Wii U eShop News
October2015
News Cosplay Dreams Come True With Zelda and Zero Suit Samus Outfits in Fatal Frame
Maiden of Hyrule
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water - called Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water in Europe - is a hugely promising upcoming arrival that should be perfect for Halloween, even if most fans (outside of eager pre-order shoppers in Europe) will be limited to downloading the title. While it's not getting the full retail release its...
News Nintendo Network ID Going Offline Next Week During General Maintenance
Something exciting this way comes?
We're used to Nintendo Network Maintenance taking place and impacting certain features of our consoles, but next week's work could be the prelude to something very interesting. Nintendo has confirmed that there will be a bit of downtime taking place from Monday that will mean that Wii U and 3DS users will be...
News Next Splatoon Patch Drops October 20th, Rapid Blaster Pro Arrives Tomorrow
No sign of any Octolings
Nintendo's squid shooter Splatoon will very soon be receiving even more content to help users stay fresh. Starting from tomorrow, a new weapon called the Rapid Blaster Pro will be available to purchase from Sheldon's Weapon Shop. This weapon will be released at the following times: 7 PM PT 10 PM ET 3 AM in the UK...
Review Momonga Pinball Adventures (Wii U eShop)
He’s a pinball squirrel, there has to be a twist
Pinball may not be the first activity that comes to mind when thinking of possible pastimes for a squirrel, but nevertheless in Momonga Pinball Adventures we see exactly that. You take control of Momo, a Japanese dwarf flying squirrel whose preferred method of travel seems to be being whacked around...
Video Car Owners May Wince After Watching This Final Fight One Trailer
"Oh my car!"
Final Fight One launches on the North American eShop today, and to mark this occasion Nintendo has released a trailer for the game. As you'll know if you read our review, the GBA port of Capcom's seminal coin-op isn't quite perfect but is still worth a spin if you're a fan. The only part that could cause some upset is the bonus stage,...
Review Whispering Willows (Wii U eShop)
And oh yes, she sees ghosts
An adventure game needs a fitting atmosphere, and Whispering Willows sets its tone well. An undercurrent of desolation and vague unease runs through the grounds of the old mansion in which the game is set. It's a set piece worthy of exploration, but the act of doing so doesn't seem to share the same level of...
Nintendo Download 15th October (North America)
Yoshi! Momonga! SmileBASIC! WiiWare! More!
It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update. This week brings an exceptional retail release on the Wii U, some interesting home console downloads, a promising 3DS programming app, a load of discounts and even a WiiWare download. Yes, really! Let's get to it. Missed the...
News Wii U Version of Secret Files: Tunguska Sneaks Out in Germany
PEGI rating points to future release elsewhere
The point and click adventure genre is hugely popular in Germany, especially in PC gaming, and Deep Silver seems keen to give fans in the country more of what they want. As a result an updated version of Secret Files: Tunguska is arriving on the Wii U eShop today. This isn't a Virtual Console release...
Review Pocky & Rocky with Becky (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Plain & Repetitive with Boredom
There's real promise behind Pocky & Rocky with Becky, far more than the unimaginative title might suggest. Bite-size levels quickly give way to intriguing boss battles, and speedy pacing helps hold your interest throughout the campaign. However, these positive aspects quickly fade in the face of bland enemies,...
Rumour A List of Unreleased Titles for the eShop and Virtual Console Just Leaked
Prepare that salt
As many of you are aware, practitioners of particularly effective datamining techniques have recently uncovered the existence of data that seems to indicate that Nintendo is gearing up for an HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Additionally, there seems to be similar data that suggests that there will be more
News SEGA’s GBA Version Of ChuChu Rocket! Arrives On The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console This Month
The Dreamcast port returns
Around the turn of the millennium when Sonic Team was in its prime with releases such as Sonic Adventure and Phantasy Star Online, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance was fortunate enough to receive a port of the Dreamcast title, ChuChu Rocket! Released in 2001 alongside the launch of Nintendo's latest portable system at the...
News Slender: The Arrival Will be Creeping Out Wii U Owners in North America on 22nd October
YouTube videos with screaming inbound
YouTube is a hugely powerful media resource for gamers nowadays, and does deliver some wonderfully varied content for all sorts of audiences. It can be the making of some games, too; if small Indie efforts get picked up by YouTube stars it can create viral hits and make the careers of developers. That seemed to...
News Former Sony Exclusive PixelJunk Monsters Is Coming To The Wii U eShop
What's that coming over the hill?
