Wii U eShop News
December2015
Gallery Pretend to Make Your Devices Faster With Some FAST Racing NEO Wallpapers
'Big news' teased for 2nd December
FAST Racing NEO is heading to the Wii U eShop in December and certainly has the potential to be one of the download highlights of the year. While we await the final release date, however, we have some pretty wallpapers that we can add to our desktops to keep us going. You can see them below (click to enlarge), but...
Review Cutie Pets Jump Rope (Wii U eShop)
Is this some sort of strange experiment?
We won't go so far as to accuse Cutie Pets series developer Yazar Media Group of a heinous plot to thumb its nose at the very laws of nature. It's certainly not a heinous plot, at the very least; we'd call it more stare-worthingly kooky. But if you believed the cryptozoological marvel known as Mandeer in...
News Dinox Will Fill That Dinosaur Trivia Gap in the eShop
Another box ticked!
We've often written about the Wii U eShop offering an impressively diverse range of genres in its games, catering to fans of platformers, shoot 'em ups, puzzle games, more platformers... There have also been some trivia / quiz games, but none have been solely about dinosaurs. Well, that gap in the market will be filled by Dinox,...
November2015
Video New Mighty No. 9 Trailer Aims to Bring Back the Hype
Leaving those troubles behind
Comcept's Mighty No. 9 has had a curious development history. It stormed to success on Kickstarter seemingly off the back of Keiji Inafune's reputation and its potential as a spiritual successor to Mega Man, yet as development wore on and more footage emerged opinions cooled. The reaction to the visual style hasn't...
Nintendo Download 3rd December (Europe)
Xenoblade Chronicles X! Mario & Luigi! Wii games! More!
Another week begins with the Nintendo Download Update for Europe, and this week we have two major retail releases across the Wii U and 3DS; beyond that we have three rather good Wii games available on the eShop, some free-to-play Pokémon and a range of discounts. Let's get to the details. Wii...
News Lost Reavers Developers Reveal More Details About the Impending Release
Passing the torch to the younger generation
Remember when Namco Bandai announced that free to play game, then called "Project Treasure"? It seems like not much information has been surrounding the release since, yet it's supposedly due out in winter. While there's still lots we don't know about the game (now called Lost Reavers), Famitsu recently...
News Nintendo of Europe's eShop Cyber Deals End With a Bang on Wii U and 3DS
Xenoblade! Kid Icarus! Bayonetta 2!
Nintendo of Europe has been running discounts on the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores over the weekend in its Cyber Deals promotion, throwing in retail releases with discounts of 40-50%. There have been some decent deals but, in our opinion, the final batch is the best yet. Xenoblade Chronicles is the cross-platform...
Review The Adventures of Bayou Billy (Wii U eShop / NES)
Billy's swampland slog
In 2014 Nintendo suddenly realised that it could recreate the experience of a light gun game by using the pointer controls of the Wii Remote. Duck Hunt arrived on the Wii U eShop that Christmas and a few other NES Zapper games have followed since. Now we have Konami's The Adventures of Bayou Billy, although it should be noted...
News Kirby Stars Alongside Wario and Steamy Strategy in Nintendo of Europe Cyber Deals
Day three brings more different franchises
Nintendo of Europe is now into the third day of deals in its four day discount event across the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores. The first two batches have featured Mario and Donkey Kong franchise releases alongside thoroughly decent alternatives, and on the third day it's the turn of Kirby. As before there are...
News Nintendo of Europe Confirms Its Second Batch of eShop Cyber Deals
DK x2! Pikmin 3! Ultimate NES Remix!
While Nintendo of America went for a varied batch of Black Friday to Cyber Monday offers for its eShop cyber deals, Nintendo of Europe is opting for a smaller number of options spread across 24 hour windows. The first batch featured key Mario titles and The Wonderful 101, and the latest offerings blend some DK...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part Two
Bernhard Wodok on its technology and a surprise DS cameo
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre that's been long-neglected on Nintendo...
News Nintendo of Europe Launches Its Cyber Deals Weekend With Four Major eShop Discounts
Today only
While Nintendo of America has opted to put a whole range of titles on discount across an extended weekend, Nintendo of Europe is going for a different approach. It looks set to highlight a series of daily deals across four days, and has announced four retail games that are reduced today (27th November), on the eShop. Each system gets two...
Nintendo Download 26th November (North America)
Cyber Deals! A jumping Platypus! Konami Racing! More!
