It's that time again, North American eShop fans, for the Nintendo Download Update details. We've got a generous helping of new titles for you to get your teeth into - so what are you waiting for?
Missed the Nintendo Download Update details for Europe earlier in the week. You cheeky scamp! Don't worry, the details you need are right here.
Wii U retail
Skylanders SuperChargers – Expand your game-play experience with more than 40 Skylanders and vehicles to collect, and embark on epic adventures over land, under sea and through the sky. Available on 20th September in various physical bundles or digitally via the Wii U eShop for $49.99 if you already own a Skylanders Portal. This could be worth buying if only for the Skylanders SuperChargers Bowser and Donkey Kong amiibo.
Wii U eShop
Year Walk (Simogo, $6.99) - Grim tales, horrifying creatures and cryptic enigmas await in the dark woods of 19th century Sweden. Our very own Swedish meatball Jon Wahlgren went on a Årsgång of his own and said the game was an immensely satisfying master class in atmosphere and subtlety in our recent Year Walk review.
Rock 'N Racing Off Road DX (EnjoyUp Games, $7.99) - We're not really sure how the DX version of the game differs from Rock 'N Racing Off Road which was released in January this year, but we're sure we'll find out soon enough. We're promised more entertaining and exciting races, with loads of skids, crashes and amazing jumps. Several modes of play are on offer, such as Cup mode, time trial and multi-player with the option of up to 5 Players at a time. We'll take the DX edition for a spin in a review soon, until then you can check out our Rock 'N Racing Off Road review, unfortunately we found the original game to be a boring and frustrating experience all around.
Zombie Defense (Teyon, $7.99) - "The dead burst forth from the earth, beneath a blackened sky an endless horde of zombies rampage across the burning corpse of our dying civilization." Sounds horrible doesn't it? Thankfully we rather liked this RTS / Tower Defense game in our recent Zombie Defense review.
Defense Dome (HullBreach Studios, $2.99) - This game appears to be a throwback to classic arcade-style shooters of the 1990s. Players will target an onslaught of enemy missiles by using the Wii U GamePad as a zoomable, gyroscope-controlled scope, and launch countermeasures to defend your nation. We'll take a look and bring you a review soon.
Wii U Virtual Console
Car Battler Joe (Natsume, $6.99) - "Nobody knows why your dad, champion car battler Jim Todoroki, suddenly abandoned the fastest and most popular sport in Galacia. There is a rumor going around that he's riding around with the most ruthless car-battler gangs in the world. But is it just a rumor, or is there truth behind it?" With that intriguing introduction how could you not be interested in this Game Boy Advance game from yesteryear? The blend of vehicular combat with action RPG elements sounds intriguing; we'll battle on those mean roads and bring you a review soon.
Free DLC
Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows – Download this free DLC for hit game Shovel Knight on Wii U or Nintendo 3DS and embark on a new adventure starring Plague Knight, the addled alchemical master of disaster! Featuring a new playable character, new relics, new systems, new boss battles, level tweaks and a new story to adventure through, Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows is available to download for free to everyone who owns the Shovel Knight game. Don't miss our Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows first impressions.
3DS eShop
SENRAN KAGURA 2: Deep Crimson (Marvelous USA/XSEED Games, $39.99) - The naughty yet very nice ninja girls of the SENRAN KAGURA universe return to the Nintento 3DS in a fresh, new 2.5D side-scrolling brawler. This came out on 15th September as a eShop exclusive game in North America. Check out our SENRAN KAGURA 2: Deep Crimson review to learn if this is the game for you or not.
3DS Demo
The Legend of Legacy – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) – Available Sept. 22
Nintendo eShop Sales
Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
- Another World – 20th Anniversary Edition (Wii U and Nintendo 3DS) is on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 24.
- The Swapper (Wii U), OlliOlli (Wii U and Nintendo 3DS) and more games from Curve Digital are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 1.
Nintendo eShop on Wii U
- TNT Racers – Nitro Machines Edition is 37 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 1.
- ZaciSa's Last Stand is 25 percent off (reduced from $3.99 to $2.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 23.
- Bombing Bastards and Spot the Differences: Party! from Sanuk Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 24.
Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
- Xeodrifter and Mutant Mudds from Renegade Kid are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 1.
- AiRace Speed and AiRace Xeno from Qubic Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 8.
