The Nintendo Wii Virtual Console has been going for nearly five years now and it has given us easy access to countless classics. The games on offer in the VC range from Nintendo titles spread across the NES, SNES and N64 to Sega titles and other less famous selections such as the Neo Geo. Games on the service can be played mainly with either a Classic Controller or a GameCube controller. The array of titles on offer can be daunting and so this article aims to advise on some of the best games available.
Best of the Bunch
There are a few select games which every diligent Wii owner should ensure they buy. Some may invest because of nostalgia- we all get a kick out of playing our old favourites. Others may have missed some of the true classics of gaming history and so the VC offers a chance to correct missed opportunities.
Super Mario 64 (N64)
This one is a no-brainer and I imagine it’s the first stop for many Wii owners looking into grabbing a few classics. Super Mario 64 took platforming into the third dimension and it revolutionised what it meant to game, offering a sizable “overworld” in the form of Peach’s castle and a homely one at that. Mario 64 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a charming, unforgettable adventure. Those who have played it will need little encouragement I’m sure, but just for those who are on the fence; the VC version is far crisper than the original and the game really benefits from the improved definition. This is definitely a game worth returning to. Regularly.
Chrono Trigger (SNES)
This unique RPG is one of those hallowed titles that is often labelled as the best game ever made. It’s certainly amongst the best, featuring a divergent narrative spread across time and space. The characters are interesting and fun while the game play was revolutionary for the RPG during its time. Chrono Trigger was made by Square Enix but unlike their better known Final Fantasy games, Chrono Trigger does not feature random encounters outside the game world. Enemies are visible on the map and they can be avoided if need be. Moreover, battles take place on the map as well, rather than happening in their own space as has been the situation in most Final Fantasy games. With over a dozen endings, Chrono Trigger took a step forward for gaming narrative and it’s certainly worth your time.
Sonic 3 and Knuckles (Mega Drive)
The Sonic the Hedgehog games have seen countless compilations and re-releases over the last fifteen years. The XBLA provides easy access to the original Mega Drive collection but it suffers from a noteworthy flaw when it comes to the third and fourth instalments in the series. Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles can be “locked on” to one another in order to be played together as Sonic 3 and Knuckles (a process which opens up new stages and permits the Sonic 3 save system to be used in Sonic and Knuckles). While this is included in the XBLA version, the developers who ported the titles onto the arcade (Backbone Entertainment) gutted the experience by imposing their own title screen onto the games and therefore prohibiting access to the save game system. In the place of the old system is a simple save state option that can save up to three slots. This not only limits the save functionality but strips out the level select available once the game is completed (and so earlier levels cannot be accessed once you have all the Chaos Emeralds and “super/hyper” capability). For an unhindered experience of these games head over to the Wii Virtual Console and get the definitive versions where you can play them complete with their original menus and, by extension, the Sonic 3 save system. Sonic 3 and Knuckles is a fantastic game and it deserves to be played in all its original glory- not with Backbone Entertainment’s vanity plates getting in the way of key features.
Lylat Wars (N64)
Take a retro arcade space shooter, slap some typically cute Nintendo characters in the cockpits and you’ve got Lylat Wars (known as Star Fox 64 outside of the UK). Lylat Wars is undiluted fun; you fly your ship through gauntlets of oddly designed enemy ships and then face off against similarly strange bosses. Some levels open up to free flight mode, allowing you to fly in any direction within a small area. This is a space shooter with heart and it’ll offer a good amount of longevity thanks to the alternate routes through the game and the score system which offers a good deal of competitive fun. Those with the 3DS should be aware that a 3D, small screen version is now available if you prefer your space shooting fun on the go.
Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 (Master System)
The Mega Drive may have taken the spotlight during Sonic’s origins but there are some lost classics on the Master System. Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit) actually came out after its more advanced doppelgänger on the Mega Drive. It sports completely new zones, three of which are in the theme of those we know from the Mega Drive (Green Hill, Labyrinth and Scrap Brain), while another three are entirely different. The game has a charm of its own and it’s definitely worth a look for any Sonic or platforming fan. Its sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit) is completely different from the Mega Drive version and it is one of the hardest Sonic games in existence. Both of these hidden classics are definitely worth your attention.
