Despite a strong showing across all three of Nintendo's downloadable game services, the Virtual Console comes out on top this week, with one of the greatest action games for the Nintendo Entertainment System finally making it onto the Wii. I'm talking about Sunsoft's Blaster Master (500 Wii points). On one hand, it's the story of a brave adventurer travelling through the mutant-infested tunnels beneath the earth's crust in Sophia the 3rd, an armored attack vehicle of unknown origin. On the other, it's a game about a kid looking for his missing frog, Fred. It's one of my favorite video games of all time, eclipsing even Interplay's Earthworm Jim 2 (800 points), also hitting the VC this week.

DSiWare is a close second this week, with titles like Littlest Pet Shop (800 DSi points), Bejeweled Twist (500 points), Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam (500 points), and Gameloft's Miami nightlife simulator Miami Nights (800 points) making up the inclusion of another silly Master of Illusion: Express title.

Not that this week's WiiWare offerings are particularly bad. I'm just not all that familiar with racer Stunt Cars (800 points), petri dish shooter Diatomic (800 points), Natsume's puzzler Moki Moki (800 points), and Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH (600 points), so my excitement is held in check by my unfortunate ignorance.

Check out the full descriptions below and see if there's anything worth your while. Other than Blaster Master, of course. That's a given.

Virtual Console

Blaster Master™
Original platform: NES™
Publisher: Sunsoft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: The New York sewers were never like this. You've fallen down a hidden manhole into a world of creatures so terrifying they'd scare the rats away. You can panic and perish, or blast your way through an endless maze of tunnels in search of secret passages to your escape. Masters of the Caverns lay waiting - prehistoric creatures so powerful and gigantic they literally fill your screen. Load your arsenal and get ready for Blaster Master.

Earthworm Jim 2™
Original platform: SEGA Genesis
Publisher: Interplay
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Superhero annelid Jim and his new sidekick, Snott, are back for an off-the-wall sequel in Earthworm Jim 2. Containing more action than your standard platformer from the Genesis era, each stage has a different style and mission, drawing on game play from different genres, including mazes, trivia contests and arcade-style levels. The game also features music composed by Tommy Tallarico. Do you have what it takes to rescue the Princess?

Nintendo DSiWare

LITTLEST PET SHOP
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Experience your favorite LITTLEST PET SHOP pets in a whole new way on your Nintendo DSi system. Play catch with your pets and their favorite toys, dress them up in adorable new accessories and keep them happy by brushing and feeding them. You can even throw a little dance party for your pets and help them rock out to cool songs.

Miami Nights
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes, Tobacco Reference, Use of Alcohol
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You won't find a more complete life simulation than Miami Nights: Life in the Spotlight. Begin by designing your avatar with an unbelievable level of customizable physical detail. But it's not your physique that counts. Instead, your life choices and your everyday behavior will influence more than 40 attributes that will make you a unique, progressive individual. The city of Miami is presented to you with no fewer than 30 places to explore. Plus, you'll be able to customize your entire home and interact with your environment in many ways. The most important part of the game play lies in how you interact with other characters. They will be the ones who'll help you achieve your goals. You'll be able to establish and break off different types of relationships with them. It's up to you to act like a bad guy or sweet girl, make friends or enemies, and choose the best way - honest or otherwise - to make your dreams become a reality.

Bejeweled Twist™
Publisher: PopCap Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Spin, match, explode - it's a brilliant new way to play. Spin and match explosive gems for shockwaves of fun in this quick-play version of the award-winning PopCap game. Rotate jewels to set up electrifying combos, outwit obstacles like Locks and Bombs, and create high-voltage Flame and Lightning gems. Play the intensely fun Classic mode or take on a friend in the exclusive Nintendo DS Battle mode. No matter how you play, you'll find endless ways to win.

Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam
Publisher: Virtual Toys
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Have you ever asked yourself what it would feel like to be among the stoves of the best restaurants in the world? Do you want to become the best chef there is, preparing scrumptious dishes? Jump right in and enter the world of Yummy Yummy and its mixture of flavors and aromas. In Yummy Yummy, you'll have to satisfy the hunger of the most diverse, colorful set of diners: vampires, extraterrestrials, mafia thugs, Vikings and more. Prepare hot dogs, hamburgers, pizzas and Mexican burritos as quickly as you can before your customers get tired of waiting and decide to leave the restaurant without giving you a good tip. Roll up your sleeves, don your chef's hat and have a great time.

Master of Illusion™ Express: Matchmaker
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Master of Illusion Express titles feature mind-boggling magic tricks that you can perform with your Nintendo DSi system. Learn the illusions, practice up and amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Matchmaker includes two tricks that use your Nintendo DSi system to reveal information about others. Use the Photo Diagnosis trick and stun others by taking two simple photos to pinpoint their exact age. Or have the Matchmaker trick show that another person has favorite dates or favorite foods that are similar to yours. Who knows? You could even land a date or make a new friend.

WiiWare

Stunt Cars™
Publisher: Icon Games Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Stunt Cars takes place on elevated racetracks with very little to stop players from accidentally driving off the side. Turbo can be used to make a car go faster, but it can only be used for a limited amount of time in each race. As you progress through the game's four championship cups, you'll unlock special features such as driver achievement awards.

Diatomic
Publisher: Grendel Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Diatomic is a fast retro-arcade action game that takes place inside a set of petri dishes. The safe confines of your petri dish are about to be invaded by nine different diatomic creatures that seek to destroy you. Armed with your shield, tail, strategic intelligence and good reflexes, you stand a good chance of defeating the overwhelming odds. You must stay alive during 65 hectic stages spread over five chapters. The high score list shows what kind of player you are. Playing defensively and gaining an all-out defensive high score is harder to pull off than gaining an all-out offensive high score.

