Wii Virtual Console - Timeline
Wednesday12th Dec 2012
Review BurgerTime (Wii Virtual Console / NES)
Burger building bonanza
When the coin-op release of BurgerTime hit arcades in 1982, it was praised for its quirky theme and wildly unique gameplay design. Given the game's popularity at the time, it garnered a port on just about every home game system and personal computer of the period. The NES release came a bit later, but it was a fairly accurate...
Thursday6th Dec 2012
Nintendo Download 6th December 2012 (North America)
Titanic murders, mighty bombs, burgers and retail goodies
It's Nintendo Download update time, and this week brings a rather lengthy list of titles for North America. All four systems are covered, with quite a few retail games making their download début, so let's get on with it. 3DS download software: Murder on the Titanic (Joindots GmbH, $7.99)...
Wednesday5th Dec 2012
Nintendo Download 6th December 2012 (Europe)
UPDATE: Wario 3 joins Denpa men, hyper mighty switching and a paper adventure
After a few days of suspense — the release day of EU download details varies every week — we finally know what to expect in the Wii U, 3DS, DSi and Wii online stores this week. All four systems are accounted for, which should warm up any Nintendo gaming Europeans...
Tuesday27th Nov 2012
Review Ninja Master's: Haō Ninpō Chō (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Something old, something new
Not only were there a huge number of fighting games throughout the lifespan of the Neo Geo system, there was also a serious amount of variety in the styles and executions of those games. While most Neo Geo fans will associate developer ADK with its popular World Heroes series, it was its final release for the system,...
Thursday22nd Nov 2012
Nintendo Download 22nd November 2012 (North America)
Mallo returns, Link has an adventure, spirits are hunted and more
It's Thursday, which only means one thing here on Nintendo Life - it's download update time. This week sees a return for a popular 3DS eShop IP, a classic NES title, a long awaited DSiWare release and some other goodies. Nintendo's press release only mentions the Wii U eShop games...
Tuesday20th Nov 2012
Nintendo Download 22nd November 2012 (Europe)
Flying, dressing up, fighting spirits and more
There was a certain big release over in North America at the weekend, but fear not Europeans! You get to find out what downloads are coming first, so that's one-up right there. We have a 3DS launch title flying in as a retail download, as well as offerings on every platform; you can check out the...
Friday16th Nov 2012
News Donkey Kong Country Trilogy To Be Pulled From Wii Virtual Console
Donkey Gone-ga
According to an image uploaded onto Twitter by Daan Koopman (@NintenDaan), Nintendo is to remove Donkey Kong Country and its SNES sequels from the European Wii Virtual Console this month, on 25th November. The following games will be removed: Donkey Kong Country Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Tuesday13th Nov 2012
Review Sengoku 2 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Transformations and annihilations
SNK may have dedicated a large portion of their efforts to the one-on-one fighting genre, but occasionally they would branch out into other game types, sometimes with rather successful results. The original Sengoku was praised for its unique use of character transformations, but the play controls weren't always the...
Thursday8th Nov 2012
Nintendo Download 8th November 2012 (North America)
Paper Mario, Pokédex, dress up witches and dragons
It's that time again, when we drop everything we're doing to fire up the 3DS eShop, DSi Shop and maybe, on occasion, the Wii Shop. Yes, it's the Nintendo Download update, and this week has a mixture of retail treats, a demo and some lesser known download titles. Let's get to it. 3DS Download...
Tuesday6th Nov 2012
Nintendo Download 8th November 2012 (Europe)
Pokédex, 3D surfing, cake slicing and troopers
Details of this week's European update have arrived, and they're perhaps not the night sky fireworks we'd hope for at this time of year. There's still some variety across all platforms and a long awaited app arrives, though the price may surprise some. 3DS Download Software: Pokédex 3D Pro...
Thursday1st Nov 2012
Review Shock Troopers (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Don't think, just shoot!
While the run-and-gun genre generally evolved into the side-scrolling blast-a-thons we all know and love, there were a few titles during the early arcade days that took a more overhead perspective like Capcom's popular Commando arcade release. It was this direction that developer Saurus took when it came time to put together...
Nintendo Download 1st November 2012 (North America)
Freakiness, fast gnomz, hidden objects and cake slicing
While some Nintendo Download updates, particularly in recent weeks, are full of juicy and exciting options, we're not sure that this is one of those occasions. Both DSi and 3DS are covered with a mixture of titles, but Wii is left out entirely; no, there isn't even a Neo Geo fighter to keep the...
Wednesday31st Oct 2012
News The Famicom's Biggest Rival Is 25 Years Old
NEC's groundbreaking PC Engine comes of age
It makes us feel very old to say it, but NEC's popular 8-bit PC Engine console turned 25 yesterday. Better known in the US as the TurboGrafx-16, the system launched in Japan on October 30th, 1987 (yes, we know we're a day late with this) - a time when the Famicom was enjoying a period of total and utter...
Tuesday30th Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 1st November 2012 (Europe)
Monsters, samurai, spaceships and dragons
It's that time again when we cross our fingers and hope for some downloadable treats from Nintendo, hoping against hope that we aren't subjected to tricks instead. This week is a mixed bag, with promising, awful and mystery downloads available across all platforms, so let's get to it. 3DS Download: Monster...
Thursday25th Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 25th October 2012 (North America)
Liberation, a NightSky, puzzles, free extras and plenty of monsters
The Nintendo Download update has had some good weeks in recent times, and following today's Nintendo Direct we finally have the information on today's offerings; it looks like this is another one that'll have something for everyone. With DLC, a demo, a retail release and a number of...
