The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo has released some screenshots on its Twitter page highlighting the Bokoblins in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You can find them in the gallery below.
Pokémon Sun & Moon
The latest issue of CoroCoro brought with it a few new details for Pokémon Sun & Moon.
According to the magazine, Rockruff evolves into Lugarugan (Japanese name), and this evolution has two different formes. The forme Lugarugan takes will depend on if Rockruff evolves during the day (Midday forme) or during the night (Midnight forme).
The magazine also states that Lugarugan’s Midday forme is capable of learning a new priority move called Accel Rock, while Lugarugan’s Midnight forme can learn Counter.
Next, CoroCoro takes a look at two new Ultra Beasts called UB02 Beauty and UB02 Expansion. UB02 Expansion, called Absorption in the western versions, is shown to appear in Pokémon Sun, while UB02 Beauty will show up in Pokémon Moon. Both of them will have a similar scene where they confront Hala and Tapu Koko. The magazine also teases that UB01’s name is a mystery, but it might have a deep meaning.
Moreover, CoroCoro provides a first look at the Pokémon Sun & Moon anime, which will be airing in November. Ash will receive a Z-Ring and meet the Melemele Island Guardian, Tapu Koko. During the show, Ash is apparently going to school and his goal is to graduate “like never before”.
Finally, CoroCoro states that the magazine will show the true strength of Type: Null in its next issue.
You can find the CoroCoro scans corresponding to these details in the gallery below.
Following the reveal on CoroCoro, the official websites for the games were update with a bit more information, some screenshots, and a trailer, on the newly revealed Ultra Beasts. You can find those below.
The extent of UB-02 Absorption’s strength is unknown. Its entire body is covered with bulging, powerful muscles. The full force of a punch powered by these muscles would be off the charts! Its distinctively long mouth is said to be harder than diamonds. Could the Ultra Beast also use it to attack?
Its narrow, graceful legs allow it to accelerate with such explosive speed that people claim it can dodge lightning! It is said that any Pokémon that sees UB-02 Beauty, regardless of its own gender, will become infatuated with it and lose the will to battle. The exact reason for this reaction—whether it’s an unidentified pheromone exuded by UB-02 Beauty or a hypnotic effect induced by its appearance—has not been determined.
Around the same time, Nintendo announced a special New 3DS XL Solgaleo and Lunaala Black Edition system inspired by Pokémon Sun & Moon for North America. Fans will be able to purchase the new design on October 28, for $199.99. It will not come with any of the new Pokémon games pre-installed, so you’ll still need to pick up the games separately.
Nintendo of America’s senior VP of sales and marketing Doug Bowser said of the news:
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved Pokémon series and people have never been talking about Pokémon more. Playing Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon on this new Pokémon system is the best way for fans to show their love for this iconic series.”
Finally, we got a new poster and preview trailer for the Pokémon Sun & Moon anime season, which was announced on CoroCoro, and learned that the name of the manga that just begun being serialized in the magazine is called Pokémon Horizon. It’s penned by Tenya Yabuno, who previously worked on Digimon V-Tamer and the Inazuma Eleven manga. You can find a few assets for both below.
Pokémon Generations
The Pokémon Company has recently announced Pokeémon Generations, a new animated series that revisits each generation of the Pokémon games “to shed new light on some timeless moments”. We’ll see various scenes from “the earliest days in the Kanto region to the splendor of the Kalos region”.
18 episodes of Pokémon Generations, lasting 3-5 minutes, will air each week through December 23.
Below you can find the trailer for the series, some concept art, and the first two episodes which have already aired.
Pokémon GO
A new Pokémon GO update is now out both on iOS and Android, bringing the game up to version 1.7.0 / 0.37.0.
The big addition in this update is the Buddy Pokémon feature. Pokémon GO Plus support has been added as well.
Here are the patch notes:
– Added Pokémon GO Plus support
– Implemented Buddy Pokémon: Trainers will now be able to choose one of their Pokémon as a buddy. The buddy Pokémon will earn a Candy after a certain distance is traveled
– Fixed an issue where Eggs would sometimes hatch without displaying the animation
– Fixed network reliability issues
– Minor text fixes
Another patch is probably being issued very soon though, since Niantic has sent word that players should be on the lookout for version 1.7.1 (iOS) / 0.37.1 (Android).
Given the slight change in version numbers, this is probably not a major update and merely intended to fix some small compatibility issues with Pokémon GO Plus, specially on Android.
Niantic CEO John Hank and the rest of the Pokémon GO team also wrote a new message for fans on the company’s website. It’s mostly to thank players for their support thus far, and to confirm that Niantic is still working on getting the game out to more countries, including India. They also tease that there’s “a lot more in the works this fall”.
