Wii U eShop - News
October2014
News Nintendo Outlines Generous eShop Publication Policies
In theory opens the door to games like Binding of Isaac
It's no secret to those that frequent these pages or that browse the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores on a regular basis, but Nintendo is now open and supportive of all kinds of developers. That's come about through a consistent loosening of its publication rules, making it easier for studios and...
Hasn't aged a day
Back in 1994, before 3D games had taken off, a little UK-based games developer called Rare decided that if it couldn’t have good looking 3D models in a game, it'd have to get creative. Donkey Kong Country used a pioneering new technique for the time that took images of pre-rendered three dimensional models and turned these...
Video Project CARS Halloween Trailer Shows Off Weather Effects
Wii U wording changes to "later on in 2015"
Project CARS recently suffered a delay until March 2015 on PS4, Xbox One and PC, with the Wii U release simply given a '2015' window. When sending out a new Halloween-themed trailer publisher Bandai Namco has now stated that the Nintendo home console's version will land "later on in 2015" which,...
News Slender: The Arrival Is Stalking Its Way To The Wii U eShop
Cult survival horror title is being published by Majesco
A PEGI rating has revealed that Majesco is publishing the Blue Isle Studios title Slender: The Arrival on the Wii U eShop. The game originally launched on PC and Mac back in 2013 and has since become something of a cult classic. It features the iconic Slender Man, a faceless antagonist who...
News Rhythmic Rail Shooter Cosmophony Arriving In Europe & The Americas on 30th October
Fallen goddess
Last month it was revealed that Bento Studio’s musical rail shooter, Cosmophony, would be adapted and ported to the Wii U by Moving Player. Now, the latest announcement has revealed the upcoming Wii U eShop release will be arriving in both Europe and the Americas on 30th October, for the price of £3.49, €3.99 & $3.99...
Nintendo Download 23rd October (North America)
Double Bayonetta, Aria of Sorrow, Fantasy Life, Pokémon, Shantae and more
It's Nintendo Download news time, North America, and this week has some seriously tempting options on both Wii U and 3DS to test your eShop funds to the limit. There's intense action on Wii U, retro Castlevania goodness, along with retail and download goodness on the 3DS...
Half-shelled
Retro-styled platformers have become very common in the current generation of games, thanks to download platforms and readily available, inexpensive development tools. Some titles, such as the insanely difficult, finely crafted 1001 Spikes, show an immediate artistry and sense of game design. Others, unfortunately, are bare experiences...
News A World of Keflings Unleashes On The North American Wii U eShop November 13th
European release underway
The last time we received an update on the status of A World of Keflings, was when NinjaBee Games reassured Wii U owners in August, that the long-awaited title was still on its way to Nintendo’s latest home console. Now, after much anticipation, NinjaBee has finally confirmed the game will be released on the Wii U eShop...
A twitch in time saves 99
Time is a very valuable commodity. At least that’s what people say, but there always seems to be time for sneaking a quick little game of something between tasks. 99Seconds seeks to fill those blips in your life, and perhaps a few more, with a classic dodge ‘em style of gameplay. The Wii U version of 99seconds is...
News Pilgrim is Another Download Game Making the Journey to Wii U
A land where it's often raining
The Wii U eShop continues to attract a diverse range of projects, and another on the way is an ambitious game called Pilgrim from developer Disintegration Games. Its target scope is rather grand, as it incorporates a period of 100 years and multiple characters, starting with a young Scottish immigrant travelling to...
News Tetrobot and Co. Puzzles Its Way Onto Wii U Next Week
Neko Entertainment returns to publish another eShop game
Neko Entertainment has announced its PC-hit, Tetrobot and Co.’s, arrival onto mobile and tablet devices. It’s not surprising, for this popular puzzle game has become quite a hit on Steam, providing PC gamers with hours of mind-boggling fun — the big news however, is that it will also...
The power of papercraft
In an increasingly busy eShop with titles that are wildly inconsistent in quality, download games have to make an immediate impression to get noticed. With a lovely visual style, Mobot Studios' Paper Monsters Recut instantly stands out among the crowd — an enhanced port of a mobile game, Paper Monsters Recut is a fun,...
News Pixel Galaxy: Enemies Aren't Forever is a Shooter That Looks Like an Eye Exam
We mean that in a good way, we think
The download scene isn't short of retro-styled titles, as they can be an effective way to develop on a budget and appeal to a wide range of gamers. Another throwing its hat into the ring, through Kickstarter, is Pixel Galaxy: Enemies Aren't Forever; it's only looking for $6000 in funding, too. Apparently...
