Wii U - News
June2015
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...
News Splatoon Producer Inks Out Reasons For Lack Of Voice Chat And Staggered Content Roll-Out
"We really do understand the fun that can be had with this"
Nintendo caused quite a bit of heated discussion when it confirmed that online shooter Splatoon would lack voice chat. The ability to communicate with fellow players is a staple of other online shooters, but Nintendo decided against including it in this ink-covered offering. Critics...
News Splatoon Storms to Top Spot in Japanese Charts With Six Figure Sales
Wii U sales more than double to lead hardware chart
It's that time of the week, once again, for Media Create Japanese chart results, and there are some strong sales for the latest Wii U exclusive, matching up to chatter that stock had been scarce due to demand; Wii U hardware sales jumped, too. We're referring, of course, to Splatoon, the colourful...
Video We Check Out The Squid amiibo Challenges
We have an Inkling you're having problems tracking these amiibo down
We have yet more Splatoon videos coming your way. By now you should be aware of the amiibo challenges available in Splatoon, and thanks to a lack of stock - or certain unscrupulous folk spoiling the fun for UK GAME shoppers - you may be struggling to obtain all three...
Wii promised a "complimentary" experience
Skylanders SuperChargers has been announced today and brings with it vehicle toys for special Skylanders to pilot and modify. It's a bold move that not only adds more value but changes how the game plays on the screen. There will be 20 vehicles to collect, each one with a special SuperCharger Skylander that...
Video Smash Bros. Characters Get Gruesome with Mortal Kombat X's 'X-Ray' Moves
FINISH HIM!
Despite inhabiting the fighting game realm - a genre perhaps associated with lifelike violence - the Super Smash Bros. series has done exceptionally well in keeping its games clean and friendly. However, YouTuber Sterling has added a twist to the beloved Nintendo franchise, and created a video containing a mash-up of two of the current...
Weirdness Man Gets Inked In Splatoon, Literally
Don't try this at home, squids!
We're no stranger to seeing Nintendo fans getting "inked up" here at Nintendo Life. Over the years we've seen the worst ever Charmander tattoo, a ink-covered gaming comedian and even someone who adorned his wrist with a 3DS AR Card tattoo.
News Splatoon 1.2.0 Update Promises A More Pleasant Gaming Experience
Party on squids
Splatoon has been out for less than a week, but it doesn't appear that Nintendo is resting on its laurels in fine-tuning the online multiplayer experience for it's ever-growing fanbase. The much anticipated Ranked Battle mode was unlocked only yesterday, along with the all new Port Mackerel map. Today brings the first patch in the...
News LEGO Dimensions Vehicles Can be 'Rebuilt' With Three Variations
Actual toys coming to life?
LEGO Dimensions is certainly not what the creators of Skylanders and Disney Infinity want to see, and rather like Nintendo with amiibo it's been tempting to wonder why it took so long for the hugely popular brick-building franchise to step into the toys-to-life market. With some serious brand power in terms of...
News Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories Heading to Wii U This Winter
Promises nostalgia and a return to series roots
Natsume has opted to go early with an E3 reveal, confirming that Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories is coming to Wii U this Winter; oddly it's also coming to PC, Android and iOS, which is a diverse mix of platforms. Perhaps in response to criticism from some fans that the franchise has drifted away from...
Video A Guide to Splatoon's New Weapon & Map
Zapper-de-doo-dah
In a surprisingly bold move Nintendo has already begun to drip-feed us new content for its acclaimed new shooter experience Splatoon, despite the game having been released less than a week ago. This takes the form of the new shooter-style weapon called the N-Zap '85 styled after the NES Zapper, and Port Mackerel, a new map for both...
News No FIFA For Nintendo Fans This Year, States EA
Soccer action absent on Wii, Wii U or 3DS
Electronic Arts has confirmed that its best-selling FIFA series is skipping the Wii, Wii U and 3DS this year. Pocket Gamer got the scoop on the lack of a 3DS edition of the game, and EA's soccer series has famously been absent on the Wii U ever since FIFA 13 underperformed commercially. EA's official press...
