The Wii and Wii U have plenty of controllers and combinations on offer, even if on most occasions we can instinctively pick up our pad of choice and get on with playing. With the Wii U and Wii Virtual Consoles, though, there can be quirks that trip people up, one being the fact that the Wii U GameCube Controller Adapter works in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U but not in Wii games - or any other games, for that matter - that supported the controller on the last-gen hardware.
That GameCube controller example with the Wii U is probably the trickiest example, but in any case a keen retro gamer over on NeoGaf has decided to pull together an infographic to show which controllers work with each platform across the existing Virtual Console platforms. Most of it is fairly obvious, though there are some examples that can always use some clarification.
You can see it below, and overall it's a pretty handy table; be sure to check the notes at the end to explain some of the symbols seen throughout.
You can hit up the link below to see a larger version of the image, and if anything this is a reminder that Wii and Wii U gamers need to keep a fair variety of controllers to hand if they're jumping between retro games.
Thanks to Ryan Millar for the heads up.
[source neogaf.com]
Comments (33)
@Tsurii897 Could just be Nintendo being quiet to shoehorn the Gamepad into the largest amount of games. We won't find out until a Classic controller compatible game gets released (Kirby's Adventure Wii?)
@Tsurii897 No, DKCR is Wii Remote + Nunchuk only.
@Tsurii897 @Grumblevolcano Neither Kirby or DK supports CC. Pandora's Tower has been announced for Wii U VC and that game support CC, so we will know then. Could be some other games that support CC is confirmed aswell, i just don't remember.
There are MSX games on the Virtual Console in Japan? Seriously? Darn! Also, I didn't know about the holding 2 trick!
Looking foward to $17 Metroid Prime Trilogy, that game has to be the best deal of my life.
Coming by a copy of MPTrilogy for a semi-reasonable price is becoming extremely hard nowadays.
Hopefully Nintendo figures out this cluster ____ before they start the next generation.
@Grumblevolcano DKCR is the same as Kirby in that it can be played with the controller sideways but it needs waggle as well.
Kind of disappointing that all Wii games can't use the GamePad. That would've convinced me to re purchase Galaxy 2.
@GloverMist Remapping a wii remote is ideal for the two GBA Fire Emblem games, makes it the same control layout as FE Radiant Dawn on Wii.
I was under the impression that the Wii games being released on the eShop also supported the Pro Controller if they originally supported the Classic Controller. If not then it's a bit of a missed opportunity if they ever release something like Brawl. Also a bit of a shame that the GC adapter doesn't behave like the GC ports on the Wii in WiiMode.
Other than that I don't think anything here doesn't make sense. Games brought on the Wii only work with Wii gear and for everything else everything will work unless there's a technical reason why it can't. It's not that complicated really.
My worry going forward is that Nintendo will eventually axe the gamepad in the next generation with so many people struggling to understand it's simple greatness. Isn't off tv, maps, inventory, and alternate views enough? Very comfortable, useful controller imho. Sick of the "Nintendo is yet to use the gamepad in a substantial way" argument. It's great as it is!
I still find it stupid that Nintendo sell the GameCube controller adapter yet doesn't allow any games other than Super Smash Bros. 4 to utilize it. That's like releasing a $50 modem for a system that had over 200 games but only one game had online play. Imagine if Sega release the 6-Button Sega Genesis controller and the only game you can use it for is Street Fighter II, your Mortal Kombat, Fatal Fury, Eternal Champions, Samurai Shodown, TMNT: Tournament Fighters, and World Heroes will all featured awkward controls.
Wait...can't we know if a pro controller works right now? If I've heard correctly, Super Mario Galaxy 2 brings up the Wii Menu when paused. That Wii Menu's pointer can be moved using a classic controller in Wii Mode so why don't people just try to do that?
Also, here's hoping the gamepad-as-classic-controller extends to Wii Mode at some point! True Off-TV play of Majora's Mask and Rondo of Blood...hey, I can dream.
@retro_player_22
Funny you would say it, Nintendo did precisely that (the modem example) on the Gamecube generation.
@Kirbic: The classic controller can't be used in Super Mario Galaxy 2. They didn't mod the game to work with controllers other than Wiimote and Nunchuck.
Will Metroid Prime Trilogy allow use of either Pro Controller or Gamepad or is it going to be a Wii remote only thing? I never owned the Wii version but may pick it up when it comes out next week.
My theory behind why Wii digital games on Wii U can support Gamepad controls only if they support the Classic Controller is because they use modified IOS modules that are packaged with the game. These modules are how software on the Wii/vWii can interact with the system. On boot, base modules are loaded, like Wii System Menu. When a game is launched, many (if not all) loaded modules are unloaded, and the game loads up its own modules prior to running. The "Home menu" you see when you press the Home button is not a background process. It's part of the game.
The theory is that Classic Controller support is part of an IOS module that comes with the game, not in a base module. Nintendo went and altered this module with the Wii digital titles because the module itself is likely non-unique among all such CC-compatible titles, making for a universal change, and thus leaving the actual game unaltered and compatible with no additional bugs. Games that lacked CC support from the get-go probably did not have this module in the first place, so the game was not programmed to use it, and they'll continue to lack that support. Retail games on disc can't be altered like the digital titles can be, so they're out of luck regarding Gamepad control support. WiiWare/VC are likely not going to be altered because they continue to be obtained from the Wii Shop (not eShop), so they must maintain compatibility with last-gen Wii hardware (because there are differences between the Wii and vWii).
