Microsoft and Mojang took their sweet time bringing Minecraft to the Wii U, releasing it just as the console entered its twilight years. All change for the Switch – Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition (£19.99) is out this week, and word has it that it’s no slapdash effort.
Review scores so far include 9/10s from Nintendo Life and Nintendo World Report, a 4.5/5 from USGamer and top marks from Time. “I can say it’s arguably the finest iteration of Swedish studio Mojang’s magnum opus yet,†reported Time.
Minecraft is joined by a couple of other big hitters – cult classic beat’em up ACA NeoGeo Garou: Mark of the Wolves (£6.29), and NBA Playgrounds (£17.99). 1999’s Garou: Mark of the Wolves is often regarded as one of the finest 2D brawlers of all-time. The Dreamcast and PS2 releases command high sums, so here’s your chance to play it without having to sell a kidney.
NBA Playgrounds has been refered to as the spiritual successor to NBA Jam, and although critics claim that it does have its shortcomings, reviews are generally positive.
Then we have Dark Witch Music Episode: Rudymical (£6.99), a 2D rhythm-action game. This Dark Witch Story spin-off offers story, co-op and versus modes. Could be a decent alternative to Voez.
Over on New 3DS there’s Pixel Hunter (£2.69) – a 3D side-scrolling platformer with a Mario-esque mascot – and the Breakout/Pong hybrid Triple Breakout (£4.99). The regular 3DS receives Elliot Quest (£13.49) meanwhile. It’s a pixel-art platformer that takes inspiration from Zelda II, of all things. It’s also due out on Xbox One and PS4 tomorrow, at a slightly lower price of £11.99.
The humble Wii U sees a new release, too – Viking brawler WinKings (£8.99), which has a focus on four-player co-op.
The wealth of this week’s eShop discounts come courtesy of good old Capcom. DuckTales: Remastered, Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara, Mega Man Legacy Collection, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Resident Evil Revelations and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition are all down in price from today. Mutant Mudds, Mutant Mudds Super Challenge and Xeodrifter have also dropped in price temporarily, with the short but sweet Xeodrifter falling to a mere £1.99.