This week on the 3DS eShop: Mario and Donkey Kong, The Starship Damrey, and Crash City Mayhem

Games. Glorious games. Unique games. Notable games. The Nintendo 3DS eShop has quite the variety this week, make no mistake.

You've got a new game featuring everyone's favourite plumber and gorilla combo, something new from the studio behind the Professor Laytonseries, as well as some smaller, cheaper options.

In fact, it's a rather good week for the Nintendo 3DS all round. There's a reason for every single one of you 3DS owners to head down to your local eShop and throw some cash at the man behind the counter made of pixels.

Let's take a closer look at these games in their natural habitat.

European eShop releases



Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move leads the top releases this week. It's the fifth entry in the Mario vs Donkey Kong series.

You funnel robotic Marios around a series of puzzle boards, and try to guide them to the end. Think Pipe Mania, but with Mario. This costs £8.99 - expect a review soon.

The Starship Damrey is also potentially exciting. It's the first title in Level-5's Guild 02 trio, and it's an adventure horror game about working out what the heck is going on in a twisted world.

The quality of the Guild 01 titles ranged from great to not so great, so it's probably best to wait for a review on this. £7.19 if you can't wait.

Elsewhere, Bloody Vampire is a Metroidvania title that looks fairly stylish, and costs £4.49. And Reel Fishing 3D Paradise Mini is, as you'd expect, a fishing game. £3.59 for this one.

Crash City Mayhem is one to watch. It's all about driving around a city, causing as much carnage as you can behind the wheel of large tanks and zippy mopeds. Potentially great - £17.99 for that.

And there's even a new Virtual Console game this week. Wrecking Crewsees Mario and Luigi taking on roles as demolition experts in this NES classic, with a £3.59 price tag.

US eShop releases



Americans get Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move too this week, although they'll be paying $9.99 for it. Apparently they don't use pound sterling over there. Who knew!

And SpeedX 3D Hyper Edition takes the original Bronze Award-winningSpeedX 3D from last year, and throws a new coat of paint over it, as well as new music, improved controls, and faster gameplay.

That will cost you $2.99 if you're interesting. If it's similar to the original version, that can't be a bad purchase at all.

And that's your lot for this week - back again in seven days.

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The Animal Crossing: New Leaf Diaries - Day 1

Next month, Nintendo will launch Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the 3DS.

The Animal Crossing games have always had you live among a cosmopolitan microcosm of the animal kingdom, and used to leave you to lead a quiet life of luxury; plucking fruit, catching fish, and collecting furniture.

But that's all changed. In New Leaf, you're made mayor of the village as soon as you step off the train, and must take charge of your up and coming hamlet.

In this diary, then, you'll follow my rise from travelling vagabond to empire-building governor. You'll also be able to guide my journey, by suggesting tips in the comments below.

We'll have a full review later this month. But, for now, here's our daily diary of life in Kusanagi.

Day 1 - Thursday, May 9th

The long journey to my new home was already well under way. The click-clack of the railroad tracks hypnotically keeping the rhythm of my travels.

A charming blue chap by the name of Rover approached me, politely asked what the time was, where I was headed, and what my name was. So I readily handed over this information: I told him that my name is Xero, and my destination is the wonderful town of Kusanagi.

Kusanagi is a place I'd spent many glorious months in during previous years of my life, yet I hadn't visited for a long while and I thought it high time to rectify that.

If I had left Kusanagi due to an over familiarity with its environs - packing my bag and leaving to visit strange new lands filled with other adventures - then any fear of tedium setting in for this fleeting visit immediately vanished when I saw that the lie of the land had completely changed.

Or at least, that's how it appeared to me.

No sooner had I stepped off the train than I was greeted by a veritable parade of Kusanagi townsfolk, though no one I recognised. The welcoming committee gathered round me, and amidst the chatter, a yellow dog named Isabelle casually mentioned that they were excited to see their new mayor.



"I'm the mayor?" I thought, "but how can this be...? And just why does everything look different in Kusanagi from when I was last here?"

In hindsight I should have rejected the idea of taking on the daunting challenge of running a whole town, but in the confusion of my arrival something inside me compelled me to blurt out, "yes, I'll be your mayor!"

After being briefly shown the Town Hall it was off to Main Street - which is just past the train tracks I'd arrived on - and to meet Tom Nook.

Ah... Tom Nook... now there's a name I recognise. That man had nearly ruined me when I last lived in Kusanagi all those years ago, constantly tinkering with my home in exchange for cold hard Bells when I didn't ask for the renovations in the first place, and I certainly didn't have that kind of money.

Yet he didn't recognise me. Perhaps I really had been away from Kusanagi for too long.

So Nook and I went to find a piece of land to build my new residence upon, and when I had found the perfect spot - a peaceful and quiet area away from Main Street and by the tranquil ocean - he set up a tent for me to stay in for the night.

My day was far from over, even though I was getting extremely tired by this point. I needed my TPC (Town Pass Card) which acts as a form of ID for all the citizens of Kusanagi. I don't remember needing one of these last time I resided here, and it seemed a little authoritarian, but then the world was a very different place in 2006...

One last order of business before I could turn in for the night: the tree-planting ceremony in the Event Plaza. This I was told was to symbolise my arrival, and the new life I might breathe into Kusanagi - a sweet gesture, if ever there was one.

Completely pooped, I retired for the day.

Enjoying the journey? Got any tips for my stay in Kusanagi? Let me know by leaving a comment in the box below.

