Wii Virtual Console - News
July2009
Nintendo Download Bits, Tanks, Ants, Commandos, Pulses and Brains (US)
Nintendo of America counters Nintendo of Europe with an import week of their own. Also, more WiiWare!
Nintendo of America sure loves WiiWare all of a sudden. This week sees yet another three new WiiWare releases, along with two VC imports recently released in Europe. DSiWare only gets a single new game. As previously announced, today is the North...
News What Capcom games do you want to see on the Virtual Console?
Let the good people at Capcom know what you want.
Now that the rate of Virtual Console releases has slowed from a flood to a trickle, it is understandable that many VC gamers have given up hope of playing their favourite Capcom games in the comfort of their living room on the Wii with a Classic Controller. Given the overwhelming reader response to...
Nintendo Download 14-15 July 2009 (JAPAN)
Japanese WiiWare is back from holiday with a vengeance, plus Shinobi!
Aside from Electroplankton, last week was possibly the driest Japanese download week in living memory. Nintendo has made up for the WiiWare break last week with five new WiiWare titles in addition to two new Virtual Console Arcade titles and a slew of Game and Watch titles for...
Nintendo Download Bomberman '94, StarTropics II, 5 Spots Party, Karate Phants and BOXLIFE (EU)
The Hanabi Festival continues with two more imports on VC, two WiiWare games and one DSiWare game.
Last week brought us the excellent Pulseman and Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen as the first two imports of the fourth Hanabi Festival. This week brings us two more imports, and again, both of them are great! Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II is...
News What SEGA games do you want to see on the Virtual Console?
Let the good people at SEGA know what you want.
Now that the rate of Virtual Console releases has slowed from a flood to a trickle, it is understandable that many VC gamers have given up hope of playing their favourite SEGA games in the comfort of their living room on the Wii with a Classic Controller. SEGA are now releasing their classic arcade...
Nintendo Download Cores, Bubbles, Chariots, Sports, Numbers and Cars (US)
Three more WiiWare games, including the 100th WiiWare release!
Today sees the release of yet another 3 WiiWare games! They're accompanied by two new DSiWare games and one Virtual Console game. Bit.Trip: Core is the second game in Gaijin Games' Bit.Trip series and officially the 100th WiiWare game. The big difference between it and Bit.Trip: Beat is...
Review Pulseman (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
Will Pulseman's quality shock you?
Ask yourself this - what games have Game Freak actually developed? Many people will probably only answer with "Pokémon," but the truth is, before Pokémon was even created, Game Freak was responsible for a handful of unique titles of their own. Pulseman was strangely only released in Japan originally. It...
News Nintendo of Europe Announces Upcoming Hanabi Games
6 more imports to be released this month.
Nintendo of Europe is going all out for the fourth Hanabi Festival - Including this week's 2 import games, there will be a total of 8 released this month. You might've already noticed this list on the Wii Shop earlier today, but NoE has now also posted it on their website. They have also supplied a large...
Nintendo Download 07-08 July 2009 (JAPAN)
A couple of classics on the Wii and a whole lot of Electro-Plankton for the DSi next week in Japan.
Well it looks like Japan is having a WiiWare holiday next week with no new titles having been announced via the website or the shop news bulletin. The two Virtual Console releases offer a catch-up title in the form of Super Punch Out for the Super...
Nintendo Download Hanabi Festival 4, Gradius Rebirth, Bit Boy!!, Brain Challenge and Mario Apps (EU)
It's a fantastic week for Europe, with a total of 7 new downloadable games across all services!
As Hudson revealed last week, this month brings us the 4th Hanabi Festival! And what luck, it's already started in the very first week of the month - There's two new imports up for grabs right now! Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is the first...
News The OFLC Rates More Capcom and Sega Classics for Virtual Console
Expect more Final Fight, Phantasy Star and Shinobi in the near future.
The OFLC had a decently-sized update today, in which they added some new games rated in the past few weeks. These ratings have revealed a few new VC games for future release in PAL regions. First up is Final Fight 2, the second in the Final Fight series which was, and still is,...
June2009
Nintendo Download 30th June - 1st July 2009 addendum (JAPAN)
Two more WiiWare titles coming Tuesday aimed at younger gamers and an extra DSiWare title on the 1st.
Looks like the mock tears for Japan were premature last week as some additional releases mean Japan has a 3-2-2 week it turns out. Thanks to Nintendo Life reader Ratengo for noting that the Japanese Shop news item for this week's releases had two...
