Wii U eShop - News
February2016
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
Review Space Hulk (Wii U eShop)
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...
Review Shütshimi (Wii U eShop)
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 (Wii U eShop / GBA)
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 (Wii U eShop / GBA)
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...
Review PEG SOLITAIRE (Wii U eShop)
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! (Wii U eShop)
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(?)...
Review Super Mario 64 DS (Wii U eShop / DS)
D-Pad D-Bate
Super Mario 64 is undeniably one of the most influential games in the industry's history, so it's only natural that Nintendo would attempt to capitalise on its success with a re-release. What nobody expected at the time was for it to not only arrive on a portable console, but also feature Yoshi as the initial protagonist. Super Mario 64...
Video See what Freedom Planet's Lilac Would Look Like as a Smash Character
A challenger approaches
In just a couple days, the final DLC characters for Super Smash Bros. will be made available, at last signaling the end of the current generation of Super Smash Bros. Even though the roster is larger and more diverse than it has ever been in past games, there's always more popular video game characters that don't quite make...
News Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is Shuffling Onto the North American Wii U eShop on 4th February
"Where's everyone going? Bingo?"
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition is rightly held in high regard by a number of series fans; this writer likes it a bit too much, completing at least one playthrough every year. It's a terrific version of a classic game, with pointer controls and occasional waggle that are actually fun to use, along with the inclusion of...
Nintendo Download 4th February (Europe)
Smash DLC! Super Mario Galaxy! Legend of Legacy! More!
Another week is underway, and that means we get a look at the Nintendo Download Update treats that are on the way in Europe. This week's a bit of a corker, with high-profile DLC, an exceptional Wii download, RPG goodness on 3DS and some promising download-only games. Let's get to the details...
News Noowanda Reveals Discovery Version 2.2 Update Details
Off-TV Play and third person camera perspective are being added in
Discovery came out about a month ago, and while it does have some shortcomings, it stands as an excellent creatively focused block sandbox game. It seems that the developer, noowanda, is dedicated to addressing many issues with the game; the upcoming update notes claim that there...
January2016
Interview Learning More About FreezeME, a Surprising 3D Platformer for Wii U
"I think FreezeME is a perfect fit for the Wii U"
The coming week is already confirmed to include some highly promising download content, and one that's certainly caught our eye is FreezeME. Heading to North America on 4th February at a launch price of $9.99 - then $13.99 after its first week - it looks a cut above the usual 3D platformers that are...
Or the 4th; don't you love time zones?
The long-awaited final bundle of DLC, or AOC as Nintendo likes to call it, for Super Smash Bros. including Bayonetta and Corrin will be landing on Wii U and 3DS systems on 3rd February in North America and the 4th in Europe. Nintendo has yet to confirm a time but judging from the official Nintendo of America...
News Wii Street U Service Being Discontinued In March, Leaving eShop This Month
Street smart
The Google-powered Wii Street U service will be discontinued on March 31st 2016. The app will also be removed from the Wii U eShop later this month - January 31st, to be precise. Originally launched back in 2013, the service allowed Wii U owners to travel the world from the comfort of their living room. "Wii Street U is a great use of...
News Get Ready To Swap Fire In Upcoming First-Person Shooter Headed To The Wii U eShop
Be ever mindful of your spacetime!
It has to be said the humble Wii U isn't exactly overrun with games from the first person shooter genre, so FPS fans will no doubt be intrigued to hear that developer Midnight Status is bringing a game called Swap Fire to the Wii U eShop for you to blast your friends in. Described as a...
News The North American eShop Winter Warm-Up Sale Concludes With 15 More Discounts
Two Metroid games! EarthBound! Shantae! Affordable Space Adventures! More!
The Nintendo Download Update for North America has already gone out for this week, but we also have discounts for the final week of the 'Winter Warm-Up' Sale to consider; the theme for this final batch is "Epic Adventures". There are 15 games discounted in total, with a...
