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Wii

Japanese Virtual Console Line-Up Revealed

by Aaron Kaluszka - October 31, 2006, 10:24 pm EST
Total comments: 40 Source: NCL Website

49 games, including many conspiculously missing from the other regions' list.

Nintendo has posted the Virtual Console launch line-up for Japan on their website. Japanese gamers will be treated to big name titles, such as the 16-bit Mario and Zelda games, which are absent from the US and European launches.

The full list is as follows:

Famicom (NES) - 500 points

  • Ice Hockey (Nintendo)

  • Urban Champion (Nintendo)

  • Legend of Kage (Taito)

  • Gradius (Konami)

  • Gomoku Narabe (Nintendo)

  • Soccer (Nintendo)

  • Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)

  • Xevious (Bandai Namco)

  • The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo)

  • Solomon's Key (Tecmo)

  • Tennis (Nintendo)

  • Donkey Kong (Nintendo)

  • Donkey Kong Jr. (Nintendo)

  • Ninja Jajamaru-kun (Jaleco)

  • Pinball (Nintendo)

  • Baseball (Nintendo)

  • Mario Bros. (Nintendo)

  • Wario's Woods (Nintendo)

Super Famicom (SNES) - 800 points

  • F-Zero (Nintendo)

  • R-Type III (Irem)

  • Super Castlevania IV (Konami)

  • Contra III (Konami)

  • Street Fighter II (Capcom)

  • Donkey Kong Country (Nintendo)

  • Super Mario World (Nintendo)

  • Mario's Super Picross (Nintendo)

Super Famicom (SNES) - 900 points

  • Sim City (Nintendo)

  • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo)

  • Fire Emblem: Monshou no Nazo (Nintendo)

Nintendo 64 - 1000 points

  • Super Mario 64 (Nintendo)

Mega Drive (Genesis) - 600 points

  • Ecco The Dolphin (Sega)

  • Gunstar Heroes (Sega)

  • Golden Axe (Sega)

  • Columns (Sega)

  • Shadow Dancer (Sega)

  • Altered Beast (Sega)

  • Space Harrier II (Sega)

  • Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega)

  • Toejam and Earl (Sega)

  • Puyo Puyo (Sega)

  • Ristar (Sega)

PC Engine (TG-16) - 600 points

  • Bonk's Adventure (Hudson)

  • Necromancer (Hudson)

  • Super Star Soldier (Hudson)

  • New Adventure Island (Hudson)

  • Dungeon Explorer (Hudson)

  • Battle Lode Runner (Hudson)

  • Victory Run (Hudson)

  • Bomberman '94 (Hudson)

Wii and Virtual Console Launch Line-Up Revealed

Combined, you'll be able to play 60+ games on your console in a few weeks!

NINTENDO'S WII WILL BOAST 62 TITLES AND COUNTLESS NEW WAYS TO PLAY

32 New Wii Titles and 30 Classics Form Huge Launch Library

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 31, 2006 – Within the first five weeks of launch, Wii™ owners can pick from up to 62 games, representing the most diverse, and most exciting, console video game library available. Licensees and developers have lined up to support the Wii launch in unprecedented numbers. Wii and its Wii Remote™ completely change the way people play and experience video games by making every motion of the controller translate into action on the screen. All at once, Wii makes games both easier to play and more immersive. In the five weeks after Wii launches in the United States on Nov. 19, gamers of all ages and abilities will be telling their friends and family: "You've got to play this!"

By year's end, Wii owners will have 32 new titles to play, including industry powerhouse games like The Legend of Zelda®: Twilight Princess, Madden NFL '07, Need for Speed™: Carbon and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam™; category-redefining adventures like Red Steel™, Elebits™ and Trauma Center™: Second Opinion; and Hollywood favorites like Cars, SpongeBob SquarePants™: Creature from the Krusty Krab and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Some of these games might be familiar, but if you haven't played them on Wii, you're only getting half the experience.

