The news of Legend of Kay’s revival was unexpected, to say the least. It originally launched for the PlayStation 2 back in 2005, and ended up as more of a niche platformer for the console. Yet now the game is back in a remastered format for Wii U and a few other platforms, thanks to Nordic Games and developer Kaiko.

Nordic recently announced that Legend of Kay Anniversary is slated for spring. With the title’s launch coming sooner rather than later, we caught up with Kaiko’s Peter Thierolf for an interview. We asked Thierolf about why Legend of Kay is returning after so many years, what sort of improvements are being implemented, how it will play on Wii U, and more.

Read on below for our full interview.

More: highlight, Kaiko, Legend of Kay Anniversary, Nordic Games, Peter Thierolf, top

[Let’s Talk] Your thoughts on Mario Kart 8’s new DLC

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk, Wii U | 13 Comments

Let’s Talk #5: Your thoughts on Mario Kart 8’s new DLC and 200cc mode

Mario Kart 8’s second wave of DLC has finally arrived. Players now have access to eight additional courses, three new characters, and four more vehicles. Plus, let’s not forget the new 200cc mode that can be obtained through the latest update! Given all of the new content that Mario Kart 8 has added, it seems like the perfect topic for this week’s Let’s Talk.

Unlike previous Let’s Talks, I don’t have much to say about this one… yet! That’s largely in part because I just haven’t had any time to give the new DLC a go yet. I’m hoping to change that sometime this weekend. That being said, I absolutely love the courses in this latest DLC batch. Ribbon Road might be my favorite based on what I’ve seen due to all of the little details.

How many of you have gone hands-on with the new DLC? What’s your favorite track? How are you liking the new characters? Have you tried out 200cc yet? Would you be interested in seeing even more Mario Kart 8 DLC? Sound off in the comments below!

Last week’s topic: The future of 3D Mario games (highlights)

Vigilante_blade

I personally want a Super Mario 64 more open game. While I think there is some merit in Super Mario Galaxy, (apart from the Wiimote controls), I quickly grew bored of the extremely linear level design. Besides, I think it’s been a while since we had a 64-style Mario game.

sonicfan1373

I think we need a balance between linearity and exploration. I think that is one of the things Super Mario Sunshine did well, at least conceptually. Much of the shine collecting occurred in a walled garden setting, whereas there were also linear courses (albeit they were somewhat dull).

I would not mind something like that in future Mario games, having exploration based worlds where you collect stars by completing missions, collection red coins, searching for hidden coins or star parts, and competing in races but also having these worlds connect to more linear courses that really test your platforming, though unlike Sunshine’s somewhat dull courses these could be more like courses from Super Mario 3D Land/World or Galaxy.

FrostedFireFly

I don’t want another Galaxy game because I think the Galaxy mechanic would lose it’s wonder after a 3rd game. I’d still buy it if they made one though, but I’d prefer they didn’t.

I don’t want another 3D World either though… The games felt fun, but extremely underwhelming, making it not really feel like a main Mario game in the series. A sequel to Sunshine would be nice but if possible, I want a completely new Single Player experience using a newer mechanic for the overall game perhaps.

I doubt it’d happen, but I’d like a new 3D Mario game that mixes it’s elements with the Super Mario RPG game back on the Snes… Yeah I guess you could say I just want a new Super Mario RPG but imagine jumping around like you can in Galaxy in actual inhabited Mario places. Have you seen the villages used in the background for Mario Kart 8 tracks!? Why can’t we explore a world like THAT in video games???

More: highlight, top

[Feature] Did Mario Kart 8 ruin Battle Mode?

Posted on 9 years ago by Jarop(@gamrah) in Features, Game of the Month, Wii U | 8 Comments

For all of the fresh and welcome adjustments Mario Kart 8 brought to the series, there was one mode that saw a massive set of changes much to the dismay of many: Battle Mode. Doing away with the iconic arena stages prevalent in previous entries, Mario Kart 8 opted instead to re-use existing tracks to create somewhat of a joust around the courses, an unwelcome change to many fans. Combine that with the initial lack of a mini-map, the implication for couch co-op with a twelve-player cap and the fact that the tracks were larger and more open than ever, many fans felt that Nintendo had missed the mark when it came to capturing what the Grand Prix’s little brother was all about. Battle Mode has undergone a number of changes over the eight entries in the franchise. We’ve seen the size of the arena grow from two to twelve, the addition of bikes and countless other tweaks to the original inclusion back in 1992, but is the shift in focus really to blame entirely on Mario Kart 8? What should Battle Mode in a modern day Mario Kart even look like anyway?

