Wii U eShop News
January2016
Rumour The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth May Be Coming to Wii U After All
It's lonely on top
For those of you that also game on other platforms, you may have been aware of The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth. As yet another expansion to The Binding of Isaac, Afterbirth adds on potentially hundreds of hours of new content on top of the already massive campaign, with new game modes, characters, items, challenges, enemies, and...
News Metroid: Zero Mission Looks Set for a 14th January Arrival in North America
You can stop asking for it now
Every week we post the European and North American Nintendo Download Updates, the first on a Monday and the latter on a Thursday. The regional subsidiaries match up with some releases, but the Virtual Console is one area where they each follow their own path. North American Wii U owners, in particular, have been...
News Space Hulk Finally Arrives On The North American Wii U eShop This Week
For the Emperor
It's taken a while, but the Wii U version of Space Hulk is finally launching this week in North America. The game - which is a port of the PC original - was due to launch in May last year, but missed that release window. The Sony versions arrived in September, but the Wii U edition was held back until - we were told - Christmas...
News Mini Mario & Friends amiibo Challenge Launches in Japan This Month
Could this be NST's rumoured project?
It's interesting to see how the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games have slowly changed over time. While the first game was a 2D platformer that echoed the philosophy of the classic Donkey Kong arcade game, each successive entry focused more and more on the miniature toy versions of characters. Now, it's become a...
Video Watch as New Super Mario Bros. Wii Gets Pitted Side-by-Side with its Wii U Successor
HD-licious
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has joined its younger sibling New Super Mario Bros. U on the Wii U eShop in Europe. Many people jump to compare the two and believe them to be achingly similar, so in order to put this to the test once and for all we've put both games side-by-side in the video below. We chose to showcase levels that bore a...
News Strategy Puzzle Title Dungeon Hearts DX Is Coming Exclusively To Wii U Next Month
New engine, interface and possible amiibo support
Android and Steam gamers might remember Dungeon Hearts from a few years back - a strategy puzzle title which mixed strategy and music elements to create a pretty unique experience. Indie studio Wolfgame is now updating the game exclusively for the Wii U eShop under the title Dungeon Hearts DX...
News Developers Dig into Sales Failure of Toto Temple Deluxe
Dissecting the goat
This past fall, Montreal-based developer Juicy Beast released Toto Temple Deluxe on the Wii U, PS4, and Xbox One. It was that colourful, chaotic-looking game with a goat. Unfortunately for them, Juicy Beast have announced on their website that the game "didn't sell very well." Although they don't provide any sales numbers, they...
News Legendary Former Rare Character Artist, Kev Bayliss, Joins Playtonic to Work on Yooka-Laylee
Credited with DK's Country design, Killer Instinct work and much more
The words 'Rare' and 'Legend' go together very often, and we try not to use them unless they're necessary. In the case of former company Character Artist / Graphics Director Kev Bayliss it's a fair description, however, and the pleasing news is that he's now joined Playtonic...
News Epic Dumpster Bear is the Real Name of an Upcoming Wii U eShop Game
We can't bear it
The Wii U eShop has its share of slightly strange games, and Epic Dumpster Bear from Log Games is the latest in a long line. The developer previously released the decent Puzzle Monkeys, and has decided that the animal kingdom is well suited to even more genres. Epic Dumpster Bear is a platformer, and Log Games is promising over 70...
News Word Puzzles by POWGI is Heading to Europe on 28th January, Including a Wii U Release
Supports all amiibo for extra puzzles
European fans of puzzles and word games have a double release on the way this month, with Lightwood Games confirming a release date of 28th January for Word Puzzles by POWGI in the region. Already confirmed for 3DS, the title is also heading to the Wii U eShop on the same day. These titles will provide a...
Review Drill Dozer (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Not likely to make you doze off
Game Freak is a developer known for its work on titles such as Pokémon Red and Blue, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Black and White. It does occasionally put out games that don't feature the pocket monsters, however, and one of those is Drill Dozer, a Game Boy Advance action platformer set across six...
Nintendo Download 14th January (Europe)
Mega Man Battles! Final Fantasy Explorers pre-load! DLC! Discounts!
Another week begins and we have a modest batch of games to consider in the European Nintendo Download Update. There are the two versions of the final Mega Man Battle Network title on the Wii U Virtual Console, a neat demo on 3DS, DLC and the option to pre-purchase a major retail...
News RCMADIAX to Temporarily Remove AVOIDER From the Wii U eShop
Due to audio track being a "close copy" from another game
RCMADIAX has been a prolific publisher on the Wii U eShop, particularly in North America, releasing a range of budget titles. These games are often inexpensive, simple releases, though the developer is now planning to temporarily withdraw its most recent title - AVOIDER - due to what seems to...
Easily avoided
RCMADIAX is a studio that has become well known for the relatively high volume of inexpensive titles that it's put out over the past couple of years. Their quality wavers from being barely worth their dollar price tag to being at least average games. AVOIDER is the latest entry in this line of titles, and while its rather barebones...
Nintendo Download 7th January (North America)
Light gun games! Ocean Runner! Discovery! More!
The time has come for the first North America Nintendo Download Update of 2016, and it includes a variety of options. The Wii U Virtual Console plays catch up with three light gun games, while new download offerings include a creative Minecraft-a-like, two RCMADIAX games and the return of Ninja Pig...
Giveaway It's Europe's Turn To Grab A Free Copy Of Cube Life: Island Survival
We have 100 copies to give away to lucky Europeans
Over the Christmas break Cube Life: Island Survival developer Cypronia was kind enough to give away 100 copies of their game to our North American readers to celebrate the recent v1.1 update. This time it's the turn of European players to get in on the action - we've got another 100 free copies to...
Review Discovery (Wii U eShop)
Let's get creative
Now that Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been released for the Wii U, one would think that the tide of block based sandbox games on the eShop would be stemmed. Evidently that's not the case quite yet, as Discovery is the next arrival on the Wii U eShop. So, how does the game stack up? While Discovery may feel a bit half-baked in...
News Get Ready for Light Gun Action in This Week's North American Nintendo Download Update
The Adventures of Bayou Billy! Wild Gunman! Hogan's Alley!
Starting with Duck Hunt in late 2014, Nintendo has been retrofitting and re-releasing - along with third-party partners - some iconic NES light gun / Zapper games for the Wii U eShop. They naturally utilise the Wii Remote pointer to recreate that old-fashioned practice of zapping pixels on...
Review Molly Maggot (Wii U eShop)
Play your own better game
"Play your own music", Molly Maggot says as it boots up, which doesn't create high hopes for its quality. The clunky jumping controls, stilted animations and lifeless goals soon solidify that sense that you're sifting through trash. Save for a few sound effects that are almost funny, Molly Maggot doesn't have a single...
Review Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The Mario RPG that started it all
There are very few areas of life the Mario franchise hasn't at some point explored. Mario himself has been a doctor, an amateur kart racer and later on in his career was recognised as a professional athlete when he competed at the Olympic Games in the 100 metre dash against Sonic. Quite simply – he's a jack of all...
"We’ll be sure to alert the Wii U community as that changes"
Zen Studios has enjoyed plenty of success with its pinball titles, releasing various versions and DLC across PC, home consoles and smart devices. The Wii U and 3DS have been in on the action too, with the former receiving Zen Pinball 2 with a decent variety of DLC, in addition to Star...
News PictoParty's Release Has Been Pushed Back to Late January
A bug is the cause of the delay
Many of you have no doubt played Pictionary at parties before; it can be a wonderfully chaotic competition when everyone's really getting into it. Naturally, a game such as this which channels one's inner artist is a perfect fit for the Wii U GamePad and it was only a matter of time before one would appear on the...
News Wii U eShop Exclusive 3Souls Will Aim to 'Break New Ground' With the GamePad
From Berlin-based developer Red Column
The Wii U eShop has been home to a variety of new developers with bold ambition, and Berlin-based Red Column is the latest to set out its stall for the store. It's bringing 3Souls exclusively to Wii U in Q2, with the goal of utilising the GamePad "to break new ground in how you control your character and play...
Review Game & Watch Gallery Advance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Nintendo's Portable Hits: The Early Years
In the 1980's (before the Game Boy was released), Nintendo's series of Game & Watch handhelds provided people with portable gaming excitement. As LCD games they provided a stripped down gaming experience that Cranky Kong would approve of - basic sounds, none of those pointless fancy graphics and only a...
Nintendo Download 7th January (Europe)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii! Temple of Yog! Drill Dozer! More!
It's the first Nintendo Download Update of the year, kicking off with the European arrivals that are on the way. This week we have an enjoyable platformer from the Wii era and the EU debut of a Game Freak GBA title, along with a few varied fresh releases on both Wii U and 3DS. There are a...
