Puzzle game Pop Them, Drop Them SAMEGAME unquestionably wins the award for stupidest moniker of the month, but the jury is still out on whether or not this is worth a look. It’s from Hudson and only costs 500 Wii points – two things that certainly bode well – but we suggest you wait for our review before making any rash moves.
The second release is the lamentable Family Glide Hockey, which so offended our Corbie when he reviewed it that he scrubbed himself vigorously with bleach for eight hours straight in order to rid himself of the terrible, terrible memories. So, despite the reasonable 500 Wii points price, you might want to skip that one, methinks.
Comments 60
Decent update. Beats the crap out of the last wiiware updates.
Dah! So close to first
Anyway, another puzler? I wonder how this'll score.
Normally I'd be jealous that you got two this week and we dint. However considering the games I'm not really...although I'm curious to see how Hudson's puzzler turns out.
I think I shall pass this week.
They're not getting any points from me this week either. From all the theories about how VC quality is inversely proportional to the quality of retail releases you'd be thinking they're making a major release now but there's nothing.
And again, we get Wiiware fortnightly so two games in one update wouled be like two consecutive 1 game updates for the US.
Pop Them, Drop Them Samegame is quite good so far. Definitely a steal at 500 Wii Points.
Not very good week, at least decent...
Waiting for Pop em's review...
What a crappy week. I was hoping for Snowboard Riot at least but .. y'know how Nintendo works. Or not. Probably not. I suppose we should be thankful we got 2 games though..
Anyway ... here's to another puzzler. Yay.
Samegame looks a lot like a Jawbreaker clone that comes with a Windows based PDA .
Wait, what Family Glide Hockey...I thought company didn't do Euopre. Oh well tune in next time for Family Table Tennis I suppose
Wow both of my predictions came true! (comment 11)
Glad I didn't let Worrybomb down
Awful games... I have 1800 points since November, and I can't use them...
I want Bubble Booble Wii!!!! And a Zapper game...
@Dazza - Yeah, but you have to wait what NA gets on Monday!
@Dazza- So we're officially getting this on Monday? I hope it's good because I liked the old Windows version.
OK my prediction isn't 100% fulfilled yet! It's pretty likely that the US wil get on Monday though. 50/50
@Dazza:: Of course. You always have to be right dont ya
@Drake: Thanks for ruining my "This gamewill suck" theory
Lots of faces today
I was curious about Pop Them Drop Them Samegame and now I think I'll be picking it up when it hits the US WiiWare service. As for Family Glide Hockey, don't get me started again.
Considering you "scrubbed [your]self vigorously with bleach for eight hours straight" after playing Family Glide Hockey, Corbie, I'd be worried that we'd have nothing but a polished skeleton after you "started again."
Well, not a great week for you guys this time. It makes me sad that Nintendo has been releasing so few games lately. Gah, hopefully this is strictly a January fad.
Sheesh, tough break. Hope next week will be better.
Gah, hopefully this is strictly a January fad.
Recently I've tried to make sense of all this.
I came to the conclusion Nintendo is aware of how many new people received a Wii over Christmas.
So after giving them a chance to get online, Nintendo's seeing if people will go back and download old games.
I'm guessing when all the Christmas-happy Wii owners stop downloading games, they'll start popping out more.
Just a theory but I'd be willing to bet someone's life (not mine of course) that this has something to do with it.
A couple of months ago I really wanted a storage solution better than a harddrive. I have forgot why.
Because you realized a storage solution would only be nice if there was an actual problem?
That would make the most sense.
Samegame may be good but there's so many free versions of that around... I think my PDA came with one and I know my father even has one on his PC. Why would I buy a 5€ version of something that I've got enough free versions of?
Samegame is only 46 blocks. I may snag it once I get bored w/ Mabosh.
@ AlexSays (#22): "Because you realized a storage solution would only be nice if there was an actual problem?"
