This week's downloadable releases are very similar to many other games on the service because they are all shooting games. Pirates: The Key of Dreams is the lone WiiWare title while the Virtual Console showing includes two import Sega Genesis titles, Super Fantasy Zone and Gley Lancer.

Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a prequel to an upcoming DS game called Pirates: Duels on the High Seas. In this game, you control a pirate ship much like you'd control a ship in one of the many top-down shooters on Virtual Console. The story involves a navy captain doing battle against a ruthless pirate so he can obtain the titular and cursed Key of Dreams. The game includes over 35 levels, a variety of weapons, and support for up to four players. There are several ship types that you can choose from and there is even a challenging turbo mode that adds another layer to the game. Pirates: The Key of Dreams is 1,000 Wii Points or $10.

Super Fantasy Zone is the final game in the Fantasy Zone series and is the second game in the series on Virtual Console. The game, not previously released in America, stars Opa-Opa as he tries to avenge his father. He does this by battling Enemy Generators and then going toe-to-toe with each level's Menon Guardian. You gain gold as you defeat enemies and spend it on upgraded weapons and items. Super Fantasy Zone is available for 900 Wii Points or $9.

The final game of the week, Gley Lancer, is another import shooter for the Sega Genesis. Set in the year 2025, it follows 16-year old starfighter pilot Lucia as she tries to save her father from aliens. To do this, she steals and pilots the prototype starfighter, the Gley Lancer. Gley Lancer is available for 900 Wii Points or $9.

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

July 21, 2008

Which do you prefer: sailing the ocean or soaring through the sky with the latest additions to the Wii? Shop Channel, players can choose between seafaring action and high-flying thrills. Unleash your inner pirate with a new WiiWare adventure, or check out a pair of side-scrolling Sega Genesis classics making their Virtual Console debut. By air and by sea, big fun is on the way.

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 Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Pirates: The Key of Dreams (Oxygen Games, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-'em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades and ultimately battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a navy captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless pirate in order to seek out and retrieve the Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artifact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship's crew, gaining performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including rockets, mines, chain shot, saw blades and a flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies. Play against three of your scurvy friends or A.I. opponents in pitched multiplayer battles over 35 levels, set in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. Play in turbo mode if you're pirate enough.

Virtual Console

Super Fantasy Zone (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Cartoon Violence, 900 Wii Points): The last entry in the Fantasy Zone series, this side-scrolling shooter puts you in the shoes of main character Opa-Opa, who is on a mission to avenge the death of his father. To do so, you'll have to battle a variety of Enemy Generators to clear out the various levels and finish off the Menon Guardian at the end of the level. Eliminating your enemies will let you rack up some gold, which you can use to buy even better weapons, upgrades and other equipment. Spend your gold wisely, as each different boss you need to defeat presents a unique challenge.

Gley Lancer (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): In the year 2025, a war breaks out between humans and a hostile alien race, and 16-year-old Lucia and the rest of the starfighter pilots in the Earth Federation must join the battle. When Lucia's father is kidnapped by the aliens, she decides to take action and hijacks a brand new prototype starfighter, the Gley Lancer, in order to try to save him. In this side-scrolling shooter, step into the cockpit of the Gley Lancer as Lucia, rescue your father and destroy the evil aliens that are bent on destroying the human race.

The list of downloadable games is updated weekly on Nintendo's Online Press Room at press.nintendo.com. For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.