Vigilante (TG16)

$5.99

Also released as part of the ACA Neo Geo lineup for the Switch is Spinmaster. Like Vigilante, this was another game from Data East. It's known for it's cartoony visuals, but is sort of lacking in stages and audio.

The Switch Virtual Console has yet to be announced, but one thing that the console will be getting towards the end of the month are some of Nintendo's arcade games as part of HAMSTER's Arcade Archives series. This is going to feature for the first time on a Nintendo console, ports of some of Nintendo's arcade titles. These include the arcade versions of Mario Bros, VS Super Mario Bros, VS Balloon Fight, Punch-Out, and so many others. It's going to start with Arcade Archives: Mario Bros, which will be released on September 27.

Shockman (TG16)

$5.99

Chew Man Fu (TG16)

$5.99

Pokemon Gold Version (GBC)

$9.99

Pokemon Silver Version (GBC)

$9.99

Announced earlier this year during a Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Gold and Silver finally makes it's arrival on the 3DS Virtual Console. Just like with Red and Blue, this version of the game disables restore points, but still saves the same way it does in the GBC version. You can trade and battle with friends using the 3DS' wireless communication features, and it's compatible with Pokemon Bank, so you can trade them over into Sun and Moon... or in this case, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. I'm probably going to pick up Silver Version from the eShop, and go on one more Pokemon adventure on my 3DS before the next game comes to the Switch. Maybe. I might still consider getting Ultra Sun or Ultra Moon, though, there's not much that has incentiveized me of picking up another version of Sun and Moon.

It does feel kind of odd that Pokemon Crystal is absent from this release of Gold and Silver. Then again, it's not really that much different from Gold or Silver, unlike Pokemon Yellow. I do kind of wish Gold and Silver was released closer to the Switch's release, but at least it will still be worth picking up. Plus, this is probably going to be the last we'll see of the 3DS Virtual Console.

This week's ACA Neo Geo release is Art of Fighting. The game looks alright, but I feel like Fatal Fury is more worth picking up than this one. Still a good title if you're a fan of fighting games.

While the Virtual Console still has yet to come to the Switch, there is one NES game that is hidden on every Switch system, and that game is Golf. This was included as a hidden tribute to Satoru Iwata. Unfortunately, if your Switch is already connected to the internet, you can't access this game as the internal clock as to detect it. In order to access Golf, you have to set the Switch's clock to July 11, the day of Iwata's death. After doing so, then you use the joycon controller's to do Iwata's "directly to you" pose he's know for doing in his Nintendo Directs. But like I said, the systems internal clock has to detect it. If it's already connected to the internet, the only other choice would be to wait until July 11 of next year to access Golf. It sounds like a cool easter egg, but looks like too much effort just to activate it. Might be worth trying if you get the Switch out of the box, and try this before connecting it to the internet. Otherwise, we're probably better off waiting until the Switch's Virtual Console arrives. Plus, we still have the Nintendo Arcade Archives series to look forward to next week anyway.

i've been hearing that the reason why crystal hasn't gotten a planned release is because originally, the japanese version had more features, most notably an early online playing feature that allowed players to connect their phones to the game and battle other players online. so i have two guesses from that theory in why it won't come to vc:

1. the online phone feature won't translate well to the 3DS hardware.

2. U.S. and U.K. gamers will be upset that japan will still have the feature to use in their version.

Double Dungeons (TG16)

$5.99

This week also marks the debut of Hamster's Arcade Archives debut of a Nintendo arcade game. That's right, the Mario Bros arcade game is now on the Nintendo Switch, making this the first classic Nintendo game to be released for the system. Some of you who have played the ACA Neo Geo games on the Switch will find the Arcade Archives versions of Nintendo games to have the same menus and game modes that the Neo Geo games do. While the NES and GBA versions of Mario Bros has been released several times before, this is the first the arcade version is released on a home console. Same with the other Nintendo arcade games that's announced as part of the ACA lineup.

