Wii U - News
April2016
News Pokkén Tournament Holds Steady in UK Charts as Monster Hunter Enjoys an Unlikely Boost
Hyrule Warriors Legends clings on to top 40 place
Holiday periods can bring some quirky chart results in the UK gaming scene, as heavy discounts help older titles climb back into the top 40. That's happened for the second week in a row, while a recent Wii U release is showing decent momentum. Pokkén Tournament is giving a solid performance in the...
Hardware Review Hyperkin ProCube Controller for Wii U
Wireless GameCube love for your Wii U
The GameCube Controller is one input device that has lasted the test of time better than most, even beyond the hardcore Super Smash Bros. community, so it's not surprising that a company would take advantage of this retro love in the form of Hyperkin's ProCube Controller. This little number is essentially a Wii...
News The Ace Attorney Anime Series is Waiting For You On Crunchyroll
Just thought we'd point it out
The Ace Attorney series has a loyal following in the West, perhaps not as big as in the GBA and DS glory days, but a sizeable enough fan-base to prompt download-only releases on the eShop. It's not just Capcom that seems keen to keep interest in the brand alive in the West, as Crunchyroll is doing its bit too. The...
Video Check Out What Crash Bandicoot Would Look Like as a Smash Character
What could've been...
For those of you that owned a PlayStation back in the day, you probably played one of the famous Crash Bandicoot games. Billed by many as the PlayStation's answer to Mario, Crash Bandicoot once starred in a popular line of platformers and spinoffs that put Naughty Dog – the development studio – on the map. Since then, Crash...
News Upcoming Pokkén Tournament Update to Fix Shadow Mewtwo's Infinite Combo
Due 'early April'
Pokkén Tournament on Wii U has certainly earned some fans, though like a lot of fighting games a dedicated audience has been digging up its flaws. That's not surprising, of course, as it's going to be prominent in the competitive scene this year through events like Evo and official Pokémon Championships. The most notorious issue...
News Splatoon to Arrive on 3DS Under the Name "Splatoon Legends"
April Fools'
Update: Yep, as most of you guessed this was our contribution to the tradition of ludicrous and fabricated news stories on the first of April. We made it all up, all of what you see below is complete and utter nonsense as far as we know, we hope you got a laugh out of it! Massive thanks to Andy Carolan (@AndyCarolan) for the Inkle...
News Nintendo of America Offers to Mail a Shadow Mewtwo Card to Digital Owners of Pokkén Tournament
Let the infinite combos commence
As many of you were likely aware, physical copies of Pokkén Tournament ship with a special Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card in every case. This is a limited, first-run offer, and it no doubt changed the minds of many gamers to buy physical rather than digital. Of course, some digital buyers may have felt left out by this...
March2016
News My Nintendo and Its Rewards Are Live
Huzzah!
The time is finally here - My Nintendo has launched in the West. The replacement to Club Nintendo appears to have beaten Miitomo to the punch as you can visit the official website, register and start earning and redeeming coins. We'll be rustling up a short Getting Started guide, but for now we have the European reward details below...
News Digital Foundry Breaks Down the Resolution and Framerate in Pokkén Tournament
60fps but sub-720p
Pokkén Tournament, the Pokemon fighter developed by Bandai Namco, has now been out on Wii U for a couple of weeks. It's performed relatively well in the chart results that have emerged and helped fill a gap in the console's library. The priority for any fighting game, of course, is a solid framerate. In our review we praised the...
News Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Makes Impressive Sales Debut in Japan
Wii U hardware sales drop significantly, however
As we're in the middle of another week we have the Media Create Japanese charts to consider, and this time around there's a new release on 3DS that's stealing the headlines. It's Square Enix's 3DS RPG Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3, the latest entry in the spin-off series, that's stormed to the top...
Video The Legendary Starfy Joins Super Mario Maker as a Costume
The star of the show
The Legendary Starfy was a mostly Japan-only platforming series that starred (sorry) the eponymous aquatic character and propelled him to relative fame. Drawing many comparisons to the Kirby series, Starfy games rose to popularity by smartly designed stages that mixed aquatic themed platforming stages with some light puzzle...
Video See the Super Mario e-Reader Levels You Never Played in Super Mario Advance 4
33 'new' levels of delight
Super Mario Advance 4 was a common enough game back in the day, but one area of this game was elusive to all but a handful of individuals who were of the importing nature. Now with the release of the game on the Wii U Virtual Console these exclusive levels are now available for all to play. Check out our video below where...