News Hazewalker Kickstarter Campaign Launches With $100,000 Goal
We missed it from our summary, oops
We made a slightly odd omission in our last Kickstarter summary article, in that we failed to include a title we'd written about prior to its campaign's launch — Hazewalker. Let's remedy that right now, shall we? It caught our eye with its pre-launch press release and footage, as it has some ambitious scope and...
Nintendo Download 23rd October (Europe)
A Bayonetta double discount, Disney magic, more Rare DK, Themes and more
It's time to brighten up our Monday with the European Nintendo Download Update, and this week's line-up is full of fantastic titles. We have a double-helping of Platinum Games action on Wii U, some Disney magic on 3DS, some classic retro games across both systems, a new 3DS...
News Mad Men Football Shows Off Its New N64-Inspired Sports Uniform
"It's time for another revolution"
AE Games caused quite a stir when it announced Mad Men Football a while back. Showing off little more than concept artwork, the indie developer made some bold claims about the final product — despite not having any real industry experience — and predictably attracted quite a bit of criticism online. This...
News Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty Wii U Delay Seems to be Due to 8GB Basic Model
"If you're going to make a Wii U game, it better run on the 8GB unit"
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a critically acclaimed title that has been praised for being an accomplished reboot of a retro classic. It arrived on PSN earlier this year, though the promised Wii U eShop iteration has been absent. An explanation for the delay seems to have arrived,...
News Pier Solar and the Great Architects Landing in North America on 23rd October
Actually, no it's not
Update: Publisher Watermelon has now confirmed that the Nintendo listing for 23rd October was inaccurate; as a positive it's stated on Facebook that a release date will be confirmed in the coming week. Original Article: After a series of delays, former Kickstarter campaign
Video Curve Studios Shows Off Some Stealth Inc 2 Gadgets
Delightfully tricky
Stealth Inc 2 is due for release on 30th October, bringing its blend of tough Test Chambers that are well known from the first title, and a sizeable 'Metroidvania' world, exclusively to the Wii U. Last week we brought you a developer commentary video showing off that overworld, and now we can share the second video — along...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 17th October
Build your own N64 and more project updates
Kickstarter, despite seeing funding amounts and success stories go down in recent times, is still a source of interesting crowdfunding projects for the Wii U, in particular. It also throws up occasional alternatives that can intrigue Nintendo gamers, even if the 3DS has been much less prominent in past...
Feature Ari Pulkkinen's Quest to Turn the Volume Up on Game Music
Music is "the biggest emotional aspect in any game"
There's surely little debating that music is absolutely integral to a video game experience. Nintendo has successfully riffed on iconic themes for decades, while still producing terrific new soundtracks in its current-day efforts that can only add to the excitement of the gameplay. This is...
Nintendo Download 16th October (North America)
Harmony of Dissonance, Lone Survivor, Ballpoint Universe and much more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for Nintendo Download Update details to brighten your day and lighten your wallet. This week sees a collection of promising new download games across Wii U and 3DS, along with high quality retro options on both systems. Throw in a...
News Trailer Shows Off Today's First Batch of Hyrule Warriors DLC
"Master Quest Pack" gallops its way onto the eShop
The first batch of Hyrule Warriors DLC arrives today in Europe and the US, bringing a treasure chest full of exciting extras. The "Master Quest Pack" (the first of four announced DLC packages) will provide Hyrule Warriors owners with the following downloadable content: Three new playable...
News Curve Studios Outlines Release Details of Four Wii U Titles
All before December
Curve Studios has a strong history of working on Nintendo hardware, perhaps most notably with Nintendo-published titles Hydroventure / Fluidity on WiiWare and Hydroventure / Fluidity: Spin Cycle on the 3DS eShop. The development studio's work goes way beyond those two games, of course, and it's been responsible for a range of...
Feature Bayonetta - Creating Gaming's Combative Heroine
A unique part of the gaming scene
While it's a release that'll perhaps be battling the odds to make a major commercial impact, Bayonetta 2 will arrive as a Wii U exclusive on 24th October in the West, joined by an enhanced port of its predecessor. The new entry arrives as a relatively unique arrival, one of few dedicated action games of its type in...
