Developer: Bplus

Genre: Arcade

Wii Points: 600

Rating: 4/10

Bit Boy!! starts off as an interesting concept. Players have to guide a cube named Kubi through different eras of video gaming to save his friends because he accidentally offended a 4-bit monster. As with most arcade style games, this storyline is good enough to get things going. What’s going to make people take a closer look at Bit Boy!! comes from the lure of playing through those different video game eras in the same game. But once the novelty of that wears off, Bit Boy!! becomes a desperate Pac Man clone trying hard to charm its audience with cute looking characters. Bplus tries hard in this title to make something they think will please gamers, but comes up short with multiple gameplay issues.

The gameplay options are lacking. There are only two modes, Classic and Warp. In Classic, Kubi goes around saving his friends by going through different maps which looks like Pac Man style mazes. In Warp Mode, Kubi has to collect shiny silver rocks which gain points for the player. The emphasis goes towards achieving high points in Warp Mode. These are okay, but the core game doesn’t want to make one want to spend hours going for the high score. More ways to play would have been helpful.

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Developer: Taito

Genre: Arcade

Wii Points: 600

Rating: 7.5/10

Two dinosaurs are on a quest to save their human parents who are stuck underground somewhere. That sums up the storyline of this retro remake. Bubble Bobble Plus brings gamers back to the days of arcade-style gaming, where quick action was involved, accompanied by cute storylines that were just good enough to get things going. The old school charm of Bubble Bobble Plus cannot be understated. It’s a classic game that would seem to fit within the limited constraints WiiWare has. There comes a major shortcoming though, one that should have been easily picked up during gameplay testing. Taito has had years to look at the old Bubble Bobble and perfect its flaws. But Bubble Bobble Plus has one major flaw which will be frustrating enough to make you not want to play anymore, considering there is no save feature once you decide to take a break. If you can overlook the pending frustration that will surely come from one flaw, then there will be fun to be had, especially with friends.

Let’s start with the flaw, getting stuck in narrow corridors. This will happen at some point. The way some of the maps are designed, getting stuck in narrow corridors becomes unavoidable. What makes one stuck comes from the fact that the dinosaurs can’t make a bubble in a tight area, because the bubble will immediately hit the wall before it can be jumped on. This is a serious flaw, because being stuck in a narrow corridor means any enemy can come by, and there’s nothing that can be done to escape them. I’ve read online in different blogs and forums that there’s a way to make the bubble while stuck, but even if that’s true, Bubble Bobble Plus shouldn’t make it that hard to get out of the situation. Hopefully, there will be a friend next to you that can finish off the level, but if not…

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Developer: Hudson

Genre: Shooter

Wii Points: 800

Rating: Recommended

Oh no, a game featuring kids running around shooting water at each other! Could Water Warfare be just like any other “family” title that has seemed to flood the Wii since its inception? Hudson releases a game that at first glance screams shovelware, but a closer look reveals much depth.

Let’s start off by explaining the gameplay. Personally, I don’t have too much experience in the FPS genre since I don’t have an affinity for massive amounts of violence in video games. When I heard about this title that was a FPS, yet with no blood, I had to give it a shot. Basically, the nunchuck is used to run around the field while the Wii remote works as the pointer to where you’re aiming the watergun. The trigger underneath the remote is used to shoot water, while the direction pad can be used to send pre-set messages. The buttons on top of the nunchuck are used to jump and pick up items. So the controls are simple enough for newcomers to get a hold of, but complex enough to satisfy the hardcore crowd if they give this a chance. From what I hear, Water Warfare controls in the same way Metroid Prime does, so Nintendo fans should feel right at home. Another thing to note, they’ve included the classic controller option, for those who don’t care for the nunchuck and remote setup.

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Publisher: Bplus

Genre: Action

Wii Points: 500

Rating: Fair

Don’t let the easy first few stages fool you.  This is another surprisingly difficult WiiWare title that requires tons of patience to get through.  Niki - Rock ‘n’ Ball is Bplus’s second attempt at a WiiWare title, and although their effort here doesn’t fall totally flat, there are some shortcomings.

The title of Niki - Rock ‘n’ Ball says it all, you play the role of a ball rolling around as you rock the Wii remote back and forth.  To defeat an enemy, one simply has to roll Niki over them.  Some enemies have spikes protecting their body, so Niki turns into a rock ball with the push of a button, enabling him to defeat those enemies with special protection.  Along the way, six pearls have to be collected in each stage, even if all the enemies are defeated, in order to move to the next level.  Niki can also jump and bounce off walls.

The motion controls take some getting used to.  One has to hold the Wii remote upright, with the sensor pointing towards the sky.  From there, the Wii remote has to be tilted left and right, resembling the motion of windshield wipers.  This was the first control option I played with, and although it was difficult and I didn’t get very far, I didn’t necessarily think this was a bad control scheme.  It had a learning curve for sure and it makes every stage twice as hard, but I still honestly had fun with this control scheme. The retro “NES” style controls made the game much easier.  That’s not to say it was too easy, as the later levels become difficult no matter what control scheme you’re using, but I definitely got much farther.  Jumping off the walls to get to a certain point can be tricky, and the timing gets easier with a d-pad.

