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Puyo Puyo coming to Virtual Console in Japan with online multiplayer
After five years of the Wii's Virtual Console, a game will be released with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support for online multiplayer. What game will be the recipient of this totally unique, groundbreaking honor? The arcade version of Sega's jelly-creature matching puzzle game Puyo Puyo, of course. As one of the 20th anniversary projects announced today (on a date that can be pronounced "pu yo" using some obtuse Japanese wordplay), Sega revealed that the Virtual Console Arcade release of Puyo Puyo, due this spring in Japan for 800 Wii Points, will support online competitive multiplayer. Sega's other Puyo announcements include a contest in Japan to give away original Puyo Puyo bath towels, and a drawing contest.
Super Hang-On likely drifting to Virtual Console
Following Shenmue Town, we're now seeing another questionable Yu Suzuki game revival. However, unlike Shenmue, which was questionable because it looked and sounded like a bad idea, Super Hang-On is questionable because ... we have questions about it. All we know is that Sega has something in mind called Super Hang-On, information gleaned from an Australian rating. The game in question is likely a Virtual Console release of the arcade version, since Sega released that in Japan back in September. Of course, we're at the point now when news of any new Virtual Console release is thrilling, but this is actually neat on its own merits. The Japanese VCA release supports tilt controls!
Capcom Arcade Classics confirmed for North American release in 2011
Nintendo's small collection of Virtual Console Arcade titles is about to get ... slightly less small. Capcom has this poster in their New York Comic-Con booth confirming the addition of six new arcade games to the North American Wii Shop in 2011.
Three Capcom arcade games confirmed for Virtual Console in Japan
Capcom continues to support the Virtual Console long after most companies have abandoned the service, announcing three upcoming Virtual Console Arcade releases for Japan. Black Tiger (an early candidate for Final Fight: Double Impact inclusion), Ghosts 'n Goblins (which is already available on Virtual Console in its NES form) and 1942 will be released in Japan in the near future. Though no announcements have been made about these titles' releases outside of Japan, recent Australian ratings show that Capcom is likely planning to launch some of its other Virtual Console Arcade games in additional territories. [Image credit: The Arcade Flyers Archive]
OFLC rates Capcom's Commando and Exed Exes, likely for VC
Here's something we don't get to write about very often any more: games that appear to be headed for the Wii Virtual Console. Australia's OFLC rated two classic Capcom arcade games that are most likely bound for the sadly neglected download service: Commando, the top-down shooting game that is probably best known now for being kind of connected to Bionic Commando, and a vertical shooter called Exed Exes. We can be fairly certain these ratings point to a Virtual Console release, because Exed Exes was just put on the Virtual Console in Japan today. And now we begin the long wait until these two games make their way over. (Or we can just play them on Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 for PS2 and Xbox.) [Image: The Arcade Flyer Archive]
Capcom joins Wii Virtual Console Arcade with SonSon
Remember the Virtual Console Arcade? Capcom has just announced that it'll join the small stable of publishers releasing arcade games on the download service. Right now, the announcement is for Japan only, but Capcom has been good about releasing its Virtual Console games worldwide in the past. The first game out of the new initiative is Sonson, an auto-scrolling platformer based on the Journey to the West story (like Dragon Ball and Enslaved). It'll be released sometime this summer in Japan for 800 Wii Points ($8). Since the GDC 2009 announcement of the Virtual Console Arcade, just 13 arcade games have been released in North America. The service is significantly more populated in Japan, but only because of Namco Bandai. Both Japan and North America's stores could definitely benefit from some variety.
VC in Brief: Zaxxon (VC Arcade)
This week's Virtual Console release is Sega's Zaxxon for the VC Arcade, an isometric viewpoint shmup from the early '80s. There's nothing flashy or particularly complex about Zaxxon, other than the difficulty of quickly ascertaining your altitude and relative safety in your immediate surroundings. Basically, you crash into stuff or get shot by stuff or run out of gas and then crash into stuff, as you can see in the latest episode of VC in Brief above. It's a tough life out there in space, gunning down countless unmarked ships, missile silos and cannons -- believe. Zaxxon (Arcade, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer VC in Brief as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
NintendoWare Weekly: Zaxxon, Military Madness
[The Arcade Flyer Archive] The original arcade version of Zaxxon is available on Virtual Console this week! Trust us: this is very exciting if you're old. However, as we like to do when this sort of thing pops up, we're offering this public service announcement: if you have either the PS2 Sega Genesis Collection disc or Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, you already have this game! Check out all the WiiWare, Virtual Console, and DSiWare offerings after the break.