News UCraft Developer Promises Extensive Features and Releases New Trailer
Online modes included
The recent announcement of UCraft for the Wii U eShop made it one of a small band of titles on the way to Nintendo hardware that cite Minecraft as a source of inspiration. This effort from Nexis Games is targeting a Holiday 2014 release window, and the developer has now released more details and an extended video of footage...
Feud of dreams
Nobunaga’s Ambition, long one of publisher Koei’s flagship series, deserves its rightful place in the history of strategy titles. This SNES iteration, like many of its brethren, has an engaging setup that rewards careful planning and execution once the learning curve is cleared. Actually, “curve” might be too gentle a term...
News Shovel Knight For Wii U & 3DS Launches In Europe And Australia This November
Finally!
Whilst North American Nintendo fans have been enjoying Shovel Knight for what feels like an eternity now, Wii U and 3DS owners in other parts of the world are still yet to experience the joys of this medieval side-scroller. Thankfully, the wait is nearly finally over for these remaining locations, with developer Yacht Club Games today...
News The Club Nintendo Rewards for October Have Been Confirmed
Kersploosh! 3D Classics: Kid Icarus! StarTropics II! More!
It's that time again, North American Club Nintendo fans, for the monthly rewards update that will try to separate you from your hard-earned virtual coins. This batch shakes things up a little from the last two months, with two 3DS eShop releases included in the portable offerings along with...
News Inquisitive Gamers Stumble Across Potential eShop Web Store
It already works, apparently
Nintendo has consistently maintained that it would explore options to make the eShop easily accessible in web browsers, a policy that's brought us Miiverse and Mario Kart TV on PC, Mac and mobile devices. With the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS becoming increasingly important to Nintendo, it's unsurprising that calls...
Nintendo Download 16th October (Europe)
DK delights and discounts, Lone Survivor, themes, PAC-MAN and more
The start of a fresh week can be a happy occasion for European Nintendo gamers, as it means Nintendo Download Update news. While it doesn't always provide thrills and spills, this week's selection certainly has some tempting options, including a new title on Wii U, some retro...
Should you take a chanson this?
Rarely is it possible to describe a game in a single word, yet after mere minutes of playing Mon Premier Karaoké you can aptly sum it up as “niche”. After all, this is a game that’s aimed squarely at young, French-speaking children, and so to be able to use a word of French origin to describe it is...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 10th October
More titles to consider
It's been just over a week since our last Kickstarter summary, in which we caught up on past campaigns and looked at some fresh arrivals. Since then we've had a couple of success stories, while two intriguing new projects have emerged that may be worth your attention. As before we are showing projects with attainable goals...
Tainted blood
When you think of the definitive side-scrolling Castlevania experience, we imagine for most people it’s imagery of Symphony of the Night or Super Castlevania IV that first creeps into the ol’ noggin. But while those might be the most popular of responses, there’s a slightly more obscure game in the franchise that many die-hards...
News Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow to Complete GBA Trilogy on Wii U Virtual Console
Scarily good
The Game Boy Advance enjoyed a terrific trilogy of 2D Castlevania titles — as did its successor, the DS — which set impressive standards for portable entries in the franchise. With GBA games on the Wii U, the prospect of playing them on the GamePad — or the TV if you like enormous pixels — must have come to the minds of Konami...
News Bayonetta 2 Demo Now Live In The European Wii U eShop
Climaxing too soon?
A demo for the forthcoming Wii U action title Bayonetta 2 is now available on the European Wii U eShop. The game doesn't launch until October 24th in North America and Europe, but Nintendo is clearly aiming to build up hype prior to release. A Wii U-exclusive sequel to the 2010 original — which is also coming to Nintendo's...
Video 'Nindie' Trailers Flood Nintendo's Official YouTube Channel
Strong, nindependent titles
Nintendo has released a wealth of new trailers for upcoming indie games that it is showcasing at IndieCade 2014. Charmingly referred to as 'Nindies', these developers have all declared their commitment to Nintendo's systems, and you can see just a snippet of the fruits of their labour in the trailers that you can see...
All the better to bore you with, my dear
Clearly aimed at children, Brave Rock Games' Red Riding Hood is a vaguely interactive storybook that, while certainly not a scam at the inexpensive asking price of $1 USD, will take users no more than 15 minutes to play through. With bare-bones presentation, narration that moves at a snail's pace and nearly...
