Wii Shop releases: Strong Bad Ep. 3, ROTOHEX, Earthworm Jim

8:23 AM on 10.27.2008   |   Nick Chester

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The weekend's over folks; put the two days of debauchery and videogames behind you. It's Monday, so that means it's time to get down to business ... it's time to play some WiiWare and Virtual Console games, people.

As revealed last week, Telltale's third in its four-part point-and-click series
Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (1 player, 1000 Wii Points) comes to WiiWare. The episode features 100% more metal than previous Strong Bad episodes, and may or may not have been launched this week to tie-in (somehow) with the release of that rock game with instruments. 

If you're feeling a bit artsy, check out the WiiWare remake of the Game Boy Advance "bit Generations" title, Dialhex, which Nintendo are calling Art Style: ROTOHEX (1-2 players, 600 Wii Points). Rotate triangles + matching colored hexagons + ???? = PROFIT!

Finally, the best version of Earthworm Jim (1 player, 800 Wii Points) -- the Sega Genesis version -- comes to the Virtual Console. (Note: I have no real idea as to whether or not the Sega Genesis version of Earthworm Jim is the best version, but I totally sounded convincing, right?) 

 Wii-kly Update

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

It’s a rockin’ week at the Wii™ Shop Channel, featuring fresh additions to two hot WiiWare™ game series, plus a character-driven classic for the Virtual Console™. Fans of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People will find an awesome new installment, while those who’ve discovered Nintendo’s extraordinary Art Style™ series will discover an elegant new puzzle title to enjoy. And if you’ve got room in your game library for a heroic earthworm, don’t miss the Wii debut of the legendary Earthworm Jim™.

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

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older – Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Rock and roll! Hurting for cash, Strong Bad sets out to dominate the “Battle Royale of the Bands.” Can he rule the stage and win the big prize? Or will he be drowned out by the competition? Find out in this high-voltage episode.

Art Style: ROTOHEX™ (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Use colored triangular panels to create a vibrant mosaic of stained glass in Art Style: ROTOHEX. As triangles fall from the top of the screen, rotate them to group six panels of the same color and create a matching hexagon, or HEX. Once the HEX has been formed, it will disappear, allowing the existing panels to shift and more panels to fill the playing field. A clear-cut goal and two different styles of intuitive controls allow you to focus solely on the game play—which is vital, as the playing field will be full of panels before you know it. With multiple modes (unlock more as you progress further in SOLO mode), special item panels at your disposal, and the ability to play cooperatively or competitively with a friend, there will always be another HEX to create.

Virtual Console

Earthworm Jim (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Jim was an ordinary earthworm who did very earthworm-like things, such as flee from crows and eat dirt. One day, during an outer space fight, a suit drops to Earth and falls around Jim. It mutates him into a large and intelligent (at least by earthworm standards) superhero. Play as Jim in this Sega Genesis classic. When Jim learns of the evil plans of Psy-Crow and Queen Slug-for-a-Butt, he decides to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name. Run, gun, swing on hooks by your head and launch cows at the interesting characters you meet along the way, such as Major Mucus, Chuck and Fifi, Evil the Cat, and Bob the Killer Goldfish.