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Cyberpunk RTS C-Wars passes sixth stretch goal, will come to PS Vita and 3DS

Do you remember that gritty, grid-based RTS game C-Wars that we found on Kickstarter a few weeks back?

If so, you'll be happy to read that C-Wars just passed the $65,535 threshold and will now be released for the PS Vita and 3DS, in addition to Android tablets.

Actually, it would have come out for the 3DS anyway as Onipunks recently said in an interview with 4CR - but the news of a Vita release is certainly encouraging for the Sony faithful.

To the moon

C-Wars has grown beyond its original scope following the success of its Kickstarter campaign.

In the new All-Star mode, for example, players will be able to recruit Esmy from Cryamore or Shovel Knight from, er, Shovel Knight into their ranks and use them in battle while the Survival mode will put a player's mastery of C-Wars' unique combat system to the test.

Unfortunately, with only three days of fundraising left it appears that the distant goals of a Wii U or iOS port will remain out of reach for C-Wars for the moment - but there's always a chance that they'll pop up later based on the reception of the Android, Vita, and 3DS versions (to say nothing of its PC, Mac, and Linux releases).

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Review: Super Little Acorns 3D Turbo for 3DS

Being a squirrel must be ace. You get to lounge around in the treetops all day, and every once in a while dig up a nut or two (if you can remember where you left them).

This particular squirrel, star of the ridiculously named SuperLittle Acorns 3D Turbo, has lost his nuts all over the place. Fortunately, grabbing them all makes for an entertaining platformer.

From acorns grow mighty stereoscopic 3D visuals

Super Little Acorns is all about dashing around a series of small levels, hunting down acorns and fruit, and bopping baddies on the head.

Only once you've grabbed all the acorns (and baby squirrels, if they are any) can you exit out of the door. It's all timed, as well, so you can't hang around.

The game is hugely stylish, from the gorgeously animated visuals to the bouncy soundtrack. At the end of each level, the acorns you collected are thrown into a giant tree pit together - it's such a simple yet lovely idea, and just one element that makes Super Little Acorns stand out so much.

There's plenty of content on offer, too, with multiple "years" to beat, boss battles, to overcome, enjoyable challenges to take on, costumes to collect, and achievements to unlock.

And that's without even mentioning the replay value. Each level has speedruns and medals to grab - essentially, it'll be quite a number of hours before you complete this game 100 percent.

Not so little

The action thrown your way is a little tepid to begin with, and takes a while to truly get going.

It's still enjoyable, but there isn't really much of a challenge - you can easily grab everything and beat the speed run time on your first go with many of the levels in the first hour of play.

Eventually, however, Super Little Acorns does ramp up the volume, and things get far more exciting, with perfect jumps required, and the clock ticking away to your potential failure.

It doesn't help that the controls feel rather floaty, mind. Numerous times I found myself overshooting a jump, or slipping off a platform, and cursing that damn squirrel for being just a tad too flimsy.

Should you grab Super Little Acorns 3D Turbo, then? Yes. It's entertaining, it's stylish, and above all else it's a damn fine Nintendo 3DS game.

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Dodge cops, plant bombs, and rescue hostages from May 9th in Crash City Mayhem for 3DS

Essex-based publisher Ghostlight has announced that its action-packed drive-'em-up Crash City Mayhem will smash onto the Nintendo 3DS eShop on May 9th.

Released in Japan as Runabout 3D: Drive Impossible, Crash City Mayhem is a high-octane driving game in which you earn rewards for causing as much destruction as humanly possible.

Your 'official' aim in this title, though, is to put an end to an evil terrorist syndicate that's hell-bent on causing carnage.

Tanks for the memories

You do this across a series of vehicle-based missions that involve you careering over rooftops and driving blindly through sewers.

Bored of games that are filled with generic shiny sports cars? Fear not: you can drive mopeds and even tanks in Crash City Mayhem.

If you want to download Crash City Mayhem, head on over to Nintendo's eShop on May 9th with £17.99.

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This week on the 3DS eShop: Picdun 2, BearShark, and a nice meaty discount

There are a bunch of neato discounts on downloadable Nintendo 3DS games this week.

And all you need do is visit the eShop to find them.

The Virtual Console has been given a real shot in the arm this week, too, with multiple new (old?) titles ready for your consumption.

Plus, there are some brand-new games to download. In fact, it's fair to say that the 3DS eShop has 'got game' this week. Or something.

European eShop releases



Picdun 2: Witch's Curse is a dungeon-crawling RPG featuring static images of women with disproportionately sized chests. Yes, you're right.

You get 60 levels to battle your way through, all for £4.49. Watch out for a review of this up on the site soon.

My Riding Stables 3D - Jumping for the Team is a horsey adventure game involving looking after stallions and making friends. For £34.99, you could probably buy a real horse, mind. Well, a hoof.

Onto the Virtual Console...

The classic game Balloon Fight is now available for £3.59, while Ice Climber is £4.49. Meanwhile, Mario & Yoshi is £4.49, and Super C - the sequel to Contra - is £4.49.

Ooooooo, Marvel Pinball 3D is on sale! It's usually priced £6.29, but you can grab it for £2.99 up until May 9th. Sweet.

US eShop releases



Americans! You can download a game this week called Gummy Bears Magical Medallion. It was originally a Wii game, and it looks awful. Avoid it like the plague.

You can also check out My Riding Stables 3D - Jumping for the Team, just like your European brethren. I'm sure it's delightful.

Now, onto the semi-real stuff. BearShark is an endless-runner about escaping from a bear, and a shark. It looks pretty funny, but it's perhaps best to wait for a review before diving in.

