Wii - News
August2017
News Nintendo Ordered to Pay $10 Million Following Patent Lawsuit Loss
Nintendo confirms intent to appeal
The technology behind the Wii went through plenty of patent lawsuits with Nintendo winning the majority of reported cases, though a looming loss to Philips back in 2014 led to the signing of a global patent license agreement. That was related to motion technology in the Wii Remote, and now Nintendo has lost in an...
Random Mario Kart Wii's Abandoned Mission Mode is Uncovered at Last
Deleted files found by familiar MK modder
The busy nature of game development means that clues are often left behind in code, often pointing to assets or features that were changed or removed in the final game. Sometimes the clues can take a long time to uncover, as seems to have been the case with a Mission Mode in Mario Kart Wii. It was spotted...
July2017
Video A Look At Project Goliath, An Ambitious Wii Platformer With A Tragic History
Unseen64 unearths another canned project
Junction Point is an interesting studio; headed by industry legend Warren Spector, the company produced the excellent Epic Mickey during the height of the Wii, which gained praise and commercial success. Sadly, it stumbled with the sequel and the studio was promptly shuttered by Disney. Had Junction Point...
News Epic Mickey Was One Of The High Points Of My Career, Says Warren Spector
"Screw Metacritic. Screw everybody. I'm really proud of that game"
Warren Spector is treated like a legend by many gamers, and with valid reason; he's been involved with some of the most influential and acclaimed games of the past few decades and can count System Shock, Ultima, Wing Commander, Deus Ex and Thief among his credits. However,...
June2017
News No Really, Ubisoft Is Going To Release A New Wii Game In 2017
No prizes for guessing what it is, either
One of the least surprising elements of Ubisoft's E3 show this year was the confirmation that the Just Dance series is continuing with Just Dance 2018. Proudly billed as the best-selling music game franchise of all time, Just Dance 2018 offers more than 40 new songs as well as access to another...
Video The Top 5 Most Embarrassing E3 Moments by Nintendo
All that glisters is not gold
E3 is a time for most video game fans to get excited and hyped about upcoming releases, and to see all the newest tech that various games companies have to show off. It is sometimes, however, an event of disappointment. Hopefully this year's E3 will be able to surpass the moments in the video above, which highlights...
Video Learn About the Rabbids & Mario Crossover That Didn't Make it to Wii
Ubisoft has been keen for a while
Ubisoft is a successful company, and like all money-spinning corporations is always looking out for potential opportunities to produce hit games. There are irrepressible rumours / leaks of Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle for Nintendo Switch, so it's only natural to wonder about past attempts to bring the franchises...
News Snap Up Nintendo Shares Because Switch Could Outsell Wii, Says Analyst Firm Jefferies
"Switch has turned out to be a stealth hit"
Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal has instructed his company's clients to buy Nintendo stock because the Switch could end up being even more popular than the Wii. In a letter to clients, Goyal said: Switch has turned out to be a stealth hit and is positioned to drive Wii-type [the company's last successful...
May2017
News Nintendo's Response To Blind Rhythm Heaven Fan Will Warm Even The Coldest Of Hearts
"I will always support you, Nintendo"
Japanese boy Hibiki Sakai was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in both eyes at the age of one and a half, and following the surgical procedures necessary to save his life has been completely blind since the age of two. That hasn't stopped him indulging in many passions; he's a talented drummer and, like many...
News Nintendo is Still Targeting Switch Sales to Match the Wii
Seeking momentum in the coming year
One of the bolder claims made by Nintendo in recent months is that it hopes the Switch can approach Wii-level sales. The little system shifted over 100 million units, as a reminder, but in the past generation Nintendo's most notable success has been passing 66 million sales with the 3DS; the portable has, it...
March2017
News Dolphin Emulator Now Allows Wii Shop Access and Purchases
About as legit as emulation can get
The Dolphin emulator is well known in its particular scene, especially for its ability to run Wii and GameCube titles in HD - that was an especially big deal when Nintendo was still all about 480p. It's still under continual development, and its team has come up with a rather surprising and neat update. In...
February2017
News Tatsumi Kimishima Expects Nintendo Switch To Sell "About As Well" As The Wii
A target of around 100 million units, then?
It's been a busy day for comments from Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima. Earlier on we reported that he'd spoken about the potential of a true successor to the 3DS, but the Nintendo boss has also been talking about his expectations for the Switch, which arrives next month. In a recent interview,...
