Wii Rally

This weeks update features a classic SNES adventure, a sport no one likes and more of the same.

Volleyball (NES, 500 Wii Points)
Does anyone actually like to play this game. Every time I do I somehow manage to walk away with throbbing red forearms and a ball to the face. But enough about the inadequicies of my athletic ability. Now you can experience all the fun of volleyball without the aforementioned draw backs from the safety of your Wii.

Breath of Fire II (SNES, 800 Wii Points)
I must say that there is a lack of expansive adventure games on the Virtual Console. So releasing something like Breath of Fire II is a step in the right direction. I mean do we really need another space shooter? Oh wait…

Galaga ‘90 (PC Engine, 600 Wii Points)
Rounding out this week’s update is of course the obligatory space shooter. I must say that there are more space shooters on the virtual console than there are Nintendo products with clocks in them. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week don’t forget to tip your waitress.

Featuring Euro and North American Virtual Console Updates.

My European friends forgive me for not posting your Virtual Console update on Friday.

4 new games hit the European Virtual Console last Friday featuring a Ninja, a toy, a troupe of brave warriors and dream warrior named Takashi.

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
The 3rd installment of the Shinobi series has ninja master Joe Musashi battling the evil Neo Zeed crime syndicate once again. Throwing stars go!

Dynamite Headdy (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
A game based on a Metallica album? Well maybe not but as Headdy you must defeat the evil “Master of Puppets” (Get it?) to save your friends in North Town from a life a servitude and no one wants that.

Shining Force (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
Why is that every time a Lord amasses a significant amount of dark power some sort of hero or party of heroes needs to be dispatched to stop him? Live and let live that’s what I say.

Drop Off (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)
Don’t let those apples and watermelons push you around. Show them who’s boss by dropping a ball on them. Take that you lousy fruit.

Check out the North American Virtual Console update after the jump.
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Man I can’t wait to get out of July I’m sick of typing all these 7s. Good afternoon Europe how are you fairing today? Not too good I supposed seeing as how you guys only get two new Virtual Console titles today.

Europe does some catch-up to the NA VC with Devil’s Crush being released now if we can just catch up to them and get some Mega Man action going I’ll be happy, sorry happier. A totally different Kirby game has been bestowed on our European brethren. Kirby’s Ghost Trap known as Kirby’s Avalanche here in North America is a puzzle game featuring 16 stages of blob dropping goodness. I’ve never personally played it but to me it sounds like it could have been a precursor to Bejeweled, a popular cell phone game developed by EA mobile (formerly Jamdat Mobile).

Devil’s Crush (PC Engine, 600 Wii points)
Kirby’s Ghost Trap (SNES, 800 Wii Points)

Have a good weekend all, see you on Monday.

The Euro VC plays a little bit of catch up this week along with jumping ahead in the “finally available” category. By catch up I mean the addition of Street Fighter II: Turbo and Silent Debuggers which have become available within the last week or two.

The real gem is the late Gumpei Yokoi’s Metroid. I recently played some original Metroid on my GBA after completing Metriod: Zero Mission and I must say that I definitely though the SNES version (Super Metroid) was a superior game. Though the reveal at the end of Metroid (NES) was much more culturally significant. If you’re looking for something to sink a couple of hours into for 5 bucks you really can’t go wrong with this classic. Those of you who like me who downloaded Street Fighter II: The World Warrior last Christmas are probably kicking themselves now that Street Fighter II: Turbo is available, mais c’est la vie.

Metroid (NES,E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points)
Street Fighter II: Turbo (SNES, T for Teen, 8 Wii Points)
Silent Debuggers (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)

Only two new titles are hitting the Euro VC this week but they’re are strong none the less. I talked about Air “Zonk” on Monday when it hit the Wii Shop Channel here in North America. The big deal this week in Europe however is the addition on Paper Mario to the Virtual Console. This predecessor to Super Paper Mario and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door was originally released on the N64. Many believe that Nintendo went in this “RPG-ish” direction with Mario becuse there seemed little hope that the guys at SquareEnix would ever do a sequel to the tremendously popular Super Mario RPG for the SNES. 3 games later Paper Mario has endeared itself to gamers with it’s simplified RPG style gameplay, sharp humor, and cartoony aesthetic.

If you have the 1000 Wii points I suggest you download this title. It’s a good bang for your buck like the Zelda series there is lots of gameplay to be had here for a somewhat meager price. Also once you try out Paper Mario you may understand why I was so hard on Super Paper Mario for its incredibly dumbed down platforming gameplay.

Paper Mario and Air “Zonk” would make a great addition to any one’s Virtual Console.

Air “Zonk” (PC Engine, Rated E, 600 Wii Points)
Paper Mario (N64, Rated E, 1000 Wii Points)

I know it’s a little late but Wordpress seemed to be having server issues on Friday. Anyway 2 new titles hit the Euro VC this week.

Mega Man (NES, 500 Wii Points)
China Warrior (PC Engine, 600 Wii Points)

Mega Man has been long awaited well Mega Man 2 to be more specific but you have to walk before you run nes pas?

24 years ago today was a significant day in gaming history. Possibly one of the most significant days in world history as well.

Yes 24 years ago today I was born in Brampton, Ontario Canada and the world was forever changed. How am I celebrating the joyous day of my birth? Well by telling you about today’s Euro Virtual Console releases of course.