Nintendo Download Fantasies, Fishing, Warfare, Reversi and Sudoku (US)
NoA's sudden WiiWare push continues, with yet another 3 WiiWare games and 1 game for both DSiWare and Virtual Console.
Nintendo seems to be focusing on WiiWare a lot lately. Perhaps they're just trying to stir up excitement for upcoming big releases? It mostly seems to be a Europe catchup week - Only two WiiWare games are new for the west and...
Podcast Episode 5 - June's Download Round-up!
Round-up of June's downloads plus: YOUR voices!
This episode brings you more of a download-focused approach, rounding up some of the best titles you can download released in the last month. Plus you can hear the voices of some of your favourite Nintendo Life commenters! If you want to get involved in the next episode or leave your feedback, you can...
Nintendo Download 30th June - 1st July 2009 (JAPAN)
An unusually light release week for Japan with 1 WiiWare, 2 Virtual Console and 1 DSiWare release.
After weeks of mass software dowloading we see a release week that would look at home in PAL territories or North America -- maybe it's going to be Japan's turn for light release weeks for a change? On the WiiWare front we have Final Fantasy Crystal...
News The Hanabi Festival Returns to Europe Next Month
Finally, more import games!
We've been expecting another Hanabi Festival for quite a while now - A whole bunch of import titles are already rated and completely ready for release in PAL regions, but month after month, we were met with disappointment. It finally ends next month though! If you take a quick look at Hudson's Virtual Console site, you'll...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - July 2009
Just three non-Namco games the entire month!
Japan is getting less and less games every month, but this has got to be the month with the least releases yet - Aside from the yet to be announced Namco arcade games, there will only be three games released in the entire month, meaning over half the VC systems will be ignored! The only good thing about...
Review Altered Beast (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
Welcome to your doom!
There’s no two ways about it: Altered Beast is a terrible game. Even here, in a perfect conversion of the arcade original, it’s so horrendously stodgy and repetitive that it makes you wonder quite why anyone holds it in the slightest bit of regard. For those lucky few amongst you yet to engage in a little beast altering,...
Nintendo Download Puzzle Bobble, Water Warfare, SimEarth, Altered Beast and More Sudoku (EU)
DSiWare takes a bit of a break to give the spotlight to the Wii releases this week.
A large part of today's update isn't very surprising - Three of the games are published by Hudson Soft and were already announced for release earlier this week. The two unannounced releases are quite nice surprises though! On WiiWare, we've gotten Puzzle Bobble...
News Hudson Releasing Water Warfare, SimEarth and Sudoku 50! For Beginners This Friday
The first family-friendly FPS, a planet-maintaining game and more sudoku puzzles will be available on Friday.
Hudson has announced the release of three new downloadable games in Europe this Friday. Water Warfare was released in Japan only yesterday, so you'll have a chance to jump in before the Japanese players get too much practice and crush us all...
Review SimEarth: The Living Planet (Virtual Console / TurboGrafx-16)
Put the weight of the world in your hands...
The simulation genre has come a long way - maybe not so much in the area of depth, as that's always been there. Where it has really progressed is in presentation: nowadays it’s no longer up to the player to have enough imagination to fill in the gaps left by technical limitations. Unfortunately, those...
Nintendo Download Drill Sergeants, Puzzles, Golf, Art Styles and Planets (US)
Three more WiiWare games accompanied by one each for DSiWare and Virtual Console.
There seems to be a resurgence in Nintendo's focus on WiiWare - There were three new WiiWare games last week and there's three more this week. They're probably not the titles most people were waiting for, though... It should also be noted that every single game this...
Nintendo Download 23-24 June 2009 (Japan)
A feast of DSiWare titles to end the drought, an anticipated WiiWare title from Hudson and *two* arcade classics next week!
Well, after weeks without a new DSiWare release in Japan the storm gates have been opened and next Wednesday is serving up a bumper crop of titles for the portable download service. Chuugakku Kihon Hana Tango Word Puzzle...
Nintendo Download Toasters, Rainbows, Catching, Calculators, Clocks and Harriers (US)
A whopping six games this week.
WiiWare seems to be the main focus this week, with a whole three new games for it. DSiWare gets two more non-games, while VC has to do with just one game. On WiiWare, you can get Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, from Semnat Studios. This promising game was first announced at the start of the year and looks to be quite...
Review Super Smash Bros. (Virtual Console / Nintendo 64)
Does the original Super Smash Bros. still knock out the competition these days?
