Blog
Wii Shop Update 05.26.08
Memorial Day Edition
by Sarah
It may be Memorial Day here in the U.S., but the Wii Shop Channel is not taking a day off. Gamervision HQ is closed for the day, so I’ll likely be sitting in the couch in my pajamas, working out with Wii Fit, playing some more Penny Arcade Adventures, and checking out the new WiiWare releases. Dr. Mario Online RX, yay! I was obsessed with the original Dr. Mario as a kid, so I’m down with a new version. And then we have Family Table Tennis, which sounds to me like a less-violent version of ping pong (which is excessively violent in these parts). As you’ll see in the press release, Nintendo recognized my mad skills and gave me a shout-out.
Nintendo actually managed to remember the Virtual Console this week as well, giving us two whole old-school games. I never played Metal Slug, and up until about five minutes ago, I had no idea what City Connection was. Then I saw a screenshot and remembered it as a fun rental title from my youth. Okay, it was fun when I was a kid, no guarantees that it’s still worth five bucks. Anyone else going to be checking out these Wii Shop releases?
Metal Slug
Neo-Geo
1-2 Players
900 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.
City Connection
NES
1 Player
500 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.
Dr. Mario Online RX
1-4 Players
1000 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
1-2 Players
500 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.
Comments
I don't even want to think about the whole point of having Metal Slug released for VC for a whooping 900 points, when you can get all 7 Metal Slug games in a single anthology for roughly twice the price ;)
Aside from the fact that the Wii version is discontinued it seems ;)
Good point, Zantagor! Metal Slug fans, you might want to check around and see if your local GameStops have the anthology before making any Wii Point commitments. Not being a Metal Slug type of girl, I was ignorant to which games had actually been compiled already. Thanks for the tip!
About time Dr. Mario was released!
The Anthology is Metal Slug 1, 2, X, 3, 4, 5, 6 :)
Though oddly, on Amazon.ca, it goes at 106$ CDN! (3rd party provider)
but on amazon.com it goes at 39.99$ (you can probably find it much cheaper at gamespot)
Am I the only one pumped about City Connection? I played this like wild fire as a child. I wouldn't have even known it was out on the Wii Shop without this.
Yes, Jen. You are.