citizenerased

Smash Run > Smash Tour. Called it.

This is cool, but fact of a matter is there's a number of apps that do this for free...

Anyway, love the Lost in Translation references

Forgot about that one, might have to check it out!

This being the only (modern) open world game on Wii U... and likely the only one to hit it in its lifespan, I'll probably pick it up. I have no ridiculous beef with Ubisoft like some of you.

Also, hilariously bad moments at the end there! Love it.

Always interesting to ask, when people say their system is collecting dust... what games have you actually bought? If you've only had it a couple of months and already ran out of games, you either game 24/7 or are extremely picky.

I love Nintendo hardware (never breaks) but I'm hoping to see Nintendo go software-only next generation, so they can focus all their resources on making fantastic games (which they're great at) instead of trying to market consoles to the "hardcore" (which they lost ages ago) or the "casuals" (which they've lost with the rise of tablets and $1-gaming).

I can only hope the next Mario Kart is Nintendo Kart. Seems only logical. Love the suggestions! Pikmin in particular.

Yeah, already got this in a humble bundle, would love to have it on Wii U... guess I'll pick it up when there's a discount.

Uh yeah, this is the best thing ever. Looked like some creative level design there!

How anyone thinks this static board game looks better than running around in a Nintendo themed world with enemies from various franchises is beyond me.

I don't recall Link smiling like that, it seems off

It doesn't come together very well. Ah well, not a big deal.

Either the Amiibo's make the game unbalanced, or they make so little difference they're not worth using. Nintendo needs to rethink this. They look cool and I'd gladly buy them, but I guess I'll use them with other games.

For example, why don't the Link and Villager Amiibo unlock their respective DLC for Mario Kart 8? Or at least give a discount?

"Both characters are more complicated and engaging than the ones found on the 3DS version"

What are the Ridley and Metal Face in the 3DS version...?

Not gonna lie, this was the biggest disappointment to me. First HD Smash, so you expect some visual extravaganza for the exclusive modes and you get... a stale looking board game that looks more disconnected than Smash Run. The Master and Crazy Order sound super similar to Challenge mode. Master Fortress is a fun little extra, but apparently the only platforming we'll be doing in the Wii U version?

Thankfully the rest of the Direct blew the "Wii U Exclusive Modes" section out of the water. If I was only buying the 3DS version I wouldn't feel like I'm missing much though. Missing out on 2.5 times as much music sounds like a worse loss than this.

Ridley is so big it takes up 35 slots of the 50 things

"Tim Latshaw: You can tell they pushed the 3DS to its limits. Literally."

Really, Tim, literally?

Pretty meagre line-up you've got there, Nintendo, especially with Captain Toad finding it's way to 2015 in Europe. 1 blockbuster and 1 niche action game just isn't that much for the holidays. We all know Sonic Boom is going to bomb (heh) critically.

I'm still happily finishing my GameCube backlog, though Finally getting around to Thousand Year Door.

It's only for a few days but it's obvious this is going to be another critical success and commercial failure, as most of PG's games are. No surprise, but it still saddens me.

This whole thing is confusing as hell, even for someone like me who understands the situation. Because these things are likely still a year away, and we have no idea what to expect, so I have no idea if I should buy a regular 3DS or not. It could be that all first party releases from now on will be significantly better on the New 3DS. Or it could just be 2 games.

White text on a yellow background, really, NintendoLife?

Hoping for some more colourful levels as well, but otherwise this is real pretty! Keep it locked at 60 fps, please, Shin'en!

They're both not very good, don't have a 3DS yet but I wouldn't pick these up. The Nintendo one's slightly better, I really don't like the strip on top of the fan made one and we don't know what it looks like inside.

This is the 2D Metroid you've been waiting for, with fantastic (very Super Smash Bros-esque) fighting controls. Go buy it now.

2014 looks just "okay" to me, but I've got plenty of games in the backlog. 2015, on the other hand, looks stellar, even if Zelda will be delayed (which it will).

So... is this what the 90 minute conference is gonna be about?

I'm happy to see so many people excited about Splatoon! While that was my second choice, I just have to go with what really blew me away even though I had super high expectations: Zelda.

3DS one looked pretty good, Wii U one looked terrible =/ what a bummer

@Bulbousaur I'll agree she's perhaps not the right choice for such a visual project (not to mention the terrible photoshop greying of the skin), but c'mon, you're talking about an actual real life woman here. Calling her a monster is a bit much?

The next episodes will be cheaper than this one, right? If so, I think the price is fair.

That's great news, I wasn't expecting Bayonetta that soon (in Japan), nor X in 2014 in the West.

Well, at least they're being realistic.

"Winter" is tricky. There's only like 4 days of "Winter" left in 2014. But I assume they mean 2014. Postponing it to 2015 would be terrible. Early december, please.

@JMaster: In this new press release they're just saying "this winter". Not "winter 2014", after a lot of journalists asked them what that meant. This makes me suspicious.

"ditch the gimmicks"

Agreed.

