There may be the small matter of a Nintendo Direct around the corner, but we still have the standard North American Nintendo Download Update details to enjoy beforehand. The star appearance this week is for a HD remaster on Wii U, of course, though there are also varied download-only options across both current-gen systems. Throw in some discounts (including an interesting Capcom Monster Hunter deal, considering what we expect in today's Direct) and there are some solid options. Let's get to the details.
Missed the European Nintendo Download Update details earlier in the week? Don't panic! The details are right here.
Wii U eShop
Chasing Dead (2020 Venture, $29.99) - There are only a handful of first-person horror experiences on Wii U, with this FPS keen to add itself with distinction to that list. The plot is a complex one involving manipulation of time and space along with evil doppelgangers; we suspect the main goal is to shoot everything in sight, but we'll get blasting in a review and let you know what it's all about.
Steel Rivals (nuGAME, $6.99) - This is a fighting game, which isn't exactly the most common genre on Wii U, at least not yet. At a budget price the screenshots do suggest budget visuals, yet with a Tournament Mode, unlockable outfits and local multiplayer we should at least give it a fighting chance. We'll get some sparring in as preparation for our review.
Wii U Virtual Console
Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures (Bandai Namco, $7.99) - A SNES title from the mascot's heyday, this is an "innovative interactive cartoon", or at least as far as a game like this can be on 16-bit hardware; this does also include full arcade versions of Pac-Man and Ms Pac-Man, but we still weren't particularly impressed in our Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures review.
Wii U Retail Download
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Nintendo, $49.99) - The 30th Anniversary of this series gets well and truly underway with a HD remaster boasting spruced up visuals, improved controls and amiibo content. We were full of praise in our review, and also recently learned more about the game in an interview with Eiji Aonuma and Tomomi Sano. Available from 4th March.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Child of Light (Ubisoft, on discount until 13th March)
Spy Chameleon (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 31st March)
Tilelicious: Delicious Tiles (BattleLine Games, $3.99 until 23rd March, normally $5.99)
3DS eShop
Parascientific Escape Cruise in the Distant Seas (CIRCLE Entertainment, $4.99) - Another intriguing import from CIRCLE Entertainment; you play as a Japanese High School student with two psychic powers who also happens to be trapped aboard a cruise ship. We'll set sail and work on a review.
The Hand of Panda (Ninja Playground, $5.99) - As the rather low-resolution 45 second trailer has absolutely no gameplay footage, we can only go by the description and screenshots to suggest that this is a rather simplistic timing / reflex game. We'll smash some assorted items with our ninja hand as preparation for a review.
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Capcom, $19.99 from 3pm Pacific on 3rd March until 5th March, normally $29.99)
Azure Striker Gunvolt (Inti Creates, $9.99 until 1st June, normally £14.99)
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Atlus, on discount until 14th March)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (Atlus, on discount until 14th March)
Tetris Ultimate (Ubisoft, on discount until 13th March)
Soccer Up Online (EnjoyUp Games, on discount until 31st March)
Adventure Bar Story (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 17th March)
Fairune (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 17th March)
4 Elements (MSL, on discount until 30th June)
Jewel Quest 4 Heritage (MSL, on discount until 30th June)
League of Heroes (Gamelion, on discount until 31st March)
Pick-A-Gem (Gamelion, on discount until 31st March)
3DS HOME Themes
Hatsune Miku Project Mirai DX: Sakura Mikudaiyo
Ashley's Magic
You can see the remainder of the current Ubisoft eShop discount deals right here.
That's everything for the North American Nintendo Download Update this week, barring any 'available to download now' Nintendo Direct announcements to come; let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments 71
I'm not downloading anything this week, but I am picking up a physical copy of TPHD.
Nothing for me this week,
Edit: oh God, Steel Rivals. the PC version is awful, here hoping they learn their issues in the Wii U version.
Getting the retail version of Twilight Princess HD tomorrow. So nothing for me.
Humm the discounted Monster Hunter... coinciding with the Nintendo Direct and the spotted Monster Hunter trademark all point to a potential Monster hunter reveal... here's hoping
Retail TP for dat amiibo
TPHD amiibo bundle and Rayman Legends discount for me this week.
I wonder if there will be anything available for after the Direct?Hopefully not just the rumoured SNES VC for 3DS but something for Wii U too we weren't expecting.Probably just be that Mario & Friends game if anything.
How does a $30 game like Chasing Dead just show up without any prior info on a site like this? Is it just a quick port from something else?
Same for Steel Rivals...not even cover art available... but at least it's a budget title...
How do these developers expect to sell any copies?
