures even to...
News Inazuma Eleven GO: Light & Shadow Kicks Off In Australia And New Zealand July 18th
Better late than never
Level 5’s Inazuma Eleven game series has shipped more than 7 million copies worldwide since kick-off in 2008. Last year the latest localised entry in the series arrived on the 3DS in Europe as a dual release part of the second trilogy. With football steadily on the rise in the land of the Socceroos and All Whites, it’s...
News Tappingo 2 Close to European Release
Aiming for June
Puzzle games and the 3DS eShop are old, familiar allies - small screens suit leisurely puzzling, and there are some clever titles that scratch that itch on the system. Tappingo is one, which provides its own twist on a Picross-esque formula. Of course Tappingo 2 has been out in North America for a while, and we rather liked it in...
News RymdResa Looks Like an Intriguing Pixelated Space Odyssey
Explore forever, and ever, and ever...
Occasionally the Wii U eShop attracts small developers not just for its increasingly solid support for 'Nindies', but due to the hardware's flexible control options - by which we really mean the GamePad. Titles developed with PC and/or smart device controls in mind can be supported in unique ways with the...
Thursday21st May 2015
News A Totally Complete Version Of Star Fox 2 Really Does Exist
And we're not talking about fan-made patched prototype ROMs, either
Later today, we'll be running an exclusive interview with Q-Games boss Dylan Cuthbert, a key figure in the history of the Star Fox series - he worked on the SNES original, its cancelled sequel, Star Fox Command and the 3DS port of Star Fox 64. In our interview, Cuthbert reveals...
Nintendo Download 21st May (North America)
Swords & Soldiers II, classic Mega Man, Puzzle & Dragons and much more
It's that time again, slightly later than normal, for the North American Download Update details. This week brings a range of new options on Wii U, a number of which are exclusives, along with a 3DS retail release, the latest from CIRCLE Entertainment and a whole load of...
Reminder The Final Splatoon Global Testfire is on 23rd May
One more session before launch
Splatoon is creeping ever closer, but Nintendo is giving everyone one more chance to try out online matches for free. If you missed the news last week, here's a reminder. The final one hour Splatoon Global Testfire is on Saturday 23rd May at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK / midnight CET; not great times for those...
News The Latest Miiverse Update Has Users In An Uproar
Change can be difficult to accept
Since the launch of Miiverse on the Wii U in 2012, the social media platform has undergone a series of changes. Nintendo has provided its service with ongoing support in the form of regular updates. These updates have enhanced and refined the overall experience, and other fixes from time to time have focused on...
News Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is Adventuring to 3DS
'Super' is the new 'New'
The Pokémon Mystery Dungeon franchise is one of the better-known 'mon spin-offs, which had various entries on the DS and most recently Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity on the 3DS; according to Nintendo the sub-series has sold over 13 million copies overall. The big N and the Pokémon Company International have...
News Wii U Stretch Goal Seemingly Teased for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
If you squint you can see it
When Koji Igarashi - the producer on classic Castlevania titles - teased a Kickstarter campaign, there was an unsurprising meltdown online. The eventual Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Kickstarter campaign delivered what many hoped for - an action platformer that brings to mind the heritage of Igarashi-san's best work,...
A total of 6000 players
It's fair to say that the reaction to the Nintendo World Championships 2015 qualifiers has been less than positive; social media hasn't been kind on details of just eight participating stores. Our suspicion is that Nintendo of America will aim for the qualifiers to pass with minimal fuss and then focus minds of w
News Minecraft Clone Cube Life: Island Survival Confirmed For June Release, Launch Discount Revealed
60 percent off at launch
Minecraft clone Cube Life: Island Survival is coming to the North American and European Wii U eShops at the start of June, publisher Cypronia has told us. The title offers crafting with over 200 items and tools, wild animals to fend off, local inhabitants (which you'll be able to trade with or slaughter, depending on your...
