Feature Pokémon Sun and Moon - Breaking Down The Most Exciting New Features
From Hyper Training to Z-Moves and more
Talking Point Pokémon GO's Next Major Update Should Target Gen VII Pokémon
Skipping generations for further integrations
Feature Unboxing the Super Famicom New Nintendo 3DS XL
Units shipping from Nintendo in Japan right now
News The Mini NES Classic Edition May Have Some Neat Display Modes
That plug-in Virtual Console experience
News Ubisoft Has "Surprises" Yet to be Announced for Nintendo NX
"Nintendo has the power to reinvent the way families are playing"
News - 2016, Week 31
Monday8th Aug 2016
News The Mini NES Classic Edition May Have Some Neat Display Modes
That plug-in Virtual Console experience
Through Virtual Console formats and even the neat retro Mario amiibo effect in Super Mario Maker (sort of), Nintendo has mastered alternative display options with a retro look. From smoothing of DS games on Wii U to the native resolution feature for SNES games on New 3DS, there are often simple options to view...
Video Exploring The Funky Inspiration for the Super Mario Bros. Underground Theme
Time to dig out a record from 1979
The music in Super Mario Bros. is just about as iconic as it gets in gaming, with gamers of various ages and types familiar with the soundtrack. The underground theme is one of the most well-known, with a funky bass beat kicking it off. Our buddies from The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge (England)...
Sunday7th Aug 2016
News Celebrate 30 Years of Metroid With The Fan-Made "AM2R"
Fan Does What Nintendon’t
It seems like it was only yesterday we where scratching our heads trying to figure out the correct moment to switch sides on our Famicom Disk System "Metroid" copy, released in Japan on 6th August 1986. We gladly suffer trough the loading times in exchange for better music thanks to the extra hardware on the FDS unit; of...
News Metroid is 30 Years Old Today
Happy birthday, Samus
Despite the sad reality that Metroid has fallen on hard times recently, the series has been a tentpole Nintendo franchise for nearly as long as the company has been in the gaming business. Many Metroid games still stand as some of the best available on Nintendo platforms, which makes it that much more of a sting that the series...
Fun Fact The Celtic Origins of Epona's Name in The Legend of Zelda
That's Celtic with a hard C, not the football team...
In the first of a potential series, Tom Whitehead shares a surprising bit of trivia he discovered at a major museum exhibition. I've been playing quite a lot of Dark Souls 3 recently, and what's often struck me in my time with it is how heavily influential European history is on the game's...
Japan Weekly Level-5 Ensures This Week's Famitsu is a Memorable One
Lady Layton and The Snack World impress in previews
This week Level-5 did what it does best and made us excited for upcoming Japanese-made games. While there wasn't exactly a lot of information on the two Nintendo 3DS titles, Lady Layton and The Snack World, we got just enough of a glimpse of both to make owning a 3DS a sound investment well into...
Saturday6th Aug 2016
Talking Point Pokémon GO's Next Major Update Should Target Gen VII Pokémon
Skipping generations for further integrations
With Pokémon GO dominating gaming news over the past several weeks, and with Pokémon Sun and Moon looming its head around the corner, it's truly an exciting time to be a Pokémon fan. Assuming you are one and can't wait until the series' next instalments in November, Pokémon GO may be that experience...
News Report Points to Nintendo NX Manufacturing Ramping Up in Q4 2016
Digitimes reinforces NVIDIA Tegra X1 Claims
As we await the official Nintendo NX reveal, with reported sources and logic suggesting a September unveiling, more reports and snippets of potential information are to be expected. Another to pitch in is Digitimes, a publication that often pops up when there are rumours around manufacturing new hardware...
Review R-Type (Wii U eShop / TG-16)
More like our type
You can't have a conversation about shoot-'em-ups, or shmups, without mentioning R-Type. Back in the late '80s and early '90s the game was synonymous with the genre. Unfortunately for Nintendo fans at the time one of the best ports of the arcade classic was on the TurboGrafx-16, an also-ran console that never found its place in...
