Wii U eShop Features
"It's mostly my daughter Maddi's fault!"
Capcom's Ghouls 'n Ghosts series is held in high esteem by many a retro gamer, yet the franchise is currently dormant and we're unlikely to see a sequel any time soon. However, we may be getting the next best thing in the form of Battle Princess Madelyn, a spiritual successor created by Causal Bit Games and...
Interview Preparing for Adventure in forma.8 on the Wii U eShop
"We can't wait to work on Switch, it's such a lovely bit of kit!"
MixedBag rightly earned praise for Futuridium EP Deluxe, which brought its colourful and high tempo gameplay to both the Wii U and New 3DS. Yet forma.8 was the first project we heard of from the Italian studio - it emerged in early 2014, was part of the [email protected] demo promotion...
Feature 30 Essential Wii U eShop Games
Because it's cold outside
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful. And since we've got no place to go, Let it download, let it download, let it download. (Tsk, must do better, Ed.) So yeah, we're too much into the festive spirit to really make that opening 'bit' work, but in any case we thought the timing was good for...
Feature The Nindie Christmas Celebration - Affordable Space Adventures Edition
A journey best shared
With Christmas just around the corner, many a Nintendo gamer is perhaps asking "what should I buy?" Alas, there isn't a whole lot to look forward to in terms of new releases, so in this series we'll be spotlighting a menagerie of quality indie games that have shown up on the eShop over the years. In this edition, Tom Whitehead...
Feature The Nindie Christmas Celebration - Runbow Edition
Mitch Vogel on one of the multiplayer highlights of the eShop
With Christmas just around the corner, many a Nintendo gamer is perhaps asking "what should I buy?" Alas, there isn't a whole lot to look forward to in terms of new releases, so in this series we'll be spotlighting a menagerie of quality indie games that have shown up on the eShop over...
Interview Learning More About the Adventure in Wii U Exclusive Twisted Fusion
"I think the Nintendo audience is perfect for this game"
The list of Wii U exclusives is getting rather short as the system heads into its twilight, perhaps ahead of its time, but there are still intriguing games to keep us busy. One of them is Twisted Fusion, a title that emerged from a successful Kickstarter campaign back in Spring 2014 and is...
Interview Learning More About Ectoplaza, A Spooky Wii U Multiplayer Game for Halloween
"Nintendo of America have been tremendously supportive "
With Halloween approaching there are some appropriately themed discounts currently on offer for eShop fans. Ectoplaza, though, is an award winning upcoming arrival on Wii U that's perfect for the season - it's exclusive to Nintendo's system and features chaotic multiplayer action, with...
Feature Taking the FAST Racing NEO Future Pack DLC for a Test Drive
YOU GOT BOOST POWER
Has it really been nine-or-so months since FAST Racing NEO first graced our consoles? This writer finds it hard to believe and yet here comes an incessant rattling that many might consider to be an opinion on its DLC pack we've been dying for. To say that we at Nintendo Life are fans of Shin'en and the games they produce is no...
Interview Shin'en Multimedia Explains How FAST Racing NEO's Future Pack DLC Got on the Grid
"We see it as a fan service"
This week there are certainly some high profile arrivals due on the eShop, one of which is the NEO Future Pack DLC for Wii U exclusive FAST Racing NEO. It looks set to be a good deal, too, confirmed with a price tag of $4.99 / €4.99 / £4.20; as the racer is fondly regarded by many, the opportunity to jump into eight...
Interview Learning More About Tom Happ and the Making of Axiom Verge
Getting to know the man behind the masterpiece
Have you ever been so wrapped up in a project that it began to seep into your personal life? What if your passion became your day-to-day? Imagine spending so much time and energy working on something that it eventually outgrew your expectations and became your bread and butter. It's the dream of so many...
Feature 13AM Games and Its Next Hits - Runbow Pocket and Pirate Pop Plus
Testing out the latest and greatest from the developer and publisher
Beyond playing new games, seeing your industry heroes and getting tons of swag, one of the most rewarding aspects of going to a convention such as PAX is being able to share your passion for video games with like-minded individuals. Sometimes, when you're really lucky, those...
