Wii Virtual Console Games

[Doctor Oak]

This will be a full list of Wii Virtual Console games, updated as they're added. If we miss a game, let us know and it'll be put up ASAP.

As of Monday the 4th, new games will be added every Monday at 9am Pacific time - in America at least, we'll find out how the rest of the world shapes up after that. If a game is only available in one or two territories, it'll be marked as such with [US] [UK] and [JP] - and yes I know all three regions are larger than just the countries mentioned, but this is just easier. (Note that the Japanese games are harder to keep track of, so expect missing a few)

This thread may also be used for discussion on upcoming or current games on the Virtual Console.

[size=10pt]Virtual Console Games[/size]

Genesis/Megadrive
Alex Kiddâ„¢ in the Enchanted Castle [US]
Alien Storm [US]
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis [US]
Bio-Hazard Battle [US]
Bonanza Bros. [US]
Columns
Comix Zone [US]
Doctor Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Ecco Jr. [US]
Ecco the Dolphin
Eternal Champions [US]
Gain Ground [US]
Ghouls'n Ghosts [US]
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II [US]
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon [US]
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole [US]
Puyo Puyo [JP]
Ristar
Rolling Thunder 2 [US]
Shadow Dancer [JP]
Shining Force [US]
Shining in the Darkness [US]
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 [US]
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 [US]
Sonic Spinball [US]
Space Harrier II [US]
Streets of Rage [US]
Streets of Rage 2 [US]
Streets of Rage 3 [US]
Super Thunder Blade [US]
Toe Jam and Earl
Wonder Boy in Monster World [US]
World Class Baseball [US]

TurboGrafx16/PC Engine
Air "Zonk" [US]
Alien Crush [US]
Battle Lode Runner [US]
Blazing Lazers [US]
Bloody Wolf [US]
Bonk's Adventure
Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure [US]
Bomberman '93 ('94 in Japan)
BRAVOMAN [US]
Chew Man Fu [US]
China Warrior [US]
Cratermaze [US]
Devil's Crush [US]
Double Dungeons [US]
Dragon's Curse [US]
Dragon Spirit [US]
Dungeon Explorer [JP]
GALAGA '90 [US]
Gate of Thunder [US]
JJ and Jeff [US]
Legend of Hero Tonma [US]
Military Madness [US]
Monster Lair [US]
Moto Roader [US]
Necromancer [JP]
Nectaris [JP]
Neutopia [US]
Neutopia II [US]
New Adventure Island [JP][US]
Ninja Spirit [US]
Ordyne [US]
R-Type I [JP][US]
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master [US]
Shockman [US]
Silent Debuggers [US]
Splatterhouse[US]
Super Star Soldier [JP]
The Dynastic Hero [US]
Victory Run [JP]
Vigilante [US]
World Sports Competition [US]

N64
F-Zero X [UK][US]
Mario 64
Mario Kart 64 [US]
Paper Mario [US]
Pok

 

[Doctor Oak]

These are games leaked by the ESRB to be confirmed for being prepared for the Virtual Console, there are no indications as to when though:

* The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
* Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (Super NES)
* Kirby's Super Star (Super NES)
* Mario Brothers (NES)
* Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo 64)
* Starfox 64 (Nintendo 64)
* Super Metroid (Super NES)
* Kirby's Dream Land 3 (Super NES)
* Excitebike (NES)
* Ice Climber (NES)
* Dr. Mario (NES)

As are these:

Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, Kid Icarus, Kirby's Adventure, Pilotwings, Pro Wrestling, Punch-Out & Wild Gunman.

Incidentally, N64 games will not use the rumble function on Gamecube controllers and while N64 games will ask for for a classic controller to be plugged in - Gamecube controllers work fine and dandy too, it just doesn't specify them.

 

[Linkachu]

SNES
F-Zero
SimCity [US] (26th December for Japan)
Super Castlevania IV [JP]
Street Fighter II [JP]
Super Mario World [JP]
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past [JP]
Mario Super Picross [JP] (19th December)
Contra III [JP] (19th December)
R-Type III [JP] (26th December)
Fire Emblem: Monsho no Nazo [JP] (26th December)
Donkey Kong Country [UK] (12th December for Japan)

Gotta love how the majority of those games are Japan only >>

It seems like most of the better games are still to come, so until some of those leaked games start showing up - or NA gets Super Mario World or LttP - I probably won't be downloading anything.

 

[Doctor Oak]

As said in the first post, new games will be going up every Monday - so that list should slowly find itself with less [JP] tags on it.

Also, Reggie said a week or two ago that their strategy with the VC is to release the key titles in quiet periods for Wii software itself. So, say - for example - Wario Ware was out in February (and here, it is) and Pokemon Battle Revolution or something to the same effect was out in April.

In March, we'd probably see Ocarina of Time or Starfox 64/Lylat Wars or something like that to fill the gap.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Quick update, Europe will be getting new games every Friday, as opposed to Monday. This week's new releases are:

NES: (500 Wii Points)
Pinball (1-2 players)
Solomon's Key (1 player)
Urban Champion (1-2 players)

SEGA Mega Drive: (800 Wii Points)
Columns (1-2 players)
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (1-2 players)
Gunstar Heroes (1-2 players)
Ristar (1 player)

TurboGrafx: (600 Wii Points)
Alien Crush (1 player)

 

[Linkachu]

A week late - and still waiting to see what'll be released today (hopefully something) - but the additions for last week in the US have been added:

TurboGrafx:
R-TYPE
Military Madness (How perfect )

SNES:
Super Castlevania IV
Street Fighter II

Genesis:
Space Harrier II
Toe Jam & Earl

NES:
Tennis
Super Mario Bros.


Starting get a bit more ideas of what I'd want to download. My bro downloaded Castlevania IV and loves it =)

 

[Linkachu]

Just two new games in the US for this week it seems:

NES
Baseball
Urban Champion

I'll edit them into the list later as I gtg right now.

Or not, seeing as they're already on the list ^^;

 

[Linkachu]

A list of upcoming VC games for January in Japan, but as far as I know there are no dates yet (if they're out there, let me know). Other games may be joining this collection, too.

FAMICOM TITLES
Ikki (500 points)
Ice Climber (500 points)
Zelda II: Adventures of Link (500 points)
Kid Icarus (500 points)

SUPER FAMICOM TITLES
Fire Emblem Seisen no Keifu (900 points)

NINTENDO 64
Mario Kart 64 (1000 points)

MEGA DRIVE
Bonanza Bros. (500 points)
Gain Ground (500 points)

PC ENGINE
Alien Crush (500 points)
R-Type II (500 points)
Soldier Blade (500 points)
Moto Roader (500 points)


*Wants Kid Icarus =/*

 

[Doctor Oak]

The list should be up-to-date for all three regions now, I'll check it over again - for Europe especially - later on.