Friday5th Aug 2016
Feature Pokémon Sun and Moon - Breaking Down The Most Exciting New Features
From Hyper Training to Z-Moves and more
What a few months it has been. Since we last took a look at what we knew about Sun & Moon, following its original reveal, we have had a massive amount of information; it's still coming at us faster than a Quick Claw Speed Forme Deoxys using Extreme Speed. While much of the news has focused on new...
Review Metroid Prime: Hunters (Wii U eShop / DS)
A bit past its Prime
The year was 2004. The Metroid series had been brought roaring back to relevance a couple years prior with the excellent Metroid Prime, and its sequel was due out soon. At E3, Nintendo opted to unveil its newest platform, a bizarre device that featured two screens. Many were skeptical as to whether or not the device would be...
Poll Which Nintendo NX Games Do You Want to See in the Launch Window?
Mario? Mario Kart? Metroid? Something that doesn't start with M?
Following last week's focus on the apparent form factor of the Nintendo NX, this week MCV spoke to sources to try and get the lowdown on the system's planned launch window games. Pokémon and Mario were mentioned as launch window titles, along with
News Legend of Kusakari Releases in the West on 25th August
Link would be proud
If you've played any conventional Zelda games, then you no doubt understand Link's sisyphean struggle to battle the long grasses of Hyrule. Considering that grass contains rupees, hearts, magic, and other helpful items, it's always worth your while to go and clear out a patch of grass just because. Evidently, Librage really likes...
News August's Monster Hunter Generations DLC Celebrates Iconic Nintendo Franchises
And Okami, let's not forget that
Monster Hunter Generations has a lot of DLC on the way, all of it free into early 2017. The August batch is now available to download, and it's got some rather fun outfits and more to collect. There's a lot on offer, with three Nintendo franchises included in addition to some sporty efforts no doubt produced to...
News Niantic Explains Decision to Stop Unofficial Apps From Accessing Pokémon GO's Servers
Shows some data to prove its point
Pokémon GO has been enduring its most sustained negative backlash to date this week, at least in online forums and social media. The latest update removed the three-step radar feature that barely functioned, and at the same time multiple popular third-party apps were taken down. One of these, Pokévision, got a...
News Metroid Prime: Federation Force is Now Available to Pre-load in North America
Just a few weeks to go
It's hard to believe, but Metroid Prime: Federation Force is only a couple weeks away from releasing in North America. The co-op FPS looks set to expand on the gameplay of the classic sub-series, though it has certainly drawn ire from many fans due to its divisive art style and multiplayer-centric gameplay. Still, Next Level...
News Take-Two Interactive President Praises the Success of Pokémon GO
Doesn't expect any NX impact for the company's financial year
Take-Two Interactive has been sharing its Q1 financial results, reporting better than expected sales but also forced to admit that hyped shooter Battleborn has struggled; it arrived around the same time as Overwatch, which definitely won that battle. Take-Two Interactive president...
Video Check Out Asrock's Stage in Azure Striker Gunvolt 2
Showing off some neat moves
Inti Creates came upon a terrific formula with Azure Striker Gunvolt on 3DS, a title that looks fantastic on the portable and importantly plays just as well. We're pretty keen to try out Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, as a result, and thankfully it's due this year. It's only a few weeks away in Japan, though, so it's been...
Thursday4th Aug 2016
Nintendo Download 4th August (North America)
More Pokémon Ranger! Dragon Skills! Stickman Athletics! Demos! Stuff!
It's that time, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week brings another retro Pokémon game to the Wii U Virtual Console, while there are some new download games to consider on both the home console and 3DS. Throw in a couple of demos and some...
News Sources Suggest That Pokémon and Mario Will Arrive on Nintendo NX in First Six Months
"Nintendo seems set on trying to upgrade smartphone gamers"
Following the recent and widely verified reports on the Nintendo NX and its form factor, there's been a growing sense that we now have some firm ideas on Nintendo's approach with its next generation of hardware. Now trade publication MCV has been leveraging its sources and has shared some...
