Tag: Anniversaries - Page 5
Memory Pak Secret Of Mana's Dazzling World Of Colour Opened My Eyes
You're looking a bit green
Welcome to the latest instalment in our nostalgia-inducing column, Memory Pak, where we deep-dive into some of the most memorable moments in gaming – good and bad. Today, Secret of Mana turns 30 years old in Japan, and to celebrate this seminal action RPG's anniversary, Alana is reminiscing about how the game's use of...
Soapbox Fortnite On Switch Is Five Years Old, And I Have No Idea What It Is Anymore
Was that Ariana Grande shooting Spider-Man?
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Jim returns to Fortnite to celebrate the Switch port's fifth anniversary, and he's not sure what he's dropped into... When Fortnite first made the jump...
Feature From Banjo To Mario - Grant Kirkhope Talks Big Huge Troubles And Composing For Massive IPs
Part Two: "How the f*** am I going to write music for a Mario game!?"
Last week, in celebration of Banjo-Kazooie's 25th anniversary, we published the first part of our career-spanning interview with Mr. Grant Kirkhope, composer extraordinaire and the man responsible for some of our favourite music ever, video game or otherwise. Part One covered his...
Feature From Bon Jovi To Banjo - Grant Kirkhope On The "Complete Fluke" Of His Rare Musical Journey
Part One: Mr. Banjongles
Grant Kirkhope is an interviewer's dream, and not just because he's responsible for some all-time great video game soundtracks. He’s great company — frank, funny, and loquacious. We spoke to him most recently for our Nintendo Life VGM Fest back in 2021 and only ended up publishing a small fraction of our chat in our...
Soapbox 1080° Snowboarding Is The Coolest Nintendo Ever Got
Work your body, w-work your body
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, on its 25th birthday, Gavin recalls an atypical Nintendo first-party game where the only goofy thing is your stance choice in the lodge at the start... Tuesday...
Soapbox Donkey Konga Introduced Me To One Of My Favourite Songs Ever
A mighty impression
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Donkey Konga in Japan, Ollie recounts how the game introduced him to a song that remains one of his all-time favourites... I used to love...
News Capcom Unveils Monster Hunter Wilds, Coming In 2025
But there's no mention of Nintendo platforms
To end The Game Awards, Capcom unveiled the next major entry in the Monster Hunter series. It's called Monster Hunter Wilds and it will be released on multiple next-generation platforms in 2025. The unfortunate catch here is that there's no mention of Nintendo platforms, but given the series' history,...
Talking Point What's Next For The Super Smash Bros. Series?
Smashing expectations
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is celebrating its 5th anniversary today, 7th December 2023, and we're publishing a handful of pieces to celebrate. Here, we'll be discussing the future of the Smash series — what's next? Is there even a next? And where do we think Sakurai will be involved? It's hard to believe that Super Smash...
Feature The Best Smash Bros. Ultimate Character Trailers, Ranked By You
Who is the winner?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is celebrating its 5th anniversary today, 7th December 2023, and we're publishing a handful of pieces to celebrate this gargantuan fighter's birthday. First up, we asked you to vote for your favourite Smash Ultimate character reveal trailers... Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a phenomenal game; of that,...
News Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Celebrating 5th Anniversary With New Spirits
And a new event starting this week
Alongside the announcement Sora is joining the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo line in February next year, Nintendo has revealed its plans for the game's 5th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, it will be offering brand new spirits in January 2024. According to the translation, these spirits will be joined...
Soapbox 20 Years Later, Why Do We Still Not Have A New Sonic Battle?
Bare Knuckles
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, on the 20th anniversary of Sonic's last fighting game, Paul looks back and wonders why Sonic hasn't in two decades... In the early- to mid-2000s, Nintendo handhelds were home to many...
Anniversary Zelda II And Castlevania II Both Turn 35 This Month
True underdogs
Gosh, they grow up so fast, don't they? Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest are both celebrating their 35th anniversaries this month. The former is the direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda and was released in North America on December 1st, 1988. It received positive reception upon launch, but more...
Talking Point Would You Like To See A Professor Layton Collection On Switch?
A true gentleman never gives up on a dream
Somehow, it has been 15 years since Professor Layton and the Lost Future (or 'the Unwound Future', depending on your region) made its debut in Japan. As with every entry in the mainline series to date, it took another couple of years until the third entry received a Western release, but when it finally did,...
