WiiWare News

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  • News So Long Wii Shop Channel, And Thanks For All The Games

    Closing down after more than 12 years

    Today sees the discontinuation of the Wii Shop Channel, an online service for the Wii which has hosted a wonderful and quirky collection of digital games since December 2006. Back in September 2017, Nintendo announced that the Wii Shop Channel would be closing in 2019. The closure would mean that players would...

April2017

March2016

December2014

November2014

July2014

May2014

April2014

December2013

  • Review Deer Drive Legends (WiiWare)

    Legends of the Fail

    There’s a new WiiWare game available in North America. Let that sink in for a moment. After nearly nine months of silence, a new title emerges from the depths of Maximum Games's back pocket and lands squarely on the WiiWare service as Deer Drive Legends, the light gun shooter that you probably haven’t been waiting for...

November2013

October2013

September2013

May2013

April2013

March2013

February2013

  • Video Vblank Entertainment Shows You How to Make a Game for the NES

    ROM City Rampage is a blast from the past

    Out today in North America and Europe, Retro City Rampage is, as the title suggests, a WiiWare release that aims to remind us of gaming's older days. Inspired by the original GTA, it includes a host of jokes, references and areas designed to bring to mind pop culture of the '80s and '90s. Also included with...

  • Nintendo Download 28th February 2013 (North America)

    Running, gunning, creating coasters and more

    It's Nintendo Download time again, North America, and this week all four of Nintendo's online platforms have content to choose from; you lucky gamers. Some are long-awaited and in one case probably already keeping some of you very busy, while others will no doubt also have an audience to snap them up...

  • News Vblank Entertainment: Nintendo is "Great To Work With"

    Retro City Rampage developer says Nintendo is welcoming to small developers

    Retro City Rampage will most likely be WiiWare's swansong when it finally becomes available for download on 28th February, and its developer Vblank Entertainment seems to have enjoyed working with Nintendo while making it. Speaking on Twitter Brian Provinciano, the game's...

  • Nintendo Download 28th February 2013 (Europe)

    Splashing and crashing, new and old retro and fishing

    Nintendo's well and truly on the ball this week, Europe, bringing us our download news nice and early. This week sees the Wii and DSi rejoin the party with 3DS, while Wii U drops out for a bit of a rest. The offerings include a recently unveiled game from 3DS Direct, as well as a long awaited...

  • Talking Point WiiWare's Vital Role in a Retro Revival

    Introducing bits and pixels to a new generation

    The upcoming release of Retro City Rampage on WiiWare arguably represents two important trends for the service — it could be the last notable release on the platform, and it's also yet another "retro" themed release. We'll consider the possible swansong and end of WiiWare in the near future, but for...

  • Video Grab a Sneak Peak of WiiWare Console-Exclusive "ROM City Rampage"

    15 seconds of glorious pixels

    A few days ago we were relieved to confirm that Retro City Rampage arrives on WiiWare on 28th February, a long-awaited and delayed retro homage to the original GTA titles. That description may sell it a little short, as it's packed with pop-culture references and diversions that are set to distract gamers on a regular...

  • News Yes, Retro City Rampage Has A Release Date

    The WiiWare wait will finally be over

    Retro City Rampage has been eluding us for as long as we can remember. It sees you play as the bad guy in an open-world 8-bit environment and has been out on PC and PlayStation Network for a while now. Unfortunately the WiiWare version has been delayed more than a few times, leaving some to speculate that it...

  • News You, Me, and the Cubes Designer Dies Ages 42

    Kenji Eno passes away

    Respected game designer and musician Kenji Eno passed away yesterday. Cause of death was heart failure induced by high blood pressure. He was 42 years old. Best known for founding the game studio WARP, Inc. and creating the Sega Saturn RPG adventure D, Eno was also involved in the WiiWare title You, Me, and the Cubes. He also...

January2013

December2012

  • News Swords & Soldiers Battling Its Way To 3DS eShop Next Year

    A virtual war is coming

    Originally released on WiiWare back in 2009, it has been announced that Swords & Soldiers is getting the 3D treatment and making its way to the 3DS eShop. Developed by Romino Games, the strategy title is heading to the virtual store courtesy of Circle Entertainment, which has taken responsibility of helping to bring the...

  • Review Vampire Crystals (WiiWare)

    Vampires, they don’t always suck

    One fact that we all need to face is that fast-paced and frantic video games will never go out of style. Whether they’re classics being played on an arcade cabinet or new entries on a home console, intense action coupled with multiplayer mayhem can be downright addictive. Another fact that we all need to face is...

  • Nintendo Download 27th December 2012 (Europe)

    Mario returns, chess galore and heroes of the world

    Most of the world is currently in a vague fuzz of lazy relaxation, but not the download team at Nintendo. It's the usual update, this time incorporating every system with the exception of Wii U, so barring a surprise a certain pinball series isn't going to make it to the new system this year...