Video Here's All Your Pre-E3 Nintendo Direct Video Content In One Handy Place
Moving images are fun!
Nintendo's final Direct broadcast before E3 was something of a surprise - we knew the Japanese event was happening but the Western Nintendo Direct Micro came out of nowhere. Still, when it delivered so much new-game goodness, it's hard to grumble about being blindsided - even if poor old Tom had to be shackled to his PC...
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...
News Art Academy: Home Studio Listing Suggests amiibo Support
Intriguing...
Art Academy: Home Studio - or Art Academy: Atelier in Europe - is shaping up to be an intriguing title and potentially the most impressive entry in the series to date. There'll be a bigger touch screen to work with than at any point before, and there'll be an option to upload videos to YouTube that show your creations coming together...
News Splatoon Ranked Battle Mode and First Free DLC Go Live Today
Or very early tomorrow, depending on your timezone
For Splatoon fans waiting for a little extra content to shake up the online action, today brings good news. Very soon there'll be an extra mode, map and gun available for extra ink splatting action. Included in today's Nintendo Direct Micro video, it's confirmed that the following will all arrive...
News Nintendo of America Unleashes a Nintendo Direct Micro With New Game Details
Release dates for some of the Japanese Nintendo Direct reveals
Over the weekend there was a Japanese Nintendo Direct that unveiled some exciting details, all of which is summarised right here. Nintendo of America has now release a neat 'Nintendo Direct Micro' with localised details on some of these reveals. Examples include Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure,...
Gallery Let's Take A Look At The Incoming Splatoon Maps And Weapons
Squid seen with a Rapid Blaster Deco at Camp Triggerfish
Splatoon is out now and thrilling Wii U owners as we speak, but the game we're playing at the moment is a long way off being the finished article - Nintendo has plenty of other content planned, including new modes, maps and weapons. Thanks to the Prima official game guide to Splatoon, we can...
News Splatoon Ranked Battles Creep Closer as the 'Splatometer' Fills
Server stress testing nearly done, then
Nintendo likes to make a game of everything, that's a key strength of the company. With Splatoon, our theory is that it's made a game of server stress testing, which perhaps explains the ongoing wait for the Ranked Battle mode - it was always expected, but is still slightly odd. Earlier this weekend Nintendo...
Video Ever Wondered What Happens When A Splatoon Turf War Ends In A Tie?
Judd doesn't play fair
Splatoon launched last week and has already become something of a smash-hit with Nintendo fans. The game's Turf War mode is addictive online fun, with the goal being to cover as much of the map as possible in your team's ink. However, have you ever wondered what happens when the match is tied and neither team has an ink...
News Unused Code In Super Smash Bros. For Wii U Suggests YouTube Upload Feature Was Planned
Could it be coming in the future?
One of Mario Kart 8's most amusing features was the ability to upload replays to YouTube so you can share your epic wins and dismal fails with the wider world. It would appear that there were similar plans for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but the feature was cut prior to launch. Evidence of the cut was found by a...
News Splatoon Grabs Second Place in UK Chart Début
Biggest ever new IP launch on Wii U
Splatoon has just had its first big weekend on Wii U, with plenty of players hitting the online servers to splat the ground and each other with ink. It's a new IP that's had a fairly substantial marketing campaign, too, so the question has been whether all of that promotional activity would pay off at launch. We...
News K.K. Slider Hat and Outfit Confirmed as DLC for Super Smash Bros.
It's a dog's life
While Mario Kart 8 has provided two core packs of fairly substantial DLC, Super Smash Bros. has delivered a range of options with one new fighter so far - Mewtwo - and a batch of Mii Fighter outfits. When you add all of the Smash Bros. DLC together there's already a hefty selection, albeit the outfits are limited to specific...
Rumour Skylanders Superchargers Details Leak, Features A Focus On Vehicles
Amazon spills the beans ahead of June 3rd reveal
The next game in the Skylanders series has a focus on vehicles, it has been revealed. Skylanders Superchargers is the name, and this time around you'll be able pilot amazing vehicles in order to stop the evil forces of Kaos. According to an Amazon listing - which has now been removed - the Starter...