Nintendo's most popular (and only!) fighting franchise started off quite strangely - in fact, it originally didn't even have any existing Nintendo characters! Created by Kirby Creator Masahiro Sakurai of HAL Laboratory and Satoru Iwata, the game was originally called...
Nintendo Download Super Smash Bros., Cocoto, Asphalt and Sudoku (EU)
As announced, four new games are new available.
Well, no surprises here! All four games released today were already announced beforehand. Super Smash Bros. is the first game in Nintendo's massively popular fighting franchise. There's a total of 12 characters and 9 stages, which is obviously not much when compared to the content of Melee and Brawl,...
Nintendo Download 16th June 2009 (Japan)
2+2 on the Wii; DSiWare takes a break.
Next week we have four downloads on the Japanese Wii and nothing new to download for the Japanese DSi. Mochi Mochi Q looks to be part Equilibrio and part World of Goo with cute little pink blob aliens trying to escape being eaten by cute big purple ones using the Wii remote NES-style and presumably some form of...
Review Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (SNES)
Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
Koei's 'Universal Ruler' simulator lets you live the life of the Mongol legend himself. You'll go where he goes, defile what he defiles and eat who he eats. But before you misjudge this game as an indecipherable Japanese take on medieval Mongolian life, understand that Genghis Khan II is actually a conquer the world style game...
News Super Smash Bros. Available on VC This Friday
If you want to relive the original Nintendo fighting game, you can do so in just 2 days.
The official website for Official Nintendo Magazine has revealed all plans for this Friday's European Wii and DSi updates. On the VC side of things, Europeans will finally be able to download Super Smash Bros., the game that started it all. Japan got it back in...
Nintendo Download Wars, Conquests, Rivalries and... Fish? (US)
There seems to be a very clear theme this week!
There's only really one surprise this week, and it's the weekly Virtual Console title. All of this week's WiiWare and DSiWare releases were already announced last week! On VC, you can go to war in another classic Koei strategy game for the SNES - Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf. It's not as...
Nintendo Download 9th June 2009 (Japan)
Music streaming, a Nintendo classic franchise and Namco arcade fun on the Wii and a murder mystery on DSi next week.
WiiWare releases in Japan next Tuesday include something new in the form of Game Sound Station from Gust Co., Ltd. For 1000 points you get access to a number of tracks from dozens of video game soundtracks. You can then purchase...
News Classic Controller Pro Heading West?
Nintendo's new Classic Controller spotted at E3.
A while ago, it was announced that Japan would be getting a new Classic Controller. This still hasn't happened - it'll be released in August, and they've already announced a differently coloured one for release on the same day - but it's apparently already clear that it will be released elsewhere as...
Nintendo Download Flip Champs, Final Fantasy IV, Boulder Dash (US)
A quartet of games for you lucky North American people
A four-game salvo awaits North American gamers this week; Mighty Flip Champs we already knew about but Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is likely to be the pick of the bunch for most Nintendo fans. The WiiWare release is set after the events of the fourth Final Fantasy game and promises the...
May2009
Review Space Harrier (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
An interesting slice of gaming history for fans of early 3D games.
Space Harrier is notable for being one of the first arcade games to use a motorised cabinet in its sit-down version, and in the realms of sprite-based third-person 3D shooters it's certainly at the more advanced end of the scale. It was highly popular back when it was released in the...
Nintendo Download 2 June 2009 (Japan)
A 3+3 week for the Wii and another break for the DSiWare service.
The DSiWare service seems to be taking another holiday next week, but the Wii gets another six downloads with three new WiiWare titles and three new VC titles. No real surprises here as these games have been forecast in the press previously (the VC ones only today!). WiiWare titles...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - June 2009
Mario's original racing game makes its VC debut next month.
It's the last Friday of the month again, and you know what that means! Nintendo has revealed their Japanese VC plans for next month. It's not very diverse this time - Only 3 VC platforms will be getting new games! The Nintendo 64, Master System, Mega Drive, Neo Geo and PC Engine all have to...
Nintendo Download Space Harrier Arcade, Fish'em All and Art Style: NEMREM (EU)
The first new arcade game since Virtual Console Arcade launched is accompanied by one more game for each service.
After last week's lack of a new VC game it's a bit surprising to see just one this week. At least it's a somewhat long-awaited one! The arcade version of Space Harrier is long overdue - Its Master System port and Mega Drive sequel have...
