Wii U Features
Talking Point E3 Highlighted Nintendo's Development Shift Towards NX, and Away from Wii U
3DS also delves into spin-offs and sequels to pass time
It's been a little over a week since E3 2015, the shared temperature of frustrated Nintendo fans has simmered down a little, and we can reflect on both what the big N showed and kept behind the scenes. Both tell us much, and also indicate that the Wii U seems to be heading for a short lifespan...
Hands On Logging More Flight Time With Star Fox Zero
“Impressive, Star Fox!”
In this second look at Star Fox Zero, Morgan Sleeper has a more positive experience than colleague Alan Lopez. To reflect the divisive nature of the controls, Alan's updated impressions from another playthrough are also included. When Miyamoto-san's Muppet started sprouting Star Fox features during the Nintendo Digital...
Parent Trap Woolly Yoshi amiibo Finally Turn Toys To Life Figures Into Actual Toys
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson has a yarn Yoshi, don't hate him
It may seem that the knitted amiibo for Yoshi's Woolly World are simply a gimmick. However, for children the difference here is more than aesthetic. They mark a new toys to life trend of offering playable toys rather than collectable figurines for the shelf. Of course, historically toys...
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...
First Impressions Celebrating a Gaming Icon With Super Mario Maker
Let's Super Mario!
Super Mario Maker, recently powered-up from its initial moniker of 'Mario Maker', was a huge part of Nintendo's E3 presence both this year and last. Just a few months ahead of its September release it still had plenty of new surprises in store for this year's show, and still managed to captivate attendees' imaginations. The...
First Impressions Holding Court with Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
Racquet Riot
A surprise service sent over the net in Nintendo's Digital Event at this year's E3, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash for Wii U marks the first home console appearance of this particular Mario Sport in over 10 years. If early impressions are anything to go by, it's one to watch for - the demo we played on the show floor was very simple,...
Video The Nintendo Life Reaction to Nintendo's E3 Digital Event
With smiles on our faces...
In the chaos of E3 day one we decided to abort our semi-tradition of a live stream video reaction to Nintendo's Digital Event, which was probably for the best considering the general online reaction. Having had a day to digest the results we've come into this video with the best possible intentions. We talk over many of...
Poll How Excited Are You About Nintendo's E3 Games?
Tell us which are must haves, maybes or misses
Now that we've all had a little time to chill out and think about the games we've seen so far at E3, we can think about which Wii U and 3DS games can claim places on our wishlists. There is, once you list the upcoming releases, quite a lot on the way in 2015 and beyond into next year - enough to keep us...
First Impressions Our Maiden Flight In Star Fox Zero Prompts Mixed Emotions
You okay over there, Fox?
One of our men on the E3 floor, Alan Lopez, had a first run on Star Fox Zero in a short session. We'll aim to have a longer playthrough - to tackle the GamePad control scheme, in particular - in a separate media session later this week. When I got to the Star Fox Zero kiosk inside the Nintendo media room, the Nintendo rep...
Live Let's Watch Nintendo's E3 2018 Digital Event - Live!
It is time
The time is here. Nintendo's E3 Digital Event is ready for broadcast, and we're excited about potential Wii U and 3DS blockbusters set to be revealed. Expect games, humour, amiibo and more. Join us for the action! [liveblog=live_lets_watch_nintendos_e3_digital_event_-_live]#NintendoE3
Feature What We Expect from Nintendo's E3 Digital Event
Franchise comebacks, Star Fox details and much more
The build-up is almost over and Nintendo's Digital Event is just hours away. After E3 leaks last week this broadcast appears to have escaped too many leaks, and as a result anticipation is starting to build nicely. We've had shots fired by Microsoft, Sony and third-party Media
Talking Point Super Mario Maker Stole the Show at the Nintendo World Championships 2015
A game changer for the franchise
The Nintendo World Championships 2015 was an event that had various similarities to the Super Smash Bros. Invitational from E3 2014 - it was charming, had some flat moments, the occasional hiccup, yet managed to seize momentum at key moments to keep us watching. It was a lengthy event that actually started rather...
Feature Nintendo Franchises We Want to See at E3 - Paper Mario
A sound theory on paper
In the lead up to E3 we'll be doing a series of features covering game franchises that we want to make an appearance at the show, and what we'd like to see out of a potential next entry in each series. In this article Nintendo Life editor Tom Whitehead makes the case for a particularly popular one in the Rumour Mill, Paper...
Feature Nintendo Franchises We Want to See at E3 - Star Fox
It's certain to be shown - but what form will it take?
