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Sega classic 'Alex Kidd' is coming to modern consoles and PCs
'Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX' will revive the Sega Master System classic for modern gaming systems and PCs.
This guy wants $164,000 for his gigantic video game collection
Do you have $164,000 handy? If so, you can snag nearly every retro console game since the beginning of the NES era. Ebay seller "reel.big.fish," also known as Nintendo Twizer, is selling a positively massive collection of games and consoles, spanning everything from the NES to Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Game Boy and much more. He claims to have complete sets of every single game for Super Nintendo, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Virtual Boy, 32X, Sega Master System, Game Gear and NES (except for Stadium Events), in addition to several incomplete sets for other consoles, notably a hefty Sega Genesis collection. On top of all the games, there are also multiple variants of various consoles, including every single N64 color. There's far too much to list here – almost 6,000 games – so you may as well watch the video above, and you can also peruse the master list of every single game in the collection. The catch is that it's all being sold as a single lot, with a $164,000 asking price. That's pretty steep, to be sure, but before you scoff at the price, don't forget the crown jewel of the collection, a framed copy of "No One Wants to Play Sega with Harrison Ford," signed by artist Brandon Bird.
Game Gear mod has five-inch screen, rechargable batteries, two pounds worth of memories
Are Nintendo and Sony's portable gaming offerings not doing anything for you? Yearn for the days of Hedgehog-based adventure? You're not alone -- though, unless you're as crafty as "lovablechevy," you're going to have to settle for whatever you can find on eBay or in a dusty shoebox under a bed at your parents' house. The modder resurrected a Game Gear with a custom case created using the beloved Sega portable, a Master Gear converter, a screen from a PS One, and assorted other bits and pieces. The franken-portable can play Game Gear and Master System titles, has a rechargeable battery, and weighs a hefty two-plus pounds. Video after the break and lots more jealousy-inducing images in the Source link below.
Japan's SaGa 2 Collector's Edition box art brings us back to our youth
Square Enix's upcoming Nintendo DS-exclusive SaGa 2 Hihou Densetsu: Goddess of Destiny (Final Fantasy Legend 2) is getting the collector's edition treatment, with box art that brings us back to our childhood days. While the classic Master System-style packaging may seem an odd choice for a DS release, it's exactly the kind of old school flair needed for a remake.The 'Square Enix e-Store only' collector's pack -- priced at ¥12,076 ($126 US) -- also includes the game's original soundtrack, a 20th Anniversary SaGa Chronicle book, a mascot tchotchke and two postcards. Avid collectors can import the game, enjoy the soundtrack and let their friends know what they are missing via snail mail. That's what we call a functional collector's edition.
VC Friday: Tee up and club some Monsters
Yours truly has hazy memories of spending an entire summer holiday glued to Mario Golf, unlocking Metal Mario, and jumping on the bed after fluking a hole-in-one (shamefully, I was nineteen at the time). And now, it's the fifteenth N64 game to appear on the PAL Virtual Console. Hell yeah! It might suffer heavily from the N64 fuzz, but for our money it's still the best in its respective series. It's accompanied this week by Wonder Boy in Monster Land. Mario Golf -- Nintendo 64 -- 1,000 Wii Points Wonder Boy in Monster Land -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points Videos of each follow the blue text.%Gallery-42959%
VC Friday: Apes and bikes
Gaming's favorite ape returns to the PAL Virtual Console to cause havoc for arch-enemy Mario Stanley, but don't get too excited: despite being an early Miyamoto game, the 22-year-old Donkey Kong 3 has not aged gracefully. It's also a bit of an oddity in the series, in that it plays more like a shooter than the traditional run-and-jump Donkey Kong fare, so we ... guess it holds some value as a curio.Then there's Enduro Racer, a game in which it is possible to win races by driving in an almost entirely straight line. It would be fair to say Nintendo emerged triumphant in the 8-bit motocross wars. Donkey Kong 3 -- NES -- 500 Wii Points Enduro Racer -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points %Gallery-41214%
Secret of Mana, Sonic 2 on PAL Virtual Console this week
As a Christmas treat to its impeccably-behaved PAL region fans, Nintendo of Europe unveiled this week's Euro/Aussie Virtual Console offerings early, and holy crap it's Secret of Mana. Square's classic three-player RPG has been available in Japan and North America (in Virtual Console form) since September and October respectively, and will make the trip to PAL land on Boxing Day. The toys we excitedly unwrap in front of our parents on Christmas Day morning will be swiftly cast aside! Less thrillingly, Secret of Mana will be joined by the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2; and because this is essentially VC Friday on a Tuesday, you can see footage of both beyond the break! %Gallery-39925%
