Card Hero Set for DSi Ware

Nintendo will be giving DSiWare a first party push next week with four titles, one a sequel of sorts to a major retail release. Third parties will be following with a few releases of their own.

Leading the pack is the 800 DSiPoint Card Hero Speed Battle Custom. This download-only title is based off Kousoku Card Battle Card Hero, which was released as a retail DS game last year. Players collect and use cards in one-on-one battles.

On DSi, the game includes combat against the CPU and other players.

The CPU fights allow you to face off against pre-set opponents in an attempt to become number one. There's also a daily battle room option where you face off against a different deck every day. This mode features themed decks for Christmas, summer vacation and other special seasons. Those who want to experiment will find a simulator room where you can face off against decks that you've made yourself and decks that you've received from friends. Also avaialble is a Draft Battle Room, where you and your opponent build up your decks by alternatively pulling cards from a common deck.

Human-based competition includes wireless and Wi-Fi Connection play. After the fight, your live opponent is added to your battle history along with deck information, win rate and information about frequently used cards.

Nintendo is attempting what appears to be a new trial with this title. Load up the DSiWare game while the retail Card Hero is inserted in the cartridge slot, and you'll get a rare card and 1,000 points which can be used to purchase items in the game's "Maruhige" shop.

The other three first party games for next week are new versions of series titles.

Nintendo will be offering volume 3 of its Pizzle Iro Iro Monthly Crossword House series. Priced at 500 DSiPoints, this puzzle collection includes 50 problems, this time pulled mostly from the July issue of Monthly Crossword House.

Nintendo's tie-up with JTB Publishing will continue next week through new installments of the Pocket Rurupu digital travel guide series. Joining the Tokyo and Kyoto installments, released back in May, will be two locations at the very opposite of Japan: Hokkaido and Okinawa. Each guide will sell for 800 DSiPoints.

Joining these newly announced titles will be the Helmet and Chef releases of the Game&Watch series. As previously announced, these are priced at 200 DSiPoints each.

Third parties will be stepping up with a handful of games as well.

Tom Create will release Unou to Sanou ga Rensasuru Ura no Ura. This 200 DSiPoint title offers a puzzle game where you attempt to line up like panels on a play field. The game includes a 100 problem mission mode.

Arc System Works is releasing a DSiWare version of Othello Priced at 500 DSiPoints, the game includes a single player mode against a 10 level CPU, and a two player mode which allows for play using just one system.

Finally, Gmode is delivering Magical Drop Yurutto. This 500 DSiPoint combo release includes the Magical Drop falling blocks game a and a fortune telling game, all played with characters from Toshinao Aoki's Yuru Yuru Friends.

Look for all these games on July 29.