With a name like Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, there's not much Semnat Studios needs to do to sell me on the game.  But then they just go off and release a kick ass trailer showing off the game's four player drop-in and drop-out local co-op mode with plenty of toast tossing action.  

The game will feature thirteen unique levels, each with their own hand drawn style and you'll be arming Eduardo and friends with five different pastry style ammunitions.  And if that doesn't get you to want to play this WiiWare title, perhaps the ability to ride scooters equipped with laser-blasters might tickle your toast?  Plus we have toasters with rocket packs.  Rocket Packs!

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster launches next Monday, June 15th on Nintendo's WiiWare service for 800 Points.  Until then enjoy the trailer!

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It's a good week to be a fan of old school co-op!  One of the most beloved franchises in co-op history is headed to the Wii.  The appropriately titled Contra Rebirth will be released on Japan's WiiWare service next week.  As you can tell from the screenshots above, Contra Rebirth is quite retro, looking like it popped up out of a Super Nintendo cartidge.

As a classic game fan, I love to see new entries in old school series released on download services.  Mega Man 9 seems to have gone over well, and I am sure Contra Rebirth will too.  No word yet on when, or if, Rebirth will hit other regions, but we sure hope it's soon.  In the meantime, check out the first gameplay footage.

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WiiWare fans can get their hands on Hudson's Onslaught this week.  The downloadable game features 4 player co-op play ONLINE.  That's right folks, through the magic of the internet you too can play with friends over the intertubes.  

The game pits humans against insectoid aliens, and the cooperative mode looks a bit like a surival mode.  Think...Starship Troopers meets waggle wand.  

Onslaught costs 1000 Wii Points ($10) and is available now.

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Everyone appreciates the value of a good, reliable breakfast appliance.  And of course, samurai are totally awesome, too; just go watch this sometime if you don't believe me.  Putting Samurai and toasters together seeems brilliant, and when you add in the cool art style and, most importantly, co-op, you get a package that is hard to resist.

Ars Technica recently sat down with the developers of that odd mashup, Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, recently released on Nintendo's WiiWare service.  It's an interesting read, for sure, and they even have a bit to say about the co-op.

By having Eduardo on the Wii, Semnat was also able to emphasize one of the more important aspects of the game: the co-op. "Having a multiplayer mode where fooling around and allowing people to have as much fun in the levels and with each other seems like a good idea for the console," he said. "We always wanted to do co-op but were never able to until we started work on the Wii game."

I agree with these guys!  Co-op is a great way to get the more casual folks involved in more traditional games.  Hey, don't we have a column dedicated to that?

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The WiiWare has been pretty sparse with co-op releases, but it's beginning to show some promise.  With titles like Eduardo the Samurai Toaster and now Onslaught - the WiiWare looks like it could have some great original cooperative titles.

Onslaught is coming from publisher Hudson Entertainment, and will feature Wii-Mote controls.  Shake the controller to reload, toss a grenade with the Nunchuk and drive a mech with your butt....ok I made that last part up.  

Four player online co-op is a rare treat for Wii owners, and a gamble for Hudson - hopefully it works out for both parties!  There's no word on a solid release date or a price yet for this title, so be sure to check back for details.

The co-op releases keep on rolling out this week!  Puzzler Lonpos is available on WiiWare this week.  The game was a launch title for WiiWare in Japan, so it has definitely been a while in coming.  Lonpos allows two players to take turns placing pieces in the ever-diminishing open spots.  It looks like Tetris meets Mancala, doesn't it?  The game will set you back 800 points and is available now!  You can check out one review of the game here.

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This release just about slipped past us, but better late than never.  We have another entry into the shooter/platformer/pachinko/co-op genre.  Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the only game in that genre. Planet Pachinko was released to Nintendo's WiiWare service earlier this week.  Two players control a family of robots, exploring the inside of a gigantic temple dedicated to Pachinko.  Of course, there are pirates looking to loot the treasures, too, so it's a good thing you have an array of weapons including rockets and slime launchers.  Planet Pachinko is priced at 500 Wii points (pennies).  At that price, it might be worth checking out for the novelty factor alone.  More screenshots and information are available at the link below. 

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I'll admit, the name was the first thing that caught my eye when this press release came across my desk.  But it was the four player drop-in/drop-out co-op that really got me interested in this title from upstart developer Semnant Studios.

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster sports a unique hand drawn style as you take the role of a bread shooting samurai toaster named Eduardo.  You'll face Peking Opera pastries, spear toting carrots, robotic mangos and more througout the game's 13 unique levels, all with their own artistic style.  Luckily you and your buddies are armed with five different pastry pickups to upgrade your firepower.  

Eduardo the Samurai Toaster will be available on the Nintendo Wii via Nintendo's WiiWare service this winter.  Now enjoy some tasty new screenshots, but please bring your own jelly.

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One of the most popular games ever has just hit Nintendo's casual console.  Tetris Party on WiiWare brings a co-op mode to the Tetris franchise.  Is this a good reason to fire up your Wii, in this season of awesome rhythm games, zombie titles, and Sackboys?  Read our review to find out!

As I'm sure you are aware by now, we here at Co-Optimus are fans of all things cute.  Rainbows, Care Bears, Little Sack people, we love them all.  However, we were missing perhaps the ultimate in cute: itty bitty huge-eyed dinosaurs who blow shiny bubbles!  This oversight will be corrected soon, though, as it looks like Bubble Bobble is headed to the Wii.  A new Bubble Bobble game has been announced for the Japanese WiiWare service, according to GoNintendo.  It is unknown whether the game will make it overseas, but as fans of the cute n' cuddly co-op dinosaurs, we certainly hope it does.  Do you suppose any fan edits with darker, gloomier dinosaurs will be forthcoming?

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