It's that time again, North American eShop fans, for the Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings one of the year's biggest Wii U retail releases and a range of promising downloads on the home console. On the 3DS we have Hatsune Miku, a theme and... did we mention how good the Wii U line-up was? Let's get's to the details.
Missed the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe earlier in the week. You cheeky scamp! Don't worry, the details you need are right here.
Wii U Retail Download
Super Mario Maker (Nintendo, $59.99) - One of the year's biggest Wii U releases and the showcase for Nintendo's Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations, this allows you to create and share 2D Mario levels across four game styles. Packed with clever touches, tools and the ability to produce levels beyond the scope of standard Mario games, along with potentially endless levels to play, we loved this so much that we described it as the "definitive Wii U game" in our Super Mario Maker review. Available from 11th September.
Wii U eShop
The Swindle (Curve Digital, $12.49) - The first game led by UK designer Dan Marshall to arrive on Nintendo hardware, this employs a quirky cyberpunk London of 1849 setting with randomly generated stages from which to steal cash. There's an overlying 100 day time-limit as you scheme your way around settings to hack computers and make off with the establishment's money, using those funds to buy abilities and unlock new areas. We gave this a recommendation in our review for The Swindle.
Q.U.B.E: Director's Cut (Grip Digital, $7.99) - This first person puzzle title has been a little while coming, and challenges the player to manipulate environments and more in order to make progress. This Director's Cut features an expanded story and a Time Trial mode with online leaderboards; we gave it a recommendation in our Q.U.BE: Director's Cut review.
Star Sky (JMJ Interactive, $4.00) - This is supposed to be a relaxing game (with several endings) about a man walking through a starlit field, described by the developer as "similar to an interactive poem". We expect it to be pretty chilled out, then, and we'll stroll along towards a review.
Explody Bomb (Alkterios Games, $1.99) - A budget effort, this is a score chasing game that appears to try and utilise the dual screen setup of the GamePad and TV. On the TV you fly and shoot, while it sounds like the GamePad has a Flappy Bird-style perspective where you guide a bomb between obstacles. We'll glance rapidly between screens and bring you a review.
Funky Physics (Petite Games, $1.99) - Not just an ordinary physics puzzler, this one is funky. It utilises the GamePad screen as you break up and manipulate blocks in order to get all of the green variants off the screen; there are 32 levels promised. We'll put on our funkiest gaming clothes and bring you a review.
Wii U Virtual Console
Tecmo Bowl (TECMO KOEI GAMES, $4.99) — It's 8-bit American Football, which is nice. Not quite the complex, occasionally confusing experience of the modern Madden titles, this has a very limited set of plays — two passing and two running — to deal with. Its simplicity is arguably one of its strengths, and you certainly don't need to be an expert of the sport to enjoy the single player, multiplayer or coaching options. We gave this a recommendation in our 3DS Virtual Console Tecmo Bowl review.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Trine Enchanted Edition (Frozenbyte, on discount until 10th October)
Trine 2: Director's Cut (Frozenbyte, on discount until 10th October)
Abyss (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 8th October)
99Moves (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 8th October)
3DS Retail Downloads
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX (SEGA, $39.99) - A Vocaloid-driven IP that's an enormous success in Japan and certainly has fans in the West, it makes its debut on a Nintendo portable. There's a lot to do in this game, from the core experience of rhythm gaming across plenty of entertaining tracks, to outfit and house customisation, and even a terrific Puyo Puyo mode. We gave this a glowing recommendation in our Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX review.
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Toys vs. Monsters (EnjoyUp Games, $0.99 until 7th October, normally $3.99)
Gardenscapes (Joindots, on discount until 24th September)
3D Mahjongg (Joindots, on discount until 24th September)
Pazuru (Joindots, on discount until 24th September)
3DS eShop Permanent Discount
Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains (Atlus, $29.99 from 7th September, was $39.99)
3DS HOME Theme
Super Mario Bros.: Famicom Cartridge (Nintendo)
That's everything for North America this week - let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments (101)
nothing...
@Sir_Teabag Are you a fan of the Dada movement?
I'll buy the Mario Maker (physical) and will look more into QUBE--looks interesting, like a Portal clone type game.
Super Mario Maker and 3DS Theme will be mine!
OMG! TECMO BOWL! JUST WHAT I WANTED!!!!! Who needs Zero Mission when I can have that?????? The virtual console department at Nintendo of America is apparently run by sea monkeys.
@ThomasBW84
not particularly
Tecmo Bowl for me. Got it on Wii so it'll just be a $1. Greatest series of football games ever made.
