In 2015 an excellent JRPG dropped on the Wii U called Xenoblade Chronicles X.

Unfortunately, that console was not well received. As such many fans were doomed to never experience the glory. Fortunately, it wasn’t doomed, thanks to the latest Switch release Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition!

Xenoblade Chronicles X kicks off with an intense cinematic.

Aliens are at war with each other and Earth is in the middle of it. Earth’s people attempt to leave in some massive ships called arks. Most of these arks are destroyed in the crossfire, but a handful make it out.  We follow one that has lifepods scattered on a planet called Mira.

Here you get to create your own character.

This character wakes up from their pod by a woman called ELMA who takes you through the fundamentals of moving and takes you to the city New Los Angeles.

Your character suffers good old fashioned amnesia, so you follow her and become a member of BLADE. BLADE is a group that is hunting for more pods and survivors. This sends you off on missions, and in one of them you discover that you are a robot. Whaaaaat? Aren’t you supposed to be one of the remaining humans? The plot get’s thick. You are going to be playing this game for many, many, many hours, so there has to be more to it than that right? Yup, Mira has heaps of other races, and some of them don’t like humans. The plot keeps thickening. It’s actually a really interesting and well crafted world and story.

The gameplay initially is very Xenoblade Chronicles. It is initially the usual auto battle combat which is super fun and engaging. But it ramps up when you get your hands on the mechs called Skells. You encounter them early, but you don’t get to pilot one until you have progressed the story enough. At this point travelling around and battles ramp up to be even more fun. But you don’t want to rush to that. There are so many side missions that help you get allies in your team that are worth doing from a gameplay perspective, but even better for the world building.

The game runs shockingly well. When there is too much chaos going on it can jitter a little bit, but I have seen smaller games run much worse. It is a massive game and I am perfectly happy with some minor performance dips for the game to be this good on the go.

There are added characters and missions to the game as well. Unfortunately I have only played this version so can only speak to this as a contained experience, but there is something there for Wii U returning players.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a cracking good game.  I am so grateful that this rerelease means more people get to play and enjoy this gem of a JRPG!  If you like JRPGs or the Xenoblade series, this is a must play.

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Checking out remasters of older JRPGs can be hit and miss at times.  If you played them before then anything tidied up helps you relive your previous joy, whereas if you missed it some systems can wind up being too darn old.

The new Switch release of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition falls somewhere in between amazing and frustrating like you may expect from a 10 year old game.

The biggest reason to pick up this game, and the reason I played for so many dozens of hours, is the story.  The short synopsis of the early story is that the world was a giant sea, until two gods appeared and fought each other with massive swords.  One day they finally hit each other with the swords and the fighting stopped.  Then on their posed bodies, life grew, with the Homs and biological life growing on one body and the other, robotic Mechons.

So gods fighting in the sea, stop each other, life grows on top of them. Following me so far?

The game then jumps to a battle where the Homs (humans) are fighting the Mechons (robots) in one of their many battles.  We see the sword called the Monado (on the games cover) in use to cut through Mechons, then some drama unfolds where the Humans and all kinds of people die.  We then jump forward again to our protagonist, Shulk, who is a young scientist trying to understand the mysterious sword.  He has some small adventures with his allies Reyn and Fiora as they complete some tasks in their town.

Suddenly the village is attacked by Mechons and in their desperation Shulk tries using the Mondo and he starts seeing the future and hacking through mechons like they are butter.  So that is a rough guideline of the first couple of hours of the plot.  It is such a unique story which is rare, and so much happens to let you truly understand the weird world they are in.  The characters are surprisingly varied and well rounded, but I found the voice acting to be rough.  It was cool to hear British accents in a game for a change, but I wasn’t buying the voice acting itself.

The gameplay is an interesting beast, and has some unfortunate timing thanks to its close release to FFVII Remake.  You run around the open areas while attacking enemies which kicks off the battle system.  Everyone auto-attacks and you control the party leader only.  For the most part this is fine, but there are bonuses to using certain attack types followed by others to essentially stagger an enemy.  This is hugely frustrating early on as you need the AI to hit the second attack to beat the initial robot enemies and the AI wasn’t playing ball for me.

