Wii U - News
January2015
News Nintendo Wins Metacritic's Annual Game Publisher Rankings
Nintendominance
Back in 2011, Metacritic started doing an annual ranking for video game companies; publishers are categorized according to the number of releases for the year and judged by overall Metacritic scores. Also, sales and user reviews aren't taken into account for the overall rankings, so only reviews from authorised media outlets are...
Because lighting matters
Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric certainly received its fair share of criticism when it launched in late 2014, due to a mix of poor design, bugs and a general sense that it simply wasn't finished. A sizeable 1GB update was then deployed in Europe recently, with fans figuring out its changes; the key tweaks were to remove the...
Gallery Art Academy Masters Produce Award-Winning Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Drawings
Some lovely work
An enduring legacy of the DS, 3DS and Wii U in future may well be the use of their resistive touch screens for impressive drawing apps. The Art Academy franchise is front and centre in this respect, giving gamers the tools to express themselves through art or to take tentative first steps in learning how. It's a refreshingly...
News Retailer The Hut Believes The Wii U Now Has A "Respectable" Install Base In The UK
"It's a good news story"
The Wii U might not be posting the kind of sales figures that it forerunner did, but 2014 may well go down as the year that ignited the console's commercial resurgence. Whilst Sony grabbed headlines for the PS4's escalating sales and Microsoft played it aggressive, Nintendo, focused on what it does best: creating and...
News Koei Tecmo Releases Awesome Hyrule Warriors Wallpapers to Celebrate One Million Units Shipped
So pretty...
Hyrule Warriors raised plenty of eyebrows when it was announced in December 2013, blending the hack and slash action of the Warriors franchise with one of Nintendo's most treasured IPs. Koei Tecmo did a rather good job, earning some critical acclaim as the release was also generally well-received by fans. It's evidently performed...
Weirdness Super Smash Bros. Fans Raise the Stakes With 'Falcon Potato' Minigame
A Falcon Punch for the loser
Last year we shared videos of some fun minigames that fans of Super Smash Bros. were creating with the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS releases. On the home console version we showed you Smashketball, which utilises the stage builder to establish boundaries of cannons and lave - if you hit an opponent into the right barrel...
Poll Which Current Generation Nintendo Soundtracks Would You Buy?
Moving beyond occasional Club Nintendo giveaways
Earlier today Nintendo Europe added The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds soundtrack to Club Nintendo, which is jolly for those in the region with a load of stars to spend, but disappointing for anyone else. It continues Nintendo's slightly odd policy of creating some of the greatest soundtracks...
News Star Wars Landspeeder Breaks Cover In Disney Infinity 2.0
The Force is strong in this one
While many are assuming it's a foregone conclusion that this year's Disney Infinity update will introduce the Star Wars franchise, there are actually many other directions Disney could take. However, for the time being at least it looks as if Disney is going to take the predicted - and perhaps desired - route. More...
Weirdness Even Masahiro Sakurai Struggles to Get the amiibo He Wants
Master Hand is left empty handed
As you may be aware at this point, Nintendo has been doing a relatively below-par job of keeping amiibo supply up with the voracious demand. Whether this is an intentional ploy to drive the demand through the stratosphere or just a simple, recurring failure to accurately predict the sheer volume that the masses...
Update: Yep, writer's joke and fan's video, we get it now
Update: We saw some tweets around a video that we thought was a clip from the Sonic Boom cartoon, but is actually a funny fan creation. To clarify (thanks to all that pointed this out), show writer Alan Denton tweeted a joke about Sonic Boom making this famous glitch canon, and a funny fan...
Which multiplayer games are you most excited about?
With 2015 now settling into a groove - and following Nintendo's first Direct broadcasts of the year - we now have a better idea of what to expect in the near future, along with further reassurances of big hitters to come later in 2015. As a result there's plenty for Nintendo fans to look forward...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X Will Feature An "Outstanding" Voice Cast
Outstanding
While many are no doubt looking forward to Xenoblade Chronicles 3D which will show off the power of the New Nintendo 3DS, it's worth looking further ahead; Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii U appears to be shaping up to be something rather special. Not just visually, but also sonically. Producer Shingo Kawabata recently took to Twitter...
Video Donkey Kong Country Returns...To Wii U
It's on like Donkey Kong. Again.
The second Wii re-release has arrived on the European eShop, and it's a doozy. Are you ready for Donkey Kong Country Returns? As we have come to expect from Retro Studios, they knocked it out of the park with a game that apes (pun intended) the original SNES trilogies' gameplay, but is it worth revisiting on Wii U?...