I might look into Star Sky but not much else from the eshop this week and I'm also picking up the retail version of Mario Maker tomorrow morning before work.
Getting Super Mario Maker physical and might get the theme but I'm not sure.
I do like me some Tecmo Bowl. But it's a little sad that's all there is this week.
Making VC games must be really tough.
Voted for Mario Maker, but getting retail version.
QUBE Director's Cut looks like fun as well.
I'm picking up my physical copy of Super Mario Maker tomorrow. Tecmo Bowl is cool but the cartridge version is superior since it has the real names of the teams with a few real players on each team (Bo Jackson anyone? )
Retail Mario Maker. Next week can't come soon enough.
Nothing for me this Week again.
Getting that NES Earth Bound Game on the 3DS Eshop would be great though.
Attack on Titan being a digital-only for full price is ridiculous. $30 is still too much. I hope there's another price drop in the future, I'm still not getting it.
Super Mario Maker $60? Why do they charge so much for these games compared to Europe? Splatoon and this. Could of sworn I prepaid Euro's pricing on the Eshop.
Even though I pretty much knew SmileBASIC wouldn't release today, I couldn't help but get my hopes up... Oh well, at least I know it's coming some time soon
@grumblebuzzz That much is obvious at this point. Why has the 3DS not gotten any new Virtual Console games in over 6 months, despite it being Nintendo's best selling system.
Its sad when Sega is doing a better job of putting out classic games on Nintendo's hardware.
When I was a kid Tecmo Bowl was my absolute favorite football game!
I voted Mario Maker but will get the retail version at some point. I wish the where some other non nintendo 1st party games I could get interested in.
I'm still waiting for that 90s arcade racer.
@DarthNocturnal My Super Mario maker came today and I got the same version as this guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URR_ujkzifA
I already preordered the physical copy of Mario Maker, so I will be getting the classic Mario theme. I already have Tecmo Bowl, but it's really fun without being stupidly overwhelming like Madden is. I bet they released that one because of the beginning of football season here...
Want to get Hatsune Miku DX, but I need to see how much money I have left after Amiibos tomorrow.
@XCWarrior
Same; I'll be picking up Mario Maker after work tomorrow, but I'm getting it physically.
How I wish the VC was getting Tecmo Super Bowl instead of just old Tecmo Bowl. Man that game still holds up as one of my all time favourite football games
Hmm. The Swindle sounds pretty cool. I knew nothing about it until glancing at the PAL review just now.
@Mrclaycoat
Yeah that would be awesome. They could just take out the player names and change the team names to generic city names like the NES game.
Nothing. Preordered a physical copy of Mario Maker.
Tecmo Bowl is so good. Such a great football game.
Don't care about silly question of what will be first. Actually, I will be downloading nothing as I have already spent too much on games lately. Will probably get SMM eventually though, even if it's a few months down the road.
I'm glad to be picking up Super Mario Maker tomorrow, but I feel like Nintendo is missing a good opportunity by not having a sale on the four games represented. New Super Mario Bros. is due for a price drop anyways.
More 2D Mario and boring games, no thanks
Will be grabbing a physical disc version of Super Mario Maker tomorrow, and hopefully a few amiibo. To me Super Mario Maker just seems like it should be a $30 eShop title, but with Best Buy's discount will only cost $48 so not as bad for a day one release. Aside from that will consider the new Mario 3DS theme. Glad to see Tecmo Bowl is out, will likely pick it up in the future.
It's seeming more and more like NOA is going to wait until December 3rd to release the Wii U VC version of Xenoblade Chronicles...
Just Super Mario Maker for me this week.
@hYdeks But this 2D Mario game will let you be 2D Sonic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgxI90PNi_I
I typically download games these days, but we have chosen to buy the physical retail version of Super Mario Maker. We'll pick it up tomorrow @ Target.
The Swindle has a really cool art style, but not this week.
I'll get Mario Maker physical,but nothing for me...
@dkxcalibur Enjoy your Rubiks cube. Amazon gave me $10 off for being a Prime member - which I got 1 yr free w/ my Amex card - so I had to take the money. The game looks better to me at $49.99.
Hope they release Tecmo Bowl in Europe soon.
@rdrunner1178 As long as the gameplay was the same, I'd be happy to play as the Buffalo Warriors or the San Francisco Tigers!
@Caryslan It's also sad when there are more classic N64 games on the Xbox One than the Wii U and for a tiny fraction of the price.
