Wii U - News
April2015
Video Catch Up With The Nintendo Treehouse Splatoon Broadcast
In lovely 60fps, too
The Treehouse team at Nintendo of America has become an increasing presence in the past year, particularly since its excellent live coverage during E3. Live streams showing off upcoming games have been fairly common, and a few of the localisation experts were on hand to show off upcoming Wii U shooter Splatoon following the most...
Video Super Mario 64 Leaps Onto Wii U Virtual Console
We show off the Wii U features for this classic
Nintendo brought us all a treat during the most recent Nintendo Direct, when it announced the long-awaited arrival of Nintendo 64 games to Wii U Virtual Console. Available now on your Wii U, one of the first available games is the legendary Super Mario 64. We took the time to play and capture some...
News Game Freak's GBA Title Drill Dozer Rated By The Australian Classification Board
Konami's The Adventures of Bayou Billy is also on the way
The Australian Classification Board has revealed Game Freak's GBA hit, Drill Dozer, will be arriving on the Wii U Virtual Console in the near future. The critically praised action platformer previously released in Japan in 2005 and North America in 2006 has players take control of a...
News Rodea the Sky Soldier Glides to European Consoles on 25th September
North American date is possibly a few days sooner
If you remember back a few weeks, it was finally confirmed that Rodea the Sky Soldier would be spreading its wings and escaping the depths of development hell. After a shaky development cycle that was dragged out over three years, NIS America made the announcement that it would be publishing the...
Video See for Yourself How 200cc Speed Affects Mario Kart 8 Racing
Some tracks will never be the same again
Nintendo may be exploring quite a lot of paid DLC options, but it still gives us some free treats - the upcoming 200cc update for Mario Kart 8 is a good example. Revealed during Nintendo Direct, it'll arrive on 23rd April and bring a whole new level of speed to the terrific kart racer. The reveal video...
News It's Not An April Fool, The Binding Of Issac: Rebirth Really Is Coming To The New 3DS And Wii U
Completely uncensored, apparently
Yesterday was April Fool's Day, and that meant plenty of joke news pieces which caused a few chuckles but were otherwise ignored as false. However, one story slipped through even the Nintendo Life "Fool Filter", and that was the revelation that The Binding of Issac: Rebirth is coming to the Wii U and New 3DS...
News Splatoon amiibo 3-Pack Will Cost $35, According To Amazon
Pre-orders opening soon
Yesterday Nintendo hosted a pretty action-packed Nintendo Direct, followed by a really entertaining Treehouse session solely based around the forthcoming Wii U title Splatoon. This Nintendo Direct was absolutely bursting with amiibo fun. With a brand new wave of arriving later this year and the first images of a
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 1st April
Release dates, DLC, knitted amiibo and more
After a wait of over two and a half months, Nintendo finally gave us a fresh Nintendo Direct in which to indulge ourselves. It was interesting for a variety of reasons, not least the fact that its focus in large segments - particularly the opening and finale - was on DLC for existing blockbusters. There...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X's Soundtrack Is So Epic, It Needs 4 CDs To Contain It
55 songs, coming to Japan May 20th
With Xenoblade Chronicles 3D release date fast approaching, it's hard not to yearn for the brand new title from the series, Xenoblade Chronicles X. However far away the (still undecided) western release date might be, new information for the game has been arriving in spades leaving fans wanting more. Recently we...
News Splatoon Release Date, Modes and amiibo Information Splat Into View
Ranked online matches and three special amiibo toys
We've known for a long time that Splatoon would arrive in May, and it seems that previous - and hastily removed - official web pages were correct; the new third-person shooting IP for Wii U arrives on 29th May. During today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts we were given more information, too. To start...
News Yoshi's Woolly World Knits Up Some Release Details And An Adorable Range Of amiibo
Will release on June 26th in Europe, and 'Fall' in North America
Today's Nintendo Direct brought further info on Yoshi's Woolly World, the latest platforming title to feature our egg-tossing hero, and went into some detail on two different difficulty modes to suit players of all skill levels. 'Classic' mode will have a similar feel to traditional...
News Mario Kart 8 Animal Crossing DLC Pack Brought Forward to April, More amiibo Outfits on the Way
Track changes with the real-world seasons
Mario Kart 8 was saved for the finale of today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts, and with good reason. Satoru Iwata unveiled a free update that'll introduce a 200cc mode, but we also got more details on the upcoming Mario Kart 8 X Animal Crossing DLC pack and additional amiibo support. To start with the DLC...
