Latest Features - Page 6
Poll Which Starter Pokémon Will You Choose In Legends: Z-A?
Choices, choices...
What's the most important part of a Pokémon game? The roster of 'mons? The setting? The story? Well, sort of the first, but tangential — it's the starter Pokémon. We now know just who the starter trio of Pokémon Legends: Z-A will be. And, similarly to Legends: Arceus, it's a triple threat of returning favourites. Chikorita,...
Opinion Pokémon Legends: Z-A Looks Cool, But It's Lacking Arceus' Unique Style
We're getting Scarlet and Violet vibes
One year after its initial announcement, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has finally been showcased properly during the most recent Pokémon Presents, giving us a good look at the upcoming title's gameplay and features. It wasn't quite the deep dive many of us were hoping for, but it was certainly enough to whet our...
Feature Strictly Limited Responds To Switch Delays And Discontent, And Details An Ambitious Target
"Our priority remains delivering on past commitments"
With plenty of physical game lovers resisting the shift to digital distribution, the world of boutique, limited-press publishing is booming, with multiple options for anyone desperate to have smaller-scale releases on disc or cartridge rather than a hard drive or SD card. It's a risky business,...
Talking Point Can Nintendo Keep Up The One-Game-A-Month Release Pace On Switch 2?
Keepie uppies
With Switch entering its ninth year on 3rd March 2025, and with over 150 million units sold and more million-selling games than we've had hot dinners, it's hard to remember a time when Nintendo pooling its portable and home console software teams behind a single system felt like a risky move. As Wii U foundered, it was the...
Talking Point Our 2025 Pokémon Presents Predictions - What Are You Hoping For?
Nintendo Life used Detect!
Much like the Mad Titan Thanos, the arrival of a Pokémon Presents showcase on Pokémon Day was inevitable. With the date now official and our faux surprise subsided, it's time to start laying down some predictions. To address the Phanpy in the room: yes, Pokémon Presents showcases can be a little dry. But aside from the...
Poll Will You Trade In Your Switch When Switch 2 Arrives?
Switch it up
Sometimes, it can be hard to let go. The next generation of Nintendo hardware is just around the corner. As we say that, we look fondly at our TV console stand where our Switch sits, docked and charging, not a speck of dust on it. For many of us, it's the console of choice — whether sitting around the TV with friends and family,...
Poll Box Art Brawl - River King: Mystic Valley (DS)
The good, the good, and the uhhh...
Hello folks, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at Star Fox 64, and gosh, it was quite a close match. Both designs are pretty great in our eyes, but ultimately Japan won the day with 54% of the vote, while the Western design managed to nab 46%. Well done, Japan! We've got a bit...
Poll Which Pokémon Game Really Deserves A Remake Next?
Kanto blight
With a Pokémon Presents on the way soon, our foolish hearts have begun hoping for something a bit special. While Nintendo fans twiddle their thumbs awaiting the full reveal of Switch 2, an entire year without a Pokémon game releasing on Switch has helped us regain our appetite for console-based catchin'. It was a much-needed break,...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd February)
Catching them ALL?? In this economy??
Howdy partners! Welcome back to another edition of What Are You Playing. Switch 2 may still feel like a long way away, but there have been some Nintendo rumblings this week to keep us busy, all the same. The annual Pokémon Presents showcase was announced for next week (surprising no one), we got some leaked...
Gallery Here's A Closer Look At The London Pop-Up Pokémon Center's Exclusive Merch
Type advantage against bank ballances
The Pokémon European International Championship has once again returned to London this year, bringing with it competition, events, hands-on opportunities and, of course, merch. Yes, London's pop-up Pokémon Center is back at the ExCel until 23rd February, and it is once again packed with enough exclusive...
Talking Point The 3DS Library Is Ripe For Switch 2, But Is NSO The Way To Go?
Mo' dimensions, mo' problems
The 3DS has one of those libraries where the more you think about it, the better it gets. Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask 3D, Fire Emblem: Awakening, Super Mario 3D Land, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Kirby: Planet Robobot, WarioWare Gold, Samus Returns
Talking Point Should We Actually Get Excited For Pokémon Day This Year?
Is it all Sleep Talk?
Next week, on 27th February 2025, Pokémon will be celebrating its 29th birthday. And you know what that means? It's time for some Pokémon Presents. After a relatively 'muted' 2024, there's a lot on people's minds. Inverted commas there because, come on, if muted means releasing a brand new mobile game which has taken the...
