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VC Friday: A question of value
This week's PAL Virtual Console line-up isn't short on quality, but it represents fairly awful value. As dreamy as we find any Metal Slug title, there are cheaper ways to play all three of this week's offerings. Want Metal Slug 2? We'd recommend picking up this. Fancy having your delicate gamer's ego rudely kicked in by Forgotten Worlds? There's an excellent compilation out there for a bunch of platforms that costs peanuts and comes with another 20 or so games. If you can't find Space Invaders for less than £6/€8, you're probably reading the wrong website. Better still: lavish those points on Space Invaders Get Even!. Metal Slug 2 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Space Invaders: The Original Game -- SNES -- 800 Wii Points Forgotten Worlds -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points See videos of all three (including footage of one David Hinkle showing off his skillz at Space Invaders and Forgotten Worlds) after the break.
Bury the Shovelware: Metal Slug 7
After seeing the ho-hum critical response to Metal Slug 7, I decided to give the title a look in the ol' shovelscope in order to further explore how critics' scores can heavily affect our perceptions of a game before we're ever able to form our own opinions. Plus, I just wanted an excuse to talk about it. Pedigree While the Metal Slug series doesn't have much mainstream recognition, it's generally regarded as a well-kept secret amongst 2D enthusiasts. Furthermore, it's near-gospel to fans of side-scrolling run and gun titles, such as Contra and Gunstar Heroes. The original title is interesting in that it served as a glorification of 2D gaming right at the exact time when 3D gaming was taking over. It looked and played like a 16-bit title on steroids. Its characters were cute, its colors were bright, but the game orchestrated sprites into an all-encompassing celebration of hand-drawn beauty and retro charm. And with great fandom comes great pressure. Let us not forget the support of all things SNK by the company's monomaniacal fans, a group arguably more devoted than Nintendo's fan club. Although SNK must greatly appreciate the support and instant-buzz generated by the fans, they are also subject to very high expectations.
ESRB rates Metal Slug 2, A Boy and His Blob
According to two new ESRB listings, camel-riding run-and-gun sensation Metal Slug 2 and the fabulous A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia will be coming to the Virtual Console at some point in the future. Either that, or they'll both hang around on that depressing list of games that get rated and never seem to come out. Feed your Blob a punch-flavored jelly bean to descend past the break and see some Metal Slug 2 footage!
Metal Slug 7 holding out for a hero
We would never have associated gravelly-voiced Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler with Metal Slug, but some genius at Ignition combined the two for the latest Metal Slug 7 trailer. Against all expectations, the rousing '80s power anthem "Holding out for a Hero" is the perfect companion piece to SNK's game.Not that we're Bonnie Tyler fans or anything, obviously, because we only listen to totally manly music like, uh, Slayer and stuff. Yeah. As for the game itself, it still looks awesome, despite some importers suggesting it's not all it should be.%Gallery-16835%
Virtually Overlooked: Super Dodge Ball
We're ridiculously crazy about Technos and their Kunio games. Normally, the release of any Kunio series game -- save Renegade -- on the Virtual Console would be cause for a weeklong celebration here on Wii Fanboy. We'd break out our special Kunio-shaped cake pans and observe the traditional Kunio Week rituals (playing games). We'd be pushing the game on you in unrelated posts, even.Unfortunately for Super Dodge Ball, Mega Man 9 had to happen this week and distract everybody. In fact, we are also freaking out about Dodge Ball -- we just delayed our reaction a bit. We'll have our little nerdfest now, in the most counterintuitive way we can think of -- celebrating the NES Super Dodge Ball by talking about another version.
SNK considering Metal Slug HD makeover
SNK may soon be trading in its "rocket lawncher" for a high-def upgrade, as IGN reports that the company is considering bringing an HD version of Metal Slug to consoles. If true, the move would echo recent efforts by the company, such as with the forthcoming The King of Fighters XII, to abandon stale sprites for delicious eye candy.Nothing else is known of SNK's future plans for the franchise, and considering that the company merely looks forward to announcing something "someday soon," we are not holding our breath just yet. However, fans itching for a retro fix can pick up Metal Slug 7 when it rolls on to the DS in November.