Nominate your dream fighter
Nintendo continued its strong support of amiibo and future content for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS with a number of related announcements during today's Direct. Firstly, Nintendo has revealed the next three waves of Super Smash Bros. amiibo are due out in May, June and July. They include the likes of...
News Get Ready To Build With Mario Maker On Wii U This September
Celebrating Mario's 30th anniversary
Mario fans were given a special mention during today's Nintendo Direct, as the portly plumber will be celebrating his 30th anniversary this year. To help mark the occasion, it was announced that Mario Maker will be coming to Wii U in September, so fans can create their own version of the Mushroom Kingdom as they...
Video Here's a Huge Batch of Nintendo Direct Videos For You to Enjoy
Sit back and hit play
The Nintendo Direct festivities have drawn to a close, bringing a range of announcements and details. While we're covering the big news in a series of articles, we thought it'd be nice to put a whole load of the recently released videos and trailers in one place for your convenience. Check them out below. Which is your...
News Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem Wii U Crossover is Finally Shown
Not coming until 2016
It was a long time ago that Nintendo announced a crossover for Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, a collaboration between the big N and Atlus. The absence of updates led to speculation that the project was in trouble, with some doubting it would ever arrive. It did make an appearance in today's Nintendo Direct broadcast,...
News Mario Kart 8 Is Getting A Blisteringly Fast 200cc Mode For Free
Feel the need for speed on April 23rd
150cc has always been the sternest test in the Mario Kart series. Right from the launch of Super Mario Kart, this expert racing class represented the very best the franchise could offer: incredible speed and tough, skilled rivals. However, during today's Nintendo Direct a bombshell was dropped - 150cc is no...
News Wii U Horror Title Fatal Frame Confirmed For Western Release Later This Year
Lights, camera, elation
Nintendo has confirmed that the latest Fatal Frame title will indeed be its way out of Japan later this year. Released last year in Japan under the title Fatal Frame: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden, this latest entry in the popular horror series uses the Wii U GamePad as a camera. Developed by Koei Tecmo, the game looked...
News Nintendo DS And Nintendo 64 Games Finally Coming To The Wii U Virtual Console
Update: Four games available in Europe right now
If you feel that the Virtual Console on Wii U has been a neglected of late then today's Nintendo Direct should have put a big smile on your face. Nintendo not only reconfirmed its commitment to bringing Nintendo DS titles to the service, but also revealed that N64 games are on the way, too. DS titles...
News Welcome to amiibo Tap, Nintendo's Retro Box Of Chocolates
Use your amiibo to unlock "Nintendo’s Greatest Bits"
Today's Nintendo Direct held a neat surprise for fans of the company's amiibo toy range. amiibo Tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits is a free downloadable title which uses amiibo figures to unlock snippets of classic Nintendo titles. Tapping an amiibo unlocks a 3 minute "scene" from a range of retro...
Nintendo Direct Watch the Latest North American Nintendo Direct - Live!
Wii U and 3DS games, Treehouse to follow
It's been quite a wait, but we now have the latest Nintendo Direct that'll focus on upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. We're expecting a mix of release dates, exciting new footage and some reveals, so join us for this North American broadcast...
Nintendo Direct Watch the Latest European Nintendo Direct - Live!
All aboard, Wii U and 3DS owners!
The wait is over, and today we have a fresh Nintendo Direct that'll bring us news on Wii U and 3DS games. We're hoping for plenty of excitement, with Satoru Iwata and Satoru Shibata on hosting duties - join us for the latest European Nintendo Direct!...
Talking Point What We Expect from Nintendo Direct - 1st April
Release dates, teases, DLC and eShop goodies
It's that time again, and before we start referring to this as the April Fools' Day Direct, let's remember that it's airing on 2nd April in regions and countries like Japan, Australia and CET parts of Europe. Nintendo will most assuredly be announcing plenty of real details, which is certainly worth...
Feature Nintendo Reveals the Final Club Nintendo Elite Rewards
Lots of games on offer, retail and download-only
The time has come for Club Nintendo members in North America - the last set of Elite Status rewards. It's the end of an era, and a final hurrah for everyone with a Gold or Platinum status that can be redeemed for an extra treat. As per last year the selection consists entirely of downloads. There are...
News Theatrhythm Dragon Quest Battles Bravely Against Wave of Sony System Releases in Japan
3DS 'family' still performing reasonably well
In recent weeks Nintendo has seen the long-established dominance for the 3DS and its games strongly tested in Japan. There's been an influx of popular new releases on PS4, Vita and PS3, helping the first two systems in particular achieve improved hardware sales. No doubt it's a trend Nintendo hopes to...
