Topic: Wii Virtual Consoles Lives! (Nintendo Download - February 16, 2012)

[Penguin_Of_Thyme]

Hulu Plus comes to Wii, a 3DS Ambassador game becomes available for purchase, and the Wii Virtual Console drought come to an end.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/29287

Nintendo has a wealth of downloadable goodies this week, including the first Wii Virtual Console game in over five months. In addition to games, the streaming video service Hulu Plus is now available for Wii. 

The Sega Genesis version of Strider is coming to Wii Virtual Console today. It is the first Wii Virtual Console release in North America in the past 175 days. The last release was The Ignition Factor on August 25, 2011. Strider is available for 800 Wii Points.

Wii is also getting Hulu Plus, which is available for free download for paying subscribers to the service. Hulu Plus features the latest episodes of TV shows, movies, and more. Subscriptions start at $7.99/month. Hulu Plus will be available on 3DS later this year.

On 3DS, Super Mario Bros. for NES is the first Ambassador game available for sale in North America. Available for $4.99, the re-release of the classic game features two-player alternating multiplayer and save states.

As previously reported, the Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D demo is hitting the eShop free of charge. Players can try the game out before its February 21 release.

Lastly, iSpot Japan is out on DSiWare. This $2 application is made up of "Spot the Difference" games featuring Japan locales.

[CrimsonS]

SMB, finally!  I need a Credit Card, NOW.
How much space does the MGS demo take (in MB)?  It's been some minutes and it didn't finish downloading yet.

[Discostew]

The MGS demo is about 136MB. About to try it out.

[Sarail]

Eeewww. After trying out the demo, I definitely am not psyched for Snake Eater on 3DS. I'll stick with Metal Gear in console form - much more playable for me this way. I even tried playing it with the CPP, and I still don't like the way the game feels. Maybe the PS2 version is better control-wise, but I dunno. Just wasn't feeling it.

[NWR_insanolord]

Wait, the demo does support he CPP? I have it downloading right now, but the eShop More Info page makes zero mention of it anywhere, including under Supported Accessories.

[Ian Sane]

I'm surprised it took this long for Strider to be on the VC.  That is one of the go-to classic Genesis games.

[Sarail]

Wait, the demo does support he CPP?

Yup. Just go to the Options menu in-game and scroll down a bit. It's there - fully supported. I guess it's the frame rate of the game that really turns me off. Game just feels really clunky. That's a no-go in my book.

And Ian, I've never played Strider before as I didn't own a Genesis as a kid. How does it compare to.. say.. similar games on the SuperNES? I may just have to pick this up.

[rlse9]

Wow, the Virtual Console lives, amazing.  Interesting to see Hulu Plus on the Wii, I've been contemplating a subscription for a while.

[Ian Sane]

And Ian, I've never played Strider before as I didn't own a Genesis as a kid. How does it compare to.. say.. similar games on the SuperNES? I may just have to pick this up.

There pretty much is nothing like it on the SNES aside from an obscure knock-off called Run Saber.  Strider could probably best be compared to something like Castlevania or Shinobi but it has a uniqueness to it.  Much of the level design is very vertical with the player scaling up the sides of walls or hanging on the ceiling.  The best bet is to just look at YouTube video of it to understand the gameplay.

The game is HARD though, like NES hard.  I find SNES games are a fair bit easier than NES titles, likely because the slow CPU required slowed paced gameplay.  Strider is tough reflex gameplay, but one of the best of its type.

[Sarail]

Ah, I loved Run Saber back in the day. I'll have to check Strider out then definitely.

[Spak-Spang]

This is a great version of the game.  I loved the Genesis Strider...and it is one of my favorite platformers.

[motang]

Just when I sent RFN an email saying we should stick a fork in Wii VC in the US, Nintendo does this to prove me wrong!

[Mop it up]

Does anyone know if HuluPlus can be downloaded by anyone, and if it's eligible for Club Nintendo coins, like Netflix?

Is Strider on the Genesis the same as Strider on the NES? Because if so, that game is... not good.

