Nintendo has decided to take the money-printing abilities of the DS Lite and put them to good use. They have paired up with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer charity and released a limited edition DS Lite. While there is no word on exactly how limited the edition is, I think it’s quite beautiful: a Polar White DS Lite sporting the universal pink logo for breast cancer awareness.

The special little handheld went on sale late last week on Amazon.com, retailing for the usual price of $129.99 USD.  The extra special part comes with the knowledge that Nintendo will be donating a whopping $5.00 USD  per unit sold to fund breast cancer research, with a minimum donation of $100,000 USD.

That is fantastic news Nintendo!  Way to go!!

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

So now it’s official.  The North American DS gamers crowd will finally be joining the ranks of those in Japan, South Korea and Europe in receiving their nice and shiny new Metallic Silver DS’s. This will be the seventh color that becomes available to us in North America, joining the veritable rainbow of colors as Onyx, Pink, Cobalt and Crimson.  See the following quote from Nintendo’s press release:

The new Metallic Silver version makes a nice addition to any tech collection, whether you’re a gadget hipster or fashionista.

It will be available for purchase starting on Sunday, September 7th for $129.99 USD.  Personally, I don’t think this particular color will be making an appearance in my household, mostly due to the fact that we already have two DS’s: white for my husband and pink for myself.  Not taking into account that the Metallic Silver color makes it look quite a bit like the DS Phat that we retired some time ago. What are your thoughts on this new color?

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

Activision has officially announced that their latest title in the Tony Hawk series of games will be called Tony Hawk’s Motion and it is coming out for the DS.  There are a couple of surprises in the announcement of the game: it is not only a skateboarding game, and there will be a motion-sensing peripheral included.

For me, and pretty much everyone else in the known universe, Tony Hawk is synonymous with skateboarding. This is why it’s a little confusing to me as to why several snowboarding events have been thrown into this game.  You’re going to see Pro Snowboarder Todd Richards work his stuff in the 20 or so snowboarding challenges that are included. 

Now we get on to the good stuff.  The game will ship with an accelerometer-based ”Motion Pack” that will slide into the GBA slot of the DS, so you’ll be able to twist, tilt and turn your way through those grinds like a pro! Activision has teamed up with Kionix, Inc. to create the accessory (Kionix is a developer of all sorts of motion sensing technology).

Apparently, the game will ship with a second title, an action puzzle game called Hue Pixel Painter, that will also take advantage of the Motion Pack. The game will have you tilting your DS all over the place to re-colorize a dull and drab world. 

Tony Hawk’s Motion is scheduled to be released sometime in November.

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

Jagged Alliance is a tactical RPG series that first saw the light of day in the mid-to-late 1990′s on the PC. This game was originally announced quite some time ago, but disappeared off the radar when the publisher, Strategy First, cancelled all of the DS titles that they had in the works.  

The good news is that publisher Empire Interactive has picked up the ball and is running with it, being backed up by Cypron Studios handling the developmental end of things. The game has you controlling various squads of mercenaries, with each unit in possession of their own unique personalities and skills to take on the various challenges presented in-game. Jagged Alliance for the DS is slated for release sometime in 2009.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

London, UK – 26 August 2008 Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings (NASDAQ: SSTR), has today confirmed that Jagged Alliance for the Nintendo DSTM is currently under development with Strategy First Strategy First Inc. and Cypron Studios and is due for release in 2009.

Jagged Alliance is an explosive fusion of a role playing game mixed with turn-based tactical combat, allowing gamers to become fully immersed in their characters. A new generation of gamers will be invited to liberate the Island of Metavira in the nonlinear game play that made the 1994 original so popular amongst gamers.

“Jagged Alliance provides an exciting blend of RPG and turn based action, which has already won fans and accolades worldwide. The time is right to bring its frenetic battles to Nintendo DS and allow a brand new audience the experience the exhilarating game play.” commented, James Spice, VP of Marketing for Empire Interactive.

“Jagged Alliance DS is one of the many forthcoming highlights in our new release pipeline and this announcement augments Empire’s commitment to bringing quality titles to a global market,” said Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar Holdings. “The title will prove to be a truly entertaining experience for DS gamers.