News Nintendo Bringing Some Big Hits and amiibo Competitions to WonderCon This Weekend
Win a Gold Mario amiibo
This weekend - from 3rd to 5th April - the Anaheim Convention Center in California will be taken over by WonderCon, an expo that celebrates films, TV, comics and video games. It's an extravaganza of noise, excitement and cosplay, and Nintendo of America has announced its plans for its own booth and events at the expo...
Video New Nintendo TV Commercial Focuses on amiibo and Support for Multiple Games
Mention of Yoshi's Woolly World makes us hope for a release soon
We're finally getting to the stage that, beyond the inevitable 'rare' figures, amiibo toys are readily available in various stores. They may not often be the figures that die-hard collectors want the most, but there's decent stock of standard characters to catch the eyes of shoppers...
Parent Trap What My Kids Want From Lego's Toys To Life Concept, Lego Dimensions
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson on the future of Lego video games
Recent rumours of a new Toys to Life product from Lego has the internet buzzing and has made my kids put on their inventor hats. If you missed it, this is the news that Warner will team up with Lego for a new title called Lego Dimensions to compete with Skylanders, Disney Infinity and...
News Curve Digital Hints At A Possible Appearance In The Upcoming Nintendo Direct
Let the speculation begin
Curve Digital, responsible for the recently released Wii U and 3DS eShop cross-buy title, OlliOlli, has hinted it will make an appearance at some point during the upcoming Nintendo Direct. Given the success of OlliOlli, and the studio’s previous experience with Nintendo’s digital platforms releasing titles such as
March2015
Talking Point It's Too Early to Write Off the Wii U Over The Legend of Zelda's Delay
The upcoming Nintendo Direct may show why
The delay of The Legend of Zelda on Wii U was undoubtedly disappointing for fans excited about its original 2015 release, but many reacted with a degree of acceptance - better to wait longer for a classic than have an underwhelming end result was a common refrain. We suggested the delay was perhaps good for...
News Nintendo Direct Confirmed for 1st April, With Updates on Wii U and 3DS
Not an April Fools - Treehouse broadcast after the Direct
It's been a long wait since the last broadcast on 14th January, but we finally have a date and time for the next Nintendo Direct broadcast. It's happening on 1st April at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK / midnight CET; no, it's not an April Fools prank! Though there have been major...
News Fresh Legend of Kay Anniversary Screenshots Stalk Into View
HD textures and 60fps action on Wii U this May
According to Amazon, the remastered 2005 PlayStation 2 game Legend of Kay will be winging its way to Europe and North America May 29th - thrilling news for fans in Europe, as its release date was originally listed as
News Cancelled ZombiU Sequel Prototype Featured Co-Op and Alternate Routes
An apocalyptic setting, too
While pack-in Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U were the highest profile launch titles with the Wii U, it was certainly ZombiU that was next in line. An 18-rated, gory survival horror experience that made clever use of the GamePad, it was - despite the inevitable flaws that come with a launch day title - a strong...
News New Star Wars Rebels Table Announced For Star Wars Pinball
Hopefully, its release date isn’t far, far away
Zen Studios has had a historically spotty release schedule when it comes to its pinball tables on the Wii U. In both Zen Pinball 2 and Star Wars Pinball, tables and packs can usually be expected to arrive either later than all other platforms or not at all. Unfortunately, today’s announcement...
Gallery Splatoon Development Updates Show Off Neat Threads, Guns, Videos and, erm, Paper
Also, Octobombers look ridiculous but sublime
There's been a bit of buzz around Splatoon since our last gallery summary earlier in March, and we were fortunate enough to attend some press events to play more of the upcoming Wii U shooter. We previewed the multiplayer and single player modes and also shared a belief that Splatoon is to shooters what...
News Mario Party 10 Shows Decent Stamina in Second UK Charts Week
Until the small hours of the morning
While it's not quite on the scale of a 3D Mario, Metroid or Legend of Zelda release, there's clearly a decent audience keen to grab new Mario Party titles when they arrive. The Wii U release of Mario Party 10 seems to be a case-in-point, as it's enjoyed a pretty decent first two weeks in the UK charts. In its...
Nintendo needs a plan B
There'll be a number of Nintendo fans that, if they feel so inclined, can now say "I told you so". After insisting in December 2014 that The Legend of Zelda for Wii U was on track for a 2015 release, despite bold promises of a sizeable integrated game world and innovative ideas, Eiji Aonuma released a video update stating...
