Wii Warm Up: A year with the Virtual Console

by Alisha Karabinus { Nov 20th 2007 at 9:00AM }

Not only have we (potentially) had a year with the Wii, we've also had a year with the Virtual Console. We've seen some great classics released this year in all regions, from the original Legend of Zelda to Super Mario Bros. 3, and some more obscure titles, like Devil's Crush. Of course, there are a few that we've love to see that are thus far no-shows, but even so, we feel pretty satisfied overall with the Virtual Console in its debut year. How about you? How many games have you downloaded? Would you like to download more, if you had an endless supply of storage space and Wii points?

Tags: anniversary-week, download, retro

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andy @ Nov 20th 2007 9:24AM

For nostalgic purposes, I downloaded Super Mario Bros 2 [mostly for my wife...she loved it], Super Mario Bros 3, Street Fighter II Turbo, Metroid.

As a kid, I never had Metroid. My cousin had it and beat it within a week [when you're 7 years old, that's fast]. He'd give me the opportunity to fiddle with it, but not much time. I always wanted it, but never got it.

DaiMac79 @ Nov 20th 2007 9:24AM

27 games at last count, including SMB, SMB3, SM64, Zelda 1, 2, A Link to the past, Ocarina, Sin and Punishment, Streets of Rage II, Shining Force, Ninja Gaiden, F-Zero 64, Beyond Oasis, Gunstar Heroes, Metroid, Super Metroid, Kid Icarus, and one or two I'm forgetting off the top of my head.

I need more space, thats my only complaint.

raindog @ Nov 20th 2007 9:26AM

As someone who never played a Nintendo game between the release of Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Sunshine (after which I started catching up thanks to the GBA), there's a lot of stuff on the VC that I want. The limiting factor for me isn't even money or Wii storage space, but time.

I have 1000 Wii points sitting in my account and I'd really love to play Super Mario Bros. 3 for the first time, but it's been an ordeal just to be able to start playing Galaxy (3 hours, 16 stars), two more still-shrinkwrapped Wii games (Mercury and Zack/Wiki) and I don't know when I'll have time for SMB3.

I did download Mario 64, but mostly to compare with the DS version which I played through in the first month after the release of the DS. I'd have downloaded Ocarina of Time as well, if I didn't already have it courtesy of that Zelda Collection bonus disc on the Gamecube (started playing it, never finished. Being a grownup sucks.)

Cuddlefish @ Nov 20th 2007 9:36AM

I haven't downloaded a single VC game since the Wii's launch. I grew up with these games but have no desire to taint my memories of them by playing them again. I have never played a retro game and found it as fun or satisfying as I remember them. This even goes for fairly recent stuff like PS1 and N64 games so I don't play anything earlier than my Dreamcast games. I'm really looking forward to the new Wiiware games though. Small arcade style games with motion controls is something I'll buy. As for the retro titles I'll continue to remember their greatness through my rose tinted glasses.

Vanjaymes @ Nov 20th 2007 9:44AM

I am still waiting for the SNES RPG swansong Mother 2 or "Earthbound" as we call it in the states. It also makes me wonder if there is any wii incarnation of Earthbound being developed by hal laboratorys. All I know is I have got 800 Wii points burning a hole in my virtual console pocket until this lands on the VC.

A Petz @ Nov 20th 2007 9:40AM

I've downloaded 4: Excitebike, Super Mario Brothers 3, Shining Force and Toejam and Earl. I'm still waiting for a few more of the obscure games to come up online, but I guess I may be waiting for awhile. I'd also like to see some Final Fantasy titles, but then again, I'm guessing that that's not going to happen ever. Overall, I've been pleased with the releases so far.

andyl @ Nov 20th 2007 9:41AM

I've got SMB, SMB2, SMB:LL, SMB3, SMW, Mario Kart 64, StarFox64, Metroid and Super Metroid. I agree with raindog in that I had a NES and the got a GameCube when the price dropped to $99 and had the Mario Kart: DD pack-in, so I missed a _lot_ of games. That, and most of the NES games I had were cheap ones I could get my parents to buy for me...

So yeah, I'm very happy with the VC. The pricing is appropriate (but I wouldn't complain if they were cheaper!) considering the entertainment value I'm getting from these games, and I haven't filled up that 512 MB of space yet...but I'll need that SD card pretty soon... If I had an endless number of points and storage space, you'd better believe I'd have more games!

Otherwise, I'm still waiting on TMNT II: The Arcade Game, Mario Kart (SNES) and Goldeneye 007 (but who isn't?)...

Jay @ Nov 20th 2007 9:44AM

I downloaded the orginal Zelda (one of 2 I don't have in at least one form or another) and Donkey Kong for extreme-retroness right after I got the Wii, and have since gotten Starfox64, Super Metroid (which warrented purchase of a CC), and Paper Mario

Still waiting on Majora's Mask

Tesche @ Nov 20th 2007 10:04AM

I have downloaded several VC games....maybe 10....my first was Ninja Gaiden (pretty much my favorite nes game ever)and the most suprising game I have downloaded is Paper Mario. I'd never played it before and found it well worth the money.

mark richardson @ Nov 20th 2007 10:07AM

Ive got about 5 so far mostly on systems from b4 the n64 as after that i have all the games anyways.

its been good playing games i never got the chance too.

i so cant wait for wii ware to start though now thats going to rock soo soo much!

