NGamer takes a look at the games bound for Nintendo's new WiiWare game download service, due to launch into action in the New Year.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Little King and the Promised Country The WiiWare daddy, both in terms of excitement levels and name length, Square Enix's FF CC: TLKatPC is not a replacement for the full Crystal Bearers game - that's still heading Wii-wards - but an all new 'country-building RPG'. Set after the original GC Crystal Chronicles, the game casts you as a king who lost his kingdom in the power crystal shenanigans of that earlier title.
Dr Mario Recent goings on in the Dr Mario camp have been shadier than a back-alley dentist, but the WiiWare announcement clears things up. One second it was ESRB rated for Virtual Console release, the next it was dropped. Why? To make way for this all-singing, all-dancing Wi-Fi-enabled pill popper.
Traditional pill-swivelling action returns - with Mii avatars - joined by a follow-up prescription of the Germ Blast minigame seen in Brain Training 2. Where Germ Blast was originally intended as a winding down exercise after a punishing mental workout, any sense of calm is obliterated here by adding four-player co-op into the mix. Should be fun.
Pokemon Ranch Channel Not to be confused with the Mr Mime-powered smut of 'Pokémon Raunch Channel', this title will instead let you download your DS Diamond and/or Pearl bestiary to a farm paddock on the Wii. Once there, you can survey the worryingly angular-looking 'mon as your Mii, taking pictures of yourself with your captured chums. It's from Ambrella, developers of the similarly throwaway virtual pet GameCube Poké-offering Pokémon Channel, so don't expect this to go far beyond the Poké-petting zoo concept currently outlined.
Mojipittan Wii Developed by Namco and based on a hiragana tile-piling Japanese variant of Scrabble. Try to guess whether this'll make it to western shores...
Maruboushikaku Does exactly what is says on the tin. Maru translates as circle, bou as line and shikaku as square. A puzzle game involving circles, lines and squares? That's all we've got after three hours of trying to decode the screenshots. A baffling puzzler from Nintendo themselves.
Minna de Puzzloop Another puzzler, this time a jazzed up take on DS title Actionloop. Flicking marbles at other marbles was a doddle with a stylus, so expect some form of remote aiming here. We weren't huge fans of the original - here's hoping WiiWare doesn't become a dumping ground for dud franchises.
Joy Sound Basically, Xing's Joysound karaoke machine melted into WiiWare form. It's developed by Hudson, and you'll need their separately sold USB microphone to use the software. Interestingly enough, the download's not a one-time deal, with updated track lists working their way from Hudson's music mother brain to your console via the magic of eight-hour downloads.
Okiraku Ping Pong Wii Better known for the coffin-flinging antics of Guilty Gear XX, Arc System Works are turning their eye to the gentler world of ping pong. From the sounds of things this is to be just as comprehensive (if not more so) as Rockstar's middling offering. As well as both automatic and manual movement controls, there's four-player doubles and remote implementation that will add top spin or back spin based on swing, and not some cheap tap of a D-pad direction. You hear that rumbling, Liu Ping and co? That's the sound of your imminent demise. Better get some sales in before Okiraku launches in Japan in March.
Star Soldier R We saw videos of Hudson's vertical-scroller a few months ago, but little did we know it was a WiiWare title. This version will play much the same as the original (available on Virtual Console) with five- and ten-minute high-score challenge 'caravan modes' and online leaderboards. Hudson are also releasing Bomberman through the downloadable service, though info and screens have yet to manifest themselves. Come on, Hudson - let's see Bomberman!
these games are mostly puzzle games which really aren't my type. hopefully the next step will be proper game demos- i haven't downloaded any virtual console games so i have lost of storage waiting to be used
star soldier r is a definite purchase,i love retro shooters. i wonder if radiant silvergun will turn up. (off topic i know but..) if nintendo want to save the starfox series they should get treasure to do the next one, it worked for gradius V.
I wonder if WiiWare will launch in Europe before xmas... Xmas 2008 i mean.
Whilst i'm on the subject are there any decent Wii games between now and Xmas (excluding Mario Galaxy) because i'm struggling to find anything worth buying.
I wonder if WiiWare will launch in Europe before xmas... Xmas 2008 i mean.
Whilst i'm on the subject are there any decent Wii games between now and Xmas (excluding Mario Galaxy) because i'm struggling to find anything worth buying.
No more Heros, Umrella Chronicles and Wii Fit. Along with Mario they should keep you going until the new year. If not then Pippa Funnell: Ranch Rescue should be an essential purchase!
