New on the Virtual Console: Golden Axe 3, Lunar Pool, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun

by Justin McElroy { Oct 22nd 2007 at 8:40AM }

We think that after this week, we can all agree that there's no rhyme or reason to Nintendo's Virtual Console selections each week. This Monday, you can play pool on the moon, play the third Golden Axe game, or play a ninja-based title unreleased outside Japan. If there's a theme there, we ain't seeing it.

Ninja JaJaMaru-kun (NES, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Never released outside of Japan before now, someone didn't think you were ready for Ninja JaJaMaru-kun. But now, you can experience all the awful music, marshmallow ninjas and (apparent) sperm capturing you can handle. (Side note: We're not sure what the extra 100 points for Japan-only games is going to, but it certainly isn't New Name Creating Guys.

Lunar Pool (NES, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): OK, we'll buy that mushrooms can embiggen you to twice your regular size. We'll allow that there's a golden triangle out there that has a tendency to break but can also give you superpowers. But pool on the moon? Please, the infeasibility of carting the necessary equipment up there is reason enough to discount it, but, hello? Gravity? We can only go so far with you.

Golden Axe III (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Though the third Golden Axe wasn't originally released here, you PS2 and PSP owners who bought the Sega Genesis Collection are familiar with the title. For the uninitated: It's Golden Axe. ... Oh, and (for part of the game) you're a panther dude. Enjoy.

Tags: virtualconsole, virtualconsolemonday

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Bad Mojo @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:58AM

HELLS YEAH!!!!

LUNAR POOL!!!!

Time for some Wii points :)

Maybe I'll try this Golden Axe 3 while I'm at it...

Foggy Bottoms @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:43PM

golden axe 3 but no super mario bros 3? wtf are they waiting for?

hegemonyhog @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:51PM

Mario Galaxy.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:36PM

Seriously. Mario 3 needs to be on VC pronto.

32_Footsteps @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:14AM

Pool would work just fine on the moon. There's gravity there. It's just 1/6th the strength of Earth's gravity. *Someone* wasn't paying attention in science class.

Golden Axe 3 is intriguing. Not the Genny title I've been most wanting to see on VC (That'd be any Phantasy Star game), but an interesting addition.

Though that leads me to wonder - why haven't there been more true RPGs offered on VC? There's been a couple of action RPGs, but no old-school role-playing games. I'm one of hundreds who'd like to see Mother appear on VC... but why hasn't EarthBound appeared yet? Or any of the NES Dragon Quest games?

Bringing us Japanese games is really neat, but I can't be the only one wondering where my RPG goodness is.

JodyAnthony @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:40AM

Breath of Fire II is on the VC, and is awesome.

Awesome, I say!

Martin @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:06PM

I agree with Jody. I beat it already on the VC, and it was delicious!

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:48AM

While there is nothing worth buying this week, it DOES remind me that I still need to continue my quest to acquire a copy of Ninjabread Man from somewhere. No stores but Amazon.com seem to have it and I'll be damned if I'll pay any more than I have to for it due to shipping costs.

JodyAnthony @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:06AM

same here. i cannot find it ANYWHERE.

I need my ninjabread fix

Yourself @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:41AM

Seriously, are you guys joking? Don't you dare condone what those sickening developers are doing by spending money on their games.
See here unless you are insane:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85405

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:41PM

I saw it at Blockbuster the other day and was all like "Huh? Really" Of course, blockbuster is also renting copies of WiiSports, so you have to question their judgment.

Justin @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:01AM

Does no one else see an eerie resemblance to Legend of the Mystical Ninja in Ninja JaJaMaru-kun? I mean even the little ninja's eyes embiggen back and forth when he gets hit. Not to mention the music is a dead giveaway!
Awesome!

Joshua @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:35AM

The music was high-pitched. It was painful.

Is this another one of those games that requires zero localization?

Gangsta Smurf @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:06AM

I'm fucking jealous. I wish XBLA had a fifth of these games going to the VC, only because online play would be SWEEEEET via Live.

gonk @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:33AM

we already have golden axe (1 or 2?) on arcade

Kurifurisan @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:56AM

For people looking for Ninjabread Man: I found copies at a KB Toys outlet store of all places. It's $29.99 and you can find it on the Holiday Games shipper that was sent out to stores in the last month for the GBA/DS buy one get one 50% off deal. There's also PS2, Gamecube, original Xbox titles as well but on the DS/GBA are on sale until the end of October.

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!) @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:48AM

Blah. The nearest KB Toys is like 45 minutes from me. But I love that place. The one I used to live near had all these old toys, including Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles...just sitting in their boxes and selling for a reasonable price. I couldn't believe it.
I bought an Earthworm Jim figure for my dashboard, of course.