Harmony of Dissonance NEW

It's that time again, North American gamers, for Nintendo Download Update details to brighten your day and lighten your wallet. This week sees a collection of promising new download games across Wii U and 3DS, along with high quality retro options on both systems. Throw in a range of discounts and we have a good week ahead, so let's get to the details.

Missed the European Nintendo Download Update earlier this week? Oh no! Actually, it's fine, the details are right here.


Wii U eShop

Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (Curve Studios, $TBC) — A critically acclaimed horror experience from Jasper Byrne that's been extensively ported by Curve Studios, the "ultimate version" now arrives on Wii U. With a unique art style, this game's outcome is largely determined by your own approach: stealth or combat, rescue others or go alone, sanity or madness. This could be another terrific experience on the eShop, and we'll let you know what we think soon.

Ballpoint Universe: Infinite (Arachnid Games, $TBC) — This is a shooter with a bit of a difference, utilising a hand-drawn aesthetic to allow a customisable ship across 16 levels, with an Infinite mode also included. We'll blast through a review soon.

Paper Monsters Recut (Mobot Studios, $7.99) — A platformer with a paper-based mechanic that was previously on smart devices, this has had a graphical overhaul for Wii U in addition to the inclusion of an all-new overworld. We'll get crafty with a review, and in the meantime you can check out our recent interview with the developer.

Chests 'O Booty (Wildmane Studios, $1.99) — On the surface this looks like a match-3 game, though you also need to use some basic mental arithmetic to re-arrange chests of loot; we'll see whether this ship sinks or sails in our upcoming review.

PING 1.5+ (NAMI TENTOU MUSHI, $4.99) — With retro-styled visuals and a steep difficulty level, this is over 100 levels of trying to shoot a cube through over 100 increasingly tricky levels. We may need to remember our retro instincts and skills for this review.

Wii U Virtual Console

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Konami, $7.99) — The second Game Boy Advance entry in the trilogy, this one perhaps has a little graphical bump over its predecessor while serving up more of the series' action-exploration platforming; you play as the peculiarly named Juste Belmont trying to rescue a friend. They must be some friend to support that crazy name. We'll get cracking on a review.

Wii U DLC

Hyrule Warriors Master Quest Pack (Nintendo, $7.99 or $19.99 for a four-pack season pass) — This DLC pack contains the following.

  • Five new Legend Mode scenarios
  • A new Adventure Mode map (Master Quest) with seven new 8-bit weapons and sixteen new alternatively-coloured costumes as rewards
  • A new weapon type for Link (Epona)
  • Two new costumes (Guardian of Time for Lana and Cia)

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form, $6.99 until 30th October, normally $8.99)

Squids Odyssey (The Game Bakers, $5.99 until 30th October, normally $14.99)

TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition (Keen Games, $4.99 until 30th October, normally $7.99)

Master Reboot (Wales Interactive, $6.99 until 30th October, normally $14.99)

Trine 2: Director's Cut (Frozenbyte, $9.99 until 3rd November, normally $19.99)

SHUT THE BOX (RCMADIAX, $0.69 until 13th November, normally $0.99)

3DS eShop

Pyramids 2 (Enjoy Gaming, $4.99 / $4.99CAD) — This game's predecessor was the first original (non-Virtual Console) title on the 3DS eShop, and this sequel arrives with 54 new levels across three worlds. There's also a level editor, and we'll see whether this is still essentially a modern take on Solomon's Key in our review.

The Legend of Dark Witch (Circle Entertainment, $3.99 / $4.39CAD) — A 2D action title with the familiar concept of new abilities earned by defeating bosses, though this goes further with additional abilities and items that can be collected and created. It looks full of colour and promise, so we'll see whether it delivers in our review.

3DS Virtual Console

Harvest Moon 2 (Natsume, $4.99 / $4.99CAD) — After the arrival of the first title earlier in the year, we now have the opportunity to jump into this sequel, also originally released on Game Boy Color. As is normal you're responsible for running a farm and returning it to its former glories; we'll milk this one for all its worth in our upcoming review.

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form, $5.99 / $6.69CAD until 30th October, normally $8.99 / $8.99CAD)

Squids Odyssey (The Game Bakers, $5.99 / $5.99CAD until 30th October, normally $14.99 / $14.99CAD)

Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan (Atlus, on discount from 20th October to 3rd November)

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl (Atlus, on discount from 20th October to 3rd November)

Snow Moto Racing 3D (Zordix AB, $5.99 / $5.99CAD until 27th November, normally $7.99 / $7.99CAD)

Johnny Impossible (UFO Interactive, on discount from 17th October to 3rd November)

Samurai Sword Destiny (UFO Interactive, on discount from 17th October to 3rd November)


Plenty of options this week in North America. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (270 votes)

  1. Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (Wii U eShop)8%
  2. Ballpoint Universe: Infinite (Wii U eShop)1%
  3. Paper Monsters Recut (Wii U eShop)2%
  4. Chests 'O Booty (Wii U eShop)1%
  5. PING 1.5+ (Wii U eShop)1%
  6. Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (Wii U Virtual Console)13%
  7. Hyrule Warriors Master Quest Pack (Wii U DLC)17%
  8. SteamWorld Dig (Wii U eShop temporary discount)4%
  9. Squids Odyssey (Wii U eShop temporary discount)2%
  10. TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  11. Master Reboot (Wii U eShop temporary discount)3%
  12. Trine 2: Director's Cut (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  13. SHUT THE BOX (Wii U eShop temporary discount)1%
  14. Pyramids 2 (3DS eShop)  0%
  15. The Legend of Dark Witch (3DS eShop)6%
  16. Harvest Moon 2 (3DS Virtual Console)6%
  17. Steamworld Dig (3DS eShop temporary discount)1%
  18. Squids Odyssey (3DS eShop temporary discount)1%
  19. Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan (3DS eShop temporary discount)1%
  20. Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl (3DS eShop temporary discount)2%
  21. Snow Moto Racing 3D (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0%
  22. Johnny Impossible (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0%
  23. Samurai Sword Destiny (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0%
  24. Nothing for me this week31%

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