News Splatoon Producer Inks Out Reasons For Lack Of Voice Chat And Staggered Content Roll-Out
"We really do understand the fun that can be had with this"
News FAST Racing NEO Details Finally Exit The Garage
Coming this year, online and 60fps confirmed
News - 2015, Week 23
Monday8th Jun 2015
Video Latest Teens React Episode Proves Age Has Done Little To Dull Contra's Insane Difficulty Level
Co-op for experts
We're keen followers of the excellent React YouTube channel, especially the retro videos which show gamers young and old struggling to come to terms with some of the most famous titles in the business. This time up, it's Konami's hard-as-nails run-and-gun shooter Contra (or Probotector if you're in Europe). Contra is considered to...
Sunday7th Jun 2015
Review Art Academy: Atelier (Wii U)
Magnum opus
By its very nature, inspiration often strikes when we least expect it to. A random walk through city streets might spark the idea that forms an entire novel, just as the sound of rain lashing against a bedroom window could help to shape the mood of a composition. The Art Academy series has always respected and encouraged the creative...
News There's Already a Splatoon Inspired Minecraft Mod
Where there's a will, there's a way
It seems like there's a mod for just about anything in Minecraft. The extremely open ended and modular nature of the core game leaves the door wide open for just about any type of game to be created within it, from platformers to shooters to racers. Granted, there's usually an absurd amount of complicated...
News World of Goo and Little Inferno Developers Announce New Game - Human Resource Machine
"A puzzle game for nerds"
Tomorrow Corporation - a studio set up by former members of World of Goo developer 2D Boy - has ended its relatively lengthy spell away from the spotlight to announce its next game - Human Resource Machine. Eager Wii U eShop gamers may remember its release that greeted the console launch - Little Inferno - which was a...
News Reggie Has Been Pushing For Binding Of Isaac To Come To Nintendo Consoles Since 2012
Nintendo of America boss is quite a fan, it seems
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will be hitting Wii U and 3DS this year, and boy has it been a long time coming. The game was teased for Nintendo systems way back in 2012, but Nintendo was initially opposed to the idea - citing the game's "questionable religious content" as the reason for blocking a...
Video Did You Know Gaming? Takes to the Skies With Star Fox
A nice warm-up for E3
There are some titles that we know - courtesy of release-windows, common sense or Nintendo confirmation - will be shown at E3; one of these is Star Fox for Wii U. Hopefully we'll learn of a release window, a final name and get a good look at what's come of Shigeru Miyamoto's desire to produce a cinematic, innovative GamePad...
Talking Point Looking Ahead to the Nintendo World Championships 2015
Nintendo can start E3 with a bang
A week from today Nintendo will host a live event in Los Angeles that'll get the E3 party started for its fans. For the second year running the company's template for the expo is to combine a pre-prepared Digital Event with a live event and hour-upon-hour of Treehouse coverage, while some Best Buy customers will...
Saturday6th Jun 2015
Poll We Need to Talk About amiibo - Where Do You Stand?
Awesome collectibles, source of frustration, a bit of both?
As we approach the 'expo we cannot name' - oh alright, E3 - we can't help but wonder how many times Nintendo will mention amiibo. Will we learn more about the amiibo cards that'll accompany Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer? Will there be more blasted Smash Bros. waves that we'll...
News Nintendo UK Confirms Its Community's Top 10 Wii U Games
All highly recommended
Not so long ago Nintendo UK put a call out to its social media followers to vote for their favourite Wii U games, with any title on the platform being eligible. The top 10 has now been announced, and consists of retail games that are developed or at least published by Nintendo - releases such as ZombiU and Rayman Legends made...
Video We Get Artistically Destructive With The Splatoon Inkbrush
Not exactly Art Academy
It may be ink that we're splatting around in Splatoon, but with those bright colours and various paintball references it certainly has a painterly quality. The new Inkbrush certainly plays into that, which brings its own spin to the 'Roller' set of weapons. It can be used for quickly inking territory, but in much narrower...
Friday5th Jun 2015
Review Samurai Defender (3DS eShop)
Five Samurai
CIRCLE Entertainment and the Nintendo 3DS eShop go hand in hand. Boasting nearly 50 titles with its name attached as either a publisher or developer, seeing a CIRCLE game pop up on the eShop update list has become the norm. With so many to its name, it's no surprise that CIRCLE's games run the gamut from top-notch to downright terrible...
News Lucas DLC Confirmed for 14th June Release on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS
Mother fighter
Nintendo has announced that Lucas will be available as DLC for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & Nintendo 3DS on the 14th June 2015. The Japanese giant's attitude towards paid downloadable content has changed significantly in recent months, and this inclusion of the PK-powered Mother character is testament to that. With E3 less...
