Party like it's 1991!

A good array of titles this week, with the 2D return of Sonic the Hedgehog taking top billing of course. DSiWare fans can get a pinch of Sonic creator Yuji Naka's latest platforming adventure, Ivy the Kiwi?, but there's also sports and puzzle games if platforming isn't your thing. Let's do it to it!

WiiWare

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode One (Sega, 1500pts) – After years of waiting, Sega finally delivers a 2D Sonic the Hedgehog game in the classic style. With four zones and seven special stages we'll see if this first episode packs enough content to justify the pricetag, but whilst you're waiting for our review flick through the virtual pages of our Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode One interview.

Triple Jumping Sports (Code Monkeys, 500pts) – After the disappointing Triple Shot Sports and Triple Throwing Sports comes Triple Jumping Sports, another compendium of athletic events from the team at Code Monkeys. We'll give this one a fair shake and give the verdict soon.

DSiWare

G.G Series: Super Hero Ogre (Genterprise, 200pts) – Another slice of quickfire gaming action from the G.G Series, have a read through our First Impressions: G.G Series: Super Hero Ogre for an introduction to cyborg-punching, DSiWare-style, and come back for our review this week.

Datamine (Enjoy Gaming, 500pts) – You are the safety inspector at the largest data centre facility in the world, but something has gone terribly wrong: the entire world's data is lost. You must reclaim every piece of information across 100 levels, grabbing upgrades along the way. Datamine was released in Europe last week, and our review is currently being calculated at the world's second largest data facility due to the aforementioned accident.

Ivy the Kiwi? Mini (XSEED Games, 500pts) – A bite-sized Kiwi nugget of Prope's platforming gem Ivy the Kiwi?, this offers up a sample of the levels available in the full version. If you weren't tempted enough to spend the full whack on the DS version, this might entice you to do so. We'll review this Mini version shortly, but in the meantime have a read through our Ivy the Kiwi? (DS) review for more on Yuji Naka's latest pet project.

It's now time for the press release mambo.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: NINTENDO GAME SYSTEMS SUDDENLY BESET BY KIWIS AND HEDGEHOGS

Oct. 11, 2010

When the words "hedgehog" and "video game" show up in the same sentence, it's pretty clear which gaming superstar you're about to encounter. Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I arrives on the WiiWare™ service this week, adding a fresh chapter to one of the most beloved series in all of gaming. Meanwhile, on the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, Ivy the Kiwi? Mini finds the flightless Ivy on a quest to find her mama, while Datamine and G.G. Series SUPER HERO OGRE challenge players to recover lost files and battle evil foes, respectively. Whichever games they choose to download, Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ fans alike should prepare for elevated levels of fun.

WiiWare

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 1,500 Wii Points™
Description: The sequel fans have waited 16 years to experience is finally here! Featuring enhanced game-play elements such as the classic Sonic Spin Dash and the versatile Homing Attack, Sonic 4 picks up right where Sonic and Knuckles™ left off. With Eggman finally defeated, Sonic runs off to explore new zones and uncharted lands. Dr. Eggman, furious at the destruction of the Death Egg and the failure of his plans, puts all of his most devious schemes into action. In an effort to finally rid himself of Sonic, he revisits - and improves - the very best of his creations. Get ready for the next chapter in an epic 2D saga built for old and new fans alike.

Triple Jumping Sports
Publisher: The Code Monkeys Ltd.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Triple Jumping Sports is the most advanced recreational jumping game available for the WiiWare service, immersing players in the world of competitive jumping. Most events consist of activities that are traditionally derived from hunting and combat skills. Over time these practices have evolved into a variety of competitive sports that include Long Jump, High Jump and Pole Vault. As with real-life jumping events, players have full control over the speed, height, angle and distance. All of these will influence the success of the jump.

Nintendo DSiWare

Ivy the Kiwi? Mini
Publisher: XSEED Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Ivy is on a search for her mother and she needs your help! Help guide Ivy by stretching vines and protecting her from treacherous terrain and mean animals that stand in her way. She's a bird, but she can't fly, and she's going to need all the help she can get if she's going to find her mother. Will Ivy find her mother? More than 50 stages provide loads of fun for the whole family.

Datamine
Publisher: Enjoy Gaming ltd.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You are the safety inspector at the largest data storage facility in the world. Unfortunately, your laziness at work has led to the biggest cataclysm of the wireless age: the loss of all mankind's data. You have been chosen to embark on a dangerous journey to retrieve the lost data. Datamine is a great arcade-style action game where you control a robot and beam at data bubbles to split and catch them. Test your skills in 100 challenging levels. Grab equipment upgrades like speed boost, sticky shots and shields. Break encrypted data and fusion bubbles that multiply when they touch others.

G.G. Series SUPER HERO OGRE
Publisher: Genterprise, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Charge up your Superhero Attacks and be a super-cool superhero. An evil army is on the march. Confront it and save the day in this superhero action game. Each time you defeat an enemy with a Hero Attack, your Hero Gauge goes up. Then, with simple button commands, you can use the charged-up Hero Gauge to unleash powerful Superhero Attacks on your foes. Continue to land Hero Attacks to keep the Hero Gauge charged and perform a devastating chain of Superhero Attacks. After you destroy the lesser enemies, a boss will appear. Defeat it to clear the level.