You can read the full message below:
It’s been an incredible run since launch and, as we start wrapping up the summer in California, we want to thank all the Trainers for the enthusiasm they have shown for the game.
Pokémon GO has been installed hundreds of millions of times since our launch in early July and is played in more than 100 countries around the world. We are working hard to bring the game to more (India, we hear you!). All that and we’ve only scratched the surface of gameplay that we want to create. It’s been terrific to see all the activity throughout the world. Most inspiring has been the response from people of all ages and lifestyles describing how Pokémon GO has been force for good in their lives. We set out to create an experience that encourages discovery, exercise and real world connections and it has been incredible to see that mission come to life.
New stories have surfaced virtually daily about Trainers getting out into the real world, becoming more healthy, meeting neighbors, and helping kids. We’ve also heard from people using the game to cope with social anxiety, depression and autism, and even using it to improve their relationships. We have heard from tens of thousands of you directly, including amazing examples such as Kelly, who emailed us to tell her story about getting out finding a new sense of purpose. We have seen dozens of self-organized player events, some with humanitarian goals such as Pokémon for Progress. All of your stories and smiles have motivated us through sleepless nights.
Thank you for your continued support! We’ve got a lot more in the works this fall. Stay tuned here for all the details.
When it comes to the business side of things, according to Slice Intelligence, the paying population of Pokémon GO has declined by 79% since July of 2016.
The mobile game industry is still notoriously fickle, since even Pokémon GO is losing some of its thunder. The number of in-game buyers within Pokémon GO has decreased by 79% since July 15th, and Pokémon GO is no longer more profitable than all other mobile games combined. Despite this, Pokémon GO still maintains its position as the most profitable mobile game on the market. Specifically, it has generated around six times more revenue than the second most profitable mobile game in the month of August.
Furthermore, Pokémon GO introduced more than double the normal number of in-game spenders to the mobile game market during the weeks after its launch. While these numbers have shrunk back down to what they were prior to the game’s launch, Pokémon GO has had a similarly large effect on the sale of other Pokémon products. The revenue generated from the sale of Pokémon products (toys, games, clothing, etc) this August has increased by 233% from August of last year and even bested the sales from October of 2015 which, thanks to the Halloween season, is historically the strongest season for Pokémon product sales.
In fact, The Wall Street Journal recently provided a closer look at this by examining the situation in Japan.
The graphic below shows how Pokémon GO has boosted sales of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Red/Green/Blue/Yellow, and 3DS hardware as a whole since launch. It has cooled off slightly as of late, but overall, it’s clear that GO made a notable impact overtime.
Paper Mario: Color Splash
The European, North America, and Japanese websites for Paper Mario: Color Splash are now open. You can access them over here, here, and here, respectively. Below you can also find a couple of videos with gameplay footage from the European and Japanese websites.
A new trailer called “The Adventure Unfolds”, and the fourth episode of the Rescue V Toad squad videos, were also released by Nintendo during the week. Check them out below:
Finally, we have some more gameplay footage from the game, since various media previews are now available. You can watch them below.
Mario Party: Star Rush
Nintendo recently opened up the European and Japanese officila websites for Mario Party: Star Rush, which you can find over here and here.
Thanks to that, we now have a bunch of details, screenshtos, and footage, regarding modes, mini-games, and amiibo. You can find all of those below.
Modes
Toad Scramble – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: Yes
Toad’s your main host for this Mario Party, and what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in pure party spirit!
Bowser’s forces have stolen a stack of Stars, and it’s up to a small group of Toads to get them back. As a Toad, compete with other players to collect coins and Stars while roaming around the board. The one with the most Stars at the end of the game wins!
Coinathlon – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: Yes
It’s a race to the finish, and the only way to get around the board is to snatch up armfuls of coins! The minigames never stop here, and every coin you earn moves you one space closer to victory. Improve your odds by interfering with your opponents using all sorts of items, and keep an eye on your progress by checking the board on the Touch Screen.
In Rival Race, take on a series of challenges and try to score 10 wins, or try Free Play Mode, where you can choose the number of players, laps and minigames you want!
Balloon Bash – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: Yes
Move around the board and get as many Stars as you can in this four-player game! Collect coins as you move around the board, and pop Coin Balloons to enter all sorts of hilarious minigames, including Boss Battles, and win even more coins. Look out for Star Balloons – grab one and you can trade 10 coins for a Star on the spot.
Mario Shuffle – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: No
Go head-to-head in this two-player game, where the aim is to move all your playing pieces to the other side of the board. Each player selects three characters, which start at opposite ends of three lanes and must pass each other to reach their goal.
