Worldwide Virtual Console Center

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two VC games to be released in the US today:

• Operation Wolf (NES)
• Columns III: Revenge of Columns (Sega Genesis)

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
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Well, we're getting two games this week: a puzzle game and... a light gun game??? Yes, Operation Wolf was a pretty popular light gun game in the arcades, which was ported to the NES. The NES version offered the option to play with either the Zapper or the NES controller. Given the different technologies involved with the Wiimote and the Zapper, it's unlikely that the game will support the Wiimote as a method of control, so we're probably going to be stuck with the regular NES controller. And you know how much fun it is to play a light gun game with the D-pad...

The second game we're getting today is Columns III, for the Genesis. Hey, long time no see, Sega Genesis! The last game we got for the Genesis was Light Crusader, all the way back to 2007. So, why are we getting Columns III instead of Columns II? Well, Columns II was never released outside of the arcades, that's why. Columns III is basically an update to the original Columns. Now, up to five people can play in multiplayer mode (that must be insane!!!), a new story mode was also included, along with a couple more features. If you're a fan of Columns, I'm pretty sure you'll like this one.

Well, that's it for this week. Next week we'll be getting the 200th game for the VC (unless there are no games released next Monday); whether we get only one game or more than one remains to be seen.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two VC games released in Japan:

• Wrecking Crew (Famicom)
• Dungeon Explorer II (PC Engine CD)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
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Questing and destroying this week in the land of the rising sun.

 

[Bulerias]

Man, it doesn't seem like the two-games-a-week thing is gonna let up any time soon, for any territory...

Maybe this is a more effective business strategy.

 

[InfinityDragon]

Man, it doesn't seem like the two-games-a-week thing is gonna let up any time soon, for any territory...

Maybe this is a more effective business strategy.

Well, Japan will most likely be getting one three-game week, and two four-game weeks this month, so it's not that bad for them.

I don't know if it's a more effective business strategy for Nintendo, but it's definitely a more effective way to piss off their fans. The only thing that would be worse than our current situation would be getting no games in a week. Imagine if that happened next week...

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: One game released in Europe and Australia:

• Lords of Thunder (Turbografx-CD)

Source: The Virtual Console Archive: EU VC Releases
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And the streak continues! Three one-game weeks in a row now. Will the releases ever come back to normal? As for the game, I've never played Lords of Thunder, but it looks like a pretty good shooter.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: One game dated for next week in the US, and two games dated in Japan:

US:

• Lords of Thunder (Turbografx-CD)

Source: Hudson's US VC website

Japan:

• Super Contra [Super C] (Famicom)
• Cosmo Gang The Puzzle (Super Famicom)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
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Europe and Australia just got Lords of Thunder, and we'll be getting it next week. So much for a sole 200th release. Nevertheless, NOA can still release their own game along with Lords of Thunder and call it the 200th game. I'm thinking about a SNES game to complete the week, maybe Harvest Moon or Kirby's Dreamland 3.

Japan is getting two games next week... two games? Why on Earth would Nintendo release only two games when they have 11 games left for the month? Anyway, they're getting Super Contra, almost six months after we got it (and people say we don't get anything before them), and Cosmo Gang The Puzzle. If you're wondering what Cosmo Gang The Puzzle is, well, it's just the original game from which Pac-Attack is based.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games to be released in the US today:

• Harvest Moon (SNES)
• Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-CD)

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
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It's the 200th release week! It seems like NOA wasn't aware of this fact since it wasn't mentioned on the press release. Anyway, the games for today are not exactly what people were expecting, but still, I think it is a really good week.

First, we have Harvest Moon. Finally, NOA! I know a lot of people have been waiting for this one since it came out in Europe, so it's great to see it here. I've never been interested in the Harvest Moon series, but I think I might give the first one a chance. The second game for today is Lords of Thunder. I've heard a lot of praise for this TG-CD shooter, so I might buy it later on. I've also heard that it's a spiritual sequel to Gate of Thunder, so if you liked that one, you'll probably like this one too.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two VC games released in Japan today:

• Super Contra [Super C] (Famicom)
• Cosmo Gang The Puzzle (Super Famicom)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
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No surprises here, the two games announced last week were the only ones released in Japan today. I wonder how Nintendo is going to distribute the 9 games left for this month. Will it be just four games in one week and five in the other? Will they make one or two irregular releases? Or will they leave one or more games for next month again?

