Tag: Nintendo
News Acquire Comments On Mario & Luigi: Brothership's Familiar Opening Cutscene
"Some coincidence, huh?"
If you’ve recently played Mario & Luigi: Brothership, then chances are you might have noticed something rather familiar with its opening cutscene. That is, of course, if you’ve also seen The Super Mario Bros. Movie from Nintendo and Illumination. You see, both the game and the movie feature our favourite platforming...
Random Monolith Soft Showcases Piles And Piles Of Xenoblade Chronicles Scripts
Yeah, that's a lot
You really don't need us to tell you just how dense the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise is when it comes to plot and dialogue, so we're going to let developer Monolith Soft itself do the talking. In a recent social media post, the team has showcased the sheer wealth of script books accumulated from the series so far, and it's a...
News Ex-PlayStation Boss Questions Future Of Consoles, But Not Nintendo Hardware
"They live in their Own Private Idaho"
As the video game market continues to evolve there's once again talk about the viability of console gaming. In the same interview with Eurogamer, ex-PlayStation boss Shawn Layden shared his thoughts about this topic. While he has raised alarm about the whole "Xbox versus PlayStation" console market and...
Talking Point Can Sony And Microsoft Really Compete With Nintendo In A New 'Handheld War'?
Come at the king, you best not miss
It’s safe to say that, 146 million sales later, Nintendo’s risk of launching a dockable handheld console in 2017 has paid off handsomely. After all, Sony’s PS Vita was all but dead by that point, and despite the 3DS managing to reverse its fortunes after a swift price drop in its first year, many claimed...
News Nintendo Considered Giving Up On 'Mario & Luigi' Before Approaching Acquire
Phew, close one!
After the sad closure of long-time Mario & Luigi developer AlphaDream, many fans had given up hope that a new entry in the franchise would see the light of day. Now, according to a new 'Ask the Developer' feature, it seems even Nintendo was close to throwing in the towel before approaching Acquire to commence co-development on...
News Nintendo Left Sony "Standing At The Altar" With SNES Disk Add-On, Says Former PlayStation Exec
PauseStation
Those with an appetite for Nintendo history likely will have heard of the 'SNES PlayStation' — a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony which was intended to bring CD-ROM gaming to the former's latest console. The partnership never materialised, naturally, with Nintendo announcing that it was pivoting to work with Phillips at the...
News Nintendo Postpones Retail Sales Of Its New Sound Clock Alarmo (Japan)
A late start
Nintendo's new sound clock Alarmo had a limited Switch Online rollout when it originally arrived in October, with the plan to eventually give it a wider retail release around the globe. Unfortunately, it seems this retail release has now been postponed in Japan. While Nintendo originally intended to release the clock to the general...
Round Up No One Does Switch Commercials Like Nintendo Australia
Tissues at the ready
Marketing is such an important part of making a console a success. Even Reggie Fils-Aimé stated in his memoir that the idea for the 'Wii Would Like to Play' campaign for the Nintendo Wii – which was initially shot down by Satoru Iwata – ended up being instrumental in the system's rapid success in the US. For the Switch,...
Poll After Three Quiet Months, Will We Finally Get A Nintendo Direct In December?
Show(case), don't tell
With December finally upon us, our minds have been drifting to the past 12 months, recalling what has been a surprisingly packed year of gaming. We've had surprise drops, indie hits and more than a few big names to tide over the Switch in its twilight year, but we can't help but feel that something has been missing: where were...
News 'Switch 2' Accessories Are Seemingly Already On Sale Via Chinese Vendors
Cases and screen protectors up for grabs
Nintendo isn't likely to reveal the highly-anticipated 'Switch 2' before the end of 2024, but that apparently hasn't stopped Chinese vendors from selling accessories for the console via wholesale platform Alibaba. As spotted on Famiboards and reported by our friends over at Eurogamer, the accessories can be...
News Nintendo Switch Online's Next Game Trial Is A Superb Strategy Sequel (Europe)
Groovy
This week, a brand new Nintendo Switch Online Game Trial drops in Europe, and if you've been on the fence about checking out Wargroove 2, now is the time to pick it up. From 5th to 11th December, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to check out Chucklefish's strategy sequel — which it co-developed with Robotality. We were big...
Random This Awesome Pokémon Build Transforms Porygon Into A Working Nintendo Wii
"PorWiigon"
We've covered the sweet work of tech wizard BigRig Creates on Nintendo Life in the past (this is the designer behind the world's largest working DS and its 3D counterpart), and this week he has caught our eye again with a colourful Pokémon-inspired build that has us looking at our bland Wii consoles i
News Sea Of Stars Dev Points To Nintendo As Its Biggest Source Of Inspiration
You go, Garl
Sea of Stars launched on Nintendo Switch last year and, after a beefy free update and with an even beefier free DLC on the horizon, it's safe to say that it's a banger. But what inspired the developer, Sabotage, to make such a gem? What studios sit on its mood board? Who is the go-to touchstone for all things game-making? According to...
