Donkey Kong 64 now available on Wii U Virtual Console

The classic title Donkey Kong 64 is now available to download on the Wii U Virtual Console. The game is priced at $8.00, just like all the other N64 re-releases on the eShop. It's safe to say that DK64 is one of the most wanted vintage titles, and fans have been clamoring for it's reappearance for quite some time.

The 3D platformer includes 5 playable characters, including the titular ape himself. Players are tasked with collecting hundreds of bananas and other items, many of which are quite difficult to reach. Each of the playable characters has their own unique set of moves and abilities, and you will need to make use of all them in order to achieve a rating of 101%.

Doing so is no easy task, and it will take you quite some time to collect everything, let alone beat the game. If you are a fan of collectathon platformers, DK64 should be right up your alley. Be warned, though, Donkey Kong 64 does have a reputation for overdoing the whole collecting thing, and it may be overwhelming for even the most hardcore gamers to play to completion. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of fun to be had for gamers of all ages.

I would like to point out that the arcade version of the original Donkey Kong game makes an appearance in playable form, which is a special treat since Nintendo has continuously re-released the inferior NES version many times over the years.

I would also like to point out that Jetpac, a classic game created by developer Rare back in the '80s, is also featured in Donkey Kong 64, and it makes an appearance in this Virtual Console re-release. It seems that any legal issues between Nintendo and Microsoft have been resolved, not that they were preventing the game from being re-released in an altered form.

If you're not familiar with the ape's first and only true 3D outing, you're in luck: You can watch a gameplay video after the break.

Review- GravBlocks+ (Wii U eShop)

Puzzle games have been around for decades. It seems as though the formula that is most appreciated (if not perfected) is the "match 3 by swapping 2 pieces" style popularized by Tetris Attack (aka Pokémon Puzzle League) years ago and, more recently, Bejeweled. GravBlocks+ enters the fray armed with a new gameplay mechanic; the ability to shift the gravitational pull of the game grid. This unique twist is activated by matching 3 "gravity blocks" (those which possess directional arrows rather than colored symbols). Hence the game's title, "GravBlocks+." So is this twist enough to make Sir Isaac Newton proud? Find out after the jump.

Donkey Kong Country trilogy now available on Wii U eShop

The first three Donkey Kong Country games have made a surprise appearance on the North American Wii U Virtual Console, and these SNES classics can be downloaded for $7.99 each. The 16-bit platformers are legendary for their high-quality graphics, and most critics seem to think the gameplay stands up pretty well even after all these years.

As you may remember, these gems were pulled from the Wii's digital store a while back without explanation. We still haven't heard Nintendo provide a reason for that puzzling decision, but who cares? The important thing here is that they are available for purchase once again, so grab them while you can.

Wii U eShop updates - 11/20/14 (North America)

The must-have title arrives on November 21st.

This is a massive week for the North American eShop, and for one simple reason: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will arrive on the digital store tomorrow. The brawler will easily be one of the best-selling titles for the console, if not the best-selling title.

Another triple-A game has arrived in the form of Watch Dogs. This new version allows players to use the GamePad's touchscreen to enhance the experience, and it will probably be one of the last major third-party games to see a release on the Big N's console.

There are also a few indie games and an addition to the Virtual Console, as well as some discounts to report. Details and links to videos after the break.

Wii U eShop updates - 11/13/14 (North America)

Mario Kart 8 just got better!

There's some activity on the North American Wii U eShop this week. There are three new indie games, a classic Mario Kart title has made its way to the Virtual Console, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric has arrived, and LEGO Batman 2 is now available on Nintendo's digital store. There are also some discounts worth noting, but the biggest news is undoubtedly the new Mario Kart 8 DLC. Details and links to videos after the break.

Wii U eShop updates - 11/6/14 (North America)

The award-winning title The Swapper has arrived.

This is yet another massive week for the North American Wii U eShop, as there are ten newcomers to the digital store. The highlights are The Swapper, an award-winning indie game; and Super Mario Advance, an enhanced version of the classic Super Mario Bros. 2. It's also worth noting that the digital versions of Sonic Lost World and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed have received permanent discounts. Due to the sheer number of releases this week, we will once again be posting links to videos on YouTube, rather than embedding them. Details and links after the break.

Nintendo Direct scheduled for tomorrow, November 5th

The Big N has announced there will be a new Nintendo Direct tomorrow, November 5th, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time/5 p.m. Eastern. There aren't any any specific details as to what will be shown, but we do know that it will focus on upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. You can watch the presentation at the appointed time (or afterward) via the link below.

http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/11-05-2014/

Wii U eShop updates - 10/30/14 (North America)

Stealth Inc. 2 is available exclusively on Wii U.

