Tag: Awesome
Awesome Hand-Drawn Guide To Contra Proves The Pen Is Mightier Than The Keyboard
Tips to live by
If you grew up in the 8 and 16-bit eras then you'll no doubt be familiar with the concept of writing down notes and drawing maps to help you beat tricky games. In the days before the internet and readily-available guidebooks, players had to make their own luck - and that usually involved putting pen to paper and creating your...
Awesome This Fan-Made Poké Ball Dock Holds Your Switch, Controllers And Games
We'll take ten!
Back in January we reported on a fan-made Super Mario Odyssey dock for your Switch that had been 3D-printed by Etsy seller Senpai3D, and now we have yet another masterpiece to drool over in the shape of a giant Poké Ball. Once again, this dock is entirely 3D-printed, designed to have a retro feel on the outside while the interior...
Awesome These Fila X Pokémon Trainers Are Far Too Cool For School
Ace footwear, I choose you!
Sometimes we get really jealous when another country or region gets a cool exclusive. Take the new Fila x Pokémon range of trainers, which are launching exclusively - and for a limited time - in South Korea. The design is based on Fila's classic Court Deluxe design with classic motifs for Pikachu, Charmander,...
Awesome Meet The Ultimate Nintendo Switch Game Collector
Gotta collect 'em all
As Nintendo Switch approaches its one year anniversary tomorrow, it's a great time to take stock and consider the multitude of games which have already been released on the portable powerhouse. While many worried in the early days that there might be a Wii U style drought of games, this has definitely not been the case. Aside...
Awesome Get Equipped With This Speedy Mega Man Road Bike
Celebrating the 30th anniversary in style
Cycling is the new golf, and lots of folks are hopping on their bikes at the weekend to get a bit of fresh air and exercise with some chums. While many of the popular cycle manufacturers such as Giant, Specialized and Cannondale offer some striking designs for their range of road bikes - if you...
Awesome Behold This Amazing Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 3D Printed Hyrule Castle
Looks good enough to eat
Some days you just see some things on the interwebz and you think to yourself "how even did they do that?" Reddit user cryptid007's 3D Printed Hyrule Castle from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild gave us one of those moments of awe when we saw it today. This 3D printed wonder was made with assisted of a...
News Nintendo Announces Labo, A Range Of Interactive DIY Toys For Switch
"Our goal is to put smiles on the faces of everyone Nintendo touches"
Nintendo has lifted the lid on its "new way to play" by announcing Labo, a range of interactive toys which you create yourself. Launching on 27th April, the Labo range currently comprises of two packs, each filled with cardboard panels out of which you can pop-out shapes and...
Awesome Check Out This Amazing Super Mario Odyssey-Themed Switch Dock
A 3D-printed wonder
We've already seen a number of Switch dock accessories over the last few months, usually in the form of covers that protect your console from scratches and make everything look all colourful and pretty. Whilst several of these fan-made goodies have been truly inspiring, not many can stand out from the crowd quite as well as this...
News Student Whose 3DS Was Stolen Is Given A Replacement By His Schoolmates
The spirit of Christmas
Losing something precious is never a pleasant thing, but losing it at Christmas is especially heartbreaking, and that's what happened to Antioch High School student Shawn Hawkins. His beloved 3DS XL was stolen, and he wrote messages on the school's notice board begging for it to be returned. Trouble by his obvious...
News Teacher Whose Son Has Leukaemia Fights Back Tears After His Students Buy Him A Switch
"You know I just walk by the Switches at Target every time I'm there?"
Make sure you've got some tissues handy for this one, because there wasn't a dry eye in the house when we watched this video at the Nintendo Life Towers. Nathan Neidigk, a teacher at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, lost his wife a few years ago...
News Behold The Majesty Of The GameCube-Styled Nintendo Switch Joy-Con
Born to Play
It was only a matter of time before folks started painting their Switch Joy-Con to suit their retro system of choice and we have to say this GameCube-inspired offering by the talented guys over at Boss Fight Props looks amazing. In addition to spraying the two Joy-Con controllers and grip in the classic GameCube purple, red and green...
Video Super Mario Land Gets the Super Mario Maker Treatment
Koopa Troopas with bombs on their backs...
Super Mario Land is one of the quirkier Mario titles, developed for Game Boy by a team led by Gunpei Yokoi. The Mario 'style' was still taking shape at that time and the first portable entry went its own way, even including some shoot 'em up-style levels for good measure. It would have two equally diverse...
