Nintendownloads - 4/20/09

This week Nintendo offers up another batch of games for the DSi and Wii. The highlight of the week is on DSi with Dr. Mario Express which brings the classic puzzler to the handheld. There's also another magic trick up Nintendo's sleeve with Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche. Does anyone actually buy these Master of Illusion downloadables?

The Wii's offerings are a little disappointing this week. WiiWare gets the Square-Enix tower defense game Crystal Defenders R1. That's nice and good, until you realize that R1 is only a third of the full game that was released on the 360 and iPhone, with later WiiWare episodes R2 and R3 presumably on the way. The Virtual Console isn't faring much better with the release of Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair from the Sega Genesis. I'm not saying it's a bad game, I'm just questioning why anyone would download this week's $9 import Genesis version over the superior $8 TurboGrafx version that was already released on Virtual Console back in December of 2007.

Update: Square-Enix announced today that Crystal Defenders R2 will in fact be coming soon to WiiWare and that will complete the Crystal Defenders series on WiiWare. Perhaps R1 is only half of the content of the other versions as opposed to one third as I had originally implied.

Nintendo DSiWare

• Dr. Mario Express (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Mario once again dons his stethoscope to battle the forces of illness in this downloadable version of the classic puzzle game. Use vitamins to eliminate viruses in Classic mode, or play against a computer opponent in Vs. CPU mode. Make an appointment with Dr. Mario today.
• Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): Master of Illusion Express titles offer mind-bending magic tricks pulled from the popular Nintendo DS game. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche asks a series of pointed questions and reveals a startling truth.

WiiWare

• CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 (SQUARE ENIX, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): In CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1, you must deploy various units such as Soldiers and Black Mages to stop wave after wave of encroaching monsters from escaping the area with your party's crystals. There are many different types of units to choose from, some specializing in powerful short-range attacks, some wielding far-reaching magicks, and still others equipped with bows that enable 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 R1 comes complete with a plethora of exciting stages, each varying in layout and difficulty. Can you defend them all without losing a single crystal?

Virtual Console

• Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): The once-quiet town of Xenobia is under attack from fierce and gruesome monsters. As Leo, it's up to you to save Xenobia from danger as you navigate through a series of worlds in a race against time. Use your sword and jumping abilities to battle foes. Watch for power-ups that will increase your health and add to the amount of time you have to complete your missions. Go it alone or play co-op with a friend who can take the role of Priscilla. Do you have what it takes to save the world?