Wii U eShop - News
March2016
All fizzle, no boom
Playing Volcanic Field 2 is a lot like throwing lasagna against the wall. It can be fun and even primally satisfying for a short while, but you'll soon take a closer look and realize how much of a mess it is. The game can be described as a 2D, sidescrolling, twin-stick shooter. The left stick, d-pad, or even shoulder buttons on...
Poll Are You Ready to Download More of Your Retail Games From the eShop?
Nintendo's keen, but are you?
Though we wait (im)patiently for My Nintendo - and Miitomo - to arrive in the West, the launch in Japan has given an early look at how the Club Nintendo replacement is shaping up. We expect tweaks and even alternative rewards for the West, but the general structure and broad detail is likely to be largely the same...
News Pokkén Tournament Demo Comes Out Fighting On The European Wii U eShop
Try before you buy
Well, that was unexpected. Without any warning, Nintendo has pushed a demo of Pokkén Tournament onto the European Wii U eShop, giving players the chance to sample the title for free. The download went live last night, and weighs in at an impressive 1150MB. There's currently no sign of a similar demo on the North American eShop,...
Review Mutant Mudds Super Challenge
Git gud or get rekt
Way back in 2012 when the eShop was still in its earliest stages, Mutant Mudds was released to general critical acclaim. Indeed, it was one of the earlier original titles released for the eShop, and paved the way - in a sense - for what would go on to become a very prolific service. Now, four years later, does the follow-up live...
Nintendo Download 17th March (North America)
Pokkén Tournament! Mutant Mudds Super Challenge! Mario & Sonic! More!
It's time for another North American Nintendo Download Update, and this week brings a few notable releases. We have a big-name fighting title on Wii U, Mario & Sonic competing in the Olympics, cross-buy goodness from Renegade Kid and more besides. Without further pre-amble...
Review Advance Wars: Dual Strike
War has twice before been this much fun
Intelligent Systems' long-running Famicom Wars series didn't arrive in the west until the release of Advance Wars on the Game Boy Advance, but the colourful turn-based tactical gameplay quickly acquired many fans. A GBA sequel arrived, followed by this DS entry. Like the two proceeding GBA instalments Advance...
Video Zordix Makes a Splash With Updated Aqua Moto Racing Utopia Footage
Maximum Power!
Aqua Moto Racing Utopia seems to have been in our 'Upcoming Releases' list for a little too long, having been originally revealed in February 2014 for the Wii U eShop. As a HD follow-up to Aqua Moto Racing 3D we naturally thought "oh boy, it could be the next best thing to a new Wave Race", and we cling to that hope to this very day...
News RCMADIAX Confirms Release Date for SUPER ROBO MOUSE and More in Europe
European gamers to catch up soon
RCMADIAX has been one of the most prolific game developers on the Wii U eShop, though with upcoming title SUPER ROBO MOUSE is planning to start a shift in development approach to more sizeable - and less regular - releases. The studio has now issued an update on a number of its upcoming releases. Super Robo Mouse...
News Infinity Runner is Dashing Towards a 24th March Release on Wii U
A werewolf in space, because why not?
Wales Interactive has released a couple of titles on Wii U to date - Gravity Badgers and Master Reboot - with Soul Axiom still to come, and has now given a final release date for one of its long-standing announcements. It's taken a while, but Infinity Runner has firm release details. This is a first-person...
Inside my '90s accessory
Inside My Radio is yet another heavily stylised 2D Indie platformer with a little twist of rhythm added into the mix. The player is tasked with journeying through the insides of a dying Boombox in order to resurrect it back to life through tuning dials, jumping gaps and defeating the occasional boss. There's a basic slice of...
News Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut Launches on the European Wii U eShop on 24th March
North American announcement coming soon
A little over a month ago, WayForward issued an update regarding the impending release of Shantae: Risky's Revenge – Director's Cut for Wii U. A re-release of the popular DSiWare title, Shantae: Risky's Revenge – Director's Cut aims to recreate the original in HD with some helpful new additions, like a...
Video This Trailer Will Remind You Why You Should Still Be Excited About The Deer God
Official Wii U eShop trailer emerges from the undergrowth
Indie hit The Deer God was originally supposed to arrive on the Wii U eShop last year, but seems to have suffered a slight delay. Thankfully, it would appear that we don't have to wait that much longer for the game, as publisher Mobot Studios has released a fresh trailer - presumably ahead of...
