Get ready for a busy 2012

13th December 2011 – As the nights get longer and the year draws to a close, Nintendo looks ahead to what is shaping up to be a packed 2012 for all game lovers. Whether you own a Nintendo 3DS or Wii, there will be an adventure to put a spring into your step in 2012.

Mario’s had a busy end to the year – from racing through the air, across the land or underwater in Mario Kart 7, which launched on 2nd December 2011, to donning his favourite Tanooki Suit to master a mixture of new and classic abilities in SUPER MARIO 3D LAND, which launched on 18th November 2011. Mario isn’t finished there, however, and will be picking up a tennis racket in Mario Tennis* and heading to the 2012 London Olympic games with Sonic in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games™ (SEGA), both launching in 2012 for Nintendo 3DS.

It's not just Mario fans who will be busy this month and into the New Year. The end of 2011 sees Nintendo 3DS owners fighting for supremacy in the skies in Ace Combat™ Assault Horizon Legacy (NAMCO BANDAI Games S.A.S.), racing in exotic locations across the globe in Formula One™: F1 2011™ (Codemasters) and playing football against some of the biggest teams on the planet in PES 2012 3D (KONAMI).

Moving into 2012, Nintendo will be keeping it in the Mario family, and fans and newcomers alike will be thrilled to hear the buzz of a vacuum cleaner on the horizon - Mario’s brother, Luigi, is back in a brand new adventure and looking to suck up some ghosts! Luigi’s Mansion 2* launches in 2012 and sees you helping Luigi to rid large mansions of the ghosts and ghouls lurking in the corners, under the tables and in the cabinets. Explore the mansions and collect coins as you go, using Luigi’s trusty flashlight wisely as you go.

Fan of puzzles? Missing your favourite professor? Fear not, as Professor Layton and his trusty companion, Luke, return in 2012 with the launch of Professor Layton 5*. Set across two time periods, Luke and Professor Layton explore a mysterious town where strange happenings are taking place. Who is the Miracle Gentleman and why do people keep being transformed into horses and stone statues?

The wait is almost over, as Kid Icarus: Uprising is soon to be in the hands of fans who are champing at the bit to spend some quality time with the angelic protagonist, Pit. Flying through the air, after being granted the ‘Miracle of Flight’ by Palutena, Pit battles the forces of Medusa - who has been reborn and seeks to wipe out mankind. Help Pit to fly to different worlds and take on an array of terrifying monsters.

The words “Resident Evil”  strike fear into the hearts of fans across the world and you can now look forward to playing the latest offering from Capcom exclusively on your Nintendo 3DS when Resident Evil™ Revelations (Capcom) launches on 27th January 2012. Packed with terrifying moments and an intense storyline, all in stunning 3D, this game heralds a return to classic Resident Evil gameplay.

Fans of serious, story-driven action will be pleased to know that Hideo Kojima's legendary Metal Gear series steals onto Nintendo 3DS in the form of Metal Gear Solid®: Snake Eater 3D (KONAMI) in 2012. This classic stealth action title now comes with stunning, updated 3D visuals, while the Nintendo 3DS outer cameras and motion sensor are used as integral elements in the gameplay.

Other Nintendo 3DS games to look forward to in early 2012 include the fighting epic from Namco Bandai, TEKKEN™ 3D Prime Edition (NAMCO BANDAI Games S.A.S.), and SEGA’s officially licensed Olympic-themed video game Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games™ (SEGA), launching in February 2012. With over 50 exciting events, including football, equestrian, athletics and aquatics, there are plenty of ways to compete for a coveted gold medal.

Click here to take a closer look at upcoming games for Nintendo 3DS, Wii and Nintendo DS in 2012.

* Temporary game name