To buy or not to buy: Virtual Console review roundup

by Blake Snow { Nov 22nd 2006 at 3:15PM }

Not sure if current Virtual Console games are worth your dime (or $5-10)? Enter 1UP's Virtual Console roundup giving the thumbs up or down on all 14 titles currently available through the download service. The article gives the thumbs up on nine of the 14 games and also cites strengths and weaknesses of the "finest emulation service to date."

Here's one pro and one con from the article: "Most games support a 'suspend' feature that allows you to exit out of a game in progress and resume from where you were. It's like having a save state, and for those old NES games that required passwords it's a real boon ... [But] Games played on widescreen TVs automatically stretch to fit, which looks pretty bad. Link was always a tubby little guy on NES, but this is ridiculous."

To overcome the latter, you'll have to manually switch your Wii screen size to 4:3. Bummer.

UPDATE: Fixed dyslexic 3:4 ratio.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Random TV Guy @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:20PM

Maybe even switch it over to 4:3!

Hinkmania @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:20PM

I just want a Wii, dammit!

Zeruel @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:22PM

I bought Bomberman '93 for the simple fact that it's the next best thing to lugging out the Saturn for Saturn Bomberman. Granted, I'm limited to five players, but my Gamecube/Wii controllers are a bit more accessible.

But yeah, I passed on most of what was offered. I bought most of these games several times before.

Justin @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:23PM

Am I the only one with a TV that can switch from 16:9 to 4:3 with the touch of a button? Yes? Yes? No?

Anyone?

It automatically adds bars to the sides and squishes the video down to 4:3. I'd recommend scoping out this feature in any future widescreen TV purchases.

FernandoRocker @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:31PM

Hi... my Wii Friend Code is is 6140 3530 5783 6618

Anyone know about a good page with Friends Code's?

Fuzz @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:35PM

Justin:

I was thinking the same thing. I can switch no problem on my tv.

Intentless @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:37PM

Anyone hear when Opera becomes available?

Dave @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:40PM

Any HD TV I've ever owned - I own 3 currently - locks the aspect ratio at 16:9 for resolutions at 480p or higher. These signal formats are expected to be 16:9.

Brian @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:41PM

I for one don't plan on buying or playing any VC games, at all... unless and until I see Bionic Commando on there, or Star Fox 64.

I'm just not interested in playing Mario 64 and the original Zelda for the millionth time.

Intentless @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:43PM

Personally I am probably going to wait untill the titles I missed out on back in the day hit the shop.

gameclu @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:44PM

One thing I've learned from the VC is that Bonk's Adventure is utter crap. I'd rather play Altered Beast.

Tush @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:45PM

Same here, Dave.

Skwurl @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:50PM

Intentless,

I believe Opera will be available for a free download starting January 2007 until mid-June 2007. After that, you have to pay for it.

This version will also remain active even after the free download window.

Intentless @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:52PM

thank you Skwurl. I knew about the free which is pretty cool just wasn't sure about the release for it...

SimSonic @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:54PM

Why Toejam & Earl for Genesis wasn't reviewed? Wasn't it supposed to be available in the launch?

??? @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:56PM

I just love the Wii but I have not the foggiest idea how to hook up to the net to get classic games.

GJM @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:56PM

Why would they not copy the 360 and add in online co-op and leaderboards to these old games. To me this makes it near worthless unless you've never played the old games and never owned the old systems. I own a NES, SNES, N64, etc. Another example, I acutally own a Joust arcade machine, I still bought Joust on the 360 so I could play with others not at my home and see how I compare to other 360 owners. Nintendo should copy this!!!

Eggman @ Nov 22nd 2006 3:57PM

Virtual console is worthless. For most people, who don't have a problem downloading old roms of the net, this feature offers nothing to justify the price per game. If they would've done something like live arcade where games had added functionality like online play, leaderboards, achievements, etc... a lot of games could've been worthwhile.

Not to mention you lose all your purchases if you wii happens to break down. 50 cents a nes game sounds about fair, but as it is... the prices are just too expensive.

Intentless @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:01PM

Seeing as both of my original NES stil work as well as every system from Nintendo still working with rare to nonexistent issues I'm not worried about my Wii breaking unless my larger friends sit on it.... or try to eat it...

@ Nov 22nd 2006 4:01PM

Just wait until the Opera browser is released, and get your old skool fix here, for FREE:

http://www.everyvideogame.com/

JodyAnthony @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:01PM

Eggman (#18) is just mad because now people can play Sonic on the Wii Virtual Console and kick his ass.

The better question is why did you change your name from Robotnik to Eggman?

Rabish12 @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:09PM

"For most people, who don't have a problem downloading old roms of the net, this feature offers nothing to justify the price per game."

Yeah! After all, why pay for games when you can just pirate them instead, right?

Intentless @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:13PM

I could be wrong but I believe Robotnik was the "American" name for the character and his original name was Eggman. Then they dropped the whole change his name for the translations and leave it at eggman... Or something along those lines..

rob @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:14PM

For me 'playing roms off the net' is nowhere near the experience of playing with an actual console on my sofa just like old times. I still will only be getting VC games very sparingly though.

Skwurl @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:16PM

#20

That's a cool website.

However, it's still a far cry from playing a full screen classic game (unless I missed a full screen setting on the java console).

The controls also wouldn't work with the game pad or remote.

Re-online @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:18PM

"Yeah! After all, why pay for games when you can just pirate them instead, right?"

Right, and btw, I am most interested in the NEW games that are going to come for the virtual console, you guys remember when Nintendo said that the great ideas would win in the end, that´s what I want to see, games like Geometry wars, that are simple but new and very fun.