Moki Moki™
Publisher: Natsume Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: It's a mind-bending, gravity-defying puzzler. The Moki are being devoured by the voracious Gromblins, and it's up to you to guide the hapless little guys to safety. Bend, twist and rotate the environment to herd the Moki through a series of brain-teasing puzzles. Along the way, you'll have to contend with deadly pitfalls, spinning blades and shifting gravity. Roll Moki down ramps, grab them with hooks and blast them with jets to guide them safely to the portals. Challenge your skills in 100 unique levels.

Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH
Publisher: Two Tribes
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Rubik's Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH is a 3-D puzzle game with more than 70 challenging levels. Players need to guide Cubes to color-coded exit points. Using the Wii Remote™ controller's intuitive controls, players herd the colored cubes along by using Conveyer Belts, Warps, Stop Signs, Directional Signs and Splits. RUSH also includes the original Rubik's Cube as a bonus. Players can attempt to solve one of the four different-sized Cubes alone, compete against a second player or learn how to solve the classic Rubik's Cube.

It's not just a robot parade though. We also get some hot sports action with Super Dodge Ball for the NES (500 points), one of the most beloved dodge ball simulations ever created, and PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (1,000 points), a WiiWare puzzle shooter from Bplus for up to 8 players with over 300 levels of gameplay that fills out the required obscure titles I've not heard of slot in this week's update (hit the jump for a screenie).

So, which Mega Man 9 games are you planning on picking up?

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO WIIWARE GAMES AND TWO VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Sept. 22, 2008

What does your Wii™ library say about you? Are you fanatical about one style of game, or do you favor a brimming variety of sports, puzzle and fantasy titles? Fortunately for gaming fans of all kinds, the Wii™ Shop Channel makes it easy and fun to expand your collection in any direction. A few waves of the Wii Remote™ controller will introduce you to the latest Virtual Console™ and WiiWare™ offerings this week, featuring classic sci-fi adventure and some invigorating twists on familiar pastimes.

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

WiiWare

Mega Man™ 9 (CAPCOM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Mega Man fans, the wait is over! The classic Blue Bomber that debuted in 1987 is back with the ninth installment in the classic series. It's a new adventure for Mega Man done in an 8-bit style-graphics, music and gameplay are all like you remember them.

PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (Bplus, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint is a crazy, challenging puzzle shooter that delivers more than 100 hours of fun, supporting up to eight players simultaneously. Guard the birth of ZeLeLi and free them from the menace of the evil black Shadow Plättchen. Play as one of the countless FantasyMEs and fight as an astronaut, butterfly, car or football against sharks, cowboys, asteroids and skulls in numerous, fabulous fantasy Worlds. Use items and multipliers in combos to fight yourself to the top of the high scores and find the perfect way to solve a level. Go wild in three completely different game modes of PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint with more than 300 levels. Twist cooperatively with your friends or compete through many multiplayer modes.

Virtual Console

Super Dodge Ball™ (NES™, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): In Super Dodge Ball, you take control of the USA Dodge Ball team and travel the world in an effort to become the best dodge ballers around. Step onto playing fields in countries all over the globe and use a combination of normal and super shots to help take down your opponents. But be careful, as some destinations have surfaces that can affect your footing. Manage the team as you think best, and swap out characters with other players that better fit your playing style. Two players can enjoy a head-to-head game or play a spirited round of Bean Ball, a six-character free-for-all. Three difficulty levels are available (Easy, Medium, and Hard); which one you choose will depend on your skill and courage. Do you have what it takes to lead Team USA to the ultimate prize and win the world championship of dodge ball?

Vectorman™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2049, mankind is forced to abandon an over polluted Earth and seek out other planets for colonization while the mechanized Orbots stay behind to clean up the mess. When the Orbot leader, WarHead, starts blowing a few circuits and causes a war among the mechanical brethren, a sludge pilot named Vectorman is the only one willing to step up and fight him. You'll morph into a speeding train, a power drill, a mechanical fish and a mighty dune buggy in this action-packed adventure. Equip yourself with weapons, pick up morphs and power-ups to defeat WarHead, and restore peace on Earth.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

In addition to Mario, yesterday also saw the release of the puzzler Clu Clu Land for the NES (500 points), along with Hudson's interactive screensaver My Aquarium for WiiWare (500 points), but this week is really all about Tales of Chrono Mario Star Fantasy.

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND TWO VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

September 1, 2008

Strike up the band and let the confetti fly! This week, the Wii™ Shop Channel celebrates the momentous release of its 250th game title for the Virtual Console™, pushing the selection of classic games to an exhilarating new high. And because a special occasion deserves a special guest, Nintendo is thrilled to name the beloved Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars™ as the game to hold this exciting distinction. Along with a delightful new WiiWare™ title and a delirious underwater adventure, this gem from the Super NES® era guarantees a festive, fun-packed Labor Day holiday for Wii™ owners of all stripes.

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

WiiWare

My Aquarium (Hudson Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): With swaying aquatic plants and fish idly swimming about, My Aquarium is a relaxing Wii experience that allows you to enjoy a virtual aquarium in your spare time. Whether freshwater or saltwater, you can select from over 40 popular types of fish, including favorites like the Ocellaris clownfish, the freshwater angelfish and the Asian arowana. You can also create up to six different aquariums and personalize them by adding decorations like seaweed and driftwood. In My Aquarium, you can send aquariums to your registered Wii Friends. The aquariums can even be set with special dates, such as a friend's birthday, that the fish will commemorate with a dance. Feed your fish and watch them steadily grow from fry to adult. Then, after meeting certain conditions, you can breed them. Another feature will allow you to interact with your fish using your Wii Remote™ controller in fun ways, like "tapping" the glass of your aquarium.