Nintendo Download 28th January (North America)
Final Fantasy new and old! LEGO Avengers! Shadow Puppeteer! More!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update. This week brings three high profile retail titles (well, one is on both platforms), an intriguing and shadowy Wii U release along with some other interesting download-only arrivals on both systems...
Review Shadow Puppeteer (Wii U eShop)
Missing the light touch
The Wii U eShop, courtesy of its support for Unity and web framework technology, has become home to a broad range of titles. There are some exclusives that put the hardware's unique capabilities to work, while there's also a significant percentage of titles that are multi-platform, helping Nintendo gamers get a sense of the...
Slow-down is sped-up on internal memory
Shadow Puppeteer is out today in North America and Europe, the first console version of the title that previously arrived on PC. Our review will be with you shortly before the Download Update goes live, but in any case we thought this tip on improving its performance should have its own clear article rather...
News Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Pegged for North American Release on 28th January
Europe and North America, sharing the goods
The Virtual Console can be a strange sub-platform, as Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America sit huffily on different sides of the room and rarely agree which games to release. Months can pass between regions with some releases, but thanks to the imminent Final Fantasy Explorers we seem to have parity,...
News Dual Core Aims to Blend Twin Stick Shooting, Co-Op and a "Dash of RPG Elements" on Wii U
Gray Fin Studios prepares to make its console debut
The Wii U eShop has attracted a range of new developers into the console space, and now we can add Gray Fin Studios to the list. A family-run studio with prior experience in the triple-A scene, it's planning to make its console and PC debut with Dual Core; the Wii U will be the first console to get...
Review Minecraft: Story Mode - Episode 1: The Order of the Stone (Wii U eShop)
Gather around
While it's a fairly common trend for Nintendo games to be focused around the gameplay first and foremost, there are other games that go in a completely different direction. Some aren't so much about the gameplay as they are about the story or the experience, and while this is certainly different from a conventional video game, it's not...
News Gunscape, the Level Creator and Cross-Platform FPS, is Now Due on Wii U in Q2
It's like Minecraft and Quake II had a baby
Last year we told you about Gunscape, which is a retro-styled FPS in which players can design their own stages on which to do battle. If you think of the building blocks approach of Minecraft, then blend it with the cross-platform sharing and play of Cubemen 2, you'll have an idea of what it has to offer...
News Typoman Update Improves Performance, Demo on the Way
Spelling out the changes
Update: Brainseed Factory has been in touch to outline why the update may not be triggering automatically for everyone, therefore stopping some of us from enjoying its improvements. The studio's passed on the following information. We noticed that the updated version isn't triggered automatically, apparently related to...
Review Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (Wii U eShop / GBA)
It's a'me, Mario 3! (again)
We all know about Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. It was a fantastic game worthy of all the praise that it received, and that remains true to this day. So, this review won't discuss all the merits of the original game. Instead, it will focus on the unique features of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, released...
News Shutshimi Will Bring Shmup Mayhem to Wii U in North America on 4th February
Don't shoot these fish in a barrel
We've been looking forward to Shutshimi for quite some time - developed by Neon Deity Games and published by Choice Provisions, it's a shoot 'em up in a WarioWare style with extremely short levels and plenty of chaos on screen. It's previously arrived on PSN but has taken a little while to make it over to the Wii...
News Maintenance Will Bring a Little Downtime for Minecraft: Wii U Edition
Bricking it
Based on the eShop charts Minecraft: Wii U Edition has gone down rather well since its December launch, and no doubt a number of bizarre and wonderful creations are already in place. The latest batch of maintenance does, however, fall right in the middle of prime gaming time in North America, so it's worth bearing in mind. The...
White noise
This is not meant to be taken as an insult, but SKEASY could be a good game for winding down before bed. As with many titles from RCMADIAX, the design of SKEASY is very simple: guide your little skiing icon left and right down a never-ending slope, avoiding trees to last as long and attain as high a score as possible. There are no...