News The Guy Who Designed Sonic The Hedgehog Supervised On Mario & Sonic At The Rio Olympics
Not Yuji Naka, the other one
The credits for Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have revealed that Arzest was involved with the game's development. Sega fans will recognise Arzest as the home of several former Sega employees, including Naoto Ohshima - perhaps better known as the guy who designed Sonic the Hedgehog. While Yuji Naka was...
News Hyrule Warriors Legends is Best-Selling New Release in UK, But Can't Crack Top Ten
Easter discounts keep new release out
With the public holidays over the past week there were plenty of discounts running in UK stores, and it's these promotions that have likely denied Hyrule Warriors Legends a top 10 place in the charts, though the results aren't all bad. The 3DS release has secured 13th place in the all-format chart on its debut...
Random Metroid Resurrection - The Super Mario Maker Series With a Plot and Marketing
'The Chozo One' - zing!
Many of us like to talk a big game with Super Mario Maker creations, how we're planning to wow the world and change the way we play platformers in the Mario universe. In most cases, of course, a level creation is often abandoned early to do something a little less taxing; it's harder than it seems to make a good level. Some...
News The Falco amiibo Unlocks a Special Black Arwing in Star Fox Zero
Double lock on, but it takes three times the damage
Star Fox Zero is just about a month away from release as of now, and naturally there's plenty of buzz being drummed up around the newest entry in this classic franchise. Though we never got the transformable Arwing amiibo that Miyamoto wanted to make, it was revealed earlier that the game will be...
News Marin Will be Part of the Summer's Hyrule Warriors Legends DLC Pack
An awakening for the character
Hyrule Warriors and now Hyrule Warriors Legends aren't short of interesting choices for playable characters, and now we have another intriguing addition on the way. It was confirmed during a Wondercon panel that Marin will arrive in the Summer's Link's Awakening Pack. You can see some character art from the reveal...
News TT Games Wanted To Include Mortal Kombat In The Lego Dimensions Midway Pack
"We had to take into account the typical age of our players"
The expansion of the core Lego Dimensions experience is continuing nicely, with the recently-released Midway pack granting access to an incredible selection of arcade classics. These include such coin-op hits as Gauntlet, Joust, Spy Hunter and Defender, but developer TT Games has revealed...
Video Check Out This Unbeatable Combo Recently Discovered in Pokkén Tournament
As if Shadow Mewtwo wasn't already strong enough
Fighting games are notoriously difficult to balance, as the extraordinarily technical nature of the gameplay can lead to certain methods simply being more effective than others. Playtesting helps greatly in this regard, but nothing can quite replicate the phenomenon of the full public having access,...
Video Check Out the New Hyrule Warriors Legends Characters on Wii U
Going for the quirky kills
With the launch of Hyrule Warriors Legends plenty will be switching the portable entries new characters across to Wii U in order to enjoy them in their full HD glory. It's one of the perks on offer for those that double dip on the Koei Tecmo button masher. We've naturally redeemed Linkle, Toon Link, Tetra, King Daphnes...
Soapbox Nintendo Was Wrong To Turn Its Back On The Wii Remote
Damien McFerran sticks up for the device that gave the world some waggle
One of the greatest things about having children - aside from the free manual labour and the unspoken understanding that you'll have someone to wipe your bottom for you when you're old and infirm - is getting to reappraise video games. I have a seven-year-old son who, over the...
News Star Fox Zero's Stage Names Are Another Delicious Throwback
The path to Venom
Star Fox Zero contains a lot of references and throwbacks to iconic past entries. Whether on-the-nose goodies like the 16-bit Arwing that can be unlocked with a Fox amiibo, or the strikingly familiar opening cutscene, it's sure to bring back a lot of memories while also introducing the series to a new audience. There's a sense of...
News Pokkén Tournament Beats Digimon to Number One in Japan and Boosts Wii U Sales
Splatoon is still rocking it in fifth place
It's time once again for the Japanese Media Create charts, and this week is particularly fascinating as it pitches the Pokémon and Digimon brands against each other. The good news for Pokémon fans is that the franchise came out on top in the head to head, with Pokkén Tournament seizing top spot for Wii...
News North American Pricing Confirmed for Hyrule Warriors Legends DLC and Season Pass
A little higher in Canadian dollars
A little while ago we reported on the European pricing for the rather extravagant (and slightly fiddly) Hyrule Warriors Legends DLC and Season Pass. There are separate passes for 3DS and Wii U, along with a supplemental character pack for those with the Wii U game that don't plan on buying the portable iteration...
We have a good feeling about this
Warner has released the first gameplay trailer for LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and it gives a solid taster of what we can expect to see in the finished product. Firstly, the variety on show is impressive - not only will it include the usual on-foot sections with puzzles, multiple "build" solutions and...
