Week of 6/5/2014:

Wii U Virtual Console:

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
$7.99



Minish Cap has been announced for the past few weeks, and it made it on the Wii U Virtual Console. This was one of the games included in the 3DS ambassador's program. I had this game on the GBA, and I never played that much of it. I'm sure it was a great game, but I just... never got into it.

Also, E3 2014 is coming up next week, and even though Satoru Iwata won't be able to attend due to health issues, I'm sure they'll do a great job dropping bombshells like they always do. Especially with Smash Bros on the horizon, and of course announcements on the new Zelda game and a mystery 3DS game.

There's been quite a lot that has happened throughout E3 2014, and Nintendo won this year. They had the most exclusives and they delivered quite a showing with all the info about their previously announced games as well as some new ones. This was probably the most exciting E3 with Nintendo since 2010 and it might finally mark the turning point for the Wii U.

But now, it's time for the usual Virtual Console releases. This week for June 12, 2014.


Wii U Virtual Console:

Pac-Land (NES)
$3.49 (until June 16. $4.99 after sale ends)


Pac-Man Collection (GBA)
$4.89 (until June 16. $6.99 after sale ends)


Soccer (NES)
$4.99



3DS Virtual Console:

Double Dragon II: The Revenge (NES)
$4.99



Pac-Man Collection and Pac-Land were both released on Tuesday right after the announcement that Pac-Man is going to be a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Also, because Pac-Land did not recieve a North American port for the NES, this is the first time the NES version of Pac-Land is brought over to North America. The game may have been based off the crappy Hanna-Barbara Pac-Man cartoon, but despite that, it was actually a decent arcade platformer. Not to mention that the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros is going to have a stage based off that game.

Pac-Man Collection marks the first time a compilation game makes it to Nintendo's Virtual Console service. Bandai Namco may have cancelled the Wii U and 3DS versions of Namco Museum, but at least we're getting this title. For being on the GBA, these are pretty good ports of the classic arcade title, and I'm sure it will be just as good playing it for the Wii U. It sure beats getting the NES version... or the Game Boy version which makes it redundant for the 3DS having it as their Virtual Console service contains both the NES and Game Boy versions of Pac-man.

Also, with all the E3 news, especially Smash Bros, Nintendo has some temporary discounts for their Virtual Console titles.

On both the Wii U and 3DS Virtual Consoles, Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda for the NES are both $3.49 (normally $4.99). On the Wii U Virtual Console, Super Mario World on the SNES and Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island for GBA are on sale for $5.59 (normally $7.99). And last for the 3DS Virtual Console, Yoshi for the NES is on sale for $3.49 (normally $4.99). The sale to all these games end June 16.

News like this makes me all the more happier that I chose the Wii U as my next generation console purchase. I may still pick up a PS4, but I'm really not a fan of the XBox One. Only a game that I absolutely must have and can't get on any other console will drive me to purchase one of those.

Week of 6/20/2014:

Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console:

Super Dodge Ball (NES)
$4.99


Also, it's been teased on Nintendo's website that N64 games might start coming to the Wii U Virtual Console in the future. If this happens, I would hope they bring more titles than what was offered on the original Wii Virtual Console.

Week of 6/26/2014:

Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console:

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (NES)
$4.99



With all the games being released for both the Wii U and 3DS, I'm wondering when the cross buy feature will become available. I know Miyamoto discussed it recently that they plan on bringing some connectivity with both the Wii U and 3DS with titles such as Super Smash Bros. He said that crossbuy feature for eshop games is something they'd think about. I sure hope something comes out of this... because I have so much NES games on my Wii U that I would like to play on my 3DS.

glad to see this finally pop up in the eshop, since it's one of those games with a special graphics chip my retro duo can't play the original cartridge

I wonder who won the trip to "Dracula's Hometown". Somebody research this.

That town would be Transylvania, wouldn't it?

i've searched all over google. from what i heard, nobody won that contest and that it became defunct advertising on konami's part.

aside from the virtual console releases, baseball and boxing are now up for purchase for wii sports club

capcom's announced a handful of titles for the virtual console already. glad to see demon's crest finally pop up in there

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Capcom-Announces-15-Games-Wii-U-eShop-64825.html