Category: Nintendo News

Nintendo has reportedly filed a lawsuit at the federal court in the US state of Arizona earlier this week, with the publisher calling out two ROM and emulator websites – allegedly owned by the same Arizona-based company – for unfair competition as well as copyright and trademark infringement. Nintendo is requesting statutory damages of $150,000 per infringement, and up to $2,000,000 for each trademark infringement. According to the source, this could theoretically equate to $100 million in damages.

Both websites are believed to offer readily available ROMS and emulators to the general public. Nintendo went on record saying these specific sites were the most notorious online hubs for pirated video games and said the sites were known for distributing and displaying a large volume of the publisher’s works without its permission. The websites are known for distributing proprietary BIOS software and using trademarked logos and characters as well. Nintendo believes both sites are professional operations turning a profit.  

In addition to compensation for damages, Nintendo wants the company to shutdown both sites, hand over the domain names and reveal the sources of the ROMS.

Yet another weekend is upon us, which naturally means that it’s time for another Talking Point feature! If you’re lucky enough to have some free time over the next few days, you may well be planning to sink some of it into your favourite Nintendo games – which is exactly what Team NL is going to do! We’ve got online shooters, speedy hedgehogs, and glorious RPGs on the go this time around. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Jon Cousins, Japan correspondent

Although I haven’t picked up the DLC or physical edition yet because I got caught up with other stuff, all the hoopla around Sonic Mania has reminded me to go back. Not only is it a great game, but given Sonic’s ‘inconsistent’ track record, it’s the ideal time to jump in if you haven’t. Other than that, I’m enjoying playing Hollow Knight on my big TV for the first time. The game is ace anyway, but when you have a long play session, see the lush, detailed environments in HD and then listen to the incredible soundtrack using a decent set of speakers, it’s a joy. I’m also playing a neat little game that’s out next week.

Ryan Craddock, staff writer

As is the case for pretty much any day that goes by at the moment, this weekend will absolutely see some Fortnite action as I try to work my way through this week’s challenges. I didn’t even know that there were dinosaurs on the map until a challenge popped up this week, so that’s suddenly made things even more exciting.

I’ve also been getting stuck into DOOM recently as I had never played it before (although I am admittedly playing this one on PS4 rather than Switch because it was cheaper – sorry!). I’ve already been brutally murdered several times, but I love the satisfaction you feel from pulling off pistol and glory kill combinations – the fast pace really makes the game a joy to play. Definitely wishing I could be playing it on the go as well, though, so that’ll teach me for next time!

Glen Fox, guides editor

Can’t. Stop. Playing. Crash. Bandicoot! I’m absolutely addicted, and on my fourth playthrough of the first already. Yeah, I know it’s not the best of the bunch but it has some of my favourite levels and I love its purity. It’s also incredibly addictive trying to get all of the gems and beat it 100%! I probably won’t be able to do it, but boy am I trying.

I am going to try really hard to put Crash aside for a bit though, so I can give Octopath Traveler the attention it deserves. I haven’t dug into it near enough, but what little I’ve played definitely feels pretty special. It’s weird playing a JRPG that feels simultaneously nostalgic and progressive, but that’s exactly how I’d describe it. That mix of 16bit sprites and blocky 3D visuals really does it for me, and I can’t wait to see more.

Liam Doolan, news reporter

My weekend is going to be a fast one. When I’m not tearing around the track in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as Link, I’ll be speeding through the ‘encore mode’ in Sonic Mania Plus as Mighty and Ray. I played the original version of Sonic Mania on release and absolutely adored every aspect of it. Admittedly, though, I haven’t been back since. It’s great that there is a good excuse to revisit this absolute gem now that it has been polished just a little bit more. It’s easily the best Sonic game in years – if not ever!

Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer

This weekend I’ll be getting stuck into a double-header of games for reviews – Hunting Simulator and Hand of Fate 2. So yes, two games that couldn’t be any more different if they tried. So, in the name of journalism, I’ll be strapping on my favourite hunting rifle, adorning myself in all manner of camos and making weird noises to attract deer. So a normal weekend then, really.

I’ll also be playing some more NBA 2K18 (I play every few weeks on Switch, even though I’ve played it to death on both my handheld console and PS4). All these new moves and signings in the NBA have got me back in the mood for the next Switch bound baller sim when NBA 2K19 arrives later this year.

