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.

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

A Rite from the Stars will come to Wii U if Kickstarter succeeds

Indie developer Risin' Goat have announced their game A Rite from the Stars will come to the Wii U if its Kickstarter campaign succeeds. The Madrid-based studio is seeking $40,000, and they have already raised over $3,000 dollars since the campaign was launched a mere two days ago.

A Rite from the Stars is a point-and-click adventure game which features cartoon-style graphics, which is not seen very often in other games of the genre. Many have praised the aesthetics as a refreshing departure from the realistic and gritty visuals of other similar games.

Players will take control of Kirm, a mute boy from the Makoa Tribe, as they guide him through the exotic and dangerous environment of "The Mystical Island of Kaikala." Kirm will solve puzzles as he progresses through the adventure, and the developers have promised there will be no pixel hunts or pointless walking, which are two issues that have held back other point-and-click games.

Here are a few excerpts from the official Kickstarter:

You play as Kirm, a mute boy from the Makoa Tribe. Although every Makoa child must overcome a rite of passage to leave their childhood behind, Kirm's one will be harder. Because he has been chosen by the Stars. In order to become not only a man, but a legend among his peers, he will have to master three paths.

These three paths are Wisdom, Courage and Spirit. Every one features a special mechanic and poses different kinds of challenges.

Wisdom is, of course, about the mind. Kirm will have to think sharp to go through an Ancient Temple full of traps. In this path, Kirm will be able to pick up items and carry them within each temple room. However, there is no inventory, so he will only be able to carry one at a time.

The Kickstarter page goes on to say that each path can be completed in any order, and a Final Trial will await the player after the three paths are completed. If would like to read more about the game and make a pledge, you can do so via this link to Kickstarter.

Risin' Goat has put together a pitch video which introduces the development team and shows some gameplay footage. For those of you who are interested, you can watch it after the break.

Soon Shine coming to Wii U eShop

Indie developer Dahku Creations have announced they are bringing their game Soon Shine to the Wii U eShop. The game sees players fighting off hordes of spirits that hunger for the energy of the sun and moon, and it's played entirely on the GamePad's touchscreen.

Here's a brief description from the official website:

Ravenous spirits have awakened! With the power of the sun and moon at your fingertips, draw them in with your energy and send them packing with a good jab! Simple swipe and tap controls will get you started, but you'll need speed and strategy if you want to build killer combos and keep climbing in this fast and frantic action puzzle game!

Soon Shine is all about simple, score-racking fun, but there's more to this game than meets the eye. Aiming high in various play modes, snagging useful items in the shop, and acquiring new backdrops and music tracks all help keep the experience fresh as the addictive gameplay keeps you coming back for more!

The two-man crew behind the game has informed us that they have submitted the final build to Nintendo, and it will be released after the Big N gives it their metaphorical stamp of approval. The indie title could be released as soon as mid-August and will be priced at $1.99 in the US.

Dahku Creations is the same team that developed Chubbins, which was released on the Wii U eShop earlier this year. The platformer received a very positive review from our own Jake "The King of Video Games."

You can find a trailer for Soon Shine after the break.

Source: Dakhu Creations

Wii U eShop updates - 6/5/14 (North America)

The North American Wii U eShop has quite a few newcomers this week. Three indie games have arrived, including the retro-inspired 1001 Spikes, the cute and challenging platformer Chubbins, and the endless runner I've got to Run! In addition, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console, and How to Train Your Dragon 2 will be coming soon. Details and videos after the break.

Chubbins sent to Nintendo for approval, could be on Wii U eShop in June

Two-man indie developer Dahku Creations have announced that the Wii U version of their game Chubbins is complete and has been submitted to Nintendo for approval. If all goes according to plan, the 2D platformer could be on the eShop as soon as June of this year.

We're excited to announce that our platforming title "Chubbins" for the Wii U eShop has recently been completed and sent off to Nintendo for approval! Pending how the process goes we're now hoping for a June release with a price point of $5.99.

Chubbins was originally released on iOS devices, and has been ported to Nintendo's console with enhanced graphics. The object of the game is to guide the titular hero through 40 levels spread across 5 worlds. Here's a synopsis from the official website:

Guide our plump bunny hero, Chubbins, safely through 40 memorable levels across 5 increasingly challenging worlds! The controls are super simple--just move left and right. Stay on your toes though! Chubbins never stops bouncing, keeping every situation dynamic and making for interesting gameplay scenarios.

After conquering each world's unique boss battle, go back to perfect your route and reflexes and set new records in both Soft and Hard Modes, and master each level individually in Time Attack!

The iOS version of Chubbins was recently reviewed by gaming site Touch Arcade, and received a favorable score. With a total of 5 stars possible, Dahku's platformer received a solid 3.5, earning it a recommendation. You can read the review here.

