Tag: NES
News Final Fantasy Creator Jokes That He "Cheated On Nintendo" With PlayStation
But he credits the NES for his remarkable career
In a recent interview with One More Game, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi joked that he "cheated on Nintendo" with PlayStation for the release of Final Fantasy VII in 1997. When speaking on the transition from console development to mobile, Sakaguchi looked back on his career and effectively...
News Nintendo To End Repairs For Famicom & Super Famicom Classic, New 2DS XL In Japan
Three more reach the end of the line
Nintendo has announced that it will be ending repairs for the Famicom Classic, Super Famicom Classic, and the New Nintendo 2DS XL in Japan "as our current stock of parts runs out". Shared by OatmealDome on Bluesky, both the classic "mini" cons
News 8BitDo Is Now Selling NES-Style Keycaps
Now you're playing with power!
Gaming peripheral company '8BitDo' has launched a new line of NES-inspired keycaps, which can be used on mechanical keyboards. These are apparently the same designs from its retro keyboard, which was released in 2023 (thanks, The Verge). These keycaps will set you back $49.99 USD (or your regional equivalent) and come...
News Nintendo Is Expanding Switch Online's NES Library With Another Classic
Tetris returns in Winter 2024
During the latest Partner Direct, Nintendo actually shared some surprise news related to the Switch Online service. In case you did miss the announcement, "this Winter" Nintendo will be adding the NES version of Tetris (dating back to 1989/90) to its digital retro library. There is no specific release date, but we did...
Random Bull-Airs Range Of Nintendo-Inspired Sneakers Is Extremely Cool
Power dressing
New York City-based clothing and sneaker company Bull-Airs has recently released a retro-inspired collection heavily referencing Nintendo's classic consoles, and a new set of pre-orders will be going live this Friday (thanks, GoNintendo!). The sneakers come in four different varieties, each one inspired by the colour scheme and...
News Nintendo Is Hiring 'Nintendo Experience Specialists' In Canada
Become a 'NES'
Nintendo is always hiring new talent, and in Canada, it's currently seeking 'Nintendo Experience Specialists'. This role, abbreviated as 'NES', currently has openings in British Columbia and Ontario. It is described as a "field support position" where specialists interact with consumers and retail staff, while also educating,...
Random Sakurai Shows Off His LEGO NES
He got it for his birthday
When he's not making games or recording videos about game design, Masahiro Sakurai likes to entertain himself in all sorts of ways. In his latest post on social media, the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director revealed a LEGO set he received for his 54th birthday earlier this week. It's not just any old Lego set, either -...
Random Sakurai Breaks Down The Differences Between Famicom And NES Music
Explaining why Castlevania 3 sounds better in Japan
Masahiro Sakurai is once again delving into his video game knowledge with a video all about the intricacies of NES and Famicom audio. What begins as an introduction to the consoles' different audio processing channels (pulse, triangle, noise and DPCM), soon turns into a history lesson about how...
Feature The Famicom Failure That Almost Bankrupted HAL, But Shaped Nintendo's Future
HAL be there
Unless you’re a dedicated Famicom collector, it’s unlikely that you’ve heard of Metal Slader Glory. Released right at the tail end of the Famicom’s life in 1991, the year after the release of the Super Famicom, Metal Slader Glory never made it out of Japan, and it proved to be a massive flop for HAL Laboratory. But the very...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Gargoyle's Quest II: The Demon Darkness
Demonic
Hello folks, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last time, we looked at Kirby's Pinball Land for the Game Boy (jeez, how many Kirby games are there..? Don't answer that), pitting Europe and North America against Japan in a good ol' fashioned duel. It was closer than we were anticipating, though as expected, Japan won the...
News Switch Online NES Controller Limited-Time Sale Now Live (North America)
Get 20% off the regular price
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition can be played with all sorts of controllers, but if you want to perfectly recreate the retro speedrunning magic, you're going to need the official wireless NES controllers. Thankfully, they're currently on sale. Switch Online members in the US and Canada can now get 20% off...
Random Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Overtakes NES Lifetime Sales
Nintendo's best-selling Switch game breaks another record
The 2017 release Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been an absolute juggernaut for Nintendo during the Switch generation and if you needed a reminder about just how successful it's been, here's a little fun fact. The 61.97 million units shifted as of March 2024 actually means this single game has now...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Urban Champion
Urban brawl..?