Wii owners also will return to their youth with 30 classic games available for download to play on Wii's Virtual Console™. These include games for the NES®, Super NES®, Nintendo® 64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx16 consoles. Players redeem Wii Points in the Wii Shop Channel and download their games. And that's not to mention the entire library of more than 530 Nintendo GameCube™ games that can be played on the Wii console from day one because Wii is directly backward compatible.

"Developers worldwide have enhanced Wii's launch library of new games with countless new ways to play," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Whether you pick a completely new property or a classic franchise, the Wii experience draws you in."

Every Wii owner starts off with Wii Sports™, which comes packed in with the console itself. The sporting collection of bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing and golf lets players literally swing the Wii Remote like a bowling ball, racket, bat, boxing glove and golf club. The games are easy for anyone to try and they dramatically demonstrate how Wii makes video games fun for everyone.

For avid gamers, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess emerges as this season's video game masterpiece. The epic adventure lets players swing the Wii Remote as a sword and can play in a 16:9 aspect ratio with beautiful visuals and glorious sound. Have you ever tilted your controller while playing a driving game, hoping in vain that extra oomph would help you land a huge jump? Now EXCITE TRUCK™ translates those movements of the Wii Remote as players hold it sideways and turn it like a steering wheel.

Wii's launch library contains games of all genres, and each one gives gamers a new way to play. While Wii Sports, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and EXCITE TRUCK will be ready to go on launch day, last-minute polishing by third parties means their exact dates will soon be locked down, though most will launch by the end of November. A complete list of launch-day titles will be announced in the near future. Visit www.Wii.com for updates. Third-party publishers have created an impressive list of launch titles for Wii, and their backing will continue steadily into the new year. Before the end of December alone, the following titles will be available:

Activision: Call of Duty® 3, Marvel™ Ultimate Alliance, Rapala® Tournament Fishing, Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam™, World Series of Poker®: Tournament of Champions

Atari: Dragon Ball Z®: Budokai Tenkaichi™ 2

Atlus: Trauma Center™: Second Opinion

EA: Madden NFL '07, Need for Speed™: Carbon

Konami: Elebits™

Midway: Happy Feet™, Rampage®: Total Destruction™, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy™, The Ant Bully

Sega: Super Monkey Ball™: Banana Blitz

SNK: Metal Slug™ Anthology

Tecmo: Super Swing Golf

THQ: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard®, Cars, SpongeBob SquarePants™: The Creature from the Krusty Krab

Ubisoft: Far Cry®: Vengeance, GT Pro Series, Monster 4X4 World Circuit, Open Season™, Rayman Raving Rabbids™, Red Steel™, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent™

Vivendi: Ice Age 2™: The Meltdown

In addition to these new titles, Nintendo is making the greatest video game archive in history available for download to its Virtual Console. NES games start at 500 Wii Points, Super NES games start at 800 Wii Points and Nintendo 64 games start at 1,000 Wii Points. Sega Genesis games start at 800 Wii Points and TurboGrafx16 games start at 600 Wii Points. Wii Points can be purchased online or at retail at an MSRP of $20 for 2,000 points. Before the end of December, the following titles will be available:

NES: Mario Bros.®, The Legend of Zelda®, Donkey Kong®, Donkey Kong Jr. ®, Ice Hockey, Pinball, Soccer, Tennis, Urban Champion®, Wario's Woods™, Baseball, Solomon's Key

SNES: F-Zero®, SimCity™

N64: Super Mario® 64

Sega Genesis: Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Columns, Ecco the Dolphin, Gunstar Heroes, Space Harrier II, Toe Jam & Earl, Ristar, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

TurboGrafx16: Bonk's Adventure, Super Star Soldier, Victory Run, Bomberman '93, Dungeon Explorer

As previously announced, Wii contains built-in parental controls that let adults set the console to play only games of a certain rating and lock their selection with a PIN code.

Talkback

IceColdOctober 31, 2006

Hmm, they get Mario Bros AND Super Mario Bros for NES.. so do we get SMB or MB?

EDIT: Just realised JonLeung linked to this in the other thread. Wow, they get a much better selection right off the bat. Hmm, Bomberman 94..

