Official Weekly Nintendo Downloads Thread

[Graham Mitchell]

You know, in light of all the TG16 resurrection, the question is begged: Will they bother finding some way of porting TGCD's and SuperCD's to the Wii Console? I know the red book audio causes some problems for that in general, it could be done. If XBoxLive is getting Symphony of the Night, I'm sure somebody could get Rondo of Blood or Ys Book I and II ported over somehow. Or How about Snatcher--the Sega CD version is ported to English with some of the best voice acting ever in a game at that time. Wouldn't it be great to play this stuff on a wii? I hope they find it profitable to go through with some of these ideas. I think there'd be a good response.

How about SMS games, also? Will we wever see Phantasy Star, Zillion, or Spellcaster on the Wii?

[WiseSalesman]

I don't think we'll see Snatcher on the Wii anytime soon, that's for sure. How would the ESRB deal with it?

[Daniel Thomas]

You know, in light of all the TG16 resurrection, the question is begged: Will they bother finding some way of porting TGCD's and SuperCD's to the Wii Console? I know the red book audio causes some problems for that in general, it could be done. If XBoxLive is getting Symphony of the Night, I'm sure somebody could get Rondo of Blood or Ys Book I and II ported over somehow. Or How about Snatcher--the Sega CD version is ported to English with some of the best voice acting ever in a game at that time. Wouldn't it be great to play this stuff on a wii? I hope they find it profitable to go through with some of these ideas. I think there'd be a good response.

How about SMS games, also? Will we wever see Phantasy Star, Zillion, or Spellcaster on the Wii?

Good question. At some point, more consoles will have to be added to VC, and there's no reason, really, why all the classic consoles (pre-Playstation) can't be easily made available. The emulators are all stable and working fine. The biggest question would likely be the issue of rights, and how to handle content from companies that are gone.

I'd want to see SMS added, if only for Phantasy Star and Golvellius. I'd also demand 2600, 7800, Atari 800 computer (for 4-player MULE, of course!), Sega CD, Turbo CD, and maybe even Saturn.

I wonder what's happened to Sega's VC titles this week. Has there been any news regarding them? It's weird.

[Graham Mitchell]

I don't think we'll see Snatcher on the Wii anytime soon, that's for sure. How would the ESRB deal with it?

What do you mean? Is there some rule that the VC can't have mature games? Snatcher in itself is relatively tame compared to GTA SA, anyway.

[maxlords]

Is anyone disappointed by the lack of online multiplayer with the Wii? I can honestly say I won't be DLing any VC games until there's online multiplayer support.

[FantasiaWHT]

I'd buy Golvellius and Wonder Boy III the second they came out. Same goes for quite a few TCD/SCD games. Is it for SURE that we'll never get CD games for size reasons?

[WiseSalesman]

What do you mean? Is there some rule that the VC can't have mature games? Snatcher in itself is relatively tame compared to GTA SA, anyway.

When I made that comment, I had forgotten that there are parental settings in-console for the Wii store. I was thinking "How will Nintendo, who is so concerned about our children's impressionable minds that they thought up that infuriating friend code system, reconcile the fact that little Billy can buy Snatcher from the comfort of his living room, and there won't be a conscientious gamestop employee there to SAVE him from it?"

I realize that there have been M games on Nintendo systems before, but there hasn't been anything that couldn't be rated at least K-A on the virtual console yet.

[DigitalSpace]

Still no word on the missing Genesis games, but GameSpot reports that Mario Kart 64 will be released for the VC next week. Nice to see my favorite Mario Kart on VC, let alone another N64 game.

[diskoboy]

(1/29/07)

Today's additions:

Mario Kart 64
Contra 3
Comix Zone
Bonanza Bros.

Still no Gain Ground.

[c0ldb33r]

Awesome! I've never owned mariokart 64 and I usually find when I see it at flea markets, its outrageously priced.

I'll buy MK64 for sure.

[DigitalSpace]

(1/29/07)

Today's additions:

Mario Kart 64
Contra 3
Comix Zone
Bonanza Bros.

Still no Gain Ground.

Updated my list. Thanks!

Another good week for the VC. Contra 3 was my favorite in the series, and Mario Kart 64 is my favorite N64 game. I'd take Gain Ground being delayed over Comix Zone.

[c0ldb33r]

I bought MK64 and had enough left over for Guardian Heroes

[MrRoboto19XX]

Contra III!
Mario Kart 64!