More: highlight, Mario Kart 8

Famitsu’s most wanted games (4/26/15)

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 3 Comments

It’s time for the latest Famitsu’s most wanted games chart! The main highlight this week is Fire Emblem If, which has now climbed into the third spot. Rhythm Heaven: The Best Plus has also entered the lineup.

Head past the break for the full chart. All votes were cast between April 9 and April 15.

More: Famitsu, Famitsu's most wanted

First round of songs confirmed for Guitar Hero Live

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 1 Comment

Guitar Hero Live’s first wave of songs have been confirmed through the game’s Facebook page. The soundtrack will be comprised of Top 40 songs including Ed Sheeran’s “Sing” and “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men, “Don’t Owe You a Thang” by Gary Clark Jr., “Cry of Achilles” by Alter Bridge, and more.

The full first ten songs are listed in the image below. Those who are interested in any of the music can have a listen by checking out the following Spotify playlist:

Source

More: Activision, FreeStyleGames, Guitar Hero Live

NicoNico Chokaigi 2015 – Splatoon live stream recording (day two)

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 2 Comments

We now have a complete recording of Splatoon’s second stream at NicoNico Chokaigi 2015. Watch it in full below.

More: NicoNico Chokaigi 2015, Splatoon

Pre-order updates (4/26/15)

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 0 comments

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

Wii U

Guitar Hero Live – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Mario Maker – Amazon, Best Buy (new), GameStop
LEGO Dimensions – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Rodea: The Sky Soldier – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Legend of Kay HD – Amazon
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Amazon
LEGO Jurassic World – Amazon, GameStop
Terraria – Amazon
Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem – Best Buy
The Legend of Zelda – Amazon, Best Buy
Xenoblade Chronicles X – Amazon, Best Buy
Yoshi’s Woolly World – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Splatoon – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Devil’s Third – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

3DS

Project X Zone 2 – Amazon
Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson – Amazon, GameStop
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Rodea: The Sky Soldier – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven – Amazon, GameStop
Fire Emblem – Best Buy
LEGO Marvel’s Avengers – Amazon
LEGO Jurassic World – Amazon, GameStop
Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Terraria – Amazon
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker – Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop

More: pre-order

Update: Treyarch comments on Black Ops III platforms – CallofDuty.com now supporting Nintendo Network IDs

Posted on 9 years ago by Dennis Gagliardotto(@LyonHart_) in News, Wii U | 57 Comments

Update 2: Perhaps there’s a tiny bit of hope after all? It’s not too much to go on, but take a look at this excerpt from a Eurogamer article:

“We’re working on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. That’s it,” he (Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia) added. As for other platforms such as PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and – stop smirking at the back – Wii U? We were directed to Activision, which said it had no further platform announcements at this time.

Lamia didn’t explicitly say that Black Ops III isn’t in the works for Wii U. With Nintendo versions, Activision has announced those after the initial Call of Duty reveals. But we’ve never seen a case in which PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U versions were confirmed at a later date. Is that’s what’s going to happen this time around? I really have no clue anymore. It won’t be fun if we’re waiting months to find out if a Wii U version is/isn’t happening!

Update from Brian (4/26): Bumping this to the top. I don’t usually like talking about “x game not coming to Wii U” unless a developer explains/comments on the situation, so I’ll leave this here instead.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III was speculated as possibly coming to Wii U, but it seems as though it won’t be happening. The official website says that it’s only for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

In a strange turn of events, despite Wii U seemingly being dropped from Call of Duty support, Nintendo Network IDs have shown up at CallofDuty.com for you to link your profile with.

It’s interesting to note that with the recent announcement of Black Ops III, and the fact it’s Treyarch’s turn to develop this year’s title – who’s also responsible for every Call of Duty to make it to the Wii U – this leads to speculation that we could possibly be seeing Black Ops III make an appearance on Nintendo’s console despite missing 2014’s Advanced Warfare by Sledgehammer Games.

A couple of months back, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was seen briefly in Target’s database for Wii U, and though it’s not out of the question that the Wii U could be getting it this year instead of Black Ops III considering Treyarch handled the Ghosts port from Infinity Ward, it would also be impractical to have Treyarch working on two games simultaneously, not to mention marketing an older title when the interest has quickly passed would be a tough thing to sell (looking at you, Watch Dogs).

What do you make of this? Would you like to see Black Ops III make it to the Wii U this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!