News SNES PlayStation Prototype Gets Turned On, Opened Up
It's really real, you guys
Feature Why We're Still Playing... Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal
The revolution of a revolution...
Smash Bros. for Wii U "could be near perfection"
News Super Smash Bros. + Splatoon Wii U Hardware Bundle Emerges in GameStop Black Friday Advert
New Nintendo 3DS XL deals and more also confirmed
News Target Reservation Cards Re-Affirm Fire Emblem Fates as a Dual Release for North America
While a single release seems likely for Europe
News - 2015, Week 45
Sunday8th Nov 2015
Tom Whitehead thinks it's time for more cohesion
If you'll allow this wistful 30-something to get out his pipe and slippers for some reminiscing, there was a time when game releases were a mystery and seemingly scheduled by the Marx Brothers. There could be months - or years! - between regional releases in the West, nevermind localising Japanese...
News Beenox Won't Be Working on Spider-Man Games Anymore
Moving on to greener pastures
As some of you may be aware, Beenox has more or less been the studio responsible for the Spider-Man video games for the past several years. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Spider-Man: Edge of Time, and both of The Amazing Spider-Man games all came from this studio, which is a rather impressive feat given how quickly...
YO-KAI is the reasoning
We've had another corker of a week in terms of Nintendo happenings; so much so that we couldn't blame anyone for not being able to keep up with everything. As we usually do, we've compiled all you need to know in one handy little video for your entertainment. This week we look at the incredible SNES Playstation prototype...
News Yuji Naka Expresses Interest in Sequels to Ivy the Kiwi? and Rodea the Sky Soldier
Hopefully, they won't take as long to develop
As many of you are likely aware, the long awaited release of Rodea the Sky Soldier is only a few days away in North America and Europe, at last bringing the game's heavily drawn out development cycle to its conclusion. Rodea the Sky Soldier was a brainchild of Yuji Naka - the mastermind behind Sonic the...
Saturday7th Nov 2015
Feature Why We're Still Playing... Pokémon Gold / Silver / Crystal
The revolution of a revolution...
This is a series of features that focuses on games that we keep playing again and again, either over an unhealthy number of hours or those that keep getting return visits long after they first graced our systems. In this entry Arjun talks about his favourite Pokémon games. The beginning: There's no doubt that the...
Friday6th Nov 2015
News Super Smash Bros. + Splatoon Wii U Hardware Bundle Emerges in GameStop Black Friday Advert
New Nintendo 3DS XL deals and more also confirmed
Black Friday is still a little while away, falling on 27th November in the US this year, but some deals are already starting to emerge. Intriguingly, the leaked GameStop Black Friday leaflet confirms an exciting new Wii U bundle, though it's unclear whether it'll be exclusive to the retailer. In...
News Target Reservation Cards Re-Affirm Fire Emblem Fates as a Dual Release for North America
While a single release seems likely for Europe
At the end of October we highlighted a minor oddity in Nintendo's list of upcoming releases. It showed Fire Emblem Fates as a single release in Europe, but listed the separate parts - Conquest and Birthright - for North America. This was intriguing as it reinforced the ongoing listing on Amazon UK -...
Saturday7th Nov 2015
Review Wild Gunman (Wii U eShop / NES)
You mean you have to use your hands?
Just like Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley, Wild Gunman was one of the first games released to take full advantage of the NES Zapper, and can now be played on the Wii U by using the Wii Remote's pointer instead. Based on Nintendo's light gun arcade machine, you might even remember seeing it in the Cafe 80's in Back to...
Site News Nintendo Life Turns 10 Today
Time flies when you're having fun
It was difficult finding out exactly when I started Nintendo Life. I can see that the domain name was registered on 29th October 2005 and my user account was created on 4th November, but the first article 'Our Nintendo Life Begins...' was posted 10 years ago today, 7th November 2005. I guess it took me a few days to...
Rumour Vision May be Coming to Disney Infinity 3.0
Suddenly, everything's 20/20
The toys to life concept is certainly nothing new today, with the rather cleverly disguised DLC causing wallets around the world to cry out in despair when each new wave of figures comes out. Disney Infinity wasn't the first to jump on this bandwagon, but you could very much argue that it's been the strongest competitor,...
