alvieao

Sonic 3D joins the list of games from Sonic Mega Collection to the Virtual Console... and joined by the lesser-known Wrecking Crew, which came out at the same time as Super Mario Bros..

ONE GAME!?!?! A bad week in Europe and everyone would be playing Super Mario Galaxy by now...

Seriously, gamers should give Axelay a try. Another quality 2D shooter from Konami and perhaps the last Konami game before some of the developers left to form Treasure.

Along with Super Mario Bros. 3 out on the Virtual Console, finally Alien Soldier is available in North America (with the exception of Sega Channel) after staying in Japan in its original form and the PS2 Sega Ages: Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box. That is a good week...

This game brought the arcade experience home? The early Genesis commercial is probably misleading. It looks like the Sega arcade game Thunder Blade, but it didn't really sound or play like the arcade original. With Super Thunder Blade and Namco's Xevious, the only reason to download this game is the nostalgia.

The only great game in Sega week is Treasure's Alien Soldier. A bossfest is the main thing I can sum up in this run 'n gun game, compared to Gunstar Heroes and Sin & Punishment. Like I said, Sonic 3D was the beginning of Sonic's dark days with Sega...

So the Genesis/Mega Drive version of Strider is a possible Virtual Console title after all. (Trivial fact: the Mega Drive conversion was done by Sega's Team Shinobi/Streets of Rage.) I first played the arcade version and a challenging game it was. Still, the MD version holds its own compared to the arcade. I hope Strider comes out sometime on the VC...

Konami should release TMNT IV: Turtles in Time (SNES), even if it means that we have to spend it 100 points more for a SNES VC title.

Magician Lord is one of the first NeoGeo games from Alpha Denshi and a tough challenge to boot. I must download Magician Lord anytime soon...

Very interesting... many people would send out their favorite titles to other users.

It's really nice that Europe received Magician Lord. Many gamers must download that game over Yoshi's Story. Seriously, you must spend your Wii Points on one of the first great NeoGeo games instead of a disappointing Yoshi game...

It looks like this week is nothing much, except for Golden Axe III. Previously on the US Sega Channel service, but now available on the PS2 Genesis/Mega Drive Collection. Golden Axe III had good gameplay, but mixed receptions from gamers. I hope games like Vectorman and Magician Lord will get released...

The sequel to Revenge of Shinobi, which is also a classic but difficult. Shinobi III is more refined and balanced as you can run, wall jump and kick on the enemies. However, the game is still challenging even with these improvements. There is also good variety within these levels, especially the horse riding and surfing ones. The best game in the Shinobi series is a MUST download.

Good release of games this week. Looks like the first TuboGraphx-CD game costs the same amount as the Genesis and Super NES titles (yep, 800 Wii Points). Ninja Gaiden II and Gate of Thunder should keep people busy...

For some reason on the Wii Shop Channel, the publisher for the NeoGeo games VC is D4 Enterprise rather than SNK Playmore. D4 Enterprise is the company handling the emulation for NG titles as they come to release...

Finally, the return and arrival of the Neo Geo in North America, Japan, and Europe. Thank you, SNK Playmore! Nice to see the first three fighters as the initial games, but I would like to see Magician Lord come out later.

Fatal Fury and three great Mega Drive/Genesis games (ignore the stinker that is Super Thunder Blade) comes to Europe which is really nice. Yep, Fatal Fury will eventually reach the North American region after. I hope the upcoming HORI Wii arcade stick is coming out because it's perfect for NeoGeo and fighting games...

Bass X: Maybe Nintendo and Sega could have released Bare Knuckle III (JP version of SOR 3) as a regional import title. I mean, everyone would play Streets of Rage 3 in its correct glory instead of the unfavorable one...

I really don't know why Europe gets a limited release but not America. Why would Nintnedo of Europe do that? Nintendo pisses me off sometimes, even though I live in USA.

Finally, Sin and Punishment HAS COME TO...North America! Wow, so is the rare Super Mario Bros. The Lost Levels. I have to say this, but I told you so; and someone said we can't expect the Haanabi Festival games to come. Thank you, Nintendo of America! You finally realized how much the NA gamers wanted S&P since 2001.

A platform game from Alpha Denshi, a former 3rd party company (now part of SNK Playmore) responsible for World Heroes and the classic Magician Lord. This must be interesting...

A rare and great action game from Treasure in this side of Star Fox 64. Since it's a Japanese title, the game costs 200 points more for an N64 VC game. As the game used a unique control setup, it can be awkward to get used to on a Classic or GC controller. The gameplay is a blend of Gunstar Heroes, Panzer Dragoon and Star Fox 64. My thoughts: I enjoyed every moment of playing Sin & Punishment. A great action game, bar none...

Bass X: I was only frustrated; Virtual Console is after all Virtual Console. I can't get what you guys have so far, but I'll accept everything as it is for the moment. I would blame Sega in 1994, but I never said Streets of Rage 3 was a bad game.