Interview Mobot Studios Discusses Paper Monsters Recut and its Commitment to Wii U
Not papering over the cracks
It's already clear that, for devoted and keen Wii U owners, the eShop is a sanctuary of regular releases. Indie gaming is all the rage, and the eShop eco-system is already taking on a fairly unique identity with a mix of major download releases, occasional exclusives and — for better or worse, depending on the game —...
News Nintendo Highlights 'Nindies' and Their Games at IndieCade 2014
We're not sure we can forgive that name, though
Nintendo has compiled a long list of prolific indie games that will be making an appearance at IndieCade 2014 which runs from the 10th to the 12th of this month in California. Nintendo is quick to showcase this promising batch of titles that are coming to the systems. This list of titles that will be...
Video Join Curve Studios On An Exploration Of Stealth Inc 2's Overworld
Developer gives us an exclusive video commentary
Stealth Inc 2 is coming to the Wii U eShop very soon, and to mark this event we've teamed up with developer Curve Studios (the guys who are officially the best at Mario Kart 8, don't you know) to bring you a series of videos which focus on different elements of the title. The first video — shown...
News Demo Of ZaciSa's Last Stand Touching Down On The Wii U eShop Soon
Try before you buy
ZeNfA Productions has announced a demo of ZaciSa’s Last Stand is now in the hands of Nintendo, ready to be approved for the Wii U eShop. This latest news about the 2D tower defence title follows this year's July release in North America, and Patch 1.01 for the game in August that added extra content, as well as many improvements...
News Tengami Wii U eShop Release Expected Next Month
Worth the paper it's written on?
The visually stunning Tengami may have launched on iOS earlier this year, but we're still waiting on the Wii U eShop version. Developer Nyamyam previously stated that June would be the month, but that soon came and went with no sign of a release. Last we heard, the game was complete pending age ratings and general...
Nintendo Download 9th October (Europe)
Turtles, Sagas, Painting and MIGHTY FINAL FIGHT!
It's time to brighten our Mondays with the European Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week serves up a lot of options across the Wii U, 3DS and even DSi. There are some new releases on both eShop platforms along with Virtual Console entries, plenty of discounts and even a DSiWare release...
Video Début Footage of UCraft Aims to Show Minecraft Credentials
Building trust?
We're in the middle, it seems, of a Minecraft clone — or 'inspired by' Minecraft — phase on Nintendo systems, with UCraft from Nexis Games being an example on the way to the Wii U eShop. With Mojang staying away from Nintendo systems and now under Microsoft ownership, it's possible these small studio downloads will be the closest...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2014 - Fall Edition
Plenty of gaming on the way
By now you should be fairly familiar with our quarterly tradition of looking at the biggest games coming to the Wii U. Our Summer edition gave us a fairly strong line-up, and we now head into the final quarter of the year with a mixture of major retail titles and some select eShop entries. As we're sure you've figured...
The perfect balance
Art of Balance is a game that was first released on WiiWare, and was easily one of the best titles to grace the platform. Soon after a portable version was released on the 3DS, and now we get the biggest iteration yet on the Wii U eShop; as it's the third title you’d expect it to pull out all the stops, and Shin’en Multimedia...
News Actos Games Launches Tutorial Video Series To Explain Wii U eShop Exclusive, psyscrolr
Get psyched!
North Carolina-based Actos Games, the creator of the recently announced Wii U eShop platformer psyscrolr, has released a new tutorial video series explaining how the GamePad will be utilised in the project that promises to feature strong narrative elements, epic boss battles and seamlessly integrated puzzle mechanics. The first video...
News Nintendo Confirms Two More Début Releases Coming to the Virtual Console
Wii U and 3DS both covered
The Nintendo of America download update is always a popular arrival, but the region's habit of announcing future arrivals is also a neat bonus. It helps when the announced Virtual Console games are enticing, too, which was certainly the case last week with confirmation of two Castlevania titles making their VC débuts...
Nintendo Download 2nd October (North America)
Smash Bros. arrives, Castlevania goodness, 99Seconds and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, with details of this week's Nintendo Download Update treats now here. The headline arrival is rather obviously Super Smash Bros. on 3DS, though we have some other choices — including a Castlevania title's Virtual Console début — to...
