3DS eShop - News
May2015
News Nintendo Wanted To Make Its Humble Bundle A Global Offer, Expects To Do So "Eventually"
"Tried for months to make it global"
Nintendo surprised pretty much everyone by announcing its own Humble Bundle yesterday, albeit one which is sadly limited to North America. Non-American players are already making their displeasure felt on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, and while the disappointment of missing out on this amazing...
News Developer Pleased with Sales of Retro City Rampage: DX on 3DS
The "best-selling-at-full-price port"
With Nintendo platform indie games taking an unprecedented place on the Humble Bundle in North America, attention has focused on deals. Developer Vblank Entertainment, however, is expressing happiness with how their game sells at full price. The Twitter account for Retro City Rampage states that, even though...
News Humble Nindie Bundle Allows Wii U and 3DS eShop Gamers in North America to Pay What They Want
It's happened
Well, it's happened, and it's quite a landmark for the Wii U and 3DS eShop and a few key developers. The latest Humble Bundle - which groups games together and allows you to pay what you want to unlock some or all of what's on offer - is currently offering up the Humble Nindie Bundle in the Americas; unfortunately gamers in other...
Gallery Check Out Another Three Exclusive 3DS Screens for SteamWorld Heist
Including a Swab Hat, which is swell
Earlier today Image & Form unveiled the first 3DS screenshots for SteamWorld Heist, showing how the 2D strategy title will shrink down onto the portable. First impressions are pretty positive - we think, anyway - and we can see how the bottom screen will be utilised for control tips, swapping between team...
News Image & Form Unveils the First Screenshots of SteamWorld Heist on 3DS
Steamy
SteamWorld Heist is the eagerly anticipated next release from Image & Form, which is heading to Wii U, 3DS and practically every format available. All of the screens and footage shown to date have been for the HD version, yet now the studio's unveiled the first screens for the portable iteration on 3DS. The big positive is that, just...
Nintendo Download 28th May (Europe)
Splatoon, Fossil Fighters, Strangeness, an imported retro treat and more
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...
News Pokémon Shuffle Hits Four Million Downloads and Launches Shaymin Event
Keep on shuffling
We don't know how much money Pokémon Shuffle is earning for Nintendo, but it's certainly tempting a decent number of 3DS owners to try it out for free. The tile-matching game has now reached 4 million downloads, which certainly isn't a number to be sniffed at. The game is celebrating through new events - on the one hand it's...
Talking Point The Fragility of Buying Download Games
Download stores have changed what it means to own a game
During the last console generation we saw a leap in the prominence of online connectivity in games; one of the major things to emerge from this shift was the rise of digital games and storefronts. It became easier than ever for Indies to reach larger audiences as the barriers to console...
News Pokémon Rumble World is One of the Top 10 'Trending' Games on YouTube
Free-to-view
We've written in the past that Nintendo's successes on YouTube are only sporadic, perhaps as a result of the company's arguably old-fashioned approach to allowing coverage of its games. Nevertheless, there's a surprise entry in a list of 'trending' games on the video service for April. The definition of 'trending' is games "that saw...
News Tappingo 2 Close to European Release
Aiming for June
Puzzle games and the 3DS eShop are old, familiar allies - small screens suit leisurely puzzling, and there are some clever titles that scratch that itch on the system. Tappingo is one, which provides its own twist on a Picross-esque formula. Of course Tappingo 2 has been out in North America for a while, and we rather liked it in...
News Natsume Is Bringing Two Arc System Works Titles To North America In July & August
More love for the eShop
Publisher of the Harvest Moon series, Natsume, has announced it has partnered with Arc System Works to release two titles for Nintendo's eShop platform in North America over the coming months. Gotcha Racing, coming to the 3DS this July, is a top-down racing game where players gather parts from capsule machines to build a...
Nintendo Download 21st May (North America)
Swords & Soldiers II, classic Mega Man, Puzzle & Dragons and much more
It's that time again, slightly later than normal, for the North American Download Update details. This week brings a range of new options on Wii U, a number of which are exclusives, along with a 3DS retail release, the latest from CIRCLE Entertainment and a whole load of...
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
There's a worrying trend at present, in which ambitious and creative independent developers announce a sizeable Wii U exclusive, and then have to defend their pricing. That's happened twice in recent times with Affordable Space Adventures and - this week - Swords & Soldiers II. We've also had a reliable...
