It's time again for the Nintendo Download Update news, and this week's North American list brings us multiple new titles on the Wii U, along with some retro goodies to consider. There's also a free demo on 3DS, a host of discounts across both current-gen systems and even a DSiWare game. Let's get to it.
Did you miss the European Nintendo Download Update news earlier in the week? Don't fret, the details are right here, while there are plenty of additional discounts.
Wii U eShop
GAIABREAKER (Ubiquitous Entertainment, $14.99) — The scrolling shoot 'em up genre has been particularly absent on the Wii U eShop, even if the spherical approach of Nano Assault Neo throws up an excellent option. While this one gets attention almost be default as a result of the genre's absence on the store, we were left unimpressed in our GAIABREAKER review.
XType Plus (PhobosLab, $2.99 / $2.99 CAD) — This shoot 'em up comes courtesy of the Nintendo Web Framework, with PhobosLab also developing its own engine to allow easy coding in the platform. This simple but addictive shooter is also the finest Nintendo Web Framework game to date, with smooth gameplay and a one-more-game impact; we described it as the "Citizen Kane of Web Framework games" in our XType Plus review.
Soon Shine (Dahku Creations, $1.99) — This developer's second release on the Wii U eShop, this utilises tap and swipe controls on the Wii U GamePad touch screen. It's a fun if rather limited title, with plenty of details available in our Soon Shine review.
Wii U Virtual Console
Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge (Capcom, $7.99) — The second of this spin-off series to come to the Wii U via its Game Boy Advance library, this continues the same principles as its predecessor, though you're now battling through a tournament to win a rare Battle Chip. Expect more turn-based shenanigans, and we'll get working on a review.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Arc System Works. $4.99) — The iconic action beat 'em up series' second entry arrives on Wii U, with the grisly premise that you're now avenging a death rather than a kidnapping. Although it improves on some flaws in the original its far from perfect, though we gave it a cautious recommendation in our Double Dragon II: The Revenge review.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Gravity Badgers (Wales Interactive, $3.49 until 28th August, normally $4.99)
Hello Kitty Cruisers (Bergsala Lightweight, $9.99 from 18th August to 1st September, normally $19.95)
Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails (Dakko Dakko, $4.99 until 21st August, normally $9.99)
ZaciSa's Last Stand (ZeNfA Productions, $1.49 until 28th August, normally $2.99)
3DS eShop
Gothic Masquerade (Teyon, $4.99) — It's been an uncomfortable few weeks without a hidden object game on the 3DS eShop, but Teyon has fearlessly stepped forward with a new entry for eagle-eyed gamers. This apparently has over 1000 hidden objects across various environments, so we'll try to find them all in our review.
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Code of Princess (Atlus, on discount from 18th August to 1st September)
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl (Atlus, on discount from 18th August to 1st September)
Classic Games Overload (Telegames Inc, $19.99 until 4th September, normally $29.99)
Me & My Furry Patients 3D (TREVA Entertainment, $9.99 until 3rd September, normally $29.99)
Travel Adventures With Hello Kitty (Bergsala Lightweight, $9.99 from 18th August to 1st September, normally $19.99)
3DS eShop Permanent Discount
My Riding Stables 3D - Jumping for the Team (TREVA Entertainment, $15.99, was previously $29.99)
Riding Stables 3D (TREVA Entertainment, $15.99, was previously $19.99)
3DS eShop Demo
Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit (Majesco Entertainment, free)
DSiWare
Amida's Path (Collavier Corporation, 500 Nintendo Points) — This seems to incorporate an interesting gameplay mechanic where you draw lines within a traditional Japanese 'lottery' system, while also thinking strategically. That has us intrigued, as does the visual style, but we'll let you know what we think in our upcoming review.
That's everything for this time, North America. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.
