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Weekly Wii Update - Shining Force and Mario Golf
Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:20 AM on October 7, 2008
Great news! Shining Force II for the Genesis (800 points) has made the leap from last week's Euro Virtual Console releases to this week's North American ones, but where's Earthworm Jim? They left together...what happened? Knocked out of the air over the Atlantic by an errant golf ball, no doubt. Stealing EWJ's spot this week is Mario Golf, one of those rare Nintendo 64 releases for the VC (1,000 points), which is nice and all, but I'd still prefer Earthworm platforming. Oh well, maybe next week?
Not only are there two new games on the VC this week, WiiWare gets double the love as well, with Gameloft's Midnight Bowling (800 points), which includes an "immersive career mode", and the falling block puzzler MadStone from Riverman Media (800 points).
Wii-kly Update
Two WiiWare Games and Two Virtual Console Games Added to Wii Shop Channel
Pop quiz: What do you get when you add together 10 pins, 18 holes, two stolen jewels and hundreds of tumbling blocks? Never mind arithmetic--the answer lies in this week's excellent additions to the Wii Shop Channel™. Wii™ lovers on the lookout for fresh gaming thrills can take their pick from a lively lineup that includes electrified bowling, Mario-styled golf, inventive puzzles and fantastic battles. Better yet, try out all four games and watch the fun grow exponentially.
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time 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:
WiiWare™
Midnight Bowling™ (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Plunge directly into the trendy and electric atmosphere of Midnight Bowling. With awesome playing sensations, prepare for ultra-fun gaming thanks to a new physics engine that lets you control your throws precisely and easily with your Wii Remote™ controller and make spectacular spins that will impress your opponents. Face up to three friends in the fun party mode, where your playing abilities will be put to the test. Whatever your experience level, launch yourself into the immersive career mode, where you will play in the trendiest bowling spots on the planet against charismatic characters that will give you a run for your money.
MadStone (Riverman Media, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Time is short. Earth trembles as the forces of nature stir and grow restless. Can you turn the tide? In this dynamic puzzle game, you must clear the path for your elemental MadStones to reach the bottom of the screen. Blocks can be broken by striking them directly or by the force of falling objects. The novice tries frantically to break enough blocks, while the master sets up cascading collapses with only a handful of direct strikes. As two sides struggle for domination, titanic forces build, only to be unleashed in an earth-shaking final confrontation. Experience the mystical single-player journey, or challenge a friend in competitive two-player mode.
Virtual Console™
Mario Golf™ (Nintendo 64™, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Mario™ takes a well-deserved break from his role as the Mushroom Kingdom's busiest hero and returns to the links for some world-class golfing action. Since no one likes to hit the fairways alone, he's brought along a group of friends--both familiar characters and brand new ones. Choose from 10 different modes of play and six 18-hole courses in a variety of environments for a golfing experience with endless replay value. Add in fun, colorful graphics with a Mario touch (a Boo indicates wind direction), intuitive controls, incredibly deep game play and multiplayer support (taunt your opponents), and you have a game anyone will enjoy--even if you've never played a round of golf. Fore!
Shining Force™ II (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone--Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): It's a dark and stormy night in the kingdom of Granseal when a thief steals two jewels from the Tower of the Ancients. He sets in motion strange events that lead to the resurrection of Zeon, the Devil King. Granseal's king falls sick, the princess is kidnapped, and a door to Arc Valley, the Devil King's home, is opened. The young swordsman, Bowie, realizing the grave danger Granseal faces, must lead the Shining Force to find the Holy Sword and the stolen jewels, and protect Granseal against the invading armies of Zeon.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
hyourinnmaru
Posted 1:48 AM 7/10/08
shining force II ...
i still remember the code...
hyourinnmaru
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 1:45 AM 7/10/08
Shining Force II! Consider me sold! I still may have the cartridge but I just don't have a Genesis.
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
mjn328
Posted 1:35 AM 7/10/08
But...but...you can't give me Shining Force II now! I'm trying to beat Sin and Punishment on harder difficulties!
