Legend of Dark Witch

It's the first download update of December in Europe, and it brings a host of new games, decent Virtual Console options and plenty of discounts. There are also a couple of seasonal arrivals that need to improve a lot over previous entries, but overall there's a fair amount of variety and options to tempt us. Let's get to the details.

Wii U eShop

Cake Ninja 3: The Legend Continues (Cypronia, €4.99 / £4.49) — There have been three previous entries in this franchise on DSiWare, including a Christmas special, and now it makes the move over to the Wii U. We've been scathing of the lack of content and quality in those entries, and based on the description there doesn't appear to be more content here beyond the core mode of slashing cake to pieces with the stylus. We'll see if this is a tasty treat or a cream cake that's been left out in the sun for too long.

Wii U Virtual Console

Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge (Arc System Works, €4.99 / £3.49) — A slightly wacky mix of River City Ransom and Track & Field, you can tackle events like swimming or the 400m hurdles with bizarre twists. While the concept is fun the execution falls down, as we explained in our 3DS Virtual Console Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge review. This is the US version of the game.

S.C.A.T. (Natsume, €4.99 / £3.49) — Not typically the kind of game associated with Natsume, but this is a fast-paced and enjoyable shoot 'em up, with various weapon power-ups and the ability to adjust the aim of the turrets. It's a fun 8-bit title — with co-op — in which you shoot everything in sight, which we rather enjoyed in our S.C.A.T. review. This is the US version of the game.

Shadow of the Ninja (Natsume, €4.99 / £3.49) — Another Natsume arrival, this came rather late in the NES life-cycle; its sidescrolling ninja-action certainly brings to mind other iconic titles such as those in the Ninja Gaiden franchise. We felt this was rather run-of-the-mill in our Wii Virtual Console Shadow of the Ninja review, though still gave it a decent recommendation. We'll take it out for another battle. This is the US version of the game.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Disney, €17.49 / £14.99 until 11th December, normally €34.99 / £29.99)

Fit Music for Wii U (OXYGENES RL, €14.90 / £12.40 until 30th January, normally €29.90 / £24.90)

Luv Me Buddies Wonderland (OXYGENES RL, €14.90 / £12.40 until 30th January, normally €29.90 / £24.90)

DuckTales: Remastered (Capcom, €7.49 / £5.99 until 11th December, normally €14.99 / £11.99)

Abyss (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49 / £1.34 until 25th December, normally €1.99 / £1.79)

99 Seconds (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49 / £1.34 until 25th December, normally €2.49 / £2.29)

Wii U Demo

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Sega, free)

3DS eShop

The Legend of Dark Witch - Chronicle 2D ACT (CIRCLE Entertainment, €3.99 / £3.49) — This title picks up an extended name for its release in Europe, which comes six weeks after its North American arrival. This is a 2D action platformer has hints of Mega Man and also features some exploration, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Despite some flaws in the title we were fans of this in our The Legend of Dark Witch review.

Mindfeud (Engine Software, €4.99 / £4.49) — A board-game experience that aims to combine fun with a mental workout, you "have to create smart formations of tiles in different colours and symbols to gain more points than your opponent does". It can be played against the computer, naturally, though online multiplayer is also promised; we'll put our minds to the task of bringing you a review.

Christmas Wonderland 4 (Microvalue, €4.99 / £4.49) — It had to happen. We've had two entries on DSiWare and a 3DS eShop début last year, and now we have the fourth entry in this hidden object series. You find objects, is the jist, through we've been scathing of the previous three versions; will this one be another lump of coal or a pleasant surprise? We'll see soon enough.

3DS Virtual Console

S.C.A.T. (Natsume, €4.99 / £3.49) — As per the Wii U release.

Shadow of the Ninja (Natsume, €4.99 / £3.49) — As per the Wii U release.

3DS Retail Download

WRC FIA World Rally Championship: The Official Game (Bigben Interactive, €34.99 / £29.99)

Riding Star 3D (Treva Entertainment, €29.99 / £24.99)

3DS DLC

Shin Megami Tensei IV (Atlus):

  • Radiant Equipment — €0.99 / £0.75
  • For the Past… For the Future — €1.99 / £1.59

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Atlus):

  • Sub-Persona: Thanatos — €1.99 / £1.79
  • Sub-Persona: Magatsu-Izanagi — €1.99 / £1.79
  • Sub-Persona: Orpheus Telos — free

3DS Demo

Urban Trial Freestyle (Tate Media, free)

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Crash City Mayhem (Ghostlight, €7.99 / £6.99 until 18th December, normally €19.99 / £17.99)

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (Ghostlight, €11.99 / £9.99 until 18th December, normally €34.99 / £29.99)

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (Disney, €9.99 / £8.99 until 11th December, normally €19.99 / £17.99)

3DS HOME Themes

A Merry Mario Holiday (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Animal Crossing: New Leaf Jingle's Toy Day (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Amy Rose Theme (SEGA, €1.99 / £1.79)

Chao Theme (SEGA, €1.99 / £1.79)

Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA, €1.99 / £1.79)

Shadow the Hedgehog (SEGA, €1.99 / £1.79)


That's the line-up to kick off December in Europe. Let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (165 votes)

  1. Cake Ninja 3: The Legend Continues (Wii U eShop)1%
  2. Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge (Wii U Virtual Console)1%
  3. S.C.A.T. (Wii U Virtual Console)1%
  4. Shadow of the Ninja (Wii U Virtual Console)1%
  5. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  6. Fit Music for Wii U (Wii U eShop temporary discount)1%
  7. Luv Me Buddies Wonderland (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  8. DuckTales: Remastered (Wii U eShop temporary discount)5%
  9. Abyss (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  10. 99 Seconds (Wii U eShop temporary discount)  0%
  11. Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U demo)12%
  12. The Legend of Dark Witch - Chronicle 2D ACT (3DS eShop)2%
  13. Mindfeud (3DS eShop)  0%
  14. Christmas Wonderland 4 (3DS eShop)2%
  15. S.C.A.T. (3DS Virtual Console)1%
  16. Shadow of the Ninja (3DS Virtual Console)1%
  17. WRC FIA World Rally Championship: The Official Game (3DS retail download)1%
  18. Riding Star 3D (3DS retail download)  0%
  19. Shin Megami Tensei IV - Radiant Equipment (3DS DLC)  0%
  20. Shin Megami Tensei IV - For the Past… For the Future (3DS DLC)1%
  21. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Sub-Persona: Thanatos (3DS DLC)  0%
  22. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Sub-Persona: Magatsu-Izanagi (3DS DLC)  0%
  23. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Sub-Persona: Orpheus Telos (3DS DLC)2%
  24. Urban Trial Freestyle (3DS Demo)2%
  25. Crash City Mayhem (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0%
  26. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (3DS eShop temporary discount)22%
  27. Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (3DS eShop temporary discount)2%
  28. A Merry Mario Holiday (3DS HOME Theme)2%
  29. Animal Crossing: New Leaf Jingle's Toy Day (3DS HOME Theme)1%
  30. Amy Rose Theme (3DS HOME Theme)  0%
  31. Chao Theme (3DS HOME Theme)  0%
  32. Sonic the Hedgehog (3DS HOME Theme)1%
  33. Shadow the Hedgehog (3DS HOME Theme)1%
  34. Nothing for me this week41%

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