It's that time once again for the North American Nintendo Download Update, and this week has a mix of genres and styles to choose from. New Wii U releases include some platforming and shooting, while the same can be said for the Virtual Console releases across the home console and New 3DS. Beyond that there's DLC and discounts to consider, so let's get to it.
Missed the European Nintendo Download Update details? Wipe the panic sweat off your brow, you can still get the details right here.
Wii U eShop
Kick & Fennick (Abstraction Games, $10.49 at launch, then $14.99) - A colourful action platformer, Kick & Fennick sees players take control of a young boy who rockets around levels using the recoil of his gun in search of a new energy core for his robot companion. It looks rather decent in footage, even if the Vita original prompted mixed reviews in 2015; we'll jump into the action for a review.
B3 Game Expo for Bees (Famous Gamous, $9.99) - A rather surprising first-person shooter that's heading exclusively to the Wii U, it's certainly aiming to be quirky by playing up its parody links to E3 while also trying to use the GamePad in a good way. It promises zaniness and humour, and will hopefully be a fun game to play at the same time; we'll see whether it's worth any buzz in our review.
153 Hand Video Poker (Skunk Software, $0.99) - What to make of this one? The game fills the screen with lots of hands, and "after the hands are dealt you will hear a corresponding piano chord based on the rank of that hand". The trailer isn't very illuminating either, so we don't really understand what this is... we'll attempt a review soon.
Wii U Virtual Console
Metroid Prime: Hunters (Nintendo, $9.99) - The Wii U eShop already has the outstanding Metroid Prime Trilogy available to download, and now we can complete the set with this DS release. It was a tentpole reveal and release for the DS hardware, even if the end result didn't quite have the scope that the developers at NST initially planned. Nevertheless it's a DS Metroid game, and one we rather enjoyed (albeit with online play missing in this version) in our original 2006 review.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
Resident Evil Revelations (Capcom, $9.99 until 6th June, normally $39.99)
Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara - (Capcom, $5.99 until 6th June normally $14.99)
DuckTales: Remastered - (Capcom, $5.10 until 6th June, normally $14.99)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - (Capcom, $13.59 until 6th June, normally $39.99)
Art Of Balance (Shin'en Multimedia, $6.70 until 23rd June, normally $8.99)
Trine 2: Director's Cut (Frozenbyte, on discount until 23rd June)
Trine Enchanted Edition (Frozenbyte, on discount until 23rd June)
Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX (EnjoyUp Games, $2.99 until 23rd June, normally $5.99)
Life of Pixel (Super Icon Ltd, $4.99 until 23rd June, normally $9.99)
Land It Rocket (Petite Games, $0.99 until 23rd June, normally $2.99)
Jones on Fire (Joindots, on discount until 9th June)
Stone Shire (Finger Gun Games, $4.99 until 1st August, normally $7.99)
Explody Bomb (Alkterios, on discount until 23rd June)
Hold Your Fire: A Game About Responsibility (Alkterios, on discount until 23rd June)
Epic Dumpster Bear (Log Games, on discount until 30th June)
Puzzle Monkeys (Log Games, on discount until 30th June)
Astral Breakers (Intropy, on discount until 16th June)
Emojikara: A Clever Emoji Match Game (Intropy, on discount until 16th June)
The Perplexing Orb (TreeFall Studios, $1.99 until 16th June, normally $3.99)
3DS eShop
Sssnakes (EnjoyUp Games, $1.99) - A modern riff on Snake, the classic game that originated (as a concept) in the '70s but shot to prominence on early Nokia phones. This title aims to add modern touches to the formula of eating and avoiding your own tail, with the ability to 'shoot', multiple snakes on screen and varied environments in the mix, along with online leaderboards. We gave it a modest recommendation in our Sssnakes review.
New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble (Nintendo, $7.99) — The final game of this series on the Super NES, now the Kremlings have managed to kidnap both DK and Diddy, leaving the rescuing down to Dixie and Kiddy. Aside from expanding the cast once again, this also threw in two-player team play and contests (we'll see whether that makes the cut on New 3DS); this didn't thrill us quite as much as previous entries but is still a great game, as explained in our Wii U Virtual Console Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble review.
