LaVelle

I think generally there a lot of reasons to be very positive about the current gaming landscape, but as a Nintendo gamer first and foremost, we are a long way off where I'd like the company to be and I only think they're beginning to rise from a slump in home-console gaming that has gone on for quite some time.

@lemonjellydude I found it super easy and quick - but I paid for it on a debit card - not credit. You would definitely want to check that you don't get increased charges on foreign purchases and currency convergence.

All you need to do is switch your account's location setting to Russia and then switch back as soon as you're done.

Just wanted to confirm that you can pick it up on the Russian eshop for £9 - absolutely worth the price if you're on the fence.

I really love minigolf games for their simplicity and accessibility - as I have a few friends who aren't gamers but are willing to mess around with something as long as it isn't too fiddly or frustrating. Not too sure if I'll be picking this up considering I'm not hearing wonderful things about the control scheme on this one.

I really enjoyed this title and would definitely consider repurchasing if there was a discount if already registered to your account. Maybe I'm hopelessly wishing for something that will never happen but I would really like Nintendo to actually make more productive use of its unified account system.

Am I missing something? Most of those links just go to an Amazon search for products that haven't been listed yet rather than the actual item. What exactly is the point apart from being accredited with linking your readers to Amazon?

Nice picture

@JaxonH

"Switch owners are/will be too preoccupied with Zelda BotW[... etc.] and the 3rd party games that actually appeal to them for this to be a "blow"."

I'd have picked it up. I enjoyed having a CoD on previous Nintendo consoles.

"We all knew this game wasn't coming, so somehow acting like this is some detrimental turn of events is disenginuous."

I actually thought there was a chance, but maybe that's down to complete ignorance of the industry.

@Switch81tch @faint

I'm one of the minority here that doesn't own a second console so this is a blow to me (though perhaps unexpected). Dude bro shooters are in no way my favourite genre but I've always liked owning at least one on my Nintendo consoles as something different to waste some time on every now and again. The more diversity the console has the better in my opinion.

Sales wise, its an understandable omission perhaps, but it's one that I'll miss nevertheless. My hopes for a Doom or dark Souls port are pretty much non-existent at this point.

@InfernoHamadi

We'll have to wait and see I suppose.

https://twitter.com/dubindoh/status/874525954709757952

I hadn't heard of this but am getting serious Romance of the Three Kingdom's vibes from Guan Yu, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei up there. Was that a deliberate and explicit part of the pitch or plot at all?

Edit: Just read the Unseen 64 article so it seems so!

Well, at the moment I don't really want a Wii U successor - so it looks like I'll be waiting for a bit to buy one if I do.

I'd buy a 3DS successor day one though. I don't think I could ever be without the newest iteration of a Nintendo handheld anymore That's pretty much all the gaming I need at the moment.

I was kind of hoping that the Switch would be an opportunity to upgrade. The 3DS has life left in it true - but with the focus on Switch now - it might be quite some time before they make a true successor (maybe some variation on the Switch as some have suggested).

That music was brilliant. Not sure how long I could cope with listening to it - but brilliant nevertheless.

II'm genuinely happy for people that get some fun out of them,
but.... I really can't stand them.

They may have earned Nintendo some money but I think they've been highly damaging to my respect for the company. I always thought of Nintendo as video-game producers first and foremost but amiibo's introduction seems to reflect an interest in the compulsive purchases and fishing for 'whale' consumers that have been so successful in other markets ('free-to-play' apps etc.)

They seem entirely generated around compulsive spenders who form a sort of addiction around them.

For the price, they're remarkably poorly made and small. I'm not comparing the quality to a statue or anything. There are plenty of action-figures that retail for a similar price of much greater quality.

What astounds me more than anything is the amount of people who say they don't really want anymore, don't have a decent way of displaying a tidal wave of these things, but know they'll buy them anyway. People seem to be experiencing buyers remorse BEFORE picking up the things.

Again, sorry for the negativity but I give them a big thumbs down and hopes Nintendo sweeps them to the side as quickly as possible... or at least seriously overhauls their functionality with a free amiibo-focused game for those dedicated enough to sink their hard-earned money into the things.

I think Game are offering Smash Bros for £31 as a download - £26 is definitely a saving of some sort. But I think I'll miss out on dipping in for now seeing as I've got the Wii U version.

I've never played Smash on 3DS - I'll look into a couple of reviews but would anyone mind letting me know how they find the handheld controls? I always find that fighting game controls seem to adapt very poorly onto the 3DS.

Looks okay. Didn't take my breath away though.

Seriously, looks great. I'm about as hyped as i usually am for Zelda. Never been disappointed by a franchise purchase before.