News Chompy Chomp Chomp Party Bites Into A Fresh Trailer And Release Date
Europe first, US afterwards
Our chums at Utopian World of Sandwiches have gotten in touch to let us know that Chompy Chomp Chomp Party is coming to the European Wii U eShop at the end of this month - March 31st, to be exact. A North American release will follow shortly afterwards. Described by the developer as "a fast paced multiplayer party game...
News Star Fox Zero / Guard and Metroid Prime: Federation Force to be Playable at Wondercon
Hyrule Warriors Legends panel also included
Wondercon is just days away from landing in LA, running from 25th - 27th March, and Nintendo of America has confirmed some key playable titles and a promising panel event. The headline grabber is that the main Metroid Prime: Federation Force game will be playable for the public for the first time, as...
News Nikkei Report Suggests That Wii U Production Will End in 2016
UPDATE: "The report didn't come from us", claims Nintendo
UPDATE: Nintendo has commented on this news, stating that "the report didn't come from us". ORIGINAL STORY: The Wii U has underperformed for Nintendo, failing to gain early momentum and only achieving modest sales each year since its arrival in late 2012. Though momentum in this financial...
News Version 1.4.0 of Wii U Emulator, Cemu, Shows More Rapid Progress
Still a long way from full emulation
It's hard to know what Nintendo makes of Cemu, a Wii U emulator that's been making rapid progress. Often these fan-based projects take years to come together, but in this case there have been frequent updates, perhaps helped by the similarity - in some respects - of the current-gen system to the Wii. In any...
News Popular Super Mario Maker Speedrunner and Streamer Has All His Levels Deleted by Nintendo
"Streaming Mario Maker is 90% of my stream"
When it comes to engaging an enthusiastic community and holding the attention of online streamers and speedrunners, Super Mario Maker has all of the key ingredients. As a creation tool it allows fans to create and tackle extraordinary levels and to share them with followers on various platforms - it's...
News Scribblenauts Studio 5th Cell Is Closing Its Doors
UPDATE: Layoffs rather than closure, says CEO
UPDATE: 5th Cell CEO Jeremiah Slaczka has spoken to Polygon about the news, and has confirmed that the studio remains open but layoffs have taken place: WB cancelled today so we had to lay off the staff. It happened so quick we're not sure what the plans are going forward yet. Here's the full...
Random An Official Splatoon Lint Roller is a Thing You Can Own
Keep your threads fresh!
The world of Splatoon is populated almost entirely with cephalopods as far as we know. Although Judd may be the only furred creature left on the planet, any cat-owner knows he'll still find a way to get his hair over everything every squid in a 10-km radius owns. Do they even have, like, bones and stuff under all that fluff?...
Video See How Hyrule Warriors Legends on the Original 3DS Compares to the Wii U
Hey! Watch!
Hyrule Warriors Legends is a technical marvel, there's no denying that. To get such a complex and character-heavy game to run on such simple hardware is an incredible feat, but it's not as plain sailing on the original 3DS as it is on the New 3DS. Check out the comparison video below where you can see the performance of this new...
Video Watch the Leading US Presidential Candidates Battle It Out in Super Smash Bros.
Redefining 'battleground states'
When Mii characters were introduced in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, the potential for entertaining videos was rather obvious. As a result they're everywhere on YouTube, but we have recently been directed to a rather good example. The Nostalgia Trip channel has put together a fun 'Super Smash...
Video Catch Up With Nintendo's Pokkén Tournament Early Access Competition
All four hours and 22 minutes, if you're really keen
Last week Nintendo of America hosted the Pokkén Tournament Early Access Competition, in which eager finalists battled over some neat prizes and a place in the official National Pokémon Championships later this year. It was a fun event and we enjoyed live streaming it, but Nintendo has now...
News Looks Like The Pokkén Tournament Pro Pad Was Supposed To Have LEDs And Force Feedback
Pokémon Rumble?
If you've had the good fortune to have played Pokkén Tournament in its arcade guise then you'll be aware that its controller is festooned with cool-looking LED lights. LED lights make everything look better - it's a fact. If you've also played the Wii U version with the exclusive Pokkén Pro Pad, then you'll know that this feature...
Nintendo Life Weekly "Leaked" NX Controller, Miitomo Japanese Launch Success and More
Even pictures can't cure our thirst for salt
With Miitomo's Japanese debut it's been all go here at Nintendo Life Towers, so if you're someone who thinks they've missed out on some seriously spicy news, we've got you covered once again with our regular video feature Nintendo Life Weekly. This week we look at the supposedly leaked image of what some...
