It's that time again, North American gamers, for the Nintendo Download Update details. This week brings an excellent download option on the Wii U from Hörberg Productions, along with a much-loved Mario sporting spin-off and another retro début in the West. Pickings are slimmer on the 3DS, though there are some tempting discounts (particularly from Atlus) and a demo to consider. Let's get to it.
Missed the European Nintendo Download information earlier in the week? Don't sweat it, the details are right here.
Wii U eShop
Gunman Clive HD Collection (Hörberg Productions, $3.99) - This should be tough to resist, as it combines two of the finest 3DS eShop titles in one HD package; with tight platforming and shooting, along with greater variety in the second game, there's a lot to like about these titles. We gave this a glowing recommendation in our Gunman Clive HD Collection review.
Wii U Virtual Console
VS. Excitebike (Nintendo, $4.99) - A Famicom Disk version of the original that was previously only released in Japan - in addition to extra tracks and music it has a track editor feature, which was at the core of this one's release at the close of a 'Builders Week' promotion. This landed on 31st August and you can check out our VS. Excitebike review for a lowdown.
Mario Golf (Nintendo, $9.99) - The Nintendo 64 had some excellent multiplayer games and spin-offs, and another arrives on the Wii U in the form of this collection of golfing shenanigans. There are six courses and 10 modes to try out; this was a trailblazer in the genre of podgy mascots showing surprising sporting prowess. We enjoyed this in our Wii Virtual Console review and will take another look.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Never Alone (E-Line Media, $9.99 until 17th September, normally $14.99)
Jett Tailfin (HR GAMES, $9.99 until 8th September, normally $12.99)
Land it Rocket (Petite Games, $1.99 until 17th September, normally $2.99)
3DS Retail Download
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (GameMill Entertainment, $29.99)
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Etrian Mystery Dungeon (Atlus, $29.99 until 7th September, normally $39.99)
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Atlus, $29.99 until 7th September, normally $49.99)
AeternoBlade (Corecell Technology, $7.99 until 24th September, normally $14.99)
Art of Balance TOUCH! (Shin'en Multimedia, $5.20 until 24th September, normally $6.99)
Witch & Hero (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 24th September)
World Conqueror 3D (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 24th September)
WAKEDAS (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 24th September)
3DS eShop Permanent Discounts
Proun+ (Engine Software, $4.99, was $6.99)
Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains (Atlus, $29.99 from 7th September, was $39.99)
GravBlocks+ (From Nothing Game Studios, $3.49, was $4.99)
3DS eShop Demo
Proun+ (Engine Software, free)
That's everything for North America this week - let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments 95
nothing....
And still no Zero Mission. Thanks NOA.
3DS Virtual Console is dead, isn't it
Why does NOA refuse to give us Zero Mission? Been a few months since I got anything from the Virtual Console
Nothing here either. Have Super Mario Maker coming next week and then saving my money for the Animal Crossing 3DS bundle on the 25th.
Leading up to Super Mario Maker and the hard to put down Splatoon, I don't have any game time to share with other titles. That said, Gunman Clive is too good and inexpensive that I'm downloading it today. And everything else on todays offerings doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.
Nothing this week.
I'm going to download Gunman Clive HD Collection and maybe get Never Alone while it's on sale.
Nothing... again.
If I didn't just spend almost the last bit of my eshop credit on Runbow, I'd love to get Vs. Exxitebike, Mario Golf, and Gunman Clive HD
Wish they'd localised the F-Zero track editor for the 64DD as part of builder's week. Or Sim City 64 for that matter!
Persona Q is definitely on its way to that $14.99 price point sale. Just a little bit longer.
I love mario golf 64. The game is perfect. Nothing is easier than hitting that button twice to swing the club, but it gets SO difficult. And there really is so much game to play. Worth every cent. Sim City 64 would be awesome, but im sure licensing entanglements assure well never get it.
I KNEW it was too much to hope we wouldn't have an unnecessary wait for StarTropics. sigh
Why is the US now getting all the VC releases?! Now Europe has no advantage compared to the US anymore! We barely get any eShop games! That's not fair!
Hey, NoA was on top of Mario Golf - it hit the Japanese Wii U VC today too.
This is the download for build week or create week? No complaints cause mario golf is finally here. What about that wii game thrillville? That was a GREAT game, with lots of creating and building.
