Wii U - News
October2015
Review Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water (Wii U)
Focusing on fear
Like the lashing of rain against a bedroom window, or the sound of a damp footstep outside your door - Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water is coming for you. Also known in North America as Fatal Frame, this latest entry in the cult horror franchise has set its sights on Western shores just in time for Halloween, and while some might...
Parent Trap Does The Wii U Still Make Sense For Families?
Andy Robertson takes a family-focused look at Nintendo's console
Choosing a videogame console for a family is a big decision. Get it right and you'll bring a positive experience into the home that matches how you play games together. Get it wrong and you'll be constantly looking over your shoulder at the experience you could have had on another...
Video This Pokkén Tournament Commercial Should Provide a Timely Reminder of Wii U Release Hype
Next Spring...
Pokkén Tournament was, for quite some time, the cool arcade that seemed destined to be a Japan-only release. Then there was confirmation it would come to the US at a limited number of locations, before wishes were fulfilled and it was confirmed for a Spring 2016 arrival on Wii U in the West. When you see t
News Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut Has Been Delayed Again in North America
A delayed game is eventually good…
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams was a surprisingly original 2D platformer with a fascinating switch mechanic that completely changed the look and feel of the game at the touch of a button. We awarded it an 8/10, praising the visuals and creative gameplay mechanics. The game was initially a PC release, however, and...
Random Check Out These New Officially Licensed Storage Peripherals From PDP
Store your gaming equipment with style
PDP is a company that has long since manufactured relatively high quality hardware for Nintendo consoles. Be it a GameCube Fight Pad or a headset for playing games online, PDP is a name that can be relied upon far more so than others like Madcatz. While the company has been rather quiet lately on new releases...
News Dutch Retailer Lists Standalone Splatoon Squid amiibo, Available 6th November
Seemingly Japanese imports
The three amiibo released specifically for Nintendo's squid-shooter, Splatoon, add a whole lot of content to the game. Unfortunately, as fans located in Europe and North America will know, the Inkling Squid has only been made available in the Splatoon game bundle and amiibo 3-pack. Meanwhile in Japan, the squid retails...
Leaks-a-plenty
At Nintendo Life we know how tricky it can be to keep up with all the happenings that go on in a week, so once again we've compiled the cream of the crop for your entertainment. This week we focus on the recent Nintendo NX rumours that suggest the system may be a fusion of a home console and a handheld, eShop listing leaks, The...
News Nintendo Network ID Going Offline Next Week During General Maintenance
Something exciting this way comes?
We're used to Nintendo Network Maintenance taking place and impacting certain features of our consoles, but next week's work could be the prelude to something very interesting. Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a bit of downtime taking place from Monday that will mean that Wii U and 3DS users will be...
News Nintendo Launches Updated Developer Portal Website
Designed to be welcoming
In this generation Nintendo has been open-armed and welcoming to developers of all sizes, fostering the 'Nindie' age and opening the Wii U (and eventually the New Nintendo 3DS) up to development tools such as Unity. It seems to be stepping up those efforts, having launched a new Developer Portal with key information and an...
Video Super Mario Maker Gets A Family-Focused Challenge
Mums and dads, get ready for a showdown
With millions of Super Mario Maker levels being created, the folks at Family Gamer TV are spreading the craze to mums and dads with a new family-friendly competition. A handful of families from all over the world will be going head-to-head to create their own levels and then battle each other to reign supreme...
News Yukio Sawada's Super Mario-Kun Is Coming To Super Mario Maker
In Japan, at least
Super Mario-Kun is a manga series which has been appearing in the pages of CoroCoro Comic since 1991. Created by Yukio Sawada, the series is coming to Super Mario Maker in the form of a special costume. In addition to allowing his own unique take on the character to appear in the game, Sawada will also be designing his own level,...
News Next Splatoon Patch Drops October 20th, Rapid Blaster Pro Arrives Tomorrow
No sign of any Octolings
Nintendo's squid shooter Splatoon will very soon be receiving even more content to help users stay fresh. Starting from tomorrow, a new weapon called the Rapid Blaster Pro will be available to purchase from Sheldon's Weapon Shop. This weapon will be released at the following times: 7 PM PT 10 PM ET 3 AM in the UK...
We're buying, Nintendo's selling
Rumours around a re-release / remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess have been swirling for quite some time, occasionally a reflection of fan desires rather than any solid evidence. It wasn't so long ago that there was talk of it as a potential New Nintendo 3DS remake, taking the lead of Xenoblade...