There are chain moves you can use that when it builds up you get to choose each move a character uses, but you won’t have that at the start of every fight so it is annoying early on in the game.  Once you get the mondo you get abilities to attack Mechons easier, so that makes that early frustration more bearable, even if that means you have to grit your teeth through it.  I mentioned FFVII Remake because it came out recently and uses a similar style battle system, but you can choose what any of your party does on the fly making it essentially a better version of the same system.

I like the look of the game.  They have done a fantastic job of upscaling it from the original game, and while it looks a little bit dated, it’s gorgeous in comparison to a lot of the mid-tier JRPGs I play.  The world itself has been crafted beautifully to give a weird balance of being primitive and technological, while areas are being crafted around the different parts of the god bodies is brilliant.

The Definitive Edition also includes some new content set well after the end of the game, so if the 80 hours you played last time weren’t enough, there is more this time.  This is added to the considerable side quests in the game if you choose to do them which fleshes the game out to be at the massive end of the JRPG scale.  I was getting a bit over the gameplay by the end of the game, but that story kept pulling me along for the long journey.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is a wonderful JRPG that is as dated as it is current.  It doesn’t play like a game that came out this year, but looks pretty darn good on Switch and has a story and characters well worth experiencing if you haven’t already.

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As Gamescom kicks off in Cologne, Germany, Nintendo has revealed new details on what fans can expect throughout the week, including new gameplay from already-announced Nintendo Switch titles including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Party, and DAEMON X MACHINA from Marvelous, while visitors to the show can play a range of upcoming titles, including the world’s first hands-on with Super Mario Party and the recently-announced Diablo III Eternal Collection from Blizzard Entertainment.

Following on from the recent Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct that took an in-depth look at the upcoming fight-fest, coming to Nintendo Switch on the 7th of December 2018, fans can watch brand new footage of the newly-announced characters King K. Rool, Dark Samus, and Chrom in battle, with two full matches straight from the development team in Japan. Watch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – King K. Rool gameplay and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Dark Samus and Chrom gameplay (2 on 2, Stage Morph) on Nintendo UK’s official YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, anyone craving fast-paced mech action should have DAEMON X MACHINA from Marvelous firmly on their radar. Coming to Nintendo Switch in 2019, this new title from producer Kenichiro Tsukuda sees players take fully customisable powered suits called Arsenals into a variety of missions. Fans can see more later in the week when Mr Tsukuda will show off brand new gameplay in a video filmed in Nintendo’s RedCube studio at Gamescom. 

Also coming later this week, get primed for a look at brand new gameplay from the upcoming standalone story expansion Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country, in a RedCube video to be published at the end of the week.

Mario Tennis Aces is welcoming a fresh face soon, as Diddy Kong will soon join the fun. This speedy competitor, with his vine-swinging special shot, will be immediately available to players who play during the next tournament, running between the 1st and 30th of September 2018. Once the tournament ends, he’ll then be unlocked for everyone, regardless of whether they participated in the tournament or not. Get a first look at him in action in the Mario Tennis Aces – Diddy Kong trailer on YouTube.

In more Mario news, Nintendo Switch owners can now pre-order Super Mario Party in Nintendo eShop and will receive double My Nintendo Gold Points when the game is released on the 5th of October, 2018.

Mario’s brother Luigi is set for an especially busy month in October, as on top of his appearance in Super Mario Party, Luigi’s Mansion for Nintendo 3DS family systems is hitting shelves and Nintendo eShop in Australia and New Zealand on the 20th of October 2018.

Fans of comics and graphic novels will be excited to hear that InkyPen, an application for reading digital comic books, will be launching exclusively for Nintendo Switch in November. The InkyPen app will be available to download via Nintendo eShop, and users will pay a flat monthly subscription fee to read as many comics as they like, including popular series such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Judge Dredd, and Transformers, with more to be added in the future. Comic fans can see it in action in the above video.

