Typoman is a game built around words. Its puzzles are words, its platforms are words, and even its enemies are word. Yet, throughout the experience, there are three words that will stand out above the rest: creative, but disappointing.

More: Brainseed Factory, Headup Games, highlight, indie, top, Typoman

Super Mario Maker devs found it a bit tough to implement Yoshi

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 14 Comments

Yoshi’s inclusion in Super Mario Maker partially came about thanks to the involvement of producer Takashi Tezuka. In a recent issue of Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Tezuka and director Yosuke Oshino spoke about his appearance in the game:

Oshino: We decided to put in characteristic actions like Raccoon Mario, Caped Mario and Propeller Mario during the first phases of development. But Yoshi had much controversy…
Tezuka: I was a bit pushy in requesting to have Yoshi. There were reasons like being responsible for the Wii U game Yoshi’s Woolly World, wanting to use the Yoshi amiibo, and wanting to have some kind of collaboration as it is also Yoshi’s 25th anniversary.
Oshino: But adding Yoshi was complicated, so we discussed what should we do.

More: interview, Nintendo Dream, Super Mario Maker, Takashi Tezuka, top, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Yosuke Oshino

Nintendo UK on Xenoblade X’s audience and marketing, pleased with Xenoblade 3D’s performance

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in New Nintendo 3DS, News, Wii U | 131 Comments

Nintendo has one more big Wii U game due out in the west this year: Xenoblade Chronicles X. The massive RPG will be released towards the very beginning of next month.

Speaking with MCV, Nintendo UK product manager Gemma Hall sounded off on who Xenoblade Chronicles X is intended for, and how the company will go about marketing the title:

“Xenoblade Chronicles X will speak to anyone who loves epic RPGs, as it has everything you could want from a big sweeping sci-fi adventure, with rich diverse landscapes, deep customization options, a unique battling system, and a host of memorable characters. We are therefore not only targeting it towards fans of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, but to broader JRPG fans looking for their next epic RPG adventure. The game is visually sumptuous and will demand the attention of genre fans.
We will be focusing activity initially around Xenoblade Chronicles fans, and then broadening out to wider RPG fans with a tightly targeted digital campaign. Due to the highly visual nature of this game, we are concentrating on video formats that show off the many stunning facets of the title, including the huge open world, giant alien monsters, and the awesome Skell transformations.
We have a wealth of Wii U games that will be part of our Christmas campaign, including Splatoon and Super Mario Maker. However, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a more serious RPG offering, with stunning graphics and sweeping sci-fi story, and so we expect this to open up the Wii U to the more hardcore RPG audience who won’t want to miss out on this future genre classic.”

More: Gemma Hall, interview, Monolith Soft, top, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Xenoblade Chronicles X

Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition lets you play Revelation three weeks before eShop launch

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

Last week’s Nintendo Direct included a few news updates about Fire Emblem Fates. One of these was the reveal of a limited edition for North America.

GameStop’s website includes an interesting tidbit about the special release. If you purchase the Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition, you can play the Revelation story path three weeks before it launches on the eShop. Of course, this is also the only way to obtain all three versions of the game on a single cartridge.

Thanks to killerdark12345 for the tip.

Source

More: Fire Emblem Fates, Intelligent Systems, top

Happy 9th birthday to the Wii

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii | 108 Comments

November tends to be a busy month for gaming birthdays. Many consoles launch during the month, and the same goes for several high-profile games.

Yesterday we celebrated the Wii U’s third birthday plus the fact that the GameCube had come out in North America fourteen years ago. It’s another birthday for Nintendo, as the Wii U debuted nine years ago today. Who would have thought that the console would go on to have the type of success that it did?!

More: top

Nintendo Download (11/19/15, North America) – Typoman and more

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

This week’s North American Nintendo Downloads are as follows:

Wii U Retail

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash – $49.99 (available Friday)

Wii U Download

Lucentek – Activate – $9.99
Totem Topple – $2.99
Typoman – $13.99

Wii U Virtual Console

Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival – $7.99

Wii U Demo

ZaciSa’s Last Stand

3DS Download

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon – $39.99 (available Friday)

3DS Download

Family Fishing – $5.99
I Love My Pony – $24.99

3DS Themes

– Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Bonus Theme: For a limited time, you can get a free theme when you buy the Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon game for Nintendo 3DS from the Nintendo eShop. Offer expires Dec. 6, 2015.
– SEGA Saturn Theme

eShop Sales

Wii U/3DS

– Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS is on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 24 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 1.
– Mighty Switch Force! 2 for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS is 50 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $2.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 2.
– The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, Amazing Spider-Man 2 for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS and more from Activision are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 4.

Wii U

– TNT Racers – Nitro Machines Edition is more than 35 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3.
– Blocky Bot and Paper Monsters Recut are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3.
– KEYTARI: 8-bit Music Maker is more than 35 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $4.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 20 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 1.
– Gemology is more than 10 percent off (reduced from $6.99 to $5.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 23 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Nov. 29.
– Brave Tank Hero, Alphadia Genesis and more games from Natsume Inc. are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 24 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 1.
– Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition is 50 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $4.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 2.

