This begins the wave of Master System games, I’m willing to bet. While I have never played Wonder Boy, I do enjoy Cruis’n, in the arcades at least. I’m a little finicky about how it will be on the Nintendo 64, but it might be worth a try. Anyway, another decent week on the Virtual Console.

“It’s a week of fun-filled firsts at the Wii™ Shop Channel. Each of the latest game offerings represents the first title in a memorable series that has influenced many subsequent titles over the years. Whether you prefer high-speed drives or side-scrolling adventures, it’s clear that these classic games have lasting appeal. What’s more, Wonder Boy is the first-ever Sega Master System title to be made available via Virtual Console.

Wonder Boy (Sega Master System, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): As Tom-Tom the Wonder Boy, it’s up to you to rescue your girlfriend Tanya from the vile clutches of the monster that has kidnapped her. To do so, you must navigate a series of worlds in a race against time to reach your goal. Along the way, you’ll battle foes and collect fruit that will add to the amount of time you have to complete your mission. You can also receive helpful power-ups from various eggs, but make sure to avoid the bad eggs and poisonous mushrooms that sap your precious vitality. Find the magic doll in each level to open up hidden areas, and make it to the very end of your journey to rescue your one true love.”

DISCUSS

VC Games List 

-Thomas 

Oh wow. This is surely an excellent week for t he Virtual Console. Two games I like, A LOT. Spelunker, being the lesser renown of the 2, is actually a fun game that has the player explore several different caves. R-Type, I’m sure you all know, so I won’t go into it much, just know this week is a great one.

“Are you afraid of the dark? If so, this is a great week to face your fears with a pair of eerie new game offerings on Nintendo’s Virtual Console�. One will plunge you deep underground to navigate perilous caves, while the other puts you on the front lines of a darkly sinister space war. In either case, your frights will give way to serious fun.

Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time 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:

Spelunker (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Wander through miles of uncharted caves in search of the legendary underground pyramid and its vast treasures. To complete your adventure, you will swing from ropes and ladders, run across unstable terrain and down ravines, operate elevators, mining carts and rafts. You will collect keys, bombs, flares, jewels, sacks of gold coins and other valuable items as you navigate the hazardous terrain. But beware of the scalding steam vents, poisonous bats and the avenging spirits of dead spelunkers that lurk in every corner of this massive underground labyrinth.

SUPER R-TYPE (Super NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone � Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): A galactic battle begins. The BYDO Empire of mutant extraterrestrials is back with evil intent and awesome power. Now the evil empire is poised to launch a new attack on Earth. Only the revolutionary R-9, the planet’s most advanced form of defense, stands between these monsters and doom. Fight through seven challenging stages�picking up power-up items as you progress�on the way to each stage’s memorable boss. Is the BYDO Empire invincible You’ll need lightning reflexes, intuitive moves and a big dose of cosmic luck to hold your own. Better prepare yourself, because the mutants “R” ready for you.”

DISCUSS
VC Games List

-Thomas

You’ve gotta love Nintendo for these import games. It saves us a whole lotta money to be able to purchase games on the VC as apposed to a real import. Certainly Puyo is at the least a decent title. I think its awfully nice to see another puzzle game on the Virtual Console, and Puyo was a nice choice.

“Got enough challenge in your daily routine? Chances are that basic everyday tasks - getting to work or school on time, walking the dog, taking out the trash - aren’t enough to keep you firing on all cylinders. Luckily, Virtual Console(TM) is close at hand to help you test your mettle in fresh and unusual ways. Whether you’re rescuing a kidnapped pal or mastering a set of mind-bending grid puzzles, this week’s new arrivals, imported from Japan,

Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): The object of this head-to-head puzzle game is to clear your grid of falling patterns called puyos by forming chains of four or more same-colored puyos in a straight line or one of several geometric patterns. What makes this a challenging two-player contest is the fact that when you clear a chain of puyos from your grid, it drops a random piece of filler onto your opponent’s grid. The more puyos you clear, the more you fill your opponent’s grid, and if you can clutter up his grid enough to fill it to the top, you’ve won the game. An intriguing backstory makes this an amusing experience for one or two players.”

So, if you’re not too busy playing Brawl, be sure to comment in the forums.

VC Games List 

-Thomas 

1 game this week. 1 I have never even heard of. This may be sort of a bummer for everyone who is looking forward to big hits such as Majora’s Mask. At least it’s something, though. Has anyone played this? Be sure to tell us all how it is in the forums.

VC Games List

-Thomas

This Virtual Console update brings back some memories. Kirby 64 is easily one of my favorite Nintendo 64 games. I don’t quite know what makes this game so fun, but it’s there. I’ll end up purchasing this winner sometime soon. How about you guys?

“This week’s additions take players on a psychedelic trip down memory lane. Kirby® is back and armed with a bunch of new talents, including the option to combine abilities. Curious to find out what mixing the Burn and Cutter powers gives Kirby? We won’t spoil that for you here. If the colorful landscapes in the pink sphere’s world are too much for you and you’re looking for straight firepower instead, then try plunging your soul into the mind of a twisted demon. We’ll just see how you fare against wave after wave of bizarre enemy creatures in that kind of environment.

Psychosis: (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): This is a side-scrolling shooter played in a world created from the mind of a twisted demon. Your soul has suddenly wandered into that evil world that exists in every person’s heart. The only way out is to blast your way past the grotesque creatures that block your path in five “causes” (stages). You must face the dangers of this psychedelic world by making full use of three shot types and the satellite option. With power-ups, you can change your shots to a wide-coverage beam, a satellite-generated laser and more. Each shot type can be powered up to three levels. You can also block enemy fire by rotating the satellites to a desired position. How you use these features will be the key to successfully escaping this strange and surreal world.”

