Virtual Console Releases for 8/20/07. Have a Super (Metroid) Monday!

Aug. 20, 2007

You've longed for it, you've begged for it and now it's finally here. Nintendo's Month of Metroid continues with today's release of the ultra-clas-sic Super Metroid® for the Super NES®. It's one of the many teasers to whet your appetite in advance of the Aug. 27 release of Metroid® Prime 3: Corruption for WiiTM. You have a full week to dive into Super Metroid and explore the other great new games added to the Wii Shop Channel: Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja MasterTM and Neutopia.

Three new clas-sic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii PointsTM to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Super Metroid (Super NES, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Violence, 800 Wii Points): The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy. Samus Aran must don her awesome array of high-tech weaponry to retrieve the deadly Metroid hidden deep within the cave-riddled planet Zebes. Super Metroid features excellent graphics, with a huge variety of enemies and worlds to explore. The side-view action will be familiar to many players, only now there are new weapons and items, including the Grappling Beam, which allows Samus to swing across large chasms, and the X-Ray Scope, which reveals secret passages.

Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): In this thrilling sequel to The Revenge of Shinobi, Joe Musashi finds that Neo Zeed - the crime syndicate he believed he had wiped out two years earlier - is indeed still alive and well. The return of Neo Zeed and its leader, the mysterious Shadow Master, forces Musashi to return from exile and confront the growing evil. As the Shinobi, the master of long-forgotten Oboro Ninjitsu martial arts, Musashi must utilize all his powers to overcome his various enemies. Thanks to his considerable combat skills and special Ninjitsu moves, only the Shinobi can thwart Neo Zeed and vanquish the Shadow Master.

Neutopia (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): In this action role-playing game, you take control of a brave boy who sets off on a journey to rescue the kidnapped princess and reclaim the eight medallions that were stolen by the evil demon, Dirth. You'll need to rely on your magic compass and information you've gathered to find entrances to labyrinths and defeat the bosses in them. Solve puzzles, avoid traps, move blocks and destroy walls to uncover secret rooms in the labyrinths. Carefully use your map to uncover hidden treasure and powerful equipment. Travel the land, underground, sea and sky on your quest to recover the medallions. With a save function, the right difficulty level and a system that doesn't include experience points, this is truly an RPG that anyone can enjoy.

Super Metroid.

The Legendary NINJA HORSE...

...AND a Zelda clone...!?!

...all in one day...?

I can recommend Neutopia (and its sequel, if that one ever comes around) to anyone who wants some classic Zelda gameplay back when the idea was still fresh and new. It's an obvious clone. In fact, the differences are as minimal as the color scheme.

I wonder if we'll ever see Sega Master System games offered on the VC. It would be nice, as there was a pretty good Zelda clone on that one too called Golden Axe Warrior. Despite its title, it shares little in common in terms of gameplay with the Golden Axe series. It is basically just one huge Zelda clone through and through.

In any case, anyone who doesn't get Super Metroid this week is missing out.

I can recommend Neutopia (and its sequel, if that one ever comes around) to anyone who wants some classic Zelda gameplay back when the idea was still fresh and new. It's an obvious clone. In fact, the differences are as minimal as the color scheme.

I wonder if we'll ever see Sega Master System games offered on the VC. It would be nice, as there was a pretty good Zelda clone on that one too called Golden Axe Warrior. Despite its title, it shares little in common in terms of gameplay with the Golden Axe series. It is basically just one huge Zelda clone through and through.

In any case, anyone who doesn't get Super Metroid this week is missing out.

m0zart

So how does Neutopia stack up against something like the story of thor? Beyond Oasis?

[QUOTE="m0zart"]

I can recommend Neutopia (and its sequel, if that one ever comes around) to anyone who wants some classic Zelda gameplay back when the idea was still fresh and new. It's an obvious clone. In fact, the differences are as minimal as the color scheme.

I wonder if we'll ever see Sega Master System games offered on the VC. It would be nice, as there was a pretty good Zelda clone on that one too called Golden Axe Warrior. Despite its title, it shares little in common in terms of gameplay with the Golden Axe series. It is basically just one huge Zelda clone through and through.

In any case, anyone who doesn't get Super Metroid this week is missing out.

gaminggeek

So how does Neutopia stack up against something like the story of thor? Beyond Oasis?

Beyond Oasis is far more original. It is not as precise a Zelda clone. It may be in the same genre started by Zelda, but it's not as much of a rip-off. It's kind of like the Ys series, which is obviously in the same genre as Zelda, but has its own unique bend.

