As we reported last month, this week's Nintendo downloads update has kick-started Nintendo's fourth Hanabi festival.
For those who don't know, a Hanabi festival on VC is when retro games previously never released in UK make their debut over here via Nintendo's download service.
This month's festival will run from today through to July 24 (although Hanabi games remain in the Wii Shop permanently, mind).
So we've got two lists for you. First, the list of this week's retro treats, followed by the list of previously import-only games on the way in coming weeks.
This week:
VIRTUAL CONSOLE - PULSEMAN (SEGA MEGA DRIVE) (SEGA, 900 Wii Points): When noted 21st-century scientist Doc Yoshiyama fell in love with one of his creations, a "C-Life" artificial intelligence, he uploaded himself into his computer to be with her. Her program core and his DNA fused to create an entirely new entity. And so, Doc Yoshiyama's "son", Pulseman - half-human, half C-Life - was born. Unfortunately, Doc Yoshiyama's mind was twisted as he emerged back into real life, and he became the evil Doc Waruyama.
As Pulseman, you'll have to make your way through 7 crazy stages and stop Doc Waruyama and his villainous Galaxy Gang! Pulseman has the ability to harness electricity as a weapon, which can even be used in the form of a rapid transport Voltecker attack.
Take Pulseman on his epic mission and find out why this classic title was regarded as a masterpiece of SEGA MEGA DRIVE game design!
VIRTUAL CONSOLE - OGRE BATTLE: THE MARCH OF THE BLACK QUEEN (SUPER NINTENDO) (NINTENDO, 900 Wii Points): It's up to you to defeat the Empire! It's been nearly a quarter of a century since the Zeteginian Empire was formed from the ashes of the Kingdom of Zenobia, emerging with a wrath of fear and bloodshed. You are the leader of a band of rebels who have fought to preserve the last shred of honour in this desperate time of treachery.
Manage the ranks of a full-blown rebel army complete with a vast array of characters, magic items, weapons, and mystical Tarot cards. You must succeed in ousting the evil usurpers as your fate, and that of the entire population, depends on it!
WiiWARE - GRADIUS REBIRTH (Konami, 600 Wii Points): Awesome classic 2D space shooting action! Take control of the space ship Vic Viper and blast through levels filled with hundreds of enemies, obstacles and massive bosses! Collect power-up capsules to boost your weapon system, from simple speed-ups to bombs to lasers to multiple copies of your ship and its weapons!
An entirely new episode in Konami's cult shooting game series. Score Attack Mode with online hi-scores - compare your performance with your friends! Expandable weapon system with Speed-Up, Missiles, Spread Bombs, 2-Way Missiles, Double Shot, Vertical Shot, Tail Gun, Laser, Twin Laser, Ripple Shot, Option, Shield and Force Field Replays - record and play back your missions!
WiiWARE - BIT BOY!! (Bplus, 600 Wii Points): Get ready for the most spectacular journey through time in the history of videogames! Accompany Bit Boy Kubi through a crazy pixellated adventure and battle hordes of nasty monsters in 4-bit dungeons, 8-bit caves, 16-bit strongholds, 32-bit labyrinths, 64-bit arenas and 128-bit worlds!
Rescue Kubi's friends and set off in the ultimate pursuit of fruits and high scores. You can also grab a friend for even more fun in Cooperative mode. The Wii Remote is your joystick - let the arcade adventure begin!
NINTENDO DSiWARE - MARIO CALCULATOR (NINTENDO, 200 DSi Points): Make maths more fun with this Mario-themed calculator. Simply use the Touch Screen to enter figures and make calculations, accompanied by classic Super Mario Bros. visuals and sounds.
In addition to a fully-featured calculator, Mario Calculator also includes a unit converter for converting to and from a variety of different measurements such as weight, length, speed, temperature and more. You can even convert human years to and from animal years!
NINTENDO DSiWARE - MARIO CLOCK (NINTENDO, 200 DSi Points): With Mario Clock, you'll always have the time wherever you go. Wake up with classic Mario music, or simply use the Nintendo DSi system as a desktop clock complete with a Super Mario Bros. background. You can even make Mario jump, bash blocks and collect coins.
Customise the clock to your liking: choose from analogue or digital displays, 12-hour or 24-hour modes, and set up to three separate alarms with different NES-style Mario tunes or use your own saved sounds from the Nintendo DSi Sound application.
NINTENDO DSiWARE - BRAIN CHALLENGE (GAMELOFT, 800 DSi Points): Your brain's ideal partner for stimulating your neurons is now on Nintendo DSi.
Just like your body, your brain needs exercise to stay in shape. These brain exercises should relieve your pain, stress, and boredom - it's like a super vitamin boost for your brain.
Brain Challenge is more than just a game or program. It is your personal coach and an entertaining, easy solution for keeping your brain alert. Plus, you can now personalise your profile and some exercises with your own photos!
Incoming Hanabi Festival games:
Bomberman '94 - Turbografx This version of Hudson Soft's acclaimed action game for up to five players was never released outside of Japan - until now!
Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II - NES Re-join Mike Jones, ace pitcher and part-time adventurer, in this sequel to the classic StarTropics - previously available only in North America.
MUSHA - SEGA MEGA DRIVE Pilot your Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armour, in this US version of the all-time favourite vertical-scrolling shooter.
Smash Table Tennis - NES Hone your table tennis skills as this Japan-only sporting classic - previously unseen outside of Japan - comes to Europe for the first time.
DETANA TWIN BEE - Turbografx This cutesy vertical-scrolling shooter was originally released only in Japan, but now you can enjoy its charms on Virtual Console in Europe.
Kirby's Dream Land 3 - Super Nintendo Join Kirby the powerful pink puffball in his adventure against the mischievous King Dedede, in this colourful platformer available in Europe for the first time.
I still think Nintendo are missing a trick here, along with Sony too. At least Nintendo have this once a year Hanabi Festival but why only once a year? Why not have Hanabi Festival all year round and keep publishing games on VC that were only in Japan?
Sony have totally missed this trick though, they had some amazing Japan only PS1 games, if they did a Hanabi Festival on PSN they could hit the jackpot.
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