News New Pokemon Rumble World Web Domain Teases New Brawler
Get ready to rumble
Pokémon is coming back, of course, but it may not just be in the way we all expect. While we eagerly await the announcement of the next mainline game in the monster catching series, a new Pokémon Rumble game may serve to whet the appetites of Pokémon trainers everywhere. A web domain for Pokémon Rumble World has been filed,...
News The Legend of Zelda for Wii U No Longer Set for 2015 Release
Priority is to "make it the ultimate and most complete Zelda game"
In a blow to Nintendo fans anticipating The Legend of Zelda for Wii U as one of the biggest releases of 2015, series producer Eiji Aonuma has released a development update stating that a 2015 release is no longer the "number one priority". Though worded carefully, it all but confirms...
Japan Weekly Bravely Second Jobs Revealed and Theatrhythm Dragon Quest Reviewed
Along with a handful of other 3DS and Wii U reviews straight from Japan
Finally — this week's Famitsu has made up for the last couple of disappointing releases when it comes to juicy Nintendo news. While we still haven't heard when Bravely Second: End Layer will make it outside of Japan, that hasn't stopped Famitsu from feeding Japanese gamers...
News You Can Pre-Order The Official Splatoon Game Guide On Amazon Now
How to make the perfect mess
A Summer release is right around the corner, and anticipation for Nintendo's inky online shooter Splatoon is at an all-time high. With an ocean of unique mechanics to learn and plenty of content, it's good to know that Prima will be releasing a game guide to help you conquer those slimy octopuses. The 240-page paperback...
Video New Rodea The Sky Soldier Trailer Features Plenty of 3DS Footage
The game's best hope of success?
Rodea The Sky Soldier has had a troubled route to release, undergoing a lengthy impasse between developer Prope and Kadokawa Games, in the process shifting from Wii to Wii U and 3DS. It's now nearly out in Japan, however, and is coming to the West later in the year. We've seen plenty of the Wii U version, but it's...
Breaking out of bundles
The Super Mario series of amiibo toys has, in some cases, been just as hard to find as the Super Smash Bros. run, though gamers in Europe have at least had options with the full range. While the Mario toy has been for sale individually and as part of a Mario Party 10 bundle in PAL territories, in North America this figure has...
Feature The Legend of Zelda on Wii U - What Do We Know So Far?
What can we expect from the next Zelda adventure?
The Legend of Zelda is due for release on the Wii U this year, provided the game isn't delayed. Yet, Nintendo has released very little on what we can expect from this next adventure. We've taken a look at what footage has been released so far and picked it apart to see if we can find out any new...
Video Using amiibo With Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Toad has never looked cuter!
Last week, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker received an update to make it compatible with the recently-released Toad amiibo figure, and the result is quite a fun little minigame where you must find a tiny Pixel Toad in each of the game's levels. It's strangely addictive and brings new life to the game, which is exactly...
Interview Nintendo and Nd Cube on Bowser, amiibo and the Pure Luck of the Dice in Mario Party 10
Part of the goal are "actions that are overflowing with energy"
Mario Party 10, as the name makes very clear, is just the latest in one of Nintendo's most substantial franchises. Especially frequent on the GameCube, it's evidently achieved a good degree of success and remains a mainstay on Nintendo hardware, with the home console entries being...
News Sony Hardware Takes Charge of Japanese Charts With Flurry of Releases
Work to do for New Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
For over two years the Japanese market has been a fortress for Nintendo, with the 3DS in particular dominating the hardware and software charts. Recent times have brought a dip, however, especially since the release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D provided a welcome boost in mid-February. In...
Video The Minimum Percentages to KO with Jigglypuff's Rest in Smash Bros.
Let the Pink Massacre commence!
In the world of Super Smash Bros., few moves if any are feared more than Jigglypuff's Rest. It is said that getting caught within her split second of impossibly concentrated cuteness is like having every molecule of your being choked and mashed in a loving glomp of death. The soul is lifted to heights of adorable,...
Opinion Splatoon Is to Shooters what Mario Kart Is to Racers
Ron and Alex share their thoughts on Nintendo's new IP
Our resident writing aficionado Ron and video guru Alex both got a chance to try their hands at a preview build of Splatoon recently, and despite writing an official preview, they felt they had more to say on a more personal note. We've made them scrawl out a few words to help explain just what...
News Elliot Quest Developer Talks About a 3DS Port
No plans yet, but the desire is there
Several of you have already played Elliot Quest, the new side scrolling adventure game from Ansimuz Games that takes several design and gameplay cues from the likes of Zelda II and Kid Icarus. We awarded it an 8/10 in our review, citing minor performance issues and frustrating pacing as main issues. Whatever way...
