This week in the Nintendo eShop: Samus warms the bench in Metroid Prime: Federation Force, you finally pass Gracie’s fashion check in Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, and more Pokémon become enslaved in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs.

In celebration of the last days of summer, Nintendo’s throwing a Summer Savings sale event featuring discounts up to 30% off select games, most notably The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Super Mario 3D Land. Don’t wait too long to jump on these deals, as they’ll only be available until 8:59 a.m. PT on September 1st.

The fun doesn’t stop there as there’s plenty more great deals in the eShop this week! Cave Story, an underrated gem of a game that you most definitely need to play right now, is currently 30% off until the end of the month. Fans of disturbingly charming roguelikes and infuriatingly difficult platformers might be interested to learn that The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and 1001 Spikes are also seeing moderate discounts on your choice of Wii U or 3DS – both just under $10 each!

Don’t forget about last week’s Sega 3D classics sale which unfortunately didn’t quite kick off on time, but is now in full swing! Until August 29th, get 50% off on some of Sega’s most cherished titles, including Out Run, Gunstar Heroes and Streets of Rage 2!

WII U DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

PONCHO (Rising Star Games, $9.99) – PONCHO is a pixelated parallax platformer that should feel right at home to 16-bit console fans. Taking heavy inspiration from Fez, players move between the foreground, midground and background with the simple tap of a button: a clever gameplay mechanic that emphasizes 3D thinking in a 2D space. Storywise, the game’s titular robotic protagonist awakes to find that all of humanity has mysteriously disappeared from the world. Armed with nothing more than the Poncho on his back, our intrepid hero sets out into a world on the brink of collapse in an attempt to find both answers and a means to save the planet. Despite its steep learning curve, slight pacing issues and a nagging feeling that it would have been better suited on the 3DS, PONCHO is a rewarding puzzle platforming experience that’s well worth a spot in any retro gamer’s digital library.

Armikrog (Versus Evil, $8.99 | available 8/23) – Armikrog is an incredibly unique stop-motion, clay-animated, point-and-click adventure game from the creators of Earthworm Jim and The Neverhood. Players unravel the mysteries of the fortress that holds Tommynaut and his blind alien talking dog Beak-Beak captive through exploration and puzzle solving. As a spiritual successor of sorts, it never quite lives up to the legendary status cemented by its predecessor. Despite this unfortunate fact, lovable characters, a beautifully clay-molded world and a rich cast of voice-over talent (including Rob Paulsen of Pinky and the Brain fame) are more than enough to keep the magic alive for the duration of its three to four hour adventure and is not to be missed by die-hard fans of the genre.

Blasting Agent: Ultimate Edition (Ratalaika Games, $2.99) – Hungry for even more pixelated platforming goodness? Originally released back in 2009 as a flash game, this classic run ‘n’ gun inspired platformer has been retouched, tweaked and cleaned up to provide the definitive experience for all your retro needs. An international terrorist group known as The Black Hand of Fate has constructed a secret base within the heart of a volcano (as all criminal masterminds do). It’s up to you, a Blasting Agent – presumably named as such given your penchant for obliterating the faces off of your enemies – to fight back a massive army of bio-engineered soldiers and genetic creatures hellbent on taking over the world. Despite its somewhat campy title, the game itself actually looks pretty fun, especially given its affordable price tag.

Adventure Party: Cats and Caverns (E-Regular Games LLC, $12.99) – While at first glance the name alone had me admittedly skeptical and rolling my eyes, that tune quickly changed upon further research. In an attempt to make old school tabletop RPGs more accessible, Adventure Party aims to provide a similar experience without all the time consuming setup synonymous with the genre. Think Dungeons & Dragons, though simplified and much more visual. Using the Wii U GamePad, the Storyteller (or Dungeon Master) controls the world and interacts with the other players (the adventuring party) through villagers, shop keeps, enemies, or just about anyone else you can think of. If you’re like me and always wanted to try tabletop games but couldn’t rope enough friends together into joining in on the fun, Adventure Party might just prove to be the perfect gateway drug.