Hello there! Welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week's content, let's see how things panned out last time. We looked at DK: King of Swing for the Game Boy Advance in what turned out to be a pretty solid contest. In the end, Europe took home the trophy with 50% of the vote. North America settled...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game Ranked
All the NES games, ranked by you
Updated with seven new NES titles: Urban Champion, Golf, Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Mach Rider, The Mystery of Atlantis, Solar Jetman, and Cobra T
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's NES Library With Seven More Games
Try them out today
Nintendo continues to bolster its Switch Online + Expansion Pack service with new game releases. Today, the focus is on the base tier, with a whopping seven games added to the NES library. The new titles now playable on the service include Urban Champion (1986), Golf (1985), Donkey Kong Jr. Math (1986), Mach Rider (1986),...
News Metroid, EarthBound & Tetris Composer Shares More Private Demo Tracks On New Album
Hear more than ever before
Back in 2021, the legendary composer behind the likes of Metroid, Mother and Tetris, Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka, released the aptly-named 'Lost Tapes' album, providing a never-before-heard sample of his demo tapes from the '80s and '90s. Record label Super Fuji Discs has announced that a fresh bat
Round Up The Previews Are In For Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Here are the first impressions
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition will revive classic speedruns next month and before the game's launch on the Switch, Nintendo has given multiple outlets a chance to go "hands on" with the title. In case you missed our coverage here on Nintendo Life, we can confirm it's a fun time and think it might even...
News Unofficial 'Nintendo World Championships' Cart Smashes Kickstarter Goal
Though we doubt The Big N will be happy
Update: And it seems the legal eagles have swooped. Read the original story below. An unofficial reproduction of the NES Nintendo World Championships cartridge has been successfully backed via Kickstarter, raising a total of £16,593 at the time of writing with an initial goal of £8,452.
News Homebrew Games Summer Showcase 2024 - Celebrating 120 Titles Across 15 Platforms
NES, SNES, Game Boy and Virtual Boy titles featured
Although the game industry is all about moving forward, there are still many talented individuals and teams out there developing titles for past-generation systems. That's where the 'Homebrew Games Summer Showcase' comes in - celebrating new games on retro consoles and classic handheld devices...
Random Unofficial Legend Of Zelda NES Remake Gets 20-Minute Gameplay Video
Link's Re-awakening?
If you've been longing for an official remake of the original Legend of Zelda on the NES, then chances are you'll have a pretty hefty wait on your hands. Thankfully, then, you can at least assuage your pain by checking out the latest gameplay video of an unofficial remake from fan Lloyd Empty (thanks, Wccftech). It's been up for...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Dragon Quest III (NES)
Before the remake(s)
We are back, back, back for another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week's topical match-up, let's recap what went down last time. Two 3DS covers for Bravely Default went head-to-head in our last duel and great Scott, was it a close one! The European 'For the Sequel' version put up a good fight but was...
Poll Will You Be Getting The Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition - Deluxe Set?
Go on, tell us
The Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was recently announced for the Switch and as part of this there will be a special 'Deluxe Set' released, containing a physical game card, a set of five pins, 13 art cards, and a gold coloured replica NES cartridge. Nintendo has now released a new trailer showing off this 'Deluxe Set' and...
Video Nintendo World Championships Japanese Gameplay Officially Revealed
The Famicom 'Special Edition' comes with NSO controllers
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is on its way to the Switch this July and if you're eager to see more, you might want to take a look at the final episode of "Famicom Talk Shop: Kobayashi-Toy Store" starring comedian and actor Kendo Koybayashi and featuring other Japanese talent. The...
News Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Estimated Switch File Size Revealed
You won't need much space for this one
Following a classification, the Switch game Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition was officially announced this week. If you're planning to download the title or are just curious to know how big the file size of this classic speed run compilation is, read on. According to Nintendo's official listings, the...
News Nintendo World Championships: Famicom Special Edition Includes NSO Controllers
Switch Famicom controllers will also be sold to the "general public"
Japan often gets different game bundles, and it seems this trend is set to continue with the upcoming Switch release, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. It's been revealed the 'special' Famicom Edition actually comes packaged with two Famicom wireless controllers. These...
Feature Why Play Final Fantasy VII Remake When You Could Play FFVII 'Demake'?
