On Wii Shop and DSiWare today: Contra Rebirth, ColorZ, Super Return of the Jedi, Clubhouse Games Express

Contra Rebirth WiiWare co-op screenshot
Nintendo downloads this week: Super Return of the Jedi for the Virtual Console offers memorable space-themed action for Wii owners with a Return of the Jedi, while WiiWare welcomes a brand new entry in the classic Contra franchise. On Nintendo DSiWare, you’ll find a portable version of the popular Clubhouse Games to help keep your autumn lively.

Get a Nintendo Points Card at AmazonNintendo has now added these new/classic games to the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop. The games go live at 9AM Pacific time. Users with a high-speed Internet connection 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 or Amazon (see Card on the right).

Where available, we’ve included videos of each of today’s games. Either for nostalgia’s sake or so you can see if any new game is to your taste.

This week’s new WiiWare games are:

Contra Rebirth
Publisher: Konami
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points = $10
Description: Chief Salamander and his Neo-Salamander Force travel back to 1973 A.D. to invade Earth. They land in Central America and take control of the Shizuoka ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. There, the aliens plan the destruction of all the “Contra” on Earth. The Galactic President calls on Lance Bean, a member of the elite “Contra” warriors, to save the day, but his sudden disappearance jeopardizes the safety of the planet. Now, Bill Rizer and samurai Genbei Yagyu are the last hope for Earth. They must pick up their weapons and defeat the evil Neo-Salamander Army before all is lost. Experience the fast-paced, action-packed, side-scrolling adventure that pioneered the run-and-gun genre.

Don’t forget to enter the Konami code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left Right, B, A.

ColorZ
Publisher: Exkee
Players: 1-3
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 700 Wii Points = $7
Description: With ColorZ, go forth in your spaceships on a mission to clean up virus-infested planets. Immerse yourself in a new gaming experience that will reveal mind-hand-eye coordination skills you never knew you had. Absorb viruses of your own color, but steer clear of the others. If necessary, you can cleverly merge your ships together to create new colors. Buzz past your enemies to keep your combo and clock up a new high score. Explore an extra dimension with the game’s multiplayer mode and share the unique experience of cooperative play between friends. Pool your forces, synchronize your movements and become a unified team of up to three players to meet the challenge together.

This week’s new Virtual Console game is:

Super Return of the Jedi
Original platform: Super NES
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points = $8
Description: Join the Rebellion and crush the Death Star in a giant universe filled with all the action and adventure of the Star Wars® finale. Take command of five different characters — from Wicket the Ewok to Princess Leia — and go up against the Empire’s worst, from Jabba the Hutt to the Emperor himself. You’re going to need every ounce of Force you’ve got in you. Battle in actual movie locales, from Jabba the Hutt’s palace to the Forest of Endor and the Emperor’s Tower. Cross sabers with the darkest of the dark side: Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt, the rancor, Darth Vader and the Emperor.

This week’s new DSiWare game is:

Clubhouse Games Express: Family Favorites
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points = $5
Description: Choose from five family-friendly games in this Nintendo DSiWare version of the popular Clubhouse Games. Play classic card games like Hearts and Contract Bridge; connect bones to other bones in Dominoes; think strategically in the simple but addictive Dots and Boxes; and move your pieces towards a common goal in Ludo. Play by yourself or use DS Download Play to host as many as seven friends.

Top 20 WiiWare games as of September 2:
1 [1] – Reel Fishing Challenge
2 [2] – My Aquarium
3 [5] – World of Goo
4 [3] – My Pokémon Ranch
5 [6] – Tetris Party
6 [7] – Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
7 [9] – Texas Hold’em Tournament
8 [8] – Sexy Poker
9 [15] – Family Slot Car Racing
10 [10] – Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1
11 [4] – NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
12 [11] – Dr Mario Online Rx
13 [13] – Family Mini Golf
14 [16] – Defend Your Castle
15 [14] – Water Warfare
16 [12] – Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My life as a Darklord
17 [N] – Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2
18 [17] – Brain Challenge
19 [19] – BUST-A-MOVE Plus!
20 [18] – Cue Sports – Pool Revolution

Top 20 DSiWare games as of September 3:
1 [1] – Flipnote Studio
2 [2] – Nintendo DSi Browser
3 [3] – Guitar Rock Tour
4 [4] – Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again
5 [5] – Paper Airplane Chase
6 [6] – Asphalt 4: Elite Racing
7 [16] – Pop+ Solo
8 [7] – Bird & Beans
9 [8] – WarioWare: Snapped!
10 [9] – Dr. Mario Express
11 [10] – Master of Illusion Express: Deep Psyche
12 [12] – Mario Calculator
13 [11] – Mario Clock
14 [13] – Sudoku Student
15 [14] – Photo Clock
16 [15] – Art Style: precipice
17 [17] – Art Style: BOXLIFE
18 [N] – Puzzle League Express
19 [19] – Brain Age Express: Sudoku
20 [-] – Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics

* [N] – Denotes a brand new entry in the Top 20
* [-] – Denotes a game that was not on the Top 20 last week