 

[Bulerias]

Super Contra, huh? Interesting... I was under the impression that they got it earlier.

 

[InfinityDragon]

Super Contra, huh? Interesting... I was under the impression that they got it earlier.

It's usually the case, but sometimes we do get games earlier than them.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games released in Europe and Australia:

• Eternal Champions (Sega Mega Drive)
• Phantasy Star II (Sega Mega Drive)

Source: The Virtual Console Archive: EU VC Releases
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Are my eyes deceiving me, is this really Mega Drive week? On top of that, they are getting two games? Finally! The highlight of this week is obviously Phantasy Star II, the first Mega Drive game in the beloved RPG series. I've never had the chance to play the original series, but I know it is considered one of the best. Please NOA, can we get this here soon? We need more RPGs! I can't say that enough. The other game released today was Eternal Champions, which we got a couple of months ago... Meh, I don't really have anything to say about that one.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Four games dated for next week in Japan:

• Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken (Famicom)
• Custom Robo V2 (Nintendo 64)
• Wrestleball [Powerball] (Sega Mega Drive)
• Atlas (PC Engine CD)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
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Japan is getting four games next week; back to the old times to some extent, I guess. The first game in the list is Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken, a graphic adventure for the Famicom. The Tantei Jinguuji Saburo series is a popular detective game series in Japan, and has seen many releases over multiple consoles. None of them have been released here, but fortunately, given the increasing popularity of adventure games on the DS, Aksys games is bringing the series over here as Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles. I don't know if it will be an updated version of an existing Tantei Jinguuji Saburou game, or a collection of cases from different games; we'll have to wait and see.

Next is the 12th Nintendo 64 game for the VC: Custom Robo V2. It's the second Custom Robo game in the series, released only in Japan. The game seems to be an update to the first game: the graphics, music, and battle system are quite similar, with just a few improvements. You can play in multiplayer mode with three other friends, unlike the first one where you could only do two-player multiplayer. I hope Nintendo plans on bringing this one as an import game, just like Sin and Punishment.

The third game is Wrestleball, known here as Powerball. The game, developed by Namco, is a mixture of football and soccer in a futuristic setting. The last game is Atlas, for the PC Engine. I can't find information about this game. It seems like a simulation game from the video I saw.

 

[Snoopdogga]

UPDATE: Four games dated for next week in Japan:

• Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken (Famicom)
• Custom Robo V2 (Nintendo 64)
• Wrestleball [Powerball] (Sega Mega Drive)
• Atlas (PC Engine CD)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
_________________________________________________
Japan is getting four games next week; back to the old times to some extent, I guess. The first game in the list is Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken, a graphic adventure for the Famicom. The Tantei Jinguuji Saburo series is a popular detective game series in Japan, and has seen many releases over multiple consoles. None of them have been released here, but fortunately, given the increasing popularity of adventure games on the DS, Aksys games is bringing the series over here as Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles. I don't know if it will be an updated version of an existing Tantei Jinguuji Saburou game, or a collection of cases from different games; we'll have to wait and see.

Next is the 12th Nintendo 64 game for the VC: Custom Robo V2. It's the second Custom Robo game in the series, released only in Japan. The game seems to be an update to the first game: the graphics, music, and battle system are quite similar, with just a few improvements. You can play in multiplayer mode with three other friends, unlike the first one where you could only do two-player multiplayer. I hope Nintendo plans on bringing this one as an import game, just like Sin and Punishment.

The third game is Wrestleball, known here as Powerball. The game, developed by Namco, is a mixture of football and soccer in a futuristic setting. The last game is Atlas, for the PC Engine. I can't find information about this game. It seems like a simulation game from the video I saw.

