Latest Soapbox
January2018
Soapbox Labo Could Help Nintendo Finally Crack The World Of Education
An elusive but profitable market could be won over, says Yuri Litvinenko
For any company whose products happen to be popular among children, the education market has always been one of the most lucrative to target – but it's one which poses a stern challenge, too. A manufacturer has to offer something that appeals to kids and teachers alike, being...
Soapbox Alex And Dom Discuss If Dark Souls Will Really Work On Switch
Prepare to vie (for attention)
A short time ago, shiny new Nintendo Life Editor (TM) Dom wrote an excellent piece about Dark Souls coming to Switch, and why it's such a spiffing idea. His decision to pen this piece was also a spiffing idea; so much so in fact that we decided Dom and our resident video guru Alex should have a wee natter about the...
Soapbox Dark Souls' Ruthless Recipe Perfectly Suits Switch’s Evolving Audience
Preparing to die on Switch will be a watershed moment
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, editor Dom explores the viscous and empowering minutia of the Dark Souls phenomenon and how it's a match made in...
Soapbox Why You Should Consider Catching Big Air With Wii's Excite Truck
If you still have access to a Wii or Wii U, that is
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on a wide range of topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this edition, Dave Letcavage discusses his somewhat recent introduction to the divisive Wii launch game Excite Truck, and makes a case...
Soapbox Switch's Rampant Success Is Proof Positive That You Should Never Write Off Nintendo
Wii U was a necessary step towards a superior console
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In today's edition, editor Dom recalls Nintendo's darker days, how it was written off during Wii U's era and how Switch typifies its independent...
Soapbox Let 2018 Be The Year The Third-Party Exclusive Takes Over On Nintendo Switch
Just without the soulless cash-ins we saw in the Wii era
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Dom explores the gap in Nintendo's software library and how a the need to develop third-party exclusives will only make...
Soapbox What The Upcoming Pokémon Switch RPG Can Learn From Recent Pokémon Games
Feeling jaded by recent Pokémon outings? You're not alone
Soapbox features allow our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Pokémon fanatic Arjun talks about his recent disappointment with the mainline titles in the series, and his hopes for the...
December2017
Soapbox Yoshi's Woolly World Mended My Rocky Relationship With Yoshi
A cracked heart tightly stitched back together
Yoshi has been my favourite character from the Super Mario series since he made his dino-riffic debut in Super Mario World back in '91. I was so fond of him at that time that I convinced my parents to name our new Bichon Frise puppy in his honour. To this day, when I play Mario Kart or Mario Party...
November2017
Soapbox It Took Nintendo To Turn Me Into A Smartphone Gamer
Oh, the irony
I love smartphones. From the very first moment I scooped up my T-Mobile G1 (AKA: the HTC Dream) way back in 2008, I knew this piece of technology would change my life forever. Over the years I've changed smartphones more often than I have my socks (that's not actually an exaggeration, which is why my wife and kids find it so hard to...
Soapbox Celebrating The Second Chance Saloon That Is The Nintendo Switch
Round two’s alright
Cole Phelps is one of the most unlikeable video game protagonists I’ve ever had the pleasure of vaulting over a wall in pursuit of a fleeing perp, or accidentally propelling into the back of a parked Buick while at the wheel of a siren-wailing Nash Super. The leading man of Rockstar’s L.A. Noire, developed by the...
September2017
Soapbox Playing Super Mario Sunshine Today Painfully Illustrates Nintendo's 3D Evolution
As it turns 15, Mike Diver takes a fresh look at the GameCube platformer
Precision platforming – it’s something that pretty much comes as standard in Mario titles, these days. I’ve had my hands on Super Mario Odyssey, and it’s a delight – aesthetically as peachy as we’ve come to expect from Nintendo since the advent of HD visuals, but...
August2017
Soapbox The SNES Classic Edition Pre-Order Farce Proves Nintendo Hasn't Learned A Thing
It's all just a little bit of history repeating
Nintendo dropped the ball with the launch of the NES Mini last year, with retailers making the pre-order process more testing that it needed to be and the volume of stock needed to meet demand being woefully underestimated. We had every hope the Big N would have learned from the bad feeling caused by...
Soapbox Seriously Nintendo, It's Time For A Switch Joy-Con With A Proper D-Pad
Buttons just aren't as good
After months of speculation prior to the Nintendo Switch being officially revealed in October 2016, it's fair to say that the initial reaction was largely very positive. This early enthusiasm from the gaming community has been backed up by decent software support from Nintendo and a ever-growing install base; the Switch...