What will you be downloading first this week? (272 votes)
- GAIABREAKER (Wii U eShop)
- XType Plus (Wii U eShop)
- Soon Shine (Wii U eShop)0%
- Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge (Wii U Virtual Console)
- Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Wii U Virtual Console)
- Gravity Badgers (Wii U eShop temporary discount)0%
- Hello Kitty Cruisers (Wii U eShop temporary discount)
- Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails (Wii U eShop temporary discount)
- ZaciSa's Last Stand (Wii U eShop temporary discount)
- Gothic Masquerade (3DS eShop)0%
- Code of Princess (3DS eShop temporary discount)
- Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millenium Girl (3DS eShop temporary discount)
- Classic Games Overload (3DS eShop temporary discount)0%
- Me & My Furry Patients 3D (3DS eShop temporary discount)0%
- Travel Adventures With Hello Kitty (3DS eShop temporary discount)0%
- My Riding Stables 3D - Jumping for the Team (3DS eShop permanent discount)0%
- Riding Stables 3D (3DS eShop permanent discount)0%
- Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appetit (3DS eShop demo)
- Amida's Path (DSiWare)
- Nothing for me this week
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Comments (110)
NoA sales:

Nuts, nothing for me this week.
@outburst Meanwhile US prices are typically lower than Europe's...
hhmmm...
Double dragon for Wii U VC: "The iconic action beat 'em up series receives its second entry on the portable's retro store"
I didn't know the Wii U was a portable
Scram Kitty!
X-Type I guess. Hard price to pass up.
@outburst Reggie doesn't want to hurt his bottom line with some good discounts. I'm starting not to like him.
Great I was about to pull the trigger on Scram Kitty anyway!
Confirmed future VC releases for Wii U......
GET Scram Kitty IF YOU DONT HAVE YET!!!
@Curly_Brace
I noticed that too. I guess they copy/pasted since it was already available on 3DS?
Unless you're a hello kitty fan, terrible week. Guess I'll pick up the cooking mama demo just for the heck of it.
Was expecting a sale like the one NOE did. Guess I didnt get my birthday wish.
Can anyone shed light how different this Megaman Battle chip game differs from Battle Network 1 or if its worth getting scince I already got MMBN1 last week.
another bad week, wish I had something new to play for my 3ds....
M-m-muh Megaman discounts?!
Hey! I've been saving lots of money since nothings been of my interest lately, I might be able to afford my 2 copies of Smash, both Pokemon games and Fantasy Life on release!
That's the bright side.
I'm eyeballing Amida's Path. Also, why is the European download of XType more than twice the size of it's NA counterpart?
Megaman and Scram Kitty for me. I never played this Battle Network spin-off, so I'm excited to try it!
I was hoping for Mega Man X3...Maybe next week.
Just so people know, I haven't heard good things about battle chip challenge...
I haven't tried it either though, so I guess I'll get it
Wow... oof... yikes and ugh...
@WaLzgi
I heard that the Taxes are included in your price where as in NA they are not and in EU, taxes are substantially higher.
Any word on that sweet Smash Bros themed discount for North America?
I'll wait until Mega Man 6 or X3 arrives.
There are some pretty good sales on the Wii U. I'll probably get Scram Kitty, and I might get ZaciSa and Gravity Badgers.
I was hoping we'd get the Child of Light discount as well. Bummer.
@gabopr75 It's your Birthday today? If it is, are you Ben(MudkipU) from Miiverse? :0
Well Nintendo, Thank you for helping me save money again this week!!! Looks like only Smash Bros. and Pokémon for me until next year, wink wink.
dang its 9:30 am, folks are already complaining lol.
go have breakfast or something.
Ok, North Americans, no excuses now. Go get Scram Kitty.
As for me, I will get Soon Shine and X Type.
@Curly_Brace he was referring to the Gamepad
I was hoping for Mysterious Castle of Murasmae on the WiiU. Maybe if Nintendo had made it an exclusive release they would have made the WiiU more appealing. Instead they insist on drip feeding us VC games that have been available everywhere for years.
@gabopr75 It's everyones birthday .
Pretty bad week; no 3DS virtual console?
This confirms that the Smash newcomer discounts won't be coming to NA for awhile, Battle Chip Challenge being the Mega Man title instead of 6.
