Wii-kly Virtual Console Update: 10/01/07
It's a beautiful day for the Virtual Console. Today marks the first time that games that have never before been available in the Western Hemisphere have appeared on the VC, and the choices are great!
First up is the true sequel to Super Mario Bros., and that is Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (know in Japan as Super Mario Bros. 2, NES, 600 Wii Points). I've played this particular one before and actually have it...as a part of Super Mario All-Stars on the SNES. It's a fun game, though, if you've never played it before, it is much more difficult than you might be expecting. You have gusts that can blow you off of ledges, poison mushrooms and some "new" enemies, as well. It's nothing but good times.
The next game on this week's short but sweet release list is Sin & Punishment (1,200 points), a game developed by Treasure. ...and we all know Treasure games are something to behold and...uhh...treasure. I remember reading about this game way back when it was coming out in 2000 for the Nintendo 64. S&P, not Standard and Poor's you financial nerds, is an anime inspired, arcade-style shooter that is supposed to awesome. Fear not, non-Japanese speakers, for the game features English voice-overs with Japanese subtitles. Personally, I prefer the reverse, but this should do me just fine. I think I'll open my tight wallet and pick this one up tonight.
So, with all of that. Are there any import titles you are hoping to be released on the VC?
Wii-kly Update: Two New Classic Games Added to Wii Shop Channel
This is a special week on the Wii Shop Channel. Frankly, it’s a gamer’s dream
come true: Nintendo is launching the new Import genre with the release of two
games that previously have never been available in the Western Hemisphere on
their original platforms. The first will be hugely popular with Mario™ fans,
who will love reliving the style of his classic games as they encounter new
skills, new levels and new dangers. Nintendo® 64 enthusiasts also get a
masterpiece of the shooter genre and perhaps the best game never released
outside of Japan. Welcome to Import Week for the Wii Shop Channel!
The two new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new
games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. 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:
Super Mario Bros.™: The Lost Levels™ (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone,
600 Wii Points): Originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros.® 2, this
game has previously made only brief cameo appearances in the Western
Hemisphere. Now available on the Virtual Console™ in all of its original
splendor, Mario fans will appreciate the familiar look and feel of the game,
while finding that its updated game play creates an entirely new challenge. No
longer content just to wear different-colored overalls, Mario and Luigi also
possess different skill sets: Mario can stop quicker, while Luigi can jump
higher. In addition to the classic enemies already known to fans worldwide,
there are also Poison Mushrooms, backward Warp Zones, and the occasional wind
gust (which can help or hinder your progress) to take into account. And if
that’s somehow not enough, expert players can go looking for the game’s secret
worlds. So get ready to put your Mario skills to the ultimate test, and save
the Princess again. Just don’t be surprised if she’s in another castle.
Sin & Punishment™ (Nintendo 64, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen – Blood, Fantasy
Violence, Mild Language, 1,200 Wii Points): Created by the legendary
development studio Treasure, this is a game that hard-core gamers and fans of
Japanese imports recognize as one of the finest Nintendo 64 titles to have
never previously reached North American shores. Its unique combination of
English voice-overs with Japanese subtitles (preserved in this version) has
only added to the enthusiasm for its eventual release here. Experience the
frenetic pace of a classic shooter, while choosing from a variety of options
and a number of different skill levels until you are ready to take on the
full-blown challenge of Turbo Hard mode. Not to be outdone by the action,
however, the intriguing story line gives the game its soul and draws you even
further into the mix. Set in the near future, on an overpopulated Earth
starved for resources, players uncover the intriguing mystery of two teenagers
(Saki and Airan) and their battle against the Ruffians as they advance through
level after level of nonstop action. Take a deep breath, gather your energy
and prepare to see why this game is so highly praised.
Super Timsy
Posted to Video Games on 1 October 2007
· Comments (5)
Other stuff like this: Nintendo, Sin & Punishment, Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels, Treasure, VC, Virtual Console, Wii
600 points, and 1200 points? Are those prices right?
Who in their right mind would pay that much?
1200 Points is better than the 5000 to 7000 Points it would take to locate S&P on a cart via ebay.
I will *gladly* buy this tonight. This is the type of release that I want to see on the Virtual Console: New games I don't already own! If I'm not getting online co-op, leaderboards or anything fancy like that, the least they can do is make sure that truly unique games that I'm not going to find else where get released.
I just hope that this means that we can expect gems that past english speaking territories before get a new life, like Mother series (aka Earthbound) or the early Fire Emblem games.
The reason for the increase in price for S&P is because they went into the game and did a little bit more of a translation job to smooth the transition to North America.
Very cool! Frankly, it's about time Nintendo started bringing out these classic games that most people never had a chance to play in the US. Now they can just bring over Mother, Mother 2 (Earthbound), and Mother 3 (in English of course) to the Virtual Console. That would be absolutely awesome. Also, as someone else already said, the earlier Fire Emblem games would be awesome as well. While I'm not a fan of these increased prices, it's definitely worth it to get these great games in a localized form.
I so wanted to play sin and punishment since it came out but never got the chance
so I just got it tonight and its as fun as I hoped it would be