http://www.nintendolife.com/

I'll update and bump only when there's something notable released in America. Or if Europe gets something pretty darn awesome before America does.

God, the Virtual Console is beyond weak...

I am eagerly awaiting DK Country. Not this schlock.

When will Nintendo's love affair with shoot-em-ups (or "shmup" in the parlance of our times) end? We have Xevious, R-Type III, Gradius, R-Type, Super Star Soldier, and Soldier Blade. And technically Gunstar Heroes although that's more of a run-and-gun.

I just want Super Metroid, Super Mario RPG and Blast Corps. Is that too much to ask?

When they run out of em Seriously, SHMUPS were the FPS games of their time. Every developer made them, engines were reused for multiple game etc. A GOOD chunk of the NES and TG16 libraries were shmups(especially true in the case of the TG16).

I agree, Nintendo DOES need to bring out some more variety. More platformers, more puzzle games, more 2d fighters, more RPGs.

We know Zelda: OoT is coming soon too. I'd really like to see Mario World and Zelda: A Link to the Past soon too though!

Nintendo will figure this all out soon. Remember, we're all the first owners of the system. The games that are released aren't going to disappear (presumably). Six months from now their VC catalogue will be great.

Also, I'm sure the big N is watching what kind of games are and are not selling. This will factor into their future releases that aren't already scheduled.

yay, another jive week for the VC.

Quick VC question. Before I go out and buy a points card, do any of the games require more then a gamecube controller or the wiimote? IE: Do any require the classic controller?

My friend only uses his WiiMote, though he did buy the Classic Controller, so I'm gonna go ahead and say no to that. A regular WiiMote tilted sideways is all you need.

None thus far, and none for the forseeable future.

So, for the SNES, Sega and N64 ones, my Gamecube controllers will work fine?

Sweet.

Yep, and for reference Wikipedia has a list of which controllers work with which games. So far, the GameCube conroller works with all of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virtu...orth_America%29

There has not yet been a VC title that is not compatible with the gamecube remote.

I know online petitions are generally opointless, but I signed this one anyway.
Petition

Its about getting 60hz optimized versions of the VC games in PAL territories.

R-Type 3? Kick Ass!

I mean, everything else sucks, but R-Type 3 was (arguably) the best entry of the series!

Shootemups were indeed just that common in the 80s and early 90s. So it's a bit of a blast from the past seeing how many are coming out now. It feels so weird because of how dated and...well...bad most of them are compared to modern games.

But it does also throw into sharp relief just how good the really good games are, and makes it very obvious that they're missing from the VC.

I still maintain that I think Nintendo is pushing the crap now so that *maybe* they move a few units of them. Because once the good stuff comes out, of course everyone's buying it.

But considering the seemingly endless crapstream of the past few weeks, it's also showing just how off their pricing scheme is. Most of the games coming out are buck or two games - not 6-8 buck games. They need to not tier the pricing by system, but by game quality. There's no way that original Baseball should be as much as, say, Zelda. And back in the day, on the store shelves, it wasn't.

I agree, I notice that one shoot em up for PC Engine is more expensive than all the other PC Engine games, but that's sort of the opposite of what I wanted (they're overpriced as is)

I echo Liege CymruCon's post, especially about Blast Corps.

That game needs to get the VC treatment...though that might be difficult, since its a Rare game. On the other hand, doesnt Nintendo own the rights to the Blast Corps name and the contents of the original?

Translate me some Fire Emblems not released in the US, Nintendo! Sure, translation patches and emulators work, but...

Games I wanna see available soon
Ocarina of time
Majora's mask
Donkey kong 64
Super mario bros 2 & 3
Super metroid
ninja gaiden
mike tysons/super punchout
contra

I know. I know. Make them a regular Wii collection or DS games, then. Just give me my official FEage!

I know Probotector is the censored Contra but I prefer Probotector more. I was bought the NES game one Christmas because the artwork looked like Transformers.

