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NintendoWare Weekly: Natsume Championship Wrestling
We suspect the Wii and DSi Shops are going to go even darker than usual next week, with all of Nintendo's attention turned toward the 3DS. This is likely to be the last normal-ish release week until the late-May eShop update (prove us wrong, Nintendo!) Today's update features a fairly obscure SNES wrestling game, which lacks a real wrestling license but does include four-player functionality. In addition, there's a demo for Dive: The Medes Islands Secret. DSiWare features another budget G.G. Series game, this time a shooter featuring tanks, and a port of PC puzzler Shapo. We haven't played the game, so we can't comment on the actual quality, but "Shapo" is way fun to say in whatever manner you choose to pronounce it.
NintendoWare Weekly: Heavy Fire: Black Arms, Bomberman Hero
Plenty of firepower on the Wii this week, with Teyon's war-themed light gun sequel Heavy Fire: Black Arms and the Nintendo 64's Bomberman Hero. Since last month's closure of Hudson Entertainment, the publisher has been responsible for every Virtual Console release (well, both of them). DSiWare brings representation from two budget series, with the addictive-looking GG Series Horizontal Bar, and Go Series Earth Saver, which reimagines the plot of Armageddon as a Dig Dug 2 style game.%Gallery-118512%
Almost all DSiWare games available at 3DS eShop launch, transfer limits clarified
We know that Nintendo is planning "3D Classics" for the 3DS eShop -- retro games with 3D effects added. We also know that unaltered retro games will be available in the Virtual Console, and that DSiWare will be available as well when the service is launched in May. But what about downloadable 3DS games -- a "3DSWare" equivalent to the DSi's DSiWare? We may be waiting a while for that. Charlie Scibetta, Nintendo's senior director of corporate communications, told Joystiq that not only was Nintendo not ready to announce any downloadable 3DS games, there isn't even a name for that service at the moment. "We have Virtual Console games," Scibetta said. "Anything that's rendered in 3D, converted into 3D, is called 3D Classics, but we don't have any other terminology yet." He assured Joystiq that downloadable games would be made available "under the eShop banner." That the terminology is still up in the air suggests that this part of the plan has yet to be finalized -- or just that Nintendo isn't ready to talk about the finalized plan. The good news is that you'll have access to a lot of DSiWare when the eShop launches. Of the existing DSiWare lineup, "pretty much the whole thing" will be available right at launch. "There might be a few exceptions, but the majority of the games will come over." A few games are being left off the 3DS's eShop for undisclosed reasons. Scibetta also offered a bit of clarification about the limits on the DSiWare software transfer feature, also coming as part of that late-May update. "It's not the number of transferred games -- it would be the same game, the number of times you could transfer it from device to device," Scibetta said. "So if you build up a large category of DSiWare games, you won't be penalized. Just how many times you can move that same group of games, there'll be a limit on."
3DS Virtual Console getting Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 games, coming late May
In addition to select, hand-picked Game Boy and Game Boy Color classics, the 3DS's Virtual Console will also play host to titles from two slightly surprising sources: The Sega Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 handhelds. No specific entries from the two devices were named during Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation at Nintendo's GDC keynote today -- though we've got our fingers crossed for the speedy arrival of Sonic Chaos. Fils-Aime also confirmed the late May arrival of the Virtual Console via a system update, which wiill also introduce a handful of the device's other online features, including: DSiWare (and the ability to transfer DSiWare games from a DSi or DSi XL), the web browser and eShop. It's likely to be the same update that will add Netflix and some 3D video features, too.
NintendoWare Weekly: Faxanadu, Cozy Fire
Wow, it's a Virtual Console game -- and a good one at that. Faxanadu for NES was developed by Falcom, creators of the Ys and Dragon Slayer series (to which Faxanadu is tangentially connected), and published in America by Nintendo. Oddly enough, however, the now-defunct Hudson Entertainment is listed as the publisher for the VC version (Hudson Soft published the original game in Japan). In gameplay terms, it's a slightly more RPG-ish (and more brown) Zelda 2. And it's on the Virtual Console, in North America, today. Meanwhile, on WiiWare, there's another damn fireplace sim.%Gallery-117232%
NintendoWare Weekly: Spot the Differences, S.C.A.T.
