It's the start of another week, and Nintendo of Europe has served up what must be one of the lengthiest download updates we've seen to date. There are some new titles, including a couple of big hitters on the 3DS, while there's plenty of pinball of various types gracing the Wii U. We also have a slightly ludicrous number of discounts, so let's just get to the details.
Wii U eShop
Tested With Robots! (M.R. Games, €10.00 / £9.00) — This one has the somewhat 'meta' concept of you playing levels in which you're a robot designed to test video game levels. Once you get past the nudging and winking this sounds rather like a puzzle platformer, which also includes "extreme" and "against the clock" modes for extra variety; we'll put this to the test for a review.
Wii U Virtual Console
Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (Nintendo, €6.99 / £6.79) — With the recent release and extraordinary sales success of the Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire remasters, it should come as no surprise that that Game Boy Advance pinball spin-off is arriving on Wii U. Play pinball while collecting 'mon and prompting them to evolve; it sounds simple and perhaps fun, but we'll put it to the test in a review.
Wii U DLC
Zen Pinball 2 (Zen Studios, app is a free download)
South Park (€4.99 / £3.99) — It’s South Park, pinball style! Join Cartman, Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Butters in these totally sweet pinball adventures!
Core Collection (€9.99 / £7.99) — A package of four pinball tables including Secrets of the Deep, Biolab, Rome and Pasha.
Venom (€2.99 / £2.39) — Spider-Man’s greatest enemy is ready for a fight. After Spidey rejected an alien Symbiote, it needed another host to survive and chose Eddie Brock, sensing that they have one thing in common: an intense hatred of Spider-Man. Together, they are Venom.
Wii U Demos
Zen Pinball 2 (Zen Studios, trials within free app)
South Park (Free)
Core Collection (Free)
Venom (Free)
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade (Cypronia, €4.85 / £4.49 until 2nd February, normally €6.99 / £5.99)
Barbie Dreamhouse Party (Little Orbit, €15.00 / £13.50 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
BLOK DROP U (RCMADIAX, €0.99 / £0.79 until 7th January, normally €1.49 / £1.29)
Color Zen (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 2nd February, normally €2.99 / £2.99)
Color Zen Kids (Cypronia, 2.24 / £2.24 until 2nd February, normally €2.99 / £2.99)
Monster High: 13 Wishes (Little Orbit, €15.00 / £13.50 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
My Style Studio: Hair Salon (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 2nd February, normally €4.99 / £4.49)
Resident Evil Revelations (Capcom, €14.99 / £11.99 until 18th December, normally €49.99 / £39.99)
Wii U eShop Permanent Discounts
Ben 10 Omniverse 2 (Bandai Namco Games, £19.99, was £24.99)
Rise of the Guardians (Bandai Namco Games, €19.99 / £19.99, was €44.99 / £35.99)
3DS eShop
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Capcom, €29.99 / £24.99) — In a year of high-quality remakes and remasters, Capcom is now weighing in with this original trilogy of Ace Attorney games, which is download-only in the West following a retail release in Japan. The Game Boy Advance / DS entries have had their visuals remastered, which should help with investigation scenes and add some extra intensity to court proceedings. We certainly enjoyed these games when first released, and will see whether this remastered download release is innocent or guilty in our review.
Rune Factory 4 (XSEED Games, €29.99 / £24.99) — This localisation to Europe has taken a very long time, having graced North America as a retail release in October 2013. This latest entry in the popular series contains more of the franchises blend of land management, relationships and old-fashioned battling. It's a peculiar mix that actually works, and we were utterly charmed in our Rune Factory 4 review.
Battleminer (Wobbly Tooth, €7.99 / £5.99) — With a visual style clearly inspired by Minecraft, this tasks you with exploring the world, collecting and crafting items and then taking on deadly giant ants to rescue 'survivors'. That's all rather dramatic, though a Creation tool will allow you to mess about and create worlds if you need a change of pace; we're working on a review to see whether this is worth a punt or simply mining the depths of our patience.
Fairune (CIRCLE Entertainment, €2.99 / £2.39) — A budget adventure RPG, in which you save the world from an evil menace by unlocking three statues, fighting monsters, solving puzzles and collecting items along the way. We'll let you know what we think in a review.
