There was a small bet going around the office: would Nintendo screw Capcom this week and not release the expected? I keep my five dollars, folks, because Mega Man 9 (1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) is finally here today. 

The arrival of the Blue Bomber's newest adventure is great news for everyone but Bplus, whose puzzle shooter PLÄTTCHEN twist 'n' paint (1-8 players, 1,000 Wii Points) also comes to WiiWare. PLÄTTCHEN was one of the first games, if not the first game, to be announced for WiiWare -- it's a shame it's going to get buried under Capcom's 8-bit might. It's also a shame it's been getting such poor reviews.

If you're the one person who's not interested in the phony nostalgia of Mega Man 9, Virtual Console will also be getting two titles today: Super Dodge Ball (1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) and Vectorman (1 player, 800 Wii Points). Can these true 8-bit and 16-bit delights pull your attention away from the new school/old-school of Mega Man 9?

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.