Golden retro goodness

WiiWare

Bit.Trip RUNNER (800pts - Aksys Games) -- Europe gets the first try at the latest entry in the minimalist, retro-rhythm game series from Gaijin Games. We loved the time we spent playing the final release version, so if you want to re-up your hype factor re-read our Bit.Trip RUNNER preview!

Looks like European Phoenix Wright fans eagerly awaiting the 3rd instalment, Trials and Tribulations will have a bit longer to wait, but at least you'll have Episode 5 of the first game to tide you over until then. Phoenix Wright Episode 5 will set you back a mere 100 Points. In case you missed it, check out our Phoenix Wright review to find out if this case merits further investigation. Naturally you will need to own that game in order to download the additional content.

Virtual Console

Ghoul Patrol (800pts SNES - LucasArts) -- This sequel to Zombies has been out in North America for a few months, but better late than never we always say. Read our Ghoul Patrol review to see if it's worth your hard-earned points.

DSiWare

AiRace (500pts - QubicGames) -- Europe's reward for waiting a month for this aeroplane racing game is a 300 Point discount off the North American premium price - not too shabby, eh? Read our AiRace review and learn why we strongly recommend this one for racing fans.

Brain Drain (500pts - Enjoy Gaming) -- A puzzle game from Enjoy Gaming is one of two brand-new DSiWare releases this week in Europe. The WiiWare version has already been released in North America, so our Brain Drain review will give you an idea of what to expect. Naturally we'll have a review of the DSiWare version soon.

Chronos Twins (500pts - EnjoyUp Games) -- The long wait is over action-platforming fans, as Chronos Twins finally comes to the European DSi Shop. To find out what the fuss is about read our Chronos Twins review!

Fire Panic (200pts - Playtainment) -- Yullaby's DSiWare debut is a simple puzzle game where players need to route a fire truck to put out fires around town. It looks like it could offer the fun of an ancient 8-bit console game at a budget price. We'll report on whether or not the gameplay lives up to the images in our upcoming review.

Sudoku Challenge! (500pts - Digital Leisure) -- We weren't terribly impressed with this latest in a seemingly endless string of downloadable sudoku games for the DSi. Read our Sudoku Challenge! review to find out why.

You can read the press release for more information on this week's releases:

Join CommanderVideo in the latest BIT.TRIP instalment, BIT.TRIP RUNNER, where you’ll battle the MinerMech with friends and race across the moon to defeat the final boss in this action packed platformer on WiiWare.

Those looking for a bit of spine tingling fun will find hours of entertainment in Ghoul Patrol™ on Virtual Console this week. You’ll need to dodge flying books and adolescent-eating plants to restore peace to the library’s Goblin exhibit.

A collection of fast paced fun awaits players on Nintendo DSiWare this week as AiRace, Chronos Twins and Fire Panic are all available to download. There are also hours of fun to be had in both Sudoku Challenge! and Brain Drain™ - puzzle based games that require strategic thinking and a keen eye.

WiiWare - BIT.TRIP RUNNER

(Aksys Games, 800 Wii Points)

Join CommanderVideo in BIT.TRIP RUNNER on his most epic journey yet as he runs, jumps, slides and kicks his way through more than 50 levels.

Race across the Moon, kick down crystal walls and slide under chomping moon-slugs in this fast paced action platformer. Bound your way through the Robotic Mines and challenge the MinerMech to a face-off before dashing through the Big City on a quest to find friends and defeat the final boss together.

RUNNER is the fourth entry in the award-winning and critically acclaimed BIT.TRIP series and includes a special guest appearance from chiptune supergroup Anamanaguchi.

WiiWare – Phoenix Wright™: Ace Attorney Pay & Play AOC

(Capcom, 100 Wii Points))

New add-on content available in-game:

Episode 5

Murder in the middle of a stormy night. Two months after his assistant Maya Fey has left, Phoenix Wright needs returns to court again. Once more he will have to best genius prosecutor Miles Edgeworth to save the innocent. This extra-long episode will take Phoenix to all-new locations including the office of his eternal adversary!