In the US Virtual Console realm this week, you can nab Balloon Fight. Warning: you cannot fly after attaching a balloon to your back in real life. Don't ask how I know this.

But enough about all that - there's a huge sale on. Up until May 9th, you see, you can grab a ton of Nintendo games on the cheap.

We're talking Pushmo, 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure, Dillon's Rolling Western, Fluidity: Spin Cycle, and Tokyo Crash Mobs.

All of Shin'en's games are on offer until May 9th, too. So, yeh, Art of Balance TOUCH!, Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!, and Nano Assault EX. Don't bother with the mini-golf game, but do bother with the other two.

And, finally, Marvel Pinball 3D is cheap as chips until May 9th. Buy it - it's fun.

Back again next week.

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Review: Clash of Elementalists for 3DS

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At its heart, Clash of Elementalists is an arena-based tank-combat game, with two opponents trying to blast each other to bits in a 3D arena.

In many ways it's similar to classics like Battlezone and Virtual On, except it replaces huge mechanised infantry with tiny anime girls.

The game is a simple fight to the death between two of the girls. In other games of the genre, the fun is in mastering intricate controls as you play cat and mouse with your opponent around the map.

Unfortunately, Clash of Elementalistsarenas are flatter than Norfolk, while the characters all move like hyperactive drunks.

Where did you go?

Just the simple act of turning in a desired direction is unnecessarily difficult, as it involves holding the A button and then tapping left or right to turn characters 45 degrees. It's impossible to react quickly or accurately to the action.

The only surefire way to get even a fleeting lock-on with your opponent is to jump, which automatically rotates fighters to face each other. But this fails to be a satisfactory workaround as, with the AI constantly strafing incoming attacks, the only way to stay on target is to constantly leap into the air like a deranged Jack in the Box.

Jumping also proves the only guaranteed way to find an opponent who has moved off-screen. When fighting in close proximity this often results in the camera swinging around wildly to try and track the action.

Being anime-inspired, much of Clash of Elementalists's focus seems to be on its childlike female fighters. Each is linked to an element - fire, water, wind, or earth - and possesses three ranged and close-quarters attack types.

I'm not sure I care

While powers do differ slightly depending on their characters' elemental affinity, their functions remain constant across the roster. It's a nice idea, but with only four selectable fighters there simply isn't enough diversity on offer.

The lacklustre offering of characters does nothing to help spice up the game modes included. Even on Hard, running through all four fights of the Arcade Mode only took about six minutes. While this is supplemented by Battle and Versus modes, playing AI and friends in single matches does little to pad out the package.

It's hard to say whether Clash of Elementalists's problems are rooted in its element concept, in the limitations of the hardware, or in its distinct lack of underlying ambition. While more characters and moves would have made a more substantial package, part of me is simply happy to have seen all the content so I could put it down.

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Incoming! The most exciting 3DS and PS Vita games for May

The sun is peeping out from behind the clouds, and the rain has beaten a hasty retreat. Thankfully.

Yup, May is well and truly here.

Forget about the UK weather, though: there's a whole host of exciting Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita games heading your way over the next month.

So, get ready for some AAA big-shot releases, indie RPGs, classic Nintendo characters, long-awaited adventure games, and much more. If you're a handheld gamer, then May might just become your all-time favourite month.

Note that this isn't a comprehensive list of games coming out in May on 3DS and Vita. There are plenty of download-only games set to surprise us all each and every week on the eShop and PSN Stores.

The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves
By Genius Sonority - coming to 3DS on May 2nd



In spite of its ridiculous name, The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave was a wonderful downloadable RPG. Cute and silly visuals were backed up by deep, demanding gameplay.

It's fair to say, then, that we're looking forward to seeing if The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves follows in the footsteps of They Came By Wave.

Our only real criticism of the original game was that it became a little too samey after a while. Hopefully, Genius Sonority took heed.

Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
By Nintendo - coming to 3DS on May 9th



The Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis series is one of those underrated franchises. You know, the games always earn rave reviews, yet they're rarely brought up in video game conversations.

Revealed just two weeks ago during the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, the latest instalment in the series looks like a Mini Mario-infused version of Pipe Mania.

Okay, so there's considerably more to Minis on the Move than that, including all sorts of weird and wacky ideas, but the point still stands. Sort of.

Fast & Furious: Showdown
By Firebrand Games - coming to 3DS on May 21st



As a rule of thumb, be wary of video game film tie-ins. A lot of the time they are hugely average, due in part to the strict deadlines on development.

Fast & Furious: Showdown is a tie-in for upcoming nitrous-filled action movie Fast & Furious 6. PG production editor Rich tells me The Rock's in it. Which is nice.

The events of this game lead up to the sixth - yes, sixth! - instalment in this long-running movie franchise, which accelerates into UK cinemas on May 17th.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
By Monster Games - coming to 3DS on May 24th



Donkey Kong Country Returns on Nintendo Wii was difficult. Actually, it was 'take this controller and throw it through every window in this house' difficult.

It's clear that Ninty is aware of this, for this 3DS port has been watered down to such a degree that it's possible to, you know, beat the damn thing.

With this in mind, I can't wait to get my hands on this, for hidden between the painfully tricky sections of the Wii version was a genuinely great platformer.

Machinarium
By Amanita Design - coming to PS Vita on May 1st



European PS Vita owners are finally getting this classic 2009 adventure game about the little robot (Josef) who could. Oh, and it's totally been worth the wait.