News Forsooth, We Badly Need To Cuddle These Shovel Knight Plushes
Plague Knight has no right to be this adorable
Not long ago, we reported on the simply irresistible Shovel Knight plush, which we sincerely hope you all purchased at least one of. Now, we're once again ready to assist in the emptying of your bank account by showing off the full range of soft toys based on Yacht Club's excellent game - including an...
News Gear Gauntlet is Spinning Towards the Wii U eShop
Cystalline Green working on the port
The eShop continues to be a key part of the Wii U platform, with a range of exclusives and ports giving owners of the home console new content to consider. It also introduces Nintendo fans to plenty of new Indie names, and this year we'll be playing a game by another relatively unknown studio - Drop Dead...
Video Mutant Mudds Super Challenge Trailer Opts for Retro Charm
Time for a real challenge
We may have praised optional invincibility options very recently, but as noted there we also highlighted how third parties and download games can provide old-school difficulty to keep gaming ninjas busy. An example of this is Mutant Mudds Super Challenge, which takes the formula of the first game and adds a whole lot of...
News Futuridium EP Deluxe Approaches Wii U Release, Though the New 3DS Will Need to Wait Longer
April is the target release month
MixedBag is another development studio gearing up for its Nintendo eShop debut, having announced its intentions in early 2014. One of its planned releases is the intriguing forma.8, but first up will be Futuridium EP Deluxe, which is increasingly close to its Wii U arrival. Previously a PS Plus offering on PSN,...
News Axiom Verge Confirmed for Wii U Release Later This Year
Huzzah!
Axiom Verge is the critically acclaimed work of Thomas Happ, who produced the game on his own over a number of years. Incorporating elements of Metroid, Contra and more with its own distinct touches, its eventual publication on PSN was also helped along be former Nintendo of America Indie head honcho Dan Adelman. Talk of the game coming to...
News Wii U Exclusive Twisted Fusion Gets a Playable Browser-Based Beta
Pick the single or dual screen option
Way back in Spring 2014 Twisted Fusion was one of a number of eShop projects that was successfully funded on Kickstarter. The work of Leuvsion - a studio led by UK-based developer Lewis Pugh - it's an ambitious "open platformer" in which players can tackle the adventure alone or with up to five co-op buddies...
Nintendo Download 17th March (Europe)
Pokkén Tournament! Mutant Mudds Super Challenge! New 3DS VC! More!
With another week's beginnings we have the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and this time around we have a major Wii U release and a cross-buy Nindie title leading the way. There are also two classic Super NES racing games coming to the New 3DS Virtual Console, a shooter...
Steel your nerves
The fighting genre has been around since the glory days of the arcade, and while it may not be quite as popular today as it's always been, there's still quite a following for this rather technical type of game. Though fighting games may initially seem to be quite simple, they usually have a fairly deep combo system that requires...
News Chronicles Of Teddy: Harmony Of Exidus Arrives On The Wii U eShop Later This Month
After slipping from its Fall 2015 release
Aksys Games has announced that it is bringing LookAtMyGame's Chronicles of Teddy: Harmony of Exidus to the Wii U eShop at the end of this month. A 2D platforming epic with RPG elements, Chronicles of Teddy has NPC interaction, over 30 hours of gameplay and plenty of unlockables. It was originally expected...
News Rhapsody is Now Available on the Wii U
The first music streaming app for Wii U
The Wii U has always been a video game console first and foremost, as opposed to its competitors which have branched out to have other multimedia functions in addition to playing video games. Though there's something to be said about the console being 'focused', it does feel like a bit of a letdown that there...
News Two Tribes Announces That RIVE is Now a Development Farewell
Will still support partners following release
RIVE is a hugely promising title from Two Tribes, a fast-paced action shooter that gave us a new appreciation for being blasted to bits following an extended hands on last year. Coming to Wii U, PS4, Xbox One and PC it's now confirmed for a September release; the surprising addition to this news,...
Nintendo Download 10th March (North America)
Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation! Star Ghost! Blasting Bunnies! More!
It's that time of the week when we look at the download treats on the way from Nintendo, and this time around the North American update certainly has some promising options. The headline arrival is major campaign DLC on 3DS, while there are some quirky and interesting offerings...