Double Dragon II will a purchase for me, but XType Plus at least has my interest. However both will have to wait for my new HDD USB enclosure to arrive. My current old Maxtor HDD is starting to give out and while I have a replacement, I need an 2.5" enclosure for it.
It is good though to see more than a single VC game release, multiple eShop games arrive and Nintendo continuing to inform people of upcoming Virtual Console arrivals.
@Stu13 I read somewhere the file size are normally bigger because of all the different languages compared to the American version
Scram Kitty for me! I've been expecting the discount to come to the Americas.
Nintendo certainly jumbed at the opportunity to use Gamecom to promote the e-shop ... This is almost as a great as their Gamescom conference!
Alright, alright, I stop, but honestly, what are they doing? They started building some real good PR momentum with MK8 and a great showing at E3, now it is all radio silence? I don't get it!
@gabopr75 battlechip challenge is....uhh beyond different from battle network. From what I remember when it first came out it is that you battle on a single grid and its like a turn based battle system its been years since I played it but if you like the way battle network played look up some gameplay of battlechip challenge before you make a final decision
Pokemon-mon-mon-mon-mon-mon... Pokemon-mon-mon-mon-mon-mon... I just want the TCG to come the to 3DS eShop. Easy $5 or $6 from me, NOA!
Unless you are an avid Megaman fan, stay away from Battle Chip Challenge like the plague. In no way is it similar to the gameplay of Battle Network. It may be in the world of Battle Network, but it is a completely different game.
Let me pile on the love for Scram Kitty. A tough, unique game, w/ excellent tunes. Easily worth your $5.
Thanks NA, I didn't want to buy 6 mega man games all at once...
Let me throw in another "buy scram kitty" plug. Great and unique game. If you are on the fence, can't argue with a sale, now can you!
Will definitly pick up life force next week so at least I know I have something coming. Still waiting for bubble bobble and blaster master as my 2 remaining insta-buy wii u VC purchases.
Well... I can still patiently wait for Disney Infinity 2.0, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/Wii U, Sonic Boom, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.
I've been on the fence about Scram Kitty. This pushed me over...
Anyone without Scram Kitty should jump at that price.
Nothing for me again....
@ikki5 Sales taxes are usually 0%-10% depending on the state. For me, it's about 7%
Ooh! Lotsa good stuff to grab this week for shmup fans!
Definitely gonna grab Scram Kitty at the discount, and think about Gaiabreakers and X type when I see some reviews and footage.
Scram Kitty and XType both seem pretty interesting. Not a bad week depending on what kind of games you enjoy!
SHMUPS!!!!!!
Needed to be repeated.
@WaLzgi In Europe, the tax is substantially higher. For this sort of goods, in Portugal it is 23%. In the UK its 20%, afaik.
European State and societies are very different from the US, we have more welfare. Public and universal hospitals, schools,universities, radio and television, postal service, public transportation, unemployment aid, etc. So we pay more tax to get more in return.
Which is the better game: Gravity Badgers or Scram Kitty? I can't get both, as I only have $7 to spend.
@Porky @gabopr75 Happy Birthday you guys!!
I guess Scram Kitty is worth a shot for that price.
Even though I love the Megaman Battle Network series, I can't in good fate recommend Battle Chip Challenge. Pretty much just read, setup the battle chips, and watch them fight, that's mostly it. Way different gameplay.
@blaze8937. Thank you for the information. I defenetly will check that out. (: Thanks for answering.
@porky Yes it is turning 24
@Mus1cLov3r I am not him, My NNID is Heisenberg75
Scram Kitty for me. I've been wanting this anyways.
Everyone's birthday? Me too! Club Nintendo gave me 50 Stars.
Edit.
Also I wondered why there's a different background music on my wii u today with raining confetti.
@SuperMikey It's not my Birthday I was being sarcastic 'cause I see a post like that everyday on the internet lol.
I'm sad.