Hardware Review Pokkén Tournament Pro Pad by Hori
Are you pro enough?
Having started life as an arcade game it's no surprise that Pokkén Tournament has its own controller. What is a surprise is that it's been shrunk down, had a few extra buttons added and been released for the Wii U version. Despite its most obvious shortcoming being the fact that Pokkén is the only Wii U title that's compatible...
News Pokkén Tournament Punishes Players Who Rage Quit
"Quitting in the middle of a battle is rude to your opponent"
Pokkén Tournament punishes rage quitters, Eurogamer has reported. Dropping out of a match in an attempt to avoid a "loss" being registered on your record costs you some of your precious Poké Gold. The game even goes as far as to warn you of the consequences of rage quitting before you...
Video Yuu Ayasaki, Voice Actress for Mashiko / Mary-o, is Next Up in Super Mario Maker
Also stars in Daigasso! Band Brothers P
Super Mario Maker has had a good mix of familiar and lesser known characters in its regular Event Course unlocks, and the next in line is certainly in the latter category. Having seen the latest video on Nintendo's Japanese channel we had trouble figuring out who it was, so hat tip to Perfectly Nintendo for...
News Nintendo Announces Separate Hyrule Warriors Season Passes for Wii U and 3DS
With some shared content - it's... slightly confusing
With Hyrule Warriors Legends around the corner we knew there'd be a season pass and plenty of download content as Nintendo looks to recreate the success of its predecessor. What's a little unexpected is that the Wii U original will also have a version of the same season pass but with a separate...
News Stretchy And Sticky Splatoon Squid Toys Are Coming To Japan, Thanks To Taito
Easy squeezy
Video game veteran Taito is producing a series of stretchy, goo-filled Splatoon squid toys. Now there's a sentence we didn't think we'd be typing when we woke up this morning. Due for release in Japan (where else?) on April 5th, the toys can be seen in action in the teaser video below. You can squeeze 'em, splat 'em and throw 'em in a...
News Pokkén Tournament Demo Comes Out Fighting On The European Wii U eShop
Try before you buy
Well, that was unexpected. Without any warning, Nintendo has pushed a demo of Pokkén Tournament onto the European Wii U eShop, giving players the chance to sample the title for free. The download went live last night, and weighs in at an impressive 1150MB. There's currently no sign of a similar demo on the North American eShop,...
News LEGO Marvel's Avengers Season Ticket Goes Big With New Levels and Characters
Plenty for $10
DLC Season Passes are currently looked upon with some suspicion, as some high profile examples have failed to deliver on the goods in the current generation. At £8 / $9.99, however, the LEGO Marvel's Avengers Season Pass on Wii U (and other platforms) is actually looking like great value with a lot of characters and new levels...
News Nintendo's Official UK Store Opens Up Star Fox Zero Pre-Orders
Including an 'interesting' t-shirt
Star Fox Zero is now a little over a month away from release on Wii U, and it's set to be a key Spring release on the system. In Europe there'll also be a First Print Edition that includes a Steelbook case and a disc copy of Star Fox Guard, a shorter spin-off release that's evolved from Project Guard. Nintendo UK...
News Devil's Third Developer Valhalla Game Studios Goes International and Launches Vancouver HQ
Itagaki in "state of bliss that can sail against this endless challenge"
Devil's Third was one of the most talked-about Wii U releases in the latter half of 2015, for better and for worse, dividing opinion after its long development route that eventually brought it to Nintendo's system. Despite being so many years in the making it was the first game...
Live Blog Watch the Pokkén Tournament Countdown Clash and Early Access Finals - Live!
Hours and hours of live matches
Pokkén Tournament is due in stores on 18th March, and Nintendo is doing its utmost to ensure that we're all excited for the Wii U release. In this live blog we'll start with an hour of live action from Nintendo UK, before shifting to the 5 hour+ Early Access finals from the Nintendo NY store in New York...
News Toadette is Next in Line for Super Mario Maker's Mystery Mushroom Unlocks
Backpack 'n all
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a bit of a gem on Wii U, and certainly worth considering for those eager to bulk up their Wii U game collection. With lovely visuals and clever puzzle gameplay it's certainly enjoyable to play, and has two of Nintendo's cutest stars in Captain Toad and Toadette. The first of the duo has already been...
News Twilight Princess HD Loses Out to The Division on Japanese Launch
Outperforms equivalent Wind Waker HD sales, however
It's Japanese charts time thanks to Media Create, and we have a major Wii U release joining in to try and start the party for Nintendo. The results are ok, but not spectacular. Kicking off with software we have the first week for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, which arrived seven days...
