I guessed you get SMRPG, since we get Y's this week.
Clu Clu Land is a nice fun Game, but I guess you can get games with more depths for 500 points. I hope we get it soon woth DK3 though
And you forgot Devil World It could be an import for America

Nice. Can't wait to download SMRPG! Been waiting a long time for that one. =)

Awesome week for just Super Mario RPG along. Highly recommended for all Mario fans and RPG fans alike.

Let me be the first person to say, in spite of my disregarding of SMRPG as a world-class videogame title whatsoever, "let the complainers sizzle away"!

Oh no. So much for fixing my sleeping pattern. Still, I'll be happy to get all three of these. Especially Super Mario RPG.

Also in Nintendo's Press Release, they seemed to acknowledge that the 250th VC game is something special.

Finally! Now everyone can start complaining about Majora's mask, DK 64, Secret of Mana or whatever the hell game you can't stand waiting for. Too bad I already own Mario RPG so this week sucks for me. I'm happy for everyone else though.

Nice we got SMRPG as expected.

I can hear the Angels singing, yes....YES finally we have SMRPG.
..... Now we can all grumble about why Earthbound isnt released yet
Next on my wishlist, Blaster Master, Castlevania III, and Double Dragon 2

Damn, I leave the room for 5 minutes and 8 people beat me to the punch!

make that 10

I can bet you people will stil find a way to complain today. Oh and hells yeah!

probably won't get Clu Clu Land or My Aquarium.

Will definitely get Mario RPG though, me thinks along with Ys I'll be having an RPG month this month . Something I haven't had in a long while.

Next on my most wanted list, Majora's Mask, but I have enough games to last me until that release, whenever that'll be!

I'm really surprised that Golf hasn't reached the Virtual Console, considering its successor for the NES is already out.

And you forgot Pro Wrestling Drake j/k

Yay!! But seriously, you reviewers didn't have to deliver the news so scathingly to those who were hopeful for the game

LOVE
cool! my b-day prediction was right
but now i gotta mow the lawn, and take a shower, and do my homework, and blah blah blah
then i can save the world! w00t!

It'll quiet down the complainers...until they realize Earthbound hasn't been released yet. =P

Still, I'm glad SMRPG is available now in NA, EU, and Japan. And Clu Clu looks like an interesting game. Overall, another outstanding week for the VC.

Guess I have to buy more points for Megaman 9 when it gets out. I only have enough for this and Megaman 2.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant wait 2 download mario rpg

FINALLY!!!!! its about damn time! Now I just need to get wii points and then I will spend useless hours on the boob tube playing this amazing RPG

What, complainers are still going to complain about earthbound you know. Although, I think their too busy calling up NoA demanding earthbound to be released because of that marathon thing going on.

Maybe if enough people download SMRPG, Square and Nintendo will release a direct sequel to this game in the future or perhaps simply port this game to the Nintendo DS under the title "Super Mario RPG DS" or something like that.

Not a great week for me to leave my Wii back at home. Curse you college...

Great, I'm glad Mario RPG is finally released....but why couldn't they have done it a week earlier? Today's the last day of summer for me, school starts tomorrow and now I won't have as much time to play. Curse you school! CURSE YOU!!

My plan worked this time!

My "roughly two months after the Japanese release" prediction was right! I expect the same thing to happen with other Nintendo published SNES titles going foward. Those that are released in Japan first, that is.

I already know what the next "complainers" game is going to be and that's Earthbound. (Duh!) Considering we have yet to see it in Japan even (and I'm 99% positive that it'll show up there first, btw) it could still be a good while yet before we yanks see it here in North America.

Virtual Console has been on fire lately and I really hope to see more top notch titles in the remainder of 2008. Obviously we have Mega Man 2 coming out very soon and promises of Earthworm Jim, Secret of Mana and Phantasy Star IV based on ESRB ratings and Japanese releases. Thinking about it, it was no doubt Nintendo's plan to hold these games back until the END of the year to make up for thier lame retail selection for the crucial holiday months.

I am really optimistic about the Virtual Console now that we've seen such a vast improvement both in quantity and quality over the past couple of months. Keep it up, Nintendo!

Oh nuts, I'm out of points.

Downloading right now!

Man, I need to get the virtual console fixed.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Didn't expect Clu Clu Land. The ESRB clampdown on ratings is really working. I like that game so i may get it when released in Europe.

lol @ tweek. dont hold back dude, let it all out.

lol epic win

its been so long
so who wants to look forward to DK64 now?
heh.