A German USK rating has confirmed that tower defense title Pixeljunk Monsters is Wii U-bound. Originally exclusive to Sony systems, the PixelJunk series is created by Star Fox Command and Star Fox 64 3D studio Q-Games - the founder of which is none other than Dylan Cuthbert, a former Nintendo staffer who was...
News Classic Sega Saturn Puzzler Baku Baku Animal Is Getting A Spiritual Successor
Please DO feed the animals
The Sega Saturn may have resided in the shadow of the Sony PlayStation during its short lifespan, but the system was still home to some incredible games, one of which was Baku Baku Animal. A puzzle title which involved matching animals with their preferred item of food, it was something of a cult classic back in the '90s...
Review Pumped BMX+ (Wii U eShop)
Coming in hot with a 1080 backflip kickout… and it sticks the landing!
Released at the beginning of October on the Wii U eShop (and a slew of other consoles), we've spent lots of time mastering all sorts of BMX tricks and techniques in Pumped BMX+. Originally seeing success in the mobile market, developer Yeah Us! worked closely with publishing...
Following in the footsteps of Twilight Princess HD
We recently reported on a rumour which seemed to suggest that Nintendo is currently working on a HD remake of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii U. Since then, dataminers have discovered references to other titles, including Super Mario Galaxy,
News COLOR BOMBS Will Splat Onto the North American Wii U eShop on 22nd October
The 10th Wii U game from RCMADIAX
It's time to press that Caps Lock key, as RCMADIAX has announced a release date for its next Wii U eShop title. COLOR BOMBS will arrive in the North American store on 22nd October for a price of $1.49. As a reminder this is a chain-reaction title in which players must collect a predetermined amount of the...
News Helix Games Announces Its Latest Wii U eShop Game, Escape From Flare Industries
Going for green blob hype
Helix Games is emerging as a rather prolific Wii U eShop developer; in 2015 it's released both Don't Touch Anything Red and Neon Battle on the store in North America. Neither are out and out winners, but they're tolerable budget efforts overall. The studio has now confirmed its next game for the Wii U - Escape from Flare...
News Academic Study Highlights How the Placebo Effect Works in Video Games
Interesting ramifications for game design
Don't Starve: Giant Edition is one of a number of high quality games on the Wii U eShop, and its randomised survival gameplay has been put to an interesting academic test, indicating that the placebo effect is perfectly applicable in games. The placebo effect is when a falsely perceived advantage or benefit...
Review Rakoo & Friends (Wii U eShop)
Love is in the air
Rakoo & Friends is a strong case for the allure of beautiful presentation. From a gameplay standpoint there's nothing really special about this one, but the fact that it's a joy to watch adds greatly to the overall package. Rakoo & Friends tells the story of the eponymous critter and his quest to find true love. The game...
News Slender: The Arrival Has Received a German USK Rating
Perhaps an eShop arrival is inbound?
About a year ago, Slender: The Arrival received a rating from the PEGI board; which naturally led to an assumption that the game would soon be releasing on the eShop. The horror title featuring the infamous character released on PC and Mac about two years ago and it seemed like a good fit for the eShop, but there...
News Image & Form Is Hoping to Get SteamWorld Heist Out by Early December
No promises, though
As many of you are likely aware, SteamWorld Dig is due to receive a sequel in the near future. Taking a vastly different approach than the Metroidvania-esque gameplay of the first game, SteamWorld Heist is an interesting shooter/turn based strategy hybrid that carries a lot of promise with its spacefaring setting. It's a release...
Rumour Data Miner Uncovers Evidence Of Twilight Princess On Nintendo's Wii U eShop
The salt is on standby
When The Legend of Zelda: Twlight Princess was simultaneously released on the Nintendo GameCube and Wii in 2006, it was praised for being the mature Zelda title fans had always dreamed of. To this day, it remains a favourite – so how would you feel about it making a return? The proven data miner who operates under the...
Review Toto Temple Deluxe (Wii U eShop)
#GetTheGoat
You may be wondering, what is a Toto? No, we're not talking about the 1970s American rock band behind hit songs like 'Rockmaker' and 'Hold the Line'; Toto is amazing, but this isn't that Toto, even though this toto is also amazing. A toto is a small sentient tablet which has a strange obsession of having a goat sit on its head, and they...
