Star Tropics hits Wii VC Today
Super Mario Galaxy was a fun game (it even made it into my Top 5 of the year), but Nintendo has felt the need to squeeze every last drop of cash out of their iconic Italian plumber like he's some sort of bizarre money-sponge creature cow thing. Where are all the original Nintendo titles that AREN'T Mario, Zelda or Metroid? Today on the Wii Virtual Console we get a glimpse into the brilliance of non-Mario Nintendo with Star Tropics. It's a classic adventure-RPG that paved the way for games like Secret of Mana and Earthbound, and was a critical success back in the day. So why haven't we seen a new Star Tropics game? The world may never know. Maybe if it becomes the best selling title on the Wii VC they will consider a new-gen sequel? Maybe? Hello?
One thing I am curious about is the fact that a puzzle in the game requires the use of an insert in the actual physical meatspace packaging. There was a sheet of paper with invisible ink on it that you had to reveal a secret code in order to progress after a certain point. How are they going to accomplish this on the Virtual Console? Are they going to expect us all just to get stuck and consult GameFAQs? My mind! It is being blown!
Star Tropics is available today for 500 Wii points. Full press release after the jump.
Jan. 7, 2008
Wii-kly Update: Two New Classic Games Added to Wii Shop Channel
Can’t believe it’s already 2008? Soothe that sense of future shock with a
visit to the Wii Shop Channel, where we’ve just added a pair of awesome
vintage games from way back in the 20th century. This week’s new offerings
include an unpredictable island-hopping adventure and a legendary fighting
title, each guaranteed to deliver classic gaming excitement throughout the new
year and beyond.
Two new classic 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 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:
Star Tropics™ (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Fantasy Violence,
500 Wii Points): Find out just how resourceful you can be in this classic
game, with its mixture of adventure and RPG elements. Step into the shoes of
Mike Jones, a teenage star pitcher from Seattle who has come to the tropics to
visit his famous archeologist uncle, Dr. Jones. After being told that his
uncle has been abducted, Mike begins a perilous quest in order to rescue him
and figure out the mysterious plot behind his disappearance. Luckily for Mike,
he meets helpful villagers and finds more powerful weapons as he explores
numerous locations and island-hops using his uncle’s submarine. You’ll never
know what to expect next as the cosmic story unfolds over the course of eight
action-packed chapters, ranging from Dr. Jones’s lab on C-Island to an alien
spacecraft. Who knew a tropical vacation could turn into a mission to save the
world?
THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’94 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen—Animated
Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol & Tobacco Reference,
Violence, 900 Wii Points): As the first game in the long-running KING OF
FIGHTERS series, THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’94 brought together popular characters
from other well-known franchises and pitted them against each other. Match
warriors from Fatal Fury against favorites from its sister series, Art of
Fighting. Or see if the casts of the Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier series
better suit your fighting style. Plus, there’s a set of brand new characters,
exclusive to the KOF series, who are willing to join the fray. But there’s a
twist: Instead of the standard best-two- out-of-three-rounds fight setup,
players choose one of eight teams, each made up of three teammates. To win,
all members of the other team must be eliminated before your fighters are
knocked out. Use the game’s power gauge to inflict maximum damage and end the
round with a devastating finishing move. It’s a battle royal unlike anything
else—a game whose inspiration is easily seen in the fighting games that
followed it. Can your team be the last one standing?
What say you?!