News Tadpole Treble's New Trailer Shows the Lighter Side of Developers
Throwing money into the mix
BitFinity – the developer behind the upcoming Wii U eShop title Tadpole Treble – has put together a new trailer to show off how far the game has come in its development cycle, taking a similar approach to Curve Studio's recent trailer for Thomas Was Alone. The game initially began as a Kickstarter and reached its
News Defense Dome Aiming for Super Scope Nostalgia on Wii U This Holiday
Shoot on sight
Hullbreach Studios has announced an additional confirmed title as a Wii U eShop exclusive, a project that aims to tap into nostalgia for the SNES Super Scope game, Intercept. The clunky bazooka-like peripheral won't be used on the Wii U, of course, but Defense Dome will use the GamePad's gyroscope for aiming; it'll be a budget-priced...
First Impressions Blasting and Hacking in RIVE
Two Tribes gets less cerebral
Earlier this year Two Tribes endured a restructuring process and re-formed its development company, in the process shrinking the team down to three, still including original founders Collin van Ginkel and Martijn Reuvers. Previously associated with the Toki Tori brand and its publishing business, the struggles of Toki...
Feature Kickstarter's Wii U and 3DS Campaigns - 1st October
Successes, failures, maybes and newcomers
It's been a while since our last Kickstarter summary article — our apologies, please understand — so we thought we'd make a return to check on the success or otherwise of those that made the list last time, while also highlighting new projects currently doing the rounds. As before we are showing...
News Thomas Was Alone to Make Friends With Wii U in November
Next-gen shapes
Not so long ago a German rating revealed that Mike Bithell's million-selling title Thomas Was Alone is coming to the Wii U, with Curve Studios following up on its previous ports to Vita and PS3. The publisher has now confirmed the title will arrive in November for £6.99 / $9.99; it'll also arrive on PS4 and Xbox One. Thomas Was...
News Hazewalker to Target Wii U for Dual-Screen Metroidvania Experience
Kickstarter campaign to launch on 15th October
The term Metroidvania is thrown around a lot, possibly because it represents one of the most popular styles of game available; you play, you learn, and you triumph over obstacles with new abilities. When you combine action gameplay with exploration it can be a winning formula. The latest developer to...
News More Minecraft Mania Looks Set for Wii U With Stone Shire
From voxel fans Finger Fun Games
Throughout human history we've had various eras in which one resource or object is craved in great numbers — we had the gold rush in the US, the coal rush wherever it's found, Rush the movie, RUSH the game and plenty more besides (you got a bit lost there - ed). We're now in the midst of the Minecraft rush on...
September2014
Video Aqua Moto Racing Utopia Footage Breaks Some Waves
Some wave racing
Earlier this year Zordix AB announced Aqua Moto Racing Utopia for Wii U; it'll be an expanded HD follow-up to Aqua Moto Racing 3D on the 3DS eShop. For fans of water-ski racing who mournfully wait for a certain Nintendo franchise to return, the upcoming download release is sure to grab attention; it'll feature local and online...
News Warlocks Battles For Final Funding Push, With Wii U Version Planned
Fast-paced pixel action
In the absence of our Kickstarter update, which will return in the coming days, it seems like a good time to highlight Warlocks, a campaign close to closure that is targeting Wii U. A fast paced action platformer with pixel graphics, at the time of writing it's raised nearly $19,000 of its $25,000 goal, with around 60 hours...
News Nexis Games is Developing U Craft, a Minecraft Clone, for the eShop
Aiming for before Christmas
The continuing absence of Minecraft from Nintendo systems — a release even less likely following Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang — continues to frustrate some, especially considering the phenomenal popularity of the game. In recent days news emerged of a Minecraft clone on the way to Wii U, though we were...
Nintendo Download 2nd October (Europe)
Smash Bros., a double dose of Street Fighter and more
Another week begins, yet this time around the customary Nintendo Download news for Europe includes one of the most anticipated titles of 2014. As well as that smashing arrival we have a retro double header across the Wii U and 3DS, along with a new arrival on the home console and a couple of...
Multi-sided gameplay
While Pure Chess became the first cross-platform multiplayer title on Nintendo eShop stores, Cubemen 2 arrives with a far more complex and potentially rewarding setup. Developer 3 Sprockets and publisher Nnooo have done an admirable job on a technical level, but importantly have also served up an entertaining real-time strategy...
News Bayonetta on Wii U Bewitches as the Best Version
Outshines the Xbox 360 version
Bayonetta will arrive in October alongside its Wii U-exclusive sequel — Bayonetta 2. Included as a free extra in North America and available in select bundles or separately on the eShop in Europe, it'll give Nintendo gamers all of the context and lore they need before jumping into the new release. Naturally, the...
