Nintendo Download: 1st December (Europe)

Super Mario Maker for 3DS! Picross 3D Round 2! Sonic discounts! More!

by Thomas Whitehead Mon 28th Nov 2016

Another week begins, and we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to get us ready for releases later this week. This time around there are multiple high profile 3DS retail releases, along with a mix of download-only titles across both systems. Let's get to it.

Wii U eShop

Frag doch mal...die Maus! (ASHGAMES, €9.99) - Only given a Euro price and likely targeted at Germany, obviously, this is based on a popular kids TV show in the country. A quiz game that was well received on PC in 2008(!), now it's on Wii U. That's nice.

SHOOT THE BALL (RCMADIAX, €1.49 / £1.39) - Previously released on the New 3DS eShop; you use the touch screen to 'shoot' the ball into space, with randomised shapes and colours that set the difficulty level.

Wii U Virtual Console

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Nintendo, €19.99 / £17.99) - While the original GameCube version of this platformer utilised the famous bongo accessories, this Wii iteration introduced analogue control for movement, with occasional motion controls using the Remote and Nunchuk. We were big fans of this Wii version in our original review, and it's worth noting that the GameCube original was the debut project by Nintendo EAD Tokyo 'Group No. 1' - that team's second game was the outstanding Super Mario Galaxy.

Sonic 25th Anniversary Sales - Wii U eShop

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (SEGA, €24.99 / £19.99 until 8th December, normally €49.99 / £39.99)

Sonic Lost World (SEGA, €24.99 / £19.99 until 8th December, normally €49.99 / £39.99)

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (SEGA, €19.99 / £15.99 until 8th December, normally €49.99 / £39.99)

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Art of Balance (Shin'en Multimedia, €6.74 / £5.36 until 22nd December, normally €8.99 / £7.15)

Word Puzzles by POWGI (Lightwood Games, €7.19 / £6.39 until 8th December, normally €8.99 / £7.99)

Dragon Skills (Joindots, €5.59 / £4.75 until 15th December, normally €7.99 / £6.79)

Sweetest Thing (Joindots, €4.89 / £3.84 until 15th December, normally €6.99 / £5.49)

3DS Retail Downloads

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo, €39.99 / £34.99) - Only announced in September, this port of the excellent Wii U title takes away online sharing but introduces a new Mario Challenge mode and some portable benefits. Our review will be with you ahead of release, but until then you can check out our preview. Available from 2nd December.

Picross 3D: Round 2 (Nintendo, €34.99 / £29.99) - Europe has had to wait longer for this one, but has the added bonus of a physical retail option; this follow-up to the popular DS title arrived as a surprise in North America in early September. With colourful visuals, clever puzzles and amiibo support, we were full of praise for this one in our Picross 3D: Round 2 review. Available from 2nd December.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (Deep Silver, €39.99 / £34.99) - This long awaited title offers a different spin from its predecessor, with a new protagonist and some gameplay tweaks. As is standard for the series it's a high quality, atmospheric and engrossing RPG; you can check out a detailed assessment in our Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse review.

7th Dragon III Code: VFD (Deep Silver, €39.99 / £34.99) - The 3DS is graced with a lot of top-class RPG experiences, and this is another for the list. This particular series is established in Japan but is trying to seize momentum in the West, and offers its own twists on genre norms. You can learn all about what this one has to offer in our extensive 7th Dragon III Code: VFD review.

My Nintendo 3DS Launch Discounts

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - 50 Gold Points for discounted price of €35.99 / £31.49, otherwise €39.99 / £34.99.

7th Dragon III Code: VFD - 50 Gold Points for discounted price of €35.99 / £31.49, otherwise €39.99 / £34.99.

New Nintendo 3DS eShop

Hyperlight EX (CatfishBlues Games, €5.49 / £4.99) - Previously on smart devices, this is a colourful and high-tempo shoot 'em up, making it a relatively rare arrival in the genre on 3DS. It has multiple modes, control options and includes stereoscopic 3D, so we'll see whether it lives up to its potential in a review.

CUP CRITTERS (RCMADIAX, €1.49 / £1.39) - This entry is all about managing gravity and manipulating balls into cups, with setting a high score being the main aim.

3DS eShop

Mercenaries Saga 2 (CIRCLE Entertainment, €4.99) - Released earlier this year in Europe, this has been re-listed courtesy of a release in some additional mainland Europe territories.

