Wii U Features
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2013
Well, those that we know about
2012 was a busy year for Nintendo — which our upcoming yearly review will hopefully demonstrate — but now it's all about moving forward with its current systems, with Wii U hogging plenty of headlines by virtue of the fact that it's less than two months old. We won't truly know how well worldwide launch and Holiday...
First Impressions Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - Wii U
We played the monster mash
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Wii U may not be an entirely new game built from the ground up, but it’s fair to say that this upcoming expansion has a lot of gamers excited. Monster Hunter Tri was without doubt one of the definitive hardcore title for Wii owners seeking an in-depth experience, and MH3 Ultimate looks set...
Feature 10 Essential Games For Your New Wii U
Got a new system this Christmas? Try these must-have titles
Assuming you've been very good this year, many of you will have been blessed with shiny new Wii U consoles today. There's only one thing better than finding a new gaming system under your Christmas tree, and that's actually playing on it - and we guessed you may be in need of some solid...
Developer Interview Tomorrow Corporation on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
It's Little Inferno just for Wii (U, and PC)
So, Little Inferno, what can be said about it? Our own review stated that "it's as much a sandbox or digital toy as it is a game", with the simple fact that the experience can basically be summarised as burning stuff. There's money to earn and collect, as well as puzzle combos to figure out, but it's a...
Developer Interview WayForward Technologies on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
High and Mighty
Californian developer WayForward Technologies is a long-time supporter of Nintendo and its hardware. Often noted for its proficiency with 2D, the company has worked on all manner of titles on several Nintendo platforms, from licenced games to its own original properties such as Shantae and the Mighty series. For the launch of the Wii...
Developer Interview Broken Rules on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
Taking flight
While the launch line-up of download-only games on the Wii U eShop features some multi-platform releases or exclusives from studios well-known to Nintendo enthusiasts, Chasing Aurora is potentially in a category of its own. Broken Rules had previously released its highly regarded PC title And Yet It Moves on WiiWare, but may not...
Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
Neo beginnings
Shin'en Multimedia is a developer likely to be well-known to Nintendo download enthusiasts, with the company having made multiple appearances on Wii and 3DS, in particular. Some of its releases, such as Jett Rocket and Art of Balance TOUCH!, have been among the best titles on WiiWare and the 3DS eShop, respectively, while the small...
Developer Interview Neko Entertainment on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
The cat meows
Neko Entertainment has been ever-present on Nintendo consoles since it was formed in 1999. Based near Paris, France, the developer has created both retail and digital download games for most major systems of the last decade, from Nintendo 64 right through to Wii U. In something of a coup for the outfit, Neko secured a place in Wii U...
Developer Interview Frozenbyte on the First Days of the Wii U eShop
A not-so frosty reception
Over the last few months, Nintendo has displayed a significant shift in its attitude towards digital distribution and online in general. On 3DS we've seen the addition of downloadable retail games, a more regular stream of demos and downloadable content for first party titles. Wii U looks set to extend this approach...
Developer Interview ZombiU Producer Talks About Beginnings, Reactions and Survival Horror
"Some players are not into survival, and that’s totally fine"
In terms of high-profile third-party exclusives on Wii U launch day, ZombiU was comfortably the biggest show in town. While a number of multi-platform titles brought their HD shine to a Nintendo platform for the first time, those looking for a new experience that was hardcore in nature...
Feature Our Staff's Thoughts on Wii U - Part Two
Because U are worth it
Yesterday we brought you the first part of our staff thoughts on Wii U, so now we bring you the not-creatively-titled part two. More Nintendo Life staffers weigh in with their impressions, good and bad, of their new Nintendo home consoles. We recommend you get a comfy seat and a snack, as this entry is a little longer than...
Feature Our Staff's Thoughts on Wii U - Part One
The beginning of a new era
Now that Wii U has arrived in both Europe and North America, a number of the Nintendo Life team have got their hands on the system and have been happily playing various launch titles. We've already produced a number of Wii U reviews — with more on the way — and provided a formal hardware review, but decided that it'd...
Talking Point Time for Wii U to Treat Us Like Adults
The nanny console
This week has brought us an interesting story about Wii U eShop restrictions that are limited to European consoles, but perhaps provide greater insight into the relationship between gamers and their new Nintendo systems. It came to light that what we initially thought was a botched parental control issue on the platform was...
