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VC Friday: Hudson Powers Up
This week in Europe, Hudson Soft has one release on all three Wii download services. That's a pretty impressive feat, even if the individual games don't seem that exciting. We suppose 50 sudoku puzzles for 200 points is nice, and SimEarth is a good game.The Hudson releases are joined by Taito's Puzzle Bobble/Bust a Move update and by Altered Beast. Now, we love Altered Beast more than most people (by which we mean we love it some), but 900 points for the arcade version? What's that about? WiiWare: Puzzle Bobble Plus! (1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Water Warfare (1-2 players offline, 2-8 online, 800 Wii Points) Virtual Console: Altered Beast (Arcade, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points) SimEarth (Turbografx-16 CD-ROM, 1 player,800 Wii Points) DSiWare: Sudoku 50 for Beginners (1 player, 200 DSi Points)
VC Friday: Let's Catch a Kindred Spirit
This week, the European Wii Shop is granted with a somewhat anticipated new title, and one we're glad is launching there before it does here. We're intensely curious about the platform action title Icarian: Kindred Spirits, and the fact that it's coming out in Europe first means we'll get to read reviews. We hope those 100 soundtrack downloads are claimed by now, by the way!Also available for download this week: Let's Catch on WiiWare, and some more Brain Training on DSiWare.WiiWare: Icarian: Kindred Spirits Let's Catch DSiWare: A Little Bit of ... Brain Training: Maths Edition
VC Friday: Super Virtual Smash Bros.
Today's Virtual Console release is something really special -- something that only happens on the Virtual Console a couple of times a year: a Nintendo 64 game. And what a Nintendo 64 game! Despite having a day or two to change its mind after announcing, Nintendo of Europe has actually put Super Smash Bros. on the Virtual Console. Now you can play all three Super Smash Bros. games on the same system!Joining it is Cocoto Platform Jumper, which isa middling platformer from last-gen. And on DSiWare, Sudoku 150! for Challengers, a collection of sudoku puzzles for 500 DSi Points. Also, Asphalt 4: Elite Racing, whose iPhone sequel was announced at Apple's WWDC event, before this game launched. Awesome.
VC Friday: A 'sleeper' Art Style game
This week, another new DSiWare Art Style game appears on the PAL DSi Shop -- one that was overlooked upon its Japanese release, due mostly to the fact that it was released at the same time as the much more eye-catching PiCOPiCT. Somnium has been renamed NEMREM for Europe -- still sleep-themed, but ... weirder.On the Wii side, the arcade version of Space Harrier is now available on Virtual Console and the "arcade" fishing game Fish 'em All has been added to WiiWare.Virtual Console: Space Harrier (Arcade, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare: Fish 'em All (1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) DSiWare: Art Style: NEMREM (1 player, 500 DSi Points)
VC Friday: Swords & Soldiers suffer a Magical Pitfall
Those of us in North America are very jealous today, because Europe receives the very unique and downright good lookin' Romino title, Swords & Soldiers. Not only is it one to keep an eye on based on its art style, but its odd combination of strategy elements and hack-and-slash gameplay also make it noteworthy. We don't know how else to describe it other than unique. Okay, maybe adorable works, too ...Here's your goodies available for download this week: Swords & Soldiers (WiiWare, 1 - 2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (Sega Mega Drive, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) A Little Bit of ... Magic Made Fun: Shuffle Games (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) %Gallery-29716%
VC Friday: Travel from Rainbow Islands to Fantasy Zone
If we really stretch, we can see a bit of a theme in this week's PAL downloadable releases. Both Fantasy Zone II and Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure are classic franchises known for being super-cute and brightly colored, and both titles feature locations (Islands, Zone) described by very cheery, but intangible, visions (rainbows, fantasies). We said it was a stretch. Okay, here's another, less tenuous connection: both series are totally great.There's also one of those Master of Illusion/Magic Made Fun tricks this week. Fantasy Zone II (Sega Master System, 1player, 500 Wii Points) Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) A Little Bit of ... Magic Made Fun: Deep Psyche (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points) %Gallery-46292%
VC Friday: Bit.Trip: Beat plus the impossible
This week, as promised, Bit. Trip: Beat arrives on the PAL Wii Shop, ready to hypnotize and frustrate another set of Wii gamers. But that's not the only reason this week is special: it's joined by a Virtual Console game. That's right, Virtual Console and WiiWare in the same week. Totally crazy, right? Galaxy Force II, stripped of its brilliant moving arcade cabinet for the Genesis version, comes off as a sort of Space Harrier ... in space. It's not great, but it sure is a Virtual Console game!It gets crazier: there are also two DSiWare games in the lineup. Virtual Console: Galaxy Force II (Mega Drive,1 player, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare: Bit. Trip: Beat (1-4 players, 600 Wii Points) DSiWare: A Little Bit of ... Dr. Mario (1 player, 500 DSi Points) A Little Bit of ... Magic Made Fun: Funny Face (1 player, 200 DSi Points) %Gallery-43105%