To stay up-to-date with all the Nintendo activities at Gamescom this week here on STG.

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When the Earth is destroyed by a mysterious alien race, the last of humanity escapes and crash-lands on the mysterious planet Mira. Facing the threat of extinction, players must survive the perils of their new home in Xenoblade Chronicles X, an RPG set in a massive open world just waiting to be explored in-depth, releasing exclusively on the Wii U in Australia and New Zealand. 

In this new RPG from the creators of Xenoblade Chronicles, players can create their own character and explore a planet five times bigger than the world in Xenoblade Chronicles. A rich variety of hostile wildlife makes Mira an inhospitable place, and players will need to master a deeply strategic real-time battle system to survive.

During combat, your avatar can switch between different battle classes that allow them to become more adept at long-range or close-quarters combat, as well as issue tactical orders to up to three AI partners. Party members will also advise players on when to use special skills, known as Arts, to boost their allies or blast away foes. Each class has access to different Arts, and strategic use of these can be instrumental in turning the tide of the battle.

Outside of combat, players can focus on the necessities of exploration and survival by taking jobs in eight different divisions. Those who want to focus on discovering the massive, open environments and scavenge for new materials can take a job as a Curator, while joining the Harriers will allow players to concentrate primarily on defeating the dangerous monsters that roam the landscape. Another choice, Outfitters, spend the bulk of their time helping to develop the giant weaponised mechs known as Skells.

Eventually, players will be able to pilot the Skell themselves, allowing access to places they couldn’t find before, providing even more possibilities for exploration.

By using the Wii U GamePad, players can access the navigation system, which displays a hexagonal map grid to plot the course ahead to avoid ambushes from giant monsters, uncover new resources, and fast-travel between previously discovered locations. The game can also be played on the GamePad screen alone.

Xenoblade Chronicles X brings the series online for the first time, making it possible to team up and take on co-operative missions as a party of four. Players can also join a party of up to 32 asynchronous characters with whom they can trade items and weapons, even if they are not battling together.

In addition, avatars created by other players can be recruited into your team as AI party members, providing you with even more avenues for strategy in the midst of battle.

Explore humanity’s final frontier in Xenoblade Chronicles X for the Wii U, as it launches across Australia and New Zealand on the 5th of December 2015. The game will also be available as a bundle with a Wii U Premium Pack console and as a Limited Edition.

Those who purchase Xenoblade Chronicles on Nintendo eShop on Wii U will be eligible for a discount (AU$13/ NZ$17) on Xenoblade Chronicles X if they buy it on Nintendo eShop on the same Wii U console before the 18th of December 2015.

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Nintendo has announced details on a range of key upcoming titles for its Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, with a string of launch dates and newly revealed special editions.

Unveiled at E3 2015, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes allows three players take on the role of individual Link characters and team up to solve unique Zelda-style puzzles and boss fights. With one life meter to share, working together will be key to overcome the game’s many dungeons.
This new title in The Legend of Zelda series will launch on the 24th of October, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

Coming to Wii U in December 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X is set amidst an intergalactic war between aliens and human survivors, where players fight for survival while exploring the massive expanses of an unknown planet. Today, two limited edition bundles have been revealed to be launching alongside the game:

• Xenoblade Chronicles X Wii U Premium Pack: features a black premium Wii U console, a physical copy of the game, an Artbook and a World Map poster
• Xenoblade Chronicles X Limited Edition Pack: features a physical copy of the game, a SteelBook cover, a World Map poster, a Cover Art Poster and the Artbook

To celebrate the upcoming launch, the original Wii classic Xenoblade Chronicles is available on Nintendo eShop on Wii U right now (AU$26.00/NZ$34.00)! Those who purchase this game will be eligible for a AU$13/NZ$17 discount on Xenoblade Chronicles X  if they buy it on Nintendo eShop on the same Wii U console within two weeks of the game’s launch.