Pyramids 2 (Enjoy Gaming, €4.99 / £3.96) — This one's predecessor (heavily influenced by Solomon's Key) had the honour of being the first new download-only game on the 3DS eShop, offering plenty of puzzles and a level creation tool. This sequel does much the same thing, and earned a decent recommendation in our review.
My First Songs 2 (Ringzero Games, €4.99 / £4.49) — The series of nursery rhymes accompanied by cute visuals continues, with this likely to follow its predecessor in providing a rhythm-based experience as opposed to the karaoke found on Wii U. It includes 14 songs, and we'll bring you a review on its merits.
3DS Retail Download
Hello Kitty Happy Happy Family (Bigben Interaction, €34.99 / £29.99)
My Life on a Farm 3D (Treva Entertainment, €29.99 / £24.99)
I Love My Little Boy (Treva Entertainment, €24.99 / £19.99)
I Love My Little Girl (Treva Entertainment, €24.99 / £19.99)
3DS DLC
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (NIS America):
Navigation: Theodore (€2.99 / £2.69)
Navigation: Elizabeth (€2.99 / £2.69)
Navigation: Margaret (€2.99 / £2.69)
3DS Demo
Hello Kitty Happy Happy Family (Bigben Interaction, free)
I Love My Little Boy (Treva Entertainment, free)
I Love My Little Girl (Treva Entertainment, free)
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
10-in-1: Arcade Collection (€0.99 / £0.89 until 8th January, normally €1.99 / £1.79)
Aeternoblade (CORECELL, €5.99 / £5.40 until 1st January, normally €14.99 / £13.50)
Angry Bunnies (Cypronia, €4.85 / £4.49 until 2nd February, normally €6.49 / £5.99)
Barbie Dreamhouse Party (Little Orbit, €15.00 / £13.50 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Barbie Groom and Glam Pups (Little Orbit, €10.00 / £8.99 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Bubble Pop World (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 2nd February, normally €4.99 / £4.49)
Carps & Dragons (Abylight, €2.99 / £2.49 until 12th January, normally €4.99 / £4.49)
Color Zen (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 2nd February, normally €2.99 / £2.99)
Color Zen Kids (Cypronia, €2.24 / £2.24 until 2nd February, normally €2.99 / £2.99)
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars (Atlus, €19.99 / £17.99 until 25th December, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Crazy Kangaroo (Gamelion, €0.99 / £0.89 until 8th January, normally €1.99 / £1.89)
Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 2nd February, normally €4.99 / £4.49)
Monster High: 13 Wishes (Little Orbit, €15.00 / £13.50 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Monster High Skultimate Roller Maze (Little Orbit, €5.00 / £4.49 until 30th January, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Monster Shooter (Gamelion, €1.99 / £1.60 until 8th January, normally €4.00 / £3.20)
My Style Studio: Hair Salon (Cypronia, €3.74 / £3.35 until 2nd February, normally €4.99 / £4.49)
Parking Star 3D (CIRCLE Entertainment, €1.99 / £1.79 until 1st January, normally €2.99 / £2.49)
Pick-A-Gem (Gamelion, €1.49 / £1.29 until 8th January, normally €2.99 / £2.69)
PIX3D (Gamelion, €1.99 / £1.79 until 8th January, normally €3.99 / £3.59)
Quell Reflect (CIRCLE Entertainment, €2.99 / £2.69 until 12th January, normally €3.99 / £3.49)
Rage of the Gladiator (Gamelion, €3.49 / £3.09 until 8th January, normally €6.99 / £6.29)
Resident Evil Revelations (Capcom, €9.99 / £8.49 until 18th December, normally €29.99 / £24.99)
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D (Capcom, €3.99 / £3.59 until 18th December, normally €9.99 / £8.99)
SpeedX 3D (Gamelion, €1.49 / £1.29 until 8th January, normally €2.99 / £2.69)
SpeedX 3D Hyper Edition (Gamelion, €0.99 / £0.89 until 8th January, normally €1.99 / £1.79)
Witch & Hero (CIRCLE Entertainment, €1.99 / £1.79 until 1st January, normally €4.00 / £3.60)
3DS Permanent Discount
Ben 10 Omniverse 2 (Bandai Namco Games, £14.99, was £19.99)
3DS HOME Themes
ACNL K.K. Slider at Club LOL (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)
Mario Characters - Green Camouflage (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)
Mario Characters - Blue Camo (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)
Polka Dots - Yellow & White (Nintendo, €0.99 / £0.89)
Those are the downloads on offer in Europe this week. Let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.
