| Nintendo Land | |
|---|---|
 North American box art | |
| Developer | Nintendo EAD |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Directors |
|
| Producer | Katsuya Eguchi |
| Programmer | Souichi Nakajima |
| Artist | Tsubasa Sakaguchi |
| Composer | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Platform | Wii U |
| Release | |
| Genres | Party,adventure |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Nintendo Land[a] is aparty video game developed and published byNintendo as apack-inlaunch title for theWii U in 2012. The game was first announced atE3 2012 during Nintendo's press conference.
Nintendo Land features twelveminigames, each based on an existing Nintendo gamefranchise such asMario andThe Legend of Zelda, depicted asattractions in theeponymous fictionalamusement park with an Attraction Tour train designed as a tournament that utilizes all minigames. The minigames are designed to demonstrate the concept of Wii U and itsWii U GamePad controller to new players, in the same way the 2006 gameWii Sports demonstrated theWii and itsWii Remote, utilizing many of the controller's features, including itstouchscreen controls and motion-sensing capabilities. Some minigames incorporate theWii Remote Plus andNunchuk controllers for alternate control schemes andmultiplayer support, which also helps exhibit "asymmetric gameplay", a concept in which certain players have different experiences based on the controller they use.
Nintendo Land received positive reviews from critics and sold 5.21 million copies as of March 2023, making it the fifthhighest-selling Wii U game. The ability to download the game was originally removed from theNintendo eShop in North America in November 2013,[1] but was re-added in August 2016.[2]
The game takes place in anamusement park setting, which serves as a hub for the twelve minigames, which are depicted as the park's attractions. A robotic character named Monita guides the player throughNintendo Land's features and attractions. The first twelveminigames ofNintendo Land are based on popular Nintendo franchises; two of the attractions (Metroid Blast and Mario Chase) are based on Wii U tech demos shown atE3 2011, but are modified to feature Nintendo characters. These minigames are designed to incorporate elements which utilize the features of theWii U GamePad, often in conjunction with other players usingWii Remotes and Nunchucks (with some games supporting up to five players in this configuration).[3] The combination of Wii Remotes and Wii U GamePads allows for asymmetric gameplay, where players have different experiences depending on which controller scheme they use.[4] Completing minigames and completing certain objectives earns coins, which can be used to play a single-playerpachinko minigame. Winning pachinko stages will earn new items (of which there are 200) for decorating the Nintendo Land hub area.
Number of players: 1–5[5] (1-4 inThe Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest)
Based uponThe Legend of Zelda series. Up to three players (respectively dressed in red, blue, and yellow) use their Wii Remotes as swords to fight AI enemies. One more player (in green) uses the Wii U GamePad to control a character in the rear of the pack using abow and arrow. The player with the GamePad can also lift their controller to spy for sniping AI.[3] To reload their bow and arrow, the player aims the GamePad down.
Based upon theMetroid series and the "Battle Mii" tech demo from E3 2011. It is anaction-adventure game, similar to its original series. The player using the Wii U GamePad controlsSamus' Gunship, while up to four players with Wii Remotes and Nunchuks control Mii characters on foot, wearing Varia Suits. There are three modes, "Assault Mission", "Surface-Air Combat", and "Ground Battle". In "Assault Mission", the players cooperate to defeat waves of enemies and complete missions. In "Surface-Air Combat", the players with Wii Remotes and Nunchuks try to shoot down the player with the GamePad. In "Ground Battle" all players use Wii Remotes and Nunchuks in a battle for tokens.[6]
Based on thePikmin series. One player controlsCaptain Olimar who can command tiny Pikmin using the Wii U GamePad, whilst four additional players (as red, blue, yellow and white Pikmin) can control larger Pikmin using the Wii Remotes. Players must work together to help navigate levels and defeat enemies, including a boss at the end of the stage. When the boss is defeated, the players board the Hocotate ship from Pikmin 2.[7] There is also a Versus Mode where the players compete for candy.
