This week in the Nintendo eShop: Theftropolis gets a surge in crime, slimes worm their way out of gargantuan digestive tracts and a bunch of surprise Arcade titles strike on Switch.
Our discount cups runneth over in today’s exciting eShop update! Nintendo’s patented pink ball of puff is headlining a feast of sales for the next week on both 3DS and Wii U, featuring some of Planet Pop Star’s finest offerings at a 25% discount. If you haven’t already picked up Planet Robobot, it comes highly recommended by the gluttonous cream puff’s biggest fan, Ricky Berg. To be honest, you can’t go wrong when it comes to a Kirby title. Just be sure to gobble them all up before they’re gone on August 8th.
There’s also a single sale on the Switch happening as we speak! The Chrono Trigger inspired RPG adventure I Am Setsuna is 33% off for a full week. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning and even more Switch discounts start to trickle in soon.
SWITCH DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE
Retro City Rampage DX (Vblank Entertainment, $14.99) – The game that’s been ported to every possible platform under the sun returns for one final heist on the Nintendo Switch today. Take a retro trip back to 1989 in this open world, GTA inspired crime drama about a psychopath hellbent on taking out his rage on unsuspecting and innocent bystanders. While I’m personally a big fan of its pixel presentation, ‘80s pop culture references and many throwbacks to NES classics, I always found the repetitively difficult missions and deliberately absurd narrative a bit of a turnoff. Still, its portability here on Switch is perfect for short bursts of cathartic chaos, especially if you’ve yet to wreak havoc on the streets of Theftroplois.
Slime-san (Fabraz, $11.99) – Slime-san is a twitchy, lightning-quick platformer about a gelatinous pile o’ goop’s escape from the digestive system of a gigantic worm. Throughout this perilous journey players jump, slide and slime their way through hundreds of obstacle laden stages, all the while avoiding the rising tide of the relentless invertebrate’s deadly stomach acid. Pixel precise controls, catchy chiptune tracks and a gorgeous crayon-colored aesthetic make this anatomical voyage through hell and back pop, not to mention a must-play experience for genre enthusiasts new and old — especially fans of Team Meat’s notoriously difficult and masterfully molded mascot Super Meat Boy.
Use Your Words (Smiling Buddha Games, LLC, $14.99) – Previously released back in April while the Wii U was on its deathbed, Use Your Words finally finds new life on the platform everyone’s been clamoring for. Touted as a party game for funny people and their unfunny friends, Use Your Words invites players to respond to various mini-games and prompts with the most hilarious answers they can think of. Think Cards against Humanity, but with the player shouldering the burden of dreaming up witty quips over punchlines being handed to you. The game supports all HTML5-enabled devices, meaning anyone with a cell phone can jump in seamlessly for up to six player multiplayer mayhem. Cheesy, self-aware commercial aside, the game looks like a blast for frequent party hosters and lovers of clever word play.
Puzzle Adventure Blockle (Intense Co. Ltd., $7.99) – This rotating puzzle game will leave your head spinning as you twist and turn through its 100+ dizzying stages. Similar to the (unnecessarily) nonsensical stories found in games like the Puyo Puyo series, players embark on a puzzling adventure alongside mystical talking animals and bafflingly buxom beauties, because why not? Don’t ask me — I’m personally still trying to figure out what exactly a blockle is and whether it can be used as a measurement for cheese. Nevertheless, the game’s presentation and puzzles seem charming enough, appropriately ratcheting up the difficulty in unique and clever ways. I just wish it didn’t have such a “built for smartphones” feel to it.
Arcade Archives – Aero Fighters 2 (Hamster Corporation, $7.99) – This week’s Neo Geo fix features fearless fighter jets in intense vertical-scrolling shoot ‘em up action. While sometimes criticized for slowdown issues and a complete lack of originality, the 1994 shooter contains more than its fair share of quirky humor and outlandish boss battles to keep things fresh. After all, how many games do you know contain a detective baby and dolphin named Spanky expertly piloting F-14 Tomcats? Couple that with fun weapons, crisp controls and gripping gameplay, and you’re left with one bullet-hell hallmark you won’t want to miss.
Strikers 1945 (Zerodiv, $7.99) – Aero Fighters 2 isn’t the only old school shoot ‘em up striking the Nintendo eShop today. Taking place during World War II, players pilot one of six planes loosely based on the actual aircrafts from that era, providing a great deal of replayability. Other than that small tidbit, there isn’t much that sets Strikers apart from its arcade brethren. Enemies swarm the screen in droves, brightly colored bullets need to be expertly dodged and the weaponry is equal parts creative and destructive. Interestingly enough, this one’s not being released as part of the Arcade Archives line via the good folks over at Hamster Corporation, so don’t expect the same slew of updated features to be implemented. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a fairly by-the-books shooter that sticks firmly to genre conventions, Psikyo’s got your back.
