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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?
VC Friday: Cho Aniki and the return of the Neo Geo
We were already totally pumped about getting Cho Aniki on the European and Aussie Virtual Consoles, but our faces lit up when we saw what else was lying in store for us this morning. Metal Slug is the first Neo Geo game to appear on the download service since December 14th, but what a comeback!From a value-for-money perspective, we'd still recommend picking up Metal Slug Anthology (especially now that it's so cheap), but it's great to see SNK's classic series represented on the VC (and this version even has Classic Controller support). Puyo Puyo 2 and TurboGrafx billiards title Break In complete this week's line-up. Cho Aniki -- TurboGrafx-16 -- 900 Wii Points Metal Slug -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Break In -- TurboGrafx-16 -- 700 Wii Points Puyo Puyo 2 -- Mega Drive -- 900 Wii Points Hop in your Slug and blast your way past the break to see all four in action!
Neo Geo emulator turns the DS into an Advanced Entertainment System
Even though it's totally old now and its games are ported everywhere, the Neo Geo still seems like a special, vaguely magical system -- probably because of the price. It doesn't seem like the DS should be powerful enough to run its games, but homebrewer Ben Ingram has proven that it is possible with NeoDS, a Neo Geo AES/MVS emulator.Full sound emulation and (most importantly) multiplayer have yet to be implemented, but according to DCEmu, "Games like WindJammers, Metal Slug and Fatal Fury work either perfect or near perfect." Soon you'll be able to compare Metal Slug 7 to its predecessors on the same screen! If you own them, that is. Don't be a pirate. [Via DCEmu; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Neo Geo Stick 2 for the Wii, it's here, and it's awesome
When you're playing Samurai Shodown on your virtual Neo Geo, you need more than that rinky-dink controller to immerse you in a world of arcade magic. When you need to reach for a controller than can match up to your memories, you need the Neo Geo Stick 2. That's right, this fully Wii-compatible controller can send you hurtling back through time to a happier day when your only concerns were cruising in your IROC-Z, shredding to Winger, and making sure you had enough quarters in your pocket to play Fatal Fury. Ready to do the time warp? $59.90 gets you through the door.[Via technabob]
Always bet on black: Neo Geo Stick 2
Much to our delight, SNK's Neo Geo Stick 2 for the Wii will retain that classic black look of the original and PS2 controllers, foregoing the predictable white case that Hori opted for. Jeux France has uncovered several photos of the arcade stick, unboxed and beside its packaging, and it is gorgeous. Leaving one of these displayed on your coffee table sends a clear message to your visitors: "This guy is serious business." Just make sure not to break up that illusion by letting them see your Chewbacca bedsheets -- you don't want people to think that the business you're serious about is living like a twelve-year-old.Back on topic, the Neo Geo Stick 2 supports both Wii games and Virtual Console titles. Retailers in Japan won't begin selling the arcade controller until April 10th, but you can preorder one now from import shop Play Asia for as cheap as $59.90. Step past the break for more photos from SNK's product page.
SNK Arcade Classics confirmed for Wii plus more!
Not only is the fate of the SNK Arcade Classics collection no longer up in the air (yes! It is coming to Wii!), SNK went ahead and announced two more Wii compilations in an email sent out yesterday. Both Samurai Shodown Anthology and King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga will also see Wii releases, as well as versions for the PS2 and PSP.We don't know exactly which titles will be included, but the Japanese version of the Samurai Shodown Anthology contained Shodowns I through VI, and the KOF collection included KOF's '95, '96, and '97. That means that there's overlap between the collections, since Samurai Shodown will be on both the SNK Arcade and Samurai Shodown Anthology collections.SNK will have all three collections on display at GDC. Hopefully they'll have some Neo Geo Stick 2's with which to test the games!