Oh no, not again one of these ridiculous statements from you concerning the storage problem...
I though Snowboard Riot was coming out this month. I guess those crazy guys and gals at Hudson like to keep us on our toes.
I keep four games on my Wii.
Two WiiWare games and two Virtual Console games.
No self-respecting gamer plays an hour of Zelda, and then an hour of Mario, and then an hour of Metroid, without ever finishing a game.
So there's no need to have five hundred games on your Wii.
I've downloaded forty or so games and have about 1200 blocks left.
So either I'm a magician or there's a problem... with the people on the internet.
Even IF you like to play 15 games all at once (nobody does but someone will say they do) Nintendo offered a great method of storage.
30 seconds and you can download the game all over again. Or 15 seconds if you take it from an SD card.
Nobody's time is that precious..
Not all inconveniences (if it can even be called that) are problems and the world will be a much better place when Nintendo fan girls everywhere realize this.
The Wii has such a intuitively user interface, so why is it so "complicated" just to play a vc game you want?
@ "I've downloaded forty or so games and have about 1200 blocks left."
Do you know the Channels?
@ "Even IF you like to play 15 games all at once (nobody does but someone will say they do) Nintendo offered a great method of storage."
Great?
Congratulations, that is one of the most ridiculous comments I've ever read on WiiWare-World.
@AlexSays 30 seconds seems impossibly fast to download .
Even if youj got cable internet wifi still slows it down .
Alex, it's true people probably won't play that many games at once, but it's a lot easier to browse VC content and WiiWare games when they're on the system rather than having to delete and copy stuff back-and-forth. The recent SD r/w speed boost makes this easier, but it's not ideal and 15sec. is only for very small VC games; 300 block WiiWare games still take 1min+. I don't have as much content on my Japanese Wii and it's great to be able to have a go at Super Darius and then play Shootanto or whatever without having to do the shuffle.
On my PAL Wii I have something like 14 VC titles and over a dozen WiiWare ones and the overwhelming majority are "have-a-go" casual games you play for 5min. It's like having an arcade there, but it's not quite as nice when I can only play 8 of them at a time.
And let's not forget games like the excellent Space Invaders Get Even, which fully-dowloaded uses up near 800 blocks, and is again a game to play for 5-10min. at a time. Plus we have the Nintendo Channel and Wii Fit Channel vying for our space and apparently Nintendo plans to launch a downloadable video service not only in Japan, but elsewhere.
The "storage solution" is very much needed and not just for "otaku" or classic games fans. I suppose the next problem those of us into the downloadable stuff will face will be the 48 Channel limit, but I expect that will be easier to address...
Who brought up the storage solution? I think the worst problem is that games can only have one save file. It makes putting the Homebrew Channel on the Wii so much more complicated that it would have been had Nintendo stuck to the old Gamecube save strategy.
As for Same Game: I have it on Linux already - it weighs in at roughly 5583 blocks if you download it with the Ubuntu installation CD ISO
@caluculon:
"It makes putting the Homebrew Channel on the Wii so much more complicated that it would have been"
Gee...I wonder if that's WHY they did it that way!
Decent update. Beats the crap out of the last wiiware updates.
Normally I'd be jealous that you got two this week and we dint.
Lucky European WiiWare fans have two new releases to sink their teeth into this week
Excuse me... lucky?
Might I remind you that this month (correct me if I'm wrong), North America have had seven different games, whereas we're stuck with five (even with the extra update - three instead of two this month). Plus, with all the games that have been PEGI rated, Nintendo are kicking us while we're down here, especially after the last lackluster release day (just Lonpos... come off it).
On the bright side, at least SameGame is out today, although I would've preferred Snowboard Riot like we were supposed to get this month, Hudson
I could rant on for ages about todays update, but I just can't be bothered - hey: kinda like Nintendo when it comes to sorting out a good release schedule!
Awful games... I have 1800 points since November, and I can't use them...