Just wanted to throw my potentially valueless opinion out there. I did a run through of the game last night and really enjoyed it.

It certainly took a while to get used to the controls but the learning curve was worth it for me. I felt like I was really learning how to 'pilot' a ship rather than just pick up a controller. Anyone remember that nonsense Steel Battalion game

I didn't find myself irritated when I lost control or found myself unable to focus on two areas at once - I found it quite exhilarating to be honest. Looping over and around a tailing enemy whilst lining up a shot on the gamepad - or switching between vehicles on the fly was an experience that seems unique to this game. For that it deserves more praise than scorn.

This is only my opinion but I found it a hell of a lot of fun.

It does have issues. It's in no ways a perfect game. I personally would have preferred a new story which expands the setting and characters in original ways. I understand why they used this to 'reintroduce' and 'reboot' the world however. I'd be genuinely bummed out if this sells so poorly that we don't sequel. I think it deserves one.

Graphics aren't the game's finest points either - and from my play-through, I'd have preferred a greater leaning towards the on-rails flying sections. But those really are niggles. The points I've mentioned in no way disrupted my enjoyment of the game in any major way.

Again (capslocks for emphasis), THIS IS MY OPINION. I completely understand why someone more turned off motion-controls would really be disappointed. Which sucks I guess. But I've enjoyed the way this has been handled and think they'd have to reengineer the entire gameplay to make it work on a traditional pad as well. I'm glad they've stuck with the method they've used but I genuinely understand why people would be turned off by it.

But for anyone wanting to try a new and challenging control system that uses motion controls to pilot starship dogfights... it has my recommendation (which means nothing I know).

Sorry for the insanely long post but reading through all of these comments actually dampened my excitement a little - and I wanted any of you who have yet to boot it up to know that Nintendolife's 8 seems perfectly reasonable. Fun game and good times.

This comments section is legitimately hilarious. I can't fathom how much energy has to go into policing people's opinions on videogames this much. Keep up the good job guys and gals!

I've gotta be on the side of those that love the Tshirt. That's legitimately brilliant. First time I've ever ordered something from Nintendo's store.

Will never wear outside but will be great for naps

So fantastic to see such a great new IP doing well. I truly hope it encourages Nintendo to follow up on this success in the near future with other equally energetic projects.

I'm not a Kirby fan and have never found a great deal of appeal in his games. But I really enjoyed this one back in the day. Surprised to see this review so low - maybe it was weaker than I remember.

I'd be up for this. I think the best thing they could do if they used her as an alternate main character is just keep the name 'Link' - it doesn't seem to be a gendered name to me.

Steiff make gorgeous stuff. Too rich for my tastes but lovely nevertheless.

I've always wandered why more games haven't offered little mini-games with loading screens. Imagine how many hours of loading times would have been improved if more titles had been allowed to do this.

Sounds like a scheme by some diabolical mastermind.

@Mijzelffan I was just about to comment on that. I'm a veggie and love me some pizza.

I hope I see Tropical Freeze for a reasonable price someplace (I have empty wallet syndrome thanks to Xenoblade). Can't believe I haven't picked it up yet.

I wonder how amiibos are affecting Nintendo's business model.

I feel like these things probably make more money than the actual games they're intended to support - kind of like ancillary merchandise does for movies.

Their blanket marketing with almost every first party release alienates me a little. I know I don't have to buy the things but it can't help dampen my excitement when I think that maybe the games are going to play second-fiddle. Like the HD Twilight Princess release. It gave me the impression that it's promotion was hugely driven by the desire for another boxed figure.

Sorry for such a cynical and potentially paranoid post. Lots of people seem to get a lot of fun out of them and if they're helping to keep Nintendo afloat in a difficult period - that has to be a positive ultimately.

Are these available in Europe? Only heard them mentioned in the American direct and I couldn't find them on eshop.

Gotta agree that compared to some fan attempts - this seems really underwhelming. I don't get why they're updating a game that we can still play on the very-same system. All it seems to highlight is a desire to fill space until Zelda U.

I'm glad it seems to be appealing to some but I'm not feeling this.

I guess it allows them to flog another amiibo though.

I really like this idea. What's more terrifying/spooky for you?

Flesh without a spirit or Spirit without flesh?

I have to go with Team Ghosts on this one. Zombies and voodoo are pretty cool but nothing beats ghostly supernatural spooktaculars. Nothing beats a genuinely terrifying ghost story.

@Tsurii Maybe that's the majority but I for one became hooked on Star Fox 64 many years before I got into Smash.

Still a high point in my gaming memories and looking forward to having a successor of some type. Maybe it's one of those things that has an avid fanbase - even if it's a smaller one.

