Wii U eShop - News
August2016
Nintendo Download 4th August (North America)
More Pokémon Ranger! Dragon Skills! Stickman Athletics! Demos! Stuff!
It's that time, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week brings another retro Pokémon game to the Wii U Virtual Console, while there are some new download games to consider on both the home console and 3DS. Throw in a couple of demos and some...
News The Fall Part 2: Unbound Confirmed for Wii U Release in Q1 2017
Continuing ARID's story
The Fall stands out as one of the most intriguing download-only releases that has graced the Wii U eShop. Developer Over The Moon originally secured Kickstarter funding for the puzzle-driven experience, with its innovative and atmospheric approach earning praise in our review. The good news is that the second part of the...
Feature Over The Moon on Lessons Learned With The Fall and Continuing ARID's Story in Part 2
"We try to have something that appeals on lots of levels"
As you may have seen, the Wii U eShop is thankfully being included in the line-up of platforms that'll receive The Fall Part 2: Unbound in Q1 2017. A follow-up to The Fall, an intriguing adventure game with a strong narrative that blended action and puzzles, this title with a focus on a...
News Just Dance 2017 Demo Set for the eShop With Bieber's "Sorry" Track
Interesting song choice...
Just Dance 2017 will be a unique title in at least one way, as it's going to span three generations of Nintendo hardware. It'll land on the Wii U and Wii in October (likely missing some features on the latter) and is also coming to the NX. If you like to dance and happen to have Nintendo systems, you're in luck. Ubisoft...
A brick break game like no other?
Brick break games aren't all that common nowadays. One of the modern standouts with a fantastic twist is PopCap Games' long-running Peggle series, which is exceptionally addictive and sets a considerably high standard for the classic genre. Like Peggle, Dragon Skills draws on arcade gameplay inspired by well-known...
Nintendo Download 4th August (Europe)
Alien on the Run! Stickman Athletics! Pinball discounts galore! More!
It's the start of another week, and with that come the details for the upcoming European Nintendo Download Update. This week only has a couple of new arrivals on the 3DS, with much of the update dedicated to discounts and HOME Themes; if you're a pinball fan there's plenty to...
July2016
An old-school endless runner
It's often said that there's no such thing as a bad idea, that it just needs the right moment to shine. More than any other medium video games like to rehash what's come before, retrofitting old concepts into new titles for something that can feel wholly unique while paying tribute to what's come before. For instance,...
More like 666
It seems that many developers have a difficult time translating casino games to a video game format. When you take away the stakes of having your own hard-earned cash on the line, the experience can come across as feeling hollow and pointless. One would think that this could be easily sidestepped by introducing some kind of in-game...
Block party
A few generations ago, puzzle games had a prominent presence on home consoles. Brimming with individual personality, many could be relied upon to offer some fun single- or multi-player play. You don't see as many of these games any more. Puzzle games have migrated more towards mobile platforms, a large number swirling together into a...
News Quest of Dungeons Confirmed for 1st September Wii U Release in Europe, Includes Cross-Buy
StreetPass also confirmed for 3DS version
A while ago we told you about Quest of Dungeons, a turn-based dungeon crawler that utilises procedurally generated environments. It has permadeath, too, so that when you die you start again with a new hero - yep, with a retro look it offers a retro-style level of challenge. The Xbox One version's trailer is...
Retro Chic
If there's one thing that's true in style, it's that what's old is new again. That's as true in fashion games as it is on the runway, and now, after two excellent turns on the 3DS in Style Savvy: Trendsetters and Fashion Forward, Nintendo's going back to basics by bringing the DS original Style Savvy to the Wii U's Virtual Console. Style...
Welcome to the world of Mustland
One of the biggest criticisms the Wii U has faced during its lifespan is that not enough games released on the system have utilised the full potential of Nintendo's unique GamePad controller. Red Column's three-part episodic game 3Souls aims to fill the void, providing an inquisitive 2D puzzle platform experience...
Nintendo Download 28th July (North America)
Lots of Kirby! Gotta Protectors! 3Souls! Vektor Wars! More!
It's that time, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week celebrates the Birthday of a certain pink puffball with a few retro treats, while there are some varied and intriguing new download-only releases on both Wii U and 3DS. There are some promising options...