F-Zero X (N64, Rated E, 1000 Wii points)
JJ and Jeff (TG-16, 600 Wii points)

Well I’m off to celebrate myself see you all on Monday.

Hey everyone I’m a little busy at the moment. Remember that house I mentioned awhile back. Well my girlfriend and I took possession today and got our keys. So this week end we are moving half our apartment down to the new house. I still have to stay in Toronto for another month and finish school.

I have a special surprise for you all on Monday so keep it locked on the Rally.

Also here are the Euro Virtual Console for today.

Streets of Rage II (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
Kid Chameleon (Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
World Sports Competition (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)

Hello everyone I have an announcement; it’s almost “Party Time!” and by that I mean Mario Party time. Yes the long awaited release date is fast approaching but does Nintendo have any surprises in store?

Gamers first learned about Mario Party 8 for the Nintendo Wii when it was announced officially at a Nintendo press conference way back in September 2006, long before many of us had even laid hands upon a Wii.

Fast forward to March 2007. The long wait for mini-game goodness is almost over. Mario Party 8 is slated for a March 5th release and all seems to be going well. Then a day before the game was supposed to be on store shelves, Nintendo announced a delay the new release date? “Q2 2007″ I love it when they get specific.

Which brings us to the present. As of right now Mario Party does have a release date which is listed by GamePress, GameSpot and Nintendo as May 29th 2007. Will we see Mario and his game playing ilk on the Wii that day? I remain skeptical but if the “party” goes off without a hitch then I will be left wondering why was there a “delay” in the first place.

Or

It will be my party (or lack thereof) and I’ll cry if I want to. You would cry too if you had to play TMNT just for something to do.

Mario Party 8 releases in

North America on May 29th 2007
Europe on June 22nd 2007
Japan on TBA

So I get home from school yesterday and sit down to to some fantabulous blogging and my computer grinds to a halt. Then I get a phone call from Rogers (My ISP) Internet security telling me I have a virus and it’s spamming their network. They also tell me that I have 24 hours to remedy the situation or I can wave bye bye to my Internet service.

Norton to the rescue. After 3 hours of installation and another 4 hours for hard drive scanning 5 problems found, 5 problems fixed. Long story short I’m back online but yesterday was pretty much a write off. I apologize for the no post yesterday and will try and make it up to you some how. I know! How about I tell you today’s Euro VC releases.

Shockman (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)

Wonder Boy In Monster World (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)

3 more (par for the course) new Virtual Console releases for Europe this week including another fine Capcom title for the SNES.

Final Fight (SNES, 800 Wii Points)
Battle Lode Runner (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)
Mighty Bomb Jack (NES, 500 Wii Points)

I really recommend Final Fight this week if not for the super fun beat um’ up action or the sweet sprite work than out of the simple fact that it is much better than the crappy pseudo-sequel Mighty Final Fight for the NES. Plus the city where Final Fight takes place has one bad ass mayor.

Two new titles make a splash across the pond in Europe. My question is why spend 1000 Wii points on something dull like Lylat Wars a.k.a Star Fox 64 when you can go on the into the amazing adventure of Donkey Kong Jr. Math? Running around saving your dad from evil divisors and polynomials.

Actually I think the math within the game is fairly simple and never really gets to the extent of calculus or complex differential equations. So unless you have young school children in the house you may want to skip DK Math.

Lylat Wars (N64, 1000 Wii Points)
DK Jr. Math (NES, 500 Wii Points)

Fighting Game Fans Rejoice!

Earlier this year I reported on the possibility of NeoGeo games coming to the Japanese Virtual Console. Now Joystiq and IGN are reporting that these game may not only be available to those lucky ducks in Japan. IGN interviewed SNK Playmore USA President Ben Herman where he revealed that the games have the definite possibility of beinf made available to Wii gamers the world over.

SNK is known for it’s high quality arcade games and really tight fighters. Now according to Nintendo’s Japanese website the NeoGeo and MSX games are marked as conditional. The condition being that they sell. I could be wrong on that seeing as how I can’t read Japanese but still remember that your most powerful weapon as a gamer is your credit card. So if you want to see more NeoGeo on the VC be sure to download the first batch when they become available sometime this summer.

Now who wants to guess who is going to make the first Arcade style joystick for use with the Wii Remote?

A short but sweet list of titles drop on to the Virtual Console in the land across the pond today. Including one of the best looking early SNES game Actraiser. Which had amazing sprite work at the time of release. If had any artistic leanings (which I don’t, stick men rule) I would want my stuff too look just like Actraiser.

Bonk’s Revenge (TG-16, 600 Wii Points)
Actraiser (SNES, 800 Wii Points)
PacMan (NES, 500 Wii Points)

(Singing) Pacman fever……you give me Pacman fever….baby!

3 new Sega titles hit the Euro VC this week. Myself who never owned a Genesis is really intrigued by Vectorman I’ve never played the game and it looks like it’s either a cool looking Mega Man clone or a Dude made of spheres who battles complex physics equations. It might be the first Genesis game I actually give a download. Once it hits in North America that is.

Sonic Spinball (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)
The Story of Thor (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)
VECTORMAN (Genesis, 800 Wii Points)

Happy Easter everyone!