Glad I have an actual physical cart of Zero Mission.
Downloading Gunman Clive now.
Personally I'm not interested in Vs. Excitebike as I own and played the NES original in too many ways already. But it's nice to see that Nintendo takes the efforts to release a previously unreleased part of the series, which makes me hope that the amazing N64 installment may finally arrive on the VC one day. And Excitebots in Europe. Speaking of Excitebots though, Excitetruck would certainly deserve a release on the WiiU eShop too. It may not have been one of the best selling games back then, but those who did play it where very satisfied, and many who bought the Wii later than one or two year after its release may not even have heard of it.
I was hoping for some kind of discount for owners of both Gunman Clive games, but oh well. I'll eventually still get this, anyway.
@manu0 That's good. Europe shouldn't have any "advantage." Neither should North America. Or Oceania. Or Japan.
That AeternoBlade should be a permanent discount and then go on sale from there!
@bro2dragons Now we have a disadvantage because we have neither the good VC releases nor the eShop releases the US has.
Nothing this week. They should have added online to Excitebike or just updated World Rally.
Always wondered if I was smarter than a fifth grader?
@Thomas Whitehead: Can I launch Mario Golf straight from the WiiU home page or do I have to go into Wii mode? I know its a bit petty but, this is in fact, a make or break thing for me.
3DS is not getting any games the PS via get 3x as much now.
@Gen0neD You can launch it directly from the Wii U menu, like all other VC releases.
I'll be updating Mario Golf
@BinaryFragger You do know that we have a right to complain, especially since NOA is often months behind the other regions in terms of getting these games.
What do you expect, people to gobble up NOA's sorry excuse for a schedule week after week.
I would have gotten Vs. Excitebike if it was on the 3DS! I've never played the original, but this one looked pretty fun. And also former non-NA releases are always good. Otherwise, I won't be getting anything. Although if I didn't already HAVE Etrian Mystery Dungeon I'd get that....
Decent week all around. Gunman Clive Collection and 2 VC releases worth picking up, and right off the back of double dose of Sin & Punishment.
I'm still waiting on Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon (er.. wait, that came out already didn't it?) and Metroid Zero Mission.
But any week we get multiple VC releases, I'm not gonna complain.
@Gen0neD if its like any of the other n64 wii u downloads, you can it play straight from the wii u menu and you can play it on your gamepad.
Oh hells yes, more Excitebike!
how can people afford/play games every week to say nothing this week? lol
im getting a splatoon 3 pack soon and super mario maker, then like a fortnight later im getting retro 3 pack and N3DS....
This has probably been asked many times, but...
Wouldn't it be a better poll to ask "What will you be downloading this week?" period- and make it a multi-select poll? Always seemed silly to me to ask what the first download will be. But of course it's your poll, so ask however you want. Just MHO.
@MussakkuLaden excitebots and trucks were GREAT games
Nothing for me again...
So, should we just take this week as Nintendo finally saying screw it and giving 3DS owners the middle finger?
I mean, the Virtual Console is dead on the system, the retail download is a joke, and the sales are the flipping same thing that was have had for almost a year.
I honestly don't know what to say, besides I'm very unhappy with Nintendo now. I was hoping that the lack of 3DS virtual console games after the DKL trilogy came out was Nintendo's plan to bank VC releases for the summer(when nothing generally comes out) and winter to have something for new owners to download.
Maybe the miracle will happen and the 3DS will get tons of VC games during the holidays, but I'm not hopeful.
I will say this, there is no excuse to not have Vs. Excitebike, Earthbound Zero, and both Star Tropics games on the 3DS VC.
@Uberchu I am willing to bet that most of those people that vote "Nothing for me this week" are 3DS owners.
Let's not sugarcoat this, this update has nothing of value to 3DS owners unless you were part of the audience whose life was not complete without a download copy of "Are You Smarter then a Fifth Grader?"
Otherwise, this update blows. Nintendo could have been nice and at least given us Vs Excitebike.
BTW I am eyeing Gunman Clive HD and Famicom Vs. Excitebike, but not sure yet if I will download either one. Excitebike for sure is a sight better than the one we got in the US. Already have Gunman Clive for 3DS, so I might save myself $1 and just complete my 3DS collection instead.
