Tipping Stars

It's time for more Nintendo Download Update treats, North American gamers, and this week brings the region its first cross-buy options on Nintendo's systems. We have Mario toys puzzling their way through levels and some rad pixelated skateboarding across Wii U and 3DS, while there are also discounts, updates, HOME themes and more to consider. Let's get to it.

Missed the European Download Update details earlier in the week? There's no need to run around the room wailing in despair, as you can still get all the info you need right here.

Wii U eShop

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Nintendo, $19.99 or free if you purchase the 3DS version and redeem the code provided) - Nintendo's first full cross-buy promotion in North America, this moves away from the 3D isometric approach of its immediate predecessor and returns to the series-standard 2D perspective. You solve a whole lot of levels by using various tools, and in this title the levels you create yourself are shared online and rated by others, with you being 'tipped' stars. You can see our review (in progress) right here.

OlliOlli (Curve Digital, $8.49 or free if you've already bought the 3DS version on the same Nintendo Network ID) - The popular twitch-reflex skateboarding title from Roll7 makes its way to Nintendo hardware, with a whole load of tricks, combos and grinds to master. It features tricky stages, online leaderboards and daily online challenges to take on, all with tight controls; critically acclaimed on PSN, we'll let you know how it stacks up on Wii U. You could always check out our preview while you wait.

Wii U Virtual Console

Sky Kid (Bandai Namco, $4.99) — This is a side-scrolling shooter that oozes 8-bit charm, with visuals and music typical of the early NES era. The downside for some will be that the charm may wear off rather quickly, with limited content held up by arcade-style looping levels. It's all down to whether you're a fan of these score-chasing arcade-type games, as we explained in our Sky Kid 3DS Virtual Console review.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Tengami (Nyamyam, $4.99 until 12th March, normally $9.99)

Master Reboot (Wales Interactive, $7.49 until 1st April, normally $14.99)

Darts Up (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 2nd April)

Rock Zombie (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 2nd April)

Spy Chameleon (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 2nd April)

PING 1.5+ (NAMI TENTOU MUSHI, $2.99 until 2nd April, normally $4.99)

The Letter (Treefall Studios on discount until 13th March)

Maze (Treefall Studios on discount until 13th March)

3DS eShop

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Nintendo, $19.99 or free if you purchase the Wii U version and redeem the code provided) - As per the Wii U entry but on the go, in its most basic terms, though it does utilise StreetPass for level sharing; you can see our in progress review of the 3DS version here.

OlliOlli (Curve Digital, $8.49 or free if you've already bought the 3DS version on the same Nintendo Network ID) - The same game on the go, this does have a slightly more zoomed out perspective, yet otherwise has all of the same dual screen and online features. We'll bring you a review soon, and also covered this portable entry in the preview linked above.

Proun+ (Engine Software, $5.99) - Originally on smart devices, this has a simple momentum-based concept in which you guide a ball along tricky on-rails courses, trying to avoid obstacles as your speed increases. It's a simple concept infused with stylish visuals and an excellent soundtrack - we'll bring you a review soon, but we certainly enjoyed our time with this in our Proun+ preview.

Zombie Incident (Coderchild, $1.99) - We now know that this is a retro-styled platformer that can run on the 8-bit MSX system, and our review is shuffling along. In the meantime, here's the plot: "Hamartia, the great citadel, became the symbol of human sin. After centuries of excesses its penance was going to come. In the darkness of the night, chaos invaded everything. Beasts started to scream. Nothing was like before! No one sane would go to that place." Crikey.

Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates, $14.99) - This is listed again by Nintendo due to a significant update that's gone live. Save data from the demo can be transferred, there's better performance and use of ZL and ZR to change weapons on the New Nintendo 3DS XL, and there's a new Boss Rush mission. We were big fans of this in our Azure Stiker Gunvolt review.

3DS Retail Downloads

Best of Casual Games (Bigben Interactive, $24.99)

Hollywood Fame: Hidden Object Adventure (Bigben Interactive, $24.99)

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

WAKEDAS (Circle Entertainment, on discount until 26th March)

Witch & Hero (Circle Entertainment, on discount until 26th March)

World Conqueror 3D (Circle Entertainment, on discount until 26th March)

Space Lift Danger Panic! (Springloaded, $1.99 until 20th March, normally $2.99)

Darts Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, $1.49 until 2nd April, normally $2.99)

AeternoBlade (Corecell Technology, $4.99 from 6th March to 27th March, normally $14.99)

3DS eShop Demo

Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates, free)

3DS HOME Themes

Kirby: Craft-Paper Part

Kirby: Sweet Gourmet Rac

Kirby: Stripes and a Smile

Azure Stiker Gunvolt: Sumeragi 7

That's your lot, North America. Let us know what you'll be downloading in the comments and poll below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (246 votes)

  1. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Wii U eShop)18%
  2. OlliOlli (Wii U eShop)10%
  3. Sky Kid (Wii U Virtual Console)  0.4%
  4. One of the Wii U eShop temporary discounts7%
  5. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (3DS eShop)6%
  6. OlliOlli (3DS eShop)2%
  7. Proun+ (3DS eShop)2%
  8. Zombie Incident (3DS eShop)1%
  9. Azure Striker Gunvolt (3DS eShop update)4%
  10. Best of Casual Games (3DS retail)  0%
  11. Hollywood Fame: Hidden Object Adventure (3DS retail)  0%
  12. One of the 3DS eShop temporary discounts2%
  13. Azure Striker Gunvolt (3DS eShop demo)11%
  14. One of the 3DS HOME themes5%
  15. Nothing for me this week30%

Please login to vote in this poll.