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Virtual Console up and running

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Nov 18, 2006 3:11 pm PT

The Wii's downloadable game service has gone live with a dozen titles and a few surprises.

While the Nintendo Wii doesn't go on sale in the US for a few more hours, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed for GameSpot today that the first owners of the system will be able to get online and download classic games right out of the box.

Just in time for the Wii launch, here comes the Virtual Console.

Already on the Virtual Console, users can purchase Wii Points and download games from older systems. NES games cost 500 Wii Points ($5), Super NES and Sega Genesis games are 800 Wii Points ($8), and Nintendo 64 games are 1,000 Wii Points ($10). There weren't any TurboGrafx-16 games on the service at press time, but Nintendo has said pricing for those will start at 600 Wii Points ($6).

While the games are expected to be faithful re-creations of the originals instead of the type of revamped or rearranged arcade classics that have been sold on the Xbox 360's Marketplace, GameSpot editors found at least one new trick had been added. After quitting a session of Sonic the Hedgehog back to the Wii channel menu, and then loading the game back up, the editors found that the Wii had automatically saved the editors' place in the game and resumed play right where it had left off. Also, while downloading games, users are shown a Mario-themed progress bar that shows the mascot plumber or his brother Luigi running across the screen, hitting coin blocks and collecting coins off the ground.

Mario serves as the download progress bar.

Nintendo announced last month that the following titles would be available on the Virtual Console by the end of the year. Games already confirmed to be up on the service today are italicized.

NES
Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Ice Hockey
Pinball
Soccer
Tennis
Urban Champion
Wario's Woods
Baseball
Solomon's Key

A dozen titles dating back to the '80s are already available.

SNES
F-Zero
SimCity

Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64

Sega Genesis
Sonic the Hedgehog
Altered Beast
Golden Axe
Columns
Ecco the Dolphin
Gunstar Heroes
Space Harrier II
Toe Jam & Earl
Ristar
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine

TurboGrafx-16
Bonk's Adventure
Super Star Soldier
Victory Run
Bomberman '93
Dungeon Explorer

347 Comments

  • infamous_27

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:56 am PT

    Wow Lunar is 4 days in the future!

  • Lunar52

    Posted Apr 14, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    The first comment in over a year!!!!

  • 1upMushroomX6

    Posted May 30, 2007 1:24 pm PT

    the first comment in 4 months!!!!

  • oldschoolplayer

    Posted Jan 13, 2007 1:56 pm PT

    Would love to play baseball simulator 1.000 (SNES) with the wimote. You young guys probably dont remember the game as it was a arcade style of baseball with players with unhuman abilities. I am really leaning towards getting a Wii. I want my kids to play the games I grew up playing without having to blow on a cartridge..lol

  • OhhSnap50893

    Posted Dec 7, 2006 9:56 am PT

    Yet another reason why the Wii is the best next-gen system.

  • John926

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 4:21 pm PT

    Put Pilot Wings 64 on the VC Nintendo!

  • bluesteelMeGaSE

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:27 pm PT

    :O

    Nintendo 64!?

    Now that I gotta get my hands on. Now I also find interest in Ecco the Dolphin. I hope to see Zero Tolerance (that was on Genesis and SNES) and Ms. Pacman in that list. Then that would really interest me.

  • pspultrafreak

    Posted Nov 29, 2006 12:26 pm PT

    wii is gonna kick ass

  • maaskesr

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 7:12 am PT

    How can Super Mario Bros. not be on this list? I thought for sure I'd be able to download it right away.

  • iameightyseven

    Posted Nov 27, 2006 4:17 am PT

    "They need more then one n64 game Like Zelda ocarina of Time"

    They'll add more Nintendo 64 games... just be patient.

  • Lasafrog

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 7:28 pm PT

    Cant wait for them to have entire series available, so I can Play Super Mario Bros, Super Mario World, Mario 64, Mario Sunshine (ick), and Mario Galaxy all on the same system

  • MrOpinionated

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 6:21 pm PT

    VIrtual Console is really cool! All you need is a wireless internet connection and a Wii points card and you're set for some awesome retro gaming. (downloads amazingly fast, too!)

  • nirvana8612

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 3:28 pm PT

    They need more then one n64 game Like Zelda ocarina of Time

  • _Sam_

    Posted Nov 26, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    it seems like a good service

  • Downrunner

    Posted Nov 25, 2006 12:40 am PT

    Panzer Dragoon

  • Issachar

    Posted Nov 24, 2006 12:20 pm PT

    Megaman!

  • juancorazon

    Posted Nov 23, 2006 12:26 pm PT

    If Nintendo Brings Virtual Console ONLINE Head to head play.... OH boy, OH boy... things can get really fun. Good Start though.

  • mwiley35

    Posted Nov 23, 2006 6:58 am PT

    Very good Nintendo here is my request for future downloads please...
    Turbo Grafx 16 (Devils Crush, Blazing lazers, Air zonk, Gunboat, Magical Chase, Military Madness, Raiden, and Splatterhouse.)

    Super Nintendo (Axelay, Actraiser, Breath of Fire 1 & 2, Dracula X, Earthbound, Final fantasy 2 & 3, Contra 3, Lufia 1&2, Mega Man x, x2, x3, Ninja gaiden Trilogy, R-type 3, Secret of mana, Super Bonk, Super ghouls n ghosts, Super mario All stars, Super Mario Kart, Super mario RPG, Super metroid, Super Punchout, Yoshi's Island, Space megaforce, Tecmo Super Bowl, Tetris attack, Turtles 4.and Chrono trigger)

    Genesis (Castlevania Bloodlines, Castle of illusion, General Chaos, Ghouls n ghosts, Herzog zwei, Landstalker, Shining Force series, Shinobi, Phantasy star 2,3,4, All sonics games, Streets of rage 1,2,3 .and thunderforce2,3.

    These are some of my alltime faves plus please bring on Sega Saturn titles. This will be a goldmine for Nintendo and publishers. Anyone else agree/disagree with my list?

  • dcgames

    Posted Nov 22, 2006 8:51 pm PT

    Common sense: I'm glad I waited on the DS (for I ended up with the much better Lite version) and now I'm glad I didn't rush right out and buy this thing right out of the gate, for obviously it's going to be a while before they get their act together (as I suspected). I won't even bother with a Rev until I see games like ChronoTrigger and FFIII on the VC list.

  • pycho22solid

    Posted Nov 22, 2006 6:09 pm PT

    Good start-They need to add waaaaaaaaaaay more super nintendo ones though.

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