News You'll Definitely Want to Try Out Stealth Inc 2's Level Editor
Editing for the masses
Stealth Inc 2 is a puzzle platformer of a different kind coming to Wii U later this year, and it's been known for a while that the game would feature a level editor, but the level of freedom is probably greater than you expected. Speaking to us at EGX, Rob Clarke gives a deeper look into the editor's capabilities: The tools...
News Actos Games Announces Wii U eShop Exclusive psyscrolr
psysing up the opportunities
Burlington, North Carolina-based Actos Games, the creator of APEXICON - Fantasy Puzzle Combat, has returned with the recently announced Wii U exclusive psyscrolr, a platformer that features a strong narrative, epic boss battles and mini-epic mid-boss battles with integrated puzzle mechanics. Players take on the role of...
News Two Tribes Confirms That RIVE is Definitely Coming to Wii U
Let there be no doubt
During the summer period Two Tribes, the studio best known for its Toki Tori titles that also restructured and started again earlier in the year, announced its new 2D shooter — RIVE. At the time Two Tribes told us that it was "gunning" for Wii U development, and the studio has now confirmed on Twitter and to us at EGX in...
News Nintendo Confirms Final Week Details For Its Super Smashing eShop Sale
Donkey & Diddy Kong! Kirby! Pac-Man! Fox! More!
In the past three weeks Nintendo of America has run a series of discounts across the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores to celebrate characters from Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 3DS, and it's now confirmed the final set before the brawler arrives on the portable. This week's selection includes some...
News Two Castlevania Classics Confirmed for Wii U Virtual Console Débuts
Coming in the next two weeks
Details for Nintendo's Download Update in North America have been announced, and as is now tradition the company has provided a teaser of titles coming soon. This week's reveals are arguably the best yet of these previews. We have two iconic Castlevania titles coming to the Wii U Virtual Console in the next two weeks,...
Nintendo Download 25th September (North America)
Hyrule Warriors, Mario Golf Advance, discounts and more
It's that time again, North America, and a little later than normal this week. There's a major Wii U retail release for Zelda and action fans, an enjoyable slice of Game Boy Advance goodness along with some discounts and assorted other goodies. Let's get to it. Missed the European Nintendo...
News Meme Run is Coming to Troll Your Wii U Very Soon
So impress. Wow such tempt. Much memes.
Following on from their Wii U eShop debut with mediocre brain bamboozler IQ Test, Ninja Pig Studios has revealed some early details of Meme Run, which will be their next game developed in Unity and promises to be one of the more subversive games in the short time that Nintendo has welcomed indies using Web...
Review KickBeat: Special Edition
The first Wii U title to feature Papa Roach!
After reviewing the newest tables for its meticulously-detailed Zen Pinball 2, we were in for a totally different experience from Budapest-based Zen Studios when KickBeat: Special Edition hit the eShop. Rather than a realistic recreation of a real-life activity, KickBeat is a zany martial arts rhythm
News Nintendo Rolling Out New In-Store Digital Distribution Service For The UK And Europe
Pick your game and DLC, get a unique download code
For some time now, you've been able to walk into your typical European high street games retailer and buy download cards — like the ones shown above — for 3DS and Wii U eShop titles. However, Nintendo is looking to dramatically expand the remit of this in-store service by offering an even more...
Bully for you
Many reading this may be aware that this title was previously released on the 3DS as Darts Up 3D, and you might be expecting a more fleshed-out experience on the Wii U’s considerably more powerful hardware. As it stands, this version of the pub-game simulator is largely the same as the portable instalment. You aim with the...
True Bit
The Wild West is a fantastic setting for a video game. Rugged gunslingers, drunken shootouts, limited presence of the law and a surplus of criminals lend to a volatile and rowdy backdrop for a tense, controller-gripping time. In the case of Wild Guns it takes the Steampunk route, injecting hostile machinery and advanced weaponry into the...
News Shovel Knight Triumphantly Exits Final Testing Phase For International Release
"We’ll be shipping up and shipping it out the door!"
North American players have been playing — and enjoying — the excellent Shovel Knight for what feels like an eternity now, but the game still hasn't launched in other parts of the world. Thankfully, the wait for non-Americans is finally drawing to a close, as developer Yacht Club Games has...
Nintendo Download 25th September (Europe)
Fantasy Life, Art of Balance, FIFA(!), loads of discounts and much more
It's time to brighten our Mondays with the European Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week serves up a lot of options across the Wii U, 3DS and even DSi. There's a major retail arrival on 3DS, new titles on both eShop platforms along with Virtual Console entries,...
