Virtual Console Predictions

[Nester the Lark]

The following is a non-comprehensive list of games that we can reasonably expect to see appear on the VC at somepoint. These games have not been formally announced or publicly rated by the ESRB/PEGI.

The format I'm using here may skirt the edge of what Fry may consider acceptable for a list. In the interest of clarity, rather than explain each individual element in the list, I'll explain the list in chunks.

Concerning game series', rather than list every single game that's a part of the series, I'm only going to list the game that is most likely to appear next. In some cases, more than one game may have an equal chance of appearing. Those will be explained in their respective sections.

Finally, this is not a wish list. If it was, I would've included a vastly different selection of games.

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NES:
Adventure Island II
Adventures of Lolo III
Bubble Bobble Part 2
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
Contra
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Life Force
Mega Man III (PAL)
Rad Racer
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble II
Tecmo Super Bowl
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game
Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory. I'm guessing another Bubble Bobble game will appear, but whether it's Rainbow Islands or Bubble Bobble Part 2 is anyone's guess.

In light of Double Dragon's appearance, I think we can look forward to the sequel.

Being that the original Gradius and Gradius III are both available, I think it's likely that Life Force will join them eventually.

With the release or Square's King's Knight, perhaps it's possible we will see Rad Racer (or maybe World Runner) in the future.

Finally, being that Tecmo seems to be interested in reviving the Tecmo Bowl series, we'll probably see more of it on the VC.

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SNES:
Earthbound
Final Fight 2
Kirby Super Star
Mega Man X (PAL)
Star Fox
Super Bonk
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island
Super Punch-out!!

Earthbound and Super Mario RPG are included here because they're blindingly obvious. There's clearly demand for them, and I'm pretty sure Nintendo knows it.

I believe Kirby Super Star was ESRB rated at one time, then removed. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I've added Mega Man X, but I think it's more likely to appear in PAL regions.

Super Bonk is the only North American Bonk game not yet on the VC.

No Super FX games have yet appeared, but if/when they do, Star Fox and Yoshi's Island will probably be leading the pack.

Super Mario Kart could likely follow up the release of Mario Kart Wii.

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N64:
Excitebike 64
Harvest Moon 64
The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Super Smash Bros.

There aren't too many obvious candidate left here. Majora's Mask is the only Zelda game not yet available. Excitebike 64 will likely follow Wave Race 64 and 1080 in the sports category. And I see no reason why Harvest Moon 64 wouldn't follow up the SNES game.

The original Super Smash Bros. seems likely in the somewhat-near future.

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Genesis/Mega Drive:
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Revenge of Shinobi
Rolling Thunder 3
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Splatterhouse 2
Vectorman 2 (PAL)

Shinobi III is the only Shinobi game currently available. Revenge of Shinobi seems like an obvious next choice, but it's worth noting that Shadow Dancer is already on the Japanese VC, so it could go either way.

I've added Vectorman 2 since the original is currently available in PAL regions.

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TG16/CD:
Keith Courage in Alpha Zones

Keith Courage was the original system pack-in, so frankly, I'm surprised it's not already available.

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NeoGeo:
Bust-A-Move/Puzzle Bobble

I hate to say I really don't know what to expect for the NeoGeo. Since SNK Playmore has several compilation packages due out on the Wii this year, I wouldn't expect too many games from said packages to appear on the VC. But if I were to make a guess about one game, my money would be on the original Bust-A-Move.

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Master System:
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Phantasy Star
Shinobi

I'm not too sure what to expect yet from the Master System, but these are the obvious choices in my mind. Even tho Revenge of Shinobi/Shadow Dancer is likely to appear, and Phantasy Star III and IV have been rated for release, Sega may feel the need to expand it's Master System collection quickly, so these titles could pop up first.

With the announcement of the MS version of the original Fantasy Zone, it's possible the MS version of the sequel may appear as well.

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Commodore 64:
Impossible Mission
Turrican

I'm really not familiar with this platform, so I can't say much about it. The original Turrican is a good possibility, tho.

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That's all I've got. If you guys have any predictions to make, go ahead and add them, and remember to explain your reasoning. Let's try to avoid adding too many random games. (I'm already guilty of that in a couple of places.)

[The Qu]

Sonic & Knuckles
We've got the three other of the Genesis original 4 (Sonics 1, 2, 3). This is the direct sequel to Sonic 3 to the point where it picks up at the end of Sonic 3. And of course, there is the lock-on tech. I'm not sure how they would do that. Perhaps you get the full Sonic & Knuckles 3 if you own both.

[Da Robot]

Are there any N64 games on the VC right now that would have had to make use of the N64 Expansion Pak? Maybe that's why Majora's Mask is not on there yet.

