Best of 2008: 10 games you should have downloaded
Filed under: Virtual Console, Features, WiiWare
Even without consulting the weekly popularity charts found on the Nintendo Channel, it’s pretty simple to know whether a Virtual Console game was successful in 2008. Success on the VC was reserved for Nintendo franchises and the very biggest names in third-party releases, like Sonic, Mega Man, and Pac-Man. One delightful exception to the super-famous franchise rule: Super Dodge Ball has been in the Top 20 since release. People are clearly buying what they already love rather than exploring.
WiiWare, as well, is dominated by the same titles since release: World of Goo, Tetris Party, and (yes,) My Aquarium have been at the top of the charts since release. Other games that have had long stretches of success include, uh, Target Toss Pro: Bags, Pong Toss, Sudoku Challenge, and — oh, good — Mega Man 9. Some less popular games take a trip up and then back down the chart upon release. But some didn’t even really do that, despite being totally worthwhile.
Join us as we browse through five Virtual Console games and five WiiWare games that you guys passed over for more Mario games and The Incredible Maze. To simplify things, we considered North American sales and releases only. If you’re from outside North America, go ahead and assume people missed good games in your region too.
Best of 2008: 10 games you should have downloaded originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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VC Friday: Resistance is futile
EX-TERM-IN-ATE! EX-TERM-IN-ATE! Wait, no, those are the other ones. But whatever. The point is: after hearing nothing about Space Invaders Get Even! for months, the game has randomly appeared on the European and Australian Wii Shops. We are unashamedly jigging with joy as we type this. And the extra-terrestial goodness doesn’t stop there, for Alien Crush Returns has also joined the line-up. Needless to say, we wholeheartedly welcome our new rulers (of all our spare time).
The other game is Brain Challenge. Sorry, Brain Challenge.
- Alien Crush Returns — WiiWare — 800 Nintendo Points
- Brain Challenge — WiiWare — 1000 Nintendo Points
- Space Invaders Get Even! — WiiWare — 500 Nintendo Points
Gallery: Space Invaders Get Even!
Brain Challenge (WiiWare)
Space Invaders Get Even! (WiiWare)
VC Friday: Resistance is futile originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii Fanboy Review: Alien Crush Returns
I’ve been a huge fan of Naxat Soft’s Alien Crush and other Crush games since they came out. It’s no exaggeration to say that the availability of Alien Crush on the Virtual Console factored into my decision to purchase a Wii. When Hudson revealed plans for a 3D WiiWare update of Alien Crush, it definitely captured my attention.
Alien Crush Returns, it turns out, is much more than an update: it is a direct sequel to Alien Crush, and a very different game. While the new version doesn’t outshine the original, there’s certainly more of it. And it finally brings online leaderboards to the series — along with direct online competition!
Gallery: Alien Crush (WiiWare)
The game is divided into arcade and story modes — yes, there’s a story, and it’s ridiculous, obviously written to evoke nostalgia for pointless game stories. Your spaceship crew, piloting a pinball or something, investigates a giant spacecraft that turns out to be — some kind of huge alien thing! That also turns out to be pinball playfields! In order to escape with their lives intact, the crew must destroy certain creatures inhabiting each of three pinball tables, as well as boss stages. This story mode is brief — maybe thirty minutes long on the first try — but it’s a novel and goal-oriented way to play a pinball game, and provides a nice diversion from repeated high score attempts.
As expected, repeated high score attempts are the basic experience of the arcade mode, a game on one table of your choice that lasts until you run out of lives. These tables are identical to their story mode counterparts, except, of course, that you can’t complete them by destroying monsters. The tables all feature dynamic moving parts, including creatures to destroy, bumpers of various kinds, conduits between areas of the field, and multiple sets of flippers. As you hit certain targets, you’ll trigger tons of points, of course, but also a unique version of multiball in which the second ball is a different color, and the loss of the original ball results in death even if the “new” ball remains in play.
You also have the ability to trigger multiball yourself with the A button (the flippers are controlled by B and Z, and that’s the only control scheme), as well as speed boost and a “reverse” mode that makes the ball shoot in the direction opposite its movement. It’s nice that you suddenly have unprecedented control over your pinball’s movement, because the bosses in the story mode do the unthinkable: they can attack and kill your ball.
The additions — extra abilities, bosses, multiple tables — help ensure that Alien Crush Returns is not confused for its predecessor. But even more than that, the game’s look distinguishes it. While the original playfields were organic in nature, the 16-bit graphics gave everything a “clean” appearance. Alien Crush Returns dials up the grotesque-o-meter, never letting the player forget for a second that the game’s playfield is supposed to be an organism. The entire board pulsates; creatures spray purple mist for no real reason and explode into green goo upon contact. The playfield surface looks like some kind of meat, and the walls evoke fibrous muscle tissue. When destroying obstacles, I couldn’t help but get the distinct feeling that I was puncturing unspecified organs in some alien’s digestive system. Worst of all, the game emits a swallowing sound when you lose a ball.