A shot at glory awaits
Back in late February Nintendo of America (and GameStop) hosted some small regional contests for Pokkén Tournament as part of its 'Early Access' tournament. The idea was simple, regional winners progress to a live final and - should they win that - they can then have a crack at winning the Nationals and then Worlds of the...
News Nintendo Seems To Be Deleting Super Mario Maker Levels Without Explanation Or Warning
"I know this has been post about before, but I am so angry"
Nintendo appears to be removing user-generated Super Mario Maker levels without warning or reason, and is refusing to comment on the reasons why. Kotaku has reported on various posts online from users who have had their beloved creations taken down despite the absence of any objectionable...
News Admit It, You Want This Splatoon Splattershot Water Pistol
Available for pre-order "soon"
The guns in Splatoon take a lot of inspiration from real-world water pistols, so it's perhaps a little surprising that Nintendo hasn't taken more advantage of this fact - an entire range of themed water shooters should have been available at launch; it would have been a licence to print money. Thankfully, the company...
News The Midway Arcade Level Pack for LEGO Dimensions Has Lots of Retro Goodness
Loads of retro arcade games unlocked
When we reviewed LEGO Dimensions last year we enjoyed various aspects of it, with the NFC technology used in clever ways and some stand-out levels winning our favour. However, it's also a game - or 'platform' - that's particularly aggressive in its upselling, locking a lot of extra content and even areas within...
Nintendo used Smash Hit. It's super effective!
Pokkén Tournament: it's not quite what a select few may have imagined when they dared to concoct a Pokémon / Tekken crossover game in the recesses of their wildest dreams, but few had even considered such a ludicrous idea until it actually came to fruition. Nevertheless, it's a real thing that...
News North America's Next Splatfest Will Take Place This Friday
Do you want to build a snowman?
Following hot on the heels of the announcement of Europe's next Splatfest, Nintendo of America has recently confirmed a Splatfest to be taking place this weekend at the same time. While it may be that this latest topic still isn't as awesome as its Pokémon predecessor, it nonetheless seems to be an appropriate topic...
Editorial Accessibility Through Optional 'Invincibility' Buffs Can Only Be a Positive for Nintendo
Let's try to be Super Guides and spread the gaming bug
So, Star Fox Zero will not only have a co-op mode that'll allow less experienced players to play as a gunner and pew-pew stuff through the GamePad, but also a friendly option where gamers will have an invincible Arwing and simply fly through a level regardless of their performance. In the very...
News Twilight Princess HD Holds Top 10 Place in UK Charts
Pokemon gives 3DS a minor presence
The UK chart results for last week have emerged, and in the absence of any knockout new releases for Nintendo - though next week will include Pokkén Tournament - the focus has been on momentum for key titles. Namely, we're referring to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, which had an impressive debut week...
News Future Of Project Giant Robot Is Still Up In The Air, Says Miyamoto
"Unfortunately we haven't yet decided to turn that into a full game"
When Nintendo lifted the lid on Star Fox Zero, it also showed off two titles which were intended to leverage the unique nature of the Wii U's GamePad controller. Project Guard has since become Star Fox Guard and will launch alongside Star Fox Zero in April, but the other title -...
News Star Fox Zero Will Include An Invincible Mode For Inexperienced Players
Other modes for those "looking for an even harder challenge", too
Shigeru Miyamoto has given an interview with Time about the forthcoming Star Fox Zero, and has revealed that an "invincible" mode will be included for those who find the challenge a little too daunting. While this might sound like dumbing-down, the legendary designer reveals that...
Soapbox It's too Early to Judge Paper Mario: Color Splash
Is there a colour for disappointment?
Paper Mario: Color Splash has been grossly panned by many disappointed fans, and considering how mixed the response was to its predecessor Sticker Star, it's understandable that any hallmarks of that game would illicit this response. Nevertheless, this video maker feels it's far too early to be passing such...
News The Next Splatfest Topic for Europe Has Been Announced
How would you like to get around?
Earlier this week, a fairly substantial update for Splatoon went out, making numerous changes to several different aspects of the game. One of the things that was overhauled with this update was how Splatfests will be conducted; basically, 'Splatfest Power' will now more closely tie in with the rank of individual...
Nintendo Life Weekly New Nintendo Patent Spotted, Ubisoft Responds to NX Rumours and More
Nintendo tries to Kinect with its audience
It's been another whirlwind week in the world of Nintendo, and in order to help you digest all that's been occurring, we have once more condensed all the week's goodness into a single creamy video for your viewing pleasure. This week we look at a new Nintendo patent recently made public, Ubisoft's unusual...
