Nintendo continues to add to its already robust collection of both new and classic downloadable titles this week with the release of SNES title: Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen on the virtual console, as well as Family and Friends Party, an interactive board game for up to 8 players available via WiiWare.

Last week saw the debut of three Commodore 64 titles as well as the long-awaited co-op FPS Onslaught, and while this week lacks the excitement of the former, Nintendo has done an incredible job releasing titles from all sectors so that every gamer will have something to spend their precious Wii Points on.

Ogre Battle, which saw its stateside release in 1995, is a strategy game where you play as the leader of a band of rebels commanding a full-blown army with total control of hundreds of characters, magic items, weapons and mystical Tarot cards.‚  Oh and if you didn’t know, the fate of the entire population rests on your shoulders, no pressure or anything.

Family and Friends Party is a horse of an entirely different color.‚  Developed by Gammick Entertainment, this brand new party game allows for up to 8 players to compete either cooperatively or in a versus fashion on the interactive virtual game board.‚  Details on the core game-play of the title were brief, only that each turn will offer a different challenge that need be tackled by members of the same team for “single” challenges, or head to head with the opposing faction for “versus” challenges.‚  I might just stick with my Mario Party, but who knows; even a crystal is born in harshest of circumstances.

Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, the one player E rated strategy game will cost you 800 Wii Points on the Virtual Console.

Family and Friends Party, perfect if you just birthed a set of octuplets, also rated E, will run you 1,000 Wii Points and is also available today on WiiWare.

Maybe, just maybe we’ll see Super Smash Bros next week to coincide with Brawl’s birthday, doesn’t hurt to hope.

About Nintendo:

WII-KLY UPDATE: ONE WIIWARE GAME AND ONE VIRTUAL CONSOLE GAME ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

March 2, 2009

In like a lamb and out like a lion, or vice-versa? Whether March finds you digging out from a late-winter blizzard or reeling in the spring thaw, the fun is both mild and wild at the WiiTM Shop Channel. Even the littlest lambs in your household can take part in a cool new family-friendly WiiWareTM game, while strategy-loving gamers will be roaring like lions as they battle evil foes in a classic Virtual ConsoleTM title.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii PointsTM to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWareTM

Family & Friends Party (Gammick Entertainment, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Have fun with all your friends and family as you take on some very exciting challenges. This is an interactive board game for as many as eight players of all ages. The goal is to be the first to complete a series of challenges. During each turn, a challenge will be played by one or two players per team depending on the type of challenge you’ve been given. (Other players on your team can still help and support you). There are six different “Single” challenges that must be played cooperatively by members of the same team. Family & Friends Party can also suggest “Versus” challenges, which must be played competitively by all teams at the same time.

Virtual ConsoleTM

Ogre BattleTM: The March of the Black QueenTM (Super NESTM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): It’s up to you to defeat the Empire. It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since the Zetegenian Empire first conquered the Kingdoms of Zenobia with a wrath of fear and bloodshed. You are the leader of a band of rebels who’ve fought to preserve the last shred of honor in this desperate time of treachery. Manage the ranks of a full-blown rebel army, complete with hundreds of characters, magic items, weapons and mystical Tarot cards. You must succeed in ousting the evil usurpers-your fate, and that of the entire population, depends on it.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

About The Author

Eddie Makuch is a Blast staff writer. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch.

Leave a Reply