As you guide Josef out of the scrapheap and into the city, you'll uncover an underground gang that is planning some devious acts. Subsequently, you'll have to save your love interest.

It's all rather delightful, with gorgeous animations and wonderfully informative picture bubbles. If you haven't played this game before, download it the second it comes out on Vita.

Zombie Tycoon 2
By Frima Studio - coming to PS Vita on May 1st



We thoroughly enjoyed the original Zombie Tycoon, a real-time strategy game in which you control the zombie hordes, rather than fend them off.

This upcoming sequel is, in truth, more of the same, as you take the hordes onto the battlefield once again.

Saying that, Frima Studio does appear to be focusing even more on the comedy angle this time around.

Hopefully, we'll get a tad more variety this time around, too. There are only so many zombie games we can take before the genre eats its own brains.

Velocity Ultra
By FuturLab - coming to PS Vita on May 15th



The original Velocity on PS minis was essential download material. This is a fact.

Given that incontrovertible truth, the prospect of Velocity Ultra - an enhanced super-port of the minis version - is a ruddy exciting one.

With new art; a refined control system; and lots of little alterations to the original here and there, Velocity Ultra could well turn out to be the definitive Vita game. Let's hope so, eh.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery
By Lucid Games - coming to PS Vita in May



Although Lucid Games hasn't given us a set date for the maiden instalment in this episodic puzzler, we do know that the first episode will be available sometime in May.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is a more casual title than the average PS Vita gamer will no doubt be used to. Here, you see, the focus is on building a gorgeous cartoony world.

But will it be much cop? We're hoping 'yes'. And we presume you are, too.

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Ikaruga creator's 3DS shooter Kokuga translated to English and rated in Germany

Hiroshi Iuchi, the creator of the bullet-hell classic Ikaruga, surprised many fans when he announced his latest game Kokuga for the 3DS.

We were pretty excited about the card-based shooter when it was released in Japan back in September, but our excitement cooled when there was no news of a planned western release.

This may change soon, however, as Siliconera reports that a recent listing by Germany's USK board showed that the 3DS game has been translated to English.

3 dimensions, four cards

Kokuga is similar to Ikaruga in some regards, namely that it's a top-down shooter, but it's not a traditional bullet-hell experience like some might expect it to be.

Instead, each level Kokuga gives you 20 power-up cards to use. Four of these cards are selected at random and are displayed on your 3DS's lower screen.

When you find yourself in need of their particular boosts, you can tap the card to reap its benefits.

Unfortunately, we don't have much more information about a western release past the English translation and the fact that it's likely to be an eShop-only digital import as its being published by G.rev Ltd.

We'll keep you updated as soon as we have more to report.

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Review: Witch & Hero for 3DS

There's a lot of retro revival going on lately. Be it through high-definition remakes, long-deserved sequels, or even just aesthetics that hark back to a time when things were blockier: that 8-bit look is the new black.

So, it didn't surprise me one bit when I came to review Witch & Hero to discover an 8-bit game built upon the principles of retro-based fun.

What I wasn't expecting, however, was something quite so quirky underneath those beautiful - but forgettable - old skool aesthetics.

Witch hero?
Having set off to fight Medusa - that snake-haired Gorgon of Greek mythology - Witch and Hero (those are actually their names) realise they aren't up to the task at all.

In fleeing from the scene, Witch becomes petrified and so is turned to stone for eternity. This means it's left to Hero to ensure they escape safely to level-up and head back out to dish out the pain.

The story goes far beyond the realms of throwaway nonsense - aside from providing you with a clear goal and a reason for Witch's prolonged immobility, the narrative serves no purpose.

Luckily, Witch's petrifaction makes for an interesting gameplay hook where Hero must defend Witch from an ever-encroaching circle of enemies all set on crumbling her stony frame.

You'll defend Witch with your life by attacking enemies - by just, sort of, running into them - and sacrificing a small section of your health with each hit.

You'll collapse plenty of times, but that only increases the pressure on making sure you recover in time to lay the smackdown on more blobs, ghouls, sharks, pumpkins, demon dogs, and, err, snakes.

Raining blood
You can also level-up through killing beasties and collecting gems. Oh, and by picking up dropped gold, you can level-up your attributes and Witch's magic attacks.

What's that, you say? You thought she was turned to stone? Well, you're right... to a degree. You can actually bring her back to life momentarily by collecting spilt blood from your enemies.

By picking up enough of the red stuff, Witch can hurl fireballs or call upon a typhoon storm to dole out damage. But just like with the super-powerful Holy Sword ability, you don't get the power to use Witch until a little further on.

I am the resurrection

Witch & Hero is far from perfect. The gameplay is repetitive, and the endgame "perks" (survival and a harder difficulty) can only be considered 'bonuses' if you wanted to go back and re-play the game. Which you probably won't.

Once you do delve deeper into the game, though, and perhaps put it down now and again for a break, you do see that there is some method in the madness.

Bull rushing does work, sure, but having to think tactically about your health and position - as well as collected blood and dropped item positions - really turns Witch & Hero into something more than you (or I) were probably expecting.

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Silver Award-winning Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is heading to 3DS in Europe this autumn

Good news, Japanese RPG lovers: NIS America has announced that it has partnered with developer Atlus to release Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers in Europe later this year.

Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers was released in Japan on the Sega Saturn back in 1997 and subsequently ported to Sony's PSone a couple of years later.

It will be released in Europe this autumn for the very first time, complete with several new gameplay features, enhancements, and full English localisation.

