
It's the morning after the late night watching the Super Bowl, or just a normal Monday depending on your preferences, but nevertheless Nintendo of Europe's been so kind as to issue its Download Update details. It's an enticing week, with WayForward's third Shantae game finally hitting the region, more classic Mega Man, the eShop demo of a major Capcom title and much more besides. Let's get to it.
Wii U eShop
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (WayForward, €16.99 / £15.99) — The third entry in this popular series finally arrives, bringing with it more colourful Metroidvania adventure and action. This entry sees Shantae team-up with former nemesis Risky Boots to tackle a pirate foe, with exploration taking in a number of diverse islands: we gave this a hearty 9/10 recommendation in our Shantae and the Pirate's Curse review, and on Wii U this title boasts some relatively subtle HD improvements.
Alphadia Genesis (Natsume, €14.99 / £11.99) — An RPG that's already available on smartphones, this typically has a tale of two kingdoms with saving the world also part of the deal. It promises intense battles and dynamic camera angles among its features, but we found this somewhat generic when giving it a reasonable recommendation in our Alphadia Genesis review.
Frenchy Bird (Carbon Fire Studio, €1.99 / £1.79) - Another title inspired by the Flappy Bird craze of mid-2014, this is set in Paris with a semi-3D isometric perspective, while also throwing in leaderboards and Miiverse stamps. We'll see whether this soars or not in our review.
Wii U Virtual Console
Mega Man Zero 2 (Capcom, €6.99 / £6.29) - Picking up on events one year after its Game Boy Advance predecessor, this intriguing action spin-off learns some key lessons to improve on the original while maintaining plenty of the qualities that helped it stand out. We'll bring you a review soon.
Curve Studios Wii U Promotion
The following extra discount prices - above standard discounts - are available if you already own a Curve Studios game on the same Wii U - these are Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones, Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut, The Swapper and Thomas Was Alone.
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (€9.99 / £9.49 or €8.99 / £7.99 if you own another Curve Studios game, valid until 19th February, normally €13.99 / £12.99)
Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut (€8.99 / £7.49 or €7.49 / £6.49 if you own another Curve Studios game, valid until 19th February, normally €11.99 / £9.99)
The Swapper (€10.99 / £8.99 or €9.49 / £7.49 if you own another Curve Studios game, valid until 19th February, normally €14.99 / £11.99)
Thomas Was Alone (€5.99 / £4.99 or €4.99 / £4.49 if you own another Curve Studios game, valid until 19th February, normally €7.99 / £6.99)
Wii U eShop Temporary Discount
Darts Up (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49 / £1.34 until 26th February, normally €2.49 / £2.29)
3DS eShop
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (WayForward, €16.99 / £15.99) - The original format for this release, in this case showing off accomplished stereoscopic 3D. Aside from that it's the same fantastic game as on Wii U.
Best of Board Games - Mahjong (Bigben Interactive, €9.99 / £8.99) - More Mahjong for the 3DS, no doubt of the tile-matching Shanghai variety. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course, with this particular entry promising 60 boards in its 'Adventure Mode'. We'll see how it matches up to the competition in our review.
Best of Arcade Games - Brick Breaker (Bigben Interactive, €9.99 / £8.99) - Exactly as the title suggests, this aims to recreate the simple but fun arcade action of breaking bricks. There'll be 50 levels and little twist that allows you to control the ball directly in the final few seconds of a stage, but we'll see how this shapes up in a review.
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Football Up Online (EnjoyUp Games, €2.99 / £2.69 until 26th February, normally €3.99 / £3.59)
Darts Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, €0.99 / £0.89 until 26th February, normally €2.99 / £2.69)
Football Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, €1.99 / £1.57 until 26th February, normally €2.99 / £2.36)
3DS Demo
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Capcom, free)
WayForward Promotion
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (WayForward, €8.49 / £7.99 on the second format if you've already downloaded the game on your Wii U or 3DS)
3DS HOME Themes
NES Sword-swinging Link (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)
NES Samus Aran (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)
That's the full line-up for this week in Europe. Let us know what you'll be downloading in the poll and comments below.