News Hackers Expand Wii Storage, Door Now Open To Filthy Pirates
More naughty-type goings on in the world of Wii homebrew
Although the recent ability to run Virtual Console and WiiWare games from your SD card has stopped people moaning about the previously thorny issue of internal storage space, it hasn't stopped industrious hackers taking the concept to the next level by enabling users to hook up a USB hard...
Nintendo Download Popstars, WiiWare Remakes and Clay Fighting (US)
Finally North America gets Bubble Bobble and Adventure Island on WiiWare
This week the US Nintendo Download is playing catch-up with Europe except for a DSiWare app which is new. As a result we have already reviewed these games so you can get stuck right in if you like what you read! First up on DSiWare today is American Popstar: Road to Celebrity...
Nintendo Download 26 May 2009 (Japan)
Four for WiiWare
A little bit of madness and some exciting Arcade Classic surprises coming to the Japanese Wii next week, whilst the Japanese DSiWare service comes out of a dry spell. On the WiiWare front we have four titles coming out next Tuesday: Muscle March from Namco Bandai for 800 points features body builders and a...polar bear...trying to...
Nintendo Download Masks, Crystals, Chess and Art (US)
The 300th VC game joins two WiiWare games and a single DSiWare release.
Many people saw it coming - The amount of Virtual Console games available in North America was nearing 300, so it was logical to assume that Nintendo of America was saving Majora's Mask in order to make it game number 300. That turns out to be true - The Legend of Zelda:...
Nintendo Download 19 May 2009 (Japan)
It's VC week!
Next week is a VC-heavy week for Japan with only one WiiWare title and four Virtual Console titles. The Japanese DSiWare front has been quiet since the 1st of the month which saw the release of the viewer for downloading videos from the latest Nintendo Wii channel: Wii no Ma. Shika Gari (sic) or Deer Hunt is a simple deer-hunting...
News Don't Toss Those Old Controllers Yet
Adapter announced that will allow you to use your old Nintendo pads on Wii
Sometimes, you come across a Virtual Console game that you just don't think fits snugly onto a Classic controller or a GameCube pad. I've had this problem with Sin and Punishment myself; I hate the Cube controller for it, and the Classic feels weird to me with it's too-close...
Nintendo Download Swords & Soldiers, Pitfall and Even More Magic Tricks (EU)
Fight some wars, whip some snakes or learn some more magic this week.
As announced last week, today sees the release of a certain anticipated WiiWare title. Joining it is a Mega Drive game and yet another set of magic tricks for your DSi! Swords & Soldiers is WiiWare's first RTS game. With its cartoony 2D graphics, fairly deep gameplay and...
News GoldenEye Designer Backs Virtual Console Release
Martin Hollis would love to see 007 on the Wii...but also admits it's a legal minefield
The man behind GoldenEye - one of the most beloved N64 games of all time - has admitted that he'd love to see the game make it to the Virtual Console download service. Martin Hollis, formerly of Rare and now plying his trade at his own company Zoonami (Bonsai...
Nintendo Download Soccer, Pirates and Galaxies (US)
One new game for every downloadable service.
Last week's update wasn't exactly that hot. Unfortunately, the same can probably be said again this week. DSiWare's gone down from two games a week to one this time. At least it's a decent one! Real Soccer 2009 is pretty much a port of the DS game with the same name, which is really quite an achievement...
Review Fantasy Zone II (Virtual Console / Master System)
Does Opa-Opa's second adventure feature the same unique charm of the original?
The original Fantasy Zone release kicked off a series of shooters that's still quite popular to this day. When the game was released on the Sega Master System, it immediately became one of the more beloved titles for the console so it was pretty much a given that a sequel...
Nintendo Download 12 May 2009 (Japan)
This week sees some catching up and another Rebirth!
After last week's focus on the new streaming media channel from Nintendo with no new Japanese WiiWare or VC content, this week we're back to the standard 7 releases. Most of these are catching up with the NA/EU territories, but there's a couple of new titles in there as well including one that...
Nintendo Download Fantasy Zone II, Rainbow Islands and More Magic (EU)
Two hits and one miss this week!
All the signs were pointing to a new Hanabi Festival starting today - Nintendo of Europe did not reveal today's new games in advance (Unlike the past two weeks) which lead us to believe there'd be something big. On top of that, it's "Golden Week" in Japan at the moment, a national holiday! How much longer...
