Wii U - News
September2015
No default offer of a discount or compensation
UK retailer GAME has had a few issues in the past that have been damaging to its reputation, and it's certainly rattled the faith of Nintendo fans this past week. At the start of the week it charged some customers up to five times for their Super Mario Maker pre-order; this was then exacerbated the...
News Splatoon Art Book Making A Splat Landing In Japan This Year
300+ pages of kid/squid goodness
As if the Inklings among us didn't already have enough to celebrate, it looks like the 2-disc soundtrack we recently reported on isn't the only piece of Splatoon merchandise emerging from the watery depths this year. Freshly announced by Famitsu magazine and translated by
News Toon Link Will Reportedly Be Playable in Hyrule Warriors Legends
Likely transferrable to Hyrule Warriors on Wii U
Hyrule Warriors Legends for the 3DS was leaked before E3, providing some pre-LA buzz but also blowing one of Nintendo's reveals. Confirmed to feature all Hyrule Warriors DLC and new content such as Tetra and the King of Hyrule, which will also be transferrable to the Wii U version, this seems like a...
News Updated Mario Kart 8 Wii U Hardware Bundle in North America Includes Both DLC Packs
No plastic wheel though (sad face)
One of the most popular Wii U hardware bundles of last year was the Mario Kart 8 package, with the North American equivalent coming packaged with the game, a lovely Red Mario Wii Remote Plus and a red Wii Wheel; all in all it was a great deal. Nintendo of America has retooled its Mario Kart 8 bundle, with an...
News GAME Processes Additional Charges on Super Mario Maker Pre-Orders
Some complaining of overdrafts and seven charges
Update 3: Unfortunately, this looks likely to drag on for another day, with the following message sent to your humble author on Twitter. [tweet An email has also been sent to the customer services address below, though a response from that will likely take some time. Update 2: GAME has provided...
News Nintendo UK Is Making A Big Splash At EGX This Year
Get to play Star Fox Zero and Tri Force Heroes before all your friends
EGX (formally known as Eurogamer Expo) is the UK's biggest games event, and Nintendo Life is proud to be involved in it again (more on that soon); this year EGX will be at its new home at the Birmingham NEC on 24th-27th September. Bye bye Earls Court in London, it was nice...
Video Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka Tackle Michel Ancel's PAC-Mario Stage in Super Mario Maker
Of course Miyamoto-san is rather good
There's been a fair bit of Super Mario Maker-related news and content to kick off the week, so here's something a little light-hearted to keep that going. Uploaded by Nintendo UK on YouTube, the two most important founders of Super Mario tackle a stage by the man behind Rayman, Michel Ancel; that's a star lineup...
News GAME Promises Quick Refunds After Charging Customers for Too Many Super Mario Maker Pre-Orders
£234.95 if you're really unlucky
GAME is the biggest high street game specialist remaining in the UK, though it has a nasty habit of falling foul of loyal customers with some pre-orders. It's not always the retailer's fault, such as when Splatoon special edition pre-orders were stolen, but it's made a pretty poor error with Super Mario Maker...
Video When Nintendo Life Met Shigeru Miyamoto And Takashi Tezuka
Our musical maestro Ryan gets the surprise of his life
Keen followers of Nintendo Life will recall that back in July we were fortunate enough to get the chance to interview one of Nintendo's rising stars, Splatoon co-director Tsubasa Sakaguchi, when he visited the UK. Grasping this fantastic opportunity with as many appendages as humanly possible,...
Mario Memories Mario Kart 8 and Discovering the Joys of Online Multiplayer
6th Place Forever
In this series of articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have our delightful reviewer Narelle Ho Sang. Some of my favourite memories of Mario are the ones I'm still making...
Nintendo Download 10th September (Europe)
Super Mario Maker! The Swindle! Hatsune Miku! Etrian Mystery Dungeon! More!
Another week begins and brings with it news of the upcoming European Nintendo Download Update, and this time around there's plenty to look forward to. One of the year's biggest retail releases on Wii U is joined by a much-anticipated download release published by Curve...
News Mario Slam Basketball Rated By Australian Classification Board
Get ready to shoot some hoops
If you’ve wanted to shoot hoops on your Wii U, you may soon be in luck with the Australian Classification Board today rating Square Enix’s 2006 DS title, Mario Slam Basketball. Known as Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in North America and Mario Basketball 3on3 in Japan, this is the first time the game will receive the Virtual...