Exclusive eShop Publishers Are Dropping Releases In Germany Due To Low Sales And Cost Of USK Rating
Smaller indies also struggling to make a living on Nintendo systems
We've reported on the less-than-ideal nature of global age ratings in the past, and what they mean for indie developers attempting to make a living on Nintendo's systems. Releasing a game internationally isn't a simple matter of pushing a button; age ratings must be granted in every...
News Come Up With Witty One-Liners to Become a SteamWorld Heist Ambassador
Plagiarising Bender isn't an option
In recent weeks Image & Form has been keeping the fires burning for the planned Fall release of SteamWorld Heist, which is coming to various platforms including Wii U and 3DS. Its mix of 2D strategy, procedurally generated levels and a quirky premise have made it one of our most eagerly watching download...
News Samurai Defender Aims to Defend the Castle This Week, in North America, on the 3DS eShop
Tap and destroy
CIRCLE Entertainment certainly stays busy on the 3DS eShop, producing a whole range of releases both developed in-house and publishing the work of others, particularly studios based in Japan and the Far East. Some prove to be gems, certainly, while others are a little more modest in what they offer; nevertheless, the portable's eShop...
News NES Sports Title Tecmo Bowl Rated By The Australian Classification Board
Marks the title's Virtual Console debut in PAL regions
The NFL arcade game originally developed by Tecmo in 1987 and ported to the NES in 1989 is expected to arrive soon on the Virtual Console in PAL regions after it was recently rated by the Australian Classification Board. This will be the first time Tecmo Bowl has been released in this region as...
Pulling the blocks into place
It's arguably one of the key gaming experiences to indulge in some light puzzling on a handheld system. Whether it's Tetris or Picross, nothing makes a morning commute or quiet evening more relaxing than letting grey matter and opposable thumbs work together to solve a problem. Pullblox / Pushmo is one Nintendo 3DS...
Review 3D Thunder Blade (3DS eShop)
Get to the chopper!
There was a time in the late '80s when Thunder Blade machines were a fairly common sight in amusement arcades. Yet even with a decent amount of distribution it was never in the same league as its close cousins; the instant visual assault from Sega's flashier and more exciting looking games such as Out Run, After Burner and Space...
Nintendo Download 21st May (Europe)
Swords & Soldiers II, yarn Kirby, Paper Mario, Curve Digital sale and more
It's time for another Monday morning to be brightened up by upcoming download delights, and this week's European Nintendo Download Update has some promising choices. On the Wii U we have an exclusive from Ronimo Games, a soft and cuddly Good-Feel game and a classic N64 title,...
News You Can Design a New Level for Pazuru and Win a Neat Figurine
Update will add three user-generated stages to full game
The 3DS eShop has a number of high quality and clever puzzle games, and Pazuru is a solid recent addition. It has a neat approach, but also adds to the core content with a level creation tool. Developer Moragami is now aiming to put that lever creator to good use, and is offering up a fairly...
News Capcom's Spring Sale Offers Up Six eShop Discounts in North America
Street Fighter! Resident Evil! DuckTales!
The eShop stores on Wii U and 3DS often have a range of discounts, and Capcom is the latest to cut prices on some of its biggest releases. Details of the current discounts in North America are now available, and match up with equivalent deals that have also arrived in Europe this week. Six games have been...
News Stretchmo, Known as Fullblox in Europe, is Available Now in North America
NoA sure stretched out that announcement
The Nintendo Download update isn't always gospel - today's North American update didn't mention Stretchmo, but it's now available to download for free on the 3DS eShop; it's called Fullblox in Europe and is also available in that region. The latest free-to-play dalliance
Review Johnny Dynamite (3DS eShop)
Defused
Imagine a 2D game with a simple premise: collect all pieces of dynamite in each stage without taking any damage. Instead of running and jumping around like you would in a traditional platformer, you thrust freely throughout the bite-sized stages with a trusty jetpack. With unlimited use of this ability, along with an endless supply of...
Nintendo Download 14th May (North America)
Nindies on Wii U, NSMB, Mega Man, another 3D SEGA Classic and more
Update: Stretchmo is now also available as a free download from the 3DS eShop. Original Article: It's that time again, North American gamers, with another Nintendo Download update to deliver some digital goodies on Wii U and 3DS. This week brings some pro
News Fullblox Is Available To Download On The European 3DS eShop Right Now
Hot on the trail of the Japanese release
Nintendo has announced that Fullblox is available to download on the European 3DS eShop from today. The game - which is the latest in a series of titles which includes Pullblox and Fallblox - features the rotund Mallo as he attempts to solve a wide range of puzzles. The unique thing about this offering -...
