Here are this week's releases on WiiWare, DSiWare, and Virtual Console!

WiiWare

Max & the Magic Marker
Publisher: Press Play
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: One day Max gets a mysterious marker in the mail. Not knowing better, the first thing he draws is a wacky, purple monster. As soon as the marker leaves the paper, the monster comes to life and jumps off the paper and into another drawing. With the monster on the loose and messing with Max's drawings, Max has no choice but to go after it. Armed with the magic marker, you must help Max track the monster through 15 inventive and challenging levels. You'll need more than good will and quick reflexes to tackle the challenges ahead. Draw freely inside the game to help Max defeat enemies, overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. As you draw stairs, seesaws, balloons, surfboards and whatever else you can think of, your creations will interact with the physical environment, making every session unique.

Dracula - Undead Awakening
Publisher: Chillingo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Are you a vampire hunter? Are you ready to battle legions of undead foes including zombies, ghouls and werewolves? You'll need to wield an arsenal of powerful weaponry while using your skill and intelligence. Uncover devastating firepower - machine guns, buzz-saws, flamethrowers and more - and choose upgrades for them as well as unique new perks for your character as your enemies increase in number and ferocity. You're a tough customer, but beware - Lord Dracula is always on the hunt, and you are his prey. Enemies in Dracula have one thing in common: Undead, lycanthrope or mutant, they're all after your flesh.

Virtual Console

FINAL FANTASY II
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: Square Enix
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Follow the dark knight Cecil - Lord Captain of Baron's elite force, the Red Wings - as he embarks on a fateful journey riddled with trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Plagued with uncertainty over his monarch's motives, can Cecil turn away from the path of darkness and destruction?

Nintendo DSiWare™

Elemental Masters
Publisher: lbxgames
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: In this fantasy card game, stand your ground in a quest filled with magic and adventure, and experience a thrilling combination of strategy and role-playing. Choose your character, build up your army in your card deck and fight the mystical creatures of Elendior. With thoughtful use of your cards, you'll obtain the monsters of your enemy and support your attacks by using arcane spells and the rules of dark magic. Dive into this captivating story in the quest mode or duel with your friends in multiplayer mode. More than 100 creatures in numerous maps are waiting for you.

4 TRAVELLERS™ - Play Spanish
Publisher: AGENIUS Interactive
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Whether played alone or together with friends, 4 TRAVELLERS can teach you new words in Spanish. The game is suitable for both young and old, and no previous knowledge is necessary. The more you play, the more your Spanish vocabulary increases. You can also play and learn with the game's unique learning mode. The game is perfect to bring on your trip, with more than 240 carefully selected words included specifically for this occasion.

Dracula - Undead Awakening
Publisher: Chillingo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Are you a vampire hunter? Are you ready to battle legions of undead foes including zombies, ghouls and werewolves? You'll need to wield an arsenal of powerful weaponry while using your skill and intelligence. Uncover devastating firepower - machine guns, buzz-saws, flamethrowers and more - and choose upgrades for them as well as unique new perks for your character as your enemies increase in number and ferocity. You're a tough customer, but beware - Lord Dracula is always on the hunt, and you are his prey. Enemies in Dracula have one thing in common: Undead, lycanthrope or mutant, they're all after your flesh.

Flips: The Bubonic Builders
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Not Rated
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Flips Interactive Books are the fun new way for kids to read. The builders are in to replace the girls' toilet block, but they're more interested in cups of tea and instant noodle snacks than doing any work. James suspects foul play, but Alexander and Lenny are doubtful until a strange accident hammers the truth home. How will the three friends stop St. Sebastian's from being reduced to rubble?

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Jargon said:

Are NES/SNES versions of FF 2, 3 and 5 translated though?

Oh yeah, when they were released on the PSOne, and then the GBA. I heard the translation for FFV wasn't too good, though, but whatever.

Posted by

Pandareus

on: 03/09/10, 01:04

Yea, I just wasn't sure that you could port those versions of the games to VC. Seems like adding those translations to the actual NES/SNES games (ROMs?) would be more work than they'd be willing to do.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 03/09/10, 01:07

anon_mastermind said:

@ludist210
Thanks for the impressions, I think I'll check this one out when my girlfriend comes over, she absolutely loved World of Goo and this seems like another title that inspires creative thinking. Do the puzzles get tough quickly or are you breezing through it so far?