 

[Doctor Oak]

In America this week:

Gradius® (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Across the galaxy, there exists a distant planet known as Gradius. Gradius' peaceful existence has been brought to an end by an intense space invasion by a race known as the Bacterion. To save the planet, the hyperspace fighter Vic Viper has been deployed to fight the Bacterion invasion. Players pilot the Vic Viper through seven stages, shooting and dodging through deadly obstacles, while using various power-ups, including missiles, lasers, options and shields. The Vic Viper's target is the enemy fortress, Xaerous. The only way to end the war is to plunge deep through the enemy forces and destroy its very core.

Soldier Blade® (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): A new shooter in the "Star Soldier" tradition. Players play as an SIA (Special Interception Airforce) pilot flying the heavy assault fighter "Soldier Blade." Players face the Zeograd invasion force with weapon attacks that change each time they grab a power-up item. Players can unleash three different kinds of attack depending on the color of the power-up item. New features, such as the "Gunbody" option for avoiding enemy attacks and the "Burst Out" system (which has a different effect depending on the power-up level), add a strategic element that requires players to make snap decisions about which items to grab and when to use special attacks. Awesome boss battles await players at the end of each operation. Playing in "CHALLENGE" mode requires players to try to get as many points as they can in a limited amount of time.

Dungeon Explorerâ„¢ (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Dungeon Explorer is a multiplayer action/role-playing game where up to five players can play at the same time. The story takes place in underground dungeons. Players can choose from eight different character types: Fighter, Thief, Warlock, Witch, Bishop, Elf, Bard or Knome. Depending on the character, the types of magic, attack strength and movement will all vary. To survive, players most know all about their enemies' weaknesses. Players also must know about the special attributes of each magic spell and use them to their greatest advantage. In team-play games, working together is the key to victory. Any combination of Wii Remotes and Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ controllers can be used in multiplayer games.

 

[Linkachu]

Dungeon Explorer sounds interesting enough. May be one of my first VC downloads =)

... Really gotta give my bro a "subtle" reminder about the point card he claimed to be buying me as a late B-day present ;p

EDIT:

No dates, but just something for UKers to look forward to. In Q1 you guys can expect 36 new games, with 20 Nintendo titles, 7 Turbografx games, and 9 SEGA MEGA DRIVE games. As far as I know, there is no comprehensive list of all 36 games yet, but the ones that have been mentioned (as in, ones I read about) are listed below.

Q1 UK Virtual Console releases
From Nintendo:
Mario Kart 64
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Street Fighter II: World Warrior
Super Probotector
Super Mario World

From Sega:
Streets of Rage
Bio-Hazard Battle
Bonanza Bros.
Comix Zone

From Hudson for the Turbografx:
Soldier Blade
Double Dungeons
New Adventure Island

 

[Linkachu]

As of 9 AM this morning pacific time, here are the new releases for the US (whoo?):

Xevious™ (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Players control their Solvalou ship and destroy the XEVIOUS forces. Fire the zapper missiles against air-based enemies and drop the blaster bombs down upon ground-based targets. Destroy Andor Genesis to earn bonus points. Unique enemies, interesting background music, a variety of vertically scrolling background environments and many hidden game play features differentiated Xevious from the other shooting games released at the time. Are you devious enough to beat Xevious?

R-Type III™: The Third Lightning (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): It was believed on Earth that the deadly BYDO Empire had been destroyed - but now they've returned, as nasty as ever. Their ships and armies are more powerful than before, and Earth will surely be conquered unless the new R-90 ship can destroy them. Powered with engines that launch it into different dimensions, and armed with the Round, Shadow and Cyclone Forces, the R-90 has what it takes to wipe out the BYDO threat. The BYDO mother ship must be found and destroyed to entirely erase the species from our galaxy.

Moto Roaderâ„¢ (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Moto Roader is a futuristic racing game that allows up to five players to compete against each other. Players use the cash earned when they win a race to power up their machine. Not only can they change the "TIRE" and "BODY" of their vehicles, but they also can add "SPECIAL" parts. Jump over tall obstacles with a "HOPPER" and blast past rivals at incredible speeds with "NITRO." What multiplayer game would be complete without attack items? Use a forward-launching "GRENADE" or a backward-dropping "BOMBER" to blow up and knock away rivals. Outmaneuver rivals in all eight heats to become the champion. Any combination of Wii Remoteâ„¢ and Nintendo GameCubeâ„¢ controllers can be used in multiplayer games.

 

[Linkachu]

^__^

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past has finally joined the US VC collection.

Now that is one of the key titles I've been waiting for ;D

 

[QuagsireQing]

I could've sworn I've never played ALTTP before but I definitely played something on GBA a long time ago that was just like this. It wasnt four swords and it wasnt minish cap. What other GBA games were kinda like this game???

 

[Sem]

Mario Kart 64 is coming out next week for teh VC. Clickeh.
Yay for the second 64 game to come along since the Wii launch! Wether or not I decide to buy it though still remains a mystery...

 

[Linkachu]

Mario Kart 64 ish here! As well as...

WII-KLY UPDATE: FOUR NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL

Jan. 29, 2007

Today Nintendo adds four new classic games to the popular Wiiâ„¢ video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Mario Kart 64â„¢ (Nintendo® 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Put the pedal to the metal in this worthy successor to the Super NES® classic, Super Mario Kart®. Mario Kart 64 boasts great graphics, tons of unique power-ups and a stunning 3-D version of the legendary Battle Mode. With improved courses and a revolutionary head-to-head four-player mode, Mario Kart 64 is sure to win the heart of any race-driving fan. The game includes 20 different courses filled with dips, valleys, jumps, tunnels and bridges. Smooth, precise control — a trademark of all games from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto — will bring players back time and time again for freewheeling fun.

Contra® III: The Alien Wars™ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the year 2636, the Alien War continues, and it's up to two soldiers, Jimbo and Scully, to put a stop to the alien invasion. The aliens have ravaged the Earth with their powerful organic and technological weapons. Players can join with a partner and battle through six stages of nonstop run-and-gun action. Collect power-ups, including bombs, flamethrowers, spread shots, lasers and machine guns to take out the aliens. Control Jimbo and Scully as they travel through war-torn cities, race on air bikes, ride missiles and ultimately break into the alien base to defeat the alien boss once and for all.

Bonanza Bros.â„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Mobo and Robo Bonanza are enjoying their favorite television show when the picture crackles and the shadowy figure of a mysterious stranger appears on the screen. This figure asks them to collect certain items that he has placed inside various buildings to test his security force. If they return the items successfully, Mobo and Robo will be rewarded. The two of them state that they will get the job done in just three minutes. However, little do they know that each building is packed with security guards who will raise the alarm if they are caught red-handed. Fortunately both Mobo and Robo are equipped with bullets that can knock the guards unconscious for a few seconds. A huge reward will be given out if Mobo and Robo are apprehended. Help the infamous Bonanza Bros. infiltrate a number of different locations ranging from banks to mansions to casinos, and don't get caught.

