Old-school box art at its best

As 2013 slowly cranks into gear, Nintendo of Europe has released details of what Europeans can expect in this week's download update. It's another week with no additions on the Wii U eShop, but the 3DS, DSi and Wii equivalents all have some content to consider. Is any of it going to get your year started with a bang? Let's find out.

3DS download software

Touch Battle Tanks 3D (Agetec, €4.99 / £4.49) — This is a concept that promises much fun, with the simple task of rushing around 70 levels blowing up everything in sight. This one already hit North American in summer 2012, and it became clear that this attempt at a fun action title mis-fired, as our Touch Battle Tanks 3D review explained.

3DS Virtual Console

Ghosts 'n Goblins (Capcom, €4.99 / £4.49) — Appropriately arriving in time for Halloween across the pond, this is a rather challenging — OK, very challenging — NES action platformer, now available on the go and with valuable save state functionality. Two hits and you're dead, and there are plenty of monsters more than happy to help you on your way to the game over screen. It's long in the tooth now, but we felt that it had aged well for gamers brave enough in our Ghosts 'n Goblins review.

3DS Retail DLC

New Art Academy (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79 per pack) — Two new lesson packs are available to purchase within the game.

  • Life Drawing
  • Paint like Turner

DSiWare

Crystal Adventure (CIRCLE Entertainment, 200 Nintendo Points) — The DSiWare service has seen its fair share of top-down RPG experiences that attempt to harken back to the days of 8 and 16-bit adventures, and this is a budget entry that attempts to do just that. Unfortunately the lack of any storytelling, frustrating design decisions and phoned-in automatic combat meant that we had little positive to say in our Crystal Adventure review.

WiiWare

Vampire Crystals (Shanblue Interactive, 1000 Nintendo Points) — While the title may suggest another RPG destined for mediocrity, it transpires that this is a twin-stick — or stick and pointer if you prefer — shooter, which delivers intense action gameplay for single players, local co-op as well as some competitive multiplayer. Despite some difficulty spikes it's a well-crafted and lovingly presented title, earning a strong recommendation in our Vampire Crystals review.

So that's it for this week, Europe. Three platforms catered for with a mixture of the old and new, with two action titles standing out. Let us know how you'll be spending your funds in the poll and comments section below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (95 votes)

  1. Touch Battle Tanks 3D (3DS download software)1%
  2. Ghosts 'n Goblins (3DS Virtual Console)17%
  3. New Art Academy DLC (in-game purchase)3%
  4. Crystal Adventure (DSiWare)1%
  5. Vampire Crystals (WiiWare)16%
  6. Nothing for me this week62%

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