Virtual Console Review Thread/Buyers Guide

[gaselite]

Ok, because of the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, unlike Xbox Live Arcade, games sold on the Virtual Console do not have trial versions (dissappointing :( but hard to implement I guess considering they're ports of old games), I thought I'd start this thread to focus exclusively on your reviews of the games available. Nothing too special required with your reviews, just talk about the game in general, and your experiences with it on the Virtual Console ie if the port is any good, any major technical problems/oversights, because I think it's important we know if we're making good use of our prepaid Wii points in light of the fact that we don't have downloadable trials. It's intended to be more of an accessible buyers guide that we can all refer to rather than a place to show off your elaborate reviewing skills, so nothing to complex is required but having said that, feel free to write as much as you like (minimum at least a couple of sentences please), but if you write numerous paragraphs try and synthesise it all in a couple of lines at the end to refer to. I'll sticky this and see what happens.

NB if any of you other mods have any problems with this thread (seeing as I've created it on a whim) in light of the numerous other threads around here which could probably cover the same subject matter but in a less specific, more scattered way, then feel free to delete/desticky this, cheers.

[Bronze]

Donkey Kong Country Review by Bronze

DKC is awesome. It was awesome when it was released, and it's still very awesome. I like the noises the monkeys make when they tag each other.

I'd give it easily 5 small indian penises (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm) out of 5.

...okay, so that really wasn't necessary. Everybody knows that DKC is awesome, there's no need to reiterate the fact.

[Kasplatza Red]

Yeah, DKC is probably the only VC game I'd get (that and sonic)- I have most of the others ;D

I read on wikipedia that super mario RPG is a possible future release. This makes me very happy.

[big_b]

Ill be getting mario 64, donkey kong and sonic.

[MartyMcFly]

The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo Entertainment System

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p239/aphexdash/AnimatedTitleScreen.gif


Players: 1
Released: 1986

Works with: WiiMote On Side, Classic Controller
Not Tested: GC Controller.

Classic game, you play as link through 9 Dungeons to obtain the triforce of Courage, defeat Ganon and rescue princess Zelda!

Emulation 3/5 - For me the speed seems to flucuate, from fast to slow etc, and it flickers a hell of a lot, way more than the nes original. Comparing to my NES Plugged in, the colours seem less vibrant and the music is a bit off.

Good for now, hopefully component cables and/or firmware updates solve the problem.

Game 5/5 - Absolutely astounding for its time, and still quite a challenge today. A note to newer Zelda players, this game is fairly unforgiving, expect to hear the dying sound a lot. And once you've completed the game, you start the master quest, which is basically the same game, but harder and a bit different. This game is a must buy, at 500 points. Plus anyone wanting all the console Zeldas on 1 machine, atm you have Zelda 1, Windwaker and Twilight Princess, all we need now is, Links Adventure, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask.(Or the Zeldas Collector Edition GC Disc :P).

[Rambo]

How have you guys connected to the internet anyway? How much do the games cost?

I have a speedstream modem with 256k connection...

What do I need to connect?

[adam_91vn]

Have a look in the other threads Rambo

[666]

so any of you guys marked your country as UK to download Bonks Adventure? I'm thinking about buying it.

[watkinzez]

so any of you guys marked your country as UK to download Bonks Adventure? I'm thinking about buying it.

That actually works? Because Bonk is an awesome game. :D

[666]

yeah, i'm looking at bonk & bomberman now!

[MartyMcFly]

666,

I downloaded Bomberman ;)

[Choabac]

Donkey Kong Country Review by Bronze

DKC is awesome. It was awesome when it was released, and it's still very awesome. I like the noises the monkeys make when they tag each other.

I'd give it easily 5 small indian penises (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6161691.stm) out of 5.

...okay, so that really wasn't necessary.

lt must be the water. Because I measure up quite well. ;)

[Kev]

Does anyone know if Nintendo Australia will be doing VC Monday's or some other regular update? Will we know in advance which games are going to be released each week?

[Kasplatza Red]

Well, they didn't update it this week, but your best bet would to ask nintendo themselves!

[MartyMcFly]

Sonic the Hedgehog
SEGA Mega Drive

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p239/aphexdash/Sonic.gif


Players: 1
Released: 1991

Works with: WiiMote On Side, Classic Controller
Not Tested: GC Controller.


Old school Blue Flash, his very first appearance, race through 7 Zones, with multiple stages in each zone, play special stages, collect the 6 Chaos Emeralds and Defeat Dr Robotnik (Eggman)!

Emulation 4/5 - Pretty much an exact reproduction of the Mega Drive PAL version, which is a good thing mostly, except for the fact the game features giant black borders top and bottom screen. Why couldn't they remove this? Even in this age we are taunted with the past of PAL failures, enduring Black Borders, inconsistent speed and the lower frame rate/speeds. The only real gripe i have with the emulation is that the speed again, as in LoZ on NES, is that it fluctuates a bit, not as much as the former, but is still noticeable. Overall, very good emulation, with a few minor flaws.

Game 5/5 - A great game that still holds up today. Amongst my group of friends i was the only one that preferred to play Sonic 1 over Sonic 2/3/S&K. There was something i found about this game, maybe cause it was the first game i played on mega drive, and completely blew me away. Anyways, the game has you run left to right, jump spinning on enemies, saving animals. Sounds pretty ordinary. Yet sonics greatest feature is unlike most platformers, which give preference to exploring only, where as sonic put the emphasis on pure speed, dashing through the levels and having lightning fast twitch response to avoid enemies that shoot bullets, chase you, and generally fly past as blazing speeds. In addition, there are are hidden passages in levels you can find, and if you collect more that 50 rings before the end of a level you can jump into a giant ring at the end of the level and prepare to enter a maze that rotates for your chances to collect one of six Secret Chaos emeralds!

Overall, i'd recommend this game to anyone who likes platformers, retro games, or FUN! Its still a heap of fun, plus its only 800 Wii Points ($12), which is great, considering my only megadrive that still works, plus cords and sonic 1 cost me $30! BUY IT!

[watkinzez]

http://au.wii.ign.com/articles/750/750296p1.html

The UK seems to get their VC games every Friday, so I'd say it's the same for us.

[Blue]

Can we have an updated list kept on the front page of this thread?

[gaselite]

I'd like to give big ups to Marty McFly for taking this thread seriously and giving good, concise reviews of two games that I never owned that I am now seriously considering purchasing when I get my virtual console working, on the back of his reviews. It's a recommended format for everyone else too. Cheers!

Bjay: I will definitely do that in the near future, hopefully when we have a few more reviews up.

[MartyMcFly]

Cheers gas! I love retro games, so the VC is a love of mine ;) When i get more Wii Points on Thursday, expect reviews of a few more :D

[Blue]

Yeah, pep McFly. I'm dying to review some games, but then again, I'm dying to download some in the first place! :P

[SOX]

Wario's Woods
NES
http://emu-russia.km.ru/gdb/nes/Wario's_Woods_1.png

Players: 1-2

Works with: Wiimote on side, Classic controller and GCN controller.

Game 3/5 - Wario's Woods was the last game to be released for the NES. It is a falling block puzzler with a twist - instead of controlling the pieces as they fell, the player controls Toad who is inside the area. To pass a stage the player has to use Toad and the falling bombs, to create a line (vertical, horizontal or diagonal) of 3 pieces, and you win when you clear the screen of enemy blocks. In a way it is kind of similar to Dr Mario in that sense.
As a puzzler it isn't the greatest but it is certainly unique enough to try out.
One thing must be said though - despite being the last NES game made it still is a NES game, so be prepared for some terrible music and only just bearable graphics. I know its old, but it really is something you have to think about - is this old NES game worth $7.50? I recommend anyone thinking about purchasing this game to find a way of trying it out first.

[Stevorooni]

Golden Axe
SEGA Mega Drive

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7689/goldenaxebh7.gif


Players: 2
Released: 1989

Works with: WiiMote On Side, Classic Controller, GC Controller.


Fantasy themed beat-em up in the style of Double Dragon

Emulation 4/5 - It's exactly like playing the Mega Drive!
That means a limited colour pallet and horrible sound. Didn't notice any slow down at all

Game 2/5 - Oh dear it's games like these that make me wish there was a demo system for VC games...
Remembering the arcade game fondly and even when we hired the Master System version (sadly lacking the multiplayer gaming) from the video store, I thought "What the hell, I remember possibly liking this game!"

Sadly games have progressed a fair bit since this was released. Expect to attack an enemy only to miss them because you weren't lined up within 3 pixels. Expect the controls to be sluggish. Expect the animation to be choppy. Expect the sound to be grainy and horrible.

