Nintendo Land
A launch title showcasing Wii U features through Nintendo-themed attractions.
Nintendo Land is a 2012 party video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It was announced at E3 2012 and released as a pack-in launch title for the system. The game features twelve minigames based on Nintendo franchises, designed to demonstrate the Wii U GamePad's capabilities, similar to how Wii Sports showcased the Wii Remote.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Producer
- Katsuya Eguchi
- Director
- Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita
- Composer
- Ryō Nagamatsu
- Artist
- Tsubasa Sakaguchi
- Released
- November 18, 2012 (NA)
- November 30, 2012 (PAL)
- December 8, 2012 (JP)
- Genre
- Party, adventure
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Nintendo Land is set in an amusement park hub, where a robotic character named Monita guides the player. The twelve minigames are depicted as park attractions, each based on a Nintendo franchise. Two attractions, Metroid Blast and Mario Chase, originated from Wii U tech demos shown at E3 2011 but were modified to include Nintendo characters. The minigames use the Wii U GamePad's touchscreen and motion controls, often alongside Wii Remotes and Nunchuks for up to five players, enabling asymmetric gameplay where players have different experiences depending on their controller. Completing minigames and objectives earns coins used in a single-player pachinko minigame; winning pachinko stages yields items for decorating the hub. In The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, up to three players use Wii Remotes as swords while a fourth uses the GamePad to control a bow-and-arrow character, who can lift the controller to spy for snipers and aim down to reload. Metroid Blast includes three modes: Assault Mission (cooperative), Surface-Air Combat (ground players vs. GamePad player), and Ground Battle (all players use Wii Remotes).
Development
Development began shortly after the release of Wii Sports Resort, before the Wii U hardware was finalized, leading to experimentation with prototypes. One prototype using a gyroscope directly led Shigeru Miyamoto to incorporate that technology into the Nintendo 3DS. The team aimed to showcase all features of the new console, but unlike Wii Sports, the minigames were not inherently related. A staff member suggested uniting various Nintendo franchises; though initially considered too grand, the team adopted an Expo theme that evolved into the amusement park concept. Some attractions were difficult to theme: Metroid Blast was originally themed around Star Fox, and Donkey Kong Crash Course was considered for Excitebike or 1080° Snowboarding. The game was removed from the North American Nintendo eShop in November 2013 but re-added in August 2016.
Reception
Nintendo Land received generally favorable reviews, according to Metacritic. Famitsu gave it a total score of 35 out of 40. Critics praised the party atmosphere and attractions, though some were critical of simply showing GamePad capabilities. IGN gave it an 8.7 score, stating that Wii Sports had met its match. The game was nominated for Family Game of the Year and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming at the 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. By March 2014 it had sold 3.09 million copies, rising to 4.44 million by December 2014, and 5.21 million by March 2023, making it the fifth best-selling Wii U game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Nintendo Land?
Nintendo Land was developed by Nintendo EAD.
When was Nintendo Land released?
Nintendo Land was released on November 18, 2012 in North America, on November 30, 2012 in PAL regions and on December 8, 2012 in Japan.
Who directed Nintendo Land?
Nintendo Land was directed by Takayuki Shimamura and Yoshikazu Yamashita.
Who composed the music for Nintendo Land?
The music for Nintendo Land was composed by Ryō Nagamatsu.
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