Author: sick skills

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Review: Sparkle 2 EVO (Switch eShop)

In a shocking turn of events, arcade-styled games starring evolutionary entities searching through petri dish detritus for food are not in fact a dime a dozen. Sparkle 2 EVO is a game by which you experience a world not unlike what you’d find under a microscope in biology class, in order to climb the chain of transformative life by either being an unquenchable predator or a passive phytophagous. Is it worth a trip to the lab?

In Sparkle 2 EVO, you control a micro-organism as it searches for food in order to evolve into something bigger. The layout is simple; you can move it around with the analogue stick and rise up or sink into the depths with the shoulder buttons. It’s also possible to play with the touch screen, but with the action obscuring your view it’s not recommended. You collect various coloured amoeba to satiate your hunger, each shade leaning you towards being a carnivore, herbivore or the omnipresent omnivore. Unfortunately, none of this has an impact on the game in terms of how hastily your creature moves, or even the potential for an extra move you can perform with the Y button that just pushes you towards eating more things.

The game can be played in one of two ways. The first is that you compete against AI controlled organisms in a sort of race to see who can gobble up the most proto matter. While the game pushes you towards taking a certain path by eating specific coloured foodstuff, you can effortlessly glide through the game by eating everything in sight, which will often have you overcoming your opponent handily.

The other is a more experimental take, which removes the opposition completely and just has you hovering around and gluttonously devouring everything in sight until the level complete signal triggers. Its low expectations of the player in turn make for a low expectation of the game. It can feel rather dull, actually.

The visuals in Sparkle 2 Evo have a definite pop. It’s like looking into a microscope and seeing the oscillating and undulating world through a neon lens. Your little critter swims across a world awash in a dark sea with bright strands of DNA setting the stage and guiding you towards your next meal. As you gobble up microelements it can be fun to watch your evolutionary avatar grow pincers, segments and legs. The whole experience is surrounded by a neat soundtrack that is part ambient noise filter, crackling speaker and mellow looped electronic beats.

It can be fun to behold, but the fact that the actual gameplay itself doesn’t offer a great deal is a disappointment. It very much feels like a proof of concept that isn’t given the push it needs to be something more engaging and impactful.   

Conclusion

Sparkle 2 EVO has an interesting visual and sound design, but lacks a truly compelling gameplay hook. In its attempt at catering to both the tense competitive gaming crowd and the chill experiential group, it fails to fully entertain on either front. it’s neither challenging nor relaxing, which in turn limits its appeal.

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Switch and Nintendo Systems Dominated US Hardware Sales in October

Nintendo hasn’t been shy of highlighting sales success this year, and the company has come out early to reveal another hugely impressive month in the October NPD results for the US.

Starting with hardware, the Switch once again took the number one spot, but in an impressive indication of its popularity (and stock levels) the Super NES Classic was the second best selling system. Throwing 3DS sales into the mix Nintendo states that its hardware accounted for two thirds of all gaming system sales in the US for October, with the broader market passing one million units; in other words at least 666,000 Nintendo units were sold.

Moving on to software, Nintendo states that – despite its launch late in the month – Super Mario Odyssey was the number one game (based on physical retail sales). That’s for the single SKU charts, while there were evergreen sales for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 10th and 11th place respectively.

The full NPD line-up of results is due soon, but it says a lot that Nintendo is eager to share its positive news. The company’s been enjoying a particularly good year and will hope to carry that momentum into the Holiday season.

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Free Weekend – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege

Play Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege for FREE starting now through Sunday at 1PM Pacific Time. You can also pickup Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege at 50% off the regular price!*

If you already have Steam installed, click here to install or play Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Siege. If you don’t have Steam, you can download it here.

*Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time

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Portal Knights is Just a Week Away on Nintendo Switch

Portal Knights is yet another intriguing title that’s about to make its bow on the Nintendo Switch; eagle-eyed readers will have spotted that it’s up for pre-loading on the eShop in Europe, and there are also full release details for North America.

