Wii - News
February2015
News Club Nintendo Goes Rewards Crazy With Final Update in North America
Over 100 games and physical rewards
Club Nintendo is now into its final stretch, with members in North America having until the end of March to claim coins and the end of June to redeem their balance. Nintendo of America had promised one final huge update of content, and now that the line-up is confirmed we can say that it's certainly delivered. On...
Weirdness Katy Perry Accessorizes With A Wii Remote Strap During Super Bowl Half-Time Show
Safety first
The half-time show at the Super Bowl is arguably the most interesting part of the entire game. Increasing each year with ever more ridiculous set pieces and an growing "wow" factor, viewers can expect to see world-famous musicians, strobe lights, bombastic pyrotechnics and dancing galore. As if you prove this point, shortly after...
News Rodea The Sky Soldier Looks Set To Spread Its Wings For A Western Release
Kadokawa Games president Yoshimi Yasuda says "look forward to it"
Rodea The Sky Soldier has had a somewhat tortured development period. Originally slated for the Wii and overseen by Sonic creator Yuji Naka, the game has since been rebooted for the 3DS and Wii U under the eyes of Kadokawa Games when Naka bailed on the project. The fact that Rodea is...
January2015
Video You NEED To Play Metroid Prime Trilogy
Yes, you really do
Metroid Prime Trilogy is finally here - no longer will you need to trawl eBay for highly priced retail copies, because now you can play three amazing games, in one package, for a much more affordable price. Until 5th February the price is downright outrageous, a promotional cost of $9.99 / €9.99 / £8.99; that's for one of the...
News Not Everyone is Thrilled That Metroid Prime Trilogy Lands on the Wii U eShop Tomorrow
Sorry Nintendo, but you can't please everybody!
For those of you that have defied the odds and are unaware, in the most recent Nintendo Direct a few weeks ago there was the surprise announcement of Wii U eShop digital re-releases for some of the Wii's best games. So far we've had the phenomenal Super Mario Galaxy 2 followed by the excellent
Rumour Cave Story 2 Teased at PAX South and Could Be in the Works
"Maybe, maybe not"
Cave Story is quite the tale of success. Developed over five years by one man, named Daisuke Amaya, it first saw release over ten years ago on PC. Since then, it's received universal acclaim, achieved widespread popularity and has been ported to numerous platforms. Taking inspiration from old school exploration and action games...
Feature 20 Wii Games We'd Love To Download From The Wii U eShop - Part Two
The second 10, plus your chance to vote
With Wii retail games now slowly making their way to the Wii U eShop for download, we kicked off a list of 20 games we hope to see make it to the store. In part one we listed our first 10, which included some likely releases and those that may have sketchier prospects. As the title suggests, however, they're...
Video Donkey Kong Country Returns...To Wii U
It's on like Donkey Kong. Again.
The second Wii re-release has arrived on the European eShop, and it's a doozy. Are you ready for Donkey Kong Country Returns? As we have come to expect from Retro Studios, they knocked it out of the park with a game that apes (pun intended) the original SNES trilogies' gameplay, but is it worth revisiting on Wii U?...
Feature 20 Wii Games We'd Love To Download From The Wii U eShop - Part One
We list our first 10 choices
It seems strange, but a reveal in last week's Nintendo Direct broadcasts that prompted one of the biggest reactions in the Nintendo Life community was confirmation of Wii retail games coming to the Wii U eShop. Bearing in mind that the system is already fully backward compatible we were a little surprised, yet...
News Club Nintendo Rewards are Updated for January, Kicking Off Its Final Run
Mario! Wario! Metroid! Zelda! More due in February!
After today's surprise news of the discontinuation of Club Nintendo, the North American version has had its regular monthly update, but with a bit of a difference. Though coins can only be earned in the region until the end of March, redeeming those coins is possible until the end of June. After a...
News Club Nintendo to Close, With Replacement Loyalty Programme Coming Later in the Year
Flipnote Studio 3D will be free to existing members
Club Nintendo has been a consistent part of the dedicated Nintendo fan's world since the Wii / DS era, with purchases registered for coins and stars - depending on region - to be traded for extras. At times the programme has been criticised for slowly updated catalogues, but it's been relatively...
News New Nintendo Wii Remotes Come in Bowser and Toad Colours
All Bowser, all the time
Nintendo may, in decades to come, regard the Wii Remote as its greatest controller. While we can argue until the cows come home about the layout of the GameCube controller or the merits of a classic SNES pad, the Wii Remote is a sales phenomenon that has been waved around by hundreds of millions of people. Spanning two...