Speaking of Arcade Archives, we have another ACA Neo Geo title released this week, and that is SNK's 1991 brawler, Burning Fight. In many ways, it's sort of a ripoff of Final Fight, but has a bit less to offer. The levels get repetitive after a while of playing through the game, and not to mention that SNK seems to show a bit of laziness with two bosses that look the same, but have different outfits and names. Not a horrible game, but you're better off playing other beat-em up games like Final Fight and Double Dragon. As far as Neo Geo games goes, you're better off with Robo Army and Mutant Nation.

Moto Roader (TG16)

$5.99

Legend of Hero Tonma (TG16)

$5.99

Digital Champ: Battle Boxing (PC Engine)

$5.99

What's interesting about Legend of Hero Tonma was that it originally was released for the Wii Virtual Console in September 2007, but was delisted in March of 2012 due to licensing issues. It would eventually reappear in September 2013, and now it's on the Wii U Virtual Console. Now, if only the same would happen with Yoshi's Cookie. Especially since the game was shown on the original Wii U Virtual Console trailer before it got delisted from the Wii Shop Channel. Also, Digital Champ: Battle Boxing was unreleased outside of Japan until it's arrival on the Wii Virtual Console in 2008. 

Power Golf (TG-16)

$5.99

With October now being passed, Konami made a DOUBLE BOGEY by not re-releasing Castlevania: Rondo of Blood on the Wii U Virtual Console. This leaves the Wii Virtual Console as the only way to play the original version of Rondo of Blood in the US, and the PSP game, Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles was a remake of Rondo of Blood. Instead, we get a very mediocre golf game that's part of the Power Sports series. With a game like that, you're better off playing NES Open Tournament Golf or any of the Mario Golf games.

For the ACA Neo Geo, we have Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior. Basically, one of the weaker games in the Art of Fighting series where the ability to do stronger punches like in AoF2 has been removed. But what really makes it stand out is the impressive 3D style gameplay. Even though it's not technically a 3D fighting game, they made the visuals look very 3D like, even though it still plays and runs like a 2D fighting game.

sigh, a golf game. way to go out with the wii u virtual console. hopefully this isn't the end of konami releasing classic titles though so maybe there's still a chance, but i'm only crossing fingers at this point. anyway, get ready blue, i may be getting a switch this month.

EDIT: lords of thunder recently got released for the eshop and that has a cd soundtrack, so here's hoping that we'll be getting rondo soon!

Lords of Thunder (TG-CD)

$5.99

Lords of Thunder also came on on the Sega CD. While that version had less visual detail, the voiceovers that was removed on the North American release of the Turbografx-CD game, was later restored in the Sega CD version.

For the Switch, HAMSTER's Arcade Archive's series continues with more Neo Geo releases. This time, it's Street Hoop. For those of you who are looking to get their NBA Jam fix on the Switch, Street Hoop might be the way to go. I know there exists NBA Playgrounds, but I'm hearing that has its own gameplay fowls. Street Hoop of several re-releases before this. The AES version was brought over to the Wii a few times. The first through Data East Arcade Classics, which removes the white flashing effect in the intro (likely due to Nintendo's policies on preventing seizures) and the announcer screaming for some odd reason. The Wii Virtual Console release doesn't have those odd changes. The Switch version uses the MVS version, and includes English and Japanese options, just like the other Neo Geo games released for the system

Salamander (PC Engine)

$5.99

Break In (PC Engine)

$5.99

Salamander's release on the Wii U Virtual Console is actually the first time the PC Engine version of this Konami classic was brought over to North America. It's a shame they had to wait until after the Wii U has been discontinue that Konami decides to  do that. But for those of you who are looking to buy the PC Engine Salamander port, then the Wii U is the way to go.

This week's Arcade Archives release on the Switch is Karnov's Revenge. Or rather Data East's very BLATANT Street Fighter clone that they came out for the Neo Geo. They barely even hide it too as even the character select screen feels like it was ripped off of Street Fighter II.