@FragRed Wii Remote + Nunchuk.
@DBPirate You constantly need to use the pointer function of the Wii remote. The Galaxy games never would have worked with the Classic Controller.
We had a Commodore 64 option?
@Discostew IOS does not handle bluetooth or controllers in general. There are only a few things Nintendo could have done that I can think of.
Their VC games are generally packaged with a patch file or in some cases they come with two copies, a clean game and a patched one e.g. ALTTP and DKC2, so it's not something completely unprecedented.
I will try to explain it very clearly, as the question came up several times:
1. If you access the Wii Mode, NONE of the new WiiU controllers will work. Nowhere. Not the Gamepad (apart from showing an image on its screen), and not the WiiU Pro Controller. Even if the respective Wii game (no matter if retail, or Virtual Console) supports the Wii Classic Controller (Pro), control via WiiU Gamepad or WiiU Pro Controller will not be possible. Control via GCN-Controller and Adapter is not possible either, as this option is ultimately plugged in via the USB port and works differently from the genuine GCN-ports of the Wii.
2. Now, the case is slightly different with regard to the new Wii re-releases on the WiiU eShop.
a) If the respective game supported ONLY the Wiimote or ONLY Wiimote and Nunchuck originally, then the WiiU-eShop re-release will only support Wiimote (and Nunchuck) too. As with the Wii Mode explained above, the screen of the Gamepad is being supported as well, but control via Gamepad or WiiU Pro Controller will not be possible (all like above).
b) However, according to what Iwata said in the most recent direct (and what can be read on Nintendo's official websites): IF the original Wii title was playable with a Classic Controller (Pro), as for instance the upcoming Sin & Punishment 2, the WiiU-eShop-Re-Release-Version will also be playable with the Gamepad. At the moment it's not 100% sure if this will apply to all Wii-Re-Releases which supported the Wii Classic Controller originally, or if there might be exceptions. Also, it's unclear if the WiiU Pro Controller will be supported.
Remember: Playing a Wii title with the Gamepad* will ONLY be possible if two conditions are simultaneously met:
1. The title is downloaded in the form of a re-release in the WiiU eShop.
2. The title supported the Wii Classic Controller originally. Be aware that many titles did not support it, even though their control scheme make one believe so (as in the case of many first-party 2D-platformers).
Examples:
a) Super Mario Galaxy 2 or Metroid Prime Trilogy from the WiiU-eShop: CANNOT be played with the Gamepad, as condition 2 is not met.
b) Physical copy of Sin & Punishment 2 or Pandora's Tower: CANNOT be played with the Gamepad, as condition 1 is not met.
c) Sin & Punishment 2 or Pandora's Tower from the WiiU-eShop: CAN be played with the Gamepad. However, as those who have played those titles on the Wii will surely confirm, playing them with Wiimote and Nunchuck is highly recommended, as those games require rapid aiming with the IR-pointer.
*Like explained above, until now only the support of the Gamepad is officially confirmed. As the WiiU Pro Controller has all the same buttons as the Gamepad, it doesn't seem unlikely that it may be supported too, but until now, there has been no mention of it, neither in the Nintendo Direct, nor on Nintendo's official websites.
@sub12
Well, as for this generation it kind of already is sorted. I mean, every VC release works with every controller (Gamepad, Pro Controller, Wiimote) with customizable buttons, except for Wii games that only used a Wiimote- obviously those still require motion controls, and Duck Hunt.
@FragRed
As @MussakkuLaden pointed out above, only Wii games which supported the Classic Controller Pro will be able to use the Gamepad. @Discostew gives a rather fine explanation of the technicalities.
I've played the entire trilogy back on GameCube and Wii, and Wiimote is infinitely superior to a normal analog controller for these games. You'll have to just go ahead and play it to see why, but basically you can turn and aim so much faster with the Wiimote, and you can aim and shoot while jumping in mid air, something that wasn't really possible back on the Cube. Retro did an excellent job of allowing customization as well, so you can adjust the location on all 4 sides of the invisible aim/turn threshold box near the edge of the screen, as well as turn speed and all that good stuff. When I first played MP3 the controls felt a little off, then I adjusted everything and tinkered to my liking, and the game controls were near flawless after that. One of the best examples there is to argue a case for motion vs analog.
Does the Wii Shop Channel still work? I see people say so, but does it really still work after the NFC (completely forgot the name, though I think it was WFC or NFC) services for Wii/DS/i were shut down?
If it does still work, is Comic Bakery for C64/MSX on the Virtual Console?
@Speed_Stick_2600 yes it works the wi fi connection shutdown has nothing to do with the shop.
The Classic Controller is still the best VC peripheral. There's no reason why the Wii U pro controller shouldn't have check marks down the entire page.
"Yikes, we really do juggle a lot of control options"
You're preaching to the frikin choir here. I've been saying that the control "solution" on the Wii U is ridiculous for a long time now.
Most Nintendo Wii U FANS apparently disagree
@scamander I'm sure that touch controls could've been implemented
Hold on... Does that say MSX and TurboGrafx 16 in Japan?
Geez Nintendo...
@dumedum Thanks. I honestly haven't gotten anything off the Wii Shop Channel, so whatever I'll buy could be interesting. Maybe I should get Wiiware.
@DBPirate Yeah. If they can get the GamePad to be a Classic Controller in downloadable Wii games, why not disc Wii games too?
What's the point of including the Game Cube Controller logo if it can't even be used with anything, Smash Bros 4 excluded...
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