Nintendo Download 28th January (Europe)
LEGO Avengers! Final Fantasy Explorers + a VC game! Shadow Puppeteer! More!
Another week begins with the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe, and this batch is certainly promising. We have major retail releases on Wii U and 3DS leading the way, while there are also some highly promising download-only options to consider along with DLC,...
News Slain! Wii U Release Date Has Been Delayed to Summer
The game is simply too hard, at the moment
Some of you may remember Slain!, an old-school platformer revealed last year to be coming to Wii U. The game appears to be heavily inspired by Castlevania, with all manner of ghouls and monsters doing whatever they can to ruin the protagonist's day. Backed by a heavy metal soundtrack and featuring...
News Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! Has Been Approved for Release on Wii U
Release date impending
About a week ago, it was stated that Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! was 'literally in the final steps' to completion. It wasn't stated exactly what this meant, but the implication was that there would be more news in the near future. It appears that this was indeed the case, as a new post recently went up on the game's website that...
Video See How Much Mario Kart has Changed Since Mario Kart 64
56 degrees of separation
It's been over a year since Mario Kart 8 was released on the Wii U and nearly 20 since its N64 sibling Mario Kart 64 graced our systems. A lot's changed in that time, and in order to highlight all the refinements a company like Nintendo can make in such a span, we've cobbled together another cheeky little comparison of the...
38 clever levels, just for you
Occasionally there's frustration at the slow roll-out of Virtual Console games, sometimes with good reason, but there are also occasions where Nintendo goes the extra mile and does far more than simply spruce up a ROM. In the case of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, which is now on the Wii U Virtual Console...
News Shadow Puppeteer Begins Its Wii U Adventure on 28th January
$14.99 / €14.99 in a global release
Fans of puzzle platforming, either in solo play or multiplayer, have a promising title to consider for next week's eShop update. Sarepta Studio's Shadow Puppeteer - published by Snow Cannon Games - finally has a solid release date for Wii U, arriving in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand on 28th...
News Mario Kart 64 on Wii U VC Doesn't Have Support for Ghost Data
Controller Pak emulation seems to be the issue
Some of you from around the earlier days of the Nintendo 64 may remember the Controller Pak. This add-on slotted into the back of the controller and acted as a means of saving or transferring data between consoles. While it wasn't absolutely necessary in every N64 game, many used it to include features...
News FreezeME Has Been Approved for a Wii U Release by Nintendo of America
Bringing back the N64 platformer
On the Nintendo 64, games such as Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64 redefined what could be done with the platforming genre with another dimension tossed in. But now, it seems like the good old days of the adventure-style 3D platformers have all but gone away, with very few notable releases in recent...
News Another 17 Games Get North American eShop Discounts in the Winter Warm-Up Sale
Super Mario 3D World! Freedom Planet! Runner 2! More!
This week's Nintendo Download Update for North America includes some high profile releases, but the good news is that the second week of 'Winter Warm-Up' sales brings some more enticing discounts. This is the middle week of the three week promotion across the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores, with the...
Nintendo Download 21st January (North America)
Minecraft: Story Mode! Mario & Luigi! Zack & Wiki! Classic Mario! More!
It's that time once again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings a high-profile retail release on 3DS, an episodic Minecraft experience, some tempting Virtual Console arrivals and other offerings that include demos and discounts...
News Asteroid Challenge Is Bringing Classic Arcade Action To The Wii U eShop
Coming exclusively to Nintendo's console this year
Indie studio Magique Productions has announced that it is working on Asteroid Challenge for the Wii U eShop, a tribute to classic arcade blasters like - you guessed it - Atari's Asteroids. Boasting 1080p 60fps visuals, multiplayer modes and over 70 levels, the developer is aiming for a Q1 release...
