The Americans and the Japanese all but ignored it, but we Old Worlders knew better. We were after all old, loved arcade conversions and hadn’t really gone for this Nintendo Mario fad. Besides, instantly loading games impressed us deeply. Anyway, no matter the reason, we knew immediately. SEGA’s classic 8-bit console, the venerable Master System, was an impressive piece of hardware that sported dozens of gaming gems, managed to decently bring arcade favorites at home and was an all around excellent console. We absolutely loved the thing. Almost as much as our trusted home computers (though definitely not as much as those impressive AT PCs and Amigas).

But, as is customary, I digress. What I meant to tell you was that the Wii retro experience is about to get vastly enhanced with the addition of them lovely Master System games to the Virtual Console service. Yes! Your Wii Points will soon be able to get you all the Alex Kidd and Phantasy Star retro gaming you’ve always wanted. Oh, and judging by the Master System’s two-buttons controller you wont be needing a Classic Controller either, though, truth be said, it is an excellent little accessory.

Now, before you go off searching for downloadable bits of retro love, know that them SMS games will debut in Japan in a few weeks and only later hit European and US Wiis. The first games that will be made available will be no other than the excellently surreal, very cartoon-y, very smart Fantasy Zone shoot-’em-up (500 Wii points) and the Fist of the North Star (600 Wii points) brawler. Not a bad selection mind you, but definitely the best will arrive later and will hopefully include Phantasy Star, Golden Axe RPGs, lots of Sonic, Choplifter and -why not?- quite a few Sega Game Gear games too.

Posted on January 26th, 2008 by konstantinos