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Publisher: AKSYS Games

Genre: Action

Wii Points: 600

Rating: Recommended

With it’s simple structure, it was hard for me to imagine anyone taking the concept of Pong and turning it into a decent modern video game that can hold its own, but AKSYS Games has done just that with Bit Trip Beat.  There is not much to find wrong with this game, other than maybe it’s slightly too difficult.  You’ll be frantically trying to move the paddle so quickly to stop the “beats” from getting past you, the fact this game is based on such an old concept will soon be forgotten by those who have never cared about Pong.  Yet at the same time, older gamers who did love that game, definitely have to try this.

First of all, the visuals are perfect for what they were going for.  There is a cool outer space feel to the whole game, which fits in well with the soundtrack.  Everything looks like Pong, but a hundred times more colorful!  Everything does look bright and crisp.  Normally the visuals don’t have much importance to me when playing a video game, but they really help here.  Bit Trip Beat has a “modern 8 bit” feel, if that makes sense.

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Publisher: Hudson

Genre: Sports

Wii Points: 500

Rating: Fair

Here is another game that could have fared a lot better if Nintendo games had a more interactive online mode.  There is nothing here that is too wrong.  It’s just that if you weren’t a fan of pool before this game, there is no reason to believe you’ll enjoy this.

The graphics are fine for a WiiWare title.  Sure they could have been more exciting, but let’s face it, this is pool.  The controls were satisfactory.  As with a lot of Wii games, I found myself cursing at the Wiimote once in a while wondering why some shots that I thought would turn out better ended up going nowhere.  But overall, the Wiimote gets the job done here.  The sound effects seem okay.  The music could have been a lot more exciting and varied, but it’s really no big deal.

What is hurting this title and all Nintendo games is that you can’t communicate with people online yet again.  Cue Sports is begging for some sort of lobby system where you can text each other before and after a match!  If it had that feature, I might have fully recommended the title.  But if you play a random match online as it is, you can’t even see the name of your opponent while you are playing!  There is just something wrong with these asinine restrictions Nintendo puts on the Wii’s online games.  Pool is not that exciting to play in a video game format, but if you could interact with people while doing it, the value would be ten times higher.

When all is said and done, this is an average game.  There is nothing grossly wrong about anything.  There are enough features and game modes to keep people who can’t get enough of sticks and a green table happy.  But if this wasn’t your type of thing in the first place, it won’t be here.

Another year has come and gone and now its our favorite time of the year: top 10 lists!

As nintendo added to their online shopping experience with WiiWare, new Wii games availible for download in exchange for the same points used for Virual Console Games and Wii Channels, there have been many not so great games and amazing titles that make it difficult to believe that the game you are playing was a download. Behold the top 10 of 2008.

10.  Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King

Genre: RPG     

1500 points

Square Enix

Square Enix just never seems to fail. Final Fantasy Crystal Chroicals : My Life as a King (yes, that is a mouthful) provides us with the other side of the Crystal Chronicals series, the life back at home  and as king of course! Beautiful graphics, addicting though sometimes repetitive gameplay and a content that will keep you coming back for a while earns this game a spot on the list.

9. Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People — Episode 4: Dangeresque 3

Genre: Action 

1000 points

Telltale Games

This game is highly entertaining and funny, if thats not enough for you to download this game then let me add that it looks great and theres more in the series to choose from. These montly installments on the Strong Bad series do many things right but the most important is that the keep getting better!

8. Art Style : Rotohex

Genre: Puzzle

600 points

Nintendo

Wiiware provides a big number of puzzlers to choose from, and not all are worth using your points for but this GBA to Wii game is. Its straight from nintendo so you can expect high quality work! The goal is simple,just rotate your triangles to form a hexagon of the same color, unlock modes and progress on the solo mode

7. Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People — Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough

Genre: Action 

1000 points

Telltale Games

The fifth installment in the Strong Bad series and like i said, they get better!

6. Toki Tori

Genre: Adventure 

1000 points

Two Tribes

This Game Boy Color game has found new life and glory on the Wii. Classic puzzling platform play is implemented well on wii controls, the music if fun, the visuals bright and the game entertaining.  Dont miss out on this game.

5. Art Style : Orbient

Genre: Action

600 points

Nintendo

Another one of Nintendo’s ports from the GBA succeeds on the wii. The simple attract/repel (only two buttons used!)  gameplay is mesmorizing and will keep you playing for hours.

4. Lost Winds

Genre: Adventure 

1000 points

Frontier Developments

An amazing WiiWare Launch Game! The game is obviously about wind which you control with your wii remote. Helping Toku save the day is worth more than the points the game costs.

3. Tetris Party

Genre: Puzzle  

1200 points

Tetris Online inc./Hudson Soft.