Pop Em Drop Em isn't awful - in fact, it's quite an addictive little game. Sure, it has its flaws, but it's not bad for 500 Wii Points. Also, have you (Megaace) got World of Goo? That was released in December here in Europe, and if you've had those spare points all that time and haven't bought WoG, you're a criminal to (Nintendo) society.
30 seconds and you can download the game all over again.
Try 30 seconds to connect ot the Wii shop and to get to the page you want to start the download. And thats on a good day...
Gee...I wonder if that's WHY they did it that way!
Probably not since they were thinking that far in advance they would not program Zelda so that it goes into a seizure if Eponas name is too long.
But this brings up something. On a whole with the Wii file system they weren't thinking. I've got Zelda and want 4 files. Sorry you only get 3 unless you play swapping SD cards about and remember which set of 3 is on which SD cards (and sooner or later you'll backup to the wrong one killing one of your sets of 3). On the other hand there is I only need 1 file why do I have to use the blocks for 3 (well I don't think it makes any difference with Zelda...).
This brings me to a good point when argueing the storage problem it is save games to go by. Super Smash Bros anyone. The only reason it is so large is because it has bulit-in photo and replay space...great I don't want to use that space can I have it back? No. If you want it off the Wii you can only delete it as well
Congratulations, that is one of the most ridiculous comments i've ever read on WiiWare-World.
So ridiculous, you couldn't come up with an intelligent response.
It's okay, I've seen your posts and know what to expect from you.
Alex, it's true people probably won't play that many games at once, but it's a lot easier to browse VC content and WiiWare games when they're on the system rather than having to delete and copy stuff back-and-forth.
Not everyone cares about browsing through their stuff, because they already know what they have.
And the people that do feel the need to browse are experiencing an inconvenience.
A problem would be once you downloaded a game, you HAVE to keep the game on your system.
Instead, you can download and play every game available multiple times again and again.
Do you know the Channels?
Yes I'm quite familiar with the ins and outs of the whole "Wii" thing.
Thank you though.
Try 30 seconds to connect ot the Wii shop and to get to the page you want to start the download. And thats on a good day...
It doesn't take me that long to connect up - maybe about ten seconds to get on the Wii Shop if I'm already on WiiConnect24, and then there isn't much longer to buy a new game on the home page.
@AlexSays: As much as I don't wanna get involved, I must point out that having a hard drive available for those who want it would be easier than copying games back and forth all the time, especially for all those lazy arsed n00bs out there.
I must point out that having a hard drive available for those who want it would be easier
So it'd be convenient? lol
Which means it's not necessary, but it'd be nice to have for the lazy people?
And since it's not necessary it can't be a problem, right?
Wiiloveit has figured this whole thing out guys.
Now why don't the rest of you follow suit...
@AlexSays; That's basically what everyone wants - and if it means eliminating loading times between swapping games around, as well as the opportunity to have all of my games available at the touch of a button, I wouldn't complain - although clearly Nintendo doesn't want to confuse newcomers to the console, and don't want to do the obvious in case it costs too much money and puts off the core gamers.
Either way, it's an excuse for Ninty to get a bit more cash, so I don't see what's holding them back from an option like that. As it is though, I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever it is that Nintendo are due to reveal this Spring (you know, that solution that they announced last October?).
"So ridiculous, you couldn't come up with an intelligent response. It's okay, I've seen your posts and know what to expect from you."
That was the best burn I've seen in 2009 so far.
There is no storage problem except for otaku and geeks. Never was a truer word spoken man.
If any of you guys have a problem with that then you need to start enjoying your Wiis a little more, cos let’s face it if someone took them away you'd cry like little babies.
