Rumour Nintendo's Next Generation Handheld Is Codenamed "MH"
Monster Hunter? Miyamoto Hotness? Mobile Home? Much Hype?
News Meet The Edgy And Mature Fan-Made Pokémon Game That Aims To "Fix" The Series
Pokémon Apex has "adult dialogue, themes and minor horror elements"
News retroUSB's HDMI NES, the AVS, is Heading for a Summer Release
Priced at $185 and touting support for all current and future carts
News A Wii U Homebrew Channel Opens Up New Possibilities for Some Cheeky Gamers
It's not just on 3DS any more
News - May, 2016
Tuesday31st May 2016
News IronFall Invasion Studio Is Bringing RISE: Race The Future To Wii U, 3DS And Nintendo NX
Futuristic drift-based racing inspired by Sega Rally? Yes please
IronFall Invasion developer VD-Dev has lifted the lid on its next project, a racing game under the title RISE: Race The Future. An arcade-style racer which draws on Sega Rally for inspiration, RISE is coming to a wide range of systems, including the Wii U, 3DS and (eventually)
News Mega Man Legacy Collection Among Discounts in Capcom's North American eShop Spring Sale
Resident Evil games! Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate! More!
Discounts, we all love them, and it seems that Capcom has unveiled some as part of an eShop Spring Sale to tempt North American Wii U and 3DS owners to part with some cash in the coming week. The following price cuts are live and are only running until 6th June, so if you're in the Americas you...
News Hong Kong Pokémon Fans Protest Over New Translation Issues with Sun and Moon
Super effective?
The global nature of the Pokémon games has no doubt been quite a headache for localisation teams over the years. Many of the creaturess names are much more than just arbitrary labels, often having some sort of cultural or self-referential elements reflected in the spelling or pronunciation of the names. Naturally, localisation of...
Video Weep with Us Over these Top Five Gaming Series that Ain't What They Used to Be
No prizes for guessing number one
Every series has its high points and its low points, but for some franchises we seem to be stuck at the bottom of a rut with no clear way out. It's sad that some of our favourite series have taken such a nosedive, but that's just what happens sometimes. In an effort to try and inform, entertain, and relieve some...
Review Super Strike Beach Volleyball (3DS eShop)
The Family that Plays Together
You wouldn't be wrong in thinking that the art in Super Strike Beach Volleyball looks familiar. You also wouldn't be wrong in thinking that the art looks like it was ripped completely from games such as Family Tennis 3D or Family Fishing. Make no mistake, this latest all-ages outdoor sport title is part of the Arc...
News It Looks Like Sega Classic Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap Is Getting A Timely Remake
DotEmu puts teaser site live
Sega's Wonder Boy series is one of its strongest 8 and 16-bit franchises, but it has been dormant for many years - a situation no doubt related to the fact that original developer Westone sadly no longer exists. While a "spiritual successor" is in development in the form of Monster Boy - complete with inp
News Nintendo Steps Up Its 3DS Marketing for Young Gamers
These ads aren't bad, actually
A little while ago we wrote rather glowingly about Nintendo of America's latest slogan - 'There's No Play Like It'. It's not the first time NoA has gone for the angle of promoting its games for their uniqueness, and in the context of a 2DS advert that pitch certainly made sense. The subsidiary has now launched a...
Video Poor Old Sonic Can't Even Win in the Rio Olympics
Or maybe we're reading too much into this...
Sonic the Hedgehog must be ready for a return to form, it should be time. After that Sonic Boom game on Wii U - the name of which should not be spoken - and the upcoming closure of Sonic Runners on mobile, there's a hope that a bounce-back is on the cards for the SEGA mascot as its Anniversary year picks...
Review Dan McFox: Head Hunter (3DS eShop)
I choose you!
When you think of suave secret agents and covert crime fighting, 'Guess Who?' might not be the first thing that comes to mind. The board game classic is the kind of entertainment usually reserved for the occasional power outage or after a boozy Christmas dinner, but for Dan McFox it's his modus operandi when chasing down suspects. The...
News Pokémon Ga-Olé Bringing Plastic Card Battling Action To Japanese Arcades This July
Olé!
A short time ago, we reported on the news that a fresh Pokémon arcade title was coming to Japan. We've now got more details on the unit - named Pokémon Ga-Olé - which is due to arrive in Japanese amusement centers this July. Developed by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. and Marvelous AQL, Ga-Olé uses plastic cards for its 'mon battling action and...
News Speedrunner Takes Flight With 100% Star Fox Zero World Record
That's it, Fox!
Star Fox Zero has only been available for a little over a month, but already there are speedrunners that have mastered its secrets and collectibles. No-one has shown just what's possible quite as well as Scottish gamer Argick, who has set the verified 100% completion world record for the Wii U title. His in-game time is just over 1...
Feature Miitomo's Initial Success Doesn't Mask Lessons to be Learned for Future Nintendo Apps
Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem have the scope to do better
Miitomo was always, it seemed, a divisive first app to come from the Nintendo / DeNA partnership. For some the idea of Nintendo being directly involved in smart device downloads is a form of blasphemy, while others were surprised at the choice of brand and approach. With Mii characters at...
News Fire Emblem Fates Drops Down UK Charts as Half Term Sales Boost Rivals
Yo-kai Watch clings on
As is often the case, Half Term in the UK has led to increased sales for a number of titles, old and new, shaking up the top 40 charts. That hasn't benefitted many Nintendo titles, unfortunately, with a major recent release losing some ground. In the UK charts Fire Emblem Fates is counted (appropriately) as two separate...
Video Go Bananas With The Full History Of The Monkey Ball Series
A franchise forever linked with the Nintendo GameCube
Super Monkey Ball was arguably one of the GameCube's most appealing early releases, offering a gripping concept, appealing lead character and hours of challenge. While the Monkey Ball series has since moved onto other platforms, it will forever be associated with Nintendo's boxy home console -...
News GameStop Ireland Lists Minecraft: Story Mode For a European Disc Release Later This Year
NA is still waiting for Episode 2...
Minecraft: Story Mode took its sweet time coming to Wii U, with episode 1 finally landing in North America in January. At the time a press release promised subsequent chapters "in the coming weeks", though as that was over four months ago it should have sai
News Prism Pets is on its Way to the Wii U eShop Soon
How relaxing
The success of the eShop on the Wii U paired with the touch screen-centric controller has led to many smart device games (or others of that ilk) popping up on the digital storefront. While many of these may offer experiences that some may call shallow, they represent a side of gaming that's more focused on instant gratification, and it...
Random Football Fans Recreate Some Wario Magic
Well, Wario playing like Mario...
Nintendo may be in the process of attempting to up its game in order to keep its characters and franchises at the forefront of the public's consciousness, but its iconic mascots and classic games are never far away in popular culture. From extravagant half time shows at American Football matches to cosplay at every...
Monday30th May 2016
Nintendo Download 2nd June (Europe)
Donkey Kong Country 3! Kick and Fennick! Fire Emblem DLC! More!
With the start of another week we have the European Nintendo Download Update, outlining what goodies are on the way in a few days. The new arrivals are low in number but have some quality nonetheless, while there are a range of discounts to consider. Let's get to it. Wii U eShop: Kick...
Review Rendering Ranger: R2 (SNES)
Shoot or Die
Are you familiar with the name Manfred Trenz? How about a company called Rainbow Arts? Perhaps the name Turrican will be more relatable? It all depends on how far back you started playing video games, especially in Europe. All three names warranted attention for Commodore 64 and Amiga owners, since they were synonymous with arcade...
Review 8Bit Hero (Wii U eShop)
Crawls flat
Retro-style pixelation is a tricky commodity to master. Pull it off well in a game and players can bask in warm, fuzzy nostalgia or (for the young'uns) simply enjoy an artful use of the form. If you don't integrate it well, players might just wonder why the style choice was made in the first place. 8Bit Hero unfortunately leans toward...
News Writer Of Divisive New Mega Man Cartoon Asks Fans To Give It A Chance
"Because our collective approach doesn't match your ideas is not an attack"
The lid was recently lifted on the new Mega Man cartoon, due to air in 2017. To say fan reaction was mixed would be an understatement, with many online commenters strongly criticising the look of the new hero, a robot boy named Aki Light who turns himself into the titular...
Random Super Smash Bros. Melee Input Lag Remains a Hot Topic Among Fans
Input lag using Dolphin netcode, that is...
Few Nintendo franchises command as much loyalty and community engagement as Super Smash Bros.. From high-profile competitive events down to the hacking and modding scene, it's a series that has a large and devoted following. In the opinion of some Super Smash Bros. Melee is the pinnacle of the series,...
News Dragon Quest Creator Wants To Bring Back Passwords For Dragon Quest XI
Get that pen and paper ready
Dragon Quest is 30 years old, and a few days ago a special "Anniversary Countdown Special" took place in Japan. While the event was very much about celebrating past games in the amazingly popular RPG series, there was a little bit of info about the forthcoming Dragon Quest XI worth mentioning. Series creator Yuji Horii...
News The CEO of Level-5 Had a Hand in Dragon Quest IX Appearing on the DS
Who would've thought?
The Professor Layton series made its grand entrance on the Nintendo DS and quickly made a name for itself as one of the great franchises on the portable. Of course, the widespread sales success of the DS likely had a hand in propelling the series to popularity, so there was something of a mutually beneficial relationship...
Interview Exploring the Ambition Behind 3Souls, the Episodic Wii U eShop Exclusive
Utilising the GamePad and "kishōtenketsu" approach
Though the console is in the midst of a disappointing sales decline, the Wii U is a system that - for those already on board - still has plenty to offer. It's in the download scene where intriguing titles can still be found, and the eShop on the home console continues to attract ambitious new...
News The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Manga Is Coming to the West
'Akira Himekawa' confirms Viz Media will take up publication
A while ago it was confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would have its own manga. At the time it was only pinned down for a Japanese release, but Akira Himekawa - the combined name for the two artists behind many of these franchise manga - has since outed it as being...
Sunday29th May 2016
Nintendo Life Weekly Latest Mighty No. 9 Trailer Slated by Officials
A mighty slice of embarrassment
Another week has passed in the world of Nintendo, and so it's time for us to round up the week's events in a single, tidy package. This week we look at the turbulent response to the latest trailer for the oft delayed Mighty No. 9, A pair of interesting new costumes for Super Mario Maker, and what is supposedly the...
Video Fans Enact 'Palutena's Guidance' With Smash 4's Latest DLC Characters
"Here we go, another sword fighter..."
'Palutena's Guidance' is a feature in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS that allows secret conversations to be held, much in the same vain as Snake's Codec Conversations in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Palutena advises Pit about the opponent he's up against, and these conversations can only be activated on her...
Video Learn More About Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2
And quietly judge the millions that apparently pirated it
Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are among the most critically acclaimed and popular titles of the Wii era, even proving popular as Virtual Console downloads on Wii U. They're also games with interesting histories - from the origins of the sequel as Super Mario Galaxy 1.5, down to...
Saturday28th May 2016
News Sonic Runners, SEGA's Mobile Release by the Sonic Team, is Getting Shut Down
Sonic Stumblers
In late 2014 there was nervous chatter around teases of a new title from the Sonic Team, and it was revealed to be a mobile title. It was a relatively bold move, as previous mobile titles featuring the Blue Blur (including ports) had been handled by other teams, but here was an effort tagged as coming from the series' core studio...
News Nintendo Celebrates Splatoon's One Year Anniversary in Japan With a Whole Load of Announcements
Sheldon's Picks! Music CD! Hats! More!
Splatoon is one year old in Japan - a landmark that'll pass on 29th May in the West - and the game's official Twitter account has gone announcement crazy. Some of the details are certainly applicable to the West, and no doubt localised announcements will come in good time. First of all Sheldon's Picks Volume 2...
News Space Probe Aims to Bring Relaxing Exploration and Monster Collection to the New Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo's portable is part of a modest stretch goal
Kickstarter is still a notable source of funding for developers of various sizes, helping projects get over the finishing line. Now BRAMBLETYNE, a company with a track record in comic books and smart device apps, is seeking a small amount of funding to bring its next project to New 3DS. This...
News The Delusions of Von Sottendorff Has Been Chosen for the IndieCade E3 Showcase This Year
No delusions here
Some of you may remember The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and his Square Mind, an indie title released for the 3DS eShop in late December. The quirky puzzler from a Spanish developer called Delirium Studios centered around the struggles of a crazed baron trying to escape from his massive mansion. While we found it to be pretty...
Friday27th May 2016
Review Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (SNES)
Never Cling Alone
There are some video games that show up late in a console generation that push boundaries and defy preconceptions on what was considered possible. Resident Evil 4 immediately springs to mind, not only pushing the series to a point Capcom that hasn't been able to match since but also serving as a template to every other game in...
Review Contra III: The Alien Wars (New 3DS / SNES)
Portable blockbuster
The year is 2636 and some aliens have popped over to earth for a visit. At first it seems they are putting on a fancy light show but then buildings start exploding and the alien wars begin! Contra III: The Alien Wars is a run and gun classic full of action as you "attack aggressively" in an attempt to defeat those pesky...
News Next Year's Mega Man Cartoon Looks Certain To Maintain Proud Tradition Of Annoying Fans
Say hello to "normal, upbeat, schoolboy robot" Aki Light
While Mega Man successor Mighty No. 9 appears to be losing the interest of its fanbase even before it hits the market, our friends over at Capcom continue to struggle to find an effective use for the Blue Bomber himself. With no original game in quite some time, the Japanese publisher is...
Video Check Out the Spirit Temple in Unreal Engine 4
How far will they go?
About a month ago, we reported on an ongoing project by a YouTuber named CryZENx wherein The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is remade in Unreal Engine 4. Naturally, the project looks absolutely stunning, and while one must wonder what the full game would be like in this style, it's certainly nice to see the quintessential...
News You Can Now Play Super Famicom Exclusive Donald Duck & The Magical Hat In English
(Duck) tales of love, magic and part-time employment
Much like that one Amazing Spider-Man game that never made it to the West, Disney's very own Donald Duck found his way exclusively onto the Japanese Super Famicom with Donald Duck no Mahō no Bōshi - or simply put in plain ol' English, Donald Duck & The Magical Hat. Released in August...
Poll Are You Still a Miitomo Regular, or Has The Great Mii Q & A Lost Its Charm?
The big question
Earlier this week SurveyMonkey Intelligence shared its statistics suggesting a drop in popularity for Miitomo, with the app seemingly seeing notable drops in download numbers, a high churn rate and declines in weekly average users (WAU). It was data focused on the US, but nevertheless provided an interesting look at something that...
"We want to surprise the player all the time"
Just recently Playtonic Games raised the curtain on Yooka-Laylee, a title that's got a lot of 3D platforming and Rare fans excited. The studio is a mix of veterans from the venerable developer along with some younger talent, and after a period of silence it's emergeed to share more of its project.
