Majora's Mask becomes America's 300th Virtual Console title, an Art Style game arrives on DSiWare, and WiiWare gets both a tower defense sequel and a chess game.
North America has just received its 300th Virtual Console title, and in that landmark title you have just three days to save the world.
However, those who've played The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on the Nintendo 64 will remember that those three days are revisited and replayed over and over again. Majora's Mask features unique time travel gameplay that allows players to delve into the day-to-day of character's lives and attempt to change the fate of a doomed world. And for anyone who hasn't played what Nintendo hails as "one of the highest-rated Nintendo 64 games of all time," the classic is now available for download on the Wii's Virtual Console service for 1000 Wii Points ($10).
Nintendo's other offering this week is Art Style: PiCTOBiTS on the DSi. This puzzle game has players clearing "bits" from the playing field by combining large clear blocks with smaller square ones of the same color. The game takes advantage of the DSi's touch screen to let players pick up and place the bits anywhere on the touch screen; this is a strategy that is said to be "critical to your success." Eventually, cleared game levels will reveal classic Nintendo characters, and players will earn coins to unlock additional DARK stages and access the game's soundtrack. Art Style: PiCTOBiTS is available for download on the DSiWare service for 500 Nintendo DSi Points ($5).
Rounding out this week's downloadable releases are two WiiWare games from third parties. One is Square's Crystal Defenders R2, the second episode to their tower defense series. Players will have to defend their crystal supply from enemies by placing various units in strategic positions, accounting for the differences in map layout, unit abilities, and enemy strengths. Crystal Defenders R2 will introduce not just new maps, but new "jobs" for the player's units as well, such as "Flintlock" or "Tinker," thereby offering new strategies. The game also introduces three varieties of power crystals that can be used to enhance defender's abilities even more. Crystal Defenders R2 is available now on WiiWare for 800 Wii Points ($8).
The other WiiWare title is Silver Star Chess, which originally released in Japan last August. Brought across the Pacific divide by Agetec, this chess game lets players square off against each other, or against one of several computer opponents. Players can redo their last move, or review the entire chess match after its ended. This lets Silver Star Chess allow players to replay the match from any point in its history, possibly to change a losing outcome. Silver Star Chess can be downloaded from WiiWare for just 500 Wii Points ($5).
NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: ZELDA CLASSIC BECOMES 300TH VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME
May 18, 2009
Every Monday for two and a half years, Nintendo has introduced new downloadable games and applications for the Wii™ console. Today marks a milestone for the Virtual Console™ section of the Wii Shop Channel, home of some of the greatest titles in video game history. The classic The Legend of Zelda™: Majora's Mask™ becomes the 300th Virtual Console title available for download. It's one of the highest-rated Nintendo 64™ games of all time, and its three-day time cycle and deeper, darker storyline offer players a different experience than a traditional Zelda game. People who played it years ago can relive their gaming roots, while those who never picked it up can discover its fun and charm for the first time.
Not to be overlooked, the second Art Style puzzle game for Nintendo DSiWare™ makes its debut, along with the WiiWare™ games CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R2 from SQUARE ENIX and Silver Star Chess from Agetec, Inc.
Virtual Console
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points™): Link™ must save the world! This time, he finds himself trapped in Termina, an alternate version of Hyrule that is doomed to destruction in just three short days. Link must race to recover the Ocarina of Time (which allows him to manipulate time in multiple ways), defeat challenging bosses in dungeons spread across Termina and discover the key to the mystery of Majora's Mask. Along the way, he'll obtain new weapons and items and help other characters (some strangely familiar) in their everyday lives. In addition, Link must use a wide assortment of masks scattered throughout Termina, each with its own specific use or power. Never before have three days offered so much in the way of action, mind-boggling puzzles and depth. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is an adventure unlike any other!
Nintendo DSiWare
Art Style™: PiCTOBiTS™ (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points™): Your goal in Art Style: PiCTOBiTS is simple: clear large blocks that fall from above ("megabits") by combining them with "bits" (square blocks) of the same color. Add in the ability to pick up bits and place them anywhere on the touch screen, and you'll quickly find that strategy is critical to your success. By clearing the bits, you gradually reveal each stage's hidden game character - look for favorites from classic NES™ titles - and earn coins that can be spent to unlock DARK stages or to listen to the game's soundtrack in MUSIC mode. This grand mix of familiar elements and new game play leads to the uniquely enjoyable experience that is PiCTOBiTS.
WiiWare
CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R2 (SQUARE ENIX, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): In CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R2, you must deploy various units, such as Fencers and Black Mages, to stop waves of encroaching monsters from escaping the area with your party's crystals. There are many types of units to choose from: Some specialize in powerful short-range attacks, some wield far-reaching magicks and still others are equipped with bows, enabling them to bring down aerial foes. Deploy units in strategic locations to take full advantage of their traits. Each time an enemy breaches your defenses and reaches a map's exit, your party will lose crystals. When all your crystals are gone, the game is over. CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R2 offers several new, challenging maps containing multiple entrances and exits. It also introduces three varieties of Power Crystals, allowing you to enhance the abilities of your units, while new jobs, including Flintlock and Tinker, set the stage for even more complex strategies. Can you defend all the maps without losing a single crystal?
Silver Star Chess (Agetec, Inc., 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Suggestive Themes, 500 Wii Points): Silver Star Chess has two modes: 1-Player and 2-Player. 1-Player mode allows you to play a chess match against the computer opponent. 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can select one of five different computer opponents, as well as turn the background music off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. Also, during the match, you can redo your last move, save the game at any point or resign from the game. After the match has ended, you can review each move made during the match. While reviewing the match in this way, you can resume that match at any point.
Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop™ and the Wii™ Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.
Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.