Can't download in New York State yet...wouldn't figure until almost noon here.

Any idea why Canada would be able to download now?

Sweet, I wonder what will happen if Mother 3 comes out? A server xplosing?

Svwisinm.....mnurrrg...gurgle.......

Ahem! Excuse me. I was drowning in my own drool.

Yaaaays! The virtual console is made out of win this week! Now I just need to get points....

@rkish
We can't, don't think that he realises that they get uploaded at noon.

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
http://smrpgrobo.ytmnd.com/

Off to play! As soon as it's ready for download that is.

And i just spent 900 on Samurai Shodown II....looks like I'll be spending more money on Super Mario RPG

Honestly, this is also a good sign for EB fans. Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but I think that it'll come out sometime soon. I can't wait.

Anybody got any ideas on how to get wiipoints? I spent my last 50 bucks on Mario Super Sluggers....

Surprising! I didn't see this one coming at all. Ys last week, SMRPG this week.. Things have been going great for the VC lately! Although, I am stuck at that damn 2-floating-heads boss in Ys........

Wow. Two weeks in a row of good releases. Have fun, people.

I guess all that's left to complain about is n64 games (majora's mask, I wonder if we'll get OoT Master's Quest, missed out on both of those) and Megaman but we at least know that 9 will be out soon and I guess Earthbound (never played it so I don't know what I'm missing)

Nice week. I was wondering if I wanted to pick up points or not. Looks like I gotta. Happy birthday to me! Nobody is allowed to complain until next week!!

awesome. Oh and Phalyn that is a good wishlist - I am wishing for those too....and Faxanadu. I'm not complaining though...I have plenty to play

HELL YEAH!!!

It's a shame, but I'll be too busy with Y's. Great week for the hordes who have been screaming for this game for months now though.

I almost screamed-cried when I read this. Then I didn't believe it. So I logged into press.nintendo.com to double-check. It is true. I'm so damn happy. I quit my job and I have three days left before I go back to college. I'm so happy. So so happy!!! I love this game!!! I'd have slapped down a $100 bill to put this one on my VC!!! I love you again Nintendo!!! I'll throw my credit card number into the TV and put down $50 for VC points. YES!!!! Made my Monday!!!!

Heck, I own SMRPG and I'm going to download it. It gives me some sort of blind hope that there will be a sequel one day if I support the game.

As for Clu Clu Land, I have that in Animal Crossing.

Now people can start complaining more about Earthbound, DK64, Majora's Mask, and Super Smash Bros.

Stoked, I never gave SMRPG a chance when It came out (I was a sega fanboy at the time). Now seems like a good time. Now it's time to play the "lets delete stuff" game to make room for it....

Alright. Now that we have SMRPG I can start complaining about Secret of Mana. I'm kind of amazed an SNES game came out on VC, though. I thought that was illegal these days.

After Ys 1+2 came out, I thought this week would stink. But we got 2 good rpgs in 2 weeks? Wow.

didnt expecrt it to come this soon but who cares:p
i download it later today

now I'm waiting for:
secret of mana
earthworm jim
castlevania rondo of blood

This week really pisses me off. Not because I don't like the games (quite the contrary, I practically wet myself when I saw the releases.), but because I have no way of downloading all these great games we're getting. I'm down to 300 Wii points (why oh why did I waste money on Ninja Commando????), and My mom forbids me to get a pre-paid credit card or a Wii points card because of school. Damn you, school!! DAMNNNNN YOOOOUUUU!!!!

Edit: Now let the bitching continue with Mega Man 2, Rondo of Blood, Earthbound, DK 64, Majora's Maak, Vectorman, and other such demandables!

@Drake. You forgot Shin Onigashima.

@Tony. You actually WANT Golf on the VC? Are you high?

The day has finally arrived. YES!!!!!!

Wait! SMRPG still isnt out on the South Korean VC!

Wow, this is crazy.

Ys last week, and now SMRPG. Two amazing RPGs back to back on a service that had been in dire need of RPGs for so long?

Good show, Nintendo.

Seems like drought VC weeks are all but a bad memory! Nice to see some really great games released these past few weeks. Now time to get some points, I haven't downloaded Ys yet, and now this.
This should also relieve the board of some unnecessary whining

EDIT : I'm almost sorry today (labour day holiday) isn't rainy Oh well guess Ys and SMRPG will have to wait... runs outside

Yay, now I can start complaining about Megaman 2 and Earthbound.