News Image & Form Considering SteamWorld Heist DLC, But Not For Day One
"It needs to be something more"
SteamWorld Heist is certainly one of the most prominent Indie downloads on the way this year, with Image & Form's 2D strategy title set to come to the eShop on Wii U and 3DS, along with a host of other platforms. The studio's been keeping fans up to date with weekly updates, too, tackling questions and running...
Charizard has a Mega Stone, too
Pokémon Rumble World is Nintendo's most recent free-to-play venture on the 3DS, blending button mashing and brawling with strategy to utilise super effective combinations. As with Pokémon Shuffle it's possible to progress without spending any money, though you can speed up progress or improve your chances by buying...
News Nintendo Reveals Pushmo: Hippa Land For 3DS eShop, Out Now In Japan
Sample the game for free, and pay to unlock more
Intelligent Systems’ Pushmo series for the 3DS eShop has been well received since the original game – known as Pullblox in Europe – was first released on the 3DS eShop in 2011. Since then, fans of Mallo and company have seen the release of the 2012 sequel Crashmo – Fallblox in Europe – and...
Nintendo Download 14th May (Europe)
S.T.E.A.M., GBA Mega Man classics, 3D Thunder Blade and Wii U Nindies
Another week begins, which means it's time to gaze upon the download treats heading to Europe this week. It's a pretty strong line-up, with two encouraging Nindie arrivals on the Wii U, two GBA Mega Man titles, another SEGA Classic, the latest 3DS retail arrival from Intelligent...
News Legendary Regirock Rocks The Scene In The Latest Pokemon Shuffle Challenge
Pedra Valley also added to main stages
Pokémon Shuffle continues to expand with the launch of its latest challenge featuring the legendary Regirock Pokémon and the addition of ten new main stages taking the total main stage count from 180 to 190. The Regirock Great Challenge gives players the opportunity to take on the powerful foe over 30 moves...
Doesn't make us feel bloo
Originally developed for mobile platforms, Bloo Kid 2 was well received back in 2014; indie developer 'winterworks' delivered a solid 2D platformer with responsive touchscreen controls. Although still a decent choice for the discerning mobile user, Bloo Kid 2 clearly becomes a much tougher proposition on the Nintendo 3DS...
Sunny side up
Budget-priced titles are a tempting option for consumers: for less than the price of a coffee you can get a video game. Unfortunately, not every game is up to the standards of indie gems like Gunman Clive, and sometimes even the most inexpensive titles can leave players feeling ripped off. Thankfully, Runny Egg joins a growing...
Nintendo Download 7th May (North America)
Splatoon demo-ish, strangeness, retro Mega Man, Atlus goodness and more
After a delay while the Splatoon Direct festivities were completed, we now have the download update details for North America. There's a much-hoped for demo (sort of), classic Mega Man, platformers on the 3DS, a whole load of discounts, DLC and a particularly quirky Indie...
Review Titanic Mystery (3DS eShop)
My heart can't go on
If you aren't some form of malicious AI bent on revenge against humanity, then the idea of mixing puzzle gameplay together with tragic events might not make very much sense. It's a strange combination that has "honoured" the RMS Titanic in particular with several different examples, and we've pondered both the implications and...
Review Best Friends - My Horse 3D (3DS eShop)
Put this one out to pasture
It seems as though publishers just can't get enough horse related games released on the 3DS, with Best Friends - My Horse 3D being the sixth one; you'd think by now that horse racing simulator games would have been mastered, but you'd be sadly mistaken. Best Friends - My Horse 3D does absolutely nothing to improve on...
News It's Hats Off to the Latest SteamWorld Heist Ambassador Challenge
For all you doodlers out there
With SteamWorld Heist heading to Wii U, 3DS and a load of other systems later this year, Image & Form is keen to keep its fans busy in the build-up. Part of those efforts are bi-weekly competitions for someone to become a SteamWorld Ambassador; they'll get to play Heist before it comes out and get free copies on...
Nintendo Download 7th May (Europe)
Kirby, DS Yoshi, Puzzle & Dragons duo, a free HOME theme and more
It's the beginning of another week, and though the UK Nintendo Download Update details and pricing haven't been issued due to a public Holiday, the information for the European region as a whole has still been released (with thanks to Daan Koopman for his assistance). This week's...
Talking Point Nintendo's Legacy Makes The Virtual Console Essential, But It Must Modernise
Idealism should make way for realism
Technologically, the world is busier and noisier than it's ever been before. So many gadgets and screens demand our time and loyalty, from smart TVs with hundreds of channels and streaming apps, to smartphones and tablets and, of course, game systems. Those with a decent amount of spare cash that are anxious to...
