WiiWare is two years old, so let's celebrate by looking back at our favorite games.
Bonsai BarberPublisher: Nintendo Developer: Zoonami Cost: 1000 Points Players: 1 Release Date: March 30, 2009 WiiWare is designed to accommodate quirky games like Bonsai Barber. It might be a surreal concept, but it is very well executed. The fruit and vegetable characters are memorable, while the gameplay itself is created to incorporate any kind of gamer into its cartoon world. You will cut, grow, and groom your way into the characters' hearts. Even if the game limits its replayability for the sake of authenticity you will have fun playing the game each day and learning more about your produce patrons. - Pedro Hernandez |
|
Crystal Defenders R1 and R2Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Cost: 800 Points (each) Players: 1 Release Date: R1: April 20, 2009 R2: May 18, 2009 Crystal Defenders proves that tower defense and Final Fantasy characters make a winning combination. The towers are in fact different Crystal Chronicles characters, and they actively battle by approaching enemies and attacking within their radius. After towers have been placed around the battle path, the waves of enemies begin, and surviving a round gives you money to upgrade your character towers. Your money can also buy you power crystals, further boosting the power of any units within the vicinity. Even for those unfamiliar with this genre, it provides accessible fun with cool graphics. Controls use the Wii Remote on its side, disappointing as the Wii Remote pointer would have been a better scheme. Though it is expensive due to its release in parts (R1 and R2), even with the fewer levels in a single release you will want to replay and beat your scores. - Karlie Yeung |
|
Final Fantasy IV: The After YearsPublisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Cost: 800 Points (Additional content extra) Players: 1 Release Date: June 1, 2009 The Final Fantasy franchise is home to some of the best storylines ever seen in gaming. So can you blame Square Enix for capitalizing on them? Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is a sequel presented in the form of downloadable episodes (originally created for Japanese cell phones). The game looks and plays like the original game, making it an authentic continuation of the unforgettable Final Fantasy storyline. - Pedro Hernandez |
|
Let's CatchPublisher: Sega Developer: Prope Cost: 1000 Points Players: 1-4 Release Date: June 16, 2009 Let's Catch is the weird counterpart to the retail release Let's Tap. The entire game is based around playing catch in a park, and includes a whacked-out story mode based around the people that frequent the park. There's the kid who misses his dad, the woman who tried to seduce the kid's dad, a government agent posing as a baseball player, and an alien. In addition, there are also a few multiplayer modes, including the excellent Bomb Catch mode, which is based on Hot Potato. For people who enjoy ridiculous game concepts, Let's Catch is a must own. - Neal Ronaghan |
|
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark LordPublisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Cost: 1000 Points Players: 1 Release Date: July 20, 2009 The sequel to My Life as a King is plays very differently to the original, and the style has more in common with Crystal Defenders. You play as Mira, daughter of the former Dark Lord, and transport your Flying Tower to different lands. As a Dark Lord, your agenda is of the evil kind, and negative energy powers your quest to crush any heroes you may find on your journey. The goal is then to protect the tower from Adventurers that invade from the enemy towns. If they reach the Dark Crystal on the top floor, it's game over. This is accomplished by building different types of floors, with each type resistant against a different kind of adventurer. The floors in combination with placed Monsters protect the tower. It's a tough challenge to find the right combination of units and floors to defend against the heroic invaders, but upgrades can be made before a retry as you gain karma points. - Karlie Yeung |
|