Video See Mario Kart 8's Mute City in a Whole New Way
GBA Ribbon Road and 3DS Neo Bowser City also get the treatment
You may remember that in the past we shared some videos from the MrBean35000vr YouTube channel. The hackers often use their skills to show off cool areas of games we haven't seen much of before, and were among the first to break into the Wii U. Courtesy of Nintendo's efforts with...
Nintendo Life Weekly Smaller New 3DS Launching in North America this Year
Week at the knees
Nintendo's smaller New 3DS is coming to North America at last, but that's not all the news that's happened this week. Once again we've tirelessly condensed the cream of this week's news as well as all the reviews and releases into one handy little video for your viewing pleasure. This week we look at Club Nintendo's European and...
Video Unleash Ink-Based Carnage with Splatoon's Brand New Mini Splatling
It's splattering time
Splatoon's roster of weaponry continues to grow, and this time around we're treated to the stripped-down Mini Splatling. Not only is it faster at charging than its heavier counterpart but it also has greatly improved mobility as well as Suction Bombs, and the infamous Inkzooka. You can check it out in action in the video below...
News The Mini Splatling is Next Up in This Week's Splatoon Update
It suits you
Splatoon has a weekly update on the way, as per usual, and Nintendo of Europe has detailed what we can come to expect. It's good news for Splatling fans. The Mini Splatling in on the way in the update today / tomorrow - the new content typically arrives on a Friday night at 7pm Pacific / 10pm Eastern in North America, which is 3am UK /...
News A Supercharged Star Fox amiibo Hybrid Was A Possibility for Skylanders SuperChargers
I can't let you do that, Star Fox!
We're still kind of amazed that Nintendo allowed supercharged versions of Bowser and Donkey Kong to be included in the upcoming Skylanders SuperChargers game. In addition to being playable characters they also get their own amiibo figurines which have a handy switch in the base to flip into Skylanders mode...
News Some Western Splatoon Players Would Prefer Not To Compete With Japan
Online technicalities causing tension?
Reports have recently surfaced via Japanese video game blogs that certain clusters of Western Wii U owners do not enjoy playing Nintendo's competitive online squid shooter Splatoon with players from Japan. Some have even taken to social media to demand that Nintendo enforce regional servers for the game. The...
Video Even Reggie Is Crazy About Runbow
All hail the Reggie-lution!
With Runbow now available in both North America and Europe, Nintendo of America has posted an amusing video on its YouTube channel revealing Reggie’s addiction to the recently released Wii U eShop title. The clip, which can be viewed below, lasts a minute and a half and also features Nintendo of America’s Damon...
Video Splatoon's Rainmaker Mode is Possibly the Game's Most Cultural Match Type
'Culture Shock' YouTube show explains why
Splatoon has a decent splattering (sorry) of modes nowadays, with frequent updates over the course about three months adding plenty of content. A recent addition was the Rainmaker mode in Ranked Battles, in which you try to take possession of the powerful relic and progress into the opposition's territory...
News Wii U Offers "The Best Realisation Of The Second Screen Experience", Says Watchup CEO
Unique newscasting app now available on Wii U eShop
Earlier this week, news app Watchup appeared on the Wii U eShop without warning or fanfare, and has strangely been missed off this week's download update. Even so, Watchup CEO and Founder Adriano Farano is keen to make some noise about the Nintendo version of the download, which - in its Android...
News Nintendo Recruits YouTube Celebrities for Its Super Mario Maker 'Super Creator Challenge'
Five in total want your Likes
With Super Mario Maker's release a little over a week away Nintendo is trying various marketing tricks and strategies to get people interested, and now NoA has now posted videos of five YouTube celebrities taking on its 'Super Creator Challenge'. Whichever level's video gets the most Likes by 9th September wins, and our...
News Dragon Quest VIII Storms to Number One in Japan and Boosts New 3DS Sales
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer creeps towards 1 million sales
Wednesday is Media Create results day in Japan, in which we see whether Nintendo and its system's games can maintain strong form in the company's homeland. On that score this week brings more positive news. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, the 3DS port of the PS2...
Pixel perfect
In the year of Super Mario's 25th Anniversary Nintendo released Super Mario Galaxy 2, a terrific sequel, and the rather uninspired Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition. Not bad, but a continuation of the norm - an accomplished (almost perfect) slice of platforming heaven and another release designed for little more than...
News Nintendo UK and Playtonic Games to Host a Special Super Mario Maker Live Broadcast
Yooka-Laylee studio to show off its creations
With Super Mario Maker approaching we can expect a variety of promotional activities from the big N, and Nintendo UK has an upcoming live stream that could be one to watch for retro and eShop fans. It's announced on Instagram that it'll be hosting a live broadcast with Playtonic Games, the team of...