"more than just pirate versions"
You’re probably aware of Square Enix’s lengthy and somewhat lavish efforts to remake the 1997 game Final Fantasy VII. The second instalment of this ambitious remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, was released just recently, and we’re still likely to be years away from any sort of conclusion. But you might not be...
Random Sakurai Talks About "The Most Incredible Year For The Game Industry"
In his "personal opinion" it's 1986
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai is back at it with a new "Grab Bag" video - this time discussing the "most incredible year for the game industry". In his own "personal opinion", it's 1986 - a year that marked the beginning of multiple major franchises, the arrival of the NES in Europe, and the...
News Metroid For NES Could Be Inducted Into The Video Game Hall Of Fame
Other nominees include games like SimCity & Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
The Strong Museum has officially revealed its 'World Video Game Hall of Fame' finalists for 2024 and once again there's some Nintendo representation. The NES/Famicom title Metroid - starring Samus Aran - is featured as a nominee this year alongside an all-star cast made up of...
Feature Meet Morphcat Games, The New-Gen NES Devs Pushing The 8-Bit Envelope
"No one has come close to exhausting its full capabilities"
Four decades after it became an international sales phenomenon and dominated a crowded games market, the Nintendo Entertainment System – the 8-bit box that gave birth to some of the medium’s biggest enduring franchises – today finds itself playing host to something else entirely: new...
Random Paul McCartney Loved Koji Kondo's Work So Much, He Invited Him Backstage
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, Nintendo 64?
During a recent interview with Gene Park of The Washington Post, famed Nintendo composer Koji Kondo reminisced of his work with Nintendo and the impact that his music has had on the industry after its induction into the National Recording Registry. One particular anecdote that caught our...
Guide Best First-Party NES Games
Nintendo-developed NES games, as ranked by you
Looking for a list of Nintendo's first-party NES games? Wonder what the best first-party NES game is? You've come to the right guide. Our ranked list of the Top 50 Best NES Games Ever covers every game on the system, but here we're looking specifically at Nintendo-developed NES games released in the...
Random Up For A Challenge? Try Taking On Mario Wonder With The NES Power Pad
It is possible... just about
When Super Mario Bros. Wonder first launched at the end of last year, we asked you lovely lot what your controller of choice was to take on the latest 2D platformer. We listed the likes of the Joy-Con, Pro Controller and the SNES pad — heck, we even pushed the boat out and included the CRKD Nitro Deck! Basically, we...
News NES-Inspired Platformer Rugrats: Adventures In Gameland Crawls Onto Switch Next Month
March of the minis
After being announced for 'consoles' last September, The Media Indie Exchange Games (The MIX Games) today not only revealed that the NES-inspired puzzle platformer Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland will be taking its first steps in March, but also confirmed that the game is headed for Switch. Based on the titular '90s cartoon...
News Nintendo's Switch Online Service Spotlights Donkey Kong With New Hub
The DKC series celebrates 30 years in 2024
Nintendo seems to be slowly putting the spotlight back on Donkey Kong with a series of announcements in recent times. He will also star in the upcoming release Mario vs. Donkey Kong, due out on the Switch later this month. With this in mind, Nintendo has now launched a special section in the Switch Online...
Mother-load
Get out your very best magnifying glass, folks - it's time to analyse some artwork in the latest edition of Box Art Brawl! We've got a serious big-hitter for you this week, but before we get cracking, let's take a look at how things panned out last time. We looked at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project for the NES,...
Random Games Done Quick Just Featured Its First-Ever Speedrunning Dog
Peanut Butter & Gyromite
Peanut Butter the Shiba Inu is officially the best boy in the world. This adorable pup has made history by completing a speedrun on the world stage at Games Done Quick's bi-annual speedrunning event, AGDQ 2024. With the help of his owner and human speedrunner JSR_, Peanut Butter has been training to wow the world with a...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: The Manhattan Project
Cowabunga!
It's time to judge some game covers as we dive into another edition of Box Art Brawl! Last week we took it to the fairway as we matched up two covers from Mario Golf: Advance Tour. Reader, it was a washout. The North American / European cover took the competition by a country mile, snatching up 81% of the vote and leaving the Mario-less...
Random Miyamoto Made Shigesato Itoi Cry After 'Mother' Pitch
"My tears started welling up"
Despite his wholesome outward appearance, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has often been known for his strict nature within the business. Interviews with the auteur have revealed him to be a surprisingly reserved individual; one who rarely gives praise to his peers. In a recent public chat between Miyamoto and
Random The Golden Globes Is The Place For Top Super Mario Bros. Banter
"You ever make it to King Koopa?"
