Luigi
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Lego adds Luigi and collaborative play to its Super Mario World line
You're not just getting a brother, you're getting two-player Lego Mario levels.
Lego adds a Luigi set to its Super Mario collection
Lego has added a Luigi set to its Super Mario Adventures kits, giving the video game plumber his due.
'Luigi's Mansion 3' is Mario's brother at his best
It's been six years since Mario's brother strapped on a modified vacuum cleaner and battled colorful ghosts in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (known as just Luigi's Mansion 2 in Europe, Australia and Japan). The 3DS adventure was a brilliant but sad reminder that the game deserved another home console outing similar to the original Gamecube release. Well, it's finally happened. Luigi's Mansion 3 is a joyous and expertly-polished Switch release that further establishes the plumber as an equal to his shorter and historically more famous brother.
Gooigi is the best part of ‘Luigi’s Mansion 3’
It's been a long time since Luigi, the brother of Mario, last starred in a ghost-busting adventure. Too long, in fact -- Luigi's Mansion 2, better known as Dark Moon, came out more than six years ago on the Nintendo 3DS. In 2019, I was worried that its sequel, Luigi's Mansion 3, would offer little more than a visual overhaul for Switch owners. A charming adventure, but one that leant on the same puzzle solving and ghost-battling mechanics as its predecessor. Well, I'm happy to report that these fears were completely misplaced. Based on a short demo, I can already tell that Nintendo has plenty of fresh ideas to reinvigorate the series' formula.
'Rocket League' hits Nintendo Switch November 14th
Car soccer fans who've been itching to take their Rocket League fun on the go are about to be rewarded for their patience. The popular competitive video game is set to release on the Nintendo Switch on November 14th for $20.
The Morning After: Wednesday, January 11th 2017
Welcome to hump day, and we have a mixture of good and bad news. Read about how a smart breast pump proved that CES can give us useful gadgets that solve real problems and the cancellation of a highly-anticipated Xbox title that let you fight alongside a dragon buddy. We also reported from the first million-dollar e-race, where Formula E's pro drivers were bested by the world's best simulator racers.
Mario and pals are coming back to UK Happy Meals this week
The most famous Italian plumber, well... ever has been unexpectedly popping up all over the place lately. But skateboard shoes, late-night TV and smartphones were just the beginning. Now Mario is sliding back into Happy Meals from McDonald's according to Nintendo Life. His appearance is flawlessly timed ahead of this week's big livestream for the Wii U successor, Switch, too.
30 years of Super Mario in pop culture
Mario may have cut his teeth hopping barrels as "Jumpman" in Donkey Kong back in 1981, but his true claim to fame came with Super Mario Bros. Created by acclaimed video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, that game launched in September 1985, landing on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)/Famicom consoles. This year, the highly influential Mario series celebrates its 30th birthday, having entertained generations of arcade and console fans throughout several iterations over three decades. The impact of Nintendo's iconic Mario and his player-two bro Luigi on pop culture has gone far beyond just gaming itself; they've appeared in cartoons, movies, comics and even art. To join in celebrating 30 years of Super Mario Bros., we've put together a photo album of all things Mario over the years.
