NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: ART LESSONS, AUTO RACING AND ARCADE ACTION MULTIPLY THE DOWNLOADABLE FUN

Sept. 28, 2009

Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, cIassic arcade action and a hand-held art course - this week's additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop deliver a wildly entertaining mix. With new WiiWare™, Nintendo DSiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games debuting each week, Nintendo offers downloadable games to please everyone under the sun, and the list keeps on growing. For Nintendo DSi users looking to grow their own game library, here's a valuable tip-off: Consumers can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com.

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Nintendo DSiWare

Art Academy™: Second Semester
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Art Academy is a portable art course that anyone can enjoy. Art Academy: Second Semester provides new and returning students with a larger set of tools and in-depth lessons designed to encourage the creation of more complex artwork. By gaining an even deeper understanding of colors and techniques used by famous impressionist artists, you will be ready to take on more challenging themes that include moving objects, and vast landscapes with distant objects. The openness of Free Paint mode offers plenty of opportunities to hone your skills and boost your confidence as an artist.

DRAGON QUEST® WARS™
Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Language
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: DRAGON QUEST WARS is a grid-based strategy game featuring all of your favorite quirky DRAGON QUEST monsters. Choose from several modes and get ready for battle. While the rules are simple, strategy is the key to victory. The game features single-player and DS Wireless Play, as well as battles with foes worldwide via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. (Broadband Internet access is required for online play.)

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WiiWare

ARKANOID Plus!
Publisher: TAITO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points™
Description: ARKANOID Plus! is an updated version of the original arcade blockbuster. Players must destroy colored blocks by guiding an Energy Ball around the screen using a spaceship called a VAUS. The game features a host of new modes and settings that radically alter the experience: Arcade Mode consists of 61 rounds divided into left and right versions, with two types of boss characters appearing in the last round; VS Mode lets players face off against a friend or the CPU; and the unfailingly frantic Time Mode challenges players to clear rounds within a strict time limit. With the subtle differences arising from the choice of "Lives" or "Barrier" rules, plus a plethora of exciting items, you're in for hours and hours of block-busting fun.

DRiiFT Mania
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: DRiiFT Mania is the ultimate top-down multiplayer racing experience. Challenge your friends in fast, exciting races and some totally crazy game modes. You'll need to adapt your driving skills to the different racing environments if you want to succeed.

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Virtual Console

Altered Beast™
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: "Rise from your grave!" When legendary Greek god Zeus brings you back to life with those famous words, you set forth on a mission to rescue his daughter, Athena, from the wicked God of the Underworld, Neff. To survive the gauntlet of mythological foes, you must hunt down the three-headed wolves that inhabit each stage and collect the Spirit Balls that they release. The Spirit Balls increase your strength and allow you to transform into a variety of forms, including a Werewolf, Weredragon, Werebear, Weretiger and the ultimate form, the Golden Werewolf. Each creature possesses powerful attacks to help bring an end to Neff's scheme.

Wow DQ Wars is already out?  That was fast. Talk about no prerelease hype.  Normally I'd jump on this, but I'm going to need some reviews first.  Really want this to be good.

As for altered beast.... I will pass, but thanks for thinking of me Sega.

gamingeek said:

This is the arcade version of altered beast?

Looks like the Genesis/MegaDrive one.

phantom_leo said:

Nope. It's the arcade version.

Fuck, I'm 0-2 this morning, am I not? I need to stop posting in vintage topics until I get my shit straight.

SteelAttack said:

phantom_leo said:

Nope. It's the arcade version.

Fuck, I'm 0-2 this morning, am I not? I need to stop posting in vintage topics until I get my shit straight.

bugsonglass said:

the arcade version of golden axe was great back in the day but it was pretty easy and short.  i could finish it using any of the 3 characters with just one credit.  i think it only has something like 5 levels, though they are longish for arcade levels (and one is on the back of a giant turtle, and another on the back of a giant hawk).  also very fun credit sequence

I owned that game so much that people gathered at the arcades to watch me play. With that game, I refined the "hit and move up/down" technique for difficult opponents/bosses that surfaced with Double Dragon and would prove useful in other games later down the road, mostly beat'em ups such as Final Fight.

Besides, the high jump/attack move made most of the enemies your bitches anyway.

Ending credits were amazing.

bugsonglass said:

yeah and if one was good enough to hang onto the one red dragon in the game it made things even easier.  

double dragon i could finish that game using elbow strikes alone

I can see the forces of evil were into bondage. Tyris Flare always made my wee wee move. Om nom nom.

The problem I have with GA is that I used to love it in the arcades but then I got the Genesis version and basically all my memories of the arcade version have been washed away.

I can't remember the graphical comparison, I remember that there was a difference, but I cant remember how much.  

phantom_leo said:

SteelAttack said:

I love old box arts. Can't believe how they got away with so much.

Gilius is fucking ripped!

But, alas, poor Axe Battler seems to have been hitting the steroids a bit too much... no bulge...

So sad!

 Speaking of sad, that woman's right foot is twisted really bad.