News Production Of Shovel Knight amiibo Is Being Handled Entirely By Yacht Club Games
"We're basically licensing the amiibo technology from Nintendo"
After last week's revolutionary news of a third-party franchise breaking its way into the world of amiibo, some more details on the Shovel Knight figure have surfaced via Yacht Club Games. In an interview with Destructoid at PAX Prime 2015, studio head Sean Velasco stated that Yacht...
News Space Hulk Finally Docking With The Wii U eShop This Christmas
In space, no one can hear you lament slipped release dates
Last we heard, the Wii U version of Space Hulk was due to arrive in May, but that proved to be a false dawn as all of the console editions were pushed back slightly. If you own a Sony machine then the wait is now over, as the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita versions are out this week. Sadly,...
News Amazon Now Offering Nintendo Games For Direct Digital Download
"Seamless redemption experience" promised
Online retailer Amazon is now offering digital downloads of "over 50 Nintendo digital game titles" which can be downloaded directly to your 3DS or Wii U console using a "seamless redemption experience". It works like this. You purchase the game on Amazon as you would normally, and then link your Nintendo...
News Devil's Third Fails to Hit UK Top 40 in Poor Week for Nintendo Titles
A low point
We suspect that most Nintendo fans in the UK would acknowledge that the company's having a tough time in the country. Splatoon has been an exception in holding its own this summer along with a couple of other evergreen games, and the 3DS remains popular, but in the overall picture the big N is struggling in this particular market. This...
"That’s extremely unfortunate for everyone involved"
Devil's Third is out now in Europe and the reviews haven't been glowing. Tomonobu Itagaki's Wii U exclusive has been given something of a drubbing by critics, with outlets such as IGN, Eurogamer and GameSpot handing it dire critical assessments. Itagaki has taken to
Video PolyKid’s Wii U Adventure Platformer Poi Has A Charming New Trailer
Kickstarter ends at midnight on Wednesday
As previously reported, PolyKid’s 3D Adventure Platformer Poi is slated for release on Wii U, with a Kickstarter campaign being used to raise funds. The indie team behind the title are drawing inspiration from the classic platformers they grew up with including the likes of Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooi
August2015
News Splatoon Version 2.1.0 Update to Fix Some Bugs, and Cut Off Some Handy Shortcuts
No more cheeky squid moves
Splatoon wrapped up another Splatfest this past weekend, and continues to evolve and add new content on a weekly basis. The development team remains active in tweaking the game and applying fixes, too, and update 2.1.0 will arrive soon - at 598MB in Japan - to do just that. The update is due to be preceded by some...
News Gorgeous Xenoblade Chronicles X Special Edition Confirmed for North America
Will cost $89.99
There's plenty of excitement around the 4th December arrival of Xenoblade Chronicles X, though fans in North America have been wondering if they'd get the same treatment as European gamers. EU Wii U owners, for example, have a handsome special edition on the way, and the onus has been on Nintendo of America to offer something...
Nintendo Life Weekly Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo, Star Fox Zero Release Date
A basket of roses
Have you caught up on the sheer volume of news that's happened over the past week? We know it can be tough to keep track so we've compiled all the reviews, releases, and biggest news of the past seven days for you in video format! This week we focus on the incredible Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo, Star Fox Zero's release date, and much...
Video Ink Yourself Over Splatoon's Two New Weapons, the Bamboozler 14 Mk I & L-3 Nozzlenose D
Nozzle up your nose
Splatoon's ever expanding list of weaponry has just grown even bigger with the addition of two brand new weapons: The Bamboozler 14 Mk I and the modified L-3 Nozzlenose D. The new Bamboozler 14 Mk I comes equipped with a Splash Wall and a Killer Wail/Megaphone Laser, and whilst it's quick to charge and has decent range the...
News Netflix Update Goes Live on Wii U
Now you can hide your streaming shame in profiles
The Wii U doesn't have the same range of apps as its competitors, but it has been able to boast of Netflix since day one. The app itself did its best to put the GamePad to use, but was never as slick or feature-rich as it could have been. A fresh update has now gone live to improve matters, with a...
Video Nintendo's European Super Mario Maker Commercial Heads to the City
Similar to the NA approach
Super Mario Maker is one of - possibly the - biggest Wii U retail release of the year, and with its arrival getting ever closer Nintendo is stepping up its marketing efforts. We recently shared a North American TV commercial that utilises young actors admiring a level being created over a vast rea-world area; in Europe the...