Custom Robo V2! Hopefully, we'll get it as an import on February 24th.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games to be released in the US today:

• Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES)
• Phantasy Star II (Sega Genesis)

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
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Only two games again this week, but both amazing games nonetheless. First up is Ninja Gaiden III, which marks the end of the adventures of our favorite ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, on the NES. I wonder why Tecmo never continued the Ninja Gaiden series on the SNES (no, the remake trilogy doesn't count). Being their best series by far, you'd think they'd continue making games for it. Unfortunately, they just waited a bit more than a decade to release something new *sigh*. Anyway, I'm happy that one of my favorite videogame series is now completely available on the VC. I highly recommend it to everyone.

The second game is Phantasy Star II, for the Genesis. The Phantasy Star series is considered one of the best, if not the best, RPG series to ever grace a Sega's console. The first game in the series was released for the Sega Master System (not currently available on the VC, but coming soon, given its imminent release this month in Japan), while the next three were released on the Genesis; today's game being the first one. I've never had the chance to play any of the original Phantasy Star games (played a bit of Online), but I'll be sure to play them on the VC.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Four VC games released in Japan:

• Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken (Famicom)
• Custom Robo V2 (Nintendo 64)
• Wrestleball [Powerball] (Sega Mega Drive)
• Atlas (PC Engine CD)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website
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Japan got quite a variety of games today: an graphic adventure game for the Famicom (Tantei Jinguuji Saburou: Shinjuku Chuuou Kouen Satsujin Jiken), an action/fighting game for the Nintendo 64 (Custom Robo V2), a sci-fi sports game for the Mega Drive (Wrestleball), and a simulation game for the PC Engine CD (Atlas). Only one week left in Japan's February schedule. Will next week be the first five-game week in ages?

Next week might see the introduction of the Sega Master System in Japan. Hopefully, we'll get it next month.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games released in Europe/Australia:

• Adventure Island (NES)
• Street Gangs [River City Ransom] (NES)

Source: The Virtual Console Archive: EU VC Releases
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It looks like Europe and Australia are finally moving away from the dreaded one-game weeks, and what a way to do it. River City Ransom!!! Now, it's one step closer to the Americas. Even though I've never had the chance to play it, I've wanted to play it for a long, long time. I'll be downloading this one as soon as it hits the VC (please, let it be soon!). The other game released today was long overdue (it was released here about six months ago), Adventure Island.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Four games dated for next week in Japan, plus one Hudson game dated for the US, Europe and Australia:

US:

• Psychosis (TurboGrafx-16)

Source: Hudson's US VC website

Japan:

• Hokuto no Ken (Sega Master System)
• Gleylancer (Sega Mega Drive)
• Power Eleven (PC Engine)
• Neo Nectaris (PC Engine CD)

Source: Nintendo of Japan VC website

Europe/Australia:

• Psychosis (TurboGrafx-16)

Source: Hudson's Europe VC website
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The last game listed in Hudson's schedule for February has been dated for next week in the US, Europe and Australia: Psychosis. A shooter (yep, another one) for the TurboGrafx-16. This will be the first TG16 game in months; the last one we got was Power Golf, back in November.

Japan is getting their first Sega Master System game for the VC: Hokuto no Ken. The game doesn't look particularly good from the videos I saw. I think Sega could have picked a better game for the introduction of the console on the VC; something like Alex Kidd or Shinobi would have been more interesting. Japan is also getting Gleylancer, a Japan-only shooter for the Mega Drive, Power Eleven, a soccer game by Hudson, and Neo Nectaris, the sequel to Military Madness, which had been postponed from last month.

Something interesting about Japan's releases for next week is that there are no games for any Nintendo consoles. I don't think this has ever happened before (at least when four games have been released). There's still one SNES game left in the schedule (Do Re Mi Fantasy), but it looks like it'll be postponed until next month (or may be put on the VC as an irregular release).