Anniversary Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Is 10 Years Old Today
Worlds apart
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds on the Nintendo 3DS is celebrating its 10th anniversary today. Released in North America and Europe on November 22nd, 2013, the 3DS title represents one of few instances in which Nintendo created a direct sequel to one of its Zelda games. Directed by Hiromasa Shikata and produced by Zelda...
News Monster Hunter 20th Anniversary Poll Asks Fans To Vote For Their Favourite Monster
"All 229 Monster Hunter series monsters, big and small"
Capcom's insanely popular series Monster Hunter is fast approaching its 20th anniversary and to celebrate it wants to work out what the "top monster" is in the history of the entire series. In order to do this, it's running a special 20th anniversary poll where fans of the series can vote on...
Site News Nintendo Life Turns 18 Today
All grown up
Wow. Today marks eighteen years since the first post on Nintendo Life, and by any measurement, that is a long time. The site is officially all grown up and will likely celebrate down the pub with a beer tonight with its best friends Push Square, Pure Xbox, and Time Extension. Whether you've discovered the site recently or you've been...
News Level-5 To Celebrate 25th Anniversary With Release Date Announcements
Scheduled to take place next month
Following on from the premiere of multiple Level-5 game trailers in September, today marks the 25th anniversary of the Japanese publisher and developer known for series like Professor Layton, Yo-kai Watch, and Inazuma Eleven. As part of this celebration, it's apparently planning to reveal "release dates" for...
Talking Point Which Version Of Super Mario Bros. 3 Do You Prefer?
OG, remake, or re-remake?
Time really flies, doesn't it? Can you believe it's nearly November 2023 already? Mad. Not only that but it's also now been 35 years since the debut launch of Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES (as highlighted by our gorgeous pals over at Time Extension) in 1988. That's an awfully long time, and we've seen the Super Mario...
News Dragon Ball: The Breakers Celebrates 1st Anniversary In Season 4 Update Next Month
New Dragon Ball anime series also revealed
The multiplayer survival game Dragon Ball: The Breakers today celebrates its first anniversary, and as part of this, Bandai Namco announced Season 4's starting date during a special live stream. It will begin next month on 1st November and is titled "1st Anniversary Season". It will contain a "Raider...
Soapbox Pokémon X & Y - The Series' Greatest Paradoxes
You can’t be groundbreaking without leaving a few cracks
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Andy looks back at a pivotal juncture in the Pocket Monster series which hinted at the path it would take over the following decade...
Anniversary Happy Birthday To Nintendo's Ugliest, Most Indestructible Console
Slated
It's that time of year when video game anniversary enthusiasts can enjoy the birthday of a significant game or console nearly every day of the week. It's the turn of Pokémon X & Y which turns 10 today (look out for a feature on that coming up a little later), but it's also a decade since one of Nintendo's lowest-key console launches...
News Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Announces Free Update, New DLC And More
A new roadmap celebrating the 7th anniversary
Update [Thu 12th Oct, 2023 00:55 BST]: Following a recent anniversary teaser announcement, Bandai Namco has now announced a "big free update" and new roadmap for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2. The big free update arrives today and includes a new event, new battle mode, and some additional content. This will...
News Pokémon's "Beautiful Tribute" Video Celebrates Ash And Pikachu's Journey Over 25 Seasons
"Thank you for the journey"
It's hard to believe, but the original Pokémon journey starring the Pallet Town trainer Ash Ketchum and his electric pal Pikachu has finally called it a day. If you weren't already emotional about this, The Pokémon Company has now released a special tribute video highlighting Ash's journey in just under a few minutes...
Poll Do You Prefer Zelda: Wind Waker HD's Bloom Lighting Or The "Flat" OG?
Cel-sword
We know the game didn't look like this, but the box art for both versions cannot be ignored. And just like that, ten years have sailed by — The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD was released on the Wii U ten years ago today, and while we spend most of our days now pining for this incredible seafaring adventure to swim onto Switch, we...
News Monster Hunter Gearing Up For 20th Anniversary, New Artwork Revealed
Capcom might be up to something...
Development on Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak officially wrapped some time ago, and now it seems Capcom is gearing up for a big 20th anniversary, which will take place in March 2024. As part of its Tokyo Game Show 2023 online program, the Japanese video game company shared a new piece of anniversary artwork...
News Ash Ketchum's Voice Actor Shares Final Emotional Moments Of Last Recording
"We put so much love into Pokémon"
As you might have seen, the original Pokémon journey starring the famous trainer Ash Ketchum and his pal Pikachu is finally coming to an end. It lines up with the show's 25th anniversary in North America. While we've already heard from Ash's current voice actor, Sarah Natochenny, about how much of an...
