Wii U Virtual Console drags 50Hz versions to Europe
Nintendo is apparently resurrecting the sl-sl-slowdown of retro 50Hz gaming on the Wii U Virtual Console in Europe. As spotted by Eurogamer readers and confirmed by us, the European version of NES classic Balloon Fight runs at a refresh rate of 50Hz, as opposed to the regular 60Hz it runs at in other regions, including North America.
While it's not the case with modern European TVs, older sets on the continent only displayed at the inferior, slower refresh rate. The video above showcases this perfectly, with Sonic the Hedgehog on the Genesis laggier than Eric the Eel after a heavy lunch. Okay, it's not that bad, but it's certainly significant.
As the video also shows, this is something Nintendo maintained with Wii versions of Virtual Console games in Europe. If this is Nintendo's way of keeping Virtual Console old-school on the Wii U, we doubt Europeans are gonna dig it.
More diggable is how Balloon Fight only costs 30 pence (30 cents in the US). It's the first of seven games going at the cutdown price for a month each, all as part of Nintendo's celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the NES.
