
It's Nintendo Download Update day, and as usual we now have the North American details. It's a busy line-up with three interesting Wii U eShop titles, two popular franchises on the Virtual Console, some discounts and another hefty batch of DSiWare. Yep... DSiWare. So, let's get to the details.
Missed the European Nintendo Download details earlier in the week? How silly of you. Never mind, though, the information you need is right here.
Wii U eShop
Art Academy: Home Studio (Nintendo, $29.99 or $25.99 with Art Academy: SketchPad on the same Wii U system) - The first home console Art Academy title, this takes advantage of the sizeable touch screen on the Wii U GamePad to deliver an exceptional drawing experience. There are lessons to help newcomers learn the craft, while online sharing options thankfully step up a notch with YouTube uploads and Miiverse. We gave this a glowing recommendation in our Art Academy: Home Studio review.
Shiftlings (Sierra Entertainment, $14.99) - A rather flashy co-op platformer that previously arrived on PC, this features two alien brothers that need to tackle a whole load of puzzle-based levels; they're tethered together and alternate between being inflated and being fully mobile. This can be played solo or in two player co-op, and we'll let you know what we think in a review.
Never Alone (E-Line Media, $14.99) - A puzzle platformer playable in single player or two player co-op, this follows the adventures of Iñupiaq girl Nuna and her companion, an Arctic fox, as they attempt to find the source of the "eternal blizzard". This is full of rich history that's wonderfully presented, but we feel that there are notable design and technical issues with this Wii U version - check out our Never Alone review for details.
Wii U Virtual Console
Star Fox Command (Nintendo, $9.99) - This DS entry in the iconic series is a little different from its contemporaries, splitting play between tactical battles on the touchscreen and free roaming battles. With plenty of characters and multiple endings this could offer a lot of content, though we expect that multiplayer modes will be a no-go. We'll take to the skies in this, but until then you can read our recommendation in our original Star Fox Command review.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (Nintendo, $9.99) - Another DS title picking up on E3 reveals, this is another entry in the quirky and charming AlphaDream RPG series. In this case Mario & Luigi meet up with baby versions of themselves, with plenty of wit and shenanigans taking place as a result. We'll dive in to review this once again, but until then you can check out the hearty recommendation in our original Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time review.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Puzzle Monkeys (Log Games, $1.49 until 23rd July, normally $2.99)
Baila Latino (O2 Games, $19.90 until 14th July, normally $29.90)
Stone Shire (Finger Gun Games, $3.99 until 1st August, normally $7.99)
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains (Atlus, $29.99 until 14th July, normally $39.99)
3D Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA, on discount until 2nd July)
3D Streets of Rage (SEGA, on discount until 2nd July)
Aqua Moto Racing 3D (Zordix AB, $3.99 until 2nd July, normally $7.99)
3DS eShop Permanent Discounts
Big Hero 6 Battle in the Bay (GameMill Entertainment, $19.99 from 26th June, normally $29.99)
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars (Atlus, $29.99 from 29th June, normally $39.99)
Pyramids (Enjoy Gaming, $1.99, was $3.99)
3DS HOME Themes
- Comic Workshop 2: My Workshop
- Harvest Moon: Chicken
- Harvest Moon: Cow
- Harvest Moon: Dog
- Harvest Moon: Horse
- Harvest Moon: Theme Bundle
DSiWare
G.G Series NYOKKI (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - You guide the weird little Nyokki around simple stages to grab food - we'll devour this for a review.
G.G Series THROW OUT (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - This is futuristic 4 vs 4 Robot handball which, oddly, looks promisingly like a scaled back Speedball. We'll smash some fools and score for a review.
G.G Series AIR PINBALL HOCKEY (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - It is exactly what it sounds like, but with bumpers and SMASH moves thrown in; we'll pretend we're in a slightly sticky leisure centre and have a few matches for review.
G.G Series VERTEX (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - The tagline for this says "Polygons and vertices!". We have no idea how this game is supposed to work.