About time Nintendo! I'm excited because I never owned a SNES as a kid, and there for never playyed SMRPG. Also Clu Clu Land is a pretty fun game as well.

Maybe we'll get Earthbound for the 300th release. If they'd just release Bomberman 1-3(SNES) that could keep me happy until then.

I woke up just now and the first thing I had to do was check the VC update to see if SMRPG had been released. I wasn't really execting it, but IT'S HEEEEEERE! And the Hallelujah Chorus (the version from Toejam & Earl) played loud and clear! I'm so glad I didn't waste my Wii points on Y's the other day like I was considering. Doesn't mean I won't try it later, mind you. But this is way more important.

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!
DOWNLOAD,DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD!!!
Phew, got that off my chest. This is another week that I predicted right. "Some random NES game and SMRPG." So next week will be... hmmm...Final Soldier and Mega Man 2 or Earthworm Jim. Mega Man 9 won't come out until the fourth or fifth monday of this month.
btw...In a months time we get Sonic, Mega Man, Samurai Shodown II, Y's book 1 & 2, and now SMRPG, this must be a slow time for Wii game sales. Also the greatest month in existence for the VC. So this month in games my predictions are: SMRPG(duh!), Clu Clu land(duh), Mega Man 2, Final Soldier, Cho Aniki, Phantasy Star IV, Earthworm Jim, Mario Golf, Secret of Mana, and World Heroes 2. That's two games a week, but I'm thinking one game on one of the weeks. *Remember those are predictions

Jeeze, we just got Ys. Thank god I already have SMRPG!

Then again, beat it like, five times. It's a really good game! Even if it isn't the most Marioy thing ever. Reccomended!

Looks like we're following the 2007 pattern: sucky first half, good-to-awesome second half of the year! Actually, Q1 2007 wasn't that bad. Maybe it's punishment for ESRB? Ah well, NOA gave us one of the trio of "I'M A BRAINDEAD NINTENDO FAN SO OTHER GAMES SUCK!" RPGs: SMRPG, EarthBound, and Chrono Trigger.

Wow, Starmen.net must be going nuts.

Finally after almost 2yrs of waiting Super Mario RPG has been released. I am extremely happy it has finally come out but I wish it came out last week. I have to go back to school tomorrow so my time will be limited but either way I am extremely happy. Now I really am not hoping for anything to come out on the VC except maybe more N64 games.

Time to download it but before I do that time to delete stuff >_<.

i'm finding super mario rpg to be a short game for an rpg. i've only got three stars left to get and the first four were pretty easy.

And Booster is comedy gold. I was suprised to see Mario help him out though after he kidnapped Toadstool.

OH NOES ANOTHER AWESOME GAME THAT I WON'T HAVE TIME TO PLAY!!
glares angerilly at school board for taking all my time away

Edit: was I the only person who had to go back to school LAST week?

Well, of COURSE it was going to be Super Mario RPG. Why anyone would doubt that is really beyond me.

I already own the cartridge, but I can say with self-assurance that SMRPG is absolutely one of the best VC titles you can download. Go ahead and pick it up, $8 is simply a bargain for this game.

Wow, so it's true, the Internet simply cannot survive without hate. First, people hate on Nintendo for not releasing SMRPG for the VC, and now people are hating on the haters for having hated now that they have it.

I also find it amusing just how many people are jumping on the 'People who like Nintendo games and nothing else deserve to be hated' bandwagon. Baa,

I'll just continue waiting patiently for Soleil,

awesome to finally see, but quick question for anyone. Is it possible to send 2,000 wii points to a friend rather than just gifting a game or two?

@Tony: I think Mr. Cheez is right. You are high. Mario Golf is million times better.
I'm officially marking this day on the calendar as SMRPG day (Scratches out Labor Day). We finally recieved a SNES game. w00t!

What a day. I still have to get Ys before SMRPG, but I'm looking forward to it.

And Nintendo is already running out of Nintendo-developed NES games (at least not "imports")? I know that this nowhere near signifies the VC's end, but it seems a bit unsettling to me.

With all these great games coming out lately, I wonder if people are going to finally stop hating Nintendo...I was fine with the SMRPG complainers, but those people who said "Nintendo sucks!" kind of bothered me. Oh well, the complaints are bound to come back on a bad week, but hey, who cares?

