The time has come for the North American Nintendo download update, and this week brings new download-only games on both the Wii U and 3DS, some retro action and a few retail options. Check out all of the details below.
Are you a European gamer that missed your Nintendo Download details on Monday? Fear not, just click here for the full lowdown.
Wii U eShop
Percy's Predicament (Maestro Games, $5.99) — Footage of this title immediately brings Super Monkey Ball to mind, as you navigate a ball through various courses in order to collect fish. This is single player, supports off-TV play, utilises the GamePad's controls — tilt controls seem likely — and comes with 80 levels; another 170 levels are promised as free DLC. We'll get on a roll and let you know what we think.
Wii U Virtual Console
Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo Koei, $4.99) — This is an iconic NES title that delivers some hardcore 8-bit action; it just recently arrived on the 3DS Virtual Console, too. It's frustratingly difficult but also a huge amount of fun, which we thought stood up well to modern standards in our 3DS Virtual Console Ninja Gaiden review.
Wii U Retail Download
The LEGO Movie Videogame (WB Games, $TBC) — Available from 7th February.
3DS eShop
Retro City Rampage DX (Vblank Entertainment, $9.99) — This title may have been released on multiple platforms over the past two years, but this is set to be the "definitive" version, with all of the PC updates and some 3DS-only tweaks and features. With both screens being used and a host of gameplay improvements, this may well be an excellent version of a game that's already thoroughly enjoyable and fundamentally bonkers. We're working on our review right now, but until then you can check out our original WiiWare Retro City Rampage review.
3DS Retail Downloads
Bravely Default (Square Enix, $39.99) — Available from 7th February. After an extensive wait for localisation, especially so for North America, this RPG arrives to offer a mix of old- and new-school mechanics for RPG fans to enjoy. With some interesting battle mechanics, epic scope and lovely visuals, we were moved to award this 9/10 in our Bravely Default review last year.
The LEGO Movie Videogame (WB Games, $TBC) — Available from 7th February.
One Piece Romance Dawn (Namco Bandai Games, $39.99) — Available from 11th February. We were rather unimpressed with the latest title in the One Piece series, awarding it 3/10 in our One Piece Romance Dawn review.
3DS eShop Temporary Discount
Urban Trial Freestyle (Tate Multimedia, $3.49 until 20th February, normally $5.59)
Those are your choices this week, North American gamers. Let us know if you're planning to pick any of these up in the poll and comments below.
What will you be downloading first this week? (329 votes)
- Percy's Predicament (Wii U eShop)
- Ninja Gaiden (Wii U Virtual Console)
- The LEGO Movie Videogame (Wii U retail download)
- Retro City Rampage DX (3DS eShop)
- Bravely Default (3DS retail download)
- The LEGO Movie Videogame (3DS retail download)0%
- One Piece Romance Dawn (3DS retail download)
- Urban Trial Freestyle (3DS eShop temporary discount)
- Nothing for me this week
Please login to vote in this poll.
Comments (111)
I'm very tempted to buy Retro City Rampage again...
Weak VC as usual, but my excitement for Bravely Default is worth another month yet of VC drought.
Still working on my used copy of Mass Effect 3 that I finally gave in a purchased. Still irritated at EA refusing to bring the DLC and Trilogy edition over, but at least I can finally see most of the end after playing the first two on Xbox.
I loved Ninja Gaiden as a kid, but the warning doesn't do enough justice to warn people how frustratingly difficult it can be. In fact, I think that if it wasn't for the fact I was a ninja, I would have chucked the cartridge even back then. I definitely do not have the time or patience for that sort of punishment now even with save states.
Buying Retro City Rampage: DX and Percy's Predicament today, the collector's edition of Bravely Default tomorrow. I might pick up Urban Trial Freestyle.
I will wait for a review for RCR and Percy, as I know absolutely nothing about the latter until I saw this article. I will get Bravely Default as a physical release, even if it won't be the Collector's Edition.
I guess the Lego game has an embargo since I haven't seen any reviews yet, and it releases tomorrow.
I'm playing Ninja Guy-DEN! HAI!!!!
MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!!!
Ummm... Percy...? who, what and where did this mystery game come from?
Or perhaps the better question is, why?
the only thing i'm getting this week i guess is my copy of bravely default
RCR DX for me. I never played another version of it so I'm pretty excited. I'm kind of interested in Bravely Default because I like some of Square's older RPGs like Chrono Trigger, but the demo of BD was just hard to get into...
I'll get RCR DX and Ninja Gaiden..........next week, when I'll have moniez!
Bravely Default... Finally a new 3DS game for 2014!!!!
Solid week, interested in more than one game for the first time in a long time.
Woah! Percy's predicament recalls super monkey ball! 80 levels. I am sold. I'll get Ninja Gaiden too. Never played it and am looking forward to absolute difficulty. Bring. It. On.
Wow, from a 3ds eshop perspective things are not looking too good. I think they have 3 games coming out in the next couple of months. I guess publishers are not too interested in this platform.
Urban freestyle is a very good game, one of the better downloads from the Eshop.
Nice week for the 3DS!
I'll most likely get Retro City Rampage and Bravely Default (but probably the physical copy).
Does anyone know if Urban Trial Freestyle is any good? Seems ok but I would prefer to hear some opinions before buying it
I picked Bravely Default, but I"m getting the retail version (can you guys make this an option?).
Still need to pick up a version of Retro City Rampage, and Percy's Perdiciment sounds promising, I shall await the review.
Nice week, i may get Retro City Rampage after a review. You guys should get Urban Trial, it's a pretty fun game.
The website for Percy's Predicament is an ugly mess. 3 trailer videos but none of the links work. The website wants to be install Quicktime player. It says the game will be out in Fall 2013. And the website looks like it's running on Prodigy in 1994. Even as a free iOS game this wouldn't get any downloads. I'll be SHOCKED if this gets more than a 3/10.
http://www.percyspredicament.com/Trailers.html
I got all the completion bonuses, at least 1 StreetPass, and I mastered every job with each character, all 4 of which are level 20. I'm ready to play me some Bravely Default!
No Mario 3, no download.
People will actually see the end of Ninja Giaden through save states. lol I have an NES cartridge of that game and I seem to have no hope of ever beating it. in my hundreds of play throughs of it, I only ever got to the final boss once....
BD and RCR!!!
Finally therse something good this week! Retro City Rampage DX is for me!
@ikki5 lol true
@CanisWolfred So you recommend it? It has such mixed reviews. I want to buy but skeptical
I never got around to picking up Retro City Rampage on any other platform so I will definitely be picking that up. I'll also be picking up Bravely Default since I've been loving the demo so far.
Very likely will download Retro City when I get home, will pick up my collectors edition of Bravely Default tomorrow!
Nothing downloaded for me, unless you think consider Amazon shipping me the BD CE a form of download.
Just watched the trailer for Percy's and ohman..That game is totally 1996 bargain bin I couldn't stop chuckling. The website and game music also threw me back like two decades Lol.
Totally sick of Nintendo's lies. On THEIR website they still list Grinsia as coming out 2013, Jewel Quest 4 as coming out 2013. Oh where is Super Mario 3? Liars.
Another person here to say that I have Bravely Default CE on Preorder. No need to download! (And no wishes to!)
Another terrible week. No Super Mario Bros. 3 like they promised for 2013. Retro City Rampage looks like a blatant Back to the Future ripoff. I demoed it before and I hated it. Percy's looks like an obvious Super Monkey Ball ripoff. Also, movie-based video games are almost always bad. Nintendo, quit disappointing us already...
UPDATE: Okay, the Lego Movie video game doesn't look all that bad now that I watched the game's trailer, but I'm still overall disappointed by this week of downloads.
RCR & BD for me. Pumped ^.^
Eh..I don't see anything i like this week...again. Maybe next week?
@CatMarioUltra Retro City Rampage is more like River City Ransom/GTA1 & GTA2 but with more variety and bits from different games. (And 80's references). Few references to Back to The Future but not many.
Percy's Predicament costs $6? This is unreal.
