Dr. Mario on DSiWare, Final Fantasy tower defense on WiiWare this week

OMGNintendo rounds up this weeks WiiWare and DSiWare releases, featuring a hot franchise heading to each downloadable service.

Dr. Mario on DSiWare, Final Fantasy tower defense on WiiWare this week

Yeah, we'll buy anything in that font.

A while ago, Square Enix went after the cell phone gaming market with both barrels blazing. One of the results of this policy has been Crystal Defenders, which they're apparently now releasing on anything other than an actual console, up to and including some models of electric skillet. The Wii version is different than the one found on other platforms, in that it's episodic with unique content; other platforms are simply receiving upgraded ports of the iPhone version.

The gameplay should be immediately familiar to RTS fans. Crystal Defenders is a tower defense game, where you must set up units in a hopefully-unbreachable perimeter, to keep enemies from reaching a certain point or destroying a given unit. It's a simple kind of game, but it's also remarkably addictive, as Warcraft III proved years ago.

In a potentially vain effort to avoid being upstaged by WiiWare, the DSi content for the week includes our old friend Dr. Mario, still throwing pills after all these years, and yet a third Master of Illusions game. The latter's not getting any more exciting, but at least Dr. Mario still holds up; it's a relic of the Tetris-esque puzzle craze of the late eighties, but it's a good relic. I'm honestly surprised it's not a bigger franchise than it is.

Finally, Hudson returns to the Wii this week, again, continuously, with Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair. The quirk of Monster Lair is that each level is split in half; the first half is a platformer, where you must ravenously devour fruit at all times to keep your lifebar full, and the second half abruptly turns into a shoot-'em-up. Unfortunately, we're getting the Genesis version, which has the least attractive graphics of any available version of the game.

The press release is reprinted below:

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD: IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR: MARIO, MAGIC AND MONSTERS - OH MY!

The first Nintendo DSiWare(tm) game starring superstar Mario(tm) enters the fold this week with the launch of Dr. Mario(tm) Express. The Master of Illusion(tm) Express series adds another installment that promotes portable prestidigitation. WiiWare(tm) users will find precious crystals to defend in CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1, while Virtual Console(tm) players face a classic race against the clock in Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair(tm). Read on to learn all about the latest downloadable games from Nintendo, then log on to choose your favorites.

Nintendo DSiWare

Dr. Mario Express (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Nintendo DSi Points(tm)): 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(tm) 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(tm)): 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?

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card(tm) can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii(tm) and Nintendo DSi(tm) feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

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DJKennethA

Crystal Defenders is also on the click wheel ipod. I think it costs about 4.99. Saw it this morning while I was browsing the itunes apps for click wheels. I'm to cheap to pay for a touch

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