News Don't Starve: Giant Edition to Come With Extra Gift Copy at Launch
European release date also confirmed
Don't Starve: Giant Edition has featured prominently in Wii U eShop sizzle reels and upcoming release lists, and is now confirmed to come with an extra incentive. It'll arrive in North America next week on 28th May, and a week later in Europe on 4th June; all copies bought before 28th June will also receive a...
News Splatoon's Iwata Asks Interview Considers Its Origins of Tofu, Rabbits and More
Iwata: "Well, I guess ink-an't be helped. (laughs)"
Splatoon isn't far away, arriving on 29th May on the Wii U, bringing its own blend of chaotic and colourful shooting. It's also a new IP, which is rare enough from Nintendo to be something worth mentioning, and there's certainly hype around the exclusive. Nintendo has now published a new Iwata...
Could the white Premium / Deluxe system finally make it to the West?
The poor old white 8GB Wii U, shunned by the majority of those buying Nintendo's system and victim to fire sales and obscurity. The issue wasn't, we suspect, the colour, but more the fact that it was a HD console with just 8GB of internal storage memory; 32GB doesn't actually get...
The full Wii U version is finally coming
While completing work on the full version for Wii U, Nintendo released Art Academy: SketchPad in August 2013 to tide over creative gamers for a short spell. The full Art Academy then missed its 2014 release target, prompting some concerns it had been sidelined; those worries can now be laid to rest with the...
Parent Trap Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Makes Chess Players Of Us All
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson on old and new turn-based strategy
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. creates a knife edge multiplayer challenge for families with as much to commend it as Chess. Fighting talk I know, but this 3DS game made me reconsider how I see (and limit) video games in the home. While few have ambitions for their children to get really good at...
News Icy Wind Games Set To Release Action-Adventure Title "Heroes, Help!" On Wii U In Q1 2016
Brought to you by an indie studio based in Sweden
The new two-man Stockholm-based indie studio, Icy Wind Games, is set to release its upcoming action-adventure Wii U title – Heroes, Help! – in Q1 2016. The top down title featuring 4-player local co-op involves travelling through a wide range of environments and fighting large amounts of enemies...
Wednesday20th May 2015
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
There's a worrying trend at present, in which ambitious and creative independent developers announce a sizeable Wii U exclusive, and then have to defend their pricing. That's happened twice in recent times with Affordable Space Adventures and - this week - Swords & Soldiers II. We've also had a reliable...
Review New Super Mario Bros. (Wii U eShop / DS)
LittleBigKingdom
When New Super Mario Bros. released for the Nintendo DS back in 2006, it had been roughly 15 years since the portly plumber starred in a proper 2D platformer. Not only that, but side-scrollers in general had been largely ignored since 1996, when the Nintendo 64 hit the market and assured us that 3D gaming was the way of the future...
Exclusive eShop Publishers Are Dropping Releases In Germany Due To Low Sales And Cost Of USK Rating
Smaller indies also struggling to make a living on Nintendo systems
We've reported on the less-than-ideal nature of global age ratings in the past, and what they mean for indie developers attempting to make a living on Nintendo's systems. Releasing a game internationally isn't a simple matter of pushing a button; age ratings must be granted in every...
News We Have An Inkling These Amazing Splatoon Shirts Will Be Popular
Stay fresh
Japanese clothing firm King of Games is releasing a range of Splatoon gear, and boy do we want it all. The range of shirts - all based on designs seen in the forthcoming Wii U shooter - go on sale on June 13th for 4,259 Yen a pop, which is about $35 / £22 / €31. You can view the range by clicking one of the thumbnail images below...
News Nintendo of America's Newest Recruit Is Bowser
But not the one you're thinking of
Nintendo of America has a new Vice President of Sales with a name that will be instantly familiar with fans of Mario. Before you get your hopes up, it's not who you think. Doug Bowser - not that Bowser - joins Nintendo from Electronic Arts, where he was employed as Vice President of Global Business Planning. He...