Overlord, as a series, was most recently released for PC and Xbox 360 back in 2007 and PS3 in 2008 by publisher Codemasters. It has a lot of Pikmin-like elements in it’s controls, but that is where the comparison has to end. The game itself is quite a bit darker in subject matter, where you play the Overlord and control your minions to complete puzzles and generally scare everybody into submission to keep control of your kingdom. Kinda sounds like fun! 

The programmers over at Codemasters must be very busy indeed, not only are they hard at work putting together the sequel (Overlord II) for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3; they are simultaneously creating original titles for both the DS and Wii. 

The DS-exclusive version, titled Overlord Minions, is coming from Climax Studios and has you controlling your four servants (Giblet, Zap, Blaze and Stench) using the stylus to solve puzzles and attack enemies in more of a puzzle-action game. The game promises to bring the same type of humor and hilarity that the original title had.  

All of the new Overlord titles are in the early developmental stages are slated for release sometime in 2009.

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? used to be an absolute favorite game of mine as I was growing up. I couldn’t count the number of hours I spent playing both the original and Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego? on my parent’s old 486 computer in the basement.

The news that Carmen Sandiego will hopefully soon be gracing my DS screen is definitely exciting! There is virtually no information known about the game, other than it’s existence that was accidentally leaked by the ERSB when Mindscape applied for a rating for the portable title.

I’ll keep my eyes open for further news on his title and will keep you all posted.

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

Electronic Arts has announced a new puzzle/adventure game that is being developed for the DS, slated for release early in 2009. Titled Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure, it looks to bring some unique aspects as it combines platforming adventure elements along with puzzle solving. Both screens of the DS will be utilized: one for action-platform and the other for puzzles, with the choice of when to switch between them left entirely up to the player.

We are excited to bring an indie-inspired new intellectual property to the EA Casual Entertainment Label with Henry Hatsworth that fuses together two styles of gameplay utilizing the two Nintendo DS screens like never before,” said Robert Nashak, VP of EA Casual Studios. “The innovative elements of the game have the potential to appeal to both Nintendo enthusiasts and more casual Nintendo DS players.

You play the part of British adventurer, Henry Hatsworth, as he explores upwards of 30 levels among 5 exotic worlds in his search for certain artifacts that grant special powers while defeating all sorts of enemies and “outrageous world-ending bosses”. The puzzle part of the game will be used to gain both health and power-ups as well as to transform your character into different forms as you work your way through.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

EA INTRODUCES HENRY HATSWORTH IN THE PUZZLING ADVENTURE FOR NINTENDO DS*

The Ultimate Fun, Quirky Game That Intertwines Platform and Puzzle Genres

LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 12, 2008 – Love puzzle games, but also love an adventure? Now you can have both in one game. The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announces Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure an exclusive Nintendo DS™ adventure-puzzle game that adds a new element of fun by combining the action of an adventure game with the challenge of a puzzle game all in one.

“We are excited to bring an indie-inspired new intellectual property to the EA Casual Entertainment Label with Henry Hatsworth that fuses together two styles of gameplay utilizing the two Nintendo DS screens like never before,” said Robert Nashak, VP of EA Casual Studios. “The innovative elements of the game have the potential to appeal to both Nintendo enthusiasts and more casual Nintendo DS players.”

Meet Henry Hatsworth, a quirky, light-hearted character who players will guide on their journey through a new style of gaming adventure on their Nintendo DS. In this two-in-one adventure, players will explore five exotic worlds, fight a variety of opponents, and venture through more than 30 levels, including nearly a dozen hidden levels while taking on outrageous world-ending bosses. The separate worlds on the two Nintendo DS screens have a cause and effect inter-relationship, and players choose when to switch between conquering the action-platform realm and mastering the increasingly challenging puzzle world. A wide variety of power-ups will help Hatsworth in both of these worlds. Players will complete puzzle combinations and defeat puzzle enemies in order to gain power ups, health, and energy to supercharge Hatsworth in his adventure.

“Henry Hatsworth is an incredibly unique game,” said Scott Walker, Henry Hatsworth Executive Producer. “It’s a deep, challenging, and humorous game that you won’t want to put down.”

Developed by a team at EA Tiburon in the EA Casual Entertainment Label, Henry Hatsworth is scheduled to be available worldwide early 2009. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For game artwork, visit http://www.info.ea.com.

* working title

Two years ago, Nintendo released a limited edition Onyx DS Lite branded with images of the Diamond and Pearl Pokémon (Dialga and Palkia) on the front.  It was originally only available at Pokémon Center retailers in Japan, but the good news is that it will be released in the United States on August 17th!