Hands On Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - A Decade On, Mira's Still Got It
A Skell of a good time
It's been absolutely ages since we last set foot on Mira, the planet on which humanity seeks refuge from an alien threat in Xenoblade Chronicles X. It was perhaps only a year or two after the game first released on Wii U, in fact, that we last played it, and our overriding memory (besides the fact that it's incredible) is of...
Opinion Scrapping Gold Points Makes Sense For Nintendo, But It's A Bitter Pill For Loyal Fans
Points taken
We're about six weeks away from Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct in April, and the company presumably preparing furiously for the full reveal of its upcoming hardware. Until then, we're left to analyse statements around its financial results and other little announcements for clues about the Switch successor beyond its form factor. The firm's...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Star Fox 64
Do a Box Art Brawl!
Open the wings and check your G-Diffuser system because it's time for another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we fly into combat this week, let's hit the brakes and recap what happened last time. In our previous match-up, we looked at two covers for Wario World on GameCube — two very different designs that produced a pretty...
Feature "I Was Seeing Him In My Dreams" - Nintendo Veteran Just Can't Shake Shigeru Miyamoto
"He got a good laugh out of that"
There’s no question that Nintendo makes some of the best video games in the world thanks to its incredibly skilled and passionate in-house and partner developers. But how often does the company let those developers speak freely about the games they make? Last year we got the opportunity to chat with the legendary...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (15th February)
Sleepy time
It's the weekend folks, so hopefully you're already putting your feet up, sipping on a nice cup of tea, and enjoying a bit of down time with some games. This week in the world of Nintendo, a new placeholder listing at a retailer may (or may not) hint towards a cheaper-than-expected price for the Nintendo Switch 2. Meanwhile, a new...
Poll 10 Years On, Which Version Of Zelda: Majora's Mask Is Best?
Masktasker
No three-day countdown will prepare you for this one: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is 10 years old today. Yep, on 13th February 2015, we all opened our 3DSes (some of you might have even landed one of those sexy gold special edition consoles — you lucky gits) and sat down to replay one of the weirdest Zelda entries to date in...
Talking Point Why An LCD Screen Isn't The End Of The World For Switch 2
How Sony is helping us LCDeal with it
The reveal of Switch 2 back in January answered some burning questions but mainly it confirmed rumoured details and leaked info regarding the size, shape, and magnetic Joy-Con of Nintendo's next console. Annoyingly, there are still a lot of unanswered questions and the platform holder is keeping shtum until 2nd...
Opinion The Okami Sequel Simply Has To Come To Switch 2
Let's just touch base
It's been an exciting few months for Okami fans, huh? Nearly 19 years after the release of the PS2 original, Capcom finally confirmed that a sequel is now officially in development at The Game Awards 2024. Plus, it's being developed at new studio Clovers under the direction of creator Hideki Kamiya. Speaking of which, the...
Talking Point Which 'Tales' Game Will Come To Switch Next?
It's Karma
Big, bold characters. Comfortable story beats that deal with multiple worlds, gods, and the power of friendship. Confusingly titled battle systems. And colourful anime openings featuring J-pop songs. The Tales series has made a name for itself over the last 30 years for many different reasons, and it's why many — myself included —...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Wario World (GameCube)
Wa-haaaaaa!
Hello dearest pals, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week's battle, let's see how things panned out last time. The lovely Jim took the opportunity to crank out a few LotR quotes with a look at the GBA version of The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. Unsurprisingly, the Western design absolutely...
Talking Point Where Should 'Luigi's Mansion 4' Take Place?
"M-M-M-Maaaaario?"
One of the best reasons to play the Luigi’s Mansion series is the simple joy that comes with exploring new, spooky environments. Truly, the locations are the star of the show. The first entry in 2001 was arguably too short and a bit too easy and repetitive, but its titular mansion was a compelling backdrop. Cobwebs adorned the...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (8th February)
Fus-Ro-Dah!
Crikey, it only feels like yesterday when we all sat down to discuss our weekend plans, doesn't it? Don't worry folks, that April Direct will be here before you know it. Anyway, let's see what's been going on in the world of Nintendo this week. First up, the company revealed its latest financial data in which the Switch was confirmed to...
Opinion Miiverse Was Fine, But Does Anybody Really Want It Back In 2025?
Stuck in Miiverse
It probably says something about the system that the question 'y cant metroid crawl?' is one of the most memorable nostalgia nuggets from the Wii U era. Don't get me wrong - while the initial messaging was poor, the GamePad's killer apps never really arrived, and the system itself was slow and bulky, I still loved my Wii U. But...