UK Charts Mario Party Jamboree Hangs Tight As We Roll Into The Holiday Season
Dice another day
With Black Friday capping off last week, part of us expected the UK charts to be a little shaken up when we first peeked at the data this morning. But while there are some bumps in the later entries, the top ten remains as stable as ever... maybe we'll see the discount ramifications next week. Super Mario Party Jamboree is once...
News Super Mario Land 2 Icons Now Available To Switch Online Subscribers
Get 'em while you can
Nintendo's Switch Online 'Missions and Rewards' program has today added a new wave of icons based on the Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. As you can see below, there are icons featuring Mario and even Wario, and they'll set you back 10 Platinum Points each. These icons will be available between now and 6th...
News 'Nintendo Music' Adds New Switch Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
Listen to the tunes of Splatoon 2
When the Nintendo Music mobile application was originally announced, Splatoon 2 was one of the many games teased. In an update to the app today, the soundtrack has now been added. It includes 105 tracks and has a runtime of 3 hours and 34 minutes. This also includes the soundtrack for the Octo Expansion and as...
Random Move Over Anakin, Link's Coming For That Podracing Title
Yippee!
After a year of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom builds, we thought that we had seen just about everything Hyrule has to offer. But then we see someone has transformed the Gerudo Desert into Tattooine's Podracing scene and, all of a sudden, we're starting to wonder if we've even scratched the surface of what this game is capable of...
News Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete Is Available Now On Mobile
Pay it, keep it
if you've been waiting for a feature-complete version of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for mobile, then you're in luck, because Nintendo has finally answered your prayers with a paid version of the popular mobile game. Available now for a discounted price of $9.99 / £8.99, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete removes all...
News Triangle Strategy "Temporarily Unavailable" On Switch eShop, But Have No Fear
It'll be back
It has been out for a little over two years now, but if you finally decided that now's the time to pick up 2022's tactical delight, TRIANGLE STRATEGY, then you're out of luck — at least, you are if you wanted to download it on Switch — because the game has been delisted from the eShop. Yes, those who have yet to download Triangle...
Guide 62 Switch Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's Black Friday Sale (Europe)
Every Switch game on sale that we rated 9/10+
Just a reminder that the European sale ends this Sunday! 2024's Black Friday sales are up and running with Nintendo's European Switch eShops featuring a large selection of discounted games — including many first-party Nintendo classics — that are discounted until the sale ends on Sunday 1st...
News Nintendo Store Tokyo's Latest Gacha Goodies Are A Range Of Zelda: TOTK Zonai Devices
You're gunna hear me Rauru
Remember earlier this year when Nintendo revealed its range of controller button fidget toys, sold exclusively in the gacha machines of its Japan stores? Well, it looks like there's a new collection in town to get us envious all over again. As spotted by a whole host of people today on Twitter and BlueSky, it appe
News Nintendo Highlights Every 'Donkey Kong Country' On Switch With A New Trailer
Prepare to return... again
Nintendo has released a new trailer taking a look at every Donkey Kong Country game on Switch in preparation for the release of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD on 16th January 2024. If you've got a subscription to the standard Nintendo Switch Online service, you can play every SNES game from the series right now. That...
Random Pokémon Fan Crunches The Numbers To Settle Alpha Sapphire's "Too Much Water" Debate
Wait, the meme was true??
Back in 2014, IGN, like many outlets, shared its review of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. While the vast majority showered the 3DS remakes with praise, IGN was slightly more critical, awarding them a 7.8/10 and noting that they have "too much water" (among other criticisms, naturally). In case you haven't seen it...
News Xenoblade Singer Performs Gorgeous New Renditions Of Earthbound & Eiyuden Chronicle Music
Aaand, relax
If you're rebounding off a day of Thanksgiving turkey (or just a regular Thursday, for those outside the US) and are looking for something to relax and unwind to, the singer behind Xenoblade Chronicles' ending theme, Sarah Àlainn, has you covered. Over the course of this week, the musician has dropped a trio of new tracks inspired by...
News Nintendo Is Ranked The Third Most Sought-After Employer In Japan
Gee, wonder why?
A new survey conducted by Japanese employment agency Gakujo reveals that Nintendo is the third most sought-after employer in the region. This comes via Otaku Soken (thanks, Automaton) and is based on responses from 5,476 university students across Japan. Nintendo is the highest company from the entertainment sector, and is only...