I'm just about finished with Paper Mario now, and though its a great game, playing it just reminds me how incredible SMRPG was when it first dropped. Don't sleep on this classic, the hype is beyond due.

@ Organized Confusion

All that you have to do to give someone 2000 points is tell them what the code on the back of a Wii Points Card is. Then that person types in the code on the Shop channel and receives the 2000 points.

FINALLY - CLU CLU LAND! I used to get pretty far in this game, but that was back when I actually had skills at it. I'm probably going to get owned when I play it now.

Oh, and I guess that's cool for SMRPG. Whatever. In all seriousness though, I do enjoy both games. I got CCL on Animal Crossing, and my friends play SMRPG to death to this day, so I kind of got my fill on it.

@Phantom93. You're not alone. I started school last week too. In fact, I started the Wednesday before.

I say we bring back the VC sales roundups. With Ys at #12, Mega Man finally dethroning Super Mario Bros. from it's #2 position, and SMRPG sure to hit the top 10 in a few days, this is an occaision worth celebrating!

"If you're one of those people who, for some reason, didn't care that great games like Ys Book I & II, Samurai Shodown II and Mega Man came out recently..."

Ok two of those games are in compilations that have been released in the past 4 years. It is understandable why people don't want to spend more money on these games, but SMRPG hasn't been re-released since it launched in 1996. Assuming that people don't care about great games like Mega Man and Samurai Shodown II is foolish.

@ Mr.Cheez

Yay I'm not alone in the suffering that is the U.S. school system
I should count myself lucky though since my sister had to start two weeks ago (then again her classes start at noon )

I'm glad the ESRB ratings have finally become more secretive... i actually like to be surprised. I also DLed My Aquarium... It's actually really cool, especially for the ambience. At 500 points, I think it's way worth it

@ Mr. Cheez & PHANTOM

I started the week before too...and I'm not off for Labor Day!!! Ah well, SMBRPG is a good way to make up for that I guess. I already have Clu Clu Land on Animal Crossing which I recommend for anyone who wants to try these short, classic NES games. You get them all packed inside an already great game! What's not to love?

I was expecting that we get the japanese wiiware game "MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade" but hope it comes out soon like this month of Sept... but for now we are glad that we got "Super Mario RPG" that everyones been waiting for and one of my favorite wiiware games "My Aquarium" too as well... ill be getting and downloading these 2 games today!

Yes, the prophecies were true. it's a happy labor day after all. im going to go buy Mario RPG right now!

Why in the world would you purchase Samurai Shodown II or Mega Man when they are both archived on collections with the other entries of the series? It seems like a waste of money.

btw, where is Nintendo World Cup?

Want that one immediately!!!

GAH! If I had only held out for two more weeks... Now I have to go buy more points.

Oh, I was going to ask a question. Does anybody notice the sword missing from the title screen of Super Mario RPG? In the Super Nintendo version (North American anyways), it is present.

This was practically the first rpg I've ever played. If it wasn't for this game I may have never been turned on to the genre to begin with. I originally bought it because it was a Mario game, not because it was an rpg. I tended to play it safe and only buy games with familiar characters in them. Which means that I would have never even considered the likes of Final Fantasy 7 if this game hadn't turned me onto rpgs. Thanks Nintendo! Now just give us Earthbound.

@bb sting exact same thing with me. my first one and it got me playing others..........side note if anyone thinks Paper is better than this (I dont think I need to say anymore, it is pretty self explanatory that it is not).

yes i guess i wont be needing super mario rpg that i have for an emulator anymore while the less i still have secret of mana, illusion of galia, secret of mana, final fantasy 1 to 4 for an emulator oh and earthbound
i think i wont get the gamecube megaman games 1 to 8
since i got one to 7 for the nes not sure if 8 is on nes.

@ Bendover 83
You need to re-read my post I never compared NES Golf to Mario Golf. I just simply stated that I wanted to see 2 NES classics on the VC. The VC has enough room for both Golf games.
PS to Mr. Cheez- I do not partake of drugs or alcohol

@BlackFira
Mega Man 7 is for SNES (not NES) and Mega Man 8 is for the PS/Sega Saturn.

Dang, I wish I had points for Mario RPG. Guess I'll wait until tomorrow.

Congrats US, SMRPG!

Good to see it's out in the USA at last.

Nothing for me. :sigh:
(Puts on his best whiny voice) Where is my Cho Aniki!!!!!

if anyone thinks Paper is better than this (I dont think I need to say anymore, it is pretty self explanatory that it is not).

