Great games blog

Filed under: Virtual Console

This week, European gamers have another crack at the Neo Geo, and they can get their golf on if they are so inclined ... but somehow, we just have a feeling that the most popular title will also be the cheapest. Gee, could it be that a few people might be a little excited about Super Mario Bros. 3?

• Super Mario Bros. 3 -- NES -- 500 Wii points
• Power Golf -- Turbografx -- 600 Wii points
• Blue's Journey -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Virtual Console, Video

The internet has made it easy to find cheats for games, but we miss the tips pages from game magazines, when the discovery of a new code could inspire you to go back to an old game. These codes aren't exactly new, but oldness is the essence of the Virtual Console! We're bringing back the classic codes every week on The VC Advantage.

In honor of the highest-profile Virtual Console release in quite a while, we thought we'd do a special video presentation today. Super Mario Bros. 3 has the "honor" of having one of its best secrets screamed about by Fred Savage and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis in the climactic sequence of a major motion picture. One that, we admit, has temporarily relieved us of our feelings of nostalgia, and made us very glad that we no longer reside in the 1980's.

We can't think of too many movies in which the deus ex machina is a hidden item in an NES game. Therefore, The Wizard, as painful as it can be to watch, is pretty much the Official Movie of the VC Advantage by default. Grab your popcorn and your Power Glove and settle in for (seven minutes of) The Wizard!

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: VC Monday Madness

Oh, you thought because there wasn't a formal VC Monday Madness post today that you would not be getting your dose of video goodness? Oh no, boys and girls, because as we needed to break the news of what was arriving today during yesterday evening (today had a big release, so we needed to inform you as soon as we could), we felt another post would be ... well, just a tad bit on the side of not needed. So, hit up the video above and be sure to check past the break for the usual.

And before you ask, that DVD in the lower left-hand corner is Braveheart. I felt a need to put it on today while I worked.


If you know Treasure shooters, than you know what to expect in Alien Soldier. Lots of crazy, fast-paced action. And, that's what you'll get in Alien Soldier, which is pure awesome throughout. So, if you like 2D games that are chock full of action, give Alien Soldier a whirl.


Like most other 16-bit golf games of the time, the presentation in Power Golf is what you would expect. An isolated view high above the particular hole you're on will guide you through your drive toward the green and a power meter will determine how much power you put into each swing, as well as the accuracy. Overall, it's a basic golf game that fails to present any kind of aspect that would scream "download me!" Unless you're a golf nut, you'll live without this game.


Do we honestly have to say anything? No, no we don't.

That concludes our look at this week's Virtual Console games. As always, if you have any tips or rumors regarding Nintendo's Virtual Console service, be sure to let us know and come back next week when we take a look at the latest titles available on the Nintendo Wii.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Virtual Console, Video, Channels

Heralding the release of Super Mario Galaxy this November 12th, Nintendo plans to deliver Super Mario Bros. 3, a title which many feel to be the NES's finest product, with this week's Virtual Console update. We've already pulled 500 Wii points out of our wallet, just waiting to hand the cash over to anyone who'll give us the game in return. We'll sleep tonight with the bills gripped tightly in our fists, smiling as we dream about spending the entirety of tomorrow ensconced in a giant green boot.

Treasure's classic run-and-gun boss-travaganza for the Sega Genesis, Alien Soldier, will also be available for download tomorrow, having previously appeared in North America only through the ill-fated Sega Channel. Hardcore gamers won't regret spending 900 Wii points on this one. And if they do, that speaks more to their character than Alien Soldier's qualities.

On the TurboGrafx-16 side, we'll have the option of buying Power Golf for 600 Wii points. Unfortunately for Power Golf, we've already resigned ourselves to only purchasing games which feature either a Tanooki Suit or a Seven Force robot this week. Sucks to be Power Golf.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Video

Although the real life Smash Brothers video had its moments, it didn't impress us too much. Mega64's enactment of Super Mario Bros. 3's kuribo shoe, however, tickled us in the right places. The kuribo shoe was probably one of the most exciting parts of the game (which says a lot, since the whole thing was awesome). In real life though, it just looks exhausting. And hilarious. Or maybe we're just fickle like that.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments