VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 10/1/07
by David Hinkle 
{ Oct 1st 2007 at 5:23PM }
Today is a very special day for the Virtual Console. Not only does it mark the occasion where those of us in the states received our first import titles, but also it marks a new age for VC Monday Madness coverage from here on out. Hopefully, the new set we're recording gameplay from will enhance the overall quality of our coverage. Better coverage equals more happy readers (er, viewers, we suppose), correct? And, a happy reader makes for a happy blogger.
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (NES, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
Wii Fanboy says: download it!
Who doesn't like Super Mario Bros.?! Nobody, that's who, and given that Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels is just more of the same, nobody can find any fault in this title. Sure, it's 100 Wii Points over the usual asking price for NES titles, but it's easily paid given the fact that we finally get this import.
Sin and Punishment (Nintendo 64, 1-2 players, 1,200 Wii Points)
Wii Fanboy says: download it!
Sin & Punishment is the kind of game that should it have released earlier and in the states, it could've saved the N64. The only fault we can find in the title is it's quirky control scheme, which will only take you 15 minutes or so to get used to. With its frenetic, fast-paced action, we find a title that is easily worth the 1,200 Wii Point asking price. Download. This. Now.
That concludes our look at this week's Virtual Console games. As always, if you have any tips or rumors regarding Nintendo's Virtual Console service, be sure to let us know and come back next week when we take a look at the latest titles available on the Nintendo Wii.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Snowden @ Oct 1st 2007 5:38PM
We just got a new Vizio 42" LCD in my dorm room. It's amazing.
Time to go download sin and punishment
rabidMike @ Oct 1st 2007 5:49PM
Not unfamiliar for a lot of us here in the U.S. who have played it on the Super Mario Bros All-Stars compilation for the SNES. Can't wait to pick it up later today
Archibold @ Oct 1st 2007 6:07PM
Sin and Punishment does look hella fun!
But seriously, is it just me or does the first level of Sin and Punishment look like a remake of 3D Worldrunner? Man, I miss that game...
Metal_Link @ Oct 1st 2007 6:21PM
I love you Dave. ^_^
But I don't know which one to download as all I have left from getting Super Metroid is 1400 points. Anyone favor one over the other?
Brendon @ Oct 1st 2007 7:01PM
When are you guys going to present VC titles in their proper aspect ratio?
Mr Khan @ Oct 1st 2007 7:28PM
The Lost Levels got wierd as hell in places
It really struck me on the stage (I think in world 4) where they had Bloopers flying about the sky
Therm_Optics @ Oct 1st 2007 7:36PM
I got them both and Sin and Punishment is the better download.
Henkiebob @ Oct 2nd 2007 11:35AM
Great new TV and all , but please close your curtains , i could see sun reflection , and then close you window! i could hear cars passing by! :(
but it was still awesome
Therm_Optics @ Oct 1st 2007 7:52PM
Sorry to tell you Dave but your new T.V. is pretty much the same as the other one. It might be the Camera or you might want to look into a different method to capture the footage. Just a thought.
Preston @ Oct 1st 2007 9:43PM
Try a VCR or a DVD recorder that'd be GRRREAT
danny. @ Oct 1st 2007 9:34PM
Sin and Punishment is crazy hard. I did put it on Normal (it defaults to Easy), but I can't get anywhere. Strange controls... It is awesome though.
I essentially have no blocks left after today.
FISS01 @ Oct 1st 2007 9:41PM
an advice: Don't make free publicity, put on the logo of that beautiful tv you got (bastard), the nintendo wii fanboy logo.
ejamer @ Oct 1st 2007 10:40PM
I was skeptical about Sin and Punishment before sitting down to play it today, but was extremely impressed with the gameplay. Lots of polish on this game, and almost as much fun to just sit and watch as it is to actually play. Well worth the Wii Points!
Quick note about controls: it's much easier (and more intuitive) to use the digital control pad to strafe and the right analog stick to aim...