Virtual Console

Clu Clu Land™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Take a deep breath and prepare for a puzzle game set in the underwater kingdom of Clu Clu Land. The greedy Sea Urchins have stolen all of Clu Clu Land's gold bars and buried them in a series of mazes. As Bubbles, a brave bubble fish, you'll set out to uncover all of the gold bars in each maze. But you'll have to be careful: Sea Urchins will relentlessly pursue Bubbles, and there are also dangerous black holes that must be avoided. Bubbles isn't defenseless, though, as she has the ability to stun Sea Urchins with sound waves and quickly change direction using posts scattered throughout the stages. Not only that, but the locations of the gold bars in each maze form the outline of another object—once you know the object, you're well on your way to finding the gold. With 20 stages to complete and increasingly complex conditions (like having to pass over the gold bars twice to uncover them), you might just want to bring along a friend for help.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Set in the Mushroom Kingdom and featuring its cast of well-known characters, this adventure RPG begins with a familiar scenario: Mario™ must rescue Princess Toadstool™ from Bowser™. However, a mysterious new enemy named Smithy soon appears, and Mario and Bowser are forced to fight as allies for the first time in their long history. In the quest to defeat their powerful new foe, they'll journey across a wide variety of locations (a town of mining moles, a tropical forest, a thundering waterfall—just to name a few) and tackle a mix of obstacles requiring both expert timing and strategy to overcome. Along the way, they'll gain experience and grow more powerful, while also meeting new characters whose unique abilities will be needed to take on Smithy and his gang. Striking a perfect balance of traditional RPG elements and the action-packed game play Mario is famous for, it's easy to see why this title has earned "legendary" status.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

“I have huge respect for those who, like me, share a common passion for Nintendo and want to make it clear that I would never use and I didn’t use this terminology in such a context or way to cause offense,” he said.

“I regret that this misunderstanding has created such offense and disappointment within the community.”

You know, in all honesty "geek" and "otaku" are way low in the list of things I've been called that cause me offense, but I can certainly see how some people would get upset. As for Laurent, all I can say is always talk as if what you say is going to end up on the front page of a major gaming blog, because it generally is.

Exclusive: Nintendo’s Laurent Fischer “regrets” geeks and otaku remark [videogaming247]

It's a mad season for basketball lovers, but even the most hardcore hoops fan needs a break from the action this time of year. While they're a far cry from basketball, the latest additions to the Wii Shop Channel offer plenty of fast-moving fun and high-scoring thrills of their own.

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

March 24, 2008

It's a mad season for basketball lovers, but even the most hardcore hoops fan needs a break from the action this time of year. While they're a far cry from basketball, the latest additions to the Wii Shop Channel offer plenty of fast-moving fun and high-scoring thrills of their own. Check them out and get a fresh taste of gaming excitement that can last well into April and beyond.

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

KING'S KNIGHT� (NES�, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): In the kingdom of Izander, the fair Princess Claire has been kidnapped by a foul and insidious dragon, and it is the mission of four brave fighters to save her. Through five thrilling, fast-action stages, our gallant heroes-a knight, a wizard, a monster and a thief-will take on an army of incredible enemies. You must help them reach their goal, as you are now part of the team that will fight to free the princess from her imprisonment. Keep your wits about you, plan your strategy and set off on an exciting adventure.

POWERBALL� (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Eight different teams representing various nations are vying to become the POWERBALL champions, and you control one of the eight in your quest for the championship. A hybrid of games like rugby and football, POWERBALL is played on a 100-yard field. Try to score by either carrying the ball into your opponent's end zone or kicking it into your opponent's net for points. This one- or two-player game offers both exhibition and league play. Jump into a game of POWERBALL and try a brand new sport.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Pokemon.com - They Show You Their Pokemans [Nintendo - Thanks Daniel!]

SNK to Release Classic NEOGEO Arcade Games on Wii(tm) Virtual Console(tm)

Wall, NJ - Sep 12, 2007 SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, the U.S. publishing arm of the SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, today announced that the Company will release several of their greatest NEOGEO arcade games via the Virtual Console(tm) feature on Wii(tm). Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(tm) to download these classic games through the Wii Shop Channel. D4Enterprise, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, will manage the release of the titles.

Key NEOGEO titles will include "Fatal Fury," "World Heroes," and "Art of Fighting." Each title is expected to cost 900 Wii Points. More titles will follow over the coming months

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

July 30, 2007

The Virtual Console is like a box of chocolates: You never know which games have the tasty caramel filling and which ones have that pink-green creme inside. Whatever your preference, we've got you covered with this weeks release of Star Soldier, Dynamite Headdy and Drop Off. Read on and savor the delicious centers of these classic treats.

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

Star Soldier (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): The standard for vertically scrolling shooters, Star Soldier is the original game that spawned all of the titles in the long-running Soldier series. Go inside a floating space station inhabited by a giant computer known as Starbrain. Your mission: to stop Starbrain's galactic invasion by piloting Caesar, a new, compact space fighter through 16 deadly stages. Collect power capsules to increase three different attributes of your ship: firepower, movement speed and defensive shields. Blast wave after wave of approaching enemies or use the innovative Trap Zone feature to fly beneath a land mass and avoid incoming fire. Conquer each stage to make your way to the final confrontation with Starbrain.

Dynamite Headdy (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): Headdy, a toy with a detachable head, arrives in North Town to find that the evil puppet king Dark Demon is causing serious problems. Dark Demon is gathering up all the puppets in town and turning some into his own evil minions, while eliminating the rest of the puppets that aren't good enough to join his legions. Headdy is captured and is targeted for the incinerator, but escapes in the nick of time. Now he's got to save the town. To do so, Headdy has to take on all manner of bad guys and even has to contend with his lifelong nemesis, Trouble Bruin the bear. Can Headdy overcome all his foes and take down Dark Demon?