The meat and veg

In case you're not familiar with it, Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is an RPG-infused first-person dungeon-crawler set in a futuristic world where technology and mysterious forces collide.

Throughout this title, you'll encounter many demons, which you can either defeat in battle or - providing you can negotiate with them - recruit as allies.

We recently reviewed the US version of this title and gave it a shiny Silver Award. Keep your eyes peeled for it this autumn, in other words.

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Downloadable Content - Fire Emblem: Awakening

Updated on April 25th, at 18:00: Our first update features our hands-on impressions with Harvest Scramble and The Golden Gaffe (Fire Emblem's first pieces of paid DLC).

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Fire Emblem: Awakening is the first entry in the venerable tactical RPG franchise to serve up paid downloadable content.

Once you finish chapter four, you'll be able to gain access to the Outrealm Gate, and buy additional maps. Here, you'll face new enemies and scenarios, and grab rewards that carry over into the main campaign.

New content will be added to the game regularly, and we'll be giving hands-on impressions of the maps as soon as Nintendo releases them.

Read on for our thoughts, fellow traveller...

Champions Pack - £4.99 (Currently £2.99)

This first map pack features characters from past Fire Emblem games.

You'll be able to recruit some of these ancient heroes for your party if you win the battle.

Champions of Yore 1 - £1.99 (Currently free)

This first map is a Fire Emblem fanboy's dream. It features an all-star cast of past characters, like series mascot Prince Marth, Path of Radiance's Ike, and Alm from Fire Emblem Gaiden.

Plus, the map is a complete clone of Talys (a small island kingdom from the first Fire Emblem game), and the two songs are chiptune reprises from the Famicom original.

It's very easy - the map is only one star, and the handful of evenly spaced enemies are levels 7 and 8 - but the Fire Emblem fan service and reward (Prince Marth for your main army) make it well worth the free download.

Champions of Yore 2 - Coming May 2nd
Champions of Yore 3 - Coming May 8th

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Golden Pack - £5.39

These DLC maps will essentially let you add loads of gold, EXP, and weapons to your stash. It almost feels like cheating...

The Golden Gaffe - £2.29

This first map features a small army of Risen who are all grasping big sacks of gold. In each turn, they'll ignore your team and simply make a beeline for the exit at the bottom of the arena.

If you can catch them and kill them, you will liberate those funds for your own personal war chest.

The enemies range from level 1 to level 20, and carry more cash the more powerful they are (from 1,000 to 7,000 gold). So, no matter how high powered your units are, you'll walk away with something.

In practice, it all feels a bit sleazy. It's the closest Fire Emblem comes to offering a iOS-style in-app purchase - because given how low-risk this throwaway battle is, you'll likely walk away with a huge influx of money and be no worse off for it.

I ended the mission with about 25,000 gold and no wounded units. It felt so wrong that I refused to save over my main game.

If you're desperate for a quick cash injection, then this piece of DLC will give you exactly that. But if you want to play pure and fair, just skip this boring map.

EXPonential Growth - Coming May 2nd
Infinite Regalia - Coming May 23rd

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Scramble Pack - £5.39

Three maps which feature Chrom and pals getting overrun by monsters while on holiday. An adventurer can never rest, can he?

Harvest Scramble - £2.29

This map takes place at a marketplace festival which has become overrun by Risen. You know what to do: eviscerate the lot of them.

They're all level 5 (except the level 20 boss), but each has annoying skills like Counter (where damage done is dealt back in turn) and Miracle (where enemies survive lethal attacks). It's tactical, but it can be slightly tedious given the number of foes.

This map has a lot of conversations, where characters can stand next to each other (mid-battle) and have a gossip. If you appreciate the game's endearing characters, you'll enjoy this map.

There are also loads of item and EXP pick-ups, and a master seal if you're victorious.

It's very easy, but it's a solid mission with a novel strategic spin, and is the first piece of DLC that actually feels like it fits the main campaign. One to check out, especially for Fire Emblem newbies.

Summer Scramble - Coming May 16th
Hot Spring Scramble - Coming May 29th

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This week on the 3DS eShop: Lego City Undercover, BIT.TRIP SAGA, and Mega Man 4

Bad news, American 3DS fans. The eShop shelves are practically bare this week.

But it's good news for European gamers: we've got more digital content than our pals across the Atlantic this week.

Now, there's nothing particularly interesting on either online store this week.

But you never know: maybe you'll find something that suits you. Something that suits you a lot.

*Spoiler alert: You probably won't.*

European eShop releases



Let's begin with Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins. This latest Lego game follows the story of Chase McCain as he works his way up the ranks from rookie cop to... well, you'll have to play to find out.

The game is relatively good fun, as per my review, but I'd advise against paying £34.99 in the eShop for it. Look for cheaper prices at retail.

BIT.TRIP SAGA is more reasonably priced. The game came out over a year ago at retail, but this digital version gives you all the same rhythm-tapping, psychedelic features for £17.99.

Riding Stables 3D is a horse-based adventure about securing a pasture and creating friendships. If you simply can't contain your excitement, the game is available for £24.99.

Lola's Math Train is a cheap and easy way for young kids to learn maths, with adding, subtracting, and some puzzle solving too. Just £2.69 for that one.

Capcom continues to add the old Mega Man games to the Virtual Console this week, with the inclusion of NES Mega Man 4 for £4.49. The Blue Bomber's quality kind of dipped after 3, but this one's still worth grabbing if you've never played it before.

Finally, there's a demo for Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity - the full game is out next month. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the world who is excited for this game.