NintendoWare Weekly: Tales of Monkey Island, Bookworm, The Combatribes
If you thought last week's NintendoWare Weekly update was huge, well ... you'll probably think the same thing about this week's update! That's mostly because Nintendo provides quite the overweight offering this time, with a total of ten new titles available for your post-Thanksgiving download. Loosen that belt and make some room for more by heading past the break for the full list of this week's releases.
VC in Brief: Rygar (Arcade)
Rygar (Arcade, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Rygar is a pretty intense title. Luckily, the quarter-munching gameplay of the arcade classic translates to the Wii very well. For one, you don't need to run out of quarters from dying -- oh, and you will die, believe it. Second, every time you die or even continue once you've run out of lives, you pick up right from where you left off. So, there's no replaying stages or sections of the game you've previously played as a result of dying. Have we mentioned how much you'll die?You will die. A lot. Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks like that.
Japanese Nintendo Downloads: Goemon is a hot-blooded man of Edo
First of all, it's a holiday in Japan this week, so there are no new games for September 22. However, since we failed to update you guys on the releases for September 15, we figured we should probably do that. Sorry for the delay!Despite the lack of releases this week, we think most Japanese gamers are happy because they totally get to play some Ganbare Goemon. Known in The States as Legend of the Mystical Ninja, the series has had a long affair with Japanese gamers -- which now continues on the Virtual Console! Ganbare Goemon 3 (Super Famicom, 1 -2 players, 800 Wii Points) Dragon Saber (VC Arcade, 1 - 2 players, 800 Wii Points) Dragon Buster (VC Arcade, 1 - 2 players, 800 Wii Points)
NintendoWare Weekly: Overturn, Sexy Poker, Tecmo Bowl
This week is a special one for Nintendo fans. Not only do we finally see an end to the Virtual Console drought, but we also get fighting robots and a new Art Style game. Oh, and then there's Sexy Poker, Gameloft's odd strip poker game for WiiWare. We guess the company never heard of Google image search?%Gallery-35205%
VC Friday: Insert Coin
The biggest news about downloadable games for Europe today happened two days ago: the Virtual Console Arcade launched for PAL territories the same time it did for North America, and with the same lineup. In case you're used to ignoring the Wii Shop until Friday, go check it out! Gaplus -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points Mappy -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points Star Force -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points The Tower of Druaga -- Arcade -- 500 Wii Points The awesomeness of Virtual Console Arcade sort of dulls the impact of Digital Leisure's Texas Hold 'em Tournament. Texas Hold 'em Tournament -- WiiWare -- 500 Wii Points Video footage is after the break, featuring the worst combination of Miis and kinda-Miis ever.
Namco Bandai loves the Virtual Console Arcade
The bad news about Japan's Virtual Console Arcade: it's expensive! With the exception of Star Force, which costs 500 Points there like it does in the US, everything is priced at 800 Points. The good news: it's well-supported! There are already six games available on the service (Return of Ishtar, Emeraldia, Gaplus, Star Force, Space Harrier, and Solvalou), and there are tons more coming.Namco Bandai, who is already dominating the service, has 26 more games planned for 2009. From big franchise games like Galaga '88 and Pac-Mania to obscurities like Knuckle Heads and Numan Athletics. Superior arcade versions of games like Splatterhouse are even on the way! The full list is after the break. At least we know now that the Virtual Console Arcade can support more than 8-bit games.[Via Siliconera]
GDC09: Watch the Virtual Console Arcade announcement trailer
Available on the Nintendo Channel right now, the above trailer was shown during Iwata's keynote that revealed Virtual Console Arcade, a new platform expansion for the service. If you're wondering what these games are, yet don't feel like checking YouTube, then enjoy the brief snippets of each in the above trailer.
GDC09: Virtual Console Arcade launches with 4 games, available now
Iwata has announced yet another platform expansion for Wii's Virtual Console. Virtual Console Arcade will offer classic -- meaning old -- arcade titles not available on other systems. Four launch games are available for download right now (directly to an SD card, if you prefer -- haven't you heard?), with two additional titles possibly available later day. Here's the starting lineup: Gaplus (Namco Bandai): 600 Wii Points -- available now Mappy (Namco Bandai): 500 Wii Points -- available now The Tower Of Druaga (Namco Bandai): 500 Wii Points -- available now Starforce (Tecmo): 500 Wii Points -- available now Space Harrier (Sega) -- coming soon Solvalou (Namco Bandai) -- coming soon
