Wii Demo Roundup - 02/28/11

Time to round-em-up, and this week we have a winner and a whaaaat!? I'm talking about Wii Ware demos for "Pong Toss Pro - Frat Party Games" and "Gods vs. Humans". Guess which one's which.

Pong Toss Pro - Frat Party Games
Rated E for Everyone, 1-4 players, Wii Remote only, $6.00

Courtesy Nintendo.com

In 5 words: boring, tough, short, neutered, Whiskey-Tango-Fraternity

Where to begin....Shortest demo ever. This thing lasts about 3 minutes max. The full game features a variety of pong toss games, but the demo only features Speed Pong. All told, I'm not so sure your frat will dig on this. The skill required to play real beer pong toss is not replicated, nor are the intoxicating effects of sinking shot after shot. After playing this, all I could think was why? If this is your thing, go for it, I guess. It is only $6.00, after all.

Gods vs. Humans
Rated E for Everyone, 1 player (demo), 1-2 players (full game), Wii Remote + Nunchuk

Courtesy Zallag.com

In 5 words: clever, tricky, cartoony, novel, long

Where "Pong Toss" was on the short side, the "Gods vs Humans" demo is quite long. It took me about 30 minutes to play through, and a good 15 to get the hang of it. "Gods vs Humans" is like the biblical tower of Babel crossed with Plants vs. Zombies. You play as a God (the Egyptian God Osiris in the demo) and it is your job to keep your humans happy while preventing them from building a tower to reach into the heavens. You have offensive and defensive powers, each with their benefits and drawbacks. In the demo, you only have one power that makes your humans happy. I recommend you use it often because it is from this happiness that you derive your power.

"Gods vs Humans" is a novel game that shows some potential, but I'm not sure that this is the game for me. It seemed as though once I figured out how to really play the demo, it got a little too easy. The full game costs $12.00 like "Fluidity", but I don't think it offers the same value, although I found it much more entertaining than "Racers Islands". That being said, I recommend that you download this and give it a try, and if you like it, consider buying.

Now that this week's roundup is complete, I offer a word of caution. If you decide to purchase either of these games, or any game from Wii Ware or on the Virtual Console, please be aware that you cannot transfer your purchase to another Wii system.

What's your take on this week's demos? Think "Pong Toss" is fun? What about all those humans that get trapped in the tower when you destroy it? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Freebie Flashback Friday - Dune II

I'm happy to announce a new weekly feature I'll be offering here at the Demo Gamer: Freebie Flashback Friday! I grew up playing many games on x86 systems, starting at age five. These games are well past their expiration dates when it comes to graphics and what not, but sometimes, I fire them up because they are still fun! Another nice thing about these vintage games is many of them are available for free on the internet.

This week's game is a one that is near and dear to my heart, a game that defined the genre known as Real-Time Strategy (RTS). I have spent many hours playing "Dune II" and other RTS games. Probably too many. But I always remember playing "Dune II" and how I never could beat the game unless I played as the "evil Harkonnen". The nuclear missile fired by their Palace building is particularly effective, you see.

Courtesy Abandonia.com

"Dune II" is definitely dated and a little difficult to play compared to other RTS classics like "Warcraft" or "Total Annihilation", but it is still fun and still a challenge. The last time I played it, I had to run it in DosBox, but it appears that there is now a WinXP version. I will be downloading it tonight, and you can too, just click here!

Did you ever play "Dune II"? Have any other vintage games you'd like to share? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Heads Up: Wii Ware Games Non-Transferable

UPDATE: READ MORE ABOUT THIS HERE.

Hey there, I know I've been inviting you to buy Wii Ware titles, but I just discovered something last night that has got me bothered: you can only play a Wii Ware title on the Wii to which it was downloaded. In other words,  you cannot copy a Wii Ware title to an SD card and play it on your friend's Wii. Same for Virtual Console. Even worse, it appears as though Nintendo is hesitant to replace these games in case of hardware malfunction or upgrade.

I have reached out to some developers and Nintendo to get some more information, so watch here for a more detailed write up. In the meantime, please remember this important information before you download anything from the Wii Shop Channel.

Anyone had an experience with Nintendo regarding this issue? Sound of in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

NEWS: SpaceChem discounted!

SpaceChem, my favorite PC puzzler as of late, has been marked down 25%! Get it here! You can read my review of the demo here. Don't miss out!

--Demo Gamer

Wii Demo Roundup - 02/21/11

Welcome back, Demo Gamer faithful. This week, we have a new pair of demos up on Wii Ware: "Rage of the Gladiator" and "Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1". Yeah, about that.

