Don’t Expect New Nintendo Games to Light Up Turkey Week

Anemic releases fill the gap between Nintendo’s heavy hitters, but considerable eShop sales help alleviate the pain.

A variety of pet-based shovelware and a single GBA release on Wii U don’t make for a very entertaining week, unless Konami Krazy Ravers is exactly what you’re looking for.

Whether or not it is, a number of “Cyber Deals” might make your holidays a little less expensive, so long as you’ve upgraded those harddrives.  Titles from Pikmin 3 to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD are on sale ($15-20 off) for Wii U, as are the digital versions of some of the 3DS’s hottest titles, like Fire Emblem Awakening, Kid Icarus Uprising, and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.  Platinum Games’ (behind Bayonetta 2 and the upcoming Star Fox Zero) The Wonderful 101 is even available for under $20.  The sale hits the VC for both systems as well, so be sure to check out the full list.

From Nintendo:

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

• Virtual Console on Wii U
  • Konami Krazy Racers – In this fun Game Boy Advance racer, choose from 12 of your favorite Konami characters, all with unique racing abilities. Speed your way through 16 action-packed, fun-filled courses. Collect coins to upgrade your car, unlock hidden courses and race by your opponents on your way to the checkered flag.

• Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
  • Nintendo eShop Cyber Deals are here! Gaming fans can save up to 50 percent on a selection of top-rated Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games until Dec. 2 at 8:59 a.m. PT. Head to the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS to see these great deals.
• Nintendo eShop on Wii U
  • Rock ’N Racing Off Road is 50 percent off (reduced from $5.99 to $2.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 31.
  • Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune and more from Nordic Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3
  • Skylanders SuperChargers Portal Owner’s Pack is 40 percent off (reduced from $49.99 to $29.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 4.
• Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
  • Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai is more than 25 percent off (reduced from $8.99 to $6.70) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 17.
  • Real Heroes: Firefighter 3D is 50 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Dec. 3.

Activities:

• National StreetPass Weekend: Thanksgiving Edition – After you fill up on turkey, be sure to load up on StreetPass tags during the Thanksgiving National StreetPass Weekend (Nov. 26 – Nov. 29). Stop by any of the more than 29,000 Nintendo Zone hotspots across North America with your Nintendo 3DS system to get up to six StreetPass tags from across the globe. If you’re playing the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game, you might even run into Felyne, a special character inspired by the Monster Hunter series.
• Miiverse Fan Faves Sweepstakes – What do you think were the best Nintendo games of 2015? Make your voice heard and earn a chance to win some cool prizes by entering the Fan Faves Sweepstakes. Head to the Miiverse Fan Faves 2015 community from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3 to vote for Nintendo 3DS games and from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6 for Wii U games. Good luck!
  • NO PURCH NEC. US res only (incl. DC). 13+ Deadline for Nintendo 3DS Fan Faves 2015 Sweepstakes: Miiverse Dec. 3 / Mail-in Dec. 5. Deadline for Wii U Fan Faves 2015 Sweepstakes: Miiverse Dec. 6 / Mail-in Dec. 9. Rules: Wii U –http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal/miiverse-fan-faves-2015-wiiu/; Nintendo 3DS – http://www.nintendo.com/corp/legal/miiverse-fan-faves-2015-3ds/.

Also new this week:

• Cutie Pets Jump Rope (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)
• PET HOSPITAL (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
• I Love My Pony – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)