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Now that the long Holiday weekend is over the video game world's wheels start spinning once again, starting today with Nintendo of Europe's weekly download update details. It's a busy week with every download store having some new content on offer, so let's get started.

Wii U eShop

Toki Tori 2 (Two Tribes, reduced to €13.49 / £11.69 until 25th April, will be €14.99 / £12.99) — Starting off with a 10% discount, this has been an eagerly anticipated arrival on the Wii U eShop for those that enjoyed its WiiWare launch title predecessor. By combining a more open structure that encourages exploration and learning by experimentation, this puzzler takes a different approach and throws in attractive presentation to sweeten the deal. We'll bring you our review soon.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discount

Puddle (Neko Entertainment, reduced to €6.99 / £6.29 until 2nd May, normally €9.99 / £8.99) — Another launch day Wii U download gets a discount, with this effort from Neko Entertainment offering up some physics puzzling and attractive visuals to boot. Despite the odd stumble, it had enough quality to earn a recommendation in our Puddle review.

Wii U Retail Download Permanent Discounts

The following Ubisoft titles have gone from temporary to permanent price discounts:

Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth (Ubisoft, reduced to €29.99 / £23.99, was €49.99 / £39.99)
Rabbids Land (Ubisoft, reduced to €29.99 / £23.99, was €49.99 / £39.99)
Sports Connection (Ubisoft, reduced to €29.99 / £23.99, was €49.99 / £39.99)
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 (Ubisoft, reduced to €29.99 / £23.99, was €49.99 / £39.99)

3DS eShop

Witch & Hero (CIRCLE Entertainment, €4.00 / £3.60) — One that's perhaps caught the eye of retro enthusiasts, this 2D action title has 8-bit inspired visuals and music, where you tackle hordes of monsters to level up and awaken your companion witch for some vital assistance. There are 20 stages as well as Trail and Infinite modes to tackle, and we'll see whether this is a quest worth taking on in our upcoming review.

Alien Chaos 3D (Reef Entertainment, €3.99 / £3.59) — This title, developed by Ludosity, was originally scheduled to arrive in Summer 2012, but has rather dropped off the radar before its sudden appearance in this week's update. It's an action game with a quirky concept, where you have to shoot enemies, clean after yourself and then recycle spent ammo; if you want to know more before our review, you can check out our interview with Ludosity from last year.

3DS eShop Download Update

Nintendo Letter Box (Nintendo, free) — A new version of Nintendo Letter Box will be available from 4th April; here are some of the new features:

  • Take photos and record sounds you want to attach to your letters from within the software. You can still add them from the SD Card.
  • Attach photos and sounds when you reply to letters.
  • Choose a different ink colour for each page.
  • Filter letters by sender in the letter list.

To download the update, visit Nintendo eShop. All data will be carried over to the updated version.

3DS Virtual Console

Mega Man 3 (Capcom, €4.99 / £4.49) — Arriving a couple of weeks after its release in North America, the third Blue Bomber title from NES is blasting on the 3DS eShop, and is regarded by many as one of the very best NES games; some will also argue it's the best "classic" Mega Man title. Wherever you stand in terms of its rating within the series, this is nevertheless more fantastic shooting and jumping action, while our hero's slide move also made its debut in this title. You can see what we though of this 3DS VC release in our Mega Man 3 review.

3DS Retail Download

Monster High: Skultimate Roller Maze (Little Orbit, €29.99 / £24.99) — Launching on the eShop at the same time as it lands in stores on 13th March, this appears to be a 3DS re-release of the DS and Wii equivalent. It's all about rollerblading and racing, with four modes — Quick, Relay, Race and Timed — included.

3DS Download Video

The Beet Party: Beet Poets (Redrover, €0.99, £0.89) — The Beet Party is a series of 3D short videos available for download on Nintendo eShop. The two-minute interstitials target four to six year olds and follow the adventures of the five coolest beets around as they explore, experiment, celebrate and communicate with beat-boxing sounds when something new arrives in their fridge.

DSiWare

Ah! Heaven (CIRCLE Entertainment, 200 Nintendo Points) — This is a simplistic, vertically scrolling platformer where your character is trying to ascend to the afterlife. With the action spanning both screens it's basic fare at a budget price, and is perhaps lacking some vital variety and challenge. You can read our full thoughts in our Ah! Heaven review.

Wii Virtual Console

Shock Troopers 2nd Squad (D4 Enterprise, 900 Nintendo Points) — Wii Virtual Console means Neo Geo goodness, as always, and this time it's of the run and gun variety. Twists over its predecessor include faster, more intense action and the ability to jump into vehicles for blasting through levels; you can learn more about why we gave this a recommendation in our Shock Troopers 2nd Squad review.


So that's your lot for this week, with quite a few choices to ponder. Let us know what you intend to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (200 votes)

  1. Toki Tori 2 (Wii U eShop)33%
  2. Puddle (Wii U eShop temporary discount)2%
  3. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth (Wii U retail permanent discount)  0%
  4. Rabbids Land (Wii U retail permanent discount)  0.5%
  5. Sports Connection (Wii U retail permanent discount)  0%
  6. Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013 (Wii U retail permanent discount)  0.5%
  7. Witch & Hero (3DS eShop)6%
  8. Alien Chaos 3D (3DS eShop)1%
  9. Mega Man 3 (3DS Virtual Console)9%
  10. Monster High: Skultimate Roller Maze (3DS retail download)  0%
  11. The Beet Party: Beet Poets (3DS download video)  0.5%
  12. Ah! Heaven (DSiWare)  0%
  13. Shock Troopers 2nd Squad (Wii Virtual Console)2%
  14. Just the Nintendo Letter Box freebie for me29%
  15. Nothing for me this week18%

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