[TJ Spyke]

Does anyone know if HuluPlus can be downloaded by anyone

If you don't subscribe to Hulu Plus, it would be a worthless app. But you can download Netflix even if you don't subscribe. If you can get coins for it, I would download the app though.

[Ian Sane]

Is Strider on the Genesis the same as Strider on the NES? Because if so, that game is... not good.

Nope, they're different.  Strider on the Genesis is a very faithful port of the arcade game while the NES Strider is an original game made specifically for the console.

[broodwars]

This Virtual Console you speak of on Wii...These are strange words to me, as if there was actually a Virtual Console service on something other than the 3DS.  What witchcraft is this?  Nintendo actually supporting something on the Wii?  Preposterous.  And thank GOD people finally have a way to play Super Mario Bros. on the 3DS.  That game's been locked in the Nintendo vaults for so long I wasn't sure people were going to be able to play that game again in my lifetime.

How is Strider, anyway?  I've never played any of the Strider games, not being a big Genesis fan as a kid.

[NWR_insanolord]

The fact that Super Mario Bros. is the only 3DS eShop release this week is a slap in the face to Ambassadors. I've had the game for five months now; the addition of the save state is fairly meaningless to me. I'm fairly pissed we didn't get Wario Land like Europe did.

[TJ Spyke]

Does anyone know if HuluPlus can be downloaded by anyone

If you don't subscribe to Hulu Plus, it would be a worthless app. But you can download Netflix even if you don't subscribe. If you can get coins for it, I would download the app though.

Mop, I just got Nintendo's weekly e-mail newsletter. You can download the app for free, and get 2 free weeks of Hulu Plus.

[Chocobo_Rider]

I seem to remember someone compiling a list of all the "big" games that had not yet been released on VC.  Can someone post that again?  I'm interested what we may have to look forward to on 3DS and Wii U (and hey, maybe even Wii apparently).

[KDR_11k]

I got a Capcom arcade game collection for the PS2 that includes Strider.

The fact that Super Mario Bros. is the only 3DS eShop release this week is a slap in the face to Ambassadors. I've had the game for five months now; the addition of the save state is fairly meaningless to me. I'm fairly pissed we didn't get Wario Land like Europe did.

Quit whining, I'm still waiting for Mutant Mudds. I played Wario Land to death on the GB back in the day.

[NWR_Lindy]

The NES Strider is mediocre and has nothing to do with the original arcade game (it was an adventure-platformer rather than an action-platformer...think Zelda II).

The original arcade game is, as already mentioned, more along the lines of a Castlevania (if you want a recent example, look up Outland on the 360/PS3).  It's a straight action-platformer.

If the Genesis game is a faithful recreation of the original arcade version, it'll be good.

[Ceric]

The NES Strider is mediocre and has nothing to do with the original arcade game (it was an adventure-platformer rather than an action-platformer...think Zelda II).

The original arcade game is, as already mentioned, more along the lines of a Castlevania (if you want a recent example, look up Outland on the 360/PS3).  It's a straight action-platformer.

If the Genesis game is a faithful recreation of the original arcade version, it'll be good.

What Lindy said.  Expand a little bit more the NES is considered part of the lore last I checked.  There is also Strider 2 for the PS1 which is fun but not as good or hard as the original.  I blame the lack of the mechanic critters.

If you bought Strider 2 they included Strider 1.  So I have both.  I would love to see Strider come back and be on the 3DS.  I pick the new Ninja Gaiden game with that.

[NWR_insanolord]

I got a Capcom arcade game collection for the PS2 that includes Strider.

The fact that Super Mario Bros. is the only 3DS eShop release this week is a slap in the face to Ambassadors. I've had the game for five months now; the addition of the save state is fairly meaningless to me. I'm fairly pissed we didn't get Wario Land like Europe did.

Quit whining, I'm still waiting for Mutant Mudds. I played Wario Land to death on the GB back in the day.

Well that sucks too; that game may be my second-favorite on the system. But I've never had a chance to play Wario Land, so it's a fairly big deal to me.

[KDR_11k]

Just remember: 16 x select