News Alien Dinosaurs Will Be Invading The Wii U And 3DS eShops Soon
Do the dinosaur
Indie developer Ratalaika Games is bringing its action title Alien Dinosaurs to Nintendo platforms. The run-and-gun shooter - which wouldn't look out of place on the Game Boy - sees the player character getting abducted by alien reptiles who then set up a gauntlet of challenges to ascertain if the planet Earth is ripe for conquest...
December2015
Nintendo Download 31st December (North America)
1080° Snowboarding, Molly Maggot and various discounts
It's the final North American Nintendo Download Update of 2015, and it's a little thin on content. Despite that there is a gem from the N64 era and some promising discounts, so all hope is not lost; let's get to it. Missed the European Nintendo Download Update? Well, your New Years' Resolution...
News Blitworks Will Be Publishing The Next Penelope on Wii U
It's in good hands
Some of you may remember some coverage we gave on a game called The Next Penelope about this time last year. At the time, it was due out on PC in a few months and it was promised to be on its way to the Wii U later in the year. While it may be that Aurelien Regard wasn't quite able to push it out before the new year, the game is...
News New Super Mario Bros. Wii Looks Set to Hit Europe on 7th January
Wahoo!
Though the Wii U Virtual Console is missing a few obvious platforms and release - ahem, GameCube - it has brought some goodies. One of the welcome additions has been Wii downloads; a number of excellent games have arrived, including some that are relatively hard to find or expensive in physical form. It's certainly had its successes in terms...
Review Sketch Wars (Wii U eShop)
Worse than a pen and paper
Sometimes, drawing with a time limit can be funny. Other times, it's pure frustration. Sketch Wars falls into the latter, giving the player a clumsy set of tools, a poor choice of words, and some awful presentation and sound just to round the whole unpleasant experience off. How does one even manage to mess up a game where...
Giveaway Grab Yourself a Free Copy of Cube Life: Island Survival
We have 100 copies to give away (North America only)
It's the season for giving, so we have a giveaway of a Wii U eShop release for those among you keen on adventure and creativity. Developer Cypronia has kindly offered to give-away 100 free copies of Cube Life: Island Survival to Nintendo Life readers because, well, it's Christmas! It's a sandbox...
Nintendo Download 31st December (Europe)
1080° Snowboarding! Wave Race 64! Story of Seasons! More!
Well, we have the final European Nintendo Download Update details of 2015, and there are a couple of iconic N64 games and an enticing 3DS option included. It's not exactly a packed week, but those with a taste for the slopes or the waves should be happy. At the time of writing we've only...
News Minecraft Has Become the Ninth Best-Selling Game on the Japanese eShop
A meteoric rise
Rumours of Minecraft: Wii U Edition - and its subsequent release - happened rather quickly, but it was something that wasn't entirely surprising. The eShop already had its fair share of Minecraft clones and they'd proven that there was demand for that particular type of game on the console. While it's maybe a bit of a stretch to say...
Feature A Year in Development - 13AM Games
"All game development seems to be like you're getting ready for a party"
In the second article of this 2015 'Year in Development' series 13AM's Managing Director, Dave Proctor, talks about a big year for the studio that saw Runbow arrive as a Wii U eShop exclusive. Runbow seemed to start gaining momentum in 2014, but how would you describe the...
Based on the animated BBC series, Walking with Dinosaurs
With such a name, you'd be forgiven for thinking Dinox wanted to recapture the magic of past dinosaur shooters such as Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Sadly, this is not the case. Developed by Codix Games and published by Engine Software, Dinox is actually an educational quiz title for the Wii U eShop...
Review Polarium Advance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Black + white = fun exercise for the old grey matter
Draw a line. OK, you'll have to give it a bit more thought than that as you won't be passing through all the squares on screen, but Polarium Advance is a simple game to play. Each puzzle consists of white and black tiles and once you've picked a start point you must draw a single line, moving...
Nintendo Download 24th December (North America)
Super Mario Galaxy! Discounts galore! Festive 3DS HOME Themes! More!
It's the final Nintendo Download Update before Christmas, which is a merry occasion indeed. However you treat the Holidays, the update should help make the week a bit more special; we have a Wii classic, some free DLC, 3DS HOME Themes and a whole load of discounts. Let's get to the...
Review Temple of Yog (Wii U eShop)
Yes, this is Yog
Human sacrifice usually comes across as a pretty big deal, but not so in Temple of Yog on the Wii U eShop. Here, the multitude of tributes you send to dungeon-crawly demises seems designed to be as disposable as a bag of crisps, and just as addictive to polish off one by one. Death is just part of the daily grind in the world of...