Review Medabots: Metabee & Rokusho (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Meh-abots
Medabots has always been a bit of an odd case. Clearly created to hitch a ride on the Pokémon hype train, it's a series about people who - instead of capturing and fighting with creatures - collect machine parts to build and fight with robots. Unlike Digimon, which was also similar in setup, Medabots never really seemed to catch on...
Not so sparkly
Puzzle solving games with gems, jewels and shiny objects are a dime a dozen. Sometimes, it doesn't take a gemologist to determine which ones are valuable or worthless colourful bits of glass. Gemology joins this glamorous, risky world of puzzle games hoping to be discovered. But is it really worth it? How many gem puzzle games are...
Nintendo Download 15th October (Europe)
Nintendo Selects! Dragon Ball Z! Momonga Pinball! DSiWare! More!
Another week begins and the European Nintendo Download Update details are now available - slightly later than normal - for us to peruse. This week brings Nintendo Selects discounts to the 3DS eShop along with a fresh retail release, while on Wii U we have some new eShop entries and a...
Review Perpetual Blast (Wii U eShop)
A shot in the dark
Perpetual Blast is an endless shooter. Similar to the concept of the popular endless runner genre on mobile devices, Perpetual Blast focuses on doing one thing and one thing only. Sadly, myriad execution errors keep it from being an enjoyable experience. The idea of Perpetual Blast is simple: find and destroy 100 boxes as fast as...
News Octodad: Dadliest Catch Has Been Delayed, Release Date Should Be Announced Soon
Developer had some tentacle difficulties to work out
It may have fallen to the back of many gamers' minds, but Octodad: Dadliest Catch is still due to receive a port on Wii U. The popular Indie PC game follows the adventures of an octopus masquerading as a typical suburban father and his attempts to hide his true identity from his family. Players...
Hands On Learning to Enjoy Death in RIVE
Two Tribes isn't cute and cuddly any more
Two Tribes, prior to its closure and restructuring in early 2014, had a broad range of games and genres both developed in-house and as part of its publishing arm. Toki Tori was the best known of its titles, a cute - albeit tricky - puzzler that branched out across consoles and smart devices. The company's...
News Minecraft Game Engine Could Be Ported To Wii U Thanks To Minecraft: Story Mode
"Everything that looks like Minecraft is actually built in Minecraft"
Edit: Given the confusion that the original title caused, we've altered it slightly and are currently seeking clarification from Telltale regarding the game engine that Story Mode will run in. Original Story: Minecraft: Story Mode has been confirmed for release on Wii U, and...
News Developer Of Acclaimed Indie Title Lumo "100% Trying" To Secure Wii U Release
Inspired by SNES title Equinox, no less
If you were lucky enough to attend EGX here in the UK recently then you may have spotted a lovely-looking indie title by the name of Lumo. This isometric offering is packed with references to gaming's past, and was born out of a Twitter conversation between its creator - former Ruffian, Lionhead and Bizarre...
Review Race the Sun (Wii U eShop)
A fine line between rapture and ruin
Race the Sun doesn't look like much from its screenshots. The minimalistic visuals and simple gameplay premise might not grab you at a glance. It's in hurtling down those gray fields, narrowly missing hulking monoliths as your plane's solar fuel gauge steadily drains, the sun slowly falling as the sky turns a...
Nintendo Download 8th October (North America)
Chibi-Robo!, 3D Sonic 2, Legend of Legacy and much more
It's time once again for another Nintendo Download Update, and this week's North American line-up has some tempting options. There are four 3DS retail games, including a Nintendo platformer and an RPG with impressive pedigree, while M2 remasters another wonderful SEGA game for the eShop. On Wii...
Review Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (Wii U eShop / DS)
A toy story
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is the Nintendo DS sequel to the original GBA classic and a new recruit to the ever-growing Wii U Virtual Console library. Rather than being more of the same platforming puzzle action, Nintendo chose to focus this entire game around what is but a small percentage of the previous game - the...
News Midora Developer Admits He Knew Kickstarter Funds Wouldn't Be Enough To Complete The Game
"I knew that the game would need more than $60,000 to be made"
The developer of the Zelda-inspired RPG Midora has admitted that he knew full well that the amount of cash raised during its Kickstater campaign wouldn't be enough to cover the full cost of development. The crowdfunding drive raised $73,470 in 2014 - a little over the base target of...