Nintendo Download 15th October (North America)
Yoshi! Momonga! SmileBASIC! WiiWare! More!
It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update. This week brings an exceptional retail release on the Wii U, some interesting home console downloads, a promising 3DS programming app, a load of discounts and even a WiiWare download. Yes, really! Let's get to it. Missed the...
Random Check Out These Awesome Splatoon Plushies from Japan
So fresh
Gaming paraphernalia can be a wonderful way to casually introduce elements of your favorite franchises into an environment. Be it an amiibo to be kept on a desk, a Yoshi plush toy to sit on your kitchen counter, or a replica of the Master Sword to be mounted over a fireplace; a simple object can act as a nice reminder of the things that...
News Animal Crossing amiibo Triple Pack Confirmed For Australia
Releases alongside Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival
Following the announcement that the Animal Crossing amiibo Cards Collectors Album for series one would be arriving in Australian & New Zealand stores soon, Nintendo Australia has today confirmed the Animal Crossing amiibo triple pack including K.K.Slider, Reese and Cyrus will also be made...
News SEGA’s GBA Version Of ChuChu Rocket! Arrives On The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console This Month
The Dreamcast port returns
Around the turn of the millennium when Sonic Team was in its prime with releases such as Sonic Adventure and Phantasy Star Online, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance was fortunate enough to receive a port of the Dreamcast title, ChuChu Rocket! Released in 2001 alongside the launch of Nintendo's latest portable system at the...
Review LEGO Dimensions (Wii U)
LEGO loans required
If ever there was a time for parents to put their collective foot down and tell their young ones to choose one favourite toy to buy, this may be it. The toys-to-life market has never been busier as three huge brands go head to head, and LEGO Dimensions arguably - or factually, in terms of the toy market - has the biggest brand of...
Video We Want Your Super Mario Maker Levels for Our New YouTube Series
Levels that require button inputs, preferably
For quite a while now we've been asking for your Super Mario Maker levels on our own dedicated page, with many of you joining in. We've also had some Nindies share and explain their designs to, hopefully, pass on some useful tips. We're now stepping up our efforts to share your creations on YouTube,...
News Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash Fails to Clean Up in Japanese Charts
Outperformed by baseball title Pro Yakyuu Famista Returns on 3DS
The Japanese Media Create charts are out in Japan and, despite some positives, are likely to cause some disappointment in Nintendo HQ. This is due to an attempt at mainstream success for a long-established franchise falling flat at launch in the country. The game we're referring to is...
News Classic Sega Saturn Puzzler Baku Baku Animal Is Getting A Spiritual Successor
Please DO feed the animals
The Sega Saturn may have resided in the shadow of the Sony PlayStation during its short lifespan, but the system was still home to some incredible games, one of which was Baku Baku Animal. A puzzle title which involved matching animals with their preferred item of food, it was something of a cult classic back in the '90s...
Following in the footsteps of Twilight Princess HD
We recently reported on a rumour which seemed to suggest that Nintendo is currently working on a HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii U. Since then, dataminers have discovered references to other titles, including Super Mario Galaxy,
News Proof of Functioning Wii U Emulator, Cemu, Emerges Online
Still very early days
For as long as there are consoles there'll be hackers and programmers attempting to reverse engineer them for emulation. Due to all of the work platform holders put into closing off their systems it proves to be difficult, and it took quite some time for the infamous 'Dolphin' emulator to make Wii games playable on PC. It's a...
News Toys "R" Us Teases More Exclusive amiibo in North America
Oh boy
It seems that Toys "R" Us is sweeping the board with the amiibo exclusives in North America. Following hot on the heels of the recent confirmation that the Mii Fighter amiibo will be exclusive to the retailer, it seems that there are still more amiibo that will be locked in to the massive toy store. Toys "R" Us recently tweeted a picture of...
Rumour Data Miner Uncovers Evidence Of Twilight Princess On Nintendo's Wii U eShop
The salt is on standby
When The Legend of Zelda: Twlight Princess was simultaneously released on the Nintendo GameCube and Wii in 2006, it was praised for being the mature Zelda title fans had always dreamed of. To this day, it remains a favourite – so how would you feel about it making a return? The proven data miner who operates under the...