Surgical strike
Grendel Games has confirmed that its Wii U title Underground will be hitting the North American eShop on April 2nd, following on from the title's European launch in January. In addition to this news, Grendel Games has also confirmed that it will be releasing a special controller for the game. As we mentioned in our 8/10 review,...
Preview We Take Aim at Splatoon to See if It Offers the Best of Both Worlds
Catching up with Splatoon's solo and multiplayer modes
During past Nintendo Direct presentations, the main focus of Splatoon has undoubtedly been the multiplayer gameplay, leaving many caught off guard when it was announced that Nintendo's upcoming squad-based shooter would feature a single player campaign as well. Not much has been revealed about...
News Mysterious Murasame Castle's Takamaru Was Considered For Super Smash Bros.
But didn't make the cut (no pun intended)
It's been a pretty awesome week for all Smash Bros. fans, all told. A short video has made its way to our screens with an announcement from Masahiro Sakurai, stating that the new Mewtwo DLC for Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS would be on its way "pretty soon". As always, Nintendo has more surprises for its fans, with...
News Masahiro Sakurai Reportedly Promises That Mewtwo Super Smash Bros. DLC is Coming "Pretty Soon"
Huzzah!
Though the wait of a few months may have tempered expectations for a while, it's easy to forget that Super Smash Bros. isn't yet complete - the Wii U version is yet to receive Tournies, while Mewtwo DLC is also hotly anticipated. That DLC fighter will be free to those who register both versions on Club Nintendo by 31st May, before later...
Live Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Invitational Tournament - MCM Birmingham
Battling at the tech show
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U has been around for a good few months, but it's still very much a go-to game for plenty of Wii U owners. It's a big-draw at expos and events, too, and Nintendo UK is streaming a special Invitational tournament from the massive MCM Comic Con event in Birmingham today. Kicking off at 7am Pacific /...
News Zelda Lookalike Oceanhorn: Monster Of Uncharted Seas Could Be Sailing To Consoles
Game shares a link with the Sega classic Landstalker, too
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas is an iOS adventure title which has recently crossed over to PCs, and is clearly influenced by Nintendo's Legend of Zelda - more specifically, the Wind Waker instalment which came to GameCube and - much later - Wii U. With the game branching out to other...
"We are forming a joint development structure with DeNA"
Following this week's dramatic announcement of Nintendo's partnership with DeNA to greatly expand its move into smart device gaming and services, utilising core IP in the process, there have been plenty of questions around how the partnership will work and how, in practical terms, it'll affect...
News République's Creator Worked On Metal Gear Solid And Halo, And Says The Game Could Come To Wii U
Unity 5-powered adventure may find its way to Nintendo's system
Ryan Payton is a man with a pretty impressive CV. He started his career at Microsoft in Japan before joining Konami and working alongside Hideo Kojima on Metal Gear Solid 4. From there, he became the creator director on Halo 4, and has since gone independent with Camouflaj, his own...
News Pokémon Rumble World Rated By the Australian Classification Board
Get ready to rumble
The Pokémon Rumble series is one of the Pokémon brand’s more successful spin-offs. The whole thing is based around the premise of Pokémon toys coming to life and battling it out in arenas. Real-time beat ‘em up gameplay keeps things fresh and interesting, though the games are admittedly fairly easy. Up till now, there have...
Video Nintendo of America Unveils Commercial for Mario Party 10 Tie-In With Kids Choice Awards
Have a PAX East Puzzle & Dragons video as a bonus...
It may not be an official Year of Bowser, but March is certainly the Month of Bowser courtesy of Mario Party 10 arriving on Wii U. With the Bowser Mode being an integral part in distinguishing this entry from its many predecessors, it's little surprise that marketing in Japan, Europe and North...
News Nintendo Set To License All IP to Mobile Publisher DeNA
Apps and games (yes, games) coming to smart devices globally
Breaking news this morning is a "Business and Capital Alliance" between Nintendo and fellow Japanese firm DeNA. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 7974) and DeNA Co., Ltd. (Tokyo: 2432) today entered into a business and capital alliance to develop and operate new game apps for smart devices and...
News Nintendo of America to Run a 'Virtual Launch Party' for Mario Party 10 This Week
Seems to mean Twitter comps, not video streams
Mario Party 10 is Nintendo's big retail release in both North America and Europe this week, so we can expect the big N to make a lot of noise ahead of the 20th March arrival. Nintendo of America, for its part, has announced some social networking shenanigans in the form of a 'Virtual Launch Party' on...
Let's get this party started!