G.G Series GREAT WHIP ADVENTURE (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - Looks like an old-school puzzle platformer with simply stages, so we'll pretend to be Indiana Jones and work on a review.
G.G Series ENERGY CHAIN (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - Looks like a mix between Dr. Mario and Tetris, sort of. We'll write a... you know the drill by now.
G.G Series THE LAST KNIGHT (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - This appears to be a hack-and-slash dungeon type game, which we'll review because we love DSiWare in 2015.
G.G Series RUN & STRIKE (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - When young and with no friends that liked tennis your humble writer used to play alone by hitting a ball against a wall. This is a video game of that thrilling activity.
G.G Series DRILLING ATTACK!! (Genterprise, 200 Nintendo Points) - The title has two exclamation marks, so must be fun - it appears to be a budget version of Boulder Dash.
That's the full North American line-up for this week - let us know what you'll be downloading in the poll and comments below.
Comments 139
nothing...
What a weak week
Did you see what I did there?
So much G.G. Series stuff lately. Whew, they've been busy, haha.
Getting Art Academy: Home Studio
@Savino
Or StarFox 2.
Why do you write TBC (To Be Continued)? :L I kinda want to catch up on all the indie stuff on the Wii U shop, so maybe I'll get Never Alone.
What an awful week for 3DS owners.
However, if anyone doesn't have those Sega 3D Classics, now would be a great chance to get them on sale.
With the G.G Series games not released in Canada that means there's nothing new on 3DS this week. Nintendo has really stopped trying with it. No more VC and a week with no releases. So sad.
Since it's on sale, I'm thinking of finally getting 3D Streets of Rage.
Gonna get me Partners in Time later today when the eShop updates.
I'll probobly grab mario and luigi, isnt it way overpriced on amazon?
If the discount is generous, I might go for Sonic 3D. Already have Street of Rage (and love it).
I just bought Star Fox Command at Gamestop for 4.99 (no case) so I guess I'll skip the download purchase.
@Savino I'm not sure why but Nintendo hasn't re-released the original Star Fox since Star Fox 64 came out. I've heard something about it being challenging to emulate but considering what amateur emulators can accomplish I'm not sure why professional ones would be so lacking. Sad for me since there was something about that game that relaxed me like none other - I do still have my SNES cartridge but lack the SNES to play it on.
I wish they'd bring GCN games to Wii U. I want to play Assault again.
The Sega 3d Classics for me. Happens to be the last 2 I need! How sweet it is!
I'll get Partners in Time after I finish the first one.
Attack on Titan must be doing horrible to already be in sale.
I may get Stone Shire also. Im also waiting on Gotcha Racing which is due in a couple weeks.
G.G Series VERTEX: "We have no idea how this game is supposed to work."
Gee, THAT sounds promising.
Partners in Time...I love Mario RPGs, but this one I personally did not like at all.
What's the download file size for M&L: PiT?
@Spoony_Tech keep your eyes peeled for gotcha racing in a couple weeks! Should be about 4.99 unless natsume jacks up the price.
I'm gonna have to pull the trigger on those SEGA 3D classics on sale. I already have Partners in Time and Star Fox on DS so I'll probably pass on those but both are great games. SF Command is such an underrated title, more people should give that one a go.
I'm buying every Harvest Moon theme.
Art Academy for me. Four words I thought I'd never utter but it just looks that good.
I dislike having to vote "nothing for me..." For yet another week. about a year ago I was talking smack about all those folk that voted as such... Now here I am, doing the same thanks Nintendo, but let's try this again next week, with feeling!
You Americans and your DSi Ware, it's hilarious.
Seems like all of these DSi Ware titles were released over a long period in Japan and now they're just throwing them in batches on the US eShop.
@Savino Probably because they want you to buy Star Fox on 3DS.
Star Fox Command has me interested, but with no extra funds for a while it is nothing for me.
@manu0 I am more than a little curious about the "DSiware" that is being released in 2015. Partially because I am not sure who is still buying the stuff and partially because who still sees it as a viable market?