News Unofficial Metroid Prequel Uses The Original NES Hardware To Impressive Effect
Metroid: Rogue Dawn is coming later this year
Will we see a new Metroid game at this year's E3? Fans will certainly hope so, but in the meantime we can all get excited about a fan-made prequel which uses the original NES hardware for that extra degree of authenticity. Metroid: Rogue Dawn takes the original title and hacks it apart, building an...
News This Is The Ultimate Way To Display Your Treasured amiibo
Aim for the flagpole
When you've got a massive collection of hard-to-find amiibo, you want to show them off as much as possible. Simply standing them on a shelf will do the job, but if you desire something with a little more flair, then may we politely suggest the Power A End Level Display? It's a replication of the famous flag jump from Super...
News Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Fails to Chart in Week of Poor Sales in Japan
Xenoblade Chronicles X clears 100,000 sales
In recent weeks there have been some decent game and hardware sales in Japan, so a tumble was always on the agenda. Even with that in mind, it's nevertheless been a rather lousy week of sales for Japanese retailers according to the latest Media Create results. Kicking off with the software charts, Final...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue & White (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Gotta bust 'em all
The Mega Man Battle Network series was a brilliant idea from Capcom to offer a refreshing and unique departure from the classic action platformer, while still delivering a colourful and engaging gameplay experience. Though it wasn't the first time the Mega Man series flirted with becoming an RPG, it was by far the most...
News Brave The Water Temple In This Cosy Zelda-Themed Bath Robe
Even heroes need their downtime
Are you trying to relax after a particularly adventurous bath? Have you just poured yourself a cheeky potion and want to curl up in your Octorok-hide armchair for the evening? If you're the kind of person who wants to show off their undying loyalty to the land of Hyrule even while simply lounging around the house,...
Review Ultratron (Wii U eShop)
Ultratraumatic
Ultratron thinks it's Dark Souls. 'Prepare to Die', it warns the player's battledroid before it takes to the battlefield in an almost impossible attempt to survive against a constant barrage of evil killer robots. Ultratron also loves Pac-Man. As well as having to collect 'pellets' as a form of currency in order to purchase weapons...
News Samurai Warriors: Chronicles 3 Is Slashing Its Way Westward This June
Complete with Zelda and Link outfits
Koei Tecmo Europe has confirmed that it will be bringing Samurai Warriors: Chronicles 3 to the Nintendo 3DS this June. The game will form part of the company's MCM Comic Con London line-up, which takes place this weekend. The newest entry in the long-running Samurai Warriors series, this latest instalment has a...
News Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX Pushed Back To September, Special Edition Should Soften The Blow
AR cards and wallet chain, anyone?
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX was supposed to be launching in the US and Europe this month, but Sega has just confirmed today that the title has been pushed back to September. To help alleviate some of the disappointment, the publisher has confirmed that a special edition version of the game will be making its...
Video Christopher Lloyd Revives Doc Brown Role in New LEGO Dimensions Trailer
Back to the Future, or the Past, the Future Past?
So, LEGO Dimensions, this is a game that know what it's got and isn't afraid to flaunt it. Aiming to sell LEGO toys and a new game to adults with disposable income? Simple, get Christopher Lloyd to revive his legendary Doc Brown role - and we mean legendary - for a commercial. Check and mate. The...
Video This Player Has A Great Chance If They Enter the Nintendo World Championships 2015
Just what Dr. Mario ordered
While the qualification rounds for Nintendo World Championships 2015 aren't quite the exciting event we hoped, it's good news for those that have mastered the relevant mode in NES Remix 2 or Ultimate NES Remix, the latter of which will be the version utilised in qualification. It mimics the original unique cartridge from...
News NPD Survey Outlines Bright Future For amiibo And Other Toys-To-Life Franchises
These toys mean business
Despite plenty of ongoing issues with stock shortages and sudden cancellations, we think it's fair to say that the amiibo range has been a fairly lucrative venture for Nintendo. Pre-orders for the latest wave sold out within an hour on the official UK store, and recent NPD Group findings show that this frantic interest among...