Damien McFerran, editorial director

Galak-Z‘s shift to free-to-play mechanics may have left a sour taste in the mouth of many a fan, but I’m totally hooked, so that’s likely to be the main thing I play this weekend. I really dig the space combat system (I’m used to the somewhat unique controls after playing the PS4 original) and while there’s a lot of grinding, the end result is usually worth the effort. This game must have something going for it, because it’s making me forget about both Octopath Traveler and Mario Tennis Aces!

Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer

Looks like the ultimate Splatoon 2 Splatfest is right around the corner but I am still undecided if I should splat for squids or octopus – both fascinating creatures. Local retailers botched up my Octopath Traveller Compendium Edition pre-order (what is this, the Dark Ages!?) and gamer pride prevented me from simply taking a regular edition so the joys of 2D HD are still suspended until next week. So Ys VIII is very much on the menu along with some eShop gems like the (literally) stellar VSR: Void Space Racing and the poorly optimized but still ever sadistically entertaining Guts and Glory. Yes, I am aware I have issues.

Austin Voigt, contributing writer

First off, I’ll be replaying the original Ni no Kuni on PS3 this weekend – everyone stop judging me. There have been showings of old Miyazaki movies in the theaters in my area the past few weeks, so I’ve got a bit of a Ghibli buzz at the moment. I have not yet picked up Revenant Kingdom, because I refuse to purchase any non-Nintendo systems until they’re at least 10 years old and completely outdated – therefore, I don’t own a PS4. However, I would be delighted if the powers that be were to put Ni no Kuni on the Switch… (Level-5 president & CEO Akihiro Hino did say: “In the future our main titles will all be released on Nintendo Switch.” …please let that future arrive soon).

I’ll also likely continue to annoy Pathea’s Twitter account with incessant questioning on a Switch release date for My Time at Portia – because it looks amazing, and I am that insatiable gamer who is never satisfied with what I’ve already got.

Thanks for reading, folks! Make sure to leave a vote in the poll above and a comment below with your gaming choices over the next few days…

The first trailer for the television animation, Mega Man: Fully Charged, has been shown at the San Diego Comic-Con. The show is based on the classic games, with season one running for ten episodes in total. 

The story is about Aki Light – a schoolboy who can transform into a powerful hero known as Mega Man. When Sgt. Night and his evil team of robot masters show up in the futuristic Silicon City, it’s up to Mega Man to protect the city’s citizens with his mega buster arm cannon and also by absorbing powers from his opponents. Various other characters will pop-up along the way, including the robot dog, Rush.

Mega Man: Fully Charged premiers in the US next month. The show is a production between Cartoon Network, Man of Action Entertainment, Dentsu Entertainment USA and also DHX Media.

Take a look at the trailer above and tell us in the comments if you’re at all interested in watching, rather than playing, Mega Man.  

If you didn’t pay much attention to Brawlout when it was originally released on the Switch eShop at the end of last year, perhaps now you will. Playtonic’s Yooka-Laylee has just been revealed as the latest guest fighter for the game. Based on the trailer below, it looks like the deadly duo will have all of their trademark attacks and their very own level. 

We awarded Brawlout seven out of ten stars and said it was a title obviously inspired by Super Smash Bros. – with the action feeling fun and frenetic. Although this guest fighter announcement came in the form of the PlayStation 4 reveal of the game, it’s safe to assume the update will at some point make its way across to the Switch version. Previously released guest fighters in Brawlout include Juan from Guacamelee! and Hyper Light Drifter. 

Do you own Brawlout on Switch? Will this encourage you to play it more often? Tell us below. 

Following yesterday’s announcement The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would crossover with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Capcom has now confirmed its own Breath of the Wild DLC for Monster Hunter XX will be made available in the western version of the title – Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.

The upcoming Switch release is due out on August 28th and is an expansion to Monster Hunter Generations on the 3DS. If you’ve played the previous title, you’ll be able to transfer your save data to the new release and continue playing as the same hunters.

The DLC will allow your character to wear the Champion’s Tunic, and Felyne can also be dressed as Korok. This DLC is one of the many Breath of the Wild crossovers, with titles like Skyrim also receiving exclusive Zelda-themed content.

Tell us in the comments if you’ll be dressing up as Link when Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate arrives on the Switch next month.  

Stardew Valley‘s extremely highly anticipated multiplayer update has finally secured a release date on PC after months of public beta testing.