[The Qu]

Considering there's only two of those games I'm aware of (DK 64, Perfect Dark), nope.

[Manspeed]

What about Rayman 2? Or does that not count because it was multiplatform?

[Wildcat]

There were more games than just Zelda: MM, Perfect Dark and DK 64 that required the Expansion Pak. Turok 2 and 3 (I don't expect them on the VC anytime soon), International Superstar Soccer 2000, Jet Force Gemini, Resident Evil 2 and a few others I can't recall also made use of it. That said, the rest of the N64 selection is a bit iffy. Konami may chip in some of their titles (I'd love to see the ISS series make the leap, and the two Goemon titles are supposed to be quite good), Capcom, despite only releasing three N64 titles, could contribute Mega Man 64 and the aforementioned RE2. Nintendo doesn't have a whole lot left in terms of their big N64 titles - Nester hit the ones I thought of. If Atlus is along for the ride, their port of Ogre Battle 64 (the other great N64 RPG) could make it. If I recall right, Mischief Makers was developed by Enix, so that COULD make it over (if Square Enix quit being so damn stubborn). Dr. Mario 64 is a good possibility.

Heh, I could go for days with each system. I'll give it a break for now, though.

[Nester the Lark]

thequ said:

Sonic & Knuckles
We've got the three other of the Genesis original 4 (Sonics 1, 2, 3). This is the direct sequel to Sonic 3 to the point where it picks up at the end of Sonic 3. And of course, there is the lock-on tech. I'm not sure how they would do that. Perhaps you get the full Sonic & Knuckles 3 if you own both.

Exactly. I think the issue of how to handle the lock-on tech (if at all) is what holds it back. Plus, there's the Sonic Mega Collection on the GameCube.

robert said:

What about Rayman 2? Or does that not count because it was multiplatform?

It counts, but there's no obvious indication that it's intended for release (as far as I know).

wildcat said:

If I recall right, Mischief Makers was developed by Enix, so that COULD make it over (if Square Enix quit being so damn stubborn).

Actually, Mischief Makers was a Treasure game. Enix published it in Japan, and Nintendo published it in the US.

Although Square-Enix is listed as a VC contributor, they've got so many remakes that perhaps they don't see too much reason to contribute to the VC at this point. I believe King's Knight is available in Japan.

As for expansion pack games, when Nintendo finally releases them, I'm thinking Majora's Mask will be the first.

[Yamato.EXE V2]

I'm aware of the first Mario Party Trilogy and Donkey Kong 64

[Wildcat]

Nester - I had a hunch Treasure was the developer, but no recollection of it at the time. *shrugs*

I like this topic. I shall post more thoughts at a better time (i.e. when I'm not at work).

[Game Guru]

What about Super Smash Bros? Nintendo tends to follow a big game like Super Paper Mario, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Mario Galaxy with a VC game from the same series like Paper Mario, Super Metroid, and Super Mario Bros. 3. I can't see the original N64 Smash not being released sometime soon.

[Nester the Lark]

^ Sam, I was thinking that exact same thing today. Thanks for bringing it up. I imagine we'll see Super Smash Bros. sometime this summer.

And along those lines, perhaps the original Super Mario Kart is just as likely.

[The Qu]

I'm sure we'll get the original Mario Tennis and Mario Golf sometime too. Which is good because I really liked Mario Tennis and still haven't gotten around to playing Mario Power Tennis yet..

[mrmolecule]

Despite being voluntarily reduced to "lurker" status, I can't believe you misspelled "Commodore 64"! That system was well on its way out even before I was born and I can spell it correctly.

[Nester the Lark]

Jeez, Howard, nobody's perfect!

For instance, you came out of lurking just to make an off-topic post.

[Wildcat]

Sonic & Knuckles has been rated in NA, so congrats on that guess, Qu! ^_^ We also got Phantasy Star III and IV in Europe, so Nester nailed those. Just thought I'd update ya. ^_^

Other solid Commodore 64 updates:
Epyx was a largely prolific PC developer in the early days of personal computing. I would not be surprised to see System 3 (a developer already confirmed for the service) bring over some of their classic titles. Impossible Mission came out on the DS already, and its remake is planned for the Wiiware service, as well as California Games. Knowing that, I would expect some of their other titles, like Summer Games I and II, World Games and Winter Games, Jumpman, Temple of Apshai and maybe even their early work with Lucasarts!

I would like to hope that Electronic Arts will contribute some of their great C64 titles. It would be great to see M.U.L.E., the Bard's Tale series, Archon, Wasteland, Pinball Construction Set, Modem Wars, and the like.

Otherwise, with Activision on board (it would seem), seeing classics like the Last Ninja series is a solid possibility.