Virtual Console Crystal Ball 06/25/07

Another week, another round of predictions for the Wii's VC Monday releases. First a look at what the Crystal Ball saw, vs. what was actually released last week. The prediction was that both World Sports Championship and Bloody Wolf for TG16 would be released, alongside F Zero-X for N64. Well, yippie, I was 2 for 3 last week, as the two Turbo games were released (as we all knew they would be) alongside - surprise!! - NES Open Tournament Golf for, obviously, NES.

Unfortunately, the one I was wrong about was F Zero-X, as North America is still the only region in the world yet to see this release. Weird. Instead of some 64-bit F-Zero we got some 8-bit golf, and not of the Lee Trevino variety (still my fave NES golf game), but one which I wasn't even thinking about at all for VC release yet. I would've pegged at least 2 or 3 other NES games to go live before that one did, but it did, so oh well. So, with the success rate @ 67%, its time to see if we can pad that number with this weeks predictions:


TurboGrafx-16
China Warrior - Hudson Soft

Super Nintendo
Super Turrican - Factor 5

Nintendo 64
F Zero-X - Nintendo


Well there they are, the Crystal Ball foresees these 3 games this Monday. Apparently, the vision of F-Zero-X last week was a little foggy and premature, and was for this week instead, yeah, that must be the case.....elsewhere, China Warrior is a 100% lock (confirmed for June 2007, and this is the last Monday in June, so...), and I have a gut-feeling that the just-ESRB-rated Super Turrican will be the SNES game to end that particular drought (no SNES love since May! WTF?!?) , although I'd love to be wrong and see Pilotwings finally show up there instead (still waiting..).

Seriously, I am almost certain that an N64 and/or (most likely and) SNES game will release, as there have been no SNES games this month yet, and no N64 game since April frickin' 2nd!! That, and there have already been 4 NES games and 3 Genesis games this month already (pretty much hit the quota there), so I'd be very surprised to see another title for either of those two systems hit this month.

Paper Mario is supposedly being released in Japan on the 26th, so there's the possibility that they may do some same-week global release for that title, but I highly doubt it, especially considering that F-Zero is out in every other region already (even AU), and Japan gets things a while before we usually do here anyways. Ahhh, fun. Well, we shall see this Monday!

-Kimo

Virtual Console Crystal Ball 06/18/07

In just over 5 and a half hours Nintendo will update the Wii Shop Channel with the latest in retro goodness. But, what title(s) will be released this week? This is the first of a new weekly feature for this site; the Virtual Console Crystal Ball. Basically, its just me guessing what's gonna get released, but I feel I pick 'em right most of the time, well, enough that I feel like making it a feature. I had meant to post this on Saturday, but y'know, busy busy. So, without further adieu, here are the predictions:

TurboGrafx-16
Bloody Wolf - Data East , and, World Sports Competition - Hudson Soft

N64
F-Zero X - Nintendo


Yep, there they are, my three predictions for June 18th 2007's VC releases. The two TG16 games comes from them both having a release date for the 18th in the VC Wikepedia entry, which sure, may not always be the best source for accurate info, but it'd be hard not to figure its correct, as its been left unchanged for 3 days (usually dates with no sources get deleted quickly if bogus). So, bit of a cheat then I guess for this week, but a big pick in F-Zero-X for N64. I say this is a shoe-in, as the 'ol 64's VC lineup is a little, er, thin, to say the least. I mean even when compared to the number of TG16 games released so far , or even to the number of shooters - merely a genre of games - released for VC so far....or even when compared to the number of TG16 shooters alone released on VC so far! Yeah, we need more N64 games on VC, and I'm sure Nintendo knows this too, and will release F-Zero X this Monday.

That and the fact that it's out everywhere else already but North America, make it a definite reveal for later this morning. Kinda surprised to see it release alongside two TG16 games, but we shall see if Wikipedia prevails. I originally thought only one Turbo game, and maybe a Genesis or NES game ( I won't say which one(s), the Crystal Ball has already spoken), but hey, whatever. Can't say for sure that I won't dl F-Zero someday for some reason, convienience most likely, but I won't be dropping the cash on any of these three, I don't think. I have F-Zero X & a working 64 w/4 controllers in good condition already, with everything unlocked already to boot, and neither of those two Turbo games look appealing to me right now, although Bloody Wolf may be kinda fun to play through, but not 600 points fun.

As for World Sports Competition, I don't even see why this is being released at this point, cosidering the other choices available, even just for TG. I don't see why this is being released at all, frankly, when there are a ton of killer Turbo games waiting in the archives, with others - Air Zonk, Bonk 3, even China Warrior (yes, I know, but nostalgia you see...) - already having been rated by the ESRB, totally ready to go. A puzzling choice indeed....

So there you have it, my picks for today's 3 VC games, games I will be waaaay too busy playing Pac-Man Championship Edition (review coming soon) to even think about. I hope to have the Crystal Ball shined up and ready to predict again by Saturday at the latest for next time. Have a good Monday!

-Kimo