Walmart and Amazon list more Amiibo figures for December 14
We already knew that Amiibo figures for Captain Falcon, Diddy Kong, Little Mac, Luigi, Pit and Zelda would be worming their way into our hearts and onto our shelves sometime in December, but Amazon and Walmart seem to have narrowed that window down to a single day: December 14. When browsing Walmart's website, a release date of 12/14/2014 can be seen next to each of the aforementioned figures, ditto for Amazon. And it's not just online listings - the official Walmart Twitter account has also seemingly confirmed the date. "Yes, the release date for Captain Falcon Amiibo is set for December 14," the "Walmart Elves" tweeted to a prospective Amiibo purchaser after he inquired if the date was official. Of course, numbers on the internet and even Santa's helpers can be wrong from time to time, but it probably wouldn't hurt to stake out your spot in line if there's a particular figure you need to add to your collection. [Image: Nintendo]
Pikachu gets its own Hori Battle Pad for Wii U controller in Japan
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U fighters planning on leading their offense with Pikachu should take note of Hori's controller inspired by everyone's favorite electric rodent – the above version of the Battle Pad for Wii U has appeared on Amazon Japan for 3,434 (~$30 USD), with a release date of November 20. The packaging also depicts a matching Wiimote cover, presumably to help complete the effect. For those unable to order through Amazon Japan, there's always the Mario and Luigi-themed variants available in the North American store for $24.99 apiece. The turbo-enabled Battle Pad for Wii U connects to a Wiimote rather than the upcoming GameCube controller converter and can be used with games that support the Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro. It won't work as a stand-in for the Pro Controller, however. [Image: Hori]
Japanese Mario Kart 8 ad showcases the Luigi Death Stare
Is that a subtle Nintendo endorsement of the Luigi Death Stare? After the House of Mario's understated acknowledgment in its E3 presentation, a new Mario Kart 8 commercial in Japan seems to presents the plumber's ice-cold eyes with another knowing wink. Or is this just inadvertence layered over inadvertence? Meanwhile below the break, Fire Emblem: Awakening's Lucina remains unamused.
Barely Related: Sailor Moon Crystal trailer, Luigi mean mug
Happy week before E3, everyone! Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
Mario rides the hood of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth
Mario can drive in pretty much whatever direction he wants in Mario Kart 8, but today he'll be practicing left turns on the hood of NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth's No. 20 car. Kenseth will be racing in the annual, 200-lap History 300 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a track with a disappointing lack of gravity-shifting sections. Really though, if we could at least throw some item boxes down, we'd have a pretty decent replica of Baby Park. If you're actually heading down to the Charlotte Motor Speedway instead of just tuning in from home, Nintendo will be there with MK8 kiosks for fans to test drive. Mario and Luigi will be around too, in case you'd like photographic evidence that the Bros. are real, just like Santa and everything else you've ever loved. Both the game and the Bros. will be present in the Fan Zone today and tomorrow. Best of luck to Kenseth today, but we think the competition's just lucky that Josh Wise isn't using his No. 98 car. Can you imagine coming up to his bumper and getting that unflinching Doge staredown? [Image: Nintendo]
Mario and Luigi get a Nintendo 3DS XL bundle in silver, shipping now for $200
In order to properly celebrate what it's calling the "Cyber Monday of Luigi," Nintendo has outed a new limited-edition version of its 3DS XL handheld. The silver-clad unit has the two brothers on its outer lid while arriving preloaded with Mario & Luigi: Dream Team right out of the box. The $200 package is available today and follows on the heels of the pricier Zelda-themed gold version that arrived last month. Of course, color choices have been plentiful for the Nintendo faithful, should that gamer that you're shopping for have rather specific aesthetic sensibilities.
Luigi finally gets his own 3DS bundle in this, the year of Luigi
As we close out the honored, seemingly endless Year of Luigi, Nintendo has one more gift planned for Mario's lanky brother. A Cobalt Blue Nintendo 3DS with a preinstalled copy of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon will hit store shelves on November 28 for $169.99. The Cobalt Blue color scheme -- a deeper shade than the platform's Aqua Blue launch model -- is a favorite among 3DS software bundles, having been introduced in a Fire Emblem: Awakening package deal but never released as a standalone product in North America. Luigi himself inspired a fan-made Nintendo 2DS mod last month, which was later auctioned off for charity. Of course, it might be more appropriately festive if the 3DS included in the Dark Moon bundle was colored green, but eh, what are you gonna do? Luigi's year is almost up, and maybe Nintendo's getting tired of him strutting around like he owns the place.
Custom Luigi 2DS up for auction, 25% of proceeds to Child's Play
Remember Rose Colored Gaming's Luigi 2DS, the modified handheld that looks good enough to be a real Nintendo product? Now that it's up for auction, you can celebrate the Year of Luigi in style by establishing yourself as the bro's biggest fan. The bidding period will conclude on November 17 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the Child's Play Charity. Despite the interest the singular unit has drawn, the auction page explains that the unit was built under the vision of a "one-of-a-kind item, and as such, there will not be a run of more than one." The green and white color scheme is complimented with an indentation of Luigi on the back of the device. [Thanks, Wes!]