Spirited away
Star Ghost's arrival on the Wii U eShop might appear to be fairly sudden - the game was announced mere weeks ago - but its inception and gestation have actually taken quite some time. Based on the 2015 iOS release Star Drift, this unique take on the old-school arcade shooter concept is notable for the fact that its developer -
News Jools Watsham on the Difficulty Level of Mutant Mudds Super Challenge
A game for the fans
Just last week, it was announced that Mutant Mudds Super Challenge will be releasing on 17th March in all territories. The follow-up to the original Mutant Mudds may not be technically considered a sequel, but something of a 'continuation'. Naturally, this means that it's a game being tailored to the fans, and the difficulty is...
News Pentapuzzle Launches in Europe and Australia on 5th May
The fifth day of the fifth month
Pentapuzzle was a puzzle game released by RCMADIAX for the Wii U eShop last March, centered around the concept of fitting different pentomino blocks together inside a grid. We rather liked the idea of the game, though it did feel somewhat unfinished and static. That aside, Pentapuzzle initially launched in North...
Scary bad
Joe's Diner sounds compelling on paper: you're a new employee at a lonely diner on an abandoned stretch of highway. The diner is set atop an Indian burial ground and is rife with other-worldly activity; your goal is to survive through the night and by keeping the spirits at rest. Unfortunately, ideas don't always come out the way one might...
News Controversial FPS Paranautical Activity Will Be Plumbing The Depths Of The Wii U eShop Soon
From the dev who threatened to kill Gabe Newell
Digerati Distribution is bringing Code Avarice's Steam shooter Paranautical Activity to the Wii U eShop. The game - which is a mixture of FPS action and Roguelike elements, all wrapped up in a graphics engine which calls Minecraft to mind - is perhaps most famous for the furore which surrounded its...
Gotta circle ‘em all!
Welcome to the Fiore region, a relaxed place where Pokémon are free from Poké Balls, able to roam around in the wild or stay as someone's pet if they've taken a liking to a particularly snug blanket. You are the newest recruit to the Rangers, a group of dedicated (but often dull) individuals who provide help to citizens or...
Interview Former Retro Studios Man Rhys Lewis on Going Alone With Star Ghost on Wii U
"I reflected on Iwata-san's words" with move from iOS to eShop
When a one-man studio developer states - with as much humility as possible - that they've previously worked at both Rare and Retro Studios, you can't help but be intrigued. These are two of the most storied Western development studios in Nintendo history, with Rare being an integral part...
News The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth is Coming to Wii U
Hopefully launches next month
A little while back, it was heavily teased that The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth would be coming to Wii U. The massive expansion to the randomly generated roguelike was originally expected to skip Nintendo platforms, but it sermed that the developers evidently had changed their minds with the Wii U, though a New 3DS...
Review SMART Adventures Mission Math: Sabotage at the Space Station
Space Case
There's a distinctive feel to many educational games that makes their genre immediately identifiable. If you grew up with the likes of Spy Fox and Pajama Sam, you likely know what kind of style we're referring to. SMART Adventures Mission Math: Sabotage at the Space Station fits this bill rather well, which has both positive and negative...
Exclusive Check Out Star Ghost's Second Trailer Ahead Of Its eShop Launch
A ghost in the machine
Star Ghost is docking with the Wii U eShop later this week, and to mark this event we've got an exclusive trailer for the game. Produced by former Rare and Retro Studios staffer Rhys Lewis, the game is a procedurally-generated shooter which borrows the control scheme from the rocket-barrel sections in Donkey Kong Country...
News We'll Be Cursing At Super Meat Boy's Insane Difficulty "Very Very Very Soon"
"You should be playing it in a couple months! Hooray!"
Super Meat Boy for Wii U was hinted at not so long ago, but its appearance during the recent Nintendo Direct broadcast (the European one, at least) is the first solid confirmation we've seen that the indie platformer is indeed bound for a Nintendo system. Now, co-creator Tommy Refenes has taken...
Nintendo Download 10th March (Europe)
New 3DS VC classics! Stella Glow! Star Ghost! Blast 'em Bunnies! More!
Another week begins, and on this occasion delivers a corker of a Nintendo Download Update for Europe. There are a total of five high quality Virtual Console releases across the Wii U and New 3DS, along with a retail arrival on 3DS and a variety of promising download-only releases...