News Zack & Wiki and Super Mario Advance 4 Look Set for Nintendo Download Update in North America
e-Reader levels look to be included for Advance 4, too
As is often the case, Nintendo of America's official game pages seem to have unveiled a couple of new releases due in the 21st January Nintendo Download update. These are very likely to be accurate but, as always, be aware that details could change. First up is Zack & Wiki: Quest for...
To help players struggling to rustle up five controllers
Aperion Cyberstorm is a colourful twin-stick shooter that's on the way to the Wii U eShop this year, and will be the debut of UK studio aPriori Digital. We say twin-stick shooter as that's the way we've played it; you move with the left stick and aim / shoot with the right stick. Yet as it's a...
Review Bigley's Revenge (Wii U eShop)
Best not served at all
Ninja Pig Studios, known for its infamous release Meme Run and some of its accompanying controversy, is back with another title for the Wii U eShop. Bigley's Revenge is - dare we say it - slightly more competent and tempered than its headache-inducing predecessor, but that's not saying a great deal. While this game - also...
News The Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty Wii U Port is Nearing Completion
"Literally in the final steps"
You'd be forgiven for forgetting about Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty!'s impending Wii U port. Though the development studio has been working fiercely to get the game onto the platform, it hit a wall getting the game to fit on the 8GB Wii U model. We haven't heard much about it since last August, but now it seems that the...
Video New Aperion Cyberstorm Trailer Shows Off the Campaign Mode
Keeping it cool in the Ice World
At EGX last year we enjoyed a marathon play session with upcoming Wii U eShop twin-stick shooter Aperion Cyberstorm; we came away rather impressed. Slick controls and carefully considered mechanics combine with bright visuals for a fun, arcade-like score chasing experience. In that session we tackled some...
News Rynn's Adventure: Trouble in the Enchanted Forest is Heading to Wii U Soon
A 3DS release is also planned
The eShop isn't exactly short of platformers, on both Wii U and 3DS, yet it's a genre that's pretty much always welcome. Running and jumping is still rather popular when done well, and Nintendo's systems have delivered some gems on this score. It's also a genre that provides a good jumping off point for young studios...
News Minecraft: Story Mode Hits The Wii U eShop This Week
Complete with off-TV play, screen mirroring and touch controls
Telltale Games has confirmed that the first episode of Minecraft: Story Mode will launch on the Wii U eShop this week in North America and Europe - Thursday 21st January, to be exact. The Order of the Stone will cost $4.99, and additional episodes are set to arrive "in the coming...
Review The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (Wii U eShop / DS)
Choo-choo-choose the original format
No doubt partly driven by necessity as much as strategy, Nintendo's Virtual Console efforts on Wii U have been notable for including not only Game Boy Advance titles, but also various releases from the DS library. With the latter only possible courtesy of the Wii U GamePad questions of practicality are fairly...
News Gunman Clive HD Collection Has Sold 9000 Copies But Has Still Made A Profit
About 10 times the sales of Gunman Clive 2 on Steam
Gunman Clive HD Collection is one of the more recent indie gems on the Wii U eShop, and pulls together the two 3DS titles in a single, high-definition package. Given that many Nintendo fans will have played the two games in their handheld forms previously, it's perhaps unsurprising to learn that...
Nintendo Download 21st January (Europe)
Mario Kart 64! Adventures of Pip! Radiohammer! Themes galore! More!
Another week begins with the Nintendo Download Update details in Europe, and this time around we have a Nintendo 64 classic joined by a long-awaited retro-styled new release on the home console. Beyond that we have an exciting demo, 3DS Home Themes galore and a few discounts; let's...
Review Island Flight Simulator (Wii U eShop)
Plane boring
Occasionally you can get a feel for how good (or bad) a game is going to be from the very moment you begin. This is one of those games. After selecting a profile (which you can't rename) Island Flight Simulator begins with a wonderfully impersonal piece of text: 'Welcome Profile 01!' If at this point you've also decided to utilise...