News Here's Your Next Helping Of Guitar Hero Live Tracks
A mix of old and new
Activision has released the next set of songs for its forthcoming music title, Guitar Hero Live. This week's helping includes shock rock outfit Marilyn Manson, newcomers Royal Blood and veteran outfit the Deftones. Here's this week's list: Royal Blood "Little Monster" Marilyn Manson "Disposable Teens" Killswitch Engage "In...
News The First Hardcore Gaming 101 Digest Aims To Chart The Impact Of Two Of Capcom's Greats
Strider and Bionic Commando go under the microscope
Hardcore Gaming 101 isn't just a great resource for retro gamers - it has also published some excellent physical books on our beloved hobby, including one which takes a look at Sega's arcade lineage and a comprehensive history of Konami's Castlevania. The site's next project is
News Nintendo Focusing on Multiplayer Fun at the 2015 MCM London Comic Con
Official UK store also coming, with Majora's Mask New 3DS XL stock
This weekend brings the 2015 MCM London Comic Con at the Excel, Royal Victoria Docks in London - the event is running from 22nd to 24th May. Nintendo UK is a regular at the event, and has announced its plans for its stand and events. As was the format in various 2014 expo...
News Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley For 3DS Launches In Australia On 20th June
Farming is life
Following in the footsteps of last November’s North American release, Nintendo has today announced, Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley, for 3DS will be released in Australia on 20th June. Players take control of a boy or girl and shape the land to create their very own farm. At the same time, players must tend to live stock, fulfil...
Tuesday19th May 2015
News 3DS Hack Removes the Need for Flashcards to Play ROMS and Supports GBA Games
Still limited to old firmware and requires Cubic Ninja
Over the past months we've kept track of some of the major developments in the 3DS hacking community, as they illustrate just how determined some are to access ROMS and / or homebrew, and likewise reinforces Nintendo's effectiveness at shutting down piracy through its security firmware. Hacks...
News More Club Nintendo Goodies Coming To The European Stars Catalogue
Kirby's Dream Blanket! Club Nintendo Goodbye Coin! More!
Club Nintendo is dead - long live Club Nintendo! Ahem, you'll have to forgive us for the rather needless quote, but it certainly springs to mind in this instance, as the endangered loyalty programme continues to offer up some interesting rewards. Nintendo Europe has today sent out emails to...
Less an event to capture social media, more one-off E3 show
Following Nintendo's outline of its E3 plans last week, we got rather optimistic and hopeful about the Nintendo World Championships 2015, stating that the E3 event could be just the beginning. We cited the ongoing success of the truly global Pokémon tournaments as a potential blueprint,...
Plays Sega, Nintendo and NEC games
We reviewed the RetroN 5 a while back and found it to be an excellent way of playing your original retro game cartridges in glorious HD. However, Hyperkin's wonder-console has a challenger in the shape of Cyber Gadget's Retro Freak - a clone system which out-does the RetroN 5 by offering support for PC Engine...
Just 8 locations for the whole of the US
When Nintendo announced its E3 plans, the Nintendo World Championships 2015 details were arguably the standout. Bringing back the iconic style of the 1990 equivalent, it certainly captured the imagination. Some of the tangible details have now been confirmed and, we suspect, may not go down particularly well...
Rumour Customisable Mii Fighter amiibo Could Be On The Way
Keep a pinch of salt handy, just in case
Nintendo's range of amiibo toys has been a runaway success, shifting over 10 million units worldwide. It's hard to conceive of a way in which Nintendo could make the range even more commercially viable - aside from actually, you know, having stock - but this particular rumour has us thinking. An image has...
Feature A Nintendo Fan's Guide to E3 2015
Plenty to see
The madness is on the way, with Los Angeles all set to host hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees for E3 2015. While technically an expo like any other, it has become far more than that for game companies and their fans. It's a major centrepiece of any gaming year, and an opportunity for major publishers and developers to...