  • News Retro City Rampage Looks Set For A January Release on WiiWare

    Don't worry, it'll arrive... eventually

    It seems like forever and an age since Retro City Rampage was announced for the Wii Shop Channel - the title has had a delay or two since then. We reported earlier this month that an updated version of the 8-bit action-adventure game would be heading to Europe and North America 'soon', but no specific date was...

  • Nintendo Download 20th December 2012 (North America)

    Wario, escaping vektors, Wii U discounts and 3D goodies

    The download information arrived a little later than normal today, and no wonder — there's a lot of content available this week, along with some surprise sales on Wii U. Enough pre-amble, let's get into it. 3DS download software: escapeVektor (Nnooo, $9.99) — The original release on...

  • News Job Losses Rock LostWinds Developer Frontier

    The Nightmare Before Christmas

    LostWinds developer Frontier Developments has made 14 of its 233 staff redundant, Eurogamer has revealed. The Cambridge-based studio - which expanded its operations in North America earlier this year - is letting the staff go at 6pm on Friday 14th December - just 11 days before Christmas.

  • News Vampire Crystals Cuts A Bloody Path To December Release In NA

    European launch for WiiWare title to follow in January

    Shanblue Interactive has confirmed that its WiiWare action title Vampire Crystals will launch this month in North America. The date to look out for is December 20th, with a European release following on January 3rd, 2013. The top-down shooter has been in development for quite a while - we first...

  • News Retro City Rampage Storming Onto WiiWare Soon

    Updated version coming to European shores

    Popular download title Retro City Rampage has been available on PC, Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita for a while now in North America. The game has recently been tweaked and updated to give the player a better experience, and now it's coming to a multitude of platforms in Europe, including WiiWare. For...

November2012

  • Review Back To Nature (WiiWare)

    Back to basics

    It’s a well-known fact that Nintendo’s WiiWare service has its limitations. Developers must reportedly cram their games into a paltry 40MB, and the system’s lack of horsepower can no doubt play a considerable role in curbing some game design ideas. Nevertheless, many independent studios have risen to the challenge and we’ve...

  • News Retro City Rampage Isn't Headed Down Under

    "Ratings are expensive and time consuming", says developer

    VBlank Entertainment has revealed that the WiiWare version of Retro City Rampage won't be released in Australia. Posting on Twitter, the developer cited the expensive process of age rating approval as the reason for the no-show. The Xbox Live Arcade and PSN versions are also impacted by the...

October2012

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 23: Revenge of the Halloween Hootenanny

    Best served as cold as a corpse

    Grab your bluntest instruments and aim for the head because NLFM has risen from its grave for the third annual Halloween Hootenanny! More spooky, more sinister and more deathly, this episode is best listened to in a dark castle dungeon while eating raw pumpkins. Failing that, anywhere else will do. 1. Masanao...

  • Nintendo Download 1st November 2012 (Europe)

    Monsters, samurai, spaceships and dragons

    It's that time again when we cross our fingers and hope for some downloadable treats from Nintendo, hoping against hope that we aren't subjected to tricks instead. This week is a mixed bag, with promising, awful and mystery downloads available across all platforms, so let's get to it. 3DS Download: Monster...

  • News River City Ransom 2 On Hold Indefinitely

    WiiWare release wasn't worth saving

    River City Ransom 2 was announced for WiiWare and PC over a year ago, and was slated for release in 2012. Developer Miracle Kidz, however, has now confirmed via Twitter that this on hold indefinitely; this means it may never see the light of day at all. The developer has said that it will continue to focus on...

  • Review Reel Fishing Ocean Challenge (WiiWare)

    Pain in the bass

    It’s been about two years since the last Reel Fishing game was released for WiiWare, and you’d think that that was enough time to figure out how to improve on the formula. Unfortunately, that isn't at all what has happened. Instead, a series of games based on an activity as simple as fishing has somehow managed to sink deeper...

  • News Retro City Rampage Trailer is Full of Old-School Cool

    Spot the references

    Retro City Rampage arrives on PC and PS Vita today, which may draw some envious glances from Wii owners that were promised this title so long ago. The good news is that developer VBlank has already confirmed that the title is rampaging onto WiiWare later this year, so the wait is hopefully not going to be too long. On the plus...

  • Review Successfully Learning English: Year 5 (WiiWare)

    One more class, Freddy

    Successfully Learning English: Year 5 represents, probably, the end of an edutainment era. Across DSiWare and WiiWare, Freddy the Vampire has appeared in over 20 titles covering a few different subjects in relentless detail for young pupils, all with the same style, structure and bland presentation. The final part of the Wii's...

  • Review Drop Zone: Under Fire (WiiWare)

    Falling with style

    One of the coolest things video games can do is let us perform daring, stylish feats we might never attempt in the real world. Drifting around corners at 100mph, snowboarding off the edge of a mountain with reckless bravado, even plucking vegetables from the ground and hurling them at a pink dinosaur — all things we can...

