There’s no stopping for Christmas where Nintendo is concerned – the eShop is due several new titles on Christmas day, including four notable Virtual Console releases for Wii U.
Another bunch of digital downloads from Activision are en route too. Prices are so laughably unjust that we almost chose to omit them from this round-up, but for the sake of being comprehensive here they are: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Wii U – £49.99/3DS – £29.99), TRANSFORMERS: Rise of the Dark Spark (Wii U – £49.99/3DS – £29.99), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze (3DS – £29.99) and 2013’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (3DS – £29.99).
The aforementioned Virtual Console releases meanwhile are comprised of NES launch title Duck Hunt (£3.49 – requires a Wii Remote), the much loved Kuru Kuru Kururin (£6.29), series spin-off Mega Man Zero (£6.29) and Mario Party Advance (£6.29)…which infamously gained a miserable 1/10 from Eurogamer back in 2005.
The timing for Duck Hunt is rather apt – it was a NES pack-in, so chances are high that many people first played it upon receiving a shiny new NES for Christmas. For our money though, Kuru Kuru Kururin is the one to go for this week. It tests timing and reflex skills in a way that few other action puzzlers do.
The majority of other new releases are puzzlers, all of which are heading to 3DS. Specifically, Brutus & Futée (£6.29) – which sounds like a cross between Ghost Trick and Scribblenauts – PUZZLEBOX Setup (£2.69), plus the self-explanatory Best of Mahjong (£1.49) and Best of Solitaire (£2.49).
Cubed reviewed PUZZLEBOX Setup late last week, giving it 6/10. “It is a fun puzzle title to play on the go, with charming levels and a simple, yet fun game mechanic. Just beware the control scheme that sometimes might be an annoyance,†they said.
Also on 3DS this week: a WRC FIA World Rally Championship demo. Then on Wii U there’s Spy Chameleon (£4.49), a stealth puzzler that looks way better than some of the other recent releases from EnjoyUp. Could be worth considering, this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIx1rETv0Cc
It appears that the January sales are starting early on the eShop, with several Nintendo, Ubisoft and Level-5 games reduced this week. Wii U discounts include (take a deep breath) Super Mario 3D World (£34.99), Assassin’s Creed III (£7.99), Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag (£9.99), Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth (£3.99), Rabbids Land (£3.99), Rayman Legends (£11.99), Sports Connection (£3.99), Splinter Cell Blacklist (£6.49), ZombiU (£7.99) Watch_Dogs (£33.49), Cloudberry Kingdom (£3.89) and Child of Light (£3.89).
They’re being joined by indie delights Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails (£4.49) and Stick it to the Man (£3.49).
Discounts for 3DS meanwhile include Bravely Default (£25.99), plus ATTACK OF THE FRIDAY MONSTERS! A TOKYO TALE, AERO PORTER, BUGS vs. TANKS!, CRIMSON SHROUD, LIBERATION MAIDEN, THE STARSHIP DAMREY and the recent(ish) WEAPON SHOP de OMASSE at a bargain £2.69 each. Blame Level-5 for the all-caps.
The majority of the above price-cuts are available until 1st January. Remember to check your Nintendo Premium Network balance – one gamer apparently had over £70 waiting to be claimed.