Nintendo Wii Fanboy

An immensely pleasing sight greeted our bleary eyes when we inspected the PAL Virtual Console this morning -- the revival of last September's Hanabi Festival! What does that mean? Simple: for the next few weeks, the VC will feature games that were previously unreleased in Europe or Australia, which we suppose justifies the slightly higher price tags.

Best of all, we're promised that this will continue for the next few weeks. Wonder what else we'll get? Here are this week's trio:

• Columns III: Revenge of Columns -- Mega Drive -- 900 Wii Points
• Final Soldier -- TurboGrafx-16 -- 700 Wii Points
• Gradius II Gofer no Yabou -- TurboGrafx-16 -- 900 Wii Points
  

As usual, make the jump for footage of all three.

[Update: There's much excitement here, as further inspection of Nintendo's press release reveals that Speedos-clad TurboGrafx-16 shooter Cho Aniki will be one of the future Hanabi Festival releases!]

One of the most celebrated Virtual Console games of the year finally makes it to Japan this week. It's already made its way to the VC in other territories, while Japanese gamers waited patiently for the chance to download it themselves. Now the long wait is over and they can finally get their hands on Pony Canyon's Lunar Pool.

As for new releases that we don't already have, we're looking forward to IREM's Image Fight II. Sure, it's another Turbografx-16 shooter, but we liked the first one so much, and we've never played the sequel. And Columns III is more Columns, but with heavier emphasis on multiplayer. And adorable chickens.

• Super Mario Bros. 3 (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
• LunarBall (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)
• Columns III Taiketsu! Columns World (Mega Drive, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points)
• Image Fight II (PC Engine, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)

So, last week's rather spasmodic Virtual Console releases were a bit strangely timed. Still, it's hard to fault Nintendo, who has very little online console experience and consumer demand out the yin-yang. Still, they promised us Virtual Console Mondays, and by golly, here they come. From a press release:

Every Monday starting Dec. 4, Nintendo will add classic games to the popular new Wii™ video game console's Wii Shop Channel. Four games will be added at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Dec. 4. 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:

• Donkey Kong Jr. (NES): 500 points
• Victory Run (TG-16): 600 points
• Columns (Sega Genesis): 800 points
• Ristar (Sega Genesis): 800 points

A nice little addition! We're particularly looking forward to Columns, a very relaxing and satisfying puzzle game. With several new games being released every Monday, it won't be long until we see our promised Toe Jam and Earl action, or some of those rumored Virtual Console releases we keep hearing about. And look! A Christmas present! Keep 'em comin', Nintendo.

A recent search of the ESRB website turned up some scintillating results. Though not confirmed for launch or any specific timeframe, the names of seven Sega greats are listed on ESRB as coming to the Wii virtual console...and holy hell, can they pick 'em. Check it out:

• Altered Beast
• Columns
• Ecco the Dolphin
• Golden Axe
• Ristar
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Toe Jam & Earl

You might recognize these games as being utter classics, some of the very best the Genesis had to offer. Most have at least a cult following, and they're sure to add a huge boost to the VC's popularity. Oh, how we long to echo-locate once more...

[via Joystiq]