Post by: MegaByte on November 30, 2006, 04:16:19 PM
The first batch of Virtual Console games for the Japanese market popped up yesterday on the Wii Shop. Of course, most people will not have access to them until the launch on December 2nd. The first collection of titles only included games from Nintendo systems, but today the Shop was updated again with Mega Drive (Genesis), PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16), and third-party titles, bringing the total to thirty-eight, which is already more than we'll see stateside until sometime next year.
All Famicom (NES), Mega Drive, and PC Engine games are playable with the Wii Remote, Classic Controller, and GameCube Controller. Super Famicom (SNES) and Nintendo 64 games are playable with the Classic Controller and GameCube Controller.
All currently released games were given an "A" rating by CERO, which is the Japanese equivalent of an ESRB "Everyone" rating, except for Street Fighter II, which received a B rating (12+) due to violence.
Famicom games cost 500 points each, Mega Drive and PC Engine games cost 600 points each, Nintendo 64 games cost 1000 points a piece, and Super Famicom games each cost 800 points, with the exception of Zelda III, which costs 900 points.
Notably, the version of The Legend of Zelda being made available is the Famicom Disk System version, which featured enhanced sound compared to the NES version. Super Mario 64 appears to be the rumble-enhanced version, though as of now rumble is not supported.
While it is possible that even more games will be posted between now and launch, Japanese gamers should already be pleased by the launch availability. The full set of titles is listed below.
| Game | System | Original Release | Publisher | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Hockey | Famicom | 1988/01/21 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Akumajou Dracula (Super Castlevania IV) | Super Famicom | 1991/10/31 | Konami | 1 |
| Urban Champion | Famicom | 1984/11/14 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Ecco the Dolphin | Mega Drive | 1993/07/30 | Sega | 1 |
| F-Zero | Super Famicom | 1990/11/21 | Nintendo | 1 |
| Gunstar Heroes | Mega Drive | 1993/09/10 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Gradius | Famicom | 1986/04/25 | Konami | 1-2 |
| Columns | Mega Drive | 1990/06/30 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Gomoku Narabe | Famicom | 1983/08/27 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Golden Axe | Mega Drive | 1989/12/23 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Soccer | Famicom | 1985/04/09 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Shadow Dancer | Mega Drive | 1990/12/01 | Sega | 1 |
| Necromancer | PC Engine | 1988 | Hudson | 1 |
| Project Altered Beast | Mega Drive | 1988/11/27 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Street Fighter II | Super Famicom | 1992/06/10 | Capcom | 1-2 |
| Space Harrier II | Mega Drive | 1988/10/29 | Sega | 1 |
| Super Star Soldier | PC Engine | 1990 | Hudson | 1 |
| Super Mario Brothers | Famicom | 1985/09/13 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Super Mario 64 | Nintendo 64 | 1996/06/23 | Nintendo | 1 |
| Super Mario World | Super Famicom | 1990/11/21 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Xevious | Famicom | 1984/11/08 | Namco | 1 |
| Zelda no Densetsu (The Legend of Zelda) | Famicom | 1996/06/23 | Nintendo | 1 |
| Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past) | Super Famicom | 1991/11/21 | Nintendo | 1 |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Mega Drive | 1991/07/26 | Sega | 1 |
| Solomon no Kagi (Solomon's Key) | Famicom | 1986/07/30 | Tecmo | 1 |
| Takahashi Meijin no Shin Bouken Jima (New Adventure Island) | PC Engine | 1992 | Hudson | 1 |
| Dungeon Explorer | PC Engine | 1989 | Hudson | 1-5 |
| Tennis | Famicom | 1984/01/14 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Toejam & Earl | Mega Drive | 1992/03/13 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Donkey Kong | Famicom | 1983/07/15 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Donkey Kong Jr. | Famicom | 1983/07/15 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Victory Run | PC Engine | 1987 | Hudson | 1 |
| Pinball | Famicom | 1984/02/02 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| PC Genjin (Bonk's Adventure) | PC Engine | 1989 | Hudson | 1 |
| Puyo Puyo | Mega Drive | 1992/12/18 | Sega | 1-2 |
| Baseball | Famicom | 1983/12/07 | Nintendo | 1-2 |
| Bomberman '94 | PC Engine | 1993 | Hudson | 1-5 |
| Ristar | Mega Drive | 1995/02/17 | Sega | 1 |
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 30, 2006, 08:06:23 PM
Post by: Arbok on November 30, 2006, 10:04:04 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?
Well we did get the system itself much earlier...
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 30, 2006, 11:48:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ArbokQuote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?
Well we did get the system itself much earlier...
True, but still we have maybe half of what Japan is getting right now. I just don't see the hold up, even if the games aren't all must haves, I think the library should at least be comparable in size.