In the lead up to E3 we'll be doing a series of features covering game franchises that we want to make an appearance - or see more of - at the show, and what we'd like to see out of a potential next entry in each series. In this entry Nintendo Life Editorial Director Damien McFerran mulls what...
Feature Nintendo Franchises We Want to See at E3 - Metroid
Crawling into the current generation?
In the lead up to E3 we'll be doing a series of features covering game franchises that we want to make an appearance at the show, and what we'd like to see out of a potential next entry in each series. In this entry Nintendo Life news, reviews and features regular Mitch Vogel thinks over the Metroid franchise...
Poll We Need to Talk About amiibo - Where Do You Stand?
Awesome collectibles, source of frustration, a bit of both?
As we approach the 'expo we cannot name' - oh alright, E3 - we can't help but wonder how many times Nintendo will mention amiibo. Will we learn more about the amiibo cards that'll accompany Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer? Will there be more blasted Smash Bros. waves that we'll...
Guide Use these Splatoon Tricks & Advanced Techniques to Improve your Inking
Think ink
Splatoon has been out for nearly a week and already people have been looking at the inner workings of the game's intricacies in order to give them an edge when it comes to the crunch. We're nothing if not diligent and have compiled a good number of tips that can help give you the upper hand online. This is by no means a complete guide,...
Interview Splatoon Producer Hisashi Nogami on Claiming New Territory for Wii U
Aimed to create "an entirely new form of gameplay"
Though the claims that Nintendo simply doesn't tackle new ideas aren't entirely fair, there's little denying that Splatoon has been a breath of fresh air on Wii U. As a new IP that utilises a genre so rarely entertained by Nintendo - a third-person shooter - it appears to have succeeded in grabbing...
Hands On Checking Out Splatoon's Freshly Unlocked Ranked Battle Mode
Laying it all on the line
If you booted up Splatoon this morning you might have noticed that without even the need to download an update that you can now play on the new Port Mackerel map. You can also buy the N-ZAP '85, a new weapon which looks suspiciously familiar. Of course what will be most exciting for competitive gamers is the introduction of...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 31st May 2015
Say hello to Morimoto-san
In what was surely the last notable information blow-out ahead of E3, we've had a Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast focused on near-term Wii U and 3DS releases, with some Capcom Monster Hunter reveals thrown in. There were quite a few new games announced, fresh details on familiar titles and a new host in Morimoto-san,...
Parent Trap Splatoon Gets Family Tested, And Comes Through With Flying Colours
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson investigates Nintendo's new smash-hit
With Splatoon out in the wild we can get a first proper impression of how the game is going down with families. With this in mind I checked in with the Huo family to see how they'd taken to the local and online components of Nintendo's new shooter. They took a while to get used to...
Poll Early Impressions on Splatoon and That All-Important Online Multiplayer
Fitter, younger hamsters spinning the server wheels?
Nintendo's releasing a game that prioritises online play, so naturally plenty reach for popcorn. Splatoon is on store shelves and appears to have had solid numbers hopping online to splat each other with ink, while some may even be tackling the single player campaign - those rogues. The old...
Guide Tips On How To Become A Squid Hotshot In Splatoon
Get inked
Today marks the launch of Splatoon, Nintendo's infectious take on the traditional team-based online shooter. While this ink-splattered offering is far more friendly and accessible than your typical web-based blaster, there are still a few key points you might want to keep in mind before dashing - or should that be swimming? - headlong into...
Hands On Disney Infinity 3.0's Twilight Of The Republic Brings The Star Wars Saga To Wii U
The Force is strong in this one
After much anticipation we finally got our hands on the Star Wars levels in Disney Infinity 3.0 in London last week. There's a little time before launch still but the headline here is that things feel very polished and locked down already - we came away very impressed. Having had a play with the Toy Box game-creator...
Feature Yoshi's Woolly World, Like Kirby's Epic Yarn Before It, Offers Unique Chill-Out Platforming
All platformer fans should want this game
Though its release in Europe is still a month away, Nintendo has certainly been keen to let the media get their hands on Yoshi's Woolly World. We already gave you a written and video preview for the game in late April, but without spoiling too many specifics we thought we'd provide a follow-up to explain...
Reaction There is a Positive Angle to Nintendo's Splatoon Global Testfire Issues
Lessons learnt
When Nintendo announced the first round of Splatoon Global Testfire sessions we described the idea as a clever Nintendo Direct highlight, as it achieved multiple goals. It created 'event'-style hype, gave curious Wii U owners a look at the game, and also allowed Nintendo to stress-test the online component with an audience of a decent...