The big release date is 23rd November in both territories, priced at £24.99 / $29.99USD. That’s the download release date; there’ll also be a physical retail release in North America but that doesn’t arrive until 13th February 2018.

Check out the trailer and some details on Switch-specific features below.

  • Touch Screen Support: Players can tap and swipe the Nintendo Switch touch screen to manage and organize their inventory faster and more efficiently
  • Online Multiplayer: Play together and explore the expansive 3D sandbox world with friends and Nintendo Switch gamers around the world with up to four players in online multiplayer mode 
  • Wireless Play Support: Play in split screen up to four players by connecting two Nintendo Switch systems or in full screen up to four players by connecting four Nintendo Switch systems

Nintendo Switch players will also have immediate access to the recently released Portal Knights v1.2 update, which provides players access to brand new features and content including Vacant Islands, new boss quests and vanity items, new enemies and more.

In Portal Knights, players begin their journey as a Warrior, Mage or Ranger, then level up their character while gathering resources to craft powerful weapons, armor and spells to defeat formidable monsters and epic bosses in real-time combat. Players can work cooperatively with friends or family to build structures, explore dungeons and combine the unique attack styles of all classes to overcome challenging perils together while traveling between expansive, imaginative 3D worlds.

Is this a game that you’re tempted to pick up on Switch?

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New Expansion Available – Europa Universalis IV: Cradle of Civilization

Expansion – Europa Universalis IV: Cradle of Civilization, all new content for Europa Universalis IV is Now Available on Steam!

The fertile valleys and trade routes of the Middle East have attracted ambitious conquerors since the beginning of recorded history. Now, Europa Universalis IV adds greater depth and more varied possibilities to this crossroads of empires in the new expansion Cradle of Civilization.

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New Expansion Available – Crusader Kings II: Jade Dragon

Expansion – Crusader Kings II: Jade Dragon, all new content for Crusader Kings II is Now Available on Steam!

Crusader Kings II: Jade Dragon allows you to interact with China for protection and technological marvels — and possibly face their wrath in the form of rebels or full-scale invasions. New gameplay features including a new Tributary system, Chinese Mercenaries, and much more will make the Transoxiana and India regions come alive with new surprises and challenges for even the most seasoned despot.

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Guide: 9 Straightforward Tips to Help You Get Started in Rocket League

Rocket League offers plenty of fun and giggles, but it can be daunting for new players to enter into the fray when it’s been out for so long on other systems. It’s easy to think you’ll never get the hang of it and give up before you’ve even managed your first bicycle hit.

Well, we want to put a stop to all that, and so through conversing with long-time Rocket League players we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks that should help you break off those stabilisers once and for all.

If your teammates are ahead of you tackling the ball, don’t rush straight in

It can be tempting to try and keep your mitts on the objective as often as possible, but there’s no sense in all of you congregating around one area at any one time. Keep your distance and instead try and defend or poise yourself for a potential shot at the goal.

During kickoff, if you’re not the closest to the ball, hang back

If you’re not closest to the ball, you’re simply not going to be able to hit it before your closer teammate or the opposing team do. Either reverse to keep an eye on the goal, or position yourself elsewhere so that more of the pitch is covered.

Boosting everywhere is impractical and inefficient, try somersaulting instead

By tapping B to jump and then B again whilst holding up on the left stick, you can perform a very effective somersault that will give you a tremendous burst of speed. Be warned, though, that this will reduce your turning control to basically zero, so it’s best to only use this when you need to cover a straight line.

Use the quick chat shortcuts to communicate with your team

Using the D-Pad allows you to send quick chat messages to your teammates and the other players. These can be extremely useful to let them know that perhaps you’re going to hang back and defend so they can focus on offensive manoeuvres without worrying.