And now we wait... For Attack on Titan to go on sale from its newly discounted price.
@mrchills Cool. It's a make then. Thanks!
@tysonfury That would have been a day one purchase for me. Would love to see 64DD content show up for the Wii U at some point, but I would assume that would be on Nintendo's back burner right now if it's even in the works.
Was really hoping Xenoblade Chronicles would finally show up on the NA eShop, but maybe next week. Will likely pickup Excitebike VS and Gunman Clive HD (though I already have the 3DS versions).
@BinaryFragger
Oh... Lets see. Mega Man 64 seems to be a reasonable target for me these days. I'll hold them to every top tier product they ever thought of. Mario VS Wario, Mega Man's Soccer, Yoshi's Safari. I'll never stop.
@Stuffgamer1
Oh yeah... We don't have StarTropics. Well, I'd rather have it on 3DS. Knowing our luck we'll only get it on Wii U or just the first one. Lol
Excitebike and Gunman Clive for me.
I'm buying Gunman Clive just to support. I will always love the 3d versions more than an HD release but Horberg has done his fans right and I'm going to do him right. Hope he sells a gazillion copies of the HD version
why does europe never get any atlus games discounted besides smt4?
Gunman Clive for sure!
@Caryslan
Those discounts are nice.
With the release of Metal Gear 5, now would be a great time for Ghost Babel to be released.
Eh, no big deal for me this week. Got Disney Infinity to chew on. And Super Mario Maker's just around the corner.
Definitely Gunman Clive for me. I can't wait to see that panda in HD!
@manu0 what do you mean. You just got both star tropics games this week. Geeez
@SupremeAllah YES!
Already have both Clive titles. Might get it for WU. Also might get Vs. Excitebike. I always thought the "Vs." titles were only for Nintendo's Arcade versions of games(Vs. Ice Climbers/Pinball/SMB/Duck Hunt/Dr. Mario/etc.)? Maybe Nintendo will start releasing those on the WU? Maybe just retrofitted in an Nes emulator?
In all seriousness. I'll be playing Super Mario Maker and Metal Gear Solid V until Christmas. Theres more MH4U DLC tomorrow, and since I beat every mission in offline mode I finally went back to Xenoblade and GBC Wario Land. But hey, theres always room for a Virtual Console upgrade and Gunman Clive.
Just upgrading my copy of MARIO GOLF from Wii VC to WiiU VC, while I wait for MARIO MAKER next week. Will definitely be nice being able to play MARIO GOLF on the GamePad.
Nothing exciting this week. Not even with a game that has "Excite" in its name.
@Mr_Zurkon THIS. Absolutely this. I'm sick of waiting. That's one of my favorite Metroid games. NOA, SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
@JaxonH Nope Shadow Dragon is still not available in NA.
It's nice NA is getting Mario Golf, I'll definitely upgrade it and Mario Tennis whenever they come to EU VC. I don't expect much next week for either region because of Super Mario Maker but Zero Mission still being unavailable in NA is absolutely pathetic!
Meanwhile Japan gets the first GBA fire emblem game. So now on the Wii U, they have FE1-8 easily accessible.
Smilebasic... I'm still waiting for you.
I'm getting Gunman Clive HD collection. I have both of those games on 3DS and enjoyed them a lot. Can't beat that price either!
Nothing... yet again for the 3DS.
How have you guys got both Mario tennis and golf on n64 and we still ain't got it in Europe???
@BinaryFragger
There's still plenty to complain about. After zero mission, people will complain about ds and wii games not being released. If all those were released, then the neo geo/ turbo graphics games and such... maybe star fox too... eventually people will just start asking for new games to various series's
It's your birthday! 😌
Ironically, Golf is the one sport other than Bowling where pudgy mascots should be able to compete well with everyone else.
I am interested in Vs. Excitebike as it is something different than the original which I played to death. Gunman Clive HD will probably be the purchase however since I have enough credit for that and not anything else.
I keep holding out hope that the drought of 3ds virtual console games combined with the announcement of the smaller New 3ds being made available in the US will somehow lead to Gameboy Advance and/or Super Nintendo games being made available on those systems (as Christmas nears it would definitely get interest in the New 3ds too). I hope I am correct that all the people who normally work on other games are working to emulate the Gameboy Advance classics right now. Is that too much to hope for?