Poll Is It Time For a Fresh Alternative to the Virtual Console?
Bundles, remixes, subscription services - what's next?
When the Wii launched it had plenty of exciting ideas that contributed to its extraordinary success. One service that appealed to older gamers and / or dedicated fans was the Virtual Console - while relatively niche services had offered older games for download in the past, this was a game...
News SEGA and M2 Are Happy to Continue 3D Classics "Indefinitely if Sales Are Good"
No current plans beyond upcoming line-up, however
It's no secret that we're big fans of the SEGA 3D re-releases on the 3DS eShop, in which a range of classics from the Mega Drive and arcade era are reproduced in a brilliant fashion; the development work is done by the porting masters at M2, of course. The series has had a good run, with a number of...
News Atlus Confirms Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains Release Date
Swinging into action
Attack on Titan has taken the world by storm; with a popular manga and anime series, the property has seen a lot of success. After a long wait the 3DS game, Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains is finally leaving Japan and allowing the rest of the world to join the ranks of the Scout Regiment. The Atlus published game,...
Initial screenshot posting "never was planned"
Miiverse has had its share of community controversies, typically when users have been restricted from posting content they want to share. Comic Workshop fell victim to this problem when screenshot sharing was rapidly removed from the community, frustrating those that wanted a quick and easy way to share...
News Rynn’s Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest Arrives On The Wii U And 3DS eShops This Fall
Defeat an army of reptiles as a fearless fox
Yet another indie title will arrive on the Wii U and 3DS eShops soon, with developer Arcane Four Studios announcing their side-scrolling 2D platform game, Rynn’s Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest, will be released this fall. Players take control of a fox named Rynn as they attempt to take back...
Would also love to see Shovel Knight added to the Super Smash Bros. roster
Yacht Club Games’ side-scrolling platform title, Shovel Knight, was a huge success on launch, receiving critical praise and scooping up several game awards soon after. Since its initial release on the Wii U, 3DS and PC in June last year, the independent developer has been...
April2015
Nintendo Download 30th April (North America)
Paper Mario, amiibo tapping, mech blasting, pinball DLC and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for details on the fresh download treats making their way to the eShop. This week brings an amiibo freebie, a Nintendo 64 classic, DLC, demos, discounts and more besides. It's certainly a diverse and quirky line-up this time around, so let's...
Review Karous -The Beast of Re:Eden- (3DS eShop)
Not exactly the beast
The "shmup" genre is relatively niche but is also, among its devoted fans, one of the great pleasures in gaming. It's a difficult genre to create games for, however, as the nature of the gameplay is rather limited and simple, with innovations being hard to come by. After all, there's only so many ways one can pull off...
News Comic Workshop Update on the Way to "Mark the Comeback of Screenshot Posts to Miiverse"
Stan Lee will be thrilled
While Miiverse is certainly popular with a number of Wii U and 3DS owners, it's had some moments of controversy. Many of these relate to the availability and then removal of screenshot functionality, often as a result of Nintendo trying to moderate inappropriate content. Comic Workshop fell victim to controversy on this...
News Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies Art Book Taking the Stand
AKA The Big Book of Courtroom Breakdowns
So sure, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies never came out in a physical form for most of us, and that might still sting a bit. For those still yearning to feel justice in their hands, however, a different sort of medium has arisen. Capcom's courtroom style will be set to page this coming 9 June...
News WayForward is Flipping the Tables With a Mighty Switch Force! 3DS HOME Theme
This week in North America, soon in Europe
WayForward has stepped into the 3DS HOME Theme business of late, releasing Premium themes for Shantae and the Pirate's Curse. They were charming, and the developer / publisher is now bringing another of its popular titles to our 3DS UI screens with an upcoming arrival for Mighty Switch Force!. As you can...
Video Even The Credits Sequence For 3D Streets Of Rage 2 Is Awesome
M2 magic
Yesterday we gave you some initial impressions of 3D Streets of Rage 2, the latest entry in Sega's 3D Classics series, which has just been released in Japan. Everything about the game drips class; it's already a wonderful brawler, but developer M2 has added in even more goodness, such as a special "Quartet" mode, various screen filters and...
Matters Of Import Cleaning Up The City In 3D Streets Of Rage 2
Bare those knuckles
Streets of Rage 2 - or Bare Knuckle 2 as it is known in Japan - is widely regarded as one of the best side-scrolling fighters ever created, so the fact that its announcement as part of Sega's burgeoning 3D Classics range caused such excitement should come as no great shock. This is one of the defining games of the 16-bit era, and...