May2015
Video GameChap Shows Us Five Ways to Get Banned From Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
The watchful eye of the Nintendo spy...
It's a well known fact that Nintendo is very strict with its policies, and this includes the behaviour of players online. It's a reason (amongst others) as to why voice chat is disabled on titles such as Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon, as the possibility of cyber-bullying is significantly reduced. Although it's...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 31st May
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...
News First Footage Emerges of Bandai Namco's Project Treasure on Wii U
Free-to-view
Earlier this year Bandai Namco's Katsuhiro Harada appeared in a Nintendo Direct broadcast to announce free-to-play Wii U title Project Treasure. It was described as a four-player co-op action title, as you battle through stages and tackle dangerous foes; there was no footage, however. In today's Japanese Nintendo Direct that changed,...
Nintendo Direct Watch the Japanese Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct - Live!
A surprise pre-E3 treat
Though E3 is just two weeks away, Nintendo is hosting a special Direct broadcast for Japan, covering Summer Wii U and 3DS releases in the country. We may get a look at intriguing titles such as Fire Emblem: If, so join us for live coverage of the broadcast...
News Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Confirmed for Wii U
Next stretch goal will add asynchronous online multiplayer
Just earlier this week, it was revealed on the Kickstarter page for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night that a Wii U version would be made if the project reached its next stretch goal. Rather amazingly, over $250,000 has been raised over the past four days, hitting the stretch goal and...
News Splatoon's Ranking Battle 'Splatometer' is Supposedly Creeping Upwards to Unlock Mode
Sure, Nintendo, the 'Splatometer'
Splatoon seems to be rather well received so far by many that have been splatting each other online, but it's arguably somewhat light in online content at launch. There's the single player campaign, yes, but in online matches we're currently limited to one default mode in the 'Regular Battle' category - 4 vs 4 with...
Weirdness The Second Player Can Have Motion Controls in Splatoon's Battle Dojo Mode
Erm, OK
Splatoon may be gracing plenty of Wii U systems worldwide, but the official Tumblr account is still rolling on, and has shared a rather peculiar and fun trick. It seems that both players can use motion-based aiming controls in the local multiplayer Battle Dojo mode, with a bit of bizarre customisation. By quite literally strapping a Wii U...
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...
News Splatoon Producer Interview Sparks E3 Animal Crossing Wii U Speculation
Reading between the lines
Its E3 silly season, or close enough, and that means plenty of reading between the lines when Nintendo employees dodge and weave from questions. Such is the fate for Hisashi Nogami, producer on Splatoon but arguably best known as a co-Director on the Animal Crossing franchise. First of all, we recommend having a read of...
Out Now Splatoon Brings Some Colour to the Wii U
Like Platoon, but less grisly
It's been eagerly followed since its surprise reveal at E3 2014, and now Nintendo's colourful, creative and chaotic shooter - Splatoon - is in stores. There are already players running around at level 15+, courtesy of a) lots of free time, b) getting the game early through pre-order deliveries or c) a mix of both...
Video Nintendo UK Takes Over Skate Park To Celebrate Splatoon Launch
Get your skates on
To mark the launch of Splatoon, Nintendo UK has teamed up with Adrenaline Alley skatepark in Corby to offer a pretty unique promotional event. Adrenaline Alley has been "splatted" with Splatoon art and 4 Wii U pods - complete with the game, of course - have been installed for the Summer months. Nintendo UK has released a video...
News Lego Jurassic World Pre-Order Freebies Coming To PlayStation and Xbox, But Not Wii U
"You didn't say the magic word"
The latest Lego Jurassic World trailer shows more of the game and its customisable dinosaurs. It also comes with details of pre-order bonus for PlayStation and Xbox owners - but there's no news of anything similar on the Wii U. In the trailer we see the usual Lego hub world and platforming game-play along with the...