Video Marvel at the Madness of Dragon Ball Fusions
It looks... interesting
The Dragon Ball franchise is big business for Bandai Namco and its partners, appearing in various forms across multiple platforms. In August the next 3DS entry will make its mark in Japan - Dragon Ball Fusions. It's an RPG and, as the name makes clear, allows players to fuse characters together in strange combinations, while...
News US Retailer GameStop Hoping That Nintendo NX Can Arrest Decline In Hardware Sales
NX market "could" be worth $7.5 billion
GameStop's quarterly earnings call took place yesterday, with the company revealing that total sales have dropped 4.3 percent to $1.97 billion, while hardware sales have fallen by 28.8 percent. The fall was attributed to the small number of AAA games in the first quarter of this year. However, the company...
News Police Officer Generously Donates Treasured Pokémon Cards To Boy Whose Collection Was Stolen
It's super heartwarming!
A US police officer has come to the aid of a 9-year-old Pokémon fan after his beloved collection of cards was stolen by a local hoodlum. Young Bryce - who has been collecting the cards since he was 6 - was proudly showing off his collection to friends when the thief struck. He swiped the binder containing Bryce's cards and...
News Good Smile Is At It Again, This Time With a Rather Handsome Skyward Sword Link Figure
Lifting our spirits
Good Smile Company is a producer of some of the cutest and / or most handsome Nintendo-themed figures around, depending on the game and range it's shooting for. The latest offering it's putting up for pre-order is a Link based on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The figure's face is based more on the title's promotional /...
Video The Stakes Are High in This Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Story Trailer
Free DLC armor with some pre-orders, too
It was certainly positive news for RPG fans, earlier this year, when Atlus confirmed Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse for a Summer release in the Americas - it was called 'Final' in Japan. An entirely separate game from Shin Megami Tensei IV, it nevertheless shares the name as t
News Nintendo of America Partners Up With CEO 2016 for Smash Bros. Melee and Wii U Tournaments
It's going to heat up in Orlando
Super Smash Bros. Melee and the current-gen Wii U entry have established their popularity in the competitive gaming scene, with the latter perhaps benefiting from Nintendo's efforts to support its inclusion at events. Nintendo of America seems keen to continue that for the coming Spring and Summer events, confirming...
Feature Check Out The Team-Based Super Smash Bros. Competitive Format, The Gauntlet - Live!
A big battle in the Big Apple
Update: And now it's finished, thanks for watching! Original Article: In recent weeks we've written about 'The Gauntlet', a team-based format that aims to provide a new twist to competitive Smash Bros. gaming. It utilises the 8-player Smash mode in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U; you can get the full lowdown in our...
News UK Toys-To-Life Market Slumps 12 Percent Year-On-Year
Revenue down despite the addition of Lego Dimensions
2015 was the biggest year yet for toys-to-life products in the UK, with £129m generated from such games and figurines. However, increased competition and flagging interest has forced some outlets to slash prices, so while these toys are still selling, the revenue generated by them has fallen by...
Video Touring Video Game Museum "Game On" Finishes Run In Japan, Heads to Norway Next
An interactive history of gaming
Since 2002, UK group Barbican International has been curating a worldwide touring videogame museum called "Game On." It focuses on key developments in gaming history and encompasses 45 years of gaming into one place. The most recent stop for Game On has been Tokyo, Japan, where it has been held since the beginning...
Thursday26th May 2016
News LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Has Neat DLC, Yet It's Not Listed for Wii U
Inconsistency with LEGO extras continues
The LEGO series has an odd relationship with Nintendo hardware. In the current generation we've had the rather good LEGO City: Undercover as a Wii U exclusive, but multiple major releases in the franchise have left the Nintendo system out of its DLC. Yet LEGO Marvel's Avengers on Wii U provided a welcome...
News Monster Hunter Stories Is Getting Its Own amiibo Figures
Launching alongside the game in Japan this October
Capcom has revealed the release date for Monster Hunter spin-off Monster Hunter Stories in Japan, and has also announced that the game will be getting its own amiibo figures. The figures will enable players to unlock special monsters in-game, and include One-Eyed Rathalos and Rider (Female) and...
News Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu Really Doesn't Like The New Mighty No. 9 Trailer
"Unforgivable"
Yesterday, we reported on a new Mighty No. 9 trailer which featured such gems as "combo on combo action" and gameplay that will "make the bad guys cry like an anime fan on prom night." The trailer hasn't gone down well, and currently has over 14,000 downvotes on YouTube. However, anime fans aren't the only people dissatisfied with...
Nintendo Download 26th May (North America)
StarTropics x2! Futuridium! Dragon Fantasy! Dual Core! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week is undoubtedly a good one, with multiple promising releases across Wii U and 3DS. There are a couple of NES classics, a twin-stick shooter, a retro-styled RPG and a fast paced action title...
Art Meet The Famicube, The NES Successor That Only Exists In A Parallel Universe
NES 1.5
Given that Sony and Microsoft are chewing up the column inches with rumours of "updated" versions of their current consoles, it seems fitting that we should take a look at an amazing project by Swedish artist and programmer Arne Niklas Jansson for what he dubs "the NES 1.5" - a console which would have bridged the gap between the NES and...
Even if it costs us a few laughs
Teddy Together, somewhat unintentionally, was a wonderful announcement to brighten our Tuesday here at Nintendo Life. Randomly and out of the blue Nintendo of Europe announced the overtly cute kids game for a 1st July release; our reaction was to stare unblinkingly and then tease it repeatedly in private...
News Pokémon Trainer Club Newsletter Subscribers to Have Another Chance to Collect Mythical Mew
Sign up soon
Earlier this year owners of Pokémon X & Y as well as Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire had an opportunity to pick up a special Mythical Mew 'mon as part of a limited distribution. The distribution was mostly through serial codes, with the Mew having the following details: LEVEL: 100 TYPE: Psychic
News Hyper Light Drifter Collector's Edition Looks Pretty Fine
Fingers crossed that it comes to Wii U after all
A couple months back, it was announced that Hyper Light Drifter may not actually make it to the Wii U, as originally promised. Due to contractual issues with the developers of GameMaker – the engine it was developed for – it seems that the Wii U port has been put out to pasture, though there is...
News Two 'Extended' E3 Demos Expected for The Legend of Zelda on Wii U
Fingers remain crossed for an eShop demo
The Legend of Zelda on Wii U will be the sole attraction on Nintendo's booth during E3, a rather bold move alongside a day of online streaming from the Treehouse team and developers. Whatever our thoughts on an E3 with such a narrow focus, we will at least get a full look at the next entry in the iconic...
Random Super Mario Maker Creator Proposes Marriage Through a Special Level
She said yes...
Super Mario Maker has some fantastically designed, devious and clever levels to play. Some use their creations to make a point, however, and not always to simply show off their level design mastery. Nintendo of America shared one rather cute example of a marriage proposal - luckily for Shanerator, Pam apparently said yes. This...
News North America Gets Both StarTropics Games for This Week's Wii U Download Update
At last
StarTropics is one of those franchises that saw its start on the NES and never really took off after that. Playing somewhat like a tropical version of The Legend of Zelda, StarTropics was something of a cult classic, made particularly famous for a letter which came with each copy that players had to dip in water to receive a secret message...
News New Splatoon amiibo Now Available For Pre-Order On Nintendo's UK Store
Staying fresh
Remember those amazing new Splatoon amiibo? Well they're up for pre-order on Nintendo UK's online store as we speak. The new figures include a purple Inkling boy, a lime green Inkling girl and an
News Battle Minigame is Heading to Minecraft Console Editions in June
No explicit mention of excluding Wii U, break out the bunting!
Though it took its sweet time, Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been a welcome and quality arrival on the system, with the recent free addition of The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack being another plus point. Now it seems that all of the console versions are in line for some free content soon, with...
Video Gear Up for Kirby: Planet Robobot With This Extended Overview Trailer
See more of the abilities, minigames and amiibo features
Kirby: Planet Robobot isn't out in the West until 10th June, but Nintendo is wasting little time in promoting the 3DS sequel to fans. The review embargo was surprisingly early, which gave us a chance to share how much we love it, and the online marketing campaign is picking up pace. Following...
Wednesday25th May 2016
Review Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS)
A new technological age for Kirby
While some franchises have a 'one per generation' rule, others seem somewhat more spontaneous - factors such as development progress and sales can be more important to their fate. So when Kirby: Triple Deluxe provided a strong 3DS début as a fairly traditional adventure with the Pink One, HAL Laboratory seemingly...
Random Store Shelves Appear To Be Filling With Pre-Owned Copies Of Star Fox Zero
"Time for a little payback!"
Star Fox Zero appears to have been met with a rather mixed reaction since its launch. We rather liked it, but some other sites didn't - and a cursory glance online seems to suggest there were plenty of fans who expected something a little different from the game. It would appear that some of these players have either...
Random Japanese Gamers Decide Which Starter Pokémon Is The Most "Seriously Useless"
A good workman never blames his...
Starter Pokémon have always been a hot topic for debate when discussing any Pokémon game, often separating fans apart due to contrasting opinions. Just look at the first games, for instance; Pokémon Red and Blue almost split fans down the middle - you were either Team Charizard or Team Blastoise (sorry to those...
News Nintendo Introduces Two New Splatoon-Themed amiibo Dioramas
Still Japan-only, sadly
Though some data-miners had leaked the information a few months early, it was nonetheless a rather pleasant surprise when Nintendo unveiled that there would be two new Splatoon amiibo joining the previous three, this time based off of the two pop idols, Callie and Marie. Naturally, if you've made the decision to pick these up...
News SurveyMonkey Intelligence Breaks Down the Declining Usage of Miitomo
When download numbers aren't enough
Miitomo has been out for a little while now, by the standards of this connected 'what's hot today' era, and as a result attention is focused on its long term performance. It's been pleasing to report on successes such as millions of downloads, but we're moving onto a stage where issues like engagement are more...
Video Latest Mighty No. 9 Trailer Dials Up The Ridiculousness
"Combos ON combos"
After several annoying delays, Mighty No. 9 finally has a release date, and to remind us that it's coming Deep Silver has released this action-packed trailer. Showcasing plenty of gameplay and some amusing daft commentary, the footage should hopefully stir up some excitement after months of wondering just when the game is...
News New Pokémon Go Screens and Details Are Revealed
Battle Details! Trainer Customisation! PokéCoins...
In March The Pokémon Company unveiled details on Pokémon Go, the upcoming app in development for smart devices, which will use real-world locations and AR (augmented reality) for its gameplay. That same official web page (which we summarised in the link above) has now been updated with more...
News Nintendo NY Store to Give 500 Fans a Chance to Play The Legend of Zelda on Wii U During E3 Week
Appointments to play the 'extensive' demo
As we already know, Nintendo's E3 is going to be all about The Legend of Zelda on Wii U, with the 2017 release - which is also coming to NX - being the only playable big N game at the show. 500 fans in and near New York, though, will also have a chance to go hands on. The store will be streaming the E3...
News B3 Game Expo For Bees is a Wii U Exclusive Shooter With a Quirky Premise
Looking for that E3 buzz
It's no secret that Nintendo's E3 plans are a tad underwhelming, but one Nindie is aiming to add a bit of fun to the occasion with its own themed game - B3 Game Expo For Bees. The wordplay is obvious, but what's surprising is that this is a first-person shooter that's heading exclusively to the Wii U - its been developed by...
Video Watch Star Fox Developer Dylan Cuthbert Play Star Fox Zero And Talk Miyamoto
"His jokes are kinda poor"
Q-Games boss Dylan Cuthbert is something of a legend in the world of Nintendo. As part of the British studio Argonaut he worked on the SNES version of Star Fox back in the early '90s, and eventually became a full-time staffer at Nintendo, moving from the UK to Japan. He would later establish this own company and has worked...
Review 6-Hand Video Poker (Wii U eShop)
A bad hand
Those of you who are old enough to have been to a casino may have encountered a video poker machine before. Effectively a virtual simulation of the timeless card game, these offer up something a little bit different than the slot machines: a game where planning, luck and a bit of savvy can see the player receiving a decent bit of cash...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Continues Its Decent Sales in Japan
A quiet week sees a small gain in Wii U sales
The Japanese Media Create chart results are out, and this week isn't short of new releases - notably, however, some titles that are major names in the West have only made a modest impression in Japan. Kirby: Planet Robobot is still the best-placed game on Nintendo hardware, showing solid momentum in...
News Hello Kitty and My Melody Costumes Are Coming to Super Mario Maker
So kawaii
Hello Kitty is one of those franchises that just feels like it's just always been there. It's tough to pin down what exactly made the character so famous, as Hello Kitty has appeared in countless forms of merchandise, as well as in some video games and TV Shows. Regardless of what gave it such pop culture recognition, few could dispute...
News The League of Evil is Double-Jumping Over to Wii U and 3DS eShop
Get ready to pixel punch those mad scientists in the face
If you love games like Super Meat Boy, you'll be in for a treat with the impending arrival of League of Evil, which is headed to the Wii U and 3DS eShop at some point in the not-too-distant future. Publisher Ratalaika Games has teamed up the one-man Woblyware Studio from Finland to bring this...
Tuesday24th May 2016
Rumour Nintendo's Next Generation Handheld Is Codenamed "MH"
Monster Hunter? Miyamoto Hotness? Mobile Home? Much Hype?
Ever since the NX was announced it was suspected that the system would be a hybrid that offers both home and portable gameplay. However, according to DHZ Financial Research's Trader's Web site, Nintendo is also working on a next generation handheld codenamed "MH" alongside NX. While the...
News Denis Dyack Blames "Unethical" Journalists For Almost Killing Shadow Of The Eternals
Confirms project is "back from the dead"
When former Silicon Knights boss Denis Dyack revealed he was producing a spiritual successor to the GameCube classic Eternal Darkness way back in 2013, fans were overjoyed. However, confusion over the crowdfunding drive for Shadow of the Eternals led to some
Review Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (Wii U eShop)
Toying around
Beyond simply dropping amiibo into stores and saying "look, Nintendo characters as collectible toys", the big N has also been trying to produce free software to tempt Wii U and 3DS owners to pick up some figures. We've already had amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits, but that was an oddly flawed and arguably rubbish app - thankfully...
News Obscure Mario Bros. Famicom Disk System Game Gets Translated Into English
It's Kaettekita Mario Bros!
The Famicom Disk System (FDS for short) and its diskettes might have not set Japan ablaze as Nintendo had hoped they would but the system still managed to get a decent library of games, and was also responsible for the debut of both the Metroid and Zelda franchises. One unique title was Kaettekita Mario Bros.
