Most Recent: Wii U
Pikmin 4 is “hard to fit” into Nintendo’s list of priorities, but they haven’t forgotten about it
Pikmin 4 has been a tricky game to pin down. First announced in 2014 as part of a Shareholder Q&A, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto would go on to tell the media that it was “very close to completion” in September 2015. So what happened to it? In the ten months since, we’ve heard nothing about the next entry in the Pikmin franchise.
Thankfully, Game Rant tracked down Mr. Miyamoto at this year’s E3 Expo to ask him about Pikmin 4. Being his usual candid self, the famed developer confirmed the game is still in development, however, he also admitted that Nintendo has been having trouble fitting into their schedule:
“Yes, you are right, and we’re working on [Pikmin 4]. So, you know, when we’re in development we have to create a list of priorities and it has been hard to kind of fit that into that list, but we’re hopefully starting to see that on the list now.”
Pikmin 4 was originally announced for the Wii U, but with Nintendo’s NX console scheduled to launch in March 2017, it’s possible that Pikmin 4’s placement on the priority list could be a sign the game is moving to the new console. Nintendo has promised to reveal a bit more about the NX this Fall, but a one-two punch of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pikmin 4 would certainly help the new platform make a name for itself.
Nintendo Download: Legend of Mystical Ninja, Baseball Simulator 1000, Flying Dragon, more
Nintendo is mining its past for this week’s Nintendo eShop update.
Wii U owners are now able to download a pair of titles from the NES era… Baseball Simulator 1000 and Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll. Baseball Simulator 1000 was one of the games to add a dash of wackiness to America’s pastime with “Ultra Plays” that changed the sport in interesting ways (Disappearing pitches! Exploding balls!). And Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll is a side-scrolling brawler where players will use “six different types of fighting techniques” to save the world.
Over on the 3DS eShop, the well-liked Legend of the Mystical Ninja is now available to download if you own a New 3DS handheld. Originally released for the Super NES in 1992, it was the first game in the Goemon series to receive a North American launch.
You can learn more about all three games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)
Splatoon’s Callie and Marie will join Super Mario Maker on July 8
Callie and Marie, Splatoon‘s Squid Sisters, have one other stop before that game’s final Splatfest on July 22. This Friday, July 8, players will be able to unlock Costumes for Callie and Marie by playing through a new Event Course in Super Mario Maker.
A trailer starring the Sisters has been embedded above.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild named E3 2016’s “Best of Show” by Game Critics Awards
The Game Critics Awards has handed out their annual “Best of E3” honors for this year’s show, and unsurprisingly, Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was named “Best of Show.” The massive open-air game also took home awards for “Best Console Game” and “Best Action/Adventure Game.”
Even though Battlefield 1 secured the most nominations, only one other game was able to collect more than a single award, and that was Civilization VI, which was named “Best PC Game” and “Best Strategy Game.” This year’s “Special Commendation for Graphics” went to Sony’s God of War reboot.
All told, 13 games (and the PlayStation VR headset, which won for “Best Hardware”) were honored this year by the Game Critics Awards. The full list of winners can be found after the break. (more…)
Nintendo Download: Super Mario RPG, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Zero Time Dilemma, more
Fans of games both new and old will find something to interest them in this week’s update to the Nintendo eShop.
Let’s begin by taking a trip back in time. Nintendo has added Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars to the Wii U eShop this week, giving gamers the chance to relive the classic RPG. Originally released for the Super NES back in 1996, Super Mario RPG is the only game to combine Mario’s platforming antics with Square Enix’s RPG expertise.
Before we move forward, let’s travel further back to… a long time ago. That’s because WB Games and TT Games will add Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the Nintendo eShop for both the 3DS and Wii U in a galaxy very close to ours. Players will be able recreate the film with Lego-ized versions of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Finn, Rey, and BB-8. But they’ll also get the chance to go on “New Adventures” that bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
Finally on the Wii U eShop this week, Telltale Games has crafted the remainder of Minecraft: Story Mode for Wii U owners this week. Episodes 2-5 are now available to download, and players can unlock the mystery of The Order of the Stone.
Over on the 3DS this week, players will get the chance to download Zero Time Dilemma, the finale to the Zero Escape trilogy, and BoxBoxBoy!, another side-scrolling platformer starring the cube-shaped hero.
More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Splatoon’s final Splatfest on July 22 will force players to choose between Callie and Marie
So it’s come to this. Nintendo has announced that Splatoon‘s next Splatfest will be the final Splatfest.
Set to kick off on July 22 and scheduled to run for 48 hours, the final Splatfest will ask players to make the ultimate choice… Callie or Marie?
The Splatfest’s final scores will be tallied using the results from all regions, but individual matches will be segregated. Players from Japan will only be matched with other players from Japan, while players from North America and Europe will be matched against each other. Splatoon owners will be able voice their choice for Callie or Marie at the Inkopolis Plaza kiosk beginning on Monday, July 4, at 10:00 PM (Eastern Time). Until then, keep checking your email inbox, because Nintendo is going to send out a survey asking players to choose the stages for the “Squid Sisters Showdown” Splatfest.
Mark it on your calendar, the final Splatfest will begin on Friday, July 22, at 5:00 AM (Eastern Time) and the Callie versus Marie melees won’t stop until Sunday, July 24, at 5:00 AM (also Eastern Time). Good luck to both sides and may the best Sister win.
Battlefield 1 blows away the competition with five nominations from Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 2016
The Game Critics Awards has announced their annual Best of E3 nominations, and DICE’s Battlefield 1 has asserted its greatness with five nominations, including one for “Best of Show.” Battlefield 1’s other nominations include “Best Console Game,” “Best PC Game,” “Best Action Game,” and “Best Online Multiplayer.”
Five other games will compete with the historical shooter for top honors including Dishonored 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Sea of Thieves, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Titanfall 2. With four nominations apiece, Dishonored 2 and Horizon: Zero Dawn will surely provide some stiff competition for Battlefield 1.
The Game Critics Awards will announce the winners for Best of E3 2016 next Tuesday, July 5. A complete list of this year nominees can be found after the break. (more…)
Han and Chewie finally star in a Lego Star Wars: Force Awakens Character Trailer
As expected, WB Games saved the best for last and released one more Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Character Trailer today, this time focusing on Han Solo and Chewbacca. There’s probably no deeper meaning behind a scene showing everyone’s favorite smuggler picking off a pair of Stormtroopers with a blaster, but it sure does look cool, doesn’t it?
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is available today for the 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.