virtualconsolemonday
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F-Zero X, Street Fighter II Turbo rush onto Virtual Console
Today's Virtual Console releases, scheduled to go live at 9AM PST, are all about pushing the pedal to the metal in our quest to satisfy the need for speed and finally outrun the terrible writing clichés and racing game references pursuing us. Europe's 100th Virtual Console game, F-Zero X, has you hurtling about futuristic tracks at absurd speeds, Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting has you hurting Chun Li even quicker than before and China Warrior has... uh... released much faster than we expected! Yeah, let's go with that. F-Zero X (N64, 1-4 players, 1000 Wii Points): The N64's hover-car racer pushed the series forward in the best way that was possible at the time -- it added a prominent "X" to the title. It wasn't until later that we learned that adding a "GX" was the ultimate masterstroke. Street Fighter II Turbo Edition: Hyper Fighting (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): With mention of both the words "Turbo" and "Hyper" in the title, it becomes clear that this game is indeed a bit faster than The World Warriors. Enjoy it before those fancy HD characters start punching your eyeballs. China Warrior (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): A side-scrolling action game depicting either gaming's most fragile hero ever, or just some tough guy in China.
Virtual Console Monday celebrates gentlemanly sport
In belated celebration of Father's Day, today's Virtual Console releases uphold the spirit of proper and dignified competition amongst gentlemen of all ages. At 9AM PST, don your finest collared shirt to partake in a classy game of golf, flex your muscles in preparation for a grueling bout at the Olympics and then laugh maniacally as you mow down enemy soldiers in man's oldest sport, senseless killing. Hey, we didn't pick 'em. NES Open Tournament Golf (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Enjoy a long and relaxing walk with Mario, stopping occasionally to batter an innocent white ball with a large club. Tournament and Match Modes sound enjoyable enough, though you'll probably want to put on a hat for Stroke Mode. World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Comprised of 18 events, the Olympics competition sees the world's most skilled photographers competing to capture the first image of a legendary creature, the Olym! Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): In this top-down shooter, it's up to you to rescue the president and otherwise blow up the sort of people who make jokes like the one in the paragraph above.
Virtual Console adds Sonic 2, Golden Axe 2 and Lode Runner 1
This Virtual Console Monday highlights not only gaming's underlying obsession with golden objects, but our disgusting habit of putting painful puns in paragraphs where they don't belong. Indeed, golden weapons, golden rings and golden nuggets have combined to provide one Au-some selection of retro titles: Lode Runner (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): The Runner being some sort of crazed kleptomaniac with a shovel, as best we can tell. Grab the gold, avoid the robots and scream in agony as you plummet into your own hole. Again. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii points): A true platforming classic, Sonic 2 takes the 'hog to space and back. Note: Playing this game may cause the Chemical Plant Zone theme to become permanently lodged in your brain. Golden Axe II (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii points): With names like Ax-Battler, Tyris-Flare and Gilius Thunderhead, is there any question as to why your band of heroes would need to defeat someone called Dark Guld? We think not.
Three titles join Zelda II's Virtual Console celebration
After approximately 325 different and generally inappropriate permutations, we finally concluded that the above and dreadfully straightforward headline would be best suited to conveying the arrival of today's four new old Virtual Console games. "Zelda Moons Midori on Funkotron" was certainly a viable option, but it simply inspired the wrong sort of mental image. We actually want you to envision these four games arriving on the Wii's Virtual Console service at 9AM PST today: Milon's Secret Castle (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Though it's not much of a secret castle if the title gives it away, it certainly is one that adheres to video game tradition. Expect to rescue a princess and several valuable items -- musical instruments in this case -- within its recesses. ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Video game tradition is given the boot here, with amusingly mismatched aliens, Toejam & Earl, saving their planet by ridding it of a human scourge. Dead Moon (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Alright, now we're back to protecting the Earth from alien invasion. It's why we have side-scrolling shooters like this one. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Everyone's favorite pointy-eared protagonist returns to Hyrule in the Virtual Console's 100th release. Aid Link in his battle against the forces of evil, Zelda's newfound narcoleptic tendencies and an endless wave of best Zelda ever / worst Zelda ever controversy.
