23rd April, 2012 – Nintendo fans will have no shortage of reasons to smile this year as double Mario and Pokémon fun, as well as a new system update are all set to arrive on Nintendo 3DS within the upcoming months, whilst Wii owners are in store for some chilling frights and quirky rhythm-based challenges.

Nintendo can confirm that it plans to launch New Super Mario Bros. 2, a new, yet traditional side-scrolling Mario adventure game featuring Mario, Luigi and lots of other favourite characters from the Mario universe. The game was created specifically as a pick-up-and-play experience that can be instantly enjoyed by players of all skill levels on the Nintendo 3DS system. The game is set to launch across Europe this August.

Nintendo fans across Europe are in for a double Mario treat, as they can also look ahead to the 25th May launch of Mario Tennis Open for Nintendo 3DS. Mario Tennis Open invites players to step onto the court with Mario and his friends for fast-paced tennis action and a mix of remarkable new tennis challenges. Players can play as their own customised Mii characters and choose from approximately 200 special items, including rackets and tennis gear that not only enhance their character’s appearance but also modify their abilities. Players can also suit up their Mii characters with outfits that both resemble and offer the skills of popular Nintendo characters.

Mario Tennis Open will also feature an array of multiplayer options which include local play with friends and family in the same room or Download Play, which will allow up to 4 players to enjoy a game of tennis together using just one Game Card. There is also a very special online multiplayer mode which will allow you to play with friends and family and those in your local region online. If you fancy yourself as a tennis pro then make sure you tackle the regional leaderboard to see if you have what it takes to become a European champion.

Those players who have been enjoying the recently launched Kid Icarus: Uprising game and who have been avidly collecting the AR Idol Cards will be pleased to learn that Nintendo of Europe has entered into an exclusive partnership with Panini. You will soon be able to purchase additional packs of Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Idol Cards, as well as an album to keep your collection in. Keep an eye out for them as they will hit stores soon*.

On 25th April, the next System Update is planned for Nintendo 3DS and will provide you with brand new functions to explore. By downloading** this update, you can create folders on the system’s HOME Menu to organise your content. This new feature is designed to make it easier than ever for you to access your favourite downloaded games, videos and demos. Other elements of the update include the ability to receive “update data” distributions, such as the Mario Kart 7 “update data” scheduled across Europe in mid-May that resolves shortcut exploits in the game. Once this “update data” is released Mario Kart 7 players will need to ensure that they download it from Nintendo eShop in order to play online.

There will also be two new Pokémon download offerings coming later this year for Nintendo 3DS via Nintendo eShop. The first is a new motion-controlled shooting game which will bring Pokémon into the real world, right in front of your eyes, using the AR (Augmented Reality) features of the Nintendo 3DS system. You will need to move your Nintendo 3DS system and aim at the Pokémon moving around you in order to capture them. You may even have the chance to catch extremely rare Pokémon in this way. Once you have captured some Pokémon you will be able to transfer them to the new Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 games which will launch across Europe for Nintendo DS, but which can also be played on Nintendo 3DS, later this autumn.

When deciding your strategies for the new Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 games, the second Pokémon download offering - a brand new Pokédex - is sure to be a big help. The original Pokédex 3D, which became available last year as a free download from Nintendo eShop, contained detailed data on over 150 Pokémon from the first Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games. But with this new version of the Pokédex, you will be able to check out every single Pokémon in the history of the Pokémon series. There will be many other new features too, so make sure you keep an eye out for further announcements.

If you are a Wii player, would you dare to revisit one of the scariest games of all time? If so, you are in luck as Nintendo and TECMO KOEI GAMES are set to re-launch one of the scariest horror titles from the legendary Project Zero series exclusively for Wii. With all-new motion gameplay features and innovative, new two-player modes, horror fans looking for interesting ways to get their scares need look no further than Project Zero 2: Wii Edition, which will launch on 29th June across Europe.

For those players who can handle a double dose of frights, Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir will also be available on exactly the same day exclusively for Nintendo 3DS. This terrifying Nintendo 3DS game, which comes packaged with a very special AR Book which you will need to use as you play the game, will allow you to fight spirits, solve puzzles and explore the world around you in a new and unique way. Using the built-in 3D camera and AR (Augmented Reality) features of the Nintendo 3DS system will allow you to watch the story come to life before your very eyes with exciting effect. The lines between your reality and the in-game reality will become blurred like never before.

Project Zero 2: Wii Edition & Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir even share a special link. Once you have completed Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir you’ll unlock some special new modes. You will then be able to enjoy a special surprise on the cover of the game manual for Project Zero 2: Wii Edition using your Nintendo 3DS “Spirit Camera”.

For the first time on a home console system, the quirky rhythm-based action of Rhythm Paradise returns, so get ready to gather your friends and family around the TV to experience a colourful world of quirky rhythm-based games. Beat The Beat: Rhythm Paradise will launch for Wii across Europe on 6th July, featuring 50 brand new rhythm games and the eccentric characters and funny situations that Rhythm Paradise fans have come to know and love. There is also a special addition to the European version of this game, as players will be able to play with a soundtrack from the Japanese version of the game, ensuring hours of toe-tapping fun for all the family.
With plenty of new games and content coming to Nintendo 3DS & Wii in the coming months, your 2012 line-up from Nintendo is shaping up to offer a host of new, interesting and most importantly fun experiences for all to enjoy.

Head over to http://www.nintendo-europe.com/nintendo-direct to watch the latest European Nintendo Direct in full and keep up to date with the latest announcements by following @NintendoEurope – The official Nintendo of Europe Twitter feed.