April2017
Soapbox All The Video Game Magazines You Grew Up With Were Rubbish
Japan had it so much better, thinks Ian Cortina
All the video game magazines you and I grew up with were crap. We were robbed. Dealt a poor hand. Okay, that might be a little extreme, they were not crap per se - we just never had it as good as our friends in Japan. Sure, many a mag tried and came very close - Super Play immediately springs to mind...
Soapbox ARMS is the New Splatoon for the Nintendo Switch Generation
It's like an onion
ARMS has layers. Many, many layers. That is at least if the latest Nintendo Direct is to be believed. What started out as an apparently straightforward and limited beat-em-up with motion controls has rapidly been extrapolated into something far grander than we think many people expected. Sound familiar? Sounds just like how...
January2017
Soapbox You're Going To Love ARMS, And Here's Why
Boxing clever
It would be fair to say that ARMS received a somewhat lukewarm response when it was unveiled during the Nintendo Switch presentation. While some reacted positively to the colourful visuals, fetching character design and motion-sensitive action, others wrote it off as little more than Wii Sports boxing with better graphics, and...
Soapbox It's Nintendo's Job To Make Switch A Success, Not EA's, Ubisoft's Or Capcom's
Playing the blame game doesn't work
The dust has settled on the big reveal of the Nintendo Switch and while we're almost certain to see more software support confirmed for the console before launch day arrives, it's hard to ignore the feeling that history is repeating itself, at least when it comes to third party support. Companies like EA, Capcom,...
Soapbox Why I Still Love the Wii U
Forgotten by some, but not gone
On what Steve (a reviewer on these pages) is calling 'Switchmas Eve', he shares his love for the system that's soon to be replaced by the Nintendo Switch. He raises a glass to the Wii U. It's Switchmas Eve, and like a child waiting for Father Christmas I couldn't be more excited for what the Nintendo Switch...
Soapbox You Should Probably Avoid Capcom's Mega Man Mobile Ports
Poor emulation, frame rate issues, dodgy controls - what went wrong?
Capcom may be reluctant to release an entirely new Mega Man game these days but it has no issues with mining its past and recycling existing titles from the series, and recently announced that it would be releasing all six of the classic NES entries on iOS and Android. Those games...
November2016
Soapbox Nintendo, the NES Mini and Ongoing Stock Problems
Damien and Tom weigh in on the issues, and the possible reasons for them
When it comes to product releases, particularly hardware or accessory related, Nintendo's reputation is currently suffering. After the missteps with amiibo in late 2014 and into the Summer of 2015, this year has seen Nintendo make a mess of the NES Mini launch and, in North...
Soapbox In The Wii U's Final Days, Let's Be Thankful For Lego Dimensions
Keeping the dream alive
With production coming to an end, big-name releases drying up and previously-confirmed titles getting cancelled left, right and center, Wii U owners have every right to feel a bit glum at the moment. Switch is coming early nex
October2016
Soapbox It's High Time Seiken Densetsu 3 Got A Western Release
Forgotten, overlooked, lost… but why?
Allow us to turn the wayback machine to a couple of decades ago. The Internet was slowly but surely becoming an everyday part of our lives, cellphones were over-sized, expensive bricks and video games had gone from being a niche but blooming industry mostly aimed at children in the West to a mainstream...
June2016
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...
May2016
Soapbox How The Evolution Of Pokémon Can Unexpectedly Influence Play-Through Experiences
Arjun Joshi used Reflect...
Pokémon is amazing. It's cemented itself in my top three video game series', often switching positions between Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda. It truly was a franchise I grew up with, and I owe a great deal of my current successes and overall well-being to its games - but that's another story for another time...
Soapbox Why Websites Don’t Need to Give a Game a Review Score (and Probably Shouldn’t)
Alan Lopez puts forward the case for ditching scores
Editor's Note: In this article Alan shares his personal views in response to a similar Soapbox by our YouTube man Alex, in which Mr Olney (he of the "hello there lovely people" intro) shared his views on why reviews should have scores. When Alan wrote this counter-piece and sent it to me I thought...
March2016
Soapbox Nintendo Was Wrong To Turn Its Back On The Wii Remote
Damien McFerran sticks up for the device that gave the world some waggle
One of the greatest things about having children - aside from the free manual labour and the unspoken understanding that you'll have someone to wipe your bottom for you when you're old and infirm - is getting to reappraise video games. I have a seven-year-old son who, over the...
February2016
Soapbox Bayonetta Deserves to be in Super Smash Bros.
"Good to know some of you are keeping your part of the contract"
Bayonetta's inclusion in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & Nintendo 3DS has garnered a mix of views from fans of the series and those that just have a strong opinion over the matter. Certain opinions have been less than favourable, stating that Bayonetta doesn't belong in the game for...
