Let's get ready to rumble!
Virtual Console takes a week off.
It's an all-new game affair this week - There's not a single retro game in sight. WiiWare gets a mighty 4 new releases, but don't be fooled too much - Two of them are just demos North America got Monday but we didn't yet. DSiWare gets 4 games too, but there's no tomfoolery going around there.
Arguably the biggest release this week is Pokémon Rumble, a fighting game with a ton of Pokémon to pick from. The catch is that it's no longer turn-based like in practically every other game in the series, but real-time - So you've got to constantly look out for enemy attacks while delivering your own. It's developed by Ambrella, which scared us initially, as their resume of good Pokémon games is not considered very good - But as it turns out it's one of the better WiiWare games available and comes well recommended for any Pokémon fan. Just be warned, it comes in at a hefty 1500 Wii Points!
This week brings us a second Hudson WiiWare game, after last week's My Zoo. Shootanto: Evolutionary Mayhem is pretty much a quirky shooting gallery game in which you start off playing as a monkey - Then gradually evolve into a human being. Your weapons are also upgraded along the way - You'll start off by throwing coconuts, but eventually you'll be using guns. We thought it wasn't too great, but not too bad either, so if you want a shooting gallery game it might be worth a look for its measly 500 Wii Point price.
As said, there's also two new demos available today which North America got earlier this week already. The first is, logically, for Pokémon Rumble, so you can try before you buy. The second is for World of Goo, but really, does anyone still need convincing that that's a fantastic game?
DSiWare's releases this week are quite a varied bunch. A Little Bit of... All Time Classics: Strategy Games is the only one we've got a review for already. Like the previous two games, it contains five games from the retail game 42 All-Time Classics, this time with a strategy theme. It costs 500 points, and you can read our review here.
After a two week delay, the portable version of UNO is now finally here, so if you held off on buying the WiiWare version in favour of portability, then now's your chance. It's still 500 points, which is still quite fair.
myNotebook: Blue is the first in a set of three notebook applications by Nnooo, the creators of Pop. As the title implies, everything in this release has a blue colour scheme, with the two other versions coming out in the next weeks having two other colours. We're not sure if there will be other differences, so you might just want to wait for the colour you like most! It costs 200 points.
Army Defender seems like a portable version of Defend Your Castle, but with an army theme. You take control of a military base as you fend off hordes of infantry, tanks, choppers and more. A simple concept calls for a simple price, so its also only 200 DSi Points. What more could you ask for? We'll have reviews for all "new" DSiWare games soon.
Will you be buying any of this week's new downloadable tiles or will you be too busy with New Super Mario Bros. Wii to care?
User Comments
1. cheetahman91
20 Nov 2009, 00:07 GMT
No VC or Excitebike for Europe or Austraila. 'Tis a shame.
2. Sneaker13
20 Nov 2009, 00:08 GMT
I'm playing the demo of Pokemon Rumble and I have no idea what to make of it. Otherwise nothing interesting this week. I really want Excitebike.
3. Starkiller
20 Nov 2009, 00:10 GMT
Army Defender is really all I'm jealous of.
4. Ristar42
20 Nov 2009, 00:10 GMT
I figured we wouldn't get SF2 on the PC Engine but what happened to Indy?
5. KnucklesSonic8
20 Nov 2009, 00:11 GMT
Congrats on getting UNO guys! Hopefully now we'll get both on Monday (or at least one).
6. Odnetnin
20 Nov 2009, 00:13 GMT
"The second is for World of Goo, but really, does anyone still need convincing that that's a fantastic game?"
Sadly, some do.
7. Angelic Lapras King
20 Nov 2009, 00:14 GMT
We did get a lot this week what with demos, a new channel and such, so the week off for VC seems acceptable...
8. dangermouseuk78
20 Nov 2009, 00:19 GMT
bit of good one if u have a dsi crap if u have a wii cant see why more dsiware should be at the expense of wiiware and vc there seperate consoles
9. Egg miester
20 Nov 2009, 00:22 GMT
not a bad week for eu
10. pie4prez
20 Nov 2009, 00:30 GMT
Good job Europe! I hope everyone gets more demos soon. The Pokemon Rumble demo really convinced me to buy the game.
11. Ezekiel
20 Nov 2009, 00:31 GMT
Pokemon Rumble is highly recommended guys! Uno for Dsiware/Wiiware is good too even though Uno for wiiware has been out for 2 weeks. I hope NA gets atleast the wiiware version of Uno this monday.
12. Hoffkage
20 Nov 2009, 00:52 GMT
Nice, Pokemon demo. I will try it.
13. Mickeymac
20 Nov 2009, 00:54 GMT
Yeah! Defend Your Castle on the go!
Man, now that DSi is getting really tempting...
14. Gavin Rozee
20 Nov 2009, 00:57 GMT
Army Defender is an awesome little high score fest.