It's Nintendo Download Update time in North America, which also doubles as a Thanksgiving update in the US. This week's big draw is the glut of discount prices from the eShop Cyber Deals; these are below if you missed our original article. Beyond that we have a quirky Wii U eShop release...
News Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures Looks Set for Europe on 10th December
Festive fury
There can certainly be some frustrating eShop release gaps between Europe and North America, with the former coming off worse on most occasions. An example of this has been Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures, which came out in North America in Spring / Summer on Wii U and 3DS and has taken a little while to make the move to Europe. On a...
Review Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (Wii U eShop / SNES)
Waka-waka, or just plain wak?
If you were to download recent Virtual Console release Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures to your Wii U with no prior knowledge of what to expect, you'd be forgiven for anticipating a spot of maze-based pill-munching entertainment. In reality, this 'sequel' to arcade classic Pac-Man is a bizarre take on the point-and-click...
News The eShop is Opening Up in More European Countries Soon
Beginning on 10th December
Update: We've been able to verify this as accurate with other Europe-based eShop publishers. Original Article: It can be easy to take the eShop and various services for granted, but in various countries providers such as Nintendo can be rather slow in making everything available. This has been the case in a number of...
News Nintendo of America Confirms Its Black Friday eShop Cyber Deals
Retail, download-only and Virtual Console games all included
With Black Friday about to descend on the world with more deals than you can shake a stick at, Nintendo of America has now confirmed its eShop promotions that'll be part of the shopping madness - Nintendo of Europe is planning a similar swath of discounts to be announced later in the week...
News Tiny Galaxy is Due to Receive an Update in the Near Future
Also, a price drop and a EU release
Tiny Galaxy is a rather fascinating 2D platformer that appears to draw some inspiration from Super Mario Galaxy. Unfortunately, we weren't overly fond of it, describing it as dizzying and difficult to control. Nonetheless, it likely appeals to certain gamers that appreciate playing games that are absolutely...
News Chasing Dead Developers Claim it's Awaiting the Approval Process
Shambling to completion
There aren't many survival horror games on the Wii U at the moment, with Fatal Frame V, ZombiU, and Resident Evil Revelations being the most notable in the genre. It may be a bit sparse in this regard, but that's all the more reason why 2020 Venture's upcoming game – Chasing Dead – will be welcome. The premise of the...
News Wii U eShop Exclusive Temple of Yog Will Begin Its Quest on 16th December in North America
7th January in Europe
There aren't many Wii U eShop exclusives, so when they come around they always grab attention. Temple of Yog will be the next to do just that, with the intriguing roguelike from CHUDCHUD Industries now confirmed for a debut in North America on 16th December, though it'll fall into early 2016 in Europe with a 7th January...
Feature Assessing Affordable Space Adventures and Its Ongoing Journey
KnapNok's Anchel Labena talks it over
The Wii U eShop has an expansive and - we'd suggest - fantastic range of download titles, covering a significant number of genres and styles. Many are cross-platform titles, naturally, as Indie developers seek to make a living and grab as wide an audience as possible, though plenty go to the effort to utilise...
Review Totem Topple (Wii U eShop)
No strategy, depth or appeal
In Totem Topple you have to drop heads down on top of a totem pole while weird spiny things idly float into it as they try to knock it down. It's hard to know what these spiny things' problems are, but they will never give up, only giving way to more persistent, different coloured spiny things until they eventually take...
Nintendo Download 26th November (Europe)
Double Dragon III! Two Ninja Gaidens! HOME Themes Galore! A bit more!
Another week begins with the European Nintendo Download Update, and this time around there's a bonanza of Virtual Console games and 3DS HOME Themes to consider along with some discounts; we're lacking new downloads beyond smaller retail games, though. Without further pre-amble...
Feature Our Top Wii U Games - Third Anniversary Edition
Retail and eShop go head-to-head
The Wii U is now over three years old having arrived in North America on 18th November 2012. In recent times we've celebrated some of the best games the system has to offer, with our staff voting (and readers through embedded polls) on their favourite Wii U retail and top eShop games. Now, as a little bonus, are the...
News 13AM Games Announces Upcoming Update for Runbow
Adds 2 player matchmaking and bug fixes
Runbow has been out for a few months now and by all accounts, it stands as an excellent couch multiplayer party game. We awarded it a 9/10, praising the distinct art direction and frantic gaming, and it's no doubt been a source of much entertainment to many fans over the last few months. 13AM Games is...
