The wait is finally over...

The wait is finally over. The long-awaited Maboshi’s Arcade has -finally- made its way to America. After being released in Europe and Australia in late August, I anxiously awaited the moment I could play it. Critics cited it as one of the best additions to the Wii Shop Channel and a must-have for puzzle fans. Now that I have had the opportunity to play it, I couldn’t agree more.

Let me start off by saying that Maboshi’s Arcade isn’t your typical puzzle game. Developed by the rather unknown company Mindware, Maboshi’s Arcade is based around three different shapes - circles, sticks and squares. What you are presented with is three minigames based around these objects and each of them shares a basic objective. Your goal in each one is to try and earn the highest score possible, but mess up once and it is game over.

Simple to learn, difficult to master

What sets Maboshi’s Arcade apart from other puzzle games is the fact that three different games are all happening at once. The screen is divided upon into three different columns, and in each column, a game is being played based on one of the three different shapes. All of the games are fairly simple to learn, but difficult to master.

The Circle game, for example, puts you in control of a ball and your task is to spin the ball clockwise and counterclockwise to hit the enemies on-screen. The concept starts off extremely simple, but as time goes by, obstacles will start polluting the area, getting in the way of your ball.

Then there is the Stick game. In this mode, a stick swings around a circular objective. By pressing the A button, you send the stick flying. The objective of this game is to make it as far up the screen possible, avoiding enemies and walls. The stick can destroy anything it touches, but if something hits the circle, you lose. Occasionally you will come across items that will aid you in your journey to the top, as well as boss battles to keep you on your toes.

And finally the Square game. Out of all the games, this one is definitely the most complex. Using the D-pad, you control a little square’s direction. Every space the square moves, it leaves behind a trail of fire. Using this fire, your goal is to destroy colored blocks scattered across the stage. Be warned though, for every square you move, the screen scrolls up a little. If a block that is not burnt yet or still burns touches the bottom of the screen, it is game over!

Can you beat your high score?

Maboshi’s Arcade is fun to play both by yourself or with friends. The game supports up to three players in which each player takes control of a different game. If you are playing alone, AI players take control of the two other games.

Each and every one of the games is simple to pick up and play, so if you are wondering if your friends will be able to get the hang of things easily, the answer is yes. The game doesn’t use a whole lot of buttons, but like the Art Style series, that doesn’t mean the game lacks in depth.

Maboshi DS?

Perhaps one of the coolest, if not the coolest, features with Maboshi’s Arcade is the ability to send a demo to your Nintendo DS. With this demo, players turn their DS sideways, like they would with Brain Age.The DS version has downgraded graphics and all of the games are played using the D-pad. Both gameplay and music remain the same. It is a nice addition to the game since you are really getting two games for the price of one.

And there you have it, Nintendo’s latest and greatest WiiWare. Out of all the titles released thus far via WiiWare, Maboshi’s Arcade has to be my favorite. The ability to send replays to friends who own the game is a nice touch, as is Maboshi DS. The music is great, the graphics are crisp, and the fun is through the roof. If you like puzzles, look no further than this. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.