After decades of playing second fiddle to the No. 1 video game hero, Luigi is
getting some love from Nintendo. Nintendo has named 2013 the "Year of Luigi,"
thanks to the numerous appearances that Mario's timid, green-clad twin brother
will be making in games this year. In a Nintendo Direct video, Nintendo provided
details about games on the way that feature Luigi, as well as information about
more than two dozen upcoming games, including content for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
across packaged and digital formats.
"Luigi is just the green tip of the iceberg of all the great news we have to
share with Nintendo fans this year and beyond," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo
of America's president and COO. "We're showing how Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
continue to be a source of fun, entertainment and great surprises."
The Year of Luigi
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon: The game that kicks off the Year of Luigi launches
March 24 and will include additional multiplayer modes beyond the previously
revealed Hunter Mode. Up to four players with their own Nintendo 3DS systems can
team up via local wireless, pair up in Download Play or connect over the
Internet to escape each floor within the time limit in Rush Mode and search for
the hidden ghost dogs in Polterpup Mode (up to four game cards may be required).
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team: A new installment in the Mario & Luigi role-playing
series is coming to Nintendo 3DS this summer. The game takes place inside the
mind of a sleeping Luigi, who is a powerful, brave hero in his dreams.
New Super Luigi U: To continue the fun of New Super Mario Bros. U for Wii U,
Nintendo is letting Luigi take over in new downloadable content that is coming
in the Year of Luigi that provides alternate versions of the game's more than 80
stages. Players can freely change between the New Super Luigi U and New Super
Mario Bros. U stages. These Luigi-focused stages provide a whole new level of
game-play challenge and will be available for purchase as a single download.
Fore!: Luigi and his Mushroom Kingdom neighbors are teeing up once again in
Mario Golf: World Tour. The Nintendo 3DS game includes both simple controls and
a deeper experience for golf fans, plus courses that range from traditional to
those inspired by the Mushroom Kingdom. The game launches this summer.
Nintendo 3DS
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: The smash-hit Wii game is getting a portable 3D
makeover that makes the already-amazing layered graphics pop. The game launches
this summer, but an exclusive 3D video is available now in the Nintendo eShop
for Nintendo 3DS.
Turning Over a New Leaf: Animal Crossing: New Leaf launches in North America on
June 9. It is the definitive version of Animal Crossing, with new features and
general improvements across the entire game, including new species of animal
neighbors, new ways to customize your house and town, and a new main street
shopping area and model home showcase.
Animal Style: Style Savvy: Trendsetters is getting the Gracie Grace line of
clothes, inspired by the fashion-forward giraffe from the Animal Crossing
series. Owners of Style Savvy: Trendsetters can download the trendy free clothes
via SpotPass. Additional fashions are planned to arrive via SpotPass, including
in-game fashions based on the popular Japanese brand Liz Lisa.
The Chase Begins: LEGO® City Undercover: The Chase Begins launches April 21. The
game is set two years prior to the action of the Wii U game, and follows the
first case of rookie cop Chase McCain in a still-growing and -developing LEGO
City.
Downloadable Games: Nintendo announced a number of new games coming to the
Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS, including Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the
Move (coming soon), Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger (coming April 11),
HarmoKnight from Game Freak (demo available March 14, full game on March 28) and
Kersploosh! (coming March 7).
Spreading Like Fire Emblem: Two new downloadable maps are now available for
purchase at the Outrealm Gate on the world map in Fire Emblem Awakening. For
$2.50, the Champions of Yore 3 map lets players battle against legendary
characters such as Marth, Roy and Ike. Players who have already purchased the
Champions of Yore map pack can now access this new map to earn a new playable
character named Michaiah and a special skill that will increase all of a
character's stats by two points. The Golden Gaffe map is the first in a second
set of three maps, and is also now available for $2.50. It pits players against
a group of very wealthy enemies, and is a great way to earn gold. Nintendo plans
to release fresh downloadable content in the weeks and months ahead to keep the
adventure going with more playable characters and class types. The Champions of
Yore 1 map is available as a free download through March 6.
Virtual Console: Two classic Game Boy Color games from Natsume, Harvest Moon and
Legend of the River King, are on their way to the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
in the coming months.