News Activision Blizzard Has Just Opened a TV and Film Studio
Skylanders and Call of Duty are first up
Activision has no shortage of big hitter video game franchises, but it's a fairly safe bet that Skylanders and Call of Duty are the biggest successes to come from the company. It seems that Activision wants to continue to hit new heights and has just recently announced that it's opening Activision Blizzard...
Video See Splatoon's New Heavy Splatling Deco in all its Rhinestoned Glory
Fabulous freshness
Splatoon's latest free update in the continued support for the game gifted us all with a brand new variant on the Heavy Splatling, the Heavy Splatling Deco, and we've only gone and recorded some footage of it fresh from the servers. This thing not only looks flashy and unwieldily, but it has Point Sensors to keep track of your...
Friday6th Nov 2015
News SNES PlayStation Prototype Gets Turned On, Opened Up
It's really real, you guys
Earlier this year, a prototype SNES PlayStation was discovered in the wild and caused quite a stir among fans and collectors alike. The system - which was supposed to be start of a beautiful friendship between Nintendo and Sony but the former left the latter at the altar - never saw release and what images existed were...
Smash Bros. for Wii U "could be near perfection"
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has received numerous updates that have added content and also tweaked mechanics, from individual fighters down to broader improvements. It's also become a notable part of the competitive gaming scene, with the latest entry attracting levels of interest to bring it into the...
Review Toki Tori 3D (3DS eShop)
A good egg
Toki Tori has been ported, tweaked and re-released a lot, with its blend of accessible but increasingly challenging puzzling appealing to gamers of various types on almost any platform you can name. Suitable for touch inputs or physical controls, it's playable on just about any system you want, though sadly we couldn't find a version for...
News The Final Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate DLC Update is Now Live
Some gorgeous GX armour leads the way
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has been the franchises' most successful entry outside of Japan, passing one million sales in Europe and North America, in the process providing a vital breakthrough for the series. It gives us optimism that titles like Monster Hunter X (Cross) will also get localised, or at the very...
News Super Mario Maker Developers Talk About the Recent Update and Other Potential "Maker" Games
Looks like Zelda Maker won't be happening anytime soon
As most of you are aware, an update recently went out for Super Mario Maker that added several new features. Players are now able to place checkpoint flags as well as conditional power-up blocks that dispense power-ups according to Mario's current status. Additionally, a new concept called Event...
News 1993 Kirby's Adventure Interview Reveals Cut Content, Alternative Names And Why Kirby Is Pink
"Normally a character like Kirby would have been yellow"
Kirby is now a firmly-established member in Nintendo's vast catalogue of intellectual properties, but back in 1993 he was very much a newcomer looking to prove himself - as this fascinating interview from the period attests. Freshly translated by Shumplations.com, the feature originally...
News Akihiro Hino Explains Why Yo-Kai Watch Has Been So Successful and What Sets It Apart
It's kind of a big deal
As many of you are likely aware, Yo-Kai Watch is now out in North America. A massive hit in Japan, the fascinating Yo-kai adventure game has drawn many parallels to Pokémon and other similar monster catching series. Nonetheless, Level-5 is hoping that it'll achieve similar success in the West, and is launching a full...
Video A Wii Wave Race Project Got Far Enough to Have Its Own Patents
Ultimately turned down by Kyoto management
When we consider long-abandoned Nintendo franchises we'd like to see again, there's always a chance - if it's a top 10 - that Wave Race will come up within such lists. Those with fond memories of the Nintendo 64 may reminisce over its entry, even if the Game Boy original passed many by, while its last...
Video The New Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival Trailer is Seeking Happy Players
No points for sadness
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival is now just a week away in North America (13th November) and a little longer in Europe (20th November), and it's going to be interesting to see how well it performs in stores. The reaction from eager Nintendo fans to its E3 reveal this year were - we think it's fair to say - relatively hostile,...
Video Check Out This Unused Great Fairy Costume in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Cut completely or future DLC?
One of the biggest innovations brought to the rather divisive The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes was the introduction of costumes. Swappable outfits that bestow various special abilities upon the wearer, these added a refreshing amount of diversity to the gameplay and helped add another layer of strategy to...
