It’s a busy week for new releases on both the Wii U and 3DS eShops. There are two sales commencing as well, courtesy of Capcom and Bandai Namco. So let’s crack on, shall we?
Firstly, Zen Studio’s – of Zen Pinball and CastleStorm fame – are bringing the beat back. That’s to say, Kickbeat Special Edition (£8.99) launches on Wii U this Thursday alongside the PS4 version. It looks like the Xbox One version isn’t due until a later date. It combines kung-fu and rhythm-action, and is backed by a licensed soundtrack featuring Pendulum, Marilyn Manson, Papa Roach, Rob Zombie and more.
The PS Vita original released almost a year ago and stands with a Metacritic of 67%. With a year between the two, we imagine that this Special Edition will be a marked improvement. It’s also worth bearing in mind that user reviews on Metacritic were a lot more positive. Now there’s a thing.
Keeping with the rhythm theme, Mon Premier Karaoké (£8.99) is also arriving on Wii U this Thursday. Boasting “some of the most popular children’s songs of all time†it has a whiff of public domain about it.
Then there’s the cheap as chimps, sorry, chips, Chimpuzzle Pro (£1.79). Taking inspiration from the likes of Amiga classic Sleepwalker, the idea is to place Tetris-style blocks in the path of protagonist Beebo so that he can reach his bananas. As the footage below suggests, it’s a modest small scale effort – hence why it’s less than £2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfwmh9o-mAQ
Darts Up won’t set you back much either – it’s a mere £2.29. Improvements over the 3DS version include an online leaderboard and the ability to aim darts using the GamePad’s motion control gubbins. The 3DS original suffered from the absence of a single-player mode. If the press release is to go by, that’s also the case here. Seems you’ll have to get your friends and family round for this one.
As well as heading to retailers on Friday, Hyrule Warriors will be available on the eShop at launch. It’s £39.99, or £36.99 to those who picked up one of the recently reduced Zelda titles. Speaking of which, this week’s discount is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for £30.99.
The 3DS’s THEATRHYTHM Final Fantasy Curtain Call will also be available on the eShop come launch, priced at £29.99.
Just one more Wii U release for this week – Konami’s NES shooter Life Force (£3.49), starring the good old Vic Viper. On a related note, this week’s sole 3DS VC title is something special – Donkey Kong Original Edition (£4.49) features the long lost cement factory level, as well as a few other additional touches. An unexpected surprise.
Also on 3DS this week: turn-based strategy game Glory of Generals (£7.99) and first-person RPG The Keep (£8.99). The trailer for the latter suggests that it has much in common with the classic corridor-filled RPG Dungeon Master.
Those sales, then. Capcom’s discounts include the following on Wii U: Resident Evil Revelations (£15.99), DuckTales: Remastered (£5.39), Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (£5.39). A trio of 3DS titles are also reduced: Resident Evil The Mercenaries 3D (£4.04), Super Street Fighter IV 3D (£8.99) and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (£11.99).
Namco Bandai’s sale isn’t quite as exciting, focusing on licensed software. Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW! is down to £19.99 on both Wii U and 3DS, while underrated RPG PROJECT X ZONE falls from £27.99 to £19.99. Ben 10 Omniverse 2, Turbo: Super Stunt Squad and the Madagascar 3 & The Croods: Combo Pack likewise fall to £19.99.
The press release mentions discounts on ONE PIECE Unlimited World Red, but as the prices aren’t quoted in pounds sterling we get the impression that only our European chums are getting Monkey D. Luffy’s latest adventure at a discount price. The price drop isn’t a vast one anyway (€39.99 from €43.99 on Wii U) so don’t feel too put out.