@Samurai_Goroh Politics aren't really being discussed here. We're simply comparing prices
@ChrisT99
I would say go with Scram Kitty. I would always recommend it over any other eShop game, but this sale make it a better deal, since a regular price GB is cheaper than a discounted SK.
Reviews were much kinder to Scram Kitty too.
@sinalefa - definitely picking up Scram Kitty today.
My E-Shop recommendations are:
Shovel Knight
Swords and Soldiers HD,
Pushmo World
Toki Tori
NES remix 1 +2
1001 Spikes
I called it; no Smash-themed discounts for us. **** you, Reggie!
Scram Kitty for me. I've been waiting because I have enough to play for now, but I can't ignore the sale.
I like sales but different markets use them for different reasons. If we aren't getting sales it means they aren't needed. That's partly because prices are already consistently lower and maybe the market is simply healthier. That's all good for those of use who want Nintendo to keep bringing us what we want.
Pokemon TCG, NAOW!!!
I need to get Scram Kitty for that price!
how come exactly how much Atlus's games have been discounted is never in the article?
Scram kitty, XType Plus,and Soon Shine are the only games that caught my eye this week.The rest meh.
Do these discounts take some time to actually take effect? I saw the scram kitty discount and rushed to my wii u to find it full price and became sad boy
euro sale going on with awesome titles
while north america gets a lot of Reggie jokes.
@WaLzgi The prices are a consequence of the politics. I think people underestimate the impact of politics on our everyday lives. But all right, lets talk about games. I didn't intend to annoy or disturb you.
What a lousy week for the 3DS. I was hoping to get Devil World on the 3DS.
@Benjaminitonio
This is posted before the stuff is actually updated and put on sale. Though if you checked not too long ago, it should be updated now. The E-shop would have updated 50 minutes ago.
Dang. I was hoping for Mega Man 6. Oh well, if nothing else, we got Double Dragon II.
@KnightRider666
Indeed, granted we got a Japan-only game last week, I'm not going to hold my breath for more Japan-only VC games anytime soon... (Some would require translating, something Nintendo's not willing to do, to sell a $5 game.)
Plus, "Devil World" might be to "controversial" for American audiences, especially those who always act offended by seeing a lower-case letter "T." I don't think it looks "offensive" to religious people though.
I kinda wish Nintendo wasn't so strict with their 1-2 games a week for Virtual Console policy... Seriously, I've been waiting for "Bubble Bobble," which has been out in Japan's 3DS VC sense October last year... (Not to mention, they have the entire "Donkey Kong Land" Gameboy trilogy, as well. I'll be amazed if we ever get those anytime soon.)
Not to mention "Blaster Master" took nearly 2 years to get here, as well. I hate to sound pessimistic, but at this rate we're lucky to get 1 VC games a week for either console...
@Ralek85 It hasn't been radio silence. They were at Comic-Con, they're at Gamescom even if there isn't a conference (one isn't really needed cause any new games would be for 3DS and then people would complain that they aren't focusing on Wii U), and they've kept the positive PR going with updates on Hyrule Warriors, Smash, and Pokemon ORAS.
Was hoping for either Mega Man X3 or Mega Man 7. Oh well, hopefully next week.
I'd say Scram Kitty is the game to get this week.
What a bunch of junk.
@Samurai_Goroh Let's not forget the American federal reserve bank bailing you guys out during the financial crisis. I know this is not a political website but remember that while enjoying all your free stuff.
Scram Kiltty for me. waiting on the review for X type, but will likely grab that too.
Solid week. Definitely gonna pick up Scram Kitty now. Xtype will be a future purchase.
@2Sang Don't know about Hello Kitty but Scram Kitty is pretty fun!
@brokenfang
NL's review is already done. There is a link in this same article. Nintendo World Report gave it an 8/10.
This is a another TERRIBLE week AGAIN! I guess Nintendon't want my money...

@outburst "Not my problem"
meh, just moar loving garbage this week!!! still waiting for steel empire to go on sale(i am NOT paying 30$ unless it includes all three versions!!!!)