- Glory of Generals, Quell Reflect and Swords & Soldiers 3D from Circle Entertainment are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT Oct. 8.
- Fractured Soul is 75 percent off (reduced from $11.99 to $3.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 1.
- Jewel Quest The Sapphire Dragon is 33 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $3.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 1.
- Aqua Moto Racing is 50 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $3.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 23.
Activities
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. "Red Badge" Tournament – See how your squad stacks up online in Nintendo's Public Tournaments. Top players earn unique titles that are visible online and earn major bragging rights with your friends and around the world. The new "Red Badge" tournament runs through Sept. 20. Opt in via the SpotPass feature on your Nintendo 3DS system for notifications about future tournaments. Good luck, agents!
Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS
New themes this week include:
- Pokémon: Dancing Pikachu
- Pokémon: Pikachu's Cry
- Pikachu Bundle: Dancing & Cry
- Pokémon 151: Mewtwo
Price reduction
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker has been reduced to $39.99 (from $49.99).
That's everything for North America this week - let us know what you plan to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments 98
Nintendo of America really needs some new direction as far as their weekly downloads. Pretty lame this week, but that's par for the course these days. Just my opinion....
I'll keep an eye on Car Battler Joe's review, but it looks like an empty week mostly.
Will we have a Plague of Shadows review?
Not that I won't update it and play it if you score it low, but just for the sake of seeing how amazing it is to everybody lol. I want the popular acclaim.
Legend of Legacy demo - looks like the closest thing to Chrono series I've seen since!!!! (not enough excitement displayed)
Year Walk sounds like it could be great on Wii U, I might consider it even though I haven't played my Steam copy. I remember hearing tons of love for Car Battler Joe back in the GBA days, seemed to be one of the sleeper hits, and Plague of Shadows looks fantastic. Seems like a pretty decent week to me.
I've gotta send my New 3DS in for repairs next week... I bet next week will break the bad streak on 3DS and I'll not be able to get anything. Boohoo.
Definitely getting the Mewtwo theme and the Shovel Knight DLC.
Nothing this week. Back to Mario Maker.
This is horrible for the 3ds. I expect this in July and August not September. NOA couldn't do "well no cheap original games so lets give them a VC game". Even end cycle of DSi gave us games.
Nothing for me this week, but I am getting that Legend of Legacy demo on Tuesday next week.
@BaffleBlend I'm downloading it the millisecond it comes out
Plague Knight, I voted for you!
This week actually has a surprising amount of content I like or is intriguing at least.
Already have Shovel Knight, so there's basically no reason not to get the free DLC. Even if I never play it (which I likely will), I just want to put in my support for the whole idea of free DLC instead of "director's cut," "game of the year edition," or tweaked re-releases of that kind.
Legend of Legacy demo and some of the themes. Might look at the Skylanders Superchargers game. Since we already own a portal but probably won't get it until next month. I am buying the New Nintendo 3DS bundle for myself hence why I'm not downloading any games this month.
PSA for those who are downloading Plague of shadows.
Make sure you get the update from the eShop,it's too large for the in game updater to complete so it will fail if you try to get it that way.
I'm mainly picking up the Shovel Knight DLC but may pick up Year Walk and looking forward to the Legend of Legacy demo.
More Shovel Knight is a glorious thing. If you have not bought this game yet folks, do it. It's amazing. Probably my 3rd favorite game I've played this year behind Super Mario Maker and Splatoon.
I'll get the Legend of Legacy Demo as well, and waiting on reviews for some of the indy games.
@ohhaime Would that apply to all 3DSs, or just non-New Nintendo 3DSs?
Plague knight! Plague knight! Plague knight!
Nothing for me this week, just more Splatoon and Mario Maker.
Shovel Knight Free DLC for me this week and The Legend of Legacy demo on Tuesday and I might check out Year Walk.
I hope we'll have Xenoblade before december,
Damn you NoA
I mean I'll probably download the Shovel Knight DLC, but it's a good thing I'm totally occupied by Mario Maker. I'm so hoping that these new, sweeping changes within Nintendo HQ signal changes in NoA as well. So tired of checking this site out every Thursday for nothing.
Year Walk, Fractured Soul and the Shovel Knight DLC.
Anyone know what the Mutant Mudds sale is?
