The whip, the whip, the whip is on fire!
WiiWare is back with a vengeance and Japan gets its teeth into Castlevania: Rebirth
After a hiatus Japanese download services are back in top form with 4 new WiiWare releases, 4 new VC releases and (only) 3 DSiWare titles - not too shabby!
WiiWare
Simple Series Vol. 5: The Judo (700pts - D3Publisher) -- A first-person judo game featuring local 2-player splitscreen multiplayer and online leaderboards. Not bad for 700points; if it controls well it would make a nice companion to Tecmo's Sumo game. There's some kind of reference to checking national and world rankings, so is it possible this could be brought out overseas or is that just referring to the fact that there are 20 characters from around the world to choose from?
Shadow dancin'
Shadow Walker: Boy of Shadow, Fairy of Light (1000pts - Game Arts) -- Game Arts has little presence on the Wii outside of working on Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game. This is their first self-published effort and seems to be some kind of action-platformer where you need to stay in shadows to traverse levels.
Dracula Legend: ReBirth (1000pts - Konami) -- This is the 3rd "ReBirth" title from Konami and re-works the Gameboy game known outside of Japan as Castlevania: The Adventure.
Whilst it's not currently clear if this is simply a graphical overhaul of the original game, the description on the Japanese Nintendo page makes reference to the music consisting of rearranged songs "from the series." Depending upon the release schedule elsewhere you may see some First Impressions of this game next week.
Bit.Trip VOID (500pts - Arc System Works) -- Barring a surprise Monday it seems that Japan is getting a Bit.Trip game before North America for the first time (if so expect some First Impressions from Yours Truly)! Like the other Bit.Trip games this one is 100pts cheaper in Japan than the 600pts normally charged elsewhere. You can read more information on this exciting new game from developer Gaijin Games on our dedicated page.
Everybody was judo fightin'
Virtual Console
Championship Lode Runner (Famicom 500pts - Hudson) -- A classic 8-bit computer game from Broderbund with gameplay similar to arcade classic Space Panic and is one of the first games that allowed players to create their own levels. This is the Famicom port of the sequel which included 50 user-generated levels (now that's a good way to reduce development costs). Thus far only Battle Lode Runner for the PC Engine has seen worldwide release (the original NES Lode Runner has yet to see a PAL release), but with Hudson behind it there's a good chance of it coming out elsewhere.
Sonic & Knuckles (Mega Drive 600pts - Sega) -- Even if it's only been announced in Japan fans should be happy because it surely means a world-wide rollout will follow. The Mega Drive cartridge for this game had a pass-through port which allowed players to use Knuckles in the Sonic 2 & 3 games by plugging the other cart into the top. Fans will be pleased to know the Japanese Sega page for this VC release states that folk who own the other Sonic games on Virtual Console for Mega Drive will have access to the same special features available that were in the original cartridge release.
Faceoff (Arcade 800pts - Namco) -- A cartoony ice hockey game played with a top down perspective. Released in arcades in 1988, players could choose a team from various mighty hockey nations like the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, France (?) and Japan (!!??) to play in a tournament against the rest.
Fall dog bombs the moon
Rolling Thunder 2 (Arcade 800pts - Namco) -- The Mega Drive version of this arcade classic has been out for some time in all territories. Aside from better sound, music and slightly improved animations it's not clear there's any real incentive for getting this over the port unless you're a die-hard fan.
DSiWare
Earth Saver: Meteorite Haku Ha Dai Sakusen (200pts - Tom Create) -- A cheap and cheerful game where you need to Save the Earth from a killer meteor by planting bombs on it and blowing it to bits. Okay, maybe not so cheerful.
Puzzle Magazine Crossword House Vol. 6 (500pts - Nintendo) -- Nintendo keeps the Japanese crosswords coming!
Koku Yaburete San Kawaari (800pts - Square-Enix) -- A fantasy strategy game that can be played solo or networked locally with up to four players for competitive fun (well, that's what Square says anyway).
1. JayArr
23 Oct 2009, 15:49 BST
Sonic & Knuckles! Bit Trip VOID! Castlevania Rebirth!
Man, I was born in the wrong country.
2. Ezekiel
23 Oct 2009, 15:51 BST
Nice japan you got Castlevania: The Adventure.
3. ReZon
23 Oct 2009, 15:55 BST
Do want Castlevania!
4. Roebuck
23 Oct 2009, 15:57 BST
Waah! When does the states get Castlevania: ReBirth?!?
