Click To Unmute

Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

Sign up or Sign in now!

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to Giant Bomb's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Here's a Look at the GBA Games Coming to Wii U Virtual Console in April

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga! Metroid Fusion! Advance Wars! Yoshi's Island! And several more!

Mar. 26 2014

Posted by: Alex

75 Comments

Avatar image for ironscimitar
ironscimitar

702

Forum Posts

404

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Metroid Fusion was a great little game.

Avatar image for basketsnake
BasketSnake

1821

Forum Posts

48

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Nice and e-z in a flash even though I've played them be-four.

Avatar image for themanwithnoplan
TheManWithNoPlan

7843

Forum Posts

103

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 14

I'm sorry, I'm still confused as to why these handheld games aren't coming to Nintendo's handheld device.

Avatar image for nightriff
nightriff

7248

Forum Posts

1467

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 7

Do they care about the VC on the 3DS anymore? You know, their success platform right now that sells hundreds of thousands of units instead of tens of thousands.

Avatar image for fat_tomato
Fat_Tomato

73

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

These not being on 3DS frustrates me to no end. Having them be on the Wii-U is not gonna convince me to buy one, so Nintendo's really just losing money. Also, put Earthbound on 3DS and I'd buy the hell outta that shit!

Also, Mother 3 when?!

Avatar image for themasterds
TheMasterDS

3018

Forum Posts

7716

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 31

Edited By TheMasterDS

There are a fair number of GBA games that I would buy for my Wii U. Like yeah. Fusion, Mario & Luigi 1 & Kirby's Amazing Mirror are great. But they're not N64 games. I think it's ridiculous that the Wii U Virtual Console doesn't have N64 games which composed most of my VC on the Wii even without the Rare N64 Classics of DKR, B-K, DK64, B-T, Conker, etc. It also doesn't have DKC1-3 and neither does Wii VC.

That said, weird other news, Donkey Kong Land 1 is coming to Japanese Virtual Console at some point apparently. So I guess if it was a legal thing that got DKC1-3 pulled they've come to an arrangement.

Avatar image for hammondoftexas
hammondoftexas

694

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Advance Wars should really be coming to 3DS and not the Wii U.

Avatar image for chrisiscool
Chrisiscool

69

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Not the 3DS!?

Reggie why

Avatar image for blueinferno
blueinferno

480

Forum Posts

19

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Edited By blueinferno

Um...why aren't these coming to 3DS? What the hell is Nintendo doing?

Avatar image for hailinel
Hailinel

25785

Forum Posts

219681

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 28

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

Avatar image for sleepydoughnut
SleepyDoughnut

1269

Forum Posts

133

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Why are they not coming to 3DS WHY. No but seriously why? No, but for reals, why?

Avatar image for cloudymusic
cloudymusic

2203

Forum Posts

4877

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By cloudymusic

The concept of only being able to play the GBA port of Yoshi's Island on your Wii U instead of, you know, the SNES original, is insane to me.

Avatar image for endaro
endaro

13

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By endaro

I believe part of the reason some of these are not coming to the 3DS is they include games that were given to early 3DS adopters just before the price drop, the loyalty program or whatever. They've sworn up and down they won't go back on it and release them to the wider public on the 3DS, so that leaves only the WiiU for now.

Avatar image for nightriff
nightriff

7248

Forum Posts

1467

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 7

@hailinel said:

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

Agreed but it is a poor selling point. A console should have games we want to play with VC as a bonus, not the other way around.

Avatar image for justin258
Justin258

16684

Forum Posts

26

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 8

@hailinel said:

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

If they're using Game Boy Advance games to sell the Wii U, then that console is in even more trouble than people generally thought.

Avatar image for ripelivejam
ripelivejam

13572

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@hailinel said:

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

what would've made sense is Gamecube games on the Wii U and GBA games on the 3DS

(still waiting for Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on 3DS :( )

Avatar image for fragor87
fragor87

94

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Super pissed these are not coming to 3DS. Also I demand an Advance Wars 3DS!

Avatar image for weegieanawrench
weegieanawrench

1974

Forum Posts

747

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 7

Edited By weegieanawrench

Whatever. I've been promised MegaMan Xtreme 2 on 3DS and I want it now, goddamn you!

I bet no one in Japan has even downloaded it, and it's been out for two years already!

Avatar image for phatmac
Phatmac

5947

Forum Posts

1139

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 18

User Lists: 12

I'd love to play these games on my 3DS. A shame that it's only available for the Wii U.

Avatar image for mister_snig
Mister_Snig

791

Forum Posts

1665

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 4

Some hot jamz goin on in this video

Avatar image for noobsauceg7
NoobSauceG7

1420

Forum Posts

85

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 15

All of those games are really incredible. GBA had a really great library of games!

Avatar image for guilherme
guilherme

355

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Avatar image for manmadegod
ManMadeGod

1625

Forum Posts

5698

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 21

@hailinel said:

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

Is that really a selling point? GBA games on your home console?

This makes far more sense on the 3ds. The selling point of "this system plays 3DS, DS and GBA games on the go!" is much stronger than any you can make for the WiiU.

Avatar image for redhotchilimist
Redhotchilimist

3019

Forum Posts

14

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

I love most of these, but yeah, why the wii u and not the 3ds?

Avatar image for benmo316
Benmo316

1153

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Benmo316

I like to think they put Yoshi's Island first on that trailer just for Jeff.

