Super Mario Bros. 3, Alien Soldier, and some other game to appear on VC tomorrow
by Eric Caoili 
{ Nov 4th 2007 at 11:00PM }
Heralding the release of Super Mario Galaxy this November 12th, Nintendo plans to deliver Super Mario Bros. 3, a title which many feel to be the NES's finest product, with this week's Virtual Console update. We've already pulled 500 Wii points out of our wallet, just waiting to hand the cash over to anyone who'll give us the game in return. We'll sleep tonight with the bills gripped tightly in our fists, smiling as we dream about spending the entirety of tomorrow ensconced in a giant green boot.Treasure's classic run-and-gun boss-travaganza for the Sega Genesis, Alien Soldier, will also be available for download tomorrow, having previously appeared in North America only through the ill-fated Sega Channel. Hardcore gamers won't regret spending 900 Wii points on this one. And if they do, that speaks more to their character than Alien Soldier's qualities.
On the TurboGrafx-16 side, we'll have the option of buying Power Golf for 600 Wii points. Unfortunately for Power Golf, we've already resigned ourselves to only purchasing games which feature either a Tanooki Suit or a Seven Force robot this week. Sucks to be Power Golf.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BSW1984 @ Nov 5th 2007 12:25AM
Sweet took them long enough to put SMB3 on the VC, sadly though I wont be getting it as I have the game many times, NES, SNES, GBA ect so for now its a no for me. I am playing SM64 to get pumped for SMG when I pick it up on launch day. What are you doing to get ready for SMG?????
Almadi @ Nov 5th 2007 12:35AM
Am I the only Nintendo Fan who doesn't like Mario?
I will not buy SMB3 and I am not getting Super Mario Galaxy.
...I hope Samurai Showdown is released today.
vidGuy @ Nov 5th 2007 12:55AM
I have a feeling SMB3 is going to be 600 points...
Croove55 @ Nov 5th 2007 12:56AM
Almadi, you are a very rare breed. Not that I think you are wrong, because everyone has their own preferences and yours are as valid as everyone else's, but I'm just asking for curiosity's sake: why don't you like the Mario series? Just a few reasons would be nice to know. For some reason, I find it fascinating that a Nintendo fan would not like Mario. The two are so closely related, so this is certainly odd.
Then again, I feel like I'm the only person in the world that absolutely despises Rachet and Clank. So this is why I'm asking: just to get a different perspective on a series most people idolize.
Almadi @ Nov 5th 2007 3:42AM
@Croove55
Being mostly into fighting games and strategy RPGs, I value precise control and a lot of options more then anything in a game. I am also into a more mature story (NOT talking about sex).
Mario games aren’t all that when it comes to a serious story or exact control (yes you jump, but you prey with each jump).
Don’t get me wrong, I used to love Mario and Megaman and Sonic (I was the only one in my school to complete all 96 stages in Super Mario World). But with age comes selectiveness (I am 29).
There is an old (aren’t they always old) Arabic saying “If it wasn’t for the diversity of tastes, markets would go to hell”…or something like that.
And the only action/adventure games I look forward to are from the Castlevania series.
Dopple Boppler @ Nov 5th 2007 5:32AM
I don't mind you not liking Mario games or whatever, but precise control? Isn't that the feature that's always set Mario games ahead of all the other platform games?
devosion @ Nov 5th 2007 8:01AM
Alien Soldier is a must for me, but since I already own SMB3 for my gba i'll pass.
Soiden @ Nov 5th 2007 6:21AM
Does this mean we may get Smash Bros. for N64 by February?
Gerwurztraminer @ Nov 5th 2007 7:31AM
If we don't have the N64 version of Smash Bros on the virtual console by December 3rd (as in, the old Brawl date) I will be very disappointed.
Alan Friesen @ Nov 5th 2007 10:04AM
I tried playing SMB3 on my GBA again the other day, but after a few seconds of "Oh! Just what I needed!" I turned it off in disgust. I must have played it earlier without the sound on. Yep, I'll be getting the VC version, no question.
troy @ Nov 5th 2007 1:17PM
I think that if you are 'praying with each jump' you might just prefer the 'precise control' of RPG menus ha ha because Mario and Megaman taught me how to judge distance and timing.
James @ Nov 5th 2007 4:16PM
I think that the 3D Mario games have *not* lived up to the "precision" standards of the 2D precursors. You may have noticed that Mario 64 and Sunshine almost never made you climb a series of 1-block stairs like you used to have to do in all the 2D variants previously. Know why? It's damn near impossible to do it repeatably because every time you do it the camera is in a slightly different place, so "up" on the joystick means something slightly different as well.
I'm not saying the new Mario games are poorly done, or even that they're the worse for the imprecision, but they definitely highlight a problem with 3D platforming generally. Every 3D platformer I've ever played -- and there have been a fair few, I can tell you -- had to cut back on the precision jumping, or twiddle with the cameras, or implement some type of "jumping auto-aim", or double-jumps, or limited flight, or some combination of the above. It's just not easy to do it right.
As a sort-of aside, I got a chance to play with the Galaxy demo at a Gamestop this weekend, and let me tell you, the problem is still there. Within the first five minutes, you're stomping Goombas, and even with that big of a target (they're about as big as Mario), you can't always be sure you're judging your distance correctly or aimed in exactly the right direction -- especially when the camera moves automatically while you're running toward them. Maybe when I have a better feel for the game, with more experience, it will seem "tighter", but I certainly didn't just drop right into it like I would with a 2D platformer.
Almadi @ Nov 6th 2007 12:49AM
No troy, you must have misunderstood. Staratgy RPGs don't require much control. But some have epic and serious stories.
When I talked about precise control, I was referring to fighting games. Play a round of King of Fighters or Guilty Gear and you will be in a better position to throw a joke.
James, that is exactly what I am talking about. Once they release a Mario game with controls on par with Super Mario World, I'll be first in line to buy it (unless it's a workday).