Review Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness
It's good to be bad
Although many people are familiar with the Red Arremers, the notoriously persistent enemies from the Ghosts 'n Goblins games, not many seem to be aware that one particular Arremer also starred in several games of his own. The first Gargoyle's Quest was released on the 3DS Virtual Console a while back, and now we've finally...
News Giana Sisters 2 In Development, Could Be Coming To Wii U As Early As Next Year
Black Forest Games fills us in
Nintendo Life editor Tom Whitehead is currently lording it up at the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, but fear not — in-between consuming vast amounts of alcohol from a beer stein and gorging himself with tasty bratwurst, he continues to have the best interests of Nintendo Life at heart, and to that end has been...
News Nintendo Reveals Details on the Third Week of its Super Smashing Sale on the NA eShop
Pokémon! Metroid! Wii Fit! Oh my!
Nintendo of America is continuing its promise of low, low prices for its Super Smashing eShop sale, a four-week string of promotions set out to celebrate the upcoming release of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. Be sure to make the most of what Nintendo has to offer for this week. The following games are...
Feeling a bit Flappy
It's difficult to review RCMADIAX's new title SPIKEY WALLS in a rational fashion – without any context, one could easily write, "This is a Flappy Bird clone," and it would be exactly correct. SPIKEY WALLS accomplishes everything it sets out to do. You control a flappy bug by pressing the A button to navigate a never-ending...
Back to the start
With Bayonetta 2 around the corner as a Wii U exclusive, a reality that caused quite a stir when announced in 2012, it may be important for Nintendo-focused gamers to consider diving into the fresh port of the original Bayonetta, a title that skipped Wii when released in the last generation. Whether it's a worthwhile double-dip...
News Immediate DLC Reinforcements Arriving Soon On The Hyrule Warriors Battlefield
Let the onslaught of additional content begin!
Whether you love or hate DLC, it’s fast approaching the latest Wii U release, Hyrule Warriors. But seriously, with Koei Tecmo’s history were, you expecting anything less? With this in mind, a Koei Tecmo live stream at the 2014 Tokyo Game Show has revealed a new batch of playable characters are on...
Monkeying around
Chimpuzzle Pro is CW-Games’ first offering on the Nintendo Wii U eShop, building on the company’s previous Chimpuzzle (for PC/Mac/Linux) by adding five new levels. In Chimpuzzle Pro, the object is to save the auto-walking monkey Bobo from hazards by building up a partially completed obstacle course using Tetris-style block...
Bigger sprites, bigger fun?
Mega Man 7 is in an awkward place; while most big NES franchises made huge leaps to the Super Nintendo, the mainline Mega Man series' 16-bit thunder was stolen by its Serious Business spin-off, Mega Man X. Released after X and its sequel Mega Man X2, Mega Man 7 is Capcom's attempt to bring its classic platforming roots to...
Balls to the wall
It's no secret that Nintendo's iconic red-wearing plumber has had a number of vocations. From referee to painter to kart racer to hotelier, Mario's been through a lot and shows no sign of actually doing some plumbing. Keeping that in mind, let's take a look at a game where he becomes a pinball. Super Mario Ball's plot revolves...
News Thomas Was Alone Will Look For Company on Wii U
Curve Studios is keeping busy
Curve Studios is currently finalising Stealth Inc 2 as a Wii U exclusive, but it's also a company that publishes and ports some excellent download games across multiple platforms. The positive news is that it's bringing another highly-regarded title in its range to Nintendo's home console eShop — Thomas Was Alone...
Feature We Go Hands On With SteamWorld Heist, The Next Image & Form Game
“A game about space adventure and survival”
Image & Form, the Swedish development studio that shot to prominence with the success of SteamWorld Dig on the 3DS eShop, which was subsequently ported to Wii U and other platforms, has announced the next game in the SteamWorld franchise. This isn’t a straight-up sequel, however, but a spin-off...
News First Image Of Wii U Wipeout-Beater FAST Racing NEO Speeds Into View
Speed demon
Shin'en Multimedia's FAST - Racing League was one of the best titles to grace the Wii's WiiWare service, and when the German developer announced that it was producing a sequel for the Wii U eShop back in 2013, fans were predictably excited. There's been little news on FAST Racing NEO since then, but Shin'en has ended the dro
News Armillo Update Arrives in Europe
Roll up, roll up
Armillo is a rather enjoyable title on the Wii U eShop, exclusive to the platform at present, and certainly has some keen fans throughout the Nintendo community. The launch day version wasn't without problems, however, and developer Fuzzy Wuzzy Games recently released a patch in North America to resolve issues with the framerate,...
