DSiWare News (Page 5)
Review Cake Ninja XMAS (DSiWare)
Christmas is cancelled
Long time readers of Nintendo Life will be acutely aware of the fact that we’re not the biggest fans of Cypronia’s Cake Ninja series. The two titles released so far have both received scathing critiques from our staff, which is why we approached this festive edition with a fair degree of trepidation. As the title plainly...
Review Rytmik World Music (DSiWare)
Bring the beat back
Cinemax has cooked up a number of flavours of its Rytmik music production suite, allowing the musically-minded playgrounds with which to explore dance, chip tunes, hip hop, rock and now world music. Rytmik World Music is a fun little musical tool tha
Review Anonymous Notes Chapter 3 - From The Abyss (DSiWare)
Return of the Abyss
Things have been quiet on the Anonymous Notes front — after a year and a half the series returns for a hat trick with Anonymous Notes Chapter 3 - From The Abyss. Not much has changed in that time, really: save for a new protagonist, Chapter 3 is still the same mechanically sound and somewhat aimless dungeon crawler as Chapter 2...
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...
Review Castle Conqueror - Heroes 2 (DSiWare)
Another heroic effort
Just over one year ago CIRCLE released Castle Conqueror - Heroes for DSiWare. We weren't stingy with the praise in our review, awarding it a solid 9 out of 10 and holding it up as the strongest title in a very strong series. Now we've received a sequel, and we couldn't be happier. For those who haven't played the first game,...
There is no eskape
If you haven’t noticed by now, then we’re just going to have to come right out and say it: zombies are popular. There’s no real way to trace the resurgence that zombies have had in popular culture, but it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. That being the case, there have been a whole lot of video games featuring zombies in...
Review Wizard Defenders (DSiWare)
We have but a fool's hope
On the surface, Wizard Defenders seems like a promising blend of match-3 puzzling and tower defence; in its best moments it's a concept that works well. Unfortunately these moments are rare, and despite its budget price this title lacks the magic to make a gamer happy. This is a good example of a reasonable idea being...
Nintendo Download 20th December 2012 (Europe)
Escaping vektors, Clive in the Wild West and heroes in castles
It's the final Nintendo Download update before Christmas, so Nintendo's got a helping of festive cheer for us to download. Only Wii is left out to ask Scrooge for some new content, with both handhelds getting new games and Wii U joining in with some juicy price reductions. Let's get to...
Review Chuck E. Cheese's Alien Defense Force (DSiWare)
In space, no one can hear you regret your purchase
Earlier this year, DSiWare had the misfortune of becoming home to Chuck E. Cheese's Arcade Room. A joyless collection of five dull mini-games and additional gimmicks such as achievements and an outfit customisation feature, the game was a disappointment in nearly every possible way. Now we have a...
Nintendo Download 13th December 2012 (North America)
Crimson RPG questing, ninja action, world music and more
It's time for another Nintendo Download update, and this one brings with it quite a few titles on all platforms. There are some retail goodies, the conclusion of the Guild01 trilogy, a long awaited 3DS Virtual Console release and more. Let's get on with it, shall we? 3DS download software:...
News Color Commando Set to Bring the Fight to DSiWare
Goodbye Galaxy Games' DSiWare swansong
With the 3DS eShop continuing to expand, many would expect DSiWare to fade away; yet we're still seeing a steady flow of titles for the older platform, no doubt helped by the fact that they also see release on the 3DS equivalent. One of DSiWare's higher profile developers, however, is planning one last fling...
Nintendo Download 13th December 2012 (Europe)
Details updated: crimson battling, a hydroventure and a wizard defence
This week's European update has swooped in via YouTube, with both handhelds accounted for while the home consoles are neglected. Two 3DS eShop releases can be classified as "highly anticipated", while the DSiWare title is more along the lines of "hm, never heard of it". You can...
Review Crystal Adventure (DSiWare)
In which "adventure" is revealed to be a relative term
If there's one thing RPG fans enjoy, it's a good story. The quest should be epic, the characters should be interesting, and there should preferably be a few surprising twists along the way as well. Here is the story of Crystal Adventure: you get bored quickly and delete it. Okay, you caught...