3DS

– AeternoBlade is over 45 percent off (reduced from $14.99 to $7.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Nov. 30.
Funfair Party Games, Jewel Match 3 and more games from Joindots are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Nov. 26.
– Hello Kitty Picnic with Sanrio Friends and Hello Kitty and Sanrio Friends 3D Racing are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 23 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 7.
– Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends, Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit! and more games from Majesco Entertainment are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 23 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Nov. 30.
– A-Train 3D: City Simulator, Gotcha Racing and more games from Natsume Inc. are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 24 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 1.
– DOOORS is 50 percent off (reduced from $3.99 to $1.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 16.
– Mighty Switch Force! is 50 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $2.99) starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 2.
– AERO PORTER, BUGS vs. TANKS! and more games from Level-5 International America, Inc. are on sale starting 9 a.m. PT on Nov. 25 until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 2.

Activities

New Photos with Mario Characters! Check out the newest members of the Photos with Mario series of Nintendo eShop Cards this fall at select retailers. Customers can buy a special-edition $10 Nintendo eShop Card and get the new Bowser, Koopa Troopa or Luigi AR card at no additional cost. Use your Nintendo 3DS system to play and pose with Mushroom Kingdom characters in the free Photos with Mario app.

Source: Nintendo PR

More: Nintendo Download, top, Virtual Console

[Review] Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash

Posted on 9 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in Features, Reviews | 66 Comments

System: Wii U
Release date: November 20, 2015
Developer: Camelot
Publisher Nintendo

Author: Austin

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is a game that lacks guidance when you start it up; it’s a mish mash of menu options, and they don’t tell you which icon to try first. But where Smash Bros. uses a lack of direction to overwhelm– like Charlie entering Wonka’s entirely edible room– Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash feels a lot less excited about its own content. Even the game can’t be bothered to show you around.

“Well, here’s all this stuff I guess.”

What should I do first?

“Uhhhh…”

More: Camelot, highlight, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, top

New Hyrule Warriors Legends details – Linkle’s story and crossbows, new weapons, more

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 54 Comments

A few days ago, the Japanese Hyrule Warriors Legends Twitter account teased more news for the game. Famitsu has come through with a four-page report on the title.

First, a note about stages. With the introduction of the new Wind Waker episode, the stages themselves will have a slight change in atmosphere that players can look forward to. As an example, Lake Hylia has an evening scene added. Valley of Seers also has a blue sky again due to being liberated from Cia’s magic.

More: details roundup, Famitsu, Hyrule Warriors Legends, Koei Tecmo, Omega Force, Team Ninja, top

Media Create sales (11/9 – 11/15)

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS, News, Wii U | 5 Comments

The latest Japanese hardware sales from Media Create are as follows:

PS4 – 27,311
New 3DS LL – 21,800
Wii U – 17,921
Vita – 11,821
New 3DS – 5,264
PS3 – 1,751
3DS – 968
Vita TV – 680
3DS LL – 561
Xbox One – 524

For comparison’s sake, here are the hardware numbers from last week:

PS4 – 33,442
New 3DS LL – 18,496
Vita – 13,085
New 3DS – 10,448
Wii U – 9,935
PS3 – 1,716
3DS – 965
Xbox One – 825
Vita TV – 723
3DS LL – 474

And here are the software charts:

1. [PS4] Call of Duty: Black Ops III – 43,629 / 187,446
2. [3DS] Project X Zone 2 – 40,945 / NEW
3. [PS4] Assassin’s Creed Syndicate – 32,078 / NEW
4. [WIU] Splatoon – 21,098 / 784,436
5. [3DS] Disney Magical World 2 – 19,605 / 93,429
6. [PS4] Need for Speed – 18,598 / NEW
7. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch Busters – 15,580 / 1,729,740
8. [WIU] Super Mario Maker – 12,442 / 378,609
9. [PS3] Call of Duty: Black Ops III – 11,123 / 32,022
10. [PSV] God Eater Resurrection – 8,752 / 155,440
11. [3DS] Zelda: Tri Force Heroes – 7,670 / 94,136
12. [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition – 6,880 / 397,146
13. [3DS] Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer – 5,645 / 1,120,354
14. Pro Yakyuu Famista Returns – 4,618 / 51,863
15. [3DS] Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon – 3,960 / 257,263
16. [3DS] Picross 3D 2 – 3,482 / 72,643
17. [PS3] World Soccer Winning Eleven 2016 – 3,093 / 94,614
18. [PS4] Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force – 3,057 / 17,449
19. [PS4] God Eater Resurrection – 2,907 / 35,068
20. [3DS] PriPara Mezase! Idol * Grand Prix No.1! – 2,819 / 47,632