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News - June, 2016
Thursday30th Jun 2016
Video Welcome To The Hellish Glitch That Allows Speedrunners To Beat Super Mario Land 2 In Minutes
Stepping into the Mario Matrix
Speedrunners are obsessed with finishing games in the fastest time possible, but they don't always play fair - any glitches in a game which allow the player to complete it in a faster time are considered by many to be perfectly legit, although they are usually classified differently to "normal" speed runs. Even so,...
News Splatoon's Last Splatfest is Next Month
Team Callie or Team Marie?
One of the most popular and enjoyable aspects of Splatoon has been the semi-monthly Splatfests. These day-long, team based competitions took the core idea of Splatoon and expanded on it a bit, allowing players to pledge allegiance to a certain team, with a winning team decided at the end of it all based on popularity and...
News Seven New Pokémon Revealed for Pokémon Sun and Moon
New trailer shows them off
Pokémon Sun and Moon are arguably the biggest releases still to come to Nintendo hardware in 2016, and The Pokémon Company is slowly ramping up the hype machine. It's now unveiled a new trailer with seven new Pokémon, though may have had its hand forced by early leaks online. You can see all seven below as images,...
Nintendo Download 30th June (North America)
Super Mario RPG! Zero Time Dilemma! Minecraft Story Mode DLC! LEGO! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week has some rather tempting options, with major retail releases across both Wii U and 3DS, along with big name DLC to also consider on each platform. The Wii U Virtual Console...
Friday1st Jul 2016
News Chinese App, 'Pocket All-Stars Smash Bros.', Uses Nintendo, Capcom and SEGA Franchises
Cheeky
The Chinese market is still, it seems, a tricky territory to master and even understand in the video game industry. Sony and Microsoft formally released PS4 and Xbox One in the country, but indications are that sales have been rather disappointing; Nintendo, for its part, has been hesitant to make any notable moves as yet. It is naturally a...
Thursday30th Jun 2016
Hardware Classics Pokémon Mini
Nintendo's smallest console, in both size and stature
It's somewhat ironic that one of Nintendo's most obscure consoles is so strongly aligned with one of its most instantly recognisable brands, but understanding why the Pokémon Mini wasn't quite as successful as it probably should have been is relatively easy; it was marketed poorly, the games...
"Children under the age of 12 have been largely ignored" in this generation
As Nintendo continues to keep the NX behind lock and key, making fans and industry followers sweat over whether it truly is going to hit that target of a March 2017 release, plenty are considering what the system could try to achieve. Beyond guessing the format of the...
Video See How Easy It Is To Turn Your Favourite NES Games Into 3D With 3DNES
You might need a bit of patience
We recently brought you news of a project called 3DNES, which had the ambitious goal of allowing you to convert your favourite NES games into 3D. Since then the project has moved on a bit and our chums over at Eurogamer have spent a bit of time playing around with it to see how easy it is to use in practice. It...
Video Digital Foundry Puts Mighty No. 9's Wii U Framerate and Performance to the Test
It's not mighty, sadly
Mighty No. 9, it's fair to say, wasn't exactly greeted with glowing recommendations and open arms when it arrived recently. After an extended and troubled development the final result underwhelmed, and we decided it was more like Mediocre No. 9 in our review. Playable and with some good moments, it also has flaws that aren't...
News Axiom Verge Creator is Looking into a 3DS Port
There's technical hurdles, but it's not impossible
Axiom Verge is a game that very clearly drew strong inspiration from the Metroid games of old, so it came as no surprise when the game was inevitably announced to be coming to Wii U. Tom Happ, the game's sole creator, even referred to it as the game coming to it's "home turf". While that Wii U port...
Video The Play Nintendo Show Makes Its YouTube Debut
Featuring a talking Piranha Plant and an 'interesting' Reggie cameo
Nintendo has been making some interesting moves in its efforts to promote its games and systems to young gamers, and it's an area we've argued can see further improvement. Play Nintendo in North America has been strong in this respect with an impressive website that's full of...
News Super Mario RPG Hits the North American Wii U VC for This Week's Update
The father of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario
Nowadays, Nintendo technically has two Super Mario RPG franchises. There's the quirky Mario & Luigi series on its portable platforms, and there's the Paper Mario games which are mostly for home consoles. Of course, Paper Mario has seemingly been shifting away from its RPG roots with its more recent...
Friday1st Jul 2016
Video SEGA Commissions Neat Sonic the Hedgehog Street Art, Though Some Focus on Blue Arms
Boom...
In just a few weeks we should get a look at the next major Sonic game, with a live stream promised of a 25th Anniversary event in San Diego on 22nd July. After quite a bit of waiting fans will no doubt be pinning their hopes on a return to form for the series. The official Sonic the Hedgehog YouTube channel has been warming up with a few...
Thursday30th Jun 2016
News Mii Characters Evolved From a Project Called "Women's Fortune Telling Pocket Notebook"
Snappy
Some of the most important and enduring ideas have peculiar origins, starting out as projects with an entirely different goal than the end result. This seems to have been the case with Mii characters, with the original idea being perceived when working on a doomed project called "Otona no Onna no Uranai Techo" (Women's Fortune Telling Pocket...
News PC Owners Can Sign Up Now for a Mekazoo Closed Beta
A promising platformer also due on Wii U this year
Mekazoo is a title we've had our eye on for some time; developed by The Good Mood Creators, it blends slick visuals with platforming and animal transformations. It certainly brings to mind some classics such as the Donkey Kong Country titles (old and new), while also having its own sense of style...
News Prepare To Break Olympic Records In Stickman Super Athletics
Move over Daley Thompson
Are you looking forward to the Rio 2016 Olympics in August? If the recently released Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games didn't tickle your fancy, you might want to live out your olympic dreams in the upcoming Stickman Super Athletics by CoderChild for the 3DS eShop. If you want to get high competition scores,...
Wednesday29th Jun 2016
News Splatoon Comes To Smartphones, But Not In Quite The Way You Think
Attack of the clones
Nintendo's expansion into smartphones began this year with Miitomo, but the company has big plans for some of its existing IP - including Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem. Splatoon - one of Nintendo's most recent hits - is arguably another prime candidate for mobile phones, as it boasts a unique look and has been popular with...
FAQ The GamePad Screen is, Tellingly, Largely Redundant in Breath of the Wild's Demo
Pinning down how the inventory and game map work
An area of confusion popped up within the comments section of an article related to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a while ago, centred primarily around the use of the GamePad and whether it features a dynamic map as expected. One of our E3 previewers had, in the hubbub of the show floor,...
News Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Needs To Sell 2 Million Copies To Make A Profit
Resources created during development could speed up other titles
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild needs to sell 2 million copies worldwide to recoup its development costs and turn a profit, according to Shigeru Miyamoto. Speaking at a recent investors meeting - which has been superbly translated bit-by-bit by Twitter user Cheesemeister3k -...
News Nintendo is Making a Subtle Shift in Company Focus
Dedicating itself to expanding on Nintendo IP exposure
Particularly during the last several years, Nintendo has been defined as a company that's been intent on making the experience of video games as accessible as possible. For example, the Touch! Generations initiative on the Nintendo DS was aimed at roping in people of all ages and getting them...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Sets Criteria to Turn Nintendo's Virtual Reality Research Into a Product
Affordability and comfort of play are priorities
As expected Nintendo has hosted its annual general meeting for shareholders, consisting of a presentation that largely reflects the (previously released) annual financial results for the last year and then a Q & A session. Nintendo typically avoids major announcements in this meeting as it's not...
1992 interview gets translated into English for the first time
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most recognisable series but back in the early '90s the idea of the famous mascot hopping into a car was quite unique, and was even seen as something of a risk for the developer. With the benefit of hindsight we can clearly see Super Mario Kart as a moment...
News Wii U Version Of Road Redemption Being "Re-Evaluated"
But at least it's not cancelled, like the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions
The Wii U port of Road Rash spiritual successor Road Redemption is currently being "re-evaluated", according to developer DarkSeas Interactive. The Kickstarter-funded racer - which has sold around 100,000 copies during its spell in Early Access on Steam - was supposed to arrive...
Interview Yoshifumi Hashimoto talks us through Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
"Deep down, everybody has times when they just want to relax"
Somewhere above the Los Angeles Convention Centre, the Harvest Goddess was smiling over this year's E3; along with Natsume's in-house-developed Harvest Moon: Skytree Village, XSEED brought a farming-fan-favourite in Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns — the latest game in the long-running...
News 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is Getting a Demo on the North American eShop
See what it's all about
For all of you North American JRPG fans looking for a good reason to dust off the ol' 3DS this summer, 7th Dragon III Code: VFD is only a couple weeks away from release. This next entry in the 7th Dragon series is the latest RPG to be put out by SEGA, and footage of the game is certainly promising. Naturally, not everyone is...
News Nintendo Share Value Starts Its Revival As Financial Markets Begin Post-Brexit Recovery
Swings and roundabouts
As we reported last week, an EU referendum result in favour of the UK leaving the bloc (referred to commonly as Brexit) caused chaos in financial markets - Nintendo was among many victims of falling share prices as stock markets struggled. With the first full week of trading now well underway following that result, there are...
News Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing Confirmed for Wii U
GO GO GO!
EnjoyUp Games has been one of the most prolific publishers in the eShop era, releasing various titles across Wii U and 3DS while recently moving onto other platforms such as Xbox One. The studio has now confirmed its next planned Wii U release, with no firm date as yet - Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing. It's the latest in line for the series...
News Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns Takes Number One Spot in Japan
Minecraft and Mario & Sonic on Wii U grab top five places
As the middle of another week arrives we have the Media Create Japanese charts results, and this week brings a number of new releases in the top 10. At number one is Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns, which is the latest entry of the popular Bokujō Monogatari series in Japan; it's shifted an...
News Tumblestone is Tumbling Onto Wii U on 12th July
We apologise for the headline
Tumblestone is a name you may recognise from some Nindie promotions and previews from Nintendo of America, with the upcoming action puzzle title getting plenty of buzz. The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild - a neat name for a development studio - is now nearly ready to share it with the world. The title's arriving on 12th...
Tuesday28th Jun 2016
"That's why we can't share anything at this point"
While many expected Nintendo to show the Nintendo NX at E3 some time ago, it clearly wasn't ready to be unveiled right now, so it made sense to double down on the upcoming NX launch title (and Wii U swansong) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild instead. Of course that isn't going to stop the...
Editorial An Ode To The Wii U GamePad, Nintendo's Mad But Brilliant Controller
Big, unwieldy, but occasionally innovative and exciting
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. In hindsight the GamePad has been a problem for the Wii U, a system that has stumbled as a result of multiple issues. It contributed to a higher-than-ideal launch price for the hardware, and has been largely underutilised for most of this generation. The Wii U,...
Wednesday29th Jun 2016
News Upcoming Tetris Movie is Confirmed to be the First in a Trilogy
"The story we conceived is so big"
When news emerged earlier this year that there'd be a Tetris movie, bemusement seemed like a fair reaction. How do you compose a narrative and movie out of this particular iconic game? Back then producer Larry Kasanoff - whose credits include work on films like True Lies - spoke of the film having a surprise...
Tuesday28th Jun 2016
News Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap Remake Appears To Be Wii U-Bound
According to its BitSummit 2016 listing, anyway
DotEmu and Lizardcube recently lifted the lid on a HD remake of Sega and Westone's excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. At the time of the reveal it was confirmed for consoles and PC, and neither publisher nor developer would commit to the title coming to a Nintendo platform. However, according to...
News Activision Was Closer To Owning Rare Than You Might Think
Xbox co-creator Ed Fries says it was a close-run thing
UK company Rare is responsible for some of the best games of the past 30 years, and was once a Nintendo second-party studio thanks to the Japanese giant purchasing 49 percent of the firm. Nintendo and Rare's alliance resulted in titles like Donkey Kong Country, Diddy Kong Racing, GoldenEye 007,...
News Nintendo Outlines Ambitious Plans For UK's Hyper Japan Festival 2016
Yo-Kai Watch! Monster Hunter Generations! Dragon Quest VII! Cosplay!
Nintendo has been a staunch supporter of the UK's Hyper Japan festival for a good few years now, but for 2016's event the company is really pulling out all of the stops. As well as turning part of its stand into a replica of Yo-Kai Watch's town of Springdale - complete with a...
News Renegade Kid Titles Are Going Cheap On The North American 3DS eShop
Offers end this month, so get in quick
Prolific eShop developer Renegade Kid is holding a summer blow-out sale on the 3DS eShop in North America. Seven titles are included in the sale, and all but one is currently selling for half its typical price. The offer ends on June 30th. Here's the full list: Xeodrifter Mutant Mudds
Video Japanese Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Trailer Shows Off Speedy New Footage
Stay frosty
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice might not have fans quite as excited as it should, but it would appear that Sega and developer Sanzaru Games appear committed to making up for previous Sonic Boom offerings and producing a quality 3DS outing - and new footage seen in the Japanese trailer for the game should give plenty of reasons to be...
News Pirate Pop Plus Is Like Anti-Gravity Pang, And It's Coming To Wii U And 3DS
13AM Games handling publishing duties
Update: 13AM Games has published an official response to this leak, which you can see below: We've had another little leak this past week (2016 is the year of 13AM leaks, it seems). But like all leaks, this is some exciting news! 13AM Games is no longer just 13AM Games! We have opened up to game publishing...
Video Learn How To Care For A Stuffed Toy In This Charming Teddy Together Trailer
Build-A-Bear
Teddy Together is out in Europe on the 3DS later this week, so we thought we'd share this charming trailer with you from Nintendo UK. The game originally started life as a game called Kuma Tomo in Japan and was developed by Bandai Namco and Arika. As you have probably guessed from the title, this is a child-orientated game about taking...
News Tadpole Treble Hits Snag On Wii U, Now Expected This Summer
"I didn't come this far to not have my game on a Nintendo system, by gum!"
Tadpole Treble was supposed to be with us this March, but the Kickstarter-funded title missed that release date. We've now had an update on why that was the case, as well as a revised release window of Summer. It seems that the game has hit some snags when it comes to...
Monday27th Jun 2016
News Fans Create Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Patch Which Uncensors Western Censorship
Bikinis ahoy
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE might not be the AAA smash-hit that saves Nintendo's struggling home console, but it's a welcome release in a year which is proving to be pretty short on quality Wii U games - as you'll know if you've consulted our review. However, changes made to the game caused some to grumble.
Review Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)
Taking home the bronze
Although carnivale looms neon bright on the horizon, the party may already be winding down for Sonic and Mario. From snowy peaks to sandy shores, these former rivals are back for another collection of sporting mini-games in celebration of the Rio 2016 Olympics, and while they won't have to deal with the political turmoil or...
Metroidless Bounty Huntress
Banpresto always boasted a healthy lineup of anime and manga licensed video games. If you had a favourite series, there would be a good chance if there was a video game counterpart made for your video game console of choice, it was probably released by Banpresto. Of course, getting a western release was easier said than...
Video Unexpected Rupees Cause Excitement for Players of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Demo
You can take that to the bank - the money bank
Rupees have been part of the Zelda series from the very beginning. Found in long grass, pots and chests, Hyrule's currency is vital when it comes to purchasing new items and other goods. However, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's move towards scavenging and collecting weapons, the humble...
Nintendo Download 30th June (Europe)
LEGO Star Wars! BoxBoxBoy! Battle Cats! Zero Time Dilemma! DLC! More!
With the start of another week comes the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. This week has some promising download-only releases across Wii U and 3DS, while there are also multiple retail titles to choose from including the latest in the LEGO and Zero Escape IPs. Beyond...
News Nintendo Outlines a Fresh Approach to Storytelling in The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Ifs, buts, and maybes...
With all the hype that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is generating, it's no wonder that fans are clinging onto every piece of information received about the latest Zelda adventure. Whether details are learned from E3 gameplay or developer interviews, the Breath of the Wild puzzle is slowly unravelling - but we're...
News Tell Us What to Do in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Pants or no pants
The response from our wonderful US team to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been outstanding, but now it's the turn of the home-grown UK team to get our mitts on the game, and we want to bring you along for the ride. We've been invited to demo this incredibly promising foray in the Zelda series, and considering how few...
Video Fancensus Breaks Down Some Winners and Losers from E3 2016
Around 538 games covered, apparently
E3, by the standards of the internet, is now old news - it's been more than a week since it finished, after all. That said it's interesting to assess its overall impact this year, especially as some publishers scaled back their involvement - the suggestion has been that the LA-based show is losing some of its...
Reminder The Battle Cats POP! is Out Now in North America and Europe
Has us feline fine
Those of you that checked out the European Nintendo Download Update details earlier today may have spotted that one of the new releases, The Battle Cats POP!, is out today. In positive news for all cat fans it's also arrived early in North America, so it's available now on the 3DS eShop in both territories. Once known as 'that...