Review Lucentek - Activate (Wii U eShop)
Time to Deactivate
There are games that need some work, and then there are games that need a complete overhaul. Then, there are games that feel so unfinished that they never should have been released in their current state. Lucentek - Activate falls in the last category. You can tell this is a budget game as soon as you see the first title screen...
Video New Hollow Knight Trailer Shows Off Some Ferocious Foes
Looks to be anything but hollow
The Wii U eShop is really a great place for Indie games to thrive. Affordable Space Adventures, Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails, and Runbow are just a few examples of the kind of creative endeavors that the storefront plays host to and - to put things in a more positive light – the lack of heavy hitting AAA third...
That'll rule New 3DS out too, then
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth ended an intriguing saga for Nintendo download gaming when it came to the Wii U and New 3DS eShop stores. Having previously been rejected by Nintendo based on its content, a gradual change in the company's approach eventually opened the door for Edmund McMillen's critically acclaimed...
News Cube Life Update to Version 1.1 is Still Due This Year
Will include custom maps for Deathmatch mode
Earlier this month it looked like Minecraft was finally coming to Wii U courtesy of a PEGI rating listing, yet that's now disappeared. Quite why the listing has done its vanishing act - or indeed why it appeared in the first place - is a mystery to all but Microsoft and PEGI, we suspect. While we wait to...
Feature A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of FAST Racing NEO - Part One
Manfred Linzner talks us through an early car and track
FAST Racing NEO is certainly set to be one of the year's biggest Wii U eShop releases. Shin'en Multimedia has established itself as a leading 'Nindie' developer capable of producing wonderful visuals and strong gameplay, while sci-fi racing is a genre that's been long-neglected on Nintendo...
Feature Our Top 10 Wii U eShop Games - Third Anniversary Edition
A Nindie bonanza
The Wii U is now three years old, having arrived in North America on 18th November 2012. Though it's struggled commercially we think history will be kind to the system in years to come courtesy of the strength to be found in its game library. Whether titles catered to dedicated fans, less experienced gamers or a mix of both, the Wii...
Nintendo Download 19th November (North America)
Mario Tennis! Pokémon! Typoman! GBA Street Fighter 2! More!
With another week comes another batch of Nintendo Download goodies in North America, and 'tis the season for major retail releases on both Wii U and 3DS. The Wii U eShop also gets an exclusive while a range of options are available across both stores - let's get to the details. Missed the...
Man of letters
Many writers daydream of their words having a powerful impact on the world; effecting change against evil and oppression. Developer Brainseed Factory has sought to adopt this concept quite literally in the form of Typoman. The bleak yet somehow achingly beautiful world of Typoman is one where letters take form and serve functions...
News RCMADIAX Announces Skeasy, Expected to Release in Q1 2016
Yet another score chaser
Only yesterday, it was revealed that RCMADIAX – the infamous Wii U eShop developer – would be bringing a new game called Avoider to the eShop in early 2016. Evidently, RCMADIAX has multiple games being worked on simultaneously, as the developer recently lifted the lid on another game that is also expected to release some...
News RCMADIAX Announces Avoider, Due Out on the Wii U eShop in 2016
Hopefully won't be one to avoid
If nothing else, RCAMDIAX has certainly been faithful to the Wii U eShop, with about a dozen titles released on the storefront in a relatively short period of time. While it may be that none of these have been rated particularly highly here on Nintendo Life, the games nonetheless offer some cheap entertainment for...
News Mutant Mudds Super Challenge Has Been Delayed Until Early Next Year
It'll be worth the wait
Mutant Mudds Super Challenge is something of an interesting entry in the Mutant Mudds series; it's not a sequel, but it's standalone and supposedly will have more content than DLC ordinarily would. It's something of a "pseudo-sequel" then, the New Super Luigi U to Mutant Mudds' New Super Mario Bros. U
Review Test Your Mind (Wii U eShop)
Better stick to Brain Age
Brain teasers and Nintendo consoles have long enjoyed a fruitful partnership; the Brain Age series proved that games could give a great mental workout while still being fun. Unfortunately, Test Your Mind doesn't fare as well. Test Your Mind is a simple title with three single-player modes and one multiplayer mode. The...