News Japanese Nintendo Direct Coming May 31st
Focus Is Summer Wii U And 3DS Games
Nintendo has just confirmed that a Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast will take place this Sunday, May 31st. The focus of the video will be Wii U and 3DS games which are releasing this Summer. 7PM Japan-time is when it will all happen, which works out as 3AM PT, 6AM ET, 11AM UK time and 12PM in Europe. The...
Localised versions now live in Europe and North America
As you've no doubt been well aware for some time, this year brings the 30th Anniversary of Super Mario Bros., which is a notable landmark for the mascot and Nintendo as a whole. Mario Maker on Wii U will be a big part of the celebrations, certainly, and we think it's a safe assumption that more...
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...
Competition Winners Here Are The Masters of Splatoon Propaganda
Join the revolution
In case you've been living under an ink-splattered rock for the past month, you'll probably know that Nintendo's colourful shooter Splatoon is out today. To celebrate the game's release we tasked our lovely readers with creating a Splatoon propaganda poster in order to encourage others to join the revolution with us using the...
May also own the brand, as well
German publisher Koch Media - the parent company of Deep Silver - has recently filed a video game-related trademark for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which would appear to confirm that the company is handling publishing duties for the forthcoming title. Created by Koji "IGA" Igarashi, Bloodstained is the...
News BBC iPlayer Finally Arrives On The Wii U eShop
But only for UK users
UK Wii U owners have been waiting for the BBC iPlayer to come to their consoles for ages - the last we heard about it was back in January last year, when the esteemed broadcasting corporation insisted that it was still working hard on making an eShop release possible. Seemingly without warning, that time has now come - the BBC...
News Natsume Planning Wii U and 3DS E3 Reveals, More Harvest Moon DLC and Loads of GBA VC Games
Crikey
Natsume is an ever-present on Nintendo hardware, it seems, and it's got plenty of content on the way, sharing the happy news through its 'CeeCee' Tumblr page. For starters it seems the company will be busy at E3, and announcements at the show will include news for 3DS and Wii U gamers. There'll be "something for the Harvest Moon fans", too...
Weirdness Lorry Thieves Make Off With Splatoon Special Editions in Europe
These guys were pros
Update: Nintendo UK has now provided the following statement: We can confirm that the lorry transporting the Splatoon stock from Nintendo's European warehouse to GAME UK has been stolen. Included as part of this delivery was GAME's allocation of the Splatoon + Squid Inkling amiibo and as a result we are unable to honour...
Prepare to dye
Nintendo is generally relatively circumspect and cautious when introducing new IPs, but considering the pedigree the company has to uphold it's understandable that it doesn't wish to dilute its iconic brand with a torrent of forgettable franchises. Splatoon is unusual in that sense, then, and it's a game that brings a huge amount of...
News Cool Down With a Splatoon-Inspired Froyo This Summer
No food fights please!
No doubt you'll be joining us in playing the excellent Splatoon throughout the Summer, and if you are lucky enough to live in Canada you'll even be able to cool off with Splatoon-inspired frozen yoghurt and sorbets - courtesy of a team-up with Nintendo Canada and Yogurty's and Yogen Fruz. Starting on the 1st of June until the...
Exclusive Slightly Mad Studio Head Ian Bell Sets The Record Straight On Project CARS Wii U
"It was always 'maybe' as we had no knowledge of the system"
Slightly Mad Studios recently launched Project CARS on next-gen consoles and PC to positive reviews and encouraging sales. A truly unique racing title, it was crowdfunded by the community in a process which pre-dated the now-popular Kickstarter approach. The route to market has been a...
"Not just about fighting, but about diplomacy and forming treaties"
Remember Devil's Third? At last year's E3 the game was confirmed as a Wii U exclusive, but we've seen precious little of it since then - a strange situation when you consider it that many assumed it would be launching this year. While little has been seen of the game, creator...
News Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Gets a Wii U Stretch Goal
Wii U port will be handled by Armature Studio if the goal is reached
A couple weeks ago, industry veteran Koji Igarashi revealed his latest project to the world, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. The hotly anticipated game will follow the adventure of a character named Miriam as she explores a dark, gothic castle infested with a vast array of...
