At this time of year, it's especially important to find a store that truly offers something for everyone. Luckily for Nintendo fans, both the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop boast a huge variety of downloadable games to satisfy every taste, size and experience level. Best of all, these online stores are open 24 hours a day and remain consistently free of big crowds and parking headaches. New additions to the WiiWare service this week include lilt line, an award-winning rhythm game that combines racing thrills with an irresistible soundtrack (there's even a demo version you can download for zero Wii Points). Meanwhile, Family Games™ delivers eight family-friendly gaming favorites straight to your Wii console, while fans of classic sci-fi shooters will rejoice to find the Super NES™ gem DARIUS TWIN on the Virtual Console service. And for something completely different, new arrivals on the Nintendo DSiWare service include Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ, a wild action title that invites players to ring in the season by fighting off a spooky supernatural threat. Whether you're shopping for a loved one or for yourself, check out these and hundreds of other games from the comfort of home.
WiiWare
lilt line
Publisher: Gaijin Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points; demo version available for 0 Wii Points
Description: lilt line is an award-winning rhythm racing game with a dubstep soundtrack and a visual aesthetic that will confound your senses and rock your soul. Control the silky-smooth rhythm line and do your best to stay on the track as you race to the finish, tapping the button to the beat of the catchy soundtrack by genre superstars 16bit. With 15 levels of intense musical racing, it's a game that has to be experienced to be believed.
Note: Some demo versions do not support all game features, and players cannot save their in-game progress in demo versions.
Family Games
Publisher: Icon Games Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Family Games is a collection of timeless pen-and-paper games for the whole family. Games include Squares (Dots), Nine Men's Morris (Mill), Safe Cracker, Matchsticks, Noughts & Crosses (Tic-Tac-Toe), 4 In-A-Row, BattleFleet and Hangman. Numerous rule sets and game variations offer many ways to play. Up to four players can compete in Tournament mode. There are also 20 special achievements to unlock.
Violin Paradise
Publisher: KEYSTONE GAME STUDIO
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 700 Wii Points
Description: Violin Paradise is designed for up to four people to enjoy (additional controllers sold separately). Players can choose to be a conductor, violinist, violist or cellist as they perform some of the most beautiful classical pieces in history. The game includes a micro-orchestra, which helps players feel the enjoyment of a group performance. The game environment changes dynamically and can be enriched with more objects if you play successfully.
Virtual Console
DARIUS TWIN
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: Taito
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: For countless millennia, the space tyrant Belser and his cosmic marauders have terrorized this once-peaceful galaxy. No sector remains safe from these stellar mercenaries and their evil empire. The Galactic Federation has finally called on two of its ace pilots and their sleek Silver Hawk warships to do battle with Belser's malicious metal menaces and reclaim their beloved planet Darius. Climb into the pilot's seat for a solo mission against Belser's forces or engage the enemy with a fellow Federation pilot in a simultaneous two-player team attack. The future of the galaxy depends on the success of this perilous quest.
Nintendo DSiWare
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ
Publisher: Gammick Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) – Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Can you save Fairytale Land? Or will you let its creatures live unhappily ever after? Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ is a fun shooter in which you must advance by shooting down every living (or dying) creature in your path! Use the great arsenal of weapons at your disposal to destroy hordes of savage zombies.
Jam Space: PocketStudio
Publisher: HB Studios
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Jam Space: PocketStudio for the Nintendo DSi system puts the power of a recording studio in your pocket. You can compose tracks, jot down ideas and be musical no matter where you are. Choose from two modes. Quick Jam mode allows you to lay down tracks quickly and easily using natural instrument interfaces. This is a great mode if you've got a little melody you want to record and want to get it down quickly. Studio mode gives you access to a full-featured MIDI editor that lets you tweak and hone your compositions to a professional level. If you want to dig deep and really work on that masterpiece, this is the mode for you.
Just SING! Christmas Songs
Publisher: Engine Software
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Get ready for a Christmas karaoke party where you are the star! Famous holiday tunes, including "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night", are waiting for you. Dressed up as jolly Santa Claus, you enter a stage covered in snow and sing into the built-in microphone on your Nintendo DSi to create a magical Christmas mood. While singing, you'll receive feedback. Did you hit all the right notes and sing in time? Compare your high score with previous singers, or just sing to your holiday heart's content.
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 http://wii.com or http://www.nintendodsi.com.
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