...though I guess at some point I'll hit a stumbling block, curse Treasure for being awesome, and download Shining Force II today.
mjn328
formina
Posted 1:32 AM 7/10/08
I might download Shining Force II. I have the original on VC, just never beat it. I really should get on that. As with all my other VC games. And LostWinds. Blah.
formina
StupidDufus
Posted 1:29 AM 7/10/08
@8bitcity:
That's DLC, not part of the Weekly Wii Update newsletter Nintendo sends out.
StupidDufus
ヨシダさん 25
Posted 1:27 AM 7/10/08
and Midnight Bowling has made it from pc to cell phone to wii...what a world we live in.
ヨシダさん 25
8bitcity
Posted 1:27 AM 7/10/08
Um... where's my Proto Man and Endless level...?
8bitcity
Tizlor
Posted 2:00 AM 7/10/08
Shining Force II, my favorite game of all time.
Not gonna buy it for the VC though, I already own the original cart. Also have various 'versions' of it different 'platforms'. =D
Tizlor
BassForever
Posted 1:59 AM 7/10/08
Shining Force 2, SOLD
Mario Golf, SOLD
Two great classic games
BassForever
Kinburn
Posted 1:58 AM 7/10/08
I love Mario Golf games.
Kinburn
Powerlurker
Posted 2:31 AM 7/10/08
Finally, a legit copy of Shining Force II for less than $40 for a used copy.
Powerlurker
PatMan33
Posted 2:26 AM 7/10/08
@8bitcity: Good question none-the-less! I'm hoping that it comes out within the next half hour. Though it's not like I'll be able to play it until I'm off the clock.
PatMan33
the-hypnotoad
Posted 2:19 AM 7/10/08
I actually like the story and characters of the original Shining Force more than SFII (Zylo is the MAN!), but II has a bit better battle system and an extra level of polish that I appreciate. I've played both through a whole bunch of times; man those were some good times on my Genesis!
the-hypnotoad
MSUSteve
Posted 2:15 AM 7/10/08
Hopefully the inclusion of Mario Golf means that Mario Tennis is coming at some point. That game never came down enough in price for me to buy it in the N64 days, but I'd love to have the option to get it for $10.
MSUSteve
Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii
Posted 2:14 AM 7/10/08
Lee Trevino's Golf > Mario Golf
Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii
Shiryu
Posted 2:49 AM 7/10/08
Dont fell bad, american friends, we also wanted a bit of Super turrican 2 action last friday and didn't get it. And I prefer SNES Earthworm Jim (even if it is 1 level short) to the Genesis version, so I think ill stay away from it...
... besides, I can just plug the cart on my SNES, anyway.
Shiryu
Figgnuts
Posted 2:41 AM 7/10/08
YES! I love Shining Force II. Now I definitely need to pick up some points...been putting off getting Mario RPG too.
Figgnuts
Shin-san
Posted 2:39 AM 7/10/08
Shining Force II was good, even though it's hard if you get caught up in the trap of trying to keep everyone's levels high. That game is an example of how good Sega RPGs were.
Shin-san
dynendal
Posted 2:34 AM 7/10/08
Hell yes! Mario Golf 64 was amazing!
I was so disappointed with We Love Golf. :(
dynendal
Taurus_McGee
Posted 3:05 AM 7/10/08
I loved Mario Golf on the 64. One of the few games I actually played on that console...
Taurus_McGee
Kia
Posted 3:04 AM 7/10/08
Damn, Shining Force 2 and Mario Golf? Nice! I'd be all over that if, y'know, I actually had any ROOM left. -_-;
Kia
DorkimusPrime
Posted 2:58 AM 7/10/08
Bah, Mario Golf. What about Mario Tennis for the N64? That's hte best one!
DorkimusPrime
Zorba
Posted 3:28 AM 7/10/08
Shining Force II = best TRPG on Genesis. To release it on VC...nice. But what if they'd get off their damn lazy asses, translated Shining Force III chapters 2 and 3, compiled them with chapter 1 and put in on VC?
Naah...won't happen. Easier to make waggle pop-dance casual shit i guess
Zorba
Gloibin
Posted 3:16 AM 7/10/08
YES! YES! FUCK YES!
Been waiting for Mario Golf since day 1 standing in line for my Wii.