I hope Bomberman comes out with online play. 16 player online would be great!
From the list I've read only Star Soldier R seems to be my type of game. I'm seeing mostly RPGs and puzzle titles which really isn't my cup of tea
Come on Hudson!! 16 player online bomberman! Do it! Do it! Do it!!
How on earth would 16 player BM work? It is bad enough on live with 8 players! Bomberman worked best on the Amiga as 5 player (it was called dynablaster for some reason).
I hope Bomberman comes out with online play. 16 player online would be great!
From the list I've read only Star Soldier R seems to be my type of game. I'm seeing mostly RPGs and puzzle titles which really isn't my cup of tea
Come on Hudson!! 16 player online bomberman! Do it! Do it! Do it!!
How on earth would 16 player BM work? It is bad enough on live with 8 players! Bomberman worked best on the Amiga as 5 player (it was called dynablaster for some reason).
Blitz bombers on the Amiga was 16 players that was with 2 Amiga's linked up however and the level was 2 monitors wide. You couldn't walk for 10 secs before running into someone
Bomberman should do this, 8 players is a lot but I want more chaos!!
I hope Bomberman comes out with online play. 16 player online would be great!
From the list I've read only Star Soldier R seems to be my type of game. I'm seeing mostly RPGs and puzzle titles which really isn't my cup of tea
Come on Hudson!! 16 player online bomberman! Do it! Do it! Do it!!
How on earth would 16 player BM work? It is bad enough on live with 8 players! Bomberman worked best on the Amiga as 5 player (it was called dynablaster for some reason).
Blitz bombers on the Amiga was 16 players that was with 2 Amiga's linked up however and the level was 2 monitors wide. You couldn't walk for 10 secs before running into someone
Bomberman should do this, 8 players is a lot but I want more chaos!!
But the 8 player live version prevents skilled players winning in favour of lucky players winning.
I hope Bomberman comes out with online play. 16 player online would be great!
From the list I've read only Star Soldier R seems to be my type of game. I'm seeing mostly RPGs and puzzle titles which really isn't my cup of tea
Come on Hudson!! 16 player online bomberman! Do it! Do it! Do it!!
How on earth would 16 player BM work? It is bad enough on live with 8 players! Bomberman worked best on the Amiga as 5 player (it was called dynablaster for some reason).
Blitz bombers on the Amiga was 16 players that was with 2 Amiga's linked up however and the level was 2 monitors wide. You couldn't walk for 10 secs before running into someone
Bomberman should do this, 8 players is a lot but I want more chaos!!
But the 8 player live version prevents skilled players winning in favour of lucky players winning.
Never tried to the live version to bomberman I've got to check this out. In Blitz bombers I admit you used to die sometimes and the winner was lucky (for instance getting a power up that makes all other players drop bombs for 10 secs non-stop).
If it ruins the experience (cramped arenas, etc) then make it 8 or even just 5
I wonder if WiiWare will launch in Europe before xmas... Xmas 2008 i mean.
Whilst i'm on the subject are there any decent Wii games between now and Xmas (excluding Mario Galaxy) because i'm struggling to find anything worth buying.
No more Heros, Umrella Chronicles and Wii Fit. Along with Mario they should keep you going until the new year. If not then Pippa Funnell: Ranch Rescue should be an essential purchase!
No more heroes and Wii Fit are 2008 releases. RE:UC isn't something i'm interested in, so i guess it's Pippa Funnell for xmas... Great
What an uninspiring bunch of games that lot is. Like 90% of XBLA. Five minute wonder-filled tat.
Mind you, at least they'll be cheaper than the five minute wonder-filled tat that gets released full price on Wii.
or the tat that got released on PS1 and PS2.....
Or the tat that's getting released on the PS3!
Wow that escalated fast! I think we've suitably and unnecessarily slammed the three big players there!
I suppose it's early days really, and there is only so much you can do with limited memory available. However, let's not forget that the awesome and massive Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap on Master System was only 4MB!
Not bad there are at least two I would like to have a look at, not sure Wii Ware will stand up on it own but I am sure it will be a shining beacon to me when the Summer Games drought comes around again!
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I hope rerelease old games like street fighter with online play because this might be the only way it will happen
that was with 2 Amiga's linked up however and the level was 2 monitors wide. You couldn't walk for 10 secs before running into someone 
I've got to check this out. In Blitz bombers I admit you used to die sometimes and the winner was lucky (for instance getting a power up that makes all other players drop bombs for 10 secs non-stop). 