ActRaiser, Kid Chameleon on the Virtual Console
Each week, Nintendo unveils enough Virtual Console goodness to keep us occupied for seven whole days. Three new classic games make an appearance today, spanning the genres from simulation to platformer to ... well, they're mostly platformers. But the inclusion of ActRaiser means you'll have at least one game worthy of your precious Wii Points. ActRaiser (SNES, 800 Wii Points) - The classis SNES game that combines side-scrolling platform elements with a Sim City-esque urban planning simulation. J.J. & Jeff (TG-16, 600 Wii Points) - A "comical action game" starring two detectives solving cases in a platformer-style adventure. Kid Chameleon (Genesis, 800 Wii Points) - Work your way through over 100 levels in this early Genesis platformer. Take on different forms such as Berzerker, Micromax, or a Skycutter, each with unique abilities.
Diddy Kong, Streets of Rage 2, and Blazing Lazers blaze Virtual Console
Another week of releases on the Virtual Console. From platformer to beat-em-up to shmup, this week's VC installment defies genre and platform boundaries and instead opts to snuggle up together, a matted pile of monkey fur, rollerblades and ... lazers? Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Because Donkey Kong didn't appeal to the kids anymore, here comes Diddy Kong! He's young, he's edgy, he's a monkey (take that you big gorilla!). This sequel to Rare's mega-hit was well received by critics and fans of monkeys in red caps alike, which camp were you in? Streets of Rage 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): SoR2 introduced one innovative new element to the beat-em-up genre ... a kid on rollerblades. It took a room full of doctoral students twelve months to top that idea for Streets of Rage 3: a boxing kangaroo. Be patient, we're sure it's coming. Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Marketing misspellings have never been so kool. Clamber into that Gunhed Star Fighter, collect powur-uhps, and chute the bad guise invading Urth.
Two ninjas and a Pac-Man walk into a Virtual Console
The first ninja turns to his partner in decapitation and says, "You know, I could sneak in and out of this place like a ghost." The second ninja rolls his eyes and replies, "I could sneak in and out of this place like the ghost of a ghost." Pac-Man looks up, shakes his head and says, "WAKKA WAKKA WAKKA!" Guess you had to be there. With the ice now thoroughly broken, we're free to tell you about this week's American Virtual Console releases: Ninja Gaiden (NES, 500 Wii Points) -- Accompany one Ryu Hayabusa in the quest to avenge his father's death. A deadly blade and a handful of shurikens await those that oppose the Tecmo ninja's will. Ninja Spirit (TG-16, 600 Wii Points) -- Accompany one Moonlight in the quest to, well, avenge his father's death. His adventure imparts significant advice to those hoping to father a ninja of their own. Pac-Man (NES, 500 Wii Points) -- Not having a father to be avenged, Pac-Man fills the emotional void with delicious pellets.
Final Fight, Mighty Bomb Jack, Ordyne hit the Virtual Console
Although Nintendo's press site has been silent on this week's Virtual Console releases, three new classic games are now available, just like every Monday, ready to fill our day with a little sunshine, lollipops, and a rainbow or two. Ordyne (TG-16, 600 Wii Points) - A horizontal scrolling shoot-em-up in the style of Parodius. Mighty Bomb Jack (NES, 500 Wii Points) - A puzzle/platformer game. Final Fight (SNES, 800 Wii Points) - Capcom's beat-em-up defined the genre in the 16-bit days. Walk around, punch people, play a muscle-bound mayor, then destroy a car and watch the owner weep. Does it get any better than that? Answer: no. Nintendo's recently-unveiled Virtual Console mini-site features 30-second clips from VC games, though as we write the latest releases aren't available for preview. That doesn't matter, because everyone will be getting Final Fight. It's required.
Castlevania, Mystical Ninja, Shockman whip Virtual Console
Another Monday, another beating unleashed upon the Wii's Virtual Console service. Who's responsible this time? Castlevania's Simon Belmont is breaking out the trusty whip, The Legend of the Mystical Ninja's Kid Ying and Dr. Yang break out their ninja-ing skills, while Shockman, uh, shocks it? We're not sure if this trio of titles is going to reverse the Virtual Console's downward trend, but the break down is like this: Castlevania (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Shockman (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Anyone spending $5 to $8 on these classics?