News Super Mario Galaxy May Arrive on the North American Wii U eShop on 24th December
A festive treat
A number of Wii titles have now made their way to the Wii U eShop, and there could be a rather wonderful pre-Christmas treat on the North American store. Following a recent ESRB rating, Super Mario Galaxy's official game page on Nintendo of America's website is now listing it for a 24th December release, at the standard $19.99 price...
Feature A Year in Development - Shin'en Multimedia
"All in all we did the best we can, and this has already made us happy"
In the first of this 2015 'Year in Development' series, Shin'en Multimedia's Manfred Linzner talks about a big year for the studio that culminated in the December release of FAST Racing NEO on the Wii U eShop. As a studio you were relatively quiet early in the year, though...
News Lost WiiWare Title Noitu Love: Devolution Is Coming To 3DS And Wii U Early Next Year
Better late than never
Back in 2010, we reported on the news that Noitu Love 2 was headed to WiiWare, but issues relating to the publisher meant it never happened. Thankfully, the title is being resurrected for the 3DS and Wii U eShops, and will be available in Q1 2016. Originally released on PC in 2008, the game uses a mouse-based control system...
Feature 505 Games On Bringing Terraria To Nintendo Consoles And Facing Off Against Minecraft
"There's a bit of rivalry between the Minecraft and Terraria communities"
With Terraria on the 3DS, Minecraft on Wii U and Terraria coming to Wii U soon, there's arguably never been a better time to be a Nintendo block-builder. Looking at the first direct capture from the Wii U game alongside some 3DS footage, Dean Scott - Producer on Terraria at...
News Final Fantasy VI Advance Arrives on the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
Will hopefully journey to the West
Nintendo hardware may not be benefitting from all of the main-series Final Fantasy releases, but the recent arrival of Cloud in Super Smash Bros. and the upcoming release of Final Fantasy Explorers in the West are both indications of the solid relationship between Nintendo and Square Enix. Another small piece of...
Perhaps a sign of things to come?
The e-Reader was an interesting and quirky peripheral for the Game Boy Advance. It seems like it never quite reached its full potential, but the idea of scanning cards into games to get additional content was a fairly novel idea at the time. In a sense, it could even be viewed as DLC before the concept had really...
News ZeNfA Productions is Bringing Drop It: Block Paradise! to Wii U in Q2 2016
The first major collaboration between ZeNfA and RCMADIAX
Some of you may be familiar with ZeNfA Prodcutions' latest game, ZaciSa's Last Stand. The studio set out to deliver a budget tower defense game, and - for better or worse - that's exactly what was delivered. While it's initial release wasn't too well received, the enhanced re-release fared a...
Nintendo Download 24th December (Europe)
Retro Mario goodness! Kung Fu fighting! Loads of Discounts! More!
It's the final Nintendo Download Update for Europe before Christmas, Xmas or 25th December, whatever you choose to call it. It brings a couple of popular retro Mario treats, a decent Wii U eShop title, a whole load of discounts and more besides. Let's get to it. Wii U eShop: Kung Fu...
Review Trauma Team (Wii U eShop / Wii)
Trauma Drama
Back in the early days of the Nintendo DS, Trauma Center: Under the Knife was a standout example of how the then-new touch screen controls could provide a fresh experience on the go. Atlus would then take its anime-pumped surgery games to the Wii, translating touch controls to motion controls, and found a winning combination there as...
Guide Learning How to Survive the Hostile World of Minecraft
It's dangerous to go alone
Though many are already veterans of Minecraft, some of you may be experiencing the open world sandbox game for the first time. Once you get the hang of things the mechanics seem pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit overwhelming when you're just getting your feet wet. As a result we've put together a list of...
Review Minecraft: Wii U Edition (Wii U eShop)
The best at its craft
It's difficult to describe the appeal of a game such as Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Though there is technically an 'end' to it, the whole experience isn't really about anything. You can explore caves. You can build houses. You can fight mobs in the night. You can farm crops and animals. On the surface, Minecraft seems like a...