Hands On Disney Infinity Toy Box 3.0 Brings A Fresh Mario Kart Rival To Wii U
Sumo Digital works its magic once more
Getting hands-on with the Toy Box for Disney Infinity 3.0 was more than a little interesting, not least because of the Star Wars content and characters therein. At an event in London yesterday we had a chance to experiment with the new game creator as well as try both the Toy Box Takeover adventure and Toy Box...
Feature A Nintendo Fan's Guide to E3 2015
Plenty to see
The madness is on the way, with Los Angeles all set to host hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees for E3 2015. While technically an expo like any other, it has become far more than that for game companies and their fans. It's a major centrepiece of any gaming year, and an opportunity for major publishers and developers to...
Talking Point Nintendo's Modest Sales Targets Keep Wii U and 3DS Expectations Under Control
E3 surprises are still a solid bet, however
In consecutive years Nintendo predicted a return to good times, struggled to deliver and reported financial losses; with that in mind the recent annual results were a major positive. Nintendo reported a decent profit and showed enough positive intent that shareholders were happy, with the company's value...
Parent Trap Splatoon Is The Perfect Family Firepower-Fest
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson gets inked up in Nintendo's new hit
Splatoon has been bubbling away for a while, but it's only now - thanks to the recent Global Testfire events - that we start to see how unusual and engaging a game this will be for a whole new audience of shooting fans. Every family is different but a video game flash point for many...
Poll Did The Splatoon Global Testfire Hit Its Targets?
A demo unlike any other
If you took part in the Splatoon Global Testfire this past weekend you'll have looked a great deal at the app's icon before loading, which is prominently branded as a 'DEMO'. Yet it was a demo unlike any other, with the download now essentially irrelevant, unless Nintendo schedules more online sessions. Three one hour...
Feature The Key Details on Splatoon, Nintendo's Shot at a New Wii U Hit
Modes, guns, 8-bit games and amiibo
This week brought us Splatoon Direct, Nintendo's quirky pitch for its upcoming ink-based arena shooter. It's a game that's justifiably been talked up a fair deal, with a blend of intuitive and clever GamePad controls, bright visuals and a whole lot of gameplay potential. While large sections reiterated information...
Reaction The Splatoon Global Testfire Demo Is a Clever Nintendo Direct Highlight
Stress tests servers, creates an 'event' and builds hype all at once
Nintendo isn't quite as old-fashioned as some like to pretend; it is, after all, a multi-billion dollar entertainment company that manufactures and sells consoles. In recent times it's signalled a serious intent to tackle the smart device market, shake up its customer loyalty...
Feature What We Want to See in the Splatoon Direct
Inking in the details
It's now less than a day until our next Nintendo Direct or, to be more precise, a Splatoon Direct. Nintendo is mimicking its Direct scheduling approach from 2014, filling the spaces between its latest major broadcast and E3 with presentations focused on retail releases. Mario Kart 8 had its own - fairly lengthy - Direct not...
Talking Point Mario Maker Can Be A Game Changer For Nintendo And Its Relationship With Gamers
A future with NES Maker and more could be extraordinary
Sometimes a game has the power to seize the imagination from the moment it's revealed, with a self-hyping capacity to get thousands of gamers excited from little more than a glimpse. Others can be a slow burner or need the right moment to set off alarms in an individual's head. This writer will...
Poll With Races Won and Cups Collected, How Do You Rate Mario Kart 8's DLC Pack 2?
And 200cc, for that matter
It's clear that Nintendo's approach to DLC has moved on a great deal when extras begin to take on the status of a brand new release. With April being generally low on enticing new releases, the big N successfully got plenty of current Wii U and 3DS gamers excited with DLC for existing evergreen blockbusters. In the case of...
Feature A Day With The Biggest StreetPass Group in the US
Hits, games and cake in San Diego
In this special feature Nintendo Life contributor Alan Lopez shares his experience of a day with the San Diego StreetPass group. What do you get when you Google "StreetPass groups"? If you're searching in the land of Nintendo of America, Facebook pages for "StreetPass Chicago", "StreetPass NYC" and other cities...
Preview Unraveling the Truth in Yoshi's Woolly World
Baby Mario cheerfully absent
For many years now fans of games in the Yoshi series have been clamouring for a successor to Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, yet the games Nintendo has presented us with so far haven't quite hit the mark. Yoshi's Story ditched the somewhat irritating Baby Mario mechanic much to the delight of many, but overhauled...