News Bandai Namco's Project Treasure Is Now Called Lost Reavers, Beta Test Incoming
Gameplay revealed via new trailer
Bandai Namco has revealed today that its free-to-play Wii U eShop title Project Treasure has a new name: Lost Reavers. As if a name change wasn't enough, the publisher has also stated that the Japanese version of the game will enter a phase of public beta testing in the next few days. The game's Japanese site has...
News Shovel Knight amiibo Confirms "Evolving" Relationship With Indies, Says Nintendo
Unlocks content in current - and future - Shovel Knight games
Just in case you still aren't convinced that the Shovel Knight amiibo is a thing, Nintendo of America confirmed its existence alongside a raft of other announcements during a pre-PAX presentation at its [email protected] event at EMP Museum in Seattle. Scanning the amiibo on Wii U version of...
News 13AM Games Reveals More Content Is Coming To Runbow
Sequel and 3DS development also discussed
Runbow has just launched on the Wii U eShop in North America and already 13AM Games are looking towards the future. In a Reddit AMA earlier today, Producer Dave Protor explained more game content would be delivered to Runbow in the form of character costumes and level updates, and promised ongoing support...
News Two New Weapons Are Heading to Splatoon This Week
Don't forget it's Splatfest weekend, too
The next Splatoon Splatfest kicks off this weekend, which will be an awesome Transformers event in North America and a little more generic in Europe. There'll also be a couple of new w
News Nintendo UK Running Another Super Mario Maker Twitch Stream Today
Tune in
Nintendo UK has already held a Twitch stream devoted to the forthcoming Wii U title Super Mario Maker, and it has announced today that a second live-stream will be happening. As you might assume, it's due to take place on the company's Twitch channel at 5PM UK time, and will give you the chance to see some new user-created courses in...
Rumour XSEED Less Than Happy With Nintendo's About-Face On Publishing Devil's Third
The devil is in the detail
Devil's Third has endured a tortured route to retail, losing its original publisher THQ to bankruptcy and being picked up by Nintendo after years of development, but one of the most unusual twists was that it very nearly got dropped by Nintendo of America only to be picked up again when the company performed a...
News Kerbal Space Program Is Landing On The Wii U eShop
We have lift off!
Update: Nintendo has now set the Kerbal Space Program trailer to private. Original: Out of the blue, the popular computer game, Kerbal Space Program, has been confirmed for the Wii U. The news comes via what appears to be an early leak on Nintendo's YouTube Channel, with the game expected to be officially revealed at the...
News Minecraft: Story Mode is Heading to Wii U
At last... sort of
Minecraft has become a cultural phenomenon, starting on PC before going on to achieve incredible sales success on consoles; long after release console versions remain as ever-presents in the charts. The disappointment for Nintendo fans is that they've missed out; that's now about to change... sort of. Minecraft: Story Mode is an...
What devilry is this?
Devil's Third has had a protracted and curious road to the Wii U, with notable gaps between regional releases and the peculiarity of an upcoming free-to-play online version for PC. With its arrival in Japan and Europe we get to see whether it's seductive and alluring or, alternatively, a devilish disappointment. With much...
Rumour Fresh Sources Suggest Shovel Knight Is Indeed Digging His Way To Super Smash Bros.
With an amiibo figure in tow, naturally
Rumours regarding Shovel Knight's inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. roster have been doing the rounds for quite some time, but we've managed to unearth some fresh evidence which suggests that Yacht Club Games' famous character is indeed about to take a bow in Nintendo's famous fighter. We've been in touch...
News Super Robot Wars BX Battles Its Way to Number One in Japan
Animal Crossing and Yo-kai Watch still going strong
It's Media Create Japanese chart results time again, with this week bringing more good news for the 3DS; the portable's been rather greedy in its success in recent times. Super Robot Wars BX makes its début on 3DS in top spot, which looks noisy and fun based on the footage at the end of this...
Video Japanese TV Commercials For Super Mario Maker Take The Reserved Approach
Low on CGI, high on charm
The launch of Super Mario Maker is just around the corner, and Nintendo is giving the game one final push in Japan with a raft of new TV commercials. Compared to the CGI-heavy nature of the US ads, these are a little more reserved and showcase one man and his quest to create the most entertaining Super Mario level...
News Splatoon Original Soundtrack Bringing 2 CDs of Noise to Your Pointy Squid Ears
Can you handle these spicy wasabi beats?