Video Check Out This Footage of Paradise Lost: First Contact
Another promising Indie game for the Wii U eShop
It seems like 2D Metroidvania games are all the rage these days among Indie studios. This isn't necessarily a bad problem to have, considering that Nintendo and Konami don't seem keen to make more Metroid or Castlevania games in this vein, but these Indie attempts do tend to blend together. It's nice,...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition to Get Update 1.8.8 in 2016, Out Now on Sony and Microsoft Systems
A slow build
Earlier this week we tuned in to Microsoft Studios' Minecraft Monday to see if it was worth hosting on Nintendo Life; in other words, to see if Minecraft: Wii U Edition was being shown off. Unfortunately it wasn't, but the regular viewers over on Twitch were hugely excited; that's because update 1.8.8 - which is a notable one despite...
Review Jones on Fire (Wii U eShop)
Through the Fire and the Flames We Rescue Cats
If you have a cat anywhere nearby when you play Jones on Fire, it's going to start snooping around at what you're doing. As this is an endless runner about saving kitties from a raging inferno you're going to be hearing a lot of appreciative meows, and your cat's going to want to know what's up...
Nintendo Download 17th December (North America)
Minecraft, Smash Bros. DLC, Temple of Yog, discounts galore and more
It's that time once again for the Nintendo Download Update, and this week brings us a long-awaited sandbox game, a promising Wii U eShop exclusive, some enticing 3DS eShop options, DLC, a lot of discounts and more besides. There's plenty to cover, so let's get to it. Missed the...
News FAST Racing NEO is Going Up a Gear in January Update
Have that minimap you always wanted
FAST Racing NEO has already established itself as one of the year's finest Wii U eShop releases, and Shin'en Multimedia is keen to make it the best game it can be. An update is on the way in January which will add welcome features along with some improvements to stability. In addition to a minimap on the TV while...
Review Animal Crossing: Wild World (Wii U eShop / DS)
Why this world?
The very idea of a portable version of Animal Crossing filled this reviewer with glee when he first read about it back in the days of magazines and routers without wi-fi as standard. Animal Crossing: Wild World has always been a very special game to fans as it expanded upon the original GameCube title (for this region at least) but...
News Prepare to Get Creative With Minecraft-Inspired Game Discovery Coming to Wii U eShop Soon
Minecraft competition
The long-awaited Minecraft: Wii U Edition finally arrives on the Wii U eShop today, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that the mighty Mojang-developed game would have sent pretenders to the throne running and screaming into their blocky pixel castles. Not so, Cube Life: Island Survival continues to receive updates, uCraft is...
News Napster is Coming to the European Wii U eShop on 17th December
OK then...
When people talk about the music streaming scene, they're often comparing familiar brands when considering which service to use. Some go with the big boys of Google, Apple or Amazon, and others maybe opt for smaller companies like Spotify or the Jay Z-led Tidal. Napster though? It's not normally in the debate. Napster was actually pretty...
News Ryu, Roy and Famicom Colour R.O.B. amiibo Will Be Released On 18th March
Cloud, Corrin and Bayonetta amiibo also confirmed
In the final Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS video presentation, series creator Masahiro Sakurai has revealed more amiibo will be arriving in store soon and also confirmed amiibo development for the three newly announced fighters. Ryu from Street Fighter, Roy from the Fire Emblem series, and a...
Review Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (Wii U eShop / NES)
Nice videogame, shame about the plot
After dealing with that dark sword business Ryu Hayabusa might have hoped to put his feet up, but more evil schemes are in motion and so he must do his ninja thing once more. The powerup from the previous game that could provide duplicates to help in his quest has gone, but it turns out there is still another Ryu...
Big changes happening at Nintendo's US-based studio
Nintendo Software Technology - as we've reported in the past - has endured a troubled history of late. The studio responsible for Wave Race: Blue Storm and Mario vs. Donkey Kong was once a major player in Nintendo's network of internal studios, but the costly disaster that was Proje
Nintendo Download 17th December (Europe)
Minecraft! Retro Mario! Onimusha Tactics! Loads of discounts! More!
Another week is underway and we have the Nintendo Download Update for Europe. This week the star attraction is undoubtedly Minecraft on Wii U, but there are also quite a few retro offerings and some intriguing download options, in addition to a huge number of 3DS HOME Themes and...
News Minecraft Developer Acknowledges Demand for a Minecraft amiibo
Now, wouldn't that be something
Minecraft: Wii U Edition was announced about a week ago and has been met with mixed opinion. Many say the port is too late and the suggested price will no doubt turn many away. Nonetheless, it's still exciting that a game that seems so well fit for the Wii U is finally making its way onto the eShop. It's also notable...