News The Splatoon Inkbrush Weapon is Set to Arrive Today
Or very early tomorrow, 'cos timezones
Update: Nintendo of Europe has published a tweet confirming the roll-out of this weapon to the region: [tweet Original Article: Splatoon was perceivably slightly light on content at launch, but Nintendo's strategy for steadily rolling out additions continues at some pace. This week has already brought us...
News Splatoon Practically Sold Out at Launch in Japan, With Over 100,000 amiibo Also Sold
It's popular, then
Since release there's been a strong sense that Splatoon has been a hit launch on Wii U, and evidence is starting to support that assumption. There'd been social media chatter of stock being low in Japan, for example, and earlier this week it emerged that it'd stormed to top spot in the Japanese charts. We now have a clearer...
News Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate June DLC Brings Animal Crossing, Devil May Cry and Awesome Designs
Oh my…
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is an enormous game, to a daunting degree. It keeps getting bigger thanks to free DLC, too - Capcom's playing the role of the devil to our Homer: "you want more donuts, have all the donuts you can eat!" Oh, we'll keep eating. That daft intro aside, Capcom has announced the details of the June DLC - they're...
Editorial Nintendo's Approach is Often Peculiar, Yet That's An Enduring Strength
Still treats video games as irreverent play-things
A thought has been rumbling around this writer's mind for the past few days - Nintendo is weird. It really is. Writing about the company on a daily basis brings on a permanent state of double taking, and it's when looking outside of the big N bubble it becomes clear how peculiar it is. It simply...
News Mighty No. 9 Signature Edition Will Not Be Available For Wii U
Ouch!
It seems Wii U owners have once again been excluded from the pack, with publisher Deep Silver revealing the recently announced US-only signature edition of Mighty No. 9 will only be made available to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners. The collectors edition deal – including a physical copy of the game, DLC, a foil signature and a posable...
News The Days Are Numbered For The Nintendo Video 3DS Application In North America
eShop now the primary host for video content
If you live outside the US, you will have already moved on from the 3DS application, Nintendo Video. Originally released in 2011, Nintendo Video has since been overshadowed by the recent Anime Channel, a YouTube application and the video service via the eShop. It appears its time is now up in North...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun & Blue Moon (Wii U eShop / Game Boy Advance)
Nothin' but net
In every long running game series, there's always "that" one game which greatly splits the fanbase. Usually due to a major overhaul of an aspect that flies in the face of series tradition, these black sheep games typically are wrongfully seen as a bad or disappointing release simply because they did something different. Mega Man...
News There's A New Producer In Charge Of All Things Mega Man At Capcom
Keep those expectations in check, people
Boy, Capcom really doesn't seem to have a clue what to do with Mega Man right now. The Blue Bomber's 25th birthday came and went with whimper, and the biggest news relating to the character in recent memory is that he'll be starring in a TV series - but not until 2017, when he celebrates 30 years in the...
News Curve Is Bringing RageSquid's Action Henk To The Wii U eShop
It figures
Curve Digital has revealed that it is bringing RageSquid's PC title Action Henk to consoles this Summer. The game features a wacky action figure who loves nothing more than racing across various environments in the quickest time possible. You'll be able to run, jump and butt-slide across 70 different levels, with the objective of shaving...
Review Rival Turf! (Wii U eShop / Super Nintendo)
Pulls too many punches
Double Dragon may have kicked off the beat 'em up craze, but Capcom's Final Fight was the game that came out of nowhere and quickly became the measuring stick for the genre. So when Capcom had to cut the beloved cooperative play mode from the Super NES home version of the game, Japanese developer Jaleco decided that it would...
Nintendo Life Weekly Possibility of Pokémon amiibo Cards, Monster Hunter X (Cross)
All the reviews, releases, and top news from the past week
We're nothing if not hard working here at Nintendo Life, and in order to help you digest seven days word of news, releases, and reviews, we've bundled it all together into a video to make your life easier. This week we look at the possibility of Pokémon amiibo cards sucking all the cash...
News Looks Like We May Get To Play PoPoLoCrois Harvest Moon After All
XSEED teases a Western localisation
PoPoLoCrois Harvest Moon launches in Japan soon, and brings together two very famous names in the world of Japanese role-playing adventures. Of the two, Harvest Moon is arguably the most well-known - this farming RPG has been a staple of the games industry since the days of the SNES. PoPoLoCrois is perhaps less...
News That's No Moon, It's The Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Rise Against The Empire Play Set
The Force is strong in these fresh assets
Disney has just revealed another play set for the forthcoming Disney Infinity 3.0, and this time around it's based on everyone's favourite Star Wars trilogy - the original one. The Star Wars Rise Against the Empire Play Set takes key moments from Episodes IV to VII, placing you in the shoes of Luke...
News Nintendo UK Marketing Boss Shelly Pearce Leaves After 17 Years
Joining Anki Europe as Senior Marketing Manager
Nintendo's UK Marketing and PR Director Shelly Pearce has parted company with the firm after 17 years, it has been revealed today. Pearce is joining Anki Europe as Senior Marketing Director. Anki makes Anki Drive - which is a bit like Scalextric, but you control the car using your a smartphone...