Make simple and fun games that use the wiimote, and I will open my wallet.

Mr. Khan @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:27PM

@ Intentless, they probably changed Robotnik to Eggman due to a change in the times

Back in 1991, the Soviet Union was still around, was still the "Evil Empire" and was still a threat to the world (although by the end of the year it had collapsed)

In 1999, when the name Eggman was introduced, Robotnik probably sounded cheesy (and more than a little insensitive)

Please to remember that the Virtual Console is not to RE-BUY games, but to buy old games for the first time (i don't have SNES, Genesis, TG16, or NES), and even though i probably could buy used N64 games for less, what's the guarantee that they'll work? At least VC games are virtually guaranteed to run; as long as the download is successful

(I bought Bomberman '93 today just to test the VC, and now i'm hooked, and i also love the way they show the download in progress)

kittynboi @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:29PM

I'm monstly interested in TG-16 games, which I haven't played forever. I'll pass of Mario 64 and Zelda since I've played them so often. But the tohers look purchase worthy for me.

DraXXXen @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:36PM

I downloaded Bonks Adventure last night, an alright emulation job but could be better. It will be the only C game I download right now until actual 'must-own' titles appear (mainly old turbografx16 shooters that I never got a chance to own).

The entire VC system would be much better if you gained a small amount of market place points when you bought an actual retail game (say like getting 100pts for every 1st party nintendo game you bought in stores). Would be a good promotion and help circulate even more VC games.

Skwurl @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:38PM

#29

Out of curiosity, what part of the emulation could be better? I was under the impression that these were 100% direct ports.

Shogan @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:38PM

Giving a thumbs down to Mario Bros and Donkey Kong because they aren't the arcade games is kinda weak. I'd MUCH rather have the arcade originals on here for the reasons they listed, but this is a service to download console games, not arcade games... yet.

Mario Bros is still fun, especially with 2 people. I didn't download Donkey Kong yet, I will though. I'm only missing a few of the VC titles so far and I'm enjoying them all. And yes, I have them on emulators, I just like this experience better for some reason.

redspear75 @ Nov 22nd 2006 5:03PM

at # 8. Any HD TV I've ever owned - I own 3 currently - locks the aspect ratio at 16:9 for resolutions at 480p or higher. These signal formats are expected to be 16:9.

Oh really? how much encoding do you do? I know that 480P can be

704x480
640x480(4:3)
720x480(Widescreen)

480 P stands for 480 vertical lines of resolution at 24 FPS or 30 FPS or 60 FPS.

Now if you are talking EDTV than yeah I woudl go with you on that.

TwilightKnight @ Nov 22nd 2006 5:37PM

Actually Nintendo licence the VC titles when you buy and download them, so in the case of your Wii breaking down for some reason you can re download them again. So you are wrong there Eggman.

You are also wrong in assuming that pirating is justifiable in this situation. Doing anything illegal is still illegal and immoral, and trying to spin it any other way is doing yourself a disfavor.

Also the reason why Nintendo doesn't add leader boards is twofold.

It will raise the cost of the VC titles, and it is entirely pointless for the general mass consumer. Nobody cares about leaderboards and never will. I don't care that I am around 60,000 in BF2. Having a points system in games these days is silly.

Now having the game online is another matter. It is just a matter of time/money involved to try to get them online able without jacking up the price aka Xbox Marketplace. Then again Nintendo is sitting so high on pure profit right now they could easily take a little bit of a loss on some VC online enabled games.

Tebunker @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:17PM

I have no trouble with the games and the way they look on my widescreen. Getting the component cables made the difference though.

Marco @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:22PM

The VC is great! Can't wait to download Halo and God of War in future Nintendo VCs'1

Adam @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:38PM

The 16:9 -> 4:3 issue for Virtual Console games really sucks. I downloaded The Legend of Zelda and have to manually switch the aspect ratio on my HDTV every time I play. Bogus.

Paul P @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:41PM

It's weird how the article calls the current line-up mundane at the end, but gave a thumbs up and "worth the money" for 9 out of 14 games.

Rad Thad @ Nov 22nd 2006 11:28PM

I wonder why 1UP has a screenshot from Sonic the Hedgehog 2. You can see Tails standing behind Sonic in the screenshot on the right.

I haven't purchased any VC games yet, but I will at some point. I'm having to much fun playing Twilight Princess and Wii Sports. I haven't even tried Red Steel yet.

I'm very glad to hear that they made it so the games look good on HDTVs. I remember when I got my HDTV and all my old console games looked terrible on it. I had to keep my old TV to use with those old systems. At last, I can enjoy classic games on my widescreen TV.

mike @ Nov 22nd 2006 11:54PM

The 16:9 -> 4:3 issue for Virtual Console games really sucks. I downloaded The Legend of Zelda and have to manually switch the aspect ratio on my HDTV every time I play. Bogus.

--

speaking of 20 year old media...

just wait until you try and get VHS tapes to play on the Wii... phew... scary

camaj @ Nov 23rd 2006 2:38PM

First of all Soloman's Key rocks, I really recommend that, one of my favourite games from the 80's

Now for the question, how do you get 5 players on bomberman? 5 human players I assume? Four Wiimotes and a Classic/GC pad or a combination?

I'm a huge bomberman fan and nothing has come close to beating Super Bomberman on the SNES

qadir @ Nov 23rd 2006 3:09PM

downloaded Sonic yesterday. its a lot harder then expected (shoulda read the reviews) but I'm still having a blast. been playing it more then Wii sports any way lol. I'll prolly give bomberman '93 a shot if not F-Zero