This riveting flight simulation action game was originally released in 2011 on Nintendo 3DS and is back to leverage the special features of the New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL hardware.

Combined with the new and added features of the New Nintendo 3DS/New Nintendo 3DS XL, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy + will allow players to finally play the game the way it was intended.

The new C Stick, and ZL/ZR buttons will allow for better control and handling of the aircraft’s movement and weaponry. On top of that, players will enjoy amazing Nintendo aircraft skins to take-on their enemies.

Bandai Namco Games and Nintendo collaboration goes further than that;  Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy + will allow fans to use their favourite amiibo to fly as high as possible!

Players will feel the thrill of piloting ultra-realistic aircrafts as they fly fearlessly into the heat of battle at Mach speed.

Fierce military operations are deployed on maps where players can fly in 360 degrees to position behind enemies, evade enemy gunfire and engage in heart-pounding dogfights above land and sea.

The post Ace Combat: Assault Legacy Releasing Exclusively for Nintendo – News appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The presentation also announced the release date in Europe for a new Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL, the brand new members of the Nintendo 3DS family which were released in Australia and New Zealand on the 21st of November last year, bringing a number of new enhancements designed to offer the smoothest and most engrossing portable gaming experiences.

Two limited edition New Nintendo 3DS XL consoles will also be available from 14th February, 2015: a system featuring artwork inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D which will be available at select retailers, and one featuring an iconic emblem from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate which will be available exclusively at EB Games.

In other news within the presentation, Nintendo also revealed a new game in the Fire Emblem series for Nintendo 3DS, a brand new third-person action game coming to Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS called IronFall: Invasion, a line of amiibo featuring classic characters from the Super Mario series and many details about other upcoming Wii U and 3DS games, including Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., Splatoon, and Mario Party 10.

To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, go HERE.

Some of the key announcements covered in today’s Nintendo Direct include:

 Nintendo 3DS

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D: The handheld remake of the beloved Nintendo 64 game launches for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems on 14th of February 2015, launching on the same day as the ‘New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora’s Mask Edition’ console featuring artwork inspired by the game. Players who experience the dark and twisted adventure on New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 3DS XL can enjoy the super-stable 3D and enhanced camera controls using the C Stick.

New Fire Emblem game: A new game in the Fire Emblem series is coming to Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems. Developed by the same team who created Fire Emblem: Awakening, the new adventure adds challenges never before seen in the series and asks players to make decisions that will affect the game’s world in new ways. More information on the game’s release will be revealed in the future.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate: As players explore the world of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, they will face off against many ferocious enemies with up to three other friends locally or, for the first time on Nintendo 3DS, online using a wireless broadband Internet connection.

Starting this week, an exclusive demo with three different quests and local and online multiplayer functionality will be made available by email to select Nintendo 3DS owners, complete with three additional Nintendo eShop codes that can be shared with friends.

The ‘New Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Edition console will also release on the same day, exclusive to EB Games. By playing the game on New Nintendo 3DS or New Nintendo 3DS XL, players can experience C Stick functionality and super-stable 3D that makes for more immersive gameplay, while two sets of cover plates inspired by the game will be available for New Nintendo 3DS owners to purchase separately from 14th of February, 2015.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS amiibo Compatibility: In February, a new system update will allow amiibo support for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS using the Super Smash Bros. series of amiibo and the NFC technology built into New Nintendo 3DS systems. The previously announced Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer for amiibo support on Nintendo 3DS will launch in the future.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D: On 2nd of April 2015, a remake of the well-received Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii is launching exclusively for New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL systems.

The new version offers 3D visuals and allows players to view the maps and character stats on the bottom screen. Another new addition to the game is a bonus mode that lets players view 3D models of the characters and listen to tracks from the game’s musical score.

IronFall: Invasion: Created by a small team of three talented indie developers for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems, IronFall: Invasion brings fast-paced shooting action, with the gameplay perfectly suited for using the C Stick of New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.

With 6-player local and online multiplayer, a dedicated single player campaign and 60fps gameplay, this new title from VD-Dev is releasing on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in February 2015.

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Puzzle & Dragons : Super Mario Bros. Edition: Based on the popular Puzzle & Dragons game – a puzzle game with RPG and strategy elements that previously launched in Japan – Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons : Super Mario Bros. Edition will launch as one package for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems in May. Puzzle & Dragons : Super Mario Bros. Edition features characters and worlds from the Super Mario Bros. series.

Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.: On the 16th of May 2015, Abraham Lincoln will bring together a team of talented agents to fend off an alien invasion. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. will support amiibo figures. Players can use Fire Emblem amiibo characters Marth, Ike, Robin and Lucina as playable characters in battle and unleash their Fire Emblem-related weapons against the aliens.

Pokémon Shuffle: Launching on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS in February, Pokémon Shuffle finds players matching three or more Pokémon to clear them from the screen and finish stages. Players can download and start the game for free and purchase in-game items using Nintendo eShop funds.

ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY +: Coming in February 2015 for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems, play as the legendary pilot Phoenix and control fighter jets that actually exist in real-life. The game includes compatibility with the New Nintendo 3DS system’s C Stick and ZR/ZL buttons for total control, while also offering amiibo support with unlockable jets styled on characters such as Link, Bowser or Fox.

Nintendo Anime Channel: A new video-on-demand service kicks off on 14th of February, 2015, offering fans the chance to stream anime series from the likes of Pokémon and Kirby with new content being added regularly. Access to the service is granted simply by downloading a free application from Nintendo eShop.

Wii U

Splatoon: When players first start the colourful shooting game, they will begin in a central ‘plaza’ that connects to all the different modes in the game. The hub also grants access to a shopping centre that lets players customise their weapons and outfits. Splatoon launches exclusively for Wii U in May 2015.

Mario Party 10: The new “amiibo Party mode” brings amiibo compatibility to the classic party-game series. Select amiibo from both the Super Smash Bros. Collection and Super Mario Collection will work with the game: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Rosalina, Donkey Kong and Wario.

Tapping an amiibo to the GamePad lets players use that character as a game piece, as well as play on a game board themed to that classic character. Mario Party 10 launches for Wii U on 21st of^t March 2015, with a limited quantity of bundles including a Mario amiibo from the Super Mario Collection, plus a copy of the game, also being prepared.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: A new update on 21st of March, 2015 will add amiibo support to the charming Wii U game. Players that tap the Toad amiibo – releasing on the same day – to the GamePad can enjoy a new hide-and-seek mode where pixel art Toads are hidden throughout the stages.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: The upcoming Wii U game is an open-world RPG that allows players to seamlessly explore a vast world. Xenoblade Chronicles X is planned for launch in 2015.

Project Treasure (working title): A new teaser video was revealed in today’s Nintendo Direct featuring Katsuhiro Harada from Bandai Namco Games discussing a new game that is being developed exclusively for Wii U. The game will be free to download and start playing but requires an online connection as four players work together to complete varied stages, clearing traps, routing enemies and seizing treasure.

Wii Games Coming to Wii U as download software: Starting today, players will be able to download Wii games directly to their Wii U HOME Menu via Nintendo eShop for Wii U – no need to access Wii Mode. The first game that is available – released today – is Super Mario Galaxy 2.

The future lineup of Wii games coming to Nintendo eShop on Wii U includes Donkey Kong Country Returns (23rd of January, 2015) and Metroid Prime Trilogy (30th of January, 2015).

Other upcoming titles are Kirby’s Adventure Wii, Pandora’s Tower. Punch-Out! and a title not previously released in Australia and New Zealand – Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies.

The Wii U GamePad can be used to control many Wii games that were compatible with the Wii Classic Controller.

Super Mario Galaxy 2, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Metroid Prime Trilogy will be on sale for a special price of AU$13.00 (NZ$17.00) during their first week of availability. After the first week, these games will be available for AU$26.00 (NZ$34.00).

amiibo

Super Mario Collection amiibo: A line of amiibo inspired by the characters of the Super Mario series will launch on the 21st of March, 2015. The lineup includes new models of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi and Bowser, as well as the introduction of Toad.

Crossover amiibo characters from the Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario lines like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi and Bowser will have the same functionality in all compatible games, so players can choose which design they like best!

Additional amiibo Figures: Robin, Lucina, Charizard, PAC-MAN, Wario and Ness amiibo figures, which are all compatible with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and – when amiibo functionality becomes available in February 2015 – Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, will launch in April 2015.