News Prepare To Gnash Those Teeth: Perfect Dark May Be XBLA-bound
Leaked screenshot suggests that Rare is porting the classic N64 FPS to the 360
Website Destructoid has been sent an image from an undisclosed source that gives a pretty solid indication that former Nintendo cohort Rare is porting its beloved Nintendo 64 title Perfect Dark to Microsoft's console. Given that Microsoft owns Rare now, this is hardly a...
News OFLC Update: Super Mario Kart Finally Coming!
The OFLC has recently been updated with a few new game listings, including a certain kart racing title Virtual Console fans have been clamoring for.
It seems the wait for the Super Nintendo hit Super Mario Kart is almost over. The OFLC ratings board has been updated and includes four new titles we're likely to see made available on Nintendo's...
Nintendo Download Clocks, Calculators, Penguins and Towers (US)
If you want to pay for something the DSi already has it's your lucky day!
As in the last few weeks there's two new games available on DSiWare today - But "games" isn't really the right word for them this time. The DSi already has a clock on its menu - The Animal Crossing Clock is really just a slightly more interesting variation. It's...
Review Galaxy Force II (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
Galaxy Force II is another classic Sega arcade shooter that hasn't aged very well.
Galaxy Force II debuted as a Sega arcade release, using the same type of sprite scaling seen in Sega's other arcade title Space Harrier, and basically mimicked 3-D scrolling without the use of actual polygon graphics. While Sega's Saturn console would later get a...
Review Nobunaga's Ambition (Wii Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
An ambitious strategy game from a nobler time.
It is hard to imagine now, but there was once a time when strategy games were the primary style of play on home computers. Japanese game developer Koei made it their mission to bring this style of game to consoles. And by appearances, they were successful given the sheer volume of games they were able...
April2009
Nintendo Download Bit.Trip Beat, Dr. Mario, Magic and Galaxy Force II (EU)
Alternating Virtual Console and WiiWare weeks come to an end!
WiiWare's almost been out for a year in Europe, and it seems that because of that, Nintendo of Europe has decided to start using the same schedule North America does - Releasing both VC and WiiWare games every week. Of course there's another DSiWare game as well. None of the games are...
Nintendo Download Clubhouse Games, Paper Planes, Platforms and Warring States (US)
Nintendo of America's DSiWare push continues.
The pattern continues this week - Two new DSiWare games and one new game each for WiiWare and VC are available once again. Both DSiWare games are cut down versions of already existing games. Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics includes five card games from Nintendo's DS game Clubhouse Games, but be...
Nintendo Download 28 April 2009 (Japan)
Another six releases for our Japanese friends.
I'm sure many in the PAL/NA territories will be green with envy and I've got to say I'm going to have a hard decision to make here. You see amongst the three WiiWare releases coming to Japan next week is Bit.Trip.Beat. Given that there's no projected release date for Europe whatsoever, can I resist...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - May 2009
Only 6 games for Japan in May (Not counting yet to be announced arcade games), but it's quite a good selection.
May seems to be a Famicom month of sorts - 4 of the 6 games planned for release are for Nintendo's original console. And they're not exactly obscure games either - Final Fantasy and Famicom Wars (The first in the "Wars" series,...
News Game Center CX Looks at the Virtual Console
Is Arino up to the challenge?
If you don't already know what Game Center CX is well, I'll tell you: a Japanese T.V. show which started out being about Japanese arcades and retro games, with a "challenge" featuring Shinya Arino, a Japanese comedian with meagre gaming skills. The series has had its own DS game (released in the west as Retro...
Nintendo Download Dr. Mario, Wonder Boy, More Magic Tricks and Crystal Defenders (US)
Yes, it's yet another update with two DSiWare games!
Art Style: CODE and Paper Plane are still absent - But don't worry too much, because you're now able to download Dr. Mario to your DSi. Dr. Mario Express is a simple portable version of Dr. Mario. But beware - You can only play the classic mode or Vs. CPU, there's no multiplayer mode! Naturally...
Review Secret Command (Virtual Console / Master System)
Secret Command takes you back to an era when run 'n gun titles ruled arcades.
With overhead run 'n gun titles like Ikari Warriors and Commando snatching up large numbers of tokens in arcades, it comes as no real surprise that Sega would have to create one of their own for their Sega Master System. The game was originally released under the name...
Nintendo Download 21 April 2009 (Japan)
Green shades anyone?
In Japan you simply cannot have a download release list that's less than four games and next week will be no exception with a mixed total of six. Only two WiiWare releases: World of Goo published by Nintendo themselves for 1500 points -- I think everyone knows what this game is by now! Hajiite Block Rush from Agenda for 500...
