so... here we are. more than a year of Wii has passed, and with still no storage solution (delete from storage and download again is NOT a solution, nintendo), things are becoming even more difficult, with the introduction of Wiiware. these games work in the same way as Virtual Console games do... you go to the shop, download, and play. the prices are varying, and can be anywhere from a bargain (500 wii points), to the standard price (1000), to simply outlandish (1200)...
i doubt i will be reviewing many of these games until nintendo comes up with a REAL storage solution, but if anyone would like to contribute to my thread, please feel free to PM me with your reviews, and ill edit the OP.
now, for the reviews!
Dr Mario Online RX / Virus Buster - Review by Steelicks
Cost: 1000 Wii Points
As every Steelicks enthustiast knows (or should know), I'm a huge Dr Mario nut... I consider it the best puzzle game of all time. What I was expecting from this title was another addicting, faithful rendition of an all time classic. What I didn't expect is the MOST FUN I'VE HAD ON MY WII (okay excluding Brawl).
This package is absolute dynamite... it has the addictive, non-stop excitement of Dr Mario, with a unique new game in Virus Buster (where you use your Wiimote to take the game on a whole new level). The presentation is gorgeous, with the fantastic classic tunes and annoying dancing viruses. It's all crisp, clear, and perfect.
What really sells this game, however, is the Wifi compatability. Within seconds of logging on, I was able to play some randoms in a game of Dr Mario, completely lag free (although lag in this sort of game would be surprising) and totally fun. There's a ladder and leaderboard for those sorts of people, as well as the old friends list for Smogon Tournaments and that (watch this space!)
Honestly, for my first Wiiware title, I am VERY impressed. Can the other games match the quality of this one? We'll have to wait and see...
Steelikes' Official Score: 10/10
LostWinds - Review by Stoo99
Cost: 1000 Wii Points
I finished LostWinds earlier, and just thought I'd post some thoughts for if Steelicks wants to review it. It only lasted me two and a half hours so it's pretty short, but it's amazing while it lasts, it looks great, gameplay is inspired and the puzzles are clever (though they do use the same ones fairly frequently, there are different and sometimes brilliant iterations of them). There's only one boss, at the very end of the game, and this leads into a rather anticlimactic ending, because it appears there is guaranteed to be a sequel. After beating the boss, theres a short little storyboard with some more stuff, and then the game ends leaving behind a "to be continued" and a cliffhanger :/
The boss fight at the end was quite beautiful, if a bit easy, something that is a theme in LostWinds, because once you realize what to do, it can be done in a couple of minutes. But I guess it's easy to nitpick at, and I'm being too harsh, because everything else was stunning. The controls were fluid, the wind you use to push Toku around is intuitive and accurate, it looks great, and the puzzles are interesting.
Some little flaws, but great overall.
Stoo99's Official Score: 9/10
Defend Your Castle - Review by Wolt
Cost: 500 Wii Points
If you've ever been around the internet playing Flash games from various sites, then theres no real reason you shouldn't know about Defend Your Castle. If you aren't familiar with DYC, then you're in for a quite a treat. You, the tyrannical dictator of your kingdom (represented by a Quicklock clippy thing), must spend time picking up innocent button-eyed stick figures bent on crushing your cardboard castle and throw them into the air, hoping that they crush under gravity and that 300 foot drop. This is pretty much what the game boils down to, and theres a surprising amount of enjoyment to be had in killing waves of these little buggers. After a specific amount of time represented by the overhead sun sowing the end of the day the level will be over. Once the level is over you have a chance to make improvements or repairs to your castle, where strategy and a good amount of depth come into play.
Getting points depends on how many guys you killed. There are quite a few things you can do to improve your castle. First off, any and all repairs needed can be fixed as well as more hElth can be added by fortifying the walls/cardboard. Second, you have the Pit of Conversion, which is by far one of the most useful things in DYC. The PoC (Represented by a blue paint bucket) allows you to take one of the stick figures and now only remove him from the field, but add to your ranks. But to add to your ranks, you need to purchase any of the 4 tower upgrades. All you have to do is wait for the PoC to convert the guy you threw in and click on the corresponding tower. Simple no?
