Make it rain

Never let it be said that the Nintendo Download lacks variety. On the same day that Nintendo launches new water-based puzzle game Fluidity, Korner Entertainment conquers completely the opposite end of the scale with virtual fireplace simulator Fireplacing. DSiWare is equally varied, with portable music studio Rytmik: Rock Edition rubbing shoulders with Oriental tower defence game Dairojo! Samurai Defenders. Virtual Console even gets a double whammy, with a classic 8-way shooter landing alongside a side-scrolling platform shooter about a legendary Monkey King. There's a little something for everyone today.

WiiWare

Fluidity (Nintendo, 1200pts) – Known as Hydroventure in Europe, this is a new physics-based puzzle platformer from Nintendo that sees you take control of a mass of water, able to change states into ice and steam in order to traverse the tricky stages. Our review will be available later this week.

Fireplacing (Korner Entertainment, 500pts) – Light the pinecone, coax the glowing embers into flames and watch as the majestic testament to your incendiary skill burns ever hotter and hotter. Yes, it's a fireplace simulator; we'll put it through its paces and bring you a full review shortly.

Racers' Islands: Crazy Arenas (Zallag, 600pts) – A battle-themed off-shoot of Racers' Island: Crazy Racers, we weren't all that keen on either title, as our Racers' Islands: Crazy Arenas review explains.

WiiWare Demos

Fluidity – If you're not sure whether to drop 1,200 Points on Nintendo's latest puzzler, this free demo is just what you're after.

Virtual Console

Wolf of the Battlefield: COMMANDO (Arcade, 800pts) – Pinch yourself and take deep breaths: you're not dreaming, this is in fact the return of Virtual Console Arcade to the Nintendo Download. An old-school top-down military shooter, this is classic Capcom arcade action of the era. We'll march our review out later this week.

SonSon (Arcade, 800pts) – No, you're still not dreaming: that's two Virtual Console games on the same day. A combination of 2D platformer and side-scrolling shooter, SonSon is based on the classic tale of the Monkey King. The nature of our upcoming review will be irrepressible.

DSiWare

Rytmik: Rock Edition (Cinemax, 200pts) – An absolute steal at just 200 Points – its original European release cost 800 Points – Rytmik: Rock Edition is the guitar-driven cousin to synth dance studio Rytmik, and a tool any aspiring rock star should pick up. Our Rytmik: Rock Edition review tells you why this one hits the high notes.

Dairojo! Samurai Defenders (Abylight, 800pts) – A tower defence title with shades of the Far East, this comes with a multiplayer Download Play option for local players to face off against each other. We'll rally the troops and bring you a review soon.

Space Ace (Digital Leisure Inc, 800pts) – Remember Dragon's Lair? Space Ace is a spiritual successor set in space, so if you've played Dirk the Daring's adventures you should have a fairly good idea of what to expect. Our own space ace will have a review available later this week.

Fluidity Has WiiWare Service Overflowing with Downloadable Fun

Making its debut on the WiiWare™ service this week, Fluidity invites players to embark on an exciting hydro action adventure by controlling water in various forms. Players can test the waters before diving in by downloading a demo version of the game for zero Wii Points™. Meanwhile, a pair of arcade classics from Capcom – Wolf of the Battlefield: COMMANDO and SONSON™ – are now available via the Virtual Console™ service, letting fans enjoy old-school battle action on the Wii™ system. And if those battles aren’t enough for you, check out Dairojo! Samurai Defenders for the Nintendo DSiWare™ service.