Feature Future Nindie Hits for the eShop - October to December
A look at the titles that Nintendo is keen to promote
September has already proven to be a good month for high quality Nindie downloads, and there are more to come. The 'Summer Jam' promotion has already delivered games like Axiom Verge and Jotun: Valhalla Edition, and we still have Noitu Love: Devo
Interview Will Dubé on Mythology, Art and Big Bosses in Jotun: Valhalla Edition
"We want to make beautifully powerful game experiences"
If you haven't already, do yourself a favour and take the time to look at some screenshots and trailers for the upcoming Wii U release of Jotun: Valhalla Edition. It's a beautifully crafted adventure game that pulls its story right from the pages of Norse Mythology. Not long ago we posted a...
Feature Exploring the Licensed Content in RCMADIAX Games on the Wii U and New 3DS eShop
Origins on asset stores
In recent days we've had multiple readers and colleagues direct us to licensed game assets available to buy online that appear to have been utilised extensively for games sold on the eShop. The developer in question is RCMADIAX, a studio that has produced a substantial volume of releases over the past year, in particular...
Feature Over The Moon on Lessons Learned With The Fall and Continuing ARID's Story in Part 2
"We try to have something that appeals on lots of levels"
As you may have seen, the Wii U eShop is thankfully being included in the line-up of platforms that'll receive The Fall Part 2: Unbound in Q1 2017. A follow-up to The Fall, an intriguing adventure game with a strong narrative that blended action and puzzles, this title with a focus on a...
Exclusive RIVE Delayed for Wii U and Could Switch to NX, Two Tribes Tells Us Why
"A better RIVE is preferable to an early sub-par RIVE"
In the steadily decreasing list of enticing titles still coming to the Wii U and its eShop, RIVE was among the most anticipated in the download scene. The final game from Two Tribes, it made a favourable impression as one of the demos in the E3 2015 '[email protected]' promotion, and we rather...
Interview Jason Behr on Buddy & Me: Dream Edition, Going Independent and His History With Nintendo
"We just needed some space to prove we could carefully craft our own world"
Along with the regular slew of digital releases in the weekly update of eShop downloads, today marks the release of Buddy & Me: Dream Edition. Starting life as a mobile game born of a Kickstarter campaign, Dream Edition takes the best of the endless runner and...
Feature The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Games of 2016 - Summer Edition
Yes, we're combining the lists...
Summer is pouncing upon us and at the time of writing it's Independence Day in the US and a tad drizzly in this writer's part of the UK. It seems like a typical early July day, but we are shaking things up a little in this latest quarterly entry of the 'Biggest Games' series. We're combining the Wii U and 3DS...
Hands On Painting the Walls Red with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Oh, it's good. Very good.
Back in 1997, Koji Igarashi made gaming history with the extremely successful Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The reason that Castlevania shares half of the name with "Metroidvania", Symphony of the Night was lauded for its fantastic art direction and intricately designed castle. Later on, the formula established by...
Hands On Dealing Death by a Thousand Cuts with SEVERED
The latest from DrinkBox Studios
Many of you will no doubt recall Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, a wildly inventive and colorful 2D Metroidvania that set the eShop alight when it released back in 2014. We absolutely loved it, and if early impressions are anything to go by, it seems as though DrinkBox Studio's next game - coming to...
Feature Tom Happ on Axiom Verge Coming to Its 'Home Turf' on Wii U
We still can't believe this game is the work of just one guy
It boggles the mind how Axiom Verge is the work of one man. It took five years for creator Tom Happ to produce the game on his own, putting together this game that deftly incorporates elements of Metroid, Contra, and other retro classics. With a list of influences like that, it's tough...
Feature Thunder Lotus Games Dives Into Norse Mythology With Jotun: Valhalla Edition
Ragnarok and roll
Unveiled earlier this year for the Wii U eShop, Jotun: Valhalla Edition is certainly an eye catching game. Thunder Lotus Games dives into Norse mythology, putting the player into the shoes of Thora, a Viking Warrior that must prove herself to earn a place in Valhalla. Those are big stakes for an action-exploration game. A hit on...
Talking Point Five Years of eShop Progress Doesn't Mask Nintendo's Next-Gen Challenge
Gamers want a lot, it seems
Earlier this week the 3DS eShop - and the eShop as a broader brand - celebrated its 5th Anniversary, and we shared a rather cheerful article in praise of the progress made with the store. Though Nintendo was relatively early in the download scene with the Wii and DSi stores, both had a number of issues and over-stringent...
