Artist unknown: The mysterious disappearance of Kirby’s Adeleine

In the latest entry in their "Missing in Action" series, Derrick from GameXplain examines the history, and strange absence, of Adeleine from the Kirby series. Making her first appearance in Kirby's Dream Land 3 as a boss, then called Ado, Adeleine made a return appearance in Kirby and the Crystal Shards just three years later. …

Opinion: Five forgotten Nintendo franchises that should make an appearance on Nintendo Switch

Since Nintendo's ascent to the top of the video game industry in the early 1980s, they have established a catalog of beloved characters and franchises known the world over. While games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, among others, have gone on to feature dozens of entries in their respective franchises, it's easy …

Mass Kongfusion: GameXplain and the mysterious disappearance​ of Donkey Kong Jr.

The Donkey Kong series has been around for longer than almost any other Nintendo title. Introduced to arcades in 1981, it was an attempt for Nintendo to replace the failed game Radar Scope, essentially sweeping their misstep under a gorilla-shaped rug. In following decades, Donkey Kong would expand to include countless spin-offs and reimaginings, including …

Take a look at Nintendo’s headquarters nearly 130 years ago

A picture was recently found showing Nintendo's headquarters nearly 130 years ago. This image is incredible if only for the opportunity to see where the gaming giant came from. Check out the image below and marvel at this rare opportunity to see Nintendo's humble beginnings! As you can see on the sign, this was during …

Opinion: New Donk City is the pinnacle of Super Mario Odyssey

Leading up to the launch of Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo placed heavy emphasis on showcasing the crown jewel of the Metro Kingdom, New Donk City. You couldn't escape the toe-tapping rhythms and soulful vocals of New Donk City Mayor, Pauline, which still remains one of the most memorable musical numbers from the entire game. Although …

Change the System: My Nintendo Switch year in review for 2017

When the Switch was first detailed during a dedicated presentation last January, I found myself hopeful, but also unsure about how I would feel about it. Having been an early adopter of the Wii U, I couldn't help but feel some apprehension that Nintendo was only going to repeat their past mistakes and that the …

Vote with your wallet: The Nintendo approach to add-on content

The climate of the games industry is in a strange place these days, with many major titles releasing with an underwhelming amount of content included at launch. Titles often feel half-finished, but seek to later sell you the remaining content as a paid add-on at a later point. Companies justify this tactic by claiming that …

Just out of ARMS’ reach – where Nintendo’s newest property came up short

Having offered a modular experience, which could amass more depth as player's skills progressed, ARMS should have been a success simply for its broad appeal, and approachable control scheme -- or so you would think. Attempting to tackle the fighting genre with a unique spin, much like Mario Kart or Splatoon shook the racing and shooter …

Nintendo Switch poised for another monumental year in 2018

Riding high on the success of 2017, Nintendo is already setting their sights for the coming year. Given the promise of new, unique experiences, and surprises, Switch owners are in for quite a treat with all that 2018 will have to offer. Considering games like Kirby Star Allies, Yoshi for Nintendo Switch, Metroid Prime 4, …

Mario helps Nintendo Life unbox the Super Mario Odyssey Switch bundle

It's a well-known fact that Charles Martinet, the much-beloved voice talent behind the world-renowned Italian and former plumber, Mario, is in love with voicing the character. Martinet makes countless appearances at conventions and shows throughout the year, meeting with fans, and signing autographs. Having met him twice myself, I can assure you that he is …