News Indie Title Holobunnies Fails to Make The Hop To Consoles
But hey, there'll be a board game!
Kickstarter can be a rather fickle beast. With a veritable sea of pending projects at any one time, making a particular endeavour stand out from the pack can be difficult; especially given the limited budgets and expertise that many aspiring developers have to work with. While there are many great success stories,...
Rumour Wave 3 amiibo Release Dates Revealed for North America
GameStop memo apparently shows that figures will arrive in waves
So many have been eagerly awaiting an official release date announcement for wave 3 amiibo in North America, rather than the vague "February 2015" that has been floating around; now we're finally one step closer. Earlier today, a Reddit user by the name of KingOfRedLions posted on the...
News New 3DS and Nintendo-Exclusive Games Stay On Top in Japanese Charts
Wii U hardware dips back into four figures, however
Though the start of 2015 has been eventful in terms of announcements from Nintendo, it's been typically quiet on the game release front. That's certainly reflected in the latest Media Create charts in Japan, though the status-quo happens to suit Nintendo's 3DS systems rather well. In terms of...
News Super Smash Bros. Melee and Wii U Confirmed for Evo 2015
Battle begins on 17th July in Las Vegas
After an incident-filled past, Nintendo is now a supporter of Evo, the hugely popular fighting game tournament that's held every Summer. This year's Las Vegas extravaganza kicks off on the weekend of 17th July, and the official line-up will include two big N titles to keep us interested. Likely predicating...
Rumour Terraria is Making Its Way to Wii U and 3DS
Terrariafic
505 Games' Terraria is a 2D sandbox game that falls somewhere in between Minecraft and Metroid on the gameplay spectrum. Featuring vibrant pixel art, exploration, quests, crafting and randomly generated 2D worlds, it's really a wonder this one has taken so long to find its way onto Nintendo platforms. After all, it's been available on...
News Ninja Pig Studios Accused Of Stealing Pixel Art For Forthcoming Wii U Release Jumpy Cat
Meme Run developer in hot water
This week is currently set to see the launch of Ninja Pig Studios' next Wii U eShop title, Jumpy Cat - but the developer behind the infamous Meme Run is already in hot water thanks to accusations that it has used stolen pixel art in its new game. Jumpy Cat is slated for release on January 22nd in North America, but...
News Club Nintendo Rewards are Updated for January, Kicking Off Its Final Run
Mario! Wario! Metroid! Zelda! More due in February!
After today's surprise news of the discontinuation of Club Nintendo, the North American version has had its regular monthly update, but with a bit of a difference. Though coins can only be earned in the region until the end of March, redeeming those coins is possible until the end of June. After a...
News Club Nintendo to Close, With Replacement Loyalty Programme Coming Later in the Year
Flipnote Studio 3D will be free to existing members
Club Nintendo has been a consistent part of the dedicated Nintendo fan's world since the Wii / DS era, with purchases registered for coins and stars - depending on region - to be traded for extras. At times the programme has been criticised for slowly updated catalogues, but it's been relatively...
Poll As amiibo Expands and Evolves, Which Features Are You Most Excited About?
Super Mario range, Mario Party 10 compatibility and more
Last week's Nintendo Direct broadcasts brought a host of fresh details on amiibo, taking us beyond the launch period's tales of Super Smash Bros. support, relatively minor features in Hyrule Warriors and Mario Kart 8, and the ongoing shenanigans of painfully limited stock. Well, the latter may...
News Splatoon Updates Give More Insight Into Stages, Plaza and Item Stores
Ink more territory to make more money
Splatoon is beginning to shape up rather nicely, and with a May release confirmed that means we'll have had less than a year from its initial reveal until it hits stores; that's a fairly rapid turnaround. The most recent Nintendo Direct broadcasts began to flesh the ink-based shooter out, too, by introducing the...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X Localisation Work is "Well Underway"
Fingers crossed for the promised 2015 release
There are a number of exciting games already confirmed for release in 2015, and in terms of the Wii U Xenoblade Chronicles X - referred to as Xenoblade X / Xenoblade Cross in Japan - is one of the most ambitious and enticing projects. Its 2015 release window had been one of the most doubted when it was...
Video TreeFall Studios Releases Its First Ever Developers Conference
The hype is real
Indie developer TreeFall Studios -- creator of the infamous Wii U eShop title The Letter -- has just released its first ever Developers Conference on YouTube showing off the company's forthcoming projects. Several brand new titles were showcased, as well as announcements relating to fresh content related to Maze, which recently...