Exclusive Mutant Mudds Super Challenge Launch Details are Confirmed
Cross-buy and loyalty discounts up for grabs
Mutant Mudds Super Challenge may not have '2' in the title, but it's shaping up to be an intensely challenging follow-up for fans of Renegade Kid's original action platformer - Mutant Mudds. Following the first game's break-out success on the 3DS eShop, in particular, this one's sure to get quite a bit of...
News Nintendo's Third Party Game Sizzle Reel Shows Off Some Download Gems
Pinball Arcade is back! Noitu Love: Devolution! PixelJunk Monsters! More!
Well, Nintendo of Europe rolled out its traditional sizzle reel for Nintendo Direct, though rather than being an eShop-only effort it aimed to show off third party games in general. Admittedly the first minute is a mix of retail and download games that are rather familiar and...
News Super Meat Boy Confirmed For Wii U eShop Release
Finally!
Back in October of last year, it was hinted that the super-hard platformer Super Meat Boy - previously intended for the original Wii - might be headed to the Wii U. During today's European Nintendo Direct broadcast, footage of the game was shown during a segment intended to highlight the various games already available for Nintendo...
News Lost Reavers Open Beta Kicks Off On The Wii U eShop This April
With the full release following closely behind
Bandai Namco's free to play Wii U eShop offering Lost Reavers - once upon a time known as Project Treasure - is coming to the west this year, it has been confirmed. An open beta for the game will launch on April 14th, with the full release happening on April 28th. These release dates apply for both...
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
Many games are based around a quest to restore the light. Normally it's a kind of metaphorical light used to symbolize peace and hope; an attempt to fight back against the darkness and restore balance. 6180 the moon does away with pretense and sets up the most universally pivotal journey of all - bringing the...
News Bird Mania Party Aims to Bring Addictive Portable Gaming to the Wii U eShop
Have you heard about the bird?
For some there are few more addictive score-chasers than runner games, or in the case of Bird Mania 3D 'flyer' games. The 3DS eShop title has provided some simple fun at a budget price, and now Teyon wants to repeat the trick on Wii U eShop. This series is making its way to the home console as Bird Mania Party, with...
Nintendo Download 3rd March (North America)
Twilight Princess HD! Pac-Man 2! Chasing Dead! Discounts galore! More!
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...
Video New Bloodstained Development Update Blurs The Line Between 3D And 2D Art
"We thought cosplayers would especially like to see the back view"
When Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night launched on Kickstarter a while back, the concept art shown off made many assume that it would take inspiration from the likes of Muramasa and Dragon's Crown by using 2D sprites, but subsequent development updates stated that it was in fact...
News Jotun: Valhalla Edition to Bring Hand-Drawn Norse Mythology to Wii U This Summer
Praise the Gods
The Wii U eShop has often been a saving grace for the home console, delivering some intriguing and enjoyable download-only games to Nintendo gamers. It looks like another is on the way, too, with Thunder Lotus Games planning a Summer release of Jotun: Valhalla Edition. Previously funded on Kickstarter and released to some acclaim on...
February2016
News Ubisoft Discounts Galore in 2-Week North American eShop Sale
Rayman for $10 isn't a big leap to make
A leap day might feel like a magical "extra" 24 hours to some, but for many of us it was probably just another day. For Ubisoft, at least, it was the day to start some boffo discounts on a ton of its Wii U and 3DS eShop inventory in North America. The deals go up to 75% off on some games and last until 13th...
Review Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Pokécrawler: Blue
Many Pokémon are finding themselves in trouble and it's up to you and your rescue team to go and save them in this dungeon crawling spin-off from Chunsoft. Released for the DS in 2006, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team sees you fighting ill-tempered Pokémon as you search a randomly generated floor for the staircase that...
Nintendo Download 3rd March (Europe)
Twilight Princess HD! Retro Advance Wars! LEGO 3DS Season Pass! More!
The latest Nintendo Download Update details are available for Europe, with a major retail title leading the way on Wii U. There's some classic strategy on the home console, too, along with DLC and some download-only options across both current-gen systems, including a season pass...
News Tadpole Treble is Expected to Launch in March on the Wii U eShop
From the creator of Brawl in the Family
Those of you who like to read webcomics may be familiar with Brawl in the Family. Drawn and written by Matthew Taranto, the comic series primarily featured various Nintendo characters that starred in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, later expanding beyond Smash into other Nintendo releases. Though the comic has now...
News Minecraft Update Version Number Three Has Gone Live
Brings it up to par with Xbox 360 version 33
Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been out for a couple months now, and many Nintendo gamers have since put in countless hours exploring its blocky environments. All the same, it's not a perfect version of the game, with many fans complaining about certain features that were absent from this release...