So, you're saying Paper Mario 64 is inferior to Super Mario RPG?
I think the vast majority would disagree, including me.

Anyway, I'll probably run to the store today, just to buy a Wii Points card.

I haven't completed SMRPG yet, I think I am about half way through. But I think I have to place Paper Mario above SMRPG and SMRPG above The Thousand Year Door and Super Paper Mario at the bottom. Not really thought about where the Mario & Luigi games would go...

I've beaten both many times and I just like SMRPG more. SMRPG > Paper Mario > Mario and Luigi in my opinion.

Is there any truth to this comment?
"I noticed Megaman has a esrb thing and smrpg. Also Megaman is 15 blocks im thinking nintendo has a new compressing method still i just want my storage just wanted tell a little info"

If Nintendo are able to make games take up less blocks then thats surely a good thing and probably the nearest we'll get to more storage space.

"Super Mario RPG has some of the greatest SNES visuals."
No... for renders, they are quite rough. The DKC trilogy easily beats it. Final Fantasy VI looks a lot better and Yosh's Island arguably better. But thats just my opinion.

You're actually right there Bass; with 3D renders on the SNES, nothing beats the Donkey Kong Country series - a true pioneer of graphical technology at the time.

Still, there's no way that Square would contact Nintendo for a sequel to this regardless of how many virtual copies would sell - they're no longer a first/second party developer for them, so there's no way they'd be totally adept to make a followup.

Besides, what we are REALLY missing is a proper Paper Mario sequel. As I keep saying, The Thousand Year Door has a more developed combat and exploration system at hand there, and given the potential I want to see it being followed up properly, not in a spin-off fashion like Super Paper Mario was (albeit it can be a great recommended title for newbies to the series).

Super Mario RPG today AND The Office: Season 4 comes out tomorrow? Plus the NFL season finally starts on Thursday and Sunday. This is gonna be a great, great week!

Now to delete some more channels...

This is just terrible... I was in the middle of FF Tactics A2 and they come out with SMRPG. I can't play both of these AMAZING games at the same time!!!

Definately an awesome monday! No complaints here...for a while. Enjoy, everybody!

@Rexy

Nintendo stopped publishing the majority of Square titles well before SMRPG began development, so I don't see how a proper sequel is completely out of the question. Especially considering how much Square hearts the DS right now.

I do agree that Paper Mario needs a real sequel though. In a perfect world we'd see Paper Mario 3 next year and Super Mario RPG 2 in 2010.

Well, given that they both share the exact same battle system schemes, I can't imagine them both co-existing at the same time (unless for some reason the Mario & Luigi sub-series gets scrapped altogether).

And even so, Square's a bigger company than it once was, with a lot more "pillars of entertainment" (lol?) to focus on; it's true that they have emphasised so much on the DS as of late, particularly with some of their own SNES title remakes as of late, but at the end of the day it's all about being strategic on what purchases would be more profitable at the end of the day rather than how many they unleash all at once. Given how long the DS has been out on the market (almost as long as the GBA was before a new handheld was announced), I think they've already found their feet regarding marketing strategies o.O

ALRIGHT!!!!

I went to the VC on my Wii and downloaded it.

@Rexy

I find that while there are many similarities between RPG and the Paper games, they are both unique enough to stand on thier own. Paper Mario 2 and Mario & Luigi were released within a year of each other and they didn't seem to conflict at all among the fans, myself included.

I also don't understand what you mean when you say the company would rather focus on more profitable endeavors. What's more profitable in the game industry than Mario, exactly? Also, like Nintendo, Square consists of MANY development teams each focusing on thier own projects and sometimes more than one at a time, team size permitting.

Also, how do we know that Nintendo (Intelligent Systems) doesn't plan to involve Square in a true Paper Mario sequel? Given that the relationship between the two companies has improved significantly over the past few years, such a group effort seems fairly realistic in my opinion.

Not saying you're outwardly wrong about everything you've stated but I really have to disagree that Square would outright turn down the opportunity to work on another Mario related RPG. It would be a project that would benifit both companies involved.

"What's more profitable in the game industry than Mario, exactly?"

Sadly Mario has been abused many times what with all the spin-off titles.

