One lonely release makes its way to the European Nintendo eShop and that one game is Golf.
This basic handheld golf simulator, first released in 1990, features 32 holes and includes stroke and match play options. Golf was the first game to feature power and accuracy bar for swinging the club, a method that has been in many other golf games since. Unlike the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the same name, this one features actual background music and offers two countries to choose from: USA and Japan. The game already came out on 3DS Virtual Console in North America and Japan.
Online play will be one of the new features in this year's Pro Evolution Soccer for the 3DS. Players will be able to duke it out one-vs-one in a dedicated online mode and will be able to choose from all of their favourite teams.
In addition to this, new camera points are promised as well as a new Become a Legend mode. Here you follow one player on his journey to become a world-class footballer. More additions to the package come in the form of an edit mode which allows you to change players and their kits, a free training option where you can explore the pitch completely and brand new leagues which are in the 2012 edition playable for the first time.
The highly popular Master League, in which making your own team is an option, has a new brand StreetPass twist. Through this feature you can exchange data and battle against teams from other PES 2012 3D players.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 3D has no firm release date at this point in time.
Shin'en Multimedia, known for its many WiiWare endeavours, as well as the upcoming Nano Assualt, has revealed that they are working on a 3DS sequel to their WiiWare platforming title Jett Rocket.
Not many details are available at the moment, but the studio hopes to share more information by the end of this month. What we do know is that the title is set to release on the Nintendo eShop and that feedback from the WiiWare game is being used to make the sequel even better.
The streamlined version of the Wii, which was revealed during GamesCom 2011, has now also being confirmed for North America.
This hardware revision forces the Wii to sit in a horizontal position, instead of vertical, which was possible thanks to an included stand. The new system also removes all GameCube support, making its software and accessories incompatible.
The new Wii is set to arrive on October 23 for a suggested retail price of $149.99. As for now, the hardware will only be available as part of a bundle with a Wii Remote Plus controller, a Nunchuk controller, the game New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and a special Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack CD.
The Japanese website for Super Mario 3D Land got a huge update today with all kinds of videos and screenshots. The videos, which can be found below, focus on the story, Mario's movements, the various suits as well as the new assist features in the game!
Simply Minesweeper is the fourth entry in the ''Simply'' DSiWare series, published by Dutch developer Engine Software. Previous entries consisted of other famous puzzlers like Mahjong, Sudoku and Solitaire, all reputedly being of decent quality and very basic. Simply Minesweeper is no exception to that rule.
Minesweeper is a classic puzzle game that was first introduced as a free game on personal computers. Your goal is to defuse the bombs shattered around a grid-based playing field. You win by touching every square that isn't a bomb. The first square is always based on luck, but once you uncovered a few you might spot some with numbers on them. This number indicates how many bombs there are in the eight surrounding squares. By thinking strategically you will able to uncover all the right tiles and overcome the puzzle.
The game overall seems to play fairly well with the stylus and touch screen. As well as tapping squares, you can also hold the stylus down on a tile to place a flag on it, and tap the flag to change it into a question mark if you are unsure about what the square contains.
Gameplay-wise there aren't any additional modes or features, which makes sense considering the price is at the lowest cost possible for DSiWare. You can choose from 150 puzzles, spread over three difficulty modes. Every difficulty adds more squares and bombs, making things rather complex. These puzzles are truly recommended for gamers who are up for a ‘’hard as nails’’ kind of challenge.
On the presentation front, Simply Minesweeper is pretty shallow. The graphics are as basic as they can get and there is just one music track, which becomes annoying after a minute or two. Don't expect this Minesweeper game to win you over with its charm.
Simply Minesweeper is what it says on the tin: a simple version of Minesweeper for on the go. The game is pretty much a pick-up-and-play experience and is only meant for an audience who is interested exactly what is there. The presentation is bland and isn't ultimately why you would buy this game. If you like Minesweeper, it might be worth a look.
