Welcome to the first installment of this column, which will cover recent news with the Wii’s online service. WiiWare and the Virtual Console will be the main topics, though other related news will come up as well and there will be some general commentary.

This week’s releases are:

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster (WiiWare, 800 Points): A side scrolling 2D action game, controlled by holding the Wiimote sideways/NES style. Apparently a pretty wild, colorful affair in the same vein as Contra, Metal Slug, and so on. I have not had a chance to play this one yet, but will try to get it reviewed in the near future.

Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! (WiiWare, 800 Points): A 2D platformer in a different vein, apparently a spin-off of Bubble Bobble. You find yourself chased up a tower by a giant drill (huh?), and have to create miniature rainbows to help climb your way up several platforms. Sorry to say, but I have no idea about this one as to whether it’s worthwhile or not.

Let’s CATCH! (WiiWare, 1000 Points): As near as I can determine, the title is very descriptive of the game; you throw and catch things using the Wiimote. I don’t know... that sounds very ’casual minigame’-esque and they’re asking for ten bucks, claiming their title is just as good as some N64 classics and top-tier WiiWare titles. Maybe I’m wrong, but the concept and price tag do not entice me.

Space Harrier (Virtual Console/Arcade, 800 Points:) This was a groundbreaking 3D shooter when it was first released in 1985, letting you fly around a forward-scrolling stage and avoid crashing into terrain while you shoot hordes of alien enemies. The problem is that it doesn’t really hold up all that well today. Eight bucks for what amounts to being interesting only as an arcade history lesson isn’t quite worth it in my mind. I’d pass unless you know for certain you really, really like Space Harrier.

Next, the topic for this week: Episodic WiiWare releases both current and upcoming.