Nintendo spills holiday VC plans

Super Mario Bros. leads lineup of retro releases for next two weeks; TurboGrafx-16 version of R-Type commands a premium price.

While Nintendo has added a steady stream of downloadable games to its Wii Virtual Console service every Monday since the system's November launch, the publisher has generally offered its legitimate classics with less renowned offerings. That won't be the case this coming Monday, as Nintendo is celebrating the Christmas holiday by releasing a quintet of high-profile retro games on the Virtual Console.

For its own part, Nintendo is releasing the original NES classic Super Mario Bros. for 500 Wii points ($5). Backing up the company's portly plumbers will be a pair of best sellers from the Super Nintendo era: Capcom's Street Fighter II: The World Warrior and Konami's Super Castlevania IV. Each of those games will sell for 800 Wii points ($8).

The final two games announced for release Christmas Day are pulled from non-Nintendo platforms. The Sega Genesis game ToeJam & Earl dances its funky way onto the Virtual Console, followed by the TurboGrafx-16 shoot-'em-up R-Type, both for 800 Wii points ($8). The R-Type price is notable since all previous TurboGrafx-16 games on the Virtual Console have sold for 600 Wii points ($6).

Finally, Nintendo also announced a pair of games that would be released for the Virtual Console the Monday after Christmas, New Year's Day. The publisher will start the new year by swinging for the fences with Baseball and fighting in the streets with Urban Champion. Both games debuted on the NES and will sell for 500 Wii points ($5).

Nintendo has said it will release new games for the Virtual Console service every Monday at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

340 Comments

  • AFWorm

    Posted Jan 14, 2007 8:45 pm PT

    Brilliant idea having the retro games available.

  • plankton88

    Posted Jan 2, 2007 9:13 pm PT

    Ain't nothing like playing the original. I still have all my systems hooked up on my entertainment center. There is just something about putting in that cartridge that makes it feel good. Games all over the place. Plus its fun trying to hunt down the games that you don't have, and never played. Just bought Conker's Bad Fur Day last week.... never new it was so awesome. Also found Super Metroid at a thrift store... never played it back in the day.

  • u2i_l0ver

    Posted Jan 2, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    Pah, I got the actual R-Type game for MAME and it cost me nothing.

  • Vahid_gear2

    Posted Jan 2, 2007 12:53 am PT

    i like mario nintendo must save mario

  • MACMALLEON

    Posted Jan 2, 2007 12:15 am PT

    nice. i just downloaded baseball!

  • Fiku42

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    Sweet when i get a Wii im gonna get some vc games in particular chrono trigger and hopefully they'll bring the mystical ninja series to it as well.

  • datniccah187

    Posted Jan 1, 2007 1:03 pm PT

    Nah i'm good on that.

  • Koolsen

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 9:56 pm PT

    Why World Warrior? I hoped they would at least go with turbo...

  • okami195

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 8:56 am PT

    Man, I apparently forgot how to type/spell in my earlier post. Ah well..

    "Specifically, Shadows of the Empire, Wave Race 64, Star Fox 64, Duke Nukem 64, and Doom 64." --VegetaJr

    Amen.. Wave Race and Star Fox, along with Ocarina of Time (go figure), would be all I'd need for awhile, though I wouldn't mind seeing the Mystical Ninja games for the N64 appear as well. Who knows, though - they're certainly taking their time in releasing the 64 games.

  • walkerctranger

    Posted Dec 31, 2006 8:51 am PT

    So far sega has the best selection by far but they need to put out all the sonic games amd vectorman and mortal combat 2, which was better on genesis, all im concerned about i punchout for nes, mike tysons, i dont want mr.dreams punchout

  • VegetaJr

    Posted Dec 30, 2006 2:33 pm PT

    "So, short answer is that it could be awhile.. My question is simply when will ANY other Ninteno64 game be released..?"

    Specifically, Shadows of the Empire, Wave Race 64, Star Fox 64, Duke Nukem 64, and Doom 64.

  • thestrateger

    Posted Dec 30, 2006 2:28 am PT

    i like the game super mario bros,
    but i never like his graphic...

  • DeaDlyCorpsE

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 10:28 pm PT

    hmmm it would be good to see that turbographix version of CASTLEVANIA X that never came to the us and hopefully more from that console which im guessing not that many myself included have ever played a turbographix and such. that would be worth releasing and get ppl interested more into the retro games instead of the games that can be found emulated ten times over all over the net oh well thats just me i suppose. oh and am i the only one that thinks that now that the wii is here with motion sensors and such shouldnt it be time to release a new PUNCH OUT with a new POWERGLOVE and really go retro lol heh

  • okami195

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 7:40 pm PT

    Probably not until Nintendo gains the rights to release it from Rare, which is know owned by Microsoft. Same as Perfect Dark and Goldeneye.