MikroGame: Rotator (Studio de la Torre, $1.99) – With very little information currently in circulation, it’s hard to really understand how this game plays. Given a few scattered screenshots and a brief synopsis by the developers written in broken english (does Nintendo not edit the descriptions they publish on their own site?) we can ascertain that this is a new type of platforming game with some arcade influences. High score chasing is the main driving point as you press the correct button combinations to successfully leap to the next safe zone in a room rotating with platforms. Looks kind of cool and trippy, so give it a spin if you feel like taking a gamble.

Collateral Thinking (Astrosaurus Games, $2.99) – Featuring retro-style action platforming through 100+ quickfire stages, Collateral Thinking takes heavy inspiration from old school Nintendo games. A blend of the core floor-climbing and obstacle navigation elements of Donkey Kong with the single-screen enemy hunting aspects of the original Mario Bros., players work their way through multiple floors of a tower under construction – each one boasting a unique set of tasks to advance. Couple that with elements of impulsive unpredictability reminiscent of the WarioWare series and you’ve got yourself a nostalgic recipe for success. While I can’t say the game looks visually appealing, I’ve got tremendous respect for what the developer’s tried to create here. Here’s hoping it lives up to the lofty expectations it set for itself.

Word Logic by POWGI (Lightwood Games, $9.99) – Put down that Sunday paper and pick up your Wii U GamePad as the brilliant minds over at Lightwood Games have returned to fulfill all your crossword puzzle needs! Featuring six brand new word games of logic and deduction, you’ll be solving murder cases and acing local spelling bees in no time. Personally I’ve never been the biggest fan of word games, but this looks to be a decent compilation of puzzles that will truly put your deductive reasoning skills to the test.

Ziggurat (Milkstone Studios, $14.99) – Ziggurat is a first-person, dungeon-crawling roguelike that sets players leaping and sprinting through a procedurally generated labyrinth as they blast magic in the faces of mythical creatures. Like most roguelikes the game itself is exceptionally short, though there’s plenty of challenge and variety in gameplay to keep players engaged well beyond their first playthrough, the most noteworthy being an abundance of unlockable perks and characters. Everything from the map, to the types of enemies, to the weapons that can be found differ with each playthrough, assuring that no two experiences are alike. Anyone who’s played The Binding of Isaac knows what to expect and will surely find plenty to love here.

WII U VIRTUAL CONSOLE

Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs (Nintendo, $9.99) – The third installment in the action-packed Pokémon Ranger series lets players take on the role of a Pokémon Ranger tasked with protecting Pokémon, people, and nature in the Oblivia region. Investigate the nefarious actions of the Pokémon Pinchers, who have been disrupting the peace by chasing and catching Pokémon. Shaking things up from its predecessors, there are now a range of different Pokémon types to collect thanks to new environmental additions such as aerial and underwater sections. Despite gameplay being often superseded by lengthy fits of dialogue, Guardian Signs is often considered the best of the Pokémon Ranger games thanks to its sharp looking visuals and the ability to summon Legendary Pokémon.

WII U SPECIAL OFFERS AND DEALS

Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash ($34.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass ($6.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Swords & Soldiers II ($9.99 | 50% off) until 9/1
Super Mario Galaxy ($13.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Zelda II – The Adventure of Link ($3.49 | 30% off) until 9/1
Super Mario Bros. ($3.49 | 30% off) until 9/1
Yoshi’s Island DS ($6.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Rayman Legends ($19.99 | 50% off) until 9/1
Dr. Luigi ($10.49 | 30% off) until 9/1
Just Dance 2015 ($15.00 | 50% off) until 9/1
Human Resource Machine ($7.49 | 25% off) until 9/1
Lovely Planet ($6.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations ($14.00 | 30% off) until 9/1
Mighty Switch Force! 2 ($4.19 | 30% off) until 9/1
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse ($13.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty ($9.99 | 50% off) until 9/1
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth ($9.99 | 33% off) until 8/29
1001 Spikes ($9.99 | 33% off) until 8/29
Nano Assault NEO ($7.49 | 25% off) until 8/25
Trine Enchanted Edition ($8.99 | 40% off) until 8/29
Trine 2: Director’s Cut ($11.99 | 40% off) until 8/29
Queen’s Garden ($5.99 | 14% off) until 9/1
99Moves ($0.99 | 60% off) until 9/15
Explody Bomb ($0.89 | 10% off) until 9/1
Hold Your Fire: A Game About Responsibility ($0.99 | 50% off) until 9/1
Tilelicious: Delicious Tiles ($1.99 | 66% off) until 8/24
Art of Balance ($6.70 | 25% off) until 9/8
Inside My Radio ($9.49 | 36% off) until 9/1
Hot Rod Racer ($1.49 | 50% off) until 9/1
U Host ($7.90 | 38% off) until 8/15
The Perplexing Orb ($0.99 | 75% off) until 8/19
Pixel Slime U ($2.00 | 33% off) until 9/28
Tap Tap Arcade ($1.25 | 37% off) until 9/28
Wicked Monsters BLAST! HD+ ($4.99 | 37% off) until 8/31
STEEL RIVALS ($4.99 | 28% off) until 8/25
Midnight 2 ($1.59 | 20% off) until 8/25