Avatar image for thoseposers
Thoseposers

1002

Forum Posts

4106

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 15

The real answer for why wii u and not 3ds is so that these virtual console games can be brought into Nintendo's next round of systems properly, there's a link out there of the quote i just can't find it right now

Avatar image for andrewb
AndrewB

7816

Forum Posts

82

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 16

@hailinel said:

To those asking why Wii U, well, it provides another selling point, which the console needs.

True, but one might expect portable offerings to be ported to portable systems, and past home console games to be ported forward to current home consoles. The hardware is certainly capable of running N64 and Gamecube games. But then I'd rather have the debate about why not dump the entire collection (or within reason) rather than the trickle-out showing we've had for ages now. That's also been done to death, though.

At the very least put it out for both. Give a reason to buy any and all hardware your company makes a profit from.

Avatar image for solidlife
solidlife

910

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

All the games shown where games I have played on my GBA. Will I buy a wii U you dig out my old cartridges.

Avatar image for purplepartyrobot
PurplePartyRobot

440

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

The Wii U is not where I want to play GBA games, Nintendo.

Avatar image for theblue
TheBlue

1034

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By TheBlue

One step closer to getting a WiiU. Still not enough though, Nintendo. These are perks, not selling points.

Avatar image for tom_omb
Tom_omb

1179

Forum Posts

1

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 14

Edited By Tom_omb

As a Wii U owner I will be getting at least one of these. Just yesterday I was looking for Metroid Fusion at used game stores. I get it's a selling point for the Wii U, but a cross buy/save with the 3DS would be amazing!

GBA games on their own may not be a selling point, but it could be the last straw that could convince some people to pick up a Wii U. I know Earthbound was certainly a factor in my purchase, if not a major one.

Avatar image for clapmaster
clapmaster

548

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Fusion here I come! It would definitely add to the value if they copied Sony and added cross play with the 3DS. Then I'd be freaking out but at least I still get to play Fusion again on my Wii U or I guess I could just play it right now with emulators. Idk..

Avatar image for chaser324
chaser324

9415

Forum Posts

14945

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 15

Edited By chaser324  Moderator

@chrisiscool said:

Not the 3DS!?

Reggie why

Yeah. I would totally buy all of these on my 3DS, but I don't own a Wii U (nor do I plan to purchase one in the near future). Some of these were already made available through the 3DS Ambassador program, so I know that it would probably be easy to bring the rest.

Avatar image for jjor64
JJOR64

19700

Forum Posts

417

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 5

I wish Golden Sun was next week. Oh well. I can wait a little longer for it.

Avatar image for baddart
BaddArt

116

Forum Posts

629

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 4

I'm stoked for these games but, having them relegated to just the Wii U is a major bummer. Nintendo really needs to figure out how to make cross play a reality.

Avatar image for jeremyko
JeremyKO

63

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By JeremyKO

All great games... that I'd happily buy on my 3DS.

Avatar image for toowalrus
toowalrus

13408

Forum Posts

29

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

Even without great new games, I feel like the WiiU could still be a great system IF there was a WiiU/3DS combined account where you could cross-buy virtual console games and transfer saves.

Avatar image for citizenjp
citizenjp

1448

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Omg you had me at Golden Sun.

Avatar image for ruthloose
RuthLoose

909

Forum Posts

5

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

I'm sorry, I'm still confused as to why these handheld games aren't coming to Nintendo's handheld device.

To sell more Wii U units during a slow release calendar?

Avatar image for cookiemonster
cookiemonster

2561

Forum Posts

42

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Sadly I already own nearly all of these games. If they put some of the original DS ones on their as well I'd certainly be tempted to pick up a Wii U.

Avatar image for lurkero
Lurkero

628

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If Nintendo is going to charge that much for GBA games I am going to need some cross-buy support. WiiU and 3DS or no purchase from me. Not at those prices.

Avatar image for illuminosopher
Illuminosopher

353

Forum Posts

61

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I'm down for Fusion and Advance Wars.

Avatar image for lausebub
Lausebub

549

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Am I to naive to believe that the release of Advance Wars on Virtual Console is some kind of sign that Intelligent Systems is actually working on a new one right now? I don't even mind if they turn it into FE: Awakening with tanks.

Avatar image for alkaiser
Alkaiser

394

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Is that really a selling point? GBA games on your home console?

This makes far more sense on the 3ds. The selling point of "this system plays 3DS, DS and GBA games on the go!" is much stronger than any you can make for the WiiU.

It's a selling point for me. I'm probably going to buy most of the GBA games they release because I really liked that system and want to play it on the Wii-U game pad because the screen is really nice for VC games.

Avatar image for hunterob
hunterob

290

Forum Posts

4221

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 14

User Lists: 0

@cloudymusic: I think it has to do with problems emulating the SNES Super FX chip, as they haven't rereleased the original Star Fox either (which is the only other notable game to use it).

Avatar image for bongchilla
bongchilla

377

Forum Posts

16

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

I'm all for this, I am hoping they release the Final Fantasy Advance series on the VC! however, at the rate Nintendo releases these VC titles a brand new Nintendo console will be out.

Avatar image for marcuscoxus
MarcusCoxus

35

Forum Posts

23

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 3

I already have the Ambassador games on 3DS, but I really want Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga! Waiting for the inevitable 3DS versions! Having GBA games on a Wii U first is moronic Nintendo!!! :S

Avatar image for elwoodan
Elwoodan

1098

Forum Posts

1008

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 2

I would buy nearly all of these on my 3DS.....

Avatar image for purplespandex
PurpleSpandex

297

Forum Posts

9

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 6

Nothing screams last ditch effort like GBA games on a Wii U.