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New 3DS colors & bundles in Japan, eShop gets digital re-releases
Nintendo announced three new 3DS XL bundles for Japan, with two special case designs for New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Animal Crossing 3DS. The company also announced the upcoming arrival of eight previously released 3DS games on the Japanese eShop.In an initial Nintendo Direct broadcast, Nintendo showcased 3DS XL bundles for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, NSMB 2, and Animal Crossing 3DS. The Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate bundle comes with an all-black 3DS XL, and launches in Japan on November 1. The NSMB 2 bundle, pictured above, comes with a very flash red design, dotted with light red images from the Mario universe. The Animal Crossing 3DS design is similar, but with polka dot images against a white background, a bit 'Tutti Frutti' if you ask us. The Animal Crossing 3DS bundle arrives in Japan on November 8, with the NSMB 2 one a week after. All three bundles come with digital copies of the game.That brings us nicely onto the second Nintendo Direct broadcast, which announced eight digital versions of previously released 3DS games for the eShop. Those games don't include the three in the 3DS XL bundles above (cunning, Mr Nintendo), but they do include Ocarina of Time 3D, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Mario Tennis Open, Hana to Ikimorio Rittai Zukan (click if you're curious), and Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The octet hit the Japanese eShop on November 1.%Gallery-167394%
Invite a yellow Yoshi into Mario Tennis Open, our treat
If you'd like to play doubles in Mario Tennis Open with someone who looks vaguely like a tennis ball in hue, we can help with that. Nintendo shared the above QR code exclusively with Joystiq, and now we're sharing it with you. From within the 3DS game, you can snap a picture of this code and unlock a yellow Yoshi for your game.We hope you love it! Get it – because "love" is a tennis term ... but wait, "love" is bad in tennis. We're going to have to think about this joke and get back to you. Anyway, here's that Yoshi.
Mario Tennis Open review: Holding court
Mario Tennis Open, like most of the Mushroom Kingdom's forays into the world of athletics, isn't really a sports game. All of the pieces are set in place to look like a tennis game, with a layer of Mario's signature whimsy on top, but the game itself is all rhythm and pattern recognition.This simplicity makes it easy to pick up and play, with the unfortunate side effect of making it lose its challenge too quickly. It's a satisfying game and packs some exhilarating moments, but it exhausts its mechanics too soon.%Gallery-152514%
Mario Tennis Open puts a new spin on an old classic
Camelot's Mario Tennis franchise debuts on Nintendo's 3DS handheld with Mario Tennis Open. But this isn't another RPG-fueled handheld installment that have veers from the groundwork laid by console games. Mario Tennis Open is designed to be a console-quality experience for the 3DS.That made for an ultimately unsurprising gameplay experience in the recent preview build I was able to sample -- it felt just like you'd expect a Mario Tennis game to feel. But hiding under the surface was something far more interesting and exciting. Super Mario Tennis is an inventive mini-game that reimagines Nintendo's classic platformer.%Gallery-152514%
Mario Tennis Open, Spirit Camera playable at PAX East
You'll be able to try Nintendo's upcoming 3DS lineup at PAX East. This morning, the publisher announced that it's bringing Mario Tennis Open and Spirit Camera to the convention, playable by all attendees, alongside a selection of released games. The eShop title Ketzal's Corridors can also be sampled at the event.Along with game demos, Nintendo is also holding a series of special Kid Icarus Uprising events, including ... a scavenger hunt for AR Idol Cards and a multiplayer tournament on Friday night. If you want to join the battle, bring your game and 3DS, and equip your very best weapon and powers.
Nintendo Direct trailer roundup! YEEHAW!
Today's Nintendo Direct presentation shot out trailers and gameplay videos fast and furious. Once the coffee kicked in and we had a little time to organize, we got them together for you (yes, personally, for you!) in this handy-dandy post. Check out videos for Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Tennis Open, Spirit Camera and Dillon's Rolling Western here.
Mario Tennis Open served to Japan May 24, Europe May 25, America May 20 [update: trailer]
The Nintendo Direct presentation from Nintendo of Japan brought news of Mario Tennis Open for 3DS, the latest entry in, you know, that series of games about Mario playing tennis. We learned that the sports game will feature online play and Mii customization -- and, most importantly, that it'll be available May 24.The European translation of the same video informed us that the game will be out on May 25. And now we wait for 9AM EST, and the American Nintendo Direct, for potential news of a stateside release.Update: Nintendo of America says Mario Tennis Open will arrive in North America on May 20.
Mario Tennis swings to 3DS in 2012
If Nintendo's pre-TGS press conference didn't feel like a show stopper to you, maybe you should know that the company plans on launching a brand new Mario Tennis game for the 3DS in 2012. Alright, calm down, we know how tingly you get at the mere thought of playing a game with Waluigi, but we've yet to see his crooked face appear in any of the media released.We've gathered all the available screens into a gallery below so you can see for yourself. It seems that Mario Tennis 3DS won't employ the now official (and still officially bizarre) "Slidepad," though time could change that, of course.%Gallery-133357%
