Wii Points - Not Something To Be Sneezed At

Just how frustrating is trying to swap your star points for Wii points?! Even more frustrating than sneezes that never fully develop and just feature that pre-sneeze expression, which is pretty unattractive on most accounts. Sneezes when they do come though, happen at up to 100mph, which is a damn site faster than Nintendo make their online Wii points available.

Near the very beginning I managed to bag a 1000 point card but since then most of the time there's none available at all, and if I am lucky enough to find some you can guarantee it'll be a 100 point one. Coupled with the fact that you're only allowed one card per day, it's taken me 3 weeks to obtain 500 Wii points! These things are getting rarer than rocking horse defecations.

On a side note should you ever feel the need to stifle a sneeze you should consider that it is impossible to sneeze under water. Not always the most practical solution I'll admit. Plunging your face into a bucket of water during an exam for example can be frowned upon. Also we instinctively close our eyes when sneezing and therefore holding your eyelids open will prevent your body from allowing a sneeze to occur. Just remember I never recommended doing that while you're fumbling around on the carpet trying to find your eyeballs.

Where was I again? Oh yes, Wii points. I guess I shouldn't complain really, at least it's finally here.

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Nintendo Wii Hanabi Festival

You'd better sit down. The Virtual Console is about to go into OVERDRIVE.

To celebrate the Japanese holiday season famous for it's fireworks Nintendo has launched it's first, possibly not the last, "Hanabi Festival" today on the European and Australian Virtual Consoles. Over the next three weeks we're going to be able to download games that have never been officially released before in PAL regions.

You ok? Well get your jaw off the floor and read on then!

This week is Mario week, and has seen the original Super Mario Bros 2 (600 Points), Japan-only version, and Mario's Super Picross (900 points), has loads of Japanese text so you'll need to be good with Kanji or at guessing, released. I need to pause slightly here because anyone that owned a SNES and had the Mario All Stars cartridge actually had the Japanese Super Mario Bros 2 renamed as The Lost Levels and that is what you'll get on your Wii. Anyway, next week (21 September) is Ninja week, with the NES's Ninja Gaiden and Ninja JaJaMaru-Kun being released. The final week (28 September) is Sci-Fi week, which sees the release of Sin & Punishment...... ?? ....... yes you read that right. Sin and Punishment and Gradius III. Altogether now ...... OH YES!! This is quite possibly the best VC news since the VC was first announced.

On top of this Hudson have announced that they'll be releasing TurboGrafx CD and TurboDuo games onto the Wii's VC too! Games for both systems will cost 800 points across all regions and yet again that means in Europe too! The first three games will be Ys Book I & II and Chou Aniki.

This is this a great day for European Wii fans. We all know that the VC is great but this is the sweetest news yet. Sin and Punishment! I can't wait.

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Mega Delight

I slipped on my glasses, switched on my Wii and clicked on the Shop Channel. 2800 points waiting to be spent, my wife in the bath and with the knowledge that Paper Mario is available it was only a matter of time before this moment arrived. But what's this! My eyes are drawn to something else and Paper Mario is almost blown over as my little blue pointer whisks across the screen and clicks on Mega Man. Mega Man in his most pure NES form. Oh joy! I played this game to completion and absolutely loved it. I have to have it and I click to download. Perhaps my glasses have rose coloured lenses?

The game downloads and I hastily load it up. Waves of nostalgia. This is what being a retro game fan is all about I think to myself. Gamers new to the scene don't know what they're missing! This is great! My huge grin remains as I press start and open the Level Select Screen. You get to play the levels in any order you want but doing them in the right order makes the game easier. Did I remember which level to tackle first? You bet I did, but I'm not telling you in case I spoil your fun. So, off I go jumping and shooting my way through the first level still grinning like a maniac.

Ok, time for a reality check? After all this is an old game from 1987 on an 8 bit NES. It can't be that good! But it is! Sure there are limitations but those limitations are built into Mega Man's character. He can't duck, doesn't shoot vertically or diagonally, he moves a bit slow and his jump worse than a rabbit on a chain gang. But none of this matters as the game works in every respect and is never frustrating. It's never an easy game though, oh no, it's a tough and challenging nut to crack and less experienced gamers may find it too tough. But for those with the skill this is a great game and offers huge bragging rights. 500 points/£3.50 gets you a piece of awesome gaming history. It's a steal. I guess those glasses have only the slightest hint of rose.

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