Samurai Showdown Anthology set to heat up winter
Before there was Soul Calibur, there was Samurai Showdown. Fans of the weapons-based fighting series may remember the early days -- a time when all the cool kids had Neo Geos. Those were some good times, huh? Since then, the series has grown and spread its seed onto other platforms.Gathering the SS titles together, SNK is taking the aging IP and putting all six appropriately numbered Showdown games onto one little disc; it's being called Samurai Showdown Anthology. With SNK around, there's never a shortage of these Anthology collections, now is there? The latest press release pins the game for a European release by winter 2008; a North American release was also mentioned sometime ago.[via press release]
Save those Wii Points: Samurai Shodown Anthology releases this winter
When we found out that Wii might see the release of SNK Arcade Classics, we got all kinds of tingly and warm inside. We like those old school SNK games. But when it was confirmed, along with Samurai Shodown Anthology and King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga, well, we had to lock ourselves in a padded room for hours just to get the excitement out. Now we have a release window for Samurai Shodown Anthology.As you might have guessed, the title is due to hit shelves sometime this winter, meaning it could be available anywhere from now to December 31st. For those of you who aren't in the know, Samurai Shodown Anthology will include 6 games from the classic fighter franchise and will probably be a little more than the cost of 2 SNK games on the Virtual Console.
We believe in Metal Slug 7 videos
We've heard some pretty bad things about how the Japanese version of Metal Slug 7 turned out, and that's so sad! Because it continues to look so awesome in trailers! Look at this one, in which a giant walking robot mows down tanks, trucks, helicopters, and even another giant walking robot!We're just going to continue thinking it's awesome until we play the final US version, for our own sakes. It's a lot more fun to watch videos like this (and several more new videos at IGN) and look forward to playing it. There'll be plenty of time to be disappointed later. And at least it isn't Commando: Steel Disaster.%Gallery-16835%
Quick guide for running Neo Geo games on your DS
If you've often daydreamed of running Neo Geo games on your DS, but never thought it'd actually happen because of your technical incompetence, unfounded fears, or bad credit, Racketboy will make your dreams come true with a homebrew guide for loading up NeoDS and playing these expensive arcade releases.Though the process is a bit more complicated than emulating (non-pirated) games for other systems on the DS, this walkthrough breaks down all the required steps for getting started. Jump past the post break for a video preview of Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves, King of Fighters 2003, and Metal Slug X will look like on your portable once you get NeoDS running.
King of Fighters '98 in development for the XBLA
Recently, the master list of all games to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2008 was released and on it is a listing for SNK Playmore's King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match for the XBLA. Yes sir, fighter fanboys can get excited for SNK Playmore's fighting franchise King of Fighters on the Arcade. Delicious, ain't it? Seeing that the game hasn't been officially announced, we aren't certain when it'll release, how much it'll cost or what 360 improvements have been made. But that's what the actual TGS event is for. You know, game specifics and game announcements. Time to practice the fighting art of patience ...[Via Destructoid]
VC Monday Madness: Samurai Shodown 2 and Ys Book I and II
We're back again, with a fresh video that's piping hot with gaming goodness. Oh, and there's some dude talking over the whole thing. We're sorry about that. He will be taken care of. After checking out the video above, head past the break for the rest.
Virtual Console adds classic role-playing, tardy fighter
How nice of you to join us. Do you have any idea what time it is? We were expecting you weeks ago! Well, no matter, go and take your seat with the rest of the Virtual Console class so we can begin. Samurai Shodown 2 (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): SNK's 1994 follow up to Samurai Shodown finally slices and dices its way onto the Virtual Console this week, bringing back most of the original's weapon-wielding cast, as well as several newcomers vying for the opportunity to skewer anything that moves with a pointy blade and sharp Engrish wit. Ys Book I & II (TurboGrafx 16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Nihon Falcom's enhanced remakes of the first two titles in the Ys saga finally levels up for the US Virtual Console. Offering roguelike-style combat and music we still find ourselves humming at the dinner table, this is a download not to be missed by role-playing fans with eyes for the classics.