3DS DLC

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - Earring Set (Deep Silver, free until 8th December, normally €0.99 / £0.79)

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - Fall of Tokyo Promo Video (Deep Silver, free)

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - A Godslayer Needs Levels (Deep Silver, €2.99 / £1.99)

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - Ranking Program 1 (Deep Silver, free)

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - Asahi/Nozomi Set (Deep Silver, €0.99 / £0.79)

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse - Green Pompadour (Deep Silver, €0.99 / £0.79)

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Bonus Item: Nagamimi Doll (Deep Silver, free)

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Quest: Seed Outbreak! (Deep Silver, free until 8th December, normally €1.49 / £0.99)

7th Dragon III Code: VFD Quest: Gold Rabi Outbreak! (Deep Silver, free until 8th December, normally €1.49 / £0.99)

Sonic 25th Anniversary Sale - 3DS eShop

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (SEGA, 25% off if you have downloaded any of the Sonic games currently on sale, €29.99 / £26.19 until 8th December, normally €39.99 / £34.99)

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (SEGA, 19.99 / £17.49 until 8th December, normally €39.99 / £34.99)

Sonic Lost World (SEGA, 19.99 / £17.49 until 8th December, normally €39.99 / £34.99)

Sonic Generations (SEGA, €9.99 / £7.99 until 8th December, normally €24.99 / £19.99)

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed (SEGA, €15.99 / £11.99 until 8th December, normally €39.99 / £29.99)

Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Sonic Drift 2 (SEGA, €1.99 / £1.79 until 8th December, normally €3.99 / £3.59)

Sonic Blast (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

Sonic Labyrinth (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

3D Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA, €2.20 / £2.04 until 8th December, normally €4.49 / £4.09)

3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA, €2.49 / £2.24 until 8th December, normally €4.99 / £4.49)

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! (Shin'en Multimedia, €2.24 / £1.87 until 22nd December, normally €2.99 / £2.50)

Proun+ (Engine Software, €1.19 / £1.05 until 15th December, normally €3.99 / £3.50)

Sumico (Engine Software, €0.89 / £0.80 until 15th December, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

Word Puzzles by POWGI (Lightwood Games, €7.19 / £6.39 until 8th December, normally €8.99 / £7.99)

Escape from Zombie City (Tom Create, €2.10 / £1.90 until 29th December, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

Ninja Battle Heroes (Tom Create, €1.39 / £1.25 until 29th December, normally €1.99 / £1.79)

Runny Egg (Tom Create, €1.40 / £1.25 until 29th December, normally €1.99 / £1.79)

Smash Cat Heroes (Tom Create, €1.75 / £1.39 until 29th December, normally €2.49 / £1.99)

Real Heroes Firefighter 3D Download Version (ZordixAB, €4.99 / £4.49 until 8th December, normally €9.99 / £8.99)

Chain Blaster (Joindots, €3.49 / £2.93 until 15th December, normally €4.99 / £4.19)

Undead Bowling (Joindots, €4.89 / £3.49 until 15th December, normally €6.99 / £4.99)

Jump Trials Supreme (Joindots, €3.49 / £2.93 until 15th December, normally €4.99 / £4.19)

3DS eShop Demo

Mercenaries Saga 2 (CIRCLE Entertainment, free)

3DS HOME Themes

Miffy Dreamer By Mercis (Mercis/CPLG, €0.99 / £0.89)

Miffy's Gifts By Mercis (Mercis/CPLG, €0.99 / £0.89)

Christmas with Miffy By Mercis (Mercis/CPLG, €0.99 / £0.89)

That's everything for this week's Nintendo Download Update in Europe. Let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.

Tom has been involved in the games industry for over a decade, mostly writing about it or struggling to sell Indie games. Loves reading, writing, hunting Capcom’s fiercest monsters and watching baseball.

1
erv
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Yeah, now it's just a slow ride until the switch is here.

2
neufel
Mon 28th Nov 2016

The 3D remake of Megadrive Sonic are really well done, and a bargain at this price

3
ThomasBW84
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@Pahvi It sure is.

4
Peach64
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Keep hoping to see Excite Bike 64 pop up!

5
plug313
Mon 28th Nov 2016

the best week in a while! my wallet is crying 😂

6
santaglause
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Member when we looked forward to Mondays eshop reveal, MEMBER:-(

7
SLIGEACH_EIRE
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Terrible as usual for us Wii U owners. 3DS owners have a good week and selection though.

8
SLIGEACH_EIRE
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@Pahvi It's a lot of Sonic if you're a 3DS owner. If you're a Wii U owner, however:

~ Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric
~ Sonic Lost World
~ Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

Not so much. And in comparison to the catalogue on the Wii, both platforms pale miserably.

9
OorWullie
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Just when you think you've seen the last of RCMADIAX up he pops again.I'm pretty sure he said he was done with Wii U too.

I might go for Sonic Lost World.I know it's flawed but my Wii U needs some Sonic platforming.The demo wasn't too bad i thought.If only his 3DS VC titles weren't on Wii U,I'd have bought the lot.

10
SLIGEACH_EIRE
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Nobody should pay Nintendo £18/€20 for Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Nintendo, you've got to learn.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_Complete=1&_nkw=Donkey+Kong+Jungle+Beat+Wii&_sop=13

11
mrrandomhero
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Just the physical copy of Super Mario Maker this week I think, which is currently on its way right now.

12
shaneoh
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I'll be getting SMT as a physical copy. Nothing else really interests me this week.

13
ElGrego
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Still no Stardew Valley..... WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY ????

14
SuperCharlie78
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Picrosssss! The Retail one, so another "nothing For me"

15
OorWullie
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I was hoping Shantae might make an appearance this week.Really looking forward to that,Pirates Curse was superb.

16
Waninoko
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Sonic Generations for me. 7th Dragon also sounds tempting, though I'd like to have it on cartridge, rather than digital.

17
belmont
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I guess it is finally time to complete the Sonic digital collection...

18
CactuarDavid
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Whoa, what a week! I'll be picking up Picross at retail, and SMT4 somewhere down the line.

19
neyoung8
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Good week

Will pick up sonic racing on Wii u as can't remember this being discounted for a very long time.

Might pick up 3d classics too.

Good to see DK jungle beat on Wii u, will eventually get when discounted

20
electrolite77
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Tempted by Picross but £30??!! Nah.

Is Sonic Generations any good on 3DS?

21
Garo
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Gonna get Picross and Sonic Generations. Maybe the 3D Versions of Sonic 1 and 2 too.

22
Verg
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@electrolite77 I think it's ok for that price. It definitely shows it was an afterthought version, and its not as good as the Rush games on DS, but I enjoyed it.
I might finally get the 3D editions of the first two Sonic games, although I've lost track of how many times I've rebought them now. Wish they made a 3D Sonic 3 & Knuckles or Sonic CD.

23
lbs
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Still no Excitebike 64?

24
Noelemahc
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Gosh darnit all the way to heck,what to get first, Picross 3D or SMTIVA?

25
Billsama
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I'm looking for SMM on 3DS and still deciding if I should get 3D Sonic 2. Everybody say is an awesome port.

Can't believe people still complaint about not getting new games for wii u There are plenty of good deals to get a 3DS this holidays if you can't wait for Switch.

26
wazlon
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Does anyone else think £30 is too much for a Picross game?

27
wazlon
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Don't know why but part of me REALLY wants to buy Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, despite me knowing how bad it is.

28
manu0
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@Peach64 @lbs I wonder if we'll ever get it. I mean we also never got Vs. Excitebike that the US got.

29
lbs
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@manu0 yea... sobering

30
tinCAT-0
Mon 28th Nov 2016

@lbs
I'd also like to see Excitebike 64 get an eu release. Ya know Nintendo, it could be next week, or it could be 12 months time.

31
Anti-Matter
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I wonder about Mario Maker 3DS. If there is a Funny Mushroom (Screen become distorted as well with music) I think I will consider to purchase one.

32
Bread-Not-Toast
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Final Fantasy XV

33
Mahe
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Those My Nintendo discounts... pathetic. And nobody should get the Gamegear Sonics over the Megadrive games.

34
Henmii
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Speaking of Sonic: Isn't it a shame that Japan has the gba Sonic's on eshop, and we don't?!

35
buildz
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Picross 3D Round 2 for me!

36
Lil_B
Mon 28th Nov 2016

7th Dragon III Code for myself & Picross 3D Round 2 for the younger brother.

37
GoldenGamer88
Mon 28th Nov 2016

These Zelda amiibos are the last money Nintendo is getting from me this year. Also, FFXV tomorrow!! Wooooooo!!

38
Grumblevolcano
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Nothing this time, that said apparently there's also an eshop sale coinciding with The Game Awards this week so maybe something from that.

39
whodatninja
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Nothing for me. But it doesn't matter. Black Friday weekend has killed my wallet (with cheap PC games)

40
Mopati
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse?
7th Dragon III Code: VFD?
Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS?
AND Picross 3D: Round 2?

What a GIGANTIC week!
I want all of them... But it's too much money! T_T

Best Nintendo download week I have ever seen, no doubt about that.

41
Samurai_Goroh
Mon 28th Nov 2016

The Wii U Sonic discounts are utterly pathetic and I thought Nintendo Cyber deals were bad. It takes AGES to drop the prices on eShop even on questionable quality games like Sonic Boom.

42
johnodaz
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Super Mario Maker and SMT IV: Apocalypse both retail versions for me this week and maybe one or two Sonic anniversary titles.

43
RainbowGazelle
Mon 28th Nov 2016

I'll be getting 7th Dragon III physical, and downloading its free DLC. I don't know why Super Mario Maker on 3DS exists, seeing as there's no online component.

44
Moon
Mon 28th Nov 2016

Pretty hyped about Mario Maker 3DS, so that's my number one choice. Might grab some Sonic games too. Great week!

45
Sean_Aaron
Mon 28th Nov 2016

If the only thing we're getting on Wii U until Breath of the Wild is more Wii games that's cool by me. Here's hoping for Pikmin 2 and Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn.

Getting localised versions of Chibi Robo (only Japan for Wii) and Excite Bots (never released in Europe - just need to release the NA version, really!) would be amazing if true!