December2016
Video Check Out These Canned Game Prototypes for Wii From Red Fly Studio
Ever want to see Arkham Asylum running on a Wii?
Red Fly Studio is a name that may be familiar to some of you; a few years back, it came out that the studio was working on an ambitious open world game for Wii starring Darth Maul of Star Wars lore. Though that game never made it into production, the studio had notably done work porting the two...
Video Check Out the Open World Flash Game That Never Was
Gone in a flash
Superhero games have had a bit of a rough track record due to the abundance of lazy licensed games, but highlights of the past few years could be found in the likes of the Batman Arkham or inFamous series. One popular superhero that seems to have never gotten his chance to shine in a game is the Flash, but recent reports indicate...
October2016
News Just Dance 2017's Best-Selling Version is on Wii
Don't stop 'til you get enough
The UK chart results are in, and from a Nintendo perspective they're rather grim. Aside from the harsh current realities of Wii U and 3DS game sales in the UK, however, this week's results have a quirky side-note that we just had to share. First of all, a quick rundown of what's happening at the top of the charts...
Video Learn About the Factor 5 Dungeons & Dragons Game That Was Pitched For Wii
Console power and license costs got in the way
Factor 5 was a big player in the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras, in particular, well-known for its Star Wars games. Yet after the relationship with LucasArts fell away the developer was looking for new licenses that could drive its projects. Factor 5 eventually came to the idea of a Dungeons &...
News The Wii Is Getting A New Retail Game This November
But don't get too excited...
Nintendo officially put the Wii out to pasture when it launched the Wii U back in 2012, but the system - which has sold over 100 million units globally - isn't entirely dead yet. Publisher Bigben Interactive is preparing to launch The Voice on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and - you guessed it - Wii this November. Based on...
News Former Sony Boss Jack Tretton Lavishes Praise On Nintendo And The Wii
"I think everyone discounted the Wii initially"
Former Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO Jack Tretton has admitted in an interview with IGN that he - like so many in the games industry - underestimated the Wii when it was first announced. The console followed the underperforming GameCube and took risks by opting for weaker...
September2016
News Sonic Developers Discuss How Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Came About
Two worlds colliding
The rivalry between Sega and Nintendo back in the day was the stuff of legends; there arguably has never been a more heated competition between two game companies since. After Nintendo's near monopoly on video games in the NES days, Sega's Genesis console represented a tectonic shift and proved that there was room for other...
News Donkey Kong Country Returns Swings to the North American Wii U VC This Week
*Cue bongo drums*
Rare's Donkey Kong Country trilogy is a collection of three absolutely classic games, so there was obviously plenty of trepidation when Donkey Kong Country Returns was announced back at E3 in 2010. However, if there were ever a capable studio, it would be Retro Studios, and the development team did an excellent job of revitalizing...
News WarioWare Smooth Moves Arrives on the North American eShop This Week
Smooth like butter
The WarioWare series is easily one of the weirdest in Nintendo's stable, centered around a broad array of crazy minigames created by Wario and all his weird friends. After its initial debut on the GBA, it's had an entry on every console since – with the notable exclusion of the 3DS. It's certainly a series unlike anything else,...
August2016
Feature The Making Of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
We speak to Sam Barlow about the Wii horror classic
The Silent Hill series has long been one of gaming's horror greats, often bringing a subtle and mature approach to the genre thanks to its deep characterisation and mature themes. With the high-profile cancellation of Silent Hills on PS4 and Konami's insatiable lust for Pachinko machines showing no...
News Concept Art Surfaces from the Cancelled 'Epic Donald'
Epic Mickey could've been a trilogy
Remember Epic Mickey? Junction Point's ambitious, decision-centric platformer drew a lot of attention with it's unique art direction and supposedly dark themes for Disney's most popular mouse, but the game was met with mixed reception upon release. The team tried once more with Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, but...
July2016
Video Digital Foundry Explores the Potential for GameCube and Wii Emulation on Nintendo NX
Putting the older Tegra X1 to the test
The past week's key revelations on the NX, established through multiple sources and reinforced by plenty of checks and off-the-record conversations, have many (including us here at Nintendo Life) confident that there's validity and value to the details. One key aspect is the use of Nvidia technology to power...