News Hyrule Warriors Majora's Mask Pack DLC and Update Details Emerge
Max level increase! Tingle! Termina Adventure map! More!
If you're willing to pay a reasonable amount of money, Hyrule Warriors is the game that keeps giving. We've already had two fairly meaty DLC packs - Master Quest and Twilight Princess - along with some individual costume sets, and the next substantial offering is just a couple of weeks away...
News Wii U Games, Likely in Hardware Bundles, Enjoy Mini-Revival in UK Charts
Nintendo Land joins Mario Kart 8 with upward momentum
The UK charts haven't often brought good cheer for Nintendo in the past year, though the latest results do bring a chink of light, if not a full blown revolution worthy of celebration. We're seeing upward momentum for one surprising game in particular, which suggests that the past seven days saw...
News Sonic Boom Gets a Whopping 1GB+ Update in Europe, and Fans Figure Out What it Did
An update not much smaller than Super Mario 3D World's file size
A few days ago Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric received a whopping big update in Europe, and it's still not available - as far as we can see - in North America; it's likely still going through approval and scheduling in the region. This was a game that was widely panned upon release - and...
News Professional Super Smash Bros. Player Proposes to Girlfriend at Tournament
It's-a-me, Marry-o!
Gaming tournaments often yield some memorable moments, such as amazing feats of skill and underdogs defeating their Goliath counterparts. However, in a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament, Tantalus alleviated the competitive atmosphere by proposing to his girlfriend - an occurrence that also took place at the AGDQ Mischief...
News Wii U Enjoyed Its Best Ever Month of US Sales in December, With Yearly Results Beating 2013
3DS had its best ever month of first-party software sales
We're now heading into the time of reckoning when we learn how Nintendo fared over the festive sales period, and there's a positive start courtesy of the December NPD results - these cover US physical retail sales. On a whole Nintendo is reporting a record month for Wii U, along with strong...
News Nintendo's amiibo Website and Compatibility Chart Has All The Answers
Confusion and fan-made infographics begone! (Mostly)
With the amiibo figures - and upcoming Super Mario wave - becoming increasingly diverse in both the ranges on offer and the games they support, it's very easy to get mixed up in terms of which toy works in which games. Which games need to save data? Does it matter if I have a Smash Bros. Mario...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 14th January
Nintendo went big with New Nintendo 3DS and much more
With 2015 still only just picking up steam, the first Nintendo Direct broadcasts of the year ensured that the big N kicked off a vital 12 months with some style. It delivered some of its longer broadcasts in recent memory, with notable variations between regions, and as a whole kept momentum...
News New Nintendo Wii Remotes Come in Bowser and Toad Colours
All Bowser, all the time
Nintendo may, in decades to come, regard the Wii Remote as its greatest controller. While we can argue until the cows come home about the layout of the GameCube controller or the merits of a classic SNES pad, the Wii Remote is a sales phenomenon that has been waved around by hundreds of millions of people. Spanning two...
News Pixel-Rich Action Platformer Adventures Of Pip Is Leaping To The Wii U eShop This May
Backed by over 2,500 people on Kickstarter
Tic Toc Games has confirmed that its platforming title Adventures of Pip will be hitting the Wii U eShop this May. The title was funded using Kickstarter last year and blew past its funding goal by 164 percent, with over 2,500 backers pledging financial support. Adventures of Pip has a rich pixel-heavy...
News Xenoblade Chronicles X Hits Japan on 29th April
Localise with haste, Monolith Soft!
Nintendo's various Direct broadcasts had plenty of good news, and some reassurance for Western fans of Xenoblade Chronicles X came in the form of a new trailer that not only showed off extensive footage, but also reiterated a 2015 release date. It's clear why Nintendo is confident, as the title - simply known as...
Reaction Nintendo Direct Went Crazy With Reveals, and Was Delightful and Confusing in Equal Measure
Tom Whitehead tries to make sense of 2015's first Nintendo Direct vids
Aside from a few small details that will be saved for a wrap-up article in the very near future, I reckon we've covered most of the important news and reveals from the recent Nintendo Direct broadcasts. It was an absolute bombardment of details, and after quite a few hours and a...
Video Does Super Mario Galaxy 2 On Wii U Offer Anything New?