15. geek-master
20 Nov 2009, 01:06 GMT
@KnucklesSonic8 cheers mate
16. MrPanic
20 Nov 2009, 01:10 GMT
That Pokemon game is sh*t btw, I don't know who told you guys it's one of the better Wiiware games, but I can easily disagree. Even as a pkmn fan I can say that without a doubt, this game gets way too boring way too soon.
I'm waiting for a review for UNO dsi.
17. jhuhn
20 Nov 2009, 01:20 GMT
I agree on Pokemon Rumble being a game that is pricey and not that good, since it only has Pokemon from the Kanto & Sinnoh regions, meaning there are none from Johto or Hoenn regions which is a real downer.
18. 110percentful
20 Nov 2009, 01:23 GMT
@MrPanic actually, the review and almost everyone who commented on the review said it was one of the better games. Seems like a good week for EU-Rumble, Uno, and my notebook.
19. Bass X0
20 Nov 2009, 02:19 GMT
I downloaded both new demos tonight (which are already in the top twenty) and didn't enjoy either much. The demos have convinced me not to get those games except for NyxQuest perhaps. I completed two stages of Pokemon then got bored on the third. Its essentially a overhead scrolling beat 'em up, kinda. Tekken 6's Scenario Mode must have spoiled me rotten as I found Pokemon Scramble too simple and repetitive even for a WiiWare game of its genre. I don't need it nor want it. I didn't really get into World of Goo. I am glad I did not download it before, its not really my type of game.
I am annoyed at there not being any VC releases this week. We could have at least got Indiana Jones.
NSMBW was shipped Thursday. I don't know whether I will recieve it Friday but I am not raising my hopes. I should have it Saturday or Monday.
20. MrPanic
20 Nov 2009, 02:41 GMT
@110percent Wow, I didn't notice that, but I will strongly disagree with that 8 that they gave it here. I'll admit the game is awesome the first hour you play it, but this is one of the most repetitive games out there so it won't be so awesome for long, uneless you really enjoy mindless button bashing that is.
Well, everyone their own opinion. But let me say this, play the demo before you buy it and know the full game will offer you that demo over and over again. I'll rate it a 6 since it isn't a bad game, but not really a fun game either.
21. KanrakusPizza
20 Nov 2009, 02:44 GMT
I want Army Defender and UNO. Oh, and Bomberman Blitz. AND also the Game&Watch games for DSiWare. Then my DSi will be all set.
22. KDR_11k
20 Nov 2009, 06:37 GMT
I'll grab army defender, it's cheap enough that it doesn't need a review. Also got the Pokemon demo but both my controllers need charging ATM so I can't play it yet.
23. outrun2sp
20 Nov 2009, 08:29 GMT
Not an interesting update for me at all. Im gonna wait it out till castlevania rebirth and sf2ce come out.
NSMB for me today anyway. Also lots more play of Virtua Fighter 5 which im getting back into after playing Tekken 6.
24. Sneaker13
20 Nov 2009, 12:06 GMT
Glad I tried the demo of Pokémon Rumble first. It convinced me not to get it.
25. timp29
20 Nov 2009, 13:06 GMT
We must be due for a hanabi festival soon. I'll take one rondo for christmas plz Mr Nintendo.
26. Bass X0
20 Nov 2009, 14:26 GMT
No! You'll get TG16 Street Fighter II and you will like it!
27. Fuzzy
20 Nov 2009, 14:57 GMT
Was hoping for indiana jones, but didnt really expect it. ah well, got plenty of games to play at tthe moment anyway!
28. Mike
20 Nov 2009, 16:03 GMT
You guys just had a Hanabi like 3 months ago.
29. Rapadash6
20 Nov 2009, 16:19 GMT
I'm guessing Nintendo's scaling back VC releases in Europe because they're preparing for a Hanabi coming up. I know you guys just had one but remember, Nintendo is completely unpredictable in this regard. Also I think the reason they are favoring North America at the moment is because we had a few months of either crap or nothing for a while there and we have to catch up. We still don't even have Smash Bros remember.
30. Joe Diddley
20 Nov 2009, 18:59 GMT
Not a good week for me. Who cares? I just picked up NSMB Wii!
I was hoping for Excitebike but was more disappointed there was no Electroplankton or Mighty Flip Champs.
31. Starwolf_UK
20 Nov 2009, 19:22 GMT
No VC releases this week might be easy to explain. The start page only has 4 slots...that my research into these slots found there is a weird priority system which goes:
-some stuff taking up 0-2 slots
-this weeks releases taking up 0-4 slots
And if you own anything they'll vanish from that page. I've not owned enough to see what happens after that...probably the previous week releases.
So I was saying. We got 2 WiiWare and 2 Demos. 4 slots used.
32. LEGEND MARIOID
21 Nov 2009, 15:53 GMT
Pokemon Rumble demo downloaded.......then the actual game was! Expensive though! Shootanto downloaded but thusfar I am far from impressed. Considering Uno DSiWare too!