More awesome ninja action!
Nintendo of America does a bit of catching up.
There's nothing really unexpected this week - Except for the fact that it seems LucasArts won't be releasing their Super Star Wars games in consecutive weeks, as there's no new one this time. Four of today's five new games have already been released in Europe, so we've already got reviews ready.
The Virtual Console has the best new game this week, without a doubt. The Revenge of Shinobi is the second game in the Shinobi series and arguably one of the best - Once again you take the role of Joe Musashi, as you run and jump your way through a multitude of stages, using classic ninja weapons and ninja magic to defeat the members of criminal organization Neo Zeed. You can read our review of this fantastic action platformer here. Also, it was originally thought this game was in licensing limbo due to the original release featuring Spiderman - Sega has simply opted to recolour him for the VC release.
WiiWare gets two new games. PictureBook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit seems like Nintendo's attempt to continue the Mario Party series under a different name - Up to 4 players move around a board and play minigames. We're not sure what to expect from it, but the price has been lowered from original Japanese release - It used to cost 1000 Wii Points, but now costs 800. We'll review it soon.
Family Slot Car Racing is the sixth game in the "Family" series - Aksys Games just doesn't want to give up. Sadly for them, this one is another failure - Only allowing up to 2 players instead of 4 and being based on something already fairly boring doesn't exactly work wonders. You can read our review here and continue to wait for the series to get a good game!
DSiWare gets two new releases instead of just one this time - Brain Age Express: Sudoku is DSiWare's third Sudoku package, but the first by Nintendo themselves. It doesn't offer as many puzzles as Hudson's Sudoku Master, but if you like Sudoku, it's still worth picking up.
Also available is Gameloft's Guitar Rock Tour, which is another cell phone game port - It's pretty much a downloadable version of Guitar Hero, with notes coming down which you have to hit at the right time. It's fairly decent, but nothing really too special - Our review is available here.
5 more games available! Are you getting any? More from Nintendo's press release:
Aug. 17, 2009
Nintendo Download
Fun Keeps Popping Up, From Slot Cars to Rock Stars, Sudoku to Ninjutsu
Choosing a game to download from the Wii™ Shop Channel or Nintendo DSi Shop™ can be a little like taking a personality test. Do you like mystery and surprises? A new WiiWare™ game offers elements of magic and pop-up excitement. Are you an extrovert who craves the spotlight? Try a Nintendo DSiWare™ title that turns players into rock stars. Do you crave competition and fierce action? Choose from a new car racing game or a bona fide martial-arts classic. Or maybe you’re more of a brainiac? Check out the sudoku-themed installment in the popular Brain Age™ series. This week’s new downloadable games offer something for players of any disposition.
WiiWare
PictureBook Games™: Pop-Up Pursuit
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points™
Description: Enter the world of PictureBook Games: Pop-Up Pursuit and enjoy a family board game set in a pop-up picture book. Instead of simply rolling dice to move along the map, you’ll use cards (which can help or hinder progress) and coins (useful for buying more cards, but don’t forget about your Coin Bonus at the end of the game). Spaces on the map play an important role in the game’s outcome, and your computer-controlled opponents exhibit different personalities and behavior. Occasionally, the mysterious Book of Magick will be opened, causing an event that may change according to how you play. This mixture of exciting game play and charming, artistic atmosphere give Pop-Up Pursuit high replay value and unique depth—even if its characters are flat.Family Slot Car Racing
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are putting the pedal to the metal in Family Slot Car Racing. Race through three racing circuits, each composed of multiple racetracks and even bonus tracks. You can race against a friend for some friendly one-on-one racing action. Choose among multiple slot cars with varying designs to see which car has the best grip and speed. As you progress, you’ll unlock new courses and even new slot cars to help you reach the top of the racing circuit. Do you have it in you to be the fastest racer on four wheels?Virtual Console™
The Revenge of Shinobi™
Original platform: SEGA Genesis
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: This classic SEGA Genesis platformer features Musashi, a ninja out to defeat the evil Neo Zeed and his criminal empire. In this sequel to the arcade favorite Shinobi, traverse through various districts – from the bamboo forests of Japan to the streets of New York City – and fight incoming enemies by throwing Shurikens, performing special ninjutsu moves and slashing a katana sword. Battle against unique bosses at the last stage of each district and make your way to the final match with your nemesis, Neo Zeed.Nintendo DSiWare
Brain Age Express: Sudoku
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Sudoku takes center stage in this edition of the popular Brain Age series. Solve a variety of puzzles at three different skill levels using the touch screen and an intuitive interface. Track your progress by completing three tests and finding out your Brain Age. The unique charm of the Brain Age series and the challenge of sudoku make for an enjoyable combination. Prepare for another round of training your brain in minutes a day.Guitar Rock Tour®
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: If you like rock music and have a sense of rhythm, your road to stardom starts here. Guitarist or drummer – choose your path and fire up the most famous concert stages with your band. For beginners or music experts, the engaging game play provides hours of fun. Tap the touch screen or press buttons to the beat of your favorite songs. Keep your cool in front of a hyped-up crowd and don’t miss a note. Warm up your fingers and prepare your ears for the explosive track list of Guitar Rock Tour, mixing recent hits like “Girlfriend,” “In the Shadow” and “Banquet” with rock classics like “Beat It,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and more. Use the Nintendo DSi Camera™ to take a photo of yourself or your friends, then display it onstage and receive goodies at your effigy. A new rock idol is born!