May2016
Video Weep with Us Over these Top Five Gaming Series that Ain't What They Used to Be
No prizes for guessing number one
Every series has its high points and its low points, but for some franchises we seem to be stuck at the bottom of a rut with no clear way out. It's sad that some of our favourite series have taken such a nosedive, but that's just what happens sometimes. In an effort to try and inform, entertain, and relieve some...
Video Learn More About Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2
And quietly judge the millions that apparently pirated it
Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are among the most critically acclaimed and popular titles of the Wii era, even proving popular as Virtual Console downloads on Wii U. They're also games with interesting histories - from the origins of the sequel as Super Mario Galaxy 1.5, down to...
News The Servers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Are Down
No word on when, or if, they'll be back up.
UPDATE: (9:05 CST) It looks like the servers are back up. For now, online for Call of Duty on the Wii will live another day. Evidently, it was some sort of technical issue. As many of you likely remember, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was shut down for good almost exactly two years ago. Succeeded by the...
News Nintendo Defeats Yet Another Patent Claim Against the Wii Remote
Motion Games loses its appeal
The Wii utilised common technology in clever ways and sold over 100 million units - that's the perfect combination to prompt a whole lot of patent-related court cases. Nintendo has successfully defeated the majority of patent claims against it in recent years, and has now confirmed the end of another case. This time...
April2016
Video Feast Your Eyes on these Five Cancelled Super Mario Games
Obligatory CD-i appearance included
Mario's been around for donkey's years and has starred in so many games it's almost worrying. It's no surprise then that there were a few games surrounding the portly plumber that never made it to retail shelves, and thanks to the internet we can now display them for you for your amusement. Check out the video...
News 10 Years On, Hideki Kamiya Still Doesn't Think He Could Better Okami
Not even "a pixel of confidence" that he could "surpass the original"
The gorgeous Okami is 10 years old, which is an almost unbelievable fact in itself - it seems like only yesterday that we were stalking its stunning ink-rendered world as Amaterasu, marvelling at the motion controls and tight, appealing gameplay. Despite getting a sequel on the...
Video See If This Tale of the Cancelled Dirty Harry Game Makes Your Day
The developers weren't feeling lucky
Dirty Harry, to many younger readers (heck, including this writer), may seem like a rather old movie series in which a youthful Clint Eastwood mutters iconic lines. It's not too long ago, however, that Warner Bros. (and Eastwood's own company) had grand plans to revive the franchise with licensed games. The...
Video Learn About Hero World, the MMO That Could Have Changed Guitar and DJ Hero Forever
Struck the wrong chord as the series collapsed
In the last generation of systems there was a frenzied period when Guitar Hero and Rock Band went head to head and dominated the gaming industry. With pricey yet desirable accessories and gameplay that struck a nerve with the public, the concept of plastic instruments and music games was a huge...
March2016
Video More Footage And Details Emerge For The Cancelled Bonk: Brink Of Extinction
Cave story
Bonk is one of video gaming's most unlikely mascots. Originally named PC Kid and seen as the PC Engine's lead character in Japan, he was renamed Bonk when that console was released in North America as the TurboGrafx-16. Bonk would enjoy three mainline adventures on NEC's hardware - all of which were very well recieved - as well as...
Video Learn More About Superman: Blue Steel, Factor 5's Final Project
Kryptonite to an excellent studio
Factor 5 was a studio that had plenty of fans, with its Rogue Squadron titles in particular being standouts for Nintendo fans. Unfortunately its later years were punctuated by aborted projects and difficult generational transitions, an example being an attempt to produce a Kid Icarus game for Wii. Now occasional...
Video Learn About the Quirky History of Wii Sports and Its Role in Bringing Us Mii Characters
Wuhu Island could have been more important, too
Wii Sports is the biggest-selling retail game of all time. Sure, the fact it was bundled with many Wii systems outside of Japan made that a reality, but it's still an extraordinary statistic. It's a title with an interesting history, too, especially in its integral role in helping the concept of Mii...
Weirdness Jackie Chan Backed A Motion-Controlled Fitness Console That Pre-Dated The Wii
Say hello to the XaviX Port!
The Wii was revolutionary in that it introduced the mainstream gaming market to motion controls and the concept of "keeping fit" through gameplay. However, it was by no means the first gaming platform to achieve this - in 2004, Japanese firm SSD Company Limited released the XaviX Port alongside a range of sports-focused...
