Battleground Z

It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update to bring more treats to Wii U and 3DS. This week we have some Rare action on the Wii U, Smash Bros. DLC, StreetPass extras, another Sega classic and much more besides. Let's get to the details.

Missed the European Nintendo Download Update earlier this week? Oh no! Don't fret, the details are right here.

Wii U eShop

Word Search by POWGI (Lightwood Games, $7.99) - Promising more than 300 puzzles and 27 categories, this word search game utilises the GamePad for touch controls, while another four players can join in using Wii Remotes. We'll see how this word game defines itself for our review.

Tilelicious: Delicious Tiles (BattleLine Games, $5.99) - A puzzle title that taps into word and tile-play that's become hugely popular on smartphones, it brings a colourful aesthetic and a twist to gameplay; you're chasing a completion percentage rather than a high score. We weren't overly enamoured with this, and you can read why in our Tilelicious: Delicious Tiles review.

Wii U Virtual Console

Donkey Kong 64 (Nintendo, $9.99) - The steady influx of Nintendo 64 games onto the Wii U continues with this 3D platforming Collect-a-thon from Rare. It was a bold departure for the DK IP when originally released, with a hefty playable cast and a fair amount of re-traversal in order to collect everything needed for progress. Though still with its charms, we gave it no more than a reasonable recommendation in our Donkey Kong 64 review.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Paparazzi (Pringo Dingo, $2.99 until 28th April, normally $4.99)

Lucadian Chronicles DLC (Dark Roast Entertainment, $4.99 from 21st to 28th April, normally $7.99)

Costume Quest 2 (Midnight City, $9.99 from 17th to 24th April, normally $14.99)

Darts Up (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 14th May)

Wii U eShop Permanent Discount

Breezeblox (Pugsley LLC, $4.99, was $9.99)

Wii U Demo

Word Search by POWGI (Lightwood Games, free)

Wii U and 3DS Super Smash Bros. DLC

The first batch of paid-DLC arrives for Super Smash Bros., with the following options all available on a single copy or across both versions. If you buy a pack for both versions, you receive a download code for the second copy.

Mii Fighter Costume - Bundle #1 (Nintendo, $6.00 single platform or $9.20 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Cat Suit Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Dunban Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Link Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Majora's Mask (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Mega Man X Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Monkey Suit Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - Proto Man Set (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

Mii Fighter Costume - SSB T-Shirt (Nintendo, $0.75 single platform or $1.15 for both)

3DS eShop

3D Fantasy Zone II W (SEGA, $5.99) - This is a remaster (up to arcade standards) of the Master System title that followed the iconic arcade original. We're big fans of this one's predecessor and M2's work, and this'll have the usual stereoscopic 3D and extras, including an endless mode. We'll blast away some foes for a review.

A-Train: City Simulator (Natsume, $29.99) - If it's your dream to become CEO of a public transportation company, this may be the game for you. This one's all about resource and city management as you try to keep services running smoothly, while a map editor allows you to create your own challenges. We'll try to keep the trains running on time for our review.

Pazuru (Joindots, $5.99) - Another puzzle title to join the ranks in one of the eShop's most crowded genres, this one challenges you to manoeuvre a ball through a variety of tricky levels while manipulating the environment; you can also create and share stages with QR codes. We gave this a recommendation in our Pazuru review.

DOOORS (PUMO, $4.99) - This is an intriguing puzzle game that's previously done the rounds on smart devices, in which you solve different kinds of puzzles to get through the titled doors (or dooors). The puzzles will utilise standard button controls, but also the microphone and gyroscope on the 3DS. We'll bring you our review soon.

Word Search by POWGI (Lightwood Games, $7.99) - The portable iteration of the same release, albeit with differences in categories and an absence of multiplayer. We'll bring you a review soon.

3DS DLC

We will produce an impressions feature on these new StreetPass DLC games following release.

StreetPass Mii Plaza – Ultimate Angler (Nintendo, $4.99) - Each StreetPass hit earns you bait with which to fish, and you then set about catching more that 150 types of fish, buying new upgrades with money earned in the process.

StreetPass Mii Plaza – Battleground Z (Nintendo, $4.99) - Fellow 3DS owners give you weapons with a StreetPass hit, and you then set off to kill hoards of zombies. Naturally they'll be relatively cute zombies, but they're undead nevertheless.

StreetPass Mii Plaza – Pack 2: Ultimate Angler + Battleground Z (Nintendo, $7.99)

StreetPass Mii Plaza – StreetPass Mii Plaza Upgrade (Nintendo, $4.99) - On the surface this seems like a rather superficial purchase, opening up options such as recording birthdays and a 'VIP' area for up to 100 Mii characters. Like with all the StreetPass extras we'll take a look.

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Parking Star 3D (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 7th May)

Fairune (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 7th May)

Castle Conqueror EX (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 7th May)

Code of Princess (Atlus, on discount from 20th to 27th April)

Etrian Odyssey Untold: Millennium Girl (Atlus, on discount from 20th to 27th April)

Real Heroes Firefighter 3D (Reef Entertainment, $4.99 until 30th April, normally $9.99)

Darts Up 3D (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 14th May)

3DS Demos

Word Search by POWGI (Lightwood Games, free)

3DS HOME Theme

Yoshi's Springtime Siesta


As a reminder, there are only a few days remaining in the eShop Super Spring Sale, which ends on 20th April.

So there you have, North American gamers. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (331 votes)

  1. Word Search by POWGI (Wii U eShop)  0%
  2. Tilelicious: Delicious Tiles (Wii U eShop)  0%
  3. Donkey Kong 64 (Wii U Virtual Console)33%
  4. One of the Wii U eShop temporary discounts2%
  5. Breezeblox (Wii U eShop permanent discount)  0%
  6. Some Super Smash Bros. paid DLC9%
  7. 3D Fantasy Zone II W (3DS eShop)6%
  8. A-Train: City Simulator (3DS eShop)2%
  9. Pazuru (3DS eShop)  0%
  10. DOOORS (3DS eShop)1%
  11. Word Search by POWGI (3DS eShop)  0%
  12. One of the StreetPass DLC options24%
  13. One of the 3DS eShop temporary discounts2%
  14. One of the Word Search by POWGI demos2%
  15. Yoshi's Springtime Siesta (3DS HOME Theme)2%
  16. Nothing for me this week18%

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