As for Sin and Punishment, I stand by my comments in the previous Wii news regarding the game prior to and post-release. It's true that Japan is getting some crap now... what a turn.

Both Kirby's Avalanche and Mean Bean are based on Puyo Puyo. Sega published both Mean Bean Machine and the arcade game since they partially owned the rights to Puyo Puyo until Sonic Team took over in 2002. The SNES version was based on Super Puyo Puyo, hence the copyright mention of Banpresto and Compile (Puyo Puyo's original developer) with HAL Laboratory slapping on the Kirby license (much like SEGA did with the Sonic license, ironically without the blue dude). It's still a great puzzle game for both Puyo Puyo and Kirby fans alike.

Sonic 3D Blast is yet another Sonic game previously on Mega Collection. The gameplay is actually based on the Sega arcade game Flicky; the bluebird appeared as a rescued animal in the 2D Sonic games. Along with Virtua Racing and Shinobi, the Sonic franchise was farmed to another developer at one point. The game is decent but not great; it used an isometric view rather than 3D and had somewhat sloppy controls. While it might have led Sonic into his dark days with Sega, you can still give it a shot...

If Sin and Punishment came out in English, why didn't we North American gamers get a translated version of Bare Knuckle III (JP version of SOR3)? Japan once again gets the superior version of Streets of Rage 3. NOA's quality control? Unfavorable at this moment...

I want Sin and Punishment. Nintendo, BRING THE GAME to the the North American region! It may be a Hanabi Festival game, but it was never released in America either. Please, do it for the NA gamers who want to play this rare N64 gem from Treasure. You have nothing to lose, Nintendo...

On one hand, Streets of Rage 3 has subtle improvements over SOR2: more detailed graphics due to the 24-meg cart, dashing and rolling, and more powerful moves (without dying). However, SOR3 would have been better if SEGA did not tamper with the game balance and pointless changes from the JP version. I would rather play SOR3 in its proper glory if I had the chance. If you still want to follow up after playing through Part 2, then this is right up your alley. Too bad the soundtrack Yuzo Koshiro made isn't very memorable, save for a few tracks in the game.

So Streets of Rage 3 came out on the North American region, even though Europe is awaiting for its release. Since it's now out, Sega did no effort into translating the Japanese version as I thought, sadly...

Update: Fatal Fury is now released on the Japanese Virtual Console on September 18th!

I have Xevious as a bonus game in Star Fox: Assault, considering Namco developed the recent GameCube iteration in the Star Fox series. I find the NES version of Xevious not as much fun to play, unlike the arcade game. Also, there are many shooters that have surpassed this one. I hate to say this but even if you lived through the golden age of Namco, don't bother downloading.

Mamma Mia, I have the original N64 version of Super Mario 64! And how revolutionary this game was and still is after its arrival in 1996. The game defined the 3D platform genre and it's about the simple times when you guide Mario through fantastic worlds and collect stars. I also played the DS version (though never owned) at some point, but neither the touch and traditional D-pad controls work better than a control stick. A Nintendo classic that MUST be downloaded for VC, not played on DS!

I had the original cartridge as well as Mega Collection. This game was perhaps greater than Sonic 1 and 2 but it's not quite the final game in the trilogy; Sonic & Knuckles is the other half. The levels are larger and the graphics look great (Sonic needed a fresh look as well). Sonic 3 also introduced Jun Senoue, the composer who did the music in this game and subsequent Sonic games. It set many recurring staples to the Sonic series (story-driven, music themes, and shield types). You should still play it while waiting for Sonic & Knuckles to be released on VC (and how the lock-on aspect will be resolved)...

Nintendo did what they couldn't do with Yoshi's Story and that was delivering a worthy sequel. I still have the original N64 cartridge of this game and it was fast for the time. I enjoyed playing Death Race, not to mention the random X Cup never gets old. Times have changed since the N64 game's visuals are a step behind the Sega-developed F-Zero GX (the best iteration in the series produced by Toshihiro Nagoshi, creator of Daytona USA and Scud Race), but we can't deny that it boasted polygonal graphics instead of Mode 7. You could still give it a shot by playing it...

I already have the original N64 version of Yoshi's Story; while it was great at first, I soon realized that all you do is eat fruits. Still, it beats playing the rather difficult Yoshi's Island DS. I really want Sin & Punishment released in the North American region...

It seemed just yesterday that this game was rumored to be on the Virtual Console. Now, it's a reality that Yoshi's Story came out today. To Michael: It is a good game, but the reason it's not great is because Yoshi's Story is too forgiving; anyone can quickly beat the game until boredom (although you do unlock some extra Yoshis).