We're sure you'll have no trouble spotting the difference between this week and most other weeks, in terms of Nintendo downloads: there's a Virtual Console game! Also, a game called Spot the Differences. In addition, WayForward offers a demo of its spooky WiiWare action puzzle game Lit. DSiWare is led by G.G. Series Dark Spirits, a budget shmup from Genterprise's G.G. series. And Zoo Games presents Shawn Johnson Gymnastics, a licensed DSiWare sports game. That doesn't happen often.%Gallery-115826%
Puyo Puyo coming to Virtual Console in Japan with online multiplayer
After five years of the Wii's Virtual Console, a game will be released with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support for online multiplayer. What game will be the recipient of this totally unique, groundbreaking honor? The arcade version of Sega's jelly-creature matching puzzle game Puyo Puyo, of course. As one of the 20th anniversary projects announced today (on a date that can be pronounced "pu yo" using some obtuse Japanese wordplay), Sega revealed that the Virtual Console Arcade release of Puyo Puyo, due this spring in Japan for 800 Wii Points, will support online competitive multiplayer. Sega's other Puyo announcements include a contest in Japan to give away original Puyo Puyo bath towels, and a drawing contest.
NintendoWare Weekly: Jam City Rollergirls, 1942, Black Tiger
Today's Wii Shop update brings the official sports game of a sport without much official game representation: roller derby. Jam City Rollergirls carries the Women's Flat Track Derby Association license, so if you happen to follow the sport, you'll recognize the teams and players. Also available: two more Virtual Console Arcade games by Capcom, which is dangerously close to making us forget how moribund the Virtual Console has become. DSiWare is home to the first non-PSN release from MonkeyPaw Games, and it's ... a poker game! That company is defying expectations left and right.%Gallery-114973%
NES Ghosts 'N Goblins removed from Virtual Console
Arthur has bested demons, specters and all manner of otherworldly monsters, but now he's finally found an unbeatable foe: Erasure. No, we're not speaking about the greatest band of all time -- we're speaking about actual, literal erasure. The NES version of Ghosts 'N Goblins has mysteriously vanished off of the Wii Virtual Console platform, leaving only the slightly more expensive, 800 Nintendo Point arcade version in its wake. Capcom hasn't formally explained why the NES version of the game disappeared, but it certainly isn't the first title to vanish off of Nintendo's downloadable games services without warning or cause. Ironically enough, our best guess for the reason behind these disappearances involve both ghosts and goblins. We'll see if we can get something a little more official than that.
NintendoWare Weekly: Jelly Car 2, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Exed Exes
We're treated to a surprise today from Capcom, something we didn't think we'd see in 2011: two Virtual Console releases on the same day! Bask in it, because even a single Virtual Console release is a rare event. This time, it's two of Capcom's announced arcade releases, Ghosts 'n Goblins and the shmup Exed Exes. Additionally, WiiWare is host to Disney's Jelly Car 2, a build-it-yourself racing game with realistic physics and weird, jiggly cars.%Gallery-113645%
NintendoWare Weekly: Chick Chick Boom, Around the World
The Flashy-looking Chick Chick Boom headlines this week's WiiWare releases, as a pair of Neo Geo titles comes to Virtual Console. On DSiWare, there's a virtual slots game and the sequel to DodoGo! (the exclamation being part of the game title). Check out the full breakdown of digital Wii and DSi releases for the week after the break. %Gallery-104897%
NintendoWare Weekly: Mario Party 2, Frobot
Gather up all your extra Classic Controllers and GameCube controllers. They are about to get seriously ruined, thanks to the arrival of Mario Party 2 on Virtual Console -- the first Nintendo-published Virtual Console game to arrive since June. If Nintendo 64 minigame collections aren't your thing, you can download Frobot on WiiWare, a top-down Zelda-style action game, with robots. And disco. DSiWare gets Dragon's Lair 2, almost a year to the day after the first Dragon's Lair hit the service ... and a month after Dragon's Lair arrived on DS cartridge.
