WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL
March 16, 2009
Old-school
action is the main attraction at the Wii™ Shop Channel this week. With
a wealth of underground buzz already surrounding it, a brand new
WiiWare™ title uses vintage-looking graphics and 8-bit sounds to create
a rhythm-based game that's loaded with retro cool. Find out if you have
enough skill to create order from chaos in a game that is as
mesmerizing as it is challenging. Meanwhile, the latest addition to the
Virtual Console™ lineup brings a Commodore 64 classic to the Wii
console, proving that fans of international sports events needn't wait
until 2012 to get their track-and-field fix. Even if you're too young
to remember the original days of 8-bit gaming, these awesome titles
provide timeless kicks.
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
BIT.TRIP BEAT (Aksys Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): BIT.TRIP BEAT
is a rhythm game that brings retro action into the present, letting you
use the motion-sensing Wii Remote™ controller to bounce beats. Retro
visuals, classic game play, four-player multiplayer and an 8-bit
soundtrack will get you in the zone and rock your world. The challenges
are mighty, but if you can stay cool as the difficulty increases,
you'll discover the beginnings of the BIT.TRIP saga.
Virtual Console
Summer Games II™
(Commodore 64, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): A
thousand athletes. A hundred countries. Billions watching around the
world as you enter the stadium, marching confidently among your
nation's strongest, fastest and boldest young men and women. Your gaze
sweeps the crowd as you realize the scope of your achievement. You are
about to compete against the world's best athletes in a 3,000-year-old
competition. This is the pinnacle of athletic achievement: the Summer
Games. Summer Games II challenges your competitive skills with
a series of athletic contests for one to eight players. Experience the
excitement and realism of eight different events: cycling, equestrian,
fencing, high jump, javelin, kayaking, rowing and triple jump. Practice
each event to sharpen your skills, then choose from the 18 countries
you can represent in the competition.
BIT.TRIP BEAT IGN Review 8.0
I liked Summer Games II. I had a cousin with a C64 back in the day and that was a game I remember playing a lot of. Still. . . I don't think the Commodore 64 games have really held up that well over time. I'm sure those who have a hearty nostalgic investment in them would still enjoy them, but I have to pass.
Bit.Trip Beat looks interesting, but not for $6. I just watched one of IGN's videos for it and I can appreciate the idea. The whole "new retro game" idea is fun but this is just a little bit too retro for my taste. The music I suspect would get old after a while too.
Fair point. Capcom claims that it's the best selling WiiWare title if I recall correctly, as well as the most downloaded title on XBL. I'm certainly don't think new game development should be neglected. Lost Winds was one of my favorite games from last year. But there's a very large and obvious market out there for 8 and 16 bit game sequels and it's being criminally ignored.
Trippy Longstockings?
I agee, I have a C64 and quite a few games, and they just do't hold up. Impossible Mission, Pole Position II and Gunship 2000 excepted. Oh and Wizards of Wor and River Raid (on the cart side of thngs).
Forbidden Forest
Sammy Lightfoot
Super Mario Bros (aka Great Giana Sisters)
Ghostbusters
Spy Hunter
High Noon
Jupiter Lander
Lamans
Archon
Dig Dug
Donald Duck's Playground (And not ashamed to say it
OMFG! YOU'RE KILLING THE GAME INDUSTRY! YOU'RE THE REASON THERE WAS NO COMMODORE 128!