Wii Rally

The new offerings at the Wii shop feature another music-themed WiiWare game and two classics originally for the TurboGrafx16.

Groovin’ Blocks (Empty Clip Studios, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points) - Groovin’ Blocks is a puzzle game that if you play to the rhythm of the music then you earn more points. You can either play cooperative or go head-to-head against friends. There are three levels of gameplay that should suit any type of gamer.

Final Solider (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence, 700 Wii Points) - This is a vertically scrolling shooter from the popular Soldier series. There is normal game play but also a two minute and five minute options for shorter games.

Cho Aniki (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone and Older—Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 900 Wii Points) - This shooter sets the player in the shoes of a warrior trying to take down an evil ruler of the Planet Builder.

One new WiiWare game and two new virtual console games are now available this first week of September -

WiiWare -
My Aquarium (Hudson Entertainment, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points) - Relax as you take care of your virtual aquarium. Swaying plants and over 40 fish that you can send you Wii friends might make this one worth checking out.

Virtual Console -

Clu Clu Land™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points) - Another underwater adventure but this one has more action. This puzzle game will have you recovering the gold bars stolen from Clu Clu Land. 20 levels of fun and it’s two player as well.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points) - Mario has to save the princess yet again but this time a new villain is added to the mix. This game balances RPG with good ole Mario-style game play.

Ready for the next “get off the couch and move” game for the Wii? Well, get ready because it’s coming early September.

Active Life Oudoor Challenge is the first in a series of games that feature its own playing mat and is meant to keep you on your toes. There’s over a dozen games like jump rope, river rafting, and water trampoline that will get your whole body into the game.

Play as your Mii as you traverse the varied game play using the special Active Live mat. Think DDR mat but with a slightly different look.

Active Life Outdoor Challenge is rated Everyone. The next game in the series will be Active Life Athletic World. It doesn’t have a release date yet. Outdoor Challenge is slated to be released September 9, 2008.

Have some Wii points that are just burning a virtual hole in your console? Then check out this week’s new offerings at the Wii shop.

WiiWare

Midnight Pool is a pool game for 1-2 players. It costs 800 Wii points and is from Gameloft. You will travel across America to pursue your dream of winning a big pool tournament. There will be tutorials to help you learn trick shots and other impressive skills to help you become the best of the best.

Virtual Console

Mega Man was originally released for the NES and is for 1 player. Mega Man will take 500 Wii points. You take the realm as the blue bomber in his first mission to restore peace to a land ruled by the evil Dr. Wily.

Neo Turf Masters was originally released for the NEOGEO and is for 1-2 players. It costs 900 Wii points. Choose one of six golfers to play golf courses around the world.

Three new games are available this week at the Wii Shop.

For WiiWare, there is Strong Bad Episode 1: Homestar Ruiner (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated T for Teen-Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points).

For the Virtual Console, there are two new games:

Break In (TurboGrafx16, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Tobacco Reference, 700 Wii Points)

Star Parodier (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points)

The first episode of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attrractive People will be available August 11th for both the Wii and PC.

Wii users will be able to buy the episode for 1000 Wii Points through WiiWare. Each month a new episode will be available for download. Players will be able to send emails to their Wii friends in the style of Strong Bad. The in-game camera will allow players to take photos of easter egg objects found, so you can brag to your friends.

The first episode is entitled “Homestar Ruiner” and features Strong Bad taking on a his rival but his plans backfire. Now he must get rid of an unwanted houseguest.

I bought a Sega Dreamcast off eBay a few years back for $15. At the time the Dreamcast had lost support, so new games weren’t coming out for the underrated system and what games were out there were very reasonably priced.

My husband picked me up Jet Grind Radio for the Dreamcast. After the store discounts, it was only 25 cents. He had heard from a friend about the game and thought I might like it. And I did as it was fun and innovative, much like many Dreamcast titles.

Jet Grind Radio was a fun game. It featured great music and interesting game play. You skate your way through levels, learning new tricks and also leaving your mark all over Toyko by spray painting. And you need to stay ahead of the cops or it’s game over.

So, when I ran across this story of what Jet Grind Radio might look like for the Wii, I was intrigued. Apparently rumors are floating around that Jet Grind Radio might make a return and be available for the Wii. It would be interesting if rumored Jet Grind Radio for the Wii had Wii balance board support.

Apparently the rumors of Jet Grind Radio for the Wii surfaced at Comic Con. Since Samba de Amigo is being redone for the Wii, this rumor might just come to fruition. It would be great to see another popular title for the Dreamcast come to the Wii especially one that could potentially make good use of the Wiimote.

Hopefully there will official word soon on Jet Grind Radio for the Wii.