News Get Ready to Shred Some Solos in Hello Kitty & Friends Rock 'n' World Tour
Rock on you crazy cats
Hello Kitty is a hugely successful brand - yes, it really is! So it's not surprising that there are numerous spin-off games and, due to the family focus of Nintendo hardware, they can often be found on Wii U and 3DS. This week Bergsala and Rising Star Games teamed up to release both Hello Kitty Kruisers and Hello Kitty and...
"A series about art impacting life"
There once was a time when the notion of someone writing a serious book about the impact of video games would have seemed laughable, but the medium has become such an entrenched part of our popular culture that we're now blessed with many fine tomes on the topic. As if to illustrate the fact that gaming is now on...
Thursday5th Nov 2015
Nintendo Download 5th November (North America)
Yo-Kai Watch! Rodea! Stinger! Electronic Super Joy! More!
It's time for more Nintendo Download Update goodness, and this week gamers in North America have a high-profile retail arrival on 3DS to consider alongside a long-awaited dual release on the portable and Wii U. There are some promising download-only games on offer too, so let's get to the...
Feature A Pokémon Retrospective: Generation 3 - 2002 To 2006
A period of evolution
As we build up to the 20th anniversary of Pokémon in February 2016, and look hotly ahead towards brand new things including the new Zygarde forms, we're continuing our monthly journey through each generation of Pokémon, this month we cover the generation that many ignored, the one that came after the Pokémon "fad" ended, but...
News The Super Mario Maker Update Has Cleared Up Some Glitches
Less fun for random videos
Super Mario Maker may be a well polished product, but like any game with some weird and wacky features it has a few glitches and quirks for gamers to exploit. Actually, in some cases, that should be had a few glitches. Our own video man and Super Mario Maker superfan Alex Olney has been trying to recreate some of the...
News Super Mario Maker's First Major Update is Now Live
Checkpoints. Sweet, sweet checkpoints...
Well, it's here, the Super Mario Maker update is live. A teaser for a new Totem Link Mystery Mushroom item gave an early idea of some of the extras included, and now your copy of the game should automatically update when you start it up. Key new features include the ability to add checkpoints to levels,...
News More North American Women Own A Games Console Than Men
Smartphone and tablet use on the rise, too
A new study in the US has revealed that more women own games consoles than men, flying in the face of the common perception that the hobby is dominated by male players. Conducted by the Pew Research Centre, the research indicates that 42 percent of US women own a games console, compared to 37 percent of...
News Orders for the Actual Yo-Kai Watch Toy Open on 6th November in North America
This thing's been rarer than Nintendo Directs in Japan
Yo-Kai Watch arrives on 3DS in North America on 6th November, which is an important launch for both Level-5 and Nintendo. It's a franchise that's become a dominant force in Japan, and both parties will hope that it finds a significant audience in the West. In addition to the game it's recently...
Review Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II (Wii U eShop / NES)
Time for Mike to make his return
For banana fans and island hoppers alike, the original StarTropics stands to this day as an under-appreciated classic of the NES library. It's the kind of imperfect gem that sadly went a little under the radar at the time of its release, but has endured as a cult favourite thanks in large part to its distinctive...
News A Little Bit of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is Coming to Super Mario Maker
It's 8-bit totem time
Super Mario Maker is getting a big update, and it seems that part of that will be a fun new pixel animation for the Mystery Mushroom item. Like plenty of others this one isn't based on an amiibo, as it recreates the heroes from The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. Nintendo of America has shared the following via Facebook and...
Video Check Out The Super Mario Maker Door-Knocking Easter Egg
I am the one who knocks
The much anticipated Super Mario Maker update v1.2 is now live. Key new features include the ability to add checkpoints to levels, which had been much in demand, and you can now 'stack' items in blocks. More exciting additions have arrived through 'Official Makers' and Event Courses, both found in the Course World section of...
News Those Who Buy Stella Glow Digitally Will Receive an Exclusive 3DS Theme
Physical buyers will be glowing with envy
As some of you are likely aware, Stella Glow will be releasing in North America on 17th November. The latest RPG from Atlus will be taking a rather musical approach to things, starring a series of witches that all have musical powers of some sort. We certainly enjoyed it based on some limited hands on time...
Video The Story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot... in Donkey Kong 64
Remember, remember
The Fifth of November, Guy Fawkes' Night, Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, or whatever you want to call it is a celebration in the United Kingdom and certain other countries centred around a historical event known as the Gunpowder Plot. Many people know it because of the excellent comic and subsequent film adaptation V for...