The other Sonic 2 rated by ESRB
The Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was never released in North America (only the inferior Game Gear version made it there), so its appearance on the ESRB database (which pretty much guarantees a Virtual Console release) is a little bit of history in the making. A very little bit, mind, because the differences between the 8-bit Sonic 2s are trivial, to say the least.We never played either iteration, so are unqualified to comment on the game's quality, but Wikipedia informs us that this was Tails' debut appearance, which also means this game marks the start of Sonic having friends. Man, look how that turned out.[Via Go Nintendo]
VC Friday: A trip to the Fantasy Zone
After last week's fairly abominable update, Space Harrier is back to save us all. The last time we played Sega's classic rail shooter was in the arcades of Shenmue, and we seem to recall it feeling a bit ancient, but still being a bit of a hoot.Also appearing is Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition (which, rather ludicrously, is the third variation of Street Fighter II to appear on the PAL Virtual Console) and Mayhem in Monsterland, one of the very last of the Commodore 64's 20,000 or so titles, and a graphical stunner for the time. Footage of all three is past the break. Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition -- Mega Drive -- 800 Nintendo Points Mayhem in Monsterland -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Nintendo Points* Space Harrier -- Master System -- 500 Nintendo Points
Retail and download releases for the week of August 4th
Wait, what's this? Where is your precious VC Monday Madness? Relax, it's still here, we've just consolidated things a bit. Now, all of the releases each week for the Wii, whether they be retail disc titles or downloads, are going to be located in one handy post. This frees us up to do an extra news post or what have you during the day, hopefully bringing you even more of the content you crave. So, head past the break for the details and be sure to come back later for our VC Monday Madness video wrap-up. Happy Monday!%Gallery-21447%
Virtual Console update adds speed and gore, lacks swords
There's something about this week's update to the Wii's Virtual Console that just seems off. Maybe it's the odd partnering of a blue marsupial and a lumber-swinging madman, or perhaps it's the noticeable absence of Samurai Shodown II, which SNK said last week would be among this morning's additions. While you work out some conspiracy theories, let's take a look at what new oldies are available. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega Master System, 500 Wii Points): While Sega's 16-bit original has been available for download for a long while, Sonic's 8-bit port changes things up with a handful of new stages, gameplay differences, and cruddier graphics. Splatterhouse 2 (Sega Genesis, 800 Wii Points): There's many ways that we could spend our time waiting to slip on the Terror Mask and bash demons' brains out in Namco Bandai's Splatterhouse redux, but really, what better way is there than to play through the arcade original's 16-bit sequel? The only right answer here is none.
Sonic the Hedgehog on the Master System on the Wii
The latest set of ESRB rating updates features two upcoming Virtual Console games, one of which is just kind of awkward. Namco's Splatterhouse 2 is making the journey from Japan, which is great news for people who like hitting things with a 2x4. The other game is also for a Sega console: Sonic the Hedgehog.Perhaps puzzled by how to identify the Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog in their rating submission, since the two games are now both Wii games, Sega decided to put it right there in the title: Sonic the Hedgehog on the Master System. It would be hilarious if this ended up being the final title for the game on the Virtual Console, but we doubt that will happen.
The VC Advantage: Rocking, Papering, and Scissoring Out
We may not have recommended Alex Kidd in Miracle World for everyone, but many of us are still charmed by the colorful adventures of Sega's erstwhile mascot. The boss battles are one of the most adorable aspects of the game -- they're played out in the arena of rock, paper, scissors. In theory, this is cute and quirky, but bosses based on random chance can get frustrating quickly. Good thing, then, the opponents' throws aren't random at all. The bosses are pre-scripted! There's evidence of an element of randomness: the bosses' attacks in later games will be different depending on what you throw in earlier games. But if you adhere to the following solutions list, you'll sail through the janken games. The two moves next to each name correspond to the two rounds involved in each battle.Stone Head: Rock, ScissorsScissors Head: Scissors, Paper Paper Head: Rock, Scissors Stone Head 2: Paper, Paper Scissors Head 2: Rock, Rock Paper Head 2: Rock, Scissors Janken the Great: Paper, Paper The VC Advantage is a weekly look at the secrets inside games -- not just cheat codes, but assorted trivia and oddities. We aim to bring back the feeling of the hint columns from game magazines, except when we do something else.