We check out the new digital re-release
A nice surprise during today's Nintendo Direct webcasts was the announcement of digital re-releases for some of the Wii's best games. The very first game is available right now, and it's a stone-cold classic - Super Mario Galaxy 2! If you've never played this game, now is the best chance you hav
News Splatoon Confirmed for May Release Along With Details on Customisation
Level up with clothes and weapons
Today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts were full of interesting details, and we learned a little more about one of the year's biggest Wii U titles - Splatoon; for starters, it's due to arrive in May in both North America and Europe. Beyond that we saw some footage of the main hub area, known as the 'Plaza'. In a move...
News Nintendo Reveals New Range, Details and Compatibility for amiibo
Smash Bros. wave 4, new range, upcoming 3DS Smash Bros. support and more
With all their current momentum, amiibo figurines were bound to make an appearance during the latest Nintendo Direct - and so they did. The first inclusion of amiibo figures in the Direct was the announcement of Wave 3 figures of the Super Smash Bros. series becoming available...
News Mario Party 10 Gets It Started With Wii U on 20th March
It's almost time to party
In today's Nintendo Direct broadcast it was revealed that Mario Party 10 will be released on the Wii U on 20th March in both Europe and North America. In addition to the standard Mario Party mode, the game will feature an new "amiibo Party mode", which brings amiibo compatibility to the classic party-game series. Certain...
News Project Treasure Is Bandai Namco's Wii U Exclusive Free-To-Play Co-Op Action Game
4 players working together to claim the loot
Bandai Namco is working on a free-to-play, 4-player co-operative action title for the Wii U eShop. The news came as part of a special segment during the recent Nintendo Direct broadcast where Bandai Namco's Katsuhiro Harada explained the core mechanics of the new game, which has the current working title...
Watch Catch Up With the North American, European and Japanese Nintendo Direct Broadcasts
See Satoru Iwata feel the beat
Nintendo has wrapped up its latest Direct broadcasts, revealing new games, release dates and hardware bundles. There were some notable differences between regions, too, which has certainly kept us on our toes here at Nintendo Life. We'll be providing our usual reaction and Nintendo Direct summary in the coming hours...
Video Brand New Xenoblade Chronicles X 'Exploration Trailer' Lands
And it's a beautiful thing
JRPG-starved Wii U fans were today given a further glimpse into the enormous open world of the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X, the title currently in development for Wii U by Monolith Soft. Many of the Nintendo Life staff are huge fans of the Wii game, Xenoblade Chronicles, which is currently being ported to the New...
Nintendo Direct Watch The First North American Nintendo Direct of 2015 - Live!
Let's get this year started
It's time for Nintendo's latest Direct, which is set to cover a range of upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. There's a lot that could be covered, ranging from Holiday releases, DLC, early 2015 games or even all-new surprises. Join us to follow all the action from the North American broadcast...
Nintendo Direct Watch The First European Nintendo Direct of 2015 - Live!
Spring goodies are promised
The big N is promising Spring release details for Wii U and 3DS in this Nintendo Direct, with details likely on a host of games and the New Nintendo 3DS; this European broadcast will be hosted by Satoru Iwata and Satoru Shibata. Enjoy!...
Video See Captain Toad's Bonus Stages From Super Mario 3D World
How do they compare to the originals? Find out now
So, now that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker has delighted Nintendo fans around the globe, we thought it would be high time to take a closer look at some very special bonus levels. Those who have a Super Mario 3D World save file on their Wii U may have already noticed that this unlocks some bonus...
Feature Five Key Reveals We Want in 2015's First Nintendo Direct
New 3DS! Wii U release dates! Reward Scheme!
While January 2014 became entwined in fluctuating share prices and worrying financial results, Nintendo has shown its intent to kick off 2015 in a far more positive light. The year's first Nintendo Direct will be broadcast on 14th January at 6am Pacific / 9am Eastern / 2pm UK / 3pm CET, confirming a focus...
Gallery A Closer Look at the Latest Splatoon Updates
New environments, artwork and details
Late last year Nintendo launched an official Tumblr page for Splatoon, which provides translations of the regular posts made to the Japanese Twitter account for the game. While always light-hearted, they often go beyond mere concept art to provide snippets of interesting information, rather like the...
News YouTube Update Spruces Up Wii U App
Scientifically proven to be one million times better (not really)
It's easy to forget that the Wii U has a decent range of entertainment apps to enjoy, and one of the most prominent has now had a facelift in an update. The change is to YouTube, with a slightly new look and - it seems to us - quicker performance. In terms of aesthetic changes,...