Twilight Princess is coming in the mail tomorrow
I have my TP preordered, so I'll be picking that up tomorrow. Otherwise, nothing here interests me, except that Chasing Dead game. I'll be watching reviews for that one. It's pricey, and it looks like it has lots of recycled assets in the gameplay video I watched, but a good new FPS is tempting.
Why does North America always get discounts on the games I want. While here in the UK I have to pay full price? Oh well.
Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures???
Who at Nintendo thinks anyone on the planet wants to play that game????
...I guess nothing for me. Just waiting for the direct.
@Aozz (looks at steam store page) I'm kinda doubting it.
@holygeez03 "How does a $30 game like Chasing Dead just show up without any prior info on a site like this?"
That's all I wanted to know. Anything under $10 can just pop-up, but $30? Needs a little hype. And maybe a demo.
Does anyone really care about home themes anymore? I bought a bunch when they first came out, but I haven't really bought any since.
@rjejr Well other sites covered the game, but Nintendo Life seems to have a habbit of only covering news regarding a select few high profile indies and doesn't bother reporting about any of the others...
My physical copy of TPHD with the amiibo will be here tomorrow, but I'm definitely downloading Chasing Dead when I get home tonight. Even if it's just "okay," I'll give just about any horror game on the Wii U a go by this point.
My copy of Twilight Princess HD is out for delivery. Stoked to get it a day early.
@ParkaTron Pretty much the same here. I bought maybe eight or so but haven't bothered for around a year. I don't even use the ones I bought anymore, just the plain colors.
TPHD physical!!!
Only physical Twilight for me. Can't believe that the main reason I'm getting it again, is for the canoe mini game. I must have done that ride, like, 200 times. Had to force myself to continue on with the game. Not my favorite Zelda, but I'm in the mood for some dungeons and the game was/is very good.
@Shy_Guy That gif. One of my favorite movie moments in history. Made my morning. Thanks
I'm really surprised that a lot of folks are excited about a 10 yr old game being updated.
Now, I'm not taking away from your excitement, but I wonder if it has to do more with lack of Wii U Retail releases that when they give us anything, we get excited, or was it really that good a game.
I know I played it way back when, but I don't remember much from it, and not going to fork another $50 to play it again. Just my .02 however.
Chasing Dead looks interesting! Will grab PAC man 2 as well being it has the 2 PAC classics built it there! But are we back to one vc game a week NOA? You were doing better there for a few weeks! Cmon!!
Downloading? Nothing. I did preorder TPHD, though.
@holygeez @rejr Nintendolife has a few news item on Chasing dead.; eg. Feb 2016 and aug 2015. Search Chasing dead and it will list them.
And nov 2015
Feb 2016 was not on the news feed; but was announced on the forum. It's also coming to Ps4 and Later Steam.
@holygeez It's devoloped for both Wii u and PS 4. The steam version will come later
Nothing digital for me. Getting Twilight Princess HD physically since Gamestop have that pre order bonus with the CD.
I marked TP HD, though I'm getting it at retail. I may consider Child of Light depending on how much is discounted from the game.
@bobafett4ever
I'm with ya. I think you're right in both respects. It's a good game, but it was nothing revolutionary that needed to be updated 10 years later. So I say, it's just filling the Wii U gaps.
I mean the last big Wii U release was what? I don't even remember to be honest, so of course it will fly off the shelves. There's simply nothing new to buy.
Me personally though, I still have my copy for the Wii, so meh, I'm good.
I love pac man 2!!!!
@MoonKnight7 Dependent on what you mean by big, it's either Xenoblade Chronicles X in December or Super Mario Maker in September.
Azure Striker Gunvolt - $9.99
On sale for nearly 4 months?
@Grumblevolcano
Yup, Xenoblade is big enough, so yeah, December then (for NA anyway). 3 months is a long dry spell, only to get an updated game.
Maybe retail releases should be considered in these polls. It would otherwise seem week in week out that around 40% or more of all polled are indifferent to everything.
Personally, I preordered Twilight Princess HD which Amazon is shipping today. I just couldn't resist the amiibo and the physical disc.
@MoonKnight7 It's pretty much 3 months worldwide, for Europe it's identical (Xenoblade in December and then TPHD tomorrow) while for Japan it was GIR#FE in December and then TPHD tomorrow.
Nothing for me this week, but I've still got 3/4 of pokemon yellow, 2/3 of Megaman Legacy (to say nothing of just sitting there listening to the soundtrack while reading) and lord knows how much Fire Emblem is left (through ch 17 of Birthright but haven't done any paralogues, plan to pick up at least Conquest which is hopefully a more engaging game)
would like to see more demos on the 3DS regardless.
Another garbage week all around, courtesy of Nintendo. Meanwhile, in Sony land...