Gradius III, Battle Lode Runner, Wonder Boy fight it out on the Virtual Console
Today's Virtual Console releases bestow upon our Wii systems a little Lode Runner action, more sci-fi space shooting, and a colorful side-scrolling action RPG. And because video games are indistinguishable from real life, soon you'll be overwhelmed with powerful urges to steal gold, pilot a spacecraft, and go on a quest to rescue a princess and fight a gigantic mushroom named Myeonid.The following games will hit the Wii Virtual Console at 9 a.m. PST, which is noon EST and 4 a.m. on the South Pole. Gradius III (SNES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Wonder Boy in Monster World (Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Battle Lode Runner (TurboGrafx 16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points)
Punch Out, Virtua Fighter and Bonk hit the Virtual Console
Today's Virtual Console releases all have one thing in common: a love for violence to the head. Whether it be Bonk using his noggin as a weapon, Mac delivering that eleventh uppercut to Glass Joe or Akira Yuki landing three extra backfists on the nose of his opponent, these releases are sure to spark violent tendencies in children under the age of two and one-third.Punch Out!, already out in Europe, is Nintendo's entrant for today's triumvirate of releases. The full serving, available on US Virtual Consoles at 9 a.m. PT, includes: Punch Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES, 1 player, 500 points) Bonk's Revenge (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 points) Virtua Fighter 2 (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 points) [Image Credit]
Galaga, BRAVOMAN, and Alex Kidd smash Virtual Console
Prepare to power-up your sledgehammer and smash some watermelons in the NES version of Gallagher!... wait, this just in. We're being informed that there never was a Gallagher NES game, so we'll have to settle for Galaga, Namco's classic 1981 arcade shooter that was later released on the NES (and every other platform known to mankind). We now return to our previously begun post.Prepare to power-up your spaceship and shoot some aliens in the NES version of Galaga, hitting the Wii Virtual Console this morning along with its ne'er-do-well friends BRAVOMAN and Alex Kidd (in the Enchanted Castle, where else?). All three will arrive on US VC at 9am PT for the standard, platform-specific asking prices: Galaga (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) BRAVOMAN (Turbografx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
Star Fox 64 arrives, Virtual Console does barrel roll
After last week's serious focus on kingdoms waging war, it comes as a relief to see Nintendo's Virtual Console service returning to its former status, namely that of an anarchic menagerie of anthropomorphic troublemakers. This week, we have foxes recklessly piloting spaceships, dragon's uttering foul words and mutated turtles kicking people in the face. Just who's in charge here? As you might have surmised (admittedly, the headline is a big help), Star Fox 64 (N64) tops the list of retro goodies arriving on the Wii today: Star Fox 64 - N64 - 1,000 points ($10) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - NES - 600 points ($6) Dragon's Curse - TurboGrafx 16 - 600 points ($6) All three titles are available for download now. What isn't available for download at this time, however, is an explanation as to why we're expected to shell out 100 points ($1) above the NES norm for Konami's turtle brawler. Perhaps we're being fined for that terrible pun in the last sentence.
Excitebike, Splatterhouse, Beyond Oasis join Virtual Console line-up
Another Virtual Console Monday rears its ugly, beginning-of-the-week head, but the tiny sparkle of joy that is the Virtual Console offers some respite. Heading up the list of games this week is the NES classic Excitebike (500 Wii Points), the spiritual predecessor to Excite Truck. No motion-sensitive controls here, just daredevil racing and stunts in glorious 8-bit color. You can even design your own tracks!As promised, both Splatterhouse and Beyond Oasis are also available to download. Splatterhouse (600 Wii Points) is a side-scrolling brawler originally for the TurboGrafx16. This was the first game to ever receive a parental advisory disclaimer, though by today's standards it seems relatively meek. After the carnage is complete, the Sega Genesis action/adventure game Beyond Oasis (800 Wii Points) should cool your adrenal glands with a dose of lush 16-bit graphics.Vectorman is still on-target for a VC release this month, so expect it to head up next week's list.
