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All Articles: Xenoblade Chronicles
Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles, Mini Mario & Friends, Sega 3D Classics, more
It’s a big day for the Nintendo eShop and it’s an especially big day for Wii U owners who may have missed out on Xenoblade Chronicles. Originally released as a GameStop exclusive for the Wii in 2012, Xenoblade Chronicles is a JRPG from Monolith Soft that features mechs, mystical weapons, and malevolent gods… basically everything you could ever want from a JRPG. People went so crazy for Xenoblade Chronicles that a group of dedicated fans even embarked on a multi-year campaign to get Nintendo to release it in North America. Which of course lead directly to last year’s launch of Xenoblade Chronicles X.
But if you’re not in the market for a sprawling JRPG today, Nintendo has a few other games ready for release. First up is Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge, a free-to-play title now available for the Wii U and the 3DS. As the latest entry in the popular Mario vs Donkey Kong series players will have to tap any Amiibo figure they own to get the Minis marching… and some even have special powers. And speaking of free-to-play games, Bandai Namco is ready to release the full version of Lost Reavers (Wii U), their four-player cooperative treasure hunter.
Finally this week, Sega will bundle together nine games from their “3D Classics” line in the Sega 3D Classics Collection. Just some of the Genesis and Master System favorites included in the package are Sonic The Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Galaxy Force II, Thunder Blade, Fantasy Zone II, Fantasy Zone II W, Power Drift, Puyo Puyo 2, and Maze Walker.
More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles
Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Pokemon Rumble World, more
It’s a big week for the Nintendo eShop as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is available to download for the 3DS. But remember, not just any 3DS system can handle Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. You’ll need a New 3DS XL in order to play Nintendo’s beautiful remake of the Wii hit. But if you’ve got one, you’ll be able to download the game through the 3DS eShop on April 10 (AKA tomorrow).
If you’re looking for something on the 3DS eShop today, you’ve got a few options. Atlus has released Etrian Mystery Dungeon, a procedurally-generated dungeon-crawler that merges the Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon franchises. Also available today is Pokemon Rumble World, a free-to-play arena brawler starring all 700 of your favorite Pokemon.
Over on the Wii U eShop, players will be able to download a pair of DS games through the Virtual Console and Affordable Space Adventures. Affordable Space Adventures offers exactly what it says on the tin… a space simulator on the Wii U that is completely affordable by the average person. And players with a love for the DS will want to know that minigame collection WarioWare: Touched! and stylus-based platformer Yoshi Touch & Go are both now available to download.
More information on all these games (and one more new release) can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles
New Releases: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Dark Souls II: First Sin, Etrian Mystery Dungeon
Just a few new releases will make their way to retail shelves this week, but they’re definitely games people have been waiting for…
Nintendo will release Xenoblade Chronicles 3D this week. The enhanced remake of the Wii RPG will include 3D visuals and a map/stats screen on the handheld’s second screen. Prospective purchasers might also want to know that Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is only compatible with the New 3DS XL and will not run on a standard 3DS or a 2DS. As you can see from the boxart, the game will also include Amiibo support, but good luck finding a Shulk Amiibo right now…
Another enhanced remake comes to the PS4 and Xbox One this week. From Software’s Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One for the first time and it’s packed with all three downloadable expansions, rebalanced difficulty, and new characters to help propel the story forward. This “Director’s Cut” version of the game will also be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Finally this week, Atlus and Spike Chunsoft will bring Etrian Mystery Dungeon to the 3DS. The turn-based action RPG will feature roguelike elements and an infinite number of procedurally-generated dungeons.
Posted in 3DS, News, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Dark Souls II, Xenoblade Chronicles
Nintendo will bring Splatoon, Xenoblade 3DS, Puzzle & Dragons: Mario, more to PAX East
Nintendo has announced their PAX East 2015 lineup and I hope you like handheld gaming, because it is very 3DS heavy. Attendees will get a chance to play the already available The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS. But for players looking for something a little more unreleased, Nintendo will also decorate their booth with demo units containing Code Name: STEAM, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition. GungHo Online will also have a booth at PAX East with a playable demo of the other half of the Puzzle & Dragons package, Puzzle & Dragons Z.