Video Learn How to Make a Tiny and Functional Game Boy for Your Keychain
And play The Witcher 3 on it, sure
We've often shared our admiration for the technical wizardry that's often applied to console mods and creations, as talented gamers see how far they can push readily available tools for unique results. Now there's what is possibly the smallest Game Boy in the world doing the rounds, and it works. A keynote from...
Video This Nintendo Switch 'Anime Opening' Is Pure Retro Cool
'Switchformers! Consoles in Disguise!'
A while ago we shared a rather fun and impressive fan-made Star Fox cartoon opening. That was the work of the Channy & Kimberly channel on YouTube, and the animators have produced a few more cool pieces since. Their latest creation helps to tap into Nintendo Switch hype, though. Titled as an 'Anime...
News Classic Game Music Gets a Jazzy Twist in New Game+ Album
From OverClocked Records and jazz fusion band Materia
Retro games are continually celebrated in different ways around the web, giving classic material a new lease of life. Plenty of talented fans do this through music, and a new album brings a classy twist to iconic tracks. New Game+ is a collaboration between OverClocked Records and 'jazz...
News Tribute Album 64 Offers a Whole Lot of Retro Music Remixes for Free
Put on some headphones
Classic gaming consoles are rightly celebrated by retro fans, and with the 20th Anniversary (for North America) of the Nintendo 64 having passed recently, a group of talented musicians teamed up to produce a meaty collection of remixed tracks - Tribute Album 64 is absolutely packed with music, and it's free. Brought together...
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...
Video Take a Look at the Awesome Splatoon - Squid Sisters Concert from Japan Expo 2016
Here's hoping Nintendo inks in more concert dates
Splatoon's success isn't just judged on unit sales, which are nevertheless impressive on the Wii U, but by its broader cultural impact. It's a new Nintendo IP that, it's safe to say, has struck a chord with the public and is likely to become a regular part of Nintendo's library in the future. Along...
News Catch the Finale of Summer Games Done Quick - Live!
Pokemon Red, Super Metroid, Super Mario RPG and more
Summer Games Done Quick is one of our favourite annual events - alongside the other 'Games Done Quick' extravaganza each year - in the world of speedrunning and general gaming awesomeness. It features some of the world's most skilful players rattling through classic games while raising an...
News Check Out Summer Games Done Quick Day 2 As Its Fundraising Total Passes $100,000 - Live!
Mega Man block, Link's Awakening, Four Swords and more
Summer Games Done Quick is one of our favourite annual events (alongside the other 'Games Done Quick' extravaganza each year) in the world of speedrunning and general gaming awesomeness. It features some of the world's most skilful players rattling through classic games while raising an...
News Catch Day One of Summer Games Done Quick - Live!
And donate if you like
Summer Games Done Quick is one of our favourite annual events (alongside the other 'Games Done Quick' extravaganza each year) in the world of speedrunning and general gaming awesomeness. It features some of the world's most skilful players rattling through classic games while raising an incredible amount of money. This year's...
News Speedrunner Takes Flight With 100% Star Fox Zero World Record
That's it, Fox!
Star Fox Zero has only been available for a little over a month, but already there are speedrunners that have mastered its secrets and collectibles. No-one has shown just what's possible quite as well as Scottish gamer Argick, who has set the verified 100% completion world record for the Wii U title. His in-game time is just over 1...
Bodacious!
If amiibo and other collectibles of its type have taught us anything, it's that you're never too old to buy toys. Action figure company NECA knows this only too well, as it's bringing new toys to San Diego Comic Con (21st-24th July) that go straight for a gamer's sense of nostalgia. The action figures you see above will come in two...
News Monster Hunter Generations Will Feature Quirky Ghosts 'n Goblins Content
Felyne will feel strongth welling in its body
Monster Hunter Generations isn't too far away, arriving in North America and Europe on 15th July. Capcom has been announcing some rather neat content tie-ins that'll give the game a dash of extra variety, too, most recently with an Okami Felyne outfit. Well, there's more wh
Video Check Out This Awesome Battle Against "Mecha Bowzilla" in Super Mario Maker
Let them fight
The toolset of Super Mario Maker allows for many unconventional levels that, while possible technically within a regular Mario game, Nintendo has never dared to create. After the company has taken some heat for releasing four New Super Mario Bros. games that are decent, though unsurprising, platformers, it's a refreshing breath of...
News SEGA 3D Classics Collection Has a Tenth Game to Unlock and Play
Oh my...
SEGA 3D Classics Collection has been out in North America for a short while - let's have a brief moment of consideration for deprived PAL gamers, please... - and has nine excellent games on one cartridge (or download). Well, actually, it has ten. Our glowing recommendation in our review was based on the nine formal games included, but...