News Momonga Pinball Adventures is Flipping Onto Wii U on 15th October
Includes challenges and online leaderboards
Pinball fans with a Wii U do have some options to scratch their itch courtesy of Zen Pinball 2, though Momonga Pinball Adventures from Paladin Studios is aiming to shake things up a little. Originally confirmed for the Wii U back in 2013, it's now got a final release date for the system. It'll roll its...
Video Shin'en Discusses FAST Racing NEO's F-Zero-Inspired Hero Mode And Multiplayer Options
"We really wanted this to be a full package"
FAST Racing NEO is coming this year, and is likely to scratch that F-Zero itch with its brand of anti-grav racing action. We got chance to sit down with Shin'en's Martin Sauter to talk about the game at this year's EGX, and as well as speaking about the game's development, he revealed that the title is...
News Super Meat Boy May Be Coming to the Wii U
"Wii haven't forgotten about U"
For those of you with long memories, Super Meat Boy was actually set to release for the WiiWare service back in 2009. After a lengthy series of delays, it finally got canned in 2010; likely as a result of the miniscule file size restrictions for WiiWare. Indeed, this was difficult news for many, and it was made...
News Image & Form Wants Real Life SteamWorld Photos, With Copies of Heist Still Up for Grabs
Hopefully your camera skills aren't too rusty...
We've been sharing a number of the SteamWorld Heist ambassador contests with you here on Nintendo Life, which have formed a neat promotion in which a number of gamers have won copies of the upcoming game across all platforms, from 3DS to Wii U, PC and beyond. The latest contest is now live, and once...
Nintendo Download 8th October (Europe)
STARWHAL! Sporty Mario! 3D Sonic 2! Pac-Man! More!
The start of another week has rolled around, so that means it's time for more Nintendo Download Update news in Europe. This week serves up some promising downloads with a frantic multiplayer Nindie game, a couple of Mario sporting games, another potentially wonderful 3D Classic from SEGA and more...
News Freedom Planet Bug Causes Screen Freezing Problems for Some Players
Still fighting for freedom from bugs
Freedom Planet only just released on 1st October, but it was initially supposed to release much earlier. As some of you may have known, Freedom Planet was delayed by a few months due to some sort of game breaking bug that was reported in the advance release copies sent to reviewers. While the delay may have upset...
Hands On Aperion Cyberstorm is Bringing a Welcome Slice of Twin-Stick Shooting Action to Wii U
We play, and play, and play, in the score chasing mode
Sometimes we get an interesting perspective - based on our readership at least - of what 'clicks' with the eShop audience and what doesn't. Some games get a lot of buzz right off the bat while other equally deserving games continue to be largely overlooked. At times reasons can be discerned but,...
Review Hold Your Fire: A Game About Responsibility (Wii U eShop)
Star Chores
It's time we put a stop to the romanticism of life in space. Too long have we had to endure the thrills of blast-filled chases through asteroid belts and hyperspeed flings among the stars. Who do these games think we are? Interesting? No, we want the truth! We demand the 9-5 trudgery and certain, unforgiving death that comes with being a...
Review Freedom Planet (Wii U eShop)
Purple is the new blue
Yes, Freedom Planet feels like an old-school 2D Sonic game, but thankfully it manages to overcome some of the hurdles that bog down the blue hedgehog's classic Sega games. Freedom Planet boasts colourful characters whose story extends past a bland cliché of catch phrases. The art style consists of a gorgeous colour palette...
Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2015 - Q4 Edition
Goodies to finish off 2015
Every few months of each year we do lists of what we consider to be ten of the biggest games on each system that are on the way. We're kicking off with the Wii U for this quarter and, although we gave retail and eShop games separate lists earlier in the year, the limited remaining slate for 2015 has prompted us to combine...
News Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures is Still Coming to Europe, Currently Awaiting Approval
At last...
Earlier today we got a look at AVGN 2: ASSimilation, the next entry in the game series featuring the YouTube personality / character. In that same post we pointed out that the first game, Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures, is yet to come to the Wii U and 3DS in Europe.
Review Car Battler Joe (Wii U eShop / GBA)
One cup of Speed Racer lore. One cup of Mad Max universe...
Car Battler Joe tells the cliched story of how Joe Todoroki went out of the comfort of his bedroom to drive through the wasteland of Galacia in pursuit of his estranged father. Rumour has it that he joined a band of misfits in order to destroy the same sport that made him the most famous...
Nintendo Download 1st October (North America)
Freedom Planet! Pumped BMX+! Chronus Arc! More!