Try toggling ball focus off when you’re in goal

Clicking in the right stick will give you full control over the camera rather than tracking the ball automatically. When in goal this not only allows you to keep an eye out for any foes that might otherwise be outside your field of view, but also allows to you have a better understanding of which way you’re facing. This seems simple, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to do, and being in goal is when you really need to be on highest alert.

Play through the tutorials, there’s loads of them

They’re easy to miss, but absolutely essential if you’re a newcomer. There are tutorials for basic moves, advanced moves, and more general guides for attacking, defending, and aerial play. If you think you can skip these, think again.

Rebind your buttons to suit your preference

If you head into the options menu you can re-assign any function to any button you wish. This is especially useful for the power slide move, which for some reason is controlled with the Y button by default. This limits your play and prevents you from power sliding whilst boosting, so by slapping it onto the L button instead you can leave your right thumb free to boost, jump, and look behind you with reckless abandon.

Increase the field of view to see more at once

The typical 90º view that the game issues as standard is alright, but by increasing the FOV you can simply see more. It’s a no-brainer.

Most importantly, don’t just rush after the ball

This is arguably the most important thing to keep in mind whenever you’re playing. Just charging after the ball in the vain hope that you might hit it is ludicrous. Instead it’s far better to keep your distance and plan your attack before attempting to make a shot; you’ll do just fine.

If you’re a new player and you’ve found any of these tips useful, please let us know in the comments below.

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Review: Rocket League (Switch eShop)

Rocket League is a shining example of how a game can organically create its own success without expensive marketing campaigns or pre-launch hype. When it launched on the PS4 as part of Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service it came with little fanfare – the title on which it is based, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, drifted under the radar of many a player during the PS3 era and developer Psyonix admitted it had trouble getting publishers interested in the sequel. The game’s incredible addictiveness – no doubt combined with the fact that it was totally free to PS+ subscribers for the first month of release – created a multiplayer monster which has since extended its reach to Xbox One and PC. Now it’s the turn of the Switch, and rather than being the poor relation in this family, the Nintendo port could actually be the best way to experience the game yet.

Rocket League is, as developer Psyonix so effectively explains, “soccer, but with rocket-powered cars”, and that high-concept pitch is as tantalising as it sounds. You drive your souped-up vehicle around a series of arenas which have a goal at either end. The objective is to shunt the massive ball into your opponent’s goal while preventing them from doing the same; the team with the most goals at the close of play wins. While this may sound almost insultingly basic – Rocket League also keeps team sizes small, which hints at further simplicity – there’s more depth on offer here than it’s possible to appreciate in the first few days of ownership.

Getting the ball into the goal isn’t as easy as it sounds, for starters. Because you’re driving a car which is subject to its own momentum and inertia and can’t turn 180 degrees on a sixpence like a footballer would, you have to plan each approach effectively – especially as you’re trying to make contact with an object that’s almost constantly in motion. The ball’s large surface area means that it could potentially shoot off in many different directions depending on where you strike it, and with how much force. Working on your aim is of paramount importance and the game’s excellent tutorial mode should be the first place newcomers head – it runs you through the basics but also allows you to master the more advanced techniques required to come out on top.

These include aerial moves, which are essential to success in high-level Rocket League play. Tapping the B button propels your car into the air, and it’s possible to manipulate your vehicle when it’s airborne; adding spin to your car at the right moment can give the ball extra speed should you be successful in making contact. The next wrinkle in the control system is the boost button, which not only gives you speed on the ground but can also be used to extend the height and pace of your jumps, keeping you in the air for longer periods of time. A double-tap of the jump button also triggers a dodge move which can be used not only to quickly block incoming shots but also give you extra power behind your own attempts on goal. 

The Y button forces your car into a powerslide, which is handy for when you need to get back down the other end of the pitch after a failed scoring effort, but slides can be incorporated into other movements so you have full command of the pitch, which leads us to the next part of Rocket League strategy 101: harassing your rivals. During some of the more packed 4v4 matches it often pays to have one player who is practically ignoring the ball and instead ramming opponents out of position. With enough boost behind it, a crash can be potent enough to destroy the victim and place them out of action for a few seconds, which of course improves your team’s scoring chances.