News Bigley's Revenge Has Been Removed From the eShop
Ninja Pig Studios does it again
UPDATE: The developer has since confirmed that the game was removed due to an incorrect ESRB rating. It is being re-rated and will be available again soon. ORIGINAL STORY: As some of you may have been aware, Ninja Pig recently released a new game on the eShop called Bigley's Revenge. The latest game from this...
Review Near Earth Objects (Wii U eShop)
Light and destruction in the stars
Near Earth Objects is the type of game that gets under your skin - the kind where you tell yourself you'll only play for five minutes and then you suddenly find it's been an hour. Solid music, pulsing colours, various enemies and screen-shaking explosions add a lot of appeal to this variation on Asteroids, creating...
Review The Perplexing Orb (Wii U eShop)
Perplexing, indeed
The Perplexing Orb is a short, not particularly pretty game. Like many downloads we've reviewed it values gameplay over narrative or presentation; that's not a bad thing, but it isn't without flaws. The concept of The Perplexing Orb is simple: take control of the titular orb and guide it through a series of puzzles to a goal, in...
News 17 Games Get North American eShop Discounts in the Winter Warm-Up Sale
Star Fox 64 3D! Gunman Clive 2! Punch-Out! More!
This week's Nintendo Download Update for North America had plenty of information, yet as expected Nintendo of America has followed it up with the first week of its 'Winter Warm-Up' sales. For three weeks there'll be themed discounts across the eShop on Wii U and 3DS, with the first batch coming under...
Nintendo Download 14th January (North America)
Metroid: Zero Mission! Space Hulk! Slice It! Discounts! More!
It's Nintendo Download Update time once again, with this week's North American offerings bringing a mix of old and new treats. The Wii U Virtual Console catches up with a long-demanded Game Boy Advance title, while there's also some strategy, gallery shooting and more coming to the home...
News Yes, You Can Scan The Shovel Knight amiibo While It's Still In Its Box
"We got a lot of feedback from fans before release"
Collecting amiibo is a full-time obsession for some Nintendo fans, and there will be a great many out there who are kept up at night by the eternal question - should you open the packaging and reduce the value of the figure in order to use it in the manner Nintendo intended? The reason collectors...
Rumour The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth May Be Coming to Wii U After All
It's lonely on top
For those of you that also game on other platforms, you may have been aware of The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth. As yet another expansion to The Binding of Isaac, Afterbirth adds on potentially hundreds of hours of new content on top of the already massive campaign, with new game modes, characters, items, challenges, enemies, and...
News Metroid: Zero Mission Looks Set for a 14th January Arrival in North America
You can stop asking for it now
Every week we post the European and North American Nintendo Download Updates, the first on a Monday and the latter on a Thursday. The regional subsidiaries match up with some releases, but the Virtual Console is one area where they each follow their own path. North American Wii U owners, in particular, have been...
News Space Hulk Finally Arrives On The North American Wii U eShop This Week
For the Emperor
It's taken a while, but the Wii U version of Space Hulk is finally launching this week in North America. The game - which is a port of the PC original - was due to launch in May last year, but missed that release window. The Sony versions arrived in September, but the Wii U edition was held back until - we were told - Christmas...
News Mini Mario & Friends amiibo Challenge Launches in Japan This Month
Could this be NST's rumoured project?
It's interesting to see how the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games have slowly changed over time. While the first game was a 2D platformer that echoed the philosophy of the classic Donkey Kong arcade game, each successive entry focused more and more on the miniature toy versions of characters. Now, it's become a...
Video Watch as New Super Mario Bros. Wii Gets Pitted Side-by-Side with its Wii U Successor
HD-licious
New Super Mario Bros. Wii has joined its younger sibling New Super Mario Bros. U on the Wii U eShop in Europe. Many people jump to compare the two and believe them to be achingly similar, so in order to put this to the test once and for all we've put both games side-by-side in the video below. We chose to showcase levels that bore a...