Interview Playtonic On Yooka-Laylee Progress And Its New 2017 Release Window
Going behind the scenes on the exciting platformer
Yooka-Laylee is aiming to bring back the long-forgotten 3D platforming/collectathon genre that helped make developers such as Rare juggernauts of the industry, and is also one of the last shining beacons of hope for long-suffering Wii U owners. We were lucky enough to have a first-hand look at the...
Interview Exploring the Ambition Behind 3Souls, the Episodic Wii U eShop Exclusive
Utilising the GamePad and "kishōtenketsu" approach
Though the console is in the midst of a disappointing sales decline, the Wii U is a system that - for those already on board - still has plenty to offer. It's in the download scene where intriguing titles can still be found, and the eShop on the home console continues to attract ambitious new...
"Now that I’m on my own, I have complete freedom"
While Dan Adelman had a rather grand formal job title at Nintendo of America - Head of Digital Content and Development - he was, in the eyes of many, the Indie Champion; he was highly regarded for his efforts to bring quality download games to WiiWare, and then the eShop on 3DS and Wii U. A little...
Feature Developer's Perspectives on the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle
"I would change nothing about this bundle. This bundle is pure joy."
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle is, at the time of writing, in its final stretch. The final offering includes 11 games (and a neat 3DS HOME Theme) - three of which are retail titles - for $13 or more, with three tiers from which to choose. The mix of big-name games and high...
"Nintendo is showing that they are forward thinking in their approach"
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle, now in its final few days, has demonstrably been a success. Unlike 2015's Humble Nindie Bundle it's been available in multiple territories around the world, with a mix of retail and download-only titles tempting eShop gamers to part with...
Feature Taking a Dash at Runbow's DLC Offerings
The Colours Out of Space
It's really no secret at all that many of us at Nintendo Life are giddy for Runbow and its perilous, polychromatic platforming. We scored it a 9 in our review and it ranked on both staff and readers' digital picks for last year. The crew at 13AM Games has since released some additional c
Interview Solving the Puzzle of PixlCross on Wii U
PixlBit Studios went from Picross addicts to Wii U developers
Nintendo's systems have played host to various unlikely game genres, and Picross can certainly be considered one example. The history of the puzzle genre goes right back to the Game Boy, and on the 3DS eShop we've also had numerous Picross e releases. Let's not forget, either, that My...
Poll Are You Ready to Download More of Your Retail Games From the eShop?
Nintendo's keen, but are you?
Though we wait (im)patiently for My Nintendo - and Miitomo - to arrive in the West, the launch in Japan has given an early look at how the Club Nintendo replacement is shaping up. We expect tweaks and even alternative rewards for the West, but the general structure and broad detail is likely to be largely the same...
Interview Former Retro Studios Man Rhys Lewis on Going Alone With Star Ghost on Wii U
"I reflected on Iwata-san's words" with move from iOS to eShop
When a one-man studio developer states - with as much humility as possible - that they've previously worked at both Rare and Retro Studios, you can't help but be intrigued. These are two of the most storied Western development studios in Nintendo history, with Rare being an integral part...
Talking Point Pokémon and Mega Man Show Us Extremes of Nostalgia's Value
Will you be putting down the cash for all three gen 1 Pokemon games?
This week brings a delicious nostalgia overload on the 3DS, with Pokémon Red, Blue & Yellow making their way to the portable on 27th February, while Mega Man Legacy Collection lands on 23rd February. That's nine games across the two franchises, considering all the parts in...
Interview RCMADIAX's Michael Aschenbrener Reflects on his Development Experience and Moving Forward
"I've learned to just ignore the negative and embrace the positive"
The legacy of the Wii U will likely be rather complicated and hotly disputed in years to come, yet a notable positive has been its eShop. After the structural limitations of the Wii and DSi stores, and then the hardware restrictions of the 3DS, the current-gen home console's support...
Feature Learning More About the Nindies Love You Wii U eShop Promotion
Up to ten Nindie games on discount
The most recent European Nintendo Download Update details contained plenty of discounts on the Wii U eShop, but a number of those are actually part of a themed campaign that'll reach all regions. Nindies Love You will feature on the store with its own banner and sections, and is the latest promotional campaign...