Nintendo announces holiday discounts, new Wii U bundles
Just in time for Saint Nick to wedge himself down the world's chimneys, Nintendo has revealed a swath of discounts designed to tempt holiday shoppers toward the House That Mario Built. Nintendo Land, the pack-in game attached to most launch-era Wii U consoles, has been reduced in price from $60 to $30. Wii Fit U on the other hand, receives no discount, but is now available as a free trial. Visit the Wii U eShop and you'll see the game (which is otherwise priced at $20) available for gratis download. Once you've pulled down the software, you then have one month to test the game and potentially shed some of that unsightly holiday weight. In the realm of the new, Nintendo has also revealed Wii Remote Plus controllers which feature either Mario or Luigi themes, and come equipped with $40 price tags. These new controllers are available now. Two bundles have also been revealed. The first features a $300 price tag and includes a Wii U Deluxe console alongside both New Super Mario Bros. U and its New Super Luigi U expansion. A Skylanders Swap Force bundle is slated to debut on November 15 at that same $300 price tag, only this one contains "a white Wii U Basic Set, a Skylanders Swap Force starter pack that includes three Skylanders figures, a Portal of Power, trading cards, Skylanders sticker sheets, a collector poster and a Nintendo Land game disc." If neither of these packages convince you to buy a Wii U, there's also the previously revealed Wind Waker HD bundle, which includes a Legend of Zelda-themed Wii U Deluxe, as well as Wind Waker HD and a download voucher for Hyrule Historia, an in-depth examination of the franchise's lore.
Zelda's Triforce and Luigi's silhouette grace two new 3DS XL handhelds headed to Europe
The year of Luigi rages on with today's news that a Luigi-themed Nintendo 3DS XL handheld is headed to Europe next month. It joins a Triforce-emblazoned 3DS XL that's also set to arrive next month: the former on November 1st for £179.99 ($290) and the latter on November 22nd for £199.99 ($318). Of course, the Zelda-themed version is a touch more expensive as it packs in a code for upcoming 3DS game The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (a game that would otherwise cost £33). We're still waiting to see EU-wide pricing. Neither edition is dated for release in North America just yet (the Luigi version is already available in Japan), but we suspect it won't be long before the special edition consoles are headed across the Atlantic. Should you wish to pick up one of the EU-bound handhelds, they'll only be available through Nintendo's new UK website.
Caption contest: Luigi puts the 'L' in Chicago's public transit system
Has Nintendo of America fallen on hard times? Why else would the company make one of its most beloved characters (or, at the very least, the brother of one of its most beloved characters) take Windy City public transit? Oh, that's right, the gaming giant has decked out the "L" train with ads for its new Super Luigi U title. The mustachioed plumber is riding the Brown Line in this Twitter shot, so be sure to be on the lookout for suspicious looking dinosaurs in the area (if you see something, say something). No word on whether he'll be making house calls today.
Nintendo Japan announces white 32GB Wii U, Wiimote quick charger
An official extended battery for its Wii U Gamepad isn't the only thing Nintendo Japan posted on its website tonight, as it also added a white option for the Wii U 32GB Premium set, a 30th Anniversary Luigi special edition 3DS XL and quick charging option for the Wiimote. Surveys surfaced earlier this year suggesting a fast charging option on the way for the Wiimote, and in Japan gamers will be able to add the accessory -- consisting of replacement battery / backplate and charging stand, pictured after the break -- starting July 13th for 4,200 yen ($41) , and 2,625 yen ($26) for the battery alone. That should allow not only faster charging, but also longer battery life than Wii gamers have been used to. July 13th is the same day the white Wii U premium will arrive as well, coming at the same price and packing the same accessories as the existing black 32GB console. Finally, Nintendo listed all the details for the special Luigi edition 3DS XL announced recently on Nintendo Direct. Of course, none of these are the games that even Iwata admits the Wii U needs, but a few more choices can't hurt, can they?
