Nintendo Download: 20th February (North America)

With Ice Hockey showing up today, I predict that Super Mario Bros 3 will release before NES Remix 2 hits the eShop. Along with any other NES games missing on the VC that will appear in NES Remix 2.

It might be worth noting, for those who can wait a few days, that an email from I received from Nintendo included the following:

Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop Card! You'll save 20% when you purchase at Best Buy from Feb. 23-March 1.

So you can get a discount if you wait to buy DKC:TF digitally using one of those cards.

EDIT: Brought up and deleted from below, because I think the opportunity to save $10 (and get $5 more if you are digital deluxe) on DKC:TF is a big deal.

Woot, I can get Ice Hockey for a dollar!!!

I might check out Weapon Shop de Omasse after reading some reviews and impressions first.

I'll be getting Sky Kid

If Weapon Shop gets decent reviews, i'll pick it up as it looks like something i'd like. I'm getting the physical copy of DKCTF this weekend.

Skykid... Guess it beats nothing. Still no SMB3 Who knows when or even if we're getting it in NA. It was taken down from the future releases section on the 3DS eshop.

I'll find some way to get a copy of Tropical Freeze for my cheap self this week.

I will be getting the retail DKC TF!

Weapon Shop de Omasse for me. I'm surprised it has that many votes up till now! Will get DK down the road. Love the series but too much else to play and cheap games to buy.

voted Ice Hockey because it's awesome, and I already have a physical copy of DKTF pre-ordered.

Wish I could get DK: TF, but I can't due to money... :/

@bezerker99 Gotta love the names they give them!

Not a bad week. Getting DK, most likely in disc form. Weapon Shop sounds nice and Quell sounds intriguing too. No idea what Sky Kid is.

TIME TO GO BANANA! Also the weapon shop.

I wanna get DKTF but I never played DKCReturns so I think i should do that first.

I believe my avatar says it all.

(Although it's gonna be the retail version for me. I need that box in my collection.)

I may get Quell Reflect. I wish Ice Hockey was on the 3DS. I loved that game. Also get the Bird game for 3DS.

@Savino - I'ld normally agree w/ that, especially if the game were made by Ubisoft, but the original is still $30. And Kirbys' Return to Dreamland has never been below $50, so who knows how long $30 will take for this. And it's not a good time of year for "buy 1 get one 50% off" either. Toys R Us is giving a $10 GC for anyone interested.

Are the 3DS Level 5 games still on sale or did I miss it? Really wanted to get Attack of the Friday Monsters but I never decided which of our three 3DS to buy it on - none of them are mine.

@rjejr still on sale until the 23rd i think...

@Captain_Gonru I think N64 games are delayed because of emulator issues, just like GBA on 3DS is most likely hindered by emulator issues. The only big ones I can think of are SNES Yoshi's Island or Starfox. Personal ones would be Dragon Warrior I-IV, Final Fantasy (I-III US), and Contra.

I'll be downloading TF midnight, and I'm tempted to buy Weapon Shop as well.

Looks like it is Weapon Shop I'll be picking up along with some of those Teyon discounts.

DK, physical, is going to have to wait a brief moment.

Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze physical copy tomorrow. Was really hoping we would see DKC 1,2, or 3 on the Wii U VC, oh well.

I'll pick up Weapon Shop de Omasse eventually, so voted for that.

Ice Hockey kind of looks tempting, but contrary to your Wii version review, Blades of Steel is WAY better.

I just pre-ordered and paid DKCTF off. not all that enthused though. but I Pre-Ordered Thief for PS4 and paid it off at the same time. so i'm excited for that.

Weapon Shop de Omasse for sure. And probably Bird Mania, since it is only a buck.

Seriously, though, where is SMB3?

I always get my retail, well, retail, so no DK download for me. Wish they'd put SMB3 in though... I may relent and get All-stars for my SNES. At least that one has better graphics.

@bezerker99 (tacomachef here, zerky...)

I'd totally play you in Ice Hockey. All fat dudes, ftw...

DKCTP for me. I already have more boxes than my shelves can contain and I wanna benefit of the digital deluxe promotion, this game will give me 5$. I'll use it to purchase bravely default on my 3DS

I keep forgetting DK is $50 not $60.