Super Nindie Maker Curve Digital's P-Switcheroo and Déja Boo
Throwing a curveball
As you may have seen by now, we really want you all to share Super Mario Maker levels with each other; to achieve that we've set up a special level sharing page with some neat features - just for you. We're also teaming up with some 'Nindies' to share some levels from established and highly respected developers such as Image...
Video New Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water Trailer Is Not For The Faint-Hearted
Or Fatal Frame, if you're in North America
Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water (known as Fatal Frame in North America) launches in Europe on October 30th, and Nintendo has just exclusively given us an early look at a fresh trailer which not only divulges a little more of the story, but also shows how the Wii U GamePad is used to enrich the famous...
News Lego Avengers Features Story Content From Other Marvel Movies
Six films covered in total
The forthcoming Lego Marvel's Avengers video game for Wii U and 3DS will cover more than just the two Avengers movies released so far, it has been revealed. Given the title, you'd be let off for assuming that only Avengers (which was called Avengers Assemble in the UK to avoid confusion with the cult TV show of the same...
News Takashi Tezuka Gives His Opinion on Hard Levels Made with Super Mario Maker
"You need to take into consideration a wide range of users."
Super Mario Maker has been out for a while now and a nearly limitless amount of levels are already available to all players around the world. One popular trend among the countless armchair level designers is creating controller-throwingly difficult courses. More often than not, these...
Video Learn About Alternate Costume Origins In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS
It ain't just a pretty wardrobe...
Alternate character costumes in the Super Smash Bros. series have always been a fun way to distinguish players from one another. These variants aren't just simple palette-swaps either, for characters such as Bowser Jr. and Olimar have alternate characters instead of a simple makeover like most fighters do. But you...
Editorial A Wii U Price Cut is Still Worthwhile Despite Its Ongoing Woes
Nintendo's losing the 'value' appeal
In the last generation of home consoles the Wii was an innovative and fun budget option in the market, while the more powerful HD systems - PS3 and Xbox 360 - came with a premium price tag. As the generation wore on prices naturally dropped and bundles grew in number, but the basic market reality was that the Wii...
Prepare for a terrible fate
Although in terms of news it's been a little on the quiet side in the old Nintendosphere this week, what has happened has been fairly meaty. If you've not managed to keep up you needn't fear, as once again we've compressed all the good stuff into video for you. The big topic this week is the confirmation that Skull Kid...
News It's Cats Against Dogs in the Next European Splatfest
Playing catch-up
While Splatoon gamers in North America and Japan have Splatfest battles to enjoy this weekend, the European equivalent was unexpectedly delayed. The good news is that Nintendo of Europe has confirmed the region's next contest for 17th October. It'll be catching up with one of the early Splatfests enjoyed in North America, as cats...
News Octodad: Dadliest Catch Has Been Delayed, Release Date Should Be Announced Soon
Developer had some tentacle difficulties to work out
It may have fallen to the back of many gamers' minds, but Octodad: Dadliest Catch is still due to receive a port on Wii U. The popular Indie PC game follows the adventures of an octopus masquerading as a typical suburban father and his attempts to hide his true identity from his family. Players...
Video Check Out Splatoon's Custom E-litre 3K Scope & Custom Range Blaster in Action
Customised to your needs (maybe)
Splatoon's the game that just keeps on giving, and this week we get to feast our Inkling eyes on the Custom E-litre 3K Scope and the Custom Range Blaster! The Custom E-litre 3K Scope is a scoped variant on the Custom E-litre 3K, allowing more precise aiming at the price of reducing your field of view whilst aiming...
News Speculation of Playable Octolings in Splatoon Triggered by Splatfest and SplatNet Updates
The squid vs. octopus battle intensifies
For quite a while eager Splatoon fans have followed the exploits of data miners and a more mischievous modder causing save data problems - the subject? Playable Octolings. For some they're an inevitability and we're just waiting for their arrival. Are more clues afoot? Our very own Alex Olney - who's not shy...
News Minecraft Game Engine Could Be Ported To Wii U Thanks To Minecraft: Story Mode
"Everything that looks like Minecraft is actually built in Minecraft"
Edit: Given the confusion that the original title caused, we've altered it slightly and are currently seeking clarification from Telltale regarding the game engine that Story Mode will run in. Original Story: Minecraft: Story Mode has been confirmed for release on Wii U, and...