When those Pokémon fans among our readers run out to their local GameStop to pre-order their brand new DS Lite, there’s going to be a few other goodies thrown in for good measure that you might want to know about!  Not only will you be getting the slick looking Onyx system, but also a matching case, poster of Grovyle, a T-shirt and an original animated feature DVD called Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Darkness.

What would you expect to pay for a limited edition DS Lite along with all the included bonus items? Probably at least a few bucks more, right? Personally, I find the best part about this deal is the price, considering that you won’t be paying anything extra! The entire package is set to go for $129.99 USD!! 

Everyone in our house of gaming age already has their own DS, so we probably won’t be heading out to pick another one up, otherwise this sweet looking system would be joining our collection.  What about you?

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

It’s no secret that BioWare is making their first foray into the handheld market with the upcoming release of Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the DS, due out at the end of September.  The company is best known for their epic RPG’s for both PC and consoles, such as Neverwinter Nights, Baldur’s Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

What you may not know is that the Sonic title may open the gates for BioWare to move more of their big name franchises over to the DS as well, namely Jade Empire, Dragon Age and Mass Effect. This is by no means an announcement of upcoming games, but Miles Holmes (lead designer for Sonic Chronicles) has indicated that if their first attempt sells well, they may make the move to supplement their major console and PC titles with handheld versions.

We have a lot of big plans for Mass Effect. Having a DS version would be an awesome way to keep interest alive and keep it going in addition to the next one [Mass Effect 2],” said Holmes.

With all of the huge RPG titles that BioWare has under their belt, which would you like to see make the jump to handheld?

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

There are four titles that have been announced that will be ready when the brand launches sometime in Q4 2008, all for the DS with the exception of Ellen Whitaker’s Horse Life, which will come out for both the DS and Wii:

• Groovy Chick Nursery and Groovy Chick Fashion Shop: two titles aimed at fashion-conscious, pre-teenage girls who just love to shop!

• Ellen Whitaker’s Horse Life: Is the perfect solution of living your dream to own and care for your very own champion pony.

• Baby Life: Allows you to love and care your very own virtual baby .

• Let’s Play: a range of six unique titles, Shops, Firemen, Schools, Pet Hospitals, Fashion Designer, Mums, that allow children to let their imagination run wild in the safety of the game’s controlled environment.

We’re immensely excited to be launching the Cherry Tree Lane range,” said Craig McNicol, Managing Director at Koch Media. “There is a huge market for family-focused games, particularly for girls in the 6-12 age range, and we expect our hand picked titles to stand out in retail due to unique positioning and strong licensed endorsements. We will work diligently so that the Cherry Tree Lane brand name becomes synonymous with strong, positive family values and high-quality gaming.

I really appreciate the fact that companies are starting to think about their younger audiences, especially considering that I have two kids of my own, and live in a house with a huge video gaming presence.  My son is only 2-years-old and is already constantly trying to get his hands on my DS and needs to have his own Wii-Mote in his hands whenever anyone plays.    

I would be quite interested in getting my hands on Let’s Play to see what my son thinks of actually being able to play a game on the DS!

Re-blogged from our sister site: Nukoda.com

I think one of the main selling features of this game will be that the environments are 3D and very realistic looking, when you compare them to the other mystery games that are currently out on the market (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, for instance).  This title isn’t going to be all about the whodunit either, there are going to be adventure side-games, shoot-outs and supposedly even some driving elements thrown in. This isn’t going to be a game where you can just breeze your way through, either. You’re going to have to pay attention! In addition to the crime investigation, you’ll be quizzed quite frequently on all aspects of crime scenes, witnesses, etc. Sounds to me like a move in the right direction for this particular genre!

Look for this title to be hitting store shelves this October.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Re-blogged from our sister site, Nukoda.com

Crime Investigation Makes Its Way To Nintendo DS™ In Empire Interactive’s Unsolved Crimes

It’s up to Players to Solve a Mysterious Disappearance in 1970s New York

AUSTIN, Texas – July 28, 2008

Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings (NASDAQ: SSTR), today announced that the mystery solving game, Unsolved Crimes, will surface in the U.S. on Nintendo DS™ this fall. The absorbing and character-driven adventure experience will integrate players in the thrills of an action game with the mental challenges of a 3D crime investigation.