News Pokémon Sun and Moon Z-Ring Set Pre-Orders Prove Popular on Amazon
Yours for $30
An intriguing new addition to Pokémon Sun and Moon won't be exclusively in the game - The Pokémon Company has teamed up with TOMY on real-world versions of the 'Z-Ring', an in-game item that your avatar uses when triggering powerful Z-Moves. Early details out of Japan showed how the ring and varied Z-Crystals could be a parent's...
News Super Mario Adventures is Being Reprinted as a Graphic Novel
Available this fall
Before the days of the internet, Nintendo Power was the source for all news and secrets about Nintendo. While all those pages held invaluable information for the time, they also played home to some entertaining comic strips, such as Howard & Nester and Super Mario Adventures. Naturally, it's relatively difficult for fans of...
Video Playing Yooka-Laylee Properly With a Nintendo 64 Controller, Sort Of
Because we can
A little while ago Playtonic Games released the Yooka-Laylee pre-alpha 'Toybox' build to Kickstarter backers - it's a large area in which you can run around, do a bit of jumping and generally mess about with the game's mechanics. Naturally it has a handful of secrets to discover too. Our video man Alex happens to have a copy, and...
News Pokémon GO Rolls Out in Latin America as Niantic Reclaims Legendary Pokemon
Fix for battery saving mode on iOS also due soon
Niantic has continued its recent quest to communicate more and reverse the tide of online negativity around Pokémon GO by posting its second notable message of the week; it addresses a few key areas. For one thing, the app is finally rolling out in Latin America, with special mention given for...
News A NES Classic Mini is up for Grabs in Nintendo UK's #ILoveNES Competition
8-bit in 140 characters
The Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System (or Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition in North America) is likely to be found in quite a few stockings this festive season, and based on the frenzy that accompanied the announcement it could be a tussle to get hold of a unit. Yes, it has games that many...
Video Monster Hunter Stories Has a Tale to Tell In Its Latest Trailer
Yep, it looks amazing
We suspect most Monster Hunter players will, at some point, have had a tiny bit of sympathy for the beasts they're slaying. In some cases the monsters are simply minding their own business, and all of a sudden you roll in and swing a giant sword into their face. Monster Hunter Stories seems like a lovely antidote to that. You...
Video Enjoy The Famous Pokémon Theme in Twenty '90s Styles
Brilliant work from 10 Second Songs
YouTube may host some dross that prompts a weary shake of the head from cynics like this writer, but it also has some amazing content. When creative and talented individuals turn their skills to honouring popular culture and gaming, the end results can be amazing. This video from 10 Second Songs certainly...
News Atlus Reveals New DLC Details for Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Also, a trailer showing off new demons
Many of you are no doubt big fans of Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei franchise and are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse. Something of an epilogue/retelling of Shin Megami Tensei IV, Apocalypse is shaping up to be an RPG to keep an eye out for this fall. Naturally, Atlus is keen to...
News Wii U Exclusive, Collateral Thinking, Promises Retro-Style Action Platforming
With 100+ quickfire levels
Current-gen Nintendo systems have their share of titles that owe much to '80s gaming, with pixel-based visuals and simple gameplay hooks. Collateral Thinking seems to be another title with that approach, with some slightly more modern touches thrown in. Developed by Astrosaurus Games and due on 11th August in North...
Wednesday3rd Aug 2016
Rumour Articuno Has Been Caught in Pokémon GO
Niantic says it's not from them
Ever since Pokémon GO launched, many people have been wondering how the game would be handling the distribution of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. It's known that they're in the game, but there's no indication as to how to obtain them. It's expected that they'll be given out as part of a social event of some sort,...
Random Japanese Olympic Gymnast Racked Up Massive Bill From Playing Pokémon GO in Rio
"Looked dead at the team meal" after 500,000 Yen charge
A lot of players are obsessed with Pokémon GO, playing it a lot and rattling through data while out roaming for 'mon. If you roam too far, however, it can cause problems. Japanese Olympic gymnast Kohei Uchimura, who won all-around Gold during the London 2012 Olympics, had been playing the AR...