Neutopia and Golden Axe Warrior are both pretty much straight Zelda clones. They play like the original Zelda, but withreasonably updated graphics. They weren't targetting much originality, that's for sure. Still, they are great fun for fans of the original game, they just don't inspire the same sense of awe that the original one did.

When I get a Wii Metroid will be one of my first purchases.

And anyone eager to pull the trigger on Shinobi III...keep in mind it's yet another game in the massive string of Genesis Virtual Console games that was also included on the Sega Genesis Collcetion.

I'll download Metroid ithout hesitation.

I have a huge backlog of VC games I've yet to complete though, but I'd rather have it this way over the other.

I can recommend Neutopia (and its sequel, if that one ever comes around) to anyone who wants some classic Zelda gameplay back when the idea was still fresh and new. It's an obvious clone. In fact, the differences are as minimal as the color scheme.

I wonder if we'll ever see Sega Master System games offered on the VC. It would be nice, as there was a pretty good Zelda clone on that one too called Golden Axe Warrior. Despite its title, it shares little in common in terms of gameplay with the Golden Axe series. It is basically just one huge Zelda clone through and through.

In any case, anyone who doesn't get Super Metroid this week is missing out.

m0zart

It wasn't on the SMS, but the Genesis, but have you ever played Crusade of Centy? A link to the past clone, a VERY good clone at that! I'm hoping it comes to the VC...a really great game.VideoGameGuy

Nope. Golden Axe Warrior was on the SMS, not the Genesis. Or did you mean that Crusade of Centy was on the Genesis?

In any case, I haven't played Crusade of Centy. I'll have to check it out.

Outstanding week, probably the best they could put together after already having pulled the trigger on Wave Race 64. I know I'm buying all three.DarkCatalyst

Yes, BTW if anyone has Shinobi 3 impression, I want to hear them :) Is it as good as shadow dancer?gaminggeek

Ill sum it up for you

2D Shinobi=MUST BUY!!!!!

Yes, BTW if anyone has Shinobi 3 impression, I want to hear them :) Is it as good as shadow dancer?gaminggeek

It's WAY better. Shinobi III is one of the best 16-bit games of all time. If you have a PS2 or PSP you really should go pick up the Sega Genesis Collection, there are like 30 games for $20, it's a MUCH better deal than paying $8 per game on the Virtual Console.

I wonder if we'll ever see Sega Master System games offered on the VC. It would be nice, as there was a pretty good Zelda clone on that one too called Golden Axe Warrior. Despite its title, it shares little in common in terms of gameplay with the Golden Axe series. It is basically just one huge Zelda clone through and through.

m0zart

I actually played Golden Axe Warrior on SMS before I ever played a Zelda game. I agree that is a very, verygood Zelda clone. I actually liked it better than the original Zelda. It was my favorite game on SMS.

We were just disscussing SMS games (and Golden Zxe Warrior) in Phantom Leo's Sleeper's thread last week. I'd love to have SMS games on VC. I have very fond memories of that console.

I had never played Super Metroid until today, holy cow it's amazing. I've just beaten Kraid and I can already sense this is going to be one of my all time favorites. I don't know what it is, but this is the first time in a while I've had problems putting the controller down.dancingotter

I finished the game several times and I had trouble putting the controller down today. This game was an instant classic back in 94.

[QUOTE="DarkCatalyst"]Outstanding week, probably the best they could put together after already having pulled the trigger on Wave Race 64. I know I'm buying all three.CanadianEh

You say that as if I have to jump on each game as soon I get it.

I'm buying these primarily because it's a travel-friendly way to go. If I ever have to go somewhere on a moment's notice, I can do so with an 83-game library (and counting) on hand just by bringing the Wii along for the ride.

I'm playing Super Metroid for the first time ever, and I'm very impressed. It's pretty sophisticated for a game over 10 years old.

Wow I forgot how amazing the intro to this game was, for a 16-bit game its phenomenal, so ahead of its time. I am loving the game, I dont remember much of it so some things are surprising me.

BTW what controller layout are you guys using?

dvader654

I'm using y shoot, b jump, x dash, and a cancel. I had to mess around a while to get one that really felt natural.

I bought Super Metroid, but I actually wanted to buy the other 2, but I am not going to drop 22 bucks on VC content. :|ice_radon

It's worth it this week for sure. Do it.