If you would like to read more about the game, you can visit the official website via the link below. You can find the official Wii U trailer after the break.

Official Site: Chubbins - Dahku.com

Hover: Revolt of Gamers coming to Wii U

French indie developer Fusty Game has announced via Twitter that its new game Hover: Revolt of Gamers is coming to the Wii U this year, in addition to PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Xbox One. The unique title is a futuristic racing game in which players use parkour to traverse Hover-City, as they try to reclaim their video game consoles. It runs on the Unity engine, which is very popular among developers.

Hover seems to have drawn some inspiration from the Dreamcast classic Jet Set Radio, specifically the art style. Interestingly, Fusty has even hired Jet Set Radio's composer to write the score. The gameplay of the indie title bears some resemblance to Mirror's Edge, another parkour-based game which featured plenty of platforming, but it appears this game will place the focus on movement rather than combat.

Here's a brief synopsis from the official Facebook page:

Currently in development since November 2013 and based on new technologies like the "Oculus Rift", it takes place in a 3D futuristic open world. The new Mayor of Hover-City is prohibiting video games and all sorts of entertainment. Anyone catched in such a act would be send to hard labour.

You play the "Gamers". They created the Resistance to help citizen to get back their consoles, create a diversion among the Cops while others are hacking the Mayor propaganda . In front of Non Playing Characters and other players in multiplayer you have to show your skills (speed race, triks, agility, speed hacking, diversions...). Other Gamers will join you during the adventure. Try to become the leader of the Resistance!

The development team has already put together a video preview showing off a glimpse of some early gameplay footage. Video after the break.

Source: Facebook, Twitter

Space Pioneer being developed by real astronauts, Kickstarter seeking funds

Space Enigma Studios is currently working on an ambitious game called Space Pioneer, and they plan on bringing it to the Wii U. The development team consists of world famous astronauts, engineers, designers, programmers, artists and architects who are determined to create the most immersive virtual representation of our universe ever. The indie developer says that the game is "best described as a space sim, with real time strategy and city building mechanics."

Here's a brief synopsis of the game from the official Kickstarter page:

 Space Pioneer focuses on interstellar exploration; it is partially based on images and resources from the Hubble telescope, ESA/NASA, and numerous well known observatories. The player will be able to pilot a fully customizable spaceship into the vast regions of our universe and can colonize other planets beyond our solar system. In addition, he or she can research different scientifically accurate theories to upgrade their spaceship, build vast space stations and terra-form inhospitable planets.

The game's concept sounds very intriguing as well:

      The player’s character is introduced as a cadet in the Academy of Astronauts within the Global Space Agency. He or she is part of a routine training expedition on the desert like planet of Gliese 581 D. He/she, along with a number of other cadets, are on a scouting ship – when they notice that in front of them lies the unmistakable relic that is an Apollo module – which cannot be anywhere near as far away from earth as it is! At this point, the cadet remembers that he has heard other astronauts mention that when exploring other worlds, it is possible for one to stumble upon artifacts that look remarkably like they originated from earth’s past. How these artifacts came to exist so far away from home is a confounding mystery.

      To uncover this conundrum; the cadet heads to Earth – specifically he goes to the World Museum of Space and Cosmonautics. During this curious self initiated investigation, the cadet meets a virtual archivist who instructs him to look for specific historical artifacts in various other museums on earth. The completion of these tasks enables the player to construct a chronological history of Humanity’s advancements in space – from China’s first gunpowder rockets to NASA’S interplanetary missions. In these museums and exhibits; he learns about history, culture and science. In the finale of this tutorial, the cadet gets access to a personal spaceship, in which he proceeds to fly to the Large Magellanic Cloud to observe our Milky Way from afar.

As you can see, Space Pioneer is a massive project, which explains why the Kickstarter campaign is seeking the hefty sum of $150,000. As of this writing, Space Enigma Studios has raised just under $30,000, and that number will surely rise as the hours and days go by. If you would like to pledge money to help fund the game, or just read more about the game and the real astronauts helping with development, you can do so by visiting the official Kickstarter page via the source link below. Trailer after the break.


Source: Space Pioneer - Kickstarter.com

Shovel Knight - Developer interview with gameplay footage

Nintendo UK has released a developer interview video with Sean Velasco of Yacht Club Games, who discusses the inspiration for Shovel Knight. Velasco says the game is a throwback to the NES era when games were much simpler, and the emphasis was on gameplay and fun, rather than realistic graphics. This isn't your typical interview, as there is plenty of footage to show off what awaits Nintendo fans who are looking forward to the retro-style action-adventure title. Video after the break.

Starbeast is now a Wii U exclusive

Leaked concept art.

Ravi Jayant of indie developer Dead Pixel has confirmed that the upcoming Starbeast will be a Wii U exclusive, and says the formal announcement will take place soon.