5. jpcicno6
23 Oct 2009, 15:57 BST
just WOW lol
Hope castlevania hits Europe next week - ive got some backlog to download (ie Lostwinds, Swords and Soldiers and this when it comes out)
6. Mickeymac
23 Oct 2009, 16:04 BST
Wow, Sonic & Knuckles, Eath Saver, Bit.Trip Void, and Castlevania: ReBirth? Man, it's a great day to live in Japan! As always, I'm hoping for a quick NA release of all these games.
7. KDR_11k
23 Oct 2009, 16:08 BST
The screenshot of CV Rebirth has subweapons, I don't think CV Adventure had those so it would be a step up already.
8. Opa-Opa
23 Oct 2009, 16:24 BST
We want Sonic & Knuckles too!
9. Miyabi273
23 Oct 2009, 16:33 BST
I am jealous on so many levels...
10. Shiryu
23 Oct 2009, 16:41 BST
Face Off! Truly, there is a huge gap between Japanese VC and our western simblings...
11. Sneaker13
23 Oct 2009, 16:42 BST
Damn you Japan. Lot's of fun games. Shadow Walker: Boy of Shadow, Fairy of Light sound brilliant. But I'm glad they get Castlevania Rebirth before the rest of the world. Maybe Sean can review it before it hits the rest of the world. Probably not next week. If I'm not mistaken that's when LiT comes out.
12. PhoenixSage
23 Oct 2009, 16:50 BST
Sonic & Knuckles (with lock-on)!
Wow...can't wait that to hit stateside.
13. Turkey Brutus
23 Oct 2009, 16:59 BST
What a fantastic update.
It's POSSIBLE we'll get both Castelvania and Void on Monday then. If we did, that might be the single best NA WiiWare update ever.
14. Damo
23 Oct 2009, 17:09 BST
I think the most recent Euro release schedule for WiiWare had Castlevania Rebirth coming out in 2010. Sorry guys.
Not sure about the US release, though. Would be good for Halloween.
15. Ren
23 Oct 2009, 17:17 BST
holy crap!
4 ww games?! and they all look great. I'm really curious to know more about this shadow walker. Will we get impressions on that one, Sean?
Judo looks like it could be fun if it's motion based using grabs and tosses like real judo, but I fear maybe it won't ever see daylight outside of Japan. Will we get impressions on that too? How many of us must live vicariously through Sean for all his imports?
16. Rapadash6
23 Oct 2009, 17:24 BST
Great news about Sonic and Knuckles. I was beginning to think it was never coming but I guess the delay was worth it, what with lock-on left completely in tact. Sweet!
17. siavm
23 Oct 2009, 17:28 BST
Wow. Not only do they get more games in one week the rest of the world gets in a month, but alot of them sound good. When can we have a week like this.
18. Angelic Lapras King
23 Oct 2009, 17:38 BST
Sonic and Knuckles? Wow, hell froze over.... XD
19. Ratengo
23 Oct 2009, 18:01 BST
WHOA... what an amazing update! It's almost unbelievable that Nintendo would release multiple platformers like Sonic, Rolling Thunder and Castlevania at same day outside Japan any time. I second to Ren - can someone give us impressions on Shadow Walker, pretty please...?
@Sean: The Japanese can play ice hockey for sure. Here's the evidence!
20. Starwolf_UK
23 Oct 2009, 18:13 BST
@Damo. I like to think of it as a reverse Castlevania 3. That said, I don't take release lists Nintendo of Europe make seriously anymore (they change too often and no point getting worked up over it).
Thing about Sonic and Knuckles is I'm more interested in the technical side of how they're getting the lock-on to work than anything else. I know its just combining files that any basic command line can do but you can either do that on the fly (in this case grabbing the appropriate ROMs off of the Wiis NAND and patching it in RAM) or you can have it all prepared...
21. motang
23 Oct 2009, 18:37 BST
Cool, hopefully we won't be too far from getting Castlevania ReBirth ourselves!
22. Ezekiel
23 Oct 2009, 18:55 BST
Im almost positive that castle rebirth is not coming next monday. Were getting that Tales of monkey 3 like every month i bet and Ghost mansion party. If we get another wiiware (not sure we will considering the last few weeks we got 1-2) then it may be one of the games europe has like i really think we may get the Happy holidays:halloween because its the last week for october.
