“Summer is officially here, and the month of June brings with it some seriously hot downloadable games to match rising temperatures and sunny weather. If you need a break from the bright sun, there are plenty of cool new gaming downloads to check out for every system. Get ready for action this month, as we blast colorful gems, pull off daredevil bike stunts, incinerate space garbage, and dogfight with classic cartoon characters.”
Check out the full column here at What They Play.
“It’s easy to see why the original Picross DS resonated so strongly with avid puzzle game enthusiasts and nongamers alike. Blending elements of Sudoku, crossword puzzles, paint-by-numbers, and Minesweeper into an ultimate puzzle stew, this ridiculously addictive little game is a delightful time-sucking black hole of fun. If forming amusing pixel art images by solving 2D logic-based picture puzzles held you in its thrall, or if you don’t even know what a nonogram is, you won’t be able to pry your fingers away from the stylus once you get a taste of these mind-bending puzzles steeped in 3D. Picross 3D takes the same puzzle concepts that made the original game so enjoyable and builds on them masterfully. Solving each puzzle to uncover the 3D object encased inside of it is more like chiseling away at a rock sculpture than solving a Sunday crossword. This great new approach to the familiar gameplay makes the formula all the more engrossing.”
Check out the full review here at GameSpot.
“This month marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Nintendo’s DSiWare service, and with multiple new releases coming out each week since it made its debut, there’s a ton of games currently available to dive into along with new ones on the way. Modeled after the popular WiiWare service for the Wii, DSiWare features a variety of smaller, cheaper downloadable handheld games created by large and small developers alike. The past year has seen some excellent and affordable titles launched through DSiWare, and parents will be happy to know that the vast majority of these games are all-ages friendly. Here’s a selection of some of the best DSiWare games available for kids and adults alike.”
Check out the full feature here at What They Play.
“Even though Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes of their 10-year-old Game Boy Color counterparts, they’re the first entries in the series to actually make you want to exercise, thanks to the ingenious Pokewalker accessory that comes bundled with them. Yes, the prospect of getting up off your duff and walking around the neighborhood becomes a lot more enticing when you can level up your favorite Pokemon in the process. That’s the real hook here, and it’s a sharp one.”
Check out my full review of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver here at GameSpot.
“Nintendo has been well known for constantly retooling its handheld gaming systems and strategically releasing upgraded version with enhanced features and fresh designs. The Game Boy and Game Boy Advance lines went through many such redesigns during their lengthy life spans, and the DS is getting similar treatment. Hot on the heels of last year’s DSi, Nintendo is launching the DSi XL on March 28.. Here’s a rundown of what’s new and notable on the handheld and what’s unchanged.”
Check out the full feature here at What They Play.
“The downloadable gaming delights just keep coming, and February has a glut of new affordably priced games that are absolutely worth your time. This month’s top downloadable games list is packed with action. Grab onto your seats, as we go toe-to-toe with hovering space tanks, heavy metal monsters, firepower-packing towers, and musical block puzzles.”
Check out the full column here at What They Play.
“Let’s face it; sometimes you crave a fresh dose of quick gaming fun without having to put forth a lot of physical effort or lay down a ton of money. With the prevalence of high-speed wireless internet and improved hardware capabilities, it’s becoming a lot easier to instantly purchase and download new games without even having to set foot in a store. Wii owners may have hundreds of low-cost classic Virtual Console NES and downloadable WiiWare games available at their fingertips, but now even DSi owners can get in on the downloadable fun.”
Check out the full article here at What They Play.
“The holiday season is a time for cheer and happiness for many, but it’s also a crazy time to be venturing out into the wintry bustle of last-minute shopping madness. Thankfully, there are a lot of affordable, excellent downloadable games to be had without ever leaving the warmth of your roaring hearth fire and the company of your loved ones. Grab a steaming cup of hot cocoa and settle in for this month’s download picks. We’ve got a great mix for you: musical black holes, intrepid subterranean explorers, a bookish worm, and restless alien monsters – a little something for everybody.”
Check out the full article here at What They Play.
“In 2007, Ubisoft made a big splash in the handheld music game world with a nifty little program that turned your DS into a fully functioning, virtual acoustic guitar. Jam Sessions was really more of a music making tool than anything else. It turned out to be a lot of fun for gaming musicians who got a kick out of crafting and performing songs on a handheld system, yet some players were left feeling a little lost due to the lack of any solid goals or gameplay in the title. Developer Plato has made a lot of changes for Jam Sessions 2 in an effort to beef up the musical making capabilities of the program while also offering a stronger gaming component to appease the average player who might not be as inclined to dig deeply into the song-crafting toolbox elements.”
Check out the full review here at Cheat Code Central.
My second NP piece is now out. I have a full page spread in the Dec. issue’s Community section about amazing NYC LEGO artist Sean Kenney and his ginormous Nintendo LEGO DSi he built for the system’s launch earlier this year. I loved LEGOs growing up, and anyone who reads this is probably already well aware of my gaming obsessions, so the mix of the two is a double whammy of awesome. Sean’s work is incredible. Check out his stuff and the article if you have a moment. Thanks!
Nathan Meunier - Freelance Writer / Author / Indie Game Developer 