European gamers can look forward to three new download titles this thursday.
The first of these is Extreme Hangman 2 from Gamelion. This DSiWare game is based on the classic word guessing game where players must complete the word in order to save the hangman. This version of the game includes new backgrounds and words to solve. It can be downloaded for 200 Points on the DSi Shop or €2.00/£1.80 on the Nintendo eShop.
WiiWare has also a title this week in the form of Trenches Generals. In this strategy game, you take control of the Royal British Expeditionary Forcesand and help them to defend the free world. Players guide troops in order to engage in battle with enemy forces in a gameplay style that provides an interesting twist on the tower defense genre. The game offers a full singleplayer campaign, a co-op mode as well as a splitscreen versus mode. The game will set you back 700 Points.
Finally on Nintendo eShop, we have the Game Boy classic Catrap. In this game players need to help restore Catboy and Catgirl to their human form as they work their way through an underground labyrinth of intriguing puzzles. There are 100 puzzles to go through and even a way to make your own levels. Catrap will cost you £2.60/€3.
Have you ever wondered what is going on in your Wii's CPU? No? Well, maybe you will after playing Australian developer Nnooo's newest WiiWare product escapeVektor Chapter 1: Combat Power Unleashed. In the first episode of this brand new series, we meet Vektor. He has been trapped inside your Wii for longer than he can remember and you are the first person he has successfully made contact with. He doesn't remember anything of his past or why he is trapped, but if you help him you might learn a thing or two about Vektor. However, this is not as easy as it sounds. The CPU is fully aware of your actions and tries to stop you at any cost. Luckily for you, Vektor has coding skills which can come in handy, but I am getting ahead of myself.
In escapeVektor, you use either the Wii Remote in the NES horizontal position or the Classic Controller. Towards the beginning you just grind along the lines, fill in the various cells in the level, and try to stay away from enemies as much as possible. Filling in these cells gives me weird mix of nostalgia; in particular the games Pac-Man and Qix come to mind. Later on when Vektor has done his coding job, he will be able to grant you two abilities: detonation and boost. With detonation you will, after completely bordering a cell, be able to a use shockwave that destroys all the enemies in your reach. Boost does what it says on the tin. You will be able to travel at this higher speed by simply filling in parts of the playing field. With both abilities it goes without saying that they won't be strong at the beginning of your adventure. The amount of detonation and boosts you can save up is limited and the radius of your detonation blast will be very small. Later on they will become stronger, thanks to Vektor, but in the beginning you can't be reckless and really have to keep focus on the screen.
The enemies in this first chapter come in three different varieties. First up are the patrols, which are basically the grunts. They will always follow a certain path and won't follow you around the level. That doesn't mean you don't have to be cautious. As soon as they see you, they will enter their alert mode and will go faster. Hunters are slightly more intelligent than the patrols. These enemies will scroll around the entirety of the level in search of one person, you. When they spot you, they will follow you around for a bit. There a chance a Hunter on your tail will lose you while going around a corner,so take advantage of that. Finally, we have Interceptors. These bullies are always aware of you and will try to hunt you down at full speed. While the Interceptors are strong, they also have a weakness. They can only cross a certain amount of junctions before they blow up and destroy themselves. The best strategy against them is to force the Interceptors to turn as many corners as possible.
Progressing through the game is pretty straight forward. You use a map screen to pick the world and level of your choice, again very nostalgic towards older games. Just like the games of the yesteryear, you can also finish the game through multiple means. While you can progress through normally and see almost everything, there are hidden bonus stages to find by bordering an additional amount of cells in existing levels. These will make a new exit appear and unlock a hidden challenge. After finishing this challenge, a gate will appear to a new world. The challenge can be a harder level, or a timed version of a previous stage. When your challenge is timed, you will have to make it to exit before the timer runs out or else you fail. There is also another type of level called eraser, but there aren't many of them in this chapter. All of them in fact can be found in a sixth bonus world, which only unlocks if you buy future chapters or own Pop (their previous title).