Retail and download releases for the week of August 25th
There's plenty of content releasing on the Wii this week. Whether you're a fan of retail games or looking to download some content on the Virtual Console or WiiWare, your gaming needs should be taken care of this week. Head on past the break for the details and let us know what you'll be playing!%Gallery-24326%
Retail and download releases for the week of August 18th
Oh, you're going to like what you see past the break. A certain big title we've all been waiting on (ohmaigawd have you guessed it yet?) has finally hit the Virtual Console. We'll give you a hint: it stars a robotic boy with a penchant for stealing the powers of his enemies.Shoot past the break to start your day off on a happy note.
VC Friday: Sequel week
Game sequels often suffer from a reputation of being weaker than their predecessors, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo whacking a whole pile of them on the PAL Virtual Console this week. The M-rated Splatterhouse 2 leads the charge, bloodied lead pipe in hand, and is joined by Samurai Shodown II, Pitstop II, and Ecco Jr. (okay, so that's not a sequel in the strictest sense of the term, but a spin-off for the kids). Here's what that little lot will cost you: Ecco Jr. -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Splatterhouse 2 -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Samurai Shodown II -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Pitstop II -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points * * As usual, Australia misses out on the Commodore 64 game.Footage of all four is past the break -- try listening to six minutes of Pitstop II's engine effects without going insane.
Michael Bay presents: Metal Slug 7
The latest trailer for Metal Slug 7 gets a computer-generated "brushed steel and industrial noises" presentation usually reserved for commercials about truck sales ... or movies for dudes. It makes huge, bombastic claims: "THE ULTIMATE CHARACTERS." "THE ULTIMATE WEAPONS." "THE ULTIMATE GAME." Like a Michael Bay movie, Metal Slug 7 is full of big explosions, big machines, and big explosions. And like the average Michael Bay movie, it's going to be a challenge to get all the way through it. However, unlike, say, Transformers, we expect to enjoy Metal Slug 7 for as many as two hours. Probably more!%Gallery-16835%[Via press release]
Samurai Shodown II slices into Virtual Console next week
It's usually not until we roll out of bed on Monday morning that we find out what retro itch the Wii's Virtual Console will scratch. However, SNK has let the sword out of the sheath a bit early, confirming that next week's retro throwback will include arcade favorite Samurai Shodown II. As great as SNK's 1994 2D fighter is, to say nothing about how much better it is than the original, it's starting to make less and less sense to pick up these Neo Geo titles piecemeal when SNK continues to bundle the games together at retail. It's hard to justify the digging through the couch for 900 Wii Points when we'll be able to pick up Samurai Shodown Anthology, which will include Samurai Shodown I-VI, on the Wii later this year for about $30.
Finally, some good news about the Virtual Console
Thanks to advance notice from two companies, we can now look forward to the Virtual Console releases for once. If Hudson and SNK's plans go through (as in, if a game isn't mysteriously bumped) we can expect both Samurai Shodown II and -- this is totally awesome -- Ys Book I & II.We've been waiting for Ys since its first appearance on the ESRB ratings database last year, and now we're going to have the opportunity to buy two great action RPGs for eight bucks! There hasn't been a better deal since they packed Ys I & II with TurboDuo systems, and the Wii actually costs less than a Duo![Samurai Shodown II news via press release]
The VC Advantage: Art of Advertising 2
Even more than the world depicted in the bizarre Street Fighter movie, or the outrageous horror-and-Zubaz presentation of the Mortal Kombat movie, we imagine this Art of Fighting 2 commercial is what a fighting game would look like in live action. Huge guys with terrible hair delivering awkward dialogue in semi-yelled monotone, standing totally still until launching into an unnatural-looking punch.Even though they're awesome to play, fighting game-style combat in the real world would look less like an expert martial arts tournament and more like pro wrestling with less Spandex. 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.