Ian @ Nov 21st 2007 9:07AM

I've got 4:

Immediately downloaded Kid Icarus, as I believe it
appeared days after I got my Wii, I forgot how hard that game is. I gave up.
Then Kirby, because I read how great it was but came out late in the NES and didn't get the credit it deserved. Played through it, but wasn't overly impressed.
Then Donkey Kong Country, again because I read how great it was. It's OK. I never finished it.
And finally Castlevania. Still working on it, but Galaxy has taken over. It's actually somewhat decent.
I'd like to see the original Metal Gear and Ikari Warriors. And also, what about Gameboy games!!!!

saylorsgang @ Nov 20th 2007 12:13PM

I love my VC games, that was one of my big reasons for buying the Wii, I've got SMB,SMB 2 SMB LL, SMB 3, SMBW,Paper Mario,Yoshi's Story,Thunderblade ,The Legend Of Zelda, Kirby's Adventure, Star Fox 64, Excitebike,Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Math, Metroid, Super Metroid, World Class Baseball, Baseball, Pinball, just to name a few, I love seeing my kids play them with the same joy I did when I first played them, but I'm down to my last 300 blocks of space, they really need a damn hard drive.

Adrian @ Nov 20th 2007 11:53AM

I've spent way too much on Wii points since the Wii launch. I've gotten every Super Mario title, Every Zelda, 3 Turbo Graphix 16 games the original Sonic The Hedgehog, Super Metroid, F-Zero X, Mario Kart 64, Starfox 64, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, the first Paper Mario, etc...
I've spent around $220.00 on VC games, alone! And there are so many titles that I want that've yet to be released: Secret Of Mana on the SNES, any of the N64's Turok titles, Jet Force Gemini, Banjo Kazooie, and probably most importantly... Earthbound (Mother 2) Probably the SNES's greatest RPG! I want Earthbound more than anything!

Jay @ Dec 1st 2007 2:06PM

Wow, this is kinda embarrassing. I went back and counted how many games I've bought for the VC and I'm surprised. 72. Man, I think I must have some kind of addiction to retro games or something. I kid you not, I have 72 VC games, not counting other channels like the internet and eveybody votes. I can't imagine how much money I've sinked into it. But hey, I've never bought one I regret. Even stuff like Ninja Turtles and Elevator Action, they may not offer hours of gameplay, but since I've never used an emulator, because I am totally against them, getting those games through the VC is the only way I can relive them - bot the good and the bad.

Noah @ Nov 20th 2007 1:54PM

F-Zero,Super Mario 64,Ecco the Dolphin,Sonic the Hedgehog,Super Mario Bros.,Mario Kart 64,Super Mario World,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Star Fox 64,Super Mario Bros. 2,Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels,Super Mario Bros. 3

Jonathan Tran @ Nov 20th 2007 2:14PM

I bought a couple VC games and soon realized one things:

Games for nostalgia: Bad idea
Games for multiplayer fun: Good idea
Games I never played before: Awesome idea.

I got Sonic 2 and Super Mario Bros and it was a giant disappointment. The games don't seem fun, they seem poorly designed compared to Super Mario World and Sonic Advance 2. I played these games to death as a kid and there is nothing new about them anymore. Ugh.

I got Streets of Rage 2 which I occasionally rented as a kid and it rocks, plus it's fun to play with my gf, or guests, or whatever. Good buy.

I got Kirby's Adventure and Super Metroid since I never played them, and they're awesome. I feel like I've unearthed rare gems, and I really feel I've learned a lot about gaming history by playing them.

So personally going forward I will only buy games I always wanted to play but never did. I find that nostalgia is a strong pull but does not pay off. I had Sonic and Knuckles but not Sonic 3, so if S&K comes out and can lock-on to S3, I'll get both.

johnstca @ Nov 20th 2007 2:51PM

So far:

1. SMB3
2. SM World
3. SMB Lost Levels
4. Tecmo Bowl

Being an Xbox360 owner as well, I can say for sure that VC completely wipes the floor with XBLA!

Onomah @ Nov 20th 2007 3:34PM

@15

And wiiware will be the final nail in that coffin. Or perhaps the lid?

I got games for various reasons. Street fighter II is pretty great, and I don't normally like fighters. Classics like paper mario are awesome.

I regret getting gunstar heroes a littlee bit. I only got it because I wanted a megaman substitute when megaman wasn't available. I guess it's OK though. I actually regret getting Zelda would you believe. So far it's the only Zelda game I have ever found difficult, I may never finish it, still an awesome though...

Let's see...not that many N64 games since I played most of the ones that I like there. Got Starfox for the multiplayer, but the single player really is just a lot of fun...And of course, super mario world is the apex of the 2D, home console platformer. few complaints, quite a few classics on there. Some stinkers, but loads of classics.

Oh and for some reason Super metroid doesn't Appear on my shop channel. It is out in europe right? Any help here?

Nate @ Nov 20th 2007 4:22PM

I have Super Metroid, Super Mario World, Kid Icarus, and Mean Bean Machine.

VC games I want:
Mario 64 (have the cart, but I'm selling the 64 and the games)
Starfox 64
Zelda: LTTP (have the cart, but the SNES is also up for grabs, w/ Super Metroid)
I'd say OOT, but I have the collector GC disc with Zelda 1,2, OOT and Majora's Mask, and I have the carts for them too.

Mr Khan @ Nov 20th 2007 4:28PM

So far (and in chronological order) its:

Bomberman 93
Toe Jam & Earl
Ice Climber
F-Zero X
Super Metroid
Magician Lord

Tommorrow (when i have time) i shall get Wrecking Crew

I'm liking it, brings in the obscure, and the consoles i never had

Wesley Hester @ Nov 20th 2007 5:06PM

I have many VC titles and would have more if the Wii's memory wasn't so damn limited. I'm already having to 'cycle' games off the Wii onto a memory card and back again. Thanks to N64 and Super Nintendo titles, I could never fill of the the "screens" of the main menu do to the memory limitations.