News PokéVision Creator Writes Open Letter On Niantic Shutting Down Fan-Made Pokémon GO Tools
We made Pokevision not to "cheat"
We recently debated the rights and wrongs of shutting down Pokemon GO fan-made tools like Pokévision, and it's fair to say it has become a bit of a heated topic, with many feeling that Niantic has been a bit heavy handed. Pokévision was one of the most popular fan-made apps to help track down elusive Pokémon, and...
Free mousepad with the game... why not?
Nintendo's Official UK Store is back in the game with another set of pre-orders, offering up a semi-controversial 3DS release and some lovely but pricey figurines. First of all there's the Metroid Prime: Federation Force pre-order which comes with a mousepad. A slightly odd extra, but it's available for...
Video Animal Crossing Noir Continues to Explore the Mysteries of New Leaf
"I boarded the train, but where does the rest of the line go?"
A while ago we shared the first couple of episodes of 'Animal Crossing Noir' with you - it's an entertaining and dark spin on New Leaf that has strong vibes of 1960s TV series The Prisoner. Six episodes have been released so far, deepening the mystery behind villager HMK's arrival
Hosted at The Centre for Computing History, Cambridge
We had such a blast meeting you lovely people at the inaugural Nintendo Life Gaming Night last year, that it was a no-brainer to team up again with our chums at the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge, England and do another event. Thanks to everyone who joined us on Saturday 30th July 2016...
Feature Over The Moon on Lessons Learned With The Fall and Continuing ARID's Story in Part 2
"We try to have something that appeals on lots of levels"
As you may have seen, the Wii U eShop is thankfully being included in the line-up of platforms that'll receive The Fall Part 2: Unbound in Q1 2017. A follow-up to The Fall, an intriguing adventure game with a strong narrative that blended action and puzzles, this title with a focus on a...
News Yo-kai Watch 3 and Puzzle & Dragons X Keep The Good Times Rolling for 3DS in Japan
New 3DS LL still leads hardware sales
Another week, another set of Media Create chart results out of Japan; they continue positive trends for the 3DS and its latest releases. In the software charts two 3DS titles hold the top two spots - first of all we have Yo-kai Watch 3 inching towards one million overall sales. A newcomer from GungHo is next in...
News The Fall Part 2: Unbound Confirmed for Wii U Release in Q1 2017
Continuing ARID's story
The Fall stands out as one of the most intriguing download-only releases that has graced the Wii U eShop. Developer Over The Moon originally secured Kickstarter funding for the puzzle-driven experience, with its innovative and atmospheric approach earning praise in our review. The good news is that the second part of the...
Random Influential Music Publication, Pitchfork, Showcases 'Musical Gems' from the Nintendo 64
Quite right, too
It's common for sites like this one to write with great fondness about platforms like the Nintendo 64, but an article we've seen doing the rounds on social media shows that publications in various genres have an appreciation for gaming's contributions to various areas. Pitchfork, one of the largest and most influential publications...
Tuesday2nd Aug 2016
Feature Unboxing the Super Famicom New Nintendo 3DS XL
Units shipping from Nintendo in Japan right now
Its been a long wait for those who were fortunate enough to snag a pre-order of the awesome-looking Super Famicom New 3DS XL in Japan, which was first shown off in a Nintendo Direct in March of this year. The unit comes decked out with the hardware design of the Japanese Super Famicom on the back,...
Rumour Concept Art Reveals the Final Evolutions of the Alola Starters
Spoilers ahoy!
The Pokémon Company revealed plenty of interesting new information today, with new Pokémon, Z-moves, Island Trials, and more being brought to light for Pokémon Sun and Moon. It seems like Game Freak is going to be trying several new things with Generation 7, and it'll be interesting to see how some of the changes play out with the...
News Niantic Addresses Pokémon GO's Removal of 3-step Display and Third-Party App Access
"We hear the frustration from folks"
With great success comes significant pressure, and in recent days that's started to weigh a little on Pokémon GO. A double-whammy of an unpopular update - which removed rather than fixed the '3-step' display - and the closing down of third-party apps caused a bit of a storm online. We considered some of the...
News The Pokémon Sun and Moon Z-Move Toys Look Like Money-Spinners
Those chunky plastic Yo-kai Watch toys likely provided inspiration
This week's info dump on Pokémon Sun and Moon was possibly the most substantial yet, packed with information on new Pokémon, gameplay aspects and areas to explore - this gallery has lots of the information in one place. One new feature is 'Z-Moves', which are supercharged attacks...