News Nintendo Direct Confirmed for 14th January, With Focus on Spring Releases
Getting 2015 truly started
As 2015 begins to kick into gear Nintendo seems intent on starting with a bang. While we had to wait until mid-February for the first Nintendo Direct broadcast last year, the company has now confirmed a new broadcast for 14th January. It's not been given a specific title - which suggests one of those packed general...
Guide Collecting All the Gems in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker - Episode 3
Episode 3: Return of the Toad
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is now available in North America and Europe, adding another excellent title to the Wii U library. In this game the goal for Captain Toad and Toadette isn't simply nabbing the star at the end of each stage, but also picking up three gems hidden throughout each level. These become vital in...
The captain and Toadette cling on in 40th place
In the coming days and weeks we'll learn a lot more about Nintendo's sales and performance over the Holiday period, and while there's optimism in some territories the UK charts continue to suggest that the company is struggling in the country. Whether the UK market will be highlighted as a problem area...
Weirdness Totaka's Song Appears to Have Been Found in Mario Kart 8
Listen carefully
Kazumi Totaka is one of Nintendo's most experienced and talented composers and sound directors, yet that's probably not the reason that many recognise his name. He's better know for Totaka's Song, a simple melody that has been hidden within a whole load of Nintendo games. The first appearance seems to have been in X on Game Boy,...
Guide Collecting All the Gems in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker - Episode 2
Episode 2: Wingo Strikes Back
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is now available in North America and Europe, adding another excellent title to the Wii U library. In this game the goal for Captain Toad and Toadette isn't simply nabbing the star at the end of each stage, but also picking up three gems hidden throughout each level. These become vital in...
Video Top Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Players in Japan Head Into Battle
Smashing skill
Many of us may consider ourselves to be pretty strong players in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, but there are always decent odds of jumping into a For Glory online match and being well-and-truly humbled. This writer recalls playing the 3DS entry online in its early days, seeing Japanese characters in opposition names and immediately...
Guide Collecting All the Gems in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker - Episode 1
Episode 1: A New Toad
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is now available in North America and Europe, adding another excellent title to the Wii U library. In this game the goal for Captain Toad and Toadette isn't simply nabbing the star at the end of each stage, but also picking up three gems hidden throughout each level. These become vital in...
News Nintendo Steps Away From The Brazilian Market
High tariffs blamed
In disappointing news, Nintendo has announced that it'll be ceasing operations in Brazil, effectively leaving the marketplace for the foreseeable future. As of this month distribution of systems and games in the country will stop, taking the company out of a sizeable but also troublesome market. The issue appears to be linked to...
News Tri-Strip Brings That Vintage Game Boy Feel To Your Wii U
Green piece
It has been confirmed that Form Up Studios and Sc0tt Games (yes, that zero is intentional) are bringing Tri-Strip to the Wii U eShop, a puzzle game that comes with a unique visual style which brings to mind the classic Game Boy screen. The aim of the game is to create squares out of triangles to clear room on the screen. You'll be able...
Either incredible demand, terribly limited stock or a mix of both
Nintendo had a few stock woes over the festive period, with a particularly tricky item being the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U - only functional with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, it's nevertheless been in heavy demand from fans keen to enjoy the latest title with their...
News Play-Asia is Taking Orders on This Multitap Mayflash GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U
Apparently supports Super Smash Bros. for Wii U...
When Super Smash Bros. for Wii U launched last November, quite a few gamers opted for bundles and special editions that included the official GameCube Controller Adapter; unfortunately stock was extremely low, to the point that retailers as large as Amazon were failing to fulfil all pre-orders...
News Bayonetta 2 Wins The Ablegamers' Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year Award
"Bayonetta 2 pulls out all the stops for accessible game design"
Bayonetta 2 earned plenty of plaudits in 2014 - critically acclaimed and with terrific fan feedback, it also made regular appearances in Game of the Year shortlists. We'd certainly agree that it's an outstanding game, but it's picked up a notable award that reflects an appreciation of...
Video The Latest Japanese Commercials for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Are Full of Cuteness
And shouting, there's humorous shouting
The Japanese Nintendo YouTube channel is among our favourites, partly because adverts posted there are often - in this writer's humble opinion - more entertaining than their Western equivalents. We present as evidence this latest trailer for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse. We reckon the voice-over may be...