TV Show King is available for the Nintendo Wii through the Wii Shop. This WiiWare title casts you as a contestant on a game show. It’s trivia meets Wheel of Fortune.

You can choose how many trivia rounds you would like to play. Each round consists of so many questions that are worth points. The faster your answer, the higher the point value. There are also bonus questions in the round that are worth more points if answered correctly.

After each round, contestants will have the option to spinning the wheel that could earn them more money or lose it all. It’s a risky proposition but with the right spin could put you in the lead.

Up to four people can playing using their own Wiimote. You point and click to select your answer. Each question has four possible answers. Some rounds you might have to use the Wiimote to scratch off to reveal the answers or some will have you using the Wiimote as a flashlight to reveal each answer. Once you’ve locked in your choice, you can change your answer as long as there is time left on the clock.

Once the final round and final spin are over, the top two players square off in a trivia match. The first player to answer five questions correctly wins have the other player’s money.

Aside from the main game that is the tv show, players can play a lightning round that lasts until they answer a trivia question incorrectly.

TV Show King is a fun game especially for those who love trivia games. The game delivers some fun TV show game experiences with a host whose smile is as wide as the set and his lovely sidekick who reveals the game leaders after each round.

TV Show King is rated E and costs 1000 Wii Points.

If a pirate’s life is for you, then you should love what’s new at the Wii shop for WiiWare. Pirates - The Key of Dreams is now available featuring 35 levels and 7 themed areas of swashbuckling entertainment for you and your mateys to enjoy.

This naval shoot ‘em up will have you sailing around the Caribbean as a Navy Captain hot on the trail of a pirate out for the Key of Dreams - a valuable and cursed artifact. You can either play against your scurvy friends or play in single-player mode. Defeat enemies with weapons like Cannon, Chain-Shot, and Rockets. Sail and plunder various ports like Persian Gulf and Port Royal. You will have to fight merchants, sea monsters, and even Blackbeard.

Pirates The Key of Dreams is now available through the Wii Shop and will cost 1000 Wii points.

Release Date Fall 2008

The Lost in Blue series debuts on the Wii with it’s latest version, Shipwrecked! Explore the island and either find a way off this beautiful paradise or make a permanent home on it.

The graphics are much improved over the DS version of the series. With the Wiimote and Nunchuk, it will also be possible to explore more of the island. You will also have help in gathering object thanks for an animal companion and a new friend.

Beside the main game set on a beautiful 3-D island, you can play mini-games with a friend in cooperative mode. The better your score, the better the reward.

Lost in Blue was originally released for the Nintendo DS and has two sequels on the handheld console. This is the first time the franchise will debut on another gaming platform.

Rating is pending but expected to be E +10.

June was a very good month for the Nintendo Wii in the United States. With sales of over 666,000 units, that makes the Wii the number one console in the U.S.

Since it’s November 2006 release, the Nintendo Wii has sold over 10.9 million units in the USA according to tracking information provided by NPD Group.

The Nintendo Wii markets itself to gamers and non-gamers by promoting more social and mini-games that anyone can enjoy.

Also, the report listed six Nintendo games in the top 10 best sellers of June including Guitar Hero® On Tour (No. 2), Wii Fit (No. 4), Wii Play (No. 5), Mario Kart® Wii (No. 6), LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for Wii (No. 7) and LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for Nintendo DS (No. 9).

Release Date Holiday 2008

Mama is back in the kitchen with new recipes, new gameplay mode, and much more. Use the Wiimote to create potato salad, parfait, or even a California roll. If only real cooking was as fun and easy. You can cook against friends in two player local mode. This Wii sequel features new graphics, new mini-games, and is bound to be a big hit especially with fans of the original.

Release Date - October 2008

Dora makes her first appearance on the Wii. This is exciting news at the Little house because our toddler is crazy about Dora. The Dora games are for pre-schoolers - who make up the fan base of the TV show. The games feature fun activities that are easy and simple tasks that toddlers can do by themselves. Dora Saves the Snow Princess is not yet rated.

There were several Wii games that were on display during E3. Over the next few days, I will be posting a broad sample of those games with basic information and screen shots. First up is one that really grabs my attention just from the title - Lawn Games. I always thought that this would be a great area to explore for casual games.

Lawn Games will feature eight class outdoor games like badminton, lawn darts, and more. Players can even play in tournament mode with up to 32 people through Nintendo WIFI. Lawn Games will be released first quarter of 2009.

Release Date October 2008

Genre Action

Rating Rating Pending

Overview Crash must save his friends and the titans from the wrath of Neo Cortez who has discovered a powerful mind-controlling device.