US eShop releases



Not many new releases for American eShop users this week. Crazy Construction looks potentially interesting, with the idea of stacking objects of all shapes and sizes on top of each other to create as tall a tower as possible.

Is it any good? Well, you can grab it now for $4.99, or wait for our review - we should have one soon.

Otherwise, the US eShop also gets Mega Man 4 this week for $4.99, but that's about it. Europe wins for a change - Huzzah.

Back again next week.

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What's heading to 3DS? Hands-on with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and more

Nintendo might have shared some fairly gloomy financial news with the rest of the world yesterday - with both the 3DS and Wii U missing their sales targets - but the outlook for the future couldn't be much more positive for the Japanese giant.
Off the back of yet another engaging Nintendo Direct broadcast, Nintendo went that extra mile last week to put its new software into the hands of the press and to help generate some excitement for what's next down the pipeline.
So, not only did we get a chance to play a 20-minute segment of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past sequel, but we also had an opportunity to go hands-on with four other new first-party 3DS titles coming out over the next few months.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D


If you've already played this on the Wii, then you'll know that Retro Studios did a damned fine job of resurrecting Rare's long-dormant SNES franchise.

Sure, it was a slavish attempt to recapture the magic of that '90s side-scrolling platform trilogy, but Retro Studios ticked all the boxes, and smashed all the crates along the way.

The 3DS version, naturally, has the added novelty of 3D visuals, though Nintendo has done a fair job of tinkering with the game in a few other areas to give it an even broader appeal (read: you can now make it easier).

New mode essentially helps you get through the levels with one extra heart of health - so that's three instead of two.

Elsewhere, you can now pick up items that help save you from falls, or allow the Mine Cart and Rocket Barrel to take a second hit, and even use a DK Barrel whenever you choose.

On top of that, the 3DS version also features local wireless play. This means you can team up with a pal and enjoy the co-op play, as well as help each other collect hard-to-reach puzzle pieces.

But it's not all easy street. There's also an unlockable ninth world (featuring eight new levels) and hardcore Trophy levels for the old skool masochists.

During what was ultimately quite a short showcase event, we didn't get an extensive hands-on of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. But even a quick playthrough of a couple of levels was more than enough to impress.

The controls feel precise, the visuals suit the confines of the 3DS screen perfectly. Put simply, no one's going to be disappointed.

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team


The Mario RPGs have always quietly gone about their business of being awesome. They haven't sold in the kind of vast quantities that you tend to associate with Nintendo first-party games. And no doubt the fourth game in the series, subtitled Dream Team, will continue in this cultish vein.

Nearly four years after the release of Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, developer AlphaDream has come up with another surreal RPG, where the mustachioed brothers engage in turn-based battles for typically spurious reasons.

This time around, Mario, Luigi, and Peach take a holiday to Pi'illo Island, and - gasp - Peach gets captured (just for a change). It's your job, then, to wrest her back from her captors.

Cue endearingly oddball mechanics, where Luigi must lie down for a snooze, and Mario gets to join him in a dreamworld at the various "Pillow Portals" dotted around.

In the early stages, the turn-based battling gameplay is all fairly standard JRPG fare, with a selection of basic actions from which to choose. To ease you in, early enemies are little more than cannon fodder, so it's a simple task to attack, with a generous window of opportunity to stomp on their heads.

Wandering around the dreamworld, you can opt to either jump over enemies or get your hands dirty and build up experience. A few rounds in, you're introduced to a Katamari-style attack, where you get to tilt and roll over as many of your enemies as possible. Needless to say, it's a game mechanic that never gets old, and points to an array of daft gameplay styles that freshen things up.

Talking of which, the gameplay switches to a more traditional 2D platforming exploration experience later on in the demo. This, bizarrely, involves twanging Mario up to higher platforms via Luigi's on-screen moustache.

With AlphaDream demonstrating such dedication to playful nonsense,Mario & Luigi: Dream Team's arrival in Europe on July 12th will be a cause for much celebration.

Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move


In the good old days, it used to be Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Best described initially as a 'fierce rivalry involving the "borrowing" of frightened lady friends', this particular conflict then morphed into a bitter tale of clockwork toys.

Somewhere along the line, Donkey Kong and Pauline have actually joined forces to run a carnival. You read that right. And Mario's probably shaved off his 'tache, and is busily setting himself up as a therapist.

Whatever the logic, Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is basically an excuse to come up with a tile-moving puzzler, where you have to ensure the safe passage of a clockwork Mario from one side to another.

So, how does it work? On the touchscreen, you have access to a number of tiles down the right-hand side. The idea is to quickly shift them onto the correct square, and thereby create a path upon which Mini Mario can traverse.

As you progress through the levels, new obstacles and challenges enter the fray. These range from blockages that you must bomb out of the way, to tiles that you can eliminate to free up space for (hopefully) better ones.

As lame as that probably sounds, the reality is surprisingly engaging. And with 180 levels for you to look forward to, Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move's debut exclusively on the eShop on May 9th should be a cause for unfettered excitement.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf


I'll confess that I have a heart of ice, and never really took Animal Crossing to my heart back in the day. Since it came to DS and became one of Nintendo's biggest-selling global franchises, however, it appears that plenty of people absolutely adore it.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf is, of course, the first handheld iteration in the series for nigh on eight years, which means, if nothing else, that its appearance is officially 'long awaited'.

Due for release on June 14th in Europe and on June 9th in North America, it doesn't, unsurprisingly, represent a massive departure from previous versions.