I downloaded this game after remembering it fondly, unfortunately my memories have now been raped. I'm sure the arcade version was superior.
Lets just hope they don't do the same thing to me if they release Double Dragon on VC :(

[sidochrome]

Altered Beast
SEGA Mega Drive

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/sidochrome/alteredbeast.jpg

Players: 2
Released: 1989

Works with: WiiMote On Side, Classic Controller, GC Controller.


Quasi-homo-erotic furries punching on with the denizens of the underworld/platform beat-'em-up/WISE FWOM YO GWAVE simulator

Emulation 4/5 - Accurate to the Megadrive version, as far as I can tell.

Game 1/5 - Sadly, I never had a Megadrive back in the day, but this kind of thing reminds me why. I put far more 20c coins through the arcade version that a 10 year old should, but the Megadrive conversion isn't much chop. On top of that, a lot of the 'tremor' effects on bosses interlace like hell on my LCD screen at 480p.

The real straw that breaks the camel's back is the complete lack of options (to tweak difficulty/lives), and the inability to continue. Is this the norm for VC games? I really have to echo Stevo's request to be able to trial games before purchase.

In summary - all turd, no beast.

[TrinityJayOne]

Altered Beast
SEGA Mega Drive

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c341/sidochrome/alteredbeast.jpg

Players: 2
Released: 1989

Works with: WiiMote On Side, Classic Controller, GC Controller.


Quasi-homo-erotic furries punching on with the denizens of the underworld/platform beat-'em-up/WISE FWOM YO GWAVE simulator

Emulation 4/5 - Accurate to the Megadrive version, as far as I can tell.

Game 1/5 - Sadly, I never had a Megadrive back in the day, but this kind of thing reminds me why. I put far more 20c coins through the arcade version that a 10 year old should, but the Megadrive conversion isn't much chop. On top of that, a lot of the 'tremor' effects on bosses interlace like hell on my LCD screen at 480p.

The real straw that breaks the camel's back is the complete lack of options (to tweak difficulty/lives), and the inability to continue. Is this the norm for VC games? I really have to echo Stevo's request to be able to trial games before purchase.

In summary - all turd, no beast.
I would have nepped you if you hadn't included a reference to either "wise fwom your gwave!" or "welcome to your doom!". :P Also, there is an option screen, or at least there is in the Mega Drive version, because I used to own it. This is going back a looooooooooong time and is probably wrong, but try pressing start + C at the title screen.

[sidochrome]

Yeah, I actually gave it another burl last night, and and after RTFMing, discovered the options and some other features. Also, sitting further away from the TV then I usually do, the interlacing isn't as noticable.

Combined, this does increase the fun factor considerably. Considering that, I'll have to revise my review later, 1up-style. I'd probably put it at a 3/5 now for a fan of the game, and would probably bump that to 4/5 if we actually got 60 Hz.

[MartyMcFly]

Did we just have Urban Champion added to the NES Games?

[markymark]

Yeah, I just saw that too... the review of it on the shopping channel sounds so enticing :D

[Gutsman Heavy]

Gunstar Heroes
Mega Drive
http://www.planetemu.net/screenshots/goodgen/Gunstar%20Heroes.png

1-2 Player
Works with Wii-mote NES style, Classic controller and GCN Controller

Emulation ?/5 Never played the original so I can't compare but it runs smooth in PAL 50Hertz meaning I set my TV to zoom and bingo wide-screen game :)

Game 5/5 A fantastic little shooter/platformer from Treasure, who apparently are quite good at making games. Has a nice combo system for weapons meaning you can mix two together for a new gun! Fun bosses and some of the best graphics the Mega drive had ever seen. Games like these are the reason VC exists, classics you never got a chance to play. Fingers crossed for Mischief Makers (64) on VC.

[Kasplatza Red]

A heads up to all you guys who intend on getting some SNES games - get a classic controller. Playing DKC on the vitrual console with a gamecube controller is not a fun experience.

[Cheshire Cat]

A heads up to all you guys who intend on getting some SNES games - get a classic controller. Playing DKC on the vitrual console with a gamecube controller is not a fun experience.

I've got the Classic controller and its fantastic- but what's wrong with the GCN's?

Anyway, does anyone have any feedback on Super Mario 64?

[Gutsman Heavy]

d-pad is oh so wrong on the GCN

[Blue]

Okay, I was going to get Sonic or DKC, just to have a VC game until something I really want comes out, like SMW or Sonic 2, or Crono Trigger or something. Or Mario Kart 64. But I hear this Gunstar Heroes is good. Should I buy this? I've never played it of course, and I don't want something as hard as Contra, but is it a fun SS shooter?

[Count Blah]

Okay, I was going to get Sonic or DKC, just to have a VC game until something I really want comes out, like SMW or Sonic 2, or Crono Trigger or something. Or Mario Kart 64. But I hear this Gunstar Heroes is good. Should I buy this? I've never played it of course, and I don't want something as hard as Contra, but is it a fun SS shooter?


Gunstar Heroes is super fun, I used to have it for the Megadrive and I downloaded and played it last night, it can be a little hard, but fun.

[StompBrother]

SUPER MARIO 64
Nintendo 64

http://www.nintendoland.com/reviews/n64/mario_64_5.jpg

================================================== =========
Players: 1
Released: 1997
Price: 1000 points ($15)
Works with: Classic Controller, GC Controller.
================================================== =========

You all know this one... Mario jumps about on platforms and on goomba's but this time in glorious 3D which inspired a lot of 3D games that came after.

Emulation 3.5/5 - Accurate to the N64 PAL version. Yes, the 50hz version and consequently it looks like it's only running at 24fps and also noticed some chug. Emulation isn't perfect I guess. But! The game runs in a higher resolution which enhances the experience. Sharp and clear as a bell. No blurry images or muddy textures. Also been reported that it has been optimized and runs just as fast as it's NTSC counterpart.

Game 4/5 - It's still great and being able to use the GC or the Classic controller is much better than my old and worn out N64 analogue sticks. Game still plays a treat even with the imperfect emulation. Doesn't affect the gameplay at all.

In summary - If you don't have the DS version or simply never played it before this is a good opportunity to see what the fuss back then was about.

***EDIT: removed the widescreen stuff.***

-Stompy64

[Stevorooni]

holy shit so Mario 64 has widescreen support AND it's in higher res? I thought it would just be the N64 version


bloody hell I might end up purchasing a 3rd copy... DAMN YOU NINTENDO

[StompBrother]

Yep, it's definately on Widescreen. I compared it to the DS version and 4:3 looked a tad stretched vertically on the Wii and Mario looked like he was jumping too high. I did a few more environmental comparisons and when I put it in widescreen the game looked identical to the DS's proportions.

EDIT: OK after some more inspection of the game, I decided to load up the N64 original again and really scrutinize the proportions. On my 32" LCD TV the image appears to have been stretched vertically a bit. The N64 version have the borders on the top and bottom of the screen. It appears the Wii VC version stretched the image to fit to the top and bottom of the screen, hence me thinking it had widescreen as the image was a bit stretched. So when I set the game to Widescreen I noticed that things were just a tad stretched horizontally. On top of that the Wii Home menu/instructions for the VC game was in 4:3 so it's 100% NOT widescreen. Sorry for the confusion Stevo.

Although...

As for the resolution... it certainly looks very sharp and clear. With big thanks to having Component cables. Alluding me to believe it is in higher res... let me check the N64 version...

EDIT: Yep definately higher res than the N64 original. Composite is ugly on the N64 and on an LCD it is even more pronounced.

Hopefully VC N64 games continue the trend of upscaling the resolution. Now I don't feel so bad that I paid $15 for Mario 64 and owning it for the 3rd time. I can't wait til next Friday... Super Probotector (Contra) and Super Castlevania!

-Virtual Stompy

[Nic Xtreme]

I love Super Castlevania 4, especially its music, so when it becomes available can I request someone to give a review of it, as I am purely interested into how it has been emulated! So yeah, this is a request! Thanks in advance! (I'll pep people, don't worry...)

[StompBrother]

Don't worry WhyME, I'll make sure to post a review of both Konami SNES titles come Friday.

I totally agree with Castlevania 4's excellent music. It was a very lo-fi chilled out gothic affair. Quietly grand. I love Castlevania 4, just bested by Castlevania 3 personally. Hmm I just realised I ought to pick up another Classic Controller for the two player games on VC.

-Stompy

[borgster101]

I never played Super Castlevania IV, I'm thinking about getting it, can anyone give me a rundown of the game? Stompy? ;)

[StompBrother]

Ok...

Super Castlevania is a 2D Action Platformer. This is no Metroidvania affair. This is when it was all about linear set peice laden action platforming at it's peak. With action- extraordinaire developers Treasure at the helm when they were still an R&D team at Konami.

Super Castlevania featured for the very first time a fully moveable whip. Simon can now whip in all 8 compass directions and even make the whip go "limp" and flick it for use as a shield of sorts and a quick defenseive maneuver.