As all of these skills fall into the place you’ll notice special tactics slowly but surely creep into your game. For example, boosting on the ground and hitting the ball usually results it in being struck too high and hitting the wall above the goal; however, press jump at the last second and your car will hit the ball dead-centre for a more accurate shot. Moves such as boosts, slides, spins, dodges and jumps can be combined in so many ways it makes every match different and unique.

If all of this sounds like an awful lot to take in at once, that’s because it is – and because Rocket League showcases cross-platform play, it’s not uncommon to feel totally outmatched in your first few goes, especially if you’re experiencing the game for the first time on Switch and you end up facing a team of Xbox One veterans who’ve had the game since it launched on that system at the start of 2016 (cross-platform play also means you’re never more than a few seconds from your next match as there are tens of thousands of Xbox One and PC players online at any one time – Sony, however, has decided not to allow PS4 players to join the love-in, which is a shame). However, after a few hours you begin to realise that dashing about the pitch isn’t always the best option – keeping an eye on the ball and trying to anticipate where it’s headed is a more effective approach. You can even toggle the camera so that it always points in the direction of the ball, rather than where your car is facing. This might sound awkward but switching between these two camera views quickly becomes a key component of your game; lining up accurate shots is easier with the “behind the car” view but sometimes you need a clear look at where the ball is, especially during an intense melee.

Nintendo’s full suite of online features may not go live until next year but Rocket League on Switch doesn’t suffer in the same way that EA’s FIFA 18 does. Creating a party with people on your friend list is totally painless; just tap X on the main game menu and you’re away. You can choose to buddy up as a team and face random strangers online or create private online matches which restrict both teams exclusively to your friends. There’s no in-game voice chat but in its place there’s a selection of phrases mapped to the left-hand Joy-Con’s directional button cluster, and these are more than adequate when you need to make your intentions known. You can congratulate a teammate when they score, highlight a good pass and even express your annoyance or regret at a poor piece of play. Keeping with the online side of things, Rocket League’s performance on Switch is superb. We did notice a few instances where the connection became spotty but the random nature of these issues makes us suspect it was due to the slow broadband speeds of other players rather than a fault with the game itself. Even so, this is certainly one of those times when you’ll want to ensure you’re as close to your WiFi router as possible when playing in handheld mode, just to make sure you don’t succumb to any connection woes yourself.

Those of you who like to carry your Switch around with you will be pleased to note that local options are also available for those (perhaps rare) occasions that you can meet up with a couple of similarly-equipped pals for a quick match. It’s here that Rocket League on Switch really sings; while playing people online is fun it’s one of life’s eternal truths that multiplayer gaming is dramatically enhanced when you’re within punching distance of your opponents.

Rocket League’s appeal naturally rests on its competitive play, and there are plenty of game modes available to keep you occupied for months to come. The game’s “Casual” online mode has 3v3, 2v2, 1v1 and 4v4 match options, and there are Dropshot, Rumble, Snow Day, Hoops and experimental “Rocket Labs” modes if you fancy a change of pace. Boost your in-game rank and you’ll gain access to the “Competitive” online modes, where the real glory lies. The game tracks your achievements and stats, and there’s the allure of trying to improve your talents and scale the league rankings, as well as filling out the in-game garage with unlockable cars, parts and customisation options (Switch owners benefit from some cool Super Mario and Metroid-themed vehicles). In short, Rocket League has months if not years of gameplay in store; there’s a good reason PS4 owners still log-on regularly, despite the game being two years old now on that system.

