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VC Friday: Time to Get Equipped

by Chris Greenhough { Sep 26th 2008 at 9:50AM }

We barely need to write anything here this week, do we?

Mega Man 9 -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points
Helix -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points
Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points

Helix is a dance-cum-exercise game from Ghostfire which was deemed above-average by critics, if not exactly essential. Strong Bad Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free falls into the same trap as Super Dodge Ball did in North America, in that it's a great, worthwhile title that was regrettably released the same week as Mega Man 9. And Mega Man 9, well, you know all about that. It's totally awesome and rad. Buy it.

[Update: typo]

Gallery: Mega Man 9

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Nintendo Channel update: Helix, baseball, and an old friend

by JC Fletcher { Aug 25th 2008 at 9:17PM }

A second Mario Super Sluggers video has hit the Nintendo Channel today, proving that Nintendo does mention the game ... occasionally. Good thing, since if they're going to promote the game at all, now would be the time! Other new(ish) videos include the official Helix trailer, designed to entice WiiWare fans into shaking along with a skeletal, metallic homunculus, and ... a Defend Your Castle video? Can't forget about "classic" WiiWare, we suppose. Here's the full list of new, very slowly streaming videos:

Mario Super Sluggers Info Video 2
Helix Info Video
Defend Your Castle Info Video 2
Mario Kart Wii: Who's playing Wii today? 4
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play TV Spot
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Video 2
MySims Kingdom Info Video
High School Musical 3: Senior Year! Video
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Info Video
Imagine: Rock Star TV Spot

Helix dances onto WiiWare

by Justin McElroy { Aug 25th 2008 at 9:30AM }

We don't have any idea if Helix (1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points) will be fun or responsive. We don't know if there's enough for the money, or if it's mind-bogglingly buggy. All we know is that the rhythm-music game (developed by Ghostfire Games) allows you to follow along with an onscreen robot as you dance in time with 26 different songs and (in the process) get a little exercise.

We don't know much about how good Helix will be. But what we do know is that it's different. And for a service that (with few exceptions) has become something of a dumping ground for cast-offs and cash-ins, that's just about the most refreshing thing we can imagine.

Retail and download releases for the week of August 25th

by David Hinkle { Aug 25th 2008 at 8:59AM }

There's plenty of content releasing on the Wii this week. Whether you're a fan of retail games or looking to download some content on the Virtual Console or WiiWare, your gaming needs should be taken care of this week. Head on past the break for the details and let us know what you'll be playing!

Gallery: Mario Super Sluggers

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Rhythm game Helix coming to WiiWare tomorrow

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 24th 2008 at 2:00PM }

Trying to get those chunky pounds to come right off, but you're unable to find a copy of the elusive Wii Fit anywhere within a fifty-mile radius? Perhaps a new WiiWare title, due out tomorrow, can temporarily fill the void -- Ghostfire Games' rhythm-fitness title Helix. The game, which will cost 1000 Wii Points, will have players performing 30 different gestures with two Wiimotes to the beat of 26 songs from independent artists. Ghostfire CEO Ed Roman highlighted the game's health benefits, saying that you can "really burn some calories playing this game." Based on the gameplay video we've posted after the break, you'll probably look totally cool whilst doing so.

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Hudson says Ys coming out next week (again), may be joined by Helix

by JC Fletcher { Aug 22nd 2008 at 4:37PM }

Once again, Hudson Soft has updated their Virtual Console page with a release date for Ys Book I & II. They say it will be out this Monday. Last time they dated Ys, Nintendo chose not to release it or any of the other games that had been announced for that day, choosing totally different games instead. Will it show up for real this time? We hope so. We'll have 800 points ready. Would Nintendo really do that to the same game twice? Well, okay, but will they?

Ghostfire Games also sent out a press release announcing that their rhythm/exercise game Helix will be released on WiiWare this Monday for 1,000 points. We wish both companies the best of luck in having their games released.

Taking a closer look at Helix

by Candace Savino { Jul 29th 2008 at 9:00PM }

While some of you remain skeptical about Helix, we're definitely interested in Ghostfire Games' upcoming WiiWare title. Essentially, everything you need to know about the game is revealed by Ed Roman in this producer walkthrough (embedded up top).

Ghostfire is really stressing the whole "exercise made fun" angle, and with the success of titles like DDR and Wii Fit, who can blame them? What we like most about Helix, though, is that the developers clearly put a lot of thought into every aspect of this dancing game. Take, for example, the calibration option, which helps the software map out your own specific movement quirks more easily. (MotionPlus, schmotionplus.) Also, according to Roman, you can still play the game if you only have one Wiimote, so if you lack two controllers that's not a game-killing issue.

If you're curious about how the developers fit twenty-six songs onto a WiiWare title, or why they decided to use two Wiimotes rather than a Wiimote/Nunchuk combination, or anything else about Helix, for that matter, just check out the video above.

Helix for WiiWare gets an official trailer

by David Hinkle { Jul 23rd 2008 at 5:00PM }

If the previous videos for Helix got you all kinds of excited for the WiiWare title, then the new, official trailer for the game is likely to make your heart explode with anticipation. To us, it's the usual: some experience shots sprinkled throughout gameplay clips and a list of the game's features. According to the trailer, we can expect this one to hit WiiWare sometime next month.

Helix springs onto WiiWare

by Candace Savino { May 27th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Ghostfire Games will be releasing a rhythm title for WiiWare this summer, called Helix. You can get a taste of the game from the video above -- there's something mesmerizing about watching the skeleton-like figure dance against the pulsing backdrops. Even so, that's not the main appeal of Helix.

The game, which will offer twenty-six different songs and three different difficulties, uses two Wiimotes to track your hand and arm motions. In that sense, not only is the game meant to be fun, but it also gives the player a nice workout.

Helix will have over thirty moves that you can perform with the Wiimotes, but we're not sure whether the songs will be choreographed or if you can make your own combinations (probably the former). We also appreciate that the music in this WiiWare title comes from independent musicians.

Check out another video of the game in action after the break!

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