Update: now sold out
Update: These amiibo pre-orders sold out within an hour of publishing this article. Whether it's high demand, low stock levels or a mix of both, that's another wave of figures with pre-orders that have disappeared rapidly. Original Article: The waves of Super Smash Bros. amiibo keep coming, and UK collectors should certainly...
News Splatoon Hype Brings Squirt Guns and Manga
You brought the pizza, right?
Excitement for Splatoon is building like it's your upcoming 8th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's all over again, and some recent tie-ins are only adding to that sense of fun. Interested parties who haven't pre-ordered yet might want to consider heading to Target for their squid-based needs, if possible. An allegedly...
News Fire Emblem If Changes The Traditional Weapons Triangle
Remember to breathe...
Some ideas are so integral to series franchises that to change them can seem blasphemous; yet that doesn't stop Nintendo and affiliates from doing what they feel is right. It's often tweaking core mechanics in rather subtle ways, such as the will-he-won't-he triple jump appearing and disappearing from modern Mario games, and...
News Capcom Hoping For "Aggressive Digital Download Sales" Of Remastered Classics
Remember when new games were a thing?
Industry veteran Capcom has revealed that remastering past titles will be a key part of its business moving forward. In a recent Q&A session, the firm pointed to the success of the recent Resident Evil HD remaster, which became the fastest-selling title in PlayStation Network history. Capcom is planning...
News This 3DS Carry Case Has A StreetPass Window, Because Those Puzzle Pieces Won't Find Themselves
Say hello to the Signal Pouch
Is there a better feeling in life than pulling your beloved 3DS out of your bag and seeing that reassuring green glow which indicates that StreetPasses await within? No, no there is not. And now thanks to the industrious guys and gals at Keys Factory, you can protect your console yet still see quite clearly when there's...
News Ronimo Games Explains Pricing for Swords & Soldiers II
"There should be room for bigger, better and higher quality indie games"
Arriving this week, Swords & Soldiers II will be another Wii U eShop exclusive, following up on the popular WiiWare original which - eventually - also found its way to multiple platforms. This time around more is made of the Wii U's options with the GamePad, however, and as...
News Unseen64 Uncovers Concept Art Of Rare's Perfect Dark Project For GameCube
What could have been
Rare’s 2005 first-person shooter, Perfect Dark Zero, didn’t exactly match the legacy of the original game on the Nintendo 64. Development of the title began on the GameCube and was completed on the Xbox 360 when Microsoft acquired Rare and all of its licenses in 2002. The question that has since played on the minds of both...
Gallery Phoenix Wright, Axel From Streets of Rage and More Feature in New Project X Zone 2 Screens
Gloriously insane
Project X Zone 2 was a slightly surprising reveal in the last month, as the original on 3DS had performed reasonably but hadn't exactly lit up the charts. Nevertheless we have another bold crossover RPG featuring diverse characters from Capcom, SEGA and Bandai Namco; it's as crazy as it sounds. The cast for this latest entry will...
News Nintendo Wins Patent Battle Over Wii Balance Board
Its legal body was ready
Nintendo struck gold with the Wii, combining inexpensive technology with a motion controlled gaming hook that tens of millions of gamers found irresistible. That use of technology and the ludicrous profits it made naturally got the attention of other companies, however, with the home console and its accessories fighting a...
News Don't Starve: Giant Edition Arrives on the North American Wii U eShop on 28th May
Sate your hunger
It appears that 28th May will be a rather exciting day for Nintendo gamers. As you may have been aware, 28th May is the eve of Splatoon's launch; no doubt thousands of gamers will be keeping a few cans of energy drinks on hand as they get started on the game as soon as it launches at midnight. However, earlier in the day, the eShop...
News Japan Is Suiting Up For Another Super Robot Wars Title On 3DS
Robot rock
Super Robot Wars is a massive series in its native Japan and brings together many classic Mecha series into one convenient package. The latest entry in this long-running franchise has just been revealed by Famitsu, and goes by the title Super Robot Wars BX. It launches in Japan on August 20th for 6,640 yen. According to the report, the...