Drop Off (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Brave five rounds of haunting, nightmarish dreams in this take on the classic arcade puzzler. To save his dearly beloved from the malicious demon that controls her dreams and holds her captive, our brave hero plunges himself into the nightmare to vanquish this evil foe. Deftly use the arrow items and control the angle of the ball to shatter the blocks that descend from the top of the screen. Set your sights on the joints holding the blocks together and knock off multiple blocks in one exhilarating blow. As you drop more and more blocks, their shapes will change, allowing you to earn bonus points. You must use your concentration and reflexes to defeat the demon and save your beloved.

F-Zero X (Nintendo 64 - 1,000 Points) Been awhile since we've seen an N64 game popping up, and this one is certainly no slouch. An excellent title for it's time, I wouldn't spend 1,000 points on it, especially considering I can get F-Zero GX used for $7.99, and that'll run on the Wii just fine.

Street Fighter® II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting (SNES - 800 Points) Another title I wouldn't spend points on, simply because I've played it to death. There is nothing novel at all about playing an old version of Street Fighter on a shiny new console. Besides, everything plays Street Fighter II these days - I was playing it from inside Second Life this weekend. This fulfills my need to mention Second Life at least once a week.

China Warrior (TGFX16 - 600 Points) The story of a man whose wife is killed at their wedding by gang members, and he arms himself with the dishes from the reception hall to deal out fine porcelain justice. You can hit the jump for the real description, but mine is much more intriguing.

So a couple of big names this week in SF and F-Zero, but nothing that really screams "BUY ME". I guess I'll just have to show the world my Pokemans instead. Michael Fahey

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

June 25, 2007

Forget the lemonade and long naps. If it's summer action you're after, head straight to the Wii Shop Channel for a thrill-packed selection of fast-driving, high-flying, hard-hitting games. This week's new additions include futuristic racers and fierce fighters guaranteed to liven up your lazy summer.

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

F-Zero® X (Nintendo® 64, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Choose from 30 different hover-car racers, including updated versions of the Blue Falcon and other vehicles from the original F-Zero, and get ready to play one of the fastest racers ever. You'll speed to the finish line on tracks that twist and turn through the air, doing your best to avoid the other 29 cars on the track. If you're in a competitive mood, try to win a Grand Prix Cup, get the fastest lap time in a Time Trial or destroy the competition in a Death Race. You can also challenge three friends in the Versus mode. With five separate play modes, hidden vehicles and courses, and an excellent soundtrack, F-Zero X still represents one of the best racing titles to date.

Street Fighter® II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Super NES®, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen -Violence, 800 Wii Points): Street Fighter II defined gaming in the 1990s by revolutionizing the fighting-game genre. Regarded as one of the greatest games of all time, Street Fighter II' Turbo: Hyper Fighting was the third and final release in the original series. Featuring the eight original World Warriors (including Ryu, Chun Li and Guile) along with playable boss characters (Balrog, Sagat and M. Bison), this classic title offered enhanced playing speed and improved character balancing.

China Warrior (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older -Violence, 600 Wii Points): China Warrior is a side-scrolling action game that was released around the same time as the TurboGrafx16 in Japan. It's up to the kung fu master Wang to defeat the Dark Emperor, who stands atop the kung fu world in China. Punch, kick and jump-kick enemies along the path that lies between you and the three bosses of each stage. Skillfully fight your way through all four stages, and be sure not to miss recovery items while dodging enemy attacks. China Warrior boasts character size and detail that rivaled all other games at the time of its release. Exciting one-on-one fights against the game's realistic bosses will make you feel like you're in the middle of a kung fu movie.

'Pop hopping' is the single most ridiculous phrase I've seen in a press release, and this week marks one of the least exciting Virtual Console updates in recent memory, at least from my point of view. Two sports titles and an entry in the Rambo genre would hardly make my pop hop, even if it is a Mario golf game.

NES Open Tournament Golf (NES - 500 Points): A precursor to the Mario Golf series, only without any of the fun bits that made the game a true Mario title. Generic Golfing With Mario would have been a better title.

World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 600 Points): The summer Olympics, as envisioned by the fine folks at Hudson Soft. Not a bad little party game for its time. Painfully not its time anymore.

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16 600 Points): You and a friend can play as John Rambo, only Data East didn't have that license, so you are Snake and Wolf...but really Rambo. Side-view run and gun from good ol' Data East.

In the interest of full disclosure my father passed away eight years ago, but the point still stands...meh. Michael Fahey

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

June 18, 2007

Father's Day is over, but the Wii Shop Channel has plenty of competitive games to keep pop hopping. Whether dad's a golf fan, an overall sports enthusiast or just a guy who likes to rescue prisoners with his special forces buddies, this is the week for him.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ 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 Open Tournament Golf™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): We all knew that Mario™ was a top-notch plumber, but did you know that he could also be a world-class golfer? You can challenge another player in Stroke, Match and Tournament modes. Play on three fantasy courses in the USA, the UK and Japan and try to win a million dollars. Make sure you keep an eye on the wind and distance to the hole before selecting your club, or else you'll be racking up some high scores - which is exactly what you don't want to do in this game. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced golfer, NES Open Tournament Golf is perfect for those days when you just can't get to the local golf course.

World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Play through a total of 18 Olympic events in this action/sports title. Players compete in six categories of events that include shooting, archery, rowing, swimming and track and field. The game features Olympics mode, where you play all the events over the course of a few days, and Training mode, where you can choose individual events to play. After practicing in Training mode, go for the gold in Olympics mode and break world records. Depending on your play time and ability, you can enjoy the game a number of different ways. Gather friends and play in competitions with up to five players to get even more out of this great game.

