After a few weeks of nothing but junk, Nintendo finally throws down with a VC release and one of the most hyped WiiWare games of 2010.

This week, Wii owners can choose to take a look at Mario's earlier jaunts with sports or travel around either in the past or the future.  DSi owners get a lot to choose from including an interesting rhythm platformer and a much-welcome Picross clone.

In Mario Tennis, the familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom participate in various tennis arenas with their own skills to mix things up. Take on a variety of modes alone and with friends while using power-ups to give you an advantage.  Add this for your Virtual Console library for 1,000 Wii Points.

Jett Rocket has you running, jumping, and flying through the various locales of planet Yoroppa as you find out why the world has been attacked.  You'll be parachuting from cliffs, snowboarding through arctic bluffs, and speeding through the sky with rockets.  Travel around the alien world for 1,000 Wii Points.

Pong Toss Pro - Frat Party Games revisits the original Pong Toss with better graphics and improved controls.  A new Tournament Mode is introduced along the usual Pong Toss and Speed Pong to set up tournaments with friends.  600 Wii Points lets you paddle away as you like.

Robin Hood: Return of Richard lets everyone experience the classic tale of : the King of England is not around and enemies take the opportunity to invade the country.  Robin Hood takes to Sherwood Forest to gather a group of archers and restore peace to the land.  Master the bow and arrow for 500 Wii Points.

Keep the music going in Maestro! Green Grove as the items you pick up contribute to the tune that's playing.  Master the stage and then take on a mischevous spider to show who's got the rhythm.  500 DSi Points lets you discover there's music in everything.

Date or Ditch constantly challenges you with the perils of dating: going to parties, setting up dates, and surprise appearances from dates.  If things get you down, take it out on your date with pictures of yourself taken with the DSi camera.  500 DSi Points is a small amount to pay and you won't have to worry about hygiene either.

Animal Color Cross will get a kick out of Picross fans: using numbers found at the sides of a grid, you'll fill in the squares to make pictures of animals.  There's 72 puzzles available so Sudoku players and Picross users who need a fix anywhere they go will really enjoy what's offered.  Nab some puzzle goodness for 500 DSi Points.

Ancient Tribe has players managing a tribe as they grow and expand to pay tribute to you.  Return the favor by introducing new units, technology, and equipment because the tribesmen will need every bit of help to explore various hunting grounds to hunt and gather resources.  500 DSi Points shows you how hard being a god really is.

Brain Drain tasks players with aligning groups of animals in the formation seen in the top screen. Three modes allow you to solve at your own pace, as fast as you can, or endlessly.  Pick up a copy for 500 DSi Points.

Battle of Giants: Mutant Insects Revenge puts you on a mission to free the Scorpion Champion, a giant bug capable of taking down the queen who's taken over all the other insects on the planet.  Complete 10 missions to free the bug warrior and then take on your friends with your own custom bug.  800 DSi Points lets you fight for freedom.

I went ahead and got Jett Rocket and said screw waiting for reviews.  I've only played through the first world which was about an hour. There's two more levels so I'm guessing the total game length will clock out to about 3 to 3.5 hours.  However, there are a lot of different channels for each level to make it worth going back and playing again.

Despite a shaky start the game so far as been a lot of fun.  The main levels are basically explore a 3-D level (usually an island), pick up as many solar discs as you can find (gems, bananas, whatever they were in other games), fight a few bad guys, make it the end of the level and proceed to the next one.  Do that a few times, break it up with a jet skiing level, and then fight a boss and you've pretty much got the game's formula.  

That description isn't meant as a knock on the game though.  It's actually very good. It feels very much like it could have been some lost Rare game for the N64. Not quite that good, but just being able to make the comparison says something I think.  It may even get better from here.  I'll post the full details once I'm done with it.  But all early indicators are very positive. Kind of caught me off guard how good it is.

I'm now about halfway through the second world which is the North Pole (aka the ice level).  Lot of nice subtle little features on this level like reflections in ice, footprints, etc.   As it progresses the game looks better and better and I think it's safe to say this is the best looking WiiWare game yet.

There's not a whole lot of enemy models. I think I've counted two. I can't remember if it's two or just one with a palatte swap. Combat really isn't the focus of the game, it's just something to stall you in between getting from one part of the level to the next.  This game is all about collecting, exploration, and finding your way to the goal.  

I'll give final thoughts in the next few days as I plan on finishing it up tonight or tomorrow.  I will say at this point it's probably the best WiiWare game of the year.