One of the pleasantly surprising aspects of Splatoon has been its approach to music. Not only do songs in the game possess a funky blend of styles with dashes of Japanese influence, but in-world groups have been introduced with unique sounds and different K.K. Slider-like vocalists to give a feeling that the...
Sadly Xenoblade Chronicles X won't be playable
PAX Prime is taking place in Seattle this week, one of the most popular expos held annually in the US - it's already sold out. As always Nintendo of America is planning to have a significant presence, in the process aiming to win over some gamers to the Wii U and 3DS cause. A notable event this year is...
News Future Of Trine Series In Doubt Following Negative Reaction To Third Outing
"Poor media attention has caught us by surprise"
Trine studio Frozenbyte has stated that the future of the series - which has sold 7 million copies to date - could be in jeopardy following the scathing reaction to Trine 3: The Artefacts of Power's PC release. The game launched on Steam last week but has thus far received a rather negative reaction,...
News Nintendo of America Opts for 'Real World' Super Mario Maker TV Campaign
"Wanna play?"
Nintendo's marketing in North America has been interesting in the 3DS and Wii U era, as notable TV campaigns have often blended CG effects with real world actors - the latter are normally young teenagers to pitch to the family demographic. It's been a recurring formula and, to be fair to Nintendo of America, a lot of these trailers...
News Updated 'Roadmap' Infographic Shows Nintendo's 2015 Release Line-Up
It's actually the Wii U rocking the most games
If you've been browsing around the site and wider web today you'll have seen plenty of announcements from Nintendo relating to release dates, bundles and even some new goodies. It's been rather like the news splurge we'd have from a Mini Nintendo Direct, only without the relevant video. In any case,...
News Rejoice, Rural Professionals, Farming and Lumberjack Sims are Coming to Wii U
"Live the farming dream"
There have been some notable release date announcements today, but fans of rural life that can't fulfil their dreams of working on the land have some good news of their own - two sim games from Bandai Namco are heading to Wii U. Professional Farmer 2016 is exactly as it sounds - you choose and maintain a tractor before...
News Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and amiibo Festival Bundle Details Emerge
Including NFC reader info for North America
As part of a detail dump from Nintendo today, information on key bundles and extras for Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival have emerged. Release dates were already known for the 3DS title, and it's worth noting that amiibo Festival on Wii U still has a 'Holiday'...
News Mega Yarn Yoshi amiibo Stampedes onto Shelves this November
Your fabric-based Godzilla fantasies realised
The Yarn Yoshi amiibo triplicate was a great move by Nintendo - it brought the idea of toys-to-life into actual toys that aren't glorified statuettes. Three clearly wasn't enough though, as now we can expect a giant variation of these adorable critters to arrive in North America, Europe, Australia, and...
Star Fox Zero! Fatal Frame exclusive to eShop! Devil's Third! More!
Nintendo of America and their European counterparts have decided to have an information splurge to kick off the week, which is just fine by us. First of all, it's confirmed that a Super Mario Maker Wii U hardware bundle will arrive in North America, as was previously announced for...
News Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. Lead a Lonely Fight for Nintendo in the UK Charts
Tomodachi Life squeezes in too
A little while ago a reader asked why we've not been sharing the UK charts on a weekly basis. The fact is we still check Chart-Track every Monday morning, but there's been little happy news from a Nintendo perspective. These charts cover physical retail sales, of course - no eShop figures here - and there are some key...
Talking Point Pokkén Tournament May Not Be a Wii U Saviour, But It Can Provide a Welcome Boost
Giving early 2016 a focal point
Ever since its announcement for the Japanese arcade scene Pokkén Tournament has been closely followed by Pokémon and fighting game fans. Unofficial efforts have often pitched 'mon against each other in crude efforts, but the flashy Bandai Namco-developed release caused quite an online buzz. Of course, its status as...
Poll Is Pokkén Tournament The Wii U Release You've Been Waiting For?
Wish fulfilment
Just this week came an announcement that fulfilled a much cited demand from some Wii U owners - Pokkén Tournament is coming to Wii U. Its early 2016 arrival is both expected and a surprise, with plenty of logic in porting a major Japanese arcade release to a global console audience, but likewise there'd been a fear that Nintendo and...
Nintendo Life Weekly New Patent Could Reveal NX Details, Pokkén Tournament on Wii U
Pinches of salt on standby
It's that time of the week again, and of course we've been struggling tirelessly to try and condense a whole week's worth of Nintendo news, reviews, and releases into one little video for your enjoyment. This week we're looking at the patent Nintendo has field that could suggest various features that may feature on the...