Nothing for me, getting the CE of Bravely Default.
At least you guys are getting some GOOD vc games. We only got some NES golf game.
Woopty doo.
@shigulicious - What mixed reviews? I only saw it get lots of praise...anyways, yes, I do recommend it. It's a very fun game, and the Free-Roam mode is something every Open-World game should have. It's turns the game into a sandbox where the objective is to do whatever you want within one life. I love it, and I don't say that very often when it comes to Open World games.
The story mode and references are hilarious, too, in my opinion, though some of the missions are extremely frustrating.
@CatMarioUltra ...have you never heard of references before? It's a Homage to the 80's. Back to the Future is just one of the many things it references throughout the game.
I bought the Collector's Edition of Bravely Default!
Shame there's no new Demo's.
I have them all...
Nothing gets deleted off of my 3DS XL!
20+ NES Games
ALL 3D Classics
10+ GB
10 GBA
~20 DSi Ware
10+ 3DS Ware
10+ 3DS Retail Download
ALL the Videos... even the Green Lantern one O_O
I still have SwapNote...
RCR: DX for sure!
@CatMarioUltra how the hell is it specifically a back to the future ripoff!?
I'm getting LMG for my son on 3ds,birthday gift..saving up my eshop credit for DK..the wait is almost over!
I actually got to play Percy's Predicament a few months ago at a gaming event in my city.
It was surprisingly fun, but maybe I'm a bit biased since I like Super Monkey Ball so much.
What, was putting Poke Bank on the eShop too strenuous for Nintendo that they can't release Super Mario Bros. 3 this week?
Updating Ninja Gaiden, and I guess that's it.
If the Lego movie game is anywhere near as good as Lego City undercover than it's worth a pick up. i'll have to see a review or an LP before i buy it though. it looks like bravely default all the way for me this week
Can someone who doesn't like the Grand Theft Auto series enjoy Retro City Rampage?
@GeminiSaint - definitely. Retro City Rampage is all sorts of amazing. I bought the Wii version (actually got the Wii version by buying the t shirt!) and I had so much fun with it. Truly brilliant. There are all sorts of gems there. Playing Bit Trip Runner for example within the game or actually using a 3D glasses with one mini game which was terrific.
I may pick up Ninja Gaiden just to see if I can still beat it ~20 years later. I'm not too hopeful...
Already ordered BD and I may even pick up Retro. I really should avoid the VC and Eshops until I clear out my backlog tho.
Sweet, been holding off of Ninja Gaiden on the 3DS for a Wii U release. Now hurry and get this to Europe too!
Already set to pick up Bravely Default tomorrow. May also need to pick up RCR:DX. Never played the Wiiware or Xbox arcade versions so now this could be my chance
Will get retro one of these days.
Nothing for me... I already pre-ordered Bravely Default Collectors Edition at gamestop so I'll be getting that tomorrow.
Has anybody else looked at "Percy's Predicament"? This game looks like something for the PS1. I'm all about buying indie games, but the indies have to actually put forth more effort than this. This is Bush League!
@Eisenbolan It's called a mistake. People have a tendancy to make those. Just email them and they'll fix it as soon as possible.
Nothing for me.,,perhaps, Retro City Rampage but not this week. I diving into PSN this week instead and there are no must haves on eShop this week.
Not a bad week though, it has been worse.
bravely default in 11hours 34mins and 24 seconds. gosh so near
Never even heard of Percy's Predicament, and given the amount of Nintendo site reading I do, that can't be a good sign.
It's Retro City Rampage for me!
EDIT: And physical Bravely Default, of course!
I'll be getting Bravely Default tomorrow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPnUrNZVVs
Well, this trailer for Percy's Predicament looks like a N64 game, but the gameplay is at least mildly interesting. Depending of the reviews, I think I may get this one in a future sale.
@XCWarrior I'm with you on that one. I will be grabbing Lego The Movie Videogame for Wii U at retail as well as Bravely Default. The charts would seem to indicate tgese games aren't that popular when in reality people are wanting the physical release. Reasons for this being fears of your console breaking and not having purchases transfer, as well as a preference for a disc when the eShop is shut down years from now and you are unable to re-download.
