NWR writes: "Published by Nintendo and developed by Japanese company Mindware, Maboshi's Arcade is a unique puzzle game with one goal: score a million points at the behest of the robotic Mr. Maboshi. When playing by your lonesome, Mr. Maboshi appears, requesting that you help him to get to a million points over time. However, this simple goal is much more complex than it sounds because there are three different games that can be played cooperatively with up to three players simultaneously. These three games, all named after geometric shapes, are chosen by each player and can be played in any combination."
Four new games are available for Club Nintendo members to spend their points on. Highlighting the bunch is the SNES classic, Super Mario RPG.
"There's been quite a bit of talk on asynchronous gameplay in the past few months, particularly when it comes to the Wii U. Thankfully, we have yet to reach a point where the mere mention of the word causes irritation, but by the same token, this push for synonymous association also has yet to see proper realization. Reasons behind this lack of cohesion should be apparent to anyone who's been tracking the system's development; reasons I will choose not to delve into at this time. Respecting what Nintendo has already done, though, and the showing they had at this past E3, it's reasonable to say they've presented some well-meaning concepts that play to their overall vision -- which, to some, is still a bit wishy-washy." -- Wiiloveit.com
You see, the games are played in three adjacent windows so that they can rub shoulders with, and subsequently affect, the others. Stick will bash Square's blocks, Circle's victims will clear Stick's enemies, and the smoke from burnt Squares will kill Circle's assailants. While three separate players can manipulate it, played alone it becomes a masterwork of forward planning as you record a run in one puzzle to replay later and help your score in another. Whether you want your mind frazzled or just some simple fun, Maboshi is what you need. An essential purchase.