Any word on the Wii version of Skyladners Superchargers Racers? I know i towuldn't be a download but that game has so far been invisible - no screenshots, no video, nuthin. And it's the only way to get the Bowser amiibo. I already pre-ordered the dark Wii U on Amazon for the Kaos trophy, my son was bummed last year we didn't get dark.
We get a Wii U retail release, an interesting indie release, and free Shovel Knight DLC.
Yet some people still complain. I just don't get some of you sometimes...
@bezerker99 Yeah it's the same for Europe
I'll be getting the pikachu 3DS themes, and maybe 151 mew theme at some point!
Will also have to look at getting the other pokemon themes too. currently only have 2 or 3 of em.
Bad week. Nothing for me...
PLAUGE OF SHADOWS!!!!
@grumblebuzzz Same here. NOA could use some restructuring at the top.
The NA eshop has been pretty weak lately. We need more VC over here!
@MoonKnight7 The problem with indie games on Wii U is that they're usually just ports of mobile and PC games that are way overpriced. Year Walk is 7 bucks on Wii U, but 4 on iOS. Why spend three more dollars for a game that I have to be tethered to a couch to play when I can have it on my phone for three dollars cheaper and play it anywhere? The game isn't really any longer on Wii U or with much more content.
Eh, maybe that Famicom Mario theme.
Plague of Shadows and Legend of Legacy for me
And still no zero mission. We're approaching a year already since it was released in Japan. A few months ago in EU. What gives, NOA??
@EternaPhysis But hey! We got an obscure GBA title that like 12 people will buy! Because NoA knows how to make money on their VC service, right?
@grumblebuzzz
Sure I understand your point, but it is a special edition made for the GamePad. Not that the extra features seem to be anything more than practical additions, but still, they required some extra work. They have every right to charge more if they see fit. You do what you like, certainly, but based on what I've read about the developer, I don't think they are taking advantage of anyone with their price. It seems like a more streamlined, and integrated attempt. Personally, I think this is more of a sit-down game, than an on the go one, but maybe that's just me.
Case-in-point, the reason for my disgruntled post is because I just don't understand why so many people complain on this site. Even if you aren't interested in anything on this weeks list, it's still a decent offering, on a variety of games, new and old alike.
Shovel Knight DLC and Shin Megami. Though, lets be real, I'll just play Super Mario Maker anyways.
My physical copy of Shovel Knight with the amiibo for the Wii U is coming on the 10th of October. The hype is real!
@luxoricious Do you need a review to buy free DLC? It would be nice to know if it's worth downloading or buying the game for, I suppose.
Time to release the plague...butt I'm into Mario Maker at the moment....so to download that....and go back to Mario Maker.
Will be buying the Skylanders Wii U Dark edition at retail but won't be picking up any individual Skylander figures this time around. Wish I could pickup the Hammer Slam Bowser outside of the game as the amiibo are the items I'm wanting most this time around.
@Undead_terror Hopefully some more DLC is announced for Mario Maker. I mean we have a whole extra row at the bottom of the items panel waiting for new items. Slopped terrain would be nice. Still I'm loving the game right now and just figured out how to link two pipes last night.
Why is it that popular characters with arm cannons get shafted in gaming?
SENRAN KAGURA 2: Deep Crimson but later when it's on sale for half the current price. Would be a waste buy it now full price and not play it due to other games taking my free time. Also I still have yet to beat the first one for the same reason.
Year Walk sounds amazing and is debuting for a decent price. Already picked up SK2. Definitely need to download that Shovel Knight update. Awesome week!
Legend of legacy
@whodatninja At least Nintendo of Europe had enough sense to release Metroid Zero Mission. NoA has been asleep at the wheel for quite some time now.
@khaosklub Excellent question. I've been wondering the same thing myself
Side note: hmmm... perhaps if we collectively scream misogyny and sexism against your aforementioned (yet unmentioned) arm cannon wielding heroine, we'll get some results. It does seem to be all the rage these days. Senran and Samus in the same sentence...weird
@grumblebuzzz You're only assuming that every person has several such systems to play games on. If someone has a Wii U and do not have a mobile device, then the fact that the mobile game costs less than the Wii U version isn't actually a benefit to that person when he/she can't play it on that device anyway. The lower price point isn't going to matter to that person.
