The game’s tilt controls are wonderfully intuitive and make guiding the game’s protagonist (a pool of water) around the colorful 2D world a unique and enjoyable experience. Two years ago, World of Goo was heralded as not only a magnificent WiiWare title, but also as one of the best games in the entire Wii library. Cave Story DSiWare is a shining example of what the portable download service can and should be used for.ĭSiWare version adds a map to the bottom screen.
The game has all the trappings of a full retail release: tight controls, plenty of space to explore, and a story much deeper than what is traditionally found in a platformer. The tinier version of Cave Story is no less potent, as Cave Story DSiWare’s presentation is top-notch, sporting the visuals and audio of the PC version. It's definitely the best DSiWare game of 2010.Ĭave Story was met with critical acclaim when it hit the WiiWare service earlier this year, but had a much quieter release on the DSiWare shop. You might think 1200 points is expensive, but it's hard not to play Shantae again and again and again. The music is catchy, the play control is tight and responsive, and the end of the game has a great old-school nod to Metroid games. In all seriousness, Shantae features some of the best 2D sprite work on the system. WayForward, master of the 2D sidescroller, has crafted a wonderfully compact, gorgeous, charming little piece of DLC that features light Metroidvania exploration, cool animal transformations, and lots of jiggling. Behold, the best reason to buy a DSi so far.