Comix Zoneâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Sketch Turner is an artist in New York City. One day while Sketch is drawing, a huge thunderstorm strikes the city. A bolt of lightning hits Sketch's image and brings it to life. That image is Mortus, a megalomaniacal mutant who wants to become real and rule the earth. Mortus magically transports Sketch into the pages of his comic book so that he can end his creator's life and become real. Inside the comic book, Sketch meets General Alissa Cyan, who believes he is a superhero that came to save their post-apocalyptic world from the evil brought by Mortus's hand. Now that he's a comic book superhero, Sketch can really put the hurt on the bad guys. Instantly, Sketch can fight like a one-man mercenary platoon.

 

[Doctor Oak]

Anyone who hasn't played Comix Zone before needs to download it NOW.

It's tough as sodding nails, but every excrutiating moment of it is an utter joy to experience.

 

[Linkachu]

Wow. Three hits in three weeks. LttP & Mario World WILL be mine ;D

Super Mario World™ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): During a vacation in Dinosaur Land, Princess Toadstool gets kidnapped and a spell is cast on the inhabitants of the island. When they stumble upon Yoshi™, a young dinosaur, Mario™ and Luigi learn that Bowser is responsible for the terrible misdeeds. Now, all Yoshis are trapped in magical eggs that Bowser has hidden throughout seven castles. Many hidden paths aid Mario in making his way to Bowser's castle, completing 74 areas and finding all 96 exits. Discover items, including a feather that gives Mario a cape that allows him to fly, or a flower that shoots fireballs in layers upon layers of 2-D scrolling landscapes. Players can even ride Yoshi and swallow their enemies.

VIGILANTEâ„¢ (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Brave the streets of New York City in this side-scrolling beat-'em-up game. Thugs kidnap the beloved Madonna, and it's up to players to become vigilantes. Players fight their way into enemy territory to get her back. Enemies attack with weapons like iron pipes, chains, guns and motorcycles. To fight back, players can punch, kick or use the "nunchaku" item that appears in the stage. Players must use each of the attacks effectively to defeat their enemies. To clear a stage, defeat the boss that waits at the end. Players fight their way through exciting stages that include the City Streets, Junkyard, Brooklyn Bridge and the Backstreets.

Gain Groundâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): It's the 31st century, and science and technology have progressed to the point that the human race is approaching perfection: no war, no poverty and no conflict. With nothing to worry about, the human race seems destined to live forever in harmony. But what if Earth came under attack? By this point in time, people did not know how to cope with problems or conflicts, and had completely lost their survival instincts. In response to this, the United Earth Government created the Gain Ground system, a war simulator that would help humans rediscover their lost instincts. After several terrible malfunctions, the creators became prisoners in their own creation. Now it's up to players and two courageous comrades to go into the Gain Ground system, rescue their fellow humans and destroy the system. Players battle through different periods in history as they revive their survival instincts, while trying to live.

 

[kimishiro]

Ice climber
Kid Icarus
Kirby's Adventure


All for the NES have been uploaded to the Wii's VC Listing. =)

 

[Linkachu]

Guess this wasn't updated while I was away. Ah well. I'm back now, and if anyone missed it, OoT is available today in NA (as well as the UK according to Oak). DKC and a few other games popped up last week (four total). The collection is starting to get rather good ^__^

OoT is or isn't out in Japan yet...?

Edit: Guess I was wrong. We ended up getting OoT and two other games this week =)

The Legend of Zelda®: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64®, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points): The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reveals the genesis of the fantasy land of Hyrule, the origin of the Triforce and the tale of the first exploits of Princess Zelda™ and the heroic adventurer Link. Vibrant, real-time 3-D graphics transport players into the fantasy world of Hyrule. The quest takes them through dense forests and across wind-whipped deserts. Players swim raging rivers, climb treacherous mountains, dash on horseback across rolling hills and delve into dungeons full of creatures that fight to the finish to put an end to their adventures. With immersive graphics, a sweeping story line, swashbuckling adventure, mind-bending puzzles and a touch of humor, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of Nintendo's most epic challenges ever.

Bio-Hazard Battleâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): An army of biogenetic mutants has gone haywire, terrorizing the world and putting the future of the planet in jeopardy. In Bio-Hazard Battle, players must take on the mutant menace and restore order and harmony to the planet Avaron before it's too late. Through eight levels of intense action, they'll be up against some of the nastiest, most vile creatures they've ever seen, including things like mega amoebas, nuclear crabs, electroworms and gut-grabbing insects. They have four different Bioship fightercraft to choose from, each with unique handling capabilities and weapons systems. Hop into a fightercraft and save Avaron from certain doom in Bio-Hazard Battle.

Chew Man Fu (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): A novel action-puzzle game set in the sacred towers taken over by the evil sorcerer, Chew Man Fu. It's up to an apprentice female monk to free the towers and lift Chew's curse to bring peace and fried rice back to the land once ruled by the Egg Roll Dynasty. The rules are simple. The objective is to clear each round by pushing or pulling four colored orbs onto their matching colored tiles. Beware the sorcerer's minions in the tower who stand in the way. Players kick the orbs to take enemies out or to break down walls. They must overcome the obstacles and place the orbs on their respective tiles. Chew Man Fu also features the two-player Kick Ball minigame, as well as an Edit Mode for creating unique stages. The fun is endless.

 

[Linkachu]

Ah well. I was hoping for something cool this week to download, but I guess I'll hold off again for another...

This week's new games in NA:

Tecmo Bowl™ (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Tecmo Bowl pits the player versus the computer in 11-game, single-elimination playoff action. Players also can go head-to-head with a human opponent in action or coach mode. The player can select from 12 teams. On offense there are usually two run and two pass plays to choose from. The player takes control of the quarterback before the snap and then either hands off to the running back or works through his receiver progression from the top to the bottom of the screen. Defense consists of trying to guess which offensive play the opponent will select and then taking control of one of the defensive players before the snap. A very simple power-meter system is used for kicking field goals, extra points and punts.

Sonic Spinballâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points): Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has taken over Mt. Mobius and turned it into a mechanical base. He is using energy from the magma flowing under the volcano to power his Veg-O-Fortress. He has the power to transform helpless animals into robots. Sonic the Hedgehog must take down this fortress to free the enslaved animals. The only way to make that happen is to trigger an eruption in the volcano it's built on. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. Dr. Eggman, however, is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the emeralds and the mountain, and he's set up an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don't go anywhere.

Double Dungeons (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Double Dungeons is a dungeon role-playing game that features smooth-scrolling 3-D game play. Two players can play at the same time, which makes this game truly stand out from the rest. There are 22 unique scenarios, spread out among six levels. The higher the level is, the harder the scenario. Because each scenario is independent, players can choose to start the game from any scenario other than the final one. Players defeat monsters in each dungeon to gain experience while searching for the "key" that opens the door to the room with the boss. They buy equipment at the shop, team up with characters and defeat the boss to clear a scenario. Players must conquer all 21 scenarios from levels 1 through 5 to obtain passwords. If they obtain all of them, they make their way to the final scenario!

