Wii-kly WiiWare And Virtual Console Update 12/22/08

It's that time of year when it's just too cold to go out, right now my thermometer says it's a balmy -4 degrees. But have no fear, for the Wii Shop has you covered to get new games without braving the elements. First up we've got Fun! Fun! Minigolf which provides 27 holes of putting challenges for one to four players. Golf games tend to work well with the Wii remote, so this one might be a good choice to check out if you're looking for a break from the puzzle games that make up most of the WiiWare library. Speaking of puzzle games, WiiWare also sees the release of Tiki Towers, a a tower building puzzle game that looks eerily similar to World of Goo minus the physics. But, for 500 Wii points a World of Goo clone might not be so bad.

The Virtual Console continues its slow release of games with only a single game this week. But what the Virtual Console lacks in quantity this week it makes up for in quality with the release of Phantasy Star IV. Phantasy Star was Sega's answer to Final Fantasy back in the 8 and 16-bit days, and with Square-Enix's series absent from the Virtual Console Phantasy Star IV is picking up the JRPG slack. If you like JRPGs then definitely pick this one up. It's my personal favorite of the series (sorry Phatansy Star 2 fans) so even if the Wii wasn't already starving for more JRPG content it would come highly recommended.

WiiWare

• Fun! Fun! Minigolf (Shin'en Multimedia, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): Play minigolf with your friends in beautiful environments. Choose a character and turn your Wii Remote™ controller into a golf club. With its easy-to-use controls, all you need to do is aim, swing and see who's the best putter. Play 27 holes spread across America, Asia and Europe. Enjoy exotic locations all over the world. Go for gold in single-player mode, or invite your friends. Fun! Fun! Minigolf supports up to four players. You can use one to four Wii Remote controllers. Fun! Fun! Minigolf is the ultimate party game for everyone.
• Tiki Towers (RealArcade, 1 -2 players, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): Tiki Towers is a game of construction, destruction, problem-solving and monkeys. Reclaim the islands of your tribe by defeating a series of evil enemy chiefs. Work with your monkey friends to build towers out of bamboo poles, coconuts and vines. Match wits against the enemy chiefs bent on destroying your towers and driving you from the islands. Navigate levels filled with crazy building challenges, and deal with unfriendly wildlife and other environmental obstacles. Get your monkeys to chant for the BananaMana necessary to counter enemy attacks. Play in either single-player or two-player cooperative mode in this game where monkeys rule.

Virtual Console

• Phantasy Star IV (SEGA GENESIS, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Fantasy Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, 800 Wii Points): Phantasy Star IV is the fourth released game from SEGA's epic Phantasy Star series, one of SEGA's biggest RPGs on the SEGA GENESIS. In the year AW 2284, planet Motavia is once again plagued by strange biocreatures, and it's up to the brave men and women of the Hunters Guild to exterminate them. You are Chaz Ashley, a rookie Hunter straight out of training who is supported by Alys Brangwin-a crafty veteran whose good looks and prowess with the blade have earned her an awesome reputation. These two Hunters, along with a cast of supporting characters, will go beyond Motavia to unwittingly save their entire solar system.