Weirdness Luigi Defeats All Level 9 Opponents in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U By Doing Nothing
What a BOSS
Luigi may not adorn the front of many game boxes, nor have the prominent role of his bro Mario, but for a hardy group of fans - including this writer - he's always number one. It's the underdog spirit, being the other brother, that makes him easy to root for. Of course, his mannerisms and style make him perfect for the weird world of...
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...
Video Discover What Happens When Yoshis Meet amiibo In This New Yoshi’s Woolly World Trailer
Turn that cuteness dial up to eleven
Yoshi's Woolly World is only a month away from its European launch, which takes place on the 26th June. As we said in our preview yesterday, when you throw in the stunning visuals, quirky and charming design and a lovely soundtrack, it becomes apparent that Woolly World is the real deal - a game crafted with care...
Weirdness Find Out If You Are A Squid With This Splatoon Infographic
We’ve got an inkling you might not be
Nintendo's squid-based shooter Splatoon arrives later this week on the Wii U. After a series of online-stress tests and adverts doubling as music videos, Nintendo now wants to know if you are a squid, or if you're ju
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...
"At the moment we're running at about 23FPS on the Wii U"
Project CARS is out now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, performing well in early sales indicators. It was a project that suffered its share of delays, and the Wii U version was pushed back the most and given a loose '2015' window. Developer Slightly Mad Studios and publisher Bandai Namco have been...
Check that guitar solo
It's been a bit of a Splatoon weekend, so we thought we'd wrap it up with a couple of neat little snippets based on the game. Well, one is particularly cool, one may get a mixed reception. First up we have some outfits for those of you still checking into Animal Crossing: New Leaf on a regular basis, with some user created...
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...
News Splatoon Global Testfire Suffers Major Problems in Final Pre-Launch Session
Splatoon Global Backfire
Update: Surprisingly, servers re-opened shortly after the session was due to close, with connection issues initially intermittent before performance improved to near-perfect levels. Nintendo formally extended the session to 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am UK / 2am CET, with that extra hour largely running as smoothly as the...
Live Splatoon Global Testfire - Final Round!
The actual last hurrah
We thought the last Splatoon Global Testfire would be on 9th May, but Nintendo is treating us to one more session with the colourful shooter before launch. We've embedded a guide to the demo and will be blogging and chatting live. Let the splatting begin! [ [liveblog=live_splatoon_global_testfire_-_final_round]#Splatoon
Fashion A Young Reader Shows That Style Matters in Splatoon
"Splatoon Rocks"
Splatoon has various strengths to appeal to gamers of all ages, from its colourful aesthetic to hugely effective controls, and also its blend of shooting for kills and covering the ground. Another strength is fashion. There are clothes, hats, sneakers and even trendy glasses so you can look good when splatting opponents. Fashion...
Video What Do You Get When You Combine Mario Kart and Mad Max?
Mario Kart: Fury Road
It's the movie that everyone is talking about right now, Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult. Whilst you might not expect any crossover between this post apocalyptic world and the mushroom kingdom all it takes is some choice edits of blue shells, mushrooms and banana skins to the film's...
Nintendo Life Weekly Metroid Fan Prequel, UCraft, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
News, reviews, the whole kazoo
Keeping up with everything amidst a busy lifestyle is a tricky task, so once again we've condensed all of the top news stories, reviews, releases, and videos from the past week into one convenient audio-visual treat. This week we take a look at news surrounding Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, the infamous UCraft, a...
News The Most Recent Media Create Japanese Charts Brought the Lowest Sales Since 2001
Tough times
The Media Create Japanese chart results for this week were particularly bad, with lousy software numbers and falling hardware sales. Nintendo had enjoyed a strong few weeks in terms of units sold and number of games in the top 20, yet the overall numbers were so low this time that little cheer could be taken; the fresh release from...
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...
News Nintendo UK Planning Massive Marketing Push For Splatoon
Get ready for a campaign that will rival that of Mario Kart 8
Nintendo UK has big plans for forthcoming Wii U shooter Splatoon, and has confirmed that it has a marketing push in the works which will match that of Mario Kart 8, one of the console's most successful games. Plans include digital billboards, cinema ads ahead of Tomorrowland and Mad Max,...