Levels consists of some creative set-peices and plenty of special effects such as the rotating dungeon and huge bosses. Covering pretty much every classic horror creature known. Accompanied by excellent 2D graphics and a phenomenal soundtrack. While it may start off a bit slow, the going really gets going when you reach level 4 onwards of the 15 or so levels.

See what the fuss is about and know why I personally think the Castlevania series should go back to being a linear action platformer rather than the dull Metroidvania's that they seem to be churning out non stop on the GBA and DS.

This comes out on Friday 29th December on VC along with another Treasure classic - Super Probotector/Contra. Don't miss out.

Hang ten for the VC review when I get my virtual mitts on them.

-Stomps

[Bronze]

Just downloaded F-Zero on SNES. Seeing as I loved F-Zero X and absolutely adored F-Zero GX, I thought it'd be nice to go back to the roots of the series.

Might review it later on if I find the time. ;)

Edit: I just completed Knight Cup on Beginner difficulty. Even as a 14 year old game with Mode 7 graphics, F-Zero sure is a lot of fun to play. O_o

[borgster101]

Ok...

Super Castlevania is a 2D Action Platformer. This is no Metroidvania affair. This is when it was all about linear set peice laden action platforming at it's peak. With action- extraordinaire developers Treasure at the helm when they were still an R&D team at Konami.

Super Castlevania featured for the very first time a fully moveable whip. Simon can now whip in all 8 compass directions and even make the whip go "limp" and flick it for use as a shield of sorts and a quick defenseive maneuver.

Levels consists of some creative set-peices and plenty of special effects such as the rotating dungeon and huge bosses. Covering pretty much every classic horror creature known. Accompanied by excellent 2D graphics and a phenomenal soundtrack. While it may start off a bit slow, the going really gets going when you reach level 4 onwards of the 15 or so levels.

See what the fuss is about and know why I personally think the Castlevania series should go back to being a linear action platformer rather than the dull Metroidvania's that they seem to be churning out non stop on the GBA and DS.

This comes out on Friday 29th December on VC along with another Treasure classic - Super Probotector/Contra. Don't miss out.

Hang ten for the VC review when I get my virtual mitts on them.

-Stomps
Thanks for that mate :D , whilst I have enjoyed the "Metroidvania" style of the GBA/DS games, I do enjoy pure action platformers, and its actually been a while since I have played one (they dont seem to release as often these days) so yeah Super Castlevania seems like a purchase for me :D Now I just need to get a classic controller, because I'm thinking its not going to work well using the GCN controller ..

[StompBrother]

The Classic Controllers large, soft and slightly concave d-pad is heaven. Simply the best d-pad available at the moment.

It does make playing the VC games a very comfortable experience. C'mon, Friday 29th... hurry up already so I can get Super Castlevania & Super Probotector.

-Stomps

[Cheshire Cat]

Any forumers deliberating a purchase of Gunstar Heroes should have no doubt that it is a really, really fun game.

[demeanan]

Has anyone played Sim City yet? I was thinking of getting it but don't want to be screwed after my Mario Bros. experience.

EDIT: It's released THIS Friday. Don't mind my retardness.

[NAFes]

probably been asked and answered before, but does the wavebird (wireless gamecube controller) work with the VC games?

downloaded donkey kong country last night, and it said it can use the gamecube controller, tried to play it, wouldnt let me...
major annoyance. cant get a classic controller till next yr *dies a little inside*

[tullyano7]

yes it does

[bradlaw]

yeah cheers for that...
figured out what i was doing wrong...

had it in port 4....
ehehe
silly i

[NAFes]

cheers for that
figured out what i was doin wrong
had it in controller port 4...instead of 1...
ehehehe
silly me

[flamecondor]

Has anyone played Sim City yet? I was thinking of getting it but don't want to be screwed after my Mario Bros. experience.

EDIT: It's released THIS Friday. Don't mind my retardness.

Its a good game, one of the ones I also wished I had gotten for my SNES back in the day, it may seem a little bit simple now compared to Sim games, but its still heaps of fun. Def one of the games I'm looking forward to.

And yay for it coming out today :D

[borgster101]

So I got Super Castlevania IV today, and damn this is game is good, addictive as well, and pretty damn challenging, works great with the classic controller!! Awesome stuff :D This is what I love about VC, being able to play the classics I missed out on, whilst I never played this particular game, playing it takes me back to the old games of gaming, replaying the same area over and over, easy deaths, lack of checkpoints/saving features ... all things we seem to take for granted these days.

Funny thing is, whilst today if there was a lack of checkpoints/saving ability we would complain, because we'd have to go through the same thing again, but back in the day this is what made the games, playing through the same area with the knowledge of its layout, allows you to better your skills and eventually get further ... its funny it seems to be something many of us have forgotten playing modern games.

[Bronze]

Holy crap, Sim City is out. I remember playing that on SNES so very long ago.

*fires up Wii Shop Channel*

[.StaticA.]

When are we supposed to be getting Super Mario Bros?
They released it in America on Christmas day as a surprise but we haven't freaking got it yet! :(

[Bronze]

Grabbed Sim City this morning, and my initial thoughts were 'lolgraphics' much like F-Zero. However, also like F-Zero, it's still very entertaining and a lot of fun to play.

If you enjoyed it when it was on SNES, you'll still enjoy it and get a bitchslap of nostalgia to boot. For anyone else wanting to see the origins of the Sim franchise (it's a superior port of the original), it's certainly worth giving it ago.

[gaselite]

When are we supposed to be getting Super Mario Bros?
They released it in America on Christmas day as a surprise but we haven't freaking got it yet! :(


tbh I think I'd rather wait for Super Mario All Stars but I doubt they'll be that generous.

[Saxby]

Has anyone played Super Probotector yet? Tossing up whether to grab it or not.

[Gutsman Heavy]

I don't think Probotector made the AUS VC line up yet

[Stevorooni]

tbh I think I'd rather wait for Super Mario All Stars but I doubt they'll be that generous.


They probably will... by splitting it up into 4 individual purchases

[big_b]

and then once all of them are out they will release the super mario allstars download. Then after thats sold well as well as super mario world by itself selling well they will release the version of allstars with super mario world. Its gunna be a long wait...

[TrinityJayOne]

R-Type
Turbografx-16
(You will need to change your Wii's "country" setting to United Kingdom to download this game)

http://mortal.shang.free.fr/images/shmup/sagas/r-type/rtype.png

Players: 1
Released: 1987

Works with: WiiMote, Classic Controller, Cube controller

Blast off and destroy the evil Bydo Empire! The game that started a legendary shmup series.

Emulation 4/5 - Thankfully the PC Engine/Turbografx-16 version of R-Type was a virtually flawless port of the original arcade game, and the Wii emulation doesn't disappoint. No slowdown so far and everything looks & sounds great.

EDIT: Noticable slowdown on level 3, the level that has you moving around a giant Bydo mech/ship of some kind. There's some issues with the system not being able to smoothly display enough sprites at once as the mech has a lot of articulated parts and a lot of projectiles are on screen. This causes most of the sprites in the level to intermittently flash and the game chugs a little. Score changed accordingly (although I'm sure it was in the original Turbografx-16 port too).

Game 4/5 - For the R-Type noobs, you don't get to choose from different ships (that wasn't a feature until R-Type Delta), but rather customise your ship somewhat by way of the Force: a small piece of Bydo technology. Once you collect either a blue, red or yellow laser crystal powerup, a Force appears to help you. While roaming free it fires a cannon no stronger than that of your own, but dock it onto the front or rear of your ship and it fires one of 3 advanced lasers, which one depends on what color laser crystal you collected. Collecting subsequent laser crystals changes the laser fired and also upgrades the Force to make the lasers better, up to a maximum of 2 upgrades (although you can still collect other laser crystals to change the laser). The Force is indestructible and can be used as a shield or to damage enemies, plus you can detach and reattach it at will creating several strategic possibilities.

R-Type is great fun...for the first few levels, after that you'll be ripping your hair out. :P The series is known for it's difficulty and the original is no exception.

Fans of games like the Raiden series or other collect-every-powerup-and-hope-for-the-best style shooters might be disappointed here. You'll never be able to kill everything in a level as the game is not designed around that, instead the object is to survive the levels by finding the "correct" way though them. This is where most of the frustration comes from, as you have a limited number of lives and death sends you back to a checkpoint rather than simply continuing on in a new ship. You can restart the level should you run out of lives, but these continues are also limited.

Sound and graphics-wise the game is great, with a decent soundtrack featuring different songs for each level, and crisp, colorful visuals that look great for the era.

Additional Comments - Originally the PC Engine port of R-Type was too big to fit on the HuCards the system used and was released as two separate games- one with levels 1-4 and the other with levels 5-8. The Wii emulation has all 8 levels, which is why the game is 800 Wii points instead of 600.