News Wii Disc Software Heading to the Wii U eShop
Wii have been waiting...
Since the launch of Wii U the only way to play original Wii games was to enter 'Wii mode', which effectively emulated the Wii system menu. Whilst it was great that the Wii U contained this backwards compatibility it's implementation always felt cumbersome and unfinished. However, during today's Nintendo Direct it was...
News Details of Next Level Games' Cancelled Project, 'Clockwerk', Emerge
Game set in a magical floating clock tower, which was not to be
Canadian development studio Next Level Games is well known for its work on Nintendo games such as Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Punch-Out!! and Mario Strikers Charged. While the studio is now exclusively developing for Nintendo platforms, that wasn't the case with an intr
December2014
News Nintendo Points the Way With Another Wii-Related Patent Win
Long live waggle!
In recent days Nintendo secured a patent win over Creative Kingdoms in a case related to the Wii Remote, and it's now announced another favourable result in its defence of the innovative controller. In a press release issued by Nintendo of America, it's confirmed that a case with UltimatePointer over the Remote has been found in...
News Nintendo Secures Second Patent Win Over Creative Kingdoms
Hopefully that will be that
Nintendo faces plenty of patent challenges in the courts, the majority of which it wins. The Wii and its Remote have been targeted a great deal, in particular, and last year it saw off a challenge from Creative Kingdoms, a "theme park operator" that was claiming the Wii Remote infringed on the patent for it 'magic wand'...
News HORI's GameCube-Inspired Pikachu Controller Arriving Stateside
Yellow belly
The recently announced Pikachu variation of HORI's GameCube-like series of controllers will join its Mario and Luigi counterparts on 2nd March 2015 in the US. The controller is priced at $27.99 on Amazon, but given the popularity of the other two controllers in the range, it's highly likely that stock will run out fast unless Nintendo...
"Overall, a Nintendo is a relatively safe Christmas present"
It may seem cute to us, but there's still a world where Nintendo's consoles are just "a Nintendo" and the Wii is a hot Christmas gift that will bring danger and injuries to festive living rooms. Yes, it's that time again, British tabloids are asking "is a Nintendo a safe Christmas...
News PDP GameCube-Style Wired Fight Pads for Donkey Kong, Link, Samus and Wario Due in Early 2015
Function as Wii Classic Controllers
With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U pre-occupying a number of gamers, those that are aiming to truly master the title are probably considering their various control options. It's a game that supports practically any controller, even the 3DS, so there should be options to suit anyone. The GameCube controller is...
News Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry Almost Made Our Day On Nintendo Wii And DS
...but it was cancelled. Do you feel unlucky, punk?
Detective Harry Callahan is one of Clint Eastwood's most enduring characters, and starred in some seminal action movies back in the '70s and '80s. Eastwood's no-nonsense cop would inspire countless clones in both movies and video games, and back in 2004 Warner Brothers decided that it was time that...
November2014
Don't watch the Zelda video if you're squeamish
We all know that video games are pure fantasy, and that they should rarely be considered accurate representations of reality. Even so, it's fascinating to consider how popular franchises would fare if they were governed by the proper laws of the universe. If you've ever wondered what games would be...
Video Two Smash Bros. Instructional Videos to Get You Brawling with the Best of Them
One's perhaps more advanced than the other
Did You Know Gaming and Nintendo have both released some instructional videos for the Super Smash Bros. series. Did You Know Gaming focuses on the advanced techniques from the earlier games such as wave dashing and directional influence, but Nintendo has taken a much more basic approach. It's the first part...
News Suda51 Explains The Origins Of No More Heroes And Its Waggle-Based Swordplay
"That kind of motion is very Travis"
The Wii's incredible commercial success and unique control system ensured that the console received more than its fair share of third-party exclusives, with No More Heroes being one of the most notable early releases. Developed by Goichi "Suda51" Suda and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture, this insane 3D action...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Hits 10 Million Sales Mark In The US
"That’s a lot of penguin suits!"
The legacy of the Wii continues, with Nintendo of America today announcing New Super Bros. Wii has sold ten million copies across the US since it was released in 2009. The announcement was delivered via the official Nintendo of America Twitter account, and celebrated the historic milestone with the following tweet...
October2014
News First 4 Figures Reveals Its Sizeable Link on Loftwing Piece
The sky's the limit
First 4 Figures are known as rather talented figure manufacturers, covering franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Kirby and Sonic the Hedgehog. Most notable, however, is its beautiful range of The Legend of Zelda collectible statues, spanning various games of the brand's rich history. They boast a slew of character statues, from...