Video Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric Blame Could Largely be With SEGA, Not Big Red Button
Seg-ah
Sonic Boom didn't do well on any metric; its sales failed to match those of fellow Nintendo exclusive Sonic Lost World, and it was panned by many critics and Sonic fans alike. Like any project it has its defenders, but many are agreed that it was a major disappointment, with Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric on Wii U being the biggest culprit. It...
News Natsume Is Bringing Two Arc System Works Titles To North America In July & August
More love for the eShop
Publisher of the Harvest Moon series, Natsume, has announced it has partnered with Arc System Works to release two titles for Nintendo's eShop platform in North America over the coming months. Gotcha Racing, coming to the 3DS this July, is a top-down racing game where players gather parts from capsule machines to build a...
Reminder The Final Splatoon Global Testfire is on 23rd May
One more session before launch
Splatoon is creeping ever closer, but Nintendo is giving everyone one more chance to try out online matches for free. If you missed the news last week, here's a reminder. The final one hour Splatoon Global Testfire is on Saturday 23rd May at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK / midnight CET; not great times for those...
News Splatoon's Iwata Asks Interview Considers Its Origins of Tofu, Rabbits and More
Iwata: "Well, I guess ink-an't be helped. (laughs)"
Splatoon isn't far away, arriving on 29th May on the Wii U, bringing its own blend of chaotic and colourful shooting. It's also a new IP, which is rare enough from Nintendo to be something worth mentioning, and there's certainly hype around the exclusive. Nintendo has now published a new Iwata...
Could the white Premium / Deluxe system finally make it to the West?
The poor old white 8GB Wii U, shunned by the majority of those buying Nintendo's system and victim to fire sales and obscurity. The issue wasn't, we suspect, the colour, but more the fact that it was a HD console with just 8GB of internal storage memory; 32GB doesn't actually get...
The full Wii U version is finally coming
While completing work on the full version for Wii U, Nintendo released Art Academy: SketchPad in August 2013 to tide over creative gamers for a short spell. The full Art Academy then missed its 2014 release target, prompting some concerns it had been sidelined; those worries can now be laid to rest with the...
News Icy Wind Games Set To Release Action-Adventure Title "Heroes, Help!" On Wii U In Q1 2016
Brought to you by an indie studio based in Sweden
The new two-man Stockholm-based indie studio, Icy Wind Games, is set to release its upcoming action-adventure Wii U title – Heroes, Help! – in Q1 2016. The top down title featuring 4-player local co-op involves travelling through a wide range of environments and fighting large amounts of enemies...
Video Christopher Lloyd Revives Doc Brown Role in New LEGO Dimensions Trailer
Back to the Future, or the Past, the Future Past?
So, LEGO Dimensions, this is a game that know what it's got and isn't afraid to flaunt it. Aiming to sell LEGO toys and a new game to adults with disposable income? Simple, get Christopher Lloyd to revive his legendary Doc Brown role - and we mean legendary - for a commercial. Check and mate. The...
News Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Fails to Chart in Week of Poor Sales in Japan
Xenoblade Chronicles X clears 100,000 sales
In recent weeks there have been some decent game and hardware sales in Japan, so a tumble was always on the agenda. Even with that in mind, it's nevertheless been a rather lousy week of sales for Japanese retailers according to the latest Media Create results. Kicking off with the software charts, Final...
News Here's Your Next Helping Of Guitar Hero Live Tracks
A mix of old and new
Activision has released the next set of songs for its forthcoming music title, Guitar Hero Live. This week's helping includes shock rock outfit Marilyn Manson, newcomers Royal Blood and veteran outfit the Deftones. Here's this week's list: Royal Blood "Little Monster" Marilyn Manson "Disposable Teens" Killswitch Engage "In...
