Gamertell’s 2009 Wii Shop Channel gift guide

If there’s a Wii owner on your gift list this holiday season, a WiiWare or Virtual Console game could be the perfect gift. If you don’t own a Wii as well, you’ll have to pick up a Nintendo Points card and a nice card as a gift. If you also own a Wii, then you can pick out a WiiWare or Virtual Console game for him or her and Gamertellgift it. It takes the fuss out of shopping, especially if you have spare Nintendo Points on your account.

A lot of great WiiWare and Virtual Console games were released in 2009, so there’s a lot to choose from. (Not to mention games released in 2008 or earlier on WiiWare or Virtual Console.) To help make your buying decisions a little easier, Gamertell has created a Wii Shop Channel gift guide. 12 of the best WiiWare and Virtual Console releases have been highlighted and detailed as possible gifts.

Take a look at our guide and see if there’s something on the Wii Shop Channel you’d like to send as a gift to your special someone.

WiiWare

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster
Price: 800 Nintendo Points / $8
Publisher: Semnat Studios
Genre: Action
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1-4
Description: Play as Eduardo and his fellow samurai toaster friends as you cut through enemies in 13 different areas. Great for someone who wants something silly and fun.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Price: 1,000 Nintendo Points / $10
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Strategy (Tower Defense)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Mild Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
Players: 1
Description: Mira, the daughter of the Dark Lord from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, must defend her tower home from an endless swarm of heroes, while also working towards becoming a powerful and famous dark lord. It’s a good fit for tower defense and Final Fantasy fans. Plus, it’s one of the few Square Enix WiiWare games where you can enjoy it without buying additional DLC.

LIT
Price: 800 Nintendo Points / $8
Publisher: Wayforward Technologies
Genre: Action / Puzzle / Horror
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Violence
Players: 1
Description: Jake’s school has been covered in darkness and shadow, and strange creatures inhabit all dark areas. However, they fear the light and can be damaged by it. Journey through the school to save Jake’s girlfriend Rachel, occasionally battling transformed teachers along the way. It’s a good option for older gamers, especially ones who enjoy horror games and puzzles.

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits
Price: 1,000 Nintendo Points / $10
Publisher: Over the Top Games
Genre: Action
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1
Description: Help Nyx search Greece, with the help of the gods, to find her missing friend Icarus. It could be a good choice for action fans. If you’re not sure if the recipient would like it, you can sample the demo first.

Pokemon Rumble
Price: 1,500 Nintendo Points / $15
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Mild Cartoon Violence
Players: 1-4
Description: Collect toy pokemon and enter them in epic battle royales. Journey to different areas to encounter new toy pokemon, and battle against up to three other friends in multiplayer. You can even share your toy pokemon with others. It’s a bit pricey, but a great choice for Wii owners whether they’re Pokemon fans or not. You can also test the demo first to make sure it’s something the recipient would like.

Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1
Price: 1,000 Nintendo Points / $10
Publisher: Telltale Games
Genre: Adventure
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Mild Language and Mild Suggestive Themes
Players: 1
Description: Journey through the new adventures of Guybrush Threepwood. Guybrush battles LeChuck, but it doesn’t go well. He finds himself stucj on a seemly deserted island and his wife Elaine is missing. To make matters worse, there’s a voodoo pox going around. It’s a good choice for adventure game fans. Plus, if they like it, the rest of the series is available as well.

Virtual Console

Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Price: 500 Nintendo Points / $5
Originally Appeared On: NES
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Action
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1
Description: The prequel to the first two NES Castlevania games. This one allows players to hunt down Dracula as Trevor Belmont, Syfa, Grant and Alucard. It’s considered by many to be the best NES Castlevania game.

Final Fantasy
Price: 500 Nintendo Points / $5
Originally Appeared On: NES
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1
Description: The original Final Fantasy game. Yes, it’s been ported to tons of other systems, but there’s something about owning the Virtual Console version of the original. It’s a winner for Final Fantasy fans.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Price: 1,000 Nintendo Points / $10
Originally Appeared On: N64
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action RPG
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1
Description: The sequel to the Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask finds Link trapped in Termina, the alternate version of Hyrule. Unfortunately, Termina is going to be destroyed in three days. Link must use the orcarina and masks to save Termina and find a way back home. It’s considered a classic, and would be a great gift for a Zelda fan who’s already completed Twilight Princess and wants a new entry to play on his or her Wii.

Super Mario Kart
Price: 800 Nintendo Points / $8
Originally Appeared On: SNES
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Racing
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1-2
Description: The very first Mario Kart game. There are standard races, multiplaer races, a battle mode, 8 racers and over 15 tracks. It’s an option for people who loved Mario Kart Wii. Or, if you can’t afford to buy Mario Kart Wii for someone, buy this instead.

Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Price: 800 Nintendo Points / $8
Originally Appeared On: SNES
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Strategic RPG
ESRB Rating: “Everyone”
Players: 1
Description: You create a leader, then recruit characters to fight against the Zetegenian Empire and drive them out of Zenobia. It was hard to find back in the SNES days, and could be a great gift for a strategic RPG fan.

Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Price: 800 Nintendo Points / $8
Original Appeared On: SNES
Publisher: LucasArts
Genre: Action
ESRB Rating: “Everyone 10+” for Cartoon Violence
Players: 1-2
Description: You play as one of two teenagers named Zeke or Julie, and must rescue your neighbors from all sorts of monsters (zombies included). Thankfully, the monsters seem to be weak against water pistols. There are 48 stages and six bonus levels. Save all 10 of your neighbors in each level and stay alive if you want to progress and survive!

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