It's that time, North American gamers, to cast your eye over the new downloadable eShop treats that are available this week. There are diverse offerings, including a highly anticipated and delayed action platformer, a creation tool, BMX stunt action and more; some discounts are also rather tempting...
Review The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version (Wii U eShop)
We’re all mad (about watercolour) here!
Fictional rivers usually come in one of two forms – either gentle and beautiful, moving softly through mystical forests, or fast and dangerous, destroying everything in their path. Luckily, in The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version the former idea is adopted, leaving us with a game that is just as...
News VoxelMaker is Set to Hit the North American eShop on 1st October
Adding a whole new dimension to pixel art
For those of you that aren't well versed in technical jargon, a voxel is essentially just a 3D version of a pixel. While this isn't something that would really have much relevance in most everyday conversation, it is of utmost importance in Nostatic Software's upcoming game, VoxelMaker. You'll be able to see...
September2015
Review Defense Dome (Wii U eShop)
It seems that the rocket has missed its mark
Defense Dome is a classic-style arcade action game developed by the aptly named HullBreach Studios for the Wii U eShop. Designed to be played in short bursts, this game offers quick access to three separate level designs, with promise for more content to be made available as add-on content. It is...
Exploring Space, One Turn at a Time
Oh to be lost in space, exploring strange new worlds with a plethora of rocks. Lots and lots of space rocks. Enjoying the thrill of combat from dangerous, colourful and stinky creatures at your fuel tanks. Rescuing your fellow scientists, some unwillingly and others affected by the loneliness that is space...
First Impressions Taking A Shot At Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water
"I like it here...She's calling me."
The Fatal Frame series, known as Project Zero in Europe, has had an inconsistent presence in the West for quite some time now. Though several installments made their way onto Nintendo consoles - most notably the Wii - fans outside of Japan have grown accustomed to importing in order to get the latest spooky...
News Metroid Prime: Hunters Arrives on Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
Yes please, NoA and NoE
When Nintendo announced DS games for the Wii U Virtual Console quite some time ago, many reacted with variations of "huh", "erm" and "that's weird". Yet it has worked reasonably well in many cases, with the GamePad screen and TV having various configurations to get the most out of these previously portable titles. It also...
News Super Smash Bros. Wii U & 3DS Version 1.1.1 Is Now Live
New and classic stages, Mii Fighter outfits & more
Nintendo’s ongoing support of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS continues with the latest patch for the game now live. Version 1.1.1 further enhances the overall game experience and also introduces new paid DLC offerings including the anticipated Super Mario Maker stage as well as seven...
Review Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX (Wii U eShop)
Quantity over quality
EnjoyUp's top-down racer Rock 'N Racing Off Road, released in February, was a disappointing, frustrating experience that left much to be desired. Now, just months later, Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX aims to improve upon the formula and offer a more robust set of features, tracks, cars, and modes. Yet while there's certainly more...
30 percent sold on 3DS, 20 percent on Wii U
Yacht Club Games may have removed Shovel Knight's Nintendo exclusivity in recent months, but the game has still performed best on Nintendo consoles. According to Nathan Vella, president and cofounder of Capy Games, 30 percent of sales have been on the 3DS, with 20 percent of total sales on Wii U. 14...
Review Job the Leprechaun (Wii U eShop)
"What do I look like, me lad?"
Job the Leprechaun is having a hard time. A witch has kidnapped his best friend, Eri, and has taken her far away, past lands filled with knights, zombies, and goblins. So Job's going to save her…eventually. First, he'll grab all the four-leaf clovers he can find, slowly moving through the poorly-defended countryside...
News Deep Silver And Comcept Confirm Launch Date For Mighty No. 9
Physical and digital versions coming at the same time
Publisher Deep Silver - along with Mighty No. 9 developer Comcept - has confirmed that the physical and digital editions of the game will launch in North America on February 9th and the rest of the world on February 12th. This revised release date was down to the game slipping from its expected...
Out of this world
There is something to be said about the power of some good ol' fashioned couch multiplayer in this age of online gaming. There's a certain degree of delightful chaos in the experience of competing head to head with friends that are physically present that can't be replicated by voice chat or matchmaking. Nowhere is this more...
News The Deer God Will Bring Gorgeous Pixel-Based Nature to the Wii U eShop This December
Different from the norm
In August 2014 The Deer God had a successful Kickstarter campaign, with its soundtrack and handsome pixel-based visuals catching the eye of 2801 backers. One of its successful stretch goals was for a Wii U eShop release, and now Mobot Studios - which has released multiple games on the store - is stepping in as publisher to...