Check Nintendo’s website for the full list of deals available.

3DS RETAIL

Metroid Prime: Federation Force (Nintendo, $39.99 | available 8/19) – Abandoning its traditional roots in favor of a more cooperative multiplayer experience, Federation Force is a sci-fi shooter where players enlist in the Galactic Federation to help eliminate the growing Space Pirate threat in four-player local or online squads. Despite its grand deviation from the series’ themes of isolation and exploration, I’m intrigued to see Nintendo’s take on Monster Hunter inspired gameplay set in the Metroid Universe. While it may not be the Metroid game fans wanted, it’s sure to provide some amusement while we eagerly await Samus’ next intergalactic adventure.

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward (Nintendo, $39.99 | available 8/19) – The world is your runway in this fun and fully outfitted fashion game! Become a trendsetting stylist in Beaumonde City (I see what you did there) as you design your own clothing lines and compete in fashion contests online against friends and frenemies alike! Best of all? The game is compatible with amiibo, which lets you unlock themed clothing from various Nintendo icons like Mario, Zelda and Samus.

3DS DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

Power Disc Slam (Chequered Cow Games, $7.49) – I’ll be honest, my first inclination when reading the title of this game was to assume it was a digital rendition of Pogs. Instead, it’s a Frankenstein’s Monster of ultimate frisbee, soccer, tennis and pretty much any other sport you can think of, inspired by the Neo Geo classic Windjammers. While its blocky visual aesthetic leaves a lot to be desired, gameplay looks fairly decent with a variety of different game modes to choose from. You can even play matches against others online, which is more than I can say for most games that make it onto the eShop. Don’t slam it before you’ve tried it.

Blasting Agent: Ultimate Edition (Ratalaika Games, $2.99) – Didn’t you read the description for the Wii U? If blasting the smug smiles off a bunch of cyborg’s faces Contra style sounds like your cup of tea, be sure to give this charmingly retro inspired platformer a whirl. Personally, it seems like it would be better suited for a portable experience, so I won’t fault you for skipping the Wii U section entirely.

Kingdom’s Item Shop (CIRCLE Entertainment, $5.00) – Ever wondered where all those potions and elixirs come from when adventuring through the slums of Midgar or the ruins of Zanarkand? Now you don’t have to, because starting today you can simulate running your very own item shop in a fantasy role-playing game universe! As the new owner of an item shop, it’s your goal to run a profitable business and become the most popular storefront in the entire Kingdom. Explore dungeons for ingredients, compose recipes, concoct items and sell your wares to adventurers in need of supplies. Personally I love the spin of playing as the merchant of an RPG epic rather than the hero, so here’s hoping this little gem is worth the five bucks of admission.

Touch Battle Ninja (Agetec, $4.99) – Battle your way through 80 demon-filled stages as either the Ninja of Strength or the Skilled Female Ninja in this arcade inspired hack ‘n’ slash adventure game. As the name implies, the stylus becomes your sword, used to aim and attack enemies on screen while moving around the arena freely with the Circle Pad. While the control scheme seems simple and intuitive enough, I simply can’t get over the lack of polish in the game’s visual design. Bland, uninspired environments and blocky character models plague what could have been a fun and addictive experience. Most frustratingly, every stage feels padded with minor layout adaptations that merely simulate variety. Presentation may not be everything in video games, but it’s difficult to become fully immersed when it’s left as an afterthought.