Going along similar lines, there are some Vita games that are also on PC (I game on both), but at a higher price, and I think that paying a higher price is a good trade off to be able to play those games 'on the go,' especially those games that seem better suited to a handheld anyway. I'd buy most of my PC indie games on the Vita if they were ported over.
What?! Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is NOT a Nintendo eShop-exclusive in North America, otherwise this Amazon listing would be a complete lie! Get your facts straight, Nintendo Life!
@grumblebuzzz Then—looks around suspiciously, as if to see if anyone else in listening to our conversation—don't do so; no one forces you to check the eShop updates every week.
@MoonKnight7 You're walking into No Man's Land, by bringing up how everyone here complains about everything; I've done it before, and it wasn't fun.
Shovel Knight DLC!
Legend of Legacy demo for me
@DiscoGentleman I'd like to hear your impressions on Year Walk when you get around to playing it. Plague Knight, Splatoon and Mario Maker will take up my gaming time but I want to support the developer with a full price purchase if the game is really well done. I'm just looking for some feedback before I decide. Enjoy!
hahaha, "nothing for me this week" has become a staple for me and NOA for about a year now.
Am I the only one who felt Plague Knight gameplay a bit weird?
Bad download week? Shovel Knight DLC and more Mario Maker then. I just released a level last night called 6 Golden Coins DX. Worked on it for two days. Contains two Super Mario Land 2 levels meshed into one, carefully compared by playing the classic game while building the level. It has new traps and lots of secrets, a hidden Triforce room, and you can even destroy the data select room. It starts off nice, but be prepared for a boss rush. If its too much, I think I might have placed an alternate exit somewhere... Hmm I can't remember.
VR32 Land: 6 Golden Coins DX!
(D3C5-0000-0045-2A7C)
I want legend of legacy demo.
Senran Kagura 2 first day! And the legend of legacy demo. Good week for me.
Jack all for me. I don't have or want Shovel Knight, 3DS VC still remains dead, Wii U VC is still trickle feeding...and I have a vested interest in hoping for more GBA VC games due to many of my carts getting stolen more than 3 years ago.
Where's Zero Mission? Where's Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon? How about the two Mario vs. Donkey Kong games japan got? How about some more 64 games? Why not go the extra mile and throw in Smash 64? Mario Kart 64? Majora's Mask (And don't say it's unfeasible. Xenoblade on the Wii downloads is proof enough that newer versions don't mean a thing)? And that's only the first party stuff. For Wii games, what about Xenoblade?
I'm not gonna bother saying the Square-Enix RPGs. We know by now they don't care at all, so no FFI, IV, VI, Chrono Trigger, etc. And third party is third party, though why not the Sonic Advance trilogy? Or at least Advance 1 which came out in Japan? I'll even take Sonic Battle at this point!
There are a lot of gaping holes, so saying the complaining isn't valid is a load of bull. There is no defending how NoA is doing these things when we've seen Europe get multiple VC titles in single weeks. The one with Advance Wars 2, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Ocarina of Time comes to mind, when NoA only got Ocarina (Advance Wars 2 did come later, but Shadow Dragon is still AWOL).
And please don't talk to me about Europe getting screwed over in the past. I'm well aware of it and it sucks. I'm glad NoE is doing better, but the fact is that both branches get screwed over compared to glorious Japan.
The Plague of Shadows DLC appears to not be available yet...
Plague is finally here! Now I know what I'll be playing this weekend. Maybe Year Walk as well. Always wanted to get it on ios but heard it was way better with the encyclopedia. The Wii U version combines them together, so that works nicely.
Car Battler Joe also looks intriguing...the older reviews are solid but I'll wait for a modern NL one.
@NoNameAtAll All of your issues with NOA's handling of the vc service seem reasonable to me. I know people are sick of negative comment's about the service, but compared to Wii vc, this gen has been a bit underwhelming in comparison.
RIP 3DS VC. Gone too soon...
I will get the Legend of Legacy demo...I hope it carries over to the full game.