News Hover: Revolt of Gamers Will Be "Properly" Recreated For Wii U
A fusion of Jet Set Radio and Mirror's Edge
After a successful Kickstarter campaign and an Early Access release on Steam earlier this year, Hover: Revolt of Gamers is now looking towards a release on consoles – including Nintendo's system, the Wii U. Drawing inspiration from the likes of SEGA's Jet Set Radio series and EA DICE game Mirror's Edge,...
Review Girls Like Robots (Wii U eShop)
Happy happy, joy joy!
Girls Like Robots. They also like pie. They don't like nerds, but nerds like girls. And nerds also like corners. They don't like other nerds. But cows like being near people who are beside things they don't like. And sometimes, everyone is just being attacked by the bug king and no one really likes it. Girls Like Robots'...
Review Bike Rider UltraDX - WORLD TOUR (Wii U eShop)
Not so ultra
Part racing game, part platform game: Bike Rider UltraDX - WORLD TOUR is the latest title to enter the eShop, this time moving from 3DS to Wii U. At first glance it's easy to mistake Bike Rider as a side-scrolling racing game, but take a further look and it becomes apparent that it has more in common with a traditional 2D platformer...
Nintendo Download 19th November (Europe)
Mario Tennis! New Style Boutique 2! Typoman! DS Animal Crossing! More!
Another week begins, and therefore we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to consider. This week brings notable retail releases on both Wii U and 3DS, along with a surprising DS Virtual Console arrive and a particularly promising Nindie release. There are some...
News Typoman For Wii U eShop Will Be Released In North America And Europe On 19th November
The power of letters
Headup Games has announced Brainseed Factory's elegantly crafted platform game, Typoman, will be released on the Wii U eShop in both Europe and North America on 19th November. The Wii U exclusive will be priced at € 13.99 (USD 13.99, GBP 9.99), with individuals who participated in the E3 Nindies@Home program in June eligible...
News Mother 3 Heading to the Wii U eShop in Japan on 17th December
Will it ever be officially localised for the West?
Though we've been following the Nintendo Direct festivities in North America and Europe, the equivalent broadcast in Japan has thrown up its own unique surprise; unfortunately it's an announcement that can perhaps be considered a bit of a long shot for the West. It's been confirmed that Mother 3 is...
They just appear, as if an apparition...
The Nintendo Direct broadcasts had a few surprises included, and in a segment dedicated to The Legend of Zelda Nintendo of Europe had an extra treat in store; this is in the form of a couple of DS releases for the Wii U Virtual Console. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit...
News FAST Racing Neo Given a Release Window of December
Hopefully, racing to Wii U consoles before Christmas
Today's Nintendo Direct was a pleasing return to form, with a plethora of new games, updates, and announcements to get gamers excited for Nintendo's lineup for the near future. One of the games briefly covered in the presentation was FAST Racing Neo, the exciting futuristic racer that aims to...
News The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Is Receiving A High-Definition Face Lift
Wolf Link amiibo also confirmed
Earlier in October we reported a rumour about a popular data miner in the Nintendo scene who uncovered listings on the Wii U eShop for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. At the time the evidence available was not entirely concrete in regards to what exactly this release would be, but now we have an official...
Nintendo Download 12th November (North America)
Stella Glow! Nintendo Badge Arcade! Contra! Girls Like Robots?! More!
It may be 'Nintendo Direct Day', but we still have a Nintendo Download Update to look forward to, even if there are rumours of blocky surprises still to come. This week's line-up in North America has some varied and quirky offerings across both Wii U and 3DS, including a...
News USK Lists "Replay: VHS Is Not Dead" For Wii U
Disc-based media killed the VHS star
The German Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) has listed Replay: VHS Is Not Dead for the Wii U. The title was released by publisher Neko Entertainment in July on Steam and received a positive reception for being a challenging, satisfying and convincing puzzle-platformer. Taking place in a...
News A New Yooka-Laylee Support Character Has Been Revealed
Remember the good old days with Rextro Sixtyfourus
When you get right down to it, there's still not a whole lot known about Yooka-Laylee, an upcoming 3D platformer made from ex-Rare staff that worked on games such as Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. After the initial buzz around the game from its successful Kickstarter debut died down, new...
Parent Trap Oft-Forgotten Wii U Features That Matter To Families
Family Gamer TV looks at the eShop, backward compatibility and more
Weighing up which console to invest in for a family is a matter of identifying which features are most important to you. I've had a repeated conversation over the last few months where I introduce friends and parents to some of the lesser known features of the Wii U. Some of these...
