Star Ghost.jpg

Another week begins, and on this occasion delivers a corker of a Nintendo Download Update for Europe. There are a total of five high quality Virtual Console releases across the Wii U and New 3DS, along with a retail arrival on 3DS and a variety of promising download-only releases on both eShop stores. Throw in a load of discounts and there's plenty to consider, so let's get to it.

Wii U eShop

Star Ghost (Squarehead Studios, €8.99/ £7.99) - A procedurally generated shoot-em-up "inspired by the arcade classics", Star Ghost is the work of Rhys Lewis, former A.I Lead at Retro Studios. This utilises the control scheme seen in the rocket barrel stages of Retro's Donkey Kong titles, while Rare alumni David Wise provides the soundtrack. We'll launch into a review soon.

Bird Mania Party (Teyon, €1.99/ £1.79) - A follow-on to the budget runner (or 'flyer') games on 3DS, the party aspect for this HD version comes from some multiplayer options. Two players can tackle the game together in co-op or there's a party competitive mode for five players, with extra competitors using Wii Remotes. We'll fly into a review.

Steel Rivals (nuGAME, €6.99 / £5.99) - This is a fighting game, which isn't exactly the most common genre on Wii U, at least not yet. At a budget price the screenshots do suggest budget visuals, yet with a Tournament Mode, unlockable outfits and local multiplayer we should at least give it a fighting chance. We'll get some sparring in as preparation for our review.

Dreamals (XINESS, €4.99/ £4.49) - Conceptually this sounds like a puzzle game, as you guide three animals restricted to one direction each to safety. We'll get started on a review.

Wii U Virtual Console

Super Mario Advance (Nintendo, €6.99/ £6.29) - The first in the series of enhanced re-releases that graced the Game Boy Advance, this one includes a spruced up Super Mario Bros. 2 and a version of the original Mario Bros.. As explained in our review it's a solid option for those looking to experience these titles for the first time or with a slightly different feel.

Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World (Nintendo, €6.99/ £6.29) - Yet another way to play this 16-bit classic if you're not tempted by the Wii U or New 3DS Virtual Console versions. This GBA iteration does offer some tweaks to the formula, as explained in our review, and is a faithful recreation beyond those changes it does a solid job.

Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Nintendo, €6.99/ £6.29). As the name states this is the Game Boy Advance port / remaster of the third NES entry in the series. In addition to the '16-bit' look for the 8-bit classic this also includes extra stages that were originally accessed with e-Reader cards; those extras and this one's overall quality earned it a glowing recommendation from us.

Wii U Virtual Console Promotion

Super Mario Advance Special: You can get the third game for free if you buy two of Super Mario Advance, Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 or Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 with the same NNID on Wii U until 24/03/2016.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Art of Balance (Shin'en Multimedia, €6.70/ £5.36 until 31st March, normally €8.99 / £7.15)

Never Alone (E-line Media, €4.89/ £4.29 until 23rd March, normally €14.99 / £12.99)

VoxelMaker (Nostatic Software, €3.59/ £2.79 untl 17th March, normally €4.49 / £3.49)

99Moves (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49/ £1.34 until 7th April, normally €2.49 / £2.29)

Abyss (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49/ £1.34 until 7th April, normally €1.99 / £1.79)

Rock 'n Racing Off Road DX (EnjoyUp Games, €4.95/ £4.45 until 7th April, normally €7.99 / £7.19)

Spy Chameleon (EnjoyUp Games, €3.99/ £3.59 until 7th April, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Jones on Fire (Joindots, €2.99/ £2.29 until 24th March, normally €5.99 / £4.59)

Wii U eShop Demo

Word Puzzles by POWGI (Lightwood Games, free)

3DS eShop

Blast 'em Bunnies (Nnooo, €4.99/ £2.99) The objective here is to take down as many bunny enemies as possible and collect coins, which can be used to purchase new items in-game. 50 medals are waiting to be unlocked, and the title's Survival and Slaughter modes feature varying difficulty levels. We'll inform PETA of our plans and then start work on a review.