News An ESRB Rating of Super Mario Galaxy for Wii U Has Been Spotted
No, it's not an HD remake
It seems to be the case that timing video game ratings can be a struggle for many developers, and often leads to the game being outed ahead of an official confirmation. We've seen this numerous times in the past ahead of Virtual Console releases, and most recently, with the premature announcement that Minecraft would be...
News Digital Foundry Gives a Thumbs Up to FAST Racing NEO
"The end results are simply fantastic in motion"
FAST Racing NEO is out now on the Wii U eShop, and as far as we're concerned it's a fantastic racing game. It delivers pacey action and looks great, standing out one of the store's best titles and also helping to fill that sci-fi racing itch some may have. Intriguingly, our chums at Digital Foundry...
Rumour PEGI Rating Outs the Development of a Tharsis Port for Wii U
The latest from Choice Provisions
Choice Provisions is a prolific studio responsible for engaging and quirky gameplay experiences. Titles such as Woah Dave!, the Bit. Trip Saga, and Dragon Fantasy: The Volumes of Westeria, are its most notable releases and they've all done pretty well commercially and critically. Perhaps in an effort to provide...
Review Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Wii U eShop / NES)
Tough but fun Ninja action - Part 2
For the first NES Ninja Gaiden game, Tecmo created a tough but fun action platformer. It was very different to the scrolling beat 'em up action of the arcade game, but people liked it; sales must have been good too, because Ryu Hayabusa returned for a second NES outing. Gameplay in Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword...
News Development is Progressing Smoothly on The Deer God for Wii U
We're absolutely fawning over those visuals
As was revealed back in mid-September, The Deer God will be making its way to the Wii U eShop, courtesy of Mobot Studios. The 2.5D action platformer from Crescent Moon Games sees players exploring a beautiful world as a humble deer, with the ability to reincarnate as other animals. Though it's already been...
News Jools Watsham Explains Why his Latest Game Didn't Release on Nintendo Platforms
"The market isn't quite as healthy as it once was for us"
Renegade Kid is a studio that has been supporting Nintendo consoles since the days of the DS. It arguably rose to prominence in current generation, though, as a higher volume of releases and the visibility offered by the eShop has catapulted it to higher levels of success. Generally speaking,...
News The New Shovel Knight Update Just Went Out on Wii U in Europe, 3DS Update Slightly Delayed
Paving the way for the amiibo
As many of you are aware, the Shovel Knight amiibo launches in Europe in about a week and in North America on 8th January. It'll bring a whole new wealth of features, such as a customizable knight, challenge stages, and co-op in the Wii U version. Yacht Club Games prepared an update to preempt the amiibo launch in...
Review Medabots AX: Metabee & Rokusho (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Medaboring
The previous Medabots game was an RPG which had some cool ideas and stayed quite true to the source material, but ultimately was undermined by a handful of major annoyances. Medabots AX, strangely enough, was actually originally released shortly before it, but this time around has seen the light of day second. Surprisingly, this game is...
Review Kirby Mass Attack (Wii U eShop / DS)
Safety in numbers
Known in Japan as Atsumete! Kirby, Kirby Mass Attack is the final title in the long-running HAL Laboratory series for the Nintendo DS. Originally released in 2011, Mass Attack moves away from traditional platform game design in preference of a completely touch-driven experience. Thankfully, unlike the original 2005 entry for DS –...
Nintendo Download 10th December (North America)
SteamWorld Heist! FAST Racing NEO! Terraria! Devil's Third! More!
It's time for the North American Nintendo Download Update, once again, and this week is full of enticing options. Two much-anticipated and terrific 'Nindie' download-only releases arrive on Wii U and 3DS, while each system also has a high profile retail release to consider. There are...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition Will Support the Wii U Pro Controller, Voice Chat, and USB Keyboards
Taking the edge off
Minecraft: Wii U Edition was only announced a couple days ago, and naturally it's been the center of much attention. While it may be true that this is news that has been long-awaited, the unfortunate exclusion of GamePad inventory management has turned many potential buyers away from picking up this version. Additionally, the...
Video Five Ways FAST Racing NEO Isn't F-Zero
That's not a bad thing
FAST Racing NEO is hitting the eShop on 10th December, and we've already shared our review in which we say it's downright excellent. We even mention F-Zero in the opening paragraph, yet the devil's in the detail - this is very much its own game, not a tribute act. Our video man Alex has decided to make this clear, so has...
Poll Are You Excited About Minecraft: Wii U Edition, Or Is It Too Late?