News Mighty No. 9 Confirmed for September Release, Along With Physical Retail Version
Deep Silver publishing, 3DS release due "at a later point"
Mighty No. 9, the upcoming title from Keiji Inafune's Comcept studio that has Mega Man fans rather excited, finally has release dates. As many have guessed it won't arrive this Spring, but is hitting the Wii U in North America on 15th September and other territories on 18th September. In...
News Image & Form Answers Questions on SteamWorld Heist Platform Features, Multiplayer and amiibo
Announces the first 'Ambassador' contest winner, too
SteamWorld Heist is certainly one of the highest-profile download-only releases heading to the Wii U and 3DS this year, and ahead of a Fall release window Image & Form is keeping fans informed with weekly updates and contests. Last week the studio launched its first SteamWorld Ambassador...
Video Gawk at Streets of Rage 2 in 3D on Your New Nintendo 3DS
Grand Upper!
We may be waiting until the Summer for the next batch of 3D Classics from Sega in the West, but Japanese gamers can look forward to 3D Streets of Rage 2 this week, on 28th April; yes, we're jealous. The good news is that Sega's official YouTube channel has served up a taster of how the brilliant fighting game will look on Nintendo's...
Over 100 missions and customisable ships
CIRCLE Entertainment remains one of the most active publishers on the 3DS eShop, often localising some promising games from Japan for Western audiences; it appears to be doing that once again with the conceptually enticing Karous -The Beast of Re:Eden-. Originally developed by Sakura Flamingo Laboratory,...
News Pokémon Shuffle Celebrates 3.5 Million Downloads With Special Celebi Challenge
Runs until May 18th
Nintendo's free-to-play puzzle title Pokémon Shuffle has now been downloaded over 3.5 million times. To mark this occasion, Nintendo has opened a special Celebi challenge, which runs from today until May 18th. Successfully completing the challenge earns you 1000 coins, and as you might expect, you'll need to be running the...
Nintendo Download 30th April (Europe)
Smash Bros. DLC, Sin & Punishment 2, amiibo freebies and much more
It's the start of another week, and as always we have the European Nintendo Download Update to warm us up to the goodies on the way. This time around we have a popular Smash Bros. fighter available to buy, a free app of amiibo-powered retro demos, along with an excellent new Wii...
Review Heart Beaten (3DS eShop)
Be still my beating heart
Originally created and developed during the Global Game Jam of 2013 in a little over 24 hours, Heart Beaten has been available on Android and iOS platforms for a couple of years. The newly released Nintendo 3DS version expands on the mobile version with structural changes, brand new mini-game types and a new soundtrack...
Review Pokémon Rumble World (3DS eShop)
Diamonds and Pearls
One of many spin-offs to come out of Nintendo's Pokémon phenomenon, the Rumble series takes toy versions of Game Freak's famous monsters and throws them into simple, action-packed beat-'em-ups. The 3DS has already played host to Pokémon Rumble Blast, but following in the free-to-play footsteps of the recently released Pokémon...
Interview Bringing Together the 3DS and Game Boy in BOXBOY!
Thinking outside of the box
HAL Laborary Inc has been busy of late, bringing Kirby into the HD era with Kirby and the Rainbow Curse but also, on a much smaller scale, developing BOXBOY! for the 3DS eShop. With a Game Boy style and retro approach to puzzle solving it's charmed plenty of portable gamers, and also showed that the house of Kirby is more...
Review Cube Creator 3D (3DS eShop)
A proper substitute for Minecraft?
It's a rather unfortunate reality that Minecraft has never made it to Nintendo platforms. The multi-billion dollar franchise has reached millions of people all over the world in the course of its run and it would seem to be a good fit for Nintendo platforms given its extremely approachable, yet deep gameplay...
Nintendo Download 23rd April (North America)
Mario Kart 8 DLC, DS karting, Mewtwo, 3D cube creation and more
Happy Mario Kart Day, Nintendo gamers! The usual download update details are out a little later than normal for North America and, unsurprisingly, the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 has a prominent place in the listing. It's not the only fresh arrival, though, we also have more Mario Kart of...
News 3DS RPG Lord Of Magna: Maiden Heaven Is Heading West This June
From the producer of Rune Factory and Story of Seasons
Publisher Marvelous has confirmed that Lord Of Magna: Maiden Heaven is heading west this June. The strategy RPG - produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto, the man behind Harvest Moon, Rune Factory and Story of Seasons - will be getting a physical and digital release in North America, where it launches...
