Virtual releases for the week of May 26th: hangover edition!

10:29 AM on 05.26.2008   |   Colette Bennett

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I would like to extend to you a witty take on why this rundown of WiiWare and Virtual Console games has earned the moniker of hangover edition, but the truth is I'm suffering the kind of hangover one only inflicts upon themselves the day before a holiday and my brain is the equivalent of a rotting egg.

With that in mind, I give you:

Dr Mario Online RX (WiiWare, Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Mario busts up viruses in the latest version of this germ blasting puzzle classic. You can play with up to four or send the demo to a friend, who will buy the game if Nintendo's temptation tactics work and just make them a smidge richer than they were before.

Family Table Tennis (WiiWare, Aksys Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points: In this family tennis game, you can play Daddy, Mommy, Sarah or Billy. Is that wholesome enough for you? You can play single player or versus, or if you get maxed out on those there are minigames to explore as well. 

City Connection (Virtual Console, NES^®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, Tobacco Reference, 500 Wii Points):  You drive across the country leaving a trail of white roads behind you. Cops are chasing you trying to get you to stop. It's pure arcade mayhem, I tell you.

Metal Slug (Virtual Console, NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen – Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Yay for the opportunity to download a Neo Geo game! I always wanted one as a kid, but due to their price there was no hope of me getting one. If you had the same problem you can download this game and enjoy blasting waves of enemy soldiers and machines with weapons like rocket launchers and flamethrowers. Any game where I get to use a rocket launcher is ok in my book.

That's it kids, I'm going back to bed to cover my face with a pillow. Enjoy your Memorial Day, but don't mix alcohols if you're drinking today. Bleh.

Wii-kly Update

Two WiiWare Games and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

This week's Wii-kly Update pretty much covers the full spectrum. Maybe you'll want to blast away with an arsenal of old-school weapons. But then again, three-day weekends are a good time to relax. So maybe you'll take a wild road trip or settle in for some table tennis. And if you overdo it, we have a physician standing by.

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™

Dr. Mario^® Online Rx (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): The doctor is in! Mario^™ takes a break from his adventuring ways and once again dons his stethoscope for a new generation of germ-battling mayhem. In addition to the classic mode of using vitamins to exterminate viruses, you'll find two battle modes and an online multiplayer mode where you can hone your skills against players from around the world. Feel like challenging a friend who doesn't have Dr. Mario Online Rx? Then the WiiWare-exclusive Friend Battle Demo is just what the doctor ordered. Or maybe you'd like some help taking on those nasty viruses? Try out Virus Buster, where four players can simultaneously move capsules simply by pointing at them with a Wii Remote™ controller. Any way you look at it, Dr. Mario Online Rx is a prescription for fun that everyone can enjoy.

Family Table Tennis (Aksys Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): It's time for some good old family fun, and what's more fun than table tennis? Just like a real family, choose your character from a cast of four, which includes Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy. There are four table tennis-tastic stages where it doesn't matter if you're an indoors or outdoors table-tennis player. Pick your poison from a gymnasium, a forest park, a beach or even an amusement park. Choose from Single or Versus mode, or select a minigame to play. In Versus mode, you and a friend can play against each other to see who is the better table-tennis player. And if Single and Versus modes aren't enough, select between three minigames, which include Target Table Tennis, Thrilling Table Tennis and Matching Table Tennis. The appealing cell-shaded graphics and endearing music, on top of the super-fun game play, will have you and your family playing from morning till night. Get your paddles ready.

Virtual Console™

City Connection^™ (NES^®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, Tobacco Reference, 500 Wii Points): Based on the arcade hit, a young man born in California sets out to tour famous sites and cities around the world. As he drives the highways surrounding these locations, the road is painted white as proof of his visit. Only once all sections of the road have been painted will he move on to the next location in his world tour. Not surprisingly, the local police will chase the driver and do their best to stop him from completing his goal. In addition, cats roam the highways and spikes lie in wait for unsuspecting drivers. To combat these dangers, the driver's customized car can jump, fire cans of oil and collect balloons to warp to a new stage. It's the ultimate road trip.

Metal Slug (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen – Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1996 by SNK, Metal Slug is a side-scrolling military-action game. Players control Marco and Tarma, both members of the special-ops force Team Peregrine Falcon (commonly known as Team PF), and battle their way through stage after stage of intense action. The goal is to try to overthrow General Morden and win back the stolen weapon, the Metal Slug. Players must blast through waves of enemies and machines (while also jumping over any obstacles in the way) to advance through the stages. It's not as hopeless as it might sound, though—weapons such as heavy machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers, as well as the Metal Slug itself (which appears frequently in the game), will make the battle easier. Take on General Morden with a friend to lighten your load and ramp up the excitement even more.