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Nintendo Download: 13th October 2011 (North America)
Cat's out of the bag
A little something for everyone this week — other than Wii Virtual Console fans, that is — from WiiWare demos to forgotten classics. 3DS Virtual ConsoleCatrap (Game Boy, ASK, $2.99) — The original turning-back-time puzzler featuring cats — take that, Blinx the Timesweeper — this game is exactly what Virtual Console is about: a hidden gem given a new lease of life..
Review: Horizon Riders (WiiWare)
Well balanced?
Horizon Riders is definitely a Wii-exclusive experience. A game that makes use of both the Balance Board and Wii Zapper, Sabarasa's on-rails shooter is tailor-made for the console. If you are one of the millions that bought Wii Fit, consider yourself in for a treat, as the game makes good use of the peripheral and really shouldn't be played any other way. Those who don't own the..
Podcast: NLFM Episode 21: Curse of the Halloween Hootenanny
Fear the reaper!
Since it's not only the single best month of the year and because we had so much fun last time [citation needed], the NLFM Halloween Hootenanny has returned! More spooky, more sinister and more deathly, this episode is best listened to in a dark castle dungeon while eating raw pumpkins. Failing that, anywhere else will do. 1. Hip Tanaka, Keiichi Suzuki — Giygas Battle..
News: Nintendo UK Launches New WiiWare Portal
See what you're missing out on
WiiWare, it's safe to say, hasn't had quite the impact some would have hoped. Its problems have been well-documented — not least on this site — but Nintendo UK is throwing more weight behind the service with a new online portal called We are WiiWare. Designed to showcase some of the best games and the teams responsible, the videos go behind-the-scenes at..
Talking Point: Should Nintendo Regularly Offer Free Games for Download?
Is continuing in Four Swords' footsteps the answer to the $0.99 download mentality?
As of last week, every DSiWare gamer can download The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition for free. This was originally a full retail title, now with added wireless connectivity, a new single-player mode and bonus levels. Compare that to Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition, which cost $30..
Nintendo Download: 6th October 2011 (North America)
Bulging pockets
Following on from Baseball and Golf, the Game Boy sports trend continues with this week's Virtual Console release, while WiiWare gets some futuristic shooting action while DSiWare gets medical problems and minesweeping. The Nintendo Download: always varied. 3DS Virtual ConsoleSide Pocket (Game Boy, G-Mode, $2.99) — Europe received catboy puzzler Catrap
Feature: A Peek Behind the BIT.TRIP Curtain
Concept art and inspirational materials pulled straight from the Gaijin Games archives
Gaijin Games' BIT.TRIP series hits all the right notes for retro game enthusiasts over the course of its six games: Clever and varied design, formidable challenge, pregnant storytelling and an audio/visual style that quotes the days of the Atari 2600 without the baggage of age. We've spent considerable time..
News: Survey - 58% of Indie Devs Say Nintendo Difficult to Deal With
Interesting statistics ahead
2D Boy is responsible for World of Goo, one of the best games WiiWare has to offer. The studio's Ron Carmel recently conducted a survey of around 200 independent developers, asking which formats the teams had supported and planned to continue working on in future. Sadly, Nintendo consoles sit right at the bottom. The survey asked developers what they believe to be the..
Review: escapeVektor: Chapter 1 (WiiWare)
Virtual world, real quality
After the delightful Pop (and its various offshoots), it seemed a bit like Nnooo was taking a break from game development. The studio released several applications through DSiWare, and while they were quite good, gamers might be forgiven for assuming that the company's future releases would gravitate more toward "useful" than "fun." Now Nnooo has..
Nintendo Download: 6th October 2011 (Europe)
Three to go
There's new content on 3DS Virtual Console, WiiWare and DSiWare this week, so let's get to it and see what's on the way. 3DS Virtual ConsoleCatrap (Game Boy, ASK, £2.60/€3) — You must restore Catboy and Catgirl to their normal forms — whatever that may be — by heading through a series of mind-bending puzzles. Not the most widely remembered Game Boy release, but then Virtual..