 

[Linkachu]

In Europe today:

16th March 2007 —This week Wii takes you back to the classic old-school era with a selection of action-packed titles which will have your heart pounding and hands sweating in minutes.

Nintendo fans will remember the charms of Ice Climberâ„¢ from the Nintendo Entertainment System. Players take control of a small Eskimo who, armed only with a hammer, must make his way up an icy mountain, breaking blocks to make new routes and defeating enemies which block his way. With perilous black-ice, deviously placed indestructible blocks and challenging time limits, this game will have you on the edge of your seat.

Next in this week's tour of 1980s culture we travel from the arctic mountains to the sewers of New York where we meet four bright green 80s ninjitsu legends in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®. Again making its debut on the NES, this game requires players to battle through five large stages to foil a criminal plot threatening the city. Players can switch between their favourite Turtles at any time during the game allowing you to pick the ideal pizza-eating reptile for every situation.

Finally, challenge your nerve and take on the game which gave birth to the survival horror genre with Splatter Houseâ„¢ originally for Turbografx. Following a storm, the hero and his girlfriend take shelter in a creepy mansion. When our hero wakes the next morning his girlfriend is gone and a hockey mask is stuck on his head, giving him superhuman strength. Using this new-found power, players must hack and slash their way through seven levels full of undead and save their girlfriend from the evil which has taken control of this house.

These great games join the list of 62 classic titles already available for the Virtual Console in Europe.

I'd rather TMNT 2 and 3 myself.

 

[Linkachu]

And this week's update in NA...

Excitebike™ (NES®, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Face crazy curves, hairpin turns, and daredevil jumps as you race toward the checkered flag and the Excitebike championship. Race against the clock or challenge an opponent. You must keep your bearings as you fly through the air and avoid getting clipped by other racers. Stay cool under pressure or your bike will overheat. If you get tired of racing on the circuit, create your own course in Design Mode. There you have access to all the ramps, mounds, bridges, and other obstacles Excitebike has to offer.

Beyond Oasisâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): You are Prince Ali, who has discovered a buried gold armlet. This armlet once belonged to a wizard who waged a long war against the evil wielder of a silver armlet. The silver armlet was used to create chaos and destruction, while the gold armlet had the power to summon four spirits: the water spirit "Dytto," the fire spirit "Efreet," the shadow spirit "Shade," and the plant spirit "Bow." To stop the person who first discovered the ancient silver armlet and is again using it for evil, Prince Ali travels the land of Oasis, gradually acquiring the ability to summon the four spirits. Use your wits and speed to claim the silver armlet!

SPLATTERHOUSEâ„¢ (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Rick and Jennifer, both parapsychology students at the local university, are visiting West Mansion, site of the research lab where the famed Dr. West conducted some of his most gruesome experiments. A sudden storm forces them to find shelter inside the mansion. Once inside, they are attacked by monsters. Jennifer is kidnapped and Rick is knocked unconscious. Hours later, Rick awakes to find himself covered in blood, with the Terror Mask stuck to his face. His only hope is to depend on the ancient powers of the mask to give him the strength and courage to find Jennifer. Now Rick's fight has begun! Splatter your way through 7 stages of side-scrolling horror action. Armed with cleavers and shotguns, Rick must fight his way through the monsters of West Mansion and defeat the bosses at the end of every stage. The creepy music, gruesome monsters, gory action and shocking events leading up to the finale will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Beyond Oasis sounds very familiar - in a good way. Have any of you guys played it before?

 

[ryot!]

i dont have a wii yet, but i'm excited about the VC, and the miis.

 

[Linkachu]

Interesting addition... My brother used to love this series of games:

Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fireâ„¢ (Super NES, 1-8 players, 800 Wii Points): Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV is a tactical simulation game in which the player takes the role of a ruler seeking to unite China in the era of the three kingdoms of Wei, Wu and Shu. The role of the ruler is to command a range of officers with differing characteristics - some cunning strategists, others brave warriors - and strengthen the military might of his or her kingdom. Foreign policy, involving forming alliances with certain kingdoms and hatching plans to weaken others, will play a major role in this process. Once players have developed a powerful enough military, it will be time to expand their borders through military conquest. Ultimate victory will only be achieved once all 43 cities in China lie within a player's control.

Only one game. Too bad, but ah well.

 

[Linkachu]

O__O

Why I didn't bother checking these out yesterday I don't know...

Star Fox® 64 (Nintendo® 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Players take the controls of their Arwing and complete 15 missions to reach the final objective: a showdown on Venom, the home planet of the interplanetary tyrant, Andross. Throughout the adventure, players have to accomplish challenging objectives in order to reach and conquer every mission. Skim over the surface of an alien sea, weave through the concrete canyons of a futuristic metropolis or dodge planetoids the size of mountains. Between missions, players will be treated to real-time 3-D movies that progress the story of the Star Fox team of space mercenaries in their struggle against the evil ape emperor, Andross.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® (NES®, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Cowabunga! Players take control of the turtles in a half shell and rescue reporter April O'Neil from the clutches of the evil Shredder. Battle against the Foot Ninja Clan as Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael with their trademark weapons and ninja abilities. Search through five stages and dozens of areas throughout the New York City sewers, rooftops and ultimately Shredder's Technodrome to save April. Players must scarf down some pizza to keep up their energy, as they'll need it to defeat Shredder. Turtle Power!

©2007 Mirage Studios, Inc. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® is a trademark of Mirage Studios, Inc. All rights reserved. ©1989 Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.

Dragon's Curse (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): After defeating the Mecha Dragon in the depths of the Dragon Castle, the wounded beast casts a spell on the hero, turning him into an ugly creature. To return to human form, he must find the Salamander Cross, which can break any curse. This side-scrolling action role-playing game is nonlinear, allowing players to venture freely. Collect gold and items while upgrading equipment and powering up stats. The hero starts as Lizard-Man but, upon defeating the dragon bosses, is changed into other creatures such as Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Tiger-Man and Hawk-Man. Each creature possesses distinct abilities such as the ability to fly, swim, walk on ceilings or cling to walls. Players use each creature's special skills to widen your search for the Salamander Cross and bring the hero back to his human form!

Star Fox 64. It's finally here, and for a second time now it shall be mine ^^

 

[Linkachu]

Well, it's that time again... Nothing much that really perks my interest this week, though after a hit release like SF 64 we probably won't be seeing anything too big for awhile:

Galaga™ (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Players control their fighters, with their unique ability to combine with other fighters and shoot down the invading aliens. Aliens attack in formations using a variety of attack patterns. Rescue a captured fighter to combine with it, forming a Dual Fighter with twice the firepower. Earn Perfect Bonuses more easily by using a Dual Fighter on the Challenging Stages. Galaga was released in 1981 and became an instant classic with its innovative fighter-combination system and varied enemy attack patterns.

