Welcome to die and die and die and....
Nintendo really knows how to provide a nice contrast with the big releases of the week. The major 3DS release is Disney Art Academy, a quiet little game devoted to drawing some of the finest profit producers in entertainment. If you’re feeling a touch more hardcore, there’s Super Meat Boy, the Xbox 360/PC/PlayStation maso-core platformer that features some of the most bloody deaths in the genre. Sadly, there’s still a dispute over the game’s music.
The other releases of the week are some late arrivals from across the pond in Tachyon Project and Queen's Garden, the oddball Color Symphony 2 and the lamest school since the Academy of Champions in WordsUp! Academy. On the Virtual Console it's the late arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Once described as to Zach what Mario Kart 8 was to Neal, it lists the Wii U microphone as a supported controller so you KNOW it's a banger.
Europe has a quiet week as they prepare for another round of the RPG maelstrom with Fire Emblem Fates next week. Aside from their own run in with the profanity fountain of Super Meat Boy, the big movers are in their Virtual Console space: Mario Strikers Charged Football (sadly without its online features) and the first 3rd party title on New 3DS Virtual Console outside Japan in Contra III: The Alien Wars. Apparently Konami cares enough to keep rolling out on VC – who knew? (And where’s the NES original, darnit?)
North America
3DS Retail
Disney Art Academy (US$29.99/C$39.99, preload available, unlocks at midnight ET)
Wii U eShop
Super Meat Boy ($14.00/$18.00: $11.20/$14.40 until May 26)
Color Symphony 2 ($9.99/$11.99)
Tachyon Project ($9.99/$11.99)
Queen's Garden ($6.99/$8.99)
8Bit Hero ($4.99: not available in Canada)
3DS eShop
WordsUp! Academy ($2.99/$3.79)
Wii U Virtual Console
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) ($9.99)
3DS Themes
Pokémon: Radiant Collection, Red and Blue, Here Comes Ash-Greninja ($1.99/$2.89)
Demos and Trials
Witch and Hero 2
Sales and Price Drops
To celebrate the release date for Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice, Dual Destinies is $14.99 and Ace Attorney Trilogy is $17.99 until May 18.
Legend of Legacy is $29.99 (from $39.99) until May 23.
Unchained Blades is $9.99/$12.99 (from $19.99) until May 18.
Word Search by POWGI is $5.99 (from $7.99) until May 19.
My Pets is $9.99 (from $24.99) until June 5.
Midnight is $0.99 (from $1.99) until June 2.
Jewel Quest is $3.99 (from $4.99) until June 1.
Joindots titles are on sale until May 19.
EnjoyUp Games titles are on sale until June 2.
RCMADIAX titles are on sale until June 30.
QubicGames titles are on sale until June 2.
Europe
Wii U eShop
Super Meat Boy (€14.00/£13.00: €11.20/£10.40 through 26 May)
Color Symphony 2 (€9.99/£7.99)
PIXEL SLIME U (€2.99/£2.69)
Lego Marvel’s Avengers: All New, All-Different Doctor Strange Pack (€2.99/£2.50, DLC)
3DS eShop
WordsUp! Academy (€2.99/£2.69)
Wii U Virtual Console
Mario Strikers Charged Football (Wii) (€19.99/£17.99)
New 3DS Virtual Console
Contra III: The Alien Wars (€7.99/£7.19)
Sales and Price Drops
Capcom titles are on sale until 26 May: Phoenix Wright Dual Destinies is €9.99/£7.99 and more
Terraria (3DS) is €14.99/£12.74 (regular €19.99/£16.99) through 26 May.
Goosebumps: The Game is €15.99/£12.49 (regular €24.99/£19.99) through 13 June.
Word Search by POWGI (Wii U and 3DS) is €5.99/£4.49 (regular €7.99/£5.99) through 19 May.
STEEL RIVALS is €4.99/£4.49 (regular €6.99/£5.99) through 19 May.
QubicGames titles are on sale until 9 June.