Fight fight fight!

A mix of catch-up and new titles in another big update for Wii and DSi.

There's a mix of new and catch-up titles in the update this week including the penultimate chapter in the new Tales of Monkey Island series: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4.

Copter Crisis and My Zoo were both recently released in PAL territories. Reviewer Tommy Bowskill thought the former had some potential, but failed to live up to it, whilst Drake thought the latter was an enjoyable and relaxing animal sim worth checking out. Feel free to check out the full reviews of Copter Crisis and My Zoo if you want have a read before taking the plunge!

JV Games' latest WiiWare entry is Christmas Clix, a holiday-themed puzzle game. Corbie recently conducted an interview with the CEO of JV Games about this one and you can be sure we'll have a review up for your reading pleasure soon.

DSiware has a interesting new game from EA in the form of Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, in which you get to have your own face on the game hero and voice various characters in the game. Look for our review soon!

Two new puzzle games also grace DSiWare in the form of PopCap's Bookworm, a word puzzle game, and Sudoku Challenge from Digital Leisure. The latter appeared on WiiWare a year ago and our own Spencer thought it was a pretty competent, if bare-bones sudoku game, but the DSi is already home to many sudoku games both in cart and download forms, so we'll let you know how this one stacks up to the competition.

The last new DSiWare download is another in the "Master of Illusion" series of magic trick apps from Nintendo called Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe. Past entries haven't wowed our reviewers as separate bits of a larger cart release, but we'll be sure to run this through its paces to let you know if that trend continues.

The Virtual Console has a catch-up title in the form of the arcade version of Solomon's Key. Drake thought it was a good enough game, but didn't see enough difference between the arcade and already-available NES version to really choose one over the other. Given the arcade version is going to be 100pts more in North America than its NES counterpart, you may want to read that and Dazza's review of the NES version again before buying.

Finally there's a new SNES game in the form of The Combatribes, a port of an arcade brawler from Technos. This port is missing a stage and lacks the blood and 3-player multiplayer features of the arcade version, but features larger, more detailed sprites and excellent audio. We'll let you know how it stacks up later in the week.

Here's the official press release, with some mention of new things to see in Flipnote Studio:

Whether you succumbed to a food coma, found yourself trapped at the mall or just planted yourself in front of the television, clearly you need a break from the exhausting holiday weekend. And Nintendo is here to help, with 10 downloadable games sure to provide a welcome distraction. WiiWare™ brings the latest installment in the gripping Tales of Monkey Island series, while Nintendo DSiWare™ serves up some magic along with the popular Bookworm™ and Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, a game starring … you. And don’t forget to take a trip down memory lane with two Virtual Console™ classics – one from Super NES™ and one from the arcades.

For you Flipnote Studio™ fans, there’s something “dynamite” on the Nintendo Channel and the Flipnote Hatena Web site <http://flipnote.hatena.com/special/> this week, so be sure to check it out. You can also watch and download Flipnotes created by renowned artists like Aardman Animations LTD. at the new Flipnote Central <http://flipnote.hatena.com/special/> section.

WiiWare

Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Conspiracies, betrayal and shocking revelations as the Tales of Monkey Island intensity builds. Guybrush returns to Flotsam Island, but forget about a hero’s welcome. Handed over to De Singe by the backstabbing Morgan LeFlay, Guybrush is seized by an angry mob and put on trial. With a silk-tongued prosecutor in his face and a hangman’s noose dangling over his neck, Guybrush must figure out how to defend himself against grave accusations. Meanwhile, the determined Marquis sets his sights on a new and far more attractive test subject. How on earth will the Mighty Pirate get out of this mess? The monthly Tales of Monkey Island tension continues to mount in The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood. Brace yourself for a shocking revelation that will rock the world of Monkey Island to its core.

My Zoo
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: My Zoo is a relaxing animal sim that puts you in the shoes of an animal breeder, raising up animals you’d normally only dream of. All it takes is a Wii Remote™ controller for a simple, yet fulfilling, connection with nature. There are 12 animal types in total (four sold separately as add-on content). Select your favorites and nurture them to adulthood. Feeding them, petting them and cleaning up their messes are great ways to form a lasting bond. Each animal’s personality will change depending on how you take care of it. Watch them get spoiled, turn into over-eaters and more as they grow on a daily basis. Some animals will even have a baby on occasion, and once it’s born, you’ve got another mouth to feed. Game time passes much more quickly than real time, and the different animal types are active at various hours – some during the day and some at night. Sometimes it’s fun to just kick back and watch what they do. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to create your own personal zoo.