News Chronicles Of Teddy: Harmony Of Exidus Arrives On The Wii U eShop Later This Month
After slipping from its Fall 2015 release
Aksys Games has announced that it is bringing LookAtMyGame's Chronicles of Teddy: Harmony of Exidus to the Wii U eShop at the end of this month. A 2D platforming epic with RPG elements, Chronicles of Teddy has NPC interaction, over 30 hours of gameplay and plenty of unlockables. It was originally expected...
News Twilight Princess HD Nearly Had Wii Remote Controls
A blessing or a curse?
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD has been out for about a week now, and it is certainly the definitive version of the game. Of course, one aspect of it that has somewhat split the fanbase is the fact that it primarily features button controls, as opposed to the Wii version which had an increased focus on motion...
News Fans Should Expect "Something New" With Zelda Wii U, Says Eiji Aonuma
"I think the base of our secret sauce has always been Ocarina of Time"
Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has spoken to Japanese magazine Famitsu about the forthcoming Legend of Zelda on Wii U, and the good news is that development appears to be progressing well. Aonuma says he and his team have been "busy", and observes similarities between development of...
News Super Mario Maker and Splatoon Pick Up BAFTA Game Awards Nominations
3DS games miss out entirely
The BAFTA Game Awards aren't far away, with comedian Dara O'Briain once again signed up to host the extravaganza on 7th April at Tobacco Dock, London. With plenty of awards up for grabs Nintendo will have a chance to walk away with a few prizes, though does miss out entirely in one key category. Let's start with the good...
News Five Wii U Releases Confirmed for Nintendo Selects Range in Europe
Will be joined by an equivalent eShop price cut
Update: A kind European tipster (PtM) has pointed out that Nintendo Land is also going to be part of this range in mainland Europe, though evidently not in the UK. Original Article: In recent times Nintendo of America has confirmed a handsome expansion to its Nintendo Selects range (due to launch on...
Video Take a Tour of Super Mario Maker's Key Update and All its New Features
The pun train keeps rolling
Super Mario Maker version 1.6 has arrived on all our Wii U systems, and what a delightful update it is. We decided it was so lovely that it was worth showcasing everything that's new this time around and what better way to do it than an unscripted video where the host stumbles over his words every nine seconds? Check out...
Video Splatoon Co-Director Tsubasa Sakaguchi Has Some Top Tips For Budding Inklings
Newcomers, take note
Splatoon is getting new content this year and has recently passed one million units shipped in Europe. That means there's a lot of new players flocking to the game, and these individuals may well be wondering how they can improve their tactics and get on a level playing field with those who have mastered the title over the past...
News Nintendo Gears Up for Quite a Bit of Network Maintenance This Week
Nintendo Badge Arcade update also inbound
Oh, Nintendo Network maintenance. If it was a person it'd be a slightly cheeky but suspicious boiler repair man, who's friendly and witty but never seems to actually do anything. Nintendo sure likes maintaining its network, and to be fair without this work it'd probably be a hot mess that we'd all complain...
News Nintendo Hardware Sales Climb in Japan Despite Limited New Releases
Vita and PS4 lead the way
It's Media Create Japanese charts time once again, with 3DS and Wii U facing off - as always - with Sony systems. The software results bring new releases in the top three, once again with a dual release across Vita and PS4 (sometimes there are triple releases that also include PS3) leading the way - Gundam Breaker 3. The...
Video The Mashiko Mystery Mushroom Outfit in Super Mario Maker is Evidently Self Aware
We have a special Zelda-themed idea for the next outfit...
We love Super Mario Maker. We love free stuff. So the regular Event Courses and unlockable Mystery Mushroom outfits are a nice treat. We don't necessarily mind that some are Japanese characters we haven't really heard of, because they look cool and they cost us nothing. Yet still, the...
News Splatoon Has Now Shipped One Million Copies In Europe
Staying fresher for longer
Nintendo has confirmed that Splatoon has shipped over one million copies in Europe. The Wii U shooter was one of Nintendo's most robust titles throughout 2015 in terms of sales, and will continue to get new downloadable content in 2016. As well as being a commercial success it has earned considerable critical acclaim,...
Video Nintendo Details Super Mario Maker's "Key Update"
Get it? 'Cause there's keys.
Super Mario Maker just keeps on giving. With the next update planned for 9th March, even more tools and bits will be added to the mix, providing savvy creators all the more opportunities to force players through the products of their gorgeously twisted little minds. Right next to when the update is scheduled to arrive,...
