Virtual releases for the week of June 9th: still pissed after last night edition

Colette Bennett

Published: Jun 9, 2008 12:49 pm

Recommended Videos

I know, your minds are filling up with all kinds of creative ideas about that edition title, but I assure you there were no pot-hurling fights or screaming matches involved whatsoever. Rather, I saw one of those films that makes you feel you truly wasted the hours of your life spent absorbing it, and I’m still struggling not to send hate mail to a director I expected vastly more from. But, about Nintendo!

WiiWare started out strong with its launch titles, but I’m not so sure about this week’s release. I can openly admit that I like Pokémon, but My Pokémon Ranch (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points) sounds more like a channel and less like a game — you can watch your Miis and Pokemon mingle in it. That’s about it. Not saying it wouldn’t make a cute screensaver, but to spend 1,000 points on it? Not so convinced.

It’s more likely I would rock out this week to Dig Dug (NES^®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points) as the champion of love, drilling for great justice (and if you think I made that up, read the press release). If you haven’t already played it, you probably are ten years younger than me or grew up under a rock, but anyone who knows their NES history will already be familiar with this classic.

I think my interest may be most piqued by BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (NES^®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points), which wins major points with me for its kooky name alone. Never released in the US until now, the game puts you in the role of Baby Upa, who must battle his way through seven levels by inflating enemies and using them to float or bounce further along. Sounds just weird enough to be up my alley.

In closing, I hope at least one of these games delights you this week, and do not EVER rent a Takashi Miike movie called Imprint. Ever.

Wii-kly Update

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

The latest additions to the Wii^™ Shop Channel offer a remarkable array of characters you won‘t find just anywhere. A fresh WiiWare^™ title gives Pokémon lovers a whole new way to wrangle and enjoy their little pals, while a pair of imported Virtual Console^™ releases will pump up the action quotient—literally—for fans of NES^® classics.

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 Pokémon^™ Ranch (Nintendo, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): The Pokémon phenomenon debuts on WiiWare with My Pokémon Ranch, a game that lets you watch as Pokémon and Miis interact with each other for the first time. Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon and Miis you bring to your ranch, the more fun it becomes. My Pokémon Ranch can be linked with the Nintendo DS^™ Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon® Pearl Game Cards to deposit the Pokémon you‘ve caught in these games in your ranch. You can deposit a maximum of 1,000 Pokémon from up to eight different game cards. Make your ranch livelier by playing with your friends and family.

Virtual Console™

DIG DUG^™ (NES^®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Become Dig Dug, the champion of love and justice, as you drill up, down, left and right, defeating any enemies in your path. Avoid the persistent Pooka and the deep-dwelling but whimsical Fygar as you defeat all the enemies in order to clear each stage. Defeat enemies by hitting them with the harpoon and pumping air into them, or by dropping rocks on them from above. Receive bonus points by getting the vegetables that appear in the middle of the stage. Receive high points for defeating deep-dwelling enemies or by defeating Fygars from the side with the harpoon. Pass through inflated enemies or defeat enemies in an adjacent passage for an even higher score. Lure multiple enemies and defeat them with a single rock from above in this thrilling action game.

BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA (NES^®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points): BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA is an action game released in 1988, but it was never available outside of Japan. Players take on the role of baby Upa, a prince of the Akuyo kingdom. Prince Upa must take on an adventure spanning seven different worlds in order to rescue the kingdom from the dangerous demon Zai. Upa must defeat the enemies he meets along the way by inflating them. Upa can then use these floating enemies to his advantage by bouncing off of or riding on top of them. The prince must also avoid deadly thorns and pits while keeping an eye out for helpful items such as milk (to restore health) and bells (for temporary invincibility) if he hopes to succeed. If you‘re looking for a cute and solid platformer with a hero unlike those in most other games, then look no further than BIO MIRACLE BOKUTTE UPA.

Virtual Console

Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more