News Antipole DX to Defy Gravity on Wii U and 3DS This Year
This ain't no DSiWare any more
DSiWare was / is a quirky yet admirable service, bringing some excellent slices of gaming in just 16MB or less. One title that was certainly in the top tier was Antipole, a gravity flipping action platformer that we rather enjoyed in our review. The good news is that it's heading to the eShop on Wii U and 3DS later...
Weirdness This Pokémon Get☆TV Teaser Prepares Us for Milk Madness and Karate Mascots
Too amazing not to share
It's the end of a long week, so some light relief is certainly in order; we present the latest teaser for Pokémon Get☆TV to serve that very purpose. This is from the official Pokemon Japan YouTube channel, and a scan of its recent content suggests that this is an impressive level of weirdness even by its own standards...
Thursday4th Jun 2015
Rumour Code Digging With amiibo Raises Potential for a Future of Pokémon Cards and Mii Fighters
The door has been opened
While there are many opinions regarding the ongoing challenges of successfully collecting amiibo, the continually expanding range - there'll even be a Chibi-Robo figurine - suggests that it's a major part of Nintendo's plans. The possibilities for expansion are certainly vast. Clues to Nintendo's intentions can be found in...
Guide Use these Splatoon Tricks & Advanced Techniques to Improve your Inking
Think ink
Splatoon has been out for nearly a week and already people have been looking at the inner workings of the game's intricacies in order to give them an edge when it comes to the crunch. We're nothing if not diligent and have compiled a good number of tips that can help give you the upper hand online. This is by no means a complete guide,...
News Squid Girl Collaboration Set to Invade Splatoon in August
Are more tie-ins and partnerships inevitable?
New content for Splatoon will be a recurring theme throughout the summer months, with modes, stages and weapons all on the agenda. It seems there'll be some fashionable extra outfits, too. Magazines in Japan have made some fans in the country happy by confirming that Squid Girl - Shinryaku! Ika Musume -...
Nintendo Download 4th June (North America)
Pip, Cube Life, AVGN on 3DS, Lord of Magna, DSiWare rebirth and more
It's that time again, North America, for the latest Nintendo Download Update details, and this week is varied and a tad bizarre. We have an eagerly anticipated eShop platformer, a world-building title aiming to bring a bit of Minecraft-style glamour to the home console, while the...
News Fresh Monster Hunter X (Cross) Details Emerge From Japan
Beastly bonus
This week Japanese publication Famitsu has some more details on Capcom's freshly-revealed 3DS title Monster Hunter X (Cross) - which is said to be 60 percent complete and will launch in Japan in Winter 2015. We have a host of new info, starting with the return of the Felynes - obviously the Monster Hunter series would not be complete...
Talking Point Prepare Yourselves - E3 Silly Season is Here
There's no escape
E3 is a peculiar beast, and comparisons to Christmas certainly work. In one sense it's "the most wonderful time of the year" - you can croon along to that line in your own head - but it's also a stressful nightmare. We may love the festive meals, jolly times and moments of relaxation at the end of the year, but they're bookended by...
Review Adventures of Pip (Wii U eShop)
It's Pip to be square
Pixel art has certainly not disappeared into the mists of gaming history. If anything, in our nostalgia-heavy age of reboot-a-thoning, the pixelated style holds its place firmly as a manageable form that can evoke those classic retro feels, whether by intention or not. While it's a sound gimmick, it's not as often that we see...
Rumour GameStop No Longer Taking amiibo Preorders, Limiting Sales To One Figure Per Person
Store apparently cracking down on multiple purchases, too
The amiibo stock situation shows little signs of improving, despite Nintendo's assurances that it's trying its utmost to sort things out. Each new wave of figures seems to sell out instantly, and within hours sites like Amazon and eBay are flooded with people re-selling the precious NFC toys...
Review Flying Warriors (Wii U eShop / NES)
"I won’t stop at this"
Culture Brain USA's NES title, Flying Warriors, draws its inspiration from the previous North American release in the Hiryū no Ken series which debuted in 1988, Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll. Starring a Shorinji Kempo warrior named Rick Stalker, the story basically mirrors the tale of the original NES entry, with the...
News Super Mario Bros. Inducted Into the World Video Game Hall of Fame
Along with Tetris and four other games
Not too long ago we told you about the World Video Game Hall of Fame, an initiative launched by the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. A committee of games writers, academics and industry veterans was formed to deliberate over what games would be admitted into the list, with an initial...
News Humble Nindie Bundle Has A Dramatic Impact On eShop Charts
All change in the top 10
The Humble Nindie Bundle has been a massive success - despite the lack of cross-region availability - and has, at the time of writing, raised $618,463.11 over more than 67,000 bundles. If you needed any further indication of its popularity, you need look no futher than this week's Wii U and 3DS eShop charts. While Splatoon...
