The Wii isn't the only Nintendo console that can play classic games on the cheap.
Mega Man Anniversary Collection
Released: 6/22/2004
Publisher: Capcom
Going Price: $12.99 at EBGames (Used)
Price Per Game: $1.30 (130 Wii Points)
Total Cost for VC Equivalent: 6000 Wii Points* ($60)
The Mega Man games may all be virtually the same thing, but that also means they're all equally fantastic. Mega Man Anniversary Collection includes all of the games in the original Mega Man series. That's good. What is bad, though not game-breaking, is the fux0red button layout for every game. You can deal with this problem or avoid it by getting the PS2 version of the collection, which also has in-game remixed music (great) and an episode of the Mega Man anime (watch at your own risk). Either way, the games inside are true classics.
If you like action games, you're going to love this collection. You'll get Mega Man 2, which for various reasons is one of the best games ever made. You also get the semi-obscure Mega Man 7 (SNES) and the horribly cheesy but still fun Mega Man 8 (PSone**). The unlockable arcade games aren't bad, either!
Mega Man X Collection
Released: 1/10/2006
Publisher: Capcom
Going Price: Most go for $20 at Half.com (New!)
Price Per Game: $2.85 (285 Wii Points)
Total Cost for VC Equivalent: 4800 Wii Points** ($48)
This recent compilation includes the first six games of the superior Mega Man X series, as well as a previously Japan-only kart racing game called Mega Man Battle & Chase. The real stars of the show are Mega Man X 1-3, which were released on the Super NES and are easily among the best action games on that system (among a very crowded field). Mega Man X3 is especially fantastic and also very expensive and difficult to find in the original format.
MMX Collection is also a better overall package than MMAC, even though it has fewer bonus features. The controls are customizable for every game, and there are no more glitches in the emulation. The game selection menu is also easier to navigate. If you like hardcore 2D action games, this package includes some of the best ever made.
*Includes estimate of 800 Wii Points for 90s era arcade game downloads. (Arcade games are not available on Virtual Console.)
**PlayStation games will never show up on the Wii, so the VC Equivalent figure for both of Capcom's games include the PlayStation Network PSone game download price of $6, which would translate to 600 Wii Points. (We get TurboGrafx games for that much, while PS3 owners get to enjoy PlayStation games for the same price. Seriously, what kind of deal is that, Nintendo?)