Just for fun, my ranking of the Mario RPG games, though I still haven't played Mario RPG or Super PM:
From best to worst
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (One of my all time favourites)
Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door (Awesome)
Paper Mario (Basicly as awesome as TYD)
M&L: Partners in Time (Disapointing, just average)

@ Rexy: I would also like to see a "real" Paper Mario sequel, instead of Mario RPG 2. If Square, they way they are now, made another Mario RPG, it'd end up having some new emo kid with spikey hair designed by Tetsuya Nomura and probably more Final Fantasy characters...
Super Mario Hearts: Stars of Broken Silence

@ Rapadash: I think Square would be more likely to work on a Mario & Luigi game, since some of the the staff already did with the other two anyway; That and Square loves the DS. I also don't think Intelligent Systems and Square need to collaborate on anything. The two styles would clash

@Bass X0

"Sadly Mario has been abused many times what with all the spin-off titles."

Doesn't that just prove my point though? Mario seems to sell whether or not the game he's in is bad or not. (See Mario Party series, Mario sports titles) He's the greatest icon in the business.

@MaxPlastic

Either or, really. My point still remains.

yeah. i wasn't disagreeing with you and fifteen years ago, i'd have been buying up every game with mario in it regardless of whatever it was. I've only ever bought the first Mario Party game and the only sports game was N64 Mario Golf. Since then I've learned to stay away from games that i thought i wouldn't enjoy even if they did feature Mario.

@Rapidash6
The first 3 Mario Parties were made of w1n, so was Mario Tennis on N64, and the Mario Golfs, and Strikers Charged was quite good too.

Speaking of Mario Party, I'd love to get 2 as it is MIA from my N64 collection, and am quite suprised none of them have came out yet.

One word... Werd

Wow, I didnt expect smrpg to hit the states so soon. This kinda feels like nintendo has heard the voices of a lot of angry and upset people sick of crap releases and pacified us all in 2 weeks.

Zomg! Super Mario RPG!

I've never played it, but when I get this on the VC it'll be my first time, least now the people in US can quit complaining about it.

@Rapidash, comment #112: What's more profitable, you ask? One can arguably say Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest (at least in Japan), and even the Kingdom Hearts series is starting to kick up a lot of steam on a financial standpoint. Those three are Square's most major pillars at this moment in time at least, and I'm really sure that they might not throw in the time and resources to do another Mario RPG.

And now that we're thinking of it, MaxPlastic's comment (#115) similarly sums up Square's PR strategy in recent years - their character designs, no matter how popular they tend to be, have been getting from bad to worse and there's no thinking on what they'd do with Mario these days than make the franchise more emo than it should be and over-inflate the original-characters-with-corny-spiked-hair department. That said, Nintendo doesn't need Square to make a great Mario RPG - their first/second parties can manage just fine.

I see Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario as different games rather than sequels. Plus if you want a similar game to Super Mario RPG, go and buy Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time. It uses the same battle system and has a similar feel to SMRPG.

CLU CLU LAND....YES!!!!!!!!!!

@ Rexy- Really...I couldn't agree more, though I'd love to see the characters from SMRPG return to the franchise in some way one day.

ANYWAY I FINALLY got my hands on SMRPG and while its a very interesting title and I can already see why people love it so...I have to say its a little slow in battles. Then again I'm used to playing battles out at Dragon Warrior speed. So now to decide on Ys book vs. Samurai Shodown...hmmm...never played Ys book though so I should get that game...but what about Strong Bad's cool game for attractive people? So many choices, so little money.

Here's the milestone list starting with game #100. For anyone who doesn't know what they are by now.
#100 - Zelda II
#150 - SMB: Lost Levels
#200 - Harvest Moon
#250 - SMRPG

As someone who is in seventh heaven with Ys for the first time, it is kind of unfortunate that that might get overlooked--especially since Hudson's success with the thing might vaguely mean some hope of its sequels (not to mention remakes) getting localized, finally. It wouldn't be the first time for such a thing to happen with an old JRPG.

But about this release:

As someone who got both SMRPG and Paper Mario when they both came out, I have a really hard time with the Paper Mario when I compare it with this game, which is to say, when I don't, I end up enjoying Paper Mario for what it is.

Square has been the equivalent of Disney (hence their collaborations) in their expertise of creating worlds and original characters. Their RPGs are exceptional at taking a player through many distinct, fully-realized worlds while still holding onto a cohesive storyline. Super Mario RPG actually took all kinds of chances with the Mario universe for once, even daring to write fairly filled-out personalities for characters like Peach and Bowser that succeeded and made sense (the latter being absolutely classic), and take them through new territories while expanding familiar ones. I find it hard to argue that Super Mario RPG didn't take WAY more chances in this regard than any of its successors (yes, my library is TTYD-deficient for the time being).