News You Can Now Wear The Mushroom Kingdom On Your Wrist
We've got a lot of time for this Super Mario-inspired watch
London-based watchmaker Mr. Jones Watches has released a timepiece inspired by Super Mario - and it comes with the added bonus of showing whether it's daytime or nighttime. That might be useful if you, like us, are currently spending every waking hour of your day indoors playing Splatoon...
News Playtonic Wants Yooka-Laylee To Eclipse Banjo-Kazooie When It Comes To Sheer Size
Putting those fears to bed
Yooka-Layee's amazing Kickstarter campaign has ensured that Rare fans will be getting the next best thing to a Banjo-Kazooie sequel, but some supporters have expressed doubts about the size of the adventure, given that the game will retail for a low price and - comparatively-speaking, at least - its budget remains modest...
Video This Is What It Will Be Like To Play Guitar Hero Live
Gameplay and controller revealed
Guitar Hero Live is coming to Wii U later this year, and will use live action video segments to put you in the action. GameSpot has published a video which not only shows how this will work, but also gives a little glimpse of the new controller peripheral that will be launching alongside the game. While the use of...
Video RIVE's Latest Explosive Trailer Invents An Entirely New Word For Destruction
"SHMUPSTRAVAGANZA" indeed
Two Tribes has just launched the latest trailer - amusingly dubbed "SHMUPSTRAVAGANZA" - for its shooter RIVE, and it's so packed with pyrotechnics you might want to don a pair of shades before clicking the "play" button. The trailer contains content that has been added since the game was shown off at PAX, and shows off...
News Dress Like A True World Warrior With One Of These Limited Edition Street Fighter T-Shirts
Designed by famed illustrator Stanley Chow
FunStock has announced that it will be carrying Numskull's limited edition 2015 range of Street Fighter T-Shirts. Designed by the supremely talented Stanley Chow, these are strictly limited and can be preordered now, with shipping taking place in June. The U
News Natsume Is Bringing Smartphone Title Ninja Strike To The Wii U eShop
Will be showing it off at E3
Natsume has just confirmed the titles it will be showing off at E3, and among them you'll spot a new name: Ninja Strike. Before you get your hopes up, it's not some exciting simulation of what it must have been like in ancient Japan when the Shogun's best assassins decided to down tools over low pay - instead, it's a...
News Tappingo 2 Puzzles Its Way to Europe on 25th June, But Germany May Miss Out
Developer hoping to self-publish separately in Germany
It's taken a while, but the rather enjoyable Tappingo 2 has almost arrived in Europe. It's been confirmed that it'll hit the region on 25th June, though it will skip Germany, at least initially, which has its own separate rating system - USK. The title's developer, Hugo Smits, has clarified...
Video Check Out This Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut Speed Run
New video shows extended puzzling gameplay
We first heard that first-person puzzler Q.U.B.E. - The Director's Cut would be arriving on the Wii U back in April 2013. You'd be forgiven if you had forgotten all about this intriguing Portal 2-style game, but thankfully GRIP Games hasn't given up on the idea of a Wii U release; we're assured that it wil
Wednesday3rd Jun 2015
News Splatoon Producer Inks Out Reasons For Lack Of Voice Chat And Staggered Content Roll-Out
"We really do understand the fun that can be had with this"
Nintendo caused quite a bit of heated discussion when it confirmed that online shooter Splatoon would lack voice chat. The ability to communicate with fellow players is a staple of other online shooters, but Nintendo decided against including it in this ink-covered offering. Critics...
News FAST Racing NEO Details Finally Exit The Garage
Coming this year, online and 60fps confirmed
Shin'en's FAST Racing NEO has been in development for what seems like forever and we've heard - and seen - very little of the Wii U eShop racer so far. Thankfully, that has changed today as the developer has kindly shared some screenshots - taken from the Alpha version of the game - to the official FAST...
News Fake amiibo Figures Spotted In The Wild
Toys to strife
Nintendo's amiibo toys are highly collectable items these days, so it should come as no surprise to learn that counterfeit figures are starting to appear. Info Amiibo has reported that Mario, Link, Pikachu, and Samus figures have been spotted. Each figure has telltale signs that it's a fake - for example, Pikachu's feet are raised...
News Splatoon 1.2.0 Update Promises A More Pleasant Gaming Experience
Party on squids
Splatoon has been out for less than a week, but it doesn't appear that Nintendo is resting on its laurels in fine-tuning the online multiplayer experience for it's ever-growing fanbase. The much anticipated Ranked Battle mode was unlocked only yesterday, along with the all new Port Mackerel map. Today brings the first patch in the...
News Splatoon Storms to Top Spot in Japanese Charts With Six Figure Sales
Wii U sales more than double to lead hardware chart
It's that time of the week, once again, for Media Create Japanese chart results, and there are some strong sales for the latest Wii U exclusive, matching up to chatter that stock had been scarce due to demand; Wii U hardware sales jumped, too. We're referring, of course, to Splatoon, the colourful...