Tetris will probably never get old. You just cant go wrong with going old-school and dowloading this title for your Wii. Classic Tetris gameplay is always fun and new game modes keep things fresh. Great package overall and very reccomended

2. Megaman 9

Genre: Action 

1000 points

Capcom

Old designs seem to fill up this top 10 list and Megaman 9 is no different. Classic Megaman gameplay does the job well. Challenging levels will keep you coming back as you try and better your scores and if that isnt enough for you downloadable content will extend your play on the game.

1. World of Goo

Genre: Puzzle 

1500 points

2D Boy

Wow… That pretty much sums up this game. You just cannot top this. Use goo balls to build structures play with psysics and lead other balls to the exit. The concept of the game is very simple but the way it is executed is just amazing. It is definately hard to believe that this is a wiiware game, lets cross our fingers and hope that many out there learn from this and provide us with games that not only match this quality game but also exceed it.

Publisher: Shin’en Multimedia

Genre: Sports

Wii Points: 900

Rating : Not Recomended

Play minigolf with your friends in beautiful environments. Choose a character and turn your Wii Remote controller into a golf club. With its easy-to-use controls, all you need to do is aim, swing, and see who’s the best putter. Play 27 holes spread across America, Asia, and Europe. Enjoy exotic locations all over the world. Go for gold in single-player mode, or invite your friends. Fun! Fun! Minigolf supports up to four players. You can use one to four Wii Remote controllers. Fun! Fun! Minigolf is the ultimate party game for everyone.

Ok i bought the Nintendo wii for three main reasons

1. My family to spend more quality time together.

2. I love Boxing Games.

3. I thought the golf games would help me improve my slice ( and it has! ).

when I saw Fun! Fun! Mini Golf had came out I got excited! so excited I  ran out to wal-mart  the day after Christmas ( which was a big no no )  Just to get a wii points card.   After dealing with the mad shopping crowd.  I downloaded the game and went  looking for the option to set my golfer to left handed, but there isn’t any options.  So sorry lefties Fun! Fun! Mini Golf is for right handed players only!

But I thought “what the heck, I can putt right handed” .  So me and my wife started up a two player game and whent at it.  I must say the controls suck, they suck so bad my wife found her self playing better swinging the wiimote like a ping pong paddle.  Another issue is that if you dont get the ball with-in a certain distance from the hole, they consider it “Out of bounds” and starts you back at the tee, which gets very annoying.   I whent ahead and gave my kids a chance at the game figuring “well the kids will like it they like every game” WRONG! Let me tell you my kids will play any game they can get their hands on, and play it till I force them to shut it off.  Not with Fun! Fun! Mini Golf after about three minutes they put the wiimotes down and actuly walked away.  Man that is the first time I have ever seen them do that! This is one game I wish I could get my 900 wii points back from.  I will say one positive thing to the creators of  Fun! Fun! Mini Golf  “Thank you for getting my kids off the wii, so i can play a real Fun! Fun! golf game” .

Publisher: Reflexive Entertainment

Genre: Puzzle

Wii Points: 700

Rating : Recommended

Embark on a tropical adventure with the explosively charged Big Kahuna Party! Looking to make the ultimate party game, we started with a concept that’s accessible to the whole family—the popular match-three game. On top of that, we crafted a unique multiplayer experience in which you can choose to work together to complete the challenging levels before the timer runs out or go head-to-head and compete in a frenzy of fun. To top it off, we added 99 uniquely free-flowing levels, the challenging Tiki Pole, 20 hidden tropical sea creatures to unlock, the strategic Fish Net, and last but not least, BOMBS! The result is a family party game like no other. Easy to pick up but impossible to put down. Play alone or with friends, and unleash the Tiki spirit within!

This game is really fun! me and my family have been playing this for the last two nights none stop I do highly recommend this game, especially if your into puzzles.

Publisher: Square Enix

Genre: Shooter

Wii Points: 500

Rating: Recommended

Everyone remembers Space Invaders.  Ever since it’s release in 1978, Space Invaders has been successful in every way it possibly could be, from causing coin shortages in Japan to becoming the first thing that came to the average person’s mind when they thought of video games.  Even in the more recent 1990s era arcade glory days of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, more often than not there was probably a Space Invaders machine in there as well.  Well now instead of fighting the space invaders, you are them in Space Invaders Get Even.

The storyline of the game is simple enough.  Invade the humans and their land.  When the game starts, it explains the background story of how one ship was able to defeat all those aliens by itself, which I thought was a nice way to connect the old game to this one.  It’s not that the story is all that deep, but the way the game presents it in the introduction really makes it sound serious.  The introduction makes you feel like you really were a hero when you put in that quarter to play Space Invaders back in the day.

The controls aren’t too hard to figure out.  You lead your band of space invaders by using the analog stick on the nunchuck.  To aim where you want to attack, just point the Wiimote to what you want to destroy or kill.  Button A is used for all the different types of attacks.  The most basic one is where the aliens are thrown Read the rest of this entry »