ArtimusOctober 31, 2006

This is depressing. Most of it makes NO sense. Why can't we have SMB and LttP and DKC and SMW, etc. Goodness, DKC is an English game! It's not like you can argue it came out in Japan first.

Saturn2888October 31, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: Artimus
This is depressing. Most of it makes NO sense. Why can't we have SMB and LttP and DKC and SMW, etc. Goodness, DKC is an English game! It's not like you can argue it came out in Japan first.


Dude, can't even understand what you said. use some actual names of the games especially if they're 10-20 years old.

IceColdOctober 31, 2006

Super Mario Bros, A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World... tsk tsk Saturn face-icon-small-tongue.gif

GoldenPhoenixOctober 31, 2006

Looks like American gamers are screwed with Genesis pricing if the points are equal, 600 for Genesis for Japan but 800 for US? BS!

ShyGuyOctober 31, 2006

VGRevo, the only explanation I can think for that is the fact that the megadrive wasn't nearly as popular in Japan as the Genesis was here in the US. Priced what the market will bear and all that, y'know?

BloodworthDaniel Bloodworth, Staff AlumnusOctober 31, 2006

Don't forget, that's Sega's decision. Still, you'd spend that kind of money in half an hour, playing Altered Beast at the arcade. Also, several people have pointed out that since the US launches first, these titles may still come here by the end of the year. I'm not banking on it, but it could be the case. I mean come on, Super Mario World was playable at E3.

capamericaNovember 01, 2006

I wonder if there will be a way to set up my Wii to have access to the JP Virtual Console.
I'm kind of disapointed the US list is no where near as good as this.

MaryJaneNovember 01, 2006

This is disturbing to say the least, we should be able to get the same games as Japan.

There are some games(not many on that list) that were never translated for America, but they should downloadable at your own risk. Does this mean that the Virtual Console and online gaming are run off two different sevices? Doesn't make much sense to me, Wii points should be equal as well, what happened to Nintendo simplifying things?

Bill AurionNovember 01, 2006

The U.S. should definitely get Super Mario Brothers and Super Mario World at launch...I can't think of any reason why they aren't... face-icon-small-frown.gif

joedickNovember 01, 2006

I don't care about those other games, I just want picross! I was addicted to the Gameboy game they put out here and I would kill for some new puzzles!

CericNovember 01, 2006

Yep this is counter acting the good points that NoA got from the Walmart guides. So there back deeper in the hole with me. (Mostly because I want Super Castlevania and Gunstar Hero)

Michael8983November 01, 2006

Not worried.
I'm going to be too busy with TP and other launch titles to even think about VC games for the remainder of the year.
Eventually most if not all of the games we want will be available. It's best Nintendo save some of the big ones for the drought season anyway.
I'm sure that as more and more games are added, they will become available for much fewer points too. Eventually we'll have $1 NES games and $5 N64 games, I'm quite sure.

Athrun ZalaNovember 01, 2006

yep, they have a better selection.....

I'd love to have Mario's Picross though face-icon-small-happy.gif

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorNovember 01, 2006

I think Nintendo is trying their hardest to not create any dead spots in launch. They stated their plan of having something like 10 new VC games per month in 07. They are probably intentionally holding some back in order to hit that number. Like it or not, it's most likely all about marketing.

PopeRealNovember 01, 2006

This forum is pretty funny sometimes. Nintendo is releasing a console that you can download classic games on and because people might have to wait a bit to get the ones they really want they use the words "dissapointing", "disturbing", and "depressing". I'll avoid using the word "negative" today and just move on. Enjoy yourself people.

King of TwitchNovember 01, 2006

Sim City!!

mantidorNovember 01, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: PopeReal
This forum is pretty funny sometimes. Nintendo is releasing a console that you can download classic games on and because people might have to wait a bit to get the ones they really want they use the words "dissapointing", "disturbing", and "depressing". I'll avoid using the word "negative" today and just move on. Enjoy yourself people.


you are so right, lets cheer and clap! *rolleyes*

Ian SaneNovember 01, 2006

Well to be fair some of those games are third party so Nintendo might not have any control if a Konami or Namco game is released in Japan for launch but not North America. Still it's dumb that titles like Super Mario Bros and A Link to the Past aren't available from day one.