News NES Sports Title Tecmo Bowl Rated By The Australian Classification Board
Marks the title's Virtual Console debut in PAL regions
The NFL arcade game originally developed by Tecmo in 1987 and ported to the NES in 1989 is expected to arrive soon on the Virtual Console in PAL regions after it was recently rated by the Australian Classification Board. This will be the first time Tecmo Bowl has been released in this region as...
News Come Up With Witty One-Liners to Become a SteamWorld Heist Ambassador
Plagiarising Bender isn't an option
In recent weeks Image & Form has been keeping the fires burning for the planned Fall release of SteamWorld Heist, which is coming to various platforms including Wii U and 3DS. Its mix of 2D strategy, procedurally generated levels and a quirky premise have made it one of our most eagerly watching download...
News Samurai Defender Aims to Defend the Castle This Week, in North America, on the 3DS eShop
Tap and destroy
CIRCLE Entertainment certainly stays busy on the 3DS eShop, producing a whole range of releases both developed in-house and publishing the work of others, particularly studios based in Japan and the Far East. Some prove to be gems, certainly, while others are a little more modest in what they offer; nevertheless, the portable's eShop...
Monday18th May 2015
News Work in Progress Video Fires Up Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo E3 Rumours
But...
E3 is about a month away, which means rumours will arrive with great regularity. Another is now doing the rounds about a potential E3 show; while potentially exciting, it's important to break it down and realise that, actually, it may not be entirely accurate. The source of this buzz is a presentation from NAB 2015, a major convention run by...
Video Take A Look At The Evolution Of Fairies In The Legend Of Zelda Series
Fairy impressive
Since the original Legend of Zelda was released on the NES in 1986, fairies have been an integral part of the series. In each iteration, these fairies have always shared common traits; with the ability to rejuvenate, enhance and often provide vital words of wisdom to the hero, Link. YouTuber – MasterOfHyrule – has payed tribute...
Nintendo Download 21st May (Europe)
Swords & Soldiers II, yarn Kirby, Paper Mario, Curve Digital sale and more
It's time for another Monday morning to be brightened up by upcoming download delights, and this week's European Nintendo Download Update has some promising choices. On the Wii U we have an exclusive from Ronimo Games, a soft and cuddly Good-Feel game and a classic N64 title,...
Pulling the blocks into place
It's arguably one of the key gaming experiences to indulge in some light puzzling on a handheld system. Whether it's Tetris or Picross, nothing makes a morning commute or quiet evening more relaxing than letting grey matter and opposable thumbs work together to solve a problem. Pullblox / Pushmo is one Nintendo 3DS...
News UCraft is a Wii U Exclusive Once Again
Due this Holiday season
UCraft has had a turbulent development history to date - originally announced by Nexis Games as a Wii U exclusive, the Minecraft-inspired sandbox game had unrealistic release window targets, a failed Kickstarter campaign and then caused controversy by going multi-platform with a PC release. There were then plans for a
News Hudson's SNES JRPG Super Shell Monsters Story Finally Gets Translated Into English
And it only took 20 years!
Back in 1994, Hudson released Daikaijuu Monogatari on the Super Famicom - a JRPG which looked a lot like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. The game never saw a Western localisation, and has remained out of reach for anyone who doesn't have a firm grasp of Japanese - until now. Translation group Dynamic Designs has just...
Review 3D Thunder Blade (3DS eShop)
Get to the chopper!
There was a time in the late '80s when Thunder Blade machines were a fairly common sight in amusement arcades. Yet even with a decent amount of distribution it was never in the same league as its close cousins; the instant visual assault from Sega's flashier and more exciting looking games such as Out Run, After Burner and Space...
News Nintendo Hoping That Splatoon Will Tempt Lapsed Fans To Splash Out On A Wii U
"We’re using this opportunity to talk to lapsed Nintendo fans, too"
Splatoon is coming later this month, and judging from the rapturous reception the Global Testfire has received, there are plenty of Nintendo fans positively gagging to get their hands on the final game. However, according to Nintendo UK marketing manager Chandra Nair, there are...
