After a few days of suspense — the release day of EU download details varies every week — we finally know what to expect in the Wii U, 3DS, DSi and Wii online stores this week. All four systems are accounted for, which should warm up any Nintendo gaming Europeans. Let's get to the details.
Wii U download software
Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition (WayForward Technologies, €9.99 / £8.99) — This was a launch title in North America that thankfully hasn't taken too long to arrive on the European store. It features the same content as the original 3DS release, but also provides "hyper" editions for each level to double up the content. The 3DS title was already highly regarded, so this HD re-release with extra levels earned a glowing recommendation in our Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition review.
LOVEFiLM (Free) — The Wii app arrived yesterday, and the promise of the Wii U version coming soon was certainly accurate. This will allow TV and film streaming on the system for subscribers, and a 30 day free trial is on offer at www.lovefilm.com/wiiu.
Wii U retail download
Funky Barn (Tantalus Media, €49.99 / £39.99) — It's a sandbox farming game with wacky contraptions that is, we can only assume, funky. This was a retail launch title in Europe, but will now join the ranks of downloadable retail titles on the eShop. We're currently mucking this one out ahead of a review.
3DS download software
The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave (Genius Sonority, €7.99 / £7.19) — This is a mix of RPG and AR (augmented reality) gaming, wrapped up in a rather surreal but incredibly charming package. It's a refined title with an excellent art style and music soundtrack, while the adventure itself will take even the quickest gamers around 15 hours to beat. You'll be looking for Denpa Men wherever you go, and we certainly recommend it in our The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave review.
2 Fast 4 Gnomz (QubicGames, €4.99 / £4.49) — This chaotic and whimsical runner made its début on WiiWare not too long ago, but was held back by the occasional flaw. This 3DS re-release aims to resolve those issues and, for the most part, does; this means you won't be struggling to discern background and foreground any more. It's a tough and wacky game that represents a decent download option, and you can read all about it in our 2 Fast 4 Gnomz review.
3DS Virtual Console
Wario Land 3 (Nintendo, €4.99 / £4.49) — As spotted be eagle-eyed readers and formally confirmed by Nintendo of Europe boss Satoru Shibata, Wario Land 3 has made an appearance as a surprise extra in this week's download update. This Game Boy Color title features plenty of platforming with a suitably wacky Wario twist; it's available now and we'll get cracking on a review soon.
3DS Virtual Console discount offers
Donkey Kong (Nintendo, €2.99 / £2.69 until 13th December) — While an initial impression may suggest that this Game Boy version of the arcade classic is a basic port of the arcade title. Once the initial stages are cleared, however, it expands to provide plenty of levels and fun puzzle platforming. With a 25% discount for the next week, now may be a good time to try this one out. If you need to know more, our Donkey Kong review awarded it 9/10 and may have some answers.
Donkey Kong Jr. (Nintendo, €3.49 / £3.19 until 13th December) — This NES title benefits from a 30% reduction, though still comes in at a higher price than the Game Boy title. It has its own style and can be fun in short bursts, but it's one retro title that doesn't necessarily stand up to modern standards. You can read what we thought in our Donkey Kong Jr. review.
3DS retail download
Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo, €44.99 / £39.99) — Available from 7th December, Mario's latest paper adventure finally arrives in Europe, bringing with it sticker weapons and quirky goings-on. While it may not necessarily be a memorable classic in some eyes, it's still a darn good video game — check out our Paper Mario: Sticker Star review for full details.
3DS retail DLC
New Art Academy (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79 per lesson) — Two new lessons are available to download from within the game this week.
- Paint Like Van Gogh
- Reflections
DSiWare
Christmas Wonderland 2 (Microvalue, 800 Points) — 'Tis the season for festive downloads, and Christmas Wonderland 2 looks set to follow in the footsteps of last year's Christmas Wonderland, with much of the play likely to involve hidden-objects, though some mini-games should be thrown in for good measure. We'll see whether this gives us a good time or brings out the inner Scrooge in our upcoming review.
Wii Virtual Console
The Last Blade 2 (D4 Enterprise, 900 Points) — It's Neo Geo, it's fighting, and there are 16 characters with swords and moves such as "Super Secret Slice". Wii Virtual Console veterans will have a good idea what to expect, but our The Last Blade 2 review awarded this one an impressive 9/10.
Nintendo Video
The 3D Machine Series (Ka-Ching Cartoons, €0.99 / £0.89 per episode) — Five episodes are available to download.