News The Boss Fight Bundle Offers Fantastic Gaming Books at a Bargain Price
Kickstarter campaign funded for new series, including Super Mario Bros. 3
We're fans of the Boss Fight Books series here at Nintendo Life, as it often takes alternative and interesting approaches to assessing and studying iconic video games. Some Nintendo classics have been covered so far across the various volumes, including Super Mario Bros. 2,...
Video You'll Need Some Serious Surgical Shells Skills To Beat This Insane Super Mario Maker Creation
45 hours of attempts to beat
We love a challenging Super Mario Maker level here at Nintendo Life, but sometimes we come across a creation which is so punishing that it requires super-human levels of skill to complete. Behold The ER: Surgical Shells 2.0 by evil genius Docta_el, a course which has - at the time of writing - been completed zero times...
Random Super Mario Maker Bros. is Another Excellent 'Full Game' From an Ambitious Creator
Nine worlds and 70+ levels
Though being the creator in Super Mario Maker is undoubtedly rewarding, sometimes it's a lot of fun to just relax and enjoy the fruits of others' labours. As such we keep an eye on the game's subreddit, and sometimes creators share their 'full game' creations. Another has popped up as the finished article recently, called...
Random How to Turn Your Old NES Into an Electric Guitar
Turn it up to 8-bit
We suspect that many reading these pages have a good-old NES in their house, perhaps gathering dust as a treasured heirloom for future generations. Of course, some might still play their 8-bit system on a regular basis, or perhaps find another use for the iconic hardware. YouTuber Scotland Symons, who has shared a handful of...
Video Super Mario Maker Player Clears Insane Level and Shows Just How Tricky It Was
Come for the clear, stay for the bloopers
Here at Nintendo Life we rather enjoy videos of extremely complex and difficult Super Mario Maker stages - it's easier to admire the play of others than to attempt them ourselves, after all. The precision and skill in both the stage designs and the players that clear them can be extraordinary. Often we...
Video Shigeru Miyamoto Accentuates His Awesomeness With an amiibo 'Impersonation'
We love you Miyamoto-san
Shigeru Miyamoto is awesome. We're pretty sure anyone that's played his games, seen him in E3 / Nintendo Direct presentations or simply read his interviews will agree. A master of the gaming industry and, lest we forget, one of the three most senior figures within the whole of Nintendo. He may be a senior executive, but...
News Upcoming Japanese 3DS eShop Release, Finding Ojipockle! +, Looks Deliciously Weird
A new dimension of jiggle physics
Update: Our intrepid man of technology Damien McFerran has downloaded the Android version of this game and it's "actually pretty interesting" and, wait for it, in ENGLISH (screenshot below). If any of you want to start a petition for this to come to 3DS in the West we won't stand in your way. Original Article:...
Video See How Many Faces You Can Name In This 101-Character Super Mario Kart Race
"And it's go, go, go!"
As we all know, Super Mario Kart on the SNES allows 8 famous faces from the Mushroom Kingdom to challenge one another in a no-holds-barred race to the finish line. Subsequent entries in the franchise have added more driver choice to the roster, but YouTube user Hat-Loving Gamer clearly feels Nintendo hasn't gone anywhere near...
Video Mario Kart Meets Star Wars In This Forceful Fan-Made Clip
May the Blue Shell be with you, always
YouTube channel Dark Pixel Digital has created one of the coolest mash-ups we've seen in a long time - it effortlessly combines Star Wars and Mario Kart to amazing effect, and is of such high quality you'd swear it was an official video. Created using 3ds Max, V-Ray and FumeFX, the clip runs for over three and...
Random Beware Cuteness Overload With This Dancing Hatsune Miku Nendoroid
Go on, smile
We'll get to more 'serious' concerns in other articles, but there are always slightly pointless but delightfully charming things on the web if you get past all of the doom and gloom. For example, is it possible to resist a smile when watching a singing, dancing Hatsune Miku Nendoroid? It seems that Japanese company iDoll wants to test...
Random This 'Bullet Time' Super Mario Maker Level Uses an Awesome Slow Motion Glitch
Perfect for fans of The Matrix or Max Payne
The Matrix is old-hat now - they use big flip-phones! - and had sequels that tarnished its name (in this writer's opinion) but it set a standard for neat slow-motion action. It's a common feature now and was memorably recreated in Max Payne, but at the time it was totally rad, cool and other assorted...
Video Relive the Glorious Madness of The Wonderful 101 With the 60fps Director's Edition Trailer
Wii U fans, unite up!