Interview Learning More About FreezeME, a Surprising 3D Platformer for Wii U
"I think FreezeME is a perfect fit for the Wii U"
The coming week is already confirmed to include some highly promising download content, and one that's certainly caught our eye is FreezeME. Heading to North America on 4th February at a launch price of $9.99 - then $13.99 after its first week - it looks a cut above the usual 3D platformers that are...
Feature A Year in Development - 13AM Games
"All game development seems to be like you're getting ready for a party"
In the second article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series 13AM's Managing Director, Dave Proctor, talks about a big year for the studio that saw Runbow arrive as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Runbow seemed to start gaining momentum in 2014, but how would you describe the...
Feature A Year in Development - Shin'en Multimedia
"All in all we did the best we can, and this has already made us happy"
In the first of this 2015 'Year in Development' series, Shin'en Multimedia's Manfred Linzner talks about a big year for the studio that culminated in the December release of FAST Racing NEO on the Wii U eShop. As a studio you were relatively quiet early in the year, though...
Feature 505 Games On Bringing Terraria To Nintendo Consoles And Facing Off Against Minecraft
"There's a bit of rivalry between the Minecraft and Terraria communities"
With Terraria on the 3DS, Minecraft on Wii U and Terraria coming to Wii U soon, there's arguably never been a better time to be a Nintendo block-builder. Looking at the first direct capture from the Wii U game alongside some 3DS footage, Dean Scott - Producer on Terraria at...
Guide Learning How to Survive the Hostile World of Minecraft
It's dangerous to go alone
Though many are already veterans of Minecraft, some of you may be experiencing the open world sandbox game for the first time. Once you get the hang of things the mechanics seem pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit overwhelming when you're just getting your feet wet. As a result we've put together a list of...
Poll Are You Excited About Minecraft: Wii U Edition, Or Is It Too Late?
Building the hype train
One of the great will-they-won't-they sagas of the Wii U generation has come to an end; Microsoft Studios is bringing Minecraft: Wii U Edition to the eShop on 17th December. The concept and the platform have long seemed suited for each other, yet such has been the wait for it to happen that smaller developers have attempted...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part Three
Martin Sauter talks about creating landscapes for racing
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases, with its arrival due on 10th December. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part Two
Bernhard Wodok on its technology and a surprise DS cameo
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre that's been long-neglected on Nintendo...
Feature Assessing Affordable Space Adventures and Its Ongoing Journey
KnapNok's Anchel Labena talks it over
The Wii U eShop has an expansive and - we'd suggest - fantastic range of download titles, covering a significant number of genres and styles. Many are cross-platform titles, naturally, as Indie developers seek to make a living and grab as wide an audience as possible, though plenty go to the effort to utilise...
Feature Our Top Wii U Games - Third Anniversary Edition
Retail and eShop go head-to-head
The Wii U is now over three years old having arrived in North America on 18th November 2012. In recent times we've celebrated some of the best games the system has to offer, with our staff voting (and readers through embedded polls) on their favourite Wii U retail and top eShop games. Now, as a little bonus, are the...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part One
Manfred Linzner talks us through an early car and track
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre that's been long-neglected on Nintendo...
Feature Our Top 10 Wii U eShop Games - Third Anniversary Edition
A Nindie bonanza
The Wii U is now three years old, having arrived in North America on 18th November 2012. Though it's struggled commercially we think history will be kind to the system in years to come courtesy of the strength to be found in its game library. Whether titles catered to dedicated fans, less experienced gamers or a mix of both, the Wii...
Parent Trap Oft-Forgotten Wii U Features That Matter To Families
Family Gamer TV looks at the eShop, backward compatibility and more
Weighing up which console to invest in for a family is a matter of identifying which features are most important to you. I've had a repeated conversation over the last few months where I introduce friends and parents to some of the lesser known features of the Wii U. Some of these...
Feature Finding Top Speed in FAST Racing NEO
"It's been the biggest production for us. We're sure it'll pay off"
FAST Racing NEO, still due this year, is almost certainly among the most highly anticipated Wii U eShop releases of the next two months. In fact, among the hardier and most dedicated band of Wii U devotees it may be one of the most exciting upcoming releases on the system full stop,...
