VC Top 5 Most Wanted 2nd Edition
In early 2007 a list made its way on to the Internet, a list that actually drew my first bit of animosity from the gaming community. I’m talking of course about Wii Rally’s 1st Virtual Console Most Wanted list. Some people criticized the list due to a lack of a certain hipster cult followed SNES RPG, I won’t say it’s name but it sounds like BirthMound. Other than that the reception of the Most Wanted list was pretty positive. So now that 100 Virtual Console games have been released I think it’s time we revisited the Most Wanted list. So I present to you the readers of Wii Rally the VC Top 5 Most Wanted 2nd edition.
NUMBER 5
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Every single Zelda game from the NES to the N64 has been released in the first 100 games, well except for one, Majora’s Mask. I recently replayed the GameCube port of my favorite Zelda and found it as fun as ever. I didn’t really have the same feelings as when I replayed Ocarina of Time but I’ve played through that like 9 times. Still with it’s tricky time system and challenging puzzles I’m still on pins and needles waiting for this one to be released. While I was replaying Majora’s Mask I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time; the desire to play with an N64 controller. Using the “C-stick” rather than the “C-buttons” felt awkward, plus while playing a GameCube game on your Wii the only way to exit the software is to reset your console. So now more than ever I want to play through this adventure Virtual Console-style.
NUMBER 4
Super Mario RPG/Chrono Trigger
Super Mario RPG made it on our list last time and it’s back with a vengeance seeing as how it’s still nowhere to be found. Chrono Trigger was not on our list last time but I think the omission was an understatement. These two games provide endless hours of entertainment and replay value. Chrono Trigger was particularly excellent with the replay value, can you say 24 different endings? Great I knew you could. There is one particular reason why we need these games on the VC it’s also the reason these two are grouped together. To put it simply these games are worth their weight in gold. I’ve been checking out used game stores, none of that EV/GamePot crap I don’t shop there. I’m talking about independent used game retailers. So far I have seen Super Mario RPG (cartridge only, no book no box) retailing for 89.99, 104.99 and 129.99$ CAD How can one man charge so much for a single game that was released over 10 years ago? It’s much worse for Chrono Trigger fans. The SNES cart can retail for as much as 399.99$ CAD USED!! That’s just insane, there has to be only one person who would shell out that much dough for a single used SNES game and I must say I’m glad to have never met such a person. Still let’s get these babies on the VC so nobody has to pay these ridiculous prices for two of the only RPGs in history worth playing.
NUMBER 3
Mega Man 1 & 2
The “blue bomber” didn’t make it on the list last time but he sure as hell deserves a spot this time. A plethora (that’s right I said plethora!) of Mario and Zelda titles have been released but still no Mega Man. Capcom is no stranger to the VC either. So where is Mega Man hiding? Why just the first 2? Mega Man 1 was quite good but a little challenging for most while Mega Man 2 is just hands down one of the best platforming games in creation. As for the rest of the series I could careless about Mega Man 3-XJ98 Mission Command or whatever. No game can even compares to Mega Man 2 and it’s platforming glory. I also have a more sinister motive for wanting Mega Man 2 to appear on the Virtual console. You see Mega Man 2 is one of my girlfriend’s all time favorites and I would really love the chance to play it with her someday but alas the original NES we have has gone Kaput! sniff sniff.
NUMBER 2
Super Metroid
Samus where are you? I need my kick ass bounty hunter/dominatrix fix to tied me over till August 20th. Oops did I say that dominatrix thing out loud? Ahh well back to my fantasy.
“Ohh yeah you teach those space pirates a lesson you bad girl” Wha? are you still here? Ok then, moving on.
NUMBER 1
Star Tropics
Yeah sure I could have picked a different game for the number 1 spot this time around but I will not rest until I have ace pitcher Mike back on my screen again trying desperately to save his uncle Dr. J from drooling pink aliens. I WANT STARTROPICS!!!!!!!!!
Well there you have it Wii Rally’s Virtual Console Top 5 Most Wanted 2nd edition. Feel free to post you own most wanted lists or argue with my picks if that’s what floats your boat. I will say this, that game that rhymes with GirthPound will never be on this list simply because it’s stupid. There I said it, alright StarMen come and get me MUAHAHAHAHA!
June 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I gotta say, I love this list… I also like how you managed to sneak in 7 items into a top 5 list, Tim! Hahah. I still think Earthbound should be on this list, and that the enitre Mother series should come to North America, aaaand that they should make a new one for the Wii… but these things take time I guess. I still have such fond memories of Startropics, and playing it ’til all hours of the morning with my Dad. Then I’d fall asleep, and wake up in the morning, only to find out that my Dad had played even more while I was asleep! I think I must have missed about half of the game that way… But was still so much fun sharing that experience.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
While I know my list is a little skewed towards my general interests and not so abroad, my list would be as followed:
5) Mega Man 2 (NES) - I have to agree that this is the best Mega Man game, and is very close to be the best platformer game. I have fond memories of renting this game the first day I could and beating it before returning it. I can’t remember how long it took me to beat Wily in that game…
4) Formula One: Built to Win (NES) - Probably the deepest racing game on the NES, this is a game I played even when I had a SNES and a Genesis to play. Upgrading cars, dynamic opposition, and great music (for the time… this area didn’t stand up very well) made this extremely fun. It was the Gran Turismo of the NES, though with arcade-style racing. Much fun!
3) Chrono Trigger (SNES) - I really don’t need to say much about this game, as most of what the game is has been said elsewhere. For me, this was the second RPG I ever played, and I never truly beat it. I got a couple of endings and some final weapons/armour, but there was still a fair amount of stuff I could still do if I were to go back. The version on the PSOne (Final Fantasy Chronicles) is unplayable with the load times everywhere. We need a good playable version!
2) Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES) - There’s not much better than running around beating down enemies… unless you’re doing it with a large hammer. I have such fond memories of Mario RPG, and I’ve come close to buying the cart so many times (yes, once for $100, but decided at the last minute not to bid on it). If there’s one game that RPG fans need to play from the classic library, it’s not a Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Legend of Zelda game: it’s the plumber’s first foray into RPGage.
1) EarthBound (SNES) - The first RPG I ever played, I fell in love with the game after about an hour of gameplay under my belt. It isn’t the gameplay (rather traditional RPG battle system with Psychic powers instead of magic), the graphics (beaten by some late NES games in terms of graphics), or music (rather simple tunes and sound effects). Rather, it is the absurd story that got me. Instead of being set in fantasy times, it was a modern story with a small child wielding a baseball bat, a cookie, and a town map going through crazed hippies, old drunks, aliens, sentient signs, and insects to try and stop a large alien from taking control of the world. The game was lighthearted and comical, with most of the game poking fun of itself, and plenty of fourth-wall breaks. Do I think it is the best game ever made? No. I think it’s fun for me, and that’s all that matters to me.