If you've hopped onto social media this morning, you've undoubtedly been inundated with coverage of the 81st Golden Globe Awards event. We're here to add to that, because we're nice, but also because it's kind of, sort of relevant to Nintendo. You see, when presenting the nominees for Best Original Song, artists...
Feature 8-Bit Wolf - Remembering The NES Game Teaching Kids To Conquer Wall Street
It’s all about bucks, kid
When you think back to being in middle school, staying up all night with your friends playing video games, what games are you playing? Is it Mass Effect? Maybe some iteration of Smash or Mario Kart? The big one when I was that age was Street Fighter II in all its iterations. But there's another game that brings back the...
Anniversary Zelda II And Castlevania II Both Turn 35 This Month
True underdogs
Gosh, they grow up so fast, don't they? Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and Castlevania II: Simon's Quest are both celebrating their 35th anniversaries this month. The former is the direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda and was released in North America on December 1st, 1988. It received positive reception upon launch, but more...
Poll Box Art Brawl - Donkey Kong
The OG
Welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we get cracking with this week's epic battle, let's take a look at how Contact went on with its own duel. It was incredibly close; possibly one of the closest brawls we've seen to date, but ultimately the design favoured by North America and Japan won the round with 51% of the vote...
Review Devil World - A North American Debut For Nintendo's Curious Pac-Man 'Clone'
Heaven a good time
This review was originally published in November 2014. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online NES library — and its official debut in North America nearly 40 years after its Japanese launch on Famicom. As far as obscure releases within the NES library go, Devil World is...
Review The Mysterious Murasame Castle - The Legend Of Zelda's Action-Focused Sibling
The mystery is why this took so long to be released outside Japan
This review was originally published in June 2014. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online NES library. Although not originally released outside Japan, chances are that longtime Nintendo fans in the West have noticed nostalgic...
News Nintendo Expands Switch Online's NES & Game Boy Library With Three More Classics
Revisit Castlevania Legends & some other special titles
Nintendo has announced a new batch of games to the Switch Online service. The latest additions are part of the standard tier - adding two NES titles, and a Game Boy title. The titles added in the latest update include The Mysterious Murasame Castle (1986), Devil World (1984) and Castlevania...
News 'The Meating' Is A Brand New NES Game Heading To Kickstarter Today
Prime cut
Retro specialist Mega Cat Studios has announced The Meating, a brand new NES title that's heading to Kickstarter today. With a projected release in Q1 2024, The Meating features puzzle-platforming gameplay across over 40 unique stages. You'll play as a 'ghost minotaur', whose mission is to 'to put his meat back together' and figure out...
News Homage's Range Of Tecmo Bowl Apparel Looks Like A Touchdown For Retro Sports Fans
T-shirt collections are dropping over the next month
American retailer of vintage-inspired graphic t-shirts Homage has announced that it has teamed up with Koei Tecmo for a range of Tecmo Bowl apparel, the first item of which is available on the Homage website today. Launching with the Tecmo Bowl American flag logo t-shirt (now available for $32),...
Random Super Mario Bros. Wonder Gets Fan-Made NES Commercial, And It's Brilliant
Now you're playing with wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder definitely isn't coming out on the NES, but this excellent fan-made commercial almost convinced us that it was. YouTuber LUIZ do Comercial has created various "fake commercials" for video games, and his latest creation is a work of 8-bit art. Luiz has taken the over-the-top style of '80s...
Random Unused Mario Sprites Spotted In Classic Behind-The-Scenes Footage Of Nintendo
A time of big ideas (and even bigger phones)
There is a lot of retro goodness to be found in looking back on classic Nintendo coverage, and the above 1980s behind-the-scenes peek at Nintendo's Famicom development has it all. Recently featured in a report by the Yomiuro Telecasting Corporation News Channel, this classic coverage has it all: a look...
News The Famicom Just Won An Award At The Tokyo Game Awards 2023
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak wins Game of the Year
At this year's annual Tokyo Game Awards, which are held during the Tokyo Game Show, the Family Computer — known as the Famicom or NES (to us) — won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (thanks VGC). That's a rather long title for an award that recognises someone or something that...