A single Wii U game, Splatoon, will also be available to play at the expo. Nintendo’s colorful first person shooter will launch in May and its PAX East appearance will be the last chance gamers get to try it out before its release.
“We love giving our fans an opportunity to check out our latest products at PAX events,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The newly released New Nintendo 3DS XL is sure to be popular with the many show-goers looking for StreetPass tags, and Splatoon will let attendees get their first hands-on experience with one of the year’s most creative games.”
The 2015 PAX East expo will take place next weekend, March 6th through the 8th, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be released on April 10… and here’s a new trailer
Nintendo dropped a new trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles 3D that gives us another look at the portable remake of the beloved Wii RPG. But the key takeaway from this video is the card at the end that confirms the game’s release date: April 10, 2015.
In other Xenoblade Chronicles 3D news, Nintendo has confirmed (via Twitter) the game will include a special StreetPass mode that will allow players to collect Tokens to unlock music and character models. Tapping a Shulk Amiibo figure (which will be exclusive to GameStop and reportedly will be in very short supply) will also add Tokens to your coffers.
And don’t forget, if you haven’t upgraded your 3DS, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will exclusively be available only for the New 3DS XL.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will launch for New 3DS in April
Nintendo has announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be released for the 3DS in April. Due to the size and complexity of the game, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be exclusively available for Nintendo’s New 3DS XL handheld, which will launch on February 13.
In addition to including a handheld version of the original Wii game, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will include maps and character stats on the bottom screen as well as a 3D character model viewer and a music player to listen to the game’ soundtrack.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles
New 3DS and New 3DS XL will launch in Australia on November 21
Nintendo just uploaded the first-ever Australian Nintendo Direct. And in their inaugural down under address, the consolemaker has confirmed the redesigned New 3DS and New 3DS XL will make their Australian debut on November 21. Nintendo’s Australia arm also confirmed that the New 3DS-exclsuive remake of Xenoblade Chronicles will be released in Australia in 2015.
First unveiled on September 1, the New 3DS and New 3DS XL include a bevy of improvements over the original models. A second analog stick, designed for more precise camera control, and additional trigger buttons bring the handheld more in-line with the Wii U controller layout. NFC support is included out of the box for Nintendo’s Amiibo figures and bigger screens allow for improved 3D functionality. When it launches in Australia, the new handheld will be available in three different packages:
- New 3DS (White) – $219.95 AUD
- New 3DS XL (Metallic Black) – $249.95 AUD
- New 3DS XL (Metallic Blue) – $249.95 AUD
The New 3DS and the New 3DS XL won’t be released in North America or Europe until sometime next year. Presumably, the Xenoblade Chronicles remake will also make the trip across the Pacific in 2015.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles
New 3DS with second analog stick, more buttons, NFC announced
For all the jokes about Nintendo’s conservatism, sometimes they really can surprise you. A Japan-only Nintendo Direct presentation on Friday revealed that the company is working on a “New 3DS” and “New 3DS XL,” which will sport a second analog stick, more buttons, built-in NFC functionality, and more.
Yes, you read that right. Nintendo has grafted three additional buttons onto the New 3DS (a second analog stick and two new trigger buttons up top). The handheld has also been given a power boost, allowing for “Super Stable” 3D play and built-in NFC functionality for Nintendo’s upcoming line of Amiibo figures. A bigger set of screens will also give gamers a better look at the new 3D effects.
To wring every bit of power out of the New 3DS, Nintendo has announced that games designed to run exclusively on the new hardware will be produced. The first such game, a remake of Xenoblade Chronicles, will be available in Japan this October alongside the launch of the New 3DS itself.
So where does that leave 3DS fans in North America and Europe who want to get their hands on this new handheld? They’ll have to wait until 2015 as Nintendo has no plans to release the New 3DS in either territory until next year.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Xenoblade Chronicles