The solo player reigns supreme in this week's Nintendo Download, with four games perfect for loners of all shapes, sizes, and dispositions.
Telltale's Tales of Monkey Island continues this week in WiiWare, with Guybrush Threepwood searching for a cure to the mysterious Pox of LeChuck, which he caught in the last episode due to his trademark improvisational skills. 1,000 Wii points gets you back into the adventure. Those of you who prefer sitting in front of the television shaking your WiiMote might prefer Tecmo's 3-2-1 Rattle Battle!, a series of rattle-based mini-games for 500 Wii points. It's single-player, but you can upload your scores to see how you compare against others on a global scale. Sounds...exciting?
Not nearly as exciting as this week's Virtual Console title, Sega's Phantasy Star for the Sega Master System. The journey into the stars begins here, with 500 Wii points and a tolerance for severely dated graphics the only items you need to experience the first chapter of the Phantasy Star saga.
The DSiWare service gets another title this week as well, with Nintendo's Puzzle League Express delivering four single-player modes of puzzle goodness for 500 DSi points.
Definitely seems to be some interesting games from aged franchises this week. Of course the stage is stolen by a combination of 3-2-1 Rattle Battle! and sarcasm. Check out the full descriptions below for more info.
WiiWare™
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Alcohol Reference, Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Guybrush's adventures continue on the high seas as pox-plagued pirates lay siege to the innocent Mer-People. Between defending the Mer-People and dodging the persistent pirate hunter hot on his trail, Guybrush manages to catch up to his beloved wife and despised arch-nemesis, but the reunion is short-lived. Now Guybrush must focus on eradicating the Pox of LeChuck before more harm can be done. And as the Mighty Pirate draws closer to a cure, the waters will only grow murkier in this thrilling chapter of the epic saga.
3-2-1, Rattle Battle!
Publisher: Tecmo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: 3-2-1, Rattle Battle! is a party game packed with exciting mini-games. Intuitive controls mean that anyone can enjoy playing – just grab the Wii Remote™ and shake it to "rattle." Great fun for single players, but the party really gets started when you register high scores on Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection to see how you measure up against players from around the globe.
Virtual Console™
Phantasy Star™
Original platform: SEGA Master System
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone 10 and Older) – Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Originally released on the SEGA Master System, Phantasy Star is a pioneer in the role-playing game genre. Alis is the fearless female protagonist out to avenge her brother's death at the hands of cruel dictator King Lassic. Players must guide Alis and her troops through the sprawling environments of the Agol solar system in an attempt to defeat King Lassic and liberate the people of Agol. Engage in dynamic turn-based combat with dragons, ghouls, giants and magicians by using unique weapons such as glowing daggers, crossbows and magic spells.
Nintendo DSiWare™
Puzzle League™ Express
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: The ever-popular Puzzle League comes to Nintendo DSiWare. As it is with all good puzzlers, the concept is simple: Connect blocks of the same color to clear them from the screen and prevent your stack from becoming too high. There are four single-player modes to choose from: Endless (survive to earn a top score), Clear (eliminate all blocks above the line), Score Attack (score as high as possible in two minutes) and Vs. COM (use items and combos to attack a computer opponent). You can choose from a variety of background music to help get you in the zone, and even play in horizontal or vertical mode by holding the Nintendo DSi system normally or like a book. Whichever way you play, you're guaranteed maximum fun.