News Keiji Inafune is Interested in Implementing amiibo in His Games
Just don't delay Mighty No. 9 again, Inafune
Up until recently, amiibo had been exclusively first party affairs. There are already dozens of the evasive figures available for a wide array of Nintendo franchises, but the question always remained: will amiibo ever be utilized by third parties? This was answered by a rather surprising reveal by Yacht...
Video Take a Look at the New Cat Costumes Now Available In Super Mario Maker
Play custom courses as a feisty feline
If Super Mario Maker on the Wii U wasn’t already addictive enough with its extensive list of course-making tools and user-made levels, the costume collection aspect of the game is yet another reason to hang around. With the number of costumes in the game steadily on the rise, Nintendo has just added two more...
Review Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Farm Fatale
If you're familiar with the original Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, released on the Wii U Virtual console earlier in 2015, then you know just about all there is to expect out of its follow-up, Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town. In fact, you should probably skim the review of the first title if you want a rundown of the...
News Get Ready To Blast Off With Space Dave!
Dave in space
We really liked Choice Provisions recent frantic arcade-inspired platformer Woah Dave!, next up from developer MiniVisions is Space Dave! which is described as a spiritual successor to this readily-avaible eShop entry; you can think of this new title as a modern take on the fixed shooters of yesteryear. Taking a page from classic...
News Bigley's Revenge Arrives on the Wii U eShop Just in Time for Christmas
From the talented studio that brought you Meme Run
There are some developers on the eShop that - in a rather bizarre inversion – seem to be famous not because of how good their games are, but how bad. It becomes something of a guessing game as followers theorize over what the studio will do next and if this one will be even worse than the studio's...
Review Stinger (Wii U eShop / NES)
Cute, creative and cruel
Most shmups ask you to shoot your way through hordes of enemy ships while dodging gunfire. Stinger asks you to do this while juggling. The cute, goofy exterior of the game hides just how challenging it can be, as while it may be hard to take smiling shoes, flying phones and whirling donuts seriously, they're all highly...
News Free Origin Story and 'Remaster' Update Coming to Affordable Space Adventures
Origin Story to include five all-new levels
Update: This update is also live in North America on 12th November. Original Article: We're big fans of Affordable Space Adventures here at Nintendo Life - the Wii U exclusive is a collaboration between KnapNok Games and Nifflas, providing one of the best examples of innovative GamePad usage we've seen...
Nintendo Download 12th November (Europe)
Rodea the Sky Soldier! SEGA 3DS HOME Themes! Discounts! More!
With the start of a fresh week comes the European Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a relatively rare case of cross platform retail release action, with two versions of a Yuji Naka title that some have been rather looking forward to. Beyond that we have some light-hearted...
Review Wild Gunman (Wii U eShop / NES)
You mean you have to use your hands?
Just like Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley, Wild Gunman was one of the first games released to take full advantage of the NES Zapper, and can now be played on the Wii U by using the Wii Remote's pointer instead. Based on Nintendo's light gun arcade machine, you might even remember seeing it in the Cafe 80's in Back to...
Review Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II (Wii U eShop / NES)
Time for Mike to make his return
For banana fans and island hoppers alike, the original StarTropics stands to this day as an under-appreciated classic of the NES library. It's the kind of imperfect gem that sadly went a little under the radar at the time of its release, but has endured as a cult favourite thanks in large part to its distinctive...
Nintendo Download 5th November (North America)
Yo-Kai Watch! Rodea! Stinger! Electronic Super Joy! More!
It's time for more Nintendo Download Update goodness, and this week gamers in North America have a high-profile retail arrival on 3DS to consider alongside a long-awaited dual release on the portable and Wii U. There are some promising download-only games on offer too, so let's get to the...
Review Octodad: Dadliest Catch (Wii U eShop)
Octo-Sad
Back in 2010 a little known freeware title by the name of Octodad was developed by a group of students. Built using the ever-evolving game development software Unity, Octodad was a fine example of what small development teams could conjure up just by using their home computers. Since then a sequel was born, with its appearance on the...
Review Electronic Super Joy (Wii U eShop)
Get out the glow sticks
A key question often lobbed at reviewers is "did you completely finish the game?" We'll answer that one straight away here - no. The reason? Because we can't, but the fact we'll keep trying says much about why we're happy to recommend Electronic Super Joy to Wii U owners. Originally developed by Michael Todd Games and ported...
