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Wii Fanboy Review: Actionloop Twist
Developers of the world, repeat after me: just because the Wii Remote offers a new and different way of controlling games, this does not mean that motion-based controls are suitable for everything. Got that? Good. Now write it down on a sheet of luminous yellow A3 card, and pin it to the walls of your offices (or, better still, your foreheads). Learn it, live it, breathe it, and with any luck promising games such as Actionloop Twist (or Magnetica Twist as it will be known stateside, or Minna de Puzzloop in Japan) will never again be marred with awkward, Wiimote-only configurations that are a pain to use.Oh, and I mean pain literally.%Gallery-24708%
Not-VC Friday: An unexpected Twist
In the week that WiiWare launched in Japan, the Virtual Console received nothing. No problem, we thought. This was just a case of Nintendo not wanting to distract people from its shiny new download service with a shmup from the '80s or something. As long as this neglect of the Virtual Console wasn't a regular occurrence, we could cope without an update on this one-off occasion.But now it's happened again. This week, Europe and Australia got absolutely zilch in the way of Virtual Console games, with only Actionloop Twist (Magnetica Twist in the states, or Minna de Puzzloop in Japan) on WiiWare. We're not suggesting that we dislike Actionloop Twist or anything -- our decision on that matter can wait for our review -- but this is a tad worrying. If Virtual Console updates are already being ignored just two weeks after WiiWare launched, this could easily happen again. And that kind of sucks, because we love our golden oldies. Actionloop Twist -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points Make the jump for a Japanese trailer of Actionloop Twist, and keep an eye out for our review in the coming days.
Puzzloop for Everyone in Japan next week
Japan hasn't received any new WiiWare content since the service's March 25th launch, with the exception of DLC for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King and Lonpos. It would appear that WiiWare is on a monthly release schedule, because one new game has been announced for release next Tuesday: Minna de Puzzloop (Puzzloop for Everyone).The puzzle game, about shooting marbles at same-color marbles as they come down a looped path, was originally released by developer Mitchell as an arcade game in 1998, but most gamers are most familiar with it as Magnetica on the DS. This 1000-Wii Point version supports four-player simultaneous play (though it doesn't seem to be playable online), and of course it also supports being able to buy it from your couch.[Via Famitsu]
Nintendo unveils more WiiWare titles, new Dr. Mario details
Following last night's unveiling of upcoming Wii Ware titles, Nintendo has announced its first-party lineup for the downloadable service when it hits Japan in March. In addition to last night's Dr. Mario and Pokemon Farm announcements, Nintendo will also release Maruboushikaku and Minna de Puzzloop (known stateside as Magnetica). Maruboushikaku involves three screens displayed, each with its own pattern (circle-, line- and square-based). We don't yet know the objective of the game, but your actions in one window will affect the other two. The game previously known as Pokemon Farm is officially titled Pokemon Bokujou Channel (Pokemon Ranch Channel) and will let you take your Miis to the ranch to take pictures of your pokemon and send your friends. Pokemon management was mentioned, but no information on whether you level up your characters in the channel. Dr. Mario & Saikin Bokumetsu (or "bacteria extermination") will also feature your Mii characters in-game and has options for online multiplayer. Saikin Bokumesu is a minigame from the Japanese Brain Age 2 and will feature four-player online co-op. IGN has a handful of pictures from the game. Star Soldier R, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and the Promised Land and Moji Pittan Wii were also announced last night. Wii Ware is coming to Japanese consoles in March.
