Nintendo Okie

Well folks, it’s another VC centric week with one other thing to mention so let’s talk a bit about the three different Virtual Console releases we had. 

First on the list, though, we’ll talk about the Internet Channel.  This browser, powered by Opera, was based on the version 9 release and debuted in Beta form on December 22^nd, 2006.  It was a fully featured web browser for Nintendo’s Wii that was initially free for everyone to download.  After the beta period was over it was made available for 500 points and eventually reverted back to its free to download price.  Any of the users that paid for the software were given a refund earlier this year and allowed to download one game up to 500 points free of charge.  Though it was a fully functioning browser it did not have the ability to be updated regularly and as a result many forms of video were not able to be displayed.  A number of different sites, including Gamespot and Youtube, released versions of their website that were specialized for use in Nintendo’s Internet Channel.  This made them more user friendly to people navigating their sites through Nintendo’s console.  Initially there was no support for keyboards and everything had to be typed using the Wii Remote pointer, but in 2007 USB keyboard support was added making the browser even more user friendly.  

Let’s take a look at the VC releases for December 22^nd, 2008.  RPG fans were granted to ability to download Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium.   The game was originally released in 1995 and is the fourth game in the Phantasy Star series.  This was a turn based RPG that built on its predecessors with a number of new features such as combo attacks, programmable combat, and comic book style illustrated cut scenes.  Phantasy Star IV stars Chaz Ashley and his friends who, unbeknownst to them, would become the saviors of the Algol star system.  The game was praised, almost universally, and is regarded as one of the best games in the series by a number of people.  This game has been ported a number of times, including the Phantasy Star Collection for Saturn and in Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PS3. 

There were two WiiWare releases on that day.  The first was Fun! Fun! Minigolf! by Shin’en which featured 27 holes of miniature golf excitement.  The game was praised for the unique designs of the holes, but was ultimately hampered by the fact that you had to get each shot within a certain area on the green or it would be considered out of bounds and you had to replay the shot.  It didn’t take very long to finish the game and it would have been a much better experience if you could have tweaked the game play rules.

Also released that day was Tiki Towers.  This puzzle game was essentially a clone of the earlier WiiWare hit, World of Goo, but was based around a tropical theme.  In the game you were tasked with building a structure of bamboo that would allow a group of monkeys to retrieve a bunch of bananas.  The game was solidly created and a lot of fun for a very low price tag.

Christmas Eve, December 24^th, 2007 brought us three more Virtual Console releases.  First up was Blades of Steel, originally for the NES.  This was a very fast paced hockey game and was known best for the fighting mechanic that was built in to it.  While all the teams in the game were fictional, due to no NHL license, they were based on actually cities that hosted NHL franchises.  You had the choice of playing either exhibition style one off games or a more in depth tournament mode that was similar to the NHL playoffs.  One notable feature that the game included was a small selection of voice samples that would occur during events such as a fight or after a player makes a successful pass.  Blades of Steel is very fondly remembered by a number of players and was one of the more asked about Virtual Console games before its release on that platform. 

Next up on the list was Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! for the Super Nintendo.  Originally released in 1996 it was the third and final entry in the Donkey Kong Country trilogy.  In the game it was up to Dixie Kong and her cousin Kiddy Kong to discover the whereabouts of a missing DK and Diddy, while avoiding the grasp of the Kremling Krew and K Rool.  The game play is essentially unchanged from the previous versions of the game, but there is a bit more exploration available in this title and Kiddy plays more like DK than anyone else.  Each character also had the ability to carry up to four items, which was something that was introduced in this game.  Donkey Kong Country 3 has sold almost 3 million copies worldwide since its release and was received quite well by players.

Rolling Thunder 2 was released on the Virtual Console that same day.  Originally released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis, this run and gun side scrolling shooter featured two player co-operative play and improved graphics over its original release.  Albatross returns, this time with help from former damsel in distress Leila as they fight the organization known as Neo-Geldra in their quest to destroy all of the world’s satellites.  This home version of the game features a few additions that were not seen in the original arcade game such as cut scenes and three new stages. 

Our last two entries for the week were released on December 25^th, 2006.  Christmas day brought the return of Mario to the Virtual Console with the release of the original Super Mario Bros.  for NES.  This classic side scrolling game has been ported dozens of times to numerous consoles and has been enjoyed by millions of gamers since its original release in 1986.  Many of the elements from this game have carried on through the years including the original enemies that our heroic plumber faced.  The princess has been rescued numerous times and the world saved through the efforts of Mario and his brother Luigi.  There’s not much that could be said that hasn’t already been said about this game.  It’s a classic that has been loved by generations of gamers and sold more than 40 million copies making it the second most sold game in history. 

Our last game on the list this week was released by Irem in 1987 on the Turbo-Grafix 16.  R-type is a side scrolling sci-fi shooter set in the 22^nd Century.  In the game you control a space fighter known as Arrowhead fighting through waves of enemy ships and alien life forms.  R-Type is one of the most popular games in the shooter genre and has inspired a number of different titles since its original release.  The game has also been the subject of a number of Irem’s most famous April Fool’s Day jokes including a website established in 2003 that sold three different versions of their R-9 fighter in the same manner as a car salesman. 

There you have it folks.  While the week was short on big titles, it was a good week for Virtual Console releases and why not talk about them a bit.  If you know of anything coming up in the future that you’d like to see added to the list and featured in the article feel free to leave a comment letting us know or send me an email at tonymiller@nintendo-okie.com.  You can also leave a comment talking about anything featured here or head on over to the forums to discuss there.