Also coming to Switzerland, Mexico and South Africa
Nintendo has revealed that another major update is coming to its social networking smartphone app Miitomo. No solid date has been given, but it's fair to assume it will be pushed out on June 30th - the same day that the app becomes available in three additional territories: Switzerland, Mexico and...
News 'Makers of Mario' Website Aims to Show Nintendo's Bookmark Functionality The Way Forward
Detailed searches, levels bundled into 'Worlds' and 'Games', plus more
Super Mario Maker proved to be a success for Nintendo and Wii U in 2015, handing over the keys to 2D Mario gaming for players to create their own masterpieces. The in-game searches and the web-based Bookmark service have also made it easier to try new levels and discover new...
News Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Secures Top 20 Place in UK Charts
Mario & Sonic at the Olympics and Ocarina of Time 3D also hit top 40
After a couple of weeks with limited top 40 games in the UK, Nintendo has a few different titles making their mark in the most recent chart results in the country. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE made its debut last week and secured a top 20 position, landing in 18th place in the...
News Xydonia Is A Tribute To 2D Japanese Shmups, And Has An Outside Chance Of Making It To 3DS
The catch? 80,000 Euros
Gamers of a certain age will become visibly animated if you mention the names R-Type, Gradius, Thunderforce, Darius and Axelay to them - these 2D shmup classics are held in high esteem even by today's standards, despite the fact that they no longer command AAA status with the vast majority of players. In short, there's...
News MixedBag Bringing Metroid-Inspired forma.8 To The New Nintendo 3DS
And another undisclosed game for all 3DS models
Indie studio MixedBag has revealed that it is bringing forma.8 to the New Nintendo 3DS as well as the Wii U eShop. The game places you in the role of a probe sent to investigate a mysterious alien world in order to locate a special power source, and MixedBag have cited Metroid as a key influence. The...
News Take a Look at The Terror of Tech Town, the Power Glove Game Lost to the Ages
"No-one has 3D moves like you and your Power Glove"
Ah, the Power Glove, a cool idea betrayed by flawed technology and some questionable marketing - it's an iconic part of NES history. It was a flop, as demonstrated by its grand total of two games released specifically for the accessory; Mattel saw its dreams of glove wearing NES gamers taking over...
Sunday26th Jun 2016
Mediocre No. 9, more like
There are few Kickstarter projects that have gained as much attention as Keiji Inafune and Comcept's Mighty No. 9. Billed as a spiritual successor to Capcom's seemingly dormant Mega Man series - a lineage Inafune is closely connected with - this new project was supposed to bring back everything fans loved about the Blue...
News US Pokémon Go Field Test Heads for Closure, With Full Release Expected in July
30th June is the end date for the US field test
We learned during E3, courtesy of Shigeru Miyamoto seemingly jumping ahead with an announcement for its Plus add-on, that Pokémon Go should be arriving in July. As a result the field tests are heading to the end of the line as developer Niantic makes, presumably, final preparations for the app's...
Editorial Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario 64 Were True Game Changers
For Nintendo, in particular, changing the game remains a key task
In the past week we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog and the 20th anniversary of Super Mario 64, two games that were hugely influential alongside their iconic systems. They were notable when they first launched not just for being excellent games, but for their...
Japan Weekly Shovel Knight Impresses Famitsu as Puzzle & Dragons X Follows in Pokemon's Footsteps
Zero Time Dilemma's review and a ninja brawler also make an appearance
It's been a while since Nintendo Life covered Famitsu magazine, but because it consistently features world-first previews and reviews of many Japanese Nintendo titles, we decided to bring it back for your reading pleasure. This week's magazine featured a double-page spread on...
News See Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Pokkén Tournament Champions Crowned at CEO 2016 - Live!
The final day
This weekend a number of top competitive gamers have been in Orlando to battle it out at CEO 2016. The Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament finished off in front of a huge crowd on 25th June, with Juan "Hungrybox" Debiedma seeing off Jason "Mew2King" Zimmerman with final score of 3-1. Now it's the turn of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and...
Saturday25th Jun 2016
Review Mega Man 7 (New 3DS / SNES)
The worst Mega Man is still good
Mega Man 7 is a game that came at the wrong time. By the time of its original 1995 release fans were a bit beleaguered by continued rapid-fire releases, and interest had shifted from the portly robot that could to his slimmer, cooler younger brother - Mega Man X. If you've played one Mega Man game, you'll be...
News Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Switched Development Direction After Six Months
It was Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem at first, after all
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is now out in stores and on the eShop in the West following a positive critical reception - we also gave it a strong recommendation in our review. It had an interesting development history, unveiled with few details as Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem before an...
News New Sonic the Hedgehog Game is Coming in 2017
July San Diego event will be streamed online
There's been a lot of chat around Sonic the Hedgehog this week, but we appear to finally have the real confirmation that we've been waiting for. At a 25th Anniversary bash in Tokyo Sonic Team boss Takashi Iizuka confirmed that a new Sonic game is coming in 2017, and also showed off the following artwork /...
Video Nintendo Minute Feels the Beat in Rhythm Heaven Megamix
Featuring cats in pants
One of the neatest moments of the Treehouse E3 broadcasts (if you're in North America) was confirmation that Rhythm Heaven Megamix had arrived on the 3DS eShop - it'll be released at retail in October in Europe. The quirky rhythm game had been on our wishlist for a while having arrived in Japan last year - it blends...
News Catch Day Two of CEO 2016 as Top Smash Bros. and Pokkén Tournament Players Do Battle - Live!
They all want to be the very best...
As the week ended you may have caught some of the action from the first day of CEO 2016, a big competitive gaming event in Orlando which is being supported by Nintendo and various other big-name partners. Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Pokkén Tournament are all part of the event. As...
Friday24th Jun 2016
News Head of Sonic Team Explains Why Dr. Robotnik Started Going by "Eggman"
Localization strikes again
The main nemesis of Sonic the Hedgehog is one who has gone by a couple names. In the earlier, Genesis-era games, he was mostly referred to as Dr. Ivo Robotnik. In the later games, he still retained this name, but was referred to often as Eggman or Dr. Eggman, obviously in reference to the shape of the villain. This may...
News Xbox Co-Creator Confirms That Microsoft Discussed a Partnership With Nintendo
"If anyone thought about buying Nintendo? I never heard that"
Last year there was renewed chatter around a rumour that, before bringing the first Xbox to market, Microsoft considered trying to buy Nintendo. It was part of a broader set of revelations around the slightly chaotic planning phase for that debut console, and it evidently never got far...
But NX could miss March 2017 release date
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter has stated that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will help Nintendo sell millions of NX consoles "pretty quickly". Speaking on GamerTag Radio, Pachter gushed about how great the new open-world adventure looks, an
Saturday25th Jun 2016
News New Professor Layton Title to be Revealed on 27th July
A real one, not that weird Layton 7 game...
Level-5 is currently gearing up for its Vision 2016 event on 27th July, during which it'll show off new titles that are on the way. It'll be worth following closely, too, based on details shared by CEO Akihiro Hino in a preview stream. He confirmed that a new Inazuma Eleven game will be shown, which is...
Friday24th Jun 2016
News Nintendo Share Price Falls to Lowest Point in Over a Year as Global Markets React to 'Brexit'
In line with broader fall in Tokyo stock market
As most reading this will be well aware, plenty of headlines are currently being made by the UK referendum result on whether to remain in the EU or to leave. The result was for Leave, and as a result financial markets (and the British pound) have fallen around the globe; Nintendo along with many others...
Hands On Painting the Walls Red with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Oh, it's good. Very good.
Back in 1997, Koji Igarashi made gaming history with the extremely successful Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The reason that Castlevania shares half of the name with "Metroidvania", Symphony of the Night was lauded for its fantastic art direction and intricately designed castle. Later on, the formula established by...
News Let Yacht Club Games Know What Game You'd Like Next
Shovel Knight 2! Shovel Kart! Metroid Knight!
If you're in the UK you might be reeling from the result of the Brexit referendum to leave the EU, but we'd urge you not to lose faith with the democratic process and continue to cast your vote in monumental life changing decisions. With this in mind it's essential that you lovely people get involved...
Reminder Five More 3DS Nintendo Selects Titles Are Now Up for Grabs in Europe
Yours for €19.99 / £15.99
The Nintendo Selects range has proven to be a popular series of releases for the big N, in recent times being attributed to notable boosts in sales for evergreen titles. For 3DS gamers in Europe there are now five more to choose from, available for €19.99 / £15.99. The following releases at those new prices are all...
News Sega Placing "Huge Emphasis On Quality" With Future Sonic Titles
Looking to "take Sonic back to where it used to be"
Sega is committed to ensuring future Sonic titles are of a high standard, claims chief brand officer Ivo Gerscovich. Speaking to MCV, Gerscovich points out that the fact that Sonic's latest game - Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice - was held back for 2016 is proof of this renew
News Xbox Boss Says NX Launch Will Be "Exciting", Zelda Looked "Good" At E3
Not going to argue there
Xbox boss Phil Spencer is no stranger when it comes to handing out compliments to Microsoft's rivals in the console space, and he's continued that trend when it comes to NX and the new Zelda. Quizzed on Twitter, Spencer stated that any new Nintendo console launch is a moment to savour, and that the new open-world
News Pawbyte's 'Game Pencil Engine' Development Tool is Released, Supports Wii U
Supports languages such as HTML5
About a year ago we reported on Pawbyte's Game Pencil Engine, development software that also operates as a 2D editor, that was released for PC development. The key news was that it was also promising future support for the Wii U, adding to tools such as Construct and Impact, in particular, in helping developers...
News Eiji Aonuma Would Like to Make Another Multiplayer Zelda Game
Tri Force Heroes 2?
Co-op in The Legend of Zelda is one of those things that sounds good on paper, but really doesn't seem to always take the best shape in reality. The latest multiplayer Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, wasn't necessarily a bad game, but it didn't quite live up to the high standards set by other game in the...
News Paper Mario and New Style Boutique Discounts Arrive on My Nintendo in Europe
Coins for clothes
Nintendo of Europe continues to add small, frequent updates to the My Nintendo rewards, mainly with discounts. Its added a couple of 3DS titles into the mix, though the discounts are only available until 8am UK / 9am CET on 1st July (not 30th June as the official graphic shows). The following are both available for 300 Platinum...
News Fresh Pokémon Sun And Moon Information Coming Next Week
Kicking July off with a bang
The Pokémon Company has revealed that more information relating to Pokémon Sun and Moon is coming next week. The firm tweeted the following message: ...which translates as: The next time new Pokemon Sun and moon information, 7/1 (Friday), night 10 o'clock coming soon! To enjoy! What kind of information are you...
Video Get Warmed Up for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE With This Launch Trailer
Save the world like a superstar
The list of major retail releases on Wii U due in 2016 is rather short, which makes the launch of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE rather enticing. It's had some positive reviews, and for our part we gave it a strong recommendation; now it's down to how many copies it can sell in stores and on the eShop. For RPG fans with a...
News Patch For Minecraft Battle Mini-Game Rolling Out Now
Fixes issue that prevented people from joining public games
4J Studios has confirmed that a patch to fix issues with the newly-released Minecraft Battle Mini-Game is rolling out now. Released on the 21st June, the new mode crashed when players attempted to join public games. Have you have the patch yet? Let us know if it has solved the problem...
Video Catch Some Day One Super Smash Bros. Melee Action from CEO 2016 - Live!
Melee, Melee, then a bit more Melee
As we reported in late May, Nintendo of America is a sponsor / supporter of this year's CEO 2016 in Orlando, a fighting game tournament that features a host of titles that include Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Thursday23rd Jun 2016
Will you still love me when I'm 64?
To mark the 20th birthday of Nintendo's 64-bit wonder we're republishing this feature on the console, which originally went live on the site in December 2014. The Nintendo 64 is a console which divides opinions, even today. For some, it was an unforgivable fall from grace after the dizzying heights of the SNES;...
News Trademark Listing Adds Fuel to Talk of Nintendo NX Using Cartridges
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lists carts as potential media
Back in early May the Nintendo NX rumour mill produced an interesting bit of chatter, with suggestions that the new system could utilise cartridges as media for its games, likely instead of discs. Like all rumours it was treated with a healthy dose of scepticism, but it wasn't...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (North America)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! SNES Ghouls 'n Ghosts! Pokemon! More!
It's that time, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a few major retail releases on Wii U, while the SNES is back on the New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. Elsewhere there are three Pokémon games on the Wii U Virtual...
News Sonic Team is Working on a New Sonic Game
So, the stories are true
It's no secret that the Sonic Boom spin-off games haven't been very well received. While the accompanying cartoon series has been quite successful, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was an absolute mess of a game, and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal was only average at best. With the advent of Sonic Boom: Fire & Ic
Video Take a Look at the Hyrule Warriors Legends Link's Awakening DLC, Due On 30th June
Marin brings the music while Linkle shows off new boots
Hyrule Warriors Legends has multiple DLC packs on the way, with Hyrule Warriors on Wii U sharing some of the content, and the first paid cross-platform offering is just one week from release; the Link's Awakening Pack is due to arrive on 30th June. Also part of the season pack, it offers the...
News Warner Bros. Is Committed To Supporting Nintendo NX
"Supporting them is not a question for us"
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is committed to supporting Nintendo NX at launch, according to president David Haddad. Speaking to VentureBeat about Microsoft's Project Scorpio and NX, Haddad stressed that Warner Bros. has enjoyed solid relationships with all three key hardware makers. The company...
News Hyperkin Seeking Developers To Help Bring The Smartboy To Retail
"WE built the Smartboy. YOU can make it great"
Hyperkin's Smartboy began life as a joke but has been quietly bubbling under in the company's R&D labs for the past year. The company has now opened preorders for the peripheral, which attaches to Android phones and allows users to run Game Boy cartridges with the benefit of proper physical...
News Devil's Third Online Servers To Close At The End Of The Year
Tick tock
Nintendo has confirmed that it will be shutting down the Devil's Third multiplayer servers at the end of 2016 - a year after they went live. The servers will shut on December 29th at 1PM local time in Japan. However, things are going to be winding down sooner than that; players will no longer be able to purchase Golden Eggs - in-game...
News Miyamoto and Bill Trinen Discuss Why Breath of the Wild is Called an "Open Air Adventure"
Basically, it means open world
In the modern game industry, it making games into open world adventures seems to be all the rage. Sometimes it makes sense and sometimes it was obviously just done to hop on the bandwagon, so there's obviously a lot of oscillation in the quality of each open world. That being said, it could be argued that The Legend of...
News Splatoon VR Hack Involves A GamePad On Your Back And A Customised Water Pistol
Just like being there
Ever wonder what Splatoon would play like if it used VR? Well ponder no more, as Japanese researchers have created their own version using custom parts, a little imagination and a cheap plastic water gun. The setup uses a Sony HMZ-T1 head-mounted display for immersion, while the aforementioned water gun has been modded for...
Preview Over-Sized Swords and Athletic Finesse in Monster Hunter Generations
Bigger and more monstrous than ever
When a series gets to a decade old it naturally becomes ripe for experimentation and evolution, as fans crave fresh gameplay and executives dream of bigger sales. It's no surprise, then, that Monster Hunter Generations dabbles with a range of new ideas that allow players to approach the hunt in different ways...
News Monster Hunter Generations x Strider Collaboration Confirmed
Joins Okami, Ghosts 'n Goblins and Fire Emblem goodness
The upcoming Monster Hunter Generations has some rather neat collaborations confirmed for the West in the form of armour and weapons that will arrive as free DLC. On the cards are Fire Emblem, Okami and
Anniversary Sonic the Hedgehog is Now 25 Years Old
Happy Birthday old chum
Sonic the Hedgehog is 25 years old, with the original game coming out on SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive in North America on 23rd June 1991, kicking off one of gaming's most iconic early rivalries. The 'Bit Wars' between SEGA and Nintendo, Sonic and Mario, were integral to many childhoods of gamers that are now typically over 30...
An event worth tweeting about
They say that the early bird catches the worm, but then again night owls can swivel their heads up to 270 degrees and get to see the latest episode of Game of Thrones before everyone else. It's stiff competition! Following on from the success of the recent SpongeBob SquarePants Splatfest, the next event in North...
News Publisher Future Confirms £14.2 Million Takeover Bid For UK Rival Imagine
The country's two gaming giants are merging
Future Publishing - the UK media veteran whose portfolio includes (or has included in the past) EDGE, Official Nintendo Magazine, Official PlayStation Magazine, Total!, Super Play and many more games mags - has announced that it has agreed terms on a £14.2 million takeover bid for UK-based rival Imagine...
Wednesday22nd Jun 2016
Gotta pre-order 'em all
Pokémon Sun and Moon is certainly the biggest release heading to the 3DS this year, with both iterations likely to combine for some handsome sales numbers. Nintendo of Europe has now confirmed that it'll be bringing some special editions to make the release an even bigger deal in the region. First up is a Solgaleo and...
Review Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (Wii U)
Superstardom awaits!
When you hit the main menu of Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, there's no start button. Instead the bright, rainbow-coloured visuals invite the player to debut, a seemingly minor change of wording that nonetheless sets the tone for the entire game. In this candy-coated world heroes are showbiz sensations, dungeons are department...