Rage of the Gladiator
Rated T for Teen; 1 Player; Wii Remote; or add Nunchuk; or add Nunchuk and MotionPlus

Courtesy ghostfiregames.com

In 5 words: violent, medieval, fantasy, level-up, meh

The "Rage of the Gladiator" demo comes across as a sort of medieval "Punch Out". It is a fighting game set in first person perspective with limited movement. Attacks come by way of a waved Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Dodging and parrying requires the use of buttons. There are a variety of combo attacks available that are pretty impressive, and "Rage of the Gladiator" even incorporates a system that allows you to "upgrade" your character after successful fights. The demo starts out easy and progresses nicely to a difficult third and final contest. There are 21 fights in the full game. The graphics look good and the music does not detract from the experience.

The "Rage of the Gladiator" demo is fairly violent and deserves its T rating. It took me about 15 minutes to play through the demo. The full game costs $10.00 which comes out to just under $0.50 per fight. The demo is fun, and the full game should be also, but I was not sold on it. A solid "meh" from me, not my type of game, I guess. If you like first-person fighting games, this demo is surely worth the download, however.

Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1
Rated E:C (everyone, children), 1 Player, Wii Remote only

Courtesy Nintendo.com

In 5 words: cute interactive learning cell-shaded cartoon.

It's like Nick Jr. but on the Wii, and mildly interactive. I don't have much more to say about this one. If you've got a young kid around the house, download the demo and let them play around with it. If anything, it's a good way to help them get an early handle on the Wii Remote. There are 3 episodes, each one costing $5.00.

Well, this week was a bit of a letdown after last week's Chick Chick BOOM demo. Hopefully we'll get something good next week. Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

DEMO: Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World (Steam/Windows & Mac)

Kaptain Brawe for Steam: Windows and Mac

Courtesy cateia.com

Genre: Adventure

Full Game Price: $20.00

No. of Players: 1

In 5 words: Dated, Humorous, Short, Customizable, Eye-Candy

This week's demo is "Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World". It's been awhile since I played an adventure game like "Kaptain Brawe", but it took little time to get into this demo.

Courtesy cateia.com; click me!

Anyone who is familiar with games like "Monkey Island" and the old Indiana Jones adventures will be very comfortable with "Kaptain Brawe". The game is set in a technologically advanced 19th century and Kaptain Brawe comes across as more of a top-heavy space-cadet than a competent captain. The demo shines in one major way: it is not a groundbreaking game, but it is amazingly well-drawn. The art and animations are gorgeous, have plenty of character/humor, and are very immersive. I could expand upon this, but just click on the picture above and then if you want to see more, visit this media gallery. Aside from the impressive visuals, however, the "Kaptain Brawe" demo has little to offer.

It took me about 10 minutes to finish the demo. It felt short, but not too short. Had I not been playing on my laptop touchpad, it would have been shorter. The dialogue is funny and clever at times and the demo and full game offer two different modes of play: core and casual. In core, you have no hints and you are left entirely to your own wits and devices. In casual, the game helps you along. I chose casual and I found myself consulting the hints a bit at first, but the puzzles are not terribly difficult. Before long, I had clicked all the way through to the end of the demo.

I currently have no plans to purchase "Kaptain Brawe", but I cannot deny that the demo may be worth your time, especially if you are fond of games in this genre. The game is very easy on the computer and should play well on many older systems.

Demo Gamer Stats:
Age range: 10 and up
Demo length: 5-15 minutes
Demo worth playing? If you like graphical adventure games
Full game worth buying? For me, probably not, but at this price point, the game could be worth it, especially if Kaptain Brawe is half the character Guybrush Threepwood is.

Have you played "Kaptain Brawe" yet? Let us know what you think about it by sounding off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Wii Demo Roundup - 02/15/11

This week's new releases, the "Chronos Twins DX" and "Chick Chick Boom" demos prove that you don't have to stray far from simplicity while keeping things fun, and that trying (too) new ideas can be risky.

Chronos Twins DX
Rated E10+; 1 player; Wii Remote/Nunchunk, Classic Controller, or Gamecube Controller required

Courtesy Nintendo

In 5 words: confusing, demanding, frustrating, novel, underwhelming

"Chronos Twins DX" is an interesting game, but it is also annoying. Maybe I'm too old, but I could not get into this demo. It consists of a split-screen setup where you play in the present and the past at the same time. You face different obstacles and enemies in the different timelines and you must be constantly switching your focus from the top view to the bottom view in order to progress. The controls are not easy to master, but would get better with practice. The graphics and platformer/shooter style of play feel like a throwback to the Gamecube.