3DS DLC
Fire Emblem Fates - Map 5: Endless Dawn (Nintendo, $1.99 or part of map pack 2) - Led by Shigure, the party storms the enemy. Part 5 of Heirs of Fate.
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Mega Man Legacy Collection - (Capcom, $9.99 until 6th June, normally $14.99)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition - (Capcom, $4.99 until 6th June, normally $19.99)
Resident Evil Revelations - (Capcom, $4.99 until 6th June, normally $19.99)
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - (Capcom, $13.99 until 6th June ,normally $19.99)
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D - (Capcom, $4.99 until 6th June, normally $19.99)
Sadame (Rising Star Games, $9.99 until 16th June, normally $14.99)
The Magic Hammer (Wobbly Tooth, on discount until 30th June)
Toy Stunt Bike (Wobbly Tooth, on discount until 30th June)
Parascientific Escape Cruise in the Distant Seas (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 23rd June)
WAKEDAS (CIRCLE Entertainment, on discount until 23rd June)
Music On: Electric Guitar (Abylight, $0.99 until 12th July, normally $1.99)
Murder on the Titanic (Joindots, on discount until 9th June)
That's everything for the North American Nintendo Download Update this week; let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments 89
37% say nothing when there's a Metroid game available. And you wonder why Nintendo doesn't Make Metroid games.
@XCWarrior They don't make their own games anymore? XD
@XCWarrior People want the game, the problem is many are put off from the fact that the game servers are no longer online, thus making games like Mario Kart DS/Metroid Prime Hunters purely single player experiences.
While both are great games, it is the multiplayer that kept them alive for so many years.
@XCWarrior There's no point in playing a multiplayer based game with no multiplayer.
Mmmm DKC3 or MM Legacy Collection? Tough choices here...
@Kmno Considering how expensive the Megaman games are on their own on eShop, you save a bundle on the Legacy Collection.
@XCWarrior and lots of us have it already on ds. I personally couldn't finish it due to to the controls. I hated touch screen controls like this or phantom hourglass.
@Angelic_Lapras_King Ah, typo, I'll fix it.
@Sanicranfast @Blester Nintendo isn't going to see it that way. They are just going to see it as, "Wow, no one wants to play Metroid."
Well bummer.....nothing to download on my birthday. Sadface
@XCWarrior And that is precisely the reason why they have been digging their own grave non stop ever since they came up with the Wii U idea. They don't understand the wants/needs of their own fans. E3 2015 was heavily insulting to lots of people:
-Half assed Mario Tennis game nobody wanted
-No focus on Xenoblade or other more high profile games
-2 boring Animal Crossing amiibo spin offs that nobody wanted
-A Paper Mario entry that continues a trend people hate
-Heavy focus on amiibo/Skylanders nobody wanted them to waste time on
-The huge let down of Star Fox Zero
It seems that for every incredible game on the Wii U Nintendo made or funded, there were 5 terrible decisions to go along side it.
Now we are left with an e3 that appears to be entirely Zelda U related. Zelda U better be the greatest game they have ever made or Nintendo's next console will sell even worse than the Gameboy Micro.
@NintendoLife did you know that the Bravely Second theme is on NA My Nintendo now?
Sorry if I messed up on this, new to giving info there.
Nothing for me this week. I have the Kirby amiibo line preordered and plan on picking Kirby Planet Robobot next week. Also have Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, Lego Star Wars TFA, and Zero Time Dilemma preordered so I think I have enough on my plate this month so I probably won't be downloading anything this month.
@XCWarrior That is absolutely right.
Release poor StarFox games for years... noone likes Star Fox.
Release an awful Chibi Robo game... yep, kill that series.
Clownshoes
@C-Olimar
All I wanted from Nintendo this gen was an HD remake of F-Zero GX, or even better a new game! Imagine going to a lobby and racing against 29 other people with 60fps gameplay. Maybe a track editor and custom parts to make your own vehicle and maybe even a character creator too!
Online rankings, regular tournaments, a hard as nails story mode, etc.