News Mighty No. 9 Problems "Totally My Fault", Admits Creator Keiji Inafune
"I'm the key creator. I will own that responsibility"
Mighty No. 9's launch hasn't exactly been a success. The title has shipped to middling reviews and performance problems, and a live stream to promote the game
News Eiji Aonuma Talks Voice Acting and Sci-Fi in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Boldly going where no Link has gone before
It's no secret that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be tossing plenty of series' tradition out the window in favor of a new future for the iconic adventure franchise. Apart from the positively massive open world that allows for more player choice than ever before, there will also be the...
Anniversary Super Mario 64 is Now 20 Years Old
A vital part of gaming history
2016 is a year with plenty of notable anniversaries, and now one of the most influential games in the industry's history is 20 years old. Super Mario 64 - hat-tip to this NeoGAF thread for the reminder - arrived in Japan on 23rd June 1996, and thanks to time zones that landmark has now been reached in Nintendo's...
Gallery PDP is Launching Some Rather Fancy amiibo Displays
Not just a plastic case
The amiibo range is treated different ways depending on the owner's style. Some keep them boxed and preserved for future generations, some have them scattered around shelves and ready to be used (like this writer), and others put them on display. Nintendo and third-parties have released various cases and fancy displays to...
Reminder It's the Final Countdown on Nintendo of Europe's eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale
Grab 'em while they're hot
Two weeks ago Nintendo of Europe launched its eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale with more than 40 games getting discounts. It didn't have the same wow factor as the equivalent promotion in Japan, but it's nevertheless given gamers in the region opportunities to grab some quality games at a decent discount. Well, it ends...
News Nintendo of Europe Rolls Out Extensive Website Redesign
Tiles and clearer categories on show
Nintendo of Europe operates independently of Nintendo of America, with the two regions often taking rather different approaches to messaging and online media. For its part NoE has now rolled out a new design on its multiple websites in the region, and it seems like a definite step forward. Whether you visit...
News Nintendo Signs Greek Distribution Deal With CD Media SE
Greece is the word
Nintendo of Europe has inked a deal with CD Media SE which will see the latter distributing the former's hardware and software in Greece and the Balkan region from October 1st this year. Nintendo has lacked a distribution partner in the territory since the end of last year, when its deal with Nortec Multimedia SA came to an end...
Making a song and dance about it
Whenever Nintendo announces a limited edition version of a game there's the inevitable fear that stock will disappear rather quickly. That happened with the Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE 'Fortissimo Edition' when the Official Nintendo UK Store opened up pre-orders, with the dreaded 'sold out' status eventually appearing...
News Yacht Club Games Bringing Azure Striker Gunvolt And Its Sequel To Retail In Australia
That was unexpected
Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games appears to be branching out into publishing, and its first title is Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack. The pack - which has been listed on the Australian Classification site - contains the first Azure Striker Gunvolt and i
Video Nintendo Opts for a Scientific Approach to Promote Kirby: Planet Robobot, Sort Of
The latest effort under the 'Play Nintendo' banner
Play Nintendo, the Nintendo of America promotional channel setup to grab the interest of young gamers and their parents, has published its latest quirky video - this time it's advertising Kirby: Planet Robobot. It adopts a 'quirky scientist' vibe, with a father and son doing their best Albert...
Live Blog Take Another Look at Culdcept Revolt in a Nintendo Direct - Live!
Let's see what the deal is
Culdcept Revolt arrives in Japan in July, the first new entry of the series in a number of years. Its blend of fantasy and card play does certainly have the potential to be a sales success, even if a Western release seems to be a distant hope; we're going to tune in anyway to see the second Nintendo Direct dedicated to...
News Taiko Drum Master Seizes Number One in Quiet Week for Japanese Charts
Drumming up interest
The Media Create Japanese chart results are out, and this week delivers modest overall sales with two 3DS titles leading the way. Making its debut at number one with just 32,369 sales is Taiko Drum Master: Doko Don! Mystery Adventure, with the series continuing to tick along for Bandai Namco in its homeland. After an impressive...
News Disney Magical World 2 Arrives On European 3DS Consoles This October
Same day as North America
Nintendo has confirmed that Disney Magical World 2 will arrive in Europe on October 14th - the same date that it hits North America. The cute-and-cuddly life sim allows players to interact with characters from a wide range of popular Disney franchises, including the merchandising behemoth that is Frozen. It shipped in...
Video Here Are Monster Hunter Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto's Hunting Essentials
Don't leave home without them
Monster Hunter Generations arrives on the 3DS very soon, and is sure to swallow up hours and hours of our time with its beast-busting and item-crafting goodness. Series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto is clearly hyped about the forthcoming release, and on his recent visit to the UK decided to bring along his hunting...
Tuesday21st Jun 2016
Rumour Someone Tried To Steal The Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Demo, And Failed
Hack the planet
Nintendo went big on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at this year's E3. There were demo pods everywhere, each one running the game as it stands at this present moment in time. With so much unreleased code floating around, it's perhaps unsurprising that a rumour has begun circulating online that a hacker targeted the event in...
News Even If It’s Not Perfect, It’s Better Than Nothing, Says Mighty No. 9 Creator Keiji Inafune
UPDATE: Translator's comments could have been attributed to Inafune
Update: We've been pointed to a debate around who said 'it's better than nothing' in this context, whether translator Ben Judd added it as an aside or whether it was part of his translation for Keiji Inafune. In the context of the stream both men were encountering a lot of negative...
Overall, it's looking rather impressive
We saw plenty of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during E3, with Nintendo making it the focus of its first day of live streaming and also earning a lot of media coverage for the playable demo on the show floor. Overall the response was extremely positive, with the game arguably being Nintendo's most...
News There's an Early Patch Inbound for Mighty No. 9 on Wii U
Hopefully not a mighty file size
Mighty No. 9 on Wii U has been in a quirky situation, with Kickstarter backers and early buyers in North America getting stuck into the release while publisher Deep Silver has been slow to roll-out review code for the Nintendo system's iteration. We've had some highlight to us on social media that on Wii U the game...
Review Dual Core (Wii U eShop)
What a blast
In a derelict space station on Europa - one of Jupiter's moons - two AIs have activated, unaware of what has happened inside. Over the course of their journey they discover it has been overrun with aliens and rampaging machines. The two AIs have to make their way out of the space station alive and find out about what happened in the...
News Yacht Club Games Provides Update on Future Campaigns and Content
Stretching development out
Shovel Knight has been a notable debut success for Yacht Club Games, and it's still ongoing. As a result of numerous stretch goals from the original Kickstarter campaign the studio has been working - for well over a year - on free updates. The studio has now sent out a status update to backers, also shared on its website,...
Editorial Mighty No. 9 and High Profile Disappointments Don't Invalidate Crowdfunding
Kickstarter and others bring risks, but sometimes they're worth it
I'm yet to play Mighty No. 9, but I've been following the chatter around it with a sense of weary resignation. It's been getting a lukewarm response in PS4 reviews, and the publisher hasn't exactly been rushing to get Wii U code out to anyone other than those who have paid for it...
News Metroid Prime: Federation Force Will Have amiibo Support
So, it's got that going for it
The highly divisive Metroid Prime: Federation Force is due to come out in just a few short months, yet there's still a lot we don't know about the game. It was disappointingly absent from E3's showing, and it would've been nice to see how the game is shaping up after last year's middling reception. Still, it hopefully...
News Cat Mario Figurine Coming To UK This Month, Costs A Lot Of Gold Coins
That's authentic polystone resin, that is
If you've got a spare £150 to burn and you fancy having a statue of portly Italian dressed in a catsuit sitting on your mantelpiece, then head over to the Official Nintendo UK Store and lay down some cash on the Cat Mario figurine, which arrives later this month. Based on the cat transformation seen in...
News Here's What The Developer Of Elite Beat Agents Did Next
Say hello to Infinite Arms
One of the more unusual things we spotted at E3 this year was a new toys to life game that combines huge articulated toy robots, tens of clip-on weapons and a iOS shooter experience with deep RPG strategy. It sounds like a car crash but in practice it was a dream to play. Infinite Arms looked strangely familiar though,...
News Vivendi Continues To Gobble Up Ubisoft, Bit By Bit
Media conglomerate now owns 20.1 percent of French publisher
Media giant Vivendi has increased its stake in French publisher Ubisoft days after wrestling away control of sister firm Gameloft from the Guillemot family. Vivendi has been planning a hostile takeover for Gameloft - the mobile publisher founded by the Guillemots, who are also in charge...
Video Things Go Bump In The Night During This Series Recap Of Ghosts 'n Goblins
The complete history of one of Capcom's finest
When you think of classic coin-guzzling '80s arcade titles then Capcom's Ghosts 'n Goblins will surely spring to mind. Tokuro Fujiwara's classic 1985 side-scroller was insanely hard and incredibly popular, and was ported to pretty much every home format going - including the NES. Ghouls 'n Ghosts...
Hands On Exploring Blocky Worlds with Cube Creator 3D's New Update
Better with friends
Cube Creator 3D launched a little over a year ago for the 3DS, in a time when Minecraft on Nintendo systems was nothing but a pipe dream. We liked the game then and we still like it now, but the development team hasn't been content to simply rest on its laurels and leave the project as is. A free update is due out for Cube...
Monday20th Jun 2016
News Witcher Studio Says Nintendo NX "Will Be Fantastic", Claims To "Know Things"
UPDATE: Comments made in jest, "blown out of proportion"
UPDATE: Fabian Mario Döhla has since taken to Twitter to claim that the stream in question was conducted with a close friend and his comments were deliberately exaggerated: ORIGINAL STORY: Nintendo didn't show off
Video Bayonetta 2 Is Just Too Darn Sexy, Even For Hormone-Addled Teens
"This just got weirdly sexual"
Bayonetta 2 is one of the Wii U's best exclusives, offering some amazing visuals and deeply rewarding action. It's also pretty sexy, with the protagonist bouncing provocatively on enemies and shedding her hair-like clothing with her more powerful attacks. It's trademark PlatinumGames, of course - and plenty of people...
Round Up First Mighty No. 9 Reviews Suggest The Wait Hasn't Been Worth It
Mega also-ran?
Mighty No. 9 was supposed to be one of Kickstarter's real success stories. After smashing its original funding total the game looked set to become the true spiritual successor to the largely dormant Mega Man franchise, but a series of embarrassing delays took the shine off proceedings. To ma
Rumour French Media Claims Nintendo NX is Set for September Reveal
We shall see...
Ah, it's that time, dear readers. With E3 having passed and Nintendo (and many others) having a quiet spell, it's the period of rumours, sources and secret handshakes. Sizeable French outlet Gameblog is the latest to pitch in with its reports on the NX - as is always the case these should be treated with plenty of salt and a healthy...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (Europe)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! Mighty No. 9! Nintendo Selects! More!
It's the start of another week, and though a little later than normal Nintendo of Europe has issued details on what we can expect in this week's download update. It's a week with multiple high-profile retail releases, including some tasty new discounts in the Nintendo...
First Impressions Working the Lands in Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
Meanwhile, back at the ranches
This year's E3 was notable for many reasons, but for farming sim fans the bumper crop of 3DS agricultural adventures on display was one of the best. Along with the internally-developed Harvest Moon: Skytree Village at Natsume's booth, there was also the latest game in the Bokujō Monogatari series (formerly localized...
Random Fans Decode Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Hylian Text, Find Funnies
Seems like the ancient ones have a sense of humour
Hyrule may be a fictional place, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo from piling layer upon layer of detail to make it appear real - and that includes coming up with a unique language and alphabet for the mystical kingdom. The recent showing of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at E3 gave...
News Xenoblade Studio Monolith Soft Is Helping Make Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Team of "over 100" mucking in, according to Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles X studio Monolith Soft is helping to develop The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. According to the veteran designer, "over 100" staff from the firm are chipping in to ensure the forthcoming Wii U and NX title is as good as it pos
News Metroid: Other M Zero Suit Samus Figure Can Be Posed, Stamped On
Depending on your preference
Metroid: Other M is surely one of the most divisive entries in the long-running sci-fi series, with fans loving and loathing its representation of Samus Aran in equal measure. Whatever your outlook on the controversial Wii title, Figma's latest Nintendo-themed offering should be of interest. Zero Suit Samus is fully...
News Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Treble Heading to the North American eShop This Week
GBA and DS goodness
Nintendo of America has confirmed that there's plenty of Pokémon goodness on the way in this week's Download Update on 23rd June; three releases are coming to the Wii U Virtual Console. The three games due will give Pokémon spin-off fans plenty to do, with a mix of GBA and DS gaming on the home console: Pokémon Mystery...
Hands On Dealing Death by a Thousand Cuts with SEVERED
The latest from DrinkBox Studios
Many of you will no doubt recall Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, a wildly inventive and colorful 2D Metroidvania that set the eShop alight when it released back in 2014. We absolutely loved it, and if early impressions are anything to go by, it seems as though DrinkBox Studio's next game - coming to...
Hands On Skylanders Imaginators Brings Crash To Wii U For The First Time
Family Gamer TV's Andy Robertson gets back in touch with a gaming icon
Getting hands on with Skylanders Imaginators at E3 was something of a revelation. We had heard a lot about the character creator before the event but it wasn't until we tried it for ourselves that it became apparent just how in-depth and flexible this is. The interface works...
Reminder Minecraft: Wii U Edition is Out Now in North American Stores
Its original release date got blocked out
As a sign that Microsoft Studios, Mojang and Nintendo didn't quite think it through with the 17th June retail release of Minecraft: Wii U Edition in North America (E3 and all that), it's sent out a press release today as a reminder that it's now in stores. The title's been available as a download since late...
Video Nintendo UK Features Musician Ella Eyre in Tomodachi Life Campaign
It's a long life
Tomodachi Life has been around in the West for two years, yet it's still a focus for 'evergreen' sales. The Mii social-sim is at the centre of the latest marketing campaign by Nintendo UK to promote the #3DSLife hashtag, with videos featuring singer and musician Ella Eyre. Eyre has had quite a few hits as a featured and solo...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot and Yo-kai Watch Hang On in UK Top 40
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD has sales boost
Somewhat predictably considering the information and hype black hole that is E3, last week was short of major releases at retail. As a result the UK top 40 was a battle of established games, with DOOM seizing top spot off the back of price promotions. In any case, the picture for Nintendo UK...
Sunday19th Jun 2016
First Impressions Cowering in Fear in Corpse Party on 3DS
The kids aren’t alright
With Shantae and Story of Seasons filling XSEED's E3 booth with so much colour and cheer this year, there was one title that stood out starkly with its bloodstained logo and bleak look: Corpse Party on the 3DS. This inimitable Japanese indie horror game has been scaring people silly in various forms since 1996, and is now...
Nintendo Life Weekly Zelda Wins E3 2016, Pokémon GO! Plus Accessory Price Revealed, and More
A breath of fresh air
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was just one of the standouts of this E3, and we can't blame you for not catching everything that happened. As always, we've crammed a whole week's worth of gubbins into a single video so you can catch up nice and easily. This week we naturally round up the cream of E3, but due to format...
Ninterview Avid Retro Game Collector Justin "Jutman" Hickman
"I would say close to 60 percent of my total collection is Nintendo"
In the latest of our long-running Ninterview series we speak to a UK-based video game collector with the kind of haul you can't help be insanely jealous of. Lifelong Zelda fan Justin Hickman - known on Twitter as "Jutman / thec0llect0r82" - was kind enough to sit down with us for a...
News 2D Shooter And Adventure Mash-Up Starr Mazer Confirmed For Wii U And 3DS Release
Japanese company Playism handling publishing duties
Remember Starr Mazer? A curious mix of point-and-click adventure and 2D shooter, it took to Kickstarter a while back and looked so goshdarn amazing that it had us crossing every available limb in the hope that it would eventually find its way to Nintendo consoles. It looks like we can finally...
Hands On Waiting for the End of the World in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
In like Flynn
While Atlus' booth at E3 this year was decked out from top to bottom in Persona 5's deep red regalia, tucked in between artwork of the Phantom Thieves and attendees swarming for swag was a single splash of neon green, representing a hidden gem for 3DS gamers: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. This upcoming RPG is a sequel of sorts to...
Saturday18th Jun 2016
News Nintendo Outlines Key Goals to Ensure NX Success
Also says to "grab a Wii U while you can"
Following an E3 in which Nintendo won the day in terms of social media buzz, courtesy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, focus is shifting to the future once again. Even that title, showcased on the Wii U, has the sub-context of being a key NX release in 2017, a point of view reinforced by Nintendo...
"There was a lot of struggle with using the physics engine"
Rather like the early days of the Wii U when Nintendo cited challenges in shifting to HD development, the ambition behind The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild appears to have been the cause of its multiple delays. Originally announced for a 2015 release, it was pushed back to '2016'...