Number of players: 2–5[5]
Mario Chase, inspired by theSuper Mario series, is atag-based game that takes place inside an arena consisting of large obstacles, hills, and slides. One player using the GamePad, whose Mii is dressed asMario, moves away from up to four players, whose Mii characters are dressed inToad costumes, whose goal is to pursue and catch the single player. The Mario player, who views the action on the Wii U GamePad screen from atop-down perspective, has a map of the entire arena and can see the location of all the Toad players. The Toad players view the action on the television insplit-screen from athird person perspective, and are given only their current distance from Mario in yards or meters (depending on the region). The Toad player(s) win(s) if one of them catches Mario before the time limit expires; otherwise the Mario player will win. If there are two players, two computer-controlled Yoshi carts will assist the Toad.[8]
Luigi's Ghost Mansion, inspired by the 2001Nintendo GameCube launch titleLuigi's Mansion, is a game in which up to four players (dressed likeLuigi, Mario,Waluigi andWario) assume the roles of "ghost trackers" and explore ahaunted house to hunt and capture a ghost, with the ghost being controlled by the player using the GamePad. Each level is set on a different floor with different layouts of rooms and hallways, and the action isviewed from above, showing the entire floor and the location of all players. The trackers must find the ghost player, who remains invisible on the television screen, and decrease itshealth (a numerical value from 0 to 100) by shining their flashlights upon it. Meanwhile, the ghost must sneak up and ambush each tracker to make them faint. The ghost's proximity to a tracker is made known when that player's Wii Remote begins tovibrate, and different events or conditions may cause the ghost to temporarily become visible to all trackers. Fainted trackers can be revived by the others by using their flashlights, though flashlight energy is in limited reserve and must be restored by picking up batteryitems. The ghost wins if all the trackers have fainted; the trackers win if they decrease the ghost's health to zero.[8]
Based on theAnimal Crossing series, up to four players control animals trying to collect candy as a team before they get caught three times by the two guards, with both guards being controlled by the player using the GamePad. As players collect more candies, their movement becomes slower, making it easier for them to be caught.[3][9] If starting the game with only two players, the format changes to the stash rules, where one animal must collect candies and put fifteen into the stashes on the map while avoiding the other player.[10]
Number of players: 1[5] (though other players can assist the GamePad player by utilizing unique abilities on aWii Remote)
Based on the 1986Famicom Disk System gameThe Mysterious Murasame Castle, the player uses the GamePad's touchscreen to launch papershuriken at waves of enemy ninjas. The controller can be tilted in order to change the trajectory of the throws. On boss ninjas or ninjas who are at close range, the players uses a katana.[11]
The player uses the GamePad'sgyroscope abilities to tilt a trolley through a platform-based obstacle course, influenced by theoriginalDonkey Kong arcade game. In addition to the tilt input to move the trolley, the player controls the GamePad's two analog sticks, L and R shoulder buttons, and microphone to activate various levers, elevators, and pathways to advance themselves throughout the course.
A single-player game based on Nintendo's futuristic racing seriesF-Zero, where the player must race down a track while avoiding obstacles in 12 different areas.[12] The GamePad is held vertically and its internal gyroscope is used to steer the vehicle when the player rotates the GamePad. The GamePad provides an aerial view (a more strategical view) of the track while the TV provides a third-person view on the track.
In this single-player game, based on Nintendo'sBalloon Fight, the player will control their Mii on a play-field similar to the Balloon Trip mode. The player does this by swiping the stylus on the GamePad's touch screen to create gusts of wind that will move the Mii around. The GamePad will offer a zoomed-in view for more precise input whereas the TV will offer a zoomed-out view to see more of the level. The levels are divided into morning, afternoon, evening and night, which are all ended by landing on an island. Occasionally, there are packages on islands that the player can pick up to protect and deliver to the next island.
This attraction is based on theYoshi series. The player uses the stylus on the GamePad touchscreen to draw a trail that guides Yoshi to the finish goal of each level while collecting all the fruit in the area. The fruit is only visible on the TV screen, so the player must use reference points in the level's background to draw the path on the GamePad. As the player advances in level, obstacles will appear that take away a life from Yoshi if he is led into one.