What will you be downloading first this week? (173 votes)
- Tested With Robots! (Wii U eShop)
- Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire (Wii U Virtual Console)
- Zen Pinball 2: South Park (Wii U DLC)
- Zen Pinball 2: Core Collection (Wii U DLC)
- Zen Pinball 2: Venom (Wii U DLC)
- Zen Pinball 2 trial tables
- One of the Wii U eShop discounts
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (3DS eShop)
- Rune Factory 4 (3DS eShop)
- Battleminer (3DS eShop)0.6%
- Fairune (3DS eShop)
- Pyramids 2 (3DS eShop)0.6%
- My First Songs 2 (3DS eShop)0%
- Hello Kitty Happy Happy Family (3DS retail download)0.6%
- My Life on a Farm 3D (3DS retail download)0%
- I Love My Little Boy (3DS retail download)0.6%
- I Love My Little Girl (3DS retail download)0%
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Navigation: Theodore (3DS DLC)0%
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Navigation: Elizabeth (3DS DLC)0%
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth - Navigation: Margaret (3DS DLC)0%
- One of the 3DS demos0%
- One of the 3DS discounts
- ACNL K.K. Slider at Club LOL (3DS HOME Theme)
- Mario Characters - Green Camouflage (3DS HOME Theme)0.6%
- Mario Characters - Blue Camouflage (3DS HOME Theme)0%
- Polka Dots - Yellow & White (3DS HOME Theme)0%
- Nothing for me this week
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Comments 72
I will be getting the Trilogy.
Never tried the Ace Attorney series, so I'm tempted to buy the trilogy.
I have had Rune Factory 4 on my American 3DS for months. I had given up on them releasing it over here in Australia.
Probably will pick up the Phoenix Wright Trilogy. I can never get enough of my favourite Ace Attorney! I played all the original DS games but it's been so long that I probably need a refresher course.
I've added the poll.
Nothing for me this week, desperately hoping that Mario Kart Super Circuit and the Hyrule Warriors preorder DLC is available before the Digital Deluxe Promotion ends.
Wow terrible Wii U VC!
Thats a cracking deal for Resident Evil.I think I will get that tonight seeing as my Wii U just arrived today
Wii U eShop discounts is like Xbox 360 and Windows 8/Windows Phone discounts. Repetitive.
There is many old Indies never been on sale. I bought a few on day 1, but several is ovepriced and needs discount to get a sales boost.
Nice to see that Zen Pinball is adding 8 tables or so this week to make Wii U up to date excluding maybe 1 Star Wars bundle unless i missed that release.
@OorWullie The discount won't kick in until Thursday
Highly reccomend BLOK DROP U and Color Zen if you want some puzzles, especially with BLOK DROP U getting a bunch of free levels added on soon.
Also would say that while I haven't played the actual trilogy, PW 1-3 are all amazing games which deserve to be played by everyone who enjoys a good story.
Rune Factory 4 is worth it if you think you'll like it. Not everyone's cup of tea but I don't usually play that genre of games but was pleasantly surprised by this one, and with the studio having closed this is probably your last chance.
@OorWullie Cheaper on disc I think but great game for the WiiU. 3ds version is the best one
That's a lot of Zen Pinball, I'll get them all.
Wii U = 2nd straight week of "meh".
GBA Pokemon Pinball transcends its franchise and stands as the best hand-held pinball game ever. Far more playable than the Mario pinball game and easier to follow than Zen's pinball games on 3DS. Plus the collection factor leads to obsessive "one more go" sessions.
Not sure what the frame rate will look like on a big screen, and the layout will probably appear a bit basic, but it'll probably be fine for playing on the WiiU tablet. A full-blooded remake would have been preferable though, for either 3DS or WiiU.
Perhaps this is being released to test demand for a remake, although those of us who love it still play the original cart. Also there's a danger it will be buried this week under the avalanche of Zen tables.
Cool, finally the European WIi U discount for Resi Revelations is live, that price is kind of nice. Still can't get myself to buy it since I already have the HD version through some 5€ Steam sale earlier for PC and I got in the previous discount the 3DS version.
Is Resi Mercenaries worth to buy for 4€?
Tempted to pick up Resi Mercenaries at that price.
...and still no Demon's Crest...
Finally Rune Factory 4! I've been waiting for this for so long. Along with the release of Ace Attorney Trilogy, this week is one of the strongest for European eShop this whole year.
Now we just need Gunvolt and Shantae.
@ThomasBW84 Ah,my excitement for my new Wii U got the better of me haha.Cheers
@Kolzig
Haven't played enough of the game to have made up my mind as to whether I enjoy it or not, however if you are going to get a copy, you want to get digital. AFAIK you cannot delete save data on retail carts, once something is unlocked its unlocked forever, digital you'll have to delete then redownload the game, but you will be able to start over.
Also, bout time RF4 comes to Australia, now I won't have to pirate it later on down the track. Must buy.
"Meh" doesn't cut it...I want to say other things to express my discontent about this weeks offering but my post will be removed if I do. There...you thought about it, so I basically said it anyway!
Please NOA give us Poképinball too!
Pokemon Pinball o. O INSTANT DOWNLOAD once it arrives in NA.
still no metroid zero mission for gba
I will be getting the Phoenix games wright away !
I have the 2nd installment on my DS but never played the others but I love the series for they ooze personality ( albeit a quirky one).
I love my little boy. Just sayin
I love my little boy. Just sayin
resident evil mercenaries for 4€??? hm that is tempting! still need to complete revelations though^^
The Ace Attorney Trilogy costs almost $50 in Mexico. Most retail releases cost around 55 here... I think I'll wait for a discount.
@andyg1971 Wouldnt call Pokemon Pinball RS terrible...
@OorWullie welcome to the party pal!
@Angelic_Lapras_King I would, not interested in the slightest. Where is Mk super circuit or the Castlevania gba games?
Nothing for me this week. Eshop was on a roll for a while but now we've hit another drought
Hello Kitty demo ftw!
Revalations for less than 10€. I am very interested right now.
@andyg1971 And what about the games we have already but America is still waiting for?
Different strokes etc. plus with ORAS selling pretty well, makes sense to cash in more with a Hoenn based Pinball game. MKSC is probably our Xmas game but I hope not since I did not enjoy it as much as the others.
I'll get the phoenix trilogy but only when they are discounted, already got the originals
@andyg1971
We in NA ask the same thing about the DKC games, Golden Sun 2 and up until recently, Fire Emblem but that has finally come.
I have Ace Attorney trilogy on iOS (only £11 aswell). Can someone confirm that Rune Factory 4 is download only?
Wow for a second there I thought Wii U got 4 new demos in 1 day - which was weird b/c Wii U never got The Stick of Truth so I couldn't figure out why we were getting a demo for it - but it's only 3 new tables for Zen Pinball 2 app we already have. Doubly trolled.
I hope Phoenix Wright Trilogy uses the original DS graphics and not the butt-ugly, immersion-ruining iOS graphics.
Pokemon Pinball is the best pinball game on GBA. Still play it occasionally. Glad we're getting some Pokemon on the WiiU VC finally, even if it's not the main series.
Ace Attorney Trilogy get!
Is Oddworld New n Tasty still coming for Wii U this year? Or either of the Shantae games?
I'll probably pick up South Park pinball and maybe Pokemon pinball as well.
Pretty great week! The South Park tables are a must buy for me and RE Revelations is finally being sold at an interesting price. PKMN Pinball might be interesting too, but there are many other great GBA titles which I still haven't downloaded...
@ThomasBW84 That core pack for Zen Pinball is still in question as it was never officially announced by them. Someone on their forums is trying to get that confirmation.