4 words: Starbeast, exclusive WiiU title. Formal announcement coming soon. @Emi1yRogers, thanks for the support! pic.twitter.com/B5vwdYUnDz
— Ravi Jayant (@ravsters) January 23, 2014

The title in question was announced a while back, and some concept art was leaked, but details were scarce. Reports suggested it was a 2.5D shoot 'em up with a sci-fi setting, but no concrete info was given. However, Jayant has now revealed a few cryptic details.

There is a lot of speculation about #Starbeast. Three things: 1 No bullet hell. 2 Concept art floating around is old. 3 Cinematic experience
— Ravi Jayant (@ravsters) January 24, 2014

One Twitter user asked Jayant what sort of unique gameplay experience to expect from the GamePad, to which he replied: "Can't say. But, I will say this: we are paying attention to every little detail." For more details, check out Jayant's Twitter account via the source link below. (Thanks for the tip, Ravi!)

Source: Twitter

Unepic coming to Wii U eShop on January 16th

Indie developer EnjoyUp games has confirmed via Twitter that Unepic will be released on th North American Wii U eShop on Thursday, January 16th. The RPG adventure was announced for the platform last year and was recently included in one of Nintendo's sizzle reels.

Players assume the role of Daniel, who is somehow teleported to a mysterious ancient castle in the middle of a role-playing game and finds himself on a quest to free "Pure-Spirits" from Harnakon, the master of the castle. He will be "possessed by a shadow" which will feed misinformation to Daniel throughout his adventure as it cannot escape from Daniel's body unless he dies. EnjoyUp games says, "This story sounds typical for a role game, but during the adventure Daniel will discover that everything is not what it seems."

The 2D RPG features tons of items, leveling-up, giant bosses, and multiple endings. Off-TV Play is supported, and the touchscreen will make using items much simpler than the PC version. You can watch the official Wii U trailer for the game after the break.

Dex coming to Wii U eShop

Indie developer Dreadlocks have confirmed that their side-scrolling RPG Dex is coming to the Wii U eShop. The game's Kickstarter has met its stretch goal, ensuring that the game will see a release on Nintendo's console.

Dex takes place in the futuristic cyberpunk setting of Harbor Prime, in which an artificial intelligence attempts to take over the world. Here are a few brief excerpts from Kickstarter:

Explore the dark alleys of Harbor Prime and a host of diverse locations in both physical reality and the wild reaches of cyberspace. Discover the truth behind an enigmatic AI striving to reach the Singularity, a theoretical “event horizon” in which artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence and all bets about the future will be off. How will you play your part in the story?

Rare melding of realism and creative vision: Realistic action, mature storyline, and complex character interactions meld with hand-drawn characters, animations, and locations, arcade-style melee combat, and an original conception of cyberspace.

The development team has revealed that the game's locations are hand-drawn, and there will be plenty of side missions in addition to the main storyline. For more details, click on the source link below. Trailer after the break.

Source: Kickstarter

Knytt Underground coming to Wii U eShop on December 19th

The critically acclaimed adventure game Knytt Underground is coming to the Wii U eShop on December 19th. The adventure game was created by indie developer Nifflas and was originally released on the PlayStation 3, PS Vita and PC. The Nintendo console version will boast some improvements over the previous versions. Details and trailer after the break.

Nintendo eShop indie games sizzle reel

Side-scrolling action in Teslagrad.

Nintendo has released a new eShop sizzle reel which features quite a few indie games that are coming to the Wii U and 3DS. Here's a list of what is shown


Wii U eShop

• Q.U.B.E. Director's Cut by Toxic Games
• Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails by Dakko Dakko Limited
• Armillo by Fuzzy Wuzzy Games Inc.
• 1,001 Spikes by Nicalis
• Tengami by Nyamyam Ltd
• Pier Solar HD by WaterMelon
• Teslagrad by Rain
• Wooden Sen'SeY by Neko Entertainment
• Knytt Underground by Ripstone
• Unepic by EnjoyUp
• Shovel Knight by Yacht Club Games

3DS eShop

• Shantae and the Pirate's Curse by WayForward
• Grinsia by Nicalis
• Picross e3 by Jupiter Corporation
• Putty Squad by System 3
• Treasurenauts by Renegade Kid
• Retro City Rampage by Vblank Entertainment
• Siesta Fiesta by Mojo Bones

The trailer features a quick look at each of the games in action, and if you already own Nintendo's new console or are thinking about picking on e up, you should definitely check it out to see what's coming soon. Video after the break.