Hands On Learning to Enjoy Death in RIVE
Two Tribes isn't cute and cuddly any more
Two Tribes, prior to its closure and restructuring in early 2014, had a broad range of games and genres both developed in-house and as part of its publishing arm. Toki Tori was the best known of its titles, a cute - albeit tricky - puzzler that branched out across consoles and smart devices. The company's...
Hands On Aperion Cyberstorm is Bringing a Welcome Slice of Twin-Stick Shooting Action to Wii U
We play, and play, and play, in the score chasing mode
Sometimes we get an interesting perspective - based on our readership at least - of what 'clicks' with the eShop audience and what doesn't. Some games get a lot of buzz right off the bat while other equally deserving games continue to be largely overlooked. At times reasons can be discerned but,...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2015 - Q4 Edition
Goodies to finish off 2015
Every few months of each year we do lists of what we consider to be ten of the biggest games on each system that are on the way. We're kicking off with the Wii U for this quarter and, although we gave retail and eShop games separate lists earlier in the year, the limited remaining slate for 2015 has prompted us to combine...
First Impressions Taking A Shot At Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water
"I like it here...She's calling me."
The Fatal Frame series, known as Project Zero in Europe, has had an inconsistent presence in the West for quite some time now. Though several installments made their way onto Nintendo consoles - most notably the Wii - fans outside of Japan have grown accustomed to importing in order to get the latest spooky...
Hands On Digging Deeper With Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
An explosive addition
The new Shovel Knight expansion has finally dropped, and while it may not be an entirely new game in the Shovel Knight franchise it still brings enough new content and ideas that it warrants a sort-of-review. Remember, this expansion is entirely free with the game, we're just going to share our thoughts on it and how it differs...
Hands On Popping Wheelies In Pumped BMX+
Becoming the raddest & baddest
Curve Digital is a publisher and developer that rarely fails to impress, and when we were invited down to its HQ to play a new title it's bringing to the Wii U we couldn't refuse. Pumped BMX+ is a game not dissimilar to OlliOlli, a previous title from Curve, the difference being that this time not only are you riding...
First Impressions Digging into Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
Fiendishly good
When Shovel Knight was Kickstarted in March 2013 and subsequently met its funding goal, Yacht Club Games announced additional content to follow its release if stretch goals were met. The developer is now delivering on its promise with the release of a new downloadable campaign titled Plague of Shadows. We recently had the opportunity...
Interview James Hoag on Aiming High With Wii U Platformer Mekazoo
"Our goal is to make the best platformer ever. We want to aim for that."
Earlier this year we reported on the announcement of Mekazoo, a forthcoming title with gameplay that harkens back to the glory days of speed-based platformers. As exemplified by Nintendo's recent Nindie crusade, the Wii U eShop is no stranger to independent games, making it the...
First Impressions Getting Down with Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Don’t call it a reboot
Among the indie stars that have graced Nintendo platforms over the years, it's easy to say that WayForward's Shantae is one of the most recognizable. Despite playing the lead role in only three games over the past decade, the scantily clad genie has managed to dance her way into the hearts of so many gamers
Guide 9 Tips for Playing Runbow
Get up and running
Runbow is finally out in both North America and Europe. But did you know that to Runbow properly you need to follow a series of steps? It is scientifically proven by a group of proven scientists that running is more difficult than walking. Write that down as a fact! Luckily for you we have come up with the perfect guide; no no,...
"We're very fortunate that Typoman's concept has been well received so far"
There are a number of promising games on the way to the Wii U eShop, though not many are exclusives. Typoman is an exception, then, and has a promising concept. Included in the [email protected] demo range earlier in the summer, we all had a chance to see how platforming and word...
Interview Simogo and Dakko Dakko Explain Why Year Walk is "Coming Home" on Wii U
"The GamePad becomes the link between the player and the game."
The Wii U eShop has been integral to the appeal of the system for long term owners. The influx of 'Nindies' of various kinds has kept the store busy, and has also enabled some exclusives and intriguing PC releases to make their way onto Nintendo hardware. In some cases the GamePad, in...
The eShop can be key for smaller retail releases
In the glut of Gamescom announcements earlier this week, Nintendo of Europe confirmed interesting details for the launch of Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water, known as Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden in North America; we'll opt for Fatal Frame as our preferred title. Given a
Interview 13AM Games on Getting Up to Speed With Runbow
"When we go to parties it's always the Wii U out entertaining everyone"
You can always judge how much Nintendo's eShop teams enjoy an upcoming release by the amount of support it receives at the big N's expo booths, social media channels and more. On those criteria Nintendo's staff clearly adore Runbow, as the colourful nine-player Wii U eShop title...