News Cube Creator 3D Bringing a Minecraft-Style Experience to 3DS This Week in North America
Demo has been downloaded over 260,000 times
Nintendo systems may be lacking the selling power of Minecraft, but a number of developers have been endeavouring to fill the gap. The latest to throw their hats into the ring are collaborators Big John Games and Gamers Digital, with Cube Creator 3D - it's arriving on the eShop in North America this week...
News Image & Form Announces 'SteamWorld Ambassador' Challenges
Play SteamWorld Heist before anyone else
SteamWorld Heist is due to start arriving in Fall this year, with the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores on the list of supported platforms. A spin-off from SteamWorld Dig, its blend of a steampunk aesthetic with 2D turn-based strategy is certainly full of potential. Developer Image & Form is now launching a set...
News Hacked Passcodes Leaked For 3DS eShop Microtransaction-Based Title, Pokémon Rumble World
Unlocks new Pokémon, outfits and additional diamonds
Nintendo's recently released free-to-play titles have been designed to challenge and push players to their limits in the hope they will at some point seek aid via their wallets. Elements such as set timers, movement limits and special tasks spread out over a day, week or month add to the...
News Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures on 3DS is "All Done" and Awaiting Approval
Stereoscopic 3D and dual screen features are included, naturally
Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures is out now on the Wii U in North America, which allows you to play with handsome HD pixels, though there are undoubtedly some that want to play it on the smaller screens of the 3DS. Shovel Knight and Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are two examples of...
Nintendo Download 23rd April (Europe)
Double Mario Kart delight, Kirby week, discounts and more
A day later than is custom, we finally have the European Nintendo Download Update details to pore over. It's a week with one particularly notable DLC pack on Wii U to be excited about, along with some Virtual Console offerings, a special Kirby-themed promotion ahead of the arrival of Kirby...
What are the scores on the DOOORS?
Imagine this: you wake up one morning and find yourself in a windowless, white room with nothing but a screwdriver in your pocket and a scrap of paper that contains a bizarre sequence of numbers. Upon closely examining the only door, you find it locked and there's no obvious keyhole. What do you do? If problem...
Review 3D Fantasy Zone II (3DS eShop)
Let me be your fantasy
Fantasy Zone II was developed and released for the Sega Master System back in 1987. Unfortunately the limitations of the console (the original Fantasy Zone was built on Sega's more powerful System 16 arcade hardware) crippled the design aspirations; admirable attempts to include new gameplay elements weren't successful and...
Review Word Search by POWGI (3DS eShop)
No explanation needed
If you've read our review of the Wii U version of Word Search by POWGI, you'll know that this download takes a no-frills approach to translating a very popular paper-based puzzle to a screen. However, while the Wii U version at least tries to add a tiny bit more variety with a very limited multiplayer mode, this portable...
News New Safari Event Now Live In Pokémon Shuffle
The expedition is on!
Nintendo’s strong support for its free-to-play 3DS eShop title, Pokémon Shuffle, continues with the latest in-game event now live. Pokémon Safari draws inspiration from the main game series featuring Safari Zones, and more recently Friend Safari, which has players attempting to catch a random selection of Pokémon. Each...
News Take on 3D Streets of Rage 2 With a Pal
As long as you're in hitting distance of each other
Sega's 3D conversions of classic titles have been consistently satisfying, often adding levels of polish and features that... Do we really have to say this? Ugh... Nintendon't. 3D Streets of Rage 2 looks to continue this trend, according to a recent report from Famitsu. The simultaneous two-player...
Review A-Train 3D: City Simulator (3DS eShop)
Chugging uphill
In the 3DS library, there is a rather unsurprising gap of management sim games. The niche genre essentially revolves around placing the player in the chair of a person in charge of a large city or company, tasking them with running it and maximising profitability. This is something of a double-edged sword; patient gamers will find...
News Nintendo Australia Lists eShop Offerings Redeemable Via Club Nintendo Stars Catalogue
65 items to select from
In a similar fashion to other regions, Nintendo Australia will soon offer loyal fans a range of eShop content redeemable via the Club Nintendo Stars Catalogue. While Nintendo is still hard at work making this content available as soon as possible, it has now revealed the full list of Wii U and 3DS downloadable titles for...
Review Music On: Electric Guitar (3DS eShop)
While my 3DS gently weeps
If someone were to come up to you on the street and loudly proclaim "My 3DS is an electric guitar!!", you'd probably just smile politely and try to put as much distance between the two of you as possible. Their boasting isn't total insanity however, as Music On: Electric Guitar is an ambitious little app that aims to...