Post by: Maximilian on December 01, 2006, 02:27:05 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 01, 2006, 02:55:36 AM
That said, I also expect them to pick up the pace already.
Post by: nitsu niflheim on December 01, 2006, 03:07:26 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on December 01, 2006, 03:09:03 AM
So what do we think of Reggie now? I doubt it was our hated enemy, NCL that decided to make the North American VC lineup so small. The natives should be restless!
Post by: Ceric on December 01, 2006, 03:57:13 AM
Post by: Caliban on December 01, 2006, 03:58:14 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on December 01, 2006, 07:57:18 AM
He's so sexy.
Post by: Caliban on December 01, 2006, 08:15:43 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 01, 2006, 08:32:04 AM
Please, think of the Internet.
Post by: Svevan on December 01, 2006, 08:55:03 AM
Tiered updates are expected, but the speed needs to pick up in 07 - otherwise this is a Realistically Flawed Virtual Console.
Post by: Ceric on December 01, 2006, 08:59:22 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: PartyBear
If there were no whining, the Internet would be nothing but porn.
Please, think of the minors.
Post by: Caliban on December 01, 2006, 09:52:49 AM
Post by: Svevan on December 01, 2006, 10:20:38 AM
Please note that this is the last time you will see me say something positive. Savor it.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 01, 2006, 10:53:08 AM
THIS IS THE NEXT GEN
Post by: NWR_pap64 on December 01, 2006, 10:59:22 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Geez talk about giving the finger to the U.S. market, it is virtually inexcusable for Japan to get 38 titles while we got, what, 6 at launch?
Not to mention DELAYED and few updates.
I REALLY hope Nintendo gets their VC act together in the US. Its a joke right now.
Post by: capamerica on December 01, 2006, 01:10:34 PM
Post by: Kairon on December 01, 2006, 05:28:25 PM
I'd be perfectly fine with the American release schedule, except for the fact that Japan clearly shows that things can be better for us gamers!
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: King of Twitch on December 01, 2006, 07:27:41 PM
Post by: Kairon on December 01, 2006, 07:33:16 PM
...
Does the one that came with Animal Crossing count too?
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: DjEcKo3742 on December 02, 2006, 03:02:54 AM
theyre not gunna deal with units that didnt sell, cuz its just the ROM thats being handled electronically, and therefore they can accomodate everyone's panties from getting in a bunch.
Post by: Arbok on December 02, 2006, 03:24:34 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: DjEcKo3742
if you think about it, who cares if a game would not fit with this market.......its not like they have to go thru the whooole production process to get it boxed up, wrapped, and shelved. they just make sure its compatible with the emulator, work out the operations guide, and upload it to the server.
Except the fact that some of them, like the Fire Emblem titles, would require a lot of translation work before hand. No excuse for titles that have already been released internationally, though, of course.
Post by: DjEcKo3742 on December 02, 2006, 03:30:26 AM
Post by: Kairon on December 02, 2006, 04:18:00 AM
Who knows? The Shadow (of Reggie) knows!
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Svevan on December 02, 2006, 07:21:57 AM
I don't know how many times I've said it, but this is dumb. Why not coordinate with third parties to ensure a solid release schedule over 2007? There are hundreds and hundreds (thousands?) of VC games that could be out, why not start releasing a crapton of them NOW? If I haven't downloaded a few of them by the time a drought hits, guess what, I'll download more (and play my PS2, God of War II coming out soon). Not to mention that not every Wii gamer is going to be using VC, so a sparse release schedule just screws them all the more and VC games won't band-aid the problem. Nintendo's setting themselves up to burn people just like they did on GameCube if they are anticipating there won't be any games to play.
Nintendo believes they are the only ones making worthwhile games, ergo making sure there's either a Nintendo-developed Wii game or VC title out there is a safety measure. They just can't trust third parties to do their work for them (perhaps rightly so,) but that's the strategy Sony has been relying on for years. Court third parties, release tons of VC games, everyone wins. Anticipating droughts and sprinkling a few VC games when they happen is not the Wii strategy they need.
Post by: Kairon on December 02, 2006, 07:29:30 AM
And as for how not all Wii owners use VC, you're right. The VC is a more hardcore gamer thing. Hardcore gamers will be the ones feeling the pinch this next three months, because casuals and non-gamers will be taken care of: Wii Play, WarioWare, and Mario Party 8 will keep them occupied.
Finally, as for coordinating third party releases, it may be likely that third parties don't want to release in the Jan. - March period for the reasons stated before. You can't force them to do stuff like that, it's not cool. Also, if the games aren't ready...
Still... I hope we don't wait TOO long for such JPN launch VC titles as Adventure Island and Contra 3... oh dear GOD NINTENDO WHY WHY WHY!?!?!?!?!
Ironically, Sony is looking to have a strong Spring release schedule because of so many launch games being delayed: motor storm, heavenly sword, etc.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