NINTENDO SIXTY-FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUR!

Oh my this makes me happy.

[WiseSalesman]

Hmm. Never cared much for Mario Kart 64, but I'm all up on some of that Comix Zone.

[Graham Mitchell]

I like a lot of the games that came up today, but decided not to get any right now. I want another wiimote and nunchuck, which will run me $60 when they're finally available, so I'm waiting. I'm still playing that damned R-type!!! Stupid mechanical level. Making me memorize in a shooter and stuff. God!!

[DigitalSpace]

Just for fun, I figured I'd post which VC games I already own on their respective consoles:

NES
Donkey Kong (via Donkey Kong Classics)
Donkey Kong Jr. (via Donkey Kong Classics)
Gradius
Pinball
Super Mario Bros.

NES games I have ports of on other systems:

The Legend of Zelda (via Zelda Collector's Edition on the Gamecube, and the Classic NES Series cart on the GBA)
Xevious (via the Classic NES Series cart on the GBA)

Sega Genesis
Altered Beast
Columns
Comix Zone
Ecco The Dolphin
Golden Axe (via Genesis 6-pak)
Gunstar Heroes
Sonic the Hedgehog (via Genesis 6-pak)

Genesis games that I have ports of on other systems:
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (via Sonic Mega Collection on the Gamecube)
Ristar (via Sonic Mega Collection on the Gamecube)
Sonic the Hedgehog (via Sonic Mega Collection on the Gamecube)

SNES
Contra III: The Alien Wars
F-Zero
The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past (I also have the GBA port)
R-Type III: The Third Lightning
Sim City
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
Super Castlevania IV

Nintendo 64
Mario Kart 64
Super Mario 64

And here are the games I'd strongly consider purchasing on VC whenever I get a Wii:

Sega Genesis
Toe Jam & Earl

TurboGrafx-16
Alien Crush
Bonk's Adventure
R-Type
Soldier Blade
Super Star Soldier
Victory Run

[aiko]

Feb. 5, 2007 - http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=11194

Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii™ 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:

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.

VIGILANTE™ (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 Ground™ (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.

[c0ldb33r]

Is there a list of upcoming VC games? I really want to know if Blazing Lasers (tg16) is slated to come out!

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

Blazing Lazers? I have that game..and don't see much of a difference between it and say Super Star Soldier. I can wait on that...in fact nothing released this week is really up my alley. I have the SNES in the living room and have Super Mario All stars + World so I really don't need SMW on the Wii just yet.

[diskoboy]

Still waiting on Kid Icarus........

[c0ldb33r]

Blazing Lazers? I have that game..and don't see much of a difference between it and say Super Star Soldier.

So if I get Super Star Soldier - will this give me my Blazing Lazers fix for now?

One thing I always loved about Blazing Lasers was the great weapon upgrades, lots of selection, lots of different power levels, does Super Star Soldier have this?

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

If you want a blazing lazers fix..then get Soldier Blade. Had I known that Soldier Blade was gonna be released so quick...i wouldn't have gotten Super Star Soldier. Soldier Blade is basically Super Star Soldier but with more of everything...so if you want a shooter fix...Soldier Blade should tied you over.

[DigitalSpace]

Updated my list, thanks aiko!

Another good week. Though there's nothing I'd get if I had a Wii, Super Mario World is my second favorite game of all-time (the first being Super Metroid, of course).

[MegaDrive20XX]

The Legend of Zelda (via Zelda Collector's Edition on the Gamecube, and the Classic NES Series cart on the GBA)

Funny you mention that, because the Zelda NES on the Wii's VC is a direct port from that game. Just look at the copyright logo on the title screen (1986-2003)

[Daniel Thomas]

I've got the weekly essays on this week's VC games up on my blog. You can check 'em out. Super Mario World is the obvious winner this week, although it's nice to finally see Gain Ground released. Hopefully, Sega won't always be late with their future releases.

If you want to know what games are coming down the pike, I'd suggest checking out the other game blogs, which are tracking the games listed on the ESRB site. We can't tell exact release dates, but we know a release is imminent if it's been handed a rating.

Here's the super-short rundowns of what I wrote this week:

Super Mario World - 10/10 - Best of all the Mario games, one of my all-time faves.

Gain Ground - 7/10 - Solid if underlooked strategic action game, fun for two players.

Vigilante - 5/10 - Great coin-op conversion, but far too short and far too easy.