News Nintendo Finalises Wii Patent Win Over UltimatePointer
"Nintendo will vigorously defend itself" and so on...
We think it's fair to say that a decent percentage of patent claims filed in the US could best be described as being in 'bad faith'. Though Nintendo has lost a small number of notable cases, being forced into payments or shared royalties, it wins the majority of patent cases launched against its...
February2016
News Nintendo of America Confirms New Wii U, 3DS and Wii Nintendo Selects Titles for 11th March
Just $19.99 each
In mid-February a retailer listing from Canadian store VGP Video Games Plus pointed to a new batch of Nintendo Selects titles being on the way to North America. The good news is that the listing was accurate, with Nintendo of America confirming that the range of Wii U, 3DS and Wii games will be available for $19.99 - that's the US...
Random Turning Your Wii Balance Board Into A Skateboard Isn't A Great Idea
Don't try this at home, or anywhere else for that matter
Not so long ago, we asked if you knew where your Wii Balance Board was. After the runaway success of Wii Fit, millions of these peripherals were sold worldwide, only to be shoved into a cupboard after the allure of keeping healthy via video games inevitably waned. Nintendo's attempt to revive...
News New North American Nintendo Selects Range Emerges in Retailer Listings
Includes Wii U, 3DS and even Wii titles
The European range of Nintendo Selects titles - which is available at handsome price points - has continued to grow, leaving some in North America frustrated at the lack of progress in their region. Thankfully that seems to be heading for an improvement, with Canadian retailer VGP Video Games Plus apparently...
Video See How Far The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has Come Since the Wii & GameCube
Things can only look better
If you were in any doubt that the visuals in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD surpass those of the original Wii and GameCube versions, let us clarify that the visuals have indeed surpassed those of the original Wii and GameCube versions. If you need further proof of just how much tastier things are in this...
Video Reliving the Memories of the Original Announcement for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Out of time, into Twilight
With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD just around the corner we thought it was about time we looked back at the fantastic reveal that the original game received. Much controversy surrounded the art direction of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and many people wanted a more realistic Zelda game...
News Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is Shuffling Onto the North American Wii U eShop on 4th February
"Where's everyone going? Bingo?"
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is rightly held in high regard by a number of series fans; this writer likes it a bit too much, completing at least one playthrough every year. It's a terrific version of a classic game, with pointer controls and occasional waggle that are actually fun to use, along with the inclusion of...
January2016
Video Collecting Every Wii Game Is Difficult, But This Guy Did It Anyway
1260 games later
The Wii is one of the most successful games consoles of all time with over 100 million consoles sold - and counting. As ever, commercial triumph goes hand-in-hand with loads of software, and the Wii has been blessed with 1260 games to date, not all of them good. You might assume that collecting all of these games would be a foolish...
Video Sonic Colours Has Some of the Coolest Glitches
Blurring the lines
We know the popular narrative for some is to say that Sonic's been in a rut and had a bad run of games, but recent years have brought some solid entries. Sonic Colours / Sonic Colors certainly qualifies as one of the better releases in the past couple of generations, blending 2D and 3D play with some neat twists and power-ups. In...
Video Watch as New Super Mario Bros. Wii Gets Pitted Side-by-Side with its Wii U Successor
HD-licious
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has joined its younger sibling New Super Mario Bros. U on the Wii U eShop in Europe. Many people jump to compare the two and believe them to be achingly similar, so in order to put this to the test once and for all we've put both games side-by-side in the video below. We chose to showcase levels that bore a...
News The First 4 Figures Amaterasu Reminds Us of Why We Love Ōkami
Pure art
Ōkami was developed by Clover Studio, the fantastic Capcom-owned developer that disbanded and formed - for the most part - the equally wonderful PlatinumGames. Originally a PS2 game, we fell in love with the Wii version courtesy of its Wii Remote pointer controls - the act of drawing shapes to trigger abilities and attacks worked...
December2015
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Looks Set to Hit Europe on 7th January
Wahoo!
Though the Wii U Virtual Console is missing a few obvious platforms and release - ahem, GameCube - it has brought some goodies. One of the welcome additions has been Wii downloads; a number of excellent games have arrived, including some that are relatively hard to find or expensive in physical form. It's certainly had its successes in terms...