@Uncle_Rick Holy cow, long time no see man! If only Nintendo would update it's VC games to have online!

@Darknyht

Thank you for sharing that!

Guys, pay attention to this. You can essentially get DKTF (or any $50 game) for $35 digitally by getting a $50 Best Buy card during this sale and using it for the game if you're partaking in the digital deluxe promotion. That's something worth considering.

Super Mario 3 is not even in the 'coming soon' section of the eShop anymore. Don't hold your breath, everyone....

Don't forget the guild sales in the 3DS eshop!

Every Thursday morning I check the NA download list for the VC updates, almost like a mini-Christmas each week. So far I seem to be getting a lot of coal...

Chose Weapon Shop de Omasse because I'll be buying Donkey Kong at retail. w00t w00t

DKC TF at midnight for me!

Wish I could download from the US eShop as DK is £10 cheaper than the UK eShop and also slightly cheaper than our retail disc price too.

New Guild 01 game for me!

I'll get Weapon Shop de Omasse later on down the road. I still have to recover from the other level 5 games last week.

DKC:TF for me.

@Gonzo1 DKC 50$ price tag was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting 60$ like the Mario titles.

Day 274 captain's log: Still no SMB3. Guess I'll pick up robot rescue for a buck. I hope I get to play SMB3 someday. I miss my wife and kids.

Too bad, had hoped for something similar to the EU with Prof. Layton and Ace Attorney being discounted =( Was looking forward to these games

@Darknyht Obvious, man.
On a side note, 'Slalom' would have made a nice companion release with the highly-anticipated 'Ice Hockey'. Nintendo, one day, will realize we can handle more than one oldie per week =)

Still don't understand why SMB3 was listed as coming soon for so long and now nothing.

@suburban_sensei As long as M$ items Rare we'll never see DKC 1, 2, and 3 on VC again. M$ won't allow any Rare game on console because it competes with the XBOX. That's why Nintendo removed those games from the Wii VC a few months after released.I was lucky till have bought the original on VC when it came out. You can't even re-download them if the file becomes corrupted.

Btw, I'm DLing DKR:TP tonight at 9!

Ice Hockey for me!

@Dark-Link73 Actually Microsoft has no say in those games. Those are owned by Nintendo

What a disappointing week for Wii U, just Ice hockey that's it for non retail games. So disappointed at the lack of new stuff for Wii U.

Well, nothing for me again this week.Strider is out on 360&ps3 i think I'll pick that up.

I'm pretty sure Retro city rampage DX gets it's update today as well! I will play it once again.

I might have to get Ice Hockey just to continue my NES sports collection. Pinball and Golf are some of my most played VC games on Wii U, no joke.

And yes, please check out DKC:TF! It's mighty good.

I'm definitely picking up DKC:TF. The only question is which version. The retail version or the DL version? Who needs VC and indies this week with a A++ Nintendo title being released?

Meh....

Since I never purchased DKCR for the Wii originally, I decided to pick up the 3DS version last year and was quite pleased. But since I played it less than a year ago, I'm not quite in the mood to purchase this one right away. I'm still having a blast with SM3DW! If the magic of 3D World ends before the release of MK8, then perhaps I'll make the purchase. Otherwise, no new games until MK8 (just 99 more days from today)!

I watched the King Fu Rabbit trailer and it looks pretty fun. I dig games like that, so I'll probably be picking it up. Waiting for a price cut on Aeterno Blade after reading the NL review.

Got a review copy of kung fu rabbit and bought bird mania Christmas since it was cheaper to support Teyon,

Only about half are excited for DKCTF? Really? The poll really means "Which game this week are you excited to buy the most, if any?" You don't have to say "Nothing this week" if you're just waiting for your pay check to roll in so that you could buy it next month. Seriously, DKCTF is a must-have as part of the DKC franchise. DKC2, in my opinion, is the best SNES game ever. Not too difficult, not too easy, very fair, adds a variety of platforming styles, variety of level design, and excellent replay value. My favorite, though, is the music. Possibly nostalgia, but to my opinion, DKC has the best soundtrack ever after SSB.

