Muscle Man now on Wii Shop Channel

Plus: More Castlevania! Lots of DSi stuff!

As is the custom of a Friday, a bundle of new downloadable games are being released today for the Wii and DSi.

Topping the bill is Muscle March, a bodybuilding-themed game which could only have come out of Japan. It's all about striking a pose and winning protein powder, apparently. Plus, "Muscle March will also be the first WiiWare title to offer a polar bear in a Speedo," says the press release. Yours for 500 Wii Points (£3.50).

Popping up on the Virtual Console is Milon's Secret Castle, an old NES game which involves an evil warlord, an imprisoned queen and some magical balls. Expect secret items, fierce enemies, handy shops and bonus levels, too. This one comes in at 600 Points (£4.20).

Retro fans may also enjoy Castlevania Rondo of Blood, the tenth instalment in Konami's popular series. You play as Richter, who comes complete with Vampire Killer whip, and must play through 13 stages. Highlights include "CD-quality game music". At 900 Points (£6.30), it's cheaper than an actual CD.

This week's additions to the DSiWare store include Photo Dojo (200 Points / £1.40). Photograph yourself doing various punches, kicks, special moves and poses, then record your voice to add sound effects and take a picture for the backdrop. Next thing you know you've created your very own fighting game. You can battle AI enemies or get a mate to take photos of themselves, and fight each other on the same DSi.

Then there's Flips: The Enchanted Woods, an interactive version of Enid Blyton's classic tale. Follow the adventures of Joe, Beth and Frannie as they visit the Magic Faraway Tree and meet Moon-Face, Silky the fairy and Saucepan Man. Together they will solve the mystery of who has been cutting up the prostitutes and putting them in the canal no sorry that's Flips: Wire in the Blood. This one costs 500 Points (£3.50).

Those who prefer actual games to interactive children's books may enjoy Libera Wing (800 Points / £5.60). This tower defence title sees you playing through 36 story and 24 quick-play levels, using items and commanding ships in some sort of strategic fashion.

Or how about Car Jack Streets? This is an action game with a bit of driving and a lot of crime. Turns out you owe the Mob a million bucks, and they want it now. The only way to pay off your debt is to rise up through the criminal underworld, presumably doing a lot of driving and shooting along the way. It costs 800 Wii Points / £5.60 (or £1.79 on iTunes, but don't say we sent you).

And finally there's Flashlight (200 Points / £1.40), which turns your DSi into a torch. "Flashlight will also be helpful if you are stranded. You can use the warning light if your car breaks down and the S.O.S. function will come in handy if you ever get stranded on a deserted island." If only Jack and Kate had packed their DSis.

Comments (14) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • retr0gamer #1 2 years ago

    Just because it's Castlevania: Dracula X doesn't mean it's the tenth game in the series. Just like Mega man X
  • Golgo #2 2 years ago

    the legendary castlevania rondo of blood gets first release in the west (proper release, PSP version doesn't count), and muscle march is 'topping the bill'?
  • gizmo #3 2 years ago

    These are just laughable now I have an Ipod Touch.

    Interest was piqued by that art academy program on the latest advert, but it's in two parts at 800 a pop!

    NO SALE!
  • Br0ken_Engli5h #4 2 years ago

    It's about time Muscle March came out over here.
    We need more homoerotic shape throwing in our household, fo' sho!
  • Golgo #5 2 years ago

    Is it wrong to want to bitchslap Apple-philes? Does that make me a bad person?
  • Cadence #6 2 years ago

    No, it makes you a good person.
  • wellzy4eva #7 2 years ago

    "Is it wrong to want to bitchslap Apple-philes? Does that make me a bad person? "

    Don't worry, evolution will kill them off eventually (From spending food money on yearly updated hardware)
  • gizmo #8 2 years ago

    Apple-phile? Me? Hardly.

    This gen I have a Ds lite, DSi, fat PSP, slim PSP, 3x xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Ipod touch, PC etc. so that's a pretty fair spread of brands! :-)

    However, you can't deny the pricing and choice is nice on the Ipod touch/Iphone!

    What would be ideal is a hybrid of what is available at the moment. Graphics from PSP with twinsticks, touchscreen ala touch/DSi, and Apple's appstore/pricing/dev schemes.
  • Ignatius_Cheese #9 2 years ago

    Muscle March!! Feckin' A!!! \o/
  • dr_faulk #10 2 years ago

    I'd like to see Apple allow something like Muscle March in the App Store.
  • KDR_11k #11 2 years ago

    Car Jack Streets isn't available in Germany...

    Just because it's Castlevania: Dracula X doesn't mean it's the tenth game in the series.

    No but the release notes call it the tenth game anyway.
  • retr0gamer #12 2 years ago

    Some one in Konami Europe made a boo boo then :)
  • axman303 #13 2 years ago

    Just bought Muscle March on WiiWare.

    Wow! What an utterly bonkers game! That has to be the strangest and campest video game I've ever played in my life.

    It's like the animations of Terry Gillingham were genetically crossed with an infant's encyclopaedia. Dead simple gameplay, basically copy the stance the thief in front of you took while smashing through a wall, to avoid loosing a life. Not unlike that Japanese TV gameshow, whatever it's called... Once you get close to the thief, the action changes to side-on and you've got to shake the WiiRemotes Track n' Field style to make the final catch. Fail to shake quickly enough and you're back to smashing through walls from a 3rd person perspective.

    What makes it interesting is the speed and the crazy backgrounds and events taking place in them, many of which seem designed to throw you off. For example, while running down an office corridor, a horse inexplicably runs out of a room to your right. The levels comprise of several areas which are run through at exceptional speed. For example, from a town centre, through a children's play park, through roof tops and so on.

    The trick is keeping up with the increasing speed of the game. It's like a strange freaky trip, but one that becomes more intense as time goes on. My other half just kept saying 'What the f**k!?', 'What the f**k!?' while I was playing and said she thought her niece and nephew would love it.

    For about £5, it's a real hoot and I'm looking forward to trying out the turn based multiplayer mode with a few drunk friends soon.
    Edited by 1 at 19/03/10 @ 21:11
  • Razz #14 2 years ago

    Axeman that sounds absolutely wonderful.

    SOLD