- Episode 1: Attack of the Giant Lizard – In this episode a giant lizard causes chaos in a Japanese metropolis and it’s up to Igor and the professor to stop it in its tracks
- Episode 2: Brain-Eating Aliens from Outer Space – The professor travels to the outer limits of space to try to save his trusty assistant from brain-eating aliens!
- Episode 3: Web of Horror – The team travel deep into the jungle to thwart a terrifying tarantula
- Episode 4: Mummy Mayhem – Take care near the Nile as a mummy runs amok in one of the ancient pyramids
- Episode 5: Tentacles of Terror – Igor and the professor sink deep to the bottom of the ocean to terrorise the eight-tentacled sea monster that lurks beneath
The Incredible Barbazan (Living Colour Ent, €0.99 / £0.89) — These episodes have now had a small price reduction.
- The Cabinet Of Fear
- The Fire Juggler
- The Human Cannonball
- The Knife Thrower
- Raging Bull
- Up Your Sleeve
So there you have it, plenty of content to choose from on all Nintendo systems. Let us know which downloads will be depleting you funds in the poll and comments below.
What will you be downloading first this week? (96 votes)
- Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition (Wii U eShop)
- Funky Barn (Wii U retail download)
- The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave (3DS eShop)
- 2 Fast 4 Gnomz (3DS eShop)
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS retail download)
- New Art Academy (3DS DLC) 0%
- Christmas Wonderland 2 (DSiWare)
- The Last Blade 2 (Wii Virtual Console)
- Nothing for me this week
Please login to vote in this poll.
Comments 47
Might get Denpa Men unless something on Nintendo Direct makes me save up for a Wii U.
You forgot to add Wario Land 3 on the 3DS VC section! It is coming this week, here's the proof: http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Search/Search-299117.html?q=&faf=GAME&gst=3ds_virtualconsole
Please add this to the article!
@Olaf-symbiote - Wario Land 3 wasn't included in Nintendo's official press release, so it's possible that the Nintendo site is yet to be updated (I believe this happened with Ninja Gaiden in North America a while ago, too). Unless Nintendo issues a correction to us or announces it in the Nintendo Direct later, we'll need to leave it out.
I bought two lessons for Art Academy so far, and plan on buying the Reflections lesson too.
What a bumper week! I'm still hoping for a last minute addition of a surprise title from the Nintendo Direct broadcast but if not, it's still a great week!
Totally looking forward to playing Denpa Men, I've been grinding my team in the starting dungeon on the demo in preparation for the full game.
Will also choose Mighty Switch Force Hyper Drive Edition as my Wii U's first download title, but later rather than now.
Just curious why anyone would download Paper Mario for that price. Can anyone who is doing that tell me why, when you take into account you can buy it in retail for £10 less?
Fingers crossed that weeks will be this big from now on! XD
The Wii VC still lives a bit AND we finally get Mighty Switch Force HD. Sweeeeeet.
Denpa men, unless Mr. Shibata pulls out the big (e-shop) guns
Nothing for me. I had high hopes for Denpa Men but after trying the demo they all fell apart. It wasn't bad but I don't think is worth the price nor my time. I'd rather finish ds' rpgs.
VC continues to be a letdown, both Wii and 3ds. Here are some games that should be in it not taking into consideration gba: Zelda Oracles, Mario Tennis, Mario Golf, Metal Gear, Wario Land 3, Turok (all 4), Donkey Kong Country and Land (1,2,3)...
Turok won't be coming due to licensing issues. DKC was just removed on Wii so don't expect that to come to VC on 3DS. Wario Land 3 supposed is coming this week. Mario Golf was released in America so could come at any time.
Finally! I've been wondering when the eShop update was going to be put up. I might get the Denpa Men. I was really excited to play the game after seeing the hilarious ad but it didn't seem all that great when I played the demo at first, just pushing auto-attack the whole time & seeing the Denpa Men do the exact same attack over & over didn't seem all that thrilling. But I played some more of it & caught some more Denpa Men which was heaps fun & hence I may get the game on a whim.
I might Mighty switch force: Hyper drive edition once I've got a Wii U but I'm still not sure whether to get that version or the 3DSware version.
Funky Barn seems to have a little problem when your farm is full with animals. It crashed on my Wii U and I heard it from another person also.
A nice game but it needs a patch.
Mighty Switch Force! and Denpa Men are both instant purchases for me.
I think the polls should have the option to select multiple choices, there's quite a few that I will be downloading this week!
Denpa Men, Day 1.
