This week finally sees the release of much-hyped title Icarian: Kindred Spirits. It's accompanied by a not-so-great second WiiWare game, and a solitary DSiWare release. That's right - Virtual Console misses out again!
Icarian: Kindred Spirits has been hotly anticipated for quite a while. From the screens and videos released prior to its release it seemed like one of the best-looking WiiWare games yet, with the gameplay not looking too shabby either. If you're not eager to jump the gun just yet you can find out if it's the great title it seems to be in our review soon enough. In the meantime, why not skim over our Icarian interview once more?
The retail game Let's Tap is out in Europe today. And you know what that means - Its WiiWare "counterpart" Let's Catch is also available. Let's Tap looks like great fun if you've got friends to play with, but Let's Catch is incredibly simple and won't hold your attention for too long - That's what our review says, anyway. If you really think playing catch is good enough to warrant 1000 Wii Points, go right ahead, but don't say we didn't warn you!
DSiWare gets a single new release, and it's one we're probably all familiar with already - A Little Bit of... Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: Maths Edition takes maths-related exercises from both the first and second Brain Training games on DS, and adds a few new ones which make use of some clever new features. It also includes the Virus Buster game from Brain Training 2, which is pretty much Dr. Mario with a smaller playing field and touch controls. If you haven't played a Brain Training game yet this is pretty much a steal for 800 DSi Points, but if you have, you've got to wonder if spending money on another one is really worth it. As it's already been out in North America for a while, you can read our review if you need to know some more.
What we all feared is pretty much confirmed this week - Nintendo of Europe has started to alternate Virtual Console games only! That means there's WiiWare games every week, but Virtual Console games only once every two weeks - The horror!
Comments 66
Yay Icarian finally. Let's hope it's as good as we were all expecting
I hope the same thing. After Eduardo, I need some uplifting games, if you will.
Looks shiny! Tempted to dl it now but i know what would happen. After breakfast I'm off to the desert.
I demand first impressions of Icarian as soon as it's out. Someone has to be the guinea pig.
Nintendo had better be holding back the VC titles for one Hell of a Hanabi Festival in July, and a brilliant game #300.
That's a shame they cut back to 2 VC games per month. It's not like Nintendo has released every VC and C64 game
I lost interest in the VC service a long time ago, but for people who are still eagerly awaiting titles like Megaman X and Super Mario Kart this release schedule can be really aggravating.
@ Jeroen: I feel exactly the same way. It feels like the promise was broken about the VC releases being weekly.
It feels like Nintendo has taken a step back! Even a Hanabi Festival couldn't justify this really. Why should we wait two weeks for only one game now? I'm normally optimistic about releases but I now think "Why do I even bother?" because this does take the biscuit imo.
Sigh I guess it means I have to wait for a few months until something good is released.
P.S: I have nothing against Wiiware releases but they're not my cup of tea.
Wow suckish EU update.
Thumbs Up: An anticipated title released.
Thumbs Down: No VC update.
Relevant Latty: I just gave in and bought the original cartridges through ebay. I could either spend 15 euros for each game or wait an unknown amount of time to purchase them for 800 points. Seems like a no-brainer to me. At least Icarian looks good.
i hope Icarian doesn't suck, i'm really looking forward to that one. D:
Again no Bonsai Barber, dang...
Oh well, I will pick up Icarian since it looks pretty great.
'Icarian' is, as suspected, brilliant. From art to music and gameplay, I've played for about 30 minutes, I am completely in love with it. Still looking forward to your reviews. =)
I hope the Icarian review comes soon.
@Shiryu - So what's it like?
I want to buy Icarian but I need reviews, gentlemen, REVIEWS!!!!
I'm glad I won't have to wait for the reviews byvthe time it hits the US.
I can't wait for Icarian to come to the US! Please let it be worth the wait!
I just hope they don't make us wait too long for Icarian to come out in the US!! Please oh please don't make us wait until July... make it next Monday on June 22!! I want to use my points I've been saving for Icarian... & SSB64!!
I just can't get stoked for Icarian. I'm hoping maybe a good review will do the trick.
@Jack Sparrow: Don't count on it coming this monday. I just don't see it happening.
Also, get in a review soon!
Another thing: When I read the title, I thougt it was brain challenge! Looks like I was wrong, but I know to expect a 800pt price tag and an 8/10.
When's Europe getting a VC game again?
I lost interest for VC last year. WW gets better and better and I hope Icarian is as good as it looks. Hopefully we'll get it sooner than we got Swords & Soldiers. (Each of those three weeks was me waiting.)
I'm like Corbie. I'm not that excited for it but that's just me. I'm hoping to be proven wrong.
@KnucklesSonic8 - I'm not sure what to think about it, myself. I saw one lousy enemy in the video. It definatly doesn't seem about excitement. Maybe this is sort of a puzzle game?
I'm a bit glad it came out in Europe first, I'm hoping Drake reviews it. I'm definitely on the fence on this one. I'd like to see more details about what exactly is going on in the game. Then I might grab it. It looks trippy, though.
Has anyone played Icarian yet?
Shiryu has in post #14. He liked it.
Oh, guess it got lost in the shuffle of comments I'm looking forward to it, glad it got a euro release first though to see what the gameplay is like.
Icarian is awesome. If you like Lost Winds you'll like Icarian. I'd predict a score ranging from 7 to 9.
Some info: 299 blocks, 12 levels, 20 hidden relics to find.