Video The Pokémon Company Shows Off the Current Zoroark Distribution
Available in North America now in ORAS
The Pokémon Company likes being random sometimes, and has released a Zoroark distribution for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire to prove that very point. This particular version of the tricky 'mon comes with the Sludge Bomb move, which it can't learn in normal gameplay, with Dark Pulse, Flamethrower and...
News SNK Playmore Ditches Pachinko Machines To Focus Entirely On Video Games
You know, just like it used to
SNK Playmore has announced that it is abandoning the manufacture of Pachinko machines in favour of focusing totally on video games and smartphone titles. The company began making Pachinko units when it was acquired by Aruze in 2000, a company famous for its Pachinko machines. SNK would file for bankruptcy in 2001 but...
News Splatoon's Next New Weapon is the Heavy Splatling Deco
Look good while dispensing inky justice
Splatoon continues to serve up new items on a weekly basis, with last week bringing two new weapons - the H-3 Nozzlenose D and the Luna Blaster Neo. We're down to one new weapon this week, but it's both glamorous and destructive, and therefore may be irresistible. Nintendo has confirmed that this week's new...
Video New Hyrule Warriors Legends Video Shows More Footage of Tetra in Action
Tetra sure knows how to tussle
As many of you are aware, Hyrule Warriors is due to receive an enhanced port on the 3DS in the form of Hyrule Warriors Legends. Featuring all of the DLC from the original game and with some additional playable characters, such as Toon Link and Tetra, this is certainly shaping up to be a title that looks like it'll be...
News Family Fishing Will Aim to Lure You in on the 3DS eShop
Throw smoke bombs, like all families on fishing trips
There are a surprising number of fishing games available across Nintendo systems, with multiple examples on WiiWare and 3DS. They must be popular releases as, otherwise, developers wouldn't go out of their way to create and release the games; it sure beats wading around at a real lake, right?...
Video Toki Tori 3D Launch Trailer Flaps Into View
Just in time for release day
Toki Tori 3D launches today, and to mark the occasion developer Two Tribes has sneakily published a launch trailer on its YouTube channel. A remake of the Game Boy Color original, the game boasts improved visuals and animation, as well as a new "rewind" feature that allows you to backtrack and fix your mistakes. Toki...
Wednesday4th Nov 2015
Review Octodad: Dadliest Catch (Wii U eShop)
Octo-Sad
Back in 2010 a little known freeware title by the name of Octodad was developed by a group of students. Built using the ever-evolving game development software Unity, Octodad was a fine example of what small development teams could conjure up just by using their home computers. Since then a sequel was born, with its appearance on the...
Talking Point Super Mario Maker's Update Continues Nintendo's Focus on Major Games as Services
Going beyond day one
Super Mario Maker is on the cusp - at the time of writing - of receiving its first major update. It solves one of the most notable quibbles that fans have had by adding level checkpoints, in addition to features such as dedicated areas for official Nintendo courses and 'event' courses contributed by companies such as Facebook...
News Star Fox Zero Website Has Fans of amiibo and Online Play Dreaming
It happens with vague starter websites...
Earlier today we highlighted the fact that the Star Fox Zero official website has some lovely wallpapers to download that help ease the pain of its delay into Q1 2016. Sure, it'd have been nice to play the game this festive season, but putting one of these on our desktop will cheer us up in the meantime...
News Nintendo's Latest Hanafuda Deck Is Perhaps Its Most Eye-Catching Yet
If only we knew how to play
As we all know, Nintendo started out making playing cards - Hanafuda cards, to be precise - and although the company's focus has changed over the years, it has maintained a link with its past by producing special Hanafuda packs. The latest set is possibly the most visually alluring yet, and uses classic Super Mario...
News These Lush Star Fox Zero Wallpapers Will Make The Wait A Little More Bearable
"I see 'em up ahead. Let's rock 'n' roll!"
Many of us had hoped that we would be playing Fox McCloud's latest adventure on our Wii U consoles this Christmas, but sadly Star Fox Zero has been delayed until early next year - despite what some slightly optimistic retailers might have you believe. The wait might be pa
News Splatoon Art Book Reveals Early Concept for Warping via Urinals and Sinks
Eww
There's certainly no shortage of ways to travel around as a squid in Splatoon. You can choose to either just swim through your team's ink, tap on a teammate or Squid Beakon to super jump, or – in the single player mode – use a sort of powerline to quickly transport you from one side of the map to another. However, it appears that there was...