Retro Bask in Nostalgia With The Nintendo Power Archive
Now you're browsing with power
When you consider iconic imagery from Nintendo's earlier days in North America, in particular, there's a good chance that Nintendo Power magazine will spring to mind. From memorable covers to quirky features, to cut-out crafts and posters, it was a key part of many young gamer's regular routine; in the pre-internet...
Reminder Points Can't Be Added to the DSi Shop After 30th September
Wake me up when September ends
A few months ago, it was announced that Nintendo would at last be pulling the plug on its Nintendo DSi Shop. Considering that NX is mere months away from release, this is something that didn't come as much of a surprise, but it's no doubt still disappointing news for many. There's still time to continue using the shop...
News SNES PlayStation Prototype Set to Feature At Game On Expo
Gaze upon the system that would have changed gaming history
As the video game industry continues to evolve in unexpected ways, its increasingly lengthy history continues to be a relevant and intriguing topic for many. Across 40-50 years of mainstream video gaming there's plenty to learn about, and for Nintendo aficionados the so-called 'SNES...
Review Dragon Skills (Wii U eShop)
A brick break game like no other?
Brick break games aren't all that common nowadays. One of the modern standouts with a fantastic twist is PopCap Games' long-running Peggle series, which is exceptionally addictive and sets a considerably high standard for the classic genre. Like Peggle, Dragon Skills draws on arcade gameplay inspired by well-known...
News Just Dance 2017 Demo Set for the eShop With Bieber's "Sorry" Track
Interesting song choice...
Just Dance 2017 will be a unique title in at least one way, as it's going to span three generations of Nintendo hardware. It'll land on the Wii U and Wii in October (likely missing some features on the latter) and is also coming to the NX. If you like to dance and happen to have Nintendo systems, you're in luck. Ubisoft...
News Pokémon GO Credited With Boosting Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Sales in Japan
Similar increases have also been evident in the UK
In the past couple of weeks we've seen all four current-gen main Pokémon titles on the 3DS return to the UK top 40, evidently riding the Pokémon GO wave and perhaps benefitting further from the Summer school holidays. This GO effect is now being acknowledged in Japan, too, even if the app is...
Video Catch Up On Battles and Classes in Dragon Quest VII
Still featuring THAT music
It's easy to overlook the fact that Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is getting rather close to release in the West, arriving on 16th September. The 3DS title could keep fans of the series busy for weeks and months, with this being a notoriously lengthy entry in the franchise. As it has with complex...
Monday1st Aug 2016
News Ubisoft Has "Surprises" Yet to be Announced for Nintendo NX
"Nintendo has the power to reinvent the way families are playing"
In terms of companies that are almost guaranteed to jump in early with new technology or systems, Ubisoft is near the top of the list. It traditionally releases multiple launch and early titles on Nintendo hardware, including exclusives on Wii, Wii U and 3DS, and is betting big on...
Review Street Fighter Alpha 2 (New 3DS / SNES)
The eShop has Alpha too
There are a few Virtual Console options for New Nintendo 3DS-owning Street Fighter fans such as a speedy Street Fighter II, a sixteen-character Street Fighter II and this eShop release that stands out on account of not being Street Fighter II. Released in 1996 this SNES port of Street Fighter Alpha 2 may have been overlooked...
News New Pokémon, Areas, Trials and 'Z-Moves' Are Revealed for Pokémon Sun and Moon
Also Poké Ride, which is self explanatory
The Pokémon Company is keen to keep fans excited about Pokémon Sun and Moon; as was promised there's been a glut of new information to take in. We have a range of new Pokémon to consider, but can also see more of how the game will be structured. There are four islands to work through, which combined...
News Nintendo Continues to Promote Evergreen 3DS Titles With the 'Summer Gaming List'
Kirby: Planet Robobot is best experienced 'in the backyard', apparently
Due to the modest line-up of new releases over the Summer months, Nintendo has been focusing some of its marketing efforts on evergreen and big-name 3DS titles. In North America the Play Nintendo Show, for example, has promoted one 3DS game per episode, targeting young gamers in...