These new playfields may not be as distinctive or as memorable as the original, though that may be because I haven’t had almost twenty years to memorize them. But they play very differently from each other and add variety to a genre that usually features enough gameplay in a single table for hundreds of hours. I’m pleased to say that Alien Crush Returns admirably revives the grossout sci-fi pinball genre, and that the new online features make a welcome addition.
Final score: 8.5/10
We’re always looking for new games to enjoy. We’ve got plenty of other WiiWare reviews, if you’re into that kind of thing.. If you’re so crazy that you want to go to the store and buy something when you could be playing World of Goo or Mega Man 9, we can help with that, too.Wii Fanboy Review: Alien Crush Returns originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Retail and download releases for the week of November 3rd
Filed under: News, Virtual Console, WiiWare
This is a big week for fans of James Bond. Those who found themselves interested in the super spy’s latest exploits will have a chance to nab Quantum of Solace this week. If you enjoy FPS games, or are looking for some people to play online with, we’d suggest Game Night. Of course, Quantum of Solace isn’t the only game releasing this week. Head past the break and check out what else is on offer.
This is a big week for fans of James Bond. Those who found themselves interested in the super spy’s latest exploits will have a chance to nab Quantum of Solace this week. If you enjoy FPS games, or are looking for some people to play online with, we’d suggest Game Night. Of course, Quantum of Solace isn’t the only game releasing this week. Head past the break and check out what else is on offer.
Retail and download releases for the week of November 3rd originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hudson thinking about other WiiWare remakes
Filed under: News, Interviews, WiiWare
Producer Peter Dassenko, who’s handling the upcoming Alien Crush Returns for Wiiware, spoke with theBBPS.com about the title and Hudson as a whole. As pumped as we are for Alien Crush Returns, it’s not the only interesting thing about the interview. Dassenko pretty much confirms that we will see updates to other Hudson titles hit WiiWare, much like Star Soldier R and, of course, Alien Crush Returns.
“The special thing about Hudson is that we really do listen to what our fans want,” Dassenko said. “We know there are a ton of fans out there demanding remakes or completely new versions of our more popular brands like Military Madness, Adventure Island, Bonk, and more,” continuing on to say that he’s “sure we’ll see other series making the leap to current-gen soon enough.” Sounds good to us!
Gallery: Alien Crush (WiiWare)
Hudson thinking about other WiiWare remakes originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii Warm Up: Flipping out
Filed under: Wii Warm Up
We’re very excited about Alien Crush Returns, because, as you’ve noticed, we’re all about the Turbografx-16 original and its pseudo-sequel, Devil’s Crush. We need some more time to learn to love Jaki Crush, but we’re definitely fans of that one too. But just because we’re insane-o-crazy about this series doesn’t mean we’re avowed video pinball fanatics. For the most part, outside of Naxat’s excellent games, we’re unmoved by simulated pinball.
Are you a fan of pinball games? If so, are you also a fan of the noisy, clattering, awesome real thing? Also, what’s your opinion of Crüe Ball?
Gallery: Alien Crush (WiiWare)
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Wii Warm Up: Flipping out
Filed under: Wii Warm Up
We’re very excited about Alien Crush Returns, because, as you’ve noticed, we’re all about the Turbografx-16 original and its pseudo-sequel, Devil’s Crush. We need some more time to learn to love Jaki Crush, but we’re definitely fans of that one too. But just because we’re insane-o-crazy about this series doesn’t mean we’re avowed video pinball fanatics. For the most part, outside of Naxat’s excellent games, we’re unmoved by simulated pinball.
Are you a fan of pinball games? If so, are you also a fan of the noisy, clattering, awesome real thing? Also, what’s your opinion of Crüe Ball?
Gallery: Alien Crush (WiiWare)
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Alien Crush Returns, Bomberman Blast to make American debut at PAX
Tycho and Gabe, as well as all those other game companies, must be feeling pretty insecure right now, because they’re all going to be upstaged by a humble WiiWare game. Or, at least, that would be the case if this year’s Penny Arcade Expo were being attended exclusively by a crowd of weirdos just like us, because Hudson will have Alien Crush Returns and Bomberman Blast on display at their booth. This will be the first official public appearance in North America by either of these games!
Fishing Master World Tour and the already-released Deca Sports will also be on display. And Alien Crush Returns! Did we mention that one?
Gallery: Alien Crush (WiiWare)
Gallery: Bomberman Blast
[Via press release]
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Top 10 Best Selling Games
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