A StarFox game and a M&L game in the same week, Art Academy, and a sale on a couple of good Sega 3D Classics. Just because you don't happen to want any of that doesn't make it a bad week.
@Savino @Kaihaku The reason the original Star Fox isn't available on VC is, because of the Super FX chip. It's not a emulation problem, it's a licensing issue. That's also the reason we never got the original Yoshi's Island, but only the GBA remake.
@Fillytase To Be Confirmed. As in the price isn't confirmed yet.
I actually liked star fox command and have been wanting to replay it so I'll get that. Hopefully this is the first of many weeks to have star fox games
I have a copy of Command from back in the day. I didnt like the strategy segments but the multiplayer was fun. If the online works on wii u I'll consider buying it again.
I recently got a used version of Command so I don't think I'll get anything. Maybe 3D Sonic.
@Sanicranfast Then why did they release Donkey Kong Country Returns on Wii Digital Software in Japan and Europe if that game has a 3DS remake?
@Spoony_Tech Took the words right out of my mouth. I haven't watched the series, so I only had the game footage to go by. And I wasn't impressed at all.
@SirQuincealot I got it for like $9 a few months ago - I'm playing it for the first time right now - not sure if I want to get it for the Wii U or not - I'll probably get it eventually. I love the Mario and Luigi Series.
Star Fox Command's the only one in the series I haven't played--aside from Zero of course --so I'm definitely going for that.
Getting the dog and cow themes!! Just to let you guys know, the themes are 99 cents each, or 2.99 for the bundle.
Depending on the discount though, I may have enough to get SoR and a theme instead. If not, I'll just get the two themes.
@Kaihaku I still have the cartridge too, but no system I'm pretty sure Argonaut owns part (or all) of the SFX chip, and this copyright issue is preventing the game from being released digitally. Either that or the composer (who made one of the best soundtracks ever made BTW) has something to do with it.
I'm getting Never Alone, but I'll wait until I finish EarthBound Beginnings. Hopefully a patch will have come out by then.
Art Academy! Happy for this software update.
Mario & Luigi for me Missed it when it was originally released. Now I can finally play it! Really excited for this one.
When is the patch for preload for art academy supposed to go live? When the shop usually updates?
I'll be picking up both WiiU VC games, 3D Streets of Rage, and probably Art Academy. Pretty nice lineup for this week, wasnt expecting much
Partners in Time for me, it's the only one in the series I haven't played yet, That and Dream Team, though I'll get that one some time before Paper Jam.
M**********!!!!!!!!
I just bought Attack on Titan 2 days ago and NOW it drops!
Ninty is refusing to re-credit the $10.oo...
That is absolute honey boo boo!
They said that If I were to go into a store, buy something and the price drops a week later you wouldn't get the price adjusted. I told them that that isn't true at all.
@scamander I'm always seeing people say this is the reason, but has this ever been confirmed? Or are people just speculating? I'm not saying it's not true, but until I see some sort of confirmation, I will remain very skeptical. Personally, I think it's just "one of those things" and we will end up seeing it eventually.
Remember those downloadable Wii games? That was pretty cool while it lasted.
Pepridge Farm remembers!
@Donjwolf The music probably has nothing to do with it since some of it is in Smash Bros.
What about Star Fox (SNES) and Star Fox 64???
I would download both of those in a heartbeat!
Nothing for me!
Star Fox Command and Mario & Luigi Partners in Time I already own and will just play on one of my DSi XL's or 3DS XL's - no reason to buy and play on Wii U.
@Kaihaku They can't post games that use the superFX chip.
@Savino SF1- The FX chip. Hence why we only have the GBA version of Yoshi's Island thus far.
SF64- Could be coming but with Zero being somewhat an "reimagining" and Nintendo would rather you'd download the 3DS Remake on the 3DS for $40 or whatever it costs, I hope that doesnt hurt its chances of coming to VC... :/
@Iggly I only came close to beating Partners in Time, and just picked up Dream Team a few days ago. I'm definitely enjoying all the familiar faces that pop up every now and then.
