Sega Download: Genesis Virtual Console Vol. 10

[Melf]

The Wii Virtual Console started out strong, with lots of great (and even rare) Genesis games arriving each month. Lately though, things have slowed to a trickle, and it's possible that this latest installment of our Genesis Virtual Console series may possibly be the last. That is, unless Nintendo realizes the potential it's sitting on and cranks up the releases. Until then, enjoy the latest batch of games.

[Furnessly]

Despite what the article says, the Revenge of Shinobi on the Virtual Console is a further edited version than on the last compliation (the Mega Games series) so that means no Batman, no Godzilla and Spiderman is still barely there but he is very PINK. That means if you want your original Revenge of Shinobi and want to play it, you would have to buy a cart and hope it is the right version or emulate it.

Also Shadow Dancer is not a direct port of the arcade game. In fact that is a completely different game with only a few things that kept the same (a couple of enemies and the dog mechanic) when compared to the original System 18 arcade game. Still it's a good article for people who are a bit scared of using PC emulators and for young kids who don't want to buy an old console but own a Wii and curious of the older games.

At least Sega supported the service and kept going for a while with pretty much the missing games are the licensed ones (Castle of Illusion, Moonwalker) and the ones that are in completely Japanese that haven't been translated. Even though it might be the Wii's fault with its limited memory, Sega haven't put much of their big arcade hits onto that service or any service, I imagine people would do anything for online co-op of Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder or OutRunners or [insert big Sega arcade game here].

[Melf]

Yeah, Shadow Dancer is different from the arcade, but I think he was trying to say that since it's based on a coin-op, it has a different feel from the other console-exclusive games.

Edited the entry for clarity.

[InternalPrimate]

Yeah, Shadow Dancer is different from the arcade, but I think he was trying to say that since it's based on a coin-op, it has a different feel from the other console-exclusive games.

Edited the entry for clarity.

That is what I meant Honestly, I haven't played Revenge of Shinobi on the service... Saw that it was released, figured the game I played was the game on the service. I still would recommend it.

Mea culpa.

[Nobi]

So whats the deal, I was going to get a Wii just for the VC(pretty soon).

Should I reconsider? I mean damn, I could get a good used Saturn game for what a new Wii/points/perifrials costs.

Whats the problem? Will the service be discontinued soon?

[Obviously]

I don't think the service is going to be discontinued soon since they're going to have a portable virtual console on the 3DS.

[kokujin]

Shadow Dancer is an amazing game.It should be recommended.

[Cyttorak]

Shadow Dancer is an amazing game.It should be recommended.

Indeed Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi is a masterpiece and should be recommended for purchase

[zetastrike]

Shadow Dancer is an amazing game.It should be recommended.

I agree. I couldn't believe it got a thumbs down. Where's Mr Smith? We need someone to demand a banning.

[Nobi]

Shadow Dancer gets a Thumbs up from me as well

[mrbigreddog]

Good read! I hope they do some good retro stuff for the 3DS as well.. Personally I think we SHOULD see some 3D SMS games and some Virtual Boy games. Possibly updated versions! Makes since to me!!!

[retrospiel]

That is, unless Nintendo realizes the potential it's sitting on and cranks up the releases.

I really think that it's Sega who is responsible for Sega's VC releases. Nintendo got nothing to do with it.

[havok666]

I don't think the service is going to be discontinued soon since they're going to have a portable virtual console on the 3DS.

Yes, but the 3DS VC is most likely for portable systems such as, Game Gear, Gameboy, etc.

[Glisp]

I thought ROS, Dynamite Headdy, and Sonic and Knuckles had been on there for a very long time? I remember reading about all three being out. Even saw the thing regarding the Pink Spiderman several months ago. I hate Sonic and Knuckles by itself. It's totally incomplete to me. They need to emulate Sonic 3 and Knuckles if they want me to get it. They haven't emulated S3K since Sonic Mega Collection.

Sega needs to get its balls together and find a former employee from the 90's to program Sega CD emulation for the virtual console. The dummies don't seem to understand how to do it on their own anymore. (No, for those of you who think Sonic CD was emulated in Sonic Gems collection it wasn't. It was a direct port of the PC version.)

Also, Dynamite Headdy US version is kind of a disappointing game for me. They changed stuff for absolutely no reason. The worst part was, it was all graphical, making it pointless. They even removed the text boxes the pop up before each boss in the Japanese version. Don't know what their obsession was with changing games just because people wouldn't understand them. I can understand SOME of the censorship in Streets of Rage 3 but not all of it. Mainly just the female enemy cover ups and the Ash removal. Everything else that was changed was dumb.

Also, how well does Virtual Console emulate games in terms of sound? If its like Gens quality (i.e. sound channels missing parts of some sound effects and sound really gay or ..... oh what's the word?.... Tinny? No....... Filtered? No.... Bland and an unbarable at times I guess is what I mean, though that's probably not the best word I was looking for.

[retrospiel]

I think that the VC emulator evolved from the emulator used in Sega of Japan's Sega Ages series for PS2. The company responsible for both the MD emulator for Sega Ages and the MD emulator for VC is M2: http://www.mtwo.co.jp/ - They did Gauntlet IV on Mega Drive back in 1993.
Each VC download includes the ROM + a potentially adjusted / improved version of the emulator. So if the game is not released for VC in Japan before it's released in the West, there's no way to tell if somebody else messed around with the emulator without M2's input and quality control. I heard that Kid Chameleon for example was not properly emulated when it first was released for VC.