DS Download Service: June 23

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.

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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.

wow these demos easily tell you if you should buy a game