Video See Even More of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild With Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo Minute
Come for the footage, stay for Aonuma-san howling
If you followed E3 closely you'll have seen a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with the Treehouse team providing a combined 8 hours+ of demonstrations. Yet there's always more to see, as the latest Nintendo Minute proves. The usual presenting duo of Kit and Krysta are joined by series...
First Impressions Kicking It With Kunio-kun in River City: Tokyo Rumble
Return of the King
If you're a retro fan, chances are you've come across at least one game in the longstanding Kunio-kun series. Running steadily for the past 30 years in Japan and localized under such varied names as Renegade, River City Ransom, Street Gangs, Crash 'n The Boys, and Double Dragon, the series has been incredibly prolific and...
First Impressions Going Under the Gavel With Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice
No objections here
Nestled between the rowdy Street Fighter V stage and a rather impressive Monster Hunter airship at Capcom's E3 2016 sat an orange-tinted oasis of calm, in the Tibetan-esque temple of justice dedicated to Phoenix Wright's latest lawyerly adventure: Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice. We had the chance to go hands-on with a 20-minute...
Friday17th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Sony Boss Shuhei Yoshida Seems Pretty Hyped About Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
"I can not wait to play Zelda again when it comes out"
Nintendo's presence at E3 2016 may have been somewhat reduced with the company only showing off a handful of games, but the buzz around one of those titles has eclipsed everything else. So much so in fact that Sony's Shuhei Yoshida has publicly voiced his feelings about The Legend of Zelda:...
Too Burnt To Be Good
Remember when random encounters, grinding for money and to level up characters was a thing in RPGs? ASH sure does. ASH starts with some rather vague storytelling. The game drops players into the Empire of Aghaus with control over two characters, Nicholas and Damien. It's hinted that Nicholas is a former member of Aghaus'...
Editorial Nintendo Did A Solid Job at E3 2016, But That Didn't Ease Long-Term Concerns
An exclusion from the broader picture remains a worry
Well, E3 2016 is over. Done. Finished. It was a show that - broadly speaking - didn't seem to set the world alight, but it also had some strong moments. Nintendo can probably look back at its week with some satisfaction, too. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild not only dominated social...
News Pokémon GO Plus Pre-Orders Open on Official Nintendo UK Store, Priced at £34.99
Limited to one per customer
During E3 it was confirmed that Pokémon GO would arrive before the Plus add-on, with the latter given a late July release window by Shigeru Miyamoto. The recommended price in the US will be $34.99, and now Nintendo UK has opened pre-orders on its official store. The UK price is the same as in the US, set at £34.99; it...
Hands On Embracing Freedom in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Where even the smallest details can surprise Zelda veterans
In our third and final hands on preview of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild from E3, Alan Lopez breaks down what makes it a unique new direction for the series. Links to our previous write-ups by Morgan Sleeper and Mitch Vogel can be found at the end. To really understand the...
E3 2016 Hideki Kamiya Has "Spent A Lot Of Time" Thinking About Bayonetta 3
"I’ve got ideas in my head for Okami 2 as well"
Bayonetta and its Wii U-exclusive sequel are two of PlatinumGames' most beloved releases. The first title was a cult classic that sold moderately well, but it took Nintendo's involvement to make the second a reality. While Bayonetta 2 was a critical success, only being available on one console (and...
Video Get a Good Look At Zero Time Dilemma on 3DS
Just over a week away...
Zero Time Dilemma arrives in the West on 28th June, providing a concluding part to the Zero Escape series. For fans of Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and Virtue's Last Reward it's a hugely exciting prospect. With the release so close Japanese publisher
Hands On Whipping Hair Back and Forth in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Half-genie, all hero
WayForward's popular half-genie mascot hasn't starred in a game in since 2014's Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, and now the wait for her next adventure is nearly over. Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is due to arrive both digitally and physically this Fall, kicking off something of a new beginning for the series. Given that the...
News A Second Culdcept Revolt Nintendo Direct is on the Way in Japan
It's on the cards
In early May Nintendo hosted a Japanese Nintendo Direct for Culdcept Revolt, and interesting 3DS title heading for a July release in the country. It was an intriguing watch, and it's a big deal in Japan as it's the first entry in the series for a number of years. Nintendo is now lining up a second Direct dedicated to the game,...
Thursday16th Jun 2016
Talking Point Where Does The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Fit Into the Zelda Timeline?
Considering some clues
After Nintendo's glorious reveal of the new 2017 Legend of Zelda title - Breath of the Wild - we were given lots of trailer and gameplay footage to marvel at. Naturally, these kinds of revelations spark much debate and theorising amongst series enthusiasts, including where it could belong on the almighty Zelda timeline. Now...
Hands On Digging into Harvest Moon: Skytree Village
Getting back to the land
With its giant inflatable tree, pastoral picket fences and fully-stocked stables of farm-animal plushies, Natsume's booth at this year's E3 represented a rustic respite from the show floor madness, and we happily headed down to the farm to check out its newest title: Harvest Moon: Skytree Village. This latest is Natsume's...
E3 2016 New Kind Of Mario Game Is Coming, Says Shigeru Miyamoto
"Maybe next E3 we'll be able to share something"
Shigeru Miyamoto has hinted that a "new kind" of Super Mario title is on its way, and could even be shown off at next year's E3. Speaking to IGN, the legendary designer said: We're always challenging ourselves to create something new, so hopefully you'll see a new kind of Mario in about a year or...
News What Treasures Await Inside The Legend of Zelda Edition Nintendo Mystery Box?
It's dangerous to go alone! Take this.
The Official Nintendo UK Store has recently added a preorder page for a mysterious Zelda themed Loot Crate style box, which we can't wait to get our hands on. Due on 2nd September, this mystery box promises 5 pieces of Zelda themed merchandise and exclusive collectables. Surely this is everything you'd need to...
News Monster Hunter Generations Demo Codes Are On the Way in North America
Check that inbox
During the second day of the Nintendo Treehouse Live show there was an announcement and demonstration of the demo for Monster Hunter Generations. Hype at the reveal then became somewhat muted due to the peculiarity of its roll-out, however - it first appeared in the E3 2016 Humble Bundle Digital Ticket in the $4 tier. It then became...
Feature The Big Nintendo E3 2016 Summary
It wasn't just The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
As we publish this article E3 attendees are taking final opportunities to conduct interviews and try out new games, including our own dedicated foursome from Nintendo Life; they have a lot more content from the show to share in the coming days. For Nintendo fans at home, however, the event has...
Weirdness The Mario Party Star Rush Box Art is Actually Recycled From the Mario SpagettiOs Can
Mamma-mia!
We all know that Nintendo is a company with a lot on its plate, planning a new system while developing, marketing and releasing games for the 3DS and Wii U. Corners will be cut, it's inevitable. It seems the box art for Mario Party Star Rush is one such cut corner, and in a humorous way - Twitter user @starwindbliss recently made the...
Nintendo Download 16th June (North America)
Super Paper Mario! Rhythm Heaven Megamix! Terraria! Much more!
As E3 enters its last day in LA it's time to go back to some old routines, with the North American Nintendo Download Update being one of them. This week seems to be a strong offering, with notable releases across Wii U and 3DS, along with some high-quality Virtual Console offerings on...
E3 2016 Rhythm Heaven Megamix is Available to Buy Right Now on the North American eShop
There's a demo, too
In a late surprise on day two of E3, Nintendo of America has released the charming Rhythm Heaven Megamix on the 3DS eShop. It combines rhythm levels from previous entries in the series along with all-new stages and 'remixes', and has a price tag of $29.99 in the US. In addition to the game going on sale there's also a demo...
Hands On Taking a Deep Breath with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A fresh, new approach
In our second Hands On piece for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mitch Vogel shares his analysis of the demo experiences offered at E3. You can find a link to our first article by Morgan Sleeper at the end, while Alan Lopez will pitch in with his thoughts in our third impressions piece very soon. When Nintendo made...
E3 2016 Hyperkin's "April Fools" Game Boy Phone Attachment Is Alive And Well
Now only confirmed for Android phones, though
Remember the Smart Boy? It began life as a 2015 April Fools' Day joke by hardware maker Hyperkin, but the company later admitted it was making the thing for real. We've heard little since then, but the Smart Boy is still very much alive and well - it has even been spotted on the show floor at E3. The...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo's E3 2016?
From 'shirtless Link' to Miyamoto bossing The Pokémon Company
It's the final day of attendees scurrying around E3 2016, but for many following from home it's already the end of the year's highest-profile gaming show. After today it'll no longer be considered normal to watch eight hours of Nintendo Treehouse Live without so much as a toilet break,...
News Rhythm Paradise Megamix Is Getting Physical In Europe
You'll have to wait until October, though
Those of you in Europe hoping that Rhythm Paradise Megamix - which is out now in North America - might be coming to the 3DS eShop this week should be ready for some disappointment. Nintendo UK has just confirmed that the game won't be arriving until 21st October, which - if you watch the footage below -...
E3 2016 Pokémon Go Heads For July Release, With the Plus Add-On Costing $34.99 in the US
Adding up the cost
There's little doubt that Pokémon Go is an important release for Nintendo, The Pokémon Company and developer Niantic. Though there's a little ambivalence about it in the Nintendo Life community (at least among those in the E3 live stream chat) it's clearly a big deal to members of the broader public; it was, after all, one of...
E3 2016 How The Sin of Getting Lost Has Been Pardoned in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Aonuma on Miyamoto's role - "Miyamoto is God"
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the most definitive open world game in the series to date. While previous Zelda games offered the illusion of an open world, there were often visible areas which the player would be prevented from exploring. Speaking to WIRED, game director Eiji Aonuma...
E3 2016 Brandwatch Data Shows The Legend of Zelda Dominating Social Media During E3
Still led Nintendo trends on day two
Earlier this week we reported on data from social media monitoring tool Brandwatch, which emphasized the impact that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had when it was unveiled on day one of E3. It gained huge traction, to the point that it was comfortably the 'winner' of E3 when it came to game ment
E3 2016 Reggie Says VR "Needs to be Mainstream" For Nintendo To Get Involved
Should "represent strong value to the consumer"
Nintendo of America's President and Chief Operating Officer Reggie Fils-Aime has been speaking to Bloomberg about the possibility of Nintendo jumping on the VR bandwagon along with competitors such as Sony who will be going to market with their PlayStation VR headset later this year. Somewhat...
News "Oops", Says Image & Form as 'SteamWorld Bundle' Rating is Spotted for Wii U
The pressure's building
Image & Form has established itself as a Nindie to be reckoned with thanks to the eShop releases of SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist, both arriving on the 3DS and Wii U. It seems that those titles will be getting combined into one steamy bundle, too. A USK (German) rating from May has been spotted
E3 2016 Catch Up With All of the Nintendo Action From Day Two at E3
A variety of games and the occasional surprise
After a first day at E3 in which Nintendo had a lot of attention and hype, the Treehouse Live broadcast settled down to a more familiar pattern on day two. After kicking off with a Pokémon Go Q & A we saw a variety of upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. Grezzo game Ever Oasis was revealed, Rhythm Heaven...
News Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice Leads Japanese Charts and Boosts New 3DS
No objection
We're later than normal because of a little thing called E3, but the Media Create chart results from Japan are certainly worth looking at. This week they bring great news for a popular franchise, Capcom and the New Nintendo 3DS. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice has made its bow on the retail scene in Japan and stormed...
Video Join Us For A Tour Of Nintendo's Stand At E3 2016
Alan, Morgan and Mitch are your hosts
E3 2016 is slowly but surely coming to a close, and our intrepid team on the show floor have been working around the clock to bring you all the best Nintendo coverage from the show. We're sure you've already checked out the excellent written content we've been serving up, but if you'd like to get a taste of...
News Discount Picross Joins The Ranks of My Nintendo Rewards in Europe
Pick 'em out
The My Nintendo loyalty programme has already had something to offer Picross-loving members with the exclusive My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The latest update in Europe, though, adds a little extra grid-based action for members to consider. These two latest rewards are both available until 1st September:...
News Special Edition Pokémon Sun and Moon New Nintendo 3DS XL Systems Confirmed for Japan
Fingers crossed for the West
Pokémon Sun and Moon has had a little extra attention during E3, and fans in Japan have received a bit of additional good news - two Special Edition New Nintendo 3DS LL (XL) models have been revealed for a Japanese release on 18th November. Though neither of the models will come with Sun or Moon pre-installed, they do...
Wednesday15th Jun 2016
Live Blog Watch Nintendo Show Off More Games At E3, Including a New IP on 3DS - Live!
Pokemon Go! Monster Hunter! Paper Mario! New Mario Party! More!
After a first day dedicated to the new evolutions in the Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda franchises, the Treehouse team is stepping it up a notch with demonstrations of multiple Wii U and 3DS games. It's a varied line-up that includes previously unseen games and even an all-new RPG IP...
E3 2016 Monster Hunter Generations Demo is Announced and Available Now (Sort Of)
In Humble Bundle, with free codes and eShop release also coming
Update 2: The European demo includes an offline tutorial and three challenges that can be tackled in co-op either offline or online. 'Slay the Great Maccao' (Beginner), 'Slay the Malfestio' (Intermediate), and 'Slay the Nargacuga' (Advanced). Update: If you're in Europe and have a...
Reaction Key Early Lessons We Learned About The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo goes all in on the adventure
We started the first day of E3 knowing very little about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - not even that name - and have ended it with a lot more knowledge. The Nintendo Treehouse, Eiji Aonuma, Shigeru Miyamoto and all involved excelled at demonstrating a lot of fascinating details while also steering...
E3 2016 Brandwatch Declares The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the Winner of E3
Boom
Anyone with a Twitter account could see that as Nintendo's live broadcast from E3 sprung to life, it started to trend and generate a lot of online buzz. Nintendo, of course, didn't utilise the press conference format that draws attention for a 60-90 minute burst, instead focusing on its Treehouse format for this year. Did the move pay off?...
Reminder Day Two of E3 Brings Multiple Nintendo Games Including a 'New Role-Playing IP'
SEGA's ready to excite (or disappoint) Sonic fans, too
After a day where we saw a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, with few complaints from this writer, today brings a different flavour as the Nintendo Treehouse team dives into a range of other games. We'll see more of games that have previously been relatively mysterious, including...
Video Here's 50 Facts About Zelda: Breath of the Wild that May Have Passed You By
Because five is too few
In all the hubbub of Nintendo's Treehouse streams over the past few days, we've seen a metric busload of footage for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; so much so that it was all a bit overwhelming and difficult to process all at once. Never fear, our tireless team of video enthusiasts known commonly as yours truly has...
E3 2016 Nintendo Reveals Ever Oasis for the 3DS
Developed by Grezzo, Koichi Ishii is leading the project
Nintendo has unveiled the New IP RPG / Adventure title for 3DS, and it's called Ever Oasis. In development by Grezzo (well known for the 3D Legend of Zelda remasters on 3DS, for example), the project is being led by Koichi Ishii. Ishii-san played a key role in early Final Fantasy titles, and...
Hands On Wide-Open Wanderlust in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Legendary
Instead of the open-floor plan filled with dozens of demo kiosks we've come to expect from its showings, Nintendo's booth at E3 this year looked rather different, featuring a single space shielded from the rest of the showfloor and dedicated to a single game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While it may have seemed like an odd...
E3 2016 Zelda: Breath Of The Wild E3 Coins And Shirts Already Being Hawked Online
Got a spare 200 rupees?
During this year's E3 event, Nintendo is rewarding attendees with special The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild coins and T-Shirts, and as is often the case with such collectables, they're now being sold for high prices online. Even though E3 is still ongoing, a quick look at online auction site eBay reveals that several...
Thursday16th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Check Out the Paper Mario: Color Splash E3 Trailer
The final cut
After its brief tease earlier in the year, we finally got a good look at Paper Mario: Color Splash thanks to the Nintendo Treehouse Live broadcast from E3. We saw aspects of the story and gameplay, with the segment ending with some rather entertaining (and creative) sequences. Key details include the lack of formal 'XP' points, but...
Wednesday15th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Nintendo to Introduce a 'New Role-Playing IP' for 3DS At E3 Today
Crikey
Today brings us the second day of E3, and Nintendo's final Treehouse broadcast of the year. It's going to show off a number of previously announced games (which we'll remind you off in a feature soon), but Nintendo UK has prompted us to raise our eyebrows a dangerous amount with a line in its latest press release. Outlining the day's...
E3 2016 Ubisoft is Confident That Nintendo NX Can Recapture 'Lapsed Wii Players'
Follows confirmation of Just Dance 2017 for the system
An intriguing early announcement in this E3, from a Nintendo perspective, was confirmation of Just Dance 2017 for the Nintendo NX
E3 2016 Prepare to Empty Your Wallets for LEGO Dimensions Wave 6
C'mon, grab your friends and go to very distant lands
Family Gamer TV's Andy Robertson has been doing the rounds at E3 and has been lucky enough to get hands on with the Wave 6 mini-figures for LEGO Dimensions, which we have to say are looking pretty darn lovely. LEGO Dimensions co-director Arthur Parsons shares how the different franchises all...