News More PDP GameCube-Style Wired Fight Pads Pay Homage to Donkey Kong, Link, Samus and Wario
Will work as Wii Classic Controller, and with Smash Bros. Wii U
Last year and just before E3, as the hype for a certain Wii U brawler intensified, accessory company PDP announced its GameCube-styled Fight Pad controllers, with the revealed designs being based on Mario, Peach and Yoshi. Though Nintendo has its own GameCube Smash Bros. controller and...
News These GameCube-Style Mario Bros. Controllers Offer An Edge In Super Smash Bros.
Rocking a turbo button like it's 1989
Hori has produced some of the more attractive licensed Nintendo peripherals, and it's now confirmed two Super Mario Bros.-themed GameCube-style controllers — they're only confirmed for Japan so far, each retailing for 2,980 yen. While looking almost identical to Smash players’ beloved GameCube controller,...
Video Footage Surfaces of Cancelled Wii Star Wars Title
A Rogue Squadron resurrection that never left the base
In what at least feels like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Factor 5's Rogue Squadron games were all the rage on the N64 and GameCube. Following Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, the company would attempt some projects for Microsoft and Sony, but either found little success...
September2014
Video These Mario Games Have More Secrets Than You May Think
And it's not even Easter
Continuing the series of discovering hidden Easter eggs in games, Did You Know Gaming has released the final part of its dissection of main series Mario games. It's always a joy to see hidden little details and secrets in video games, it shows just how much developers care about the creations that they make. Unsurprisingly,...
News Disney Infinity Toy Box 2.0 Backward Compatibility Tested On Wii U
Stepping back in time
While this year’s Disney Infinity 2.0 may not be coming to the Wii, the Wii U game benefits from all the upgraded features of the new game creator Toy Box mode. You can access this by purchasing the Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Super Heroes starter pack or upcoming Disney Infinity 2.0 Toy Box Combo starter pack. If you have...
News Cancelled Mario Volleyball/Wrestling Wii Title Comes to Light
As strange as it sounds
The clever boffins over at Unseen 64 have managed to dig up some information on a cancelled Mario volleyball game that incorporated some of the elements of wrestling into the gameplay. Known as Super Mario Spikers, the game was set to be released on the Wii and was being developed by Next Level Games, who was responsible for...
News Ubisoft Confirms Just Dance 2015's Full Tracklist
Dancing in the moonlight
Ubisoft has revealed the full tracklist for the upcoming Wii and Wii U title Just Dance 2015. The songs featured are a mix of genres to try and appeal to as broad an audience as possible. You can see the full list for yourself right here: "Bang Bang" – Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj “She Looks So Perfect”...
News Rejoice, Little Orbit's Penguins Of Madagascar Video Game Is A Nintendo Exclusive
Waddling to Wii U, 3DS and Wii this November
Little Orbit will be bringing a game based on the Dreamworks movie Penguins of Madagascar to Nintendo platforms later this year, it has been announced. Bandai Namco will be handling the publishing duties in Europe. The Wii U, Wii and 3DS will all be getting a version of the game, which launches on...
News Activision Is Bringing The Dulcet Tones Of The Voice To Wii U Next Month
Who needs Call of Duty, right?
Feeling glum about the fact that Activision isn't bringing Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare to the Wii U? Don't be, because the publisher isn't totally abandoning Nintendo's console — it's releasing an interactive adaptation of the TV The Voice next month, which is surely just as exciting as shooting people with...
News North American Club Nintendo Replenishes Its Physical Reward Stock
Totes amaze
North Americans who have been eager to grab hold of certain rewards on Club Nintendo will be pleased to know Nintendo of America has recently replenished its stock. Well, at least sort of, with most – but not all – physical items returning. These items range from a series of Nintendo-themed greeting cards, to Kirby Patch Sets, and...
August2014
News Fifa 15 Coming to Wii and 3DS on the 26th of September
There's no 'U' in 'team'
The Fifa games are met with either devotion or disdain. The multi-million pound video games franchise releases a new game in the series every year for nearly all consoles and are always successful due to the nature of nature of the game it emulates. In a strange move by the publisher, they have decided to release the latest...
News The Trending #WiiUDroughtAid Shows That, Actually, There's Plenty to Play on Wii U
Backward compatibility adds to a solid Wii U library
While it's easy to point out the range of multi-platform games not available on Wii U, it's equally simple to point to a reasonably-sized range of exclusives and download games that make the system a unique and fun option. That's only going to improve once September kicks off with Hyrule Warriors,...
