Villa Gorilla has announced Yoku’s Island Express, “an open world/metroidvania-style pinball adventure”. The game is planned for Switch and other platforms.

Yoku’s Island Express kicks off as Yoku the dung beetle arrives on the beach of Mokumana Island as the new postman. However, the ancient island God is trapped in a restless sleep and the islanders are being forced to deal with quakes and storms brought forth by its nightmares. In the game, which mixes platform navigation with pinball mechanics across a large open world, you’ll “soar through the air, vacuum explosive snails, fight a Screetch, feed starving lemurs, discover the mystery of the Fruit Altar, wake an old god, and hopefully help tiny Yoku rebuild the island post-office.”

Here’s a rundown of features:

– Genre combining open world pinballing
– Unique beautifully handpainted artwork
– An island filled with unique creatures, both big and small
– Action-packed nonlinear gameplay that awards exploration

You can watch a trailer for Yoku’s Island Express below. The project is quite far off as it won’t be ready until Winter 2017 / 2018.

Source: Villa Gorilla PR

More: top, Villa Gorilla, Yoku's Island Express

Screenshots of this week’s European Nintendo Downloads (02/23/2017)

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, Screenshots, Wii U eShop | 2 Comments

Check out some screenshots of this week’s Nintendo Downloads in Europe:

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Source: Nintendo PR

More: Europe, Nintendo Download

Famitsu’s most wanted games (2/19/17)

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | 0 comments

It’s time for the latest Famitsu‘s most wanted games chart. New entries include Fire Emblem Echoes and The Great Ace Attorney 2.

Head past the break for the full chart. All votes were cast between February 2 and February 8.

More: Famitsu, Famitsu's most wanted

File sizes for numerous Switch games

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 124 Comments

Nintendo has updated its Japanese website with the file sizes for a number of upcoming Switch games. Dragon Quest I-II seems to be the biggest of the bunch out of the initial lineup at 32 GB.

Here’s the listing of sizes we know about thus far:

– Dragon Quest Heroes I-II – 32 GB
– Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 7 GB
– Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with Power-Up Kit – 5 GB
– Snipperclips – 1.60 GB
– I Am Setsuna – 1.40 GB
– Puyo Puyo Tetris – 1.09 GB

Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s size was reported awhile back. That one requires 13.4 GB of space.

Source

More: file size

Super Mario Run maintenance taking place tomorrow

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, News | 0 comments

Nintendo will be conducting maintenance on Super Mario Maker for a few hours tomorrow. A notice has been sent out to players about the downtime as a warning of sorts. If you’re playing a stage when maintenance begins, coins earned during the stage and your Toad Rally results may not be saved.

According to Nintendo, the maintenance will happen between 20:00 – 23:00. A timezone isn’t specified, but it should take place in the evening in North America on February 20, and during the early hours on February 21 in Europe.

More: Super Mario Run

Nintendo’s Bill Trinen on why Zelda: Breath of the Wild is getting DLC and the mixed reaction

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 209 Comments

Nintendo announced an Expansion Pass for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild last week. Those who buy it upon release on March 3 will have access to a few items, but the real content will be delivered in the summer and the holiday season with additions such as a new hard mode, new dungeon, and a new original story.

Some fans were taken aback by the DLC announcement. The reaction has been mixed, as is evident through the likes to dislikes ratio from the news shared on Nintendo’s YouTube page.

Nintendo’s Bill Trinen stopped by the latest episode of IGN’s Nintendo Voice Chat podcast this week to chat more about Switch. During the show, he was asked about his response to the Zelda DLC reaction. That prompted him to explain Nintendo’s approach, and Trinen shared an in-depth answer as to why Nintendo is deciding to create DLC for Breath of the Wild.

He said:

More: Bill Trinen, interview, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, top

Vaccine footage

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U eShop | 1 Comment

Vaccine is hitting the European Wii U eShop on Thursday, with the North American version set soon after. An early look at the game can be found below.

More: indie, Rainy Night Creations, Vaccine

First direct-feed Disgaea 5 Complete footage

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 16 Comments

Update: There’s been a lot of talk about the click sound Switch makes when you connect the Joy-Con controllers (plus a bit of a video effect). You can watch that at the 7:13 mark below.

Original: During a live stream at the end of last week, Nippon Ichi showed some of the first direct-feed gameplay of Disgaea 5 Complete running on Switch. We have the full recording below.

Disgaea 5 is heading to Japan for Switch’s launch on March 3. The North American and European release will follow at the end of May.