News Fatal Frame Developers on Why Water was a Central Theme and How Ayane Came to be Included
Evidently, ghosts are less likely to appear in dry climates
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water released only a couple weeks ago to generally positive acclaim. While the game may be a bit repetitive in some places, its integration of the GamePad as the Camera Obscura was a clever move that really added a whole new layer of immersion to the...
Review Electronic Super Joy (Wii U eShop)
Get out the glow sticks
A key question often lobbed at reviewers is "did you completely finish the game?" We'll answer that one straight away here - no. The reason? Because we can't, but the fact we'll keep trying says much about why we're happy to recommend Electronic Super Joy to Wii U owners. Originally developed by Michael Todd Games and ported...
Wii U sales stay in four figures
It's Media Create chart results time in Japan, and after a debut week at number one for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes and plenty of Nintendo platform releases close behind, the latest results show new titles on rival platforms taking over the top spots. We already highlighted that Tri Force Heroes
News Konami Already Planning Next Metal Gear Game, Presumably Without Hideo Kojima's Input
"A large-scale investment will become necessary"
The Konami drama continues. After rumours that the veteran publisher is leaving AAA development and the confusion surrounding the employment status of Hideo Kojima - its most famous staffer - Konami has recently confirmed that it is shuttering the LA-based studio responsible for Metal Gear Online,...
Tuesday3rd Nov 2015
Video Learn a Little About Pokémon Snap and Five 'Impossible' Pocket Monsters
From Did You Know Gaming? and our own Alex
Trivia and fictional logic are fundamental parts of the gaming landscape - it can be fascinating to learn more details on games and how they're made, while we may also fantasise over whether Bowser is really a bad guy. Either is an entertaining way to pass some time. So we thought we'd share a couple of...
Wednesday4th Nov 2015
News Sprixie Joins the Ranks in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
Bringing some magic to the court
The cast of Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash continues to grow, and Nintendo's latest reveal brings in a relatively recent creation from Super Mario 3D World. The green Sprixie from that title will make her début on the tennis courts, bringing her cutesy style to the upcoming Wii U release. The reveal trailer also shows...
News Nintendo Re-Iterates Drive to Seek Innovation for New and Existing IP
Smart devices and 3DS cited as key areas for fresh ideas
Nintendo is sometimes accused of underutilising its franchises, an area the company has been actively working to improve. Whether through new brands like Splatoon or achieving success through popularising its characters with amiibo, the big N has been taking steps to boost its branding and key...
News Dinosaurs and New Playable Characters Are Now Available for Disney Infinity 3.0
Rawr
Disney Infinity 3.0 has been out for a while now and is arguably the best version of the game, yet. Most notably adding material from the Star Wars universe, it certainly isn't lacking interesting things to do and will doubtless be a favorite Christmas game for gamers both young and old. Of course, the game is an ongoing project, with new...
The Yo-Kai basics, again
Yo-Kai Watch is just a few days away from its release in North America, as Nintendo and series developer Level 5 aim to turn it into the next major success story for the 3DS. The IP is hugely successful in Japan, but the question remains as to whether it can replicate that performance in the West. Based on the launch...
It makes sense, sort of...
Based on UK sales, at least, the revival of plastic guitar games is struggling to truly take off. Rock Band 4 has hardly flown off shelves and we're curious to see how Guitar Hero Live performs in other territories, as the Wii U iteration is somewhat tanking in the UK charts, with the PS4 and Xbox One versions doing ok. We...
Future smart device games could work with dedicated game systems
Following the recent investor briefing given by Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima, the company has now published official transcripts of its investor Q & A in which Nintendo's senior management was quizzed on key issues. Compared to some past iterations it's a rather short,...
Tuesday3rd Nov 2015
News Crazy Super Mario Maker Level Creator, Panga, Has Produced Another Insane Level
Took a combined 50 hours to upload
Super Mario Maker is a wonderful release from Nintendo, giving fans the ability to share incredibly creative levels. Some specialise in producing hugely difficult stages, perhaps none more so than 'Panga'. In case you need reminding, Panga produced the downright ridiculous P Break level, regarded by many as the...