1. Tony
17 Aug 2009, 14:40 BST
Another solid week for the VC and in fact it's been a solid month overall with three good games. Enough with the Sudoku on DSi Ware please. More Star Wars next week?
2. thebigM
17 Aug 2009, 14:43 BST
Another lame week for WiiWare though
3. ganondwarf16
17 Aug 2009, 14:45 BST
hahaha the dsiware seems to cater to sudoku fans
4. Vendetta
17 Aug 2009, 14:47 BST
Nothing for me this week... But that's ok, I've been overindulgent with the downloads and have a backlog anyway.
5. Kevin
17 Aug 2009, 14:52 BST
As usual weak week for DSi and WiiWare. VC wise its not Final Fantasy but The Revenge of Shinobi is a great game!
6. Aenaida
17 Aug 2009, 14:53 BST
I'll just continue trying to complete Mischief Makers 100% and finish up Secret of Mana while I wait for Cave Story/SSB.
7. Hyper Luigi
17 Aug 2009, 14:54 BST
I thought were going to see Super Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back relased this week. Oh well, Revenge of Shinobi is the only game worth downloading. WiiWare is overun by shovelware this week.
8. KnucklesSonic8
17 Aug 2009, 14:54 BST
Pretty happy PuP finally came out but not so happy it came when I'm 300 Points off... I'm expecting Cubes next week.
Looking forward to next week's VC release.
9. Egg miester
17 Aug 2009, 14:59 BST
i am not really impressed with this week
10. The Fox
17 Aug 2009, 14:59 BST
The Revenge of Shinobi? Sweet! Everything else is boring, though.
11. imapterodactyl
17 Aug 2009, 15:05 BST
Picturebook Games looks to be quite good. Other than that, meh. I'm sick of Shinobi.
12. Ryuuga
17 Aug 2009, 15:07 BST
Meh...I was thinking that today we would get Cave Story...oh well...
But Revenge of Shinobi saved this week!
13. DiggerandIndy
17 Aug 2009, 15:15 BST
Revenge of Shinobi looks cool, but I might get the original version. I wanna beat up Spidey and the Batman!!
14. Metang
17 Aug 2009, 15:23 BST
W00T! We got Revenge of Shinobi this week!
Everything else, pass.
15. P. D4NG3R
17 Aug 2009, 15:29 BST
Wish we got Phantasy Star. This is a pretty crap update, but they all can't be as good as last week, I suppose.
16. RadioShadow
17 Aug 2009, 15:39 BST
Yay! No Star Wars release! Might get Revenge of Shinobi.
17. Metang
17 Aug 2009, 15:41 BST
"Yay! No Star Wars release!"
Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
18. Rapadash6
17 Aug 2009, 15:42 BST
What a turd of an update. And WHY Shinobi, if not one of the Star Wars games? Hello, Nintendo, we still don't have Smash Bros in the US and it's been out for a long time everywhere else... what's the hold up?
Actually I had heard a decent theory as to why we don't have Smash in the US and if true, it might mean we'll never get it. Appearently when the game was made, the US Pokemon voices (aside from the ones that weren't changed from their Japanese counterparts of course) were different then the ones they use now. There might be some kind of contractual conflict with these original voice actors that's causing the delay in the games US rerelease.
It seems to me that if that was the case though, Nintendo would just change the voices and also for anyone from European english speaking countries, aren't the Pokemon voices and names the same as in the US? Other than this though, there's no good reason we shouldn't have Smash Bros by now.
19. worrybomb
17 Aug 2009, 15:43 BST
I, too, was hoping for Phantasy Star but I'm tempted to give "Revenge of Shinobi" a download. I still haven't downloaded "Super Star Wars" yet. =(
The WiiWare games don't interest me this week but with Pop Up Pursuit being released, hopefully the next Nintendo published WiiWare game will be "You, Me, and the Cubes".
Brain Age Express: Sudoku is something I might download as well. I don't own a Brain Age game and I do like Sudoku. I'm gonna have to think about this. =)
20. Bass X0
17 Aug 2009, 15:52 BST
And WHY Shinobi, if not one of the Star Wars games?
Because three consecutive weeks with Star Wars games is overkill.
we still don't have Smash Bros in the US and it's been out for a long time everywhere else... what's the hold up?