News Strategy Puzzle Title Dungeon Hearts DX Is Coming Exclusively To Wii U Next Month
New engine, interface and possible amiibo support
Android and Steam gamers might remember Dungeon Hearts from a few years back - a strategy puzzle title which mixed strategy and music elements to create a pretty unique experience. Indie studio Wolfgame is now updating the game exclusively for the Wii U eShop under the title Dungeon Hearts DX...
News Developers Dig into Sales Failure of Toto Temple Deluxe
Dissecting the goat
This past fall, Montreal-based developer Juicy Beast released Toto Temple Deluxe on the Wii U, PS4, and Xbox One. It was that colourful, chaotic-looking game with a goat. Unfortunately for them, Juicy Beast have announced on their website that the game "didn't sell very well." Although they don't provide any sales numbers, they...
News Legendary Former Rare Character Artist, Kev Bayliss, Joins Playtonic to Work on Yooka-Laylee
Credited with DK's Country design, Killer Instinct work and much more
The words 'Rare' and 'Legend' go together very often, and we try not to use them unless they're necessary. In the case of former company Character Artist / Graphics Director Kev Bayliss it's a fair description, however, and the pleasing news is that he's now joined Playtonic...
News Epic Dumpster Bear is the Real Name of an Upcoming Wii U eShop Game
We can't bear it
The Wii U eShop has its share of slightly strange games, and Epic Dumpster Bear from Log Games is the latest in a long line. The developer previously released the decent Puzzle Monkeys, and has decided that the animal kingdom is well suited to even more genres. Epic Dumpster Bear is a platformer, and Log Games is promising over 70...
News Word Puzzles by POWGI is Heading to Europe on 28th January, Including a Wii U Release
Supports all amiibo for extra puzzles
European fans of puzzles and word games have a double release on the way this month, with Lightwood Games confirming a release date of 28th January for Word Puzzles by POWGI in the region. Already confirmed for 3DS, the title is also heading to the Wii U eShop on the same day. These titles will provide a...
Review Drill Dozer (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Not likely to make you doze off
Game Freak is a developer known for its work on titles such as Pokémon Red and Blue, Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Black and White. It does occasionally put out games that don't feature the pocket monsters, however, and one of those is Drill Dozer, a Game Boy Advance action platformer set across six...
Nintendo Download 14th January (Europe)
Mega Man Battles! Final Fantasy Explorers pre-load! DLC! Discounts!
Another week begins and we have a modest batch of games to consider in the European Nintendo Download Update. There are the two versions of the final Mega Man Battle Network title on the Wii U Virtual Console, a neat demo on 3DS, DLC and the option to pre-purchase a major retail...
News RCMADIAX to Temporarily Remove AVOIDER From the Wii U eShop
Due to audio track being a "close copy" from another game
RCMADIAX has been a prolific publisher on the Wii U eShop, particularly in North America, releasing a range of budget titles. These games are often inexpensive, simple releases, though the developer is now planning to temporarily withdraw its most recent title - AVOIDER - due to what seems to...
Easily avoided
RCMADIAX is a studio that has become well known for the relatively high volume of inexpensive titles that it's put out over the past couple of years. Their quality wavers from being barely worth their dollar price tag to being at least average games. AVOIDER is the latest entry in this line of titles, and while its rather barebones...
Nintendo Download 7th January (North America)
Light gun games! Ocean Runner! Discovery! More!
The time has come for the first North America Nintendo Download Update of 2016, and it includes a variety of options. The Wii U Virtual Console plays catch up with three light gun games, while new download offerings include a creative Minecraft-a-like, two RCMADIAX games and the return of Ninja Pig...