Review Konami Krazy Racers (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Super Konami Kart
Konami Krazy Racers (AKA Konami Wai Wai Racing Advance in Japan) is a largely forgotten Mario Kart clone that was also one of the original launch games for GBA. If you can imagine Mario Kart Super Circuit with Konami-themed characters and courses, you'll be on the right track with what to expect from this decent little kart racer...
News Swapnote's Nikki is Revived as a Fan-Created Character in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Now known as 'Ikki' for copyright reasons, we suspect
We're still awaiting a release date for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the crowdfunded HD entry in the series that'll arrive either late this year or early in 2016, though WayForward is still ticking along and maintaining interest in the release. While doing so it's also fulfilling its duties to...
News Shadow Mewtwo Gets a Flashy Reveal in Official Pokkén Tournament Wii U Trailer
Confirmed for the home console port, then
Just recently a new 'dark Mewtwo' emerged as a boss character in the Pokkén Tournament arcade, which was an exciting reveal for fans of the fighting game. The Pokémon Company has now revealed the localised name for this character - it's actually Shadow Mewtwo. The trailer below ends with a stylish reveal...
Video Take a Look at This Super Mario Mod for Sonic Generations
Looks surprisingly polished
For those of you that aren't part of the PC gaming world, you may not be too familiar with mods. Basically free, fan-created DLC, mods can put an interesting spin and add significant value to the base game that they're made for. It's gotten to the extent that certain mods have become more popular than the game they've...
News New Style Boutique 2's amiibo Outfits Look Rather Fabulous
Strut your stuff
Nintendo Presents: New Style Boutique 2 - Fashion Forward may be one of the most awkward game names ever conceived of by Nintendo, but this is a title that's no doubt on a few 3DS owner's wishlists in Europe. The appeal and success of its predecessors speaks to that popularity, and the fact it's heading to the EU suggests that it's...
Review Wicked Monsters Blast! HD PLUS (Wii U eShop)
MASH, MASH, MASH, MASH, MASH…
Party-style mini-game compilations can sometimes be a treat. Many of us will have spent countless hours on games such as Nintendo Land and Mario Party, laughing uncontrollably as the same person fails over and over, or screaming hateful abuse towards those we held closest to our hearts only seconds before. These games...
Video Taking A Look At The New 3DS Retro Plate & Watch In Action
Taking retro a bit too far?
We brought you the news of the New 3DS Retro Plate & Watch way back in July, but the time has finally arrived for those preorders to be fulfilled. Naturally Nintendo Life chum Nintendaan is at hand to take the bullet and give it a try. Taking inspiration from Nintendo's classic series of Game & Watch devices, the...
News Stella Glow Now Has a Confirmed Release Date for Europe
The music starts
Stella Glow arrives in North America very soon, bringing its own unique blend of music and RPG gameplay - along with a gorgeous launch edition - to the region. Thankfully NIS America has now announced full details for the European release, with the good news being that it'll arrive as both a physical and download title. There are...
News ZombiU Servers Reanimate After Being Down for Several Months
Graffiti is back!
Though it's ancient history now by game industry standards, ZombiU is arguably one of only a few games on the Wii U to fully make usage of the GamePad, and the launch title is still a decent survival horror romp for those who might be interested. One rather neat feature of the game was a form of asymmetrical online multiplayer...
Random Looks Like Ratchet & Clank Have Been Taking Tips From The Star Fox Team
They see me rollin'
The latest Ratchet & Clank adventure is due to arrive on the PS4 next year, and despite the fact that it's not on Nintendo formats, that's still worth celebrating - it proves that there's room for cute, family-friendly action games on the next generation of consoles, amid all the brown and grey-coloured military shooters...
News Wave 2 Lego Dimensions Expansion Packs Arrive Alongside "Hire-A-Hero" Option
Doctor Who! LEGO Ninjago! The Simpsons! The LEGO Movie!
A new wave of expansion packs has been released for Lego Dimensions, along with a new feature which allows you to sample Wave 1 characters using the studs you've collected in-game. The packs include Doctor Who, LEGO Ninjago, The Simpsons and The LEGO Movie. "Hire-a-Hero" allows you to use...