News Developer Of Acclaimed Indie Title Lumo "100% Trying" To Secure Wii U Release
Inspired by SNES title Equinox, no less
If you were lucky enough to attend EGX here in the UK recently then you may have spotted a lovely-looking indie title by the name of Lumo. This isometric offering is packed with references to gaming's past, and was born out of a Twitter conversation between its creator - former Ruffian, Lionhead and Bizarre...
News Custom Range Blaster And Custom E-litre 3K Scope Coming To Splatoon Today
Tomorrow if you're in Europe
Rejoice, shooter fans! Two new weapons are coming to Splatoon - well, when we say "new" we mean custom versions of pre-existing weapons. The items in questions are the Custom Range Blaster and Custom E-litre 3K Scope. Both will arrive in North America tonight and early tomorrow morning in Europe. Are you still...
News Yacht Club Games Issues an Update on Shovel Knight at Retail
New pricing and dates for the physical release, possibly amiibo preorders
Shovel Knight is one of those games that continues to improve and evolve as time goes on. With the excellent Plague of Shadows expansion adding significant value to the original campaign and with two more similar expansions on the way, it seems that the final version of the...
Nintendo Download 8th October (North America)
Chibi-Robo!, 3D Sonic 2, Legend of Legacy and much more
It's time once again for another Nintendo Download Update, and this week's North American line-up has some tempting options. There are four 3DS retail games, including a Nintendo platformer and an RPG with impressive pedigree, while M2 remasters another wonderful SEGA game for the eShop. On Wii...
News The YouTube Wii U App Has Another Update
Has a prettier user interface but not much else
Whenever we post an article about the Wii U YouTube app, we're reminded multiple times that it's better to use the web browser. So, early disclaimer - it is arguably better to use the web browser for YouTube on the Wii U, no argument here. Still, the actual app is a thing and Google continues to roll...
News Midora Developer Admits He Knew Kickstarter Funds Wouldn't Be Enough To Complete The Game
"I knew that the game would need more than $60,000 to be made"
The developer of the Zelda-inspired RPG Midora has admitted that he knew full well that the amount of cash raised during its Kickstater campaign wouldn't be enough to cover the full cost of development. The crowdfunding drive raised $73,470 in 2014 - a little over the base target of...
News PS4 and Sony Enjoy Dominant Week in Japan With Price Cut and New Releases
Price cuts can help, Nintendo
The Media Create chart results are in for Japan, and after a number of weeks with Nintendo's systems and exclusive games leading the way there's a change in momentum. In the software top 20 the shift has come through a range of new releases, with the top 5 consisting of three games across three separate Sony platforms...
Video Indulge in the Weirdness of This Genei Ibun Roku #FE Footage
Introducing the opening song and characters
Wii U title Genei Ibun Roku #FE - or Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem to those of us confused by its name - had a rather interesting but baffling appearance at E3 this year. While it's arguably yet to be explained and localised to a helpful degree for those outside of Japan, it's moving rapidly towards its...
News New Euro Wii U Premium Bundle Contains Mario Kart 8 And Splatoon
Launches this month, costs £239.99
Nintendo has confirmed today that it is releasing a new Wii U premium bundle which contains two of the console's most critically-acclaimed titles, Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon. The pack - which will be a limited-time offer - contains the standard black premium Wii U console with 32GB of storage and all the usual...
News Renegade Kid Wants to Release Physical Versions of its 3DS Games
Perhaps a collection is on the horizon?
Renegade Kid is a studio that has been a very dependable supporter of the eShop, with games like Mutant Mudds and Xeodrifter periodically showing up and giving gamers solid slices of action that rarely disappoint. Though the studio seems to have a soft spot for retro games, releases like Moon Chronicles and...
News Sonic Lost World's Wii U Exclusivity Ends With Budget PC Release
Bundled with Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic Lost World, released exclusively on Wii U in 2013 - also with a separate 3DS iteration - is a game full of good intentions. It attempted to make 3D Sonic speed more playable; though flawed it was a demonstration of ambition and arguably a step forward for the Sonic Team. SEGA has been moving a...
News Super Mario Advance 4's e-Reader Levels Get Resurrected Thanks To Super Mario Maker
e-Reader attachment not required
When Nintendo launched Super Mario Bros. 3 on the Game Boy Advance under the rather misleading title Super Mario Advance 4, it included 30 secret stages - all falling under the banner "World-e" - which could only be unlocked by using the optional e-Reader accessory and a set of special cards. Given that both of...
Video This Super Mario Maker Player Captures The Frustration of Surprise 'Don't Move' Stages
Is this a joke?
