After a smattering of forgettable titles, the Virtual Console is getting a lot of high profile releases. Last week Link to the Past, now Mario Kart 64. You'll also be getting Contra III, Bonanza Bros. and Comix Zone, which I hear is a cult classic. Mario Kart 64 is one of my all time favorites--I can still remember pitched baloon battles atop the perilous skyscraper level. As the second N64 release it's a good choice with a lot of content, and I personally rank it as the second best in the series right behind the DS hit.
Jan. 29, 2007
Wii-kly Update: Four New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel
Today Nintendo adds four new classic games to the popular Wii(TM) video
game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time.
Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a
high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games.
Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets.
This week's new games are:
Mario Kart 64(TM) (Nintendo(R) 64, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points): Put the
pedal to the metal in this worthy successor to the Super NES(R) classic, Super
Mario Kart(R). Mario Kart 64 boasts great graphics, tons of unique power-ups
and a stunning 3-D version of the legendary Battle Mode. With improved
courses and a revolutionary head-to-head four-player mode, Mario Kart 64 is
sure to win the heart of any race-driving fan. The game includes 20 different
courses filled with dips, valleys, jumps, tunnels and bridges. Smooth,
precise control -- a trademark of all games from Mario creator Shigeru
Miyamoto -- will bring players back time and time again for freewheeling fun.
Contra(R) III: The Alien Wars(TM) (Super NES(R), 1-2 players, 800 Wii
Points): In the year 2636, the Alien War continues, and it's up to two
soldiers, Jimbo and Scully, to put a stop to the alien invasion. The aliens
have ravaged the Earth with their powerful organic and technological weapons.
Players can join with a partner and battle through six stages of nonstop
run-and-gun action. Collect power-ups, including bombs, flamethrowers, spread
shots, lasers and machine guns to take out the aliens. Control Jimbo and
Scully as they travel through war-torn cities, race on air bikes, ride
missiles and ultimately break into the alien base to defeat the alien boss
once and for all.
Bonanza Bros.(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Mobo and
Robo Bonanza are enjoying their favorite television show when the picture
crackles and the shadowy figure of a mysterious stranger appears on the
screen. This figure asks them to collect certain items that he has placed
inside various buildings to test his security force. If they return the items
successfully, Mobo and Robo will be rewarded. The two of them state that they
will get the job done in just three minutes. However, little do they know
that each building is packed with security guards who will raise the alarm if
they are caught red-handed. Fortunately both Mobo and Robo are equipped with
bullets that can knock the guards unconscious for a few seconds. A huge
reward will be given out if Mobo and Robo are apprehended. Help the infamous
Bonanza Bros. infiltrate a number of different locations ranging from banks to
mansions to casinos, and don't get caught.
Comix Zone(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Sketch Turner is
an artist in New York City. One day while Sketch is drawing, a huge
thunderstorm strikes the city. A bolt of lightning hits Sketch's image and
brings it to life. That image is Mortus, a megalomaniacal mutant who wants to
become real and rule the earth. Mortus magically transports Sketch into the
pages of his comic book so that he can end his creator's life and become real.
Inside the comic book, Sketch meets General Alissa Cyan, who believes he is a
superhero that came to save their post-apocalyptic world from the evil brought
by Mortus's hand. Now that he's a comic book superhero, Sketch can really put
the hurt on the bad guys. Instantly, Sketch can fight like a one-man
mercenary platoon.
The list of downloadable games is updated weekly on Nintendo's Online
Press Room at press.nintendo.com. For more information about Wii, please
visit wii.com