A perfect example of why I think this use of nudity is not analogous to horror is the example of 'It Follows'.

There's a film that is dripping in scares and sexuality - with plenty of scenes where its young protagonists are depicted either nude or in underwear.

These scenes have CONTEXT however. There is not a button on your remote that allows you to strip off the characters at your pleasure. These characters are in vulnerable (often sexually explicit) scenarios for a reason that feeds into the drama.

Nudity does not equate to maturity.

Apologies for posting a couple of times. I really do hate censorship but this is a publisher deciding on how they want to market their own game. I constantly find myself bothered by this sort of stuff in games. Maybe many of you would accuse me of being a SJW or feminist appeaser.

I have no problem with sex and maturity in games but so often it seems that these equate to infantile fetishim that just make me roll my eyes.

Disappointed to see this many of the site users claiming that removing the option to strip the female protagonists is an act of censoring the game's maturity.

Yes eroticism and nudity have a place in horror - but this is just an optional 'add-on' that acts as a reward - not a component of its narrative or aesthetic. I find a great deal of 'gaming / geek culture' frankly embarrassing and appreciate Nintendo having the good sense to avoid this.

This is going to be an unpopular opinion but I find most JRPGs almost unbearable due to their desire to so consistently oversexualise tween girls in revealing outfits. This isn't done for any reason I can see of being of artistic merit - it just undermines a game that I otherwise have a great respect for (Fire Emblem being a good example of this).

I don't want to feel like a creep when I play a game. And being told that I can remove the girl's clothes as a reward is going to do exactly that.

This isn't censorship - it's not lowering the game's maturity. It's showing a modicum of cultural awareness.

I know loads of you disagree but there must be a fair few that agree surely?

I know this is a matter of taste.

But not having these costumes is not a sign that we're lacking maturity - but quite the opposite. This needless titillation isn't sexy and doesn't add anything to the tone of the game's horror.

I deplore censorship of any kind - but this isn't removing 'mature' content. It's getting rid of something that is overwhelmingly tacky.

This isn't even a question.

Dogs are man's best friend for a reason. Gotta represent our canine buddies!

Would have loved it if NSMB2 had been a WarioLand title. A slightly different move set / soundtrack / characters would have given some much needed life to the New series - and the coin grab mechanic would have been an excellent fit.

I doubt it would have sold as many copies though

I think my opinion of this game would radically alter if Nintendo did release a Mario title more in the tradition of 64, Sunshine and the Galaxy on the WiiU.

It's a well-crafted title and offers an excellent multiplayer experience.

But I don't think I'm alone in feeling a tad bitter with the game nevertheless if it winds up being the only 3D Mario title on the console. No matter how well its made it just doesn't quite cut the mustard for me.

@Murduskull I think they mean they'd find it a little too busy with all the icons and game info swirling around too... Maybe.

I really hope this means that Nintendo is still developing for Wii U. It would make sense if they were focusing on their next project and calling it quits on their current system - but I hope we've still got a few surprises left.

Account unification - and an improved virtual console to make up for the fact that Nintendo is simply never going to get the same 3rd party support that X-Box and Sony have.

Not sure they should either - but if they're going to focus on giving us a different experience - they really need to focus on making as large a library of their own games available to fill that hole.

I'll continue buying Nintendo consoles for Nintendo games - but would like to see the company focus on moving into the future with an incredible back-catalogue.

Also, please hold the NX off for as long as possible. Super Mario 3D World was great and all but I do not believe it broke the same ground that a home-console Mario needs to.

I really hope Ninty gives the WiiU a bit more love before moving on. I think it would be of benefit to them to end their current console on a high rather than a whimper to drum up positivity for whatever's next.

@Aneira I keep on posting - I'll stop in a moment, promise!

That is a remarkably honest comment of yours: "I probably would never have bought a single one if stock supply had been unlimited"

The one thing I would really hate to think Nintendo is doing - is looking at these things - seeing the demand and the desire to own them - and artificially stringing it out as long as possible.

Not with an aim to make a long-lasting product, but to take advantage of a fad that they never expected would be so popular.

I don't know much about the economics side of things in terms of the supply and demand aspects - but I hope they're as dedicated to giving value and quality to their consumers as much as possible rather than just treating us as cash-cows.

@EllenJMiller It's a bit of a dilemma I reckon. As I love throwing money at Nintendo and would actually quite like to see a title that justified the purchase of one or two figs.

But on the other hand - as someone who doesn't own any. I really don't want to see content for games I love being held behind physical DLC that I am never going to own (let's face it - few are going to own every single one).