The update will arrive in complete form for PC users on 1st August, as seen in the trailer above, and is still “coming soon” for Switch and other platforms. The fact that the update has been finalised for PC is great news, though, and should hopefully mean that the Switch version is one step closer to a full release, too.

In case you need reminding, the multiplayer update adds support for up to three friends to play alongside you on your farm. Each player can have their own little cabin to hang out in, and your friends will be able to join you in pretty much everything you can usually do on your own. In a lovely touch, your characters can even get married by crafting a wedding ring – perfect for couples who will be playing the game together.

We know that pretty much everyone and their cat loves Stardew Valley, but let us know if you’re looking forward to playing multiplayer farming greatness on your Switch with a comment below.

We shouldn’t really have been all that shocked about new DLC content arriving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – after all, Nintendo told us it would happen a week ago. As one of the company’s biggest-selling recent hits it’s understandable that Nintendo wants to extend the longevity of Mario Kart 8 with fresh content – but it’s still remarkable to think that technically, this is a four-year-old game that any other company would have forgotten about by now.

Nintendo’s games traditionally have much longer legs than those released by other companies, and it’s fair to assume that Switch owners are just as likely to invest in ‘classic’ games as they are to snap up new releases; keeping Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the spotlight is, therefore, a sound business strategy. But how far should Nintendo take this approach? Should the company release even more DLC for the game, or should it eventually draw the line and create an all-new Mario Kart for Switch?

Both approaches have merit, at least on paper. Mario Kart 8 is perhaps the pinnacle of the franchise; it’s hard to see how the core racing-and-combat mechanics could be improved in a sequel, unless something truly drastic is introduced – such as the (arguably divisive) dual-rider setup in Mario Kart: Double Dash – then a follow-up game would merely be covering old ground. Therefore, you could argue that by far the most sensible course of action is the one Nintendo is taking now; the best idea is to augment the existing game with new content, which in the future could even feature paid DLC (which happened on the Wii U) containing new drivers, karts, courses and cups.

On the other hand, nothing generates hype like entirely new software, so Mario Kart 9 (or whatever it is eventually called) would surely create a massive spike of interest that even a massive helping of DLC couldn’t manage; Nintendo has previously said that it’s happy to iterate rather than pump out needless yearly sequels, but the impending arrival of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate suggests that a shift in this approach could happen. There obviously comes a point where it’s simply not financially viable to keep loading DLC into a years-old game, although Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s status as a recent re-release on Switch does rather exclude it from this scenario; given the small user base of the Wii U, a great many people playing the Switch version will see it as a title from 2017, not 2014.

So, what do you think Nintendo’s approach should be here? Are you happy to see more content get added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or are you itching to see the next stage of the franchise’s evolution, given that this eighth entry is now almost half a decade old? As ever, we want to know, so vote in the poll below and don’t forget to share your views by posting a comment.

In just a few days (24th July, to be exact), global phenomenon Fortnite is celebrating its first birthday. Considering you can barely turn a computer on or look at your phone for five seconds without seeing the game pop up on your news feeds, it’s pretty surprising that it’s only been around for a year, but we’re about to get some free goodies so we’re not complaining.

To celebrate the occasion, in-game challenges will start to appear on that special day. Completing the challenges will get you certain cosmetic rewards in a similar fashion to the usual challenges that appear throughout each season.

• Deal 1,000 damage to opponents to unlock the Fortnite Birthday! Emoticon
• Dance at different birthday cakes to unlock the Happy Birthday! Spray
• Play 14 matches to unlock 5,000 XP.
• Complete all 3 challenges to earn the Birthday Cake Back Bling

If you’re a fan of the game, make sure to jump into the fun next Tuesday. It seems like the famous Battle Bus might be getting a birthday makeover for the event, too.

Will you be celebrating with a few games next Tuesday? Let us know with a comment below.

It’s pretty safe to say that Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are shaking up the core franchise in ways that we’ve never seen before. From the way you catch your favourite critters to the way you travel around the lovable Kanto region, things are playing out a little differently this time around – and Gyms are set to follow this trend, too.

The official Japanese Pokémon website has recently been updated with some new information and, according to a translation by the folks over at Siliconera, taking on Gym Leaders is about to get a whole lot tougher. If you’re a fan of the series you’ll no doubt be aware of the guide who stands at the front of every gym, usually offering players advice on how best to take on the Leader waiting deep within. Well, he’s about to play a bigger role in proceedings, forcing you to meet certain requirements before you can enter.