After you have finished the game, you are definitely not done by a long shot. There are over thirty badges to collect, high scores to beat, and levels to perfect. By not using detonation in a stage, you earn a star on each individual level. Even with your boost at full capacity, this isn't simple because enemies still come at you with brute force, which makes using the ability extremely tempting. For some people having no leaderboards, both local and online, might be a bummer, but it didn't really bother me too much.
At the end of the day, I was very satisfied with escapeVektor. The conclusion left me wanting more and the experience was as smooth as silk. It was addictive, fun, and strikes the perfect balance between an arcade and puzzle game. Some might become a little frustrated with the difficulty or the lack of leaderboards, but it wasn't a major annoyance. I don't know how they are going to top the first chapter's strong start, but I hope by the end of the series that escapeVektor will be the great final adventure that WiiWare deserves. For just 500 points, this is a title that certainly can't be missed.
European gamers can look forward to three new games on the various Nintendo download services.
3DS owners can look forward to downloading Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. In this Game Boy classic from 1993, players control Mario through themed platforming levels to defeat enemies and collect the six golden coins to get his castle back from the evil Wario. With this being one of the finest Game Boy offerings, new and old Mario fans should be very pleased with this particular title. The game sets you back €4,00.
Zelda fans on other hand should look already on their handheld of choice this wednesday as The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition hits DSiWare as a free downloadable game. This Game Boy Advance classic has been totally revamped with updated visuals, brand new levels, wireless functions and for the very first time a single player option.
After so much Nintendo awesomeness, you should also take a look at the WiiWare game escapeVektor Chapter 1 from Nnooo. In this retro-themed title you need to help Vektor escape from the clutches of your Wii's C.P.U. Take on the 30 stages in a gameplay style that will remind you a lot of games like Qix, Pac-Man and much more. We should have a review for this title when it launches this Thursday. escapeVektor Chapter 1 will cost you 500 Points.
Did you like the third and fourth games? Let your fellow listeners know in TalkBack! Think you've got a better choice? Then send it my way and your request might be on the next episode of Radio Trivia: Podcast Edition! Heck, throw in a question and specific songs if you want. Just remember, it has to be a game found on a Nintendo system in North America (unless we say otherwise)!
European gamers can look forward to four new games that will hit the download services on Thursday.
Nintendo eShop users will be able to download a new 3D Classic in the form of TwinBee. The classic shoot'em up puts you behind the wheels of the powerful TwinBee fighter craft in which you will have to defend Donburi Island. Players will have to aim at flying foes, as well as drop bombs on enemies below. Various power-ups can be found by shooting bells and changing up their color scheme. Once a bell is collected, your TwinBee will be more powerful then ever before! 3D Classics TwinBee will set you back £4.50/€5.00.
DSiWare enthusiasts will have two new games to keep them occupied this week, one of which is Anonymous Notes: Chapter 2 - From The Abyss. The RPG takes place in a monster-filled dungeon where players must ultimately fight a powerful boss. The game offers replayability through randomly generated dungeons. Combat includes the Soul Capture move, which allow you to steal weapons and magic from your enemies. Anonymous Notes is yours for either €2.00/£1.80 on the Nintendo eShop or 200 Points on the Nintendo DSi Shop.
The other new game on DSiWare is Cut The Rope, which many people might know as a very popular game on iOS devices. In this game you need to help Om Nom, an adorable monster who is totally addicted to candy. Your job is to cut ropes and solve mind-bending puzzles to get the candy to the little guy. This premium version of Cut The Rope can be downloaded for either £4.50/€5.00 on the Nintendo eShop or 500 Points on the Nintendo DSi Shop.
Finally, on WiiWare, we have 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix from Nordcurrent. In this mass collection of mini-game mayhem, there should be something for everyone. There are puzzle games, sports games and even some arcade classics to keep on the edge of your seat. 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix will cost you 700 Points.