And is there ANY good reason to even have regional differences? We should be able to buy any of these games from anywhere. After all they can track who is buying stuff from where and since all of these games are old they don't have to worry about someone importing the Japanese version before the US version comes out or anything like that. Plus there are no manufacturing costs so demand is less of an issue. No one has to worry about spending too much money on making unsold copies of a Japan-centric game that won't be that popular in North America. The VC is an affordable way to sell games to cult audiences. I guess it isn't surprising Nintendo would be so oblivious to something so damn obvious but it's still frustrating.

joedickNovember 01, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: Ceric
Yep this is counter acting the good points that NoA got from the Walmart guides. So there back deeper in the hole with me. (Mostly because I want Super Castlevania and Gunstar Hero)


We are getting gunstar heroes....

PaleMike Gamin, Contributing EditorNovember 01, 2006

Ian,

Though I can't think of any specific examples, I'm sure there are differing distribution rights on some games depending on the region. It would a legal nightmare to try and decide where the money should go er something. I dunno.

All that said, VC is supposed to fill time between Wii games right? I'll be playing Zelda at launch, so I don't mind the slim pickings. I personally was starting to doubt that NOA was even going to have the virtual console ready, so any news is good news imo.

NephilimNovember 01, 2006

Well it seems it might be nintendos fault for lackluster list, as midway and 3drealsm have both said they wanted games on VC but had no real info about it only in last month
seems nintendo is just keeping it close and small ammount of games for a weird reason

Ian SaneNovember 01, 2006

"Though I can't think of any specific examples, I'm sure there are differing distribution rights on some games depending on the region. It would a legal nightmare to try and decide where the money should go er something. I dunno."

You're probably right about that. It probably is a big deal for licenced games. Someone might have the rights to a licence in one region but not the other. Still that could be fixed if region restrictions were enforced on a game by game basis and that for titles it didn't matter on we could download as we wished.

I have a feeling that some hack will be created and unfortunately for Nintendo illegal free downloads may be part of the hack.

TJ SpykeNovember 01, 2006

Someone had better find a way to let us download games from other regions, like they did with Xbox Live Arcade. It's dissapointing how many good games Japan gets for the VC this year while we get almost nothing good.

TheBlackCatNovember 01, 2006

Link to the Past and several of the Mario games are still being sold on the GBA. It doesn't surprise me that they are not releasing them right away. The question is why they are releasing them in Japan. I find that a bit strange. Maybe the GBA games are still selling decently in the US but not in Japan. That would make the decision more logical. It does explain why Yoshi's Island is not on there, since it was the most recent remake released. The real question in my mind is where Super Metroid is. It was never remade or ported to any other system, yet was one of the more popular SNES titles. My only thought is that they might be saving it as a promotion for Metroid Prime 3, maybe a free download or unlockable or something. Same with the original Metroid (although this was released on the GBA, as were the NES Zeldas, so that could also be a reason). Actually, they might do a similar thing with Twilight Princess, although that still wouldn't explain Japan.

ssj4_androidNovember 01, 2006

Why don't they put all of their games on the download service right from launch? Do they suck at making emulators or something? One N64 game is just pathetic.

Smoke39November 01, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: TheBlackCat
The real question in my mind is where Super Metroid is. It was never remade or ported to any other system, yet was one of the more popular SNES titles. My only thought is that they might be saving it as a promotion for Metroid Prime 3, maybe a free download or unlockable or something.

Maybe they're remaking it for the DS like they did with Metroid Zero Mission on the GBA. O:
Except probably not.

Ian SaneNovember 01, 2006

"Maybe they're remaking it for the DS like they did with Metroid Zero Mission on the GBA. O:
Except probably not."

What need is there to remake Super Metroid. Metroid was dated as hell. Super Metroid holds up so well it could have been released on the DS yesterday. Metroid II is the one in need of the Zero Mission treatment. It doesn't matter anyway because a remake of Super Metroid isn't the same as the original Super Metroid which should be available to buy.