It's commonly accepted that partying too hard can be a bad thing. However, that doesn't appear to be a concern for Mario and friends, who since 1998 have appeared in 10 home console Mario Party games and even a few portable outings, too. While Mario's virtual board game gatherings are now a far less common occurrence...
Video New LEGO Jurassic World Trailer Builds Dinosaur-Sized Hype
Dat music
We won't deny it, there's some serious nostalgia-driven anticipation for LEGO Jurassic World on Wii U and 3DS here in Nintendo Life HQ. Since it was announced that the title will arrive to accompany the new movie - Jurassic World - and cover all four films in one package, there's certainly been plenty of anticipation. It's all been teaser...
Video Mario Party 10's Bowser Party & amiibo Party Modes
Take a look at the new modes in Mario's latest celebration!
Mario Party 10 is upon us, and after so many entries you'd think Nintendo wouldn't have anything more to add to the formula. Enter Bowser Party and amiibo Party, two modes that make the most of some of the Wii U's hardware features to shake up the Mario Party formula. In Bowser Party, one...
Leading industry analyst also sees "signs of hope" for Wii U
We've said this every year since its launch in November 2012, but this truly is an important period for the Wii U. With 2014 delivering improved momentum but still seeing the system lag behind newer rivals PS4 and Xbox One, the aim for 2015 is for momentum to continually improve and to...
News First Screens From Banjo-Kazooie Spiritual Successor Are Revealed, Kickstarter Coming In May
Former Rare developers considering amiibo-style NFC figures
Last month we reported on the news that a group of former Rare developers had formed their own company - Playtonic - and were looking to create a "spiritual successor" to the Banjo-Kazooie series. During this week's EGX Rezzed, Playtonic showed off the first screens from the new game -...
Talking Point It's Time for a Nintendo Direct to Set the Agenda
With two months since the last broadcast, our bodies are ready
Ever since the broadcasts began, Nintendo Direct has given fans a fix of reveals, footage and talking points about upcoming releases; so when a gap opens up between presentations, there's some nervous twitching. When is the next video coming, and will Satoru Iwata appear in front of any...
News LEGO The Hobbit DLC Trilogy Expansion No Longer Planned for Release
To never be continued...
LEGO The Hobbit was a peculiar release, as unlike a number of its licensed contemporaries it didn't tell the whole story. Released mid-way through the film trilogy's arrival in cinemas, it covered events for the first two movies only, ending with a 'to be continued' message. The understanding was that DLC would be released...
Along with a quick look at Stella Glow, the upcoming 3DS RPG
Unlike last week's Famitsu magazine, this week's magazine featured much less information on upcoming Nintendo games. One Famitsu magazine each month serves as a recap magazine for the gaming news of the past month, with some new information peppered throughout. Unfortunately, this means...
News Nintendo Australia Confirms Fourth Wave of amiibo Locked in for Late April
More New Nintendo 3DS cover plates also on the way
Following on from the replenishment of amiibo supplies locally last month, Nintendo has today locked in the Australian and New Zealand release of the fourth Super Smash Bros. amiibo wave for 25th April, which aligns with the national commemorative occasion, Anzac Day. This could prove a problem...
Reminder The Hyrule Warriors Boss Pack DLC is Now Available in North America
Ganondorf mayhem
Although it arrived in Europe a couple of weeks ago, Hyrule Warriors fans in North America can now enjoy the latest (and final?) major DLC pack for the action title. Although not mentioned in the North American Nintendo Download Update, the Boss Pack can be bought for $2.99 or comes free if you have a Season Pass. The core...
Video Nintendo Promotes Mario Party 10 in New Adverts Focused on amiibo and Bowser
Doesn't mention the 'find amiibo stock' meta-game
Mario Party 10 is the next big-name retail arrival on Wii U, landing in North America and Europe on 20th March. That 10 in the title should tip you off that this franchise has been consistently popular, and Nintendo's marketing has been actively pitching this - unsurprisingly - to families. Could it...
Video Here’s How amiibo Will Work in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Hide ’n’ seek
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was a perfect example of a “Budget AAA" title done right. For a cheaper price tag than the average Nintendo release, it expanded upon a unique, camera-centric puzzle mechanic with light platformer elements and offered up a creative, surprisingly content-heavy package. We awarded it an 8/10 in our...
News Etrian Mystery Dungeon Just Misses Top Spot in Japanese Charts as New 3DS LL Climbs to Second
Wii U sales improve a little
After a dominant début for Dragon Quest Heroes in its first week on PS3 and PS4 in Japan, the latest Media Create results bring a new 3DS release into the reckoning, even if it can't seize top-spot; hardware, meanwhile, remains steady for another week. New in the software charts is Etrian Mystery Dungeon, the crossover...
News Nintendo's Implementation of Cross-Buy is Surprisingly Generous
Buy one, get many free
Owners of PlayStation consoles and Vita handhelds have long been accustomed to the luxury of cross-buy titles; you buy one version of the game and you get to play on your other devices gratis. That's a good deal and no mistake. It's taken Nintendo a little while to embrace the concept for themselves – presumably because the...
Video Mario Kart 8 Hackers Duplicate Items For Racing Mayhem
All offline and not being shared, importantly
Mario Kart 8 is one of the best games on the Wii U, and through its DLC - more of which is due in May - has kept racers busy for many months. It's not entirely avoided the hacking fate of its predecessor on Wii, however, though widespread modding and cheating hasn't been a major problem to date. YouTube...
News Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush to Roll Into Europe on 8th May
A little earlier than expected
Update: Also arrives in Australia and New Zealand on 9th May. Original Article: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has been out in North America since 20th February, providing Wii U gamers in the region with their first major retail release on the home console of 2015. Until now gamers in Europe were simply told it was...
News Nintendo to Host Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Tournaments in Japan, but for amiibo Only
Leave your pads at home...
Starting this Saturday (14th March), Nintendo is holding a series of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournaments across Japan, with the first wave of matches being held in video game and toy stores in the Chiba prefecture, Osaka, and Ibaraki prefecture. However, Nintendo has thrown a spanner in the works, for these...
News Splatoon eShop Listing Continues Speculation of amiibo Support
Kudos for a dramatically filmed Vine
Late last week we shared a rumour that Splatoon will have its own range of amiibo, with listings from a South African retailer emerging to that effect. We used the rumour tag along with a few buckets of salt, but it was fun to consider how amiibo could be used in the title. A fan keen to see amiibo support for...
News Koei Tecmo Says Hyrule Warriors Has Breathed New Life into the Series
Akihiro Suzuki says collaboration brought "second wind" to Warriors
According to Koei Tecmo producer Akihiro Suzuki, collaborations on the Warriors series — including last year's sensationally popular Hyrule Warriors — have reinvigorated the franchise. Suzuki expresses an understanding that, prior to the use of collaborations, many people had...
Gallery Splatoon Development Updates Show Off Fashion, Octolings and Guns
Some short videos are even inked in
Arriving in May, Splatoon is one of our most-anticipated Wii U games in the coming months, even if we're still awaiting a final release date - with single player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer all included, it should offer plenty of content along with its quirky approach to third-person arena shooting...
News Next Level Games Employee Suggests He's Working on a Wii U Title, Then Stealth Edits the Post
You cannot hide on the internet
It's no secret that Next Level Games, though it's an independent company, is currently committed exclusively to Nintendo projects - that was stated in early 2014, and nothing since has suggested any change. We'd like to think it's an ambitious project, too, as little has been heard from the company since Luigi's...
News A Cowboy's Tale from Nexis Games Rides to the Wii U eShop in 2016
We added the apostrophe
When one gets right down to it, there aren't a lot of notable Wild West-themed games currently, on any platform; it's a rather puzzling omission. In an industry that's absolutely obsessed at the moment with open world adventure games, one must wonder why more developers don't follow in the footsteps of titles such as Red Dead...
Mario Kart 8 for $33, too
While Nintendo of America is yet to offer an online store as substantial as in the UK, its rather low key store does nevertheless occasionally offer great deals on refurbished goodies. At the moment Wii U fans in North America have some decent options, including a few select games. A notable option is a 32GB Black Wii U...
Poll Which 2015 Nintendo Blockbusters Should Have amiibo Support?
A welcome extra or occasional option?
Since the launch of the first 'wave' alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U in November 2014, Nintendo's wasted little time in promoting and expanding amiibo. Continual waves have continued to take us towards coverage of the full cast in the brawling title, while an upcoming Super Mario range will accompany Mario...
Nintendo Minute debates Super Metroid vs Metroid Prime, too
Nintendo has some major releases landing at the moment in North America, with Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars out this week on Wii U and 3DS, and Code Name S.T.E.A.M. on the way as a 3DS retail arrival in the coming week. Naturally Nintendo of America is using YouTube to promote these...
Feature A Summary of the Xenoblade Chronicles X Battle Presentation
Full video and details on combat skills, customization and party members
Nintendo and Developer Monolift Soft have made it their goal to show Japanese gamers just about everything Xenoblade Chronicles X has to offer through 30 minute online presentations; it's an admirable endeavour, even if there are no English subtitles. The last video took a look...