Review Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Pokécrawler: Red
As well as the regular series of Pokémon RPGs, a number of spin-off games have appeared over the years. Developed by Chunsoft, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team arrived on the Game Boy Advance in 2006 and (like a number of the studio's titles) takes the form of a dungeon crawler that has you battling against numerous enemy...
News Planet Diver Aims For The Core On The Wii U eShop
Steam and mobile title coming to the eShop soon
Indie developer Fabraz has announced that its action title Planet Diver is coming to the Wii U eShop in the not-too-distant future. The game, which boasts pixel-heavy retro visuals and a cool anime visual style, has already appeared on Steam and Android. Assuming the role of a daredevil wingsuit...
News PixelJunk Monsters Has Been Rated for Wii U by PEGI
A tower defense game from Q-Games
For those of you with Playstation consoles, you may be familiar with the PixelJunk name. A short series of quirky downloadable games, these were all developed by Q-Games, a small studio which was started up by Dylan Cuthbert, a pivotal developer of the original Star Fox. Though Q-Games put out some high quality...
Nintendo Download 25th February (North America)
Pokemon Gen 1! Mega Man! Sadame! 6180 the moon! Medabots! More!
It's a big week for Nintendo download fans, with the original Pokémon games leading the way on 3DS. There are also plenty of varied download-only options on Wii U, along with some major releases on 3DS, DLC offerings and the usual range of discounts. There's plenty to get through, so...
Oh, and David Wise is doing the soundtrack. Excited yet?
Rhys Lewis might have "indie game developer" on his business card these days, but his career has been anything but small-scale. Lewis has held roles at Rare, Confounding Factor, 3D Realms and Retro Studios, and can list titles like Banjo-Kazooie, Duke Nukem Forever, Metroid Prime 3, Donkey...
Review Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
Hello. Everybody.
For gamers of a certain age that owned a PS1 (or just 'PlayStation'), Abe the Mudokon is a familiar character, famous for some of the cleverest puzzle-platforming gameplay of the age. With Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty we have a remake of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, though it's actually more a refresh than remake. Make no mistake, this...
Pretty passable puzzles
In an attempt to better suit the subject matter at hand, we briefly considered publishing this review with fiendish word jumbles sprinkled throughout. After more than a few sloppy attempts, we'd given in to frustration and decided it was best to leave that kind of thing in more capable hands. For the verbose and the...
Video Soul Axiom's Launch Trailer Is Part Tron, Part Lawnmower Man
"Welcome to Elysia"
Wales Interactive's intriguing cyber-thriller Soul Axiom has been on our radar for what seems like forever. The spiritual sequel to the studio's previous title Master Reboot, it features a unique artstyle and an interesting futuristic storyline which looks to combine the best bits of Tron, The Lawnmower Man and many other similar...
Video Check Out This Teaser Footage of Space Dave!
Out of this world
Woah Dave! is an extremely bizarre, but nonetheless enjoyable, retro inspired game from Choice Provisions that launched last year. Featuring gameplay that appears to be partially inspired by the classic Mario Bros., it's a good pick up and play kind of game; one that encourages that "just one more try" mentality. Interestingly...
Talking Point Pokémon and Mega Man Show Us Extremes of Nostalgia's Value
Will you be putting down the cash for all three gen 1 Pokemon games?
This week brings a delicious nostalgia overload on the 3DS, with Pokémon Red, Blue & Yellow making their way to the portable on 27th February, while Mega Man Legacy Collection lands on 23rd February. That's nine games across the two franchises, considering all the parts in...
Exclusive Quest of Dungeons is Bringing Turn-Based Roguelike Action to Wii U and 3DS
With that 'good old 16-bit' look
Fans of dungeon crawling roguelikes, especially those with a retro vibe, have another release to look forward to on both the Wii U and 3DS eShop. Quest of Dungeons is the work of Upfall Studios, with the developer confirming to us that it's now in development in-house for both of Nintendo's current-gen systems...
Nintendo Download 25th February (Europe)
Pokémon Gen 1! Mega Man Collection! Bravely Second! Sadame! Much More!
With another week underway we kick off with the European Nintendo Download Update details. This week has a lot to offer, with the 3DS benefiting from highly anticipated Virtual Console arrivals, a neat collection, a retail release, a particularly promising download-only arrival...