Strategically land on spaces that will propel you forward, and hop over spaces that send you backwards – or even right back to the beginning! If a character jumps over an opponent, the opposing character will lose a turn. Land a character right on top of another, and the rival will be thrown back to the start point!
Rhythm Recital – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: No
Choose from a bunch of toe-tapping Mario tunes and play along in time to the beat! Up to four players can form a full band of friends, each taking up their own instrument and working together to complete the music.
Challenge Tower – Single-player only
This single-player trial is all about getting to the top of some very tall towers! Edge your way up, one space at a time, and watch out for Amps, who are lying in wait to give you a shock. Pay attention to the colour of each space and avoid danger as you ascend…
Super-talented tower climbers can try to conquer the whopping, 500-floor Master Tower. Good luck!
Boo’s Block Party – Local Play: Yes | Download Play: No
Face off against a friend in frantic match-three puzzle action: you’ve got to spin to win! Turn dice around, lining up identical numbers in sets of three or more, vertically or horizontally, to break the blocks and clear them off your screen. Bust enough and you’ll send them tumbling over to your opponent’s screen. If the blocks reach the top of the screen, it’s game over!
You can also take on Boo in a single-player endless mode. Do you have what it takes to get a high score against the ghost with the most?
Character Museum
Read up on the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom who you’ll encounter as you play, including baddies. Can you find all of them?
Mini-Games
No Mario Party would be complete without minigames, and there are over 50 here!
It’s every player for themselves in Free-For-All games, while Boss Battles are all about beating big bosses while competing for points. Snap up as many coins as you can in Coin Chaos games, and if you’re feeling brave you can take on the Koopa King himself in Bowser’s Gauntlet games.
You can play any minigames you’ve unlocked whenever you like in the Minigames mode. Here are just a few that you’ll encounter!
Acornucopia (Free-For-All)
Dodge the Goombrats and try not to drop any of your acorns!
Dodge Fuzzy, Get Dizzy (Free-For-All)
Race to the top of the flagpole while avoiding every Fuzzy – touch one and you’ll be dazed for a bit!
Bridgesaw Puzzle (Free-for-all)
Connect the puzzle pieces using the Touch Screen to build a bridge over toxic waters!
Petey Piranha’s Shell Smackdown (Boss Battle)
Pick up Green Shells and hurl them at Petey Piranha until his health bar is empty. The one who does the most damage wins!
Tiles and Tribulations (Coin Chaos)
Swap around tiles starring all sorts of Mario baddies to match horizontal or vertical groups of three or more against the time limit.
Rolling Rumble (Coin Chaos)
Tension in the big top! Balance on a ball and charge at baddies to bounce them off the arena. Don’t be a clown, though – mistime an attack, and you could be the one that ends up falling…
Goomba Gold Rush (Coin Chaos)
Goombas are overrunning the place – blast them away with cannonballs to get the situation under control!
Bowser’s Fence Fury (Bowser’s Gauntlet)
Clamber around a wire fence and avoid Bowser’s attacks. The last one climbing wins – get flicked off the fence and you lose!
amiibo
If you tap a compatible amiibo (sold separately) during single-player mode, you can get all sorts of handy advantages, including ally characters and useful items!
Toad Scramble
Using a compatible amiibo allows you to partner with an ally character right from the first turn. Ally characters that join you via amiibo are stronger than those encountered during regular play.
The character will also bring a special Dice Block along with them, which offer nifty bonuses. If the amiibo already has Mario Party 10 data saved on it, the Ally character will have a Gold, Silver or Bronze Dice Block, depending on the colour of the item that is saved from Mario Party 10.
Coinathlon
Using a compatible amiibo allows you to play as the amiibo character. If you bring an amiibo to the race, every item you get can be used twice.
Balloon Bash
With a compatible amiibo, you’ll get a special Dice Block for that amiibo character from the start of the game. If the amiibo already has Mario Party 10 data saved on it, they’ll have a Gold, Silver or Bronze Dice Block depending on the colour of the item that is saved from Mario Party 10.
Mario Shuffle
If you tap a compatible amiibo, an amiibo will join the game as a piece carrying a Dice Block. You can’t use more than one of the same character, though.
An amiibo character will bring one Dice Block with them. If the amiibo already has Mario Party 10 data saved on it, they’ll have a Gold, Silver or Bronze Dice Block depending on the colour of the item that is saved from Mario Party 10.
Rhythm Recital
If you have a Dr. Mario amiibo, you can tap it to unlock a new music track.
Challenge Tower
If you hit an Amp, you can avoid a game over by tapping in a compatible amiibo to continue from the moment you failed. You can only use the same character once per day, though.