Palette swap
If you want colourful battles, video games have long been a good place to find them - at least in many cases. Colour has long shown us which barrels explode, which enemies take more hits, and where exactly our turf is. Chroma Blast takes the colour of competition and strips it down into a simple, abstract package. Players control a...
News Tadpole Treble Releases on Wii U on 11th August
Music to our ears
Some of you may remember Tadpole Treble, a fascinating rhythm action game created by Matthew Taranto, the creator of Brawl in the Family. The game officially released on other platforms this past spring, but the Wii U version didn't materialize. This was clarified later on to be the result of struggles getting the game through...
A complete write-off
In Hot Rod Racer you take on the role of a reckless driver with the need for speed. Selecting from a car or a motorbike as your main mode of transport, you put the key in the ignition of your vehicle of choice and take to the track with the intention of speeding along until you run out of gas. Hot Rod Racer seemingly aims to...
News Minecraft: Wii U Edition is Receiving Another Patch Soon
Map packs, bug fixes, and more
Roughly a month ago, Minecraft: Wii U Edition received a fairly substantial update where a new multiplayer competitive arena mode was added in. A few updates followed to fix issues with this, among other things, and it's been several weeks since the last update was pushed out. Now, a new update is due out sometime this...
Take a higher road
How do games like this get released in 2016? Wurd Industries' SpaceRoads is a mess. From the Microsoft Office-style Word art "Wurd Industries" logo to the horrendously optimized introduction video, to the amateurish visuals and loose gameplay, everything about SpaceRoads recalls the worst of 1990s shareware. There is no reason to...
Review Minecraft: Story Mode - Episodes 2-5
Once upon a time...
After months of waiting, Telltale Games has finally gotten around to releasing more episodes of Minecraft: Story Mode content on Wii U. The question on everyone's mind, then, is whether or not it was worth the wait. Overall, the storytelling has some pacing issues and the performance sometimes isn't up to snuff, but it's...
Zig-a-zig-ahhh
We open into a tale of a young wizard apprentice readying up to take the challenge of the Ziggurat, a rite of passage consisting of a series of tests inside a multi-floored labyrinth. As usual, many have tried but most have failed (and died in the process). Now it's your turn to prove your worth and earn the right to become one of the...
Exclusive RIVE Delayed for Wii U and Could Switch to NX, Two Tribes Tells Us Why
"A better RIVE is preferable to an early sub-par RIVE"
In the steadily decreasing list of enticing titles still coming to the Wii U and its eShop, RIVE was among the most anticipated in the download scene. The final game from Two Tribes, it made a favourable impression as one of the demos in the E3 2015 '[email protected]' promotion, and we rather...
Nintendo Download 28th July (Europe)
Secret Files Tunguska! 3 Street Fighter Games! 3 TurboGrafx-16 games! More!
We're a little later than normal with the European Nintendo Download Update details today thanks to a bit of confusion, but in any case our pals at Nintendo Insider have helped us out, so a big hat-tip to them. This week brings plenty of Virtual Console goodness across both...
Review Buddy & Me: Dream Edition
Is this endless runner a dream to play?
Imagine as you're nodding off to sleep one night, you realise there is a big furry creature with long ears outside your bedroom window staring at you. Why didn't you purchase curtains? This is pretty much the premise of Buddy & Me: Dream Edition. The "Dream Edition" part of the title is derived from the...
Review Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
New features and more circle-capture adventures
The Oblivia region has tidy beaches, clear seas and lots of sunshine; it's a pleasant place to be whether a human or one of the many free-roaming Pokémon. Things have changed recently, however, with many Pokémon abducted by a villainous gang known as the Pokémon Pinchers (no, really) and it's up to...
Nintendo Download 21st July (North America)
Pokémon Ranger! Buddy & Me! Star Fox demos + Battle Begins! More!
The time has come, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week has a range of promising download-only releases on both the Wii U and 3DS, while some high profile demos also nudge their way into view. Throw in some discounts (including some that...
This one' s got bite
Dracula's Legacy doesn't waste any time in getting on with proceedings - thrusting the player straight into a spooky hidden object adventure. The story focuses on a young woman named Isabella who is haunted by frightening dreams about her forgotten past. With an eagerness to find a solution to her problems, she travels to an old...