Video Here's All the Changes in Splatoon's Latest Update to Version 2.6
Oh the Tenacity
Splatoon's had more than its fair share of free content updates, and since last week's Nintendo Direct we now know that they haven't finished fiddling with the game just yet. In in effort, we assume, to try and make the game more varied, several changes have been brought into effect for version 2.6. Most notable are the changes to...
Talking Point Nintendo's Fortress of Secrecy Needs to Tighten Security for the Year Ahead
Sharing isn't always the best policy
It seems that not so long ago Nintendo's ability to keep secrets was legendary. When leaks or early slip-ups emerged in past years it was normally a trusted partner that spilled the beans - examples included the occasion when a TT Games employee tweeted a picture of the re-designed Wii U GamePad prior to its...
Video Star Fox Zero's Opening Cutscene Gets Compared to Star Fox 64's
Let's see how you handle our new ships
The release of Star Fox Zero's opening cutscene is still only available in Japanese, but upon closer inspection it looks like we may not need an English translation to know what's going on. The slideshow of stills not only looks familiar, but it's clearly been made as a direct replica of the original opening...
News The Pokémon Company Steps Up Its Promotion of The Pokkén Tournament Championship Series
A trip to the world finals in San Francisco is up for grabs
As competitive Pokémon players know very well we're starting to approach the competitive season. While the current-gen 3DS titles and the Trading Card Game will be in the contests as always, this year is a little different as Pokkén Tournament is also coming into the mix. Having...
News Mario Kart TV Website Confirmed for Closure on 5th April
In-game functionality remains, however
Mario Kart 8 has had a lot of excellent features that have earned it plaudits, such as anti-gravity mechanics, amiibo support and paid-DLC. A much trumpeted feature when it launched, also, was Mario Kart TV, which allows you to upload highlight reels directly to YouTube. Though you can access much of this...
Random Check Out This Japanese Transformable Skell Toy
More than meets the eye
One of the interesting new additions to Xenoblade Chronicles X is the introduction of Skells (or Dolls, for Japanese players), which are basically giant, drivable mechs that make traversing the colossal world of Mira that much easier. While it may be that it takes a large chunk of game time to actually reach a point where you...
Video Feast Your Eyes On Star Fox Zero's Opening Story Cinematic
In Japanese, but still
The story cinematic for Star Fox Zero has appeared online, and although it's entirely in Japanese, it gives you a flavour of the game's plot. As the title is essentially a remake of the N64 title, it's unsurprisingly to learn that Andross is the main antagonist. A few familiar faces appear elsewhere in the footage, and the...
News The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Leads the Way for Nintendo in UK Charts
Number one in the single-format results
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is the first of what Nintendo hopes will be a few key releases for Wii U in the next few months. The remaster of the previously successful Wii launch title (which also landed late on GameCube), it's also responsible for kickstarting the year's 30th Anniversary...
Nintendo Life Weekly Pokémon GO! Closed Beta Announced, Beyond Good & Evil 2 NX Rumour and More
Japan only, unsurprisingly
What with a full Nintendo Direct and a whole host of other happenings, you could easily be forgiven for missing some Nintendo news amidst all the hustle and bustle, so as usual we've distilled everything down into a quick and convenient video for your viewing pleasure. This week we're tackling Pokémon GO!'s invite-only...
Particularly on the 3DS
Nintendo, for reasons covered frequently on previous occasions, can no longer rely on sheer volume of releases for 3DS and, in particular, Wii U. What it can do is share its passion for its hardware through its own game releases and how it delivers them to fans. In its 3rd March Nintendo Direct broadcast the company did just...
News Star Fox Guard's Japanese Site Reveals More Details About the Game
Slippy's time to shine
One of the rather surprising announcements to emerge from the recent Nintendo Direct was that the previously shown "Project Guard" was to be repurposed as a new game starring Slippy Toad – called Star Fox Guard – to be launched alongside the release of Star Fox Zero. The Five Nights at Freddy's-esque style gameplay...
Feature Exciting Wii U and 3DS Games to Play in Spring and Summer 2016
Nintendo upped the ante in its most recent Direct
Following Nintendo's latest Direct broadcasts, a much clearer picture of the upcoming goodies on Wii U and 3DS has emerged. It was pitched as a presentation to show off current-gen games in our near-future, and it delivered on just that. Following on from our equivalent list for the first quarter of...
News Twilight Princess Developers Discuss the New Additions to the HD Edition
Also, Aonuma talks a bit more about Zelda U
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD just came out today, allowing western gamers the opportunity to play through the definitive version of the game. While it may be that this is the third release of the game, there have been several small, but no less welcome, tweaks to the gameplay and structure to...
