Golden Axe is heading to Virtual Console Arcade
Posted by George. Filed under Arcade, George, Japan, Nintendo Wii, Retro, Virtual Console. Tagged with Golden Axe, Milk, Port, Virtual Console Arcade.
Seems that Sega has now decided to port the arcade version of Golden Axe to Nintendo’s Virtual Console Arcade. The game is set to be released in Japan on June 23rd for 800 points.
The rating has also gone up. The Genesis/Mega Drive version was rated CERO A (all ages) in Japan, this one will be rated CERO B (12 and up).
To celebrate the release of the game, Sega will be printing special Golden Axe shirts. See the design below, it will feature a pixel art look. The shirt will cost 3,990 yen (about $41USD).
[Source: Game Watch]
[Thanks: STORM!]
[Update] Space Harrier coming to Virtual Console Arcade later today
Posted by George. Filed under Arcade, George, North America, Virtual Console. Tagged with Arcade, GDC, Space Harrier, VCA, Virtual Console Arcade.
According to Iwata’s keynote speech, about an hour ago at GDC, Space Harrier will be coming out on Virtual Console Arcade today.
Virtual Console Arcade is an expansion of the Virtual Console service, unlike Xbox Live Arcade, the games here are all full arcade versions, not just a fancy name change of the service.
There was no price given, but you can be sure that we will update this post with a price when we find out.
[Update: Space Harrier is set to release for 500 Wii Points, seems hard to believe since Genesis titles are 800 points. - Source Kotaku]
[Source Joystiq Thanks Ryan and Sanus]
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars released on Virtual Console
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii, North America, Virtual Console. Tagged with Alex Kidd, Download, The Lost Stars.
Sega has released the Master System title, Alex kidd: The Lost Stars, on the US Virtual Console today.
Relive the Master System Classic! - Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars TM is now available for the Virtual Console on the Nintendo Wii for 500 Wii Points.
Originally released in 1986, players will be able to relive this SEGA Master System classic as they help Alex in a race against time to find the twelve missing zodiac signs hidden throughout six challenging levels. From Toyland to Outer-space, Alex will fight off all kinds of crazy enemies.
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars is rated E for Everyone.
To be honest I’ve only ever played two Alex Kidd titles and this isn’t one of them, so I can’t say I’m overally excited by this, however, I am interested. Alex Kidd is one of those franchises I have always been intruiged with, just never played much.
[Source: Sega PR]
Fantasy Zone II coming to Virtual Console in 2009
Posted by George. Filed under George, Japan, Nintendo Wii, Virtual Console. Tagged with Do Want, Fantasy Zone 2, Virtual Console.
Nintendo of Japan has released a list of upcoming Virtual Console games that are set to come out early next year, everyone is ranting and raving about Super Smash Bros, but us Sega Nerds just want Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa!
Fantasy Zone II is listed for the regular cost (for a Master System game) of 500 wii points, though no idea if it will come to America or Europe Virtual Consoles, but we can pray! Also seems that Japan is finally getting Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap next year.
Next: Super Fantasy Zone, please!
[Source Siliconera]
Phantasy Star IV released on the Virtual Console
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii, Retro, Virtual Console. Tagged with Download, Genesis, IV, Mega Drive, Phantasy Star.
While quite a few Virtual Console releases slip past us every now and then, it was quite hard for us not to notice that Phantasy Star IV (that’s 4 for those not clued up on their Roman Numerals) has been released on the US Virtual Console today.
Shining Force II and Earthworm Jim hit the EU Virtual Console
Posted by Graham. Filed under Europe, G, News, Nintendo Wii, Retro, Virtual Console. Tagged with Genesis, MegaDrive, Shining Force II.
From today Sega/Nintendo has released two Megadrive classics onto the European Virtual Console. Joining the ranks of retro titles is Shining Force II and Earthworm Jim.
Earthworm Jim was one of my favourite platformers back in the day, with the quirky humour and fun gameplay (man I hope it’s stood the test of time).
Shining Force II is one game I have been dying to get my hands on for some time. I’m a pretty big fan of the Shining franchise, and some people have told me that Shining Force II is their all time favourite of the bunch. So I will be very excited to finally play it.
Both titles will be going for the standard 800 Wii Points and well worth it for a copy of Shining Force II - which can be seen to sell for well over £60 on eBay. No word on US releases of these games, but no doubt they will travel across the Atlanic soon enough.
Vectorman hits the US Virtual Console
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii, North America, Retro, Virtual Console. Tagged with Genesis, MegaDrive, Vectorman.
Finally, Vectorman has hit the Virtual Console in the United States.
Apparently, Vectorman is already out on the European Virtual Console, but I checked earlier today… And (as always) my Wii Shop Channel was playing silly buggers and it seemed incapable of getting to the games list page.
So I also checked the European Virtual Console website for the game, but it was not listed.
For now, I can only confirm that it is on the U.S. Virtual Console and it will cost (the standard) 800 points.
In case you know nothing about Vectorman, the official game summary is after the break.
Would a “Sega Channel” work on the Wii?
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii, Retro, Virtual Console. Tagged with Dreamcast, Saturn, Sega Channel.
I’m sure many of us here can agree that Sega has a great selection of games on the Wii’s Virtual Console, I believe they have released the most games on the download service. But would some of you say to having a special “Sega Channel” for the Wii?
According to Sephen Munn, over at Aeropause, it is a much needed addition to the download service. But before you all start with your “Yays” and “Nays” over the matter, let me explain Mr. Munn’s concept.
The idea is not to be like the Sega Channel of yesteryear - which acted much like the Virtual Console - allowing gamers to download a choice of up to 50 Genesis games (which was updated monthly), for a monthly fee.Â
Instead, Stephen, is suggesting that Sega create a channel which will have Saturn and Dreamcast emulators. Rather than downloading games, Wii owners will download the software, enabling them to play Saturn and Dreamcast games off the original discs.
Quite frankly, I love the concept. However, there are certainly some pretty big flaws in the idea.
MasterSystem (finally) coming to Virtual Console
Posted by Graham. Filed under G, News, Nintendo Wii, Virtual Console. Tagged with America, Downloads, Fan Stuff, Master System.
Yesterday, Sega of America announced that they would be bringing MasterSystem games to the Wii’s Virtual Console download service, joining the Megadrive/Genesis, NES, SNES, N64 and NEO GEO in the ever growing list of systems available on the service.
Kicking off the console’s debut will be two fan-favourite games, WonderBoy (yes!) and Fantasy Zone.
Sonic and Knuckles headed to VC
Posted by Chris. Filed under Chris, Sonic, Virtual Console.
It appears that one of the best games in the Sonic franchise is headed to the Virtual Console sometime in the future. The ESRB has recently added Sonic & Knuckles to its ratings list, and surprisingly enough, the game received a T rating for violence and alcohol reference.
Okay, I’m totally kidding on that second part. Like you’d probably guess, the game is actually rated “E for Everyone” and will surely be chock full of Sonic goodness. That’s good because I’ve had 800 points sitting in my account for a long time waiting for something to come along that’s worthwhile. This may be it.
[Thanks for the tip, Sonic_Freak!]
