Dr. Mario Online, Metal Slug, More Hit Wii Shop

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Nintendo has revealed today's additions to the Wii's online Shop Channel, detailing a prescription-strength dose of family fun through this week's four downloadable games.

Of the four, two are original WiiWare titles, while the other two consist of retro releases:

WiiWare

  • Dr Mario Online Rx (Nintendo) / 1000 Wii Points ($10)
  • Family Table Tennis (Arc System Works, Akysys Games) / 500 Wii Points ($5)
Virtual Console
  • City Connection (Jaleco, NES) / 500 Wii Points ($5)
  • Metal Slug (SNK, Neo-Geo) / 900 Wii Points ($9)
All titles will be downlodable beginning today at 12 PM EDT, 9 AM PDT.

Read on for more details and screenshots.

Dr. Mario Online Rx
Nintendo
1000 Wii Points ($10)
1-4 players

The doctor is in! Mario takes a break from his adventuring ways and once again dons his stethoscope for a new generation of germ-battling mayhem. In addition to the classic mode of using vitamins to exterminate viruses, you'll find two battle modes and an online multiplayer mode where you can hone your skills against players from around the world. Feel like challenging a friend who doesn't have Dr. Mario Online Rx? Then the WiiWare-exclusive Friend Battle Demo is just what the doctor ordered. Or maybe you'd like some help taking on those nasty viruses? Try out Virus Buster, where four players can simultaneously move capsules simply by pointing at them with a Wii Remote controller. Any way you look at it, Dr. Mario Online Rx is a prescription for fun that everyone can enjoy.

Family Table Tennis
Arc System Works, Aksys Games (Publisher)
500 Wii Points ($5)
1-2 players
It's time for some good old family fun, and what's more fun than table tennis? Just like a real family, choose your character from a cast of four, which includes Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy. There are four table tennis-tastic stages where it doesn't matter if you're an indoors or outdoors table-tennis player. Pick your poison from a gymnasium, a forest park, a beach or even an amusement park. Choose from Single or Versus mode, or select a minigame to play. In Versus mode, you and a friend can play against each other to see who is the better table-tennis player. And if Single and Versus modes aren't enough, select between three minigames, which include Target Table Tennis, Thrilling Table Tennis and Matching Table Tennis. The appealing cell-shaded graphics and endearing music, on top of the super-fun game play, will have you and your family playing from morning till night. Get your paddles ready.

City Connection (Nintendo Entertainment System)
Jaleco
500 Wii Points ($5)
1-2 players
Based on the arcade hit, a young man born in California sets out to tour famous sites and cities around the world. As he drives the highways surrounding these locations, the road is painted white as proof of his visit. Only once all sections of the road have been painted will he move on to the next location in his world tour. Not surprisingly, the local police will chase the driver and do their best to stop him from completing his goal. In addition, cats roam the highways and spikes lie in wait for unsuspecting drivers. To combat these dangers, the driver's customized car can jump, fire cans of oil and collect balloons to warp to a new stage. It's the ultimate road trip.

Metal Slug (Neo-Geo)
SNK, D4 Enterprise (Publisher)
900 Wii Points ($9)
1-2 players
Released in 1996 by SNK, Metal Slug is a side-scrolling military-action game. Players control Marco and Tarma, both members of the special-ops force Team Peregrine Falcon (commonly known as Team PF), and battle their way through stage after stage of intense action. The goal is to try to overthrow General Morden and win back the stolen weapon, the Metal Slug. Players must blast through waves of enemies and machines (while also jumping over any obstacles in the way) to advance through the stages. It's not as hopeless as it might sound, though weapons such as heavy machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers, as well as the Metal Slug itself (which appears frequently in the game), will make the battle easier. Take on General Morden with a friend to lighten your load and ramp up the excitement even more.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 26, 2008 8:39 AM

    A brand new Dr. Mario? Heck yeah.

    WiiWare would be a good place for Nintendo to resurrect some of its lesser franchises without having to pour in the resources required to release a boxed retail game. Looks like they're realizing that. Maybe if there's a new Kid Icarus, it will show up there.

    • reply
      May 26, 2008 9:40 AM

      dr. mario sold!! i've been waiting for this for a while now

    • reply
      May 26, 2008 9:41 AM

      i actually think the virtual console and now wiiware have the best games on the system

      • reply
        May 26, 2008 10:17 AM

        All we need now is space to store all these games

        • reply
          May 26, 2008 10:32 AM

          i think nintendo said they are working on that, however i think their solution was to compress the games, not expand the memory

          • reply
            May 26, 2008 11:15 AM

            They will release a proprietary encrypted USB flashdrive in various flavors (2, 4 and 8GB)

        • reply
          May 26, 2008 3:20 PM

          I can store quite a bit of what I'm not playing on the SanDisk drive

          • reply
            May 27, 2008 6:52 AM

            hah. it won't read the high capacity SD cards. I just have an 8GB for my camera.

    • reply
      May 26, 2008 12:23 PM

      Yeah seems like a good place to do it. Wario's Woods maybe?

      anyway its about damn time we got Dr. Mario. I thought it was coming at launch. I am going to download it as soon as I get finished watching the Braves kicking Brandon Webb's ass. Very good day so far.

    • reply
      May 26, 2008 9:19 PM

      I think Kid Icarus is a big enough property to justify a full blown retail release personally.

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