@ricklongo : thanks for that link. Percy doesn't look that bad at all. Why are people hating on this? It does look like an N64 game, which is actually sort of cool. I guess my biggest concern would be that some of the movements don't seem fluid, but that may be due to someone really sucking while playing in the trailer. 6 bucks ain't bad.
Every week I want SMB3 and every week it's not here. How hard can it be to put a rom of an nes game up?
No SMB 3, no money, Nintendo.
Mario bros 3, then i'll buy zelda link between wordls, then bravely default. Oh wait, i guess that means i won't be buying anything yet...
Usually look forward to seeing what's new when I wake up on Thursday but this week I've got all my hype piled into waking up on Friday.
At last, Bravely Default is coming.
u guys should get SMB 3 on WII boutique VC then transfer it to WII U for 1$ when they release it on WII U VC. i got it for free 6months ago ( i love club nintendo reward ^^ )
ninja gaiden, what else would i get?
@ricklongo: Thanks, looks cool. Yeah, it does resemble an N64 title. I may give it a shot.
@Cyberbotv2 : I assume b/c it looks bare bones graphically. I thing it looks good. & $6 isn't bad, depending on the game, though.
I'm also trying to save up for Shantae: Pirate's Curse.
Edit: I just took notice of Percy being on WU. My mind was saying 3DS e-Shop. Still, if it's a good game, graphics shouldn't matter too much. Although, I was ok with the graphics, due to my mind saying 3DS, not WU. Again though, as long as the gameplay is good, then it looks to be solid. There's quite a few things on the WU e-Shop that I would purchase, if I had a WU.
Not a bad week actually. Won't be getting anything though. May get Retro City later on when I get some extra cash and catch up on the 3DS titles I still want to get.
I am still waiting for Wii U VC games like Final Fantasy 3 (6) and Secret of Mana for NA. What is Nintendo's/Squenix's problem? The Wii had a lot more VC titles out by this time.
Really annoyed how the 3ds&wii u eshope are getting the same games.I already own ninja gaiden on 3ds,and it's a "new"release on wii u ?Its smb2 all over again.i Will be downloading retro city rampage,so that's my first eshope purchase in months.
nothing for me
Nothing, I buy my games on physical media and Bravely Default will exist that way on the 7th.
im actually going to get one piece but not until the price drops to below $20, just because i love the series so much. and i cant afford an imported 3ds to get the good one piece games. but for today its rcr:dx.
RCR DX for me, but I'm bummed SMB3 didn't come out yet.
I would buy RCRDX if I had the cash
@Unit_DTH Yeah, that looked positively pathetic. I mean, you're right, PS1 quality. Why would we pay for that? Super Monkey Ball and others do the same thing but in so many ways better :/
I'd get Retro City Rampage DX...if I had the money I'll keep an eye on it though!!!!!!
@Discostew Square Enix went from best to worst last time I think (Roughly). They have started doing stuff for the 3DS in Japan (Tatio NES games first then Square NES games just recently starting with a vertical shmup I had never heard of). Maybe they won't bother with anything that is on mobile though who knows.
Man, that Percy's Predicament looks dope! Takes me back to the days of the original Super Monkey Ball on the Cube. Super Monkey Ball has become a disappointment for the last decade or so. Uninspired levels and virtually no challenge have relegated the franchise to nothing more than an afterthought. But the first two? Masterpieces. This game looks to FINALLY provide more of what I used to love so much.
Got the Bravely Default Collector's Edition on the way in the mail, so no download needed. But man, I'm stoked for that Percy's Predicament game. Think I'll go download it right now as a matter of fact!
I want to get Retro City Rampage, but I feel like I'll be squinting to make things out on the original 3ds. Can anyone confirm that.
In 8 years we will have only 40% of the actual Wii VC in our Wii U VC.
Hurry up Nintendo, one VC (repeated) game each 2 weeks doesn´t help you.