News Super Mario Galaxy May Arrive on the North American Wii U eShop on 24th December
A festive treat
A number of Wii titles have now made their way to the Wii U eShop, and there could be a rather wonderful pre-Christmas treat on the North American store. Following a recent ESRB rating, Super Mario Galaxy's official game page on Nintendo of America's website is now listing it for a 24th December release, at the standard $19.99 price...
Review Trauma Team (Wii U eShop / Wii)
Trauma Drama
Back in the early days of the Nintendo DS, Trauma Center: Under the Knife was a standout example of how the then-new touch screen controls could provide a fresh experience on the go. Atlus would then take its anime-pumped surgery games to the Wii, translating touch controls to motion controls, and found a winning combination there as...
Talking Point Nintendo is Right to Move On From the Wii Family Name With NX
Perfect for its time, but change is due
Earlier this week TIME shared an intriguing interview with Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima, and one of the topics raised regarded the NX and the fact it won't be the 'next' in the Wii / Wii U line of systems. That's been reasonably clear for quite some time, as comments around the new hardware (to be...
Feature There and Back Again - A Xenoblade Tale
How Monolith Soft’s Magnum Opus brought Gonçalo Lopes back to JRPGs
In this article Gonçalo Lopes, better known to many as music composer and arranger Shiryu, talks about the lasting impact that Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii has had on his gaming life. Being a European PAL gamer in the early '90s was pretty cool. Yet being a well-informed...
November2015
Music Have a Listen to the Rodea the Sky Soldier Soundtrack
Soaring high
Rodea the Sky Soldier is out now in North America and is imminent in Europe, and is a title that's been years in the making. It had a sticky route to release, yet for some eager followers that'll matter little - especially as it's a Nintendo exclusive and the original work of Yuki Naka. Although it has shortcomings we gave it a...
News Beenox Won't Be Working on Spider-Man Games Anymore
Moving on to greener pastures
As some of you may be aware, Beenox has more or less been the studio responsible for the Spider-Man video games for the past several years. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Spider-Man: Edge of Time, and both of The Amazing Spider-Man games all came from this studio, which is a rather impressive feat given how quickly...
Video A Wii Wave Race Project Got Far Enough to Have Its Own Patents
Ultimately turned down by Kyoto management
When we consider long-abandoned Nintendo franchises we'd like to see again, there's always a chance - if it's a top 10 - that Wave Race will come up within such lists. Those with fond memories of the Nintendo 64 may reminisce over its entry, even if the Game Boy original passed many by, while its last...
October2015
News Sonic The Hedgehog Titles Being Pulled From The Wii Virtual Console
Spin dashing into the void
Famitsu has revealed that Sega will be withdrawing Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 from the Wii Virtual Console at the end of the month. The Mega Drive / Genesis classics will cease to be available via the service on Friday 30th October. The Xbox Live Arcade versions are also being taken down at t
News Fresh Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Details Reveal Shigeru Miyamoto's Role In The Game's Downfall
Legendary designer took issue with game's costly CGI spend
Not so long ago we covered the tortured production of the Wii title Project H.A.M.M.E.R., a waggle-heavy action title in development by Nintendo Software Technology, Nintendo's famed North American studio. Revealed early in the life of the Wii, the game would never see the light of day and,...
Following in the footsteps of Twilight Princess HD
We recently reported on a rumour which seemed to suggest that Nintendo is currently working on a HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii U. Since then, dataminers have discovered references to other titles, including Super Mario Galaxy,
News Just Dance: Disney Party 2 Is Serenading The Wii U And Wii This Month
Yes, the original Wii
Nintendo may be on the verge of announcing its next home console but the Wii - now a decade old and a distant memory to some fans - is still getting new games. Ubisoft has confirmed that Just Dance: Disney Party 2 will be coming to Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360 - as well as the Wii - at the end of this month. The title...
News Scalebound was Originally Planned to be a Wii Game
If only Kamiya wasn't dragon his feet
For those of you that don't keep track of upcoming releases on other platforms, Scalebound is an Xbox One game currently in development at Platinum Games, the studio responsible for Bayonetta 2 and The Wonderful 101. The ambitious title will follow the adventures of a young boy and his dragon as they explore a...
September2015
Video Did You Know Gaming? Explores The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Reminds us that it's due a replay
The Zelda franchise is often the source of many delicious and occasionally unlikely rumours, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has been at the centre of some in recent years. Some wanted it to be remade for Wii U, others thought it'd come to 3DS - or maybe New Nintendo 3DS - as a 3D remake, and in the end...
