Since the launch of the Nintendo Channel for the Wii earlier this year, Nintendo has been providing a DS Download Service with demos of released and upcoming DS games. Wii owners can boot up the DS Download Service through the Nintendo Channel and download various playable demos directly to their Nintendo DS, using the Download Play option; just like at the in-store download stations. The third-party games get updated every week and we've got info on this week's batch to let you know a little more about what you're getting.
The week of June 23
Crosswords DS - Anagrams
Anagrams is the third Crosswords demo to hit the Download Service. The demo features three levels of the Anagram minigame. Players take six letters and try to form them into words of three or more letters using the touch screen. As players find words, the other screen displays them, along with the progress and time. There are a few different letter assortments, so players should be able to play the demo a good three or four times.
Wall-E
The Wall-E demo is a tutorial level that teaches the player the basics for the game. Since the game itself is a pretty simple puzzler, what you see is pretty much what you get, minus the EVE flying levels. The demo teaches about some of the various cubes Wall-E can use, and has the player use the cubes to activate switches and destroy a few enemies.
The Incredible Hulk
See Hulk. See Hulk Smash. Smash, Hulk, Smash. The Amaze-developed game is already out, but curious Hulkamaniacs can download this single level demo. The dash and smash game has the Hulk running through the arctic, punching people and ice walls. Players can also use some of the special moves like the Rage Vault off conveniently placed satellites.
Kung Fu Panda
The Kung Fu Panda demo was the same one we got to play back in February. It's a tutorial level that teaches the player about the stylus controlled battle system. Players learn to make combo attacks, grab and throw projectiles, and summon other characters for special moves. It's a pretty accurate depiction of what the rest of the game is like so should be useful for curious gamers.
Contra 4
Chances are fans of Contra already picked the game up, and don't need a demo to tell them what it's about.; which is probably why the demo version seems to be the easy mode of the game. Contra newcomers can get a taste of the run and gun game without the ball-busting difficulty that comes with it. The demo features the first level of the game, and shows off a healthy selection of enemy types and weapon upgrades.
Cake Mania 2
Cake Mania 2 is the leftover demo from last week, which seems to be a trend with the Download Service. Cake Mania 2 has a tutorial and a single level to play. The tutorial leads right into the level so players can learn the simple touch screen controls, then quickly put them to work serving doctors and rock stars. It's a very early setup with only a few combinations of cakes and frosting. The level has two different goals, Baker and Superstar, for players to attain.
Nintendo also keeps a selection of first party titles up for download. They're not cycled out as often and most of them have been there since the Nintendo Channel launched.
Brain Age 2
The Brain Age 2 demo features three quick play modes. There's the Brain Age Test that will give the player an approximate brain age based on a verbal match of rock, paper, scissors. There's also a quick play training mode that shows off the rotating letters minigame, complete with touch screen letter recognition. Finally the Quick play sudoku lets players enjoy a quick sudoku puzzle in one of the better presentations for the system.
Brain Age
The older sibling of the Brain Age 2 demo. It's the same kind of deal. There's a Brain Age Test minigame that has players shout colors into the DS microphone. The training game is a simple math problem test that uses the touch screen to write. Sudoku is in this one two, which means you've got two free sudoku puzzles you can play if you get both demos.
Flash Focus
Flash Focus is a game designed to improve focus and hand-eye coordination. It features a simplified Eye Age test where players remember the direction letters are facing as they flash by on the screen. The training game is more hands on. It's a baseball minigame where players have to tap the ball to hit it. The pitches get harder each time the player connects with the ball and the game ranks you at the end.
Crosswords DS
For the non-Sudoku inclined, Crosswords DS features the classic crossword puzzles that have been gracing newspapers long before number puzzles. The demo features the classic Crosswords mode, one of three gameplay modes in the final version. Players can select the difficulty of the puzzle, as well as the option to turn on an assist mode that lets the player know if the answer is right or wrong. The whole demo uses the touch screen so players can see how well the letter recognition system works.
link
The week of June 23
Crosswords DS - Anagrams
Anagrams is the third Crosswords demo to hit the Download Service. The demo features three levels of the Anagram minigame. Players take six letters and try to form them into words of three or more letters using the touch screen. As players find words, the other screen displays them, along with the progress and time. There are a few different letter assortments, so players should be able to play the demo a good three or four times.
Wall-E
The Wall-E demo is a tutorial level that teaches the player the basics for the game. Since the game itself is a pretty simple puzzler, what you see is pretty much what you get, minus the EVE flying levels. The demo teaches about some of the various cubes Wall-E can use, and has the player use the cubes to activate switches and destroy a few enemies.
The Incredible Hulk
See Hulk. See Hulk Smash. Smash, Hulk, Smash. The Amaze-developed game is already out, but curious Hulkamaniacs can download this single level demo. The dash and smash game has the Hulk running through the arctic, punching people and ice walls. Players can also use some of the special moves like the Rage Vault off conveniently placed satellites.
Kung Fu Panda
The Kung Fu Panda demo was the same one we got to play back in February. It's a tutorial level that teaches the player about the stylus controlled battle system. Players learn to make combo attacks, grab and throw projectiles, and summon other characters for special moves. It's a pretty accurate depiction of what the rest of the game is like so should be useful for curious gamers.
Contra 4
Chances are fans of Contra already picked the game up, and don't need a demo to tell them what it's about.; which is probably why the demo version seems to be the easy mode of the game. Contra newcomers can get a taste of the run and gun game without the ball-busting difficulty that comes with it. The demo features the first level of the game, and shows off a healthy selection of enemy types and weapon upgrades.
Cake Mania 2
Cake Mania 2 is the leftover demo from last week, which seems to be a trend with the Download Service. Cake Mania 2 has a tutorial and a single level to play. The tutorial leads right into the level so players can learn the simple touch screen controls, then quickly put them to work serving doctors and rock stars. It's a very early setup with only a few combinations of cakes and frosting. The level has two different goals, Baker and Superstar, for players to attain.
Nintendo also keeps a selection of first party titles up for download. They're not cycled out as often and most of them have been there since the Nintendo Channel launched.
Brain Age 2
The Brain Age 2 demo features three quick play modes. There's the Brain Age Test that will give the player an approximate brain age based on a verbal match of rock, paper, scissors. There's also a quick play training mode that shows off the rotating letters minigame, complete with touch screen letter recognition. Finally the Quick play sudoku lets players enjoy a quick sudoku puzzle in one of the better presentations for the system.
Brain Age
The older sibling of the Brain Age 2 demo. It's the same kind of deal. There's a Brain Age Test minigame that has players shout colors into the DS microphone. The training game is a simple math problem test that uses the touch screen to write. Sudoku is in this one two, which means you've got two free sudoku puzzles you can play if you get both demos.
Flash Focus
Flash Focus is a game designed to improve focus and hand-eye coordination. It features a simplified Eye Age test where players remember the direction letters are facing as they flash by on the screen. The training game is more hands on. It's a baseball minigame where players have to tap the ball to hit it. The pitches get harder each time the player connects with the ball and the game ranks you at the end.
Crosswords DS
For the non-Sudoku inclined, Crosswords DS features the classic crossword puzzles that have been gracing newspapers long before number puzzles. The demo features the classic Crosswords mode, one of three gameplay modes in the final version. Players can select the difficulty of the puzzle, as well as the option to turn on an assist mode that lets the player know if the answer is right or wrong. The whole demo uses the touch screen so players can see how well the letter recognition system works.
link