Monday22nd Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 25th October 2012 (Europe)
Heavy Fire and Mighty Bomb Jack make for slim pickings - thank goodness for Layton
Ouch. Not much in the way of downloadable goodness this week, with just three games available - all of which are 3DS-based and one of which is a retail download. Aside from some downloadable videos and a smattering of DLC, there's not much else to report. 3DS Retail...
Thursday18th Oct 2012
Review The Last Blade 2 (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Last Blade Part Deux
When the original Last Blade title was released it took weapons-based fighting in 2D to new heights with its fluid play controls and intense fighting action. Not wanting to rest on its laurels, SNK soon put together a sequel that didn't try to really overhaul anything, but rather stuck to tweaking a few minor aspects of the...
Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (North America)
Time to get stylish, pose for the camera, go fishing, fly a spaceship and more
North America has enjoyed some busy Nintendo Download updates of late, with plenty of variety to choose from. This week is no exception with something for everyone, and the odd surprise, so let's get on with it. 3DS Download: Sparkle Snapshots 3D (Nintendo, $5.99) —...
News Ghosts 'n' Goblins Coming To 3DS eShop Next Week
Ready to make your blood boil?
It may not be that Mega Man game you were hoping for (and thank god it's not Mega Man Xover), but Capcom has just announced that the NES version of Ghosts 'n' Goblins will be making its way onto the 3DS eShop on 25th October in America. This soul-crushing side-scroller hit arcades ba
Wednesday17th Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 18th October 2012 (Europe)
Mega Man goes portable, Mad Dogs, free Mutant Mudds DLC and more
While last week brought Pokémon dreaming and long-awaited samurai action to Europe, this week's update aims for the surprise factor. The upcoming 25th Anniversary of a certain Blue Bomber is celebrated, sort of, a retro light-gun game get's a second chance on the 3DS eShop, while the...
Thursday11th Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 11th October 2012 (North America)
Mario gets on the course, robots are rescued, the one true demo arrives and more
Last week was a bit of a bumper week for the Nintendo Download update in North America, and we have another packed list for you. Every platform is covered in some form, and there's a demo and some videos to fill your time too; let's get right into it. 3DS Downloads:...
Tuesday9th Oct 2012
News Capcom Responds To The Lack Of Mega Man On 3DS
Too good to be true?
If we were to choose one franchise that is disappointingly absent from the 3DS library, it would have to be Mega Man. Following the soul-shattering decision to cancel Mega Man Legends 3, Capcom released Mega Man 1-3 on the 3DS eShop, but these Virtual Console titles have been limited to Japan. With fans clamoring for a Western...
Saturday6th Oct 2012
Rumour GameCube Coming to Wii U Virtual Console
It's bound to happen, right?
The Wii U eShop is still a mystery, to the extent that we're assuming that it'll be branded as "eShop" on the basis of new pre-paid funding cards spotted in North America. Another mystery is the Virtual Console, as we've only been introduced to new download titles scheduled for the launch period, with few clues as to...
Friday5th Oct 2012
Review Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers (Wii Virtual Console / Neo Geo)
Fair and balanced
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers marks the seventh release in the series and the third and final release in the Real Bout sub-series. While there has always been a lot of debate about whether this game or Real Bout Fatal Fury Special is the better overall fighting game, it's nice to see SNK-Playmore giving Virtual Console fans...
Monday1st Oct 2012
Nintendo Download 4th October 2012 (Europe)
Puzzling moles, demo pinball and more fatal fury
It's time for our regular Monday pick-me-up in the form of the European Nintendo Download update. Only three new offerings this week, but let's get to it. 3DS eShop: Mole Mania (Nintendo, £2.69/€2.99) — Mole Mania arrived in the North American store earlier in the summer, but those in Europe...
Friday14th Sep 2012
News Sorry, But GBA Games Aren't Coming To The 3DS Virtual Console After All
Nintendo Australia issues 'corrective statement'
Remember that Dr. Mario GBA page we told you about on the Nintendo of Australia website? The one that made us think that GBA games may be on their way to the 3DS Virtual Console? Sadly, it was all just a big mistake. The page was listed 'in error' and Nintendo's Aussie department has issued the...
Thursday13th Sep 2012
News You'll Be Able To Play Your WiiWare and Virtual Console Games On Wii U
Put down those pitchforks
Today's Japanese Nintendo Direct presentation was packed full of cool new information, but one item that will prove especially interesting for hardcore Wii downloaders is the news that digital Wii purchases will be transferable to the Wii U. That means you'll be able to re-download all of your existing WiiWare and Virtual...
Monday10th Sep 2012
Nintendo Download 13th September 2012 (Europe)
Zelda II, some bookworms and a metallic slug - it's all happening in this week's Euro Nintendo Download
3DS Virtual Console: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Nintendo, £4.50) — Arguably one of the most controversial games in the Zelda bloodline, this second NES outing combines side-scrolling action with top-down adventuring to create a heady mix...
Thursday6th Sep 2012
Nintendo Download 6th September 2012 (North America)
Balloon popping, puzzles from Nikoli, princely acrobatics and crazy hunting
It's time for another Nintendo Download update, and we reckon that no-one should be able to complain of a lack of variety. We have two new 3DS eShop titles, a stone-cold Super NES classic on Wii Virtual Console and a wacky sounding DSiWare title. Check out the details below...
Tuesday4th Sep 2012
News Reward Yourself With Smash Bros. on NA Club Nintendo
Smashing
If you're yet to experience the very beginnings of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, you might be interested in the latest North American Club Nintendo reward: the original Super Smash Bros. on Virtual Console. The classic Nintendo 64 fighter is available as a prize until 16th September. It's a bit pricier than usual at 200 reward coins,...