It would have been amazing.
Yet looking at how they screwed up Animal Crossing by releasing an insanely boring board game and how badly they messed up Star Fox Zero, I hate to think how they would ruin F-Zero with their current gimmicks over gameplay nonsense.
Got Mega Man collection as it looked like a good deal then buying the games by themselves separatelyand without the new challenges....now for mii to get a Mega Man amiibo.
@XCWarrior It's not a real Metroid game, though. It's a mediocre multiplayer oriented shooter.
@Spooj I shall check that out, thanks
Another week with my eshop cash safe on the system(s).
One day Capcom will get me to buy Resident Evil Revelations (Wii U) with that price, but not this week.
DKC 3 is very tempting. And maybe I'll get parascientific escape cruise to ease my ZTD urges until that game comes out.
@Windy everyone deserves a happy birthday.... So happy birthday!
@Sanicranfast Just don't...
A new, online F Zero/ remake would be incredible. But as Miyamoto said, they only make games when they have a new idea for it.
That's why New Super Mario Bros is dead, and Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Party...
Also, given Nintendo's recent track record, a new F Zero would include a gimmick no-one asked for that detracts from the game.
Metroid Prime Hunters is a great game, probably close to the best Metroid Prime experience the DS could hope for. In terms of graphics and sound it's downright impressive. The multiplayer was great, though fairly hardcore, which is the reason why personally I didn't enjoy playing casually against random opponents quite so much. Still, the multiplayer is the heart of the game and it's a great drawback it's missing here. Compared to the games of the MP main series, the Hunters singleplayer is quite generic – but then again, it offers most of what made MP so great, so it's still fun to play. I'm not sure if the controls will work better or worse on the WiiU gamepad though...
@NintendoLife Will your B3 review be up today? Pretty interested in what I've seen of the game so far but my main concern is length
Sad to see the online part of Metroid Prime Hunters is removed. Would have gotten back into it if it was present in the VC version. My brother and friend played it constantly. It was pretty solid!
no online no buy for Hunters
@C-Olimar
Seriously? It's not hard to find ideas. Turn F-Zero into a reboot with the original race vehicles that can transform into flying vehicles to ride through obstacles mid race. It's not hard.
And you think Smash Bros and Mario Kart are dead? Really?
Sadame is still expensive for my tastes. Gonna wait for a $5 price tag if that ever happens. I got Mega Man Legacy Collection instead... 6 excellent games for $10, you can't go wrong.
Nothing for me this week.
@C-Olimar Star Fox Zero added a gimmicky no one asked for but turned out as the best gameplay in the series so far (even if the game is short). The thing is: they do "more of the same" - people complain. They do "gimmicky no one asked for" - people complain.
This gaming generation is seriously screwed.
@C-Olimar @Sanicranfast
I think it's funny that everybody forgets that Ntinedo did just make a new F Zero game, Captain Falcon's Twister Race in Ntinedo Land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp1VQdL-Q8I
20 years from now when Ntineod only makes games on mobile as a 3rd party, I'll still be pointing to that mini-game as the beginning of the end, the foreshadowing of things to come. Dk and Balloon Trip were also terrible, but people had been waiting years for a new F Zero game - while DK had a couple of good new games.
Nintnedo Land was made for mobile, but CF:TR was the worst. A bad game and an insult. Then AC;aF. And MP:FF. It's all been going downhill since NL.
Though I guess many gamers would say it's been mostly downhill since Wii Sports, Wii Fit and Wii Music, except motion and the balance board died, while mobile gyro controls are still growing. Maybe NX will go back to good Gamecube gaming, but I see no reason to think so.
If there were a new full blown F Zero game it would be gyro controls only, think Starfox with wheels.
I'll get Sssnakes one day.
I wish those Trine discounts would come to Europe, I still haven't got Trine 1.
@Windy Happy Birthday!
@C-Olimar I adored the original Chibi Robo on GC. But every game since has failed to capture that same magic. Largely due to relying on gimmicks or failing to understand what people loved about the first game. Apparently Japan got a proper sequel on the DS that was supposed to be pretty good. Been thinking of importing it.