Art Controller Evolution Photo Series Hammers Home The Nintendo Factor
A visual record of how Nintendo has pushed the industry forward
Nintendo has been responsible for some major innovations when it comes to controllers — the NES D-pad, the N64 analogue stick, the Wii Remote — and Spanish artist Javier Laspiur has put together a photographic whistle-stop tour of the evolution of the game pad which shows just how...
July2014
News PDP GameCube-Styled Wired Fight Pad For Wii U and Wii Listed With November Release Date
Officially licensed, so don't sweat it
Before E3 this year, third-party accessory company PDP announced a GameCube-styled Wired Fight Pad that functions as a Wii Classic Controller (plugging into a Wii Remote), making it compatible with games on the last-gen system as well as some on the Wii U — it was clearly being produced with Super Smash Bros...
Awesome but strange
With the Skylanders series enjoying impressive levels of success over the past few years, publisher Activision is no doubt hoping for more of the same from Skylanders Trap Team. The franchise has often performed well on the Wii, particularly, and Nintendo would love to see the Wii U become one of the top-selling platforms, too...
News NES30 GamePad Brings Old School Control To iOS, Android, Mac, Windows And Wii
Let's party like it's 1985
If you're fed up of using the Wiimote for games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns, then you might want to take a look at 8Bitdo's new NES30 GamePad controller. A near-perfect replication of the original 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System joypad, this controller brings the concept up to date by...
News Dragon Quest X All-In-One Retail Package Will Include Wii, Wii U and PC Copies in Japan
Let the package design nightmare begin
Update: It seems that there will still be three distinct SKUs for this 'all-in-one' version, identifiable with Wii U, Wii and PC branding. Each will still, nevertheless, contain copies for all three platforms. Original Article: Square Enix has announced that the upcoming Dragon Quest X 'all-in-one' retail...
Weirdness The Cyberith Virtualizer Combines Wii Remote Controls, Oculus Rift and a Treadmill
Immersive, or strange?
Virtual Reality is a hot topic at the moment, with Oculus Rift and Sony's Morpheus at the forefront of bringing the concept forward. The mainstream appeal of these devices is yet to be seen, though both have a lot of investment behind them. There are various gadgets and devices trying to tap into the craze, including some...
News UK Government Effectively Decriminalises Download Piracy, Raising Importance of System Security
Nintendo is still battling hackers of the Wii U and 3DS
The Wii and DS were compromised for a significant period of their lifespan, with the latter being a victim of rampant game piracy with the sale and availability of R4 cards. Though there are always those that make the case for such devices as a means for obtaining backups of games already...
News Violetta: Rhythm & Music Coming To 3DS, Wii and DS, Yet Shimmying Past Wii U
It's a "smash hit television show", we're told
Little Orbit, the masters of licensed games and no doubt literally rolling around in mounds of crisp dollar bills during lunch breaks, is taking another IP and pushing it out as a game. This time it's Disney's Violetta, a "tween telenovela" broadcast in Latin America and Europe, which is coming to 3DS,...
News Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue Flying Exclusively to Nintendo Systems This Fall
That's Wii U, 3DS, Wii AND DS
As we begin to swelter in the summer months, Disney is doing its bit to distract children from wanting more ice cream by bringing Planes: Fire & Rescue to theatres, with screenings kicking off this week in some regions. It's naturally taken the chance to reveal that Disney Planes: Fire & Rescue will also be...
News Meet LeapTV, The Wii Challenger in 2014
Targeting the 3-8 year old demographic
The Wii was the first home console to successfully bring motion controls to the mainstream market, capturing the attention of consumers and selling over 100 million units. It naturally led to the arrival of motion controlled rivals, whether directly mimicking the Nintendo setup in the form of PlayStation Move...
News Sony: PS4 Is "Welcoming Back" Wii Owners Who Skipped PS3 And 360 Last Gen
Remastered PS3 classics are tempting Wii owners, says Sony's Andrew House
Wii owners who decided against buying a PS3 or 360 are flocking to the PS4 in droves, according to Sony Computer Entertainment boss Andrew House. Speaking to Eurogamer at the recent Develop conference in the UK, House echoed recent statements made by Sony Worldwide Studios...
Interview Meet Naked War, The Wii Advance Wars Beater That Never Was
"This was the game that was going to make the blue light really matter!"
Ste and John Pickford have been making video games for decades, starting with humble home micros like the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 before graduating to the NES and SNES as the '90s dawned. Such was the prestigious talent of these skillful siblings that their company Zippo...
June2014
News Philips Secures Wii Patent Victory Over Nintendo in the UK
Nintendo to appeal, may affect similar claims in other countries
Not too long ago we reported on a Philips patent claim against Nintendo related to Wii technology, specifically with regards to recognising hand gestures and motion. It's not the first such claim against the Wii in this regard, of course, but is certainly significant considering the...
