We celebrate the one-year anniversary of Nintendo's DSiWare service with a week-long best-of feature.
Real Soccer 2010Publisher: Gameloft Developer: Gameloft Cost: 800 Points Players: 1-4 (Wi-Fi) Release Date: February 15, 2010 The DSiWare service doesn't have a whole lot of sports titles, and fortunately, the limited selection of titles available are all pretty decent. The Real Soccer series, for instance, manages to capture the realism of the sport and translate it perfectly unto the DSiWare service. While Real Soccer 2009, which came out in May 2009, is a great title, it's hard to recommend it over its sequel, Real Soccer 2010. Not only does the game introduce more teams and stadiums, but it also expands on the core mechanics introduced in its predecessor. For sports enthusiasts, this is a must-have title. - Matthew Blundon |
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Asphalt 4: Elite RacingPublisher: Gameloft Developer: Gameloft Cost: 800 Points Players: 1-4 (Multi-copy) Release Date: July 6, 2009 Racing games are a rare commodity on the DSiWare service, so it's great to see that the only realistic racing game is pretty decent. Asphalt 4: Elite Racing features 28 cars and motorcycles and eight areas to race in. The touch screen controls and the standard control scheme work wonders for the game. It's unfortunate that there's no online present, but racing fans are bound to enjoy this quality racing title. - Matthew Blundon |
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True Swing Golf ExpressPublisher: Nintendo Developer: T&E Soft Cost: 800 Points Players: 1 Release Date: February 12, 2010 Despite being a stripped-down version of the retail game that shares the same name, True Swing Golf Express is a deep and engaging golf game. The game's main mode can offer hours upon hours of gameplay, and the addition of a couple of other modes makes the experience even richer. On the downside though, the online play found in the retail game is nowhere to be found here. Still, even with its shortcomings, True Swing Golf Express is one of the better premium titles on the service and one that's not to be missed by sports enthusiasts. - Matthew Blundon |
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Bejeweled TwistPublisher: PopCap Games Developer: Griptonite Games Cost: 500 Points Players: 1-2 Release Date: December 14, 2009 For a departure from the Bejeweled franchise, this game adds a bit of complexity to the original match-three game. Instead, a square set of four jewels is rotated clockwise using the A button. While this makes for an interesting concept, there is a massive learning curve for players familiar with Bejeweled. Aside from the control change, everything you loved (or possibly hated) about Bejeweled is in this game: flame, lightning, supernova, and fruit gems. The game only allows you to rotate gems clockwise, and features jumps between stylus and button controls mid-game. Both are weird and annoying, but the game survives those small faults. I highly suggest this game for Bejeweled enthusiasts, but be wary as it changes things up a lot. - Lauren Lewandoski |
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Thorium WarsPublisher: Big John Games Developer: Big John Games Cost: 1000 Points Players: 1 Release Date: October 5, 2009 Thorium Wars was originally going to be a full-fledged retail game, but with the advent of DSiWare, Big John Games decided to make it downloadable. For $10 (the single most expensive DSiWare game), you get a fun Star Fox-esque shooter. You take control of planes, tanks, and more as you romp through more than 10 missions, taking out hordes of robots and completing varied mission objectives along the way. If you're into this kind of game, this three-to-four hour experience is worth it. - Neal Ronaghan |
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Bomberman BlitzPublisher: Hudson Developer: Hudson Cost: 500 Points Players: 1-8 (Wi-Fi) Release Date: November 9, 2009 Bomberman is no stranger to Nintendo's platforms, especially the Nintendo DS, but Bomberman Blitz marks his first outing on the DSiWare service. While this adventure isn't nearly as meaty as some of his other adventures, the addition of an online multiplayer mode makes this one of the best multiplayer games on the service. It's a shame that the core single-player experience is lacking, but for those looking for a great online experience, look no further than Bomberman Blitz. - Matthew Blundon |
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BookwormPublisher: PopCap Games Developer: PopCap Games Cost: 500 Points Players: 1 Release Date: November 30, 2009 This casual word-based puzzle game is a great fit for DSiWare. You try to find words amongst a sea of letters and avoid letting burning blocks pass through in PopCap's Bookworm. While it's lacking any multiplayer features, it's still a good experience. Also, you can pause a game anywhere, which is nice if you're putting together some epic words together. Additionally, according to UncleBob in our forums, it doesn't accept certain four-letter curse words. So if that's your bag, you're better off playing a real life game of Boggle. - Neal Ronaghan |
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