Review Super Punch-Out!! (New 3DS / SNES)
Thinking with your fists
Thanks to the standard Virtual Console suspension and restore point functions any SNES re-release on New Nintendo 3DS can be played in whatever sized chunks are allowed by your free time and battery life. There are, however, some that work particularly well as a handheld title, such as this game - a game so exciting it needs...
Poll Do You Want The Rumoured 'MH' Next Generation Portable to be Separate from NX?
All for one?
It seems that, rather than have one next generation Nintendo system we know nothing solid about (NX), we could have two. A rather out-of-the-blue and otherwise unremarkable financial article coming out of Japan has mentioned the "next generation portable game console MH (Tentative title)" from Nintendo. That's naturally prompted a lot...
News Sega Gives Biggest Hint Yet That There's A New Sonic Game In The Works
Tease me
Sonic turns 25 this year, but Sega has thus far failed to make a big deal out of it. Sure, we've got the (much delayed) Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice to look forward to on 3DS, but what fans really want is a brand-new game which
News There's A New Famicom Game Being Released In Japan
Yes, it's still getting games
Japanese artist and programmer RIKI - the same chap who did the brilliant 8bit Music Power "cartridge album" - is bringing his homebrew indie hit Kira Kira Star Night to the Famicom as a physical release. Released in 2013 and shown off to great acclaim at BitSummit back in 2014, the side-scrolling platformer boasts...
Wednesday25th May 2016
News Legend Maker Aims to Allow Gamers to Create Their Own Adventures With Links to the Past
Aiming for PC, it reminds us of a certain franchise...
There are various tools available for eager PC owners - in particular - that want to use templates and an easy user interface to create their own games. Now developer Dream Mix has taken to Kickstarter to seek funding for its own offering in this area - Legend Maker. As the name makes clear...
Tuesday24th May 2016
Video Learn How The Game Boy Made Clever Use of Memory Mapping
Find a comfortable seat
A couple of months ago we shared a video by JackTech, which explored in some detail how the Game Boy CPU works. It was part one in a 'hardware autopsy' series that aims to unpick and explain how the iconic portable device operates, providing some insight into how humble technology was used in clever ways. The second part has...
News Teddy Together Promises Kid-Friendly Confidence Building On 3DS
Oh, and amiibo support
Nintendo UK has just confirmed the existence of Teddy Together, a previously unannounced 3DS title aimed at young children. Building on the virtual pet mechanics seen in the likes of Tamagotchi and Nintendogs, the game introduces the player to a teddy bear who comes to life, asking various questions to learn more about its...
News Nintendo Publishes Part Two of the Miyamoto and Hayashi Star Fox Zero Interview
It's been twenty years since Miyamoto last directed a game
About a week ago, we shared part of an interview that was conducted by Nintendo Dream with Yugo Hayashi and Shigeru Miyamoto, who led development of Star Fox Zero. Part one dealt with the inspiration behind many of the game's mechanics, along with a discussion of the highly divisive control...
Review Color Symphony 2 (Wii U eShop)
I see your true colours..
As its name might suggest, REIMORY's Color Symphony 2's premise is based on the idea of colour, or more accurately "the ambiguity of colour". A platform puzzle game, Color Symphony 2 allows the player to solve various puzzles by shifting colours, affecting the world you are in. Although it brings some really good ideas, the...
Bodacious!
If amiibo and other collectibles of its type have taught us anything, it's that you're never too old to buy toys. Action figure company NECA knows this only too well, as it's bringing new toys to San Diego Comic Con (21st-24th July) that go straight for a gamer's sense of nostalgia. The action figures you see above will come in two...
News Monkey Island Creator, Ron Gilbert, Still Wants to Get the Rights to the Franchise
Look behind you! A three-headed monkey!
Ron Gilbert may have a list of game credits that boggles the mind, but is best known for a handful of stone cold classics. We're not referring to the recent The Cave - which was a solid game itself - but are going way back to the glory days of LucasArts and point-and-click adventure games. Gilbert was involved...
Monday23rd May 2016
News Third Party Developers Share Their Hopes For Nintendo NX
"The Wii U was actually a great platform to develop on"
Nintendo's NX console might still be under wraps for the time being, but that hasn't stopped a selection of third party indies from sharing their own hopes for what the machine might bring to the table. Speaking to UK games magazine GamesTM, Black Forest Games co-founder Adrian Goersch,...
Nintendo Download 26th May (Europe)
Futuridium EP Deluxe! Cat Heroes! Mario Basketball! Tasty Discounts! More!
As another week begins we have more Nintendo Download Update details to consider for Europe. This week brings a range of promising download-only games on both Wii U and 3DS, along with another DS title on the Wii U Virtual Console. Some varied DLC is also on the cards, along...
News Turns Out The History Of The Virtual Boy Is More Interesting Than The Console Itself
"I don't recall anybody literally throwing up in the office, we were lucky"
While the dismal commercial performance of the Wii U has made headlines recently, it's a long way from being Nintendo's most famous failure - that unwelcome accolade falls to the Virtual Boy, which sold around 770,000 units globally back in the '90s. The console is blamed...
Pushing for new ideas doesn't always pay off
It's not so long ago I mentioned poor old Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. as a game that had been left with little hope of commercial success; it somewhat flopped, in case you'd forgotten . It struggled to make a dent in the West and failed badly in Japan, not even making the top 20 when it launched in the country...
News The Servers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Are Down
No word on when, or if, they'll be back up.
UPDATE: (9:05 CST) It looks like the servers are back up. For now, online for Call of Duty on the Wii will live another day. Evidently, it was some sort of technical issue. As many of you likely remember, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was shut down for good almost exactly two years ago. Succeeded by the...
News It Wasn't Nintendo's Idea To Mix Minecraft And Super Mario Together
"They actually came to us with what their vision was"
Some might claim that it's too little, too late, but Minecraft is available on Wii U and is getting some pretty amazing exclusive content, too. The Super Mario skin pack recently went live and is free to download for anyone who owns the game already. It's also going to be bundled with the...
News Fire Emblem Fates Makes a Double Impact on the UK Charts
Birthright outsells Conquest
Fire Emblem Fates has finally arrived in Europe, and as is the norm we can see how Nintendo's latest release(s) have performed in the UK charts. For the Intelligent Systems titles it's been a thoroughly respectable début. For its part Chart-Track is treating the two versions as individual games, which is a fair move...
News E3 Live is a Free Event For Gamers That'll Run Alongside the Main Expo
Game demos, live entertainment and 'industry personalities' promised
E3 is predominantly an industry and media event, with accreditation required to get in and sample the various games and technology found within. The reality is that it's also a highlight of the year for millions of gamers around the world that closely follow live streams, press...
Review Escape From Flare Industries (Wii U eShop)
Not up to inspection
There are some best practices that can be followed when manufacturing a puzzle platformer for the masses. A cute character, easy-to-understand controls and a simple objective are often positives, and Escape from Flare Industries does deliver these in its packaging. Unfortunately, the end product suffers from some defects that...
Sunday22nd May 2016
Stranger than fiction
YouTube's copyright system is a bit of a mess right now. The popular video streaming site makes efforts to protect the property of those who use it, but the whole thing is set up very much in favour of big companies at present, with individual users often hit with takedowns which - if they choose to fight - could lead to loss...
Ninterview Ahmed Bin Fahad Discusses Building the World's Biggest Nintendo Collection
"Don’t think purchasing games is a waste"
In 2014 Ahmed Bin Fahad made headlines when he received the Guinness World Record honour for the biggest Nintendo collection. Consisting of over 8000 pieces, it's an impressive range that shows his love for all things Nintendo, with the estimated cost coming in at around 1.5 million dirhams - the United...
Reminder The Shiny Yveltal Distribution is Now Available in North America
A sucker punch
In early May The Pokemon Company launched a campaign with three single-week distributions in X / Y / Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire in order to promote the current series of the anime. In case you've missed it so far, it's worth noting that the final distribution in this promotion is running now, and will disappear on 26th May. This...
Saturday21st May 2016
Soapbox How The Evolution Of Pokémon Can Unexpectedly Influence Play-Through Experiences
Arjun Joshi used Reflect...
Pokémon is amazing. It's cemented itself in my top three video game series', often switching positions between Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. It truly was a franchise I grew up with, and I owe a great deal of my current successes and overall well-being to its games - but that's another story for another time...
News Two Neat Super Mario Maker Costumes Have Been Unearthed by a Data Miner
Spoiler warning, obviously
Super Mario Maker has become a mini-platform of its own, commanding a loyal audience of creators and players while adding frequent content updates. More extras are naturally on the way and a data miner has dug up some information, so this is your spoiler warning. Below is a random video of dancing sprites; if you scroll...
Video Nintendo Aims to Get Down With the Kids in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Series
"I'm serious, dude"
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is around a month away in the West, and Nintendo has the task of pitching the quirky Atlus-developed cross-over to a new audience. It's always appeared to be a bonkers title, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Nintendo of America has now started a new video series that aims to show all the hip...
News Alan Young, the Voice Actor for Scrooge McDuck, Has Passed Away
96 years young
Many of you no doubt enjoyed Wayforward's recent take on the Ducktales IP with Ducktales: Remastered. Based on the popular cartoon starring the miserly old Scrooge McDuck, this remaster saw the return of almost the entire original voice cast including Alan Young, who came back to lend his voice to the starring character, Scrooge,...
Video Learn a Little More About Sonic Boom and The Rise (and Fall) of Lyric
"Oh shiiii...ooot"
Time can be a great healer. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric wasn't a golden moment for the mascot, but the Boom universe continues to roll on with the animated series and the upcoming Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice on 3DS. Considering all that went wrong with the Wii U exclusive, it's a series that's done well to survive. The troubles of...
Friday20th May 2016
News Meet The Edgy And Mature Fan-Made Pokémon Game That Aims To "Fix" The Series
Pokémon Apex has "adult dialogue, themes and minor horror elements"
Pokémon may be child-friendly, but it isn't just played by kids - the series remains massively popular with players of all ages, even those who grew up with the Game Boy debut. However, a fan-made version of the game is attempting to offer something a little more in tune with the...
Competition Win The Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition New 3DS XL and Limited Edition Game
Its fate is sealed
To celebrate the UK release of the latest game in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem Fates, we've teamed up with the the awesome guys at Nintendo UK to give away both the Fire Emblem Fates Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL and the Fire Emblem Fates Limited Edition game. Fire Emblem Fates is split across three stories - Birthright,
Guide Which Version Of Fire Emblem Fates Should You Buy?
Claim your birthright or start a conquest? You decide
Fire Emblem Fates is out in Europe today, but picking up a copy isn't as simple a purchasing decision as it was with the previous outing, Fire Emblem: Awakening. While that only had one version, Fates is divided into two retail packages with a third chapter coming on June 9th. Choosing which...
News Super Mario Maker Update Version 1.43 is Now Available
Nope, still no slopes
Super Mario Maker has been a fascinating ongoing project from Nintendo. Ever since launch, new costumes or course building tools have gradually been made available to the public through updates that are pushed out fairly intermittently. All told, there's still lots that Nintendo could feasibly add to this game, and it'll be...
We learn about the rules, teams, and early reactions to the concept
Not long ago we ran an extensive feature about The Gauntlet, a team-based format that could potentially become a notable part of the Super Smash Bros. competitive scene. That's the aspiration, in any case, being led by S.O.S. Gamers - a charitable organisation in New York - and...
News Playtonic Raises the Curtain to Show Off A Lot of Yooka-Laylee Details
"Today is just the preliminary act"
Yooka-Laylee caused a big stir when it was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, with developer Playtonic Games being formed by a group of experienced former Rare employees. When we went hands on and visited the studio we couldn't help but be excited about its potential. Playtonic Games has been relatively quiet in...
News Lynn and the Spirits of Inao Has Been Cancelled
Unpaid interns seem to be the problem
As is likely common knowledge now, Kickstarter campaigns don't always have the Hollywood endings that we wish they could have. Occasionally, unfortunate events occur along the way that effectively make it impossible for the studio to continue development, leaving the eager backers standing in the lurch. It's...
News The Pokémon Company Teases the Teaser For Pokémon Sun and Moon Reveal on 2nd June
Well played
Pokémon Sun and Moon will have slow and steady reveals over a number of weeks and months, assuming The Pokémon Company follows the same strategy as it has with past releases. Following the initial reveal of the Starter Pokémon and release dates, it was recently confirmed that more details are coming on 2nd July.
Sink your teeth into this
Monster Hunter Generations is a little under two months away, and the anticipation for Capcom's potential blockbuster is starting to build. Having recently confirmed limited edition hardware, Nintendo UK has now updated its Official Store with pre-orders for various versions of the game, accessories and that New 3DS XL...
Review Now I know my ABCs (Wii U eShop)
The more you know
Of the three major console platforms of the current generation, none seem to be as family oriented as the Wii U. Nintendo has taken some heat for this, of course, with some enthusiasts claiming that it puts out "kiddie" platforms that no self-respecting gamer would dare to admit spending too much time with. Wherever you may stand...
News My Nintendo Discount Applied to Miitomo Drop Game Tickets Reward
Yay, we suppose
The My Nintendo loyalty programme is now settling down, with fairly regular updates and an established mix of discounts, game downloads and Miitomo tokens. The latter are clearly a focus for Nintendo, as they've had a 'discount' applied. In our UK account there's a notification pointing to the following offer, in which the 5 Miitomo...
News Sega "Very Interested" In Bringing Atlus Games To Europe
"We are always trying to find a way"
Sega could be bringing Atlus' games to Europe, it has been revealed. Atlus' releases were previously released in the Europe by NIS America, but relations between the two were recently terminated, casting doubt on future titles. However, SVP of commercial publishing John Clark has been speaking to
News Nintendo UK is Looking For The Ultimate Star Fox Zero Ace Pilot
Certificates for all, plus a grand prize
Star Fox Zero has been out for a little while now, and as the time for bickering over its merits is over those that do like it still have some space blasting to do. It's a game that certainly encourages repeat plays and practice, and now Nintendo UK has launched a competition to up the ante. The company is...
Thursday19th May 2016
Rumour Smash Bros. Update 1.1.6 Only Seems To Impact Bayonetta
"Someone else caught your eye?"
As we reported recently, version 1.1.6 of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS launches soon, and according to Nintendo it will add some additional balance the game. While that might sound like quite a thorough process, it would appear that this update is focused solely on a single fighter: the recently-introduced...
Nintendo Download 19th May (North America)
Minecraft and Mario DLC! PixelJunk Monsters! PokéPark! Contra III! More!
It's that time once again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week includes some rather neat free and paid DLC along with some rather promising new downloads on both Wii U and 3DS. Virtual Console games, DLC and discounts are also up for grabs,...
News Free Rupees And Fairy Food On Offer To Celebrate Hyrule Warriors Legends DLC Launch
Now that's a weird headline
To mark the release of DLC for Hyrule Warriors Legends Nintendo is giving players free Rupees and fairy food. The download includes a whopping 500,000 Rupees, 10 Delicious Weird Eggs and 10 Delicious Odd Mushrooms. Yum. Fire up your 3DS and you should have a notification pointing you in the general direction of these...
Guide What's New And Different In Fire Emblem Fates?
The game finally hits Europe this week, but what's all the fuss about?
After what seems like an eternity, European players will finally get the chance to play Fire Emblem Fates this week. Intelligent Systems' latest turn-based tactical triumph launched in North America back in February, and we awarded it a glowing 9 out of 10 in our review. However,...
Video A Look at Pico Cassette, The Retro-Inspired Cartridge for iOS and Android
Cartridges are all the rage once again
If you thought the Coleco Chameleon or the recent NX rumours were the last chance for cartridge-based gaming, then this might pick your spirits up. A Japanese group known as the "Pico Cassette Project" has started a
Video Check Out This Awesome Battle Against "Mecha Bowzilla" in Super Mario Maker
Let them fight
The toolset of Super Mario Maker allows for many unconventional levels that, while possible technically within a regular Mario game, Nintendo has never dared to create. After the company has taken some heat for releasing four New Super Mario Bros. games that are decent, though unsurprising, platformers, it's a refreshing breath of...
Review Sweetest Thing (Wii U eShop)
My love throws me like a rubber ball, oh oh oh
JoinDots' Sweetest Thing is a puzzle game in which you strive to rebuild the sugary realm after it has been destroyed by ants. Another mobile game which has made its way to the Wii U shop, this describes itself as a time management game, but fails to be a challenge for any fan of this genre. When you...
Video Poe Dameron Takes Flight in Latest LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer
He can fly anything
While it may seem a little odd that LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is arriving in June, six months after the movie, there's certainly the hope that it'll be a fun game on Wii U and 3DS - that extra development time has surely been put to good use. With the 28th June arrival getting closer we're seeing more short trailers and...
Video English Language Zero Time Dilemma Footage Shows Some Tough Choices Lie Ahead
Playing the odds
Kotaru Uchikoshi's Zero Time Dilemma launches on June 28th, and to drum up some hype over nine minutes of gameplay footage has been released from the English language version of the game. Part of the cult Zero Escape series which also includes Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and Virtue's Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma is an...
News 7th Dragon III Code: VFD Won't Be Coming to Europe for Now
What else is new?
Atlus is a popular studio for localising niche Japanese games in the west, though it's been somewhat spotty with bringing these games to all territories at once. It seems that North America is the one that usually gets favoured, with games making it over to Europe months later, if at all. The reason for this isn't always made...
News Monster Hunter Generations Will Feature Quirky Ghosts 'n Goblins Content
Felyne will feel strongth welling in its body
Monster Hunter Generations isn't too far away, arriving in North America and Europe on 15th July. Capcom has been announcing some rather neat content tie-ins that'll give the game a dash of extra variety, too, most recently with an Okami Felyne outfit. Well, there's more wh
Video Get Geared Up for Kirby: Planet Robobot With This Overview Trailer
It has Kirby in a mech, what more could you want?
Kirby: Planet Robobot could, based on our time with it so far, be a bit of a gem for the 3DS this year. Announced rather out of the blue (or pink?) in March, it sees the pink one take on mechanised foes that are disrupting his all-important nap time. Nintendo has been getting to work early with...
Interview Making the Meowst of Monster Hunter Generations
With Ryozo Tsujimoto and Shintaro Kojima
Monster Hunter Generations is due to drop in the West on the 15th July, but before all that we met up with Executive Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and Producer Shintaro Kojima to discuss the game in proper Nintendo Life style. Check out the video below where we get these two cheeky chaps to spill the beans on the...
Wednesday18th May 2016
Review Lost Reavers (Wii U eShop)
Keeping up with the Indiana Joneses
Nestled away in the busy excitement of a Nintendo Direct last January, Bandai Namco first announced Project Treasure; a 4 player co-op title set to release exclusively for Wii U. With famed Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and a team of young developers on board, their admirable goal was to create a game that...
News Study Suggests Rising Smartphone Ownership Among Kids Is Hitting Nintendo Hard
Only 24 percent of children take Nintendo handhelds on the road
Market research firm Influence Central has revealed a new study that suggests Nintendo is losing the battle against smartphones and tablets when it comes to winning the hearts and minds of youngsters. The company's latest report states that the average child is given his or her first...
News Nintendo Plans Corporate Changes That Point to Diverse Business Moves
Includes medical devices, 'eating establishments' and more
In late April Nintendo announced plans for some key changes to its corporate structure, introducing an Audit and Supervisory Committee and an Executive Officer System, with the latter leading to new job titles for key management figures. It seems like a move with which company President...
Video Five Super Mario Secrets in Minecraft: Wii U Edition
Blocky brilliance
As you're likely well aware by now, Minecraft: Wii U Edition has some rather neat and exclusive content - The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack is up for grabs as a free update. It features all sorts of skins and features, along with an Adventure to take on, and certainly helps the Wii U version to stand out. It's not a phoned-in effort...
Review The Deer God (Wii U eShop)
Not very endearing
First impressions can be very important, and The Deer God makes an excellent first impression. It's a shame, then, that it loses momentum so quickly. Let's get that first impression out of the way first, though. The Deer God is an absolutely beautiful game. In it, you play a hunter whose soul has been trapped in a deer after his...
Random Solving The Mystery of the Super Smash Bros. Melee Lost Stage
The Game Theorists channel goes down the rabbit hole
Game development produces a lot of code and content that's ultimately left unused, eagerly found by fans that are determined enough to uncover such secrets. One example is a 'lost' - or test - stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee, which is hidden away in the game's code and features a crude set of...
News The Legend of Zelda Will Have Its Own Range of Trading Cards
Including temporary tattoos, oddly
We've not been shy about advocating that Nintendo exploit its IPs as much as possible, boosting its brand power in the process. The Big N has been doing this to varying degrees, of course, and is seemingly going so far as to license The Legend of Zelda Trading Cards, which come with decal stickers and temporary...
Review Tachyon Project (Wii U eShop)
Shoot all of the things
While twin-stick shooters are relatively common on rival download stores, the Wii U eShop isn't blessed with many. Tachyon Project, then, offers to fill a gap with its arena-based stages and frantic gameplay, and it does so in decent style. Presented top-down with a flat perspective, this title is undoubtedly visually...
News A Tetris Movie is in the Making
And, of course, it will be a trilogy
It could certainly be argued that the original Game Boy owes a large chunk of its initial success to Tetris. Released as a pack-in game with every Game Boy, the simple yet addictive falling block game took the world by storm, instantly cementing itself as a large piece of gaming history. Tetris has sold hundreds...
Reminder The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack is Live Now in Minecraft: Wii U Edition
It's-a-free, wahoo!
When Minecraft: Wii U Edition was revealed in late 2015 there was a promise of unique Nintendo content, so it's rather pleasing that it's arrived as a free update rather than paid DLC - The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. Even better is the fact that it should be available right now, according to Nintendo, and owners of the game only...
The spirited Level-5 series needs time
The Yo-kai Watch franchise is enormous in Japan, to the point that in late 2015 Level-5 was able to reference 10 million games in the series being shipped. That number will have also included some sales from the first game's launch in North America, though based upon its absence from NPD's results and...
News M2 Thinks Sega's Alien Syndrome Would Make A Great 3D Classic
"We did a little test on it to see how it would turn out and it was great"
The amazing Sega 3D Classics Collection is available now in North American and Japan, with a European release coming later this year. Sega has posted an interview with Yosuke Okunari, Kagasei Shimomura and Naoki Horii regarding the compendium, and it has been revealed
News The Pokémon Company Confirms More Sun and Moon Details for 2nd June
There's so much to share
After the silliness of CoroCoro magazine teasing Pokémon Sun and Moon details that delivered very little, series lead Junichi Masuda's subsequent tease was actually worth our time. The Pokémon Company revealed the starters and release dates, firing the starting gun for the gradual trickle of details still to come ahead of...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Continues Solid Run in Japanese Charts as Hardware Sales Drop
Lack of new releases starts to bite
The Japanese chart results are out, and overall they're relatively low key - one new release has taken number one spot but hardware sales are down. Starting with software, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End has made its debut at number one, though Kirby: Planet Robobot is hanging on to second place with lifetimes sales...
News £100 Million Has Now Been Pledged to Kickstarter in the UK, With Games Leading the Way
Dance projects are the least popular
Kickstarter has undoubtedly had a notable impact on game funding, for better and for worse. The crowdfunding site enjoyed a golden launch in which there was a lot of excitement and success, with a mix of inexperienced and veteran content creators using the service. We'd suggest that its image has taken some hits,...
Video Puzzle & Dragons X Footage Lines Up Ahead Of Japanese Launch
Thanks to CoroCoro magazine
CoroCoro magazine has published two gameplay videos for the forthcoming 3DS puzzle/RPG hybrid Puzzle & Dragons X, which launches in Japan on July 28th. The first clip shows some combat, while the second illustrates the towns and locations seen in the game. Based on the hit smartphone title - which has just cleared...
Tuesday17th May 2016
News Super Smash Bros. 1.1.6 Patch Is Landing Soon On Wii U And 3DS
Balancing act
Nintendo has confirmed that version 1.1.6 of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS will launch soon. The patch - which will require 61 MB of space on the Wii U and 325 MB on 3DS - will balance the characters in the game. Once the patch is applied, existing replays will no longer be viewable, so be sure to backup any special ones you're...
News Five More 3DS Games Will Join the European Nintendo Selects Range in June
Ocarina of Time 3D! Mario & Luigi! LEGO City! More!
Whatever region you're in Nintendo has been gradually increasing the 'Nintendo Selects' range of budget retail titles. Another batch of five 3DS games has now been confirmed for Europe, due to arrive on 25th June with a price tag of €19,99 / £15.99. The new additions do a mix of catching up...
"Now that I’m on my own, I have complete freedom"
While Dan Adelman had a rather grand formal job title at Nintendo of America - Head of Digital Content and Development - he was, in the eyes of many, the Indie Champion; he was highly regarded for his efforts to bring quality download games to WiiWare, and then the eShop on 3DS and Wii U. A little...
Feature What We Know, and Think We Know, From the Pokémon Sun & Moon Reveal Trailers
Picking through the clues
As we approach a new generation, we have now had a first look at the seventh generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon. These games are the second generation of Pokémon games on the Nintendo 3DS, so while things may look the same on the surface there are some interesting changes that have come. While...
Gallery Cover To Cover With Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection
Art attack
Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection launches this month, but we've been lucky enough to have the chance to thumb through an advance copy ahead of its official release. Published by Bitmap Books and created by fanatical Super Famicom fan Stu Brett, this 276 page tome highlights some of the best cover artwork of the 16-bit years.
News Capcom Could Be Planning to Bring Back Old IP
Goof Troop, anyone?
Especially in more recent times, Capcom has received a lot of flak for being too reliant upon rereleases and safe sequels, famously stating that it wouldn't produce sequels to games that don't sell at least two million. Fans of the company are right to be upset with this narrowed focus, as Capcom has been around for decades and...
Review REPTILIAN REBELLION (Wii U eShop)
Cold-blooded killers
Imagine you're going about your daily routine and then all of a sudden there is an uprising. Lizard-people have come out of hiding in an attempt to wipe-out humanity once-and-for-all, and now it's up to you to grab your weapon of choice and eradicate every last one of the green shape-shifting pests. Conspiracy theories aside,...
News Monster Hunter Set To Overtake Street Fighter In Lifetime Sales This Year
36 million and counting
Capcom's Monster Hunter series has been a massive commercial success for the company, and this year it will leapfrog stablemate Street Fighter in terms of lifetime units sold - despite the fact that Street Fighter as a franchise has been around for much, much longer. The data comes from esteemed video game analyst ZhugeEX:...
Video Here's A Bunch Of Retro Japanese Game Commercials, Just Because
Star Fox! Sonic! Yoshi! Castlevania! Metroid! Street Fighter! Fire Emblem!
TV commercials are an artform. Advertisers are limited by time and are competing with a wide range of other products for your attention, so these bite-sized productions have to deliver their message as tightly and effectively as possible. Few commercials are as successful -...
Random We Take the Plunge with these Super Mario Swimming Shorts
Hard-wear review
Mario's been plastered over near enough everything in his time, and now the moustachioed mushroom menace can add swimming shorts to that ever-growing list. We decided it was worth slipping a pair on ourselves and taking to a marginally anticlimactic English waterfront to see how they fare. You can catch all the Baywatch-style...
News SteamWorld Heist Dated for PS4 and Vita, Wii U Version Still "In the Works"
Gawk at some steamy HD screenshots
SteamWorld Heist has been an excellent title to date on the 3DS eShop, with 'The Outsider' DLC recently giving players a little more content. Many have been waiting for the HD version, however, and there's now been some progress on that front. In the latest episode of 'The Engine Room', Image & Form has...
Wednesday18th May 2016
News Miiverse Maintenance Will Bring Eight Hours of Downtime
That doodle will have to wait
Miiverse has been one of Nintendo's most interesting additions in this generation of hardware, giving fans a chance to share notes, complain or post doodles to their heart's content. Though some rules and tweaks haven't always proven popular, it's still used with enthusiasm by a core of keen Wii U and 3DS gamers. It's...
Tuesday17th May 2016
Video Court Is In Session For Ten Minutes Of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
Order!
Following the very welcome news that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is headed to the west this September as a download exclusive, Capcom has submitted another piece of compelling evidence - over ten minutes of footage from the game itself. The video - which is in Japanese - shows the trademark courtroom action that has made...
Monday16th May 2016
Video Potential Pokémon Sun & Moon Starter Evolution Types Revealed
It was only a matter of time
It's been a big deal for Pokéfanatics, as last week we were given a couple of new trailers for the upcoming installations of the handheld series - Pokémon Sun and Moon. From these two glorious pieces of footage, we learned what our fates would hold - and that's who and what the new Starter Pokémon are. In case you've...
News Nintendo is Getting Into the Movie Business
Please don't mess it up, please don't mess it up…
For decades now, movie adaptations of video games have been "cursed" to mediocrity. While some video game movies have done pretty well at the box office, it generally seems like they're not very well received critically and usually fizzle out fairly quickly. Of course, Nintendo contributed to this...
Random This Japanese Super Mario 64 Guide Book Is Simply Adorable
Hope and clay
No one does guide books quite like the Japanese. Years before such tomes became fashionable as pre-order bonuses here in the west, gamers in Japan were enjoying intricately detailed publications which covered elements such as level designs, walkthroughs and secrets. However, some of these guides went the extra mile and contained...
News Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits & Fleshy Souls Arrive in North America on 30th September
More toys and TV episodes also on the way
Level 5's bid for global domination with the Yo-kai Watch brand is going to continue later this year, with Nintendo of America confirming that the second entry in the series is heading to North America on 30th September. It is, as is all the rage at the moment, a dual release - Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits...
News Tatsumi Kimishima Reiterates That Nintendo NX Is A New Way Of Playing Games
"I don't feel it's a pure replacement for the Wii U"
We still don't know what the Nintendo NX is. If you clicked this news item hoping to find out solid info relating the mysterious new console, and whether or not it's based on x86 architecture, boasts 1080p, 60fps visuals and is capable of making you the perfect cappuccino while you're waiting for...
Nintendo Download 19th May (Europe)
Fire Emblem Fates! PixelJunk Monsters! Mario in Minecraft! Much more!
Another week is underway, and as always we have the European Nintendo Download update to get us up and running. This week brings some high profile DLC and a promising download release on Wii U, while the 3DS has one of its biggest retail releases of the year alongside a couple of...
News Three New Discounts Arrive on My Nintendo in Europe
Worth your points?
My Nintendo, the loyalty / rewards programme that replaced Club Nintendo, is working a little differently between regions. In North America updates are less frequent but more sweeping, while in Europe there are changes every 2-3 weeks, albeit less new offers each time around. The European service has now had its mid-May update,...
Anniversary New Super Mario Bros. is Now a Decade Old
Forever 'New' thanks to clever (or not) branding
When you put 'New' in the name of something, it's inevitable that around a decade later someone will smarmily say "it's not new any more", and you just have to accept that putting an adjective like that in a name isn't a long term solution. Yet, when New Super Mario Bros. was released on DS it was...
Feature Five Nintendo Franchises We'd Love to See As Movies
Not just Mario
It seems that one of the most likely and obvious of Nintendo developments has been confirmed by Tatsumi Kimishima - the company is working on at least one movie project. Just recently this writer shared the view that Nintendo should shamelessly exploits its IPs to the full, and movies were a notable part of the argument. To save...
News The Pokémon GO Field Test is Now Heading to the US
You can register your interest right now
Pokémon GO has been undergoing plenty of Beta testing this year, with developer Niantic running field tests in Japan and Australia. The global tour of this early version is going to now hit another vital market - it's coming to the US. As Pokémon GO is a game heavily reliant on augmented reality and...
Video Take A Look Inside Sega Of America's Testing Facility, Circa 1995
Tested to destruction
Back in 1996, Sega of America was at something of a crossroads. The company had successfully bloodied the nose of Nintendo with its Genesis console, but a series of botched hardware launches - including the Sega CD and 32X - had eroded consumer confidence in the brand, and a new competitor had arrived on the scene in the form...
News Yacht Club Games Still Open To A Nintendo Character Appearing In Shovel Knight
Crossover chaos
Nintendo has made some canny moves when it comes to collaborations in recent years. When it became clear that Puzzle & Dragons was a big deal, the veteran firm worked with the developer to create a Mario-themed offering for the 3DS, and more recently it has teamed up with Mojang to give Minecraft an injection of Nintendo goodness...
Tuesday17th May 2016
News Dual Core Blasts Its Way Onto Wii U on 26th May
Process that
Earlier this year we shared some details on Dual Core, a promising shooter from small developer Gray Fin Studios. It now has a confirmed release date for North America, 26th May, and will cost $9.99 - it's still waiting for a final date in Europe, which "will likely be a few weeks later". This colourful twin-stick shooter has robots as...
Monday16th May 2016
Random Japanese eShop Fans Can Top-Up Funds in Style With SNES-era Cards
Retro currency
For those of us with credit cards buying eShop games is a simple button press away, but there's still a market for eShop fund cards - whether as gifts or cash-bought, they're a handy option if there's a download that you simply must have. The latest range available in Japan allows gamers to top up with some extra retro style. Tweeted...
News Yo-kai Watch Battles Alone in the UK Charts
Splatoon returns to the top of the Wii U-only results
In the past month Nintendo has had a few fresh releases scrapping away in the UK charts, but going into this week's results only one title is left standing. Yo-kai Watch is the lone release on Nintendo hardware that's made the top 40, now in its third week since release in the UK. It's dropped...
News Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest Arrives in North America Soon
That sly fox
Arcane Four Studios is the latest development company that's planning its first foray onto Nintendo hardware. Having already arrived on PC, Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest is arriving on the Wii U eShop in North America on 26th May, with a price tag of $9.99. It's certainly an ambitious title, with the platforming...
Sunday15th May 2016
News A Surprisingly Hardcore Snow White NES Game Magically Surfaces
...and they played Happily Ever After
It's OK if you don't recall the movie "Happily Ever After", Filmation's sequel to Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", because it was a terrible flop. We guess people didn't really care for the life of Snow White after the perfect ending of the original tale. There was of course a video game being...
Mitch Vogel on the experience of gaming in a simpler time
As a millennial, I was born long after the great heyday of arcades, but it was something that always fascinated me. It was bizarre to think that there was a time before home consoles were so prevalent when the typical video game fan would grab a fistful of quarters and pop down to the arcade...
Saturday14th May 2016
Rumour Sources Go to Battle Again Over Nintendo NX Power
We're back to 'near Xbox One' again
There's an interesting - or not, depending on your perspective - battle going on between rumours and sources around the Nintendo NX. What do you do when sources with a solid track record directly contradict others that are supposedly 'verified'? Well, you treat them all as rumours, first of all, and then you just...
Nintendo Life Weekly New Sun & Moon Pokémon Leaked, Disney Infinity Shuts Down, and More
It's blurry, it's brief, it's quadrupedal
What with all the recent Pokémon news we couldn't say we'd blame you for falling behind with the news recently. That's why we've once more compiled all this loveliness into our usual package in the form of a delicious video presented by yours truly. This week we look at a new Pokémon that's been...
Review Mario Party DS (Wii U eShop / DS)
Partying alone
For gamers seeking fun with friends Mario Party has long been a good series to visit. Although multiplayer is preferable for the games, there are occasions where you may play alone whether just for practice or because everyone's avoiding you after you mistook that drinking fountain for a bidet. For Mario Party DS (on Wii U at least)...
News Shigeru Miyamoto and Yugo Hayashi Discuss Star Fox Zero's Development
"It's a really simple control system"
One of the rather quirky, yet deeply appreciated, projects by the late Satoru Iwata was that of Iwata Asks interviews. These interviews often gathered together several members of the development team for a major or upcoming game, and Iwata would question them on what development was like, where inspiration came...
Review Midnight 2 (Wii U eShop)
Another round with a square
It's not easy to mix chill with challenge, and yet the Midnight series somehow manages to do a quite decent job of it. Petite Games has brought the twilight golf-like back for another go, providing another round of stages with next to no changes in the formula. Midnight 2 should feel right at home to those who played its...
Friday13th May 2016
Hell is the impossibility of reason… but it's very pretty
The Super Nintendo (even in Japan) was marketed as a family friendly system, something easily proven by taking a glance at its excellent game library. Despite that, you can find yourself a few horror gems targeted at a more mature audience that naturally never made it out of Japan. KSS...
News Citizens Of Earth Pulled From 3DS eShop Following Exploit Discovery
As expected
Update: Atlus has issued a brief statement on the game's withdrawal from sale: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to immediately remove Citizens of Earth from the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. Both ATLUS and Nintendo are working together to get Citizens of Earth back up on the eShop. We apologize for the inconvenience to...
News These Splatoon Playing Cards Are A Deal You Cannot Afford To Miss
Show us your hand
We hope you're not too attached to your cash, because Nintendo is releasing a series of Splatoon playing cards in Japan and if you're anything like us, you'll want them. All of them. The cards will be released in three different sets and are expected to launch in July. Just to loosen your resolve, Play-Asia has them up for...
Nintendo's range offers a variety that rivals can't match
Disney may be one of the most powerful brands and wealthy corporations in the world, with numerous companies and divisions under its ownership, but it evidently won't tolerate a struggling product. While Nintendo will keep a system like the Wii U, for example, slowly ticking along until its...
Video CoroCoro Releases Its Own Pokémon Sun and Moon Trailer
With some tiny differences
Are you getting tired of Pokémon Sun and Moon yet? Thought not. For those of you that like to focus on small details and expand them into a 300 page fan-fiction eBook there's great news - CoroCoro has released its own trailer for Sun & Moon. For the most part it uses the same footage as the official trailers from...
News My Nintendo Now Offers Platinum Points if You Sign Up for Promotional Emails
I don't want any spam!
Nintendo wants to send us chirpy emails telling us about current games, upcoming releases and so on, and part of signing up for a Nintendo Account is deciding whether to accept these promotional messages. Nintendo is so keen that we get these, in fact, that it's now giving out Platinum My Nintendo points for all that are...
Rumour Details Emerge on Disney Infinity's Canned Future Plans and Cancellation
12-inch figurines were a possibility
No doubt many fans were disappointed by the recent news that the plug has been pulled on Disney Infinity. The ambitious toys to life project brought together numerous franchises from across the Disney portfolio and it seemed to be a moderate success, which made the sudden axing of the game all the more jarring...
News Star Fox Zero And Bravely Second Make NPD's April Best Sellers List
It's not all doom and gloom
The NPD Group has issued its April data and while Nintendo's products might not be as abundant as the company would hope, Star Fox Zero and Bravely Second have both made the cut. Star Fox Zero made it to number 5 in the single-format list, with Bravely Second coming in at number 9. In the NPD's overall list - which...
News CoroCoro Has A Pokémon Sun And Moon Exclusive Lined Up For Its Next Issue
Such a tease
Japanese magazine CoroCoro often gets handed exclusive information relating to upcoming games, and this week the publication is teasing that it has exclusive news on Pokémon Sun And Moon coming in its next issue. The news is accompanied by some artwork from the latest movie, Volcanion & The Ingenious Magearna. Beyond that,...
Video These Fresh Character Trailers For Etrian Odyssey V Will Boost Your "Excitement" Stat
Say hello to Masurao and Cestus
Atlus has released two new character trailers for the forthcoming Etrian Odyssey V, which is due to launch in Japan this August. Masurao and Cestus are the characters in question, and each clip shows off some artwork as well as gameplay footage. There's no word on a western release as yet, but given that previous...
News Space-Themed Accessories Now Available In Miitomo Drop
Space, man
Nintendo has updated its Miitomo smartphone app with a new range of items, dubbed "Futuristic Fashion" in North America and "Galactic Garments" in Europe. The new items include space helmets, hoodies, Saturn pin badges, Galactic sneakers, UFO shirts and "Alien Abduction" tights. These will be available until the May 22nd, so if anything...
Thursday12th May 2016
News Monster Hunter Generations Launches on 15th July With a Limited Edition New 3DS XL
A demo is also on the way
Well, the wait is over, we have a release date for Monster Hunter Generations - it'll be gracing our 3DS systems on 15th July. In addition Europe and North America will also have their own special edition New Nintendo 3DS XL models alongside the main game. In Europe the special edition hardware will be red and have the...
Exclusive FAST Racing NEO Update, Called 'Vertigo', Goes Live on 18th May
Makes key improvements to online play and adds a mini-map
FAST Racing NEO was a standout title on the Wii U eShop late last year, but Shin'en Multimedia encountered some delays releasing its planned update - the challenge of a global roll-out played a factor. The good news is that the update is coming very soon - on 18th May - and will make some...
News Nintendo Confirms its DLC Plans for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
Day one DLC galore
It's hard to believe, but the rather lengthily named Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is only a little over a month away from releasing in the West. The Atlus-helmed Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem crossover has drawn lots of interest over the last few months, simply due to the mystery surrounding the game. While it may certainly...
Nintendo Download 12th May (North America)
Super Meat Boy! Disney Art Academy! Phantom Hourglass! DLC! More!
It's time for another batch of Nintendo Download Update goodies in North America, and this week certainly has some enticing options. The 3DS gets a relatively high profile retail release, while the Wii U has a mix of highly anticipated and promising download titles. Throw in a Legend...
News The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Arrives on the North American VC Tomorrow
Better late than never?
It's a well trodden discussion at this point that Nintendo's Virtual Console service has some room for improvement. While it's quite nice that it allows the opportunity for gamers both young and old to experience games from generations gone by, there are some issues with pricing and gaps in the library. Of course, there's...
News Hyrule Warriors Legends 'Master Wind Waker Pack' DLC Arrives on 19th May
Medli will arrive for free on the same day
Hyrule Warriors Legends on 3DS has been out a little while, settling down while early adopters rank up the character levels and access the many, many weapons. Koei Tecmo and Nintendo are now gearing up to kick off the cycle of DLC, however, and Nintendo of Europe has confirmed a release date for the first...
News JAKKS Pacific Confirms New World of Nintendo Plush Toys and Articulated Figures
Splatoon plush toys! Splatoon articulated figures! Other franchises!
Nintendo has, in the last couple of years, been more ambitious in commercial tie-ins and products based on its brands. That's a good thing too, and JAKKS Pacific has been one company producing some popular figures and plush toys in its World of Nintendo range. It's now confirmed...
News Microsoft's Phil Spencer Says Minecraft Partnership With Nintendo Has Been "Great"
"Nice to see Minecraft doing so well on the Wii U"
The head of Microsoft's Xbox division is quite a chilled out guy. Not only does he find the very concept of console wars "distasteful", but he can't stop saying nice things about Nintendo, claiming that the Japanese firm is a "bea
Exclusive Unboxing The Super Famicom Box Art Collection Collector's Edition
A work of art
We've been keenly following the progress of the Super Famicom Box Art Collection book for some time now, from its initial (aborted) crowdfunding campaign to the news that it would be published by Bitmap Books. After what feels like forever, the book is
News Assassin's Creed Movie Trailer Leaps Out Of The Shadows And Into The Spanish Inquisition
Didn't expect that
The first trailer for the Hollywood adaptation of Ubisoft's popular Assassin's Creed has been published online. Starring Michael Fassbender, Jeremy Irons and Ariane Labed, the film appears to be based on the first Assassin's Creed game, although the setting has been shifted to Spain during the infamous Spanish Inquisition. While...
News Epic Word Search Collection 2 is Finding Its Way to 3DS on 26th May
Adds five new categories
The 3DS eShop has a number of puzzle games of various types to choose from, and even simple styles typically reserved for pen and paper make appearances. One example can be found with Epic Word Search Collection, which is pretty good in living up to its name with no frills. It evidently sold in decent numbers, too, as...
Wednesday11th May 2016
News Nintendo of America Has a Snazzy New Slogan - "There's No Play Like It"
Makes debut in 2DS commercial
The recent news from Nintendo of America that it is reducing the price of the 2DS was welcome if not exactly mind-blowing, but the campaign around it does feature a neat new slogan and accompanying logo. In fact, in terms of a key message and look to show off the Nintendo brand it's pretty darn good. The slogan in...
News Someone Has Made A Rowlet Pokémon Plush Already
Fans work fast
The starter Pokémon featured in the forthcoming Sun & Moon were only revealed yesterday, but we've already seen fan art appear for Rowlet, Litten and Poppilo. This is impressive in itself, but one fan has gone to the next level by crafting an incredibly professional-looking pl
News 90's Arcade Racer Hits The Pits For Name Change, No Longer Listed For Wii U Release
Gentlemen, (don't) start your engines?
The long-awaiting 90's Arcade Racer has been given a new name - '90s Super GP - but it appears that the title is no longer coming to the Wii U. The product page on the Nicalis site lists the formats as Xbox One and PS4 only, along with a release date of Fall 2016 - that's three years after the original release...
Poll Did The First Pokémon: Sun and Moon Trailers and Starter Pokémon Get You Excited?
Which Starter will you choose?
Well, Pokémon is still a very big deal. Following the announcement of the Starter Pokémon through a debut trailer the franchise was trending on social media, and at the time of writing the trailer on the official Pokémon channel has amassed over 4.4 million views in a little over one day. Pokémon Sun and Moon had...
News Disney Magical World 2 Heads To North America This October
Has Frozen in it, prints money
Nintendo has confirmed that Disney Magical World 2 will arrive in the west later this year. The follow up to the likeable Disney Magical World will allow players to explore worlds themed around famous Disney franchises - including the super-popular Frozen - as well as interact with characters such as Olaf, Elsa,...
Reminder The Shiny Xerneas Distribution is Available Now in North America
Shining so bright...
Back in early May, The Pokemon Company kicked off a run of three single-week distributions in X / Y / Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire. We're now into the second distribution which is running from 11th to 17th May. This time around it's a Shiny Xerneas up for grabs in the 'Mystery Gift' area of the game; you can see its details...
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice to Arrive on the 3DS eShop in September
Court is in session
Earlier today we reported on a discovery by a homebrew user on 3DS that suggested a Western name for Ace Attorney 6. It turns out that was right, as Capcom has now officially confirmed that Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice is coming to the 3DS eShop in September, priced at $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99 across North...
News Smartphone Animal Crossing And Fire Emblem Will Both Be Free-To-Play
Tom Nook will be pleased
Despite claims that Nintendo will aim to avoid the "freemium" route for its smartphone releases, it has been confirmed by the Wall Street Journal that the forthcoming Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem titles will both be free to download and will be supported by in-g
News Nintendo Unveils Two New 3DS Colours for Japan
Hopefully coming West soon?
Historically, Nintendo consoles have always been on point when it comes to the variety of colours that are available. While not everyone is always pleased with the launch colours, most of its formats have had their fair share of special editions and additional options to give everyone a chance at picking a unit that best...
News Style Savvy: Fashion Forward Will Finally Bring Its Glamour to North America in August
Time to be fabulous
It's been a while coming, but Nintendo of America has confirmed that Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is coming to North America on 19th August - it's been available in Europe since November 2015 with the name Nintendo Presents: New Style Boutique 2 - Fashion Forward. In many ways the sequel takes the strong points of the original...
Thursday12th May 2016
News Nintendo Defeats Yet Another Patent Claim Against the Wii Remote
Motion Games loses its appeal
The Wii utilised common technology in clever ways and sold over 100 million units - that's the perfect combination to prompt a whole lot of patent-related court cases. Nintendo has successfully defeated the majority of patent claims against it in recent years, and has now confirmed the end of another case. This time...
Wednesday11th May 2016
News SEGA 3D Classics Collection is Confirmed for Europe
Details should come soon
SEGA 3D Classics Collection on 3DS is, in our view, a bit of a gem. It has 9 core games included - and a neat 10th to unlock - and provides a lot of M2-developed retro goodness on the portable. We've always been advocates for the download series, and this retail bundle has done little to reduce our enthusiasm. The catch, of...
News 2DS Gets a Price Cut to $79.99 in North America
Including options with Mario Kart 7
The Nintendo 2DS has been a smart product, targeting parents with young children in particular. By taking away the age-restricted 3D screen and utilising a tough-as-nails slab shape, it's been a welcome affordable (and durable) option in the market. Nintendo of America is now moving to make it even more...
That ticks a lot of boxes
Though the Dreamcast is long discontinued and has the unfortunate status as the last console released by SEGA, it's highly regarded by a lot of gamers. For the most enthusiastic it's still a current-day platform, either for firing up mainstream classics or, alternatively, playing the latest from the system's Indie scene...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Stays on Top in the Japanese Charts
A quiet week sees Wii U sales back in four figures
It's that mid-week point of the Media Create chart results out of Japan, and a week with no new releases in the top 20 sees familiar favourites still leading the charge. Kirby: Planet Robobot has followed up its number one debut with a second week at number one, nearly hitting a quarter of a...
Video The Ice Climbers Are Coming to Super Mario Maker
Cool
It's been a couple weeks since Nintendo added another costume to Super Mario Maker. After the rather bizarre addition of BABYMETAL members, it's nice to see Nintendo is working on getting more of its own characters in the game, as it's just been announced that Nana and Popo will be making an appearance as a mystery costume. Though the Ice...
News Ace Attorney 6 May Be Called "Spirit of Justice" in the West
Any objections?
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 6 is heading to Japan in early June - it's definitely coming to the West but, as yet, no release window has been given. We may have an idea of what it'll be called, however, thanks to a cheeky 3DS Homebrew user that made a copy of the recently released demo in Japan. By dumping the demo a user on
Live Blog Ease Your Curiosity and Watch the Culdcept Revolt Nintendo Direct - Live!
Let's see what cards we're dealt
This is the very definition of a title that may be a big deal in Japan but seems unlikely to make it to the West, which adds a bit of extra intrigue. Culdcept is a strategy series driven by card collecting and deck management, a video game take on a popular real-world game genre. Culdcept Revolt will be the first...
Video Savour the Madness of Mario & Sonic at the Rio Olympics in This Japanese Trailer
Luigi punches Sonic in the face, Bowser Jr. rides a horse and so on...
Video games can be silly, delightful forms of entertainment. We're not sure yet whether Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be a particularly good game on Wii U this Summer, but we sure like watching well choreographed footage of it. Perhaps it's the chunky HD...
News Wave 5 Lego Dimensions Fun Packs Include Ghostbusters' Slimer And DC's Bane
Ninjago's Lloyd also coming along for the ride
Managed to keep all of those fiddly bricks in one place? Good, because three new fun packs are coming to Lego Dimensions. These include DC Comics' Bane, Ghostbusters' Slimer and Ninjago's Lloyd. As ever, each pack comes with a buildable character, a 3-in-1 vehicle and various gadgets which unlock...
Tuesday10th May 2016
Gallery Take a Closer Look at the Pokémon Sun and Moon Box Art and Starter Pokémon
Learn more about your new companion's moves and abilities
We were promised news on Pokémon Sun and Moon today and, thankfully, it was delivered. The Pokémon Company confirmed release dates and the starters, along with a shiny new trailer. There have also been updates to the official website, including some pleasing details on Rowlet, Litten and...
News Disney Infinity Has Been Cancelled
Avalanche Software shuttered, as Disney steps away from game publishing
Several years ago, Disney launched the Disney Infinity initiative, a long-term project that aimed to incorporate all kinds of different Disney characters and IP under one video game property. Later on, this also saw the inclusion of characters from the Marvel universe and the...
News Pokémon Sun and Moon Debut Trailer Confirms Starter Pokemon and Release Dates
Please welcome Rowlet, Litten and Popplio
Just recently Junichi Masuda promised new information on Pokémon Sun and Moon, and has been good to his word. A new trailer has been revealed which gives us a first look at the new titles and their setting - the Alola Region. In addition we have the release dates - 18th November in North America and 23rd...
News Homebrew Vulnerability Discovered In 3DS Version Of Citizens Of Earth
Dubbed "Humblehax" thanks to Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
Another homebrew vulnerability has been discovered on 3DS, this time related to the eShop title Citizens of Earth. Christened "Humblehax" due to the game's inclusion in the recent Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle, this exploit allows you to run unsigned code on your 3DS console but...
News 3DS System Version 11.0.0-33 is Now Available
All the way to eleven
It's been a couple months now since the last update went out for the 3DS, and fans around the world have no doubt been wondering what the hold-up has been. After all, the system surely won't become any more stable by itself. Fortunately, the tech wizards at Nintendo have worked their magic and figured out, yet again, how to...
Random EA Executive is as Non-Committal to NX as Possible, PR Assistant Approves
Also uses the usual "we're huge fans of Nintendo" line
The Nintendo NX is due in March 2017, and all that is truly known with 100% certainty is that it will play video games. It won't be a toaster or a talking robot (we don't think), and it'll probably have some kind of controller with buttons and sticks. There are reasonable and logical ideas that...
News Wayforward Issues an Update on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Retail version incoming!
A few years ago, Wayforward announced Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, a continuation of the metroidvania series that has brought the studio the most attention. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign and a lengthy development process, it seems that the game is in the last leg of its journey to release. To keep backers up to...
Video A Snappy Analysis of the Pokémon Sun and Moon Trailers
Hala! Character customisation! Other stuff!
Unless you've spent the day in outer space you'll be more than aware that The Pokémon Company unleashed the first gameplay trailers for Pokémon Sun and Moon, with the main reveal being the starter Pokémon - Rowlet, Litten and Popplio. We've shared a Gallery with va
News Bravely Second 3DS Theme Added To My Nintendo Rewards
100 platinum coins to you, squire
A new Bravely Second 3DS theme has gone live on the My Nintendo rewards site. Costing 100 platinum coins, the theme is called "New Faces" and shows off the various characters you'll meet in the popular RPG - both good and bad. The reward will be available until 30th June. Will you be investing those valuable...
News Ouendan And Elite Beat Agents Creator Would Love To Continue The Series On Nintendo NX
"I have a great relationship with Nintendo"
Elite Beat Agents was one of the more unique titles in the Nintendo DS library, offering a fun combination of rhythm action and engaging narrative. Based on the import release Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, the title never got a proper sequel in the west (although Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae!...
Too square to be hip
Have you ever said to yourself, "I would like a game that combines elements of Street Fighter, Space Invaders and Puyo Puyo"? If you have, then you are going to love Blockara. Blockara is a puzzle game first and foremost, but it borrows plenty of successful mechanics from other games. The result of all that borrowing, however,...
News Miitomo Update Allows You To Add Friends Using Email And SMS Messaging
You can also edit Miifotos before posting as comments, too
Miitomo has been updated to version 1.2.0, and while it comes with the usual "bug fixes" and "speed increases", the most welcome addition is the ability to add friends using email or text messaging - handy for those who don't use social media accounts. Another key change is the opportunity...
News Digger Dan DX Won't Cost Much When It Arrives on the 3DS eShop
Digging in on 19th May
Digger Dan & Kaboom was a rather neat DSiWare title, and developer Four Horses has been working to bring it to the 3DS eShop in an improved form with Digger Dan DX. Having previously cited a Summer release before stating th
News RCMADIAX Is Bringing Child-Friendly Puzzler Zoo Match To Wii U eShop This Year
And no, this isn't the unannounced title mentioned previously
RCMADIAX has revealed that it has another Wii U eShop game in the works, and before you ask, it's not the mystery title that was teased last week. Zoo Match is coming in Q3 2016 and involves matching cards by "image, sound, or spelling". The developer has stated that the title is aimed...
News The Pokémon Company Confirms Live Streams of National Championships Events in Europe
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire have passed three million sales in EU
We're stepping into the big leagues in the year's competitive Pokémon tournament circuit, with key National Championships happening over the next few weeks throughout Europe. The Pokémon Company has confirmed that there'll be three new Twitch channels to show the events live,...
Monday9th May 2016
Video Re-Live your School Years with these Five Nintendo Lies We All Believed
My dad worked for Nintendo
Thanks to the internet the storm of misinformation that swirled throughout friendship groups and magazines are largely a thing of the past, with a few exceptions. There was something strangely appealing about all the whispers you'd hear on the breeze about how you could unlock various unbelievable content in various games,...
News Super Mario Mash-Up Pack Jumps Into Minecraft: Wii U Edition in Upcoming Free Update
Downloadable from 17th May, disc version hits stores on 17th June
When Minecraft: Wii U Edition arrived late last year Mojang, Nintendo and Microsoft promised exclusive Nintendo content in 2016, and now details have been confirmed. The Super Mario Mash-Up Pack will be free and available with an update on 17th May (18th May in Europe), and a disc...
Nintendo Download 12th May (Europe)
Super Meat Boy! Mario Strikers! Contra III! Discounts galore! More!
With another week comes another set of Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and this time around there are some rather tempting options on both Wii U and 3DS. The home console has a long awaited platforming arrival along with some other interesting options, while both...
Review Super Meat Boy (Wii U eShop)
Although the meat’s been out for a while, it hasn’t spoiled
Super Meat Boy has been around the block. Developed by Team Meat and designed by Edmund McMillen (one of the creators of the original Flash game, Meat Boy, and designer for another well-known indie title, The Binding of Isaac) and Tommy Refenes, this is the latest in the countless ports...
Review Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (SNES)
Now that Star Fox Zero has made transforming space fighters cool again (as if they could be anything but cool, we hear you cry) we take a break from the relentless war raging in the Lylat system and go back to the classic shmup formula on a console that is not all that well known for the genre. Produced by Winky Soft – a studio responsible for a...
Reminder The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Ends on 10th May
Over 150,000 bundles sold so far
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle has now passed 150,000 purchases, which at the time of writing brings it just shy of $1.5 million in revenue. It's far surpassed the original North America-only bundle, with a global audience no doubt helping to deliver impressive results. With the bundle due to end at 11am...
News It's Now Possible To Play Virtual Boy Games On Your Android Phone
With a little help from Google Cardboard
The Virtual Boy wasn't a success, that much is beyond debate. It sold poorly and effectively led to Gunpei Yokoi's departure from Nintendo - a sad event when you consider how much he had done to make the company such a force in the field of toys and video games. Despite its commercial failure the system still...
Feature Developer's Perspectives on the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
"I would change nothing about this bundle. This bundle is pure joy."
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle is, at the time of writing, in its final stretch. The final offering includes 11 games (and a neat 3DS HOME Theme) - three of which are retail titles - for $13 or more, with three tiers from which to choose. The mix of big-name games and high...