This attraction is based onGame & Watch Octopus.Octopus Dance is a rhythm game which plays by using the GamePad's Control Sticks and Gyro Sensor. Players must memorize the moves and replicate the actions performed by the instructor on screen.[13]
.jpg)
Development started shortly after the release ofWii Sports Resort[14] and was made at a time when the Wii U had not been finalized yet which led to the team experimenting with different prototypes. One of said prototypes involved the use of agyroscope, which directly led toShigeru Miyamoto incorporating the technology into theNintendo 3DS.[15]
The team's goal was to create a product that showcased all the features the new console could do. This led to a problem, as unlike the similarWii Sports, the games were not inherently related.[14] Early on one staff member suggested that they attempt to do something that would unite the various Nintendo franchises. As the team considered this too grand a concept, the idea was at first not taken seriously.[15] The developers initially decided to present the theme as an "Expo" which lead to the theme park concept.[14] Although most attractions were easy to theme, the team struggled with some:Metroid Blast was initially themed aroundStar Fox, while at one point it was considered to themeDonkey Kong Crash Course around eitherExcitebike or1080° Snowboarding.[14]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(July 2021) |
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 78%[16] |
| Metacritic | 77/100[17] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| 1Up.com | B+[18] |
| 4Players | 66/100[19] |
| Destructoid | 7/10[20] |
| Edge | 7/10[21] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 6.5/10[22] |
| Eurogamer | 8/10[23] |
| Famitsu | 35/40[24] |
| Game Informer | 7/10[25] |
| GameRevolution | 4/5[26] |
| GameSpot | 8/10[27] |
| GamesRadar+ | 3.5/5[28] |
| GamesTM | 7/10[29] |
| GameTrailers | 6.9/10[30] |
| Giant Bomb | 4/5[31] |
| Hyper | 70/100[32] |
| IGN | 8.7/10[33] |
| Joystiq | 4/5[34] |
| Nintendo Life | 9/10[35] |
| Nintendo World Report | 8.5/10[8] |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 90%[36] |
| Polygon | 8/10[37] |
| Video Games (DE) | 7/10[38] |
| VideoGamer.com | 6/10[39] |
Nintendo Land received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to thereview aggregation websiteMetacritic.[17] In Japan, four critics fromFamitsu gave the game a total score of 35 out of 40.[24]
Critics praised the game's party atmosphere and attractions, particularly the way they were developed and built up, though a few were critical of simply showing Wii U GamePad capabilities.IGN praised the game for showing the Wii U capabilities, its gameplay, and its detailed and HD graphics, claiming that "Wii Sports has met its match" and giving it an 8.7 score.[33]
During the16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, theAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominatedNintendo Land for "Family Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Innovation in Gaming".[40]
By March 2014, the game had sold 3.09 million copies,[41] and by December 2014, it had sold 4.44 million units worldwide.[42] As of March 31, 2023[update], the game has sold 5.21 million copies, making it thefifth best-selling Wii U video game.[43]
| Games |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | |||||||
| People | |||||||
| Other media | |||||||
| Community projects | |||||||
| Related | |||||||
| Main series |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong | |||||||
| Spin-offs |
| ||||||
| Characters | |||||||
| Music | |||||||
| Television and film | |||||||
| Related |
| ||||||
| Games | |
|---|---|
| Related | |
| See also | |
| Main series |
|  | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spin-offs |
| ||||||||
| Universe |
| ||||||||
| Other media |
| ||||||||
| People | |||||||||
| Companies | |||||||||
| Fan works | |||||||||
| Related | |||||||||
| Luigi's Mansion |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Mario & Luigi | ||
| Other | ||
| Related | ||
| Game series |
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other games | |||||||||||
| Cancelled games | |||||||||||
| Universe |
| ||||||||||
| Other media |
| ||||||||||
| People | |||||||||||
| Related |
| ||||||||||
| Games |
|  | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | ||||||||||||||||||
| People | ||||||||||||||||||
| Companies | ||||||||||||||||||
| Related | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mainline games | |
|---|---|
| Spin-offs | |
| People | |
| Characters | |
| Related | |
| Main series | |
|---|---|
| Spin-offs | |
| People | |
| Related | |
