Virtual Console
| |
| Current version: | n/a |
|---|---|
| Active: | Yes |
| OS: | Wii, 3DS, Wii U |
| Authors: | Nintendo |
| Official website: | eShop |
| Source code: | Nintendo OSS (Partial) |
Virtual Console is a service created by Nintendo that allows users to purchase and emulate games.
Contents
Overview
Games played through Virtual Console are usually free of accuracy issues.
In terms of functionality, the Virtual Console emulator is very bare-bones compared to unofficial emulators, but the 3DS version has restore points (save states) and screenshot saving. The Wii U version has both plus controller customization (Game Gear on 3DS also has it), Off TV Play, Pixel smoothing and scaling changing. Despite this, usually only the bare functionality is emulated: there is no way to save ghost data in Mario Kart 64 due to a lack of a Memory Pak emulated.
The different regions of Virtual Console (Japan, North America, Europe/Australia, and South Korea) have different games and update them to different schedules. At times, North America gets games that were exclusive to Japan while Europe/Australia gets games that were exclusive to the previous two regions. These imported games are priced a little higher than normal and tend to be straight ports with no translation. (Exceptions include Monster World IV and Sin & Punishment.) Other games that can be priced higher than normal are games based on externally-licensed properties, one example being the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games.
Virtual Console games can be retired from the shop, though purchased games can be redownloaded.
Some GameBoy Advance games from the 3DS Virtual Console were available to Ambassadors only, that is, buyers of the Nintendo 3DS before Nintendo announced a price drop.
Pricing of Virtual Console games can be ludicrous. If you don't want to pay for VC ROMs on your Wii, you can just install them as .wad files through WAD Manager. You can even install .wads from other regions, though you need to watch the PAL/NTSC divide.
Supported Systems
| Console | Wii | Wii U | 3DS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super Famicom) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Nintendo 64 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Sega Master System | ✓ | ||
| Sega Mega Drive / Genesis | ✓ | ||
| PC Engine | ✓ | ||
| Neo Geo | ✓ | ||
| Commodore 64 | ✓ | ||
| MSX | ✓ | ||
| Game Boy | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Game Boy Color | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Game Boy Advance | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nintendo DS | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Game Gear | ✓ | ||
| Arcade | ✓ |
Compatibility List (Wii)
Nintendo Entertainment System
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Adventure Island
Adventures of Lolo
Adventures of Lolo 2
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Bases Loaded
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blades of Steel
Blaster Master
Bubble Bobble
BurgerTime
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
City Connection
Clu Clu Land
Crash 'N' The Boys: Street Challenge
Dig Dug
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Jr.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Double Dragon
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Double Dribble
Elevator Action
Excitebike
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
Galaga
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
Kid Icarus
King's Knight
Kirby's Adventure
Life Force
Lode Runner
Lunar Pool
Mach Rider
Mario Bros.
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Metroid
Mighty Bomb Jack
Milon's Secret Castle
NES Open Tournament Golf
NES Play Action Football
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Operation Wolf
Pac-Man
Pinball
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
Punch-Out!!
Renegade
River City Ransom
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
Shadow of the Ninja
Sky Kid
Soccer
Solomon's Key
Spelunker
Star Soldier
StarTropics
Super C
Super Dodge Ball
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
The Legend of Kage
The Legend of Zelda
Ufouria: The Saga
Urban Champion
Volleyball
Wario's Woods
Wrecking Crew
Xevious
Yoshi
Zanac
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
ActRaiser
Aero the Acro-Bat
Aero the Acro-Bat 2
Axelay
Brawl Brothers
Breath of Fire II
Chrono Trigger
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Cybernator
Darius Twin
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure
F-Zero
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf
Ghoul Patrol
Gradius III
Harvest Moon
Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
Kirby Super Star
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby's Dream Course
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Mega Man X
Mega Man X2
Metal Marines
Natsume Championship Wrestling
Nobunaga's Ambition
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Pac-Attack
Pilotwings
Prince of Persia
Rival Turf!
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire
Secret of Mana
Space Invaders: The Original Game
Super Adventure Island
Super Adventure Island II
Super Bonk
Super Castlevania IV
Super E.D.F.: Earth Defense Force
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Super Turrican
The Combatribes
The Ignition Factor
The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
Vegas Stakes
Wild Guns
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
Nintendo 64
1080° Snowboarding
Bomberman Hero
Cruis'n USA
F-Zero X
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Mario Golf
Mario Kart 64
Mario Party 2
Mario Tennis
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Paper Mario
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Snap
Sin and Punishment
Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64
Super Smash Bros.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Wave Race 64
Yoshi's Story
Sega Master System
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
Enduro Racer
Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Phantasy Star
Secret Command
Sonic Chaos
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Space Harrier
Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Sega Genesis
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Soldier
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Bio-Hazard Battle
Bonanza Bros.
Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure
ClayFighter
Columns
Columns III: Revenge of Columns
Comix Zone
Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
Dynamite Headdy
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim 2
Ecco Jr.
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Eternal Champions
Forgotten Worlds
Gain Ground
Galaxy Force II
Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Gley Lancer
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Gunstar Heroes
Kid Chameleon
Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole
Light Crusader
M.U.S.H.A.
Mega Turrican
Mercs
Monster World IV
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Powerball
Pulseman
Puyo Puyo 2
Ristar
Rolling Thunder 2
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shining Force
Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing
Shining in the Darkness
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Spinball
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Space Harrier II
Splatterhouse 2
Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 3
Strider
Super Fantasy Zone
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Super Thunder Blade
Sword of Vermilion
The Revenge of Shinobi
ToeJam & Earl
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron
Vectorman
Virtua Fighter 2
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair
Wonder Boy in Monster World
TurboGrafx-16/TurboGrafx-CD
Air Zonk
Alien Crush
Battle Lode Runner
Blazing Lazers
Bomberman '93
Bomberman '94
Bonk's Adventure
Bonk's Revenge
Bonk 3: Bonk's Big Adventure
Bravoman
Break In
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Chase H.Q.
Chew Man Fu
China Warrior
Cho Aniki
Cratermaze
Dead Moon
Detana!! TwinBee
Devil's Crush
Digital Champ: Battle Boxing
Double Dungeons
Dragon Spirit
Dragon's Curse
Dungeon Explorer
The Dynastic Hero
Fighting Street
Final Soldier
Galaga '90
Gate of Thunder
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou
J.J. & Jeff
Legend of Hero Tonma
Lords of Thunder
Military Madness
Monster Lair
Moto Roader
Neutopia
Neutopia II
New Adventure Island
Ninja Spirit
Ordyne
Power Golf
Psychosis
R-Type
Riot Zone
Samurai Ghost
Shockman
SimEarth: The Living Planet
Soldier Blade
Splatterhouse
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Star Soldier
Victory Run
Vigilante
World Class Baseball
World Sports Competition
Ys Book I & II
Neo Geo
Art of Fighting
Art of Fighting 2
Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior
Baseball Stars 2
Blue's Journey
Burning Fight
Fatal Fury 2
Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory
Fatal Fury Special
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters
Fighter's History Dynamite
Ironclad
King of the Monsters
Magical Drop II
Magical Drop III
Magician Lord
Metal Slug
Metal Slug 2
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug 4
Metal Slug X
NAM-1975
Neo Turf Masters
Ninja Combat
Ninja Commando
Ninja Master's
Real Bout Fatal Fury
Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers
Real Bout Fatal Fury Special
Samurai Shodown
Samurai Shodown II
Samurai Shodown III
Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge
Sengoku
Sengoku 2
Sengoku 3
Shock Troopers
Shock Troopers 2nd Squad
Spinmaster
Street Slam
Super Baseball 2020
The King of Fighters '94
The King of Fighters '95
The King of Fighters '96
The King of Fighters '97
The King of Fighters '98
The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle
The Last Blade
The Last Blade 2
Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy
World Heroes
World Heroes 2
World Heroes 2 Jet
World Heroes Perfect
Arcade
1942
Altered Beast
Black Tiger
Commando
Exed Exes
Gaplus
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Golden Axe
Mappy
Ninja Gaiden
Rygar
Shinobi
Solomon's Key
SonSon
Space Harrier
Star Force
Super Hang-On
Tecmo Bowl
The Tower of Druaga
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Zaxxon
Input Key
Virtual Console games come from many different systems and have to be mapped to those on the supported console, sometimes having to be mapped to different controllers. Even then, at times (notably emulated Nintendo 64 games), mappings may not be consistent.
Wii games in the Virtual Console support the Classic Controllers (which were made with the purpose of the Virtual Console) and GameCube controllers. Some games also support the lone Wii Remote. PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 games that support 5-player mode require that the users connect a combination of GameCube controllers and Wii Remotes (with or without Classic Controllers attached to the Wii Remotes).
List of Wii Virtual Console button mappings