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars: In this puzzle/platformer hybrid, players guide Mini Mario toys to the exit door using touch control.

As with previous games in the series, players can create their own Levels and share them with other players online.

In this game, players can “tip” the creators of the user-generated puzzles with stars, which can be used to buy new parts in the robust level creator. Mario vs. Donkey Kong:

Tipping Stars will be available directly from Nintendo eShop for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on 21st of March, 2015. As a bonus, players who purchase the Wii U version will receive a free download code for the Nintendo 3DS version, and vice versa.

The post New Legend of Zelda and Monster Hunter 4 Announced – News appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Having announced that they were going to do this some months back, we here at shanethegamer.com were curious, like many other gamers as to whether the re-release of an existing console was a good move.

On the face of it, the ‘New’ 3DS console box looks the same except for the markers that point out what infact is new. The box is also slimmer than the previous iteration.

Within the box is, well not a lot. The console in it’s foam sleeve, AR Cards which also came with the original and a intruction manual. Inexplicably Nintendo have not included a AC charger with the 3DS XL consoles which is what we use here at shanethegamer.com

At first glance the console appears to be a mirror image of it’s predecessor once removed from it’s packaging.

Once the clam shell design is opened up you will notice the new button configurations and placements.

Firstly the Home Button is now the only and very predominant button at the lower touch screen. Gone are the squared trio of pressables that used to reside below the screen. The Power button has also been relocated from the lower flat right side to the right-below underside of the Touch Screen.

The next most striking change is the addition of a second joystick – well, it’s more of a nub like what you get on some laptops. Future games will be designed to make use of this feature that the original console sorely needed.

The dual speaker placements have also changed a bit, allowing a better more clearer sound to emit through. The screen is also a smidgen wider than the previous 3DS XL console, if only by a few millimeters.

The underside has changed too. The stylus has been moved to the front of the console whereas it used to be on the side of the original. The game cartridge slot is also now at the front. This makes alot of sense as no longer do you have to reach around to change out games or fiddle about for the stylus. You can also see the new placement of the Power button here.

The back of the console also looks different – charging port is now centered and obviously the games cartridge slot is no longer there. You will also notice here the additional ZL and ZR shoulder buttons.

Side by side the changes are more apparent. The ‘New’ 3DS XL console is on the left in this photo. You can see the button additions and changes aswell as the newer one being ever so slightly more curvier than the old one.

The ‘New’ 3DS XL is also a smidgen wider than the previous console. You can also see from here that the headphone socket has been relocated to be more central to the front.

From the right side the new console has had a couple of cosmetic changes, most notably is the 3D Slider button, more designed for a nail grip. The WiFI indicator is also gone (now at the front) and the main Shoulder buttons less chunkier. There is also no memory card slot.

A comparison of the two consoles from the back provide a clearer picture of just how much redesigning work has gone on, whilst maintaining basically the same spacial areas.

The left side of both consoles are almost identical except for the Volume slider button having changed.

Also the stylus of the ‘New’ 3DS has shrunk with the latter console having a bigger one. We don’t know why, maybe it was a spacial or useability decision?

The ‘New’ 3DS console (both standard and XL) have 3D stabilising software. This mostly prevents the distortion and double screening or ghosting that was a huge annoyance of the previous model.

The ‘New’ 3DS uses the consoles front camera to track head movements of the player. This aims to keep the 3D effect in check for the player and will adjust to their viewing angle. You will need to go through an initial setup, but once this is done 3D ghosting will be next to minimal.

The usage of WIFI with the 3DS is almost a necessity, especially during the first setup process, where you will need to download software updates in order to get it all setup and ready to go. I don’t know why Nintendo have not released a 3 or 4G option for online play on the go.

So, if you had a 3DS previously (and still have it) you will have all of your Game Saves and downloaded goodness on the SD Card. The ‘New’ series of consoles doesn’t use these cards anymore, infact there isn’t even a slot for them. Instead Nintendo have adopted micoSD’s. Assuming that their gamers have an older console and have just upgraded Nintendo builtin transfer software, so that you can migrate your precious game data to the new 3DS. This can be done via a PC (Windows only) with a USB cable that is not supplied or via WIFI.

