We're looking for new writers to join us!

Nintendo tributes NEOGEO with two Virtual Console titles this week

by: Tina -
More On:
Monday this week brings several new titles to the Nintendo service.

The WiiWare has three titles to offer. You can pick up chick chick BOOM (800 Wii points) to launch various items at enemies in an arena-style fight with three different game modes. A demo version of Max & the Magic Marker (0 points, or full version at 1,000 Wii points) is also available in which Max must battle his own monster creation with his magic marker. Finally, Around the World (500 Wii points) helps build your geographical knowledge from sports to literature and includes a multiplayer mode for competitive play.

The Virtual Console this week offers two NEOGEO titles from retro times. Fighters History Dynamite (900 Wii points) is the sequel to the fighting game franchise that throws you into a martial arts tournament against 13 others. Magical Drop III (900 Wii points) is a puzzle-action game involving using your clown character to control flinging balloons.

Three new titles are also available on the DSiWare. G. G Series Z-ONE (200 DSi points) is a side-scrolling shooter that puts you in control of fighter pods. DodoGo! Challenge (500 DSi points) is the sequel to the puzzle game in which you are tasked with saving endangered eggs throughout a total of 100 levels. Lastly is Fantasy Slots: Adventure Slots and Games (500 DSi points) which gives players six adventure-themed slots to gamble on.

Read on for the full details of each game. 
WiiWare

chick chick BOOM
Publisher: tons of bits
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points

Description: In chick chick BOOM, you throw pianos, pink elephants and sumo chicks or summon slimy giant jellyfish and real UFOs. Draw lines in the arena to defend against your opponent’s attacks. The skill lies in your use of ink, creativity and timing. Extra help is provided by a corncob and a piñata (yes, really!). Play on your own or with friends. To keep things interesting, there are various game modes and different arenas, each with its own special attack. Arenas include City, Ship and Haunted Wood. Five teams are playable immediately, and there are 10 more to unlock. Game modes include Duel Mode, Time Mode and Pro Mode. Your best scores will be saved for you to beat.

Around the World
Publisher: Wizarbox
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points

Description: Whether you want to improve your own knowledge of geography or compete with friends and family in exciting mini-games, Around the World is for you! The game features a solo mode for building your knowledge and a multiplayer mode for playing against others. Topics include monuments, history, sports, art, literature and people. Players may be asked to choose the right answer from a list of options or point as closely as possible to a given place.

Max & the Magic Marker (demo version)
Publisher: Press Play
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 0 Wii Points; full version available for 1,000 Wii Points

Description: One day, Max receives a mysterious marker in the mail. The first thing he draws is a monster, but as soon as the pen leaves the paper, the monster comes to life and jumps into another drawing. The monster must be stopped, so Max draws himself onto the page and the chase begins. Max & the Magic Marker is an award-winning physics-based puzzle platformer. The game is suitable for all audiences yet still challenging for hard-core gamers. It plays like a classic platformer, but with a twist. You have a magic marker that enables you to draw freehand, and everything you draw becomes real. You must help Max overcome enemies, obstacles and puzzles along the way. Enjoy loads of puzzles with multiple solutions. Collect hidden orbs to unlock extras. Explore 15 awesome levels in three unique worlds.

Note: Some demo versions do not support all game features, and players cannot save their in-game progress in demo versions.

Virtual Console

FIGHTER’S HISTORY DYNAMITE
Original platform: NEOGEO
Publisher: D4 Enterprise
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Blood, Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points

Description: FIGHTER’S HISTORY DYNAMITE is a fighting game that was first released in 1994. In this sequel to the well-loved FIGHTER’S HISTORY, the action takes place once again at a martial arts tournament called the Great Grapple. This time, 13 combatants have emerged to test their skills against the best of the best. Notable playing features include a wide range of secret attacks, a weak-spot system that assigns a vulnerable area to each fighter and the introduction of original bosses Clown and Karlov as playable characters. The bull from the bonus stage of the Data East classic Karate Champ will also make a special appearance if you’re able to clear certain secret conditions.

MAGICAL DROP III
Original platform: NEOGEO
Publisher: D4 Enterprise
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 900 Wii Points

Description: This puzzle-action game was released by Data East in 1997. Control a clown to pull in and throw back balloons hurled from the top of the screen. If you line up three or more balloons of the same color in a vertical row, they will burst. If you’re not quick enough, the balloons will squash the clown and the game is over. Once you’ve got the hang of bursting balloons, you’ll need to master combos and chains. The basic rules of the game haven’t changed since MAGICAL DROP II, but with 16 playable characters and a new Magical Journey mode, there is much to explore in MAGICAL DROP III.

Nintendo DSiWare

G.G Series Z•ONE
Publisher: Genterprise Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™

Description: Breach enemy lines in this technical side-scrolling shooter. The enemy has bolstered its defenses with a perilous fortress of blocks. Skillfully maneuver and make use of pods that fire in eight directions to vanquish foes as you advance toward the heart of enemy territory. Each level features a unique landscape and varying difficulty, forcing you to adapt. Learn the art of quick evasion as some levels scroll faster than others. Master advanced shooting techniques such as shooting in the opposite direction.

DodoGo! Challenge
Publisher: Neko Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: DodoGo! Challenge, the sequel to DodoGo!, is a unique puzzle game that will put your intelligence to the test. You must save as many endangered eggs as possible in nearly 100 dangerous, trap-infested levels. Use the stylus to dig in the terrain, set fire to objects, cut ropes and plenty of other mechanisms. Will you find the solution to bring all the eggs safely to their nest? Your perseverance will be rewarded with unlockable bonus levels and trophies. Beat your own score and see how it ranks against the rest of the world.

Fantasy Slots: Adventure Slots and Games
Publisher: Big John Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points

Description: Players can bring the exciting slot machine experience anywhere they go. Choose from six adventure-themed, five-reel bonus slots, or try your luck with classic Cherries or Diamonds slots. Win big jackpots and earn access to VIP suites. Players can use winnings to purchase vibrant merchandise to customize their suites. As players progress, they can win multiple awards and achievements.