Splatoon

Much later than normal due to a public Holiday, we finally have this week's Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. There's a hotly anticipated Wii U retail exclusive, of course, while there's also a retail arrival on 3DS. Wii U owners have more options with an intriguing Indie effort and a couple of less common retro treats, which there are also a whole load of discounts to ponder. Let's get to the details.

Wii U eShop

High Strangeness (Midnight City, €9.99 / £8.99) - Developed by Barnyard Intelligence games, this is described as "a hybrid of 8 and 16 bit games - a 12 bit adventure", incorporating retro RPG and adventure game mechanics. Jumping between bit-based realities, with watercolour illustrations also thrown in, you need to solve puzzles and tackle the strange storyline. Though it's not without flaws, we gave this a solid recommendation in our High Strangeness review.

Wii U Virtual Console

Flying Warriors (Culture Brain, €4.99 / £3.49) - This never arrived in PAL regions on NES, so represents a bit of an 8-bit virtual import treat for European gamers. It incorporates a range of attacks and ninja-like abilities, and we're certainly intrigued; we'll bring you a review soon. This is the US version of the game.

Little Ninja Brothers (Culture Brain, €4.99 / £3.49) - This one did get a PAL release back in 1991, and brings a cartoonish RPG-like 8-bit experience; it also features two player support and some sports events to pass the time. We'll be like a ninja and get a review to you soon. This is the US version of the game.

Wii U Retail Download

Splatoon (Nintendo, €35.99 / £31.49 with Splatoon Global Testfire demo download on same Wii U, otherwise €39.99 / £34.99 ) - Certainly the most notable Wii U release of the year so far, this new IP is Nintendo's unique take on the shooter genre, with a third-person view and a focus on claiming territory as well as kills. There's a single-player campaign on offer but it's the online multiplayer that's likely to grab the most attention; we'll bring you our review ahead of its release - available from 29th May.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

BLOK DROP U (RCMADIAX, €0.74 / £0.64 until 25th June, normally €1.49 / £1.29)

BLOK DROP X TWISTED FUSION (RCMADIAX, €1.45 / £1.30 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

TABLETOP GALLERY (RCMADIAX, €2.20 / £2.00 until 4th June, normally €4.49 / £4.09)

Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade (Cypronia, €3.14 / £2.69 until 25th June, normally €6.99 / £5.99)

Cake Ninja 3: The Legend Continues (Cypronia, €3.69 / £3.33 until 25th June, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Color Zen (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.99)

Color Zen Kids (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.99)

My Style Studio: Hair Salon (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 25th June, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

My Style Studio: Notebook (Cypronia, €2.39 / £2.15 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

Wii U eShop Demo

SDK Paint (Hullbreach Studios, free)

3DS Retail Download

Fossil Fighters: Frontier (Nintendo, €39.99 / £34.99) - The latest retail 3DS title published by Nintendo, this follows up on DS predecessor in which you explore and uncover fossils; these become your dinosaurs with which to battle. "Like Pokemon but with dinosaurs", as our editorial director Damien McFerran puts it, this also has local and online battles for up to six players. We gave this a solid recommendation in our Fossil Fighters: Frontier review. Available from 29th May.

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Heart Beaten (Spring Loaded, €2.33 / £2.00 until 4th June, €1.09 / £1.00 until 4th June for users who have already downloaded Space Lift Danger Panic! with the same Nintendo Network ID - normally €3.49 / £2.99)

Space Lift Danger Panic! (Spring Loaded, €1.65 / £1.29 until 4th June, €0.80 / £0.65 until 4th June for users who have already downloaded Heart Beaten with the same Nintendo Network ID - normally €2.49/ £1.99)

Angry Bunnies (Cypronia, €2.92 / £2.69 until 25th June, normally €6.49 / £5.99)

Bubble Pop World (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 25th June, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Color Zen (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.99)

Color Zen Kids (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.99)

Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 25th June, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

My Style Studio: Hair Salon (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 25th June, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

My Style Studio: Notebook (Cypronia, €2.39 / £2.15 until 25th June, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

3DS eShop Permanent Price Drop

SteamWorld Dig (Image & Form, £6.99, was £7.99)

3DS HOME Themes

Splatoon: Inkredible Theme (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Pokémon: Eevee Collection (The Pokémon Company, €1.99 / £1.79)

Pokémon: Mega Charizard X (The Pokémon Company, €1.99 / £1.79)

Pokémon Shuffle (The Pokémon Company, €1.99 / £1.79)


That's everything on the way to the European eShop stores this week. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (210 votes)

  1. High Strangeness (Wii U eShop)3%
  2. Flying Warriors (Wii U Virtual Console)  0%
  3. Little Ninja Brothers (Wii U Virtual Consoles)1%
  4. Splatoon (Wii U retail download)44%
  5. One of the Wii U eShop temporary discounts  0%
  6. SDK Paint (Wii U eShop demo)1%
  7. Fossil Fighters: Frontier (3DS retail download)1%
  8. One of the 3DS eShop temporary discounts  0%
  9. SteamWorld Dig (3DS eShop permanent discount)  0%
  10. One of the 3DS HOME Themes10%
  11. Nothing for me this week38%

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