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Virtual Console

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Virtual Console.svg

The Virtual Console is a service available on the Wii, the Nintendo 3DS, and the Wii U. It allows players to download port]s of certain games that were originally released for older consoles, such as Nintendo's own Nintendo Entertainment System (all models), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Wii, Wii U, and New Nintendo 3DS), Nintendo 64 (Wii and Wii U), Game Boy Advance (Nintendo 3DS ambassadors and Wii U), Nintendo DS (Wii U), Game Boy, and Game Boy Color (Nintendo 3DS). Games within the main The Legend of Zelda series have often been re-released on the Virtual Console for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U respectively.

Games on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console do not have 3D capabilities except for 3D Classics. They are sold via Nintendo eShop. They have various sound effects that play upon selecting a game depending on their originating game system. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color games have the standard Game Boy boot-up screen sound effect play. The Game Boy Advance games have the Game Boy Advance bootup screen occur. The NES/Famicom Disk System games have a coin sound effect from Super Mario Bros. playing in the background. The Super NES games have the coin sound effect from Super Mario World playing in the background.

In 2011, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program for consumers who purchased a Nintendo 3DS prior to the August 12, 2011 price drop, and they were given 20 free games, ten of which are NES titles while the other ten are Game Boy Advance titles. Three of these games are The Legend of Zelda titles, with The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link being included in the NES lineup and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap in the Game Boy Advance lineup. The NES titles were first available in Japan on August 31, 2011 and then worldwide on the following day, September 1, 2011. The same NES games would later be re-released as purchasable Virtual Console titles on the Nintendo eShop, with The Legend of Zelda being the first of them, as it was made available on the Japanese eShop on December 22, 2011. The Game Boy Advance games remained exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, and would instead be released for the Wii U Virtual Console a few years later.

Games on the Virtual Console of the Wii U can be played on the Wii U GamePad and Wii U Pro Controller. As with the Nintendo 3DS, they are also sold via Nintendo eShop.

Cost[edit]

Wii Points[edit]

Wii Virtual Console games were bought with Wii Points via the Wii Shop Channel. Wii Points Cards, which were once sold at most game retailers, each came with 2,000 redeemable Wii Points on them. However, in Japan, cards were worth either 1,000, 3,000, or 5,000 Wii Points. Wii Points could also be purchased directly through the Wii Shop Channel with a credit card in blocks of either 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, or 5,000 Points.

As of March 26, 2018, Wii Points cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop Channel. However, leftover points could be used to purchase software until January 31, 2019.

eShop Credit[edit]

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Virtual Console games are bought with eShop credits via the Nintendo eShop. Nintendo eShop cards are sold at most retailers with the following values; $10, $20, $35, and $50. In Australia and New Zealand, there are $15, $30 and $60 cards.

Pricing[edit]

Wii[edit]

Console Wii Points
Nintendo Entertainment System 500-600
Super Nintendo Entertainment System 800-900
Nintendo 64 1,000-1,200

In the United States, retailers once sold 2,000 points cards for $20 apiece, at a price of one cent per point.

Similarly, in Australia, retailers only sold 1,000 points cards for $20 apiece.

*Note: Games released on the Virtual Console Arcade are automatically set to 500 points. However, most Virtual Console Arcade games are priced higher than 500 points.

Nintendo 3DS[edit]

Console Price
Nintendo Entertainment System General public:
JP ¥514
US $4.99
EU €4.99
UK £3.49
AU $6.50
KR ₩5000
Ambassadors: Free
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
(New Nintendo 3DS only)
JP ¥823
US $7.99-$9.99
EU €4.99
UK £5.49
AU $10.40
Game Boy JP ¥411
US $2.99-$3.99
EU €3.00-€4.00
UK £2.70-£3.70
AU $4.50-$6.00
KR ₩4000
Game Boy Color JP ¥617
US $4.99-$5.99
EU €5.00
UK £4.50
AU $6.00-$7.50
KR ₩6000
Game Boy Advance Only available to Ambassadors

Wii U[edit]

Console Price
Nintendo Entertainment System JP ¥514/¥100*
US $4.99/$1.00*
EU €4.99/€1.00*
UK £3.49/£1.00*
AU $6.50/$1.00*
Super Nintendo Entertainment System JP ¥823/¥150*
US $7.99/$1.50*
EU €4.99/€1.50*
UK £5.49/£1.50*
AU $10.40/$1.50*
Nintendo 64 JP ¥1028/¥200*
US $9.99/$2.00*
EU €9.99/€2.00*
UK £8.99/£2.00*
AU $13.00/$2.00*
Game Boy Advance JP ¥702
US $6.99-$7.99
EU €6.99
UK £6.29
AU $9.10
Nintendo DS[1] JP ¥950
US $6.99-$9.99
EU €9.99
UK £8.99
AU $13.00

*Note: Discounted price if originally purchased on the Wii Shop Channel via Wii Mode.