Feature Taking Off to the Miiverse
Remember everyone, it's all about empathy
Apart from those living in Japan, many Nintendo gamers will have now spent some time with Wii U, Nintendo's new home console and foray into a variety of bold new directions. A great deal of focus, unsurprisingly, is given to the company's first dalliance with HD visuals, and more prominently the various uses...
Feature Your Guide to a Nintendo Holiday
Christmas time, Mario and Trine...
It's Christmas time, and we all know what that means — rapidly depleting bank accounts, lots of food and merriment, and plenty of video gaming. The Holiday season actually means different things depending on your own perspective, of course, but to many it's a great opportunity to spend time with family and...
Talking Point Selling the Wii U Concept - The GamePad and eShop
All part of a big package
So the Wii U system is now well and truly out in the wild, with Japan being the last major territory to join in. It may seem peculiar that Nintendo should satisfy its home country last, but judging from the area's consistently daunting sales of 3DS it's not likely to be a tough market to crack. North America and Europe —...
Feature EU Wii U Launch Day - Live!
Hey America, now it's our turn!
Wii U launched what feels like years ago - Sunday 18th November in North America, to be precise. After literally days of waiting (days can seem like months when it comes to new Nintendo hardware) Europe is finally getting the shiny new system, and we're going to share the experience with you just as we did with the US...
Guide Transferring your Mii to the Wii U
From Mii to U
When the Wii first arrived in 2006, the ability to put yourself in the game with Miis was a novel addition that caught on quickly. These days most of us have grown quite attached to our own Miis, as evidenced by the number of them gracing the Nintendo Life forums and comment sections as user avatars. Thankfully, a new console doesn't...
Talking Point Nintendo And The Third-Party Challenge
Can the Big N win over support for Wii U in the long run?
With Wii U finally available in North America and shortly on its way to European store shelves, Nintendo fans across the world seemingly have a lot to be happy about. At long last, we’ll be able to experience our favourite franchises in glorious high-definition, along with some high profile...
Feature Reinventing Nintendo's Legacy Franchises on Wii U
It's comeback time
Despite often being criticized for a perceived lack of new franchises, Nintendo’s back catalogue offers a wealth of unique games which have each carved out their own place in the company’s legacy. From Mario to Link to lesser known characters such as Ness and the Ice Climbers, it is clear that Nintendo has a diverse range of...
Guide Using USB Storage with the Wii U
Commit these instructions to memory
The Wii U's eShop represents a big step forward in digital distribution for Nintendo, with eShop-only indie titles sharing shelf space with downloadable versions of major retail releases from day one. These larger titles can easily occupy over 10GB of space, with Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition confirmed to...
Talking Point The Nintendo Network ID's Next Big Step
Not quite fully “networked”, yet
We’ve praised the concept behind the Nintendo Network a fair bit here on Nintendo Life, and in various news posts and features we’ve stated or alluded to the fact that it could be the start of a bright new online era for Nintendo. To start this particular article on a positive point, there are plenty of...
Feature Wii U Launch Day, Live!
It's a whole new game
So here we are, North America, your Wii U day has arrived. It's a Super Sunday, and some of you will be lucky enough to have a midnight launch, while others will need to have a good night's sleep and wait for the stores to open. Either way, you're first up for Nintendo's brand new system, so we expect you to be rushing home,...
Feature What Excites Us About Wii U - NA Edition
So close we can smell the packaging
And so it's almost here, a new home console launch from Nintendo. We only have one of these every five years or more, and North America gets out of the gate first to soak up the new system and put it through its paces. It brings plenty of new features to the table, including its impressive GamePad, a new online...
Developer Interview Gaijin Games Gets Drunk with Wii U Power
WiiWare champs set their sights on the future and rhythm aliens
While plenty of developers have stepped up to take a swing at WiiWare, only a pinch have started from scratch and built good names strictly based on their output for the service. Perhaps the biggest success story in this realm is Gaijin Games: as a brand-new studio, the three-strong...
Talking Point The Realities of Wii U System Memory Have Become Clear
The fridge will fill up quickly
Today's unexpected Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast gave us various details to frantically decipher and translate, ranging from confirmation that the Wii U GamePad won't have backward compatibility with WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console games, to some less intriguing information about parental controls. Another section...