Interview Jason Behr on Buddy & Me: Dream Edition, Going Independent and His History With Nintendo
"We just needed some space to prove we could carefully craft our own world"
Along with the regular slew of digital releases in the weekly update of eShop downloads, today marks the release of Buddy & Me: Dream Edition. Starting life as a mobile game born of a Kickstarter campaign, Dream Edition takes the best of the endless runner and...
Psychedelic shooting
If you blend on-rails conventional Star Fox action with the Death Star run from the first Star Wars, then drop in some psychedelic visuals, you're starting to get a feel for Futuridium EP Deluxe. MixedBag makes its Wii U debut with its colourful shooter that's done the rounds on multiple platforms, and it's a welcome slice of...
One dead duck
Let's be upfront about this, Duck Hunt knock-offs never do very well. Hurry Up! Bird Hunter is disappointingly no different from the rest. The title by EnjoyUp Games aims to recreate the practice in a fun arcade manner, and all it does is fall flat on its face. It's hard to tolerate what is presented in this game, because every aspect...
Codes being given away seems to be the issue
It's no secret that Nintendo has been behind the times with online services for quite some time. While the company has made fantastic leaps ahead over this past hardware generation, and the new My Nintendo system points towards a bright future, there's definitely been some glaring issues that will have to...
The third (stone) wheel
Woe is the child who grew up with a TurboGrafx-16. Whereas battles of words and wills cropped up endlessly in the schoolyard by stalwart Nintendo and Sega fans in the great console wars of the early 90s, anybody with NEC's home rendition of the PC Engine was the gaming equivalent of Switzerland, a neutral entity that was more...
Find your zen
Those of you who enjoy playing the odd puzzle game on your smartphone will no doubt remember 2048. The viral "It" game of 2014, 2048 was centered around the very simple idea of consolidating like numbers on a grid by swiping in any direction. Naturally, dozens of clones began to arrive on digital storefronts shortly after, hoping to...
Bust
Skunk Software seems to have a thing for making casino-style games for the Wii U eShop, and unfortunately they're not strong releases. After two shoddy attempts at poker games and a similarly unappealing slot machine title, the studio has opted to make a Blackjack game. For what it's worth Blackjack 21 stands as the best casino game to come out...
Nintendo Download 21st July (Europe)
Buddy & Me! A Shadow's Tale! Wind-up Knight 2! Demos! FE DLC! More!
With the start of another week we have the usual batch of details for the goodies due in the European Nintendo Download Update. Coming up on Thursday we have a range of promising download-only titles across Wii U and 3DS, including a New 3DS exclusive. We also have a new Wii...
Review Educational Pack of Kids Games
What an apt name
Skunk Software is a studio that's released a handful of disappointing games on the eShop; its releases typically consist of sophomoric and barebones approximations of gambling games and educational games. Still, you have to hand it to the developers for trying to fill a gap in the eShop's library, as there aren't too many games in...
News Racing Apex Fuses Virtua Racing With Mario Kart Combat, And It's Racing Towards Wii U
Death on the track
Gamers of an advanced age will no doubt get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside when the name "Virtua Racing" is mentioned. One of the first genuinely effective demonstrations of 3D graphics in an arcade setting, this slick title followed on from the likes of OutRun and Super Monaco GP and paved the way for future Sega classics such as...
Devilish fun
As fast as video games have developed over the past few decades, when it comes to value for money the amount of replay value within a title remains an important factor when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. This is where Bit Dungeon+ excels, offering a one to two player roguelike endless adventure. Starting out as a free web...
To be a 'noid
Classic arcade styles have stood the test of time, making them ideal subjects for experimentation. Combine two in a certain way and you might just make a delicious chocolate/peanut butter combo of fun. The retro concoction of INVANOID, however, is a different matter. INVANOID combines the downward travelling foes of Space Invaders...
News Buddy & Me: Dream Edition Launches on 21st July
It's so fluffy!
UPDATE: It turns out that the release date is actually for North America as well. Original Story: A few months back, it was revealed that the adorable Buddy & Me: Dream Edition would be arriving on the Wii U eShop. An enhanced version of a popular endless runner on smart devices, Dream Edition aims to add new features such as...
The '80s are back...