As ever, you move in to a rural village, build a humble abode, and then spend days, weeks, months performing endless tasks for lazy-arsed animals. Oh, and taking undue satisfaction from customising everything. But you could have probably guessed that, right?

The big news is that there are now far more customisation options. As mayor of the town, you now have the right to build bridges and buildings; make your own laws; and create museum exhibits.

You can also take a boat to a nearby tropical island full of fruit, insects, and fish, not to mention indulge in various mini-games that you can enjoy alone or with pals online.

In fact, multiplayer is a much bigger part of the overall experience than it was in previous instalments of the series, with the ability to visit other players' homes and towns (via wireless connection or online) present and correct. If you're that way inclined, you can also socialise with up to three other players at once. Imagine!

Apparently, up to four people can live in the same town on a single cartridge, and you can get together simultaneously with friends who also own a copy of the game (either online or via Local Play).

StreetPass integration is also a big deal in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, meaning you can now have a nose at other player's towns while they sleep. Actually, that sounds faintly creepy. But there you go.

Visually speaking, Animal Crossing: New Leaf is essentially Wii standard. The same beloved signature style of old is back, so expect a cutesy overload of slow-burn customisation chaos in the month of June.

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Buyers' Guide: How to get the cheapest Nintendo 3DS XL in the UK

There has never been a better time to be a 3DS owner.

Not only is there now an enormous selection of games to play, but there are also many more on their way. Oh, and there's a fantastic promotion on at the moment where you can get a free game to download.

With all that in mind, we thought we'd help out those sorry 3DS-less gamers out there by scouring the internet for the cheapest unit (or bundle) online.

We've gone for the 3DS XL specifically. It's absolutely and positively the only 3DS worth having (thanks to that enormous screen and superior battery and build quality).

Read on, and let us know which package you decide to plump for in the comments below.

Just a console

If you just want to buy a 3DS XL console on its own, you can get one for less than £150. If you're picky about the colour or design, though, expect to pay a premium for certain special units.

3DS XL Blue + Black - £149.99 at Amazon3DS XL Red + Black - £149.99 at Amazon3DS XL Silver + Black - £149.99 at Amazon

If you get in quick, you can pick the Red, Silver, and Blue console up for £144 at Tesco with the code TDX-KPWM. You'll need to add on £3 for postage. Or you could just pick it up from a nearby shop.



3DS XL Black - £174.99 at GAME
3DS XL White - £174.99 at GAME
3DS XL Pink - £169.85 at Shopto (Available from May 31st)
3DS XL Pikachu Yellow - £179 at Tesco (£174 with code TDX-KPWM)

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Official Nintendo bundles

These game and console bundles are special edition consoles with a top Nintendo game.

Note that the game is pre-installed on the system, so you won't get a box or cartridge in the package. As such, you won't be able to sell the game on to save some cash.

3DS XL White with Mario Kart 7 - £159.99 at Amazon


This bundle represents a saving of about £20 over the price of buying the console (any colour) and game (about £30) separately.

We called Mario Kart 7 "a solid combination of timeless racing and robust online multiplayer that will be enjoyed for years to come".

3DS XL White with Super Mario 3D Land - £159.99 at Amazon


This bundle represents a saving of about £20 over the price of buying the console (any colour) and game (about £30) separately.

In 2011, we reckoned that "Super Mario 3D Land is pure entertainment from start to finish".

3DS XL Limited Edition Fire Emblem: Awakening Pack - £189.85 at ShopTo



You could get a normal blue 3DS XL and the game for about £10 less, but you'll miss out on the fancy limited edition design.

Fire Emblem: Awakening was our first PG Platinum Award-winning game of 2013. We called it "strategy role-playing at its finest", and said it "marries sophistication and character development in a way rarely found in the genre".

3DS XL Black with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate - £178.99 at Grainger Games


This bundle represents a saving of a few quid over the price of buying the game and console separately.

We gave this game 7/10 on review. We said, "what Monster Hunter lacks in communication, it more than makes up for in quantity and quality of content."

3DS XL Limited Edition Animal Crossing: New Leaf Pack - £189.99 at GAME

This console bundle, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf, will debut in the UK on June 14th.

If prices stay the same until then, you'll pay a premium of about £10 for the adorable console design.

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Unofficial bundles

Most of the console and game bundle packs - especially those offered by GAME - are more expensive than buying the console and game separately.

The only noteworthy exception is the blue 3DS XL with Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask bundle for £175 at Asda. This represents a saving of about £4 over the price of buying these items separately.

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Charger


Oh, and don't forget a charger.

For some bizarre reason, no AC adapters are included in any of the 3DS XL consoles or bundles.

The 3DS XL uses the same charger as the regular 3DS, but if you need a new one…

The official Nintendo charger is cheap as chips at GAME, where it costs £6.99. There's also a third-party "Descrescent" cable available at Play.com for £4.99 (but don't come crying to us if your house burns down after you use that one).

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Nintendo releasing Pink 3DS XL in the UK on May 31st

Do you really, really want a Nintendo 3DS XL? Are you really, really put off by the range of colours in which you can currently purchase Ninty's handheld?

We have some good news for the three of you who answered 'yes' to both of the above questions.

From May 31st, you'll be able to walk into your local UK-based game store and walk back out cradling your very own Pink Nintendo 3DS XL.

Over the moon? We bet you are.

Over the past few months, Nintendo has released numerous limited edition versions of its 3DS XL.

These include a special Pink and White 3DS XL that debuted in North America back in February, and a Charizard-emblazoned 3DS XL that never left Japan.