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games to be released in the Americas:

• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (Nintendo 64)
• Psychosis (TurboGrafx-16)

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
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Holy.... I seriously wasn't expecting Kirby 64, especially with the recent addition of Kirby's Dreamland 3 to the ESRB listings. This is the fourth Kirby game to hit the VC, but only the second platformer (along with Kirby's Adventure). Just like every other Nintendo franchise, Kirby made the jump to 3D with his first, and only, Nintendo 64 game, but unlike Mario and Zelda, he kept his traditional 2D gameplay. With the release of Kirby 64, we can pretty much forget about Kirby 3 for a while; maybe April at least.

The second game for today was announced last Friday, and it's Psychosis for the TurboGrafx-16. It was developed by Naxat Soft., who also developed Alien's Crush and Devil's Crush for the console. It's a shooter... that's pretty much all I know. We got only shooters this month from Hudson, and although I've only heard good things about Lords of Thunder, I wish Hudson would give us some variety. They don't have to look too far for it (Ys!!!).

 

[Snoopdogga]

UPDATE: Two games to be released in the Americas:

• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (Nintendo 64)
• Psychosis (TurboGrafx-16)

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
_________________________________________________
Holy.... I seriously wasn't expecting Kirby 64, especially with the recent addition of Kirby's Dreamland 3 to the ESRB listings. This is the fourth Kirby game to hit the VC, but only the second platformer (along with Kirby's Adventure). Just like every other Nintendo franchise, Kirby made the jump to 3D with his first, and only, Nintendo 64 game, but unlike Mario and Zelda, he kept his traditional 2D gameplay. With the release of Kirby 64, we can pretty much forget about Kirby 3 for a while; maybe April at least.

The second game for today was announced last Friday, and it's Psychosis for the TurboGrafx-16. It was developed by Naxat Soft., who also developed Alien's Crush and Devil's Crush for the console. It's a shooter... that's pretty much all I know. We got only shooters this month from Hudson, and although I've only heard good things about Lords of Thunder, I wish Hudson would give us some variety. They don't have to look too far for it (Ys!!!).

I prefer Kirby 64 over Kirby's Dreamland 3 simply because it's a N64 game.



Anyways, Kirby 64 was quite a shock. Hopefully, our next N64 game won't be come out of nowhere.

 

[InfinityDragon]

UPDATE: Two games to be released in the Americas:

• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (Nintendo 64)
  
• Psychosis (TurboGrafx-16)
  

Source: Nintendo of America Media Site
_________________________________________________
Holy.... I seriously wasn't expecting Kirby 64, especially with the recent addition of Kirby's Dreamland 3 to the ESRB listings. This is the fourth Kirby game to hit the VC, but only the second platformer (along with Kirby's Adventure). Just like every other Nintendo franchise, Kirby made the jump to 3D with his first, and only, Nintendo 64 game, but unlike Mario and Zelda, he kept his traditional 2D gameplay. With the release of Kirby 64, we can pretty much forget about Kirby 3 for a while; maybe April at least.

The second game for today was announced last Friday, and it's Psychosis for the TurboGrafx-16. It was developed by Naxat Soft., who also developed Alien's Crush and Devil's Crush for the console. It's a shooter... that's pretty much all I know. We got only shooters this month from Hudson, and although I've only heard good things about Lords of Thunder, I wish Hudson would give us some variety. They don't have to look too far for it (Ys!!!).

I prefer Kirby 64 over Kirby's Dreamland 3 simply because it's a N64 game.



Anyways, Kirby 64 was quite a shock. Hopefully, our next N64 game won't be come out of nowhere.

Oh, come on, Snoop. Since when is a game better than another game, just because of the console where it was released? The quality of the game is determined on its own. You can make a crappy game on a powerful system, just like you can make a masterpiece on a so-so system. That sounds like the classic "judging the book by its cover" applied to games.

By the way, I actually like surprises. The games we currently know that might be coming for the Nintendo 64 are not that interesting to me (with the exception of Custom Robo). But I would love it if Nintendo surprises us with Mischief Makers, for example.