Football season is upon us, and with Tecmo Bowl already out for the Wii Virtual Console, there's only one NES pigskin game worthy of a commemorative rerelease. This morning sees NES Play Action Football (500 points) take the field. Sporting 10 real teams with real players, it is one of the most technologically advanced NES games out there, as well as being one of the few to use voice clips. For those of you who would rather be a ball than play with one, spin up Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for the Genesis (800 points) and relive Sonic's first meeting with Knuckles the Enchilada Echidna. Finally we have more TurboGrafx16 Zelda-ripoff goodness with Neutopia II (600 points), which puts you in the role of the son of the main character from the 'original' Neutopia which was released on the VC two weeks ago. Apparently you did a half-assed job of killing Dirth the first time and now your child has to deal with it. Good job, slacker. If you had just played more football as a kid this never would have happened.

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

Football season is here, and whether you're into high school teams, college or
the pros, everyone can use a little gridiron refresher. This week Nintendo's
Wii Shop Channel helps you tackle the challenge with NES Play Action
Football(TM), a classic sure to revive feelings of gaming greatness. If
football isn't your thing, you can always join forces with a speedy hedgehog
or explore labyrinths as you try to defeat evil demons.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new
games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii(TM) owners with a high-speed
Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(TM) to download the games. Wii
Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This
week's new games are:

NES Play Action Football (NES(R), 1-4 players, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii
Points): "Ready! Hut hut hut ... " Nintendo takes to the gridiron with the
classic football powerhouse NES Play Action Football. Featuring a distinct
overhead viewpoint that creates an almost 3-D field, the action is more
simulation-based than many of the more arcade-based games of the time. Play
through four 15-minute quarters (in accelerated time) and even substitute
players when your first-stringers get tired. Want more options? Each of the
eight available teams has multiple running/passing plays to choose from while
on offense, as well as a wide selection of defensive schemes that can be run
when you're on the other side of the ball. And in addition to viewing two full
teams on the screen at once without any slowdown, you'll hear voice snippets
at key points of the game. Line up, and see if you have what it takes to win
the Power Bowl.

Sonic the Hedgehog(TM) 3 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone -
Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): Sonic and Tails are back for another
adventure as they again battle the evil Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik), who is
desperately trying to collect all the Chaos Emeralds to rebuild his Death Egg.
Our heroes must again find the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, but
winning the race won't be easy this time - a new adversary, Knuckles the
Echidna, has arrived on the scene and will do whatever he can to keep Sonic
and Tails from reaching their goal. Grab all the golden rings, find various
bonus zones and overcome Knuckles and Dr. Eggman as you rocket through the
third chapter in Sonic's adventures.

Neutopia II (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy
Violence, 600 Wii Points): Experience improved graphics and controls in this
exciting sequel to the action role-playing game Neutopia. Take on the role of
the main hero's son and watch as the story begins with the apparent revival of
Dirth, the evil demon. Once again you'll need to rely on your magic compass
and the information you've gathered to find entrances to labyrinths and defeat
the bosses in them. Make your way through the field, which can be tricky at
times, to search for and find hidden information and items, or move blocks and
destroy walls to uncover secret rooms. Like the original, this game has a save
function, a finely tuned difficulty level and a fast-paced story, making it
truly an RPG that everyone can enjoy.

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