Nintendo Download 1st October (Europe)
Animal Crossing! Medabots! 1001 Spikes! Dragon Ball Z pre-load! More!
It's the beginning of another week, which means we have Nintendo Download Update details for Europe to consider; this week brings 3DS retail treats, a long awaited download game across both systems and even Virtual Console options. On top of that there are more download-only games...
News Chromophore: The Two Brothers is Still Heading to Wii U, Developer Explains Delay
There's an updated release window
Chromophore: The Two Brothers has always seemed like a title destined to hit it off with a Nintendo audience; it's an action adventure with Game Boy-style visuals and a heavy Link's Awakening vibe, which naturally attracted a lot of attention in the past. Its planned arrival on Wii U hasn't come around, however,...
News FAST Racing NEO's F-Zero-Like Hero Mode is For The "Hardcore Science-Fiction Racing Fans"
An unlockable for those up to the challenge
Fast Racing NEO is one of the hottest titles in the Wii U 'Nindies' section at EGX, which is currently taking place at the NEC in Birmingham in the UK. It's the largest expo of its kind in the country, and the Shin'en Multimedia title is getting plenty of attention. We've spent plenty of time with Martin...
Nintendo Download 24th September (North America)
Animal Crossing! Extreme Exorcism! Nova-111! Beatbuddy! More!
It's that time again as details are confirmed for the Nintendo Download Update in North America. This week brings some highly promising and anticipated releases on the Wii U eShop, with plenty of Nindies pitching in with their latest efforts. In addition the 3DS has a big-name release at...
News New Assault Android Cactus Trailer Shows Fast, Fun & Frenetic Blaster Action
Charge and unleash
If you’re a fan of frantic sci-fi bullet-blasters, the upcoming title Assault Android Cactus for Wii U eShop may be one game worth keeping an eye on. Featuring a vibrant art style, slick frame rate, funky tunes, 1-4 player co-op and fast & frenetic twin-stick shoot em’ up gameplay, the title looks to take the concept of...
News A Mighty New Patch For Shovel Knight Is On The Way
Irons out a number of kinks
Following the recent release of the free Shovel Knight expansion, Plague of Shadows, Yacht Club Games has issued a patch ironing out a few kinks, and further enhancing the overall experience. While the update is currently only available for PC users, it will be rolled out across other platforms very soon. Take a look...
News FAST Racing NEO Will Have a Hint of F-Zero Courtesy of Voice Actor Jack Merluzzi
Featured in GX
FAST Racing NEO gets ever closer, with plenty of fans referencing it as an F-Zero styled experience on the way to the Wii U. Of course, the Shin'en Multimedia title has its own style and approach, though an announcement from the developer is sure to please fans of the long-dormant Nintendo IP. As you can see below, a voice actor with...
Review StarTropics (Wii U eShop / NES)
Sun, sea, sand, and aliens
Winter is slowly creeping up on us, so it's as good a time as ever to explore warmer climates and take your mind off of the bad weather. For some NES-filtered beams of sunshine, why not step into the shoes of young Mike Jones, an American kid who's headed for an alphabetic island on the tropical adventure of a lifetime?...
News Natsume’s Pocky & Rocky With Becky Arrives On The Wii U Virtual Console Next Month
The popular Medabots titles are also on the way
Following the release of the Game Boy Advance title Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town on the North American Wii U Virtual Console, as well as Car Battler Joe, Natsume has announced Pocky & Rocky with Becky is locked in for an October release in both North America and Europe. The action...
Video This Laparoscopic Wii U Controller is Teaching Medical Students to Perform Keyhole Surgery
Time to scrub up
Nintendo consoles have been privy to some incredibly unusual controllers in their time, most of which are a bit rubbish and don't really improve gameplay in any way. However these previous blunders haven't deterred Grendel Games from designing a Wii U eShop game called Underground and an accompanying controller to accurately...
Review Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Prophesizing the amiiboom
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is interesting in that it's the only game in the Mario vs DK franchise (to date) that actually allows the player to control Mario; indeed this was originally planned to be a sequel to 1994's Donkey Kong on Game Boy, so arguably those two have more in common than the other games in the series. Mario vs...
Review Extreme Exorcism (Wii U eShop)
A hauntingly good time
Extreme Exorcism is a simple, fun indie title that embraces one of Nintendo's core values: getting people together to play. From its aesthetics to its modes, this game is dripping with retro charm. If you haven't seen or heard of it before, it's a 2D pixel-art shooter that focuses on platforming and run-and-gun mechanics. It...
News Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Is Still Targeting a Holiday 2015 Release
But it could slip!
We recently got our hands on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and felt it is shaping up really nicely, and could turn out to be something rather special indeed. The Kickstarter-funded project was originally targeted for an October 2014 release, but it's been held back so the talented artists and developers at WayForward can make the game...
Relying on Kickstarter stretch goals
Wii U eShop aficionados may recognise the name BeautiFun Games courtesy of Nihilumbra, a stylise release that we absolutely loved in our review. Earlier this year the studio announced its next project, Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age, though has just recently confirmed that it could make its way to Wii U. The...
Nintendo Download 24th September (Europe)
Skylanders! Extreme Exorcism! Nova-111! More stuff!
It's the start of another week, which means its time to bask in the joy of more Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. There are quite a few promising releases on the way for both Wii U and 3DS, including a major retail arrival and enticing download-only games; some rather good titles also...
Review Explody Bomb (Wii U eShop)
This bomb's a dud
Oftentimes when playing on the Wii U, it can be easy to forget that one of the major selling points of the console is that it features a second screen on the controller. Sure, a game here or there may attempt use it in an "innovative" way, but it seems that most of the time the second screen is simply used as a screen mirror or as...
Hands On Digging Deeper With Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
An explosive addition
The new Shovel Knight expansion has finally dropped, and while it may not be an entirely new game in the Shovel Knight franchise it still brings enough new content and ideas that it warrants a sort-of-review. Remember, this expansion is entirely free with the game, we're just going to share our thoughts on it and how it differs...
News The Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows Original Soundtrack is Now Available for Download
Name your price for this magnificent sonic concoction
As many of you are aware, the much anticipated Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows expansion is now available as a free update. Following the adventures of Plague Knight, a member of the Order of No Quarter, it's a refreshing remix on the original campaign that does an excellent job of expanding the...
Review Tecmo Bowl (Wii U eShop / NES)
Move over Madden 16, Tecmo Bowl is back and stealing the NFL spotlight
1989 wasn't just an amazing year because that's when this writer was born. It's an also amazing year because that's when Tecmo Bowl received its home console release on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Boasting an impressive roster from the 1988 NFL season, players could now...
News Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows Update Now Live
A game changer
When the Shovel Knight Kickstarter campaign propelled Yacht Club Games to early success a number of stretch goals were hit, and therefore committed the developer to key updates. The studio has stuck to its task of bringing out the Plague of Shadows content as a free update, and it's now available to download on Wii U and 3DS...
Nintendo Download 17th September (North America)
Skylanders! Year Walk! Off Road Racing!
It's that time again, North American eShop fans, for the Nintendo Download Update details. We've got a generous helping of new titles for you to get your teeth into - so what are you waiting for? Missed the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe earlier in the week. You cheeky scamp! Don't worry, the...
Hands On Popping Wheelies In Pumped BMX+
Becoming the raddest & baddest
Curve Digital is a publisher and developer that rarely fails to impress, and when we were invited down to its HQ to play a new title it's bringing to the Wii U we couldn't refuse. Pumped BMX+ is a game not dissimilar to OlliOlli, a previous title from Curve, the difference being that this time not only are you riding...
Review Year Walk (Wii U eShop)
Into the woods
A year walk — or "Årsgång" — is an archaic form of divination in Swedish folklore, in which a person would deprive themselves of sleep and food in a dark room for 24 hours to then venture through the woods towards the local parish. Certain nights, such as New Year's Eve, were said to be better suited than others for a successful...
News Minecraft: Story Mode Arriving on Wii U after Other Platforms
Digging deeper
Many people have clamoured for Minecraft to make an appearance on a Nintendo console, and although it's not quite what everyone was expecting, Minecraft: Story Mode will be making its way to Wii U at some point soon; at least we hope so. A press release from the developer Telltale Games certainly confirms a Wii U release, but despite...
News Human Resource Machine Coming To Wii U Soon
The machines are coming... for your job!
We absolutely loved Wii U launch game Little Inferno: there was a certain thrill to working our way through one catalogue of useless junk and unlocking the next while the oppressively cheerful 1950s sales muzak played in the background. It's all been a bit quiet from the talented trio at the Tomorrow...
