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5 obscure NES games that belong on Virtual Console
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Virtual Console is really a wonderful opportunity for gamers. Titles that previously may not have enjoyed great success, or perhaps were cult classics, can finally be introduced to a new audience and receive some well deserved respect and attention.
So far the main stars of Virtual Console have been games created by Nintendo and Sega, but there are a wide variety of original, 3rd party Nintendo games begging to be played.
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom was my favorite NES game, and the first one I ever beat. It is similar to a text-based RPG, where players must use on-screen commands like move, look, check, talk, take, use, give, buy, hit, fight, praise, dump, item or Percy while looking at one scene to progress the story. King Broccoli, of the Salad Kingdom, was betrayed by Minister Pumpkin, and his daughter, Princess Tomato, was kidnapped. Now Minister Pumpkin rules the kingdom and has sent Farmies out to terrorize the vegetable citizens. As Sir Cucumber, with his persimmon sidekick Percy, players must save the Salad Kingdom and the princess.
Out of all the titles in this list, Princess Tomato probably has the best chance of a Virtual Console release. It was a Hudson Soft game, and Hudson Soft has released over 35 games for Virtual Console in North America. Princess Tomato wasn’t insanely popular, but it was well loved and received.
Battletoads was legendary for two reasons - it looked amazing for a NES game and it was insanely difficult. It was an action game with a wide variety of game mechanics, like Streets of Rage-style side-scrolling levels, obstacle courses and mazes. As anthropomorphic toads Rash and Zitz, players had to persevere to save a princess and other toad, Pimple. Though the game was incredibly difficult (due to glitches in the NA version, no save features, general difficulty and added two player challenges), many people gave up on it. But it was still a fan-favorite.
It is true that Rare was acquired by Microsoft, but it is still making games for Nintendo - specifically the GBA and DS. Since they’re a well known and loved developer, and Battletoads was a cult classic, there is still a chance for a Virtual Console debut for Battletoads. Tradewest doesn’t have any other games available through the service, but the Rare name could help this title get a release. Let’s hope if it does, that it is the European version that didn’t have the glitches.
Yes, Spiritual Warfare is a religious game, but it also happens to be a well crafted, somewhat violent, Legend of Zelda-style action RPG where you shoot heathens to make them believers while trying to collect this holy armor. There are occasional bible questions (which are pretty easy and avoidable) and plenty of religious overtones, but it is also a really fun RPG. What part about shooting evildoers to make them fall to their knees in prayer doesn’t sound fun?
Of course, since the Wisdom Tree games were made and released by circumventing Nintendo’s lockout chips (and were not licensed by Nintendo), Spiritual Warfare will never be released on Virtual Console. It is available in one of those all-in-one video game controllers you connect to your TV though.
Just because the Angry Video Game Nerd doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s bad. I have fond memories of playing as Bugs, bashing Tweety or other characters over the head. Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout was fairly obscure, until the Angry Video Game Nerd showed up to complain about it. It is a classic platformer where players guide Bugs Bunny to his birthday party, while assaulting other, jealous, Warner Brothers characters along the way.
Kemco hasn’t had any games appear on Virtual Console yet, but there is still a chance that they could. The company still makes video games, and they were a major developer and publisher for the NES.
Ah, Magic of Scheherazade - how I adored you. This is another action/turn-based RPG along the same lines as Crystalis or Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy. As descendant of the wizard Isfa, you have to save Princess Scheherazade and her family from the wizard Sabaron. This means traveling through time to stop Sabaron, and collecting 11 party members to help you along the way. It had quite a few revolutionary concepts, like the large number of party members, two battle methods, time travel, class changing for the main character and time passage (as indicated by the Alalart Solar Eclipses).
Chances are that it won’t appear on Virtual Console though. Culture Brain is a small developer now, and hasn’t had any games appear through Virtual Console so far. Plus their more recent series (like Oshare Princess and Hiryo no Ken) are successful only in Japan.
Site [Gamefaqs: Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom] Site [Moby Games: Battletoads] Site [Wisdom Tree] Site [Angry Video Game Nerd: The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout] Site [Moby Games: Magic of Scheherazade]
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