What will you be downloading first this week? (222 votes)
- Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (Wii U eShop)
- Alphadia Genesis (Wii U eShop)0.9%
- Frenchy Bird (Wii U eShop)
- Mega Man Zero 2 (Wii U eShop)
- One or more of the Curve Studios discounts
- Darts Up (Wii U eShop temporary discount)0%
- Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (3DS eShop)
- Best of Board Games - Mahjong (3DS eShop)0.5%
- Best of Arcade Games - Brick Breaker0%
- Football Up Online (3DS eShop temporary discount)0.5%
- Darts Up 3D (3DS eShop temporary discount)0%
- Football Up 3D (3DS eShop temporary discount)0%
- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (3DS demo)
- NES Sword-swinging Link (3DS HOME Theme)
- NES Samus Aran (3DS HOME Theme)
- Nothing for me this week
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Comments 61
No Wii game option. Dissapointing.
But not too dissapointing, got plenty of stuff toget through
Frenchy Bird! Yesssss!!!!!
Is that a joke 33% for frenchy bird wtf!
Isn't there a Wii game this week? I thought it was a weekly thing, they showed off enough during the Nintendo Direct so I know they've got a lot more to come.
No Punch Out!!!? Just MMZero2 for this week. I'll get Shantae when my N3DS arrives since they say it's the superior version than the Wii U.
I got Stealth Inc 2 day one but I've already lost interest on The Swapper. The other 2 are just not my type of game.
@FragRed I'm a little surprised too, but hopefully the Wii games will start again next week.
@PinkSpider No Joke!
Where is my Kirby Wii game?
Well I'm only interested in wii sin and punishment, as this and pandoras tower are the only two gamepad wii titles.
Shantae seems a bit steep I was hopping for £9.99-£11.99 will wait til sale in four weeks time
It's all about Shantae this week. But is it the 3D portability version or the HD one. Hmmm.........
Cool that Shantae is coming out finally. I wonder how long still until Half-Genie Hero is ready?
Also I really hope Jools Watsham would be more open about the European releases of Moon Chronicles and the still missing Mutant Mudds Deluxe on Wii U.
I do remember Renegade Kid promising that Moon Chronicles will be released in Europe when all the episode are done and the rest of the episodes are now done and coming out this week in North America.
Shantae for me... but when it's on sale.
@Thestarskyeffec
Yeah I was expecting the 2nd GBAvania as well and the 3rd one next week.
Shantae.. finally. Unfortunately, it arrives the day I'm going to my cousins place so I'll start playing it on sunday.
Is Mega Man Zero 2 as brutal as the first one? Does it have that weird system with extra lives where it won't give you new ones after game over, but stays at zero (heh) until you find more extra lives from levels?
you guys messed up the links for curve studios download, please help this bring attention to the NL team.
Nothing.
Shantae is too expensive, not going to play it soon anyway, so I'll see and wait.
I own Stealth Inc. 2 but I've already played the other three un the Vita thanks to my PPlus subscription, boy, to buy these titles at the discounted price nearly matches the annual cost of the Plus...
Nothing for me this week after the last Thursday madness!
No Wii games? A pause is not too bad since we don't even have the time to play them! They should release them one every two weeks...
@Luffymcduck - Only on a harder difficulty then it appears to have a challenge. And it's an OK change of pace when actually gaining something after beating bosses like a new ability for a combo and new Zero colors. I don't remember playing after I completed the game so I can't tell if that thing still popped up afterwards.
Stealth Inc. 2 is a must for anyone who like really good Wii U games.
@BensonUii I actually think the Wii U version is the superior one personally haha.
I will be taking advantage of the Curve Studio promotion but I have yet to buy any of their titles.I'm a little confused about how it works though?Could I buy 1 at the new standard discounted price on Thursday and still be entitled to the further discount on another or would I already need to own it at full price?
Shantae, of course.
hmm I expected shantae to be a bit cheaper maybe I will wait a bit but idk I love those little animated boobs eh I mean sprite animations.
Very odd re the Wii games, but sure what do you expect. Nintendo lose interest on their VC very qiickly, so, this is no different. Shame. They could make so much money from idiots like me.
Count me out until I get a proper "Reach" Mahjong game. I wouldn't touch Shanghai Mahjong with a 20-foot pole if my life depended on it.
@conman2012 ikr, i have the whole metroid prime trilogy to go through, im still at MP1
I have a feeling that when the Wii games do make a return it will be at the normal price unfortunately.
Im kinda hoping thwt wayforward shantae deal comes west
I'm so disappointed in this community seeing the lack of Frenchy Bird love... /s
Where is the virtual console on the 3DS? And i thought we where getting those new 3D Classics from M2? Come on Nintendo i got money to spend haha! And the Monster Hunter Demo is already availeble for download i saw it in the E-Shop yesterday
The curve studios promo for me, i think shantae is priced a bit too high, i will get that on sale in a few months
@OorWullie
I agree. The pause could mean that they are discontinuing the launch promotion when they again start releasing Wii games. The first 3 were the only one getting discounted as what I've understand on the Direct anyway. I hope we're wrong. I'm not buying them at full price if I have those discs or I'm not that interested in the game. The only ones I'd buy full price will be Pikmin 1&2 to complete the trilogy.
