Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam U.S. Release Date Announced
Nintendo has confirmed that Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam will be available in North America on January 22, 2016.
This follows the December release date announced for Europe last month and marks a significant jump forward from the Spring 2016 date originally announced at E3.
Nintendo also revealed that Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam will be compatible with the Mario series amiibo including Mario, Bowser, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Yoshi. Scanning an amiibo will unlock special in-game cards that can be used during battle.
Star Fox Zero Release Date Announced
Nintendo has announced that Star Fox Zero will be available for Wii U on April 22, 2016.
Fox’s latest adventure was originally scheduled to hit stores this holiday season, but was delayed in September to give the team “more time to work on areas such as the unprecedented discovery that we want players to experience in the game by using two screens, and further polishing the level designs and perfecting the tone of the cut scenes.”
For more on Star Fox Zero, be sure to read our hands-on impressions from E3 and check out the latest screenshots.
Shadow Mewtwo Amiibo Card Revealed
Nintendo has revealed that the first production run of Pokken Tournament on Wii U will include a Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card.
The card will allow players to use Shadow Mewtwo immediately instead of playing through the game to unlock him.
Pokken Tournament will come to Wii U in Spring 2016.
Andrew is IGN’s executive editor of news and wishes he had a cool shadow alter ego. You can find him rambling about Spelunky and cute animals on Twitter.
Animal Crossing, Lucas Amiibo Release Date Announced
Nintendo has announced that you’ll be able to pick up the next wave of amiibo figures on January 22, 2016.
That wave includes the second set of Animal Crossing amiibo (Blathers, Celeste, Kicks, and Mr. Resetti) as well as Mother 3’s Lucas. On the same day, you’ll also be able to pick up the new set of Animal Crossing amiibo cards.
No information on bundles or retailer exclusivity has been announced yet, but keep an eye on IGN for all the latest news.
Andrew is IGN’s executive editor of news and is excited to finally own a Lucas figure. You can find him rambling about Spelunky and cute animals on Twitter.
Splatoon, Smash Wii U Bundle Announced
During today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, the publisher revealed a special holiday bundle that includes a 32 GB Wii U, Smash Bros for Wii U, and Splatoon.
The 3DS also got some new bundles with three different 3DS XL bundles in blue, red or black. Each system bundle includes a copy of Super Mario 3D Land.
Are you considering picking up this bundle? Check our reviews of Super Smash Bros Wii U, Splatoon, and Super Mario 3D Land, which earned a game of the year nomination back in 2011.
See Rifftrax Perform Live this December
Working alongside Fathom Events and IGN, Rifftrax will be performing live this December.
Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett will be performing their signature riffing live over the 1972 film Santa and The Ice Cream Bunny on Thursday, December 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 7:00 p.m. CT and tape-delayed to 7:00 p.m. MT/ 8:00 p.m. PT. A special re-broadcast will be aired at 7:30 PM local time on December 15.
Super Mario Maker Portal Site Will Let You Search For Levels on the Go
Nintendo announced that you’ll soon be able to search through player-made Super Mario Maker levels on your PC and Smartphone.
Shown during today’s Direct and coming in December, Nintendo will launch a Super Mario Maker portal website where fans of the game can log-in and search through stages using a series of tag. When you find a level you like, you’ll be able to tag it. Once you boot up the game on Wii U, you’ll be able to see which stages you tagged on the go and hop right in.
In addition to this site, Nintendo also announced that fans have made over 3.3 million courses in Mario Maker to date.
New Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes Update Coming Soon
Nintendo has announced a free new update for The Legend of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes coming on December 2nd.
The update will add the new Den of Trials, which contains a massive new area including more than 30 stages. Stages will have checkpoints due to their length and difficulty.
Two new outfits will also be included in the update. The first, Linebeck’s Uniform, allows players to see inside of treasure chests before they open them. The second outfit, Fierce Deity Link, will increase players’ attack power.
For more on The Legend of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes, be sure to read our review.
New Zelda Wii U Footage Revealed, Still Scheduled for 2016
During a Nintendo Direct presentation today, Nintendo showed off a brief bit of new footage from the next original The Legend of Zelda game.
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime assured fans that the team is “working hard” on the new Zelda and reiterated that the game is planned for 2016 and is still a Wii U title.
Watch the new Zelda Wii U footage in the clip above.
Nintendo also revealed that data saved to the Wolf Link amiibo announced today alongside The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD will carry over to the new Zelda in some capacity, though no additional information was provided.
Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Headed to Wii U
During today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD was announced for Wii U with a release date of March 4, 2016.
The HD port of Twilight Princess was developed in co-operation with Australia-based developer Tantalus. Nintendo showed gameplay footage that shuffled between different story beats, like when Link meets Zelda, and the hero riding Epona through Hyrule Field. The gameplay shown in the brief trailer did not appear to support Wii remote motion controls.
Nintendo also revealed a new amiibo figure of Wolf Link, which the company will release alongside the HD port, and as part of a special bundle that comes with an official soundtrack. Data saved on the Wolf Link amiibo will transfer over to The Legend of Zelda for Wii U.