Japan Weekly Famitsu Outlines More Details on Splatoon's 'Hero' Mode and More
Etrian Mystery Dungeon details, quirky Japanese games, reviews and more
Can't wait to hear more about games like Splatoon and Etrian Mystery Dungeon? As Japan's primary gaming magazine, Famitsu receives exclusive previews and reviews of Nintendo games well before the same coverage sees the light of the day elsewhere in the world. The 4th March...
Live Watch Nintendo and Monolith Soft's Second Presentation of Xenoblade Chronicles X - Live!
Live coverage as the battle mechanics are shown off
Xenoblade Chronicles X isn't far away in Japan, and in the West plenty of fans are no doubt eagerly awaiting its arrival this year. This second presentation on the game from Japan will focus on Battle mechanics and what it takes to survive on Mira. [...
News Harmonix Explains Why Rock Band 4 Isn’t Coming to Wii U, But Doesn't Rule it Out
Bringing on the heartbreak
As some of you may be aware, Harmonix has announced that the Rock Band franchise will be making a comeback this year with the fourth numbered entry. The rhythm based franchise sees players bashing away on various expensive peripherals that resemble instruments popular to typical rock bands, covering a massive variety of...
Video Watch As A Gaggle Of Oldies Are Exposed To The Joys Of Mario Kart 8
"I'd prefer Poker"
Mario Kart 8 is a game with almost universal appeal, effortlessly able to transcend the boundaries of gender, race and - as the video below proves - age. Yup, the world-famous React YouTube channel has taken a group of old people, parked them in front of a Wii U playing a copy of Nintendo's famous racing title and shoved...
News First Run Wii U Copies of Rodea the Sky Soldier Will Include the Wii Version in Western Release
Two birds with one stone
It's rather hard to believe, but Rodea the Sky Soldier is finally on the home stretch to getting released. The previously vaporware game from Yuji Naka, of Sonic the Hedgehog and NiGHTS fame, is set to release sometime this Fall after a touch and go development cycle of over three years. Based around the concept of flying,...
News New Nintendo 3DS Undone by Dragon Quest Heroes and PS4 in Japanese Charts
Can't win 'em all
Nintendo's enjoyed plenty of dominance in the Media Create Japanese charts in recent years, but major releases on rival systems have seen it lose out in recent weeks. The big N will no doubt be considering the cost of key franchises being released elsewhere, as Sony enjoys a week on top. To start with software, the major story is...
Video Many Crates Were Harmed in the Making of This Little Mac KO Punch Video
Ain't no boxes high enough
It's obvious you don't want to be on the receiving end of Little Mac's KO punch in Super Smash Bros., but not everyone has had a chance to see how determined the glove can be to hit its mark. Probably because not everyone creates scenarios as ridiculous as this. YouTube account Master0fHyrule took to training mode in the...
"Preorders are just a part of the Mario amiibo Gold Edition story"
The Super Mario amiibo Gold Edition has been the latest desirable Nintendo product to sell out rapidly online, with pre-orders disappearing almost as fast as they appeared. That may have led some in North America that want the limited edition amiibo to give up or consider over-priced...
News Nintendo Unleashes Commercials and Minigame Videos for Mario Party 10
Let's get it started...
The arrival of Mario Party 10 on 20th March is the end-result of one of this generation's inevitabilities; the fact we're onto number ten says all we need to know about how prolific this series has been on Nintendo's home consoles since the Nintendo 64 days. We may not all clamour to pick these titles up when they arrive, but...
Weirdness Fan Creates Custom amiibo of Sonic Characters
They're comin' at the speed of sound...
It really doesn't seem like the custom amiibo hype train will put on the brakes anytime soon, with new figures and high demand still prominent. Fans have also gone from giving the existing Nintendo NFC figures a total paint job, to creating their own using toys of both actual Smash Bros. characters and others...
Site News A New Readership Survey Has Appeared
Would you mind if we asked you a few questions?
We don't take it for granted that nearly 100,000 people visit Nintendo Life every day, yet you probably know a lot more about us than we know about you. Therefore our partners at Gamer Network have put together a readership survey so we can get to know our audience a little better. Nintendo Life is...
Weirdness eBay Trolls amiibo Fans With Gold Mario Tweet
Unbelievably stupid and from the official account
It's old news, at the moment, that whenever Nintendo announces a limited edition product the following will happen - online pre-orders will sell out in minutes, and scalpers will sell the goods (often pre-orders, not the actual product) on eBay. It's an unescapable reality at present, though we did...
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