In Unsolved Crimes, players will take the role of a rookie detective as part of the New York police department homicide division. An aspiring model, Betsy Blake, has disappeared and a social outcast and loner is the prime suspect. The case is a lot deeper than it appears on the surface. Crime is rampant in the city and Blake’s disappearance is the latest in a frightening series of events that are slowly bringing New York to its knees. The local police department is having a hard time cracking the case and Blake’s safe return lies in the detectives’ hands to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

Unsolved Crimes integrates three gaming elements – an action game, a 3D crime investigation and a crime quiz – to provide players with a unique, absorbing experience. The game fully utilizes the DS’ unique Dual Screen, allowing players to immerse themselves in the New York environments. The innovative use of the stylus will allow players to trace marks, routes and memos on suspicious items discovered at crime scenes, all allowing players to move closer to solving the kidnapping mystery. The engaging storyline runs throughout the game, fully immersing players in the world of Unsolved Crimes with more than eight independent cases to solve in the diverse and fully interactive environments.

I have many happy memories of coming home from school to plop down in front of the tv to watch some Transformers before dinner. Unfortunately, this is one of those iconic shows that doesn’t hold up well to the test of time. I recently tried to watch the old cartoon but ended up shutting it off in disgust, it might have been better for me to remain ignorant of the truly bad quality and just remember it in the hazy golden glow from childhood.

From the looks of things, this game will not be following very closely in the footsteps of the old ’80′s cartoon series, instead being based on the news series currently being shown on Cartoon Network. The graphics look pretty amazing, and from what I’ve read, the game play sounds like it’ll definitely be worth checking out.  It’s a side-scrolling platform game with some racing scenes thrown in for good measure. You get control of one of four different Autobots: Optimus Prime, Prowl, Bulkhead or Bumblebee and are able to switch between them instantaneously as the puzzles in the game demand their different skills.

Check out the press release after the jump.

Re-blogged from our sister site, Nukoda.com

Based on Cartoon Network’s animated television series of the same name, TRANSFORMERS Animated, available exclusively on the Nintendo DS™, under license from Hasbro, delivers an exciting action-adventure experience. As they blast through DECEPTICON-controlled hoverbots, players attempt to solve challenging teamwork-based puzzles and race through the motorways of a futuristic Detroit, dodging on-coming traffic while seamlessly changing between robot and vehicle-form. Fans take control of all their favourite AUTOBOT characters, including OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, BULKHEAD and PROWL, as they work together to reclaim the lost fragments of the Allspark before the DECEPTICONS intercept it and claim Cybertron as their own.

KEY FEATURES:
• Adventure beyond the animated series – Gamers experience TRANSFORMERS Animated in a whole new way in this action-adventure game based on the animated series and featuring several of the characters and environments fans enjoy.

• Play as your favourite AUTOBOT characters – Players instantly switch between AUTOBOT team members using their special skills and unique individualised weapons to overcome enemies and challenges. They can take down a boss with OPTIMUS PRIME, outrace foes with BUMBLEBEE, break down barriers with BULKHEAD or outmanoeuvre enemies with PROWL.

• It’s all about teamwork – Faced with a number of challenging side-scrolling puzzles, fans must utilise each AUTOBOT team member to solve problems. Working as a team and combining the abilities of each AUTOBOT is the key to recovering all three Allspark shards before the DECEPTICONS.

• Speed through the Detroit motorways – Gamers experience slot-car racing-inspired driving at high speeds as they race through a fictitious 22nd century Detroit in several fast-paced driving challenges.

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.

Developer: Artificial Mind and Movement

Release Date: October 2008

Popcap Games has finally put rumors to bed about their bringing the insanely addictive game, Peggle, to the DS. They’ve gone and paired up with Q Entertainment, who brought us such puzzle games as Lumines and Meteos. Q Entertainment is a good partner, as they are adding several brand new features that don’t appear on the Mac or PC versions of the game. We still don’t have any word as to what these additional features may be, but we don’t have that long to wait, with an anticipated launch date this winter.

For those of you who haven’t been bitten by the Peggle bug as of yet, you can think of it as an extremely pumped-up version of pachinko, with a few elements of pinball and pool thrown in for good measure. You shoot a grey ball from the top of the screen, trying to ricochet it off of the different colored pegs to eliminate the orange ones, all without running out of balls.