I'm now going to do pick a fight with both sides of the storage issue! (Yay!) To the "we don't need more storage" group: re-downloading games is serviceable but a better hard-drive (or the supposed SD fix) is a must for the hardcore. Yes, I know Nintendo doesn't care that much about that group. To the "we need storage now!" group: whining about storage and making idle threats that you won't download something until you have more space isn't getting you anywhere. If you really wanted to download that game, you would have. That's it. Now grab your pitchforks (if you must) and come get me. I'm ready for it.
Pop them Drop them seems like a nice addictive puzzle, like too many others! I gess thats why they call it Samegame, it's not original at all, and too simple to call my atention, still I'm glad EU got at least 1 good title.
Well, the storage issue may become a problem in the future, if Nintendo releases more channels like the video one or a more complete internet browser, or who knows what alse they may be planning, still, Alexsays is right, is not a problem right now, but it would be nice to have a little more space on my wii, it's an inconvenience I'd like Nintendo to do something about, some day.
Ugh, I can't believe I talked myself into buying Pop them Drop them. What a waste of money - and it feels so boring! Basically It's Same Game but from Hudson and on WiiWare which is a perfect reason to buy it. Not.
The graphics are functional (but crap) and the music is the awful repetitive drivel I've started to recognise in Hudson's casual WiiWare titles. Come to think of it, I'm wondering if Hudson are on a idea recycling mission with this 'choose your pointless graphics/music/background' crap. After all, they've done it with Tetris Party, Cue Sports and now Pop'em. What's up Hudson? Can't you afford to pay programmers to make these games more interesting by changing the graphics and music every few levels?
I won't bash the game play because it's Same Game, which I've played and enjoyed on numerous occasions. Certainly the game controls well but how hard can moving a cursor over a grid with the d-pad be?
Sadly, for 500 points (or £3.50) this version offers very little to recommend it over the same games to be found on the internet (or even packed in with some PC Operating Systems) There's actually a more exciting version developed for the Homebrew Channel called Space Bubble. To give you an idea of how poorly I rate this game, I bought it at 9am and deleted it from my Wii at 9.25am. I didn't even copy it to SD in case I wanted to play it again simply because I know I won't. Even Niki: Rock 'n' Ball got better treatment than that (lasted a total of 1 hour)
Seriously, you can find better on the internet for free. Avoid this game like the plague.
1/10 (the 1 is for the fact that it's Same Game)
@calculon: I'm beginning to find your (completely wrong) arguments quite entertaining now, and look at them in a humorous way rather than from a "Calculon's an angry n00b" point of view. Also: you posted your above comment a minute before you deleted it, am I correct? How strange...
Also: the D-Pad controls are surely better than a pointer system would have been due to the small size of the blocks, but that is the games only fault (the block size), and I've been playing it for aaaaages due to it's addictive nature.
So the message here, people is this: Avoid the above poster like the plague. 8/10 (the 8 is for the fact that it's a great game, and that presentation doesn't really compare to the actual gameplay).
@Wiiloveit: "8 is for the fact that it's a great game."
Yes Same Game is a good game. But -7 for lack of doing anything remotely interesting with it.
"and that presentation doesn't really compare to the actual game play"
Basically means that you're a sucker for paying someone for designing a crappy version of a game. Nice work - let's all encourage WiiWare developers to keep producing half-arsed ports of internet puzzle games. Adding visual effort to a game like Same Game is probably the lease time-consuming aspect, so it's obvious that Hudson had decided that this game was really just a quick cash-in effort if you look properly at it.
Maybe I ought to port my breakout clone with 5 levels to WiiWare and ask you to pay £5 for it and an extra £1 for each additional set of 10 levels on DLC.
I spent about 4 days developing the game - which looks to be about half the total time that was spent on this 'remake'. If forty people buy Pop'em, Hudson will have made their money back.
Will wait for the review on Pop Them, Drop Them. If it's decent enough, I can wait for a US release. I'm going to win 1,200 points from the Tetris Party Tournament tomorrow.
