It's a week of unique titles, with options ranging from massages to learning to count.
In what might be best described as an off-color week, the Nintendo Downloads are all for WiiWare and DSiWare services. This, the second week in a row without a Virtual Console offering, provides a veritable slew of options to fulfill someone's gaming desires.
That someone is our Site Director, Jon Lindemann.
This week sees the WiiWare adding two new entries to its catalog. Filling the apparently unquenchable thirst for virtual aquariums, Hudson Entertainment provides the WiiWare service with My Aquarium 2 ($5). This time Hudson has shifted their attention to the bottom of the ocean, allowing you to raise creatures from the furthest depths of the briny deep. The game also allows you to send pictures of your aquarium to friends and integrates real-time weather from The Forecast Channel. It seems reasonable to assume that if you have central air your aquarium will always be 75° F with overcast skies and low visibility.
The other WiiWare offering this week is the highly anticipated Enjoy Your Massage! ($5), brought to us by Microforum. If you've ever wanted to work as a masseur, this might be the best 500 Wii Points you've ever spent. Hired as an apprentice at Giselle's Beauty Farm, you have to rub the tension out of some very stressed clients. This game might also be for you if, like our esteemed Site Director and resident golfer-masseur, you just wanted to play a game of Simon on the backs of various cartoon women with exotic occupations, such as rock star and race car driver and a golfer.
This week brings us four DSiWare titles. Starting off we have TURN: The Last Artifact ($8) from Creative Patterns. In TURN you play as Kurt and Camila, who are on a hunt for the titular final relic. In this "adventure puzzler" you guide your explorers through rooms filled with traps and obstructions. The game's title comes from your ability to turn the rooms to open up a clear path. With each turn gravity takes hold of the room's contents, sending them crashing to the floor. Hopefully it doesn't send them crashing on Kurt or Camila.
This week's second DSiWare title is Rhythm Core Alpha ($5) from SoftEgg. A music sequencer for your DSi, it allows you to sequence various instruments and make changes while it plays. Keep your audience guessing by changing chords with the push of a button! Be your own personal DJ on the go! It is safe to assume that Jon Lindemann has already downloaded this title, and is annoying everyone he meets.
The first of our two budget DSiWare titles is Tasuke's Absolute Chess ($2). Offering advice ranging from the most basic rules to advanced tactics, Absolute Chess allows the player to learn the game of chess by highlighting the possible moves of both sides, and allowing the undoing of all moves. Free Play mode lets you play against a set of characters ranging from children to old men, like Herr Lindemann. Multiplayer mode lets you play against friends (and presumably casual acquaintances) via DS Download Play.
Our final DSiWare title is Did It Myself ABC123, from Powerhead Games ($2). The first DSiWare game rated "Early Childhood" by the ESRB, ABC123 is aimed at children aged two to three, but should be accessible to children as young as one. ABC123 features activities designed to teach children about counting, colors, letters, drawing, and music.