Review Christmas Wonderland 2 (DSiWare)
Roast it on an open fire
A textbook example of a sequel nobody asked for, Christmas Wonderland 2 has graced DSiWare. We guess, however, that we should be somewhat grateful. After all, last year Microvalue released two awful holiday-themed hidden object games: Halloween: Trick or Treat and the first Christmas Wonderland. This year it only left one...
Nintendo Download 6th December 2012 (North America)
Titanic murders, mighty bombs, burgers and retail goodies
It's Nintendo Download update time, and this week brings a rather lengthy list of titles for North America. All four systems are covered, with quite a few retail games making their download début, so let's get on with it. 3DS download software: Murder on the Titanic (Joindots GmbH, $7.99)...
Nintendo Download 6th December 2012 (Europe)
UPDATE: Wario 3 joins Denpa men, hyper mighty switching and a paper adventure
After a few days of suspense — the release day of EU download details varies every week — we finally know what to expect in the Wii U, 3DS, DSi and Wii online stores this week. All four systems are accounted for, which should warm up any Nintendo gaming Europeans...
Review Invasion of the Alien Blobs! (DSiWare)
Houston, we have a bloblem
At this point it's unlikely that anybody with a DSi or 3DS is in need of an inexpensive time-waster, but Invasion of the Alien Blobs! is here to provide one more option. And while it's not exactly a great game, it certainly provides some mindless fun along the way. The best thing about Invasion of the Alien Blobs! is its...
Pop it and drop it
Last year the DSiWare service saw the release of Bloons TD. It was an unimpressive but acceptable entry into the overstuffed tower defence genre, and this year we're leaping ahead three sequels to Bloons TD 4. If Bloons TD 4 is at all representative of the course the series has taken, we can safely say we haven't missed much by...
Nintendo Download 29th November 2012 (North America)
Should you drag yourself away from your Wii U for these downloads?
While Europe readies itself for the Wii U and North America enjoys yet another week with the new system, the Nintendo Download roller-coaster continues. There's not a great deal to choose from this time, we're afraid - but then again, you're probably still enjoying New Super Mario...
Nintendo Download 29th November 2012 (Europe)
Pokémon, Airplanes, Dots and a couple of demos
Although the eyes of many European Nintendo fans may be fixed on this Friday - we hear that there's a big hardware launch, apparently - the crazy world of downloadable software trundles along regardless. We've got a handheld-focused selection for you this week, with games for your 3DS and DSi consoles...
News Publisher Dream Bringing Game Development Aspirations to DSiWare
Release your games on the "cShop"
Not too long ago Circle Entertainment brought Bookstore Dream to DSiWare, a thoroughly decent resource management sim that drew inspiration from similar titles available on smartphones. In that case it was all about managing stock and attracting customers, but the developer has announced a new entry in the series,...
Nintendo Download 22nd November 2012 (North America)
Mallo returns, Link has an adventure, spirits are hunted and more
It's Thursday, which only means one thing here on Nintendo Life - it's download update time. This week sees a return for a popular 3DS eShop IP, a classic NES title, a long awaited DSiWare release and some other goodies. Nintendo's press release only mentions the Wii U eShop games...
Review Spirit Hunters Inc. Shadow/Light (DSiWare)
Bustin' makes us feel bored
Announced way back in May 2010, Nnooo's Spirit Hunters Inc. — available now in both Light and Shadow flavours — promised, in Nnooo's own words, "a Role Playing Game set in the real world." That's both a tall order and an idea with enormous potential, which is why it's a shame that the finished product mistakes "role...
Review Working Dawgs: A-Maze-ing Pipes (DSiWare)
Working class
Taking a page almost directly from the book of Pipe Mania, the hilariously titled Working Dawgs: A-maze-ing Pipes is a puzzle game that involves moving water from one place to another using a complex series of tubes. If you've played this type of game before, then you know exactly what to expect, while newcomers to this particular form...
News Invasion of the Alien Blobs Bringing The Fight To DSiWare
Fear the blob
G-STYLE, a developer most prolific and well known for download software released in Japan, is bringing another one of its DSiWare titles to the West. This time around it's Invasion of the Alien Blobs!, which was known as Shunkan Tsubutsubu Tsubushi when released on the Japanese DSi Shop back in March 2010; it'll arrive in North America...