But in the states we ended up with Park Patrol on DS. Not a terrible game, but really was held back by the DS hardware limitations and the fact it was a poorly marketed Wal Mart exclusive. Then we get the AR Photo game for 3DS which got old fast. Not really much of a game. Then came Ziplash, which taken on it's own isn't a bad little action platformer, but it failed to capture the same charm of the original game.
I wish Nintendo would give us a proper sequel to games like this before writing them off. The reason sales aren't what they hoped is that these experiences fail to live up to the original game's charm and feel more like spin offs than a proper sequel.
@KO-Cub Sarcasm? I was pointing out Myamoto's hypocrisy - won't make a new F Zero because of no new ideas, but content to release the same basic game in many of Nintendo's other series over and over...
It's not me who can't come up with a new idea for F Zero, it's Miyamoto/Nintendo's employees.
I'm not currently employed by Nintendo so cannot have any direct influence on development on a new F Zero game. Sorry buddy.
So wait a sec, 6 hand video poker costs 6 bucks, but 153 hand video poker, made by the same company, costs 99 cents....
????
For that low price I wanna get this one. It could be the next Letter or Meme Run, but to have it adjacent to Smash Bros and Mario Kart is deliciously ironic to me.
@rjejr A minigame is not a new F Zero dude. It didn't even have F Zero in the title anyway.
I keep telling myself that I'll one day see Star Fox 64 on Wii U. I think I've finally given up
@rushiosan I loved the new Star Fox, but not allowing people to change their controls was a poor decision - perhaps due to the influence of Platinum? I know they never allow customisation of controls in their games.
@rushiosan I'm glad you like the Star Fox controls. I tried. I tried really hard. And I'll try again cause I love Star Fox. But so far, all the new controls do for me is take me out of the joy of flying and essentially ruined the game for me (and a lot of others).
They should have at the very least offered multiple control set ups so that even if you dislike the gyro controls you have more options. They did this in the past with games like Splatoon.
What is more important? Forcing a control scheme on people to prove the value of a controller on a system that is on it's way out? Or providing options so more people can enjoy what seems to be otherwise a solid game?
Hell, I'don't prefer a Wii Mote and nunchuck set up that let you pilot with the chuck and aim and shoot with the Wii Mote like a light gun. At least I wouldn't have to take my eyes off the screen and lose the thrill of flight. Which was always the highlight of the series for me.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
I'm getting aggravated that Nintendo is not releasing SNES VC games on older 3ds and 2ds! They are just lazy and greedy seeing how the Sega 3D games are roughly the same price. They could at least release more NES and Gameboy VC such as Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy Legend or Castlevania Legends it Star Tropics or Little Nemo The Dream Master. Heck even the Disney games made by Capcom. Sony has a few of the Disney PS1 games on PSN, so it shouldn't be that big an ordeal for Nintendo to work out a license agreement.
On metroid, did they add analog stick controls?
Because the controls were awful for that game. Years ago I hand cramped my way thru the game on my DS phat.
It's just amazing to me that still now after 3 1/2 years, NOA continues to kill us with one vc Wii u game a week!!! Unbelievable
@C-Olimar Yeah, F-Zero is a tried and true racer. It doesn't need fancy gimmicks, it just needs:
-Great selection of tracks
-Online racing/regular tournaments
-Silly story mode like GX
-Custom racers/Vehicle parts
-60fps HD visuals
It's a shame Nintendo feel they need to reinvent the wheel when the only thing fans want is a prettier GX with more content and online gameplay.
Nothing this week, but next week is the Kirbs so I can live with it.
I probably would get Hunters if I didn't already have it. And no online doesn't help.
@C-Olimar Everybody knows what game Captain Falcon is from, and it's that racer, not SSB. Think of it as the demo for the new F Zero.
I want to play that B3 game. The trailer looked so weird, if I ever have money for it I'll get that. Lol @ Hunters, I forgot alllll about that.