Hopefully Bowser's Inside Story comes soon; I never got deep into that one.
Whoa, Star Fox Command and Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time? I might have to get both!
A whole lot of nothing. Partners in time blew compared to the previous AND the next game. Ugh, what shoddy releases...
Time to put zero mission on a milk carton.
@Gold_Ranger It happens to everyone. Get over it. Nintendo customer service can be pretty generous sometimes, but you'd have a hard time convincing even them to do that for you.
Might use this opportunity to pick up Streets of Rage 3D.
Nothing for me...
I'll get the harvest moon themes and maybe 3D sonic.
@Yorumi But why would you want to play a handheld game on a handheld console?
Wow Atlus, seriously... Attack on Titan is already on discount? That game just released like one month ago.
Didn't everyone hate starfox command? I never played it but every time it's mentioned people seem to get angry.
Does anyone know if Starwhal is still coming to WiiU?
Ooh, Star Fox Command. I've never had a chance to play that.
@Ryu_Niiyama
Why not??
@sonicmeerkat StarFox Command is pretty different, but I enjoyed it. They basically tried to make a game out of everyone's favorite SF64 level and it wasn't the best but plenty of people enjoyed it. It's worth playing if only for all the different endings you can get.
While I loved Partners in Time and still have it to this day, I sold SF Command a few years back. I regret nothing.
I sort of hope there's a discount on Codename STEAM soon as I'd really like to use my Marth and Ike amiibo.
@Fillytase When Nintendo's site doesn't give price (TBC = to be confirmed)
I would think that Nintendo would want to release the best, most well-loved Star Fox games on the VC to get people pumped up for the new one (especially in light of the fact that hands-on impressions of the new one are mixed). Why release the least liked game from the series that plays nothing like the others (not counting Adventure)? Maybe this is just the first of several VC releases...but I kinda doubt it.
Hmm. The one game I simply refused to pay $39.99 for was Attack on Titan:HiC. I love the anime, and I feel the gameplay, especially the online modes (I hope people are playing it), really make the game a worthy purchase, but I'm fighting a backlog of games and only have so much $$ to go around. But I may just bite for $29.99, we'll see. I wish the G.G games had come when I truly needed them back when I had a DSi. Again, against my backlog, despite them being only $2, I can't put in the time for some of these simple pleasures (some of them are real diamonds in the rough, DSiWare games or not). Lastly, Never Alone. I'm very disappointed that the game is so buggy on Wii U; apparently it wasn't this way on other systems. I moved it to the top of my want list cause I love the type of game it is, but I will drop it to the bottom and await a patch before I get hyped about it again. Maybe it'll even have a price drop at that time.
RIP 3DS VC
Meh...
Art Academy: Home Studio (Wii U eShop)
OK, all prices updated now, plus the SEGA 3D deal details are up, which I've posted here - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/06/eight_sega_3d_classics_get_discounts_in_north_america
@Yorumi True but this IS Nintendo we're talking about. They could try and sort any legal issues out with SF in time for the release of Zero but meh.
Just normal VC pricey mumbo jumbo. Europe gets Brain Training today...and that's a game you can find for a pound in a lot of charity shops, hence no wonder they offered it for free last year... XD
I ended up getting the dog theme and HM DLC so I'll get the cow theme some other time.
Is star fox command worth getting on the wiiU? Is there a way to play ds games multiplayer on wiiU? Would it make more sense to get it for ds?
Also, give us zero mission already... at least as an apology for federation force!
GameStop sells Star Fox: Command pre-owned for $5, and that includes the multiplayer, as well as the luxury of portability. Now why on earth would I buy a stripped-down version on the Wii U for double the price?!
@Kaihaku N64 games have always been tricky to emulate properly. Amateur emulators can't run all games perfectly, and some of the more popular games have all sorts of issues. I still own my original N64 and games but I HATE the analog stick. GameCube and onward have spoiled me rotten.
@Jason723 yeah, sad thing was some people were hyping it up. lmao
why would I want it on my U, when i can play my vastly superior 3DS copy... like what?