Check out the full press release after the jump.

Re-blogged from our sister site, Nukoda.com

PopCap’s Mega-Hit Peggle™ Coming to Nintendo DS® This Winter

Q Entertainment Tapped to Adapt Top Casual Game of 2007 for Nintendo’s Market-Leading Handheld

SEATTLE, Washington – July 25, 2008 — PopCap Games Inc., the leading developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced that later this year the company’s mega-hit game Peggle™ will be available for Nintendo DS®. During his keynote presentation at CGA Seattle yesterday, PopCap CEO David Roberts provided an early glimpse of the DS version of Peggle, which is expected to hit North American retail shelves in Winter 2008 and carry an MSRP of US$29.95. In bringing Peggle to the world’s most popular handheld gaming device, PopCap has partnered with Q Entertainment, the acclaimed Japanese development studio. Q Entertainment is already underway with the adaptation of Peggle, and will be adding features unique to the DS version that are not available in the existing PC, Mac or iPod versions of the game.

“I have a great deal of respect for Q Entertainment as one of the industry’s preeminent game developers, with a proven reputation for creativity and innovation,” stated Greg Canessa, PopCap’s vice president of video game platforms. “Q is a great choice to partner with us – they share many of PopCap’s design and creative philosophies and are equally big believers in quality and attention to detail. These factors, combined with Q’s impressive track record of success on DS and PSP, make this a natural fit. I’m confident that Q will create an experience with Peggle for DS that will both satisfy existing fans of the game and attract a new audience of on-the-go gamers who appreciate the DS for its one-of-a-kind display format and other unique capabilities.”

Q Entertainment’s best-selling franchises include Lumines (for PSP, PS2, XBLA, PC, mobile), Meteos (Nintendo DS), and Rez HD (XBLA). “We at Q Entertainment are honored to be working with PopCap and view this as a fun, exciting challenge – taking a very popular casual game and bringing it to a more hardcore audience on the DS,” stated Shuji Utsumi, Q’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “PopCap’s games are simple but addictive, and Peggle demonstrates that even a simple game can be extremely deep. We’ve always incorporated casual game elements into our console and handheld games, and now we have an opportunity to bring our gaming sensibilities and expertise to the DS version of Peggle, and make a very novel ‘cross-over’ game for all ages.”

Precise details of the forthcoming DS version of Peggle are not yet available, but the game is expected to feature more levels than any existing version of the game – including DS-exclusive levels – and will also offer re-mastered input controls and a wealth of surprise additions sure to please die-hard fans and novice players alike.

About Q Entertainment, Inc.

Formed in 2003, Tokyo-based Q Entertainment, Inc. creates, produces, and consults in

digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC broadband and mobile units. The company is best known for its critically acclaimed music and luminary action puzzle game series Lumines, which was released worldwide for PSP in 2004/2005 and has since become a hit on mobile, Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation 2. Q Entertainment’s impressive line-up also includes the action puzzle title Meteos and the fantasy action title Ninety-Nine Nights. Founded by principal game creator and Chief Creative Officer Tetsuya Mizuguchi and industry veteran and Chief Executive Officer Shuji Utsumi (Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sega, Disney), Q Entertainment is composed of experienced designers, programmers, and producers. Q Entertainment collaborates with other creators, artists and development studios in Japan and overseas. More information can be found on the Internet at www.qentertainment.com.

About PopCap

PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform provider of “casual games” — fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 200 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin and Shanghai. Its games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship title, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 10 million units across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap’s games are played on the Web, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod and more), popular game consoles (including Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS), and in-flight entertainment systems. PopCap is the only casual games developer with leading market share across all major sales channels, including Web portals, retail stores, mobile operators and developers, and game device manufacturers.

Everything sounds like it’s on the right track, and we here at PGR are eager to see how multiplayer works aside from the co-op campaign, be it top-down or sidescrolling…

What modes could be included? Capture the flag would be really difficult in a straight 2D plane… Deathmatch would be insanely fun though and we can’t wait any longer. BRING IT ON KONAMI!

[Via Press Release]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – June 20, 2007 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today announced Contra 4 (working title) for the Nintendo DS™. Marking the 20th anniversary of the quintessential action franchise, the game pushes 2D side-scrolling action in an all-new direction with gunplay that spans two full screens, original gameplay mechanics that grant players deadlier abilities than ever before, and frantic multiplayer functionality.