2 Games, 1 Button
Package deals are always worth considering to save a bit of coin or reduce the footprint of buying everything separately. Even small things can come in smaller packages when bundled, which is the case with RCMADIAX's TAP TAP ARCADE. Unfortunately, the combination here doesn't really feel any greater than the sum of its parts. TAP...
Video Image & Form Re-Affirms SteamWorld Heist DLC Plans and Talks Over Captain Piper's Origins
Also shows off concept art and more
Following the release of SteamWorld Heist on 3DS last year, Image & Form has been stepping up its efforts this year in working on a fresh update and ports for other platforms. It's also continued its 'Engine Room' series of videos, answering fan questions and giving some insights into its work. The latest...
News The Temple of Yog Version 1.1 Update is Being Approved
Expected to go live sometime in mid-February
Temple of Yog has been out for a bit of time now, offering Wii U gamers a retro roguelike experience with a bizarre premise. We rather liked it in our review, and it seems that there's a plan for additional content that will hopefully take the game to new heights. While CHUDCHUD industries is hard at work...
Nintendo Download 18th February (North America)
Fire Emblem Fates! Three Virtual Console games! Sonic discounts! More!
The Nintendo Download Update information for North America has arrived later than normal this week, but here it is. This time around there are two (or three, if you're being pedantic) major retail releases on 3DS, while the Wii U has no less than three Virtual Console arrivals...
News Hyper Light Drifter May Not Be Coming to Wii U
Not Drift Compatible
Many of you probably remember Hyper Light Drifter, a 2D Action RPG Indie project that was announced a few years ago. The project was successfully funded via Kickstarter and a Wii U version was confirmed not long after when it passed a certain stretch goal. Obviously, the game was delayed significantly since then; it's missed the...
News Neon Deity Games is Working on Bringing Shutshimi to Europe
No firm dates, but hopefully in the next few months.
Shutshimi was a unique shmup that released on the eShop a couple weeks ago. Featuring retro style visuals and a fast-paced Warioware style approach to enemy waves, we thought that it was a pretty good time. Up until recently, it was uncertain when the game would be brought over to Europe, but it...
Interview RCMADIAX's Michael Aschenbrener Reflects on his Development Experience and Moving Forward
"I've learned to just ignore the negative and embrace the positive"
The legacy of the Wii U will likely be rather complicated and hotly disputed in years to come, yet a notable positive has been its eShop. After the structural limitations of the Wii and DSi stores, and then the hardware restrictions of the 3DS, the current-gen home console's support...
News RCMADIAX Plans Shift Away From Quickfire Releases, Starting with SUPER ROBO MOUSE
Bringing the back-catalogue to PAL territories is still planned
Few developers have been quite as prolific in their Wii U output as RCMADIAX, with Michael Aschenbrener producing 15 titles of various kinds since it all began with BLOK DROP U in 2014. The studio has become synonymous with quickfire, budget releases, which has won some fans and also...
Nintendo Download 18th February (Europe)
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon! Return to PopoloCrois! DLC! A bit more!
With the start of a week comes the European Nintendo Download Update details. This time around Nintendo isn't aiming to overwhelm us with options (OK, that's a generous interpretation) but there are some tempting options nevertheless. We have two enticing retail releases on 3DS,...
News 6180 the Moon Arrives on the Wii U eShop on 25th February
Over the moon
The Wii U GamePad was a very promising piece of equipment back when the Wii U was announced, supposedly providing all sorts of new ways to play video games. Now that we're a number of years into the console's life, it seems that this has been delivered on somewhat, but developers have struggled to find unique and innovative uses for...
Affordable Space Puzzles
There's plenty to do out in space, and the Wii U eShop likes to emphasize how you can do so for low, low prices. Outside the Realm from TreeFall Studios aims to provide puzzling action for a bargain, and players will more or less get what they pay for it. Players use the GamePad and its touch screen to guide an astronaut to...
News Super Robo Mouse is Aiming for a 7th April Release Date
Submitted to both NOA and NOE for approval
RCAMADIAX has long been a supporter of the Wii U eShop, and while some may debate the relative quality of its releases, it still remains one of the biggest supporters. The studio certainly isn't slowing down its production schedule, as another title has just been revealed to be in the works. RCMADIAX just...
Interview Oddworld Creator Lorne Lanning Discusses New 'n' Tasty on Wii U
"Would you consider an Abe amiibo?" "Why not!"