Verdict 4/5 - Worth the purchase for shmup fans and noobs to the genre alike, even with the increased price considering that you get all the levels and that the Turbografx-16 port was by far the best.



Dungeon Explorer
Turbografx-16
(You will need to change your Wii's "country" setting to United Kingdom to download this game)

http://www.armchairempire.com/images/classics/dungeon-explorer/dungeon-explorer-4.gif

Players: 1-5 (5 players requires at least one Cube controller)
Released: 1989

Works with: WiiMote, Classic Controller, Cube controller

Explore dungeons with up to 4 friends!

Emulation 5/5 - I can't really comment on this too well as I've never played the original in any form, but there's no obvious errors with it so far.

Game 3/5 - I had never played or even heard of this game before downloading it, and the only reason why I did so was because the pictures looked good and it said 1-5 players. As you'll no doubt notice from the screens, this game reeks of The Legend of Zelda. It initially seems a bit simpler than that though, as the only things you can do are attack and cast magic, with a third button switching between white and black magic. To use this magic you need to collect a potion of the corresponding color, and exactly what that spell does depends on which character you chose at the start. There are 8 in total, and only one person can play as each character should friends join in.

Speaking of friends, you'll want some to make the most out of this game. From initial impressions the difficulty or number of enemies doesn't seem to scale at all, and things get quite hectic when you're the only player. Not to mention that this style of game is a blast in multiplayer, as anyone whose played Zelda: Link to the Past will attest to. :D

Unfortunately playing with more people also brings forth some of the game's failings. While you can't hurt your friends with your attacks, friendly projectiles will cancel each other out if they collide. You also can't shoot through your friends, nor can you move through them. While not necessarily bad, these behaviours do pose challenges in some situations. Multiplayer also shows some good features, such as the shared pool of lives (helps promote teamwork) and the intelligent camera movement. Whereas in many games of this type any player can run to the edge of the screen and drag the camera along, in Dungeon Explorer it tries to smoothly follow the mass of the characters, which generally makes it focus on the group instead of the lone player trying to recklessly rush forward.

As I mentioned earlier, the game seems simple but it shows potential for growth. Each character has different stats and they increase as you level up and by items you find in your travels.

Unfortunately the sounds and graphics here don't get the same glowing review that R-Type's did, despite being produced 2 years later. The sprite animations are very basic at only a few frames each, and the sprites themselves barely look better than something on the NES. In the game's defense the music seems to change often enough to not become too repetitive, and each of the playable characters are easily distinguishable from each other.

At game over, or at any time a player pauses the game, you can write down the password given for your character (each player gets their own). I'm assuming that this allows you to keep a leveled character and use it to play with other people in a new game, but I'm yet to test this.

Additional Comments - This game has brought to my attention what seems to be a simple oversight on Nintendo's part regarding mixed controller setups. At the start of the game, you're asked to set the number of players by having each player hold down their start/+ button. Once everyone has done that, everyone releases their button and the game confirms the number. Now you'd think that, should you use a combination of Wiimotes and Cube controllers, the Wii would just map each controller to a player number on a first-come-first-served basis when the player pushes start/+. Instead the Wiimotes and Cube controllers are considered to share the same ports, so your default Wiimote and a Cube controller in port 1 will both be recognized as player 1. To get around this you need to put any Cube controllers in a port not already occupied by a Wiimote. Seems a little silly to me but that's how Nintendo has done it. :shrug:

Verdict 3/5 - I haven't played it a whole lot yet so its early days really. It looks like it'll get better when the players know what they're doing, so this is a 3/5 with room to become a 4/5.

[Str8JaktJim]

I'd like to be posting in here, but I have to wait for the ethernet adapter for the Wii because I'm not special enough to have a wireless home network, and my computer's too far away from the Wii to be effective with the dongle.

Just out of curiosity, is Cybernator for the SNES avaliable?

[TrinityJayOne]

Negative on that.

[Saxby]

What were the side effects of changing country regions again? Will I lose my VC Stuffs?

[StompBrother]

MILITARY MADNESS
Turbo-Grafix 16

http://www.gamerankings.com/screens5/924971/6.jpghttp://www.gamerankings.com/screens5/924971/7.jpg

================================================== =========
Players: 1-2
Released: 1990
Price: 600 points ($9)
Works with: Wiimote, Classic Controller, GC Controller.
================================================== =========

Turn Based Strategy set in a futuristic era. Think Advance Wars

Emulation ?/5 - Pretty much accurate to the original from wha tI can tell. Then again I have never played the original. No graphical glitches visible that would leave me to believe the emulation was a dud. Looks great and not as pixelated looking as SNES games on an LCD TV.

Game 4/5 - Hmm I was surprised really. This is pretty much Advance Wars with a few tactical additions. Instead of squares, it has the more traditional hex grid layout. also tactical bonuses as having extra troops surrounding your opponent can topple even the mightiest unit if surrounded properly.

Buy now if you love Advance Wars. It may not have the slick presentation of Advance Wars but it certainly can match the gameplay. Well worth the 600 points.

-Stompy-16

[StompBrother]

SUPER CASTLEVANIA IV
Super Nintendo

http://www.tripmusic.net/miguelsamiez/10me/photo/1097754879castlevania4_2.jpg

================================================== =========
Players: 1
Released: 1992
Price: 800 points ($12)
Works with: Classic Controller, GC Controller.
================================================== =========

A retelling of the original NES Castlevania starring Simon Belmont. Whip in hand and a thousand ghouls and monsters to vanquish before he reaches the summit of Dracula's Castle and face the blood-sucker himself.

Emulation 5/5 - The emulation is great. The image is larger than the SNES PAL version and the PAL broders are almost non-existent. Although reports say that the game doesn't run as fast as the NTSC version. Otherwise all special effects have been emulated properly (mode 7, transparency & parallax scrolling). Just a warning to LCD TV users, this game is a pixel horror. I sure do miss those scanlines.

Game 5/5 - Forget the Metroidvania affairs. This is pure raw whip wielding action platforming at its best. With Treasure on the helm, you are guaranteed a spectacular effects laden adventure. This one is hard though. Enemies and pits strategically placed to make sure that your lives reach zero faster than Drac can drain your blood. If that doesn't get you, the bosses surely will. Let's also not forget the unbelievably good music. Back in 1992 music in a videogame doesn't sound like this. Absolutely phenomenal soundtrack. It may be midi but it's the next best thing to a fully orchestrated soundtrack. Don't miss out on a Classic.

In summary - Educate yourself. This is what Castlevania is about. While the recent Metroidvania's have been great, they lack the oomph and set-peices that only linear level design can provide. You won't be sobbing for spending 800 points on this classic.

-Super Stompy

[TrinityJayOne]

R-Type review slightly editted based on new evidence.

What were the side effects of changing country regions again? Will I lose my VC Stuffs?
I'll post it in the other thread to keep this one clean. ;)

You make Military Madness sound mighty tempting, Stompy! I almost bought it but I thought waiting for SMB1 was more important...that hex grid seals the deal though, I never liked the square grids in Advanced Wars and Fire Emblem.

[borgster101]

Nice reviews Stompy :thumbsup: Super Castlevania IV is the first "true" Castlevania game I played, well I did play the N64 game but didnt like that very much, and yeah this SNES classic is awesome :D

I'm currently on stage 6, it's getting more difficult now, but oh its so damn good :D

[Blue]

Just got my first points, finally. Don't know what to buy though. Wish Sonic 2 were out.

[Gutsman Heavy]

Get Castlevania

[Blue]

I decided upon Gunstar Heroes and DKC. And with that...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
GUNSTAR HEROES
Sega Mega Drive
1-2 Players
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd heard rave reviews, it had scored the highest of all VC titles on IGN, and as the McDonald's-branded Global Gladiators will most likely never be released again, I decided to try my luck with Gunstar Heroes. Having never played it, or indeed any game by Treasure, I didn't know what to expect. But one word was lingering in my head for some reason. 'Hectic'. I must have heard it in one of the reviews I'd read, and it had stuck. I skipped the opening story sequence, eager to get stuck into the gameplay.

Wow. Hectic doesn't begin to describe it. Faster than Contra, and with bigger, bolder graphics, Gunstar Heroes throws more enemies at you at once than any side-scroller I have played on the Mega Drive. Constantly ducking between enemies, finger never straying far from the trigger, you'll be instantly transported back to the glory days of the 16-Bit era. Bosses arrive frequently, to break up the action, as do the varying power-ups, and with four levels immediately available, there's definitely never a dull moment. Weapons can be combined for even more mayhem, and the occasional set-pieces provides a touch of humour.