Talking Point What Do You Want From A 'Splatoon 4'?
New stories? Fresh game modes? MORE Big Man?
It has been an entire year since Splatoon 3 was released (don't worry, we're just as shocked as you are) so, naturally, our minds are beginning to drift towards what comes next. The correct answer is that mysterious 'Side Order' DLC — which is meant to show what would've happened if Team Order had...
News The Pokémon Anime Pilot First Aired In North America 25 Years Ago Today
And Ash's journey has only just finished!
Those who have grown up with the Pokémon animated series, prepare to feel old. Today marks 25 years since the show's pilot was first broadcast in North America. Yes, twenty. Five. Years. On 8th September 1998, the US was first treated to episode one, 'Pokémon - I Choose You!', which would go on to...
Soapbox Rayman Legends Blew My Mind Then Broke My Heart
Prince of Persia fans beware - he may suffer Rayman’s fate yet!
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Francisco shares his love of Rayman Legends as it celebrates its 10th anniversary — but also laments that it may have been a...
Anniversary Tales Of Symphonia Became A GameCube JRPG Favourite 20 Years Ago
"Dwarven Vow #10: Play hard, play often"
On 29th August 2003, the Journey of Regeneration began... Tales of Symphonia is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Japan today. The action RPG made a real splash when it launched on the GameCube — its international release followed a year later in 2004, and it has seen numerous ports to the PlayStation 2...
News Pokémon Fans Beg TPC For Pokémon Pinball Revival As Sequel Turns 20
"Put it on the Switch!"
It's been a busy month for the Pokémon series with a bunch of broadcast announcements and even a release date locked in for the first part of the Scarlet and Violet DLC. To top it off, The Pokémon Company is now also celebrating the Game Boy Advance title Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire. Believe it or not, the...
News Super Mario Bros. Live-Action Movie Getting 4K Anniversary Screening (Japan)
Celebrating 30 years
Long before Nintendo and Illumination's record-breaking Super Mario Bros. animated movie, there was the infamous live-action film starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, which has since gone on to become a cult hit. Now, to celebrate this movie's 30th anniversary on 15th September 2023, a 4K theatrical re-release of Super...
Anniversary Dead Cells Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving Five Years On
Look at that fire grow
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Dead Cells on the Nintendo Switch in North America, and what a five years it has been. From humble indie beginnings to releasing a wave of DLC with Castlevania developers Konami, it is fair to say that the game we see today is rather different from the 'roguevania' (a phrase that we are...
Feature Best WarioWare Microgames Ever
Our Top 25, but what's at number WAAAAH-n?
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the sublime WarioWare Gold's US launch, we're republishing this celebration of the anarchic series' very best microgames. Here's hoping the upcoming Smooth Moves sequel, WarioWare: Move It!, will have some of its own all-timers to add to this selection come November...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Character Designer Celebrates 1st Anniversary With Special Artwork
Time flies when you're saving the day
The trend of releasing special artwork to celebrate continues with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 this week reaching its first anniversary. Yes, believe it or not, but the third entry has now been available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch for an entire year. To mark this special occasion, the game's character...
Feature How Summer Holidays And Childhood Nostalgia Revolutionised Pokémon
20 years of Ruby & Sapphire
In 2003, Pokémon was at a bit of a crossroads. The first two sets of entries in its canon — Game Boy debuts Red and Blue, followed by sequels Gold and Silver — had cemented the series as one of the biggest of all time in gaming, defining millennial pop culture. With the arrival of Nintendo’s new handheld, the Game...
Poll Final Fantasy IV - Do You Prefer The Original Or The DS Remake?
Throwing down the gauntlet
The DS remake of Final Fantasy IV turns 15 today in North America - can you believe it? If the copious social media posts earlier this week about Nolan's The Dark Knight didn't make you feel old, then perhaps this will. Regardless, it still stands to this day as one of the most impressive remakes we've seen. Granted, the...
Anniversary Nintendo Famicom, The NES' Japanese Sibling, Is 40 Years Old
History was made
40 years ago today, video game history changed for the better. That might sound a bit hyperbolic, but there's no denying that Nintendo's first home console — or at least the first one with interchangeable cartridges in a form we still recognise as a 'console' today — made a huge impact. Video games would not be where they would...