I still have the actual N64 cartridge since then. Yoshi's Story brought classic 2D gameplay with colorful graphics and responsive controls. To be honest I did enjoy Yoshi's Story every now and then. Think of it as an arcade game, since getting high scores is all you do in the Story and Trial modes. The game is rater disappointing, considering it's from the same team behind the SNES classic Yoshi's Island. However, it's unfair to compare both games either as they're vastly different, especially now that the proper sequel is available for the DS. I'm not really annoyed with Yoshi's voice that much. After all, he's voiced by Kazumi Totaka (who also plays Totakeke/K.K. Slider in Animal Crossing). Yoshi's Story is good, but hardly a masterpiece.

The one that saved the video game industry... A legendary game that lasted 20+ years and still is playable today. The first and only game (or should I say pack-in with Duck Hunt) I had with the NES system. I downloaded SMB in the summer and I still can't beat it yet. Luckily, I can continue from the last world I died by pressing 2 on the Wii Remote. SMB is the first game everyone MUST download...

Ah, yes. The first Streets of Rage had a two-player mode (not to mention beating up the occasional female fighter) in which the SNES Final Fight lacked. Though it has enough new elements to separate from other FF-style clones. What's also wonderful in this game is the music; Yuzo Koshiro made the soundtrack so memorable as the gameplay itself. It feels like Revenge of Shinobi under a beat' em up premise (Team Shinobi/Overworks did both games). The first game has not aged well as SOR 2, but its charm remains in the hearts of Sega gamers and beat' em up fans alike.

While I didn't own the Super NES original, I've often played Super Mario Advance 2 on the GBA. Super Mario World is a great 2D Mario platformer with lots of secrets to uncover and loads of Yoshi coins to nab in in the many levels. While I did not get everything, I still managed to reach and conquer the Special World. The VC emulation is the same as the SNES original, and Mario shrinks after taking a hit regardless of having the feather and/or fire flower. Like Super Mario Bros. before it, SMW is a MUST download (even after playing the GBA version).

Owning Sonic Mega Collection, it was the first time I played Mean Bean Machine. The defunct Compile (the original creator of Puyo Puyo and shooters like Aleste and Zanac) actually developed this game and its SNES counterpart, Kirby's Avalanche. The music is different between both games and you might want to play the original Puyo Puyo if you wish to know. Still, it's an addictive puzzle game to boot and worth the download, unless you also nabbed Kirby's Avalanche.

I owned the Genesis that came with the first two Sonic games (and later Sonic Mega Collection for GameCube). Faster gameplay and balanced difficulty. I can't forget playing as Super Sonic either, though I did used the code to play him (A Dragon Ball Z tribute or parody is anyone's guess). I can't say it's better than the first, because Sonic 2 focused more on speed. At least until you hit an enemy, which is a recurring problem. Regardless, this game is still a blast.

I have Sonic Mega Collection, but I also own the Genesis bundle with both Sonic 1 and 2. Undeniably an amazing classic. What can I say? This game has been featured in various compilations, so it's impossible to avoid unless you've been a loyal Nintendo gamer all the way. Still, Sonic 1 is worth downloading.

It bears repeating because I own Sonic Mega Collection: Ristar is an unlockable game within the collection. The character designer was Yuji Uekawa, who has since went to create new characters (and updating designs of Sonic and friends) in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Everyone should play and appreciate this underrated gem: unique platformimg mechanics and colorful visuals. Download Ristar if you have missed it the first time...

I do have the US Sonic Gems Collection (sadly, without the SOR trilogy) which had VM and its sequel as unlockables. For a game that was considered an answer to Nintendo/Rare's Donkey Kong Country, Vectorman delivers great action with graphics that pushed the Genesis further. Definitely play this game! I'm glad Vectorman was finally released on the Virtual Console in North America...

Gunstar Heroes is the game that began Treasure's legacy, not to mention having their start with Sega. It is considered as the "Contra killer," since Treasure was formed by ex-Konami employees who made Contra III, Super Castlevania IV and other Konami games. It sure beats Contra III in terms of creativity and gameplay. The GBA sequel/remake is good (and I do have it), but I can see why the Genesis original is better: switching weapons and fusing them together. In other words, Treasure's first gem is a MUST download...

To Davieboy: You were talking about Super Baseball 2020 for NeoGeo. Though the game was ported to Genesis and SNES under different publishers.

I can't believe that Nintendo will release SMB2: The Lost Levels for a limited time. At European players will have a chance to experience Japan-only games.

I never expected the TurboGrafx-CD to be listed in the European Virtual Console. What will gamers think of playing Chou Aniki? Nintendo should release a hard drive in order to save more games. Yes, I know that we would sacrifice one downloaded game for a new one, but it's not enough.

Although I have Sonic Mega Collection, I owned the original cartridge as well. This game isn't really too bad but it's not great. Granted, this Sonic spin-off was less than stellar but I;d rather play Spinball over the 2006 Sonic game or the poor GBA version of Sonic 1. It's ironic and funny that Spinball had lukewarm reception yet the GBA title Sonic Pinball Party was well-received simply for being an actual pinball game.