PAL Virtual Console Games Available

Wii

by Aaron Kaluszka - December 2, 2006, 10:15 am EST
Total comments: 12 Source: Wii Shop

Anywhere from three to nine games, depending on country.

Virtual Console games for countries in PAL regions are now available, though the Wii itself will not be launched until next week. Interestingly, games are being released by country rather than region.

The TurboGrafx system never made it to Australia and New Zealand, and those countries will again not receive TurboGrafx games. Their initial Virtual Console selection is limited to three NES choices, Donkey Kong, Mario Bros., and Wario's Woods.

The European countries of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain get those three NES games as well as three TurboGrafx games, Bomberman '93, Bonk's Adventure, and Super Star Soldier.

Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Switzerland are a little luckier with an additional three games available. They can also purchase The Legend of Zelda for NES, and Dungeon Explorer and Victory Run for TurboGrafx.

More games and countries may be added before the Australian and European launches, which occur on December 7th and 8th, respectively.

PRESS RELEASE

New Virtual Console Games This Monday

...and this time, Nintendo means it!

NINTENDO NEWS: FOUR NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL

Dec. 1, 2006

Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii™ video game console's Wii Shop Channel. Four games will be added at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Dec. 4. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Donkey Kong Jr.™ (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular arcade game, Donkey Kong Jr. is the sequel to the immensely successful Donkey Kong®. Players play as Donkey Kong's son, Junior, and rescue his dad, who has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a cage by Mario™. Players use their jumping and climbing abilities to clamber up vines and chains, gather vital fruit and keys, and open the cage to free their father. Make sure to avoid the pesky birds, nasty electric sparks and creepy chompers. Four different worlds filled with numerous climbing and jumping puzzles await in this timeless classic.

Victory Run™ (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Victory Run is a rally racing game, made up of eight different stages set in different countries from Paris to Dakar. Players can race across highways, deserts, savannahs and coastlines. In order to advance to the next stage, players must dodge traffic and cross the finish line within the time limit. Players can upgrade their race car with such parts as tires, gears, engines, suspensions and brakes. Driving on rough courses and hitting obstacles will cause damage to individual parts, so making repairs is critical. Choosing the right setup of parts may be the difference between winning and not finishing the race at all. So go out there and prove to the world that you have what it takes to take raise the gold cup in Victory Run!

Columns™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Players test their hand at the ancient Phoenician game of Columns. Multicolored gems drop from the top of the screen into a pit. It is up to players to quickly arrange the order of the jewels into lines of three or more as they fall. If gems pile up and reach the top, the game is over.

Ristar™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Greedy, an evil space pirate, has corrupted the kings of the Valdi System's seven planets and enslaved the people who live there. The plea for a hero is answered by Ristar, who uses his amazing extendable arms and courage to save Valdi from Greedy.

Talkback

KaironCarmine Red, Associate EditorDecember 02, 2006

so NoE and NoAustralia disappoint again?

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

31 FlavasDecember 02, 2006

Someone should try chaning their "country" setting on their US model Wii to Japan or Europe. And see if you can download different VC games that way... (I'm not opening my Wii till xmas day).

MegaByteAaron Kaluszka, Associate EditorDecember 02, 2006

American consoles only have American countries, so that's not possible (believe me, you would have heard about it if it was possible).

CericDecember 02, 2006

I feel for Europe and especially Australia. Why oh Why can't they just keep there word and let us connect to other countries servers...

blackfootstepsDecember 02, 2006

This frustrates me, Nintendo have a fantastic plan for releasing old games but through their own actions they limit its effectiveness and scope. I don't understand...

Shift KeyDecember 02, 2006

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
so NoE and NoAustralia disappoint again?

Again? Its just a constant series of misery and mediocrity with NAL at least. You just kind of ignore it and try to move on, because talking about the situation just brings on more pain.

I'd love to get access to the other games from the US and Japan, but it seems like an impossible dream when you look at publishing issues, regional lockouts, and all that other legal stuff.

TalonDecember 02, 2006

The PAL territories are slightly different to the NTSC regions. For one all PAL released games will work on any PAL system. I have imported hard to find games in Australia from the UK without any hassles. All PAL games are in English (with the usual options of German, Spanish, French etc). Why Nintendo Australia and Nintendo Europe are not partnering in regards to the VC is beyond me. They are missing a good opportunity. Unlike America and Japan who have the obvious language barrier and are culturally very different.

Oh well lets see if Nintendo Australia will bring the TurboGrafx in the future once all the launch bugs are ironed out.

GoldenPhoenixDecember 02, 2006

Ouch, now I don't feel so bad about the American VC lineup.

Shift KeyDecember 02, 2006

Quote
Originally posted by: Talon
Oh well lets see if Nintendo Australia will bring the TurboGrafx in the future once all the launch bugs are ironed out.

TurboGrafx never made it to Australia. Game Over.