European 3DS owners can now go on the Nintendo eShop to check a 3D trailer for ZEN Studio's ZEN Pinball 3D. The trailer highlights some of the features as well as the four tables that will included in the package. We have a recorded version for you below.
Thursday is approaching, so it is time to tell you which downloadable games will be available in Europe this week. We have four titles, with at least one game for every platform.
Nintendo eShop users have the chance to download Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge. The game, originally released in Europe around 1992, plays similarly to the first two NES games. Players will have to battle their way through four different stages to destroy the evil plans of Dr Wily. The game will cost you €4.
On DSiWare there is just one title this week in the form of Cosmos X2. First released in America last year, this vertical 2D shooter puts you up against a big alien army. Unique about the game is the way you can use two weapons at the same time and swap them out as the situation demands it. Cosmos X2 will set you back 200 Points on the DSi Shop or €2 on the Nintendo eShop.
Finally, Wii owners have two new WiiWare games to choose from this Thursday. Kyotokei is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up for up two players, where they control two magical siblings, Kyo and Kei. Use a powerful aura of protection to absorb enemy spells and unleash their power all at once. You will have to travel through dark swamps, cold mountains, dangerous caves full of lava and much more to defeat the evil witch Rika. Kyotokei will be available for 500 Points.
MotoHeroz is a side-scrolling racer that combines the high-flying gameplay of Trials HD with platforming elements and rally racing. There are varied race environments, like ice, desert, and moon levels. There will be over 100 tracks to race on, online leaderboards, and even a story mode for you to tackle. There is also an option to compete with up to four friends locally in the Party Rally mode. Last week we shared some exclusive footage for title, which you can find here. MotoHeroz will cost you 1500 Points.
European gamers can look forward to two new games that will hit the download services on thursday.
On WiiWare, players will be able to download 3D Pixel Racing from Microforum. The racer features a distinctive retro 3D look, along with 10 tracks, 11 cars, and 10 pilots to choose from. There are various game modes to boot like Capture the Flag, Hot Pursuit and Time Trial. 3D Pixel Racing will set you back 500 Points.
DSiWare enthousiasts will have Anonymous Notes: Chapter 1 - From The Abyss to keep them busy this week. The RPG takes place in a monster-filled dungeon where players must ultimately fight a powerful boss. The game offers replayability through randomly generated dungeons. Combat includes the Soul Capture move, which allow you to steal weapons and magic from your enemies. Anonymous Notes is yours for either €2.00/£1.80 on the Nintendo eShop or 200 Points on the Nintendo DSi Shop.
On the European Nintendo eShop, players will find a new Mighty Switch Force trailer on the frontpage. The trailer of WayForward's newest download title shows in-game imagery and is, of course, fully watchable in 3D. We have a recorded version for you below.
Nintendo eShop users have the chance to download Gargoyle's Quest this Thursday. In this adventure you play as Firebrand, a gargoyle who has to battle a mysterious army that entered the Ghoul Realm. Players ultilize Firebrand's magical powers to defeat enemies and gather information in the realm's towns. The game will cost you €4.
On DSiWare there is just one title this week in the form of Bridge. In this version of the well-known cardgame, players will be able to set their own rules and set AI opponent anywhere from beginner to pro. There is also a local multiplayer mode, where you can use special speech and text functions to celebrate your victory. Bridge will set you 500 Points on the DSi Shop or €5 on the Nintendo eShop.
Finally on Wii, we have the long awaited Aya and the Cubes of Light from Object Vision. In this puzzle platformer you play as Aya, daughter of the Cube Corporation. Your job is to restore energy to the Cubes, the power sources of the stars. Players will have to teleport onto the Cubes to collect the energy packs and get the engines working again. In total their are thirty levels spread over three constellations, with each new Cube being harder to restore than the last. If you are up for the challenge, Aya will be available for 1000 Points from the WiiWare service.