New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console

Super Metroid (Nintendo, €3.99/ £3.59 until 17th March if Link to the Past has been downloaded on New 3DS, normally €7.99/ £7.19) - A true classic of the 16-bit age, this took the ideas and concepts of its predecessors on NES and Game Boy and took them forward in rather bold ways. An experience that has inspired so many modern games, it stands up beautifully in the modern day and should be perfectly suited to portable gaming. We gave this our highest marks in our Super Metroid review.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo, €3.99/ £3.59 until 17th March if Super Metroid has been downloaded on New 3DS, normally €7.99/ £7.19) - Another definitive entry in its franchises' history, this is an adventure that's always in the running when fans debate the greatest Zelda games. Full of iconic moments and items, like many of the best SNES games this still holds up beautifully for modern-day gaming. Naturally we loved it in our most recent review.

3DS Retail Download

Stella Glow (NIS America, €39.99 / £34.99) - Developed be Imageepoch, your world-saving quest tasks you with earning the trust and help of musical witches, which is as good a job as any. Blending traditional RPG ideas with a musical focus gives this one a bit of a unique twist, and we gave it a hearty recommendation in our Stella Glow review. Available from 11th March. Download code for the theme "Stella Glow: The Witches and Bubu" for Nintendo 3DS included with every purchase.

3DS eShop DLC

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Clown Skin Pack (Nnooo, €1.99/ £1.29)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Luchador Skin Pack (Nnooo, €1.99/ £1.29)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Ninja Skin Pack (Nnooo, €1.99/ £1.29)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Urban Army Skin Pack (Nnooo, €1.99/ £1.29)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Zombie Skin Pack (Nnooo, €1.99/ £1.29)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Clown Arena Pack (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Luchador Arena Pack (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Ninja Arena Pack (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Urban Army Arena Pack (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Zombie ArenaPack (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: 2x Multiplier (Nnooo, free)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: 5x Multiplier (Nnooo, €4.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: 10x Multiplier (Nnooo, €9.99/ £6.49)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Carrot Rifle (Nnooo, €2.99/ £1.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Turnip Mortar (Nnooo, €4.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Watermelon Machine Gun (Nnooo, €4.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Runner Bean Laser (Nnooo, €4.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Clown Bundle (Nnooo, €3.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Luchador Bundle (Nnooo, €3.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Ninja Bundle (Nnooo, €3.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Urban Army Bundle (Nnooo, €3.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Zombie Bundle (Nnooo, €3.99/ £2.99)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: All Skin & Arena Bundle (Nnooo, €9.99/ £6.49)

Blast 'Em Bunnies: Mega Bundle (Nnooo, €14.99/ £9.99)

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Rune Factory 4 (XSEED Games, €19.99/ £17.49 until 17th March, normally €29.99 / £24.99)

The Delusions of Von Sottendorff and His Square Mind (Delirium Studios, €7.99/ £7.19 until 24th March, normally €12.99 / £11.69)

Snow Moto Racing 3D (ZordixAB, €3.99/ £3.59 until 17th March, normally €7.99 / £7.19)

The Keep (Cinemax, €4.99/ £4.49 until 24th March, normally €9.99 / £8.99)

Fantasy Pirates (EnjoyUp Games, €0.99/ £0.99 until 7th April, normally €4.50 / £4.50)

Football Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, €1.99/ £1.79 until 7th April, normally €2.99 / £2.36)

Toys vs. Monsters (EnjoyUp Games, €0.99/ £0.99 until 7th April, normally €3.99 / £3.99)

Van Helsing Sniper Zx100 (EnjoyUp Games, €2.99/ £2.99 until 7th April, normally €6.66 / £6.66)

Darts Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, €0.99/ £0.89 until 7th April, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

3D MahJongg (Joindots, €3.99/ £3.59 until 24th March, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Gardenscapes (Joindots, €5.99/ £4.49 until 24th March, normally €7.99 / £5.99)

Murder on the Titanic (Joindots, €5.99/ £4.49 until 24th March, normally €7.99 / £5.99)

Safari Quest (Joindots, €4.99/ £3.99 until 24th March, normally €6.99 / £4.99)

3DS eShop Demo

Word Puzzles by POWGI (Lightwood Games, free)


That's your lot for the European Download Update this week; let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading this week?

(You can select up to 16 answers)