VC Friday: The adventure begins
Sigh. Enjoy playing Adventure Island: The Beginning this week, PAL Wii owners. We know we'll see it in the US eventually, but it's not today. We've waited so long for a new Master Higgins/Takahashi Meijin game, and we guess we can wait a little longer, but it's pretty painful. Just thinking about rolling around in the jungle on a skateboard, with the wind against our grass skirt and a stone axe in our hand ...Also available today: Crystal Defenders R1, the Final Fantasy tower defense game, and a DSiWare sports game from Gameloft.WiiWare: Adventure Island: The Beginning (1000 Wii Points) Crystal Defenders R1 (800 Wii Points) DSiWare: Real Football 2009 (800 DSi Points)
VC Friday: Mixed Messages about whether this is a Rambo game
This week on the PAL DSi Shop, Vicarious Visions' Mixed Messages allows players to enjoy a game in which ideas become increasingly warped over time. Kind of like what happened to one of this week's Virtual Console games! Sega of Japan made a top-down commando game and called it Ashura. Sega of America heard "Ashura" as "Rambo" somehow, while Sega of Europe heard "Secret Command." For that matter, miscommunication is one of the only possible explanations for Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars, which is almost too freaky to have been made like that intentionally. Mixed Messages -- DSiWare -- 500 Points Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars -- Sega Master System -- 500 Points Secret Command -- Sega Master System -- 500 Points Videos of each game are available after the break. Write descriptions of them and send them to a friend!
VC Friday: Bubble Bobble Plus Jealousy
One week after the launch of the DSi Shop, Nintendo already appears to be ignoring it, but that may be because Europe could turn out to use a (basically) monthly schedule like Japan. Anyway, that doesn't matter. What matters is Bubble Bobble Plus!Taito's fantastic-looking Bubble Bobble sequel/remake arrives in the West today, and we are super jealous. Enjoy your four-player Bubble Bobble, PALs. We're just going to be over here in North America, playing NES Bubble Bobble like total chumps. Bubble Bobble Plus -- WiiWare -- 800 Wii Points Equilibrio -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii Points Family & Friends Party -- WiiWare -- 1,000 Wii Points %Gallery-43668%
VC Friday: Majora's Mask, DSiWare available in Europe right now
This is probably the best day for downloads on Nintendo consoles in years. If you got a DSi today, you've probably already begun perusing the new DSi Shop and downloading some DSiWare, including the two Art Style games available! But even if you didn't get a DSi, you'll probably be happy with the downloadable selection this week. Well, that is, if you didn't get a DSi and you have a Wii. If you've got neither, this might just irritate you.The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask has arrived! And we don't even have to make any disclaimers about making sure you have space to download it.The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask -- N64-- 1,000 PointsArt Style: AQUITE -- DSiWare -- 500 PointsArt Style: CODE -- DSiWare -- 500 PointsBirds & Beans -- DSiWare -- 200 PointsDSi Browser -- DSiWare -- free!Paper Plane -- DSiWare -- 200 PointsWarioWare Snapped! -- DSiWare -- 500 Points
VC Friday: Insert Coin
The biggest news about downloadable games for Europe today happened two days ago: the Virtual Console Arcade launched for PAL territories the same time it did for North America, and with the same lineup. In case you're used to ignoring the Wii Shop until Friday, go check it out! Gaplus -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points Mappy -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points Star Force -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points The Tower of Druaga -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points The awesomeness of Virtual Console Arcade sort of dulls the impact of Digital Leisure's Texas Hold 'em Tournament. Texas Hold 'em Tournament -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii Points Video footage is after the break, featuring the worst combination of Miis and kinda-Miis ever.
VC Friday: Super Punch-Out!!
Yesterday, Nintendo announced that Super Punch-Out!! would be available on the PAL Virtual Console at the next update. Now that the week's Virtual Console update has been posted, we realize that Nintendo meant just Super Punch-Out!! Somehow we think the lack of options will be okay with most of the audience, just this one time. We love when Nintendo does these themed releases. It was great when Metroid and Super Metroid came out just in advance of Metroid Prime 3, although it might have backfired -- who needs to go buy a new game when you just got Super Metroid? Video of Super Punch-Out!! appears after the break, to tide you over until the game is downloaded -- which will then, in turn, tide you over until the new Wii game comes out!