Super Mario Maker is wonderful, at least in our humble opinion, and millions of stages have been created for us all to try. Naturally with so many people taking part there's scope for levels that are slightly peculiar of almost impossible to beat, yet it's the 'don't move' or 'keep running' stages that seem to be among the most...
News Skull Kid is Confirmed as a Playable Character in Hyrule Warriors Legends
Phantom Ganon to also feature
Hyrule Warriors Legends will give us portable hack 'n slash action in 2016, and Koei Tecmo is keeping up its momentum of new characters that'll feature in the 3DS version of the popular Wii U original. Recently it showed off characters and stages from The Wind Waker, and now it's revealed additional popular characters...
News English Version of SplatNet Website for Splatoon Goes Live
Keep track of gear, stages, rank, and friends with this handy site
Splatoon is a game that can get fiercely competitive for those who are willing to put in the time and effort. Once you start getting into the upper limits of the Ranked Battle mode, you'll find that competitors wear very particular gear with very particular stats. Surprisingly...
News Nielsen Game Rank Lists the Most Anticipated Games of the Holiday Season
There's a disturbing lack of Xenoblade here…
It's hard to believe, but we're already fast approaching the Holiday season for 2015. This is a critical time for game companies everywhere, as this is when a significant chunk of yearly profits is made. While it is a pretty safe bet that no Nintendo games will be leading the charts this season, there's...
News Guitar Hero Live Brings Out Big Stars for Its Marketing Campaign
Those without hardcover 'ART' books shouldn't buy this game
Marketing and branding are often about aspiration - look at the shiny thing and the photogenic people with the shiny thing, and look at their amazing living room. Nintendo and many game companies follow this 'how to advertise a game 101', and Activision is no different with its efforts for...
Super Nindie Maker Choice Provisions' Paratroopa Pounce
BIT.TRIP POUNCE
As you may have seen by now, we really want you all to share Super Mario Maker levels with each other; to achieve that we've set up a special level sharing page with some neat features - just for you. We're also teaming up with some 'Nindies' to share some levels from established and highly respected developers. We kicked off the...
Review Skylanders SuperChargers (Wii U)
Articulation, That’s What You Need
While other toy-game hybrid makers are moving on from older Nintendo hardware this year, Activision has doubled down on Wii, 3DS and Wii U Skylanders with bespoke versions and cross-over dual action Skylander-amiibo. This year's Skylanders Superchargers novelty is a good one. The articulated vehicles not only...
Nintendo Life Weekly The Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot Ends, a Naughty Splatoon Octoling and More
Who'll Sakurai produce next
It's been another busy week in the world of Nintendo, with the usual blend of the good, bad and ugly. If you've been unable to keep track, or just want a nice bite-sized video to remind you of some highlights, Alex is here as always with his lovely weekly video. The headline this week revolves around the end of the Super...
Video Catch Up With Combat Tips in the Xenoblade Chronicles X Survival Guide
Delightfully complicated
Xenoblade Chronicles X is creeping ever closer to a Western release, which is terrific news for Wii U owners that admire Monolith Soft and its enormous RPG projects. With potentially hundreds of hours of content and what appears to be quite staggering depth, many are likely to be playing it into 2016. Nintendo has been...
News The Next Splatfest in North America is About How You Like to Travel
Planes or Cars?
We're once again approaching that time in North America for the monthly Splatfest, the popular event that captures the hearts and minds of Splatoon players all over. While the Autobots vs. Decepticons Splatfest will never be topped, this Splatfest's theme is still decent. The battle will be between those who prefer to travel by car...
Video The Just Dance Unlimited Subscription Service Gets a Quirky Trailer
Pay to dance
It's an annual tradition here at Nintendo Life to live stream Ubisoft's always-bizarre E3 live conference, mainly so we can marvel at clunky scripts and joke about the big reveal of Nintendo systems getting another Just Dance game. That happened again this year with Just Dance 2016, though there was the pleasing announcement that the...
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...
Video Terraria Shines on Wii U and 3DS
The wait is almost over
There were a load of indie games to try out at EGX this year, and many of those were on the Nintendo stand. One title with firm indie roots, although now outgrown its stable, is Terraria. As you no doubt know this is the 2D side scrolling Minecraft-a-like that actually has much more going for it than simplified block...