    So, short answer is that it could be awhile.. My question is simply when will ANY other Ninteno64 game be released..?

  • DrMario57

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 3:24 pm PT

    WHEN WILL DONKEY KONG 64 COME!

    "Hes the man of the buntch, you know him well!
    Hes finally back to kick some TAIL!!

    His coconut gun can fire in spurts, If he shoots ya, ITS GUNNA HURT!

    Hes Bigger, Faster and Stronger too, HES THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE D.K CREW!"

  • DrMario57

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 3:21 pm PT

    WHEN WILL DONKEY KONG 64 COME!

    "Hes the man of the buntch, you know him well!
    Hes finally back to kick some TAIL!!

    His coconut gun can fire in spurts, If he shoots ya, ITS GUNNA HURT!

    Hes Bigger, Faster and Stronger too, HES THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE D.K CREW!"

  • sizzlemebacon2

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 1:41 pm PT

    want to touch my Wii mmmmmm.... you can't mmm... it tastes like rainbows and chocolate... ok enough of the dual meaning thing the VC is already hardcore.

  • poweraceo

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 1:16 pm PT

    BANJO KAZOOIE,BANJO TOOIE and CONKERS BAD FUR DAY oh my!!!!!!

    DONKEY KONG 64 and SMASH BROS. too

  • Berfomek_666

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 12:40 pm PT

    Star fox 64! Star Fox 64!

  • wild_world_girl

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 11:37 am PT

    hotrider12:

    "Im not on here to argue or hurt anyone,"

    You are apparently in the minority here, I am sorry to say.

  • eric2mrng

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 11:22 am PT

    MARIO KART 64 is coming out in japan in january according to IGN.. so hopefully we'll be seeing it in us and eu in febuary.. im waiting for zelda ooT and MM...

  • EnozmeH

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 10:34 am PT

    I need a Wii A.S.A.P

  • cfamgcn

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 9:07 am PT

    I'm waiting for Chrono Trigger...

  • nazraq

    Posted Dec 28, 2006 12:29 am PT

    i got 1000 wii points just waiting for the next n64 game to come out. mario 64 is emulated so well that i don't have to get out my n64 to play it. But I almost bought R-type.

  • bminns

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 11:37 pm PT

    i want a wii

  • hotrider12

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 11:33 pm PT

    even though I got negitive feed back its nice to know someone reconize hotrider 12 . Im just a happy camper Im sure most of you guys on here are in your teens . but as I said before can we all be video game community and address our concerns to nentindo and hope they hear our concerns
    hell with our rants of which is good or bad if not all this is is a public board instant messaging site of what we're whining of what we want on the wii

  • hotrider12

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 11:24 pm PT

    pencilpusher69 just like I told exidog69 I heard it on the news a kid shot up some cops and a judge for playing grand theif auto Im sorry for this kid and its sad that he took what he played and went in public to kill those innocent gov. workers if you understand, Im only writing what I heard and if it bother you and exidog69 it was not my intention to hinder both of you. Im just a old school gamer really waiting on gradius and contra for nentindo wii debating on buying it til they come out so far they have "gunstar " close to contra til it comes out like I said before Im not on here to argue or hurt anyone, life to short for b.s.

  • Vash287

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 5:45 pm PT

    Alex_THVK:
    If you ask me, I would rather hope they release the real verson of Castlevania: Dracula X. Dracula X: Rondo of Blood for the Turbo-graphic CD. Until then, the most we can get of it is replaying the prolouge and Richter mode of Symphony of the Night.

  • townsenda1

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 4:23 pm PT

    Shawnd0517, good list but I would add Contra the original to the top of the list. I can't wait for that one. That will be hot. Come on Nintendo, give the fans what they want.

  • shawnd0517

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 1:05 pm PT

    Awesome Christmas presents Nintendo! My friend already downloaded Toe Jam & Earl, and Castlevania 4.

    A short wish list though:
    Mega Man 2 (or any for that matter)
    Boogerman
    Earthworm Jim
    Any Metroid
    Any Mario Kart
    Star Fox 64
    DK Country 1 & 2
    King of Dragons
    Rivercity Ransom!!

  • pencilpusher69

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:06 pm PT

    xeidog69
    "HOTRIDER12, please shut it up already, we do not need that idiotic kinda talk up in here, seriously games do not program ppl, ppl r programed based on how they were brought up"

    Some kids aren't lucky enough to be brought up by parents, or are raised by parents who let their televisions raise their kids, never teaching them that anything is wrong.

