14 DAY TRIAL // Last week's Virtual Console update saw Ninja Gaiden and Ninja JaJaMaru-Kun, available for download at just 600 Wii Points each, along with the Turbografx sports title World Class Baseball, as part of Nintendo's Hanabi Festival, which is now approaching an end. As such, Nintendo has announced the last titles launching as part of the event: Sin And Punishment and Gradius III. The third title made available for download is Legend of Hero Tonma (600 Wii) Pts - not part of the festival.
The pair has never seen a European release, but thanks to the Hanabi Festival, Europe's gamers can now enjoy the two classic games in their original form. They're quite pricey, but hey, one is an N64 original, while the other is one of the best titles ever launched for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Check them out below (official description):
Sin And Punishment (Nintendo 64 3D third-person shooter, developed by Treasure Co. Ltd.) - Originally released in 2000, this non-stop action title will see you assuming the role of a young resistance fighter facing an onslaught of bio-genetic monsters called Ruffians. These monsters, originally bred to boost dwindling food stocks on Earth, have turned against their creators and are trying to take over! In order to save the planet players must battle their way across land, sea and skies collecting energy, time and point bonuses as they go. A cool head and a strong trigger finger are essential to defeating the hordes of enemies that stand between our hero and victory! To enable players to better enjoy this cult Japanese classic, some in-game text has been translated into English, especially for this Hanabi Festival release. Sin And Punishment can be yours to download now for 1200 Wii Points.
Gradius III (Konami, 1990 side-scrolling shooter) - Players seize control of their Vic Viper Starfighter and take on the armadas of the Bacterion Empire. With ten levels to fight through, players will have their work cut out for them! With a variety of different weapons at your disposal you can mix and match lasers, missiles and shields to create customized set-ups giving you a fighting chance. This Super Nintendo Entertainment System version, originally released in the U.S., comes to Europe for the first time and is available now for 900 Wii Points.
As for Legend of Hero Tonma (non Hanabi Festival offering), this one too is a platform shooter, where players assume the role of a trainee magician called Tonma, who must rescue a princess from prison, using magic spells to battle giant bosses and work their way through seven stages riddled with treasure chests and unusual power-ups! This one comes in at a much more affordable 600 Wii Points, but it's of course no match for the 2 above it.
Right, you know what to do. Start up that Wii, log on to the Wii Shop Channel and, oh... I hope you didn't miss the part where it says that the N64 title goes for 1200 Wii Points.