Already pre-ordered DKCTF and just finished download of Weapon Shop, great week

@Obito_Tennyson A lot of people are considering getting DKCTF, but since this is a Nintendo Download article, people are deciding on downloading the game or not. Of course, I would've voted for DKC, but I'm not downloading it. That's why my vote was cast for Ice Hockey. I'm getting DKC retail.

TONIGHT... WE DINE...

ON BANANAS!!!

@Unca_LZ Yeah, Nintendo owns the DK brand and the characters, but Rare (and M$ by proxy) own the code and engine of those games. That's why M$ was under the wrong impression that they owned DK when they purchased the 49% of Rare shares from Nintendo. Because Rare owns the game, but not the characters.

@Savino expect a 5 year wait

I used to be an Ice Hockey master against the CPU, but I haven't played that game in like 16 years.

It's interesting to see that DK is only $49.99 considering that all of the other Nintendo games were $59.99 when they came out (besides Game and Wario).

All discounted games for me

@Tasuki Really? Hmmm. There must be something else that neither Nintendo nor M$ is telling us because I don't see why Nintendo would be wasting such a golden opportunity after DKC 1, 2, and 3 sold like hot cakes on the Wii's VC.

Weapon Shop and nothing more. If they didn't have that Level-5 sale recently I'd be in some kind of e-purchase drought.

Wii U Games/VC for today: Nope and I don't have one
3DS VC/Games: Not really
Discounts: Yes but for Bird Mania it's only 0.99 8D

I missed out on DKC 1,2 & 3 VC. I still own all 3 for the SNES though, but would rather have them on my Wii/Wii U.

I was hoping there would be AT LEAST DKC1 instead of Ice Hockey..... Nothing for me. I would rather have physical instead of digital for DKCTF, too.

@Kawaii_Neko: I hear you, but they still have Blaster Master and SMB3. I'd trade lol.

@jjmesa16 Could be that Nintendo sees a more value in trading a smaller profit per copy sold for the advantage of selling games $10 cheaper than the competition.

People should buy Robot Rescue 3D. It may be a really ugly game, but it's a good puzzler. Especially if you haven't played any of the other games in the series.

Might get Weapon Shop De Omasse, gonna wait for reviews.

I hope Nintendo is done with these subpar NES sports games soon so that they can start releasing real VC stuff.

Can you download the videos or are they just watchable on the eShop?

Quell Reflect is a great game, I'm probably going to get that. I'm surprised that only Quell Reflect is being released, as it is the second game and the third game, Quell Memento, is superior to both Quell and Quell Reflect.

@ntabruzzo Yup,I'm getting donkey kong at GameStop.Ive got the 8 gb wii u,so vc games are all I have space for.Speaking of vc the service still needs more and better games,and more digital titles that are on other systems I would have loved strider on wii u for the second screen feature,yet It's on everything but the u.It would also be great if capcom gave us some fighters like tatsunoko vs capcom hd&better online or one of the streetfighter 4's.

@Daisaku36 ....
Guys don't buy DC at midnight all at once, Nintendo network might just crash. Lol

anyone know the price of DK:TF at game in the uk (physical) the website says 32 but sometimes it is dearer in store

@Tasuki I see. Btw, where and when did you hear about M$ "not caring" about the original DKC games by Rare? I tried finding any possible article on that and all found was the opposite. That the "probable" reason for Nintendo pulling DKC from the VC was because of M$.

'Nuff said.

@Dark-Link73 Well, the evil m$ corporation sure took its time getting those games off the wii shope.If such a thing was true I guess we won't ever get those great donkey kong land games either.

@Dark-Link73 Rare on the other hand has said that they have no say over the DK games and that its all on Nintendo. Of course, that was over DK64 and not the DKC trilogy. Not sure why that would make a difference though. Nintendo hasn't said anything on the matter.

@Superryanworld Well, the thing is that M$ allows (or at least it used to allow) Rare make games for Nintendo portables because they (M$) doesn't have a portable gaming device therefore having Diddy Kong Racing DS and Viva Pinata DS ( or whatever it was called) didn't conflict with the XBOX. But any console version of any Rare game would conflict with XBOX and M$ interests.

