Nintendo has confirmed via press release that April will be a big month for the Virtual Console. Next month, they are launching Game Boy Advance games for the Wii U VC, and the launch batch will include some of Nintendo’s finest. This initial batch is going for sale between $ 6.99 to $ 7.99.
The launch games releasing April 3 are Advance Wars, Metroid Fusion, and Mario & Luigi: Superstars Saga.
Developed by Intelligent Systems, Advance Wars is actually 7th in the series, and the 1st game to bring Nintendo’s ‘Wars’ series to the West. It is one of the most critically acclaimed games on the system, and is undoubtedly the crown jewel in this batch.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is the 1st in the Mario & Luigi RPG series by AlphaDream, and one of the newer Mario sub-franchises. Metroid Fusion is chronologically the fourth in the Metroid series, but the last in the timeline.
April 10 sees the release of Kirby and The Amazing Mirror, and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames$!. While everyone already knows about the critically acclaimed Kirby game series, WarioWare, Inc. launched a new franchise based around a new microgame format. (On a personal note, WarioWare is one of the 1st games I ever bought with my own money, and is one of my favorite games ever).
On April 17, Wii U owners get Golden Sun and F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. While neither are particularly relevant today, the futuristic racer and fantasy RPG are poised to be rediscovered by new audiences with this release.
Finally, April 24 sees the release of the Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3. This version of the game came with six new Secret levels unlockable by beating the main game, as well as a new secret ending when you get 100 points in all 60 levels. This game became part of the 3DS Ambassador Program. It would seem Nintendo considers the GBA version of this game the definitive one.
It’s an amazing launch lineup, and we can only hope Nintendo has prepared enough games to keep regular releases going on VC across the different platforms now available. One can only hope 3rd party GBA games can also make it to Wii U VC. I already know I wouldn’t mind seeing the Sonic, Megaman X, and Castlevania games get the big screen Wii U treatment, pixelation be damned.
Image is from Advance Wars.