Soapbox A Nintendo Fan's Hopes and Dreams for the NX
Jonathan Bee spells it out
It could be some time yet before Nintendo unveils its NX hardware. It's still a common topic among fans of the company, however, and in this article Nintendo Life reviewer Jonathan Bee outlines his thoughts (combined with information and details we already know about) on what the NX needs in order to achieve success and...
Soapbox If Nintendo Took On Virtual Reality, Would It Be A Disaster Or Gaming's Holy Grail?
Virtual insanity?
Virtual reality - or, as the cool kids these days like to call it, VR - famously died a long, slow death many years ago only to resurrected in recent years thanks to devices such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. It's perhaps a little too early to brand it a full-scale comeback; the support of the mainstream player will be...
August2015
Soapbox It's A Tragedy That Rare Replay Isn't On A Nintendo Console
Rare's latest has filled Damien McFerran with delight, but there's a catch
Rare is one of the UK's most respected and adored software houses, with a lineage that goes back more than 30 years. While the company is now wholly owned by Microsoft, for a large part of its lifespan it was closely affiliated with Nintendo - initially as a third party...
February2015
Tom Whitehead reflects on why dedicated gaming handhelds still matter
I'll kick off this article with an admission that will cause some to snort in derision and dismiss anything I ever say about Nintendo in the future; those that have seen my occasional forum posts or followed our Reddit AMA last year may already have an inkling into what's coming...
November2014
Soapbox Sonic, It's Time to Talk
Tom Whitehead bemoans the blue blur's struggles
A grim reality struck me this week. A new Sonic game was out and I couldn't, personally, care less. If brief demo time and video footage wasn't evidence enough, the word of those in the team that own Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric was enough to convince me that it wasn't worth my time or money. When both of...
September2014
Soapbox Fan Expo 2014 - A Nintendo Fan's Experience
Discussing Nintendo’s presence, or lack thereof
In this soapbox our resident Canadian writer and Pokémon expert Andrew Karklins shares his perspective from the recent Fan Expo 2014 event. Just recently (28th to 31st August), I was lucky enough to attend Fan Expo Canada, a convention held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As the third largest...
July2014
Soapbox How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Tomodachi Life
Still on the fence about Nintendo's life sim? Read on
To me, the allure of Tomodachi Life had always been somewhat mysterious. After the bizarre promo reel shown on Nintendo Direct the title had piqued my interest, but I was hesitant to get on board due to how downright unique the game appeared to be. How could I be sure I’d enjoy a game that is...
March2014
Soapbox Ignoring The Objectification Of Women In Games Won't Make the Problem Go Away
Should we boycott Senran Kagura Burst's balloon-breasted characters?
Long-time readers of Nintendo Life will be aware that we've given a fair amount of coverage to Senran Kagura Burst, a 3DS fighting game which recently launched in Europe amid a campaign which focused almost entirely on the title's bevy of busty female combatants. To be honest, I...
Soapbox The Nintendo Wi-Fi Disconnection Reminds Us Why Local Multiplayer Still Matters
Tom Whitehead goes on about online multiplayer's pitfalls, like an old man
I was disappointed to learn about Nintendo switching off online play on the Wii and DS; at the time I was on a short break spending some time with my family and, funnily enough, getting ready for some memory-jogging multiplayer gaming with my older brother. Growing up playing...
Month Of Kong What Donkey Kong Country Means To Me
Dave Letcavage on growing up with Kong as company
We know what you're going to say. Our Month of Kong celebration should have ended with the close of February, and we're now two days into March. However, in very much the same way that Nintendo refuses to be tied down by conventional calendars when it comes to plotting The Year of Luigi, we're...
February2014
Soapbox Nintendo Soundtracks - Where Are They?
Kerry wonders why Nintendo's not wired for sound
I’ve recently (finally) got around to playing Fire Emblem: Awakening, and like all other beings with functioning ears after the first few battles I decided the soundtrack was incredible; so I took off into the wilds of the internet to try and buy a copy for myself. The joy of hearing such wonderful...
Soapbox A Case For The Defence: Castlevania 64
The only things that suck are the vampires
Castlevania 64, which is how we shall refer to the original Nintendo 64 vampire-killing game to avoid confusion with the other Castlevania, is a game that’s been unjustly left on the series' scrapheap for far too long, and I’m going to tell you why. Now that doesn’t mean I’m here to excuse the...
Soapbox A Monster Hunter Obsession, and Why the Franchise Could Take Off in the West
Tom Whitehead argues the case for the divisive, demanding series
I'll put it out there right from the off — I'm no Monster Hunter veteran. Not by a long way, and in fact my first experience with the series was Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii. I played the campaign to completion and enjoyed it a lot, but it wasn't until Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate that...