Super Mario RPG is probably more a "Square game" than a "Nintendo game," but this gig for Square was handled with such great respect for its source material that this neither feels like an "RPG with Mario pasted in it" nor a lazy cash-in with established icons. (the latter is kind of how I felt about Paper Mario at the time, with almost NO new worlds, characters, or storyline more than an extension of the platformers' stories) Looking back, it also probably didn't help that I was playing Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 2, Final Fantasy IX, and Chrono Cross and many other super-ambitious RPGs around the same time. (As for FFIX, old-school look with new horsepower and some gameplay WAS ambitious for the time) I believe the collaboration was an epic success.

Easily one of my top-ten SNES games, which I don't say lightly. It's simply escapist entertainment at some of its finest.

Wow. Just, WOW! I was NOT expecting to see this today. I was wondering what to get with the remaining 800 points I'll have once I get Ys and SamSho2, now I know. Too bad I have like 3 other games to beat first. Oh well, I'll try to get a point card this week end. Till then, congrats on all those who waited so patiently for this game, I hope you're having a great time!

YES! SMRPG finally comes out in the Americas! I love it. I will be downloading as soon as I get done watching Cliff Lee win his 20th game of the season! WaHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Just downloaded it.
I went out and bought some points for this momentous occasion.

Now I'm debating whether or not to buy YS Book I & II..

@#127: At that rate maybe they're gonna make Majora's Mask #300.

@ x.supermario.x

get ys it's awesome

Awesome week!.

@x.supermario.x - ys is definitely worth downloading. I haven't done it yet but expect to soon...

After I get through SMRPG, I'll get Ys probably. Just wish I had more time for all of these games. So difficult when you to work. Why can't I be 15 again?

If I don't find 800 points worth of fun out of Ys, I'm hunting you each down one by one.

@ XCWarrior- I'd rather be 16, since that's when teens can start driving. (In Florida that is..)

I was caught completely off-guard today. Especially since I've been dirt broke, but somebody came through for me and I have both SMRPG and Ys Book I & II. I'm currently playing through SMRPG for at least the 30th time. I've beaten it in an entire sitting once.

@SuperMario
I'd recommend getting Ys, but the first few moments with it might not be that great. I found it boring for the first 40-60 mins or so, but then it started picking up and I began to really like it. Not sure if you'd feel the same way, just saying. Great game.

And I wish I had Wii Points for SMRPG. ;_;

SMRPG is already in 3rd on the mst popular list here

Yay!

Okay, now that I've downloaded it,
where's Super Mario Kart and SMW2: Yoshi's Island?
Let the gripings continue, just kidding, LOL!

Could someone tell me where the most popular list is.

@ Drake

I just noticed the sword thing today. I had never gotten it new before, so it totally threw me for a loop.

And I can see your point, but I would prefer to have the entire series as opposed to just one entry. To me, it seems like a waste of money.

happy happy happy!

i have it since 1996, but i happily bought it again for mi Wii ^^ love this game

Hooray! Now only South Korea has to wait to get SMRPG... and I imagine it'll be quite a long wait for them. = /

It's strange, but after beating a certain boss with tentacles, I lost interest in the game. Perhaps I should try getting back into it, sooner rather than later.

I'm surprised at how many people weren't expecting Super Mario RPG to come out in America soon after it was released in Europe.

The other Mario games not yet out:
Super Mario Kart, Mario Golf, Mario Party 1 - 5 I think, Mario Tennis, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, Mario Picross(USA), Mario All-Stars, Mario Paint, and Mario is Missing. There's probably a few more I didn't mention. Mario's done it all. He's been used.

Bendover83: Mario Party 1-3 are the only Mario Party games that can be on the virtual console, an there are tons of othe Mario games that can come out on the virtual console, you just mentioned all of the good ones except Mario is Missing...Oh and let these comments go to 300!

Holy crap! Thanks, Nintendo, for three straights weeks of FANTASTIC releases. I cannot wait to get home and download SMRPG! Oh, how I have missed playing it... and how I look forward to enjoying it on my 42" widescreen television. Awesome, awesome release, Nintendo!

Keep! It! UP!

Hopefully this is a sign that the second half of the year will be great for VC releases. But Nintendo please, do some catch-up weeks now and then. It would be nice you know. (Vectorman & Mario Picross. Hint, hint.)