News Appeals Court Upholds Nintendo MotionPlus Win Over "Patent Troll"
Nintendo serves up a low-blow with extra MotionPlus accuracy
Nintendo has a busy legal team, as its innovative or quirky controllers and accessories are consistently challenged in patent disputes. The big N wins these arguments most of the time, and likes to point it out when it does, this time seeing off an appeal to a court victory from early...
News FIFA 15 Is Lacing Its Boots For A Wii And 3DS Appearance, But Is Skipping The Wii U
Foul play
EA has revealed that it is releasing a stripped-down version of FIFA 15 for the Wii and 3DS, but won't be bringing its best-selling soccer series to the Wii U. FIFA 15 will hit next-generation machines with a host of new features, but the publisher has stated that versions for older systems won't come with the same amount of content: A...
News Wii Owners Are Upgrading To PlayStation 4, Claims Sony
Lies, damn lies and statistics?
Sony Worldwide Studios senior VP of product development Scott Rohde has made the bold claim that Wii and Xbox 360 owners are choosing the PS4 as their next system. Using stats collected by industry tracker Nielsen, Rohde explained that many new PS4 owners did not previously own a PS3, and instead upgraded from a...
News Here's A First Look At Skylanders Trap Team Villain Buzzer Beak
Pecking order
If you're interested in all things Skylanders, then you'll be pleased to know that our friends over at Family Gamer TV have an exclusive reveal of a new Skylanders Trap Team villain Buzzer Beak and his related Air Trap. As you can see, he appears to be inspired from a variety of different animals, with the beak of a toucan and the...
Mario Kart Month A History of the Mario Kart Series - Part Two
Turbo boosting to record sales
As June begins and our Mario Kart Month celebrations throughout May draw to a close, the build-up and expectation surrounding Mario Kart 8 has transitioned into mass play sessions and hands-on racing time. This is the moment on which memories are built, as competitiveness and hilarity ensues from worldwide showdowns,...
May2014
Feature Memories of the Wii and DS Wi-Fi Connection Era
When the Nintendo Network was but a twinkle in Iwata-san's eye
It's finally happened, the Wi-Fi connection on the Wii and DS is gone, disconnected on 20th May. The DSi and Wii Shop platforms are still running, but online multiplayer and content in games is now shut down, prompting the end of an era for the last-gen systems. Regardless of the...
News PDP Confirms the GameCube-Inspired Wired Fight Pad For Wii and Wii U
Arriving "this Holiday season"
Controller accessories were everywhere in the Wii era, with various companies fighting over a piece of the sizeable, tasty pie of the system's sales. We can expect that trend to continue to some degree with the Wii U, though the uptake has been slower due to its smaller fan-base to date. Fear not, third-party...
Exclusive Lost Wii Game, Sadness, To Be Revived as Wii U Exclusive
HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games are collaborating on development
Update 2: Following a rapid progression of events, HullBreach Studios and Cthulhi Games have retracted their claims to the Sadness brand — the details are available in this updated article. Update: In follow-up comments to our colleagues at Euro
Reminder Nintendo's Wi-Fi Service on Wii and DS Closes on 20th May
Get in those last online rounds
An era ends on 20th May. Not a glittering golden era that will live on through the ages, but nevertheless a period of time that brought plenty of good times for Nintendo gamers. Nintendo is shutting down its Wi-Fi connection service on Wii and DS, primarily as a result of the closure of the GameSpy infrastructure that...
News Wii U Reportedly Uses Less Energy to Run Than Wii and Rivals
Natural Resources Defense Council highlights low energy use
A report by the the Natural Resources Defense Council suggests that the Wii U annually consumes less energy than the Wii, as shown in the graph below: The graph, which is designed to show how much energy your console drains across the year, illustrates that the Wii U is more effective in...
News Philips Claims Wii And Wii U Infringe Two Of Its Patents, Seeks Ban In The United States
Dutch electronics giant seeking compensation package, too
Dutch electronics manufacturer Philips is claiming that the Nintendo Wii and Wii U systems infringe on two of its patents — one of which dates back to 1996. According to Dutch site NU, Philips has submitted documents in the United States which call for a ban on selling both systems in that...
News Here's a Handy Guide to Pokémon Services That'll Stop With Nintendo's Wi-Fi Shutdown
Sad times
As switched on DS and Wii owners likely already know, a number of Wi-Fi services will be shut down on 20th May, with high profile examples being the loss of online play in Mario Kart entries on both systems and other examples such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For Pokémon fans, meanwhile, the impact on those last-gen games could be...