Nintendo Download Alex Kidd, Secret Command and Mixed Messages (EU)
Two Sega Master System games and the first DSiWare update for Europe.
Not much to get excited about this time - Other than Secret Command, today's picks are fairly weak. Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars was already released in North America a while ago. It's the second game in the Alex Kidd series and basically the beginning of the end for Sega's original...
Review Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive)
Can Harry Jr. fill his father's boots?
The two original Pitfall games for the Atari 2600 have become quite dated now – walking across a handful of endlessly repeating screens in the hope of finding treasure has lost its appeal. Activision once tried to "upgrade" the formula by allowing the Japanese developer Pony Canyon to make Super...
Nintendo Download Mixed Messages, Pitfalls, Magic Tricks and Pirates (US)
This week brings a new western publisher on board - Activision! And they haven't just released one game, but two!
If you bought a DSi you'll be quite glad to hear that there's already some new games available this week. Of course the Wii Shop gets its usual new WiiWare and VC game as well! Mixed Messages is Activision's first DSiWare game. It's...
Nintendo Download 14 April 2009 (Japan)
Another week, another 5 releases for Japan.
It's true the Japanese have another week with a mix of VC and WiiWare content, but Wii owners in North America and Europe need not feel the usual pangs of jealousy (well, I guess that depends on how much you've been wanting to see a couple of these...). On the WiiWare front we have a couple of things that...
News Konami: VC Arcade Support and WiiWare Life Force
Another big developer jumps on the VCA bandwagon!
Before publishers rerelease their old games on VC, they're required to renew the trademarks for them - a bunch of classic Konami trademarks appeared today, which seems to indicate they're going to be releasing arcade games as well! Konami has registered these new VC-related trademarks: Green Beret...
Talking Point Copyright and Video Games
What is stopping us from experiencing the entire history of video games?
Last year Taito issued Space Invaders Get Even on the WiiWare download service as well as multiple versions of the original game on the Japanese, PAL and North American Virtual Consoles. This was in celebration of the 30th annivesary of the release of Space Invaders in arcades...
Review Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (Wii Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Look forward to new horizons
Koei released quite an arsenal of strategy titles during the 16-bit era, many of them on the Super Nintendo console. While the original Uncharted Waters laid the foundation, its sequel New Horizons picked up right where it left off and managed to add quite a few new game play ideas to the mix to form one of the most...
Nintendo Download DSiWare, Equilibrio & Uncharted Waters (US)
A monster DSiWare update to kick off the new North American ‘Nintendo Download’. Worry not, Wiiware and VC fans are not completely forgotten this week either.
As you will see this week’s 'Nintendo Download' update is a bit of a beast as it includes all the DSiWare launch titles (which of course came out on Sunday!). For those thinking about...
Review The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
There's no just masking how great it still is
Ocarina of Time proved that the Zelda series was even more captivating in 3D than it was in 2D. It is still regarded as one of the greatest games ever made, but despite this, at the very end of the N64's life, it got a sequel that quite a few people missed out on – Majora's Mask. Not counting the...
Nintendo Download 7th April 2009 (Japan)
Another games tsunami hits the Japanese Wii Shop!
You know I just bought 6000 Wii points for the PAL service expecting a ton of new WiiWare and Virtual Console Arcade titles to appear imminently. I may be somewhat impatient, but it's extra disheartening to see two single-release Fridays in a row and then the nearly non-stop flood of content hitting...
Nintendo Download DSiWare Launch Games and Majora's Mask (EU)
DSiWare makes a splash while Link experiences a Groundhog Day
The European launch of the shiny new Nintendo DSi has predictably been accompanied by a smattering of equally shiny new DSiWare games. European gamers can choose from the following downloadable items: Art Style: AQUITE - 500 Nintendo points Art Style: CODE - 500 Nintendo points Birds...
News The End Of The World Starts In Europe
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask graces the Virtual Console
A short while back Japan's Virtual Console forecast list for April revealed that The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for Nintendo 64 would soon be hitting the service. In a surprise turn of events however, Nintendo is releasing the game first in Europe! Be sure to check your Wii Shop...
News Welcome to the New Look Nintendo Life!
Times they are a-changin'
In the history of mankind there have been many great moments. The discovery of fire. The invention of the wheel. The harnessing of electricity. Now we can add yet another achievement to that list - the creation of the new-look Nintendo Life! Yes indeed, what you now gaze upon is the culmination of months of hard work and...