As levels increase new enemies will be introduced to the field providing greater challenges to the increasing mayhem. You have stick figures with tongue depressors, giant bottle caps with eyeballs, and Allen Wrench catapults. After 20 or so levels of this you may get kinda bored, this is where multi-player comes in. You can get up to 4 players on this game. One note about the games mechanics, depending upon the number of players, the more enemies that will appear, so it never becomes too easy. You can add players at any time, and it also becomes a mini game in itself, because whoever scores the most points for the round, gets to be King for the next. The King makes all upgrades and repairs as well as adding which ranks to the castle mid game.
Overall, this is a fun and interesting WiiWare title worth a paltry sum of 500 points. It gains its full potential with 4 players, but its still surprisingly fun by yourself. Pick this game up, it's a steal.
Wolt's Official Score: 9.5/10
Toki Tori - Review by ControllerOfFlames
Cost: 1000 Wii Points (900 in Europe)
Wow a game where you walk around and collect eggs, exciting huh. Well it’s certainly fun to play as this port of a gameboy color game is amazing in every respect. But before you start plug in that classic controller or nunchuck, you’ll thank me later. As already stated in this game you collect eggs, and you can only walk and use items to complete this goal. This is a puzzle game in every respect as you have to use those limited (or sometimes unlimited) items to their full potential. You have items that can make bridges, teleport, create blocks, and make ghosts fall through floors. Some of these puzzles are very difficult though and you may find yourself restarting often when you see you’ve made a mistake.
Another thing to help keep the game flowing if you’re stuck is the wildcard system. You can skip a level by using the wonderful card. But if you go back and beat it properly you can get the wonderful card back.
This game has 40 normal levels, and then a hard mode set. But once you’re done them you’ll probably never play them again, and delete the channel data to make room for more wii ware games. It’s also got a weird ending for our little chicken friend. This game is worth it even if you feel cheated that you aren't getting the game for 900 points like our friends in Europe are.
CoF’s official score: 9/10
please feel free to contribute some reviews!
i doubt i will be reviewing many of these games until nintendo comes up with a REAL storage solution, but if anyone would like to contribute to my thread, please feel free to PM me with your reviews, and ill edit the OP.
now, for the reviews!
Dr Mario Online RX / Virus Buster - Review by Steelicks
Cost: 1000 Wii Points
As every Steelicks enthustiast knows (or should know), I'm a huge Dr Mario nut... I consider it the best puzzle game of all time. What I was expecting from this title was another addicting, faithful rendition of an all time classic. What I didn't expect is the MOST FUN I'VE HAD ON MY WII (okay excluding Brawl).
This package is absolute dynamite... it has the addictive, non-stop excitement of Dr Mario, with a unique new game in Virus Buster (where you use your Wiimote to take the game on a whole new level). The presentation is gorgeous, with the fantastic classic tunes and annoying dancing viruses. It's all crisp, clear, and perfect.
What really sells this game, however, is the Wifi compatability. Within seconds of logging on, I was able to play some randoms in a game of Dr Mario, completely lag free (although lag in this sort of game would be surprising) and totally fun. There's a ladder and leaderboard for those sorts of people, as well as the old friends list for Smogon Tournaments and that (watch this space!)
Honestly, for my first Wiiware title, I am VERY impressed. Can the other games match the quality of this one? We'll have to wait and see...
