Hinted at last week in their press release, Nintendo released three Commodore 64 games on the Virtual Console this past Monday. While this is not necessarily news to our friends across the pond, this is a first for those of us in North America. The 500 Wii Points per game seems a little steep to me, but it’s Nintendo and heaven forbid they sell something for less then 500 Wii Points because who knows, perhaps people will begin expecting to purchase a game only paying what it is worth. I have a lot of fond memories over at my friend, Jason’s house playing Commodore 64, but unless they release Summer Games or Winter Games, that price point is too high for me.
Besides the Virtual Console releases, Wii Ware also had one release. Previously announced here on Pwned, this past Monday also saw the release of Onslaught. Developed by Hudson, Onslaught is the first First Person Shooter on Wii Ware. Online multiplayer is the major draw to this shooter with two online modes: Free Battle and Ranking Battle. I have not put hands on it but if Hudson makes up for the Wii Ware graphics with tight game play, this could be a sleeper hit. You’ll find this for 1,000 Wii Points and it’s rated T for Teen.
set of exciting firsts for the Wii Shop Channel this week. For starters,
the new Onslaught marks the first-ever first-person shooter to be
released via the WiiWare service. Using the intuitive wireless controls
Wii is known for, the game puts players at the center of a
pulse-pounding adventure that fans of futuristic sci-fi and multiplayer
action will love.
The other big news this week is the hotly anticipated launch of
Commodore 64 game titles on Virtual Console. Starting with two classic
martial arts games and an awesome car racing title, we’re thrilled to
add yet another old-school gaming platform to the mix. Virtual Console
already offers classic games that originally appeared on a variety of
platforms, and with the addition of Commodore 64, Wii owners can expect
even more vintage games to rediscover and enjoy. (Congratulations to
those of you who deciphered our hidden hints in last week’s Wii-kly
Update you’ll find a key to all the clues at the end of this
installment.)
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
Onslaught
(Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated T for TeenAnimated Blood,
Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Onslaught is an FPS that puts you in the
middle of a futuristic war between humans and insectoid aliens. Become
part of the Elite Interstellar Strike Force and fight against an
overwhelming onslaught of alien life forms. Enjoy the rush of mowing
down wave after wave of aliens with machine guns, grenades and more.
Feel your heart pound as you battle gigantic boss aliens. Beyond the
normal game, Onslaught includes additional modes that let you play with
rivals from around the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Team up
with as many as three other players in Free Battle mode, or compete on
special maps to see who can get the most points by killing enemies
before time runs out in Ranking Battle mode. (Router and broadband
access required for online play. For more info, go to www.nintendo.com.)
Virtual Console
The
Last Ninja (Commodore 64, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and
OlderAnimated Blood, Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): The evil Shogun
Kunitoki has long envied the powers of the Ninja brotherhood and would
do anything to acquire their knowledge. To this end, he has sworn an
oath to their total destruction. Once every decade, all Ninja must
travel to the Island of Lin Fen, where they pay homage to the Shrine of
the White Ninja and receive further teachings from the Koga Scrolls.
Seizing the opportunity, Kunitoki summoned forth all the spirits from
the depths of the Nether World and flung their full force against the
amassed Ninja. None escaped the wrath of Kunitoki. Word of this
unnatural disaster soon reached Armakuni, the last Ninja. Gathering all
his courage, he has sworn to wreak a terrible revenge on the Shogun and
all his followers. What unforeseen hazards await him?
INTERNATIONAL
KARATE (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and
OlderMild Violence, 500 Wii Points): INTERNATIONAL KARATE is a
simulation of a karate tournament in which one person can play against
the computer or two players can compete against each other. During the
game, you’ll fly to various locations around the world. In all stages of
the game, a wise old judge will watch over you and award you either a
half-point or a full point, depending on how successful a hit has been.
Pitstop
II (Commodore 64, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii
Points): Pitstop II was the first game that brought serious auto racing
action to the computer screenthe thrill of battling an opponent, the
excitement of fighting for the lead out on the track, and the suspense
of struggling to be the first out of the pits. Third-person graphics and
a split-screen display allow one or two players to experience the
challenge of car racing head-to-head. Six of the world’s toughest tracks
are waiting, from Brands Hatch and its hairpin turns to the mile-long
straight of Vallelunga. You can practice against the computer, but
nothing will compare to the fun of racing against another person.
Indeed, Pitstop II proves that car racing was never meant to be a solo
sport.
As promised, here’s a list of the Commodore 64-related clues that were
embedded in last week’s newsletter:
-
In the second paragraph, each sentence contains exactly 64 letters and
numbers (not counting spaces or punctuation). - U.S. Route 64 runs from Arizona to North Carolina.
-
The third sentence ends with a comma and the word “door,” hinting at
the name Commodore. - “Brick House” was a hit for R&B group The Commodores.
-
The athletic teams of Vanderbilt University are known as the
Commodores. - Pennsylvania’s Route 286 passes through a town called Commodore.
-
The phrases “birthday greetings” and “who could ask for more?” are
found in the classic Beatles tune “When I’m 64.”