Yesterday we reported that a few Gameboy Advance games were headed to the European Wii U eShop, but still had no confirmation of a North American release date. It seems that Nintendo World Report received word that 8 classic titles from the Gameboy Advance era will be gracing the Wii U eShop here and for our Ninten-bros across the pond throughout next month!
According to NWR, here is what we can expect next month —
Available 4/3
- Advance Wars – $7.99
- Metroid Fusion – $7.99
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga – $7.99
Available 4/10
- WarioWare Inc: Minigame Mania – $6.99
- Kirby: The Amazing Mirror – $6.99
Available 4/17
- Golden Sun – $7.99
- F-Zero: Maximum Velocity – $6.99
Available 4/24
- Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3 – $7.99
I know some of our readers were on the fence about picking up GBA titles on a home console, or maybe more so curious as to why the handheld titles are skipping the 3DS eShop. All I know is that Metroid Fusion, Golden Sun and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga were Van Dam delicious and I’ll be picking them up day-one.
If anything, I’m a little sad that Japan is getting an Advance Wars 1 & 2 combo pack, as well as The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap and we’re not.
What GBA classics would you like to see hit the Wii U next? I’m hoping for Metroid: Zero Mission, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Pokemon Leaf Green & The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap myself, or maybe some of those Mega Man Battle Network games that I never had the chance to check out.
Bradley Keene is an avid gamer & freelance blogger from Baltimore, MD who typically handles news and reviews here at What’s Your Tag?. If he’s not knee-deep in an RPG or some form of Nintendo game, he’s usually watching terrible horror films or listening to Gwar. Follow him on Twitter @amgfail_WYT, or contact him by e-mail at bradleykeenewyt@gmail.com.
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I’ll take Minish Cap and Final Fantasy Tactics please – I missed both of those first time around. Oh, and the Castlevania Advance series while you’re at it, ta.
How in the hell I managed to forget the Castlevania series on GBA is beyond me. Those were some of the best in the series!
Yes. God, yes. The Castlevania games were awesome. Definitely need those, too!
Yeah, I loved them all and they didn’t even cross my mind last night. I blame being tired?
Works for me all the time. Just run with it.
Yoshi’s Island is going to be a day one purchase for me!
Reliving the glory days for sure!
Hopefully they hit the 3DS with this as well. As for what I’d want released? Same stuff you listed. Especially MegaMan EXE. I put more hours into the first one than I had any business putting in.
I’m not sure why they’re not heading to 3DS, really. Maybe it’s Nintendo’s attempt to draw more people to the Wii U instead of stacking their handheld, but who knows?
That’s a good point, and probably part of the reasoning behind it. I’m just hoping it’s Nintendo working in mysterious ways before setting the GBA titles loose on the 3DS.
Yeah, no reason not to bring them over really. And if this draws a big enough reaction on the Wii U, I’m hoping it’ll entice them to bring over some DS games since the Gamepad is basically a giant DS bottom screen.
I’d think if they were going to release Pokémon titles, they’d do it on the 3DS, with Bank support etc (the gen 1 and 2 games could have the Pokémon code altered to make it compatible with the current gen).
I have a feeling they’ll definitely put LG/FR on there, hopefully when the 3D Gen III remakes arrive!
It’s wishful thinking I know, but I’ve always wanted the same Pokemon experience I get on my handhelds, just on the big screen.
With Wii U’s Miiverse and online capabilities (albeit pretty archaic in comparison to just about everyone else), it’s the perfect opportunity to give it a shot I think.
Definitely agree. Especially if they did it with Touch-screen support on the Gamepad, similar to the DS games (so could use one screen if required, but otherwise you could have the game on the TV and have commands on the bottom of the screen).
I doubt Nintendo would ever let it happen though. But I was saying that a few months ago about Advance Wars on the Wii U, and here we are 🙂
It’s like your computer is bugged and Nintendo is listening.. or it’s some sort of cybernetic genie.
I’ve said it all along that the Wii U Gamepad is basically a giant DS bottom screen, so porting DS titles over to the Wii U should be fairly simple. Hell, even porting over 2D versions of 3DS games!
Didn’t they confirm that they were doing DS eshop titles recently?
As for 3DS, I don’t think the Wii U would be powerful enough, but I could be wrong!
Ah, right they announced that back in January.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-30-ds-games-will-be-coming-to-the-wii-u-virtual-console
Using Smash Bros as a basis for comparison since it’ll be released for both the 3DS and Wii U, I’d say the Wii U would be more than capable of porting 2D versions. I don’t think Nintendo would do that anytime soon as the 3DS has no problem flying off the shelf and basically prints money, but it might be something for them to consider down the line. Maybe even doing something with the 3DS and Wii U like Sony is doing with the PS4 and Vita?
I’d be mroe inclined to buy a Wii U if it had that cross-platform support like the Vita/PS3/PS4. I think there was a rumour that Nintendo was actually working on this (codenamed “fusion” or something).
Nintendo really seems out of touch with anything that deals with the internet, as their methods are usually pretty primitive. We’re still using unmemorable friend codes on the 3DS and the Wii U friend system is laughable at best.
Crossplay between the Wii U and 3DS would be great, but for now I’ll just setting for off-screen play on the Gamepad.
It makes me sad that people are holding off on buying the Wii U when it has such a solid library of games that are available right now, but with all the doom and gloom news it receives I can understand why. It also offers very little in the way of online multiplayer functionality, which is a big turn off for some. Still, it’s the only current-gen console that is backwards compatible and off-screen play is pretty amazing with the Gamepad. Just wish more folks would give it a shot.
I would, but I don’t have enough money
I did consider it a few years ago, but ended up waiting instead.
There are really good games on the system, but I just don’t have the money to get it.
Finances will do it! Hell, it took me until almost two weeks ago to be able to afford a 3DS!