Virtual Console

Virtual Console
Basically the best retro service on an official console.
Genre(s): Classic video game re-release distribution Platform(s): Wii Nintendo 3DS Wii U Release Date: Wii: November 19, 2006 3DS: June 6, 2011 Wii U: January 23, 2013 (soft launch) April 26, 2013 (official launch) Developer(s): Nintendo Publisher(s): Nintendo

Virtual Console was an online application for the Wii, Wii U & Nintendo 3DS. It was where a user could download retro games on newer Nintendo hardware.

Consoles

1. Wii
   • Nintendo Entertainment System
   • Super Nintendo Entertainment System
   • Nintendo 64
2. Nintendo 3DS
   • Nintendo Entertainment System
   • Super Nintendo Entertainment System (only on the “NEW” systems for some reason)
   • Game Boy
   • Game Boy Color
3. Wii U
   • Nintendo Entertainment System
   • Super Nintendo Entertainment System
   • Nintendo 64
   • Game Boy Advance
   • Nintendo DS
   • Wii (somewhat)

Why It Rocked

1. Unlike the Nintendo Switch Online, Virtual Console let you choose a game you wanted to buy & keep it forever, instead of a Netflix-like service, paying every month-year for dozens of games you don’t even want to play.
2. Most of the Virtual Console versions of the games were changed somewhat in a positive way. Examples include:
   • Wave Race 64 replaced some of the Kawasaki logos with the Nintendo DS & Wii logos.
   • Metroid & Kid Icarus had a password system, but removed it on the service.
   • Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 added all the e-Reader Card levels.
   • Mario Kart 64 decreased the lighting intensity of the lightning bolt to prevent seizures.
3. Each console did their version of Virtual Console well.
   • The Wii allowed the user to download the games without paying with real money. The launch had a wide range of consoles to choose from, even from non-Nintendo consoles. The user coukd save state (except for the N64 & Neo Geo AES)
   • The 3DS allowed the user to play retro games on the go (some of them from the first time)
   • The Wii U allowed the user to customize their controls to their liking. Also, all consoles could save state (except Wii)
4. Lots of awesome games on the service, which include:
   • Super Mario Bros.
   • The Legend of Zelda
   • Metroid
   • Super Mario Bros. 2
   • Super Mario Bros. 3
   • Duck Hunt
   • Ice Climber
   • Wrecking Crew
   • Excitebike
   • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
   • Mother
   • Super Mario World
   • F-Zero
   • Donkey Kong Country
   • Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
   • Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
   • Super Metroid
   • The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
   • Kirby Super Star
   • Super Mario Kart
   • Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
   • Super Mario 64
   • Donkey Kong 64
   • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
   • The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
   • Super Smash Bros. 64
   • Paper Mario
   • Mario Party 2
   • Yoshi’s Story
   • Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
   • Mario Golf
   • Mario Tennis
   • Mario Kart 64
   • Star Fox 64
   • F-Zero X
   • Metroid Fusion
   • Golden Sun
   • Advance Wars
   • Wario Land 4
   • WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
   • Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
   • Mario Kart: Super Circuit
   • Mario Tennis: Power Tour
   • Kirby Mass Attack
   • Kirby: Canvas Curse
   • The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
   • Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
   • Mario Kart DS
   • Mario Party DS
   • Metroid Prime Hunters
   • New Super Mario Bros.
   • WarioWare: Touched!
5. Even though they’re not really considered Virtual Console, it was a nice inclusion to add Wii games like:
   • Super Mario Galaxy
   • Super Mario Galaxy 2
   • The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
   • WarioWare: Smooth Moves
   • Xenoblade Chronicles
   • Rhythm Heaven Fever
   • Super Paper Mario
   • Donkey Kong Country Returns
   • Punch-Out!! (2009)
   • Kirby's Return to Dream Land
   • New Super Mario Bros. Wii
   • Mario Strikers Charged
   • Mario Super Sluggers
6. The 3DS & Wii U have accounts, so when your console broke it would be saved on an account so the user didn’t have to pay for it again.
7. Many fans consider Virtual Console over Nintendo Switch Online, proves that the former is going to be a nostalgic thing in the far future.

Bad Qualities

1. There are plenty of missed opportunities or problems that could have made the service way better.
   • The original versions of the 3DS doesn’t support SNES, which is somewhat dumb.
   • Since Rareware was bought out by Microsoft, a lot of Nintendo 64 games they couldn't add like Blast Corps, Goldeneye 007 (this can be excusable), Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie & Tooie, Jet Force Gemini, Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day, etc.
   • The Wii U has somewhat of an inferior emulator than the Wii & it doesn’t have GameCube games while said consoles allowed Wii games to be played both physically & digitally. What doesn’t help is that people overpriced used games, also that Nintendo didn’t put games like Luigi’s Mansion, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, etc. to the system so new players can play them for the first time.
   • Again, the Wii was not considered Virtual Console to the Wii U, but it had a lot of games they didn't add like Wii Sports/Resort, Mario Party 8, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, etc.
   • There are some bad games on the system like Urban Champion, Mario Pinball Land, & Mario Party Advance.
2. Due to Nintendo not adding Virtual Console for the Nintendo Switch & replacing it with the Nintendo Switch Online, meaning that the Wii U was the last console to have Virtual Console & since the 3DS & Wii Us eShops closed in March 2023, it doesn't exist anymore.

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