3DS Virtual Console is dead, isn't it
Yes. And the answer will remain the same the next time you ask that too so don't bother doing so.
I think I'll get Persona Q. Not sure if I'll face any difficulty not knowing anything from Persona though...
Nothing for me. A pretty sad week for 3DS in terms of new releases, as that retail title is almost bound to be shovelware.
No StarTropics makes me sad, but I'll be buying the Gunman Clive HD Collection for sure.
Man gotta love all the "NOA SUXZ cause [insert whatever game or service that got shorthanded]"
Ladies and Gentlemen, it may come as a shock, but porting old games to the 3DS and Wii U takes...effort! As much as a AAA Blockbuster??? No, but there is some recoding and control implementations that have to be worked on, it's not like ripping the ROM and calling it a day! Nintendo is doing this as a one man show, the Wii VC they had a lot of help from 3rd Parties, and most of those companies are gone (or mobile-only). The 3DS is nearly 5 years old! And as much as I love the Game Boy and Game Boy Color....there aren't too many games left to put on the eShop (and the ones I can think of...are 3rd party games!). The NES or Game Gear, there are handful of games that I wouldn't mind seeing on the service, but Nintendo's focus on the Wii U....really isn't all that surprising.
Yes it is a bad week for the 3DS, but again at nearly 5 years old, the 3DS will get it's own successor sooner than the Wii U (unless they are one in the same). The U is getting a big spotlight this year, but the 3DS has held that same spotlight for many years on its own. So I myself will wait for September 25th and maybe clean up the backlog in the meantime!
30 bucks for "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader"? Yeesh!
You guys think persona q will make it to the 14.99 mark ?
Unlike many other people on this site i really have no complaints even though I won't be buying anything from the E-Shop this week. I have so many games dying for me attention that I won't NEED to buy games for literally at least six months from now, so I am not concerned at all about the amount of new releases. Judging by the comments i really do wonder how many games a person needs in one week because from where I am standing there is TOO much to have time for, and I play more than most.
@HandheldGuru97 VC games aren't ported. They use a ROM and an emulator.
They just have to code the emulator to ensure it works with the ROM.
Still waiting for "Star Fox SNES" and "Star Fox 64" on the Wii U VC...
I used to play my 3ds twice a day every single day for years, but with the lack of games this year, I've only played it maybe 7 or 8 times all SUMMER. I've been playing free games on my iPad instead. And I've spent nearly 30 years being dedicated to Nintendo. They have completely snubbed 3ds owners. And I still will not download their pay to play junk on my iPad either if they put that stuff in the App Store. The good days of Nintendo have become a distant memory
Probably gonna get Gunman Clive soon.
Dear Nintendo, thank you for FINALLY bringing mario golf 64 to the wii u. I love this game. Its weird that I love this game so much, because I never played golf in real life. I consider it a perfect game.
No Zero Mission, no StarTropics. Nothing to see here.
@shigulicious $3.99 for Gunman Clive? Hell yeah! I thought this would be $9.99. Glad they are bringing the more solid DS titles to a Wii U.
SWEEEET!
Time to download Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader and enjoy all the excitement of the hit TV show!
It is still 2009, isn't it?
BLEH
@Windy: It is certainly worthy. I gave Gunman Clive (#1) a test run last night after purchase and did not want to put it down!. The animation, artistic style and platforming are extremely well done!
Vs. Excitebike is an instadownload for me, even if I don't have anyone to play with lol. I still want Never Alone, but does anyone know if they fixed the bugs that were hampering the game yet? While glad it's on sale, I still don't want to bother with it if it's still buggy as hell. As for Attack on Titan, I'm glad they finally dropped the price, but like someone said, I now need a sale from that price, THEN, I will likely pick it up-- I really want to get into it's interestingly deep online component.
RIP 3DS shop
@bluedogrulez I just wonder how it had a store rating of 3 before it could even be downloaded yesterday. The game to me is easily a 5 star game which also comes at a great price. Seriously Gunman Clive still might be the best deal in the Eshop. I played this game about 3 years ago on Android and said this would be an awesome 3DS game then a couple months later there it was.
are you smarter than a 3ds virtual console wisher?
Gunman Clive HD Collection for me. Loved the games on 3DS and would love to play them on Wii U.
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