Let me say this: I was never a fan of Contra. It's style always seemed bland to me, but the most crucial problem was its difficulty. Excruciating. Prohibitive. One hit deaths in a game that intense should be outlawed. Thus was my delight to discover Gunstar Heroes' health meter. Not generous by any means, but you will be able to take a few hits before you finally bite it. The game doesn't punish you for the odd mistake in the same way as many old-school shooters, and that's what I like about it. It can be challenging, yes, but not to the point of robbing you of any enjoyment.

I can't comment on emulation, as I never layed eyes on the game in it's original form. All I know is that it runs smoothly at a blistering pace, with no glitches to speak of, and no problems that detract in any way from the experience. Incidentally, if while it doesn't support widescreen persay, if you set your widescreen set to 'zoom', you will lose only a small fraction of the upper and lower sections of the screen, due to some thick borders. This doesn't impact on gameplay at all, while providing a perfectly acceptable widescreen solution (providing you can live without seeing the top half of your score display).

It isn't the longest game around, but with some two-player action to spice things up, it is sure to remain on your front page for quite some time. It also stands as the perfect test for the Classic Controller, which performs admirably throughout the strenuous gameplay. If you, like me, had never experienced the game before it's arrival on the Virtual Console, and have a penchant for classic shooting action, then most certainly give this game a shot. Aha.

3 1/2 Stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONKEY KONG COUNTRY
SNES
1-2 Players
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have a rather interesting relationship with Donkey Kong Country. You see, upon its release, it was a mega hit, critically acclaimed, and a demonstration of the kind of graphics the SNES could pump out. But not to me. In fact, Donkey Kong Country was the game that convinced me NOT to buy a SNES. Allow me to explain. Sega's speedy hedgehog had won my heart, and I was intending to buy a Mega Drive, but even so, it is wise to investigate any possible alternatives. And upon examining the SNES' lineup, the main player at the time was Donkey Kong. While Mario took a backseat, this game was being crammed down the throat of every gamer. And my decision came down to what I preferred: Sonic or Donkey.

Over the years I would play these games at friends' houses, never becoming enamoured with the floaty controls, goofy characters and rather dull 2-Player gameplay. But I eventually did give a Kong game a chance, in the form of Donkey Kong Country 3 on Game Boy. All of a sudden the game didn't seem so bad. Secrets to find, varying jungle locales to explore... Perhaps I was beginning to come around. DKC on the Virtual Console definitely has charm, and compared to other offerings of the day, Gunstar Heroes for instance, the graphics really are exceptional. A little muddy, yes, but rich in colour and character.

Controlling your chosen Kong still seems to floaty and imprecise compared to the pixel-perfect accuracy of Mario, and seems truly pedestrian when placed up against Sonic. Edges of platforms are often poorly defined, and some levels are rife with trial and error segments. Yes, as you can see I still have issues with certain parts of the DKC formula. But I'm also enjoying collecting K-O-N-G, bopping Kremlins and saddling up a ferocious rhinocerous that somehow got forced to reside inside a wooden barrel.

The game is smooth, and seems to me like a perfectly accurate representation of the original. One issue is a faint white bar that slowly scans down the screen, I don't know what the cause is but it's noticeable. Another blemish comes in the form of the awful tearing that occurs every few screens. The music is still quite pleasant to listen to (although after the DK rap it does lack a little punch), and the 'battery' save allows you to come back and knock the game over with a '101%' rating. While it's no SMB3, it's quite a deep trek through this jungle, and no doubt you will garner a fair amount of enjoyment for your points.

So, after all these years, has my first proper DKC experience left me a changed man? Perhaps. Some minor frustrations remain, and it will never take the place of Mario or Sonic on my VC shelf, but as a piece of history and a solid stop-gap until my favourite platformers arrive, DKC has proven its worth. Unlike many games in the VC line-up, you can download this game safe in the knowledge that it will deliver a very solid experience. Not as revolutionary as it has sometimes been dubbed, but a barrel of fun nonetheless. Oh zing.

3 1/2 Stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[El nombre]

Do you think hyper should do a virtual console round up say, every issue or 2? maybe just 2 or 3 pages dedicated to it would be nice, and quarter page reveiws of each of the games, with a "virtual console game of the month" taking up half a page. what do you think?

[gigijord]

or you could reprint an old review (edited) and score - with new impressions and score?

[drzaius]

does the VC mario kart 64 have any graphical upgrades ala super mario 64?
Is it actually wide screen or is my TV just stretching it?

[vergil]

You can purchase Wii points from EB Games right...?

[gigijord]

A word of warning to those changing country settings.

I just lost 600 Wii points! My Wii recognised that I recently changed back from United Kingdom and warned that if I wanted to stay Australian I would lose any Wii points and would not be refunded. Crazy thing is that I did not buy anything or add any points but just wanted to just check out what was on offer over there! Crap!

I guess the work around this is that I should have gone back to United Kingdom, spent my points and then changed to Australia, but I panicked that I might lose all my VC games. They are all still there (even the Turbo Grafix ones I bought ages ago).

Crap!!! Crap!!!

[Game Boy116]

You must of used the update that is for the 'Everybody votes channel', because it tracks where the votes are from I think it "finally" stops the whole changing the region to get T16 games that Nintendo oversaw.

[gigijord]

No I didnt update for the Votes Channel - I went straight into Shop channel having changed back to Australian about a week and a half ago (there were no warnings then).

I am sure I was Australian when I bought Super Mario World last week. I bought 1000 points and had change from purchases of 600 points.

I have done a Wii System Update now as a true blue Aussie so I hope that is all the trouble I am going to have.

[Blue]

Bad luck, should've grabbed a game before the switch buddy.

[Saxby]

So....has anyone else picked up ocarina of time? OOT and MM are almost the only two games that motivate me to check the shop channel.

I bought Streets Of Rage thinking it was the Streets Of Rage 2 I used to play at my cousins house and am sorely dissapointed...

[Stevorooni]

I have OOT, even though I have the N64 original!I just wanted to play it in slightly higher resolution.

Playing it with the Classic Controller takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm up to the Ganondorf's castle at the moment... and I remembered how to get through that damn water temple! :P

[StorminNorman]

If you already have the Gamecube version of OoT, is it worth getting the N64 version on VC? I know I'll miss out on Master quest, but are there any other advantages/disadvantages?

[borgster101]

If you already have the Gamecube version of OoT, is it worth getting the N64 version on VC? I know I'll miss out on Master quest, but are there any other advantages/disadvantages?
The only advantage of the VC version would be you can play the game without a disc and use a classic controller, whether that's an "advantage" at all though, is a matter of opinion. And even if it is an advantage, is it worth $15? I would say no.

[Jaxen]

Has anyone downloaded Shinobi or Wonderboy? If so, please briefly review.

[craptest]

The only advantage of the VC version [ RE: Zelda OoT]would be you can play the game without a disc and use a classic controller, whether that's an "advantage" at all though, is a matter of opinion. And even if it is an advantage, is it worth $15? I would say no.
My vote would also be 'no'.

Besides I can already play Zelda without a disc while using a classic controller. It's called my N64.

[StompBrother]

N64 games in hi-res and Widescreen mode makes the VC purchase worthy. Also good to see the 2D games getting a HD Component Cable update so they don't look like blurry messes on a HDTV.

-Stompy

[Stevorooni]

pssst Zelda OOT doesn't have a widescreen mode on VC

[StompBrother]

Yeah I know. Which was a shame. But just talking in general. [/embarrasing cover up]

-Stoomps

[Nic Xtreme]

High res 64 games ftw!

[Jihad Joe]

Super Proboprotector: Alien Rebels
SNES
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/Contra3_1.png
Players: 2
Released: 1992
Works With: Classic Controller and Gamecube Controller

A side scrolling shooter, with alien rebels.

Emulation 4/5 - Seems to be exactly as I remember it (when I was in kindergarten) with constant speed and no flickering. Just some colour stuff-ups once in a while is the only fault.

Game 4/5 - A top-notch game that you wouldn't get on the shelves nowadays. It's fast-paced and requires skill with the configuration that is keyed to the GC controller. It needs a few turns to get into it and to get used to the controls but after that, you'll have a fun time with a buddy getting past the hard bosses and vast enemies that appear on screen at one time.

You will need quick reflexes and need to keep an eye on the whole screen all the time as the enemies shots do not stand out that much.

Otherwise, it's a challenging game that is very fun with a buddy and is even more fun with a posse of people, sharing goes and comparing scores.

[Nic Xtreme]

I have a super-request!

Can someone who has downloaded F-Zero X tell me if it:

a) Is awesome

b) Has the usual smoothed-out N64 graphics?

c) Runs FAST. Like 60hz NTSC fast! Not PAL slow.

Also!

Does the Virtual Console Sonic the Hedgehog game run at slow PAL speed?

That does not bode well for Sonic 2...

[borgster101]

Pretty sure Sonic runs PAL speed. Kind of sucky..