Review: 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix (WiiWare)
101 reasons to avoid this
One hundred and one games. It's a tempting proposition isn't it? It's unlikely that as an average consumer you will play, let alone purchase, one hundred and one games in a whole year, so when Nordcurrent comes a-knockin' at your door and offers you exactly that many titles for the low, low price of 700 Points, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a Billy Bargain. But when..
Nintendo Download: 29th September 2011 (North America)
Another trip to Super Mario Land
With yesterday's release of Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition you'd be forgiven for thinking there's nothing worth paying for today, but this certainly is not the case. 3DS Virtual ConsoleSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy, Nintendo, $3.99) — One of Mario's best portable outings, this joins stablemate Su
Feature: escapeVektor: Chapter 1 - An Insight Into its Development
See how it's done
Over the past three weeks you may have seen feature articles from developers Nnooo, telling you all you need to know about escapeVektor: Chapter 1. With the title set for its WiiWare launch on 29th September, Nnooo now round off their preview coverage with a behind the scenes look at the development of the title. Check it out below. Behind the ScenesWe recently completed our..
Nintendo Download: 29th September 2011 (Europe)
Mario and Zelda together
There's three titles out on the Nintendo Download in Europe this week, but it's certainly a case of quality titles available. Here's what's coming up on Thursday. 3DS Virtual ConsoleSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (Game Boy, Nintendo, £3.60/€4) — This classic portable outing is fondly remembered as one of Mario's best, and now you can take it with you in your 3DS..
Feature: Become a True escapeVektor Expert
Escape with all the medals
It's time for the final part of our series of features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, telling you all you need to know about escapeVektor: Chapter 1. With the title due for release on 29th September, this is your last chance to pick up vital tips to help your escape. Read on to learn about Interceptors, achievements and the soundtrack that will accompany your escape from..
Interview: Object Vision Software - Aya and the Cubes of Light
We talk to the B2B software house turned game studio about its debut release
For over a decade, if you knew about Object Vision Software, it was likely because your business needed custom, or bespoke, software or consultation. Now the B2B firm has stepped into the world of video game development with the innovative WiiWare puzzler Aya and the Cubes of Light, which we awarded an impressive 7/10 in..
Nintendo Download: 22nd September 2011 (North America)
Twinbee, cubes and a ninja
This week's North American download releases once again cover all three of Nintendo's platforms, though fans anticipating a particular release may feel that the titles on offer don't quite cut it. Read on for details. 3DS eShop3D Classics: TwinBee (Nintendo, $4.99) — The 3D Classics series continues with another vertical shoot-em-up title from the 1980s. We'll see how..
Nintendo Download: 22nd September 2011 (Europe)
TwinBee rides again
Wii owners aren't tremendously well catered-for this week but 3DS owners get to play a new 3D Classic, so as usual it's easy come, easy go here at the Nintendo Download. Let's see what lucky Europeans will get to pick up on Thursday. 3DS eShop3D Classics: TwinBee (Nintendo, €5/£4.50) — The 3D Classics range continues to mine the distant past of gaming, now resurrecting 1985..
Review: MotoHeroz (WiiWare)
In pole position
If there's one letter of the alphabet that, when included at the end of a title should instantly tell you not to buy that game, it's the letter “z”. The quality of a product with a name that has the linguistic audacity to inappropriately replace the sensual sweeps of a sexily shaped "s", is for the most part awful: just see the Petz, Babyz and Horsez titles as..
Feature: Unlocking the Secrets of escapeVektor: Chapter 1
Learn more about Vektor
Last week we brought you the first in a series of three features from WiiWare developers Nnooo, introducing escapeVektor: Chapter 1. In this latest instalment, Nnooo tell us about another enemy type, as well as details on the secrets and achievements to be uncovered in the title. Anti-Hunter tactics, exits to hidden areas and the key to Vektor’s memory.escapeVektor™:..
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