First Impressions Digging into Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
Fiendishly good
When Shovel Knight was Kickstarted in March 2013 and subsequently met its funding goal, Yacht Club Games announced additional content to follow its release if stretch goals were met. The developer is now delivering on its promise with the release of a new downloadable campaign titled Plague of Shadows. We recently had the opportunity...
The sky, the stars and the B button
Star Sky is not a video game. Well, not in the usual sense at least. It is described as being "similar to an interactive poem", something to experience rather than something to play - and that's a perfect description. There aren't many games that make you feel like lying down, grabbing a box of chocolates and...
Review Funky Physics (Wii U eShop)
Taking the Fun Out of Funky
There's a lot of physics in Funky Physics. There are also some minor annoyances, like hitting blocks and timing them just right to bounce off platforms for them to function properly. It takes the funky out of the title. Or maybe it adds to it depending on which perspective you're looking at the game from and your...
News Release Of Wii U Exclusive Typoman Postponed
A bad spell
Publisher Headup Games has gotten in touch to reveal that the release of its Wii U eShop exclusive Typoman has been postponed. No reasons are given for the delay, but the publisher is keen to stress that it's only a minor setback and that the development process is progressing well. The game was due to launch this week in North America...
Nintendo Download 17th September (Europe)
Year Walk! Mario vs. Donkey Kongs! Bowls of Tecmo!
Another week, another helping of digital delights from Nintendo. If you're in Europe and you want to know exactly what titles you can download to your Wii U and 3DS this week, then you've certainly come to the right place. Wii U eShop: Year Walk (Simogo, £6.29 / €6.99) - Grim tales, horrifying...
Review Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Wii U eShop / DS)
Emerging from the shadows
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a Nintendo DS remake of the first Fire Emblem game (originally released in 1990 for Famicom in Japan) that's now available to download in Virtual Console form for Wii U. The series staple of strategic turn-based gameplay along with the perma-death possibility for characters would form the...
Interview James Hoag on Aiming High With Wii U Platformer Mekazoo
"Our goal is to make the best platformer ever. We want to aim for that."
Earlier this year we reported on the announcement of Mekazoo, a forthcoming title with gameplay that harkens back to the glory days of speed-based platformers. As exemplified by Nintendo's recent Nindie crusade, the Wii U eShop is no stranger to independent games, making it the...
Review Brave Tank Hero (Wii U eShop)
War, war never changes
Oh Brave Tank Hero, you were not a great game on the 3DS. For those of you who missed the review, ultimately Brave Tank Hero was a mediocre affair on the portable system - the flawed game design and an array of oversights ruined what could have been a good title. Now, Natsume has released the game for the Wii U eShop; will a...
Weirdness Wii U Title Bombing Bastards Becomes 'Bombing Busters' on PS4, at Sony's Request
Oh Nintendo, you rebel without a cause
When we received a press release for Bombing Bastards coming to the Wii U eShop last year, our instinct was "good luck with that", assuming it'd undergo a name change before release. Nope, none of it, as it then launched on the eShop in July 2014. It was a further indication, among others, of Nintendo...
News Starwhal Makes A Slash On The North American Wii U eShop September 24
A narwhal of a time
The intense and chaotic multiplayer-driven title Starwhal is soon arriving on the Wii U eShop in North America, with developer Breakfall today announcing the title will be making a splash on September 24. [tweet The Wii U version of Starwhal will include an exclusive new 5 player mode. This mode titled “Blastopus" involves...
Nintendo Download 10th September (North America)
Super Mario Maker! The Swindle! Q.U.B.E! Tecmo Bowl! More!
It's that time again, North American eShop fans, for the Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings one of the year's biggest Wii U retail releases and a range of promising downloads on the home console. On the 3DS we have Hatsune Miku, a theme and... did we mention how good the Wii...
Review The Swindle (Wii U eShop)
An old-fashioned cyber thief
The Swindle represents the first foray onto Nintendo hardware for Dan Marshall and his studio Size Five Games - via Curve Digital - having built up a strong reputation with PC releases. Bringing its own unique brand of quirky cyberpunk thievery, it's a slice of procedurally generated silliness likely to amuse as well as...
News Plague of Shadows Catching on All Systems Next Week
It's gonna be sick
Shovel Knight fans who have been waiting to launch an alchemical assault on the land will not have to stretch their patience much further, as Yacht Club Games has announced a 17 September release date for its free Plague of Shadows campaign. According to an announcement on the developer's website, the update will arrive for all...