Hyper Light Drifter coming to Wii U eShop

The Kickstarter for the action RPG Hyper Light Drifter has reached its Wii U stretch goal of $550,000 which means it should make its way to the eShop. The retro-style game features a top-down perspective and has no shortage of combat. Fights will take place in real time as opposed to being turn-based. The trailer shows the game's protagonist, the titular Drifter, taking down one enemy after another with a sword made of light, as well as plenty of firearms and high-tech gear. Here are a few excerpts from the indie title's detail page on Kickstarter:

Drifters of this world are the collectors of forgotten knowledge, lost technologies and broken histories. Our Drifter is haunted by an insatiable illness, traveling further into the lands of Buried Time, steeped in blood and treasure hoping to discover a way to quiet the vicious disease. Echoes of a dark and violent past from the dead eras resonate throughout and he can't help but listen.

Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D Action RPG in the vein of the best 8-bit and 16-bit classics, with modernized mechanics and designs on a much grander scale.

The developer states that The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one source of inspiration, but there appear to be plenty more based on the footage in the trailer. You can find plenty of details, screenshots, and more on the official Kickstarter via the source link below. Video after the break.

Source: Hyper Light Drifter - Kickstarter.com

Two Tribes classic games Toki Tori, EDGE, and RUSH are coming to Wii U

Developer Two Tribes have announced that their classic games Toki Tori, EDGE, and RUSH are coming to the Wii U. Here's the word from their official website:

You'll be able to play our classic titles Toki Tori 1, EDGE and RUSH on Wii U before the year is over!
We have tweaked the games so they feel right at home on the Wii U. All games can be played on the GamePad, with RUSH even using it as its main display.

We are going to release them about a month apart, with Toki Tori 1 ready for action in October, followed by EDGE in November and RUSH in December. All at the ridiculously low introduction price of $1,99 / € 1,99!

All three of these puzzle titles have received good reviews, and are definitely welcome additions to the Wii U eShop. You can find trailers for all three games after the break.

Source: Two Tribes

The Fall coming to Wii U eShop

Indie developer Over the Moon has announced that it is now an officially licensed Nintendo developer and will bring the upcoming game The Fall to the Wii U. The creator says the episodic adventure is inspired by a number of classic titles including Super Metroid. Gamers will play as a virtual intelligence called ARID, which is built into a high-tech combat suit and is activated when the human inside is rendered unconscious. Here are a few excerpts from the official Kickstarter page:

A fresh mix of genres - The Fall integrates point and click adventure games, platformers, and shooters into a very unique experience.  Drawing equal inspiration from games like Super Metroid and Monkey Island, The Fall is humbly inspired by the greats that came before it.

A fresh narrative experience -  The Fall has a story that focuses on "doing" rather than "watching".  As players work their way through challenges, they organically find solutions that imply a larger narrative as the game progresses.

More than anything, however, The Fall is about exploration; it's all about that feeling of curiosity that pulls you forward.  "What is this world? What happened here?"

There's no word on a release date, but it will come to the Wii U after it is released on the PC and Mac. For more details and artwork, check out the official Kickstarter via the source link below. Video after the break.

Source: The Fall - Kickstarter.com

Sword 'N' Board coming to Wii U eShop

Indie developer Robert Busey has announced that his upcoming action RPG Sword 'N' Board is coming to the Wii U eShop. Players will take control of Sidd, "a kid with an active imagination," who battles his way through imaginary enemies as he tries to recover his lost video game console. Here are a few excerpts from the game's Kickstarter page.

Sword 'N' Board is a puzzle oriented adventure RPG that is 29 years in the making! In Sword 'N' Board you play as Sidd, a kid with an active imagination! You will battle your way through imaginary enemies, cardboard forests, dark pillow fort dungeons and solve challenging puzzles in order to find the pieces of your lost video game console!

A lot of more modern adventure games have really taken to being super tutorial driven, and showing the player exactly everything that needs to be done. Most modern adventure games no longer reward exploration, or trying things for yourself, which is definitley something I miss when playing more modern games. 

The developer also states that his goal is to make a game that plays more like the retro titles in which "Rewards felt rewarding." For more details, you can check out the official Kickstarter via the source link below. Trailer after the break.

Source: Sword 'N Board - Kickstarter.com

Liege coming to Wii U eShop

The Kickstarter campaign for the tactical RPG Liege has raised more than $81,000, surpassing the initial goal of $15,000 by a wide margin, which means the game will come to the Wii U. The indie title utilizes an art style that recalls the 16-bit era of gaming, and developer Coda Games has cited Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics as influences. The action is viewed from a top down perspective and there is plenty of combat.

The official Kickstarter page for Liege describes the title as "an interactive epic about ordinary people like us, placed in fantastic, larger-than-life circumstances. In equally vague terms, it's a game about family, power, love, death, and other way serious, totally heavy things." The description also reveals that "Liege is being planned as a trilogy with a continuous story arc, with the first release scheduled for early 2014." In addition to the Wii U eShop, the title is also in development for PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Vita. Trailer after the break.