Shantae. I can't make my mind up. The game sounds ok, but the price for a download...I not convinced.
Once played, its stuck on the 3ds with no trade in value. No one else can play it unless you are willing to give up you 3ds for a time.
........ and why is it a download? Not quite good enough, or long enough for a hard release, even at a budget price.
Under a tenner maybe, but it is way over priced at £15.99. But I guess it will be reduced in a few months.
Shantae is too expensive but I will DL the WiiU version. Already have all those really good Curve games (recommended) bar lone survivor
Poor week in my opinion.
does nintendo hate the 3ds virtual console now,no gameboy/color games or even nes games for weeks now,they are sitting on a goldmine,they must hate money
I really want Shantae but that price just kills it for me. Still playing through Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta, Smash, Pokémon, and more, so it's not like I don't have anything to play right now.
£16 for Shantae?!?!?!
Guess I'll be waiting a few months more then, that price is just insane.
Get Lone Survivor: Directors Cut at that price people.
What know Wii game, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse to pricey for my tastes will wait for a further discount i think.
@Pahvi I thought the same when I read that line. ;_;
Oh sweet! MH4 demo!
This week's offering is great.
Probably Lone Survivor for me. I loved Stealth Inc. 2 and The Swapper was also pretty good. Curve Studios deserve my support. I'll also add Shantae to my wish list and wait for a sale.
More Mega Man for me, that said I'm disappointed Nintendo didn't choose to release the next Wii game (Kirby's Adventure Wii) as that game is still very expensive.
No digital Wii game in Europe this week?
A little weird that I got the HD upcoming Shantae through kickstarter for $15, but this one's $20, when there's a lot less costs involved...
I'd have bought Shantae at full price on Wii U, but with more amiibo, the New 3DS XL, Monster Hunter 4 and Zelda Majora's Mask 3D all launching soon then it's going to have to wait. As much as Nintendo would like to think otherwise, I'd not made of cash.
I've already got Stealth 2, and the other 3 I've got via PS+, so sadly I have to say 'nothing ' for me this week
Ah screw Wii games, double Shantae for me.
Jeez, Shantae. You're not THAT good.
I would be all over Shantae and the Pirate's Curse...if it weren't for the huge story gap on the Aussie DSi Shop and eShop.
I'm getting one or more Curve Studio games.
No Wii digital games this week?
Nothing particularly wrong with this weeks offerings, some cute colorful games to be had but it's becoming frustrating though that ur more likely to see a GBA game for download then a full blown arcade classic. Games like Marvel vs Capcom and Street Fighter 3 that were available for download on last gen consoles still haven't appeared on Wii U, playing GBA games is cool but the Wii U is a home console, there are so many great games that i would download if only they were made available on the VC or eShop. The Wii U VC just seems more and more to be directed at handheld gamers, why is Nintendo trying to turn the Wii U into a semi Gameboy. Nintendo already has a load of handheld systems why can't they let the Wii U be a home system. that's what it was supposed to be.
With the variety and choice of games that were available on the original Wii VC it was thought (even expected) that the Wii U VC would be a retro game collectors holy grail, a one stop shop, It hasn't quite worked out that way though. If your a lover of all things Nintendo the Wii U is probably the best console ever, if ur a gamer though who likes a little bit of everything ur going to be a little bit left out this time around. While the Wii U with it's VC and eShop are good it could definitely be better, the orginal Wii VC showed us that already, all it takes is a little more choice. The Wii U should at least try to be that one stop shop, i like Nintendo but GBA on a home console is not enough, it's 2015.
all rubbish as usual
Shantae all the way baby!!
Monster Hunter 4 eshop demo got 30 times use limit right?
16 quid for Shantae? After all the delays? After I bought Shovel Knight for less? Gunman Clive 2 for almost nothing? After I've gotten underway with Citizens of Earth? After borrowing Ocarina from a friend?
No. Thanks, but no.
When it drops below 10 quid I'll reconsider.
I this the demo is free play no uses rectriction?
Shantae! Not buying it though, way too expensive for for what kind of game it is. Happy to say I'm playing Metroid Prime trilogy and thus won't be downloading anything soon anyway.
So there aren't any other wii-game dates planned?
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