Cypronia's take on the original rage quit toy, the Rubik's Cube, is now available on both the Wii U and 3DS eShop. Does this game differ a great deal from a physical Rubik's Cube? No, not really. Like with releases such as Epic Word Search Collection 2, it's down to personal preference whether you opt to have a physical,...
Nintendo Download 14th July (North America)
Monster Hunter Generations! Tumblestone! 3 TurboGrafx-16 games! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. We'd suggest that this week is a good 'un - there are promising download-only titles on both Wii U and 3DS, while the Virtual Console also has some tasty options. There are also two major...
News Wii U Exclusive 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa Hits July Release for North America
Same day as in Europe
There aren't many eShop titles that are still utilising the unique possibilities of the Wii U GamePad, so for that reason alone 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa is rather interesting. Developer Red Column is working towards the first entry of this episodic series (in three parts) making its mark, and has good news for North American...
Definitely not scrap metal
At first glance you would be forgiven for thinking Twin Robots was a copycat of Nintendo's very own Chibi-Robo!: Zip-Lash on the 3DS. This is not the case. Originally developed and released by Thinice for the Ouya game system in 2013 and later made available on multiple other digital platforms including Android and Steam,...
News A Duo Of TurboGrafx-16 Games Hit The Wii U Virtual Console In North America This Week
R-Type and New Adventure Island inbound
Kayne West will be delighted to find out that a lovely pair of TurboGrafx-16 games are making it on to the Wii U's Virtual Console in North America on 14 July [updated from 'later today', a mistaken mix up on dates in our original text]. Nintendo of America's site has listed both R-Type and New Adventure...
147 extra hands don't make it any better
We pity the poor souls who paid their hard earned money on a dud as bad as 6-Hand Video Poker, where soulless presentation and meaningless gameplay combined to make it a nearly worthless product in our eyes. Skunk Software evidently thought that adding dozens of additional hands to the game would somehow...
News Nexis Games Hopes Wii U FPS Draw The Line Will Help Speed Up UCraft's Development
Minecraft clone still in production, despite Kickstarter failure
Indie developer Nexis Games is releasing a Call of Duty-style shooter on the Wii U eShop in the hope that the revenue generated will speed up the completion of its Minecraft-inspired title UCraft. Taking more than a little inspiration from Mojang's phenomenally successful title,...
Nintendo Download 14th July (Europe)
Monster Hunter Generations! Disney Art Academy! Tumblestone! Much more!
Another week begins, and we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to sink our teeth into. This week has plenty to offer with some major retail releases, some rather nice New 3DS Virtual Console offerings, a range of promising download-only options and some fantastic...
Review Emojikara: A Clever Emoji Match Game
No Bed is a Lady
Here's a fun fact about the Japanese language - the word "Emoji" combines the Japanese for "picture" and "character". What's more, the word "Chikara" means power. What do you get when you combine the two? Emojikara, the name of a game that is anything but powerful (or clever, as the title would lead you to believe). While the...
Steel disappointing
Steel Rivals, released on the Wii U eShop not too long ago by indie developer nuGAME, was by no means a shining example of a quality fighting game experience. The package as a whole had poor production values and was uninspired in terms of its design. Be it the bland characters or broken fighting mechanics, it failed to garner a...
Video Latest Trailer For The Girl And The Robot Has The ICO And Studio Ghibli Feels
Coming to the Wii U eShop later this year
We covered The Girl and the Robot's Kickstarter campaign way back in 2013 when it was confirmed that the game was coming to the Wii U eShop. It's been awhile since we last heard anything about it, but developer Flying Carpet Games has just released the launch trailer, and it gives us a pretty comprehensive...
News Playtonic On Yooka-Laylee's Non-Linear Structure And Retaining That Trademark Rare Humour
"It's almost like Banjo-Tooie was yesterday and Yooka-Laylee was today"
Yooka-Laylee may have been cruelly pushed in 2017, but the game remains one of the most eagerly-anticipated titles of recent memory - and with good reason. It's being made by Playtonic Games, a studio formed almost entirely from ex-Rare staff, and it raised a massive amoun
News Dual Core Has Just Gotten a Significant Update in North America
Off TV Play and new character customization options
Some of you may remember Dual Core, a futuristic twin-stick shooter that launched a couple months back. We thought it was a pretty good time, praising the variety of modes and the couch co-op action. Of course, it's not without its flaws, but Gray Fin Studios aimed to combat some of these by...