Steelikes' Official Score: 10/10
LostWinds - Review by Stoo99
Cost: 1000 Wii Points
I finished LostWinds earlier, and just thought I'd post some thoughts for if Steelicks wants to review it. It only lasted me two and a half hours so it's pretty short, but it's amazing while it lasts, it looks great, gameplay is inspired and the puzzles are clever (though they do use the same ones fairly frequently, there are different and sometimes brilliant iterations of them). There's only one boss, at the very end of the game, and this leads into a rather anticlimactic ending, because it appears there is guaranteed to be a sequel. After beating the boss, theres a short little storyboard with some more stuff, and then the game ends leaving behind a "to be continued" and a cliffhanger :/
The boss fight at the end was quite beautiful, if a bit easy, something that is a theme in LostWinds, because once you realize what to do, it can be done in a couple of minutes. But I guess it's easy to nitpick at, and I'm being too harsh, because everything else was stunning. The controls were fluid, the wind you use to push Toku around is intuitive and accurate, it looks great, and the puzzles are interesting.
Some little flaws, but great overall.
Stoo99's Official Score: 9/10
Defend Your Castle - Review by Wolt
Cost: 500 Wii Points
If you've ever been around the internet playing Flash games from various sites, then theres no real reason you shouldn't know about Defend Your Castle. If you aren't familiar with DYC, then you're in for a quite a treat. You, the tyrannical dictator of your kingdom (represented by a Quicklock clippy thing), must spend time picking up innocent button-eyed stick figures bent on crushing your cardboard castle and throw them into the air, hoping that they crush under gravity and that 300 foot drop. This is pretty much what the game boils down to, and theres a surprising amount of enjoyment to be had in killing waves of these little buggers. After a specific amount of time represented by the overhead sun sowing the end of the day the level will be over. Once the level is over you have a chance to make improvements or repairs to your castle, where strategy and a good amount of depth come into play.
Getting points depends on how many guys you killed. There are quite a few things you can do to improve your castle. First off, any and all repairs needed can be fixed as well as more hElth can be added by fortifying the walls/cardboard. Second, you have the Pit of Conversion, which is by far one of the most useful things in DYC. The PoC (Represented by a blue paint bucket) allows you to take one of the stick figures and now only remove him from the field, but add to your ranks. But to add to your ranks, you need to purchase any of the 4 tower upgrades. All you have to do is wait for the PoC to convert the guy you threw in and click on the corresponding tower. Simple no?
As levels increase new enemies will be introduced to the field providing greater challenges to the increasing mayhem. You have stick figures with tongue depressors, giant bottle caps with eyeballs, and Allen Wrench catapults. After 20 or so levels of this you may get kinda bored, this is where multi-player comes in. You can get up to 4 players on this game. One note about the games mechanics, depending upon the number of players, the more enemies that will appear, so it never becomes too easy. You can add players at any time, and it also becomes a mini game in itself, because whoever scores the most points for the round, gets to be King for the next. The King makes all upgrades and repairs as well as adding which ranks to the castle mid game.
Overall, this is a fun and interesting WiiWare title worth a paltry sum of 500 points. It gains its full potential with 4 players, but its still surprisingly fun by yourself. Pick this game up, it's a steal.
Wolt's Official Score: 9.5/10
Toki Tori - Review by ControllerOfFlames
Cost: 1000 Wii Points (900 in Europe)
Wow a game where you walk around and collect eggs, exciting huh. Well it’s certainly fun to play as this port of a gameboy color game is amazing in every respect. But before you start plug in that classic controller or nunchuck, you’ll thank me later. As already stated in this game you collect eggs, and you can only walk and use items to complete this goal. This is a puzzle game in every respect as you have to use those limited (or sometimes unlimited) items to their full potential. You have items that can make bridges, teleport, create blocks, and make ghosts fall through floors. Some of these puzzles are very difficult though and you may find yourself restarting often when you see you’ve made a mistake.
Another thing to help keep the game flowing if you’re stuck is the wildcard system. You can skip a level by using the wonderful card. But if you go back and beat it properly you can get the wonderful card back.
This game has 40 normal levels, and then a hard mode set. But once you’re done them you’ll probably never play them again, and delete the channel data to make room for more wii ware games. It’s also got a weird ending for our little chicken friend. This game is worth it even if you feel cheated that you aren't getting the game for 900 points like our friends in Europe are.
CoF’s official score: 9/10
please feel free to contribute some reviews!