News EA Releases Lengthy List of Online Services to be Shut Down on DS and Wii
Oh no, not Bejeweled 2!
Closing down online game services is all the rage at the moment, with Nintendo switching off elements of its Wi-Fi services on the Wii and DS on 20th May. It appears that EA is now joining in the fun, with online services for over 50 games closing at the end of June. The range of games is old enough to incorporate a period...
News Here's an Updated Summary of Nintendo's Software Bestsellers
Pokémon and Mario lead the way
When Nintendo releases its updated financial reports, it also publishes fresh figures for hardware and software — we've covered the former in our main summary of the year-end results. The software highlights tell their own tale, however, and perhaps help to explain why Nintendo opts for particular franchises and...
April2014
News Expansion of Nintendo Selects Range Confirmed for Europe
More classics at a budget price
It's common, especially for hugely popular Wii and DS first-party games, for prices to fail to drop even as the years pass by. The enduring popularity of Nintendo's last-gen systems sees to that, but Nintendo of Europe has now confirmed four Wii titles that will join the 'Nintendo Selects' range, with retailers to set...
Video Behold The Difference Between Skylanders Trap Team On Wii And Wii U
Compare and contrast
With Skylanders Trap Team being developed by lead developer Toys for Bob on the Wii and Beenox on the Wii U, choosing the best platform to play it on just got a little harder. Stepping into the breach with more Skylanders Trap Team videos are Family Gamer TV. Here, they compare the visual fidelity of different generations of...
News LostWinds Now Available For Wii to Wii U Transfer
FoundWinds
The Wii to Wii U system transfer may not be the most flexible or easy process, but we should be pleased that it is available, allowing those anxious for access to their WiiWare, Virtual Console and Wii save data to carry on with their shiny new system. The excellent LostWinds was an anomaly, however, as it was a game that could not be...
News Animal Crossing and Metroidvania GDC Talks Now Available For Your Viewing Pleasure
New Leaf and Castlevania devs discuss the intricacies of game development
Many of the presentations at last month's Game Developers Conference are now available to view for free on the GDC Vault website, including Animal Crossing: New Leaf producer Katsuya Eguchi and co-director Aya Kyogoku's "How to Turn a New Leaf at the Animal Crossing" and...
News Skylanders Trap Team Is Coming To Wii, Wii U And 3DS This Year
Series creator Toys for Bob is handling the Wii and Wii U versions
Skylanders has had a strong relationship with Nintendo platforms from the word go. In many ways its success was in part from capitalising from the high Wii install base in its target demographic. With both Giants and Swap Force selling well on Wii, Wii U and 3DS, all eyes were on...
Play Mario Kart Wii With Nintendo Life on Twitch - Live!
There will be blue shells
Nintendo Life does Twitch! Hopefully without it crashing, breaking down and basically not working. We're going all modern and trendy — next up an annoying catchphrase to open every stream! Well, maybe not on the catchphrase. We are, however, planning to run regular live streams of various Nintendo games that'll include...
News Nintendo Announces a Charming New Princess Peach Wii Remote Plus
Proud to be pink
Many of us parted with good money last year when Nintendo released Mario and Luigi Wii Remote Plus controllers, with a simple colour scheme enough to get us a tad excited. The big N is aiming to tap into that instinct again with a new Princess Peach-themed Remote, with Nintendo of America confirming that it'll arrive in the region's...
Play We'll Be Doing The Twitch Thing With Mario Kart Wii Online Multiplayer
Surely nothing can go wrong...
Twitch is all the rage, it seems, with the live streaming service used to watch gamers tackle a variety of titles and even team up in their thousands to play Pokémon. It's a social phenomenon in gaming. Aside from some retro titles being chaotically played by thousands of gamers at once, however, not much love is...
News Details Emerge of a Cancelled Nintendo-Exclusive Star Wars Game
It was about Darth Maul though, so never mind
Star Wars remains as one of the most powerful brands in the entertainment industry, progressing from reasonably humble origins in 1977 to a never-ending multi-billion dollar juggernaut. Its power is such that Disney bought Lucasfilm for $2.5 billion, with no doubt that it was actually interested in...
News Android Game Inspired by Muramasa Takes Some Heat
Developer to change any troublesome parts before release
It's true that video games often take inspiration from other games, leaving developers to occasionally answer tough questions over similar assets or design. Take for example the Flappy Bird fiasco that happened a few months back. The developer was attacked for having green pipes that bear a...
