Could Midnight Bowling rival the fun of Wii Sports bowling?

If puzzlers are your bag then you might want to check out MadStone. We got hands on last week with a trial of the game and posted some quite favourable first impressions. There is no shortage of puzzlers on WiiWare but this certainly appears to be one of the better ones at first glance.

Watch out for our full review for both games over the next couple of days. Here’s the press release to tide you over:

Midnight Bowling (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Plunge directly into the trendy and electric atmosphere of Midnight Bowling. With awesome playing sensations, prepare for ultra-fun gaming thanks to a new physics engine that lets you control your throws precisely and easily with your Wii Remote controller and make spectacular spins that will impress your opponents. Face up to three friends in the fun party mode, where your playing abilities will be put to the test. Whatever your experience level, launch yourself into the immersive career mode, where you will play in the trendiest bowling spots on the planet against charismatic characters that will give you a run for your money.

MadStone (Riverman Media, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Time is short. Earth trembles as the forces of nature stir and grow restless. Can you turn the tide? In this dynamic puzzle game, you must clear the path for your elemental MadStones to reach the bottom of the screen. Blocks can be broken by striking them directly or by the force of falling objects. The novice tries frantically to break enough blocks, while the master sets up cascading collapses with only a handful of direct strikes. As two sides struggle for domination, titanic forces build, only to be unleashed in an earth-shaking final confrontation. Experience the mystical single-player journey, or challenge a friend in competitive two-player mode.

As if all this wasn't enough there is a stunning RPG on the Virtual Console today in the shape of Shining Force II from the Sega Genesis which we think is worth a look for fans of the genre. Mario Golf on the N64 is also out which is still great fun after all these years. Go check em out!

Don't forget that two of the Mega Man 9 content packs are available today also.