Interview Splatoon Producer Hisashi Nogami on Claiming New Territory for Wii U
Aimed to create "an entirely new form of gameplay"
Though the claims that Nintendo simply doesn't tackle new ideas aren't entirely fair, there's little denying that Splatoon has been a breath of fresh air on Wii U. As a new IP that utilises a genre so rarely entertained by Nintendo - a third-person shooter - it appears to have succeeded in grabbing...
News Mighty No.9 Looks Rather Neat in This 60fps Trailer
Mega Man says hi
Keiji Inafune may not always spin gold in the many projects with which he's associated, but the hype is very real for Mighty No. 9. A hugely successful crowdfunding campaign, it drifted off the radar a little - while also missing its original release window - but is rapidly coming back into view. At the end of April it was given...
Wii promised a "complimentary" experience
Skylanders SuperChargers has been announced today and brings with it vehicle toys for special Skylanders to pilot and modify. It's a bold move that not only adds more value but changes how the game plays on the screen. There will be 20 vehicles to collect, each one with a special SuperCharger Skylander that...
Feature Game Boy Collector Tracks Down Original Owner Using The Power Of Social Media
A very modern mystery
The internet is a wonderful tool which allows us to do all kinds of things – shopping, keeping in touch with loved ones and (of course) reading amazing websites like Nintendo Life. It's also rather handy when you pick up a second-hand piece of vintage gaming technology and want to know who owned it a few decades ago – and...
Video Smash Bros. Characters Get Gruesome with Mortal Kombat X's 'X-Ray' Moves
FINISH HIM!
Despite inhabiting the fighting game realm - a genre perhaps associated with lifelike violence - the Super Smash Bros. series has done exceptionally well in keeping its games clean and friendly. However, YouTuber Sterling has added a twist to the beloved Nintendo franchise, and created a video containing a mash-up of two of the current...
Video We Check Out The Squid amiibo Challenges
We have an Inkling you're having problems tracking these amiibo down
We have yet more Splatoon videos coming your way. By now you should be aware of the amiibo challenges available in Splatoon, and thanks to a lack of stock - or certain unscrupulous folk spoiling the fun for UK GAME shoppers - you may be struggling to obtain all three...
Video The World is a Better Place Thanks to These Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus Commercials
We defy anyone to not find these entertaining
Not so long ago we shared some Japanese commercials for Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus on 3DS, which has 100 rhythmic mini-games - 30 are all new and 70 are taken from previous entries. Known as the Rhythm Heaven series in the West, it's a franchise that some of your humble Nintendo Life writers...
Weirdness Man Gets Inked In Splatoon, Literally
Don't try this at home, squids!
We're no stranger to seeing Nintendo fans getting "inked up" here at Nintendo Life. Over the years we've seen the worst ever Charmander tattoo, a ink-covered gaming comedian and even someone who adorned his wrist with a 3DS AR Card tattoo.
News Asynchronous Online Multiplayer to Feature in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Virtual gravestones are on the agenda
In a trend typified by titles such as Mighty No. 9 and current crowdfunding effort Yooka-Laylee, hugely respected veteran developers are forming teams to bring retro back. Or, if not retro, a return to classic design that isn't necessarily enough of a sure thing to receive backing from major publishers...
News LEGO Dimensions Vehicles Can be 'Rebuilt' With Three Variations
Actual toys coming to life?
LEGO Dimensions is certainly not what the creators of Skylanders and Disney Infinity want to see, and rather like Nintendo with amiibo it's been tempting to wonder why it took so long for the hugely popular brick-building franchise to step into the toys-to-life market. With some serious brand power in terms of...
Tuesday2nd Jun 2015
Hands On Checking Out Splatoon's Freshly Unlocked Ranked Battle Mode
Laying it all on the line
If you booted up Splatoon this morning you might have noticed that without even the need to download an update that you can now play on the new Port Mackerel map. You can also buy the N-ZAP '85, a new weapon which looks suspiciously familiar. Of course what will be most exciting for competitive gamers is the introduction of...
News Humble Nindie Bundle Adds Three New Games
Two for Wii U and one for 3DS
After a week the Humble Nindie Bundle has raised over $500,000 and sold more than 58,000 bundles; eShop gamers in the Americas have had the option of paying whatever they want for three games, or adding an extra five titles by paying just $10 - some have been voluntarily paying much more, of course. It's a first for...
News 3DS System Update 9.8.0-25 Launches With More Stability Than You Can Deal With
"You want stability? You can't handle the stability!"
A new system update has just gone live for the Nintendo 3DS, and - you've guessed it - it offers more stability. How much stability is too much stability? Who knows, but we doubt Nintendo has reached the limit just yet. Here's the official word from the Big N itself: Further improvements to...