Video Here Are Your Game Of The Year 2014 Picks, In Video Form
Last year we asked you — the wonderful Nintendo Life readership — to select your most beloved titles of 2014. The results were truly illuminating, and prove that the past 12 months were pretty darn good for Nintendo fans. Just like we did with yesterday's Staff GOTY video, we've taken the reader results and transformed them into a wonderful...
News Nintendo Sending Out amiibo Surveys to Select Club Nintendo Members
Your input matters
Since its initial launch, Nintendo's amiibo line has received a mixed reception from fans. With issues ranging from limited to allegedly discontinued stock and high sales prices for online figurines - and even ones with manufacturing defects - the whole saga has had positives and negatives.. With this in consideration, Nintendo...
News Nintendo Dominated Japan During 2014, Despite A Shrinking Market
Every single one of Japan's top 10 games for 2014 was on a Nintendo format
Famitsu has just revealed sales data for the Japanese games market in 2014 which illustrates the astounding populairty of the 3DS in that particular region. Nintendo's handheld sold 3,153,045 units during last year, twice the amount that the second-placed system -- the PS...
Video Remind Yourself Of Nintendo Life's Top Picks For 2014
Our Game of the Year Awards, presented in video form
Before Christmas, we delivered the Nintendo Life Staff Game of the Year Awards for 2014, and the list was predictably packed with amazing software. Just in case you missed it -- or in case you loved it so much that you'd like a recap -- we've put together a video based on the same results. We'll...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Confirms Playable Star Fox for E3, a Future for F-Zero and More
Another major YouTube appearance
During December last year Shigeru Miyamoto and Bill Trinen filmed with some hugely popular YouTube channels, in turn reaching millions of subscribers. The most followed of those was Smosh Games, with over 5.5 million subscribers; Nintendo of America tweeted the appearance on 19th December. The video has now been...
News Little Mac's amiibo Appears to Have Actually Been Discontinued in North America
KO blow
We've consistently highlighted amiibo stock issues as a failing on Nintendo's part, in actually producing enough stock, communicating clearly and managing expectations or - perhaps most accurately - a mix of those factors. Stock shortages have also led to some inaccurate assumptions about discontinued figures, too, and Nintendo's merely...
News Fake Commercial for 'The Nintendo App' Stirs Debate
Nintendo's smartphone projects are still pending
2015 will be the year, unless Nintendo delays beyond reason, when we see some notable movement in smartphone usage from the company. During 2014 Satoru Iwata announced that a dedicated team was working on projects for smartphone devices, though an expected arrival last year of the earliest outcomes...
News Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Makes Top 20 Chart Début in UK
Well, its formal début after a bizarre soft launch
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a lovely game, and we're sure it graced the stockings of a number of North American Wii U owners in the festive season; unfortunately that wasn't the case in Europe. The title officially launched in the latter region on 2nd January - with a handful of countries...
News Curve Studios Talks About The Future Of The Hydroventure Series
Or Fluidity, if you're in North America
UK-based Curve Studios is the name behind the Hyrdroventure / Fluidity series and the recent Wii U exclusive Stealth Inc 2, and has also broadened its business by moving into publishing -- Thomas Was Alone , The Swapper and Last Survior were all published by the firm on the Wii U eShop. The company has
News Smash Bros. 2v2 For Glory Exploit Makes Pac-Man Duo Unbeatable
You might as well Pac up and leave...
'For Glory' is an online mode in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS that houses the game's most competitive players. Unlike the 'For Fun' alternative, it prevents the use of items and allows Final Destination versions of each stage only, ensuring a fair game to determine who the better combatant truly...
Video Hacker Demonstrates Fully Functional Game & Watch amiibo in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Creation, editing and levelling
Just recently a YouTube channel titled Mema Haxx posted a video that - very briefly - showed hidden Duck Hunt amiibo data being activated; the basic suggestion reinforces what we half expected, that Nintendo's set up code within the game to support amiibo for still unannounced figures. Considering the fact the company...
News Toys "R" Us amiibo Pre-Orders Cancelled Again
What now for Lucario?
Late last year Toys "R" Us attracted the wrong kind of attention when it emerged that amiibo pre-orders were being cancelled en-masse, causing justifiable consternation among affected customers. The company promised an update over the festive period and issued coupons to enable customers to re-order their amiibo figures from...
News Here's a Handy amiibo Compatibility Infographic
Fan-produced graph includes Japanese releases
With two waves of amiibo toys available in stores and a number of compatible games out in the wild, we perhaps need an infographic to clarify which figures work with what game. Well, it's not that complicated yet, but we do like a good infographic regardless. Below is an effort from amiibo fan MoldyClay...