News GAME Sends Out £10 Gift Cards and Apologises for Super Mario Maker Pre-Order Issues
"We made a mistake"
When Super Mario Maker arrived on 11th September, some UK gamers that pre-ordered the title with GAME experienced serious issues. The major problem was that some were charged up to seven times for the order and saw hundreds of pounds deducted from their bank accounts; this took quite a few days to resolve fully. It was...
News Star Fox Zero Delayed To Achieve a "Platinum Feel" in Quality
Pretty smooth flying, Fox
We're still reeling from the news that Star Fox Zero will be missing its Holiday 2015 launch, but this delay to Q1 2016 might end up making the game worthy of doing a barrel roll after all. In a recent interview with GameSpot, Platinum Games' Yusuke Hashimoto reiterated that Star Fox Zero is still running at an impressive 6
News Just Dance: Disney Party 2 Is Serenading The Wii U And Wii This Month
Yes, the original Wii
Nintendo may be on the verge of announcing its next home console but the Wii - now a decade old and a distant memory to some fans - is still getting new games. Ubisoft has confirmed that Just Dance: Disney Party 2 will be coming to Wii U, Xbox One and Xbox 360 - as well as the Wii - at the end of this month. The title...
Nintendo Download 1st October (North America)
Freedom Planet! Pumped BMX+! Chronus Arc! More!
It's that time, North American gamers, to cast your eye over the new downloadable eShop treats that are available this week. There are diverse offerings, including a highly anticipated and delayed action platformer, a creation tool, BMX stunt action and more; some discounts are also rather tempting...
Arriving in Europe on 20th November
Update: It's now been confirmed that amiibo Festival will arrive in North America on 13th November. Original Article: Nintendo's showing at E3 this year didn't exactly receive universal acclaim, and many Wii U fans in particular didn't react favourably to the reveal of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, which...
Video Catch Up With a Special Super Mario Maker Episode of GameCenter CX
GameMaker CX
When it comes to Japanese TV culture and gaming, GameCenter CX is well known and fondly regarded by plenty of viewers in the country and around the world. Host Shinya Arino and the show's unique style are familiar to many, so fans may want to take a look at a recent episode featuring Super Mario Maker. Nintendo has released two videos,...
News Nintendo of Japan's Website Reveals Four More Animal Crossing amiibo
Could there be even more on the way?
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival is a very interesting entry in the beloved Animal Crossing series. Not only is it a significant break from series convention, but it was met by some admittedly cold reception when it was announced and a certain degree of uncertainty has surrounded the game ever since. Like it or...
September2015
News Splatoon 'Octoling' Modder Could Cause Save Data Problems
Wrapping their tentacles around your game
Throughout the Summer there have been efforts in data mining and adding skins to Splatoon, notably with 'playable Octolings' based on messing around with in-game data and settings. It seems, though, that more players beyond the original hacker are starting to manipulate data in Splatoon to play as Octolings...
News Super Mario Maker Back on Top in Japan as 3DS and Wii U Sales Increase
Building blocks for success
The Japanese Media Create chart results are out once again, and despite an absence of major new releases this time around there's good news for Nintendo. New releases in Japan have been on Vita, PS4 and PS3, though none have shifted significant numbers. In fact Nintendo system exclusives occupy the top three places, with...
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...
News Super Mario Maker Passes One Million Sales
Over 2.2 million levels played nearly 75 million times
Super Mario Maker has now been available for around three weeks, keeping Wii U owners busy as they play and create clever, bizarre and fiendish 2D Mario levels. Nintendo has now issued some updated statistics on the title which make happy reading for Wii U fans. The game has now passed one...
Video Ryan Craddock Performs His Super Mario Maker Song 'Mix It Up' Live On Stage At EGX 2015
Clap your hands!
Nintendo Life was in attendance at this year's EGX - officially the UK's biggest gaming event - and while we were there we got the chance to help out on the Nintendo UK stand, running live sessions on stage and our very own daily Splatoon tournaments. A highlight of the event was Nintendo Life tune-smith Ryan Craddock performing...
Video Super Mario Maker and Wind Waker Star in Super Smash Bros. DLC
Super Mario Waker
Super Mario Maker continues to bring joy to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, but now you can experience this custom Super Mario experience in a somewhat more violent manner. Released today, the Super Mario Maker stage is available to buy for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS, and alongside this new offering on...
News Super Smash Bros. Wii U & 3DS Version 1.1.1 Is Now Live
New and classic stages, Mii Fighter outfits & more
Nintendo’s ongoing support of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS continues with the latest patch for the game now live. Version 1.1.1 further enhances the overall game experience and also introduces new paid DLC offerings including the anticipated Super Mario Maker stage as well as seven...
News Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash Will Be Served Up in North America on 20th November
Charging the net in the Holiday season
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash is lined up to be a key Holiday title for the Wii U, and Nintendo of America has confirmed its release date in the territory. As you can see in the tweet below it'll arrive on 20th November in the region. [tweet In the next few months the sporting sequel will be joined in the...
Feature Looking at the Building Blocks of LEGO Dimensions
We catch up with TT Games to learn more
Toys to life is now a well-worn term in gaming, rising to prominence when Skylanders started to take over the world. Employing simple NFC technology that had long been part of the lives of daily commuters with travel cards, for example, it turned figurines into vital video game accessories - making stacks of...
Weirdness Just Dance 2016 Will Include An Exclusive Song About Stepping On A Chihuahua
Boasting the vocal talents of Japanese singer Reni Mimura
Ubisoft has created a unique song for the forthcoming Just Dance 2016 and it's totally and utterly bonkers. Composed by the Just Dance team alongside Tom Salta and Japanese singer Reni Mimura, "Chiwawa" is all about a girl who steps on her Chihuahua by accident: Chiwawa is the surprising...
Video This Splatoon Glitch Makes Rainmaker Very One-Sided on Hammerhead Bridge
One fish, two fish, blowfish, blue fish
Every game comes with its fair share of glitches, and it seems even Splatoon isn't exempt from this fact regardless of all the updates it's received over its short life. This latest glitch discovered by YouTuber Ryanator allows you to get out of bounds on the most recently released map Hammerhead Bridge, and...
News Deep Silver And Comcept Confirm Launch Date For Mighty No. 9
Physical and digital versions coming at the same time
Publisher Deep Silver - along with Mighty No. 9 developer Comcept - has confirmed that the physical and digital editions of the game will launch in North America on February 9th and the rest of the world on February 12th. This revised release date was down to the game slipping from its expected...
News Super Mario Maker Continues Steady UK Run as Skylanders Performs Well on Wii U
Not much else to shout about for Nintendo
The UK chart results have now been released for the most recent week, and bring a mix of expected results along with occasional surprises. FIFA 16 seizes top spot, naturally, though there are a couple of interesting outcomes from a Nintendo perspective. For starters, Super Mario Maker continues to...
Weirdness Mario Kart 8's Yoshi Bike Found In Japan
Well, kind of...
Those familiar with the latest instalment in the Mario Kart series will know that one of the available vehicles is the 'Yoshi Bike' - a motorbike shaped as Mario's long-time dino companion, obviously. As cool as it looks in the game (if that's the kind of thing that floats your boat), it looks even better in real-life. Twitter user...
Reminder There's Only One More Week Left To Vote In The Super Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot
Who's it gonna be?!
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS has been a game that's kept on giving, with its consistent DLC of new characters, stages and Mii Fighter costumes. However, on April 1st 2015, Nintendo went one step further and announced the Super Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot in one of its Directs - a voting system where players can submit...
News Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Tops Japanese Charts as Wii U Beats PS4
Super Mario Maker claims second place
The Media Create Japanese chart results have been later than normal this week, but the eventual outcome certainly has some positives for Nintendo. For starters, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon has claimed top spot in its début week, with the 3DS title sneaking past 150,000 sales. Super Mario Maker claims second...
News Analysts Wonder If Super Mario Can Save Nintendo
"I do think that Super Mario will be a driver for mobile revenue"
American business publication Fortune has recently asked the big question 'Can Super Mario save Nintendo from itself?' and to answer that question has consulted the wisdom of several analysts including Nintendo Life reader favourite Michael Pachter. With Super Mario Maker seemingly...
Review Disney Infinity 3.0 (Wii U)
The Force is with it
This year's Disney Infinity game has a trump card in play, Star Wars. This, along with some triple-A development assistance from the likes of Studio Gobo, Ninja Theory and Sumo Digital adds up to an impressive overall pedigree. The game itself comes in the now-standard Starter Pack, although this year if you already have a...
News New Assault Android Cactus Trailer Shows Fast, Fun & Frenetic Blaster Action
Charge and unleash
If you’re a fan of frantic sci-fi bullet-blasters, the upcoming title Assault Android Cactus for Wii U eShop may be one game worth keeping an eye on. Featuring a vibrant art style, slick frame rate, funky tunes, 1-4 player co-op and fast & frenetic twin-stick shoot em’ up gameplay, the title looks to take the concept of...