Nintendo Download 22nd November 2012 (Europe)
Flying, dressing up, fighting spirits and more
There was a certain big release over in North America at the weekend, but fear not Europeans! You get to find out what downloads are coming first, so that's one-up right there. We have a 3DS launch title flying in as a retail download, as well as offerings on every platform; you can check out the...
Feature Advanced Tactics In Spirit Hunters Inc.
In this third and final developer guide, Nnooo's Nic Watt explains the finer details behind successful spirit hunting
In the previous feature Nnooo's Nic Watt took us through some of the more complex aspects of the player abilities in Spirit Hunters Inc., including some of the abilities which are unique to each element. In this third and final piece...
Feature Behind The Elemental Abilities Of Spirit Hunters Inc.
In our second exclusive developer guide, Nic Watt explains the ability system in this spook-catching DSiWare release
In the previous feature Nnooo's Creative Director Nic Watt detailed some of the basics to Spirit Hunters Inc. In this second feature he will explain some of the more complex aspects of the player abilities, including some of the...
Trial without style
Jump Trials, a 200 point DSiWare release from G-Style Games, is a game about running and jumping from left to right. It's a game for players who feel that perhaps platformers have become too ambitious, and that the "right" in "left to right" should refer to the far edge of a single DS-sized screen, rather than the ends of the...
Feature Mastering The Basics Of Spirit Hunters Inc.
A guide to catching spooks, straight from the developer
In this, the first of three articles, Creative Director at Nnooo Nic Watt will detail some of the components of Spirit Hunters Inc. to illustrate all the different aspects of the game. Spirit Hunters Inc. launches globally on DSiWare next week, so make sure you brush up on these tips to get a...
Nintendo Download 15th November 2012 (North America)
Mickey gets epic, monster shooting, Myst and more
It's Thursday, which comes before Friday, but also means Nintendo Download day. This week throws up a fair bit of content on 3DS, including four retail downloads with one high-profile release and the return of a PC classic, while DSi owners also have a couple of options to look forward to. Feast your...
Review Smart Girl's Playhouse Mini (DSiWare)
Empty house
It’s no easy task setting out to create a game that is wholesome and fun while maintaining an educational aspect. Unfortunately for Smart Girl’s Playhouse Mini, fun seems to have jumped ship, and all you’re left with is a too-sweet edutainment title with very little actual gameplay on offer. Touted as a collection of mini-games...
Nintendo Download 15th November 2012 (Europe)
Falling blox, hotshots, ninjas and a magical whip
It's Monday, but it's also time to turn that frown upside down. The European Nintendo Download update news is here, and it's full of handheld goodies for you to enjoy. Wii misses out, unfortunately, but we do have a highly anticipated sequel on the 3DS eShop, a teeth-grindingly difficult NES...
Review Come On! Dragons (DSiWare)
Blowing smoke
Come On! Dragons arrives on DSiWare with the promise of delivering a combination of tower defence and arrow firing action, much like its predecessor Come On! Heroes. Like the original title it succeeds to some degree, but its positives are weighed down by some disappointing flaws, meaning that it's not as hot as the title may suggest...
News Rytmik World Music Bringing the Beat Back to DSiWare
Get composing
Cinemax has confirmed that it's bringing Rytmik World Music to DSiWare, the fifth entry in the music composition series. It's a series that's had consistently strong recommendations in our reviews, with each entry bringing an accomplished and detailed music studio to your DSi; they're perhaps best reserved for enthusiasts and those...
Nintendo Download 8th November 2012 (North America)
Paper Mario, Pokédex, dress up witches and dragons
It's that time again, when we drop everything we're doing to fire up the 3DS eShop, DSi Shop and maybe, on occasion, the Wii Shop. Yes, it's the Nintendo Download update, and this week has a mixture of retail treats, a demo and some lesser known download titles. Let's get to it. 3DS Download...
Nintendo Download 8th November 2012 (Europe)
Pokédex, 3D surfing, cake slicing and troopers
Details of this week's European update have arrived, and they're perhaps not the night sky fireworks we'd hope for at this time of year. There's still some variety across all platforms and a long awaited app arrives, though the price may surprise some. 3DS Download Software: Pokédex 3D Pro...
News Nintendo Download Shops Offline For Maintenance This Tuesday
Could a surprise be in store?