Reaction The Concept of eShop 'Early Access' is Both Exciting and Slightly Terrifying
Tom Whitehead thinks it would be the best of times, and the worst
Nintendo is rapidly disproving the suggestion that it's behind-the-curve or old fashioned in the download gaming space. Aspects of the company's decision-making remain cautious, but the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores have not only brought Nintendo up to speed with a number of modern...
Feature The Biggest Wii U eShop Games of 2015 - Summer Edition
Plenty of choices
Not long ago we published our updated list for the biggest Wii U retail games of 2015, opting out of continuing our recent approach of combining retail and selective eShop titles in one. This was to give the eShop its fair due - there are plenty of promising titles heading to the home console's download store, and we wanted to give...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Retail Games of 2015 - Summer Edition
E3 has added some new hits
It's the Summer Solstice here at Nintendo Life HQ in the UK, the longest day of the year. That comes at the end of the longest week of the year following E3, at which Nintendo had a mixed showing. What the event did deliver, in addition to some controversy and a clutch of wonderful moments, was a clearer look at the...
Feature Our Impressions of the Full [email protected] Line-Up
Some delights are on the way
One of Nintendo's earliest E3 announcements may not have drawn the headlines it deserved, but is a promotion that is worthy of praise. The [email protected] promotion has served up nine free eShop demos on the Wii U, featuring some hugely promising games that are on the way to the store. Once you've downloaded the demos...
Feature Humble Nindie Bundle - The Developer's Perspective
"I won't pretend I saw it coming, but it does make sense"
Humble Bundle is long established as a service that groups together games, eBooks and music into affordable packages, for which you pay what you want and determine how much money goes to the creators, Humble itself and a chosen charity. It's in gaming circles that it's best known, is hugely...
Feature Explaining Humble Bundle and What it Could Mean for Nintendo and Nindies
There are many winners
A rather surprising promotion went live this week - the Humble Nindie Bundle. It's only available in the Americas, though Nintendo of America's Damon Baker has stated that there were efforts to make it global and there's scope for future promotions. The frenzy of attention is naturally on the pay-what-you-want angle, which...
Talking Point The Fragility of Buying Download Games
Download stores have changed what it means to own a game
During the last console generation we saw a leap in the prominence of online connectivity in games; one of the major things to emerge from this shift was the rise of digital games and storefronts. It became easier than ever for Indies to reach larger audiences as the barriers to console...
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
There's a worrying trend at present, in which ambitious and creative independent developers announce a sizeable Wii U exclusive, and then have to defend their pricing. That's happened twice in recent times with Affordable Space Adventures and - this week - Swords & Soldiers II. We've also had a reliable...
Talking Point Nintendo's Legacy Makes The Virtual Console Essential, But It Must Modernise
Idealism should make way for realism
Technologically, the world is busier and noisier than it's ever been before. So many gadgets and screens demand our time and loyalty, from smart TVs with hundreds of channels and streaming apps, to smartphones and tablets and, of course, game systems. Those with a decent amount of spare cash that are anxious to...
Poll Is It Time For a Fresh Alternative to the Virtual Console?
Bundles, remixes, subscription services - what's next?
When the Wii launched it had plenty of exciting ideas that contributed to its extraordinary success. One service that appealed to older gamers and / or dedicated fans was the Virtual Console - while relatively niche services had offered older games for download in the past, this was a game...
Exclusive Behind The Scenes On Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee
Meeting with a Rare breed of developers
They say that the apple never falls far from the tree, and that's certainly true of UK startup Playtonic Games. Based on an industrial estate in the middle of the rolling English countryside, this team of former Rare developers is but a stone's throw away from the historic town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where Rare...
First Impressions Hands On With Playtonic's Yooka-Laylee
Damien and Thomas share their initial impressions
The cat - or should that be chameleon - is out of the bag. Fledgling UK studio Playtonic Games has lifted the lid on the stars of its début title - Yooka and Laylee - and has sent Rare-loving Nintendo fans into a frenzy of anticipation by confirming that the game will be coming to the Wii U eShop...