News Angry Sun Game Files Reportedly Uncovered In Super Mario Maker
Future DLC or simply unused assets?
A well-known Splatoon data miner under the Twitter handle NWPlayer123 has reportedly made an exciting discovery whilst sifting through the files of Nintendo’s latest Wii U title, Super Mario Maker. It appears there are a series of unused files leading to speculation about future download content for Mario's...
News Nintendo Hammers Out A New Update For Super Mario Maker
Version 1.10 is now live
It's only been a few weeks since Wii U owners got their hands on the brilliant Super Mario Maker, and already Nintendo is showing strong support for the title via a series of updates. The first was delivered on release to speed up the arrival time of in-game unlocks, and now a second patch has been issued under the veil of...
Weirdness Bowser Bummed by Skylanders amiibo Tie-in
GAME store has a cheeky time of it
Anatomically, Bowser's nose can be considered to have two primary purposes. First, it provides something to breathe through when he has a mouth full of hot, fiery death to spit. Second, its presence keeps him from looking like a total goober. Case in point, one GAME store seems to have come across a Hammer Slam...
News Nintendo Partnering with Green Man Gaming for Digital Offerings
Another place to buy magical games made of air
Following up on a digital partnership with Amazon in North America, Nintendo has teamed up with Green Man Gaming to offer downloadable titles through the UK-based seller. According to Green Man CEO Paul Sulyok in a story on GamesIndustry, game offerings will be for both the 3DS and Wii U, including...
Event Splatoon EGX Team Championships 2015
This Thursday through Sunday at EGX 2015
The UK's biggest games event EGX kicks off tomorrow and as usual Nintendo Life will be on the Nintendo UK stand running special tournaments throughout the four days. Two years ago we hosted the StreetPass Zone and held 3DS-focused competitions, while last year it was the UK Mario Kart 8
Video Is This The Hardest Super Mario Maker Level Ever Made?
Even watching it being beaten is painful
Super Mario Maker has been in the hands of the gaming public for a few weeks now and has already generated an incredible amount of content, with players creating and uploading their stages for others to enjoy. We've already had some good calls for the award of "hardest level ever", and only the other day...
Video This Laparoscopic Wii U Controller is Teaching Medical Students to Perform Keyhole Surgery
Time to scrub up
Nintendo consoles have been privy to some incredibly unusual controllers in their time, most of which are a bit rubbish and don't really improve gameplay in any way. However these previous blunders haven't deterred Grendel Games from designing a Wii U eShop game called Underground and an accompanying controller to accurately...
News First 4 Figures Opens Pre-Orders for Its Cat Mario Collectibles
You can be 'lucky' and buy the $400 version
Oh, First 4 Figures, how you torment us. It's the retailer responsible for producing lovely but pricey collectible figurines / statues that we can't really justify buying. They often look amazing though. Pre-orders have now opened for Cat Mario, which comes with three different options to entice you...
News Nintendo UK Store Serves Up Incentives for Ordering Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash
A ball and a plush doubles partner
It feels like Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash has been cruising under the radar, even as real-life tennis has lately grabbed even more attention than it tends to. The Nintendo UK Store, however, is starting to hype up the 20 November release of the game in Europe with a couple fine items for those who pre-order through...
Guide How to Unlock Plague Knight in Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows the Easy Way
Cheatin' ain't cheatin'
Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows allows you to finally play as fan-favourite Plague Knight with his own hugely unique mechanics, but in order to unlock this character you're forced to play through the entire game as Shovel Knight. Many players will have already achieved this but many may have not; luckily there's another way...
Video Admire the Skills on Show as an Insane Super Mario Maker Level is Conquered
Only speedrunners and the best need apply
Super Mario Maker's level upload system has a simple but vital safeguard - to upload a level you have to be able to beat it. We may curse and claim some stages are impossible, but the fact is that every level in the game can be cleared. Of course, if a ridiculously good player spends hours designing a stage...
Super Nindie Maker Image & Form's Ghostly Mushroom
Spooky...
As you may have seen by now, we really want you all to share Super Mario Maker levels with each other; to achieve that we've set up a special level sharing page with some neat features - just for you. We're also teaming up with some 'Nindies' to share some levels from established and highly respected developers. To start off we have a...
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