The Wonderful 101, the colourful and crazy Wii U exclusive from PlatinumGames, was a divisive release. Some sang its praises from the rooftops while others struggled to enjoy it, while it's never been reported as much of a sales success. That seems like a pity, and we're certainly fans having awarded it 9/10 in our review; we...
News Blind Gamer Completes Five-Year Quest To Finish The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
A true legend
Last year, we reported on the news that someone had 100 percent finished The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time whilst blindfolded - an impressive achievement which undoubtedly took a lot of determination and skill. However, we'd argue that Terry Garrett has gone one better - he may not have collected every single item but he's tota
Random Nintendo Continues to Show Its Fun Side With Tri Force Heroes Pom Pom Face Off
Eiji Aonuma takes the win?
It may be our contention that The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes doesn't show the famous franchise in its finest light, but it's a title that is undeniably designed to bring 3DS owning friends together for an enjoyable shared experience. For most of us that'll mean sitting in a comfy seat and hopping online or maybe...
Video Learn How to Clear The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in Under Two Minutes
The Japanese version, anyway
Speedruns of retro games can be pretty entertaining, especially as we see the end result of many hours of experimentation and work. Quite how some of these workarounds are discovered is beyond us. In recent months we've shared a few videos from the A+Start channel, as it demonstrates and explains classic speedrun tricks...
Random Conduct Interviews in Retro Style With a Famicom Voice Recorder
Hopefully isn't 8-bit sound
A number of the UK-based Nintendo Life crew spent four days at EGX in Birmingham recently, an expo with all of the noise, fun and shenanigans you'd expect. Your humble writer wasn't to be found out in the wilds of the main hall, however, but conducting interviews with plenty of Indie developers; the burden of...
Spoilers... obviously
Speedrunning remains as one of the most fun yet niche areas of gaming, with highly skilled enthusiasts achieving amazing things in classic titles, mostly of the retro variety. They can be great to watch, though it's also pleasing to be shown how it works on occasion, too. The hugely popular A+Start channel has been running a...
Video Hang Em Hyrule Brings Legend of Zelda to the Wild West
Feelin' lucky?
Fan videos inspired by The Legend of Zelda are relatively plentiful online, with some having professional-level production values. 'Hang Em Hyrule', from the popular beatdownboogie YouTube channel, certainly falls into the higher end of themed videos celebrating Nintendo's much-loved franchise. As the name implies, this combines the...
Weirdness Sonic the Hedgehog is All About Self-Effacing Humour on Twitter
An account that opts to laugh, rather than cry
It's not easy being Sonic the Hedgehog - hot stuff in his youth, he's now on an iffy run of releases that earn shoulder shrugs or ridicule. Sure, there have been definite highlights in the past decade, but attention often turns to the horrible failures; it doesn't help that the mascot's most recent...
News New Politics, Fall Out Boy and More Get Into the Game for West End Kids Music Video
A cool Konami code extra is also up for grabs
Occasionally we see tributes to gaming from the famous or near-famous, with musicians being no exception. Plenty of current-day entertainers have been heavily influenced by games and, occasionally, they like to make a point of showing that off. That seems to be the case with New Politics, a band that's...
News Splatoon's Big Update Will Also Include New Music, Have a Listen
Dat piano riff
Exciting times are ahead for Splatoon fans, with its next big update coming on 6th August. It'll include a whole load of new outfits, new 'Slosher' weapons, a new level cap (50), Squad Battles and also Private Battles. Plenty to come, then, though a new music track is also on the way. Posted on the
Video Chill Out With This Acoustic Arrangement of the Yoshi's Woolly World Main Theme
Another charming musical channel on YouTube
As we've written many, many times before, there's a rich culture of celebrating Nintendo and its games around the web. With artwork, animations and music all part of the mix online, a reader of ours (thanks Mo) pointed us to The Team Players, a channel that focuses on acoustic arrangements of memorable...
Weirdness Doting Dad Transforms Nursery Into The Ultimate Mario Kart 8 Tribute
Defying gravity
Reddit user troymcklure didn't want any old nursery when he created one for his newborn child. He decided that bog-standard teddies and pastel-shades were too mainstream, and decided instead to create a room themed entirely around Mario Kart 8 - and the most amazing thing is, this work follows his Zelda and Yoshi-themed
Video This Fan-Made Yooka-Laylee Animation is Pretty Neat
Give 'em a call, Playtonic!
Yooka-Laylee has clearly won over plenty of gamers, from Rare fans to those with fond memories of collect-a-thon 3D adventure platformers on Nintendo 64, and others who simply like exciting projects. It raised over £2 million before its Kickstarter campaign reached a close. The game itself is naturally some way off, but...