Controllers[edit]

Various controllers are needed used to play Virtual Console games.

  • Wii U GamePad - Can play all Virtual Console games in Wii U mode. It can only display screen if the Wii U is in Wii mode.
  • Wii U Pro Controller - Can also play all Virtual Console games in Wii U Mode.
  • Wii Remote - When turned sideways, it can be used as an NES substitute. It is also compatible with Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and Master System games. Compatible with both Wii U and Wii. Can be used for Wii U SNES and GBA games if Two Button is held while the game boots.
  • Classic Controller - Can play any game. It is made to fit the design of the SNES Controller. Compatible with Wii U and Wii
  • Nintendo GameCube controller - Compatible with any Nintendo game on the Wii, but SNES games may be difficult due to the different layout.

List of The Legend of Zelda games[edit]

The Virtual Console service for the respective Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U systems have each had at least one The Legend of Zelda game released for it.

# Icon Game Platform Price JP release NA release EU release OC release SK release Developer(s)
Wii
1 Wii VC TLOZ icon.gif The Legend of Zelda Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
500 Wii Points December 2, 2006 November 19, 2006 December 8, 2006 December 7, 2006 March 31, 2009 Nintendo EAD
2 Wii VC ZII icon.gif Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
500 Wii Points January 23, 2007 June 4, 2007 February 9, 2007 February 9, 2007 March 31, 2009 Nintendo EAD
3 Wii VC ALttP icon.gif The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Super Nintendo Entertainment System 800 Wii Points December 2, 2006 January 22, 2007 March 23, 2007 March 23, 2007 June 10, 2008 Nintendo EAD
4 Wii VC OoT icon.gif The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 64 1,000 Wii Points February 27, 2007 February 26, 2007 February 23, 2007 February 23, 2007 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
5 Wii VC MM icon.gif The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo 64 1,000 Wii Points December 2, 2006 January 22, 2007 March 23, 2007 March 23, 2007 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
Nintendo 3DS
1 3DS VC LADX icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX Game Boy Color US$5.99 June 8, 2011 June 7, 2011 June 8, 2011 June 8, 2011 March 2, 2016 Nintendo EAD
2 3DS VC TLOZ icon.png The Legend of Zelda Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
Ambassadors:
Free
Nintendo eShop:
US$4.99
Ambassadors:
August 31, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
December 22, 2011
Ambassadors:
August 31, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
July 5, 2012
Ambassadors:
September 1, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
April 12, 2012
Ambassadors:
September 1, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
April 12, 2012
February 3, 2016 (eShop only) Nintendo EAD
3 3DS VC ZII icon.png Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
Ambassadors:
Free
Nintendo eShop:
US$4.99
Ambassadors:
August 31, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
June 6, 2012
Ambassadors:
August 31, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
November 22, 2012
Ambassadors:
September 1, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
September 13, 2012
Ambassadors:
September 1, 2011
Nintendo eShop:
September 13, 2012
May 4, 2016 (eShop only) Nintendo EAD
4 3DS AM TMC icon.png The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
(Ambassadors only)
Game Boy Advance Free December 16, 2011 December 16, 2011 December 16, 2011 December 15, 2011 X mark.png Capcom, Flagship
5 3DS VC OoS icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons Game Boy Color US$5.99 February 27, 2013 May 30, 2013 May 30, 2013 May 30, 2013 April 20, 2016 Capcom, Flagship
6 3DS VC OoA icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages Game Boy Color US$5.99 February 27, 2013 May 30, 2013 May 30, 2013 May 30, 2013 April 20, 2016 Capcom, Flagship
7 New 3DS VC ALttP icon.png The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
(New 3DS only)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System US$7.99 March 4, 2016 April 14, 2016 March 10, 2016 March 10, 2016 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
Wii U
1 Wii U VC TLOZ icon.png The Legend of Zelda Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
US$4.99 August 28, 2013 August 29, 2013 August 29, 2013 August 29, 2013 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
2 Wii U VC ZII icon.png Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Family Computer Disk System (Japan)
Nintendo Entertainment System (overseas)
US$4.99 September 11, 2013 September 12, 2013 September 26, 2013 September 26, 2013 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
3 Wii U VC ALttP icon.png The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Super Nintendo Entertainment System US$7.99 February 12, 2014 January 30, 2014 December 12, 2013 December 12, 2013 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
4 Wii U VC TMC icon.png The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Game Boy Advance US$7.99 April 30, 2014 June 5, 2014 May 29, 2014 May 29, 2014 X mark.png Capcom, Flagship
5 Wii U VC OoT icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo 64 US$9.99 December 22, 2015 July 2, 2015 July 2, 2015 July 2, 2015 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
6 Wii U VC PH icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Nintendo DS US$9.99 August 3, 2016 May 12, 2016 November 12, 2015 November 12, 2015 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
7 Wii U VC ST icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Nintendo DS US$9.99 August 9, 2016 October 20, 2016 November 13, 2015 November 14, 2015 X mark.png Nintendo EAD
8 Wii U VC MM icon.png The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask Nintendo 64 US$9.99 June 29, 2016 November 24, 2016 June 23, 2016 June 24, 2016 X mark.png Nintendo EAD