Review Kaite Tsukutte Asoberu Dezaemon (SNES)
Super shmup construction kit
How would you like to make your own video game? The incredible Super Mario Maker was not the first time a company gave players the tools to produce their own interactive entertainment. In fact, such titles predate the online infrastructure which modern examples of the genre rely on for growth, idea exchange and level...
E3 2016 XSEED Bringing Japanese-Style Action Adventure Exile's End To Wii U
A "cinematic platformer" made with Japanese artists
During our US team's walk around the showfloor at this year's E3 it has been discovered that XSEED is bringing the indie title Exile's End to the Wii U eShop. Created by one-man studio Magnetic Realms (in reality Japan-based Australian Matt Fielding), Exile's End takes inspiration from a wide...
News Super Audio Cart Brings Classic Samples To Modern Musicians
Music to our ears
If you're a fan of retro game music - either as a listener or a creator - then you'll be interested to learn that Impact Soundworks has teamed up with OverClocked ReMix to release Super Audio Cart, a library packed with classic samples dating all the way back to the '70s. Used in conjunction with the Kontakt music making package,...
Gallery Let's Take a Look at Nintendo's E3 Legend of Zelda Booth
Photos from the Wild
It's quite unusual that an entire platform-holder E3 booth is dedicated to one game, but this allowed Nintendo the freedom to really set the mood for those weary exhibitors. Here we have a gallery of images taken on Day 1 by our fearless adventurers Morgan and Alan.
E3 2016 Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past Listed for 16th September Release
According to Nintendo's E3 website
Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past had a fairly lengthy showcase on the Nintendo Treehouse stream today, giving us a good look at how well it's transitioned to 3DS. We also heard how fan-power made the localisation happen, with letters from fans in France ap
E3 2016 Catch Up With All of the Nintendo Action from Day One at E3
The Legend of Zelda! Pokemon! Lots more Zelda!
Nintendo had a rather good first day at E3 - it may have only shown two games, but the Nintendo Life community seemed rather happy with what it saw of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, in particular. There were many hours of coverage, with various segments focused on key areas of the game. If...
E3 2016 BOXBOXBOY! is Coming to the 3DS eShop on 30th June
No longer boxed into the Japanese eShop
During the Nintendo Treehouse live stream from E3 we got a good look at BOXBOXBOY!, the sequel to the rather charming BOXBOY!. This HAL Laboratory follow-up has been available in Japan for a little while, so fans of the original will no doubt be glad to see it roll out in the West - it's coming to both Europe...
Gallery Fans Get Hands-On During The Legend Of Zelda Extravaganza At The Nintendo NY Store
Bet you wish you were there
We recently reported that the Nintendo NY Store would be giving 500 lucky fans the chance to play the new Zelda on Wii U during E3. Of course the title has now been revealed as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and we have to say it looks superb. Nintendo of America were kind enough to send over some photos from...
Video WayForward Issues a New Trailer for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Girl's got rhythm
As many of you are aware, WayForward's purple-haired, belly-dancing mascot Shantae is due to star in another game this fall in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and a development period of a few years, Shantae's latest is approaching the final lap prior to its release and it's never looked better...
Reminder Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Clothing Coming To Miitomo
Bow and arrow available on MyNintendo now
Not fired up Miitomo in a while? We may well have the perfect excuse. Nintendo has shown off some new Zelda-inspired outfits for the smartphone app, with one of the items - the bow and arrow set - being available as a MyNintendo reward as we speak. The entire range is based on the latest outing - The Legend...
Tuesday14th Jun 2016
Live Blog Watch Nintendo Reveal The Legend of Zelda at E3 2016 - Live!
Pokémon Sun and Moon also promised
Well, the time is finally here - the Nintendo Treehouse team and guests such as Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma and Reggie Fils-Aime will showcase The Legend of Zelda on Wii U, which will also come to Nintendo NX. In addition to seeing this title extensively for the first time we'll be shown more of Pokémon Sun and...
E3 2016 60 Platinum Points Up For Grabs in Legend of Zelda My Nintendo Missions
For the eagle eyed among you
Nintendo has added a little extra spice to My Nintendo during E3, adding three 'Missions' that unlock a total of 60 Platinum Points. The name of the game is to find hidden objects on e3.nintendo.com, while logged in, and presumably clicking on them earns the reward. You can see these below. It's a neat idea, and with...
E3 2016 Nintendo Unveils Massive E3 eShop Sale in North America
Additional 10% off some titles with My Nintendo
Nintendo's presence at E3 also comes with eShop deals for Wii U and 3DS owners in North America. There's a focus on Zelda and Pokémon games, but other top titles including Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon are also up price cuts. Games from both Nintendo and third parties are on sale from 14-21 June...
News SEGA E3 Stream to Feature the Sonic Team and "News For Fans of Sonic The Hedgehog"
Well, that's interesting
While we wait (im)patiently for Nintendo to get its E3 party started, we stumbled across an interesting broadcast in our YouTube subscriber feed. So intriguing that we may just have to cover it live. On 15th June at 11am Pacific / 2pm Eastern / 7pm UK / 8pm CET the SEGA Europe team will be streaming live from E3. Its...
News Fans Petition Nintendo To Name Zelda NPC After Deceased Singer Christina Grimmie
Already has 25,000 signatures
The world of music recently lost Christina Grimmie, who was tragically shot during an autograph signing session after a concert and later died from her wounds. Fans are now petitioning Nintendo is name an NPC in the forthcoming Legend of Zelda title after the singer, who was self-confessed fan not only of the series,...
Wednesday15th Jun 2016
Poll Did Nintendo Triumph With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at E3?
A legendary reveal
Well, there we have it - Nintendo showed us many hours of footage from the newly named The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild after a short opening salvo of Pokémon Sun and Moon. The Treehouse team, with special guests including Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma, showed a lot of the underlying mechanics and gameplay of the 2017...
Tuesday14th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Full Title Of Wii U And NX Legend Of Zelda Revealed
A breath of fresh air?
Nintendo has revealed the full title of the next Zelda adventure during its E3 broadcast. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the final name, and hints at the vast, untamed world you're expected to explore. The footage shown includes voice acting (gasp!), cooking, manipulation of the environment (setting fire to bushes...
News Crash Bandicoot Will Be Playable in the Wii U Port of Skylanders Imaginators
It's been awhile, Crash
Crash Bandicoot is one of those characters that's always been seen as an unofficial "Mario" for PlayStation systems, though this has been something of a misconception. The character has actually belonged to Activision for some time now, and a few of his later titles even appeared on Nintendo systems. Obviously, the character...
"We did discuss as a staff as to what would be possible"
After all of the discussions, rumours and speculations, Eiji Aonuma has confirmed that it won't be possible to play as a female Hero in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Despite the game showcasing an impressively dynamic world and freedom in gameplay approaches, it seems the game's...
Gallery Nintendo Announces amiibo for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Check out all the official images inside
Nintendo is in the process of showing off The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and has also announced three new amiibo that will arrive with the game. In addition the current Wolf Link amiibo will be supported (as previously announced); scanning that one brings Wolf Link into the world with three hearts,...
E3 2016 Nintendo Unveils Seven New Super Mario Series amiibo, Including Waluigi
Daisy! Boo! More!
Nintendo has unveiled seven new amiibo figures in the Super Mario series, arriving on 4th November in North America - that's the same date as Mario Party Star Rush on 3DS. Of the seven new figures four are new poses for Wario, Rosalina, Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (these are coming earlier in Europe on 7th October). New arrivals...
E3 2016 Mario Party Star Rush is Coming to 3DS on 4th November
Will be shown at E3 on 15th June
Nintendo has announced some fresh details in a press release, and somewhat buried at the end is a game reveal for the 3DS. It's announced Mario Party Star Rush for the portable, with a release date of 4th November in North America (it's actually earlier in Europe, on 7th October). Details are scarce, but it will be...
E3 2016 Fresh Pokémon Sun And Moon Details Include New 'Mon And Battle Format
Say hello to Pikipek and Yungoos
Nintendo has just broadcast an extended Treehouse segment from E3 2016 which focuses on Pokémon Sun And Moon, the latest in the popular series of monster-training titles. Two new Pocket Monsters were revealed - the woodpecker Pikipek and "loitering" Yungoos: Also shown off was an all-new battle format, dubbed...
Video Find Out How amiibo Support Was Added To Super Mario 64
It's-a me, amiibo!
We recently learned that Rare wanted to do amiibo-style toys during the N64 era, which frankly would have been amazing. YouTuber James (aka yoshielectron) has now craftily found a way of retroactively adding amiibo support to Super Mario 64, which might be the next best thing. You may remember him from when he created a
E3 2016 Paper Mario: Color Splash Dated for 7th October
Treehouse will fill us in on more soon
While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has taken up the majority of Nintendo's Treehouse Live time in its first day, the second day holds looks at a wider variety of games. One of the titles up for a look, Paper Mario: Color Splash, has been given a release date as well. According to a North American...
Talking Point Our Hopes For Nintendo's E3 2016 Legend of Zelda (and Pokémon) Bonanza
Beyond gameplay, Nintendo can emphasize its unique strengths
Well, it's finally here. After 18 months of near-silence and zero footage, Nintendo is going to lift the lid on The Legend of Zelda for Wii U and Nintendo NX (and also show some Pokémon Sun and Moon). It's the Wii U version that'll be on display, due to the ongoing secrecy around the...
Gallery Check Out The First Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Screenshots
We're digging the art style
Nintendo have released the first batch of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild screenshots running on Wii U. Whilst they aren't the very best image quality, they still show a few new areas. We'll update them if they get released in higher quality. So, what do you think? Let us know in the comments.
E3 2016 Legend of Zelda 3DS HOME Theme and Miitomo My Nintendo Rewards Go Live
Hard to resist
Nintendo has started to roll out its Miitomo x The Legend of Zelda content to celebrate the E3 reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Link wigs are being distributed in the app, while there'll also be themed Miitomo Drop games to try out. There's more, though, as Nintendo has also released two My Nintendo Rewards. We have...
News Super Famicom Anime Classic Hyper Iria Now Playable In English
Another female bounty hunter
Dynamic Designs strikes again! This time with the help of Matt's Messy Room and right in the middle of E3 2016 chaos, its Banpresto's 1995 title Hyper Iria that is now fully translated to English. This Japan-only action platformer is licensed from Ashi Productions, using characters and settings from the six episode OVA...
Review PixelJunk Monsters (Wii U eShop)
No monsters are getting through on our watch
The Forest Defender, Tikiman, is back to protect his children in PixelJunk Monsters for Wii U. Developed by Q-Games and Double Eleven, PixelJunk Monsters is the second game in the PixelJunk series that started on the PlayStation 3. This time around Double Eleven is porting the popular indie game to the...
E3 2016 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Get a Discount in Europe
With an extra discount for My Nintendo members
Nintendo of America has unveiled a hefty list of eShop discounts (we're compiling the list at the time of writing), and Nintendo of Europe has also pitched in. It's added two titles to its existing 5 year anniversary sale to give an extra retail treat for the region. Both iterations of the current-gen...
Feature Tom Happ on Axiom Verge Coming to Its 'Home Turf' on Wii U
We still can't believe this game is the work of just one guy
It boggles the mind how Axiom Verge is the work of one man. It took five years for creator Tom Happ to produce the game on his own, putting together this game that deftly incorporates elements of Metroid, Contra, and other retro classics. With a list of influences like that, it's tough...
Reminder Catch the Sony E3 2016 Press Conference With Push Square
Expect plenty of games but no Neo
It's been a busy day over at E3, and there's one more major conference to come before Nintendo does its thing. Sony is next up, pitching its latest and greatest games and features for PS4. The company recently confirmed that it won't be showing the PS4 Neo / PS4K at E3, to the disappointment of plenty. Nevertheless...
Wednesday15th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Eiji Aonuma, in His Golden Pants, Is Now Waiting For You in StreetPass Mii Plaza
"Let's get Wild!"
If you haven't quite had enough hype from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild yet, then fear not, your 3DS has a fun extra waiting for you. Nintendo has distributed a special guest into the StreetPass Mii Plaza through StreetPass - Eiji Aonuma. He's in his golden pants, like all of the special guests, and rather humorously his...
Tuesday14th Jun 2016
Feature Thunder Lotus Games Dives Into Norse Mythology With Jotun: Valhalla Edition
Ragnarok and roll
Unveiled earlier this year for the Wii U eShop, Jotun: Valhalla Edition is certainly an eye catching game. Thunder Lotus Games dives into Norse mythology, putting the player into the shoes of Thora, a Viking Warrior that must prove herself to earn a place in Valhalla. Those are big stakes for an action-exploration game. A hit on...
Video Check Out the LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens E3 Trailer
Nice bedroom decor, Kylo
Get ready to fight to save a galaxy far, far away in the LEGO adaptation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The E3 trailer below gives a good idea from what we can expect from LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which will be coming to Wii U and 3DS on 28th June in North America and Europe. There is plenty of voice acting in...
Monday13th Jun 2016
Live Blog See Special Guests from Nintendo Appear on YouTube Live at E3
Just thought we'd Link you in
Likely to be a short and snappy Nintendo cameo, 'special guests from Nintendo' are due to appear along with others in a half hour segment of YouTube's live show from E3. We'll join host Geoff Keighley and watch with interest to see which Nintendo heavyweight(s) appear and what they'll have to say about the coming week...
Review Justice Chronicles (3DS eShop)
For middling justice!
Kemco has been nothing if not busy lately, keeping 3DS owners occupied with a steady stream of eShop JRPGs, and Justice Chronicles is the latest in this line. Though it suffers from a number of common ails of its ilk — like awkward translation, a generic cast, and uneven presentation — Justice Chronicles does have some neat...
Review Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (Wii U eShop / DS)
Going for a slam dunk
From his first venture into Karting through to competing in the Olympics, Mario has been spending plenty of time taking part in activities other than Princess saving. In 2007 (European release) Mario and his mates tried their hands at shooting a few hoops on Nintendo DS in Mario Slam Basketball (aka Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in the...
Reminder Today at E3 Brings Ubisoft's Press Conference and a Nintendo Appearance on YouTube Gaming
The hype is real
We're dusting off the live stream / live blog template here on Nintendo Life as E3 is kicking into gear. We're going to provide regular updates on our planned shenanigans for each day so that you know when to tune in. We'll be hosting and live blogging two streams today. First up is Ubisoft's Press Conference, which we cover out of...
A Link to the Future
We've already discussed, long before now, how Nintendo's approach to E3 has caused understandable disappointment for some. Even after the company expanded its plans with more streams and games, when we polled Nintendo Life readers there was still disappointment. The promise of E3 discounts on the eShop has helped lift the mood a...
Live Blog Watch Ubisoft's E3 2016 Press Conference - Live!
Just Dance hype
E3 may have already had a few press conferences and live streams so far, but now it's time to get serious - it's the Ubisoft conference. It's time to believe, Nintendo fans, believe that Ubisoft hasn't forgotten us. We're not just here to rubberneck at potentially awful moments of awkwardness on stage - there's one game we all want...
Weirdness We've Made Some Outlandish E3 2016 Predictions for No Real Reason
Something whilst you wait
E3 speculation is all well and good, but there's so little promised by Nintendo this year and, as far as we know, no enormous surprises in store, we decided to take a different route. So instead of making sensible, reliable predictions it was the bright idea of the one penning this article to go in completely the opposite...
Nintendo Download 16th June (Europe)
Gunslugs! Fire Emblem Fates DLC! Twin Robots! Discounts Galore! More!
Happy E3 week to one and all; unsurprisingly we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to get it started. We have puzzle platforming on Wii U and frantic run-and-gun action on the 3DS as new releases, along with a retail download targeting young gamers. Fire Emblem...
News Stardew Valley is Digging Its Way to Wii U
Dev keen to use "special console features like the Wii U's second screen"
Stardew Valley has been a major success on PC, with its charming aesthetic and gameplay hooks earning a lot of fans. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Harvest Moon, it blends farming and living off the land with elements of adventure. The pleasing news is that the...
News Just Dance 2017 Coming to All "Motion-Control Gaming Platforms", Which Includes Nintendo NX
Intriguing
Well, it happened, as predicted, Ubisoft announced Just Dance 2017 in its live press conference. It's coming to Wii U and is even coming to Wii, but Ubisoft also confirmed the game for Nintendo NX. Here's the intriguing bit, in its press release for the game Ubisoft used the following description: Just Dance 2017 will be available on...
Tuesday14th Jun 2016
Feature 13AM Games Tells Us About Runbow Pocket, the New Nintendo 3DS Exclusive
Let's get ready to Runbowwwwwwwwwwwww
If you haven't gotten a big group of people together for a competitive game of Runbow then you haven't lived life in COLOURFUL CAPS LOCK yet. The competitive nine-player runner with a roster of original characters and borrowed favourites is a great way to make friends and alienate people. Thanks to the wonders...