Matters Of Import Fire Emblem (Sort Of) Exists On The Sony PlayStation
A look at Shouzou Kaga's forgotten classic
For various reasons we now live in an era where developers breaking away from their parent companies to make similar-but-different pseudo-sequels to dormant, dead, or defiled game series is now a relatively commonplace occurrence, with Koji Igarashi's Castlevania successor Bloodstained being the latest to...
News Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories Heading to Wii U This Winter
Promises nostalgia and a return to series roots
Natsume has opted to go early with an E3 reveal, confirming that Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories is coming to Wii U this Winter; oddly it's also coming to PC, Android and iOS, which is a diverse mix of platforms. Perhaps in response to criticism from some fans that the franchise has drifted away from...
Feature Humble Nindie Bundle - The Developer's Perspective
"I won't pretend I saw it coming, but it does make sense"
Humble Bundle is long established as a service that groups together games, eBooks and music into affordable packages, for which you pay what you want and determine how much money goes to the creators, Humble itself and a chosen charity. It's in gaming circles that it's best known, is hugely...
News Despite the Rumours, Nintendo NX Will Not be Android Based
Rumour shot down by Nintendo spokesman
It was only yesterday that brought a rumour of Nintendo's next console potentially using Google's Android OS, courtesy of Japanese business publication Nikkei. Unfortunately for lovers of Google's trendy OS, it appears this rumour is unsubstantiated. Speaking to The Wall Street
Review Little Ninja Brothers (Wii U eShop / NES)
Big trouble in little China
With origin characters Jacky and Lee a distant memory, Culture Brain's successor to Kung-Fu Heroes follows the adventure of two new upbeat ninjas named Jack and Ryu as they attempt to put a stop to the evil Blu Boltar and the Yoma Clan who have invaded Chinaland. Little Ninja Brothers – known as Super Chinese 2 in...
News New Mega Man TV Series Blasting Its Way to Screens in... 2017
Epic trolling, Capcom
2017 is the 30th Anniversary of the Mega Man franchise. Now, admittedly, the 25th Anniversary was a tad rubbish for those of us that like to play games - Capcom released figurines, USB sticks and tissue dispensers, but the only game we got was a free fan-game on PC. Oh, Capcom... Will 2017 finally bring the series back? We can...
Video Here's All Your Pre-E3 Nintendo Direct Video Content In One Handy Place
Moving images are fun!
Nintendo's final Direct broadcast before E3 was something of a surprise - we knew the Japanese event was happening but the Western Nintendo Direct Micro came out of nowhere. Still, when it delivered so much new-game goodness, it's hard to grumble about being blindsided - even if poor old Tom had to be shackled to his PC...
"We put the power into the hands of the consumer"
The Humble Nindie Bundle is the first of its kind, bringing the pay what you want model applied so effectively to other games and media into the console market. It was a surprising coup for the Nintendo eShop when announced, and has raised over half a million dollars in its first week - there are...
News No FIFA For Nintendo Fans This Year, States EA
Soccer action absent on Wii, Wii U or 3DS
Electronic Arts has confirmed that its best-selling FIFA series is skipping the Wii, Wii U and 3DS this year. Pocket Gamer got the scoop on the lack of a 3DS edition of the game, and EA's soccer series has famously been absent on the Wii U ever since FIFA 13 underperformed commercially. EA's official press...
Video Teaser Trailer Illuminates Forthcoming Wii U JRPG Project Light
Turn-based combat in a cyberpunk world
Indie developer Neko.Works has released a teaser trailer for its upcoming Wii U eShop JRPG, Project Light. Inspired by "mid '90s classics" such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VII and Secret of Mana, Project Light takes place in a cyberpunk-style city ruled over by an evil empire. The main protagonist teams...
News Xeodrifter Targeting 18th June Release in PAL Regions, Pricing Confirmed
That includes you Australia / New Zealand
Xeodrifter is a particularly intriguing 3DS eShop title from Renegade Kid. Due to some delays and struggles in 2014 the popular studio took a decision to turn around this passion project for 3DS in just five months, and the resulting Metroidvania retro-styled experience proved to be a critical success. It's...
News Art Academy: Home Studio Listing Suggests amiibo Support
Intriguing...
Art Academy: Home Studio - or Art Academy: Atelier in Europe - is shaping up to be an intriguing title and potentially the most impressive entry in the series to date. There'll be a bigger touch screen to work with than at any point before, and there'll be an option to upload videos to YouTube that show your creations coming together...
Video A Guide to Splatoon's New Weapon & Map
Zapper-de-doo-dah
In a surprisingly bold move Nintendo has already begun to drip-feed us new content for its acclaimed new shooter experience Splatoon, despite the game having been released less than a week ago. This takes the form of the new shooter-style weapon called the N-Zap '85 styled after the NES Zapper, and Port Mackerel, a new map for both...
