Genie-us

There can be only one headline title this week, leaving all others in the shade. Shantae: Risky's Revenge finally reaches Europe after a lengthy wait, letting gamers all over the continent see why this is the best game DSiWare has to offer.

DSiWare

Shantae: Risky's Revenge (WayForward, 1200pts) – The best-reviewed DS game of 2010, and the only DSiWare game ever to receive a 10/10 rating from Nintendo Life, Shantae should need little introduction. Be sure to read more about the bewitching genie in our Shantae: Risky's Revenge review and get your DSi Points at the ready.

Hip Hop King: Rytmik Edition (Cinemax Games, 800pts) – The third entry in the series, following Rytmik and Rytmik: Rock Edition, this game has a clear rap flavour to its samples. We'll get to work in the studio and bring you a review soon.

Model Academy (Tivola, 500pts) – Your ability: looking beautiful. Your aim: conquer the world of modelling through catwalks, photoshoots and going to the gym. The similarity to being a Nintendo Life reviewer is no coincidence, so our review next week will answer all your burning model-related questions.

101 Dolphin Pets (Teyon, 500pts) – The second aquatic outing for Teyon's clever pets, this game was released in North America last week, so be sure to read our 101 Dolphin Pets review before splashing out.

WiiWare

Cosy Fire (dtp Entertainment, 500pts) – Okay, so we lied that there was only one big release this week, as dtp enters the increasingly competitive digital fireplace arena. Stay tuned for our upcoming review.

Viral Survival (NIS America, 500pts) – A virus game that doesn't involve a plumber masquerading as a medical professional, NIS America's game actually turned out rather well. Our Viral Survival review may help inform and protect you against an impending virus outbreak.

WiiWare Demos

Rage of the Gladiator (Ghostfire Games) – A playable taste of last year's first-person brawler, this should give gamers a chance to try one of WiiWare's better titles. Our Rage of the Gladiator review strikes a blow for informative reviews about WiiWare gladiator games everywhere.

FIN FLAPPING FUN, MODEL BEHAVIOUR, ROARING LOG FIRES AND MUCH MORE!
Check out the latest fun WiiWare, Virtual Console and Nintendo DSiWare available for download this Friday!

This week on Nintendo DSiWare, there is a host of games to test your motor skills and challenge your brain. The colourful, high-octane action of Shantae: Risky's RevengeTM will see you guiding a “half-genie” through outlandish and enchanting environments in your quest to save Sequin Land.

101 Dolphin Pets allows you to adopt and care for your own virtual pet dolphin, while Model Academy will enable you to advance from being the girl next door to a popular top model. And last but certainly not least this Friday on Nintendo DSiWare this week, Hip Hop King: Rytmik Edition gives you the chance to unleash your inner musician, enabling melodic themes as well as whole songs to be composed.

Prepare to be attacked by vicious viruses in Viral Survival and snuggle in front of a warming log fire with Cosy Fire – both on WiiWare this week. Enjoy the amazing 3D graphics, grueling boss fights and fierce action of Rage of the Gladiator, for which a WiiWare Demo* is available now.

Nintendo DSiWare – Shantae: Risky's RevengeTM (WayForward, 1,200 Nintendo DSi Points)

This is it - the sequel to the critically acclaimed Shantae. Fans asked and WayForward answered with a powder keg of high octane, hair-whipping, hip shaking action available only on Nintendo DSiWare.

Shantae sets the bar even higher with thousands of frames of animation, huge multi-sprite bosses and a quest so big it’s bursting at the seams. Guide “half-genie” Shantae through haunted wastes, burning deserts, enchanted forests, dripping caverns and deadly labyrinths. Discover magical attacks, brew zombie coffee, save golden babies and master the art of belly-dancing to transform Shantae into more powerful creatures.

Use your powers to foil the lady pirate Risky Boots and save Sequin Land from certain doom. With its infectious characters, flirtatious humor and deliciously outlandish action, Shantae: Risky’s Revenge offers up all the hair- whipping, belly-dancing action you can handle.

Nintendo DSiWare – 101 Dolphin Pets (Teyon, 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

Choose from over 101 baby dolphins or simply adopt them all! Discover their personalities as you feed, clean and care for your new pets. Bring out your pet's talents by training your dolphin in a variety of fun and wacky activities.

Enter your dolphin into pet shows and earn money to buy exciting upgrades including toys, food, clothes, accessories and more. The more tricks you teach and the more games you play, the more fun you'll have. You'll never be bored with so many new best friends to pamper, play with and love.

Nintendo DSiWare – Model Academy (Tivola, 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

You play to advance from being the girl next door to a popular top model. Your agent Nick will keep presenting you with new challenges, which you have to overcome. You'll be travelling around the world, getting to know many influential people.

You don't just have to prove your taste in choosing your outfits, but also your skill on the catwalk and your speed during photoshoots. Regular fitness training and beauty treatments will let you shine when facing your clients.

Nintendo DSiWare – Hip Hop King: Rytmik Edition** (Cinemax, 800 Nintendo DSi Points)

Now’s your chance to turn your musical dreams into reality. Hip Hop King - Rytmik Edition gives you the tools to create melodies and rhythms and to compose whole songs.

There are more than 170 carefully selected sound samples of drums, other percussion instruments, bass, melodic instruments and gramophone scratches. These enable you to quickly and easily create the basic building block for the game, an audio clip, onto which you can build other sounds and create musical masterpieces.

You’ll have the choice of four instruments and can adjust their volume, reverse and shuffle the sounds and play with effects such as echo. If you are struggling for inspiration there is a collection of 11 pre-made compositions which you can use to help compose your own pieces.

WiiWare Demo – Rage of the Gladiator (Ghostfire Games)

WiiWare – Viral Survival (NIS America, 500 Wii Points)

Viral Survival is an "escape" action game where you control a special DNA unit and dodge through enemy virus attacks. If you save a friendly DNA unit they will connect to you, creating a tail. The more you save, the higher point total you will accumulate.

There are also four other game modes, including one where you can shoot the enemy down and compete for number of kills and a time attack mode to save 128 DNA units in the shortest time possible. For all five game modes your score can be ranked online. Try your best to become number one in the world!

WiiWare – Cosy Fire (dtp entertainment, 500 Wii Points)

We all long for a cosy open fire, particularly during the cold season, but not everyone is able to snuggle in front of a warming blaze. Your new WiiWare open fire will fill every room with a magical and cosy atmosphere.

Select from a variety of logs and use the Wii Remote to stack them up. Now, light the match and your home will soon be snug and glowing. There are six fireplaces available: fire alone, campfire and rustic, classic, elegant and Zen fireplaces.

Poke and tend the fire to keep it burning. Place more logs on the fire to keep the fire burning, just like a real fire. Would you like to just sit back and relax? No problem: new logs will be placed on the fire in Butler mode and the logs never burn down in Non-stop mode!

What could be nicer than the comforting crackle and animation of a real fire during the coldest time of the year?