Neo Geo Stick 2 coming to Wii, Hori Fighting Stick forgotten
As much as we adore Hori's arcade sticks, we love hardware with the words Neo Geo printed on them even more! Both Amazon.jp and Japanese retailer Rakuten have posted product pages for a Wii version of the Neo Geo Stick 2, an arcade-style, ball-top controller previously put together by SNK-Playmore and Sega Logistics for the PS2. If it's anything like the PS2 remake of the original Neo Geo Stick (see above image), this new edition will also have non-analog L and R buttons hugging its four primary convex buttons like a set of parentheses. Hopefully, the Wii version will keep that classy black color; it would be a travesty if it didn't!The Neo Geo Stick 2 is scheduled to arrive in Japan this April 10th, selling for ¥5,040 (approximately $47). According to Rakuten, the controller will support both Wii games and Virtual Console titles. With this announced, a Wii release for SNK Arcade Classics seems like a sure thing![Via Arcade Renaissance]
Possibly Wii-bound SNK Arcade Classics collection is awesome
SNK Playmore sent a press release out announcing the lineup for their SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1 collection for PS2 and PSP. There's no mention of a Wii version, but a Wii version is listed in the game's ESRB rating, and it was discussed at TGS. We hope it's not a mistake, because we love old games, and this lineup is totally hot. We kind of suspect that this isn't actually coming to the Wii, because of the 16 games on the disc, 7 are already available as Virtual Console downloads. Metal Slug, of course, is also available on its own disc. We have no issue with redundancy, but we doubt SNK would give people the option of either paying $9 per game or (judging by recent disc releases) between $15 and $30 for a whole load of games. In terms of stuff that isn't on the Wii, the disc includes things like Shock Troopers and Samurai Shodown. Check after the break for the full, awesome list. Just imagine how much this collection would have cost in new Neo Geo cartridge form.
Give Metal Slug 3 the blood it deserves
Fans of the Metal Slug series may have been disappointed to learn that Metal Slug 3 was stripped of its lifeblood for the Xbox Live Arcade release. The be more precise, the game was stripped of the fountains of blood created when characters get shot, stabbed, eviscerated, or otherwise dispatched. The blood was sneakily replaced with sweat for the North American release, as if the crafty people at SNK Playmore thought we wouldn't notice. Thankfully, there is a fix, and it's not even difficult to do. So, how does one turn on the red stuff? Is it ABACABB? No, much simpler actually. All you have to do is switch your console's language settings to Japanese. See, easy, right? The only hard part now is making sure you can find your way back to the language settings again. Good luck with that.[Via Joystiq]
Simple fix brings back the blood in XBLA Metal Slug 3
Come back with us, if you will. Back to the middle ages of video gaming. Back to the early '90s. Mortal Kombat was a huge, bloody (and we do mean bloody) hit in the arcades. Unfortunately, console makers were concerned with how such a gory game would be received in family living rooms. Thus, the game's signature red blood was replaced with white "sweat" for the console versions.Luckily we don't live in such dark times anymore, right? Not so. The Xbox Live Arcade version of Metal Slug 3 similarly has been toned down to include white "sweat" instead of red blood. This is especially odd considering the Metal Slug 3 port for the supposedly family-friendly Wii included what one reviewer called "arterial blood spraying everywhere."Luckily (for real this time), there's a way around this bit of historical revisionism that's as simple as the Genesis Mortal Kombat's famous "blood code." As Insert Credit points out, simply setting your Xbox language to Japanese brings back the original Neo Geo classic in all its gory glory. Apparently, someone at Microsoft thinks the Japanese have a higher tolerance for this stuff. Either that, or they think Japanese gamers are just more picky about historical accuracy in their re-releases. Which is probably true, but still ...
VC Friday: Mega Man!
This week, the PAL Virtual Console picks up the action theme of last week and runs with it. Up on the block this Friday is Neo Geo shoot-me-do Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy, a beautifully drawn SNK shooter that preceded genre classic Metal Slug.Mega Man 2 from the NES will be the highlight for many of you, however, with 500 Wii points a terribly small price to pay for what is arguably the series' finest moment to date. Even without the completely rad boxart. Mega Man 2 -- NES -- 500 Wii points Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points
GameTap releases Mac-compatible Player
The GameTap lite client has been out on the Mac for a while, but GameTap just finally released a new version of their full player, and it is now fully compatible with the Mac.Unfortunately, things aren't quite hunky dory just yet-- the Mac player will only play Mac-supported games, which leaves a large number of games completely out-- Sam and Max, Psychonauts, and any other games listed as "Windows" are N/A in the Mac player. However, any emulation titles are in, so Genesis, Neo Geo, and the old arcade games are all playable, according to GameTap's page-- you can get your Sonic on in OS X.This still doesn't help us with new games, of course, but it is awesome to have a huge library like that now available for gaming on the Mac. The GameTap player is now available for download over on their homepage, and while many games are available for free, a Gold subscription to play all the games is $60 a year.