Nintendo has revealed that its online stores will be temporarily offline on Tuesday for scheduled maintenance. The 3DS eShop, DSi Shop and Wii Shop Channel will all be inaccessible from 10:00 PT to "about" 17:00 PT. What's coming? It could be all manner of things. Nintendo could be preparing its online portals for the...
Unjust desserts
Almost one year ago, the DSiWare service was graced with the appearance of Cake Ninja, an unrepentant clone of mobile craze Fruit Ninja. However, its lifeless approach to the formula, lack of addictiveness and total dearth of variety doomed it to receive a mere 2/10 in our review. Now we have Cake Ninja 2, which seeks to atone for...
Review Spot It! Mean Machines (DSiWare)
I spy a decent game
At a glance, Spot It! Mean Machines is simply a collection of grainy photographs of piles of junk. If you continue to explore this title, you'll find that your initial assessment was astute, but you will also find that it’s amazing how much fun can be had while staring at these still images. If you’re a fan of classic Spot...
Nintendo Download 1st November 2012 (North America)
Freakiness, fast gnomz, hidden objects and cake slicing
While some Nintendo Download updates, particularly in recent weeks, are full of juicy and exciting options, we're not sure that this is one of those occasions. Both DSi and 3DS are covered with a mixture of titles, but Wii is left out entirely; no, there isn't even a Neo Geo fighter to keep the...
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...
News Jump Trials Hops Onto North American DSiWare Soon
Run and jump!
When it comes to running and jumping, Nintendo systems seem to be the most appropriate place to go. If you enjoyed budget DSiWare title GO Series: 10 Second Run, meanwhile, then you may be interested in Jump Trials from Japanese publisher G-Style. On the way to North American DSiWare soon, Jump Trials is a localisation of Shunkan Jump...
Nintendo Download 25th October 2012 (North America)
Liberation, a NightSky, puzzles, free extras and plenty of monsters
The Nintendo Download update has had some good weeks in recent times, and following today's Nintendo Direct we finally have the information on today's offerings; it looks like this is another one that'll have something for everyone. With DLC, a demo, a retail release and a number of...
Review Puzzler World XL (DSiWare)
My God, it's full of puzzles
Based on a popular brand of pencil-and-paper puzzle collections, Puzzler World XL is the latest release from developer Ideas Pad. It doesn't stray far from its digital cousins or its analogue ancestors, but fans of classic puzzles will find an excellent companion in this expansive, well-rounded package. First and...
Dungeon crawler
18th Gate is not a game for the easily bored. It's a fairly basic strategy RPG that has you edging through – yes – 18 dungeons to the magical portal gates at the end, with the caveat that you only have a limited number of turns to escape from each maze. Each turn can be an attack, a spell or a single step to an adjacent hexagonal...
News Cake Ninja 2 Confirmed for DSiWare
More deserts in line for the chop
DSiWare has had its share of titles that have incurred the wrath of low review scores here on Nintendo Life, with Cake Ninja being one to enjoy the dubious honour. Essentially a DSiWare version of smartphone smash-hit Fruit Ninja, its pricing and painful lack of features and game modes meant that it took a bit of a...
News Pro-Putt Domo Is The Latest Downloadable Treat On Club Nintendo
Domo arigato
North American Club Nintendo members have another new title on which to spend their hard-earned coins. This time around it's Pro-Putt Domo, a charming DSiWare title that has you golfing with Japan's favourite mascot. This one will cost you 100 coins and it'll be available until 4th November, with club members surely unable to complain...
Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (North America)
Time to get stylish, pose for the camera, go fishing, fly a spaceship and more
North America has enjoyed some busy Nintendo Download updates of late, with plenty of variety to choose from. This week is no exception with something for everyone, and the odd surprise, so let's get on with it. 3DS Download: Sparkle Snapshots 3D (Nintendo, $5.99) —...
Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (Europe)
Mega Man goes portable, Mad Dogs, free Mutant Mudds DLC and more
While last week brought Pokémon dreaming and long-awaited samurai action to Europe, this week's update aims for the surprise factor. The upcoming 25th Anniversary of a certain Blue Bomber is celebrated, sort of, a retro light-gun game get's a second chance on the 3DS eShop, while the...
