Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Thanks to the Virtual Console, the Wii could become the best console for shmups since the Saturn, yet not many publishers have released original shoot-'em-ups on old-fashioned discs. To date, the exceptional Blast Works has been the pick of a small group that also contains Castle of Shikigami III, Monkey King, and Milestone's Ultimate Shooting Collection.

All of which means Ocean Commander will face a depeleted formation of opponents when it launches in Q1 2009. Set on a waterlogged Earth in 3011, the game sees you piloting the Ocean Commander ship, a dextrous craft that can change form, though precisely which forms isn't mentioned in the press release. The title uses the Wiimote and Nunchuk (which allows for 360° aiming), and there will be a dozen upgradeable weapons, 21 levels, and 30 stages. Of course, such stats can't compete with Blast Works' infinite number of levels and stages, but count us interested.


[Via press release]

If there's anything you can hit with a stick, someone will make a game out of it. Some will even customize it. On a completely unrelated topic to customization, a new golf game has been announced, called CustomPlay Golf. What? Since the Wii works pretty well for golf, CustomPlay Games will release the latest installment of their series on Nintendo turf, along with the usual PC version.

It's shaping up to be a pretty comprehensive golf title, with fifteen complete 18 hole courses (270 holes), along with Crazy Golf and Mini-Golf modes. Let's see ... Pitch and Putt, Driving Range, Matchplay, Strokeplay, Stableford ... the list of content goes on. The release appears to detail PC content -- namely, online play for up to seven players -- but hopefully it'll all be included with the Wii version.

CustomPlay are good at what they do, and what they do is create golf simulations. The above screenshot is for the PC version, but we're hoping the Wii won't fall too far behind in the graphics department. This should actually be a serious title to watch when it's released in Q1 2009, so don't let Tiger be your only outlet of fairway fun.

[Via press release]