Building the hype train
One of the great will-they-won't-they sagas of the Wii U generation has come to an end; Microsoft Studios is bringing Minecraft: Wii U Edition to the eShop on 17th December. The concept and the platform have long seemed suited for each other, yet such has been the wait for it to happen that smaller developers have attempted...
Review Kirby: Power Paintbrush (Wii U eShop / DS)
Time has passed
Kirby: Power Paintbrush – also known as Canvas Curse in North America – was originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Following the trend of many other franchises during this new generation of handheld gaming, the HAL Laboratory-developed title moved away from traditional platform game conventions by utilising the defining...
News Medabots: Metabee and Rokusho Arrive on the Wii U North American VC This Thursday
Filling that robot combat gap in the library
Medabots is a series that never really caught on much in the West. Something of a 'me-too' Pokémon series, the franchise instead focuses on building robot warrior Medabots instead of training monsters. It has some interesting ideas, such as how individual robot parts have their own health gauges, but...
News Minecraft on Wii U Won't Feature Inventory Management on the GamePad Screen
Oh...
For those of you that are behind the curve, Nintendo's 'big news' this Monday was the official confirmation that Minecraft will be coming to the Wii U. This has been news that many have been waiting to hear for a long time, as the Wii U seems like it's set up almost perfectly for the game when one considers how the GamePad could be utilized...
News Tabletop Gallery and Avoider Release on 7th January in North America
The latest from RCMADIAX
RCMADIAX may not be the most popular studio on the Wii U eShop, but nonetheless it has about a dozen games under its belt. It was revealed about a month ago that there would be a new game called Avoider releasing sometime in Q1 and we now have a release date for that and another somewhat puzzling release. Avoider will be...
Review Word Party (Wii U eShop)
Where's the party at?
The Wii generation brought about countless games that ended with the word "party." Some were a blast, like Boom Blox Bash Party, while others were downright miserable minigame collections (we're never going to a Game Party again). Lightwood Games' latest word-inspired eShop title Word Party makes us think it's time to start...
Review FAST Racing NEO (Wii U eShop)
Christmas comes early for race fans
FAST Racing NEO is a game that seeks to fill the F-Zero-sized hole in every Nintendo fan's heart. Shin'en's racer is quite different from Nintendo's classic franchise, but it still does a great job at giving that high speed racing fix that some Wii U owners are desiring the most. The first thing we should note...
News Gone Home is No Longer on its Way to the Wii U eShop
Looks like it's just gone home
As some of you may be aware, Gone Home was just recently re-confirmed to be coming to consoles. The popular Indie game got its start on the PC in 2013 and acquired something of a cult following. Majesco Entertainment was due to assist in bringing it to consoles earlier this year, but the deal unfortunately fell through...
Live Watch Microsoft's Minecraft Mondays Stream, Here's Hoping for Wii U Footage
"Exciting news", for those that haven't heard
Earlier today Nintendo confirmed that Minecraft: Wii U Edition is coming to the system's eShop on 17th December, and will include six free DLC packs as standard, with 16 more available to buy. With future Nintendo-specific content also promised, it may be worth watching this Microsoft Studios Minecraft...
Review Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Contra-ry to popular opinion...
The Contra series of games includes some of the run-and-gun genre's greatest titles; along with the Metal Slug series you won't find a finer bunch of ridiculously tough, immaculately designed platform action experiences. We've already been blessed with a Wii U Virtual Console port of Konami's 1992 SNES masterpiece...
News Minecraft Finally Digs Its Way Onto the Wii U eShop on 17th December
Six free add-ons and Nintendo content in the works
Update: It's been confirmed in a Microsoft live stream that the Wii U Edition of Minecraft will get a physical retail release 'later', but is eShop only - as expected - on 17th December. Original Article: Just before Nintendo's November Direct a PEGI rating emerged for Minecraft on Wii U. It...
Nintendo Download 10th December (Europe)
SteamWorld Heist! FAST Racing NEO! AVGN! Terraria! More!
Another week kicks off with the European Nintendo Download Update, and it's certainly one of the stronger weeks in recent times for eShop fans. Both the Wii U and 3DS have highly anticipated 'Nindie' releases, while a hugely popular sandbox / crafting adventure also arrives on the portable as...
News SteamWorld Heist Will Have Over 100 Weapons and Nearly 100 Hats
Looking fresh
SteamWorld Heist is only a few days away from release now, and hype for the game is at an all-time high. Offering up a distinct experience from its predecessor, SteamWorld Dig, many are curious how Image & Form's latest entry in the SteamWorld series will stack up in comparison. Based off of what's been shown up to this point, it...