Unfortunately Street Fighter II and Super Probotector aren't optimised (BASTARDS!), so don't waste your money on them.

The US Virtual Console service has Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past available today.

If you've never owned or played it before, BUY IT! It's still one astonishing videogame.

hot rumor hot rumor hot rumor

Are we (the US) getting Super Mario World next week? That seems to be the buzz.

What does "optimised" mean to you?

He's reffering to the crappy PAL versions Europeans get that run 17% slower with big black borders top and bottom.
Online petition with 1400 signatures

That's what you get for sticking with your Truer Black!

Are there really that many people who *haven't* played LttP? I mean, I figure this download will FLY because everyone knows and loves that game!

It's official...

Europeans.

I played it on an emulator once.

I'd def give Mario Kart 64 a go, love the Snes one and my GC one.

Finally, some N64 love! Mario 64 was getting mighty lonely up there.

This is the one 64 game that I REALLY wanted.

Ah okay thanks. Then there's no problem with my version.

I will get Mario 64 fo' shizzle.

This week's new Virtual Console games in Europe are Star Soldier (PC Engine), and Mario Kart 64!

EDIT: I've been told that VC Mario Kart 64 is optimised, just as Super Mario 64 is!

I won't be interested in VC until they provide games that I don't already have, or give me an experience I can't get with my modded Xbox or classic systems.

Take Contra for the 360. I bought that because it's a version that I never really played much before, I can play with my friends that live far from me, and because of the leaderboards.

I had high hopes for VC, sofar, they're not hitting any of them.

At this point, I have all the games I want that are currently up for DL. Has there been any word on Super Metroid coming at all? That's what I really want to see.

Contra III and Mario Kart 64 are good titles for the VC, which has been improving lately.

How good is Contra III? I was a HUGE fan of the original and probably beat that game 100 times back in the day. Is the 3rd one just as fun?

I liked it.

Contra 3 is my favorite of them all.

Nothing beats dueling two weapons.

Contra III is a classic. I'm certain you'll love it, it's great. It's rock-bollocks-hard, mind.


(The game is also known as Contra Spirits in Japan and Super Probotector in Europe, fact fans. Whatever it's called, it was one of the most astonishingly well-presented games I'd ever seen when I first played it many years ago.)

Can't wait to download Mariokart 64. Never played LttP, but I may download it just for the Hell of it all.

Contra 3 is the best one.

Contra III is a great game, but as mentioned, really hard. Oh, and FINALLY, a week that has some games worth downloading. I nabbed Mario Kart 64 already.

Contra 3 is arguably the best enttry of the series. I say that, but I've got no idea who would argue with it.

I mean, the only one that even comes close is Hard Corps. Even then.

Super Probotector is the best Contra game. So hurrah.



Wasn't the PAL version of MK64 already optimised? Super Mario Kart was definately sped up to run faster on the PAL version to make it the same speed as the US version - hence if you ran an PAL cart on a US SNES you could get faster lap times...

Phazer

The SNES had/has some of THE best games ever, so naturally Contra III is amazing.
I can finally own ALTTP. Nice to see its up on the VC. Now if only Metroid III would show up. I do own the original cartridge, heck I even own the original Japanese cartidge. I just want to see it up on the VC so others who havent played this AMAZING game, can experience the awe that is Super Metroid III!

VGM out...

Didn't know that.

Well, PAL Mario Kart 64 wasn't optimised in the sense that the graphics were bordered/distorted. Mario Kart 64 on our VC is full screen, but I have no idea if it is the speed of the NTSC game.

Didn't it? At it's peak, there were classics released for the thing monthly. What an amazing little machine.

I want to see it so I can buy and finally replay it! I just have not had the chance to find the original cart in my local gamestore.

Just made my first purchases today: Columns and Super Castlevania. I'll be getting Link tomorrow for sure!

They NEED to put out:
Super Metroid
Blackthorne
Lost Vikings I & II

I love those games