Rocket League is truly something special no matter the platform you choose to play it on, but developer Panic Button – also responsible for moving mountains by porting DOOM to Nintendo’s console – has worked wonders here. While there are visual downgrades to speak of and the game runs at 720p, the smooth and silky essence of Rocket League has made the transition intact. In fact, after months of playing the PS4 version, we found ourselves totally forgetting that Rocket League on Switch is running on less powerful hardware. The visual experience – while ever so slightly diminished – remains faithful and it’s hard to consider this a lesser version in the same way that people might cosmetically compare Switch DOOM to its obviously superior Sony and Microsoft siblings; Rocket League on Switch feels like full-fat Rocket League, and that’s a real triumph.

Conclusion

One of modern gaming’s true multiplayer success stories, Rocket League is an essential addition to the Switch’s striking year-one library. Analyse every screenshot and video and yes, you’ll spot visual downgrades when compared to the other console editions, but what’s key here is that the spirit of the game has been transferred perfectly, with the added benefit of portable play which opens up the chance to host local matches with your Switch owning mates wherever and whenever you fancy. Developer Panic Button has done an utterly fantastic job with this port, but technical wizardry aside, what really matters is that the core game is so addictive, so compelling, so enjoyable and – perhaps above all else – so deep. Don’t let anyone tell you that Rocket League is simplistic or lacks longevity; the vibrant community that has grown up around Psyonix’s masterpiece renders that viewpoint wholly incorrect. This is a game that rewards skilful play and perseverance, and new tactics and strategies seem to flow from each and every match you partake in. Only the occasional network niggle throws shade on this otherwise sublime release; the Switch has yet another must-have release to add to its awe-inspiring 2017 pile.

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Nintendo Download: 16th November (Europe)

Prepare to have a lighter wallet, as it’s another Nintendo Download Update in Europe. This week delivers some high profile retail games and some download-only gems on the Switch, while the 3DS has a huge retail release of its own. There’s a lot to cover so let’s get to it.

Switch Retail Downloads

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda, €59.99 / £49.99) – A title that has been eagerly anticipated, bringing the remastered version of a gaming classic to Nintendo hardware for the first time. An enormous adventure with impressive independence and flexibility, it still stands up as a wonderful gaming experience; we get into detail in our Skyrim review. Available from 17th November.

L.A. Noire (Rockstar Games, €49.99 / £44.99) – Another high profile arrive for Nintendo’s system, in this case an inventive and critically acclaimed crime thriller from the last generation of consoles. Visually stunning when originally released, on Switch it includes all previous DLC, a ‘Joy-Con’ mode with motion controls, HR Rumble and some ‘contextual touch controls’. We’ll let you know what we think of this in a review.

Batman – The Telltale Series (Telltale Games, €44.99 / £39.99) – The steady catch-up of Telltale games on Switch continues with this collection of the first Batman series. This will include five episodes as you alternate between the caped crusader and Bruce Wayne across the storyline.

RiME (Grey Box, €34.99 / £29.99) – This one has had a long road to the Nintendo Switch, also due as a budget retail title in stores. It’s a cerebral single player adventure in which you explore a mysterious island with a cute fox as a companion. We go over its pros and cons in our RiME review.

Ittle Dew 2+ (Nicalis, €29.99 / £26.99) – The Wii U had the original game in this series, so it’s great to see the re-jigged sequel continue the run on Nintendo hardware. It’s an overhead adventure/puzzle experience that draws comparisons to 2D Legend of Zelda games, but also very much goes its own way.

Lumo (Rising Star Games, €19.99 / £19.99) – This love letter to the popular isometric platformers from the ’80s has received acclaim from many sources for its intuitive and engrossing play mechanics, visual style, irreverent humour and chilled out music. We’ll let you know whether it’s still magic on the Switch.

Super Putty Squad (System 3, €14.99 / £14.99) – A retro platforming experience remastered for modern systems (previously also on Wii U and 3DS), this features a protagonist that “can inflate, morph, stretch, punch, jump and absorb”. In principle that sounds like rather good fun, so we’ll hop into a review.