@Captain_Gonru I didn't actually know it used the camera until I watched the Youtube vidoes, and I considered the possibility it was just a youtube thing, a lot of Youtubers put their faces on the screen. I only played the racing game once, thought it suxxed, and probably never looked up from the Gamepad screen, b/c it is a gyro based top down tablet game, the tv portion is for spectators, not playing.
I really didn't like the balloon thing, endless...anything doesn't appeal to me, but I suppose DK Minecart Puzzles would have a spot on my tablet. I mostly didn't like it b/c it was a 1 player game, and I only play NL w/ my kids. If and when they ever do Nintendo Land 2: amiibo Kingdom - hopefully they leave out all of the single player stuff. Leave the single player for mobile, keep the Home games multiplayer.
@XCWarrior It is not the fact that it's a Metroid game, it's the fact that the major selling point of the game is no longer there... AND of all of the Metroid choices available on the Wii U, it's the weakest. If there were a poll for what people were purchasing this week that wasn't new, I'd venture a guess that some would say Metroid Prime Trilogy or one of the other Metroid games... just not the neutered handheld option.
Legacy Collection for me. Six games for the price of two is something I don't plan to pass up.
Just MP Hunters for me this week...
@rjejr @Captain_Gonru I have to pipe in and defend Twister Race... you should try it again but this time watch the TV. Hard turns cause you to drift & keep a higher speed. Touch the screen for fast brake (you'll need it later). It's actually an intense (if short) experience. Too many didn't give it a second chance after being turned off by the tutorial.
Nothing for me this week. I'll eventually pick up Hunters, but I need to play a few other Metroid games first (Particularly the Prime Trilogy).
@Cakes Well I'm glad somebody enjoyed it, but if I'm going to get up off the couch and put that disc back in it's only going to be for Metroid, Pikmin or Zelda with my kids. I've played enough Asphalt 7 on my tablet.
Nothing for me this week. I recently bought Azure Strikers Gunvolt when it was on sale, and I'm really enjoying it! At least that will keep me busy.
Heads-up guys! Kick & Fennick is a top-notch 2.5D platformer! I highly recommend the game!
@Blester i agree
@Windy happy birthday!
@XCWarrior It's a crappy, incomplete port which will give players about 1/100th of the playtime the DS version would offer. I'm actually baffled the percentage is at 17 at the time of writing, and not lower.
Finally!
The DKC trilogy is completed on 3DS!
I'm more excited for my new SNES VC Fire Emblem trilogy on 3DS though, translated with restore points, pixel perfect mode and installed right on the system.
But this is absolutely great too.
I bought the Mega Man Legacy collection since the only one I owned out of the bunch was Mega Man 2, so it was a pretty good deal overall. This is the first time I have bought something from the E-Shop (that wasn't a humble bundle deal) in months.
@XCWarrior But Hunters isn't a good Metroid game.
@Windy Happy Birthday! 🎂
@XCWarrior Hey, I would get...if I had the money, a wiiu, and if I didn't already have the ds cartridge.
Anyway, I wonder, does it have local multiplayer?
I happily purchased the best Metroid game again earlier today. It is a little weird playing Metroid Prime Hunters outside of a DS/3DS family system, and the Wii U port has some flaws and missed opportunities. I think I'll enjoy the Miiverse functionality though while adjusting to the game on Wii U. It's definitely a Metroid Prime game with plenty to discuss and speculate about.
@Danrenfroe2016
Unfortunately, I don't think they did. I tried using both of the game's right handed control schemes, and the second stick on the Game Pad doesn't do a thing.
@TerrapinJess @mr-x9000 @kiyata @jbgibson75 thanks for the birthday wishes. All was not lost.....I went to my mail box later in the day and got a package with Bravely Second and Puzzle Dragons sent by the best mom of all-time. Ive been playing Puzzle Dragons tonight its alot of fun. Ive been trying to catch up on games on my backlog and have been playing Shin Megami Soul Hackers which im almost done with. I was going to start one of the Etrian Odysseys after Soul Hackers but might just jump ahead to Bravely Second.