So no matter what Nintendo do they're bound to irritate someone. Either isolate people like me with DLC or risk alienating the people with large collections of amiibo.

It's why I said I like the functionality in Mario Maker - everyone can get the content and 'collect' them in some way - but the instant benefit still goes to those who have purchased the things. Hopefully we'll see more implementation like that.

@thatguyEZ Thanks. I appreciate your reply. I was mostly worried that people would think I was intrinsically against the idea or thought badly of those that have shelled out for them. I think it puts a few people in a tricky position where they want to support the products that Nintendo put out - but at the same time still be able to influence how they'll be implemented.

I think it makes me a little sad if people wind up really getting behind them and investing time - money and energy into collecting them - only to find Nintendo isn't able to follow through with their potential.

Then again - as long as you like looking at them on your shelf and don't regret the money you're probably fine whatever happens with them.

I think they're best thought of as figures first and game content second.

Nice article. I feel kind of bad being on the amiibo hate train because people seem to enjoy them and I don't want anyone to feel bad about their purchases (especially when 'collecting' them winds up being such an expensive endeavour).

But despite the fact that they've done well for Nintendo - everything about them seems to be a disaster.

What bothers me most isn't the supply issue. it's the fact that Nintendo still don't seem to have really worked out what they're for - apart from (in their perspective) making money. I know people will say they've been utilized heavily but I hate the idea of having content locked behind physical figures for regular consumers.

But beyond that, there doesn't seem to be a core title for them. Which is fine. People were sold amiibo on the premise that they'd affect lots of titles in small ways. But considering the amount they're producing, it seems less and less likely that your wii-fit or even megaman amiibo will actually be implement by developers.

I'm worried that Ninty will overshoot themselves and wind up with a back-catalogue that they can't make use of in enough titles to warrent the purchase.

I quite like the Super Mario Maker implementation. But that's pretty much it.

It seems to me that Nintendo are masters at creating hardware that they never truly implement as well as they could - before 'innovating' in another way.

I don't mind the idea of owning a great figure of a character you love - but the variants that are slowly being introduced seem to be pushing it. Consumers vote with their wallets and it baffles me that so many of you have been encouraging this trend.

I really hope those of you who have bought them wind up either enjoying your collection enough to warrant the purchase or are able to see them implemented in more inventive and rewarding ways in months and years to come.

Sorry for the rant. I realise many will disagree.

Great interview. Good luck to them.

Honest to God question here.

Do they care? I mean, how aware are they of the fan backlash? I'm guessing they must do but it beggars belief that they wouldn't have expected this.

We've seen this before. E3s where Nintendo turns up with empty hands and shrugs. I'm not saying its the 'end' of the company - but it seems like such a total embarrassment that could easily be avoided with a couple of extra trailers (Zelda U as a must) - some news about virtual console / eshop titles / Club Nintendo loyalty programmes coming - and a few surprise announcements for whatever is in development at the moment.

Even a logo and just the announcement that Retro is working on a new IP - or that they have begun production on a new 3D home console Mario / Metroid etc.

Something.

Like I said, I'm not that angry because I think if they had added all of that lot - we wouldn't be complaining half as much - we would have just kept the excitement for future releases at a nice height.

It seems like they could have done any of those things - and did nothing. It's happened before - why did they allow it to happen again.

Why?

You know what? How often has this happened? How many E3's have Nintendo just turned up with no new reveals and only a handful of games scattered over a year. By my count its been quite a few.

Should we even be surprised?

I would really have liked to have heard more about whether we'll be seeing any more Virtual Console releases in the near future - or what sort of form the new Club Nintendo will take - or upcoming eshop titles....

It wasn't just that what they showed was underwhelming - it was also how little we saw regarding stuff that should be more important to the company.

The day I hear that Nintendo are going to move towards a proper unified account system with transferable eshop classics I will be very happy. It makes me nervous owning a digital library of titles and worrying that they won't be carried over to a new system. Especially when other companies are noting backwards compatibility and encouraging cross-play (hi Microsoft and Sony).

I'm sure it's harder than I think to make a significant proportion of their back-catalogue available (I play on 3DS mostly) but would be really nice to get beyond NES and Gameboy titles after all these years.

I also think they would be able to be more competitive with their prices. I would really like to pick up a few of their titles like Paper Mario 3DS and Mario Tennis etc, but the price is just ludicrous... Still. Even with this E3 wave of discounts its way over what you'd find in retail somewhere else.

I want to throw my money at Nintendo (within reason) but they just don't seem that interested.

Plus I cannot believe I saw a trailer for a new Star Fox game and it left such a low impression. Not terrible but really really doesn't look like what the fans have been waiting for.