Monday13th Jun 2016
News Runbow Pocket and SEVERED Confirmed for the eShop
Runbow Pocket is a New 3DS exclusive
During its appearance on the YouTube@E3 show Nintendo focused on some exciting Nindie games on the way to the eShop later this year. Four releases were covered in total, covering 3DS, New 3DS and Wii U. The main reveal was arguably Runbow Pocket, which will be a New 3DS exclusive later this year. It includes...
Video Check Out The Eager Fans That Got In Line for The Legend of Zelda Demo Slots at Nintendo NY
Some were playing Smash Bros. - why not?
Late last week we gave you a reminder that some queuing would be required to grab a slot for The Legend of Zelda's demo at the Nintendo NY store. With just 500 appointments available it was an opportunity reserved for the most eager and hardy of gamers within traveling distance of New York. KirbyGCN17 has...
Video Take a Good Look at Harvest Moon: Skytree Village
Rising Star Games confirms European release in Spring 2017
We've known for some time that Natsume is showing off new 3DS title Harvest Moon: Skytree Village at E3, and now it's released an extended trailer. It helps to visualise a lot of the details that were recently confirmed, as this one clearly aims to get the series back on the front foot...
Tuesday14th Jun 2016
Feature We Chat to Drinkbox Studios About SEVERED for Wii U and 3DS
Swiping answers from producer Graham Smith on the touch-based dungeon crawl
Drinkbox Studios is perhaps best known for its beloved, rather cheeky lucha-themed exploration platformer, Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition, which hit the Wii U eShop in July 2014. We rather dug it in our review, but it's been two years now and we're itching for...
Monday13th Jun 2016
Reminder Watch the Bethesda Press Conference With Our Buddies at Push Square
It's not all Doom and gloom
Major game publishers are starting to show off their games ahead of E3 opening its doors, with Bethesda getting in on the act. A company renowned for its complex RPG titles in addition to its flashier action-based releases, we expect a mix of titles - rumours and leaks point to Dishonored 2 being shown, while a remaster...
Reminder Join Pure Xbox to Keep Up to Speed With the Microsoft E3 Live Conference
Xbox Slim and more expected
As is now tradition, Microsoft will be the first of the big three platform holders to get E3 up and running, with Sony to follow and Nintendo to get started on 14th June. Microsoft comes into this E3 on the back foot in the current generation, with the Xbox One still seemingly lagging behind PS4. In any case it'll look...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Transforms Into Top 20 Title in UK Charts
Yo-kai Watch clings on to top 40 spot
We're big fans of Kirby: Planet Robobot, the 3DS sequel that ups the ante on its original and introduces clever ideas to a classic formula. Since its launch it appears to have had a reasonable sales start in the UK, too, securing chart placings similar to its predecessor - Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It its first...
Sunday12th Jun 2016
E3 2016 Nintendo E3 Zelda Badge Appears to Suggest Male and Female Link
A Link To The Badge
Update: Eagle eyed readers have pointed out that the artwork here is the same as the Link riding Epona art that we've already seen, however seeing those two faces together has me more convinced than ever that they are different characters - Ant Original Story: Journalists have now descended upon Los Angeles for E3 2016 and...
News Leaked Legend of Zelda Image Shows Link Scaling New Heights
On the climb
Update: Nintendo has now shared the same image on its Facebook page. Original Article: We'll be seeing a lot of The Legend of Zelda during E3, with the Wii U version of the dual release - it's also coming to NX - a key focus of Nintendo's live broadcasts. We don't have long to wait, but in any case Amazon's product page for the Wii...
News Yo-kai Watch Sold Less Than Half a Million Units in North America
CEO still believes the franchise will "bloom like a flower" in the west
The Yo-Kai Watch series was quite a phenomenon in Japan, with a multi-pronged media blitz spanning video games, cartoons, and toys; leading the series to even eclipse Pokémon in some respects. Naturally, Level-5 was keen to bring the franchise to the West in hopes of there...
Feature Developers' Perspectives on Five Years of the 3DS eShop
"Nintendo's had the door open to developers for a long time"
In the past week the 3DS eShop turned five years old, a notable landmark for a download store that triggered key evolutions from its Wii and DSi predecessors. Though Nintendo still has improvements to make in how it sells and handles download games, it's easy to overlook how vital the 3DS...
Reminder Watch The EA Play Press Conference With Push Square or Pure Xbox
It begins...
The doors may not open on E3 until 14th June, but the event as a whole is very much up and running. The first major publisher out of the gate with a streamed event is EA, with its broadcast dubbed 'EA Play'. As there's anticipated to be zero Nintendo presence here we're directing you, our lovely readers, to our partner sites that are...
Video Enjoy Some More Pokémon Hype in This Trailer for Pokémon Ga-Olé
Sing along - "Pokémooooooooooooooooooooooon"
Pokémon Ga-Olé, due in Japanese arcades from July, is the successor (in terms of how it works) to Pokémon Tretta. It'll use collectible cards with which players can enter into battles, with the machine itself having a handsome 50-inch portrait screen. It looks interesting, and as rec
"We're simply adding another format to help expand the scene competitively"
Throughout May we wrote about 'The Gauntlet', a team-based Super Smash Bros. for Wii U competitive format that utilises the game's 8-player Smash option, allowing two teams of four to duke it out. With matches split into quarters and with opportunities for substitutions and...
Saturday11th Jun 2016
Random This Real Life Parody of Super Mario Maker Reflects the Mascot's Never-Ending Struggle
With an awesome representation of Super Expert levels
Along with Splatoon, Super Mario Maker was a notable success story for the Wii U in 2015. Though neither title could ultimately transform the console's sales performance, both earned critical acclaim, pleased existing fans and reminded many of Nintendo's ongoing prowess in producing hit titles...
Soapbox Can Mario Party Return To Its Former Glory?
Not to be a party pooper or anything
In this opinion piece, Arjun bemoans what he feels is the deterioration of the Mario Party series, and shares his hopes for its future. Mario Party, the game where players once sacrificed the skin of their palms in order to be crowned as the almighty Superstar. Yep, it was that competitive, and I for one loved...
Nintendo Life Weekly New Game in Development for Wii U, Super Mario Maker in Real Life, and More
We're week at the knees
It's Saturday and so Nintendo Life Weekly comes around yet again to deliver your weekly does of Nintendo news, reviews, and releases, just as you'd expect. This week Alex looks at the news of a new game coming to Wii U from Nordic Games, a Japanese poll designed to discover which Pokémon is truly the greatest, a parody...
News Two New Pokémon and Fresh Zygarde Formes Revealed for Pokémon Sun and Moon
The puppy Pokémon has arrived
Though Pokémon Sun and Moon will play a big part on day one of E3 in the Nintendo Treehouse stream, some fresh details have emerged ahead of the LA event. We have two new Pokémon via CoroCoro Magazine, and a trailer (localised for the West) unveiling new formes of Zygarde. Let's start with Zygarde; the trailer below...
Friday10th Jun 2016
Video Here's What It Felt Like To Get Hold Of Super Mario 64 Early, 20 Years Ago
Scorching
The N64 turns 20 this year, as does Super Mario 64 - one of the most notable launch titles in the history of video games. Those of us who were lucky enough to own this console at the time of release were rewarded with one of the most riveting gaming experiences of all time, but iretrogamer.com boss Tyler Esposito was even more privliedged...
Feature Our Favourite Nintendo E3 Moments
Nintendo's given us a lot of memories
As we head into another weekend we're just days away from E3, the gaming and technology bonanza in LA. Nintendo's opting for a different approach this year, focusing live streams on demonstrating games without the accompanying Digital Event (and separate live event). It's a scaled back effort on paper, but will...
Video Learn How Nintendo Overcame Rampant Xenophobia To Own The Seattle Mariners
Batter up!
Recently Nintendo announced the sale of their majority stake in the Seattle Mariners, which is a shame as the story of how the Japanese company came to rescue Seattle's baseball team is a fascinating one. In 1992, the Seattle Mariners were on the verge of moving to Florida. When a group of investors led by Nintendo stepped in, it sparked...
Saturday11th Jun 2016
Video Check Out the Impressive Astalos in Monster Hunter Generations
Along with some neat insights into weapons and play styles
Now just over a month away, Monster Hunter Generations looms large as a significant 3DS release this summer. With the localised version getting closer Capcom is doing its part to get Western gamers geared up for the latest series entry. The official Monster Hunter YouTube channel has posted...
Friday10th Jun 2016
Reminder Get Ready to Queue at Nintendo NY to Play The Legend of Zelda on Wii U
For the early-birds
In addition to its various live broadcasts during E3, a while ago Nintendo confirmed that its Nintendo NY store in Rockefeller Plaza would be showing the first day's action on its large screen and giving some attendees time to try out The Legend of Zelda's extended demo. Though the hands on appointments don't start until 3pm...
Video The Battle Mini-Game for Minecraft: Wii U Edition Goes Live on 21st June
Get ready to Nintendoom your friends in the arena
A couple weeks ago, it was announced that another free update would be coming to Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Following hot on the heels of the Super Mario Bros. Mashup Pack, this new update will include a new Battle mode where players duke it out in arenas and fight for glory. The new mode will have...
News Pokkén Tournament Update 1.3 Promises To Bring Some Balance
Arriving this month
Got beef with some of the fighters in Pokkén Tournament? Well you'll be pleased to learn that the brawler will be getting a new update this month which should hopefully iron out some of the kinks and make everything that little bit fairer. Version 1.3 includes various balancing changes which will impact the following...
News No Nintendo Titles In May NPD, But The 3DS Has Now Sold 60 Million Units Worldwide
Still printing money, just not quite as much
The May 2016 NPD report has just been issued, but not a single Nintendo title was featured in the top 10, first-party or otherwise. Nintendo hasn't remained tight-lipped however, and has issued a statement pointing out that its 3DS handheld has passed the 60 million units sold mark: May was a milestone...
News Third Party Developer Releases "Chat for Pokemon Go" App
Let's talk about it
A decent number of smartphone owners in the US have and are currently trying out the beta of Pokémon Go. With the app all set for a Q & A with the Nintendo Treehouse team on day two of E3, there's a growing sense of momentum as it heads closer to its full release. One feature that it doesn't currently have is the ability to...
News Nintendo Adds Extra Reward to Miitomo x The Legend of Zelda Retweet Event
Retweet for virtual fashion
As part of its E3 announcements earlier this week Nintendo kicked off a Miitomo x The Legend of Zelda social media event, in which hitting a set number of retweets rewards us with Link wigs for the smartphone app. As the original target (20,000) was swatted aside rather quickly, Nintendo has added a black Pixel Link...
News B3 Game Expo For Bees Gets Surprise Price Cut
That'll sting
B3 Game Expo For Bees is one of the quirkier titles to come to the Wii U in recent times, blending first-person shooting and adventure with some neat usage of the GamePad. One of the downsides (which we highlighted in our review) is its brevity, and we observed that "it might be worth it to pick this title up sometime on a sale or...
Review Epic Word Search Collection 2 (3DS eShop)
For word nerds only
Epic Word Search Collection 2 is pretty much what it says on the tin, except possibly the 'epic' part. A modern day take on the classic Word Search, the game takes this popular puzzle and makes it paperless. There are no frills to make this a stand out video game, it is very simple in its approach and solely for those who want an...
News Nintendo of America is Putting on Another National StreetPass Week Starting on 10th June
Green lights ahoy!
StreetPass is one of those features that's cool in concept, but doesn't always pan out quite the same in reality. The main barrier here is that people who live in less densely populated areas are obviously less likely to happen across somebody else who also has a 3DS. Fortunately, the feature has never been much more than a nice...
Video Japanese Hotel Hosting Special Pokémon-Themed Attraction
Welcome to "Eevee and the Mysterious Book"
The Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort in Miyazaki, Japan is holding a special Pokémon interactive attraction which involves finding monsters around the resort and recording them in a special "book" (which, in reality, is a tablet computer). Dubbed "Eevee and the Mysterious Book", the event is booked by parents...
News Dual Core Gets European Release Date Along With Update in North America
Off-TV play is on the way
Dual Core is one of the Wii U eShop's most intriguing recent arrivals (we're still working on a review), with dual-stick shooting along with co-op play and RPG elements. Developer Gray Fin Studios has now confirmed some positive additional details for both European and North American gamers. First off, the European release...
Thursday9th Jun 2016
News New Lego Dimensions Packs Confirmed, Beetlejuice And The A-Team Make The Cut
Bustin' makes me feel good
We may have known what packs are coming to Lego Dimensions, but today the lineup has been confirmed. As expected, new properties include the rebooted Ghostbusters, Goonies, Harry Potter, Mission Impossible and Adventure Time, as well as many others. Beetlejuice, The A-Team and E.T. are surprise additions. Here's the full...
News Japan Has Voted For Its Favourite Pokémon, And It's Not Pikachu
720 monsters, one winner
A vote was recently held in Japan to decide which Pokémon is the most popular right now, and you might be shocked (no pun intended) to learn that series mascot Pikachu wasn't even in the top three. The aim of the vote was to pick a 'mon to be distributed as a free download to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire players...
Hardware Classics Game Boy Pocket
A refreshed icon
It would be fair to say that the Game Boy's longevity surprised everyone, including Nintendo. Originally released in 1989, it was still going strong by the middle of the following decade and experienced a notable boost thanks to the timely introduction of the first Pokémon titles, Red & Blue. The momentum provided by these...
News Japanese GBA Exclusive Magical Vacation Now Playable In English
Summer holiday
Brownie Brown might sound like a delicious cookie, but for fans of Secret of Mana it translates into something even more delicious. The company - currently operating under the name 1-UP Studio - was setup by Nintendo from hand-picked ex-Square employees, namely folks that had worked on both Game Boy and SNES Mana titles. The first...
News Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is Coming to North America in 2017
Harvest Moon, just under a different name
The tale of the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons saga is a slightly confusing one. The developer, Marvelous AQL, has been making the games for several years, but the publishing rights have primarily rested with Natsume, which incidentally owns the IP. In recent times, Natsume has decided to continue producing...
News Nordic Games is Actually Working on a Wii U Release
A return from the dark side?
Retail Wii U games not published by Nintendo are rare things nowadays, but this week Nordic Games did bring The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 to the system. It also seems that the publisher, surprisingly, isn't quite finished with Nintendo's home console. Reinhard Pollice, Business & Product Development Director and...
Nintendo Download 9th June (North America)
Kirby: Planet Robobot! Olympia Rising! Wario! Puzzles! More stuff!
It's that time again, dear reader, for the last Nintendo Download Update before E3. This week brings a fabulous Kirby retail release on 3DS, and beyond that there are some interesting download-only options across both the Wii U and 3DS. Without further pre-amble, let's get to it...
News The Nintendo@E3 2016 Miiverse Community is Live and Full of Unrealistic Expectations
The horror... the horror...
E3 2016 isn't far away, and you can expect the usual pre-E3 articles where we focus on E3 memories, magical moments, and occasions when we wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. Of course our usual 'five things we expect' feature won't happen in quite the same form, for reasons that are clear. Nevertheless Nintendo has...
Friday10th Jun 2016
News Two Short-Term Rewards Are Added to My Nintendo in Europe
Kirby and karaoke
We think it's fair to say that My Nintendo has had a mixed reception since launching as the new loyalty service from the big N. It's offered some unique rewards, including its own game with My Nintendo Picross: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but has also failed to inspire with some of its other options. Its latest...
Wednesday8th Jun 2016
News Second Wave Of US Pokémon GO Beta Invites Hitting Inboxes As We Speak
Keep an eye on your email
Pokémon GO isn't publically available yet, but a series of beta tests have been taking place all over the globe - and we're getting numerous reports that more beta invites are being sent out to US players right now. If you've already signed up to register your interest then you'll want to keep a firm eye on your email, as...
News Nintendo Announces E3 eShop Discount Plans and Miitomo x The Legend of Zelda Promotion
Retweet for wigs
Nintendo has slowly started to flesh out its E3 plans, and has now confirmed a couple of additional promotions to get us in the mood before and during the event. First of all, we're contractually obliged to share some handsome concept art that Nintendo including in its press release, as it's lovely. There's more Legend of...
News Pokémon Sun and Moon Could Use QR Codes in Interesting Ways
Gotta scan 'em all
Pokémon is a franchise that, due to its enormous fan-base, popular culture appeal and core premise of collecting lots of 'mon, has the potential to be an even bigger money spinner than it already is. We've previously highlighted amiibo as potentially being key to this, and would be surprised if amiibo cards aren't a prominent...
Thursday9th Jun 2016
Review Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (3DS eShop)
Tiny toys
Nintendo's track record in promoting amiibo through free apps isn't one that's always shown the company at its best. amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits, for example, was a bit rubbish and unsure of its audience. With efforts like that it's just as well that the range and compatible games mean the figures (and cards) practically sell...
Wednesday8th Jun 2016
Talking Point Five Years of eShop Progress Doesn't Mask Nintendo's Next-Gen Challenge
Gamers want a lot, it seems
Earlier this week the 3DS eShop - and the eShop as a broader brand - celebrated its 5th Anniversary, and we shared a rather cheerful article in praise of the progress made with the store. Though Nintendo was relatively early in the download scene with the Wii and DSi stores, both had a number of issues and over-stringent...
Video SEGA Heats Up the 3DS With Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice E3 Trailer
Don't be cold with Sonic, dude
SEGA's had an interesting year with Sonic the Hedgehog, unveiling a cool Anniversary logo and then trolling fans with a reveal that was actually for a fan event and a Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice release date. Ouch, we hope the famously witty Sonic social media team took a few days off
Video Check Out This Early Footage of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Looking good
Considering the self-destructive route Konami has been on in recent times, it's been disappointing to see many of its popular franchises effectively put on ice, including the Castlevania series. Of course, it could be argued that it's been awhile since the last classic Castlevania game came out, as Mercury Steam took the series in a new...
News Super Mario Movie Director Talks Hopper Headaches And Wanting DeVito But Getting Hoskins
"We really thought we’d end up walking"
While the Super Mario Bros. movie has gone down as something of a cult classic with Nintendo fans, its production was troubled, reviews were uniformly terrible and it bombed at the box office. Director Rocky Morton had to deal with a shifting script, difficult actors and a studio which kept interfering, and...
Video Feast Your Eyes On This Footage Of Mighty No. 9's Boisterous Bosses
Feeling the burn
The much-delayed Mighty No. 9 might have taken a credibility hit thanks to its recent trailer, but this spiritual successor to Capcom's legendary Mega Man is still shaping up nicely - as the following gameplay footage attests. GameSpot has captured video of three different bosses from the game, proving that creator Keiji Inafu
News Level-5 Reveals Some New Details on Yo-kai Watch 3
Customisable Jibanyans! Zombies! Y-Files!
Here in North America, it was only just recently revealed that we'll be receiving not one, but two versions of the sequel to Yo-kai Watch through Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits & Fleshy Souls. Featuring time travel and over one hundred new Yo-kai, these look like they'll expand on the original in a...
Rumour Gremlins Are Eating After Midnight, Invading Lego Dimensions
"With mogwai comes much responsibility"
Yesterday, we reported on the rumour that Lego Dimensions was getting a massive helping of new IP, including the likes of Ghostbusters, The Goonies and even Mission Impossible. Today, we've got a fresh rumour to report involving another iconic '80s property: Gremlins. The cute and cuddly Gizmo has been...
Video Get an Extended Look at Monster Hunter Stories
And the quirky Capcom TV
Monster Hunter Stories is still un-dated for the West, but Capcom is eagerly promoting the RPG ahead of its October release in Japan. It's a colourful and alternative take on the series, shifting the focus to rearing monsters and teaming up with them in turn-based battles, as opposed to attacking them with enormous swords...
Random The Man Behind EarthBound Has Just Launched "Instagram For Pets"
Out now on iOS
While Nintendo fans would like nothing more than to see EarthBound/Mother creator Shigesato Itoi create a new game in the series which made him so famous, the Japanese veteran has instead moved onto other ventures, including smartphone apps. Back in 2011 he published an app which was intended to help people give up smoking, and now...
News Kirby: Planet Robobot Passes 300,000 Sales in Japan's Media Create Results
It was a quiet week in Japan
We're a little later than normal with the Media Create chart results this week, for elaborate reasons. Well, ok, we were distracted and forgot them, and the results reflect a rather unremarkable period in Japan regardless. Dragon Quest Heroes II remains at numbers one, two and three, which is just greedy. On the plus...
Tuesday7th Jun 2016
Feature The 20 Best 3DS eShop Games
Combining our reviews with your user ratings
With the 3DS eShop celebrating its fifth anniversary, it's a good time to reflect on some of the best games that it has to offer. There have been hundreds of releases on the download platform, varying from major retail-grade titles to terrific bite-sized experiences, and they all play their part. Of...
News Nintendo of Europe Unveils Over 40 Discounts for eShop 5 Year Anniversary Sale
Two weeks and plenty of choices
As you're more than likely aware, the 3DS eShop - and 'eShop' as a whole - has passed its five year anniversary. It's a notable landmark, and while major discounts have been rolled out in Japan some in the West wondered if a similar promotion would arrive globally. Nintendo of Europe has now pitched in with details of...
Rumour Adventure Time, Sonic, Goonies, Harry Potter And More Coming To Lego Dimensions 2
Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, Mission Impossible...
It's being reported that nine (count 'em) new media properties are being prepped for an appearance in Lego Dimensions 2. Australian site Press Start is the source of the rumour, and claims that the news will break at this year's E3 event. The IP includes (deep breath) Sonic the Hedgehog, Adventure...
News For What It's Worth, Watch Dogs 2 Launches This November
Complete with "will it, won't it" Nintendo-exclusive DLC?
The release date for one of Ubisoft's tentpole releases for 2016 has been leaked. Open world sequel Watch Dogs 2 arrives on November 15th, 2016 - but aside from that, little else is known about the title. IGN is the guilty party, as a banner was spotted on the site yesterday (shown below)...
Gallery Check Out All the New Weapons Coming to Splatoon with Sheldon's Picks Vol. 2
Locked and loaded
Though the regular weekly updates of last summer are long gone, Nintendo isn't finished supporting Splatoon yet. Along with the two new amiibo of the Squid Sisters, we're receiving remixed versions of weapons through the new line of Sheldon's Picks. This retooled line of weapons with new sub and special weapons have changed up the...
Review B3 Game Expo For Bees (Wii U eShop)
Hot Buzz
There is something so delightfully goofy and left-field about the premise of B3 Game Expo for Bees that it's difficult not to be utterly charmed by it. A bee security guard protecting bee gaming companies in a "convention hive" from a firsties-obsessed robotic bear? That's the type of organized randomness that can make for something...
News River City: Tokyo Rumble Will Crack Some Skulls on 3DS This Summer
Plus there's more info on Harvest Moon: Skytree Village
Natsume is a publisher than brings some rather nice Japanese games to the West, and it's now confirmed its E3 plans to show that it's going to continue that trend - while keeping Nintendo 3DS gamers happy, too. First of all, it's reiterated that Harvest Moon: Skytree Village will be playable...
Review WordsUp! Academy (3DS eShop)
Educational for all
CoderChild's WordsUp! Academy is another in a long list of puzzle games being released for the 3DS eShop recently. The game is like an electronic version of Scrabble, and sees you pitted against an opponent to find and spell out words. It's an OK puzzle game to test your brain during downtime, but it could prove very hard and...
Video Watch the Secrets of Yooka-Laylee Get Unearthed in our Trailer Analysis
Breegulls become bats
As E3 rapidly approaches the hype surrounding Playtonic's debut title is palpable. We were lucky enough to get a first-hand preview of a pre-alpha build of Yooka-Laylee before the new trailer dropped earlier this week. We decided to take a close look at the trailer using what we discovered during
News Super Street Fighter II and The Legend of Mystical Ninja Heading to New 3DS in Japan
More SNES goodness
Sometimes the Japanese eShop line-ups, particularly with the Virtual Console, can provide a little advance warning on what's heading to the service in the West. We hope that's the case with the latest arrivals on the New 3DS VC in Nintendo's homeland, as it includes a couple of classics. One title heading to Japan this week is...
Random Hacker Mods Power Glove For Drone Control
We knew it would come in handy someday
The Power Glove is one of the most iconic peripherals in the history of gaming, despite the fact that it was a bit of a dud in both commercial and gameplay terms. Were it not for its starring role in The Wizard, the device may well have been forgotten entirely, but in more recent times other individuals are...
Monday6th Jun 2016
Say hello to the "Make Believe Digital Event"
Those of you with long memories will recall that we covered the first episode of The BitBlock's "Make Believe" series a while back. Focused on the idea of the Wii U Animal Crossing game we all really wanted (rather than the one we actually got), it boasted lavish production values rarely witnessed on...
News Playtonic Handling Wii U Version of Yooka-Laylee, Team17 Porting To PS4 And Xbox One
"We wanted to make sure that Wii U gets the right attention"
It's tempting, in light of the system's declining role in the market and modest userbase, to be rather fearful around third-party Wii U projects. With Yooka-Laylee moving into 2017 it'd be understandable to feel twitchy; yet thankfully this is a Playtonic Games title, with the studio being...
Random Um, Disney Frozen: Olaf's Quest is Joining the Nintendo Selects Range
Oh, look at that
The Nintendo Selects range is a nice thing indeed, offering various tasty Nintendo-exclusive games at a discount price. It's normally reserved for games developed and/or published by the big N, until now. It seems like Disney Frozen: Olaf's Quest is joining the North American line-up of 3DS games in the discount range. In fact,...
Nintendo Download 9th June (Europe)
Lots of Kirby! Fire Emblem Fates Revelation! Terraria on Wii U! Much more!
With the start of another week we have the European Nintendo Download Update details, and there are multiple promising arrivals this week. Kirby is on top form with the latest major retail release on 3DS, while on Wii U we have world-building and humorous adventure on offer...
Review Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (New 3DS / SNES)
Awesome ape action
Well, here we are again – ape platforming shenanigans from Rare in a game bearing the lengthy packaging title of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble. Thanks to previous Virtual Console releases, all six of Rare's 2D Donkey Kong titles are available on New Nintendo 3DS; with the changing Kong lineup helping to keep...
Review Digger Dan DX (3DS eShop)
Just Dan-dy
Digger Dan DX is certainly effective at mining the past, pun not intended. Using the tried and tested formula seen in titles like Boulder Dash and Digger T. Rock, players must guide the titular Dan through a series of hazard-strewn mines by working out pathways and avoiding traps. Although it has been done before, the game works well as...
News Nine SEGA 3D Classics Get Discounts in North America
Save a couple of bucks on some gems
The line-up of SEGA 3D classics / remasters on the 3DS is full of gems, with the occasional average titles thrown in. Showcasing some of the best SEGA titles of the arcade to 16-bit era, the range has been a great source of nostalgia while also - hopefully - introducing a new audience to some of the titles...
News Nintendo of America Announces 12 City 'Play Nintendo' Tour
Focused on the 3DS and fun shenanigans
Nintendo of America is continuing to up the ante with its Play Nintendo efforts, the rather decent website that offers activities for young gamers. The YouTube channel is seeing a little more life, and the subsidiary's Summer mall tour this year is going to have that branding - it'll be the Play Nintendo Tour...
Random Old Burger King Game Boy Color Toys Are Being Turned Into Working Consoles
Going full circle
Back in 2000, those kindly souls at Burger King decided to partner up with Nintendo to bundle tiny little reproductions of the (then) dominate Game Boy Color handheld with its meals. Fast forward 16 years, and some crazy fool is actually turning these pint-sized facsimiles into real, working machines. Redditor ChaseLambeth wanted...
News Yooka-Laylee Delayed Until 2017, E3 2016 Trailer Looks Lovely All The Same
Take the rough with the smooth
Playtonic has just released the E3 2016 trailer for its forthcoming 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee, and the footage illustrates quite keenly just how far the game has come since we first laid eyes on it last year. The title - which is now being released in Q1 2017 - is shaping up very nicely indeed, and it appears that...
Review Kick & Fennick (Wii U eShop)
A boy, a bot, and a really big gun
When picking up any platformer for the first time, it's just second nature to check for the jump button. They're so ingrained in the experience, you're likely hearing Mario's sound effect in your head even as you're reading this. Look for a jump button in Kick & Fennick, however, and you're not going to find...
Talking Point In Praise of the 3DS eShop, Which is Now Five Years Old
A vital landmark for Nintendo's modernised download sales
Today (6th June) brings a notable landmark for fans of download games - the 3DS eShop has turned five years old. Five years with hundreds of game releases, most of them by CIRCLE Entertainment and EnjoyUp Games - we're joking, of course, but both of those publishers and more deserve a hat tip...
Interview Playtonic On Yooka-Laylee Progress And Its New 2017 Release Window
Going behind the scenes on the exciting platformer
Yooka-Laylee is aiming to bring back the long-forgotten 3D platforming/collectathon genre that helped make developers such as Rare juggernauts of the industry, and is also one of the last shining beacons of hope for long-suffering Wii U owners. We were lucky enough to have a first-hand look at the...
News The Rather Marvellous Kid Icarus: Uprising Anime Shorts Arrive on My Nintendo in Japan
Sorry to keep you waiting!
Back when Kid Icarus: Uprising was building some serious hype Nintendo teamed up with Production I.G., Shaft and Studio 4°C on some short anime shows to showcase the cast and style the game was following. As fans of the 3DS game know it's driven by the story and narrative, which are rather humorous and quirky. At the...
Video Take A Tour Of Earthbound Creator Shigesato Itoi's Offices
Welcome to Hobonichi
Shigesato Itoi may not be as active as other Japanese developers, but his impact on the gaming world is immense. Itoi created the Mother series - better known in the west as Earthbound - and across a handful of titles touched the lives of countless gamers all over the globe. These days, he runs Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun - better...
Review Run Run and Die (Wii U eShop)
As fun as running straight into a brick wall
'Runner' games similar to the likes of Bit.Trip Runner have been a popular choice for quite some time now. Popularised by mobile titles and best enjoyed for their addictive "one more try" gameplay, the genre often strips the medium down to its very basics - just one button to press and a top score to aim...
Video Unseen64 Discusses the Perfect Dark Sequels That Never Were
Hello darkness, my old friend
Back in the glory days of Rare, the studio released the cult classic GoldenEye 007, and while it's perhaps a bit dated by modern standards, the game was wildly fun. Though the studio wished to produce a sequel to the shooter, it lost the rights in a bidding war, resulting in Rare choosing to create its own game as a...
News Yo-kai Watch Clings on in UK Charts as Fire Emblem Fates Tumbles Out of Top 40
A cruel fate
The latest UK chart results are out, once again reflecting some half-term sales in the country, and the outcome is disappointing from a Nintendo perspective. Only one Nintendo exclusive is in the top 40, with Yo-kai Watch climbing one place to 39th in the all-format results (38th in single-format). Considering its steady decline we're...
News EGX Teams Up With Amazon For The UK's Biggest Gaming Event
Save up that cash now
EGX 2016 takes place between the 22nd and 25th of September at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, and if you're attending then you'll be pleased to know that your retail needs during those four days will be fulfilled by online giant Amazon - so bring plenty of pennies, basically. Thanks to the new deal, attendees "will have the...
Sunday5th Jun 2016
Reminder Vans X Nintendo Collection Won't Be Around for Long
You can also gawk at the 'Villains' and 'Era' designs
Earlier this weekend we shared a gallery of the recently released Vans x Nintendo collection, highlighting some of our favourite designs in the range. The shoes are typical Vans prices (£50 / $70 approx for sneakers), but it's perhaps not advisable to spend too long dwelling on whether to take...
Editorial With Lowered Expectations E3 Can Still Be Full of Nintendo Magic
Focused on the now, not the future
E3, at least in the years I've been following it, has been at its best when focused on the future and full of surprises. Nintendo's plans only fulfil one of those criteria, and partially at that. The latest breakdown of Nintendo's efforts contains a day devoted to games that are rather close, due typically within...
News Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is All Set for a September Release on the Wii U eShop and at Retail
Quite a transformation
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the latest entry in the excellent WayForward series, has been a long time coming since it was successfully funded on Kickstarter. With a flashy HD engine and a multi-platform launch for the first time, it's clear that it's an important release for the developer. WayForward has now confirmed that the...
We catch up with the developer and also ex-SEGA artist, Duncan Gutteridge
Space Probe - an upcoming title produced by Brambletyne - is a retro-inspired casual game about collecting monsters and exploring the universe. Since covering it last week, the project has achieved its core goal on Kickstarter of being funded for iOS and
Saturday4th Jun 2016
Freakyforms Deluxe joins VVVVVV and Citizens of Earth in eShop abyss
Homebrew is an interesting part of the gaming scene. On the one hand it can be used by fans with coding skill to do intriguing things with hardware, but it also violates terms of use in the act of tampering with the system. Nintendo often moves - rather effectively - to shut...
Rumour Nintendo UK Hints at More Mario Kart 8 DLC
Hmm, Kalimari Desert wasn't in the game...
Mario Kart 8 was arguably one of the most polished entries in the series yet (barring the botched battle mode, argh) and featured a substantial DLC campaign that greatly expanded upon the existent content that came with the disc. Many thought that the DLC was "done right", as it offered an impressive amount...
Gallery Feast Your Eyes on the Best of the Vans X Nintendo Collection
Game over man
This week we were given some pleasing news in the world of Nintendo-themed sneakers and clothing - the Vans x Nintendo Collection launched on 3rd June in some countries and is due later in the month in some international territories. It's looking like a pretty sharp range, too. The range is now up for sale and has a lot to it. Beyond...
Ninterview Preserving Gaming History With Arcade Collector ShouTime
"Without preservation, titles would be lost today"
If you're one of the many wise people who picked up the excellent Sega 3D Classics Collection on 3DS recently then you may spot the mysterious name "ShouTime" in the credits section. ShouTime assisted developer M2 with its port of Power Drift, and is one of the world's foremost collectors of arcade...
Nintendo Life Weekly NX Rumoured to Feature VR, Nintendo UK Teases More Mario Kart 8 DLC, and More
Catch up on a week of goodies
Another week, another hopefully helpful roundup of all that's been happening. As usual, it's all included in a tasty video for you to enjoy just down there. This week we look at yet another NX rumour that suggests production has been pushed back to 2017 to include VR support, Nintendo UK hinting at potential future DLC...
Friday3rd Jun 2016
Video Here's Why Getting Your Retro Games Graded Could Be A Complete Waste Of Money
Or not, if you like to see them magically rise in value!
While many collect retro games purely to play them, there's a growing number of people who see vintage titles as an investment rather than entertainment. It's hardly surprising given that certain games are worth much more today than they were at the time of launch, and merely taking them out...
Review Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice (3DS eShop)
Enter the dragon
Just like its predecessor, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice saw a dual release on both the 3DS and Wii U eShops. If you'd like a more thorough discussion of why we loved this classic-style JRPG, you can read more about it through here. For the purposes of this review we'll focus on what separates the 3DS version from the Wii U...
News Developers Don't Seem To Know Any More About Nintendo NX Than You Do
"What about NX? That’s the thing. Honestly, we are waiting"
Nintendo NX rumours continue to come thick and fast, but Nintendo itself has remained silent on its new system - and will do for the foreseeable future it would appear, as the new console isn't being showcased at this year's E3, as was previously expected. Ahead of its 2017 launch, the...
News XSEED Games Will Be Publishing the Physical Copies of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Soundtrack CD to be included
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is slowly but surely creeping its way slowly towards its inevitable release date, as hype and expectations continue to build by the same factor. The first entry in a new trilogy for the series looks like it'll be trying a lot of new stuff, and Shantae fans are understandably eager to see what the...
News Upcoming Splatoon Update to Include Stage and Weapon Tweaks Along With Sheldon's Picks
Nine new weapons for splatting foes
Just recently the Japanese social media Splatoon accounts confirmed that Sheldon's Picks Volume 2 will come on 7th / 8th June, depending on time zones. That'll also arrive as part of an update to version 2.8.0, which will make some more adjustments to the game while also bringing new weapons and gear. Nintendo's...
Talking Point Considering the Possibility of the Nintendo NX Having Virtual Reality Features
Damien and Tom mull over the realities of the situation
Well, here we go again. Reports (which may or may not be accurate) are claiming that manufacturing of the NX was pushed back to early 2017 to make improvements to the 'console and handheld' integration and to factor in Virtual Reality features. It all seems feasible, if still far from certain...
Video Play Nintendo Channel Releases Debut 'Bragg Report'
Because Bragg sounds like brag, geddit?
Not long ago we wrote about why Nintendo needs to target kids more directly in marketing and promotional activities; not only does Nintendo have a lot that kids may want, but it can also avoid excessive teasing when revealing the likes of Teddy Together. In that article we did praise the efforts of the Play...
Video Learn a Bit More About Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE and Its Dungeons
DJ MasterSeal is back, dude
A week ago we lightly teased a new video designed to showcase Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, mainly because the narrator - DJ MasterSeal - said things like dude and literally a bit too much. Grumpy old man syndrome aside though, it was a handy video for learning a little bit more about what makes the game tick. Another...
Review Sudoku and Permudoku (Wii U eShop)
Grids meet GamePad
Type "sudoku" into the search engine here at Nintendo Life and you'll discover two things. First, there are a lot of sudoku games out there, from children's starters starring Lola the Panda to those proclaiming to be for elite brains only. Second, of all these games, only this one here, Sudoku & Permudoku, is designed for the...
News Olympia Rising Ascends to North America on 9th June
Just in time for summer
For those of you that live in North America, you may remember that Olympia Rising released in Europe a couple months ago. The retro 2D action platformer calls Kid Icarus to mind with its greek mythology inspired themes and its colorful visuals. We rather liked it in our review, praising the story and visuals, but criticising...
Video Image & Form Reiterates That SteamWorld Heist is Coming to Wii U 'Pretty Soon'
Hints at cross-buy discount, too
SteamWorld Heist may be one of the top games to have arrived on the 3DS eShop in 2015, but some have been patiently awaiting HD iterations. PS4 is first up on this score (along with Vita) but has seen its release pushed back a little to (hopefully) come out alongside the PC version. For Nintendo gamers, of course,...
Thursday2nd Jun 2016
News Nintendo NX Production Reportedly Pushed Back To 2017 To Incorporate Virtual Reality
Order volume reduced from 20 million to 10 million
Nintendo has reportedly delayed mass production of its NX console in order to factor in Virtual Reality functions and improve the system's unique "console and handheld" integrated gaming experience, according to DigiTimes. Sources close to the production chain have stated that the console combines...
News Chrono Trigger Director Would Love To Create A New "High End" Version Of The Game
"Or a movie production, or something of the sort"
Chrono Trigger is rightly considered to be one of the finest JRPGs ever made. Released on the Super Famicom / SNES back in 1995, the title was critically lauded upon release and has since been re-released on the Nintendo DS to equally effusive acclaim. Despite the game's enviable status in the...
Pokémon Go Q & A also announced
E3 just got a bit more exciting for Nintendo fans. The Pokémon Company's Japanese Twitter account has announced that Pokémon Sun and Moon will feature in the Nintendo Treehouse broadcast with new content, and there'll be a 'Pokémon Special' broadcast. Finally, there'll also be a Pokémon Go Q & A, which also...
Gallery Take a Closer Look at the Pokémon Sun and Moon Legendary Pokémon, Rotom Pokédex and More
The hype is super effective
The Pokémon Company, once again, hasn't disappointed after promising more details for Pokémon Sun and Moon. It's unveiled the Legendary Pokémon, the Rotom Pokédex and more besides for the new games; it's all rather exciting. The official website is full of details and art, so as we did with the
Video Five Super Mario 64 Secrets You May Have Missed - Part One
From cute penguins to rude owls
As you've likely noticed Nintendo games tend to have fun and silly secrets. That's part of their charm, of course, and it keeps us busy with games long after they were originally released, one example being Super Mario 64. Well, for your amusement our video man Alex has been looking into some of the secrets in this...
Nintendo Download 2nd June (North America)
Metroid Prime Hunters! DKC3! Kick & Fennick! More!
It's that time once again for the North American Nintendo Download Update, and this week has a mix of genres and styles to choose from. New Wii U releases include some platforming and shooting, while the same can be said for the Virtual Console releases across the home console and New 3DS. Beyond...
Poll Are You Excited About Nintendo's Expanded E3 Plans?
Pokemon Sun and Moon, Monster Hunter Generations and more to feature
Well, it's been quite a day for Nintendo fans, with an information drop for Pokémon Sun and Moon being accompanied by confirmation of expanded plans for E3. The Legend of Zelda on Wii U is still the only confirmed game that'll be playable, but more importantly for those watching...
Review Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice (Wii U eShop)
Here be dragons
Last year's Dragon Fantasy: The Volumes of Westeria was a thorough, if unsurprising, callback to the early days of JRPGs. Rather than try to buck tradition and innovate, it instead opted to embrace all the well-trodden tropes that made the genre so popular. Its sequel, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, is very much the same in...
News Runbow 3DS Retail Edition Spotted on Amazon
Update: 13AM Games says listing has 'misinformation', but has E3 plans
Update: 13AM Games has given us an update on this Amazon listing: We're happy that people are excited about the possibility of a 3DS and retail version of Runbow, but we have to make it clear that this leak is not from 13AM Games and unfortunately contains some misinformation...
News Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap Reboot Confirmed For Consoles, Looks Gorgeous
Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck man?
We recently reported on the news that the classic Master System title Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap is getting a HD makeover thanks to publisher DotEmu and French developer Lizardcube. Screenshots and a trailer have just gone live, showcasing the new HD graphics and epic soundtrack...
News Legendary Pokémon Revealed and Alola Region Shown Off For Pokémon Sun and Moon
Meet Solgaleo and Lunala
New information was promised for today, and it's been delivered - The Pokémon Company has released an exciting new trailer and details for Pokémon Sun and Moon. First of all, say hello to the Legendary Pokémon for these games, Solgaleo (Sun) and Lunala (Moon). In addition the new video introduces a number of the cast...
News Metroid Prime Hunters Hits the Wii U Virtual Console in North America Tomorrow
Let the hunt begin
Though there were a few tentative attempts at making a Metroid 64 for the Nintendo 64, nothing concrete ever fully materialised, leading many to wonder if Super Metroid would ever receive a proper follow up. The silence was finally broken many years later on the GameCube with the release of Metroid Prime, Samus' first 3D...
News Nintendo Confirms a Second Day of E3 2016 Treehouse Streaming
Monster Hunter Generations! Dragon Quest VII! Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE!
E3 2016 is now getting very interesting, as it's been confirmed that there'll be a second day of live streaming from the Nintendo Treehouse team. It'll start with the previously confirmed Pokémon Go Q & A, before stepping up a notch with extended looks at three more games...
News Would Ewe Believe It, Shaun The Sheep Is Coming To Super Mario Maker Tomorrow
Baaaa-rilliant
Aardman Animation's popular Shaun the Sheep character is coming to Super Mario Maker as a special costume. The fluffy hero - who recently starred in one of Hideo Kojima's favourite movies of 2015 - comes with his own stage, entitled Shaun's Mossy Mole Mischief. Beating this course unlocks the costume itself. The costume and course...
News The First Rule Of Punch Club On 3DS Is You Don't Talk About Punch Club On 3DS
No shirts, no shoes
tinyBuild is porting sports management simulation Punch Club to the 3DS. Developed by Russian indie studio Lazy Bear Games, Punch Club takes inspiration from '80s pop culture icons to present a unique take on the tried-and-tested "boxing underdog" story. You assume the role of an up-and-coming fighter whose father is brutally...
News Texas Court Ruling States That Game Mechanics Can't Be Protected by Copyright
As long as it looks different, it's acceptable
It's always an interesting debate when discussing whether or not one game is stepping on another's toes when it comes to the actual way that each game plays. After one game innovates and does something new, subsequent games that copy that are sometimes viewed as "clones" that offer very little in the...
Snazzy
Earlier this week we shared details on the latest My Nintendo update in Europe, so it only seems fair to share the equivalent update for North America. Due to the different expiry cycles on discounts in NA there are less changes, but nonetheless there are few new options available. The main attraction is the Bravely Second: End Layer 'New...
Extra incentive
Back in May we reported on a special Star Fox Zero competition being run by Nintendo UK to find the nation's best players. Getting a total score of over 3000 bags you a certificate, while the grand prize includes a Star Fox Zero canvas print, Fox amiibo, Falco amiibo, Star Fox Zero Collector's Edition Prima Strategy Guide and Star...
Wednesday1st Jun 2016
News Nintendo Sure Has Booked A Lot Of Floor Space For E3 2016
Does it plan to show more than just Zelda?
E3 takes place in the next few weeks, and the eyes of the gaming world will be focused on the event. Sony and Microsoft are both expected to lift the lid on new consoles - albeit revisions of their current systems - while Nintendo has disappointed some fans by stating that its new NX console won't be on...
Guide A Nintendo Fan's Breakdown of E3 2016's Press Conferences and Events
Legend of Zelda and Pokemon lead the way for Nintendo
E3 is less than two weeks away at the time of writing, which makes this a time of great hype and excitement, despite the fact Nintendo is taking a somewhat minimalist approach this year - The Legend of Zelda on Wii U will be the only playable game at its booth. There'll be two days of streamed...
News New My Nintendo Rewards Include A Super Nintendo Shirt And Xenoblade Discounts
Dress up as The King
The My Nintendo rewards page has been updated again, this time with new clothing and a couple of handsome discounts. If you're willing to part with some gold points then you can get 40 percent off Xenoblade Chronicles X (140 points) and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D (110 points). Should you be more interested in dressing up your...
News The Vans x Nintendo Collection Arrives on 3rd June With Sneakers, T-Shirts, Hats and More
Even toddlers can rock Nintendo style
A little while ago it came out that Vans was collaborating with Nintendo on a new range of sneakers, with some rather cool designs on show. There's now finally been a press release to confirm more details on the range and a release date - the Vans x Nintendo Collection will start to hit stores in the US on 3rd...
News Splatoon's Squid Sisters Confirmed for Live Concert in Paris
So fresh!
We know that Splatoon has been a big hit for Nintendo and the Wii U, with impressive sales and a notable impact on popular culture in Japan, especially. The game is everywhere in Nintendo's homeland, with a substantial range of merchandise and even live concerts. Nintendo's been slow to roll out merchandise to the rest of the world, but...
News This Freshly Translated Interview Sheds New Light on the Development of Super Mario Land 2
Bring back the Magic Carrot!
The Super Mario Land games on the GameBoy were always something of black sheep among the rest if the Super Mario canon. The games experimented with different themes and felt very weird for lack of a better word, but nonetheless were solid games within their own right. While the first game was a decidedly simple affair,...
News Nintendo of Japan is Putting on a Massive 5th Anniversary Sale on the 3DS eShop
One hundred discounted games, no word on Western equivalent yet
When the 3DS first launched, it didn't initially have a functioning eShop (or Internet Browser) likely due to Nintendo's desire to get the system on the market quicker. The eShop launched a couple months later, and brought with it a whole new generation of digital game distribution for...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition Gets Its European Retail Release on 30th June
Make a block booking to play it this Summer
When Nintendo of America revealed the free Super Mario Mash-Up Pack for Minecraft: Wii U Edition it also confirmed that the physical retail edition (including that DLC on the disc) is heading to the region on 17th June; Nintendo of Europe has now joined in with an equivalent announcement. It's coming a...
News Bitmap's Next Visual Compendium Turns Its Attention To The Nintendo Entertainment System
And the Famicom, of course
UK publisher Bitmap Books has carved out quite a niche for itself in recent years. Focused on quality coffee table tomes related to video gaming, the company has produced a wide range of retro classics, with the most recent examples being the lavish Artcade and positively lush Super Famicom: Th
News Harvest Moon: Skytree Village Is Ploughing A Furrow Towards The Nintendo 3DS
Farming sim to be shown off at E3 2016
Natsume has revealed that the 3DS is getting a new Harvest Moon game. Dubbed Harvest Moon: Skytree Village, this fresh instalment will be shown off at E3 this year, and apparently factors in fan feedback gained from recent releases like Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories. In the...
Feature Skylanders Imaginators Embraces The Minecraft Generation By Turning Players Into Creators
Make your own Skylander
Last year the de-facto version of Skylanders Superchargers was on the Wii U and 3DS, no where else could you access the full set of characters - including crossover amiibo Skylanders for Bowser and Donkey Kong. At an event in London, Activision has just unveiled this year's game, dubbed Skylanders Imaginators. There's no...
Reminder Mythical Pokémon Manaphy Is Up For Grabs Until 24th June
Drink it in
As part of the Pokémon 20th Anniversary celebrations various Mythical 'mon are making their way into the current-gen games. There are monthly distributions to that effect, and the June 'mon should be dropping into the games right about now - it's the turn of Manaphy this time around. This one originated in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl,...
Video New Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Story Trailer Sets the Scene Rather Nicely
Holy Shiii...buya
Wii U owners wondering what to play on their home console this Summer should certainly consider Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, a title with a somewhat protracted development history that's nonetheless made its way onto the system. Primarily developed by Atlus, with a focus on music and with some Fire Emblem cameos, it has a lot of...
News New Sony System Releases Lead the Way in Japanese Charts as Kirby Still Battles On
New 3DS LL drops to third in hardware despite small increase in sales
It's the middle of the week, which means it's Media Create Japanese charts time. This week is all about new releases, and also provides a reminder as to why the sporadic third-party support for Nintendo's hardware can be a notable negative. On the software front new releases on...
News The Book Of Unwritten Tales 2 Will Be Opening On Wii U Next Week
A new third-party Wii U game at retail! It's magic
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 might be taking its sweet time coming to Wii U, but according to Amazon, the game hits retail in both North America and Europe on June 7th. That might sound like pure fantasy but in the UK, specialist retailer Game also has the title down for release on the same day...
News Lost Reavers Updates to Version 2.0.0, Adding a New Stage and Some Tweaks
Extra XP also available until 8th June
Lost Reavers may be a free download, but it's struggled to make the right impression since its arrival on Wii U. We only gave it a very modest recommendation in our review, mainly due to the fact it can be played for free and all that's lost is time, but it's certainly got key areas where it needs to improve...
News Antipole DX Aims to Flip Expectations in Its Latest Trailer
Development winding down for a release later this year
We've been closely watching Antipole DX, the rather promising dual release coming to the Wii U and 3DS eShop this year. It's an enhanced re-release of the rather good DSiWare title Antipole, with much-improved visuals, new levels, online leaderboards and Miiverse stamps. Developer Saturnine...
