Retro-flavoured madness in Bit.Trip: Beat
Alternating Virtual Console and WiiWare weeks come to an end!
WiiWare's almost been out for a year in Europe, and it seems that because of that, Nintendo of Europe has decided to start using the same schedule North America does - Releasing both VC and WiiWare games every week. Of course there's another DSiWare game as well. None of the games are actually available until tonight, NoE's simply chosen to reveal them in advance.
Obviously the most anticipated of these releases is Bit.Trip: Beat. This retro-flavoured rhythm game came out in North America some time ago and was met with very positive reviews. It doesn't look like much just going by screenshots, but trust us, looks can be deceiving! Read our Bit.Trip: Beat review to see why this is a must-buy.
A bit less interesting but still somewhat anticipated is Dr. Mario Express, which North America got earlier this week as Dr. Mario Express. This is really just a bite-sized version of Dr. Mario & Germ Buster on WiiWare - It only includes single player and Vs. CPU modes, there's no multiplayer. That said, it's only 500 points, half the price of the WiiWare game - And honestly, Dr. Mario is practically made for handhelds, so you really can't go wrong with this. Read our Dr. Mario Express review to find out more, the game will be the exact same anyway!
Thankfully not released as sole DSiWare game is A Little Bit of... Magic Made Fun: Funny Face. This was a North American DSiWare launch title at the start of April. This is a pointless rerelease of two tricks from the DS game Magic Made Fun, known elsewhere as Master of Illusion. It only costs 200 points, but the original game sold terribly - Because of that, it can be found in a lot of stores for an incredibly cheap price. If you're the least bit interested in learning magic tricks we strongly recommend you pick up the full game instead. But if you want to know more about this small package, read our Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face review.
It's a bit disappointing that there are not two VC games this week - Especially after having to wait a week like before! It's even more disappointing that the one game Nintendo did choose to release isn't that good. Galaxy Force II is similar to games like Space Harrier, although not quite as good. And considering that neither Space Harrier game is that good either, that's saying something! Watch out for our upcoming review to hear our final verdict.
Let's hope this isn't just a one-off and we do indeed get VC and WiiWare games every week from now on - The amount of games we'd get per week will stay the exact same, the only change would be that both VC and WiiWare fans have something new every week, which is of course a good thing!
1. slangman
30 Apr 2009, 17:21 BST
I hope this is not a one off. Great week for WiiWare, not that great for VC. The Arcade version is miles better. The mega drive version looks too basic now.
2. Dazza
30 Apr 2009, 17:21 BST
Yay CommanderVideo did not lie!
3. TwilightV
30 Apr 2009, 17:37 BST
Nuuu! Now Europe has every worthwhile WiiWare game NA does and more! XP
4. CommanderVideo
30 Apr 2009, 17:38 BST
@ Dazza:
I've got your back, yo.
5. Rapadash6
30 Apr 2009, 17:44 BST
Wow, yet another second rate VC game for NOA to load in the chamber BEFORE Majora's Mask and Super Smash Bros. The list just keeps getting longer and longer...
6. feba
30 Apr 2009, 17:45 BST
Heyo, Commander Video, I've got a question. Was there any localization of the software? I'm sure the marketing and operations guide stuff needed some translation, but I'd actually be a little surprised if there were any modification of the title screen/tutorial.
7. Firkraag
30 Apr 2009, 17:52 BST
I'm getting dr mario tonight!
8. KDR_11k
30 Apr 2009, 17:59 BST
Well, that is interesting. On one hand, BTB, on the other hand, they've started with the retarded Express crap now.
9. GonzoMontana
30 Apr 2009, 18:00 BST
no moving memo again ... that suuuuuuuuuucks...
10. Adam
30 Apr 2009, 18:06 BST
Commander Video is my hero.
11. Djungelurban
30 Apr 2009, 18:09 BST
@TwilightV
Nope, we still don't have Gradius... Where the hell is it?! Gimme!!! ARGH!
12. Bass X0
30 Apr 2009, 18:10 BST
Hm. Good news even if the solo VC game is poor. Lets hope it continues.
13. PALgamer
30 Apr 2009, 18:12 BST
Tomorrow is holiday! So they work one day in advance.
Hope they stick to one week and don't go back into their old bad habits of fortnights. Then everyone will notice that we all get treated the same way (except the Japanese...).
14. TwilightV
30 Apr 2009, 18:12 BST
@Djungelurban: As soon as we get Adventure Island: The Beginning. >:3
EDIT: Or Bubble Bobble Plus.