This is a massive week for the Wii U eShop: there are over ten newcomers. The majority of them are small indie games, but there are two names that really stand out: Stealth Inc. 2 and Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland. Due to the sheer number of games this week, we will be linking to gameplay videos on YouTube rather than embedding them as usual. Details and links after the break.

Wii U eShop updates - 10/23/14 (North America)

Bayonetta 1 and 2 are coming to Wii U tomorrow. You can get both games for the price of one.

This is a very big week for the North American Wii U eShop. Bayonetta 1 and 2 are going to arrive on the digital store tomorrow (and real store shelves too). Also, the Virtual Console version of Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow can be downloaded right now, complete with restore points. In addition, there are a couple of music-based titles which have just been released, and these are Just Dance 2015 and The Voice. Details after the break.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U Nintendo Direct scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd

The Big N has announced there will be a Nintendo Direct tomorrow, October 23rd, which will focus exclusively on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. As you can see from the image above, the presentation will begin at 3 PM Pacific Time/6 PM Eastern.

We don't have many details to go on, but the company has sent out a tweet which states the show will reveal 50 new things in the game.

Watch a live-stream event on 10/23 at 3 p.m. PT showing 50 new things in #SmashBros for #WiiU. http://t.co/k50A9Lq0h4
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 20, 2014

The Big N plans to reveal at least one new playable character tomorrow, and Director Masahiro Sakurai has posted the following message on Miiverse.

Of course, the 3DS version of the game was released last month, so we already know who's in and who's not, but we will not spoil the surprises for those who don't want to know yet.

You can watch the Nintendo Direct tomorrow via the following link:

http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct/10-23-2014/

Wii U eShop updates - 10/16/14 (North America)

The new Hyrule Warriors Master Quest DLC lets you ride Epona the horse, and it includes 3 new playable characters.

This is a very busy week for the North American Wii U eShop. Five modern games have arrived, the Game Boy Advance classic Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance is now on the Virtual Console, and the Master Quest Pack can be purchased by those who own Hyrule Warriors (the pack is DLC). There are also quite a few discounts to report. Details and videos after the break.

Wii U eShop updates - 10/9/14 (North America)

You can now download a free demo for this Wii U exclusive. 

A handful of new games are hitting the North American Wii U eShop this week. Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 will be released on October 14th, the demo for Bayonetta 2 can be downloaded for free right now, Art of Balance will provide puzzle fans with some physics-based challenges, Turtle Tale has arrived, and the Game Boy Advance classic Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is now available on the Virtual Console. Details and videos after the break.

Wii U eShop updates - 10/2/14 (North America)

Castlevania: Dracula X is now on the Virtual Console.
(Screenshot courtesy of The Video Game Museum - vgmuseum.com)

There are three newcomers to the Wii U eShop this week. The retro-style action game 99Seconds has just arrived, and an edutainment title called Red Riding Hood is now available to download as well. In addition, the SNES classic Castlevania: Dracula X just hit the digital store, and it appears quite a few gamers are looking forward to playing it. There are also a couple of discounts to report, one of which is permament. Details and videos after the break.

Super Smash Bros. Wii U Bundle now available for pre-order on Amazon

Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Super Smash Bros. Wii U Bundle which was announced earlier this year. For those of you who missed the announcement, this bundle includes a copy of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, a GameCube controller adapter, and a GameCube controller that sports the series' official logo. The bundle is currently listed for $99.99 on Amazon's US website.

Nintendo hasn't confirmed the official release date for the game, but they have stated it will come out in the fourth quarter of 2014. It seems like a safe bet that it will be in store shelves before the holiday season since the Big N is counting on the brawler to drive sales of their latest console.

The 3DS version is scheduled for release in North America on Friday, October 3rd, which is just one week from today. The reviews are already coming in for that edition, and they are looking good. As of now, it has a Metacritic average of 86 based on 30 reviews by critics.

You can check out the details of the Wii U Bundle on Amazon via the source link below.

Source: Super Smash Bros. Wii U Bundle - Amazon.com

Wii U eShop updates - 9/25/14 (North America)

Available tomorrow.

This is yet another busy week for the North American Wii U eShop. The biggest arrival is undoubtedly Hyrule Warriors, the Dynasty-Warriors spin-off set in the world of Zelda. It will be available starting tomorrow, September 26th.

