The LoadDown - 09/01/2011

New downloadable activity this week...


WiiWare -- One new game this week, Trenches Generals, a cartoony T-rated World War II-themed tower defense game (with a zombie mode, naturally!)


(Wii?) Virtual Console -- Nothing new here, but as a side note, the NES Virtual Console platform is apparently expanding its reach to the 3DS, as a perk for Nintendo's newly-christened 3DS Ambassadors, i.e., early adopters who paid full price for the 3DS before the price cut on August 12th, 2011.  And a number of Game Boy Advance titles will also be showing up on the 3DS, so I may have to restructure the Virtual Console coverage here.


DSiWare -- Two new games.  House M.D. -- Blue Meanie is the second episode in the clinical/puzzle adventure series based on the popular TV show, House M.D.  GO Series Fishing Resort is a simple, inexpensive anime-style fishing game.

Nintendo 3DS eShop -- This week, in addition to the DSiWare titles above, 3DS owners can download Namco's classic Pac-Man; the gameplay usually holds up, but this black-and-white, scrolling-heavy Game Boy version is not the best available.

XBox Live Arcade -- A whopping four new titles this week, all with a sense of humor.  Rock of Ages is a physics-based, artistically cartoonish contest where two players controlling giant boulders try to destroy each others' castles.  Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection brings the first three entries in Midway's gory coin-op fighting game series together, now under Warner Brothers' wing.  The Baconing is a new Deathspank action/adventure from Ron Gilbert and company, this time with more of a sci-fi noir setting.  And Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon is a twin-stick end-of-the-world shooter based on the animated Comedy Central TV series.


PS3 on PSN -- This week's winner, with FIVE new titles arriving!  These include The Baconing, Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection (why is it not Arkade Kollection?) and Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon, described above.  Also, Elevator Action Deluxe, a remake of Taito's classic 1980s arcade/NES game, and 4 Elements HD, a match-N fantasy puzzle game.


PSOne Classics -- Okay, it's been about 3 months since we've seen any activity here.  Time to retire this category for the time being.