Looks like Nintendo DS and Wii owners have a pretty good week for downoadable games, starting with Mario Vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! (Nintendo, 1 player, 800 DSi Points). Announced last week at Nintendo’s E3 press conference, Minis March Again is the next installment of the popular (and excellent) Mario vs. Donkey Kong series that will let you create and share your original levels online. Using the Internets.
Ronimo Games’ cool-ass-looking original title Swords & Soldiers (1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points) hits WiiWare today, following last week’s European release. It’s a side-scrolling real-time strategy game (if you can wrap your head around that) with some gorgeous and original artwork to bring it all together. If you’ve already purchased the game and live overseas, let us know how it is.
WiiWare also sees the release of Fish’em All (Abylight, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) which much to my disappointment is not a fishing game featuring Metallica. It’s just an arcade fishing game with what is being refered to as a “real coin-op flavor.” It features a mode called “Fishtris,” if that tells you anything.
Finally, the Virtual Console release of the week is KOEI’s Super NES strategy classic, Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (1-2 players, 800 Wii Points).
For the first time in weeks, I’m seriously considering purchasing two WiiWare/DSiWare releases (Minis March Again and Swords & Soldiers). Anyone else opening their wallet this week?
March, Fight and Fish Your Way to World Domination
With this week’s additions to the Nintendo DSi Shop™ and Wii™ Shop Channel, fun truly comes in all shapes and sizes. A new Mario vs. Donkey Kong™ title on Nintendo DSiWare™ features miniature versions of the world’s most famous video game icon, while a pair of fresh WiiWare™ releases invite players to wield a fishing rod or storm a sprawling battlefield. For king-sized thrills, the latest Virtual Console™ offering lets players don the boots of one of the world’s biggest warriors.
Nintendo DSiWare
Mario vs. Donkey Kong™: Minis March Again!
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Thanks to the runaway success of Super Mini Mario World, Mario™ and Pauline have expanded their toy-filled theme park and invited everyone to the opening celebration – everyone, that is, except Donkey Kong, who was too late to get in. Donkey Kong decides to crash the party and kidnaps Pauline along the way. Can Mario and his Mini Marios rescue Pauline from Donkey Kong’s clutches yet again? Make sure to explore the Construction Zone, where you’ll find all the tools needed to make your own original levels. You can then share your masterpieces or download levels created by others, via a local wireless connection or with broadband Internet access and Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.WiiWare
Swords & Soldiers
Publisher: Ronimo Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Rewrite history as you take control of the brutal Vikings, the devious Aztecs or the crafty Chinese in their global quest to win the favor of the Gods. Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling strategy game that lets you control an entire army and wield devastating magical abilities. Demolish your enemy’s castle at the end of these two-dimensional battlefields and lead your troops to victory. Featuring hours of single-player campaign game play and challenging skirmishes, the game also offers frantic local multiplayer matches that let you take the fight to your friends. If that still isn’t enough for you, there are several unlockable challenge modes that will test your abilities even further.Fish’em All!™
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Here’s an arcade game with real coin-op flavor. Jack and Walter are two old fishermen in a fantasy world. They’ve found places where crazy fish leap out of the water all day long – perfect for fishing. It’s a shame the other strange creatures aren’t going to make things easy. In this surreal action game, you’ll experience the excitement of the great arcade classics on your Wii console. Hold on tight to your controller and fish ’em all, featuring nine colorful scenarios, three game modes (Arcade, Challenge and Fishtris) and one- or two-player action.Virtual Console
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: KOEI
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: In Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf, unite the scattered Mongol tribes under your banner and conquer the world as Genghis Khan. Choose from two riveting scenarios: Mongolia and all of Eurasia. It’s up to you to take your fledgling empire from humble beginnings on the Mongolian plateau and expand your borders across the land. As your rivals look enviously upon your domain, you must struggle to weather the assaults of your opponents and carve out a living for your people. Engage in diplomacy to forge alliances and organize your troops to defend the prosperity of your empire. If you can manage to spread the borders of your empire to the corners of the world, all will pay homage to your might.Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