Video Hacker Allegedly Shows Hidden Duck Hunt amiibo Data in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Reinforces expectations of toys for the whole cast
Way back during E3 2014 Nintendo stated that it could, potentially, give the whole cast of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS amiibo toys; there's clearly some demand, if the reaction to fake wave 4 amiibo figures is anything to go by. It seems that a hacker has demonstrated that data for...
News Mario Kart 8 Beats Stern Competition To Become Eurogamer's Game Of 2014
Racing to the finish
The Wii U had a solid 2014 in terms of software, with titles like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2 and Super Smash Bros. all gaining high scores and securing plenty of admirers. Nintendo's console also picked up some much-needed momentum in commercial terms, too -- although as many industry analysts will tell...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2015
The Legend of Zelda! Star Fox! Splatoon! More!
2015 is here, and for Wii U owners it could be the most exciting year of HD Nintendo gaming yet. The past couple of years have delivered some truly fantastic games, of course, with the just-departed 2014 bringing two of Nintendo's biggest franchises into the current generation. Excitingly, though, the...
You can't earn any more points, though
Just before Christmas we reminded you that the Deluxe Digital Promotion for Wii U owners was set to end on 31st December 2014. That is the case, so Wii U eShop purchases on 32GB units will no longer earn points to redeem for vouchers, but there's evidently been some confusion over a message posted on the...
December2014
Weirdness Diddy Kong amiibo With a Horror Mouth and Dual Wielding Pit Join Defective Ranks
Lacking a bit of bite
When amiibo launched in November it didn't take long for attention to be directed towards inevitable manufacturing errors. With millions of units sent out into the world mistakes are inevitable, and for a time silly amounts of money were being paid for 'rare' and defective amiibo; whether they were genuine bids or not, examples...
News Platinum Hopes to Bring "More From Bayonetta" in 2015
We dream of DLC, may be anime
Bayonetta 2 was one of our favourite releases in 2014, the action exclusive on Wii U providing a frenetic, memorable experience. There are some positive teases ahoy from Platinum Games to excite those that enjoyed the sequel and its predecessor, in that case, courtesy of an update from senior figures that worked on the...
Gallery Help Yourself to Some Gorgeous Wii U Wallpapers
Smash Bros., Hyrule Warriors, Indies and more
While many of us spend plenty of our spare time enjoying Nintendo games and systems, there are reasonable odds that we keep our favourite franchises in mind a lot of the time. Phones, tablets, PCs and laptops - certainly in Nintendo Life HQ - often have some Ninty artwork adorning the screen, so a fresh...
More nods and winks about Nintendo's next console
Just recently we shared some translated quotes from a 4Gamer interview with Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, in which he talked about his programming days and his role in getting Super Smash Bros. Melee to market. That same thread on NeoGaf has been adding more translations, and the latest excerpts...
News Hyrule Warriors DLC Costume Sets Now Up for Grabs in North America
You need a dollar, dollar, a dollar is what you need
Just recently we reported that three costume sets for Hyrule Warriors had become available on the Wii U eShop in Europe, in addition to the main packs that have already arrived. These had been pre-order or Club Nintendo bonuses, and were particularly prominent in retailer-specific deals in North...
Two for the price of two?
Nintendo's NES Remix Pack, a retail compilation of eShop titles NES Remix and NES Remix 2, contains two great games but feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. While both games are quite good, Nintendo has opted to simply package the two together and not made an attempt to make them feel like a cohesive whole. We didn't...
News Nintendo Rolls Out Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Footage and Details
May transform opinion
One of the first retail releases on Wii U in 2015 will be Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, at least in North America and Japan, which will bring its brand of stylus-controlled rolling gameplay to the system; its clay-based look and animation has certainly caught the eye. Nintendo took the opportunity, on Christmas Day, to spruce...
Guide The Hottest Boxing Day 2014 Deals for Wii U and 3DS
US and UK covered
It may seem mad to say this at the time of writing, Christmas Day, but the Boxing Day sales are already underway (particularly in the UK) and are being advertised by various retailers. Rather like the Black Friday shenanigans of late November, the traditional Boxing Day sales - previously New Year sales in days of yore - creep ever...
News Crunchyroll Arrives on Wii U as a Free App in North America
Over 25,000 episodes and 15,000 hours of content, apparently
While this 25th December has brought us festive Nintendo Download updates, and a host of treats and discounts around the world, North American Wii U owners have an extra treat - a free Crunchyroll app to access a lot of anime, manga and Asian dramas. That'll no doubt be music to the ears...