News Fatal Frame Developers on Why Water was a Central Theme and How Ayane Came to be Included
Evidently, ghosts are less likely to appear in dry climates
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water released only a couple weeks ago to generally positive acclaim. While the game may be a bit repetitive in some places, its integration of the GamePad as the Camera Obscura was a clever move that really added a whole new layer of immersion to the...
News Swapnote's Nikki is Revived as a Fan-Created Character in Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Now known as 'Ikki' for copyright reasons, we suspect
We're still awaiting a release date for Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, the crowdfunded HD entry in the series that'll arrive either late this year or early in 2016, though WayForward is still ticking along and maintaining interest in the release. While doing so it's also fulfilling its duties to...
Review Wicked Monsters Blast! HD PLUS (Wii U eShop)
MASH, MASH, MASH, MASH, MASH…
Party-style mini-game compilations can sometimes be a treat. Many of us will have spent countless hours on games such as Nintendo Land and Mario Party, laughing uncontrollably as the same person fails over and over, or screaming hateful abuse towards those we held closest to our hearts only seconds before. These games...
Review Konami Krazy Racers (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Super Konami Kart
Konami Krazy Racers (AKA Konami Wai Wai Racing Advance in Japan) is a largely forgotten Mario Kart clone that was also one of the original launch games for GBA. If you can imagine Mario Kart Super Circuit with Konami-themed characters and courses, you'll be on the right track with what to expect from this decent little kart racer...
Feature Finding Top Speed in FAST Racing NEO
"It's been the biggest production for us. We're sure it'll pay off"
FAST Racing NEO, still due this year, is almost certainly among the most highly anticipated Wii U eShop releases of the next two months. In fact, among the hardier and most dedicated band of Wii U devotees it may be one of the most exciting upcoming releases on the system full stop,...
Review PictoParty (Wii U eShop)
Bad drawings are funny
Drawing with a time limit is a great recipe for laughter, especially among friends. PictoParty channels your inner terrible artist, letting you poorly draw cupcakes, skyscrapers and lamps as your friends desperately try to guess what it is you're trying to create. It's a simple party game that you may have seen before and is...
Review Hogan's Alley (Wii U eShop / NES)
Not exactly a bullseye
One of the earliest NES games released, Hogan's Alley is also possibly the most well-known Zapper game after the classic Duck Hunt. But does it hold up as well as its lightgun game partner? The premise of Hogan's Alley is fairly simple. You are (seemingly) some sort of police officer or soldier doing shooting practice, with...
News Monster eShop Maintenance to Run Through Most of 2nd November
It's for a major server revamp, so don't get too excited
Some of you may have had some trouble accessing the eShop today, and having assumed it was the usual short weekly session we decided to wait a short while. Then we waited a little longer. In actual fact, the eShop will likely be down for most of 2nd November due to a potential 24-hour...
Nintendo Download 5th November (Europe)
Chibi-Robo! Electronic Super Joy! Contra! Toki Tori 3D! More!
Another week begins, and Nintendo of Europe has the task of setting off some virtual fireworks in its Download Update. It does succeed in terms of delivering a first-party retail title on 3DS, while we think the download-only scene on Wii U is looking pretty encouraging this week. Throw...
October2015
Review Human Resource Machine (Wii U eShop)
Conundrums for coders
If you thought Human Resource Machine would be about a robot who hires and fires people, nobody would blame you, but you'd be wrong. Instead, you're put in the shoes of a drone at a mega corporation, helping to sort their mail using the unlikeliest of methods: computer programming. Human Resource Machine features a single...
Review Ascent of Kings (Wii U eShop)
A quick burst of old-school adventure platforming
Although Ascent of Kings, developed by Nostatic Software, has been available for a few years on other platforms (Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Xbox Live), it has only recently graced the Nintendo Wii U. It's built as a side-scrolling adventure-platformer (in the vein of Metroid or Castlevania) and...
News RCMADIAX Is Bringing Its Entire eShop Back Catalogue To Europe And Australia
New IARC rating system to thank
Indie studio RCMADIAX has revealed that it is bringing its entire back catalogue of titles to Europe and Australia. It would appear that the mooted adoption of the IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) system is to thank for this news, as RCMADIAX Michael Aschenbrenner boss hints in the official PR: Thanks to...
Review COLOR BOMBS (Wii U eShop)
Bombs away
It can be disappointing to realize that you've just lost precious time that could've been spent in a better way. If you would like to avoid experiencing this feeling, we would recommend that you stay well away from COLOR BOMBS. This title is excessively simplistic in all ways, and while it may be available for dirt cheap you're getting...
