The Nintendo Download – 4/21/2016

Lost animals, pinball nostalgia, alchemist puzzlers, partying Mario, and Star Fox, too!

It’s a small batch this week, but a pretty packed one. In addition to the return of Star Fox, Mario is ready to party, and there’s even free pinball and solitaire/horse racing! What more could you ask for?

(Don’t answer that, it was purely rhetorical.)

Star Fox Zero for Wii U – Available Friday, April 22nd: In this reboot of the Star Fox team’s original adventure, you’ll have to master new ways to pilot the sleek Arwing and its new all-terrain Walker formation, the mighty Landmaster tank (now with hover conversion), and the hovering Gyrowing flight drone in order to stop Andross’s armies from invading Corneria and conquering the Lylat system!

Star Fox Guard for Wii U – Available Friday, April 22nd: Star Fox team member Slippy Toad’s uncle Grippy is in the mining business, and as the founder of Corneria Precious Metals Ltd., he needs your help! Man a dozen turret-mounted cameras across each facility and keep the invading robots at bay!

Unlike the retail version of Star Fox Zero, it and Star Fox Guard are sold separately in the Nintendo eShop. However, purchasing one game allows you a $9.99 CAD discount on the other, bringing the total price for both to $64.99 CAD. (Edit: Whoops, my mistake — looks like the two together are $74.99 CAD.)

Mario Party DS for Wii U – Bowser has shrunken Mario and seven of his friends down to pocket-size! Pick one and take control in four game modes as you triumph in 70 mini-games across five game boards to foil the Koopa King’s latest scheme!

Blockara for Wii U – It’s a competition that happens only once every 12,000 years as the September Dragon awakens to grant one wish to the best alchemist in the land. Are your puzzle skills sufficient enough to claim the prize? Choose from ten characters, each with their own story, and find out!

Dreamals for Wii U – Three animals have been summoned to the Dream World, and are now searching for a way home. Each can move in only one direction, so teamwork is the key in this puzzle/strategy game.

Pinball Arcade for Wii U – Touted as “the most realistic and comprehensive pinball game ever created,” this free download will soon see updates featuring tables based on various hit movies, TV shows, and more, including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Twilight Zone, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Monster Bash, Medieval Madness, Funhouse, Attack from Mars, Circus Voltaire, and Big Shot. Plus, online tournaments and extra modes will allow you to challenge yourself and compete against your friends.

Pocket Card Jockey Demo Version for Nintendo 3DS – Is this mixture of solitaire and horse racing for you? Find out in this free card-stacking demo before the full game is released in May.

New DLC

Fire Emblem Fates – New DLC Map – Witches’ Trial – For $1.99 USD, you can test your skills in the Fear Mountain stage from Fire Emblem Gaiden. You can also purchase Map Pack 1 to get everything released through April 21st for less than you’d pay individually.

Theme Shop on Nintendo 3DS

This week’s new themes are “Fire Emblem Fates : The Men” and “Fire Emblem Fates : The Women.”

Nintendo eShop Sales (Taken directly from Nintendo’s press release; prices in USD)

• Nintendo eShop on Wii U
  • Family Tennis SP is 25 percent off (reduced from $4.99 to $3.74) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 12.
  • Toon Tanks is 20 percent off (reduced from $1.99 to $1.59) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 12.
• Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked is more than 65 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $9.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 2.
  • Classic Games Overload: Card & Puzzle Edition is 50 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $14.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 9.
  • Carps & Dragons is 50 percent off (reduced from $4.99 to $2.49) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 31.
  • Soccer Up Online is 25 percent off (reduced from $3.99 to $2.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 19.

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For more information, screens, and videos for each of this week’s releases, click on the corresponding links above.

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David Oxford is a freelance writer of many varied interests. If you’re interested in hiring him, please drop him a line at david.oxford (at) nyteworks.net.