Weirdness Just Dance 2016 Will Include An Exclusive Song About Stepping On A Chihuahua
Boasting the vocal talents of Japanese singer Reni Mimura
Ubisoft has created a unique song for the forthcoming Just Dance 2016 and it's totally and utterly bonkers. Composed by the Just Dance team alongside Tom Salta and Japanese singer Reni Mimura, "Chiwawa" is all about a girl who steps on her Chihuahua by accident: Chiwawa is the surprising...
News Don't Count Nintendo Out, Says Former Xbox Boss Robbie Bach
"Nintendo - with great respect - is a toy company, and always has been"
With the Wii U look set to sell less units that the GameCube and the 3DS falling short of the commercial performance of its immediate predecessor the DS, many industry analysts have characterised Nintendo as a company in decline. However, former Xbox boss Robbie Bach - who spent...
News Factor 5's Lost Wii Kid Icarus Boasted A Dark Hero With 60fps Airborne Action
"I feel like we were missing the point"
Fans of Kid Icarus had to endure a long and painful wait between the original NES and Game Boy titles and the eventual 3DS update, but had Star Wars: Rogue Squadron studio Factor 5 had its way, we would have been playing a sequel a little bit sooner. Unseen 64 staffer and occasional Nintendo Life contributor...
News Apple Just Announced Its Own Wii, Almost A Decade After Nintendo
New gaming controller for Apple TV looks very familiar
Unless you happen to live under a rock, you will no doubt have been aware that yesterday Apple held one of its special events in which it announced several new products. There was a larger iPad, two new iPhones and - perhaps most significantly of all - a new Apple TV, this time with a very...
Mario History Super Mario Galaxy 2 - 2010
Some say sequel, some say level pack - we say brilliant
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Nintendo has some rules that it follows with its games and franchises, particularly in terms of frequency. There's one...
Mario Memories Rediscovering the Wonder in Gaming With Super Mario Galaxy
"I'd forgotten that games can make you feel happy"
In this series of articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have our charming reviewer Joel Couture. There was a long period in my life where...
Mario History New Super Mario Bros. Wii - 2009
The new, new 'New'
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Following the warm reception to New Super Mario Bros. which was released on the DS in 2006, it was inevitable that Nintendo would bring the New Super Mario...
Mario History Mario Kart Wii - 2008
Filling the world with plastic wheels
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Mario Kart: Double Dash! on GameCube played its part in shaking up home console racing in the iconic karting series, while Mario Kart DS...
Mario History Super Mario Galaxy - 2007
Out of this World
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario games per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. In our previous entry we highlighted how New Super Mario Bros. was the first new 2D Mario title in some time; that was due to a general focus on 3D Mario...
August2015
News Rodea The Sky Soldier Special Edition Now Available For Pre-Order On Nintendo UK Store
Wii version included, huzzah!
Although recently being delayed, Rodea The Sky Soldier is now available to pre-order on Nintendo's UK Store for both the 3DS and the Wii U version, the latter of which comes bundled with a Wii copy of the game as well. Strangely the only version that's available for each console is the limited edition that comes with...
Mario Memories Super Mario Galaxy 2: A Tale of Hype and Expectation
The hype was real
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. Next up is reviewer and news contributor Mitch Vogel. May 23, 2010. That date will forever hold significance to me as...
Mario Memories Being Taken To A New World In Super Mario Galaxy
Tom Whitehead recalls a watershed moment in his relationship with Nintendo
In this series of 30 daily articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. First up is site editor Tom Whitehead. I've confessed in the...
Feature The Unexpected Legacy of Wii Music
Life changing inspiration from the most unsuspected of places
In this guest feature, Nintendo Life regular and chiptune musician Shiryu explains how Wii Music played a pivotal role in encouraging his prolific output. As tradition mandates every year, I sat watching the Nintendo's 2008 E3 presentation with high hopes of a new F-Zero being finally...
News Skylander SuperChargers Racing On Wii And 3DS Will Offer Bespoke Tracks And Progression
Racing experience "unlike" anything you'll see on current-gen systems
Activision may have unveiled a lot of the Wii U version of Skylanders SuperChargers at Gamescom 2015, featuring heavily the platform-wide addition of its Kart Racing mode, but we are still light on details relating to the Wii and 3DS versions of the game. Talking to Vicarious...