Nintendo Download 29th October (North America)
Human Resource Machine! Octodad! Harvest Moon! Spooky discounts! More!
It's that time once again, North American gamers, to look at the download goodies on the way this week. There are a few tempting options on Wii U, a whole load of discounts and a high profile retail demo among other offerings. Let's get to it. Missed the European Download Update...
Review Slender: The Arrival (Wii U eShop)
Scared, lost, alone (and maybe annoyed)
Slender: The Arrival is either going to wind you up so tight with tension that you'll feel like you'll implode from fear, or make you so angry that you split your entire game room in two. There's really little middle ground between the two. Why? Because a teleporting monster that can appear anywhere around you...
News Word Party Will Scramble Some Letters on Wii U Soon
Word up, this could be fun
Though Word Party isn't a title that'll necessarily spark huge excitement among all Wii U gamers, it certainly has an audience. After all, Lightwood Games has been releasing a range of word games on mobile and 3DS, no doubt pleasing some with each. This Wii U title is a little different in that it accommodates up to five...
Nintendo Download 29th October (Europe)
Project Zero! Resi 4! Binding of Isaac! Freedom Planet! Much, much more!
It's the start of another week, but Nintendo fans in Europe at least have the download update to cheer their spirits. This week's edition seems to be a bit of a doozy, in fairness, with a mix of in-demand titles across both Wii U and - notably - the New Nintendo 3DS / 3DS; on...
News Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is Creeping Up On the European eShop for Halloween
Got somethin' that might interest ya'
With Halloween creeping closer Nintendo is doing its bit, particularly through the eShop, to get us in the mood. It now turns out that 29th October will have a double whammy for Wii U owners in Europe - not only will Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water finally arrive, but Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition will also...
Video New Aperion Cyberstorm Trailer Shows Off Multiplayer 'Onslaught' Play
Shoot all of the things
Aperion Cyberstorm for the Wii U eShop now has a 2016 release, but it's certainly one to watch for fans of twin-stick shoot 'em up action. We recently went hands on in a survival mode and came away rather impressed, and it could certainly fill a gap in the Wii U library. Developer aPriori Digital has now released some fresh...
Nintendo Download 22nd October (North America)
Legend of Zelda! Fatal Frame! Gunslugs 2! Slender! More!
It's time for Nintendo Download Update goodness, North American gamers, and this week actually has quite a lot to offer. There are major 3DS retail games, a much anticipated Wii U title and an interesting range of download-only games on both systems. All told it could be - whisper it - a good...
Review Cutie Pets Pick Berries (Wii U eShop)
Mandeer is Indifferent
Cutie Pets Pick Berries is a far more innocent game than its smouldering mandeer hunks might have you believe. Sure, they'll be up there posing on your tv screen the entire time you play the game, but this isn't anything like Bubble Bath Babes or Peek a Boo Poker - don't expect some sort of saucy, torrid forest affair. Just...
Video Wii U Version Of Slender: The Arrival Gets Its Own Terrifying Trailer
Out this week in North America
Cult indie horror release Slender: The Arrival creeps onto the Wii U eShop in North America this week, and to mark the occasion the Nintendo edition is getting its very own trailer, packed with jump-scares and spooky scenes. The sequel to Slender: The Eight Pages, The Arrival originally launched on PC in 2013 and...
Review VoxelMaker (Wii U eShop)
For display purposes only
It's rather difficult to judge a game / app such as VoxelMaker. On one hand it features an extremely in-depth and detailed suite for making 3D models out of a large collection of blocks. On the other hand the overall experience feels limited due to its omissions of any sort of interactivity with the models that are created...
News Electronic Super Joy Will Aim to Make Wii U Owners Happy on 5th November
Drop the beat
Update: The developer has confirmed to us that this release date is for both North America and Europe, with pricing of $7.99 / €7.99 / £6.99. Original Article: Earlier this year Wii U owners in North America got to take on Electronic Super Joy: Groove City, which we quite liked in our review. Tight platforming and a tough...
News Nintendo Outlines Its 'Nindie' Plans for Indiecade
Time to book into Hotel California
This week Culver City, California will host Indiecade - the event's running from 23rd to 25th October and will be a celebration of download gaming in addition to giving small studios a chance to show off their work. With its 'Nindie' approach at the forefront Nintendo has confirmed the games for its own booth at...