Contra 4 takes place two years after the events of Contra III: The Alien Wars. After saving earth from invasion by Red Falcon, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean are confronted with a new extraterrestrial menace: the terrifying Black Viper. Joined by hard-boiled mercenaries Mad Dog and Scorpion, the warriors must once again wage war against an entire army of invaders.

Refining the 2D side-scrolling genre the series established 20 years ago, Contra 4 delivers pure action at a fever pitch as players jump, shoot, and dodge oncoming hazards. Utilizing a new dual screen presentation, the action spans both screens of the Nintendo DS, giving players the opportunity to battle across expansive environments in which death can come from any direction. The use of both screens for the game’s core action also allows for massive boss battles as players try to seek and destroy the weak points of sky-high enemies. A first for the series, Contra 4 introduces a grappling hook accessory that lets players grab onto elements of the environment directly above them. Whether using it to avoid oncoming dangers or attack from a strategic vantage point, the grappling hook allows for new combat situations and dramatic set pieces that underscore the game’s adrenaline-soaked pedigree.

Continuing the multiplayer tradition of previous games in the series, Contra 4 lets two players battle together against Black Viper’s army of vile alien forces and reclaim Earth for mankind.

Developed by WayForward Technologies, Contra 4 is planned for release on the Nintendo DS in 2007. For more information on the game and the Contra franchise, please visit: www.konami.com .

The folks over at Go Nintendo have been kind enough to put up fact sheets on a couple of games that I thought might interest our readers as well. The following information comes direct from the Nintendo Press Room:

Wario: Master of Disguise
Format: Nintendo DS
Launch Date: 03/07/07
ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and older): Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence
Game Type: Action Platformer
Players: 1
Developer: Suzak

KEY INFORMATION
When Wario sees a television series about a thieving master of disguises, he dives through the TV screen, steals the thief’s quick-change wand and takes over the whole show. Episode after episode, he breaks into exotic locations, like a luxury liner, watery ruins and an Egyptian pyramid!

• Draw Wario’s eight disguises: By sketching a symbol on Wario, the player puts Wario in outfits that give him powers, such as Thief Wario’s tackles and Cosmic Wario’s laser blasts. The player also uses the stylus to wield the powers
• Explore environments: Wario travels the globe in 10 missions that span nine exotic locations. The player must attack many enemies found in each location and also use Wario’s disguises to get past puzzling obstacles
• Play minigames to unlock chests: To pick the lock of each chest, the player must play one of eight stylus-driven minigames that grow more difficult as the game progresses

Game storyline: Over the 10 episodes of “his” new TV show, Wario travels the globe in search of treasure to steal. Along the way, he discovers that there’s a far greater prize to be had: an ancient artifact that grants wishes. Now if he can only find it before his rival, the master thief whose show (and powers of disguise) he’s stolen.

How to progress through the game: Using the Thief Wario disguise, players run, high-jump and tackle their way through each episode. They’ll need to switch to other disguises, frequently one after the other, to fight and puzzle through rooms full of obstacles and enemies. Players use buttons to run and jump while using the stylus to affect Wario and his environment, and they can watch the top screen map to keep their bearings in the levels.

At the start of the game, players will have only one disguise (Thief Wario) and will discover more as they proceed through the game. Players can return to previous episodes with the power to use all currently held disguises, making it possible to explore more areas and gather even more hidden treasures. Each episode ends in a boss fight that challenges players to use a variety of disguises to defeat it.

Characters: Wario is joined by his new sidekick, a wand that lets him change into eight different disguises. He’s also pursued by the master thief who wants his wand back, and who still has plenty of high-tech tricks up his sleeve. The episodes also feature more characters in search of the ancient artifact, plus dozens of new creatures. Wario’s friendly new wand helps him switch disguises. Players use the stylus to draw a key piece of each disguise onto Wario to activate the change. The wand explains how to sketch these quick-changes in a tutorial.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Wario opens locked treasure chests by completing one of eight random minigames that grow harder, faster and more complex as the game progresses. If the players succeed, they’ll get the treasure, key item or disguise power-up found specifically in that chest. If the player fails, the chest remains locked, the chest spits out exploding bombs and the player may return to try the chest (with a different minigame) again.