Video Xenoblade Chronicles Marches Onto The Wii U eShop
It's Reyn Time... again!
This week Nintendo of Europe unleashed another one of its surprise eShop releases, and it's admittedly quite a puzzling one. Mere months after the New Nintendo 3DS exclusive port was released, Xenoblade Chronicles has made its way as a Wii digital release on the Wii U eShop in Europe. However, that's not to say there isn't...
Oh my...
Update 2: Nintendo of America has confirmed that there'll be a special edition for the game in the region, but isn't announcing details yet: [tweet Update: Nintendo of Europe has now tweet an image of the Wii U bundle and special editions coming to the region for Xenoblade Chronicles X. Original Article: Take a deep breath,...
July2015
News Catch Up With the Mario Kart World Cup as it Enters the Knockout Stages
A blue shell away from glory
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most beloved and bankable franchises - with just one release per system and the addition of DLC on Wii U, it's an integral part of any console from the big N and a must have. Mario Kart 8 on Wii U is no different. It's also a popular game to watch, and the next two weekends bring an...
News Wii and Wii U Get Special Treatment for Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Editions
Not a dark day
Activision has recently announced the Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Edition packs at Comic-Con San Diego; t
News Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Exposé Reveals Torrid State Of Affairs At Nintendo Software Technology
The game that humbled a studio
Project H.A.M.M.E.R. was supposed to be a Wii title which catered for the needs of serious gamers, thanks to its gritty setting and focus on intense destructive action. Developed by Nintendo Software Technology - the North American studio responsible for titles like Wave Race: Blue Storm, Metroid Prime: Hunters and...
Will the tie-in pay off for Nintendo and Activision?
While Skylanders SuperChargers isn't - according to our surveys - particularly high up the wishlists of active Nintendo Life readers, it could be a notable release for Wii U, in particular. During E3 Nintendo and Activision confirmed a smart and unique collaboration that brings Bowser and Donkey...
Video Rodea The Sky Soldier Takes Flight In This Fresh Gameplay Trailer
Sky fallin'
Rodea the Sky Soldier's rather drawn-out route to market would be enough to make any video game character feel a little downhearted, but this flighty protagonist isn't giving up. With the Japanese launch in the bag and a North American release just around the corner, we're being treated to some more gameplay footage from the Yuji Naka's...
June2015
Playable prototype actually exists
Next Level Games has a long and proud history with Nintendo, having worked on a wide range of titles including Super Mario Strikers, Punch Out!! and Luigi's Mansion 2. However, not all of the projects pitched by this developer have seen the light of day, and Unseen64 has posted an updated video explaining what...
News Cancelled Wii Adventure Zblu Cops Is Unearthed, Looks Amazing
Based on the cult French comic book
Those chaps at Unseen64 have done it again and unearthed another cancelled and forgotten game from the annals of history. This time it's Wii adventure Zblu Cops, which was based on a French comic book all but unknown in the west. The work of entertainment group Biodroid, this promising title used a cel-shaded...
Publisher remaining tight-lipped about "complementary" versions
While there has been lots of noise and pizzazz around the Wii U version of Skylanders SuperChargers at E3, not so much attention has been spent on the Wii and 3DS versions. When Superchargers was announced it was clear that both Wii and 3DS were not the same as the other console...
News Star Fox Zero Started Life Way Back On The Original Wii, Says Shigeru Miyamoto
"Every time we get new hardware, we do a Star Fox prototype"
Star Fox Zero is Nintendo's biggest game of E3 2015, and while fans have been excited about the return of Fox McCloud and company, the overall reaction has been somewhat mixed - as you'll know if you've already ready our very early impressions. Speaking to
Starter packs for both consoles getting hybrid figures
One of the shock announcements from Nintendo's Digital Event yesterday was the news that Skylanders Superchargers on Wii U would be getting two brand-new amiibo figures. Donkey Kong and Bowser are both joining the cast of Activision's forthcoming toys-to-life sequel, complete with special...
Video Ubisoft Unleashes A Flood Of Just Dance 2016 Clips
Warning: Footage of old people abandoning their dignity contained within
One of the most predictable elements of Ubisoft's E3 event was the reveal of Just Dance 2016, the latest entry in the company's best-selling music franchise which has now sold 54 million copies during its lifetime. The game is coming to the Wii U and the Wii, along with new...