Calculon, if your breakout game is like the 8-bit arcade classic Super Breakout (unlike Block Breaker Deluxe, which didn't offer enough challenge to keep my interest) I'd totally pay you $5 for it -- get on it already! I am not moved by these games, so I'll not be partaking even for a mere 500 points.
On the storage issue again, well, I do bouts of impulse buying on the WiiWare/VC front to "keep up" and I do give my Wii a couple hours of lovin' daily. Sometimes I just like blowing through a flurry of arcade ports, y'know? But I would never ever not buy a title just because I lacked space on the Wii. I haven't started up Midnight Pool for awhile, so if Calculon's awesome breakout clone hit WiiWare tomorrow I'd delete it so I could experience the sublime genius of his 8-bit tribute.
A little better than last time, but still not there NoE, guess it's a lost hope.
I've noticed I don't look forward to updates as I did last year.
@Calculon: Don't forget about the vaiety of different game modes / options (eg, grid size / colour amount / bombs) and multiplayer features (three modes, each with different layout options and up to four players, alongside the colour block feature) and the different options for the background and music. Something tells me that Hudson put a bit more effort into this than you think. If you want a "half-arsed port of an internet puzzle game", check out Bang!, which is awful compared to this addictive puzzler.
Yes Same Game is a good game. But -7 for lack of doing anything remotely interesting with it.
What happened to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"?
@ AlexSays (#36): "So ridiculous, you couldn't come up with an intelligent response."
It seems that you didn't read my post, so thank you, the same to you.
Maybe I expected too much. But wait...:
"It's okay, I've seen your posts and know what to expect from you."
Interesting, I can say the same about you. And I think I am not the only one. What a surprise!
EDIT: Oh, and the new DLC feature from the music games (Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero), where 1 song can take up to 200 blocks is just another problem.
Ehm... I mean it's great, there is no problem!!1
@Wiiloveit. Just ignore Calculon. He expects every Wiiware game to be like Braid, WoG, and Castle Crashers.
RE: Wii storage:
I was among the many who complained about the Wiis storage method, but after getting that update that sped up the copying time, I don't really care if the Wii gets a Hard Drive. It wasn't copying from the SD card to the Wii and vice versa that annoyed me; It was the ridiculous amount of time it took to do so. That's why I was simply overjoyed when it only took 3 minutes to copy Metal Slug instead of 10. Sure, a Hard drive would definitely be more convenient (which is never a bad thing), but if it never shows up, I can manage.
EDIT: @Ness. You sure told him!
Interesting, I can say the same about you.
Who wants to stick Ness and AlexSays in a cage to watch what happens next?
And also, on the hard drive subject, I agree with Ricardo in some respects (saying that the faster loading times lessened the need for another solution), but I'd still love to switch on my Wii and see all my games staring back at me.
"Who wants to stick Ness and Alexsays in a cage to watch what happens next?"
Oooh! MEMEMEMEMEME! I got 20 smackers on Alex!
Summarizing all major posts above in a comedic fashion (IMO) Ver 2-
Calculon-I did not enjoy my time with this game.
Wiiloveit-Impossible! You're an angry n00b!
AlexSays- You failed with that comment.
Ness-I disagree. I think YOU failed with YOUR comment.
Everyone else-(somewhat amused)
You're an angry n00b!
Nah, I'm just angry with Calcumalon
Otherwise, good summary, there.
@ Storage solution: Some upgrades to the SD card functionality would be great (play from card, etc). And Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2 let you run DLC straight from an SD card. And if Harmonix and Vicarious Visions can do it, Nintendo can. Its easy. Hackers do it, for goodness sake!
Decent update.
@ PiratePete (#59): "And Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2 let you run DLC straight from an SD card."
Not really, the game copies the song from the SD card to the Wii system and then deletes it after playing.
@ ness: well, yes but it essentially is. It does it at good speed too, which would give you the impression of it running off the disk or a hard drive.
Yeah, I know, and it would be great if that feature would work with the VC-/WiiWare-games, too.
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