Gloibin
HalcyonX12
Posted 3:56 AM 7/10/08
Awesome, Shining Force II is an excellent tactics RPG that has something a lot of today's tactics games don't... an overworld map! Instead of moving between different dots on a map or whatever, you can actually explore the overworld, find caves and towns and secrets, and have encounters to level up your characters! A great game with a lot of variety and an interesting story. The best in the Shining series, or at least one of the best!
HalcyonX12
Ueziel
Posted 3:56 AM 7/10/08
@Zorba: People need to not make such insanely stupid comments.
First of all, think of how much space that would take up. Second of all, Nintendo has nothing to do with that happening. Third of all, Sega would have to actually have incentive to do that and they don't.
In other words, think before you actually spout off such unbelievably ignorant bullshit.
Ueziel
KiySeph
Posted 4:46 AM 7/10/08
NICE, I'll be picking up both Shining Force 1 and 2 this week.
KiySeph
Umandsf
Posted 6:27 AM 7/10/08
Yes! That was such an awesome game. My favorite of the bunch. I remember trying out the Transfer Pak to swap data between it and the Game Boy Color version. Too bad it's not going to work anymore.
Umandsf
dawimp523
Posted 6:17 AM 7/10/08
I still have the original Mario Golf and Mario Tennis. If I had to buy a new game from WiiWare or VC, I'd get Shining Force 2. Why is there so much crap out for the WiiWare? Yeah, there's good games like Mega Man 9, and the Strong Bad games, but most of it is either puzzle games, or GameLoft games!
dawimp523
dawimp523
Posted 6:13 AM 7/10/08
@Kinburn: The first one was hands down the best. Kind of like Mario Tennis was the best tennis game with Mario, IMO. Mario Golf on the GameCube was still good, but the nostalgia factor makes the original one better for me. Plus, the original had mini-golf! I didn't like the Power Tennis game on the GameCube nearly as much as the original Tennis game. The regular tennis was fine, but the power moves ruined it for me since they stopped the action. I wonder why Nintendo is remaking this game for the Wii. Why not remake the original Tennis game? Or let Camelot develop a new Tennis game for the Wii?
dawimp523
Balius
Posted 7:16 AM 7/10/08
@Shin-san: But it's super easy if you just pack your party with healers who become monks. They gain levels by the boatload because they can get some EXP every turn, so by the end of the game you wind up with healers who are kicking things to death in a single hit.
Balius
V1L3
Posted 9:06 AM 7/10/08
@the-hypnotoad: Yeah, I love both, but I definitely prefer the original. The second was much bigger (both in terms of length and scope) and had better animations, but I prefered the look of the original - it seemed cleaner and brighter... like the difference between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3. Freeze magic looked godly in SF1.
Plus, y'know, Darksol. "Been praying, and well you might..."
V1L3
V1L3
Posted 8:59 AM 7/10/08
@Bii-Nii-Wii-Nii: Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge > All
V1L3
develin
Posted 5:05 PM 7/10/08
For this occasion, I just can repeat:
Dear SEGA management,
may I make you aware that you are condemning yourself and everybody who ever worked for your company to eternal purgatory, unless you either release a proper new Shining Force title (round based & good) or at least give us a re-release in English of the enter Shining Force 3 trilogy.
Thank you,
A concerned fan
develin
develin
Posted 4:58 PM 7/10/08
@V1L3: While a lot of people prefer SF1, I never heard that SF1 looked BRIGHTER. Both, story and graphics are actually much darker in the first one. Maybe I just misunderstood you ....
develin
LunaEclDark
Posted 8:15 PM 7/10/08
I was thinking of getting Midnight Bowling (liked the Pool version), but I don't feel for that one. It really doesn't help that I could just play Wii Sports Bowling anyway.
As for the other three, no thanks.
LunaEclDark
LunaEclDark
Posted 8:13 PM 7/10/08
@Kia: Time to clean the fridge. :)
LunaEclDark
MadisonJobonomic
Posted 1:32 AM 7/10/08
Midnight Bowling when everyone who has a Wii in NA has Wii Sports with Bowling on it... Epic phail.
MadisonJobonomic