Talking Point Life Without Wii U Achievements
Nintendo sticks to its guns
Nintendo isn't at all keen on mandatory, system-integrated achievements or trophies. The idea was ignored for Wii, while gamers with an Xbox 360 got used to notifications re-affirming their awesomeness for acts as simple as starting a new game, with their Gamerscore continually getting bigger with each accomplishment...
Feature Nintendo's Wii U Hype Machine
Sharing the message
Today marks the start of a major countdown for Wii U, as it's set to arrive in North American stores in just seven days; it's a major event for Nintendo, as new home consoles aren't an overly frequent occurrence. It's been six years since Wii arrived and revolutionised gaming with its focus on motion controls, and now the company...
Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on Nintendo, eShop Development, 3DS and Wii U
Blasting onto eShop
With the 3DS eShop continuing to grow, and the Wii U equivalent already shaping up with an increasingly encouraging range of confirmed titles, there’s plenty of positivity around Nintendo’s download offerings. Like any platform it still has its detractors and issues, such as the occasional broken mess on the release schedule...
Reaction Wii U's Social Potential Takes Shape
A bold new direction for Nintendo
With just 11 days until Wii U arrives in North America — at the time of writing — it's perhaps surprising that substantial details on Nintendo's online services have taken so long to emerge. That said, it's not unprecedented, as Nintendo often likes to keep its cards close to its chest, withholding details and...
Developer Interview Nyamyam On Tengami, Life After Rare And Nintendo's Stance On Indies
"I think the hardware capabilities of the Wii U Game Pad are a good match for Tengami"
Last week, we revealed that UK studio Nyamyam was impressed with the Wii U eShop and the potential it offers for independent developers. Keen for more knowledge, we got in touch with Nyamyam's Jennifer Schneidereit to talk about Wii U, Nintendo and Tengami - the...
Talking Point Splinter Cell Director Doubts Triple-A Gaming's Future
"Lower-case aaa" may take over
While it's easy to get tangled up in technicalities when it comes to the graphical prowess of Wii U, one thing is 99% certain: the successors to Xbox 360 and PS3 will be more powerful, from a graphical standpoint. Whether or not the Wii U matches or surpasses the existing HD systems in this respect — it will take...
Talking Point Wii U and the Importance of Backward Compatibility
Long live the Wii
In future years, maybe even in a matter of weeks, there's likely to be plenty written about Wii and its lifespan, with judgements made on its strengths and weaknesses. The list of negatives is fairly predictable: it was underpowered, with motion controls that brought an unrelenting wave of sub-par games, it struggled for major...
Developer Interview Pwnee Studios Talks About Cloudberry Kingdom and Wii U
"We have learnt to expect bizarre events"
With all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the Wii U console and its retail launch titles, it’s easy to forget the assortment of potentially fantastic Wii U eShop titles also heading our way. One of which is Cloudberry Kingdom, a platformer which promises to supply the gamer with...
Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - World of Warcraft
Or maybe this one's a game that Wii U needs?
We’ve highlighted the importance of having well-established franchises on Wii U. We’ve also indicated how vital it is for Wii U to be open to new ideas and intellectual properties. This time, we’re saying that in order for Wii U to keep in-line with the competition, exceed it in fact, then it needs...
Talking Point Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost
There are no easy answers
Earlier this week we reported on the news that Foxconn, manufacturer for many of the world’s biggest technology companies, employed under-age interns to work on Wii U manufacturing. Foxconn admitted that it had employed 14-16 year old school attendees and stated that it had “apologized to each of the students for our...
Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - Dishonored
Choose how you play
Wii U owners will know what it means to be an assassin after Ubisoft introduces us to Connor in Assassin’s Creed III later this year. However, while this native American is more adept with Tomahawks and muskets, Arkane Studios has other plans. Doing his work in a Steampunk inspired Victorian London, this particular assassin...
Feature Reinventing Nintendo's Major Franchises on Wii U
Time for some comebacks
Thanks to its fresh approach to gaming, the Wii has been a breeding ground for reinvention throughout its six year life cycle, offering us established franchises with a twist due in part to motion controls. The Legend of Zelda has been perhaps the biggest beneficiary of this in the form of Skyward Sword, with Wii MotionPlus...
Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - Resident Evil 6
A much needed second chance
As great as Nintendo’s first-party efforts are, Wii U is going to have a reliance on its third-party support. Nintendo certainly recognises that and has already drawn franchises like FIFA, Call of Duty, Mass Effect and Assassin’s Creed to its cause. However, as encouraging as that is, it’s still not enough. The...
Interview Broken Rules Talks About Chasing Aurora and Being Early on Wii U
Taking flight on Nintendo's new system
Chasing Aurora is an eye-catching Wii U eShop title that's scheduled to arrive in November. While its art style immediately grabs attention, we wanted to know more about it, especially as it's only a matter of weeks away. We got in touch with developer Broken Rules and spoke to its man Martin Pichlmair about...
Feature EB Expo 2012 Nintendo Booth Impressions
Get N or Get Out
As you may have noticed over the past few days, we have been posting our impressions of games that were available to play at the recent EB Expo. We've also got some impressions for you of Nintendo's impressive booth itself. Throughout the weekend, the line to get into the Nintendo booth was one of the longest. The line moved at a...
Developer Interview Frozenbyte Talks Trine 2, Wii U eShop and Working with Nintendo
An ice chat
The excitement for Wii U isn't limited to the second screen, the possibility of five player games or the chance that Nintendo is getting its groove back with third party publishers: there's also the small matter of its approach to digital distribution. WiiWare started well before floundering and DSiWare hosted a few gems among its...
First Impressions Wii U Pro Controller
We go hands on with one of the most important Wii U accessories
With games like Bayonetta 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 blazing a trail to the Wii U very soon, the need for a decent 'traditional' joypad is obvious. Nintendo is making sure 'core' games will play as well as possible by producing the Wii U Pro Controller, a device which boasts an...
Hands on Wii U Third-Party Round-Up
Trine 2, Skylanders Giants, Ninja Gaiden 3, Tekken 2, NBA 2K13 and Sonic Racing
During this week we've been giving first impressions and hands on accounts of a number of Wii U launch window titles, both retail and downloadable. Nintendo of Europe provided access to a wide range of games we haven't yet covered, however, including some additional...
First Impressions Wii U Blockbuster Ports
Mass Effect 3 and Darksiders II put through their paces
One thing that many will have already noticed about the Wii U launch line-up is that it's showing the beginnings of greater third-party parity for Nintendo gamers. There are exclusives, of course, but there is also a mix of big-budget titles being ported to the new system: some will be...
Interview 5th Cell - Scribblenauts Unlimited
Word up
If adorable lexical puzzle games are up your street, you're bound to have heard of Scribblenauts, the series that lets you generate any item into the world by simply entering its name. The series has been around for a while on Nintendo DS, plus iOS, but it'll be hitting a home console for the first time when Scribblenauts Unlimited is...
Hands On Ubisoft's Wii U Launch Hits
Taking Rayman Legends and ZombiU for another spin
When it comes to third-party launch support for Wii U, Ubisoft is the stand-out with its sheer volume of titles on the way. As always, the publisher is wading in with a substantial variety of games to cater to gamers of almost all levels and persuasions, but we recently had a chance to have another...
First Impressions Nano Assault Neo
Big things from a small world
Nano Assault on 3DS probably qualifies as an under-appreciated gem, a title that was awarded an impressive 8/10 in our review but unfortunately never arrived in Europe. It's a pity that it hasn't been enjoyed outside of North America and Japan, though thankfully developer Shin'en Multimedia has confirmed that a 3DS...
Interview Unity - Licensing Deal Means A New Era For Indies On Nintendo Systems
We speak exclusively to Unity's Tracy Erickson about the new agreement with Nintendo
Nintendo recently signed a worldwide license agreement with Unity Technologies to bring its multi-platform engine and development tools to the Wii U. To get a better idea of what benefits this deal will bring, we spoke exclusively to Unity's Tracy Erickson, who is...
The bird's still got it
Toki Tori 2 was one of the first eShop titles confirmed for Wii U, showing that developer Two Tribes is more than happy to take another early plunge on Nintendo's download platform. It seems only right, too, as the developer's first ever release was Toki Tori on Game Boy Color, before a new version of that game had a start on...