  • News Retro City Rampaging To WiiWare Later This Year

    We've not been forgotten about

    With WiiWare entering the final stages of its life, you might assume that developer support is going to dry up massively. However, we've recently been given one of the best games ever seen on the platform in the shape of La-Mulana. Thankfully, it would appear that it's not going to be WiiWare's final notable release,...

  • Nintendo Download 4th October 2012 (North America)

    Cave Story, art classes, cross words and NSMB2 DLC

    You might want to pull up a chair for this one, because it's something of a monster. Are you sitting comfortably? Do you have a hot drink at the ready? Then let's begin... 3DS Retail Downloads: Crosswords Plus (Nintendo, $29.99) — Crosswords Plus offers more than 1,000 professionally designed...

  • News Dr. Mario Online Rx Makes Club Nintendo Members Feel Better

    Yours for 100 coins

    As expected for North American members of Club Nintendo, there's a new title available in exchange for 100 hard earned coins. The latest update has seen Dr. Mario Online Rx on WiiWare added as an incentive until 14th October. This title has been around for well over four years now, and received some warm praise and 7/10 in our...

September2012

  • Nintendo Download 27th September 2012 (North America)

    Denpa men, a Game Boy classic and some Real Bout Newcomers

    After the confirmation of Europe's somewhat disappointing selection of Nintendo Download titles, you might be forgiven for expecting the North American update to be similarly lackluster. However, Nintendo has pulled out all the stops to deliver a varied selection of titles - the details of...

  • News La-Mulana Stands Atop Download Charts Worldwide

    Global dominance beckons for WiiWare classic

    WiiWare smash hit La-Mulana has taken top spot in the UK, German, Italian, Dutch, French, Spanish and North American WiiWare download charts. The long-awaited 2D adventure - which, as we love to remind you, almost didn't make it to the Wii - was finally released globally last week. In our glowing 10/10...

  • Nintendo Download 27th September 2012 (Europe)

    Balloons, mad chickens and another English lesson with Freddy

    Due to unforeseen circumstances, Nintendo of Europe wasn't able to issue the Euro Nintendo Download news yesterday. Better late than never, the update has arrived on our desk today, and as a result we've got a selection of downloadable treats for you to sample. 3DS eShop: Balloon Pop...

  • Review La-Mulana (WiiWare)

    WiiWare's last big game?

    La Mulana's WiiWare release has been a rocky road. It was first announced by developer Nigoro in 2009 and suffered several delays before finally hitting the service in Japan in 2011. Of course, most were expecting it to be released elsewhere soon after, but that didn't happen. It was eventually cancelled by its old publisher...

  • Feature WiiWare Games That Bit the Dust

    And one we may still see

    Today La Mulana finally arrives on WiiWare in Europe and North America, bringing an end to a particularly long development saga. Nigoro had already released the title in Japan, but problems apparently related to DLC content led to a number of delays, with original publisher Nicalis eventually pulling the plug on the...

  • Nintendo Download 20th September 2012 (North America)

    Surfing, retro pockets and the long-awaited La-Mulana!

    Roll up, roll up, it's another generous helping of digitally-downloaded goodness from our North American Nintendo Download report! Feast your eyeballs on the following treats and start counting those virtual pennies - there's purchasing to be done. 3DS eShop: Rising Board 3D (odenis studio,...

  • News La Mulana Beginner's Guide is Essential Viewing for Adventurers

    It'll call you names

    So, La Mulana is just a few days away. For Nintendo gamers that enjoy an action-platforming challenge and still have love for their Wii system, this has been a long-awaited WiiWare title that's likely to scratch an itch. Challenge is the word, though, and developer Nigoro has been kind enough to produce a lengthy beginner's...

  • Nintendo Download 20th September 2012 (Europe)

    The year's most eagerly-awaited WiiWare title finally sees the light of day

    3DS eShop: Dot Runner: Complete Edition (Intense, £4.50) — This unique puzzle title adopts a dual viewpoint - you see the action from both a top-down perspective as well as a first person view. It's certainly different, but we weren't totally enamoured when we reviewed...

  • News You'll Be Able To Play Your WiiWare and Virtual Console Games On Wii U

    Put down those pitchforks

    Today's Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation was packed full of cool new information, but one item that will prove especially interesting for hardcore Wii downloaders is the news that digital Wii purchases will be transferable to the Wii U. That means you'll be able to re-download all of your existing WiiWare and Virtual...

  • News New La-Mulana Trailer Compares Old With New

    Find out how the WiiWare version stacks up against the original

    As if we all weren't excited enough about the forthcoming release of La-Mulana on WiiWare, Nigoro and EnjoyUp Games have released yet another trailer. It's very much the same as the previous one, but this time it shows just how much better the WiiWare version looks when compared to the...