Nintendo has also released an absolutely gorgeous Pikachu-themed 3DS XL, for which - personally - I'd trade my first-born child.

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Review: Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins for 3DS

Whenever a big Lego game is released on consoles, you'll often find that a smaller and less feature-filled version will hit the handheld consoles at around the same time.

But Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins bucks that trend, and brings a good portion of the Wii U game's massive open world over to the Nintendo 3DS.

There are a number of caveats to this, mind you. But, overall, this is an impressive release that you'll definitely want to pick up if you're enjoying the home console edition.

Previously on Lego City Undercover...

This prequel to the Wii U version puts you in the plastic square shoes of Chase McCain - currently a rookie police officer who's looking to work his way up the ranks and make a name for himself.

You're provided with a rather large city to roam around in, and given missions to complete throughout the streets. Think Grand Theft Auto for kids, and you're in the right ball park.

There's a huge amount of content to work your way through here, with different jobs to perform, criminals to stop, secrets to find, and buildings to piece together - and that's without even mentioning the lengthy main quest.

The city itself is rather glorious to behold on a 3DS screen, especially as it's filled with personality and wit. The story is fun to follow along with, and the jokes will raise a smile every now and again.

Best of all, this isn't simply a rough, cut-down port of the console version. It's a whole separate story that complements the Wii U game immensely.

Chasing status

That sizable city is a blessing, but it comes with some obvious limitations on the 3DS.

A thick fog means you can't see very far into the distance, and the number of pedestrians and cars about the place is minimal (no doubt due to the limited power of the console). It leaves the game feeling far more lifeless than the Wii U version.

The problems with the console version are also carried over to The Chase Begins. Fighting is too simplistic, the driving is too slow, and loading times are far too long.

But The Chase Begins also has its own issues. The camera is a nightmare, while some of the platforming sections are far too loose in their execution, such as swinging from flagpoles.

Of course, this is a game aimed at kids first and foremost, and as such it's still a winner as most children aren't even going to notice these issues for all the fun they're having exploring the vast world.

If you enjoyed the Wii U version, or you're a fan of the Lego games in general, you'll dig The Chase Begins too as it's essentially more of the same.

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Get a free 3DS game for registering your purchases with Nintendo's 'So Many Games!' Promotion

Nintendo is offering 3DS owners who register their games the chance to get a free copy of, among other titles,Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon, the PG Platinum Award winning Fire Emblem: Awakening, or Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

Going under the banner of the 'So Many Games! Promotion', the offer requires participants to register any three of the eight selected 3DS games (see below).

Provided you've linked your Club Nintendo account to the eShop, and register the games before midnight on June 30th, you will be able to download a digital copy of any one of the remaining five titles for nothing. Nada. Zippo. Zilch.

Alternatively, if you want a backup (or fancy gifting a game to a friend, love interest, or favourite Pocket Gamer writer), you can even download an extra copy of one of the games you've already registered.

The games eligible for the So Many Games! Promotion are as follows:

• Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate
• Luigi's Mansion 2: Dark Moon
• Fire Emblem: Awakening
• Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity
• Animal Crossing: New Leaf
• Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins
• Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D

Just so you know, you do have to be at least 16 years old and a resident of the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, or Russia to apply (see Terms and Conditions page for all the teeny-tiny print).

If you've got any of the games listed above (or are planning to get any), we suggest you head over to the So Many Games! Promotionhomepage and get registering pronto.

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Review: Alien Chaos 3D for 3DS

Unless you've played Mama & Son: Clean House - the game that precededAlien Chaos 3D - you've probably never experienced a game that involved both shooting aliens and cleaning up your mess afterwards.

In Alien Chaos 3D, you're not just cleaning for the sake of it, though: you'll need to wash the walls and sweep the floors in order to survive.

No, really.

This silly quirk really gives Reef Entertainment's game an edge. Throw in some perfectly designed controls, and there's a lot to love about this short but sweet indie title.

Messy business

You play "Really Shooter", a cleaning and guns expert whose mum has been captured by aliens. Naturally, then, you need to chase after them, machine gun in one hand and broom in the other.

Across a series of platforming arenas, alien robots will spawn and attack you. As you take them out, your ammo depletes. Yep, you're gonna need to find some more.

The only way to get ammo is by pushing the mechanical remains of your enemies along the floor and into rubbish bins, which will then spurt out bullets for your gun.

It's a simple concept, but one which works remarkably well. As your ammunition begins to run out, you feel an overwhelming sense of panic as you realise that you need to bound over the remaining enemies, grab the trash on the floor, and bung it into the box.

The action in Alien Chaos 3D is fast paced and exciting. Though the game is never too difficult, it's not especially easy, either. You really need to keep your wits about you and keep changing position to survive.

Sweep under the rug

Shooting enemies won't prevent your downfall all on its own - you also need to make constant use of your superpower, which causes an explosion with a half-decent blast radius.

You build this power up by - yep, you guessed it - cleaning stuff. As you spruce up the walls, your bar will fill up. While you're scrubbing, though, you're highly vulnerable.

It's this striking of a balance between cleaning, collecting ammo, and clearing the screen that makes Alien Chaos 3D a huge amount of fun.

Unfortunately, the game just doesn't last long enough. The most adeptAlien Chaos 3D players will be able to polish it off in around an hour. And while the supplied Challenge Mode and StreetPass options are nice side attractions, there's still not enough content here to keep us absorbed for too long.

Alien Chaos 3D is well worth grabbing from the eShop, though, especially if you're looking for an evening's worth of top-drawer arcade-style blasting.

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