We also did not have a USB connector cable for a 3DS (and if you do have one, use it as it’s the quickest way to do the transfer) so we had no choice but to use wireless internet. The whole process took roughly 4 hours for around 2GBs of data.

Before we could start however, we had to do another software update – not just on one console but both!

The Transfer solution is found hidden within the Data Management section of the Settings. To be fair, the ‘New’ 3DS did give the option right at the start of the setup to do a transfer from an older 3DS unit. When we clicked ‘Yes’ to that, it complained of needing a System Update. We did that update, expecting the migration to begin afterwards. It didn’t it kept going through the new setup configurations. So we had to enact the transfer manually once all was good to go on the ‘New’ console.

It’s almost as if Nintendo knew that WIFI would take forever. This is the first option within the Data Transfer action.

Nintendo like you to be prepped for your transfers. Apparently.

After a few clicks of ‘Next’ we got there.

For what seemed like an eternity, both consoles went into some sort of preparation / hibernation mode for an extended period of time while they chatted to eachother for the pending transfer of data.

Then finally, the migration begins. The console being transferred to (in this case the ‘New’ 3DS) displays a very Nintendo-ey animation of little creatures pulling data blocks from one area to another. It’s cute, for 5 seconds, and then you realise at just what speed the data is transferring at and realise it will be a lifetime before either console’s can be used.

After all said and done though, there you have it. The ‘New’ 3DS.

We also enacted hardware and battery tests, the newer console manged to stay on Standby for a full week, while the older one was only three days. Gameplay time varied, interestingly and unexpectedly.

We played the new Sonic Boom on both consoles and while it was hard to gauge, the gameplay time was longer by about 1 to 1 and a half hours with the older console.

So we assume that the usage of the front camera for the 3D image stablising must use some power, not that we were were jumping about while playing.

The audio is different too. As mentioned in one of the above pics, it is definitely clearer and more defined than the older console. Headphone quality is the same (but this will fluctuate with whatever headphones you are using).

So is it worth the upgrade?

At the moment, no. In the future, yes.

Nintendo have made a few errors with the XL model, there is no AC charger or even a sync USB cable. While you can pick these up separately or scour Auction sites for third party cheapies, we believe that some sort of charging medium should have absolutely been provided.

Nintendo assume that you will retain the older model (and use it’s charger) but as is the same with any technological personal device, when a new one is gained the other is given away or sold off.

But – the future of the console is brighter – with titles being developed now to make use of the new processor speed and of course the new button configurations and adaptions and promised game bundles such as the soon to be released Monster Hunter bundle.

The ‘New’ 3DS and 3DS XL are a step in the right direction, however, if you already have a 3DS or XL, wait until the games library has built up significantly to make use of the enhancements.

The post Old 3DS vs. New 3DS Comparison & Unboxing – Feature appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The two new members of the Nintendo 3DS family have today hit the shores of Australia and New Zealand.

The new 3DS is still a pocket portable size, with a screen 1.2 times bigger than the screen size on the original Nintendo 3DS, and featuring a customisable design via various “Cover Plates” that are sold separately.

As for the 3DS XL, this features a luxury look and a large 3D screen measuring 4.88 inches to provide a dynamic gaming experience. But for some weird reason the AC power adaptor is sold separately.

These new consoles aim to enhance the user experience with new additions such as the “super-stable 3D” function which provides players with a more comfortable 3D gaming experience. The console is able to recognise the user’s face using the inner camera and automatically adjusts the angle of 3D display if your head or the console is moved during gameplay.

The new C Stick, ZL button and ZR button which have been added will enhance the play controls of the existing Nintendo 3DS hardware in compatible titles, and the new “NFC feature” which is built-in for these consoles will enable the use of amiibo in compatible titles when they are released in the future.

The consoles also feature an increase in CPU power, allowing for faster use of Miiverse and download speeds, and smoother transitions when switching between software.

In addition, there will be exclusive software developed for New Nintendo 3DS consoles which utilises the improved CPU performance, with Xenoblade Chronicles – an acclaimed RPG title originally released for Wii in 2011 – announced as the first exclusive title for New Nintendo 3DS consoles set for release in 2015.

The new Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL are of course compatible with all existing Nintendo 3DS software.

The post Nintendo Launch New 3DS & 3DS XL – News appeared first on Shane the Gamer.