The translation suggests that these requirements will vary from having “certain Pokémon types, levels, and plenty more”, with Brock’s Gym being given as an example. In this Gym, the guide will apparently ask you to present either a grass or water type Pokémon before entering the main area. This was actually seen taking place in a screenshot released last month, but was never officially mentioned.

In one way, having extra requirements to hit sounds quite exciting; almost like little side quests, these could present challenges that have you wandering around to discover new things or train up your party of monsters. On the other hand, though, it sounds scarily restrictive. If Gyms force you to make use of certain Pokémon types, this could mean that you’ll have to sacrifice the party members you want for other, random Pokémon, just to tick a box. Hopefully, players will be able to show the Pokémon to complete the challenge, and then swap that Pokémon out again before taking on the trainers inside.

It will be interesting to hear more about this with a little more clarification over the coming months, as we no doubt expect that fans won’t be happy if they can’t use the six Pokémon that they want to. 

What do you think about this potential Pokémon bombshell? As ever, share your thoughts with us below.

We don’t mind admitting that we’re absolute suckers for handhelds here at Nintendo Life, so it’s hardly surprising that the GameShell caught our attention late last year. Described as a hackable open-source console, it raised $290,429 on Kickstarter and is now reaching the hands of backers. We were lucky enough to get an early unit and have spent the past week fiddling around with this intriguing device.

Much was made of GameShell’s modular setup in the initial Kickstarter pitch, but that still won’t prepare you for when you actually open the packaging; “some assembly required” is an understatement. Almost everything has to be put together by the end user, and it’s quite a fiddly process, especially when you think you’re done but then find one of the wires isn’t quite in properly and you have to take it all apart again.

Once that’s out of the way, you can get stuck into actually playing with the thing. The console runs on an open-source GNU/Linux OS that supports programming languages such as Preset C, Python, LUA and LISP, which – we’re sad to admit – means little to us because we can barely program a washing machine, let alone a computer. Still, even if you’re in no way inclined to code, the potential of this tiny device is staggering. Out of the box, it features support for MAME, Game Boy Advance and NES titles, as well as Cave Story and an open-source iteration of the original DOOM (both of which come pre-loaded). It also comes with support for Retroarch, a popular multi-system retro gaming emulator, so the sky really is the limit here.

Performance is generally good, although we noticed that the audio is slightly delayed on MAME and GBA games, and there’s a bit of screen-tearing at points. Cave Story runs perfectly though, and it’s vital to remember that as the OS and software matures, we’ll see these little kinks disappear. We’ll also see loads of apps and emulators spring up, as the whole thing is marketed as hackable and customizable – it’s clear that the developers behind this project want the community to make it grow and evolve over time.

Even the modular element of the GameShell is smart and forward-thinking; in the future, you’ll be able to swap out parts for better ones. The 2.7-inch LCD screen does the job, but it has poor viewing angles and a relatively low 320×240 resolution – so being able to change it in the future for a better screen without having to fork out the cash for a whole new system is a real bonus. The same can be said for the motherboard (which could be supplanted by a more powerful one in the future) and the 1050mAh battery. Storage comes via MicroSD cards, with an 8GB one coming in the box.

Speaking of storage, the inclusion of an app called TinyCloud means you can connect to other computers on the same WiFi network and share files that way, avoiding the need to remove the MicroSD card every time you want to load up some new software – a wonderfully elegant system. Slightly less elegant is the controller module, which, when fully assembled, has a D-Pad, four action buttons and four function buttons (Menu, Shift, Select and Start). Control is generally good but the rather ramshackle assembly (the pad and buttons simply slot onto the rubber membrane and are only held in place by the front casing) means it feels a little off during use. However, as we’ve already said, the modular nature of the system means that improved controls are an option in the future.

All in all, the GameShell is a fascinating example of how modern technology is changing the face of portable gaming. Very much like the Pocket C.H.I.P., it reminds us of how disruptive the original Game Boy was back in 1989; a small yet potent portable that, despite its crude nature when compared to other consoles, ended up triggering a handheld revolution. GameShell certainly has enough charm to perform the same trick on a smaller scale, and its modular nature and hacking potential could give it impressive longevity.

GameShell units are shipping to backers now. Keep your eye on the official site for news on how to order one outside of the crowdfunding campaign.