Contra's back, baby!

Not many surprises this week - Both WiiWare releases were already announced in advance, and the Virtual Console game was expected to be released this week as well. The only surprise is the sole DSiWare release, but we can't imagine anyone being genuinely excited for it!

Contra ReBirth is the latest installment in the Contra series. You take control of either series hero Bill Rizer or the new character Genbei Yagyu, and from there it's pretty much the same as every previous game in the series - Blast your way through a number of stages with heavy weaponry without getting hit by the dozens of enemies that come at you, and fight a gigantic boss at the end of each one. As is usual with the series, it's very challenging, so you better be prepared! We thought that, although relatively short, it's a great revival - Any fan of the previous games will be very pleased with it.

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ColorZ is a strange, unique attempt at a 3-player shoot 'em up. As either one or three players you take control of three ships with different colours, which can only pass through obstacles of the same colour - As you can imagine this means hectic switching back and forth between colours if you're playing alone, but with three players it's quite fun. As it was released in Europe back in July we've had a review available for quite a while.

Virtual Console offers just one new game (As is the norm now, pretty much) but it's the conclusion to an awesome trilogy - Super Return of the Jedi is, as you might imagine, based on the Star Wars movie of the same name and features the ending to one of the most well-known franchises of all time. Again, it's very similar to the previous games, so if you've downloaded them already you should be able to jump right in. We'll have a review available later this week.

DSiWare sees just one new release as well, and it is once again a tiny package consisting of content from a retail DS title - Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites features the games Hearts, Contract Bridge, Dominoes, Dots and Boxes, and Ludo. Again, they cannot be played online, which means the game loses a bit of its value, but if you like any of the included games it could be nice to have on your DSi at all times. A review will be up in a few days.

That's the end of the SNES Star Wars trilogy - What games do you think LucasArts will release next? More from today's press release:

Sept. 7, 2009

Nintendo Download

From Faraway Galaxies to the Family Room, Start Fall on a Fun-Filled Foot

As you bid farewell to summer, you can also greet the fall season with a great big smile, thanks to a fresh lineup of downloadable games from the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop. Super Return of the Jedi™ for the Virtual Console™ offers memorable space-themed action for Wii owners, while WiiWare™ welcomes a brand new entry in the classic Contra franchise. On Nintendo DSiWare™, you’ll find a portable version of the popular Clubhouse Games to help keep your autumn lively. Speaking of Nintendo DSiWare, time is ticking away on a special offer: Consumers can automatically earn 1,000 Nintendo DSi Points™ by purchasing a new Nintendo DSi™ game system and connecting to the Nintendo DSi Shop by 11:59 pm Pacific time on Oct. 5, 2009. For full offer details, please visit DSiOffer.Nintendo.com

WiiWare

Contra Rebirth
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 A.D. to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the “Contra” on Earth. The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite “Contra” warriors, to save the day, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and samurai Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth. They must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost. Experience the fast-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure that pioneered the run-and-gun genre.

ColorZ
Publisher: Exkee
Players: 1-3
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: With ColorZ, go forth in your spaceships on a mission to clean up virus-infested planets. Immerse yourself in a new gaming experience that will reveal mind-hand-eye coordination skills you never knew you had. Absorb viruses of your own color, but steer clear of the others. If necessary, you can cleverly merge your ships together to create new colors. Buzz past your enemies to keep your combo and clock up a new high score. Explore an extra dimension with the game’s multiplayer mode and share the unique experience of cooperative play between friends. Pool your forces, synchronize your movements and become a unified team of up to three players to meet the challenge together.

Virtual Console

Super Return of the Jedi
Original platform: Super NES™
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Join the Rebellion and crush the Death Star in a giant universe filled with all the action and adventure of the Star Wars® finale. Take command of five different characters — from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia — and go up against the Empire’s worst, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. You’re going to need every ounce of Force you’ve got in you. Battle in actual movie locales, from Jabba the Hutt’s palace to the Forest of Endor and the Emperor’s Tower. Cross sabers with the darkest of the dark side: Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, the rancor, Darth Vader and the Emperor.

Nintendo DSiWare

Clubhouse Games™ Express: Family Favorites
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Choose from five family-friendly games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Play classic card games like Hearts and Contract Bridge; connect bones to other bones in Dominoes; think strategically in the simple but addictive Dots and Boxes; and move your pieces towards a common goal in Ludo. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.