Smoke39November 01, 2006

Why buy the original when a better version is available? Or, why get the remake if you can get the original so much cheaper. That they could potentially compete was my point.

Super Metroid definitely stands the test of time much better than the original, but it could still have some stuff added. Regardless, I really just want more 2D Metroid. ):

Ian SaneNovember 01, 2006

"Why buy the original when a better version is available? Or, why get the remake if you can get the original so much cheaper. That they could potentially compete was my point."

Because different people want different things and probably a good chunk of people would buy both.

And "better version"? HA! I haven't seen Nintendo re-release a better version of a SNES game yet. Following their usual trend they would add irritating voices and dumb the difficult down. In Super Metroid's case they would probably remove any sequence breaking and have a hint system that would tell you exactly where to go. There's always need for the original version because honestly I don't trust the current game industry to do justice to any classic 2D game. Too many bad habits have been introduced since the Playstation took over.

I want more 2D Metroid but I want a NEW game. Never settle for remakes in place of new content.

Smoke39November 01, 2006

You're missing the point. Hardcore Metroid fans know what they want. For everyone else, there's the perception of "old and busted" vs. "new hotness." And anyway I wasn't saying that that was the case, just throwing a possibility out there.

Whether or not making changes like you suggest would make the game inferior is really subjective.

I never said I wanted a remake. But a Super Metroid remake would be better than a Metroid Prime Hunters 2, especially if it was as thorough as Zero Mission, which was a completely unique experience from the original.

Ian SaneNovember 01, 2006

"I never said I wanted a remake. But a Super Metroid remake would be better than a Metroid Prime Hunters 2, especially if it was as thorough as Zero Mission, which was a completely unique experience from the original."

Well okay. THAT I agree with. New Super Metroid is better than FPS For Jerks That Don't Like Metroid Prime 2.

And while hardcore Metroid fans know what they want the truth I figure the VC is probably going to be used mostly by hardcore gamers. Most people I meet think games from last year are dated.

CericNovember 01, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: joedick
Quote

Originally posted by: Ceric
Yep this is counter acting the good points that NoA got from the Walmart guides. So there back deeper in the hole with me. (Mostly because I want Super Castlevania and Gunstar Hero)


We are getting gunstar heroes....


I just missed it I guess.

Smoke39November 01, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: Ian Sane
And while hardcore Metroid fans know what they want the truth I figure the VC is probably going to be used mostly by hardcore gamers.

You're right, that's a good point.

BloodworthDaniel Bloodworth, Staff AlumnusNovember 01, 2006

That and budget conscious people looking for anything good for their kids. Parents I've talked to seem to like the idea that they can get one machine that will have the old Sonic and Mario games for ten dollars or less.

mantidorNovember 01, 2006

I agree with the need of a Metroid 2 remake, and super metroid doesn't need a remake, is perfect. Seriously, I can't see any way to improve on it, adding anything to that game will do little, the game has the perfect length, the perfect music and the perfect gameplay. All I can see them doing for it would be making superficial enhancements, in the graphics with some more detailed effects and some improved midi over the original, but adding anything else would probably just ruin the game.

Myxtika1 AznNovember 01, 2006

If they DO enhance Super Metroid, I would like the following things done:

a) Make it easier to wall jump
b) Allow you to continue space jumping after you get hit, or if you walk/jump off an edge without flipping first
c) Make it so that doing charged speed attacks (ie. the dash and the super jump) no longer drains your health.

All three of these were in Zero Mission, so I would hope that they do it for any enhancements to Super Metroid.

NO ENHANCEMENTS!

argh. evar.

Egads Nintendo, get Squeenix to release Dragon Warrior I and I WILL buy it!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Blue PlantNovember 02, 2006

I wonder if the VC has the potential to revive a series like DVD has with some shows, if enough people buy them. And yes, excellent list of games for them. Here's hoping we catch up soon. face-icon-small-smile.gif

CericNovember 02, 2006

I think it has a bigger potential of doing something like that then DVD really normally does.

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