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood, Violence, 600 Wii Points): Enter alone, deep into enemy territory to rescue the kidnapped President in this overhead-view action shooter. Take on the role of a commando in a Special Forces team and face your enemies with an onslaught of weapons, including machine guns and grenades. Earn valuable information, weapons and items by rescuing POWs. Fight your way to the end of each stage and defeat the boss by effectively using your weapons and equipment. This port of the insanely popular arcade game features refined graphics, story and cut-scenes, making this action game a must-have. This new and enhanced version includes the never-been-told second half of the story that was left out of the arcade version.

Jake over on 8Bit Joystick writes that he recently filled up his Wii. That is to say after purchasing The Legend of Zelda II for NES and Ordyne for TurboGrafx 16 on the Virtual Console he maxes out the VC games he can display on his Wii menu.

If you aren't an ardent purchaser of VC games you might not realize that the Wii channel slots for the VC games you purchase are actually limited to a set number. Jake not only filled all of the channels where he can display games, he also nearly filled up the 512 Megs of storage memory on his console.

The problem for Jake now is that if he wants to buy more games he has to save the old ones to an SD and then delete them from his system. While this may not be an issue you have, it could become one, especially with the NeoGeo games headed to the Wii. Each of those bad boys can suck up more than 100 Megs of space on your console.

Jake's hoping a future system update will allow gamers to play VC games off of an SD card and perhaps let you use the USB ports to plug in an external harddrive. Both good calls, if you ask me. Brian Crecente

My Wii is Full [8Bit Joystick]

The headline says it all this weeks dosage of gaming nostalgia for the Wii includes three classics. Hey, whatever happened to original content for the Wii's virtual console?

While you hold your breath, check out these titles:

Lode Runner(R) (NES(R), 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points):
This landmark action-puzzle game has been a worldwide fixture in video games from the moment of its inception until today, producing many sequels and related products along the way. The player controls the hero, or "Runner,"
who collects gold nuggets located around every stage, all the while avoiding capture by enemy robots. The action itself is simple, but the stages are designed as increasingly challenging puzzles, and none of the 50 stages is as
easy as it seems. The Runner avoids enemies by digging holes in the floor to the right and left of his position—by doing this, he can clear a path to places that, at first glance, seem unreachable. Players must use their brains
to collect all the gold nuggets in every puzzling stage if they want to escape to the next. In addition to normal play, this version of the game features an Edit Mode that allows players to design their own stages, adding a new level
of enjoyment to the game.

Sonic the Hedgehog(TM) 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points):
Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) is back to continue his zealous search for the Chaos Emeralds needed to fuel his new Death Egg contraption. The evil doctor secretly follows Sonic to his vacation spot, Westside Island, and launches a full-scale attack, imprisoning all the helpless animals of the island and turning them into mindless worker drones. Now Sonic must thwart the doctor's plans at all costs. This time he isn't alone, as a peculiar two-tailed fox named Miles Prower (aka Tails) decides to aid him in the battle. Together they must locate the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, and put an end to his diabolical scheme.

Golden Axe(TM) II (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points):
Not long after the devastating reign of the wicked Death Adder, another evil arose. Dark Guld and his minions invaded and took hold of the prized Golden Axe with plans to destroy it. Once again, as a fierce barbarian named Ax-Battler, a fearless female Amazon known as Tyris-Flare or a ferocious dwarf named Gilius Thunderhead, you will wield steely swords and powerful magic in an all-out war to recover the sword. Once you slash your way through the six side-scrolling levels, you'll get the chance to defeat Dark Guld once and for all.

Brian Crecente

Goodness, has it been 100 titles already? Our little boy is growing up so fast. *wipes away a tear* Nintendo's George Harrison gushes:

"With an Internet connection rate reaching 40 percent, Wii owners have more options than ever to find the kinds of games they love to play," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Beyond the Wii Shop Channel, all types of people are getting connected and checking out the information and entertainment options available on the Wii Menu. Whether voting, creating a Mii or just checking the weather..."

WII HITS YET ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE: 100TH CLASSIC GAME ADDED TO VIRTUAL CONSOLE

Gamers Worldwide Already Have Downloaded More Than 4.7 Million Retro Games, at a Rate of 1,000 an Hour

REDMOND, Wash., June 1, 2007 Nintendo is giving video game fans a way to access their favorite classic games, all without leaving the comfort of their homes. And gamers have responded en masse as the library of downloadable game classics continues to grow. The upcoming addition of Zelda II The Adventure of Link on June 4 marks the 100th classic game available on the Wii Shop Channel. And since going online Nov. 19, owners of Nintendo's hot Wi video game system have downloaded more than 4.7 million classic games from Wii's Virtual Console, a rate of more than 1,000 games every hour since launch. The top five classic game downloads globally to date, and their original system are:

1) Super Mario Bros.(NES)
2) Super Mario 64 (N64)
3) Mario Kart 64 (N64)
4) Super Mario World (SNES)
5) The Legend of Zelda (NES)

Wii lets players visit the Wii Shop Channel to redeem Wii Points to download classic video games from the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super NES and the Nintendo 64, and the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx16 consoles. These games are nostalgic totems to veteran gamers, and simultaneously, new, easy-to-play entries for younger players. These games demonstrate Nintendo's staying power across generations by letting veteran gamers relive their glory days while their children play them for the first time. The addition of Zelda II The Adventure of Link brings a fourth Legend of Zelda game to the Wii Shop Channel from three classic Nintendo platforms, providing exciting adventures that span the decades. Additional classic games are added to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday.