Word Logic by POWGI (Publisher, $9.99) – The same exact game being offered on Wii U, Word Logic by POWGI features six brand new word games centered around the themes of logic and deduction. Personally, anything made by Lightwood Games feels better suited for the 3DS given its portability and pick-up-and-play nature. Puzzle aficionados looking to bump their IQs up a notch might want to take note and add this to their growing digital libraries.

NEW 3DS DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE

Brick Race (RCMADIAX, $1.49) – Of all the games needing the New Nintendo 3DS exclusive moniker, I never thought anything developed by RCMADIAX would make the cut. After all, they are known best for ripping off existing genres, stripping them down to their most core gameplay elements, and slapping on an infuriatingly shallow art style in the name of making a quick buck. Yet beyond all logic and reason, I sit here dumbfounded at how a game can both look and play exactly like Atari’s Street Racer, yet can’t run properly on standard 3DS models. Needless to say, steer clear from this one.

3DS HOME MENU THEMES

Style Savvy: My Room – $1.99
Monster Hunter Generations Hunter’s Journey – $1.99
Monster Hunter Generations The Fated Four – $1.99
Ashley’s Recipe – $1.99

3DS SPECIAL OFFERS AND DEALS

Super Mario Bros. 3 ($3.49 | 30% off) until 9/1
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds ($27.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Super Mario 3D Land ($20.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations ($14.00 | 30% off) until 9/1
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash ($20.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Pushmo ($4.89 | 30% off) until 9/1
Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning ($20.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move ($6.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Kersploosh! ($2.09 | 30% off) until 9/1
Yumi’s Odd Odyssey ($13.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Mighty Switch Force! 2 ($4.19 | 30% off) until 9/1
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse ($13.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
The LEGO Movie Videogame ($13.99 | 30% off) until 9/1
Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure ($13.99, $19.99) until 9/1
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked ($9.99 | 66% off) until 8/29
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers ($9.99 | 66% off) until 8/29
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl ($9.99 | 66% off) until 8/22
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight ($34.99 | 30% off) until 8/22
Stella Glow ($29.99 | 40% off) until 8/22
Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars ($9.99 | 66% off) until 9/5
Cave Story ($6.99 | 30% off) until 8/29
Ikachan ($3.99 | 20% off) until 8/29
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth ($9.99 | 33% off) until 8/29
1001 Spikes ($9.99 | 33% off) until 8/29
3D After Burner II ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Ecco the Dolphin ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Gunstar Heroes ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Out Run ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Space Harrier ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Streets of Rage ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Streets of Rage 2 ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
3D Super Hang-On ($2.99 | 50% off) until 8/29
Grinsia ($6.99 | 30% off) until 8/29
AeternoBlade ($4.99 | 66% off) until 8/31
3D Game Collection ($4.99 | 16%) until 9/1
Darts Up 3D ($0.99 | 33% off) until 9/15
Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX ($4.99 | 37% off) until 9/15
Carps & Dragons ($2.49 | 50% off) until 9/16
Classic Games Overload: Card & Puzzle Edition ($14.99 | 50% off) until 9/6
4 Elements ($0.99 | 83% off) until 12/29
Azada ($0.99 | 83% off) until 12/29
Brunch Panic ($2.79 | 30% off) until 9/1
Sweet Memories – Blackjack ($2.79 | 30% off) until 9/1
Crazy Construction ($2.49 | 50% off) until 8/25
Chain Blaster ($3.49 | 50% off) until 8/25
Crazy Kangaroo ($0.99 | 50% off) until 8/31
League of Heroes ($2.49 | 50% off) until 8/31
ASH ($2.79 | 30% off) until 8/25
MY PETS ($9.99 | 70% off) until 9/9
Runny Egg ($1.39 | 30% off) until 8/26
Ninja Battle Heroes ($2.10 | 30% off) until 8/26
Sadame ($7.99 | 46% off) until 8/25

Check Nintendo’s website for the full list of deals available.

What games will you be downloading this week? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

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