There are also two new download-only titles and a classic GBA game on the Virtual Console. The name of the classic is Mario Golf: Advance Tour. That's not all! This is the fourth and final week of Nintendo's Smash Bros. Sale, which means you can get some awesome games for much cheaper than usual, including quite a few Donkey Kong titles, most notably Tropical Freeze! Details and videos after the break.

Blossom Tales could come to Wii U if Kickstarter succeeds

Indie developers Castle Pixel have announced their upcoming game Blossom Tales will come to the Wii U if the Kickstarter Campaign reaches its stretch goal. As you can see from the animated GIF image above, it bears quite a resemblance to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in both art style and gameplay.

The action RPG features a top-down view just like the classics it draws inspiration from, but it features some modern touches as well, including a Target-Lock system. Players will use said system to target specific enemies or lock on to the weak spots of bosses, and there appears to be a good number of weapons to use. In addition, spells will play a large role, as will puzzles.

As you would expect from an action RPG, there will be plenty of hand-crafted dungeons. However, the dungeons will combine pre-designed layouts with randomized areas, which is something you don't see very often in these types of games. It sounds like the developers have quite a few fresh ideas for a classic genre.

Unlike the Zelda games, Blossom Tales will feature a female protagonist, something that quite a few gamers have been clamoring for over the years. That's right, the knight you see in shining armor is a young woman. Here's a brief summary of the game's plot:

Always eager to hear stories of heroism and danger, the young Lily asks her Grandpa for another one of his delightful adventures. Unable to resist her adorable plea, the old storyteller begins his tale of a kingdom where a youthful warrior (also named Lily, of course!) had just been initiated into the esteemed Knights of the Rose. However, that same day the evil wizard Crocus placed the King into an everlasting sleep with one of his dreaded spells. Sworn to aid the crown at all costs, Lily must explore dark dungeons, face terrible creatures, and meet many peculiar characters all in hopes of finding the mystical ingredients capable of forming a cure for the King. The future of the Kingdom of Blossom rests on her shoulders!

Blossom Tales is currently in development for PC with a planned release scheduled for 2015. A Wii U version would likely hit the eShop some time afterward. As of this writing, the Kickstarter has 27 days to go, and it has already raised a significant amount of cash. You can find much more info and screenshots via the source link below. Trailer after the break.

Source: Kickstarter

GravBlocks+ coming to Wii U soon

The new Story Mode features aliens.

From Nothing Game Studios have announced that GravBlocks+ is coming to the Wii U very soon. According to an e-mail we received from their staff, they are now putting the finishing touches on the indie title, and their targeted release window is October 2014.

GravBlocks+ is an enhanced version of the original game which was released on Android a little while ago. As you can tell from the screenshot above, it is a match-three puzzle game. While there are quite a few of those, this one boasts some unique gameplay elements, and it also features more modes than the average puzzler.

Here's the description from the official website:

GravBlocks is both a falling-block puzzle game (like Tetris) and a match-three puzzle game (like Pokemon Puzzle League, Bejeweled), but is also drastically different than either of those titles.  The most unique aspect of GravBlocks is the aptly named Gravity Blocks.  Aligning three of these blocks facing the same direction will alter gravity to that direction.  So if you align three “left arrow” Gravity Blocks, then the gravity will shift to the left side of the screen, and the left wall now becomes the floor, with the opposite wall being the new ceiling where blocks drop in.

In the most basic aspect of the game (and also the original gameplay mode), players change gravity in order to build score multipliers, but must do it carefully!  The walls contain hazards, and the higher the difficulty level and the longer the player plays, the more Destruction Hazards there will be to contend with!  Dropping blocks into these Hazards resets the score Multiplier.

In order to survive this ordeal, players use Wild Blocks to temporarily close all the Hazards (for about 12 seconds) so that they can change gravity safely.  There are also Bomb Blocks which will destroy all of one (or more, if you’re really clever) block type onscreen at once.

The Wii U version of GravBlocks features five gameplay modes, including a new Story Mode. For more details and screenshots, you can check out the official website via the source link below. Trailer after the break.

Source: fromnothinggamestudios.com

Wii U eShop updates - 9/18/14 (North America)

Arrow Time U.

There are just three new games on the North American Wii U eShop this month. They are Arrow Time U, SPIKEY WALLS, and Wild Guns. The first two are modern titles, while the third is an old Super NES classic. In addition, there are some sales on certain first-party Nintendo titles in honor of Super Smash Bros. Details and videos after the break.