16/05/2008
Preview WiiWares first batch of games
From 20th May onwards, a whole host of brand-new, creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available through Nintendos new download service: WiiWare.
With just a few days to go before the launch of the service, here is some more detailed information about some of the games youll find on WiiWare during the services launch window.
Dr. Mario & Germ Buster
The all-time puzzle classic returns for the Wii generation, featuring online gameplay and a new Germ Buster mode! Destroy all the viruses trapped in the bottle by dropping and slotting capsules to create lines of matching colours. The more viruses you clear, the faster the capsules drop.
In Dr. Mario, challenge the computer in One Player mode, go head-to-head with a friend in Two Player mode or prove your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also send a demo version of the game to a friend (within your region) using WiiConnect24.
In Germ Buster (based on the relaxation game in More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima), up to four players can use their Wii Remotes to grab, spin and slot capsules as their Miis try to keep the nasty bugs at bay. Who thought that catching germs could be so much fun?
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King
According to legend, a deserted town now serves as the lifeless reminder of a once powerful kingdom. The young son of an exiled king reaches this land after a long journey, finding only an abandoned castle and a magic crystal. Though tarnished by years of neglect, the crystal has maintained its luminous glow and bestows upon the boy the power of architek, the ability to manifest memories into reality. With the help of loyal servants and audacious adventurers, the new king dutifully prepares to rebuild his peoples homeland in this new realm.
LostWinds
LostWinds is a fresh, enchanting adventure that lets you wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit - from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis and its people by evil Balasar.
Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. LostWindss novel, playful controls let you use Enrils elemental powers to jump and glide Toku through Mistraliss different regions, buffet and smash enemies and solve puzzles on the journey to a dramatic showdown. Bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the Wii Remotes unique abilities, LostWinds puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand.
Pirates: The Key of Dreams
Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic, nautical shoot em up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades and, ultimately, battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a Navy Captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless Pirate in order to seek out and retrieve The Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artefact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship's crew. Gain performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including Rockets, Mines, Chain Shot, Saw Blades and a Flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies.
Play against three of your scurvy friends or AI opponents in pitched multiplayer battles with more than 35 levels in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. You can even play in turbo mode if you're Pirate enough!
Pop
Pop is all about popping bubbles! It may sound simple, but there are lots of things you can do to get a high score and have fun. Just keep an eye on the timer because when it runs out, it's game over! Each bubble is worth both points and time so try to fill up your timer first, then focus on scoring high. You can then start to chain the same colour of bubbles together and pop them for big points - a great way to increase your score!
Friends can join you in a game of Pop, too! Whenever you are playing, all they need to do is grab their Wii Remote and then join in the action. Watch out because they may start using power-ups to hold you back! If they do try to pump up some bubbles or detonate a nuke, this will create a shockwave which will destroy any matching colours of bubbles it touches.
Finally there are badges for completing certain objectives, online high-score tables and WiiConnect24 messages so you can keep up with your friends progress and boast about your own.
Star Soldier R
Welcome to a new kind of shooter where players aim for the best scores within a two or five minute time limit!
Assembled in record time to counter the advance of a powerful enemy, the mysterious Brain Forces, the Caesar starfighter takes off to fight for the very future of mankind! Shoot down countless enemies, upgrade your ship with power-ups hidden throughout the levels and carry out an all-out assault against the core of the enemy fortress! Combining the excitement of shoot 'em ups with in-depth scoring strategies, this state-of-the-art competitive shooter will keep you coming back for more!
Upload your best scores via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and pit your skills against the world's best fighter pilots from the comfort of your living room. Hone your skills and show the world who's boss!
Toki Tori
Toki Tori is his name and collecting eggs is his game! In this puzzle/platform game, players get to use a variety of items such as the Telewarp, InstantRock and Slug Sucker. Clever use of these items is needed to solve the game's more than 70 levels. These levels range from easy to brain-teasingly hard, resulting in dozens of hours of puzzle playtime.
Toki Tori makes the most out of what Wii has to offer. It uses the Wii Remotes unique control scheme to offer players a new and more relaxing play style. A second player can help you out by drawing hints on-screen while you are playing. The game even uses the Wii Message Board in a unique way!
TV Show King
Become King of a fun TV trivia show! Confront friends and family with your Mii and see who is the smartest! Let your Mii try to answer fun and challenging trivia questions, from some old classics to original stumpers, spanning across history, geography, literature, science, sports and entertainment. Make it to the finals and see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one last, ultimate duel.
With more than 3,000 questions to answer and a lively TV set complete with host, DJ and cheering crowd, TV Show King will make you feel like youre really under the spotlight. Use the Wii Remote as a torch, a scratching tool or pointer as you answer tricky questions in a variety of innovative ways. And dont forget to keep your fingers crossed when the quiz show wheel starts spinning to determine whether you double your money or loose everything! The stakes are high, and so is the tension, in TV Show King!
WiiWare software is available for download from 20 May, only in the Wii Shop Channel.
If it's true that LW was made in only 3 months than it's likely we don't have to wait long for a sequal, especially since they got the engine/gameplay covered and have assets they can possibly re-use.
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