"Physical media = RIP"

Only when Nintendo learns that eShop games should be cheaper than their physical counterparts. Not saying they should be $1, but they should be at least $10 cheaper than the physical counterpart. And more sales, please. I'm also hesitant to buy anything digital on a Nintendo platform until they prove to be competent by linking purchases to an account, rather than a device.

"Playing the graphical arms race"

No. We're nearing the point in handheld when it matters very little if you double the polygons or not. You're saying handhelds should be more like mobiles, look at what games are popular on mobile: Cut The Rope, Angry Birds, Flappy Bird, indie titles, retro graphics. Graphics only sell to the kind of audience that is now buying a PS4. Look at Vita how well fantastic graphics are selling on handhelds. Price point is much, much more important. Plus, next generation handhelds will likely have PS360-type graphics, similar to what Vita is producing now. Does it really need to be better than that? Plus, rising development costs. Just no all around.

"Capacitive tech"

Name one game that works better with 2 fingers blocking the screen rather than 1 stylus. There's a reason why dozens of button-shells are being released for iOS and Android. I'm not saying do away with touch screens altogether, but for gaming, stylus works. Fingers on screens do not. UNLESS Nintendo's new handheld is a tablet-like device with a big screen, which I don't really see happening nor Nintendo having success with.

I'm not a fan of social gaming, but the last point is whatever. It seems unavoidable.

Here's one to add: App Store-like environment for publishers. There should be almost no costs to publishing a game on Nintendo's eShop, and it should be incredibly easy. Even more challenging than that, Nintendo needs to come up with a way to highlight fantastic games on it.

Been checking out some other reviews as well, so glad this game has delivered, I was very pumped for it. I have been playing a few too many RPG's lately, but as soon as I'm up for one I'll be picking this up.

The Ubisoft hate still lingering is pathetic. You think boycotting will give you more games or respect? Just the opposite. But sure, don't buy the game of one of the few major publishers still somewhat supporting the Wii U, see how that works out for you.

Yes, please. Always preferred PoP over Assassin's Creed, personally.

Yeah, I'd love more of a horror vibe. That doesn't mean gore, to me, it means a more intense feeling of being alone and encountering strange or scary things on the way.

I remember being quite scared of the X in Fusion, btw. But I was much younger then.

Well, someone's gotto give us some creativity, innovation and risk, right Molyneux? If the big guys aren't doing it, leave it to the indies.

I hope Japan's indie scene takes off like the West's has. I'd love to see a Japanese take on things. If the big guys won't innovate (looking a Square Enix for example), hopefully indie developers can show them the way.

Just seeing a screenshot of Metroid Prime makes me want to replay it.

While I'd love another 3D Metroid, I think it's time for a sprite-based 2D one. Although Nintendo hasn't made sprite-based games in ages, so I guess that won't happen.

Playing this now, it's so addicting and the scope is truly impressive.

This is the best 2D Metroid game I've played since Zero Mission. Bought a PS3 for it, totally worth it. Seriously guys, pick this up: It's got Super Smash Bros' combat system with Metroid's gameplay mixed with Super Meat Boy type platform challenges and a whole boatload of its own charm. Will double dip for sure.

Yeah that voice changer / announcer thing? Don't do it. I'm not sure if it's a parody or serious, but in any case it's not working. Other than that, well edited.

Oh and a top 20 retail does feel like it's scraping the bottom of the barrel. Maybe include eshop next time?

I love platformers, it's probably my favourite genre... but even I feel Nintendo's maybe overdoing that genre a bit on Wii U. Time for some other genres?

Another great series leaving the Wii U, shame. I was honestly expecting them to release a PS360 version, and thus maybe a Wii U port. Might still happen later on, who knows.

I got two of these games, with multi-touch, for free.

Not sure why people are interested in seeing Xenoblade, it has very low resolution textures.

Can you still get WiiWare games after?

Not a fan of the fur textures on either of the Kongs, but a good addition regardless

Insert generic complaint about Ubisoft's lack of effort, even though it's simply a matter of install base and Nintendo fans buying notoriously few 3rd party titles. It's not a matter of those dozens (!) of people boycotting Ubisoft, most people who own the Wii U don't even know about all that drama.

If Rayman had released 6 months earlier, there's no way it would've sold 3 times more. Which it did thanks to its multiplatform release. Not that it sold well.

The install base isn't there, I'd like to thank Ubisoft for giving it a serious shot, though.

Thanks for the year of support, Ubisoft, we really can't ask for more given the sales. (Not sarcasm.)

lol @ the people boycotting Ubisoft. "There are dozens of us! Dozens!"

@johndevine Because as soon as you do exercises in front of a TV, they stop being exercises? You're not making any sense. Have you even tried it out? How is doing 50 pushups in Wii Fit any different from doing 50 pushups in a workout at the gym? How is joggig in one place in front of your TV for 15 minutes, different from jogging on a treadmill at the gym for 15 minutes?

Of course, if you just play a couple of minigames that hardly require your body, it's not going to be very useful. But the potential is there.