Video We Tackle The Dual-Stick vs. Motion Controls Splatoon Debate
Twin-stick it to the man
One of the more divisive aspects of Nintendo's upcoming ink-em-up Splatoon is the integration of motion controls into the core gameplay. Considering shooters have been comfortable with simply using two analogue sticks simultaneously to move and aim this addition initially seemed a little gimmicky and unnecessary to many...
News Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Is Skipping E3 Again This Year
But Shigeru Miyamoto is attending
When the TriForce of Miyamoto, Iwata and Reggie come together at E3, magic tends to happen. However, that sadly won't be the case this year, as Nintendo has confirmed to IGN that its president will be remaining firmly on Japanese soil during the event. This is the second year in a row that Iwata has skipped E3,...
News Yooka-Laylee’s Game Worlds Will Be Contained Within "Magical Books”
A novel idea
Playtonic's spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie and popular Kickstarter project, Yooka-Laylee, aims to recreate the magic of the 3D platform titles of yesteryear with charming characters and classic level design. With development well underway, creative lead Gavin Price has recently discussed the team's approach to level creation in...
News Three 3DS HOME Themes Available Now From Club Nintendo in Europe
Yours for 500 stars
3DS HOME Themes appear to have been rather popular since they arrived on the portable, with Nintendo and third parties enthusiastically flooding the Theme Shop. They may be superficial, but they do help to liven up that front screen. Nintendo of Europe has now decided to add three themes to Club Nintendo, with the loyalty...
Champ is joining Empire Arcadia following team's world record success
At this year's E3, Nintendo will be resurrecting a special event which first took place 25 years ago. The 1990 Nintendo World Championships captured the hearts and minds of an entire generation of players and have since passed into video gaming folklore, arguably laying down the...
News Executive Director Discusses Skells in Xenoblade Chronicles X
"We wanted to give each force and corporation their unique characteristic"
Since the recent Japanese release of Xenoblade Chronicles X plenty of Wii U gamers have been patiently awaiting its launch in the West. Famitsu was the first to review Xenoblade Chronicles X, giving it a pretty solid score of 34 / 40. Since its highly anticipated Japanese...
News Here Are The Tracks You'll Be Driving Around in 90's Arcade Racer
Mountains! Airports! Playrooms! Virtua Racing!
Last week we got a look at how 90's Arcade Racer was shaping up on Wii U, and now a backer-only update has gone live on the game's Kickstarter page which details the tracks you'll be speeding around when the title eventually launches - hopefully later this year. There's a track layout as well as a shot...
Video The Game Theorists Tackle That Vital Star Fox Question - What's With the Metal Legs?
Busts some old myths
Assuming that Nintendo President Satoru Iwata doesn't appear in this year's E3 Digital Event and ask us to "please understand", we should have a new Star Fox game for Wii U this year. We may know very little about it, but we won't deny that it's pretty near the top of our hype list for the upcoming LA event. There'll be plenty...
Weirdness Mario and Luigi Chewing Gum Claims That Stars Taste Like Ginger Ale
Because why not?
Here's some delightful nonsense to kick the week off - or annoying nonsense depending on your perspective - that comes straight out of Japan. While we may consider Nintendo's licensing efforts in the West to be in need of improvement, there's no end of quirky big N products in the company's homeland. So we present, below, Mario and...
Music Play Nicely With a Colourful Death in This Charming Splatoon Song
"I don't need BB guns now I've found this!"
You've heard all about Splatoon right? And you're excited about it too right? Right! Well I am too and recently the guys at Nintendo Life asked if I'd share my excitement about the game by writing a song about it. Of course I obliged! I've been eagerly waiting for Splatoon to arrive since it was announced...
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Reaction There is a Positive Angle to Nintendo's Splatoon Global Testfire Issues
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