I have seen or heard almost nothing on the new lego game. Can we assume that means that is a quickly made game to cash in on the movie, and really stinks? I hope not... my son loves the lego games...
RCR is a great title and definitely worth the ten dollars.
The VC needs a booster... but Ninja Gaiden is still a very solid game. I'd love to see them release the SNES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy but it's probably too good of a deal to offer it for 8 bucks.
This is why the recent news of DS titles making their way to the Wii U has me skeptical. They're barely maintaining the VC service as-is.
That Percy game looks like a PS1 game. I can't believe some of you are talking about buying it. Are you that starved for Wii-U games? As for the VC this week, it's terrible. They've got at least 6 different GB/GBC games waiting for release and they choose to release nothing. I don't even feel like complaining anymore, as it's getting old and it does no good.
@rjejr it's an old website, not the new one Nintendo hasn't updated the link on the site.
Bravely default and retro city rampage for moi.
The best Ninja Gaiden games are the Arcade and the Master System versions.
The Arcade because it was the original vision and the Master System version because of the speed and graphics. (Music isn't as good).
The only thing I want is SUPER MARIO BROS 3!!!!!! Hurry it up already.
@Nico07 I really wish people wouldn't use NeoGAF scare tactics regarding Nintendo and downloading. If your console, breaks the games don't go poof.. Nintendo has a process for restoring your games to a new device.
You know what's worse than that? A console without backwards compatibility so your purchased games really are stuck on that machine. I can play games I bought on wii ware on my Wii U...... Your comment might have had a point if Sony and MS had backwards compatibility.
I think it is time to finally try Retro City Rampage.
That 1 vote for One Piece: Romance Dawn was from me, i'm still looking forward to that, despite the reviews. I'm also going to get Retro City Rampage and the collectors edition of Bravely Default.
i already got what I wanted this week from the eshop so nothing in particular but I want to ask, if I didn't get too atached to GTA Chinatown will I have the same problem with Retro City Rampage? I feel like I need to download it but at the same time I don't wanna waste my money.
I might need to get that super penguin ball game, it looks like someone's side project that got published and I want to support that, plus monkey ball is amazing
@DarkEdi Assuming every game will be released for Wii U VC. Have you thought maybe most of them can't be released?
I'll take Bravely Default and Retro City.
RetroCity Rampage, yay!!!
I love the One Piece manga, so I would normally decide on Romance Dawn, but it got terrible reviews. Also, I'm excited for Bravely Default but I'm not getting it quite yet. Good week, though!
the only one im getting is retro city maybe bravely default.
@element187 Its a valid concern with some games already removed from the Wii eShop. No one knows when the Wii eShop will no longer be supported. If in 10 or 20 years I want to play MK64 on my Wii but my memory card went missing or was reformated I would be out of luck. Sony and Microsoft aren't any better though. Despite that I have already invested about 300 dollars in the Wii U eShop.
Looks like I'm downloading Bravely Default since that piece of trash Newegg.com website cancelled my Collector's Edition pre-order >:0
Well I got Retro City Rampage now, going to take time getting to use to the 3DS again.
The Lego Movie game didn't come in Europe today? I really hope TT strikes gold with that again. So many awesome Lego games, especially Lego City Undercover which is TT Fusion's masterpiece.
I bought Bravely Default and I'm trying to download it, but it's going nowhere. Empty chains and error code 007-2913.
Picked up Retro City Rampage DX yesterday, having a lot of fun with it.
@Steveovig Also, Ninja Gaiden looks like a NES game! You probably can't believe people are willing to buy that either, right?
@Kmno yes, Retro City Rampage is more addictive than GTA Chinatown and it has lots of content. Such as: barber shops to change hair style, hat stores to change hats, garages where you can paint cars and add guns to them, loads of story missions and side missions, a pretty big world with lots of secret places and items, and arcade buildings where you can play mini games with Super Meat Boy, Commander Video, and you can also play as them in free roam mode, including Steve from Minecraft!
@Hairmanban19 sound like a potential buy thanks man.
blah
@BinaryFragger thank you kind sir. I guess my faith in purchasing it has been restored!
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