News No, SNES Super FX Title Vortex Was Never A Transformers Game
Despite the rumours of the past few decades
1994's Vortex might not have been a smash-hit, but it was arguably one of the most technically impressive uses of Argonaut's Super FX chip - the hardware which made games like Star Fox and Stunt Race FX possible. Featuring a transforming craft known as the Battle Morphing System which could shift between...
Random Whoops, Toys "R" Us is Listing Star Fox Zero for November in Its Catalogue
"Jeez! Can anyone take care of it?"
Those on the Toys "R" Us mailing list in North America may be receiving its 'Book of Awesome', a catalogue with such a marketing push behind it that it even has its own commercial. As with any print run, though, it's liable to run into issues should details change late in the day; this one's unfortunately been...
News SEGA Posts Financial Results, Sales are Down and Profits are up
Live and learn
SEGA just recently revealed how the company has been doing from the period of April to September and the results are satisfactory, if rather unexceptional. Net sales hit $1.2 billion, which was a 2.5 per cent decrease from the equivalent period last year. On the flipside, the company turned a profit of $7.9 million, a solid turnaround...
News Grab Your Children's Day Pikachu Poké Plush While You Can
Won't somebody think of the children?
Pokémon fans might want to throw some money at the screen, as Pokémon Center is selling the Children's Day Pikachu Poké Plush for just $17.99 as we speak
News Make Your New Nintendo 3DS Cuter With Yoshi Cover Plates
Yoshi's so much happier when Mario isn't riding him to his doom
European New Nintendo 3DS owners may not have access to all of the cover plates that are enjoyed in Japan - known as Kisekae in the country - but attractive new variations do occasionally arrive. Some new plates featuring Yoshi are on the way soon, however, and they look like welcome...
Monday2nd Nov 2015
Video Jessica Chobot Is Samus Aran In This Lavish Fan-Made Metroid Short
In space, no one can hear you turn into a morph ball
Let's face it - Metroid would make a brilliant movie. A strong female lead, sinister alien forces and entire universe to explore; the franchise is ripe for the Hollywood treatment. Perhaps one day it will happen, but for now we'll have to take this stunning fan-made short, which stars video gaming...
Nintendo Download 5th November (Europe)
Chibi-Robo! Electronic Super Joy! Contra! Toki Tori 3D! More!
Another week begins, and Nintendo of Europe has the task of setting off some virtual fireworks in its Download Update. It does succeed in terms of delivering a first-party retail title on 3DS, while we think the download-only scene on Wii U is looking pretty encouraging this week. Throw...
News Nintendo Shares Level Out After $4 Billion Drop in Company Value
Investors vote with their wallets
Last week was a rather notable one for Nintendo and its smart device strategy. In addition to announcing financial results President Tatsumi Kimishima made a presentation to investors in which he announced that both the Nintendo Account system and first smart device app, Miitomo, would arrive in March 2016 as...
Feature Finding Top Speed in FAST Racing NEO
"It's been the biggest production for us. We're sure it'll pay off"
FAST Racing NEO, still due this year, is almost certainly among the most highly anticipated Wii U eShop releases of the next two months. In fact, among the hardier and most dedicated band of Wii U devotees it may be one of the most exciting upcoming releases on the system full stop,...
Review PictoParty (Wii U eShop)
Bad drawings are funny
Drawing with a time limit is a great recipe for laughter, especially among friends. PictoParty channels your inner terrible artist, letting you poorly draw cupcakes, skyscrapers and lamps as your friends desperately try to guess what it is you're trying to create. It's a simple party game that you may have seen before and is...
News Nintendo Is Unique, Different And Does Its Own Thing, Says Xbox Marketing Boss
"I guess we'll react to that when we know more"
Nintendo has a reputation of innovation within the games industry which runs all the way back to the '80s, when the company blazed a trail with its Game & Watch series - the first hardware to showcase the now-commonplace D-pad. Since then, we've seen the company embrace cutting-edge tech ahead of...
News Koei Tecmo is Planning Another Major Collaboration With a Western IP
Fingers crossed for Nintendo support
Koei Tecmo can certainly be considered among Nintendo's most valuable allies in Japan. It not only develops the Nintendo-owned Fatal Frame titles, but has also produced titles such as the rather popular Hyrule Warriors. That Legend of Zelda spin-off has shipped over a million copies on Wii U and is coming to the...