Guide 133 Games You Should Pick Up In Nintendo's 'Cyber Deals' Switch eShop Sale (North America)
Every game we scored 9/10 or higher
The Black Friday sales are here. The European eShop got its wave of tasty discounts last week and now it's North America's turn. The 'Cyber Deals' eShop sale is now live, with a boatload of titles getting a price cut until 2nd December at 11
News It's Over! Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's Online Service Has Officially Ended
The paid version replaces it next month
Earlier this week, you might have seen how Isabelle and the villagers said their goodbyes in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on mobile devices. Well, in an update, the online service for the free-to-play game has now officially ended. The game's social media account shared the following message and artwork to...
News Patent Suggests Samsung May Create Its Own Foldable Handheld Console
Samsung Flip Switch
A new patent from South Korean tech giant Samsung suggests that the company may be tinkering with a potential handheld gaming console. That's not all, though. The patent suggests that such a device may follow in the footsteps of the company's Z Flip and Fold phone lines and boast its own foldable screen. As reported by 91Mobiles...
Feature 9 Things Nintendo Could Add To Switch 2 So It's Not 'Just Another Switch'
The same but different
So here we all are, waiting. For all the rumours — all the supposed prototype casings and talk of electromagnets and back buttons — the only things we can say for certain about 'Switch 2' are that it'll be revealed sometime in the next 123 days (before the end of the fiscal year on 31st March 2025) and that
Opinion Raise A Glass To The Nintendo DS' Peculiar Peripherals
Let there be cartridge
I've been noodling with my old DS in the last week. Whether it was to celebrate its 20th anniversary, reaffirm it as my favourite system of all time, or simply help me forget that it has been two decades since I first played Nintendogs, I can't be sure. But what I do know, is that I've been having a blast. Naturally, I went...
Random Hitting Mario & Luigi: Brothership's Max Level Takes An Insane Amount Of Patience
Great EXPectations
Of all those who started Mario & Luigi: Brothership earlier this month, fewer will have seen it through to the bitter end. Fewer still will have completed all of its side missions and unlockables and we'd wager that an even smaller number will have reached the plumbing protagonists' full potential with a pair of max levels...
News New Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Animation Short Is So Very, Very Boring
*Pokes* ... do something
Nintendo has released a short animation based on The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, highlighting the game's core 'echo' mechanic in which you conjure up copies of objects to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. It certainly does the job in showcasing the gameplay, but goodness, it's just so boring. Zelda...
News Nintendo Reportedly Seeking "New Targets" In Switch Piracy Investigation
Sailing the high seas
Following Nintendo's recent investigation into the Switch "pirate" James 'Archbox' Williams, the video game giant is now reportedly seeking "new targets". As highlighted by Stephen Totilo of Game File, the company doesn't appear to be done with the SwitchPirates subreddit just yet: "Nintendo of America (NOA) said its...
Talking Point Where The Heck Are Those Metroid Prime 2 And 3 Remasters?
We're wait-Ing
So... where is it? When Metroid Prime Remastered launched on 9th February 2023, we were utterly convinced that its sequels, Prime 2: Echoes and Prime 3: Corruption, would follow suit sometime after. Now that 2025 is fast approaching, our certainty has waned, yet we remain confident that Nintendo will complete the saga on Switch...
UK Charts Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Crashes Out Of The Top 40
Y'all got no taste, or what?
When we check out the latest UK Charts data each week, we generally have a pretty good idea of where some of the newest titles will end up placing. Granted, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was a little lower than our estimates when it debuted in 14th place last week, but when we scrolled through this week's list and found...
News Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong Country Entrance Revealed, Here's A Look
As the "highest tier" guests get an early tour
Earlier this month, Nintendo finally lifted the lid on Super Nintendo World's expansion Donkey Kong Country. It's scheduled to open next month on 11th December 2024 and ahead of the big launch, Universal has revealed the entrance and welcomed the first guests to the park. As highlighted by our friends...
News As Switch Closes The Gap, Sony Officially Confirms PS2 Has Sold "Over" 160 Million Units
There's still plenty of life left in Nintendo's hybrid system
The Switch has smashed all sorts of records but one thing it hasn't done just yet is surpassed the lifetime sales of the PlayStation 2. While it was assumed at one point the hybrid system only needed to shift another 15 million units to surpass this milestone, PlayStation's ex-CEO Jim...
