Soulhackers

Monday morning means one thing, and that's European Nintendo Download news. This week's offerings include plenty of retail titles, including two very different new RPG adventures on the 3DS and some Wii U retro goodies, alongside plenty of others and some discounts. Let's get right to it.

Wii U Virtual Console

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Nintendo, €4.99 / £3.49) — This still remains, arguably, the biggest oddity of the Zelda franchise — no, we don't count CDi games! With a top-down overworld and side-scrolling action when in dungeons and towns, the leveling-up elements of this release also set it aside from its contemporaries; it can also be teeth-grindingly difficult. It's perhaps the series underdog and may not be for everyone, but we thought it deserved support and praise in our Zelda II: The Adventure of Link review. This is the US version of the game.

Gradius (Konami, €4.99 / £3.49) — This is a name that'll be familiar to gamers of a certain vintage as one of the defining shooters of the 8-bit era. This one is of the sidescrolling variety, and though its age is starting to show is still well worth consideration, as our 3DS Virtual Console Gradius review explains. This is the US version of the game.

Wii U Permanent Price Reduction

The Croods: Prehistoric Party! (NAMCO BANDAI Games, €29.99 / £19.99, was €44.99 / £39.99)

Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade (NAMCO BANDAI Games, €19.99 / £19.99, was €29.99 / £27.99)

3DS eShop

Happy Circus (Moving Player, €2.99 / £2.69) — Another title to join the steadily growing library of education games on the 3DS, this one promises to help youngster learn to read and count in six languages, all wrapped in a cute circus animal bow. We'll learn our ABCs and bring you a review.

3DS Virtual Console

Milon's Secret Castle (Nintendo, €3.99 / £3.59) — More NES nostalgia arrives on the 3DS, this time in the form of a Hudson Soft title that's being brought to the service by Nintendo. An action adventure, this is perhaps well known for being a fairly cryptic title that, nevertheless, has its share of fans. In our view this isn't an 8-bit experience that's aged well, as we explained in our Wii Virtual Console Milon's Secret Castle review.

3DS Retail Download

Inazuma Eleven 3 (Level-5, €34.99 / £29.99) — Available in two varieties, Lightening Bolt and Bomb Blast, the third main series entry will be alive and kicking on the 3DS eShop and in stores from 27th September. Originally a DS title given some 3D treatment for a trilogy re-release in Japan, this arrives in Europe in its individual 3DS form. You can expect more of the same as its predecessors, with lots of wacky special moves, and we'll bring you our review very soon.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (NIS America, €39.99 / £34.99) — This 3DS remake of the classic SEGA Saturn title arrives in Europe not long after its release in North America; that's not a sentence we can type often. This cyberpunk tale includes the usual franchise mix of first-person dungeon crawling, and also provides an accessible option for newcomers to dive in — all while keeping veterans pleased. You can read our glowing recommendation in our Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers review.

FIFA 14 (Electronic Arts, €49.99 / £39.99)

Jewel Master Cradle of Rome 2 (Rising Star Games, €19.99 / £17.99)

Jewel Master Cradle of Egypt 2 3D (Rising Star Games, €19.99 / £17.99)

Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends (Bergsala Lightweight, €29.99 / £29.99)

3DS eShop Temporary Discount

Tangram Style (Moving Player, €2.99 / £2.69 until 31st October, normally €5.99 / £5.39)

3DS Permanent Price Reduction

The Croods: Prehistoric Party! (NAMCO BANDAI Games, €29.99 / £19.99, was £24.99 / €34.99


A lengthy list this week, albeit one packed with a number of retail downloads and some discounts. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (180 votes)

  1. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Wii U Virtual Console)13%
  2. Gradius (Wii U Virtual Console)3%
  3. The Croods: Prehistoric Party! (Wii U eShop permanent discount)  0%
  4. Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade (Wii U eShop permanent discount)  0%
  5. Happy Circus (3DS eShop)  0%
  6. Milon's Secret Castle (3DS Virtual Console)1%
  7. Inazuma Eleven 3 (3DS retail download)3%
  8. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS retail download)11%
  9. FIFA 14 (3DS retail download)2%
  10. Jewel Master Cradle of Rome 2 (3DS retail download)  0%
  11. Jewel Master Cradle of Egypt 2 3D (3DS retail download)  0%
  12. Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends (3DS retail download)1%
  13. Tangram Style (3DS eShop temporary discount)3%
  14. The Croods: Prehistoric Party! (3DS eShop permanent discount)1%
  15. Nothing for me this week63%

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