@Bendover83
Go to the VC from the Wii shop and on the first page it should have a popular titles button

@ Bass XO It's because we are used to being screwed over time and time again. It's about time the pattern kept the way it should so we finally got what we want. It makes for a good "sorry you have to go back to school" present. Well, for thsoe of you in school anyway. For me, its like, "Here you go. When you don't have hours of work to bring home, you can play this."

Still super awesome cool though.

"If you're one of those people who, for some reason, didn't care that great games like Ys Book I & II, Samurai Shodown II and Mega Man came out recently, and only care about Nintendo games, maybe you can finally stop complaining this week - There's not one but two Nintendo games available later today."

For some reason, that made me feel bad about myself, yet that comment is partially true; the battle system of Ys turned me off somewhat (though I am willing to give it a chance), Samurai Showdown is new to me, and I am waiting for Rockman IX instead of Rockman I.

Hehe... I did 3 dances when I figured out the release of Mario RPG!

"Hopefully this will quiet down complainers for a while - We suspect it won't be long before they start demanding the release of something else, though!"
I am hoping for Chrono Trigger or Mother 1 or 2, yet I do not wasnt to whine about that...

ttplayer92-san, I also plan to call. I hope they at least release Mother 2 in P.R./U.S.A. VC...

Mr. Andrew and Tides of Chaos-san, college started in August in Puerto Rico, so I do not have much to complain. (At least Labour Day is a school-free holiday in said country...)

"I am hoping for Chrono Trigger or Mother 1 or 2, yet I do not wasnt to whine about that.."

Forget it guys, Chrono Trigger is getting a DS remake soon so you have as much chance of getting that on VC as FF 1-6 - not much...

@Rexy - Comment# 123

While it's debatable which companies properties are more valuable (which I would still highly insist Nintendo has the upper hand here) I do have to agree with your last comment that Nintendo doesn't need Square to make a good Mario RPG. Of all of them I feel The Thousand Year Door was the best of the lot easilly.

@The people debating about which Mario RPG is the best. I haven't gotten to download SMRPG yet, due to school and a strict mother, but for me, the best Mario RPG is a toss-up between Superstar Saga and The Thousand-Year Door. What made SS so great is how much variety it had. Every fight had it's own fun little twist, and there was always a minigame or platform section or something to break up the RPG battles. That, and the characters were hilarious. Who could forget such memorable faces as Fawful, Popple, and Prince Peasley? Certainly no normal person.

@Bass. I kind of expected it.

Those wanting "weeks like this to continue":

Didn't we already have this marketing discussion close to SSBB's European release? If Nintendo releases multiple highly-profitable titles in close proximity, the titles won't get their maximum potential profit, you'd be stuck in a choice on what to play and unintentionally leave some games behind, and those so-called close releases could be ditched in favor of another Wii Series title or something.

Just be greatful that we've had three highly-profitable weeks in a row. Expect the whole marketing hoohah to calm down and you can play with your new toys well into the Autumn months

I don't think Nintendo will keep rolling out the hits week after week either. Even when Virtual Console releases were at thier best we didn't get the highly demanded games that close to each other. It just doesn't make sense from a business stand point.

Of course, I think Nintendo knows that Animal Crossing and Wii Music, thier only holiday season retail releases for the system, won't appeal to everyone and they will offer a handful of quality VC releases to make up for it. The remaining four months of 2008 look promising from what I can tell. (Mega Man 2, Secret of Mana, Dracula X, Earthbound. All potential releases.)

Point is, no one should really be complaining next week when we don't get Earthbound or Majora's Mask. Nintendo is not going to give us those all at once, I promise you.

@Digiki: Thx. O, I've actually done that before. I remember now. I don't use (Edit) other parts of Wii Shop as much anymore.
@Tabbyluigi: Ya, I agree it isn't very good, but I remember playing it back in the day and I wouldn't mind getting it. It sux yes, but it's a rare game to get. It will probably be one of the last VC games. As I said before: "Mega Man 2 and Final Soldier next week." Actually Mega Man 2 the week after next. Could "Ninty" really release another stellar game next week?

Regarding next week, I think we're due to return to regular stuff, SMRPG was a pretty big 250th release, so nobody should get his hopes high. Though I do hope we get Mana pretty soon, I think I'd be starting to complain about "YARPG" if we get it next week since, well, getting too much RPGs in a row is bad for your health, mmmkay?