On Wii Shop and DSiWare today: Arkanoid Plus, DRiiFT Mania, Altered Beast, Art Academy, Dragon Quest Wars
Nintendo downloads this week: Greek mythology, grid-based strategy, high-speed racing, classic arcade action and a hand-held art course are this week’s additions to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop.
Note that you can still receive 1,000 bonus Nintendo DSi Points when buying a new Nintendo DSi game system, by connecting it to the Nintendo DSi Shop before 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on October 5th, 2009.
Nintendo has now added these new/classic games to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. The games go live at 9AM Pacific time. Users with a high-speed Internet connection 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 or Amazon (see Card on the right).
Where available, we’ve included videos of each of today’s games. Either for nostalgia’s sake or so you can see if any new game is to your taste.
This week’s new WiiWare games are:
Arkanoid Plus!
Publisher: Taito
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points = $6
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 = $8
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.
This week’s new Virtual Console game is:
Altered Beast
Publisher: SEGA
Originally on: Arcade
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points = $10
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.
This week’s new DSiWare games are:
Art Academy: Second Semester
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points = $8
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 = $5
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.)
Top 20 WiiWare games as of September 23:
1 [1] – Contra Rebirth
2 [2] – Reel Fishing Challenge
3 [3] – My Aquarium
4 [5] – World of Goo
5 [4] – Tetris Party
6 [6] – Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
7 [-] – Texas Hold’Em Poker
8 [7] – My Pokémon Ranch
9 [11] – Dr Mario Online Rx
10 [9] – Texas Hold’em Tournament
11 [10] – Sexy Poker
12 [12] – Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1
13 [8] – Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2
14 [13] – Family Slot Car Racing
15 [15] – Defend Your Castle
16 [14] – Family Mini Golf
17 [17] – Brain Challenge
18 [19] – Water Warfare
19 [16] – BUST-A-MOVE Plus!
20 [18] – Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My life as a Darklord
Top 20 DSiWare games as of September 24:
1 [1] – Flipnote Studio
2 [2] – Nintendo DSi Browser
3 [3] – Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again
4 [4] – Guitar Rock Tour
5 [5] – Paper Airplane Chase
6 [N] – MySims Camera
7 [6] – Asphalt 4: Elite Racing
8 [19] – Oscar in Toyland
9 [7] – Bird & Beans
10 [20] – Art Academy: First Semester
11 [9] – WarioWare: Snapped!
12 [10] – Dr. Mario Express
13 [12] – Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites
14 [14] – Mario Calculator
15 [13] – Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche
16 [8] – Puzzle League Express
17 [15] – Mario Clock
18 [11] – Pop+ Solo
19 [16] – Sudoku Student
20 [18] – Photo Clock
* [N] – Denotes a brand new entry in the Top 20
* [-] – Denotes a game that was not on the Top 20 last week
Yay! It’s my birthday! That means it’s my day off to go out & of course do lots of gaming! 