Sonic Spinball, Tecmo Bowl & Double Dungeons hit Virtual Console
Nintendo takes a backseat this week while three third-party titles are launched for Wii's Virtual Console. Tecmo, which promised aggressive support back in August, has released its NFL license-free (and not-so-super) Tecmo Bowl ($5) for NES. The other two titles we already knew were coming: Sonic Spinball ($8) for Sega Genesis and Double Dungeons ($6) for TurboGrafx 16.Though there is no specific VC release schedule (a predicament both Nintendo and Microsoft's downloadable services unfortunately share), we do know that Splatterhouse, Vectorman, and Beyond Oasis have been promised for this month.
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts haunts Wii Virtual Console
Three new classic games appear on the Wii's Virtual Console today, providing everyone with a little dose of spies, ghouls and, uh, Vermilion. For 800 Wii Points we have Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Capcom's classic platformer that is quite possibly one of the most difficult action games ever created. Also for 800 points is Sword of Vermilion, an early RPG from the Sega Genesis era. Finally, the classic NES game Elevator Action (500 points) rises to the VC and puts you in the shoes of a spy sneaking through a building stealing secret documents. It's no easy task following last week's Ocarina of Time VC debut, but the variety is good and should appease the raging video game demon within.
VC Monday Madness: Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts leads the charge
It's another week and that means we've got some more Virtual Console games available for download. Leading the pack this week is an awesome classic from Capcom where players must vanquish evil as the good knight Arthur. As for the other two games available for download, we have no frame of reference. We'll have to give them a download before speaking about them. For those of you who have never enjoyed the platforming goodness that is the sequel to the arcade titles Ghosts n' Goblins and Ghouls n' Ghosts, we can safely say before downloading the title that it's worth 800 Wii Points. Regardless, without further delay, here are the facts: Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts - SNES - 1 player - 800 Wii Points Elevator Action - NES - 1-2 players - 500 Wii Points Sword of Vermilion - Sega Genesis - 1 player - 800 Wii Points Of course, you'll want to stop back later for our post-game wrap-up on today's Virtual Console offerings.Previous Virtual Console updates can be found here.
VC Monday Madness: post-game wrap-up 2/19/07 (update 1)
As of right now, Donkey Kong Country still hasn't gone live on the Virtual Console and we're getting a bit upset. Deadlines are set in stone, however, and we must go on with our post-game wrap-up of this week's new titles (we'll update the post later with impressions of Donkey Kong Country). So, go on past the post break and see what we thought of this week's offerings.Update: Donkey Kong Country is available for download. We have added our impressions past the post break.
VC Monday Madness: Donkey Kong Country and Streets of Rage
It's that time of the week again where we all hastily jump to our Wii Shop Channel and take a look at the latest digital wares around for download. This week, we've got a handful of new titles, which should be plenty enough to tide over Wii owners for a week. These titles are: Donkey Kong Country (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) The Legend of Kage (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) New Adventure Island (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Obviously the top two titles getting all of the attention are none other than Donkey Kong Country and Streets of Rage, but that doesn't mean that gamers should overlook The Legend of Kage or New Adventure Island. Be sure to come back later to read our impressions of this week's Virtual Console line-up.[Via press release]
Donkey Kong Country and Streets of Rage headline Wii Virtual Console Monday
This week's Virtual Console Monday sees the release of four rather high profile games of yesteryear making their way virtually onto the Wii. 16-bit superstars Donkey Kong Country and Streets of Rage, available for 800 Wii Points, are headlining the show, while Hudson's New Adventure Island for TurboGrafx16, available for 600 Wii Points, and the early NES wuxia-esque Legend of Kage, available for 500 Wii Points, are opening. We know fans are torn: both excited to hear Yuzo Koshiro's techno beats in Streets of Rage and disappointed they won't be playing as a boxing Kangaroo. Be patient, Roo fans. There will come a time when your enemies will again know the pugilistic sting of a well-trained marsupial; every blow a reminder that kangaroos are fierce fighters, not to be reckoned with ... also, they're cute.Oh yeah, so the Virtual Console lineup for February 19th, available 9am PT is: Donkey Kong Country (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Streets of Rage (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) The Legend of Kage (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) New Adventure Island (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