Ginger: Beyond the Crystal (Badland Games, €19.99 / £17.99) – Heavily inspired by the likes of Super Mario 64, Spyro, Zelda and Donkey Kong Country, this is a 3D platformer with 200 side quests, 15 bonus levels and plenty of enemies to face off against. We’ll check it out in a review. Available from 17th November.

Switch eShop

Rocket League (Psynonix, €19.99 / £15.04) – In coming to Switch the hugely popular driving / football / action title will be playable on the go for the first time, and on top of that there are a few unique cars and designs for the Nintendo system. We loved this in our Rocket League review.

RIVE: Ultimate Edition (Two Tribes €12.74 / £11.46 until 30th November, then €14.99 / £13.49) – The final game from Two Tribes, it’s an intense and attractive platforming shooter with smart controls and hacking mechanics. It finally arrives on Nintendo hardware with a co-pilot mode and 60fps performance; we’re working on a review, but in the meantime you can check out our recent interview with Two Tribes. Available from 17th November.

Vvvvvv (Nicalis, €9.99 / £8.99) – Originally developed by Terry Cavanagh, this was a title that was a bit of an early gem on the 3DS eShop, keeping us hooked with its deceptively simple visuals and tough puzzle platforming. As for what this Switch version will offer, Nicalis promises smooth 60fps gameplay and multiplayer. We’ll check it out for review and let you know what we think.

Aces of the Luftwaffe – Squadron (HandyGames, €14.99 / £13.49) – Somewhat different from the non ‘Squadron’ release previously seen on smart devices, this is a vertically scrolling shooter with an emphasis on local co-op play (though you can tackle it solo). We’ll take to the skies for a review.

Xenoraid (10tons, €8.99 / £8.09 until 23rd November, then €9.99 / £8.99) – A shoot ’em up that aims to add its own spin with procedural levels, four fighters to choose from, ’tilt’ aiming and accessibility for those that struggle with bullet-hell shooters. We’ll dive in and let you know what we think in a review.

Antiquia Lost (KEMCO, €12.99 / £11.69) – Having brought a range of RPGs to Wii U and 3DS, KEMCO is now stepping up its Switch output. It features a “half-slime heroine, Lunaria” that needs to find and eat gems, and it’s a world with three tribes to discover and utilise. We expect relatively stock RPG action, but it’ll be interesting to see whether this is an accomplished download-only effort.

Green Game: TimeSwapper (iFun4all, €2.99 / £2.69) – This one is all about manipulating time to protect a flying bird, with the promise of a big challenge over 50 levels. Available from 17th November.

Karnov’s Revenge (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – A fighting game originally released in 1994, it showcases 13 different fighters – including the titular Karnov, who previously starred in his own 1987 arcade action title. We can expect the usual ACA feature to enjoy, too.

Switch eShop Pre-Purchase / Pre-Load

Portal Knights (505 Games, €29.99 / £24.99)

Unepic (Unepic fran, €7.99 / £7.19 until 14th December, normally €9.99 / £8.99)

Lumo (Rising Star Games, €19.99 / £19.99)

Nintendo Switch DLC

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition – MINECON Earth 2017 Skin Pack (Mojang, free until 23rd November)

Rocket League – Supersonic Fury DLC Pack (Psyonix, €3.99 / £3.00)

Rocket League – Revenge of the Battle-Cars DLC Pack (Psyonix, €3.99 / £3.00)

Rocket League – Back to the Future Car Pack (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Chaos Run DLC Pack (Psyonix, €3.99 / £3.00)

Rocket League – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Car Pack (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Aftershock (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Esper (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Marauder (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Masamune (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Proteus (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Triton (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Vulcan (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Hot Wheels Bone Shaker (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Hot Wheels Twin Mill III (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – The Fate of the Furious Ice Charger (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Fast & Furious ’70 Dodge Charger R/T (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Fast & Furious ’99 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (Psyonix, €1.99 / £1.50)