Oddworld is a series that has all but been neglected on Nintendo systems save for a handful of ports handled by third parties, but now Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty, a complete remake of the original Abe's Oddysee, has made its way onto Wii U. We were lucky enough to chat directly in a frank and friendly...
Shreddin’ the gnar
Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, 1080° Snowboarding was Nintendo's attempt to bring the snowboarding experience to its home console. It did a good job: six courses provide a variety of thrills as you hop on a board and tackle the snowy slopes. Five riders of varying abilities and several boards are available and...
News Cube Life: Island Survival Climbs the eShop Charts in Japan
Edging ever closer to Minecraft's coveted no.1 spot
We recently reported that indie developer Cypronia found success in Japan with its Minecraft-inspired title Cube Life: Island Survival. Since that time it has now sky-rocketed to third place in the Japanese charts, even sneaking past Super Mario
Table(top) for two
Space Hulk is a relatively straightforward game. If you like more mature, dark themes in your titles, it may be for you. The same could be said if you're the type of gamer who wishes the Wii U had more thrillers. If you're a fan who mostly enjoys more colourful, first-party-style fare, this may not be for you. If you're the type...
Nintendo Download 11th February (North America)
Oddworld! Cutie games! VC goodness! Discounts galore! More!
It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update. It's a busy line-up this week with a long-delayed and eagerly anticipated Wii U eShop arrival, along with some other intriguing new titles on the store. There are also three Virtual Console entries on the home...
Feature Learning More About the Nindies Love You Wii U eShop Promotion
Up to ten Nindie games on discount
The most recent European Nintendo Download Update details contained plenty of discounts on the Wii U eShop, but a number of those are actually part of a themed campaign that'll reach all regions. Nindies Love You will feature on the store with its own banner and sections, and is the latest promotional campaign...
A blast from the past
FreezeMe is an outstanding blast from the past. It borrows so many ideas from Super Mario 64 that the resemblance is almost uncanny, but ultimately there's enough new content here to constitute its own quality experience. The game isn't as polished as it could be, but FreezeMe provides an enjoyable romp through the format of an...
News Playtonic Games Reveals New Character and David Wise Track for Yooka-Laylee
Three new staff also join up
Yooka-Laylee made quite an impact when it was revealed in Spring 2015, with the newly formed Playtonic Studios gaining a lot of attention by virtue of a promising Kickstarter pitch video and the fact that the team was largely comprised of former Rare staff. Already positioned as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie,...
News Dot Arcade's Dodge Club Is Getting A Stand-Alone Multiplayer Spin-Off
16x16 pixels of mayhem
Remember Dot Arcade? You should do, as we awarded it 9 out of 10 when we reviewed it last year. One of the included games - Dodge Club - is now getting a stand-alone release, and in case you were wondering why you should care, this version will have multiplayer. Entitled Dodge Club Party, the game has previously been...
You'll be hooked
Choice Provisions has established a reputation for putting out some high quality, but weird games such as the BIT.TRIP Saga and Woah Dave!. Shütshimi is the latest title to be published by the studio, and while there are some issues with shallow gameplay, the retro-inspired strangeness of the whole affair makes for an entertaining...
News Mutant Mudds Super Challenge Has Been Submitted to Nintendo
Prepare yourselves
Renegade Kid has had a pretty strong presence on the Nintendo eShop for this generation, and it was all kicked off by Mutant Mudds. A '12-Bit' 2D platformer, the original game launched on the 3DS eShop at a time when there were few worthwhile games to be found on the service. Mutant Mudds was already a tough game to begin with,...
News Developer Casts Doubt on Wii U Port of Anima: Gate of Memories
It'll be a few months behind the other versions, regardless
A few of you may remember Anima: Ark of Sinners from back in the days of Wiiware. While the title may not have exactly delivered the highly polished experience that some may have expected, it was at least a mostly competent sidescroller set in the world of Anima: Beyond Fantasy. A few years...
News Buddy & Me: Dream Edition is Coming to Wii U eShop This Spring
A boy and his floppy-eared dragon thing
Buddy & Me was a cute endless runner released for mobile platforms a couple years back that followed the adventures of a little boy and his "Buddy", and it was praised for its fantasy-themed art style and universal appeal. Naturally, games such as this have a certain degree of overlap with the Wii U, given...
