WiiWare: Snail Mail, BIT.TRIP Flux (demo); DSiWare: Gold Fever, Zimo: Mahjong Fanatic, Hidden Photo and Beach Party Craze; Virtual Console: Mega Man 5 (Wii) and Donkey Kong (3DS)

NOTE: Nintendo Download updates will take place each week on Thursdays now instead of Mondays.

WiiWare

Snail Mail (Sandlot Games, 600pts)
BIT.TRIP Flux (Gaijin Games, free demo)

Virtual Console

Mega Man 5 (Capcom, Wii: 500 pts)
Donkey Kong (Nintendo, eShop: $3.99)

DSiWare

Gold Fever (DSi: 500pts, eShop: $4.99)
Zimo: Mahjong Fanatic (DSi: 200pts, eShop: $1.99)
Beach Party Craze (DSi: 800pts, eShop: $7.99)
Hidden Photo (DSi: 500pts, eShop: $4.99)

Source - Nintendo of America

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@Anand

I can't wait until they finally get their act together and come out with Summer points.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 06/17/11, 16:31

I'm guessing the change from points to actual money is the source of all this.

I don't know about the US but here in Canada, you can tax points cards, but can't tax, um, money (?) cards. At a store, you are charged tax on a XBLA points card and Wii points card, but not a PSN card, because they're treated as actual funds.

So you were charged tax for your Nintendo Points card already, and the eShop charges tax not when you add funds, but on your purchases. Coming up with a system that makes sure you aren't charged tax twice is probably not worth Nintendo's time, so...

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 06/17/11, 16:39

DK '94... never played it, always wanted to. Should be fun!

Posted by

Zero

on: 06/17/11, 16:44

@Guillaume

In their defense, the first four levels are "the Game Boy version of the classic arcade game".

I'm downloading this game right after I finish Shantae (which should be tonight, expect a review this weekend).

Posted by

ludist210

on: 06/17/11, 16:46

Interesting tidbit about Donkey Kong ('94): this is the game that introduced Mario's more acrobatic move and abilities. All those moves (most) people thought originated in Super Mario 64, actually debuted in this game. You know, stuff like back flips, wall kicks, etc. That stuff wasn't created just for Super Mario 64, it was just carried over from the Gameboy game. Kind of a cool bit of Nintendo history, I think.

By the way, if you guys really like this game, after finishing it you should check out Mario vs Donkey Kong on GBA. It's the sequel and takes everything to the next level. Really great stuff. I'm kinda sad that the Mario vs Donkey Kong games have changed into a strange Lemmings-like clone, but... those are a lot of fun too. So I can't *really* complain. Still, I hope eventually Nintendo goes back and lets us control Mario again for the next entry in the (sub)series.

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 06/17/11, 16:59

@GameDadGrant I've been championing Mario vs. DK for years, I'm glad to see someone else enjoyed that game! Of course, if there's anyone that would have played it, it would be Grant.

I REALLY wish they'd give us a new DK94/Mario vs. DK type game. Not only do I not care for the Minis games, but I LOVE DK94 and MvsDK. And to have these games shoved aside for the Lemmings-esque Minis games is a shame. Can't we have both?

Posted by

rebonack

on: 06/17/11, 17:05

I played MvsDK back in the day, but I don't recall enjoying it that much. Can't remember what bugged me about it, though. The Mini-Marios? The graphics style?

I do remember liking it more than the sequel, though.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 06/17/11, 17:12

@Guillaume

The mini Marios were what ruined Mvs.DK for me, personally. Otherwise terrific game.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 06/17/11, 17:25

It might have something to do with the fact that I played Mario vs. Donkey Kong first, but I enjoyed it more than Donkey Kong '94. Not that DK 94 wasn't lots of fun, I just though M vs. DK took the premise farther.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 06/17/11, 17:25

What was the role of the Mini Marios in the first game, though? I honestly can't remember. Why would they bring down the whole?

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 06/17/11, 17:28

@rebonack

It took me ages to get into the series but I LOVED the latest entry. I should probably go pick up the others sometime.

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 06/17/11, 17:41

@Jargon I actually played MvDK first too. Didn't play DK94 in full until last year, when I also went back and finished 100%ing MvDK, hard mode and all.

@Guillaume You have to rescue one in each level, basically taking the place of the key in DK94 (though there are keys too). Then there's a stage in each world where you have to lead them to a toy box, similar to the later games, but you actually control Mario and they follow him. And depending on how many you successfully navigate through the level, you get that many hits against the boss.

And they have a larger role in hard mode, but that doesn't unlock until you finish the main game, so it's hardly game breaking.

Posted by

rebonack

on: 06/17/11, 17:53

@Jargon
Seasonal Points aren't rolling out until next year. We'll probably have to wait until next gen for Yearly Points. That kind of infrastructure change doesn't just happen overnight.

@Guillaume
I think that DK'94 would probably sell more with that description.

@GameDadGrant
Do you remember Donkey Kong Plus? Nobody remembers Donkey Kong Plus!!

I don't know why so many vastly prefer DK'94 to Mario Vs. DK, to the point of insulting it, even. I thought the GBA game was great, too.

@Guillaume
You collected them in platforming stages, and then they come into play in the 'boss stages', right? From which the rest of the series was spun off? My memory's a bit fuzzy, since there have been so many entries in this series.

@DrFinkelstein
The first (March of the Minis) is easily the worst. The controls are fiddly and irritating. The second (DSiWare) and third (retail) are great.

@ludist210
Nooooo! My laziness in converting my DSiWare recommendation writeup into a review has cost me! Ah, well. I'll just have to do it for Pinball Pulse and Boxlife before those get taken. I guess we really do need a review 'claiming' thread.

Posted by

Anand

on: 06/17/11, 17:56

Edited:

06/17/11, 18:29

@rebonack

Nice! Glad to know someone has been championing Mario vs Donkey Kong. Indeed, it was a great game. Although I admit, I haven't finished it! Grah, my backlog is ridiculous! I should really get back to that game and put it on the "DONE" pile!

@Anand

I remember hearing about Donkey Kong Plus, but that never actually came out, right? Like, not even in Japan?

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 06/17/11, 23:17

Edited:

06/17/11, 23:20

I want to hear some impressions from people who've never played DK '94 before! I first got the game last year and I thought it was terrific. Top 10 GB game, easily.

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 06/17/11, 23:54

I think I actually 100%'d Mario Vs. DK, too. One of my rare 100%s. It took a long time!

@GameDadGrant
Nah, it was one of the connectivity games that just died on the vine. Like Roll-o-Rama. *sniff*

There are some indications that it turned into Mario Vs. DK 2, though being able to make and share levels for the original version of Donkey Kong would've kicked all kinds of ass.

Posted by

Anand

on: 06/18/11, 00:05

So I'm through 4-8 in DK '94, and I've got to say that this game rocks! I've gotten all three bonus items in each stage to this point. The levels aren't too challenging (yet), though there's some clever design in there.

Posted by

ludist210

on: 06/19/11, 16:54

@ludist210

I think the best part of DK94 was that rarely does it ever get "too" challenging. It maintains being just straight up FUN the whole way through. Later there are some larger challenges, but it never pushes to the point of "this is too hard" or anything. It's just a joy from start to finish.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 06/19/11, 17:36

I think what bugs me about the design is that a lot of the levels seem to be created with items that can be totally ignored if you use the tricks the game itself teaches to you. What's the point? I feel like I end up cheating some of the levels... although I guess maybe that would be the fun part of replaying some of them I'm still enjoying it a lot though and I'm probably nearing the final world.

Posted by

VofEscaflowne

on: 06/19/11, 22:29