News Next Euro Splatoon Splatfest Sadly Doesn't Feature Any Robots In Disguise
Til all aren't one
It has already been confirmed that the next North American Splatoon Splatfest event will ask players to pledge their allegiance to the heroic Autobots or Evil Decepticons, but sadly that offer isn't being extended to Europe. The Euro Splatfest occurring at the same time will instead ask Wii U owners if they prefer singing or...
Live Watch a Special Pokkén Tournament Invitational!
Live from the Pokémon World Championship
Following the exciting announcement of Pokkén Tournament coming to Wii U in 2016, high-profile fighting game players will now battle it out and showcase the game; watch it with us live! [liveblog=watch_a_special_pokken_tournament_invitational]#PlayPokemon #PokkénTournament
News Pokémon Brawler Pokkén Tournament Coming To Wii U Early Next Year
Is that a monster in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?
The news we'd all hoped for has been confirmed - Pokkén Tournament is indeed coming to the Wii U. Spring 2016 is the magic release window, and the news was confirmed by a video on The Official Pokémon Channel. A collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Bandai Namco,...
News Disney Infinity 3.0 Goes Big With Star Wars Content in Latest Trailer
The nostalgia is strong with this one
In the next month or so we'll have the battle of toys-to-life. Along with Skylanders SuperChargers and LEGO Dimensions we'll have Disney Infinity 3.0; it's going to be a hugely competitive - and expensive - battleground, and a particularly important one for Disney in light of momentum being lost with Infinity...
News Nintendo Is Bringing Splatoon And More To The UK's Biggest Live Gaming Events
Insomnia and Legends of Gaming Live get some N-Love
Nintendo UK has confirmed that it will be attending Insomnia 55 and Legends of Gaming Live 2015 this year, bringing with it a host of games and multiplayer activities. First up is Insomnia 55, which takes place between 28th and 31st August at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry. The UK's biggest live gaming...
News Ubisoft Announces Just Dance: Disney Party 2 Is Coming To The Wii U This Holiday Season
Also arriving on the Wii
Just days after Disney fans got a sneak peak of the game at the D23 Expo 2015, Ubisoft in collaboration with Disney Interactive have announced Just Dance: Disney Party 2 is in development for multiple home consoles including Nintendo’s Wii U and also past generation system, the Wii. The title will include a variety of hit...
Video Get Dizzy on Splatoon's New Flounder Heights Map
Social tench-ion
A week without more free Splatoon content is a week we'd rather not have. Thankfully the big squid in the sky has been kind yet again and graced us with a new map: Flounder Heights. This new map employs a unique variety of different levels, but without the sheer scale or linear vertical space of Moray Towers. It's certainly one...
Video Super Mario Maker Contains Secret Fly Swatting Mini Game
Mario Paint style
Not content with being what is arguably the ultimate 2D Mario experience, Super Mario Maker is also host to some neat little features burrowed away behind walls of code. One that caught our eye as we were playing was that shifting a block can sometimes reveal three flies from underneath it. Swatting these flies takes you away from...
News Join Nintendo UK As They Play The First Hour Of Super Mario Maker On Twitch
5PM UK time today!
In our recent Super Mario Maker preview we said it "feels like a Nintendo game with no shortcuts or rushed compromises, and has evidently been a project carefully nurtured and prioritised. From the substantial functionality to the beautiful re-creation of 8- and 16-Bit Mario templates in HD, this really is shaping up to be the...
News Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut Getting Physical Release In North America
Cut-price release coming next month
It would appear that Wii U eShop platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is getting an updated physical retail release in North America. Retailer Toys''R''Us has Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut listed for a September 8th release, and is pricing it at $39.99. Extra content exclusive
News There's Another New Map Coming To Splatoon
Welcome to Flounder Heights
Nintendo has revealed that yet another new map is coming to its online shooter Splatoon. Flounder Heights appears to be set in a compact network of apartment blocks, with plenty of vertical surfaces to make things nice and tactical. It will be added to the regular map rotation tonight in North America and tomorrow...
News Rodea The Sky Soldier Special Edition Now Available For Pre-Order On Nintendo UK Store
Wii version included, huzzah!
Although recently being delayed, Rodea The Sky Soldier is now available to pre-order on Nintendo's UK Store for both the 3DS and the Wii U version, the latter of which comes bundled with a Wii copy of the game as well. Strangely the only version that's available for each console is the limited edition that comes with...