Boo’s Block Party
Tapping a Boo amiibo makes Boo appear in the background!
Character Museum
By tapping in compatible amiibo, you can build up a collection of stamps to be proud of. Each character has a different stamp design – can you get them all?
Compatible amiibo
- Mario (gives a Gold Dice Block from the beginning)
- Peach
- Yoshi
- Donkey Kong
- Luigi
- Diddy Kong
- Rosalina
- Bowser
- Wario
- Dr. Mario
- Bowser Jr.
- Toad
- Daisy
- Waluigi
- Boo
Super Mario Run
Nintendo recently announced its brand new mobile game, Super Mario Run, during Apple’s latest conference.
Nintendo now has a short video up on its North American Twitter page featuring Miyamoto, where he briefly speaks about the game and shows off his favorite ways to play it.
Watch as Mr. Miyamoto reveals his favorite ways to play #SuperMarioRun on the go! pic.twitter.com/MboONwsdsw
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) 12 September 2016
Besides that, Miyamoto was also recently interviewed by Yahoo. During the discussion, he talked about Super Mario Run’s origins and the opportunity for Mario to impact a bigger audience now. He also shared a comment about the continued importance of consoles to Nintendo. You can read the interview over here.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is soon getting a new update before the year ends. However, since many players may have stopped playing the game by now, the update will remove all weeds that have built up on your town. That means you won’t have to go through the painful process of plucking them all out manually.
Been away from your town for a while? When the free update arrives this autumn, I’ll take care of all the weeds! pic.twitter.com/Ij0hg25E4q
— Animal Crossing UK (@AC_Isabelle) 12 September 2016
Metroid Prime: Federation Force
Nintendo has released an update for Metroid Prime: Federation Force and the Blast Ball demo, making version 1.1.0 now available for download. The update is 446 blocks (55.75MB) in size, while the Blast Ball update takes 420 blocks (52.5MB) of space.
Here are the full patch notes pertaining to both versions:
– Fixed an issue that caused errors to occur when beginning Online Play in Blast Ball.
– Added a count-down timer to the team selection screen in the Online Play mode of Blast Ball.
– During matches in the Online Play mode of Blast Ball, players will be disconnected if they fail to make any inputs for a set amount of time.
– Other adjustments have been made to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.
Splatoon
A new Splatoon update is now out, bringing the game up to version 2.12.0.
The update doesn’t introduce any new features or additions, and is instead dedicated to addressing a couple of specific issues.
Here are Nintendo’s official patch notes:
Multiplayer Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue which mistakenly allowed Sprinklers to be placed inside the Tower in Tower Control.
Stage Adjustments
Kelp Dome: Fixed an issue in all game modes that allowed players to move inside the raised starting platforms.
Miitomo
Miitomo has once again been update with new Miitomo Drop and Miitomo Shop items. The Kirby collaboration items we discussed last week have also been added since then. You can find a list of everything else that was added below.
The show must go on! Miitomo Concert #2
– Melody tee
– Orchestra jacket
– Orchestra shorts
– Rhythmic tights
The show must go on! Miitomo Concert #3
– Mic hood
– Mic-drop costume
– Piano key tee
– Bell one piece
Miitomo Shop Items
– Bowler hat
– Pin stripe jacket
– Cardigan + white shirt
– Pin stripe pants
– Denim maxi skirt
– Oxford shoes
– Striped + cuffed high-tops
– Djungarian hamster buddies
Virtual Console Trailers
Below you can find a trailer for the Virtual Console version of Metroid Prime: Hunters which recently hit the European Wii U eShop.
Nintendo Minute
The latest episode of Nintendo Minute is now live, and features Kit and Krysta going over five things on their minds, with 60 seconds for each topic. You can watch the video below.
Japan Game Awards and TGS 2017 Announcement
The Japan Game Awards were recently held in conjunction with Tokyo Game Show 2016, and a few Nintendo related titles picked up prizes at the event.
For the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry Award(s), Super Smash Bros. Wii U was given the Global Award as the best-selling and most popular Japanese game worldwide. Monster Hunter Generations earned the Sales Award as the best-selling title in Japan. For the Game of the Year Division awards, Splatoon, Yo-kai Watch Busters, Super Mario Maker, and Monster Hunter Generations were all selected. Finally, Splatoon received the Grand Prize.
Speaking of TGS, next year’s Tokyo Game Show was dated at the end of the 2016 edition. TGS 2017 will take place between September 21 and September 24. As usual, Makuhari Messe will host the event.
TGS 2016 also saw a higher number of attendees (271,224) compared to last year. More people stopped by during each of the four days, including the first two which are reserved for business partners and media. Here’s a breakdown of the attendance:
