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Ecco, Golden Axe now on Wii VC

Sega Genesis classics are available for download via the next-gen console's online store.

Nintendo promised that it would add to the roster of Virtual Console titles for the Wii every Monday, and delivered on that promise this week with Super Star Soldier. Now, it appears that VC releases aren't relegated to just one day of the week. Two more titles were made available on the Virtual Console today, as Sega released its Genesis games Golden Axe and Ecco the Dolphin on the service.

Time to party like it's 1989!

Time to party like it's 1989!

Golden Axe is a one- or two-player fantasy action game that pits gamers against the evil Death Adder as a fighter, an amazon, or a dwarf. When the game was released in 1989, one of its hooks was the option to fight mounted on creatures, including fire-breathing dragons and a bird-beaked beast that whipped enemies with its tail. (A remake of the game is currently being readied for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.)

Originally released in 1993, Ecco the Dolphin is a single-player adventure game that casts gamers as the titular porpoise on a quest to find his lost friends. Along the way, Ecco must use his sonar to communicate with other creatures while exploring levels and making sure he doesn't run out of health or air.

Both games sell for 800 Wii points ($8) and have been rated E for Everyone. The pair is playable with the Wii Remote, the classic controller, or a GameCube controller.

122 Comments

  • mikhailk5

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 2:26 pm GMT

    When is Super Mario World for the snes coming out?

  • Dolphingamer

    Posted Dec 17, 2006 5:41 pm GMT

    Woo! I'm so buying Ecco, now if they can only get the sequel up, and finally give us Zelda: Link to the Past, then I'll be really happy.

  • Prince_DarkDrop

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 7:11 am GMT

    Toejam& Earl is coming soon that game was fun as hell back in the day.

  • VegasAceVII

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 3:52 pm GMT

    Looks like they are takin more and more steps towards the Streets of Rage series. GO SEGA GO GO GO, more classic games for WII-WII.

    Someone on here mentioned the Moonwalker game, I love that game too, I would love to see how well it does on the WII.

  • rta

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 2:49 pm GMT

    ecco the what?

  • garydbzfan

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 2:56 am GMT

    if its 8 dollers then its 4 pound fifty in pounds and what a great game i will get this i cant wait

  • szindragon

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 8:52 am GMT

    Nice additions, however I still want the arcade version of Moonwalker. BOW!

  • bluntos

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 8:18 am GMT

    You think $8 is too much? its £8 in the United Kingdom for 800 points when it is released, so that right now is $16 roughly.

    Whats with the rip off?

  • eric2mrng

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 6:14 am GMT

    golden axe is a classic, too bad there wont be a wii version of the new one.. or will there? nintendo make it happen! also $8 is too much.

  • chargr67

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 1:40 am GMT

    where is my battletoads ...

  • wwonka666

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 1:04 am GMT

    KingofTrolls
    I'd rather have the arcade version of Golden Axe then the genesis version. ...

    There was a Sega Collection released a couple of years ago for the PS2 that includes the original Arcade Golden Axe as well as a new version with spruced up graphics. It had alot of other games on it too, you might want to check that out if you have a PS2.

  • wwonka666

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 1:00 am GMT

    AnubisCraig
    Woo! Golden Axe was one of the best games on the MegaDrive (Genesis). I hope Streets of Rage and that Ninja one (Ok, I was really young at the time, I can't remember the name ) come out too...

    I think the game you are thinking of is Shinobi, they had three for Genesis I believe the first one released for Genesis was the very best one and actually featured Spider-Man as one of the bosses. I wish they would have included it on the recently released Genesis collection for PSP and PS2, but they didn't probably because of the Spider-Man licensing issues. But the did include Shinobi 3 and Shinobi: Shadow Dancer both decent games.

  • AnubisCraig

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 12:30 am GMT

    Woo! Golden Axe was one of the best games on the MegaDrive (Genesis). I hope Streets of Rage and that Ninja one (Ok, I was really young at the time, I can't remember the name ) come out too.

  • Redfingers

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 11:42 pm GMT

    I'm not paying $8 for either of these games.

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 10:27 pm GMT

    "stain1ess
    how big is the hard drive on the Wii? What size are the game files? Should be able to jack a bunch of these games up on your console. So many old games come to mind !"

    Well it's not a hard drive, it's internal flash memory. The game files are relatively small until you start getting into the 64 games (which even for those announced I can still count on one hand). But you don't ever lose the game even if you erase it because once you've bought it, it's stored in your account as purchased. Re-downloading what you already paid for is free.

  • thekey

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 8:19 pm GMT

    Whats really wack about this collection, is that they're giving you the sega genesis version of Virtua fighter 2.(instead of the arcade version)
    I know that this is a "genesis" collection, but COME ONE SEGA!

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:53 pm GMT

    Expane
    "ROFL @ $8 EACH

    Sega Genesis Collection on the PS2 is leagues cheaper, has more titles and supports 480p

    Why wait for Earthbound? Im playing it right now on my PSP"

    Playing it ILLEGALLY. Congratulations. Sounds like GTA is really teaching a lot of great morals to you kids!

  • MWRHC

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 12:30 pm GMT

    I just don't see a game thats a must have yet on the VC...ya I got like 60$ and have 6 GC controllers 2 of them wavebirds so all I have to do is pop 20$ down and get some cool games that I never got to play but I'm going to wait till some realy good stuff like starfox and mario rpg and tennis for nes...maro kart...I could go on for ever but I would go nuts if nes game sold for 300 TG-16 400 gen and snes 500 and n64 can be 800 or just stay the same. I will pay 10$ for n64 with no problems.

  • stain1ess

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 12:02 pm GMT

    how big is the hard drive on the Wii? What size are the game files? Should be able to jack a bunch of these games up on your console. So many old games come to mind !

  • Bear-Max

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 11:09 am GMT

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    you people that brag about how that XBL has cheaper prices do realize that you guys already pay monthly so they already make their money off of you so that's probably why they're so cheap.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Silver members (those with the free service) still have access to the marketplace. They can still buy arcade games...

    Anyway, I think this is awesome. I loved GoldenAxe. Here's hoping Streets of Rage is on the way too

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 10:10 am GMT

    Can you play online co-op?

  • coltACP

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 9:19 am GMT

    I'm glad the releases are frequent on the VC, it is one of the perks of the system, it has so many different gameplay possibilities, it really does make it a quality solid little console to have. One thing that No one has said that relates to Wii points, do wii exclusive games and nintendo games GIVE you Wii points(say 100 per game) with them? akin to the VIP Stars points you got with Gamecube games? Because if Nintendo does that- everyone whose complaining about the prices, well they can just shut up pretty much lol.

  • Cypher_VR

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 9:05 am GMT

    i can't wait for Earthbound to show up on VC

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 8:06 am GMT

    Altered Beast here I come! Good job on getting this game on Virtual Console.

    Go, Wii60!!

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 7:53 am GMT

    I loved Golden Axe as a kid. My friend and I would always start out cooperating, but then we'd "accidentally" start hitting each other. Then it became a race to see who could use up all the extra lives until there were none left over - and then we'd try to kill the other person off to turn it into a solo game.

    Good times.

  • stain1ess

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 7:35 am GMT

    Pardon my Wii ignorance, but on the VC when you "download" it, does it download to a hard drive or mem card on the console, or is it just accessible from a nintendo server for you to play?

  • dragonsama

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 7:20 am GMT

    And so the Golden Age of Gameing lives again on WII, X360, and PS3.

    Via la 2D games!!!

  • GIJames248

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 7:15 am GMT

    I want some good N64 and Super Nintendo games...

  • thefjk

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 7:14 am GMT

    I was 1 year-old when this game came out... so I never heard of it!

  • Cloud737

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:27 am GMT

    Wow, pretty cool. Keep em coming, Nintendo!

  • gcoomer

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:09 am GMT

    Golden Axe was sweet! Though they should charge about $3 a game.....IMO

  • V_Zarnold_N

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 6:06 am GMT

    im still waiting for SoR2 and Super Mario RPG

  • bennae66

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 5:59 am GMT

    i love my 360 and i pick up my wii on the 7th dec (in aussieland) and comparing the price of many live games i think virtual console is a decent price structure.

    i will get select few games on it, but you can guarantee that the ones i do will be worth more than every penny.

  • KingofTrolls

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 4:53 am GMT

    I'd rather have the arcade version of Golden Axe then the genesis version.

  • EikoAtoride

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 4:26 am GMT

    Get Chrono Trigger out on VC and I will buy that Wii right on the day of its German release...

  • kira_leingod

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 4:09 am GMT

    you people that brag about how that XBL has cheaper prices do realize that you guys already pay monthly so they already make their money off of you so that's probably why they're so cheap.

  • Elkoman

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 4:07 am GMT

    bring on DKC!

  • GrimBee

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 3:10 am GMT

    COME ON! RocketKnight Adventures! Release this game to the world! They will absolutely love it!

    Now you guys can play Ecco, its a long tough game, very very tough, but it was the first of its kind, and a quality game to boot
    Golden Axe is a plain and simple classic, remember.. forward forward B

  • DrCLos

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 1:32 am GMT

    I really hope they add Majora's Mask onto the list in the future.
    It's the one Zelda game I missed out on

  • diablobasher

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 1:32 am GMT

    Stop complaining about the prices. We have to pay an extra half ontop in the UK. $7.50 for a NES game... I'll still buy some of the greats though, but at that price i simply wont be able to pad out my collection, and will only buy the real classics (The ones i dont already own, so basicly, i'll buy Sonic, and any SNES RPGs that come out. Maybe Shining Force for the Genesis)

  • Dolacide

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 1:19 am GMT

    Not worth it.

  • 2TrickedOut

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 11:47 pm GMT

    The games cost to much I can get used snes games and genesis games for under 5.00. Its cool having them on the wii,but come on. they should be 5.00 at th most. Like someone else stated you can buy the sega genesis collection for 20.00 and get over 20 games on it. The other problem is if you buy points there 20.00 for 2000 points meaning if you buy 2 games you still have 400 points left which isen't enough for another game. Why can't i buy 1600 points if I don't want the full 2000?

  • KoruKinshi

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:55 pm GMT

    Keep in mind certain SNES games still hold their value vehemently. Megaman X2/3, and Dracula X, for instance? And let's not even get started on Chrono Trigger. $8 is a fair price, in my opinion.

  • Chainblast

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:09 pm GMT

    Considering I payed $20 for the Sega Genesis Collection that included both of these games (along with some 20 others), the $8 a piece for these games is a terrible deal...

    I agree. You got to wonder why. NES, SNES, TG16 and Genesis games should be $5. Sega's Genesis Collection release easily demonstrates Genesis games are way over-priced on the VC. If this wasn't the case the issue wouldn't really exist, but it is. If the games had optional additions and upgrades this issue (of price) wouldn't exist. Sure it may cost you more than $8 to find a working cart for a game that appears on VC (like Mario 3, for example) but when Sega has a Genesis collection for $20 why would you want to spend $8 per game?

    I seriously hope Nintendo and their partners re-examine the prices for VC products. $10 for Mario 64 is okay in my book, but $8 for SNES games is horse **** IMO. Of course I'll label myself an hypocrite and download SNES games I'm missing from my library as those are generally cheaper to buy on VC than the original carts are.

    Bah.

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 10:04 pm GMT

    I bet the Xbox Live version will not only have more features, like HD and online multiplayer, but it will most likely cost less! Many of the classic remakes on XBLA are only 400 Microsoft points.

  • qux_max

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:40 pm GMT

    800 Points for Golden Axe BS I would pay 500 but not 800

  • superbrett2000

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:36 pm GMT

    Considering I payed $20 for the Sega Genesis Collection that included both of these games (along with some 20 others), the $8 a piece for these games is a terrible deal...

  • Dr_Corndog

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:21 pm GMT

    Mmm, someone needs to stick a Wii Points card in my Christmas stocking...

  • ardandil

    Posted Nov 28, 2006 9:05 pm GMT

    Death Adder rules big time... hahaha

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