Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of the hardest games Nintendo has made in years. While the core game is extremely manageable, completing the game’s fabled mirror mode, which forces you to best every level in the game backwards with one heart and no power-ups, is absolutely brutal.

This time around there’s eight new exclusive levels, but there’s a catch — you have to complete every temple and access the Banana Temple to get to them. To help get people acquainted with the new 3DS re-release, I’ve assembled a few tips to assist you along the way.

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source Destructoid

Today is not a particularly new Nintendo Download, as the bulk of it is retro-centric. The Wii U will actually be getting a few things this week, with Super Mario Bros. 2 on the Wii U Virtual Console, as well as Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts. If you own Super Mario World, you’ll get Mario 2 for a discounted price of $2.49. Also, Nintendo debuted Super Metroid for $0.30 last night. On May 21st, Resident Evil Revelations and LEGO Batman 2 will be getting full retail eShop releases. If you haven’t checked out Runner 2 yet (it’s excellent), it’s on sale for $11.25 until May 30th.

On the 3DS side, Level-5′s Guild02 debuts on the eShop with Starship Damrey, which I’m interested to check out. You’ll also be getting Swords and Soliders 3D, Bowling Bananza, California Super Sports, and Dress to Play: Magic Bubbles. The 3DS Virtual Console will nab Mega Man 5, as well as Harvest Moon. Strangely, the Wii Virtual Console is getting King of Fighters ’99.

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source Destructoid

[Update: Telltale is mistakenly credited for the LEGO games in the source report, but it should be Traveller's Tales.]

French game studio Ubisoft released its fiscal year 2013 earnings earlier today, trumpeting its tidy profits and strong software sales. As an added bonus, Ubisoft also shared data on the best-selling game brands of the past eight years across the entire industry.

In the company’s FY13 presentation, it listed the 20 top franchises from 2005 through 2012, accumulating worldwide sales on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC — handhelds were ignored. These were further separated by pre-existing IPs and new IPs for the seventh hardware generation.

Topping the list of course is Call of Duty, followed by Mario and FIFA. Of the new IPs, Wii Fit clocks in at #4, Assassin’s Creed at #5, Guitar Hero at #6, Just Dance at #12, Rock Band at #13, and the LEGO series (mistakenly attributed to Telltale, not Traveller’s Tales) at #15. The most curious entry is Mario Kart Wii at #14, a standalone title that should have been bunched in with the Mario brand, but it’s high performance nonetheless demonstrates the strength of Nintendo’s exclusives.

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source Destructoid

Tales of Symphonia is reportedly receiving a high-definition re-release on PlayStation 3. Speaking with Koi-Nya, series producer Hideo Baba teased what he is calling “a representation of the dreams and hopes of the fans, who have long been wanting it.”

In addition to the acclaimed GameCube and PlayStation 2 role-player, Tales of Symphonia: Perfect Edition will apparently include the previously Wii-exclusive sequel, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. Namco Bandai has yet to officially comment or divulge any release information for such a compilation.

Hideo Baba deja caer una posible remasterización para PS3 de ambos Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Symphonia: Perfect Edition [Koi-Nya via Polygon]

source Destructoid

Confession time: I’m super giddy for Disney Infinity. I love the concept, and I actually want to waste money on a bunch of dumb toys.

That’s of course if they bring in classic Disney stuff. I’m talking about things like Duck Tales, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troops, Gummi Bears, Talespin — Those classics. I mean I know the big private bank from Duck Tales is in Infinity, but I want more than just buildings! A guy can dream.

Of course they’re going to play things safe instead and focus on current hot properties, like Pirates of the Caribbean. Sigh.

source Destructoid

Headlining this week’s Nintendo Download is Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move ($9.99), which got a rave review from our own Tony Ponce. Also, SpeedX 3D Hyper Edition ($2.99) is set for the 3DS eShop, as well as the DSiWare game Publisher Dream (200 Points).

Strangely enough, the Wii U is actually starting to get…things…as a few Virtual Console games, a sale, and a demo are on the way. Specifically, Solomon’s Key ($4.99) and Xevious ($4.99) are on the way to the Virtual Console, Chasing Aurora is on sale from May 9th to the 16th for $7.49, and Resident Evil Revelations is getting a free demo on May 14th. Also make sure you pick up Tank! Tank! Tank! for free from last week.

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source Destructoid

Recently, Club Nintendo offered up Super Metroid for 150 coins — a modest offering, right? There’s only one problem: the game was set to go on sale for $0.30 on May 15th. As a result, Nintendo is offering up a 150 Coin refund for people who bought it early, and didn’t know about the sale. It’s a nice gesture for people who may not be as up on Nintendo news as the rest of us, so if you recently redeemed your coins for it, check your email.

Super Metroid will be the latest game to join the $0.30 sale bonanza pretty soon, followed by Yoshi (NES) and Donkey Kong (NES) in June and July, respectively. If you’re curious as to the Wii U’s Virtual Console situation, here’s a full rundown.

Club Nintendo [GoNintendo - Image]

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CNNMoney has published an analysis of Nintendo’s current situation, and like a certain other pundit, it doesn’t paint a very pretty picture. In an article titled, “Nintendo’s Big Problem,” the financial outlet says the company’s employing good ideas in bad ways. 

“For all its magnificent games and past successes, Nintendo has always been a little tone deaf when it comes to detecting and embracing new gaming trends,” writes Adrian Covert. “That brashness is finally catching up with the legendary video game company.

“The company sold only 3.45 million of the Wii U video game consoles during the first quarter, badly missing its own target of 4 million. The hand-held 3DS gaming device has also been a disappointment outside of Japan.”

Nintendo recently announced plans to enter the world of microtransactions and subscription-based games, but Covert claims this will only serve to exacerbate the company’s failures.

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source Destructoid

Another month is upon us, and thus, so is another set of Club Nintendo rewards. The big get for May is Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on Wii for 200 coins; other than that, the pickings are slim.

Maboshi’s Arcade is also available on Wii at 150 coins, and 3DS owners can queue up 3D Classics Excitebike–the 3D-enhanced re-release of the original NES game–and Art Style: Aquia for 150 and 100 coins respectively. 

All four titles will be available for download until June 2.

Rewards Catalog [Club Nintendo]

source Destructoid

The Toy Box mode in Disney Infinity seems to be the real draw. It’s an outlet for playing as many different beloved characters, sure, but it’s also the place where the sandbox play is fully embraced. I can see this being an absolute blast, and not merely for kids who like the featured properties.

In this video, folks from Disney, Pixar, and developer Avalanche Software talk about what they hope to accomplish with Toy Box and why imagination is so crucial. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the real-world toy aspect of Infinity, but that shouldn’t be too hard to work around. I’ll play as anyone; just let me fly around in this open world.

source Destructoid