Virtual Console - Ghoul Patrol™

(LucasArts, Super Nintendo, 800 Wii Points)

Ghoul Patrol to the rescue! The main attractions at the library’s Goblin exhibit have come to life. As the Ghoul Patrol, go back in time and de-spook an encyclopedia of zombified historic characters.

Vaporize garbage, can ghosts and ninja spirits, rescue bug-eyed librarians and wigged-out pirates, dodge flying books and adolescent-eating plants, and ultimately put the beastly spirit back in the history books.

Nintendo DSiWare - AiRace

(QubicGames, 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

AiRace is not your typical handheld racing game – it is high-sky racing at its best. There are no limits to your flight with 360° movement and unique steering with the Nintendo DSi stylus.

AiRace offers you the chance to control one of nine planes and compete against Ai or human opponents in six exotic locations. With great physics, plane upgrades, on-the-track power-ups and unique maps, AiRace offers much more than your average racing experience.

NINTENDO DSiWare - Brain Drain™*

(Enjoy Up Games, 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

Brain Drain is a funny and challenging puzzle game. You have to place the elements of a scrambled puzzle according to a given model. You select elements with your game cursor and spin them to move elements in the puzzle area. Some puzzles may feature nasty game effects that will slow you down during your puzzle solving.

There are three game modes:

Challenge: 200 fixed puzzles with preset best times to solve and beat

Race: 4 difficulties and a stream of puzzles with best time tables to beat

Random: relaxed random puzzling providing endless hours of fun

NINTENDO DSiWare - Chronos Twins

(Enjoy Gaming, 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

Enter into the original world of Chronos Twins, where you'll live a fantastic adventure full of innovative ideas never seen before. Thanks to its Dual Gameplay game system you'll be able to control Nec in two temporary scenarios at the same time. Chronos Twins mixes action, platforms, adventure and puzzles that will challenge your aptitude and ability.

Explore an unknown world where you'll discover endless hidden secrets in 19 levels of fantastic atmosphere fully packed with alien beings and spectacular final bosses.

You’ll be able to play in two worlds simultaneously to progress and solve challenges that would otherwise be impossible to finish in only one world. Players can also change the past by moving items, defeating creatures... and the present will change accordingly in real time.

NINTENDO DSiWare – Fire Panic

(Playtainment, 200 Nintendo DSi Points)

As a futuristic firefighter in Fire Panic, you are facing the continuous challenge of extinguishing more and more fires that keep flaring up. To do this, use your stylus and mark the fastest route for your fire engine to get to each blaze. The engine will follow the line you drew and automatically douse each fire it passes along the way. A thrilling experience every time you play!

NINTENDO DSiWare – Sudoku Challenge!

(Digital Leisure Inc., 500 Nintendo DSi Points)

Now’s your chance to play the brain-busting puzzle game taking the world by storm. With over 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 gameboards 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.

As the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop are continually updated with exciting and refreshing games and applications, make sure you keep checking the Nintendo Channel, Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop for all the latest news and releases on already available and upcoming Virtual Console, WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare titles.

Be sure to also check out Nintendo of Europe's WiiWare portal, which functions as the main hub for the latest WiiWare news and game sites, while at the same time providing the perfect entry point for newcomers to the service. Weekly and all-time Top 10 lists show which WiiWare titles the UK Club Nintendo members are currently downloading most, and which are the most popular of all time.

The portal also provides step-by-step tutorials explaining how to connect the Wii console to the Internet and how to download WiiWare games, as well as a video showing how to use Nintendo Points. Visit www.wiiware.co.uk all the details. Downloaded games can be saved to Wii's internal memory or SD card and added to the console's Wii Menu or SD Card Menu for anytime easy access.