Feature How A Team Of Dedicated Fans Is Fixing Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The inside story on Project M
Super Smash Bros. Melee was a love letter from Nintendo to the company’s legion of fans — a fighting game packed to the brim with songs, stages, characters and art from the storied history of the Japanese game company. It’s an accomplishment quite unlike and unmatched by any other. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the...
News Wii Classic Controllers No Longer Being Manufactured By Nintendo
Both Pro & original models have stopped production
Eagle-eyed Twitter user @kitroplious has spotted an interesting tidbit about Nintendo's Wii Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro. The following message was discovered on Club Nintendo while the user attempted to order a Wii game using his reward credit: Perhaps this is an indication that...
Video Marvel Characters Making Their Way to Disney Infinity
Interestingly referred to as "version 2.0"
After Disney's acquisition of Marvel in 2009, it seemed fitting that speculation would crop up regarding the usage of the comic book giant's characters in the NFC-driven Disney Infinity. After all, that game's universe-merging crossover potential would only be better served by the appearances of...
Weirdness These Chinese Game Controllers Look Wii-ly Familiar
The designers at Xiao Bawang clearly ran out of ideas
China has recently lifted its ban on games consoles, and as a result we're seeing a few new challengers arrive on the market in the hope of leveraging the country's massive number of potential players. One such outfit is Xiao Bawang, the company which tried — and failed — to conquer China...
Video What Could Xenoblade Chronicles Look Like In HD?
Sharp as a blade
Did you enjoy our Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD videos? We certainly hope so, because we've got another one for you today, and it's a real jaw-dropper. For this Xenoblade Chronicles video, we've done things a little differently. There's no
News GameSpy Shutting Down All Online Servers on 31st May, Following Wii and DS Wi-Fi Disconnection
End of an era
In late February we had the disappointing news that online multiplayer, online-based communication apps and even some DLC will become unavailable on Wii and DS, due to Nintendo switching off the Wi-Fi connection. This happens on 20th May — though the Wii Shop and DSi Shop will remain open for business — and prompted some to...
Video What Could The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Look Like In HD?
Flying High Definition
We've already shown you what Super Mario Galaxy could look like in glorious HD, and now it's the turn of fellow Wii classic The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the game voted for by you — our dear readers — as the next candidate for the comparison treatment. As before, we cannot stress enough that this is a hypothetica
March2014
News Dragon Quest X Reaches One Million Sales In Japan
A slow increase in popularity of the Square Enix MMORPG
The subscription-based Japanese exclusive Dragon Quest X – released on the Wii in 2012 and the Wii U just last year – has today reached a significant milestone. According to Producer Yosuke Saito via Twitter, the Square Enix MMORPG has now sold a total of one million copies. Last April,...
News Guitar/DJ/Band Hero DLC Catalogues Getting Unplugged at the End of March
One last encore of a sale until then
There was once a time when the rhythm game genre brought about by Guitar Hero felt like it would last forever, clacky plastic instruments with rainbow buttons becoming a living room or game room mainstay. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be, with many of those instruments lying silent in closets and on...
News Koji Igarashi, Best Known for the Castlevania Series, Departs from Konami
"I've decided to break out on my own"
It's possible that gamers relatively fresh to Nintendo hardware won't know much of Koji Igarashi's work, but Castlevania fans that enjoyed the terrific series entries on the Game Boy Advance and DS — in particular — may mourn the formal passing of an era today, even if it's been on the cards for a...
News Yoshi's New Island Makes UK Chart Début in 12th Place
Avoids getting egg on its face
Last week brought us the launch of Yoshi's New Island, which was met with a decidedly mixed critical reaction. Despite that its success rests not in reviews but in the final results — its performance at retail and, of course, on the eShop. We have a chance to gauge part of its early performance courtesy of the weekly...
News Club Nintendo in North America to Remove Post-Play Survey Coins for Wii and DS Games
Sad face
Times keep on changing, and Nintendo is reminding gamers still rocking the Wii and DS that they should really consider an upgrade. There's the sledgehammer approach of disconnecting the Wi-Fi online multiplayer service on the systems, which is as loud a prompt as possible, but there are more subtle ways the message is being made. For those...
Four Nintendo titles in the top 10
We often report the weekly UK and Japanese chart results here on Nintendo Life, as well as the monthly NPD results for the U.S., but there are a significant number of other valuable territories in which Nintendo is competing. It can also paint a worrying picture for European sales as titles struggle in the UK,...
Soapbox The Nintendo Wi-Fi Disconnection Reminds Us Why Local Multiplayer Still Matters
Tom Whitehead goes on about online multiplayer's pitfalls, like an old man
I was disappointed to learn about Nintendo switching off online play on the Wii and DS; at the time I was on a short break spending some time with my family and, funnily enough, getting ready for some memory-jogging multiplayer gaming with my older brother. Growing up playing...
