Meanwhile, Nintendo’s WarioWare: D.I.Y. “Big Name Games” series continues with new, free downloadable microgames created by top game designers. This week’s microgame comes from WayForward Technologies’ Matt Bozon, known for his work on hand-held classics like Shantae and Contra 4. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system to see a video of Matt Bozon creating his original microgame, Shantae NAB! New “Big Name Games” will be added every Monday through July 26, for free to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for Nintendo DS or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Take a look at how Shantae NAB was made:
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.com.
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 Virtual Console games is:
Mega Man 4
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points = $5
Description: A year after the destruction of Gamma and Dr. Wily’s defeat at the hands of Mega Man, the world is still at peace. One day Dr. Light receives a mysterious letter from an unknown scientist named Dr. Mikhail Cossack. Dr. Cossack plans to eliminate Mega Man and prove himself the greatest robot designer of all time. It’s up to Mega Man to save the day once again. Mega Man 4 provides action-based game play like the earlier games in the series. In Mega Man 4, Mega Man has the ability to charge up energy inside his Arm Cannon, allowing him to fire larger and more damaging blasts.
This week’s new WiiWare games are:
Bang Attack
Publisher: Engine Software
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points = $5
Description: Bang Attack is a fun, colorful puzzle game for players young and old. You don’t have to learn how to play Bang Attack – just pick it up as you go along. The objective is to find identical objects and smash them with your little hammer. Once you have enough points, you can use the Wii Remote™ controller to swing with the BIG hammer. If there’s a banana in the way, simply whack it off the screen. If you have two Wii Remote controllers, you can challenge another player and find out who’s the real champ. It’s not easy, though. You’ll have to deploy tactics and speed at precisely the right moment. You’ll also need to use special bonus objects to hinder your opponent in order to win. Bang Attack features 40 levels over four crazy worlds, ensuring hours of fun for the whole family.
This week’s new DSiWare games are:
Surviving High School
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Suggestive Themes, Violent References
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points = $8
Description: Welcome to Centerscore High, where the game changes with every choice you make. Of course, some choices are wiser than others. Play the premiere “Football Season” storyline plus seven episodes for hours of game play. Kick off your story-driven adventures as the new kid in school. See if you can earn a spot on the football team and win the heart of cheerleader Beth or goth girl Raven. Unlock custom looks for your character and meet other kids who can help (or hurt) you. You cause all the drama! Continue to play as different guys or girls in other storylines. Work at the bakery and take on a local mobster. Try out for the school play. Meet challenges on the tough side of town. You can even travel to Europe! Master intense minigames and ace pop quizzes along the way. The exclusive Trophy System tracks your results. Earn four “great endings” and unlock a special BONUS EPISODE. The game looks awesome on the Nintendo DSi system, which you hold sideways like a book. Best…high-school game…ever!
Game & Watch: Donkey Kong Jr.
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Donkey Kong is trapped! It’s up to Donkey Kong Jr. to snag the key and set his father free from Mario’s cage. Help Donkey Kong Jr. avoid crows and alligators as he swings his way to victory. Earn points by unlocking the cage, hitting crows and alligators with pieces of food or jumping over alligators. Receive mistake icons by running into crows and alligators or missing a jump for the key. Receive three mistake icons and it’s game over!
This trailer shows gameplay from multiple Game & Watch titles:
Game & Watch: Flagman
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Memorize the order in which flags are raised, then raise them in the same order (GAME A), or raise the correct flag according to the corresponding number (GAME B). Earn a point each time you raise the correct flag, or lose one of your remaining tries if you raise a flag out of order or if you let the time bar run out. The game ends when you have no tries left.
Game & Watch: Ball
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Brush up on your juggling skills with Game & Watch: Ball. Move the juggler’s arms to catch the balls. Drop a single ball and it’s game over
myPostcards
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points = $2
Description: Create your own postcards and send them to your friends! With myPostcards you can take a picture, write a quick note on it, then save everything as a postcard. Just open your Nintendo DSi system, take a photo and go. You can even customize your postcards by using 32 built-in background themes, various collectible stamps and unlockable elements. Create postcards for any occasion. Use the pen or pencil tools to write or draw. Simply erase anything you don’t like. Five different inks let you add an extra splash of color to your words and your drawings.