The puzzles aren't too bad, though getting to the end of 1-5 took me a while for some reason.

There are some optional puzzles that are harder than the regular game, but nothing overly difficult.

Posted by

ludist210

on: 03/09/10, 01:25

Jargon said:

Are NES/SNES versions of FF 2, 3 and 5 translated though?

Well V is on a Playstation disc with SNES graphics so kind of. I know 1 and 2 are also on a PSX disc but I don't know if they use an updated game engine or if they're still NES graphics. I think the first time III was released in the U.S. was on DS so that's probably the only one that doesn't have a translation in something close to its original form.

Posted by

Het_Nkik

on: 03/09/10, 01:49

Edited:

03/09/10, 01:52

I really, really wish they would have changed the title screen to Final Fantasy IV. S-E said they were bringing 1-6 to the Virtual Console, so we're going to have two 2's and 3's. This is ridiculous. I know we all know FF2 on SNES is really FF4, but how many "normies" know that?

I think it's a stupid decision. But eh, I may pick it up anyway. I own FFIV and FFVI for GBA, but it seemed different than I remembered playing on the SNES. Now I can use the Classic Controller and it'll be just like old times.

Posted by

grantimusprime

on: 03/09/10, 03:10

Actually, SE only said they were bringing 1-6 to Japan. Looks like just FF1, 4, and 6 are coming to the USA. Here's a link

Posted by

Jargon

on: 03/09/10, 03:18

Jargon said:

Actually, SE only said they were bringing 1-6 to Japan. Looks like just FF1, 4, and 6 are coming to the USA. Here's a link

Aw lamesauce, I really wanted 5 here. I know there's a bunch of ways to get it, but probably not for $8 or less...

Posted by

grantimusprime

on: 03/09/10, 03:41

@grantimusprime

well there are ways to get it for less than $8...

Posted by

Jargon

on: 03/09/10, 03:57

grantimusprime said:

Jargon said:

Actually, SE only said they were bringing 1-6 to Japan. Looks like just FF1, 4, and 6 are coming to the USA. Here's a link

Aw lamesauce, I really wanted 5 here. I know there's a bunch of ways to get it, but probably not for $8 or less...

I didn't like V. I had it on GBA, but I felt that the story was weak. The job system was nice though...

Posted by

ludist210

on: 03/09/10, 04:17

I got Max and the Magic Marker. It's a pretty fun game, kind of short though. I just got to the third world so I haven't seen the whole game yet, but there hasn't been any REAL CRAZY puzzles yet.

Posted by

Secret_Tunnel

on: 03/09/10, 05:57

@Secret_Tunnel

A part of me wants you to say this game is amazing. I think the idea is genius but the execution of that idea could fall short.

The other part of me wants you to say its not all that since I only have 500 Wii Points and my back log is embarrassing!!

Posted by

Abdooooo

on: 03/09/10, 06:14

Edited:

03/09/10, 06:15

@Abdooooo

If you have a huge backlog and not enough points then at this point, unless it pulls something amazing in the last 5 levels, I've gotta say skip it. There are plenty of other amazing WiiWare games that are out and are coming out soon, like Cave Story and Bit.Trip: Runner.

Posted by

Secret_Tunnel

on: 03/09/10, 06:36

Abdooooo said:

@Secret_Tunnel

A part of me wants you to say this game is amazing. I think the idea is genius but the execution of that idea could fall short.

The other part of me wants you to say its not all that since I only have 500 Wii Points and my back log is embarrassing!!

Max & the Magic Marker won't change your life or anything. It's fun, but if you're low on points, I say wait for Cave Story.

Posted by

ludist210

on: 03/09/10, 14:39

Thanks for the replies guys. I will wait to cave for Cave.

Posted by

Abdooooo

on: 03/09/10, 16:38

Just two more weeks!

Posted by

Infinitywave

on: 03/09/10, 17:12

Anybody think we'll get Light Trax or Rotozoa this month? I think Nintendo may surprise us with one of these next week.

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 03/09/10, 21:18