15. Wiiloveit
30 Apr 2009, 18:24 BST
I had a feeling that getting DSiWare every week might lead to a shake up in the schedules, and I was right
I'll certainly be getting all the new content tomorrow to give it a whirl, especially Bit.Trip.
One great thing about having games on all three formats every week - no more "1 WiiWare game for this fortnight"! YAYS.
16. Shiryu
30 Apr 2009, 18:30 BST
Oh my, I love Galaxy Force II!
17. Spiky Idiot
30 Apr 2009, 18:52 BST
i wonder when the Hanabi Festival will start. But anyway i like the new way Nintendo is doing with the downloads i don't have to wait every 2 weeks for a Virtual Console game now. Surprising NoE don't normally announce the games til it comes out although they did with Majora's mask and Bubble Bobble Plus.
18. xesbeth
30 Apr 2009, 18:53 BST
The mix wiiware/VC is definitive in europe? Or this is just an exception before an hypothetical hanabi festival?
Well, no Gradius again...Fortunately there's always Bit Trip.
19. RGVEDA
30 Apr 2009, 18:54 BST
They did it on eastern, because Friday wasn´t a Workday, and they do it today again, becaus the 1st May isn´t a Workday
20. Relevant Latty
30 Apr 2009, 19:20 BST
I'm glad we are getting weekly updates instead of fortnights now.
As for a while I haven't been bothering checking the updates on the Wii at all. At least with this old way we get games slightly sooner instead.
21. VenomTheEvil
30 Apr 2009, 19:26 BST
Comander Video
I am the Alexander guy from Gaijin Blog!
Very pleased you kept your word!
22. Cheezy
30 Apr 2009, 19:38 BST
You kidding Glaxy Force owns!
23. Gizmo
30 Apr 2009, 19:45 BST
Nice to see Bit.Trip Beat, I will definitively download/buy it.
24. Terranigma
30 Apr 2009, 19:59 BST
Nice update. Not too interested in Bit.Trip Beat or Magic but Galaxy Force II does interest me. I would buy Dr Mario but with the WiiWare version available, I'm more likely to buy that with the online multiplayer.
25. CommanderVideo
30 Apr 2009, 20:06 BST
@feba: Actually, there is very little text in-game, so we didn't localize that stuff. All the error messages and whatnot are localized though according to Nintendo's localization requirements.
@VenomTheEvil: Sorry it took so long! I hope you love the game!
26. Charlie The Unicorn
30 Apr 2009, 20:23 BST
I hope all of you enjoy Bit.Trip.Beat. It's a blast!
27. Corbie
30 Apr 2009, 20:39 BST
^What he said!
28. Objection_Blaster
30 Apr 2009, 20:56 BST
Amazing! Commandervideo influenced the powers that be into sneaking into a non-VC week! Enjoy the game, everyone! Keep it on the charts!
29. Supermarioman
30 Apr 2009, 21:00 BST
Now tell me, will this mean the end of one Game weeks for the US? Either VC or Wii-Ware or is NOA going to screw us.
30. WarioFan63
30 Apr 2009, 21:05 BST
Why would it be the end of one game weeks? Europe isn't really getting more releases, they just possibly decided to stop splitting up the categories. This release matches a typical Monday for us.
31. Gavin Rozee
30 Apr 2009, 21:18 BST
Proper weekly updates FTW! I'm impressed. So impressed, I sent NoE a long-ish email thanking them on behalf of gamers all over Europe.
BT.B and Dr Mario for me please. No Magic Made Fun as I have the retail version.
32. Spiky Idiot
30 Apr 2009, 21:46 BST
By the way, if we got all of the services in one (like USA), what about the Hanabi? Is that going to change as Imports or just be like the schedule tomorrow?
33. marktheshark
30 Apr 2009, 22:29 BST
What has Commandervideo done that has everybody cheering for him? No offense, I'm just curious.
34. Gavin Rozee
30 Apr 2009, 22:48 BST
Didn't you hear? He was giving away codes for a free download of Bit. Trip: Beat!!!
Nah, I dunno.
35. Corbie
30 Apr 2009, 22:56 BST
What has Commandervideo done that has everybody cheering for him? No offense, I'm just curious.
Made a great WiiWare game and is an all-around nice guy to boot.
36. Twilight Crow
30 Apr 2009, 23:02 BST
Congratulations for your new not split weekly update EU!
