Latest Soapbox - Page 6
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...