Why did they not release Metroid Prime Hunters on the 3DS and include Circle Pad Pro support our dual analogue support. If it has that I would not care if it was not in 3D although it would be nice if it was. Seems like such a missed opportunity to release it on the WiiU and not the 3DS
@Sanicranfast I couldn't agree more. Nintendo is probably just focusing on the NX and its games so much that it's making the Wii U's last couple of years slow and empty. I can't wait for the NX! E3 is most exciting when the console is brand new with not many games at the time, because they announce loads of stuff like E3 2013 or 2014!
Unless the console sucks, it should be an awesome time for Nintendo!
@Danny429 Video game developers today need people like you to rebuy their games over and over. They don't have new ideas anymore. Otherwise the video game industry will die, and it will be your fault. YOUR fault. No go to your room and think about what you did.
better luck next time, I wanted to spend 20usd on eshop... but not today.
I imagine the prime hunters controls on a Wii u gamepad would be terrible. Too bad they didn't mod the game to work with duel sticks or heaven forbid. ONLINE lol
This is why people say Nintendo is so far behind the times: you can play the old arcade games like the Simpsons or marvel vs capcom online on the ps3, etc but when Nintendo ports a multiplayer focused game it's stripped down. Just seems like a waste of time/money to port it if that's gonna be how it is...
@Windy Excellent!! That sounds fantastic... Glad to hear you had a good day after all
Excellent game choices by the way!
I loved Prime Hunters. And if I recall correctly it has single cart multiplayer
Why the bleep does my Wii u not let my 3ds and DS systems use download play to retain said multiplayer?!? Especially when you release games built around them like Hunters!
@Windy when you say Puzzle Dragons, do you mean Puzzles & Dragons Super Mario edition? I absolutely love that game! And I'm glad you had a good birthday!
@uhhhhhhh
I've played a bit of this port, and I think it may be the most comfortable way to play Metroid Prime Hunters with the Game Pad's design. The Game Pad is designed in a way that it is an incline, and so it's easy to rest the controller on a cushion/lap and still get to necessary buttons while using the stylus scheme. With the TV made to showcase the top screen only, it also can be rested without feeling like you're missing out on the action. You would no longer be looking at a small DS screen at a distance, rather you would be viewing the game through your larger TV. I would say the port has its obvious missed opportunities, but I would still recommend it probably more so for those that thought the original game had poor controls.
@I-U this is what really annoyes me about Nintendo and the VC and other new games frankly.... They half ass a lot of the work and it's unfortunate. I don't think I can do this and get all hand cramped again with the stylus control. Get with the program Nintendo.
dungeons and dragons was bought for the 14.99 asking price by myself. it is awesome. no one is seriously gonna buy this at 5.99...are you people kidding me here?
@ogo79 I'm considering it. Doe sit have any multiplayer?
@Roam85
yeah it has online drop in too.
@Windy your welcome
@XCWarrior Excuse me? Did you not read my comment? Do you think I'm going to waste money that I need to LIVE ON just to buy an TV and a $200 WiiU just to buy a game that I already have? If so, then that's foolish and perhaps you should go to your room and think about what you've said.
@Danny429 You can learn to beg for food. Or get a job. Either one.
@XCWarrior Already got a job.
@spoony_tech I should email you about this but I don't have your email. I bought Spirit camera new in box on Ebay for 6.99 free shipping. I'm so glad it didn't slip through the cracks on me. Even though a game that lasts only a few hours it is awesome augmented reality. If you haven't picked this up yet I gotta say get it if you have a chance. I play it in a swiveling computer chair which makes. Huge difference. It's also part of the Fatal Frame series which I didn't know until recently.. Anyway just thought I would throw a recommendation your way which ends up being a hidden gem
@Windy Thanks for the recommendation! Also save this for the future [email protected]
@Windy Oh and I see it's your birthday! Happy Birthday 🎂 and quit putting off Etrian Odyssey!!! I would personally start with IV though.
I clearly didn't see how old this topic was so happy belated birthday lol
@Spoony_Tech haha......Etrian Odyssey will be next as soon as I finish up Shin Megami Tensei Soul Hackers. I'm very close to finishing up on it. It has been an excellent ride once I dove into it. Really good game
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