Giveaway It's Europe's Turn To Grab A Free Copy Of Cube Life: Island Survival
We have 100 copies to give away to lucky Europeans
Over the Christmas break Cube Life: Island Survival developer Cypronia was kind enough to give away 100 copies of their game to our North American readers to celebrate the recent v1.1 update. This time it's the turn of European players to get in on the action - we've got another 100 free copies to...
Review Discovery (Wii U eShop)
Let's get creative
Now that Minecraft: Wii U Edition has been released for the Wii U, one would think that the tide of block based sandbox games on the eShop would be stemmed. Evidently that's not the case quite yet, as Discovery is the next arrival on the Wii U eShop. So, how does the game stack up? While Discovery may feel a bit half-baked in...
News Get Ready for Light Gun Action in This Week's North American Nintendo Download Update
The Adventures of Bayou Billy! Wild Gunman! Hogan's Alley!
Starting with Duck Hunt in late 2014, Nintendo has been retrofitting and re-releasing - along with third-party partners - some iconic NES light gun / Zapper games for the Wii U eShop. They naturally utilise the Wii Remote pointer to recreate that old-fashioned practice of zapping pixels on...
Review Molly Maggot (Wii U eShop)
Play your own better game
"Play your own music", Molly Maggot says as it boots up, which doesn't create high hopes for its quality. The clunky jumping controls, stilted animations and lifeless goals soon solidify that sense that you're sifting through trash. Save for a few sound effects that are almost funny, Molly Maggot doesn't have a single...
Review Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Wii U eShop / SNES)
The Mario RPG that started it all
There are very few areas of life the Mario franchise hasn't at some point explored. Mario himself has been a doctor, an amateur kart racer and later on in his career was recognised as a professional athlete when he competed at the Olympic Games in the 100 metre dash against Sonic. Quite simply – he's a jack of all...
"We’ll be sure to alert the Wii U community as that changes"
Zen Studios has enjoyed plenty of success with its pinball titles, releasing various versions and DLC across PC, home consoles and smart devices. The Wii U and 3DS have been in on the action too, with the former receiving Zen Pinball 2 with a decent variety of DLC, in addition to Star...
News PictoParty's Release Has Been Pushed Back to Late January
A bug is the cause of the delay
Many of you have no doubt played Pictionary at parties before; it can be a wonderfully chaotic competition when everyone's really getting into it. Naturally, a game such as this which channels one's inner artist is a perfect fit for the Wii U GamePad and it was only a matter of time before one would appear on the...
News Wii U eShop Exclusive 3Souls Will Aim to 'Break New Ground' With the GamePad
From Berlin-based developer Red Column
The Wii U eShop has been home to a variety of new developers with bold ambition, and Berlin-based Red Column is the latest to set out its stall for the store. It's bringing 3Souls exclusively to Wii U in Q2, with the goal of utilising the GamePad "to break new ground in how you control your character and play...
Review Game & Watch Gallery Advance (Wii U eShop / GBA)
Nintendo's Portable Hits: The Early Years
In the 1980's (before the Game Boy was released), Nintendo's series of Game & Watch handhelds provided people with portable gaming excitement. As LCD games they provided a stripped down gaming experience that Cranky Kong would approve of - basic sounds, none of those pointless fancy graphics and only a...
Nintendo Download 7th January (Europe)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii! Temple of Yog! Drill Dozer! More!
It's the first Nintendo Download Update of the year, kicking off with the European arrivals that are on the way. This week we have an enjoyable platformer from the Wii era and the EU debut of a Game Freak GBA title, along with a few varied fresh releases on both Wii U and 3DS. There are a...
News Alien Dinosaurs Will Be Invading The Wii U And 3DS eShops Soon
Do the dinosaur
Indie developer Ratalaika Games is bringing its action title Alien Dinosaurs to Nintendo platforms. The run-and-gun shooter - which wouldn't look out of place on the Game Boy - sees the player character getting abducted by alien reptiles who then set up a gauntlet of challenges to ascertain if the planet Earth is ripe for conquest...