December2013
Soapbox Nintendo's Appearance at VGX Underwhelmed, But the Show Itself Was Far Worse
Tom Whitehead cringed for three painful hours
I'll start this with a confession — I'd never bothered watching the VGA awards until this year's rebranded VGX event. I'd pre-judged it based on its own marketing message and what others had said, which isn't actually the best way to approach it; nevertheless life is short and, frankly, I was always...
Soapbox Even With The Arrival Of PS4 And Xbox One, I'd Still Pick The Wii U
Damien McFerran experiences buyer's remorse thanks to a recent purchase
Before we stumble headlong into what will surely be a touchy subject to some, allow me to clarify something. As many of you will be aware, Nintendo Life is but one third of a network of gaming-focused sites. Nestled in the bosom of a growing media empire, this site is flanked by...
November2013
Soapbox Zelda's Magic Creates A Link Between Generations
Damien McFerran on how Nintendo's new 3DS Zelda has created a vital bond
More than two decades ago, an excitable 12 year-old boy huddled down in front of his Super Nintendo console armed with a copy of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Having witnessed the critical acclaim directed towards this new action RPG the youth expectantly flicked up...
October2013
Soapbox The Wii Changed The Face of Gaming, Before The Console Industry Promptly Forgot Its Lessons
Tom Whitehead believes that the Wii's good work has, in part, been wasted
This week the Nintendo Japan website updated the status of Wii production, officially bringing it to an end. We'd previously argued that Nintendo could have ruled the micro console market with Wii and the company, potentially, missed a trick; it seems to be a decision made on...
Soapbox Nintendo Could Have Ruled The Micro-Console Market With Wii
Has Nintendo missed a trick by dropping the Wii so soon?
In January Sony officially discontinued production of the PlayStation 2 console after selling an incredible 150 million systems over a 12 year period. Despite the unstoppable march of technology, Sony had managed to keep its best-selling console running — albeit in a much diminished capacity...
September2013
Soapbox Why Grand Theft Auto V Isn't For Me
Damien McFerran reminds us that other games are available
This week sees the release of Grand Theft Auto V on PS3 and 360 — but, alas, not the Wii U. But of course, you already knew that, because unless you've recently taken up residence beneath an exceptionally large rock, you'll have found it absolutely impossible to avoid hearing about...
August2013
Soapbox 'Vintage' Used Game Prices Do Nothing to Encourage Customer Loyalty
Tom Whitehead has socks older than Xenoblade Chronicles, will sell for $10
The Wii is very much last-gen now, even if we're still in a peculiar Twilight Zone where poor Wii U momentum has seen it consistently outsold by its predecessor. The transition to the new system will be well and truly brought home in the coming months and Holiday season,...
Soapbox Mobile And Tablet Gaming Is Creating A Generation Of Talentless Players
Touchscreens are all very well, but Damien McFerran wants his pad back
As much as dedicated console players hate to admit it, smartphone and tablet gaming has really taken off of late. Companies like GungHo interactive are reaching the kind of audience and generating the kind of revenue that their more established rivals can only dream of, and...
July2013
Soapbox The 8-Bit Era Laid the Groundwork, but Modern Day Progress Shouldn't be Discounted
Tom feels that enjoying both retro and modern games is vital
This week we've published a few features to celebrate the Famicom's 30th Anniversary. It's an extraordinary landmark, particularly because so many games from the 8-bit machine are still treasured to this day, many of which are deserving because they're enormous fun. I think there's...
Soapbox When It Comes To Software Support, The Grass Isn't Always Greener
Damien McFerran feels that all the Wii U needs is more Nintendo titles
During the Wii U’s relatively short time on the market one of the hottest topics has been the lack of third-party support. After the initial promises made by many publishers the console has largely been left out to dry, with many notable multiplatform titles bypassing the...
Soapbox Retail Games Cost Too Much To Download From The eShop
Dazza lets off Steam about the cost to download
Nintendo has to be applauded for fully embracing the digital age with the launch of the Wii U eShop. Most retail games are available for download from day one (well at least the ones I would consider buying anyway!) and for some, it’s a pretty convenient way to get the latest game. The 3DS has been...
Soapbox Why We Should Expect More From The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
Rory Cocker gets on his high Hyrulian horse about Nintendo's remaster
The Zelda community is almost infamously inflammatory and prone to knee-jerk reactions. I should know; I’m part of it. From my brief stint at this site, though, I’ve noticed that the Nintendo Life readership – that’s your fine selves – is a bit more level headed and...
Soapbox Why Region Locking Is A Total Non-Issue
Damien McFerran outlines why the current hot topic is hot air
In the first of what we hope will be a series of first-person discussions, Nintendo Life editorial director Damien McFerran shares his opinion on the recent calls for Nintendo to remove regional locks on its systems. Seeing as this is the first feature, we should point out that the views...