News Rain Games On Teslagrad's Success and World to the West
Teslagrad shifted 1.6 million copies
Some of you may remember Teslagrad from a few years back, the metroidvania title that featured beautiful, hand-drawn 2D graphics. The gloomy, steampunk-esque environments created a fantastic atmosphere, and the magnetism-centric puzzles were quite smartly designed. It was certainly a unique title on the eShop,...
Nintendo Download 7th July (North America)
Legend of the Mystical Ninja! Flying Dragon! TAP TAP ARCADE 2! More!
It's time, once again, for the North American Nintendo Download update, and this week goes heavy on Virtual Console offerings in particular. The Wii U has two Culture Brain titles, including one that hasn't previously had a VC release, while the New 3DS gets a classic SNES game...
Review Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
New region, new Pokémon, similar circling action
During the Pokémon Ranger games you spend a lot of time wandering around catching Pokémon. Captures are different from the main series, however, as Poké Balls are ditched in favour of Capture Stylers, requiring you to use the touch screen to draw circles around the Pokémon with your stylus. The...
News Two-Player Roguelike Bit Dungeon+ Coming To Wii U eShop This Month
Procedurally generated dungeons and multiple endings await
Spanish developer Dolores Entertainment has confirmed that it is bringing its Roguelike dungeon crawler Bit Dungeon+ to the Wii U eShop on July 14th. The game features two-player co-op and procedurally generated levels. There are six different level themes, over 40 individual enemies and a...
Feature The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Games of 2016 - Summer Edition
Yes, we're combining the lists...
Summer is pouncing upon us and at the time of writing it's Independence Day in the US and a tad drizzly in this writer's part of the UK. It seems like a typical early July day, but we are shaking things up a little in this latest quarterly entry of the 'Biggest Games' series. We're combining the Wii U and 3DS...
News Wii U Exclusive 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa Arrives Soon in Europe
28th July in EU, "a few weeks" later in Americas
There aren't many games still on the way that prioritise the Wii U GamePad and its unique features, but the exclusive eShop title 3Souls - Episode 1: Nelesa is one example. Developer Red Column has the goal of showing how the second screen can still be used in smart ways to enhance gameplay and...
Just keep swimmin'
So why did the duck cross the water? In SPLASHY DUCK, it's to grab a bunch of coins before colliding with a whale. So, uh, now you know? SPLASHY DUCK is another addition to the RCMADIAX line of simply designed score attack games. The player guides a duck endlessly swimming a vertical channel in the middle of the screen. When...
Nintendo Download 7th July (Europe)
Splatoon discount! Professor Layton Movie! TAP TAP ARCADE 2! More!
With the start of another week we have the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and it's a relatively modest line-up this time around. Two new budget download-only titles arrive on the Wii U, while a fan-favourite also gets a timely discount. On the 3DS there's DLC, discounts...
Review The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Link's Groundhog Days
The Zelda games have a lot of fans and people are always eager to pick up the latest release to enjoy some high-quality gaming. There's also been plenty of opportunity to revisit previous instalments in the series, and indeed The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask has seen a few re-releases since first appearing on the Nintendo 64...
Review Slots - Pharaoh's Riches
More like Pharaoh's Rags
There seems to be a dearth of casino-style or gambling games on the Wii U eShop, so Skunk Software has taken it upon itself to try and fill this gap. Unfortunately, there is a glaringly obvious reason why gambling games aren't found all over the eShop: they simply don't work as intended. For its part, Slots - Pharaoh's...
June2016
News PC Owners Can Sign Up Now for a Mekazoo Closed Beta
A promising platformer also due on Wii U this year
Mekazoo is a title we've had our eye on for some time; developed by The Good Mood Creators, it blends slick visuals with platforming and animal transformations. It certainly brings to mind some classics such as the Donkey Kong Country titles (old and new), while also having its own sense of style...
Nintendo Download 30th June (North America)
Super Mario RPG! Zero Time Dilemma! Minecraft Story Mode DLC! LEGO! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week has some rather tempting options, with major retail releases across both Wii U and 3DS, along with big name DLC to also consider on each platform. The Wii U Virtual Console...
News Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing Confirmed for Wii U
GO GO GO!
EnjoyUp Games has been one of the most prolific publishers in the eShop era, releasing various titles across Wii U and 3DS while recently moving onto other platforms such as Xbox One. The studio has now confirmed its next planned Wii U release, with no firm date as yet - Grand Prix Rock 'N Racing. It's the latest in line for the series...
News Wii U Version Of Road Redemption Being "Re-Evaluated"
But at least it's not cancelled, like the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions
The Wii U port of Road Rash spiritual successor Road Redemption is currently being "re-evaluated", according to developer DarkSeas Interactive. The Kickstarter-funded racer - which has sold around 100,000 copies during its spell in Early Access on Steam - was supposed to arrive...
News Tumblestone is Tumbling Onto Wii U on 12th July
We apologise for the headline
Tumblestone is a name you may recognise from some Nindie promotions and previews from Nintendo of America, with the upcoming action puzzle title getting plenty of buzz. The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild - a neat name for a development studio - is now nearly ready to share it with the world. The title's arriving on 12th...
News Wonder Boy: Dragon's Trap Remake Appears To Be Wii U-Bound
According to its BitSummit 2016 listing, anyway
DotEmu and Lizardcube recently lifted the lid on a HD remake of Sega and Westone's excellent Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. At the time of the reveal it was confirmed for consoles and PC, and neither publisher nor developer would commit to the title coming to a Nintendo platform. However, according to...
News Tadpole Treble Hits Snag On Wii U, Now Expected This Summer
"I didn't come this far to not have my game on a Nintendo system, by gum!"
Tadpole Treble was supposed to be with us this March, but the Kickstarter-funded title missed that release date. We've now had an update on why that was the case, as well as a revised release window of Summer. It seems that the game has hit some snags when it comes to...
News Pirate Pop Plus Is Like Anti-Gravity Pang, And It's Coming To Wii U And 3DS
13AM Games handling publishing duties
Update: 13AM Games has published an official response to this leak, which you can see below: We've had another little leak this past week (2016 is the year of 13AM leaks, it seems). But like all leaks, this is some exciting news! 13AM Games is no longer just 13AM Games! We have opened up to game publishing...
Nintendo Download 30th June (Europe)
LEGO Star Wars! BoxBoxBoy! Battle Cats! Zero Time Dilemma! DLC! More!
With the start of another week comes the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe. This week has some promising download-only releases across Wii U and 3DS, while there are also multiple retail titles to choose from including the latest in the LEGO and Zero Escape IPs. Beyond...
News MixedBag Bringing Metroid-Inspired forma.8 To The New Nintendo 3DS
And another undisclosed game for all 3DS models
Indie studio MixedBag has revealed that it is bringing forma.8 to the New Nintendo 3DS as well as the Wii U eShop. The game places you in the role of a probe sent to investigate a mysterious alien world in order to locate a special power source, and MixedBag have cited Metroid as a key influence. The...
Mediocre No. 9, more like
There are few Kickstarter projects that have gained as much attention as Keiji Inafune and Comcept's Mighty No. 9. Billed as a spiritual successor to Capcom's seemingly dormant Mega Man series - a lineage Inafune is closely connected with - this new project was supposed to bring back everything fans loved about the Blue...
News Pawbyte's 'Game Pencil Engine' Development Tool is Released, Supports Wii U
Supports languages such as HTML5
About a year ago we reported on Pawbyte's Game Pencil Engine, development software that also operates as a 2D editor, that was released for PC development. The key news was that it was also promising future support for the Wii U, adding to tools such as Construct and Impact, in particular, in helping developers...
Hands On Painting the Walls Red with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Oh, it's good. Very good.
Back in 1997, Koji Igarashi made gaming history with the extremely successful Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The reason that Castlevania shares half of the name with "Metroidvania", Symphony of the Night was lauded for its fantastic art direction and intricately designed castle. Later on, the formula established by...
News Patch For Minecraft Battle Mini-Game Rolling Out Now
Fixes issue that prevented people from joining public games
4J Studios has confirmed that a patch to fix issues with the newly-released Minecraft Battle Mini-Game is rolling out now. Released on the 21st June, the new mode crashed when players attempted to join public games...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (North America)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! SNES Ghouls 'n Ghosts! Pokemon! More!