Nintendo Download 4th August (Europe)
Alien on the Run! Stickman Athletics! Pinball discounts galore! More!
It's the start of another week, and with that come the details for the upcoming European Nintendo Download Update. This week only has a couple of new arrivals on the 3DS, with much of the update dedicated to discounts and HOME Themes; if you're a pinball fan there's plenty to...
News Mythical Pokémon Arceus is Now Up for Grabs From Store Distributions
Time to nip out to the shops
With Pokémon in its 20th Anniversary year we've been getting one Mythical Pokémon every month for the current-gen games, each available for a few weeks. This month's offering is Arceus, which is up for grabs until 24th August and originated in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl. It's level 100 in this distribution, of...
Gallery Take a Close Look At All The Latest Pokémon and Features in Pokémon Sun and Moon
Z-Moves! Z-Moves merchandise! Poké Rides! More Pokémon stuff!
We're rather grateful that our web editor automatically adds the accented 'é' in Pokémon, as we've been writing about the franchise a lot today. That's partly because there was a substantial information drop for Pokémon Sun and Moon, in particular, along with some other Pocket...
Video Check Out This Long Lost Third Party N64 Development Tool
It's only sort-of piracy
Nintendo has come a long way in terms of openness with developers for its consoles. Nowadays, anybody with a laptop and some time is welcome to submit a game on the eShop, and there are more tools than ever to help realize this goal. It hasn't always been that way, however, as Nintendo used to require certain standards of...
Editorial The Rights and Wrongs of Shutting Down Pokemon GO Fan-Made Tools Like Pokévision
Some dedicated players are rather angry
I may spend my days writing about Nintendo and related topics, but I've had a fairly limited engagement with the global phenomenon of Pokémon GO, in comparison to its biggest enthusiasts in any case. I've probably expended more energy looking at download statistics and the ups and downs of Nintendo's share...
News Your Next Batch of Pokémon Sun and Moon Details Isn't Too Far Away
Down the Buneary hole
With today's info dump on Pokémon Sun and Moon out of the way, which included Poké Rides and more besides, there's been plenty for us all to digest. The Pokémon Company isn't interested in giving you a breather though, no siree, you have just 12 days to regain your strength before it all happens again. That's the word on...
News It's All GO in the UK Charts with Pokémon Alpha Sapphire on the Rise
A range of Wii U and 3DS titles make the top 40
In the past week or two we've seen some decent results for Nintendo platform exclusives and releases in the UK charts, with new and evergreen titles all contributing. That continues in the latest Chart-Track results, with Pokémon benefitting particularly well during the school Summer holidays...
Video Learn Some Handy Metroid Glitches
Skip those pesky boss fights
Glitches remain an important part of games for enthusiasts and speed runners, with unintended gaps in code or system limitations allowing those with the know-how to do strange things. Sometimes you can skip entire areas, defeat an enemy easily, or just make something look cool. There's a mix of techniques in the latest...
News Yo-kai Watch 2 Confirmed for October Release in Australia and New Zealand
As for Europe, we're still awaiting confirmation
Yo-Kai Watch 2, which comes in two versions - Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls - is heading to North America at the end of September. The good news is that after the first entry suffered a delay of nearly five months before arriving in PAL territories, the sequel is going to be much closer behind...
Most Read
Feature Pokémon Sun and Moon - Breaking Down The Most Exciting New Features
Talking Point Pokémon GO's Next Major Update Should Target Gen VII Pokémon
News The Mini NES Classic Edition May Have Some Neat Display Modes
News Ubisoft Has "Surprises" Yet to be Announced for Nintendo NX
Rumour Concept Art Reveals the Final Evolutions of the Alola Starters
News Sources Suggest That Pokémon and Mario Will Arrive on Nintendo NX in Fi...









































