Nintendo Download 16th April (North America)
StreetPass DLC, Smash Bros. DLC, DK 64, 3D Fantasy Zone II and much more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update to bring more treats to Wii U and 3DS. This week we have some Rare action on the Wii U, Smash Bros. DLC, StreetPass extras, another Sega classic and much more besides. Let's get to the details...
News Diddy Kong Nerfed In Latest Super Smash Bros. Update
Fans rejoice
The troublesome Diddy Kong has reportedly been nerfed in yesterday’s Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS update which saw the highly anticipated return of Mewtwo and introduction of costume DLC for Mii Fighters. Donkey Kong’s side kick has caused mayhem in competitive Smash for some time now due to his over-powered nature, and...
News Nintendo Has Released This Fabulous 3DS Theme In Japan To Celebrate The Launch Of Girls Mode 3
Stunning, darling!
The latest entry in the Girls Mode series (known locally as Style Savvy or New Style Boutique depending on where you live) is now out in Japan.To celebrate the special occasion, Nintendo has released a Girls Mode 3: Kira Kira Code 3DS theme. The new theme, which can be viewed on the catwalk in the trailer below, is available for...
News Citizens of Earth Update Halves Wii U Load Times And Adds Retro Soundtrack
Also includes improved stability and minor bug fixes
Atlus and Eden Industries have updated the JRPG-inspired role-playing game, Citizens of Earth, with added and improved functionality. The update which applies to both the Wii U and 3DS eShop versions of the game includes the addition of a retro chiptunes soundtrack menu option to relive the glory...
Review My Pet School 3D (3DS eShop)
Plays dead
Do you get the feeling we've barked up this tree before? My Pet School 3D is much like other entries in TREVA's bloated stable of pet sims, such as Me & My Pets 3D and Life with Horses 3D. Each successive instalment comes with the desperate hope that some new tricks have been learned this time around, only to have it stare back at you...
Not pants-uru
Nintendo handhelds have been graced with many great puzzle games over the years, from the wonderful Tetris on the original Game Boy through to the present day; the Picross series, Pullblox and the Professor Layton titles all being notable recent examples. In fact, a quick filtered search of the 3DS eShop by 'Puzzle' genre reveals no...
News Streets Of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes And Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Are Your Next Sega 3D Classics
More 16-bit goodness on your 3DS
Sega has confirmed that Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are making their way to the 3DS eShop. This trio of Sega Mega Drive / Genesis titles will be joining the steadily-growing ranks of Sega's retro remasters, which already includes the likes of Space Harrier, Out Ru
News The Scrappers Will Be Out to Get You in SteamWorld Heist
Details of enemy types are shown off
SteamWorld Heist could be a download highlight of 2015, with the follow-up - not sequel - to SteamWorld Dig heading to Wii U and 3DS alongside a host of other platforms. 2D strategy takes the place of digging and jumping, while steampunk will be heading into outer space. The Image & Form blog is posting...
"Shovel Knight, Meat Boy, and CommanderVideo would hold their own"
Choice Provisions remains one of the most admirably eclectic yet successful developers currently plying their trade in the download scene. After coming to prominence with the BIT.TRIP series on WiiWare and other platforms, the studio changed its name from Gaijin Games and has begun...
De-Minishing Returns
Remember Midora? It's a Zelda-inspired action-adventure which was successfully funded via Kickstarter to the tune of $73,470, and while it didn't meet its Wii U and 3DS stretch goals, developer Epic Minds insisted that it would still come to those machines - it would just take a little longer. However, there are doubts the
Review Excave II : Wizard of the Underworld (3DS eShop)
Dungeon crawling on a higher budget
Not long ago, the budget-priced dungeon-crawler Excave hit the 3DS eShop, and our review found the experience a technically sound and overall enjoyable experience, despite some minor flaws. This sequel follows a bit more than a month later, and promises more polished hack and slash gameplay, though at an increased...
Nintendo Download 16th April (Europe)
StreetPass extras, Elliot Quest, SEGA 3D goodness, Smash DLC and much more
Another week begins, and that means Nintendo Download Update news for European gamers. This week has plenty to offer, with Super Smash Bros. DLC arriving on 3DS and Wii U, a high profile indie effort on the home console, a SEGA 3D Classic, demos, another Wii title and much...