Its not Labor Day yet. Popular opinion going around is that it'll be released then (7 September).
21. Super Smash Bros. Fan1999
17 Aug 2009, 16:06 BST
It's an great Virtual Comment week and I even predicted it at some point. Still not getting Revenge of Shinobi VC version, I'll get the Genesis version instead, which has all the licensed characters I need.
22. DDR Paladin356
17 Aug 2009, 16:07 BST
YES!!!!! I must get this game!
23. Bass X0
17 Aug 2009, 16:10 BST
Because having a red and blue Spiderman in a game makes everything much better.
24. Tony
17 Aug 2009, 16:20 BST
I agree with Bass XO. I really think Smash Bros. will be out Sept. 7
Even though the Empire Strikes Back was not released today, I'm Ok with it because we know the sequels are coming. I just hope Nintendo does not wait like 6 months before releasing the rest of the trilogy. Hopefully they will put the sequels out before the end of 2009. Then I would like to try the NES versions.
25. WarioFan63
17 Aug 2009, 16:29 BST
They already announced the other 2 games will be out within the next month, so theres no reason to think they'll wait until 2010 for Super Return of the Jedi or something.
26. donth8theplaya69
17 Aug 2009, 16:36 BST
I have enough games to tide me over till labor day.
27. winter123
17 Aug 2009, 16:38 BST
the brain age sudoku is supposedly very good. 8/10 review on here for 500 points. I will get it.
28. Pj
17 Aug 2009, 16:53 BST
Excellent the VC Lives on!!!
It's our week for VC title or titles...
29. Twilight Crow
17 Aug 2009, 16:55 BST
Not a bad week, but I don't care about party games, Revenge of Shinobi is great though.
30. Terranigma
17 Aug 2009, 17:06 BST
I'd say this is a fairly solid week for NA, even though it's mostly an EU catch up. I'm mostly interested in PictureBook Games, seeing that it's the only one Europe hasn't got yet
31. Stuffgamer1
17 Aug 2009, 17:26 BST
@E-160 Feraligatr: I'm pretty sure RadioShadow is being serious. Not everybody likes Star Wars, y'know.
@Rapadash6: I find that theory highly unlikely because we already have Pokemon Puzzle League on VC, and it used the same older group of voice actors. Besides which, I'm pretty sure voice actors are usually paid per job with no royalties attached and no say on re-releases.
So...if Nintendo doesn't make LucasArts a liar about the trilogy being finished this month, we'll either get one each the next two weeks or both together on one of the weeks (the former seems more likely). I hope that does happen, 'cause the last thing we need is Nintendo alienating ANOTHER VC publisher.
Nothing I really want to download this week, but that's okay 'cause I'm low on money and downloaded two games last week anyway. Plus I need to pay for Layton and Dissidia next week.
32. Mike
17 Aug 2009, 17:58 BST
Still no SSB...nothing for me this week, I don't like Shinobi.
Ha, to all those people who said another Star Wars game would come out today.
33. Bass X0
17 Aug 2009, 18:01 BST
We all acknowledged it was a possibility but I doubt anyone was completely convinced it would. Its now likely that Empire Strikes Back will be released next week. But not 100%.
34. WolfRamHeart
17 Aug 2009, 18:07 BST
Awesome! Revenge of Shinobi is a very nice surprise! WiiWare not so much.
35. RadioShadow
17 Aug 2009, 18:08 BST
Does no one remember the incident when Sonic The Hedgehog for Master System got released instead of something else (happy day that was
)?
Seriously, don't believe what comes out of developers mouths if it's to do with VC.
36. y2josh
17 Aug 2009, 18:10 BST
So I thought it was Star Wars month... I guess one release made it Star Wars month. Ah well, see you next Monday, update
37. Popyman
17 Aug 2009, 18:12 BST
Cool, first day of school and nothing I want came out! I was not expecting that.
38. Miyabi273
17 Aug 2009, 18:20 BST
I am interested in the Picturebook game and Shinobi looks awesome as well. But I am tight on cash right now so I can't really get either.
39. DaDun
17 Aug 2009, 18:35 BST
YEEEES REVENGE OF SHINOBI!!!! We have that arcade game at the dentists place but u cant beat the first level due to the fact the analog stick is broken so u cant jump down once u jump to a higher level! my brother's always wanted to beat it, so i guess we'll pick it up
EDIT Dammit, its the wrong shinobi, bust everything i just said, i thought this was the first one
40. abe8812
17 Aug 2009, 18:59 BST
Nice Update. There are now more Sega published games than Nintendo published with 66 Sega games for and 65 Nintendo for VC but now Nintendo ties with Hudson with having the most Wiiware games with 11 games each.
41. Super Smash Bros. Fan1999
17 Aug 2009, 19:11 BST
@abe8812: You've got to be kidding me! I better look to see if you're right.