Virtual Console is a dead horse Im tired of beating on. I've accepted that we aren't getting the games we really want digitally at the time we wish or are promised. Heck Mario 3 and a Link to The Past were both unfashionably late. Getting Super Metroid and F-Zero first for 30 cents before those was strange. Not complaining though. I'm sure Zero Mission will come to us around the time of Federation Force. As it is, both my Wii U and 3DS are packed with Virtual Console and backlog. Wanna see folders? I'm talking multiple full folders. I'm thankful my 3DS has all the Mario and Wario Lands, tons of Zelda and Mega Man, and even some obscures like Gargoyles Quest. Same for Wii U and Wii. I have Demon's Crest and both versions of Dracula X. Which is cool. I'd love to see Ghost Babel on 3DS. A lot of its backlog though.
Like somebody else said, lets be real. I played Mario Maker for days now, and I gotta force myself back into Metal Gear Solid V and Splatoon. My MH4U buddies are begging me to play, and I have to keep telling them I'm taking a break to play newer stuff.
I'll just be over here waiting for More Friends of Mineral Town. Anyone heard a specific release date yet ? Last I heard was just a general before the end of 2015.
@HopeNForever and not only NA got a physical release, it comes with CDs containing the OST.
Unfortunately we didn't got the special bundles that were sold at Europe or the Japanese ones that comes with SD miniatures of the characters.
@GabSt
"I hope we'll have Xenoblade before December".
That might be a problem considering it's release date is December 4th
@Superryanworld Yeah, I mean, I can understand the issues with third party VC. Gotta get those licenses and whatnot. Nintendo's the gatekeeper, but if they don't have the right to distribute, well...ouch.
But there is no excuse for their first and second party stuff.
@NoNameAtAll Agreed.
@Mus1cLov3r
Haha, thank you for the warning, but yeah, I knew what I was getting into. I've been on this site long enough to know how people are. Just calling it like I see it. It's just sad to see people generally unhappy, no matter what releases.
I find this list to be really hard to read compared to normal, mostly the sales. I also dislike that they do not show the sale price on some of those items.
@JaxonH
Your trolling me ? On your just forgot about the Xenoblade Chronicles on Wii ?
Nothing for me this week. I might pick up Year Walk in the future.
@GabSt
Trolling you lol? I don't troll people. I'm dead serious- Xenoblade X releases December 4. That's only a few months away
Excellent week for me. Year Walk isn't the kind of game I'm looking to play on a tablet, so it'll be a real treat for this Halloween season. Car Battler Joe gets an instant free pass into my VC collection... Nothing but love, Natsume! Free Shovel Knight is just a sweet bonus, don't even know when I'll get to play it, so it's looking like a full Shovel Knight replay is in order this winter... Can't wait.
Why does it say Senran Kagura 2 came out in the US as an eshop exclusive? The first one did, yeah, but 2 got a full physical release with the Double D edition. I do wish we'd gotten the UK Happy Boobs edition though.
That's 67% off.
Always happy to help
Does anyone know how much Xeodrifter and Mutant Mudds are?
When the heck are we getting Metroid Zero Mission?
Car Battler Joe was my crack back in the day.
No VCs. Really. At least I'm checking out Shantae for GBC it's awesome. I'm getting into that series. You all should check it out if you haven't.
@River3636 Funny you should mention Shantae. I just finished pirates curse and loved it. I'll be picking up the other titles in the series asap.
Got both Year Walk and Plague of Shadows DLC, and my local retailer will finally have Mario Maker tomorrow. It's gonna be a great weekend.
@ricklongo
<_< you are doing it wrong, you have to complain about nothing for you!
I got Plague of Shadows, of course. Shovel Knight is my favorite indie game, after all! I love it so far.
Is one person working on VC ports?
Oh, yay! Another title centered around zombies! Because that never gets old.
Shovel Knight DLC for me
I just checked the prices for the new themes. Surprise surprise, the price has gone up yet again. The two Pikachu themes are $3.49 (with tax) each!!! Wow. I bet Nintendo will go one better and make $10 themes in the near future.
Wtf has happened to the 3DS? I am disgusted with Nintendo and their so-called weekly download bs of next to nothing each week. No VC for at least 3 months straight. Only Sega gives us any love with the 3D classics.
@pikminfan22 You're in the US. I'm Canadian. With the crappy exchange rate it's $3.09 + 13% tax = $3.49.
@pikminfan22 I dunno why it's $2.49 for you then, unless you didn't check the theme shop for prices. It's $3.09 each in Ontario for the two Pikachu themes. Mewtwo is $2.49.
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