Constant Limit

Nintendo has decided that older Wii gamers should have a chance to relive the days where the NES ruled the video game scene. This also allows the newer generation to experience how Nintendo all started. As a fan of video game nostalgia, I find this to be a welcome addition to the Wii. Being able to replay those old games once again is a great way to relive your past. It is very important for gamers to understand video game history and how its evolution has lead to the creation of today’s next generation games. Of course, these Virtual Console games are not free and must be bought using Wii points.

You can learn more about the Wii Virtual Console in greater detail at Nintendo’s site:

http://www.nintendo.com/wii/virtualconsole/games

The Virtual Console allows yous to play a selected number of older titles that span across six old consoles:

• Nintendo (NES)
• Nintendo 64 (N64)
• Sega Genesis (GEN)
• Super Nintendo (SNES)
• TurboGrafx 16 (TG16)

I have taken a look at the list of what is currently available at Nintendo’s official Wii site and I will discuss what my top 5 favorites are. I will also make recommendations on what I would like to see added to the Virtual Console library.

#5  Kid Icarus (NES, 1987)

Who could forget Pit, AKA Kid Icarus. If you remember the tale of Icarus from mythology, which this game is heavy themed upon, Icarus was a winged warrior. When Icarus flew to close to the Sun, the extreme heat of the sun melted his wings, causing him to drop. In this game, the main hero is named Pit, who uses his trusty bow and arrow to slay of the forces of Medusa. This was a fantastic game where you can gain powerups including longer range arrows, soldier allies, and flaming arrows IIRC. With the returns of Super Smash Brothers in Brawl on the Wii, Pit makes a comeback. It is always great to see old heroes resurrected after so many years of dormancy. One of my favorite parts of the game is when the eggplant wizard throws eggplants on you and you must seek a nurse in order to remove it. This is one of the better games on the list.

#4 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (GEN, 1994) 

We are getting this one instead of Sonic and Knuckles. My favorite character in the Sonic series is Tails and I love flying around with him. I suppose it also fun to glide around with Knuckles, who is absent from Sonic 3. Compared to 3D Blast, which was just too confusing as far as controls were concerned, I prefer Sonic 3 over Blast. The Sonic franchise was certainly popular, and the whole Mario vs Sonic rivalry was milked beyond belief. Due to the failure of the Dreamcast, it is clear that Mario has won, since Sega no longer creates consoles. In Sonic 3, you have the choice of controlling Sonic or Tails as the main character. For two-player games, I recommend you choose Sonic since player 2 can control Tails. Tails can actually lift Sonic up to higher ground, which is very handy. For a single-player game, go with Tails and use his flying ability to sail through levels.

#3 The Legend of Zelda (NES, 1987) 

The very first Zelda game to enter the video game world. If you had this during its time, you may have gotten the “golden” catridge. The original Legend of Zelda remained popular for a long time due to its extremely long play life and tricky riddles. The ’80s, a time where the Internet had not yet existed and you could not just go online to figure out how to pass the current dungeon. One of the best things about Zelda games is the treasure hunt. You go around finding new weapons and items to assist you in your quest, battling monsters along the way. The ultimate treasure, the Master Sword, is what our hero Link always seeks for. The world of Hyrule must be safe as Link’s nemesis, Ganon is holding Princess Zelda captive. This a classic game that has withstood the test of time. Almost anyone can recognize this game even after 20 years.

#2 Bubble Bobble (NES, 1988) 

Bub and Bob, the adorable little dinos that shoot bubbles at their enemies. This title was very popular back in the day, and still is. What made this fun was the two-player action and all the floating bubbles that covered the screen. I really miss this game. I remember getting blisters over this game because I could not put the controller down. One of the strangest enimga’s about this game was the ending. In order the see the ending you had to beat the game a few times in and there was this thing about a “not true” and “true” ending. This game brings back a lot of memories and I highly recommend you try it.

#1 Kirby’s Adventure (NES, 1993)

The number one game on the list goes to Kirby’s Adventure. Kirby, everyones favorite tough little cream puff. This little fella inhales his enemies and then absorbs their powers to use against them. This has to be one of the most innovative ideas in video games at the time. There was nothing like it when it first came out. Many have made comparisons between Kirby and Megaman, but Megaman can only absorb boss powers. Kirby can absorb powers from just normal enemies. This sounds almost too good for Kirby, but with one major caveat. Kirby can only absorb and use one power at a time and cannot store powers for later use. This means that Kirby must be selective and hold on to the better powers and forgo the weaker ones. Some of my favorite powers include the UFO, laser, and the trusty sword. If you have played Kirby’s Super Star for the SNES, the yo-yo is my favorite weapon.

I tried to include some of the older NES games because I want newer gamers to try out the stuff that existed way before they did.

There are a couple series that I noticed are missing on the list and those are Megaman and Final Fantasy. I would like to see these on the list but I believe that that since both series are now on Playstation, that will not appear on the Wii.

What are your thought about my top 5 Wii Virtual Console games? What other games do you want to be added to the Virtual Console library? Leave a comment and let me know.