I think I'll use my funds for Scarm Kitty, then I'll get Steamworld Dig on the 28th. I haven't played either of those, and I read they're good.
Terrible...
Please understand
I'm going to wait for a review on amidas. But other than that its been real slow on 3ds for quite a while. Well there are some great titles just a couple months away. I see Nintendo still has no intentions on blowing open the VC games on 3ds. VC guy in charge YOUR FIRED!
I've been waiting for a Scram Kitty discount, so I'll definitely be picking that up this week.
No Child of Light Sale.
No Smash Bros Sale.
The same handful of lousy games are perpetually on sale.
No retail game downloads at all.
No 3DS VC at all.
Two okay looking but overpriced Wii U VC games.
It’s a little sad that the NoA eShop has been so pathetic that the two Wii U VC games makes this a decent week, relatively speaking.
@sinalefa - I was going to ask you if we should get Kitty or not, guess I know your answer.
everyone knows the good games come out at holiday time because only mommy can buys games as presents
Disgaea 4 this week and Tales of Xillia 2 next, looks like Sony gets my money this month. ;P
Another week, still nothing.
@Mega719
well considering it has now been changed to "The iconic action beat 'em up series' second entry arrives on Wii U" after me and rdrunner1178 commented about it...
@sinalefa thanks for the heads up! i think i'll grab both. sale on 1, killer price on the other. win+win
@IceClimbers No, it's pretty much radio silence for Nintendo right now. I can't remember seeing even a handful of articles on Nintendo on the major news sites the last couple of days ... there were probably more Bloodborne-related articles than Nintendo ones. Maybe they kept their PR going, it is not just very effective then.
I really should stop reading the Nintendo Download for Europe. All it's doing is setting me up for disappointment later in the week. At least I get to save money!
I did get Scram Kitty with a free $5 voucher from the DDP though.
Scram Kitty during sale, and later on XType Plus, love me some SCHMUP action.
I'd love to get Scram Kitty, but I won't be able to since the discount ends the day before I return from my trip.
@rjejr
As with W101, I support the game almost as if I made it myself. I feel it is that good, unique, challenging, and bang for your buck. Just be warned that it can get tough in later stages, but that comes with the territory and the learning curve.
BTW, did you ever get Armillo, or are interested on it? I am currently playing Shovel Knight. There are tons of nice eShop games that help fill gaps in your calendar.
I picked up Soon Shine yesterday, reminded me of Solrock and Lunatone. Also seems like a game I could just play for bits of time in the gamepad only with headphones on.
Will probably get Scram Kitty this weekend too.
@sinalefa - Thanks for the feedback. As always you lost me at "challenging". Sad but true.
I don't think I've bought an eShop game since Child of Light, Sony has been pretty good w/ PS+ lately. So good on my PS3 that I have very little interest in purchasing a PS4. And despite my winter whining the Wii U line-up is better than PS4 this holiday. May get a Vita (PS) TV to try out some Vita games, if I can find enough that work. And that SSB red 3DS XL looked promising.
I am looking forward to Swords & Soldiers 2, that will be a Day 1 for me.
If Nintendo ever gets a PS+ like "Nintendo eSelects" or "Players eChoice" program I'm there.
@rjejr
I thought so, but I would rather tell you the truth than con you into buying the game, as good as I think it is. It won't mean anything if you can't play it. Maybe you can dig Armillo as I did not find it that hard.
@sinalefa - I was pretty close on armillo a few times, but those graphics are a bit too ugly. I just NOW remembered I need to get Guacamele (can't spell that either.) And Stick it to the Man looks fun and unique - I was a big fan of Psychonauts way back when.
Of course I just DL Dragon's Crown for PS3 so that should keep me busy for a little while. I didn't even know we were getting the PS3 version until about 2 hours ago. And I really want to play Papa & Yo (from the 99c sale). And Sly 4. After my PS+ ends after Thanksgiving I'll probably be spending more money on the eShop. Unless I spend it all on amiibo
Funny, I got Scram Kitty just before a discount. Oh, well.
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