[OrchidEleven]

Kirby's Dream Course

Players: 1 or 2
Released: 1992? I don't know tbh.

Works with: GCN controller, Classic controller.
I used: GCN controller.

Golf style Kirby game, with 8 worlds (I think) holding 8 levels each. The aim is to direct Kirby as if you were playing a golf game; you have to jump 'into' the alien things, and when there is one left he becomes a hole which you must roll into. So fun, so addictive. My favorite SNES game and one of my favorite games of all time.

Emulation 4.5/5 - Excellent replication of the sound and visuals. Didn't get the full 5 because I don't know the pre-requisites of the emulation being good or not, but I assume it's up to standard as it runs smooth as a baby's arse.

Game 5/5 - Download it nowwwwwwww.

I hope Double Dragon SNES is released. :]

[Zace]

Pretty sure Sonic runs PAL speed. Kind of sucky..

I can confirm that. Well, at least it doesn't seem as fast as it should. Still my girlfriend loves it.

Also, does anyone have a release date for Sonic 2? That was my personal favourite. I'll still get it even if it still runs at PAL speed.

[mayo]

Also, does anyone have a release date for Sonic 2? That was my personal favourite. I'll still get it even if it still runs at PAL speed.

It was planned for release this Friday I think, but now that Hudson have revealed they're releasing 11 TG16 games on Friday (http://vc-pce.com/aus/e/index.html), I'm not so sure anymore.
Will we get 3 Mega Drive games in the first week of each month like usual?
...I hope so, I love Sonic 2.

[OrchidEleven]

After buying 5,000 points a couple of months ago I'm down to 100, so I thought I would let people know, in order, how I rated my purchases.

Kirby's Dream Course - Must buy.
Donkey Kong Country - Heaps good fun.
Zelda: OOT - Must buy (I've done shit all, but I played it to death on N64).
Lylat Wars - Still insanely fun.
Kirby's Adventure - NES - I like it because it's siimilar to my favorite classic Game Boy game, I forgot the name... :(

I just downloaded SFII so I'm gonna play that now. :]

[Zace]

Kirby's Dream Course huh? Might have to look into that.

[ireadtabloids]

After buying 5,000 points a couple of months ago I'm down to 100, so I thought I would let people know, in order, how I rated my purchases.

Kirby's Dream Course - Must buy.
Donkey Kong Country - Heaps good fun.
Zelda: OOT - Must buy (I've done shit all, but I played it to death on N64).
Lylat Wars - Still insanely fun.
Kirby's Adventure - NES - I like it because it's siimilar to my favorite classic Game Boy game, I forgot the name... :(

I just downloaded SFII so I'm gonna play that now. :]

It was called Kirby's Dream Land and the bonus difficulty mode made it one of the hardest games on the GameBoy.

[Mr. Pipe]

I downloaded Wave Race today. Man, has that game aged. I really regret not getting Bomberman or Paper Mario instead.

[ScRYeD]

Hello everyone for my 1st post and a HiHi from Melbourne i'd thought i'd post this

Virtual Console Megaton: Sin & Punishment rated by OFLC (Australia's Rating Board) - It also means Europe as well

It's got everything, Guns, Swords, Sword battling, Mecha, Side-scrolling, double Jumps and more.

Vids
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/18147.html
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/52537.html

[Nic Xtreme]

I'm sorry, I'm sure one day you'll pull off the whole "I'm fashionably late HiHi" thing.

Welcome to the forums!

[El nombre]

Was gonna post this after Saxby's post in the VC discussion thread then thought it might be better served in here.

Okay, here are some games I regret.

Super Probotector - It's not that accessable, short and very hard. There's plenty of action based sidescrollers better on the GBA or even the VC.

Bomberman '93 - It's really super lame single player, so yeah, only get it if you play lots of Multiplayer.

Mariokart 64 - ....Man this game has aged terribly =[ Handles like absolute shit compared to MK these days. Not very enjoyable at all.

[igotnewsuper8systemWRONG!]

Hey guys I haven't really been following virtual console, just wondering if we can expect Wonder Boy 3, all the nes Mega Man games and Maniac Mansion to get a release anytime soon?

[mayo]

I think Megaman 1 is out already, so I'm sure the others will follow. When? Who knows.

[Koroshiya_Keefu]

Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest.

This was my first downloaded VC game, as I love the whole series to death. The game is a must download for any fan, but for people on the sideline it might not be 500 points well spent.

The emulation does suffer from slowdown in the framerate sense and the PAL speed sense. It's also cute that the title still has all the inherant errors that it had in cartridge form.

8 out of 10.

[Conky]

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5205/dontspamkd2.jpg

[Saxby]

Was gonna post this after Saxby's post in the VC discussion thread then thought it might be better served in here.

Okay, here are some games I regret.

Super Probotector - It's not that accessable, short and very hard. There's plenty of action based sidescrollers better on the GBA or even the VC.


Somebody had to say it! :P After all the positive feeback you guys gave super probo, it seemed like a must.

It's a good game, but I have to force myself to play/enjoy it. It's pretty damn difficult.

Gunstar heroes is another one of my regrets!

I'm yet to grab sin & punishment as well as super metroid, but I know that super metroid will be incredible!

[Koroshiya_Keefu]

Sorry about that image before, it was supposed to be a screen from Castlevania 2, but hyper linking stopped working. I only checked via preview...

Oh and thanks for all the negative pep on an honest mistake...

And, I completed Castlevania 2. What fun was had. Now time for Kirby!

[TheMixta43]

I am still yet to get a VC game. I know that If I do It will be Mario Kart 64 probably.

That or Yoshi's Story.

[JONO RANDOM H3RO]

Nooooo get Pokemon Snap!! or not...nah get mario kart lol or paper mario both fine choices.

[TheMixta43]

Nooooo get Pokemon Snap!! or not...nah get mario kart lol or paper mario both fine choices.

Oh yeah, Paper Mario also ..have never played it.
I might get Snap but I've got the original cartridge but
the added feature where you can post pics is pretty sweet!

[aubergine]

I'm hopeless with virtual console games. I have OoT and Paper Mario but can never be bothered pulling out the awful Virtual Console Controller.

[JONO RANDOM H3RO]

haha im much the same only my problem is i just cant be bothered to play the games themselves.I get too easily distracted by shiny 360 graphics and achievements..speaking of which..new halo 3 maps!..runs to console*

[Quatters]

Am just downloading Super Mario Bros 3 after having got Mario 64, for no reason other than it's free!

I'll change my region back to Australia after this as I got my free game!

[JONO RANDOM H3RO]

Am just downloading Super Mario Bros 3 after having got Mario 64, for no reason other than it's free!

I'll change my region back to Australia after this as I got my free game!

What! How and why is it free???

[Quatters]

Because I lived in Europe.

If you buy games and register them online then you earn Star Points.
Those Star Points can then be swapped for Wii points.
So I've swapped them for Wii points and downloaded a free game.

But I had to change my region to UK to get them.
Changing it back to Aus now.

[Kotche]

Oh win! you worked it out, nice one!

[OrchidEleven]

I'm hopeless with virtual console games. I have OoT and Paper Mario but can never be bothered pulling out the awful Virtual Console Controller.

but... but doesn't it feel like the SNES controllers extremely sexy cousin? with boobs?

[borgster101]

I'm fine with the Classic Controller, feels good.

[JONO RANDOM H3RO]

Same i reckon its fine. I just can't be bothered to play vc games. Too many newer games with shinier graphics to play..

[Kotche]

Sin and Punishment n64, is it 2 player 'one controls the scope the other moves' like it says? Anyone downloaded it?

[Kotche]

I just purchased a $30 points card online and should get it next week!

If you could puchase 5 VC games what would the be?

[the_tic_begins]

Sin and Punishment 1200 points
Mario 64 1000 points
Super Mario 3 500 points

Thats only 3 games but its 3 very freaking awsome games that shall keep you entertained for a couple of minutes till you get bored and fire up Galaxy :)
Old Mario is good, New Mario is gooder imo

[craptest]

Sin and Punishment 1200 points
Mario 64 1000 points
Super Mario 3 500 points

Thats only 3 games but its 3 very freaking awsome games that shall keep you entertained for a couple of minutes till you get bored and fire up Galaxy :)
Old Mario is good, New Mario is gooder imo Id rate Super Mario Bros 3 and Mario 64 higher than Galaxy. Lets wait 10 years and see what history makes of 'Galaxy' once the shine wears off.

[the_tic_begins]

Id rate Super Mario Bros 3 and Mario 64 higher than Galaxy. Lets wait 10 years and see what history makes of 'Galaxy' once the shine wears off.