I just noticed today that Nintendo actually has Super Mario Bros. 3 listed on the North American Wii U virtual console, but it's like "shadowed" out and has an "available soon" message on it. What's the deal with that? Confusing, to say the least. Anyhow, nothing this week for me. Here's to hoping we get Super Mario 64 sometime soon on the Wii U virtual console!!!

@IceClimbers I think the situation with DKC is similar to the situation that Nintendo and Rare have with GoldenEye 007 but inverted. In GoldenEye, Nintendo owns the code for GoldenEye whereas Rare owns the rights to the game. That's why when Rare was making a port of the game fire XBOX LIVE, Nintendo put a stop to it. Now in DKC, Nintendo owns the rights to the characters but, Rare owns the engine because they created it for the SNES. That's why when Nintendo put the ROMS on the Wii Shop VC, M$ put a stop to it, presumably, in retaliation to Nintendo for stopping GoldenEye on LIVE.

@faustcoolio Don't worry, I'll buy my copy at 9 p.m. tonight

Uh, DK, Uh, DK, Uh, DK, get hype, GET HYPE!

@Darknyht Thanx for the heads up. I bought 4 $50 cards during their last sale on these. Time to go restock up!

@boynerdrambling: We already have salt rubbing in the wound, with lemon juice and razors to top it off. You don't have to be a jerk about it.

Got Weapon Shop de Omasse, and so far, I like it. It's not the first game to twist classic RPGs around with item sellers (Dragon Quest IV's Torneko and Recett did good jobs of that, too), but it's still a very welcome change — and a pretty nice RPG nostalgia trip.

went to check DC price at futureshop.ca and saw next to it mario cart 8 is $69.99 could not believ my eyes. i know it is exelent game but 70.00 bucks

@faustcoolio I'm sure that's a "place holder" price since Nintendo just announced the release date. Perhaps us a bundle with a Wii Wheel like attachment. I seriously doubt it'll be $70.

I'm ready to get frozen with TROPICAL FREEZE!

No Phoenix Wright sale? But why? I will not pay $30 for a game that isn't physical... Maybe $20. But not until that price.

Getting Bird Mania and Robot Rescue. Can't lose at 99 cent each.

Finally can download Ice Hockey...one of my favorite NES sports titles Just waiting for blades of steel, nes open, and nes action play football and I'll be a happy camper in the nostalgialand sportsplex

Weapon Shop for me and probably Bird Mania too. Sucks we didn't get the Ace Attorney discount though.

@Darknyht Thanks for the heads up about the Best Buy sale! Came just in time since I'm expecting a check next week, hehe.

@Dark-Link73 So all I see is an opportunity to have Retro Studios or someone else use Retro's DKC:Returns/Tropical Freeze engine to recreate the originals in HD as eShop titles.

@suburban_sensei

That won't happen, because of issues with Rare.

@Darknyht That'd be cool. Alas GoldenEye 007.

@Dark-Link73 Only problem with that theory is that they gave Nintendo the ROMs. Rare gave up all the rights to the games during the MS purchase. Even Rare is confused as to why Nintendo took them down. This means that Nintendo took them down on their own accord. Its something Nintendo isn't telling us. If MS had issues with the DKC trilogy being released on the eShop they would've done something about it when they were first released, not wait all this time and then say something.

@IceClimbers I don't know where you got that "Rare gave up all the rights to the games" because I keep on looking and can't find anything. IF it's true that Rare gave up the rights to their engine/code used on DKC, then we'll find out this year since it is DKC 20th anniversary. Surely Nintendo will come out with an anniversary release of some sort. IF Nintendo doesn't release DKC in any way, shape, or form within the next two years, then most likely Rare kept the rights to their engine/code and that's why it got pulled.

One thing for sure we can all agree on, Nintendo is not telling us something. Whether is out of embarrassment for posting the game without having all the rights or because they have bigger plans for the trilogy. We might never know.

@Faustcoolio that kind of happened. Everything on Wii U was slow that night. I still DL'ed the game, though.