Gamescom 2011 is perhaps done, but not before we bring you the second and final video round-up. In this edition we have another English video for Rhythm Heaven Wii as well as new footage for Namco Bandai's Go Vacation.
Watch our latest coverage from Europe's biggest gaming convention and discover new tidbits about upcoming titles. Go sit back and enjoy gameplay of Mario & Sonic, Sonic Generations, Rhythm Heaven Wii (English) and a lot more!
Check back tomorrow as new Go Vacation footage will join the games below.
Rhythm Heaven (Wii)
Farming Simulator 3D (3DS)
Sonic Generations (3DS)
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (3DS)
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (Wii)
This morning, we were at the presentation of the upcoming Tekken titles Tekken Hybrid for Playstation 3, and of course Tekken 3D for Nintendo 3DS. The presentation was led by the series producer Katsuhiro Harada. Tekken is the long-running fighting franchise from Namco Bandai. The game is slower than Street Fighter, which allows more tactical gameplay. It is all about anticipating your opponent's attack and reacting to it with one of your moves.
Within the brief demo I noticed that the buttons and layout have never felt this refined, which is a huge step up from the games on PSP. The Circle Pad in particular gives better control over your character. Even in 3D, the game will always run in silky smooth 60 frames per second. This might be a first so far as fighting games on the 3DS are concerned. The various HUD elements, characters and background all look nicely rendered in the third dimension.
The demo we played only had a handful of characters, but from what we saw, the roster might be quite large. Also included in the package will be the movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance, fully playable for on the go. As it stands, though, Tekken for the Nintendo 3DS is the next exciting fighter to hit the system, and will do so in early 2012.
Various WiiWare titles were recently removed from Wii Shop Channels all around the world.
GameArts' The Magic Obelisk has been removed from the North American Wii Shop Channel. No reasons for its absence have been given by the company or by Nintendo.
In Europe, several more games have been removed. Hudson's Shootanto and Diner Dash and Nintendo's LONPOS are among the casualties, but once again, there are no reasons given on why these games are gone. Zallag's Racers' Islands games and Gods vs Humans are also missing.
Zallag announced the studio closure in May, which may be related to the removal of their games in Europe. Talking on his personal blog, founder David Jeuvideo talks about what led them to their downfall: ''The situation was complicated. Our games came out at a time when nothing was happening on the Wii. So even being in the top of the sales charts, we didn't gain anything in terms of money. Most journalists don't even review games from the on-line store. It was difficult to know our games from WiiWare.'' Further, it was mentioned that thanks to the poor WiiWare sales, they didn't have the resources to continue development on future properties.
All of Zallag's titles are still currently available in North America, but it is not clear if they will remain there in the long term. Likewise, the majority of Hudson's games remain available, despite being absorbed by Konami in April.
Nintendo of Europe breaks their normal tradition and doesn't give us a Wii download this Thursday. However on the Nintendo eShop and DSi Store, it is the same business as usual.
Owners of a Nintendo 3DS will be able to download Avenging Spirit from the Virtual Console service. You have just been killed by a group of gangsters and turned into a ghost. To make matters worse, these horrid people have also captured your girlfriend. You will have to travel from body to body and make use of their special skills to survive six challenging levels. The game can be downloaded for £2.70/€3.00.
The first DSiWare game of this week is Oscar's World Tour, which previously got released in North America. In this platforming title, players take control of Oscar as he travels through various places around the world, such as Europe, Africa and more. Make use of your almighty yo-yo to beat up baddies and collect the baby Oscars spread throughout the stages. Oscar's newest adventure will be available for 500 Points (£4.50/€5.00).
Your card game fix can be found in Hearts Spades Euchre from GameOn. It offers quite a variety and you can modify the rules and AI to your liking. Additionally you will be able to challenge friends in a full featured local multiplayer mode, where you can celebrate your victories with text and voice chat functions. The title will set you back 500 Points (£4.50/€5.00).