VC Friday: Tabletop Time
This week's PAL WiiWare update features two games that have already come out in North America, one of which has been out for pretty much forever -- fossil record indicates dinosaurs playing it, T-Rex buried in the midst of awkwardly trying to waggle with its useless forelegs. According to WiiWare World's review, Next Level Games' Jungle Speed actually seems to be a good time, and a much more energetic experience than might be expected from a card game.As for Family Table Tennis -- we still like the game, but we're a bit sad to say it's up to 800 points now. First, Nintendo says it's going to raise Wii prices, and now a moderate price hike on cheap WiiWare games? Lousy worldwide economic crisis ... Jungle Speed -- WiiWare -- 1,000 Wii Points Family Table Tennis -- WiiWare -- 800 Wii Points As usual, enjoy videos of both games after the break.
VC Friday: Clu Clu Lair
This week on the PAL Wii Shop, two Virtual Console games have been added to the selection. One of the new releases is a somewhat underappreciated Nintendo game, and the other is a previously underappreciated game that is now way overexposed, thanks to the Virtual Console.If you've never played the NES's Clu Clu Land before, be prepared for confusing controls that will eventually give way to a pretty fun vintage-style maze game. If you've never played the Genesis's Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair before, don't -- download the Turbografx-16 CD version instead for the same price!Grab the post break and swivel around it to see footage of both games.
VC Friday: Frat Party Riot
So. It's Friday, and that means that there are some new games available on the PAL Wii Shop. Listen, we're not going to sugarcoat this, okay? Today's new games are Pong Toss: Frat Party Games and Snowboard Riot. We thought Snowboard Riot was going to be cool until it came out in North America and reviews started coming out. And as for Pong Toss, here's the most interesting thing about it: for the PAL release, the name has changed back to Beer Pong: Frat Party Games. Oh, and also it's not coming out in Australia today, presumably because Australians cannot be allowed to hear of the existence of beer.Maybe if you're actually in a frat and attend a lot of frat parties, you'll think it's awesome to buy a game that's got the word "Beer" in the title. Beer Pong: Frat Party Games -- WiiWare -- 800 PointsSnowboard Riot -- WiiWare -- 1,000 Points%Gallery-36618%
VC Friday: Let the Games Continue
European Wii owners this week are treated to something they must have known was coming sooner or later: Epyx's Winter Games. The multi-event Olympic games seem like canonical European games of the era, and Summer Games 2 is already out. Eventually, North American gamers will get to enjoy things like this! Personally, the last time this blogger played Winter Games, it was on the Atari 7800.Also available this week for PAL downloaders: last week's North American release, Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS. It lacks the multiplayer of the arcade game, but it's a pretty okay action game on its own, full of ridiculous attitude and 16-bit bombast. Overall, it's not the greatest week, but neither is it Urban Champion. Winter Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Videos of the Games: CLIPS after the break.
VC Friday: Pop-Up Onslaught!
It's a pretty cool WiiWare day on the PAL Wii Shop. Hudson decided to spring its WiiWare FPS, Onslaught, on an unsuspecting audience. Somehow, we doubt PAL gamers will mind waiting an extra month or so for Snowboard Riot and playing an online FPS in the meantime.The other game up today is something that we personally think looks delightful: Pop-Up Pirate!, the WiiWare version of the classic toy in which players stick swords into a barrel until someone accidentally stabs the imprisoned pirate. Fun for the whole family! Onslaught (1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) Pop-up Pirate! (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Onslaught footage can be viewed after the break, along with a commercial for the Pop-Up Pirate toy (since we couldn't find any video of the Wii game).%Gallery-37658%%Gallery-43939%
VC Friday: Sonic Clayos
There's a decent surprise for Europe today on the Virtual Console: the Mega Drive version of Clay Fighter, whose title is a 100% accurate description of the game. It's a fighting game whose characters are made of clay! It accurately parodies the attitude and "edginess" of Mortal Kombat with goofy Claymation characters, and happens to be entirely playable on top of that. The other Mega Drive release is the Master System Sonic Chaos. While it wasn't exactly lauded upon release in the US this week, it's even less noteworthy in Europe: while we never got the Master System version of the game (only the Game Gear one), Europe did, so it's totally not special. Clay Fighter -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Sonic Chaos -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points Footage of both games is available after the break.
VC Friday: A new day for Samegame
This week on the PAL Wii Shop, it's WiiWare's time to ... uh ... "shine", with two new family-friendly multiplayer experiences -- one of which may be fun! Arc System Works' Family Glide Hockey is pretty much a non-starter, but Hudson's Pop Them, Drop Them SameGame might be of interest, should you be able to surmount the mental hurdle of oh come on another puzzle game. The core gameplay is, shall we say, proven (read: old), and the "Fame Game", "Shame Game", and "Blame Game" multiplayer modes are certainly named cutely enough to attract our attention. Family Glide Hockey -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii Points Pop Them Drop Them SAMEGAME -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii Points Glide past the post break for videos of both games.%Gallery-42363%