News Arc System Works Bringing Swords & Darkness And Ninja Usagimaru To The North American 3DS eShop
Full of Eastern promise?
Arc System Works has confirmed that it is bringing two of its 3DS eShop titles to the North American eShop on June 11th. Swords & Darkness launched in Japan a while back and is a side-scrolling 2D action RPG. Our resident import expert Kerry previewed it some time ago, and wasn't that impressed. Ninja Usagimaru – The...
News The Latest SteamWorld Ambassador Challenge Seeks Your Witty Social Media Ideas
#wittytagline
Image & Form has been running a series of SteamWorld Ambassador Challenges every two weeks, with lucky winners set to receive copies of SteamWorld Heist on all available platforms later this year. Contests so far have included designing hats for robots and thinking up witty one-liners, accommodating those with creative minds and...
News Bike Rider DX3 Is Rolling Out Transformers Crossover Content In Japan
Till all are one
Chari-Sou DX3: Time Rider - the latest entry in the series known as Bike Rider here in the West - is getting Transformers crossover content in its native Japan. The update will be available as DLC for 200 Yen, and will unlock various Transformers-related features in the popular 3DS eShop title. You'll be able to play as...
Monday1st Jun 2015
News Nintendo of America Unleashes a Nintendo Direct Micro With New Game Details
Release dates for some of the Japanese Nintendo Direct reveals
Over the weekend there was a Japanese Nintendo Direct that unveiled some exciting details, all of which is summarised right here. Nintendo of America has now release a neat 'Nintendo Direct Micro' with localised details on some of these reveals. Examples include Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure,...
Video Ever Wondered What Happens When A Splatoon Turf War Ends In A Tie?
Judd doesn't play fair
Splatoon launched last week and has already become something of a smash-hit with Nintendo fans. The game's Turf War mode is addictive online fun, with the goal being to cover as much of the map as possible in your team's ink. However, have you ever wondered what happens when the match is tied and neither team has an ink...
News Splatoon Ranked Battle Mode and First Free DLC Go Live Today
Or very early tomorrow, depending on your timezone
For Splatoon fans waiting for a little extra content to shake up the online action, today brings good news. Very soon there'll be an extra mode, map and gun available for extra ink splatting action. Included in today's Nintendo Direct Micro video, it's confirmed that the following will all arrive...
Gallery Let's Take A Look At The Incoming Splatoon Maps And Weapons
Squid seen with a Rapid Blaster Deco at Camp Triggerfish
Splatoon is out now and thrilling Wii U owners as we speak, but the game we're playing at the moment is a long way off being the finished article - Nintendo has plenty of other content planned, including new modes, maps and weapons. Thanks to the Prima official game guide to Splatoon, we can...
Nintendo Download 4th June (Europe)
Don't Starve, Lord of Magna, Big Brains, FullBlast and much more
Another week begins, which means European gamers have Nintendo Download Update details to peruse. This week's offerings include a critically acclaimed indie title on Wii U, a shmup, another DS Virtual Console release and a promising RPG on 3DS; in addition there are a huge number of...
News Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash and Its amiibo Confirmed for North America and Europe
Swinging onto 3DS
Over the weekend we saw a new Chibi-Robo announcement from Japan, including a rather cute amiibo. Pleasingly this is making its way around the world, with the title being given the name Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash in the West. The platformer looks set to be a retail release in North America, at least, as the amiibo (pictured above) will...
News LBX: Little Battlers eXperience Will Be Fighting It Out On 3DS This Year
Silly customisations ahoy!
Today's surprise Nintendo Direct Micro did more than just provide localisation details from the weekend's Japanese broadcast, but has confirmed another title on its way to the West. LBX: Little Battlers eXperience is hitting the 3DS in North America on 21st August this year, and is due in Europe in November. As the name...
News Minecraft Rival LEGO Worlds Released As Early-Access Download on Steam
Consoles will likely wait for a long time
Just last week rumours began to swirl about a LEGO rival to Minecraft, LEGO Worlds, which was spotted on a flyer included in a new set. The brick-building brand has been expanded even further in gaming recently, with LEGO Dimensions bringing it into the toys-to-life market on Wii U and a range of platforms;...
High scores, high tensions and high times
Patrick Scott Patterson is one of the most recognisable faces in video gaming fandom, and has appeared many times in various forms of media in order to celebrate our hobby and share his own personal love of the industry. Like so many hopefuls over the past weekend, Patterson took part in a Nintendo World...
News Splatoon Grabs Second Place in UK Chart Début
Biggest ever new IP launch on Wii U
Splatoon has just had its first big weekend on Wii U, with plenty of players hitting the online servers to splat the ground and each other with ink. It's a new IP that's had a fairly substantial marketing campaign, too, so the question has been whether all of that promotional activity would pay off at launch. We...
News K.K. Slider Hat and Outfit Confirmed as DLC for Super Smash Bros.
