Topic: This Week in Nintendo Downloads

[Flames_of_chaos]

Dragon Quest Wars and more art lessons arrive on DSiWare, a classic Taito franchise and a top-down racing game arrives on WiiWare, and another classic Sega arcade game arrives on Virtual Console.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20055

 This week in Nintendo Downloads once again brings us five new games: two for WiiWare, two for DSiWare, and one for Virtual Console.    

Dragon Quest Wars for DSiWare is the big release this week. The game is a strategy title developed by Nintendo's own Intelligent Systems, famous for the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series. Players chose from various monsters from the Dragon Quest series and assemble a team, and can battle with them in single-player mode, local multiplayer mode, or an online multiplayer mode. Dragon Quest Wars is rated E by the ESRB and available for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).    

Art Academy: Second Semester is the other DSiWare title this week. It is a follow up to the first Art Academy, and features more complex art lessons and more advanced art techniques to learn. Art Academy: Second Semester is rated E by the ESRB and available for 800 Nintendo DSi Points ($8).    

Arkanoid Plus! is the latest classic Taito franchise to be revived on WiiWare. The game features an Arcade Mode that has 61 levels, divided into two versions and two different types of boss characters. Arkanoid Plus! is rated E by the ESRB and available for 600 Wii Points ($6).    

Driift Mania is a top-down racing game in which you can play with up to eight players locally. To accomplish this, players use four Wii Remotes and the other four players can either play with a Nunchuk or Classic Controller. Driift Mania is rated E by the ESRB and is available for 800 Wii Points ($8).    

Altered Beast for Virtual Console Arcade is the only Virtual Console game this week. This game is the second version of Altered Beast available on Virtual Console, is rated E10+ by the ESRB, and is available for 1000 Wii Points ($10).        

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: ART LESSONS, AUTO RACING AND ARCADE ACTION MULTIPLY THE DOWNLOADABLE FUN  Sept. 28, 2009  Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, classic 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.    

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.)    

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.    

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.    

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.    

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

[Pale]

Dragon Quest Wars sounds really pretty interesting.  I may have to check that out at some point if I ever get my life back. =P

Also, I'm assuming this is Altered Beast arcade right?  I still have the Genesis version on my Wii from when I wrote the VC Rec.  ><

[BwrJim!]

was there really any difference between arcade and genesis versions of altered beast? 

[Flames_of_chaos]

Yes Pale it is the Arcade version or the "definitive" version of a crappy game that's 10 dollars.

was there really any difference between arcade and genesis versions of altered beast? 

Better graphics and sound(maybe?) that doesn't mask how bad the game is.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

DEFINITIVE ALTURD BEAST?  AWESOME

It's a landmark in awesome mediocrity.  Gotta get this to place it side-by-side with the Genesis VC version I already have.

[Jonnyboy117]

The Genesis version of Altered Beast is a complete mess. I think it's even missing some levels. So, it makes sense to put the arcade one on VC.

[ShyGuy]

As a kid, I remember seeing the werewolf transformation graphics on the arcade game. It looked somewhat Satanic.

[NWR_Neal]

The Genesis Altered Beast is awful, but the arcade game is fun.

Just not $10 fun.

[Ian Sane]

was there really any difference between arcade and genesis versions of altered beast?

I think in the arcade version it actually says "Rise from your grave!" in clear voice with proper pronunciation.

Reading the Dragon Quest Wars was made by Intelligent Systems made me think "hey, maybe I should look into that."  Then I remembered that this is not WiiWare but DSiWare.  I don't have a DSi and for a second I was actually a little disappointed about that.  Well played, Nintendo.

[vudu]

If you pawn your PS3 you can probably get enough for a DSi and some Nintendo Points.

[KDR_11k]

Doesn't the DSi come with enough Nintendo Points?

[vudu]

Only for the next week.  I suppose he could still get in on it if he hurried!