Video Check Out This Explanation of How Steamworld Heist Plays
Pulling a job
A few days ago, it was revealed that Steamworld Heist will be releasing on 10th December, a little less than a week from now. Those who buy it before the end of the year will receive a discounted price and 3DS buyers will have the added bonus of a home screen theme that will become unavailable once 2016 begins. In order to build hype...
Video FAST Racing NEO's Hero Mode Melts Further Faces with an F-Zero Twist
Shield your eyes
FAST Racing NEO is fast, we've certainly established that, but lurking in the game's menus is another mode that takes the speed to further levels of ridiculousness. Hero Mode bring in new rules and mechanics that aren't found in the rest of the game, so rather than just trying to get around and rank as high as you can, these...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part Three
Martin Sauter talks about creating landscapes for racing
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases, with its arrival due on 10th December. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team Colonel & Protoman (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Playing it safe once more
While many would argue that Mega Man Battle Network 4 brought with it some unwelcome changes, Capcom did not seem to pay much heed to fan complaints. Indeed, the fifth (!) entry is a fairly by-the-numbers sequel, featuring little in the way of changes or additions and is mostly similar to its predecessor. Mega Man villains...
News Yacht Club Games Unveils Full Details of Shovel Knight amiibo
Arrives in Europe on 11th December, North America on 8th January
When Yacht Club Games lifted the lid on the Shovel Knight amiibo, it certainly came as a pleasant surprise. Third party amiibo were an inevitability, but few individuals likely expected the first one to be Shovel Knight, of all characters. The release date of the figure has been up in...
Nintendo Download 3rd December (North America)
Xenoblade Chronicles X! Dementium! Pokémon Picross! More!
The time is upon us, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download update. This week brings a huge retail release on Wii U, a couple of high profile 3DS eShop releases and some other tempting options. Let's get to the details. Missed the European Nintendo Download Update earlier in...
Video We Might Melt Your Face Off With This Speed Comparison for FAST Racing NEO
It's not called MODERATELY QUICK Racing NEO, after all
With FAST Racing NEO it's all in the name - it's futuristic sci-fi racing that's supposed to feel ludicrously quick, bringing to mind classic franchises like F-Zero and WipEout. In total it has three core speed settings - Subsonic, Supersonic and Hypersonic, or as we call them 'quite fast',...
Review Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (Wii U eShop / NES)
A tough but enjoyable adventure for Bimmy and friends
Bimmy. If there's one thing people know about Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones, it's Bimmy – a typo during the game's (multiplayer) intro that humorously renames the main protagonist. There's more to this third NES entry in the Double Dragon series than a small chuckle however. There's a...
"There's a ton of game there, but there's always room for more!"
Wayforward is a studio that has made its name on the excellent 2D platformers that it's put it out. While titles like Ducktales: Remastered, Contra 4, and Aliens: Infestation do an excellent job of showcasing the studio's talent, it's Shantae – Wayforward's flagship franchise –...
Review Christmas Adventure of Rocket Penguin (Wii U eShop)
Santa's not the only one flying through the skies
We love the holiday season here at Nintendo Life, so how could we pass up the chance to review Christmas Adventure of Rocket Penguin for the Wii U eShop? Released on the eve of the Christmas season as malls across the globe start pumping seasonal tunes to their shoppers, it's nice to see games get in...
News FAST Racing NEO Release Date and Pricing Speed Into View
Start your engines
It's an eagerly anticipated Wii U eShop exclusive, and now Shin'en Multimedia has finally confirmed the launch details for FAST Racing NEO; the good news is that we'll be on the grid soon. It will arrive in North America and Europe on 10th December, and even better it'll be at a rather reasonable €14.99 / $14.99 / £10.99...
Review The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Wii U eShop / DS)
An epic sail
When thinking about the best games from the Legend of Zelda series, many automatically jump straight in at the deep end with the big, home console releases; games such as Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker always seem to make it to the top of peoples' lists. Games often overlooked are those that have appeared on Nintendo's portable...
Video Three Minute Showcase Demonstrates Action and Looting in Wii U Exclusive Lost Reavers
Or Project Treasure, as you may know it
When Bandai Namco confirmed Project Treasure as a free-to-start Wii U eShop exclusive at the start of 2015, it raised eyebrows and some hopes. Four-player co-op action games are relatively common, but a free-to-play entry in the genre on Wii U is certainly a unique proposition. Now called Lost Reavers it's...