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Nintendo downloads: a lot of flying involved

by: Tina -
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This week, Nintendo is giving you the opportunity to fly in various forms. You can choose to step in the shoes of John Sanders, a treasure hunter and diver in Dive: The Medes Islands Secret (1,000 Wii points). Joining the ranks of an elite army unit undertaking missions in the Middle East in Heavy Fire: Special Operations (500 Wii points), you will be viewing the wreckage from the seat of a Blackhawk (or the pedals of a Humvee, if you prefer). Return to the days of the SNES to experiment with Aero the bat’s crazy acrobatic moves in Aero the Acrobat (800 Wii points), or partake in face-controlled piloting in Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! (500 DSi points). Whatever your preference of flying, Nintendo has a slew of titles to cover you.

Four other titles are available to you should flying not be an interest. If you like Pokemon, you will undoubtedly enjoy the task of collecting over 160 monsters in Crystal Monsters (500 DSi points) where the goal is to become the ultimate Monster Breeder. Puffins: Let’s Race! (500 DSi points) challenges you to a race either head-to-head or against the clock, with the added fun of power-ups. You can raise and train hamsters in Petz Hamsterz Family (800 DSi points), although I’ve never trusted anyone or thing that uses a “z” where an “s” was meant to be. Lastly, Nintendo sticks to its theme of including puzzle-type games with Absolute BrickBuster (200 DSi points) in your traditional brick game.

This week will also signify the last of the Big Name Games in the WarioWare: DIY series. The series will finish off with a title from Treehouse. Read on for full game details.
From dizzying heights to watery depths and everywhere in between, downloadable games for the Wii™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems can take you to some unforgettable places. New arrivals for the WiiWare™ service include the undersea adventure of Dive: The Medes Islands Secret and the intense arcade-style action of Heavy Fire: Special Operations. Fans of the Virtual Console™ service can now enjoy high-flying fun from the Super NES™ era with AERO THE ACROBAT™. And for fresh gaming kicks on the go, check out the camera-based controls and customization options of Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! or tangle with legions of battle-ready beasts in Crystal Monsters, both available via the Nintendo DSiWare™ service.

We’ve also got one last update for the “Big Name Games” section of the WarioWare™: D.I.Y. series, which features downloadable microgames from some of the industry’s most talented figures. This week’s additions come from the Treehouse, Nintendo’s game localization team. All “Big Name Games” are available to download for zero Nintendo DSi Points™ to anyone with broadband Internet access and a copy of either WarioWare: D.I.Y. for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems or WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase software for the WiiWare service. Visit the Nintendo Channel on your Wii system today to learn more about these games.

WiiWare


Dive: The Medes Islands Secret

Publisher: Cosmonaut Games

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence

Price: 1,000 Wii Points™

Description: During the past five centuries, hundreds of ships flying every ensign have succumbed to the power of the ocean. Merchant boats, pirate ships, navy vessels – all have ended up covered in coral at the bottom of the ocean. All of them guarded secrets that remained hidden...until now. In Dive: The Medes Islands Secret, you are John Sanders, a treasure hunter and experienced diver who spends months planning and documenting a major expedition to locate and recover several ships of different ensigns around the world.


Heavy Fire: Special Operations

Publisher: Teyon

Players: 1-2

ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood, Violence

Price: 500 Wii Points

Description: Join an elite army unit in Heavy Fire: Special Operations, an arcade shooter for the WiiWare service. Play challenging missions in the Middle East from the ground, Humvee or Blackhawk. You will need a quick trigger finger to finish extremely dangerous levels. Rise through the military ranks and accumulate more powerful weapons with different features and controls. Replay the game to improve your best score and submit it to the world rankings. Make combos and smash the environment to get more points. You can take out enemies in a single-player mode or with a friend in multiplayer mode. The Wii Zapper™ accessory is supported but not required.


Virtual Console


AERO THE ACROBAT

Original platform: Super NES

Publisher: Sunsoft

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief

Price: 800 Wii Points

Description: The madman industrialist Edgar Ektor has seized control of the World of Amusement. He and a deranged cast of fairground freaks threaten the circus. The only hope for survival is the high-flying, death-defying Aero the acrobat! Spine-tingling terror unfolds as Aero tackles Ektor’s wicked henchmen. Bungee-jump into a battle against evil. Skydive toward the danger below. Hang on for the ride of your life as you rise and plunge on a roaring roller coaster. Tiptoe across a terrifying tightrope. Power-drill and twist Aero right through every sinister circus enemy imaginable. All the while, the show must go on. It could become a carnival of carnage in the World of Amusement. Because the evil Ektor isn't clowning around...and there’s nothing amusing about that.


Nintendo DSiWare


Face Pilot™: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!

Publisher: Nintendo

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: With the innovative game Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera!, you can soar through the sky in a hang glider from the comfort of your sofa. Not only will you put your face into the game with the Nintendo DSi Camera, but Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! also tracks your head movements to give you complete control of your glider. Simply tilt your head sideways to steer left or right, lean back to climb and bend forward to dive. Choose from two play styles and fly through three different types of game play: bursting all of the balloons in a variety of courses, throwing balls at targets for a high score and trying for a fast time in the high-speed challenge. Also, look out for hidden medals that help to unlock new courses and even new gliders. If you’re looking for a truly unique and inventive game, schedule a flight to experience Face Pilot: Fly With Your Nintendo DSi Camera! for yourself. The only thing missing is the wind in your hair!


Crystal Monsters

Publisher: Gameloft

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence

Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who can see monsters (called Neo-Seeds) and those who can’t. Neo-Seeds wield extraordinary power and battle using tamed monsters in grand tournaments. As a Neo-Seed who has just discovered his ability, you’re about to set off on an amazing journey to collect more than 160 monsters and become the greatest Monster Breeder. Explore a vast world, meet new friends and rivals, and engage in dynamic battles that require skill and strategy. Master the nine elemental types, train your monsters through battle, teach them new moves, use team attacks and fuse them together to unlock their true potential. You can even customize three of your favorite monsters by putting friends’ faces on them using the built-in camera.


Puffins: Let’s Race!

Publisher: Other Ocean Interactive

Players: 1-4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Get ready to challenge the speediest puffins on the island for the title of Fastest Flyer in Puffins: Let’s Race! Race against the clock or go head-to-head with your opponents in a battle to the finish line. Use cleverly placed power-ups like the squawk shot to get ahead of the pack and claim victory. Race through four different game modes on eight different tracks to prove your skill, or challenge up to three of your friends via local wireless play. Do you have what it takes to become the race champion of Puffin Island, or will you be left behind with the rest of the flock?


Petz® Hamsterz® Family

Publisher: Ubisoft

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief

Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Adopt your very own family of hamsters! Care for them, teach them fun tricks and unlock new toys and accessories to give them lots of love! Care for your hamsters by feeding them, playing with them and keeping them clean and warm. Discover your hamsters’ unique personalities – watch them react with cute and funny facial expressions. Teach your hamsters fun activities like bowling or running on ramps and watch them progress. Earn coins that can be used to unlock new toys and accessories for your lovable hamsters.


Absolute BrickBuster

Publisher: Tasuke

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Classic brick game action is here on the Nintendo DSi system. There are two modes of play: Free Play and Challenge. Pick one of eight characters and set special items to play at your own pace in Free Play Mode. The special items include different balls with special attributes, expandable paddle and paddle tilt. There are 10 stages in all. Each even-numbered stage gives you a mission, the result of which will determine the level of the next two stages. In Challenge Mode, different levels of missions are given – clear them to advance in the game.