News Splatoon eSports Tournament Series To Be Launched In Japan
Over $1 million in prize money
It seems like only yesterday that we learnt that North America would be getting a Transformers themed Splatfest in the ever-popular Splatoon. The Splatoon hype train waits for no man however and it's been revealed today that a Splatoon eSports tournament series will be launched in Japan with over $1 million in prize...
News It's Autobots vs Decepticons in the Upcoming Transformers Splatfest
Transform and squid out!
Nintendo's regions have had their ups and downs with Splatfest themes, with some being much better than others. Nintendo of America has a doozy on the way, though, tying in with Hasbro for a Transformers event. The 24-hour face-off in North America will be Autobots vs Decepticons, with each player receiving a cool t-shirt...
Preview Rekindling Platforming Passion in Super Mario Maker
It's about the playing as well as the creating
Super Mario Maker is now rather close, and there's every chance that the Wii U exclusive will be regarded as a key turning point for 2D Mario gaming in years to come. Having spent some time with the final build, it's clear to us that Nintendo's finest have been truly devoting themselves to this most...
Video Things Go Bump In The Night In This Lego Dimensions Scooby Doo Trailer
ZOINKS
It's not long now before the launch of Lego Dimensions, and here we have an exclusive trailer for the Scooby Doo levels, as well as a close look at how this will play on the Wii U. While it's not right to have favourites, Scooby has to be up there with Back to the Future and Ghostbusters as a fan favourite brand. He's one of 14 franchises...
Video Here's How Zombi Shapes Up Against The Original ZombiU
Reanimated
As we already know, Ubisoft has dusted off its Wii U launch title ZombiU and released it on the PS4, Xbox One and PC at a budget price, minus all the second-screen malarkey which made the Nintendo edition so tense and compelling. The publisher has insisted that the port features visual improvements - despite the evidence
News Wii U System Update Now Live, Finally Puts TVii Out Of Its Misery
Along with the usual improvements to system stability and usability
A new Wii U system update is available, but don't get too excited - the most significant thing about it is that it removes TVii functionality in the US. For anyone outside of North America, this will mean very little. Nintendo never got around to launching it elsewhere and actually...
News The Piracy of amiibo Now Seems Possible With the 'amiiqo' Device
Oh, sorry, it's for 'backing up' figures
It's well known that those with a desire to backup or clone Skylanders figures have had the means to do so, which in part is courtesy of the simplistic NFC technology. Encryption is possible, but it doesn't take long for someone to break through the security of the humble chips. Naturally the same threat has...
News Nintendo Announces Another Run of the Splatoon Testfire Demo
Kicks off later this week
Splatoon has been on the market since late May and has proven to be a commercial and critical success on Wii U, yet Nintendo is naturally keen to push the title as an evergreen release. With the continual free content updates, that's not surprising. Intriguingly, it's now been confirmed that there'll be another run of...
News Rejoice, There's A Tingle Costume In Super Mario Maker
That's our year made, then
Love him or hate him, Tingle is making his way to Super Mario Maker - in costume form, at least. Arguably one of the oddest characters Nintendo has ever made, Tingle started life in the Zelda series but has since starred in his own games as well. The news of him appearing in Super Mario Maker began life as a rumour, with...
Video Check Out the Diversity of the Question Block in Super Mario Maker With This Quirky Trailer
Level creation meets game show
Those following it closely will already know a great deal about Super Mario Maker, which is making its way to Wii U on 11th September. Beyond its various features, however, is a huge helping of character and quirky presentation. The latest video shared by Nintendo's Japanese YouTube channel highlights that nicely,...
Nintendo Life Weekly Super Mario Maker New Features
A handful of everything
It's that time of the week again, and as always we've thrown together what qualifies as being the biggest news of the week as well as all the releases and reviews. This week we're focusing on the new features in Super Mario Maker, Chris Prangar's unfortunate dismissal, and much more besides! Have you subscribed to Nintendo...
Video Drench Yourself in Splatoon's New Rainmaker Mode
Make it rain
Not content to rest on the wealth of free updates already, Nintendo has launched a new mode in Splatoon called Rainmaker. This mode tasks you and your team to carry a giant golden fish known as the Rainmaker into the enemy's base. You won't be defenceless though, charge this titular little number up and you'll unleash a flurry of ink...
Exclusive MercurySteam Has Been Working On A Metroid Prototype For Wii U And 3DS
Update: Anonymous developer tried to leak the game three months ago
Update: Since we posted the original story, we have since come across this curious post from 4chan's /v/ board (click that link at your own risk) which appears to show a member of Spain's development community attempting to leak the existence of MercurySteam's Metroid. The post...