News Is Game Design Art? Great Designers Say 'Not Really'
At a GDC 2009 roundtable with renowned designers, Art seems to be a dirty word
It’s a debate that has raged for centuries: Do video games constitute art? Ok, maybe not centuries, but it seems like a while. Personally, I say ‘yeah, of course it is!’, but I’m not the creator of games that have been hailed as art by so many. At this years...
March2009
News USA VC Update: Super Punch-Out!!
It's catchup week again, as today's new VC release is Super Punch-Out!!, which was recently released in Europe.
Super Punch-Out!! once again puts you in the shoes of Little Mac (Which has finally been confirmed in today's press release - Nintendo previously never said who this boxer was!) as he fights through four increasingly difficult boxing...
News Ten Arcade Games We'd Like To See On The Virtual Console Arcade
Now that the Virtual Console has its very own arcade section, we couldn't help but begin thinking about all of the wonderful classic arcade titles we'd love to see pop up on the Virtual Console Arcade.
Below are ten arcade classics that we would love to see on the Virtual Console Arcade. Keep in mind that these games are listed in no particular...
News Capcom Mum Regarding Virtual Console Arcade Plans
While Capcom has now fully admitted that they knew about the Virtual Console Arcade long before the announcement was made, they've decided to remain quiet as far as what their plans are for supporting the service.
Below is a statement made by Capcom Corporate Officer/VP of Strategic Planning & Business Development Christian Svensson regarding...
Review The Tower of Druaga (Arcade)
Scale a skyscraper to rescue your lost love in The Tower of Druaga.
The Tower of Druaga is a moderately infamous arcade game. As the knight Gil (Who is really Gilgamesh) you must work your way up a gigantic 60-floor tower to rescue your beloved princess Ki from the clutches of the evil Druaga. Each floor is quite literally a maze - Your objective on...
News Japanese Virtual Console list - April 2009
Lots of big surprises for Japan next month - Multiple famous game series are going to get another installment on their VC very soon. Of course this includes some Nintendo offerings as well!
The full list for April (And the last update of March) in Japan is as follows: Famicom: Takeshi no Chousenjou (March 31st) Castlevania III: Dracula's...
Remember the timeless classic, Galaga? Say hello to its successor, as the arcade version of Gaplus hits Virtual Console!
When Galaga first burst onto the scene back in 1981, it garnered almost instant popularity due to its intense shooting action and almost endless level of variety and challenge. Gone were the days where a fixed group of aliens...
It's a cat-and-mouse game like no other as you take control of Mappy, a brave police-mouse.
Arguably the most popular game in the first batch of arcade releases, Mappy follows the formula of other succesful titles of the time, including Namco's own Pac-Man - Your job is to collect objects while avoiding all enemies. The premise is that a gang of...
News Namco Announces Upcoming Arcade Games
As you might've been able to tell from the first four arcade games available, Namco's not shy with releasing their back catalogue. That's why they've now revealed about 25 arcade games they're planning on releasing during the coming weeks - That's right, Japan is getting one game every week! No word yet on other regions, but of course we can hope we get the same treatment.
The full list of upcoming games, pulled straight from Namco's Japanese site, is as follows: Assault Burning Force Cosmo Gang the Puzzle (Remade into Pac-Attack outside Japan) Cosmo Gang the...
A huge global hit at the arcades, this classic shooter blasts its way back on Virtual Console!
Star Force was originally released in arcades in 1984 by Tecmo. It was yet another title in the rapidly growing crop of vertical scrolling shooters that were gaining in popularity during the time period. While the game play was still quite basic and didn't...
News Final Fantasy Finally Coming to VC
You might remember that, quite a while ago, Square Enix said that it was unlikely the Final Fantasy games would be coming to VC, due to the remakes they love to make. It seems they've gone back on that statement now though, because, during Satoru Iwata's GDC keynote, it was announced that the first four Final Fantasy games on NES and SNES are all on the way to VC!
Of course, the catch is that only Japan is getting them - American Final Fantasy fans can only definitely expect the first and fourth games, as they were the only ones originally rel...
News Nintendo confirms "play from SD" feature
Run your Virtual Console games from an SD card!
It's the news all Virtual Console fans have been waiting for - you can now run all your downloaded VC games directly from an SD card instead of clogging up your Wii's limited internal memory! As the library of downloadable WiiWare and Virtual Console™ games continues to grow, Wii owners have asked...
News SD Card Game Launching + Arcade Games Available on VC Now!