News Cutie Pets Pick Berries Brings Provocative Mandeer Action to the Wii U eShop on 22nd October
God help this game's Miiverse page
Every once in a while, you come across something that's so utterly baffling that it becomes strangely enrapturing. Nowhere is this more evident than in Yazar Media Group's upcoming eShop release, Cutie Pets Pick Berries. What initially appears to be an innocent and fairly unexceptional puzzle game quickly takes a...
News Runbow Arrives In Australia & New Zealand This Week
Finally!
After quite a long delay linked to local classification troubles, Runbow is expected to arrive in both Australia and New Zealand later this week. The title is listed for release on the local Wii U eShop on 23rd October. The Toronto-based studio behind Runbow have also confirmed the date via Twitter: [tweet Users who participated in the...
News The Latest Patch For Splatoon Is Now Available To Download
Plenty of improvements
Nintendo's squid-shooter, Splatoon, is the Wii U game that just keeps on giving. As previously reported, a massive patch was expected to drop this week, adjusting many of the finer competitive aspects of the title. The good news is, Version 2.2.0 is now available to download. Expect a number of changes to game modes, stages...
News Nostatic Software's Ascent of Kings Makes Its Regal Wii U Entrance on 22nd October
NA release, EU still TBD
Nostatic Software has been rapidly making its mark on the Wii U, making the transition to the eShop with three quickfire releases from its catalogue of games. Both The Quiet Collection and Kung Fu FIGHT! earned recommendations from our reviewers, and we're still making our way through the pixel-based creation tool...
News International Age Rating Coalition System, IARC, Set to Come to the eShop "Very Soon"
Could be a big deal in the Nindie scene
It's common for eShop gamers in different territories to have differing game line-ups to choose from, with some titles taking a while to make their way around different regions. There are multiple factors such as localisation with languages, and the fact that Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America operate...
Review Ninja Strike: Dangerous Dash (Wii U eShop)
These ninjas should stay hidden
Ninja Strike: Dangerous Dash is a perfect example of what sounds like a great idea being held back by poor execution. Published by Natsume, Ninja Strike: Dangerous Dash is a formulaic endless runner; in it you initially take control of Blue Shadow, a blue-clad Ninja with a red scarf. The art style is simple but...
News Octodad: Dadliest Catch Gets A Revised Release Date
You've got to be squidding me
As you'll know if you're a keen follower of this site, indie title Octodad: Dadliest Catch recently got delayed on the Wii U, with technical issues being to blame. However, if the game's Wii U eShop page is to be believed, such problems have swiftly been overcome and the title is headed to the console on October 29th...
Review The Ignition Factor (Wii U eShop / SNES)
A reality show about the lives of hot and steamy firefighters
This is the scripted story of six strangers that are picked to become firefighters, work together and have their lives played by a total stranger with a controller. Find out what happens when they stop being polite... and realize their lives aren't real. There was a time in gaming...
Review Dig Dug II (Wii U eShop / NES)
Dig in
The original Dig Dug was fairly popular, so naturally a sequel had to follow eventually. Dig Dug II ended up being not nearly as widespread as its predecessor, only seeing release in arcades and on the NES, so you'd be forgiven for not even knowing it existed! Dig Dug II takes a massive departure from the first game. True to its title that...
Nintendo Download 22nd October (Europe)
Legend of Zelda! NES light gun games! Gunslugs! Discounts! More!
It's the start of another week, and as normal we have the European Nintendo Download Update releases to consider. It's a relatively busy week ahead with a couple of retail titles and some varied downloads across both eShop stores, so let's jump straight into the details. Wii U Virtual...
News ZaciSa's Last Stand is Getting a New Update That Adds in Loads of New Features
Taking a stand
ZaciSa's Last Stand was a product of the Nintendo Web Framework, an initiative that aimed to assist in the porting of flash games to the Wii U. The Nintendo Web Framework has divided opinion because while it does mean that virtually anybody can develop games for Nintendo's console, this also leads to many low quality games appearing...
News SmileBASIC is Heading to Wii U, With Cross-Platform Support and DLC Also Confirmed
Time for advanced BASIC
SmileBoom, developer of the excellent Petit Computer on DSi and most recently SmileBASIC, has confirmed DLC and update information for the 3DS entry, and a hugely exciting Wii U version. SmileBASIC for Wii U - or PetitCom BIG - will be fully compatible with all creations from the 3DS version, with cloud-based saving allowing...