Copter Crisis
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Copter Crisis puts you in the pilot’s seat. As a member of the elite Helicopter Rescue Squad, you’ll be assigned to respond to any type of emergency anywhere at any time. As the newest member joining this team, you’ll have to complete various missions with the latest in helicopter rescue technology. When you’re ready, you’ll be tasked with executing rescue missions all around the Black Rock Canyon. Your Wii Remote controller becomes the control stick as you guide your copter along the canyons while avoiding rocks, severe weather and even anti-aircraft fire. Rescue lost hikers, deliver supplies to remote areas, assist on scientific missions and even blast your way into underground cavern systems. Complete all of your objectives and rise through the ranks to take on the toughest rescues and unlock 10 bonus missions. Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play allows you to enhance your flight experience with 10 additional copters, which can give you access to unlimited missiles, larger fuel tanks, cargo holds and even mid-air loops.

Christmas Clix
Publisher: JV Games Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Christmas doesn’t have to be all work for Santa, does it? Santa’s having some fun and wants you to play along too. You can help Santa decorate the tree by removing the presents and ornaments that he stacks. When you consecutively connect packages without missing a beat, you get extra points. Collect as many candy canes as you can because when you collect enough, Santa will add a special star to the game that can greatly help you get through a level r just bring some additional fun.

Nintendo DSiWare

Foto Face™: The Face Stealer Strikes
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Your face, your game, you’re the hero. In Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes, YOU get to be in the game. Using the camera and microphone, you become the hero in your own game. Unlock a variety of hero costumes as you battle the baddies, search for stars and solve platforming puzzles. The Face Stealer has stolen your identity and is creating trouble – and everyone is blaming you. You have to track him down across 15 action-packed stages. Along the way, you’ll come across many memorable creatures, both friend and foe. Use the camera and microphone to create faces and voices for every character in your game. Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes – a game starring YOU.

Bookworm
Publisher: PopCap Games, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Feed your appetite for wordy fun in this download version of PopCap’s hit word-puzzle game. Link letter tiles left, right, up and down to build words and feed Lex in Bookworm Classic mode. But watch out for burning letters – they could spell disaster for you and Lex. Use Reward Tiles and spell Bonus Words to boost your score and link your best words to enter the Hall of Fame. Play unlimited levels of word-puzzle fun and learn new words on the go. You’ll relax and tune up your brain every time you play.

Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Master of Illusion Express titles are mind-boggling magic tricks that you perform with your Nintendo DSi™ system. Learn the illusions, practice up and then amaze your friends. Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe uses your Nintendo DSi system as a means of detecting information. Ask a spectator to write down a favorite (or least-favorite) item – person, food or color, for example – and then be astonished when the Nintendo DSi system sounds an alarm to indicate when that item is spoken. Use any variation of likes or dislikes to stun the crowd.

Sudoku Challenge!
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Now’s your chance to play the brain-busting puzzle game taking the world by storm. With more than 100,000,000 sudoku puzzles, you’ll never see the same puzzle twice in Sudoku Challenge! You can select the classic nine-by-nine sudoku game boards as well as Grand Sudoku, which challenges you to complete five intersecting sudoku boards simultaneously. Just a beginner? Don’t worry – with three difficulty options, even the most novice player can complete a sudoku with ease. But if you’re a seasoned pro, challenge yourself in “Hard” mode and test your true skills. It’s time to get your thinking cap on and see how many sudoku puzzles you can conquer.

Virtual Console

The Combatribes
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: The evil gang known as “Guilty Zero” rules the city, and it’s up to you as one of the members of the Combatribes to take them down. Choose one of three characters and fight your way through the city of New York. Progress through the game by tackling the goons and boss of each stage using your arsenal of kicks, punches, throws and other techniques to beat them into submission. Once your stamina bar is reduced to zero, you’ll need to use a continue, but when you’re out of continues, it’s game over. Can you eliminate the threat of “Guilty Zero” and restore the peace in New York City!?

Solomon's Key
Original platform: Arcade
Publisher: TECMO
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Solomon’s Key is an action/puzzle game that lets you control the wizard Dana, delving into a labyrinth to seek out a magical tome called Solomon’s Key, an item that will help in your quest to drive away evil spirits let loose in the world. The goal of the game is to use the buttons to create and destroy blocks, and use various techniques to find keys to pass through doors. The game has appeared on a variety of platforms, but the arcade version focuses strongly on the action elements of the game, making it more challenging, and allowing players of all skill levels, from beginners to masters, to enjoy it. Settings like the number of lives and difficulty level can be adjusted.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.