On second thought i would rate Super Maro 3 higher than Galaxy but SM64 and Sunshine just never did it for me.
Id almost *thats a big almost* vote Super Mario World higher than SM3

[OrchidEleven]

I would go with Mario Kart 64, Kirby's Dream Course (hugely underrated and the resemblance to Wii Golf is rather striking) and Super Mario World, or at the least one form of Mario side-scroller. Sonic from the Mega Drive is also worth getting if you never experienced it, the music is amazing!

edit: I forgot Donkey Kong Country and I hate myself for it.

[the_tic_begins]

At a guess, id have to say that Kotche's points card is long since gone.
His message was posted on the 26/1 :)

[Pai Mel]

Ghosts N Goblins
WonderBoy: Dragon's Curse (RPG) - this is the one u turn into dif'rent animals amirite?
Heavy Barrel
Ikaruga
Yoshi's Island

[Zace]

Ikaruga

Wait? What?

[Pai Mel]

What do you mean what? GCN version was botched. 360 is getting it soon for Live arcade but why not Wii. It doesn't have hires graphics.

[Zace]

What do you mean what? GCN version was botched. 360 is getting it soon for Live arcade but why not Wii. It doesn't have hires graphics.

Oh, I thought there was some OFFICIAL announcement saying it was coming to the VC, not just you hoping on a whim.

P.S. Even though Sonic 2 states that its compatible with component cables, it still doesn't work. Just an FYI

[craptest]

What do you mean what? GCN version was botched. 360 is getting it soon for Live arcade but why not Wii. It doesn't have hires graphics.

GCN version botched? Unless youre an Ikaruga master I doubt you'd be aware of the difference Pai Me. Frames were dropped rather than slowing the game down for 50hz PAL - so it runs at full speed. Doesnt look as sharp as the DC version, but it looks fine. And the homing missile 'quirk' during the first boss battle - no real hinderance to your overall score unless youre going for a world record. And lets face it - if you were that big an Ikaruga player you'd already have the DC version and a custom arcade stick with dribble tray.

360 version isnt arcade perfect either. Whether thats a good or bad thing comes down to preference.

[Slippery]

Harvest Moon on VC is just as awesome as I remember :D

[PrinceCaspian]

Ok. Virtual Console. Awesome. I have Sim City and Shining Force, and I will no doubt pick up other goodies like Golden Axe.


BUT WHERE THE **** IS MARIO KART?!!?

Utter traversty and I’m seriously pissed off. Mario Kart was the best ****ing game that came before the N64.



And **** it, I want a Mario Kart with ****ing feathers again. I’d hand over 2000 points to that game :-(

[Lex]

why did you need to repost it? we got the idea, you have retarded opinions on games.

[PrinceCaspian]

why did you need to repost it? we got the idea, you have retarded opinions on games.

Because games are objective works of art and entertainment, right?

[Jay]

Yeah, I'm wearing my nintendo mod hat now and asking you to keep it nice Lex. As we proved with our roundabout discussion on BG&E yesterday people are allowed to have different opinions. I for one love MK: DD.

[Lex]

Because games are objective works of art and entertainment, right?

because your opinion is hilarious to me.

[PrinceCaspian]

because your opinion is hilarious to me.

Well, you know, I could say the same thing, but that would be petty and childish.

[Lex]

wouldn't be out of character.

[Jay]

And now back to VC discussion. Where are our C64 games? I want my Uridium.

[PrinceCaspian]

And now back to VC discussion. Where are our C64 games? I want my Uridium.

I had so many games back in the C64 days but I was so young I can’t remember the name of any of them.

Except for Excalibur. That game was gold.

[Jay]

So many great memories from that system. I keep seeing them reviewed on Eurogamer but no sign of them here. :(

Oh, and I just saw the DS remake of Impossible Mission at EB. Very tempted. Might google for some reviews...

[PrinceCaspian]

I’m still eagerly anticipating Super International Cricket, too.

N. Power will rise again!

[Pai Mel]

Zoooombies Aaaaaaaaate My Neigbours would be awseome fun if it had online capability.

Anyone remember that game?

[buckstwits]

that was a great game

i remember reading somewhere that theres a movie coming out

[Pai Mel]

Has Another World & Flashback made an appearance on Virtual Console or 360 Arcade yet?

[Dr Skinnybones]

Flashback would be brill. I played very little, I would like the opportunity to rectify this

[ireadtabloids]

I couldn't get past the 6th screen or so in Flashback. None of my friends ever did as far as I know. Plus the amount of waiting you had to do always made me give up after an hour or so. Another World was a similar case for me. Neither of them were anywhere near as polished as Prince of Persia (which I was quite good at) when it came to jumping. Although they looked lovely.

Now for my recommendations:
R-Type 3- Awesomely inventive truly great spaceship SHMUP but a little hardcore for me in all honesty. I suck at spaceship SHMUPs

Sin and Punishment- So thats what's meant by 'environmental damage'! Great 3D SHMUP in the style of a futuristic 3D Metal Slug, only better if that makes sense. Plus it's developed by Treasure!

Gunstar Heroes- Very fun 2D run and gun shmup

Paper Mario- The GC version was the remake as far as I'm concerned. Still a great little RPG with 30 hours of gameplay, even if you dodge the side quests

WaveRace- Slow racer by modern standards, but great fun with a good challenge and awesome Time Trial mode. Multi-players pretty cool as well.


Zelda- Ocarina, Link To The Past, and the original

Mario- Super Mario Bros Lost Levels, 2, 3, and World, Super Mario World 2 if it's available

Super Metroid- Better than Fuzion and a true masterpiece of 2D exploration


I'm currently playing Kirby 64 and Paper Mario. I'll let you know my thoughts on Kirby later.

[JONO RANDOM H3RO]

Anyone checked out Onslaught yet? It's a new Wii Ware FPS developed by Hudson, came out today (i think). Seems somewhat interesting although i can't seem to find much coverage on it.

[Lex]

THAT'S WHY YOU-THAT'S WHY YOU'R-THAT'S WHY YOU'RE STILL A KID!

actually looks pretty fun, but those voiceovers just shouldn't be there if there's only going to be 2 lines.

[TSplodey]

And now back to VC discussion. Where are our C64 games? I want my Uridium.
Is the name Ranarama familiar to you? I also had some game where a fire fighter had to climb a burning building and save people on the way up.

[Hemish]

All I want is my IK+

[VanAce]

I've been playing Kirby at my friends place. I love it how dances

[leagues11]

fantasy zone 2 just became available, and I urge everyone to buy it. it's a great little game.

[fearofthesky]

Adventures of LOLO
NES
This game drove me flippin bananas as a young'un-required more brainpower than I had yet developed methinks. A great puzzler. watch out for those damn Medusas (Medusai?)!

Street Gangs
NES

I rented this as a young'un, loved it then, love it now. Think double Dragon, but super deformed, and with RPG elements! The more stuff you eat, the better your stats become. YOu can learn new moves and such from reading scrolls. This add more depth to the gameplay, and its also pretty long, and freakin' hard until you work out how to kick ass and take names!
Factoid: was known as River City Ransom everywhere else. This name makes much more sense than the rather ambiguous StreetGangs, as the plot is your girlfriend gets kidnapped by the local thugs and held ransom at River City High. Pointless PAL name changes...don't get me started!

[Pai Mel]

How are the N64 VC games on Wii? Do they run silky smooth with sound that is not choppy/stuttery?

[Jay]

The ones I have downloaded - Mario Kart, Lylat Wars, Paper Mario, Majora's Mask + SM64 - have had no discernible problems in that area.

[Halt, Hammerzeit]

SNES Star Wars games on VC (http://www.starwars.com/games/videogames/news20090810.html)

[fearofthesky]

SNES Star Wars games on VC (http://www.starwars.com/games/videogames/news20090810.html)

Frustration, thy name is Super Star Wars! Cool, though.

[Halt, Hammerzeit]

I always used to hate the second Mos Eisley level, where you had to beat that big flying thing with the storm troopers in it. Took me ages to find all the bits you had to shoot off before you could start killing it. The day I found the level select menu thing I was so happy.

[TAT]

The Wii is apparently getting a US$50 price cut soon: [411 article] (http://www.411mania.com/games/news/116224/Leaked-Toys-R-Us-Ad-Shows-Wii-At-$199.htm)


Wonder what that means for the PAL market?...

[Stevorooni]

Based on Nintendo Australia's previous behaviour it probably means they'll just stop selling the Wii here >_>

[borgster101]

The Wii is apparently getting a US$50 price cut soon: [411 article] (http://www.411mania.com/games/news/116224/Leaked-Toys-R-Us-Ad-Shows-Wii-At-$199.htm)


Wonder what that means for the PAL market?...
If there's justice it would be $100 price cut at a minimum. Think you posted this in the wrong place though :p

[Pai Mel]

Would make importing a US Wii more attractive and getting games earlier than the Aus market.