A briliant and an awsome. So far so good.
Thanks for the info Gavin.
It does sound a lot like LostWinds, I'm happy we'll get to see the review and a lot of comments about Icarian before it's release here .
Thanks Gavin. Sounds good so far.
Thanks for the impressions. Waiting patiently for the review. Chop chop.
Glad there will be a review of Icarian before it hits the U.S. Probably will buy the game, but a review first won't hurt.
@Sirgrim -...patiently...Chop, Chop??
That's okay.
My favourite (Non-American spelling) things so far - Using the stick to move/A button to fly and the pointer/B button to interact with obstacles at the same time is cool. Nice music. Simple but cool puzzles. You can't fly infinitely (5 A button presses/wing flaps in one "jump") but you can glide by holding Z, which is also not infinite (A blue bar quickly depletes), so you have to use your flaps and glides wisely, but the game isn't exactly hard.
Least favourite things - The game may be slightly short. As I said there are 12 levels on level select. The first two were roughly 10 minutes long. The background/theme may get repetitive, but this is just a guess, as later levels may take up a different theme to the sandy desert theme. There aren't many enemies, it seems to be more about the platforming and pointer interaction with objects. The manual states that later in the game you get the abilities to use the pointer to control wind (Lost Winds much?) and as a "ray" to attack enemies.
Apologies if that was poorly worded, it's 5:34am and I'm knackered.
PS - I downloaded Icarian the second it was available, so I hope I get the email/free soundtrack download!
I enjoyed the brain training game. It keeps you playing for 30 days to unlock all stuff.
I forgot to add that if anybody has a particular question I'd be glad to answer it, but if I don't reply I'm asleep.
Oh well, there's always next week.
Great! Been Waiting For Brain Training On Dsi! Now Only The Arts Edition And The Sudoku Edition (Arts Edition = Literature In America)
I've downloaded it this morning; how will the devs know if you're one of the first 100?
Tonight I get to experience the goodness!
Well, Icarian's good. It's mostly about physics puzzles so far, enemies are pretty much moving obstacles most of the time though you can sometimes kill them with the environment.
@ Captain Jack
Why buy a game again that you've already got when you can support the developers of great new games?
it smells Greece, I will buy.. tomorrow is opening the new museum of akropolis.
Anyone get the soundtrack yet?
I don't know long we're supposed to wait for the email.
This looks ace, and @JimLad: I was just about to say the same thing :
I'm hoping Drake reviews it
I'm hoping he doesn't. No offence, Drake, I just don't like your reviews as much as the others
As for the VC / WiiWare thing, think about it this way: until recently, we had VC one week, and WiiWare the next, now we still get VC every other week, but WiiWare every week, so whilst I can understand why you'd want both, I don't see the need for complaining just now, however disappointing it may be.
I'm hoping he doesn't. No offence, Drake, I just don't like your reviews as much as the others
Drake's reviewing it.
HaHa!
Oh, and I'd rather have WiiWare every other week and VC every week!
Icarian: Kindred Spirits is anticipated for me
Hi everyone,
Downloaded this game about an hour ago and am completely entranced so far. Very nice graphics, artistically and for wiiware technically. Bear in mind I'm still on the first level but the music is beautiful and haunting. I would define it as 2D platformer / puzzle hybrid, set in mythical Greece, but sans the GOW gore.
With the likes of Swords and Soldiers and now Icarian, Wiiware is really laying down the goods!
Been playing Icarian for a few hours and really enjoying it. Would recommend it to people thinking of buying. Very beautiful game and the music is great.
I am guessing it will get an 8 or 9. I would give it a 9 myself, although I haven't finished it yet so that opinion may change.
This week is more toasterless than I had wanted...
Anyone had the Icarian email yet? There is no way I wasn't in the top 100.
Looking forward to Icarian...hopefully soon.
VC once every 3 weeks? That is bull****. It was horrible it only happening once every two weeks. Thank god I'm using the US Channel.
I don't feel like reviewing Icarian, but for those who aren't sure about downloading it, my recommendation is: DO IT NOW!
The game is simple yet fun, plus it have a nice presentation. It's all i expect from a Wiiware game.
Wow. Some great impressions! Can't wait to see the review. I think I may try this after all.
So i just finished the game in 3 hours and 34 minutes and found 15/20 relics (will go back and try to find the rest) and I gotta say that it's a brilliant game. Everything works so good together. Also, wonderful music. It's def in my top 3 WiiWare games.
Great! You get to Tap, and you get to Catch! You can test your Brain, and your patience! How lucky you are, Europe.
Will it live up to the hype?
Does it ever?(let me answer that one for you: NO!)
Wow, finally... I can't wait to get home so that I can download Icarian.
Can I just say, Icarian is superb so far. It could be one of the very best games on wiiware (for me, and for the general gaming public) IMHO. Probably my top 3 or 4 wiiware and that is saying something
BT Maths a a hybrid of BT 1 and MBT as well as some new content....good...
Icarian is an Ace game, just finished it and found all 20 relics. For anyone who thinks its too easy just wait for the bonus level!!! hardcore! top game deserves at least an 8 if not a 9.
VC once every 3 weeks? That is bull****. It was horrible it only happening once every two weeks. Thank god I'm using the US Channel.
I swear we got Super Smash Bros last week, or is that just my imagination?
My download title for these releases: Kindred spirits catch their brains in math.
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