Notes[edit]

Wii[edit]

  • Timed demos of several Virtual Console games are included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, all of which star the game's various fighters. The Legend of Zelda is the only default title of its titular series; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is also included, but it must first be unlocked.
  • Nintendo 64 games do not support suspend functionality.
  • Nintendo 64 Controller Pak functionality is not supported.
  • Nintendo 64 games do not support the Rumble Pak functionality, despite Nintendo GameCube controllers having built-in rumble controls.

Nintendo 3DS[edit]

  • Only NES titles support multiplayer due to the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance (Ambassadors only) games being too complicated to recode the games to add wireless features and there being no link port for multiplayer.
    • This feature can also be used when playing Game Boy titles to change the screen color from gray to the classic green.
  • While loading Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or (Ambassadors only) Game Boy Advance titles from the HOME Menu, by holding Start Button or Select Button the game on the top screen will be shrunk to its original resolution.
    • Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles will also display virtual versions of their respective consoles surrounding the screen to give the illusion of playing on the actual console. Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and DSiWare games just shrink the screen to the screen size from the original consoles.
  • Many games have been given the ability to create one save file each. This can be disabled or enabled by simultaneously holding R Button, X Button and Start Button.
  • Game Boy Advance Ambassador games do not rely on hardware emulation; instead, they rely on hardware simulation with the 3DS booting into the GBA's firmware to play the games natively, the same way the Nintendo 3DS handles Nintendo DS backwards compatibility. Due to this, Game Boy Advance games do not support Virtual Console features like Save and Restore Points, sleep mode, and Home Menu Access.
    • This occurs because the 3DS is not powerful enough to emulate the Game Boy Advance in the same way it does other Virtual Console games. (This is also why GBA games are not available for purchase on the Nintendo 3DS eShop.) Through hacking, it is possible to load Game Boy Advance games into a regular Virtual Console emulator, but performance is slow and the ability to do this was removed in a later update.

Wii U[edit]

  • The player can create save states and remap controller buttons. For Game Boy Advance games, there are options to change scaling, enable pixel smoothing, and view scans of the original paper manual.
  • The Wii Remote can be used for Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance games if Two Button is held while the game loads.
  • The NES games have a bilinear filter applied while the N64 games have a filter applied that doubles their resolution.
  • Nintendo 64 games support Rumble Pak functions, but won't support Transfer or Controller Pak functions.
  • Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS titles can only be played in single player mode.

Changes[edit]

Although Virtual Console games are mostly faithful to the originals, some of the games have received slight changes:

The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • For the Wii, since none of the Nintendo 64 Virtual Console games have Rumble support, the Stone of Agony has no use. This is fixed in the Wii U port because its Virtual Console readds Rumble support for its Nintendo 64 releases.

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

  • WiiWare — Applications and games that can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel.
  • DSiWare — Applications and games that can be downloaded from the DSi Shop.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese バーチャルコンソール
Bācharu Konsōru
Virtual Console
Spanish Consola Virtual
French Console Virtuelle
Russian Виртуальная Консоль
Virtualnaya Konsol
Korean 버추얼 콘솔
Beochueol Konsol
Chinese (Simplified) 虚拟主机[2]
Xūnǐ Zhǔjī
Virtual Console
Chinese (Traditional) 遊戲殿堂[3]
Yóuxì Diàntáng
虛擬主機[4]
Xūnǐ Zhǔjī
Game Hall

Virtual Console

References[edit]