@grumblebuzzz I finally broke down and bought a physical copy of zero mission. Got a GBA sp as well.
So are there any fellow Bengals fan here that could lend a guy 5 bucjs for Tecmo Bowl? My limited gaming money is all in Mario Maker.
Seriously though. Good to see this one added.
@Mrclaycoat It really is.
Still no 3DS Virtual Console games?
Sad to see the 3ds eShop slowly dying likes this.
Come on hang on there buddy, you still need to release SmileBasic.
physical 95% of the time for me here and for super mario maker.
I got best buy's GCU so I get 20% off all new games & toys to life. so stuff it eShop. It might be more of a hassle using retail copy, but at least on vacations if I want to bring my U i no need to bring external Hard drive, plus my copy's are cheaper than MSRP at launch and beyond!
Q.U.B.E. first, then probably Star Sky.
Nothing for me as usual. Thank god I'm getting a physical copy Super Mario Maker to keep me entertained.
I'll get Q.U.B.E and Mario Maker, eventually.
Going to target and get mario maker with the free mario rubiks cube thingy they got going, should look nice next to my splatoon water gun. As for download, wait for reviews of all the games or just grab tecmo bowl.
And...still no zero mission. It's been about a year since japan has gotten it, and EU has had it for a few months now. I'm getting worried that they will lose interest in putting GBA games on virtual console before ZM is released. I just hope i'm wrong.
OK why the theme shop has not been updated yet and it looks like I am going to get ratchet and clank collection on the vita plus a bigger memory card.
@grumblebuzzz
Well it's Mario Maker week. I'm surprised we got any VC at all.
Just an observation- if you expect a game you want to arrive every single week, there's a good chance you'll just end up disappointed for 6,12, maybe even 18 straight months.
Better to just forget about it and when it comes, it comes. I fell into that trap with DKC trilogy.
and by nothing I mean, I already preordered the retail disc version of Mario Maker so I think I'm set...
I can't find the new Super Mario Bros. theme.
@PAppleyard Yeah, what happened to that game? I was jazzed for it since its announcement. Ubisoft took over it and poof, vaporware.
I'll get Miku, physical version though. Want Super Mario Maker though... if only I have Wii U...
Hatsune Miku is just so bad. The concept is awesome, the graphics are fantastic, the side stuff is great, but the songs are awful. How can you play a rhythm game with no rhythm? It's just random tapping to a constant static-like noise masquerading as music. Ugggghhhh.... I sooooo wanted to love that game. Had it been more like Parappa, that would have changed everything.
Nothing digital for me, just that beautiful physical package of Mario goodness on Friday...
Nothing for me this week. I'm planning to pick up Super Mario Maker at retail in the future, though.
Kind of sad that the 3DS eshop seems to be dying, though.
Nothing for me this week. I'll be picking up SMM in the morning at GameStop.
It's nice we're getting a famicom theme, but we still didn't get the Nintendo Consoles theme and we (as well as Europe) are still waiting on Collectible Badge Center.
@Trinexx Move to Japan, the 3DS eShop is better than ever there purely because of the frequent updates to Collectible Badge Center, a game we will never get.
Nothing for me, mainly because I'm getting one of them physically, lol
"We'll put on our funkiest gaming clothes and bring you a review."
...
I can already see you lack the Funk to get down with a freaky joint like Funky Physics.
@Savino For reference, there are 52 stages in the game that Nintendo themselves made and Miyamoto confirmed he'd be making stages for it.
On top of that, it's not like they didn't add tons of things not possible in different game styles, had to make new sprites for tons of things, new music (for alt styles), and the whole network thing allowing the game to constantly stream user-made stages.
That said, I do think $60 is too much, even with the "LOL IT'S THE GAME THAT NEVER ENDS", but it's not like you don't get a game to play even without making stages yourself. You could never touch the editor and still be able to keep playing.
no downloads for me this week.
DEFINITELY picking up the physical copy of super mario maker tho.
Who cares about Mario Maker's claim of unlimited play when there is Tecmo Bowl, with the play that never ends (as long as you play as Bo Jackson and have some skill) https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=75&v=8PBvOxicz-0
I will be getting Mario Maker Digital eventually. I gave up on physical when my 1 year old son figured out how to eject discs.
Tecmo Bowl all the way! Still the greatest series of sports games ever made. I would rather play any Tecmo Bowl game over the newest Madden game any day.
Nothing for me, I want MM but no way in hell am I paying $60 for it.
I will pick it up from Amazon Warehouse Deals when I can get it for $35 to $40.