It's a dog's life
While Mario Kart 8 has provided two core packs of fairly substantial DLC, Super Smash Bros. has delivered a range of options with one new fighter so far - Mewtwo - and a batch of Mii Fighter outfits. When you add all of the Smash Bros. DLC together there's already a hefty selection, albeit the outfits are limited to specific...
News Nintendo Wants Metroid-Style Title Axiom Verge On One Of Its Systems
We don't mind which, personally
Axiom Verge is a fantastic Metroid-style action title which really belongs on a Nintendo system, and if former NoA employee Dan Adelman - who is in charge of PR for the game - is to be believed, it's only a matter of time. Speaking to Game Informer, Adelman was asked if Nintendo had been in touch about the game:...
Review Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force (Wii U eShop / Super Nintendo)
All buck and no bang!
Its certainly no secret that the 16-bit era of gaming was a great time to be a shoot em' up fan. Not only were there a large number of titles released, there were also some of the best the genre ever had to offer on display. While the Sega Mega Drive and NEC PC Engine were the definitive hot spots to get your shooter fix, the...
Rumour Nintendo NX Could Use Google's Android Operating System
Bridging the gap between home and portable?
Nintendo's next console could use Google's Android OS, according to Japanese publication Nikkei. An editorial by Nikkei on Nintendo NX contains alleged "insider" knowledge which suggests that the Wii U's lack of third party support has impacted the approach Nintendo is taking to its next system. According...
News Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure Will Try to Make Us All Feel Better Soon
No need for Apple today
During the weekend's Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast a new Dr. Mario title was released for the 3DS; today's Nintendo Direct Micro has now brought the news that this title is pretty close to release in the West, too. Called Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure, it's getting released in North America and Europe
Review Mega Man Zero 4 (Wii U eShop / Game Boy Advance)
The battle for Neo Arcadia
After three enjoyable Mega Man Zero entries, Capcom just had to sneak in one more. Released extremely late into the Game Boy Advance's life - after the Nintendo DS had already been released, in fact - Mega Man Zero 4 is the final game in the series and mostly follows along with the previous three titles. Once again...
Rumour Skylanders Superchargers Details Leak, Features A Focus On Vehicles
Amazon spills the beans ahead of June 3rd reveal
The next game in the Skylanders series has a focus on vehicles, it has been revealed. Skylanders Superchargers is the name, and this time around you'll be able pilot amazing vehicles in order to stop the evil forces of Kaos. According to an Amazon listing - which has now been removed - the Starter...
Pre-show broadcasts also promised
Following the past weekend's Nintendo World Championship's qualifiers, Nintendo of America has used its quirky Nintendo Direct Micro and subsequent details to flesh out the final event that's taking place in LA on 14th June. For starters, the big event will be at 3pm Pacific time on 14th June, which is 6pm Eastern...
Book Review 33 1/3 - Koji Kondo's Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack
Going deep into the classics
The themes of Super Mario Bros. are such a prominent part of our culture that they're easily celebrated, but perhaps not so easy to truly appreciate. The tracks - especially the original Overworld/Ground Theme - pop up in so many places and are so readily playable in our heads that we can treat them as simpler and less...
News Art Academy: Home Studio Heading to North America as Wii U eShop Exclusive
$4 discount for SketchPad owners
It's been a while coming, but just recently we learned that Art Academy: Atelier is heading to Wii U in Europe on 26th June, this being the full home console retail entry in the series. It's now been confirmed in a Nintendo Direct Micro that'll it'll be called Art Academy: Home Studio in North America, and will...
News Splatoon Ranked Battles Creep Closer as the 'Splatometer' Fills
Server stress testing nearly done, then
Nintendo likes to make a game of everything, that's a key strength of the company. With Splatoon, our theory is that it's made a game of server stress testing, which perhaps explains the ongoing wait for the Ranked Battle mode - it was always expected, but is still slightly odd. Earlier this weekend Nintendo...
News Bravely Second End Layer is Heading to the West in 2016
The wait begins
Bravely Second End Layer has proven to be a success in Japan, and considering the highly respectable sales of its predecessor in the West it's little surprise that it's now confirmed for localisation. The Square Enix-published RPG had recently been trademarked in Europe, so this isn't particularly surprising news. Both Nintendo of...
News Unused Code In Super Smash Bros. For Wii U Suggests YouTube Upload Feature Was Planned
Could it be coming in the future?
One of Mario Kart 8's most amusing features was the ability to upload replays to YouTube so you can share your epic wins and dismal fails with the wider world. It would appear that there were similar plans for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but the feature was cut prior to launch. Evidence of the cut was found by a...
Video Footage From Nintendo World Championships 2015 Qualifiers Starts To Trickle Through
Did you go along and try your hand?
The Nintendo World Championships 2015 qualifiers took place recently, and we're already starting to see footage appear online which gives a flavour of these events. The qualifiers all happened May 30th at eight different locations up and down North America. The top scorer from each event is going ahead to the...
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