DISCUSS

-Thomas 

Here’s an excellent update. 2 critically acclaimed titles are out today, one of which is getting a next-gen sequel sometime this year. This is easily one of the best updates so far, in my opinion. How do you all feel?

“Some gamers get skeptical when Roman numerals populate the title of a game. But make no mistake - this week’s offerings are no mere sequels. They are some of the most highly regarded classic games around. So stock up on some Wii Points™ to battle the Dark Force or complete an action-packed trilogy.

Phantasy Star™ II: (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): Hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by fans and media alike, Phantasy Star II is an RPG that features an epic story line and turn-based battles. Play as Rolf, Nei, Rudo or several other characters as you navigate through the Algol star system battling the evil Dark Force. Build your characters, select the right weapons and armor, and take on the forces of evil through various missions as you find the right combination of characters to complete each objective. Experience the magic once again in this great sequel.”
DISCUSS

VC Games List

-Thomas 

Two new titles this week, this tells us that Nintendo isn’t slacking again. One of my favorite SNES classics is out now. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but I can never get past the charm that Harvest Moon contains. Sure, it’s a lot of grinding, but throw in the urge to purchase new things and randomly-occurring events, now you’ve got a more interesting title. Do you all agree? Sound off in the forums. If you read the news, but don’t post in the forums, please join us. We don’t bite that hard at all.

“The two games joining the lineup this week are considered cult classics, yet they deal with topics as varied as farm management and shooting enemies to the strains of heavy-metal tunes. Just don’t get the two mixed up, since most livestock don’t like heavy metal and it takes more than turnips to defeat fire-spewing sea serpents.

Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Lords of Thunder is a side-scrolling shooter that has you take on the role of a legendary warrior, blasting enemies to heavy-metal tunes. Your enemies are plotting to revive Zaggart, “The Dark One,” who was sealed beneath the six continents of Mistral. It’s up to Landis, descendant of the heroic Dyu, to stop them. Choose the order in which to attack the six stages. Before each stage, select one of four magic armors and use crystals you’ve collected during your battles to buy items. Selecting the right armor for each stage is the key to your ultimate victory. Then get ready to face awesome enemies like a fire-spewing sea serpent or a giant insect. Whether it’s the fast-paced shooting or breaking into the fortress of a stage boss, you’ll be blown away by the intensity of Lords of Thunder.”

VC Games List

-Thomas 

Good old Operation Wolf has finally hit the Virtual Console. Am I the only one happy to hear this? I may have only played the arcade version, but this can’t be too bad. I must have dumped around $20 worth of quarters in that game a while back…

Anyway, enough of my nostalgic daydreaming. These titles are up, and they will run you 500 points for Wolf, and 800 points for Columns. Although I doubt the likelihood, I hope that Operation Wolf supports the motion sensitivity that the Wii is capable of.

“Step into two very different types of action this week. Either battle the bad guys to save hostages and preserve freedom or bury your opponents with magical jewels. Whatever you fancy, you’ll need to be ready for a challenge: strategize as a fearless hero or manipulate special jewels to raise the crush bar. How do you plan to win today?

Columns III™: Revenge of Columns (Genesis, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone,
800 points): This single-player or multiplayer experience expands upon the
game play of the original two Columns titles giving players some extra attacks
to spring on opponents. As in the original Columns, jewels fall into a bin,
and you have to twist and manipulate them to form matches of three or more in
a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line to keep the jewels from stacking up
and reaching the top. In Columns III, special magical jewels do things like
raise your opponent’s crush bar or lower your own, adding an extra element of
strategy to the game. This is a great game to play with friends, so download
it today and jump into the action!”

DISCUSS

VC Games list

-Thomas  

 That well-rated snowboarding game for the Nintendo 64 is out on the Virtual Console as of now. It is going to run you a nice 1000 points, which is reasonable. The only problem this week is, one game? One measly game as compared to the usual two or three? At least it’s a good game.

“Traverse the half-pipe from the comfort of your living room. With this classic game, it’s Winter Break all the time. Freestyle through white powder, and school your best pal with your new trick! Did you get air?

This new classic game goes live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop 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 game is:

1080°® SNOWBOARDING (N64®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Hit the slopes for some serious shredding in one of the first truly realistic snowboarding games ever created! Start in the lodge and select from five characters, each with his/her own particular attributes and special tricks. Then take a look at the wide assortment of available boards and choose one that best suits your rider and style. Once you’ve got the gear, six different modes of play, including Match Race, Trick Attack, and 2-Player Versus, await. Pick a course and get ready to experience a sensation of speed that’ll make you forget all about the cold–but it might just send a shiver down your spine. Throw in hidden characters and boards, varying weather and snow conditions, multiple paths through each course, and a variety of tricks to master–topped off with rock-solid play control–and you’ve got a recipe for winter fun that you can enjoy any time of the year. It’s all the fun and excitement of the sport, without the bruises and frostbite!”

DISCUSS

VC Game List

-Thomas

So far, the Master System is only available in Japan. Sega, does have plans to bring it the Europe and America, however. This is excellent news for all of the Sega fans out there. Technically, this was one of the first consoles I had ever owned, so it will be sort of a blast from the past. What do you all think? More information below.

“ A new platform has entered the family of classic consoles that makes up Nintendo’s Virtual Console download service. Sega announced today that it will begin shortly distribution of Master System titles on the service.

Sega also plans on distributing Master System titles on the European and North American VC services. We’ll have details as soon as they’re available.”

SOURCE

DISCUSS

-Thomas