The big game of the week is what may be the second-to-last time we use the "Wii U Retail" heading for North America - Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. And even then, the disc launches next week. Still, Matt seemed quite smitten with the game, while noted Shantae fan Zach Miller will have his own analysis soon. And a tropical adventure is just the thing to warm up the world on a cold winter's day.

There's two games in the Virtual Console realm going into the holidays. On Wii U, there's Mario Party 2, which proves that nothing brings the family together more than hatred of the one person who enjoys 50 turn Mario Party. New 3DS gets Dracula X - even if it is the SNES game, it's still some quality whipping action. Edit Friday, December 23: For unknown reasons, Dracula X did not appear in the update.

Europe doesn't get Shantae on disc yet, but you can get that and Picross e7 digitally this week. However, very rare DLC discounts for Fire Emblem Fates and Mario Kart 8 headline a MONSTROUS week of sales in Europe. Highlights include: The first sale for Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice, very inexpensive 13AM Games titles, and a nice SteamWorld Heist sale from Image & Form.

North America

Wii U Retail

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (US$19.99/C$22.39: retail release 12/27)

Wii U eShop

RADIANTFLUX: HYPERFRACTAL ($2.99)

3DS eShop

Gourmet Dream ($5.00/$7.00)

Mini-Golf Resort ($4.99/$5.64)

Geki Yaba Runner Deluxe ($4.99/$5.50)

Hit Ninja ($1.99/$2.59, New 3DS only)

Wii U Virtual Console

Mario Party 2 (N64) ($9.99: upgrade eligible)

New 3DS Virtual Console

Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES) ($7.99/$11.29)

3DS Themes

Nintendo: Mario's Happy Holidays

Demos and Trials

Ice Station Z

Sales and Price Drops

Highlights: Lord of Magna - Maiden Heaven is $9.99/$12.99, Capcom, Level 5 and 13AM Games titles are on sale

Full spreadsheet (Note: Update may be slightly delayed)

Europe

Wii U eShop

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (€16.99/£15.99)

Back to Bed (€9.99/£8.99)

Zombie Brigade: No Brain, No Gain (€4.99/£4.49, free for owners of Cube Life: Island Survival until 25 December)

RADIANTFLUX: HYPERFRACTAL (€2.99/£2.99)

3DS eShop

Japanese Rail Sim 3D: Journey To Okinawa (€14.99/£12.99)

Picross e7 (€5.00/£4.50)

Geki Yaba Runner Deluxe (€4.99/£4.49)

TOUCH BATTLE TANK - TAG COMBAT (€3.99/£3.99)

SkyPeace (€0.99/£0.89)

DLC

Minecraft: 1st Birthday Skin Pack (free until 5 January), Fallout Mash-Up Pack (€5.99/£4.79), Doctor Who Skins I & II (€5.99/£4.79)

3DS Video

Shin Chan: Vol. 1 (free), 2 and 3 (€1.99/£1.79 ea)

3DS Themes Friday release

Nintendo: Mario's Winter Wonderland (€1.99/£1.79)

Animundi: Jurassic Cubs And The Magic Flow, Behind The Meteorite, on Lianas with Nichus, and the big jump (€0.99/£0.89 ea, 3 pack for €2.49/£2.29 ea)

Sanrio: Hello Kitty Christmas Time, Celebrates New Year's Eve, With Snowman, Hello Kitty Winter Princess (€0.99/£0.89 ea)

Mister Men: Little Miss Ballet, Mr. Men Little Miss Christmas, Mr. Men Little Miss Cooking, Mr. Men Little Miss Dino (€0.99/£0.89 ea)

Wobbly Tooth: Ice Station Z (€0.89/£0.79)

Demos and Trials

Ice Station Z

Sales and Price Drops

Mario Kart 8 DLC is 25% off and Fire Emblem Fates DLC (including additional story paths) are 33% off until 5 January.

LEGO titles from WB Games are 50% off until 5 January.

FAST Racing NEO is 33% off until 12 January.

RACE THE SUN is 70% off until 5 January.

Swords and Soldiers 2 is 50% off until 5 January.

Tengami is 50% off until 5 January.

Teslagrad is 70% off until 5 January.

Capcom titles are on sale until 5 January (includes Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice).

13AM Games titles (Runbow, Pirate Pop Plus) are 50% off until 5 January.

Image & Form titles are on sale until 4 January.

Broken Rules titles (Blek, Chasing Aurora, Electronic Super Joy) are on sale until 5 January.

Nami Tentou titles (PING 1.5+, PSIBO) are on sale until 5 January.

Rising Star Games titles are on sale until 5 January.

Double Breakout is €5.00/£4.00 (regular €7.00/£6.00) until 19 January.

Ice Cream Surfer is 50% off until 12 January.

Turtle Tale (Wii U / 3DS) is 50% off until 5 January.

VoxelMaker is 20% off until 29 December.

Word Party (Wii U / 3DS) and Splat the Difference are on sale until 5 January.

Power Disc Slam is 20% off until 2 January.

Aqua Moto Racing 3D is 50% off until 29 December.

ZeNfA Productions titles are on sale until 5 January.

Wobbly Tooth titles are on sale until 12 January.

Wales Interactive titles are on sale until 26 January.

Big John Games titles are on sale until 4 January.

Sanuk Games titles are 50% off until 5 January.

Finger Gun Games titles are on sale until 12 January.

EnjoyUp Games titles are on sale until 19 January.

Teyon titles are on sale until 4 January.

CIRCLE Ent. titles are on sale until 12 January.

Gamelion titles are on sale until 5 January.

Qubic Games titles are on sale until 19 January.

Joindots titles are on sale until 5 January.