Game of the Year Nintendo Life's Reader Awards 2014
Your favourites of the year
2014 is drawing to a close, and the festive spirit is no doubt getting plenty into the gaming mood. We've already revealed our Game of the Year Staff Awards, but now it's time to see which titles have most excited the Nintendo Life community over the past year. We opened voting for the Game of the Year Reader Awards on...
Desafinado
Since American Idol first graced the airwaves back in 2002, a number of similar shows have stepped up to deliver the singing superstar search process season after season, including - since 2011 - NBC's The Voice. In this Wii U title based on the show, The Voice translates into a karaoke game with a tournament structure, a soundtrack split...
Reminder The Nintendo Network Premium Promotion Ends on 31st December
One week to go
As Wii U owners with a 32GB Premium / Deluxe model are undoubtedly aware, that system includes membership in the Nintendo Network Premium Promotion. Once linked to a Nintendo Network ID this applies points to each purchase on the Wii U eShop, and spending an amount that roughly equates to a full retail game brings the reward of a £5...
Game of the Year Nintendo Life's Staff Awards 2014
2014 has served up some classics
It's hard to believe that another year of gaming has passed, yet here we are. 2014 was a busy year for Nintendo, and the company certainly delivered a lot of thoroughly enjoyable games on the Wii U and 3DS. We also saw both eShop platforms grow further, particularly on the Wii U, with high quality downloadable...
Weirdness Fan Creates Wind Waker Overworld From LEGO
Taking 'toon' to a whole new level...
Fan projects are always something that adds to the magic of the Nintendo community, and what we have here is no exception. BrucilSprout has designed the whole overworld from GameCube's The Wind Waker, rendered in POV-ray using Lego Digital Designer software. The entire model contains around 1,900 pieces, and...
News Club Nintendo Adds Two 3DS Game Card Cases and NES Remix 2 T-Shirt in North America
New physical rewards, huzzah!
Club Nintendo varies between territories, and typically PAL regions have occasional physical reward updates while North American gamers have a choice of eight downloads every month. Some in North America won't necessarily have been happy at the minimal number of physical rewards in the territory, however, but there's...
Un-tactical Espionage Action
The Penguins from the smash CG hit Madagascar were so popular they received their own film in the form of Penguins of Madagascar, so it was inevitable that the four feathered friends would also receive their own video game adaption. Publisher Little Orbit - which is certainly no stranger to adaptations of movies -was...
Poll Fake Wave 4 amiibo Images Make Us Dream of More Figures
Which characters do you still want to see in amiibo form?
Today we saw a tweet from Twitter user @Shiroth that got our pulses racing, as it shared an image of a potential fourth wave of amiibo due in March next year — the line-up showed Pac-Man, Greninja, Game & Watch, Dark Pit, Ness(!) and Lucina. Due to there being no official details from...
News Free Pokémon Alpha Sapphire & Omega Ruby Medley Added To Taiko: Drum Master For Wii U
Gotta drum 'em all
Those of you lucky enough to own a Japanese Wii U may have already picked up Bandai Namco's Taiko: Drum Master Extra Large Serving, the latest in a long line of drumming action titles. If you haven't, then the news that a special Pokémon Alpha Sapphire & Omega Ruby Challenge Medley has been added to the game might have you...
Video Shovel Knight Is Digging Up The Tarmac In Road Redemption
"We're still working hard on porting to Mac, Linux, Wii U and others"
Bike combat game Road Redemption is getting an unexpected but totally welcome scoop of Shovel Knight action. Developer DarkSeas Games has just released an update to the PC version that allows you to step into the iconic blue armour of the garden tool-welding hero and hop onto a...
News Toys "R" Us Provides a Fresh Update on Cancelled amiibo Pre-Orders
Solution due "within the week"
Update: Toys "R" Us has been in touch with some clarification on the process for those looking to revive their cancelled amiibo pre-orders. It's been confirmed that those that paid with credit cards will have pre-orders re-instated, though others will need to follow an alternative process. As outlined below, we can...
News Hyrule Warriors DLC Costume Sets Now Available to Buy on the eShop
More packs coming in January and February, don't forget
Hyrule Warriors has — like many other Koei Tecmo games before it — had a lot of DLC to keep the experience going; there's also a season pass option to pick up the four main packs at a discount. We've already had the Master Quest and Twilight Princess Packs, while the following are still to...
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