News Nintendo Focusing on Multiplayer Fun at the 2015 MCM London Comic Con
Official UK store also coming, with Majora's Mask New 3DS XL stock
This weekend brings the 2015 MCM London Comic Con at the Excel, Royal Victoria Docks in London - the event is running from 22nd to 24th May. Nintendo UK is a regular at the event, and has announced its plans for its stand and events. As was the format in various 2014 expo...
News Ronimo Games Explains Pricing for Swords & Soldiers II
"There should be room for bigger, better and higher quality indie games"
Arriving this week, Swords & Soldiers II will be another Wii U eShop exclusive, following up on the popular WiiWare original which - eventually - also found its way to multiple platforms. This time around more is made of the Wii U's options with the GamePad, however, and as...
News Nintendo Wins Patent Battle Over Wii Balance Board
Its legal body was ready
Nintendo struck gold with the Wii, combining inexpensive technology with a motion controlled gaming hook that tens of millions of gamers found irresistible. That use of technology and the ludicrous profits it made naturally got the attention of other companies, however, with the home console and its accessories fighting a...
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...
News Don't Starve: Giant Edition Arrives on the North American Wii U eShop on 28th May
Sate your hunger
It appears that 28th May will be a rather exciting day for Nintendo gamers. As you may have been aware, 28th May is the eve of Splatoon's launch; no doubt thousands of gamers will be keeping a few cans of energy drinks on hand as they get started on the game as soon as it launches at midnight. However, earlier in the day, the eShop...
News Splatoon Hype Brings Squirt Guns and Manga
You brought the pizza, right?
Excitement for Splatoon is building like it's your upcoming 8th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's all over again, and some recent tie-ins are only adding to that sense of fun. Interested parties who haven't pre-ordered yet might want to consider heading to Target for their squid-based needs, if possible. An allegedly...
Video We Tackle The Dual-Stick vs. Motion Controls Splatoon Debate
Twin-stick it to the man
One of the more divisive aspects of Nintendo's upcoming ink-em-up Splatoon is the integration of motion controls into the core gameplay. Considering shooters have been comfortable with simply using two analogue sticks simultaneously to move and aim this addition initially seemed a little gimmicky and unnecessary to many...
News Nintendo Hoping That Splatoon Will Tempt Lapsed Fans To Splash Out On A Wii U
"We’re using this opportunity to talk to lapsed Nintendo fans, too"
Splatoon is coming later this month, and judging from the rapturous reception the Global Testfire has received, there are plenty of Nintendo fans positively gagging to get their hands on the final game. However, according to Nintendo UK marketing manager Chandra Nair, there are...
Music Play Nicely With a Colourful Death in This Charming Splatoon Song
"I don't need BB guns now I've found this!"
You've heard all about Splatoon right? And you're excited about it too right? Right! Well I am too and recently the guys at Nintendo Life asked if I'd share my excitement about the game by writing a song about it. Of course I obliged! I've been eagerly waiting for Splatoon to arrive since it was announced...
News Executive Director Discusses Skells in Xenoblade Chronicles X
"We wanted to give each force and corporation their unique characteristic"
Since the recent Japanese release of Xenoblade Chronicles X plenty of Wii U gamers have been patiently awaiting its launch in the West. Famitsu was the first to review Xenoblade Chronicles X, giving it a pretty solid score of 34 / 40. Since its highly anticipated Japanese...
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...
Weirdness Nintendo of America's Splatoon Mess Fest Sits in the 'Bizarre' Category
It was messy
At the end of April Nintendo of America announced its Splatoon Mess Fest, a live event at Santa Monica Pier - California - to promote the upcoming Wii U shooter. It was standard PR event fair, pulling in celebrities and the public to have some messy fun on a goo-filled assault course. Celebrities included Disney's Joey Bragg and James...
Video Nintendo Minute Shows Off Battle Dojo in Splatoon
Also has 'that' rock song
Splatoon is now just two weeks away, bringing its own blend of colourful anarchy to the Wii U. We've seen plenty of coverage of it, though the mode that gets the least love is Battle Dojo, the local multiplayer option. Nintendo Minute is keen to resolve that shortcoming, dedicating its latest video to popping balloons and...