Already got the retail version of Paper Mario Sticker Star : )
Glad to see you Europeans are finally getting the Denpa Men! Easily the best "3DSWare" game on the service, IMO.
Please, don't judge it solely on the demo. Later on, your party will consist of 8 Denpa Men, making strategizing much more important against the increasingly tougher dungeons, and you're doing yourself a disservice using the "auto battle" button. You can pick your moves individually, just like any other RPG, making combat much more involved.
Wario Land 3 has now been added, as it was officially confirmed as a "surprise" in the Nintendo Direct broadcast. Huzzah!
Also Donkey Kong (GB) & Donkey Kong Jr. (NES) have gone on a "Video Game Hero Sale" on the eShop, recieving a 25% & 30% discount respectively. For some reason that wasn't announced on the Nintendo Direct afaik but its live on the eShop now. Guess that calls for another update of the article
@WiiLovePeace What the... *sigh
Whoa! A lot to buy. Wario land 3, The Denpa Men and Sticker Star.
OMGWTFBBQEELOHEELBFF
Wario Land 3!
NoE is awesome!
<Looks at NoA> You better surprise me tomorrow.
@ThomasBW84 Do you think you can add an option to choose more than one game? Or potentially a "out of e-shop money" addition XD
Wario Land 3!!!
paper mario and denpa men and probably more, but 58€ aren´t enough if fluidity will be released next week so I need 15 more €
Wario Land 3 all the way! Now I'll have all four of them on VC
Also, 2 Fast 4 Gnomz looks to cute to pass on...
I'll have to check that switch force review. Nice to see more launch titles heading for retail download territory. In fact I cannot see why the full catalogue wouldn't be there. I'd love to see a retooled Wii game that didn't get a worldwide release as a Wii U download, you know like Excite Bots, maybe?
Wario Land 3 in a freaken heart beat! One of the best Gameboy games ever. Full stop. Yay!
Mighty Switch Force HD, Denpa Men, Wario LAnd 3, Last Blade 2
I'm getting The Denpamen for sure, can't wait to download it tomorrow!
Nintendo could've offered up nothing except Wario Land 3 and it still would've been a fantastic week.
Wario Land 3 and the Depna Men. You guys have fun.
Not too excited about Denpa Men. The demo got boring very quickly. Might get Sticker Star as my first Paper Mario.
Gotta' be Mighty Switch Force for me.
Does anyone know what time Paper Mario will be available in the UK via the eShop on Firiday?
Wario Land 3!!
Will also try out some more of those '3D machine' videos. Not usually my kind of thing but I thought the first one was great. I loved the art style it was like a 1920s/30s film but with a modern twist, and pretty funny too. You could see obvious influences like Frankenstein, King Kong and then other references to Metropolis - the ctiyscape and the female character the assistant makes with the machine.
Will get around to downloading the Denpa Men demo before i try the game.
Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion demo is also avaliable, as is the retail version.
Mighty Switchbl... Force HD. Looks like good fun and I want to support WayForward.
So, Wario Land 3 in Europe already? I'm reaaaaaaaaaaally getting ticked off at NOA right now... We still don't have Wario Land 2 until late December... So I'm guessing that means the US will get WL3 in... summer 2013?
@ArmPit
You can download Paper Mario at midnight
If it wasn't for seeing the screenshots being added to the site I would never have known Wario Land 3 was added. I've always wanted to try that one as a kid and now I finally get my chance!
Awesome! Wario land 3! I still need to get the previous WL games though. Also, I hope Virtual boy Wario land gets a 3DS VC release.
Yeah, Lovefilm isn't on the eShop, and the icon on the Wii U menu says it isn't out yet.
Dang it! I've been waiting for Wario Land II and III for so long! Wario Land III was my all-time favorite Game Boy color game, and I can't find it in the eShop anywhere, whaa!!!
Unrelated, I did happen to find a video for WarioLand II, not sure how that got leaked but if you log into the NA 3DS eShop and search "Wario", there is a preview video for Wario Land II, but no sign of WL3 anywhere.
Mighty Switch Force is missing from the Australian eShop, though we did get Funky Barn (hooray!?). Is this another one delayed due to classification (Trine 2 still isn't there, but has now been rated by the classification board [PG])??
Ugh. No Mighty Switch Force for Australia and users on miiverse are already talking about exploiting the region changing loophole to download the game from the UK eshop.
This smells an awful lot like Shantae: Risky's Revenge all over again. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't bother to have an AU release at all...
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...