News Nintendo's Super Spring Sale Shines Light on Some Top Wii U and 3DS eShop Deals
If you're in North America check them out
In addition to discounts announced as part of Nintendo's Download Update for North America, there are a range of enticing offers also available as part of a 'Super Spring Sale' in the region. It's Spring Break season, so there's that bit more time for games. The discounts stretch across Wii U and 3DS retail...
A bit ruff
Here's a quick generalisation: There are huge differences between mobile games and Nintendo 3DS games. The best mobile games take advantage of the host platform with regards to touch controls, usage of the screen and gameplay. It's also fair to say that for every great mobile game, there's a shed load of dross, but at least they're...
News 3DS eShop Title Titan Run Is Attack On Titan In Bite-Sized Form
Smash up a city for the highest score
D3Publisher's Japan-only Simple Series has been running for quite a few years now, offering engaging experiences for reasonable prices. The latest entry - developed by E-Trek - is inspired by the anime and manga franchise Attack on Titan and sees you dashing through the crowded city of Tokyo causing as much...
Nintendo Download 9th April (North America)
Xenoblade, Etrian Dungeons, Affordable Space Adventures, DS treats and more
It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a Wii U exclusive that makes interesting use of the GamePad, major retail releases on the New Nintendo 3DS XL and wider 3DS 'family', more free-to-play Pokémon on 3DS,...
News Iron Combat: War in the Air Starts the Battle in Europe on 16th April
Fire it up
There aren't many 3D futuristic flying action games on the 3DS eShop, which makes Iron Combat: War in the Air one to consider. Developed by Amzy and published by Teyon, this blends in-air shooting with some melee action thrown in; already out in North America, the good news for European portable players is that it's now dated for a 16th...
News Pokémon Rumble World Available Now, as Nintendo Releases a New Launch Trailer
A day earlier than most downloads
Pokémon Rumble World, Nintendo's latest dalliance with free-to-play on the 3DS, arrives today - 8th April. Just recently announced, it takes the button mashing brawling series into microtransaction territory and is set to include all Pokémon that we've seen to date, including many Mega Evolutions. It's already...
Nintendo Download 9th April (Europe)
Affordable Space Adventures, free Pokémon Rumble, Quell Memento and more
A day later than normal courtesy of a public holiday, we now have this week's full Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. There's a Wii U eShop exclusive, the next free-to-play Pokémon title on 3DS, an excellent 'zen' puzzle experience and more. Let's get to the...
Be quick to win a Blastoisinite
Pokémon Shuffle is the highest profile free-to-play release yet from Nintendo, mainly due to its use of microtransactions to try and get players to spend money in order to accelerate progress. Evidently Pokémon is the franchise for these experiments, as the upcoming Pokémon Rumble World will also have a similar...
Review Iron Combat: War in the Air (3DS eShop)
Altitude, don't forget to watch altitude...
Making an immersive 3D shooter on any platform is quite an undertaking, but this is especially true on the 3DS. There are some of these titles available on the platform, but they aren't as popular as many other genres. This makes the elusive quality shooter on 3DS even more valuable, and as a result, games...
Review Best of Arcade Games - Tetraminos (3DS eShop)
Line 'em up...again and again
It's safe to say that developer Bigben Interactive has been hard at work, relentlessly churning out adaptions of all manner of board and arcade games as part of a range of "Best Of" titles. While it might seem redundant to try and recreate the mighty Tetris on a Nintendo handheld of all places, Tetraminos is arguably...
News It's Not An April Fool, The Binding Of Issac: Rebirth Really Is Coming To The New 3DS And Wii U
Completely uncensored, apparently
Yesterday was April Fool's Day, and that meant plenty of joke news pieces which caused a few chuckles but were otherwise ignored as false. However, one story slipped through even the Nintendo Life "Fool Filter", and that was the revelation that The Binding of Issac: Rebirth is coming to the Wii U and New 3DS...
3DS eShop - Features
Most Read
Guide 39 Best 3DS eShop Games You Should Get Before They're Gone Forever
Random YouTuber Spends Nearly $23K Buying Every 3DS & Wii U eShop Game
News Pokémon Game Boy Titles Dominate 3DS eShop Charts Ahead Of Service Closure
Guide Best Deals And Cheapest Games In The 3DS & Wii U eShop Sales
Guide 31 Best DSiWare Games You Should Get Before They're Gone Forever
Random Disney Animator Creates Stunning 30-Second Short Using 3DS eShop Apps
News Pokémon Games Continue To Dominate 3DS Charts Ahead Of eShop Shut Down
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - Nintendo Pocket Football Club