Video Take a Look at the Mega Man Cartoon that Never Was
Why did you change the look, Capcom?
For those of you that aren't old enough to remember, Capcom greenlit a brief Mega Man cartoon based on the classic series of games back in the mid 90's. The show was rather hit or miss, never hitting the heights of similar cartoons - like Ducktales or Darkwing Duck - and sporting a rather unattractive visual...
Review Hogan's Alley (Wii U eShop / NES)
Not exactly a bullseye
One of the earliest NES games released, Hogan's Alley is also possibly the most well-known Zapper game after the classic Duck Hunt. But does it hold up as well as its lightgun game partner? The premise of Hogan's Alley is fairly simple. You are (seemingly) some sort of police officer or soldier doing shooting practice, with...
News Word Puzzles by POWGI Will Include Support For All amiibo on 3DS
Even amiibo cards
Lightwood Games is a studio that's made its name with word games on smart devices, and has recently been releasing some of its titles on Wii U and 3DS. Word Search by POWGI has arrived on Wii U and 3DS, while Word Party is coming to Wii U soon; its next release has a fairly unique feature, though, in that it'll support all current...
News EA Will Evaluate "Any And All Opportunities" When It Comes To Nintendo And NX
"We’ve had a tremendous relationship with them over the years"
Electronic Arts is one of the industry's publishing veterans and has been known to make-or-break the fortunes of consoles in the past. The company threw its weight behind the Mega Drive / Genesis during the 16-bit era and helped Sega score a notable victory over Nintendo, but by the...
News Super Mario Maker Developers Share Details on How Costumes and Cursor Variations Came About
Evidently, Takashi Tezuka has ten cats
Super Mario Maker has been out for a couple months now and by all accounts has been a massive success. One particularly interesting feature is the ability to scan in virtually any amiibo and have the character replace Mario's sprite on certain stages. While this may not have much of an impact on gameplay, it's...
News Monster eShop Maintenance to Run Through Most of 2nd November
It's for a major server revamp, so don't get too excited
Some of you may have had some trouble accessing the eShop today, and having assumed it was the usual short weekly session we decided to wait a short while. Then we waited a little longer. In actual fact, the eShop will likely be down for most of 2nd November due to a potential 24-hour...
News The Starforce Pi Is An Arcade You Can Fit In Your Rucksack
Coming to Kickstarter this month
A new Kickstarter project is looking to resurrect classic arcade gaming in a more portable form via the power of the Raspberry Pi chipset. Starforce Pi is a tabletop gaming machine which offers a full-sized Sanwa-supplied microswitched joystick and buttons, powerful stereo sound, authentic video playback and support...
Video Just Who Exactly is Miitomo Designed for?
Miit & griit
Miitomo isn't the explosive introduction onto smart devices that many people were hoping, but many others remain vigilant that it is indeed a smart move by the big N; not least our own Thomas Whitehead who explains the strengths of the future app. In the video below we discuss with long-time Nintendo Life amigo Andy Robertson from...
News Super Mario Maker Still Leads the Way for Nintendo in the UK as Tri Force Heroes Stumbles
Happy Home Designer leads for 3DS
The UK charts aren't always a happy home for Nintendo, though can give an indication of which titles have the strongest long-term momentum on Wii U and 3DS. This week's results, then, show which titles are finding an audience and others that are having a tougher time. The first Nintendo game in the all-format top...
Video Toadette Takes to the Court in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash as Yo-Kai Watch Focuses on Weirdness
Net play won't be a strength of Toad and Toadette
It can be interesting to see how Nintendo's marketing varies across different titles, with concepts - or lack of concept as the case may be - drawn up to play to a game's strengths. On that score Nintendo's clearly got very different ideas of how to tempt players to pick up Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash...
Video Teens Discover That Finding A Weapon In GoldenEye 007 Is Harder Than You Think
"Bro, where's my gun at?"
GoldenEye 007 has been in the news lately thanks to comments from designer Martin Hollis regarding changes proposed by Shigeru Miyamoto, so this latest Teens React video is quite timely. You know the drill by now - the guys at the React YouTube channel take an old game, locate some willing teens and make them play it,...
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