BRAVOMANâ„¢ (Turbografx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): The village of Nitta has been invaded by the army of Dr. Bomb, an evil scientist who is plotting to take over the world. Facing this crisis is Bravoman, who received his powers from Alpha Man to stand up against Dr. Bomb in the name of justice. The village of Nitta consists of 22 stages - action stages that take place on the ground and shooting stages that take place underwater. Action stages use a unique control system in which the height of a jump and the distance of an attack changes depending on how long players hold down the button. Players collect the Luck Symbols that appear when they defeat enemies and give them to Lottery Man to get recovery and power-up items. Stop Dr. Bomb and bring peace to the village of Nitta and the rest of the world.

Alex Kiddâ„¢ in the Enchanted Castle (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): When King Thor was kidnapped, his son, Alex Kidd, held out hope that his father would return to their kingdom on Planet Aries. Finally, it was revealed that he was being held captive on Planet Paperock. As Alex, players race to his rescue through 11 levels, battling enemies and avoiding obstacles while winning coins that will buy special items and vehicles. At the end of each level, players encounter a boss and enter into a match of "Rock, Paper, Scissors." Throwing the right symbols puts players ever closer to bringing King Thor home; throwing the wrong symbols squashes them beneath a heavy weight.

I think Alex got lazy and gave up updating the UK list

 

[Linkachu]

Care of IGN, info on the three newest Virtual Console games in America:

Gradius®III (SNES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Return as the pilot of the Vic Viper starfighter to battle the onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire. Blast through 10 action-packed levels in space, destroying everything in your path. Customize and power up your ship with weapons and upgrades including speed-ups, missiles, lasers, options, and shields.

Wonder Boyâ„¢ in Monster World (Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Monster World was a peaceful, happy place until one dark day when an army of BioMeka monsters invaded. As a young man named Shion, you've vowed to defeat the hostile foes and make the land peaceful again. You'll attack enemies with swords and spears and guard against incoming projectiles with shields and armor. As you travel through the many different regions of Monster World, you'll talk to the townspeople, collect money to buy items, and gather a large variety of weapons and magic. The further you venture, the more powerful your weapons and equipment, including suits of armor and boots, will become.

Battle Lode Runner® (TurboGrafx 16, 1-5players, 600 Wii Points): This upgraded edition to the famous Lode Runner series includes a 5-player versus mode. Gold funds have been stolen from the Time Machine Research Center, and the group responsible used a time machine to escape and hide the gold throughout time. The center sends an elite team of "Runners" to go and retrieve the gold.

In addition to the familiar Puzzle mode, the game features Battle mode, where up to 5 players can compete, and Edit mode, where you can create your own original stages. You can enjoy Battle mode in a number of different ways. Be the last one standing to win in Survival. Grab items from enemies and escape to win in Escape. With 4 players, you can separate into two teams to do battle in Tag Match.

Still waiting on another 'big' release...

 

[Linkachu]

*Wonders if anyone reads this topic* XP

This week in US:

Castlevania® (NES®, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Step into the shadows of the deadliest dwelling on Earth. You've arrived at Castlevania, and you're here on business: to destroy the curse of the Evil Count, once and for all. Make your way through six monstrous floors filled with bats, ghosts, zombies and every kind of ghoulish creature you can imagine. Use the legendary whip Vampire Killer and a host of deadly weapons to battle your way to Dracula's chamber and the ultimate duel of good vs. evil.

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja™ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In The Legend of The Mystical Ninja, take control of Kid Ying and Dr. Yang in an action adventure through feudal Japan. A curse has stricken the village of Horo-Horo, and its beloved princess has vanished. Together Kid Ying, a daring young mystical ninja, and Dr. Yang, master of the invincible spirit transformation, must overcome 10 levels of the Dragonbeast to save Princess Yuki. Each stage contains intense 3-D and 2-D zones where the duo must perform dozens of attack moves and solve magical problems and puzzles before advancing. Battle humorous enemies like the Carp Meister, who stuns victims with poisonous fighting fish, Tanaka-U-Out, a knockout artist who wallops opponents with a bone-crushing hammer, and the Sumo Tag Team, kings of the unbeatable belly-buster crunch. Collect coins to buy new equipment and to receive clues, spend some time playing minigames in the arcade or try your luck and increase your fortune at the Quiz House and Horse Races.

Shockman (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): It's been two years since Arnold and Sonya were made into Shockmen. A message from the professor to return to their bodies has them head to his laboratory, but they are ambushed by a mysterious enemy along the way. After narrowly defeating the enemy, they catch a TV news flash announcing the Ryo Empire invasion. They find that the professor has been abducted and set out to rescue him. Shockman is a side-view action shooter that has eight stages, including Action Stages, where you jump and use special techniques, and side-scrolling Shooting Stages. This game expands on the well-paced story from the previous version and contains cooperative elements like shared life and a powerful Team Shockbeam that can be used during two-player simultaneous play.

Castlevania could be worth the purchase for nostalgias sake...

 

[Linkachu]

Seems three is the magic number these days...

Mighty Bomb Jack™ (NES®, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Mighty Bomb Jack is an action/adventure game that was originally released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 by Tecmo. The hero of the game, Jack, must make his way through 16 levels of a pyramid in order to defeat the demon Belzebut and rescue the royal Pamera family. Each level is split into two parts; an action zone and a Royal Palace room. Action zones can be split up into several portions, and contain power-ups usually hidden in treasure chests such as money bags, Mighty Coins, and Mighty Drinks. Mighty Coins allow Jack to change colors; blue allows Jack to open orange treasure chests, orange allows him to open any treasure chest by simply touching it from the side, and green transforms all enemies on the screen into coins for 5 seconds. Mighty Drinks add 10 seconds to the game's timer.

Final Fight (Super NES®, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Jessica had it all. She was the daughter of former wrestling star and mayor of Metro City Mike Haggar and girlfriend to Cody Travers, one of the coolest and toughest boys around. But now she has been mysteriously kidnapped! Take to the streets with either Haggar or Cody and fight your way across town, deep into the turf of the Mad Gear Gang. As you cross the town, fight with all your strength to save the one you love. Enjoy unmatched beat 'em up action in this arcade classic and discover just who is behind the Mad Gear Gang in what may be Metro City's final fight.

Ordyneâ„¢ (TurboGrafx16, 2 players, 600 Wii Points): Ordyne is a port of the popular side-scrolling arcade shooter that includes simultaneous two-player co-op play as well as impressive visuals and catchy background music. The evil Kubota has kidnapped Dr. Tomari's fiancée, Kana, and taken the colossal nuclear reactor Ordyne. In order to reclaim them, Dr. Tomari and his assistant Felix take to their battleships and head off in pursuit. Avoid enemies and advance through seven different levels that take place on land, sea, and air. Collect crystals from defeated enemies and use them to buy items or upgrades for your ship at the Space Inn. Do you have what it takes to defeat the boss at the end of each level and ultimately reach Kubota in the final stage, Kubota World?