Video Meet The Akira Video Game That Never Saw Release
Footage of cancelled project surfaces online
If you're a fan of anime, then chances are you'll have already appreciated the masterpiece that is Akira. Arguably the first anime movie to find mainstream success in the west, Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 classic triggered a surge of interest in the medium and offered many western viewers their first taste of...
Video Learn How to Make a Cool Replica of Samus' Arm Cannon
Sure, why not
It's been quite a while since we shared a video from the highly popular AWE me YouTube channel, which has a variety of shows including some where impressive real-life swords and weapons are made to represent fanciful video game counterparts. The DIY Prop Shop, though, shows how anyone - and not just specialists - can make some...
News The Donkey Kong High Score Has Been Topped Again
How high can you get?
Donkey Kong has long since been a popular game for aspiring world record holders to challenge in hopes of being the "King of Kong". Mario and Donkey Kong's inaugural debut may seem to be a simple enough game, but competitors have been battling for years over the crown, continuously pushing the limits of what was thought to be...
Review Queen's Garden (Wii U eShop)
Candy Crush with trowel blades
Queen's Garden takes a leaf from games like Candy Crush and Bejewelled, which is no surprise considering it was initially released for smart devices. It's a good addition to your Wii U if you enjoy match-3 puzzles but lacks in the whole 'garden' side of things, with more customization and depth needed. The difficulty...
Video Fresh Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 Footage Is Here To Burn Your Eyeballs
3DS sequel shaping up very nicely indeed
Azure Striker Gunvolt is one of our favourite 3DS eShop titles here at Nintendo Life, and we've got a keen eye locked on the sequel which arrives later this year. Developer Inti Creates recently ran a live-stream of Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 on its site which has English commentary, and it shows off some of...
News Wii U Indie Title Twin Robots Does An Excellent Chibi-Robo Impression
Ratalakia Games also reveals two other Nintendo titles
Ratalaika Games has announced that it is bringing Thinice's 2.5D platformer Twin Robots to the Wii U eShop "very soon". Looking a lot like Nintendo's own Chibi-Robo!: Zip-Lash, the game allows you to switch between two robots as they try to work together to find their way out of each level...
Sunday8th May 2016
Video Check Out a Surprisingly Simple Nintendo 64 Anti-Aliasing Hack
You just need a GameShark cart and your wits
The Nintendo 64 enthusiast scene is one of the most interesting (to us, anyway) in retro circles, as fans find ways to improve the classic system. The focus, often, is on visual quality - mods and tricks that can help the early 3D graphics shine. Back in October last year we shared a video by My Life in...
News Some Unlucky Fire Emblem Fates Customer Have Their Special Edition Pre-Orders Cancelled
Sometimes fate can be a cruel thing
Fire Emblem Fates is now close to its European release, which is great news for fans of the franchise that are ready for a lot of strategy RPG action. Unfortunately the rather handsome Special Edition appears to have some stock issues in the UK, with some seeing their pre-order cancelled rather late in the day...
Soapbox Why Websites Don’t Need to Give a Game a Review Score (and Probably Shouldn’t)
Alan Lopez puts forward the case for ditching scores
Editor's Note: In this article Alan shares his personal views in response to a similar Soapbox by our YouTube man Alex, in which Mr Olney (he of the "hello there lovely people" intro) shared his views on why reviews should have scores. When Alan wrote this counter-piece and sent it to me I thought...
Saturday7th May 2016
News A Wii U Homebrew Channel Opens Up New Possibilities for Some Cheeky Gamers
It's not just on 3DS any more
The homebrew scene on 3DS has been in a constant dance with Nintendo, with regular system updates often forcing those that want to use unofficial apps to run outdated firmware and lose the ability to play games online. As a result it's a very niche area, albeit with some quirky tools such as someone running Windows on a...
"Nintendo is showing that they are forward thinking in their approach"
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle, now in its final few days, has demonstrably been a success. Unlike 2015's Humble Nindie Bundle it's been available in multiple territories around the world, with a mix of retail and download-only titles tempting eShop gamers to part with...
News Bloodstained Will Launch the Base Campaign First, Followed by Staggered Content Releases
The right way
Mighty No. 9 has finally, to the shock of many, gone gold and been fixed with a firm release window. The game was delayed after numerous delays for varying reasons, but it seems as though extra content made possible by the Kickstarter funds was the main reason for the holdup. Of course, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night also had an...
Music Relax and Enjoy a Twilight Princess Orchestral Medley
Perfect for an evening listen
This year is the 30th Anniversary year of The Legend of Zelda, and so far we've had Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U to get into the spirit. Though the next full entry in the series isn't coming until 2017, we can expect fans to step up and produce some top-notch tributes. One example is from RebeccaETripp, who...
Friday6th May 2016
Also believe the company has "just switched off Wii U's life support"
As is now increasingly common for debates around Nintendo, conversations have recently focused on what's not happening and on a system yet to be revealed. In confirming a March 2017 release window for the NX and an absence of the system at E3, Nintendo has shown that it's not in a...
Feature Team-Based Super Smash Bros. Format, The Gauntlet, Aims to Transform the Competitive Scene
Could "bring Smash to the level of League of Legends" in eSports
Through a mix of determined strategy and the benefit of plenty of open-minded competitors, Nintendo has seen Super Smash Bros. for Wii U establish itself in the competitive scene. Though the franchise as a whole is still lagging behind some huge franchises in eSports, it has a loyal...
Random Get Ready For The Summer With Nintendo-Themed Swimming Shorts
So hawt
Yes, it's a bit of a slow news day! So what better time to take a look at this range of newly launched, officially licensed swimming shorts from Merchoid? The three sets of Mario swimming shorts feature characters from the game, with one of them having a funky NES Remix style, while the Zelda swimming shorts feature the Hylian Crest and...
News New Pokémon Sun and Moon Information is Coming on 10th May
Junichi Masuda makes the promise
Eager fans have been waiting on news for Pokémon Sun and Moon since it was revealed - with practically no details - earlier this year. These games are not only vital for the 3DS's fortunes this year, but also bring the hype that only new Pokémon titles can. The wait for information is coming to an end, however. We...
News There's a New Miitomo Update Coming Soon
Finally, new ways to add friends
Miitomo has been out for a little over a month now, and has been quite a success as Nintendo's first smart device app. While it isn't strictly considered a "game", the social aspects of it are quirky and engaging, but there's always been one glaring flaw: adding friends. The app has been strangely strict on this...
Random Some F-Zero Fans Won't Give Up on a FAST Racing NEO Crossover
Don't hold your breath
The ever-useful tools of Photoshop and similar applications mean it's hard to believe much of what we see nowadays, but they can nevertheless bring some wish fulfilment. For example what if the brilliant FAST Racing NEO was allowed to include the iconic Blue Falcon as a vehicle? Shin'en Multimedia's game is very much its own...
News Splatoon's Next Splatfest is All About How You Like to Party
The first simultaneous worldwide Splatfest
It's getting to be that time once again for the monthly Splatfest in Splatoon. After last month's epic battle between Spongebob and Patrick in the first Splatfest where both North America and Europe could compete, Nintendo is stepping it up and increasing the scope even more. The Splatfest taking place next...
Review PixelMaker (Wii U eShop)
For you retro art fans
Not so much a game as a creativitiy app, Nostatic Software's PixelMaker does exactly what it says in the title. Those of us with an arty side or penchant for retro gaming will enjoy creating or recreating well known pixel characters with the use of this tool, and the user interface is uncomplicated and easy to grasp. With the...
News Culdcept Revolt Will Have Its Own Nintendo Direct in Japan
Um, yay?
We're seeing a lot more unity in global releases - albeit with localisation delays - than in past years, with a number of intriguing titles making their way out of Japan to the West. Nevertheless a number of titles are still mysteries to all but the most enthusiastic importers, and one such 3DS release is even getting its own Nintendo...
News The Legend of Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog Are Inducted Into the World Video Game Hall of Fame
Pokémon Red & Green miss out this time
In 2015 Super Mario Bros. and Tetris were among the first games to be inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. A "committee of journalists, scholars and video game industry members" takes on the annual task of choosing games "recognized for their iconic status, longevity, geographical reach and...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Secures Top Spot in Japan as Hardware Sales Enjoy Holiday Boost
Wii U clambers back into five figures
There have been a few observed Holidays in Japan this week, which has accounted for later-than-usual Media Create chart results. They have now emerged, however, and bring some good news for Nintendo. Kirby: Planet Robobot was the biggest arrival this week, with the 3DS title securing top spot - its sales of...
News Mega Man Finally Arrives on Nintendo Badge Arcade
Get equipped with badges
Some time ago we reported that Mega Man was blasting his way to Nintendo Badge Arcade in Japan. The time has finally come for the rest of us; you can get your Blue Bomber-themed badges now, along with various characters such as Protoman, Rush and all your favourite Mega Man villains. There is also some news of a 'Thank You...
News Demongeon Promises a Hellish Platforming Challenge on Wii U This Summer
Devilishly difficult
For those that complain about modern video games being too easy, there are plenty of developers more than happy to serve up fiendishly difficult titles to buck the trend. Mobot Studios seems keen to help fill the gaps, confirming another upcoming Wii U eShop release - the studio previously published the likes of Paper Monsters...
Thursday5th May 2016
News retroUSB's HDMI NES, the AVS, is Heading for a Summer Release
Priced at $185 and touting support for all current and future carts
There's still a sizeable group of gamers that derive great pleasure from playing retro games on their original systems. Getting the best out of these old titles, though, is always a challenge. Systems driven by emulation and impressive HDMI mods are available to give the NES a...
Rumour ROM Chip Maker Macronix Drops Hint Nintendo Could Be Abandoning Optical Storage For NX
Could carts be making a comeback?
One of the earliest Nintendo NX rumours was that the system would abandon optical discs for game storage and may even move towards a totally download-based delivery mechanism. However, fresh speculation - promoted by comments made by Macronix, the company which traditionally su
Friday6th May 2016
Review Pocket Card Jockey (3DS eShop)
Horsing around
Sometimes mash-up concepts can bring us delightful gaming experiences, and occasionally they simply leave us scratching our heads in confusion. Pocket Card Jockey does both, and is in turns fun, irritating, exciting and unfair. Some may have a love-hate relationship with it as hours slip by and, when all is said and done, little in...
Thursday5th May 2016
News Nintendo Confirms Its E3 Plans for The Legend of Zelda
A day of game footage, commentaries and more on 14th June
Following the surprise recent announcement that The Legend of Zelda on Wii U will be the only playable Nintendo game at E3, the company has now outlined some slightly broader plans. It's confirmed that, from 9am Pacific / noon Eastern / 5pm UK / 6pm CET on 14th June, there'll be a full day...
Reaction The NX Could Benefit from Using Cartridges Instead of Discs
Let's get physical
Following recent news about rumours that the NX may use cartridges instead of discs, this reporter personally felt that it probably wasn't all that bad of an idea. As such, please enjoy this marginally silly video below where we discuss the potential benefits of a cartridge based NX against the clock for a bit of added...
News European Pricing For Fire Emblem Fates DLC Is Revealed
Get that gold ready
Following on from the confirmation of the North American prices for Fire Emblem Fates' DLC, Nintendo of Europe has now revealed how much all of this lovely content is going to cost on the other side of the pond. As is the case in North America, all of the content outlined below can be purchased for a one-off fee - the Map Pack 1...
News Wii U "Disappointing To Everybody" But We're Excited About Nintendo NX, Says GameStop CEO
"I hope that they come out with something exciting and innovative"
The Wii U was a disappointment to retailers, gamers and Nintendo itself, claims GameStop CEO Paul Raines. Speaking to list, Raines admitted that the console simply hadn't performed as expected, but he was keen to point out that Nintendo as a company should never be counted out:...
Poll Nintendo Has Laid Out Its Legend of Zelda E3 Plans - Are They Enough?
No announcement yet of any other Digital Event or Direct
Earlier today Nintendo sent its customary press release outlining plans for next month's E3. In 2014 the company was talking up its bold new 'Digital Event' concept with a Super Smash Bros. Invitational, and shared an entertaining video for the announcement; in 2015 the idea was similar, with...
Nintendo Download 5th May (North America)
Pocket Card Jockey! Super Punch-Out!! PixelMaker! Discounts! More!
It's time for the North American Nintendo Download Update details, once again, and this week brings a relatively broad variety of games. The Wii U has a number of new releases vying for our attention, along with another DS Virtual Console title. The New 3DS gets a fun arrival on its...
Sssimple
Anyone who longs for the days of playing classic Snake on their Nokia phone will be happy to know the game still lives on in EnjoyUp's updated version - Sssnakes. Unfortunately, Sssnakes doesn't offer much that the classic didn't do already, and considering there are a lot of easily accessible games to download, both for console and mobile,...
Rumour Sonic The Hedgehog Could Be Spin-Dashing His Way To Lego Dimensions
Bricking it
It's no secret that Lego Dimensions is getting more expansion packs with new properties, but one of the more interesting rumours we've heard lately is that Sega's mascot could be rendered in block form. Speculation began back in September 2015, when code words relating to the next wave of Lego Dimensions packs surfaced - one of them...
Exclusive Learn More About the Affordable Space Adventures Soundtrack, Now Available for Free
Nicklas Nygren introduces the album
Affordable Space Adventures is, in this writer's opinion, one of the finest download-only titles on the Wii U eShop. It's a rare example in which the GamePad is used brilliantly, and as it's part of the current Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle there's no excuse for Wii U owners not to try it. Beyond its clever...
Random Watch Bowser Perform Rhythmic Gymnastics
Shh... Just let it wash over you
So the Nintendo UK Twitter account up and posted this video from Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games recently. No rhyme, no warning. Such is art. [tweet 727875893700403200] In your most desperate moment, when your back is against the wall and the light of hope is but a dim, warmless dot, may you...
Video Take A Look At Some Awesome Limited Edition Mega Man Merchandise in Japan
Lots of Rockman goodness
In conjunction with the release of Rockman Classics Collection (Mega Man Legacy Collection in the West), Capcom started to release some items related to the game. I thought it'd be neat to collect some of these relatively rare items and share them with you. One of them is the "Rockman Classics Collection Fanbook", which...
News RCMADIAX Has Just Submitted A Mystery Wii U eShop Game To Nintendo
Such a tease
Prolific eShop developer RCMADIAX has revealed that it has just submitted an unannounced Wii U title to Nintendo of America for approval. The indie has confirmed that it will reveal more information on the game once approval has been granted. The studio's last Wii U eShop title - SUPER ROBO MOUSE - launched earlier this month, and it...
News Kick & Fennick Arrives on the Wii U eShop on June 2nd
Kicking and screaming
For the handful of you that own a PS Vita, you may remember Kick & Fennick. The action platformer made its debut on the troubled handheld in February 2015, and while the concept of it seemed interesting enough, it received mixed reviews. Kick & Fennick sees players take control of a young boy named Kick who rockets...