    There are parents out there, who despite seeing their kids are troubled, will allow their kids to be troubled without ever doing anything to help them, often just blaming others for why their child acts the way he does.

    It's a real problem today, especially with single parent kids being born in the 60-80 percent ranges today. One parent has an almost impossible job ahead of them.

    I do believe that videogames, music, movies, and television can influence you. Bellbottoms anyone? People are lemmings, and act out what they see.

    MOST people that have been raised with some degree of morality however, will not act out the violence they see in media, but those are people who have been raised properly.

    I'm not saying that we should censor the games, or anything else, but people need to at least be honest about this stuff.

    Kids don't walk, talk, and act like their favorite musicians and actors for no reason. And ask any teacher about how kids as young as the second grade are acting these days, then ask yourself if rap is not having any effect on them.

    Anyway, long rant, and I'm sorry about it. But people, we don't dress like Sonny and Cher anymore, we dress like Jay-Z, or Marilynn Manson. Everybody is influenced by something...

  • Kyo__man66

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 11:50 am PT

    Crappy Neo-Geo SNES ports anyone?

  • aashkii

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 9:54 am PT

    Bring on Super Metroid already (the only metroid game I never played yet)

  • enis07

    Posted Dec 27, 2006 12:05 am PT

    all i want is Mario Kart 64

    ^^ just voiced his ungodly awesome point of view^^

  • pageiszeppelin

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 9:01 pm PT

    Let's go with that Paperboy emulation

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 8:16 pm PT

    -r4z0rbl4d3- It's not a question of DK love for the VC. DK & Dk Jr. for the NES are incomplete and inferior versions of the original arcade games. It's obvious you've never played the originals. Next time, read the entire post and keep your ignorant comments to yourself.

  • shadowsniper513

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 6:58 pm PT

    those gamez were on the spot a few weeks ago, go watch that if u wanna get the scoop on those

  • specialed

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 10:19 am PT

    n00bzilla said..."It's 3:10pm on 26th December and there is still no Super Mario Bros or Castelvania. Screw it I'm downloading Zelda."

    Dont know whats wrong with your wii or where you live, but I got them first thing yesterday morning and I downloaded Super Mario Bros.

  • n00bzilla

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 7:12 am PT

    It's 3:10pm on 26th December and there is still no Super Mario Bros or Castelvania. Screw it I'm downloading Zelda.

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Dec 26, 2006 6:54 am PT

    I'm looking forward to Super Castlevania 4 as well as Toejam & Earl. 'Tis a great week for VC fans!

  • FadeToBlack982

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 11:13 pm PT

    Urban Champion and Baseball next week? Ugh. Hopefully there's some unannounced stuff on the way or next week will be the worst week for VC releases by far.

  • rudyHG

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 9:33 pm PT

    Bah, I saw Capcom and got all excited, and then I found out it was not Megaman 2.

  • SBurns22

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 9:18 pm PT

    When are they gonna put out Super Mario World from the SNES? I really enjoyed that game and IMO it was the best Super Mario Game

  • BIGGBOSSHOGG

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 8:54 pm PT

    Its very cool that Nintendo I offering up these classic VC games, I bought Sonic, original Super Mario Bros is next for sure and R-Type for TG-16 was sucha cool game when it came out back in the day.... This Wii console is the S**T!!!!!

  • Berem

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 8:17 pm PT

    Super Mario Bros FTW!!! Just downloaded it, looks amazing on my 46" Sony Bravia LCD.. LOL Funny Im playing the Wii on a Sony TV. Amazing classic, made my whole family laugh.

  • 12powerbo3

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 5:37 pm PT

    I'm waiting for them to add Punch-out!! and EarthBound!

  • pinktoque

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 4:04 pm PT

    *waits patiently for the original Dragon Warrior for NES and more SNES games*

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    i still want alot of games for vc, but my issues with what will happen at the end of the wii's life cycle keeps me from going gang busters.

  • ironman288

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 8:45 am PT

    wKmike
    This sucks, wheres my Super metroid?

    you took the words right our of my mouth. Come on Ninty show the best 2D game ever it's proper respect....

  • JCMac120

    Posted Dec 25, 2006 5:45 am PT

    Toejam and Earl is the GREATEST!!! So fun! I know I'll be buying that! And who in the world WON'T buy the original Super Mario Bros? Just about everyone. Finally some good content from VC. I haven't bought anything from it yet.

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