During Satoru Iwata's GDC keynote Nintendo was sneaky enough to release a Wii update for all regions - This features two long-wanted new things for your Wii!
First off, you can now finally do what Nintendo promised months ago. If you update your Wii now you will get a little blue icon of an SD card at the bottom of your Wii Menu - Clicking it lets...
Review Detana!! Twinbee (TG-16)
It's the popular vertical-scrolling shooter renowned for its cute and comical world.
The Twinbee series of shooters hasn't seen a lot of action outside of Japan, so it should come as no surprise that this PC Engine version of Detana!! Twinbee was never released outside of Japan and marks yet another import release for Hudson on the Wii Virtual...
News Rejoice! The DSi Gets a Virtual Console After All
It finally looks like we have unofficial confirmation of the DSi's virtual console.
Check out Kombo for the whole story, but the highlight --as we can all agree, is the revelation that the DSi will allow you to download Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games. Yes, you read that right. But feel free to go back and read it another few times; this news...
News Game Boy Legacy Revived Via DSi?
A recent hands-on event for the DSi yielded some interesting tidbits; who's up for downloadable Game Boy & GBA games to play on the go?
The event was aimed primarily at Gold and Platinum Club Nintendo Members, and a few details on Nintendo's third DS iteration have been re-confirmed; 0, 500, or 800 Nintendo Point costs for games and applications; A...
News USA VC Update: Bomberman '94 and Detana!! Twinbee
As was pretty much already confirmed by Hudson Entertainment, today's VC update brings a duo of well-loved PC Engine imports.
Naturally, both of these games cost 700 Wii Points because of import costs! Bomberman '94 is, naturally, the sequel to Bomberman '93. Aside from having quite impressive graphics and sound, the game mostly just expands on what...
Bomberman has arrived to restore peace on the planet
Bomberman has seen a release on just about every console out there over the years, and while you'll definitely get contrasting opinions on which version of the game is the best, it's pretty indisputable that Bomberman '94 is one of them. Bomberman '94 was never released outside of Japan for some...
Review Super Punch-Out!! (Wii Virtual Console / Super Nintendo)
Return of the Mac
Punch-Out!! on the NES has plenty of fans. For some reason, though, a lot of them seem to be completely unaware that there’s a second game in the series available on home consoles – this is rather strange, because Super Punch-Out!! is easily as good, if not better than the NES original. The main objective of the game is still...
News Bomberman '94 & Detana!! Twinbee Coming To US Virtual Console On Monday
According to Hudson Entertainment's Virtual Console website, two of Hudson's more popular import PC Engine titles, Bomberman '94 and Detana!! Twinbee, are headed to the North American Virtual Console this coming Monday, March 23.
Both titles were never previously released in North America, which explains their 700 Wii Point price tag, but both are...
News EU VC Update: Super Punch-Out!!
Just as Nintendo of Europe announced yesterday, today only brings one new game, but it's a great one!
Super Punch-Out!! is the fourth game in the Punch-Out!! series. It's got a total of 16 opponents, both old and new, spread out across four circuits of increasing difficulty. The gameplay is pretty much exactly the same as in previous games, but...
News Super Punch-Out!! Available in Europe Tonight
Good news for boxing fans! You won't have to wait until May to get some more Punch-Out!! in your life - You'll be able to get your fix tonight!
As preparation for the new Wii version of Punch-Out!!, Nintendo of Europe will be releasing Super Punch-Out!! on VC with tonight's bi-weekly VC update. Super Punch-Out!! is more like the original two arcade...
News USA VC Update: Summer Games II
It seems the three Commodore 64 games a few weeks ago were just to celebrate the US launch of the system. This week doesn't bring another three, or even two - Just one!
Summer Games II is part of Epyx's "Games" series, which consists of classics such as Winter Games, California Games and World Games. Just like in Europe, Commodore has...
News 1000 and 3000 Nintendo Points Cards on Store Shelves Next Month
In a move that wasn't completely unexpected, Nintendo has announced that not only will Wii Points change into Nintendo Points for the release of the DSi (In fact, they claim they already changed - Apparently 2000 Nintendo Points cards are already in stores!), but they will release two new cards with different values.
If you ever find yourself...
News The OFLC Rates Even More Games
Yes, the OFLC has rated yet another batch of VC games today!
The least surprising of the bunch is Fantasy Zone II. It was already released in Japan in January, so a release elsewhere was to be expected any time, really! That's not all for the Master System though - Secret Command (Which Japan has had since June last year!) and the first Shinobi are...