Book Review An Unendorsed Anthology Of Club Nintendo - A Terrific Tribute Tome
Join the club
The My Nintendo loyalty program is pretty good, right? If you head on over to the rewards section of the service right now, you’ll find a host of interesting goodies to claim should you possess the required number of coins. These include a Nintendo Switch Online 2025 Calendar, a set of
Random Kirby Teams Up With Heinz For A Saucy New Collaboration In Japan
Dededelicious
Everyone's favourite pink puffball, Kirby, is teaming up with Heinz (you know, the tomato ketchup guys) for a new range of sauces in Japan. Well, that's not a sentence we thought we'd be writing today, but we can't say we're surprised. Shared by the official Heinz Twitter account, the Kirby range will be launching in late November...
News Nintendo Switch Online Services Will End In China In 2026
Tencent pulls the plug
Tencent Nintendo Switch has announced that online services for the Switch will come to an end in China in 2026. In a statement released online (thanks, Chinese Nintendo), the company states that eShop purchases will cease on 31st March 2026. Following this, code redemptions will then be shut down on 15th May 2026 alongside...
News Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's 'Thank-You Finale' Waves Goodbye To The Free Mobile App
We're not crying, YOU'RE crying
Nintendo's free mobile app, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, is shutting up shop on 28th November 2024 at 3pm BST / 7am PT / 10am ET. We knew this end date was on the horizon and we told ourselves that it would all be okay with Pocket Camp Complete landing on mobile next month. And yet here we are, having a little cry...
News The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Has Been Added To The Official Timeline
Nintendo confirms
The Zelda timeline has ignited all sorts of debates and theories over the years, and now it seems Nintendo has officially added the newest entry Echoes of Wisdom. It files Zelda's new adventure under the 'Hero is defeated' timeline, placing it after Tri Force Heroes and before the 'Decline of the Hyrule Kingdom'. Here is...
News 'Nintendo Music' Adds Another DS Soundtrack, Here's Every Song Included
Train your brain with Dr Kawashima
The latest Nintendo Music mobile app update happens to time in with the 20th anniversary of the DS, and with this in mind, the soundtrack from Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? has been added to the service. The soundtrack comes with 14 tracks all up and has a runtime of 35 minutes. You can...
News Piggyback And Nintendo Are Teaming Up On A Metroid Prime Art Book, And It Looks Glorious
Number one Phens
Piggyback, the company behind the official guides for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, has announced that it is once again teaming up with Nintendo on another release. But this is no guide. It's a Metroid Prime art book. 'Metroid Prime 1-3: A Visual Retrospective' launches in Summer 2025, bringing a...
Random New 3D Scans Stop Classic Donkey Kong Country Figures From Being Lost To Time
Keshi Kong
We love a bit of niche video game history here at Nintendo Life, and the work of Mr Talida (aka Keshi Corner) has caught our attention on more than one occasion. This is the 3D scanning specialist that has ensured rare Zelda and Mario figures from the 1980s and '90s live to fight another day and now, they ha
News The Entire 'Hand-Drawn Gaming' Digital Guide Collection Is Free For This Week Only
You want some free advice?
If you want to get the low-down on some of the biggest titles in gaming and peruse some gorgeous hand-drawn art while you're at it, then Hand-Drawn Game Guides has got you covered. What's more, you can currently pick up the entire six-issue 'Hand-Drawn Gaming' digital collection for free! This offer is only sticking...
News Sony May Be Plotting A New PSP To Compete With Nintendo's 'Switch 2'
But it's likely several years away
We know what you're thinking, and yes, it certainly feels like rumours of a new PlayStation handheld have been swirling since... well, probably since the launch of the Vita. But now, we have a slightly more credible report from Bloomberg (thanks, VGC), claiming that Sony may well be developing a new 'PSP' to...
Talking Point What Would Be The Ideal Way To Play DS Games On 'Switch 2'?
Dual-screen dilemma
This week saw the Nintendo DS turn 20. Naturally, such an anniversary has got us thinking about the unstoppable passage of time delightful dual-screen once again, and more than a few of us have dusted off our old clamshells for a quick blast through some of our favourites. But, being the needy gamers that we are, ever desperate...
Quiz How Well Do You Know The Nintendo DS?
Clamshell conundrums
This week, the Nintendo DS turned 20. Twenty. Honestly, that's a fact that we are still reeling from, so, assuming you're in the same boat, let's take our minds off it with a good old-fashioned quiz. Below, we have compiled a series of head-scratching questions all about Nintendo's first dual-screened device. And to be clear,...
News Nintendo's Official Magazine For Winter 2024 Gets English Digital Release
Featuring a smouldering Bowser
Whether you like it or not, Winter is finally upon us and Nintendo is waving goodbye to the sunny season with an all-new online magazine. The full 84-page 'zine shared today on Nintendo's official Japanese website is, as you might expect, written in Japanese, but those who haven't been doing their Duolingo need not...