Virtual Console picks Burning Fight with Alex Kidd
With the United States swept up in political debate and the world's reliance on oil becoming increasingly problematic, we welcome the Virtual Console's desire to take us back to a simpler and easier time. A time when sprites were celebrated, power-ups were plentiful and men were all called "Ryu." A time when every problem could be solved by the calculated and swift application of a fist. Punching time. Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Alex Kidd will stop at nothing to rescue his brother. Leaping across deadly chasms, punching through solid rock and murdering birds with his bare hands -- he's a monster! We can't really identify with that, but don't let that stop you. "Please buy the things that you like." Burning Fight (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): Predominantly pugilistic protagonists patrol parks and pound on pesky perpetrators in this post-90s punk-bashing punchfest. POW!
VC Friday: Back on form
If you think we've already forgiven Nintendo for totally neglecting the PAL Virtual Console last week, you can think again, sunshine. Nope, Ninty is officially in our bad books, and no amount of sweet talk, flowers, weekends away, or singing telegrams can let the company out of the doghouse right now. Frankly, we've never felt so unwan -- eh, what's that you say? Five games? Two of which prominently feature ninjas? Oh, go on then. Alex Kidd in Miracle World -- Master System -- 500 Wii Points Fatal Fury 2 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Ninja Combat -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points * Nebulus -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points * * Unavailable in Oz, we're afraid, but look at the bright side: footage of all five games is past the break! Actually, we're not sure how that's meant to console you, or how those two facts are even related. Ridiculous, really.
VC Tuesday: Champion by default
Japan's Virtual Console releases today are, literally, infinitely more awesome than our domestic lineup, because they exist. This week was Nintendo of America's turn to take a break from VC games to promote WiiWare, so any Virtual Console game that came out in Japan this week looks that much better in comparison to nothing.Even without the easy advantage, the lineup is not bad at all. Bubble Bobble is a total classic, as is Alex Kidd in Miracle World. And Martial Champion, Konami's Street Fighter II-era fighter, is the kind of previously unknown oddity we love to see on the VC. Bubble Bobble (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Martial Champion (PC Engine CD-ROM, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Wii Warm Up: Through rose-tinted glasses
The appeal of the Virtual Console is obvious: nostalgia. The VC is jam-packed with memories from yesteryear, spilling over with wonderful software that defined our childhoods. But it isn't all lollipops and puppy dogs. Nostalgia can also be very misleading, and some of those packets of data you download from Nintendo's service can end up souring childhood memories. Personally speaking -- and this will probably sound like heresy in some quarters, so brace yourselves -- I was left disappointed by Mega Man 2, a game I adored as an eleven-year-old, but one that now seems slightly dated, with its repeated leaps of faith and enemies that like to spawn directly beneath you. On the other hand, a game such as Super Mario Bros. 3 still feels like a breath of fresh air, almost two decades after it was released. Thinking about this some more, we have three questions for you. One: which Virtual Console games don't hold the same magic for you as they once did? Two: have any titles aged better than you suspected they would? And three: have you ever held off from downloading a certain game, concerned that it may ruin one of those precious childhood memories?
Alex Kidd in Miracle World expanding into more of the regular world
Sega's one-time flagship game, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, was recently revealed as one of the planned May VC releases in Japan. According to an OFLC rating, it's headed to Australia as well, and from there ... the other regions, probably! The Sega Master System platformer was once built into SMS systems, and now thanks to the Virtual Console, it'll be built into Wiis as well. That's kind of an interesting historical parallel.Alex Kidd is notable for pioneering the rock-paper-scissors style gameplay seen in many fighting games and RPGs, in which certain attacks are especially effective against certain opposing attacks or defenses. Except in Alex Kidd, instead of elemental weaknesses or high/low attacks, boss fights were literally rock-paper-scissors.[Via Aussie-Nintendo]
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 4/14/08
You might have noticed a bit of a change to our video coverage of this week's Virtual Console games. You see, no more are we confined to off-screen recording of the Virtual Console releases. That's right, we've upgraded to technology widely available since 2004. We're so modern!Hit up the new video format above and then head past the break for the rest of our usual goodness.
VC Monday Madness: Fantasy Zone and Mega Turrican
Following up Friday's releases for Europe, the North American Virtual Console receives a familiar title this week. On top of that, it's just more Turrican. This week's Virtual Console releases are: Fantasy Zone (Sega Master System, 1 -2 players, 500 Wii Points) Mega Turrican (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)