Wednesday4th May 2016
Random A Nintendo Themed Line of Vans Sneakers Will Debut This Summer
Shoe got to be kidding
Just earlier today, Tom Whitehead wrote a piece contemplating the merits of Nintendo loosening up with its IP, suggesting that the company could benefit from doing more cross-promotional work. It does seem to be logical, as the company's storied and diverse stable of IPs certainly has depth to appeal to consumers that may not...
News A 15 Year Old Patent Shows A Nintendo Phone That Never Was
Game Boy titles were seemingly considered
With Nintendo and DeNA actively working on multiple phone apps, and with the big N having a financial interest in the likes of Pokémon Go, the concept of the company's games on mobile devices is no longer fanciful. The company has also filed multiple patents over the years for emulators and actual...
Video A Look at Five of the Worst Mario Boss Fights
Alex picks some rather unimpressive encounters
It's widely agreed that the Super Mario games - in their various forms - are among the very best in the industry. Yet some parts of them are somewhat 'meh', nevertheless, even if they are relatively brief sections among far better gaming moments. Our video man Alex Olney reckons boss fights can be a...
News The Legend of Zelda Has Been Reimagined as a Hong Kong Crime Drama
Yes, it really has
We've seen various unofficial tributes and reimaginings of The Legend of Zelda, including some flashy fan efforts and more touching commemorations. We're pretty sure we haven't seen it as a Hong Kong crime drama before, though... Well, it's happening thanks to Dayside TV - thanks, Eurogamer - and looks suitably strange. There's...
News New Handheld Channels The Spirit Of The Game Boy And Can Run Virtual Boy Games
All for $49
Those of you who follow the homebrew coding scene might already be aware of CHIP, a self-contained computer which costs just $9. This super-cheap piece of hardware is now being put inside a portable shell to host "Fantasy Console" platform PICO-8, and the end result is looking fantastic. Created by Next Thing and dubbed PocketCHIP, this...
Review Epic Dumpster Bear (Wii U eShop)
It’s time to take out the trash
Yes. You are reading the title correctly. This is the review for Epic Dumpster Bear. A Unity-made precision platformer with a hilarious twist. Created by Log Games Ltd. (creators of the Wii U puzzle game Puzzle Monkeys), Epic Dumpster Bear takes you through the tragic life of Dumpster Bear, an unsuspecting brown...
The fun toy-making side of Nintendo
To break the Talking Point rule I'm going to start this one in first person. Late evening on 3rd May I was browsing around the web when I came across the trailer for the PocketC.H.I.P., a Super Handy Fun Computer that uses a $9 micro-PC within a relatively simple casing and has a price tag of $60 ($49 as an early...
News Turns Out The Guy Behind Final Fantasy Loves Fire Emblem Too
Check out this vintage interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi
Fire Emblem may have taken its sweet time finding fame in the west, but it's been a popular franchise in its native Japan since the days of the Famicom. In fact, it's such an influential series that Hironobu Sakaguchi - the creator of Final Fantasy - claims that he had to resist playing it...
News Super Smash Bros. Fans Petition the White House To Secure Visa Rights for eSports Competitors
Aiming to help Melee player William "Leffen" Hjelte
Update: William "Leffen" Hjelte's team, Team SoloMid, has secured a visa that will allow him to compete through the Summer (including EVO) - thanks pvplive. The broader campaign to have all Super Smash Bros. Melee regarded as a legitimate sport will no doubt continue. Original Article: The...
Video Enjoy More Star Fox Zero Puppet Shenanigans in These Trailers
With bonus continuity errors
Star Fox Zero is so April 2016, especially in this era of the internet rapidly moving on and forgetting about recent releases. Nevertheless the Nintendo / PlatinumGames collaboration hasn't been out that long, and the big N hasn't given up on promoting it quite yet. As previously reported, Nintendo has brought back the...
Video Check Out the Launch Trailer for Mini Mario & Friends amiibo Challenge
Time to dust off those amiibo
A few months back, it was announced that Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge would be arriving on both Wii U and 3DS. The sort-of sequel in the long-running Mario & Donkey Kong series aims to take a free-to-play approach to things, with the caveat that you need amiibo to unlock see everything the game has to...
News Latest Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer Features Everyone's Favourite Admiral
"This had better not be a trap"
The latest trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens has just hit the web, and it goes into detail regarding some of the all-new content that will be featured in the game. Six new missions are showcased which augment the storyline seen in the movie: Rathtar Hunting – Follows Han Solo and Chewbacca's voyage to...
Thursday5th May 2016
News PixelMaker is Getting Creative on North American Wii U Systems This Week
A budget tool for pixel art fans
PixelMaker arrived on the European Wii U eShop on 28th April, and now Nostatic Software has confirmed it's hitting the North American store this week on 5th May; it'll cost $2.99 in the US. Having previously brought us VoxelMaker, Nostatic now seems to be taking the same approach to producing pixel art. At a budget...
Tuesday3rd May 2016
News Three New Titles Have Been Added to the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
Two for Wii U, one for 3DS
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle has enjoyed decent success so far, passing $1 million in money raised. It's now had the standard mid-bundle additions, adding three titles overall. Of the three new games two are for the Wii U eShop and one for the 3DS eShop - they are Runbow, Swords & Soldiers II and
News VVVVVV Pulled From North American 3DS eShop Following Discovery Of Homebrew Exploit
Haxxor
Super-hard indie platformer VVVVVV has been removed from the North American 3DS eShop following the publication of a homebrew exploit. The vulnerability - exploited by ShinyQuagsire's (v*)hax - is apparently only available in digital version of the game. It requires a "primary" entry point to function - that means another hack in order to...
Wednesday4th May 2016
News SEGA 3D Classics Collection Has a Tenth Game to Unlock and Play
Oh my...
SEGA 3D Classics Collection has been out in North America for a short while - let's have a brief moment of consideration for deprived PAL gamers, please... - and has nine excellent games on one cartridge (or download). Well, actually, it has ten. Our glowing recommendation in our review was based on the nine formal games included, but...
Tuesday3rd May 2016
News Three Legendary Pokémon Birds Are Now Available Through the Pokémon Trainer Club Newsletter
Check that inbox
A while ago The Pokémon Company began some tentative distributions of Articuno, Zapdos or Moltres, all with their hidden abilities. In some countries, including the US, it was confirmed that the only way to get hold of these 'mon for X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire would be to sign-up to the Pokémon Trainer Club Newsletter,...
Editorial Nintendo Should Shamelessly Exploit Its IPs to the Full
Tom Whitehead considers why Nintendo's IP management should loosen up
Just a few years ago I was largely against Nintendo going overboard with licensing its IPs, hesitant to see treasured franchises on cinema or TV screens, worried about the idea of spin-offs that failed to match the quality associated with their brands. Nintendo was cautious too,...
Video This Unpronounceable NES Title Was Pretty Tough For Kids Back In 1990
"Swing, jump, jump and swing"
If you're a long-time follower of the site then you'll already be aware of the work of Tyler Esposito, the brains behind the excellent iRetroGamer.com YouTube channel. A seasoned gamer with a love of both Nintendo and Sega, Esposito is in the unique position of having many of his childhood gaming habits recorded for...
News Limited Run Games Would Like to Distribute Physical Copies of Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies
Possibly Fatal Frame, too
This generation in particular has seen the rise of more games being released in a digital-only format, something that has more or less been a double edged sword. On one hand, this has enabled publishers to localise titles that would otherwise have been deemed too risky to release in western markets, but this also has no...
Video Fans Recreate Super Smash Bros. Melee's Opening
Retuning the nostalgia chords
It's often touted that the opening video to Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube is one of the greatest video game intros that Nintendo has produced. It was a video that set the scene for the excitement to come, all the while showcasing the all-star cast that Nintendo had to offer. It's even often used as a...
Review Dodge Club Party (Wii U eShop)
Dot's all, folks!
Last year, Dot Arcade on the Wii U eShop simmered gameplay down into its simplest, retro arcade-like form and served it up with pizzazz. One of the three games available in that package has now busted out as Dodge Club Party, upping the number of players yet losing much of its flair in the process. Dodge Club Party operates very...
Review Star Sky 2 (Wii U eShop)
Moonlit meandering
Video games have come a long way from their humble, straightforward beginnings. They're still a form of entertainment, primarily designed to help you waste time and relax, so there will always be a mission to complete, a goal to achieve or an enemy to defeat. However, there are simpler, quieter stories to be told as well, with an...
Soapbox Game Reviews Always Need a Final Score
Alex explains why it's all a numbers game
The traditional notion of giving a game a score out of five, ten, or any amount is falling out of fashion with many outlets rapidly adopting more arbitrary systems for one reason or another. Personally I feel this is a step in the wrong direction, and a score based on a finite scale is paramount in promoting...
News 505 Games Confirms Terraria Wii U Release Dates and Details
Eight-player online multiplayer is in
Terraria has made its way to the 3DS already, but due to the portable's limitations it doesn't deliver all of the features from the full-fat home console versions. The good news for Wii U fans is that firm release dates for the system's iteration have been confirmed, along with details on its various features...
News Medabots Studio Delta Arts Has Closed Its Doors
Also responsible for Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle on 3DS
Japanese studio Delta Arts has closed, it has been announced. The company has been responsible for the major instalments in the Medabots series since 2010, and also created Tenkai Knights: Brave Battle on 3DS. The last Medabots release it worked on was Medabots 9, which launched in Japan...
News Super Meat Boy Arrives on the Wii U eShop on 12th May
Also, there could be a 3DS version on the way
Many of you are no doubt looking forward to the launch of Super Meat Boy on Wii U, which was recently reported to be happening "very soon". The title has had something of a troubled release history with Nintendo platforms; it was initially set to release on Wiiware, before getting cancelled due to file...
News Yo-kai Watch Makes Its UK Chart Debut as Star Fox Zero Holds Top 40 Place
Bank Holiday weekend dominated by non-Nintendo releases
With the end of a Bank Holiday weekend we have the UK chart results, and there was a new release on 3DS to look out for. Yo-kai Watch, perhaps in a continuation of a limited impact in North America, has only secured 14th place in the all-format results in its first week on UK shelves. In...
Monday2nd May 2016
News Legendary Pokémon Zygarde, Shiny Xerneas and Shiny Yveltal All Coming to the US as Gifts
Grab Zygarde now
Just recently we shared the news that Legendary Pokémon Zygarde was released as a gift in Europe; now it's arrived in North America, with more to come as special rewards in May. The Pokémon Company is releasing three enticing Pokémon in the US this month as Mystery Gifts through the Nintendo Network, to be found in Pokémon X/Y...
News Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Passes $1 Million and 100,000 Bundles Sold
More games due to be added soon
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle is the second 'Humble Bundle' that has featured eShop games, and is the first to be available globally. We previously reported that it had started quickly with over 60,000 bundles sold in under 24 hours, and it's now passed another notable landmark. At the time of writing the...
Nintendo Download 5th May (Europe)
Pocket Card Jockey! LEGO Avenger Black Panther DLC! Discounts galore! More!
It's a Bank Holiday in some countries but Nintendo has still sent out the European Nintendo Download Update details, albeit a little later than usual. This week we have some interesting new arrivals on the eShop stores and a lot of discounts, which are sure to tempt some...
Review Pinball Arcade (Wii U eShop)
FOR AMUSEMENT ONLY
When it comes to pinball games for the Wii U, there's really not a whole lot of options available. Zen Pinball 2 is obviously the first name that comes to mind, and while it certainly delivers a diverse and in-depth library of tables to choose from (along with the standalone Star Wars Pinball), one occasionally must wonder what it...
Talking Point The 3DS Faces the Challenge of Taking Nintendo Through 2016
Fan-pleasing releases should help
This isn't really how it was supposed to turn out. A lot of expectations, from fans, to writers, to tech-industry analysts that are paid a lot of money for their opinions, reckoned the NX - in some form - would land for the Holiday season this year. The industry changes rapidly, however. In the last couple of months...
Reminder Distribution is Underway for Mythical Pokémon Darkrai
Time to hit the shops
Players of Pokémon X & Y and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have been given regular goodies by The Pokémon Company this year. On a monthly basis there have been new Mythical Pokémon available, and now Darkrai is up for grabs until 24th May. This time around it's all down to distributions, however, so you'll need to head...
News Nintendo Wants Mobile to be a "Pillar of Profit"
Kimishima-san clarifies Shigeru Miyamoto's role with smart device games
Over a year on from Nintendo and DeNA formalising a partnership we've had one app to kickstart Nintendo's smart device output - Miitomo. Big news from the recent financial reports and briefings, however, confirmed that we'll have Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games on our...
News Mighty No. 9 Has Gone Gold for a June Release
3DS version still due to come "at a later point"
Comcept's Mighty No. 9 has had a troubled route to release, with art design and multiple delays being among points of contention for the Keiji Inafune-led title. It's all been a far cry from the excitement and success of its original Kickstarter campaign, but the good news is that we'll get to play it...
News Sega's Shinobi Series Is Getting The Big Screen Treatment
Yo Joe
Sega's iconic Shinobi franchise is being turned into a Hollywood movie, Deadline is reporting. Shinobi began life as an arcade release in 1987 and spawned several sequels, including Revenge of Shinobi and Shinobi III on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis and - more recently - Shinobi on t
Sunday1st May 2016
News My Nintendo's Rewards Have Been Updated for May
Discounts galore
As you may have been aware, a range of My Nintendo rewards expired on 1st May, and new options have now been posted in North America and Europe. They're all discounts, which was expected as those that disappeared were equivalent deals. Due to differences in regional expiry dates the North American region has a lot of new offers,...
Nintendo Life Weekly New Splatoon amiibo Burst Forth, 3DS Games in HD, and More
Hold on to your wallets
It feels like we've been bombarded with little more than rumours for the past few weeks, but now that Nintendo has finally blessed us with some substantial new happenings we wouldn't be at all surprised if you'd not kept track of all that's happened. Luckily for you we've once more been hard at work bringing what is quite...
Review Doll Fashion Atelier (3DS eShop)
Design flaw
Spanning 16 games, anime and manga adaptations, and a near 20-year legacy, the Atelier series is one of the most beloved RPG franchises of all time. With such a wide cast of characters and a charming premise it's no wonder that the series has been beloved by fans for so long. It's great to see such an influential franchise finally make...
News A New VoxelMaker Update is Now Available
Background music! Sample models! Glowing blocks!
Some of you may remember Nostatic Software's VoxelMaker, which made its debut on the Wii U eShop last October. The game stood out a bit due to its nature of being more of a 3D modeling tool than an actual game. We gave it a solid recommendation, praising the depth and variety of its toolset, though a...