Buy and Register Nintendo 3DS XL, Get a Free Game: As a special promotion for
people who have not yet purchased a Nintendo 3DS XL system, anyone who registers
a Nintendo 3DS XL and either Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon or Pokémon Mystery
Dungeon: Gates to Infinity between March 21 and April 30 will receive a code to
download one of these five great games for free from the Nintendo eShop for
Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario 3D Land, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Art
Academy: Lessons for Everyone!, Star Fox 64 3D or Freakyforms Deluxe: Your
Creations, Alive! For more information, visit
http://club2.nintendo.com/3ds-xl-promo.
Nintendo eShop Sale: Nintendo 3DS owners can now buy and download select games
from the Nintendo eShop at a discounted price for a limited time. These include
BIT.TRIP SAGA from Aksys Games; Crashmo, Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword and
Ketzal's Corridors from Nintendo; Fractured Soul from Endgame Studios; and
Mutant Mudds from Renegade Kid. One game will be available at the reduced price
each week. Visit http://www.nintendo.com to see the full schedule.
Castlevania Demo: A demo of Konami's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow: Mirror of
Fate hits the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS on Feb. 28. The full digital game
download launches on March 5.
Wii U
Zelda Miiverse Community: Nintendo is launching a Miiverse community dedicated
to The Legend of Zelda series today, letting fans discuss the past, present and
future of this timeless franchise.
LEGO® City Comes to Life: LEGO City® Undercover launches March 18. Nintendo
revealed some new sections of the game, including LEGO City Airport, Kings Court
and Paradise Sands.
City Mapping: The Wii Street U powered by Google application is now available as
a free download for a limited time from the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. The
application taps into the Google Maps service and allows users to get a
360-degree view of locations around the world using the Wii U GamePad.
Razor's Update: A new, free update to Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge later this
month includes one new costume each for Ryu Hayabusa, Ayane, Momiji and Kasumi,
as well as 25 new Ninja Trials missions.
Third-Party Games:
• BIT.TRIP Presents… Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien from Gaijin Games is
coming to Wii U in February. It features narration by Charles Martinet, and a
demo is planned for the Nintendo eShop soon.
• This month, Zen Pinball 2 from Zen Studios introduces a number of pinball
tables, including Marvel Pinball and Plants vs. Zombies Pinball. The game will
be available as a free download in the Nintendo eShop for Wii U with additional
tables available for purchase.
• Soon Two Tribes will release Toki Tori 2, a puzzle/platforming game that will
support off-TV game play on the Wii U GamePad. A level editor will be released
at a later date.
• Need for Speed Most Wanted U from EA is arriving on Wii U on March 19 as the
first third-party title to incorporate Miiverse functionality into the game
play. Exclusive features include a new Co-Driver mode for local co-op play,
Off-TV mode to play on the Wii U GamePad and the Ultimate Speed Pack included at
no additional charge. The Ultimate Speed Pack includes 25 additional High Speed
Races and Speed Runs, five of the world's fastest production cars and more than
70 new speed-themed milestones, plus stacks of additional rewards and unlocks.
• The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct from Activision is coming to Wii U on
March 26 with a unique style of game play that blends first-person action with
resource management for a focus on surviving the undead nightmare.
• Injustice: Gods Among Us from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment launches
on April 16. The game includes Off-TV play and lets players battle as some of
their favorite heroes and villains, like Batman, The Flash, Superman, The Joker,
Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman.
Coming to Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate launches for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on
March 19. A Wii U player can connect with up to three Nintendo 3DS players to
create a hunting party. People can play the game on Wii U and then transfer
their data to the Nintendo 3DS to continue the hunt. A demo will be available in
the Nintendo eShop on both platforms on Feb. 21.
Disney Infinity from Disney Interactive is coming to Wii U and Wii this summer.
For the first time, players will use real-world interactive figures to activate
original, story-driven adventures in the game worlds, also known as "Play Sets."
At any time, players can also access their personal "Toy Box" and use the items
to create one-of-a-kind Disney adventures featuring any combination of
characters, environments and items across all franchises featured in the game.
Disney Infinity will also be available on Nintendo 3DS.
Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults
manage the content their children can access. For more information about this
and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu and http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.
2013 - The Year of Luigi
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- Written by Luke Hackett