Gunbarich (Zerodiv, $7.99) – Today’s second surprise release of Psikyo shooters is Gunbarich: a quirky mix of vertical-scrolling shmups and various puzzle elements — most notably borrowed from classic brick breaking and pinball games. Of the arcade games on tap today this by far looks to be the most interesting, featuring fast-paced action and a whimsically colorful aesthetic that’s difficult not to fawn over. There’s surprisingly little info than that to be found spread across the vastness of the interweb, other than the fact it was originally released in Japanese arcades back in 2001. Feel free to check out some Switch gameplay footage (below) to see if it’s just what the doctor ordered.
SWITCH ADD-ON CONTENT
Blaster Master Zero – EX Character: Shovel Knight (Inti Creates, $1.99 | Free until 8/16) – Shovel Knight digs his way through the underground this week as the next playable character in EX Character Mode! Enact shovel justice on thine enemies with the azure adventurer’s trusty Shovel Blade and use your Magic Meter to unleash all manner of rusty reliced weaponry. Remember, in an act of chivalry the blue-plated protector is free to one and all between now and August 16th, so make sure to boot up the game and add the horned hero to your collection today. Don’t do it for me, do it for shovelry!
3DS DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE
VoxelMaker (Nostatic Software, $4.99) – Can’t get enough of that stylized blocky look of games like Minecraft or Crossy Road? Enter VoxelMaker: a 3D modeler budding game artists and designers can fit in their back pockets. Thanks to a fully-featured suite of intuitive tools that make clever use of both buttons and touch controls, making 3D pixel art is a snap. Just don’t expect to concoct full-fledged video games or short films, as there’s virtually no interactivity beyond simple creation. Think of it like building Lego dioramas: there’s no means of exploring or animating your work beyond snapshots of whatever scene you’ve set up. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but something to be wary of lest you set high hopes for your five dollar investment.
3DS ADD-ON CONTENT
Blaster Master Zero – EX Character: Shovel Knight (Inti Creates, $1.99 | Free until 8/16) – Shovel Knight digs his way through the underground this week as the next playable character in EX Character Mode! Enact shovel justice on thine enemies with the azure adventurer’s trusty Shovel Blade and use your Magic Meter to unleash all manner of rusty reliced weaponry. Remember, in an act of chivalry the blue-plated protector is free to one and all between now and August 16th, so make sure to boot up the game and add the horned hero to your collection today. Don’t do it for me, do it for shovelry!
WII U DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE
Flight of Light (Crystalline Green Ltd., $8.00) – Prepare to fly through whimsical worlds alongside funky fresh beats in this futuristic rhythm racer! At its core, Flight of Light combines a vivid aesthetic with an uplifting soundtrack to create a unique rhythm busting experience unlike any other. High score chasing is the name of the game as you leave a trail of stars and streams of color in your wake, all while collecting points and speed boosts. It even features split-screen local multiplayer modes for support up to five friends to tear up the track. It looks promising for genre enthusiasts in need of some speed, even for those who have already moved on from the flailing Wii U. (Though it’s worth mentioning Steam is also an option).
SPECIAL OFFERS AND DEALS
[Switch] I Am Setsuna ($26.79 | 33% off) until 8/10
[3DS] Kirby: Planet Robobot ($29.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[3DS] Kirby: Triple Deluxe ($14.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[3DS] 3D Classics: Kirby’s Adventure ($5.24 | 25% off) until 8/8
[3DS] Kirby’s Dream Land ($2.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[3DS] Kirby’s Dream Land 2 ($2.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[3DS] Fairune ($1.99 | 33% off) until 8/10
[3DS] Ambition of the Slimes ($3.00 | 40% off) until 8/17
[3DS] Azada ($1.99 | 66% off) until 8/17
[3DS] Coaster Creator 3D ($5.99 | 25% off) until 8/9
[3DS] Big Bass Arcade: No Limit ($3.49 | 30% off) until 8/9
[3DS] Tappingo ($1.99 | 33% off) until 8/10
[3DS] League of Heroes ($2.49 | 50% off) until 8/10
[3DS] Monster Shooter ($2.00 | 50% off) until 8/10
[3DS] Crazy Kangaroo ($0.99 | 50% off) until 8/10
[3DS] Power Disc Slam ($1.49 | 70% off) until 8/17
[Wii U] Kirby’s Return to Dream Land ($14.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby’s Adventure ($3.74 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby Super Star ($5.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby’s Dream Land 3 ($5.99 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby & The Amazing Mirror ($5.24 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards ($7.49 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Kirby Squeak Squad ($7.49 | 25% off) until 8/8
[Wii U] Ohayou! Beginner’s Japanese ($3.99 | 20% off) until 8/11
[Wii U] Citadale – The Legends Trilogy ($4.95 | 45% off) until 9/7
[Wii U] Rorrim ($2.75 | 50% off) until 9/7
[Wii U] ZaciSa’s Last Stand ($0.74 | 50% off) until 8/17
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!
Written by Matthew Weidner
When it comes to playing and writing about video games, Matthew aspires to be the very best, like no one ever was. Writing for Nintendo Wire and the thought of one day finally achieving a perfect, no death Super Meat Boy run fills him with determination.