Holiday Buyer's Guide: Nintendo Points for WiiWare, DSiWare & Virtual Console
Chances are, someone you know has or will receive a Wii or DSi this holiday season -- many people you know, if the November sales are any indication. Or perhaps you know someone who has owned one of these systems for a while but hasn't messed around with its downloadable games yet. In either case, 2010 has been a great year to introduce someone to WiiWare or DSiWare, with lots of interesting games and apps released just this year. Somehow, Virtual Console's been decent too, despite the fact that releases have slowed down to a trickle. To begin, click one of the links below to jump to a category or simply head on past the break to peruse the guide form top to bottom. Wii: Retro-esque Gamer | Authentic Retro Gamer Art Aficionado | The Independent | Person Who Would Enjoy Muscle March DSi: All DSi Band | Busy Gamer | The Eccentric | Longterm Portable Gamer
NintendoWare Weekly: Lilt Line, Darius Twin, Zombie BBQ
It is, without a doubt, an actually good, not disappointing day on the Wii and DSi Shops. It's a Christmas miracle! The very cool iPhone reflex / rhythm game Lilt Line is now on WiiWare, published by Bit. Trip developer Gaijin Games. And Taito's Darius Twin shoots 'em up on Virtual Console. On DSiWare, Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ, originally a retail DS game, can be downloaded for 800 Points, obviating the need to go to a store and hunt down that somewhat obscure (but fun) shooter.%Gallery-110454%
NintendoWare Weekly: Fluidity, Commando, SonSon
Finally, this WiiWare game has arrived -- one we've been reading about for months, that will allow us to experience a common natural phenomenon in a new way. We're talking, of course, about Fireplacing (formerly My Fireplace). Oh, also, Fluidity is out. If you download them together, will they cancel each other out? Meanwhile, on Virtual Console, Capcom surprises us with a pair of games that weren't supposed to be out until next year!%Gallery-109311%%Gallery-109310%
NintendoWare Weekly: Cave Story, Cave Story
Another relatively awesome week for DSiWare, WiiWare and, yes, even Virtual Console, as Cave Story arrives in both portable form on DSiWare and demo form on WiiWare. DSiWare also features a port of Two Tribes' Mac/iPhone puzzle game Frenzic. The Virtual Console offers the wonderful Neo Geo puzzler Magical Drop 2.%Gallery-108408%
NintendoWare Weekly: Spin Master, WiiWare demos, Tetris Party Live
After the last few years, we don't know how to react to the kind of wealth on the Wii and DSi Shops today. It's too much to process all at once. WiiWare demos are back, offering a chance to check out Bit.Trip Fate, ThruSpace, And Yet It Moves and Jett Rocket with no financial outlay. There's a new Tetris game on DSiWare. There's even a Virtual Console game! How is this possible?%Gallery-107999%
NintendoWare Weekly: Street Slam, Robox
NBA Jam now faces some competition from the Virtual Console for Wii arcade basketball dominance. Well, actually, we doubt anyone in the history of the platform has ever worried about competition from the Virtual Console. In any case, the Neo Geo's Street Slam is available today. It's unrealistic, arcade-style basketball. Additionally, the WiiWare adventure Robox debuts today, as does a rare WiiWare/DSiWare dual release: Gene Labs, a puzzle action game about healing cells infected by a virus.%Gallery-106367%
Nintendoware Weekly: Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, ThruSpace
There's a Final Fantasy game on Virtual Console this week! Well, kind of -- Final Fantasy Mystic Quest was designed as a beginner RPG for American gamers, who weren't entirely familiar with the JRPG genre in those pre-Final Fantasy 7 days. Americans should already be familiar enough with the concept of "spacial skills" to play WiiWare's ThruSpace, which is all about putting Tetris-like pieces through walls. DSiWare is host to four games this week, including a Nintendo-published puzzle game, Snapdots.
Capcom Arcade Classics confirmed for North American release in 2011
Nintendo's small collection of Virtual Console Arcade titles is about to get ... slightly less small. Capcom has this poster in their New York Comic-Con booth confirming the addition of six new arcade games to the North American Wii Shop in 2011.
