Nintendo unveils early 2012 Wii, 3DS and NDS software release schedule

Nintendo has let the wraps off of their latest release schedule, and they have officially revealed a number of official release dates (which are of course, always subject to change).

Highlights include the new Kid Icarus: Uprising and METAL GEAR SOLID 3D Snake Eater for the Nintendo 3DS, and Pok?Park 2: Wonders Beyond, Rhythm Heaven Fever and Mario Party 9 for the Wii.

The full announcement and release date schedule is below.

As some people hunker down for a long winter?s nap, Nintendo is getting things fired up. The first quarter of 2012 offers great new installments in popular franchises for both the Nintendo 3DS system and the Wii console. Nintendo has something for everyone, from family fun to three-dimensional adventure.

On the Nintendo 3DS system, Capcom?s Resident Evil Revelations launches on Feb. 7. In a new chapter of the hit survival-horror franchise, players fight a new enemy and virus in 3D without the need for special glasses. METAL GEAR SOLID 3D Snake Eater from Konami arrives in the first quarter of 2012. The game is a re-interpretation of METAL GEAR SOLID 3: Snake Eater, and offers a rich jungle world with customizable stealth and camouflage options. On March 23, the epic odyssey Kid Icarus: Uprising soars into stores and lets players help the winged warrior Pit fight Medusa and her Underworld Army.

The Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS will also be busy with a variety of downloadable offerings. Dillon?s Rolling Western brings tower-defense strategy and touch-screen driven action to the Old West. Armadillo ranger Dillon defends pioneer villages against waves of attacking rock monsters using gun towers, defensive structures and his own exciting attack abilities. In Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, players travel to ancient Japan and guide a young warrior as he battles waves of enemy soldiers. Players must identify the enemy?s attack, dodge and counter-attack with the mystical Sakura Sword to win the battle. The critically acclaimed VVVVVV andNightSky from Nicalis, mind-bending action of Mighty Switch Force from WayForward and immersive 3D visuals of Mutant Mudds from Renegade Kid round out a diverse selection of downloadable games.

Nintendo is also introducing an optional accessory that gives Nintendo 3DS owners a second analog stick to control compatible games. The will launch in the United States on Feb. 7. It will be sold through GameStop stores and online at http://www.gamestop.com at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The Circle Pad Pro is a comfortable cradle that holds the Nintendo 3DS system while adding an analog Circle Pad on the system?s right side. The attachment also adds additional shoulder buttons to give it a feel more akin to traditional console controllers. It is designed as an optional accessory and is compatible with Resident Evil Revelationsand METAL GEAR SOLID 3D Snake Eater.

On the Wii console, Rhythm Heaven Fever arrives on Feb. 13 at a suggested retail price of $29.99 in the United States. The game asks players to test their rhythm in more than 50 easy-to-learn, tough-to-master minigames to prove they?ve got the groove. Two weeks later on Feb. 27, Pok?Park 2: Wonders Beyond lets players take on the role of Pikachu and his Pals ? Oshawott, Snivy and Tepig ? as they try to make it through Pok?Park and discover the secrets of a mysterious new world. On March 11, Mario and friends reunite for a new party game adventure in Mario Party 9, which introduces new game-play elements to the series such as boss battles and vehicular travel across a wide assortment of stages.

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Nintendo systems. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.