[concrete donkey]

Is this possible: I give my friend an SD card, he uses his own wii and wireless BB conection to download a virtual arcade game onto my SD card, i take SD card back home to MY wii, i play game? or is there copyright encription?

[borgster101]

Is this possible: I give my friend an SD card, he uses his own wii and wireless BB conection to download a virtual arcade game onto my SD card, i take SD card back home to MY wii, i play game? or is there copyright encription?

I believe there is some sort of copy protection. The downloaded games are tied to your account, which is tied to your Wii console.

[concrete donkey]

I believe there is some sort of copy protection. The downloaded games are tied to your account, which is tied to your Wii console.

ok, thanks

[Jay]

Awesome, and about time.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/11/virtual-console-mario-kart-smash-bros-pilotwings-all-coming/

[Fusion]

don't know if anyone else has had this problem (sorry haven't read the whole thread!) but I just downloaded donkey kong country today and once i select it from the wii menu and click start, the screen goes black (there's a faint grey line visible through the middle of the screen) and then nothing happens (if i leave it for a while and click a button on the wiimote it takes me back to the wii menu)

has anyone else had issues with virtual console similar to this? could it be because im using component cables or my wii settings are set to 60hz? (tried switching to 50 and didnt make a difference) should this be in the wii problems thread?

[Lex]

HD tv? I had that problem, there's a really dumb fix for it, but it works. I'll look for it when I get home.

[Fusion]

HD tv? I had that problem, there's a really dumb fix for it, but it works. I'll look for it when I get home.

nah just an old lcd, nothing too flash. thanks for the help!

[Lex]

Ah that's right, it's a 480p issue.

Start the game, connect the Nunchuck to the Wiimote and press Home to see the menu options. Now press A + 2 + Z together which should result in a short “ping-like” sound.

It basically just forces VC games to run 480i, and you can change it back by doing the same thing but hold 1 instead of 2.

[Fusion]

hrmm it doesn't appear to be working for me, when i start the game it goes to the black screen and if i press home it just takes me straight back to the wii menu without bringing up the options or anything, i tried the A+2+z by themselves and that didn't seem to do anything either :S any other ideas?

[AyatollaofRocknRolla]

Apparently Ogre Battle 64 has been classified by the OFLC, so we should see it on VC soon. Which is great becuase I'd love to get my hands on it, seeing as it was never released here.

[buckstwits]

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for WiiWare (http://www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2010/01/05/phoenix_wright:_ace_attorney_wiiware_available_nex t_week!)


EDIT: comes out next week

[BB2K]

That's old new, bro :P (http://www.thenintendobasement.com/2009/11/wii-news/ace-attorney-headed-for-wiiware/)

Self pimp

[Starscream]

Excitebike World Rally released on Australian VC yet?

Google searches only finds kotaku links. :(

[Kasplatza Red]

So I'm downloading Sexy Poker (Because I can- no really, I swear this game was banned, what the hell?) and I got Pokemon Rumble.

Haven't played Sexy Poker yet, but Pokemon Rumble is adorable, and plays similarly to Gauntlet Legends, but with pokemon. Really want other people to download it so I can give multiplayer a shot.

[Nic Xtreme]

So I'm downloading Sexy Poker (Because I can- no really, I swear this game was banned, what the hell?) and I got Pokemon Rumble.

Haven't played Sexy Poker yet, but Pokemon Rumble is adorable, and plays similarly to Gauntlet Legends, but with pokemon. Really want other people to download it so I can give multiplayer a shot.

I played the demo of Pokemon Rumble and it was waaaaay too samey for me. Does the gameplay change much as you get into it? Because I'm a major Pokemon fanboy and I just loved getting to play as each of them!

[JubeiSaotome]

Europe is getting Muscle March on March 19, do we get it too?

[Starscream]

Europe is getting Muscle March on March 19, do we get it too?
Probably not. Nintendo AU need to improve the VC library here.

Anyone know about Excitebike World Rally? :(

[JubeiSaotome]

It's on the VC right now? I swear I saw that Excitebike game a few days ago.

[borgster101]

Probably not. Nintendo AU need to improve the VC library here.

Anyone know about Excitebike World Rally? :(

I'm 99% sure I saw Excitebike up on WiiWare.

[JubeiSaotome]

It is up there under WiiWare.

Purchased Castlevania ReBirth and Tetris Party for WiiWare last night, both solid titles. Also picked up New Adventure Island for TG16, it's really difficult, but awesome fun.

[Starscream]

I'm 99% sure I saw Excitebike up on WiiWare.

It is up there under WiiWare.

Awesome. Going to buy a Wii points card and get some Excitebike action.

[borgster101]

It is up there under WiiWare.

Purchased Castlevania ReBirth.
Oooh I was thinking about getting this .. whats it like?

Is it a remake or a brand new game in the old school style?

[JubeiSaotome]

Plays like the NES games.

[Kev]

Bought Max and The Magic Marker. Fun little platform puzzle game. Pretty simple for the first few levels. looking forward to some fun physics puzzles.

[JubeiSaotome]

Muscle March is up for 500 Wii Points.

9hcElGydzb8

[Lex]

oh ****ing finally. buying now.

[JubeiSaotome]

Wish it had the option to switch to japanese text, not understanding what was going on kind of made it.

[Herr Webster]

What's with the high price of VC games?

Only just picking up a Wii this week I jumped on the shop channel tonight with the intention of grabbing some old SNES games for a bit of nostalgia. Looking through I notice they all cost 800 Wii points. I don't really know what this means so I go to the points purchase page and see that 1000 points costs $15AUD. WTF? Does anyone else think this is a blatant rip-off?

All I wanted to do was jump on a few old titles for a bit of nostalgic fun but if each game is going to cost me $12.50 then they can forget it. Reading through the list there was about 15 or so games that I was going to buy. I had my credit card all ready too. Now I'm sulking and haven't bought a thing because I know I'd feel too guilty for wasting money. I would find it hard to justify spending that much even on the best of the best VC games (Super Metroid, Secret of Mana).

To put it into perspective, I just purchased Dead Space Extraction online for $16 (plus $8 postage, but still), $4 more than a decade old game served via digital distribution.

Is this just an Aussie thing?

Do you guys purchase wii points from somewhere cheaper (a bit like the Xbox gold subscriptions)? If so, where?

[JubeiSaotome]

I think it's a world wide rip off. Nintendo are pricing in regards to demand, they're a business. If people were to stop buying off the Wii Shop, then I'm sure prices would drop dramatically. Not going to happen, though.

[Pai Mel]

I would find it hard to justify spending that much even on the best of the best VC games (Super Metroid, Secret of Mana).


You know what they say, nostalgia isn't what it used to be. Spend your hard earned dosh on new games instead.

[Nic Xtreme]

He isn't implying anything relating to a lack of quality or enjoyment in those titles, just that the VC is overpriced.

[Herr Webster]

If someone was to only buy one Castlevania game on VC/Wiiware which one should it be?

ATM I have the choice of Rondo of Blood, Rebirth, Castlevania I II and III on NES, Castlevania IV on SNES.

I'll come out and say I'm not inerested in the NES games and as I never played it on SNES I can miss that too. That just leaves Rondo and Rebirth to pick from. I did play SOTN on 360 and the two DS games if it matters at all.

And another thing, what's with all the different copies of Street Fighter II on VC? I just counted six different versions (dunno what Alpha 2 is... maybe it doesn't count). Surely you don't have to buy each version to get the whole Street Fighter 2 experience?

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

I hear II on the NES was awesome.

[Herr Webster]

I hear II on the NES was awesome.


Thanks. I just bought a copy for myself and gifted a bunch of friends a copy too.

I hope it's good.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

oh god

[JubeiSaotome]

Super Castlevania IV or Dracula X. no question.

[Herr Webster]

Super Castlevania IV or Dracula X. no question.

Is Dracula X = Rondo of Blood?

I'm :confused:

[JubeiSaotome]

Yes it is

[Nic Xtreme]

Definitely get Dracula X for the SNES! It's fantastic and it has one of the most awesome soundtracks in the seriea! (A few of the levels' songs sound like they came from an 80s Countdown!)

[JubeiSaotome]

No, not SNES. Turbo Grafix 16 CD. It'll cost more, but the SNES version was watered down to all hell.

[Nic Xtreme]

;_; isn't the music less 80s in the TG-16 version? :(

[JubeiSaotome]

It's classic Castlevania themes. It's the equivilent of a Sega CD game.

[Super Sleuth]

I see that in Europe and the US, Club Nintendo stars can be exchanged for Wii points on your console. I haven't been able to find this service on my console, or any info about it on the net.

I assume we've be deep dicked again in regards to this. True?

[tau]

balls deep dicked.

[ireadtabloids]

Chrono Trigger just hit. For those who didn't want to play it on the small screen - get excited.

[Starscream]

Want SNES SMW2:Yoshi's Island. Release it already!