"With an Internet connection rate reaching 40 percent, Wii owners have more options than ever to find the kinds of games they love to play," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Beyond the Wii Shop Channel, all types of people are getting connected and checking out the information and entertainment options available on the Wii Menu. Whether voting, creating a Mii or just checking the weather, everyone has a favorite channel."

The Wii Shop Channel is one of the many entertainment and informational channels that are available via the Wii system. Others include the Forecast Channel, the News Channel, the Mii Channel, the Everybody Votes Channel, the Photo Channel and the Internet Channel. Each of these broadens the appeal of Wii to new audiences and draws in consumers who might not otherwise be interested in a video game system.

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Bo Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.4 billion video games and more than 409 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokemon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.

ActRaiser is an Enix game for the SNES that combines side-scrolling action with sim building to create what amounts to God struggles to free the world from what amounts to The Devil. Nintendo of America severely watered down the religious overtones of the game, but the subtext shines through. I won't give anything away, but the ending is just...well I won't say inspiring. Play the game and see for yourself.

Also coming this week is Genesis hit Kid Chameleon, which puts you in the shoes of the titular character as he travels into a video game world, transforming himself into various game characters in order to save a bunch of worthless arcade rats from certain doom.

Finally we have JJ & Jeff, a TurboGrafx 16 game featuring bumbling detectives and potty humor, which like ActRaiser's religious theme was severely toned down for US audiences, who cannot handle too much God or too much poop apparently.

ActRaiser and Kid C will set you back 800 points, while J.J. and Jeff are 200 points cheaper. Feel free to hit the jump for the press release, secure in the knowledge that the moon will not come crashing down upon you for at least another week. I'm going back to bed, for my job here is done. Michael Fahey

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

It's the end of a three-day weekend, but there's still time to cram some last-
minute gaming into your life. And what better way to do that than to go on a
quest? Today the Wii Shop Channel on the Wii™ home video game system from
Nintendo offers three questing opportunities for folks who aren't quite ready
to surrender their weekends: battling an evil dude and regaining your godly
powers; rescuing your friends, who have been sucked into a video game; and
rescuing "a wealthy man who's been kidnapped."

So do whatever it is you usually do when you go on a quest. Pack a cooler with
deep-fried munchies and energy drinks. Dial up your best elf, dwarf and wizard
buddies. Or grab your pal Hadji and your dog Bandit. Whatever. Just get
questing.

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

ActRaiser™ (SNES®, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): A masterpiece of game design
originally released in the early days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment
System®, ActRaiser's enduring popularity stems from its revolutionary
combination of action- and simulation-based game play. The user plays the role
of the Master, a dethroned deity whose once-idyllic world has fallen under the
control of the Evil One. Stripped of godly power, the Master must somehow put
an end to the Evil One's reign and rebuild his desolate realm. Game play
alternates between two modes: Action and Simulation. In Action mode, the
Master must battle against impossible odds to pacify six lands. Pacifying a
land unlocks Simulation mode. In this mode, the Master must oversee the
development and repopulation of the territory he has reclaimed. In doing so,
he will gain followers who gradually restore his godly might, empowering him
to take back the next land and, ultimately, defeat the Evil One.

Kid Chameleon™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): The local arcade
is packed with kids, all lining up to play the latest, most realistic video
game they've ever seen. It's called Wild Side, and it uses holographic images
to immerse the player in a strange world. But there's a problem... Kids are
literally getting sucked into the game, and now several of them are trapped.
Throughout more than 100 levels, you'll take on several different forms, such
as a Berzerker, a Micromax, a Maniaxe or a Skycutter, which will make you much
more powerful. It's up to you, Kid Chameleon, the best gamer in town, to get
yourself inside the game so that you can defeat the game's boss and bring your
friends back to reality.

J.J. & JEFF (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): This comical action game
features two bungling detectives, J.J. and JEFF, as they travel through a
total of six fields. One day, a request comes into their office to take a case
that requires them to "rescue a wealthy man who's been kidnapped." Choose
between the two characters and set off alone to outwit your partner and save
the day. Each field is broken down into four areas, where enemies, as well as
your partner, will try to keep you from your goal. There are many items
throughout each area. Kick around in various locations to make them appear.
Jump and spray-paint your way toward your goal. If you find a hidden room, you
can regain health while being completely entertained by its short sketch and
surreal allure.

The elves mining Nintendo's vaults for classic games have unearthed three new ones to add to the Wii Shop Channel. They feature ragers, lasers and, um, monkeys not in cages. Anyway, it's unlikely that you've played all three of these, so go ahead and check 'em out. Or the elves will cry.

Donkey Kong Country 2 - Diddy Kong's Quest (SNES - 800 Points): That's an awfully long title for the sequel to the original plastic cartoon monkey game. As I've said before, if cartoon monkeys' have an uncanny valley, this series nails it.

Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis - 800 Points): Sequel to the classic beat-em up, insert long, convoluted and ultimately unnecessary storyline here. It's Streets of Rage, only 1 better.

Blazing Lazers (TGFX16 - 600 Points): Best damn shooter on the TurboGrafx, if not best game overall. I used to sit outside the electronics store at the mall and watch the demo of this game run for hours, until that one security guard would come and throw me out for flicking cigarette ashes in the plants. Screw that guy, Blazing Lazers kicks ass.

Kind of surprised mysterious Nintendo PR person hasn't started writing snappy outros as well. Eventually I won't have to type anything at all. I'll just sit here and wait for the next Nin-PR email to pop up, copy and paste. Hmph. Michael Fahey

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL

May 21, 2007

The elves mining Nintendo's vaults for classic games have unearthed three new ones to add to the Wii Shop Channel. They feature ragers, lasers and, um, monkeys not in cages. Anyway, it's unlikely that you've played all three of these, so go ahead and check 'em out. Or the elves will cry.