It's that time, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a few major retail releases on Wii U, while the SNES is back on the New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. Elsewhere there are three Pokémon games on the Wii U Virtual...
Reminder It's the Final Countdown on Nintendo of Europe's eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale
Grab 'em while they're hot
Two weeks ago Nintendo of Europe launched its eShop Five Year Anniversary Sale with more than 40 games getting discounts. It didn't have the same wow factor as the equivalent promotion in Japan, but it's nevertheless given gamers in the region opportunities to grab some quality games at a decent discount. Well, it ends...
News Yacht Club Games Provides Update on Future Campaigns and Content
Stretching development out
Shovel Knight has been a notable debut success for Yacht Club Games, and it's still ongoing. As a result of numerous stretch goals from the original Kickstarter campaign the studio has been working - for well over a year - on free updates. The studio has now sent out a status update to backers, also shared on its website,...
What a blast
In a derelict space station on Europa - one of Jupiter's moons - two AIs have activated, unaware of what has happened inside. Over the course of their journey they discover it has been overrun with aliens and rampaging machines. The two AIs have to make their way out of the space station alive and find out about what happened in the...
News Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Treble Heading to the North American eShop This Week
GBA and DS goodness
Nintendo of America has confirmed that there's plenty of Pokémon goodness on the way in this week's Download Update on 23rd June; three releases are coming to the Wii U Virtual Console. The three games due will give Pokémon spin-off fans plenty to do, with a mix of GBA and DS gaming on the home console: Pokémon Mystery...
Hands On Dealing Death by a Thousand Cuts with SEVERED
The latest from DrinkBox Studios
Many of you will no doubt recall Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, a wildly inventive and colorful 2D Metroidvania that set the eShop alight when it released back in 2014. We absolutely loved it, and if early impressions are anything to go by, it seems as though DrinkBox Studio's next game - coming to...
Nintendo Download 23rd June (Europe)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions! Mario & Sonic! Mighty No. 9! Nintendo Selects! More!
It's the start of another week, and though a little later than normal Nintendo of Europe has issued details on what we can expect in this week's download update. It's a week with multiple high-profile retail releases, including some tasty new discounts in the Nintendo...
News 2D Shooter And Adventure Mash-Up Starr Mazer Confirmed For Wii U And 3DS Release
Japanese company Playism handling publishing duties
Remember Starr Mazer? A curious mix of point-and-click adventure and 2D shooter, it took to Kickstarter a while back and looked so goshdarn amazing that it had us crossing every available limb in the hope that it would eventually find its way to Nintendo consoles. It looks like we can finally...
News "Oops", Says Image & Form as 'SteamWorld Bundle' Rating is Spotted for Wii U
The pressure's building
Image & Form has established itself as a Nindie to be reckoned with thanks to the eShop releases of SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist, both arriving on the 3DS and Wii U. It seems that those titles will be getting combined into one steamy bundle, too. A USK (German) rating from May has been spotted
Nintendo Download 16th June (North America)
Super Paper Mario! Rhythm Heaven Megamix! Terraria! Much more!
As E3 enters its last day in LA it's time to go back to some old routines, with the North American Nintendo Download Update being one of them. This week seems to be a strong offering, with notable releases across Wii U and 3DS, along with some high-quality Virtual Console offerings on...
E3 2016 XSEED Bringing Japanese-Style Action Adventure Exile's End To Wii U
A "cinematic platformer" made with Japanese artists
During our US team's walk around the showfloor at this year's E3 it has been discovered that XSEED is bringing the indie title Exile's End to the Wii U eShop. Created by one-man studio Magnetic Realms (in reality Japan-based Australian Matt Fielding), Exile's End takes inspiration from a wide...
E3 2016 Nintendo Unveils Massive E3 eShop Sale in North America
Additional 10% off some titles with My Nintendo
Nintendo's presence at E3 also comes with eShop deals for Wii U and 3DS owners in North America. There's a focus on Zelda and Pokémon games, but other top titles including Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon are also up price cuts. Games from both Nintendo and third parties are on sale from 14-21 June...