More: Disgaea 5 Complete, Nippon Ichi, NIS America

Nintendo considered making Link 25-30 years old in Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wolf Link design talk

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GameCube, News, Wii, Wii U | 11 Comments

A few years ago, Nintendo and Dark Horse brought out The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia. The book showed a bunch of concept art from the series, including Twilight Princess. There were many interesting designs depicted for characters such as Link. In some of the drawings, Link looked quite a bit older than his final version in the game. Now we have an idea about the potential age Nintendo was thinking about.

Nintendo artists Yusuke Nakano and Satoru Takizawa spoke about designing Link for Twilight Princess in the new Zelda: Art & Artifacts book. Nakano touched on how Nintendo considered making the character “twenty-five… maybe even thirty.” The intent was “making him quite sturdy”

Also worth mentioning, when designing Wolf Link, Takizawa noted how Nintendo thought about giving him a wolf cut hairstyle, “which would have given him a more wolfish look.”

Here’s the full transcript about Link’s design in Twilight Princess:

More: interview, Satoru Takizawa, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, top, Yusuke Nakano

Pre-order updates (2/19/17)

Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | 0 comments

Below are the latest Nintendo products that can be currently pre-ordered at retailers:

* Save 20 percent on pre-orders with Amazon Prime or Best Buy’s GCU. 20 percent off pre-orders on Amazon Canada as well. On Amazon UK, it’s £2 off.

United States

Switch

Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass (new) – Amazon
Super Bomberman R – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
1-2-Switch – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ – Amazon, GameStop
Skylanders Imaginators – Amazon, GameStop
Just Dance 2017 – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Has Been Heroes – GameStop
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Puyo Puyo Tetris – Amazon, GameStop
LEGO City Undercover – Amazon, GameStop
Disgaea 5 Complete – Amazon
Arms – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Splatoon 2 – Amazon, Best Buy, Splatoon
NBA 2K18 – Amazon, Best Buy
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Amazon, Best Buy
Fire Emblem Warriors – Amazon, Best Buy
Super Mario Odyssey – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Amazon, Best Buy
FIFA – Amazon, Best Buy
Minecraft: Switch Edition – Amazon, Best Buy
Redout – Amazon, GameStop
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – Amazon, Best Buy
Minecraft: Story Mode – The Complete Adventure – GameStop

Switch add-ons

Switch Pro Controller – Best Buy, GameStop
Joy-Con (L/R) – Gray – Amazon
Joy-Con (L) – Gray – Amazon
AC adapter – Amazon

Switch accessories

Switch Hybrid Cover – Amazon
Switch Game Traveler Deluxe System Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Elite Player Backpack – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Secure Game Case – Mario Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Secure Game Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Official Play & Charge Car Adapter – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Mario Icon Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Zelda Chat Earbuds – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Red – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Blue – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Gel Guards – Gray – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Armor Guards (2) Pack – Red – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Armor Guards (2) Pack – Blue – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Deluxe Game Case – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Zelda Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Zelda Collector’s Edition Screen Protection & Skins – Amazon
PDP Afterglow LVL 1 Chat Communicator for Nintendo Switch – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Starter Kit – Link’s Tunic Edition – Amazon
PDP Nintendo Switch Premium Console Case – Mario Edition – Amazon
HORI Game Card Case 24 (Zelda Breath of the Wild Version) – Amazon
HORI Tough Pouch (Black) – Amazon
HORI Game Card Case 24 – Amazon
HORI Compact Playstand – Amazon

Wii U

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass (new) – Amazon
Darksiders Warmastered Edition – Amazon

3DS

Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (pre-order for capybara plushie) – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Mario Sports Superstars – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Runbow Pocket Deluxe Edition – New 3DS only – Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia – Amazon, GameStop
Fire Emblem Warriors – Amazon, GameStop

Systems

Pikachu New 3DS XL – GameStop

amiibo

Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Rider) – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Link (Archer) – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Zelda – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Bokoblin – Best Buy, GameStop
Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Guardian – Best Buy, GameStop
Fire Emblem Echoes – Alm & Celica – Best Buy

Accessories

Retro Fighters Pro NES Controller to NES Classic Edition Adapter – Amazon

Books

The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts – Amazon
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Collector’s Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide – Amazon
Pokemon Sun/Moon: Alola Region Edition Pokedex & Postgame Adventure Guide – Amazon
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Collector’s Edition guide – Amazon (save $16)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide – Amazon (save $10)
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Deluxe Edition guide (new) – Amazon (save $32)
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 3 – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 4 – Amazon
The Art of Splatoon – Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 5 Amazon

Other

Zelda 30th anniversary concert album (new) – Amazon
Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Link Nendoroid (Deluxe Version) – Amazon
Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Link Nendoroid – Amazon