Opinion All My Pokémon TCG Pocket Headaches Help It Nail Playground Trading Nostalgia
Jim used Reminisce!
I am a creature of habit, so when The Pokémon Company revealed Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket and its two-packs-a-day hook system, I knew that I was going to be a sucker for it. And here we are, a little over three months since its launch, and that's exactly what I am. My Pokémon monkey brain (Mankey brain?) has turned to...
Opinion We Need More Couch Co-op RPGs
Our-PG
When the girl joined the party in Secret of Mana, a whole new world opened up to me. Bright-eyed, huddled close to our TV, a second SNES controller plugged into the little grey box, I didn’t just have to sit and wait my turn to play an RPG for once. I could play at the same time my mum could. Secret of Mana was the first time I felt like...
Opinion With Forecasts Slashed (Again), Absolutely Everyone's Antsy For Switch 2 ASAP
Sobering sales, analyst angst, obvious answer
Nintendo has lowered sales forecasts for Switch hardware sales for the second time in a row with the publication of its Q3 results for FY2024/5. With a 30.6% year-on-year drop in console sales across the Switch range, the platform holder now forecasts 11 million unit sales for the year ending March 31st...
Feature 12 Things Switch 2's Mysterious Not-C-Button Might Do, Maybe
Probably. Possibly.
We're all here, playing the waiting game as Nintendo assembles its April Direct and reveals more juicy details about Switch 2. Well, we hope; it feels like we've been in the realms of rumour and speculation for a good half-decade and after the first trailer we've got our fingers crossed for a real mother of a blow-out come 2nd...
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (January 2025)
Our picks for the best eShop games for the first month of 2025
Thank goodness January is over, right? January 2025 felt like the longest month ever — thankfully, we're here to brighten your day with our first eShop Selects for the year. We're starting things fresh for 2025 and going back to basics — focusing on the games we've reviewed. The...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age (GBA)
Slim Pippins
My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots (Proudfeet!), welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get all Middle Earthy, let's quickly recap what went down last time, eh? Two covers from the NSO newbie Super Ninja Boy went head-to-head in last...
Feature "His Vision Was Clear" - Afterlove EP Producer Talks Grieving Through Game Development
"Emotion takes up a big part of your life on a daily basis"
Afterlove EP, a 'mix-tape visual novel' from the studio behind Coffee Talk, was announced back in 2021, but just one year after its reveal, the team went through something no developer should have to deal with: the sudden and unexpected death of studio founder Mohammad Fahmi. Fahmi had...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (1st February)
Zero dawn
Well folks, another week is almost over (and one week closer to Nintendo's April Direct!), which means it's time to relax with some sweet gaming. First, let's recap some of this week's most interesting stories. First up, Nintendo reiterated Donkey Kong's new look with some fresh merch, while we explored what we might like to see in the...
Poll With No Switch 2 News Until April, Is A February Nintendo Direct On The Cards?
A Switch 1 swan song?
February usually means a couple of things for us Nintendo fans: a disappointing Pokémon Presents showcase, and the first Nintendo Direct of the year (also, a Kirby game is normally right around the corner, but that's not all that important to this discussion). Pokémon is a no-brainer, obviously, but in the year of our lord...
Opinion Forget Themes, I Want A Switch 2 Start-Up Jingle
Jingles, all the way
I have been banging the 'Theme' drum for so long now, my hands have started to hurt. It doesn't make any sense to me that every Switch menu has been this music-less graveyard when Nintendo has churned out the likes of the Wii Shop Channel, 3DS Theme Shop and a multitude of other bangers in years gone by. But there's another...
Talking Point What Do We Actually Want From 'Mario Kart 9' On Switch 2?
Kart to kart
With the truly shocking confirmation that, alongside the new console, Nintendo is busy assembling a follow-up entry to the best-selling game on Switch, it's got us thinking about what we really want from a new Mario Kart. In all honesty, we've been thinking about this for years, arguably since before we knew that Mario Kart 8 would be...
Memory Pak This Resident Evil Comic Made Me Sympathise With A Tyrant
"P-Payback Time, Thorndikkke..."
Welcome to the latest instalment in our nostalgia-inducing column, Memory Pak, where we deep-dive into some of the most memorable moments in gaming – good and bad. Today, to mark the 25th anniversary of Resident Evil 2's N64 launch in Japan, Ollie reflects on a curious short comic book story that, against all...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Pokémon Snap - "There’s Nothing Stopping You From Pelting Every Unlucky ‘Mon"
Jack and beans
Welcome to Catch-up Crew, where USS Nintendo Life officers slingshot around the sun and go back to play something a crewmember missed back in the day. We went back to the first WarioWare game last time, but today our destination is the year 1999 when Pokémon Snap first appeared on a chunky N64 cartridge. For anyone looking to play...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Super Ninja Boy
Hi-yaaah!
Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl, everyone! In last week's battle, we looked at the N64 classic, Mario Kart 64. And goodness folks, it really wasn't a close one, huh? North America and Europe absolutely killed it with 88% of the vote; surely one of the most resounding victories we've ever seen! This time, we're going a bit...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (25th January)
Swing, king
This week might not have brought us the Switch 2 bonanza that dominated the last, but there was still plenty to talk about in the world of Nintendo. We got a teeny, tiny development update from the Silksong team (turns out, the game is still real) and chatted all things space with Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Opinion My Daughter Made Me Realise That Mario Wonder's Difficulty Options Need Work
Yoshi or Nabbit, make your choice
I suspect many of my fellow parents can relate to this, but when you have your first child, a whole bevvy of problems that never existed before are suddenly thrust upon you. “Do we have enough nappies?” “Oh God, she missed the potty again.” “No, you can’t sit there Daddy, my Peppa Pig toy is sitting...
Opinion The Hyped-Up New Pokémon TCG Set Is A Total Bummer To Open
Pokéntial earnings
It must have been tough for chocolate lovers to get any chocolate when Willy Wonka was hiding golden tickets inside the wrappers. Joking aside, that's more or less been the vibe from Prismatic Evolutions, the just-released, mega-hyped Pokémon card set that’s memorable for its heavy representation of the fan-favourite Pokémon...
Feature Switch 2's Mouse Support Is Exciting, But Which Current Games Might Also Benefit?
Flexing that backward compatibility
Prior to the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, one of the late-game leaks revealed that the Joy-Con controllers would now house an optical sensor on the side, leading many to theorise that the console would support mouse functionality. Fast forward to the debut trailer, and yes, it seems that this may...
Wake up, Sleeper
Citizen Sleeper was, coincidentally, one of 2022's sleeper hits. With its combination of top-tier writing and decision-based gameplay, this table-top-inspired RPG and space adventure pulled us into its airlock and wouldn't let us out until we had played through the emotional damage of witnessing every possible outcome (and yes, that...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Donkey Kong Country Returns HD?
Returns returns
Last week saw the Wii's Donkey Kong Country Returns return in HD on Switch. Following the first time it returned on 3DS, the Switch port — helmed by Forever Entertainment this time, with the original devs at Retro getting only a cursory nod in the credits this time — brought the levels of the 2013 3DS port to
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Mario Kart 64
Vroooom!
Welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl, everyone! Last week, Klonoa: Empire of Dreams was thrust into the spotlight, with North America, Europe, and Japan all vying for the top prize (and yes, we mistakenly labelled it as a 'duel' – sorry about that). Ultimately, with its bold, simple design, Europe's offering won the week with 51%...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (18th January)
Wait, we have to play the Switch 1..?!
The weekend is here folks, which means it's time to get cracking with some gaming. Before we put our feet up, however, let's recap what's been going on in this very quiet, unevenful week in the world of Nintendo (chortle!). Yes, in actuality, it's been a ruddy busy one, with Nintendo finally officially...
Talking Point Did All The Switch 2 Leaks 'Damage' Nintendo Or The Console's Reveal?
Nintendo will be just fine
In the leak-filled weeks prior to the Switch 2 reveal, we saw increasing incredulity from die-hard Nintendo fans on social media. We won't link specific examples, but you don't have to scroll far before seeing takes along these lines: All these leaks are ruining the reveal! Why isn't Nintendo getting ahead of this?!...
Reaction Nintendo Pins Hopes On Familiar Fun With Switch 2
The stop-gap generation
And so it begins. Nintendo has pulled back the curtain on its next generation of hardware to reveal... exactly the thing everyone expected. Officially revealed earlier today following months — no, years — of rumours, speculation, and leaks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is, on the face of it, what most people wanted. It's the...
Feature Everything You Missed In The Switch 2 Mario Kart Reveal - Characters, Features, Easter Eggs
Start your engines
Well, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is real – finally! In addition to its confirmation via the debut trailer, Nintendo also revealed a brand-new Mario Kart title, which we're going to simply refer to as Mario Kart 9 until Nintendo says otherwise. Footage from the game was pretty scarce, to say the least, but we've still noticed...