I think Some of the NL staff where hyping it like the 3DS copy didn't exist. It DOES EXIST I got it free form CN.
@BooJoh Well you don't seem angry about it, meh maybe some day in the far future.
I see the updated list of SEGA discounts, but the only one's I'm really looking for are After Burner II and Outrun. When those discount hit, let me know
Bought all eight on sale Sega 3D classics. I was gonna buy a few soon anyway but looks like the timing was in my favor.
I'm tempted to get Attack on Titan, but I haven't touched my 3DS in a while. Guess I'm not too fond of handhelds after all. As much as I love my 3DS and Vita, I'd much rather play on the big screen.
Besides, I have J-Stars coming next week to my PS4, and that I can't miss!
Wow, this is a good week. Star Fox Command AND Partner's in Time.
@Heiki I'll be getting J-stars as well.
I actually wasn't aware that those 3D Classics had been released at all yet. I think now woill be the best time to get them...!
Gonna go to town with Art Academy!
It's been "coming soon" for two years now, so I'm pretty excited to see how it's ended up.
Oh wait, I thought that said that Sonic 2 and Streets of Rage 2 both got released AND discounted! Whoops...maybe nothing this week, though I don't have 3D Streets of Rage or Space Harrier yet, so...
More DSiware? Seriously??? When are we ever going to see the VC on the 3DS again???
@MikeW Argonaut Games made the SuperFX chip...they went under I think a decade ago. Supposedly Nintendo doesn't have the legal ownership of the chip to emulate it. Although to be honest even the third party emulators have issues with it sometimes. I've seen both zsnes and snes9x flicker when playing superfx games. Nintendo could do a gba-esque remake like they did with yoshi's island but I don't think that would be a financially viable option for them. But hey with them bringing Mother out of moth balls they may decide the customer good will is worth the money they may lose out on this.
Attack on Titan still damn overpriced for a digital-only title.
@Ryu_Niiyama Has it ever actually been stated that Nintendo doesn't have legal ownership of the chip and this is the reason why the games aren't on the VC? I haven't seen anything saying that. I know that people speculate that that's the reason why, but I don't really believe it myself.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@Yorumi Exactly. I'm not even so sure that it would have been an issue anyway, though it certainly could have been. I'm no legal expert, ha. But it seems just as likely to me, if not more likely, that the lack of Star Fox on the VC is just Nintendo being Nintendo.
Nothing for me. Probably a good thing, since I blew all my Eshop credit on Smash DLC.
So we 3ds owners don't get the mario and Luigi ds game, but more crap. It's a virtual crap festival. Wowser.
Nope, I won't understand. Even if you say please.
Nintendolife is never gonna review that DSiWare. Honestly, there have been a few very fun titles from the G.G. Series.
Now when can we get Medabots on VC already, Natsume?! You said June!
They're never going to review the GG stuff because there's so many and they're all mostly poorly rated and barely downloaded.
No Kirby 64 NoA, are you sure?
k.
When I saw "Star Fox and Mario & Luigi DS games!" I thought we were going to get Bowser's Inside Story as well. Oh well, I can still hope.
@KnightRider666 But nintendo didn't make the DSiWare games, they just approved them to go onto the shop channel.
@BooJoh
Agreed.
This is a really great week.
At this point I'm convinced that Nintendo forgot the 3DS eShop is a thing.
And I really enjoyes Partners in Time. I'm surprised to hear it's so hated here...
I wonder when , or if, they will release more N64 games
3D Streets of Rage for me. One of the few classic games I never got a chance to play. I think the sequel comes out soon so this is perfect timing!
@3DSWiiUFanatic you and me both!!
@Ryu_Niiyama This Sfx Chip business really came back to bite Nintendo in the butt! And I'm dying to get Yoshi's Island but I want the SNES original, not the GBA version...
People are still making DSiWare games...?
Okay then... I'll just shuffle away awkwardly...