SMM pre-download was begun when I left my house this morning, so I'll look forward to this game when it completes at midnight. That home theme is definitely coming home. AoT:HiC is at a better price, but I'm still waiting for it to hit at least the $20 mark, then I'll pounce on it. Got too much to play to download Trine 1&2. Never got into Tecmo Bowl back in the day so I'll pass, but I know it's a top notch game. Gonna be fun gaming this weekend.
I prepaid for mario maker. At 12 tonight, will it automatically be downloaded, or do i have to download it myself? Id love to wake up and play it INSTANTLY!
FYI: Those of you who aren't sure if you want the digital version or physical version of Super Mario Maker in the US, you can still get a PHYSICAL "idea book" like you do with the retail copy of the game.
All you have to do is call the Club Nintendo/eShop support number listed on the digital receipt. They'll ask for your hardware serial number (on the receipt), e-mail address, and shipping address. It only took about 7 minutes on the phone, and about half of it was just waiting for him to place the order.
The books should ship out soon and will take about a week once shipped, according to the guy on the phone.
I'm took tomorrow off work, just to get the limited edition Mario Maker! I'd better land it.
I can't find the new 3DS Home theme in the shop yet.
neither can i.....maybe it's not coming out until tomorrow or later because of the anniversary and all
SMM, & the SMB Famicom theme, though SMM will have to wait until I get the money.
@Pokefanmum82 Yes I can not find it on the shop it could be coming after the treehouse about Mario maker.It is also free.YES!!!!!
@Kiyata_Hamasaki Yeah, I've found it very frustrating so far. It's marginally better with headphones, but I still find half the notes to have nothing to do with some alleged rhythm.
Anyone else not getting the upgrade discount for Tecmo Bowl?
Go Madden...
I want the theme but is not in the shop
Super Mario Maker does look like a neat concept and I'm going to be buying it, but when a glorified ROM hacking tool with loads of bonus features is the definitive title on a platform...
That... Doesn't exactly bode well.
cant find the theme on this list
Alright, let the "is it available yet!?" posts commence!
@PAppleyard omg I can't wait for 90s arcade racer!! Been forever!! I hope it's still coming!!
mario maker is pretty awesome, im sure ill get it one of these days. But this week isnt so much for me.
Anyone in the US seeing the SMB 3DS theme yet? So far, no dice, which is a shame because this is a VERY slim pickins week for the 3DS.
$4.99 for Tecmo Bowl? Sad when you can buy Tecmo Super Bowl on the NES for as little as $.99.
So far this year has been one big long disappointment for game titles. It's like reliving the final year of the Wii, only one great Zelda game came out that year. Looks like Nintendo is busy with making iOS apps and NX.
Nothing for me this week, b/c I'm getting the retail disc for Super Mario Maker...
w00t, 100th post!
SMM of course, but in physical form. I do think Nintendo missed an opportunity to release some VC Mario games at a discount, to help celebrate the week.
@MoonKnight7 Heh, true dat.
The state of the 3DS eShop isn't even a joke anymore. It's just sad.
The final 3DS VC release was the Donkey Kong Land trilogy. On February 26th. Seven months. Why? You'd think they'd be giving it a tad more attention with the New 3DS out and bringing in new customers and all...
Technically nothing since I am picking up the physical copy of Super Mario Maker.
The theme is still not out yet .And why has the 3DS not got any virtual console games even the NES ones the Wii U is getting like mother 1.Also it tok 8 months for a virtual console game to come out in japan so next monthy we can officially say it is over.Not even a game boy game.at least we have sonic 2 coming this month and hope for phase 3 of Sega 3D classics.It is weird thaat segqa support the 3ds more than nintendo.BRING MOTHER 1 TO THE 3DS VIRTUAL CONSOLE.
@BaffleBlend The PS vita has more games ever week.Aweek.A least they gige us a sale for the 20th year . Nintendo on mario 30th year no sale their number 1 game.It is just sad.Very sad.
FYI: Skip the eShop download and buy a download code from Amazon to save about $3.50 on Mario Maker.
@andrew20 The SMB: Famicom theme is now up on the NA eShop. I just bought it!
@andrew20 I'm positive there's a reason for the lack of 3ds vc. The retail front has been quiet as well. The Wii U has Yoshi,X,Zelda, and Star Fox on the way, but it seems like that's it for the console.
Nintendo is hard at work getting the next console and handheld ready for release. There is no other explanation for why 3ds is getting next to nothing and Wii U is getting its last batch of games.
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