News Splatoon Global Testfire is Confirmed for One More Round
The demo's available for download once again
The Splatoon Global Testfire was an exciting event last weekend, providing keen Wii U owners with an opportunity to go hands on with online matches in the colourful shooter. There was some disappointment that the three one-hour sessions passed so quickly, and Nintendo appears to have heard the calls for...
News Wii U and 3DS Continue Improved Sales in the US, as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D Misses NPD Top 10
Monolith Soft re-release fifth among single SKUs, however
April isn't often the most thrilling of months in the world of video game retail, and so it has proven in the most recent NPD results from the US. Covering physical retail sales the results bring few thrills, but Nintendo has nevertheless reported solid sales momentum in comparison to 2014...
News LEGO Jurassic World Brings 20 Customisable Dinos To Wii U And 3DS
Clever girl
With the new trailer for Lego Jurassic World and the early June release date we are starting to find out more details about how the game will play in practice. Perhaps the most interesting new feature here - aside from the Jurassic World franchise, of course - is the Dino Customiser. The trailer revealed that you could play as 20...
News Monochroma For Wii U Scrapped Due To Technical Issues
"We have serious performance problems that we can't overcome"
1950s dystopian puzzle platformer Monochroma was successfully funded on Kickstarter back in August 2013, raising $84,645. The game was then subject to some lengthy delays, with the promised Wii U version getting pushed back to a vagu
Video This Introduction Trailer May Just Get You Hyped for Swords & Soldiers II
Out on 21st May
The Wii Shop may have had its flaws, but it was also home to some truly excellent download games. Swords & Soldiers from Ronimo Games was undoubtedly one such example, and so there should certainly be some hype for the Wii U exclusive Swords & Soldiers II. Out on 21st May in North America and Europe, with prices of $19.99,...
News LEGO Jurassic World Roars Onto Wii U and 3DS on 12th June
Hold on to your butts
When in doubt, there are always LEGO games. The ever-present and lucrative series has taken in an impressive range of franchises and IPs, and the upcoming LEGO Jurassic World seems like a guaranteed hit with gamers of various ages. Incorporating all four movies - that includes Jurassic World of course - it'll push nostalgia and...
Video Nintendo of America's Musical Splatoon Campaign Continues
Celebrities and real-life splatting contribute to concerted marketing
A week ago we shared a TV commercial for Splatoon that had been released by North America, which replaced the funky tunes of the game with a new effort that featured some rather simplistic lyrics. It didn't go down well with everyone, but with a target audience of young gamers and...
News Combat Core Is What You'd Get If Super Smash Bros. And Power Stone Had A Baby
Kickstarter incoming, Wii U version in contention
Ever wondered what would happen if you fused Super Smash Bros. with Capcom's cult brawler Power Stone? We're sure the result would be pretty close to Combat Core, a PC fighting game which should be coming to consoles, dependant on a successful Kickstarter campaign. Created by Micah Betts, Combat...
News Horizon Chase Pays Tribute To SNES Classic Top Gear, And Is Heading To Consoles
Wii U and 3DS releases not ruled out
Top Gear is arguably one of the best old-school racing titles ever made, and Brazilian developer Aquiris Game Studio is paying the ultimate tribute by creating a spiritual successor in the form of Horizon Chase. For those of you that don't remember it, Top Gear was a 1992 SNES racer coded by UK-based Gremlin...
News Nintendo Assisted Monolith Soft With Xenoblade Chronicles X Online Functionality
Many challenges were overcome
The latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu has revealed interesting details about the development process of Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Wii U. Being such a huge task for Monolith Soft, executive director Tetsuya Takahashi explained the many challenges the developer was required to overcome and how Nintendo was...
News Great News, Just Dance Fans, Ubisoft Has Confirmed Its E3 Conference Time
We'll always have Just Dance
E3 just wouldn't be the same without Ubisoft's press conference. The talk will be no doubt be focused on the power of online gaming, mutli-screen shenanigans with phones and tablets, and producing innovative gaming experiences. That's all code for "hey, look, this is how the new Assassin's Creed won't run on your...
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