Paper Mario (N64)
Those looking for a break from platforming and for a game with a little more depth in their Mario collection need not look further than Paper Mario for the N64. The game play of this RPG title starts off at a fairly simple level but it soon develops into a reasonably deep but easily grasped RPG experience. The enjoyable game play is wrapped in the classic Mario world with Goombas and Koopas aplenty. This was a great game in its time and it’s a good option for anyone who wants a more lengthy game on their Wii channel menu.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Many consider this title to be the definitive Zelda game from which all of the later instalments draw inspiration. Indeed, A Link to the Past introduced many features which have since become standard for the series. Perhaps the biggest innovation in the game was the use of the Dark World; a parallel version of the normal overworld in which many new challenges arise. Using the old top down perspective, A Link to the Past offers a full adventure that fans of the series should definitely check out. It will at least keep our need for Zelda sated until The Skyward Sword comes out this November.
Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Yet another Mario title; playing Mario Kart 64 is like stepping into the past of a well loved franchise. For many this was the first game they played in the series and its tracks are well remembered. That said, the graphics have aged notably and many of the tracks are available on both Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii. Despite this, the classic N64 Mario Kart game still has merit and it is a great game to have available at a click of your Wii Remote. It also features a battle mode that doesn’t force players onto AI teams like more recent Mario Kart games do. This is definitely a good choice for parties and for nostalgia junkies.
Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Master System)
Those who owned a Master System 2 in their youth will remember this charming little adventure game that came preinstalled on the console. Alex Kidd features a memorable journey with various RPG elements; you’ll collect magical items, buy new tools and face enemies ranging from traditional bosses to foes that combat you in games of rock, paper scissors. For a reasonable price of 500 Wii Points, Alex Kidd in Miracle World is a well hidden nugget of gaming history. Be aware, however, that this is the original version of the game- not the one that was installed on the Master System. Differences are minor (Alex Kidd eats rice balls instead of hamburgers in the map screen and the two action buttons are switched) but you should be aware of them.
Super Mario World (SNES)
The fourth Super Mario game sees Mario and Luigi travelling to Dinosaur Land to save it from Bowser. The game also introduces everyone’s favourite dinosaur companion, Yoshi, as a steed for Mario during his adventures. Super Mario World served as the flagship game for the SNES in its battle with Sega’s Mega Drive for 16-bit supremacy. The game is widely considered to be the peak of Mario’s side-scrolling platform game play and it is definitely worth a spot on your channels list.
Thinking Outside the Box
There are a lot of great games on the Wii Virtual Console and the above list serves as guide to some of the best. That said, there are a few games that I haven’t listed because they are available elsewhere in a better package if an industrious gamer were to look around. Here is a little advice about some of the places you should look before clicking the buy button on the VC.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask
Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are two fantastic Zelda games that are conspicuously absent from the above list. This is because both are included on The Legend of Zelda Collectors Edition disc for the GameCube (playable on the Wii, of course). You can also snag Ocarina on the Windwaker Limited Edition disc for the GameCube and on the 3DS. Naturally these are more expensive options but they come bundled with other Zelda games or with a flashy third dimension. As such it’s definitely worth taking a look around before you grab either of these games from the Virtual Console. If you can’t find the old GameCube titles at a reasonable price (they can get a bit pricey given their growing scarcity) or you don’t fancy forking out for the 3DS, grab these great games on the Virtual Console.
Super Mario Bros.
The true classics of the Mario series, Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3 and The Lost Levels are all great platformers that offer a real challenge. They are available on the Virtual Console at a reasonable price but if you’re out for something a little more special then I’d recommend taking a look at the Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition. This comes bundled with all of the above games, a soundtrack CD and a neat booklet going over Mario History. If this package feels a little glitzy and overpriced for your tastes then the Virtual Console provides a more straight forward option; either way these games are a piece of platforming history that you should play one way or another.