News Outside the Realm from TreeFall Studios to Launch at 49 Cents
Just a Lil Bit
Complaints about pricing on the Wii U eShop can - on occasion - be valid, but those looking to spend very few dollars on their games aren't short of options. With Unity and Nintendo Web Framework support the store has opened up to a host of new developers that are keen to offer budget experiences, with mixed results overall. TreeFall...
Review Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar / Gregar
One last network battle
Mega Man Battle Network 5 changed a few things around for this series, but was mostly quite similar to its predecessor. Deciding to go for one last hurrah on the Game Boy Advance, Capcom created a sixth Battle Network game. Don't expect any big surprises though; it's still quite similar to its peers. After spending the...
Nintendo Download 11th February (Europe)
Oddworld! Old Pokemon Mystery Dungeon! Project X Zone 2! Much more!
Another week is underway, and as always we get up and running with the European Nintendo Download Update. This line-up is a bit of a corker, with a highly promising demo / prelude being joined on 3DS by two major retail releases, while on Wii U we have a long awaiting download-only...
Review Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Tactical Fantasy Action
It wasn't that long ago that things were going so well. With just one member of the opposing clan left against the three on your team, wrapping up this mission seemed to be straightforward enough. Then he took out your mighty Bangaa warrior and is now causing your sword guy plenty of trouble on account of the fact he returns...
Solo Noble, anyone?
Ever been to a restaurant or doctor's office and found one of those wooden Peg Solitaire boards just lying around? The little triangular board where you hop pegs over each other? The degree to which you compulsively feel a need to pick it up and play it rather than fiddle with your phone is indicative of the interest you'll have...
News Shantae: Risky's Revenge Director's Cut is Nearing Release on Wii U
Both in Europe and North America
Shantae has had a bit of a comeback in the last couple years, and it was arguably all kicked off by Shantae: Risky's Revenge. After the original Shantae released on the Game Boy Color, there was a gap of about eight years before the game received its sequel on DSiWare. This was followed up a few years later by...
News Cube Life Battles Minecraft for Success in Japan
Update 1.2 on its way soon
As you probably know Minecraft: Wii U Edition hit the Wii U in late December, and it's doing particularly well in Japan. It's the number one selling game in the Wii U charts in Japan at the moment. That's not discouraged publisher Cypronia from releasing its Minecraft-inspired title Cube Life: Island Survival
News Chasing Aurora Dev Broken Rules Offers To Port Undertale To Wii U
Keep determined
Yesterday, we reported on the news that Undertale developer Toby Fox was open to the idea of his unique RPG coming to Nintendo systems, with the caveat that he'd need outside assistance to create the port. Undertale - a critically-acclaimed PC release built entirely with Game Maker - would need to be re-written from scratch, and Fox...
Nintendo Download 4th February (North America)
Smash DLC! Resident Evil 4! Shütshimi! FreezeME! More!
Here we are once again, North American gamers, with the Nintendo Download Update. This week seems like another good 'un, with the final batch of Super Smash Bros. DLC, a corking Wii download from Capcom, some highly promising download-only games and some discounts. Phew, let's get to the...
Avoiding the boss
Some of the best games involve relatable experiences. Level 22 tells the story of Gary, a frequently tardy employee who just overslept yet again after a night of drinking; even if due to other factors, most of us can relate to being late for work and wanting to sneak in unnoticed. We can't necessarily relate to the need to use...
News Download Sales Continue to Increase to New Highs for Nintendo
Growth in the Americas drives increased revenue
When you go back to the start of this generation (March 2011 for 3DS, November 2012 for Wii U) and consider the eShop stores and Nintendo's approach to DLC at those times, you see a company that's transformed its download offerings fairly rapidly. The actual store designs have only had relatively minor...
News Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty Has a Confirmed Wii U Release Date
For realsies
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty is a highly regarded title that's had a protracted route to the Wii U eShop. In 2014 there seemed to be issues with the port as a result of 8GB model limitations, while it was then planned for a 2015 arrival but didn't quite make it on time. Recent confirmation of it
Review Mini-Games Madness Volume: #1 - Hello World!
Uh... hi...
The first time you start up Mini-Games Madness Volume: #1 - Hello World!, you might wonder if it's one of those "haunted" games that try to pass themselves off as normal but are actually scary. The loading screen is accompanied by an inexplicable clicking noise and the game selection screen is, for some reason, an intentionally(?)...