Rumour Wii and DS Wi-Fi Disconnection May Be Tied To Glu Mobile Takeover of GameSpy Technology
Both system's online infrastructures use GameSpy middleware
News last week that Nintendo is switching off the Wi-Fi connection services for Wii and DS on 20th May understandably caused some disappointment. While the Wii Shop and DSi Shop will remain open, online multiplayer and some services on both systems will cease to be, which will affect major...
News Disney Infinity Executive Producer Discusses Wii Version's Limitations
Won't be drawn on future Wii support
Disney Infinity arrived late last year with a big task on its hands to take on the all conquering Skylanders franchise from Activision, yet it's had a solid start — it was one of the top 10 selling games in the U.S. in 2013, and has enjoyed spells of out-selling its major rival. With its Toy Box mode and...
Weirdness See Through the Eyes of Samus Aran in Metroid Prime with Oculus Rift
Check out this visor
If Metroid Prime wasn’t already immersive enough, YouTube personality Chadtronic has stepped it up a notch, sharing his own Oculus Rift experiences with Retro Studio’s now-classic 2002 GameCube title. After many requests and much troubleshooting, he was finally able to get the game up and running. Coming in just under 10...
Video What Could Super Mario Galaxy Look Like In HD?
We give a Wii classic the High Definition treatment
While many other console owners made the leap into HD with the launch of the Xbox 360 and PS3 many years ago, Nintendo fans had to wait a little longer — lest we forget, the entire Wii era was spent in Standard Definition. This got us thinking — what would some of the Wii's best games look like...
February2014
News Nintendo Switching Off Wi-Fi Connection Service On Wii And DS
You've got until May 20th to play online
Online gaming may be a big part of our hobby these days, but it doesn't come for free — companies have to spend cash to keep the infrastructure in place and running smoothly. That also means that over time, services will be switched off when they're no longer deemed to be as vital as they once were. That's...
News New and Sealed Xenoblade Chronicles Copies Available in North America
A rare opportunity
For a Wii game released in 2012 in North America (2011 in Europe), Xenoblade Chronicles has shown an impressive ability to remain relevant to enthusiastic Nintendo gamers. Its limited run in Nintendo of America's domain took on a controversial tone when retailer GameStop began charging $89.99 for copies, while there were even...
News Nintendo Patented an "Illumination Device" for Gaming Use
A little mood lighting, perhaps?
Nintendo has proven itself a company willing to buck standard conventions and try out new concepts. Some ideas, such as dual screens and motion controls, become a solid entry into gaming culture. Others may never leave the drawing board. A Nintendo patent that was filed in September 2010 and widely spotted today...
Rumour Disney Infinity 2 Coming To Wii U, But Not Wii
Job listing appears to confirm sequel is on the way
Last year, we saw Disney Infinity hit multiple formats and impress with both its toy-based gameplay and commercial performance. Unsurprisingly for such a high-profile, family-friendly franchise, it would appear that Disney is keen to turn the series into a yearly event; a new job listing seems to...
Weirdness New Scientific Research Reveals The Horrifying Impact Of Texting On Mario Kart Drivers
Don't text and handle red shells, kids
As we all know, texting behind the wheel isn't a wise move — it has caused countless accidents on roads all over the world, and you should never, ever do it. Ever. However, less is known about the effect texting has on road safety in Mario Kart. Thankfully, some pioneering scientists (in reality nine adults...
January2014
Video Short Film Extols The Virtues Of Buttons, Features Nintendo Quite Heavily
Can you spot R.O.B. the Robot?
Gaming used to be exclusively about buttons, but with the rise of touch-screen gaming — pioneered by the Nintendo DS and taken to the next level by the proliferation of smartphones and tablets — we've got an entire generation of players growing up in a world where buttons aren't necessarily the default gaming...
News Nintendo's Expanded List of Million Selling Games Includes Some Surprises
Mario Kart Wii shifted one million units in nine months
Earlier today Nintendo's initial financial results highlighted some million sellers for the financial year so far, which covers nine months from 1st April to 31st December 2013. Fully updated results now include more details on some of those loosely confirmed earlier today, along with some...
News Ubisoft Describes the Origins of Just Dance and Reflects on its Success
"People dared to dance in front of a screen and in front of people"
Gone are the days when any gamer with respect for the enjoyment of others can casually dismiss the Just Dance series. It may not be to all tastes — this writer would rather play Urban Champion again than dance — but it is hugely popular, with yearly releases doing little to...
Wii - Features
Forum Topics
3 replies |