E3 2016 Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS Get a Discount in Europe
With an extra discount for My Nintendo members
Nintendo of America has unveiled a hefty list of eShop discounts (we're compiling the list at the time of writing), and Nintendo of Europe has also pitched in. It's added two titles to its existing 5 year anniversary sale to give an extra retail treat for the region. Both iterations of the current-gen...
No monsters are getting through on our watch
The Forest Defender, Tikiman, is back to protect his children in PixelJunk Monsters for Wii U. Developed by Q-Games and Double Eleven, PixelJunk Monsters is the second game in the PixelJunk series that started on the PlayStation 3. This time around Double Eleven is porting the popular indie game to the...
Feature Tom Happ on Axiom Verge Coming to Its 'Home Turf' on Wii U
We still can't believe this game is the work of just one guy
It boggles the mind how Axiom Verge is the work of one man. It took five years for creator Tom Happ to produce the game on his own, putting together this game that deftly incorporates elements of Metroid, Contra, and other retro classics. With a list of influences like that, it's tough...
Feature Thunder Lotus Games Dives Into Norse Mythology With Jotun: Valhalla Edition
Ragnarok and roll
Unveiled earlier this year for the Wii U eShop, Jotun: Valhalla Edition is certainly an eye catching game. Thunder Lotus Games dives into Norse mythology, putting the player into the shoes of Thora, a Viking Warrior that must prove herself to earn a place in Valhalla. Those are big stakes for an action-exploration game. A hit on...
Feature We Chat to Drinkbox Studios About SEVERED for Wii U and 3DS
Swiping answers from producer Graham Smith on the touch-based dungeon crawl
Drinkbox Studios is perhaps best known for its beloved, rather cheeky lucha-themed exploration platformer, Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition, which hit the Wii U eShop in July 2014. We rather dug it in our review, but it's been two years now and we're itching for...
News Runbow Pocket and SEVERED Confirmed for the eShop
Runbow Pocket is a New 3DS exclusive
During its appearance on the [email protected] show Nintendo focused on some exciting Nindie games on the way to the eShop later this year. Four releases were covered in total, covering 3DS, New 3DS and Wii U. The main reveal was arguably Runbow Pocket, which will be a New 3DS exclusive later this year. It includes...
News Stardew Valley is Digging Its Way to Wii U
Dev keen to use "special console features like the Wii U's second screen"
Stardew Valley has been a major success on PC, with its charming aesthetic and gameplay hooks earning a lot of fans. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Harvest Moon, it blends farming and living off the land with elements of adventure. The pleasing news is that the...
Going for a slam dunk
From his first venture into Karting through to competing in the Olympics, Mario has been spending plenty of time taking part in activities other than Princess saving. In 2007 (European release) Mario and his mates tried their hands at shooting a few hoops on Nintendo DS in Mario Slam Basketball (aka Mario Hoops 3-on-3 in the...
Nintendo Download 16th June (Europe)
Gunslugs! Fire Emblem Fates DLC! Twin Robots! Discounts Galore! More!
Happy E3 week to one and all; unsurprisingly we have the European Nintendo Download Update details to get it started. We have puzzle platforming on Wii U and frantic run-and-gun action on the 3DS as new releases, along with a retail download targeting young gamers. Fire Emblem...
News Dual Core Gets European Release Date Along With Update in North America
Off-TV play is on the way
Dual Core is one of the Wii U eShop's most intriguing recent arrivals (we're still working on a review), with dual-stick shooting along with co-op play and RPG elements. Developer Gray Fin Studios has now confirmed some positive additional details for both European and North American gamers. First off, the European release...
News B3 Game Expo For Bees Gets Surprise Price Cut
That'll sting
B3 Game Expo For Bees is one of the quirkier titles to come to the Wii U in recent times, blending first-person shooting and adventure with some neat usage of the GamePad. One of the downsides (which we highlighted in our review) is its brevity, and we observed that "it might be worth it to pick this title up sometime on a sale or...
Video The Battle Mini-Game for Minecraft: Wii U Edition Goes Live on 21st June
Get ready to Nintendoom your friends in the arena
A couple weeks ago, it was announced that another free update would be coming to Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Following hot on the heels of the Super Mario Bros. Mashup Pack, this new update will include a new Battle mode where players duke it out in arenas and fight for glory. The new mode will have...