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

Donkey Kong Country 2™: Diddy's Kong Quest™ (SNES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the sequel to the immensely popular Donkey Kong Country™, Diddy Kong® gets the spotlight, along with his girlfriend, Dixie Kong™ - a great little monkey with a dangerous ponytail. The action starts on the wreck of King K. Rool's Gangplank Galleon that has apparently broken up on a reef offshore from the Kremlings' Island. Diddy and his friends will have to work together to rescue Donkey Kong®, exploring all the hidden areas of the Kremlings' island: a spooky haunted forest, treacherous swamps, a giant beehive oozing with sticky honey and lava-filled caves, just to name a few.

Streets of Rage™ 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): To celebrate their defeat of the Syndicate exactly one year before, Blaze, Adam and Axel met for drinks. The next morning, Axel received a frantic phone call from Eddie "Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, whom he was living with on the edge of the city. Blaze and Axel found Adam and Skate's house wrecked, and a picture showing Adam chained up at the feet of Mr. X. The city then once again returned to its nightmarish state as criminals ran rampant. Unable to contact their old friend in artillery, Axel and Blaze team up with Skate and Max Thunder to free the city and rescue Adam from the Syndicate. It is up to you to take down Mr. X once and for all.

Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Blazing Lazers is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was praised for surpassing the limitations of the hardware of its time. Players control the extraordinary firepower of their Gunhed Star Fighter to take on the Dark Squadron that has begun its invasion of Earth. Collect power-ups to increase your ship's battle strength so it can cut through enemies and defeat the bosses in all nine areas. Of course, as part of the "Soldier" series, the game contains a good combination of fast-paced speed with catchy, drum-propelled background music, coupled with the Field Thunder that can be used to destroy enemies in one fell swoop for the ultimate sense of satisfaction. With its fine-tuned difficulty levels, Blazing Lazers is a shooting game that anyone can enjoy.

It's the age-old question: Which is cooler, ninjas or circular yellow dot-eaters?

Ninja Gaiden (NES - 500 points): Before Ryu Hayabusa is a young ninja who travels to America to avenge his father's death so he can hang out with scantily clad women without feeling all guilty about it. One of the most enjoyable NES titles of all time, Ninja Gaiden will make you really f***ing hate birds.

Ninja Spirit (TGFX16 - 600 Points): A ninja named Moonlight on a quest for revenge after his father is killed...hey wait a minute.

Pac-Man (NES - 500 Points): Does anyone care at this point? Half the items in my house can play arcade perfect Pac-Man ports. Besides, he isn't a ninja.

There you have it, this week's additions to the Virtual Console library. Two deadly killing machines and a partially eaten pizza. As a wise man once said, go ninja go ninja go! Michael Fahey

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

It's the age-old question: Which is cooler, ninjas or circular yellow dot- eaters? This week the Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel gives gamers the chance to explore this subject in depth, with three awesome classic games.

The three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii 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:

Pac-Man(R) (NES(R), 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Move Pac-Man through the maze, avoiding ghosts and eating all the Pac-Dots. Beware, each of the ghosts behave differently. When Pac-Man chomps a Power Pellet, he becomes invincible and is able to eat the blue ghosts. The more ghosts Pac-Man eats in a row, the higher the score. Don't forget to eat the bonus fruit too. Released in 1980, Pac-Man is the most well-known video game on Earth and is also commonly acknowledged as one of the most successful coin-operated games in history. Enjoy this masterpiece of gaming history today.

Ninja Gaiden(TM) (NES(R), 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Players take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a rising warrior in his family's clan whose main role in the world is to protect the Dark Dragon Blade from falling into the hands of evil. Ryu travels to America to seek vengeance for his father's death. Players fight their way through 14 challenging side-scrolling levels while defeating gangs of street thugs, battling evil ninjas and fighting barbarian bosses by using the deadly Dragon Sword, ninja skills and Ninpo (ninja magic). Players can run, crouch, jump and climb as they make their way through each stage and collect items to gain points, strength and weapons.

Ninja Spirit (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Ninja Spirit is a side-scrolling action game that amazed the gaming world with its precision graphics and quality game play. Play as the ninja Moonlight and engage in a fierce battle to avenge his father's death and unlock the secrets of his birth. Select between the original ARCADE MODE and PC-ENGINE MODE, which includes a life gauge. Use four types of weapons: katana, shuriken, bombs and chain and sickles to battle your way through the enemies. Pick up power-up items and switch between weapons to give you the advantage. You'll need to consider the enemy attacks and your weapon's abilities in order to deftly make it through all seven stages. Use your skills and attacks to get through the game's boundless enemies and traps. That's what ninja action is all about.

Enter the new hack for the Sega Genesis controller to add to your accessories for your Nintendo Wii. All you need is a some wiring know-how, a Genesis controller, and a shopping list only a geek like my dad can understand. A couple of hours and expletives later, you too could be a proud owner of a classic controller that works on a not-so classic machine. Kim Phu

Wireless Sega Genesis Controller for Wii [Cre.ations via Sega Nerds]

Battle Lode Runner (TurboGrafx 16 - 600Points): Never released stateside, Battle Lode Runner is a PC Engine version of the classic platformer. The original PC title was one of the first games to come with a level editor, and so does this one, along with a five-player battle mode which promises you'll have great bouts of fun until you stop. Back in the day there were no Halo VS Metroid debates. It was all about Lode Runner versus Jumpman. Jumpman 4 life y'all.

Gradius III (SNES - 800 Points): One of my personal favorite entries in the Gradius series, II introduced a customizable powerup bar to aid those of you who always went one past the laser power up. Hours of fun blasting moai statues in your trusty Vic Viper.

Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis - 800 Points): Oh Wonder Boy...what is the secret of your power? This is the second Wonder Boy title from Sega, also released as Super Monster World: Super Wonder Boy and Super Wonder Boy in Monsterland. No matter what you call it, this platformer with RPG elements can kill a yak from 200 yards away...with MIND BULLETS. That's telekinesis folks.

So there you go, a lovely assortment of classic gaming this week. It's a pity you'll all be far too busy playing with your pocket monsters to notice. Don't lie, you know you love the Pikachu. Michael Fahey

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

Admit it. Somewhere deep inside, you've always wanted to go for the gold, take down Monster World, and have people call you Vic Viper. How cool would that be? Well, pay a visit to the popular Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel, and all those fantasies can now come true.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii 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:

Gradius(R)III (SNES(R), 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Return as the pilot of the Vic Viper starfighter to battle the onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire. Blast through 10 action-packed levels in space, destroying everything in your path. Customize and power up your ship with weapons and upgrades including speed-ups, missiles, lasers, options, and shields.

Wonder Boy(TM) in Monster World (Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Monster World was a peaceful, happy place until one dark day when an army of BioMeka monsters invaded. As a young man named Shion, you've vowed to defeat the hostile foes and make the land peaceful again. You'll attack enemies with swords and spears and guard against incoming projectiles with shields and armor. As you travel through the many different regions of Monster World, you'll talk to the townspeople, collect money to buy items, and gather a large variety of weapons and magic. The further you venture, the more powerful your weapons and equipment, including suits of armor and boots, will become.

Battle Lode Runner(R) (TurboGrafx 16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): This upgraded edition to the famous Lode Runner series includes a 5-player versus mode. Gold funds have been stolen from the Time Machine Research Center, and the group responsible used a time machine to escape and hide the gold throughout time. The center sends an elite team of "Runners" to go and retrieve the gold.

In addition to the familiar Puzzle mode, the game features Battle mode, where up to 5 players can compete, and Edit mode, where you can create your own original stages. You can enjoy Battle mode in a number of different ways. Be the last one standing to win in Survival. Grab items from enemies and escape to win in Escape. With 4 players, you can separate into two teams to do battle in Tag Match.

It's Monday which means new games on the Wii Shop Channel for everyone to enjoy. Punch Out!! (500 points), Virtua Fighter (800 points), and Bonk's Revenge (600 points) are now available for everyone who was disappointed at their tax refund and need to be frugal for the rest of the month.

Of course, nothing saves $250 better than those Wii shortages. Kim Phu

[Wii-kly Update]

Punch Out!!! (NES - 500 Points): Originally Mike Tyson's Punch Out, the games was later released as Punch Out!! featuring Mr. Dream due to contract issues and Tyson's loss to Buster Douglas. Hands-down the best boxing title until Ready 2 Rumble.

Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis - 800 Points): Take that, Xbox 360 and PS3! You thought you were he only ones getting Virtua Fighter? Eat it! The Wii is not only getting a VF title, but an eleven year old one to boot. It's not even the best port of the game either, with much better PC and Saturn versions available, so...um. Yeah. Take that, you next-generation powerhouses. *sigh*

Bonk's Revenge (TGFX16 - 600 Points): The stirring story of an encephalitic caveman who finds a way to turn a debilitating condition into a tool for prehistoric justice, killing various plants and animals with his enlarged cranium in his quest to recover half of the moon, stolen by King Drool III. Sometimes he bites stuff.

Sometimes the VC update also bites stuff, and this feels like one of these times for me despite my penchant for physical violence. The games are all great mind you, but not titles I feel the need to play over again. Press release says knock you out, after the jump. Michael Fahey

April 16, 2007 Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

Three classic games from three classic systems. The only problem you'll have this week is deciding which one to download first. For the best retro gaming around, it's time to pay a visit to the popular Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii 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:

Punch Out!!(R) Featuring Mr. Dream (NES(R), 1 player, 500 Wii Points): As young boxer Little Mac, players have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to battle the big guys of the World Video Boxing Association circuit. Take them on one by one, starting with skinny Glass Joe. Battle up through King Hippo and all the way to the WVBA Champion himself. Players use their best jabs, hooks and power uppercuts to knock out opponents, but must pay attention to subtle changes in their body position to dodge jaw-breaking blows. With great graphics, addictive action and a touch of humor, this game will keep players entertained for hours.

Virtua Fighter(TM) 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Virtua Fighter was the very first 3-D fighting game in the industry and introduced six unique characters, each with their own martial arts style. In Virtua Fighter 2, the intrepid fighters return to the World Fighting Tournament. Players take to the stage to see who will claim the championship title. Will it be Lau Chan, Kage-Maru, Wolf Hawkfield, Jeffry McWild, Akira Yuki, Jacky Bryant, Sarah Bryant or Pai Chan? The answer lies within. Players immerse themselves in this technically challenging game and see if they have what it takes to be the champion of the second World Fighting Tournament.

Bonk's Revenge (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): The "hardheaded" hero is back for more in the second installment of the Bonk series. Taking place in the Monster Kingdom, Bonk the Caveman makes his way toward King Drool III. Bonk's Revenge is a side-scrolling action game in which players Jump and "Bonk" (head-butt) their enemies while they make their way to the goal at the end of each stage. Double, even triple, attack power by eating the meat that appears in a stage. There are eight different hidden bonus stages, and the Dinosaur Train that appears after players defeat a boss will change depending on how many Smileys they've collected. With new actions such as the Triangle Jump and the ability to climb trees, as well as seven variety-packed stages, Bonk's Revenge will keep players playing over and over.

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