Video Here Are The Features In The Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box
Now includes farming!
In preparation for the North American release of Disney Infinity 3.0 on 30th August, Disney Interactive has released a trailer showcasing the new features and toys in the Toy Box 3.0. One of the highlights includes the addition of farming, where players can feed, clothe, and nurture townspeople sidekicks and then put them to...
News Splatoon Passes Half a Million Copies Sold in the US as Wii U Game Sales Beat 2014 Figures
3DS hardware results are also up
It's NPD time again - though the figures only represent 'new' sales at physical retail and are therefore limited in scope, they give some insight into the state of the US gaming market. Overall, the market in the July sales is up compared to 2014's equivalent period. From Nintendo's perspective the software top 10 -...
Hands On Devil's Third - Sampling Online Chaos and Fearing the Devilry of Microtransactions
Ironically you can buy Golden Eggs
When we shared our initial first impressions of Devil's Third it turned into a bit of a saga; your humble writer was surprised at the level of feeling that came out in response to an early look at the game. The focus was on the single player campaign at that point, with our general summary being that - while full...
News Splatoon's Rainmaker Mode Is Coming Tomorrow
Or Saturday morning, if you're in Europe
Splatoon's next ranked battle mode is coming to North America tomorrow night, with a European release arriving on Saturday morning. The new mode involves carrying the Rainmaker item to the enemy's base. The Rainmaker allows the carrier to hurl cyclones of ink, but they're slow moving and will naturally...
News Super Mario Maker's eShop Pre-Load is Live in North America
Tough luck, Europe
Super Mario Maker may, for many, fall into the 'must get a physical copy' category. Even download aficionados must be contemplating one of the physical retail options, either with the amiibo or a standard edition that - nevertheless - comes with a lovely 'design ideas' booklet. It's an Anniversary, live a little. For those that...
News Nintendo's Awesome Super Mario Maker Overview Announces New Features
SFX and music creation! Gradual item unlocks! 50+ amiibo supported!
Super Mario Maker is now less than a month away, and Nintendo's released a rather cool overview video that shows it off and reveals some key new details. There are some standout announcements - notably, it'll be possible to create and use your own sound effects in levels (along...
News Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Leads as Splatoon Passes Half a Million Sales in Japan
Wii U sales increase, too
The latest Media Create Japanese charts have arrived, bringing with them more positive news of Summer sales for Nintendo. On the software side Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer stays on top with over 180,000 sales in its second week, pushing it beyond 700,000 retail sales already. The two iterations of Yo-Kai Watch...
News Here Are Some Handy Tips for Viewing Splatoon Online Rankings, Statistics and Map Schedules
Inking in plans
Splatoon is a weekly - even daily - treat for plenty of Wii U owners, and with its glut of items, weapons and maps there's plenty on offer. It turns out there's also a neat resource for viewing online rankings alongside others on your Friend List, statistics on weapon usage and gear, and even the next few cycles of available maps in...
News Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Included in 'Hexathlon' to Find eSports UK Champion
Winner of gaming Hexathlon to be crowned at EGX
If you're a regular reader of the site, you'll probably know we really love EGX (formally Eurogamer Expo). This year's expo has moved from its old location at Earls Court, London, which has sadly been demolished to make way for residential apartments; this year from 24th-27th September EGX will be in...
Snap it up
As announced last week, Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water - better known as Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden in North America - will only have a limited edition available at retail in Europe. In what's a potentially smart move for a relatively niche release, this release will be joined by a free-to-download version on the
News NIS America Confirms Rodea the Sky Soldier Delay
You have to wait until mid-November
Rodea the Sky Soldier, a title with a troubled development and publishing cycle which failed to take off after release in Japan, is still nevertheless one to watch. A project originally led by Yuji Naka, we had fun with it when we went hands on earlier this summer. Unfortunately,
"That's our real secret sauce"
The Wii U may not have gained the same commercial success as the original Wii, but it terms of innovation it arguably does more than its next-gen rivals, thanks largely to the potential of its GamePad controller. That's certainly the opinion of Nintendo of America's Executive VP of Sales Scott Moffitt, who has been...
News Mewtwo Still Looks Just As Fearsome As A Packaged amiibo
No. 51 in the Super Smash Bros. Collection
It wasn’t long ago a prototype of the upcoming Mewtwo amiibo was spotted in the wild at the San Diego Comic-Con following the pocket monster’s DLC arrival in the latest Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS. Since then, nothing appears to have changed, with photos of the final model of the Mewtwo...
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