42. RadioShadow
17 Aug 2009, 19:15 BST
SEGA does what Nintendon't Super Smash Bros Fan1999!
43. redflicky
17 Aug 2009, 19:34 BST
Well Done Nintendo for putting Revenge of Shinobi on NA VC! Since Europe got it like 1 or 2 weeks ago. Have a great day America! (...And Canada.)
44. LEGEND MARIOID
17 Aug 2009, 19:41 BST
Hmmm, poor update. Brain Training Sudoku is very good if you like Sudoku.
Hasn't the EU got to do A LOT of "catching up" on the North Americans too.....a lot MORE in fact! Can we have a catch up week this Friday please featuring Overturn et al?
45. KeroKero Cola
17 Aug 2009, 20:05 BST
Catch-up week? Give me a break. This is awful.
I'm also irritated that they haven't released a new episode for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, it's been two months since they released the first. Now that it's been so long that I've played, I don't even remember what was going in the story. By the time they do release it, I'm going to be lost.
As far as the virtual console goes, I haven't downloaded anything since Super Mario RPG, and that was released a year ago. I'm still waiting Nintendo for you to release something actually worthwhile.
46. Ricardo91
17 Aug 2009, 20:12 BST
@Everyone compaining about no Star Wars. You guys got something against ninjas?
Will probably get Shinobi sometime down the road, but other than that this week is a bust.
47. Bass X0
17 Aug 2009, 20:17 BST
They have released several chapters to The After Years. All of them in fact except for the finale. They just don't get mentioned in the weekly updates. Check The After Years again and they'll be there.
48. driversold
17 Aug 2009, 20:22 BST
Has anyone heard if and when the US is getting the original arcade game of Shinobi?
I also wish they would release Nes's version of Double Dragon 2 and SEga Master System's "The Ninja." The Ninja rocked!
49. redflicky
17 Aug 2009, 20:45 BST
@50: Probably this year. 2009.
50. Metang
17 Aug 2009, 20:51 BST
@Ricardo91: Maybe not, but they must have something against Revenge of Shinobi. Some people largely prefer the third Shinobi title.
51. JTCPingas09
17 Aug 2009, 21:06 BST
Pretty good update except for WiiWare. Looks like MOAR shovelware on the WiiWare
52. irken004
17 Aug 2009, 21:27 BST
Nothing for me
53. imapterodactyl
17 Aug 2009, 22:23 BST
I bought Pop-Up Pursuit earlier today, and I've been having a blast playing it with my girlfriend. It's a heckuva party game... definitely one of the more interesting Wiiware titles yet; I can't get enough of the 'Book of Magick' squares. And no Mario Party minigames here; this is purely a strategic board game with lots of cool animations. I really hope Nintendo releases more 'Picturebook Games' titles... a platformer would be excellent, but if it had as much animation as Pop-Up Pursuit, it would have to be very short to fit within 40MB.
54. warioswoods
17 Aug 2009, 22:28 BST
Hooray for first-party Sudoku, 'bout time.
55. Jolted85
17 Aug 2009, 22:30 BST
I'll get Revenge of Shinobi down the road, a little bit interested in the slot car game, and I think the DSi has to many brain games already, but still revenge of shinobi is enough for me.
56. Pawtrick
18 Aug 2009, 01:04 BST
Revenge of Shinobi OH YES! (...still waiting for Driift)
57. BlueFlameBat
18 Aug 2009, 01:05 BST
The boss in the picture reminds me of The Shredder ... but without the armor blades.
58. fudgenuts
18 Aug 2009, 01:33 BST
@imapterodactyl
You sound very familiar. I know where you are from
59. KnucklesSonic8
18 Aug 2009, 02:42 BST
Thanks for the impressions on Pop-Up Pirate. Helps with the fact that I can't get it today, much to my frustration...
I love how everyone labelled Bonsai Barber as "shovelware" when they first saw it and it ended up taking everyone by surprise. I bet you anything the same case will be true here too. >_>
60. jhuhn
18 Aug 2009, 03:37 BST
Super Star Wars Empire Strikes Back may not be released until September and Return of the Jedi in October to give other game systems their fair chance.
61. KeroKero Cola
18 Aug 2009, 08:08 BST
Now I feel silly. I've been waiting and waiting for them to release more chapters for the After Years and never even bothered to actually CHECK Wii Shop. I was just waiting for an announcement.
62. redflicky
18 Aug 2009, 13:11 BST
@56: Glad you got it.
63. WhoKnew
19 Aug 2009, 04:35 BST
@59: I know =/...
Decent update. Pop up pursuit and Revenge of shinobi look pretty good.
64. Justin26
21 Aug 2009, 03:57 BST
@Ryuuga, I was hoping that too! Man, I wish it's coming on Monday!
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