Indulge your artistic side this week on the Wii U eShop with Art Academy: Home Studio, which offers 30 new art lessons to paint and draw with the Wii U GamePad. Players will be able to share their masterworks through the Miiverse, and even upload time-lapse videos to YouTube. Elsewhere in this week’s Nintendo Download (but still sticking with the Wii U) is Never Alone, an “atmospheric puzzle platformer” developed in collaboration with an Alaska Native people.
Also available the Wii U eShop this week are a pair of DS re-releases. Star Fox Command adds a touch of strategic plotting to the space shooting, while Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time adds time travel to the plumbing duo’s portable RPG series.
More information on all these games (and a bevy of new DSiWare titles) can be found after the break.
Wii U eShop
Art Academy: Home Studio – Now it’s easier than ever to make your home an art studio as you learn to paint and draw, or sharpen your current skills. Follow along with 30 new art lessons, and create your own masterpieces using the Wii U GamePad controller. Share works of art via Miiverse, and even upload time-lapse videos of your creations to YouTube.
Never Alone – Never Alone is an atmospheric puzzle platformer developed in collaboration with the Iñupiat, an Alaska Native people, drawn from a traditional story that has been shared across generations. Available exclusively in the Wii U version of the Never Alone game, collect more than 20 in-game Cultural Artifacts that feature beautiful high-resolution images and compelling background information drawn from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution.
Shiftlings – Control two adorably dimwitted space janitors in this quirky puzzle platformer. You must shift size and weight between the two cosmic custodians, who are conjoined by an air hose, to avoid dangerous traps and fix problems before disaster strikes. Play on your own or with a friend locally through the zaniest locations in the known (and unknown) universe.
Star Fox Command – An evil has emerged from the planet Venom, and now Fox McCloud and his elite team of pilots must reunite to defend the Lylat system from a massive invasion. Plot strategic flight paths on the touch screen as you soar through a story that features nine different endings and popular characters like Falco Lombardi and Krystal.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time – In this quest of lunatic proportions, Mario and Luigi team up with none other than … their younger selves! Originally appearing on the Nintendo DS system, control both sets of brothers at once in this intriguing (and hilarious) action RPG that leads you beyond the Mushroom Kingdom. Explore Mario’s world across space and time as you take down the evil alien invaders, the Shroobs!
DSiWare Shop
G.G. Series: Vertex – Approaching polygons with missing vertices need to be completed before they cross the border line! Shoot the lacking number of vertices to complete each shape and clear it from the screen. The X, Y, and A buttons each fire a different number of vertices and ammo is limited, but each perfectly completed polygon will give you back one shot. On the other hand, be careful not to explode a polygon with too many vertices: The rest will jolt down a short distance getting that much closer to crossing the border line!
G.G. Series: Air Pinball Hockey – Enjoy the best of both worlds in this hybrid action table top style game. Use the “Smasher” to strike the puck away from your goal space and into the score bumpers and other targets above. Fulfill the conditions of each stage to advance to the next. If the puck makes it past your Smasher, one life is lost. If all life is lost, or the time runs out, the game is over. Every few stages an opponent Smasher appears for a round. Keep your reaction timing ready, aim for your challenger’s goal and shoot for the high score!
G.G. Series: Drilling Attack – Run, jump and drill your way through a maze full of enemies and danger deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Many robotic enemies stand in the way of you and the goal to rid the subterranean world of these machines. Transform and dash through breakable rock and make use of your ultimate power, the Drilling Attack!! Keep an eye out for recovery items and the key card which unlocks the exit which you must get to in each stage. Stay vigilant as a large boss will be waiting for you at the end of every few stages.
G.G. Series: Energy Chain – String together dynamos by creating a path for electric current with the same colored paneling to clear the board of these panels in this electricity themed puzzle game! The level of difficulty increases if a certain number are cleared before the time gauge runs out. Use good judgement when placing panels as the variety and format that appear becomes more complex when the levels get higher and the action more electrifying. Build as many Energy Chains as you can on your goal to aim for the high score!
G.G. Series: Great Whip Adventure – Don the hat and take up your whip as you embark on an adventure through the ruins of an ancient civilization. Many different kinds of dangerous creatures and other traps lie in wait, ready to ambush you, but wield your trusty whip to subdue your attackers and to jump and lash onto objects. Climb and navigate past spikes and fireballs to the Goal Gate at the end of each stage before the time runs out! Do you have what it takes to be a great Whip Wielder and explore the depths of the Great Whip Adventure?
G.G. Series: Nyokki – Control the nano creature Nyokki, which is wandering through each stage to consume little bits of food. Nyokki can’t stop moving forward so use the L and R buttons to steer Nyokki away from barriers and other obstacles or the A button to speed up Nyokki. Avoid green globs of nano slime and nano projectiles and lasers! Consume all food before the time runs out or the Nyokki eliminator will appear, able to pass through any barriers to get to Nyokki.
G.G. Series: Run & Strike – An action game using the racket and ball: Use your skills with the racket to strike so the ball hits targets that appear on the brick wall before you! If the ball hits the wall and there is no target, that part of the wall begins to crack, and breaks after three hits. When a ball flies outside of the screen, one ball is lost. When all balls are lost, the game is over. Keep an eye out for items that will help you but also avoid those that will give you penalties. Keep your reflexes sharp as you run and strike!
G.G. Series: The Last Knight – You are the last of the knightly order who still followed the ways of chivalry on a mission to brave the depths of the dungeon. To reach your quest’s end you must brave the many perilous creatures of the deep. However, the knight’s prowess with the sword is renowned and will be relied on as you fight your way to your goal. Ancient powers will be found along the way which will aid your attack skill or protection as well as recover you from your wounds, but beware of the giant creatures who rule over this vast underworld as you fight your way to the final battle as the Last Knight!
G.G. Series: Throw Out – Choose your robotic team in a 4-on-4 handball match. Each team has their different strengths. Select between Tournament and Team Battle mode. Use tackles or powerful throws to knock down opponents as you push your way down the field. Jump and shoot for the goal with “Killer” throws, or if you can time it just right, the “Super Killer” throw which plows through any opponents and any unprepared goal keeper in its range. Aim to get the higher score before the time runs out to continue to the next stage. It’s robot stadium style handball action at its best!