News Wii U Art Of Balance Release Date Confirmed For Europe
Balancing act
Shin'en has confirmed that the Wii U version of Art of Balance will be coming to Europe later this month — September 25th, to be exact. The physics-based puzzler is based on the WiiWare original — which was then updated for the 3DS in the shape of Art of Balance TOUCH! — and will feature 200 different challenges in its...
News Carbon Fire Studio Launching Frenchy Bird On Wii U eShop
Is this the Wii U’s answer to Flappy Bird?
Following the overnight success of iOS sensation Flappy Bird, newly founded French indie developer Carbon Fire Studio has announced that its first game — Frenchy Bird — will be released on the Wii U eShop in North America before the end of the year, with a release likely within other regions. Players...
Nintendo Download 18th September (Europe)
Hyrule Warriors, Theatrhythm, KickBeat, original DK and lots more
Monday morning doesn't have to be a time of gloom, European gamers, as Nintendo brings us details of this week's Download Update to enjoy. This week's pretty hot, it must be said, with major retail releases on Wii U and 3DS, some promising download-only games and more discounts than...
Hands On Exploring the Four New Tables of Zen Pinball 2
The Walking Dead! Guardians of the Galaxy! Deadpool! Doctor Strange!
It's tough for comic book fans these days – movies based on superhero comics are more popular than ever, but the comic books themselves are often lost in the shuffle. Everyone loved The Dark Knight, but have you been reading Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's fantastic run on...
News Little Orbit Bringing Falling Skies: The Game To Wii U as eShop-Only Release
Fight for humanity’s survival
Following news back in June that Little Orbit was bringing a video game adaption of DreamWorks’ critically acclaimed sci-fi television series Falling Skies to the Wii U, the publisher has now revealed that the system's version will be released on the eShop, not at retail as with PS3 and Xbox 360. The initial...
News Mega Man 7 Storms onto North American Wii U eShop
Tears fall for Europe
Nintendo has revealed via its current Treehouse live stream that the coveted Mega Man 7 is available right now on the North American Wii U eShop! The SNES classic joins over half a dozen other Mega Man games on the eShop. Thanks should be aimed towards Capcom for bulking out the Virtual Console so effectively. There's no...
News Image & Form Teams Up With Zoink In Self-Publishing Partnership
"Together, we’ll be a real powerhouse"
Two highly respected Scandinavian download developers, Image & Form and Zoink!, have announced a formal publishing collaboration. Image & Form is best known for SteamWorld Dig on 3DS and — recently — Wii U, while Zoink released the excellent Stick It To The Man on Wii U. This formal partnership...
News Rhythmic Rail Shooter Cosmophony Is Coming To The Wii U eShop
Let the music guide you
If you’re a fan of the techno beats, high speed and drum & bass, then Cosmophony by Bento Studios might just be the game for you. Thanks to the assistance of Moving Player, the title will be coming to the Wii U eShop at some point in the near future. Cosmophony was originally announced in 2012, and will be released on...
News Nintendo Confirms Week Two Details for Super Smashing eShop Sale
Featured characters like Link! Mega Man! Captain Falcon! Pit! More!
Last week Nintendo of America caused a fair amount of buzz when it launched the first week of its Super Smashing eShop sale, which is a series of promotions over a four week period to celebrate the fighters in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. The initial batch has...
News Stealth Inc 2 Sneaking Onto the Wii U eShop on 23rd October
Curve Studios' Wii U exclusive creeps closer
Stealth Inc 2 was a slightly surprising announcement as a Wii U eShop-exclusive title earlier this year, especially as its predecessor has never been available on Nintendo hardware. On the other hand developer Curve Studios has recently confirmed more titles — The Swapper and Lone Survivor — for the...
News Mario Golf: Advance Tour Tees Off on the North American eShop on 25th September
No longer out of bounds
Nintendo of America has provided its download update for the week, and has also continued its fine tradition of revealing a select title that's on the way soon. The latest announcement is sure to please Game Boy Advance fans and those that think Mario needs to get a bit more exercise. It's been announced that Mario Golf:...