... More meh. I want something worthy to spend my remaining 900 points on xp

 

[Linkachu]

Now THIS is what I'm talking about =D

Donkey Kong Country 2™: Diddy's Kong Quest™ (SNES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the sequel to the immensely popular Donkey Kong Country™, Diddy Kong® gets the spotlight, along with his girlfriend, Dixie Kong™ - a great little monkey with a dangerous ponytail. The action starts on the wreck of King K. Rool's Gangplank Galleon that has apparently broken up on a reef offshore from the Kremlings' Island. Diddy and his friends will have to work together to rescue Donkey Kong®, exploring all the hidden areas of the Kremlings' island: a spooky haunted forest, treacherous swamps, a giant beehive oozing with sticky honey and lava-filled caves, just to name a few.

Streets of Rageâ„¢ 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): To celebrate their defeat of the Syndicate exactly one year before, Blaze, Adam and Axel met for drinks. The next morning, Axel received a frantic phone call from Eddie "Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, whom he was living with on the edge of the city. Blaze and Axel found Adam and Skate's house wrecked, and a picture showing Adam chained up at the feet of Mr. X. The city then once again returned to its nightmarish state as criminals ran rampant. Unable to contact their old friend in artillery, Axel and Blaze team up with Skate and Max Thunder to free the city and rescue Adam from the Syndicate. It is up to you to take down Mr. X once and for all.

Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Blazing Lazers is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was praised for surpassing the limitations of the hardware of its time. Players control the extraordinary firepower of their Gunhed Star Fighter to take on the Dark Squadron that has begun its invasion of Earth. Collect power-ups to increase your ship's battle strength so it can cut through enemies and defeat the bosses in all nine areas. Of course, as part of the "Soldier" series, the game contains a good combination of fast-paced speed with catchy, drum-propelled background music, coupled with the Field Thunder that can be used to destroy enemies in one fell swoop for the ultimate sense of satisfaction. With its fine-tuned difficulty levels, Blazing Lazers is a shooting game that anyone can enjoy.

I'll leave it up to Alex to say whether Streets of Rage 2 is worth the download or not, but my remaining 900 points are going to DKC 2 =)

Oh. And these were missed from last week's downtime:

Pac-Man® (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Move Pac-Man through the maze, avoiding ghosts and eating all the Pac-Dots. Beware, each of the ghosts behave differently. When Pac-Man chomps a Power Pellet, he becomes invincible and is able to eat the blue ghosts. The more ghosts Pac-Man eats in a row, the higher the score. Don't forget to eat the bonus fruit too. Released in 1980, Pac-Man is the most well-known video game on Earth and is also commonly acknowledged as one of the most successful coin-operated games in history. Enjoy this masterpiece of gaming history today.

Ninja Gaiden™ (NES®, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Players take on the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a rising warrior in his family's clan whose main role in the world is to protect the Dark Dragon Blade from falling into the hands of evil. Ryu travels to America to seek vengeance for his father's death. Players fight their way through 14 challenging side-scrolling levels while defeating gangs of street thugs, battling evil ninjas and fighting barbarian bosses by using the deadly Dragon Sword, ninja skills and Ninpo (ninja magic). Players can run, crouch, jump and climb as they make their way through each stage and collect items to gain points, strength and weapons.

Ninja Spirit (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Ninja Spirit is a side-scrolling action game that amazed the gaming world with its precision graphics and quality game play. Play as the ninja Moonlight and engage in a fierce battle to avenge his father's death and unlock the secrets of his birth. Select between the original ARCADE MODE and PC-ENGINE MODE, which includes a life gauge. Use four types of weapons: katana, shuriken, bombs and chain and sickles to battle your way through the enemies. Pick up power-up items and switch between weapons to give you the advantage. You'll need to consider the enemy attacks and your weapon's abilities in order to deftly make it through all seven stages. Use your skills and attacks to get through the game's boundless enemies and traps. That's what ninja action is all about.

All US releases, o'course.

 

[Linkachu]

Playing a bit of catch-up here. If I'm missing a week from the US releases, someone let me know or post it for me:

NES Open Tournament Golf™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): We all knew that Mario™ was a top-notch plumber, but did you know that he could also be a world-class golfer? You can challenge another player in Stroke, Match and Tournament modes. Play on three fantasy courses in the USA, the UK and Japan and try to win a million dollars. Make sure you keep an eye on the wind and distance to the hole before selecting your club, or else you'll be racking up some high scores - which is exactly what you don't want to do in this game. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced golfer, NES Open Tournament Golf is perfect for those days when you just can't get to the local golf course.

World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Play through a total of 18 Olympic events in this action/sports title. Players compete in six categories of events that include shooting, archery, rowing, swimming and track and field. The game features Olympics mode, where you play all the events over the course of a few days, and Training mode, where you can choose individual events to play. After practicing in Training mode, go for the gold in Olympics mode and break world records. Depending on your play time and ability, you can enjoy the game a number of different ways. Gather friends and play in competitions with up to five players to get even more out of this great game.

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood, Violence, 600 Wii Points): Enter alone, deep into enemy territory to rescue the kidnapped President in this overhead-view action shooter. Take on the role of a commando in a Special Forces team and face your enemies with an onslaught of weapons, including machine guns and grenades. Earn valuable information, weapons and items by rescuing POWs. Fight your way to the end of each stage and defeat the boss by effectively using your weapons and equipment. This port of the insanely popular arcade game features refined graphics, story and cut-scenes, making this action game a must-have. This new and enhanced version includes the never-been-told second half of the story that was left out of the arcade version.

Lode Runner® (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): This landmark action-puzzle game has been a worldwide fixture in video games from the moment of its inception until today, producing many sequels and related products along the way. The player controls the hero, or "Runner," who collects gold nuggets located around every stage, all the while avoiding capture by enemy robots. The action itself is simple, but the stages are designed as increasingly challenging puzzles, and none of the 50 stages is as easy as it seems. The Runner avoids enemies by digging holes in the floor to the right and left of his position—by doing this, he can clear a path to places that, at first glance, seem unreachable. Players must use their brains to collect all the gold nuggets in every puzzling stage if they want to escape to the next. In addition to normal play, this version of the game features an Edit Mode that allows players to design their own stages, adding a new level of enjoyment to the game.

Sonic the Hedgehogâ„¢ 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) is back to continue his zealous search for the Chaos Emeralds needed to fuel his new Death Egg contraption. The evil doctor secretly follows Sonic to his vacation spot, Westside Island, and launches a full-scale attack, imprisoning all the helpless animals of the island and turning them into mindless worker drones. Now Sonic must thwart the doctor's plans at all costs. This time he isn't alone, as a peculiar two-tailed fox named Miles Prower (aka Tails) decides to aid him in the battle. Together they must locate the Chaos Emeralds before Dr. Eggman does, and put an end to his diabolical scheme.