FM @ Oct 1st 2007 11:02PM
Im awestruck since I remembered Nintendo saying long ago that they wouldn't bring Import games to the VC. Anyway Sin & Punishment and Mario is a sign of things to come...
David Hinkle @ Oct 2nd 2007 12:00AM
Metal_Link,
I love you, too. Except when you're whipping my ass in Tetris. :D
Brendon,
The aspect ratio is set by the Wii. I have my settings on widescreen because my TV is 16:9.
Henkiebob,
I actually did have my curtains closed and even threw a blanket over for good measure. For some reason, my office just gets hella bright during the early day (which is when I recorded the video).
Therm_Optics,
I wish I could get a capture card or have another method to get direct feed footage, but I'm limited right now. I'm actually getting a new PC sometime this year, I've just been waiting on the specs for Crysis before doing so.
FISS01,
I actually don't edit any of the video on my PC, it's all done on the camera itself. So, I'd like to do that, but would have to spend time finding a good program and monkeying around with it. Any (free) suggestions?
Preston,
Want to send me a DVD recorder? I'd be happy to do it then. :)
Wildarms7000 @ Oct 2nd 2007 12:14AM
I totally had The Lost Levels on the SNES All-stars... Didn't anyone else?
Britai @ Oct 2nd 2007 12:36AM
I was so hyped up for S&P only for it to never get released over here. Finally I get to own it! The best part about this is that on the download screen, there's a little Japanese flag with the word "IMPORT." What's next... Mother?
Mike @ Oct 2nd 2007 11:43AM
Anyone played Sin And Punishment with a GameCube controller? I don't have a classic and I know some n64 games can be too hard to play with the GC.
Brendon @ Oct 2nd 2007 8:48PM
David,
My Wii is set to widescreen as well, but my 16:9 television has the ability to select what aspect ratio I want to use at the time (as I'm sure all 16:9 TVs do). I'm always switching it depending on what game, TV show or DVD I'm watching. It's a pain in the ass, but it's just too weird to see 4:3 content all flattened out. ^_^
David Hinkle @ Oct 2nd 2007 11:00PM
Brendon,
Since you're such a special guy (you are, your mom wasn't lying!), I'll try and make sure I do that from now on. :)
Brendon @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:08AM
David,
Which mom? I was adopted, but yes - they both tell me that (usually on my birthday).
But seriously folks... Am I the only one who prefers to play his or her 4:3 games to be played in 4:3? Or is because I'm a forty-something former arcade rat who just doesn't understand you kids today (what with your flappers and jazz music)?
Thanks David! Looking forward to your next VC Video. Sincerity, not sarcasm, honest!
Jared @ Nov 12th 2007 11:32AM
David,
I downloaded S&P as you begged to encourage Nintendo to do more of this kind of stuff. Damn you...now I'm addicted. This is one of the finer games never released here. Good call, but hard as hell. I'll be digesting this one forever trying to beat it.
This has me dreaming of Mother...but I know NOA too well to get my hopes up after more than a decade. Still...maybe...
James @ Oct 5th 2007 2:59PM
Dave, it's hell of easy to find a cheap video-capture device if that's what you want to record with. You can get a PCI or USB TV-capture card for under 50 bucks, especially if you get an older model. You only need a composite input, after all -- online streaming compression will make HD input completely pointless. I've got at least 4 devices in my house that can capture composite, and I wasn't really even trying. I don't know about you, but my HDTV has a composite "monitor" output, along with stereo sound, which would work great for playing on the TV whilst recording on the computer. I guess being stuck *playing* on your monitor (via your video capture input) would probably suck, though significantly less so for low-res older games on the VC.
Of course, once you've got the video captured, I'm not at all sure how best to edit it. I too would love to know of a (preferably free) easy-to-use editing suite. I hear Windows Movie Maker works well enough, but the WMV output would turn me off a lot...