@StephenYap3 I struggled with the control scheme. Mario, Luigi, and babies each had their own buttons, and the grinding in that game specifically was excessive. I disctinctly remember spending two hours playing against a worm/catapillar/whatever boss. I was stupidly attacking it while it was healing itself, adding HP instead of subtracting. I finally realised what I was doing and defeated it. No offense to anyone, win or lose, no boss battle should last that long.
Regretably, I used an Action Replay to boost my attack power to 999. Even then, the batles drug on. After beating the final boss and completing the main story, I had little desire to look at it again. Bowser's Inside Story, the original M&L, and Dream Team I never had issues with, but juggling 4 characters simultaneously was a bit much, in addition to the constant grinding. Story was okay, but compared with Bowser's Inside Story or M&L, I cannot recommend it.
@cbkummer Better than what was shown at E3! runs and hides
Just Partner's in time the rest meh.
Hell yeah. Glad to see Partners in Time here, it's my favorite Mario & Luigi game.
Now if only they give us Bowser's Inside Story too, I never was able to beat that as I had borrowed it. I'd definitely buy it for myself so I can finally complete it.
I'm not really interested in buying any games lately. I'm pretty happy with the ones I have, especially since I have a backlog the size of a whale.
I want Starfox 64, or the original.
My advice - DO NOT BUY STAR FOX COMMAND.
I completed the whole game but found it incredibly tedious. Not to mention the graphics are quite the downgrade from Star Fox 64. Explosions and effects that were awesome on the N64 are weak and pityful on DS. Not to mention the poor control scheme and polygonal break up that the DS was notorious for.
If you want a good one get Star Fox 64 3D - absolutely awesome.
Pity Nintendo aren't doing the decent thing - Why don't they port or at least provide a 3DS VC on the Wii U? Playing Star Fox 3D and LOZ 3D would be awesome @ 1080p.
@technotreegrass You can cheaply modify your N64 controller with a GameCube style stick if you wish. It's an easy mod.
I hope you guys really do review the GG games!
Art Academy for me :3 All the games have been fantastic (I was especially impressed by Pokemon Art Academy. It starts simple enough for a young child to grasp the basics of drawing before moving on to some decently complex scenes)
It looks like Bowser's Inside Story may be on the way. I plan on getting an eShop card so I can get both PiT and BIS.
I bought all Sega classics except Dolphin (maybe this week). Great discount.
Don't get star fox command unless you have played it before. Don't let star fox wii u hype suck you in. It was horrible.
If they can't get Star Fox Snes to work out, why not port the game instead? Like what they did to Yoshi's Island for the GBA. That way, you can fix up the FPS drop sections. (which was most of the time)
Attack on Titan: Not on Sale
Stuff like this just underlines why I prefer to only buy physical copies of games. Which I got 4 of this week. 2 for DS and 2 for 3DS. Who needs eShop! Not me!
what? STILL NO 3DS virtual console games!?
I read that Attack on Titan will be on sale starting on June 29th
@Mr-X9000 Not surprised at all. I don't expect to see 3ds vc anytime soon if ever. The only retro goodies I've been looking forward to is Sega's 3d classic's.
I was really hoping that my "new" 3ds would see some snes or gba games. I figured any hardware limitations that would prevent said roms from running properly on old hardware wouldn't be a issue on the "new" system. Wishful thinking I guess. Even if "new" 3ds could run snes or gba games Nintendo would probably release virtual boy games on it and then stop after three games.
To me Starfox Command is the worst Starfox game ever
Wait "This DS entry in the iconic series is a little different from its contemporaries"....
All the starfox games are completely different from each other...
Attack on titan is still $49.99 for me.
Wow, Mario & Luigi and Starfox Command are tempting me, but I already own them on DS... But I would like to try them on the TV... But StarFox Command has that stupid 'turns' feature that always guarantees failure.
Would have been nice if they upgraded SF:C a bit to remove the turns system, or more realistically add the ability to control the arwing with the sticks and buttons instead of the touch screen. It might feel pretty cool on a gamepad, tho.
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