Fans of limited edition offerings should keep an eye out for Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water, coming to Wii U on 31st of October, 2015. From that day, Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water – trial version creeps onto Nintendo eShop, giving players the opportunity to sample action from the game’s prologue and first two chapters at no cost before choosing whether to purchase all remaining chapters.

The Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water – Limited Edition bundle will feature a copy of the game in its standalone packaging, a double-sided poster, an art book, four Spirit Photographs, and a SteelBook cover.

Finally, on the 29th of August 2015 action game guru Tomonobu Itagaki’s Devil’s Third features a unique combination of shooting and melee combat, with an off-the-wall single player campaign as well as online multiplayer modes allowing for intense 16 player battles. Hear more about the game from the man himself in the developer video above.

In addition to all of the above in 2015, fans can look forward to even more fun, with Star Fox Zero (Wii U), Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival (Wii U), Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U), Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (3DS) and Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash (3DS) all set to arrive before the end of this year.

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First with The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D and Capcom‘s Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate set for release this Saturday (14th of February, 2015). Both titles are playable on all Nintendo 3DS & 2DS systems, but feature added functionality when experienced on New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL, such as super-stable 3D and enhanced camera controls using the C Stick.

Two limited edition New Nintendo 3DS XL consoles – one featuring artwork inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, and the other by Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate – will also launch on Saturday to celebrate these highly-anticipated titles.

Meanwhile, exclusively on Nintendo eShop, IronFall: Invasion, an intense single-player and six-person local & online multiplayer action-shooter from three talented developers launches alongside familiar faces in Kirby Fighters Deluxe and Dedede’s Drum Dash Deluxe.

In addition, a free video-on-demand streaming service named Nintendo Anime Channel becomes available for download from Nintendo eShop, with anime series from the likes of Kirby and Pokémon.

Here’s the full list of releases for Saturday the 14th of February, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand:

• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D: The handheld remake of the beloved, dark and twisted Nintendo 64 game launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
• New Nintendo 3DS XL Majora’s Mask 3D Edition: A limited edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system featuring artwork inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D.
• 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. Ahead of launch day fans should check out Nintendo eShop and get their hands on the demo, to brush up their skills ready for the battle ahead.
• New Nintendo 3DS XL Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Edition: A limited edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system with an iconic emblem from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate on its cover – exclusive to EB Games.
• IronFall: Invasion: A three-year project by independent developers VD-DEV, IronFall: Invasion brings fast-paced single-player and six-person local & online multiplayer shooting action, with the gameplay perfectly suited for using the C Stick of New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.
• Kirby Fighters Deluxe: Based on the popular battle mode in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, this standalone 4-player battle action game contains expanded gameplay, new arenas and the ability to play as a team.
• Dedede’s Drum Dash Deluxe: Bounce to the beat of catchy Kirby tunes playing as Kirby’s long-time rival King Dedede. This standalone rhythm action game includes content not found in Kirby: Triple Deluxe including all-new stages and new obstacles.
• Nintendo Anime Channel: A new video-on-demand service 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.
• New Themes for Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu: Fans looking to spruce up their HOME Menu with a new theme are in luck! New Basic and Simple Colour Set themes can be downloaded for free from the Theme Shop which can be accessed through the HOME Menu settings on your Nintendo 3DS system. Those purchasing either The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate or Ace Combat Assault Horizon Legacy+ (when it releases this month) will receive a free bonus theme download if purchased from Nintendo eShop, with additional themes available for purchase.

The fun doesn’t end when the sun sets on Saturday though.

More high-profile handheld games for Nintendo 3DS family of systems are scheduled for release in the coming weeks and months.

These include: Pokémon Shuffle (launching in February, 2015), Cooking Mama: Bon Appétit! (7th of March, 2015), Gardening Mama: Forest Friends (7th of March, 2015), Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (21st of March, 2015), Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, (2nd of April, 2015) Code Name S.T.E.A.M. (16th of May, 2015), and Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition (May, 2015).

The post Big Stuff Coming 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.

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