23. Token Girl
23 Oct 2009, 19:06 BST
Best...update....ever!
24. Ratengo
23 Oct 2009, 19:12 BST
@Starwolf_UK: I'm not sure but it seems that you have to purchase all three Sonic prequels to activate the lock-on menu by the game save files on your console, according to Sega's VC site (if I don't misread in Japanese)...?
25. morphballer
23 Oct 2009, 19:46 BST
@Ratengo: So wait... Are you saying if I only have Sonic 3 I can't do the lock-on thingy with Sonic and Knuckles?
26. Kevin
23 Oct 2009, 19:53 BST
I'm pleased to hear they managed to fit in the lock on games for Sonic & Knuckles and along with that kept it at Japan's rate of 600 points. Now let's see if the same will hold true for NA and Europe. Only time will tell and I cannot wait!!!
27. Egg miester
23 Oct 2009, 20:15 BST
we need castlevania this monday or i'll go more krazy and bite someone
28. double sunday
23 Oct 2009, 20:26 BST
i wish north america could get the same respect
29. Rhansley64
23 Oct 2009, 20:34 BST
seeing Sonic and Knuckles finally release on VC gaves me hope that i might finally experience playing as Knuckles in Sonic 3 so SEGA and Nintendo when can we get Sonic CD?
30. Cheezy
23 Oct 2009, 20:34 BST
I'm moving there...
31. Tony
23 Oct 2009, 20:35 BST
My goodness hats off to NOJ for an awesome update.Lets get Sonic and Knuckles out soon.
32. Stuffgamer1
23 Oct 2009, 20:45 BST
This Sonic & Knuckles lock-on deal is really a huge slap in the face to everybody who bought Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, which does NOT include this very basic, obvious feature (for BS reasons). Now the games have lock-on for Virtual Console AND Xbox Live Arcade, but no patch has been announced for the aforementioned collection!? Hey SEGA, if you think you're getting my money with this BS, you are WRONG! Extremely angry emoticon here.
As for everything else, I continue my general envy of the Japanese Nintendo download releases. I still wanna know why America can't get piles of stuff like this, when it seems like the LOGICAL release route during a recession! Scowls at NoA.
33. WolfRamHeart
23 Oct 2009, 20:46 BST
Holy crap! What a fantastic update! Japan gets Castlevania ReBirth, Bit. Trip Void, Sonic and Knuckles and Shadow Walker all on the same day!? That is unbelievable! I am so jealous!
34. That Guy from Faxanadu
23 Oct 2009, 21:07 BST
Castlevania Adventure: Rebirth is clearly not just a graphical update. It seems to borrow elements from other games, like the subweapons.
35. odd69
23 Oct 2009, 21:17 BST
Japan's download day makes our good days here in America and Europe look like shit. hahahaha. It's everytime too.
36. Roebuck
23 Oct 2009, 22:34 BST
@ Egg miester: You and me both
37. Sean Aaron
23 Oct 2009, 22:41 BST
I will happily download all the WiiWare releases for First Impressions, however they're not that cheap so it might be spread out a bit. For sure Castlevania Adventure Rebirth and Bit.Trip VOID; I cannot recall what my remaining points balace is, but if I have leftover I'll get one of the others as well.
38. KnucklesSonic8
23 Oct 2009, 22:49 BST
Sonic and Knuckles, Bit.Trip VOID AND Shadow Walker?! Okay, now I'm jealous (haven't been for over 2 weeks)!
39. Digiki
24 Oct 2009, 00:04 BST
Shadow Walker: Boy of Shadow, Fairy of Light looks pretty interesting, lets hope it comes around.
Sonic and Knuckles isn't very good, so we can do without it.
40. Super Smash Bros. Fan1999
24 Oct 2009, 00:06 BST
Now I'm jelous of Japan. My 6th most anticapated title just released in Japan, let's see when they'll release it worldwide.
41. Mickeymac
24 Oct 2009, 00:58 BST
Sonic and Knuckles isn't very good, so we can do without it.
Okay, so who's this we now? I for one would love to see this game on the VC ASAP!
42. Bass X0
24 Oct 2009, 02:38 BST
I assume that once you downloaded S&K and another Sonic game, you'll be able to download the lock-on version as a seperate channel for free. I couldn't imagine them doing it any other way.
43. vio
24 Oct 2009, 03:24 BST
Jesus, Japan gets all the good stuff. It's video game heaven over there.