WiiWare

Fluidity
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 1,200 Wii Points; demo version available for 0 Wii Points
Description: A magical illustrated encyclopedia called Aquaticus has been tainted by a vial of evil ink called the Influence. As a pool of water that can take on alternate forms of ice and steam, you must overcome obstacles scattered across the pages of Aquaticus and save it from the corruptive Influence. Tilt and twist your Wii Remote™ controller to use the various forms and properties of water on your free-flowing journey through Aquaticus, where every page has multiple panels and illustrations that come to life. Tackle problems and defeat enemies to reveal magical Rainbow Drops, each of which will restore some of Aquaticus’ power and allow it to open more chapters and grant you new powers. These additional powers, such as sticking to objects as a block of ice or shooting bolts of lightning as a steam cloud, will be essential to destroying the Influence and its minions. Along the way, you can also test your ingenuity and reflexes by finding hidden puzzle pieces. These pieces unlock playrooms that give you the opportunity to use the skills you’ve learned and race against the clock to complete as many challenges as possible. These challenges won’t affect your quest to restore Aquaticus’ powers, but everyone needs a break now and again, right? Fluidity offers the chance to slosh and slide your way through an imaginative environment filled with challenging adventures. Are you ready to dive into this unique experience?

Racers’ Islands - Crazy Arenas
Publisher: ZALLAG
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Do you like unusual motor sports challenges? Racers’ Islands - Crazy Arenas includes five wacky activities/challenges: a golden totem to capture in a lost temple, a wild ascent to an infernal mountain peak, an ice hockey tournament between racing cars, a paintball contest powered by engines and a time bomb to toss to your opponents as quickly as possible. During these frenzied events, players must drive with one hand while aiming with the other.

Fireplacing
Publisher: Korner Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Turn your television into a virtual fireplace equipped with realistic graphics and a fire effect that will almost make you want to warm your hands by it. Prepare the wood, light the fire and stoke it. Or, if you prefer, choose the Automatic option to have the fireplace on your screen while you eat with your family, celebrate with friends or dine with your partner. There are fireplaces for every occasion.

Virtual Console

Wolf of the Battlefield: COMMANDO
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Violence, Use of Tobacco
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Experience the Capcom arcade game that spawned a multitude of clones as the original commando comes to your living room courtesy of the Virtual Console service. Take control of Super Joe and shoot your way upwards into enemy territory, using grenades to wreak havoc with enemy placements in this seminal genre creator.

SONSON
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Experience the original adventures of the Monkey King in this action-packed side-scrolling adventure. Rapidly switch between different levels of play to shoot dangerous enemies in the face. A truly original concept, this quirky, old-school arcade classic has been hard to find in the West since its arcade debut in 1984 – until now!

Nintendo DSiWare

Dairojo! Samurai Defenders
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: On the awakening of the Edo period, Shoguns fight ferocious battles to win over the Land of the Rising Sun. From Kumamoto to Tsuruga, six emblematic castles are under siege by implacable ninjas attacking from land and air. Strategically position your spears, archers, gunners, generals and cannons. Promote their ranks and wisely employ the smoke bombs and rice balls to your advantage. But don’t get overly confident – the art of war of Hana, the Geisha, is a reminder that appearances can be deceptive. Four game-play modes include Score Attack, Normal Mode, Random Mode and Versus (via DS Download Play). The game also includes a Fast Forward function and several degrees of difficulty.

Space Ace®
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Play as the heroic Ace and stop the evil Commander Borf from taking over the Earth. Borf plans to reduce all of humankind to infants and take over the planet. Only two people have the courage and strength to stop Borf and save Earth: the beautiful Kimberly and the heroic Ace. But as they approach Borf’s stronghold, Ace is changed into a child by the Infanto Ray and Kimberly is kidnapped by the evil madman. Space Ace is a fully animated arcade classic from legendary animator Don Bluth. You’ll make your way through bizarre new worlds by using your Nintendo DSi™ system to move and fire your laser gun. Beware of your foes, as they are numerous. The fate of Earth is in your hands.

Rytmik Rock Edition
Publisher: CINEMAX
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Rytmik Rock Edition is an application for creating rhythmic and melodic themes and composing full songs. It contains more than 130 carefully selected sound samples of drums, keyboards, bass, lead and rhythm guitars. With Rytmik Rock Edition you can quickly and easily create the basic building block: an audio clip. It consists of musical notations for up to four instruments that you may transpose, select their location in the stereo field and modify their volume, polyphony and echo. You may arbitrarily combine up to 128 such clips in four tracks and create complex pieces of music. You also have a rhythm library and a varied collection of 10 pre-made compositions at your disposal. For the best musical experience, listen using headphones or a quality speaker system (not included).