News Rodea the Sky Soldier Release Dates Pushed Back to October
Delayed landing
Rodea the Sky Soldier - originally led by Yuji Naka - has had a troubled route to Wii U and 3DS, after its original development for the Wii got stuck in limbo. Publisher Kadokawa Games eventually completed it for release, though it's sold very few copies in Japan since launch. Not to be deterred, NIS America is bringing it to the...
Wii promised a "complimentary" experience
Skylanders SuperChargers has been announced today and brings with it vehicle toys for special Skylanders to pilot and modify. It's a bold move that not only adds more value but changes how the game plays on the screen. There will be 20 vehicles to collect, each one with a special SuperCharger Skylander that...
News No FIFA For Nintendo Fans This Year, States EA
Soccer action absent on Wii, Wii U or 3DS
Electronic Arts has confirmed that its best-selling FIFA series is skipping the Wii, Wii U and 3DS this year. Pocket Gamer got the scoop on the lack of a 3DS edition of the game, and EA's soccer series has famously been absent on the Wii U ever since FIFA 13 underperformed commercially. EA's official press...
May2015
News Super Mario Galaxy Out Now on the Wii U eShop in Japan
Kiss those Super Mario Galaxy HD dreams goodbye
Early this year Nintendo surprised and delighted us by bringing Wii games to the Wii U eShop; though they're the same basic Wii titles and they're booted in the system's Wii Mode, it nevertheless allows us to download some retail games we may have missed in the last-gen. It kicked off with Super Mario...
Wii U's fate seemingly sealed for the HD Resi re-releases
The Nintendo exclusive, Resident Evil Zero, was well received by fans and critics alike when it was originally released on the GameCube in 2002. The Wii port – released in 2008 – did not receive the same level of applause. This particular entry in Capcom's long-running survival horror...
News Nintendo Wins Patent Battle Over Wii Balance Board
Its legal body was ready
Nintendo struck gold with the Wii, combining inexpensive technology with a motion controlled gaming hook that tens of millions of gamers found irresistible. That use of technology and the ludicrous profits it made naturally got the attention of other companies, however, with the home console and its accessories fighting a...
Video Did You Know Gaming? Explores the Fascinating History of the Wii
The surprising origins of Mii characters, original Remote designs and more
The Wii is Nintendo's biggest-selling home console in its history, out-performing lucrative predecessors such as the NES and SNES, while giving the company a lift after the relative struggles of the GameCube. It shook up the games industry - as the 'me too' reactions of Sony...
News Warren Spector Reminisces About the Development of the Epic Mickey Series
Learn how the series came together
Disney Epic Mickey could be argued as being something of a letdown on the Wii. After an initial reveal showcasing remarkably dark concept art and promising a dynamic and choice-driven narrative, many saw it as a bold and promising new direction to take Disney's famous mouse. The resultant game, and its sequel for...
April2015
Video Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies Shines On Wii U
A pleasurable experience
For the latest Wii release to get another chance on the Wii U eShop, Nintendo has given us something a little different in Treasure's Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies, or Star Successor as it's known in North America. A sequel to an N64 game that never even made it out of Japan (until a Virtual Console release on...
News Just When You Thought the Humble Wii Was Dead, Here Comes PSA World Tour Squash
Late to the Wii party?
Given that the Wii U first went on sale in November 2012, you might have assumed by now that publishers would have all stopped developing Wii games and moved on to take advantage of the power of the newer system. Alternative Software doesn't seem to have got the memo and is releasing PSA World Tour Squash on the Wii on the...
News Unseen64 Breaks Down the Hidden History of Metroid Prime
Unused bosses, a picky Shigeru Miyamoto and more
It's often enjoyable to consider what could have been - new IPs, sequels and spin-offs that never made it to stores. Examples such as Star Fox 2 and Metroid Dread have us wishing for the ability to visit an alternative universe, to play titles that were, at some stage, destined for our consoles. Even...
News Pandora's Tower And Sin And Punishment Coming To The European eShop This Month
Early bird discount applies, too
It has been confirmed during the recent European Nintendo Direct that the Wii classics Pandora's Tower and Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies will be coming to the Wii U eShop in Europe on the 16th and 30th April respectively. Both games will be subject to a 25 percent discount during their first week on...