Rocket League – Crate Unlock Keys x1 (Psyonix, €1.26 / £1.12)

Rocket League – Crate Unlock Keys x5 (Psyonix, €4.22 / £3.75)

Rocket League – Crate Unlock Keys x10 (Psyonix, €8.45 / £7.52)

Rocket League – Crate Unlock Keys x20 (Psyonix, €16.91 / £15.04)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – French Voice Pack (Bethesda Softworks, free)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Italian Voice Pack (Bethesda Softworks, free)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Spanish Voice Pack (Bethesda Softworks, free)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – German Voice Pack (Bethesda Softworks, free)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Russian Voice Pack (Bethesda Softworks, free)

Nights of Azure 2: Side story, The Foreigner in a Wonderland of Sweets (Koei Tecmo, free)

Antiquia Lost – Experience Value Crystal (KEMCO, €4.99 / £4.49)

Antiquia Lost – SP Crystal (KEMCO, €2.99 / £2.69)

Antiquia Lost – Skill Level Crystal (KEMCO, €2.99 / £2.69)

Antiquia Lost – Boost Bead Set (KEMCO, €4.99 / £4.49)

Antiquia Lost – Battle Encounter Bead (KEMCO, €1.99 / £1.79)

Switch eShop Temporary Discounts

NBA 2K18 (2K Games, €48.99 / £38.49 until 27th November, normally €69.99 / £54.99)

NBA 2K18 Legend Edition (2K Games, €59.99 / £50.99 until 27th November, normally €99.99 / £84.99)

NBA 2K18 Legend Edition Gold (2K Games, €119.99 / £95.99 until 27th November, normally €149.99 / £119.99)

Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (DotEmu, €13.99 / £12.59 until 30th November, normally €19.99 / £17.99)

3DS Retail Downloads

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (Nintendo, €44.99 / £39.99 each) – A title that’s likely to drive plenty of interest in the 3DS over the festive period, these mid-gen entries may revisit a familiar land but nevertheless shake things up a fair amount. We get into what’s new and why the additions are fantastic in our Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon review. Available from 17th November.

3DS eShop Demo

Phil’s Epic Fill-a-Pix Adventure (Lightwood Games, free)

3DS HOME Theme

Pokémon: Necrozma (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

3DS DLC

Culdcept Revolt – Spider (NIS America, free)

Swapdoodle – Shades of Pink Set (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Swapdoodle – Shades of Red Set (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Swapdoodle – Shades of Blue Set (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Swapdoodle – Bird and Snowman Stationery Set (Nintendo, free)

New 3DS eShop Temporary Discount

36 Fragments of Midnight (Petite Games, €2.39 / £2.15 until 30th November, normally €2.99 / £2.69)

3DS eShop Temporary Discount

Cats and Dogs 3D: Pets at Play (Treva Entertainment, €9.99 / £9.99 until 7th December, normally €24.99 / £24.99)

3DS HOME Theme

Pokémon: Necrozma (Nintendo, €1.99 / £1.79)

Wii U eShop

RTO (nuGAME, €8.99 / £7.99) – This appears to be a scrolling gallery shooter in which you control multiple characters to shoot a whole lot of scary aliens, though the developer describes it as an “FPS survival horror game with permadeath”.

Wii U DLC

Minecraft: Wii U Edition: MINECON Earth 2017 Skin Pack (Mojang, free)

Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts

Gravity Badgers (Wales Interactive, €1.49 / £1.49 until 14th December, normally €4.99 / £4.99)

Midnight 2 (Petite Games, €1.59 / £1.43 until 30th November, normally €1.99 / £1.79)

Absolutely Unstoppable MineRun (YappaPie, €1.97 / £1.59 until 30th November, normally €3.59 / £2.99)

Lots of goodies on offer this week – let us know what you’ll be downloading in the poll and comments below.