Wow! After a weak week last time around, Nintendo’s Wii Shop Channel has come back swinging with solid entries on both the Virtual Console and WiiWare. Seriously, Nintendo, I think you’ve earned more Wii Shop gold stars in the last two months than in the previous year. Anyway, Strong Bad fans can download the newest episode in the series, Baddest of the Bands, as promised last week. Appearing on the Virtual Console for the first time is my old buddy Earthworm Jim! That’s right, one of the most memorable games from the Genesis era has finally made its way to Download Town.

There’s also another one of those Art Style games, and I’m still not quite sure what that’s all about. Nintendo must put those together in a weekend, this is the third one in under a month. But hey, if you were looking for an almost-weekly series about… uh… art and stuff, you’re in luck.

Earthworm Jim
Sega Genesis
1 player
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.

Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands
1 player
1000 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
1-2 player
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.

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