The final game of this week is a brand new entry in the GO Series, known as Fishing Resort. In this quirky game, players will have to fish their way up to the ranks and use the stylus to take control of the fishing rod. Along the way there are new materials to find to make your fishing experience even better. Are you good enough? Then take part in various challenges and competitions and show them who is the true fishing master. This and more can be yours for 200 Points (£1.80/€2.00).
European gamers have five new titles to look forward this week to on the various online services.
Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to download the all-time classic Pac-Man from the Virtual Console service. The game will be yours for the price of £3.60/€4.
DSiWare-wise, we mostly play catch-up this Thursday. BiP's My Australian Farm, priced at 200 Points (£1.80/€2) and the overhead shooter The Lost Town: The Dust, priced at 500 Points (£4.50/€5) will finally make it out over here and can be found in the DSi Shop and the Nintendo eShop.
The only previously unreleased game in the portable stores this week is Go! Go! Kokopolo. This arcade-styled game will put you in the shoes of Kokopolo, a hyperactive wildcat who is out on revenge for the disruption of this afernoon slumber. In total there are 80 stages to boot filled with mazes, enemies and super fast gameplay. The title will set you back 800 Points (£7.20/€8).
For the final game we return to our Wiis and see if we can compete with the best in Monochrome Racing from Nordcurrent. The title offers a lot value for your 500 Points. There will be more than 80 tracks to race on and ten cars to fully upgrade and tweak as you please.
The European download services have expanded their libary with six brand new titles, and as per usual most of them are for the eShop and DSiWare.
Gameloft's Let's Golf 3D marks the first real Nintendo 3DS Download Software title for the western audience. For the price of €6.00/£5.40, the package includes more than 100 courses spread over six different locations. Players can fully customize a character to their liking and give them special powers such as rewinding time.
On the eShop's Virtual Console you will be able to download Baseball this week. This classic Game Boy title from the yesteryear will set you back €3.00/£2.70.
DSiWare enthusiasts are certainly not forgotten with the arrival of three new games for both the DSi and 3DS. The first is Artillery: Knights vs. Orcs, a new strategy game by the people from KRITZELKRATZ 3000. Your goal in this title is to bombard your opponent, with a full arsenal at your disposal. Players have to carefully adjust their firepower and pay close attention to the wind direction so they can be victorious in battle. There are two single-player campaigns spawning over 200 levels and also a dedicated multiplayer mode. The game will cost you €5.00/£4.50.
The second DSiWare title of this week is Go Series Portable Shrine Wars from Gamebridge. Players take control over a mikoshi, a portable shrine from the Japanese Shinto region, to participate in the most over the top race of the year. To help yourself along the way, you can slam opponents into the crowd or fling team members at the opposing team to slow them down. Portable Shrine Wars is available for €2.00/£1.80.
The final game on DSiWare, and the only WiiWare game this week, is Successfully Learning German Year 5. Pupils will have to solve a variety of hard exercises that will help them to learn the language in a playful way. The learning tool can be downloaded for 500 Wii Points or £4.50/€5.00 on DSi Shop and Nintendo eShop.
The new Nintendo Video application will offer a range of 2D and 3D video content to users who download it from the eShop for Nintendo 3DS from Wednesday July 13 in Europe.
Featured content is set to include comedies, cartoons, and music videos. These videos will be downloaded automatically through SpotPass when you are close to a wireless Internet connection, such as the free Wi-Fi hotspots available to 3DS users through Nintendo's partner service providers.
Full 3D episodes of Oscar's Oasis, a television cartoon, will be one of the first available shows. 3D Magic Tricks from studio D4D and episodes of Angelo, a cartoon based on French books, are also set to appear on the service.
Video content may vary by country. 3D video shorts starring Shaun the Sheep were announced earlier this year along with videos from Sky UK's 3D channel.
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