44. vakama94
24 Oct 2009, 05:20 BST
noooo, japan got Bit. Trip Void first
well, anyway, i hope we get it on monday along with Castlevania
45. Kenji510
24 Oct 2009, 05:38 BST
Wow japan got some really good games and u know they always will no matter what it is and what they get all the time.... man, i wish i was born japanese and live in japan and would play all these cool games as well... man why cant we all be born as japanese and live in japan ya know?
46. Jockolantern
24 Oct 2009, 08:58 BST
That is one seriously epic update. I am sure that next Monday's American VC/WiiWare update will be equally epic... in the exact opposite way, no doubt.
But, eh, I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised.
47. Starwolf_UK
24 Oct 2009, 10:33 BST
@Bass X0. Here is a video of the lock-on in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTy77euSyHk
It is a menu built into the game.
48. NintenDude97
24 Oct 2009, 13:12 BST
Japan gets everything...
49. Bass X0
24 Oct 2009, 18:15 BST
Fine. I didn't expect them to do it that simply.
50. Relevant Latty
24 Oct 2009, 18:32 BST
Sonic and Knuckles! This is awesome news!
51. Atlantis1982
24 Oct 2009, 18:34 BST
Lovely, more reminders of how much NoA just plain out fails.
52. StarBoy91
24 Oct 2009, 19:19 BST
Wow! @_@ That Castlevania Adventure Rebirth looks like a 16-bit title. Finally another 16-bit Castlevania title other than Super Castlevania IV, should it come to to the US. I'm so interested.
53. JohnshiBRPG
24 Oct 2009, 19:37 BST
The Wiiware Selection is very different from our region of NA goods, since the Republicans has conquered the US for 14 out of 17 terms before Obama, there are really some idiots who want to just make cash due to very little knowledge of making games.
54. StarFox
24 Oct 2009, 20:11 BST
And NOA's IOU list grows larger.
Super Mario Kart
Kirby Super Star
Super Smash Bros.
Sonic & Knuckles
55. StarBoy91
24 Oct 2009, 20:36 BST
Devil World is also a game I'm interested in playing on the VC.
56. Clinker
24 Oct 2009, 21:59 BST
@StarFox
Add just about every single Namco arcade game to that IOU list!
57. StarBoy91
24 Oct 2009, 22:34 BST
^...and Devil World! I'm interested in that Pac-Man clone.
58. Stuffgamer1
25 Oct 2009, 01:26 BST
And Mario's Super Picross...
59. WolfLink22
25 Oct 2009, 08:02 GMT
Man i bought the wrong Wii.I mean come on they have the following VC Games:
Super Smash Bros
Super Mario Kart
Sonic & Knuckles
Fire Emblem
Panel de pon which would be Tetris Attack in USA
and that is just naming a few VC Games not in USA.
60. Sean Aaron
25 Oct 2009, 09:35 GMT
Devil World isn't available in the States? That was my free NES title on my PAL Wii...
61. gabikun
25 Oct 2009, 12:22 GMT
What happened to Japan releases?? They only received 4 wii-ware, 4 Virtual console and 3 DSi ware games this weekend!! And all of the games are pretty bad ones (castlevania rebirth, for example). Japanese Wii and DSi owners will start to complain if you, nintendo, continue like this. (ironic-mode on).
62. Stuffgamer1
25 Oct 2009, 12:40 GMT
@Sean Aaron: Yeah, I know it was...I complained at the time. What's weird is...that means it's not an import title for you! NO FAIR! It was NEVER released in America at all!
63. StarBoy91
25 Oct 2009, 14:53 GMT
@Stuffgamer1 - Because of "abnormal" censorship issues, as far as I looked up. I'm amazed that it's got crosses in it, and enemies that look like Waddle Doos.
64. Stuffgamer1
25 Oct 2009, 19:45 GMT
Yeah, I know...there's no WAY NoA would've let that game release back in the 80's. I'm surprised NoE let it through. Did they not have censorship issues like NoA did?
65. RadioShadow
25 Oct 2009, 22:06 GMT
I wonder how the connectivity is going to work for Sonic and Knuckles? Interesting to find out!
66. Sean Aaron
26 Oct 2009, 09:37 GMT
Check the comments RadioShadow, looks like it's via a menu option in K&S.
67. Sushie
27 Oct 2009, 18:14 GMT
Japan, you are spoiled. I wish WE could get some of those old Megaten games.
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