The demo plays for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and features 4 levels, but it left me without a clear idea of what the game's potential actually is. There is mention of "the power of split", but this is not featured in the demo. The gameplay concept of "Chronos Twins DX" is certainly novel, but the demo left me asking if it is little more than a gimmick. The only way I could ever see it working is in a 2-player cooperative mode, but "Chronos Twins DX" is single player. With the full game clocking in at $10.00, I have a hard time recommending this game, but if you like side scrolling platformers, give the demo a try. I guarantee you have not played anything quite like it.

Chick Chick BOOM
Rated E10+ (why, I don't know), 1-2 players (demo), 1-4 players (full game), Wii Remote required

Courtesy tons of bits

In 5 words: fun, simple, funny, clever, bargain

The "Chick Chick BOOM" demo shows how you can take a bunch of simple concepts and stitch them together to form a raucously fun and diverse gaming experience. Everything here works: the art, the music, the characters, the attacks, the defense, the humor...this is a fun game! It's like "Angry Birds" meets "Bomberman" meets "Worms: Armageddon". With attacks ranging from carnivorous plants to UFOs, a bonus piñata that gets bigger as the damage increases, and CornCobMan, this demo is a must play.

The "Chick Chick BOOM" demo lasts between 20-30 minutes and is worth every second. The full game is priced at a paltry $8.00 and looks to add plenty to the fun and excitement that the demo provides. The addition of up to 3 more players can only make things more entertaining. "Chick Chick BOOM" is now at the top of my Wii "to-buy" list.

There's no telling how long these demos will be on the Nintendo Shop channel, so do yourself a favor and at least go get "Chick Chick BOOM" sometime this week. You won't regret it! Feel free to share your experiences with these demos by sounding off in the comments.

--Demo Gamer

Wii Demo Roundup - Postponed!

I guess today is some special day or something, so the Wii Demo Roundup is being supplanted by romantic movie night. Blame Cupid!

I'll be rounding up the demos tomorrow, so check back then. In the meantime, enjoy your day!

--Demo Gamer

DEMO: Guardians of Graxia (Windows/Steam)

Guardians of Graxia for Windows/Steam

Genre: Turn-based Card Strategy

Full Game Price: $10.00

No. of Players: 1

In 5 words: Complex, Fun, Fantasy, Magic, Deep

Steam is an awesome service. If you've used it, you know this. If you haven't, and you play on Windows or Mac, you should get to know it. They have an entire section of their store dedicated to demos, with hundreds available. "Guardians of Graxia" is one of the latest demos released on Steam, and it is fun!

I am a strategy game nut. I absolutely love them: turn-based, real-time, whatever. It was for this reason that I decided to download the "Guardians of Graxia" demo, which is short and to the point (I played through it in about 10 minutes). It introduces you to a small map consisting of offset square tiles and walks you through a quick battle. The gameplay is "Magical", or in other words, if you've ever played Magic: the Gathering, you'll be right at home here. Most everything is card-based and it feels like playing a tabletop game (there's even a tabletop version of the game available)...a tabletop game with a fun, epic soundtrack, nifty animations, and the added benefit of the computer doing all the math for you.

I gave up Magic: the Gathering when I was a teenager, but I had some fun playing it. "Guardians of Graxia" looks to recapture and expand upon that fun. I can only imagine how elaborately entertaining this game can be, seeing as how the demo is so short. The full game is only $10.00, although there is a variety of expansion material that costs extra. You can find the full breakdown here.

Did the demo sell me? At first, yes, I was interested, but I could have used a little more meat, perhaps another battle or two. Still, the demo should give you an idea if this is the game for you or not. For me, "Guardians of Graxia" currently sits at the top of my Steam "strategy-to-buy" list, but the priority of said purchase is not high.

Demo Gamer Stats:

Age range: 10 and up

Demo length: 10-15 minutes

Demo worth playing? If you like fantasy, strategy, and card games

Full game worth buying? I can't really say, but at this price point, there is certainly promise.

Have you played "Guardians of Graxia" yet? Look like something you could get into? Sound of in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

(System Requirements: Windows XP, Vista, 7; 2 GHz Pentium 4; 512MB RAM (1GB for Vista/7); 256MB Graphics Memory w/ Shader 2.0, DirectX 9.0c; 600MB hard drive space)

Wii Demo Roundup - 02/07/11

This week, Nintendo released a new pair of demos. Both are 3/4 top-down games, although they have very different styles. "Urbanix" and "Lit" round out this week's Wii demo roundup.