News Nintendo Warns It'll Block Rule Breaker's Access to Super Mario Maker's Online Features
"We hope you understand"
After all the hubbub of the Nintendo Direct, which included confirmation of a major update for Super Mario Maker, Nintendo rather quietly provided a reminder of some key rules that, if broken, could lead to bans from the online 'Course World' component of the game. The notification came on Miiverse, outlining three key...
Poll Did the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Direct Kickstart 2016?
Aiming for current-gen buzz
Well, Nintendo certainly tried to wow its fans with its first full Direct of the year. Regardless of opinions over the content, what is clear is that there was plenty of it across the different key regions, with a mix of solidified details and surprises thrown in. Considering the timing and content here it's certainly...
News Nintendo Wanted To Produce A Transforming amiibo For Star Fox Zero
Argh-wing
With it being one of the next big home console releases, Star Fox Zero is on the tips of the tongues of many at the moment - especially with yesterday's Nintendo Direct revealing further detail about what the game has to offer. However, some were left disheartened at the lack of a Star Fox amiibo series to enter Nintendo's toys-to-life...
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 3rd March
Setting the scene for longer gaming days
It had been a little under four months since the last full broadcast - aside from game-specific efforts - so Nintendo came into its most recent Direct broadcasts with a remit to seize momentum and excite Wii U and 3DS owners. Overall there was plenty to mull over with some surprises and big announcements,...
Video Shigeru Miyamoto's Star Fox Zero YouTube Blitz Has Landed
Lots of talk of an evolving project, utilising the GamePad and more
During the most recent Nintendo Direct broadcast Shigeru Miyamoto appeared on our screens to present Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard, confirming their dual release in April. It was a pleasing affirmation that the title has been finished as planned, and we don't have long to wait...
Video Catch Up With All of the North American and European Nintendo Direct Videos
Wrapped up in a nice bow
Well, the Nintendo Direct broadcasts have passed. There were some surprises, quite a few details that were expected, and also information had been on the web ahead of time. We suspect both the European and North American subsidiaries will be looking to plug some leaks in the coming days... There was plenty to enjoy,...
News Hyrule Warriors Legends Season Pass Confirms Four Waves of DLC for 3DS Release
Medli to arrive as a freebie in both versions of the game
Hyrule Warriors Legends aims to catch lightning in the bottle, converting the excitement that surrounded the Wii U original into strong sales to the far larger 3DS userbase. Of course, that original title was jam packed with paid DLC, and Nintendo has now confirmed that the portable iteration...
News Mini Mario and Friends amiibo Challenge Launching April 28th in North America
Or March 25th from partipating retailers...
A new amiibo tie-in title is coming to both the Wii U and 3DS, paying homage to the Mario and Donkey Kong series. Mini Mario and Friends amiibo Challenge is a free game available on the eShop and is compatible with select amiibo figures, mostly from the Super Mario series. With over 60 levels, you will...
News New Animal Crossing amiibo Coming to North America in June
More cards and figures for amiibo collectors
Amiibo fans rejoice! A new Animal Crossing amiibo will be launching on June 10th, alongside series 4 of the popular amiibo cards. The brand new Isabelle amiibo - in her summer outfit - will debut alongside Isabelle in her winter outfit, previously only available in the Animal Crossing: amiibo...
News Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Gets a Summer Release Date for Wii U
Nintendo shows off Sevens rugby, too
Mario and Sonic used to be arch enemies, but now they settle their differences in sporting competitions. Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is the next in this sports-crossover series, and will be hitting the Wii U on 24th June, following the closer arrival of the 3DS version. Footage showed off two...
News Lost Reavers Open Beta Kicks Off On The Wii U eShop This April
With the full release following closely behind
Bandai Namco's free to play Wii U eShop offering Lost Reavers - once upon a time known as Project Treasure - is coming to the west this year, it has been confirmed. An open beta for the game will launch on April 14th, with the full release happening on April 28th. These release dates apply for both...
News Splatoon Updates to Continue Into 2016
Contains balancing, tweaks, and weapon sets
The hit multiplayer title Splatoon will be receiving some new updates throughout 2016. Beginning on March 8th, an update will address balancing issues regarding specific gear abilities. Some will recieve a buff making them stronger on the battlefield, while others a small nerf. Additionally, tweaks to...
News Genei Ibun Roku #FE Is Now Called Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE In The West, Arrives In June
Let's dance
Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem mash-up Genei Ibun Roku #FE finally has a solid release date in the west, as well as a flash new title. It's going to be called Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE in North America and Europe, and arrives in both regions on June 24th. It was also confirmed that the game's Japanese vocal track will remain...
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