Soapbox It's Time To Admit That F-Zero X Is The Best F-Zero
You got boost power!
F-Zero X launched on 14th July 1998 in Japan, meaning the N64 entry in this dormant Nintendo racing series is, somehow, inexplicably, 25 years old now. A quarter-century! Blimey. As such, we're republishing this article from 2019 penned by Nintendo Life founder and CEO Ant Dickens to curry favour with top brass celebrate an...
Poll Super Mario All-Stars Is 30 Years Old - Do You Prefer The NES Or SNES Versions Of The Classics?
NES is more?
Video game compilations might feel like a new-ish thing — a bevvy of digital treats all packed into one cartridge (or disc, or download), but they're practically as old as the medium. When we think of classic compilations, one of the first that springs to mind is the SNES's Super Mario All-Stars. This 16-bit collection launched on...
Feature That Time Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Made Mario Bros. Go Full Inception
Pi’illo fight
The worlds of Mario and Christopher Nolan rarely overlap, and for good reason. Cillian Murphy may make an excellent Oppenheimer, but he’d be a painfully miscast Professor E. Gadd. Yet somehow, ten years ago, that didn’t stand in the way of AlphaDream adding a strong vibe reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio’s dream heist in...
Feature What's The Best Version Of Street Fighter II On Nintendo Systems?
All Nintendo versions of Street Fighter II, ranked by you
Street Fighter is having its time in the light once again. Street Fighter 6 is pummeling down the competition on PS5, Xbox, and PC, and it feels like another jewel in the crown of Capcom's resurgence over the past five years. But while we Switch owners can't join the likes of Luke and other...
News Level-5 Launches Yo-Kai Watch 10th Anniversary Website
A number of initiatives are planned
Although Level-5 is busy with a new Professor Layton game for the Nintendo Switch, it's also found some time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its spirit-themed RPG series Yo-kai Watch. The original game made its debut on 3DS in 2013 in Japan and was followed by a local release here in the West in 2015/16...
News Square Enix Announces Octopath Traveler 5th Anniversary Broadcast, Airing Next Month
The sequel released on Switch earlier this year
Square Enix has announced it will host a special 5th anniversary live stream for its HD-2D RPG Octopath Traveler. This event will take place next month on 13th July at 8 pm JST and will apparently include a "memorial corner" reflecting on the history of the series, the results of a user survey, and...
Anniversary Two Years On, Here Are Some Amazing Game Builder Garage Creations
Two years of tools
The rather brilliant Game Builder Garage is two years old today. Created from Nintendo EPD 4, the team behind the Nintendo Labo, Game Builder Garage was designed to help budding developers get creative and learn how to create their own games. Over the past two years, we've seen some sublime creations, many of which are inspired...
Soapbox The Shame Of Revisiting My Abandoned Pokémon Ranch
See you, PokéCowboy
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, on the 15th anniversary of the game's release, Ethan heads back to the ranch... It’s a guilty feeling that Animal Crossing fans know all too well — the shame that comes...
News Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture Teases 25th Anniversary Announcement
Update: "Grasshopper Direct" & remaster announced
Update [Fri 9th Jun, 2023 04:30 BST]: In a video update, Grasshopper Manufacture has announced it will be hosting a special anniversary "Direct" program next week on 14th June. In addition to this, it's also revealed a Shadows of the Damned Remaster is "currently in development" and is "coming...
Talking Point Which Version Of Zelda: Link's Awakening Is Your Favourite?
Three decades of dreamin'
Link's Awakening turns 30 today, having launched in Japan on 6th June 1993. Despite the very modest hardware that hosted it, the developers turned out a full-featured, full-fat Zelda adventure on Game Boy which left a mark on the series. It was in Link's Awakening that trading sequences were introduced, not to mention...
Anniversary LostWinds First Launched 15 Years Ago Today
Let's Toku 'bout it
Today marks the 15th anniversary of LostWinds in North America, a launch title for WiiWare and (in this writer's opinion) one of the console's finest bite-sized games. The title was developed and published by Frontier Developments out West, though Square Enix took care of publishing duties for LostWinds' Japan release in...
Poll One Year On, What Other Events Should Be Added To Nintendo Switch Sports?
Was golf really enough?
If you can believe it, it has been one whole year since we first got our hands on Nintendo Switch Sports and immediately decided, "Huh, it's just like Wii Sports. Only smaller. And £50." Of course, some of these impressions were improved somewhat by the free addition of Golf in November of last year, but for the most part,...