)
I hope you all enjoy B.T B, personally I totally love that game (but Growth is just so damn hard
37. Rexy
30 Apr 2009, 23:03 BST
Finally, Bit.Trip Beat! I've been waiting for that since those in the States ended up with it, so I'll be sure to grab that tonight
38. Pj
01 May 2009, 00:35 BST
This is great News that we're going to get VC titles every Friday, no more looking at a disappointing update list and then crossing fingers for two weeks for a better update thereafter. It might be that Wii-ware isn't that popular all though I am a firm believer that Nintendo and Sega are or might be planning one or many huge new titles. Like a brand new Sonic platform game, or an amazing New Mario title or Zelda or any other famous game. I just feel there's some thing bubbling away that will raise people's attention to Wii-Ware, I can't go on about it enough but I am really pleased about VC every week...........
39. Kawaiipikachu
01 May 2009, 00:43 BST
Wow Bit Trip: Beat
.
I shall download it in less than an hour after posting this .
For whatever reason even thru Australia share the same servers as Europe but Australia gets them an hour later
At least its Bit Trip: Beat .
40. Nero
01 May 2009, 01:38 BST
Cool, I will be getting Bit.Trip Beat. I also hope we'll get Bonsai Barber soon as I wanna get that one.
41. Swerd_Murd
01 May 2009, 02:53 BST
Hooray English people getting better releases! I still hate the fact that even if you combine the NA and EU online offerings, Japan still has us beat every week. Seriously, like 6+ games, most all of them good every week. At least localization isn't 10+ months like back in the day...
42. feba
01 May 2009, 04:37 BST
@marktheshark: I think Bit.Trip Beat is a pretty cool guy, eh bounces beats and doesn't afraid of anything.
43. taps
01 May 2009, 08:55 BST
"WELCOME TO THE FANTASY ZONE!"
In to say that I think the 1st Space Harrier is an all-time arcade classic, up there with the likes of Strider, Legendary Wings, and Donkey Kong (except that Donkey Kong is the king IMO.) I must respectfully disagree with the author's postulation that it is anything but. It had one of the first (if not THE first) full-motion arcade cabinets - which though it may seem gimmicky by today's standards was quite novel in the 80s and just cool. Also the "super scaling" (less refined mode 7) looked great, especially for 1985. I can go on and on, sure it can be hectic and frustrating but when you get on a roll it's poetic pixellated perfection. Tied with Shenmue for Yu's best.
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT!"
44. LEGEND MARIOID
01 May 2009, 08:57 BST
Bit Trip and Dr Mario Express?! Woohoo! Those are two of my insta-downloads. It feels liek I've scored a fracking goal in Real Football 09. Better even! Heck even Galaxy Force has stimulated my interest!
45. Kravex
01 May 2009, 09:59 BST
Was kinda hoping for Swords & Soldiers as Nintendo's UK site had it as the top story this week, never mind, hopefully soon.
46. Starwolf_UK
01 May 2009, 12:20 BST
Finally something worthwhile. Time to use WiiSCU and connect to the Wii shop for the first time in about 5 months.
I hope this schedule continues and isn't a one-off (like everything when it comes to NOE you have to give it a while...).
47. Sean Aaron
01 May 2009, 16:23 BST
Great deal that Bit.Trip.Beat came out this week; I already bought it from the Japanese service and put a couple of hours into it the night before my trip. Awesome game and quite challenging in an old-school Atari 8-bit way. I did manage to unlock the second level, but that one is clearly going to be a doozy (the first one was no slouch). I would easily have paid double the price!
48. MrPoo6321
01 May 2009, 20:11 BST
Blah.
49. gamepopper
01 May 2009, 22:12 BST
Finally, some confirmation on Wiiware. I bought Bit.Trip.Beat and it's good, difficult to get the hang of.
50. Corbie
02 May 2009, 02:10 BST
You can head over to Gamespot and check out their hands-on with Bit.Trip CORE.
51. Sean Aaron
02 May 2009, 02:30 BST
What?!? How can Gamestop have a hands-on for the next chapter and not Nintendo Life? What's happened Corbie?!!11?
52. CommanderVideo
02 May 2009, 21:02 BST
@ Sean Aaron & Corbie: Don't you worry. We've got something special planned for the good folks at nintendolife. Oh, and Corbie, sorry about that email. I'll make it up to you.
53. LEGEND MARIOID
04 May 2009, 09:21 BST
Well, Beat Trip is a superb ware game! I'd give it 8/10 though, not a 9.
Leave A Comment
Please login to post a comment.