VC Friday: A pricey case of 'what'
Though the official European Nintendo site still seems to be down, the Virtual Console is working overtime to bring you games you may not have heard of at high prices. Ain't life grand? It is if you happen to be into more obscure games, and even the "pricey" ones really aren't. Baseball Stars 2 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points The Dynastic Hero -- Turbografx -- 800 Wii points
VC Friday: Bobble Fighters
We cherish these European VC updates for the chance to create silly titles from a mash-up of the games, but this time, we really would be interested in Bobble Fighters. Imagine ... two bobbleheads enter, one bobblehead leaves! It could be awesome.Or maybe we're still just in a calorie stupor from yesterday. Let's get to this week's releases. Bubble Bobble -- NES -- 500 Wii points King of Fighters '94 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points
The mysterious D4 Enterprise speaks about their Neo Geo plans
It's not SNK putting Neo Geo classics on the Virtual Console. They're off releasing compilations and embarrassing DS games. The company responsible for your sudden access to Blue's Journey is D4 Enterprise, who has been obtaining licenses for Neo Geo games from SNK and putting the games on the Virtual Console.Gamasutra's Brandon Sheffield spoke to D4's Shinobu Shimizu about the company and their Neo Geo plans. Basically, D4 plans to release SNK Playmore properties (and, as shown by World Heroes, ADK games as well) in a very faithfully-emulated form, with the possibility of a few concessions made to new gamers. Selectable difficulty in Magician Lord is cited as such a change.D4 already has experience with enabling retrogaming on rare systems -- they got their start with the 1Chip MSX device, a new, cheaper version of the MSX computer (pictured). It is no surprise, then, that D4 is behind the plans to put MSX games on the VC.
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 11/12/07
With the day of the week being Monday and all, some new Virtual Console games have hit our digital doorstep. And, as you can imagine, we were anxious to download and play them. And play them we did. So, be sure to hit up the video above and head past the break afterward for some more of our coverage.
VC Friday: It's Tanooki time
This week, European gamers have another crack at the Neo Geo, and they can get their golf on if they are so inclined ... but somehow, we just have a feeling that the most popular title will also be the cheapest. Gee, could it be that a few people might be a little excited about Super Mario Bros. 3? Super Mario Bros. 3 -- NES -- 500 Wii points Power Golf -- Turbografx -- 600 Wii points Blue's Journey -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points
VC Friday: The Art of Sonic
It's another Friday, and lately, that means Neo Geo games! Plus, y'know, some other stuff, which is usually pretty pricey, as VC titles goes. But this week, European gamers get a little break with a release out there for only 600 points. On top of that, there's four games from which Wii owners may choose. Sometimes, it's good to be a Nintendo fan. Alien Soldier -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points Art of Fighting -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points Samurai Ghost -- Turbografx -- 600 Wii points Sonic 3D -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii points
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 10/29/07
Oh, how we love Mondays. Our wallets, however, have a whole different idea regarding the start of the work week. And, this week, our wallets hate us that much more as the titles on offer cost their fair share of dough. Lucky for us, and for you all, this week's available titles are more good than bad.
Friday Video: Lord of the magic
We don't often show off Virtual Console videos in our weekly spotlight, since they get a video spotlight of their very own, but we just couldn't resist this footage from the Neo Geo's Magician Lord, which was released today for European gamers. The video offers a good, long look at the gameplay, controls, and music, and it comes complete with a warm feeling of nostalgia. In other words, it's a perfect way to kick off the weekend.