Booooring
Any reviews of chasing dead or steel fighter elsewhere?
Nothin, chasing dead has my curiosity though maybe when its cheaper.
No Mario Kart 64 again this week. Lame.
Rayman Legends, Tom Clancy Splintercell Blacklist, and Assasin's Creed IV Black Flag are all on sale for $10 each!!!
If you weren't already aware Rayman Legends is amazing!!!
I can't vouch for the other 2 yet, but I think I'm going to use this sale to buy them.
http://www.nintendo.com/eshop/offers
I have the new TP coming tomorrow...but am I totally nuts to want to try out that Pacman game?! Read the review, yet still somewhat interested...
I'll be downloaoding Child of Light, Monster Hunter 4U, and I have the Amiibo bundle of Twilight Princess on preorder to pickup tomorrow as well This is gonna be a crazy fun weekend for me
I'll just get the Ashley Menu Theme. Maybe they'll use the original version of the Ashley's Song, from WarioWare Touched.
I loved Pac-Man 2 as a kid. It had me in tears laughing. Glad to see it. Twilight Princess HD tomorrow! Soundtrack and amiibo, ho! Finally picked up Chibi-Robo with the amiibo on clearance. Thats a good little game!
@bobafett4ever
Well, there is that exclusive new dungeon and weapon too. It might excite the more die-hard Zelda fan along with the amiibo that comes with it. Or maybe they didn't finish it all the way and their old disk is broken from an accident involving their younger sister. At least mine was. Lol But it is a rebooted Zelda game at the core. Its bound to move copies regardless by name alone.
But at least it's not a super deluxe edition releasing one year after the initial one did. I can't really stand those. :/
Nothing this week download wise, but I am going to get a retail copy of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD it is may favorite zelda game. Also interested in Chasing Dead but not for the high price tag so I will wait for a price drop or a sale to pick it up.
@OorWullie What rumoured snes VC on 3DS announcement? Nintendo has essentially left VC on 3DS to rot, and I don't see them changing course now.
@MERG I would jump on that Persona Q sale of I were you!
@Spoony_Tech I so want to but dang...I just got Fire Emblem and I want Rayman Legends and Splinter Cell Blacklist (and maybe AV IV Black Flag). My wife will KILL me! I buy nothing for a while and then a whole bunch goes on sale at once...UGH!
There's so much Monster Hunter on NintendoLife today. I've spent too much of my life in Monster Hunter 4U. It took me almost a year to kick the Monster Hunter habit and finally work on my massive backlog, and now NintendoLife is about to send me into relapse!
Nothing digital for me, but like a lot of folks, I'm snagging Twilight Princess HD physical tomorrow.
Playing through that, finishing Birthright then moving on to Conquest and Pokemon Yellow should keep me busy for the rest of March. Whew.
That Parascientific Cruise game would appeal to me if it wasn't for all the moe girls standing in the exact same poses, making them all look like each other with different hairstyles.
@MERG Well you only live once so I would hate to see you dead!
You know Atlus as well as I and there will be another sale in the next 3 months so no big hurry. Plus it maybe even cheaper by then. Those Ubisoft deals don't come as often so go that way instead for sure.
@Gen0neD Mine too,good fighting movie
@Spoony_Tech Its tough though...$30 off is a great deal.
I hear ya...death doesn't suit me.
I'm still waiting for style savvy 3 and Disney magical world 2. I could probably not check here for 6 months and find when I come back that they are still not out. Sigh. Nintendo has no love for the Americas.
@allav866 Aren't we all?
Tetris for me!
Twilight Princess retail but also Child of Light.
Getting TPHD physically.
@BanjoPickles There was a leak yesterday and was just confirmed now.Go check your Eshop
Getting chasing dead. I will get the fighting game for craps and laughs.
Eventually I will get Pac-man. The reviewer clearly didn't know the magic of the game. The goal isn't to beat it but instead torture pac-man. Great fun!
Looks like I am getting TP (physical) after all. All along it's been listed as 99.99 Canadian(even a couple of weeks ago). Checked today and it's 74.99 with the amiibo, the amiibo only adding 10 bucks on the eshop version of 64.99.
I got a 50 buck gift card for bestbuy on my birthday so 24.99 plus tax of 74.99 is a lot more reasonable.
Nine years of Virtual Console and Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures has finally been released on it. I'd-a thunk it was a no brainer (included Pac-Man port notwithstanding), but at least it's finally here now.
@bezerker99 I do actually. I liked it when I was a kid, and I honestly don't get the hate for it. Frankly, I'm probably the only one looking more forward to Pac Man 2, then Twilight Princess. (Still have the GameCube version.)
@Beau_Skunk have fun with those games, bro
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