@ThomasBW84 Apparently NOE let the cat out of the bag early on those Zen Tables and preceded the announcement.
@LemonSlice They are redone. Not sure what the IOS versions looked like but here is what the 3ds version looks to the ds version.
I realized after my first post that the Pokemon Pinball game is on WiiU VC . I was sure there was a Pokemon Pinball for GameBoy Color that required 2 small batteries in the cartridge itself to play. I am kinda bummed that it won't be playable on the my 3ds with Pokemon Trading Card and Puzzle Leauge /:.
@manu0 Again, you say that every week. There's more to life than one specific game; try them out : ).
@Porky I am not sure about the GBA version but on the original the battery was used for the rumble feature. If there was no battery the game was still playable but it wouldn't have the rumble feature.
@Porky lol actually I only said it so you could mention it again
But I will continue to say it until its release. But of course I'm not REALLY waiting for the game.
Another great week on the VC, I'm just so pleased there is still no news on N64, GameCube, or anything new......
@Ootfan98 first off love you avatar 'Head Over Heels' what i would do to be able to play that on my 3DS or Wii U anyway that game was probably my favorite game back in that generation closely followed buy their Batman game, and yes its gone well past the stage of being acceptable now with their lack of new consoles that need to be added to the VC.
Wow some good games a discounts this week talk about a bang !! before xmas.
I will pick up the Barbie game for wii u that's gota be GOTY right there lol
@readyletsgo Thanks,I'd actually prefer this on disk too but with shipping costs to my location it'll be cheaper for me to download it.
@shigulicious Cheers man.
Have been waiting for Rune Factory for ages so will get that and also ace attorney too.
@XyVoX Thanks. I was hoping that Head Over Heels was gonna make it as a C64 VC release, but that died. I do have an Amstrad version in the loft, but last I tried, I couldn't get any tapes to load.
Okay, Fairune is mine! But what about Legend of Dark Witch? It's not listed on the EU eShop, despite apperntly having been released last Thursday. Did it not receive a USK rating (I live in germany, so maybe that's the issue...)?
Phoenix Wright for me!
The resident evil discounts along with Ace Attorney Trilogy sounds enticing
Anyone who hasn't played the Trilogy before: I say go for it!
Not only will you be getting three fantastic games, you'll most likely be helping to convince Capcom to localize the next game, The Great Ace Attorney.
Localization isn't a given in this series like it is with, say, Layton, so give us Ace Attorney fans a hand, huh?
@manu0 Fair enough lol.
Given it didn't take too long for Dual Destinies to go on sale (Not that I didn't think it was worth full price anyway) and I've already beat all the trilogy I think I'll just wait for a sale on it before buying it to appease my obsessive collecting habits.
Fun that Nintendo is releasing all the Pokemon games on the e-shops, EXCEPT the main-games. You can imagine how many 3DS and Wii u devices would be sold worldwide if the main-games would become available. Even I might download when that happens. But Nintendo....stubborn as ever!
4% are gonna download Pokemon pinball while 31% vote nothing for me this week, says it all really!
@Henmii they won't release them ever, not when they can make millions updating them all and selling them to you again full price!
Coming soon Pokemon Grey and Pokemon Off White, buy the twin pack and save £1.
No objections, Your Honor. The defence rests.
No objections, Your Honor. The defence rests.
@andyg1971 And then 2 years later comes Pokemon Grey 2 and Pokemon Off White 2
Unfortunatly, Capcom didn't put the multi-language EU translation of the three GBA games inside this new one !!!!!????!!!!!
Lazy guys ! It's not worth my money, I'll pass on...
@andyg1971 Please the "Nothing for me this week" bar is always sadly huge, can't afford to get a game every week you know. I actually don't even account for that I just vote for a game that I think I will purchase, even if I don't get it this week, like for example this week I vote for Phoenix Wright, I'm not getting it this week, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually. I also don't see it being that bad of a VC game (Granted yes there should be more than just one game a week) but Metroid Prime Pinball was awesome this one could be too.
Fairune please come to North america you beautiful Ys looking clone of greatness! Can't wait to play it!
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