Golden Axeâ„¢ II (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older — Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Not long after the devastating reign of the wicked Death Adder, another evil arose. Dark Guld and his minions invaded and took hold of the prized Golden Axe with plans to destroy it. Once again, as a fierce barbarian named Ax-Battler, a fearless female Amazon known as Tyris-Flare or a ferocious dwarf named Gilius Thunderhead, you will wield steely swords and powerful magic in an all-out war to recover the sword. Once you slash your way through the six side-scrolling levels, you'll get the chance to defeat Dark Guld once and for all.

If I didn't already own Sonic Mega Collection, I'd download Sonic 2 in a heart beat.

 

[NonAnalogue]

It looks like there should be three weeks since your last update: May 28, June 4, and June 11. I dunno which one you're missing, though.

At any rate, I'm desperately hoping F-Zero X comes to the US Console soon. It's definitely one of my favorite N64 games, and knowing it's on the European VC and not the US makes me extra impatient. ^^;

Edit: Ah-hah! You're missing May 28. JJ and Jeff (TurboGrax), Kid Chameleon (Genesis),and Actraiser (SNES).

 

[NonAnalogue]

Sorry for the double post, but I guess since Katie didn't do it, i will.

Last week's VC update brought us China Warrior (TG16), Street Fighter II Turbo (SNES), and F-Zero X (N64).

Now, since it worked so well last time... I'm desperately hoping we get EarthBound on the VC soon.

 

[Linkachu]

Sorry for neglecting this. Gonna catch things up a bit now. This was last week's US release, which wasn't too shabby now that I think of it:

Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Join Mario™, Luigi, Princess Toadstool and Toad in an incredible fantasy world on a quest to save the day. This time, they have little more than vegetables to defend themselves with. Pick up items and throw them at your adversaries to clear levels in seven massive worlds. Even enemies can be picked up and tossed across the screen. Each character has a unique set of abilities: Luigi can jump higher and farther than any of the other characters, Toad can dig extremely fast and pull items out of the ground quicker than anyone and the princess is the only one who can jump and hover temporarily. This unique installment in the Mario series will keep you coming back for more.

Ecco: The Tides of Time (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): In this sequel to Ecco the Dolphin, everyone's favorite underwater hero must battle the Vortex Queen and her hive of drones. The wicked queen followed Ecco back to Earth from the future and quickly established her hive. It's up to Ecco to defeat this alien threat by navigating the depths of his side-scrolling world, solving puzzles and receiving help from his marine-mammal friends. When Ecco used the time machine to save his pod, he split the stream of time in two. He must now restore the rift before the world is permanently changed into a mechanical world, sucked dry by the Vortex.

DRAGON SPIRIT (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): A fantastic world of adventure unfolds in this vertical-scrolling shooter. Sealed away by the gods long ago, the Evil Demon of Darkness, Zawell, seeks to rise again and unleash a new reign of evil. The brave warrior Amur races to rescue Princess Alicia from the demon's wretched clutches. Amur takes the form of the legendary Blue Dragon and fights his way through the legions of monsters that await in the sky. Battle your way through eight different areas, using your Dragon Breath to bring down airborne targets and Fireballs to wipe out targets on the ground. Destroy flashing enemies and smash Eggs to uncover different kinds of power-up items. Boost your firepower by increasing the number of heads your dragon has, and defeat all the bosses as you make your way to Zawell's dark lair.

 

[Linkachu]

The new in US. Nothing too amazing this week, but I guess that's to be expected after a few real nice releases:

Mach Rider® (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): It's the year 2112. Earth has been invaded by the forces of evil. Battle the invaders as you race from sector to sector on your motorcycle, searching for survivors. Feel the incredible sense of speed as you zip past evil Quadrunners and zigzag between treacherous rocks, oil spills and other obstacles on the course. For a different challenge, create your own course in Design Mode, using the various twists, turns and straightaways the game has to offer. Remember, you are Earth's only hope—you are Mach Rider.

Yoshi® (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Yoshi is an action/puzzle game starring Mario's dinosaur buddy, Yoshi™, who has been imprisoned in an egg. Now it's raining Goombas, Bloopers and Boo Buddies, and you have to help Mario™ stop the airborne invasion. As the critters fall, catch them on trays. Stack two of a kind and they both disappear, or capture the whole bunch in between eggshells. When the eggshells match, out hatches Yoshi and up goes your score. The action heats up as the characters fall faster and faster. To save the day, switch and shuffle, and don't let your piles get too high.

Air "Zonk" (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 600 Wii Points): Air "Zonk" is a spin-off of the popular Bonk's Adventure series. This side-scrolling shooter retains the same cartoonish style of Bonk but is set in a cyberpunk future. The powered-up "Zonk" gathers his friends to form Team Cool, and they set out to stop King Drool's plan to conquer the world. Choose from three levels of difficulty and three Friend Modes. Shoot King Drool's cyber-robots and avoid their attacks while collecting the Air Bones to unleash a variety of unique attacks. Combine with a friend to create an invincible hybrid form or blast enemies with a charged attack. Air "Zonk" is filled with humor, made evident by the wacky theme song that plays when you post a huge score or when your game is over.

Hey, TBA? Ask for Paper Mario! Maybe then it'll be released next week... >>

 

[Linkachu]

Last week's, but it still makes me laugh.

Hey, TBA? Ask for Paper Mario! Maybe then it'll be released next week... >>

Then on July 16th...

Paper Mario® (Nintendo® 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 1,000 Wii Points): Paper Mario is a graphically innovative game that breaks from the confines of the RPG genre. Now slimmed down, everyone's favorite plumber flips, spins, jumps and hammers his way through scads of exotic worlds that teem with a huge and hugely entertaining supporting cast. Players control numerous old and new characters in a complex, nonlinear story that follows different scenarios depending on player choices. A dizzying collection of spells, attacks, skills and special items can be collected by players willing to thoroughly explore the lush 3-D environments.

Balloon Fight® (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Control a character to pop your opponents' balloons before they pop yours. Sounds easy, doesn't it? Don't be fooled by this game's simple premise or cute exterior. Underneath you'll find a surprisingly addictive game with strategy to spare. After mastering the easy-to-learn controls, you still have to get a grip on the game's impressively realistic physics. And if that's not enough, there are the ever-increasing enemies and environmental hazards like lightning and water. Try the game's second mode, Balloon Trip, if you feel like taking a break from the action and just want to see how long you can stay aloft. And hey, who doesn't like popping balloons sometimes?

Silent Debuggers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): Make your way through a dungeon-like space station and defeat the prowling monsters in this real-time first-person shooter. You're a member of the elite Debuggers, a group of warriors who are jacks-of-all-trades. Assigned to inspect an unmanned space station, you have exactly 100 minutes to get in, destroy the monsters lurking in each block, make your way to the lowest level and deactivate the automatic detonator placed there. With each monster that slips by you, the core block becomes harder to survive in, so speed is key in preserving the facility and each separate block. Experience the thrill of survival as the timer ticks away and you uncover the truth of the events that occurred.