Urbanix
Rated E for everyone, 1-2 players, Wii Remote required

Courtesy Nordcurrent

In 5 words: cute, difficult, fun, simple, affordable

"Urbanix" is a fun, if simple take on a basic puzzler. You drive Urbanix, a small tractor, as you lay out plots for your tow'n. You have to occupy a certain amount of space within an allotted time in order to move to the next level, but there are a variety of enemies that are set on thwarting your goal, including the Helishark, a shark-helicopter hybrid that dives out of the sky to eat Urbanix. You can pick up powerups and bonuses to help you along. "Urbanix" also features a 2-player mode.

The full "Urbanix" game costs a paltry $5.00 and appears to provide a solid value at that price, although I was not super impressed with the game. I do recommend that you give the demo a try to see if the game suits you, especially if you have younger gamers around.

Lit
Rated E-10+ for scary situations, 1 player, Wii Remote and Nunchuk required

Courtesy WayForward

In 5 words: creepy, crawly, scary, difficult, dark

"Lit" is one of the more innovative game demos I have played and it shows a lot of promise. You play the part of teenager Jake who is trapped in his school. No big deal, right? Well, the problem lies in the shadows that have taken over the classrooms. You must use sources of light to cross each room. You can use lamps, TVs, or even break windows with your slingshot. You also have a rechargeable flashlight to help you get an idea of how to get across each room. If you walk into the dark, Jake will get sucked into the shadows by malevolent spirits and you'll have to start over. Lit also features hidden bonuses and innovative features like taking phone calls from the speaker on the Wii Remote. I found the graphics to be a little lacking, but the low fidelity seemed to increase the spooky atmosphere of the game as well.

"Lit" is hard to play: I found Jake to be difficult to control and the puzzles are unforgiving. These gripes aside, "Lit" has a lot to offer. Weighing in at only $8.00, the full game looks like a real bargain that should offer plenty of challenging puzzle gameplay. I recommend spending a few minutes with the demo to see if "Lit" piques your interest.

Remember, these demos might not be here next week, so if they sound like something you want, you better go get 'em! Have you played either of these demos (or the full games)? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

DEMO: NightSky (Windows)

NightSky for Windows

Genre: Puzzle Platformer

Full Game Price: $10.00

No. of Players: 1

In 5 Words: Art, Tranquil, Robust, Challenging, Spartan

A friend of mine recommended that I try this demo out, so I did. Having finished the demo, I have a hard time considering NightSky to be a simple game. The amount of style and art put into this "game" is impressive.

NightSky is a puzzle platformer where you move a ball around a series of levels. Your ball has certain abilities at certain times, like the ability to go fast or stop. Sometimes you can control these abilities, and sometimes you can't. At times, your ball will interact directly with obstacles and even "vehicles" ranging from simple open-top wagons to tri-wheel enclosures. The physics of the game provide a robust set of rules and mechanics that you'll get used to very quickly. The gameplay is straightforward and challenging, but where NightSky really shines is in its ambiance.

NightSky's graphics and soundtrack can be described as beautifully spartan, even haunting. The terrain and ball are silhouetted against various pastel twilight skies while the music, a very experimental ambient sound that suits a lonely setting sun, sets a tranquil pace and tone that helps to keep frustration levels at a minimum. While vaguely melancholy, the setting is not static. Trees and grass sway under the influence of a gentle breeze, a variety of creatures bob to and fro, and rockets launch quietly into the darkness from distant platforms. NightSky is truly a work of art.

NightSky Original Trailer from Nicalis Inc on Vimeo.

The NightSky demo occupied about 15 minutes of my time, and it was time well spent. And yet, I'm not sold on the full game. It didn't hook me. I almost feel like I spent 15 minutes admiring an amazing interactive painting at an art museum. There was a certain novelty to the admittedly worthwhile experience. With a $10.00 price tag, NightSky is certainly not expensive, but the question remains: is it worth it? For me, NightSky will be a fall-back: if I finish the other games I'm playing and I'm left looking for more, I might buy it.

If you like puzzlers and platformers, please give NightSky a few minutes of your time. You won't be disappointed.

Demo Gamer Stats:

Age range: 8 and up

Demo length: 15-30 minutes

Demo worth playing? Definitely

Full game worth buying? I'm not completely sold, but I may end up buying it.

Have you played NightSky? Did it whisk you off to a world of wistful wonder? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

(System requirements: minimal, played on 1.6 GHz Mobile Core2Duo, 4 GB RAM, NVidia 8400M with no issues)