The big release this week is the budget title sequel to Endless Ocean for Wii. I think it’s the first WiiSpeak game Nintendo has released since Animal Crossing came out over a year ago. On the downloadable side of things, GhostSlayer sounds interesting as its the first WiiWare game I know of that uses MotionPlus. Of note: there are no Virtual Console games at all this week! That must mean every single game for it has been released .. not!

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Nintendo’s Endless Oceanâ„¢ game for Wiiâ„¢ takes users on a virtual undersea trip to explore deep-sea wrecks and encounter more than 230 different animal species. Players of all abilities explore at their own pace as they swim through coral reefs, explore ancient shipwrecks, meet local wildlife and search for sunken treasure.

In the spirit of the game’s themes of fun and exploration, Nintendo and Norwegian Cruise Line are partnering to offer a real-life ocean adventure: the Endless Ocean Cruise Giveaway. Three lucky winners will receive a seven-day Caribbean cruise for two aboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, where they can experience the fun of Wii at sea.

Between now and Feb. 29, 2008, people can visit www.EndlessOcean.com for more information about the game and the sweepstakes. Participants can enter once daily and winners will be drawn at random on or about March 5.

The Endless Ocean Cruise Giveaway is open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia over the age of 18. For a complete list of rules and regulations, visit www.nintendo.com/sweepstakes/EndlessOcean_Sweeps.jsp.

Mmmm… buffet. Really, though, wouldn’t a Nintendo themed cruise ship be awesome? Imagine being able to actually drive Mario Karts around on the deck!

Infendo reader Shivy writes: “Hey Infendo. I am in love with Endless Ocean. Playing it brings back fond memories of other games that focused on exploration and discovery, such as Myst and Uru.

“One of the most impressive parts of the game was being able to go diving with a good friend of mine. We explored an undersea ruin together. The Wii’s limitations in communication (pre-set phrases and hand signals between the divers) actually made the experience feel more authentic, since divers wouldn’t normally be able to communicate through speech anyway.

“I can’t speak praises of this game enough. It has easily become one of my favorite game experiences in recent years.”

REDMOND, Washington – January 22, 2008 — Nintendo invites you to dive into a new genre of video games. Launching this week for Wiiâ„¢, Endless Oceanâ„¢ lets users discover a vast undersea adventure at their own pace. It’s like a virtual scuba vacation in the tropics that includes interaction with hundreds of different animal species, relaxing swims through brilliant coral reefs and exploratory dives on wrecks of ships and warplanes. With the game’s intuitive controls and beautiful underwater visuals, every member of the family will want a chance to dive in.

Endless Ocean contains everything you might find on a real ocean scuba dive. Divers can find dozens of different treasures, from gold bullion to ancient artifacts. The marine biology encyclopedia lets divers record the different animals they spot and learn facts about each one. Divers might encounter more than 230 types of creatures, including penguins, tropical fish, sharks, whales and trainable dolphins. The stunning visuals will make you feel like your TV has transformed into an undersea portal. Navigation is simple too: To swim, just point the Wii Remoteâ„¢ and press the B Button; to examine an object, just point at it and press the A Button.

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