Duuuuuuuude XD

As for today's US updates:

Kirby's Dream Courseâ„¢ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Step up to the tee for the wackiest golf game of your life. This one- or two-player game features a floating golf course in the sky. High above Dream Land, players can pitch and putt the ever-popular puff ball, Kirby, through a maze of three-dimensional obstacles on a zany checkerboard course. Players must aim for the multitude of enemies that are spread throughout each fairway. Kirby must hit all the enemies to make them disappear, and the last one becomes the hole. Sink Kirby into the hole to advance to the next stage and clear all 8 courses — 64 holes in all.

Devil's Crush (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone — Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): Devil's Crush is the exciting sequel to the hit pinball game Alien Crush and features even smoother ball movement and enhanced special effects. Shoot the ball onto the board with the Devil Shooter, then use flippers and nudging to keep it in play and rack up a high score. Complete certain conditions to play up to six different bonus stages. Get a "Perfect Clear" on those to earn a huge amount of points. The game's ominous theme is enhanced by its enemies: wandering skeleton knights, sorcerers and even a giant face that changes from a goddess to a sinister serpent.

Shining Forceâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): In ages long forgotten, Light fought Darkness for control of the world. Finally, the Ancients defeated the evil ruler of the dark forces known as Dark Dragon and cast him into another dimension, though he vowed to return in 1,000 years. As time passed, all memory of Dark Dragon was buried, and the land of Rune enjoyed 10 centuries of peace. Yet, as promised, the dark ruler returned, along with hordes of evil creatures that ravaged the land. As chaos erupted, several strongholds of Good still held out, awaiting a hero who could wield the Powers of Light.

I have a Shining Force game on GBA and really liked it, so I might look into downloading this Genesis version

 

[Linkachu]

Drat. Looks like I'm missing a week (the last Monday in July). Anyone remember offhand what the new games were?

Otherwise, the past three weeks of updates have held a few interesting titles...

Super Metroid (Super NES, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Mild Violence, 800 Wii Points): The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy. Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older — Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): In this thrilling sequel to The Revenge of Shinobi, Joe Musashi finds that Neo Zeed — the crime syndicate he believed he had wiped out two years earlier — is indeed still alive and well. The return of Neo Zeed and its leader, the mysterious Shadow Master, forces Musashi to return from exile and confront the growing evil. As the Shinobi, the master of long-forgotten Oboro Ninjitsu martial arts, Musashi must utilize all his powers to overcome his various enemies. Thanks to his considerable combat skills and special Ninjitsu moves, only the Shinobi can thwart Neo Zeed and vanquish the Shadow Master.

Neutopia (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): In this action role-playing game, you take control of a brave boy who sets off on a journey to rescue the kidnapped princess and reclaim the eight medallions that were stolen by the evil demon, Dirth. You'll need to rely on your magic compass and information you've gathered to find entrances to labyrinths and defeat the bosses in them. Solve puzzles, avoid traps, move blocks and destroy walls to uncover secret rooms in the labyrinths. Carefully use your map to uncover hidden treasure and powerful equipment. Travel the land, underground, sea and sky on your quest to recover the medallions. With a save function, the right difficulty level and a system that doesn't include experience points, this is truly an RPG that anyone can enjoy.

Metroid® (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): The first installment of the immensely successful Metroid series introduces us to the hideous title creatures and the slick, cybernetic bounty hunter Samus Aran. As Samus, your mission is to penetrate the space pirates' home planet, Zebes, and keep them from destroying the galaxy with the dangerous life forms known as Metroids. Metroid has all the high-tech weaponry, creepy tunnels and crawly alien creatures that anyone could ask for. With its deep and complex game play, excellent music and a rare sense of setting, it establishes a frightening ambience that will haunt and entertain you for a very long time.

Shining in the Darknessâ„¢ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Dark Sol has vowed to reign over the enchanted Kingdom of Thornwood, and only you can stop him. Find the powerful Arms of Light and battle the deadly beasts that keep your people desperate and starving in this epic journey for peace. Roaming the dark Labyrinth, you'll seek out enemies and collect weapons, all of which will help you pass the test of the Ancients and become a shining knight. Get into the adventure with a stunning 3-D perspective, amazing cinematic views and fast-paced scrolling. You'll move from battle to battle, solving puzzles and discovering secret items in this engrossing struggle between good and evil.

Cratermazeâ„¢ (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone — Comic Mischief, 600 Wii Points): Cratermaze is a comical action game set in a parallel world. While on a trip through time, you and your friends are confronted by Kublai, henchman to the evil Zenzombie. He traps your friends at separate points in the space-time continuum. Now you must fight your way through 60 rounds of mazes to save your friends. Dinosaurs, ninjas, robots and other enemies lurk within the mazes, spanning from primitive times to the future. Escape the enemies by digging holes to trap them in and then filling the holes to finish them off. Collect all the chests within the time limit to get the key and exit to the next round. With special items such as shovels and spring platforms, Cratermaze takes its game play to new heights, making for an unforgettable gaming experience.

Wave Race® 64 (Nintendo® 64, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Take to the waves on your own personal watercraft and experience some of the best water effects in video game history. Choose one of four characters, each with his/her own unique abilities and style, and master the game's excellent controls. Make your way through nine courses, each with its own challenges. If the ramps, mines and hairpin turns aren't enough, you'll also have to deal with varying weather conditions that can make the water choppy or cover the course with fog. And if you ever feel like taking a break from racing, then try out Stunt Mode to polish your skills by pulling off handstands, rolls and more. Get good enough and you might even be able to ride a dolphin-just don't get seasick.

ADVENTURES OF LOLO™ (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): This was the first game in the Eggerland puzzle series to be released in North America. After the love of his life, Lala, is kidnapped by the Great Devil and taken to a haunted castle, our hero Lolo sets out to rescue her. The journey is perilous because the Great Devil's fortress is guarded by a massive army. But Lolo has a few tricks up his sleeve, including a Magic Shot that turns enemies into eggs and an Emerald Framer that shields him from attacks. Combining clever environmental puzzles with tricky enemies and an engaging style, ADVENTURES OF LOLO is a true classic.

GALAGAâ„¢ '90 (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): This is an updated version of the classic arcade shooter Galaga. Set in the vast reaches of space, you will fight your way through all 29 rounds to reach the enemies' stronghold on Planet Galaga. Game levels consist of a few rounds with changing enemies and backgrounds. To top it off, the nostalgic "Galactic Dancing" lives on to mark the end of each level. With the new addition of dimensions, you can choose your attack route. Collect capsules and open dimension warps at branch sections to take on even tougher enemies. GALAGA '90's inclusion of the triple fighter, scrolling backgrounds, boss Galaga and even new system effects make it nothing less than a masterpiece.

I'll be getting Super Metroid myself. It's yet another game I've been highly anticipating for months now. Bring on Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star!

 

[NonAnalogue]

Bring on Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star!

I am insulted and astonished that you fail to mention EarthBound.

 

[Red Silvers]

I'm eagerly awaiting Castlevania 2 and 3.