Talking Point Mario Kart 8 DLC is a Winning Formula for Nintendo, But It Can Go Further
A real Battle Mode, Challenges and more
We suspect that the online multiplayer servers for Mario Kart 8 saw a handsome spike this week, with the launch of DLC Pack 2 and an update that includes the 200cc race class. It's a title that just keeps growing, and as we argued recently the arrival of non-Mario franchises points to a potential future for...
Poll What Are You Most Excited About in the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2?
Tracks, characters, vehicles, amiibo suits and free 200cc all coming
Earlier today Nintendo finally unveiled its full line-up for the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2, with a whole host of lovely videos joining the announcement. We've also had a chance to go hands on with everything the DLC has to offer, including 200cc mode, to share our views on how its...
Hands On Hitting the Tracks in Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 and 200cc Mode
It just keeps getting better...
When Nintendo announced that the second Mario Kart 8 DLC pack was coming earlier than promised, we were appropriately excited. Now that we've had a chance to get to grips with everything this extra content has to offer, suffice to say we're not disappointed. In this early look at the full DLC pack we check out the...
Parent Trap Lego Dimensions Could Be A Game-Changer In The Toys To Life Sector
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson reveals why Lego fever is gripping his home
With each year of parenting comes new challenges and, it seems, a new video game craze to spend money on. After Skylanders, Disney Infinity and amiibo, this year we also have to contend with Lego Dimensions. As you've likely seen, this offers a Toys to Life experience with...
Talking Point Splatoon Is a Typically Colourful Nintendo Dabble in the Mainstream Market
It can't be gory with all that ink
When Splatoon was revealed at E3 2014, this writer was rather unimpressed, which in the clear perspective of hindsight was a very narrow-minded reaction. Eager to see more 'hits', the oddball, super colourful third-person competitive shooter seemed like a peculiar announcement - both fundamentally Nintendo-esque...
Poll Is Splatoon a Blockbuster That'll Help Revive the Wii U?
We want your thoughts on its online play, amiibo and lack of voice chat
The Wii U has a small batch of highly promising titles on the way, though only one notable arrival is currently expected worldwide in the first half of this year - Splatoon. European gamers do have Yoshi's Woolly World to look forward to on 26th June, admittedly, but that title...
Feature The Final Xenoblade Chronicles X Presentation - Dolls and Online Features
Info on how mech suits will work in the game, along with online mechanics
Well, there you have it. With this latest Japanese Xenoblade Chronicles X presentation, Nintendo and developer Monolith Soft have spilled all the beans they're willing to spill before the game releases in Japan on 29th April. In the past we've seen the planet of Mira detailed,...
Reaction LEGO Dimensions Could be a Sales Phenomenon, and Nintendo Must Push It For Wii U
Can Nintendo seize LEGO dominance to replicate the Wii era of Just Dance?
Long rumoured, today finally brought official news on LEGO Dimensions, the toys-to-life project - the good news for Nintendo fans is that the late September release is confirmed for the Wii U. Admittedly LEGO games always do come to the Wii U, but in these tricky times it's...
Feature A Day in The Future Life of a Nintendo Gamer
When smartphones and new systems take over our days
Imagine this. When you check your phone in the morning, the Nintendo app is marked with a red dot. After you check your text messages and Facebook notifications, you click the big red "N" and get to work. Inside the app, your notifications let you know you have some extra lives for the Animal...
Talking Point Nintendo's Plans for DLC and Microtransactions Point to Changed Priorities
Previous ethics and standards are being stretched
We're in the midst of changing times for Nintendo, perhaps of a turbulent nature, and the sands are shifting in multiple ways. In the past couple of months we've seen Nintendo partner up with DeNA to move towards bringing its core IPs to smart devices, bringing a resultant boom in share prices, while...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 1st April 2015
Release dates, DLC, knitted amiibo and more
After a wait of over two and a half months, Nintendo finally gave us a fresh Nintendo Direct in which to indulge ourselves. It was interesting for a variety of reasons, not least the fact that its focus in large segments - particularly the opening and finale - was on DLC for existing blockbusters. There...
Talking Point What We Expect from Nintendo Direct - 1st April
Release dates, teases, DLC and eShop goodies
It's that time again, and before we start referring to this as the April Fools' Day Direct, let's remember that it's airing on 2nd April in regions and countries like Japan, Australia and CET parts of Europe. Nintendo will most assuredly be announcing plenty of real details, which is certainly worth...